Walter Lure and The Waldos at Connie's Ric Rac
There is no doubt that The Waldos follow in the footsteps of Walter Lure's earlier band The Heartbreakers. Anybody who likes one band will probably like the other. In fact, why not both? The Waldos always mix a few 70s Heartbreaker classics into their set so you can have both. Like apolitical punk rock with a dash of pop catchiness? Well then you'll probably go for both the old and the new songs.
Walter Lure and The Waldos's Website, Music.
Posted: 3/17/2019 at 6:00pm Tags: Connie's Ric Rac The Waldos Walter Lure and The Waldos
Buck Gooter at Johnny Brenda's
It's hard not to call a band "Industrial" when the band members are wearing half a car between them. Buck Gooter combine searing vocals, electronic effects (trust me, that acoustic guitar does not sound acoustic), and unique percussion techniques into a musical style which varies from straight-up fierce to thoughtfully intense. Also, politics. Both band members sing, both have plenty to say about the state of the world, and both will try their hardest to drill it into your head. Though Billy (percussion/electronics) is more aggressive than Terry (guitar) in all fairness.
Posted: 2/23/2019 at 4:00pm Tags: Buck Gooter Johnny Brenda's
Adia Victoria at Johnny Brenda's
The one thing which stands out to me about Adia Victoria's music is that much of the time she sounds like she's whispering. Not quietly of course (there are six other musicians on stage) but her singing still sounds unusually intimate. Now, I assume it is hard to sing the Blues about abstract concepts. Of course Adia Victoria sings about her own life and she has, apparently, been through quite a lot. What is so impressive is the way that her singing style really emphasizes that she is sharing something personal with the audience. Not that I mind when she rocks out a little, though.
Once in a while I end up taking too many pictures of the lead singer and ignoring everyone else. That appears to be the case once again however... I've seen Adia Victoria perform with four or five different line-ups. This may be her first all-male backing band, actually. Anyway, this is very much the Adia Victoria show so most of the photos are of her.
Adia Victoria's Website, Music.
Posted: 2/21/2019 at 1:35am Tags: Adia Victoria Johnny Brenda's
Warbly Jets at Kung Fu Necktie
My 90's sense is tingling. If I didn't know better I would have sworn Warbly Jets were, well, British for one thing. From song to song they flow from jangly rock-n-rollers to floaty, vaguely psychedelic hymns to their more recent cool electro-meditations on modern society. Through it all their sound is always a little bit suave, a little bit classy. Intensity is implied through style and attitude, not just volume. Seems British to me. Or more accurately it reminds me of alternative radio from the era of the Second British Invasion, my college days, back in the 90s. Like the rock bands tho, not the "Britpop" bands, the real rock-n-rollers.
Posted: 2/10/2019 at 1:00pm Tags: Kung Fu Necktie Warbly Jets
Britt Thomas and the Breaker Boys at Johnny Brenda's
After hearing Britt Thomas and the Breaker Boys, and having heard the lead singer's previous band Cherokee Red, I have to say that I do see the connection there. Both of them are (or were) storytelling bands. Tales of life, mostly the troubling and unpleasant parts, set to music. The new band is both a little more Country and a little more Rock-n-Roll and has played shows with both types of bands, so hopefully they end up being a little less niche as well.
This is a short set of photos because I'm trying to learn how to use my new camera (a Sony a7 III). Unfortunately I'm running into problems like the well-known banding issue (like in this photo) and at least one Canon lens (used with an adapter) which doesn't want to focus sometimes. I'll get the hang of it eventually but I sure hate losing good photos to that sort of weirdness.
Britt Thomas and the Breaker Boys's Website, Music.
Posted: 2/9/2019 at 4:00pm Tags: Britt Thomas and the Breaker Boys Johnny Brenda's
