Tomorrow: Tennis @ Grog Shop

Tennis is coming to town tomorrow night at the Grog Shop ($10/$12).  Bright, smart and sunny pop.  I bet these guys will be great.  More details over at the Grog Shop site.

I bet these guys had so much fun filming this video…

Heartless Bastards Album Review

Very well said by I Rock Cleveland - the place to go for spot-on album reviews.

THE ROCKOMETER: ARROW BY HEARTLESS BASTARDS

"Not to be outdone by that other throwback rock band birthed in the Buckeye State, Erika Wennerstrom and the Heartless Bastards have put together the kind of cohesive, all-purpose rock album in Arrows  that’s rarely heard these days.  Whether they’re playing back room blues, a honky-tonk shuffle, or a boogie inspired by Marc Bolan and T Rex, Wennerstrom’s voice and her bandmates accompaniments are up to the task."

(Continued... I Rock Cleveland | Indie Rock, College Rock, Alt Rock, Modern Rock, Cleveland Rock, and Rock)

I've loved Heartless Bastards since I saw them live back July 2010.  And now with an excellent new album out, I'm hoping for another go-round.

Video Tuesday

Here's a pretty chill group of songs & videos for this late-February week.  Starting off with my favorite genre - a travel video! The Head and the Heart once again makes me want to go on our with a band with their video for Down in the Valley.  Next up is the video for Crystalfilm by Little Dragon - a little bit weird, but what I would hope.  Finally, a spawn of Cut Copy, Ben Browning is branching out on his own with I Can't Stay.  But make sure you stay for the bonus below…  (seriously)

When I say to watch this video, I mean go full-screen *watch* it.  It's stunning.  I have no idea who Cold Specks are, but I'm just about to find out.

Article: Katy Perry Shows How The Problem With The Major Labels Is Economics, Not Piracy

Probably the only way you'll see Katy Perry mentioned on this blog. ;-)

Katy Perry Shows How The Problem With The Major Labels Is Economics, Not Piracy | Techdirt

"once again, the "problem" has nothing to do with the "music industry" failing... or even that musicians aren't able to make money any more. It's all about the bad economics of the record labels. They set themselves up to fail this way, focusing solely on that one slice of the pie, and not moving very quickly to adapt when the market shifts. Instead, they seem to have kept up the inefficiencies associated with making such a "hit" album, without figuring out a way to profit from the results. "

(Continued... Katy Perry Shows How The Problem With The Major Labels Is Economics, Not Piracy | Techdirt)

Video "Tuesday"

Not a huge MIA fan, but I'm digging this bad-ass video for Bad Girls.  Though Fallout by Neon Indian is pretty bad-ass too.  I'm just left speechless by the Miike Snow's WTF video for Paddling Out

Blind Pilot (2/9/12)

Now I see why kingofthecastle7 so emphatically recommended Blind Pilot.  What they're not is edgy, political or hipster.  What they are is mature, sincere and romantic - a nice change once in a while.  I've talked about bands that have a hard time crossing that threshold of a great show without prior knowledge of their songs.  Blind Pilot did a great job on that scale, and going forward I have an even stronger connection with the music after such a great show.

To describe their music, I'm going to defer to the more eloquent laudromatinee.com:  "Most Blind Pilot songs start softly – acoustic picking, Israel Nebeker’s easy, endearing vocals, a toe-tapping rhythm – and casually build to a gentle chug, like a dependable train pushing across the immense, American landscape. Soon come the full band harmonies belted out soulfully but not showily. It’s from-the-heart music meant to love on first listen and for faraway, changing times." (Continued... Video Session: Blind Pilot : LaundroMatinee) Exactly.

Here's a sampling of some of my favorite songs… of course you can watch the entire show over at kingofthecastle7.

Here are the rest of the photos:

Tomorrow: Defend Music Night!

It's a big night for live music in Cleveland tomorrow night.  Details from irockcleveland.com and cleveland.com down below.  More details here: https://www.facebook.com/CleveMusicClubCoalition

I Rock Cleveland | Indie Rock, College Rock, Alt Rock, Modern Rock, Cleveland Rock, and Rock

"Still, the issue is far from settled, and that’s why ten of the member clubs in The Cleveland Music Club Coalition have banded together to host an event they are calling Defend Music Night.  Taking place this Friday, Defend Music Night will not only give you the opportunity to rock out at venues like The Happy Dog, Beachland, Brother’s Lounge, and Now That’s Class, but also give you the knowledge needed to become a part of the cause.

Defend Music Night: Friday, February 10th:

Beachland: Outlaws I&I, We the People, GS Harper
Brothers Lounge: Reese Daily, Justin Gorski
Garage Bar: Restless Habs, Drunken Bishops
Happy Dog: Herzog, Bill Fox
The Harp: Brent Kirby
Now That’s Class: Woolen Kits, Puffy Areolas, Smooth Brain
Prosperity Social Club: Martini Five-O
Peabody’s: Tenafly Vipers, Not So Good Ol’ Boys, Jason Charles Miller, Scattered Heart
Roc Bar: Patrenzo, Kennedy & Keilyn, Veeno, Treazon, Dasanto, Soul Kryziz, Zup
Rockstar: Snipez, JMO"

(Continued... I Rock Cleveland | Indie Rock, College Rock, Alt Rock, Modern Rock, Cleveland Rock, and Rock)

Cleveland music clubs rally against city tax | cleveland.com

"We want to put the spotlight on the threat that the admissions tax poses to local clubs and the musicians," said Sean Watterson, owner of the West Side's Happy Dog. "We want more venues to open. It allows creative musicians to play here instead of moving to New York or Nashville or Chicago or Los Angeles."

(Continued... Cleveland music clubs rally against city tax | cleveland.com)

Tomorrow: Blind Pilot @ Beachland Ballroom

Tomorrow's Blind Pilot show comes *highly* recommended by kingofthecastle7.  I mean like, he lit up telling me about them.  I think this show would have caught my attention anyway - but it's always great to have a personal recommendation… and I'd hope so, as that's the entire point of this blog.  Beachland Ballroom / 8:30 / $15  (The Barr Brothers opening - nice stuff as well!)

Check out an official, and a live video - for the full spectrum.

Video Tuesday

After blowing through 10 concert reviews straight, I don't feel so bad about being a day behind here.  Feels *so* good to be caught up - and just in time for some more shows this weekend!  Until then - here's some great stuff.  I've really been digging the new Class Actress stuff and here's a mediocre video for Bienvenue (the song makes up for it).  Next up is First Aid Kit with Emmlou.  Finally, Justice with a sweet tits video for On'n'On.  …and a bonus.

Walls' Into Our Mist - a sweet "how it's made" video.

Estelle (2/2/12)

I've been digging Estelle's American Boy (w/ Kanye West) for *years*.  Since then, she's dropped a couple singles, but not much since.  I was thrilled to see she was coming to Cleveland - and that it would be in the smaller Cambridge Room at the House of Blues.  After a bite to eat at Chinato before-hand (mmmm), we showed up ready to dance.

We caught the end of Luke James set and his big single, I Want You.  Man has got a voice (and a body & smile to match).  Impressive.  We settled in with drinks and waited with anticipation.  From the moment she was announced, I immediately realized how lame the crowd was going to be.  I'm talking - barely clapping.  Then once the music started no one barely moved a hip!!  I'm used to this at these indie rock shows, but this R&B / Rap show was even worse!  I was stunned.  Just stunned.

Luckily, equally as stunning was Estelle.  She had a swagger and confidence about her that matched her talents.  I have to give her credit for working that crowd as best she could - lesser artists would have given up.  She provided a full night of great songs, a few covers, and insight that left any conscious person wanting more.  The juxtaposition of that crowd to her performance was just amazing.

Also working against her was this seemingly self-proclaimed MC, someone from one of the local radio stations I believe who kept cutting in on her.  I really have never been more embarrassed of Cleveland as a audience than I was at this show.  At the same time, Estelle has solidified herself as one of my top favorite female performers after being able to shine through that debacle.  I just hope she hasn't given up on us.

I did catch a clip of American Boy (interrupted of course):