Last Friday, the four musicians that formed Wilx in 2005 out of Oxford, Miss., were accompanied by a special guest keyboardist for the Bourbon Street show. Produced by the same people that established R.E.M. and Widespread panic, the band shaped a more distinct and current sound with the help of their guest who polished some of the funky electronic jazzy riffs.
However, this divergent style wasn’t what all audience members expected.
“It’s a bit to heavy,” said Josh Hamby, “but I’m more of a trance-type person. I wish I could see more lead guitar, but I’m no critic. If you can’t match the power of the lyrics to the music you are playing, your stuff lacks soul. They are playing some covers which is changing their overall vibe.”
Because Jimbobwe opened, bringing their typical crowd, Wilx made some accommodations for their audience, shifting from the more inventive sounds heard on their first album “Didactic Dichotomy” to the more familiar beats that characterize Bourbon Street.
Overall, the audience responded well to the group and consisted of your typical guy in dreads and his balding friends in hemp sandals as well as tons of chicks in billowy print dresses. Most everyone was dancing the standard two-step with swiveling hips and carving arms.
Several of the rhythms were fairly complex. It is always impressive to see musicians that respect the craft enough to be multidimensional players: the lineup consisting of Hayden Smith (guitar / vocals), Grant Mitchell (guitar / vocals), Wilkes Evans (drums) and Taylor Arnall (bass / vocals).
Wilx is currently based out of Athens and is in the midst of their fall tour, marking the official release of “Didactic Dichotomy.”
To find out tour dates or to preview the new album, check them out at myspace.com/thewilxband or at wilxband.com.
]]>
The group members, who have been playing together for about three years, say that they have bonded over their mutual love for whiskey and punk.
For those of you who’s Spanish is a bit rusty, ‘No Fuego’ translates to ‘no fire’. I’m sure that there is a pun there, something about their intensity and how hot their show was, but all are undeserving clichés. Simply said, they were a rowdy group of nice seeming fellas whose passion for alcohol-infused music has made them one of the best groups touring the Southeast today.
Unfortunately, No Fuego won’t be playing Auburn again soon, but they have numerous dates around the Southeast, so make sure to check out their MySpace for tunes and tour dates.
Opening up the event, local group Tophouse began by performing a Raconteurs medley with “Level” and “Consolers of the Lonely” - both of which were extremely tight - before playing two of their rock-influenced upbeat originals. On the opposite side of the spectrum, acoustic rockers Family Portrait, likely to be lumped in the indie category, played a few of their low-key tunes.
The highlight of the night was the performance by Huntsville natives, Moose, who opened with spot on covers of Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride” and segued into Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” before playing two originals. Moose’s drummer, Will Smith, who is also on the Auburn drumline, provided some ravenous drumming for the rest of the group as they jammed on their original tunes.
Another favorite was the funky R&B group Therapy, who incorporated some heavy rhythms and layered vocals for a very sensual, organic sound. Despite some technical difficulties, the group put on a good show and took the Battle of the Bands first prize, which was $400.
Swamp Wompus began by getting into their groove together. They seemed to just jam together until they were in accord with each other’s musical spirit. The whole first song, more like jam session, was held together effortlessly by drummer John Wnek. Then shortly after Douglas Robertson’s funky bass grabbed the audience’s attention, a flock of dancers crowded the stage. To add, Bobby McAlister and Jackson Woods greatly enhanced the funk experience with their smooth synthesizers and guitar.
After being engulfed by the musical world these four fellows created, it became gently clear that even more sound was coming from of the hodgepodge of costumed musicians. Samuel Huey created the subtle and crafty sounds of the bongos and waterfall-like chimes, creating an even smoother funk sound.
The lead singer for Swamp Wompus, Locke Bowers, gives the band a fantastic performance point in his animated, admirable stage performance and vocals. Their cover of The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter” gave him the perfect opportunity to unleash his fluidity as a vocalist.
The band not only cared for their audiences’ level of fun, they included the audience by letting a freelance rapper by the name of Freshly Pipes perform a rap to the band-provided beats. Swamp Wompus is certainly a band to see if given the chance as they have yet to cease to please a crowd. Tour dates and other information are listed on their MySpace page: myspace.com/swampwompus.
]]>Aside from the band’s impressive prowess with their respective instruments, perhaps the most remarkable part of the show was the set list. Did The Bandar-Log content themselves with pandering to the audience by playing well-liked covers? Of course not! Talking to the guys before the show I found out their set list was almost all-original work, in fact I think they played only four covers all night.
The band writes in a varied style ranging from the poetic and intense to a funky upbeat style that makes you want to get up and dance.
I’d like to urge my fellow folk-rock lovers to come out and support these guys next time their playing around town. The Bandar-Log is definitely worth a listen, if for nothing else than their original music, and cool set list.
For more on the band, visit myspace.com/thebandarlog.
These Montgomery natives brought their relaxing and laid back blend of blues, rock, and psychedelic music to Auburn friday night at Bar 51.
Bar patrons enjoyed drinks and conversation on the back patio while Post Traumatic Blues Forum provided the atmosphere with songs with titles like, “You Never Loved Me,” “Kind Hearted Woman,” and “Stop Breaking Down.”
The group is made up of Matt Strickland on guitar and vocals, Jeremy Smith on guitar, Michael Baker on bass, and Dan McGinty on drums and vocals. Every song lasted well over five minutes, kept an easy pace, and was chocked full of guitar solos and wailing vocals.
Onlookers slowly swayed to the music and enjoyed the cool evening. These Alabama locals consider their music to be therapy for “the Blues.”
Check out their music live at various Montgomery bars as well as online at myspace.com/ptblues.
Ryan Christopher does a fantastic job with Perry’s vocals and even resembles Perry, minus the lack of hair. His most powerful performance moment came at the first chorus of “Separate Ways” when he and the band rocked Bourbon Street. They took over the crowd with Gene Powers’s work on the keyboard, and Mike Seay’s classic rock ‘n’ roll style on drums.
The slim crowd at Bourbon Street slowly grew into an enormous mass of college students singing 1984’s “”Oh, Sherrie.” The crowd was enthralled by Chain Reaction’s Journey-ness and felt compelled, as I, to stay for the end of a performance by one of the most fun cover bands to come through Auburn.
As of now, Chain Reaction is touring the South and has a couple dates scheduled in close enough proximity to Auburn to make the trip, and it’s worth it to see Chain Reaction keep Journey’s music alive and rocking.
For more on the band, visit myspace.com/chainreactionjourneytribute.
Songs like “What I Thought” are somber and pleasant at the same time; depending on the listener’s mood they could be happy or sorrowful. A lonesome sounding fiddle adds depth and feeling to the song’s ambient, echoing quality. “Killin’ Time” has a Lyle Lovett vibe, evoking the sounds of fellow Texan musicians.
Dylan Sneed has a voice that is clean and melodic. He sings with a lot of feeling and one gets the notion that he has lived these words rather than just written them out to go along with the chords. Essentially, Sneed is a storyteller and poet. His words have dual meanings while relating a clear message at the same time.
The tune “Look Inside” is a tad more upbeat, yet overall this acoustic minstrel is not about high energy or rock ‘n’ roll ethics. His tunes are self analytical, thoughtful and effective at striking a chord within anyone who has felt loneliness, whether it be in a manner that brings peace or sadness.
Dylan Sneed is an interesting musician. His songs grab you and force you to listen, not by sheer volume or intensity but by their mysterious, ethereal, yet earthy, quality. They take the listener down a road less traveled, and they take you down alone.
Sneed will perform at the Strutting Duck next Wednesday, Sept. 10. For more, visit dylansneed.com.
Funk-style jams with long guitar riffs, the song titled “Jimbobwe” is a note-worthy, explosive experience. Another nice feelin’ tune is a techno-styled drum session called “Japanese Princess” that just makes you want to chill and experience the music.
The band lightened things up for a little bit towards the middle of the show with “Godzilla” by Blue Oyster Cult, and ended the show with Rick James’s “Super Freak.”
Check out the band’s next Bourbon Street show this Saturday, Sept. 6. For more on the band, visit myspace.com/jimbobwemusic.
Add to this an occasional Sublime song (“What I Got”) and you’ve entered the Park & Ride zone. Many listeners who attended sat back respectfully while others continued to shoot pool. However basic their music selection seems to be, a lot of bands just aren’t playing these songs any more.
The band contains two guitarists, a lead singer, a bassist and a drummer. Two of the members, Dustin and Nick Pate, are two of five brothers, all of which play some kind of music. Dustin cleanly distributes sound from his harmonica when he is not singing lead vocals.
Between the band and the audience several people hailed from Hoover, Ala. Several played football during the 2004 year for Hoover High together, but one thing that continued to grow was their band and music. Now, a few years after graduating high school, the band continues to play music together and view it as way of relaxing as well as a fine art, according to their MySpace page (myspace.com/parkandridemusic).
The married couple transcend the style boundaries of several decades of traditional folk music and subgenres in their distinct and thought provoking performance. They also flirt with several regional sounds (think Nashville versus Texas versus the Deep South).
“Life on the road gives the greatest inspiration our song writing,” admitted Stuart. “And traveling exposes us to a lot of stuff we can steal.”
Stuart is dramatizing what is often considered one of folk music’s greatest attributes-a simple sharing of narratives in common language contributing to regional connectedness.
Of course, infusing traditional songs and eclectically built originals give Earle and Stuart’s overall performance several variations in tone and sound. They construct contrasts of an ever so slight honk-tonk with zippity-do-da adding a twist that sometimes flirts with bluesy melodies-- they are careful not to neglect the contemplative isolation feel against the ceremony of it all. The duo will even ask for the audience to occasionally sing along.
Earle and Stuart have been tour together for 16 years, but the two often create solo works.
During the performance Earle gave a personal narrative delivered in folky southern dialect (think tight, long vowels) and bordered on spoken word poetry more then anything. She showed her strength in vocal range as well as a writer, understanding the complexities of southern orature.
Stuart voice is rather jam band in nature, which sounds like a critique, but is perfectly fitting next to Earle. His strength is as a musician: he has way more solos and often carries more difficult melodies.
Stuart just released a solo album called “Mark Stuart Left of Nashville”. Earle is currently working on a solo album, half of which she promises will be written on the ukulele.
Auburn was lucky to have Sundilla host them. If you missed out, no worries, more folk bliss is on its way.
Sundilla promotes itself as a non-profit organization that “strives to embody diversity of “roots” and “folk” music by opening the series to a wide variety of musical styles. Performers include nationally-known, award winning singer-songwriters and up-and-comers playing everything from folk, blues, Celtic and bluegrass to fast-folk and alternative genres.”
Sundilla organizes a show every month at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Thatch and Debardeleben. They serve refreshments, but audience members are welcome to bring ANY beverage or food they prefer.
Tickets for the next show, Tracy Grammer on Sept. 12th, are available for discounted presale at Toomer’s Drugs, Taylor’s Bakery, and the Guitar Shop. You can also contact Sundilla at .
To preview and purchase Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart’s music, check them out at myspace.com/staceyearleandmarkstuart or staceyandmark.com.
The band consists of Peewee Moore, Vocals/Guitar/Harmonica; Bryan “Crunk Bones” Jones Bass/Shouts; and Mad Dog Matt Callahan, Drums/Shouts. Fans enjoyed their food while Peewee Moore and the Awful Dreadful Snakes played original songs such as, “A Claim Worth Stakin,” “Truck Drivin Song,” and “No Place Left to Fall.” It only took several songs to get the crowd on their feet.
Soon fans were dancing, singing, and hooting & hollerin in time to the music. The band is constantly on the road and can be seen nightly and their album, “The Leaving Side of Gone” will be released soon.
If you missed out on the fun last night, and can’t wait until the next time they are in town, check out their music at myspace.com/peeweemoore.
]]>]]>
It was apparent that Boys Like Girls thoroughly enjoys performing live. The guys encouraged the crowd to have the best time by constantly singing along, dancing and jumping up and down. Fans also went crazy when Martin, Paul and Bryan threw guitar picks into the crowd, what a mad scramble for a highly regarded concert souvenir. At one point during the show a fan threw a shoe on stage with a sock and sharpie stuffed inside, with the hope of an autograph. Donahue took time to sign both items.
The show closed on a high note when Johnson stepped off the stage to get closer to the crowd.
Overall, the show was amazing and worth the price of admission into Six Flags. Roller coasters and amazing bands, talk about a perfect day at an amusement park. Boys Like Girls are pulling double tour duty with the MTV VMA tour and a headlining tour.
For more information on the band, visit myspace.com/boyslikegirls or boyslikegirls.com.
“In days of yore, legend told of a group of men whose strength and courage were only surpassed by their mustachioed, good looks. These men were known as the HOT KNIGHTS,” introduces the band on their MySpace page and references their signature look of handlebar mustaches.
With artistic influences such as Motley Crew and Poison, front man Craig explains, “We don’t do it for the money; we do it for the music!”
Decked-out in rock-god staples like scarves and aviators, the Hot Knights play a high energy show that has audiences singing along and throwing fists in the air.
“The guitar solos were awesome,” reflected WEGL Manager Chris Adler. “They said ‘let’s rock’ and then they did!”
The Hot Knights originally hooked up as frequenters of Rooster’s karaoke night. The rowdy group spoke of lots of drinks, bar fights, and sarcastically referred to the pressure of gaining fame and playing with classic artists.
“Actually our first single ‘Night Ridin’” was part of a song writing contest we had with Motley Crew,” joked Jamie. “We won of course.”
The audience seemed to agree. When the group played “Night Ridin’” a screaming fan in front yelled, “Who needs a cover band when you got this stuff right here- real rock ‘n’ roll!”
The band has no up coming shows, but with their use of vigorous spectacle and sarcasm, they will soon be scheduling some. For more information, check them out at myspace.com/hotknights.
“It’s dudes night out,” Craig pushed frequently when asked what audience members can expect. “Girls can come too, but they better like bar fights.”
]]>