92 Protons pummeled through a set of post-post-everything loud music. Very cool.
92 Protons @ O’Brien’s Pub 3.15.2014
Bong Wish @ O’Brien’s Pub 3.15.2014
I hit up a Park Slug show at O’Brien’s Saturday night and was greeted with a nice surprise. Unbeknownst to me, Bong Wish was kicking off the night with a quick set of subversively catchy tunes. This fortuitous turn of events happened mere days after I was checking out the band’s too-good-not-to-be-a-theme-song theme song. Lucky me.
Airport – “Long Time” (2014)
Airport
“Long Time”
2014
Airport get their twang and swing on with “Long Time.” This is a top shelf number from a top shelf band. Drink in the harmonies. Raise a glass when you hear the honky tonk piano; that’s your cue to get ready for the big sing-along chorus. Think it can’t get any better? Just wait ’til after the breakdown. Airport wraps the whole thing up with a outro that is perfectly desperate. I think I’ll have another.
Where to get it:
Bong Wish – “In The Flesh” (2014)
Bong Wish
“In The Flesh”
2014
Looking for a retro-blast freakout theme song of the lo-fi nature? Of course you are. Check out “In The Flesh” by Bong Wish and find fulfillment in your life, for once.
Where to get it:
The Rationales – Dream Of Fire (2014)
The Rationales
Dream Of Fire
2014
Have I ever mentioned how much I like The Rationales? I think I have. Their latest, Dream Of Fire, is pretty fantastic. The EP opens with live favorites “Drunk All The Time” and “Radio,” a single they released back in 2012. It’s a formidable and familiar one-two punch of hooks and vitality. “This Morning” shakes up its Buffalo Tom-like vibe with fiery, spaced-out guitar solos. “Last Words” buries the dagger with the line “She won’t remember the last thing you said if you’re there.” Man. These songs are reeeeeaaaally good. The whole thing wraps up with “Let It Go.” Here’s a band so gifted in the ways of verse/bridge/chorus blowing it all up with magnificent results.
Like I said, I like The Rationales.
Where to get it:
Eric Salt & The Electric City – Please Say Yes (2013)
Eric Salt & The Electric City
Please Say Yes
2013
Eric Salt is one talented guy. 2007’s The Hail Mary hooked me with its depth and breadth of songwriting. His playing with Jenny Dee And The Deelinquents is always inspired. Plus, he can cover Springsteen like nobody’s business. He’s equally at home with his own material or someone else’s. Please Say Yes adds to this impressive body of work. Here we find Eric Salt & The Electric City getting back to their naturally varied ways. Their cover of Dylan’s “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You” is gorgeous. “Women I’ve Loved” is a toe-tapper. “Movie Screen” finds beauty in simplicity. Horns help shape “Last Man Standing” and “Cold Winds Blow.” The band’s cover of Billy Squier’s “Whadda You Want From Me” turns a rocker into a slow burn.* Saving one of the best for last, the record closes with the endearing title track. Play it again. Please Say Yes gets better with every listen.
Where to get it:
* Given the album title and artwork, you had to see that one coming.
The 2014 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble Preliminary Round lineups are set!
OK, here we go. This is where it gets real. We already knew the bands participating in the 35th edition of the Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble. Now the preliminary round schedule is set. Now we’re reminded why The Rumble is so special. Now we get to see the types of bills you just don’t see every day. Now we get to pretend to know who the favorite is to win each night, only to realize such a task is but a fun and foolish game. Ready?
2014 ROCK ‘N’ ROLL RUMBLE PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE
Sunday April 6th, 2014 (FB Event)
9:00 – Rebuilder (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
9:45 – Tigerman Woah (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
10:30 – Sinnet (Web | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
11:15 – Guillermo Sexo (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
Monday April 7th, 2014 (FB Event)
9:00 – Doom Lover (Web | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
9:45 – When Particles Collide (Web | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
10:30 –
Goddamn Draculas (Web | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
11:15 – Emma Ate The Lion (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
Tuesday April 8th, 2014 (FB Event)
9:00 – Barricades (Web | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
9:45 – Airport (Facebook | Bandcamp)
10:30 – Z*L (Facebook | Bandcamp)
11:15 – The Life Electric (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
Thursday April 10th, 2014 (FB Event)
9:30 – Butterknife (Web | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
10:15 – Slowdim (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
11:00 – Gondoliers (Facebook | Bandcamp)
11:45 – Western Education (Web | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
Friday April 11th, 2014 (FB Event)
9:30 – Feints (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
10:15 – Petty Morals (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
11:00 – Summoner (Facebook | Bandcamp)
11:45 – Vary Lumar (Web | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
Saturday April 12th, 2014 (FB Event)
9:30 – Harris Hawk (Facebook | Bandcamp)
10:15 – Await Rescue (Web | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
11:00 – The Color And Sound (Web | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
11:45 – Yellabird (Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
More info: Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble Website
The Life Electric – “Gone, Gone, Gone” (2014)
The Life Electric
“Gone, Gone, Gone”
2014
Here’s a slab of power pop from The Life Electric ahead of their upcoming appearances at SXSW and the Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble. It’s catchy. That keyboard thing is permanently lodged in my brain. Listen at your own risk.
Where to get it:
Mellow Bravo – “Don’t You Get Lonely” (2014)
Mellow Bravo
“Don’t You Get Lonely”
2014
Goshdarnit, Mellow Bravo, you’ve done it again. “Don’t You Get Lonely” is a blazed number for the ages. Fuzzed-out riffs. Octave-doubled vocals. Roiling organ. Driving bass. Drums that hit so hard you can’t help but look like a fool doing your best Jarvis impersonation. It’s all there. The kicker? Check out the killer harmonies at 2:10, right before the solo. It’s gonna be so good.
Where to get it:
Sidewalk Driver @ The Sinclair 2.23.2014
As I watch Sidewalk Driver mesmerize a sold out Rock-n-Romp crowd at The Sinclair, I can’t help but wonder how many people are seeing this wonderful gift of a band for the first time and think that the parachute, bedazzling, face projector, confetti and sheer musical joy were concocted just for this event. Is this real? It is, and now my boys have witnessed what was once inaccessible to an audience that is in bed before the first band typically hits the stage. Thank you Rock-n-Romp. Thank you Daykamp Creative for making Sidewalk Driver at Rock-n-Romp a reality. Thank you Sidewalk Driver for being you.
