Cinema Cinema - Ravenous - Harness Flux - Don Zientara -- Black Cat - Mar 30 2013

Don Zientara - We may have all been better served on the smaller stage tonight as there were all of nine people here to see the start of tonight's show (maybe 8, I think I counted a BC staffer). This is the first time I've seen Don Zientara even though I have known the name for thirty years as it has graced production credits of so many of the essential DC records over the years. I have heard he is one of the more laid-back nice guys that you would ever want to meet, and his stage personality indicated that as well as he was relaxed and enjoyed presenting his folkier material. That is until he said that was enough of the folk-shit and went into something funkier. Still, it was mostly folk with delicate flat picking through chords and his comforting vocals. Aside from one number that seemed to be arranged for a band, this was a solid set and I would welcome him on a variety of bills.

Harness Flux - Another one-man show with an acoustic guitar that sounded a little more electric and then a full fledged distorted electric guitar making the noise behind the vocals. He also briefly used a drum machine and did a bit of looping for his spacey solos. Basically, this was a solo set crying out for the band that was not there. There is solid psyche-rock material here and as I write this review, I read that I have seen this guy before in the band the Cheniers. I hope he tries to fill out a band further as I am not sure there is quite enough individual sound here to carry the way, yet clearly there is a lot of skill here and some decent songs. More beats and a thick bottom would allow my taste buds to pull out more from this set.

Ravenous - At least 40 people have made it into the club by now, so while it still would have worked better downstairs, there is a nice crowd assembled at the foot of the stage to see this local quartet. I just reviewed their record which was quite enjoyable, and this set was right in line with that. They have a guitarist/vocalist, a bassist and two percussionists. One has the standard drum kit, one a smaller kit that he stands at. I would have liked to seen more percussion interplay as it had a bit of that Melvins lock-in style to it (although not as metronomically scary as the Melvins). I still hear a lot of early Flaming Lips here with brazen hard and twisted psyche moves and high pitched vocal intensity. It is heavy while staying playful and fun. It was a bit ragged at times, but they were having fun along with the crowd and when they lowered their heads and let it rip, all was well.


Cinema Cinema - This was the modern two-piece rock band with electric guitar and vocals up front and drummer in the back. For this line-up to work with me, it better be noisy, loud, creative, and with quality playing skills. Check, check, check, and check as these guys quickly established a heavy psychedelic blast force worthy of a band three times the size. On the creative front, I almost heard Chrome or even MX-80 Sound melodies being played at loud death metal volume. The vocals were crazed and not over-used with the instrumental portion carrying the weight. The drummer has some creative rock rhythms in his arsenal and the guitarist understands harnessed metallic noise. They segued everything into a non-stop blur of songs, with only one break to announce their last song and such. This NYC band will hopefully make it back here as there are a lot of heavy music fans around here that would enjoy this sound.

Quote of the Night: Don Zientara scanning the vast space in what was a huge club dotted with less than a dozen people... "I feel like I know each one of you so intimately--oh yes!"

RECORD REVIEWS - MARCH 2013

BELLS AND HUNTERS "WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS"

Bells and Hunters has such a relaxed way of presented their style of rock'n'roll. There are elements of classic rock, Americana, blues, lounge, and garage pop music in their particular brand. They play it straight and pure and have such an earnest attitude, that it works well both on stage and here on this eight song LP. I am impressed with the nice variety of sounds they coax out these songs. They change the guitars to work with the lyrical themes and root of the music. Of course, the more down and dirty the guitar is, the more I dig in and there are fine examples here. But there are horns and plenty of vocal harmonies to mix it up as well. The writing is starting to shine through more on this album than what I had previously picked up from their live sets. But that may be due to the arrangement choices they make here and the solid production. This one scores very high on the likability index with an above average height on the quality scale and should be worth a listen for fans of straight up American roots rock music.

BELLS AND HUNTERS celebrate the release of this album, tonight  (Friday, March 29th) at Iota.

Songs to try out first:

73 - There is a sultry lounge feeling with guitars that alternate from delicate to rocking. Great atmosphere in this song.

She Wants to Roll - Good rock song with catchy chorus, great snarling guitar sound in rhythm, and crisp lead work on top--it reminds me of 21st Century reunited Electric Prunes sound.

Grey Before the Dawn - Slower, bluesier tune with acoustic guitar and voice.

SILVER LINERS "BLISS" EP

This young local band has established a solid presence on the local scene the last few years with highly professional and emotionally engaging sets of modern rock music. Their live shows continue to draw large audiences with their energetic, yet danceable music. They have a brand new three song EP out that leans more toward the dance side of the equation. Their thick sound is stronger than ever with these three songs yet there are more keyboards and electronics than guitar. That is often the case with with many dance oriented bands when comparing their live sound to their records. Frankly, it is a good way to present danceable pop rock music, although it never quite resonates for me as strongly as it will on stage. The melodies and vocal work is as strong as ever especially evident on "Shine On", which shines on with its old school synthesizer, distant backing vocals and powerful chorus. The production is effective here with a shimmering feeling throughout. I find the Silver Liners to be an interesting band that could capture loads of music fans if their music catches on in all the right places. Although I may prefer their more rocking live set (coming from someone who deeply wishes he could enjoy New Order even one tenth as much as he loved Joy Division), this record will resonate with a broader based crowd and I still believe big things await this band.

DALE AND THE ZDUBS "LEAVE THE DRAMA"

Although known for uptempo mostly reggae based live shows, Dale and ZDubs show off a wide array of worldly moves on this long player. They begin with sounds that could have come from Shaft meets Superfly. After a metal guitar solo, they move into world beats, then some reggae before heading off into indie pop land complete with strings. And that is just four of the eleven songs. Yet it always sounds like the same band, which is the way to succeed with diverse music. Things settle down a bit more as the album rolls along, songwriting ways, but the energy is always there. At their worst, they sound like a great live band putting down some of their staples. But at their best, they nail down some rock songs that defy eras and simply deliver the goods, albeit with some chops well beyond simplistic. They surprised me a little here as I often expect energetic party-atmosphere styled live bands to not be as creative. Not to worry here, as there are several outstanding songs that anyone would be proud of.

DALE and the ZDUBS celebrate the release of this album at Bayou (on Penn) on Saturday, March 30th.

Songs to try out first:

When She Smiles - Gotta love that Isaac Hayes style guitar work offsetting the smooth vocals.

Man in White - This song is almost delicate. I love how it goes out quietly and leaves a small chill.

Leave the Drama - This defines the harder edge of the band with all the signature rhythmic elements and vocal works… and a spooky organ bit even if only for a few seconds seals the deal for me.

NO BLITZ "NEVER SATISFIED"

This band does not try to reinvent anything in particular, yet they possess a nice creative flourish to their straight forward hard rock approach. They know their way with melody and dynamic shifts to keep their material fresh and inviting. I hear a lot of influences here, but it's a pinch here and a dash there, without anything overtly obvious at any one time. Although, if forced to choose, they offer a slightly rawer version of what Kattatonia or Baroness may offer. This is a hot little record here and clearly shows off enough rock moves where one can anticipate an exciting night in the clubs with No Blitz. Sorry I missed their recent show, but hope to catch them in the clubs sometime soon.

Songs to try out first:

This is for You - The opener does what an opener should, rock firm and hard in a melodic fashion.

Unreal - I am sure they did not intend to answer the Wipers question/song "Is This Real" but the early Wipers rhythm in here was a major connect for this Wipers fanatic.

Aim to Please - The vocal work is excellent and there is a main street American rock feeling that works in a good way.

RAVENOUS "SPLENDID"

 

This local band describes their sound a reminiscent of Pavement. That is true enough and I also hear some early Flaming Lips in there, as well, particularly in the vocals. Like those bands, there are some crazy fun weirdly rocking songs that twist away as easily as hit you in the face. Like those bands, this style somewhat wears me out in the long term, but the highlights here are tremendous fun. It is all fairly melodic when you listen beyond the feedback parts and could be played very simply if desired. But that does not happen for more than a few minutes here or there. If you like your indie on the crazy side, yet have the patience to let a band pull back and deliver intriguing pop nuggets, then this band would be worthy of your listening time.

They celebrate this album and more at the Black Cat this Saturday, March 30th.

Songs to try out first:

Hiway Holmes - Nice rhythmic crunch with swirling noise surrounding it all, and there is a pop song in here, too.

The Night - Crazy slide guitar and vocal work remind me of a noisy update on the classic Gun Club sound.

Miami Viceroys - Bleeding guitar moves atop pounding rhythms and off kilter vocals. What is not to like?

TARTUFI "THESE FACTORY DAYS"

This is a slippery album here. It is constantly flowing, yet the stream quickly moves between the fingers with the liquidity leaving a fresh natural sensation as it goes by. There is a modern indie progressive feel to it that does not quite hit psychedelia, except in a folky sort of way. They even pull it further back for some pure folk moments with acoustic guitar and violins which is a bit of a surprise. There is a delicacy to the vocals and musical approach even when they rock it out. The rhythm section is intriguing and even reminds me of Joy Division at time, although only if they were playing with a fresh indie pop-rock band in this decade. This is a lovely album full of surprise and even enchantment at times. I was not so sure at first, but once I got into their style, it yanked me into its unique world. I will not recommend individual cuts. Rather, let it flow from beginning to end and especially listen to the ending where Steeleye Span seems to connect with COB in an elegant psyche-folk ancient chant (with a blast of electric guitar rock for the last minute). My eyes are open and my blood is moving, this one worked me out hard.

Be sure to catch them when they hit DC at Ghion on Wednesday, April 10th.

VIETNAM "AN AMERICAN DREAM"

This is a band that successfully plays relaxed folk rock songs with nonrelaxed messages atop a psychedelic foundation (I suppose that is where Escher meets Munch). There are electronic bridges and plenty of mysterious moments that connect the songs while keeping music flowing at an incredibly steady pace. The vocals remind me a bit of Mark Arm meeting Randy Newman with a raspy quality that some will like more than others. But the overall ambient nature to the arrangements of what otherwise would be street corner blues or coffee shop folk is what really sets this record apart. This may have Viet Nam era folk music as the starting point, but establishes itself as an interesting modern tale that will take me more listens before I really can place it--but Vietnam is probably happy about that.

To see what these guys are like live, come to the Rock'n'Roll Hotel on Friday, April 19th

Songs to try out first:

Kitchen Kongas - Try this one out if you are experienced in trippy arrangements of seemingly pleasant pop music. I love the twists and turns on this spacey tune.

Yaz - Wish I had a hammock to listen to this one with its relaxed pace.

Flyin' - Great twangy west coast styled psyche with a fast beat, yet still slowly delivered vocal work. Great contrasts working well. A real gem, this.

Borracho - Been Obscene - Supervoid -- Velvet Lounge - Mar 28 2013

Supervoid - A well booked and very 'eavy lineup tonight at the Velvet Lounge begins with a quintet from 'Planet Pittsburgh'. They have a thunderous rhythm section, powerhouse lead vocalist and two guitarists who alternate between psyche moves and power chords. Their songs were thoroughly HVY as it says in my notes, but they went in a couple of directions. When they slowed it a bit they had elements of classic rock and death metal. When they sped it up more, it was more in Wooden Shjips territory with a powerful rhythm and psyche washes stabbing out of the maelstrom of controlled noise. The 39 minute set worked up the large crowd quite nicely and got things rocking and rollicking as intended.

Been Obscene - Next up is a quartet all the way from Salzburg, Austria. For a sizable western European country, I have been surprised how few Austrian bands I run into either on tour or through record collecting circles. Fortunately, the quality heavily outweighed the quantity issue tonight as this group has yet another personal take on hard psychedelic rock music. They start instrumentally but work in vocals frequently enough to show up as separate identifiable songs. They create a strong psychedelic atmosphere, yet engage in sharp chordal shifts and precise tempo and melodic adjustments. The drummer is an absolute master at crisp, yet powerful strokes. The band works off of that and locks in a manner of a lighter System of Down. I also sense some of the skill that a band like Motorpsycho puts on display, but the music here is not quite that complex. It is more thoughtful than most, but the gutsy psyche atmosphere created here is quite personal and easy to grab on to. The only gripe I had was the 35 minute set up time for their 42 minute set. It is a little tough in this club especially with a crowd of 60-70 people here tonight. Here's hoping they stick around as it will approach midnight before the next band gets on.

Borracho - Thankfully, there is a huge crowd that stays for the full nearly 50 minute set of this powerful local trio. This is simple, straight forward massive hard rock music with a full knowledge of heavy sounds from 1967 up to today. And of course, there is nothing simple about it when you get it right. These guys have the sound from the careful yet powerful drumming, to the roaring bass lines, and to the Sabbathy riffs. The chords lean to Black Sabbath with the solos to Blue Cheer, while the guitarist's vocals aspire to the power of Mountain's Leslie West. This concrete cracking music was unrelenting and capped off the evening in magnificent fashion with the crowd greedingly gorging on the all you can eat decibel count from every band tonight. If you dread the idea of going in a boxing ring or karate dojo to get pummeled for an evening of fun, check out Borracho instead. I've seen some good heavyweights around town in recent months, and these guys can hold their own against 'em all.

Obit of Note.... Paul Williams died recently. This was not the short singer songwriter, but the founder of Crawdaddy magazine and one of the earliest and most important rock writers. Every blogger should pay tribute as he elevated rock writing into an art form and also set the stage for the proliferation of fanzines and now music blogs. He often does not get his due as much as Lester Bangs, Greil Marcus, and others, but hopefully the obits will appear in major news sources.

Hey Marseilles - Young Buffalo -- Iota - Mar 26 2013

Young Buffalo - This is a duo from Oxford, Mississippi, making them the second band I have seen from that city (and probably the state as well). They interchange between bass and guitar with whoever playing the guitar taking the lead vocals and the other providing harmony. They tour with a drummer and keyboardist which fills out the full rock sound. It is a good thing these two guys found each other as what could be a rather ordinary band is lifted considerably by the great harmonies their different voices come up with. They would still be successful power poppers spitting out bright, happy, sunny melodies, but the voices lift everything up out of the muck for listeners like me (I am the Joy Division to your Beach Boys). They had just enough pace and occasional ferocity in the power part of their pop to make this an interesting set beyond the great vocal work. And oh yes, there were the requisite hooks. Good stuff.

Hey Marseilles - This Seattle band is releasing only their second album of new material in five years, but are not sparing in the expense department to present it to the world. They are touring seven members strong and are in week four of their tour with three more to go. There were no signs of jet lag (or van lag I suppose) tonight as they presented some fresh high quality music balanced between pop, rock, and Americana. Basically if you like the Decemberists, you will likely enjoy a Hey Marseilles set. The vocals are very much like those of Colin Meloy and the arrangements are every bit as full, thought out, and interesting. There is a cellist, violinist, and trumpeter/clarinetist who provide the unique sounds that take this music to exciting places. There are drums and three more players who rotate guitars, basses, keyboards, and percussion. Even with all the instrumentation, the band arranges things so there is plenty of variance of space between thicker passages and airier moments. I wish there was a bit more variety in the vocals which were a bit too steady for over an hour's worth of material. But the music was always vibrant and the Klezmatics-like closing number was a real kick. It was crowded night at the Iota, who are drawing some significant crowds pretty much every time I am out there which means they are booking quite well-both with touring and local bands. The atmosphere was great tonight and this band must have had a great time and fully earned the response.

Quote of the Night: From Hey Marseilles... "Thank-you for treating Tuesday like Friday."

Lost Civilizations - Onward Chariots - Grogan Social Scene -- DC9 - Mar 24 2013

Grogan Social Scene - This is my first time catching this fine local band. Mr. Grogan leads things with guitar and lead vocals and is joined by bass, violin, drums and a conga percussionist. A couple guys help out on the vocal work as well. He tells me that they have evolved from a folkier outfit which now takes a more rock approach as the band has expanded. Both sounds are apparent as this music quickly transports me back to the very early punk days when there were many bands picking up on Velvet Underground records and taking off from there with primitive energy of their own. I am thinking Mirrors with maybe some Feelies in here as well. The instruments lock together and grind it out in a deep folk-rock vein with the violin offering nice colorful passages over and above. The vocal work is good and the lyrics sound interesting on first listen. There is just enough askew with even a touch of menace underneath, definitely in the manner of Lou Reed. This 39 minute set motored along in a fully engaged manner. I am liking this band and hope to watch for further growth, as there is plenty of room for this thoughtful approach to raw and intriguing music.

Onward Chariots - They mentioned that it was fun to be on stage in such a diverse climate between a twisted Americana band and an improv outfit. And it was fun for me as well, as this New York four-piece offered its take on urban pop. I would like to think I would have sensed the very urban qualities to their pop music even had I not known where they were from. This sunshine has to work its way through tall buildings with the music containing that urban edge that we city dwellers all develop. But it is still pop music and is fun with the extra levels of quirkiness that this band offers. The lead vocalist often switched from guitar to keyboards which allowed for different feelings in the many songs they delivered. They would rock it out at times or go into a Jonathan Richman brand of innocent oddness now and then. There was some straight up power pop as well, and although not as Nuggets oriented, I can see this band opening for the Fleshtones. Too bad that the bad weather on a Sunday night kept things lightly attended, but they did win over some fans based on the reaction during their 39 minute set. I am having fun going back to days of innocence.

Lost Civilizations - They were only a two-piece tonight with saxophones on one side of the stage and electric upright bass on the other. It was four members last time, so of course things are stripped down quite a bit. But that just gives the guys more room to fill with their inventive improvisations. That is the modus operandi for this collective--put good musicians up on stage and turn them loose into unknown improvisational directions. The bass work used some loops which created some nice rhythms and ambiance while the saxophone added color and melodic runs in a mannered pace. I finally got my wish to hear a band without distracting conversation around me, but unfortunately it was due to bands needing to drive home early (one to NYC) and other people scared off with the miserable weather. I appreciated this nearly private concert as this skilled duo allowed me to drift off into a break from conventional musical formats. This was a great way to finish off six nights in a row covering live music. Palate cleansing is something that becomes important to me (provided there is still plenty of taste as there was tonight). This show reminded me that I should integrate more jazz into my club outings. And as if by magic, they ended their set after 39 minutes, leaving me refreshed and cleansed. Do check out this band some time. It will do you good and is cheaper than a session at the spa.

Quote of the Night: Lyrics from the song "Mel Gibson" by Onward Chariots... "Please don't abuse your wife or blame the Jews for your life."

Caustic Casanova - Ominous Black - Murder Troy - Dutchguts -- The Pinch - Mar 23 2013

Dutchguts - New club for me and from what I hear, they may be trying to become a regular on the scene--more on that later. But now, a touring trio of hard thrash metallers take the stage with a scary set of Marshall stacks (or 'arshal' stacks for the bassist). They dwarf the portable PA, but the soundman does well by keeping things balanced. The bassist's vocals are infrequent guttural bursts, so that makes it a bit easier. The band does well with dynamic tempo shifts and plays strong and hard throughout their intense 26 minute set. A death metal roar is a good way to start out a Saturday night and for the assembled crowd, myself included, this set worked well. Personally, I could do without their joke name which wore off well before their set finished.

Murder Troy - Satori Trova has splintered into four bands or thereabouts (the math is fuzzy) and this is the first one I have caught up with. It features their guitarist Avi as well as their bass player who is temporary. They are joined with a drummer and lead guitarist who work with them in creating and intriguing set of instrumental prog-metal. These guys immediately create a lovely psychedelic landscape before they turn up the thunder. They remind of the great Swedish band, Spacious Mind, and there certainly are some Sunn O))) and Sleep elements in here as well. This was their first show ever and even if they never get any better, they are a powerful presence in the nu-metal scene. I particularly enjoyed the control on their pace as they shape their sound from ambient psychedelia to full out rock. The guitars sound great as the rhythm section lays out a thick backing. They finished with a nice twisted personal take on "Iron Man" which everyone here of course enjoyed. Normally I would like more vocals, but when you nail the instrumental part this well, like Mogwai, you can continue using the microphones only for stage patter. A band to watch? Obviously.

Caustic Casanova - This trio has long been a favorite of mine as they've graced many stages in the DC area for several years with creative prog-psyche nu-metal sounds. Their songwriting is more creative than most with intelligent lyrics and interesting vocal work. This is their second show with their new guitarist who now seamlessly fits in to their sound. His style is a little less startling, but his guitar sound has that heavy psyche vibe with great tonal control. I bet he doesn't know he was warming up with a riff of Roy Harper's "One Man Rock'n'Roll Band" (actually it was Jimmy Page playing that and this neither here nor there, but it was one of those lightning bolts in my brain) But back to the set, the sound worked out just well enough as the band's vocals all worked out well with Stefanie's backing vocals balanced perfectly as she manages to add a nice piercing presence in addition to her powerful drumming. There is a good crowd tonight that has discovered this band over the years. If you have not yet, the good news is that there is still time.

Ominous Black - Alas, I missed this band as I was having that horrible feeling of turning into a pumpkin, so that when the witching hour arrived, I headed home to rekindle the creative fires so that I may be fresh to mix metaphors another day.

New Club Review - The Pinch is an average looking bar in the Columbia Heights neighborhood near St. Stephens Church. The club is downstairs and it has the problem of loading equipment through the crowd like the Velvet Lounge or DC9. In fact, it reminds me a lot of the Velvet Lounge, were that club anything remotely like an actual lounge. There are comfy couches (probably aided to my sleepiness), stools with padding, a bar in the back, and room for more than 100, but not too much more depending on equipment loading space needed. The stage is like the Velvet Lounge, but not nearly as deep which could be a problem with larger bands. They will need a sound system. But, I will gladly return as this could become a welcome regular spot for both local shows and small to moderate touring bands.

Sinkane - Ra Ra Rasputin - Helado Negro -- Black Cat - Mar 22 2013

Helado Negro - From the deep south of the US with roots to South America comes this intriguing artist. He (Roberto Carlos Lange) performs all vocals and runs the electronics and beats and is joined by a live bass player. The first cut is a mesmerizing chant with no beats and a slow rumbling bass noise. He jolted the stunned sold-out audience with more expected electronica thereafter. Yet there were many unique influences perhaps from tropicalia through many electronic explorers since. I really enjoyed his vocal style as it remind me of HR covering David Bowie's style. I did hear some of the Eno/Bowie style in the music as well (or it could just be me listening to the new David Bowie album a lot this week). The bass went more into dub heavy basslines for the rest of the set and was a welcome presence. I normally prefer at least one more live instrument, but the creativity was well above that of most electronic acts, that this 34 minute set took hold of me as well as the crowd. When you are able to mix darkness with warmth, you are doing something very special.

Ra Ra Rasputin - This local dance/electronic outfit has a solid reputation around these parts. They do not quite fit into my world as I really do not grasp this style as well as a majority of club goers. I nearly walked out when the bass on the first cut made Jah Wobble sound like Tiny Tim. This was painful, but to there credit they asked people if the sound was ok or not and somehow they and the soundman figured it all out and they sounded loud and strong for the rest of the 40 minutes on stage. The vocals are really quite good and make things pleasant enough, except for a couple times where I was anticipating Billy Idol singing 'white wedding' in the next phrase. They do have a certain charm and even got this old curmudgeon to enjoy their set a little more tonight than I had expected after that start.

Sinkane - Although the electronics are on stage, the four band members all have guitars, drums, and basses as they create some seriously tripped out prog-psychee pop rock music. The first cut had a western motif embedded deeply in the thick stew of sound--twang never sounded so modern. It was driving through a ghost town in a convertible with your GPS guiding you to the urban dance club a few hours away. These are lush melodies with a gutsy foundation of rock music and intricate treatments of one guitar along with the vocoder vocals. They reminded me a lot of Os Mutantes, had they formed a band about ten years ago (not 47 years ago). This is fun and the band is starting to make a name for themselves and was pleased that this was their first sold-out show that they have had. A good and fitting way to end their full US tour before heading off to Europe next month. This is the kind of music for people that like krautrock, old progressive music, psyche moves, but want to delve deeper into the modern world or conversely, modern music fans that want to be pushed and challenged a bit while still grooving to the beat.

Quote of the Night: "We're Helado Negro and if you don't understand what it means, it is 'Black Ice Cream'".

Cherry Tree - Stereosleep - Green Light at the End -- Black Cat - Mar 21 2013

Green Light at the End - It has been a while since I have seen this band when they used to be known as the Resistance. They are adding songs to their repertoire, but the sound is familiar and welcoming as it had been previously. They have a drummer who assists with backing vocals, guitar, bass, and a lead vocalist who alternates between guitar and keyboards. All four of these guys can play and it is pretty much a straight-ahead rock approach. The drums are particularly powerful and the guitarist work well together as you can see them playing on different parts of the fretboard far more often than not. I prefer the twin guitar a little more than the keyboards, but I am glad they switch it around as the keyboard songs bring out some contrasting pop elements which round out the set. Ultimately they rock it out in a warm manner, not unlike many bands did in the Rites of Spring mold a few decades back. It is a bit more relaxed than that, but can resonate in that same deep way with their better songs. This local band is worth going out of your way for.

Stereosleep - It is another repeat viewing for me of a similiar local four-piece that features a twin guitar attack with the occasional keyboard switch. They also have a strong melodic sense in their heavy hitting rock attack that features some fine songwriting. I love the guitar work, but the bass was a little high in the mix tonight which muddied up a few songs more than I would have liked. Still, the rhythm section was driving hard and it was a fun and propulsive set. They had the ability to mix in some nice rhythm shifts in a few of the latter songs which had the positive effect of loosening things up a bit and the crowd responded favorably. But we all ultimately appreciated the heavy hard rocking approach just as well, I think. Ultimately their songcraft is of a quality that you do want to dig into what they were doing while you lean forward and throb to the heavy beats and dual guitar power.

Cherry Tree - I thought this local power trio looked like some mediocre band I saw in this club a couple years ago. It didn't take long before I realized this was a case of mistaken identity. These guys are jaw droppingly good with their approach to classic 1970s hard rock. They could lay down a beat like AC/DC while firing away with the speed and power of early Montrose or Budgie, while holding down a clean vocal line like Steamhammer. Many good bands can take hold of this style and do well enough with it, but you sound so fresh and innovative. It is far from simple and these guys some how come up with their own formula. They are young and likely have many modern influences which helps their shape. And as needed in every three-piece, they all are excellent players with the bass player deftly handling the lead vocal work. They even added a touch of boogie later in the set. This is a fun band that any rock fan from any era should check out. The crowd was definitely digging the sounds here which capped off a great night of straight-forward hard rocking music, not without creative personal touches. I particularly enjoyed the contrast of the eclectic bands I heard the previous night. Seeing so much music reminds me of what I learned long ago... I like both the simplest music as well as the most complex sound so long as the bands bring personality/creativity, enthusiasm, and some sort of skill to their songs. Simple as that...


Why I left Business for Good to Write about Music... Reason #9:  I was chatting with a friend about my portfolio, which is important now and then after you retire at age 48. He was curious as to what one company did and I had forgotten, as it had been about a year since I researched it. We were thoroughly enlightened when I read him the description that came up in their overview at Morningstar....

"MKS Instruments, Inc. is a provider of instruments, subsystems and process control solutions that measure, control, power, monitor and analyze critical parameters of advanced manufacturing processes to improve process performance and productivity."

Thao & the Get Down Stay Down - Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside -- Black Cat - Mar 20 2013

Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside - Will this Portland outfit continue the trend of showing off that city's ability to spawn some of the most creative bands in the country? Yes, it will. The band drew their line in the sand right off the bat with a surprisingly gutsy surf instrumental that was thick and quick and really rocked beyond the pale of the cliche. They pulled it back a bit, but retained a lovely reverb drenched lead guitar through much of the remaining set. Additionally they had drums, bass and Ms. Ford handling vocals and guitar. When the bassist switched to an upright, the sound reminded me even more of the Link Wray roots they have within their structure. They added blues twists and even though the roots are as old as rock music itself, they had some Gun Club in here along with other quirky modern pop moves. A Loretta Lynn cover was not at all a surprise late in the set as just about anything would work with this band. The sold out crowd tonight was definitely on their game as well as they picked up on the quality of this band they likely knew little about (as they are touring only their second album).  I will be back in line the next time this band comes to town.

Thao & the Get Down Stay Down - Former Falls Church musician Thao Nguyen returned home from her new base of San Francisco and received a very warm welcome from the sold out crowd tonight. She performs the lead vocals along with guitar and banjo and her band adds bass, drums, keyboards/vocals, and an occasional guitarist who sneaks his way into a few songs. Like earlier, the mood is quickly established where I had to look around to see if Thao's acoustic guitar was making those strong distorted chords in the first number. As I figured that all out, the backing vocalist went into operatic mode turning a strong indie rock song into what I do not know. Whether it was surprises like that, or dynamic intra-song shifts of Thao's vocal range or changes in tempo or sonic space, this band always kept me guessing. And as I have stated many times before that is a powerful skill that will work when the artist and band hold things together by keeping their personal approach and structure on a secure foundation. Thao and her bandmates did all of that as they clearly pulled in the young indie fans and just about anyone else that enjoys creative rock music. Her energy kept things on the precipice, while the keyboardist kept changing sounds and adding great vocals (the selectively used harpsichord sound scores extra credit points with me every time). Powerful hour long set led to the encores and everyone should have gone home happy tonight, seeing two creative bands with plenty offer now and beyond.

Quote of the Night: Thao... "I remember playing every Potbellys one summer. It was $20 an hour--pretty sweet... and a sandwich. ... No, no milkshake."

Pleasure Curses - Nightpanther - Lenorable -- DC9 - Mar19 2013

Lenorable - I have enjoyed this local duo in the past and tonight continues the trend. They have a consistent sound that resonates well with me and most all of the DC9 denizens tonight. It is a pretty simple formula. She sets the beats and occasional programmed bassline before handling the vocals, while he plays all the spacey guitar parts. If you are a fan of Siouxsie, the Cure, Bauhaus, and the many others in this style, you should easily grasp on to Lenorable's songs. I particularly like the icy vocal work that is reminiscent of Destroy All Monster's Niagara. They played some familiar songs and with some brand new material as well in their 38 minute set. Everything flowed nicely and I was transported to a relaxing state with just enough of a real world borderline.

Nightpanther - This Philadelphia area quintet is touring back from their trip to Austin and had this final stop before heading for home. Aside from a fairly short 27 minute set, there was no mailing it in for this band. They had full bass, drums and guitar (with some synthesizer). The two vocalists locked in frequently with one of them adding synth/keyboard parts as well. The sound was thick, yet with plenty of space for the vocals to carry these pop tunes to great altitude. This is not so much mainstream sound, as it is well composed pop music. The guitarist would occasionally cut loose with some hefty sounds to take things deeper. They are so catchy that they remind me of the punk era when I allowed bands like UB40 to invade all the faster and louder bands I was listening to. Charming sounds from this intriguing band that should be able to find a niche somewhere, perhaps a really big niche.

Pleasure Curses - This local duo has a vocalist who plays guitar on one song and a multi instrumentalist who mostly plays bass or synthesizer. I am instantly drawn to Morrisey comparisons partly based on the look of the singer, but mostly with the mannered quality of his vocal delivery. The music is catchy pop music with a bit of thrust in the beat, but the hooks subtly come out of the vocal lines. I am thinking that I would like just one more live instrument to bring a thickening contrast into the mix, but after a few songs, I find I am not missing it as much as I first thought. I think the credit belongs in their songcraft as they have written some lovely songs that they deliver with style and a touch of grace. This capped off a very pleasant evening of sounds and sent me home to some of the best sleep I have had in the last few weeks. Good music works its magic again.

Promo of the Night: Issue 50 of FOLKWORLD is now out with plenty of great articles on folk music in four languages. There are the usual album reviews featuring loads of artists you have never heard of with many you probably should hear of. There are some DC artists in there AND a special article I wrote listing my favorite 50 Psychedelic-Folk Albums of all-time. So indulge and spread your musical interests to all corners of the globe and beyond.

Lilt -- Jammin Java - Mar 16 2013

Lilt - This excellent local duo was able to squeeze in a matinee show at the Jammin Java in between the many sets they are performing this weekend, when their music is the soundtrack for so many people headed to the clubs. But this is the perfect way for me to celebrate St. Patrick's Day--Irish music with a small enthusiastic sober crowd (I'll happily cover the Pogues another time of the year). Lilt played its usual set of reels and jigs and even slipped in a song with vocals and a traditional sounding tune written in the last few years. Even staying tight within the genre, there was a lot of variety here. They again invited a dancer to join in on a few songs. Today, it was a woman from Footworks adding a modern Irish style which including the shocking visage of her arms moving. That subtle addition brought a jazzy flair to the dancing which helped in the usual manner with a percussive strike to the floor or top of a barrel (nice touch). The bouzouki and banjo of Keith Carr and the flute and tin whistle of Tina Eck worked the usual magic as they locked into these classic tunes. There is a circular flow to most classic folk songs and a lot of ancient music in general where the song seemingly ends at the beginning with an active and natural flowing walkabout in between. It was easy to drift off into this music today as their playing is of such great quality and feeling. It was this Irish music that many years ago set me digging in deeper to all forms of European folk music and psychedelic folk music of the 1960s and 1970s, so it is important that I can still take it in, especially when it is played as well as Lilt is capable of. They also added a pleasant stage presence with nice stories of the songs and what is going on for them. You owe it to yourself to take in traditional music at least once in a while, and I can recommend few better than Lilt.

Quote of the Day: Discussing their appearance on NPR the other day... "Kojo Nnamdi said the flute looked really cool... he didn't say it sounds really cool."

North of Canada - Brenda - Brandon Ables -- Velvet Lounge - Mar 14 2013

Brandon Ables - Former Presto Bando guitarist/vocalist is on stage with a new toy, a synthesizer guitar. He has some programmed drumbeats and still has has the intensity of his crazed vocal style to carry the way. Like Bob Mould, he is shooting for more electronics in his solo sound. Unlike Bob Mould (who is finally back to the norm), this actually works. Ables coaxes out unique sounds on virtually every song (I break now to apologize to myself for starting to write Ables is able to...). He pulls a few smiles out of me as always, and through his lyrics, shows off many more twists and turns beyond his singing mannerisms. I would not mind seeing him in a full band some day, but his solo set is far more than just a guy doing something with a lot of equipment. It is a successful vehicle to showcase some of the most unique songs and style in the DC area.

Brenda - This local quartet has a twin guitar line-up with three people adding to the vocals. The style is early David Byrne T-Heads with some occasional Antmusic. There is some pleasant jangle in the guitars with the occasional contrast of a heavily treated sound with a more normal guitar. They vary their style a bit from crazed to controlled in fairly subtle ways. I confess that I drifted more away from them the more they locked in to something catchy and predictable. But when they had a contrast to where the vocal lines were almost fighting the guitars, I felt they they really captured something interesting. This uneasy peace made for some exciting listening. I am not sure I would be in the majority in thinking this way, but this is hardly the first time for that confession. I will be curious as to what I think next time around.

North of Canada -  I have enjoyed this local quintet a few times over the past year. They make a nice blend of pop and hard rock. They are the type of band that likely emits catchy songs in the studio, but cranks it up several notches on stage. They vary it around a bit in volume and tempo, but the vocals generally carry out clean melodic lines that work quite well amidst the powerful rhythm section and rocking guitars. The sound was good tonight and although I applaud the Velvet Lounge for being more predictable and tighter on start times, I still wish things could get going a bit earlier so crowds of 60 don't fall to 15-20 with the headliner going on at 11:00pm on a weeknight. Other clubs have this issue as well and it is a fairly tight window as you can't start them too early. But North of Canada put on a good set for those that stayed. And we got our moneys worth as my clock says I received two hours and four minutes of excellent and fun music for eight bucks. You can't beat that at the more tightly run bigger clubs.

Quote of the Night: From a fan to North of Canada... "Stop asking silly questions." Yes, they probably could work on their stage patter some, although not everyone is Robyn Hitchcock.

Django Django -- 9:30 Club - Mar 9 2013

Django Django - I raced to the club from my previous engagement arriving just in time to see this hot little London-based band with ties to Edinburgh. There are four of them on guitar, bass, synthesizers, and drums and they all add a little extra percussion now and then as they keep a mighty powerhouse dance beat through their entire set. They have just a little bit of psychedelic flourish at times and personally I would have loved to hear more of this. But they compensated for that with consistently excellent hooks and harmonies. The vocals remind me of Ride atop a powerful 80s synth band. They have enough power just as Gary Numan and early Ultravox were able to pull me in to dancier forms of punk/new wave music back in the day. Maybe it is as if Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark were covering the Hives or Bow Wow Wow? Whatever their roots, they have plenty of energy and were able to get much of a fairly cautious sold out room dancing or at least swaying tonight. And kudos to them for touring coming over for their first tour of North America in March and avoiding Austin. I did not think that was done. Bravo.

Quote of the Night: After the groans of sadness announcing their last number... "Hey, we only have one album out, but we'll be back with some new songs soon". They did play a solid hour long set before encore, so no one felt cheated I would think. And my apologies to Night Moves for missing their set.

The Highballers - Human Country Jukebox - Avril Smith + Friends -- Iota - Mar 9 2013

Avril Smith + Friends - Ms. Smith is on acoustic guitar and vocals with her friends on vocals/songwriting, mandolin/vocals, stand-up bass/vocals, and lap styled dobro (played standing, but overhand). There are a lot of bluegrass touches with this instrumentation within its country folk-rock approach. The bass added a touch of light jazz and all the instrumentalists got to show off some nifty moves during the set. Smith's guitar work is excellent and she was playing some strong leads to where I was looking around the pillar to make sure an electric guitarist had not sneaked onto the stage. Their 40-minute set was solid, although I personally could have done without the covers. The crowd voted the Stevie Wonder song over the Led Zeppelin cut (not knowing which on) which pretty much only served to remind me how good Stevie Wonder was, rather than break any new ground. To be fair the band had no way of knowing how much I did not want to hear Randy Newman's "Dayton, Ohio - 1903" as I spent many years there and based on the awful day I was having today. For some reason, Newman did not show much irony in that song, even though many of us know it is there. Don't get me started. Anyway, hope to see them again some time with a set of original songs or songs of local songwriters.

Human Country Jukebox - This band lived up to their name with country and country rock music that went down like water. The first song summed it up as the lyrics told the crowd of all the great musicians that they were not going to live up to, including Waylon's guitar work. They chose some of the best to aspire to and being a closet Waylon fan, I was enjoying this more than I expected. The baritone vocal work was as pure as you would want in this genre and led the way to a fine set. The crowded club was getting into these songs and the band did a nice job of building the intensity throughout. I do not care for country music much, but if you lean western and have the 'outlaw' style that these guys do, you can win me over easily enough.

The Highballers - Alas I missed this due to my limited ability to say no and my miscalculation that the Iota show would start at 8pm rather than 9:13pm. I had to run off to the 9:30 Club to see the headline act at their late show which I only just caught as it was. Utterly stupid on my part as this band invited me to the show tonight--and being the good guys they are, were touting the fine opening acts as the reason to come. Well, I may have missed the set, but the club was full as there are plenty of sharp minded music lovers around time who know this band provides warm, energetic, gutsy fare that is perfect for a Saturday night. Here's an older review, but just go out and have some fun at a Highballers show near you. I don't see how they could fail to deliver a raucous, well played set of their hearty world-worn songs.

Quote of the Night: "..." was the 'apology' I got from some drunken idiot who bumped me on a crosswalk headed to the show. What was with Clarendon last night? Everyone was wearing so much green and was so drunk in the streets that I thought it was St. Patrick's day weekend and I had completely forgotten of a Jammin Java show I was supposed to do that day. I finally figured out that I was not screwed up on my weeks, which was a relief as just about everything else went wrong today. I will spare you all that rant, but there are some universal issues that may come out in time. ooooh, ominous vibes.

Single Mothers - Paws - Typefighter -- DC9 - Mar 7 2013

Typefighter - This is a local twin-guitar quartet that quickly jumps into the power pop realms. They have an awful lot of beard for this style, but fear not, the indie rock moves work their way in here, too. They have plenty of power, a touch of edge and are not going to blow you away with anything special. They do have some nifty guitar work underneath the vocals at time which is stands out. They heat up a stage well and have a good fun attitude, and you you do not need much more than that when you get rolling with a three-band bill.

Paws -  This trio hails from Glasgow and hopefully is not mourning the Celtic loss this week. Of course it could be worse, they could be Rangers fans. And if I digress a bit much here, I do recall Mogwai coming out in Celtic jackets at a show here some years ago. But the music is what we are here to see and the band did a fantastic job on their first trip overseas on the beginning leg to their pilgrimage to SXSW. If you are there, they are at the Fatcat Records showcase, which should be excellent. Tonight's thirty minute set was tight and energetic. Their professionalism allowed them to survive a broken bass string and their musical creativity had my brain working overtime. I heard elements of Nirvana, Husker Du, and other punk-to-pop/rock bands in their music. But as I listened more, it was more of how those 80s and 90s bands dug into their own roots as well. So basically, Paws are continuing a fine tradition of rocking hard with loads of tempo, while finding the pop hooks underneath great music. They even add a touch of shoegaze blasts in instrumental sections, so they pull from everywhere yet still manage a personal cohesive sound. This was a crafty and highly enjoyable set that went over well with the crowd of about 50 or so.

Single Mothers - This punk band is from London, Ontario and added even more diversity tonight, both geographic and sonic. They have a melodic early LA punk sound with a bit of New Model Army depth and plenty of bratty singalong vocals. The guitar work is interesting and keeps things stimulating. But if you want to just cut loose with their energetic playing and movement, that was easy enough to do as well. And it was an energized crowd tonight for all of the bands, which obviously helped make everything fun. They did not do quite enough to get me out in front of the stage like the old days, but their 26 minute set did rekindle some fond memories of the mature punk scene of the early 1980s.

Quote of the Night: An actual lol exchange (rare for me) from Typefighter with some energetic dancers up front...
"You guys are awesome!"
"We're gonna start a band just like you guys! You'll see."
"You guys are gonna suck."

Jacco Gardner - Janel & Anthony - Lost Civilizations -- 9th & Beats - Mar 5 2013

Lost Civilizations - I am finally attending a show at this recently opened venue, so I'll start first with a few words on 9th & Beats. It is nice sized room (between DC9 + Rock'n'Roll Hotel) with decent enough sound and a wide but not deep stage. There is seating, but mostly standing room. It is a part of a sports bar, but there is a quiet sushi bar hallway like space in between so, there is less bleedover noise than the Velvet Lounge or even Black Cat Backstage. This space makes the bar a little awkward as there is one guy to take orders and then run down to the main bar and kitchen to fill them. That is minor to me, but may affect some. Overall, as you will see, this looks like a successful addition to the club scene.

We begin with this local experimental collective that was five-strong tonight with an emphasis on bass as there was the usual electric paired up with a stand-up bass cello. There was a drummer, violin, and saxophone as well. The first 'song' went for 44 minutes and had a flowing trippy space-jazz feeling throughout. The sax started to dominate a bit, as it often does, but the player pulled it back enough which helped integrate it into a more complete sound (I believe I saw this guy play with Kohoutek at times in years past). The violin was a little too subdued as the percussion was strong and there were plenty of interesting bass moves of course. They did a quick second number which nicely finished off their 55 minute set. This was a good beginning, a sound easy to drift off with.

Janel & Anthony - This cello and electric guitar duo is well worth going out of your way for any time they play. They layer dreamy psychedelic loops for them to add tasty guitar runs and cello leads on top. Both of these players are masters at their instrument, but more importantly gel completely in presenting their sonic thoughts. This is beyond experimental music, since most experiments fail. This succeeded long ago and easily gravitates into any reasonably intelligent music fan's mind. When the cellist sings, it reminds me of the female vocal led songs on Book of AM with its dreamy prog-folk netherworld feeling. There is some krautrock in here, too, perhaps, but the sound is ultimately their own. And they know how to dramatically build to suspenseful points, just as you would want in the theater or at the movies. I am a serious fan of these two and hopefully you will become one as well, if you are not already.

Jacco Gardner - I see they have the term 'baroque pop' on their website, which was also one of the first things I had written in my notes (and in capital letters). I am glad it was not just that I was chatting with Lorelei's drummer tonight who I had seen the Zombies and the Left Banke with last year that led me to think of their ties to classic baroque pop. But this Netherlands quartet takes that genre to new found heights that few bands are capable of getting anywhere near these days. Jacco Gardner is the keyboardist/lead vocalist who leads the band and is supplemented with acoustic guitar, bass and drums. There is a farfisa quality to much of the sound, but all the instruments pull away and combine in a quirky rhythm that takes you back to the sixties when pop music dropped acid for the first time. They also come from the country of the Outsiders and there may even be a little Group 1850 in here, although they are not overly heavy at all. The vocals achieve an amazing delicate balance and few bands treat them as well as these guys do. It reminds me a bit of the Ferdinando-Howell recordings from back in the day. I clearly enjoy a lot of different bands, but when a band has the vocal abilities shown here, they move well ahead of the pack in my mind (and my playlist settings). This is their first time in the states and hopefully they can find the audience that is there for them, even though the audience may not know it yet. Great finish to a fine show.

Quote of the Night: eavesdropping... "That's right--it is socially equidistant between Baltimore and Washington DC."

Dan Sartain - Hand Grenade Job -- Black Cat - Mar 4 2013

Hand Grenade Job - A female duo starts things off on guitar and percussion, although an autoharp comes into play later. The real key here is the vocal work with two part harmonies aiming for psychedelic folk heights. Aside from the quality vocal work, there was scant instrumentation of interest. Eerie glockenspiel, nice guitar tone, but it was all a bit 'same-old' for me. The last cut was a little heavier, which was a welcome bit of contrast helpful to the set. Their was also an odd cover of the Misfits "Bullet", which is the second time I have heard a band cover this where no single member was born when it was written. Anyway, there is a nice germ of an idea here that could develop into something really cool. I am not feeling it now, but it is fair to give this some time.

Dan Sartain - This trio is here to kick up the volume. He calls it the Night Marchers on his website, although it sounds like the 'Pit Bees' through the PA. They don't waste a moment in between songs as there is not time for applause until they take a break about six songs in. The sound is clearly linked to classic punk with its raw riffs, power, and short melodic blasts. There is a great balance of Ramones and Dr. Feelgood--the chuggah chuggah rhythm and monster Wilko Johnson riffs of the latter band is something I wished I heard more of. There is also some Middle Class and Jay Reatard in here as well. These guys looked like they were waiting for Aunt Em to bring over some cookies, but they had full command of these songs. In between they were relaxed as can be and bizarrely, the guitarist stayed on stage after the set as some of the crowd could not tell if he was going to do an encore. He just chuckled and had pleasant conversations with them, including a bit about the movie, "The Last Detail". Bizarre, but not pretentious--I wasn't even sure this is Dan Sartain although a song on his website sounds right. Simple, crazy fun here tonight. I can certainly use a dose of that now and then.

Quote of the Night: As DS stayed on stage with some of the crowd asking for encore... "Yeah, keep it up. That's cool. I'm done, you can go home. Cool, yeah..."

Efterklang - Jherek Bischoff - Spirit Animal -- Rock'n'Roll Hotel - Feb 28 2013

Spirit Animal - Earlybirds were greeted by a headline quality band right at the start of this loaded bill tonight. This is the fourth time I have seen this hard touring energetic bunch and they blasted out another fine thirty minutes here tonight. They have their energy working tonight and their attack seems all the crisper with a great guitar crunch as they work through their brand of danceable funk rock. I say their brand, as they inject keyboard fills, psyche touches, and plenty of rock moves into the formula. The vocal lines are in your face, yet welcome and build things up while making a connection. Four times running and I am still digging into and just plain digging this music. They do it the right way and hopefully their hard touring will keeping adding to their already significant fan base.

Jherek Bischoff - At first I thought this was a band who chose a name to take a dig at a failed wrestling promoter from many years back, but silly me, this is a real person who has made an awful lot of music over the last fifteen years. He has been with Dead Science and even collaborated with David Byrne. Tonight, he sings some, while switching from bass to ukulele and percussion. Aside from his tuxedo, it is the backing band that is the real surprise. He has a formal string quartet behind him, who play a lot of excellent parts giving great color and flourish to his melodic patterns. the crowd is surprisingly quiet and into this tonight (he thanks them, even), but that is not terribly surprising as Efterklang will bring out a lot of the smarter music lovers and weed out the trend followers. I am glad to see this went over so well tonight, as it was a breath of creativity in the musty rock club air, which is needed once in a while--so different, yet perfectly fitting in between the two bands tonight.
Efterklang - It has always been difficult for me to find the pulse of this Danish band's music. Perhaps they are to chamber pop, what King Crimson is to progressive rock. Clearly this is catchy music, but they do so many interesting things in a quiet, controlled manner that they rise above anything simple and predictable. Yet, they have some of the more comforting sounds you will here. No matter how you try to break it down, they had it working tonight with Casper Clausen leading the way on vocals. He is assisted by some core members and others to augment the live sound which includes drums, bass, guitar, a couple of keyboard stations, and some lovely female backing vocals. There is mystery and drama in the music and I get this weird thought that maybe this is close to what Nick Cave may sound like if he came from the happiest country in the world (actually Denmark lost its spot to Norway recently and Australia is high on the list truth be told). The room is nearly full and embrace this music in full as the band plays nice clusters of songs from albums throughout their recent history. This is not a band I turn to often when I reach for a CD, but I do find it important to regularly take in their music and am quite happy I was able to do so tonight.

Quote of the Night; Jherek Bischoff (whose patter was fun all night) and I dedicate this to the late Sterling Hayden... "I spent a long time sailing around the world and shit."

The story continued as he was starving for three days and finally came upon a remote shore where the first guy he saw was watching 'Seinfeld'.