Archive for the 'Concert Reviews' Category
Tori Amos @ the Beacon Theater New York
Author: Andre Veloux
Tori Amos lives and breathes her music. You know that from the moment she takes to the stage in her billowing red dress, split to the hip, and her gravity defying heels, sparkling under the spotlights like her music sparkles through the air. She performs a sun salutation to her immediately transfixed audience and sets down to her keyboards and begins her nightly journey.
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Wakeman ( r ) and Anderson test drive some new material from their new collaborative LP The Living Tree as well as cruise some classic YES tunes in the Poconos. Photo by Lynn Vala
This blog has exposed me to a lot of new music. It has also brought me close to many artists, opened many musical doors for me, and I learn something new every time I write something. This review is unique in that while I was fortunate enough to work with the promoter for Jon Anderson, and his subsequent projects, I got to experience what many say is the heart and soul of progressive rock mainstays YES, Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman live playing songs from the YES catalog that we all know and love, but also songs from Anderson/Wakeman’s new album The Living Tree. While this is a review of the live act, I will make a quickie commentary on the album The Living Tree: I am going to get the disc based on the performances I saw at the Sherman Theater.
The Sherman Theater is an old venue in the heart of Stroudsburg, which is undergoing a touch of a renaissance lately. The Sherman, I would say is undergoing it’s own renaissance, with some new elements and some signs of age. Will call got our order confused, but such associations with promoters, press agents, etc., usually leads to snafu situations. Unless person A talks directly to person B, and when I get there I talk to person B, then the situation usually devolves to Situation Normal, All Fouled Up.
While I most likely will recognize the YES tunes, the new pieces from The Living Tree and if Anderson does anything from his new disc Open, I may need help naming them. Thanks to a cooperative soundman and an equally cooperative stage manager named Neil (if memory serves, no chance of that happening), we managed to take pictures of Jon’s personal set lists.
Rock Journalism 101: "… if you need information about anything pertaining to the show, providing you have an actual business purpose for being at the performance and aren't just an overzealous fan…" Photo by Lynn Vala
Ask and you shall receive… Read the rest of this entry »
Promoting the expanded re-release of Completion Backward Principle, the Tubes bring their "La Dolce Vida" tour to Jim Thorpe, PA. Photo by Lynn Vala
Jim Thorpe PA – I function in a lot of different environments. Theaters, clubs, halls… But usually these are, at the most, extreme, in the suburbs of some metropolis. This venue is up in the mountains of North East PA.
This up-high-rural-stuff ain’t for me.
Many of these venues often feature restaurants adjacent or within the structure. This venue’s restaurant, Roadies, was particularly good. I may be a tad biased. You see, that night, I was craving a big, sloppy, juicy cheeseburger. I was thrilled when I saw it on the menu. But the burger itself was so huge, juicy and sloppy, it met my craving head on and was most satisfying. The fries were great too. Thankfully, my doctor doesn’t read this column.
But I have found that many of these “experience” reviews contain comments and opinions about food. I am beginning to feel like a restaurant critic. There are enough Gordon Ramsey’s in the world…
Let’s talk about MUSIC!
Fresh off the burner, the new CD from Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman. They do indeed deliver the goods, right through customs and into the United States. Cover courtesy of Glass Onyon
So, apparently, my question last time, “can Anderson/Wakeman deliver the goods” has been answered! Some of the East Coast US reviews are starting to surface, and, let’s just say I am thrilled we got our tickets!! This is promising to be a trip down YES memory lane with nods to brand new music composed by the duo. Not wanting to speak out of turn, I am going to wait for the show to make any decisions about the new material. The good news is, I won’t be waiting long as Anderson and Wakeman are coming to my “hood” tomorrow and I will have pen in hand, trusty photographer armed with photo pass, and I will be happily passing on all the dish about the show!!!
But let’s give a look at what Anderson/Wakeman’s PR folks have to say about this latest release and corresponding tour”:
11/5/2011 – London, UK – As a follow-up to their critically acclaimed CD ‘The Living Tree’ from 2010, YES legends Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman prepare to release ‘Anderson / Wakeman – The Living Tree In Concert Part One’ on Gonzo Multimedia on November 28th. The CD was recorded during the duo’s British tour in 2010 and comes housed in a sleeve design by Mark Wilkinson who was also responsible for the design of the artwork for ‘The Living Tree’.
Over the moon about brilliant reviews, Rick Wakeman (l) and Jon Anderson bring their happy song-fest to the NE US. Photo courtesy of Glass Onyon PR
I had posted some press releases previously, but sometimes assignments drop in your lap last minute. Who am I to pass up Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman coming to my “hood”? I still regret not seeing Emerson Lake Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner and Smith when they played this very same theater, the Sherman in Stroudsburg.
I thought I had spent enough time in the Poconos, having moved there shortly before 9/11. Leaving shortly after realizing our position would be militarily strategic as a strike zone with the proximity of Tobyhanna Army Depot.
Circumstances and reversal of fortunes (in that all my legal issues have been, for the most part addressed and I am victorious, those who plagiarized me, not so much) allow me to attend Anderson/Wakeman on November 5th, so I will be bringing you the usually slimmy on this critically acclaimed “Greatest Hits” tour. What exactly are the critics saying? Venture forth…
CMJ 2011: Art vs. Science
Author: Kerri O'Malley
CMJ came to a close this weekend, and as those who attended recover (I, for one, am still wearing sweatpants as much as possible), visions of alcohol-fueled shows are dancing through our heads. This year’s CMJ was overwhelmingly packed with bands from all over the world, but Australia may have been the most oddly and extremely represented country at this year’s festivities. Traveling through the streets of NYC last week was like being a croc on The Crocodile Hunter; you just couldn’t escape that Aussie accent.
Leading the pack from down under was Art Vs. Science, a trio that makes minimalist techno-rock destined for dancing. While many of their songs sound tame in recordings, their shows are ridiculous. Tracks like “Parlez-vous Francais” from the trio’s 2009 debut hit high-volume thanks to the group’s unstoppable energy. Read the rest of this entry »
Ty Segall at the Bowery Ballroom (Sept. 29)
Author: Kerri O'Malley
Ty Segall’s latest release, Goodbye Bread, may be his most melodic and chilled-out to date, but his fans still thrive on the sweat and fury of Segall’s turbulent fuzz glory. His sold-out show at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC last night broke hearts and melted face, bringing some much-needed mosh madness to the generally stoic hipster crowd.
Segall started off his set with the slow and quiet title track from his latest album, “Goodbye Bread” (see the new video for the single below), but soon shot into heavy head-thumping numbers like “My Head Explodes,” “You Make the Sun Fry,” and “The Floor.” Segall also played “The Drag,” his breakout solo hit, to happy screams and shrieks from the audience. Sweat flew and elbows jumped through the air; stage divers leaped onstage and spastically surfed their way through the thrashing crowd. A lucky mosher found himself singing into the microphone for a verse while Segall smiled and shredded at his side. At the end of his set, Segall and company invited everyone up on stage to join the sublimity. Read the rest of this entry »
YES Legends Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman To Tour North America Fall 2011
Author: Jeff Boule
Founding members of the Yes Former Bandmate Mutual Admiration Society, Rick Wakeman (L) and Jon Anderson (R). Photo courtesy of Glass Onyon
Lykke Li Unplugs Her Wounded Rhymes
Author: Kerri O'Malley
Lykke Li, at first wash, is our generation’s Nico. Both came to us from Europe (Sweden and Germany, respectively) with beautiful faces, cold stares, and unusual accents. And both embody that same mystery, a cool air of unspoken depth and inner darkness. Perhaps the greatest difference is that Lykke Li grew into her shadowy success.
She began as a light-hearted, light-footed Swedish pop singer, drawing attention with her stripped-down, kinda-techno, dance-happy single, “Little Bit,” off of 2008′s Youth Novels. Now, Lykke Li’s translated her penchant for shoulder-shaking into the desperate, drunk and defiant dancing of this year’s “Sadness is A Blessing,” adding tension, subtracting softness, and reaching for a mystical, tribal essence in her latest release, Wounded Rhymes. Read the rest of this entry »
Coachella 2011
Author: Gabriel Barrio
I had a dream we were here three times before. Except in my dream things constantly changed, people that were here aren’t, things that happened that definitely will not. The days light slowly hides away from us like a large toy chest closing and we are on the inside, we keep moving mile marker one after the other. Its all a blur and the stars hide out on the outskirts of the horizon, the highway is no place for stargazing and no place for two crazy souls seeking rhythms and healing undulations. We can only find adventure in our hearts and when we seek it we will always find the adventure that is meant entirely for us. This adventure has the meaning that only two sets of eyes can see yours and mine. This year we drive endlessly into the dark once again to the valley, till we reach our destination Indio, California where the Coachella Music Festival reinvigorates our souls, our hearts and reminds us why we are still here, still smiling. Read the rest of this entry »
Nothing like a personalized, autographed DVD case of the Adrian Belew Power Trio Live In Germany.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I’d like to take a minute or two to express some heartfelt emotions. Yup, first entry back and I’m getting all mushy. But I’d like to thank all of my faithful followers who contacted me on my Facebook page and relayed their concerns regarding my absence from these sites. I have been, and to a lesser extent, still am, under the weather. I will remain classified as such until an exam later this month. I also want to thank a couple of new Facebook friends who convinced me that regardless of negative feedback, my opinion of the art form is the only one that should matter in my forum. Thank you Steve and Elliott.
I have a lot of catching up to do, so let’s get to it!
Kurt Vile at the Bowery Ballroom (June 11)
Author: Kerri O'Malley
Kurt Vile smokes Camels. I know this because the top of the package is poking out of the back pocket of his narrow jeans as he paces the small stage at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, hunching over instruments and amps, long wavy hair swinging as he makes the final adjustments before his June 11th show begins.
Now shaded blue, the stage has already sizzled with two opening acts, a Joan Baez clone by the name of Meg Baird and Purling Hiss, a vaguely psychedelic jam band from Philadelphia who Vile later referred to as friends of his. The boys of Purling Hiss took the stage with a laid-back vibe and more instrumental breakdowns than lyrics, amping up the energy from Baird’s slow start.
Yet it’s unlikely that anyone here on this rainy, humid day came for either Baird or Purling Hiss. Tonight is Kurt Vile’s first headlining show at the Bowery Ballroom, and it’s completely sold out. Read the rest of this entry »
Those Darlins at The Big Apple BBQ (June 12)
Author: Kerri O'Malley
Despite the gray heat on June 12th, the girls of Those Darlins lined up across the outdoor stage at the edge of Madison Square Park in different shades of black. From pleather to ripped tights and sequins, Jessi, Kelley and Nikki Darlin brought some much-needed Tennessee punk to a sprawling New York food festival: The Big Apple BBQ. Riding high off their successful Screws Get Loose album, the female Darlins and their male drummer, Linwood Regensburg, played to a crowd of dirt-covered, finger-licking, dedicated followers of fashion at Madison Square Park last weekend. Read the rest of this entry »
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE RETURN TRIUMPHANT TO TERMINAL 5 IN NYC, 3-25-11
Author: Jeff Boule
The new and improved Queens Of The Stone Age seminal first album. The re-release has garnered such interest that the band embarked on a tour shortly after a near-death experience by frontman Josh Homme.
It was no surprise that the Queens Of The Stone Age (QOTSA) sold out its first tour in many years. They left fans wanting more after their Era Vulgaris tour, and Josh Homme teased us with his super-group Them Crooked Vultures, which was also economically viable to the point where his cohorts in the band (Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Led Zepplin bassist/keyboardist/arranger John Paul Jones) want to keep the band productive.
But perhaps it was (according to Rolling Stone) Homme’s recent death scare that made people sell out this tour AND FAST! You see, if you follow QOTSA, you know that Homme has had trouble with his knee and an emphysema-like illness since the Over The Years and Through The Woods era. For those of you not familiar with this incident, please read on…
KILLING JOKE GATHER AT THE IRVING PLAZA, 12-03-10
Author: Jeff Boule
Killing Joke onstage at the Fillmore at Irving Plaza, NYC. Photo by Lynn Vala
Killing Joke finally played the Irving Plaza after postponing this show from earlier in the year. They were amazing. I told you it was going to be awesome. You should have been there.
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Beach House/Vampire Weekend
Author: Gabriel Barrio
Suddenly passing my driver side door at unholy speeds is a small Honda civic, white paint scuffed on the rear fender, with annoyingly loud muffler, with clothes hanging from a line in the backseat. I struggle to keep up on this never ending highway littered with small towns that have one exit, advertising rooms for rent and Big Macs. Each town passing in the blink of an eye, no sign of highway patrol anywhere, everything is flying by and it feels like this whole month is going the same route passing me by as I sit and watch as moments fall away from me one after another, quicker than I grasp. On the lonely and ever darkening highway up to Albuquerque, NM to make a stop off at exit 215. This night we sip champagne, we dance, we gamble, we shuffle around to and from rooms, this night we arrive just in time to see Beach House and Vampire Weekend at the Hard Rock Hotel. Read the rest of this entry »
L.E.D. lights, laser lights, Naru jackets, spiritual music all equal a transcendental experience. Photo by Lynn Vala
Glenside PA – Picking up from where we left off with our last entry, we are in intermission of the Todd/Healing show at the Keswick Theater in Glenside PA. Whilst waiting for part two of the show, I manage to talk to some fans, as well as Doug Ford, Steve the usher who tells me that some of the more raucous songs are not only not for him, but at the back of the theater, sound like mud. THAT’S a shame. I am fortunate enough to make the acquaintance of Tim Luciano, who, through his brother Pete (‘Lucky’) is friends with and grew up with Rundgren’s brother Robin Rundgren, who is here at the show along with Rundgren’s mother Ruth. Mrs. Rundgren attends many of Rundgren’s east coast shows and is a heavy contributor to Rundgren biographer Billy James’ two editions of ‘A Dream Goes On Forever, The Continuing Story Of Todd Rundgren’.
As the second half nears, we see under the curtain the movement of feet, we hear Rundgren talking and errant notes here and there. The house lights die as album 2, Healing begins. From behind closed curtain we hear Rundgren vocally proclaim ‘My child…’
Mike Ryan: New on the Texas Scene
Author: Butler Bad
Well, it is Friday and it has been a few days since I last posted a blog. Part of that is due to my hectic vacation schedule of lying in bed, watching T.V., drinking beer, and attempting the occasional home project. The other part is due, in no small part, to my incredible laziness the last couple of days. However, it has not been a total waste of a few days. Read the rest of this entry »
AUTHOR’S NOTE: This review is extremely late in being posted as both the author and photographer have experienced a loss in the family and have been dealing with the associated responsibilities that accompany a family member flying from this earth. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused anyone.
Hipster gigster, techno-wizard and all-around rock-and-roll guy, Todd Rundgren gives the "Fool" guitar a massive workout recreating the Todd album. Photo by Lynn Vala
Glenside PA – I will have to explain the two albums being played live by Rundgren and company at the Keswick Theater before we get into the review. The first is the self titled album Todd. It remains my favorite album by him to date. Starting out with some backwards masking (sounds played backward) of a voice asking for a little fanfare, it maintains a non-stop adventure right to the protracted fade of the last track, recorded live with a chorus of audience members from both coasts and mixed together (long before digital signal stretching in Pro-Tools) in one track.
The second album is a collection of songs pertaining to the science (?) of psychic healing. Side one of Healing deals with the voyage of one who is anointed with the power to heal, and the taxation of a greedy society, all clamoring for the healing touch. Trivia time: The bonus 7” vinyl that was included with the original 12” plastic waffle release was the single from the album called “Time Heals” and was the 7th original video aired on MTV’s broadcast debut.
There weren’t many videos to choose from then, and Rundgren and MTV are not the best of friends. Read on for more dish…
Producer/Engineer extraordinaire, Alan Parsons shows off his live cred. Photo by Lynn Vala
Bethlehem PA – The man, the myth, the legend, Alan Parsons playing his ONLY east coast appearance (to date) fifteen minutes from my back door. A dream come true, right?
As Sarah Palin might say, you betcha! But I had no idea just how much of a dream come true it would be.
I am not going into Parson’s history, save to say you have heard his work. You may not have heard his voice, or his playing unless you have purchased his recent rerelease remastered series of most of his catalog. You HAVE heard his work BEHIND the recording console. Need further proof?
Read on and be amazed…