While Sam's enjoying his newly blissful married status and equally kickass honeymoon abroad, I figured it was time to post a Monday post about -- what else -- how great the weekend is.
Saturday night, I got to revisit one of my favorite local live shows when BROKEN LETTERS played Bottletree. Also of note, our own beloved photog George turned into a fanboy like crazy for MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC CO. On this rare occasion, I'll let the man behind the pictures go on at length about one of his favorite bands, who just so happened to headline the show. Click here to trek over to George's blog.
Let me just go ahead and make a sweeping recommendation: You will enjoy a Broken Letters show anytime you go. Operative action being that you attend -- at all. I've been gushing ever since their now classic Birmingham former project, Plate Six, and will continue as long as they'll let me listen!
In honor of overall fandom, of both the girl AND boy variety, here's a roundup of lead singer pics.
Jason Molina of Magnolia Electric Co:
David Vandervelde, lead singer of a solo act by default:
David Hickox of Birmingham fame:
WEEKEND PHOTO POST: Broken Letters / David Vandervelde/ Magnolia Electric Co.
DELAYED PHOTO POST: The WEDDING PRESENT and JEALOUS GIRLFRIENDS
Wednesday was such a surreal day for folks in the 'Ham, especially Bottletree: THE WEDDING PRESENT PLAYED BIRMINGHAM. I think you might need to read over that last sentence again. THAT'S INSANE. No, really. I don't think you understand. DAVID GEDGE CAME ALL THE WAY FROM LEEDS AND WAS PLAYING DOWN THE STREET.
The only parts I feel bad about is my usual photogs being either sick or off the continent, and.. well, I may have had so much fun that the shots were pretty amateur and blurry. And by that I mean artsy and silhouettish. Yeah, that's it. Enjoy (as much as you can).
I will say that the Jealous Girlfriends (the openers for Wedding Present) and Awesome Color (the band that opened Thursday night) are getting ALOT of play on my iTunes in the past two days. They each held their own in the midst of giants.
I'm Out
Alright y'all. I'm off on my honeymoon, so please pardon my absence for the next week. Whitney may post the occasional thought or two, but don't hesitate to use the various resources here to track down your own shows. Try the venue and band links, or head over to music news section. See you soon!
Pick of the Day (10/18/08): Octopus Project
Not that this has anything to do with local music but...I'm Getting Married Today!!!!!
Octopus Project / Silky Snowflake / Shapes Like Dinosaurs @ Bottletree
Admission: 10$
Zero Hour: 9PM
Octopus project: 8 tentacles of awesome.
Silky Snowflake: Sheer ridiculous.
Shapes Like Dinousars: Proficient meandering.
Video of the Day (10/18/08): The Octopus Project
Ass-kicking hamsters get the job done against invading robot hordes. Sounds like a good video premise to me!
Pick of the Day (10/17/08): Rex Moroux
Insert random intro text here. Amusing platitude. Sarcastic quip.
The Radiators / Rex Moroux @ Workplay
Admission: 20$
Go: 9PM
The Radiators are a legendary bayou band, but the real pants kicker here is Rex Moroux. Rex is putting the soul in this swampland showdown, you best get down or get out the way.
Video of the Day (10/17/08): The Radiators
There something goofy and charming about how retro this is. Sorry about the ads!
Concert Poster of the Day (10/17/08): The Raconteurs
I can't decide if it's neat or annoying that The White Stripes and The Raconteurs have decided to limit themselves to a single color scheme (at least as far as a majority of their posters are concerned.
The Raconteurs (The Tabernacle '08) * by Rob Jones
Pick of the Day (10/16/08): The Felice Brothers
Today is another great day for music here in our fair hamlet. Pick pick pick pick pick pick...
The Felice Brothers / Deer Tick @ Workplay
Admission: 12$
Go Time: 8PM
This show gets top honors because it's the strongest as a whole, but let me make it perfectly clear that Awesome Color, who are in today's Honorable Mention, are appropriately named. As for The Felice Brothers and Deer Tick, prepare yourself for a smorgasbord of old-timey, rock tinged folkitude. Yessiree.
Honorable Mention:
High Places / Awesome Color @ Bottletree
Video of the Day (10/16/08): The Felice Brothers
Ladies and germs....The Felice Brothers!
Concert Poster of the Day (10/16/08): The Felice Brothers
There's something comforting about this one:
Pick of the Day (10/15/08): Nick Pagliari
Two good shows tonight! Here's the pick:
Nick Pagliari / Kate Taylor @ The Nick
Admission: 5$
It Starts: 10PM
The Nick is really picking up slack this week. Pagliari plays what at first glance seems like fairly run of the mill Americana, but he's sprinkled it throughout with idiosyncratic morsels that fill his songs out considerably. Local Kate Taylor has made repeated appearances in this post and about town. I've waxed at length about her previously, so go ahead and click on the link so you can listen for yourself.
Honorable Mention: The Wedding Present / Jealous Girlfriends / Teen Getaway @ Bottletree
Video of the Day (10/15/08): Nick Pagliari
This one's touching, if a bit scrambled:
Pick of the Day (10/14/08): Kristy Kruger
There's an orgy of dance metal happening at Workplay, but I wouldn't touch it if I were you. Instead, mellow out with:
Kristy Kruger @ The Nick
Admission: 5$
Get There: 10PM
This is Kristy's second appearance in this post, and we're so glad she's back! Honestly, I couldn't think of better music to watch the world crumble to.
Video of the Day (10/14/08): The Heart Collector
Welcome to Disturbia!
Concert Poster of the Day (10/14/08): The Pharmacy
Good old photocopy collage, now with more flowers!
Pick of the Day (10/13/08): Something ---> Nothing
There was going to be an interesting show today at Workplay, but it's been cancelled. Hit an open mic, or stay at home and watch today's video of the day over and over again.
Video of the Day (10/13/08): Man Man
This is disturbing, and possibly seizure inducing. Enjoy!
Concert Poster of the Day (10/13/08): Man Man
This poster fits today's video quite well:
Man Man (Vera '08)* by Kunny Van Der PloegPick of the Day (10/12/08): Not A Thing
Not a sound in spheres to lift me up. Guess I'll go sit on my hands till they go numb.
Video of the Day (10/12/08): The Grouch
A tall tale for a short day:
Pick of the Day (10/11/08): Lyle Lovett
Yay!
Lyle Lovett / John Hiatt @ Alys Stephens Center
Admission: 55$ / 65$ /75$
Time: 8PM
I'm an old time Lyle Lovett fan, so though I understand 55$ is a high price to pay for an evening's entertainment, I urge you to scrape it together and get down there.
Video of the Day (10/11/08): Bastard
Animated bastard. Good times via bad times.
Pick of the Day (10/10/08): The Sammies
Lot's of opportunity tonight, but no truly great shows.
Dressy Bessy / The Sammies / Bad Flirt @ The Nick
Admission: 8$
Zero Hour: 10PM
I'm not super crazy about any of these bands, but they all have something entertaining to offer. Now, one of my favorite bands, The White Oaks, is playing at Workplay tonight, but I'm not a fan of the other acts on the bill.
Video of the Day (10/10/08): Bendito Machine
Holy freaking plasmazoids, batman!
Concert Poster of the Day (10/10/08): The Black Lips
The Sammies with The Blacks Lips, yowza.
The Black Lips and The Sammies (The Neighborhood Theatre '07) * by Ben Gelnett
Pick of the Day (10/9/08): Randall Bramblett Band
Thursday sweet Thursday! The real beginning of the weekend, or so I like to tell myself in the darkened corners of my day.
Randall Bramblett Band @ Workplay
Admission: 10$
Showtime: 8PM
Randall Bramblett does many things well. He funks, he rock, he croons, he jams. Though he never manages to combine all of these elements into a satisfactory whole, if you can stand your shows a little schizo, than you're gonna have a good time.
Concert Poster of the Day (10/9/08): The Avett Brothers
Couldn't find a Bramblett headliner, so here's the next best thing:
Pick of the Day (10/8/08): Cordero
And now for a nice change of pace:
Cordero / Batata Doce / 13 Ghosts @ Bottletree
Admission: 10$
Be There: 9PM
Though it's nice to have a little Latin flavor all up in here, both these bands transcend foreign allure and give us tunes that entrance regardless of my ability to understand the lyrics. Not to mention we've got local's 13 Ghosts bringing the English.
Pick of the Day (10/7/08): The Little Ones
It's a monstrous Tuesday we've got ahead of us. It was a hard pick, so make sure you check out the Honorable Mention!
The Little Ones / The Dirty Lungs @ Bottletree
Admission: 10$
Go Time: 8PM
This gig gets the pick over the others partially because these two bands couldn't be more different, though equally awesome. The Little Ones craft infectiouslly sweet melody loops that keep pulling you in and our very own The Dirty Lungs tear a hole into classic rock, stick their heads through it and yell glorious anthems into the void.
Honorable Mention:
Helios Creed / Chrome / Dizzy Pilot @ The Nick
The Allman Brothers Band / Phil Lesh & Friends @ Verizon Music Center
Video of the Day (10/7/08): The Little Ones
Dude....the colors.....
Concert Poster of the Day (10/7/08): The Little Ones
This one's for today's show, though sadly The Dirty Lungs weren't included:
The Little Ones (Bottletree '08) * by ?Pick of the Day (10/6/08): Tweak Bird
Tick, tick, the Monday's keep coming. Let's stop time with rock:
Valient Thorr / Black Tusk / TweakBird @ The Nick
Admission: 10$
Time: 10PM
I'm a little wary of this show, because the headliner and middle band are not really my cup of tea. It's actually fairly well executed, but a little monotonous. Tweak Bird, on the other hand, is a revelatory experience. These tripped out metal drones make those tired old riffs seem fresh faced and dewy.
Concert Poster of the Day (10/6/08): The Avett Brothers
And no, for no reason:
The Avett Brothers (Georgie Theatre '08) * by Andrew Findley
Pick of the Day (10/5/08): John Ellis & Double Wide
Bottletree thought they'd change up the scenery and have a jazz night. More power to 'em.
John Ellis & Doublewide ft. Jason Marsalis / Snarky Puppy ft. Sput Searight / Chad Fisher Group / Oso Closo @ Bottletree
Admission: 10$
Go: 7PM
Bat zabba doo dah, da wid wid dah.
