The Front Bottoms & You Blew It!

Kinda fitting for the Hot Chocolate Tour to roll into town (San Antonio) after we spent most of the day thawing from an ice storm that temporarily shut down the city.

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On my drive down to St. Mary’s I had a rather uncomfortable thought in the the back of my mind…  I have officially reached the age (36) where I’m hyper aware the average age around me is 19.

Got a call, while withdrawing cash from a local ATM.  It was my friend Donald, who informed me that a line has queued up outside the Limelight and wants to know how long before I get there because he’s not looking forward to hanging outside with teenagers.

We agree quickly over the phone that All Age Shows have their drawbacks…  I remind him however that getting drinks at the bar should be swift all night.

Parking turned out being really hard to find near the Limelight, so I parked a few blocks down on St. Mary’s behind a bar I like to frequent called the Mix.

As expected, it wasn’t particularly difficult to spot Donald in a sea of 20 and unders…  for those unfamiliar with the Limelight - it’s flanked directly to the right by a well lit female strip club called Hardbodies.   I only mention this because it’s always seems to be mentioned by out of town music acts who perform at the Limelight.  You Blew It! and The Front Bottoms did not disappoint on making said remark…

So it occurs to me after standing in line for about 10 minutes that the show is freakishly well attended.  I’ve seen the Front Bottoms in San Antonio and Austin and I have never seen them draw like the did at the Limelight.  I recently read that You Blew It! appeared in the billboard top 200, so maybe the two teaming up lead to a huge turnout before doors opened at 8pm.

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Stopped by the merchandise table after checking in at will call and dropped 15 bucks on You Blew It! latest album Keep Doing What You’re Doing.  It was available in orange or clear vinyl and settled on picking up the orange one.   The front of the album has a circle die cut that allows you to see the center cut label of the album.  Tis the simple things in life that excite me…

Within minutes of opening the doors - a band whose name I did not catch - begins their set.  The bill originally had “the Wild” opening the show but I never got around to discovering why they weren’t in attendance.  

You Blew It! followed promptly after and informed us all that they were from Orlando, Florida.  I’m pretty sure they opened with their single - Award of the Year Award.   It’s at this very moment that I wished I brought something to the show to scribble on…   It also occurs to me that I have an unhealthy amount of Gin coursing though my body and it’s not 9:30 PM yet.

The band briefly breaks between numbers to interact with the crowd.   The place is not only filled to near capacity but everyone is pressed upfront and engaged with the opening act.  Lead vocalist Tanner Jones is visibly affected by the response and breaks character briefly to ask attendees to be on the lookout for his Leather Jacket.  In one of the pockets is a lucky blue lighter and he doesn’t want to lose it.  He left it at the merchandise booth and he just noticed that its no longer on the chair he left it on.

Keep it classy San Antonio.

The band presses on, playing a number of tracks off their new album: Match & Tinder, You & Me & Me and Gray Matter to name a few.

I leaned over to Donald and mention to him that they remind me a lot of the band Mock Orange (Nine and Sixes)…  he blankly stares back at me.   I’m the only person in attendance who lived in the Midwest (Detroit) in 1996 and I’m drunkenly making references to bands like: Sharks Keep Moving and the Gloria Record to kids who don’t care.

A lengthy break followed their set… which allowed me to make a number of other observations.  Example: I’m really glad that the practice of squatting (sitting on your ass on the floor) between sets has not been carried over in the recent emo-revival.  In retrospect this was really fucking stupid and kinda wish I didn’t participate in this practice.

Another observation:  Brian (vocalist) and Mathew (drummer) are no where to be seen during soundcheck…   I lean over to Donald and informed them that “they have officially arrived”.

Shortly after someone on stage connects a set of christmas lights into a power strip - an air filled cartoon rabbit erects behind the drum kit….  this is the official queue for Brian and Mathew to grace the stage.

At this point everyone is packed sweatily together and the place erupts.   The Limelight has a low celling in front of the stage so if you’re not directly in front of the stage its kinda like catching a sweaty basement show.  (Summer of ’96)

Brian slowly walks to the mic and he appears to be wearing Tanner Jones leather jacket.  He informs everyone in attendance that he intends to keep it on all night and sweat heavily into it.   I presume the lucky blue lighter was recovered.

The band tears into the song “Skeleton” from their new album “Talon of the Hawk”…  and everyone in attendance sings along while losing their shit.  

The Front Bottoms have added two members to their live show to handle duties of keys, guitars, occasional trumpets and bass.  It’s roughly been 2 calendar years since I’ve seen them in San Antonio and they sound incredible.

Much to my surprise they baked in a great deal of improvisational space into a number of their songs…  this is a clear reflection of them growing leaps and bounds from touring relentlessly.  

The song - Funny You Should Ask - is now a completely different animal when heard live - thanks to the improvised song structures…

Admittedly, I was a little down on “Talon of the Hawk” when I picked it up last year…  I didn’t instantly take to it like I did with their debut record - but I’ve kinda come full circle after hearing them played live.

The Front Bottoms blistered through my favorite song Beers halfway though their set and closed the evening with a three song encore that concluded with the song Twin Sized Mattress.

-aCr- 

Ramones - Ramones

Before I weigh in on the Ramones seminal debut album, I need to kinda clear the air on something....

A few of you may have noticed a suspicious absence on my blog in recent weeks/months...  due to a falling out between me and my sibling in mid November - I haven't spent any time with my niece who I affectionally call Hobbes.

Today your love, Tomorrow the World

Today your love, Tomorrow the World

The rift has been difficult on my immediate family...  I missed out on her birthday and did not participate in any holiday activities.  Missing out on holiday activities was a blessing in disguise tho... I fucking hate christmas. 

That being said, not being able to see or spoil my niece has been pretty upsetting...  hanging with her would normally include having to put up with my sister and I'm not looking to repair that relationship in the foreseeable future.

9:00 AM
I'm not going to lie to you...  I was pretty fucking shocked that my sister allowed my parents to bring my niece over for a sleep over tonight.  It's officially the first time that the two have been apart since my sister went in for her gallstone surgery in November of 2012.  

I can't begin to describe how fucking amazing the past 15 hours have been.  Now that Hobbes can grasp, throw, climb and walk - it's like hanging with a completely different person.  She's always been surprisingly responsive to music - so I naturally pulled out my copy of the Ramones/Ramones.

I saw a thing on TV once where an entire room of 5 year olds were singing the lyrics to Blitzkrieg Bop - though a bizarre music appreciation class.   I knew that very moment that if I were ever a parent or uncle - that I would introduce the Ramones to the kid as soon as possible.

Hobbes took to it immediately...  she kinda does a "pogo" dance move without ever leaping into the air.   It's pretty fucking adorable and I hate everything.   

As for the Ramones album...  I don't really have anything profound to say about an album that has been documented and written about ad nauseum.

Here however are some of the tracks that she really responded positively too...

Artist: Ramones
Album: Ramones
Producer: Craig Leon
Label: Sire
Recorded: Radio City Music Hall

Red House Painters - Ocean Beach

One of the perks of living in Central Texas is occasionally getting a winter frost that completely brings the city to a halt.  Freeways by my apartment were closed by the Department of Public Safety at 4:00am so I effectively had no way to drive into work.

Working from the home office has a couple of perks.  I made breakfast while attending a mandatory conference call and I'm parading around the house in a full Adidas Track suit.   I need to pitch the idea of having themed casual friday where we all get to wear track suits in.

Anyhoo... thumbed thru the vinyl collection this morning in hopes of digging out a great Winter record and settled on Red House Painters - Ocean Beach.

I can't believe this album is almost 20 years old...  I've technically never dropped a needle on this record so I'm kinda stoked about doing that today for the first time.   I own the 10" double record release of the album which contains an all acoustic cover of "Long Distance Run Around" by YES.

I forgot how folksy this album was...  I rarely hear this album or band get referenced anymore so I think it sorta forgotten.  

Stand Out Tracks:

Artist: Red House Painters
Album: Ocean Beach
Producer: Mark Kozelek
Label: 4AD
Recorded: Coast Recorders

Can we all agree that this episode was a little exploitive? - Reality Fantasy - Week 3

Been thinking about how to go about recapping last night's episode...   I typically write up a number of offensive things in the recap and thats a little hard to do when someone on the show received word about their mom losing her fight against Cancer.

Updated SCORES can be seen here

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It's kinda hard to not think how exploitive these shows are... but the Real World kinda has a shitty track record when it comes to this stuff.  I don't want to openly speculate how much Jay's chances were improved to be on the show because of what was going on at home... 

I just want to make it very clear that he's not exactly the most compelling character on the show this season and he's possibly the worst MC I've ever heard.

I don't quite see how he could ever leave his mom at the drop of a hat and fly across the country to have my life documented 24 hours a day by MTV.

You're probably reading this and wondering why I'm shitting on Jay...   well, I had intended to simply post scores and leave no recap but Jay did something that made no fucking sense to me last night.   After pounding "in loving memory" shots at the bar with family, he goes outside with Jenna and camera crew to call the roommates out west.

Perhaps this is something they asked him to do...  I'm pretty sure I'd be in a social coma and checking in on people I just met 9 days earlier wouldn't really be on my mind.   

On said phone call -Jay informs Thomas that it's his roommates that are providing the strength for him to propel forward.   I wish I fucking wrote down what he said... because it was absolutely absurd.

So enough about that...  lets get to the top 3 ballerz of the week.

85 points - Ashley M.  
Can we briefly acknowledge the fact that nearly 70 percent of the episode was spent on Jay and Ashley still lead the week in scoring?  She was practically in half of the remaining 30 percent of the show because she decided to pull a fucking no-show and quite possibly got kicked off.  So how exactly did she pull 85 points off?  Glad you asked...

  • 10 points - for crying twice in the episode... once over a purse that may never have been recovered.
  • 20 points - for getting drunk...  she didn't get the full 25, because we've seen her get that drunk
  • 25 points - for getting THAT DRUNK
  • 30 points - for threatening to leave and actually doing it.

65 Points - Jay
I've already shat on Jay so I'm just going to get to his score...

  • 40 points for crying
  • 25 points for Funeral Sex...  I'm presuming he got it in with Jenna while back east.  No sex is better than mourning sex.

35 points - Arielle 
How do I say this without it sounding "stalky"...  I fucking love this girl and I want to be her friend.  Can we work together and get word back to her that I'm awesome and that we would be great friends?   Real Talk:  she was trying to find some private time to use her vibrator - got interrupted by Thomas (who's a fucking waste of space by the way) and she politely humored him.   She's a fucking angel!

  • 5 for crying
  • 5 for the sexy kiss
  • 25 for Sex.  Well deserved, post Arielle home made dinner - sex.


Blind Melon - Blind Melon

Not entirely sure what made me want to throw this album on after preparing dinner...   temperatures are dropping in the Alamo City and I guess it's kinda nice to hear Shannon Hoon and howling winds in the apartment.

Received this CD as a birthday gift in high-school.  I'm blanking on the name of the person that gave it to me but I recall him telling me to take time and really listen to the album.  "No Rain" was inescapable...  and assumed the album would contain a number of similar songs.

If you've never listened to this album, you may be surprised to discover that it's sorta dripping in Southern 70's rock.  The musicianship of this band is fucking frightening.... I just listened to Dear Ol' Dad twice and I can't get over how incredibly clean the guitar tracking is.

Learned today that the album was co-produced with Rick Parashar, the same guy who produced TEN by Pearl Jam.  If you listen really closely, you can sorta pick out his production signatures between the two albums.

I completely forgot how much I really enjoyed getting baked to this album and listening to Sleepyhouse...  I wonder how some of these songs aren't heard on classic rock radio with more frequency?

Also forgot how much I enjoyed the dialogue exchange between him and a preachy guy on Holyman...

Anyhoo, these are just a few incredible tracks on an album that doesn't nearly get enough appreciation.  Look forward to really spilling my guts later this year when I spin SOUP.

Standout Out Tracks:

Artist: Blind Melon
Album: Blind Melon
Producer: Rick Parashar, Blind Melon
Label: Capitol
Recorded: London Bridge Studios

The Delgados - HATE

If memory serves me correctly, I picked this album up based on the recommendation of a Record Store owner who was really into them when I lived in Detroit...

I listened to this album before ever listening to Mercury Rev's - Deserter's Songs and The Flaming Lips -The Soft Bulletin - so my appreciation for the album is kinda favorable.

For some reason, I don't recall the track listing and song content being so gloomy...  a by-product of titling your album HATE.

All in all, its sill a pleasant listen tho'.   Here are a few you may enjoy:

Artist: The Delgados
Album: HATE
Producer: Dave Fridmann
Label: Mantra
Recorded: ?

KISS - Destroyer

Today's selection was directly influenced by a belated birthday gift I received today in the form of an Ace Frehley Zippo.

 He's my favorite member of KISS and hope to one day master the guitar solo from Detroit Rock City within my lifetime...

KISS holds a rather special place in my heart...  when I was a child, I would spend a number of weekends with my family at flea markets.  At the tender age of 5 (1982), I recall seeing a lot of second hand KISS memorabilia in the form of posters, t-shirts, patches and toys.

The posters were fucking intoxicating.   4 guys in costume & face paint, rocking out and pyrotechnics firing off in the background.  I think my mom got me about 6 posters and I hung them on my wall for about 2 years before ever getting around to hearing what they actually sounded like.

My cousin Matt heard that I had never actually heard the band and got me Destroyer on cassette.  They didn't exactly pair up with the sound I had for them in my head... but I never took it out of my personal walkmen.

I know every single lyric, bass lick, guitar note and drum kick on the album.  My apartment is filled with a number of strange knickknacks featuring the sleeve work of the album...  and if I don't hear any objections from my family, I hope to outfit my niece with her first KISS shirt in the near future. 

I recall listening to this album last year when they remastered it (again) and re-released with the full sleeve art.  I've been meaning to actually get it on Vinyl, because it's the only format I don't have it in.

My favorite track on the album is a deep cut on the second side titled - Do You Love Me.  A song delving into the doubts of actually being loved by beautiful lady and chalking up her companionship to all the perks that come with hanging with KISS.  

Other standout tracks:

Artist: KISS
Album: Destroyer
Producer: Bob Ezrin
Label: Casablanca
Recorded: Record Plant Studios

Meat Wave - Meat Wave

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I truly can't say enough about Meat Wave's self titled debut...   recorded in 2012 and released on cassette (100 copies) the album is going to get a proper LP pressing (500 copies) on Hawthorne Street Records early this year.

I learned about them by total accident and was completely won over by them when I realized I heard the entire album (9 tracks) within 25 minutes.

I'd describe their sound falling somewhere between "blistering" and "bludgeoning"...  

I just read this evening that they're holed up somewhere recording new material and have plans to tour in 2014.

They are by far the artist that I'm most looking forward to seeing live this year and can't wait to her what their new stuff sounds like.

Stand out tracks:

Artist: Meat Wave
Album: Meat Wave
Producer: ?
Label: Hawthorne Street Records
Recorded: Todd Pot's House

The Afghan Whigs - Gentleman

Have you ever spent any considerable amount of time determining how many albums on your shelf specifically address the subject of love or being in relationships?

I'd say the majority of mine are about missing out on love or having your fucking heart stabbed and returned on a platter by a woman... 

A slim amount of my albums are penned by women and a smaller amount of those records are penned by someone who solely lays blame on my gender.

Gentlemen by the Afghan Whigs is pretty much the example of someone recording how fucking awful men can be.  It's one track after another about how fucking selfish we are and why we're ultimately the most dangerous thing on this planet.

Artist: The Afghan Whigs
Album: Gentelman
Producer: Greg Dulli 
Label: Elektra Records
Recorded: Ardent Studios (If I Were Going - was recorded at Ultrasuede)