Rise and shine, all you gold digging mothers...

Feels like an ideal title for a post offering a live Kings of Leon bootleg...

Kings of Leon @ Big Day Out
Sydney, Australia || January 26, 2006

FM source: sounds great but there are a couple of radio promos thrown inbetween songs that distract from the 'live' ambiance... still crisp though...

1. Triple J Intro
2. Molly's Chambers
3. Pistol of Fire
4. Wasted Time
5. Razz
6. Soft
7. The Bucket
8. Milk
9. Four Kicks
10. King of the Rodeo
11. California Waiting
12. Spiral Staircase
13. Slow Nights, So Long
14. Trani
15. Head to Toe (out of order)

Great to hear a nice live version of "Trani." This song is rather surprising, in that it's a showstopper. I would generally assume the band would go out with a hard rocker, but the band picked well to make this their set closer... a slow burner, that just completely takes off at the end. Another reason why Kings of Leon is one of the best bands around right now. I'm anxiously awaiting the new album. The new songs they played when I saw them at Summerfest were already really strong.

(I've switched to using yourfilelink.com to host these songs. It is an easier DL process than rapidshare.de and offers the same link activity, etc. I think you can only DL one at a time, but that appears to be the only drawback. In general you should find it an improvement. As always, if you're not already supporting this band by buying their music, you should be ashamed.)

Bob Marley Live from Rotterdam

Back in the day, I had an amazing Bob Marley bootleg on tape from Holland's Ahoy Club. It was a a really crisp SBD -- especially considering it was recorded in 1978. Well, I lost the tape (left it in a friend's car and it got "lost") and vowed to try to get another copy of the show if at all possible.

After years of searching, I finally found it! I thought I'd post some highlights for anyone who wants to take a listen.

Bob Marley and the Wailers
Ahoy Hallen - Rotterdam, Holland
July 7, 1978

Setlist: Positive Vibration, The Heathen, Dem Belly Full, Concrete Jungle, Rebel Music, War > No More Trouble, Crisis, Running Away > Crazy Baldheads, I Shot the Sherrif, No Woman No Cry, Is This Love?, Jammin'.
Encore: Easy Skanking, Get Up Stand Up -> Exodus.

You do it to someone else...

Generally, I find tribute albums pretty unfulfilling. It is difficult for another artist to come in and recreate the brilliance of another's piece of work and most attempts just don't resonate. While the occasional cover can absolutely make a performer's live show, recording those versions are often a mistake.

That said, you have to hear this version of Radiohead's "Just" from the Exit Music tribute. DJ/producer Marc Ronson absolutely nails it. The song is completely reimagined with big band horns and Shaft guitars. It smokes... and is just the type of song that begs for mix tape inclusion.

Mark Ronson feat. Alex Greenwald || Just (Radiohead cover)

(Songs hosted by rapidshare.de will be avialable until one month past the last download activity. Please support the artists and purchase the music if you enjoy it.)

Conan O'Brien 1864 Baseball

There should be no argument that Conan is the funniest man in late night television. As good as he is on the set, however, he's at his best in segments like this one where his ability to think on the fly and improvise really shines. The Onion AV Club had a great interview with Conan last week. Well worth a read.

Brewgrass

Thinking of hitting up the Brewgrass Microbrew & Music Festival in a couple of weeks. I haven't seen Keller and think this might be a good venue to accomplish that. Don't know much about a ton of the people playing, but this is the kind of thing that would probably be pretty cool irregardless of the music.

Patchchord has a contest for two free tickets (ends 9/6).

Live Log 2006

A list of the concerts I've seen in 2006...

16. The Raconteurs - 12/30, The Riviera Theatre (Chicago)
15. Keller Williams - 9/9, Brewgrass Music Festival (Bircham Park, Lawrence, KS)
14. Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals/Damien "Jr. Gong" Marley - 8/25, Starlight Theatre
13. Rusted Root - 7/3, Harley Davidson Roadhouse (Summerfest, Milwaukee)
12. Kings of Leon - 7/2, Miller Lite Oasis (Summerfest, Milwaukee)
11. Constantines/Oakley Hall - 6/19, recordBar
10. Starlight Mints/Dios (Malos) - 5/20, recordBar
09. Gomez - 5/15, Grand Emporium
08. Martin Sexton - 4/28, The Bottleneck
07. Destroyer/White Whale - 4/2, recordBar
06. Soledad Brothers/Heartless Bastards - 3/31, The Bottleneck
05. Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah/The Brunettes - 3/30, The Bottleneck
04. Wilco/Mess Hall - 3/21, Uptown Theater
03. Arctic Monkeys/Spinto Band - 3/18, The Metro (Chicago)
02. Railroad Earth/Hackensaw Boys - 3/8, The Bottleneck
01. Robert Randolph and the Family Band - 2/10, Uptown Theater

Three More Days...

Apparently Ray Lamontagne is a bit of a Sensitive Sally, but his new song is the balls.

Ray Lamontagne || Three More Days (from the upcoming Till the Sun Turns Black LP out on Aug. 29)

From my computer to Graham's...

Here's a mix (mostly of some crisp live tracks) to celebrate the new design of I Wonder Why We Listen to Poets...

Gold To Me > Fight For Your Mind || Ben Harper
(Summer '96 Mix)

Here Comes the Breeze || Gomez
(Live from Chicago '98)

Twist || Mike Gordon & Leo Kottke
(Live from World Cafe, Phish cover)

Blue Ridge Laughing || Carbon Leaf
(Ether... the first CL song I really got into)

The Weight || Travis
(b-side from the Coming Around single)

Astral Weeks || Secret Machines
(Van Morrison cover, Road Leads Where It's Led EP)

Staring at the Sun || The Subways
(live, TV On the Radio cover)

Better Man/Save It For Later || Pearl Jam
(live 9-11-98)

More on the Whigs

Scratch that "Southern Strokes" thing from yesterday ("Technology" does ape "Take It Or Leave It" though). If Parker Gispert was Britt Daniel, you would have already heard this:

The Whigs || Half the World Away (from Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip)

I had the chance to give Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip a listen last night and it has some pretty good parts. The middle gets a little same-y, but the two closing tracks and a couple of other stand-outs (see above) are really solid and show that the band has the potential to grow into its own style.

If they sound a little like Spoon in the meantime, that's not that bad either.

Tracking: The Whigs

Rolling Stone calls them:

"A fiery, young and timelessly tuneful rock trio from Athens, Georgia -- may well be the best unsigned band in America."

ATO Records took care of that last part, by signing them and re-releasing their debut Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip. ATO generally doesn't go wrong with its artist roster (Mike Doughty, North Mississippi All-Stars, etc.) so you know they're worth a listen.

Sometimes it just takes a week.

Every once in awhile while I'm actually hard at work, my iTunes will wander. Most of the time I know where it goes, however, sometimes a song from uncharted territory will find its way into the queue. The Whigs, specifically "Technology" found the balance between being instantly familiar and being unable to place the song/artist playing from my computer.

I never thought Kings of Leon's "Southern Strokes" label fit the Followill brothers all that well, but the Whigs of Athens, Ga., might be the band that wears that brand well -- at least with "Technology." The song is a looser take on "Take It Or Leave It," full taut guitars, vocal distortion and that rhythm the Strokes practically invented back in Ought-one.

More:
eMusic
thewhigs.com

The Whigs || Technology (Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip)
The Whigs || Don't Talk Anymore (Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip)

(Songs are for sampling purposes only. Hosted by rapidshare.de and are available until 30 days after the last download. Please support the band however you can. Thanks.)

Dude, I missed July...

Sometimes it takes a break to show you who your readers are... because they yell at you and tell you that you had better stop being such a slacker and post something soon... or else. Well, no promises on discontinuing my slacker ways, but here's some good stuff I've been checking out recently.

Drive By Truckers || Gravity's Gone

Great chorus:

"So I'll meet you at the bottom if there really is one / They always told me when you hit it you'll know / But I've been falling so long / I feel like gravity is gone / And I'm just floating"

The Black Keys || Have Mercy On Me

From the Keys' Chulahoma tribute to Jr. Kimbrough. A bit of a break from the Black Keys' minimalist two-man blues stomp, the songs on this album see the guys stretch out a bit more. I wish there were more than six songs on this one. Hopefully you'll see some of this vibe work its way into the upcoming release of Magic Potion (due out Sept. 12).

Well, I've got to run out for the day. I have a working computer at home now, so maybe I'll try to post more from there. Enjoy for now!

The Secret Machines

I've become a big fan of the Secret Machines' latest effort Ten Silver Drops of late. The Brooklyn-via-Austin three-piece has been burning up my iPod for the last few weeks.

A perfect soundrack for traveling -- or perhaps, time traveling -- TSD makes any trip feel epic, be it flying home for the weekend or heading out to the grocery store. Every time I hear "Lightning Blue Eyes" I feel like something significant is poised to happen.

Thanks to the Live Music Blog for championing the band and posting the picture (second one down) that made it essential I check them out. Sometimes getting turned on to new music takes the perfect synergy of strong reviews, positive endorsements and a stunning visual hook. Secret Machines seem to have all of that and more.

Secret Machines || Lightning Blue Eyes
Secret Machines || 1,000 Seconds

I've recently purchased the group's spectacularly-titled debut Now Here Is Nowhere, so hopefully I'll have the chance to dig deep into that one soon as well. From what I've read, it is a pretty stellar effort and I'm excited to check it out.


(Songs hosted by rapidshare.de until they have been inactive for 30 days. The intent is to preview, so please support the band any way you can.)

Live: The Constantines/Oakley Hall

recordBar || Kansas City, MO

Monday, June 19, 2006

While some people in the Windy City got to see a life-affirming Radiohead show last night, those of us who weren't able to score tickets had to find other things to keep us occupied. For that I turned to Canada; taking solace in the season finale of our northern neighbors' national sport and a show by the Constantines, who -- if they are not already -- should be the country's national rock band, Tragically Hip be damned.

The Constantines are the current torch-bearers to the legacy of Joe Strummer, creating earnest, driving rock music for the people. Despite the intimate crowd, there were the makings of an epic experience from the beginning. Lead vocalist Bryan Webb sounds like he's singing through gravel, and the hard-won vocal style fits the band's blue collar persona.

Lyrically, the band's songs play populist. One of the night's standout moments came in "Sub-Domestic." Behind a loose delta blues vamp, Webb's line "seeking out a living through the postures of politics" is weighted with sharp contempt for a political system that rewards fake and ineffective politicos to the detriment of anyone else.

Seriousness aside, the Constantines really only seem to care about one thing: the rock. Up close you can appreciate the constant comparisons to Springsteen the band receives. It is not necessarily the music, but more the band's work ethic that draws the more potent parallel. Keyboardist Will Kidman and bassist Dallas Werhle play convincing rock star roles, providing energy and excitement to the stage show, while Webb inhabits the more austere role of the serious artist. Combined they create a force to reckon with, a band that sounds much larger than their venue.

The Constantines || Shine a Light [from Shine a Light LP, 2003]
The Constantines || Nighttime/Anytime (It's Alright) [from Shine a Light LP, 2003]
The Constantines || Sub-Domestic [from Shine a Light LP, 2003]


(Songs are hosted by rapidshare.de and are available until they have been inactive for 30 days. Songs are provided for sampling purposes and those that download should try to support the bands in any and every way possible.)

Live: Starlight Mints/Dios Malos

Record Bar || Kansas City, Mo. || May 20, 2006

Went for Dios, was redeemed by the Starlight Mints. Saturday night's set at the recordBar was a study in contrast. I had known a little about Dios Malos going into the night and was looking forward to seeing how they played out; my feeling now is that Dios is one of those bands that is well suited for the recording studio with their brand of melodic, too-indie-for-The OC Cali rock. Live, the vocal melodies that define the records take a back seat to the muddled sounds of the band's playing. I've come to trust recordBar's sound system for its quality, so there was something in the Dios mix that didn't quite gel.

The kicker is that there are some really interesting songs I've heard on the albums, so it was dissapointing to have them sound so one-dimensional at the show. On the plus side, I've never seen rhythm guitar played exclusively on a 12-string.

The feeling of dissapointment was short-lived, however, as a band I knew nothing of before their set, proved to be immensely entertaining. The Starlight Mints play light-hearted indie pop, that is too weird to be mainstream, but too infectious to be dismissed. The stage show was impressive, as the Norman, Okla., five-piece played with multi-colored background images that moved and changed to the music, turning the recordBar from intimate dive to de facto art house.

The Mints' energetic pacing played nicely following Dios' stoner-friendly plodding, making the Mints' set feel that much more fresh. However, while Dios is a band I'll still check out on CD (okay, download), I'm nervous that the Starlight Mints lose something in a singular-media format. The songs were good, but the mixed-media presentation gave them more depth.

In all, it was a night that inspired compound adjectives, good and bad. In the end, that's all you can really ask for from your $8.

Hear the Starlight Mints on myspace (check "The Bandit").
Hear Dios Malos on myspace (check "Feels Good Being Somebody").

Gomez on KEXP

I failed in ripping Gomez on Morning Becomes Eclectic this morning (ugh!), but I did capture the Ben, Ian and Tom's in-studio performance on Seattle's KEXP a few weeks ago. The set is pretty standard, but does showcase a good portion of How We Operate. I'm a big fan of "Chasing Ghosts With Alcohol."

Live on KEXP (March 21, 2006)
1. How We Operate
2. Hamoa Beach
3. Chasing Ghosts
4. girlshapedlovedrug

Check out the streaming performance from MBE here. The live, extended "How We Operate" is worth a listen. Songs played were: Notice, See the World, HWO, Interview, Hamoa Beach, gsld and Chasing Ghosts.

Live: Gomez

I've been really enjoying the new Gomez effort, How We Operate. The band has created a strong set of songs that sound very refined, but without sacrificing the essence of what has made them a great band -- the songs are polished, but Gomez sounds very loose. The band's signature diversity is still present, but is presented in a way that doesn't isolate a song or group of songs as prior albums had at times. After four proper albums, Gomez finally play to their stregths all the way through, namely Ben Ottewell's raspy vocal and a strong sense of melody.

ATO Records has done a strong promotional job behind the release as well, something Gomez deserves after Virgin glossed over it last two efforts. The title track, and lead single in the U.S., is one of the band's best songs to date. I'm still not sold on the lead U.K. single (and presumably the second U.S. release) "girlshapedlovedrug." The album's lone plateau, the song isn't catchy enough to make it stand out from its competition on radio, nor enough of the band's signature sound to further the Gomez brand. A fine song, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't shine like so much of the album. A record label wouldn't be brave enough to release it, but I think "Cry On Demand" would be a stellar choice to release to radio. It isn't Ben sung, but it's both interesting and poppy enough to be a player on the major rock radio formats. My release schedule would be as follows (planned U.S. releases in parenthesis):

1. How We Operate
2. All Too Much (girlshapedlovedrug)
3. Cry On Demand (See the World)

Grand Emporium || Kansas City, Mo. || May 15, 2006
On Monday night, I had the chance to see the band play live, packt like sardines in the tiny Grand Emporium. The band was dynamic as always and proved itself to be one of the better live bands around.

Setlist: Shot Shot, All Too Much, Silence, See the World, Nothing Is Wrong, Ping One Down, Notice, Blue Moon Rising, "Who's taping Grey's Anatomy?", How We Operate, Ruff Stuff, Hamoa Beach, Girlshaped, Detroit Swing 66, Tear Your Love Apart, Fill My Cup, Get Myself Arrested.
Encore: Chasing Ghosts, Devil Will Ride, Whippin' Piccadilly.

"How We Operate" is already an amazing live song, the band take it for a little walk when the song-proper winds down; it also served as the marker when the night really started to pick up some momentum and the Monday night crowd started to loosen up, a bit. "Ruff Stuff" and Ben's brilliant delivery on the "Come backs" was the tipping point and the remaining laggards in the crowd were overwon.

Tomorrow, I'll put up some live stuff from recent radio sets. I'll also try to update more steadily. It's hard to think what I'm listening to is post-worthy, since it's either Gomez or albums that I didn't dive into when they were released (Elbow, Bloc Party) or have covered already (Both Sides of the Gun).

Gomez Tonight!

I'm going to see Gomez tonight. Full report tomorrow.

Tuesday Boozeday...

At least, if you're from Detroit...

• Pearl Jam and Gomez released albums today.
• Pearl Jam is airing a "second" set of tunes from its new album and some old favorites from the Ed Sullivan Theater on May 4. After recording its segment for Letterman, the band will return to the stage for a special webcast at cbs.com tentatively scheduled to start at 5:45 p.m. ET.
• Make sure to enter Muzzle of Bees' Gomez contest. You can win a copy of How We Operate, an autographed poster and a limited-edition single. All you have to do is say where you'd like to visit.
• Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood played three new songs last night during a benefit at KOKO in London. You can check out mp3s of Arpeggi, Bodysnatchers, Cymbal Rush here.
• In other Radiohead news, tickets for its North American dates in June go on sale this weekend. Certainly some of the hottest tickets this summer. Chicago shows on June 19-20 hit the net on May 6.
• Give your TiVo a late night workout, Ben Harper is the guest on Last Call with Carson Daly for the rest of the week.
• In "Your Band is Way Too Famous" news, Dave Matthews Band was joined onstage by The Edge at Jazz Fest last weekend. He played electric on "Smooth Rider."

Steve Yzerman exits the ice after what may be his last NHL game.

Martin Sexton Bottleneck mp3s

As promised, here are some mp3s of Martin Sexton's amazing performance from Friday night. "Can't Stop Thinking 'Bout You" is one of those songs that has stayed out of the limelight for me off of Martin's Black Sheep album. It really demanded attention on Friday night. Martin really dug into the vocals and played up the blues angle. "Glory Bound > She Cries and Sings" was a huge highlight for me. One of my favorite songs, it was my first chance to see "Glory Bound" live. Thanks to KCMoeJoe for taping; please visit archive.org to grab the full lossless show.

Martin Sexton live at the Bottleneck
Can't Stop Thinking 'Bout You
Glory Bound >
She Cries and Sings

Live: Martin Sexton

Friday night was Martin Sexton. I had almost forgotten how inspiring his shows can be, especially in the close confines of a venue like the Bottleneck. The last two times I had seen Martin were festival sets (at Wakarusa and opening for Robert Randolph/Los Lonely Boys at City Market) and didn't nearly do justice to the experience.

Among the best shows I have seen of late, I was amazed by the feeling of community Martin creates throughout the night. Part of it through awe -- in many ways his performance defies logic, with so many different sounds from just one person on stage -- but part of it through the active role you play as a member of the crowd. I don't know if I've had more fun singing, clapping and echoing. There's something about it that's just sublime. My friends hadn't seen Marty before and they were blown away as well. It is one thing to hear, but another thing to see and feel.

A performance of "Hallelujah" from Martin's Earth Day set outside of Grand Central Station as part of the Green Apple Music Festival:



One of our great local tapers, KCMoJoe, has already uploaded the show to archive.org. I will be downloading from work first thing tomorrow and will try to post some highlights here after that.

Martin Sextin at the Bottleneck (Lawrence, KS) - April 28, 2006
Setlist: Angeline, Diggin' Me, Freedom Of The Road, Hallelujah, The Beast In Me, Where Did I Go Wrong, Diner, My Faith Is Gone, Free World, Can't Stop Thinking 'Bout You, Glorybound > She Cries and Sings, Gypsy Woman
Encore: Love Keep Us Together, Turn On Your Lovelight > This Little Light of Mine > Turn On Your Lovelight