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T.S.O.L. with Shot Baker and F.O.D. – Barbary (Philadelphia) – June 5, 2011
Please see my full review here.
The Thirteen – Bookspace (Philadelphia) – June 5, 2011
Playing first on a bill of five bands at a converted warehouse and now bookstore (hence the name) and performance space with a rickety, makeshift stage, Philly’s revived (and now 3-piece since The Gerunds‘ guitarist Joe Iacovella is no longer involved, though bassist and Jukebox Zeros singer/guitarist Peter Santa Maria remains from the old lineup) band The Thirteen were invigorating. Playing mostly brand new, unrecorded songs and only one old one (“Bubblegum Crisis”, my favorite of their older tunes), they sounded like nothing less than Philly’s answer to Superchunk. It’s refreshing that with so much indie-rock as self-conscious and experimental for its own sake as it is, The Thirteen are a huge breath of fresh air. It’s nice that there are still some bands that remind one of a time back when all that was required was guitar, bass, drums, vocals, catchy hooks and a stripped-down aesthetic.
Pete Donnelly – house show (Philadelphia) – June 4, 2011
Playing in a courtyard in South Philly on a beautiful spring evening, Donnelly showcased mostly new, yet-to-be-released songs from a forthcoming solo album (finally, a follow-up to his almost impossible to track down 1999 effort Another Day on You), which was only released on cassette and of which only 50 copies were made). The new material sounds like a smorgasboard of ’70s rock stalwarts like that era’s Rolling Stones, The Faces or even Mink DeVille. Pete’s band included a sax player on some tracks, thus permeating the vibe even more and even reminding me of Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell on occasion. In other words, these songs would’ve been huge on FM or maybe even AM radio in the ’70s and it’s groove-oriented and loose, a perfect soundtrack for a beautiful spring evening.
Dengue Fever with The Eternals – World Cafe Live (Philadelphia) – June 9, 2011
Please see my full review here.
The Thirteen – The Secret History of The Thirteen_ (self-released)
Though they played only one song (the great “Bubblegum Crisis”) from this sole 2008 album the other night and though they’re MUCH more energetic live, this is still a fine disc. I hope the follow-up is even better!
T.S.O.L. – Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Free Downloads (Hurley)
I’m still playing this early 2009 release, the most recent T.S.O.L. album and my favorite of the 3 records they’ve made in the last decade since their reunion. It’s too bad that keyboardist Greg Kuehn doesn’t tour with them since his playing is CRUCIAL to this release, T.S.O.L.‘s best album since 1982’s Beneath the Shadows.
The Feelies – Here Before (Bar/None)
I love The Feelies, but their records always take a long time to grow on me before I fully appreciate them. This one, their first in 20 years, is no exception. Carving out very similar territory in both sound and production to the Peter Buck-produced The Good Earth, the production on this one is definitely superior to their last 2 albums, Only Life and Time for a Witness (both on A&M). However, it’s an even mellower effort than The Good Earth, so for that reason it’s tougher to get into. Those who stick with it will find incredible moments like “Time is Right”, the album’s best track buried almost at the end, and other delights like “Morning Comes”.
Motörhead – The World is Yours (Future PLC/Motörhead Music)
This is Motörhead’s 20th studio album in their 36 year existence. I like it a lot. There are no blues/country ballads this time around as the whole thing just roars forth like one of frontman Lemmy Kilmister‘s revered steam-powered locomotives and never lets up for a second. What more do you need to know?
Best Coast – iTunes session EP (iTunes)
Though I love Best Coast on record, the previous live recordings I’ve heard by them haven’t been all that flattering. Thankfully, this is a huge exception. They sound great here with newly reworked versions of previously released material from their debut Lp Crazy for You (“Boyfriend,” “Our Deal” and the title track) alongside tracks from their many EPs like “When I’m With You” and “Something in the Way” that are honestly superior to the originals. There’s even a cover of Loretta Lynn‘s “Fist City” here. Definitely recommended.
Best Coast/Jeff the Brotherhood – “Sunny Adventure”/“Bummer” (Infinity Cat/Volcom)
The Best Coast song here is terrific. Simply put, “Sunny Adventure” is one of their best non-Lp songs. I can’t stop playing it. This was my first exposure to Jeff the Brotherhood and they remind me a lot of a more lo-fi Weezer. I like them, too, and this record is well worth picking up.
