Deerhunter, Webster Hall 9.19.13

There are lots of folks who continue to write, blog and otherwise opine that "rock" is dead.  Listen to the pop stations these days and it is easy to get sucked into to that opinion.  Katy Perry's "Roar" plays more like a lamb, than lion.  Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke are remembered more for their "dancing" than the Marvin Gaye cover they "sang" at last months VMA's.

This space continues to seek out and (hooray!) find bands who are more concerned with crafting songs, playing guitars and leaving their rabid fan base wanting more.

Some, like Georgia based, but New York raised, Deerhunter, remain humbled and happy to simply play in front of an audience receptive and beyond willing to hear what they have to offer.  Singer/Guitarist/Frontman Bradford Cox said as much half way through their fast paced and electric show last Thursday night.  "We may be from Georgia, but in many ways we call New York City our home" he stated toward the middle of their hour and half set.  Or something very similar to that.  They recorded all but one of their 6 records here, including newest release Monomania.  The Webster Hall show last week served as one of the final gigs of the tour.  Call it a homecoming of sorts.

Truth be told Cox is a mystery.  What little I read of him prior to the show did not prepare me for his arrival on stage.  Note, this is the second show in the past few months where the leading "man" was dressed as a woman.  Laura Jane Grace played Bowery not that long ago.  It should be noted that Laura is transgender and Cox has described himself as both gay and asexual.  It's all good, which makes the NYC shows/audiences so freaking cool.  To the many kids in attendance his dress and wig were not a big deal.   What is more alarming is Cox's weight, which comes as a result of Marfan syndrome.

His affliction, which is a genetic defect causing long limbs, thin fingers and an overall narrow body type, is what kept him away from the schoolyard as a kid.  His introverted personality led him to a fondness for music and an outlet for all the harms and torments associated with growing up "different."

It is said he related to Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands...  but that could simply be Wikipedia inter-web fiction.

It was four or five songs in, most likely during the eerily wonderful  "Helicopter" from 2010's Halycon Digest, that Cox's health became less a concern.  He was at ease and relaxed.  His voice was crisp and emphatic.  On stage nothing else matters.  He had a packed house in front of him and a smile on his face.

Deerhunter plays rock and roll music.  3 guitars, a bass and drum kit is all you are getting.  Cox has a deft touch with mixing new and old.  "Revival" and their newest single "Back to the Middle" could be mistaken for 1970s roots rock.  "Desire Lines", the only song NOT sung by Cox that evening (handled most capably by Lockett Pundt), is a celebration of psych rock with an emphasis on guitar jamming.  Cox and Pundt traded riffs for 6 or 7 minutes and it could have gone on far longer with no arguments from anyone.  It is, simply put, a terrific rock song.

It was all high energy and plenty of happy vibes.   Do I need to see them again?  Probably not.  But for a moment, it was joy.

Judgemental homophobia... Syrian conflicts... terrorism in Kenyan malls...UN General Assemblies... Government shut downs...  to hell with all that.

This week has been very difficult and writing this review has been a challenge, albeit trivial.  My community is stinging from the loss of a young father (43) to the horror that is cancer.  He leaves a loving wife, 4 children and the many wonders of "what if?"

Plenty of people talk of "living each day like its your last."  How many of us really do it?

Find what you are passionate about and dive in head first.

One of these days and it won't be long...  it may all be over.

Much love C.A.C.  You will be missed.

Deerhunter, Webster Hall, 9.19.13.  Yeah, that is Bradford Cox in a lovely dress and wig.

Video clip of "Desire Lines"




Deerhunter at Webster Hall, Setlist 9.19.13
Octet
Neon Junkyard
Don't Cry
Revival
Like New
Desire Lines
Hazel St
T.H.M.
Rainwater Cassette Exchange
The Missing
Helicopter
Sleepwalking
Back to the Middle
Monomania
Twilight at Carbon Lake

Encore:
Cover Me (Slowly)
Agoraphobia
He Would Have Laughed

White Denim, Bowery Ballroom 9.10.13

White Denim, jamming, 9.10.13 Bowery Ballroom

News flash:  There are not enough hours in the day.

How can one expect to hear every band, or every song?  Even if that was my full time profession (clearly it is not) it would still be impossible to know EVERYTHING about today's music scene.  Brooklyn Vegan, Pitchfork, and Stereogum all pretend to know, and will do all they can to shame you for you for not knowing.  But they don't have all the information.   At their best they are no more an authority on what you like, than you yourself.

What those outlets have, and others like them, is resources.  They can send tight jean wearing men with larger than life cameras (compensating for something guys??) and note pads to venues in and around the City.   Their employees are also keen on social media.  Their power is spreading the word, no matter what that word is.  This week they dissected Arcade Fire's "Reflektor".   Next week, Queens of the Stone Age, Metallica at The Apollo, or whatever offensive thing Chris Brown is up to (including his music.)  The alt music news cycle is as vicious as your night time cable news.   Gone are the days you can have a meltdown on stage and shake it off.  Do that and Twitter will speculate on the reasons why and take a shot at writing your rock and roll obituary.   "He/She is too depressed."  "They are not getting along."  "Their A&R man said I don't hear a single."

Occasionally the "powers" that be work with you.  It is through one of those sources I ran across an invite to see Austin, TX rockers White Denim play Bowery Ballroom.  A free show sponsored by Rolling Stone magazine and StubHub said the ad.  Never mind I have not read a Rolling Stone music review since 1994  and StubHub amounts to nothing more than a dime store whore for its ludicrously wealthy pimp called ticket brokering.

It's a free show at a terrific venue.  How can you go wrong?  Except of course with the sitter, and work, and school...  bla, bla, bla.  That's another story.  You just make it work damn it!

And White Denim is, if not already validated, a bona fide up and comer in the alt community.  Their 6th LP, the poorly titled Corsicana Lemonade will be released 10.29.13.  The first single, "Pretty Green", has a grit, tenacity and wonderful hook not unlike your favorite Black Keys song.   Blues/Rock/Psychedelia.  It's all here.

They are another band gleefully unconcerned with re-inventing the wheel.

They follow a successful pattern you can find in most Rock and Roll 101 textbooks.   Write some pretty good songs and perform them well live.

James Petralli does the singer/guitarist/front man thing.  He trades licks with Austin Jackson (Austin from Austin- awkward.)  Steven Terebecki (bass)  and Joshua Block (drums) complete the band.  They may look young, but their set Tuesday 9.10.13 displayed a confident and cohesive sound.  They opened with "Green" and absolutely nailed it.  Petralli's voice is strong and Bowery's sound was in top form.  This is a their most "pop" or mainstream sounding song, and it worked so well.  It just might have set the bar too high.  It was great to hear a band's fresh single start a show.  It can backfire if you perform it too well and fail to recapture its energy later in the show.

More often than not the band took a decidedly "jam" turn.  The new record was well represented and it guitar friendly.  The only banter between songs was absent, save for something succinct,  like "This is another new one."

Within more than a handful of songs moments like this erupted.   Lest you forget, this is NOT a pop band.  They want to play those guitars.  They want to rock that bass.  Indeed,  there was some drumming too.

The set was marked with some special moments.  Some of Patralli and Jackson's guitar showdowns appealed to a visceral spot deep in my core.  There were some quieter moments too.  Some of their mid song sojourns simply fell short.   Around an hour or so in it began the whole thing started to dim.

Was it the crowd?  Showcase things like this are always dangerous.  Free is great, don't get me wrong.  But free brings out a weird mix of folks.   Before the show, those closest to stage clearly had no idea who they were seeing, or maybe even where they were.  Much of the audience were employees of the host sponsors.  To further illustrate my earlier thoughts on those who cover the music industry, they are a timid group of people.   Most were there for the event, not the music.  

Amanda Bynes would have been embarrassed at the amount of selfies and group pics taken.

Usually a Tuesday night show, especially at a small club, would bring out a band's hard core fans.  Those folks would in turn, provide an added level of energy to the proceedings.

For too long that energy was lacking at Bowery.

Not the end of the World.  And by no means an indictment on White Denim.

A good night for sure.  Just not a great one.

James Petralli of White Denim

Nice, simple packaging.  

They had more room if they needed it, but White Denim kept it close.

White Denim, (l to right)Austin Jackson, Steven Terebecki, Joshua Block and James Petralli

My 1 minute clip. White Denim jamming.

Best of August, 2013

Macklemore

The summer comes to its unofficial end this weekend.  But that does not mean the music stops.   I have had the pleasure, and sometimes misery, of driving from Toronto, Ontario to Savannah, Georgia over the past few months.    It has been several thousand miles of rest stops, bad food and, thankfully, radio. 

There was some television time too, including last weeks MTV VMA awards.   The real tragedy of that show is not Miley Cyrus or the uncomfortable N’Sync “reunion.”  Gaga, Robin Thicke and Katy Perry did little to distinguish themselves either, save for their ability to elevate their standing as performance artists, rather than “musicians.”

And therein lies the dilemma.  Contemporary “music” continues to distance itself from instruments, live shows and authentic artistry.  If I was not witness to several shows a year and only watched the VMA’s I might believe what many have argued for years:  “Rock is Dead.”

Vampire Weekend was on stage last Sunday, but they were presenters only.  And they are hardly what you would call “rock stars.”  But they do play instruments.  They do write their own material.  They can play live, and employ the use of (gasp) guitars. 

People can talk about Gaga’s g-string, Miley’s tongue, and whatever the hell Kanye does all they want.  That stuff makes for great headlines and titiliating water cooler conversation.   The problem is, like much of our pop culture, it is all a superfluous waste.

We should behaving a discussion on why we care about those things in the first place?  Should we not be more concerned that Pharrell Williams and Daft Punk are more computer programmers and cheap hacks, than songwriters?  Where is Carole King when you need her?  Neil Young?  Can a brother get a guitar solo and meaningful lyric??  

The whole sordid mess played more like a twisted video game than celebration of music:   A Tomb Raider/Grand Theft Auto/Naughty Bear mash up if you will.  Seriously, what is with those plush furry bears Ms Cyrus is fixated with?

There is good news.  Contrary to what MTV and every media outlet around is telling you, there is a cure.  Real music lives.  It’s in bars, and in cars.  It’s in every City in this nation and every country known to man.  It need not use autotune and can provide the cathartic release your teenage girl craves as well as the adrenaline pumping fury you need on your commute home. 

And it is what this space dedicates most of its time with. 

Tune out the white noise.   Turn off the incessant chat about all that is wrong with the music industry today.   Take a look/listen to all that remains unheard and unseen.  You might be surprised what you find.  

The Head and The Heart "Shake"

Pacific Northwest (Seattle to be specific) act The Head and the Heart are releasing their second album October 15th.  Their debut record was full of rich lyrics, warm harmonies and memorable melodies.  Judging by the first single from Let's Be Still, we are in for more of the same.  That is a very good thing.  For those of you who love The Lumineers and all of their folk brethren take a hard listen.  And if you can score tickets do check them live.


Frankie Rose "Know Me"

Brooklyn girl Frankie Rose spent time in the Vivian Girls, and Dum Dum Girls, and was an original member of post-punk act Crystal Stilts.  Her second record is well over a year old, and this track is technically 2012.  Whatever.  It has taken a while for it to A) get air time and then B) capture this space's attention.  She has it now.   And she should have yours too.

Family of the Year "Hero"

This band and song also can call 2012 the year of their arrival.  The cable shows Weeds and Girls picked up their songs and featured them prominently.  They call LA home but have roots in Wales, Massachusetts and Jacksonville, FL.  It is nothing more than a  ballad, refreshing in its simplicity.

J Roddy Walston and the Business "Heavy Bells"

Cleveland rockers, now based in Baltimore, are a more straight forward rock act.  Guitars, bass, pulsating vocals and a blend of piano thrown in will have you thinking about My Morning Jacket or Kings of Leon.  These guys have been around for well over a decade (5 records) and are working on their 6th LP under a new label.  This track will surely appear on it.

Cut Copy "Let Me Show You"

Aussie electronic act had one of my favorite records in recent memory, 2011's Zonoscope.   They have remained quiet since then, but did provide this tease a few weeks back.  Perhaps another record IS coming.  Better yet perhaps this means another tour!

Royal Teeth "Wild"

New Orleans youngsters follow in the footsteps of fellow Bayou band Givers.  They have a man and woman singer.  They have catchy grooves and a feel good attitude.  This song has been making the rounds since early this year and probably should have appeared much sooner.   Their debut album, Glow, was released last month.  A tour will follow including dates in NJ, PA and NY.  Enjoy.

Smallpools "Dreaming"

When this year began these guys were not a band.  In June they had yet to play a live show.  Now, with an EP behind them and some gigs behind them they seem destined for much bigger things.  This song is what has been their calling card and an alt anthem for Summer 2013.  They call New Jersey their home and for that we root for them, hard.

The 1975 "Chocolate"

English pop act The 1975 have just released their debut record, Dirty Hit, today 9.2.13.  Fitting that they drop it on Labor Day since they have worked their asses off in promotion.  It was easy to ignore this song the first hundred or so times.  It shares its sound with John Mayer, The Kooks and various other alt-pop acts of the past 5-10 years.  No, they are not re-inventing the wheel.  But they are adding some air to an often flat tire.

The Olms "Wanna Feel it"

New Jersey born Pete Yorn and JD King are the duo, The Olms.   It is an upgrade for Yorn, who recorded a record with Scarlett Johansson not long ago.   Together the two men have a soft, easy-going West Coast self titled debut record on their hands.  The above song is a stand out.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (featuring Mary Lambert) "Same Love"

All due respect to the overlong and over-produced Justin Timberlake VMA appearance, Macklemore's live version of this "equal rights for all" anthem was the highlight of the show.  It speaks to an old man like me that the milennials accept a white boy rapping about accepting EVERYONE, regardless of sexuality and race.   They won the "Social Message" award for this song.  Funny that MTV failed to show clips of this video and the other nominees and did not even bother to display the names of the artists on screen.  Miley and Kanye got plenty of attention, but strong messages like this do not an awards show make.

Soon these songs will be a thing of the past.  Younger generations are more accepting of homosexuality and all the things that come with it.  Gay marriage has steam rolled its way into the mainstream.  It is a non event and Macklemore, at this point, is preaching to an ever growing choir.

But it is still good to hear him singing it, or talking it, or however you define it.

It is a whole lot better than "Thrift Shop."  That is a fact.

Until next month folks...  Happy Go Back to School month!!  Enjoy Autumn!!  It is easily the best time of the year.

Tell a friend to tune in and like/follow us here.

The Parent's "Two Minutes Hate" of Miley Cyrus!

The recent outrage du jour over Miley Cyrus' VMA performance got me to thinking about parenting.

Particularly, I was intrigued by the extreme umbrage over the performance by, and artistic decisions of, a 20 year old multi-millionaire, and the contempt brought not only against her, but the alleged defects of her parents as being somehow responsible for her alleged shortcomings.

We all have heard how ours is the era of "Helicopter Parenting". Parents involved in every aspect of their kid's lives. Doing their homework for them. Arguing with teachers over supposed unfair grades. I have even heard tales from corporate HR professionals of recent college grads having their parents trying to negotiate their starting salary for them!

The driver for all of this, I think, is the excessive anxiety of our over-Communication age, and the excessive need for control to allay this anxiety. And i think this  plays out in our outrage over celebrities like Ms. Cyrus.

Enter the "Two Minutes Hate" 

George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty Four famously imagined a nightmare dystopian state that kept its citizens as virtual slaves via constant surveillance, control of language, and brutality. However, as a release of tension from this loss of individual control, Orwell's State developed a ritual called the "Two Minutes Hate". Here, citizens would gather and watch a government propaganda film of grotesque characatures of the regime's enemies and get whipped up into a frenzy, until they were calmed by swelling patrotic music and the image of "Big Brother". 

I think parents particularly are developing their own "Two Minutes Hate" ritual to release their anxiety. I'd like to suggest that our need for control is unrealistic.

Maybe I can help.

I don't claim to be an expert (As one wit said, "Everyone is an expert on how OTHER parents should raise their kids.") However, I've got two daughters of my own and fully believe that I am screwing them up in some manner. But I have a few principles I try to follow to minimize the damage:

1. If i am parenting the right way, I should become less and less central to my children's lives, and should be almost superfluous by the time they are adults.

2. When they challenge my authority, they are doing exactly what they are supposed to do. 

3. If my kids feel that home is a safe place where they know they are loved, i have covered about 90% of parenting.

4. My main job is not to shape and form them into some pre-determined mold, but to help them clear away some weeds and rocks, and provide food, water and sunshine, so they can grow into who they are supposed to be (which, if I may get a little mystical here, was probably mostly set down before they popped out of the oven)

5. While my kids do not have the right to do whatever they want, they have the absolute right to be angry with me, and to disagree with me, so long as it is done respectfully and without malice.

6. When my kids become dating age ( I say with total humility and awareness that when that day comes I may eat every word that follows) my job is to make sure they have the tools and information to limit the possible negative consequences of any decisions they make. As to who they keep company with, so long as that person treats them respectfully, and my kid enjoys spending time with them, i need to stay out of their relationships and let them work out the rest.

7. My kids need to figure out for themselves how to ask other people for help, or how to strike mutually beneficial relationships. I can provide advice, but i can't be the "broker" unless they ask for help.

8. Entertainers do what is called "performing". It is fun to watch people do things in a performance that would not be appropriate to do in real life (My older daughter performs in school plays and musicals, and so understands why the villian is always the most fun role to play) We watch this stuff together and talk about how fun it is to watch it, and talk about what life would be like if you acted that way all the time. 

9. I did alot of stuff at a young age that, if my kids did it, would sock me in the gut (and I was a bookwormy late bloomer, not a "wild child") and i need to remember how important it is to be allowed to find one's own way and not freak out.

So let's give Miley, her parents, and ultimately even ourselves a break. We feel out of control because, quite frankly, there is way less under our control to begin with. 

And lets stop with the "Two Minutes Hate".

Laura Jane Grace, Bowery Ballroom 8.16.13

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Laura Jane Grace's story has been well documented.  Long story short, a few years back I was fortunate enough to see her band Against Me!.  Then, Ms Grace, was Tom Gabel, a tattooed, post-punk front man.  Last night, in front of an energetic, engaged and extremely supportive (and packed) Bowery Ballroom, she was Laura.  The tattoos were still evident.  The stage presence was still commanding.  And unlike her appearance, her voice has not changed a bit!  

For years I believed standing on stage, with nothing more than a guitar, microphone and a voice was the most dangerous thing in entertainment.  Standup comedy too, but that's a different column.  Now, imagine that vulnerability coupled with transitioning from one gender to another?  Grace's show last night was the last in a "mini" tour in advance of Against Me!'s upcoming LP, their 6th, Transgender Dysphoria Blues.  More specifically it was a celebration of Grace's rebirth and re-introduction to the alt rock community.

She is woman.  Hear her roar.

You cannot examine last night's show without acknowledging and appreciating the elephant in the room.  Gabel, with Against Me! from 1997-2010, was a shirtless rock star dripping machismo and adrenaline.  His songs were/are as alpha as the alt radio stations would get.  Had Bon Iver, Mark Foster, or Ben Gibbard changed sexes it might have been easier to comprehend.   Those guys represent the prevalent theme that define contemporary "alt"- soft and breezy.  Not so with Against Me!  They rock a little bit.  And judging by the post punk resurgence (Palma Violets, Savages, Parquet Courts to name a few) they clearly served as influences for today's vibe.

The amazing thing about last night was not , however, the music.  Don't take that the wrong way.  Grace's set was full of high points and, for an acoustic show, was a rocking good time.  She played many tracks from the upcoming record.  As the albums title suggests, this record is an obvious celebration and cathartic exercise of her "process."  Songs like "Fu*k My Life 666"", "Paralytic States of Dependency" as well as the title track, let you know what's been on her mind lately.  More specifically, what has been going on her mind forever.   Now she is able, and more than willing to get it off her chest.

We all served as witness.  

Young men cheered "You're Beautiful!"  

They pumped their fists and sang along like you might see at a Dropkicks Murphy show.

Everyone noticed the change.  Better than that, everyone ignored it.  You know why?  It really doesn't matter.  

It bodes well for the future and the social issues that seem to divide our country.

Should we be worrying about gay marriage when a city like Detroit goes bankrupt?

How is that drug war going?  Is it not better to legalize, tax and dig ourselves out of some economic messes than overcrowd our jails with petty criminals and waste our police forces resources fighting an impossible fight?

Have you looked at what is going on in Egypt?  That is some serious shi*t.  

Judging by last night, the millenials seem determined to change our priorities.  Race, Gender, sexuality...  it is inconsequential to the bigger picture.

Hating, or not accepting someone based on those criteria will not add jobs.  It will certainly not stop wars.  And it will never make the Facebook stock price rise.

There was a lot of love in Bowery Ballroom last night.  Strangers were united in accepting someone for who she is.  They trusted one another and left any pre-conceived ideas back in the 60, or 80s, or 'Oughts.

An artist continued her ascent and while simultaneously being born again.  Each time out, in each new city and venue, she will evolve more.  So too will her audience.  

Art, the great elixir.  

Laura Jane Grace setlist 8.16.13 Bowery Ballroom

Quick Notes:

The first act was solo singer Allison Weiss.  She gained some notoriety not long ago for using Kickstarter to fund her first album.  She raised the money in 10 hours and was the focus of her own New York Times piece documenting the experience.   Nice stuff...  the songs and the story.

Mina Caputo was the middle act.  Caputo too has a huge backstory.  She was once Keith and led a heavy metal band called Life of Agony.  Now re-invented as a acoustic songstress her set was overlong and underwhelming.   Too much of the same slow, looping guitar riffs mixed with shrieking vocals.  She came to stage and warned her catalog was sad.  "I have a lot different set than Weiss" she said.  Too true!  It was about 45 minutes of melancholy.  Clearly the transition has been far more difficult for Caputo than Grace.  Toward the end of the set she lashed out at the crowd.  "It's always someone who just won't shut the fu*k up."  

It was true, the crowd was chatty during her set.  But there was never an effort to pick up the pace.  If your act is ALL slow and grief stricken what do you expect?  Weiss and Grace were bombastic and ebullient.  They celebrated the night, not mourn it.  Perhaps in a different context the set would have played better.  Seats would probably be a good idea.  And no booze.  

The crowd was up for anything.  Admonish if you will, but be prepared to deliver.

Laura Jane Grace vid 8.16.13

Allison Weiss vid 8.16.13

The Killers, Prudential Center, 8.8.13

Killers, Prudential Center, 8.8.13

You should not waste your time trying to decipher what Killers lead singer Brandon Flowers is singing about.  "He doesn't look a thing like Jesus/But he talks like a gentleman/like you'd imagine when you were young"

Somebody Told Me/that you had boyfriend/that looks like a girlfriend/that I had in February of last year."

"I Got Soul/But I'm Not a Soldier."  "Smile Like You Mean It."  "Are we Human?/Or are we dancer?"

OK, some of it makes sense.  But don't bother looking for hidden meanings or layered nuance in the web Flowers, and his bandmates Dave Keurning (guitar), Ronnie Vanucci Jr (drums) and Mark Stoermer (bass), weave.  They are a "what you see is what you get" act.  When done correctly, as displayed last night,  that proves to be a winning formula.

Not long ago the spectacle that is arena rock seemed to be something in my past.  The boys from Clark County, Nevada served up a spirited reminder that rock, or at the very least hard pop, is alive and well.  Their two hour set entertained and energized an impressive, but far from sold out Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

The "Pru" is a big freakin room so it should not be a disappointment that the top bowl was covered with curtains and not open for business.  Selling out this place is reserved for Jersey royalty like Bruce and Bon Jovi.  That said, the floor was packed and the lower level/mezzanine was madness.  When you have to wait 10 deep for a beer you are doing something right.  At those prices too!  

Side note:  more than the scale of an arena, the prices are the real culprit for keeping me away.  Parking near the arena (Newark mind you.) is at least $20.  Bottled water is $8 and you can't keep the bottle.  Beer and alcohol at the "Pru" are, as expected, absurdly priced.  For an "event" like this it makes sense to pay a little extra for the ticket.   How does a family of four do it though?  Tickets at, let's see low end $40 a piece.  Before you know it after a few drinks and snacks a nice night out is $500.  Devils games do the same thing to you.  Broadway shows are outrageous too.  Art is costly sure.  But do the hot dogs, Budweiser, and merch have to fleece you too?  Is it senseless to argue since people were waiting 10 deep for the overpriced beers?  Probably.  Supply and demand suggests I should shut up...so back to the show.

It has been 10 years since The Killers released their debut album, Hot Fuss.  That record gave the World the radio staple "Mr. Brightside."  10 years with the same lineup.  10 years honing their craft.  10 years and 3 more LP's that continue to highlight their ability to write, record, and indeed perform their winning catalog.

Flowers, with full house lights on, calmly strolled to a piano center stage right around 9pm.  The crowd was slightly aware, but unsure what to make of it.  When he sung "We hope you enjoy your stay/Even if it's just for the day" from "Enterlude"  the audience arose.  Soon the entire band made their way to their instruments and erupted into the first verse of "When We Were Young."  When they hit the second verse the lights went down, the pyrotechnics lit up, and a rock show was born.

Flowers works both sides of the stage, stands on the stacks, commands, conducts, and runs the show.  He has a voice more than capable of carrying an arena.  Oh, and he's like 5'7" and 100 pounds.  Lots and lots of power from such a slight frame.  As he was quick to mention (although thankfully the banter between songs was kept to a minimum) folks from Vegas know how to put on a show.  The light show and speaker volume were jacked up real high too.   The effects were not gimmicky or cheesy though.  This is a well choreographed show start to finish.  

Were there some down times?  A little bit.  A cover of the Tommy James/Tiffany song "I Think We're Alone Now" was uninspired and weak.  They have been playing The Who's "Eminence Front" on this tour, and that would have been far more welcome.  There were also too many sing alongs.    Flowers, like many singers these days, urges his audience to belt out popular refrains.  It's kinda cool for one or two tracks, but maybe not 4 or 5.  We know we all can't sing.  That's why we paid to see you do it.

Overall this is a steady, accomplished band who have a confidence and stage demeanor unlike any arena act I have seen in recent memory.  Full disclosure, this blogger sees very little arena shows.

Late last year The Killers released Battle Born, their 4th LP.  It is where the single, and perhaps their crowning achievement "Runaways" first appeared.  Last night, during this song in particular, Flowers channeled Springsteen and Bon Jovi.  This is an arena anthem.  And, it turns out, this is an arena band.  

But don't take my word for it.  Ask the several families in attendance.  Ask the old guy next to me who danced ALL show.  The sold out general admission section, filled with awestruck teenage girls and their awkward adolescent dates, ate it up like a Twilight/Hunger Games double feature.

The Killers are the one thing from Vegas that, lucky for us,  did not stay in Vegas.  Viva!

Other highlights included, but are not limited to:

"For Reasons Unknown", "Spaceman" and the Joy Division cover "Shadowplay"

Full setlist can be found here:  Killers setlist 8.8.13

Killers arrive with the stage lights on.  Great way to start the show.

Nice crowd on the "Pru's" floor

Lasers, Lasers and more Lasers

Best of July, 2013

Regina Spektor has released a great song on an equally great television show

There seems to be a lot of contempt for the month of August.  I noticed several friends lamenting its arrival on social media earlier in the week.  Tis true, summer is indeed coming to an end.  That is far from a death sentence however.  For one thing you have another four weeks to create new memories.  Secondly, there is nothing quite like fall (especially in the Northeast.)  Kids will be back to school.  The air at night will be a little crisper.  And let's not forget the wonderful tree colors, Halloween and college football Saturdays.  Supposedly more people in the Country love the NFL.  Dig on that too if that is your thing.

Although, the NFL has had a disastrous offseason.  No less that 27 NFL players were arrested since the Super Bowl.  The most famous arrest, New England tight end Aaron Hernandez, is accused of murdering someone execution style.  He is also a suspect in a double murder from a few years back.  Um, not great.  There have been assaults on women, numerous DUI's and drug arrests, in addition to the Hernandez case.  This week a white Philadelphia Eagles receiver, Riley Cooper, was dismissed from the team for using a racial slur at a Kenny Chesney concert.

One, if employers dismissed everyone who used a racial slur at a Kenny Chesney concert the unemployment rate would be far higher.  Two, within a few years Michael Vick has gone from heinous monster to sympathetic character.  Not only did he regain one of only 32 starting quarterback positions in the World, he is also receiving lucrative sponsorship deals.  And now he is the calm, rational spokesperson for the Eagles as they deal with another American race issue.

Sounds like the NFL.  Perhaps their new slogan should read "The NFL, where dog killers are our moral barometer."

No thanks, I prefer America's pastime.

Wait, what?  MLB plans to announce several lengthy suspensions Monday, including a possible lifetime ban for Alex Rodriguez.   This, after a years long and exhaustive investigation into the Florida anti-aging clinic, Biogenesis.  Shocking!  These guys were cheating!

It's all very sad a predictable.  Trust no one and assume all the games are crooked.

Where can you get honesty these days?  It sure as hell isn't in government.  It isn't on the cable news networks.  How is your work place doing?  Any truths there?

I had the pleasure of joining my wife for her 20th year high school reunion.  It occurred to me that perhaps friends and family is the only way we find truth anymore.  And those truths can be hard to find and forever on shaky ground.

But that is not it.  Truth is in recording studios and stages all across this Country.  It is in movie studios and museums.  You see it in photographs and painting.  You hear it in songs and in instruments.

Art, is the great equalizer.  It can get you through the dog days, and far more.

It is what keeps this author going and is the continued motivation behind this blog.

Go get what is yours and smile doing it.

A friend of mine was recently injured attending a concert and is in for a long road to full recovery.  He will be 1000% soon I am quite convinced.  But his accident was telling for one important reason.

About an half hour before the show he texted me a photo that read "center stage, row ten, perfect weather, good music."

Two hours later his wife was calling me from the ER.

It is all too fragile.  It all moves far too quickly.  And before you know it...  it's gone.


With that overly depressing and unabashedly morbid opening I give you the Best of July, 2013.  This has been a wonderful year in music so far and these songs are sure to make any summer road trip a little more tolerable.  Please enjoy and download them and remember where you heard them.  They have also been added to my Spotify playlist which can be found here.

Enjoy the rest of the summer ya'll.  Enjoy the rest of the summer ya'll.

,
Dent May "Born Too Late"

May is a Jackson, MS singer/songwriter who studied at NYU film school.   That may (pun intended) or may not explain this synth and string laced disco dance track.  Somewhere in the middle he transitions into a joyous psychedelic bridge totally out of left field.  It is all very satisfying.  A better breezy summer pop song you will be hard pressed to find.

Divine Fits "Chained to Love/Ain't That The Way" live from Conan

The alt world calls Divine Fits a "supergroup."  That may be stretching it a bit.  But what IS known is Austin, TX singer/guitarist Britt Daniel is the man behind the band Spoon.  Singer/guitarist Dan Boeckner has headed up the bands Handsome Furs, Atlas Strategic and Wolf Parade.  Together with Sam Brown (drums) and Alex Fischel they are Divine Fits.  It is straightforward rock and roll and you should like it.  This two song medley showcases their talent, timing and overall sound.  "Chained to Love" reminds me of vintage Cars.

Jagwar Ma "Come Save Me"

The Australian trio, Jagwar Ma, released their debut LP, Howlin, earlier this year.  This track has a psych feel not unlike the vibe their enormously popular countrymen Tame Impala lays down.   60s Motown melodies mixes with Beatles-esque keyboard loops one minute.  The next it is Thomas Dolby meets Beck.  It's always interesting to hear a song that does not belong to a certain decade.  When it is done right, if can belong to all of time.

Regina Spektor "You've Got Time"

One of the true highlights of the truly entertaining Netflix original show, "Orange is the New Black," is Ms Spektor's title song.  This is a real departure for the New York raised, Russian born singer/songwriter.  Show creator Jenji Kohan commissioned Spektor to write, and write she did.  Gone is the melancholy tone and aching piano that usually accompanies Spektor.  Not that there is anything wrong with that.  But it is a breathe of fresh air to hear her sing "Taking steps is easy/standing still is hard" over screaming guitars and thumping drums.   Watch the show.  Listen to the song.  Fall in love with both.  Seriously, a women's prison drama?  Does it get any better???  The only thing missing is Sybil Danning.

Twenty One Pilots "Holding On To You"

Columbus, OH duo Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun are a high energy rock, rap and pop act.  It is unknown if I will ever like another one of their songs or bother to see them live.  What is known is this song is highly addictive and hugely entertaining.  So what if I feel like a 15 year old when I listen to it, loud.

Delta Spirit "Yamaha"

It was a pleasant surprise to a) enjoy the film Warm Bodies as much as I did and b) love the soundtrack.  Sometimes the lowest expectations can be helpful.  And although the Delta Spirit song was released last year, this 2013 movie used it so well it rightfully appears on this list.   The star of this angle is a big, ominous organ and singer Matthew Vasquez's cascading vocals.  If this is what we can expect to hear when the zombies come, and they will, I am perfectly fine with it.

Bastille "Pompeii"   added bonus please take a look at the acoustic version here.

While most of America lavishes praise on "Get Lucky" and "Blurred Lines" this summer this become my favorite sing-a-long.  These kids from London have a Snow Patrol sound and received praise from one of the Gallagher brothers.  It was either Liam or Noah.  Look it up if you don't believe me.  Or just click on the above links and judge for yourself.  It is easy to dismiss after your first listen.  Don't give up on it!  This is a very fun and engaging song and easily one of my favorite from a very solid 2013.



Grouplove "Ways to Go"

Hippie merrymakers Grouplove had an enormously successful debut record, Never Trust a Happy Song, in 2011.  Their sophomore record is due out September 17th and this is their first single.  It is safe to say there is reason for optimism.  The male and female lead singers still work well.  The melody is toe tapping fun.  It is more synth than guitar, like the first record.  It will be interesting to hear the entire record and see if they can keep building on an already impressive beginning.  It does beg the question, where have you gone Foster the People?  2011 seems like a long time ago and many bands are now lapping them with productivity.


The Ceremonies "Land of Gathering"

Yet another band of brothers, literally.  Matthew, Mark and Michael Cook are LA based Land of Ceremonies can be classified in the Local Natives, Grizzly Bear camp.  Their debut record is scheduled for release sometime in the fall.  There is good reason to be excited about it thanks to this single.

Washed Out "It All Feels Right"

Ernest Green is the man behind Washed Out.  Like Regina Spektor he may now be best known for his work with television theme songs, having written and performed Portlandia's "Feel it All Around".  His second LP, Paracosm, is out 8.13.13.  The first single further exhibits Green's deft keyboard work and ability to create mood and ambience with the stroke of a key.  It is a trippy meditation on the importance of doing enjoying everything and/or nothing.


For Dave C.  Get better real soon.  Looking forward to our next show!  And by the way, Go VOLS!!!