Tommorrow: Blitzen Trapper @ Beachland & Music Saves!

A big show tomorrow, with Blitzen Trapper, Dawes and The Belle Brigade over at the Beachland Ballroom tomorrow night…  I guess it's a co-headliner with Dawes, but I think you can see where my alliances lie… and The Belle Brigade is nothing to sneeze at.  Also an AMAZING pre-show / in-store performance for Blitzen Trapper at Music Saves (@ 6:30pm)!!!!!

Check out a recent performance by Blitzen Trapper on Jimmy Fallon (not seriously, that's just the lingo)

Also on NPR:

Blitzen Trapper: At Home On The Highway : NPR

"October 20, 2011 Blitzen Trapper is duly renowned for its sense of adventure. The Portland, Ore., group is nominally a country or folk band, complete with the requisite drawl from singer Eric Earley, pedal-steel guitar and golden harmonies. But that twang is accompanied by spacey keyboards, prog-rock guitar solos and a healthy dose of experimentation. Since 2007's breakthrough Wild Mountain Nation, each Blitzen Trapper album has been exciting and surprising, even as the group has toned down some of its past eccentricities."

(Continued... Blitzen Trapper: At Home On The Highway : NPR)

More on Painted Palms

I knew I liked these guys for a reason.

Shows This Week!

Trying to break-up the once-a-month Month Highlights piece into weekly segments, in order to receive a better consistency of completion.  We'll see.  This week is an easy one…

Tuesday: Blitzen Trapper
The Beachland Ballroom /  $14 ~ $17
Looking forward to these guys coming back again.  Blitzen Trapper has a well reviewed new album with American Goldwing, and will put on a  great show, with the likes of Dawes and The Belle Brigade just confirming you should go early.

Fletcher by subpop

Wednesday: Dr. Dog
Beachland Ballroom / $16 ~ $18
Philadephia's "oddball pop" darlings, Dr. Dog will be performing with Quite Life and Wax Fang.  All these bands should make for a great indie pop-rock night.

Dr. Dog - Stranger by Dr Dog

Thursday: Cold War Kids (SOLD OUT)
Beachland Ballroom / sorry about your luck

Friday: Holy Ghost!
Grog Shop /  $12 ~ $14
Holy Ghost! is a great electronic duo out of NYC, making a name with some great remixes and went on to release a great full-length album.  Jessica 6 and their slick version of "nu-disco" should be a great elctro-dance warm-up act.

Holy Ghost! - Hold My Breath (Cosmic Kids Remix) by CosmicKidsHo

Saturday: The War on Drugs
Beachland Tavern / $10 ~ $12
The War on Drugs is a notable pop/rock band out of Philadelphia. You may remember them as the former home of Kurt Vile, but their new stuff is good and this should be a great show.  Purling Hiss & Carter Tanton are opening.

The War on Drugs - Baby Missiles by edin2sun

Future Islands / Javelin (10/27/11)

The Beachland has really been rocking the end of this October, with yet another great show. This time I was seeing Javelin & Future Islands, both are bands that I have seen before.  But opening first was Ed Schrader's Music Beat.  I know I've seen these guys before, probably as an opener I didn't write about.  However, they're worthy of a mention here, especially watching both guys from Future Islands and Javelin in the audience rocking' out to them.  Not sure how quite to describe them, other than experimental.  I'd totally see them again.

Javelin was next and they were SUPERB.  As good of a show as I've seen them perform (and I've seen them twice).  Super high energy, and the electronic drumming was just exhausting and thrilling to watch, all at the same time.  I'm a little pissed I didn't catch video of these guys, but definitely one of the best shows I've seen in a while.  (seriously low light and lots of movement on these pics)

Future Islands were just what I was expecting, again.  An incredibly intense, but enjoyable show.

Jess Klein (10/26/11)

Seeing Jess Klein was coming to town really took me back, all the way back to 2005 when I saw her the first time.  Sounded like a perfect show for a Wednesday night in Cleveland.  I bellied up to the bar early and ordered a quite-delicious burger from the Beachland.  Jess Klein took the stage and was a talented as I remember (and I'm sure more-so).  Such a great range of style, effortlessly switching from country/bluegrass sound to a sultry blues number.  I really got a Patty Griffin meets EmmyLou Harris vibe.

Take a listen (entire show over at kingofthecastle7):

Tom Freund was actually the headliner this night.  Good performance, but this night was really about Jess for me.

The Sounds (10/24/11)

The Limousines first focused my attention for this show, but quickly got excited about seeing The Sounds as well.  Once again I was surprised by a band that Clevelanders are excited about, who's been around a while (2003) and who I haven't heard about.  Though I guess it shouldn't be, and I'm thankful that's the case actually. It was a nice crowed for a mid-week electronica / dance pop show at the Beachland Ballroom.

Walked in for the last couple songs by The Limousines.  Unfortunately, because I liked what I heard during our entry, and trip to the bar for a beer.  By the time we got settled and I went to grab my camera, they were done.  Shit. Good stuff though!

The Sounds entered to the fanfare of a veteran band, that I guess they are.  Their performance kind of lent to that aesthetic as well though you could see it was worn.  Maja walked on stage, smoked a cigarette, and really tried to rile up the crowd.  Maybe it was late in the tour, or maybe it was just an off night for them, but it just kind of fell flat.  Their live show wasn't nearly as good as some of the gems on their recent release. I caught this little ditty and headed out soon after.

Out This Week: Deer Tick (LaundroMatinee)

Glad to be seeing some Deer Tick news, the most of exciting of which is their upcoming performance at The Happy Dog (seriously!?) on Saturday, December 3rd!  Also they have a new release Divine Providence that came out this past week (Oct. 25th.)

Video Tuesday

Starting off with Future Islands' Give Us the Wind - WHO can see at the Beachland Ballroom on Thursday!  Next up is Lord Huron and their amazing collage of vintage video for Mighty.  Next up is a new track by Chairlift, where I have to agree with thepointofeverything.com and have no words for it - but I like the song!

Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings (10/18/11)

Before this show, I would have really hesitated adding Dave Rawlings name to the title of this post.  Mostly because I've been such a fan of Gillian Welch over the years that I would hated to have her share co-billing with some guy who I didn't know.  But that's all changed.  While Gillian was great - David really stole the show for me, with his superb - and I mean like - middle of the song standing ovation, superb.

The sound was excellent. The new songs were excellent. My friend Tim pointed out that this were some of the best, pitch-perfect harmonies he's ever heard (and I would agree).  Throwing a mic on the ground to catch some stomping and body clapping on Six White Horses shows some of the dynamics they added to the relatively simple setup. The only drawbacks were that no photos could be taken, and the dumbasses who kept yelling out for a cover Long Black Veil (asses).  Gillian took it in stride with professionalism and humor, as a true performer with class would.  Overall = stunning.

I did grab one crappy iPhone photo though (breakin' the law!)

The Underground Railroad to Candyland (10/16/11)

The Underground Railroad to Candyland was not a band that I wasn't expecting to see on this night.  I was stopping up at the Beachland to grab some posters, knowing that the Screaming Females would be performing that night - but not quite sure if I would stay around to catch them (it was a Sunday night).  Well, I didn't - but I did stay long enough to really, really enjoy this band.  The hard-driving punk/pop sound of these guys were amazing.  Throw in some face paint, horns, and a cutie with butterfly wings and I'm sold.  I'd love to actually stay for a proper-show by them sometime.