Titus Andronicus at Coachella
Can’t catch Titus Andronicus live any time soon? Here’s the next best thing – their full set at Coachella.
Can’t git enough…Note about the video player – when you click the red arrow below, another page will launch with an annoying ad. Just close that window, come back here, and click the arrow again.
Recap: Titus Andronicus at the Rhythm Room
It was a modest but passionate crowd that showed up at the Rhythm Room Monday night for New Jersey’s Titus Andronicus. The passion manifested itself early, as the group launched into “No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future”. When the drums kicked in, the crowd near the front of the stage erupted in a mosh frenzy, knocking around and into us, and making it clear this was gonna be a high energy show.
Frontman Patrick Stickles commented often on the positive punk vibe, and he and his band did not let up for the next – I don’t know – 90 minutes? This was one of those shows where i was completely swallowed up in the spirit and energy, and didn’t check the clock – not even once. The music was explosive, angry, beautiful, and intense from start to finish. I was blown away.
The songs came primarily from their two studio releases – songs like “Four Score and Seven”, “Fear and Loathing in Mahwah, NJ”, “To Old Friends and New”, “The Battle of Hampton Roads” (a favorite), and of course “A More Perfect Union”. But they threw in a couple of punk covers: most notably “Racism Sucks”, a 7 Seconds song that was clearly directed at my state’s government – and rightly so. The second cover was UK punk band Sham 69’s “If the Kids Are United”, which they played for the encore .
Mucho props to guitarist/violinist Amy Klein, who is one of the rockin-est (for lack of a better term) female guitarists I’ve ever seen live. She adds a great dynamic to the band, and rocks out fiercely with her male bandmates. She made it a point to tell the crowd it was her favorite show of the tour so far. She had one hell of a cheering section in front of her… a lot of fun to see the give and take.
Titus Andronicus is live force right now. Yeah, they only have two studio albums to their name, and their band lineup is even more recent, together for just over a year. But as new as they are, they have something very cohesive and powerful. And that Patrick Stickles – the bearded, spirited front man with his primal growl… He’s laying it all out there – he’s hungry for it, and you can tell.
In the summer of 2000, I saw Philly band Marah play a small, sweat soaked club in Tempe. They were also touring behind their second album, and I came away completely transformed – just jaw-droppingly floored by their energy and their ability to take control of a room.
I had the same feeling last night when I walked out of the Rhythm Room. I made a beeline to the back door to shake Patrick’s hand and thank him for the show. Nights like this are few and far between…
See. This. Band. http://titusandronicus.net/tourdates
New Steve Earle Song: “Waitin’ On The Sky”
Crazy to think that it’s been almost four years since a new Steve Earle album. Can’t blame him really – the man’s a workaholic: poet, author, activist, actor, and then – oh yeah – that songwriting/music gig.
Steve’s been busy writing his first novel, I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive, and recording his new album of the same name. He mentioned in Rolling Stone recently that it’s “probably the countriest record I’ve done in a long time.”
Earlier today, Steve’s label, New West Records, came up with this cool offer for a free MP3 from the new record, and a PDF excerpt from his new novel. All you have to do is have a Facebook account and click to accept it.
The new tune sounds great – fresh and familiar at the same time. It’s that unmistakable Steve Earle vibe. Take a listen, then head over to download it.
By the way, another amazing album cover from Chicago artist Tony Fitzpatrick, who’s created every Steve Earle album cover since 1996’s I Feel Alright (he also did the cover for Yellow Moon by the Neville Brothers). His art makes me want to pick up all of these albums on vinyl. Beautiful work.
Steve Earle – “Waitin’ On The Sky”
PRE-ORDER: I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive (the album, out April 26) | I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive (the novel, out May 12)
Titus Andronicus!
Once in a while, a song comes along, lifts me up by the collar and slams me up against the wall. I had one of those moments with “A More Perfect Union,” the opener on the The Monitor, the latest record by New Jersey’s Titus Andronicus. The album/song start with a spoken word excerpt from an 1838 speech given by Abraham Lincoln – and when the guitars & drums crash in powerfully after the words “If destruction be our lot, we ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we will live forever, or die by suicide,” it’s off to the races.
The band clearly comes from the same school of raw, raucous power as the Clash, Bruce Springsteen, the Pogues, and the like. And singer Patrick Stickles has an irreverent, raging vocal delivery that reminds me of Conor Oberst – and I like Conor a lot when he’s pissed off.
The official video of “A More Perfect Union” skips the opening Lincoln intro, which is a shame, because it’s an integral piece of kicking the song into overdrive – from zero to sixty in a second. But you’ll get the vibe.
The Monitor comes highly recommended. Buy it for $5 on Amazon. I did. If you’re with me here in Arizona, I’ll see you April 18th for their show at the Rhythm Room.
Howe Gelb and a Band of Gypsies
As an Arizona resident for the past 18 + years, and a lover of many things Americana/roots, especially with a west coast / southwest vibe, it’s damn silly that I’m not more familiar with the Tucson’s Howe Gelb and his former band Giant Sand. I’m correcting that as we speak by dialing up all of Giant Sand’s early albums on Rdio. I started this morning with 1985’s Valley of Rain, which sounds like unmistakable precursors to the Pixies, and another Tucson outfit, Calexico (which makes sense – John Convertino and Joey Burns actually started out in Giant Sand).
Yes, I posted many moons ago about a great Giant Sand tune (“Big Fish”) on a Victoria Williams benefit CD. But overall since then, I’ve had – well – my head in the sand about Giant Sand.
So Mr. Howe Gelb has a new record on tap with a new band, A Band of Gypsies. It’s called Alegria, and was recorded in Spain with an actual band of Flamenco guitar-playing gypsies. Featured among them is Flamenco guitar virtuoso Raimundo Amador.
The new album will release stateside on May 10th.
Keep an eye on the Fire Records web site for a chance to order in the U.S. (you can already order overseas).
Nap Time with Nils
I’m lucky enough to work from home. Usually when my “lunch hour” rolls around, I’ll throw on the running shoes and jog a few miles around the ‘hood. This arrangement has been surprisingly good for my health. Breaking up the day with a run clears my mind, puts everything into perspective, gets my blood pumping, and allows me the opportunity to be alone with Music. Love the arrangement.
Well, on Monday, it was overcast, scattered showers, and downright gloomy. I chose to utilize my free hour in the form of a n-a-p. How sweet it was. 50 minutes of midday relaxation. I dialed up E Street Radio on my iPhone SiriusXM app, and stumbled across Nils Lofgren‘s hour as guest DJ.
Listening to the show, I was in that euphoric, meditative state where you’re not fully conscious but you’re not fully asleep either. I was sort of floating through the ether – able to relax my mind, and at the same time soak in the music that Nils was playing.
He played his live version of the Star Spangled Banner, which was amazing. He played his Bruce favorites, like “Nothing Man”, “Man’s Job”, and “My City of Ruin”; he played an in-studio acoustic intro to “Countin’ on a Miracle”…
But what really hit me from Nils was when he played his version of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”. Yeah, the song made popular by Robert Flack almost 40 years ago (the tune was actually written by folk singer Ewan MacColl in 1957).
And man, it hit me in just the right spot. Hair stood up on my arms, the tear ducts activated a bit (only a bit, dammit I’m a macho man. No I’m not).
Lofgren’s high, tender voice soars in this version. Just beautiful. I think I’ll take more naps.
Nils Lofgren Band – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
A St. Paddy’s Whiskey in the Jar
I’ve always fancied Metallica’s version of “Whiskey In The Jar”. The rage and angst behind Mr. Hetfield’s voice just makes me flex my muscles and put the pedal to the metal. Powerful!
Happy St. Paddy’s Day…
I first produced my pistol
And then produced my rapier
I said “Stand and deliver
Or the devil he may take you”[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/9128706 w=549&h=309]
Metallica – Whiskey in the Jar (Official Music Video) [HD] from MetallicaHD on Vimeo.
The Railroad Revival Tour [with a stop in Chandler, AZ]
I haven’t been this unabashedly giddy about an upcoming show in quite some time. News of the Railroad Revival Tour swept across the web Monday morning like a Japanese bullet train (train reference, pow!). It’s a short, exclusive train tour featuring three great bands: Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, and Old Crow Medicine Show.
And for once, an exclusive tour that includes the Phoenix area as one of its few stops – and it’s Chandler, for cryin’ out loud, right in my own back yard…
For a week in late April, the three bands will travel in vintage rail cars pulled by two locomotives across the southwest U.S.A. – from Oakland to New Orleans. Chandler Arizona’s big day is Saturday, April 23rd, as the train pulls into the Arizona Railway Museum for a show. Thanks to some pre-sale luck this morning, I was able to grab my tickets. I am pumped!
Can’t wait to finally see Old Crow Medicine Show…
Looking forward to checking out Mumford & Sons (need to dig into their album a little more).
And this’ll be my third time seeing Edward and his Magnetic Zeros (I’ll also see them a week after at the McDowell Mountain Music Festival).Tickets for all stops go on sale Wednesday, March 9th at 11am CT / 9am PT. According to Railroad Revival Tour’s Facebook page, the Chandler museum stop will have a show capacity of 8,000 people.
For me, it’s a can’t miss experience.Railroad Revival Tour: Web Site | Facebook | Twitter
Old Crow Medicine Show – “I Hear Them All”
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros – “Home”
Mumford & Sons – “Timshel”
Mardi Gras Music: New Rebirth Brass Band
Happy Fat Tuesday! It’s a day off for me and I’m heading to the new Spring Training ballpark shared by the Diamondbacks and the Rockies. I’ll be taking in the Cubs and Rockies game at Salt River Fields with an old college buddy, basking in the sunshine, quaffing a brew or two…
So speaking of Mardi Gras, there’s a new release on the horizon for New Orleans’ own Rebirth Brass Band. Basin Street Records will release Rebirth of New Orleans on April 12th, and they’re spreading the word with a free & clear taste of the record – a full-on brass band stomper called “Do It Again”.
Enjoy the day!
Rebirth Brass Band – Do It Again (mp3)
[audio:Do_It_Again.mp3]
Rebirth Brass Band Upcoming Tour Dates:
03/05: New Orleans, LA @ Howlin’ Wolf
03/13: Perth, Western Australia @ Perth Concert Hall
03/14: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia @ Dallas Brooks Centre
03/16: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia @ The Barton Theatre
03/19: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia @ QPAC Concert Hall
03/21: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia @ State Theatre
04/01: Baton Rouge, LA @ Chelsea’s Cafe
04/02: Lafayette, LA @ Grant Street Dance Hall
04/06: Wilmington, DE @ World Café Live at the Queen
04/07: Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl
04/08: Portsmouth, NH @ Portsmouth Music Hall
04/09: Providence, RI @ Spot Underground
04/10: Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell’s
04/13: Austin, TX @ Antone’s
04/14: Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live Studio
04/15: Dallas, TX @ Kessler Theater
04/23: Lake Charles, LA @ Luna Bar
05/27: Chicago, IL @ Space
05/28: Chilicothe, IL @ Summer Camp
06/10: San Francisco, CA @ San Francisco Jazz Festival
06/11: Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
06/12: Chicago, IL @ Chicago Orchestra Hall
06/13: Washington, DC @ DC JazzfestIck’s Pick: Lucinda Williams’ ‘Blessed’
March 1st is not only day one of my favorite month (I’m in Arizona, so that means Spring Training games, a beer festival, and ideal weather), but it’s also release day for Blessed, the great new album from Lucinda Williams.
Lucinda’s 10th studio album has many folks likening it to a return to form of her stellar ’98 album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. I’ve had a few runs through it, and – as always, it seems – I’ve gravitated to the slower burning, wistful tracks. “I Don’t Know How You’re Living”, “Born to be Loved”, “Convince Me”…
But the true stunner of a tune that stops me in my tracks is the album finale: “Kiss Like Your Kiss”. This love’s done and gone, Jack, and nothing will ever be the same…
There’ll never be a spring so perfect again
We’ll never see a yellow so rich
The grass will never be quite as green
And there’ll never be a kiss like your kissThat’s only the first verse. It’s a thing of beauty and may be one of the best songs I’ve ever heard Lucinda sing (right there with “Blue” for me). This song alone is worth the price of admission.
A version of the song actually appears on an episode of True Blood, and includes Elvis Costello on vocals. You can find this version on True Blood: Music From The HBO® Original Series Volume 2.
The Blessed version doesn’t include Costello’s co-vocals, and as much as I admire and respect Elvis, the song rises even higher without him. This is Lucinda’s moment, and Costello only dilutes the exquisiteness of it, in my opinion. Just wait till you hear the Blessed version, that’s all I gotta say.
Blessed is another strong collection from a tried and true original still at the top of her game. Top to bottom, it can’t top Car Wheels, but moments like “Kiss Like Your Kiss” elevate it to a level that’s damn close.
- Buy Blessed on Amazon.
- Listen to “Buttercup” and “Blessed” on Lucinda’s web site.
