All posts by G. Gordon Gritty

Good Music In Commercial Sighting!

I was on the computer and I heard Davila 666’s “Basura” playing on a TV from the other room. What the fudge I thought, since when is that Scion Garage Documentary airing on TV? But that was not the case. It’s used in a commercial for The North Face, you know the maker of winter jackets and stuff like that.

Watchhttp://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=479897391560&oid=6550003123&comments

Wait…This Concert Happened?

A long time ago I started a little feature along these lines…historical concerts that actually happened. Well, of course, every band has to start somewhere and most do indeed start at or near the bottom of the totem pole. No exception was made even for Nirvana when they played TT the Bears Place to a mere seven people and no exception for this show: a sold out November 12, 2004 night: Arcade Fire at TTs. At that time, the band was a young one — having just released their debut LP Funeral two months prior. Funeral became an instant (and lasting) classic. The fact that this show took place at TT’s and not somewhere like the Paradise is a testament to the changed landscape of the national underground music scene. We’ve all heard it a bunch of times, how blogs and social media outlets have altered our engagement with musicians and the like. Simply said, had Arcade Fire emerged with Funeral in 2010 not 2004, they’d be playing bigger venues immediately nationwide.


(Photo: Bradley’s Almanac)

Read about this show here: http://www.bradleysalmanac.com/2004/11/live-arcade-fire.htm

Classic Album Review: The Man From Utopia


Band:
Frank Zappa
Release: 1983
Label: Barking Pumpkin

Side One

1. “Cocaine Decisions” – A
2. “The Dangerous Kitchen” – A-
3. “Tink Walks Amok” – B
4. “The Radio Is Broken” – B-
5. “Moggio” – B-

Side Two
1. “The Man From Utopia Meets Mary Lou” – B-
2. “Stick Together” – A-
3. “SEX” – B+
4. “The Jazz Discharge Party Hats” – A-
5. “We Are Not Alone” – B+

Comments: If this record has any worth, it gets said worth from “Cocaine Decisions” and “The Dangerous Kitchen.” This is a hilarious 1-2 punch showcasing Zappa’s deviant delivery and way with words. “Stick Together” about the ills of unions is another goodie: “The labor movement’s got the Mafia curse.” “The Jazz Discharge Party Hats” has its merits too about skinny dipping girls in COLL-egeeeeeeee!

Grade: B+

Classic Album Review: More Songs About Buildings and Food


Band:
Talking Heads
Release: 1978
Label: Sire

Side One
1. “Thank You For Sending Me An Angel” – A-
2. “With Our Love” – B
3. “The Good Thing” – A-
4. “Warning Sign” – B
5. “The Girls Want to be With the Girls” – B+
6. “Found a Job” – B

Side Two
1. “Artists Only” – B-
2. “I’m Not In Love” – B
3. “Stay Hungry” – B+
4. “Take Me to the River” – B+
5. “The Big Country” – A-

Comments: Straight up, Talking Heads are hugely influential. How influential exactly is up for debate, but try telling me The Strokes didn’t have “The Good Thing” in mind while conjuring up Is This It? In any case, Byrne’s innate weirdo brand of new wave/punk was extremely fresh and different at the time — a combination not explored by too many other bands. That said, the songs themselves aren’t extraordinary by any means — creative tunes catchy, but not overly. Best song? The closer, “The Big Country.”

Grade: B

IMPORTANT: Black Lips @ Paradise APRIL 14

After selling out the Middle East Downstairs as headliners for two years in a row, honorary KYLAMers and of course (shocker!) my favorite band Black Lips will be moving up in the world of Boston venues, playing at the Paradise Rock Club on Thursday April 14. Vivian Girls will be opening. The Lips will be hitting the road a little later than usual this year and will be touring independently of a record release — their new album has been pushed back to Summer 2011 after initially being slated for April 5.

Other dates here:
02-24 Miami, FL – Grand Central *
02-25-28 Miami, FL – Bruise Cruise *!
04-06 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
04-07 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
04-08 Washington, DC – Black Cat
04-09 Philadelphia, PA – The Trocadero
04-12 New York, NY – Webster Hall
04-13 Pawtucket, RI – The Met
04-14 Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
04-15 Montreal, Quebec – Le National
04-16 Toronto, Ontario – Phoenix Concert Theatre
04-17 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick
04-19 Columbus, OH – Outland Live
04-20 Newport, KY – Southgate House
04-21 St. Louis, MO – The Firebird
04-22 Chicago, IL – Logan Square Auditorium
04-23 Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
04-25 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
04-26 Kansas City, MO – The Beaumont Club
04-27 Dallas, TX – The Loft
04-28 Austin, TX – Emo’s
04-29 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s
04-30 Baton Rouge, LA – Spanish Moon