If I See Yellow One More Time

It's that time of year—and that time of decade—when lists are aplenty. I'll have my own in the upcoming weeks, but, for now, I do have to comment on what other people and publications have come up with thus far. Specifically, the prevalence of the song "Yellow" by Coldplay. Really? Listen to it again. This is one of your favorite/most definitive/trailblazing/[pick your adjective of praise] song of the last decade? My apologies to Mr. Martin, but on my list, Coldplay is first among the most overrated bands of the last decade.

They Pulled Me Back In...Maybe

Just when I'd given up on Kings of Leon, having begrudgingly written them off as sell-outs who've become way too big for their own good, Caleb gives us evidence that there's hope for them yet. Somewhere beneath the media-whoring, Top 40, arena rock band shell of what KOL once was, there may still exist the no-frills southern rockers I came to love. From Spin Magazine:

"We definitely got bigger than we wanted to be," Caleb tells SPIN. "You feel like you've done something wrong. That woman in mom jeans who'd never let me date her daughter? She likes my music. That's fucking not cool. You almost start doing damage control: When people ask you to do stuff, you're like, 'No, because I can already tell this record is going to get to a level where people will fucking hate us.'"

And I was starting to. While I did enjoy Only By The Night, my feelings about it were tainted by how blatantly calculated it was. The album was made with the intention of catapulting the band to superstardom in America. (They'd enjoyed it in Britain for years.) I assumed the frenzy that followed had given them such swollen egos (Shortly after the album's release, Caleb bitterly greeted his adoring San Francisco fans, myself included, with "Thanks San Francisco. It's about time y'all finally caught on.") that they were creatively doomed. But they seem to have bitten off more than they could chew. This interview reveals that Caleb hasn't completely turned to mainstream mush. More importantly, he seems aware of the danger in that. With his rebellious streak comes a preference for the freedom that the periphery allows. At this point, it would be hard for them to veer too far from the spotlight, but at least they know when to stop climbing.

Vultures: The Show

I went to see Them Crooked Vultures with conflicting expectations. On the one hand, the band includes Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones, members of truly legendary rock bands, as well as Josh Homme, who fronts a band that isn't so bad either. With those three, how could it be bad?

It’s a Supergroup. That’s how. Characterized by its already famous members, the Supergroup is typically heavily hyped, slightly desperate and tainted by egos and nearsightedness.

Prior to seeing the Vultures, I listened to their album once through and thought it a decent rock album that starts out strong (No One Loves Me & Neither Do I exquisitely combines the styles of Zeppelin, QOTSA and Nirvana) and then slowly loses my attention. I enjoyed it...it just wasn't quite the thrill I'd inevitably anticipated. But I still wanted to see the show.

The thing is, I love Dave Grohl. So much so that I let that whole Foo Fighters thing slide. And this is not to discount the other Vultures band members, but he was the one who convinced me to pay $50 and drive across the Bay Bridge. Famous for power drumming but with an acute sense of timing, he can headbang, beat the crap out of the drums and flirt with the audience...all at the same time. Off the top of my head, I can think of maybe one other example of a drummer who can be that charismatic while drumming (Levon Helm of The Band, in case you were wondering). It's quite a unique and alluring talent. Sadly, I had never seen him live...I'd only learned this from geeking out to old videos of Nirvana and Queens of The Stone Age concerts. So, of course, I wanted the real thing. I was determined to see my favorite drummer behind the drum kit, and the Supergroup cliché wasn't about to stop me.

I must say I was blown away. Grohl shines bright with the gift of John Paul Jones as his rhythmic partner. And JPJ looks like he's having more fun than ever. He always seemed to hide in the shadows at Zeppelin concerts. (Again, old videos...given the blog's name, you shouldn't be surprised.) But he's the veteran in this group, and the confidence that results from this allows him to showcase his musicianship in a way that he never quite could while sharing the stage with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Josh Homme reinforces his strength as a front man. He's cocky and strange and flamboyant, making no effort to hide his love of the spotlight...and this is precisely what makes him so entertaining. He indulged himself in between the rousing rock songs with the trippy Interlude with Ludes, for which he ditched the guitar for a bottle of vodka, popped collars with JPJ and danced around like a drunk Wayne Newton. It was fantastic.

Them Crooked Vultures are indeed a Supergroup...but they are an example of what can happen when the chemistry is just right. Proficiency is a given, and their comfort with the instruments and ease in front of an audience mean they can have some fun with this venture. The result of this collaborative effort is an exemplary and electrifying show.

Indy Highlight: The Heavy

The Heavy are a refreshingly gritty rock band from Noid, England. They draw from musical genres they refer to as “the classics,” blending vintage rock, funk, soul, R&B and blues to create music that sounds vaguely familiar but isn't, because, while it mines from a host of influences, the sound of The Heavy is a beast all its own.

The band has an evident distaste for production technology, declining to put their music in a box and poke, prod and polish it before it reaches your ears.

“Most modern music sounds like computer games. There’s no guts, no rawness, no edge. It just sounds flat,” says guitarist Dan Taylor. “People are kind of listening to music with their eyes rather than their ears,” he says of today's producers.

These fellows see beauty in the imperfections, from brilliantly disgusting guitar sounds to hisses to microphones clunking about the studio. Which is why they love old records: “All the shit, basically, you can hear it. And it’s great,” says drummer Chris Ellul.

This beautiful rawness and soul is, for me, what makes their music so instantly seductive.

On stage and off, there’s a good dynamic between the band members. They sync up easily and play well off one another. They also appear to have complementary personalities, with the biggest one right where he belongs up front.

Evoking, at various times, the likes of Prince, Richard Manuel and James Brown, lead singer Kelvin Swaby’s vocal range is staggering. On stage, he channels scary, dirty blues singers like Howlin’ Wolf and Screamin' Jay Hawkins (the song "Sixteen" is a lift from the famous "I Put A Spell On You") while existing in a funky, sexy, boisterous presence that is completely his own. This man understands what it is to be a front-man, rather than just a lead singer. Swaby gives you a show.

With all the dirty lyrics and on-stage attitude, one may be surprised at how polite and down to earth they are. As they packed up their instruments and carried them to the van, I expressed surprise that they did this themselves. Taylor smiled and, with a shrug, said, "This part...it's so rock 'n' roll, isn't it?"

Them Crooked Vultures

Dave Grohl is, thankfully, back on drums. And in good company, with Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age and John Paul Jones, who needs no introduction. Supergroups are trendy these days, but having such legendary credits as Nirvana and Led Zeppelin makes this one stand out. I haven't even listened yet, but I certainly look forward to it. Their self-titled LP has an expected release of November 17th. More (but not much more) info is available on the band's website.

Avett Traction

I touched on these guys in the end of the last entry, but they warrant a bit more. So, in a nutshell, the Avett Brothers…

While their music most closely resembles bluegrass, it defies pigeonholing. Acoustic string instruments play fundamental roles with the distinctive banjo twang standing out among them. But they have a propensity for experimentation.

Sometimes they draw heavily on folk music and rely on sparse acoustic instrumentation. Sometimes they play with pop and go electric. Sometimes they incorporate drums, harmonica, trumpet or piano...sometimes a combination of them all. It varies beautifully and significantly, as their music is carefully crafted and every element has meaning.

This all contributes to interesting music, but you don’t know the Avett Brothers—you don’t understand the Avett Brothers—until you’ve witnessed one of their infectious live performances. Energetic in their delivery, intuitive in their play and humbly masterful in their craft, they have a natural stage presence that makes you want to get up and dance with them. And it is this quality that makes their music not just audible but tangible. It makes you look at them and go “Wow, these guys were born to do this.” It is this quality that makes them a band to follow, to love and to tell everyone you know about. After years of making music and touring around North Carolina, their talent is going noticed on a much larger scale, and a lot of this traction is a direct result of this quality.

Band Details:
The band consists of two brothers, Seth and Scott Avett, and Bob Crawford as primary members with (newer) cellist Joe Kwon frequently joining them on tour. Seth and Scott play a variety of instruments but primarily focus on acoustic guitar and banjo, respectively, while Bob plays standing bass. For more, see the band's website.

Landing Outside

The second annual San Francico festival got a bit of a bad rap. There was heavy criticism regarding the lineup, which I thought was unfair. Considering the fact that this lineup was put together much later than expected (due to park permit issues), I think they did quite a job. There was great music to be heard if you were willing to listen. But most people weren't.

The biggest problem was not the lineup or the schedule but the crowd. I felt as though I was among a group of restless and disinterested high school kids, with more attention being paid to the next stop than to the actual destination.

Outside Lands lacked the sense of collective enthusiasm for music that makes live shows special. Artists struggled to garner emotion from the crowd, as toe tapping and drink passing replaced dancing and cheering. Cage the Elephant's Matt Shultz's attempts to crowd surf resulted in awkward confusion from an audience too weak to hold him up, and MIA received radio silence after introducing her newest material. "Sorry. Get to know it later," she offered.

In spite of the unfazed attendees, there were some very noteworthy performances. Below are my top 3...if you get the chance to see any of the groups below, I hope, for your sake, that it's with people who can appreciate what they're watching.

My top 3:
1. The Dead Weather
2. The Avett Brothers
3. TV on The Radio

Horehound: Non-Review

It's no secret that I'm in awe of Jack White's talent and musicianship. He never fails to deliver and does so again with The Dead Weather's debut album, Horehound. I'll spare you the cliche review, especially because the band gives you ample opportunity to listen for yourself (free of charge).

Just let me advise you not to go in expecting White Stripes or Raconteurs. Characteristically, White stays within certain confines he sets for himself (such as color codes and conservative production) while establishing something that is 100% authentic and original. It's dark, bluesy and beautifully gritty and imperfect...a product of intuition and soul from a group of true artists. Thanks, to all of you, for giving us something that's been elusive in the music world lately. Thanks for giving us something we can feel. It's truly refreshing.

P.S. A video from the band. I found it amusing:



If you prefer, watch on the band's YouTube channel.

Ben's New Outfit

Ben Harper is touring with a new group and revealing a side of himself that may contrast with the crooner you're accustomed to.

In true artist fashion, he's reinvented himself. But not in a deliberate or calculated way. Rather, this feels like an organic transition to a musical arena that has influenced his music in the past but never quite so directly and with quite so much assertiveness as it does now. The guitars sound a little louder, the vocals a little looser and the drums a lot heavier. Ben Harper and The Relentless7 sing the blues and play rock 'n' roll.

It's edgier, grittier and much more forceful. One can sense upon first listen that this new outfit unleashes and enhances something that's been bubbling in Harper's consciousness for a long time. And from what I gathered when I saw them perform the other night, this new ensemble is having a damn good time taking the Blues by storm.

I do enjoy the old Ben Harper, but this is much more my style.

Beyond Bluegrass

Bluegrass had never really been prominent on my musical spectrum. I always appreciated it and had great respect for its sustainability as a purely musical (and not effects or production-driven) realm in an increasingly tech-driven world. But when mixing blues with anything, I generally gravitated more towards rock rather than country.

Enter The Brothers Comatose. They've been playing around San Francisco lately, and I'd recommend the show to even non-bluegrass fans. The band is comprised of wildly talented and precise musicians dressed in rock stars' clothing. While the music is beautiful, the boys retain a raw and rugged cool in both their music and their persona that makes for an engaging and sexy stage presence. I'd never seen anyone rock out on a violin or a standing bass. It's a pretty awesome thing to see. With catchy harmonizing and foot stomping jams, these boys know how to shake up a room.

A Truly Motley Crew

Did you think Mmmbop was the last you'd ever hear from Taylor Hanson? Not so much.

He has returned with the likes of guitarist James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), bassist Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne...aka, the band gave us 'Stacey's Mom'), and drummer Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick).

It's funny. Really funny. But, incredibly, it isn't a joke. This unbearably silly and quite greasy video was intentionally posted on their myspace page. See for yourself: http://www.myspace.com/tintedwindows.

Don't Say "Supergroup"

It completely snuck up on me, but I feel like a kid at Christmas. Another Jack White venture is upon us. I am pleased to introduce you to The Dead Weather

This time, for the first time, White steps out of the spotlight and behind the drum kit. I must admit to some initial skepticism that a band featuring the guitar savant wouldn't be the same without him front and center, but I am, as usually is the case with his music, an immediate fan. Unsurprisingly, he's in good company, re-teaming with fellow Raconteur Jack Lawrence (bass) and Queens of the Stone Age guitarist and ex-Raconteur Dean Fertita. New to the circle is Alison Mosshart of The Kills. She stepped in for an ill Jack when touring with the Raconteurs and may well be his female counterpart.

Alternative Mindset

When it comes to most musical genres, you know it when you hear it. Country has a definitive twang, hip-hop a definitive beat, and so on and so forth. Alternative, on the other hand, defines itself in its ambiguity.

Two people stating a preference for alternative music can mean two very different things. Are we talking White Stripes or Vampire Weekend? Because, while both fall under the Alternative category, one is gritty, low-fi, blues-influenced rock and the other is catchy, peppy, African-influenced pop. You may enjoy both, but there is scarcely a musical overlap between the two.

So, “Alternative,” isn’t so much a genre as it is a mindset. Rather than pigeonholing musical tastes, the term broadly defines a culture of music that thrives on experimentation and originality. Elvis Presley was considered Alternative. As were Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, and Prince. The common thread is the mindset. And it is from this mindset that genres are born.

A Movie for Music Lovers

A movie starring musicians rather than actors. Yes, please.

It Might Get Loud, a documentary directed by Davis Guggenheim and screening at Sundance until Jan. 24th, chronicles the lives and careers of three guitar heroes, each one representing a different generation and style of guitar playing.

Who would your guitar heroes be? Guggenheim’s choice of Jimmy Page is fairly obvious. Few would argue against Page’s legendary status, and Led Zeppelin drew heavily on Blues influences. His choice of Jack White is certainly obvious to me. Arguably the best of his generation, he is exemplary in his appreciation for and employment of various genres and techniques, while steadfastly remaining deep-rooted in the Blues. The Edge seems a bit of an odd choice but I can understand how he acts as a counter to Page and White to represent more modern, effects-driven pop. For anyone like me who prefers a good concert to a movie night and who has always been fascinated by what goes on behind the songs, this will hopefully provide a solid 97 minutes of entertainment.

Here's the trailer...you can also watch on the movie's website.

Review: The Longband

I want to introduce you to the Longband. Unless you frequent the small woodsy towns that make up Marin County, you likely aren't familiar with them. I recently ventured up to San Rafael's Fourth Street Tavern to check them out. It's divey little place whose stage barely contains the entire band and their equipment. But it's cozy, and the show was 5$, so I really had very little to lose.

The set list was a well-balanced mix of bright rock ballads (No Long Goodbye) and soul-searching melodies (Sea and Stars). The sound is a blend of synthesized rock and Brit pop. Think the Strokes, polished and toned down, with elements of the Killers and Oasis. The lead singer has an impressive emotional range and sexy stage presence. And pay attention to the beat in the background. Drummers are often overlooked, and this one shouldn't be. The musical talent and proficiency is there. More importantly, they have the soul to back it up.

Lessons Learned

There was an unprecedented saturation of music festivals last summer. Not that I’m complaining. I can’t imagine a more perfect Friday than one spent with Cold War Kids, Beck and Radiohead. But, with this season’s all-inclusive, over-the-top lineups, seeing full sets of every favorite was next to impossible.

I attended San Francisco’s debut Bonaroo-style festival Outside Lands. In terms of organization, lineup, space, chaos control…I’d say they could not have done much better. I as an attendee, however, most certainly could have.

One lesson I took away from it all: the importance of foresight. Because I really stressed out. At a music festival. With so many bands and so little time, I had to make choices. Sacrifices. I now realize that most artists who play festivals are either promoting an album or they enjoy your city. Chances are, an opportunity to see them without the chaos and competition of a festival is likely around the corner. Process of elimination allows you to make a more sensible decision.

Note in my back pocket: Look ahead and streamline must-see list. Relax, and enjoy.

Why I love The White Stripes

The White Stripes are, to some, an acquired taste. The sound is raw and sometimes grating. This is what makes it special, but to the ear that has been conditioned to enjoy the produced, catchy tunes of, say, U2 or Maroon 5, it takes some getting used to. The stripped-down music of the White Stripes creates more room for creativity and talent, and consequently, more room for crap if the talent isn’t there. Oh, but it is. As writer, vocalist, motherf***er on the guitar and star of the show, Jack fills this space with ingenuity and passion. Because of the confines they place themselves in, every note, word and beat must mean something. And, upon listening, the meaning is so clearly felt. The music of the White Stripes reflects careful craftsmanship and is emblematic of musicianship in its purest form.