Saw this quartet open up for Josh Ritter on Monday at the Belly Up. Total surprise! I love it when an opening act is this good. They blew everyone away with their amazing talent and unique sound. The harmonies between the vocalist and bassist are the key. The drummer is a hotshot who loves playing drums and brings a music conservatory skillset to the rhythm. All of them are music school nerds, in fact. However, they don't let their education stifle their groovy, rootsy showcase of Aretha Franklinesque soul hits and Levon Helmian country funk. Would love to see them again sometime.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Awkward, Yet Important Phases
Have you ever loved someone so much, become obsessed with someone to the point that you wanted to know about every aspect of them - even the greatest mistakes they ever made?
That's how I feel about some of my favorite band's awkward phases or dud albums. Lately I've been bouncing back and forth between some of Rush's misconceived albums - the ones that marked transitions from one sound to the next. They're like picking a scab. I know I shouldn't spend as much time picking them apart, but I've got this morbid fascination with them. One such album is 1985's "Power Windows." The album wasn't a loss entirely in terms of hit songs, innovative concepts and experimental sounds. Power Windows is just so washed out in synthesizers and overdubs that it's hard to believe that its Geddy, Alex and Neil at the heart of the music. It's such a far cry from their sound on something like "Farewell To Kings" or "Moving Pictures." Anyhow, I'm always interested in hearing musicians talk about their music - especially those awkward moments or dud albums. Today, while trolling through some Rush interviews I found this 1985 clip that just hit the spot. Here you see a band waking up to a new identity, trying to shake loose its old skin and embrace something hip and new. While I wish that Rush could have gone on making albums like many of their late 70s masterpieces, I can totally understand why it was important for them to explore new territory and explore the boundless possibilities of their creative potential. Not many bands of their era dared to endure these types of creative growth spurts and ruts.
That's how I feel about some of my favorite band's awkward phases or dud albums. Lately I've been bouncing back and forth between some of Rush's misconceived albums - the ones that marked transitions from one sound to the next. They're like picking a scab. I know I shouldn't spend as much time picking them apart, but I've got this morbid fascination with them. One such album is 1985's "Power Windows." The album wasn't a loss entirely in terms of hit songs, innovative concepts and experimental sounds. Power Windows is just so washed out in synthesizers and overdubs that it's hard to believe that its Geddy, Alex and Neil at the heart of the music. It's such a far cry from their sound on something like "Farewell To Kings" or "Moving Pictures." Anyhow, I'm always interested in hearing musicians talk about their music - especially those awkward moments or dud albums. Today, while trolling through some Rush interviews I found this 1985 clip that just hit the spot. Here you see a band waking up to a new identity, trying to shake loose its old skin and embrace something hip and new. While I wish that Rush could have gone on making albums like many of their late 70s masterpieces, I can totally understand why it was important for them to explore new territory and explore the boundless possibilities of their creative potential. Not many bands of their era dared to endure these types of creative growth spurts and ruts.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)