reviews

Review: Girls with Dum Dum Girls; April 5, 2010; Mr. Smalls Theater, Pittsburgh, PA

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Photo credit: J. Walkos

By now I’m sure you’ve heard the legendary back-story of Christopher Owens, the frontman for Girls. It’s full of cults and intrigue, heartbreak and redemption, and as soon as I heard it I had to hear the music it inspired. My first introduction to Girls was their video for the sprawling, nostalgic “Hellhole Ratrace.” The clip follows the band and their friends around San Francisco for a night of boozing that culminates in a picturesque sunrise over the bay. It’s one of those rare instances when the imagery and music match up perfectly, elevating the art to a whole new level. Continue reading →

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Review: Perfect Age of Rock ‘N’ Roll Blues Band; April 3, 2010; Anthology

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Photo credit: Anthology/Paul Parks

Before the show started, Perfect Age lead guitarist Bob Margolin quipped that for a late show, 10pm “ain’t all that late.”

This was a bit of a surprise, coming from the guy who leads a band made up of Pinetop Perkins (96), Hubert Sumlin (78), Willie “Big Eyes” Smith (74), and Bob Stroger (about 70). But Margolin was right. These men — who have seen blues and jazz evolve over decades — showed little sign of slowing down. Continue reading…

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Poetic Memory: Murder By Death (List)

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Photo credit: Vagrant/GregWhitaker

Since Murder By Death took their name from a 1976 spoof that actually guest starred Truman Capote, it wasn’t surprising when their Poetic Memory came back consisting mostly of (goofy) movies. Everything from Big Trouble to Bogus Journey is represented in their list, so the next time you embark on a long trip, you’ll have all the materials you need to effectively plan your van viewing.

The Indiana alt-rockers just released Good Morning, Magpie on April 6, and it’s a gooder. They’ll also be playing the Casbah on April 11. Ha Ha Tonka and Linfinity — two other excellent bands — will open the show. We posted Linfinity’s Poetic Memory yesterday; Murder By Death’s list is below. Continue reading…

video

The Dead Weather – “Die by the Drop” (Video)

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During their day jobs as front-people for fuzzed out, sexually tense blues duos — The White Stripes and The Kills, respectively — Jack White and Alison Mosshart put out some of the most mysterious, raw, and earth-shaking music in rock and roll. Their involvement instantly endows any project with an air of mystery and the promise of excellence.

And that’s what makes The Dead Weather such a bore. Continue reading…

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Poetic Memory: Linfinity (List)

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New York’s Linfinity began as a solo project of Dylan Von Wagner, but it soon morphed into a full band effort to channel his creativity after “something unknown” popped in Von Wagner’s brain.

After a well-received solo release (2007’s Live at Marcata), Von Wagner assembled a full band. In 2008, Linfinity the band released a free EP called The Weeping Willow, and last year, they released the excellent Martian’s Bloom. The New York Press has likened Martian’s Bloom to “everything from Southern Gothic tropes and rockabilly to beautiful, string-laden Moorish stomps and bombastic chamber Pop.”

Linfinity will play the Casbah on April 11, along with Murder By Death and Ha Ha Tonka, and it’s sure to be a great show. Linfinity’s Poetic Memory is below. Continue reading…

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