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Mind The Gap While Shopping for Groceries

31 Aug
Mind the Gap; Downtown Los Angeles, CA (Chinatown)
Quick update on my power situation…there is still no power in my house! We are going three days strong and the playful novelty of living like those during the pre-electricity days has started to wear thin. It is rapidly being replaced by vexation and anger. Okay, maybe not. I think everyone in my house is taking it well, but, there comes a point when enough is enough. This is that point. Anyway, before I do not have access to power or cable for the rest of the night, I must bring you needed content. And boy do I have a good post for you today folks. Not good because of my witty writing, but instead good because of the artist being featured. But, the writing, it isn’t too bad. Just kidding. Do not let my fake arrogance get in the way of the extreme humbleness and talent of Mind the Gap.
 
Mind the Gap may sound familiar to some readers. Back in July, I profiled the Los Angeles foursome and concluded that, “Mind The Gap stands true to their band objective. They are skillful mashers of acoustic instrumentation and electronic sounds. They are definitely a band to follow.” Click here if you want to read the original post.
 
On August 20, I put Mind the Gap up against the ultimate band test…a live show. This is where some bands shine and some fall off as uninspired imitators. Yes, you can learn a lot about a band through their studio releases, but true character can only be encountered in person. Think of it this way. Imagine you meet a guy/girl on Match.com. The person seems to be exactly your type. He/she shines with pulchritude. They like dogs. They listen to that music that you love. He/she is the one. Well, then you meet for dinner and he/she shares these interests, but is a total snob or bore. It happens. But I can assure you, Mind the Gap aced the test.
 
On the 20th, Rebecca, my girlfriend, and I journeyed to Arlene’s Grocery on the lower east side of Manhattan (Stanton Street), a funky, variegated former Puerto Rican bodega, turned bar in 1995. Since then, bands like Guster and R.E.M. have played at the venue. Mind The Gap took the stage at nine to a strong crowd of buzzed NYC hipsters, thirsty noctivagants and Mind the Gap fans (myself included). The 10-song set-list flew by so quickly it almost seemed that one could have missed the concert. And, I don’t mean this as a bad thing. This only happens if the band’s performance envelops listeners in such unbridled enjoyment.
 
The tight performance was fun for both the crowd and the performers. The band performed with an emotional urgency juxtaposed with, however seemingly contradictory, a laid-back Los Angeles summer afternoon at the beach coolness. The sultry vocals of Greg Cahn were spot on all night and it was refreshing to hear that his exciting album vocal range equalled his live chops. Ozzy Doniz effectively kept  rhythm with keeness. Ruwanga Samath infused modern beats into the band’s indie/pop melodies, something I enjoyed a lot in my initial review. And, Alex Yang’s lead guitar was spot-on throughout the night.
 
As for best performances, I was swayed by my favorites.
 
 
“Smile Back at You” can be an indie hit on mainstream radio stations today. I say this because it combines the popular lazy day rhythm with an exceptional catchy chorus, infectious harmonies and intriguing key work.
 
Though, I believe my favorite song was the concert’s sober conclusion “Remember When.” There is an innate beauty in this song’s picked rhythm and lyric. Cahn nailed the vocals. He sang the song like it was his last ever. And, this is so exceptionally important for any singer to do. Such passion can be emitted from one’s voice and Cahn is knowledgable of this information and he takes advantage of his voice. The song can be heard here:
 
 
Interested in seeing Mind the Gap? Check out their concert schedule by following this link. Currently, they have a show planned in Los Angeles in September and one back in NYC for CMJ in October.
 
Buy the album: http://mindthegapsound.bandcamp.com/
 
 
 

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American Idol Top 11 Concert – In Retrospect

25 Aug

Usually, after the conclusion of an American Idol season, I gradually allow the top contestants to slip off into  obscurity, putting aside the possibility that they may become popular musicians. I have never spent money on an ex-Idol musician because the large stock of releases has never interested me.

 Season 10 was a little different. The Jazzy voice and Indie potential of contestant Casey Abrams stood out with “when he releases an album, I might purchase it” flavor. He is not a pop star and will never be one. I liked his honesty. The rest of the contestants, from the iconic country croon of winner Scotty McCreery to the forgettable voices of the runner-ups, were only television entertainment. Well, they did come off the screen last night and perform a 2-hour show at Nassau Colisseum on Long Island. So, yes, they did transcend the pixelated screen and some performers stood out.

For every screaming 13-year-old girl (a massive generalization, I know), there was a person like me, who watched the show and was simply curious. My mom and my sister, also avid Idol watchers, joined me for our first post-Idol Top 11 show.

Before I analyze each performer, I would like to say that the concert was actually entertaining. I say actually because this is not a show I went to with tremendous expectations. I was trying to be realistic. With each introduction, the young crowd yelled flattering comments at their favorites and kept up their shrilly screams the entire show. This was great, though. It made me smile. They were excited, many probably attending their first “big” show. It seemed that lines of cheery-eyed kids were dressed in their American Idol Season 10 shirts and their infectious excitement was humorous and invigorating.

As for the music, the band was malleable and the performers varied. The group performances were significantly better than they were months ago. This is understandable for they have had much more time to practice. The concert did reveal improved and surprising talent. The most expected thing was the in-your-face Coca-Cola and Ford advertisements, the two main show sponsors. All three judges and Ryan Seacrest made cameo appearances on the big screens adjacent to the stage and the concert producers played with Steven Tyler‘s propensity of imprecation by bleeping him twice during the recording after he accidently said that this was Season 11. The bleeps have become part of his persona and his act. The show was wholly energetic and, despite almost falling asleep during uninspiring ballads and Lauren Alaina’s awkward, subpar country performance, I was up and smiling. Let’s get to each performer. If I am a little cruel to your favorite, I apologize. This is only my own opinion!

I am not going to go in any particular order, but at the end I will rank the performers from 1-11 in a mock standing of how I think the show would’ve, could’ve, and maybe should’ve turned out if it started with the top 11 today. Now, do keep one thing in mine. Each individual performance (every member of the top 11 had an individual song – or multiple) was geared towards the performer’s comfort zone. So, I am judging them on what they do best, not what the show makes them do.

Thia Megia – She is 16. And, I don’t say that as an excuse, but as a fact. Her individual performance was average. She has a good voice, though. It is quiet and was drowned out during the group performances she sang in (most of the low-standing runner-ups were delegated to back-up duty for a lot of the night). She will get better as she gets older.

Paul McDonald – Oh, Paul. He had one good performance on Idol that kept him in the show for an extended period of time. “Maggie May” fit his quirky voice like a glove. We thought he could go far. Then, one flaw, he could not sing any other song well. So, what song does he sing? “Maggie May.” And, he sang it well. But he fell up short on everything else, even having trouble keeping in tune in the groups.

Pia Toscano – This was a homecoming for her, so she had a chance to showcase herself a little bit, performing a new single for her New York fans. But, unsurprisingly, she fell up short like she did on the show. Yes, despite a loyal following in New York, she was extremely forgettable to most of the country during the Idol season and during the show last night. You see, she has an insurmountable problem. She is a ballad singer, through and through. When you are a female ballad singer you have to be in the level of “great” to be remembered (I.e. Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Barbara Streisand). Is Pia great? No. She has a “good” voice and that will unfortunately leave her in the wake of the vocal giants, destined to be forgotten.

Stefano Langone – Another performer with a Pia problem. Stefano can stake his claim as a Bruno Mars-like performer. He just doesn’t have as strong of a voice. His voice strains to easily. And despite for randomly taking off his shirt during one of the performances, an act that confused most of the crowd and acted more as a laugh than sensual act, he was also forgettable.

Naima Adedapo– Here was a nice surprise. I liked her during the show, but she was booted quickly because her voice lacked intensity and her eclectic dance moves tired her out during her performances. But on stage last night, was an endurance-freak with a significantly better voice. Yes, backing vocal tracks help everyone, but hey, as the type of performer that Naimi seems to be leaning towards (mainstream pop) you would never get caught away from home without the assisted amplification. Her lively performance of J-Lo’s “On The Floor,” where she broke out in a mid-song African dance, was electric. I actually think she can make it. And, if they did the show again, she would finish closer to the top.

Jacob Lusk – The gospel singer. Lusk has a magnificent voice. It is smooth and his vocal runs are effortless. His problem was simply that gospel is a small market now, unless, of course, you can transform it into a R&B, Gospel, Soul, Pop combination and become a performer like John Legend. Lusk drove through Luther’s “Never Too Much” and then performed a touching tribute to Nick Ashford, who unfortunately passed away this week. He sang the Ashford and Simpson written, “You’re All I Need to Get By,” which was most notably performed by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. The youthful crowd couldn’t really understand these references, so they remained quiet during Jacob’s performance for the parents.

Haley Reinhart – Haley is a good, not great, female vocalist whose eccentric indie-like voice is raspy (a little too raspy), but still jazzy. She performed “House of the Rising Sun,” which is widely considered among the top American Idol performances of all time, and she performed it well. I’m not going to say that she is a one-trick pony, but her voice doesn’t diversify well, and therefore, since she was often a displaced performer, it was easy to tire of the performances. Now, let me explain this a little better to the passionate negators of this view. By saying she lacks diversity, I am not insulting her abilities. Many artists lack diversity. They, if they are good, become ensconced in their own genre and then master it. I see Haley performing in the genre of blues/jazz. She may do a great job attempting to restore this genre to popularity. Heck, she can do it with Casey. But, and this is a big flaw in my mind, she has limited range. When she pushes into the upper register her voice naturally goes to a grunt (or rasp).  She is simply exploring the limits of her voice. In judging ability, this is a flaw. Many people think its cool. I guess it is a matter of preference. So, to sum this little analysis up, she was a good contestant who had a flaw in her voice and she still does.

James Durbin – Durbin is the closest thing Idol has gotten to a hard rocker. Daughtry is alternative. Adam Lambert is theatrical (and is now performing mainstream pop). Durbin has an above-average rock voice, and if it wasn’t for a weak spot in his voice, he would have possibly won the show. Durbin can hit high notes and his regular level notes, but in the middle of this range is a weak spot in his voice that is a minor, but noticeable blemish. He is still awesome. He put on the best show of the night, performing “Uprising” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” The crowd was rocking with him and Durbin bounced around the stage like a professional. Stick him in a rock band and they will do well.

Casey Abrams – We are nearing the end. Casey is probably the most talented musician they have ever had on American Idol. His flawless bass playing gives him this cool element that pairs excellently with his jazzy voice, the best of the competition this year in my opinion. Last night, he proved it. Casey has one of those voices everyone wishes they had. It is sultry, almost playfully lascivious. His range is impecable. His runs are spot on. He didn’t hit a bad note. If  Casey released an album, I would buy it (supposing he stuck to what he was good at – jazz-fusion). He performed a slowed-down version of “Smooth” that was tremendous. It is one that I will remember. Watch for this guy. He knows what he is doing.

Lauren Alaina – Alaina opened after the intermission and sang three songs. Now I wont give her too much flack because I believe she is just getting over bronchitis. She also sprained her ankle backstage during one show. The tour has beaten her up. Alaina, though, has the same problems that she had during the show. She performs with little energy and confidence. She seems awkard on stage and this is easily recognizable through her consistent tugging on her dress and rigid movements. She is a country singer with Carrie Underwood aspirations, but only time and age will tell if she can really reach that level.

Scotty McCreery: As the winner, McCreery was saved for last. He performed five songs. He looked like a consumnate professional on stage; someone who is been performing for years. He has an innate vocal gift. His deep croon is country perfection. He deserved to win based on pure voice and can last in the music world for 50 years with such a voice.

So, there you have it. Now, if I had to rank them from 1-11, here is how I would do it (I will include their actual rankings in parentheses):

1.) Scotty McCreery (1)

2.) Casey Abrams (6)

3.) James Durbin (4)

4.) Naima Adedapo (10/11)

5.) Jacob Lusk (5)

6.) Haley Reinhart (3)

7.) Lauren Alaina (2)

8.) Stefano Langone (7)

9.) Thia Megia (10/11)

10.) Pia Toscano (9)

11.) Paul McDonald (8)

How do you think it should have turned out?

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The Allman Brothers At The Beacon – A Review

23 Mar

Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks - Photo by Angela Weiss/Getty Images North America

When you go see a band like the Allman Brothers, a band that plays with effortless technical proficiency, it is easy to make the assumption that you will hear excellent music. There is no doubt about that. But it would be a wide misconception to believe that the music will not be tinged with passion. Even with several dates at the Beacon Theatre, The Allman Brothers vary set-lists and demonstrate true fervent blues playing, without jeopardizing what made them a great band in the first place, pure talent.

The Beacon Theatre is a perfect venue for the Brothers. It maintains the feel of an old city playhouse with its intricate wall designs and large statues. The venue shoots you back in time. The vintage playhouse juxtaposed wonderfully with the Allman Brothers ode to blues that became a pervasive force in Tuesday night’s set-list.

The concert began with “Statesboro Blues,” a blues staple written by Blind Willie McTell turned into a huge Allman Brothers hit. The band came out immediately on fire with a wall-of-sound that combined Gregg Allman‘s voice with the three-man percussion brigade and Trucks and Haynes’ guitar work.

This was my first time seeing the Allman Brothers and I was unsure how Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes balanced the skill that both have. Haynes played rhythm for most of the night, but shared some solos with Derek on extended jams. Haynes’ voice never tired through the show, which was good because Gregg Allman faded as the show went on.

Allman’s lack of participation in the show was my only complaint. He sat behind the piano/keyboard for the entirety of the show and sang only a few times. Allman does have the best voice of the bunch. When he did call and response with Haynes, Allman won the vocal chops battle. Luckily, Allman picked an excellent band to support him, and they did for the majority of the show.

The band played nine songs during the first set, including a jazzy rendition of “The Weight” which included Steve Molitz on keys and Rich Robinson on guitar. Molitz, for those who don’t remember, was actually featured on this blog before with his side project Headtronics. He is an excellent keyboard player and it was awesome to see him live. (Check out that post here: https://musiccourt.wordpress.com/2010/04/14/open-your-mind-for-headtronics/)

A classic rendition of Dylan’s “Blind Willie McTell” dominated the first set. It was not only an ode to a favorite blues musician, but, it displayed the wide range of musical talent that the band shares. Joining the Allman Brothers on stage was the Juke Horns, a group of talented horn players. They provided a wave of sound that complimented the backbone guitar riff. It was a bluesy rendition that blew the top off the Beacon.

The jams were on target all night and Trucks did an excellent job leading guests into solos and then whipping them at the solo game. During a lengthy jam, Trucks paired himself against Haynes and guest guitarist Tom Guarna in a three-way guitar duel, that Trucks won hands down. He is an astounding slide guitarist and a worthy successor to Duane Allman, who was honored along with Berry Oakley at the closing visual slideshow.

By the way, Derek Trucks totally teased “Norwegian Wood” in his solo for “Jessica” which was hilarious and awesome.

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Bob Dylan is Bob Dylan

19 Nov

Let’s get this straight. Bob Dylan is a musical legend, but his skills have certainly diminished over the years…and drug use. He is an iconic figure of musical intuition and perseverance, a man that is more of an idol than an actual living, breathing performer. So, when you get the chance to see him grace an audience with his presence, well, you go. And, go I did.

On Wednesday Nov. 17, Dylan stopped at Binghamton University to instill in students, faculty and residents a quick lesson on how to rock and how to stay alive. The 69-year-old performer played a straight one hour and a half set of blues. I understand many virgin Dylan concert-goers went anticipating an acoustic guitar strapped around Dylan’s next with an harmonica in a sling attached to his mouth. They expected him to run through old favorites like “The Times They Are ‘A Changin.” But, that’s just not how he roles any longer.

Please understand this folks and don’t be upset. Dylan changes music genres more than weather changes in Binghamton. He is now on a blues fix. If he continues to play, who knows, he may go back to playing “Lay Lady Lay” like he did in 2002. But, Wednesday night saw Dylan and his excellent band (who all matched in grey suits…except for the rebellious drummer) truck through some blues music.

Blues allows Dylan to concentrate a little more on the music. He was singing, yes, but no one could really understand his words. But, that’s okay, no one could understand him 40 years ago. While Dylan’s guitar playing was dull, his keyboard playing was on par and he blew the harmonica with passion.

Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for AFI

Passion. The word of the night. Dylan may be 69, but he was moving around stage with a youthful nimbleness that I did not expect to see. He swayed while he played the guitar and actively participated with his band when he was near them. When he was at the keyboard he was certainly more detached and he concentrated on the song at hand. But, a surprisingly energetic Dylan had the crowd of around 5000 tapping their feet and dancing. By God, it seemed like Dylan was enjoying himself.

That is the reason why he continues to play. The man has plenty of cash. But, he loves performing. At the heart of his being is an entertainer and music has always been calling. It doesn’t matter what type. All that matters is that he can be on stage playing the music. That is respectable, and fans have to be excited that they can still see a living legend when he buses to their town to play a set.

The highlight of the night was “Highway 61 Revisited.” My favorite Dylan song was played with enthusiasm and, while it may have been hard to follow him, I still sang along. And then came the encore with “Like A Rolling Stone.” He has transformed the song and the way it is sung, but, it was still fun to sing the chorus with a crowd full of people.

Listen. Was he sharp the entire night? No. But, you go to a Dylan concert with a split mindset. You want to enjoy the concert, yes. But, you are seeing Bob Dylan. The name itself can almost make the show.

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An Adventure in Philadelphia: Weepies!

8 Nov

I will say it. I may hate the Philadelphia Phillies, but, the city of brotherly love is quite nice. Yes, it may be a pain to drive through. Conflicting one-ways and odd voluminous circles do not assist drivers by any means. But, Philly has a quaint charm even when you are surrounded by large colleges and skyscrapers. So, yes, I like the city’s aesthetics. But, in my two visits to Philly, I have experienced both a snowstorm and, just last Friday, a true adventure after seeing The Weepies in concert.

Let me explain.

Those people above were great. The Weepies performed Friday night at World Cafe Live, a small venue by UPenn’s athletic facilities. How do I know? Well, I parked in a UPenn owned lot when my friend Anthony and I arrived at the venue after our quick drive from Binghamton. Seriously, we hit one spot of traffic entering Philadelphia, and, I only made one wrong turn.

The concert started an hour after we first stepped into the venue. Credit brick breaker for helping that hour go by.

Now, when I say this venue was intimate, I don’t only mean it was small. The Weepies like to set the mood before their shows. The lights were dimmed after the opening act (which was Weepies’ lead man Steve Tannen’s brother Greg…very talented by the way) Electric candlelight (I feel like I am setting up the scene of “Lola”) was provided by several fake candles. The setting was delightful. It was also exactly what one would expect from a pop band like the Weepies. Their music is infectious and innocuous and therefore, the concert set-up should imitate that description.

Steve and Deb are excellent together. They opened the concert with “Please Speak Well of Me,” one of my favorites off of their new album. Take a listen

Listen to the background of the track. Hear the rhythm. That was executed by the band’s lead guitarist and drummer who imitated the sounds through natural sounds (banging their legs with open hands and snapping). Who else opens I show like that?

The night continued with a good mixture of old and new songs that were all sung by the relaxed audience. Seriously, the band reflects the audience and this crowd was just lulled into a good Weepies’ trance.

Steve and Deb obviously have awesome chemistry, heck, they are husband and wife. They were laughing on stage as both told stories on how songs were created. One involved pornography, and yes, I am not kidding. I love hearing how lyrics are written, so, this was welcomed.

By the end of the night, The Weepies swept through all of their known material. They ended the night with a kiss and left the stage. It was a great show. The post-game party was not at all what Anthony and I expected.

I disagree Philadelphia. It was most certainly dark out. Here was the plan. Anthony has a friend who goes to Villanova. We would stay with him and then leave the next morning. No need to make the long drive back up to Binghamton after the concert, right? Well, in short, wrong. In the opening act, Greg Tannen premised a song by saying it had a long story that went with it, but, not wanting to expatiate, he just told us that he was with a girl and now he is not. I could do the same and leave my story at what I told you all above, but, I am going to explain.

Anthony’s friend didn’t answer our first phone call. His phone was not even on, and, according to an automated female voice, his voice message box with full. Okay, not what we wanted to hear, but, Anthony and I had plans to eat dinner after the concert anyway. The dinner plans were abandoned after we could not find parking. This also came after phone call #4 to said friend. Every phone call produced the same voice. The prognosis was bleak.

I decided that we might as well drive to Villanova and eat something there while we waited for his friend to call. Yeah, we did not take down his address. Yes, captain hindsight, it was a bad idea. On our way to Villanova, we did pass the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, AKA Rocky Steps, and like the dimwitted tourists we are, Anthony and I ran up them. It was awesome.

We arrived in Villanova and still did not receive any word from the friend. I took off my coat and got comfortable. After a stop at a Wawa (best place to get gas and eat after 12 a.m.), I started the drive home. In the span of 12 hours, I drove for half of that time. But, we did get to see the Weepies, so, when all was said and done it was definitely worth it.

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