From: Liz
Date: Tue Jan 14, 2003 2:32 pm
Just bought When I Was Cruel. I really want to love it and I do like some of it. Writing, vocals, production, all wonderful. Great band, although I prefer his vocals with a sparcer sound behind him. I think he's using his voice more instrumentally and I think quite successfully at times, but also pushing it at times. Even that's ok, if you don't take chances, no forward movement. I guess it was Smile and Funny Valentine that I thought were a touch self indulgent. My Funny Valentine is actually my fave song to to sing, but I wouldn't make people actually listen to me, unless intoxicated. I guess he's entitled. I stopped buying Costello after Blood and Chocolate and have always considered him a master song crafter, in any genre.
--Liz
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
Tuesday, January 14, 2003
Friday, January 10, 2003
The Used
Buddyhead does it again, very funny. Neil, didn't mean to use Christianity against Creed--it is the bible-thumping that pisses me off. POD and Creed are very big on "counseling" their fans (although POD is much worse--spending
hours after shows seeking to convert and save members of the audience). Creed has made a point of toning down some of their Christian rhetoric--but they come out of the right-wing southern Baptist movement which is notoriously homophobic, bigoted, anti-Semitic and I have yet to hear Creed say anything to separate themselves from those traditions. What Creed, POD, Lifehouse and others are doing isn't benign in a Bono/U2 sort of way. The crossover of Evangelist-type Christian bands into the mainstream worries me because young kids looking for a place to fit in are easily influenced, especially by rock star idols. I didn't mean to come across as bashing all Christians, just the bible-thumpers. :)
--Dem
hours after shows seeking to convert and save members of the audience). Creed has made a point of toning down some of their Christian rhetoric--but they come out of the right-wing southern Baptist movement which is notoriously homophobic, bigoted, anti-Semitic and I have yet to hear Creed say anything to separate themselves from those traditions. What Creed, POD, Lifehouse and others are doing isn't benign in a Bono/U2 sort of way. The crossover of Evangelist-type Christian bands into the mainstream worries me because young kids looking for a place to fit in are easily influenced, especially by rock star idols. I didn't mean to come across as bashing all Christians, just the bible-thumpers. :)
--Dem
Tuesday, January 07, 2003
Creed implodes!
This is probably old news--but Creed (especially Scott Sapp (Stapp)) imploded in Chicago. Class action lawsuits have already been filed by attorneys demanding that ticketgoers get their money back--and Scott got booed throughout the concert and then off the stage. Seems Scott isn't quite the Christian role-model he holds himself out to be. Instead of posting all the nasty stuff being written by press and posted by ex-fans--just do a search with the words "Creed" and "Chicago." I never thought Creed would have anything to do with starting my new year just right! His performance would be unacceptable by any band--but remember--he is a disciple of Jesus. It is early in the year--but already the second funniest story—after the buddyhead reviews!!
--Dem
--Dem
Saturday, December 28, 2002
Best concerts 2002
From: demhopkins
Date: Fri Dec 27, 2002 11:20 pm
Best concerts, the hardest catagory:
1. The Strokes/Aragon Ballroom )(Brawlroom) (hands down the best show of the year--the boys came of age in just one year--and they announced the transition loud and clear. Great new material, no shoe-gazing, not fucked up, a tight, awe-inspiring set in a venue that isn't worthy of a livestock show).
2. White Stripes/Ist Ave. Minneapolis, MN (saw them in Chicago but THE show was in Minneapolis--they loved the venue and Jack played a very long electrifying set before a crowd that loved him--so much better than the Chicago gig, Jack camped it up with top hats and affectations that I never heard in the music. He proved himself to be a complete entertainer--and was totally at home in this great club)
3. Interpol/Empty Bottle (the fact that they lived up to the hype, handled the abuse, and sent the strongest message you could ask for in a band the first time through town--doesn't even begin to describe the show).
4. Bryan Ferry/Chicago Theatre (I saw the Roxy reunion a year ago-- and this show had more excitement, glitz, glamour, and he is the only old fuck that dance like a dork and make it look so fucking cool. Also, the band included Chris Spedding and The Great Paul Thompson on drums).
5. The Datsuns/Empty Bottle (thanks mel, six feet from the stage and what I got was a sore neck because I didn't want to take my eyes off anyone in the band--they were at their peak--and I hope to see them in this form at least once more in their career).
6. Hives/Mooney/ The Metro (everything that can be said about The Hives has been said. They are probably THE live band of the year. Mooney was the best received opening act that I have experienced--enough so that they headlined this club a couple months later and did an even better set--but this pairing was amazing).
7. TSOOL/Cato Salsa/The Metro (match made in heaven. Cato has been taking some shit in the press--but the show was impressive and TSOOL was even stronger than their Empty Bottle Show a few months earlier. TSOOL isn't afraid to be very uncool on stage--and it works so well. I had friends who thought the theatrics were way over the top--but as long as they have been kicking around, they have a right to do it and I enjoyed it. A few behind the back guitar licks would be cheesy on any other band--but it fits TSOOL just right--I hope they keep it up).
8. TOD/ The Metro (Conrad and Jason trading off between guitar and drum is worth the price of admission. This is one band that seems to always deliver 100%).
9. Liars/YYYs/Fireside Bowl (I went for YYYs, but "stuck around" for The Liars--and The Liars put on a non-self-indulgent show that ranks as one of the hardest hitting, fast, in-your-face shows of the year. YYY's--just fucking brilliant).
10. Marianne Faithful/ Park West (if you dig her--it was an all smiles show that built into a great payoff as she did the new stuff but led her terrific band through a lot of Broken English. When it should have been over she announced that she was breaking from a long tradition of using Broken English material as her closer and she returned to the new material. She has every right to be proud of it).
11. Clinic/Apples in Stereo/The Metro (Clinic turned the place into a dance party--completely unexpected; Apples in Stereo really made me like them--completely unexpected. A very fun night).
12. Spoon/ The Abbey (A very tight set from a band that would normally be a little poppy for my taste. Great vocals, some very good guitar, and amazing tunes--Jonathan Fisk wiped me out. At the end of the set, they announced, "we will be better next time." You gotta love that--and they will.)
--Dem
Date: Fri Dec 27, 2002 11:20 pm
Best concerts, the hardest catagory:
1. The Strokes/Aragon Ballroom )(Brawlroom) (hands down the best show of the year--the boys came of age in just one year--and they announced the transition loud and clear. Great new material, no shoe-gazing, not fucked up, a tight, awe-inspiring set in a venue that isn't worthy of a livestock show).
2. White Stripes/Ist Ave. Minneapolis, MN (saw them in Chicago but THE show was in Minneapolis--they loved the venue and Jack played a very long electrifying set before a crowd that loved him--so much better than the Chicago gig, Jack camped it up with top hats and affectations that I never heard in the music. He proved himself to be a complete entertainer--and was totally at home in this great club)
3. Interpol/Empty Bottle (the fact that they lived up to the hype, handled the abuse, and sent the strongest message you could ask for in a band the first time through town--doesn't even begin to describe the show).
4. Bryan Ferry/Chicago Theatre (I saw the Roxy reunion a year ago-- and this show had more excitement, glitz, glamour, and he is the only old fuck that dance like a dork and make it look so fucking cool. Also, the band included Chris Spedding and The Great Paul Thompson on drums).
5. The Datsuns/Empty Bottle (thanks mel, six feet from the stage and what I got was a sore neck because I didn't want to take my eyes off anyone in the band--they were at their peak--and I hope to see them in this form at least once more in their career).
6. Hives/Mooney/ The Metro (everything that can be said about The Hives has been said. They are probably THE live band of the year. Mooney was the best received opening act that I have experienced--enough so that they headlined this club a couple months later and did an even better set--but this pairing was amazing).
7. TSOOL/Cato Salsa/The Metro (match made in heaven. Cato has been taking some shit in the press--but the show was impressive and TSOOL was even stronger than their Empty Bottle Show a few months earlier. TSOOL isn't afraid to be very uncool on stage--and it works so well. I had friends who thought the theatrics were way over the top--but as long as they have been kicking around, they have a right to do it and I enjoyed it. A few behind the back guitar licks would be cheesy on any other band--but it fits TSOOL just right--I hope they keep it up).
8. TOD/ The Metro (Conrad and Jason trading off between guitar and drum is worth the price of admission. This is one band that seems to always deliver 100%).
9. Liars/YYYs/Fireside Bowl (I went for YYYs, but "stuck around" for The Liars--and The Liars put on a non-self-indulgent show that ranks as one of the hardest hitting, fast, in-your-face shows of the year. YYY's--just fucking brilliant).
10. Marianne Faithful/ Park West (if you dig her--it was an all smiles show that built into a great payoff as she did the new stuff but led her terrific band through a lot of Broken English. When it should have been over she announced that she was breaking from a long tradition of using Broken English material as her closer and she returned to the new material. She has every right to be proud of it).
11. Clinic/Apples in Stereo/The Metro (Clinic turned the place into a dance party--completely unexpected; Apples in Stereo really made me like them--completely unexpected. A very fun night).
12. Spoon/ The Abbey (A very tight set from a band that would normally be a little poppy for my taste. Great vocals, some very good guitar, and amazing tunes--Jonathan Fisk wiped me out. At the end of the set, they announced, "we will be better next time." You gotta love that--and they will.)
--Dem
Saturday, December 21, 2002
Albums/Singles/Gigs Of The Year 2002
From: Neil
Date: Sat Dec 21, 2002 5:25 pm
Albums
Billy Childish - 25 Years Of Being Childish
Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights
Ikara Colt - Chat & Business
The Libertines - Up The Bracket
Mclusky - Mclusky Do Dallas
...Trail Of Dead - Source Tags & Codes
Singles
The Beatings - Bad Feeling
British Sea Power - Spirit Of St.Louis
The Candys - Monitor Rock
The Kills - Black Rooster EP
The Libertines - What A Waster
Sparta - Cut Your Ribbon
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - S/T
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Machine
Gigs
Strokes - Brixton Academy
Ash/ Hundred Reasons/Soundtrack Of Our Lives/Jet Plane Landing - London
Astoria
Super Furry Animals/CooperTemple Clause - Hackney Ocean
Hives/Bellrays/Buff Medways - Brixton Academy
Morrissey/Libertines - Brixton Academy
Libertines/Candys - Tunbridge Wells Forum
Von Bondies/Modey Lemon - Camden Barfly
Mclusky/Apes - London Garage
--NeilM
Date: Sat Dec 21, 2002 5:25 pm
Albums
Billy Childish - 25 Years Of Being Childish
Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights
Ikara Colt - Chat & Business
The Libertines - Up The Bracket
Mclusky - Mclusky Do Dallas
...Trail Of Dead - Source Tags & Codes
Singles
The Beatings - Bad Feeling
British Sea Power - Spirit Of St.Louis
The Candys - Monitor Rock
The Kills - Black Rooster EP
The Libertines - What A Waster
Sparta - Cut Your Ribbon
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - S/T
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Machine
Gigs
Strokes - Brixton Academy
Ash/ Hundred Reasons/Soundtrack Of Our Lives/Jet Plane Landing - London
Astoria
Super Furry Animals/CooperTemple Clause - Hackney Ocean
Hives/Bellrays/Buff Medways - Brixton Academy
Morrissey/Libertines - Brixton Academy
Libertines/Candys - Tunbridge Wells Forum
Von Bondies/Modey Lemon - Camden Barfly
Mclusky/Apes - London Garage
--NeilM
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