For a Saturday, it's really a rather weak selection. Still, at least there's something to get excited about:
Laura Reed & Deep Pocket @ Zydeco
Admission: 6$
Get Down: 10PM
Hot damn it's good to hear a lady belt some soul! She's dropping funk on you too, and you know she can pull it off when she's played with George Clinton.
Pick of the Day 5/31/08
Concert Poster of the Day 5/31/08
I couldn't find a good Laura Reed, so here's one from the Bottletree vault:
Dan Sartain (Bottletree '08)Pick of the Day 5/30/08
Happy Friday everyone! C'mon now, you can do it.
Matthew Mayfield / Stewart Vann of The Triceratops / The Monarchs @ Bottletree
Admission: 8$
It Starts: 8PM
Matthew and Stewart used to make music together, and now here they are together alone. Add to that The Monarchs, a grab bag of musicians from many local bands, and you've got the ingredients for a good time.
Honorable Mention: Stoney Lonesome @ Metro Bistro
Wess Floyd / The Victrolas @ Speakeasy
Video of the Day 5/30/08
Just so we're all clear here, THIS IS NOT THE BAND FROM BIRMINGHAM. This is a video by a Japanese band of the same name that I discovered while searching google video. I just like it is all.
Concert Poster of the Day 5/30/08
I think this poster is for the Japanese Triceratops, but it's for a gig in Ohio, so who knows?
Triceratops (Stink House '08)Pick of the Day 5/29/08
Whew, thank the lizard there aren't many days like yesterday. Back to the tunes we go:
Destroy Everything / Baak Gwai @ The Nick
Admission: ?
Get There: 10 PM
It's not often I hear a genuine punk band that pushes the limits of that genre into unexpected directions. Most of them are re-hashing a sound whose origins they have no memory of. Destroy Everything are harnessing punk for their own mad designs, and infusing it with multi-shout harmony and southern rock hues.
Baak Gwai are a Tuscaloosa band that I've featured in the post a number of times. If you haven't seen them yet, now's as good a time as ever. It's never to late to open your ears!
Honorable Mention: ZZ Top @ Verizon Music Center
Lost Finale @ Bottletree
Video of the Day 5/29/08
I found a new Baak Gwai video. It's just a fragment really, but good enough to showcase.
Baak Gwai
Pick of the Day 5/28/08
If you're looking for something to discover tonight, than stay home and check yourself for lumps.
Video of the Day 5/28/08
Here's something for to watch while you fight off the cabin fever:
Pick of the Day 5/27/08
Tuesday night's a good time drink away the stress of the upcoming week, so who better to spend it with than:
The Booze @ The Nick
Admission: ?
Get down: 10PM
Alcohol may be a downer, but The Booze sure isn't. It's straight upbeat rock with traces of Van Morrison and invasion era melody. Throw that in a tumbler with some Strokes and you've got a potent concoction.
Honorable Mention: The Sword / Torche / Stinking Lizaveta @ Bottletree
Concert Poster of the Day 5/27/08
Another opening poster, but who gives a damn when it kicks like this one:
The Robustos and The Booze (The Earl '07)Pick of the Day 5/26/08
Ok! So another large gap in postings has occured, despite my assurances otherwise. Fear not! I can guarantee this weeks posts will all be there, 'cause I wrote them already. This works out for everyone. I get more time during the week, you get more notice as to what's coming. I've added an upcoming shows section that will highlight the picks ahead so you can start planning your nights accordingly. Alrighty, onwards and upwards:
Flowers Forever / Teen Getaway @ Bottletree
Admission: 9PM
Zero Hour: 8$
If the world was a predictable place, then Flowers Forever would be a whiny hippy band with twelve acoustic guitarists all playing rhythm. Fortunately for us all, the world's a twisted bitch with a trick up her sleeve, and Flowers Forever is crunchy and foul mouthed, with it's muddy boots planted firmly on the ground.
Teen Getaway label themselves as "Punk / Rock / Soul" on their myspace profile. Well...they certainly have a punk rock soul, but it's wrapped in an experimental indie flesh bag. Add it all up and you've got goodness.
Video of the Day 5/26/08
Flowers Forever explain themselves in Cryptohippie goobledygook.
Flowers Forever - Biography
Concert Poster of the Day 5/26/08
I couldn't find a headlining poster, so here's the next best thing:
Bright Eyes and Flowers Forever (The Waiting Room '07)Pick of the Day 5/21/08
Tonight's pick comes with a word of caution: get there on time, cause this band is opening for a bunch of duds, and you don't want to get there just to leave in a hurry.
Luego @ The Nick
Admission: 5$
Get Down (I mean it!): 10PM
Good thing Luego is worth treading into shark infested waters for. I don't understand how this quirky little gem got on the bill with a bunch of butt-rock. I love the tone of the lead singers voice. It's earnest and unpolished - which is perfect.
Video of the Day 5/21/08
I dunno...I was just feelin' this one:
Otis Redding - Try A Little Tenderness
Concert Poster of the Day 5/21/08
Oh Otis, why did you have to love us and leave us...
Otis Redding (Boston Arena)Pick of the Day 5/20/08
This show may not get your sweat broken, but it'll start your toes tappin', and on a Tuesday that may be all you need:
Jim White / John P. Strohm @ Bottletree
Admission: 12$
Go Time: 9PM
I wouldn't call them mellow, but tonight's duo have a certain crusty folkitude to them that mediates their otherwise rambunctious souls. What?
Video of the Day 5/20/08
Gotta love the title on this Jim White track. Not to mention the video is cool as hell (by which I mean it's HOT).
Concert Poster of the Day 5/20/08
There is something both peaceful and haunting about this one:
Jim White (Bar Bodega '07)Pick of the Day 5/19/08
I'm busy as a bee these days, but here's a little info for ya, squeezed into my limited spare time.
Ladyhawk / Neva Dinova / The Dirty Lungs @ The Nick
Admission: 5$
Go Time: 10PM
The real interest here is The Dirty Lungs, another band that proves Birmingham can rock in the old school authentic kind of way, and not just in the new-fangled, focus grouped to death style.
Video of the Day 5/19/08
Funny trippy stuff. There can never be enough absurdity in the world.
Concert Poster of the Day
Vintage UFO's rock my socks to the floor. This is tonight's poster.
The Dirty Lungs (The Nick '08)Pick of the Day 5/16/08
Yay, one of my favorite band is back!
The White Oaks @ Workplay
Admission: 10$
Go Time: 9PM
The White Oaks hit the Workplay stage again tonight, and if you haven’t already listened to my fervent discourse on their merits as a band, then you are an unflappable nincompoop.
Pick of the Day 5/15/08
Here it is:
| The Last Vegas @ Bottletree |
Admission: 13$
Go Time: 9:00 p.m.
The Last Vegas isn’t going to change anybody’s life, but it is good al’ fashioned rock till you drop music, which more than I can say for anyone else playing in Birmingham tonight. Make sure you het there on time, because these guys are opening.
Video of the Day 5/15/08
Here's The Last Vegas with the song they had in Guitar Hero II:
Pick of the Day 5/14/08
Another day without some heavy hitters is upon us. I guess Bottletree and Workplay are taking some much needed time off. Let's just hope they come back with a bang this weekend. In the meanwhile, here's something to sidetrack you:
Mr. Gnome @ The Nick
Admission: 5$
Get It On: 10PM
DISCLAIMER: The other two bands on the bill don't merit much attention, so don't worry if you show up a bit late. Mr. Gnome makes a heck of a lot of noise for a two person outfit, but they do it with style and volume. They're volutyle!
Video of the Day 5/14/08
Now, this may seem a little misleading, as Mr. Gnome is on stage here with another band filling in, but I promise, they sound almost as full by themselves.
Pick of the Day 5/13/08
Man, it's been a few days. I'm sorry to keep y'all in the dark, but I think I'm back now for good. I've been writing these posts in the morning, and that is no longer a viable option. I've sorted it out, and it works better for everybody. Starting from....now, the new days posts will be available first thing in the morning, rather then around noon some time. Alright, here we go again:
Reed Pittman and the Rest @ The Nick
Admission: 5$
Get Down: 10 PM
C'mon now! I get back from a break, and both Workplay and Bottletree have decided to take the night off. Thank the lizard that The Nick decided to step up and pull in an act that's a little atypical for them. Reed Pittman plays measured and melodic lullaby pop. It's a bit earnest, and occasionally hackneyed, but it makes up for it with moments that make the hair raise on your nape. That isn't to say that he doesn't rock it out once on the while, but it doesn't sound nearly as comfortable as when he's sobbing over dramatic chord swells.
Video of the Day 5/13/08
There was a Reed Pittman video, but it was over 40 minutes so long, so instead I bring you one of my favorite songs in perhaps it's greatest performance EVER! Don't forget to stick around for the awesome drum duel at the end.
Pick of the Day 5/8/08
First of all, let me apologize for the sparse nature of my posts lately. I've got stuff goin' on! Anyway, I'll try to get back on the regular horse soon enough, but for now here's a taste.
Langhorne Slim / Amy Lavere @ Bottletree
Admission: 10$
What Time: 9P
This show is gonna be a killer! Both these folks make the good the stuff. Fill up your soul now, cause the prices are rising. Get while the getting is good.
Pick of the Day 5/5/08
Happy Cinco De Mayo!
I guess people are drinking too much to host live music today, because all of the major venues took the day off. Fine by me, I get to introduce myself to a new joint:
Felix / The Photonicas / Spells / Henry Dunkle @ The High Note
Admission: 5$
Go Time: 8PM
All of these boys are homegrown, except for Felix, and they get the thumbs up anyway. Guaranteed to be better than re-runs of How It's Made. You already know how it's made!
Pick of the Day 5/4/08
I know I'm picking a show that's spold out, but in the past that has proved to be a surmountable obstacle. If you head down, you may be able to scalp, wheedle, or bribe your way in.
Josh Ritter / Ingrid Michaelson @ Bottletree
Admission: 18$ (SOLD OUT)
Be There: 9PM
Ingrid Michaelson must love Birmingham, because she's been through here 5 or so odd times in the last 7-8 months. It's a good thing too, because we could all use a little more good music in our lives. We need a soundtrack to the glorious spectacle that nature is putting on for us right now.
Concert Poster of the Day 5/4/08
Just for your info, the reason there is no video is that (for me at least) youtube is broken today. All videos have the "This video is no longer available." message. Here's tonight's concert poster to make you feel better.
Ingrid Michaelson and Josh Ritter (Bottletree '08)Pick of the Day 5/3/08
This marks the very first time I have picked Speakeasy for this post, which really is a result of my own ignorance of it's existance. No longer!
Arkadelphia / The National Trust @ Speakeasy
Admission: ?
Be There: ?
Local boys Arkadelphia are playing tonight, and they’re one of the better bands from our neck of the woods. These guys know how to rock, and they know how to bring it with the acoustic folkitude. Playin lead and hitting the mic with vox is Lee Bains, who may recognize from some of his solo shows about town.The National Trust are a Tuscaloosa trio with a great songwriting sensibility and pretty kickin’ rock chops. Come on down and check it out.
Pick of the Day 5/1/08
Happy May!
The Strife Rifle / The White Oaks / VASA / The Delicate Cutters @ Workplay
Admission: 10$
Go Time: 8:00 p.m.
We certainly have been showered with a bounty of great concerts here in Birmingham lately. Today’s show isn’t as jam packed as last weeks Raindrop Festival, but the bands are some of the best locals to be found, and the charity (The Gopher Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer) is righteous. On top of all that, this is a pretty cheap ticket for Thursday night at Workplay, so it won’t break your wallet either.
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