This link is the second m4a audio file to accompany this post. Please click to listen.
*note: audio files are me talking, not bands playing.
05 June 2011
Gray Young and Free Electric State - The Pinhook - 06/03/11
This link is the first m4a audio file to accompany this post. Please click to listen.*
This link is the second m4a audio file to accompany this post. Please click to listen.
This link is the second m4a audio file to accompany this post. Please click to listen.
Jessica Long and Stella Lively - LBLB - Tir na Nog - 06/02/11
In the immortal words of Dory, "Hey there, Mr. Grumpy Gills. When life gets you down do you wanna know what you've gotta do? ...Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming!" ...This goofy shit has basically been in my head nonstop for weeks. I'm not sure of anything in the world right now other than the fact that I just have to wake up, do shit I don't want to have to do and just survive. in between all that I get to see some bands, and that's always nice.
And the really nice thing is when you see A) a band you already know you are going to love the shit out of and B) discovering a band you suddenly love the shit out of.
I'll start with A, regardless of the fact this order of operations is actually incorrect. You lucky so and so's: you get to hear me rave about Stella Lively two posts in a row! I don't think any band has gotta a two-fer with me. That's how much I love them/her. This was an entirely different experience, as the entire band was in tow. I like that every time i get to see Ashley sing there are more and more people playing with her. Next time I get to see them play, I am only assuming a full orchestra will be in tow.... Starting with just her at the Love Hangover, then Last Thursday with Dave, then this past LBLB with Dave and the twins (I joke that they were twins. both the drummer and the bassist, Scott and Chris, were wearing practically identical outfits. silly!) They kicked off the set with my heart's delight: the acoustic-ish version of PJ's Rid of Me. And I love how deeply intensely personally soul wrenching i know this song is for both Ashley and I at the moment. It makes it all the world much better! One should never attempt a cover song, much less a PJ Harvey song, without having some intensely passionate connection to it. don't worry, Stella Lively got that shit covered. Angerrrr! Heartbreaaaak!
As I said, I have now seen several different incarnations of this band. I have a little bit of true love for all versions. I loved the intimacy of last week's Pourhouse performance. And I really loved the intense sound of the full band. The same songs took on a whole other level with the amplitude of this sound. First of all, Ashley could unabashedly sing her god damned heart out as loud as she wanted. (oh hell yes) and the energy of the guys all playing together seemed to climb and climb! I had every intention giving my full attention, which i feel i did to an extent, but i must make a personal apology for disappearing through part of the set... It was a close friend's birthday. (you know the drunk guy smashing glasses on the dancefloor? yeah, that guy.) After receiving texts from he and another friend around 4pm that they were already drunk/drinking and for me to meet them at Landmark, I knew it was going to be a wild evening. I didn't meet up with them until around 8 and they were already pretty smashed. Part of my evening was spent running interference and checking in on these two. Somewhere in the middle of Stella's set, one of these friends actually got kicked out of tir na nog. we are classy people.
Despite the distractions and setbacks, I must reiterate how much I absolutely adore and respect Stella Lively and how much I am madly in love with Ashley C Carter's voice. I had band practice last week after seeing them at Pourhouse and I swear I could feel myself trying to channel her a little. love you, girl. Can't wait until next time!
Next, who was actually first, Was Jessica Long. Now, this was unexpected. Somewhere in between leaving Times to head down to the show, waiting for the rest of my crew, wandering over to stand in front of the Pourhouse windows and listen to some kinda amazing Jimi Hendrix cover band (who sounded pretty effing good, btw. I'll have to scout them out sometime soon. what is with me and cover bands lately?) I could hear Jessica Long warming up. I heard lots of problems and a sound i was fully prepared to tune out. Oh i love it when i am so so wrong! I don't remember how or why I did it, but I was intent on giving these guys my full attention as well. i think it had a lot to do with being a little embarrassed by the behaviour of my friends in tow. And from the very first song, I had that moment that I love so well. Having little to no expectations of hearing anything worth hearing and then having my mind blown. I call it my "OH HOLD UP" moment. I only recently realized that was what this moment was called, as whenever it happens, I hear myself saying it out loud. First song in from Jessica Long.... OH HOLD UP.
Every song seemed to get a little better and better. And every song I heard a little more influence from some of the bands I love best... mostly U2. I think for literally every song i clutched Roo's forearm and said "I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH U2 I AM HEARING IN THIS!" to the point where i think he was annoyed with me because we were both kinda annoyed by our friends. Then as the set went on, I hear more I love; rolling stones, Dylan maybe, Coldplay. A good mix of a classic rock influence and maybe a little Springsteen filled in with an almost country drawl in her sweet little voice. Think a little Ingrid Michaelson/Regina Spektor playing in front of Remy Zero (and if you remember them, then you remember they rock and you also get some bonus points from me.) a little research (aka google) tells me she's a local durham-ite who did schoolin' in Tennessee, so that explains that adorable twang a little. Also that she was a musical theater major (REPRESENT!) so that explains to me, personally, the intonation that i need and appreciate in girly singers. The more I listen, the more I hear the Ingrid Michaelson in her voice, which people, trust me, is a good thing. I flipping love Ingrid Michaelson. So if you like Ingrid, you'll like Jessica. The bassist's, Mike's, voice blended only too perfectly. my ears appreciated.
On to the background. These boys. The majority of the info I'm seeing online is about Jessica, hey. the "band" is her, that's totally understandable and acceptable. But i have to tell you; I like these guys. Definitely she needs to keep these boys with her at all times. I literaly had to hold myself back in between songs to keep from grabbing Calin, the lead guitar dude, and being all like "OMG TELL ME HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THE EDGE AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT A LOT." (ps, that completely happened after the set.) Literally it was the first thing I asked when i met up with the group later, "So, tell me how much you love U2." and Jessica and the band all pointed to Calin and said "This guuuuuuuuuy!" I shook his hand. I had a brief chat with the band and swiftly got out of the way to allow for load out. But then spent a good minute or two speaking with (flirting with) Drew, the drummer. (WHAT is with me and drummers? I swear. I think I have a problem.) however, these guys are young. YOUNG young, which means they have time and energy to make some serious waves. And from what I'm reading on the webs, it would appear that is what appears to be happening! congrats, guys! I'm certainly a fan.
Jessica's album, Painted, was released in February of this year. From what I can tell, she is as yet unsigned and it was independently released. you can order it online from her site or you can join me August 15 at Slim's and pick up a copy there.
An unexpectedly perfect girl-powered rock night. I needed that... Still swimming!
And the really nice thing is when you see A) a band you already know you are going to love the shit out of and B) discovering a band you suddenly love the shit out of.
I'll start with A, regardless of the fact this order of operations is actually incorrect. You lucky so and so's: you get to hear me rave about Stella Lively two posts in a row! I don't think any band has gotta a two-fer with me. That's how much I love them/her. This was an entirely different experience, as the entire band was in tow. I like that every time i get to see Ashley sing there are more and more people playing with her. Next time I get to see them play, I am only assuming a full orchestra will be in tow.... Starting with just her at the Love Hangover, then Last Thursday with Dave, then this past LBLB with Dave and the twins (I joke that they were twins. both the drummer and the bassist, Scott and Chris, were wearing practically identical outfits. silly!) They kicked off the set with my heart's delight: the acoustic-ish version of PJ's Rid of Me. And I love how deeply intensely personally soul wrenching i know this song is for both Ashley and I at the moment. It makes it all the world much better! One should never attempt a cover song, much less a PJ Harvey song, without having some intensely passionate connection to it. don't worry, Stella Lively got that shit covered. Angerrrr! Heartbreaaaak!
As I said, I have now seen several different incarnations of this band. I have a little bit of true love for all versions. I loved the intimacy of last week's Pourhouse performance. And I really loved the intense sound of the full band. The same songs took on a whole other level with the amplitude of this sound. First of all, Ashley could unabashedly sing her god damned heart out as loud as she wanted. (oh hell yes) and the energy of the guys all playing together seemed to climb and climb! I had every intention giving my full attention, which i feel i did to an extent, but i must make a personal apology for disappearing through part of the set... It was a close friend's birthday. (you know the drunk guy smashing glasses on the dancefloor? yeah, that guy.) After receiving texts from he and another friend around 4pm that they were already drunk/drinking and for me to meet them at Landmark, I knew it was going to be a wild evening. I didn't meet up with them until around 8 and they were already pretty smashed. Part of my evening was spent running interference and checking in on these two. Somewhere in the middle of Stella's set, one of these friends actually got kicked out of tir na nog. we are classy people.
Despite the distractions and setbacks, I must reiterate how much I absolutely adore and respect Stella Lively and how much I am madly in love with Ashley C Carter's voice. I had band practice last week after seeing them at Pourhouse and I swear I could feel myself trying to channel her a little. love you, girl. Can't wait until next time!
Next, who was actually first, Was Jessica Long. Now, this was unexpected. Somewhere in between leaving Times to head down to the show, waiting for the rest of my crew, wandering over to stand in front of the Pourhouse windows and listen to some kinda amazing Jimi Hendrix cover band (who sounded pretty effing good, btw. I'll have to scout them out sometime soon. what is with me and cover bands lately?) I could hear Jessica Long warming up. I heard lots of problems and a sound i was fully prepared to tune out. Oh i love it when i am so so wrong! I don't remember how or why I did it, but I was intent on giving these guys my full attention as well. i think it had a lot to do with being a little embarrassed by the behaviour of my friends in tow. And from the very first song, I had that moment that I love so well. Having little to no expectations of hearing anything worth hearing and then having my mind blown. I call it my "OH HOLD UP" moment. I only recently realized that was what this moment was called, as whenever it happens, I hear myself saying it out loud. First song in from Jessica Long.... OH HOLD UP.
Every song seemed to get a little better and better. And every song I heard a little more influence from some of the bands I love best... mostly U2. I think for literally every song i clutched Roo's forearm and said "I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH U2 I AM HEARING IN THIS!" to the point where i think he was annoyed with me because we were both kinda annoyed by our friends. Then as the set went on, I hear more I love; rolling stones, Dylan maybe, Coldplay. A good mix of a classic rock influence and maybe a little Springsteen filled in with an almost country drawl in her sweet little voice. Think a little Ingrid Michaelson/Regina Spektor playing in front of Remy Zero (and if you remember them, then you remember they rock and you also get some bonus points from me.) a little research (aka google) tells me she's a local durham-ite who did schoolin' in Tennessee, so that explains that adorable twang a little. Also that she was a musical theater major (REPRESENT!) so that explains to me, personally, the intonation that i need and appreciate in girly singers. The more I listen, the more I hear the Ingrid Michaelson in her voice, which people, trust me, is a good thing. I flipping love Ingrid Michaelson. So if you like Ingrid, you'll like Jessica. The bassist's, Mike's, voice blended only too perfectly. my ears appreciated.
On to the background. These boys. The majority of the info I'm seeing online is about Jessica, hey. the "band" is her, that's totally understandable and acceptable. But i have to tell you; I like these guys. Definitely she needs to keep these boys with her at all times. I literaly had to hold myself back in between songs to keep from grabbing Calin, the lead guitar dude, and being all like "OMG TELL ME HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THE EDGE AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT A LOT." (ps, that completely happened after the set.) Literally it was the first thing I asked when i met up with the group later, "So, tell me how much you love U2." and Jessica and the band all pointed to Calin and said "This guuuuuuuuuy!" I shook his hand. I had a brief chat with the band and swiftly got out of the way to allow for load out. But then spent a good minute or two speaking with (flirting with) Drew, the drummer. (WHAT is with me and drummers? I swear. I think I have a problem.) however, these guys are young. YOUNG young, which means they have time and energy to make some serious waves. And from what I'm reading on the webs, it would appear that is what appears to be happening! congrats, guys! I'm certainly a fan.
 |
| OH HOLD UP |
Jessica's album, Painted, was released in February of this year. From what I can tell, she is as yet unsigned and it was independently released. you can order it online from her site or you can join me August 15 at Slim's and pick up a copy there.
An unexpectedly perfect girl-powered rock night. I needed that... Still swimming!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)