Pick of the Day 11/30/07

I'm tempted to send you to see Sons of Roswell at The Nick, but you'd have to sit through atrocious mediocre-ville in order to get to them, and it's not worth that much agony. Instead, I'm opting for:

Raquy and the Caveman @ Bottletree

Admission: 12$
Get down: 7PM



Though Middle Eastern drumming isn't really my area of expertise, it's definitely the most interesting thing going on tonight. Also, Raquy and the Caveman will be accompanied by three regional dance troupes, and I'm thinking there might be little belly-dancing involved! Hooray for bellies.

Video of the Day 11/30/07

I am terribly under-listened when it comes to the world of reggae, but even if I was, Toots and the Maytals would still be some of my favorite. Best thing about this video is the little dance Toots does in the break.

There is so much joy in this music, I can't help but smile when I listen to it.

Concert Poster of the Day 11/30/07

Somebody in The Decemberists must have sent a memo about cool concert posters, cause these guys have more good gig rags than most other bands. I'm not a huge Decemberists fan. I like a few of their tracks, but I like almost all of their posters.

Decemberists (Knust '07)

Pick of the Day 11/29/07

There's plenty of good jam-band in town, if you're in the mood for toast, but I've been diggin' the blues lately, so tonight I'm sending y'all to see an acquaintance of mine:

Daniel Turner & Friends @ Marty's



There's a chance I might sit in on the keys for a number or two, but that has in NO WAY influenced my pick. I swear. What?!

Video of the Day 11/29/07

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm currently working my way through the entire Bob Dylan discography. I'm currently in 1985, and I've still got a long way to go. He's nothing if not prolific, our Mr. Dylan. This here is a clip from the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, the day Dylan "went electric":

I love the little chunk of banter about the tape during soundcheck. This is one of the best versions of Maggie's Farm I've heard, and I've heard quite a few at this point.

Concert Poster of the Day 11/29/07

There are so many things to love about this one. It could be the movie poster for Planet of the Cyber Apes. Connect me Dr. Zaius!

beastie boys (festival pier '07)

Pick of the Day 11/28/07

Even though their myspace page is woefully empty of content (no music!), I'm still picking The Big Tasties tonight. These guys were my first live show in Birmingham, and it was a wicked good time. That, combined with free admission and cheap booze, gets you a shiny new Pick of the Day:

The Big Tasties @ Bailey's Pub (No Website)

Admission: Free
Go Time: 10PM



Time to embrace the internet, fellas. It is the repository of all things.

Video of the Day 11/28/07

These guys played Bottletree a while ago, and since then I haven't been able to get this song out of my skull. Maybe this will purge it:

It's hard to find a music video these days with only footage of the band playing. There are no gyrating nymphos in this one, and I for one could use a break from constant boobage. It's refreshing to hang with the nerds for a while.

Concert Poster of the Day 11/28/07

I just found a whole heap of great Pearl Jam posters. Here's my favorite of the bunch:

Pearl Jam (Mellon Arena '06)

If you look closely you can see that the keys on the typewriter spell out "June 23 US Tour 2006 Pittsburgh with Robert Pollard". There are multiple letters and numbers on each key.

Pick of the Day 11/27/07

You can always trust The Bottletree to throw up something you've never seen before, and today's twist is: Cello Rock! As you can imagine, Cello Rock is a fairly mellow sub-genre, at least as embodied by ethereal local band Trees With Bells. As much fun as supporting talented 'Hamsters is, the best reason to come out to this show is The Blank Tapes. Formed by California musician Matt Adams, The Blank Tapes is populated with a revolving cast of whichever of Matt's friends happen to be available. Regardless of the shifting faces, the lo-fi, high style Blank Tapes give good show. Come get some:

TREES WITH BELLS / THE BLANK TAPES @ Bottletree

Admission: 10$
Zero Hour: 8PM

Video of the Day 11/27/07

This video may not be much of a discovery to some, but it is for me, so up it goes!

This song has been around for a while, and it's by one of my favorite bands, but since MTV was embalmed I don't get much video I don't actively seek out myself. The video is a bit "rock video" at times, but for the most part I think it's pretty frickin' sweet.

Concert Poster of the Day 11/27/07

I've recently acquired the entire Bob Dylan discography, and have been working my way through it chronologically, filling in the gaps. So, in honor of all the songs now firmly stuck in my head at the moment, here it is:

Bob Dylan (The Trap '04)

Pick of the Day 11/26/07

I'm in the process of adding some new venues to the event calendar, and tonight's pick is from one of them. This is actually one of my favorite spots to hang in, but they don't publish their event calendar, so I've been putting off adding them. No longer! Get your butts down to:

Rick Carter @ Bailey's Pub (no website)

Admission: Free
Lift Off: 10PM



The band's website offers a couple of new subgenres to describe their sound, but I'm going with Speedgrass. It's got a nice ring to it, don't you think? These guys have got good time vibes written in sharpie all over them. Get down there and get it on!

Video of the Day 11/26/07

They just don't make rock stars like they used to. Even the ones that manage to escape the focus-group wasteland of popular music can only aspire to the level of debauched lunacy and savage whimsy embodied in good 'ol Mr. Iggy Pop.

It's hard to tell how much of this performance is the drugs. History tells us that Iggy is a pretty weird dude, even when he's straight as razor.

Concert Poster of the Day 11/26/07

This is a great poster for what was apparently a mediocre show. It was a reunion show, and many of the bands were missing fundamental founding members. Are Dead Kennedys without Jello Biafra really still the same band?

Pick of the Day 11/25/07

Thank the lizard for Marty's! If they didn't have music every day, this town would be a silent, lonely place tonight. So, if you want to hear anything tonight, go to:

Carlos Pino & The Smokin' Newports @ Marty's Bar



This isn't an emergency stop either. Carlos Pino has serious jazz guitar chops, and some funky off-genre stylings as well. It will be worth your time to be there, and even if it wasn't, Marty's is the hippest little dive around.

Concert Poster of the Day 11/25/07

For pure bizzare hilarity (bizzarity?) this one gets the pick today:

Foo Fighters (The Palace '00)

Plus, I've always had a thing for that acidic shade of green.

Video of the Day 11/25/07

The thing that makes this video transcendent, and not just great, is the dancing puppet mice. In my opinion, dancing puppets are the pinnacle of hilarity. Like farts, they're always funny.



I never knew I knew about this guy until today, but I did. You follow me? I've heard his stuff everywhere (commercials and what not), but now I know his name. DEE!

Last.fm At Last!

I've made a few minor changes and one major addition to the site today. You've probably already noticed the new Last.fm player on the right hand side of the page. I've spent a lot of time recently wrangling with various online music services inlcuding Pandora, Faces, Streampad, radio.blog.club, and many others. Last.fm is the only one that provides me with the kind of functionality I wanted. The player I've added builds a playlist on the fly based on my personal musical tastes. I have actually been meaning to add the player for a while, but I needed to have a serious number of tracks scrobbled before it only played music I actually like. Even this one isn't actually the one I want to use. Last.fm also provides a player that allows you to build your own playlist, but at the moment it can't handle playlists large enough for my taste. The version I have now is growing on me though. I keep discovering new artists through it, and that's always a good thing. If you like a majority of the bands in the "Artists That Don't Suck" section of this blog, I think you'll have a pretty good time. I know I am.

As for the minor changes, I've shifted some of the components of the site around a bit. Just cleaning up the layout, you know? The one thing I'd like to call your attention to is that the Birmingham Event Calendar link is now on the left hand side.

Concert Poster of the Day 11/24/07

There is something slightly disturbing about this one, though it could just be the Skeksis feet, or that giant eye staring back at me. When will they learn giant eyes are creepy! Stop looking at me!!

Aesop Rock (Metro '07)

Video of the Day 11/24/07

Oh man! Today's video is proof that Soundgarden was one of the meanest, exhaustively hardcore, bad-ass bands on earth. Here they are in all their sweat-stained glory, hulking around the stage like ferocious behemoths of rock. Put your facemasks on for this one kiddies. It's gonna get grimy out there.



'Nuff said.

Pick of the Day 11/24/07 (War Eagle Edition)

I don't even know why I'm bothering to make a pick today, as everyone will be well ensconced in the Iron Bowl this evening. However, for those of you who had football lobotomies (or grew up with baseball, like me), I'll go through the motions. Unfortunately, most of the venues in town knew that business would be light tonight, so the crop of bands available isn't as good as it should be for a Saturday night. The Bottletree show is too half-heartedly weird, and The Nick show is just plain mediocre. So, for the first time, I'm sending you to:

Earthbound @ Marty's Bar

Admission: 5$
Be There: 9PM



Alright, enjoy your rivalry you maniacs!

Concert Poster of the Day 11/23/07

This poster reminds me of a twisted Dr. Seuss illustration. Not that Dr. Seuss isn't already fairly twisted:

G. Love (Fingerprints '06)

Video of the Day 11/23/07

I thought since Melt Banana was my pick of the day, it would be appropriate to have them be the video of the day as well. This one's for a track called Free the Bee:



If you liked that, click HERE for a much longer concert video.

Pick of the Day 11/23/07

There's a little something for everyone at Bottletree tonight. Screampunk, electrocordian, and avant-rock abound, but you can get that anywhere, right? The reason you will be at Bottletree tonight is the insane brilliance of Japanese band Melt Banana. So pull out those wads and pony up for:

MELT BANANA / THE LOCUST / YIP YIP / SLEEPING PEOPLE @ The Bottletree

Admission: 15$
Zero Hour: 8PM



Seriously...Melt Banana will cause your brain to dribble out through your nostrils.

Concert Poster of the Day 11/22/07

I've got baking to help out with, so I'm just gonna throw this one up here:

Oooh...pretty colors! I really love this cut-out style. I'm thankful for Adobe CS2. :) Happy turkey day everyone!

Video of the Day 11/22/07

I really am in a good mood! I promise. But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy a little Burroughs.



He must be thankful for those things because they give him such wonderful fodder for aged cantankerism. Go eat some pie if that gave you a bad feeling.

Pick of the Day 11/22/07

I was all set to tell everyone to stay home today. It's Thanksgiving, you should be cramming your gut full of turkey, and snoozing on the couch. Fortunately for the couch, their is something worth leaving the house for in B'ham tonight. Pack a drumstick, kiss gramma goodbye, and head out to:

Heath Green & The Starmakers @ The Nick

Admission: 7$
Go Time: 9PM

Heath Green sounds a bit like Tom Waits, but with horns, and twenty less years of whiskey and cigarettes. Mostly, he just sounds good.

Happy Turkey!!

Ah, the annual celebration of thanks (or gluttony) is upon us. Soon we shall all be mired in the shopping lists, but for now we may gorge ourselves on food and family until nap-time overtakes us. You may taste your first pumpkin pie of the season today, or eat your first cranberry. At least you have that to be thankful for. Here's what I'm thankful for:

• Family (blood or otherwise)
• Neighbors I actually like
• Music (thank the lizard it exists!!)
• --the ten fingers I've been given to play it
• --Kings of Leon
  

• kindness of strangers (especially here in the south, my lord!)
• trees, though they wont stop dropping their leaves on my yard in such massive volume
• kittys and woofers, nature's anti-depressants
• the internet, it's nooks and crannies so filled with....everything

That's it for now. Now stuff your face!

Concert Poster of the Day 11/21/07

Today's poster is one of the best I've found in a long time. I love stuff done on lined paper, tax forms, and other non-traditional canvas types. This one is for the memorial concert that was held for Elliot Smith after he was stabbed or stabbed himself twice in the chest with a steak knife.

I wonder if those names were actually written by the bands themselves? More research is in order...

Video of the Day 11/21/07

Here's a little nugget of pure goodness: Kings of Leon playing one of their best songs live. Eddie Vedder, apparently a little wasted, sits in on tambourine and ends up smashing a hole in it.



This is only a small chunk of an excellently filmed concert. Here are links to the rest:

Trani
Charmer
McFearless
Spiral Staircase
California Waiting
The Bucket
On Call
Molly's Chambers
Four Kicks
Arizona
Soft
My Party
Taper Jean Girl
King of the Rodeo

Enjoy!

Pick of the Day 11/21/07

There are a few acts breakin' it down in b'ham tonight, but none of them are really spectacular. Instead, why don't head on down to The Bottletree for a social experiment:

DIY DJ Night @ Bottletree

Admission: Free
Lift Off: 7PM

Bring your pod, and be sure to mix up a hip playlist. You know you got taste, now prove it to the world.

Paintings by Nitrozac

Concert Poster of the Day 11/20/07

I'm going for broke today. If I'm going to do a video of the day, I might as well have a concert poster of the day as well. Here's the very first one:

Rolling Stones (Love You Live Promo)


What makes this one even cooler is that it's an Andy Warhol.

Video of the Day 11/20/07

We're gonna try out a new feature here for a while. We'll see if there is enough good content to merit it. So...in the blue corner, weighing in at 0.85 lbs, wearing the paisley trunks...the very first Video of the Day:



You may recognize this gentleman from one of the recent "Pick of the Day" posts. This is fast becoming one of my favorite songs. And look at theat steampunk contraption he's using for an instrument. Insane genius, that's what it is.

Pick of the Day 11/20/07

Once again, the event calendar is a little light tonight. I may be heading down to Marty's Bar for open stage night, but if you don't feel like hangin' with yours truly, the only other game in town is:

Deadstring Brothers / Caddle @ Zydeco

Admissioin: 8$
Go Time: 7PM

I'll see ya at Marty's unless I don't.

Pick of the Day 11/19/07

I love Monday! That's probably 'cause I'm unemployed, but it's also 'cause the Pick of the Day is an easy one. Not too much going on, you know what I mean? The best place to be tonight is good ol' Bottletree, where the decor and the people are as good a reason to hang as the music. Tonight they have psychedelic menage a trois:

PREFUSE 73 / SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS / BLANK BLUE @ Bottletree

Have you tried the chili yet? Get a cup this time, and try not to drool all over me.

Pick of the Day 11/18/07

I'm not going to even try to explain the pick of the day today. I'm going to let this video speak for me:



That 1 Guy @ The Nick

Admission: 7$
Go Time: 9PM

"The Moon Is Disgusting", the first track on his myspace page, is now one of my new favorite songs. It's like NIN and Primus built a robot together and taught it how to rock.

Pick of the Day 11/17/07

There is only one show in Birmingham tonight. All other shows will be annihilated in the fiery aura of rock surrounding the Bottletree. One of the greatest bands around these days, The Hold Steady, will be there celebrating Bottletree's One Year Anniversary. Congratulation's guys and gals! Here's to many more. Yamas! Make sure you are there people, I don't wanna have to dry your tears in the morning.

THE HOLD STEADY / ART BRUT @ Bottletree

Admission: 15$
Party Time: 7PM

Eat your your heart out, and then fill the hole in your chest with cake and eat that too!

A Cold Show On The Corner

Last night's gig at the Downtown Holiday Open House was a strange event indeed. The temperature dropped severely about halfway through the show, my fingers got numb, and I started to lose my voice. But hey, free booze! At least Santa was diggin' it.

Pick of the Day 11/16/07

I am tempted to send y'all to Bottletree again. Local musician Greg Summerlin is gonna be there, and it's always good to support the locals (when they don't suck), but I'm feeling a bit raucous today. I need some overdrive, a little fuzz bass, and some kick to tie it all together. Needless to say, I'm sending you to:

Dead Confederate / American Bang / With Special Guest Leslie @ The Nick

Admission: 7$
Zero Hour: 10PM


Dead Confederate's hasn't got much, but American Bang will rock your faces to the floor and then puke all over them. Despite the girlie name, Leslie can get your hands in the air with the best of them. Do it!

Pick of the Day 11/15/07

Well, well, well. So you think you know what you're doing tonight. You think you have plans out the wazoo. You're wrong, oh so very wrong. You are coming to:

Downtown Holiday Open House @ 20th St. North and 2nd Ave. North

Admission: Free
Lift Off: 6PM

"Why am I doing this instead of hangin' at Bottletree some more?", you may be asking yourself. I'll tell you why. 'Cause I'm playing on the street corner at the open house, and you don't want to miss it. Do you wanna be up at night agonizing over your decision to miss me? I didn't think so.

Pick of the Day 11/14/07

Anyone up for a little one on one Scrabble action? Tonight is Game Night at Bottletree, and I am so there. C'mon, boardgames aren't just for the kiddies and you know it. Come down, grab a cocktail, do not pass go, proceed directly to:

Game Night @ Bottletree

Admission: Free
Go Time: 6PM

For those of you who burned their childhood long ago, or those who must absolutely have a music fix, I would go to Zydeco for Rose Hill Drive / Old Union. It's pretty standard stuff, but that can still be a good time if you get a few drinks down.

New Look for Myspace

I updated the look of my myspace page so that it fits better with this site. Gave it the same color scheme and what not. I've been letting it languish for a while, but since I've begun my calendar project, I've recognized the importance of having a good one. I always hated the myspace layout, but it looks like they've taken some strides to update it recently. I also uploaded some new pics and two new tracks that can only be experienced there, so go check 'em out.

Pick of the Day 11/13/07

You could go hang with the folkies at Workplay tonight, if you're part of the latte sipping set. You could go thrash with the crusties at The Nick if you're part of the leather set. But if you are part of the awesome set, you'll be at Marty's Bar at around midnight for their Open Stage night. A certain someone (....erhm, me that is) will be laying down some tunes for about half an hour. But if you are too lame to be there, which I suspect many of you will be, you should probably just stay home. But in the interest of picking something:

Jeffrey Foucault / Caroline Herring @ Workplay

Admission: 7$
It Starts: 8PM

When choosing between the mediocre, always take the quiet one.

Pick of the Day 11/12/07

It's Monday, so the pickin's is slim. But that don't mean they ain't sweet as hell. MC Chris aka MC Pee-pants, of Aqua Teen Hunger Force fame will be throwin' it over the mic at Zydeco tonight. If you kiddies like old school hip-hop, and YOU ALL SHOULD, you'll like:

MC Chris / Unsung Zero @ Zydeco

Admission: 14$
Starts: 9PM

Where you at?

A Christmas Miscarriage

I've been breathing theatre since I was a babe. I traveled in the back of my parents tour bus when I was less than a year old, and have dedicated most of the following years to living as an actor. In all those long years, I have never witnessed anything as horrendous as the miscarriage of human decency that occurred at Birmingham Children's Theatre on Friday afternoon.
With less than two weeks left in rehearsal for A Christmas Carol, Birmingham Children's Theatre's board of directors had the suicidal gall to fire our director, and artistic director of BCT, Jamie Lawrence. This a terrible move for the theatre and for the show, which they now intend to put up with a new script and a new director. They have sliced the jugular of the only chance they had at putting up any worthwhile theatre, and replaced it with a wild pipe dream. They are under the assumption that in less than the time it takes a Summer Stock production to take shape, they will pull a visually spectacular extravaganza out of their own asses. Not only do they believe this, but they believe they will do it with no money. BCT is massively in debt, the reason they had commissioned our pared down, back to roots version of Christmas Carol to begin with.

None of this is the main reason why I am so incensed. In the end BCT made a business decision, a tremendously delusional and stupid business decision, but that is their right. What they did not have the right to do was treat Jamie Lawrence with such terrible indignity. They waited until we had begun our rehearsal and then called Jamie away to the office to fire him. While he was there, fighting for his job, they gathered us to the stage where we all sat silent and uncomfortable under the watchful gaze of some financial lizard in a power-tie. None of us knew this man, and his presence in our midst was disturbing. After more than a few minutes of waiting like a problematic grade-schooler for the principal, Jamie was paraded back into the room to announce his firing to us all, and then Lizard Tie assured us that we all still had a job if we wanted it. Of course we all still have a job! You're stuck with no cast if we leave!

Well, I walked off the show, and so did a lot of the cast. You cannot take a production away from a director this close to an opening. It's bad business, but mostly its bad humanity. Jamie is a man I have come to respect and admire in only a few weeks, and had done nothing to merit being fired other than to try and produce a show within his budgetary means that would still be worth seeing. A show that, by most accounts, would have been superior to most of the recent productions of A Christmas Carol in Birmingham.

On top of it all, this is a show about Christmas Spirit, about humbling yourself before your fellow man, about generosity. What better way to get that message to the kids than by firing a man with two kids at Christmas time. Many of the staff at BCT feel that they are being kept on only so that the money from A Christmas Carol can be made, and that they will all be fired as soon as the show is over. Scrooge himself would have a hard time keeping pace with such misanthropic greed.

There is more to say, but I am not the person to say it. I have not been here long enough, and I do not know the history. You should know this: If you attend Birmingham Children's Theatre's A Christmas Carol this year, you will be paying for shoddy, rushed work while supporting the board of director's atrocious behavior.

Pick of the Day 11/11/07

Taj Mahal, Taj Mahal, Taj Mahal! One of my first blues loves, and right in my backyard! Pick something else! I dare you. I double dog dare you with a cherry on top.

Taj Mahal @ Alys Stephens Center

Admission: $62 / $52 / $28 / Student $10
Go Time: 6PM

See you there!

Pick of the Day 11/10/07

There are many good choices to pick from today, it being Saturday and all. Widespread Panic is on for a second night, and once again a Widespread ticket stub gets you into The Nick for free. Tonight that offer is a little more enticing because the lineup at The Nick will actually be worth checking out. On top of that, Keb' Mo' is doin' his thing at The Alys Stephens Center as part of their Blues and BBQ Weekend. I'm not picking either of those shows, though I won't be mad or surprised if you do. I'm just not in the mood. I had a terrible day yesterday, and I need a little bluegrass to lift me up a bit. And fate delivers:

Blueground Undergrass featuring David Blackmon @ Workplay

Admission: 12$
Whistle blows: 9PM

All I have to say is: Electric Banjo!!

Sebastian Jacks Makes The Papers

Funnily enough, my virtual self has arrived on the Birmingham scene faster than my real self. According to the cover article in this weeks Birmingham Weekly, "New York songwriter Sebastian Jacks" will be playing the Downtown Holiday Open House on 11/15/07. I can only surmise that this is because they contacted me through Sebastian's myspace page. Now the question is, should I go as myself, or invent a persona for SJ? Hmmmm...

Pick of the Day 11/09/07

Everyone and their brethren are gonna be at Widespread Panic tonight, and why not? It's guaranteed to be the topic on the lips of every adjcent cubicle monkey next Monday, and it's economical as well. A Widespread ticket gets you into the Wilx show at The Nick for free.

Well, I'll tell you why not. One: Wilx is mediocre, cookie-cutter classic rock at best. It's free to go home and pass out too. Two: David Bazan (of Pedro the Lion fame) is gonna be at Bottletree, and he's got the stink of the real deal about him. So instead of merging with the biomass at the BJCC tonight, come out for my Pick of the Day:

David Bazan @ Bottletree

Admission: 10$
Zero Hour: 8PM

For those of you who perilously ignore my advice and end up at the Widespread show anyway: You might be interested to know that Outformation, playing at Workplay tonight, is Sam Holt's band. Sam Holt was the guitar tech for recently deceased Widespread Panic guitarist Michael Houser.

Pick of the Day 11/08/07

Nothing in today's lineup really jumped out and slapped me in the face. Bottletree's show benefits Black Warrior Riverkeeper, but HoneyBaked isn't that tight of a band. Instead, I'm going with:

Matt Wertz / Dave Barnes / Gabe Dixon Band @ Workplay

Admission: 18$
Liftoff: 7PM

Be sure to get there early. Opening act Gabe Dixon Band is the reason this show gets the nod today. The velveteen-throated headliners are sure to be unoffensive, but they sound like they've been produced and promoted within an inch of their souls. Gabe's got soul to spare. He really should share a bit with the rest of the fellas.

Pick of the Day 11/07/07

The behemoth in the room today is Bright Eyes and Co. at The Alabama Theatre, but my ass is gonna be firmly planted at The Nick for the Fishbone show. Check out the song "Party With Saddam" on their myspace page, and see if you can stop your toes from tapping or your face from spewing laughter.

Fishbone / Skeptic? / The Deep End at The Nick

Admission: 12$
Go Time: 8PM

I'm not a big fan of Skeptic?, but local band The Deep End sounds like a good time as well, so show up a little earlier than normal and stake your space.

Pick of the Day 11/06/07

I'm debuting a new daily feature today: The R3vrb Pick of the Day. It ain't complicated folks, it's just what I think y'all should go see tonight. But (in my best LeVar Burton) you don't have to take my word for it. Head on over to the event calander and launch those myspace pages for yourself. And now, without further ado, today's Pick of the Day is:

Lyrics Born / Blues Old Stand at Workplay.

Admission: 15$
Go Time: 8PM

Get a dose of hip and maybe a little hop to boot. Lyrics Born's got a live band that can really hit the funk hard, and you can warm up for the main course with rollicking Alabama natives Blues Old Stand. Mmmm, delicious and nutritious.

Willie King in Dreamland

I spent Friday evening with the blues, and it was wonderful. Though the concert was barely advertised, I discovered that Willie King and the Liberators were about to play a free show in Phelan Park, across the street from Dreamland's Birmingham location. I managed to make it down there just in time to join the gathering crowd as they perched upon a low stone wall in front of the band or sat at the park’s round tables to feast on BBQ. The smell of smoked meat wafted over from the restaurant and made me almost, stress the almost, want to eat there. I made that mistake once, and one empty wallet and undercooked sandwich later I vowed never to do so again. Though I refuse to eat their food, I now forgive them completely for the aforementioned dining fiasco. They brought me Willie King, and Willie is the man.

At 64, Willie King gained national prominence later in his career than you might expect from such an accomplished blues-man. He released his first album in 1999, debuted on the Rooster Blues label in 2000 and has since gone on to release three more discs including two with his new label Freedom Creek Music. In 1997 he founded the Freedom Creek Festival, a blues gathering held in Old Memphis, AL, near Aliceville. The festival benefits the Rural Members Association, a non-profit that promotes and preserves the traditional local culture of Pickens County, and has featured blues legends T-Model Ford, Paul Oscher, and Sweet Claudette, to name but a few. His guitar is as raw as his voice is rough, but Willie’s got a twinkle in his eye, and the kindliest demeanor one could hope for. During the set break he went around to every member of the audience and shook their hand, or chatted with them for a few moments before signing an autograph. Another member of the band, Debbie Bond, has opened for Buddy Guy and Dr. John, among others. Debbie also runs The Alabama Blues Project, whose mission is to increase awareness of how the blues, and Alabama blues in particular, have influenced the evolution of popular music. ABP and Willie King recently partnered to teach a six week workshop at Aliceville Middle School, so I shouldn’t have been surprised that by end of the show all the children in the audience were dancing in front of the stage (accompanied by a few goofy adults, myself included). There is something innately amusing about watching children dance who haven’t learned to be self-conscious yet. They gyrate with the best of them, striking poses that in only a few years would make them playground pariahs.

I am so glad that this concert didn’t slip under my radar, as I fear it did with almost everyone. I got the feeling from talking to the other audience members that most of them had either been in Dreamland when the show started, or lived in the surrounding residential neighborhood and had heard it from their houses. It certainly made for a more relaxed and enjoyable experience than if word had gotten out. I didn’t have to fight a crowd, and there was no interminable hunt for parking. I sat in the front row, even though I was one of the last ones there. It makes me wonder how many other little gems are passing by unannounced, secreted away in the nooks and crannies of our city. From now on I shall be even more vigilant in my search for great music, and I promise I will pass on the good word to you.

Peter and the Wolf and the End of the Arts

When I was a child I loved Peter and the Wolf. I am not unique in this. Perhaps Prokofiev’s most recognized tune, PATW is adored by children the world over, and is one of the most popular methods of introducing them to the wonders of the symphony. Each character in the tale is portrayed by a single instrument playing a memorable theme, all of which are introduced in the opening moments of the piece, leading newcomers through the sections of the orchestra one at a time. When I first experienced this, it was my own parents' theatre company performing in conjunction with the Young Peoples Philharmonic, with my father acting the role of the Wolf. Later, I would sneak into the costume storage in our garage, put on his musty costume and parade about unseen, gnashing my teeth and growling. Soon after, I discovered the Weird Al / Wendy Carlos version of PATW, with its synthesized orchestra and silly adaptation of the narrative (in Al’s version, the wolf catches the duck because he is wearing new tennis shoes, and Peter captures the wolf with his grandfather’s dental floss). I couldn’t get enough of it. I had the entire thing memorized, and would spend whole afternoons with my best friend in the yard, reciting it and acting out all the parts. As I grew up, however, Weird Al became less amusing and I haven’t given Peter and his escapades another thought until now.

Today, I was fortunate enough to be slipped a ticket to the Birmingham Children’s Theatre’s production of PATW at the BJCC, directed by Abe Reybold. I had forgotten the themes and the story, remembering it as a version of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, but it all came rushing back to me in the first few moments of the performance. And what a performance it was! Expecting a traditional version, I was delighted to be presented instead with an adapted script that bookends the original narrative with scenes of Prokofiev's writing the score. The telling of the usual story is presented at first by members of Prokofiev’s family and household acting out the tale, but concludes in a whimsical dream sequence replete with floating clocks and chairs. The small cast, who each play multiple roles, have a vibrant physicality which held my attention and, more impressively, the attention of hundreds of small children through long orchestral pieces with little dialogue. I glanced around at the audience a few times, and saw only a sea of tiny faces turned towards the stage. No one had their cellphone out, or was whispering and giggling with their pals. Their rapt attention was held by graceful dancing, costumes and set design that were colorful without being gaudy, and the music itself, which was excellently performed and delightful to listen to. I particularly enjoyed the back and forth between the actor portraying Prokofiev and the orchestra as they try to figure out which instruments should represent each character. I think we can all agree that the tuba does not make a very good cat.

Unfortunately, there are no more public performances of PATW left. I have enticed you with unavailable treats, but I promise it was not my intention to tease. I have a different purpose. As many of you may be aware, the Jefferson County Commission recently cut five million dollars in funding for the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham, an act which endangers the welfare of the city. As a newcomer to Birmingham with an interest in the growth of the artistic community, I am unnerved by the Commission’s willingness to knock the legs out from under a vital part of our economy. Artistic institutions will now increasingly need to rely on you, their patrons, to supply them with the funding they depend upon for survival. Without them, the quality of life here will drop significantly. The types of wonderful performance embodied in this production of Peter and the Wolf will no longer be available to you and your children. Instead, they’ll have to bask a little longer in the stupefying rays of the flatscreen. So before we all turn into mindless zombies, take a moment to consider what you can do to help. Donate a little to your favorite non-profit. Write an email to the president of the Jefferson County Commission. Bug your friends about it until they refuse to have anything to do with you. Tattoo “fund the arts” on your forehead. You pick your level of involvement, but GET INVOLVED before we all live in a city we can’t stand.

Laser's Edge Closing!

I awoke this morning to the news that one of Birmingham's independant record stores is closing. I'm relativly new to the area, but I have already had the chance to sample The Laser's Edge eclectic selection on more than one occasion. It is such a shame when any small music shop, bookstore, or coffee house goes under, especially one that supports local artists. We're all under attack by giant homogenizing conglomerations. They don't care about you! So put down that bargain buy at your local chain store, and get down to the Laser's Edge before they shut their doors forever. They are located at 2825 18th St. So. Birmingham, AL 35209. Click here to visit their website.

Calendar Updates

Hey folks, I'm back again! I've added a new venue to the calendar: Zydeco. In addition to that lovely little gem, I have also updated the Bottletree and The Nick calendars to include December. Beware -- me thinks the December calendars are not entirely filled in. The venues don't seem to have their complete schedules posted yet, so stay tuned for further December updates, as well as a host of new venues to peruse.