BBQ

“To call BBQ just a one-man band would be like calling his influences just rock’n roll. BBQ is the perfect mix of the most primitive blues, rock’n roll, garage, R&B, and rockabilly sounds lightly assaulted with soul and a punk aesthetic.

BBQ, the one-man band, is actually ‘Mark Sultan’, ex-singer of the legendary Spaceshits and singer/drummer for the world-renown Sexareenos. This is a young man who lives by his own rules: no home, no job, no cares – just a beat-up guitar, his wits and a need to drink. A young man who was born parentless in the gutters of Montreal with a bevy of women to serve his every whim. A young man who didn’t need any more talent when dealing with the devil, so instead opted for a good meal – just for kicks! An unassuming drifter who lives only for the moment, armed with the gift of unorthodox charisma and the eyes of a wise man. He has managed to capture the sound of a very soulful but simple band on just his two feet, a guitar and a golden voice. This is the real shit: no-nonsense, timeless and rollickin’.

In less than two years time, BBQ has honed his show into an apocalyptic mojo bag full of ear-scorchers, playing shows here and abroad, alone and with acts like Bob Log III, King Khan and His Sensational Shrines, Les Sexareenos, The Deadly Snakes, The Woggles, The Ponys, Mr. Airplane Man, Nathaniel Mayer & The Shanks, The Cool Jerks, The Del-Gators, Scat Rag Boosters, The Mystery Girls, The Come-Ons, The Soledad Brothers, etc…, converting people who hadn’t expected the potency of this depraved one-man gang. Most recently, BBQ did a tour of Brazil and Argentina, complete with TV and radio spots – the works!! The kids went bonkers! Search Google for reviews, etc… using some keywords mentioned here, and good luck with the Portuguese! Just before that, BBQ toured Europe 4 times (including a gig at ‘The Wild Weekend’) in a 4 month stretch of uncompromised pillage to incredibly enthused, appreciative fanatics and stunned critics alike. He has received international praise in print and online, and his experience in other bands has made fans out of legendary artists while allowing him to play with famous bands all over the world.”-http://www.marksultan.com/bbq.html

Can’t wait to see him again, since I didn’t really appreciate his solo act the first time around.

Chris

Jay Remembered

Stephen Pope (Former Bassist) Eulogy:
When he signed with Matador he called me and said, ‘Stephen, let’s go celebrate.’ So we went to Checkers first and got a few Big Bufords. We got a $4-bottle of champagne. Two or three. Then we went to Men’s Warehouse. He bought a purple and black suit and he forced me to get a purple velvet blazer. Then we went to a spa Downtown, where we decided to get the most expensive couple’s massage. We drank more champagne, got an hour-long massage right next to each other, then we got in a hot tub filled with rose petals and drank more champagne. Then we got a manicure. A gourmet lunch was supposed to be included, but in true Jay Reatard fashion, he said, “Screw that. Go get me a bacon cheeseburger.” So we ate bacon cheeseburgers while getting a pedicure. And I just remember sitting there getting a pedicure with bacon and grease and cheese and champagne all over me, and looking over at him on his cell phone, telling the story of what we were doing right then.

CD Review: The Monitor (2010)

Band: Titus Andronicus
Release: 2010
Label: XL

1. “A More Perfect Union” – B+
2. “Titus Andronicus Forever” – C+
3. “No Future Part Three” – B+
4. “Richard II” – B-
5. “A Pot In Which To Piss” – B
6. “Four Score And Seven” – B+
7. “Theme From ‘Cheers'” – B-
8. “To Old Friends And New” – B-
9. “…And Ever” – B-
10. “The Battle of Hampton Roads” – A

Comments: Opening up an album with a sample of an Abraham Lincoln address? That’s top marks in my books. Mixing noise with historical themes…what?! “A More Perfect Union” is nice, but might just go on for a bit too long. I like the repetition of “you will always be a loser” on “No Future…” At some times sounding like Cymbals Eat Guitars and other like Against Me! I also like the pace of “Four Score And Seven,” but it doesn’t really amount to the epicness oft associated with 8 minutes and 38 seconds long songs. Try listening to “The Battle of Hampton Roads” in one sitting. You will be pleased with the result.

Grade: B (84)

No Man Is An Island

No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man’s death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

CD Review: Work (2010)

Band: Shout Out Louds
Release: 2010
Label: Merge

1. “1999” – B
2. “Fall Hard” – B
3. “Play the Game” – A+
4. “Walls” – A
5. “Candle Burned Out” – B+
6. “Throwing Stones” – A-
7. “Four by Four” – B+
8. “Moon” – A-
9. “Show Me Something New” – B
10. “Too Late, Too Slow” – A-

Comments: Shout Out Louds won me over in 2006 with “The Comeback” a song off their debut LP Howl Howl Gaff Gaff. I was so impressed with that track (which was on the MLB 2006 The Show soundtrack) that I decided to look up more songs from this band. And you know what? I found five other songs off that release that I really really liked. On this record the band ditched Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John (producer for 2007’s Our Ill Wills) for Phil Elk, a notable producer who has worked with the likes of Built to Spill, Fleet Foxes, and the Shins. “1999” is a little cheesy at first and simplistic and all that average stuff, but it does improve. “Play the Game” is really really awesome and has the kind of flow that really hooked me onto this band. “Walls” has a similar effect. “Candle” is slower than the previous two. They flirt with shoegaze on “Four by Four.” Really epic finish on “Moon.” “Too Late, Too Slow” isn’t really that. It’s a good kind of slow. Perfect timing. This album will grow on me, I’m sure, but right now I can’t say it will be among the best. It’s definitely the best album I’ve heard all week if that means anything!

Grade: B+ (89)

Boston based shows/fests – DIY, punk, noise