Jack Wilson (apparently an ATX guy) had a really cool full stage with two drum kits and lots of folks jamming.
Sam Doores and The Tumbleweeds is the coolest. Equipped with a guy on Jew's harp, one on a jar, and another slamming a hammer on an ax head! Very cool old style country music. Loooove. They look like the lost extras from "Oh Brother Where Art Thou?"
Friday, April 26, 2013
Lumineers Austin 360 Ampitheater
About a year ago I got a late night text from my music buddy Chris that contained a short video from a live show in St. Louis where a buncha Hipsters were chanting "Ho, Hey!" Immediately I woke up and listened. He told me I MUST see this band, and so the album was downloaded (maybe Chris hooked me up on that one too) and jammed incessantly for several weeks.
As usual, I did my best to spread the love and some caught on faster than others (you know who you are- ahem!), but there was something about the rawness that I figured wouldn't be quite as cool to other music listeners as it was to me. I mean, that's sort of my deal; I love pared down recordings where every instrument has a defined sound and you can tell who and what is making each note ring. So the slightly "off" voice of the lead singer, the live feeling of the album recording of "Classy Girls", and the where the hell were they when they recorded "Ho, Hey" sound are just too ideal to my ears. I'm kind of happy to say I was wrong and really pleased that this folksy sound is proving appealing after way too much auto tuning for way too many years. (Google it if you don't know what I'm talking about. It's trickery. Like padded bras and fake eyelashes.)
Here we are a little over a year has passed, and the nay-sayer and I are on our way to see them for the first time. He obviously likes them now as do like half the kids in the country, but I'm doing my best to deal with that. It's like Chris said when we started hearing them on the radio-- it's more annoying that we can no longer see them in little venues than anything else. I'm not sure what the capacity is at this outdoor place we are heading to, but I know it's close to sold out and it's bound to be a few thousand of my closest Hipster and teenager friends. I could hear the collective "ugh" coming from most of my friends, but I have to disagree. The cool thing is that kids are usually the first ones to pick out new stuff because they aren't afraid of change. I'm going to go with that because I am ready for some musical change.
We need something real and raw. If Mumford is any indication, the nation wants it too. And even if I'm not a huge fan of them, I appreciate what they are doing and am excited to see these singer songwriters make some kick ass music and get some credit for it.
As usual, I did my best to spread the love and some caught on faster than others (you know who you are- ahem!), but there was something about the rawness that I figured wouldn't be quite as cool to other music listeners as it was to me. I mean, that's sort of my deal; I love pared down recordings where every instrument has a defined sound and you can tell who and what is making each note ring. So the slightly "off" voice of the lead singer, the live feeling of the album recording of "Classy Girls", and the where the hell were they when they recorded "Ho, Hey" sound are just too ideal to my ears. I'm kind of happy to say I was wrong and really pleased that this folksy sound is proving appealing after way too much auto tuning for way too many years. (Google it if you don't know what I'm talking about. It's trickery. Like padded bras and fake eyelashes.)
Here we are a little over a year has passed, and the nay-sayer and I are on our way to see them for the first time. He obviously likes them now as do like half the kids in the country, but I'm doing my best to deal with that. It's like Chris said when we started hearing them on the radio-- it's more annoying that we can no longer see them in little venues than anything else. I'm not sure what the capacity is at this outdoor place we are heading to, but I know it's close to sold out and it's bound to be a few thousand of my closest Hipster and teenager friends. I could hear the collective "ugh" coming from most of my friends, but I have to disagree. The cool thing is that kids are usually the first ones to pick out new stuff because they aren't afraid of change. I'm going to go with that because I am ready for some musical change.
We need something real and raw. If Mumford is any indication, the nation wants it too. And even if I'm not a huge fan of them, I appreciate what they are doing and am excited to see these singer songwriters make some kick ass music and get some credit for it.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Day 2 quick update :)
Here's the short story for those interested... First show of the day was the gorgeous Shovels and Rope who killed it just as expected. Two people making that much sound is way cool. They alternated between playing guitar and playing drums. It's pretty cool to see a guy play a lead or jam the harmonica while he sits and plays the kick Carry Ann rocked both the kit and a keyboard. This is definitely a band to see again.
We were staking our front row spots so we watched Guards on that stage prior to S&R. They were a great rock band with a little electronic kind of stuff going on. There was a girl keyboard player/singer and the guitar player alternated between guitar and keys.
Chloe wanted to see Allen Stone next so I got that crazy experience. Lots of fun funky blues groove kind of jams. Loved it. We were front row again because we made a bargain with two huge punk guys that were there to see The Evens (apparently the guy in this guy/girl duo is an old punk staple); we gave the black r shirt and spikes wearing guys our front row spot, went and had a snack (amazing Taiwanese food called a bao maybe? It's like a pita kind of but has this piece of fried chicken with lemon aioli and peanuts. Yum) then returned at the end of their set to reclaim for AS! This band was so fun. Horns, keys, a piano, and all the basics. Allen Stone rocks out and is super fun for the crowd. He even had a little dance contest where he jumped into the crowd and ran around. And it was a huge crowd! I'll have to add the pics later because they are on my camera. My phone was at a charging locker rejoicing!
After the AS show we ate some lovely white pizza and now my youngster is napping in the middle of the field at Coachella stage while I jam to Violent Femmes and people watch. Lots of sights. Wow.
Tonight I think Chloe chose Portugal. the Man,Yeasayer, The Postal Service, Yeasayer, and Phoenix to close our the night. Let's hope she makes it tonight!! We closed down shop early last night for some much needed sleep. I need to go back and recount yesterday too! Sheesh!
We were staking our front row spots so we watched Guards on that stage prior to S&R. They were a great rock band with a little electronic kind of stuff going on. There was a girl keyboard player/singer and the guitar player alternated between guitar and keys.
Chloe wanted to see Allen Stone next so I got that crazy experience. Lots of fun funky blues groove kind of jams. Loved it. We were front row again because we made a bargain with two huge punk guys that were there to see The Evens (apparently the guy in this guy/girl duo is an old punk staple); we gave the black r shirt and spikes wearing guys our front row spot, went and had a snack (amazing Taiwanese food called a bao maybe? It's like a pita kind of but has this piece of fried chicken with lemon aioli and peanuts. Yum) then returned at the end of their set to reclaim for AS! This band was so fun. Horns, keys, a piano, and all the basics. Allen Stone rocks out and is super fun for the crowd. He even had a little dance contest where he jumped into the crowd and ran around. And it was a huge crowd! I'll have to add the pics later because they are on my camera. My phone was at a charging locker rejoicing!
After the AS show we ate some lovely white pizza and now my youngster is napping in the middle of the field at Coachella stage while I jam to Violent Femmes and people watch. Lots of sights. Wow.
Tonight I think Chloe chose Portugal. the Man,Yeasayer, The Postal Service, Yeasayer, and Phoenix to close our the night. Let's hope she makes it tonight!! We closed down shop early last night for some much needed sleep. I need to go back and recount yesterday too! Sheesh!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Pre-Coachella
It's official. I shall be boarding a plane shortly en route to Phoenix, Arizona where I will then load up with my fantastically cool younger cousin Chloe who is taking me on an adventure this ole' gal shall never forget. Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival located about twenty miles east of Palm Springs, California will be our home away from home from late Thursday evening until Sunday afternoon. From what I've read, about 85,000 of my closest friends will be there, and a large number of those will also be tent camping alongside of us. I haven't gotten a clue about how many tent campers to expect, but I have also discovered that some people pay for "car camping" and the more high class attendees pay about six grand to sleep in "shiek's tents". Oh California. What an amazingly strange place. More on that to come.
Prior to attending this festival, I decided I better do some research about "what they are wearing"...
I quickly decided that I would gladly be the not-so-trendy older chick from Texas because I am just not ready to rock the high waist shorts and a bikini top with ankle boots. Maybe I'll eat my words in a couple years like I did with skinny jeans, but as of now if reminds me far too much of 1992. Ugh.
Moving on. Music. Oh yes. So the idea behind this blog is to journal my concert adventures so that one day I can read back and remember. Maybe there is a side dish of wanting my grandchildren to believe I used to be sort of cool. (Thanks Andy for seconding my coolness facto). Speaking of Andy, I also have several friends and family members who would like to attend the shows I attend, and I'm just the kid to indulge them with my drivel.
The bands I'm most excited to see are Band of Horses, Shovels & Rope, and Chloe-Chloe's fave Local Natives. There are tons of others for sure, and some I'm going to see just because I won't get the opportunity again. I want to see a Dub Step show and a rap show just because I can, and I'm gonna enjoy the hell out of it.
Boarding the plane now!! More to come...
Prior to attending this festival, I decided I better do some research about "what they are wearing"...
I quickly decided that I would gladly be the not-so-trendy older chick from Texas because I am just not ready to rock the high waist shorts and a bikini top with ankle boots. Maybe I'll eat my words in a couple years like I did with skinny jeans, but as of now if reminds me far too much of 1992. Ugh.
Moving on. Music. Oh yes. So the idea behind this blog is to journal my concert adventures so that one day I can read back and remember. Maybe there is a side dish of wanting my grandchildren to believe I used to be sort of cool. (Thanks Andy for seconding my coolness facto). Speaking of Andy, I also have several friends and family members who would like to attend the shows I attend, and I'm just the kid to indulge them with my drivel.
The bands I'm most excited to see are Band of Horses, Shovels & Rope, and Chloe-Chloe's fave Local Natives. There are tons of others for sure, and some I'm going to see just because I won't get the opportunity again. I want to see a Dub Step show and a rap show just because I can, and I'm gonna enjoy the hell out of it.
Boarding the plane now!! More to come...
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