Category: Blog

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Emily Peal – “Bang Bang” (2012)


Emily Peal
“Bang Bang”
2012

What happens when Emily Peal covers Cher? Magic. Dark, dark magic.

Truth be told, this version has more in common with Nancy Sinatra’s stark cover than the original. Emily’s take thrives on the moments that slip through the cracks. There’s a tension to the sparsity that is undeniable. The mind can wander to some pretty dark places in between reverb-drenched arpeggios, places fully realized when Emily and The Band Of Skinny Men go off at the 2:37 mark.

Where to get it:

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Eddie Japan – “You Will Find Me Dead In My Comfort Zone” (2011)


Eddie Japan
“You Will Find Me Dead In My Comfort Zone”
2011

Eddie Japan have put together one snappy little pop gem with “You Will Find Me Dead In My Comfort Zone”. If this song was a drug (and given the number of times I’ve listened to this one I can safely say it’s addictive*), I would imagine the listed side effects would be toe-tapping and spinning around.** It’s that kind of song: carefree in feeling with a devilish bent to the lyrics. Less moody and exotic than the typical Eddie Japan fare, “You Will Find Me Dead In My Comfort Zone” proves that good bands play to the song.

I’m impressed.

Where to get it:

* Using the words “safe” and “addictive” in the same sentence feels weird.

** Or maybe some enthusiastic head bopping.

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Thick Shakes – Why Buy The Cow (2011)


Thick Shakes
Why Buy The Cow
2011

The Thick Shakes Why Buy The Cow EP is everything garage rock should be: raw, catchy, overmodulated and pressed on 7″ black vinyl. It sounds easy, but few do it this well. A song as great as “Go Back To New York” doesn’t need to be dressed up in fancy clothes. Just spit, snarl, bang it out and get the kids bopping. You even get a couple of kickin’ B-sides in “Neighbor’s Goods” and “Banned From The Laundromat”.

As for the vinyl, it’s a small hole 7″ in beautiful basic black. It’s wrapped in a folded jacket and inserted in a vinyl bag. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Where to get it:

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Paper Airplane Fight and Mellow Bravo @ Moe’s Lounge 2.10.2012

In the grand tradition of Puppet Show and Spinal Tap comes Paper Airplane Fight and Mellow Bravo.*

* Yes, I know this wasn’t technically a Mellow Bravo show, but I didn’t know what else to call it.

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The Resurrectionists @ Radio 2.10.2012

This was my first and probably my last time seeing The Resurrectionists. It’s not because I didn’t like their take on modern Americana. You see, the band announced that this was likely their last show (at least for a very, very long time). Dang.

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Tad & Kate @ Moe’s Lounge 2.10.2012

So much good music at Radio this past Friday night! Quality tunes upstairs and down all night long. I shot down to Moe’s Lounge after Reverse’s amazing set just in time to catch Tad & Kate doing their thing as part of Keith Pierce’s new series, Practice. Keith even jumped behind the kit for a couple of tunes. His Mellow Bravo band mate, Seager Tennis, followed suit on bass. This is pretty cool. I want more!

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Reverse @ Radio 2.10.2012

Reverse killed it at Radio. Reverse always kills it, no matter where they play. There were a couple of noteworthy moments I’d like to bring to your attention.

First off, I hope their new record doesn’t take as long to make as Monkey Mind did. I can’t wait that long for “Civilian” to come out. That song was electric on Friday night.

The other thing I wanted to point out was an amazing fill that Mike Piehl pulled off during “Helicopters”. It’s like the guy grew some extra limbs to pull it off. Even the usually unflappable Mike Quinn did a double take. It’s not often a drum fill elicits a cheer from the crowd, but this one certainly did. The audience is listening.