Show Reviews

When Primus played, they were tight, if not as powerful or spacious as in past outings, but with the ambivalence or possible anger being displayed from one of the quirkiest front men in the business, I think it is safe too say that it was an off night for the group who ironically usually just Sucks!

The Answer are all about classic rock‘n’roll anthems.  Led Zeppelin, AC/DC & Thin Lizzy are all glaring apparent influences in their music. With the sudden influx of copyist artists around these days, it would be easy just to dismiss the band as another here today gone tomorrow fad, like our British friends The Darkness.

Medeski, Scofield, Martin, and Wood, kicked off their night of funked out jazz at Northampton's Calvin Theater, it was obvious to everyone in the house that gimmicks and stage antics weren’t on the agenda. Instead, quality musicianship was the quartet’s goal, and world-class technique was what they came to deliver.

CMJ (NYC’s annual music fest) came in like a lion, roared like a lion and left like – yup, you got it – a lion. The whirlwind of fantastic jams set the foundation for the Wednesday night show at Bowery Ballroom. Chock Full O’ Bands that are in various stages of their journey on a streetcar named fame, there was a bevy of talent packing the house for seven hours of music. While tag wearing hipsters skedaddled about the city, your faithful narrator got a spot on the ballroom floor and has a review of each of these acts presented here, because all are worthy of praise and your attention:

Steel Train’s set at Cambridge Mass’ TT the Bears Place on the Friday of Halloween weekend was not only the conclusion of their recent trek across the States, but their last performance with drummer Matthias Gruber. The atmosphere around the venue was laid back as fans and performers alike watched the last few innings of Game 7 of the World Series while the opening act, House of Fools, did their thing.

Seeing as the venue was right across the street from the place where Paul Revere got the memo before taking his famous ride, the sextet’s front-man, Colin Meloy, even made a point to comment on the fact that their pre-civil war surroundings were probably built by “enslaved Nubian units.”

During his 20-song set at Foellinger Auditorium on the campus of the University of Illinois, Jeff Tweedy appeared happy and willing to go along with the hooting and hollering of obscure requests of college kids enjoying their Halloween weekend. In other words, he’s come a long way from the panicked and uptight figure that had to seek medical help in the past.

Charlie Hunter and his latest Trio brought the rock star flavor back to jazz in Richmond the other night. Despite a particularly vicious bout with tendonitis, Hunter displayed no signs of discomfort. It wasn’t until after completing the two sets of music that Hunter applied ice to his invisible wound, enjoying Black Sabbath’s "Sweet Leaf" over the speakers.

If you are a fan of Citizen Cope’s music, and don’t require more than an artist to run flawlessly through their catalogue, Citizen Cope may be exactly the show for you. If you want to see an artist that will challenge, engage, or even simply entertain you, think about buying his admittedly good CDs.

The Iceland Airwaves festival is a unique thing. Take SXSW, keep the sunshine but transfer all that heat to the ground where it comes up in massive hot pools of swirling steam and add a larger selection of emerging European bands.

Despite the show’s technical shortcomings, Joseph Arthur proved to be a true professional, giving his all to a small crowd on a Friday night. Lets hope he receives bigger crowds soon – his oversized talent deserves it.

These Raconteurs have a story to tell; they are one of the most exciting, tightest bands playing today, and put on one of the best shows of the year.

TV on the Radio successfully transferred their studio-oriented material over to the live spectrum, although the group has become the indie scene’s new “flavor of the month” and the degree to which their new place under the spotlight will last, has yet to be determined.

The Secret Machines effectively took the spectacle of arena-rock and scaled it down for the size of a club, as their “In The Round” tour blasted through Boston’s Avalon Ballroom.

Was Baltimore worthy to host the first American incarnation of the Virgin Festival this year? Will it be the city-of-choice for next year or will Virgin CEO Richard Branson move the music festival to another American city? Who the hell knows, but despite seriously steep ticket prices, the Baltimore version was highly entertaining.

What happens when great jambands break apart or lose a key player? The Everyone Orchestra happens, and that's the exact void they filled on their recent Northeast fall tour.

Although Harvey Danger is still in their

Pual Smith's energy is almost unparalleled by anyone I’ve witnessed onstage before.

While some in the audience soaked it up as simple giddy fun, others were clearly annoyed by Jet's lack of showmanship and overall mediocre playing. All classic rock clichés came out, as did a few lighters during “Look What You’ve Done.”

Tool’s sold out performance at the Tweeter Center was an apocalyptic sing-along that had to be seen to be believed. Maynard James Keenan and Co. started off the night’s first act with “Stinkfist,” the opener off 1996's Aenima. Early on, Maynard was lacking the explosion of energy he’s known for, and stood still. In keeping with his reclusive tendencies, as soon as the photographers ceased shooting, Maynard kicked it up a notch and exhibited the fierce stage presence fans were used to expecting from their favorite messianic front-man.