catching up

So much to catch up on since my last post...

New Music...Absolutely up to my head with great new albums from Wilco, St. Vincent, Wild Flag, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Mastodon and yet another one this year from Thee Oh Sees to name a few.

This past month also saw the release of the Lou Reed - Metallica album 'Lulu' and it got pummeled. I'm not one to make quick assumptions based upon what one would think is a strange idea.  I mean, who knows? Maybe it would be interesting.  But upon hearing most of the album it feels as though not one member of this project was in the same room. Ever. It's awkward and even some times embarrassing to sit through. I'll give them credit for trying something different but the end result is a mess.

Here in Phoenix, a new live music venue finally came to fruition. Charlie from Stateside Presents unwrapped the Crescent Ballroom to almost universal applause. My first gig there was Unknown Mortal Orchestra (I believe the 2nd or 3rd night it was open)  Aside from a few small snags, the venue sounds great, has good sight lines and is very comfortable. The other plus is the food being dished out in the front lounge. The nachos alone have made me gain an extra 5 pounds this past month...

At the same time, it seems as though the Foundry on First, which opened this summer here in Phoenix as well, is dying a very quick death. The snags they had opening with licensing issues, permits, complaints about the lack of air conditioning, etc. have seemed to been a foretelling of the current problems they're facing.  With only 2 shows booked in November, it seems as though the end is near.

Oh yeah, what was the most awesome thing to come out this month? Duh.




Of course though, the highlights of October, were the great shows I saw.  That first show at the Crescent with UMO showed a stunning display of guitar work and clever songwriting from a young band. A trip to California with my friend Bryan to see a diverse array of favorites started with Portishead at the Shrine Expo Center in L.A. Portishead had not done a proper U.S. tour since 1998, so this was special. They are so truly precise but never perfect.  The video show and lighting were paced perfectly along with the set. An amazing night that was also helped a wee bit by a crazy Asian lady...

The following day we traveled south to Solana Beach, just north of San Diego, to see Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks. I love their new album and this gig was the last of a long tour, so I was hoping for some fun for the finale. Ty Segall opened the set and as I've witnessed before, he and his band tore it up garage style to an audience that really didn't know of him before. Stephen came on and was charming, funny and flat-out killed. It was great to see old friend Jake Morris on the drums tearing it up.  Stephen & Co. stuck to new stuff from 'Mirror Traffic' and a couple of even newer songs but the encore was just what I was hoping for. The Jicks switched instruments and tore through several sloppy renditions of Circle Jerks songs topped off with Andrew Gold's 'Lonely Boy'. Classic.

The next day we trekked back to Phoenix, cleaned up and headed back down to the Crescent to see Tucson's Sergio Mendoza y la Orkestra.  In my opinion, this is mambo orchestra is the best act from Arizona to see live. If you don't walk away smiling, you truly have no soul. Sergio and his band are amazing but the true star is Salvador Duran singing and stomping his feet.



A great trip with 3 great nights of such different music and still I was bummed to miss Battles in Scottsdale and St. Vincent in Phoenix while we were away.  Annie Clark is the real deal. Here's proof: