Monday, November 3. 2008
TV on the Radio
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
www.tvontheradio.com
October 30, 2008
Stubb’s Bar-B-Q
Austin, TX
Also: The Dirtbombs
Find a band playing better music than TV on the Radio right now. I dare you!
Okay, I may be a bit biased, but the soulful, electronic rock group from Brooklyn who just released their third full-length album seem to be hitting their creative stride. They’re a hard band to pigeonhole, as their sound runs a wide spectrum of blues and soul to noisy rock and electronic dance. Add to the fact their reputation for energetic live shows and you have an excited writer and a packed house at Stubb’s outdoor venue in Austin, TX, on the night before Halloween (All Hallows’ Eve Eve?).
But before TV on the Radio appeared, the crowd was treated to the soul/garage rock hybrid of The Dirtbombs. I was looking forward to hearing them, and they didn’t disappoint. They were an excellent warm-up, with gritty tracks like “Underdog,” “Ever Lovin’ Man,” and “I Hear the Sirens.” They’re worth seeing on their own, but as an opener, they left the crowd clamoring for what was to come.
TVotR came on stage to an excited crowd and opened with the soulful “Young Liars” before upping the tempo with “The Wrong Way” and “Golden Age,” the first single from their new album, Dear Science. Lead singer Tunde Adepimbe was dancing all over the stage, flopping his arms and slithering from one end to the other. It was hard not to feel his enthusiasm, the good vibes flying off him like the sweat dripping down his brow.
I was lucky enough to have made my way to the front, jumping and singing along to tracks like “Halfway Home” and “Wolf Like Me,” their rocked-out, danceable tune from 2006’s Return to Cookie Mountain.
Throughout the show, they brought out a guy dressed as a gingerbread man to help sing one of the songs, and a woman joined them on stage for several others, providing backup vocals. But for the most part, the quintet was on stage by their lonesome, daring the crowd not to move their feet with the catchy “Dancing Choose” or the sultrier “DLZ” and “Love Dog.” They play fast and slow with equal passion, and it’s a treat to see both.
For the encore, they started with two tracks from Return to Cookie Mountain, including a cool spectacle for “Let the Devil In.” After bringing out several kids, everyone donned some kind of percussion instrument (lots of tambourines) to bang out the song. They finished with fan-favorite “Staring at the Sun,” leading in with Kyp’s falsetto cooing. I had retreated to the rear of the venue for an easier getaway during the encore, and was disappointed when I was the only person flailing and singing during the final set. I got a few odd looks from people, but their loss if they didn’t feel the same vibe I did.
This was one of the most fun shows I’ve been to in recent memory, largely due to the talent and creativity of the group. In an industry overrun by banal, fly-by-night Top 40 pap, TV on the Radio prove you can reach out to the masses without having to sacrifice any bit of integrity. See this band. NOW!
Tuesday, October 14. 2008
John Bell of Widespread Panic - more photos photo by Jaime Butler - Staff Photographer | by Greg Klein - Staff Writer
Widespread Panic
Hometown: Athens, GA
http://widespreadpanic.com
Widespread Panic Concert Photos
Saturday, October 11, 2008
The Backyard(Austin, Texas)
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness …”
…and so on. Sorry, fellow rockers, I know the last thing you expect to read on a music site is Charles Dickens, but Saturday’s Widespread Panic show at The Backyard was truly a tale of two sets.
Saturday was the second night of back-to-back shows put on by Widespread Panic at the Backyard. A spacious, open venue, The Backyard is one of the best places in Austin to see live music. Sadly, though, development around the venue has forced it to move several miles down the road, so this would be one of the last shows at the location, and it proved the perfect venue for the jam band’s music.
Continue reading "Concert Review: Widepread Panic at The Backyard, Austin, Texas"
Thursday, October 9. 2008
Chris Ballew of the Presidents of the United States of America - more photos photo by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer |
by Greg Klein - Staff Writer
Presidents of the United States of America
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
http://www.presidentsrock.com
Presidents of the United States of America Concert Photos
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Stubb's BarBQ(Austin, Texas)
Also: Black And White Years
In this time of financial uncertainty, negative political ads, and banal sound bites, who can we trust to lead our country into a new, better era? For those fed up with both candidates and their empty promises, why not look to established musical figures? Enter the Presidents of the United States of America.
No, I'm not talking about Bill Clinton's jazz trio, featuring George H.W. Bush on drums and Jimmy "Peanut Oil" Carter on standup bass, but the alternative rock group who made it big in the music scene 13 years ago singing about peaches and lumps.
Appropriate, then, they play Stubb's in Austin, TX, a month before the election. Now, political parallels such as these may be too easy for a writer like myself to make, but seeing as I showed up late to the show, I'm not exactly what you call 'presidential material.' Oops, I did it again. Sorry, I'll stop.
Local band Black & White Years was already on stage upon my arrival. An indie electro-rock group, they sounded like a rocked-out version of the Talking Heads. (I found out later that Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads produced their self-titled album. Point: Greg.). The band played a solid set as the crowd steadily grew, and they were clearly enjoying their music, but the mood changed dramatically as soon as the Presidents stepped on stage.
Continue reading "Concert Review: Presidents Of The United States Of America at Stubb's BarBQ, Austin, Texas"
Monday, September 22. 2008
Kevin Rosen of Dark Star Orchestra - more photos photo by Jaime Butler - Staff Photographer |
Dark Star Orchestra
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
http://www.darkstarorchestra.com
Dark Star Orchestra Concert Photos
Saturday, September 20th, 2008
Stubb's BarBQ(Austin, Texas)
Deadheads and flower children both young and old filed into Waller Creek Saturday night to catch a glimpse of the past. The outdoor venue behind Stubb’s, an Austin, TX, favorite, played host to Dark Star Orchestra, a Grateful Dead tribute band.
But DSO is unlike other tribute bands simply aping their more-famous brethren. Every night the members of Dark Star step on stage, they recreate a concert from the long career of the Dead. Depending on what show they pick, they’ll even arrange the sound to mimic that era. Take that, cover bands!
Rob Eaton of Dark Star Orchestra - more photos photo by Jaime Butler - Staff Photographer |
But Dark Star changed things Saturday and treated Austin to a double set of songs of their choosing. The music was all Dead, but the setlist was their own doing. So with the sweet smell of sensimilla wafting through the air, the six members took to the stage. Opening with “Feel like a Stranger,� DSO filled the venue with folky, funky, jam goodness.
The set continued with fun tracks like “Dire Wolf� and “Catfish John.� The crowd thoroughly enjoyed the show, dancing, smiling, and singing along to the oh-so-familiar tracks. After over an hour, they closed with an great version of “Attics of my Life,� which was the longest song of the first set.
They then took a short break before jumping into the second set. Where the first was poppier with shorter songs, these were more drawn out. Opening with “Touch of Grey,� DSO took no time corralling the crowd and bringing all attention back to them by starting on a high note. Yes, the pun was intended.
Rob Koritz of Dark Star Orchestra - more photos photo by Jaime Butler - Staff Photographer |
The first song flowed into “Foolish Heart,� which kept the audience grooving. I was asked by the man next to me to move up a few steps he had more room to dance. I looked and that dancing consisted of him spinning in circles. For minutes on end. I moved further away in case his dinner came up and joined a group dancing barefoot in the dirt.
The show continued until midnight, and the crowd never stopped feeling Dark Star Orchestra’s groove. The love and devotion toward the Dead will last for many, many years to come, especially with bands like Dark Star Orchestra to continue their legacy in such a unique way. This was a fun show.
Sunday, August 10. 2008
The Hold Steady
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
www.theholdsteady.com
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The Parish (Austin, TX)
Opener: The Loved Ones
“…and we are all . . . The Hold Steady!�
That’s how it ends. And good Lord, what a show. But let’s rewind the clock a few hours and figure out how we got there.
A sold out crowd invaded the intimate confines of The Parish in Austin, TX, ready for a night of The Hold Steady’s fun, rowdy brand of rock. Morale in the city had been low with Austin approaching a record number of 100-degree days, but spirits immediately rose in the air-conditioned room. The cold beers helped a bit, too.
The show began with a set by pop punk group The Loved Ones. While they didn’t have the sing-a-long notoriety of the headliners, they provided an entertaining warm up. My favorite moment wasn’t exactly a song, per se, but rather their segue into the first song. “Paper Planes� by M.I.A. was playing on the overhead speakers, and the band began to drum to the gunshots in the chorus. The music then faded and they seamlessly moved into their first song. Cool stuff. Another great moment was Franz and Tad from The Hold Steady joining the band on stage for the last song, “Louisiana.� But really, the crowd was just biding their time until The Hold Steady.
And just like that, there they were, belting right into “Constructive Summer,� which blended into “Hot Soft Light� and “Chips Ahoy.� There was little between-song banter from the group, as they wasted no time picking nuggets from their four-album catalogue, including many from the recently released Stay Positive. I marveled at the crowd’s ability to jump and sing along to even the new tracks. But then, these songs make you sing along, with Craig Finn providing the raucous lead, half-yelling and half-singing into the microphone.
The Hold Steady are in their element in a live setting. They’re clearly having fun on stage, and they didn’t hold back Wednesday night. Songs like these make it hard for certain writers to refrain from ripping his notepad in half and jumping around like a half-drunk fanboy.
The night continued with songs like “Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night,� “Banging Camp,� and a touching rendition of “Lord, I’m Discouraged,� providing one of the few breathers throughout the night.
The set ended on a high note with the back-to-back songs of “Stay Positive� and “Slapped Actress.� But the crowd, the bloodthirsty jackals they were, wanted more. Lucky for them, Craig and company clearly didn’t want to go home yet, either. Beaming, the lead singer yelled to the crowd, “There is so much joy in what we do up here. We’re The Hold Steady, and we fucking love you!�
The band treated Austin to two encores, including an oh-so-perfect duo of “Positive Jam� and “Killer Parties� to close out the second encore. As the final song wound down, Craig raised his arms and sang to the crowd, “If she says we partied, then I’m pretty sure we partied. I remember we departed from our bodies. And we woke up in Austin, Texas, and we are all . . . The Hold Steady!�
And so we’ve come full circle. I couldn’t have enjoyed this show any more. The band, the crowd, the energy of the room…this went beyond a simple rock show: this was a communal experience. We are all The Hold Steady.
Tuesday, July 29. 2008
The Rockland Eagles at The Continental Club - more photos photo by Jaime Butler - Staff Photographer |
Rockland Eagles
Hometown: Austin, Tx.
http://www.rocklandeagles.com
Rockland Eagles Concert Photos
Thursday, July 24rd, 2008
The Continental Club(Austin, Texas)
So yeah, it’s Thursday. Meh. While the weekend’s almost upon us, there’s still that one workday left before we can enjoy all the idleness and debauchery we can handle. But for those who couldn’t wait until Friday to let loose, the Continental Club in Austin, TX, provided the perfect remedy: cold beer and loud rock ‘n’ roll.
One of Austin’s oldest music venues played host Thursday to a bevy of rocked-out bands, including Grand Champeen, One Mississippi, and the Rockland Eagles, who I came excited to see.
The Rockland Eagles at The Continental Club - more photos photo by Jaime Butler - Staff Photographer |
Loud, brash, no-holds-barred rock, the Rockland Eagles sound like the love child of the Cult, Against Me, and the Hold Steady. They’re here to rock and nothing more. The result was an entertaining set thoroughly enjoyed by a varied crowd also feeling the near-weekend humdrums. I spied a couple old enough to be the band’s grandparents who wore a smile through much of the set, and I could have sworn R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe was there reveling in a night of loud guitars, crashing cymbals, and screaming vocals. But I could be wrong.
Regardless, the Rockland Eagles did not disappoint. Featuring tracks from their two albums, the five-man group came out guns blazing. Three guitarists (one of them wearing a fashionable white Elvis jumpsuit), a bassist, and a drummer spent the night striking poses, shedding clothing, and never let up violating the eardrums of everyone in the crowd. If that’s not rock ‘n’ roll, I don’t want to know what is.
Songs like “S.O.B. Tattoo� and “Kick Ass Boy� started the night off in a frenetic pace. This continued into “Steve Austin,� their tribute to the Six-Million-Dollar Man, which featured long guitar solos and the lead singer helping out on drums. “High on a Hog,� “Peg Leg Booty Lip,� and “Easy Rider� were more tracks that rounded out a set far too short for the amount of rock this band could produce. I left that night an instant fan, and I know I wasn’t alone in that feeling.
Monday, July 21. 2008
Todd Rundgren at Antone's - more photos photo by Jaime Butler - Staff Photographer |
Todd Rundgren
Hometown: Kauai, Hawaii
http://www.tr-i.com
Todd Rundgren Concert Photos
Saturday, July 19th, 2008
Antone's(Austin, Texas)
“I’m delirious with the heat,� exclaimed singer/songwriter/rocker Todd Rundgren, playing before a packed house Saturday night at Austin’s famous blues venue, Antone’s. A crowd way beyond fire capacity packed the place, the line wrapped around the building even as the show began. This was not a show for the claustrophobic. You would know your neighbor by night’s end, as personal space was a luxury only for the bartenders and musicians on stage.
No matter how packed or how hot Antone’s seemed to get, the crowd didn’t notice, but rather fixated their attention on Mr. Rundgren and his four supporting musicians rocking the night away. Opening with the raucous “Love in Action,� Todd wasted no time jumping into his set and energetically moving around the stage.
Todd wasn’t afraid to pick tracks throughout his long, established five-decade career, including “Open My Eyes,� a rocked-out track from his work with Nazz in the 60s, followed by “Black Mariah,� which showcased a long guitar solo from Todd.
But alas, the solo proved too much for his aqua green axe, which busted a string and forced Todd to break out a new guitar he had just bought in Austin that day. “Let’s see how this dog hunts,� Todd stated before covering Red Rider’s “Lunatic Fringe,� which the band performed excellently. The bassist, Rachel Haden, was also sporting a new bass that looked almost as big as her, but she wielded it all night with no problem.
Those who showed up hoping to hear some of Todd’s more popular standards from the 70s and 80s didn’t get that wish wholly fulfilled, as the show focused more on guitar-heavy rock and newer material from his forthcoming album Arena. While it’s due out in September, “[it] will be on the internet in a couple of weeks,� joked Todd. The latter half of the show consisted of this newer material, but the crowd eagerly bought into it and enjoyed every note escaping from the speakers.
That’s not to say Todd and Co. didn’t kick things old school at all. The room went crazy when the opening piano to “I Saw the Light� began playing, but Todd quickly waved it away. “That’ll never fucking do,� he exclaimed. The band then kicked it up a few notches and returned with a slightly heavier version of the song.
Antics and playful behavior like this helped keep the crowd energized and entertained by a man who just celebrated his 60th birthday last month. He even encouraged sedition, telling the crowd that Austin should secede to form its own state. He then asked for citizenship, which the crowd seemed more than happy to give.
In all, it was a night of great music, a great showman, and a great big crowd of fans young and old. Todd Rundgren showed no signs of slowing down Saturday night, and let’s hope he doesn’t any time soon.
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