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  • The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely
  I am a Jack White fan. He is one of only a handful of modern day rock musicians with both chops and.. (Read More)
  • Vampire Weekend
  Its been quite a while since I posted anything up here.  It hasn't been due to a lack of new music or great thoughts.. (Read More)
  • Ryan Adams to play The Arlington
  It's fantastic that Ryan Adams and the Cardinals are playing Santa Barbara BUT (and I never thought I would say this) they should be playing.. (Read More)

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I am a Jack White fan. He is one of only a handful of modern day rock musicians with both chops and talent. His playing style is simplistic, tasty and big, just my type of guitar player. The Raconteurs is a side project of his with fellow Indie rockers. They put together this last album in something like a month from a marathon recording session to full release and in less than a most album’s titles are decided. In an era where albums are sometimes granted decades to be made The Raconteurs proved that the music is what matters by eliminating the over production and marketing build-up that has become standard among major label artist. The sound is far from Lo-Fi with a full production and mastering equal of any modern release and is one of the best rock albums released in years.

Consolers Of The Lonely is big, fat and rich. The tone is tasty and the songs showcase an array of influences and styles. The album weaves its way through some heavy rifting, melodic and powerful tunes. Whether its the opening track Consolers Of The Lonely or the future rock classic Hold Up I am having a hard time finding a particular song I like best - they all ROCK. In fact the album is becoming a staple in my routine. A perfect work out album this thing will pump your heart and keep you a step ahead of the pain. The song Rich Kids Blues is as close to a rock anthem as anything The Who produced. In fact this song could have easily been an outtake on any Who album from the 70’s and yes its that good.

I like the youthful intensity of The Raconteurs’ - They are championing the rebirth of musicianship. You know that little thing called talent and creativity that seemed to wash by the wayside in the last decade. With most guitar players only capable of playing a few bare chords or a few simple licks Jack and gang have given us fans of Rock hope. Perhaps we will once again be debating the virtues of several modern guitar players in the same breath as the legends of the past.

This album is a instant classic. A true ROCK album.

4.5 stars out of 5.

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Its been quite a while since I posted anything up here.  It hasn’t been due to a lack of new music or great thoughts but more a lack of time.  Between a full time job and launching The Floppy onto the world there hasnt been much time left over for bloggin’  But with the introduction of several new stellar albums I figured it was a grand time to start writing again.

The Vampire Weekend is a fresh blast of air in a musty dark and bitter basement.  The Indie world seems to be good at copy cat’n each other so when a new and differnt sound comes along its as if the whole world forgot about the whole world - they declare a new and latest and greatest.

Vampire Weekend blends a plethera of influences to create a paired down low fidelity sound.  More Talking Heads than Paul Simon more Bishop Allen than Arcade Fire the uplifting vocal tone and back beat are really what makes this a stand-out.  The parade likesnap of the snare drum and the tasteful yet delightful use of assorted strings helps to create a fantasy land of color.  Layered on top of the circus is a blended yet striking guitar style and a Hollar n Yodel vocal work.  The songs are short and sweet and each has a great hook and a fun bass line.  Its as if they were designed for commercials they play a much more lucid picture in your head than their simplicity presents.

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It’s fantastic that Ryan Adams and the Cardinals are playing Santa Barbara BUT (and I never thought I would say this) they should be playing the Lobero instead of the Arlington. The Arlington while bigger and much better looking, sounds absolutely horrible. Sound bounces around that place like a gymnasium with a rented PA.
I’m stoked to see him play though. I am a big fan of Ryan’s songwriting and music. He continues to shine on as one of the finest songwriters in America. His work of late has reached a sense of maturity about it, he has finally come into a voice. His album with Willie Nelson for instance, Songbird was absolutly spectacular and his latest EP is earning fine praise as well.

January 21st 2007

Tickets available at Ticketbastard.com

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What a gem this album is. Raising Sands is a complete and utter surprise. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this odd ball collaboration and when the results were pipped through my stere0 I gained new found respect for both Robert Plant’s vocal and musical abilites as well as Alison Krauss’s outstanding talent.

Raising Sands is hard to classify. Neither country (Krauss) or Rock (Plant) it is a melding of two magical voices into a medley of Americana and bluefolkjazzgrass. The first song brings you up to speed by settleing your stomach a bit with an easy to swallow bluesy jam. Raising Sands winds its way through a series of ups and downs making me ponder how much Gram Parsons may have influenced both of these artists. The hit of the album is Gone Gone Gone and an amazing show of vocal ability. The vocal harmonies and the phrasing are stupendous. Very few artists could pull this song off with any dignity left. Plant and Krauss blow the roof off with this diddy.

Raising Sands is a breath of fresh air. Not because its anything new or groundbreaking, in fact I think most people are going to be bored by this album. To me however, it’s a warm reminder of how a star whose gone black has come home again. Plant has planted his feet firmly on the ground with this album and I am eager to see what the man has in front of him. If you love the softer side of Americana, if Willie Nelson, Gram Parsons, Ryan Adams or Wilco tickle your fancythan you will like Raising Sands.

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  One of the best things that can happen while on a business trip is to have a favorite band play a show in the town you happen into on a given night.  Last Tuesday that is exactly what happened when I saw that The Kings of Leon were playing an non-sold-out show in Vegas at The Joint.  I was deeply into the Kings of Leons Aha Shake Heartbreak album.  I thought it was refreshingly different while stripped down and raw.  A taste of gold old fashion American Rock that had somehow evaded the airwaves for the last decade or so.  Their Aha Shake Heartbreak album won over many a fan and I took more than a few head rolls and bangs while listening to them rock through their youthful vigor.   I was less impressed by their sophomore (major release) Because of The Times album released a few months back.  It seemed (as many follow ups often do) a bit on the weak side.  Perhaps over priduced, perhaps just a little less hungry and so it fell to the way side after only a few listens.

The band looked fresh and young.  They had recently been introduced to a LA stylist judging by their new short hair cuts and Melrose inspired fashion.  A far cry from the mops the adorned last year.  Its always nice to watch the evolution of a Rock Star.  They start out scruffy and evolve into a clean cut fashion model.  Anyhow… They belted right into their show and with the signature drall and moan that Caleb Followill does so well.  It comes across great on an album but was nothing more than a mumble throughout the entire show. Usually I will blame that on a clubs sound system but this was at The Joint and they have a tremendously good system.   The sound aside The Kings rocked hard.  They seem to play well into the crowds energy and as the mood swayed from gently to drunk the band picked up its pace.  Finding its way through both albums and a few songs that I had no idea of they finished off the night with a savory session of Aha.  So while they lacked any sonic clarity and certainly appeared to be more Hollywood than Deadwood I would have to say I enjoyed them as a live band.

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I was in Vegas on Tuesday and saw that the Kings of Leon were playing with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Joint in the Hard Rock.  I have listened a few times to the Black Rebels but they never really struck me as hearty.  Neither new or invigorating their music seemed to lack a certian hook and punch.   So as I waited in the club to hear what these boys were going to do I had no real expectation.  It turns out that that is pretty much how I felt post show.  Allthough the band was loud and fun to watch they never really got beyond the basic rock song.  Its not that they lack a significant anything but they seem to be a bit boring.  Not innovating, not breaking out they are recycling the same old songs over and over without any real change in heart.   They dont suck mind you, but they are not even close to great.  In fact I couldnt quite figure out what it is about the band that draws either its fan base or crtical acclaim.   Musically they were mostly solid -  never really missing.   And while their guitar playing was subdued though with no real break-out talent amung the band.  Rolling through average progressions and obvious solos the only real highlight for me was the selct harmonies they through out on occasion.  So as I entered the front of the set I exited the back with very little change - aside from a new found fondness for the enthusiasm of a couple of young Scots who , kilt in all jumped up and down the entire set.  At least they were stoked.

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Spoon has eluded me for a few years. I had heard bits and pieces of their work over the last few years but none grabbed my ear as their latest release Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Rolling through a history lesson of rock Spoon sounds like a lot of bands while still sounding only like Spoon.

There are a number of tracks that stand out on Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - namely the single The Underdog.  This song sounds as if its right out of the North East circa 1976.  It could be a long lost Steely Dan song with the style that vocalist and songwriter  Britt Daniel has thrown onto this baby.  Britt may just be the best sounding vocalist of any contemporary rock band.  His range and style are classic in their comfort.  

I am enjoying this album immensely and each track seems to have a life of its own.  While certainly not a concept album (the songs don’t necessarily flow) Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (pronounced Click Click Click Click Click ) ummm….  the tracks do ring with originality and musicianship worth of praise.   This could turn out to be the type of album that makes a career.  I hope so these guys have worked hard to stay afloat long enough to win some back.

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It started our rather subdued, grew into a electric fueled love fest and finished high on the mountain of sentimentality. Stevie Wonder’s visit last night to the Santa Barbara Bowl was fun albeit a little dull. His band took a few songs to get their groove as the impromptu tour became apparent while they worked out the cobwebs and grooves. Hitting a few bad notes and missing their groove the 11 piece band warmed up as the night came alive and by the end of the warm Summer night, as the full moon lit up the crowd the band and the sound were spectacular.

Stevie started the evening walking in hand with his daughter and speaking for a few minutes on why he decided to tour after so many years. His Mother was the reason. Among her last words were a message to Stevie to take his music back to the people. And back to the people he went. The demand for tickets was apparent as crowed of middle aged folks hung around the entrance asking politely “any one have an extra?”…People were paying outrageous amounts of money for tickets. But why not? It was Stevie Wonder at the Bowl!

The show worked through a plethora of classics, Master Blaster, Part-Time Lover, Living for the City, Superstition, My Cherie Amore, I Just Called, and all the rest. He sounded great, unlike most of his contemporaries Stevie seems to have kept his tremendous range. Engaging the crowd with his spit fire wit and slight political rants “Let the next President realize that this is the United States of the People of America” and a few other anti Bushisms - which of course are well received and deserved - . His hearing was spectacular, several times responding to a yell from high in the stands or chiding the lackluster performance of the “Fellas” during the crowd participation song. But was most spectacular was his presence. A true legend, a musical genius Stevie Wonder is the type of artist that you are proud to tell your children you once saw play. The type of artist that transcends generations (as was evident last night) Stevie is a Wonder and by no means is he even close to “little” in fact he is “Enormous Stevie Wonder” to me.

It was a classic show, filled with joy and nostalgia. Taking many of the fans back a few years and filling the night with love an joy. I think Stevie was happy with the results. I know I was.

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Wilco played an epic show at the Santa Barbara Bowl last night. Rolling through a 2 hour set with the maturity and musicianship that only comes from years and years of being on the road. Jeff Tweedy and gang were astoundingly good and completely at ease in their new found role as kings of American Rock. Wilco is one of those bands that hasn’t quite broken through to the mainstream. And that is just fine because it means that those who know, know and those who go are stoked. Last night was an indication of this with the Bowl not filling to capacity and great seats available to anyone (contrast that to the fact that LA was sold out and seats were going for $200). Santa Barbara once again showed its propensity for ignoring the greatest bands of our generation because they are not played on KJEE.

The addition of Nels Kline was the most profound difference to Wilco from the last time I saw them play. Nels is an astounding guitar player, among the finest today. With energy and skill far beyond most working players, Nels shook, twisted and yawed his way through the night to steal the show. With an arsenal of odd effects and instruments I had a hard time not listening and staring in complete awe at his playing. Pulling out the occasional odd device he pounded, rolled, picked and plucked the strings to produce a wave of sonic heat. He was all over the fretboard yet always on it - Amazing!

The rest of the band was equally as talented and Jeff Tweedy looked at ease singing almost all the gems from their recent Opus - Sky Blue Sky - The band was on top of their game and there were a few moments when the entire crowd was in tune. With all being held hostage by the pure magic that was flowing from the stage. It was a cathartic experience and a pure pleasure to witness.

If you missed it, you missed it.

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Up the California coast, not far from San Luis Obisbo, just over the Questa pass and down a long road is the little known valley towards Santa Margarita is the town of Pozo. Here lies the Pozo Saloon a shack of a building and a nice grassy field that has been turned into a killer concert venue. Well this killer venue is hosting a killer rock band for the second year in a row. The Black Crowes are making a pit stop in the little known valley and playing a full tilt rock show at the Pozo Saloon on Oct 13th.

I caught this show last year and was amazed at the fun atmosphere, the beautiful scenery and the venue. The Black Crowes rocked through a 2.5 hr show playing their Rock as well as they did the first time I saw them play in 1990′. It really was a fantastic day in the sun. Tickets are available for $35 from HERE

See ya there!

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