Hidden Track Staff

We’d like to welcome Ryan Holiday to the staff. Take it away, Ryan…

When pundits make their annual “most important albums everyone should own” lists, classics such as Blood On The Tracks, The White Album, Exile on Main Street and even Nevermind are mainstays. It’s not hard to ignore these albums. Between selling millions of copies and constant exposure, most of us have been hit over the head a thousand times with them. The artists who made them have the type of recognition most of us musicians crave.

I’ve often wondered what it would feel like to a write a brilliant piece of music, only to see it fall into obscurity. To me, Talk Talk’s albums Spirit Of Eden and Laughing Stock are prime examples.

Lead by singer Mark Hollis, Talk Talk enjoyed hits like It’s My Life and Life Is What You Make It during the 1980s. In the US they were cast off as one-hit-wonders; that was solidified with No Doubt’s awful re-make. But because of those hits they were able to create two of the most wonderful post-rock albums ever in Spirit Of Eden and Laughing Stock. I discovered both albums in a used CD bin. Having been on a new wave kick at the time, I took a chance, thinking that the discs would sound like the electro-pop that made Talk Talk. I was astounded to find much, much more. Talk Talk had transformed themselves from a Duran Duran clone to an experimental, progressive, organic, art-rock band. READ ON for more…

We’d like to welcome back Alex of Hipster Resistance to tell us all about the Blues & Lasers show at Sullivan Hall with the help of Rachel Balik…

The combination of Gregg Allman’s improved health, The Allman Brothers 40th anniversary and the Phish and the Dead reunions is creating a perfect storm for an American rock and roll revival. Blues music is a key component to rock and is finally getting the recognition it deserves here in NYC. As the Allman Brothers 40th anniversary is shaking the foundation of American pop culture, bands like Blues and Lasers are catching a ride of the wave of good music, as evidenced by their post-show performance.

Blues and Lasers are made up partially of the backing band behind Grace Potter, in Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and consist of GPN lead guitarist Scott Tournet, Benny Yurco on lead and rhythm guitar, Matt Burr and Steve Sharron on drums and their new Bass player, John Rogone. Rogone is a Vermont area session musician that replaced former Blues and Lasers Bassists Bryan Dondero who first stepped down from Blues and Lasers and in just the past week Grace Potter and the Nocturnals as well. Dondero leaving GPN resulted in the last three shows of their tour being cancelled. Despite this fact I was told at the concert that the split was “very happy” and there are no hard feelings, that Bryan is multi-talented and has chosen to go work in the engineering and producing side of music. This good natured sentiment is also reflected on a statement released on the GPN website.

READ ON for more from Alex and Rachel on Blues & Lasers…

Our friend Mike Sherry attended last Saturday’s Oddity Faire date in Los Angeles and has filed this report complete with his amazing photos…

[All Words and Photos by Mike Sherry]

LA’s Wiltern Theatre, an art deco icon preserved & updated for rock shows, made a perfect venue to play host to the Oddity Faire, Les Claypool’s winter tour with a rotating cast of ‘odd’ supporting acts. This stop featured Saul Williams, Yard Dogs Road Show and locally-based Mutaytor, as well as between-set carnival acts and stilt-walkers roving the lobby.

The Yard Dogs feature former Frog Brigade guitarist Enor alongside a formidable ensemble of musical & dance talent. The live band adds to the delivery as the charades range through bizarre, comic and burlesque. This made for a natural pairing with The Mutaytor, another troupe fusing unique talents into a collective artistic force. While the Yard Dogs dazzled with sword-swallowing & feather dancing, Mutaytor thrilled with high-flying acrobatics, fire spinning/hooping and a just-as-sexy brand of Drop the Laundry. Oingo Boingo bassist Johnny Avila rocks deep grooves throughout as a trio of kit drummers, more percussionists, guitar & horn section are augmented by smartly sequenced electronica. Did I mention they hail from Burning Man?

Over three hours into the night the main event commences, and all the previous pomp is replaced by a simple stage riser for drummer Paulo Baldi and percussionist Mike Dillon, a chair for cellist Sam Bass (all three sporting identical fright masks) and a microphone set. After a short vamp Les comes out to join the three, his mood hard to gauge initially from beneath the Clockwork mask, but pretty quick the sure thump on the strings through Rumble of the Diesel predicted a solid set.

READ ON for more of Mike’s review and his incredible photography…