Monday, December 23, 2013

Cleveland Scene Sold

For those of you who use Cleveland Scene for your concert updates (in addition to TZA, of course)… no need to worry, the Cleveland Scene is staying put!

Scene logo web

Cleveland Scene Sold! (We're Not Going Anywhere!) | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog | Cleveland Scene

Euclid Media Group, a newly formed company led by Scene publisher Chris Keating, San Antonio Current publisher Michael Wagner, and Clevelander Andrew Zelman, completed the purchase of Scene.

It's all good news: Your paper is now locally owned, we're not going anywhere, and the ownership group is committed to building on Scene's strong tradition in Cleveland that dates back to 1970.

(Continued… )

Friday, December 20, 2013

Video Friday

A Video Friday! Starting off with CHVRCHES’ Lies.  Next up, I can’t say that the new Sky Ferreira video is all that good, but it’s a great song.  Phantogram has a new video for Black Out Days.

Friday Bonus:  “The British producer Jon Hopkins released the conceptual dance album Immunity earlier this year, and now director Tom Haines has effectively translated that album’s aesthetic into the music-video form. Watch the video below.” (Jon Hopkins – “Collider” Video - Stereogum)

I'll Be Opting Out of the Lighthouse & the Whaler Grog Shop Christmas Show Tonight

[UPDATE]  I heard from Lighthouse & the Whaler on this post, clarifying some points that were not as clearly expressed in the article as they should have been.  I’m thankful that they reached out and clarified this show as not being exclusively religious, and it’s focus to be around giving and love.  Can’t argue with that…  I’ll try to attend this show tonight if I can.

I have to say, a night of Christmas music by some up and coming (and great) local bands sounded like a lot of fun and I put it on my calendar to go - until I read this article on cleveland.com.  

"Not just any Christmas songs, though. You won't hear any 'Jingle Bells' or 'Frosty the Snowman' tunes here.

'It will be also traditional songs that involve the biblical version of Christmas,' says LoPresti. 'We [performers] all have the same beliefs on Christmas, we were brought up to believe in the Bible story, and it's important for us to stay true to it.'

So I guess it’s that, paired with:

Instead of just lamenting the loss of attention to the season's religious roots, they booked a concert to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas

I think today there is plenty of meaning and value in Christmas that is not religious… I believe that if you’re not a Christian - that you can still enjoy and rejoice in the Holidays - but these attempts to reclaim “true” meaning of Christmas by reducing and eliminating non-Christian expressions of the holiday feels exclusionary and uncomfortable.  I’ll pass on this show.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Video Tuesday

 Have I got a backlog of videos for you!  Let’s get started… Bombay Bicycle Club have fun with animation and stop motion with their new video for Carry Me. The Arcade Fire explore the Afterlife in their new video.  Lindi Ortega has a new video for Tin Angel

Then here’s the beginning of some Holiday bonuses.  This one… Erasure saves Christmas (but also makes it a little creepy) with Make it Wonderful.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Article: Dear Ticketmaster

I can agree… but there is comfort & nostalgia in something that’s not constantly changing.

Dear Ticketmaster, — This Could be Better — Medium

"Why bother with paper tickets when we can just download it to our phone or print it out at home? There’s still something special about the traditional paper ticket. An inkjet print of your favorite band or the World Series ticket from your favorite baseball team will not outlast the durability of a wash-proof-thermal-based-paper ticket. Not everyone has a smartphone and paper tickets don’t run out of batteries."

(Continued... Dear Ticketmaster, — This Could be Better — Medium)

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Austin Craig / Allison Weiss (12/14/13)

The Beachland Tavern wasn’t my primary stop for the night, as I had other plans later, but I wanted to stop and catch Austin Craig. I saw him open for Joe Pug in Akron and thought he’d be a great performer for another house concert!  We’ve been talking and it’s sounding promising (details to come).  He was the first of 3 acts, of what looked like it was going to be a long night.  Austin’s voice is amazing and I really like his songwriting.  He’s only been at this a couple years, and I can’t wait to see what he does with his talent.

Austin Craig (12/14/13)

I zoned out for P.J. Bond, but sounded good enough.  Allison Weiss was next and she caught my attention.  Super voice and very engaging and polished, which felt surprising for her perceived young age.  Turns out she’s got quite a few albums out.  She was balancing between pop punk and acoustic sounds that night with no drummer - and it worked.  Even the Katy Perry covers.

Allison Weiss (12/14/13)

She was unfortunately my last band for the night and I missed headliner Austin Lucas.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Justin Timberlake (12/12/13)

Going to this show wasn’t originally my idea.  I was someone’s accompaniment - but I’m so glad I was.  The show started off a little slow for me, with the horn-tinged angle he started with - but it wasn’t long before the lasers came out.  With a 3 hour show, you really get some time to play around and experiment, which is one of the things I loved about this show.  The stage and lighting was fantastic as well!  The Cleveland.com review is below.

 

Justin Timberlake (12/12/13)

Justin Timberlake Displays Depth at Quicken Loans Arena | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog | Cleveland Scene

"Yet despite the occasional misstep, Timberlake reinforced his pop star supremacy in myriad ways. As a vocalist, he was on point, especially while crooning on ‘That Girl’ and during a well-received cover of Michael Jackson's ‘Human Nature.’ From a dancing standpoint, the show was also a treat. Timberlake effortlessly controls his body—he often looked like he was shuffling on a bed of ice, it was so smooth, and his synchronized moves remain untouchable in their precision—while at other times, he sparred like a lightweight boxer or looked like a flirty robot. While not overly chatty, he also connected with the crowd in several notable ways, from leading a birthday sing-along to a 6-year-old boy wearing a suit to cracking himself up by baiting the crowd with the first part of the Ohio State ‘O-H!’ chant. (Yes, he got an exuberant ‘I-O!’ reaction every time.)"

(Continued... Justin Timberlake Displays Depth at Quicken Loans Arena | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog | Cleveland Scene)

Diego Garcia (12/10/13)

The new Diego Garcia album was a slow-grower for me, which tempered my excitement for his return to the Beachland - but I have to say, I was quickly reminded why I liked him so much down in Akron last time!  J.A. Beltram opened, who I’d seen before as a member of goodmorning valentine, but he was all the more earnest as a solo performer.

J.A. Beltram (12/10/13)

Diego Garcia brought some amazing backup musicians with him, to which he gave them ample stage time to show off their skills - particularly the guitarist, who has some wicked Spanish guitar solos.  Stunning stuff, and once again Diego proves himself worthy of a dedicated and engaged audience.  Things started off slow, but by the end of the night we were all up and dancing (it was a seated show).  If only my video had come out…

Diego Garcia (12/10/13)

Article: Why don’t we listen to full albums anymore?

While I collect albums, and often - eventually - listen to all tracks on an album, I’ll admit that I rarely *listen* to an entire album in sequence.  I like to think it’s because I’m “more broad than deep" when it comes to experiencing music.  I’m always listening to new stuff.  Always.  But I still don’t want the art of the album to die…

Lefsetz Letter » Blog Archive » Why don’t we listen to full albums anymore?

"And then the Internet comes along and blows it all to pieces.

You used to look forward to the new releases, you wanted to hear what your favorite acts had to say. Other than some squibs in print, you were completely clueless as to what they were up to. But today, no one ever really goes away. They’re available on Facebook, Twitter, even Instagram! Never mind their Websites, which are a cornucopia of information.

After buying your favorite new release, or catalog album, you played it. You paid for it. You had an investment. And no one likes to be a poor investor. You never hear anybody boasting of their losses in Vegas, their lousy stock picks. No, you have to prove to yourself that you made a good decision. So you scoured the album looking for that which hooked you. It sometimes took two or three plays, but by then there was a track that pricked your ears, made you smile, you started playing that side again and again. And when you knew it well, then you flipped over the LP or cassette to learn the other. And when the band came to town, you went. It was cheap. Way under ten bucks. And you were in nirvana as they played your favorite songs. And you knew you had to go to every show, because most of the new album would never be played live again."

(Continued... Lefsetz Letter » Blog Archive » Why don’t we listen to full albums anymore?)

A New Dr. Dog Oh My Christmas Tree EP

I find these guys so charming, and this only helps.  Listen below for a fun little Christmas EP.  Buy it on iTunes and all proceeds go to charity - I think.

Stream Dr. Dog Oh My Christmas Tree EP - Stereogum

"All the songs have a certain corniness about them, as is required of most Christmas songs, especially ‘I Believe In Santa Claus,’ calling for revival of Santa believers everywhere. It’s a good addition to the growing indie-Christmas genre sprouting up. Listen to the Oh My Christmas Tree EP below."

(Continued... Stream Dr. Dog Oh My Christmas Tree EP - Stereogum)

Here’s the official announcement.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Tomorrow: Diego Garcia @ Beachland Tavern

I saw Diego Garcia on a whim back in April last year in Akron and was really glad I did.  While he promised Akron would be his first stop on this tour (I don’t think it was) I’m glad he’s performing a bit closer to home this time.  If you like light latin-tinged pop music, you should check this show out… even if you don’t.  More details from cleveland.com below.

NewImage

Diego Garcia: Former Elefant frontman brings Latin-flavored modern folk to Beachland on Tuesday, Dec. 10 | cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Music is a multidimensional medium, and different dimensions take the lead in different genres.

For Diego Garcia, it’s all about the story.

‘I was heavily influenced by the Beatles,’’ said Garcia, the Detroit-born son of Argentine immigrants. ‘Paul McCartney was a fantastic storyteller, from ‘Fool on the Hill’ to ‘Eleanor Rigby.’’

Garcia, who grew up in Florida, also has a lot of his ‘roots’’ in his music.

‘In my house, growing up in Florida in an immigrant household, your parents will overcompensate for the fact that they’re raising their family in a foreign country,’’ he said. Music was playing all the time in the Garcia household, and it was Robert Carlos from Brazil, Raphael from Spain.

‘What those guys carried was that they were great storytellers, and they were very dramatic in a way that only a man who’s had his heart broken could be,’’ said Garcia, who plays Beachland Ballroom's Tavern on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

The interesting part is that Garcia cut his teeth as frontman for Elefant, a punk-influenced modern rock band, and now has segued into an extremely melodic, lush, Latin sound as solo artist."

(Continued... Diego Garcia: Former Elefant frontman brings Latin-flavored modern folk to Beachland on Tuesday, Dec. 10 | cleveland.com)

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (12/4/13)

I’m as surprised as you are that I’m writing about this show.  This was a surprise performance (to me) after having dinner at Ray’s in Kent.  We stopped down and were able to pop our heads in the Kent Stage for some of their Christmas performance.  I haven’t really listened to these guys since the 90’s - but I can attest that they can rock out some good Christmas jingles.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (12/4/13)

Frontier Ruckus (12/3/13)

I’ve seen Frontier Ruckus several times now - all good.  Tonight was a typical night for them, which is about all that I can say… I’m not sure if their allure is wearing off for me or what, but it was just good.  Opening was Carrie Ryan, who at first I struggled with her voice not hitting the notes, but could appreciate what she was trying to do.  Next was Shivering Timbers, who always put on a great show and are headliners in their own right.

Carrie Ryan (12/3/13)

Shivering Timbers (12/3/13)

Frontier Ruckus (12/3/13)

Joseph Arthur (11/27/13)

Finally!  A show at the venerable (and not quite as tacky as I was expecting) Tangier in Akron!  Leading up to this show I went through a crash course in recent Joseph Arthur releases and really enjoyed what I heard.  He was also great in concert, with Mike Mills from REM joining him. I think this night was also the official announcement of his new band:  Joseph Arthur & the New Professionals!  I was also surprised to see him painting on stage - but it was a nice touch.  Overall, a great night of live music - he’s definitely of troubadour status.  I’ll definitely keep an eye on him (and the Tangier!).

Joseph Arthur (11/27/13)

Joseph Arthur (11/27/13)

Joseph Arthur (11/27/13)

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Free De Lux EP!

Here’s a fun little EP to jam to - and it’s totally free!

LA's De Lux Announces Debut EP for Scion AV, Download Now

"De Lux presents a new five-song EP on Scion AV that is now available as a free download. Combining post-disco and post-punk, this young Los Angeles duo have come together to make some excellent some clanging/banging jams on their debut. Sean Guerin and Isaac Franco play all the instruments in the groove-heavy band, creating an auspicious sound that looks forward even as it makes the most of the past.

This EP is De Lux’s debut release and in early 2014 they will put out their first full-length on the mighty Innovative Leisure label. Physical copies of the EP will be available on CD and vinyl on December 10, but for now you can bump it in digital form. Consider this is a preview of the great things that are sure to come."

(Continued... LA's De Lux Announces Debut EP for Scion AV, Download Now)

Article: Coventry Club Expands Musical Offerings

More venue updates!

Bside

"Coventry club expands musical offerings with open-mic nights by James Henke

The B-Side Liquor Lounge and Arcade, the Coventry Road club located under the Grog Shop, has long been associated with the most current musical trends. In recent years it has primarily focused on presenting deejays, who offer up electronic dance music. However, this past July, the club introduced ‘Mic-aroni,’ an open-mic night where almost anyone can perform. As a result, B-Side patrons can now hear a wide range of music styles and artists."

(Continued... Coventry club expands musical offerings with open-mic nights - The Heights Observer)

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Tomorrow: Joseph Arthur @ Tangiers

omg…  I have been waiting for a reason to experience what is the truth to my perceived tackiness of Tangiers in Akron.  I don’t know why - but this place has always mystified me.  Tomorrow’s show with Joseph Arthur is the perfect  reason.  I’ve only recognized his name before, but with some investigation I’m really enjoying what I’m hearing from this Akron native.  Here are two videos, with the song on the second being my favorite of his (so far).  I think this is going to be a great way to kick off Thanksgiving.

Video Tuesday

Have I mentioned how much I love Austra?? Here’s a new (NSFW) video for Forgive Me. Next up is a new Wampire video for The Hearse that channels 80’s B-horror movie kitsch.  Finally, David Bowie offers up a visually intriguing video for James Murphy’s remix of Love is Lost (love the digital effects, and love the music!)

Bonus: Cleveland's own Machine Gun Kelly shows us his acting chops in a not-so-bad video for Swing Life Away.

Pink (11/23/13)

I was pretty excited to see Pink.  I’d been hearing a lot about her live shows, and apparently I wasn’t the only one because this stop at Quicken Loans Arena was sold out (and prices weren’t cheap!).  Opening was The Kin, of who we caught the last song (which was enough).  Pink’s show was quite sexual, and very acrobatic.  But you can’t deny that she is a true performer - and you can’t help but like her.  Would I pay $80 to see her again - I’d really have to think about it.  But to say I’ve seen her, I’m satisfied.

Pink (11/23/13)

Pink (11/23/13)

 More details, and better photos here:

More Daredevil Than Diva, Pink Shows Off Her Acrobatic Side at the Q | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog | Cleveland Scene

"Even at his best, high-flying David Lee Roth, a guy whose exuberant leaps and splits made him one of rock ‘s best front men when he was with Van Halen, couldn’t compare with the kind of performance Pink put on last night at Quicken Loans Arena. Showing off her abs of steel and rock hard body, the muscular singer took a page out of Roth’s playbook at one point as she strutted across the multi-tiered stage in brightly colored high tops. But she took things to another level altogether as she performed the kind of acrobatic feats usually reserved for Cirque du Soleil productions. Even Madonna couldn’t compete with the elaborate stage show that Pink brought to town. This was an arena rock show that hearkened back to the arena rock's glory days."

(Continued... More Daredevil Than Diva, Pink Shows Off Her Acrobatic Side at the Q | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog | Cleveland Scene)

Afterward we headed over to Bounce for a performance by RuPaul’s own Latrice Royale (and more dancing!)

Latrice Royale

Get On UP / kallocain (11/22/13)

I can’t imagine a more disparate night of musical experiences - so I’m purposely grouping them.  In looking for something to do Friday night, I stumbled up on this DJ event over on the West Side called kallocain.  Knowing that was going to start late, we decided to meet some friends over at Brothers Lounge to catch Get on UP who “is Akron’s new Funk Authority playing all 70’s and 80’s funk covers."  It was… interesting.  I was reminded who cool of a venue that Brothers Lounge can be - and I was surprised at how full it was for this band!  If only the Beachland could get crowds like this for some of their amazing, original music.

Get On UP (11/22/13)

Next we headed over to the DJ event.  Here’s the lineup for this “night of dystopian sound + vision” - which was presented by the Bent Crayon:

regis - downwards - uk veronica vasicka - minimal wave - nyc talker/stave - downwards/fss - chi prostitutes - mira/diagonal - cle visuals: jeremy bible - experimedia

I have no idea which DJ’s we saw - but I can say it was an awesome night of non-stop dancing on some west side warehouse / studio.

kallocain (11/22/13)

Friday, November 22, 2013

Article: How Music Affects and Benefits Your Brain

What does your music say about you?  This and some more fun tidbits through the link below.

How Music Affects and Benefits Your Brain

"Here is the break-down of how the different genres correspond to our personality, according to a study conducted at Heriot-Watt University:P

  • Blues fans have high self-esteem, are creative, outgoing, gentle, and at easeP 
  • Jazz fans have high self-esteem, are creative, outgoing, and at easeP 
  • Classical music fans have high self-esteem, are creative, introverts, and at easeP 
  • Rap fans have high self-esteem and are outgoingP 
  • Opera fans have high self-esteem, are creative, and gentleP 
  • Country and western fans are hardworking and outgoingP 
  • Reggae fans have high self-esteem, are creative, not hardworking, outgoing, gentle, and at easeP 
  • Dance fans are creative and outgoing but not gentleP 
  • Indie fans have low self-esteem, are creative, not hard working, and not gentleP 
  • Bollywood fans are creative and outgoingP 
  • Rock/heavy metal fans have low self-esteem, are creative, not hard-working, not outgoing, gentle, and at easeP 
  • Chart pop fans have high self-esteem, are hardworking, outgoing, and gentle, but are not creative and not at easeP 
  • Soul fans have high self-esteem, are creative, outgoing, gentle, and at easeP "

(Continued... How Music Affects and Benefits Your Brain)

Cat Power (11/20/13)

Terrible.  Disrespectful.  I didn’t even bother with a photo… Since we paid $25, we stayed through most of the show, but I’m thoroughly disappointed.  I don’t know how the Scene could put a positive spin on this show, but they lose a few creed points with this.

Cat Power gives erratic, informal performance at Grog Shop | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog | Cleveland Scene

"Despite the delayed start of the show, which ultimately began three hours after the originally scheduled time, the patient crowd warmly welcomed her to the stage. She picked up her electric guitar, and the red flannel-clad songstress opened the show with a bluesy number interrupted by her simultaneously thanking and apologizing to the crowd. This informal atmosphere set the course for the first hour and a half set of the night (she was supposed to play two separate shows but the late start meant that the early show simply segued into the late show)."

(Continued... Cat Power gives erratic, informal performance at Grog Shop | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog | Cleveland Scene)

Chicago Tribune stated it more accurately: 

Cat Power at Old Town review - chicagotribune.com

"What would you do if you were 45 minutes late for an important appointment featuring you as the star attraction? Saunter in without a word? Offer no apologies to the people waiting? Proceed to be both boring and pretentious? If so, you would be imitating the Cat Power and Nico Turner show at the Old Town School of Folk Music on Thursday night.

But it wasn't the lateness of these artists that was the worst aspect of this first of two shows of the evening. It was the lameness. The show began with an enervating opening set from Turner, who strolled onstage and proceeded to prove that anyone with a notable haircut, several incessantly picked guitar chords, maxed-out reverb and breathy vocals can now land a primo gig. This was paint-by-numbers hipster shtick."

(Continued... Cat Power at Old Town review - chicagotribune.com)

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Video Tuesday

NEW BLOOD ORANGE (!!) with Time Will Tell.  Cat le Bon with an incredibly charming and gorgeous video for Are You With Me Now? Next is Califone’s Frosted Tips (a bit NSFW). 

Bonus: MGMT’s Alien Days video is just odd… but I have to respect these guys for it.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

David Dondero (11/16/13)

A surprise (to me) performance by David Dondero at Mahall’s 20 Lanes last night.  I need to start watching that venue’s concert list better… I wish they had a mailing list or RSS Feed or something.  Luckily my Saturday night was free, so I made a night out of getting there early to try out their food / bar service before going over to the show - which I highly recommend doing (especially the bar chips!).

Opening was Tiger and Boy, a local boy/girl folk duo (these are getting popular).  They were trying out some new stuff and had some stumbles, but for the most part they sounded pretty good! They performed some great covers of Iron & Wine and Tegan and Sara.

Tiger and Boy (11/16/13)

Nicky English was up next and was highly recommend by kingofthecastle7. He was a little hokey on stage, but sounded great.  I’m not sure what that electric, steel, acoustic guitar thing was - was when paired with a bass and a violin - produced a great blend of throwback pop/rock with some folk elements.

Nicky English (11/16/13)

The audience was a little light on this Saturday night (maybe that mailing list or RSS feed would help!) :-) but David Donder wasn’t going to bother taking a big empty stage.  As I was sitting there playing on my phone waiting for him to begin - I start to notice music coming from the back of the room.  I thought it was just some people playing around, but then realized he was just set up in back performing behind a covered up pool table.  Once we got rid of the group of loud-talking people who couldn’t comprehend that the show was moved back by them - it was a GREAT move.  No amplification, just a charming David Dondero playing for us and telling us stories.  I continue to be captivated by his songwriting.

David Dondero (11/16/13)

Saturday, November 16, 2013

New Relelase: Blood Orange - Cupid Deluxe

I’ve been crushing on Blood Orange (Dev Hynes) for a while now, since discovering him on the Pitchfork Lineup earlier this year.  I’ve since fallen in love with everything he touches (just about).  His new Cupid Deluxe album is out now and he got some ink in the New York Times!

NewImage

Dev Hynes Releases ‘Cupid Deluxe’ - NYTimes.com

"The latest, ‘Cupid Deluxe,’ is out on Tuesday from Domino Records. It was four years in the making, as Mr. Hynes compiled material without thinking much about where it would end up. ‘Usually, I just write songs and think, ‘This will be a cool song for someone to sing,’ and then either it gets rejected, or everyone forgets about it,’ he said. ‘I get my own leftovers.’

An electronica-tinged hybrid that moves seamlessly from R&B to jazz, hip-hop and new wave, it includes collaborations with vocalists like David Longstreth of Dirty Projectors, Caroline Polachek of Chairlift, and the rapper Clams Casino, all taped within two months. ‘It was a very different album in my mind before I recorded Caroline’s song,’ the lead single ‘Chamakay,’ Mr. Hynes said. ‘I’d always wanted to do some kind of weird album that’s more in the vein of a Massive Attack kind of feel. It gave me the confidence to actually execute that. I wrote a little bit more and dug deeper into my hard drive.’"

(Continued... Dev Hynes Releases ‘Cupid Deluxe’ - NYTimes.com)

Ivan & Aloysha (11/14/13)

Ivan & Aloysha had 2 openers, with neither of them being a local band (check out videos from all of the bands).  The first opener, The Falls are from Sydney Australia and the woman was incredibly sweet and sincere - which really endeared me to them.  A little slow of a start, but I was thoroughly enjoying them by the end of their set. 

The Falls (11/14/13)

It’s not unusual for the crowd to hang towards the back for the first act… that didn’t change for when Matrimony took the stage.  The second boy/girl duo of the night, he admitted his wife had… bronchitis? so he would be singing with a friend instead (assuming he’s usually part of the band).  The two of them were *awesome*, and quite cute!  I think they should ditch the wife and go on as a duo!  ;-)  Some mad guitar and banjo skills there.

Matrimony (11/14/13)

Finally Ivan & Aloysha took the stage, and the crowd continued to hang back.  Usually by this point in the night, one of the bands awkwardly asks the audience to move up and they usually do this night.  Ivan & Aloysha cleared out the stage, and for good reason - those boys owned that stage, aggressively going through their highly energetic set.  Their enthusiasm was a little hokey at times, but they sounded great.  Oddly, the crowd could’t have been more sedate.  There wasn’t even an attempt at an encore.  Fail Cleveland.

Ivan & Aloysha (11/14/13)

Dr. Dog / Fly Golden Eagle (11/11/13)

When checking out this show, I think I spent more time checking out the opener, Fly Golden Eagle than I spent with the new Dr. Dog album.  Both are great, but I was finding myself thrilled with Fly Golden Eagle’s sound. Live, they were just as good with this great psychedelic 60’s rock sound to them.  I was hoping to score some vinyl from them, but all I got was a CDR burn of their album for $8.  I’ll take it.

Fly Golden Eagle (11/11/13)

I guess I wasn’t expecting to have Dr. Dog draw that much of a crowd… the show had to be sold out.  For good reason, these guys are just great.  But as much as I like their music, there’s something about a packed-house full of people that keeps me from truly enjoying the show.  I would have loved to catch these guys a couple years ago…  If you can stand a crowd, I’d still recommend you see them live.

Dr. Dog (11/11/13)

Dr. Dog (11/11/13)

Friday, November 15, 2013

Video Friday

Cut Copy wants you to Free Your Mind. Pet Shop Boys want you to stay for the Weekend with Thursday. Moderat compliments a great bass line with line drawings, outlining their vision for Bad Kingdom.  

Bonus: Katy B is back, with a new video for 5am.

Tomorrow: David Dondero at Mahall's

David Dondero will coming back to Cleveland (Lakewood) tomorrow night! He’ll be at Mahall’s 20 Lanes, $10.  Check out the new album he just posted on Bandcamp:

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Free Albums! Brett Detar & Matthew Mayfield

I just got my new NoiseTrade email in my inbox and there’s some amazing free stuff there you should check out…  Remember I just saw Brett Detar at the Beachland.  Here’s his album for free:

You can also download *everything* by Matthew Mayfield.  I’ve been enjoying his latest album, but unfortunately missed him this past Sept. at Beachland.  I will be grabbing this.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Tomorrow: Ivan & Alyosha @ Beachland Tavern

Check out videos from the 3 bands who’ll be at the Beachland Tavern tomorrow night!  $10…

Video Tuesday-ish

Lovers with a great video for Tiger Square (!!).  Next, Albert Hammond Jr. gets sexy for St. Justice.  Rounding out with a joyful video by Islands for Wave Forms.

Bonus: A little bit of ridiculousness with Cazwell who has no selfie control.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Joe Pug (11/10/13)

Last night’s show was at Musica down in Akron.  It’s really a great venue, lots of seats, great sound… if only you know when to actually show up for a show!  So many times I’ve missed openers because this place starts so EARLY - but for a “road trip” show, I don’t actually mind it.  We were prepared this time and got there around 7:45, and the show promptly started shortly after that.  I’m SO glad it worked out because we caught local performer Austin Craig who was ah-mazing.  Folky singer-songwriter, with an old-soul feel about his music.  He reminds me a lot of Tom Evanchuck, and like Tom, I’d love to see if I can get Austin to do a house concert.

Austin Craig (11/10/13)

When I first checked this show out, I immediately looked up opener Sera Cahoone and she sold me on this show right away.  Her new album on Sub Pop records is really amazing, extremely well produced.  Live, she was a little simpler with just her and a pedal steel guitar with her - but her songs still shined through.  Good stuff.

Sera Cahoone (11/10/13)

The last time I saw Joe, I couldn’t say enough good things about him.  This time, he was definitely high energy and fun on stage, but I can’t say that I was all that enthralled.  In fact, I hadn’t really been spending much time with his latest album all that much.  He’s a mighty-fine performer, but I can say for this show that it was the openers who made it for me.

Joe Pug (11/10/13)

Ha Ha Tonka / Samantha Crain (11/9/13)

I’ve been flirting with actually, legitimately seeing Ha Ha Tonka in concert for years.  I caught a bit of them in 2008 when catching Birdmonster at The Spot.  I also left before they played at the Beachland Tavern in 2009 (by no fault of their own).  Their recorded stuff has been good, but it wasn’t until this last album that I really took notice - it’s GREAT!  Couple that with them performing with Samantha Crain, who I’ve also been liking (but have never seen) at a show in the Tavern side of the Beachland - SOLD.  It was a well attended night too - so I wasn’t the only one who thought so.

Opening was The Brothers Kaschak, who were a (rough around the edges) version of Avett Brothers meets Mumford & Sons.  I’d see them again though.

The Brothers Kaschak (11/9/13)

Samantha Crain was smart, funny, and man can that woman sing!!  She has a voice that was just meant to be heard… 

Samantha Crain (11/9/13)

Ha Ha Tonka was charming, upbeat and lots of fun! Check them out…

Ha Ha Tonka (11/9/13)

Holy Ghost! (11/7/13)

I’ve  been thrilled with the new Holy Ghost! record… it’s pop / disco deliciousness.  Everyone I play it for also comments on how good it is… If you haven’t checked it out yet - you should.  When I saw they were on tour again, and missing Cleveland this time, I quickly scrambled to see which other city I could catch them in. I settled on Columbus, which was also my first time seeing a show at the A&R Bar.  I was also able to collect a group of friends to join me down there!  Overall another great night with friends & music.  The venue experience was MUCH better than Wampire at Double Happiness!  The A&R Bar reminded me a lot like the Grog Shop. Holy Ghost! did what they do best and made us dance!  I probably didn’t choose the best song to record, probably because I was too busy dancing to the other ones… :-)

Holy Ghost! (11/7/13)

Holy Ghost! (11/7/13)

Lindi Ortega / Brett Detar - (10/30/13)

Lindi Ortega came with a really strong recommendation from a friend I could trust.  I’m so glad I went (and love recommendations btw!).  Opening was the crooning Brett Detar (swoon).  

 

Brett Detar (10/30/13)

Lindi had such an incredibly powerful voice, and was just a pleasure to watch on stage.  Going back and listening to her past 3 albums, I wonder how she even slipped past my radar!  I will definitely be the one making recommendations for her show next time.

Lindi Ortega (10/30/13)

Saturday: Queer Music Conference at Case Western Reserve University

FYI.

'Queer music' conference at Case looks at cultural impact of the medium | cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Music is so much more than words set to a collection of sounds in varying pitches and tempos.

Music is that place where you can find refuge from your hurts, revel in your joys and learn how to express your own loves or hates. It can speak out against social injustice, rally the troops, soothe a troubled mind or simply get your feet moving.

For some, music is how we define ourselves to the world. I’m country; she’s Goth. He’s hip-hop; that cat’s jazz. That dude’s a rocker; the chick over there is electronica.

But really, genre is irrelevant. Music at its root is what gives us context.

And that’s sort of the theme behind Case Western Reserve University’s ‘Music Department Colloquia: Queer Popular Music – A Conference.’ The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at CWRU’s Harkness Chapel.

(Continued... 'Queer music' conference at Case looks at cultural impact of the medium | cleveland.com)

Sunday, November 10, 2013

of Montreal (10/29/13)

I think of Montreal is a really odd band, and one that’s hard for me to understand.  Maybe it just takes drugs.  But just like the last time I saw them, they bring really good openers with them on tour.  La Luz opened and were a great surf-tinged girl group.  For of Montreal - it’s one of those rare shows where you can see a perfectly clean-cut suburban dude walking into a venue with a horse head mask stuffed in his back pocket.  The show is trippy, and doesn’t fall very high on the DAKS scale…  but if I got to know these songs, and imbibed a lot more, I might be carrying my own horse head next time.

of Montreal (10/29/13)

of Montreal (10/29/13)

And definitely want to give a shout out to DJ Party Sweat and B-Rock putting on a rocking set in the Tavern before and after the show.  Superb.

B-Rock and Party Sweat DJ's

Mike Mangione / Carlos Jones (10/27/13)

I *really* wanted to go see Jacco Gardner again on this same night at the Happy Dog - but I just *knew* it would be too late of a show for a Sunday night.  I was right - he didn’t get on stage until after MIDNIGHT.  WTF…  

I digress… instead, we had an amazing night at the Barking Spider Tavern!  Got there for the early show to see Mike Mangione.  I saw him back in 2011 at Wilberts, which was a fun show.  I was excited to see what he’d do at the Spider.  It ended up being a solo show with us and his kids.  :-)  He’s definitely talented (and has some cute kids).  

Mike Mangione (10/27/13)

Luckily people started rolling in later, which as it turns out was for Carlos Jones & the PLUS band - and ended up with a FULL HOUSE.  I hadn’t even looked as to who was going to be on next.  While I see their name all the time playing in the area - I’ve *never* seen them.  So glad that was rectified because the vibe in the Tavern for Carlos was ah-mazing.  All kinds of people, all kinds of dancing.  It was a little bit of magic - reggae style.

Carlos Jones and the Plus Band (10/27/13)

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Article: Mahall's is Rocking...

And while we’re on the venue kick. 

Mahall’s is rocking, giving Lakewood a big business boost - Cleveland Business News - Northeast Ohio and Cleveland - Crain's Cleveland Business By MICHELLE PARK LAZETTE 4:30 am, October 27, 2013

It's Saturday night on Madison Avenue in Lakewood, and people are bowling, drinking beer from Mason jars at one bar, listening to a free performance near another, ordering fried chicken and burgers from a counter and swaying to the pulsing performance of a band from Detroit.

And, all of them and all of it are under one roof at a place that has seen such a revival that one city official says this venue, which two years ago was a sleepy, underused bowling alley, is a big contributor to the ‘burgeoning renaissance’ of a city corridor.

Founded in 1924 and marked by an old bowling pin sign, Mahall's 20 Lanes faced its share of challenges in recent years. Ohio's indoor smoking ban caused a drop in business, and the Mahall family didn't have the capital necessary to make upgrades to draw a younger crowd while maintaining the roughly 25,000-square-foot building, said Rebecca V. Mahall, whose great-grandfather opened the business. "

(Continued... Mahall's is rocking, giving Lakewood a big business boost - Cleveland Business News - Northeast Ohio and Cleveland - Crain's Cleveland Business)

Basia Bulat on La Blogothèque

Just another reason to be smitten with Basia Bulat… looks like I’m not the only one.

 

Basia Bulat - Wires / City with no rivers - La Blogothèque

"A year and a half ago, fresh off of a relocation to New York City and an adventure in Reykjavik, Basia Bulat and I met up in a coffee shop in the East end of Toronto and plotted an adventure. We were meant to dig into the Scarborough Bluffs for a few hours, find some pretty spots and call it a day. 9 hours later, we regrouped at the Lakeview Diner and marveled at how excited we were about what had happened. It is impossible to spend any small amount of time with Basia and not fall in love. Even before you hear the inimitable, soul-stirring voice, that soundtrack to your next heartsick episode, you experience her warmth, her presence, her utter humility. Somewhere between an espresso and a beach comb, I fell deep for that amazing woman."

(Continued... Basia Bulat - Wires / City with no rivers - La Blogothèque)

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Video Tuesday

Here’s quite the array of music videos this week… beginning with Gay Goth Scene (an award winning video) by The Hidden Cameras.  Completely switching gears is the playful new song & video by Okkervil River for Stay Young.  Finally a whole new direction with JD Sampson & MEN who are Making Art - and who just announced dates at the Beachland on 1/29/14!

 

Bonus: A new Moonface video, which is… a whole 'nother story?

Monday, November 4, 2013

Article: Nighttown looks to expand its musical offerings

More cool venue news…  

Nighttown -- a jazz hotspot in Cleveland Heights with an international reputation -- looks to expand its musical offerings | cleveland.com

For almost two decades now, Nighttown — the restaurant located at the top of Cedar Hill in Cleveland Heights — has been Cleveland’s premier jazz venue. Over the years, the restaurant/club has presented such legendary jazz artists as McCoy Tyner, the Count Basie Orchestra, Ahmad Jamal and Hugh Masekela. And it’s always included in DownBeat magazine’s list of the top jazz clubs in America.

More recently, however, Nighttown has started to expand its musical offerings, presenting shows that feature cabaret, Broadway, folk, international and even classical music. ‘We’re trying to diversify the music programming and extend it beyond jazz,’ said Brendan Ring, owner of Nighttown. ‘If we had just left it alone, the crowd would be dead.’ He added that later this year, the restaurant may even present some electronic dance music shows, featuring deejays. ‘It’s what the young, hipster crowd wants to see,’ he said.

‘The programming at Nighttown is very dynamic, and it is changing in subtle ways,’ added Jim Wadsworth, owner of Jim Wadsworth Productions, who books the Nighttown shows. ‘We are not standing still by any measure. In the past two years, I have had many firsts at Nighttown, including jazz and tap dancing combined, opera singers and major pop acts with cover charges $50 and higher. We’re trying to be responsive to the community and give them what they want.’"

(Continued... Nighttown -- a jazz hotspot in Cleveland Heights with an international reputation -- looks to expand its musical offerings | cleveland.com)

Some Great Cleveland Club History!

Can’t say I’ll miss Peabody’s all that much - as it was in it’s current form… but I do love getting schooled on how bad ass this town is… (and was!)

NewImage

Cleveland music club Peabody's to close on Tuesday: A look back at this and other beloved clubs | cleveland.com

"For decades, music fans the world over have mythologized Cleveland clubs such as Pirate’s Cove or Piccadilly Inn or Viking Saloon. They are regarded as the cradles of punk rock for playing host to some punk’s earliest shows – before even CBGB, the Manhattan club that is the subject of a new film. Man, that’s when it all started.

Well, that is if you weren’t around at La Cave.

From 1962 to 1969, the club – 10615 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland -- played host to countless acts, including Simon and Garfunkel, the Velvet Underground, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane and Neil Young.

In 2010, La Cave had a reunion thrown to celebrate its memory. Its legend continues to live on with stellar bootlegs of the Velvet Underground that were recorded there from ’68.

Man, La Cave is where it all started.

Well, that is if you weren’t at Leo’s Casino."

(Continued... Cleveland music club Peabody's to close on Tuesday: A look back at this and other beloved clubs | cleveland.com)

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

New Amy Ray Country Album!

I have so much respect for Amy Ray as a musician and an activist… I’m thrilled with this:

Indigo Girls' Amy Ray cuts country album

"Goodnight Tender, out Jan. 28 on Daemon Records, is the result of 10 years of writing songs separate from her work with her folk duo with Emily Saliers, or her other solo recordings, which lean toward a highly politicized style of rock and punk. With its 11 originals and one cover, Goodnight Tender draws on roots ranging from Hank Williams and George Jones to the Carter Family and the Stanley Brothers, with a little Southern rock and Americana mixed in for good measure.

Ray says the material differs from her other work at a fundamental level of storytelling and subject matter.

'I've lived in a rural area for about 20 years now, and it has definitely affected my writing a lot, because I'm around a lot of bluegrass musicians all the time,' she says. 'On this record, I really tried to make it storytelling, and not gender-specific or sexuality-specific. When I do my rock and punk solo stuff, it's very driven by a politicized, rebellious idea about gender fluidity, sexuality and human rights. It's an arena, for me, that's very strident.

'Country music is such a populist music. Sometimes you just want it to be the story you're going to tell the guy sitting next to you at the diner who is a member of the NRA and voted a straight-ticket Republican, and you're this left-wing, queer, aging dyke, and you have this thing in common. I love that! That's where I live.'"

(Continued... Indigo Girls' Amy Ray cuts country album)

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Seafair (10/26/13)

There was a lot going on in this city last night… The Shining Music Festival wasn’t originally on my dance card, but some friends were nice enough to give me an extra ticket, so I squeezed in a Seafair performance!  Well, actually I caught the end of Welshly Arms - who was really good!!  I’ve since scoured their web presence and followed everything I could.  Why haven’t I heard of these guys before?  Solid blues rock.

I finally got to see a proper Seafair performance.  Sure they were dressed up in a Snoopy theme, but that was only a plus.  I saw them at the last Brite Winter Festival, so seeing them on a full stage was a treat. They put on a great show, and any band with both a violin and a cello is a winner in my book!  

Seafair (10/26/13)

Of course the other star for the night was this Ohio City Masonic Auditorium venue!

Seafair (10/26/13)

Tonight! Jacco Gardner @ Happy Dog

Show is not until 9pm - and there are two openers - so tonight won’t be for the faint of heart…  But if you’re willing to stay up this late on a Sunday night, it will totally be worth your time.  Here’s a new video…

Here’s a clip from the last time I saw him

Those Darlins (10/22/13)

I’ve missed seeing Those Darlins at the Beachland like 3 times now, and with a brand new album out I was glad I was finally able to catch them!  We got there early to make a night of it, meaning we also caught both openers: Filmstrip and Gambles.  Filmstrip was fine.  During the Gambles performance I felt a little held hostage, because he basically sang from the floor and constantly walked and up to every single person!  Weird.  It was refreshing when Those Darlins finally took the stage.  I was not expecting the powerful little package that is their lead singer!  Adorbs. Their sound packed a punch, with their “country punk” sound.  I’d totally see them again.

Those Darlins (10/22/13)