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Playing Catch-Up
Here are 6 recent live shows (in reverse chronological order, not order of preference) and 4 records I’ve yet to get to writing about on here in recent weeks.
Mike Watt with Like and Split Red – North Star Bar (Philadelphia) – October 11, 2012
Last night’s show was very similar to the last time Watt played here. He did all of his most recent album hyphenated-man with his crack, Minutemen-like backing band. They came back out after the 45-minute sonic assault to play an even more fun set of Jimi Hendrix, Wire and Minutemen songs. It was great. I enjoyed it more this time due to being more familiar with hyphenated-man and to not being as tired! Long live Mike Watt and the spirit of The Minutemen!
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – World Cafe Live (Philadelphia) – October 5, 2012
This was my first time seeing JSBX and boy did they deliver. Playing an approximately 40-minute set of stomping, shitkicking blues rock that sounds like Hound Dog Taylor & The Houserockers, but with a bit more punk rock attitude, they had everyone in attendance captivated and some folks even danced!
The Raveonettes with Melody’s Echo Chamber – Union Transfer (Philadelphia) – October 4, 2012
Please see my full review here
Wild Nothing with DIIV and Blonds – Union Transfer (Philadelphia) – September 21, 2012
I unfortunately didn’t get to catch most of Wild Nothing’s set because I spent most of their set interviewing DIIV for the next issue of this magazine, but what I caught sounded absolutely fantastic. Jack Tatum has gotten better as a live performer each time I’ve seen Wild Nothing now and the new album Nocturne has grown on me as a result of seeing a sliver of his set.
As for DIIV themselves, they put out a typically great performance and this was now the 3rd time I’ve seen them in this last 5 months. Talk about a hard-touring outfit and they’ll be back at the same venue in December opening for Japandroids!
David Byrne and St. Vincent – Tower Theater (Upper Darby, PA) – September 27, 2012
I hadn’t heard a note of this collaboration (other than one song) before seeing it live and I was mightily impressed. I’ve never seen a show like this that incorporates a marching brass section, dance and art-pop in quite the same way!
Joe Jackson and The Bigger Band – Keswick Theatre (Glenside, PA) – September 20, 2012
Backed by percussionist Sue Hadjopolous, multi-instrumentalist Alison Cornell, violinist Regina Carter and several other musicians, Jackson effortlessly fused his oft-kilter versions of Duke Ellington compositions (which were much more enjoyable here than on record) with classics from his back catalog mainly focusing on selections from 1982’s Night and Day, 1984’s Body and Soul. We did get a few selections from his 1st 2 albums, though, notably re-worked versions of “Is She Really Going Out with Him” and “It’s Different for Girls”. As always, Jackson (a terrific live performer) put on a terrific show.
Converge – All That We Love We Leave Behind (Epitaph)
I have to admit that though they’ve been around since 1990, I’ve resisted the charms of Boston hardcore band Converge until listening to this album. Upon hearing this, though, I want to get their entire back catalog because this album is flat-out awesome. That is, of course, if you are predisposed to early to mid ’90s style brutal metalcore ala the best of the genre like Rorschach, Deadguy, Integrity, Ringworm and the like. Dual, crust-like vocals (featuring amazing backups by guitarist Kurt Ballou), Ebullition-style heartfelt earnestness and screaming and a sonic attack that combines raw power with technical precision more commonly associated with death metal makes this a really awesome listen and a type of record rarely heard in 2012. And this is their 8th album! Thanks once again to Greg Polard for turning me on to this.
Freelove Fenner – Pineapple Hair EP (Fixture)
Although I was sent a link to this Montreal band’s new 6-song EP by accident (it was meant to go to fellow write Matt Lee), I’m glad it was sent to me as I really enjoy this record. This is female-fronted indie-pop, but otherwise kind of hard to pin down. I hear the echoes of Young Marble Giants‘ formidable influence on a few tracks, though. You can try it (and buy the limited-edition cassette) here.
The Yellow Melodies – How I Learned to Love TVP (The Beautiful Music)
Part of this great Canadian label’s ongoing Television Personalities tribute series, this volume finds the long running Spanish power-poppers enjoyably paying tribute to Dan Treacy‘s long-running outfit by covering five TVP classics like “Look Back in Anger,” “14th Floor” and others.
Fear of Men Green Sea EP (Sexbeat)
Thanks to Geoff Wardzinski for turning me on to this one. This is a year-old UK band with a demo and several 7” singles, the second most recent one of which is this, released back in June. Though the label name is no doubt inspired by the great Gun Club song “Sex Beat” and though the name makes me think of old UK grindcore band Fear of God, this record is absolutely nothing like either of those. Instead, this is light, breezy but fun female-fronted indie-pop very much in the same wheelhouse as the more well-known Allo Darlin. The B-side “Born” is a particularly standout. Hear it here.
