The Script in NYC: Yes, #1.

December 6th, 2009 Dublin sensation The Script took the stage at Terminal 5 in New York City and I had to give myself time before writing a concert review for this show. Could I have seen the top concert of my career thus far? No, this couldn't be true I said to myself days after. The smile from my face reliving moments from the show just would not go away. Maybe it was? I've got to sit on this. And so I sat. Tonight is December 28th, 22 days after the show and here I am attesting that yes, that was the BEST show I've seen thus far in my life.

What makes a good show a good show is a combination of the band's general stage presence + the crowd's reaction to said performance. What makes a good show great has more in the equation and something that just cannot be truly pinned down. It is that feeling where the crowd and the performer become larger than themselves, a moment in time of total unity and cooperation. Of appreciation and excitement and involvement and belief that this moment in time is so special it can only be categorized in one way - unforgettable.

The Script remain at the moment a little obscure on the American Music Scene despite appearances on VH1 as "you outta know" artists' on the rise. But then again, how often does VH1 pick people you "really outta know?" They did predict The Fray who reminded contemporary radio that you can still have a hit song that doesn't involve hip-hop and not be called Rob Thomas. They also predicted "Colbie Calle" who I believe has 3 Grammy nods this year. So they are pretty good a picking 'em.

John, aren't you Mr. Alt-Rock Elitist? Well yes, yes I am. I look for new music anywhere I can get, and after hearing "Before the Worst" by the Script I needed another fix.



Awesome right? I thought you'd agree. The show opened with that song, the audience in its entirety singing along to every word. Lead singer Danny O'Donoghue had a look on his face after that of pure amazement and excitement that shouted "Aren't we suppose to be an obscure band still? Why the hell did we sell out New York City?" Because Danny, you're self-titled album rings and connects to so many people. It's the album to help you through a breakup, it's the album to sum-up that moment in life where you aren't sure where you're suppose to go next, it's the album to pick you up and keep you moving. The album is inspired from the tragedies the band faced while recording. Danny was close to death with a collapsed lung while finishing up the vocals on ironically "The End Where I Begin." Guitarist and other big songwriter Mark Sheehan shuffled from the studio in his backyard to the hospital where his mother battled cancer until she died. And Glenn Power, the drummer, was a wandering session player his entire life until Mark and Danny asked him on board where he had just about given up being a professional musician. Their collaboration created The Script and the songs that made this crowd in New York City feel alive.

Every song was echoed back to the band. Every song. And with the sing back of voices that had a true connection to the music. Summed up by Danny asking the crowd to sing "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" only to watch to the band's amazement as the entire song was shouted back before one note by them was played. They played it again, with an obvious new lease on life.

The Script were brought back out for their encore via an "OLE!" chant. I totally started it, which the band mentioned their after they never were called back to OLE but prefer to only be done that way from here on out. I contribute yet again to the world of music. It was their last night in America before going on a break before heading into the studio for their next album. New York sent them home with the knowledge that they have made it in America as serious musicians and have changed lives with their tunes. They sent us, the crowd, home knowing we just saw the most electric show of our lives.

Other Songs to Check Out by the Script: We Cry, Breakeven, The End Where I Begin

Gotta Hear This: Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension

Missing The Strokes? Well if you were, I'm sure you found the dozens of bands that copied their style since their "intermission from music" probably related to their big alcoholism problem. You'll hafta keep "Is This It" on loop till they recover from that, or run out of money from partying to give rock life a try again on the road.

But what if you missed singer Julian Casablancas' voice that sounded like a boy band took up smoking for 10 years, I know I did. Enter his solo record "11th Dimension" out now and the title track from said album. It sounds nothing like the Strokes but sure as hell is fun. Welcome back to the stage Mr. Casablancas

Gotta Hear This: The Riot Before - Words Written Over Coffee

After I found This Charming Young Man via last.fm (user name: MightyStag) I found The Riot Before. They are my favorite form of rock: Folk Punk and this song is one of my top picks from the band.

Words Written Over Coffee brings you into a contemplative mood as you revisit your own life as lead singer Brett Adams revisits his own wondering if its all worth it and where to go now. Maybe life isn't where it's suppose to be despite the promise you foresaw in it. It's raw, it's loud, it's honest, it's what it's all about

http://www.last.fm/music/The+Riot+Before/_/Words+Written+Over+Coffee

Gotta Hear This: WWPJ - Quiet Little Voices

We Were Promised Jetpacks. Now that's a band name! A band defiant to the times saying with such a name "Hey future, weren't you suppose to be better than this?" Bold. Now for the catchy first single from this Glasgow band entitled "Quiet Little Voices." It's been in my head for days since the first time I heard it and just won't leave. I hope the same effect happens to you. "Quiet Little Voices" tracks the inner monologue of a man slowly loosing his mind over that somebody special. "I'm young again, I'll fall for you, I'll die for you." Their debut album "These Four Walls" is out now.

Never Unappreciated Kelly Clarkson Covers

Recently, Brian Fallon of the Gaslight Anthem stopped by BBC's Radio One for an interview and some acoustic renditions of Gaslight classics. And In typical Radio One guest fashion, he was asked to prepare a gnarly cover song to play on the airwaves. He's been hailed in the past for his covers like Bruce's "Backstreets" so what could it be on Radio One? More classic Springsteen? The Clash? Surprising all listeners Fallon chose "I Do Not Hook Up" by Kelly Clarkson. Scoff not readers, this rendition of the indomitable Clarkson takes a pop tune and turns it into a heartwarming strum of honesty. Brian knew what he was doing from the start.

http://www.switchbladecomb.com/mp3/the-gaslight-anthem-i-do-not-hook-up-kelly-clarkson-cover/

The Legend of the Monroes

Laugh away at the above band photo, but The Monroes may be the greatest band that never was. For those of you unfamiliar with the epic 80s New Wave Classic known as "What Do All the People Know" I recommend calling all your loved ones and saying "Goodbye" because I'm about to blow your mind.



Pretty Earth shattering isn't it? I've been a fan of the song all my life since I first heard it back in my car seat days singing along with my dad (true story.) As I grew older and continued to hear the wonderful sounds of The Monroes asking if "it's just another game that you and I pretend to play?" I started asking around my local record stores inquiring where I could get their album and continue getting my fix of New Wave Goodness. The trouble was, nobody had ever heard of the Monroes ever putting out a record. Then I hit the internet to find the missing LP and lo-and-behold, all I can find is "What Do All the People Know" on 80s Compilation CDs.

I then began to assume that the band of the Monroes were time travelers from the future who came back to 1982 for a social experiment, releasing the infectious hit single to see it's affects on humanity and study the song from the distant future but were saddened to see it rise up the charts without an album or single available for purchase. Here's the real story to a song that touch America's hearts and fell victim to poor label support.

The year is 1982 and keyboardist Eric Denton of San Diego set out with a group of friends to change the world. Following rock stars "The Ramones," Eric wanted his new band to have a cohesive identity so these random musicians from San Diego became "The Monroes" and using stage names like "Bob Monroe" and "Tony Monroe" (real names Bob Davis and Jesus Ortiz respectively.) They played a few gigs at small clubs on the San Diego scene and get approached by Japanese record producers at Alfa Records. Alfa is small time in Japan in the year 1982 and thought it was a brilliant idea to expand to US Markets to try and boost its reach and "success." Of course, the young band jumped at the chance to have their songs recorded and signed their musical lives away to Alfa.

The fan favorite "What Do All the People Know" was the clear choice as the bands first single. The agreement with Alfa enabled them to cut an EP and see how it does before recording the full album. The song quickly rushes to the top of the local charts in San Diego and then jolts across the country. The Monroes are an overnight sensation and get asked to open for the then mega-star Rick Springfield on a national tour. So the boys hit the road with Rick and all his "Jessie's Girl" catalog of sing-alongs. Everything is falling into place with signs the Monroes are destined for greatness.

But then, tragedy strikes. Alfa Records decides to shut-down its US division and file for bankruptcy. All before the presses are finished on the EP with their hit single. The Monroes' Self Titled EP is never released, never pressed, never bought by fans, never made to a mix-tape for a friend, never getting the chance for dust to collect on its jacket-sleeve, never anything. The Monroes' lose the steam behind the hit single after a few months and without an EP or another single to release (Since Alfa still had the rights and no longer existed) they fall to obscurity and "What Do All The People Know" is only available on the FM airwaves. Two years later, The Monroes sign with CBS records, but management there shelved the one project they worked on, the band members slowly get replaced by in studio musicians until the official breakup soon after.

One moment rock stars and the next back to obscurity. All the band members remain friends and play solo for the most part these days. But The Monroes are now radio-legends. More than 20 years since their brush with fame, they are still a staple of radio cycles. All the people tell me so, but what do all the people know?

Concert Review: Chali 2na

Every once in awhile I'll go to a concert and will do my best to copy Mark's format for reviewing concerts. And not just any copied review, I'll grade everything that goes into a good concert going experience (10 categories) and then average out that score out in the end. Grading scale goes from 1 to 10, 1 being the lowest score and 10 being highest.


Bands: Prophit, The Ear Force, Elemental Kazen, Sons of Kalal, Whosane feat. Pangaea, Chali 2na
Venue: Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge, MA
When: 7.16.09

The Lowdown: Chali 2na was once the much-beloved baritone MC from hip-hop group Jurassic 5. Two years after J5 went their separate ways, Chali 2na has just released his first proper solo effort "A Fish Outta Water". I went with a couple of friends to see if he could live up to the hype that J5 had set him up to deal with.

The Venue: Middle East Downstairs
Score: 9
I love Middle East Downstairs. It is definitely one of the best club venues in the Boston area. The place has a good sized floor and a raised floor to the right of the stage so it's always fairly easy to get a place where you can see clearly. The sound was solid and with two bars serving $3 tall boys, it's a great place to party. Plus, you can snag some tasty eats upstairs before the show.

Price: $15 at the door.
Score: 7
Totally reasonable, although I've paid less for shows there.

The Chicks
Score: 4
There were definitely a some attractive girls there but they were either slightly trashy or not interested in talking to anyone new. Wasn't the kind of show I expected to find tons of friendly chicks at so it wasn't a problem.

Jail bait
Score: 10 (1 being full of it and 10 being none at all)
I try not to deal too heavily in non-21+ shows these days...

The Crowd
Score: 5
Honestly, the crowd was much smaller than I expected it to be. I thought that the draw of Chali 2na would be enough to convince all the suburban white boys who thought they knew hip-hop to come out for this show, but apparently I was wrong. The people who were there were really into it, but the numbers were weak. Also, it was mostly white suburban dudes, like myself.

Ganja Factor
Score: 10 (1 being I could have gotten a contact high, 10 being sXe)
Nada. Middle East security was pretty tight and the crowd wasn't big enough to have lit up.

Hilarity Factor
Score: 8
Funny might not be the exact word but between how much we laughed as some of the opening acts and how much Chali 2na made everyone smile, I'll put it up there.

Douche Factor
Score: 8 (1 being full of douches, 10 being none at all)
There really were not too many douches around. At worst, there were some guys who thought they were fairly "hard" but they weren't bothering anyone. A pretty good crowd all in all.

The Opening Bands: Prophit, The Ear Force, Elemental Kazen, Sons of Kalal, Whosane feat. Pangaea
Score: 5
I was going to give this category a 6 because 3/5 of the openers were solid but I had to bring it down a notch because The Middle East shouldn't have allowed there to be five openers in the first place. They ran into Chali 2na's 11:45pm start time, which is late for a Thursday when I have to work at 8am, and some of the openers were terrible. Prophit (Queens) started off the show with a good set that presented those who were there early enough with a taste of what's going on in New York's scene right now. The Ear Force (Boston) was an absolute joke. Out of four MCs, only one had decent flow, so why not spend at least a quarter of your set free styling? Terrible. Elemental Kazen (Seattle) brought some fury. A rapper originally from Cambridge, brought his rapid fire rhymes back to his home town and was nothing short of impressive. Sons of Kalal (New Hampshire) were the second terrible four-MC group of the night. At least they gave everyone something to laugh at. Whosane (Brooklyn) feat. Pangaea (So. Africa) was the opening act of the night. Whosane brought heartfelt and well spoken rhymes to the stage and kept the energy high the entire time. Pangaea added a wonderful female vocal part to many of his songs and the chemistry between them was great. Check them out if you have a chance.

The Main Act:
Score: 8
Chali 2na had a room filled (well, actually, quarter-filled) with people there almost solely because of his former crew Jurassic 5. With such high expectations, 2na did a great job not disappointing. Playing with the only live band of the night, 2na kept it funky and fresh throughout his whole set. The biggest pitfalls where his renditions of J5 classics What's Golden? and Quality Control, although he did a great job with Freedom. I can understand why he wanted to work a couple J5 tracks in there but without the whole group, it's near impossible to do those songs justice. Fortunately, his solo material had plenty of groove and funk to keep everyone dancing throughout the set. His hypeman/backup MC, whose name I don't remember, had a great energy and held his own with the larger than life 2na. Their occasional choreographed dance moves helped keep the energy going too. While Chali 2na's flow can get a bit repetitive over the course of a set (and no doubt on his new album), he is such a charismatic character on stage that his live show is simply one big party. The best part was that he might have been having more fun than anyone in the house and when an entertainer can get that across, you know they're in it for the right reasons.

Average Score: 7.4

Final Thoughts:
Aside from the lengthy opening sets, and the fact that two of them were terrible, this was an awesome show. Certain things like a lack of loose women weren't really a concern and Chali 2na wasn't deterred by the lack of a full house. It ran a bit late for a weekday show but 2na made it all worth it in the end. I would recommend checking him out in you get the chance.

Worthwhile:
Elemental Zazen
Whosane feat. Pangaea
Chali 2na

Album Review: Big D & The Kids Table(and The Doped Up Dollies) "Fluent in Stroll"

Only two years after their hit or miss record "Strictly Rude" Big D and the Kids Table return with "Fluent in Stroll" with the help of a female back up vocal section called the "Doped Up Dollies." Congratulations Big D you've finally put out an album I've loved all the way through. Not only that, it may be my album of the summer unless something comes out of left field.

This isn't your typical Big D album. First off there's no strictly punk songs on this album. Not a single one. Nothing like songs "LAX" or even anything like "Noise Complaint." I think where "Strictly Rude" fell short in its inability to mix in punk with the more relaxed songs that made the album sound disjointed. This album is a mix of ska, rocksteady, blues and even has a hint of swing in it. If it weren't for the contemporary themes and lyrics in most instances, there's something about this album that feels older. Like I wouldn't be surprised if it came out in the early 60's in terms of its sound. That may turn off some listeners and can be the only reason I imagine people would be turned off. While this probably upsets many of Big D's punk fans, I've gotta say I love the more relaxed Big D. In fact I've always been a fan of their ska/rocksteady side rather than their punk side. They've always been a band with two faces (I once saw them live perform a ska/reggae set, then came back and performed a punk set). "Fluent in Stroll" is just the ska face of Big D and in my opinion, the better face.

The second part is the addition of the Doped Up Dollies. The Doped Up Dollies include Hayley Jane, Sirae Richardson and to my massive delight, Simone and Nicole Oliva who are the lead singers of CT's own Tip the Van. The first track on the album "Doped up Dollies on a One Way Ticket to Blood" introduces the Dollies right away and they are featured heavily in the album.

This is a fantastic summer album. Laid back and peppy all at the same time. There's a strong theme in this album and that's love. I don't know if David McWane just got married or something but something in his life had to influence these songs and it seems he's head over heels. A few other songs are about finding love, but not in the desperate and sad way, but in the "hey lets go to a bar and find some chicks" way. In fact one lyric from "Kiss a Week" goes "A little liquor helps pave the way to romance yeah, get you both on your way." Then there's always the theme of not caring about how others think you should live your life and just do it the way you want. That's always been prevalent in Big D albums though.

16 songs clocking in at around 53 minutes makes it your average length album and the song linked above is "Describing the Sky" as there's only 2 songs available to link from Youtube as the album is relatively brand new and Big D is out on Warped Tour right now pushing the album. "Fluent in Stroll" is going to be in heavy rotation for me all summer long and I'd suggest you look into as well.

Grade: 96 (A)

Concert Review: The Expendables.

Every once in awhile I'll go to a concert and will do my best to write a comprehensive review about it. And not just any review, I'll grade everything that goes into a good concert going experience (10 categories) and then average out that score out in the end. Grading scale goes from 1 to 10, 1 being the lowest score and 10 being highest.



Bands: Thirty Second Pulse, Kamikaze Pilot Corporation, The Expendables
Venue:Webster Underground


The Lowdown: A friend and I had seen The Expendables open for Less Than Jake a few months back and we wanted to check them out again. I've downloaded like three of there songs since the first time I've seen them (I've since gotten a full album). We got there late because I had work and we also skipped out early because we wanted to hit up a party (chicks dude).

The Venue: Webster Underground
Score: 5
The Webster Underground doesn't have much to offer. It's small and cramped, beer is pricey ($4 for a bottle of bud light?) and often times bands don't sound good. However on the plus side, it's small so you can see the band from wherever. Also if the band manages to sound good, they sound great. The opening bands didn't sound good. The Expendables sounded GREAT.

Price: $12 before hand, $14 at the door.
Score: 3
Seriously? $14 for an Underground Show? You're lucky I liked the band.

The Chicks
Score: 1
That's exactly how many attractive girls there were there and even she only looked good because of everyone else there. Also she was there with some guy.

Jail bait
Score: 4 (1 being full of it and 10 being none at all)
Please don't flaunt something you don't have. k thnx.

The Crowd
Score: 4
A bunch of high schoolers, nothing to look at (see chicks), a few random dudes and an apparent crack whore in what was a crowd of maybe around 50. So I wouldn't hang with these people but at least they were decent once the music started in that they didn't distract me from the band.

Ganja Factor
Score: 7 (1 being I could have gotten a contact high, 10 being sXe)
Considering this is a ska/reggae influenced band I was really surprised I only got a whiff of the stuff once and only from one very smelly, dirty kid. Also the band played a song called "Bowl for Two" and claimed someone had brought them excellent weed called "Expendaberries." Still though for being there from 8:30 to 11:45 I only smelled the stuff for a minute.

Hilarity Factor
Score: 7
This show was pretty funny. Between a fat kid skanking and what looked like a skinny ass 14 year old girl who didn't know how to dance in the crowd to the singers of the Expendables eyebrows moving in every which way while he sang it was pretty laugh filled.

Douche Factor
Score: 7 (1 being full of douches, 10 being none at all)
Not a whole lot to complain here. There was one kid who started dancing like an idiot right in front of me, but he moved aside later. Then there were your typical "Omg Letz start a PIT" high schoolers who banged around each other. For the amount of people there it got to a pretty good size, but it was full of people I could easily toss aside so nothing to worry about.

The Opening Bands: Kamikaze Pilot Corporation, Thirty Second Pulse
Score: 3
Missed the first band Kamikaze Pilot Corp. Thirty Second Pulse sounded like a bad jam band/Dave Mathews band. Could have been worse though.

The Main Act:
Score: 7
There's a reason I went to the show and it's called the Expendables. Their recorded albums don't capture how good these guys are. The guitar player is pretty amazing, and seems to play the entire show with his eyes closed. The singer/guitarist is an excellent vocalist (and his eyebrows as previously mentioned are very entertaining). The Bass player looks like he just escaped from jail but he can lay it down and the drummer also sings which is impressive. I was expecting them to sound awful at the Webster but to my delight they sounded just as good as they did when I saw them at Toads Place which is saying something. Unfortunately they played my three favorite songs by them relatively early which made it pretty easy to skip out early. I didn't feel bad though because I still got to see them play for about an hour and fifteen minutes. I've definitely got to recommend this band to anyone who enjoys a reggae/rock/metal sound. Look up the songs "Down, down, down" (linked below) "Let Loose" and "War Cry" for a nice mix of what they're about.
Pic Taken from My Cellphone



Average Score: 4.8

Final Thoughts:
The Expendables were the only redeeming quality of this show, but then again I wasn't expecting much and they were the only reason I went. Definitely check the band out and try to catch them if they're opening for someone (they're currently on tour with 311). However a show at a dive like the Underground with 50 people isn't going to be all the great overall.

The Expendables - "Down, down, down"

Gajit's Ear Worm Infestation: "Cells" By The Servant.

Every once in a while you end up with a song stuck in your head that you can't get out. Sometimes its a good thing other times its absolute torture. The Germans call it Ohrwurm or in English, ear worms. Every time one of these ear worms gains hold we'll post it up so others can share in our joy/misery.

It's been raining and cloudy for what seems like forever when this little song popped up on my Ipod and happened to match my darker mood. You may recognize it as the title track to the movie "Sin City." Although I believe it was slightly remixed in use of the movie. Here's the original version of it. "Cells" by The Servant

Venue Review: Webster Theater "The Good Kind of Sh*t Hole"

The Webster Theater and the Webster Underground
31 Webster Street. Hartford, CT
Capacity: Approx. 1200
www.webstertheater.com


First before we get under way with this review let it be known that the Webster was the location of my first live concert (Dexter Freebish and Everlast) so I may be slightly biased, but on we go.

A little History
The Webster Theater first opened back in the late 1930's making it one old ass building. Back then it was a movie theater for the surrounding community. It was popular until TV became popular and living in Hartford was not. By the 1970's the Webster had turned into was most non-multiplex cinemas across the country had turned into: A movie theater for porn. By the mid 80's the theater was refurbished and converted back into a regular theater, but when that didn't work out some guy decided "lets show concerts here instead." So they ripped out the seats and the Webster Theater as we know it more or less was born.

The Bad
First off the Webster is in Hartford. But I know what you may be thinking. "That's not fair, there's a lot of good bars and clubs in Hartford that are fine to go to." True, but they're all downtown. The Webster is located on the South end of the city straight up in the middle of the ghetto. There's a reason why they have paid parking and attendants right next to it. Parking on the street is at your own risk. And while 98% of people can say they've never had problems with the neighborhood, some people can. I myself, with a friend, while walking to the venue (we had parked on the street to save $5) were approached by some guy asking if we wanted to buy weed. Not that weird. When we declined he threatened to stab us if we didn't buy some the next time we came back....needless to say we walked around that area on the way back.

And while the venue from the outside looks nice and new, you gotta remember the building is from the 30's. It's old and thousands of people have been there. The place inside looks worn out. The floor is still in explicitly sticky (soda? butter? seamen?)and the hallway from the lobby to the theater itself fits 2 people across.

The last thing that sucks is when you walk in the theater you see two signs on either side of the stage. "No Moshing. No Crowd Surfing." Story is some dumb chick got dropped during crowd surfing, broke her hip and sued the venue. After that fun got killed. Now moshing is pretty hard to stop but if it gets out of hand security will break it up. If you crowd surf, security will pluck you from the crowd in front of the stage and show your ass the door. Most of the time people save crowd surfing for the last song that way they dont care if they get the boot.


The Good
Hartford and odd sticky floor aside the Webster does have some good to it, otherwise no one would go. Like other small venues its a great place to see bands up close. Unlike other small venues however, the floor isn't just flat. Because its a former theater, its inclined. Meaning even if you 5'5" you can still see the band from the back.

Oh I'm a midget but I can still see!

Also the bar area is in the back so even if you're getting sloshed it's a good view.

The sound and light shows at the Webster are pretty good for the headlining bands. They don't really take the time however for some of the smaller opening acts however and that makes them sound as crappy as they actually are.

The Webster also has some side goodies. They have a concession stand in the lobby where you can get (albeit bad) food and non-alcoholic drinks. They also have a second stage/room known as the Webster Underground. On most nights it acts as its own venue for small bands and crowds up to like 100. On large shows it acts as a second stage and it is opened up to be accessible from the lobby. The Webster also has a VIP lounge called the Lizard Lounge (a rip off of Toad's Lilly Pad?) where 25 people can rent out the room with a waitress and bar staff, private bathroom, private parking and a sweet 2nd floor view of the crowd and stage.

I'm an elitist prick!


Probably the most important part of being a concert hall is it's ability to draw in good bands to play which it has done. It also has a wide range of bands from Disney groups to Gwar. And as a huge plus tickets are usually cheap. Rarely have I seen tickets at the Webster over $25 (before charges that make you want to rip your hair out).

The Wrap Up
So ultimately the Webster holds a special, dirty place in my heart as it broke my concert going cherry. And while it does have it's faults, when it comes down to being a place to see great bands without breaking the bank, and being able to hear them it's top notch. Just don't leave your car windows open. Better yet make sure they can't get smashed in.

Conquering Some Zeppelins

Jam Band O.A.R. are currently the band I have seen the most in concert at the high number of 16 times. I am featured prominently on both of their live DVDs of 34th and 8th with my high school girlfriend singing along to Right on Time and then getting interviewed for the documentary on the Live at the Garden. The band has found decent success as of lately and they seem to be at that level of College fan favorites and just breaking into the Top 40 like DMB was when "Ants Marching" came onto the scene back in the day. I've got tons of bootleg concerts of OAR and compiled my own little Cover Song album of sweet songs from shows I've got. This includes "Burn One Down" "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Don't Think Twice It's Alright." My iTunes turned on shuffle is a master at bringing back songs I have forgotten about and felt the urge to post this Marc Roberge mashup of some sort. O.A.R. is playing their song Conquering Fools but play Led Zeppelin's "D'yer Ma'ker" AT THE SAME TIME

It's just too good not to hear how these two songs work great together. I don't feel bad posting the download here since O.A.R. started a bootleg site you can get all their shows off of these days. www.Liveoar.com



Conquering Fools (D'yer Ma'ker Version)

Scene in Boston: Taxpayer

This marks my first post on Left Turned Right and I am honored to be a part of such an excellent crew of people working to spread their common love of music. I am starting out with the beginning of what will become a regular segment from yours truly: Scene In Boston. I have the distinct pleasure of residing in Boston, MA and it just so happens that this city of 574,283 people has a pretty killer music scene. As I discover more bands from the Bay State, you'll get the down low right here on Left Turned Right.

TAXPAYER

For the purposes of MySpace, Taxpayer packages themselves as a rock/indie/alternative band and overall I agree with the assessment. As with any great band though, the label they apply to themselves does not particularly do them justice. With some definite indie rock flavor, it’s apparent that these guys borrow heavily from alternative bands like The Pixies. Their sound is difficult to describe but one thing is clear: they rock.

I had the pleasure of catching this five-piece from Cambridge a little over a month ago and they've been in heavy rotation on my car stereo, iPod, and computer ever since. As they took the stage at Great Scott in Allston that night, I turned to my comrade Kevin and smugly said, "Three guitars...they better be able to back it up." Back it up they did. I haven't been to a show that loud since I saw The Black Crowes play Toad's Place in New Haven four years ago. They weren't just loud though; they were powerful, tight, and wholly impressive.

Front man, and one third of their guitar wall, Jared Marsh is a highly energetic and passionate singer, and even has a pretty good sense of humor. Their main chops up front come from former Bang Camero guitarist Maclaine Diemer, who actually trades off between the axe and keys. That’s not to slight their other guitarist though, Mike Jones, who aside from sharing a name with the Houston rapper, channels the very best of what The Edge has to offer but with his own distinctive ambiance that fits into Taxpayer’s repertoire perfectly. Rest assured that if Jones can draw a comparison to anything involving U2, and have it be a positive one, it’s an accomplishment in and of itself. The rhythm section of Tim Peter, bass, and Rob Adams, drums, does their part by holding it down, while doing a great job of contrasting the three guitars. As for the interplay of the three guitarists, Taxpayer balances it very well using alternating rhythms, highly textured layers, and lead lines that accentuate the positive. Watching them play together is just as entertaining as the listening to the music they’re putting out.

I’ve been able to get my hands on two of their three full lengths, 2005’s Bones & Lungs and 2009’s Don’t Steal My Night Vision. Both albums are rock solid and present a band that has matured over the years while maintaining a sound that is all their own. Recommended tracks from Bones & Lungs include: Gifts With Strings Attached, When They Were Young, and Bottleneck. Highlights from Don’t Steal My Night Vision: We Have Arrived, Settle Down Ghost, and Night Vision. Overall, if you’re thinking of picking up either, I would recommend Night Vision as my favorite of the two.

Check them out and help support local music:
www.taxpayermusic.com
www.myspace.com/taxpayer

RIYL: Moros Eros, Cold War Kids, The Pixies, The Arcade Fire, The Killers

Better Than The Original

Sometimes an artist comes out with a song and you're like "ok thats a decent song." Sometimes its even a fantastic song, but something about the artist turns you off of it. Then someone else comes along, covers that song and it comes out 10X better. In this series we examine some of the best of those covers.

Kate Perry blows pretty hard but when Los Colorados, a Ukrainian polka band or something, covered "Hot 'n' Cold".... well it was pretty sweet.

Haven't Decided if this is serious or Not (NSFW)

So I saw this video a few weeks back and can't decide if its for real or a giant joke. Judging by the fact that its a real band, with an actual album coming out its the real deal. I just find it very hilarious. NSFW
Steel Panther "Death to All But Metal"

Gajit's Ear Worm Infestation: "Daylight" by Matt and Kim

Every once in a while you end up with a song stuck in your head that you can't get out. Sometimes its a good thing other times its absolute torture. The Germans call it Ohrwurm or in English, ear worms. Every time one of these ear worms gains hold we'll post it up so others can share in our joy/misery.

This little diddy got stuck in my head thanks to a Bacardi Mojito commercial. I couldn't get it out of my head so I found out who performed it and went out and downloaded it. Turns out its a really good catchy song. "Daylight" by Matt and Kim

The Headbanger Chromosome

The time has come, you have been waiting for this concert for months. Carefully over the past few weeks you have meticulously studied every album released as you plot out possible playlist for the show from opener to closer to encore closer. You plan your wardrobe out ahead of time making sure not to wear your favorite band t-shirt and be "that fan" at the show. The place is packed to the brim and you make your way to the middle of the crowd behind some hipsters you wonder if they even heard the obscure demo EP released before their first single. What chumps. The lights go black after the mediocre openers you'll never hear again. The chanting and clapping swells to a loud blare in your ears. You love it. You are ready to rock and the band rips into the opener you knew was coming. But then you notice all around you a few heads in the crowd not bobbing along. They are not dancing. They are not mouthing the lyrics. They are...just...standing there. The crowd is rocking to their hearts content and yet these scattered souls are...just...standing there.

There is a strange phenomena that occurs at rock shows I have noticed over the years. These citizens of Earth who appear to be avid concert goers stand at shows and do not move. No claps, no fist pumps, nothing. And yet they leave the show feeling fulfilled by witnessing a raucous show. But...they did not experience the concert. They just listened. What is wrong with these people you ask? They lack the genetic makeup to enjoy a concert like a normal person. It is not their fault.

Science is on the brink of unlocking what I dub the "Headbanger's Chromosome." The same crack teams developing cures for pancreatic cancer and World of Warcraft are hard at work for my upcoming book on the subject The Headbanger Chromosome: Why You'll Never Be Able to Rock as Hard as Them. Here is a sample on what this means in the world of science. The Headbanger's Chromosome is the genetic makeup in a person that enables someone to bob their head to music, sing aloud in their car like fools, and go nuts pointing and screaming at the lead singer during a concert reciting lyrics to the songs. The chromosome works on a sliding scale ranging from "I'm going crowd surfing and someone's gonna steal my shoe and throw it backwards into the crowd upon my floating" to "I love this song and I'm gonna bend my knees and do lunges in this crowd to prove it." It's a sliding scale of rock out abilities but it is clear who has the gene and who does not. Those lacking are the stiffs in the room. And they know who they are too. Ask yourself...do I lack the gene or do I know how to rock? You're friends know. Ask them

Album Review: 311 "Uplifter"

311 and their lack of an actual genre (wiki lists them as alt rock, rap metal, rap rock, funk rock, ska punk and reggae) are back with their new album "Uplifter". I'm not a massive 311 fan but anything with an upbeat draws me in so I picked up this 13 track album off of I-tunes. The album as a whole is relatively mellow in feeling although they do have a few rocking songs ("India Ink," "Something Out of Nothing", and their single "Hey You"). The songs flow well from one to another but I can't say that anything really sticks out and grabs you which I feel hurts it a bit. Also its general mellow feel doesn't lend it to be in high rotation. It's one of those "I'm in the mood for this" albums. Hardcore 311 fans probably love it but for the casual listener it doesn't really provide any wow factor.

Grade: 72 (C-)

Album Review - White Lies for Dark Times

There are two types of people in this world. Those who understand the absolute power of Ben Harper's musical talent and those who have not heard him yet.

After the soul-powered "Lifeline" recorded in one week in Paris with the Innocent Criminals, the journeyman that is Ben Harper joins forces with new superheroes forming the Relentless7 (there are four of them I believe.) This album is much harder than Ben's previous work and chock full of hard rock mixed with Ben's slide guitar wizardry. If you are looking for an album to rock out to all summer, this is it. You can feel the heat of mid-summer off fuzzed tracks like "Shimmer and Shine" and "Why Must You Always Dress In Black." The slow jams that made him the underrated megastar he is today blossom in the middle of this rock fest of lying lovers and foolish faulters with songs like "Fly One Time" and the closer "Faithfully Remain." But it is the stupifying "Keep It Together" raises the album to a five-star status as Ben looks at his life and his wife Laura Dern's relationship in it asking for her to "Keep it together" so he can continue to spill his heart and emotion out in every song to feel alive. It starts loud, it crashes to a slow jam session, then comes back alive as we feel Ben's exhaustion from being a super human musician.

On the DVD (with deluxe edition) Ben says with such sincerity and not once comes off callous "I'm not ready to rest on any accomplishment whatsoever. There'll be no mellowing till the grave." That sums up the awe-inspiring and raw power of this album. Front to back full relentless energy from the Relentless7.

Final Verdict: 5 Stars

Album Review: Rancid "Let the Dominoes Fall"

6 years since their last album "Indestructible" came out Rancid finally returns with their 7th studio album "Let the Dominoes Fall." First things first. If you feel you're too old to listen to Rancid anymore then you're probably right. However if you're like me and you still act like a 15 year old punk then hop right in because Rancid recorded a sweet album. The glory of the album is that Rancid sticks with the sound that made them popular in the first place. Unlike Green Day which is trying to mature(suck) with their music Rancid shows that you can be in your late 30's and early 40's and still write a good punk album. The songs range from your classic 4 chord punk songs ("This Place", "Disconnected" and their single "Last One to Die") to their ska/reggae influenced sound ("Up To No Good", "I Ain't Worried") which I love and the more mellow songs with acoustic instruments ("Civilian Ways", "The Highway"). With 20 songs (1 bonus) available on the regular album and 32 tracks on the deluxe version there is plenty to listen to. If you're looking for a solid album from start to finish that lets you feel like a kid then this ones for you.

Grade: 85 (B)

Blitzen Trapper - FOLK YEAH!

Blitzen Trapper - Furr. I got turned onto this sweet folkie tune by my buddy RayLo. It's about growing up and feeling so free as a child but then shedding your fur of an animal and become civilized by the girl you fall for. The metaphors are packaged nicely in this groovy folk song. Hope you dig it.



You can even download it straight from Stereogum if you really dig it

The Blues, Mary the Blues

I need to preface this entry by saying how I am obsessed with Gaslight Anthem since probably last summer. I grew up in Monmouth County where most of their songs take place, have '59 Sound AND Sink or Swim in constant rotation in my CD player, bought a Fender Telecaster because Brian Fallon plays one (well so does Bruce and Strummer but this was the kicker) they wail in concert, and anytime I introduce someone to Gaslight they fall under the same spell and love them too. But enough about my musical tastes, let's talk about the song I picked.

This has been around for some time now and I still cannot get enough of it. Brian Fallon of Gaslight Anthem through together a myspace page for some solo stuff he was toying with. Although he says he prefers working with the entire band on songs and does not consider himself much of a songwriter, this song disproves that notion. "The Blues Mary" goes for broke as Fallon's voice recalls the deep stings from Mary of his past. Mary's shown up before in Gaslight songs (like 1930, Great Expectations, Even Cowgirls...she's been there before.) but this one reveals how despite all atrocities, you can still love the one that broke your heart. Enjoy!

Song Review: What Made Milwaukee Famous - Sultan

Barsuk Records has such a sweet lineup of acts on their roster - Ra Ra Riot, Mates of State, Long Winters, and now I've found What Made Milwaukee Famous. "Sultan" off their album What Doesn't Kill Us is a seriously fun song that's straight to the point. Not overly coy with the lyrics but not simple either. It could have been a very raw recording (acoustic only) and still sound great but the full band works so well. The message: Past is what it was. You gotta move on or you'll be consumed by it. Check out WMMF right here.

Song Review: White Lies - Death

"I live on the right side and sleep on the left. That's why everything's got to be love or death."

From the album "To Lose My Life" comes the righteous album opener of "Death." The entire album is so fantastic with tracks like "To Lose My Life" and "Farewell to the Fairground" but I chose to focus on this jam in particular. Very reminiscent of early Killers, the song compares the start of a new relationship with flying on an airplane and the fear of it crashing. It's so beautiful at takeoff and the novelty of seeing the clouds. But then comes the moment of "Oh crap, I'm 30,000 ft above the ground!" and you fear everything will come to a fiery demise. Was this even worth it from the start? And then at 3:17, the song kicks it up to an entirely different level as it bursts through the exit row seating and rips the door off the plane. Enjoy

Burners to Slow Jams and the Art of Song Placement

I plan on making a big entry review on Ben Harper and Relentless7's "White Lies for Dark Times" as it continually blows my mind. Best album I've heard so far this year and I've heard some good tunes. The following is an AIM convo with Dave just a few moments ago as we discuss said amazing album and just song placement in albums all together. It's a rant and a ramble and grammar and casing is never important on AIM. But I found this interesting enough

Dave:so I've finally been getting to the end of the ben album a few times
Dave:wow.
Awesome so amazing

Dave:"faithfully remain"
Awesome altho in the middle my fav may be "Keep it Together" faithfully remain is amazing

Dave:I like "boots like these" too
Dave:but "keep it together" is badass
Dave:but "faithfully" and "fly one time" have both started to really stick with me

Awesome "And now i'm caught in between what i cant leave behind and the world i may never find"
Awesome so powerful

Dave:yeah, both incredible songs
Awesome the entire album is so damn solid

Dave:basically every song not "thin skin" is amazing
Awesome skin thin is great

Dave:not a big fan
Awesome alright

Dave:seems to be the weak point in the album
Awesome its awkwardly placed after dress in black. not a good transistion

Dave:a slow down after a burner, but yeah, I tend to agree
Awesome there's a proper way to slow from a burner

Awesome sudden stops of the burner works great

Dave:..I'm trying to think of the name of the song after 'everlong'
like a violent stop
Awesome walking after you
Dave:yes
Awesome everlong has a long fade tho

Awesome a good 10 seconds


Awesome u need either a long fade or sudden stop like "Somebody told me to" to "All these things i've done"

Dave:but the semi-fade in "dressed in black" doesn't lend itself
Dave:interesting theory
Awesome with black its not a slow fade really

Awesome its a wind-down

Awesome like one instrument then another stops

Awesome not all together for a fade or note ring

Dave:it's a tough song to follow
Awesome well that too

Dave:I mean even in terms of how it fades
Dave:what do you do next?
Awesome i could see the word suicide and skin thin swap places


Awesome and solve the problem

Awesome as "Boots Like These" has a long enough fade

Awesome and "...Suicide" has a slow build up

Awesome so following black would work as it creates its own vibe through its slow opening

New Orleans Magic

For those who have been from Bourbon Street to the Bayou...

King Of New Orleans ~ Better Than Ezra
Home ~ Marc Broussard
Jambalaya (On The Bayou) ~ Harry Connick, Jr.
Moon Over Bourbon Street ~ Sting
Fireman ~ Lil Wayne
Louisiana Bayou ~ Dave Matthews Band
The Way I Feel (feat. Marc Broussard) ~ Matt Wertz
Love Is Free ~ Sheryl Crow
When The Levee Breaks ~ Led Zeppelin
Who Says You Can't Go Home ~ Bon Jovi
Cantaloupe Island ~ Herbie Hancock
Saint's Row ~ David Banner
On The Street Where We Live ~ Harry Connick, Jr.

Song Review: Glasvegas - Geraldine

The Scotland based Glasvegas's self-titled album is full of many auditory landscapes dealing with tough themes of foster homes and broken relationships that paint the images as if the music video is already constructed in your mind just by listening to Rab Allen's haunting guitar riffs. It's singer James Allen who shows what's going on with "Geraldine."

He takes us into a moment in time for a social worker trying to get one of her kids to trust her. The kicking drums and the steady guitar work paints this as a happy melody whereas Allen is singing of the heartbreaking daily life for a troubled teen. But he also makes it clear that this teen has someone looking out for them and honestly cares about their well being. "My name is Geraldine and I'm Your Social Worker" echos loud and clear as a reminder to anyone feeling lost "Somebody's got your back, just let them catch you."

I heard somewhere James Allen grew up in foster homes and this is probably why such powerful lyrics show themselves in songs like these.

Get Your Act Together

Playlist compiled to pump me up while at the gym. I then proceeded to lay on the beach and get a terrible sunburn. My Irish skin tells my body to wait to exercise.

1. I Know What I am - Band of Skulls
2. Sultan - What Made Milwaukee Famous
3. For What It's Worth - Placebo
4. Sinner (Featuring Scott Russo of Unwritten Law) - Big B
5. The Hardest part/Postcards from far Away (Live) - Coldplay
6. Life in Technicolor - Coldplay
7. Helicopter - Flickerstick
8. Geraldine - Glasvegas
9. I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked - Ida Maria
10. In This City - Iglu and Hartly
11. I've Got Friends - Manchester Orchestra
12. Try - John Mayer Trio
13. Genius - Kings of Leon
14. See The Sun - The Kooks
15. Don't Forget Sister - Low vs Diamond
16. Daylight - Matt and Kim
17. Shattered (Turn the Car Around) - O.A.R.
18. Hey Ya! - Outkast
19. Counting Down the Hours - Ted Leo/Pharmacists
20. Here's Your Future - The Thermals

The Meaning of Left Turned Right

Left Turned Right is something I've wanted to do for a long time. I've been an avid music fan for as long as I can remember and (like most people on the internet) feel I have an opinion of music that matters. Here you'll find postings of playlists I recently put together, reviews of songs and albums, concert reviews, fun facts on musicians, and other related rambles. I've already invited one friend along to contribute, maybe more will come in the future. And now the definition:

Car radios have the volume dial on the left of the console. You turn that knob right for increased volume. Left turned Right.