Hard rock/alternative outfit Placebo have never been the kind of band to be easily described. And it's that intangible that fuels most of this latest output from the group, a live 'Battle For Brixton” show that is rarely relenting.
Michael Fitzpatrick and Noelle Scaggs front a dynamite collection of musicians who are crafting slick pop/soul for the masses and performing their hearts out on stage during shows like this, making catching them a must.
In an ingenious marriage of media in the Burlington Performing Arts Center’s cabaret, The Marco Benevento Trio played a set of original music in accompaniment to a screening of cult horror director Roger Corman’s House of Usher.
Rather than miss the mark with a couple of filler songs, she’s released an album teeming with unexceptional pieces that betray her strong hand at songwriting.
One of the most notable artists to come out of the 2010 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest was Minneapolis-based soul roots rocker Heatherlyn. Although she didn’t win the contest, she was voted into the Midwest Regional finals by popular vote so that has to count for something. And after taking a listen to her debut full-length release, Storydwelling, it is easy to understand why people like her so much.
However, even with the signs of wear, the spirited band and their energetic longtime local fans carried the day. The crowd remained enthusiastic and worked with the band to make the evening worthwhile.
The spirit of this dazzling performance lingered in the air long after Brownstein, Timony, Cole and Weiss exited the stage, leaving a sold-out crowd buzzing with an adrenaline rush that would continue long after they wandered out into the brisk Washington, D.C. evening.
Here, the Bottle Rockets pile into the Lucas School House, a former one-room building dating back to 1898 and strip the sound down to the bare essentials. The 13 tracks provided serve as a well-rounded and diverse sampling of the band’s excellent catalog, but prove even more memorable for the insights provided before, during, and after each performance.
Other cities have big festivals but New Orleans is New Orleans. “I don’t know what you’re stepping in when you’re down there on Bourbon Street,” joked Stone Foxes singer Aaron Mort, “but it’s been a fun time … And then the festival today was awesome."
As evidenced by the varied nature of the Nomad Series, the Cowboy Junkies do a lot of genres and styles well. For those that like the meandering whims and see-where-we-go improvisation of their stage dynamics, this album is made for you.
