Laughing Man - Black Checker - Rom -- Churreria Madrid - Jun 29 2014

Rom - I have very much enjoyed this local trio under their former name, Dead Women. But with their new (and very welcome) moniker Rom, they are set for an exciting restart. And based on tonight and a new album that will be reviewed shortly, this is a band you should put on your radar. Tonight's show is a new room for me tonight, upstairs from this Adams Morgan restaurant/bar. Oddly enough, I saw a house show right next door in a residence above the bike shop so the room style is quite familiar. Rom did suffer a bit with the makeshift PA as there were some early feedback issues that did get worked out. Also, the vocals were a little thin, which is a downer as they are a key component of the songs. But even with that, the music of this band still connected with the fine skills that each of the three players exhibited. These guys can churn out great power pop songs and twist them around into various levels of intensities to keep things interesting. One song was a dead ringer in style to that of Kinski, when that brilliant Seattle band heads toward more hook-laden songs. They have got plenty of shows lined up for the summer, so I suggest you hit one of them.

Black Checker - Speaking of power pop... what better way to follow up a set by Rom, then bring out another excellent DC trio, who comfortably fits the genre. Of course, the genre may be the same, but this band has its own personality and energy and seem to be in strong form tonight. The sound was a little tricky with no feedback, but the vocals were a bit loud in some of the songs. But everything came through clear enough for a rocking time to be had by the mostly full room. The music was brisk, tight, and with loads of hooks brought on by quick guitar riffing on top of a strong rhythm section. In between their fine songs they snuck in covers of the Police and Queens of the Stone Age, which added to the fun. So it was another fine night from a band that keeps getting better with every gig.

Laughing Man - I feel bad about missing this set as I think I would like their sound as I see it described. But duty called for some other things going on in life, so I will have to catch these guys another time... hopefully soon.

Quote of the Night: From Black Checker after spotting a guy wearing a fez... "Dude, where did you get your hat? Did you get it from Turban Outfitters?"

Throwing Muses - Tanya Donelly -- 9:30 Club - Jun 27 2014

Tanya Donelly - An original Throwing Muse member is here to open tonight's show with some of her own outstanding material. Donnelly handles all vocals and plays electric guitar with three other string players. She has a cellis, electric guitarist w/slide work, and an acoustic guitarist who also has a foot pedal on a drum box. These instruments combine to form a powerful atmosphere of distinct voices that meander in and about with playfulness that never deviates far from the song. Donelly's singing is great and she has some innovative moves in a few of the songs which are quite striking. This reminds me at times of an early Woven Hand/J. Munly sound with a bit more warmth and coziness here. The bright and dark songs contrasted well and fit together due to the strength of this band. The crowd was enthusiastic and treated this set pretty much as a headlining set, which it easily could have been.

Photo (from show) - Greg Svitil

Throwing Muses - I felt I knew this band, but then as I prepared to come to the show I realized I had known their name and their standing, but did not spend much time with their music. It did not take more than a couple of songs before I started kicking myself for being so negligent over the years as they have a great sound, familiar yet distinct. Tanya Donelly's step sister Kristen Hersh is on hand for vocals and electric guitar with her original drummer and long time bass player. They have an early Nirvana/Wipers feeling to them even though they started over by the other ocean in Rhode Island. The component sounds again work so well together with firm and steady drumming, a smooth and flowing bass, and crisp choppy guitar chords straight out of the power pop-punk bin. Hersh had some subtle shifts in sounds and could string out some lovely guitar lines when desired. The songs kept coming and coming and built into an outstanding set. But there was even more fun in store when Tanya Donelly joined in for the last 25 minutes of the hour long set and added guitar and vocals for some of the classics that the audience were very much in to. There were chills, some warmth, intriguing lyrics and stories which I would need more time to digest, and it all worked extremely well. I am happy they are back so I can correct my oversight and the fans here are happy for many more reasons as they called them back for a few more cuts before heading home.

Quote of the Night: Kristen Hersh was telling an interesting story about talking to her label long ago and wondering why they weren't selling many records. The label said it was ok, because they were getting 'reaction'..... "We heard our song in a store so Dave went up to the record store clerk and asked if they had the Throwing Muses record. He said 'you mean Weezer?' So that's why no one buys our record because Throwing Muses rhymes with Weezer."

Lake Street Drive - The Sun Parade -- 9:30 Club - Jun 24 2014

The Sun Parade - This quartet does a fine job with breezy indie rock with some folk rock moves her and some pop moves there. It is all brisk and bright, and thus is a sun parade of sorts. It is always nice when a band's name gives you the quick and dirty on their particular sound, and this band is as good as it gets in that department. This is all likable music, although I have that sense that this is easy to forget, like a decent sugary dessert that while not memorable, does the trick for that moment. A lot of music falls into that category and it may say as much about me coming to a live show after reviewing four albums just prior. They went over well enough with the crowd and being that they hail from a quality music scene I have spent a little time in, Northampton, MA, they should continue to good things and will hopefully grow into a solid headliner some day.

Lake Street Drive - This is one powerhouse of a band and what is somewhat unusual these days, the power comes from the vocals. Instrumentally, they are on the lighter side although that is lighter on volume and heavy on style. Rachael Price's lead vocals have all the bluesy power we have all heard before, but with plenty of range and style shifts into whatever direction the songs go. The guitarist switches off to trumpet, which even further showcases the vocals. I should add that all members supply decent backing vocals frequently. The rhythm section also deserves star billing as the acoustic bass and drums have a playful swing style which is underused these days compared to the late sixties when it was pretty much de rigueur. This band sold out the club tonight and many people here were highly familiar with this band from many successful past shows as well as their fine recorded works. It is fascinating to think of this music occurring at any point in the last 50 years. I would think this band would succeed just about anywhere along that spectrum. They certainly succeeded tonight.

Quote of the Night... or rather another of the harshest Musician on Musician insults compiled by Tom Hawking. I'll give you two, as the first one may be too British for us (meaning I don't get it, although I do know the Levellers music and their bass player is named Jeremy)...

20. Richey Edwards on The Levellers
“You could go to any Levellers concert and stand in the middle and shout, ‘Jeremy!’, and 75% of the audience would turn round.”

19. Kurt Cobain on Guns N’ Roses
“They’re really talentless people, and they write crap music, and they’re the most popular rock band on the earth right now. I can’t believe it.”

Bear Hands - Lightwaves -- DC9 - Jun 21 2014

Lightwaves - This is only the second show ever for this DC band? Perhaps so, but they have hit the ground running with this sharp little twenty minute set of throbbing pop music. They could really lock into a groove, while delivering their quality pop vocal melody lines with clarity and just enough energy. The pulsating sound of it all was fascinating, helped with keyboards in addition to the rock trio of instruments. The drumming was a bit crude at times, occasionally helpful to the throb, other times distracting. But overall, there was a solid core sound that works well and they successfully warmed the large crowd present at an early Saturday evening show.

Bear Hands - I missed a DC show from this band earlier this year (and a number prior to that) and am happy to catch up and see what these Brooklynites can deliver. The first couple of songs had me impressed with their playing and some of their choices of how they interacted with each other, but I was not so sure about the songs. Thankfully, I was here for 50 minutes with this band and about mid way through the set, they had built up a strong identity that made complete sense. This is quirky pop music with a bit of post-punk heft in many of the songs and it took me a while to fully integrate what they were doing with their marriage of contrasting sounds. They seem like a band that works their ideas out with creative moves slowly integrated by each member over time. There is a lot going on individually, but it is hard to notice as the group seems so locked into a group sound. They mentioned they are always happy here in DC and DC is happy with them as tonight's show was sold out. And I am happy that I finally joined in on what many people have known about for some time now, that Bear Hands is a strong band, well worth devoting some club time to.

Photo grab of the Night: Amusing caption writing is a fine art...

Pillar Point - Pleasure Curses -- Jun 17 2014

Pleasure Curses - It often happens that I recognize the name of a band I had seen before, but can't place the specific sound (or do worse and guess wrong). This was the case tonight, but before this local duo struck a note, I immediately recalled that this is the guy that looks and sounds like Morrisey as they concoct some decent electro-pop music. Their half hour set still went along those lines tonight, with the singer playing guitar on the opening and closing numbers while occasionally fiddling with some electronics. But the music was mostly set up by the other member who played a lot of bass, worked synthesizers and electronics, and even hit some drum pads. The vocals work well to establish a mood with just enough breathy qualities in them. Even with the instrument shifts, there are some moments that get a little too 'samey' for me, as the second song with the guitar snapped me back to attention. I would suggest they add a few guitar chords in a few more songs to keep us on edge a bit more. But this was a likable set from a band that does bring the pleasure, even if we are all cursed.

Pillar Point - The Iota certainly succeeded in booking complimentary bands tonight as this touring trio picked up right where Pleasure Curses left off with a solid set of thoughtful pop music with plenty of electronics and keyboards. The band is actually one person with two touring members, but I am reviewing a live show, so it is a band for me. They included keyboards, a drummer which always helps in the live setting, and the singer played guitar frequently. He created some interesting tones, but more importantly, added some heft to the songs generating some real rock excitement. The keyboards were busy in a positive way as the songs merged complex underpinnings with clean melodies on top. The second to last song they played was a perfect example of combining different layers of sound into a vibrant song. They are from Seattle, on their first tour, and could develop enough fans to do this all again some day. It was a smallish Tuesday crowd with lots of good shows going on throughout DC, but there was some real dancing and enthusiasm here, so I think I chose well tonight.

Quote of the Night... or rather another 'musician on musician insult as collected by Tom Hawking:

21. Paul Weller on Freddie Mercury
“He said he wanted to bring ballet to the working classes. What a cunt.”

The Trews - FLINTface - Clones of Clones -- DC9 - Jun 15 2014

Clones of Clones - This local quartet features a twin guitar line-up with a couple of keyboards for occasional use. The rhythm section was steady as the band cooked up an 80s style alt rock sound with some pop melodies in there as well. The lead guitar was quite busy and was generally a highlight for me and gave their music just enough distinction to be interesting, even for those of us that have 'heard it all'. They faded a lot of endings which was kind of anti-climactic, although the last couple of songs were more tight. That would be the one recommendation on what otherwise was a fine opening set, well received by a fairly small crowd.

FLINTface - Interesting band, this. Rather this is a band that features singer songwriter Joe Scorsone with his wife assisting on vocals and a sharp backing band. They have a balanced Americana rock sound that encompasses rural and urban feelings in the manner of Petty, Walkabouts, and many other successful acts. The dynamics in the better songs are achieved with a great sense of subtlety creating a dramatic environment for the vocals. They did a great job and it was nice to see the crowd double and fill out the club into something of an event, even if the usual self absorption blocked some of the contact between band and audience. This is a sharp little outfit worthy of a look and a listen.

The Trews - I enjoyed this Canadian band's album, but was not sure if their rather straight ahead rock format was unique enough. Well, for album listening maybe, maybe not, but a live stage is where music like this thrives. Not only did this band blast away with great playing from all four members, but the lead guitar work had the crowd cheering in ecstasy. Some of the songs also went more into a cool direction in the manner of a T2 or Mighty Baby. The vocals were hearty and could stay on top, although due to a vocal infection, the singer had to dip into his 'magic spray' more than once. The crowd definitely got over their dull conversations and dug in for this set. These guys are touring hard and that is the best way for music like this to get over.

Quote of the Night, or yet another of our series of nasty musician on musician insults (and thankfully the last on Courtney Love)...

22. Kathleen Hanna on Courtney Love
“Where’s the baby? In the closet with an IV?”

Preview of Coming Attractions for the rest of June 2014

I'm out of town for a few days, but want to come back in time to see...


The Trews, who come in from Canada to play the DC9 this Sunday, June 15th.


Sharon Van Etten brings her excellent music to the 9:30 Club on Tuesday, June 17th.


But if you want some other opportunities on Tuesday, why not try Painted Palms at the Black Cat or Pillar Point at Iota.


I really dug the Tweens latest album and now I get to see it all live and up close at the Black Cat on Wednesday, June 18th.


Lust for Youth (and who doesn't, at least at some point in life) hits the Union Arts on Saturday, June 21st.

or check out Bear Hands on Saturday the 21st at the DC9.


Joywave splashes forth at the Rock'n'Roll Hotel on Tuesday, June 24th.


Lake Street Drive comes to the 9:30 Club on Wednesday, June 25th.


Rodrigo Amarante has a lovely album out and will certainly showcase much of it at the 6th and I Synagogue on Saturday, June 28th.


And if you still have the energy, head out to Gypsy Sally's on Sunday, June 29th for the Jamestown Revival.

My Gold Mask - Motion Lines -- Black Cat - Jun 9 2014

Motion Lines - I saw this band eighteen months back and made my frequent complaint of seeing a couple of decent musicians playing to sub-mediocre drum machine beats. That is all fixed tonight as they have three members and shift around a bit on instruments with the occasional drum machine used only when the drummer moves forward to sing or play keyboards. A bass is used at times and the guitarist has a nice array of sounds, so they have a lot more to offer this time around. There's is a rich and dreamy sound without frequent dynamic shifts, although when it happens, it does stand out distinctly. The mood is good and there were at least a couple of songs that had me take notice. They are doing well and are worth a listen some time again.

My Gold Mask - This Chicago trio has a lot of the same instruments and works the same general area as the openers, but is a bit more intense about it all. The female lead vocals are powerful with a slightly goth sense to the pop. It is some unholy combination of Siouxsie, Poly Styrene, and Deborah Harry. She also plays some percussion, although there is a stand up drummer and synth player handling most of the beats. The guitarist thickens the vocal works even more when he chimes in. Otherwise, he comes up with a lot of powerfully thick sounds. They sound surprisingly dense, yet the percussion is good in maintaining clarity throughout. Some of the songs are quite catchy and the crowd is digging it all well. Thankfully, this quiet Monday night crowd doubled in size, which resulted in 30-40 enthusiastic people. They made me smile more than once, no small task as I am severely in the midst of my pre-travel anxiety. If you like a more intense brand of electronic pop music, then give this band a look and listen.

Quote of the Night, or rather more quotes from Tom Hawking's '30 harshest musician on musician insults'. And it's a twofer tonight...

24. Courtney Love on Dave Grohl
“As for that drummer, well, he’s hit on me so many times. He’s just a very very conflicted guy about me, which is why he continually writes songs about me to hear he ‘hates’ me more than ‘anyone else.’ Kurt loathed HIM more than anyone else (except a journalist) … He’s just sub-mediocre kind of [guy] who does this ‘nice guy’ nonsense.”

23. Dave Grohl on Courtney Love
“She’s an ugly fucking bitch.”

Dan Saks -- Historic 6th+I Syngagogue - Jun 7 2014

Dan Saks, Sephardic Songs + Stories - It is good to hear that Dan Saks is still doing well in Mexico City, where he moved just before the previous time his band DeLeon played the Washington Jewish Music Festival. That was two years ago and although it has resulted in less DeLeon since then, we are treated to an intimate version of some of their music along with other traditional Sephardic songs, as interpreted by this former DC area native. Dan has also brought out Kevin Snider, his childhood friend and band mate from the area to assist on several songs tonight. Otherwise it is just Dan, an acoustic guitar or banjo, and his excellent voice. I really enjoyed his stories as he did have a lot to say about the songs and the traditions with all the changes and alternate viewpoints that crop up. There was a supportive crowd tonight in the downstairs area of the Synagogue as it was completely filled. He even had his brother and mother assist he and his bass player with backing vocals on the last cut. I think the only way to improve this show would have been a slightly longer set (this was under an hour or so) or possibly an opening band. But I would rather have quality music in small doses with good musicology instead of cliched stage patter, so this was a lovely way to spend a Saturday night.

Quote of the Night: Dan Saks - "When I research these songs, there is always a discrepancy - That's the theme for tonight, discrepancy."

And if you would like to read an old interview I had with him, click here.

Miss Shevaughn & Yuma Wray - Luray - Derek Evry -- Black Cat - Jun 4 2014

Derek Evry - Although he is playing bass with the headliners tonight, Evry is up for double duty with a solo acoustic guitar and vocal set. On more than one occasion, I have seen where these type sets feel tacked on. Not tonight. Derek Evry has plenty of style and fine songs presented with a strong voice and energetic guitar work. Although he flat picks, he has some intricate moves in between his energetic chords. He is as much rock as folk and the songs work well in this presentation. Not surprisingly, he has a solo album out and will be having a record release party with a full band at the Iota on Saturday, June 21st. Based on what I saw from this set, it's a lock to be a fun night.

Luray - It has been a while since I have seen Shannon Carey and her band which has steadily evolved into a strong working unit. The sound is still delicate with banjo and voice taking the lead, but the supporting band fleshes out the songs into fully complete works that retain the heart, while having the heft to work in a rock club. Although this crowd was very supportive and into the music tonight, so crowd noise was not a problem. Sarah Gilberg offers a lot to the sound with colorful keyboard work, a bit of guitar and excellent vocals. Then there is guitar, bass, and percussion with even a bit of thumb piano, always one of my favorite instruments. The band even nails down some mysterious droning moves that elevate the music even further into fascinating areas. Luray is definitely one of the finer bands in the area and proved it again tonight.

Miss Shevaughn & Yuma Wray - Tonight's show ends several months of touring and 'the Honeymoon is over'. That's a joke they are tired of by now as Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray were married back in March and have spent their extended honeymoon blazing a trail across the country playing their great brand of music every step of the way. It was nice to see they still had the energy to put on a great show. I knew the songs would be good, as I really enjoyed their recent album that I reviewed last month. This live set did not quite have the surprising dynamics, although that may be due to knowing a little more of what was coming. They still varied songs nicely from rootsy rockers to intense singer songwriter cuts with spacey western landscapes. They had that Denver sound murder ballad style working as well and all of it connected with the nice crowd assembled filling out the smaller room. They have lots of fans around here, deservedly so, and are hopefully spreading their base with their heavy touring. The music has that combination of originality with comfortable hooks that will connect with a large crowd if given a chance.

Quote of the Night: Derek Evry counting in a song... "One, Two, why am I counting."

But to continue the series of harsh musician on musician insults, here is one more for your list...

25. Mark E Smith on Mumford & Sons
“There was this other group warming up … and they were terrible. I said, ‘Shut them cunts up!’ And they were still warming up, so I threw a bottle at them … I just thought they were a load of retarded Irish folk singers.”

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Stagnant Pools -- U Street Music Hall - June 2 2014

Stagnant Pools - It's another guitar and drums duo which, along with vocals, makes for the usual breakdown of three distinct sounds. And distinct is the word for this band as all parts sound quite different, yet work to achieve a cohesive whole... at least somewhat. The drumming is powerful with some creative throbbing rhythms and is a real highlight here. The guitar work has a shoegaze drone quality that can go with the pace when needed. The vocals is where things don't quite connect for me. The dreary Ian Curtis quality certainly can work, but with Joy Division, Ian had a lot more than one move, in spite of his profound and intense style. Here, it just goes on and on, even as the music shifts around nicely depending on the song. I hope they work on that, as there are some core elements that work here.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - This is the second 'Yeah' band I have seen in the past year and in both cases, the live set was much better than I expected, even with the fine reputations of both bands (the other being the Yeah Yeah Yeahs). It was a real pleasure to listen to how this band takes such complex moves and combines them in ways that work so well with a pop music simplicity to it all. Progressive pop hooks? I am not sure too many bands can do it this well. They switched around their instrumental combinations with drums and vocals working full time with differing numbers of guitars, keyboards, and/or a bass. Although that helped freshen the songs, it was much more due to their very sharp songwriting abilities and skilled control of sounds and pace. They had songs that had a post-Radiohead style to them, as well as a few that reminded me of the sharper new wave cuts back in the day. I suppose if you imagine Radiohead with a sense of fun like the B-52s added in, you get something in this direction. But Clap Your Hands Say Yeah have certainly and successfully carved out their own musical space as they showed tonight with a large supportive crowd reminding them of that after every song. I'm hooked and now it is up to me to make up for lost time with their recordings.

Quote of the Night, again drawn from the Tom Hawking article, 'The 30 Harshest Musician-on-Musician Insults in History'...

26. Trent Reznor on Marilyn Manson
“A malicious guy [who] will step on anybody’s face to succeed, and cross any line of decency.”

Matisyahu - Lisner Auditorium - Jun 1st 2014

Matisyahu - Tonight kicks off the 15th Washington Jewish Music Festival, and it starts with a bang in a nearly filled Lisner Auditorium. The last time I was here was over two years back for a couple of shows featuring two of the greats of the Brazilian Tropicalia movement, Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. Interestingly enough, tonight's artist is also known for an intriguing blend of genres, like Tropicalia, but more of his own making. I was not familiar with his music until tonight and did not detect too much of his famed reggae style in this acoustic performance featuring his vocals and Adam Weinberg on acoustic guitar. There were some raps and partial raps along with his beatbox vocal skills, which he used frequently, but in small doses (to much applause). Mostly, there were high quality songs featuring delicate guitar with a wide array of styles exhibited. His vocals soared and while not quite hitting Thom Yorke heights, I detected more of Colin Meloy, which may be a fair comparison considering the variety of styles exhibited tonight. And even late on, the guitarist had a fascinating droning rhythm working on a loop that did venture into the subtle psychedelic pastures of Tropicalia. I really enjoyed the newer songs played here tonight and there were moments of real magic. I look forward to hearing his new album. This stripped down 90 minute set showcased a fascinating talent who hopefully will continue to focus his energies in creative ways like what was shown tonight.

Quote of the Night: And to close with another of our 30 harshest musician on musician insults, courtesy of Tom Hawking... (keep reading here and collect them all!)

27. Lily Allen on Cheryl Cole
“Taking your clothes off, doing sexy dancing and marrying a rich footballer must be very gratifying. Your mother must be so proud. Stupid bitch.”

Futurebirds - Avers -- Black Cat - May 31 2014

Avers - This trippy Richmond collective blows through my expected guitar ratio with four guitars starting out with the rock rhythm section. Although in the first song, one of the guitarists spends more time on keyboards. They pass my personal test by playing different passages and working well together as the band cooks up a powerful psychedelic stew that is not too heavy but hearty and full of spice. I like that they use (at least) three different lead vocalists and harmonize in different ways. That and few slower cuts keep everything fresh and original. I am reminded of Black Mountain and also the Black Angels at times when they really cook, although the Swedish collective Spacious Mind also comes to... er, mind. Just about every time Richmond sends a band up our way, I end up quite impressed and this was no exception. Avers can easily hold their own at Psychefest or with a variety of psychedelic bands from the extreme improv jammers to the more pop song oriented types. As a bonus, it was nice to get more than a 50 minute set from them, and it was as solid at the end as it was in the beginning.

Futurebirds - Although this band hails from Athens, Georgia, I am hearing the best sort of California light jamming psychedelia coming out of the PA. They have a confidence and control of the tempo that makes their interesting material work all the better. So it is not a surprise that they have nearly filled the big room tonight. What is surprising is how many people here are self absorbed in their own little worlds and treat the live music like a background to their conversation. Oh well, at least they are supporting live music even as they get far less out of it than they would if they focused on the many strengths of this band. Yes, they can go off into jamming Neil Young sort of songs, but like Neil, there are really good songs here to latch onto. And their vocals and song structures are beyond a simple comparison, as they carve out their own turf in this spacey landscape. Definitely a band to follow.

And the next entry form "The Harshest Musician-on-Musician Insults in History" by Tom Hawking is:    28. David Lee Roth on Elvis Costello
“Music journalists like Elvis Costello because music journalists look like Elvis Costello.”

RECORD REVIEWS - MAY 2014

RODRIGO AMARANTE "CAVALO"

There is something wonderfully old fashioned about this music, even as it bounces around between different styles. There is a latino crooning vibe in some songs, worldly folk in others, and some up tempo songs that either sound like the seventies or modern with a a slight nod to the past. Overall, the vocals stay steady and take control of the pace, while the band creates a dreamy atmosphere that is inviting and leaves me with a relaxed, settled feeling, leaning just enough on the edge of my seat in anticipation of the next musical move. Rodrigo Amarante has done well here, creating an album that leaves a physical impression with the listener while letting mental imagery move about on a comfortable journey. Each song has character and stands alone, but the latter half of the album does build into a strong emotional conclusion with "Tardei". Give this album a full listen.

Songs to try first:

Nad Em Vao - Dreamy atmospheric crooning that sounds like Sinatra or Brel cloned for the modern world.

Irene - Delicate folk song with nuanced vocal work.

I'm Ready - This is my soundtrack for a pleasant stroll through an Italian village.

AMEN DUNES "LOVE"

We certainly can't accuse this band of creating an obtuse album title. And with a title this broad, it allows plenty or room for exploration. This spacey, delicate overall sound does invite a certain wide geographic swath of landscape imagery. This is a 'band' project of sorts from Damon McMahon, a New Yorker who moved to China and back, so the wide and varied geography certainly has contextual basis here. The overall sound is laid back droning light rock with psyche folk flavoring that is a bit on the modern side, but there are also traces of Pearls Before Swine. There's even some lo-fi heavy garage rock in "I Can't Dig It", so he will keep you guessing. But most of the time it is trance inducing treks across desert landscapes. It does not always work for me, but there is great vision and moments of great success. Truly, an album to explore and decide for yourself, this.

Songs to try first:

Lonely Richard - Droning guitar, but with a light touch creating an intriguing atmosphere.

Rocket Flare - The guitar jangle is nice, vocals good, and overall a solid arrangement.

Everybody is Crazy - It's true, they are… and this lives up to the album title.

Green Eyes - The laid back vocals are even more dreary and evocative here atop a droning piano pattern.

AMENRA/VVOVNDS "THE ABYSS STARES BACK #1"

This is a split LP, the first of five from Belgian record label, Hypertension Records. I know this is going to be great for me because not only have I enjoyed the many Begian releases I have reviewed in years past, but this series is going to include one of my Denver, Colorado favorites, Munly J. Munly, on one of the five planned releases. So let's dive right in with record number one:

Amenra - This Belgian band plays a profoundly mannered dreamy psychedelic rock with a touch that as great as their sound. They keep their pace down and manage to control the drama of their musical passages far better than most. This never gets dull and the careful vocal work is a big part of that as well. What a lovely brand of psychedelia this is. I want to hear much more.

VVovnds - Wounds, indeed. These songs may make you bleed from any open wounds you point toward the speakers. This is manic hardcore with an extra level of noisy guitar in the midst. It's like Iceage covering Discharge or the Varukers. Actually it is way crazier than that, but I'm not up on my hardcore acts anymore. Suffice it to say, this is completely another side of the coin when you flip this record, portending that this series will be diverse and quite exciting.

BRITTANY JEAN "SONGS FOR SOMEONE ELSE"

It has been a pleasure reviewing Brittany Jean music for a few years now for a couple of reasons. FIrst, I can continually count on music that will connect easily, while managing to combine a comfortable sound with plenty of heart and fire within. But its the second reason that is exciting as like many great musicians, Brittany Jean sounds a little bit more advanced and varied as she moves forward with her songwriting and recording. There are fresh variations and arrangements here, yet the core sound is as welcome and familiar as what I heard in her first release. Most of the songs here have that folk, folk rock style that focus on her fine voice and thoughtful hooks comfortably brought out in balanced arrangements. However, a song like "Aberdeen" jumps out with its sad accordion drone working up a unique atmosphere unlike the other four songs here, yet clearly part of the same spirit. Brittany Jean is one of the best area singer songwriter/musicians that you can count on for interesting records and fine live performances. If you have not experienced her music by now, it's not too late to start.

DADDY LION "PERPETUAL CALENDAR: PART 1" EP

It is good to see Jeremy Joseph still making music even after he left the area to pursue further education in South Carolina. Not only is he still writing songs, he has also assembled a new Daddy Lion band to bring some life to them. The band has fine touch and the songs have some fine edgy guitar to complement the flowing melodies that remind me a bit of the songs of Grant Hart through way of Sebadoh. In other words, fine indie rock with classic pop melodies. There are only three songs here, so I hope there is more parts to this calendar. Whether you remember the DC shows from years back or not, I recommend you give Daddy Lion a few moments of your listening time.

THE DONKEYS "RIDE THE BLACK WAVE"

San Diego's The Donkeys ride more than one wave on this album, but their journey is a steady popsike climb to heights worthy of the trek. Their best skill is the way they combine genres and diverse sounds into intriguing packages all while slowly and smoothly moving along their musical trail. The vocals always keep their dreamy identity intact as the instruments dance about or lock in depending on their mood. Each of these songs commanded my attention in a way that surprised me as they are smooth and some could even work as background music. Somehow the Donkeys work up an intensity through their subtlety, not an easy task. So credit to them for making warm and familiar sounds work together in unique ways.

Songs to try first:

The Manx - A lovely posike instrumental with a riff reminding me of the Frantics.

Ride the Black Wave - Dreamy sounds, crazed synthesizer, sharp drum bursts, and smooth vocals make for a rare and winning combination here.

Shines - Almost a tiki bar guitar worked into a quirky pop song, less dreamy here, but no less interesting.

EX CULT "MIDNIGHT PASSENGER"

More quality modern day punk rock with a post rock edge on display with the latest album by this Memphis band. They combine a classic revved up English or LA punk with some post punk sounds deep within, darkening the proceedings significantly. They are reminiscent of Iceage in that regard, in fact, I wonder if a subgenre isn't being created here. This has significant post-punk, psychedelic, krautrock styled sounds deeply within driving songs. The faster songs work better here and this is a pleasurable album for aging punk rockers as well as youthful energetic creative types.

Songs to try first:

Shattered Circle - The opener is the most straight ahead punk rocker with a speedy, but tougher Eddie and the Hot Rods feel.

Flickering Eyes - Rolling drums and guitars that pull back into intense rhythm with spacey breaks.

Sid Visions - Great title starts off psyche droning, but rolls out a fine punk rhythm as it fully forms.

FALLING AWAKE "FALLING AWAKE" EP

This is an Arkansas band that has been around a little over a year. They take the expected pop punk roads that we have all traveled, yet present a few surprises. The first is a death metal backing vocal that sounds wildly out of place next to the nice clean lead vocals, but is actually rather fun. It was so harsh and unexpected, I had to look around that I did not have another audio running in another window. I trusted myself not, so I had to play these again and heard the vocals just as I hear first hear them in the first two songs of this four-song EP. Overall, the music is fine if not a bit too predictable, but the guitars roar along nicely with just enough intricacy to make it a pleasant listen. They would likely be worth a look if they come to a town near you.

DAN FISK "DRIFTING"

Here is a DC area singer songwriter that i have not heard up until now--it still happens a lot, as there is so much going on in this area. Dan Fisk has released seven songs here with a classic style that encompasses folk moves in a comfortable full band rock setting. There is some heartland Americana in the mix as well, which is not too surprising these days. I thought it was a bit too straight and narrow early on, although the brass moves were nice. Thankfully, he has a few gems here such as the folkier 'Disappear' which I will be playing a few more times this week. 'Talk to Me' also had nice contrasting acoustic and electric guitar parts with brass accompaniment as well. At the end of the day, this is a nice set of songs that offer up some classic rock moves that still work today.

And you can see Dan Fisk at his record release show this Thursday, June 5th at the Jammin Java.


IAN FOSTER "THE GREAT WAVE ALBUM"

This album screams Americana with each of these twelve songs. Well not exactly screams, as Ian Foster has great touch when pulling back to a quiet folk number or forging ahead with a full band rocker. Ian Foster is from St. Johns in Newfoundland and there is a great folk scene in that part of Canada, with roots that go back to England and Scotland and other parts of Europe. Yet, like Iain Matthews, he understands the roots in North American music and weaves that heritage into his songs quite seamlessly, if not even using that as the heart of the song. His voice is excellent and the arrangements are varied and smart throughout this album. I think even lesser folk fans would find plenty to enjoy here. I did, but but this does speak in a language I am quite familiar with.

Songs to try first:

How the Weather Rolls In - This song has a rolling quality to it that makes for a strong connection.

Japanese Tea Shop - Fine straight-up folk song with voice and acoustic guitar.

Good Good Heart - Another lighter folk arrangement to start, but it builds into a well arranged cut that would have been made for radio, if radio mattered.

GOLD BEARS "DALLIANCE"

More high energy punk power pop in the Buzzcocks meets 999 realm. The songwriting does not seem quite up to those standards, high as they are, but there are moments of great pleasure here. When they don't go too long into their songs, their melodies are sharp, the playing is crisp and the vocals stay bright and strong. If you like the style, you will enjoy enough of this record. They would certainly put on a fun live show.

Songs to try first:

Yeah, Tonight - Great power pop rocker with dual lead vocal duels.

From Tallahassee to Gainesville - Slower ringing guitars carry this longer song to fruition.

For Her - Catchy melody and some roaring guitar battles.

GRAIN THIEF "(THE NEW EP)"

Former DCer and current Bostonian Patrick Mulroy is back with four new songs under his moniker of Grain Thief. His sound is Americana folk rock with plenty of roots present but not overly dominating. He has that knack for folk story telling and he and his band mates cook up a smooth backing that has plenty of bite in guitar when desired. He has three fine originals, each with distinct character to them, and then finishes with a rousing version of "John the Revelator". This is a crowded field, but there is just enough here to stand out on record, as well as on stage. It is always a pleasure to stay connected with the music of Grain Thief.

GUIDED BY VOICES "COOL PLANET"

It is hard for me to objectively analyze Guided by Voices as we are both from the Dayton, Ohio scene and both worked hard to put it on the map (or rather just create something fun for for us to do in town). I actually worked with the slightly less famous bands that these guys were seeing while they were forming their band. I knew of them, but didn't really hear them before moving on to Columbus, Chicago, DC, and Denver. But the Dayton scene was important and it was great to see these guys take off and run with it to become a major band, world-wide. It has been quite a ride with two full versions of this band, with the original version now working again in recent years. While I miss Doug Gillard from the second version of GBV, it is just as well as it allows him to pursue a great solo career. So the Dayton band is back and still grinding out these quick bursts of rock inspiration. It still works, although it falls into the classic trap where the band records everything that Pollard dreams up, and too often the good ideas warrant expansion, honing, and combining into more coherent songs. But they are still fun and this was a more thought through record than the recent Pollard solo effort, so I recommend it to the fans as well as anyone else who likes straight ahead, fun rock music with intelligent twists and turns from a veteran band that is still has plenty to offer.

Songs to try first:

Fast Crawl - A dark mysterious cut that works slightly different turf than what I expected.

All American Boy - GBV's version of a prog epic as it clocks in at 3:45!

Ticket to Hide - Heck, they are all catchy, but this one even a bit more so, with some acoustic guitars prior to the rock.

CURTIS HARDING "SOUL POWER"

There is a lot to live up to in the title of this album, and although this may not dislodge the classics of this genre off of the shelf, it could well share some of that shelf space. It is a pleasure to listen to this thoughtful music where there are great soulful vocals atop crisp drumming and sharp instrumental prowess on bass, guitar, keys, etc. There are changes of pace and nice rock moves throughout and all of it goes down warm and smooth, yet with heart. This is no throwback album as there are subtle electronica moves working with synthesizer runs and modern rhythms. Yet a few of these songs fit in with a 1972 playlist as that would include plenty of Isaac Hayes guitar off of sharp brass blasts. I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did. Curtis Harding is someone I would like to see live.

…and right on cue, Curtis Harding is in town at the DC9 on Thursday, June 12th.

Songs to try first:

Next Time - This song goes down as smooth as an ice cold Diet Coke (ok, the metaphors of the sober are not terribly vivid)

Cruel World - The closing cut has a beat like 'Blank Generation' but more relaxed yet still twisted guitars and cool vocal styling.

Surf - Good rock tones here, a bit of a nod to surf music, although a lot less tremolo.

HERDER "GODS"

Whether it is a thick powerful death metal mid-tempo dirge, or a snappy hardcore-metal crossover such as in the title cut, you can be assured that this Dutch band will deliver an intense wall of sound. I particularly am impressed with the way they work in some interesting elements such as the near Gregorian Chants in 'Asylums of the Forgotten', and still keep a steady connection between the songs. There are even some Swans-like percussion sounds deep in the mix. Overall, this is a strong album for the metal fan and also the more heavy experimental music fan. Not many may be harder than herder as they say, but few can match them with such interesting sonics as they roar away in the red zone.

THE MAULS EP

This is a debut four song 7" record with four bonus cuts available on a download card. The Mauls do to rock music just what their name implies, but not overly so. This is tough punk rock music that has a bit of the early style along with a touch of hardcore. They keep the intensity up through every song and offer a few extras in a couple of songs, whether it is ringing guitars or the snappy rhythms and cool song structure in 'Small' (my favorite). Clearly, they have a good handle on the genre and just enough creativity to add to their skill and enthusiasm. I still enjoy this music when bands move enough beyond cliches and bring out something worth listening to more than once. I hope to catch the Mauls in a club some time this year. But for now, I'll listen to this record again, while you seek it out (hint a real famous DC label makes it easy to find if you don't want to use my link to the Mauls website).

MONEY "THE SHADOW OF HEAVEN"

For those that want to lose themselves in the smooth land of dream rock, you may want to cuddle up to the Shadow of Heaven. It is more rock than pop, but of the smoothest possible variety, with damper pedaled piano and other echoey guitars and electronic sounds providing the backdrop for airy delicate vocals. I am not going to delineate between songs as all ten songs work together for a steady theme, although there are some subtle differences. The seven minute, heavily pained "Goodnight London" is quite good. It does work better on the whole as opposed to just sampling a song or two, but may not have quite the edge that some people may look for, although "Cold Water" has moments.

OBN IIIs "THIRD TIME TO HARM

These guys manage to take garage punk attitude and deliver it with fun hooks and an energy and rock style that pulls from all great eras of scary teenage adrenaline. At their best they have an unholy alliance of the Saints and Radio Birdman type of sound. With the former's lyrical sneer and the latter's crazed guitar solos, they hit on something that is pretty exciting. Other times, they sink back into lesser cuts, aside from a few longer interesting experiments. They sound like they would be a real kick in the pants live and are a fun listen if you like today's punk.

Songs to try first:

No Time for the Blues - Rousing opener is a punk filled power pop blast that brings in sixties garage, too.

Queen Glom - An 8-minute catchy garage rocker? Proof it can be done.

Brother - Slower psyche rock jam thang that shows even another subtle shift.

LA SERA "HOUR OF THE DAWN"

It is great when power pop bands sound more like POWER pop bands. This band keeps cranking it out, whether they add punk moves or crunching classic rock guitar chords underneath the frothy, yet still tough melody lines sung with great style by ex-Vivian Girl, Katy Goodman. These ten songs all hit their mark, with style, confidence, and enthusiasm. This can easily work in the mainstream, but more selective snobbish fans would not likely give up on them even if this band was a major success. That is a tightrope that has gotten more manageable thanks to REM, Nirvana, and others. I am not sure La Sera is quite in that league, but music this catchy should keep them playing well attended shows. This is their third album since the first one in 2011, so they are staying quite busy, much to our benefit.

Songs to try first:

Losing to the Dark - Wham! An in your face power pop punk slammer hitting you square in the mouth and it tastes good.

Fall in Place - Catchy song with mysterious psyche post punk sounds running around like a sine wave, surrounding the melody.

All My Love is for You - Bouncy little song, severely toughened up with the guitars.

SPOONBOY (+ Colour Me Wednesday) 'SPLIT LP'
By Kyle Schmitt

DC-based singer/songwriter Spoonboy is completing a busy week with the digital release of three split records. His split LP with the West London-based Colour Me Wednesday features pleasant pop-rock and a well-honed lyrical delivery. The record's highlight is "The Dispossessed", in which Spoonboy sings, "I used to think that one day, I'd settle into some place / I used to think I'd find the will to be content," a sobering thought for many young adults who expected to be comfortable with their home, life, and job by this point in life. Also impressive is "Two Dollar Stereo", which kicks off like the Only Ones, and reveals a songwriter who lives for the catharsis provided by each chorus.

Check out Spoonboy's record release show at the DC9 on Friday, June 6th. It's an early show with opening acts starting at 6:30, so don't be late.



THE TREWS "THE TREWS"

The Trews have a classic rock sound. It works best when there are either some snappy roots underneath or when they integrate some post punk moves into the mix. This does not happen quite enough to my liking, but for someone looking for that seventies FM sound, the Trews offer up some moves that don't exist much outside of classic rock radio. This does has a certain charm at times, and these guys are quite skillful with their music. There are plenty of indie bands that will not sound this authentic, no matter how hard they try.

My guess is this works quite well live and you can find out at the DC9, on Sunday, June 15th.

Songs to try first:

Rise in the Wake - The opener is classic rock with just enough garage cool to make it interesting.

What's Fair is Fair - This one has classic moves with 80s sensibility and sound and it works well today.

New King - Short boogie rock, which you don't hear in this form much anymore.

THE TROUBLE WITH TEMPLETON "ROOKIE"

There are lot of Radiohead influenced bands out there, and sometimes they are even good enough to sound like Radiohead. This Australian debut has lovely vocal work and melodies that take me back to some of the earlier Thom Yorke efforts. The band has a similar smart pop rock style where dreamy hooks work comfortably with sharp little guitar runs and percussive bursts. There is a bit of variety to keep things fresh on this 12-song album. And each song sounds pretty good as a stand alone, but contributes to the full strength of the album as a whole. These guys are relatively speaking rookies, but they are off to a good start and may want to travel the oceans and dish out some of their fine music to the many continents of the world.

Songs to try first:

Whimpering Child - If you like 'OK Computer' and who didn't?….

Heavy Lifting - More lilting than lifting, this fun little melody.

Six Months in a Cast - A lot more pleasant than six months in a cast (unless it is on Broadway).


TYSON MEADE "TOMORROW IN PROGRESS"

This is a record to spend some time with. What starts out as fairly straight British styled pop rock slowly goes more experimental song by song before sliding back into perkier pop tunes, all of which results in one strangely fascinating album. I was thinking I was not liking this, until I realized I was smiling at the audacious moves and found that there is some method to their madness, which has resulted in a fun little head scratcher. 

Songs to try first:

Dusty Came Up for Air - 'He falls among the relics in his sleep' is nice imagery amidst the catchy rock hooks.

Jump Punks - If you could sit on an urban porch with a fiddle and guitar played through effect boxes, it may have this sort of down home sound.

Winter Boys Cutting the Rug - Dreamy David Lynch meets Scott Walker-esque odd pop.

THE WARP THE WEFT "WIND OF HOURS UNWINDING"

I have enjoyed this band's brand of psychedelic folk in the past and am pleased to see they are pushing genre boundaries even further on this ten-song album. They still have that core feeling of mystery and exploration, but mix light touches with heavier moments and intricate patterns of song writing and arranging. So if you like bands like Spirogyra, Fresh Maggots, and Spriguns, you should be listening to this. The quivering lead vocals are reminiscent of those of Fuchsia, who were also a great light progressive band. This band has the creativity, individualistic, genre bending spark that makes them a must-hear in this decade. They are definitely one of my favorites and I hope many more add them to their list as well.

Songs to try first:

Nativity - The psyche folk is element is there at the core, but the progressive rock moves push the opening cut in fascinating new directions.

Feckless Fancy - Aside from the great title, I enjoy the tough rock push in a song that still retains its sensitivity.

Life is New Again - Delicate folk with acoustic guitar, light glockenspiel, and lovely vocal harmonies. Ahhhhhh....

WHITE REAPER "WHITE REAPER"

This six-song EP starts off simply enough as a familiar brand of pop punk music which plenty of bands tried back in the day and many still do well enough with today. After a couple of songs they hit their stride as the music has enough of that buzz saw pop style that worked for the Ramones, Dickies, and Misfits. The vocals are smoother in a Nerves sort of way and the keyboards in "Half Bad" will send you into orbit. But if you like it a little heavier, "Conspirator" has a roaring guitar sound equal to a hardcore band--at least those that still want you to hear vocal melodies.

DEVON WILLIAMS "GILDING THE LILY"

I suppose you could play this record comfortably between your singer songwriter LPs and your more modern indie pop rock records. He starts this album a bit slowly, but ultimately the quality song writing comes through. And there is a nice little pop style with touches of psyche and comfortable rock moves to bring it all together. This takes its time sinking in, but there are rewards to be had in this Slumberland release.

Songs to try first:

Pendulum - An easy going cut reminiscent of the post punk UK psyche style.

Around in a Maze - Lovely pop song with just enough of a psyche vibe to pull me in further

Puzzle - Add a few dashes of power pop to the formula and you come up with this nice little rocker.

PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS -- Early June, 2014

One of my favorite festivals of the year is the Washington Jewish Festival, now in its 15th year. It is not a marathon of bands and stages working through a mass of people and weather situations, but more a carefully curated series of concerts that run the gamut from rock to folk to jazz, all with Jewish roots from many corners of the world. The festival runs from June 1st to the 15th and here are just a few videos to give you a taste of what is in store.




Clap your hands for Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah who play with Stagnant Pools this Monday, June 2nd at the U Street Music Hall.



Miss Shevaughn & Yuma Wray swing back to DC at the Black Cat on Wednesday, June 4th, with the wonderful Luray also on the bill.


Everymen will fill out the Velvet Lounge on Friday, June 6th.


Kishi Bashi throws a bash at the 9:30 Club on Sunday, June 8th.


Sean Kuti should make for an excellent evening at the Howard Theatre on Wednesday, June 11th.


Curtis Harding brings a classy style to the DC9 on Thursday, June 12th.


Simone Felice revisits the Hamilton on Friday, June 13th (and it will be a much bigger crowd this time, guaranteed).


But if you treasure your Tiny Victories, see them at the Rock'n'Roll Hotel on the lucky Friday the 13th.

Manchester Orchestra - Balance and Composure - Kevin Devine & the Goddamn Band -- Fillmore - May 27 2014

Kevin Devine & the Goddamn Band - KD is on vocals and guitar and his goddamn band has drums, lead guitar, and the bassist from the headlining band doing double duty tonight. They create likable enough music, sort of a poppier Green Day. They had a couple of songs that roared more strongly with some wild guitar breaks. I would hope they go further along those lines in future as that seemed to wake up what turned about to be a rather sleepy crowd (until the headliners' set). Devine had an odd moment where he talked about his past mistakes and was just reunited with his biological son who was going to guest on drums. Did he say mistake like here's the little mistake right now? I will assume his mistake was abandonment or being unready at that age for parenting (since the young lad looked like his younger brother). But what was a bit weird is that he drummed on a kit facing the other drummer and was doing well, but was whisked off quickly as the band went into another song with no proper send-off. Even the day after, all I can think about were much better ways of handling this. But the 30-35 minute set did have enough highlights to make for a good warm-up.

Balance and Composure - There are three guitars in this alt indie band from Doylestown, PA. That always creates a challenge for me to spend time quickly focusing on each guitarist as they play to see if they are moving around the fretboard in different patterns or staying too locked in together. Unfortunately, it was more of the latter here, although there were exceptions thankfully. Still they could have brought more to the arrangements of these decent but not terribly memorable songs. I wish they would take the psychedelic inspiration from the oil/water/glycerine light show they used (reminiscent of the Jefferson Airplane and many more). Maybe this band is too balanced and composed? There is something here for someone, but aside from a really cool slower psyche number they did, it just did not connect well enough tonight.

Manchester Orchestra - It did not take more than a few notes to hear that this was a significant step up in quality tonight. This band rocks hard and connected with steady and earnest hooks to the large crowd assembled tonight. They play in a post Nirvana/Smashing Pumpkins world that makes me wonder if these bands were forming today, would I have supported them as much as I did then? Probably not, but the much younger crowd here is connected well with this band and that bond helped make a strong set tonight. I have to say that the smell of corporate sponsorship in the air made for a less pleasant experience (or lack of smell as this corporation would aver). I am not against all sponsorship, but this one was a negative distraction for me. But Manchester Orchestra did succeed in rocking the house down, so kudos to them.


Quote of the Night - Number 29 from the Harshest Musician on Musician Insults in History by Tom Hawking...

29. Christina Aguilera on Lady Gaga
“I’m not quite sure who this person is, to be honest. I don’t know if it is a man or a woman.”

Club Scout - Fall Seattle - The Control -- Rock'n'Roll Hotel - May 25 2014

The Control - All four guys in this twin-guitar rock quartet have microphones, although the guitarist takes the lead slot singing along with some tough rock'n'roll, Detroit style. Perhaps it is more Annapolis style, but I detect the heavy classic Detroit rock sounds where it's just a bit loose while retaining strength at the core (although a bit more like the Up rather than the MC5). The skills are there more than the songs, although a couple of them really took off, particularly the closer (even if the ending was a bit too Spinal Tap). Both guitarists worked well with different lead styles which makes for engaged listening and a lot of potential. It may not all be there yet (tighten those endings, lads), but there is plenty to enjoy right now and it appeared the smallish holiday weekend crowd did just that. I did.

Fall Seattle - 'Oh no, these guys!' I thought I recognized the band name and as soon as I heard them talking to the soundman as they were setting up, I recognized them as the really nice area band that drove me crazy at the DC9 with their inane banter. Fortunately I braced myself for it and it was not as bad this time, but they really need to tone down the personality and get down to business, because they are a good band. They have a strong shoegaze pop sound where they embrace the thicker dreamy and intense sounds, but have good pop hooks and melodies in rather short snappy songs. All the more reason the goofball attempts at humor or whatever they are trying to do just doesn't fit with the quality of the music. Maybe I'll slip a few bucks to the soundman to turn off the drummer's mic between songs next time. It will be for their own good. Do see this band however, as they have the music and ability to deliver a strong set, which they mostly did tonight.

Club Scout - I was quite sorry to miss this local band's album release show late last year since I really thought their album was one of the better slabs of heavy power pop that I had heard in a while. So I was hopeful that tonight would prove that they can do it on stage as well as on recordings. It took just a few bars into the first song where I was satisfied that this was going to be a fun set. Club Scout's brand of power pop is heavy with creative lead guitar fills and plenty of punk pace and attitude when needed. The drums are extremely powerful and coupled with a tough bass, it is a heavy foundation for the two guitarists to stay with. Thankfully they do with assertive rhythm playing and clever lead work. Somehow the lead vocals stay on top of this intensity and retain enough clarity to not lose the pop hooks. They slow it down a few times, which made for a nice break before launching back into maelstrom with plenty of pace and volume. They lifted the crowd and had four dozen people sounding like twice that. Hope these guys continue to play around here, as they would enliven a lot of evenings.

Quote of the Night: Actually, from a collection of quotes from an article by Tom Hawking, listing the 30 Harshest Musician on Musician Insults....

30. Wayne Coyne on Arcade Fire
“I get really tired of their pompousness [sic]… We’ve played some shows with them and they really treat people like shit. People treat Arcade Fire like they’re the greatest thing ever and they get away with it… They have good tunes, but they’re pricks, so fuck ‘em.”