Soul Food

Day One at SXSW

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 07:31:36 GMT

Day One in Austin is in the books and it seems destined to be the lightest of the four main days of SXSW. Still, I was able to knock three must-see acts off my list. Only one of them disappointed.

It was a day of running around and quickly remembering how to get places. The best way to do SXSW seems to let the day show schedule fall into place on the fly, as you zip up and down Sixth Street. The night shows I try to plan a little more, charting out the most desirable options and making sure I'm not passing on anything I'll not have another chance to see.

Even before Wednesday kicked off, I had spent some time in a downtown club. That Tuesday night show featured a horde of San Francisco SXSW bands and Detroit's Tyvek. The stand-out was the Oh Sees, the current project of Coachwhips mastermind John Dwyer. It's still a lo-fi affair, but there's a tighter, matured pop craftmanship going into the Oh Sees than any of Dwyer's past projects. But Dwyer still moves like a madman and keeps the pace quick. The Fresh & Only brought a different rock 'n' roll experience with a Southern-sounding heap of guitar rock.

Wednesday brought both surprises, both in surpassed expectations and slight disappointments. Credit Wavves, Pains of Being Pure at Heart and the Heartless Bastards for bringing more to the table than what was asked. Heartless Bastards soared on the backs on their newest album The Mountain. Those songs, delivered by a cohesive, energetic band, gave singer Erika Wennerstrom a chance to send out spinal cord chills down backs. It's when her simple songs melded blues rock muscle to her inner alt.country chanteuse that made the set. One quibble: the band's older material stills hews close to forgettable blues bar band territory.

Wavves succeeded with just the right sense of how to mess up a good pop song. The two-piece band ably writes updated slices of surf rock and 60's pop, but its when you hear just how beautifully they sit inside the band's bowl of lo-fi garage racket that really amazes. Pains of Being Pure at Heart's achievement isn't as surprising, but it's certainly stuck in my head. The Brooklyn dream-pop revivalists made a strong case for not being written off as a shoegaze tribute. That's because there's an indelible, unforgettable quality about the band's simple, fuzzy pop songs, especially with the singer's twee vocal delivery.

Unfortunately, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears bore the disappointment label. Lewis' two recent Lost Highway releases reveal a new player on the retro soul/funk scene. The cleanliness of those recordings carry over, with a sound that goes for replication instead of reinvention. The only thing different from those old soul singers is that Lewis saddles himself with guitar playing, when he should be sweating like James Brown.

All in all, it was a busy day with a few bands getting left in my dust after a few songs. Here's the final tally.

Addictive: Oh Sees, Heartless Bastards, Wavves, Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Memorable: Fresh & Onlys, Tyvek, Psychedelic Horseshit, Dikes of Holland, Phenomenal Handclap Band, Thomas Function, Vetiver
Listenable: Anathallo, Greg Laswell, Port O'Brien, Black Joe Lewis, Cut Off Your Hands, Peter Bjorn & John
Soon to be Forgotten: Maus Haus, Laryatta, Loney Dear, Themselves, Fol-chen, Porcelain, Young Love, Lovely Sparrows

SXSW Pre-Game Warm-up

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:23:30 GMT

I've not even set foot in Texas and I already feel fatigued. There's just no possible way I'm going to see all I want to see by week's end. I've barely been able to wrap my mind around what I want to see. But I am armed and ready. I've logged in all the official showcases I want to check out and I've put in RSVP's for just about every semi-private day show I could find. Now I just need to will myself to look through and whittle my list down to what I must absolutely see. That basically makes it a list of people that might soon be dead and people that won't be caught dead playing in Nebraska in 2009.

So here's my must-see list:
Heartless Bastards
Hymns
TV Ghost
No Age
Sam Roberts Band
Crystal Stilts
King Khan and the Shrines
The Wrens
Primal Scream
Ed Harcourt
Mika Miko
Red Red Meat
Human Eye
The Intelligence
Cause Co-Motion!
Tim Easton
The Drones
Black Joe Lewis
Blank Dogs
Echo and the Bunnymen
Andre Williams
Golden Boys

I will be posting daily updates that will pop up in a variety of places. Those are:
niteclubjitters.livejournal.com/
www.youtube.com/user/niteclubjitters – video updates here: SXSW Raw Feed
www.omahacityweekly.com/

and because he's a nice guy, I'll be a brief contributor to Tim McMahan's Lazy-I blog at www.timmcmahan.com/lazyeye.htm

Also, any interested Nebraskans, I'm hoping to convene a tiny burger-loving delegation to eat at Casino el Camino on Sixth Street Friday around 11:45 a.m.

Eventually Rock!

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:32:33 GMT

Marah tonight. Hope they play some gems off "Kids in Philly" and "Let's Cut the Crap..."

CANCEL CHRISTMAS

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 14:54:01 GMT

James Brown is dead.

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-12-25T133826Z_01_N25340534_RTRUKOC_0_UK-BROWN-DEATH.xml&WTmodLoc=Top+News-C1-Headline-6

For now on, this is what people will think of when the calendar hits Dec. 25th.

Sun, 11 Jun 2006 16:13:20 GMT

HEAT OF THE BEAT!
HEAT OF THE BEAT!
GREAT GOD ALMIGHTY!
IT'S THE HEAT OF THE BEAT!

Brimstone Howl is doing that touring thing and their new Heat of the Beat single is a fucking monster. http://www.myspace.com/brimstonehowl

Here's some tour dates:
Jun 11 2006 8:00P
Talking Head - Baltimore w/Fyuss, +1 TBA Baltimore, MD
Jun 13 2006 8:00P
Jolie Rough - Asheville w/Labiators, Kazalok Asheville, NC
Jun 15 2006 9:00P
Alligator Alley - Ft Lauderdate FLA Fort Lauderdale, FL
Jun 16 2006 8:00P
Will's South - Orlando w/Jeannie & the Tits, Fashion Fashion & the Image Boys Orlando, FL
Jun 17 2006 8:00P
Lenny's - Atlanta w/lots of bands Atlanta, GA
Jun 21 2006 8:00P
Cell Block - Mobile AL w/Hibachi Stranglers, Kazalok, 3 more Mobile, AL
Jun 22 2006 8:00P
Circle Bar - New Orleans w/Kazalok, Guacos New Orleans, LA
Jun 24 2006 8:00P
Beerland - Austin w/that Damn Town (Last Show), Golden Boys Austin, TX
Jun 25 2006 8:00P
Bar O Soap - Dallas w/the Tah Dahs, Kazalok Dallas, TX
Jun 26 2006 8:00P
Whitewater Tavern - Little Rock, AR w/Kazalok Little Rock, AR
Jun 27 2006 8:00P
The Exchange - Hot Springs AR w/attractive + popular & Kazalok Hot Springs, AK
Jun 28 2006 8:00P
Hal and Mal's - Jackson, MS w/Kazalok Jackson, MS
Jun 29 2006 8:00P
Hi -Tone - Memphis w/Barbaras, Kazalok, Jeffrey Evans Memphis, TN
Jun 30 2006 8:00P
Blue Fugue - Columbia, MO w/Monte Carlos Columbia, MO
Jul 1 2006 8:00P
Replay Lounge - Lawrence, KS Lawrence, KS
Jul 2 2006 8:00P
Fred P. Otts - KC w/Litigators Kansas CIty, MO
Jul 4 2006 10:00P
O'leaver's - Omaha w/ The Barbaras & Wesley Coleman Omaha, NE

This is the heavy vampire sound.

Mon, 19 Dec 2005 19:37:33 GMT

Happy Birthday to me.

I got myself the Black Time's Blackout CD.

Now for a cliched rock 'n' roll name-dropping summation of Black Time:
Billy Childish meets Mark E. Smith and they front a Guitar Wolf cover band.

Hmm

Wed, 30 Nov 2005 21:07:20 GMT

The year is almost over and I haven't even thought about my favorite records yet. I do know there's a lot I liked this year.

I've probably listened to the Ponys - Celebration Castle and the Hold Steady - Separation Sunday the most this year. The Deadly Snakes' new one is really good too.

Hmm, now off to brainstorm.

The Black Lips - Let It Bloom

Wed, 23 Nov 2005 05:11:04 GMT

Go get this album. It's both pretty and messy, often at the same time.

More thoughts later. I'm still listening.

Bright Eyes/Spoon ticket for sale

Wed, 09 Nov 2005 06:51:49 GMT

Nov. 11, Orpheum, Omaha. Row W, Seat 121. It's on the aisle, on the floor level. Spoon, Bright Eyes, David Dondero, Willy Mason. Starts at 8 p.m.

I paid $26 for it. I tried to eBay it, but nothing works out for me ever. Something about auctions having to last three days. Also, my friend's computer wouldn't load it. I was going to use her eBay account. She didn't want to bother putting in the information a second time and trying to reload it.

So I guess I'll take face value for it.

some list thing cos candace made me

Sat, 05 Nov 2005 19:53:50 GMT

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they're any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your Livejournal along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they're listening to.

1. The Fight by the dB's
2. The Closer by Marah
3. Running Scared by Roy Orbison
4. Cocksucking Mouth by the Street Urchins
5. Carey by Scott Severin
6. Sissy Blues by the Deadly Snakes
7. Black and White by the dB's

I tag ...
ronin_wannabe
oh_my_bride
shock_rock
tigeronvaseline
turtle_hump
_shesrubbish
nyx03

blown away for the first time in awhile

Fri, 04 Nov 2005 16:51:37 GMT

I saw Okkervil River last night on suggestion from my friend Quentin.I have to saw I was floored. Rough-around-the-edges folk rock, with no qualms about getting loud. But they also made great use of a trumpet, mandolin and an accordion. Now I have to hunt down some records. I also stole a girl's bike last night... but only for like three blocks.

In other news, I've had Black and White by the dB's on my mind the last few days.

not quite out of style

Tue, 01 Nov 2005 19:28:10 GMT

Street Urchins. Final Lincoln show. Duffy's. 10 p.m. Wednesday night. That's tomorrow. Brimstone Howl opens. $4 cover.

sex beat, drop!

Mon, 31 Oct 2005 04:45:03 GMT

Fire of Love by the Gun Club has to be one of the most underappreciated records of all time.

Johnny's got a light in his eyes and Shirley's got a light on her lips
Jakes got a monkeyshine on his head and Debra Ann's got a tiger in her hips
they can twist and turn they can move and burn
they can throw themselves against the wall
but they creep for what they need
and they explode to the call and then they move
move
Sex beat, go

They're stupid like I told ya, very stupid like ya saw
very stupid as the simple thought of ever thinking at all
and all their mind, all their souls all their bodies all we know
all we know all the things that should a made us whole
all the colourless security was all that someone could go and move, move
Sex beat, drop

and yes you do look cool and by the floodlights so blue
you make my tropical apartment bed, your sacrificial pool
my body in the water and my heart is in your hand
so this is the way you choose to send me to the judgement land
so you can't move, move oohh..sex beat, go

and every day I agree you throw me down by the christmas tree
I watched your lights blink on and off while you start your fun with me
I, I know your reasons and I, I know your goals
we can fuck forever but you will never get my soul
just so you can move
so you can move
so you can move
so you can move so you can
oohh... Sex beat

back in black

Thu, 27 Oct 2005 18:44:41 GMT

I have a computer now, a pee cee running on Windows XP. It sucks. It plays no sound. It does not have a Firewire port for hooking up an MP3 player.

I might go see a few shows over the weekend including:

- The Standard tomorrow (Friday) at the Sokol
- Scott Severin and Matt Whipkey Halloween night at Goofy Foot
- Ex-Models with the Lepers Tuesday at O'Leaver's

Then there appears to be nothing worth noting until Nov. 7, when the Chromatics play O'Leaver's.

i've just lost a shitton of music

Thu, 13 Oct 2005 00:03:59 GMT

cos my computer got stolen.

Sometimes I need a whore

Sun, 09 Oct 2005 10:14:24 GMT

And another midwest rock band bites the dust. The Street Urchins played their final Omaha show before calling it quits. An Iowan date still is scheduled opening for the Danzig-less Misfits. But after that, the Nebraska-Iowa area will be without one of its greatest sleazy glam metal garage rock bands.

The last Omaha show was onke of the booziest things I've ever been to. Fuckin' A, this post is taking a grand effort. I'm still fucked. There was also a post-show cops encounter.

The Darkness - One Way Ticket

Fri, 07 Oct 2005 16:56:20 GMT

Who wants a fuckload of falsetto and "aren't we so cheesy" hair metal parody? That's right, the Darkness are back to try to make you think that they are mocking Scorpion as they inadvertently become the new Warrant. The song is pretty unremarkable, but IM me if ya want it.

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I believe in doing things backwords

Fri, 07 Oct 2005 16:40:24 GMT

I just found some demos for the first Crowded House album online, I can't suss out whether these are the ones they recorded as the Mullanes with Craig Hooper or something they demoed up afterwards. The versions of "Now We're Getting Somewhere", "That's What I Call Love" and "Walking On the Spot" are different from the versions they ended up in on record. "Hole In The River" starts out with a scuzzy quasi-soul lick on the piano and there's some raving between the verses. "Love You 'Til The Day I Die" is grittier than anything on the self-titled Crowdies record. "Recurring Dream" and "Can't Carry On" are pretty much in recognizable form. There's also a demo version of "Don't Dream It's Over," but the person who posted the demos said it was not from the same place as the other seven.

Pussy stank, but so does marijuana!

Sun, 02 Oct 2005 17:18:18 GMT

So Friday night, I went to see this bad motherfucker named Andre Williams. He played a set in Iowa and it was pretty damn cool.

Afterwards my friend Dave and I hung out with him backstage and Dave was kind enough to offer Andre some smoke. During this, Andre notices my leather jacket and requests to try it on. As soon as he check it out in the mirror, he says, "I gotta have this jacket."

He's the Black Godfather. He wrote "Bacon Fat", "Shake a Tailfeather, produced numerous records in the Motown-era and hung out with Ike and Tina Turner. He's prowled the streets of Chicago as a junkie and recovered from that to cut records with the Dirtbombs, the Sadies and Jon Spencer. Seriously, this man could have taken the jacket for free. He's now 70 and he still can bring it when he sings such love odes as "Pussy Stank" and "Let Me Put It In"

But he insisted on giving me some cash for it. We settled on thirty bucks. Then afterwards, Andre came out to the front of the venue where we forced Dave to play a little piano for him. This started what essentially was a rum-soaked Detroit-style songwriting session. Andre drank his Bacardi rum straight up and tried to get Dave to play different keys. Eventually Andre, donned in what was formerly my jacket, improv-ed a song for Dave and then provided the follow-up single as well. The first song basically consisted of "if you steal my woman, I'll kill ya." I don't remember the second one. Anyway, Andre Williams is one baddd motherfucker.

New Strokes single

Tue, 20 Sep 2005 20:53:08 GMT

It's called Juicebox. Who wants it?

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single

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Jacksonville City Nights

Tue, 20 Sep 2005 05:49:25 GMT

Smoke it if ya got it. I'll be listening to it just as soon as I have it all.

Grandaddy - Excerpts from the Diary of Todd Zilla

Thu, 15 Sep 2005 16:42:46 GMT

Seven new Grandaddy songs on one E.P. I think this will only be available in independent music stores and online. All songs by Jason Lytle and recorded at his home studio. I'm only three songs in, but it sounds pretty good so far. The first song is one of the hardest driving Grandaddy pop songs I've ever heard.

So I just snagged...

Mon, 12 Sep 2005 23:19:52 GMT

Soviettes - LP III

Immortal Lee County Killers 3 - These Bones Will Rise To Love You Again

Wonderful Canadians

Mon, 12 Sep 2005 17:13:51 GMT

The Deadly Snakes - Porcella:

What can't the Deadly Snakes do? After three records of increasingly great garage punk, the Deadly Snakes mull their love of British Invasion pop. Blues, folk and raw reimagining of that Zombies pop sound. This could be the best I hear all year.

The Constantines - Tournament of Hearts:

Ontario's mightiest band prove to be consistent performers after the marvelous "Shine A Light". This record gets by through restraint and some of the most beautiful lines Bry Webb has sung/proclaimed. The keyboard work compliments songs like "Love In Fear" wonderfully.

Franz Ferdinand - Do You Want To? video

Mon, 12 Sep 2005 04:16:39 GMT

I'm not the only one who thinks this clip reminds them of True Colours-era Split Enz. That said, the song is growing on me. Nothing great, but certainly catchy.

MOV file:
http://pdl.stream.aol.com/aol/us/aolmusic/artists/sony/franzferdinand/franzferdinand_doyouwantto_dl.mov