Rock Well in Boulder

Dark Star Orchestra April 18, 2008 Fox Theatre

2008-05-29T21:56:00.004-06:00

This show at the Fox was "sold out" well in advance - that's code for "totally over sold!" People gill to gill on the floor and dancing in the lobby. On arrival it was clear we wouldn't get a spot close, so we hung near the bar's free water tap and waited for the second set.

By the third song it was apparent this would be an 'original' setlist. One of the things I love about this band is that they are heartfelt in their tribute and musically faithful to their source material. But I should also admit that I have a serious soft spot in my heart of hearts for Grateful Dead music. I would hope that my affinity to the music doesn't affect my opinions of this band - in fact, one could argue that my Deadhead affiliation gives me unique perspective to judge the tribute's authenticity. Indeed, I must strive to be as authentic a fan of this music as is possible, in order to deliver a true sense of whether the copy is as powerful as the original. So I will endeavor to review this final night of a 3 night sold out run at the Fox Theatre in Boulder, CO.

China Cat Sunflower

So how good was the show? Aw, man, it was sweet. First set had a killer Bird Song and a powerful Mission in the Rain. But the second set was the sickness featuring a crazy combination of songs only Dark Star Orchestra could pull off. We decided to make our move and got down to the main dancefloor and hung out dead center, slightly 'Garcia' side.

I Know You Rider

Truckin' > Spanish Jam

China Rider to start and then a spacey Truckin' featuring a Spanish jam...
into 'And the whistle is Screaming, TERRAPIN!'

Terrapin part 1

Terrapin part 2

Terrapin part 3

into freakin' Alligator - oh, man, it was so much fun. And the cherry on top was the Dark Star... they played a weird combo to end the set; Miracle Days Between.... huh?

Alligator !!!

Dark Star!!

Anyhow, I boogied and had an all around great time. Other than that, I don't have much to say. Except, I still miss Jerry Garcia. No offense to DSO. I'll still come out and see them, but I ain't traveling far, you know what I mean?

April 11 Paper Bird

2008-04-19T17:40:00.006-06:00

I've allowed the live music experiences to pile up without writing about them - just haven't had the writing mojo or the time. I'll jump back a few weeks and get us all caught up soon, I promise!

April 11, 8 pm.
Benefit concert for mental health clinics in and around Boulder at an Episcopalian church... I know that doesn't really sound like something that lives up to the billing 'Rock Well in Boulder' and maybe you would be right. But for my money, on this night a $15 donation to a charitable cause, this band fills me with hope and positively rocks my world.

Paper Bird performed at the aforementioned benefit and energy this band is able to create while performing put them on my short list of favorite local acts. Yes, they are rough around the edges, but that is part of what I love about these guys and gals. There is no pretense of making more of the music than what it is; Joymaking.

The instrumentalists were all wearing animal headdress and the vocalists joked that they had been gobbled up by wild animals. Another example of a statement that might seem quaint or contrived, but made by this band it is in character and simply charming.

I've got a few video clips which start to demonstrate their beauty and potential, but I caution you that these clips have a weird sound mix and put the trombone too far forward in the mix. As a result some of the great interplay between the guitar, banjo and voice is lost.

Paper Bird is playing around the country as part of New Belgium Brewing Company's Tour de Fat, also featuring March Fourth and Mucca Pazza. CHECK EM OUT!

April 10 Living Room at the Laughing Goat

2008-04-12T09:39:00.006-06:00

Rolled down the hill to Pearl Street to the Laughing Goat coffee house to see Living Room play a set of music. Living Room is a project led by Curtis Peel and featuring Emily Holden, Steve Snowden, Nate Wheeler and Michael Theodore.

I had no idea what to expect and was pleasantly surprised despite less than acceptable sound conditions. It was clear the band had a hard time hearing one another adequately, but all things considered made a good showing of it and by about 3/4 of the way through really hit a groove. Curtis' compositions feel personal and slightly familiar, and are more complex than one would expect to hear in a coffee house on a Thursday night. I hope they continue to play and develop their sound further - and play in places with better sound systems

Their next show will be at the Folsom Street Coffee House on May 3.

Performing 'Sometimes' by the Strokes

I don't know the name of this one

September 1 & 2, 2007 Wilco, Fillmore, Denver

2008-03-04T17:52:00.008-07:00

No live music for me this week. But what would you say if I were able to share a couple shows from this past fall?

Fillmore Auditorium on Lisa's birthday and then another show the following night. These shows were a ton of fun and the playing is top notch.

These recordings are pretty decent, although there is a little crowd noise interference - it is mainly inconsequential.

Anyhow, here are both shows in their entirety for your enjoyment. Let me know what you think!

Wilco
Fillmore Auditorium
Denver, CO

September 1
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

September 2
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Heather Browne from I am Fuel, You Are Friends has a few clips from the first night up on YouTube

I am the Man Who Loves You

Hummingbird

A Shot in the Arm

February 23 Drive by Truckers

2008-02-24T01:18:00.012-07:00

At this point in their career the Drive by Truckers have an intertwined history with Boulder. Their shows have run the gamut. Under 100 people in attendance at their Tulagi and Trilogy appearances. Sold out and legendary in their Fox Theatre end of tour and New Year's Eve run of shows.

So, another evening with the Truckers at the Fox. Ho hum, right?
Or, god damn, the Truckers at the Fox. Shit's gonna hit the fan, right?

Sure, Boulder loves the Truckers, and yes this means healthy box office sales, but for me all bets were off. Hasn't Boulder become a cliche destination for them? Can lightning possibly strike twice or three times in the same place?

Apparently, lightning has an interesting way of attracting groups of people long after the smoldering remains have faded away. The crowd showed early for this show, meaning good positions came to those who were patient and persistent. I got there at doors but had to wait in a box office line to get my tickets. By the time I got in there were a few positions on the second riser to the right of the stage but all rail spots had been taken. No complaints, this is still a fine place to witness a show.

I hang and wait for Danny and Candace to show and Skye wanders over. Great to see this guy and we pass the time by catching up. He had gone the night before to the sold out show at the larger Ogden Theater. His take, "Great show but they had sound problems."

The Felice Brothers take the stage and proceed to electrify the audience. This band of brothers from New York produce 'American Music.' My grandmother probably would've called this 'rural music.' Banjo, Accordian, Washboard, Drums, Voice... but some of their lyrics are smart and current. They create a sound that is rough but full of joy and energy. They conjured images of what The Band might've looked and sounded like after Ronnie Hawkins but before Bob Dylan.

Once again I found myself very pleasantly surprised by an opener. They invited members of the audience on stage to join in 'Holy Holy Halleluia' - featuring an Ole Dirty Bastard rap.

Drive by Truckers turn the lights down and drop the cover for their backdrop. The red-eyed bird-beast sculpture is turned on and it seems we're all ready to go.

The band gets rolling straight away and kicks out a couple of new songs. I get the sense that they are easing into the evening, playing with deliberate emotional control and choosing carefully how far to push the energy.

The band rocks their way through a few more tunes and we are square dancing on the right hand side as the band works their way through some Jack Daniel's fueled angst.

By the time they take their encore break I am starting to wonder if they will reach the heights of previous performances in Boulder. Sure this evening has been nice, and their playing has been confident and tight, but it feels like they have been holding back.

Well the encore changed that opinion and quick. Patterson and the bottle of Jack set up shop center stage. Storytelling is what this band rests it's hat on and we are in for a heaping dose on this evening. I had been foolish to think that some how this band was holding back. They were were just making sure they had enough in the gas tank to go the distance.
Summoning his inner demons, Mr. Hood oscillated between gentle older brother to evil uncle to raging drunk and back all within a couple of measures.
The autobiographical nature of the lyrics seems to have a power over this band. It's not just that these lyrics are based on actual events and people, I get the sense that there is an internal pressure in the band to HONOR these experiences with gut wrenching performances. It isn't enough that the songs exist, the experience of the songs must act as a divining rod to harness and channel the white hot power of emotion every time they are played or inner demons will char and burn the heart.

The encore was easily the highlight of the Truckers set for me. Have I been 'converted' into a full blown mother trucker? Absolutely, but next time I would make sure I had a couple of shots of whiskey before show time. I get the sense that the emotional embers left on the stage at the Fox could definitely kick up into flames another time.

February 22 Stockholm Syndrome

2008-02-21T23:52:00.011-07:00

The super group known as Stockholm Syndrome rumbled into Boulder last night and treated the local crowd to their hard driving brand of rock and roll. Any Jerry Joseph or Widespread Panic side-project is as much social event as musical event for me and this was no exception. A long list of good old friends were in attendance including Horace Moore, all the way from Athens, GA. We copped a very decent spot on the right rail at the front of the stage next to Valerie, just in front of Scramble 'Keith' Campbell.

Dead Confederate, another in a long line of Athens bands, opened and did a fine job winning over a skeptical audience. Their lead singer has a fantastic voice that has twinges of Kurt Cobain in it and a stage presence that reminds me slightly of Jonny Greenwood. People in our group started throwing out comparisons to other bands; Nirvana, Radiohead, Mazzy Star, Crazy Horse. This band has a young energy and honesty in their music. There was limited posturing and they played mightily and I would definitely come out to see them again.

It was a great surprise to see Horace and be able to talk to him between bands. If you are ever in Athens, check out the venue he runs. I have it from very good sources that it is a fantastic room, which is no surprise because Horace is a fantastic guy!

Stockholm Syndrome sets up and starts playing one of their standards, Counter Clock World. The song is well played but no big risks are taken. Each of the members of this band bring a lifetime of stage experience to every song they play. With any group of veteran performers there is a sense that culture is being created and renewed in the room as they perform. The experiences and influences of each member combine and melt together to create a musical gumbo as tasty as it is sustaining.

On their worst night, the Syndrome delivers on it's promise of providing solid rock and roll. On an average night you can guarantee that you will hear some outstanding individual performances worth every penny of the ticket price. But on this night, this Friday after President's day, they delivered more than the sum of their individual performances.

After kicking out a couple of solid tunes, Jerry leads the band into 'Turn to Oil,' a sure fire sing along. The band is playing with gusto and Eric McFadden decides to take matters into his own hands during the climax near the end of the song. The rest of the band responds to his precise crescendo - relaxing, smiling, Jerry hopping on one foot, David tilting his head back. They are extending the jam before the final refrain, all tightly linked up and everyone can feel it.

I have seen this band a few times before and have felt the Eric's playing was over indulgent. Could it be that he has gotten better, more precise in his playing? There is a quality to his performance on this evening that seems tighter and more controlled. If I didn't know any better, I would say that he has raised the level of his game.

Jerry introduces the band and they launch into their ironic cover song, "Couldn't Get it Right." This performance includes some tasty jamming at the end - the party was now fully underway.

The times I've seen them in the past I have left saying "those guys could make a career out of this." As a side project this band stands out as one of the most honest and unpretentious collaborations out there.

There is one more show on this short tour, tonight in Denver at the Gothic. Who knows when or if we will see this band come around again, so if you find yourself in Denver tonight get yourself down to the Gothic and prepare to see a band earn every dime of the ticket price.

Painting of Stockholm Syndrome, February 22, 2008, by Scramble Campbell

February 13 Black Lips, You stay classy, San Diego!

2008-02-19T21:32:00.011-07:00

I took a business trip to San Diego and ended up seeing some crazy music after a wild day of travel, work, planes and screaming.

On the neighborhood bus with suitcase in tow at 7:30 am. Take care of various deadlines at work until 2:15 and hop on the AB SkyRide bus to the airport. Land in San Diego 1/2 hour late and take a taxi to the hotel which is across the street from the airport on Harbor Island. Check in, take shuttle to the 'bay tower', in my room, check view from balcony (AMAZING), wash face, and change clothes. I check the time; 9:35 p.m.

I felt like a fish out of water going to this show. Oh, sure, safe on my couch at home the prospect of getting in a $8 cab and traveling a couple miles seemed totally plausible. But now, standing in a room bigger than most apartments I've owned, I felt like ordering room service and watching Letterman.

I was in San Diego and the warm embrace of the adventurous night beckoned.

When in Rome. Veni Vidi Vici.

I arrive at the Casbah at the same moment as another ticketless guy, who immediately blows his wad begging with the doorman, gives up quickly and leaves. I lean against the wall and bide my time. Sure enough the doorman relents and sells me a ticket. The Casbah has the feel of an indoor-outdoor college dorm room. The lighting is a mixture of multicolored christmas lights and mid-sixties romper room chandeliers. There's an outdoor patio between the back bar and the room with the stage. The back bar that has red felt pool tables and old-school video games.
The vibe is welcoming, dark, hip and slightly subterranean.

I order a pint of Guinness and hear the first band take the stage. On this evening Beehive and the Barracudas consisted of two guitarists, a bassist and a drummer who happened to be female. Garage rock. A mix of noisy jangle and winsome good humor. I thought for sure these guys were local but a little post-show Google shows that they are actually from Michigan (I think) and that their female drummer is actually they keyboardist. Solid and surprisingly tight performance, too bad there weren't more folks there to appreciate it.

At this point I've decided that I am going to hang close to the stage so I can see without being trampled, so I hang up close as the Pierced Arrows set their instruments up. A three piece consisting of a bass, guitar and drums, the Pierced Arrows look like they have been playing punk rock for the past 30 years.

Hailing from Portland, Oregon Fred and Toody Cole inspire phrases such as "flawless lo-fi" and "sincere angst." As they got heated up I realized that would need to get much closer to the stage for the Black Lips set. People were already jostling pretty vehemently on the dancefloor, stopping just short of full on mosh. I was mesmerized by Fred's ability to scream in key and thrash his guitar violently without breaking a sweat. Their take on Neil Young's meditation on fame, Mr. Soul, was nothing short of classic.

After Pierced Arrows I've decided to sit on the stage to save my feet. At this point I've been up for 18 hours and on my feet for much of that time. The Black Lips take the stage and all mayhem breaks loose. People are being pushed and practically thrown onto the stage. The crowd surges forward and the band says that it is 'magic time.' The familiar bassline for O Katrina reverberates and the crowd settles down slightly.

The Black Lips play pure garage rock. You get the sense that they could care less if they were playing to an audience or a wall of license plates. There were times when the band seemed oblivious to their audience, playing in the dark while sitting on the floor.
Their lead guitarist kept spitting into the air and catching his loogies....

And I am fairly certain the bassist was on some sort of mind expanding drug.

Their mix of psychedelic rock, punk, and blues is very energetic and full of youthful piss and vinegar.
While this was compelling spectacle, I never quite bought into the schtick and I worked my way toward the back of the room. I walked through the patio, past the Pierced Arrows holding court an out through the front door. I grabbed a cab and was whisked away to my hotel.

Later that weekend while out with a group of colleagues, I caught a one man band at the Blarney Stone. The combination of an empty bar, this creepy one man band synthesizing his voice and the bar staff who didn't speak any English made me feel totally queasy. Once he played this verison of Ring of Fire, I had to go in the bathroom and puke. You stay classy San Diego!

Feb. 8 - Ian Cooke, Paper Bird, Autumn Film

2008-02-09T00:41:00.000-07:00

In the wake of the Mars Volta assault, I was encouraged by Kathryn to check out Ian Cooke. Ian is a Colorado musician who has chosen the cello and voice as his instruments of choice. I had never heard of him, or the other THREE acts on the bill, but Kathryn's taste in music is impeccable so I decided to take the leap. All four bands hail from the Boulder/Denver area and after checking out Ian Cooke's MySpace page I felt fairly confident I was in for an enjoyable evening of local talent.

We entered the venue during World Romantic's set. Although they had a few interesting hooks, most of their songs ended up sounding the same.

While the crowd assembled inside the Boulder Theater consisted mainly of an under 25 year old crowd I noticed quite a few older Boulderites milling around. It was an interesting confluence of the Pabst Blue Ribbon crowd and scotch and water sippers.

Paper Bird came out and it became evident to me that at least some of the older fans were likely proud parents. A six piece band comprising of three female vocalists, a guitar, a banjo and a trombone, Paper Bird calls Denver home and I would guess that the average age of the members at around 22 years old. Their mix of bluegrass, doo wop, and folk music produces a uniquely American sound that is at once engaging and uplifting. The three part harmonies the singers put forth are quite impressive while the three-piece band creates a great down home vibe even while tackling some complex time signatures and melodic changes.
Their sheer enthusiasm was contagious and the crowd assembled definitely came alive while this band was on stage. The three piece assemble did have some rough patches of missed notes and cues, but it hardly took away from the fresh fun being had within the Theater.

Their sound got me thinking about what Boulder must've been like during the Glenn Miller era, and wondered how many great local acts had stood on this stage while making music steeped in happiness and joy.

St. Louis by Paper Bird

I took a stroll back to the merch area and found their manager hawking their CD in earnest (which I happily bought) along with several items of hand made clothing. Hand made by members of the band... applique stitch work T Shirts and boxers... some pretty interesting stuff. The whole ethic of 'hand made by the band merch' could strike one as quaint and ridiculous. But honestly these facts all merge to create an aura of authenticity that is difficult to ignore. There is absolutely no irony in their efforts, only pure unadulterated JOY. A rare commodity in the so-called 'indie scene.'

After a short break Ian Cooke took the stage with a band consisting of a bass player, a keyboardist/guitarist, a fiddle player and a drummer. He opened with a cover of (Working) 9 to 5, the Dolly Parton classic. Ian is an outstanding musician and song writer who has proven time and again that he doesn't need a band. And I must confess I found myself longing to hear him without the distractions of other instruments. Still, his brilliant use of a cello and voice is a pleasure to hear even when accompanied. I found my mind wandering again during his set; ALWAYS a good sign. If the music propels the imagination outside of my little selfish reality I have come to appreciate that this means the music has literally moved me.

The highlight of the evening may have been when the drum kit was experiencing electrical problems. The singers from Paper Bird were on stage to perform a different song, one that needed percussion. Ian had apparently also rehearsed a song with the young ladies that only required voice and cello. What transpired was unscheduled, unpolished, imperfect and utterly beautiful. The audio and images from the video don't do the performance justice, but I post it here anyway hoping something from this performance endows you readers with inspiration. Listen closely for Ian's auditory embellishments.

Although Ian did not have CDs there for purchasing I am going to find some where online to buy one - and I suggest you do the same (YOU CAN BUY IT HERE THROUGH TWIST AND SHOUT!)

I left the venue during Autumn Film. For me the cat was out of the bag during Paper Bird's set and Ian was then able to hypnotize the feline sufficiently. Songs of angst or pain couldn't pierce the thick warm coat of joyful sounds made by the previous two acts.

If you are from the Boulder/Denver area and get a chance, support these local artists. They are making good, honest music and deserve your attention.

February 4 - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Will Hoge, Jeremy Fisher

2008-02-06T18:14:00.000-07:00

As I drove home from work in the steady snow the day after Superbowl Sunday, I caught a glimpse of the Fox Theatre marquee out of the corner of my eye. Will Hoge and Jason Isbell. "Damn, I wanted to see those guys... oh, well."

Got a call on the cell phone around an hour later. Danny had a free ticket to the Jason Isbell show that night at the Fox. But did I REALLY want to go? I waivered. It was snowing heavily outside and it was a school night to boot. Who was I fooling?! "What the hell! Let's do it." I know I'll look back fondly on this decision. Between the floating flakes of white and the crisp chill of the air I was in the mood for some honest music. The type of music that is unpretentious and raw, powerful in it's unanticipated familiarity. Like comfort food for the soul.

Dan and I drove to the venue around 8:30, down the slick winding road known as Broadway, then slid down the snow packed sidewalks into the venue. The opening act had already taken the stage and we sauntered down to the rail above the floor for a look and listen.

I was immediately struck by Jeremy Fisher's crisp, clean voice. He has a brilliant range that reminded me of a slightly more bluesy (less white bread) version of James Taylor. Coupled with some strong song writing, his music is at once refreshing and familiar. His guitar playing was very solid and his stage presence engaging. He has a boy next door quality to his personality that appeals to genders on both sides of the aisle. He cracked a few jokes and played with an earnest energy. It felt like he was playing to a room full of friends. I will definitely be coming out to see this guy when he comes our way again (please make it our way again!).

video clip: Scar That Never Heals, Jeremy Fisher

After a short break Will Hoge and his powerful band came out and proceeded to win over the sparse crowd. 9:30 on a Monday and maybe 50 people are in attendance. Sad but true. Undeterred, Will Hoge continued chewing his gum like he was fronting the Foo Fighters and belted out wicked vocals like he was Chris Robinson. Note to self: "Damn, this man can sing."

His band played adequately, but when paired with the X factor of Will Hoge they kicked average songs into high gear. Simple and sweet melodies gave way to full tilt rockers.

Will's set was extended by several songs, possibly due to the weather interfering with the travel of the headliner. Or possibly due to the promoter hoping more people might be venturing out into the snow at that very moment. But who cared?! Will and his band only got better as they played and by the time they played one of the their signature songs, Silver and Gold, I remember thinking "this is going to be a hard act to follow." Straight ahead rock and roll doesn't necessarily always satisfy. But this Nashville act had just enough polish and just enough passion to play to this audience of 60 like they were the last people that would hear their music.

Okay, maybe I felt a little bad for these guys. They had obviously driven a LONG way in the snow for this gig and there was no one there. It is a crying shame that three acts of this caliber did not have a decent crowd to bask in their music. And make no mistake, it was not an easy drive for these guys coming over the Rockies from Salt Lake City during a decent sized snow storm. But folks from the Boulder/Denver area should not have had any excuse. We deal with this kind of weather all the time.

But I digress.

Jason Isbell finally takes the stage and plays a couple of slow tunes to start. Eh. Whatever. The drama was lost on me. But then the keyboardist ran to the green room and grabbed a handle of Jack and passed it around. Jason loosened up and the blues started pouring forth. Power and soul from a guy that looks like he might have just decided to blow off his senior year in college to go on the road. But make no mistake, he is no accidental talent. His song writing ability is sneaky in it's simplicity. I felt like I was getting to know this guy, this kid who I'd never met or even really heard of until he left Drive By Truckers, through the lyrics and melodies.

He treated the sparse crowd to a cover of a beloved Van Morrison tune, Into the Mystic. A live version of this song which was recorded in November is being released by Twist and Shout any moment now.

Johnny Hickman from Cracker was in attendance in the audience and was invited up at one point to play a tune with the band. A decent song, but his presence at this show underscored the sad reality the lack of attendance presented.

In the end this was a very satisfying and enjoyable evening of music. Each artist was strong in their own right. While I wouldn't say I was totally blown away the music good enough to keep me out long enough to close the Fox on a Monday night... But you know me, I'll trade a good night's sleep for good old-fashioned honest music any day of the week.

Grab a bit torrent of this show HERE

Super Fat Tuesday

2008-02-05T21:35:00.000-07:00

Lisa, Jack and I attended the South Boulder caucus this evening, along with a few hundred of our close friends and neighbors.

Democracy can be messy and this evening drove that fact home. Loud, confusing and slightly disorganized I have no doubt that the will of the people was counted on this evening in a fair and peaceful way.

When the votes were tallied our precinct voted to send 5 delegates for Obama and 2 for Clinton to the county assembly.

I am very proud to say that I was chosen to be one of five delegates for Obama to represent my precinct at the county assembly! I am honored by the trust they have placed in me and I will represent to the best of my abilities.

Here's the video of the vote count for Obama in Boulder precinct 171.

Yes. We. Can.

January 27 Mars Volta

2008-01-28T17:53:00.000-07:00

I saw that The Mars Volta were coming to the Fox some time in December. I had heard a friend of mine, Alan Dague-Greene, talk about one of their past albums (I think Frances the Mute). I happened to mention that I was interested in the show to Michael Theodore, my new partner in musical exploration, and he seemed smitten with the idea.

I secured tickets to this sold out show through Leah Winski, my Onion advertising representative, who was able to get the Fox to hold 2 tickets ($36 each!) at the door.

Having had almost no exposure to The Mars Volta I had absolutely no idea what awaited me inside the friendly confines of the Fox.

I hope I can still appreciate melodic music again because these Martians fucked my ears for 2 and a half hours last night. Am I ruined?

I am not sure if there is a proper 'label' for these guys and am not enough of a hipster to pretend to be able to talk about their music by peppering it with references to King Crimson and phrases such as 'prog rock.' I do know that the music they make is complex and not easily digested. Dense, loud, self-indulgent and fascinating.

This band has only two speeds; full steam ahead while dragging 10 tons of heavy metal behind the caboose and sleeping on the tour bus. There are no mellow love ballads. Ditto for ditties. Heck, half the time there isn't even a recognizable melody. And yet, the music is complex and clever. Maybe too clever. Perhaps too self-indulgent. But there is no doubt that there is a brilliance that shines through the noise and the pain.

From their opening gambit it was clear that this was no ordinary 'rock show.' It was loud. Louder than anything I have seen lately, and I was standing most of the way back in the room. And distrorted. Add that to the insane home made strobe that their light crew turn on from time to time and the atmosphere felt chaotic and slightly dangerous. Their drummer tore through the most complex cascades of rhythm with precision and a wide smile. There were points in the show where I found myself giggling at the pure skill this musician possessed. It was ridiculous. No mortal should be that good. He played as if possessed. With virtually no breaks... wait, perhaps he really was possessed?

There is no doubt that they embody the radical spirit of rock and roll. At times they play on the edge of the listener's palette with songs that are too loud and too complex to be followed by a casual observer. And just when there is enough of a melody to grasp a hold of and give the ears some hope of a predictable outcome, the band will shift tempos and controlled chaos assaults the senses.

They've embraced the devil's messenger role of Robert Johnson's cultural revolution fully and heartily. This band didn't just sell their soul at the crossroads, they French kissed Lucifer's pitbull while screaming sexual obscenities at Satan's bride.

Lead singer, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, spat onto, slid across and dove into the stage at every turn. He used the entire stage to illustrate the possession he was experiencing in the music. And yes, he literally spat onto the stage all night long. And yes, he literally threw himself down into the stage numerous times without breaking his fall. He even took the liberty to dismantle his drummer's kit mid-song; of course the drummer didn't miss a beat.

Lead guitarist and band composer, Omar Rodríguez-López, also possesses a charisma not easily contained in words. Looking like a 1970's era Carlos Santana, he grounded the chaos on stage in a strangely peaceful way. At times he conducted the proceedings on stage with subtle flourishes of the neck of the guitar. Other times he whirled about as if he had let his body be carried by a sudden dust devil created by Cedric's screaming. In contrast to his partner's gyrating and dervish, Omar seemed utterly in control. Like a devil conductor happily admiring his pawn's moves, he would smile and rip another distorted lead on his glossy white guitar.

And there is certainly no doubt that the Mars Volta gives their audience their money's worth. They started at 9:20 pm and stopped at 5 to midnight. With no breaks. And no encore. They hardly stopped between songs. I think there were a couple one minute breaks where Cedric addressed the audience, but for the most part there was just the relentless sound of the Mars Volta singing in unison with their inner demons.

I've got a couple of videos, but the audio is not great - Like I said, it was LOUD!

Sunday November 11 The Hold Steady/Art Brut

2007-11-17T21:00:00.001-07:00

November 11, 2007
Sunday Night
Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO

My buddies Dennis and Scott have been raving about The Hold Steady for some time now and when the Fox announced they were playing a healthy group of guys purchased tickets on the first day they were available. That healthy group of us met at my place to watch the Indianapolis and San Diego play on Sunday night football. Scott, Dennis, Jeff, Dave, Pat and lone female in our group, Shawna, all cramming into my basement for pre-show pizza, beer and nachos. Yes, this was truly going to be a guys night out to see The Hold Steady.

We arrived after Art Brut had taken the stage and took in a little of their stage antics before adjourning to the lobby. We snickered at the overwrought performance of the lead singer who, at one point, decided to run through the venue while the band still played. He did not count on the venue being physically divided in half but temporary retaining walls to keep the underage patrons on one side of the venue. He had to scramble over one of these rickety walls to return to the stage... perhaps this may be seen as an epic moment by fans of this British band, I found it hilarious.

One of the guys in our group said that Art Brut reminded him of every cliched band he'd seen in a movie in the last 30 years, and sadly I'd have to agree. If you're going to go totally nuts and run around a venue, either your chops need to be that of a top-notch jazz band or your lyrics had better bring grown men to tears of joy. Sorry Art Brut, but my tears were from laughing.

By the time The Hold Steady took the stage it was 10:50 - on a Sunday night. Fortunately I did not have to work on Monday but one must wonder if there wouldn't have been more people at this show if the band had started earlier. And it is too bad more weren't there to see this amazing band rock the hell out while kicking down lyrics as close to post-modern beat poetry as you will find. Fortunately there were plenty of fans down front waving arms and screaming along to make the scene complete. Lead spaz Craig Finn chattered and gestured in between lyrics to the fawning crowd and the other four members of the band kept the rock rolling.

There are some bands that you see after they've been hyped and it takes a little while for their appeal to sink in. With The Hold Steady you either get it or they blast you out the back door. No time for pussy footing or indecision, Craig brings the lyrics forward and the band blasts them right into your face. They had me at 'Chips Ahoy' and held me steady right through the rollicking encore. I am not going to be able to say anything that hasn't already been said about this idiosyncratic band, but I wholeheartedly understand their appeal and will definitely find a way to see them again in the near future.

Listen to a few of their tracks here:
Stuck Between Stations
Cattle and the Creeping Things
Killer Parties Remix
Your Little Hoodrat Friend

Next installment: Mofro at the Ogden

Eric McFadden Trio

2007-11-07T18:29:00.000-07:00

November 5
Southern Sun Brew Pub
10 pm

The staff of the Southern Sun have just had a 'happy hour' drink behind the bar and cheered loudly in the name of a departing employee. I wondered whether Eric McFadden's group would be able to get the sparse crowd assembled on this Monday evening to voice their approval as loudly.

As it turns out it was the Eric McFadden duo, just him and the bassist, James Whiton. I found myself listening to the music with the drummer and soundman. I think there were three other people who were at the Pub specifically to see "EMT." The rest of the 20 patrons were there to chat and drink.

Eric is an outstanding talent on the guitar. His mix of rock, flamenco, country and blues is quite satisfying to the ear. James' style of bass playing is also unique and diverse, employing a bow and hand percussion to coax as much life as possible out of a stand up or double bass. On this evening though, there were more mouths than ears and Eric had to fight to be heard above the din of conversation. This atmosphere and venue just doesn't provide a proper tarmac for flight and the entire evening was unsatisfying.

I recommend seeing Eric McFadden Trio, but make sure they are playing with a full house PA and he has permission to rock out.

In fact, they are playing a few shows THIS WEEKEND in Colorado - plus they are playing with Bernie Worrell!
Should be a good time. I think I am going to make the trek to Denver to catch them there.

Nov. 9, 2007 Cervantes Ballroom, Denver, CO
Nov. 10, 2007 Hodi's Half Note, Ft. Collins, CO

October 25 Benevento/Russo Duo

2007-10-28T00:53:00.000-06:00

Thursday, October 25, 2007
Fox Theatre

Another event-filled day preceded this show. A full day at work, 3rd grade soccer practice, a trip to Whole Foods for another week's worth of food and the first few innings of the World Series. Having never seen the Duo before, I approached show time with a little trepidation. A full moon and a balmy indian summer night helped settle me down.

I arrived around 9:30, early enough to catch the opening act, American Babies. The sidewalk outside the entrance of the Fox was conspicuously empty and relatively few people were hanging out in the lobby. I didn't realize at the time that the World Series game between the Rockies and Red Sox was impacting attendance.

I had heard rumblings from folks in the northeast about the Duo's late-night prowess for some time but had never had the occasion to see them perform live. I did listen to a few tracks on their webpage and some live recordings provided by Weekly Ned. But I had hardly done enough real listening to their music to have a full grasp of what I was getting myself into. So, as I stood on the rail above the floor waiting for the lights to go down, I found myself slightly self-conscious.

Pre-show banter with attendees of this all-ages show confirmed my insecurity. It'll be done by 12 p.m., right? This was a warm-up show, right? After all, they had not one, but TWO shows to play on Friday night in Los Angeles... these guys had bigger and better parties to play, right? And did some 16 year-old really see Mike Gordon in Boulder earlier in the day? By the end of the night, "no" was the definitive answer to all of these questions.

American Babies "solo acoustic" took the stage around 9:45; Joe Russo and Tom Hamilton on acoustic guitars. I didn't realize that the Russo of the Duo had a side project that was opening and what a treat! Acoustic guitar and human voices, a novel approach to an opening act for the technological scrum that was the main event. There were perhaps 30 people there listening to the nervous energy of Joe Russo and Tom Hamilton. Though not totally polished (Joe once missed the capo placement for a song he was starting and luckily was corrected by Tom) nothing was being taken too seriously and minor mistakes were laughed off. Joe was able to hold his own on guitar, provided some beautiful vocal harmonies and performed quite admirably. Obviously he is a multi-talented man.

Tom joked at one point that this was like a "Bon Jovi/Sambora thing" and that they had considered "feathering Joe's hair." They did apparently decide to give Joe some sort of make over as he wasn't wearing glasses.

American Baby

While they play some honest ballads and perform adequately on acoustic guitar I did find myself longing for some gut rumbling bass notes and percussion.

Benevento/ Russo take the stage and I am immediately mesmerized by Joe Russo. I need to read more journalism about percussion so I can find a clever way to describe the joy I feel when an exceptional percussionist is playing. Slowly people started filling the room and Russo got the room moving.

Soba

There is no doubt that Marco Benevento is talented, but for my money his style is a little too sharp. And certainly there's no disputing the connection these two players have and the impeccable timing this musical connection has. And he does have some fun sonic tricks up his sleeve. So perhaps he is an acquired taste... but if he was like a sharp Wisconsin (or upstate New York) cheddar, then Russo was a perfectly sliced Honey Crisp apple - the perfect compliment. Good apples go with just about everything, right?

At some point Marco announced that they had just played a song named 'Birth' and this had been the debut of that song. I think I also recognized Sunny's Song somewhere in there. Tom Hamilton then joined the Duo for a song - it started with Joe on acoustic and some precision picking.

His guitar work was a perfect compliment to a slow building rocker.

Powder with Tom Hamilton

My mind started wandering, I thought about the tall girl on the floor who walked in wearing a fur coat. I thought about the woman seated in the 'sweet spot' on the first rail. And what about that red headed kid dead center in the front row - he can't be more than 17, and why is he wearing a scarf wrapped around his head? I was jolted out of mind wandering as the crowd joined band in a chorus...

Play, Pause, Stop chorus

I thought Best Reason to Buy the Sun was very well played and energetic... This may have been the highlight of the evening for me.

Best Reason to Buy the Sun

I started to fade during the encore but the presence of Tom Hamilton did keep things lively.

They played something during the encore that sounded like a cover but was lost on my ears. It reminded me of U2 or an old R & B tune. Can anyone tell me what this next clip is?

The "Hey, Hey, Hey" song

I stumbled out into a balmy Thursday night, with college students wandering around. I look at the time; 12:45. Benevento/Russo Duo went on around 10:45 and ended a solid two hours later. Two hours lost in the music, a good thing to be sure. I definitely think the improvisational nature of their offering gives those fans who can see them often the advantage. Even so, some of the experienced fans I walked out with indicated that this was a night of new material - one guy said more than three new songs... All I know is that it was a well played show with some very tight interplay between the two that are the Duo. A solid night and one that will likely propel me to another Duo show (or Bustle/Hedgerow) in the future.

Dark Star Orchestra, Boulder Theater

2007-10-19T22:36:00.000-06:00

Dark Star Orchestra, October 19, 2007
Terrapin

I have a head cold. Damn. I've been looking forward to seeing Dark Star Orchestra since their last appearance in Boulder in April. However, sinus pressure and a general lack of sleep have a way of draining your will. Add to those factors that I had volunteered to help coach at Jack's soccer practice early in the evening and that it was a school night and you are guaranteed to find me on the couch at 10:30 pm snoring with my mouth open.

Lucky for me I found a way to gut through the odds and found myself down on the floor in front of John Kadlecik's rig a few minutes before show time. As I milled about, casually chatting with friends, I realized that I am always slightly bewildered at a 'DSO' show. I worked at Martyrs in Chicago during the inception of the band back in 1997. Martyr's was the venue that served s mid-wife for this tribute experiment. In fact, I remember Ray Quinn, the owner of Martyrs, asking me what I thought of the concept of DSO some time in late summer 1997. Of course I thought it was a fantastic idea even though it meant a major departure from Ray's "no cover band" rule. Of course DSO isn't really a cover band are they? They are a recreation of a specific show on a particular night. For a band covering the Grateful Dead this premise is brilliant if not obvious. But for the talented members of Dark Star Orchestra this premise is transcendent.

Yes, transcendent. They have beaten the odds and found a career letting the music play them. And through the music they find every night countless audience members also find themselves letting the music play them.

Make no mistake, this band plays damn good music. Never mind it is some one else's composition. Never mind the fact that the Grateful Dead, who never played two shows in exactly the same way, actually played these songs in exactly this same order. THIS band, the one on stage right now, they are playing some damn fine music.

The highlight of the evening was an energetic Jack Straw and a precise Jack A Roe. Scarlet > Fire also made an appearance and the healthy sweat that I worked up on the floor at the Boulder Theater practically cured my headcold - or maybe it was seeing Terrapin during a brand new crescent moon?

In any case, I found myself leaving during drums. I walked down the alley behind the Boulder Theater to get to my car and could hear Wharf Rat through the stage door. I saw an unusual orange oriental hanging lamp in top of some old cardboard and put it in the passenger's seat of the car.

"Passenger, don't you hear me?"

Dark Star Orchetra
Boulder Theater
October, 19, 2007
(setlist thanks to Deadbase)

05-17-77 Memorial Coliseum, U. of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Al. (Tue)
1: Minglewood, Half Step> El Paso, TLEO, Jack Straw, Jack A Roe, L. L. Rain, Tennessee Jed, Passenger, High Time, Big River, Sunrise, Scarlet> Fire
2: Samson> Bertha> Good Lovin, B. E. Women, Estimated, Terrapin> Playin> Drums> Wharf Rat> Playin E: Sugar Magnolia (First Passenger)