Whether Boris Garcia’s band name is an albatross is officially a moot point with Today We Sail. This recording is the work of a band well grounded in their roots and fully into the process of transcending them.
You may have wondered what became of the former Rolling Stones bassist since he left the group in the mid 90’s. This five cd set will give you a partial answer; it contains all four Rhythm Kings releases he recorded from 1998 to 2001, including a double album. Taken as a whole, these discs cut through a wide swath of musical genres.
The trio of Dan McCurry, Nick Jenkins and Ash Hopkins comprise the Charleston, South Carolina group Run Dan Run and their newest album Normal is a slice of danceable white indie rock. Songs run long with hazy/lazy intros each containing a light airy vibe even when the lyrics border on vengeful.
Five bands, one ticket price: Now that is the way to enjoy a Friday night; especially in today’s messed-up economy. And on this night a quinary of bands from the harder-rocking sector of music came out to play for a house full of fans, young and old. It is always good to see music not having an age limit and I’d like to think when I am 60, bands will still lure me into the bowels of a mosh pit. As Todd Kerns told me last year, "we are just now experiencing our rock & roll idols growing older, and as they age so does the majority of their long-time fans. And those fans are the ones bringing not only their children but their grandchildren to concerts now. With this kind of die-hard loyalty, rock & roll will never die."
Now that the whirlwind in recent years that has been the film (Once), the band (The Swell Season) and an award (Oscar for “Falling Slowly”) has concluded, singer Marketa Irglova has branched out on her own. The personal relationship with Glen Hansard now off in the distance but the professional one still ongoing, Irglova has finally gotten around to recording her debut solo album. And it is as haunting, brilliant and spine-tingling as anything she did before in the other group.
If you happen to be one of the lucky ones to have caught Furthur’s soon to be infamous NYE run there’s no doubt you’re still glowing. Over the course of three exceptionally played shows, Furthur fully took on the identity of a building oceanic ground swell. It was a true masterpiece in all aspects that not only sent a message to the greater jamband community, but respected and honored the storied tradition built by the one and only Grateful Dead.
Gov’t Mule concerts are always rife with surprises so why think the tenth anniversary of New Year’s celebrations at New York’s Beacon Theatre would be any different? Well, for one thing because the quartet had made only few select appearances in 2011–ABB’s Wanee festival and their own Mountain/Christmas Jams–as titular leader Warren Haynes spent the better part of his time touring with his own band in support of his Stax solo album Man in Motion.
Ken Will Morton is a singer songwriter from Georgia. To stand out in that crowded field one has to have the humility to sit back and let the song take center stage. Morton successfully walks the fine line between playing the music and letting the music play him on his latest disc, Contenders.
Don’t Know How to Party and Question the Answers were probably the high point of ska’s third wave. They mixed the fun and soul (something oddly missing with most third wave bands) with a hardcore edge and a dose of serious honesty. In a decade of ponderous self-consciousness the Bosstones were refreshing. However, if you want a rehash of “The Impression That I Get,” pick up a copy of one of the older albums. The Bosstones have grown.
Overall God Bless Ozzy Osbourne takes a little while to warm to, but the second half is well worth the wait. Jack says he wanted people to get to know the man from the documentary. He was primarily successful.
