When notorious front man Scott Weiland sang, “Pleased to meet you, nice to know me. What’s the message? Will ya show me?” near the end of their set in Biloxi, Mississippi, you knew you had just been eaten alive by a band that had been dead only a few years back
There is a collaborative, one for all spirit on Top Hat and if you like the new wave of Americana acts like Deer Tick and Dawes you will have a soft spot for Band of Heathens. Its not a perfect album, there are lulls in the generic country rock of opener “Medicine Man” and the blues bounce of “Enough” but it is abundantly clear this is a group of focused songwriters and tour hounds, a unit to be reckoned with. “Gris Gris Satchel” ends the album solemnly with each vocalist taking a turn on the slow cooking chorus. Feel this.
The electropunk gets shifted to overload with Parts & Labor’s newest release Constant Future. Out of the gate the first two tracks amp the art-rock keyboard blasts beyond the sonic limits, frying speakers with electricity overloads. “Fake Names” and “Outnumbered” are chaotic pieces that seem like a Technicolor installation, opening the ears for the catchier fare to follow.
Jay Brannan’s performance in San Francisco proved his worthiness among his folk contemporaries. He’s able to craft songs that engage the audience while still retaining a poetry that comes from a maturing artistry. Each of his shows in the city continue to sell out, indicating Brannan’s growing fanbase. With some careful editing and restraint on his new album, he could really rocket from low visibility to sought-after folk singer. T
Jason Robert Quever's friends and former teammate Beach House has made a massive splash with their version of modern dream pop and the genre continues to gain steam in the mainstream. While Fading Parade is artfully constructed its power does not last, literally wilting from a lack of punch as the album plays on as perfectly fine background music for a rainy day. This is lush vicodin pop but it’s a little gloomy, a little hollow.
With the passing of their father the Dickinson boys, Luther and Cody teamed back up with bassist Chris Chew and released this heartfelt collection of southern rock that they “Produced for Jim Dickinson”.
Greg Dulli is a very talented singer-songwriter. From his days in Afghan Whigs to his more recent collaboration with Mark Lanegan in The Gutter Twins, he has continued to make passionate, purposeful music. And Dynamite Steps, his latest offering under The Twilight Singers comes extremely close to matching the beauty of 2003’s Blackberry Belle.
Karl Denson and Public Enemy crushed the the 94 year old Ogden Theater with hours of thumpin' bass, funk and hip hop that forced even the most introverted members of the audience to shake a leg.It's just not that often you'll see a classic, dare I say iconic hip hop group on a double bill with a funk and jazz saxophonist/flutist and his band.
This Austin four piece has released its fourth full length self titled album and it opens with rising guitar lines and vocals just as high on “Angel-ess”. The group is fronted by twin brothers Nathan Campbell on vocals/guitar and Aaron Campbell on lead guitar; think of them as a humor removed Dean and Gene Ween.
Joined by daughter Lucy Wainwright Roche (an up-and-coming folk singer in her own right), Loudon Wainwright’s show at Freight & Salvage reminded audience young and old why he continues to be such a great entertainer and social commentator.
