Category Archives: Live Reviews
Live Review: Dayton, Ohio’s Own Guided By Voices Reunion Show at The Wiltern in L.A., 10/4/10
A rowdy crowd, an exalted entrance and a wall-of-sound take on “A Salty Salute” began Guided By Voices reunion show in Los Angeles. At the song’s end, the repeated line “the club is open” became a celebratory chant with the … Continue reading
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Live Review: Frightened Rabbit—05/06/2010 (Newport, KY)
The energy hardly waned as Frightened Rabbit entered the final portion of their performance with several hugely warm, raucous, passionate songs. Show closer “Keep Yourself Warm” was a brilliant choice and it was clear the crowd felt the honesty of this song acutely, as the room was soon filled with people singing along in agreement. All and all, Frightened Rabbit was one of the highest energy shows I’ve been to at the Southgate House. It was an evening of loud, profound rock and roll that you could clap your hands and stomp your feet to… and what more could you ask for? There wasn’t a whole lot of pretentiousness going on last night, but there was a whole lot of shakin.’ Continue reading
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Live Review: Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore—04/30/2010 (Fort Thomas, KY)
As far as I’m concerned, both Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore are the real deal. While speaking to the pair after the show, Daniel told me that both he and Ben had recently completed work on their next solo efforts (for the uninitiated, Daniel’s debut LP, Stray Age (a Sub Pop and Shake It joint release), is consistently excellent, as is Ben Sollee’s Learning to Bend). Daniel couldn’t say if he and Sollee were planning a proper follow-up to Dear Companion, but the duo’s rapport on stage last Friday was truly something to behold. Here’s hoping for a sequel… Continue reading
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Live Review: Joanna Newsom & Robin Pecknold @ The MusicNOW Festival—03/30/2010 (Cincinnati, OH)
Last night I attended the opening night of the Bryce Dessner curated, fifth year running MusicNOW Festival at Memorial Hall in Cincinnati. I have to say the evening was excellent – the music was stellar and the venue couldn’t have been more fitting, beautifuly ornate and inviting. This was my first visit to Memorial Hall and clearly this is a Cincinnati landmark for a reason – it is one of the prettiest interiors I’ve seen in the city to date – gilded walls, glass cases displaying the building’s rich history (apparently, it serves as the site for the Classical Music Hall of Fame), glimmering chandeliers, and a whimisically ornate auditorium. Continue reading
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Live Review: Bowerbirds—01/13/2010 (Newport, KY)
Bowerbirds closed with “Northern Lights,” which is hands down one of my favorite songs of 2009. It sounded phenomenal paired with Southgate’s superior sound system, and I floated off into the night with the warm, fuzzy feeling of calm and inspiration that only a night of really great music can give me. Continue reading
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Live Review: Coachella—04/17-04/19/2009 (Indio, CA)
To put you in the correct mindset when reading this article, I need to give you a quick recap of how this adventure began. I won a radio contest from local station WFNX and was invited (with a friend) to make the road trip across America with Mike Snow and Charlie of the Sandbox morning show. To win, I only needed to submit a30-second video clip on why I should be picked to go out to Coachella. Thanks to my years of residing in the Midwest, I was chosen. We would be put up in a mansion, meet bands, hang out with the Sandbox morning show crew, and go to the Coachella festival for free. This is when your envy should begin. Continue reading
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Live Review: Now, Now Every Children—05/01/2009 (Boston, MA)
The Minneapolis based band Now, Now Every Children (NNEC) made their Boston debut at TT the Bear’s on Friday, May 1st. Headlining a show in Boston can be a great honor or a curse depending on what time your set begins. In NNEC’s case, it turned out to be a curse. NNEC went on sometime around midnight to a sparse and somewhat inebriated crowd. You see, the train system in Boston stops just after midnight, forcing many fans to decide between the lesser of two evils—leaving before the headlining act or paying an outrageous cab fare. The departing concert-goers will be sad to know that they missed a great set from Now, Now Every Children. Continue reading
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Live Review: All Points West—08/09/2008 (Jersey City, NJ)
With visions of Times Square still dancing in his head, Curt brings you the second half of his recap of last weekend’s All Points West Music & Arts Festival! Continue reading
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Live Review: All Points West—08/08/2008 (Jersey City, NJ)
Fresh from the shores of Jersey City, Curt brings you a recap of last weekend’s All Points West Music & Arts Festival! Continue reading
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Live Review: Okkervil River—04/24/2008 (Covington, KY)
If I had to make a list of five bands to watch over the next five years, Okkervil River would certainly place very near the top. This observation isn’t completely fair to the Austin-based band, as they’ve been working on their craft consistently for the better part of a decade, but the back-to-back excellence of 2005’s Black Sheep Boy and 2007’s The Stage Names has only cemented Okkervil River’s reputation as one of the most exciting bands in recent memory. I’m tempted to equate Okkervil River to a more prolific, more polished Neutral Milk Hotel, but such a comparison is probably more of a disservice to both bands. What I will say is that, like Neutral Milk Hotel, Okkervil River is a strikingly original band that deftly combines folk, indie, lo-fi, alt-country, psychedelic and classic rock influences in consistently refreshing ways. Continue reading
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