Published by David September 11th, 2007
in Random, Concert and 2007.
Add The White Stripes to this list: Amy Winehouse, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Jon Dee Graham. According to Austin 360 and the ACL message boards The White Stripes have canceled their performances at ACL and Stubb’s due to an illness. Now I am really happy I have Dylan tickets for Saturday night; that is until they put someone in that slot that I wanted to see. Hopefully we’ll find out by tomorrow what the ACL promoters will do. No word if the Stripes will be playing their Thursday gig at Kiva Auditorium in Albuquerque yet. If they do that would be kinda weird since they’re citing medical issues for the cancellations.
EDIT:
They have officially taken The White Stripes off Saturday’s schedule (although they’re still on the front home page) and they moved Muse to the Stripes slot. Dr. Dog has been added but they’re up against “Sound Team”. Damien Rice is now up against Arctic Monkeys, which makes much more sense. St. Vincent has been put in Jon Dee’s open slot.
Published by David October 20th, 2006
in Free Tracks, Album, Review and 2006.
Austin’s The Lovely Sparrows, produce sweet soulful harmonies backed by breezy acoustical guitars, combined with a multitude of various instruments on their latest five track EP Pulling Up Floors, Pouring on (New) Paint. This is their second release, the first being a 7″ released earlier this year. They have a similar sound to fellow Austinites American Analog Set, as well as influential mixture of The Kinks and Big Star in a similar fashion to way The Shins set up their compositions but more carefree. Lead singer and songwriter, Shawn Jones provides illuminated narration to the bands open and airy landscape. The setting is soft around the edges, like a fluffy cloud mixed with mini bursts of tiny explosions of percussion.
All of the songs are blended together rather inconspicuously and release an overall soothing impression. Upbeat finger-snaps and hand-claps nestled together with a harmonious jangling guitar strum and the robust patter of the percussion construct the third track “The War Has Seen the Best of Me”. In turn it is followed by “Attention Disorder Kid” which openly critiques how our nation is drugging our children and turning them into drones: “Attention disorder kid, they want to replace with you robots. All things not cool, come round, come round. You’ll hear them say settled down, settle down”. The piece is slightly scattered and has it ups-and-downs (as well it should) and concludes by seamlessly blending into the first 45 seconds of the final track “Let’s Watch the Tourists”. We watch the tourists as they shuffle along with another mixture of clatter and clanging, loosely meshed together as it closes the 20 minute collection rather nicely. But guess what, my two favorites are the first two tracks “Chemicals Change” and “Your Flowers Will Bloom” as they are both a bit more polished and shine ever so brightly. This EP sets up a promising future for The Lovely Sparrows that I am looking forward to hear.
Freebies
A high quality version of the lead off track Chemicals Change. Pick up the EP at eMusic or iTunes or order the actual CD from Abandoned Love Records.
Published by David August 3rd, 2006
in Meta-Chatter and Concert.
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.
