Month: April 2012

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Random Rumble Ramblings (Part III)

This crew is making the whole thing run smoothly.

We’ve nearly reached the end of the road with the 2012 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble. After 31 sets from 23 bands, we’ve got it narrowed down to the final three contenders. Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance, Bow Thayer And Perfect Trainwreck and Motherboar (wildcard) will play for all the marbles tonight at TT’s. Before you head out, here are a couple of things that have tickled my brain about the Semifinal round.

Bo & Co. know how it goes.

Are You Experienced?

The Semifinal victors know a thing or two about winning over crowds in Boston. Garvy J. And The Secret Pocket Of Hope And Resistance and Bow Thayer And Perfect Trainwreck are both fronted by scene veterans and have top notch players on every instrument. That’s not to say they go about things the same way. Bow and Co. take a more traditional approach, twanging it up with the best of them. Any one of these guys is capable of stealing the show. Together, they’ve formed an outstanding Americana ensemble. The Resistance, on the other hand, has you wondering where the synth players are. Before long, you realize all three guitar players are masters at manipulating their instruments. Having the amazing rhythm section of Scott Fitts and Tommy Lada gives you that kind of freedom.

Lada wins!

Lada Vs. Lada Revisted

Speaking of Tommy Lada, the battle of Lada Vs. Lada was won by Tommy Lada. I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a small part of me that wanted to see Ghosts Of Jupiter take the wildcard just to see this happen again. It certainly wouldn’t have surprised anyone, as Ghosts Of Jupiter threw down another definitive slab of ’70s classic rock on their Semifinal night.

And then he does this to the crowd.

The State Of Heavy Revisted

In my last Rumble ramble I talked about wanting to see how the two heaviest bands in the festival competition fared in the Semifinals. Well, Motherboar fought their way into the wildcard spot through a shower of beer and metal mayhem. Sherman Burns continued to win over a slew of fans after another rifftacular performance. I love it.

Not just keys, but kazoo and vocals, too!

Fun With Numbers

  • Five keys to success: 5 of the Rumble semifinalists included keyboard based instruments (Thick Shakes, The Rationales, Cask Mouse, Ghost Of Jupiter and Bow Thayer and Perfect Trainwreck).
  • A dozen golden throats: 12 different people sang lead on a song during the Semifinals.
  • Tie One On: There was 1 solitary tie worn in the Semifinal round. It was donned by Tim Scholl of Thick Shakes.

Play Me Out

Once again, I’ll leave you with the songs that haven’t left me. Have a listen and then hit up the Finals tonight at TT’s!

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The Wrong Shapes – “A Thousand Foxes” (2012)


The Wrong Shapes
“A Thousand Foxes”
2012

Listening to The Wrong Shapes’ “A Thousand Foxes” is like eavesdropping on a private conversation. Bo Barringer’s crooning is intimately intertwined with Rachel Arnold’s harmony vocals. They are in the moment. Do they even know we’re here? Do they know we’re listening? The drum pattern flutters like an anxious heartbeat. The chiming guitars and looping cello make the whole thing feel like a dream. The enchanting music is at odds with the conflicted lyrics. So it goes as we look on, hoping we’ve gone unnoticed as the song fades away.

Where to get it:

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The Sour Doo-Dahs – Blood Drive EP (2011)


The Sour Doo-Dahs
Blood Drive EP
2011

Blood Drive EP plays out like the soundtrack to some ’70s revenge flick. Open with a beat up old jalopy kicking up some desert dust as a scorpion draws the camera’s focus. Cut to the car’s interior where The Sour Doo-Dahs are blasting away on the radio. “It might not be a bad idea to get the hell out of here.” “The Hellout” is a fuzzed out garage/desert/punk jam of B movie proportions. It’s all rusted steel, gasoline fumes and tumbleweeds. “You” and “T.O.A.D.” round out the three song EP sounding like Nirvana on bad tequila and sunstroke. Sometimes that’s what it takes to be the last one standing when the credits roll.

Where to get it:

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2012 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble Roundup (Semifinal Round)

Classy.

The Semifinals of the 2012 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble are in the books. Congratulations to Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance and Bow Thayer And Perfect Trainwreck for taking their nights. With Motherboar earning the wildcard spot, the Finals are set! After having to withdraw from competition before their prelim night, The Grownup Noise will get to play the Finals as the special guest band. Classy touch, Anngelle.

Finals / Friday, April 20

9:30 – Motherboar (Wildcard)
10:15 – Garvy J.
11:00 – Bow Thayer and Perfect Trainwreck
11:45 – The Grownup Noise (Guest)

Tickets are available at the TT’s website: www.ttthebears.com

The Semifinals had great performances all around. In case you missed any of the action, here are links to the photos and recaps of each Semifinal set:

Thursday, April 12th

Thick Shakes
Bow Thayer And Perfect Trainwreck took the night.
Cask Mouse
Motherboar got the wildcard.

Friday, April 13th

Sherman Burns
Ghosts Of Jupiter
The Rationales
Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance took the night.

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Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.13.2012

Anngelle Wood is introducing the band, but I’m not really paying attention.* Behind her, Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance are already stealing the show. Once they have the stage to themselves there will be no stopping them. Garvy J. is in full command of the situation, manipulating the crowd with guitar swells, a cool confidence and sonic bombast.

Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance take Rumble Semifinal #2.

* During their preliminary round set, Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance launched into their set before Anngelle could introduce them.

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The Rationales @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.13.2012

In case David Mirabella and his bandmates in The Rationales didn’t know it already, a large contingent of their fans sang along to remind them that they have some of the best songs in town. When the band plays them with the fire and passion that they did in the Rumble Semifinal, it’s going to be a good night. Last night was a good night.

Semifinal Night #2 Winner: Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance

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Ghosts Of Jupiter @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.13.2012

Ghost Of Jupiter threw down another slab of vintage goodness during Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble Semifinal Night #2. The band plays a kind of throwback rock unadulterated by the music of modern times. It’s not ironic. They’re not mocking, mimicking or doing a tribute act. Ghosts Of Jupiter are simply their own child of the ’70s. These guys were locked in Friday night, laying down a heavy groove that would have made their forefathers proud.

Semifinal Night #2 Winner: Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance

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Sherman Burns @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.13.2012

Sherman Burns’ blistering riff assault earned them a spot in the Semifinals as one of the wildcards. These guy weren’t about to blow the opportunity. They unleashed another barrage of high intensity, high volume fretboard acrobatics on the TT’s crowd. Anyone who missed their prelim set is probably still wondering what just hit them. These guys were one of the big Rumble surprises for me. I’m a fan.

Semifinal Night #2 Winner: Garvy J. And The Secret Pockets Of Hope And Resistance

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Motherboar @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.12.2012

Motherboar did the same thing in their Rumble Semifinal set as they did in the preliminary round: lay waste to TT’s. Would you want it any other way? Expecting something different probably would have left you disappointed Thursday night. I didn’t see too many disappointed faces during Motherboar’s set. Then again, it was hard to see much of anything through all of the flying beers and pumping fists.

Semifinal Night #1 Winner: Bow Thayer And Perfect Trainwreck

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Cask Mouse @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 4.12.2012

Boy, oh boy, do I love Cask Mouse. Every time I see them I fall further under their spell. It’s comfort food for your soul. Their Rumble Semifinal set went from whisper quiet to full on hootenany without ever rushing to get from one place to the other. All in due time. You’ll know when you’ve arrived. Just listen for the clapping and stomping.

Semifinal Night #1 Winner: Bow Thayer And Perfect Trainwreck