Archive for July, 2010
Alela Diane (Rough Trade 2009)
Author: Gabriel Barrio
The air rushes through the leaves, they dance and sway in the wind, the trees stand solid. Water brushes down the muddy banks of the river, and the stones are awash in freshwater as they stand still. Wild grasses grow and lean into the breezes direction, sun shining still and strong. Somewhere in the distance you can hear a voice carried amongst the thick of the forest, and soft strings playing through the cool climate of the pacific northwest. A zen like folk song conjuring up images from which the voice originates. This sound native of Nevada City, California now carried up through my earphones sending me through memories and images of peace. This sound can only come from such a beauty of a voice and a gorgeous landscape of our fair country.
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"Fabulous babe" Julie Slick bids adieu to the hometown crowd at World Cafe Live. Photo by Lynn Vala
Her last track, which I missed the name of, is another manic track. With eerie synths, this time the track is louder than the bass, even with the harmonizer on the bass. Even a fake-out stop can’t break her concentration; she counts it off, comes right in on time and wails to the end.
Ever shoeless, the thanks us and exits the stage having conquered it. During the intermission she disappears into the crowd.
After a brief change over to remove Slick’s equipment for the most part, Daniel Rowland comes out and starts the show with a midi-generated track, but no Belew???
One guy, a ton of equipment, and an even bigger sound. Photo by Lynn Vala
Belew then announces that his album e will be performed by an orchestra in Amsterdam. He then attempts to play “d” from his e album. After two times he gets his loop right. After that, flawless.
He seemed pleased with it.
Adrian Belew brings his art and music together in one place, The World Cafe Live. Photo by Lynn Vala
Philadelphia PA – I had seen the warnings on the suburban Philadelphia news channels. But no one told me JUST how bad the highway construction was going to be getting down to Philadelphia. I had seen multiple automobile accidents, right from the time I left my house before I even got on a highway, a few blocks from home was a triple-car rear ender. I knew the show was going to be worth the delays, I hoped it would be worth the apparent danger.
We were basically dodging bullets to get there.
Maniacal bassist and, as Dave Letterman used to say, "one fabulous babe," Julie Slick. Photo by Lynn Vala
Apparently my fears were not founded, or perhaps Belew has advised her that I have found evidence to support his claim that, he too, was on the outside of the truth about King Crimson’s demise, as she was very friendly, personable, even after letting her know that I was NOT the person she thought was connected to the Paul Green School Of Rock. A very nice woman, I only hope she continues to allow me to call her Birdwoman as it is a term of endearment and not derogatory (Robin, bird, Birdwoman, I couldn’t call her birdgirl as the producers of Harvey Birdman Attorney At Law would have my head) but I rarely refer to people by their names if they frequent my blog, I prefer to maintain privacy for people. If she has a complaint about it, she has my contact card and can stop me if she wishes. She’s so nice, I would for her.
Various Artists “Forty One Sixty The Songs of The Shambles”
Author: Beverly Paterson
Various Artists “Forty One Sixty The Songs of The Shambles” (Blindspot Records 109)
The curious title of this Shambles tribute album stems from the fact that this was the address where the band’s fearless leader, Bart Mendoza, once lived and wrote many of their tunes there. 4160 Bachman Place, San Diego, California was actually the exact location. The Shambles evolved from another great band, Manual Scan, and the disc contains material from both groups. Active from 1980 to 1992, Manual Scan were power popping Mod gods, and when The Shambles came into being shortly after their demise they duly followed suit and are still going strong today. Like the bands that inspired them, Manual Scan and The Shambles concentrate on hooky pop pleasures. Not an ounce of fat cushions their tunes, as they’re short, sometimes sweet and sometimes sassy. Read the rest of this entry »
“Eleven Unsung Heroes of Early Rock and Roll” by Dick Stewart
Author: Beverly Paterson
“Eleven Unsung Heroes of Early Rock and Roll” by Dick Stewart (Lance Monthly Press)
Selling lots of records proves people like the music. But massive commercial acceptance doesn’t necessarily match artistic brilliance or integrity. As the title of this excellent book states, “Eleven Unsung Heroes of Early Rock and Roll,” touts eleven musicians who experienced mainstream success in varying degrees and were highly influential in the development of rock and roll, yet are seldom given the credit they deserve. To the casual radio listener, most of the folks covered here would be considered one or two hit wonders, but their talent, insight and dedication to the music runs deep. Read the rest of this entry »
Skid Roper “Rock and Roll Part 3″
Author: Beverly Paterson
Skid Roper “Rock and Roll Part 3” (Blindspot Records 145)
Singer, songwriter and master of a million instruments, Skid Roper initially rose to prominence in the eighties, performing and recording with the wild and wacky Mojo Nixon. Come the nineties, Skid Roper embarked on a solo career, and here’s his third album, the appropriately titled “Rock and Roll Part 3.” Let me being this review by saying those who are already acquainted with Skid Roper will be triply knocked out by the disc, and those who have never heard his work until now are guaranteed to turn into immediate disciples. Read the rest of this entry »
25 Albums You Should Own
Author: Butler Bad
Over time, there have many great musical artists and from each artist comes an assortment of songs that become an album. In theory the sum of an album should be equal or greater than its parts (songs). If only this were true. Today, with streaming audio, and the ability to buy/download single songs, the allure and importance of the album has waned. Artists might release several EP’s before they release a full length album. Read the rest of this entry »
iTunes: Friend or Foe
Author: Butler Bad
iTunes might be the anti-Christ to the music industry. Now, before I get too far into this blog, let me go on record and say, I have drank the Kool-Aid from the crimson stained iTunes cup and I am a fan of all the flavors. I just don’t always feel good about it! Read the rest of this entry »
Blue is the new red for THIS year's energy dome. Let's hope there will be more NEW Devo albums like Something For Everybody! Cover reprinted with permission.
De-evolution is real! De-evolution is the condition under which a society returns to its roots. When individuals devolve, the basic human instinct kicks in and makes us want to drag our knuckles on the ground, carry a thigh bone of some sun bleached carcass, and appear disgruntled in Geico commercials.
When music devolves, its top performers appear in their underwear flipping the bird at a major league baseball game. (To Lady “MessMess”, I am a Mets fan, I hope every Mets fan that sees you in concert, on the street, with your parents, flips YOU the bird. The Mets will be around long after your 15 minutes of nudity are over!)
It’s time for common sense, it’s time for transparency in the music business, we are long overdue for some good music, and it is most definitely time, once again, for Devo…
The Blue Things Story “Volume One 1964-65″
Author: Beverly Paterson
The Blue Things Story “Volume One 1964-65” (Cicadelic Records 975)
If you lived in the Midwest during the sixties and attended gigs, there’s a good bet you have fond memories of The Blue Things. Based out of Hays, Kansas, the band possessed all the markings of a supergroup. Stellar chops, smart songwriting skills, a sense of adventure and a cool image should have catapulted The Blue Things straight to the top of the charts, but the music business obviously isn’t always fair or kind. The band was even signed to a major label, RCA Records, and aside from producing a rope of righteous singles, they also cut a most excellent album. A Blue Things renaissance occurred in the eighties, as sixties garage rock collectors discovered and championed their efforts. Cicadelic Records, located in Arizona, was the first label to reissue the band’s material on a widespread basis, which eventually resulted in not only a trio of separate installments documenting the many musical phases they went through, but a whopper of a box set. Read the rest of this entry »