Shonen Knife Concert Review - Alex's Bar - Long Beach, Ca - 8/12/2012

It's impossible not to smile while watching a Shonen Knife show. Watching them perform is like Christmas morning and your birthday all rolled into one. It's quite possibly the best day of your life. Kurt Cobain once said about the band, "When I finally got to see them live, I was transformed into a hysterical nine-year-old girl at a Beatles concert." The legendary Japanese all girl trio was at Alex's Bar this evening touring in support of their 18th album Pop Tune out now on Charamel Records.

The band's current lineup features Naoko Yamano on vocals and guitar, Ritsuko Taneda on bass and Emi Morimoto on drums. Naoko is a founding member and leader of the group. Over the past 30 years she has been able to fine tune the style and sound of the band without losing any of their indie credibility.

Taking the stage in colorful matching mod outfits, Shonen Knife held up cloth banners with the band's name printed on them and announced to the crowd that they were ready to rock. The packed club erupted in cheers. Shonen Knife has some of the most dedicated and obsessive fans in rock n' roll.

Shonen Knife taking the stage at Alex's Bar.

They kicked off the evening with "Konnichiwa" from their 1998 release Happy Hour which has become their traditional opening song. If you've never heard one of their records or seen them play live, their sound is best described as a combo of pop, garage, punk and metal all put together with Ramones-like speed.

Their hour and a half set covered just about all eras of the bands 30 year history including several songs from their new album. The title track "Pop Tune" is their first single from the album and has an incredibly infectious high energy groove. They also performed "Psychedelic Life" with drummer Emi Morimoto taking over the vocal duties.

Drummer Emi Morimoto singing "Psychadelic Life"

They band also played three songs off of 1992's Let's Knife album which is my personal favorite. The album was their first major label release in the US and contained several re-released older songs that have become standards of their live shows. They sent the crowd into a frenzy when they performed "Riding on the Rocket" and "Bear Up Bison."  I was lucky enough to be at the front of the stage to record their performance of "Twist Barbie." Click the link below to see the video.

No Shonen Knife show would be complete without a Ramones cover. Joey Ramone himself dubbed the band the Osaka Ramones back in 1998 due to their similar music styles. Tonight singer Naoko Yamano picked the song "Rockaway Beach" to perform since they "were performing in a town with beach in the name."

From Left to Right - Bassist Ritsuko Taneda and Singer/Guitarist Naoko Yamano



After the main set the band came out for a one song encore. Naoko made the mistake of asking the crowd what they wanted to hear. This of course set off a 5 minute frenzy of people yelling just about any song title that the band have ever recorded. After Naoko was able to sort through all the requests she choose the song "Super Group" from the 2009 album of the same title.





The band is always generous with their time after the show. They will pretty much stick around until the bar closes or the last fan leaves. Tonight was no exception. They were still at the bar taking photos and signing autographs after we left. Here's a photo of one of my obsessive fan moments.

Me (Jody) with Shonen Knife



Jon Auer - Living Room Show - Los Angeles - 6/30/12

I've always loved The Posies. There is something about those melodies and harmonies that has always drawn me to their music. I never miss an opportunity to talk to anyone that will listen about how under appreciated they have been over the past 25 years. One of the masterminds behind the band is singer/songwriter Jon Auer. I recently had the unique privilege of attending one of Jon's private "living room" shows in Los Angeles. This was a once in a lifetime experience that was held at a private residence in front of about 30 lucky fans.

Jon on "stage"

Jon took the "stage" in front of the fireplace, plugged into a small PA system and gave us all an experience that we will never forget. Although I've seen Jon play solo in the past this was the first time I've seen him without a band behind him. The absence of a backing band allowed his heavenly voice and fantastic guitar playing to really shine.

Jon said that he had a "loose set list" in mind for his performance but he was also open to suggestions. This made for an incredible night of classic Posies songs, solo tunes, deep cuts, as well as some his favorite covers. From Frosting on the Beater he played "Dream All Day," "Burn and Shine" and "Flavor of the Month" which Jon admitted to writing at the request of a record executive that didn't hear a "single" on the album. The crowd gasped when Jon told this story and laughed after he told them that the song's lyrics were written as a hidden "fuck you" to the same executive.

Jon also admitted to being in a nostalgic mood lately. He professed a particular fondness for The Posies 1990 album Dear 23 which he said featured a back photo that proved he was a "recovering goth."  In fact, he ended up playing four tracks from the album including "Golden Blunders," "Suddenly Mary," "Flood of Sunshine" and "Everyone Moves Away." The latter brought much delight to the die hard Posies fans in attendance since the band rarely plays the song live. It's also one of my personal favorites.

Jon also took the opportunity to play songs from his solo record Songs from the Year of Our Demise. The material from this album seemed a lot more personal than some of his earlier solo work. Songs such as "Bottom of the Bottle" and "The Year of Our Demise" painted a picture of pain and loss. Jon explained how his song "Six Feet Under" got into the producer's hands of the Six Feet Under television show and was scheduled to be included in the closing sequence of an episode. The song was pulled at the last minute because the shows creators got cold feet and didn't feel like the song was a good fit for the show. Jon explained that he was really disappointed since he loved the show.

And finally the glorious cover songs! You can't top "Swinging Party" by The Replacements, "Blackbird" by The Beatles and "13" by Big Star.  The latter which Jon explained has been remade several times but it is still one of his favorite songs to perform.

This was a truly unforgettable night of music. One that I will never forget. I always knew that Jon was a talented singer, songwriter and musician but what really made this night special was the intimate setting and all the personal stories behind each of his songs.



Meeting my musical hero.

Girl In A Coma Concert Review- Alex's Bar- Long Beach, CA-4/28/12

At the sold out show on Saturday night we were blown away by the power and intensity of the Girl In a Coma trio. With searing vocals and just 3 instruments, these ladies from San Antonio, Texas can really rock. Their Smiths-inspired sound is a unique combination of punk and indie rock with a few ballads mixed in for good measure.

The band formed when drummer, Phanie Diaz and bassist, Jenn Alva met in a Jr. High art class. The lineup was complete when Phanie's little sister Nina joined as the lead guitarist and vocalist. Their mutual love of The Smiths was taken to the next level when they decided that the name of their band would be an homage to the song "Girlfriend in a Coma."

Tonight's Long Beach show at Alex's Bar was the sixth stop on their west coast headlining tour which lasts through May 10th. They are touring in support of their November 2011 release Exits & All the Rest which is out on Joan Jett's Blackheart Records.

 The crowd was electrified when the band took the stage and opened the show with the dynamic "One Eyed Fool."  From the first note we were both in awe of singer Nina Diaz's unbelievably powerful voice. She has a sultry, seductive quality to her vocals which draws the listener into her very personal lyrics.

One of the highlights of the evening was the song "El Monte." We were convinced that singer Nina Diaz was channeling the ghost of Patsy Cline. The song encompasses everything that is great about the band. The atmospheric tone and the incredible melody sticks in your head well after the song ends. Here's the video for the song.

The band played a 17-song, 2 hour career-spanning set. In addition to all the bands originals, they also covered Selena's "Si Una Vez" and ended the show with an amazing cover of the Velvet Underground's "Femme Fatale" both from their 2010 album "Adventures in Coverland." This was our first time seeing the band and we were blown away by the unbelievable musicianship of the trio. They have a confidence and stage presence of a band that has been playing together for 20 years. It was also obvious that the band has a real connection with their audience. Nina's lyrics seem to speak directly to many of their rabid fans.

The future is bright for the band. They've already toured with Morrissey, The Pogues and the Go-Go's just to name a few. It wouldn't surprise us a bit if Girl in a Coma were headlining their own arena shows soon.

Set List:
One Eyed Fool
Adjust
Control
Si Una Vez
BB
Their Cell
Pleasure and Pain
She Had A Plan
Knocking at Your Door
El Monte
Sly
Smart
Pink Lemonade
Static Mind
Ven Cerca
Encore:
Simple Man
Femme Fatale

Because it's our blog and we can do whatever we want, here's another cool video from Girl In a Coma for the song "Smart." You can hear The Smiths influence in this song.

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Concert Review- Long Beach Grand Prix-Long Beach, CA 4/14/12

I always believed that if you looked up the definition of rock n' roll in the dictionary there would be a picture of Joan Jett. No one embodies the spirit of rock more than Jett. I've seen her perform several times over the past 25 years and she just seems to get better with age. This year she was playing as part of the Long Beach Grand Prix's Saturday festivities.

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts at the Long Beach Grand Prix

The outdoor venue was packed to capacity with several thousand fans. She took the stage with the Blackhearts and ripped right into "Bad Reputation" and "Cherry Bomb" which sent the crowd into a frenzy. Jett's vocals and guitar playing were superb. After 30 plus years in the biz she is a seasoned pro. Her 20 song, 2 hour set covered all the phases of her career. She went as far back as "You Drive Me Wild" which is the first song she ever wrote while a member of the seminal all girl group, The Runaways.

She dedicated the song "Victim of Circumstance" to all the cops that that used to hang around outside the Licorice Pizza Record Store, (for all of us old enough to remember that place). She played several of her biggest hits including "Do You Wanna Touch," "Light of Day," "Crimson and Clover" and "I Hate Myself for Loving You." The highlight of the show was without a doubt "I Love Rock n' Roll," her huge hit from 1982 that spent over a month at number 1 on the Billboard charts . The crowd went absolutely nuts and everyone was singing along at the top of their lungs, while many played along on air guitar. After 30 years it was easy to see that the song still strikes a chord with multiple generations of fans.The band finished the show with a three song encore which included "Little Liar," "AC/DC" and a cover of Sly & the Family Stones' "Everyday People."

Jett's band, The Blackhearts, deserve a lot of credit for their musicianship and well as their backing harmonies which added a nice layer of texture to many of the songs. The Blackhearts are Thommy Price on drums, AC Slade on bass, Dougie Needles on guitar and Joan's longtime collaborator, Kenny Laguna on keyboards.

Joan Jett proves time and time again that she is a true original. She never caters to current trends but also never comes across as a nostalgia act either. Her straight forward, no-frills rock n' roll is still as kick-ass today as it was 30 years ago. Ask any of the thousands of fans that watched the show tonight.

Set List

1. Bad Reputation
2. Cherry Bomb
3. Light of Day
4. Do You Wanna Touch Me
5. Go Home
6. You Drive Me Wild
7. The French Song
8. Love is Pain
9. T.M.I.
10. Hard To Grow Up
11. Victim of Circumstance 
12. Naked
13. Fake Friends
14. Reality Mentality
15. I Love Rock 'n' Roll
16. Crimson and Clover
17. I Hate Myself For Loving You
18. Little Liar
19. AC/DC
20. Everyday People

Skinny Lister Concert Review-Fingerprints Record Store-Long Beach, CA-4/9/12

Riding a wave of positive buzz from their recent South by Southwest appearance, Skinny Lister stopped into Fingerprints Records for an in-store show before their gig at Alex's Bar in Long Beach. The five piece band from London plays their own infectious brand of English pub rock. Much of their press to date has penned them as a cross between Mumford & Sons and The Pogues. This is a fair comparison but make no mistake they have their own distinct sound. They played songs from both their Grand Union (2010) and Home Made Tour (2010) EP's and also previewed songs from their new album Forge & Flagon due to be released June 4th. Below is a link to their video for "If The Gaff Don't Let Us Down" the B-Side of their single "Plough & Orion."

The band consist of Daniel Heptinstall (vocals/guitar), Lorna Thomas (vocals/ukulele), Sam Brace (vocals/guitar/concertina), Maxwell Thomas (vocals/melodeon/mandolin) and Dan Gray (double bass/vocals). The band played a high energy show which featured a mix of pub, folk and a dash of punk thrown in for good measure. Their musicianship and vocals really shined this evening. They all form a tight unit and they really seem to enjoy playing together. Vocalist Lorna Thomas is the band's ring leader and came into the crowd on several occasions to incite the concert goers with her dancing and singing. 

Skinny Lister Live at Fingerprints

The band has an uncanny ability to play to the entire room and draw everyone into their performance. I got the sense that the band didn't care if they were playing in front of a few hundred people or a few thousand people. They have a sound and energy that you can't ignore. They also don't hide the fact that this is drinking music. The entire time I was watching the show I was wishing that I had a drink in my hand. In fact, the band mentioned that they usually have a jug of liquor that they pass around and into the crowd during their shows. Sadly they left the jug at the El Rey Theatre the night before.

Skinny Lister has just a few more shows left in the US before they head back home to England. They have a full slate of festivals scheduled for this summer to coincide the release of their full length album. If you have an opportunity to see them play live don't pass it up. Trust us, you won't regret it.

Jay Buchanan Concert Review - Alex's Bar-Long Beach, CA-12/30/11

 

Jay Buchanan at Alex's Bar

Jody and I first spotted Jay Buchanan at the Gypsy Lounge in Lake Forest, Ca. circa 1999. We would frequent this club to catch local acts. I'm not sure who we were there to see initially, but when Jay got on stage, played the first few chords and opened his mouth, I remember thinking, Holy Shit! Who is this guy?! In 99' his sound was already flawless. I never imagined that a musician of his caliber could improve on perfection, but he has. This is what makes his performances transcendental. He masterfully combines the essences of  soulful blues, folk and rock. He also uses them at will. Diametrically opposed is the word that comes to mind when you consider his collaboration project with Rival Sons and his solo work.

Jay is not a typical rock guy. He's not pretentious. He doesn't require a big stage production or a plethora of equipment. In fact each time I've seen him play solo he usually takes the stage with just a guitar and his seraphic voice. The show at Alex's tonight was no different. Stepping to the stage with a red Gibson guitar he played an eight song, hour long set of incredible ethereal music. Jay's lyrics are introspective and often paint pictures of love and loss. He seems to be a keen observer on the human condition and has the ability to draw you into the picture that he is trying to paint. His incredible whisper to a scream vocals are often times jaw dropping.

Fresh off the road with Rival Sons, Jay gave his fans a treat at this show playing a retrospective set list. He kicked off the night with "Post Coital Kiss" which is Jody's personal favorite. He went all the way back to the 1999 album Violence for "Satan is a Woman," which he freely admitted to not playing in a "long, long time." He closed the evening with my favorite, "Internal Dialogue," where in the chorus he belts out "there is beauty everywhere." When it comes to Jay's music, I couldn't agree more.

Spotted in the crowd at the Jay Buchanan show was writer/performer/poet Derrick Brown. We have been fans of Derrick since his days as lead singer of The John Wilkes Kissing Booth. If you've never checked them out you should. They rock.

Jody with poet Derrick Brown

Chris Isaak at The Grove, Concert Review, November 27, 2011 Anaheim, CA

Chris Isaak's rockabilly sound comes straight out of the heyday of 50's Rock and Roll. His vocal style and stage presence are directly linked to Jerry Lee Lewis whom Isaak proclaims as the "King of Rock and Roll." Chris is a well rounded entertainer that has fine tuned his craft over the last 25 years. His first album, "Silvertone," was recorded in 1984. I began attending his shows around 1987. I had the good fortune to see him play often at "The Coach House" in San Juan Capistrano, CA. Over the course of the first 10 years of his career, his audience changed drastically. In the mid 80's Chris Isaak had a hard-core rockabilly fan following.  Lots of Pompadours, tight skirts and classic cars in the parking lot. After airplay and popularity of the song "Wicked Game," in 1991 the majority of the Chris Isaak crowd were no longer rockabilly kids but middle-aged yuppies.

His stage show also changed, evolving from his early beginnings as a formidable musician who would give each member of his band a break, while he took over playing each instrument. He'd rotate from guitar to bass to the drums, then back again to center stage. This was such an impactful experience that 20 years later I remember that show like it was yesterday. Since then he has evolved into more of an entertainer that involves the crowd by poking fun at his band members and dishing out 1 liners. He also makes a habit of running out into the crowd to connect with the audience.

Isaak's current tour is in support of the Beyond the Sun record that released in October. On the album he covers classic Sun Records' songs by Johnny Cash, Elvis, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis. His 28 song, 2 hour set included several tracks from the album including "It's Now or Never," "Ring of Fire" and "Great Balls of Fire" complete with a smoking piano and  fake flames.

With no opening act, Chris gave the crowd their money's worth. He opened the show with "Beautiful Homes" from San Francisco Days and from that point on played a career spanning retrospective which also included several songs from his 2004 Christmas album. Even though Isaak continues to make records you can tell he feels most comfortable in front of a live audience. His witty banter and silly jokes are styled after the great showmen of the 1950's. He is a true entertainer and knows how to work the crowd.

Drummer Kenney Johnson, guitarist Hershel Yatovitz and bassist Rowland Salley are all excellent musicians that form a tight unit with Isaak. You can tell these guys are road warriors  and are all seasoned pros that enjoy playing with each other.

The six song encore was highlighted by a cover of Roy Orbison's "Pretty Women" complete with a large pin up girl that was hoisted behind the band during the song. For the show closer, Isaak was alone on the stage playing an acoustic version of "Forever Blue" which ended the show intimately.

The near capacity crowd was mellow but appreciative. At one point during the show Isaak thanked the crowd for supporting live music which I thought was a nice touch. Spotted in the audience was local rockabilly legend Big Sandy who was showing his own support for live music.

Our Niece Natalie with Rockabilly Legend Big Sandy

Rival Sons at Fingerprints Records, Concert Review, September 27th, 2011, Long Beach, CA

Before they rocked the stage in front of rock legends the likes of Queen and The Who at the Classic Rock Awards in London, Rival Sons killed it at one of the coolest and last surviving independent record stores in the heart of downtown Long Beach, Ca.  As I stood in front of the stage at Fingerprints I felt like a kid that had just heard the first Guns and Roses record. To put it bluntly, Rival Sons kick ass. They play a blues based brand of hard rock that you don't hear much these days. I think it's because most bands today don't have the musicianship to pull it off. You can hear the influences from Led Zeppelin to Bad Company but make no mistake, these guys have their own sound.

Jay Buchanan, whom I've come across often in the last 15 years of addictive show attendance, is the lyricist and voice of Rival Sons; And an impressive voice he is. He has the capability and range like those of his classic rock forefathers.  His lyrics are so descriptive and relatable you feel as though you've lived it and he's writing a song about your life. Isn't that what a great rock song is all about? The opening track to Pressure & Time "All Over the Road," has a lyrical feel reminiscent of the Eagles', " Life in the Fast Lane." Although, the lyrics are not so much negative as they are entertaining. The rhythm and chord progression are much more rockin', too. In fact, I know I have taken this road trip, I just don't remember Jay being in the car with us. That one factor, alone; RELATABILITY, is the distinction between a great song and a legendary one. A song that changes the face of rock and becomes a part of the soundtrack to your life.

 The hour plus set included a mix of songs from the recently released "Pressure & Time" as well as a few tracks from their debut EP. Some of the standouts included "Only One" which paints a picture of life on the road. In the song Jay sings, "Another night spent alone, while I'm up on the stage, in some Midwest town refusing to act my age." This is easily my favorite track on the new record. The band also played "Burn Down Los Angeles" and "Pressure and Time." The latter is the lead single which they played recently on the George Lopez Show.

Before the Fingerprints show Rival Sons had just returned from a European tour with Judas Priest and Queensryche. With their blazing guitars, searing vocals and feverish drumming they can easily hold their own in a room full of rock vets. This gives you a clue to the caliber of talent you are witnessing when watching Rival Sons. If you yearn for the days when musicianship was the driving force behind getting your ass to a show...then do yourself a favor and look these guys up.