So we are coming to an end for the 2010 year. It has been a hell of a year complete with great rock shows and an undefeated regular season for my Auburn Tigers. There have been tons of awesome albums released this year and I decided I wanted to make a list of my top 10 from this year. I hope you check out each and every one of these releases, and if any of them come even remotely near you, go see them! Without further ado, here are my top 10.
10) Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses- Junky Star- With Junky Star, Ryan Bingham really hit his stride. On this album, Ryan sings of everything from murder (from the murderee's POV, no less), depression-era poverty, and life on the run. It's a beautiful album really with a great mix of haunting, stripped-down and rollicking roadhouse numbers. I love all of Ryan's albums, but I think this one is clearly his definitive album, taking everything that worked from the previous two and leaving out what didn't.
9) Ben Harper and the Relentless 7- Live from the Montreal International Jazz Fesitval- How do you outdo your best album in years?? You take that album and the band that helped make it and make a live album. This album just blew me away. It had been a while since Ben Harper had actually turned the knob to 11 and broke it off. He did it with 2009's White Lies for Dark Times and with this album, he ups the ante, playing older songs, covering "Red House," and just absolutely ripping through the 2009 album.
8) The Gaslight Anthem- American Slang- This band really took me by surprise this year. I had heard so much about them in the past couple of years, so I finally decided to give 'em a chance. This is exactly what The Boss would have sounded like had he grown up in the 90s. There's a soft spot in my heart for songs about down trodden folks and the towns they are stuck in. Well, this album has that and more. It is a great rock'n'roll album full of athems that our generation should be singing for years to come.
7) J Roddy Walston and the Business- S/T- Holy shit! Take 1/3 KISS, 1/3 Guns N Roses, and 1/3 Jerry Lee Lewis. Mix violently. What you get is J Roddy Walston and the Business! These guys are incredible. To see them live is one of life's great pleasures. I was pretty unsure how they could ever really take that energy and put it on an album. But, wow, they did! This album just makes you want to stop whatever you are doing and turn the volume up, keep it up, and just move- whether that be, shake, dance, convulse. It just takes hold of you and doesn't let go until the 10 songs are finally, exhaustingly, over.
6) I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In the House- Sounds of Dying- With a name like that, you either need to be a gimmick, or a band that undeniably rocks and rolls. Thank god these guys are the latter. I was, understandably, skeptical of this band, but after one listen to Sounds of Dying, I was hooked. This album completely grabs you and refuses to let you stop listening. It's loud, it's raw, it's dark. It's very reminiscent of the amazing 90s album Gentlemen by The Afghan Whigs. Whereas Gentlemen was a drug infused frenzy tale of relationships, Sounds of Dying is more of a whiskey drenched version. It's an album that's unforgiving- Michael Dean Damron refuses to take blame for anything, which is what's so harrowing and powerful.
5) American Aquarium- Small Town Hymns- What's that you say? BJ Barham has broadened his scope on his songwriting? No, can't be. Believe it! That sounds like a slam on Mr. Barham, but I assure you it is not. The man can write a heartbreaking song about girls and booze, no doubt about it. But on Small Town Hymns, BJ writes up 10 songs that really deal with living in a small town. From getting stuck in a small town to facing down demons at the bottom of the bottle, it's all so honest and almost . Coming from an incredibly small town, this album hit very close to home. The band is extremely tight on this album as well. This is American Aquarium's finest album. And that is saying a lot considering what they have put out in the past.
4) The Henry Clay People- Somewhere on the Golden Coast- Once again, a band that completely blindsided me this year. Thank god they did! Talk about a band that is straight up 70s and 90s rock'n'roll hybrid. This album takes everything that seemingly just plain sucks about being on the road and being dirt poor and makes it sound like it ain't so bad when you are doing what you love. There is fun and triumph in all of the songs on this album. This album also contains probably one of the coolest rock'n'roll lines: "We were working part time. All. The. Time." My suggestion to you is to go to their website and buy this album. And then, hope and pray they come near your city!
3) The Black Keys- Brothers- The Black Keys consistently churn out really great albums. The only exception, in my humble opinion, being the 2008 release, Attack & Release. So, when I heard about the new album, I was a little torn. Would I hate it? Would I love it? I wasn't sure. So, I tentatively gave it a listen. Whoa! The Black Keys brought it for this album. They went down to the rich history of Muscle Shoals, AL and recorded their best album since Rubber Factory. All of The Black Keys' influences show up on this album along with the bands and groups that made Muscle Shoals what it once was. The album is an incredible return to form for The Black Keys. They proved that they may have misstepped slightly on Attack & Relase, but were able to make up incredible ground with this strong album.
2) Drive-By Truckers- The Big To-Do- Between 2008's Brighter Than Creation's Dark and 2010's The Big To-Do, the DBT's released a live album and a rarities album. While these were all great albums, much of the fanbase was dying for a return to form (Southern Rock Opera, Decoration Day, and The Dirty South). Some were disillusioned with the toned down setting of Brighter Than Creation's Dark- I was not one of those. So, in 2009, when DBT came out and said they were working on what would be very much a rock album, everyone was completely stoked! The DBT's delievered. The songs on this album are everything that makes DBT. They are gritty songs about strippers, circus acts, and a grisly murder among others. I could not think of a better way for them to return to their classic "southern" rock sound. With the addition of a full-time keys player, the band has really been able to broaden it's sound. The three guitar attack is still there, thank god. But, admittedly, it isn't as loud and as "hungry" as, say, Southern Rock Opera had been. That isn't to say that this album isn't as good. It's just different. It's still a rock album. It's still dark, yet undeniably hopeful. Everything I love about DBT is on this album, and more. Shonna has grown into her own and I look forward to hearing more from her in the future.
1) Two Cow Garage- Sweet Saint Me- Now for the main course! Where to even start on this band, let alone this album! As far as a band coming in and completely blowing all expectations out of the water, Two Cow Garage will forever hold the top spot. I had no idea who these guys were coming in to this year. But, thanks to another blog, ninebullets.net, I decided to check them out- specifically 2008's Speaking in Cursive. Wow. I was not disappointed. These guys were loud and uncompromising. They were also honest and incredible. I just couldn't believe that it had taken me this long to hear them. So, as soon as I heard they were due to release another album in 2010, I quickly went over to suburbanhomerecords.com and pre-ordered the album. Sweet Saint Me is pure rock'n'roll glory. It is everything that we love about rock'n'roll. It's girls, it's booze, it's questioning religion, it's murder. The song cycle here is incredible. I was floored by the subject matter of this album and how incredibly accessible it is. I think the biggest disservice one can do to themselves would be to overlook this album. This album will be in my rotation for many, many years to come. I think it has the sort of staying power to be relevant in 10 years, hell, 30 years from now. Go. Go now, and get this album. iTunes or whatever. Just go get it. I promise you will not be disappointed.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
So What If All My Heroes Are the Losing Kind...
Ok, so it's been a while and there's been a few reasons why I haven't been on here for this long. One being the increasingly dramatic saga that is surrounding my beloved Auburn Tigers, and more specifically, Cam Newton. Enough of that though...
So, 2 weekends ago I woke up to some pretty awesome news thanks to LH. This news being that Lucero was going to be playing a free show in Baltimore at Rams Head Live! I got Andrew to make it up with me. I had been telling Andrew that I wanted him to see Lucero live for quite a while, so I was pumped when he said he was down. For anyone who hasn't heard of Lucero, you should definitely take some time out right now and listen to all of these songs. This is one of my favorite bands and I have often said that this band is one of those bands that really wasn't meant to be heard any other way than live. Lucero have a background in punk, and to see them live you definitely see that come through the whole show. They play with an incredible energy and enthusiasm.
To start the show, Frank Turner came on and warmed the crowd up. I had never heard of the guy, but thought he did a great job. Andrew told me that he was categorized as "punk folk." I would say that is probably an accurate description. He had a sound that mixed both of these styles very well. I heard someone in the crowd say he reminded them of The Pogues, and that is very true. So, if you like The Pogues or Flogging Molly, you would probably like Frank Turner. So, go check him out!
Lucero came on very inconspicuously. It was really cool to watch them interact with the crowd and at one point when a girl offered him a shot, Ben Nichols responded, "I'll save this for later. Trust me, it's better for me and you!" That's right folks, a new and improved Ben Nichols. So, with all smiles, Ben Nichols and crew started the show complete with the fairly recently added horn section.
The show started off really great with songs like "Just That Kind of Girl," "Nights Like These," "Sweet Little Thing," and "Smoke." I thought it was a great way to start off the show, but Andrew thought they started off just a little slow. That may have been my fault as I had been preparing him for all but an all out punk rock show. Lucero still have enough country roots to sing the sad songs as well as the faster, rockin songs. Once again, this was a band that had the ability to pull off what could be a sappy song with just enough sincerity to make into an honest rocker.
They then proceeded to play some very rockin' songs which got the crowd far more engaged. The songs now included one of my personal favorites- "Last Night in Town." This song has one of my favorite lyrics that I always listen to when I'm leaving TN- "Raise up that glass, Goodbye Tennessee." They then played "Tears Don't Matter Much," which ended with lots of spewed beer and a sweaty mob of people. It was a great experience and I was glad that it got somewhat rowdy so Andrew could witness what I had been raving about.
Ben Nichols, with his white tee shirt, tattered jeans, worn out boots, and "bad tattoos" looks and sounds like he's lived a pretty tiresome life. A life which has seen lots of Jameson shots, lots of cigarettes, lots of beds, and more road. The songs they sing are incredibly honest and while most of them are about giving up or losing some girl, they never really get monotonous. This is one bad ass band that really play "Southern" rock n roll in a way that many bands try but never come close to.
Finally, I got to meet Ben Nichols which was great. Somewhat awestruck, I muttered something incredibly embarrassing about how much I really loved Lucero (why the hell can't you think of something cool in these situations!?). He responded with his signature rugged modesty. "Me?! I'm a fucking drunken idiot!"
*Note: I talked with John Stubblefield (bassist) about possibly seeing a re-release of their previous albums (before Rebels, Rogues, and Sworn Brothers) on vinyl. He seemed very excited about the possibility of this happening in the immediate future. I for one am super pumped about this!
So, 2 weekends ago I woke up to some pretty awesome news thanks to LH. This news being that Lucero was going to be playing a free show in Baltimore at Rams Head Live! I got Andrew to make it up with me. I had been telling Andrew that I wanted him to see Lucero live for quite a while, so I was pumped when he said he was down. For anyone who hasn't heard of Lucero, you should definitely take some time out right now and listen to all of these songs. This is one of my favorite bands and I have often said that this band is one of those bands that really wasn't meant to be heard any other way than live. Lucero have a background in punk, and to see them live you definitely see that come through the whole show. They play with an incredible energy and enthusiasm.
To start the show, Frank Turner came on and warmed the crowd up. I had never heard of the guy, but thought he did a great job. Andrew told me that he was categorized as "punk folk." I would say that is probably an accurate description. He had a sound that mixed both of these styles very well. I heard someone in the crowd say he reminded them of The Pogues, and that is very true. So, if you like The Pogues or Flogging Molly, you would probably like Frank Turner. So, go check him out!
Lucero came on very inconspicuously. It was really cool to watch them interact with the crowd and at one point when a girl offered him a shot, Ben Nichols responded, "I'll save this for later. Trust me, it's better for me and you!" That's right folks, a new and improved Ben Nichols. So, with all smiles, Ben Nichols and crew started the show complete with the fairly recently added horn section.
The show started off really great with songs like "Just That Kind of Girl," "Nights Like These," "Sweet Little Thing," and "Smoke." I thought it was a great way to start off the show, but Andrew thought they started off just a little slow. That may have been my fault as I had been preparing him for all but an all out punk rock show. Lucero still have enough country roots to sing the sad songs as well as the faster, rockin songs. Once again, this was a band that had the ability to pull off what could be a sappy song with just enough sincerity to make into an honest rocker.
They then proceeded to play some very rockin' songs which got the crowd far more engaged. The songs now included one of my personal favorites- "Last Night in Town." This song has one of my favorite lyrics that I always listen to when I'm leaving TN- "Raise up that glass, Goodbye Tennessee." They then played "Tears Don't Matter Much," which ended with lots of spewed beer and a sweaty mob of people. It was a great experience and I was glad that it got somewhat rowdy so Andrew could witness what I had been raving about.
Ben Nichols, with his white tee shirt, tattered jeans, worn out boots, and "bad tattoos" looks and sounds like he's lived a pretty tiresome life. A life which has seen lots of Jameson shots, lots of cigarettes, lots of beds, and more road. The songs they sing are incredibly honest and while most of them are about giving up or losing some girl, they never really get monotonous. This is one bad ass band that really play "Southern" rock n roll in a way that many bands try but never come close to.
Finally, I got to meet Ben Nichols which was great. Somewhat awestruck, I muttered something incredibly embarrassing about how much I really loved Lucero (why the hell can't you think of something cool in these situations!?). He responded with his signature rugged modesty. "Me?! I'm a fucking drunken idiot!"
*Note: I talked with John Stubblefield (bassist) about possibly seeing a re-release of their previous albums (before Rebels, Rogues, and Sworn Brothers) on vinyl. He seemed very excited about the possibility of this happening in the immediate future. I for one am super pumped about this!
Monday, October 25, 2010
"Don't Act Like Your Family's a Joke"
What a week and weekend! Monday- Two Cow Garage, Wednesday- The Extra Lens (review coming soon from the one and only Andrew), Saturday- #4 Auburn beats #6 LSU; Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, and Sunday- Auburn is the new #1!!!!!
So, since this is all about music, we'll stick to just that. And with that, I get to write about an exciting concert in which I saw Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit. For those of you unfamiliar, Jason played in that band I may have talked about once or twice- Drive- By Truckers. He was with them at a critical point in their careers and it has been argued by many that he was the best lyricist they had. Now, I am not particularly in that camp, but I do think he is one hell of a guitarist and his lyrics (and voice) are pretty incredible.
With that said, I had heard from my Dad that Jason Isbell was just amazing in concert. My Dad and I have been liking the same music for quite a while now, and share the common thread of being absolutely hooked on DBT. So, when I found out that Jason was coming up here for a show, I knew that I had to make it for my sake, and for the sake that my Dad might really kick my ass next time he saw me if I didn't. So, I bought two tickets and got BnW to shimmy out of the serenity of Georgetown and into the craziness that is H Street and the Rock n Roll Hotel. It was the right decision.
It was a Paste magazine tour which included Langhorne Slim. Now, I was unfamiliar with Langhorne Slim, but I seemed to be mostly alone at this show. He was really good as well, playing an alternative country that (and I hate to say this) the Avett Brothers should have become. So, if you like alternative country, I would be more than sure that you would like this Langhorne Slim fella.
Now, it was time for Jason Isbell. To my heart's absolute joy, they started with "Decoration Day," which is one of my favorite songs of his when he was with DBT. Jason was a great front man in a completely different way than say Craig Finn or Patterson Hood are. He just demands your attention. He has no real antics, but there is something about his demeanor that tells you he's there for business, so listen up. And he had the crowd's attention, that's for sure. By the time he reached a really great electric version of the beautiful "In a Razor Town," the crowd was completely amped. Need I mention that he turned "Never Gonna Change" in "Stone Free" half way through?! Or that he played "The Blue" or "Goddamn Lonely Love" or "Sittin on the Dock of the Bay"???
I tell you, and I mean this, Jason Isbell is an incredible musician. By all means, he is as gifted as any guitarist out there, and a great lyricist as well. And then, he sings with a soulful honesty that only a boy from Muscle Shoals area can really grasp. I was excited enough about this show just to see that missing link from DBT. But, his music alone can stand on it's own. DBT was a great starting point for Jason, but you can really hear the difference in the music he makes without them. Not that one is better than the other, it was just the right move for them to part ways.
To make matters that much better, I got to meet Jason after the show, and jesus, what a guy. What a humble and completely appreciative musician. I told him that I was from Pulaski, TN (which is only about an hour North of Muscle Shoals) and we had a great time talking about that. It was interesting to get to talk with him and I cannot wait until the next time he even comes close to D.C. I will be there, and you would be a damn fool not to go see him. This tour is not to be missed!
*Please note that's Jason's keyboardist, not just some creepy Asian dude.
Friday, October 22, 2010
"Where is Woody Guthrie, Man?"
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for a number of reasons, most of which I will never tell. But, right now, I'm sorry that there are bands that deserve so much more than they get. I'm sorry that there are bands (*cough* Coldplay, Nickelback, Kid Rock, etc.) that somehow make it and sell out arenas. What makes these bands make it and others not, I don't think I will ever quite understand.
Now that I've said that, I will ask you, why the hell have you not listened to Two Cow Garage?! I mean, this is a band that really just rocks. There is no other way to put it. And, I should say, some really bad ass, and friendly, guys. Ok, so maybe Micah Schnabel and Shane Sweeney don't sing the sweetest of croons, but jesus, they sing with an urgency that demands listening from anyone who hears them. This leads me to Monday night, the 18th.
A friend, LH, and I made it to this show at, once again, the Black Cat. She was pretty awesome to make it to this show with me on a last minute deal. Anyways, they had two openers, The So So Glows (we did not bother to hear) and Dave Hause. Dave Hause was pretty good. A singer/songwriter type deal except he has a punk background and it definitely comes out in his folk outings.
Then, Two Cow Garage came out and, in front of the 30-40 people that made it out on a Monday night, really put on a very awesome, very energetic show. I mean, this is what I paid to come see, folks! This is old school rock'n'roll mixed with just enough punk aesthetic and alternative country to make for a booze fueled rampage any day of the week. I am a bit worried at this point that I may come off the wrong way to my readers because of comments I have made regarding the other shows that I have seen. It is true that I have used phrases such as: "bad ass," "balls to the wall," "rock n roll." I really want to differentiate between those shows and this one. Those shows were fun and they were rock'n'roll in their purest form. But this show was transcendent for me. I mean, this was a show where a band that I had known little about 2 months ago really propped themselves up in my top 5 favorite bands (For those of you interested- 1) Drive-By Truckers, 2) Neil Young, 3) Lucero, 4) Dinosaur Jr., and NOW 5) Two Cow Garage). By the time they got to songs off their new album, e.g. "Lydia" and "Wanted to Be" you could really tell that it didn't matter how many people were there. They sang with urgency and with a desire to have their story told. (I want to save some for the album review which I plan on giving when I get my vinyl version of their amazing "Sweet Saint Me" album.)
They got to the end of the show and did an incredible version of "Can't Hardly Wait" by the Replacements. I think it's pretty obvious that the Replacements are a huge influence on every band I seem to love. They also played "Brothers in Arms" from their upcoming album. At this point you could really tell that this was a band that was having a great time and it didn't matter that there were only 40 people. It was a Monday night, dammit, and they had songs/stories to tell. LH had no real experience with Two Cow Garage, but came away with a greater appreciation for them (even though they made fun of her beloved Jacksonville, AL).
I don't know how to end this entry. I mean, I want to write well enough to make you stop everything and go hear this band. But, I don't think my words hold a light to theirs. So, if you want to listen to this band (and for that matter, a whole slew of Suburban Home Records albums) go on over to Suburban Home Records' website and hear them. Just at least give them a shot. These guys are awesome, as musicians and as people. I'll say, again, I'm sorry that these guys aren't as big as I'd prefer them to be. As Micah sings on the new album, "Where is Woody Guthrie, man, when we need him most?"
I'm sorry for a number of reasons, most of which I will never tell. But, right now, I'm sorry that there are bands that deserve so much more than they get. I'm sorry that there are bands (*cough* Coldplay, Nickelback, Kid Rock, etc.) that somehow make it and sell out arenas. What makes these bands make it and others not, I don't think I will ever quite understand.
Now that I've said that, I will ask you, why the hell have you not listened to Two Cow Garage?! I mean, this is a band that really just rocks. There is no other way to put it. And, I should say, some really bad ass, and friendly, guys. Ok, so maybe Micah Schnabel and Shane Sweeney don't sing the sweetest of croons, but jesus, they sing with an urgency that demands listening from anyone who hears them. This leads me to Monday night, the 18th.
A friend, LH, and I made it to this show at, once again, the Black Cat. She was pretty awesome to make it to this show with me on a last minute deal. Anyways, they had two openers, The So So Glows (we did not bother to hear) and Dave Hause. Dave Hause was pretty good. A singer/songwriter type deal except he has a punk background and it definitely comes out in his folk outings.
Then, Two Cow Garage came out and, in front of the 30-40 people that made it out on a Monday night, really put on a very awesome, very energetic show. I mean, this is what I paid to come see, folks! This is old school rock'n'roll mixed with just enough punk aesthetic and alternative country to make for a booze fueled rampage any day of the week. I am a bit worried at this point that I may come off the wrong way to my readers because of comments I have made regarding the other shows that I have seen. It is true that I have used phrases such as: "bad ass," "balls to the wall," "rock n roll." I really want to differentiate between those shows and this one. Those shows were fun and they were rock'n'roll in their purest form. But this show was transcendent for me. I mean, this was a show where a band that I had known little about 2 months ago really propped themselves up in my top 5 favorite bands (For those of you interested- 1) Drive-By Truckers, 2) Neil Young, 3) Lucero, 4) Dinosaur Jr., and NOW 5) Two Cow Garage). By the time they got to songs off their new album, e.g. "Lydia" and "Wanted to Be" you could really tell that it didn't matter how many people were there. They sang with urgency and with a desire to have their story told. (I want to save some for the album review which I plan on giving when I get my vinyl version of their amazing "Sweet Saint Me" album.)
They got to the end of the show and did an incredible version of "Can't Hardly Wait" by the Replacements. I think it's pretty obvious that the Replacements are a huge influence on every band I seem to love. They also played "Brothers in Arms" from their upcoming album. At this point you could really tell that this was a band that was having a great time and it didn't matter that there were only 40 people. It was a Monday night, dammit, and they had songs/stories to tell. LH had no real experience with Two Cow Garage, but came away with a greater appreciation for them (even though they made fun of her beloved Jacksonville, AL).
I don't know how to end this entry. I mean, I want to write well enough to make you stop everything and go hear this band. But, I don't think my words hold a light to theirs. So, if you want to listen to this band (and for that matter, a whole slew of Suburban Home Records albums) go on over to Suburban Home Records' website and hear them. Just at least give them a shot. These guys are awesome, as musicians and as people. I'll say, again, I'm sorry that these guys aren't as big as I'd prefer them to be. As Micah sings on the new album, "Where is Woody Guthrie, man, when we need him most?"
Monday, October 18, 2010
"We were working part-time. All. The. Time."
Another night, another concert. This time was a special one for me as it was my first show at The Black Cat and my cousin, AO, was able to come to the show with me since she was in town! The show we went
to this Thursday night was a The Henry Clay People headlining show with openers The Dig.
First, I will say that The Black Cat was exactly the right spot to see The Henry Clay People (HCP from here on out). It was small, intimate, and the sound was great for such a small place. Attending this show with me were AO, Andrew, and Brown N Wild (BnW from here on). BnW was a surprise to this one as he had claimed he "had no money." However, somehow he managed to scrounge up 10 bucks and made it to a great show.
to this Thursday night was a The Henry Clay People headlining show with openers The Dig.
First, I will say that The Black Cat was exactly the right spot to see The Henry Clay People (HCP from here on out). It was small, intimate, and the sound was great for such a small place. Attending this show with me were AO, Andrew, and Brown N Wild (BnW from here on). BnW was a surprise to this one as he had claimed he "had no money." However, somehow he managed to scrounge up 10 bucks and made it to a great show.
The night started with The Dig who came out playing a pretty good rock set, although they insisted on using a synthesizer which, in my humble opinion, really weakened their sound. When they decided to put down the synthesizer for a second guitar, they really rocked the place with some no holds barred, balls to the wall rock n roll. To me, they were much more effective as a rock n roll outfit than a synth-wielding indie band. However, it should be duly noted that BnW thought they were better than the headliner, HCP. Don't get me wrong, they were a good band, and in fact were good enough to get a call for an encore from the small crowd there. For that song, they once again decided to leave the synthesizer for the axe, and it worked wonders for them.
And now for the main event! HCP came out and immediately caught our eyes with their disheveled look and demeanor. They ripped through their first song and then had a few technical difficulties. During this time, the pianist began a great rendition of "Space Oddity" by David Bowie. I should stop here to say that I have heard that seeing The Replacements in the 80s was like seeing a band constantly on the verge of falling apart, or simply one who just fell apart. This felt like we were seeing the 2010, much friendlier version of The Replacements. The guitarist, still somehow able to play all the right notes, was nevertheless constantly looking like he was going to kick the lead singer and knock over the high hat or keyboardist.
Regardless, they rocked. Simply and undeniably. They put on a straight up, no frills, bar rock show. They can definitely hold the attention of a bigger audience, and as far as smaller bands go, I do believe that they will make some pretty decent noise at some point in the industry. They have the potential to get really big, and they really deserve it. They have opened up for bands such as Silversun Pickups (second time I have mentioned this band in this blog, wtf?!), Against Me!, and Drive-By Truckers. This band can feel comfortable with those different bands, and I believe everyone can like this band if they ever gave them a chance. So, give them a chance for christ's sake!
For the record, BnW came into the show expecting to really not like the band all that much, but just have a good time seeing live music. He was sold, I believe, after they ended with a bad ass version of that tramp song about that girl Wendy. Andrew looked for a catch phrase after this show, but was unable to find one which he felt would fit the occasion. AO decided that she might need to broaden her horizons when it came to music after this one.
As I said, this band was on the verge of falling apart all night, but made it so entertaining that it just felt like it was part of their schtick. They were bad ass, they were unrelenting, they were wild, they were having fun, and they were loud. All of these things make for a great rock n roll show, and they did not disappoint on any level. They, I hope, will be big, and I will be able to look back and be glad that i was able to see them at such a small, but great venue.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Top 10 for the Nephew
Alright, so I thought about this for a while. Mainly, because these lists always are so trite and cliche. But, I decided that I'd do one and if it doesn't come off too lame, maybe I'd do more. But, one ain't so bad, right?
I recently pre-ordered the new Two Cow Garage record, "Sweet Saint Me," and have been pretty much listening non-stop to it. Now, as with most records you pick up, I have a few songs that I like immediately more than others. That doesn't mean the others are sub-par, trust me they are not. Just means that a few jump out immediately. One of the songs on the album really got me thinking about songs I wish my nephew could listen to everyday, or at least have a list of these songs and maybe one day decide to check em out on his own. So, I thought for a few days about what songs I would want him to hear. However, these aren't necessarily my top 10 songs ever. These are just songs that every little boy and/or girl should listen to and maybe take a few pointers from them. So, without further ado, here are the songs I hope he listens to and loves while he grows up (let's not get too sentimental here).
The "Listen to these Songs, Nephew" List
1. "Jackson, Don't You Worry" by Two Cow Garage- "There's gonna come a time when your little world's coming apart, Cause this whole world is just dying to break your heart." This song is what made me start thinking about this list. When I heard that line, I immediately had the thought that "ya know it's true, there are a ton of things that will happen in his life, but it all turns out alright in the end." When your young those hard times really seem worse than they really are. So, I hope that the song and the line becomes a sort of comforting blanket for him.
2. "Mom" by Lucero- "The road might take it's own course, but at it's end, Mama we're still your boys." I guess this one is self-explanatory. But, just in case, remember that she's always your Mama, and she's done a lot for you. No matter what you've done, and what you've totally messed up, she is always going to love you in the way only a Mom can. Only Lucero could make a song so badass about Moms. I bet Ben Nichols has a "Mom" tattoo.
3. "Forever Young" by Bob Dylan- "May you always do for other, and let others do for you." This one is especially poignant and meaningful for me. For his first gift from me, I gave him the illustrated book of this song. So, I will simply let the song speak for itself since I'm sure everyone is very familiar with it. And not that stupid remake that happened around the Super Bowl with Will.I.Am, ugh.
4. "Reach for the Sky" by Social Distortion- "Reach for the sky cause tomorrow may never come." I would be remiss if I didn't put a song about just sometimes not thinking about the future and just going for it on the list. And, for that song, only Social Distortion could make it not be wayyyy to sentimental. This song opened up their comeback album in 2004 and really set the whole mood of the album which came out after a band member had died. So, yeah.
5. "Lawyers, Guns, and Money" by Warren Zevon- "Send lawyers, guns, and money Dad, get me outta this." Well, we all get one, right? Hopefully he'll never need the 2nd one, but the other two he will have one free pass from me.
6. "Bastards of Young" by The Replacements- "The ones who love us least are the ones we'll die to please." There are probably better Replacements songs to have him listen to, but this one is definitely a great place to start. And it's quite honestly one of my favorite Replacements songs, so hopefully it'll be a good starting point for him to take up a great band. Also, everyone needs an angst ridden song every now and then.
7. "Hey Hey, My My" by Neil Young- "Hey hey, my my, rock and roll will never die." This one is kind of a twofer. Neil Young being one of my favorite artists of all time, and rock and roll being the basis for my love of music. Also, I think I heard that Kurt Cobain was quite fond of the line, "It's better to burn out, than to fade away." So, it gets even more cool points. I hope he likes rock and roll and Neil Young as much as I do. Fingers crossed.
8. "A World of Hurt" by Drive-By Truckers- "It ain't too late to take a deep breath and throw yourself into it with everything you got. It's great to be alive." Another one of those songs that really goes deep into the realm of "things get messed up but they always get better." This song probably does the best at making me feel better about everything, no matter how crazy things get. And to see it done live was one of the best experiences of my life. Not to mention, this is my favorite band.
9. "Atlantic City" by Bruce Springsteen- "Down here it's just winners and losers, and don't get caught on the wrong side of that line." This song kinda takes on a different point of view of that messed up message. I mean, all of Bruce's songs are about messed up situations and people, but this one really stands out for me. The guy in the song is resilient, although you're left wondering what favors he might be doing for whatever questionable guy he met. It was a close call between this and "Born to Run."
10. "Outfit" by Drive-By Truckers- "Don't act like your family's a joke." What can I say about this song that they don't say so perfectly in the song. But, if I could sum up everything I would want him to know/do, then man, it would have to be this song. Just listen. And then listen again.
Honorable Mention
* "Stay Positive" by The Hold Steady!- "We gotta stay positive."
* "Hard Times" by Ryan Bingham- "There's nothin' wrong with your last name, so don't be lookin' for people to blame."
I recently pre-ordered the new Two Cow Garage record, "Sweet Saint Me," and have been pretty much listening non-stop to it. Now, as with most records you pick up, I have a few songs that I like immediately more than others. That doesn't mean the others are sub-par, trust me they are not. Just means that a few jump out immediately. One of the songs on the album really got me thinking about songs I wish my nephew could listen to everyday, or at least have a list of these songs and maybe one day decide to check em out on his own. So, I thought for a few days about what songs I would want him to hear. However, these aren't necessarily my top 10 songs ever. These are just songs that every little boy and/or girl should listen to and maybe take a few pointers from them. So, without further ado, here are the songs I hope he listens to and loves while he grows up (let's not get too sentimental here).
The "Listen to these Songs, Nephew" List
1. "Jackson, Don't You Worry" by Two Cow Garage- "There's gonna come a time when your little world's coming apart, Cause this whole world is just dying to break your heart." This song is what made me start thinking about this list. When I heard that line, I immediately had the thought that "ya know it's true, there are a ton of things that will happen in his life, but it all turns out alright in the end." When your young those hard times really seem worse than they really are. So, I hope that the song and the line becomes a sort of comforting blanket for him.
2. "Mom" by Lucero- "The road might take it's own course, but at it's end, Mama we're still your boys." I guess this one is self-explanatory. But, just in case, remember that she's always your Mama, and she's done a lot for you. No matter what you've done, and what you've totally messed up, she is always going to love you in the way only a Mom can. Only Lucero could make a song so badass about Moms. I bet Ben Nichols has a "Mom" tattoo.
3. "Forever Young" by Bob Dylan- "May you always do for other, and let others do for you." This one is especially poignant and meaningful for me. For his first gift from me, I gave him the illustrated book of this song. So, I will simply let the song speak for itself since I'm sure everyone is very familiar with it. And not that stupid remake that happened around the Super Bowl with Will.I.Am, ugh.
4. "Reach for the Sky" by Social Distortion- "Reach for the sky cause tomorrow may never come." I would be remiss if I didn't put a song about just sometimes not thinking about the future and just going for it on the list. And, for that song, only Social Distortion could make it not be wayyyy to sentimental. This song opened up their comeback album in 2004 and really set the whole mood of the album which came out after a band member had died. So, yeah.
5. "Lawyers, Guns, and Money" by Warren Zevon- "Send lawyers, guns, and money Dad, get me outta this." Well, we all get one, right? Hopefully he'll never need the 2nd one, but the other two he will have one free pass from me.
6. "Bastards of Young" by The Replacements- "The ones who love us least are the ones we'll die to please." There are probably better Replacements songs to have him listen to, but this one is definitely a great place to start. And it's quite honestly one of my favorite Replacements songs, so hopefully it'll be a good starting point for him to take up a great band. Also, everyone needs an angst ridden song every now and then.
7. "Hey Hey, My My" by Neil Young- "Hey hey, my my, rock and roll will never die." This one is kind of a twofer. Neil Young being one of my favorite artists of all time, and rock and roll being the basis for my love of music. Also, I think I heard that Kurt Cobain was quite fond of the line, "It's better to burn out, than to fade away." So, it gets even more cool points. I hope he likes rock and roll and Neil Young as much as I do. Fingers crossed.
8. "A World of Hurt" by Drive-By Truckers- "It ain't too late to take a deep breath and throw yourself into it with everything you got. It's great to be alive." Another one of those songs that really goes deep into the realm of "things get messed up but they always get better." This song probably does the best at making me feel better about everything, no matter how crazy things get. And to see it done live was one of the best experiences of my life. Not to mention, this is my favorite band.
9. "Atlantic City" by Bruce Springsteen- "Down here it's just winners and losers, and don't get caught on the wrong side of that line." This song kinda takes on a different point of view of that messed up message. I mean, all of Bruce's songs are about messed up situations and people, but this one really stands out for me. The guy in the song is resilient, although you're left wondering what favors he might be doing for whatever questionable guy he met. It was a close call between this and "Born to Run."
10. "Outfit" by Drive-By Truckers- "Don't act like your family's a joke." What can I say about this song that they don't say so perfectly in the song. But, if I could sum up everything I would want him to know/do, then man, it would have to be this song. Just listen. And then listen again.
Honorable Mention
* "Stay Positive" by The Hold Steady!- "We gotta stay positive."
* "Hard Times" by Ryan Bingham- "There's nothin' wrong with your last name, so don't be lookin' for people to blame."
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
We Had Some Massive Nights
Ok, let's start this off by saying that last week I had a miserable sore throat! I went to the Dr on Saturday to get this checked out and was informed that the silly piece of paper the insurance company assured me would suffice, indeed would NOT suffice. Therefore, I was forced to pay 200+ out of pocket to find out that I had throat ulcers- your guess is as good as mine... So, I stay in bed all weekend and wake up Monday morning feeling like I did on Christmas morning (I already saw what I'm getting, but I'm still so excited!!!!). What could make a miserable week/weekend followed by a dreaded Monday so appealing you ask?? The Hold Steady! of course!!
My good friend Andrew had gotten us tickets, wisely it turned out, ahead of time to this sold out show at the 9:30 Club. First, if you have never heard of The Hold Steady!, you should stop what you are doing and go listen to "Your Little Hoodrat Friend" right now to get properly acquainted with our unlikely rock'n'roll hero Craig Finn.
Ok, now that that's outta the way, let's get back on track- The Hold Steady! at 9:30 Club...
The evening started with the band Wintersleep who played spacey indie rock (think Silversun Pickups, except the singer's testicles have actually dropped). They put on a great, rocking opening act which got the crowd even more revved up for the main event. Andrew and I were able to sneak to the front during Wintersleep as the crowd hadn't even gotten to 1/2 of what it would be by the end of the night. After a final, long, extremely well played song by Wintersleep which got a massive roar from the enthusiastic crowd, the masses came from the shadows and into the front of the stage.
Now the evening was getting great. The crowd was absolutely amazing and energetic with not many of those douchebag dudes in painters' hats. Then, George Cos... No, Craig Finn comes out on stage and immediately gets the crowd in the right mindset with an amazing rendition of "Hornets! Hornets!"
If you haven't been to a Hold Steady show, or have heard nothing about them, then you probably don't know that Craig Finn wants 100% crowd participation, and he constantly was goading the crowd to be louder, to clap louder, to jump higher. It was incredible. What ensued for the next 2 hours was complete bliss for both Andrew and me. And as much as we enjoyed what we were witnessing, it was hard not to believe that Craig Finn and company weren't having twice as much fun. The set consisted of old and new songs alike, with the majority seemingly coming from "Boys and Girls in America." I had heard in an interview that the new Hold Steady concert without their old keys player, Franz Nicolay, had turned into more of a jam band type show. As unappealing as that MAY sound to some, the type of jamming that happened here was completely tasteful. Not that Phish crap... Back to the show.
As I said, Craig Finn and company were more revved than the crowd it seemed, and our unlikely rock hero was getting fired up on Diet Coke all night long. By the time they got to the closing song of their first set, "First Night," I was in no way ready to go home and only wished that it wasn't a Monday night which would soon bring a Tuesday work morning... Alas, they came back and ripped through an amazing encore which could barely keep the crowd under control. They ended with "Stay Positive," which just seemed appropriate for one of the best concert experiences I have ever had.
As we were leaving, I looked over to Andrew and he simply said, "Unbelievable." It seemed the only way to explain the experience of The Hold Steady! live in concert, and I would urge anyone and everyone who has the opportunity to go see them to simply do it. There is no way you will be disappointed. Especially when you see a guy who loves his job and life more than conceivable.
I once had a girlfriend tell me, after getting back together, "But, just so you know, I will never like The Hold Steady!" Last night really put that into perspective....
My good friend Andrew had gotten us tickets, wisely it turned out, ahead of time to this sold out show at the 9:30 Club. First, if you have never heard of The Hold Steady!, you should stop what you are doing and go listen to "Your Little Hoodrat Friend" right now to get properly acquainted with our unlikely rock'n'roll hero Craig Finn.
Ok, now that that's outta the way, let's get back on track- The Hold Steady! at 9:30 Club...
The evening started with the band Wintersleep who played spacey indie rock (think Silversun Pickups, except the singer's testicles have actually dropped). They put on a great, rocking opening act which got the crowd even more revved up for the main event. Andrew and I were able to sneak to the front during Wintersleep as the crowd hadn't even gotten to 1/2 of what it would be by the end of the night. After a final, long, extremely well played song by Wintersleep which got a massive roar from the enthusiastic crowd, the masses came from the shadows and into the front of the stage.
Now the evening was getting great. The crowd was absolutely amazing and energetic with not many of those douchebag dudes in painters' hats. Then, George Cos... No, Craig Finn comes out on stage and immediately gets the crowd in the right mindset with an amazing rendition of "Hornets! Hornets!"
I once had a girlfriend tell me, after getting back together, "But, just so you know, I will never like The Hold Steady!" Last night really put that into perspective....
First Post
Alright folks,
I have decided to start a blog site for my musical experiences, good or bad. We'll see how long this will continue, but I hope to be somewhat entertaining. If you think it's awesome let me know, if you think it's absolute shit, please let me know kindly. I am going to post later about a great show a friend and I attended last night. I have a multitude of shows at different venues coming up in the next few weeks, so please stay posted for more information on where and when. I'd love to have y'all come to these shows with me, but if not, I'd love to simply introduce you to bands that are flying under the radar that you probably should know.
Read it or don't, it's all the same to me!
I have decided to start a blog site for my musical experiences, good or bad. We'll see how long this will continue, but I hope to be somewhat entertaining. If you think it's awesome let me know, if you think it's absolute shit, please let me know kindly. I am going to post later about a great show a friend and I attended last night. I have a multitude of shows at different venues coming up in the next few weeks, so please stay posted for more information on where and when. I'd love to have y'all come to these shows with me, but if not, I'd love to simply introduce you to bands that are flying under the radar that you probably should know.
Read it or don't, it's all the same to me!
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