Author: johnny

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Rule @ Radio 11.19.2011

Do you like metal?

Wait! No no no! Don’t go anywhere. Let’s try this a different way.

Remember when you liked metal?

Rule plays that kind of metal. It’s Ronnie James Dio fronting a reinvigorated Black Sabbath. It’s Joey Belladona-era Anthrax without the Jams shorts, backward hats and goofy rhymes. It hints at Judas Priest, Ozzy, Maiden and early Metallica while, amazingly, not relying on nostalgia.

I know it sounds like I just contradicted myself with the whole “remember when” thing and then saying Rule isn’t nostalgic. I get it. It’s true, Rule plays a very classic sort of metal. However, my enjoyment of their debut show was not based upon my fond memories of being a mulleted teenager blasting Painkiller in a wood paneled basement with my fellow misfits.* Rule’s set seemed vital. There was no irony in what they were doing.

Rule is metal.

* Although my mulleted teenage self would have loved Rule.

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InAeona @ Radio 11.19.2011

InAeona backlit their set with an intensity that matched their progressive metal sound.

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Cask Mouse @ Radio 11.19.2011

Cask Mouse have a great country-tinged folk sound. It’s natural and warm. What really won me over with this group were their vocal arrangements. Really nice.

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Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola – “Shift Your Shopping!” (2011)


Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola
“Shift Your Shopping!”
2011

Here’s a little something to think about on the busiest shopping day of the year. Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola have put together a folk ditty in support of the Shift Your Shopping campaign. It’s called “Shift Your Shopping!” Go figure.

The song itself reminds me of the classic Space Balloons healthy snack anthem “Grapes”. This time the positive message is about spending your holiday shopping dollars close to home. “Mom-ing and pop-ing” as they like to call it.* Also, there are sleigh bells, which officially qualifies this as a holiday song. “Shift Your Shopping!” even comes packaged in a variety of different sizes!

Where to get it:

* Or is that “momming and popping”. I need an official ruling on the spelling of this.

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Muck And The Mires @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 11.18.2011

Muck And The Mires put on one hell of a show to celebrate the release of their new album, A Cellarful Of Muck. I think we take for granted that Muck and the gang are always around town banging out their amazing British Invasion meets ’77 NYC tunes. We shouldn’t. They’re too good for that. This was one of the best sets I’ve seen all year.

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The Dents @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 11.18.2011

The Dents have reunited for one night of pissed off songs about ex-boyfriends. It’s well worn territory, but the masses huddled in front of the TT’s stage are getting exactly what they want. I lose count of how many times someone yells “Don’t they sound great!?!” into my ear during the set.* It would be safe to say that those who have patiently waited years for this moment will not leave disappointed.

* This happens quite a bit after the set as well, people raising their voices to hear themselves over the ringing in their ears. Don’t forget your earplugs, folks.

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Devil On Horseback @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 11.18.2011

This is my first time seeing Devil On Horseback since they were reborn from the ghost of Auto Interiors. Despite the band member carryover, it truly does sound like a new band. These guys know they have a good slot on a great bill and are making the most of it, winning over a significant portion of the growing crowd along the way.

I run into singer/guitarist Eric Waxwood at Radio the next night (more on that show later) and tell him how impressed I am with their transformation. He notes that even though they’ve played a few shows under the new name, Friday night at TT’s was the first time it truly felt like a Devil On Horseback show.

Metamorphosis complete.

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Eric Salt & The Electric City @ T.T. The Bear’s Place 11.18.2011

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Eric Salt & The Electric City. Eric recently performed at the Bruce Springsteen tribute night with some of these guys, and it reminded me how well they play off each other. Tonight’s return of the full-on Electric City puts the band’s own songs in the well deserved spotlight. I’ve missed this.

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J-Krafty – “Bigfoot Likes The Ladies” (2011)


J-Krafty
“Bigfoot Likes the Ladies”
2011

I’m not gonna lie. J-Krafty’s new single, “Bigfoot Likes The Ladies”, is a novelty song. It’s an awesome novelty song. J-Krafty casts Bigfoot as a hairy gangsta and a ladies man*. Seems totally reasonable to me.

First time he sees you he’ll try and get your digits
then he’ll be textin’ you like every 15 minutes
and he’ll be brushin’ on his teeth and using mouthwash
bigfoot on the prowl for a fine lady sasquatch

Also worth noting is that Bigfoot carries a gun but is more likely to hug you than shoot you (either one could be dangerous). Also also worth noting is the use of the term “cryptozoologists”.

Joe Krafty is also “Navigator Joe” in Space Balloons, who performed a version of “Bigfoot Likes The Ladies” at their recent Rosebud show. This production is a far cry from the acoustic guitar and ukelele version on display that night. This thing sounds huge.

Where to get it:

* OK, I’m clearly out of my element here. I can’t believe I typed out the word “gangsta”. Clearly I should have used “playa” there as well. I just couldn’t do it. I feel embarrassed even thinking about it.