Tag Archive for alt-country at Candied Pop

Tag Archive for 'alt-country'

Bobby Bare Jr. at Mercury Lounge, NYC - November 17 & 18, 2006

Published by David November 23rd, 2006 in Review and Concert. 0 Comments

This past weekend I caught the last couple of shows that Bobby Bare Jr. did with his current line-up of the The Young Criminals Starvation League. The YSCSL are a rotating cast of stellar musicians that Bobby hand picks for each album and tour. Bassist Richie Kirkpatrick will pick up his guitar and head out on the road with his band Ghostfinger and fellow band-mate and former YSCSL member Matt Rowland will be rejoining him after spending the past couple months in Los Angeles recording an album. The drummer Van Campbell will be going back to record and go on tour with his own band The Black Diamond Heavies. Bobby will be heading to Barcelona for the 1st and 2nd of December along with Corey Younts who has been playing keyboards on tour for the past three months and has a long past with Bobby that goes back before they were both as both of their fathers played together. Original Bare Jr. members will take reigns in the vacant spots.

After seeing the band two months apart with this line-up they really have grown and tightened up in that short time-span. After the show on Friday Corey spoke to me about it and it’s a little sad to think that this lineup will not be playing together for quite some time if ever again. Although Bobby has strong personality on stage he allows his band members to show off their qualities as well. He has no objections when Richie presents us with power stances or jumps down from the stage and into the audience where he showboats his playing. Bobby encourages Corey and Van to give us everything they got as well. The highlight song from their set on both nights was “Borrow Your Cape” from The Longest Meow which on the album you can clearly hear the backing of Jim James and his band My Morning Jacket. Live Bobby and the band are able to transcend the composition and make it into their own.

Centro-matic were the headliners so-to-say during this tour, but Bobby got the better time spot at these Mercury Lounge gigs starting at 10:30. There were two opening acts who rotated spots both nights: Charles Bissell of the Wrens and David Vandervelde. I am not familiar with the Wrens but I think Charles Bissell needs accompaniment by another human rather than his own feedback and echos. I caught Vandervelde on Saturday night, who had his friend Ben Clark with him. They did a stunning rendition of Phil Ochs’ “Pretty Smart on My Part”. After a couple folkie type songs, Richie and Van joined them on stage for the first time with a rousing number and Corey came on for their final upbeat and rocking song. On Friday night, I stayed for a little bit of Centro-matic’s set and I enjoyed them, but just like their recorded works they never seem to break out out of the warm fuzzy shell that surrounds them. After hearing a couple of my favorites such as “The Mighty Midshipman” I didn’t need to hear anymore. Their foggy sound does not hold up after the rollicking mayhem that Bobby Bare Jr. and his Young Criminals create. By Saturday I was too wiped to stay even for a note of their set. Hoping next time Bobby’s in town he’s the main act so we get the full set treatment.

Bobby Bare Jr at Mercury Lounge photo 2

Geoff Reacher - Avec Reacher C’est Plus Sur

Published by Scott September 11th, 2006 in Album, Review and 2006. 0 Comments

With a junk drawer’s worth of synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, and turntables balancing melodic acoustic guitar and drawling vocals, Geoff Reacher’s Avec Reacher C’est Plus Sur makes for a novel listen. At first the contrast of electro instrumental clutter with the traditional organic tools of a singer-songwriter can be disconcerting. It seems to waver between unique artistic expression and a horrible mess. Repeated listens tip things in Reacher’s favor as his inventive, often playful sound ultimately inspires appreciation if not enjoyment. Highlights include the hip-hop tinged, Beck-ish “Snarling Wheels of Sin” and the desolate melancholy of “Ride to the Grave.” But my favorite is the loose and funny twang pop of “Look Me in the Eye,” with its nod to The Kinks in the lines, “Well I’m not the world’s most passionate guy / But if that asshole can dance / Well then fuck it so can I.” Geoff Reacher’s intruiging electro country hybrid is definitely worth checking out.

Mixtape tracks- Look Me in the Eye, Snarling Wheels of Sin, My Heart’s a Rocket
Freebies- You Like My Song, Snarling Wheels of Sin
(And I love the comment on Reacher’s site referring to his MySpace page, “if you want em to sound crappier.”)

Drive-By Truckers & Bobby Bare Jr.

Published by David August 3rd, 2006 in Meta-Chatter and Concert. 0 Comments

I am really excited because Drive-By Truckers just added some new dates to their Fall tour schedule. I haven’t seen them since last year’s Austin City Limits festival and I am jonesing to see some triple guitar threat. The band was supposed to come to NYC earlier this year and actually had a date down to play the Mercury Lounge but they had to cancel along with a couple other dates. Man that would have been cool to see them there. They were recently in my area and on tour throughout the country opening for Robert Randolph & the Family Band and the Black Crowes. I didn’t feel like trekking out to see those gigs because I heard the band went on very early and didn’t come close to playing their typical full set, which can last over 3 hours. Also I really had no desire to see the Black Crowes after seeing them last year at ACL.

What has me even more psyched is that Bobby Bare Jr. will be opening DBT for the September dates. I have seen Bobby twice already this year and he puts on an incredible show, so if your lucky enough to make any of the dates be sure to catch him too. In October The Drams will be taking on the opening slot. Don’t get upset in case you haven’t heard their name; they’re the reformation of the disbanded alt-country band Slobberbone, minus one member plus two other dudes. I saw these guys last year open for Marah and they kicked ass on stage.

Bobby Bare Jr. on You Tube: The Terrible Sunrise - Seattle and Valentine - Maxwell’s. I did the second one, pretty shaky cause I had a beer in my hand and the sound is distorted, but I had to share it to show how hard he rocks out! He’s touring the South East part of the States this August with The Walkmen.