Tag: rock ‘n’ roll photog

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Alex Greenwald: Balisong (She Told Me So)

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Balisong (She Told Me So) is a teaser from Alex Greenwald’s as-yet-untitled (and unreleased) solo record, which – and I say this with bemused affection – I have been referring to as “Nessie”, since I do sometimes feel like I’m sitting on the edge of a dark Highland loch with a toy radio, waiting for static-filled fin sightings.

And, too, when (if?) I do ever get to write about it, there will be a certain amount of myth and legend (i.e. out-of-date Wikipedia notes) to untangle.

But until such time as it glides to the surface, there is this song, which is a love song for a knife, and is made of many dark, shimmery layers:

BALISONG (SHE TOLD ME SO) by ALECKSU

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Jon Gant & His Band: A Rough Start to the Night

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A Rough Start to the Night is Canadian singer/songwriter Jon Gant‘s eighth album. It was recorded in Calgary with Lorrie Matheson, and Gant’s new band, which is Scott Munro (Chad Vangaalen, Gunther) on upright bass, Chris Dadge (Lab Coast, Samantha Savage Smith) on Drums, Chris Vail (Key To The City) on mandolin and Lawrence Nasen (No River) on banjo.

Gant’s been around for a while and done some hard traveling, and on this record, it shows. Though while these songs are world-weary, only two – Broad Street and That Way Again are really sad.

My favorites are the love songs: And I Always Will and Wild Irish Girl.

The former is wry and sweet – sample lyrics: I used to tell you through the radio / but the radio don’t play my songs anymore / I’m hoping somehow this song will make it to your stereo/I just want you to know / I love you / and I always will – and got me to thinking about both love songs and radio songs and the sometimes fleeting nature of both.

It’s also interesting as part of a dialogue, of a kind, a third voice in a conversation between Courtney Love’s Boys on the Radio and the Felice Brothers Radio Song.

The latter is an “I will always come home to you” song with a clap-and-sing-along chorus, and I have a special fondness for that sort of thing. Here it is so all y’all can appreciate it with me:
 

Plus also some videos. The first one is for Never Gonna See Me Again:
 
http://youtu.be/jTaeRuk-89M
 

And the second one is for Motorville:
 
http://youtu.be/lRNIn3_1j8c
 

If you like what you hear, you can get the rest of the record and a big chunk of Gant’s back catalogue at bandcamp.

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Dolly Varden: Mouthful of Lies

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Dolly Varden is: Steve Dawson (vocals, guitars, piano), his wife Diane Christiansen (vocals, guitar, organ), Mark Balletto (back-up vocals, guitars, lap steel), Mike Bradburn: (back-up vocals and bass) and Matt Thobe (back-up vocals, drums and piano). My favorite fact about them is that they named their band after a “rare and beautiful trout” that was named after a character in Charles Dickens’ short novel Barnaby Rudge and not, as it may sound, after Dolly Parton.

They are from Chicago, and Mouthful of Lies is actually their debut album from way back in 1995, freshly remixed and remastered and returned to the world. It’s a little bit like a time capsule: there’s some grunge echoes in there, some shoe-gaze-y filigree around the edges, and a couple that have some sweet pop shimmer.

This is the title track:
 

Dolly Varden "Mouthful Of Lies"

 
And this is the one I go back to over and over again:
 

 

And you can hear the rest of the record at their bandcamp page!

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Postcards from the Pit: TESLA / Built By Stereo, Irving Plaza, 2/17/12

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IMG_5237TESLA, on the 25th Anniversary of the Five Man Acoustical Jam.

 I waited 25 years for this show, and it was worth every minute. The experience was all the sweeter because I made new friends in the line, and they saved me a spot on the rail. So not only did I get to see a band I never thought I’d be able to see live, but I got to be up close and personal with them while I was at it. Best Valentine’s Day present I bought for myself ever!

Built By Stereo opened the show. They rocked as hard as they possibly could without falling off their chairs. I was especially impressed with their drummer, who brought some real power and pizzazz to their set. Here are some pictures of them:
 

IMG_5124The left half of Built by Stereo: Brandon Hood (bass) and Daniel Espinoza (vocals, guitar).

 

IMG_5121And the right half, with part of the left: Daniel Espinoza again, and also Derek Diesen (drums) and Tony Ricker (guitar).

 
And then it was time for TESLA. In the early ’90s they got lumped in with other “hair metal” bands largely, I suspect, because they had long hair. (And because early on they toured with Poison, Def Leppard and David Lee Roth.) But they really aren’t hair metal. They sit at the intersection of Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead – both of whom they covered at this show – and they have a much bluesier, jammier sound.

I got into them somewhere around the original release of Five Man Acoustical Jam (1990), and, while missed seeing them when they toured on that record, their covers of Lodi (CCR) and Signs (Five Man Electrical Band) were on a whole bunch of my high school mixtapes. They didn’t play Lodi at this show, but they did do a rousing rendition of Signs as the final song of the evening.

Before that they played a mixture of old and new material, including Hang Tough , Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out), 2nd Street, Better Off Without You and, of course, Love Song. The cover songs were Comin’ Atcha Live/Truckin’, which is a combination of TESLA and the Grateful Dead; Thank You by Led Zepplin; and I Love You, by the Climax Blues Band.
 

IMG_5150Jeff Keith; his trademark rasp is still intact.

 

IMG_5145Brian Wheat, sitting on his bad-ass acoustic perch.

 

IMG_5136The bad-ass acoustic perch, sans Brian Wheat. My corner of the rail totally wanted one of those for our offices.

 

IMG_5159Jeff Keith and Frank Hannon

 

IMG_5178Dave Rude, who they found on MySpace, after original guitarist Tommy Skeoch left the band. True story!

 

IMG_5194Frank Hannon wearing an electric guitar while playing an acoustic that was mounted on a stand. He switched off between them during the song.

 

IMG_5198Troy Luccketta, in one of my all-time favorite drummer pictures.

 

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Brian Wheat and one of the several basses he had with him.

 

IMG_5213A whole-band shot. Brian Wheat is at the keyboard and hidden behind his Wall of Basses, but he’s in there!

 

IMG_5248Dave Rude and Brian Wheat

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Love You Through The Storms: David C. Clements, The Longest Day in History

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The Longest Day in History [free Bandcamp download!], an EP from David C. Clements (formerly Captain Cameron) and contains only two songs. But they are stunning beautiful songs.

The first song is called Hurricane, and it is full of lyrical gems. It’s also a six and a half minute showcase for Clements’ magnificently supple and expressive voice.

 

 

The second song, Not Sleeping, is tiny bit more uptempo than Hurricane but no less compelling. Here is a video of him singing it at at Love Lounge, recorded by Pigmint:

 

David C. Clements – Not Sleeping – Live at Love Lounge from Pigmint on Vimeo.

 

And then there’s also his cover of Lana Del Ray’s Video Games, originally recorded live on the BBC Radio Ulster program Across The Line. I have a lot of deeply complicated feelings about that song, but his rendition has sunk its claws into my brain-meats and I cannot stop listening to it.

 

 

Finally, here’s a video Bandwith Sessions made last November at the Halloween Hoedown at the Ulster Hall, where Clements performed as his former incarnation Captain Cameron. The song is called In December.

 

David C Clements / Live @The Ulster Hall, Belfast

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2011: A Year In Pictures, Pt. 4 – October – December

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Love Crushed Velvet, The Norwood, October 2011

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The Tower & The Fool, Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI, October 2011

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Eric Nally, Foxy Shazam, Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI, October 2011

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Brendon Urie (Panic! at the Disco) and the lucky bra, Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI, October 2011

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Foxy Shazam, Starland Ballroom, November 2011

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Patrick Stump, Starland Ballroom, November 2011

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Brendon Urie (Panic! at the Disco), Starland Ballroom, November 2011

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Panic! at the Disco, Starland Ballroom, November 2011

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Thomas Dybdahl, Beacon Theater, December 2011

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Tori Amos, Beacon Theater, December 2011

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HOLIDELIC, Joe’s Pub, December 2011

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2011: A Year in Pictures, Pt. 3 – July – September

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You Won’t, Scyamore, July 2011

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The Maples, Sycamore, July 2011

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The Dead Ex’s, Bowery Electric, July 2011

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Gin Blossoms, BB Kings, July 2011

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The New York Dolls, Camden, NJ, July 2011

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Bret Michaels (Poison), Camden, NJ, July 2011

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Motley Crue, Camden, NJ, July 2011

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Crazy Band, The Smell, Los Angeles, July 2011

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Audacity, The Smell, Los Angeles, July 2011

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Nick Murray (White Fence), The Smell, Los Angeles, July 2011

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Welldiggers Banquet, The Echo, July 2011

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Grant Langston & The Supermodels, The Echo, July 2011

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Ruby Friedman Orchestra, The Echo, July 2011

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Manchester Orchestra, Jones Beach, August 2011

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Frank Iero and Mikey Way (My Chemical Romance), Jones Beach, August 2011

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Widowspeak, Bowery Ballroom, August 2011

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White Fence, Bowery Ballroom, August 2011

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Ducktails, Bowery Ballroom, August 2011

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Woods, Bowery Ballroom, August 2011

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Shaggy and Bebe Rexha (Black Cards), Central Park Summerstage, September 2011

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Nick Santino (A Rocket to the Moon), T5, September 2011

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William Beckett (The Academy Is . . .), T5, September 2011

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Travie McCoy (Gym Class Heroes), T5, September 2011

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Gabe Saporta (Cobra Starship), T5, September 2011

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Lucas Carpenter, The Sidewalk Cafe, September 2011

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Mark Rose, The Sidewalk Cafe, September 2011

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Jon Walker, The Sidewalk Cafe, September 2011

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Brett Detar, the bell house, September 2011

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Nick13, the bell house, September 2011

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Hugh Pool Band, Hill Country BBQ, September 2011

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Shooter Jennings, Hill Country BBQ, September 2011

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Nick Kinsey (The Diamond Doves), Webster Hall, September 2011

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Nicole Atkins and the Black Sea, Webster Hall, September 2011

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Ian Felice and Christmas (The Felice Brothers), Webster Hall, September 2011

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2011: A Year In Pictures – Pt. 2, April – June

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The Architects, T5, April 2011

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Neon Trees, T5, April 2011

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Gerard Way, My Chemical Romance, T5, April 2011

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Whitesnake, Irving Plaza, May 2011

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The Dig, Bowery Ballroom, May 2011

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Glasvegas, Bowery Ballroom, May 2011

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The Felice Brothers, the bell house, May 2011

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Foxy Shazam, T5, May 2011

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fun., T5, May 2011

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Spencer Smith, Panic! at the Disco, T5, May 2011

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Brendon Urie, Panic! at the Disco, T5, May 2011

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Sharon Little, High Line Ballroom, June 2011

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John Batiste Band, High Line Ballroom, June 2011

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Fred LeBlanc, Cowboy Mouth, High Line Ballroom, June 2011

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Follower, Studio at Webster Hall, June 2011

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The Constant, The Studio at Webster Hall, June 2011

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Sean van Vleet, Empires, Studio at Webster Hall, June 2011

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Emily Zuzik, The Living Room, June 2011

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2011: A Year In Pictures Pt. 1 – January to March

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Bobby Bare, Jr., Brooklyn, January 2011

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Carey Kotsionis, Brooklyn, January 2011

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Carey Kotsionis, City Winery, January 2011

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Bobby Bare, Jr., City Winery, January 2011

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Rhett Miller, City Winery, January 2011

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Black Bells and Roger Greenawalt, Beatles on the Ukelele, Brooklyn Bowl, January 2011

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The Zambonis and Roger Greenawalt, Beatles on the Ukelele, Brooklyn Bowl, January 2011

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Love Crushed Velvet and Roger Greenawalt, Beatles on the Ukelele, Brooklyn Bowl, January 2011

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Melissa Ward and Roger Greenawalt, Beatles on the Ukelele, Brooklyn Bowl, January 2011

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Edie Brickell, Radio City Music Hall, January 2011

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Sam Beam (Iron & Wine), Radio City Music Hall, January 2011

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Wye Oak, Beacon Theater, January 2011

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The Decemberists, Beacon Theater, January 2011

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Walk the Moon, Bowery Ballroom, February 2011

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Spencer Smith and Brendon Urie, Panic! at the Disco, Bowery Ballroom, February 2011

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You & Me & Everyone We Know, shortly before the band imploded, High Line Ballroom, February 2011

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Greta Morgan of Gold Motel, High Line Ballroom, February 2011

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Hellogoodbye, High Line Ballroom, February 2011

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Moving Mountains, Gramercy Theatre, February 2011

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Biffy Clyro, Gramercy Theatre, February 2011

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Tongue In Public, Crash Mansion, February 2011

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ALEXCALIBUR, Crash Mansion, February 2011

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Charlotte Sometimes, Crash Mansion, February 2011

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Love Crushed Velvet, Crash Mansion, February 2011

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Alexis Foxe, Crash Mansion, February 2011

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Meat Loaf, Irving Plaza, February 2011

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Allman Brothers, Beacon Theater, March 2011

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So So Glos, T5, March 2011

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The Pogues, T5, March 2011

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Superchunk, Radio City Music Hall, March 2011

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Conor Oberst and Bright Eyes, Radio City Music Hall, March 2011

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Postcards from the Orchestra: Tori Amos / Thomas Dybdahl, Beacon Theater, 12/3/2011

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The last time I saw Tori Amos in concert was, I am pretty sure, somewhere around 1996, not long after she released Boys for Pele. So I may not have recognized very many of the songs on Saturday, but I can tell you this: her voice has only grown more beautiful with time. And while she’s not as angry as she used to be, she has lost absolutely none of the raw power that made (makes) her great.

On this particular tour, which is in support of her new record Night of the Hunters, she’s expanded her stage show to include the Apollon Musagète string quartet, and the overall effect is really, really lovely. The tour is still going; she’s in Toronto tomorrow (12/8) and will be swinging westward from there. Go see her if you can.

 

Meanwhile, here are some pictures from the evening:

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This one is from when she got up to talk to us, briefly, at the end, and is included at least in part because i really love her dress. It is my favorite color (red and sparkly!) and, though you can’t see it here, came with a bubble-y cape-like thing on the back. It was dramatic and beautiful and perfect.

 

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And finally a few of Thomas Dybdahl, the singer/songwriter from Norway who opened the show. He has a lovely voice, a finely tuned sense of humor, and he got the Beacon Theater to sing with him on one chorus, which was awesome.

 

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