July 27, 2009 at 6:50 am (music)
Tags: album review, bands, ben harper, music, relentless 7, rock, white lies for dark times
Y’all know I love me some Ben Harper. But I have to say I am a little disappointed with his latest musical venture, playing with Relentless 7, a garage band from Austin. The studio album, White Lies for Dark Times, is Ben’s 10th and not terrible, but somehow it falls a little flat. And they’re not that great live. This is so strange, because I used to say the opposite about Ben’s other stuff when he plays with the Innocent Criminals, who are so polished musically. That music is all right on the CD but amazing live. And that one sentence tends to sum up most of the (modern) music I like.
I thought I’d really dig the new stuff because it is a lot more rocking and amped, and I tend to like that to a certain extent. I will usually take gut-wrenching, wailing guitars and power chords over plaintive, high-voiced whining. But it’s gotta have a groove to it, and that’s what is missing from the Relentless 7 music. Maybe I’m judging too soon. Maybe I should watch this new DVD Swamp made me some more so I can absorb his hotness — I mean, give the music another listen. Now, if I could get a DVD of Ben Harper and Jack Johnson, or better yet tickets to a show they’re both playing…I’d be pretty happy. My birthday is October 4th. Peace!
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May 7, 2009 at 5:12 am (books)
Tags: bands, books, drugs, grateful dead, hippies, max ludington, music, reading, reviews, tiger in a trance, tourheads, writing
Currently reading. Enjoying the descriptive prowess and the authentic dialogue.
From the New York Books Review: “What a surprise, then, to see such a hard-edged, unsentimental book emerge from the tie-dye vat. Tiger in a Trance, Max Ludington’s oddly-named first novel (the phrase is from the Grateful Dead’s “Saint of Circumstance”), with its blotter-acid jacket, is actually a work of clear-eyed realism in psychedelic disguise.”
Update: After reading this post, Jenny said, “Um, but what’s it about?” It’s about a guy who’s following the Dead around the country and the experiences he has with other people on tour and the “scene.” It’s just a perspective from which you don’t often see novels written. Plus, y’all know the hippie in me had to love it. 
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April 27, 2009 at 2:59 am (music)
Tags: andrew bird, bands, classical, concerto, glockenspiel, indie rock, music, musicians, nigel kennedy, radiohead, symphony, tchailkovsky, violin, whistling
Yesterday I played violin in public for the first time in at least a couple of years. I took lessons beginning at age 4 and continued playing pretty actively up until I was about 18 or 19. Since then I’ve just picked it up every now and then to play in various weddings. When people ask me why I stopped playing, I always say, “I did it for so many years, I think I just got really burned out.” When people asked me why I wasn’t majoring in music in college, I said, “I don’t want to end up resenting it because I have to do it. I want it to always be a choice.” And I think that philosophy has served me well. When I played yesterday, I chose to do it. I could have said no. And for the first time in a long time, I actually enjoyed it.
I was trained classically, but my parents are very into Celtic music, so I can fiddle a little bit, too. There are many classical violinists I have admired, but I’m always really fascinated by people who use their violin in totally innovative ways musically. For example, Boyd Tinsley, the violinist for Dave Matthews Band, is amazing. And there will always be a special place in my heart for Nigel Kennedy — the British punk-rock classical violinist who plays the best Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto I’ve ever heard and looks like a rock star (mohawk, earrings, etc.) in the process. He brings rock and roll passion to the symphony.
Happily, I’ve just discovered Andrew Bird. His primary instrument is violin, but he is also “musically proficient in guitar, mandolin, whistling, and glockenspiel.” Can you imagine having that on your resume? Awesome. Anyway, he has a degree in violin performance and is also classically trained. He played with the Squirrel Nut Zippers back in the 1990’s (if anyone outside North Carolina even remembers them). He had another band called Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire, and now he is a solo artist. He does some really interesting things with his violin. Rolling Stone describes his sound as “emotive indie-rock with chamber music experimentalism, with lyrics that refer to arcane subjects like mitosis and Cypriots,” and “jazz-quintet doing a Radiohead impression.” Hmm, I wonder what Radiohead would sound like if they had a violin.
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April 21, 2009 at 3:26 am (music)
Tags: 2004 reunion tour, bands, bono, charlotte, concerts, DVD, music, nc, parents, pixies, U2
The first concert I ever attended was U2 (Zooropa Tour) at the Charlotte Coliseum in 1989. I was in 7th grade. I went with my parents and the oldest son of my parents’ best friends. We were all huge U2 fans, and it was an awesome show. My mom was maybe the biggest fan of us all — she loved Bono and listened to U2 records almost every night while she made dinner and I wrote my spelling words over and over. The concert was even on a school night, and I got to leave school early so we could make the 90 minute drive to Charlotte. I have the coolest parents ever. Can you believe I wasn’t even embarrassed to be there with them? In 7th grade?
The opening band that night was the Pixies. At that age, I couldn’t really appreciate what I was hearing. I was looking at Frank Black screaming on stage and thinking, “This is noise.” I mean, at the time I was listening primarily to early Beatles records, so I just wasn’t there yet. Since then I’ve realized how amazingly innovative they were/are. Mainly due to repeated exposure by an ex-boyfriend who considered them The Best Band Ever. They grew on me slowly, but now I love them. I love the fact that you can’t really compare them to any other band. They have a sound and style that is completely unique. Definitely one of the most influential and important bands of the last 20 years. And I don’t care if you disagree. Even Kurt Cobain said Nirvana would never have existed without the Pixies. This DVD of the 2004 reunion tour is freakin’ awesome. Been thinking about it a lot lately and wanting to watch it again. If you haven’t seen it, you need to.
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April 15, 2009 at 5:39 am (music, performing arts, travel)
Tags: bands, colorado, concerts, denver, music, red rocks, string cheese incident, travel
Hands down, the coolest venue at which I’ve ever attended a concert. I saw String Cheese Incident there in July 2002. Highlights included the enormous sandstone formations everywhere, the steepness which provides a good view from every seat, and the view of the Denver skyline behind the stage. Very good memories.
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March 23, 2009 at 5:00 am (music)
Tags: bands, built to spill, indie, music, rock
As I’ve mentioned before, my friend grantmasterflash gave me a ton of new music to absorb last fall. I mean, so much that I still haven’t gotten through it all yet. More often than not, I have my iPod set to shuffle, and I try not to look at the display. I really like experiencing new music with no information about the band’s name or genre or reputation. Usually if something I don’t recognize starts to play, and I don’t like it, I’ll just skip it without looking. But if I really like it, I look. (This makes it easier for me to remember the names of the bands I like as opposed to the ones I skipped past. I am dangerously close to needing the 80GB iPod.) Every time I’ve looked down recently to see what was playing because I loved it, it has been something by Built to Spill. This band was included on grantmasterflash’s Loads ‘O Tunes disc.
One of the best descriptions I’ve read of their music says they’re great at “mixing classic rock-influenced guitar solos and quaint folk sounds with psychedelic effects and high-pitched melodies.” You can’t quite figure out what that would sound like, right? That’s why it’s so impressive to hear them pull it off.
YouTube has a bunch of concert footage here. If you’re interested, my favorite album so far is You in Reverse. Listen to the whole thing for free online here. And then buy it if you like it.
Good stuff!
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March 16, 2009 at 1:10 pm (Musical Monday)
Tags: 1980s, bands, bon jovi, cassettes, elementary school, flu, gifts, hair bands, metal, music, playground, recess, sick, swing sets, walkman
Are you laughing yet? I’m really not a Bon Jovi fan. When I was in the 5th grade (1988), I had the flu, and my dad wanted to buy me a present to make me feel better. I asked for the cassette tape of Bon Jovi’s album, “New Jersey.” I don’t remember why I liked it at the time. It was the first cassette tape (of popular music, anyway) that I ever owned. I heard “Lay Your Hands on Me” driving home from work today and thought, “Why did I like this when I was 10?” I still have no clue what about it appealed to me. But any time I hear a song from that album (“Bad medicine is what I need, whoa-a-oh!”), I will always remember being sick and in 5th grade and getting my first tape. And everyone thought I was really cool when I got better and went back to school, too. We passed my Walkman around on the playground while twisting our swings tighter and tighter, like a telephone cord. Then we’d cling to one of the front poles on the swing set, and let go on the count of three, spiralling and zig-zagging backwards, kicking up wood chips, enjoying the sporadic and unpredictable movement in the middle of a militarily structured day.
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February 23, 2009 at 8:06 am (Musical Monday, music, travel)
Tags: acoustic syndicate, bands, beach, charleston, live music, music, pour house, venue
Went to Charleston, SC this weekend to see Acoustic Syndicate at the Pour House. Awesome show, awesome venue. Since Ziggy’s is no longer in existence (sadly), this has to be my new favorite place to see live music. Just the right size, good acoustics, good beer, places to sit, comfortable outdoor area. Two stages, two bars. My only complaint is that it is relatively hard to maneuver yourself from the bar to the floor to the restroom and so forth if it’s very crowded. I think every hippie in South Carolina (and a few from North Carolina, like us) turned out for this show — it was their first since returning from playing in Jamaica, and we were all suffering from withdrawal!
If you want a copy of the recording, leave a comment! Taper Nerd recorded sound, and Jen videotaped!
Stay tuned for more details on the rest of the trip on Travel Wednesday!
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January 19, 2009 at 4:58 am (Musical Monday, music)
Tags: bands, gavin degraw, john mayer, music, ryan montbleau band
My friend Jen and her lovely husband, Taper Nerd, introduced me to this band a few months ago after seeing them live several times. They are from Massachusetts and are often compared musically to Martin Sexton. Ryan’s voice reminds me of Gavin DeGraw. When I told Taper Nerd this, he said, “Gavin Who?” Waaay too mainstream for these people. So perhaps Ryan Montbleau is the Gavin DeGraw for the anti-mainstream set. They bring a lot of different styles into their music, so it would be unfair to say, “Well, they’re a jam band,” or “They play zydeco,” or “Folksy singer-songwriter stuff.” It’s jazzy, bluesy, bluegrassy, jammy, funky, and soulful all rolled into one. This is music that’s appropriate for all occasions, from ping pong night with the guys to wine and gossip with the girls, a long road trip or a lazy afternoon. It’s fun, and they don’t take themselves so seriously, like that douche John Mayer. They have a song about breakfast, for Pete’s sake. I love pleasant surprises, and this band definitely qualifies.
You can download some shows for free here. Or you can leave a comment and I’ll try to get you a copy from Taper Nerd.
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December 29, 2008 at 6:36 pm (Musical Mondays, music)
Tags: bands, bon iver, music, Musical Mondays, snarky critics
I’m finally caught up! Today is Monday, and I am actually doing my Monday music post! Whew.
I think I have pretty great musical taste. But I also live in the South, in a relatively small city (pop. 225,000). We are not exactly cutting edge in the trend department down here. I’ve been listening to a lot of the same (great) stuff for years. And after every issue of my Rolling Stone subscription, I think, “Man, I’ve never even heard of so many of these bands, but they sound like they would be awesome.” Luckily, I have friends with more diverse tastes who have been introducing me to new things. And also luckily, there are plenty of places to preview music online before you commit to buying it. So I’m trying to branch out.
My latest favorite: Bon Iver (pronounced “bohn eevair”), indie folk singer-songwriter Justin Vernon’s current band. I have to credit my friend Grantmasterflash with this discovery. I listen to NPR, but apparently not enough to have found him on my own. Grantmasterflash made me some very awesome CDs of new music, and I continue to appreciate them on a daily basis.
Even though the independently released debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago, was recorded in a remote cabin in freezing-your-ass-off Wisconsin, it sounds warm, real, earthy – like listening to vinyl records in a dark room with dusty hardwood floors, by a roaring fireplace with shadows dancing on the walls. I read a review on Slate that described his singing as “mournful gurgling,” and I literally wanted to email the author and tell her that snarky has its place and it is not in a review about my new favorite band. Okay, so I can’t understand every single thing he’s saying. Name one band about which this is not true. That. Is. What. Google. Is. For.
Listen to the song “Skinny Love” here.
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