Tag Archives: Indie

Cleveland, Country, Garage, Indie, Live Shows, Music, Punk, Review, Rock, The Awesome

Concert Review: Those Darlins / Turbo Fruits / Henry Wagons – Beachland Tavern – Cleveland, OH – 09/21/2010

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Face it, the Beachland Tavern was really not that heavily packed last night, but every music lover that set foot in that bar for the Those Darlins / Turbo Fruits / Henry Wagons show all were treated to an amazing evening of music.

Three bands with three different backgrounds played the small stage not caring one bit how many tickets were sold. They were there to rock out and have fun with their fans, and that is exactly what happened.

It’s been about a year since Nashville’s Those Darlins graced Cleveland with their beauty, not to mention their amazing music making abilities.  The ladies had a rough start to the summer when one of the Darlins took a tumble at a Southern Ohio music festival breaking her arm.  This was just a small set back but their ladies (and drummer Lynn) had to take an unwanted break.  Just a few months later the band regrouped, recorded a second album to be released in 2011, and hit the road doing what they love to do best.

If anyone knows something about the man behind BHP (you know, the guy who writes all this stuff) it is one thing: BHP hearts Those Darlins.  I saw them 4 times alone last year.  Overly impressed with their sound and live show-woman-ship, I never missed a show.  Needless to say when I discovered they were coming back to the Beachland, I made plans to be there.  I was excited to see them and hear perhaps a new song or two (more on that in a bit) but what I did not expect was the surprise that was the opening act, a man named Henry Wagons.

The moment I walked into the tavern I looked at the stage and there he was, a 6-foot tall Australian man with an acoustic guitar in hand.  With shaggy hair, glasses, mustache and a sweet green headband he was already playing a song to the minimal crowd that seemed to suckle around the edges of the bar.  He sung with an outlaw country vibe that immediately caught my attention.  I felt I was listening to an Aussie version of Waylon Jennings but also had an amazing sense of humor.  He called out the crowd a few times, made reference to the longest walk ever he experienced at Cleveland-Hopkins Airport and ended his songs with comedic heavily acted strums to his guitar.

Playing his own rendition of Kenny Roger’s “The Gambler”, or so he said, the crowd went crazy for it.  I laughed when Henry Wagons said just before playing the song , “I wanna be like Kenny Rogers in another 10 to 15 years,” and also commenting that he lacks the silver-lining at the current moment.  Another track he played had him screaming “Willie Nelson” over and over, it was amazing.

The winning song of his set to me was a cover of “Never Been To Spain”, a classic Elvis song that was in fact, not written by Elvis.  While playing his set he commented that he was just one man from his band back home called Wagons and that it was his first trip to the states as well as his first night with Those Darlins and Turbo Fruits.  After taking to his manager, who was touring with him later in the evening, I learned that they could not afford to have the whole band come over this time around but hope to change that next time they go on tour.  After buying a Wagons CD after his set and listening to it on the way home all I have to say is this: I can not wait till Wagons plays the states.  The CD is incredible.

Up next was another Nashville act called Turbo Fruits.  They were a blend of Nashville and Detroit that was overly impressive, think Hank Williams meets Detroit Cobras.  They had 50’s riffs in some songs and dipped into a blues feel during other tracks that had me almost overanalyzing them at times.  My conclusion of them was simple though, they were a kick ass band that really put on a show.  I especially enjoyed “Dreams For Sale” and “Volcano” and even went so far as to grabbing their LP after the show to check them out some more.

Finally the headliners of the evening, Those Darlins, took to the stage.  This time around there were five folk on stage, the three Darlins, drummer Lynn, and some other dude.  One would assume that they have a touring guitarist to help out with their shows or perhaps even help Nikki Darlin with some of the guitar duties seeing how she did break her arm in half as mentioned earlier.

Regardless, Those Darlins wasted no time jumping into their set starting off with “Who’s That Knocking At My Window”, a familiar track to most of the crowd.  They sounded just as amazing as the previous times I saw them, if not better.  They looked happy to be up on the stage and aimed to make sure all were going to have a good time.

Things soon changed for the good when the band decided to play a series of new songs from their upcoming release.  With no setlist guiding their performance the girls would shout out the names of the songs and jump into them.  Playing tracks like “Boys”, “Be A Brother”, and “Waste Away” it was clear that their sound had taken a turn from the country/punk feel their first album displayed so well.

Their new material mixed up 70’s rock with indie rock yet did not drop the sound where they came from.  It was a good sound that all in the house went crazy for.  I know I am not the only one excited for their upcoming release.  To make matters even better, Lynn was providing back-up vocals on some of the tracks while Nikki focused on her singing duties losing the guitar.  Every time the girls announced a new song was being played the crowd just stood their in great anticipation for what was going to come next.  I can honestly admit that there was not one new song they played that I did not like and I was not the only one who felt that way.  These girls were turning heads at the Beachland and it was not just from their good looks.

Wrapping up their set they played “Red Light Love”, “Wild One” and “Night Jogger”, a new track off their recently released 7″ split with Funsticks, a Jesse Darlin and Lynnwood side project.  Making things even more fun they played the Funsticks song that appears on the 45 as well.  Yeah, I might have picked one of those up al well…

This was one of the better shows I have been to as a whole seeing that I enjoyed all three bands that played.  I can not even tell you the last time that I was this entertained by acts I had never heard of before.  I went in there looking for a country/rock night and left with a whole other experience.  Henry Wagons and the new material by Those Darlins were the major winners for me.

To think I almost skipped out on that show too.  I am so glad I talked myself out of it.  Totally worth it.

Folk, Indie, Music, New Release, Pop Rock, Punk, Review, Rock

Fake Problems – Real Ghosts Caught On Tape – Album Review

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There was a time and place when I liked the band Fake Problems because they sounded like some other band out there that I enjoyed that will remain unmentioned.  The similarities between them and this certain Gainsville, Fla. act I speak of were clear but never to be considered a rip off, at least to my ears.  I soon learned of their hard working antics, their harsh stories while touring and most of all their passion for what they love to do.

I recall the first Fake Problems release as being an enjoyable punk/folk sing-a-long jam while the follow-up showed a clear change in their style.  Now dropping Real Ghosts Caught On Tape,their third full length release, Fake Problems really have evolved from a one time punk rock sounding band into a fine-sounding rock n roll outfit that impresses me on a few different levels.

Still kicking it with Side One Dummy Records, the Naples, Fla. foursome is back with all new material bordering on more of an indie-rock feel without letting go of their roots.  There is this major fun change though that is heard throughout making me think that Fake Problems has pointed their style in a different direction almost hinting back to the 60’s.   Real Ghosts contains 11 toe tapping songs that will easily compliment any good day you are having.

The opening “ADT” won me over immediately.  I loved the drum playing, the white-collar rock n roll strums and of course the, dare I say, heartfelt lyrics.  It was easily the catchiest song on the track.  Following was “5678”, a more dance-causing, Electric Six sounding, jam worthy of multiple listens.  Again, another catchy track especially with the “everybody’s clapping along” chorus.

It’s not all about the fun though on the album, just listen to the lyrics on “Songs For Teenagers”, a beautifully done tune but with a saddened message about letdowns, suicide contemplation and drug use.  “Soulless” on the other hand was fun-major, if that makes sense, with tons of energy slapped into the 60’s-ish, girl doo-whopping track Phil Spector would even enjoy (I have the feeling I am not the only one who has said that but oh well…).

Real Ghosts is well written from start to finish and if anything, the band has proved on how they have matured as musicians.  With hints towards So.Cal. indie-rock and sandy beach jams they have not forgeotten where they came from.  Real Ghosts is a whole more fun and a lot more mainstream friendly than their priors, but don’t be too quick to throw that “sellout” label at them.

In a sense sellouts happen because it there is a certain element that grabs attention – it happens all the time if you think about it (i.e. Gaslight Anthem, Flogging Molly, 1/2 the bands on the Warped Tour).  Sure, sometimes bands throw in a huge twist to earn more green in their wallets but this is not the case with Fake Problems.  They are a fun and hardworking act that dropped a great, fun album aimed at anyone out there who is looking for a upbeat and catchy album to listen to.

Movies, Music, Watch This

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

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Not sure why it took me so long to see a preview for the upcoming movie Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, but now that I saw it I am already making top secret arrangements with myself to see it in the theater.  The movie looks bad ass!  When I first heard about it I was like “Oh boy, another Michael Cera movie….woo”.

Then I saw the preview which completely changed my mind:

The dork in me loves the comic book / video game-like fighting scenes.  The hopeless romantic in me of course likes the whole boy-falls-in-love-with-girl-too-good-for-him-but-is-different-in-that-he-is-not-like-the-rest-and-she-falls-for-him.  The director, Edgar Wright, is the man behind Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz.   Add in a bitching soundtrack and it looks as if I am going to go to the movies this summer after all.   The soundtrack drops tomorrow and the movie premiers this weekend.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) track listing:
1. We Are Sex Bob-Omb – Sex Bob-Omb
2. Scott Pilgrim – Plumtree
3. I Heard Ramona Sing – Frank Black
4. By Your Side – Beachwood Sparks
5. O Katrina! – Black Lips
6. I’m So Sad, So Very, Very, Sad – Crash and the Boys
7. We Hate You Please Die – Crash and the Boys
8. Garbage Truck – Sex Bob-Omb
9. Teenage Dream – T. Rex
10. Sleazy Bed Track – The Bluetones
11. It’s Getting Boring By The Sea – Blood Red Shoes
12. Black Sheep – Metric
13. Threshold – Sex Bob-Omb
14. Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl – Broken Social Scene
15. Under My Thumb – The Rolling Stones
16. Ramona (Acoustic) – Beck
17. Ramona – Beck
18. Summertime – Sex Bob-Omb
19. Threshold 8 bit – Brian LeBarton

BONUS TRACKS Exclusive to iTunes Deluxe Edition
20. Garbage Truck – Beck
21. Threshold – Beck
22. Summertime – Beck
23. Black Sheep – The Clash at Demonhead

Folk, Hip Hop, Indie, Music, Music Video, New Release, Review, Rock

Sage Francis – LI(F)E – CD Review

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Hip-hop artist Sage Francis recently returned with LI(F)E, an all new album on ANTI- Records.  This time around the lyrical genius has tried a different approach to his music by asking for assistance from various musicians who provided personal selections for him to work with.  Skip the bass heavy beats and typical hip-hop soundtracks that have gone with many of his previous works, this time around LI(F)E proves to be Sage Francis’ most sundry work to date.

Having been a fan of Sage Francis since about the time Y2K seemed a threat, I have only gotten more thrilled in anticipation with each of his releases.  I never listened to his albums as much as I studied them.  The man always impressed me with his ability of taking words and formulating them into something intriguing all while accompanied with sometimes self-made hip-hop and even jazzy beats.  This comes from the guy who bought a Sage Francis hoodie from Sage himself a couple years back at one of his shows and did not even realize it was him until mid-way though our conversation.  Oops.

I had to admit I was stoked to see the album cover for LI(F)E was drawn up by contemporary street artist Shepard Fairey.  A young Sage Francis graces the cover and I later found out that it was a dated photo of Sage Francis reminding him of the harder times in life when he slept on the floors at his friend’s houses and just lived day by day.  Not getting down by this things have obviously changed for the better over the years.

“Little Houdini” opened up the album featuring music written by ex-Grandaddy turned solo artist Jason Lytle.  The music, previously written as an instrumental by Lytle, originally had no lyrics to go along with.  Once obtained Francis worked his magic and created a song focused around a fugitive who escaped custody to see his dying mother based from actual events.  Francis had no problem putting his flair on top of the music and one would think both were written at the same time.  The song was one of the better cuts on the entire album.

“Three Sheets To The Wind”, featuring music by Chris Walla of Death Cab For Cutie continued with a appealing track but it just did not match up to the opening track  The questionable “I Was Zero” started out great until Sage just inserted a weak refrain repeating  “when I came out my momma, I was zero”. For a seasoned hip hop artist that holds many wins on freestyle challenges in the past I felt more effort could have been put forth in this track lyrically.  Perhaps my expectations were set high for Sage and I should include that some of the lines he flows out during the song contained amazing selections of words but the music provided perfect for a rap of sorts with a generic chorus killed it for me.

I enjoyed “Slow Man”, a slow folky track summing up the thoughts in many aging individuals, if not Sage himself.  If Sage’s voice had more baritone in it on “Diamond’s & Pearls” I swear I would have been listening to Everlast.  The impressive “The Baby Stays” was a profound story based around the results of a redundant establishment called life only to succumb to the new outlook at the result between an unlikely pair.  The folk soundtrack, courtesy of Tim Rutili, aided Sage to the very ideal story about an unwanted life turning into the greatest thing ever.

Screaming children assist Sage in “London Bridge” a fun track full of random wonders and events in the world.  The song was fun and I think that is all it was meant to be featuring Sage, a bunch of kids, and once again Chris Walla.  Without looking too deep into it I left it at that and enjoyed it.

The late Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse) collaborated with Sage on “Love The Lie”, perhaps my favorite cut on the entire CD.  It was chilling to hear this song knowing that Linkous ended his life for reasons that will never be known.  The track was upbeat from start to finish and almost inspiring yet clearly full of sarcasm.  This is the kind of song you had to actually listen to in order to understand how Sage works.

“The Best Of Times” was another track on LI(F)E that I admired over the others.  The more spoken word track recalled personal stories of Sage making for a powerful close to an impressive release.  As if sitting there listening to Sage was not great enough the musicthat accompanied Sage’s verbal memory was created by Yann Tiersen.

I loved how the album ended as strong as it began.  Sure there were a couple head scratching tracks in there but overall LI(F)E was a pleasure to listen to.  It’s not a hip-hop album by any means but more of a carefully premeditated project from a guy who happens to be good at rapping.  It’s easy for anyone who is familiar with his older material to just not get it – it’s different.  Taking written music in favor of generated beats this round, Sage has created a branch off of what he loves to do and I honestly admire his doing.  Without sounding too cliché, give LI(F)E a chance.

Indie, Music, Music Video, Rock

Why so Frightened Rabbit?

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Scottish indie rock five-some Frightened Rabbit is a band I should have heard about long ago.  I should have all their albums in hand and I really should have checked out their show a couple weeks back when they graced Cleveland.

I should but I don’t and I did not.

The fact is until last week I had no interest in them.  Why?  I really do not know.  Sometimes I just pass up bands even when friends and reviews try to point me towards something good.  I can not say I have been in the indie rock mood recently either so I am sure that added to my neglect.

I admit, I missed out…  Thankfully a friend played them for me last week rather than telling me how good he thought they were.  I was intrigued and thanks to Kyle wanted some more.

I just finished checking out their latest release The Winter Of Mixed Drinks and I pretty much want to kick myself for turning my ear away from this amazing act.  It was good and when I say good, I mean collected and start to finish good.  Good as in the entire album could be on repeat for hours and during that recycled time not one song would become tiresome to listen to.  That is how I felt after I finished listening to Frightened Rabbit’s latest release.

Where I am not familiar with their older material I have made plans to  make sure that I change that in the near future.  They may still be borderline underground at the moment but with a full US tour presently going on that will end at this year’s Lollapalooza it is probably safe to say that will not be lasting long.

I am sure most of you have already heard about them already but if you have not and you are looking for something new you should get your hands on a copy of The Winter Of Mixed Drinks.  Why?  Because it’s good.

Here is an older track…I dig this too!