Michael Doherty's Music Log Post No. 1000

This is my one thousandth music blog post, and I thought it perhaps appropriate to reiterate the focus and purpose of this blog. Music has played an important role in my life for as long as I can remember. I got into The Monkees at age four, got my first Beatles album at age six, attended my first rock concert at age ten, started playing drums at age thirteen, saw my first Grateful Dead show at age sixteen, my first Ellis Paul show at seventeen, worked as a radio DJ in my early twenties, and just kept going. But most of mainstream music these days (and for quite a long time now) is just awful. I mean, seriously. However, there is a lot of great music out there too. You just have to look for it. So the purpose of this blog is let people know about all the good music that's happening, music which might not be quite as easy to find. This blog is intended to be a positive force. I try to only review music that I like. I am not out to knock any new bands struggling to find an audience. If I don't like a band, I simply don't review that's band's releases. This isn't entirely altruistic in motive. After all, I don't want to be spending time listening to music I don't like. I usually listen to a CD three times before writing the review, and I can't stomach the thought of listening to something I don't like three times through. Life is too short for that.

That being said, I've noticed that a lot of online music reviews are just a paragraph or two, and many don't even include the track list. (Some simply reprint the press release, which surprises me.) I tend to write slightly longer reviews. Though I acknowledge that some people's attention spans have decreased in recent years, I trust that there are enough people who can still focus on something that is longer than a Twitter message. My blog is aimed at fellow music fans, people to whom music is important - my kind of people.

Thank you to everyone who has been reading this blog, and to those who have left comments (they are much appreciated). And thank you to the artists who have been sending me their music. I should also take this time to say that I'm now receiving more CDs than I can possibly get to in a timely fashion. So if I haven't reviewed your album yet, it doesn't necessarily mean that I'm not into it. At the moment, I have two cardboard boxes full of discs waiting to be reviewed. So please be patient.

And to those who are new to this blog, you'll find that I review a wide range of music - rock, pop, folk, country, bluegrass, blues, jazz and so on. As long as I like it, I'll review it (so you won't find a lot of rap reviews here). I hope you dig what I'm trying to do. And please, if there's a band you think I would enjoy, don't hesitate to send me a message.

All right, enough of this rambling. Time to get back to the music.

The Mynabirds: “Lovers Know” (2015) CD Review

The Mynabirds are a wonderful indie pop band founded by singer, songwriter, pianist Laura Burhenn a little more than five years ago. (You might also know Laura Burhenn from her work with Bright Eyes and The Postal Service.) The Mynabirds’ new CD, Lovers Know, is their third full-length album, and it features all original material, with some excellent lyrics. For example, check out these lines from “Say Something”: “I put our records on/And played every song/Don’t you remember how we got here?/But now the needle skips/My favorite words.” These songs focus on relationships, love and longing, led by Laura Burhenn’s impressive and moving vocals.

The CD opens with “All My Heart,” a song with a gorgeous and powerful chorus. The line “When I love, I love with all my heart” is so simply stated that you know it to be true.  Laura then sings, “When it’s over, this hole here might tear me apart,” but then goes back to focus on the positive “When I love, I love with all my heart.” And I love that, that the focus is on the positive, and the end gets only a brief mention, but is not dwelled upon. It’s a song of passion without illusions or regrets. This is such a great song, and it digs its claws into you, and will likely stay with you. (It’s one I’ve been listening to over and over.)

The Mynbirds follow that with “Believer,” which feels loosely linked to the first song by its opening lines, “This hole/So tired of filling up.” The character of this song doesn’t seem to have the strength or fortitude of that of “All My Heart.” She sings, “I don’t know what I’m doing/I don’t know what to say/When you ask what’s in my/Heart these days.” But it is the next lines that really hit hard: “You say you’re a believer/But you don’t have any faith/Not even in me.”

“Semantics” is the first track I heard from this album, and is the song that turned me on to The Mynabirds. It’s a wonderful, pretty pop song, with some gorgeous vocals that at the same time feel friendly. It’s a relationship song, and it’s interesting because you don’t know which way things will go with this couple, but you certainly want to share her optimism. She sounds positive even as she recounts what her lover told her: “But in the light of a thousand suns,/We’ll still dry up.” In fact, she begins the song be singing, “You say you always feel half empty/And I’m just a little fool.” The song is actually a conversation between the two, as she addresses him directly rather than bringing the listeners in as confidants or something. It’s almost like we’re overhearing a private moment between long-time lovers. “You know I always feel half crazy/And I’m still here.”

“Velveteen” is a song that gets right on top of me, from its opening a cappella moment to its haunting vibe and emotional and intriguing vocal performance, with pained and desperate lyrics. The way it reaches out (to a lover, to the listener), asking “Am I real yet?” The question, in the way it’s asked and repeated, makes us feel like that the person asking really needs an answer, and you might find yourself wanting to respond. And what response can there be to that, or to a question like, “Can you put me back, put me back/Put me back, right back?” This is a truly engaging song and performance.

“Shake Your Head Yes” is another of my favorites. There is something kind of surprisingly playful here, even as Laura sings lines like, “You ask me how I am/I’m always such a mess/Hiding a heart attack/Under a party dress/Shake your head yes.” And check out these lines: “Wear your mistakes/Like they’re your greatest disguise/And if it tears you apart, it’s fine.” Have I mentioned how great the lyrics of this CD are?

Another highlight of this album is “Hanged Man,” mainly because of Laura’s vocal performance. This song slowly creeps up on you and takes hold. It’s beautiful and haunting, even stunning at moments. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “August looked up, said,/‘September will keep you/Good company/You must treat her with kindness/Even though you may miss me.’/If not for the dawn,/Oh, if not for what’s gone/We’d have nothing/And as sure as the sun/Oh, as sure as it comes/Is its going.”

CD Track List

1. All My Heart
2. Believer
3. Semantics
4. Say Something
5. Orion
6. Velveteen
7. Shake Your Head Yes
8. Wildfire
9. Omaha
10. One Foot
11. Hanged Man
12. Last Time

Lovers Know is scheduled to be released on both CD and vinyl on August 7, 2015 through Saddle Creek. 

Matt Criscuolo: “Headin’ Out” (2015) CD Review

Matt Criscuolo is an excellent saxophone player, whom you might know from his work with David Murray and Harold Danko, among others. He is from New York, and has performed mainly in that area for a few decades. His new CD, Headin’ Out, finds him joined by the seriously talented guitarist Tony Purrone, as well as by Preston Murphy on acoustic bass and Ed Soph on drums. Yes, it’s a great group. And on this CD they do mostly original material. I love the way that Matt Criscuolo and Tony Purrone work together, but also seem to challenge each other to go further, a challenge that is always met. There is also a lot of joy and passion in these tracks. If you want to hear some musicians at the top of their game, doing what they do best, be sure to check out this disc.

It opens with “Enchanted,” an original composition by Matt Criscuolo, which begins quite playfully on guitar. Seriously, the first time I popped in this disc, some of what Tony Purrone does at the beginning made me laugh out loud. It’s a delightful opening. When everyone else comes in, the piece seems to settle into a somewhat relaxed groove. But check out what Ed Soph is doing on drums beneath Purrone’s lead guitar section a little later. He definitely keeps things interesting, and then Matt Criscuolo’s lead on saxophone raises the energy. That track is followed by “Little Niles,” written by Randy Weston. This is one of my favorites. It has a very positive feel, a joyous excitement in each instrument, and toward the end, when Matt Criscuolo is going wild, the others provide a really beautiful base where Matt eventually lands.

“At Night,” written by Matt Criscuolo, has a wonderfully romantic bent. And yet Matt still finds moments to shout out; it’s like a love and devotion so intense that at times it must be proclaimed from the rooftop. And then check out that great work on bass by Preston Murphy. I love the section with guitar over just the bass and drums. It’s like the sax has to rest for a moment, and then when it comes back in, it’s more relaxed, more romantic again (like it climaxed, and now is cuddling). But it’s not long before the energy is back, and he’s ready for another go at the mountain. And then check out how the guitar and saxophone play with each other, work with each other, signaling and conversing quickly, eagerly, and backed by some excellent drumming. What a great tune, another favorite of mine.

While most of this CD is original material, there is also a fantastic rendition of Miles Davis’ “Sippin’ At Bells.”  All four musicians give phenomenal performances, each completely attuned to what the other three are doing at any given moment, seeming to move by a shared intuition, and all at a great pace. There are some fiery moments, and Tony Purrone really shines. I love when suddenly Matt and Tony have a little conversation without bass and drums around six minutes in. And then in the last section of the track, there are a few short and totally delightful drum solos. Really, there is masterful drumming throughout the track.

Tony Purrone contributes a couple of compositions to this disc, the first being “Karma At Dharma,” a track which seems propelled by a driving force, and got me moving. The second, “R 5 10 Select,” by contrast, is a more mellow, thoughtful piece, with some interesting work on bass. And approximately halfway through, it is the bass that leads everyone into a wilder section (my favorite part of the track).

“A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing,” written by jazz pianist Billy Strayhorn, features very cool, mellow vibes on both saxophone and guitar, as well as a good bass solo. The CD then concludes with two more original compositions by Matt Criscuolo – “Centripetal” and “Renée’s Dream.”

CD Track List

1. Enchanted
2. Little Niles
3. At Night
4. Sippin’ At Bells
5. Karma At Dharma
6. R 5 10 Select
7. A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing
8. Centripetal
9. Renée’s Dream 

Headin’ Out was released on March 3, 2015. This is Matt Criscuolo's sixth album.

The Decline Of Western Civilization Collection (2015) Blu-ray Box Set Review

Finally, the three Decline Of Western Civilization films are available on Blu-ray and DVD, thanks to Shout! Factory. Directed by Penelope Spheeris (Suburbia, Wayne’s World), these films take a close look at the music scene in Los Angeles in three different periods. The first deals with the punk scene in 1979-1980; the second looks at the heavy metal scene in the late 1980s, and the third returns to punk in the late 1990s, but with a focus on the homeless kids who made up a portion of the audience. You don’t have to love this music – or even like it – to appreciate and enjoy these films. A lot of care was put into this box set, and there is a hell of a lot of bonus material. There are special features on each of the three main discs, plus there’s a fourth disc completely dedicated to bonus material. In addition, there is a thirty-six-page booklet with an essay on all three films by Domenic Priore.

Disc One: The Decline Of Western Civilization (1981)

The first film, The Decline Of Western Civilization, documents the Los Angeles punk scene in 1979 and 1980. It begins with a series of performers reading (or struggling to read, as in one case) the announcement to the audiences that they’re going to be filmed. (This is an element that would be used again in the second and third parts.) There is concert footage of Black Flag, Germs, Catholic Discipline (the band Phranc was in), X, Circle Jerks, Alice Bag Band and Fear. Often the song lyrics are shown on screen, which is helpful, because unless you’re familiar with some of this material, it’s sometimes difficult to make the words (like in the Germs’ “Manimal” for example). The film takes us into “The Church,” where Black Flag lived; and holy hell, wait until you see their “bedrooms.” There are interviews with band members, and they talk about making no money at gigs. X is one of my favorite bands of this first film, and I love when Exene shows the wacky religious pamphlets she’s collected. And there is footage of them performing “Johnny Hit And Run Paulene.” I really love the footage of Fear, as this band seems to have more of a sense of humor than most of the other bands (though when they say actual jokes, some chick shouts out the punchlines, so clearly they used these lines before). Fear’s “Let’s Have A War” is one of my favorite songs in this film, a fantastic tune playing on overpopulation. In addition to the bands, there are interviews with punk music fans, who talk about the violence. A lot of these guys come off as violent morons. “I probably hit lots of girls in the face,” one of them says. “I don’t like girls very much.”

There is such great raw energy, in both the music and the film itself. The film doesn’t have any kind of significant distance from its subject, but lets us get really close to the bands, and to the audience, with some pretty fucking great footage.

Disc One Bonus Material

The first disc contains a lot of bonus footage, including X signing a record deal and then setting fire to it, and Brendan Mullen giving a tour of Masque. There is more concert footage, including Fear performing “No More Nothing” (with the line, “No more Scientology,” which I appreciate), and The Gears performing “Elk’s Lodge Blues.” There is also a recent interview with Penelope Spheeris that Henry Rollins did, in which Penelope talks about Wayne’s World and how she came to the decision to do the third Decline film. There are also extended sequences with Black Flag, Darby Crash, X, Brendan Mullen, Nicole (Germs’ manager), and the fans.

The first disc also contains two commentary tracks. The first is done by director Penelope Spheeris and her daughter, Anna Fox, who helped put the DVD set together. The second is by Dave Grohl.

Disc Two: The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988)

The second film, The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years, was filmed in 1987-1988, and focuses on the metal bands in Los Angeles. It’s a bit different from the first film, because in the first one most of the bands featured weren’t yet well-known and hadn’t recorded any albums, while this one features interviews with established musicians, such as Steven Tyler and Joe Perry from Aerosmith; Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of Kiss; Lemmy of Motorhead; Bobby Dall, C.C. DeVille, Bret Michaels and Rikki Rockett of Poison; Alice Cooper; and Ozzy Osbourne. However, the concert footage is of bands that were at the time lesser known: Faster Pussycat, Lizzy Borden, London, Odin, Seduce and Megadeth. Paul Stanley (who is, for some reason, on a big bed with several girls) says, “I think heavy metal is the true rock and roll of the ‘80s.” And Lemmy says, “It’s fast and it’s aggressive and it’s rebellious and their parents hate it, which has always been the mark of good rock and roll.”

The groups talk about success, about alcohol, about men’s use of makeup, and about groupies. And there is definitely humor to this film. The band members of Faster Pussycat are pretty funny in their interview. When asked, “Do you use drugs,” they answer, “Aspirin.” When asked why they’re in rock and roll, one guy answers, “I’m just doing this until I can be a manager at McDonald’s or something.” And Ozzy Osbourne is absolutely delightful, talking about getting ripped off by his manager. The members of London are hilariously candid about their standing, and how as soon as a guy leaves the band he becomes a star. One of them tell us, “We are not role models for your life.” And Chris Holmes, guitarist from W.A.S.P., is clearly no one’s role model either, as he claims from a swimming pool, perhaps proudly, to be an alcoholic.

But even funnier is the stuff about the program to get kids off heavy metal. And the woman who was crowned Miss Gazzarri Dancer the previous year is bloody hilarious in her absolute stupidity, as she tells us she will “Hopefully get on with my actressing.” But most of those interviewed in this film are certain that they’re going to make it. Odin’s great in the hot tub interview, talking about reaching superstardom. Penelope asks, “What if it doesn’t happen?” Lead singer Randy O says, “It’s gonna happen.”

Disc Two Bonus Material

The second disc contains approximately two hours of extended interviews. Though the picture has degraded over the years, these interviews contain some interesting material. Steven Tyler and Joe Perry talk about “Dude (Looks Like A Lady),” which at the time was Aerosmith’s new single. Alice Cooper talks about the influence of The Yardbirds, and about his character and how he looks forward to being Alice. There is more of the pool interview with Chris Holmes. When Penelope Spheeris asks him why he got all his tattoos, Chris replies, “My mom made me get them.” His mother offers some thoughts too. Perhaps surprisingly Chris mentions liking Willie Nelson and Neil Young. And Lemmy mentions listening to The Everly Brothers, The Beach Boys and Abba. Gene Simmons tells the whole story of a crazy girl who came to his room one night. Probably the best stuff is Ozzy Osbourne in the kitchen. He is so funny and (at this point) articulate.

The second disc also contains a commentary track by Penelope Spheeris and Nadir D’Priest (from the band London). This track offers some interesting information on the shooting of the film. For example, the Ozzy interview was conducted at the producer’s house, not his own. And Penelope reveals that the spilling of the orange juice was staged afterwards (which I had a guessed, because it’s such an odd cut-away). There is also interesting information about the Aerosmith interview. The hot tub sequence with Odin was actually filmed in Penelope’s yard. She says that Randy O was the only guy around who could get away with the ass-less pants. She also reveals that the vodka bottle that Chris Holmes drank was filled with water (something which Randy O had told me a few months ago), and that pool was the producer’s pool. This disc also contains the film’s trailer.

Disc Three: The Decline Of Western Civilization Part III (1998)

The Decline Of Western Civilization Part III is the most interesting of the three films, and the most emotionally engaging. I was nearly in tears in certain sections. While this one returns to punk music, the focus is less on the bands than on a group of homeless teenagers who are a part of the scene. And because of this it has a much more serious tone than the other films. The kids talk about having been abused at home, and about drinking. (“Hi, Mom. Thanks for making me an alcoholic. I love you.”) We see the kids asking for money on the streets. But there is still plenty of music, including some very cool tunes. I particularly love “Bootlickin’ Boy” by The Resistance. In addition to The Resistance, there is footage of Final Conflict, Litmus Green and Naked Aggression, as well as interviews with Keith Morris (from Black Flag and Circle Jerks), Rick Wilder (from The Mau-Maus) and Flea (from Fear and, later, The Red Hot Chili Peppers).

Disc Three Bonus Material

The third disc includes extended interviews with Flea, Keith Morris, and Rick Wilder. The best interview, however, is with Leonard Phillips of The Dickies, who is incredibly articulate and candid. There is also more with the kids, who talk about their nicknames. There is also footage of the whole group walking in the city, mostly toward the camera, which of course will remind you of similar footage from Penelope Spheeris’ Suburbia.

The bonus material also includes footage from a panel on the first and third films, with Penelope Spheeris, Lee Ving (of Fear), Greg Hetson (of Circle Jerks) and Kirsten Patches (of Naked Aggression), and moderated by Mark Toscano. Penelope talks about the difficulty of getting the first film screened and distributed. There is also footage of Penelope introducing the third film at the premiere, and a short interview from the Sundance Film Festival. And there is a bit of behind-the-scenes footage with some commentary by Penelope (in which she reveals that one of the kids is now her boyfriend – she met him while filming The Decline Of Western Civilization Part III). And of course, the film’s trailer is included.

Disc Four: Bonus Material

The box set includes a fourth disc of bonus material, which features more extended interviews from the second film, including Megadeth, London, Odin and Poison. The guys from Odin talk about their tour, and the band’s road manager talks about the costs involved, resulting in the band often not making any money. Bret Michaels (from Poison) talks about critics. Nadir D’Priest and Lizzie Grey (of London) talk about the explosions used during a performance of “Russian Winter,” and offer the entire story about the cop incident, as well as the handcuffs story. There is also footage of fans in line to see Megadeth, and well as more footage of folks handing out flyers on the Sunset Strip, with a bit with Odin and a guy from Warrant.

There are a couple of panels. The first is about the third film, with Penelope Spheeris, Alice Bag, Lee Ving, Keith Morris and Kirsten Patches. The second is about the second film, with Penelope Spheeris, Nadir D’Priest, Riki Rachtman and Rikki Rockett. And there are a couple of interviews with Penelope Spheeris, one conducted by Tawn Mastrey, the other by Mark Toscano.

The Decline Of Western Civilization Collection was released on June 30, 2015 through Shout! Factory.

The Kingbees: “The Kingbees” (1980/2015) CD Review

The self-titled album from The Kingbees is some classic rock and roll, not from the 1950s but rather from 1980. But don’t worry, this is the real thing. It’s not a put-on; it’s not a costume this band dons for an hour or two and a few dollars. Clearly the band was living it, breathing it. This is no-frills rock by a classic rock trio – guitar, bass and drums. And they clearly needed nothing else. This special re-issue includes eight bonus tracks, demos and live recordings, all of which were previously unreleased. It also contains new liner notes by lead singer/guitarist Jamie James, in which he offers some interesting information on the band’s conception and formation. The original idea was to do a Buddy Holly tribute band, and you can certainly hear lead singer Jamie James’ affection for Holly on a song like “Ting-A-Ling.” Also, among this disc’s bonus tracks is a live cover of Holly’s “Not Fade Away.”

The Kingbees kick off the album with “Sweet Sweet Girl To Me,” a fun tune with a bit of a rockabilly flavor, and backing vocals repeating, “Sweet, sweet.” It’s a look back at a girl who left him, but he seems to have nothing but fondness for her, which is certainly unusual. “Well, I can’t talk about her, ‘cause she’s with someone new/As long as she was with me, she was true true true.” It’s followed by “My Mistake,” which has a groove you can sink your teeth into. I love the way the bass plays such a prominent role. And I also like the sense of humor about it, as in these lines: “I saw a real fine girl at the marketplace/She had a nice way of walking and real fine face/A voice like a man, I don’t understand/I’m sorry, chick, but it’s my mistake.” I like this track a lot.

“Man Made For Love” begins with a slow (and therefore kind of surprising) and even sweet introduction. “My arms are made for hugging/And my lips are made for kissing you.” Then once it kicks in it has a Bo Diddley kind of vibe (think a fast “Who Do You Love” kind of thing). “Fast Girls” has a bit of a punk vibe about it, which I love. The punk edge makes sense, as both types of music were a sort of reaction to the excesses of some mainstream music and a return to a more stripped down, simple, immediate sound. Plus, it has the respectable punk rock song length of two minutes. And I love the ending – it has a very familiar classic rock and roll ending, but then eliminates that final chord, so you’re left hanging there, waiting for it, hearing it in your head. It’s like a bit of a tease.

“Once Is Not Enough” is a great, fast-paced rock and roll number with a lot of energy, and a beat to get you dancing. “Well, give me, give me all you got/I’m in love and my blood’s red hot/Give me, give me all you got/You got me started and I just can’t stop.” This is one of my personal favorite tracks. But my absolute favorite is “Everybody’s Gone,” the original album’s closing track. It a rock and roll love letter to rock and roll, and is a whole lot of fun. It’s about dancing all night long, and it should get you dancing. “I don’t care if it’s getting too late/I can’t leave this rock and roll/I’ll never leave this rock and roll.” There is some really nice work on guitar, and little nod to “Wild Thing” (“Come on baby, you move me”). And then, hurrah, this track gives us a drum solo, and follows that with a seriously cool bass solo. I love this track.

Bonus Tracks

This special re-issue includes eight bonus tracks, all of which were previously unreleased. The first five are early demos, including “My Mistake,” “Man Made For Love,” “Ting-A-Ling” and “Fast Girls” from the first album, and “Burnin’ The Town Tonight,” a song which was included on their second record. I actually prefer this version of “Man Made For Love,” especially the intro, because the bass has more presence. The demo version of “Fast Girls” has a different ending, with a false fade, and then a real fade-out. I definitely prefer the album version for that reason.

The other three bonus tracks are live recordings from a show the band performed in Detroit on June 8, 1980. Interestingly, all three are covers. The first, “Somethin’ Else,” puts me in such a good mood each time I listen to it. This song actually had me laughing aloud the first time I listened to this disc, specifically these lines (and the way they are delivered): “To own a car would be a luxury/But right now I can't afford the gas/A brand new convertible is out of my class/But that can't stop me from thinking to myself/That car's fine looking, man, it's somethin’ else.” “Somethin’ Else” was written by Eddie Cochran and Sharon Sheeley. That’s followed by a very cool rendition of Buddy Holly’s classic number, “Not Fade Away.” The CD then concludes with a really good cover of “Bo Diddley,” with that famous rhythm. They ask the audience to sing along at one point, then tease them, “Oh you’d have never got a recording contract singing like that, cats.”

CD Track List

1. Sweet Sweet Girl To Me
2. My Mistake
3. Man Made For Love
4. No Respect
5. Fast Girls
6. Shake-Bop
7. Once Is Not Enough
8. Ting-A-Ling
9. Follow Your Heart
10. Everybody’s Gone
11. My Mistake (demo)
12. Man Made For Love (demo)
13. Burnin’ The Town Tonight (demo)
14. Ting-A-Ling (demo)
15. Fast Girls (demo)
16. Somethin’ Else (live)
17. Not Fade Away (live)
18. Bo Diddley (live)

Musicians

The Kingbees are Jamie James on lead vocals and guitar, Michael Rummans on bass and backing vocals, and Rex Roberts on drums and backing vocals.

 

This special re-issue of The Kingbees was released on April 28, 2015 through Omnivore Recordings.

July 2015 Concert Calendar

I started this blog to let people know about all the good music that's out there. Here is a list of a few concerts you might be interested in for the month of July, 2015. Most of these are artists that I've reviewed, though some are some bands that I haven't yet written about, but really like. I will try to add to this calendar whenever I can throughout the month.

July 1, 2015  (Wednesday)
Lady Low  -  Harvard And Stone, Los Angeles, CA
Patrolled By Radar  -  3 Clubs, 1123 Vine St., Los Angeles, CA
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Prescott Park Arts, Portsmouth, NH

July 2, 2015  (Thursday)
Honey County  -  Hotel Cafe, Los Angeles, CA
The Howlin' Brothers  -   The 5 Spot, Nashville, TN  -  6:00 p.m.
Red Molly  -  The Hamilton, Washington, D.C.
Uncle Lucius  -   FitzGerald's American Music Festival, Berwyn, IL
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Buffalo Rocks The Harbor, Buffalo, NY

July 3, 2015  (Friday)
Annabelle's Curse  -   Folk City All Stars, Johnson City, TN
Kelley Mickwee  -  Mountain View Hotel, Centennial, WY
Red Molly  - Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA
Red Wanting Blue  -   Fountain Square, Cincinnati, OH
The Whooligans  -   E.J. Malloy's Pub, Long Beach, CA
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  Sherman Theater Summer Stage, Mt. Pocono, PA

July 4, 2015  (Saturday)
The Band Of Heathens  -  Hero's Music Festival, Eden, TX   -  4:00 p.m.
Uncle Lucius  -    Hill Country Galleria Independence Day Festival, Bee Cave, TX
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Moonlite Gardens, Cincinnati, OH

July 5, 2015  (Sunday)
The Band Of Heathens  -   Levitt Pavilion, Arlington, TX  -  8:00 p.m.
Red Molly  -   Clifton Park, Clifton Park, NY

July 6, 2015  (Monday)

July 7, 2015  (Tuesday)
Annabelle's Curse  -    The Basement, Nashville, TN
The Grownup Noise  -  The Lizard Lounge, Cambridge, MA
James McMurtry  -  Continental Club Gallery, Austin, TX
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Brooklyn Bowlm Brooklyn, NY

July 8, 2015  (Wednesday)
James McMurtry  -   Continental Club, Austin, TX
Patrolled By Radar  -   Cinema Bar, Culver City, CA
Red Molly  -   Music On Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ
Uncle Lucius  -    Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   The Ridgefield Playhouse Ridgefield, CT

July 9, 2015  (Thursday)
The Band Of Heathens  -   Newpark Town Center, Park City, UT  -  6:00 p.m.
The Howlin' Brothers  -    The 5 Spot, Nashville, TN  -  6:00 p.m.
Mates Of State  -  The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA
Kelley Mickwee  - Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, Okemah, OK  -  1:00 p.m.
Ellis Paul  -  The Blue Door, 2805 North McKinley, Oklahoma City, OK  -  8:00 p.m.
Uncle Lucius  -    Chief Theater, Steamboat Springs, CO
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Alive At Fivem Albany, NY

July 10, 2015  (Friday)
The Band Of Heathens  -   Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver, CO  -  10:00 p.m.
Cake  -  Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park, NJ
Kelley Mickwee  -   Magnolia Motor Lounge, Fort Worth, TX
Willie Nile  -  SummerSounds, Greensburgh, PA
Ellis Paul  -   Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, 100-328 Sertco Road, Okemah, OK  -  10:00 p.m.
Red Molly  -   Manship Theatre, Baton Rouge, LA
Uncle Lucius  -    The Town Square Tavern, Jackson, WY
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  Paper Mill Island Amphitheater, Baldwinsville, NY

July 11, 2015  (Saturday)
Annabelle's Curse  -    The Empty Glass, Charleston, WV
The Band Of Heathens  -   The Ride Festival, Telluride, CO  -  10:00 p.m.
Bombadil  -  Fishin' Pig,  Farmville, VA
Cake  -   All Good Music Festival, Summit Point, WV
Rebecca Loebe  -  Strange Brew, Austin, TX
James McMurtry  -   Buscadero Festival, Pusiano, Italy
Red Wanting Blue  -   Pembina River Nights, Edmonton, Canada
Uncle Lucius  -    Mountain Village Resort, Stanley, ID
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  All Good Music Festival, Summit Point, WV

July 12, 2015  (Sunday)
Annabelle's Curse  -    The Purple Fiddle, Thomas, WV
Cake  -   Levitt Pavilion, Bethlehem, PA
Susie Glaze And The Hilonesome Band  -   Santa Clarita Valley Americana Folk Festival, Santa Clarita, CA  -  5:00 p.m.
Willie Nile  - Ottawa Blues Fest, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Ellis Paul  -  Black Potato Music Festival, Red Mill Museum Village, Clinton, NJ  -  6:30 p.m.
Red Molly  -   City Winery, Nashville, TN  -  6:00 p.m.
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Mountain Sol Festival, Felton, CA

July 13, 2015  (Monday)

July 14, 2015  (Tuesday)
The Band Of Heathens  and Uncle Lucius  -   The Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA

July 15, 2015  (Wednesday)
The Band Of Heathens  -   Treehouse Cafe, Bainbridge Isle, WA
James McMurtry  -   Continental Club, Austin, TX
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -  Carnahan Hall, Lafayette, IN

July 16, 2015  (Thursday)
The Buzzcocks  -  The Garage, London, UK
The Howlin' Brothers  -    The 5 Spot, Nashville, TN  -  6:00 p.m.
James McMurtry  -   Shady Grove, Austin, TX
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   Cafe Paradiso, Fairfield, IA
Willie Nile  -   Stearns Square, Springfield, MA
Patrolled By Radar  -   Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, CA  -  4:00 p.m.
Red Molly  -   Sussex County Community College, Newton, NJ  -  6:30 p.m.

July 17, 2015  (Friday)
Annabelle's Curse  -    Preservation Pub, Knoxville, TN
The Band Of Heathens  -   Camp Navarro, Navarro, CA  -  4:00 p.m.
The Buzzcocks  -   Festival Portamerica, Nigran, Spain
The Howlin' Brothers  -    ACME Feed And Seed, Nashville, TN
James McMurtry  -   Kessler Theatre, Dallas, TX
Kelley Mickwee  -   Paramount Theatre, Austin, TX
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   Harriet Brewing Taproom, Minneapolis, MN
Willie Nile  -   Seneca Queen Theatre, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Tom Paxton  -  Mason District Park, Annandale, VA 
(free show)
Red Wanting Blue  -   Moods Of The Madison, Ennis, MT
Martin Sexton  -  Grand Targhee Fest, Alta, WY

July 18, 2015  (Saturday)
Annabelle's Curse  -    Smith's Olde Bar, Atlanta, GA
The Band Of Heathens  -   Sweetwater Music Hall, Mill Valley, CA  -  8:00 p.m.
The Mansfield Band  -  Molly Malone's, Los Angeles, CA
Kelley Mickwee  -   The Gage Hotel, Marathon, TX
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   KAXE Mississippi River Festival, Grand Rapids, MN
The Nields  -  West Cummington Church, West Cummington, MA
Patrolled By Radar  -   Lobero Theater, Santa Barbara, CA
Martin Sexton  -   Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett, NY
The Whooligans  -    The Auld Dubliner, Long Beach, CA

July 19, 2015  (Sunday)
The Band Of Heathens  -   SLO Brewing Company, San Luis Obispo, CA
The Buzzcocks  -   Project Pabst, Portland, OR
Lady Low  -   Tin Roof, San Diego, CA  -  8:00 p.m.
James McMurtry  -   Targhee Fest, Alta, WY
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   The Gas Lamp, Des Moines, IA
Red Molly  -   Bartlett Arboretum, Stamford, CT  -  5:00 p.m.
Martin Sexton  -   Prescott Park, Portsmouth, NH
The Whooligans  -    The Red Leprechaun, Long Beach  -  2:00 p.m.

July 20, 2015  (Monday)
The Band Of Heathens  -  Hotel Cafe, Los Angeles, CA  -  8:00 p.m.
Red Molly  -   Music On The River, East Haddam, CT  -  6:30 p.m.
Red Wanting Blue  -   The Rendezvous, Seattle, WA

July 21, 2015  (Tuesday)
The Band Of Heathens  -   Buck Owens' Crystal Palace, Bakersfield, CA  -  8:00 p.m.
James McMurtry  -   Continental Club Gallery, Austin, TX
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   Daytrotter, Rock Island, IL

July 22, 2015  (Wednesday)
Bombadil  -   Tennessee Shines, Knoxville, TN
James McMurtry  -   Continental Club, Austin, TX
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   The Tonic Room, Chicago, IL
Red Wanting Blue  -   Hotel Utah, San Francisco, CA
Uncle Lucius  -  The Mint, Los Angeles, CA
Martin Sexton  -   Payomet Performing Arts Center, North Truro, MA

July 23, 2015  (Thursday)
Cake  -   Lifestyle Communities Pavilion, Columbus, OH
The Howlin' Brothers  -    The 5 Spot, Nashville, TN  -  6:00 p.m.
Kelley Mickwee  -   Strange Brew, Austin, TX
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  - The Southgate House Revival, Newport, KY
Patrolled By Radar  -   Pappy And Harriet's, Pioneertown, CA
Red Wanting Blue  -  The Hotel Cafe, Los Angeles, CA  -  7:00 p.m.
Uncle Lucius  -   The Cashbah, San Diego, CA

July 24, 2015  (Friday)
The Band Of Heathens  - Miller Plaza, Chattanooga, TN  -  8:00 p.m.
Bombadil  -   Wolf Hills Brewing Co., Abingdon, VA
The Buzzcocks  -   The Live Rooms, Chester, UK
Cake  -   Jacobs Pavilion, Cleveland, OH
The Howlin' Brothers  -    Bowie Nature Park, Fairview, TN
Uncle Lucius  -   The Rebel Lounge, Phoenix, AZ

July 25, 2015  (Saturday)
The Band Of Heathens  - Southland Ballroom, Raleigh, NC
Bombadil  -   The Willow Tree, Johnson City, TN
The Buzzcocks  -   Leeds Ska And Mod Festival, Leeds, UK
Cake  -   Kerfuffle, Buffalo, NY
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   Floyd Fest, Floyd, VA
Ellis Paul  -  B'Nai Chaim Synagogue, 4716 South Coors Lane, Morrison, CO  -  7:00 p.m.
Tom Paxton  -   Presbyterian Church, Chatham, NJ
Red Molly  -   Red Ants Pants Festival, White Sulphur Springs, MT  -  5:00 p.m.
Red Wanting Blue  -   Oyster Ridge Music Festival, Kemmerer, WY
Martin Sexton  -   Flying Monkey, Plymouth, NH
Uncle Lucius  -   The Liberty, Roswell, NM

July 26, 2015  (Sunday)
The Band Of Heathens  -  Visulite Theatre, Charlotte, NC
The Buzzcocks  -   Tramlines Fest, Sheffield, UK
Hot Club Of Cowtown  -  Fiddles, Vittles And Vino, Colorado Springs, CO
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -   Floyd Fest, Floyd, VA
Tom Paxton  - Huntington Summer Arts Festival, Huntington, NY
Martin Sexton  -   Shalin Liu Theatre, Rockport, MA
The Whooligans  -    Nadine's Irish Mist, Sunset Beach, CA  -  4:00 p.m.
Christopher Williams  -  North River Church Of Christ, Marietta, GA

July 27, 2015  (Monday)
Red Molly  -   Ellen Theater, Bozeman, MT
Red Wanting Blue  -   Soiled Dove Underground, Denver, CO

July 28, 2015  (Tuesday) 
James McMurtry  -   Continental Club Gallery, Austin, TX

July 29, 2015  (Wednesday)
Hot Club Of Cowtown  -   Continental Club, Austin, TX  -  6:30 p.m.
James McMurtry  -   Continental Club, Austin, TX
Uncle Lucius  -   Golden Light, Amarillo, TX

July 30, 2015  (Thursday)
Hot Club Of Cowtown  -   City Hall Concert Series, Culver City, CA  -  7:00 p.m.
The Howlin' Brothers  -    The 5 Spot, Nashville, TN  -  6:00 p.m.
Patrolled By Radar  -  Trip, Santa Monica, CA 

July 31, 2015  (Friday)
The Buzzcocks  -   Camp Bestival, Dorset, UK
Cloud Cult  -  Live On King Street, Madison, WI -  6:00 p.m.
Melissa Ferrick  -  The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA
Hot Club Of Cowtown  -   City Hall Concert Series, Culver City, CA  -  8:00 p.m.
James McMurtry  -  Main Street Crossing, Tomball, TX 
Miss Tess And The Talkbacks  -  The Crimson Moon, Dahlonega, GA 

Uncle Lucius: “The Light” (2015) CD Review

Uncle Lucius’s new album, The Light, was funded by fans, and perhaps partly for that reason has a much-appreciated optimism and an underlying faith in folks (which should transfer to the listener). This album at times feeling like a phone call from a friend who not only wants to catch you up on his life but wants to hear about yours, even offering thoughtful bits of advice, like “Don’t be afraid to change your mind/Don’t be afraid to change.” These songs have elements of rock, country and folk (man, I’d love to see them on a double bill with I See Hawks In L.A.), with a focus on the songwriting. I like these lines from “Nothing To Save”: “Time is a concept/A construct of man/Man could very well be/Dead wrong again.” Uncle Lucius is based in Austin, and “The Light” is the band’s fourth album.

This CD kicks off with “The Light,” the album’s title track. Interestingly, this is a song that is simultaneously about taking a more active approach to one’s life and also about looking inward rather than outward. It was written by singer/guitarist Kevin Galloway. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “Instead of choosing to live in reaction mode/I set intention before me, let go and flow/To grow and know from the inside out/And shine light into shadows cast by doubt.” Not bad, eh? Plus, this song has a good groove, and some really nice work on keys by Jonathan Grossman.

It’s followed by “Age Of Reason,” which was written by Hal Vorpahl, the band’s original bass player. This is one of my favorite tracks, and it has a very positive vibe and groove and lyrics. “Oh, we say division/Comes from within/But how we’re different/Will never mean as much/As how we’re kin.” The song calls for an age of reason, which I think we could all get behind. This track takes on something of a funky soul vibe, akin to some of the late ‘60s, early ‘70s R&B recordings, as the band is joined by Tiger Anaya on trumpet and Mark Wilson on saxophone (both from Shinyribs).

I really like this album, and as I’ve said, a lot of its appeal for me is in the lyrics. Another of my favorites, “Taking In The View,” begins with a play on the idea of the devil being in the detail: “The devil’s in the detail shop/Waiting on his old ragtop/Wondering where the hell have all the real souls gone.” The main line, “And he’s going to spend his golden years taking in the view,” taken on its own, on the one hand sounds kind of sad, like giving up, but on the other hand, has a positive ring, as it’s a conscious choice, like taking some control. But the whole thing takes on a different feel when you see just who this character is, referred to as “the bright and morning star” in Revelation 22:16 (yeah, I looked it up). This song combines that description with ZZ Tops’ “Jesus Just Left Chicago” to give us the lines, “And the bright and morning star/Just left Chicago.” He has a stack of records, and in one section, this song makes reference to several of the records he’s listening to: Dylan, CCR, Beatles, and so on. I like taking these characters from religion and putting them into a sort of mundane context. And I like the addition of strings on this track (that’s Eleanor Whitmore). The opening instrumental section is beautiful. And the ending is intense. This is an all-round strong song, written by Kevin Galloway.

“No Time Flat” has a gorgeous mellow country feel at the start, and grows from there. “It’s a new day, a new time/A fresh chance to start right.” And the second time Kevin sings, “Slow down, slow down,” the song itself responds, slowing down. And the following line, “Just be here now,” is a reference to the Ram Dass book. So yes, this is a seize-the-day, live-in-the-moment song, and I’m starting to think there can’t be enough of these. It seems a message we need to hear on a regular basis, especially these days.

“No Time Flat” is followed by “Wheels In Motion,” written by Jonathan Grossman and Michael Carpenter, which takes us on a bit of an emotional ride, at first offering some depressing thoughts: “We are all broken/There is no new/No home left/Just someplace/We’re passing through.” But then it offers this: “Don’t be afraid to change/When your own skin/Seems so strange/And the right road/You can’t find/Don’t be afraid to change your mind/Don’t be afraid to change.” The song then takes us to the death of a young soldier before repeating, “The wheel’s in motion/And there’s no stopping.” For good or ill, it’s true.

The album concludes with “Someday Is A Far Cry,” which has a wonderful, fast groove during the chorus, and makes me think this band must put on a good concert.

CD Track List

1. The Light
2. Age Of Reason
3. Taking In The View
4. Ouroboros
5. The End Of 118
6. No Time Flat
7. Wheels In Motion
8. Gulf Coast Gypsies
9. Flood Then Fade Away
10. Don’t Own The Right
11. Nothing To Save
12. Someday Is A Far Cry

Musicians

Uncle Lucius is Kevin Galloway on vocals and acoustic guitar; Michael Carpenter on electric guitar, acoustic guitar and vocals; Josh Greco on drums, percussion and vocals; Jonathan Grossman on keyboards, synth and vocals; and Nigel Frye on bass and synth.

The Light was released on June 9, 2015 through Thirty Tigers and Boo Clap Records.