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Concerts, January - March 2003
The Black Keys at the Showplace Theatre, Buffalo, NY
January 19th 2003
Um. Hmmm. Frank loved them. He only writes for City-
what does he know. The Black Keys are yet another one of those
slowly becoming trendy (thanks to the White Stripes) 2 person
bands that think they can tear it up like everyone else. Maybe
they can, but not while I'm around. The thing that ruined it for
me was Dan Auerbach's voice. Ragged and worn, his vocal style
reminded me too much of Eddie Vedder and that god-awful
post-grunge modern rock sound that drives me absolutely insane.
I had a hard time getting past the voice and actually
listening to the instruments. When I managed to do so, I noticed
that the instruments were much better than the voice- very
heavy-bluesy (they're on Fat Possum) and Zeppelin-esque.
However, along with the singing, the actual
music sounded washed up and done over way too many times,
something that I'm not a fan of at all. On a better note, I
found their album, Thick Freakness to be a bit more
tolerable than their live show. The band is coming back to
town on June 7th, playing at the Bug Jar with El Destructo and
the newly SFTRI-signed Bloody Hollies. If my depricating review
sounds in any way appealing to you, go to see the Black Keys.
Otherwise, go to see E.D. and the B.H. Or make like me and stay
home. Party at my house...
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion at the Showplace Theatre,
Buffalo, NY January 19th, 2003
What a nite. Freezing cold. Bitter- my hands were like ice cubes
for at least 45 minutes after I got inside. And the shittiest
weather driving home that I ever saw. But the JSBX were
blistering hot from the minute they stepped on the stage.
Delivering a solid and smooth set that featured less talk and
more rock, the band was on, and they knew it. Jon has it going
on like no one else: he's been around for over a decade, can
play like a fiend and at times, can do a mean Elvis. The show
started off in a fairly tame manner, but as the evening
progressed and everyone got into the goove that is essential
for a thoroughly fantastic evening, the band swooped and
swirled, going from rock to avant and back again, vocals
distorted and insane like an excorcism was happening on stage.
The audience was left with the expulsion of "Blues Explosion"
screamed, shouted and twisted out of Jon's mouth over and over
again while feedback soared and drums roared until he finally
slithered off of the stage and into the throes of the nite.
This kids, is how it should be done.
Flogging Molly at Water Street Music Hall, Rochester, NY
March 8th
So I don't know what I was waiting for all those other times
that I skipped out on seeing Flogging Molly. They sell out
every time that they play here, and now I know why. What else
can I say to describe their set as Kick Ass beyond belief?
It's a wonder that the floor didn't cave in again (I really
thought it would this time). So now, I'll give you 5 reasons
why I dug not just the show, but the band in general... I
dig the fact that they're much more Irish than punk, and I'll
bet that half of the kids who jones 'em don't realize that
they're getting a schooling in good old-fashioned Irish melodies
and writing in the songs that the band puts forth. Maybe I'm
just being an asshole music major, but I'll bet that it's true
to some extent. I dig the fact that the band is a live band that
rocks with insanity and somehow manages to hold it all together,
never faltering, never stumbling, no matter how driven and out
there they get. I dig the fact thatDave puts forth politics
and historical culture when he's talking on stage, making the
kids think for themselves. I dig the fact that he cares enough
to do so, not in an artsy-wimpy way, but in a punk rock dammit
way. I dig the fact that they're real. And let's not forget the
camisole-thong sets with the old-school artwork.
The Raveonettes as part of the CMJ Certain Damage tour at UB
Buffalo, NY March 23rd 2003
All I have to say is that watching a set from this duo is like
one big tease. Definitely sensual and non-chalantly smooth in
a way that makes you want to scream in delight, the Raveonettes
are part of the group of Foreign Bands to Rave (no pun intended)
About. While I don't really agree with most of the raving, I
will succumb for the Raveonettes. Their set was bare and void
of show-off tactics; rather, Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo
relied on the haunting harmonic chemistry of their voices and
the live intensity of their songs. Opening with a twisted
version (in B-flat minor, perhaps?) of Buddy Holly's "Everyday"
that was both haunting and thrilling, the rest of the set
(essentially their LP, "Whip It On") followed in the same
manner, setting them apart from so many of the flash and
trash bands that I have seen over the course of my years. Check
them out and rave.
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