live reviews |
|
|
Infinite Rivals/Cougars/Supersuckers - 11/13/03 Abbey Pub Chicago, IL - Infinite Rivals, a band from Chicago played first, I have never heard of them, and I can see why. The band was loud, and I don't mean like rocking loud, the sound system sounded particularly awful when they played, not sure why that is, but it just sounded too distorted and loud to be good. The Volume wasn't right, it just sounded messy and all the songs sounded the same. The guitar player/lead singer (there were two of them) was in the toilet before the show making out a song list, not sure why he would be doing that since all the songs sounded the same. He was not a particularly awful singer, just one with one type of voice, and one style, which got very boring and same same over the course of their set. The guitar player/other singer, seemed to be a complete turd, in that he considered himself some sort of music genius without ever studying for the test. Cougars, my first thought when I saw the band on stage was, "Damn there are too many people in this friggin band!". The lead singer had a hell of a time doing his moves on stage, he with the ball cap pulled down tight to block the audience from his vision, or perhaps to cut down on the glare from the stage lights. The man obviously needs his space to do his Joe Cocker-isms , and the Abbey did not have the space (check out our interview with Brian on the interviews page for more about small stages and an eight piece band- ed.). The lead singer does have his moves down, he has got the energy and style the front man needs. I thought he looked like Ben Affleck in Dazed and Confused. I liked the horn section, a trumpet and sax combo, but I couldn't hear them very well, but they did rock out pretty damn good, I just wish that they were a little louder. All the songs had a definite swing too them, and I think that the singer would be better served if he just went with it and swung a little, just let his voice swing with the music, I thought a few times he wanted to really belt out an Ian Astbury voice but held back. It was a pretty packed house, but the band seemed to get a chillier reception from their hometown than I would have thought. Towards the end of their set I think they hit the nail on the head and presented their bread and butter song, the one that really shows their strengths and what the band is all about. The song, I have no idea the title, was a little slow, a nice sax solo, some swing, just perfect to show case the band. I would go see the band again, and hope that the sound system picks up their horns a little better and that they get a bigger stage for the singer to do his thing. Yeah, I also had a hell of a time hearing the keyboards. Supersuckers - what can be said about the Supersuckers that hasn't been said a million times? If you really want to see a band that knows how, when, why and where to rock then you need look no further than the Supersuckers. You would be correct in thinking that a band that has been together for more than a decade and that still plays out a lot would have their act down tight. When you have a wonderful catalog of songs like this band does, you very rarely have any missteps. The new drummer sounded like he had been with the group for a long time, and of course Eddie, Dan, and Ron are incredible with their instruments and interaction. The surprise for the night for me came when they did "Non addictive Marijuana" and "Supercuckers Drive By Blues" from Must've been High, my favorite disc of theirs. Really a great band to see live, the crowd warmed up and was really going during their set, except these two girls who sat in the balcony and talked (how the hell they heard each other is beyond me) through six or seven songs. I saw the one girl the next night at the Honeydogs show, which I found odd. I would see the Cougars and Supersuckers again, let's hope it's in Champaign, only cause it's closer.
Low Rent/Dolly Varden/Honeydogs-11/14/03 Subterranean Chicago, IL - Low Rent, band I believe is from Chicago took the stage first, and their brand of boring straight forward rock music made me wish that opening bands, especially the first one in a trio, shouldn't be allowed to play more than fifteen to twenty minutes. This would lower the boredom factor, keep the band tight and to the point, and get the other acts on the stage before anyone loses interest. I found them very ordinary, with insipid lyrics and a very boring front man whose voice niether made much of an impact or gave the songs any weight. Part way through one of the guitar players broke a string and he finished the set playing harmonica on every song, I asked my girlfriend if Low Rent had turned into a Blues Traveler tribute band? It just made the songs that much more unbearable and irritating, but the crowd (more on them later) seemed to like them , and I got the feeling that a lot of the bands family members were in attendance. I wouldn't go see them again, or making an effort to get upstairs if they started playing, it was just too damn boring and drawn out for me, yeah they were the only entertainment that night playing electric and loud, but who gives a shit when the songs make no impact on me and the best thing that I can say about the band is that they sure were loud enough to drowned out all the talking (more on that in the paragraph below). Dolly Varden was represented by the two lead singers, Steve and I forgot the ladies name, but they sounded good together, but since I have seen the full band together (Goose Island Fest- Chicago) I would have to say I prefer the full band. They do sound nice together, great voices and wonderful harmonies. As for the audience participation during this set, I would have to say that I wished there was less and I am sure the band did too. At one point Steve commented that he could never understand why someone would pay $8 to see and band and then proceed to talk all the way through their set. Of course no one heard them cause they were too busy talking. I don't understand that either, but I got the feeling that the festivities down stairs helped fuel that fire. Anyway they were good and I hope to see them again in a different setting with less interference. Honeydogs was really just Adam Levy and Peter J. Sands, but they were wonderful. Playing the new songs, which I had not heard, because the band had not played Chicago or anywhere near for about two years. The new songs sounded really good, not only because of Adams distinctive vocals, but because Sands really knows how to swing that piano and the piano played an important part in all the songs. Of course there were still a few loud mouths from downstairs who talked way too much for a quieter affair like guitar and piano, but it cleared out a lot since the first band and I was able to get really close and hear the songs well. If I hadn't already been a fan of the band, and ready to purchase of copy of their new CD 10,000 Years, I would have bought it after hearing the songs, and this just made some of the songs more intimate and personal. That Adam Levy is a gifted songwriter should be no shock, but that he can preform almost solo, and then to bring a really good keyboard/pianist with him, well that just made the music that more enjoyable. We'll have a report of what the full band sounds like playing the new songs when we report on their show January 31 at the Sub in Chicago. Edward Burch/Bottle Rockets - 11/15/03 - Highdive - Champaign, IL - I missed most of Edward Burch's set, but what I did hear made me want to hear more. I always get there late when they have an early show at the highdive. Burch's band sounded good, and it was the first time I had heard him play, and would go see him again for a whole set if he opened for someone else I liked. Bottle Rockets, what can be said about a great band like the Bottle Rockets that has not been mentioned before? Well, this was the fourth time seeing the band, and it was nice to see an extra guitarist up there to flush out the sound, although I will say that Brian Henneman is such a good guitarist that it doesn't matter. Brian looked well, you could tell he had lost a lot of weight and I was told by the Rockets mail list person that they do not drink as much anymore either. What your going to get out of the Bottle Rockets when you go see them is a veteran band that knows their strengths and knows how to play. There were songs from the new CD Blue Sky on list plus a lot of old favorites, but no matter how loud I yelled for "Coffee Monkey" Brian wouldn't play it. The only real problem I have with the band is that the last two times I have seen them at the Highdive, they have played a slower song right after getting the audience worked up into a frenzy or a near frenzy and this kind of killed the buzz. Would I go see the band again? Hell yes, I would drive to Chicago, St. Louis or Indianapolis to see them and would not miss a show in Champaign for nothing. Should you go see them? Do you like great bar band music from a veteran band that knows how to play, sing and have a good time? I'm sure you do. Denali/Laguardia/Pinebenders/ - Nargile - Clark St. Champaign, IL 2/10/04 - This was my first trip to Nargile, a new bar or at least new to my knowledge. It is situated on Clark street away from the downtown area, I had a little trouble finding it, because I figured it would be in the direction of Urbana. Once we found the place, because I happened to notice a sign outside, we walked into what looks to be an old restaurant. Besides the red interior, dark lighting and laid back atmosphere, I noticed the hookah's sitting on some of the tables, and realized that this was the bar that The Paper had done a story about, or was it the Buzz? Anyway, the stage was located in the back, a little area with no ventilation, and it got warm very fast with fifty to seventy people smooshed in there. Well, it wasn't really smooshed, there was room to maneuver, but it still isn't big enough area. Pinebenders played first, saying that this was their first time in Champaign. Their guitar's spewed heavy distortion and fuzz, giving me the feeling of heavy Emo, or sort of like Champaign favorites Hum, but a little more drawn out and laid back. I hate to sound like a square, and I mean this as a complement, but damn was I glad that I had my ear plugs, because I could feel the guitar (Or maybe it was guitars since it didn't look like there was a bass, or at least a traditional bass, but then again the sound was awful full and thick in parts) on my leg hairs. Lots of good feedback as well, it sounded right, instead of just some one wanking off in front of his amp. I think the lead singer, guitar player said it best when he said the next song has it all, we call it our "Speedball mix", which is a perfect description for this band, a little lulling low, spaced out feedback drenched guitar and then the hammer, some heavy guitar rock sound. I don't know a speedball from aspirin, but I get the idea behind the description, just when you feel the high of the spaced out guitar, boom hear comes some vocal and hard rock to give you a kick. I would see this band again, and think others should too. LaGuardia was second, and the crowd by this time had begun to swell pretty good, especially if you consider it was a Tuesday night in February, and that the bar is not located anywhere near Campus Town. This band from Philadelphia featured five members, with the lead singer playing guitar and piano, as well as the guitar player playing piano and effects. The lead singer suffers from that little known vocal ailment called Dave Pirner disease, in that his speaking voice is deep but when he gets to singing, it sounds a lot higher. In fact, his voice reminded me of Billy Corgan's voice. My girlfriend, Michelle, whom I drag to a lot of these shows, said that she really enjoyed this band and that some of their songs were really good. I would have to agree with that, there was a lot of melodicism in this band, you could tell the lead singer has some songwriting, musical talent and that the rest of the band were no slouches either. I get the feeling from the lead singer that he is a reluctant front man, as the bass player did most of the talking, but that seems rather common today in the independent music circles, the talented shy, introspective front man is very seldom David Lee Roth like in his stage presentation. I would also go see this band again, and am currently trying to find out who does their PR so that I can find out more about them and get a disc for review. Finally, it was the headliners turn. Denali had been praised as a "must see" from The Paper and Buzz, and it's easy to see why. Number one, for seven bucks the damn bar itself is almost worth a few of them cover bucks. Sure there were a lot of scarf wearing, Pabst Blue Ribbon drinking too cool hip crowd, and god bless them College Kids for their kookiness, it's just that I get the feeling that scarf and beer will change a year or two after college. The other nice thing about this town, that I really enjoy and that I saw at this bar is the diversity that this town has with the college students. As a matter of fact I saw a girl who liked like Kelly Osbourne in that Poppa don't preach video, and she was wearing leg warmers. Pretty entertaining, and that is just the crowd, so that is worth a little bit of your time and money, then throw in three good bands and it's well worth it. The lead singer in Denali, a woman whose name I don't know for sure yet but will, has a really haunting wide ranged voice that reminds me in style of Evenescence. The band plays rock type music, and bass player for the band was the guy in the Pinebenders. I also have to mention that the female lead singer is attractive, and I bring that up not only because she is, but also because I heard a few men mention that the lead singer was "hot". I say that because I wonder what kind of shadow that creates for a female musician? What do people expect from you when your attractive, have a good singing voice, and front a rock band? I'll have to ask that when I interview the band. She has a more operatic voice than I thought she would, and it's nice to see and hear the marriage of rock music and an soaring vocal abilities. There was some piano thrown in, and some keyboard/sound in some of the songs, but mostly it was rock music, and a very good voice. I really thought that this was a good lineup, anyone of these bands should have appealed to anyone in the audience that night. I would see Denali again, just like the other two, and look forward to them returning to Champaign in the near future. Honeydogs/Tractor Kings/ Low Rent - 1/31/04 - Subtranean - Chicago, IL - Well, thanks to Low Rent I have a new policy called two strikes and I never want to hear from you again. Here is how it works. I give a band two chances, cause the first might be an off night, and if they can't at least keep my interest or keep me from pondering why I still love music, then I will stop seeing them and will make it an effort to tell everyone they are bad. So you see, I have seen Low Rent twice, both times with the Honeydogs, and I have to say that I will never sit through their set ever again. The singer is way off key and has a thin voice, plus the music is your basic Dave Matthews pop rock with harmonica bullshit that is easy to play and even easier to fuck up. So Low Rent, I know you have a "following" at the Subtranean, but I think it would be best to give it up now. Not only that but I really hate when the guitar player acts all cool "rocking" out and mouthing the words, man that is annoying. The harmonies were off key as well. During their set I decided that I would not only never see them again, but would put a moratorium on my seeing live bands for a few months. I really started to question why I had driven two and a half hours for that crap. Well, I told myself that there were three bands, and I already had an idea that Low Rent was bad, so I gave the Tractor Kings the benefit and an open ear. Well, it just wasn't my night, because the singer was off key here too, and the songs were very low key and a mess. The drummer/guitar player was really good, but the lead singer mumbled and sang off key, giving me the feeling that even though some of the songs might be good in their mood, I wouldn't be able to tell it by their live performance. In other words, I would really like to hear Tractor Kings on Disc before I see them again, but I have to say that is one strike against them too. So, after that laid back Jay Farrar, Old Country (god bless them for playing that type cause I enjoy it, but it didn't work out that night very well) I was really beginning to think that I was a real dick head for paying twenty bucks for two tickets and dragging my girlfriend to Chicago to sit through this crap. However, my saving grace was to be the Honeydogs, my only reason for going. Well, it's as if luck was just waiting to punch me in the nuts. Yeah the full band with Trent, Brian, and Peter J. Sands (can't remember the drummers name, but it wasn't Noah) was there, but as luck would have it, Adam's wonderful voice was going out on him. The set was peppered with some new songs, some older ones, and a couple I hadn't heard them play plus a cover to end the set. What a short set it was too. It's a shame, cause the band sounded good, and I felt sorry for Adam because he was really trying to put on a good show, but alas his voice would not hold up. So, you may ask does the two strike rule apply to Honeydogs? No, cause it only applies to bands I am not going to see, or bands that I didn't pay money to see. Plus I know that the Honeydogs are really good, and that Adam couldn't help his voice giving out, I've seen them twice before and they are always good. So now after a couple of shows in February, I have put a hold on going anywhere to see a band. Here is the criteria, you are either playing in Champaign/Urbana, or you're the Descendents, and for them I will travel at least two hours.
Back to Top |
|