From: suzel
Date: Wed Jul 31, 2002 6:30 am
I guess you heard about The Von Bondies and the YYYs which are said to be excellent on stage. Two great albums. YYYs went back in studio recently to register new songs. Their album is quite short but really worthwhile. Karen O is amazing.
Check out also Ikara Colt. This is a really good band, a bit like McLusky from Scotland. I guess Ikara Colt comes from London, they sound a bit like sonic youth… they are excellent… You can download their whole album on Kazaa or Audiogalaxy.
I also heard about the Liars who are said to be awesome on stage. Does anyone know them? I haven't heard anything yet.
--Suzel
The owner of the original legendary Chicago punk bar, OZ, and producer of the infamous punk album Busted at OZ comments on music along with others. Visit Busted At OZ
Wednesday, July 31, 2002
Tuesday, July 23, 2002
TCTC Idlewild Ash Wannadies
From: Neil
Date: Tue Jul 23, 2002 3:18 am
For what it's worth, I was looking forward to the Cooper Temple Clause album, and must admit I was a little disappointed. But they are an exciting proposition live so if you like what you've heard by them I'd definitely make the effort to see them.
The new Idlewild album is their best yet, but they are more of an acquired taste. Unless you've heard a few tracks I wouldn't go buying blind. However, if you are in the US, I'd highly recommend the Ash album "Free All Angels", as I believe it's been issued at a regular price with bonus tracks and a free 70 minute DVD. Those feeling less bold might like to wait a few months for Ash's "Greatest Hits" which features all their UK A Sides plus a second disc with B Sides, live stuff etc. However, that may not be released outside Europe for a while (if at all). Ash are at the poppier end of the indie spectrum. Although they know how to rock out, you won't hear tons of JAMC droning or feedback - just high speed punkers playing great songs for the kids. Recommended.
Saw The Wannadies on Friday. These guys do the indie/powerpop thing to perfection. Quite how they've managed to avoid being massive is beyond me. Keep an eye out for anything by them. OK - next time I'll post about some really obscure white noise merchants! :-)
--NeilM
Date: Tue Jul 23, 2002 3:18 am
For what it's worth, I was looking forward to the Cooper Temple Clause album, and must admit I was a little disappointed. But they are an exciting proposition live so if you like what you've heard by them I'd definitely make the effort to see them.
The new Idlewild album is their best yet, but they are more of an acquired taste. Unless you've heard a few tracks I wouldn't go buying blind. However, if you are in the US, I'd highly recommend the Ash album "Free All Angels", as I believe it's been issued at a regular price with bonus tracks and a free 70 minute DVD. Those feeling less bold might like to wait a few months for Ash's "Greatest Hits" which features all their UK A Sides plus a second disc with B Sides, live stuff etc. However, that may not be released outside Europe for a while (if at all). Ash are at the poppier end of the indie spectrum. Although they know how to rock out, you won't hear tons of JAMC droning or feedback - just high speed punkers playing great songs for the kids. Recommended.
Saw The Wannadies on Friday. These guys do the indie/powerpop thing to perfection. Quite how they've managed to avoid being massive is beyond me. Keep an eye out for anything by them. OK - next time I'll post about some really obscure white noise merchants! :-)
--NeilM
Wednesday, July 17, 2002
Trail Of Dead--Chicago show
From: demhopkins
Date: Mon Jun 3, 2002 5:41 pm
Well if it wasn't a sold out show it was as close as you could have gotten without selling out the room. Great crowd--lots of energy, especially the front 2/3 the room. Completely different feel than the Empty Bottle just two months ago (900-1000 people instead of 250-300). The band seemed to really enjoy the room and the lights. They mentioned the barrier between the stage and the crowd seemed a little less intimate--but they overcame it and spent time in the crowd. The set list was pretty similar to Empty Bottle but the sound was in a different galaxy. Chicago has truly embraced TOD. They sold out of posters--as I was waiting to get shirts I noticed a lot of people buying all 4 CDs on sale. I thought the Empty Bottle show was the best of the year--but this was it. I talked to some people who had seen them with me a couple months back--and what stood out was the incredible versatility this band has to offer in terms of songwriting. The venue really helped get it across live. The band was kind enough to open water bottles and hose down the crowd. It was a cool evening but very heated up inside Metro. It will be hard to top this show anytime this year--but The Hives and Mooney Suzuki are playing the same venue Wednesday--so who knows. I can't imagine a better gig than this. Radio has been talking about and playing TOD all day, especially our college station WLUW out of Loyola University.
TOD--job well done!
--Dem
Date: Mon Jun 3, 2002 5:41 pm
Well if it wasn't a sold out show it was as close as you could have gotten without selling out the room. Great crowd--lots of energy, especially the front 2/3 the room. Completely different feel than the Empty Bottle just two months ago (900-1000 people instead of 250-300). The band seemed to really enjoy the room and the lights. They mentioned the barrier between the stage and the crowd seemed a little less intimate--but they overcame it and spent time in the crowd. The set list was pretty similar to Empty Bottle but the sound was in a different galaxy. Chicago has truly embraced TOD. They sold out of posters--as I was waiting to get shirts I noticed a lot of people buying all 4 CDs on sale. I thought the Empty Bottle show was the best of the year--but this was it. I talked to some people who had seen them with me a couple months back--and what stood out was the incredible versatility this band has to offer in terms of songwriting. The venue really helped get it across live. The band was kind enough to open water bottles and hose down the crowd. It was a cool evening but very heated up inside Metro. It will be hard to top this show anytime this year--but The Hives and Mooney Suzuki are playing the same venue Wednesday--so who knows. I can't imagine a better gig than this. Radio has been talking about and playing TOD all day, especially our college station WLUW out of Loyola University.
TOD--job well done!
--Dem
Meg's drumming and Minneapolis show
From: demhopkins
Date: Wed Jul 17, 2002 8:19 am
Meg's drumming allows Jack to do anything he wants because it is just there (at best). Very wise of Jack not to write drum solos into his music! The Minneapolis show was much higher energy than the show I saw in Chicago. Stripes did play Fell In Love With a Girl and Dead Leaves and basically a different set than on Thursday. They covered almost all of the second album. The club in Minneapolis (First Ave) is a better club for its size than anything we have in Chicago--I hope people up there appreciate that room. No cell phones and the crowd gave the band its complete attention throughout and were rewarded with a great encore. The sound was also better than Chicago and Jack's guitar pierced the room (unlike Chicago, the volume was maxed). I usually don't get into live recordings--but The White Stripes may be an exception if they were ever to do a live album. Jack even added some drama with a top hat during one of the more "cabaret" numbers. Jack seems to be enjoying this tour very much--turning Hotel Yorba into a kind of campfire group sing and working his double mic setup for all he can get out of it. Whether Meg is having any fun is hard to tell--but at the end of the night there is no way she could be tired. Jack leaves stage a sweat soaked mess—as it should be.
--Dem
Date: Wed Jul 17, 2002 8:19 am
Meg's drumming allows Jack to do anything he wants because it is just there (at best). Very wise of Jack not to write drum solos into his music! The Minneapolis show was much higher energy than the show I saw in Chicago. Stripes did play Fell In Love With a Girl and Dead Leaves and basically a different set than on Thursday. They covered almost all of the second album. The club in Minneapolis (First Ave) is a better club for its size than anything we have in Chicago--I hope people up there appreciate that room. No cell phones and the crowd gave the band its complete attention throughout and were rewarded with a great encore. The sound was also better than Chicago and Jack's guitar pierced the room (unlike Chicago, the volume was maxed). I usually don't get into live recordings--but The White Stripes may be an exception if they were ever to do a live album. Jack even added some drama with a top hat during one of the more "cabaret" numbers. Jack seems to be enjoying this tour very much--turning Hotel Yorba into a kind of campfire group sing and working his double mic setup for all he can get out of it. Whether Meg is having any fun is hard to tell--but at the end of the night there is no way she could be tired. Jack leaves stage a sweat soaked mess—as it should be.
--Dem
Friday, July 12, 2002
White Stripes show
From: demhopkins
Date: Thu Jul 11, 2002 10:59 pm
Just got back from the sold-out Chicago White Stripes show (I guess the whole tour is sold out). I expected the great guitar work—and got it and more. I didn't expect Jack to have such a versatile voice. They honored their garage-rock roots--especially with a great version of Farmer John. But Jack's feminine side (not effeminate) and his take on some of the songs reminded me of the days of Jobriath and other great glam vocalists of the early to mid 1970s. I didn't see that coming at all. Very few bands could get away without playing their two big US hits -- Fell In Love with a Girl and Dead Leaves--but they didn't play them and it worked perfectly. Nobody felt the least cheated. A one song encore of an American traditional "The Boll Weevil Song" was a very fine nightcap. Their goal was clearly to show what they had to offer instead of pushing a particular product. And what they have to offer is one of the most versatile shows I have ever seen. If I was at a loss to describe their sound before this show--I am more at a loss now (a good thing). One bitch about the crowd--since when did it become "cool" to bring cell phones to concerts and dial up friends, scream into the phone about what was happening, and hold the phone up for the duration of the show with running commentary between songs? These fucking wankers must be disemboweled. Well, off to Minneapolis to catch the Stripes Saturday show. I hope the crowd is sans cell phones (truly the worst invention of the last century).
--Dem
Date: Thu Jul 11, 2002 10:59 pm
Just got back from the sold-out Chicago White Stripes show (I guess the whole tour is sold out). I expected the great guitar work—and got it and more. I didn't expect Jack to have such a versatile voice. They honored their garage-rock roots--especially with a great version of Farmer John. But Jack's feminine side (not effeminate) and his take on some of the songs reminded me of the days of Jobriath and other great glam vocalists of the early to mid 1970s. I didn't see that coming at all. Very few bands could get away without playing their two big US hits -- Fell In Love with a Girl and Dead Leaves--but they didn't play them and it worked perfectly. Nobody felt the least cheated. A one song encore of an American traditional "The Boll Weevil Song" was a very fine nightcap. Their goal was clearly to show what they had to offer instead of pushing a particular product. And what they have to offer is one of the most versatile shows I have ever seen. If I was at a loss to describe their sound before this show--I am more at a loss now (a good thing). One bitch about the crowd--since when did it become "cool" to bring cell phones to concerts and dial up friends, scream into the phone about what was happening, and hold the phone up for the duration of the show with running commentary between songs? These fucking wankers must be disemboweled. Well, off to Minneapolis to catch the Stripes Saturday show. I hope the crowd is sans cell phones (truly the worst invention of the last century).
--Dem
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