January 12, 2011 | Posted by admin
I think Everest had us all buzzing last night. We probably dropped a dozen names of bands that it reminded us of throughout the show. I can understand why they are signed to a label with Neil Young. I can hear and see the similarities in sound and guitar playing style in the band. The leads are tasteful and really pack a punch without any flash added to the playing style. Certain parts had me thinking of young’s 1 note solo in Cinnamon Girl, Everest’s guitar player really crammed a lot of feeling into some simple chord based leads. Now I have to go out and find some of these guys so I can get my ears wet before I see them again.
Seems they are going to take up a month long residence at the Casbah for half of February and March. Every Tuesday for 4 weeks. Maybe we’ll have to take another Tuesday night off from our favorite episodes of Chopped and head downtown.
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January 10, 2011 | Posted by admin
A welcome treat at the Belly last night. We walked in to the Slackers already on the stage last night. Who knew they would be prompt? So glad we did not dilly dally anymore at the crib. The band was quite pleased with the enthusiastic crowd. For a Sunday night North County should be proud, the crowd was drinking and dancing in true rude boy style. There where some pretty hammered folks at the Belly last night. Funny how different the Ska and Reggae crowds can be when the music styles are so similar. No puffs of smoke from the center of the floor last night, but plenty of raised beers and flying cans.
I have been a fan of the Slackers for quite awhile. I had never gotten a chance to see them before and after last night I am kind of kicking myself. if you want to dance, dance, dance, the Slackers provide. The band moves seamlessly from song to song in their set. Don’t let the name fool ya. This band is totally polished and the sets and stage show are tight. A great cover of Sam Cooke’s “Cupid” rounded out an exiting hour and a half with the Slacks. Hope to see them soon, and with the amount of people at the belly last night, I think it won’t be long.
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November 10, 2010 | Posted by admin
Dr. Dog brought the the same little, big show to the Belly Up that they had at High Sierra. Not a lot of acts come through BUT with their own light show. Talk about worth it…OK I will. The show just seemed a lot bigger than it was and the band was a little more interesting to watch, plus who doesn’t love the disco ball lit up at the Belly. I am still only about 7-8 songs deep tin the Dr Dog catalog, but I like where I am so far. The three piece vocal comes across great from the stage. Blending a mix of pure pop vocals over music that is not pop at all in my ears. The twin leads and runs in the songs seems to be somewhat of a signature to the bands sound, plus they pack a singing bass player which is always a rare treat. Look forward to getting in to some more from these guys. Here’s one for you to try out.
Unbearable Why
They offer a bunch of tracks for you to peruse and download here.
http://d.drdogmusic.com/?page_id=9
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November 5, 2010 | Posted by admin
The chicken or the egg could be easier to solve in my circle of friends. Last nights show @ RIMAC seemed to confuse a bunch of folks who thought Massive might open for TC. I don’t see how it’s confusing, Massive is the bigger act in the overall scheme,but I am a music geek and could rank bands like fantasy football players if I had enough time.
Who do you think should have taken the stage first? If I gauged it on the audience from last night Thievery was the clear winner. More energy and interaction with the crowd. The temporary floor above the court was moving. Both acts had fantastic light shows. Massive had one that was a bit more elaborate with a series of LCD panels that constantly played pop culture references and ran like a political ticker at times. Unfortunately they waited to long to dig out some hits and the room got roomier after every song.
TC just rocked from song to song. They could have played in the dark and it would not have mattered. I don’t think they should have been the headliner on paper, but they sure acted like one on stage.
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November 2, 2010 | Posted by admin
In what is close to a decades worth of time now, hearing a Billy Joel song on the radio is a rare treat. Every time one comes on now I think “man, haven’t heard this in a while.” Now I can remember a time when I could not swing a dead cat without hearing a Billy or a Bruce tune. This is not at all a post about B&B or dead cats for that matter. My point is why can’t radio give me a variety of songs from an artist, not just a song each from a variety of artists. There are bands that I will be forever scarred by and songs that I never want to hear due to the FM stations of my youth wearing them the F@#$ out, (sorry Boston, Doors, Supertramp, etc).
There have been countless times where I flip the station and the voice in my head says, “Ahhhhhhhhhhhh Ahhhhhhhh Ahhhhhhhhhhh!” So I thought I could take this as initiative to reply to the things I hear on the radio and use this subject as an ongoing theme….
Today it was “Statesboro Blues” by the Allman Brothers. If it’s not this tune then we usually hear one of several others. One Way Out. Ramblin Man, Mellissa. So let me suggest a few others that fit in to the same amount of time so they are radio friendly and might open up a persons eyes to how much good material lies beneath the safety net of the hits.
Here are a few tunes that would make my day if I heard them on the radio.
Come And Go Blues
Stand Back
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October 28, 2010 | Posted by admin
Awesome Show last night. The GORILLAZ were able to take everything they have put on wax and turn it into a powerful, working live band. At times there were upwards of 25 people on the stage. 7 piece horn section, 4 background singers, 2 drummers and more. Kudos to the crowd for not bringing any weak A$$ game to the show. They were on their feet all night and giving up the love to a group of musical geniuses. The video screen that runs in synch with the entire stage show was pretty bada$$. My view from the side was a little awkward, but it kept my attention the whole time. Here’s the set..
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Orchestral Intro
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Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach
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Last Living Souls (with Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
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19/2000 (with Rosie Wilson)
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Stylo (with Bobby Womack)
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On Melancholy Hill
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Superfast Jellyfish (with De La Soul)
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Tomorrow Comes Today
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Empire Ants (with Little Dragon)
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Broken (with Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
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Dirty Harry (with Bootie Brown)
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El Mañana
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White Flag (with Bashy) (with Kano)
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To Binge (with Little Dragon)
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DARE (with Rosie Wilson)
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Plastic Beach
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Encore:
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Cloud of Unknowing (with Bobby Womack)
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Feel Good Inc. (with De La Soul)
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Clint Eastwood (with Bashy) (with Kano)
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Don’t Get Lost In Heaven
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Demon Days
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White Light
Hip-hop, funk, reggae, rock and World Music fuel Gorillaz, whose current touring lineup features two former members of English punk-rock icons The Clash — guitarist Mick Jones and bassist Paul Simonon — along with American R&B legend Bobby Womack.
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October 27, 2010 | Posted by admin
Here’s some great ear candy for ya. Fitz and the Tantrums brings the soul back, front and from both sides. Sounds like 60’s Motown with Daryl Hall singing. The horns are irresistible and I can’t be responsible if you throw your back out shaking your ass. Really looking forward to catching this band in the flesh. Hoping that the Belly Up will catch on to this act, they are from the LA area so we should be able to get a bunch of them. Give this stuff a listen, it will pick up your whole day. Then go buy the album.
http://fitzandthetantrums.com/music/
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http://www.myspace.com/fitzandthetantrums
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October 22, 2010 | Posted by admin
here’s an update about the last Ra Ra show
http://theyknowstuff.com/?p=647
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October 21, 2010 | Posted by admin
photo by Chris Owyoung
Very classic sounding rock and roll. Wide reverberated guitars and driving beats have me tapping my foot along to music that I don’t know. Some really great instrumentation. Not a bad warm up for my Ra Ra Riot show tonight, I even get a little Fanfarlo feel as well. Think it’s the way the music swells up and down. This band is out of Cumberland MI. I’m giving this another spin as soon as I am done here. Here’s a little description that they give.
Comprised of one voice, two guitars, bass, organ, and drums, the band utilizes a full range of dynamics, swelling from sparse to full, as directed by the mood of the song. All this provides a lush background for Stollsteimer’s reverberating voice. Inspired by a classic era of music, the Hounds Below have an innovative sound–think Roy Orbison meets The Velvet Underground. Whether live or recorded, their alluring melodies will captivate and haunt all who listen.
http://thehoundsbelow.bandcamp.com/
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October 20, 2010 | Posted by admin
My ears feel beautiful this morning, my head not so much, but my ears yes. RRR came out to a very receptive crowd last night that was there for the music. I say that because the bars always seemed empty throughout the night. Don’t know if it was the school night thing or that hipsters are generally poor and save all their money up to see buzzbands in person. Anyway….
I really got what I was hoping for last night. The set was upbeat and energetic. The interplay of the bass, cello and violin is kind of hypnotic. You can separate all the pieces in your head and get a sense of how all the little parts make up the full bass and melody that these three provide. I brought a few folks who felt a little “meh” about the show/sound, but I guess that’s what makes the world go round.
Very pumped that Ra Ra Riot will be at the Belly Up tomorrow. (10/20/10) Just got their newest release the other day so I’m looking forward to hearing the new tunes live. They gave us a great show at the last Street Scene and I’m expecting nothing less this time around. A young band riding a little buzz around the country,… sounds like a good time. If you are free tomorrow they are worth the $15.00. See you there!
Dying Is Fine
http://www.myspace.com/rarariot
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