Friday, March 23, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
While you are waiting for the results of SxSW 2007 to come in . . . PART II
When you look at this blog you may ask yourself, “why is this guy so backwards?” And why pray tell may you say that? Well I first wrote about a show on the Friday of SxSW last year and now I’m telling about a show on Thursday of last year. The events will be chronicled in no particular order this time around but I’m sure it will follow that I’ll be more linear in the future unless time travel becomes available but that subject is for another blog. And speaking of Thursday . . .
Thursday was really packed with shows I wanted to see but unfortunately there are schedule conflicts, shows that overlap, and distances between venues that don’t lend you to being able to see everything you want to. Morrissey played at the Austin Music Hall and I didn’t realize how far it was from where I was at the time. I was at another show but couldn’t make it down. For Dungen on the other hand it was an entirely different matter. I was hoping to see them at the 2005 CMJ event along with many other and they ended up cancelling their New York show. They were playing at Buffalo Billiards and I was pretty sure the show would be packed and not to be deterred by my earlier time gaff I went really early. I waited on line while the previous band was playing. And security didn’t allow anyone in until said band was done. After which the line moved slowly to the entrance and when it was my turn I was told that I was on the wrong line and that I’d have to go the back of a different one. Meanwhile the band just started playing and the second line was as long as the first. See you next time Dungen. And finally His Name Is Alive. It’s been at least ten years since I saw them last at CBGB’s and I was happy to find out they were still around. It turns out that the Living End show ran really late and I couldn’t get to Habana Calle 6 in time. Now for the shows that did work out.
Thursday was really packed with shows I wanted to see but unfortunately there are schedule conflicts, shows that overlap, and distances between venues that don’t lend you to being able to see everything you want to. Morrissey played at the Austin Music Hall and I didn’t realize how far it was from where I was at the time. I was at another show but couldn’t make it down. For Dungen on the other hand it was an entirely different matter. I was hoping to see them at the 2005 CMJ event along with many other and they ended up cancelling their New York show. They were playing at Buffalo Billiards and I was pretty sure the show would be packed and not to be deterred by my earlier time gaff I went really early. I waited on line while the previous band was playing. And security didn’t allow anyone in until said band was done. After which the line moved slowly to the entrance and when it was my turn I was told that I was on the wrong line and that I’d have to go the back of a different one. Meanwhile the band just started playing and the second line was as long as the first. See you next time Dungen. And finally His Name Is Alive. It’s been at least ten years since I saw them last at CBGB’s and I was happy to find out they were still around. It turns out that the Living End show ran really late and I couldn’t get to Habana Calle 6 in time. Now for the shows that did work out.
The Chalets
“The Full Irish Breakfast” at BD Riley’s - Thursday March 16 2006
I really love seeing bands from other countries no matter what the country is. To put it simply I’ve been very fortunate enough to have been exposed to many different cultures, thoughts & ideas, and of course music. A dissertation on exposure expansion will follow some time in the future. “The Full Irish Breakfast” Presented several bands from Ireland and the first one I caught was the Chalets. I loved the look they had. This is what I imagine a band from the 50s would be like if 1) there were not afraid to say whatever they wanted to say and b) if keyboards were in vogue. They sounded like a cross between the B52s and DI which is great in my book. And I specifically mean DI. On the Chalet song, “Love Punch” one small part, the keyboard cum bass intro and verse sounds just like the DI classic, “Richard Hung Himself.” And this is not a rip-off but an homage as the Chalets made the song their own.
The Living End
Emo’s Main Room – Thursday March 16 2006
I’ve wanted to see The Living End for a while now. I think it’s been a few years since they performed in the US I like the first album a lot and love the second one and so I was really into seeing the show. Apparently they recently recorded a third album and it was out but not domestically. I hadn’t heard that album yet and I was not familiar with any of the songs. It seemed no one in the audience was either. And it was cool that they played songs from this album but, and I have to say “but”,” I really wanted to hear songs from Modern ARTillery! I’m not that against a band playing and trying out new songs. If it’s a band I really like I’m usually anxious to hear new material but because I really like the band I want to hear songs I know as well. I think they only played on song from the second album. Only one! One of the new songs I remember, “Black Cat” sounded pretty cool and they played “Who’s Gonna Save Us” from the second album and one of the best anthemic pieces of all time, “Roll On” from the first album but I really needed more. Incidentally, after seeing them and hearing some of the new songs I definitely got a sense of a Stays Cats influence and that just fine with me. I know this will look practically like a list of songs from Modern ARTillery but I really wanted to hear, “Jimmy,” “tabloid Magazine,” and the one and only, “One Said To The Other” which is a defining song for the band. I even wanted to hear “Maitland Street,” something, anything from the second album. Look guys, I’ll make a deal with you: Come back to the Us and play at least five songs and I promise you’ll get applause and cheers from the crowd, even if it’s just a crowd of one.
Zombi
Room 710 - Saturday, March 10, 2006
What a great surprise. I didn’t know they were playing SxSW until the last minute. Zombi delivered just what I hoped for and more. For the uninitiated, Zombi is a two man instrumental band and they were originally presented to me as a band that creates and plays original soundtrack type of music that would fit into horror movies, which is true although there’s more. Hopefully they don’t consider this portrayal too limiting but if anyone involved does feel this way realize that Zombi came into my radar with this description. And in a way I hate to say that this band sounds like Rush because I can just imagine the image that conjures up for people who haven’t heard them. But rest assured, this is not some lame, wannabe type of cover band. Zombi do pay homage to Rush but they have carved out their own identity with at times a style similar to the Canadian greats, an aspect of progressive rock blended in, and of course the aforementioned horror soundtrack motif. This is Zombi. I didn’t realize how talented they were until seeing them live. Without a doubt drummer A.E. Paterra listens to and reveres Neil Pert. And incidentally I’m really happy that I’ve been seeing a lot of talented musicians at this conference. Paterra is a great drummer who is deliberate and calculated. I get the sense that all too often there are adequate drummers who can’t wait to dump fills into a song or explode with some rapid beat-mania. Not in Paterra’s case however. His reserve and timing speaks volumes.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
While you are waiting for the results of SxSW 2007 to come in . . .
Why wait? Well, since we can't render the future I decided to share my thoughts about the 2006 SxSW. Written last year but here it is for the first time in public for your perusal.
The Sharp Things
Friend's Place - Friday, March 10, 2006
Hey! You got your chamber music in my pop tunes! Hey! You got your pop tunes in my chamber music! Hey, this is pretty good!
My favorite indie rock performance of SxSW 2006 Beauty in the form of dulcet tones, mellifluous melodies, and heartwarming messages. These were the feelings and sounds that emanated from The Sharp Things. And taking a (primal) intangible item from your heart, soul, and mind is the goal of any artist, intentional or not. Nevertheless The Sharp Things achieved this and they did so with great acumen. Expressing one's self may not necessarily be that hard but conveying your message to others especially those not familiar with your or the subject matter is the next level. And by this I mean there is an understanding. This appeals to most, hopefully. Getting there is an entirely different matter. And rarer still is that a musician goes beyond this level and reaches out and touches someone. Singing about your story is one thing, conveying the message is another. But getting someone to know, or better yet to feel what you feel is an incredible gift. And this gift is well represented by the members of The Sharp Things. Singer/songwriter/piano player/maestro Perry Serpa was very moving with his stories about being in love and some of the consequences involved. Throughout the performance he displayed his command of both bouncy melodies and strong grooves. Reinforced by a touching layer of sweetness from the string section (Janis Shen - violin, piano, backing vocals, Andrea Dovalle - violin, backing vocal, and Aisha Cohen - viola and lead vocals). This added a heartwarming quality to the presentation and brings about a hint of fond remembrances of days gone by. This element is quite apparent in "She Left With The Sun" and it was played this evening with grace and style. Lead guitarist Jim Santo presents his rock sensibilities with fitting leads (i.e. played very well and not too long), and riffs that are not rushed. Jim's the kind of guitarist who will play the carry the melody and then while the h"), he thinks about it for a few moments, and then carries on. Guitarist Michelle Caputo is this support and she also strummed her way into the intro of a song or two. Jim and Michelle played off each other well as they traded off complementary riffs. Sharp Things regular Bradley Madsen and occasional guest Pierre de Gaillande provided the muscle punch horn section with the greatest of ease. And the ensemble is completed by the rhythm section. Steve Gonzalez on drums and Rich Holst on bass. Steve is a great, solid drummer and this night was a good showcase for his talent. His beats are steady and he knows when not to overperform, meaning he has the reserve and ability of an accomplished drummer with a lot of experience under his belt. He could have put a lot of extra fills in some songs but he knows that it was not necessary for what The Sharp Things were doing. Sometimes it takes more talent not to do so. He is an excellent time keeper and he keeps the band in balance. Rich rounds out things with steady plucking and fills in the low end with his rock and funk influenced flair.
Additional heartwarming
Besides the show review I'd like to share some feelings about The Sharp Things. There are qualities in this band that speak directly to me. And seeing this band live makes me happy. I've seen almost all of their New York shows in the past couple of years. And during that time I've gone through some ups and downs as many do. And on any of the occasions where I've been down they've always managed to lift my spirits no matter how down I was and so I want to say, thanks Sharp Things, this is very much appreciated.
The Sharp Things
Friend's Place - Friday, March 10, 2006
Hey! You got your chamber music in my pop tunes! Hey! You got your pop tunes in my chamber music! Hey, this is pretty good!
My favorite indie rock performance of SxSW 2006 Beauty in the form of dulcet tones, mellifluous melodies, and heartwarming messages. These were the feelings and sounds that emanated from The Sharp Things. And taking a (primal) intangible item from your heart, soul, and mind is the goal of any artist, intentional or not. Nevertheless The Sharp Things achieved this and they did so with great acumen. Expressing one's self may not necessarily be that hard but conveying your message to others especially those not familiar with your or the subject matter is the next level. And by this I mean there is an understanding. This appeals to most, hopefully. Getting there is an entirely different matter. And rarer still is that a musician goes beyond this level and reaches out and touches someone. Singing about your story is one thing, conveying the message is another. But getting someone to know, or better yet to feel what you feel is an incredible gift. And this gift is well represented by the members of The Sharp Things. Singer/songwriter/piano player/maestro Perry Serpa was very moving with his stories about being in love and some of the consequences involved. Throughout the performance he displayed his command of both bouncy melodies and strong grooves. Reinforced by a touching layer of sweetness from the string section (Janis Shen - violin, piano, backing vocals, Andrea Dovalle - violin, backing vocal, and Aisha Cohen - viola and lead vocals). This added a heartwarming quality to the presentation and brings about a hint of fond remembrances of days gone by. This element is quite apparent in "She Left With The Sun" and it was played this evening with grace and style. Lead guitarist Jim Santo presents his rock sensibilities with fitting leads (i.e. played very well and not too long), and riffs that are not rushed. Jim's the kind of guitarist who will play the carry the melody and then while the h"), he thinks about it for a few moments, and then carries on. Guitarist Michelle Caputo is this support and she also strummed her way into the intro of a song or two. Jim and Michelle played off each other well as they traded off complementary riffs. Sharp Things regular Bradley Madsen and occasional guest Pierre de Gaillande provided the muscle punch horn section with the greatest of ease. And the ensemble is completed by the rhythm section. Steve Gonzalez on drums and Rich Holst on bass. Steve is a great, solid drummer and this night was a good showcase for his talent. His beats are steady and he knows when not to overperform, meaning he has the reserve and ability of an accomplished drummer with a lot of experience under his belt. He could have put a lot of extra fills in some songs but he knows that it was not necessary for what The Sharp Things were doing. Sometimes it takes more talent not to do so. He is an excellent time keeper and he keeps the band in balance. Rich rounds out things with steady plucking and fills in the low end with his rock and funk influenced flair.
Additional heartwarming
Besides the show review I'd like to share some feelings about The Sharp Things. There are qualities in this band that speak directly to me. And seeing this band live makes me happy. I've seen almost all of their New York shows in the past couple of years. And during that time I've gone through some ups and downs as many do. And on any of the occasions where I've been down they've always managed to lift my spirits no matter how down I was and so I want to say, thanks Sharp Things, this is very much appreciated.
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