tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56321172416267631552024-03-12T23:43:41.716-05:00Totally UnauthorizedYour source for the latest music and concert reviewsThe Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.comBlogger267125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-24290913893823275472023-10-06T10:25:00.007-05:002023-10-07T17:20:44.805-05:00Totally Unauthorized's Top Concerts & Festival Sets of 2022: Emptying Out the Bucket List 25-1<p><span class="rendered_text">This year didn't start off with any kind of
particular plan in mind but by the end, it had become by far the biggest
live music year of my life. Things began accelerating when I realized
what a great opportunity I had to knock several bands off my bucket list
that I had listened to since I was young but never saw. Tool, Porcupine
Tree, The Killers, The Dead Kennedys, and many others were bands I
chased for a long time, and was fortunate that it all lined up this year
to catch them all. From there, it all kind of snowballed with the
number of crazy good tours and festival lineups popping up all over. I
hope you all enjoy this breakdown of one of the wildest years of live
music.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text"><a href="https://totallyunauthorized.blogspot.com/2023/03/totally-unauthorizeds-top-concerts.html">Part 1 of this list: 50-26</a> <br /></span></h2><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImEPJcAuf4kgBbRjsBRU8BxF9xQYQSakrjB_sWb7-Ni0hlyJ8ViTEIN6RZMKrnEwVAFD0QicXKA-8ppxilSAnjR9MLmalxStdbwhTjLscfFlFLsFlJyDGBLZ7IM63vA0GTOb6CARCO-zcJ_uWv0VbFAx3cYzpLTaq-FAl63WCNhG6g99qDGvHyUqt1w/s3200/P6190270.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImEPJcAuf4kgBbRjsBRU8BxF9xQYQSakrjB_sWb7-Ni0hlyJ8ViTEIN6RZMKrnEwVAFD0QicXKA-8ppxilSAnjR9MLmalxStdbwhTjLscfFlFLsFlJyDGBLZ7IM63vA0GTOb6CARCO-zcJ_uWv0VbFAx3cYzpLTaq-FAl63WCNhG6g99qDGvHyUqt1w/w640-h480/P6190270.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>25. Stevie Nicks</b></span></i></span></span></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="rendered_text"><i>June 19 at Bonnaroo</i></span></span></h1><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">There's
no other way to describe the incomparable Stevie Nicks as anything other
than a legend. As Bonnaroo's closing headliner, she regaled us with
some of the most timeless tunes from Fleetwood Mac's catalog as well as
her own, and accompanied that with stories from over the course of her
storied career.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="364" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dMxl045JzUE" width="438" youtube-src-id="dMxl045JzUE"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>24. Lingua Ignota </b></i></span><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">November 14 at The Basement East // Nashville, TN </span></i></b></div><p><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">Up until
now, I had admired the works of Kristin Hayter but did so from a safe,
respectful distance. With her harsh soundscapes and fire-breathing
persona, it was easy for me to respect her intensity and passion but
found it hard to truly love. Her live set gave me a new perspective on
how beautiful her performance could be.</span></span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzs6CIYp1aDVRDj3HZ2z73HwM3ZwX-o1EEm740UQTv22LGhnP4-fdE6-TY-RVfTNfSsrZpo9PiSZUyjQtl6TDLuwe7EMlnjLeJnwJDw9_cuGFsPd1M-WMdBIflx2U28xj3SOtQBHe79v5IBD5TijdgtHZDxB1t4hLh8U1VtYf63l7zt1Cv9Xk_bQAaiw/s1920/P6160079.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzs6CIYp1aDVRDj3HZ2z73HwM3ZwX-o1EEm740UQTv22LGhnP4-fdE6-TY-RVfTNfSsrZpo9PiSZUyjQtl6TDLuwe7EMlnjLeJnwJDw9_cuGFsPd1M-WMdBIflx2U28xj3SOtQBHe79v5IBD5TijdgtHZDxB1t4hLh8U1VtYf63l7zt1Cv9Xk_bQAaiw/w640-h480/P6160079.JPG" width="640" /></a></i></span></span></h1><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>23. Andy Frasco & the U.N.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">June 16 at Bonnaroo</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></i></b><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"> </span></span></div><p><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">I almost
made a terrible mistake. I was this close to going to camp for the night and
not even seeing this band. Their set started at 1:15am, and I was tired
from having traversed Bonnaroo's first full day and having set up camp
in the blazing heat earlier. What a colossal error it would have been to
miss these guys. The vibe is a big, fun, silly rock show in the vein of
Mac Demarco or Twin Peaks. There were innumerable on stage antics that
made this such a memorable show. The ascendant jam band Goose are
quickly establishing themselves as Bonnaroo darlings, and the whole band
joined Frasco on stage for a few songs. Bassist Trevor Weeks wore a
block of cheese hat and read poetry. And if that isn't enough, the band
ended with a bone crunching cover of Rage Against the Machine's Killing
in the Name.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbCSEdciBnTpwK_EqoL_H_1Xs9ALG-gKynqCvP6N5cWgG0ZZ_6eFr1_abXikZ8U4YLHijjJXOpZXlNabcn6tmWgbjlWE4H0gHRaMCBiTeJ4EB-yyk0CeZlWN9kaJF_BGB4ITOnO7sOFCRxroFEAadcZI6MCyNSuHCbIbzHrX2WSfmmzI2E9Kwek94Qw/s1920/PC301118.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbCSEdciBnTpwK_EqoL_H_1Xs9ALG-gKynqCvP6N5cWgG0ZZ_6eFr1_abXikZ8U4YLHijjJXOpZXlNabcn6tmWgbjlWE4H0gHRaMCBiTeJ4EB-yyk0CeZlWN9kaJF_BGB4ITOnO7sOFCRxroFEAadcZI6MCyNSuHCbIbzHrX2WSfmmzI2E9Kwek94Qw/w480-h640/PC301118.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>22. Widespread Panic</b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>December 30 at Bridgestone Arena // Nashville, TN<br /></b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">Every
time I see Widespread Panic, I walk away with a new favorite song. The
jam band idols emerged from Athens, Georgia, in the mid 80s and have
been revered ever since as one of the most beloved bands in the scene.
It's easy to understand why once you witness the raw instrumental
prowess these guys put out, anchored by the impressive lead guitar
playing of Jimmy Herring. And in true jam band tradition, you're going
to hear a new set of songs at every show. My favorites this time was
Rebirtha, an ode that captures the adventures and misadventures of its
titular characters, along with a rafter shaking cover of Buffalo
Springfield's For What It's Worth.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"> </span></span></div><p><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuhuDr2pvEkJd-gCy_Eje-nLlLW2nmYYcv5XKC5RM5Uh8J0tBW53zWBIllgqk2gU9WXptwnd3lwARrI39NK75kPigmivNf9kU2p-bOUnUaid1vWiH0_5y4UaVu_zeetVd4nd1dgsiJre9DwyAaWY8rK8lJLJHy-nkks9F7Ygxg28nbuWRRp_yxwhwiMpX/s4608/IMG_20220827_225310%20chris.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4608" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuhuDr2pvEkJd-gCy_Eje-nLlLW2nmYYcv5XKC5RM5Uh8J0tBW53zWBIllgqk2gU9WXptwnd3lwARrI39NK75kPigmivNf9kU2p-bOUnUaid1vWiH0_5y4UaVu_zeetVd4nd1dgsiJre9DwyAaWY8rK8lJLJHy-nkks9F7Ygxg28nbuWRRp_yxwhwiMpX/w640-h288/IMG_20220827_225310%20chris.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></b></div><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">21. Chris Lake</span></i></b><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>August 27 at Deep Tropics Fest // Nashville, TN</i><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"> <br /></span></span></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">Most
commonly associated with the current tech-house craze, Lake hard edged
beats and infectious rhythms have catapulted him into being one of the
world's most sought after DJs. Just when you think you can't groove any
harder, he'll mix one his patented hits like "Automatic" or "Deceiver"
and reignite the whole dancefloor. Whether he's playing to a massive
field or small club, Lake has what it takes to keep your booty moving
all through the night.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFoCBEUqbCorqxDh283yDbMIdjoVFSiNL6IRq7WwSNP7PPomENjYsiLsAy5YaHbsvJHjItB0oAKecGk7PgdBN9FKFirgDXB6nI7WPXSvgAiwFpXqXuSfAsp0J3AKw4WVaLmctMKFqDq8HqwQ2nWTUL4iQOblEr6cKfkaK_OzvVa2AlyyHoTlaQkFucLVk/s1920/PA020678.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFoCBEUqbCorqxDh283yDbMIdjoVFSiNL6IRq7WwSNP7PPomENjYsiLsAy5YaHbsvJHjItB0oAKecGk7PgdBN9FKFirgDXB6nI7WPXSvgAiwFpXqXuSfAsp0J3AKw4WVaLmctMKFqDq8HqwQ2nWTUL4iQOblEr6cKfkaK_OzvVa2AlyyHoTlaQkFucLVk/w640-h480/PA020678.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> </span></span><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">20. Elton John</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">October 2 at Nissan Stadium // Nashville TN</span></i></b><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">Missing
Elton on his last tour was clearly not an option. I have had such a
great time with his music over the years that it's only fitting to see
the man one last time to pay respects. My favorite memory of this show
is glancing down my aisleway during Crocodile Rock to see everyone
bopping around and singing along, having the greatest time. After the
show, I saw this older woman in tears, clutching someone who looked to
be her son. I realized then, at my age, there's no way to fully know
what it's like to have grown up and spent your entire life with a
particular artist, anticipating each new release and chasing them on
tour like I'm sure this lady had done over the years. I can say one
thing. Whether you've been a fan of him for day or a lifetime, Elton
has created indelible memories none of us will ever forget.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oUvkifGCOpUg4e-vdkbT9DIRAWdNN_1kFEyfGmpeKjuzz0XreYH6_d0Q4WAlra0FVvHSMrQMQNRV3FamW31xfF32tn7JOGxlw-4J7Ded_Yr6rKKNPUwzk0DrgImI9DlYw3N1zLFxlYNEILo2HOzbpFRgZs6kNfI05h9b6KqHAKMShuN7VOoI_-11N1zB/s3200/Tame.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oUvkifGCOpUg4e-vdkbT9DIRAWdNN_1kFEyfGmpeKjuzz0XreYH6_d0Q4WAlra0FVvHSMrQMQNRV3FamW31xfF32tn7JOGxlw-4J7Ded_Yr6rKKNPUwzk0DrgImI9DlYw3N1zLFxlYNEILo2HOzbpFRgZs6kNfI05h9b6KqHAKMShuN7VOoI_-11N1zB/w640-h480/Tame.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">19. Tame Impala</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">March 23 at Bridgestone Arena // Nashville, TN </span></i></b><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">At long
last, I finally got the two hour extravaganza from Tame Impala I had
always wanted. The last time I saw them was at their ignominiously
billed Late Night Bonnaroo show in 2016, and I couldn't help feeling
like I wanted more after they walked off stage with 30 mins still left
on their set time. They made up for it and more with this set, which
greatly elevated the material on The Slow Rush and treated us to all
their other faves we've come to know and love. They bookended their set
with One More Year and One More Hour, cleverly offering us a
retrospective on what we'd witnessed at set's end. And the crowd got
louder than I can ever remember them being at Bridgestone arena, showing
there is perhaps still some hope for the next generation of rock and
roll.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNO1J_brlgvPzWPYkmgJ55XOWduT26eJl8KFSk1UPFpljaEhl51kTgZgqIYBh43fzt13QaV4Q2ihMMAniaitEr_xGdnvcHHUzaQxQxANpf-1rVolo7V8wbjhHXNZBnEvDv5fsv1r2jB0_YB18_4m6ZwArvGHr0bTsAEeubcDy7h9ettcqIosu5QTPn7ZI5/s3040/IMG_20220407_221326.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3040" data-original-width="2079" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNO1J_brlgvPzWPYkmgJ55XOWduT26eJl8KFSk1UPFpljaEhl51kTgZgqIYBh43fzt13QaV4Q2ihMMAniaitEr_xGdnvcHHUzaQxQxANpf-1rVolo7V8wbjhHXNZBnEvDv5fsv1r2jB0_YB18_4m6ZwArvGHr0bTsAEeubcDy7h9ettcqIosu5QTPn7ZI5/w438-h640/IMG_20220407_221326.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>18. Caitlyn Smith</i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>April 7 at Brooklyn Bowl // Nashville, TN </i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">There was
one point during the first song of this set where Caitlyn did this
sidestep away from the mic, cocked her head back and let out this little
scream. I knew right then and there this was going to be a kickass
show. The Nashville by way of Minnesota country starlet has wowed with
the raw power and incredible command of her voice, and offers a
refreshing alternative for those who find the music row sound has grown
stale. Smith's lower range gets a strong showcase during Contact High,"
in a performance that leaves the microphone molten, while on "Tacoma,"
she channels that same energy into a biting tearjerker. What's
magnificent is it avoids the common pitfalls of being overwrought or a
by the numbers power ballad and delivers a performance that feels both
refreshing and heartfelt. She also got some guests in on the act,
bringing out the night's opening performers in Caylee Hammack, Jillian
Jacqueline, and Emily Weisband for a cover of Kenny Rogers's "You Can't
Make Old Friends," while bringing out Old Dominion's Matt Ramsey to duet
on her breakout hit "I Can't."</span></span><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="368" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kQpg-fJSxHc" width="442" youtube-src-id="kQpg-fJSxHc"></iframe></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>17. Marc Rebillet</i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>June 18 at Bonnaroo </i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">It
took some time before I could fully come around on Marc's zany brand
comedic musical improv. When I first discovered Marc, I wasn't sure if
this was some kind of American Pie style gross out sex stuff or
something equally dumb. There are some elements of that, but it's not
nearly as bad as I equally thought. Instead, what I found was that Marc
has a mind dedicated to having the most ridiculous kind of fun possible,
and isn't afraid to make himself look comical in order to do so. The
show began with Marc playing on his turntables out in the crowd, and had
to haul his equipment up to the stage due to technical malfunctions.
What we got once he got there was one of the latest, greatest, and
weirdest late night dance parties that Bonnaroo has seen.</span></span><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span> <br /> <br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRRaI0Wro8S0RCC4tIHBltN8XmFHjvJBH6SkLsrBxXbyY5xhVqudvIG0IpRuBzmG273dmv45XpBL96CUTZFE1QWlX1C5Ukg6av_gqViTXRl2hu3M7GoNucz0mH8-s8MeGJE_CtnNP5LqFxqs4zUxrGOTcVaG6k8CzCJfJH0DpvCjFlYTIcYymiyiJ9NN8/s1920/P9170548.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRRaI0Wro8S0RCC4tIHBltN8XmFHjvJBH6SkLsrBxXbyY5xhVqudvIG0IpRuBzmG273dmv45XpBL96CUTZFE1QWlX1C5Ukg6av_gqViTXRl2hu3M7GoNucz0mH8-s8MeGJE_CtnNP5LqFxqs4zUxrGOTcVaG6k8CzCJfJH0DpvCjFlYTIcYymiyiJ9NN8/w640-h480/P9170548.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></b></div><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">16. The Killers</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">September 17 at Bridgestone Arena // Nashville TN</span></i></b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal">“It is my great pleasure to say that we are The Killers,”
singer Brandon Flowers jubiliantly proclaimed as he took a bow about midway
through his band’s set. You know what to expect with a Killers show: this is a
big band with a big sound and big hits. They did their best to go through as
many of them as early as possible in the set it seemed like (which borderline
caused pacing problems for the latter half of the set), but we were here for it
as Flowers performed these cuts with his fist raised high. The distinctive
keyboard layering of “Jenny Was a Friend of Mine,” the earnest driving guitar
churn of “When You Were Young,” and the dancefloor bop “Somebody Told Me” all
factored in to the early portion of the setlist. But we were also treated to
“Quiet Town,” which is fast becoming a fan favorite. It’s pulled from their
latest offering <i>Pressure Machine</i>, an album which paints a pastoral
portrait of small town living in the American West, something akin to the
band’s attempt at their very own version of <i>The Joshua Tree</i>. It’s
hard to deny the feel good story when Flowers let the fan from the crowd come
up to play drums on “For Reasons Unknown.” I didn’t know this until I
researched it more but this is apparently a semi-recurring thing the band does
at shows. Not everyone who’s tried it has actually been able to do it! But the
guy we got in Nashville did a bang-up job. This set up for a great show outro
as the main set ended with longtime Killers anthem “All These Things That I’ve
Done,” while opener Johnny Maar strutted back out for a ravishing rendition of “This
Charming Man” during the encore, before the night came to an ultimate end with
a slow jam version of “Mr Brightside,” which lasted for the first verse and
chorus before the band erupted into the full speed version of the song.</p><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv9xT6biwdVPL2b_O_KlId3xnioc7Jc2ju1FkMVu57dc8PPCikvEZ4pxLfGNT0Vfhgt1AsMBGNyYWChIxZhSdlKyPF6rbgzlzROcUBAprq9hoX_vZYtkmOrv4A-jdSw4ahWNB8HRY6TIpgIWIfGc_24oQeJzo_23bLCTMthpWC1tcYkiPBCwGpHkFQSve/s1920/PC031066.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv9xT6biwdVPL2b_O_KlId3xnioc7Jc2ju1FkMVu57dc8PPCikvEZ4pxLfGNT0Vfhgt1AsMBGNyYWChIxZhSdlKyPF6rbgzlzROcUBAprq9hoX_vZYtkmOrv4A-jdSw4ahWNB8HRY6TIpgIWIfGc_24oQeJzo_23bLCTMthpWC1tcYkiPBCwGpHkFQSve/w640-h480/PC031066.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>15. The Smile</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>December 3 at Ryman Auditorium // Nashville TN </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">There's
no doubting any project helmed by Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood. It's
not that any songs presented here couldn't necessarily fit comfortably
into the Radiohead lexicon, but the group seems to be more relaxed and
ambitious not having to live up to the expectations of writing music for
their flagship band. This time, they also have jazz-based drummer Tom
Skinner in tow from Sons of Kemet, who you saw on the earlier
installment of this list, to help propel their engine. It's difficult to
think of a musical experience that compares to kicking back and
watching this impressive battery of musicians do their thing.</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlCVhFfQ4gckwJEgxocBcnkZDGttblpRoaEdzubXwFTS-3nT0jsYarPzejM63-iw1xG-W5EbFmpkMROf03JIwkxmurntvr3xw2AAaB4O_ACLrSlppPwgGvShkdcCkc192B-oHXwyp_tpOmznABUQsjunlcxRSp7-MUbzKTc37jQV-bAv4_P0alVsFUXIh/s1920/PC311185.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlCVhFfQ4gckwJEgxocBcnkZDGttblpRoaEdzubXwFTS-3nT0jsYarPzejM63-iw1xG-W5EbFmpkMROf03JIwkxmurntvr3xw2AAaB4O_ACLrSlppPwgGvShkdcCkc192B-oHXwyp_tpOmznABUQsjunlcxRSp7-MUbzKTc37jQV-bAv4_P0alVsFUXIh/w640-h480/PC311185.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>14. Old Crow Medicine Show </i></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>December 31 at Ryman Auditorium // Nashville, TN</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">Move
aside, Mumford & Lumineers. These boys have been stomping since long
before you were ever even thought of. They pulled out all the stops for
this special set. There was a Nashville New Year's hype song and a
cover of "Rock & Roll All Nite" alongside familiar favorites. And,
of course, there are few better ways to kick off the new year than with a
gigantic sing along of OCMS's quintessential tune "Wagon Wheel" just
after the stroke of midnight. Year in and year out, the band continues
to prove there are few better ways to ring in the new year in Nashville.</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsVXbytnL_0sg-IYjaBvnAnlEzyrUTxA0pXZIFTlj1miRgZkG4ltKIabG4jdpvz1DdWDuO8XL8TH6oEad5hROLrKNggdjIYLu493SQjYgFD6iUFHIlqWQY0LYoWw4kOq4P51tzVnj_HJ72IoCWywduPOYQVsd0eiHruMnsZo81NGiKCrE1Sa1517UbW30/s1920/PA230509.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsVXbytnL_0sg-IYjaBvnAnlEzyrUTxA0pXZIFTlj1miRgZkG4ltKIabG4jdpvz1DdWDuO8XL8TH6oEad5hROLrKNggdjIYLu493SQjYgFD6iUFHIlqWQY0LYoWw4kOq4P51tzVnj_HJ72IoCWywduPOYQVsd0eiHruMnsZo81NGiKCrE1Sa1517UbW30/w640-h480/PA230509.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></i></b></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>13. Gorillaz </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>October 23 at</i></b> <b><i>FTX Arena // Miami, FL</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">The most
exceptional attribute to a Gorillaz show is how many moving parts there
are and somehow it all works, melded together by the mad vision of Damon
Albarn. You're treated to dazzling sound and genre shifts, powered by a
massive band tasked with conjuring any type of sound Albarn can
imagine. There's also a strong audiovisual element, considering that
they're trying to keep the animated band a part of it all. Some of the
visuals seemed particularly a bit violent or anti-authoritarian. During
one sequence, one of the animated bandmembers was on a floating island
getting bombed to bits by fighter jets. And of course, another highlight
is all the guests. which further expands the palette of what's possible
onstage. Notably, this would be their last show with De La Soul member
Dave Jolicoeur, who died in February 2023.</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNrbBhAxTR9vYb0mXfz-jLQOGJI0qR8EaXULu3nNNw0dZdO3T_e_4m2nR4dDCkVp6aB-AODOH5QESmO66ntAKnzDifRWU2gqYLvL1Qy-Dg7FFXHuVQRQUzoYk2laBNJ9MjJNIBaBuLjIeIseUnpHZr1IOyWPA1KDquB-sqFxzr5lI6PBStrnaWywFltqE/s1920/PA220418.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNrbBhAxTR9vYb0mXfz-jLQOGJI0qR8EaXULu3nNNw0dZdO3T_e_4m2nR4dDCkVp6aB-AODOH5QESmO66ntAKnzDifRWU2gqYLvL1Qy-Dg7FFXHuVQRQUzoYk2laBNJ9MjJNIBaBuLjIeIseUnpHZr1IOyWPA1KDquB-sqFxzr5lI6PBStrnaWywFltqE/w640-h480/PA220418.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></i></b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>12. Rosalia</i></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>October 22 at III Points // Miami, FL</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">What an
audiovisual feast for the senses this show is. The immediate thought it
brought to mind is how it looked like a music video being filmed. The
cameraman was onstage with her panning all the way around her, and like a
consummate professional, she knows how to play to it as well as anyone.
Rosalia wows with her natural exuberance, she was born to be onstage. She
also has a strong, diverse catalog to back it up. She can go from
singing something sultry to absolutely heartrending ballad, before
breaking into an intensely choreographed dance stompers, or even
traditional Spanish flamenco. I'll add my voice to the chorus of those who believe Rosalia is well on her way to becoming a major fest headliner.</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kNbKOAL-SMdDGFbDkpnpX-_E7FDHdupoER4ThLRr-fLDtGTGQ2VWeOo_1xzDEfrRQNjldL2pxW-oqMhDj5qi-X3jFw88UwW3VI5rmXESaRTRFGkdZeNs7hGUa_tfaUFyfAQD8UaldZcRw1T0JenNTyGcJ1M80uFABz3SmWzBUOxOYVbAkOdt2xE4REMl/s4608/IMG_20220903_230442.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4608" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kNbKOAL-SMdDGFbDkpnpX-_E7FDHdupoER4ThLRr-fLDtGTGQ2VWeOo_1xzDEfrRQNjldL2pxW-oqMhDj5qi-X3jFw88UwW3VI5rmXESaRTRFGkdZeNs7hGUa_tfaUFyfAQD8UaldZcRw1T0JenNTyGcJ1M80uFABz3SmWzBUOxOYVbAkOdt2xE4REMl/w640-h288/IMG_20220903_230442.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></i></b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>11. Ghost </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>September 3 at Gas South Arena // Duluth, GA<br /> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was not prepared for how good Ghost was going to be. My only past exposure to them was when they opened on the Iron Maiden tour a few years ago. Their set then started off very strong but got old quickly. What they did here was a major evolution. I can’t remember the last time I was this surprised by a band in a positive way. If you’ve got just a little bit of wonder and imagination, it’s not hard to get swept up in this whole vibe they work very hard to construct of dancing in the graveyard at midnight with your forbidden lover. You can practically hear the ghouls singing in the background. There are highlights galore; at on point a mummy even jumped out of a sarcophagus and started playing saxophone. The entire set was very well constructed, particular the build to the end. Frontman Tobias Forge was masterful in enchanting the crowd. He announced there would be three more songs, then two. Then when it was done he was basically like well here's one more for you anyway. And the setlist selections during this final phase of the show were equally inspired as well, with the Gothic horror Mummy Dust, the poignant dance of the dead "Dance Macabre," and finally the hard-edged "Square Hammer" to close things out.<b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K1y0Kc9vCIUirOgBXEaTVYPt4zRaTjyVtNZuGx9zUFvFKiT_kDxnXiMtNkH7_BzEGWyyNcwFzd2KW1joRiz4bAtXEHThqAL1lRHKvMUgsHMv5glyG1-rtuiOiJeOEF-bQVw9y6q-yNzyq1d8bOM1c-hhXyS2cSJnz4vPbp6vwpq_4mVnDtRkd7T2MRbu/s2823/P6180193.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2119" data-original-width="2823" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K1y0Kc9vCIUirOgBXEaTVYPt4zRaTjyVtNZuGx9zUFvFKiT_kDxnXiMtNkH7_BzEGWyyNcwFzd2KW1joRiz4bAtXEHThqAL1lRHKvMUgsHMv5glyG1-rtuiOiJeOEF-bQVw9y6q-yNzyq1d8bOM1c-hhXyS2cSJnz4vPbp6vwpq_4mVnDtRkd7T2MRbu/w640-h480/P6180193.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>10. Billy Strings</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>June 18 at Bonnaroo </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">He opened
with "Dust in a Baggie," a song detailing the rise and fall of a
backwoods junkie, and it was the only song of his I knew but man, what a
clinic this was. Before his announcement on the Roo lineup I had little
conception of what type of musician Billy was, save for the fact that
he was some kind of guitarist. Safe to say I won't forget any time soon.
Watching this guy operate is insane; with his deft and frenetic four
finger picking it's like watching some kind of bluegrass Dream Theater.
His band was equal to the task, aiding him through delicate, heartfelt
numbers like "Love and Theft" and the prog/jam/bluegrass barnburner
"Hide & Seek." Playing the main stage before Saturday night's
headliners Tool allowed Billy to inject a little humor, remarking that
he wanted to avoid running over his set time so Tool frontman Maynard
James Keenan wouldn't skullfuck him. Feel free to come on back anytime,
Mr. Strings.</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3h3alryDdEvrIvY42dBRfPiKw5c0t4w4OiBmP3q-jHELPocfBNavxsppFDOvo4k9s5QclNMqEV3bLMdT5usyrEx1WDahKwcEMh87VEPzTm44vAsk2qKzjvojRQsT7KDeAtmAvslYnzzQHtnEpDWYrzyiCKjxaW-uR27ZPpagmU-ZGvreVlnkugnrs69s/s3200/P8120274.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3h3alryDdEvrIvY42dBRfPiKw5c0t4w4OiBmP3q-jHELPocfBNavxsppFDOvo4k9s5QclNMqEV3bLMdT5usyrEx1WDahKwcEMh87VEPzTm44vAsk2qKzjvojRQsT7KDeAtmAvslYnzzQHtnEpDWYrzyiCKjxaW-uR27ZPpagmU-ZGvreVlnkugnrs69s/w640-h480/P8120274.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></i></b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>9. Red Hot Chili Peppers</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>August 12 at Nissan Stadium // Nashville, TN</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">Normally,
I roll my eyes pretty hard when I see a jam section written into a
band's setlist. Not with these guys. The big story here was the return
of classic era guitarist John Frusciante, who played a pivotal role in
lifting the band to its highest heights. They have a very thougt
provoking way of playing with one another. Flea on bass and Chad Smith
on drums are power players with a propulsive style. If I had to compare
them to a different art form, I could easily imagine these guys as
sculptors, powerfully chiseling their vision out of a slab of marble or
concrete. Frusciante, on the other hand, I could picutre behind an easel
with his headphones on, lost in his own world, painting these sweeping
brushstrokes on a canvas in a way that's very whimsical but at the same
time very purposeful. Onstage, it creates a marriage of majesty and
power, and no other band comes to mind that does things quite like they
do. You all know their hits well enough that there should be no need to
go over those in detail, although the setlist did make some attempts to
throw curveballs (Strip My Mind), and the tunes from their recently
released album Unlimited Love nestled their way among the band's bigger
staples without feeling too intrusive. The boldest decision was the
omission of "Under the Bridge," but opening the encore with "Soul to
Squeeze" gave the crowd plenty to crow about. If we're lucky Frusciante
will stick around, as his return has clearly revitalized the band
onstage in a major way.</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsjGxF4lQBNsjrsKVLQLrnpZqS2ApZJzoQjT8NnRBT0CoGkY6yPKAjccIOyplWnzs-4imssM4Geu8z6rZMEnEtpCIMCHPvZ-WepRNUyuwI9ucRfYo3DxdXxvHH2tdrGEXG9d7kw9WHJXy3JvZpR9rn9plLUmE7Qf1ny7-9JpuWcHYzxv4qm4_07f0g-U5/s4608/IMG_20220820_223951.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4608" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsjGxF4lQBNsjrsKVLQLrnpZqS2ApZJzoQjT8NnRBT0CoGkY6yPKAjccIOyplWnzs-4imssM4Geu8z6rZMEnEtpCIMCHPvZ-WepRNUyuwI9ucRfYo3DxdXxvHH2tdrGEXG9d7kw9WHJXy3JvZpR9rn9plLUmE7Qf1ny7-9JpuWcHYzxv4qm4_07f0g-U5/w640-h288/IMG_20220820_223951.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></i></b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>8. Roger Waters</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>August 20 at State Farm Arena // Atlanta, GA</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">Pink
Floyd's former bassist has unapologetically been one of the most
confrontational artists of our time, and he showed no signs of retreat
during his This is Not a Drill tour. There's so many once in a lifetime
moments in this set, from the opening strains of "Comfortably Numb,"
which is soon followed by the fist pumping rebellion of Another Brick in
the Wall Parts 2 & 3, and the giant inflatable pig floating around
the arena during the confrontational 1st set closer "Sheep," which sees
Waters cajoling his audience to pay better attention to world around
them. Of course, there's a more thoughtful side as well, case in point
with one of his solo songs The Bar," in which he describes the titular
bar as a marketplace for open exchange of ideas of all different shapes,
sizes, and topics. There's the sublime "Two Suns in the Sunset," one of
his last moments working with former bandmate David Gilmour before
departing from Pink Floyd, and there's an undeniable energy crackling
through the air when he launches into his signature bassline that opens
Floyd 's mega-hit Money. But by far the evening's most poignant and best
moment came during the montage that led up to "Wish You Were Here,"
which recounted trips Waters used to make into town with Pink Floyd
founding guitarist Syd Barrett to watch concerts together, experiences
that would no doubt be foundational in the development of the band's
sound. Waters may be as divisive as ever, but there's no denying the
power and immediacy of one of his performances.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoWahpMwURHxbicfXBZrLGehQXtmUsduVrfgHWnjopwgQ-Mm8I5XSYtQgiOuBF3TuM0sKNmeY9AAuZA8CzhSgE6KQo6Isk_gxCRR0oNqqYIkIux6dwsGz3KVhaVmlEC86UqLsPGWsfVxWaEJJYPSXnmlXl0cPxJx0YE_gRBpjMtduLp3m5pLkursMJCh6/s1920/P9150478.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoWahpMwURHxbicfXBZrLGehQXtmUsduVrfgHWnjopwgQ-Mm8I5XSYtQgiOuBF3TuM0sKNmeY9AAuZA8CzhSgE6KQo6Isk_gxCRR0oNqqYIkIux6dwsGz3KVhaVmlEC86UqLsPGWsfVxWaEJJYPSXnmlXl0cPxJx0YE_gRBpjMtduLp3m5pLkursMJCh6/w640-h480/P9150478.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. Jack White</span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">September 15 at Bourbon & Beyond // Louisville, KY</span></i></b><br /> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]-->It’s rare to find an artist who blows me away this
consistently on a live stage. I’ve seen White four times and he’s made my end
of year Top 10 each time with room to spare. This time around he’s got two new
albums to boot, one focusing on his hard rock side and the other significantly
more mellow. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m gonna skip over the
normally obligatory rundown of new material to call out the fact that I finally
got “Fell in Love With a Girl” live. I remember watching that Lego-ass video on
a Saturday morning at my buddy’s place, it was the first thing I’d ever heard
from that band. He had a sick solo he snuck in right in the middle of it before
he resumed kicking our asses. Carolina Drama was pretty great too. I had never
even heard that song before but I got heavy “Tweeter & the Monkey Man”
vibes off that song with its heavy focus on storytelling. “What’s the Trick” was
the easy highlight out of the new songs.
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0wFHBNI8My-ZHRAQPHe9-SxxGHyHWPJVHLzRSUzMmXCBMnFiwTsn8imx95cgROzX1k1DIQ6FXPnSzavn8NWt5MABj0z1Wkmn40PpcPuQsISAJ4H6ENC3pkoewiJstC8IImO3iBYhYQbjtF448R3Nv_43hVikG_c1htqcm8IBDknhv-fzqKj_BSyOHXc_/s1920/PA210168.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0wFHBNI8My-ZHRAQPHe9-SxxGHyHWPJVHLzRSUzMmXCBMnFiwTsn8imx95cgROzX1k1DIQ6FXPnSzavn8NWt5MABj0z1Wkmn40PpcPuQsISAJ4H6ENC3pkoewiJstC8IImO3iBYhYQbjtF448R3Nv_43hVikG_c1htqcm8IBDknhv-fzqKj_BSyOHXc_/w640-h480/PA210168.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. LCD Soundsystem </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">October 21 at III Points // Miami, FL </span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">One of
the things I marvel about the most with this band is how remarkably
consistent they are. LCD Soundsystem has been a regular entrant onto my
live lists since I first saw them in 2016, and I'd be hard pressed to
rank any of those shows above or below one another. They simply are one
of the greatest touring acts for many reasons. James Murphy's outfit
inventively blends together elements of dance, punk, and garage rock,
and are very tight and always in sync with one another, which is even
more impressive when you consider there's about 8 or 10 of them on
stage. On this occasion, they were headlining the first night of Miami's
III Points Festival which had, to this point, flown under my radar, but
as I discovered is certainly a little gem of a fest. James called out
that he had lobbied the festival for an extended set time, and they
certainly made the most of their 1hr 45 mins to weave their spell. Rare
is it that a band can melt you with white hot heat (Movement, Get
Innocuous!), then turn around and smack you with a fist raising
tearjerker (Someone Great, All My Friends) with the type of zest that
LCD can.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZ2PeUmj-pPxB8EhfopDx9qrvxLIV_IksEf-oIlqABiU6cwdYx3UJLdowtzy90gEthv9oF1JpU0nSPIcX_oixKfWY55uWh9wenL7Y7Vxta_DsHIYWGNO9NdMmr_NYaQIc-jNy3FF0J97ldwDO9xNHt-PlU2JwPTxBJ3VPW-LTsA9ZoLEU7hfFVueiEOa8/s1920/PA290639.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZ2PeUmj-pPxB8EhfopDx9qrvxLIV_IksEf-oIlqABiU6cwdYx3UJLdowtzy90gEthv9oF1JpU0nSPIcX_oixKfWY55uWh9wenL7Y7Vxta_DsHIYWGNO9NdMmr_NYaQIc-jNy3FF0J97ldwDO9xNHt-PlU2JwPTxBJ3VPW-LTsA9ZoLEU7hfFVueiEOa8/w640-h480/PA290639.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>5. My Morning Jacket </i></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>October 29 at KFC Yum! Center // Louisville, KY</i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">Seeing
My Morning Jacket is always a treat. Catching them at a hometown show
right before Halloween, with giant monsters joining them onstage is a
whole other level of awesome. With one bandmember in a skull mask,
another wearing a floppy wig, and Jim James sporting dark eyeliner, you
might be excused for thinking he was putting on his best impression of a
goth-rock frontman. Although not technically a jam band by definition,
they draw inspiration from The Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead, and many
other titans of the scene to create a sound that many find more
accessible, and stands strongly on its own merits. They kicked off with
slow burning fan favorite "One Big Holiday," but reached into their bag
of tricks for a few surprises, including the full length version of "Run
Thru," which commonly is only played from the bridge onward, both parts
of the blissfully moody "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream," and a couple of
holiday themed covers with Donovan's "Hour of the Witch" and Classic
IV's "Spooky." Time and time again, James & crew continue to prove
why they're one of today's greatest rock bands.</span></span><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmbvU9T7Lj4_1avr6pULdSUsdbUKFjMBYesfUm2ds6eNJ96nQ6KuTXuLwNXQjoUMentkIryXyq6pTqtFEkAC_rBk2ESOhm2nqe4q5wInQXSgHFwAamcEPtR1f6BI2B26NicqIErWAw_iVmYzw2THRnec5_bj95Y_4MHW3lw7v1e6kvEL5D_nseGPwqjqD/s4140/Goose.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2052" data-original-width="4140" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmbvU9T7Lj4_1avr6pULdSUsdbUKFjMBYesfUm2ds6eNJ96nQ6KuTXuLwNXQjoUMentkIryXyq6pTqtFEkAC_rBk2ESOhm2nqe4q5wInQXSgHFwAamcEPtR1f6BI2B26NicqIErWAw_iVmYzw2THRnec5_bj95Y_4MHW3lw7v1e6kvEL5D_nseGPwqjqD/w640-h318/Goose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></i></b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>4. Goose </i></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>March 5 at Brooklyn Bowl // Nashville, TN</i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">This was
the first ticket I bought to any show in 2022 and had I waited much longer I
doubt I could have. Connecticut-based jam rockers Goose have risen
quickly in the ranks of the jam band world, and they showed a sold out
crowd at Brooklyn Bowl exactly why that is. They're so good at locking
in on a groove with the bass and drums, setting the tone for a booty
shakin' three hour dance party. Nothing demonstrated this better than
the opening salvo of "Jive II" and "Jive Lee," They wasted no time in
capturing the crowd in the palm of their hand. But their real x-factor
is lead man Rick Mitarotonda, whose lead playing is just as crisp as his
vocal delivery. Considering the jam band scene is not known for quality
singers, Mitarotonda definitely stands out. Nowhere was this more
evident than on "Arcadia," with his soothing voice layering over top of
these rich, warm earth tones of the song, or when they broke out a cover
of Jim James's "State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.)," a bonafide crowd
pleasing moment for sure when taking into account James's revered status
within the scene.</span></span><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b><b><i><br /> </i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuV0RQRZuo5vdIflyJbIVfnq8gUxQXHruyfb0mG261liZwWfY94YqY42aj_HLvhvk_13i1kprpaxbfZCrv60phZX4NF9EOuCD4unY29x_BimXrIS25YkiaIa5cEAnxiDCKO12b3NZbZyokFPFt90MJ5eFgmDCZ5jBn82an7VZIRg2WDKmW32KUYed6sqY/s3200/P6180225.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuV0RQRZuo5vdIflyJbIVfnq8gUxQXHruyfb0mG261liZwWfY94YqY42aj_HLvhvk_13i1kprpaxbfZCrv60phZX4NF9EOuCD4unY29x_BimXrIS25YkiaIa5cEAnxiDCKO12b3NZbZyokFPFt90MJ5eFgmDCZ5jBn82an7VZIRg2WDKmW32KUYed6sqY/w640-h480/P6180225.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></i></b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>3. Tool </i></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>June 18 at Bonnaroo</i></b><b><i><br /> </i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">Bonnaroo
could have easily been a pass this year but then I was like, ah, damn,
they've got Tool. What am I to do? Not miss them, that's what. Tool does
a great job of transporting you into the world. I remember taking
awhile just being absorbed by their visuals. The setlist was one of the
best as well. It took guts, especially in a festival environment where
most folks expect to hear your best known stuff, but they went with some
deeper stuff. I actually said to myself pre-show that I'll probably
never get to hear The Patient and them bam! They broke it out in all its
glory. Pushit is one I'll never forget either. My only regret is I wish
they could have gotten longer. I've been following these guys since
high school and to finally see Maynard, Danny, and the boys was a real
dream come true.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="432" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l420X9T1a6E" width="520" youtube-src-id="l420X9T1a6E"></iframe></div><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Porcupine Tree </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">September 25 at Bellco Theatre // Denver, CO</span></i></b></span></span></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal">When I first encountered these English prog rockers as a
high schooler, my mind was immediately blown by the dizzying way the could mix
psychedelia and ambient sounds with pop rock and harder edged metal. What was
less certain was if I’d ever have the chance to see them do it in person. The
band announced an indefinite hiatus in 2010, with frontman Steven Wilson moving
on to a solo career and drummer Gavin Harrison, who had widely been credited
with playing a major role in the band’s shift from the psychedelic space rock
of its early days into a harder progressive metal type of sound, spent the
intervening years touring with several different projects. So lo and behold, our heroes (along with
keyboardist Richard Barberi) decided to get back together and give it one more
go for a brief tour strongly alluded to as their last, behind their first album
in 13 years, fittingly titled Closure/Continuation. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They gave us everything they had over the course of the
show’s near three hour runtime. What wasn’t a highlight? You had the rarely
played full 17 minute version of Anethietze from the band’s breakout album <i>Fear
of a Blank Planet</i>, which starts off rather innocuously with an understated
guitar and keyboard pattern but gradually builds tension over time as Wilson
expounds on anxiety with our 21<sup>st</sup> century relationship with
technology before ultimately exploding with a magnificent combination of heavy
riffs and one of the greatest solos of their career (played by Rush’s Alex
Lifeson on the album version, no less). Perhaps topping that was “Collapse the
Light Into Earth,” a simple yet powerful piano statement between Wilson and
Barberi that touches on wistful emotion and nostalgia in all the right ways. It
had never been played live by the band prior to this tour. Wilson’s biting wit
was also on full display. Part of the band’s commitment was to play the new
album in full on each show of the tour. “I don’t understand these bands who put
out a new album<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> and then play
one song ,” he quipped. Wilson was, unfortunately, quite beset by technical
issues but pulled through to deliver an outstanding first set highlighted by
the ethereal deep cut “Last Chance to Evacuate Planet Earth Before It Is
Recycled.” And Gavin Harrison is one of the greatest drummers I have ever seen
live. He has this Ringo Starr type ability where his playing never sounds too
sparse or too cluttered. His fills are always spot on and are a joy to listen
to.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWzKXYHqDCOOK3muMDMiNlzW7K5HUSY1dBMeGCQZmidWI6_FNOg3OtAPR4djEPHLYwwyyIB5X0DhtWkSoJeH7ZKbNfrBnoaK-w1gPPsuVIL1tUO_6N4OCU7PL4GSmPsX8R-VXieP_KJV3fBUln4gU1hgITKyYhFFCageAo62b1TOGzW5bKmLWBWdFUnMm/s1788/PA220287.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1788" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWzKXYHqDCOOK3muMDMiNlzW7K5HUSY1dBMeGCQZmidWI6_FNOg3OtAPR4djEPHLYwwyyIB5X0DhtWkSoJeH7ZKbNfrBnoaK-w1gPPsuVIL1tUO_6N4OCU7PL4GSmPsX8R-VXieP_KJV3fBUln4gU1hgITKyYhFFCageAo62b1TOGzW5bKmLWBWdFUnMm/w640-h342/PA220287.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Orbital </span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">October 22 at III Points // Miami, FL<br /> </span></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><br /></span></span><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">Ever
since I started going to festivals, I always dreamed of seeing Orbital. I
once hoped I'd see them at Bonnaroo. My plan was to sit and rest my
legs for three whole sets before them to make sure I had enough energy
to go wild. When it became apparent they weren't going to come to me I
eventually resolved to go to them, which set the stage for the Saturday
evening preheadlining slot at Miami's III Points festival. It was
everything I thought it would be and more. They're one of the absolute
best at creating emotion out of their intricate, lushy arranged
layering. The vigorous protest of Dirty Rat, the first-in-the-air pomp
of Smiley is enough to persuade the most cantankerous crowdmember to
move their feet. Then they'll sneak in a Spice Girls remix to get the
nostalgia energy pumping, before unleashing the coup de grace by
blissing you out with these spiritual, burning earth tones of Halcyon +
On + On and lighting the dancefloor (and seemingly the whole globe)
ablaze with Impact (The Earth is Burning). I've never had more fun
dancing at any show.</span></span><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"> </span></span><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></span><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></i></b></span></span> </div>The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-60555911160153879522023-03-05T13:15:00.003-06:002023-03-05T13:16:17.783-06:00Totally Unauthorized's Top Concerts & Festival Sets of 2022: Emptying Out the Bucket List 50-26<p>I say it every year, but 2022 really feels like the year that totally outdid every other year in terms of live music experiences. I'm not sure if it was because of things coming back online after the pandemic, but it feels like can't miss shows were happening pretty much every weekend from about late July through the end of the year. 2022 was a monumental year because I finally had the chance to knock most of the rest of the bands out of my bucket list, and then some. The result is the largest live music list I've done to date, with an all out recounting of the Top 50 live music performances I witnessed this year. <br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcya-Fp6qOX3e299kWWE2xbsabti-cN3H_Hv3pK_yNmnk2sOOHfQGMgJuuMKskIXUg_PfzKGlYbdwnVLfk3Mie1tKvZNnhbc1qWijbQMDT3O0lxdZGYMcbptAaVe2IWn58S-udmfIN018aysuoqZOcT8t649wD8B4Dd2aijeQQc3AWtgQYJKLYZYakxw/s3200/P8030134.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcya-Fp6qOX3e299kWWE2xbsabti-cN3H_Hv3pK_yNmnk2sOOHfQGMgJuuMKskIXUg_PfzKGlYbdwnVLfk3Mie1tKvZNnhbc1qWijbQMDT3O0lxdZGYMcbptAaVe2IWn58S-udmfIN018aysuoqZOcT8t649wD8B4Dd2aijeQQc3AWtgQYJKLYZYakxw/w640-h480/P8030134.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></h2><h1 style="text-align: left;"><i>50. Charli XCX</i></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>August 3 at Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN</i></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">English pop star Charli XCX received a major boost to her
career a few years back when she started experimenting with hyperpop,
characterized by unusually higher pitched, noisy, or glitchy frequencies
to drive a sense of energy in the music. This was best exemplified by
setlist staple Vroom Vroom, which is absolutely dripping in attitude and
is backed by futuristic/tech production that makes it easy to picture
racing down the interstate in a state of the art sleek, sophisticated
ride. The set also featured a full album playthough of her recent album
Crash, highlighted by Lightning, a fun stomper drenched in 80s style
beats and production.</span></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOaDiBG795bLWztHsxwhvJB_I866pKrw17Px2nVQ_c_19mEpiuolEt6NBtoXDYJUiI4_1OBqO0Ox62MKsR3gKA7fUr-evXUqv68ARYJGnM_2JrRaL8tN9oeo2ocflZYVn7tihzXuj30GsWezwI6eBq-Rwm_VZjjt9ZpBFuGbtTchUb2K9X_X9ssEUqQ/s2680/IMG_20220705_221803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2680" data-original-width="2072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOaDiBG795bLWztHsxwhvJB_I866pKrw17Px2nVQ_c_19mEpiuolEt6NBtoXDYJUiI4_1OBqO0Ox62MKsR3gKA7fUr-evXUqv68ARYJGnM_2JrRaL8tN9oeo2ocflZYVn7tihzXuj30GsWezwI6eBq-Rwm_VZjjt9ZpBFuGbtTchUb2K9X_X9ssEUqQ/w494-h640/IMG_20220705_221803.jpg" width="494" /></a></div></i></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>49. Frank Turner</i></span></span></div></div></i></span></span></h2><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>July 5 at Brooklyn Bowl, Nashville, TN </i> </span></span><i> </i></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">Few
performers in the business manage crowd interaction better than Frank.
Whenever you go to a show, you know you're always going to walk away
feeling uplifted by Frank and welcomed as a part of a larger community.
And also rocking the fuck out to about 25-30 tunes per night, which
range from white knuckle hardcore to more pronounced meditations on
time, loss, and life. This show was part of Turner's Never-Ending Tour
of Everywhere, which featured the folk-punker playing show in all 50
U.S. states. He gently prodded on the crowd saying that their mosh
circle would be pretty good for South Carolina, but this is Nashville,
he proclaimed! You guys can do better. He also had a segment where he
would scream out the state motto before launching into hardcore rager In
Serviam each night, noting that some mottos worked better for that than
others. He said he was pretty sure this is the first time someone has
ever shouted Agriculture and Commerce before playing a punk rock song.</span></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uAXQuVworjH882XlHqvqIOVVaTTSNuK3blCPjqefydChYcUkYd6u5HbvCpij6qTYUVv9bP1jj4CiI9k90-AK9e7POaUQGY4i9z-TOyjyvCJ51326curPIOtXWpgKl4_ftVJ894s2_RiiFKgXrxluJIRh3FScD11q_m55OBTXnl1bVffwy03hiKoINg/s1920/PA210032.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uAXQuVworjH882XlHqvqIOVVaTTSNuK3blCPjqefydChYcUkYd6u5HbvCpij6qTYUVv9bP1jj4CiI9k90-AK9e7POaUQGY4i9z-TOyjyvCJ51326curPIOtXWpgKl4_ftVJ894s2_RiiFKgXrxluJIRh3FScD11q_m55OBTXnl1bVffwy03hiKoINg/w640-h480/PA210032.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></i></span></span></h2><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>48. James Blake</i></span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>October 21 at III Points, Miami, FL </i></span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">Normally this would be higher but an
unprecedented number of technical errors plagued the set and threatened
to derail it entirely. As a result, we got only a glimpse of the
churning, billowing production that plays such a key role in the
English's crooner's sets. Blake himself was openly frustrated for most
of the duration but played through as best he could. The disruptions did
shift attention over to his magnificent piano work, highlighted by a
cover of Don McClean's Vincent. Some sense of regularity was restored
near the end of his set, just in time for a haunting rendition of
Overgrown.</span></p><h2></h2><h2></h2><h2></h2><h2><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji31c2K_3X_ce2OLrNC7iRRvzBaLIIJgMJJ2WSSMN0ESG4j-BfQazel9UQY-dPxbLMb4R3cE8wGrLhjrheFFX_fOBfCt4GisA3s6Z17_EzKs4uPEufVs0uWwhhlM71H9kheryIPVDf-SEZnJWuW4Zaren6dEb27DvZ2WiM2L6s8xwEXrpTr_bGPpXXaA/s3200/P3191047.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji31c2K_3X_ce2OLrNC7iRRvzBaLIIJgMJJ2WSSMN0ESG4j-BfQazel9UQY-dPxbLMb4R3cE8wGrLhjrheFFX_fOBfCt4GisA3s6Z17_EzKs4uPEufVs0uWwhhlM71H9kheryIPVDf-SEZnJWuW4Zaren6dEb27DvZ2WiM2L6s8xwEXrpTr_bGPpXXaA/w640-h480/P3191047.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></i></b></h2><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>47. Melvins</i></span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>March 19 at Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN</i></span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">Godfathers of sludge? You be the judge, but
what can't be denied is these guys are always a treat. They played the
middle slot on the bill before Ministry but after Corrosion of
Conformity on their springtime tour and stole the show with their
unrelenting riffage and raw power.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpD7DhZ32k46YOwWM51mkw0tg_LAorZOyjNcS08GCI3Gdn-bXw1v2s8is3KJgWGyUnjxMU0cveSd_07WBmF38CzEHKbSx0tn7a43Fkiq8PsZWlvM_EGFll3pXi1tAaCliMtTLSLWDwE0737NkttC9ak97WJeEGZQDtgU61z8GCdqlNVOp70lE0sFvHFg/s4608/IMG_20220903_194447.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4608" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpD7DhZ32k46YOwWM51mkw0tg_LAorZOyjNcS08GCI3Gdn-bXw1v2s8is3KJgWGyUnjxMU0cveSd_07WBmF38CzEHKbSx0tn7a43Fkiq8PsZWlvM_EGFll3pXi1tAaCliMtTLSLWDwE0737NkttC9ak97WJeEGZQDtgU61z8GCdqlNVOp70lE0sFvHFg/w640-h288/IMG_20220903_194447.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></i></span></span></h2><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>46. Mastodon</i></span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>September 3 at Gas South Arena, Duluth, GA</i></span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">Another middle slot performance here, with
the Atlanta prog metallers playing basically a hometown show on the
Imperatour alongside Ghost and Spiritbox. They sound resurgent and
re-energized since the release of Hushed and Grim in late 2021. Setlist
highlights Teardrinker and Pushing the Tides stack up favorably against
anything in teh band's catalog, and are primed to be live staples for a
long time to come.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2r_D7CF2JqOjPwGzLwjr7N8igSnz8DCRnkgJ22wvxYivZjPhfHEBpH59C7wzbg0-b7kMRwdmWPQcp3o8pz6OKk6a9KuOVqLACB388oEZeXysmjsghU9ybtXCi6BI7P9Fo9Z7GWjNRq0HUz-tLoKE6GTQjITZASQkDHUMqEY-N6bOL2uNRCPdfzSANHw/s1920/P6170134.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2r_D7CF2JqOjPwGzLwjr7N8igSnz8DCRnkgJ22wvxYivZjPhfHEBpH59C7wzbg0-b7kMRwdmWPQcp3o8pz6OKk6a9KuOVqLACB388oEZeXysmjsghU9ybtXCi6BI7P9Fo9Z7GWjNRq0HUz-tLoKE6GTQjITZASQkDHUMqEY-N6bOL2uNRCPdfzSANHw/w640-h480/P6170134.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>45. Disclosure</i></span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>June 17 at Bonnaroo</i></span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;">N<span class="rendered_text">early a decade ago, I caught the tail end of
Disclosure's late night Bonnaroo set and got to see Sam Smtih come out
to do Latch with them. At that time, it seemed the English duo of Howard
and Guy Lawrence were on the precipice of world domination. The moment
may have passed them by to some extent since then, but their Friday
night Bonnaroo set demonstrated why the brothers still command prime
late night billing at the country's biggest festivals. Crowd favorites
White Noise and When a Fire Starts to Burn waste no time in turning up
the temperature, while more recent cuts like Douha (Mali Mali) show they
still know how to get the pulse racing.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i></i></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzmrWZ44VYnE6j786Dpz_llNQr9uwHj3I7Sy_Tbdg5Wt5k9n6RPI8niW-5832NiO8NedoohVPg_NudW3q8BoHQ4MC3CdypCL3_yb-0p5I5TB31ur8BkxYqhJIbVj5kcnlQ1Ku2H8RtLdub19b-DDZ6xuAFGmMTJQuuQX47eKs3rkBYRHI0D0-uxIVeg/s1920/PA210078.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzmrWZ44VYnE6j786Dpz_llNQr9uwHj3I7Sy_Tbdg5Wt5k9n6RPI8niW-5832NiO8NedoohVPg_NudW3q8BoHQ4MC3CdypCL3_yb-0p5I5TB31ur8BkxYqhJIbVj5kcnlQ1Ku2H8RtLdub19b-DDZ6xuAFGmMTJQuuQX47eKs3rkBYRHI0D0-uxIVeg/w480-h640/PA210078.JPG" width="480" /></a></i></div><i></i><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>44. The Marias</i></span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>October 21 at III Points, Miami, FL</i></span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">Imagine spending the afternoon in the waves
of Miami Beach and following that up with the smoky, Latin stylings of
The Marias? Sign me up, please! A dizzying blend of jazz and world
rhythms provide a stirring backdrop for Maria Zardoya's smooth vocal.
This stunning combination placed The Marias among the many highlights of
Miami's III Points festival.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TgSA9xytdvj6vSb2043kz-QcmxISQ45bt2b6juTrOkUYgC-7qHvq96oXxTktcDfccxy80cBFuiAlgZjrkOUL8WBtjWi3qjwayJTig5v-Ea2tOVA-ZRxkuCIrkFtFhrGZ-ssZVmjRW2qbMhRfU7F9yzSmJgC4bUaI29-RlXYyfD8k5mLujiCxZ6aucg/s1920/PB190830.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TgSA9xytdvj6vSb2043kz-QcmxISQ45bt2b6juTrOkUYgC-7qHvq96oXxTktcDfccxy80cBFuiAlgZjrkOUL8WBtjWi3qjwayJTig5v-Ea2tOVA-ZRxkuCIrkFtFhrGZ-ssZVmjRW2qbMhRfU7F9yzSmJgC4bUaI29-RlXYyfD8k5mLujiCxZ6aucg/w640-h480/PB190830.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>43. Magdalena Bay</i></span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>November 19 at Basement East, Nashville, TN </i></span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">One of the big challenges in live concert performance is keeping your audience engaged. The Miami duo's
future/spacey/bassy sound has a lot to do with that but they have a lot
of tricks onstage as well. At various points throughout the set,
frontwoman Mica Tenenbaum can be seen playing a flute and wearing an
animal mask. Being that they were in a prog band before this, they're
well versed in how to switch up the beats and keep their crowd guessing.
One of the best examples comes during "Chaeri," when Mica urges the
crowd to chat the "three, four down to the floor" part. Which might
sound like a pretty standard thing for a performer to do, but it comes
right at a moment in the song when the beat changes and transitions to
something that sounds truly astral.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnVC_UerspGcTrzRArYwLGVR6NycRc-eSsK-WLNNX6hN5gFGHEYnXyhI-UyRkvop40ocJauLFB3jz9-cMM2MmbH0GSH0sGiR3kGF4Mmp5fEoycE4mEZt-F3cTA8L0jKF5sQfqSnj1ZgL4eP_u0QPOZXXY59N46OFCljbMn9AIprWvJwAmIr7v40W_9Q/s3200/AnCo.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnVC_UerspGcTrzRArYwLGVR6NycRc-eSsK-WLNNX6hN5gFGHEYnXyhI-UyRkvop40ocJauLFB3jz9-cMM2MmbH0GSH0sGiR3kGF4Mmp5fEoycE4mEZt-F3cTA8L0jKF5sQfqSnj1ZgL4eP_u0QPOZXXY59N46OFCljbMn9AIprWvJwAmIr7v40W_9Q/w640-h480/AnCo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><i>42. Animal Collective</i></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>March 24 at Marathon Music Works, Nashville, TN</i></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">Veteran indie pop rockers Animal Collective
put our their best album in over a decade this past year, and it
coincides with the best set I've seen from them since the 2013 Bonnaroo
late night performance. To no one's surprise, they line up a murder's
row of the best material from Time Skiffs, but also worked out plenty of
new and unreleased material in front of crowds. Chief among them is the
slow burning, moody build up of Defeat (A Not Suite), which totals over
15 minutes and the aptly titled "Magicians from Baltimore." They wrap
things up with a punchy blast from the past in "Chores" and the
delightfully acidic "For Reverend Green," both from the band's landmark
2007 album Strawberry Jam.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9AK2daubMzAufm_XpXnhbw2vVW6KYcKEsFNNufQORvppoy6OnxpByT83IZydOPC_QL8VMOIsHvhpGnONc6WQTF5fCljm7bjU72nm4KddtNaXbvLtSQIQujm1dhi5hnICP5hOy0_NIUlHgi7TJXqyWWuCWWjC0jlcPBsAsey4_fl2hHGNauaxnZ-44g/s1920/P9210636.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9AK2daubMzAufm_XpXnhbw2vVW6KYcKEsFNNufQORvppoy6OnxpByT83IZydOPC_QL8VMOIsHvhpGnONc6WQTF5fCljm7bjU72nm4KddtNaXbvLtSQIQujm1dhi5hnICP5hOy0_NIUlHgi7TJXqyWWuCWWjC0jlcPBsAsey4_fl2hHGNauaxnZ-44g/w640-h480/P9210636.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;"><i>41. Haim </i></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>September 21 at Ascend Ampitheater, Nashville, TN</i></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">Nine years ago I was at my first Bonnaroo,
and nine years ago it was when my dumb ass walked away from that stage
to get a good spot for Purity Ring (who were okay, but not mind
blowing). The next band up on the stage I left? None of than HAIM (with
Father John Misty coming later behind them, oof) and ever since then I
had been looking for the moment to correct my mistake. With their latest
album, Women in Music III being their strongest statement yet it was
the perfect time as the pop/rock and roll sister trio gave the record
its much deserved showcase by playing all but one of its songs. They can
go from kicking out super fun bops like Gasoline and The Steps one
moment to unleashing their fury on Man From the Magazine. But the best
moment came mid-set when the sisters convened at center stage for
“Leaning on You” and “Halleujah,” backed only by a tender acoustic
guitar. The full beauty of their harmonies shined strongest here.</span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_29LCl0ecsa6XbkerWvsHnrna4dg24ofOswNzI-S2m3cJy8zk0rSHQoIM4o69iP6usnPIQ3B8u9T7gGwGHpnq2NYzoOkMImV9H5f4yFuJCRCt4sAqh032Ne6UOG5WyWeL4CYGadRDtgvGdX4m5g7HU9ILdzlDCq-ZGWyjGtgGmjNIDh8_vbIBui5cw/s1920/P9010330.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_29LCl0ecsa6XbkerWvsHnrna4dg24ofOswNzI-S2m3cJy8zk0rSHQoIM4o69iP6usnPIQ3B8u9T7gGwGHpnq2NYzoOkMImV9H5f4yFuJCRCt4sAqh032Ne6UOG5WyWeL4CYGadRDtgvGdX4m5g7HU9ILdzlDCq-ZGWyjGtgGmjNIDh8_vbIBui5cw/w640-h480/P9010330.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h1 style="text-align: left;"><i>40. Sheryl Crow</i></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>September 1 at Live on the Green, Nashville, TN </i></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">Her name hasn't been sexy in a long, long
time, but this show is up there for one of the most underrated I saw
this year. Her band is well oiled, they have excellent camaraderie, and
she has more hits than you probably credit her for. Give Crow a chance
and she'll get you moving.</span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8h4FIVkSd8fHpQO513ot4t_xw4iRQu_0S_C7jtpUDuk9zfOpt00uYyE6AyPyi9xLZJ6NPcuOZNecTbe9_bSi1MOnE1bh7XdfRvLvO-7Reakm1fv53Y9EoHWBDrp6OuLPECRHtVMTAsM0z0vZNjwbm6UZPXmoWtG4n8SIEqzgGKmFMcbIq1jQzDiIoQ/s4608/IMG_20220616_223256.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4608" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8h4FIVkSd8fHpQO513ot4t_xw4iRQu_0S_C7jtpUDuk9zfOpt00uYyE6AyPyi9xLZJ6NPcuOZNecTbe9_bSi1MOnE1bh7XdfRvLvO-7Reakm1fv53Y9EoHWBDrp6OuLPECRHtVMTAsM0z0vZNjwbm6UZPXmoWtG4n8SIEqzgGKmFMcbIq1jQzDiIoQ/w640-h288/IMG_20220616_223256.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></i><i>39. Clozee</i></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>June 16 at Bonnaroo</i></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">When I
was told Clozee is a very visual artist I prepared myself as best as
possible, but was still wowed. I feel like I was transported to the middle of a
fairy forest or something. French producer Clozee, also known by her
surname Chloé Herry, has been described as everything from Jungle to
Bass to World Electronica, and her eclecticism has enabled her to become
one of a select few electronic artists on my radar. This early evening
set, taking place right after sunset, set the stage on the first day of
Bonnaroo and split my head right open like a atom.</span></span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmiooMbpac5_Bpya1JHD7PnWjBYUdxBw19VwYILNG2-jTTLL8KIdaOZ4sfXcJ-fOtjSp_383heyffw3OytNAX_1nBB5GZgBrTSjxZscC36Sb-GdZJS19HToNrMls2xIqbxWDq85jgQk02cNUs91hAiEIPgQHl2fYxF5Gm6_3u-tDBMAT8GTl7JuBk8A/s4608/IMG_20220629_205431.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4608" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmiooMbpac5_Bpya1JHD7PnWjBYUdxBw19VwYILNG2-jTTLL8KIdaOZ4sfXcJ-fOtjSp_383heyffw3OytNAX_1nBB5GZgBrTSjxZscC36Sb-GdZJS19HToNrMls2xIqbxWDq85jgQk02cNUs91hAiEIPgQHl2fYxF5Gm6_3u-tDBMAT8GTl7JuBk8A/w640-h288/IMG_20220629_205431.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></i></span></span><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>38. Billy Woods</i></span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>June 29 at Elsewhere, Brooklyn, NY</i></span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text">Over the
past decade, experimental hip hop artist Billy Woods has quietly built a
career off constructing deep, dark, methodical wordscapes that seek to
elicit an emotional response from the listener as much as an
intellectual one. That has culminated in what is arguably his most
provocative statement to date with his latest album Aethiopes, of which
this was billed as a release show for. If you're wondering how that
might translate to the stage, rest assured that Woods wows by tempering
his hard hitting delivery with an up-tempo, celebratory atmosphere.
Accented by the picturesque sunset on the rooftop of Elsewhere in
Brooklyn's Bushwick district, Woods barreled us over with career
spanning cuts and a long line of guests and frequent collaborators who
joined him on stage. One of these was none other than Euclid, who,
together with Woods, make up the hip hop duo Armand Hammer, and they
took the time to revel us with some of their tunes from that project.
What was even cooler was many of those guests stuck around to mingle out
in the crowd after the show was over. I actually passed right by Euclid
on my way out of the venue!</span></span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWWURZ3gc-yAHZtaYFebbd-m7XGpLZP4hk-iVwlOpMfUrqr2tyHpwSmupCnNG5TkRNr9dBJqDAmd1txbTxbKRZAe9M4R5Y4MmACJNqrbD7kgTq8RC-YiVVTOJvWu96QlERkA8sO_07DgKp1uYrd1CrC6_rtcw46tCDzWRbD8xSIFTv8S9VvAkv1ie_Q/s1920/P9040398.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWWURZ3gc-yAHZtaYFebbd-m7XGpLZP4hk-iVwlOpMfUrqr2tyHpwSmupCnNG5TkRNr9dBJqDAmd1txbTxbKRZAe9M4R5Y4MmACJNqrbD7kgTq8RC-YiVVTOJvWu96QlERkA8sO_07DgKp1uYrd1CrC6_rtcw46tCDzWRbD8xSIFTv8S9VvAkv1ie_Q/w640-h480/P9040398.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></i><i>37. Wet Leg</i></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>September 4 at Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA</i></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">To call them a buzz band would be a colossal
understatement. The Isle of Wight rock duo, consisting of Rhian
Teasdale and Hester Chambers, exploded onto the scene with their 2021
single Chaise Lounge, which bubbles under a solution of sexual tension
before exploding in a big, ebullient, fuzzy chorus and final coda, and
sounds like it was sung by Napoleon Dynamite's dream girl. It's an
unconventional formula that turned a lot of heads and enabled the gals
to leave long string of sold out shows in their wake. Their live set is a
sprint through their devilishly deadpan self titled debut but is
elevated even further by Teasdale's magnetic presence. And what a
presence she has. Half the guys there must have left with a crush on
her. While it remains to be seen how high their star may rise, they have
the live tools to maintain dominance for a long time.</span></p></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZMBGwEub6_jiHVVrirIp7nIbCBM_LZTEQuo4rf21RQOjluUjhrFNbp6UnobH7KmnA5KWL1F7LeK-A8r4Di04TbyuW9ooxjMhPDL1niTpIna2QPSg-p68RrFKJpFXQwXns9KG6MZbtBdjML00BJUyPp5aQTdHigQ3m_WEsrKYiQPNs_ywzGontHaN9w/s1920/PA270551.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZMBGwEub6_jiHVVrirIp7nIbCBM_LZTEQuo4rf21RQOjluUjhrFNbp6UnobH7KmnA5KWL1F7LeK-A8r4Di04TbyuW9ooxjMhPDL1niTpIna2QPSg-p68RrFKJpFXQwXns9KG6MZbtBdjML00BJUyPp5aQTdHigQ3m_WEsrKYiQPNs_ywzGontHaN9w/w640-h480/PA270551.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>36. Violent Femmes</i></span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>October 29 at Marathon Music Works, Nashville, TN </i> </span></span><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i> </i></span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">Get out of there with that nonsense that
only the first album was good. Maybe they never topped it, but the
absolute clinic they put on at Marathon Music Works is more than
sufficient evidence the boys have produced an full career's worth of
excellent tunes. Brian Ritchie, with his signature acoustic bass, and
stand up percussionist John Sparrow are the true standouts, impressing
with their dazzling array of rhythms. One of the undeniable highlights
of the night came when Ritchie took his sole turn on lead vocals to
blast out "Dance, Motherfucker, Dance," a skittering punk scat blast
with an edge that hits every bit as hard as it sounds. Gordon Gano, not
to be outdone, flexes his muscle on a variety of instruments while
delivering his inimitable vocal style that has proven so vital to band's
sound.</span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJoXGziI6Ujydx9JuhvU9be1rNOLWk89HzSTzuls1lgJD750Bp_3oP7CNWXuLfUPCXYYboZdC135IwZkRGpG4DI_0qo4XJCbuL-Vp_JrKGXgeqdLOclBk2ZkBOn0_ZYlsk_E-O4xKC2gO34na7YJ1XvjlyhmwKDUWygk6sWKBV_oM7tQgEa50yweBgw/s1920/P6160064.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJoXGziI6Ujydx9JuhvU9be1rNOLWk89HzSTzuls1lgJD750Bp_3oP7CNWXuLfUPCXYYboZdC135IwZkRGpG4DI_0qo4XJCbuL-Vp_JrKGXgeqdLOclBk2ZkBOn0_ZYlsk_E-O4xKC2gO34na7YJ1XvjlyhmwKDUWygk6sWKBV_oM7tQgEa50yweBgw/w640-h480/P6160064.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>35. Sons of Kemet</i></span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>June 16 at Bonnaroo </i> </span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">If you think jazz is just easy listening,
background music, give these guys a shot. They hit with the intensity of
a punk or hard rock group, and are dedicated to being firebrand
spokesmen on racial issues. This tour was, unfortunately, their swan
song, as the group announced they would be disbanding after their 2022
run of shows. Drummer Tom Skinner now has a prominent spot alongside in
The Smile alongside Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood of Radiohead fame.
Saxophonist Shakaba Hutchings has returned to star in his excellent
jazztronica outfit The Comet Is Coming, and they'll be on the road at
least through 2023.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpCvhcUKvdJth4GP8zOzvmiVnXPyJ1wuLEGEItEhJhk5cAr4aeAuj5KDAOEWEwj2OmgWXbOwxnJnb10YQHxxabvxQusLgOHmMwnqbXTfVg94KQxiTqM04SZ--IS4IFZrT0KFh2rBrryJn7tHYisNsgjh3t7XOn_N54rT-8_2SF4z6ogcH7rleurBCUQ/s1920/PC311156.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpCvhcUKvdJth4GP8zOzvmiVnXPyJ1wuLEGEItEhJhk5cAr4aeAuj5KDAOEWEwj2OmgWXbOwxnJnb10YQHxxabvxQusLgOHmMwnqbXTfVg94KQxiTqM04SZ--IS4IFZrT0KFh2rBrryJn7tHYisNsgjh3t7XOn_N54rT-8_2SF4z6ogcH7rleurBCUQ/w640-h480/PC311156.JPG" width="640" /></a></i></div><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><i>34. Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway</i></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>December 31 at Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN<br /></i></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">My only prior live experience with Madam
Tuttle came on the blazing fields of Bonnaroo for a blink and you'll
miss it three song Grand Ole Opry set on the festival's first day. Was
this a better atmosphere for her, serving as the lead in to a rowdy New
Year's Even celebration in the Ryman's hallowed halls? Oh, a bit. The
gal from California, and her whole band, prove themselves to be
dedicated students of the folk/bluegrass scene, and we welcome her with
open arms.</span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h1 style="text-align: left;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2s84F0EDvvF8Zi79BXSPvH1e8DV0vdQnlkNCQvNsz7zcyVhh87PQmRKF74-s4eN-8ZS5C0eY4P19_D6DS2NFgoLjosSGgzyZbrlSH88_SZ6b69QLZeHm4W7MNw4FUIjBZPooQid_AtPI_NRJ0xl3B8McC6b-k9iAjYjqIiwqA27JUmpZqcGVkWhZ0ag/s1920/P6170111.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2s84F0EDvvF8Zi79BXSPvH1e8DV0vdQnlkNCQvNsz7zcyVhh87PQmRKF74-s4eN-8ZS5C0eY4P19_D6DS2NFgoLjosSGgzyZbrlSH88_SZ6b69QLZeHm4W7MNw4FUIjBZPooQid_AtPI_NRJ0xl3B8McC6b-k9iAjYjqIiwqA27JUmpZqcGVkWhZ0ag/w640-h480/P6170111.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>33. The War on Drugs</i></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>June 17 at Bonnaroo</i></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">Second time seeing them on the farm and they
never disappoint. This Philadelphia based quartet has established
themselves as one of the most consistent and satisfying bands of the
past 10 years with their patented blend of heartland rock with a fuzzy
coating of dream pop. Hearing those tones ring out under the hazy orange
and purple hues at sunset enhances what is already a very impressive
set, and ensures their legacy will only grow over time.</span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGpGoqUqC6pACjDkeQQ5GBWtajIMQEllvGOfbRDsZON_63FrlC4pAF3Rkytamt6NSsPTp0q-UegVuhkoVFF_I3WdA0g-taHt8kzs41bSS5VlbKmGxoBYw3c_gfuBO4os6fUC6b5cootoAf3gqZTxYOKH-ucvyDD4sfUxDipiRUhmXAK_AvAMNuGjx_g/s1920/P6170124.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGpGoqUqC6pACjDkeQQ5GBWtajIMQEllvGOfbRDsZON_63FrlC4pAF3Rkytamt6NSsPTp0q-UegVuhkoVFF_I3WdA0g-taHt8kzs41bSS5VlbKmGxoBYw3c_gfuBO4os6fUC6b5cootoAf3gqZTxYOKH-ucvyDD4sfUxDipiRUhmXAK_AvAMNuGjx_g/w640-h480/P6170124.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>32. The Chicks</i></span></h1><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text"><i>June 17 at Bonnaroo</i></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">Mo</span><span class="rendered_text">re than a few eyebrows were raised when The
Chicks were announced as one of the main attractions of the Bonnaroo
lineup. Those of us who grew up around their music knew better. They've
shed their somewhat girl pop leanings of their early days and evolved
into an impressive instrumental act who fit in well on the contemporary
alt/country folk circuit. This show hit on all cylinders, with
impressive musicianship, a deep catalog of hits, great visuals that at
one point lambasted Russian leader Vladimir Putin.</span><span class="rendered_text"><i> </i> </span></p></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXs9FjiF9qPOXvxJk-nA1jbyBZFF2Tp_1cMA1qw7TRLZVPHJcFntxYwL36J7-wouo-r3EYttb9HlpabufYy47BFsvBeqjMn8XQCIGo4Cb8k7lJcXVcEKSEGIXg8ad8xsAj_kGfNPb0tCbgqpycbRUB8vk9OuFy5ccfpOMEONVFN9ZnxSeb-C9vTBcWA/s1920/PA210099.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXs9FjiF9qPOXvxJk-nA1jbyBZFF2Tp_1cMA1qw7TRLZVPHJcFntxYwL36J7-wouo-r3EYttb9HlpabufYy47BFsvBeqjMn8XQCIGo4Cb8k7lJcXVcEKSEGIXg8ad8xsAj_kGfNPb0tCbgqpycbRUB8vk9OuFy5ccfpOMEONVFN9ZnxSeb-C9vTBcWA/w640-h480/PA210099.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>31. Andy Stott</span></b></i><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">October 22 at III Points, Miami, FL</span> <br /></span></b></i></h3></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">Cold, dissonant, and nostalgic are
descriptors that come to mind when thinking of English producer Andy
Stott's output. In a live setting, it becomes all these things and much
more. It is positively frenetic. It's the most glorious combination of
abrasive rhythm and warm sound. The stage also contributed greatly to
the atmosphere. It was constructed out of a bunch of metal beams and
rafters that enclosed a courtyard type space where you would go in and
see him play, giving the environment a unique industrial flavor.</span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnBVHXDhKWdlp4l55NoZz0c2j9lv6QVIA45Nn1eb7KlNDFR8VPwQzNHn8b6Fs29r_T1239P9FuJKnwoouZeZPfWpQt3DRpZocRY0hKSEDlnZNfmBeUQMe-UfA5-L0ZfNd1qAAKjJBR_fyIlm-TRSDP8PLBgX0BAx599AAWIBiHLE5jbCyz_DaxE0T2Q/s1920/P6180165.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnBVHXDhKWdlp4l55NoZz0c2j9lv6QVIA45Nn1eb7KlNDFR8VPwQzNHn8b6Fs29r_T1239P9FuJKnwoouZeZPfWpQt3DRpZocRY0hKSEDlnZNfmBeUQMe-UfA5-L0ZfNd1qAAKjJBR_fyIlm-TRSDP8PLBgX0BAx599AAWIBiHLE5jbCyz_DaxE0T2Q/w640-h480/P6180165.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>30. Jack Antonoff's 1984 Superjam</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">June 18 at Bonnaroo</span></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">Confession time. This was my 7th Bonnaroo
and first time ever experiencing the Superjam. The diminished crowds
this year made it much more palatable. This one was based on 80s covers
and as always, boasted a great selection of guests. Lauren Mayberry
dropped by right before heading across the field for her set with
Chvrches to deliver a cover of Madonna's Material Girl, while Spoon's
Britt Daniel broke up the pop hits with an assured cover of Echo &
the Bunnymen's steely edged Killing Moon. Rising jam band Goose made a
strong push this weekend to secure their status as Bonnaroo darlings,
and that continued with their frontman Rick Mitaronda making an
appearance to drop a great rendition of Take on Me and It's My Life.
There's little that's more fun than surprise guests though, and this
year's Superjam certainly made its mark with Carly Rae Jepsen's
appearance to sing What's Love Got to Do With It and Cyndi Lauper's Time
After Time.</span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text"> </span></div></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwF-rSTiCDlT4Bv62JOmlTzCxnjxJ9dJeFEkkNJJB5xRa_qrOMxmHLGIh3yIj3VDpGD9Jc_ubP9DsD7e7exSTjX_vqTKyFNcFSB7NiPFdKv8m8hhq4pevDwyWNbgu8cCNaAh5aFuIvFoRah17hZ947hm8_Qtt7u9mrYMTw1AxyNi64p71xxshwdtfxg/s4608/IMG_20220826_222550.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4608" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwF-rSTiCDlT4Bv62JOmlTzCxnjxJ9dJeFEkkNJJB5xRa_qrOMxmHLGIh3yIj3VDpGD9Jc_ubP9DsD7e7exSTjX_vqTKyFNcFSB7NiPFdKv8m8hhq4pevDwyWNbgu8cCNaAh5aFuIvFoRah17hZ947hm8_Qtt7u9mrYMTw1AxyNi64p71xxshwdtfxg/w640-h288/IMG_20220826_222550.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>29. Tchami</i></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>August 26 at Deep Tropics Fest, Nashville, TN</i></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">Although Nashville isn't traditionally known
for house music, Deep Tropics festival has served as an oasis for many
of the genre's more notable acts for a few years running now. French
house producer Tchami's headlining set was the clear highlight of the
festival's first day. It's rare to find a set that you can get lost into
dancing like this, forgetting everything around you while becoming
enveloped in this dense layer of sound.</span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoJwqXloNjsH29jAqvRn7HVvWfgYNRtSSlIEQkv5pwUYiHJ1bzSN-tK62QUCS06AnTaghxfsvmIXUwXwGHZp-4n_1TzL6kUXcUC_GYZmNO68V8q-9ahIrw31aX32o7bgym5z4Mxj0feTx0AkVfWVejdIv3o_2RzE6_r2v1wlB49skbaoIUZ_8RLwUYQ/s1920/P6170140.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoJwqXloNjsH29jAqvRn7HVvWfgYNRtSSlIEQkv5pwUYiHJ1bzSN-tK62QUCS06AnTaghxfsvmIXUwXwGHZp-4n_1TzL6kUXcUC_GYZmNO68V8q-9ahIrw31aX32o7bgym5z4Mxj0feTx0AkVfWVejdIv3o_2RzE6_r2v1wlB49skbaoIUZ_8RLwUYQ/w640-h480/P6170140.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div></div></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>28. Denzel Curry</i></span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>June 17 at Bonnaroo</i></span></span></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">Curry has started a fire that's been burning
for a few years now on the strength of several excellent releases. His
latest, Melt My Eyez See Your Future, Might be his best yet. There was
little doubt he was going to kill it during his late night Bonnaroo set
which kicked off just before 2am. His intensity was on full display as
he barrelled though each song without missing a word. One of the most
notable moments in this set is what's become known as the 2am wall of
death. Curry split the crowd into two halves down the middle and
directed the two sides to charge right at each other. After being out
here on a hot festival ground all day since 1pm? Are you kidding me? I
wasn't sure I was going to survive. But it was beautiful in its own way
when you consider that it was one of the most potent ways for a
performer as fervent as Curry to transmit that sense of surging energy
into his crowd.</span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i> </i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnRCqBfvuDvWTx9lTBBKR05md0ulNZ2D1nDNCdjn4yR6QFRjDq3-yR9-GlRW2lpkMgPbxFh8qTWNgfDPR062j7gpihuvvwv19myNyNXd3dlOjIKcRECzBdNHmoWLBd25Ss3qi4PTvSzQdJOdPyYVkH4dCe8SyOrwwmzUnTLuUOBV6C_2p152K42uVFA/s3264/IMG_20220910_223823.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="3264" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnRCqBfvuDvWTx9lTBBKR05md0ulNZ2D1nDNCdjn4yR6QFRjDq3-yR9-GlRW2lpkMgPbxFh8qTWNgfDPR062j7gpihuvvwv19myNyNXd3dlOjIKcRECzBdNHmoWLBd25Ss3qi4PTvSzQdJOdPyYVkH4dCe8SyOrwwmzUnTLuUOBV6C_2p152K42uVFA/w640-h288/IMG_20220910_223823.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>27. Rolo Tomassi</i></span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>September 10 at The End, Nashville, TN </i></span></span><br /></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">Sometimes you really need one of those
sweat drenched shows at a tiny club. I had forgotten how good those
could be for your soul. These guys are a mathcore/post hardcore/metal
band from Sheffield, England, who are readily picking up steam, and it
had been eight long years since I’d been to this venue. It’s about 150
something person capacity with no barricade between you and performers,
so shit gets pretty intense. It was one of the most cathartic, if not a
little bit downright terrifying experience when I ended up at the very
front near the end of the show and had the band literally inches in
front of my face. It's a real mindfuck because you try to give as much
energy back to them as they're putting out for you. Fun fact: out of
every show I've been to, this is the only one I've ever gotten the
setlist from.</span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCpC0-B384dcD04QTkQeAGdwhvcoRIBfJw9zPCWMaCzafPKnX1WAADvil4BusLgSGJRJB1LSJc2qH92CcEmcJolJPce2Q1yp3_E25mPhIsXvWBILRF_pEEdDBrbN8ydHDiQ_B0ZtPg-2uB4pnwQ1A5e-v2mssByVe0PiWO68Lce0gEKNLOQFg252EQw/s3200/P7310039.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCpC0-B384dcD04QTkQeAGdwhvcoRIBfJw9zPCWMaCzafPKnX1WAADvil4BusLgSGJRJB1LSJc2qH92CcEmcJolJPce2Q1yp3_E25mPhIsXvWBILRF_pEEdDBrbN8ydHDiQ_B0ZtPg-2uB4pnwQ1A5e-v2mssByVe0PiWO68Lce0gEKNLOQFg252EQw/w640-h480/P7310039.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>26. Kendrick Lamar</i></span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"><i>July 31 at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN</i></span></span></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">What strikes me the most about the evolution
of Kendrick's live show is the visual aspect of it. It avoids the trap
of being overly exuberant or over the top and instead manages to strike
the perfect balance of being tasteful and elegant. His Big Steppers tour
begins with all his dancers taking big marching steps single file up
the catwalk toward the main stage, with shoulders shrugging in time.
When the curtains are drawn, Kendrick appears somewhere you might not
expect -- behind a piano. It's like you're watching the opening cutscene
to the final boss of rap music. The new material, from the Mr. Morale
and the Big Steppers album, holds its own against his established
catalog classics but the highlight of Kendrick's shows lies in music
made for your feet, not your head. It's hard to beat throwing down with
Backseat Freestyle, DNA, Money Trees, or his dynamic collaboration with
his show opener and cousin Baby Keem on a rendition of Family Ties<i>.</i></span></p></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="hide-for-small-block"><span class="rendered_text"></span></span></h2></div><p></p>The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-89607162580891579572022-10-27T00:23:00.002-05:002022-10-27T00:23:28.199-05:00III Points Festival Saturday photos<p>I'm back with the best photos that I took from the second and final day of Miami's III Points festival, headlined by rising Spanish superstar Rosalia. <a href="http://totallyunauthorized.blogspot.com/2022/10/iii-points-festival-friday-photos.html" target="_blank">You can see Friday's pictures by clicking here. </a></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Rosalia</h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7WGV5YQkxCMwFfOuD9Peo34qN0Fp7ogiK_f60PLbZumLi1tQWzB74CH2AQh28du9Qf3KY86mdsp3su7hu4UmRxg3cA5Bcqcy_QBNR-dvXVqIwoJlj8tbOrSuQn6LUuxu48XXzcK7MuQcF_Acch_l08XFH8qgJzYKPjm10TNLZmvDbozLjg0cFBlVsQ/s1920/PA220418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7WGV5YQkxCMwFfOuD9Peo34qN0Fp7ogiK_f60PLbZumLi1tQWzB74CH2AQh28du9Qf3KY86mdsp3su7hu4UmRxg3cA5Bcqcy_QBNR-dvXVqIwoJlj8tbOrSuQn6LUuxu48XXzcK7MuQcF_Acch_l08XFH8qgJzYKPjm10TNLZmvDbozLjg0cFBlVsQ/w640-h480/PA220418.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjf9vr79P48wcm0jxK6T6PTHC7BbUyAFpL3NdqoJaRZOIK3G6PS4giDY4FGkg9HTU6hVlXKa2M26skt2y_qFrLNRJVKTy36HtiFOOXBISMEa025ISsNvbC-cBYIYXQ00r-9rKEahs19Bpb1onqo0z6qlMclDcuzGIWbS0zYEEd65TWpTf3GEkE9VOx6A/s1920/PA220404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjf9vr79P48wcm0jxK6T6PTHC7BbUyAFpL3NdqoJaRZOIK3G6PS4giDY4FGkg9HTU6hVlXKa2M26skt2y_qFrLNRJVKTy36HtiFOOXBISMEa025ISsNvbC-cBYIYXQ00r-9rKEahs19Bpb1onqo0z6qlMclDcuzGIWbS0zYEEd65TWpTf3GEkE9VOx6A/w640-h480/PA220404.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8WgdMqc8ncvttgfzGnwq1j3vQn_jqmWev3EPjsTesLDzeENJAUaOSa0-74lLtpFYFa-x9N9aJo8quwnfgDwDd6mIPWxHmIe8RuH0xnPW_p7C4Xe2dGCYYwruO8NMrJt-gi4kJzkscTjfwnnIKhEijGkFsVIwR0phR7txmWJOtcRv4swqcMo6mjbUWw/s1920/PA220432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8WgdMqc8ncvttgfzGnwq1j3vQn_jqmWev3EPjsTesLDzeENJAUaOSa0-74lLtpFYFa-x9N9aJo8quwnfgDwDd6mIPWxHmIe8RuH0xnPW_p7C4Xe2dGCYYwruO8NMrJt-gi4kJzkscTjfwnnIKhEijGkFsVIwR0phR7txmWJOtcRv4swqcMo6mjbUWw/w640-h480/PA220432.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67Fsji12itZbfB1kJCV3NXvaB_huugoV0IooEabKaShrqSnjrLuS-sDLtMInUm6cguFlGNTj-sVdlokLqCSqTvRdK1CweQfbEBHcJ20fql4qA0eWjZyDKEuBeHGSswrog3v27YjpqoEFoJ6JuUl4BNATGfSH9qB3VujlBCCAPHY-Flr3VvgkUeBx9Rg/s1920/PA220412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67Fsji12itZbfB1kJCV3NXvaB_huugoV0IooEabKaShrqSnjrLuS-sDLtMInUm6cguFlGNTj-sVdlokLqCSqTvRdK1CweQfbEBHcJ20fql4qA0eWjZyDKEuBeHGSswrog3v27YjpqoEFoJ6JuUl4BNATGfSH9qB3VujlBCCAPHY-Flr3VvgkUeBx9Rg/w640-h480/PA220412.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXwt_aCb9gpi3us71ABhf9rRGE7ZGffj3NZpH2M5VwGwWDgKqYgDo4IT_moSR3k_kydtUhFfxl051x5sDSch63QHhUR5iafU94ABIBeNMU8NU227XS5TlhJFePmqyd85AP4pq-Sg0WIKqJewguOYOpKAlsJHPpw7ZK9FjErngHjwg7daaEenedMZuMQ/s1920/PA220427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXwt_aCb9gpi3us71ABhf9rRGE7ZGffj3NZpH2M5VwGwWDgKqYgDo4IT_moSR3k_kydtUhFfxl051x5sDSch63QHhUR5iafU94ABIBeNMU8NU227XS5TlhJFePmqyd85AP4pq-Sg0WIKqJewguOYOpKAlsJHPpw7ZK9FjErngHjwg7daaEenedMZuMQ/w640-h480/PA220427.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26NmPgRlvuRKy1r7d8s2-WxxPsneDKVQqPRmn_qwzXwqgCsUedSSJWBGrnhmjGBymkuwB7NsIClgbfMw4vMqaaR3R_llLssoKVZF5iuItwbtvnHIkz1TUKOKM-bZSdBO1xsOR4fy2TiA4inFSVT-RVOskthdxmhYtE1y_FvfJ0sDjJ0wCsEGjpX3Ylw/s1920/PA220431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26NmPgRlvuRKy1r7d8s2-WxxPsneDKVQqPRmn_qwzXwqgCsUedSSJWBGrnhmjGBymkuwB7NsIClgbfMw4vMqaaR3R_llLssoKVZF5iuItwbtvnHIkz1TUKOKM-bZSdBO1xsOR4fy2TiA4inFSVT-RVOskthdxmhYtE1y_FvfJ0sDjJ0wCsEGjpX3Ylw/w640-h480/PA220431.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnAcDswIoR9PyI_M0tQt21iUGpIfHlB5O3tGJzBPhWTJZfs8C5DRfTvC9wVvHh30KMmhIkPrX1Cr4l6UK0ZY9VTjUrL-Rc_6T3CzrDpGxBqkPVGHEhrEaUvuymRqP3nxZs5b5ZxbcURz27aGBBcc-MjYaKQ4lqPOVIx5Onry76Qa9JAdvSHzfNkV1Ww/s1920/PA220436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnAcDswIoR9PyI_M0tQt21iUGpIfHlB5O3tGJzBPhWTJZfs8C5DRfTvC9wVvHh30KMmhIkPrX1Cr4l6UK0ZY9VTjUrL-Rc_6T3CzrDpGxBqkPVGHEhrEaUvuymRqP3nxZs5b5ZxbcURz27aGBBcc-MjYaKQ4lqPOVIx5Onry76Qa9JAdvSHzfNkV1Ww/w640-h480/PA220436.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><h1></h1></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Flume</h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9q8iC5O1Vh3Smm90XDk_hW6fiiRU8Ennbpom5UqbkzfvkQMvGRNQuqqON4sETT72-eSkbQn60ziM5vBqSXTErPRrvYtO56PX2ZthVaLb6EZVZ81bRaKNxfvviz0Lo3aITCVeE_5zaot-js7YG--jWh_gTHA199Lo6lo35ucjc2ALD_9mmA1frNM-apg/s1920/PA220379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9q8iC5O1Vh3Smm90XDk_hW6fiiRU8Ennbpom5UqbkzfvkQMvGRNQuqqON4sETT72-eSkbQn60ziM5vBqSXTErPRrvYtO56PX2ZthVaLb6EZVZ81bRaKNxfvviz0Lo3aITCVeE_5zaot-js7YG--jWh_gTHA199Lo6lo35ucjc2ALD_9mmA1frNM-apg/w640-h480/PA220379.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Black Coffee</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gsIiHbFnpv6Q1KiRRIBy0JjXZ_1LQ3ZbYCB1A0Fjdx1CdU6qRfQP167J8Rk8_5PNsFEBiKCRs8bBvvLOAODRZfMnqpmVr8MgTgN8ZTqf1o2ktCECMbxjOcDh6hD6i-t-skYXsta54IyPp9YgIJeaoSDkJvwKpqMNY2oarfWsauH7YgzTe6zcct6TbQ/s1920/PA220463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gsIiHbFnpv6Q1KiRRIBy0JjXZ_1LQ3ZbYCB1A0Fjdx1CdU6qRfQP167J8Rk8_5PNsFEBiKCRs8bBvvLOAODRZfMnqpmVr8MgTgN8ZTqf1o2ktCECMbxjOcDh6hD6i-t-skYXsta54IyPp9YgIJeaoSDkJvwKpqMNY2oarfWsauH7YgzTe6zcct6TbQ/w640-h480/PA220463.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">Joji</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTM7nQMFM1NczPs4DTo3NkCWJIbfi5BjkzqHOBIs_GuLIexdn2UruJf5XMyjDjEkzeQ4an7HJi2JahgczqxRxTQoorlbak8hgAlkHPbPFYbCjDGr4jqELqeHr8pSck8pQsQugFuOlRr5vJZ1JcXmYcJRKNEdHpj7AelXIUj5oGSABe2xkpmZOqvgYceg/s1920/PA220279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTM7nQMFM1NczPs4DTo3NkCWJIbfi5BjkzqHOBIs_GuLIexdn2UruJf5XMyjDjEkzeQ4an7HJi2JahgczqxRxTQoorlbak8hgAlkHPbPFYbCjDGr4jqELqeHr8pSck8pQsQugFuOlRr5vJZ1JcXmYcJRKNEdHpj7AelXIUj5oGSABe2xkpmZOqvgYceg/w640-h480/PA220279.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">Orbital<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvv8cX1SDqqE4a0AR6Obj-qrxyZqXETfStkHv1iS7UmPt2NxOmS2L7-Uz2QeuY0-m2oYcQx2g6Jm0FQ4jzaXHYNRYWl04M1dy2svjwHHarTl4-wdGr30zZrYr78oNq_wF-RY-ckzCOeqr298CsQat6x0F7mkPDXadNvpzlnIEgWta2FPHuBoPqb1ekHA/s1920/PA220311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvv8cX1SDqqE4a0AR6Obj-qrxyZqXETfStkHv1iS7UmPt2NxOmS2L7-Uz2QeuY0-m2oYcQx2g6Jm0FQ4jzaXHYNRYWl04M1dy2svjwHHarTl4-wdGr30zZrYr78oNq_wF-RY-ckzCOeqr298CsQat6x0F7mkPDXadNvpzlnIEgWta2FPHuBoPqb1ekHA/w640-h480/PA220311.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></h1><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfnkUaUeuQHOYw_Pw9Sxhh-gcgPuDWyOY33xqNEGqPCII3dGSadeu0jLgCB8dwCz0U5XLb6VXxS_nCk5ZdKTyxHuImVFRLBDd9f7OwX9RAf9WzmQZzfWZxqW45l1JP2J0ZI2Y1NyWUMPGcqAPLwRFy_tVglnRIcmyufWg9KbezIsf_uBbfxaEtkNWPQ/s1920/PA220295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfnkUaUeuQHOYw_Pw9Sxhh-gcgPuDWyOY33xqNEGqPCII3dGSadeu0jLgCB8dwCz0U5XLb6VXxS_nCk5ZdKTyxHuImVFRLBDd9f7OwX9RAf9WzmQZzfWZxqW45l1JP2J0ZI2Y1NyWUMPGcqAPLwRFy_tVglnRIcmyufWg9KbezIsf_uBbfxaEtkNWPQ/w640-h480/PA220295.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcdMQTlcsahbl0ZEPh7tkeo86PNGFMu3_ccBQYedBywkzf_nvKjdL-lwv_XkaujUxvlt5Qv7zBShOh8P3TAfaJWSr4vN32F5hekpJlCnVc33A0uhEcrA4rO4hXyDzAh2F2llVcPNRCgJ64jK-GQq1UVBZERfeZPUk4RMi6sZq6tDLNwVOcacsA9oofA/s1788/PA220287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1788" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcdMQTlcsahbl0ZEPh7tkeo86PNGFMu3_ccBQYedBywkzf_nvKjdL-lwv_XkaujUxvlt5Qv7zBShOh8P3TAfaJWSr4vN32F5hekpJlCnVc33A0uhEcrA4rO4hXyDzAh2F2llVcPNRCgJ64jK-GQq1UVBZERfeZPUk4RMi6sZq6tDLNwVOcacsA9oofA/w640-h342/PA220287.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pypan5H4dQiwj00CI5X5MBesMez2pFOqnONVvOVZRMRP1pnD4TD6B8bXWkU5kRpKKrMRm7OsdILV8TQX9ASufpFb4ZgIjnV0yE5yBVXfqRJ1blUyu0MiEYxst14kqppzrGeUC9BuuKLbbgHeYQRxfrFDWcnP-WANGY0MsjA0_K_xx8Kfp6eCf7NdRg/s1920/PA220318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pypan5H4dQiwj00CI5X5MBesMez2pFOqnONVvOVZRMRP1pnD4TD6B8bXWkU5kRpKKrMRm7OsdILV8TQX9ASufpFb4ZgIjnV0yE5yBVXfqRJ1blUyu0MiEYxst14kqppzrGeUC9BuuKLbbgHeYQRxfrFDWcnP-WANGY0MsjA0_K_xx8Kfp6eCf7NdRg/w640-h480/PA220318.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Bob Moses</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyBhavnCIGh8pA4zxZBbRW0GHhck0kQBuu6YqelFt0GtJS1Am6g_fzz-g8cCcNtc20XKcpxvM_LErPmj4lEE79amwq1WkNudoVHfMGc-yhZoWYbnID8XM1tliIBFPRnuT0RWt7B5U_ihYFp923ElVvS1_gvqb5cyNX9mWwsK0Ux2VAh5giBEzyWWl_A/s1920/PA220247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyBhavnCIGh8pA4zxZBbRW0GHhck0kQBuu6YqelFt0GtJS1Am6g_fzz-g8cCcNtc20XKcpxvM_LErPmj4lEE79amwq1WkNudoVHfMGc-yhZoWYbnID8XM1tliIBFPRnuT0RWt7B5U_ihYFp923ElVvS1_gvqb5cyNX9mWwsK0Ux2VAh5giBEzyWWl_A/w640-h480/PA220247.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Busta Rhymes</h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yDf-wFkUJGUy8T3bUsDOxxvXGYKgOVsmN5WjAUtxmyeUD9AgoUUu5oH9vVKpc2SpmbQI5dwUpRzcl3t0N2Cq5g5b73W80nyr0171zmYf9ixnhQODi37nIHRH4Gi_EMO3e9h6s9D7nQ7YGROmQkwvfuezAv7wJNzQmYX3l9Dmzw4fhCLBk6x_qpy1QA/s1920/PA220453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yDf-wFkUJGUy8T3bUsDOxxvXGYKgOVsmN5WjAUtxmyeUD9AgoUUu5oH9vVKpc2SpmbQI5dwUpRzcl3t0N2Cq5g5b73W80nyr0171zmYf9ixnhQODi37nIHRH4Gi_EMO3e9h6s9D7nQ7YGROmQkwvfuezAv7wJNzQmYX3l9Dmzw4fhCLBk6x_qpy1QA/w640-h480/PA220453.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVG0EYVn_BglhQ2boswXfu62g0asKzCh-uxoz_yzKf04jR4B0RUg5fsBrzNe7wkIYA68liRromUCgNW13DDSMq_kskRTirDFB93wJUGfQ7bROCzzUKII7T7flDMl_-yD-preqPJJm3GepKhEpcRUSFQjRRKDklIMH7BU4w73NgJeO7Zw6I1zuQZqr6A/s1920/PA220450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVG0EYVn_BglhQ2boswXfu62g0asKzCh-uxoz_yzKf04jR4B0RUg5fsBrzNe7wkIYA68liRromUCgNW13DDSMq_kskRTirDFB93wJUGfQ7bROCzzUKII7T7flDMl_-yD-preqPJJm3GepKhEpcRUSFQjRRKDklIMH7BU4w73NgJeO7Zw6I1zuQZqr6A/w640-h480/PA220450.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Erika de Casier</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvoWUuqxXGLlApIag_mnJapQKhdBlnyT5VyLvwarag7JxhnMIMRo_bAm9eE8J1hIzzNK8TQ-4QxBFYpoEZSxdH4NiPjmCaf4F7flF2RWkcRSmxvstJr_lRpr5-S5LtkBgEmw3JJL20KhVTrbbMITmpiKaxL6JHhEIEurMLU1_iopU7FtvNcwRqt8AuA/s1920/PA220265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvoWUuqxXGLlApIag_mnJapQKhdBlnyT5VyLvwarag7JxhnMIMRo_bAm9eE8J1hIzzNK8TQ-4QxBFYpoEZSxdH4NiPjmCaf4F7flF2RWkcRSmxvstJr_lRpr5-S5LtkBgEmw3JJL20KhVTrbbMITmpiKaxL6JHhEIEurMLU1_iopU7FtvNcwRqt8AuA/w640-h480/PA220265.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">Nick Leon</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHblc-8cVTjF7oQDflz9Hb86jZEBWlyhB8LHq4nIBxT1fTAVXAogUwgbFQU5c3iTRKkiayDQJnYBKFydLujXBSeF2QDbZa-uAgbkuUf64DIs1E8MpXA-joAjCZxYO-fPl3RtCEoDyMvOjKEq_FnV5K2MbyFfoyKNePIg6rZY8s13rUcZFuNEzE3yRfg/s1920/PA220382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHblc-8cVTjF7oQDflz9Hb86jZEBWlyhB8LHq4nIBxT1fTAVXAogUwgbFQU5c3iTRKkiayDQJnYBKFydLujXBSeF2QDbZa-uAgbkuUf64DIs1E8MpXA-joAjCZxYO-fPl3RtCEoDyMvOjKEq_FnV5K2MbyFfoyKNePIg6rZY8s13rUcZFuNEzE3yRfg/w640-h480/PA220382.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">Despacio</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyz4k_ZW-vwcgFsHiC0Jhoz1s0iVHdigKJat--WlBnZVKuslTDvuapzRYNivKM4r0TmchpKfEcK_B-b2H0_NHTrjAZio0LP-T_lIy9tBOrjseEVG2twgXwAU_r5XPyMYlqfvDEjzHfE2SDd-LXTqhLex6cb8neiwOEs8DuQQ0EM3CaEP2CJloaGjv6g/s1920/PA220466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyz4k_ZW-vwcgFsHiC0Jhoz1s0iVHdigKJat--WlBnZVKuslTDvuapzRYNivKM4r0TmchpKfEcK_B-b2H0_NHTrjAZio0LP-T_lIy9tBOrjseEVG2twgXwAU_r5XPyMYlqfvDEjzHfE2SDd-LXTqhLex6cb8neiwOEs8DuQQ0EM3CaEP2CJloaGjv6g/w640-h480/PA220466.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h1>The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-33316896300628092452022-10-26T01:54:00.003-05:002022-10-27T00:25:11.155-05:00III Points Festival Friday photos<p>Miami's iconic festival blending an insatiable mix of music from tech house/edm to hip hop and indie rock returned this past weekend and I was there to take pics. The below shots capture the best of Friday's action. <a href="https://totallyunauthorized.blogspot.com/2022/10/iii-points-festival-saturday-photos.html">Check out Saturday's pics here. </a></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">LCD Soundsystem</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_AggSoq_uqveqAcKb8tjRi33SB0FAcZ4k8s_wSSTL98eTpg6YhLJK2RnyTzrF3ez7wwM6gHwFtwyRvGVzRUew8sMaaSKSgByzGhi9DbAuCS3yxjjLgBVEZ9Nyw1du4lKsbZ-GnEEOFlphx1dMr9VbXf-D6T4vjjAZ_kiko2gueMZPqOiFRR9MnH3DA/s1920/PA210168.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_AggSoq_uqveqAcKb8tjRi33SB0FAcZ4k8s_wSSTL98eTpg6YhLJK2RnyTzrF3ez7wwM6gHwFtwyRvGVzRUew8sMaaSKSgByzGhi9DbAuCS3yxjjLgBVEZ9Nyw1du4lKsbZ-GnEEOFlphx1dMr9VbXf-D6T4vjjAZ_kiko2gueMZPqOiFRR9MnH3DA/w640-h480/PA210168.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxU18duG-LWLfoVjTiXk9dJ0SGtesDjlymT-iXRczirXEGKHHh3k_OkyWuI_D578iVsQpkNnlhHfa5q91A7GZaW9sHFMIXLQGUoHEKPduzZRyvIPB9gljvVhU3CEKNQHsJOYKGao2xxudvbEqR4tpguvzlapXxi4vlpYvrXOdovYlBILbhRmKgJThWQ/s1920/PA210159.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxU18duG-LWLfoVjTiXk9dJ0SGtesDjlymT-iXRczirXEGKHHh3k_OkyWuI_D578iVsQpkNnlhHfa5q91A7GZaW9sHFMIXLQGUoHEKPduzZRyvIPB9gljvVhU3CEKNQHsJOYKGao2xxudvbEqR4tpguvzlapXxi4vlpYvrXOdovYlBILbhRmKgJThWQ/w640-h480/PA210159.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQV3OzKATEYsaiCAoJSdrgX8OUW51_0zwHEZmf1qSC9FUATeBhwjbtTQfBcRsQdzLyAux75z1SOT_gtlyHhiAFAU0qAcZX0sIOxlfgHrI_rH531w2dghU-UlR0QqouxG60KxkY_Hf9wInYYeBeOSqVLJ8dg8P21fz5bX3lSGuKNC7p2PfojteFZGl2MA/s1920/PA210157.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQV3OzKATEYsaiCAoJSdrgX8OUW51_0zwHEZmf1qSC9FUATeBhwjbtTQfBcRsQdzLyAux75z1SOT_gtlyHhiAFAU0qAcZX0sIOxlfgHrI_rH531w2dghU-UlR0QqouxG60KxkY_Hf9wInYYeBeOSqVLJ8dg8P21fz5bX3lSGuKNC7p2PfojteFZGl2MA/w640-h480/PA210157.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyFaZsDVisC-xKeRolOmQ_qN_tnEpPjFW9ATPkxGPZCwoLsALQwNf27gyspolV1QUY7-QL-GjFVHYh6dpWaF_wYMQcJ4Ew-acSqPLbQcJqqTci_H-3lGTyDzLQsL_2CAhfCfUAkwB-wp2yMovenBE5qsx5i1r_UJ1__psXN2PxPq-gwPuVzACjXdDYg/s1920/PA210173.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyFaZsDVisC-xKeRolOmQ_qN_tnEpPjFW9ATPkxGPZCwoLsALQwNf27gyspolV1QUY7-QL-GjFVHYh6dpWaF_wYMQcJ4Ew-acSqPLbQcJqqTci_H-3lGTyDzLQsL_2CAhfCfUAkwB-wp2yMovenBE5qsx5i1r_UJ1__psXN2PxPq-gwPuVzACjXdDYg/w640-h480/PA210173.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tbRuJ-9Pjpb0kmrsZANnj8O49cUI9bY57EbA8PVQFtocGVAvf5YqbYkH8EFHW7xOm4OEtj9XdHMTdGxmumZf6DB_nX8Gp84mcNilerjfZA8-kM10mFb79HsI6R7sQ1uV8LUL7Qid2vQSyq0TkFZbZ0TiVnNUSDkKxoI0d_n15BTMZVuM8XKlmJ0PZg/s1920/PA210185.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tbRuJ-9Pjpb0kmrsZANnj8O49cUI9bY57EbA8PVQFtocGVAvf5YqbYkH8EFHW7xOm4OEtj9XdHMTdGxmumZf6DB_nX8Gp84mcNilerjfZA8-kM10mFb79HsI6R7sQ1uV8LUL7Qid2vQSyq0TkFZbZ0TiVnNUSDkKxoI0d_n15BTMZVuM8XKlmJ0PZg/w480-h640/PA210185.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC61-k45YW7MqRQLYcpoitgWzg_fAj0kOtQWwN2tlShLQFDu9isykfAnHr5LBipX8wJPUFWgtHF68ahMu5AacwatcUtqI2PvahoEug4zUuuu7JLtNDVXTnqb_h7-rBFUtRYjoNgnXjhCaKtLAMrjSQjVw8cMHJnhrtTVNHYe223HdP6eY0QT-T4ovfqQ/s1920/PA210148.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVnPOnA1pUiGpvfLI6WQpwpXpRosqEpK-z791hVIB1b-_DaRkg2NYvGaJkBG_kM391yTTA61KZ0hIdrcK3HheJavJ6AufmxrkckqRxY641XFJOTPse77vbx9qKvY1iNsw1Gl6zeqmMJoHdIaYtmPX5rYXhsgKdQN66WEuv6SePUNMkaH_f0LgebJ0Gw/s1920/PA210161.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVnPOnA1pUiGpvfLI6WQpwpXpRosqEpK-z791hVIB1b-_DaRkg2NYvGaJkBG_kM391yTTA61KZ0hIdrcK3HheJavJ6AufmxrkckqRxY641XFJOTPse77vbx9qKvY1iNsw1Gl6zeqmMJoHdIaYtmPX5rYXhsgKdQN66WEuv6SePUNMkaH_f0LgebJ0Gw/w640-h480/PA210161.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">James Blake</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGc23t58rPvcL8rOf1xHtH16EXFPPQQD9rp29He1Ia5HnT6HNYJXPO3pkhJ7PeuBhFdd7pbaqZbEW9vl4RGY6nKHYEWa3fStae8uVc3OlEjT_zI5V3ZlWIeWjPBbgaTGn2643xCnoqwTjHm-96DeZZsP58wCAWPizYnqU77UC-2E6KvwEHBa2TZ0vgAg/s1920/PA210024.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGc23t58rPvcL8rOf1xHtH16EXFPPQQD9rp29He1Ia5HnT6HNYJXPO3pkhJ7PeuBhFdd7pbaqZbEW9vl4RGY6nKHYEWa3fStae8uVc3OlEjT_zI5V3ZlWIeWjPBbgaTGn2643xCnoqwTjHm-96DeZZsP58wCAWPizYnqU77UC-2E6KvwEHBa2TZ0vgAg/w640-h480/PA210024.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEx--vXKXR4e_0RJ46GvhEQibvR0lyUglw5Q_ncK-bJhGJMPxM6ozKrqW3m5af9_Ss-yAi4Yw-EfblSz19NgTRCzuOgvufrSFPR_bbY2i-0JLSJC9XnPXcnt8RH1Mu7KZhBzCGxwN1VRRNpiLIuRtZzLfOaoRKuc9DHmiLtn5nJVZQdECwvZRrYXHPzA/s1920/PA210027.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEx--vXKXR4e_0RJ46GvhEQibvR0lyUglw5Q_ncK-bJhGJMPxM6ozKrqW3m5af9_Ss-yAi4Yw-EfblSz19NgTRCzuOgvufrSFPR_bbY2i-0JLSJC9XnPXcnt8RH1Mu7KZhBzCGxwN1VRRNpiLIuRtZzLfOaoRKuc9DHmiLtn5nJVZQdECwvZRrYXHPzA/w640-h480/PA210027.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_cNVSrly8YTKIZ8Tx_DojzFPS2Dvve6JTP_md5B-4tDRrMlu3fM-AwKPUOWXem885lwXBuPy4SWGACDSvoc07-rLmNjF3BLOqw6VkVjTiiChidx3UQRJ51qAQ2AISpWJUSXlbpyJiQ3BXoTgpFc0N3gOj2U_WnjN6SUwUR4NH5eDSJ8LKNsabGFU3Q/s1920/PA210031.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_cNVSrly8YTKIZ8Tx_DojzFPS2Dvve6JTP_md5B-4tDRrMlu3fM-AwKPUOWXem885lwXBuPy4SWGACDSvoc07-rLmNjF3BLOqw6VkVjTiiChidx3UQRJ51qAQ2AISpWJUSXlbpyJiQ3BXoTgpFc0N3gOj2U_WnjN6SUwUR4NH5eDSJ8LKNsabGFU3Q/w640-h480/PA210031.JPG" width="640" /></a><h1></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf0w1om2SYFPssJt2rdkjwKI-ohFplk5Qf2PU5nFbuwVWbLWFbLpTztHaLlucsaymbZ-6_OKArE6Yyw-Gw6Kv1zcZQGZs1xiQ5OW3WhByoUSCvY-FK-XcXlIYLC8HtgI80phe4YPwIOpl_eAwf8TBRgHIfdt6ovhDCZkYufysTNQU1M-T5ebB2C41_g/s1920/PA210046.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf0w1om2SYFPssJt2rdkjwKI-ohFplk5Qf2PU5nFbuwVWbLWFbLpTztHaLlucsaymbZ-6_OKArE6Yyw-Gw6Kv1zcZQGZs1xiQ5OW3WhByoUSCvY-FK-XcXlIYLC8HtgI80phe4YPwIOpl_eAwf8TBRgHIfdt6ovhDCZkYufysTNQU1M-T5ebB2C41_g/w640-h480/PA210046.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><h1></h1></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">Polo & Pan</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRq0B0FMcSmW2n8Bv9S2IfSmLfDMuD3_0D5D09LdK7N7l6iPu2ZGpZSIpn0vXpmQ_PXiM3xbF7u7G1XwEAhMZl0T_ZVCcPIyqE4VKhEbqA7qqEpg005tiB_eCBb07Ucxj0BEFww3GNavbR7KZpSzRHtFACelcpd6jUCJYnqLGxRKhEDBIHQ7lsg1jyzg/s1920/PA210124.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRq0B0FMcSmW2n8Bv9S2IfSmLfDMuD3_0D5D09LdK7N7l6iPu2ZGpZSIpn0vXpmQ_PXiM3xbF7u7G1XwEAhMZl0T_ZVCcPIyqE4VKhEbqA7qqEpg005tiB_eCBb07Ucxj0BEFww3GNavbR7KZpSzRHtFACelcpd6jUCJYnqLGxRKhEDBIHQ7lsg1jyzg/w640-h480/PA210124.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPPws0GK3t86SrbEvwODnRQWm5GEUiY92kC3l-PMwzJDEwn-sm2r5BnlQQ6s3TVNfuSIbm8el5p7nDcUa32YZ-zk4jGZcDOfxn_UiNzqt6AUusc-ERSL8ht6kZLkpxJ91jCpPBPJ8SBIe_59YRafXE-M4vqxMA1o77xpd8hbke0a_T3yMhCJOOdr4lg/s1920/PA210127.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPPws0GK3t86SrbEvwODnRQWm5GEUiY92kC3l-PMwzJDEwn-sm2r5BnlQQ6s3TVNfuSIbm8el5p7nDcUa32YZ-zk4jGZcDOfxn_UiNzqt6AUusc-ERSL8ht6kZLkpxJ91jCpPBPJ8SBIe_59YRafXE-M4vqxMA1o77xpd8hbke0a_T3yMhCJOOdr4lg/w640-h480/PA210127.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xJqOIcraWO-QxAdSPax5u8auQBzZ2KbN08Et43tYId8g9M7G99ptynsR4RVQLEP0TL6E2aHr4dgjFA-xcmZwZoCBJBM4ceUQrOwiK1rzPS3C5lHz2mhUfb_o7UL__O6fNZkpoDWUZbQG_0oXTY-967dkt1h0UyftfF-CILdsuYCKKKy1AewA94ckqg/s1920/PA210132.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xJqOIcraWO-QxAdSPax5u8auQBzZ2KbN08Et43tYId8g9M7G99ptynsR4RVQLEP0TL6E2aHr4dgjFA-xcmZwZoCBJBM4ceUQrOwiK1rzPS3C5lHz2mhUfb_o7UL__O6fNZkpoDWUZbQG_0oXTY-967dkt1h0UyftfF-CILdsuYCKKKy1AewA94ckqg/w640-h480/PA210132.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><h1></h1></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">Tycho</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8W9xQRDUMZIgw8VGwWsQioP2gkk-fQKsNv_LkMPWX632D4O6kE_KLzy-I7u4GUuvLyOH52oVkkqQ9x1qj45WIgMgJxv3pQALM3YTAbeGrcPfs3gF3QVMfLqIa-lzHisAyLFV_2d_aXgesepEmQsQ4JRmiKmw_SaGa6C7zRf9zKy4FVkd_JfFzPqaZPA/s1920/PA210014.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8W9xQRDUMZIgw8VGwWsQioP2gkk-fQKsNv_LkMPWX632D4O6kE_KLzy-I7u4GUuvLyOH52oVkkqQ9x1qj45WIgMgJxv3pQALM3YTAbeGrcPfs3gF3QVMfLqIa-lzHisAyLFV_2d_aXgesepEmQsQ4JRmiKmw_SaGa6C7zRf9zKy4FVkd_JfFzPqaZPA/w640-h480/PA210014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SIrRiCioYsRSlZLQAGo6iynceqT8aou0Ki1EIPapJErtCU7Rwn2cfoGK0IbkhanBsfz0p2miqGoB-3qZ1NuNCj08wr0RXK6MRY5JmiBD8sdNgUpgO0mNuGfXy4lzgIsF3v63xxGcgEvjsjj6xZGu2eqovuQKCLfaehZp8Jk8GibrBCMxWyDiVtwtAA/s1920/PA210015.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SIrRiCioYsRSlZLQAGo6iynceqT8aou0Ki1EIPapJErtCU7Rwn2cfoGK0IbkhanBsfz0p2miqGoB-3qZ1NuNCj08wr0RXK6MRY5JmiBD8sdNgUpgO0mNuGfXy4lzgIsF3v63xxGcgEvjsjj6xZGu2eqovuQKCLfaehZp8Jk8GibrBCMxWyDiVtwtAA/w640-h480/PA210015.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYC8SEIINfBmjOp8HkS5G1-5Emhx6_FKQuaB0dyjZ_vTQeg_SgjtgQ7AiJTUAy72vkjrURvcFNDCFS0L2NZ8DalA6UNnhFDAKK3BX978mINHbwzZ_q0YIDwt1Sv_jJiovV3F1WR4MeIIuf2AoE1z-s0obfceiE0QKdx1dWd5CGTNpeZIjcfEswH8lxQ/s1920/PA210005.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYC8SEIINfBmjOp8HkS5G1-5Emhx6_FKQuaB0dyjZ_vTQeg_SgjtgQ7AiJTUAy72vkjrURvcFNDCFS0L2NZ8DalA6UNnhFDAKK3BX978mINHbwzZ_q0YIDwt1Sv_jJiovV3F1WR4MeIIuf2AoE1z-s0obfceiE0QKdx1dWd5CGTNpeZIjcfEswH8lxQ/w640-h480/PA210005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">The Marias</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8aYEpNFH9av45ZElprg0MipsRiRMVjPoDhvNxSm4xgCBb82Sc81ENdekdFpUb0eJmCtJbAsjyn0o0rEilvoAuWPQpTkdoBDge1HK4cRIrOwPZu2Y_gdMc1kvjRbN2rEVQCMMa06pvG9RTjm9-Zw9nROPkZZkWKFgmWNFSwthSaVUHf30gpZHiJ2VRQ/s1920/PA210078.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8aYEpNFH9av45ZElprg0MipsRiRMVjPoDhvNxSm4xgCBb82Sc81ENdekdFpUb0eJmCtJbAsjyn0o0rEilvoAuWPQpTkdoBDge1HK4cRIrOwPZu2Y_gdMc1kvjRbN2rEVQCMMa06pvG9RTjm9-Zw9nROPkZZkWKFgmWNFSwthSaVUHf30gpZHiJ2VRQ/w480-h640/PA210078.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">Andy Stott</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJ7Jemi2VlB4k4domwUIIkgw-BLR1TbXbw8aaQdIXO8DQhl4I5iHIivCWXM8WFEE3lvKmMfpTG8JH5UMFWoGGrNZcA9MGydvbIWKUYo15c859mYpJelvOBWFSWQbFS27ZAY8d-JBCD_X78G68p1_FycR2sREkdPcajL9Hkl_9hJBPlXHRfeaXFMWyGw/s1920/PA210099.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJ7Jemi2VlB4k4domwUIIkgw-BLR1TbXbw8aaQdIXO8DQhl4I5iHIivCWXM8WFEE3lvKmMfpTG8JH5UMFWoGGrNZcA9MGydvbIWKUYo15c859mYpJelvOBWFSWQbFS27ZAY8d-JBCD_X78G68p1_FycR2sREkdPcajL9Hkl_9hJBPlXHRfeaXFMWyGw/w640-h480/PA210099.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Kittin & the Hacker</h1><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsRAMLJc1Bp5B8om4h9olBgXO74JyPZ7Wp67ZyzxwrQZLVV4ln7F1boQfFusxrziEQmqTAm-zGUR4F4gvx8ZCIlGON5vd4uXNAqQ9pcQL73QUxodzS9CmlExQ5E9_d7k9tDpoLhIEnl18ZSWLepa_idXr3qGLK7jBAEioTpFnXog3-MHv5-aElOA_Bw/s1920/PA210112.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsRAMLJc1Bp5B8om4h9olBgXO74JyPZ7Wp67ZyzxwrQZLVV4ln7F1boQfFusxrziEQmqTAm-zGUR4F4gvx8ZCIlGON5vd4uXNAqQ9pcQL73QUxodzS9CmlExQ5E9_d7k9tDpoLhIEnl18ZSWLepa_idXr3qGLK7jBAEioTpFnXog3-MHv5-aElOA_Bw/w640-h480/PA210112.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHoRkWldQ4KU5F0JS9imo8qOrAgpbQuXueVKWPg3CxMHyOd1qjjmTq_5jtgYj0NpxgWDnctnKeROMSTqc4JkadHkbDJdXRb9UVTG-By-0VOFwJ-ydfnhdTqvzYKaLhxv5cDCXyV_uu0t6oBca8_E5qRMiB4YR0akH1b1gqjlPLf6c4UwDPwzLFlPEtw/s1920/PA210106.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHoRkWldQ4KU5F0JS9imo8qOrAgpbQuXueVKWPg3CxMHyOd1qjjmTq_5jtgYj0NpxgWDnctnKeROMSTqc4JkadHkbDJdXRb9UVTG-By-0VOFwJ-ydfnhdTqvzYKaLhxv5cDCXyV_uu0t6oBca8_E5qRMiB4YR0akH1b1gqjlPLf6c4UwDPwzLFlPEtw/w640-h480/PA210106.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">Nala</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcewGRTVsg6mrZBIhMqRzTCl6cqT5bP610QVSAfqyzV5wUIWiJuBjpipHmGmHlZL89ltlsqNltxBI28tRMCVstY4aTr4AOdllJp5jplnxCr5cSGqM4jP7iFhhKOIlWc-EWjDo4lKnMrmTLycX3wpBeyJui1hhjfizmpCWrM1_DeorJccg115XC_h26pw/s1920/PA210017.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcewGRTVsg6mrZBIhMqRzTCl6cqT5bP610QVSAfqyzV5wUIWiJuBjpipHmGmHlZL89ltlsqNltxBI28tRMCVstY4aTr4AOdllJp5jplnxCr5cSGqM4jP7iFhhKOIlWc-EWjDo4lKnMrmTLycX3wpBeyJui1hhjfizmpCWrM1_DeorJccg115XC_h26pw/w640-h480/PA210017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1N0TYHD0_9ELt1Nox-o_bJubkssdJXZN8Bg--ighS4ApcgO_PBdzHsKM5s43okTGpsDFsVjG0cgZhBvgUMZkSWXjqHKNAadmxqBKOGNESAZh-sOGDto7j6n6Eag20mt8XD4GBCukQzICTwDuHaJyl8c3WzipQtXdXWPPWv0JEGlSi_F-xVRtozONRg/s1920/PA210018.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1N0TYHD0_9ELt1Nox-o_bJubkssdJXZN8Bg--ighS4ApcgO_PBdzHsKM5s43okTGpsDFsVjG0cgZhBvgUMZkSWXjqHKNAadmxqBKOGNESAZh-sOGDto7j6n6Eag20mt8XD4GBCukQzICTwDuHaJyl8c3WzipQtXdXWPPWv0JEGlSi_F-xVRtozONRg/w640-h480/PA210018.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h1>The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-13835606329681848672022-09-18T02:22:00.004-05:002022-09-18T02:22:54.446-05:00Killers pics 9/17/22<p>The Killers played an excellent show at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena tonight. Despite listening to the band since Hot Fuss came out, it somehow took me until now to get around to seeing them onstage. In addition to playing a career spanning set, they were also super cool by arranging for a fan to play drums when they did For Reasons Unknown. You'll see him below along with some of the best pics I got on the night. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_SsnKA5N1cyX5_cyfh-48-cX4u-BgtY1KYJ49iNCAzB2nO6A65T8a_tDUfm60q1yRBKWOMSr5FrWU3O_WEwb3fSn_iTq2bOII4KafS1Ks-bUBapC70TOHgZTIXX4RaNcDC7kJOUhx6ELflRTECAgqiMv4yqRHb0lQ5YL8RZH8KrKXUKfR_QZfOZl4A/s1920/P9170548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_SsnKA5N1cyX5_cyfh-48-cX4u-BgtY1KYJ49iNCAzB2nO6A65T8a_tDUfm60q1yRBKWOMSr5FrWU3O_WEwb3fSn_iTq2bOII4KafS1Ks-bUBapC70TOHgZTIXX4RaNcDC7kJOUhx6ELflRTECAgqiMv4yqRHb0lQ5YL8RZH8KrKXUKfR_QZfOZl4A/w640-h480/P9170548.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAAjNEia-B-FHi51ngF2c31zfIMiL7jNID4W0i10CXhfZ_ZH6BMGWLezCnUOuAukpexVn2x7ryAqXEYgJ5PnSAZbe75BxUHWFs3xv1Xo4Ks-1GRmyMRlnvmLCmmtHo3wrFOo_dLzZQx5_uIBzkYl85CXXdYm1hGCU6q7Imd-G5w_WH4lRMucjwJvohw/s1920/P9170560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAAjNEia-B-FHi51ngF2c31zfIMiL7jNID4W0i10CXhfZ_ZH6BMGWLezCnUOuAukpexVn2x7ryAqXEYgJ5PnSAZbe75BxUHWFs3xv1Xo4Ks-1GRmyMRlnvmLCmmtHo3wrFOo_dLzZQx5_uIBzkYl85CXXdYm1hGCU6q7Imd-G5w_WH4lRMucjwJvohw/w640-h480/P9170560.JPG" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjja65G1EJDTeDXiGAx_6Ph48aDvxXtyW1TEiNs6OQm0NiygoKnZJ6NW2zcZ3lfQzETOwM0Srb5YQdXYjyuCy2-hweA4EchNA0DRiiTXNKvwdlbJUe8s6LZrrTa1i4Ssqp9jOofS7GKhywEA6L4OqJAvQYVPqgGxeiFPVUH37LQhBEdY1k4NidvCKaHLQ/s1920/P9170558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjja65G1EJDTeDXiGAx_6Ph48aDvxXtyW1TEiNs6OQm0NiygoKnZJ6NW2zcZ3lfQzETOwM0Srb5YQdXYjyuCy2-hweA4EchNA0DRiiTXNKvwdlbJUe8s6LZrrTa1i4Ssqp9jOofS7GKhywEA6L4OqJAvQYVPqgGxeiFPVUH37LQhBEdY1k4NidvCKaHLQ/w640-h480/P9170558.JPG" width="640" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmdNLCi3dw1KCCkn2TWcSOfst6DPE7IV0vyOXPF77sDwDiY7mMYgRJdb_tunytaFSSYuMyJkscCLePeEtwp-8rrcRFNydvFhkJ5y3uFvcWHINiDWD3zUUrDNcoau_KoF59P9kmsntyYjA3w-04Md0f9CM_ja2_OY7WcEvWHyPacnV86LkH0RdB90imQ/s1920/P9170517.JPG" style="clear: left; 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float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjgivWCZC1d-d8i9y8SD_1ZbyGMi5x9qRozzdD9Xa4sOS0_Ok3rpBdTSK3lUZrzBptDj-JpAVAgT3YtHRJyfcCO_gPET2hjg7HFvwm2tAxXLYUrIoTwUqP_48NI7sJAW-fTGA-ygJ4UhUuywbvp8G6mSBgJ1UY45QgV8BUy7gn8g5kYWWc9OPvNESsg/w640-h480/P9170506.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVU7Ju00tPhxb6c05f9NYZiMhZF_T9KwyvPypjCDjOv-K8rNqfRncWHVjR1UDuiPFyebQCNTY0z78xkiZ4838KZUl72UiYiXhmN_g76f7y9qxpkx3AaNpZ02Uj5-E3chzPcn66Tb96zeiQuZpU8Ap_6aKzVosnblSwZWwGw3Hu99-O6irtKEo919GfNg/s1920/P9170507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVU7Ju00tPhxb6c05f9NYZiMhZF_T9KwyvPypjCDjOv-K8rNqfRncWHVjR1UDuiPFyebQCNTY0z78xkiZ4838KZUl72UiYiXhmN_g76f7y9qxpkx3AaNpZ02Uj5-E3chzPcn66Tb96zeiQuZpU8Ap_6aKzVosnblSwZWwGw3Hu99-O6irtKEo919GfNg/w640-h480/P9170507.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-60574143827557180782022-02-07T01:53:00.011-06:002022-02-07T01:57:03.717-06:00Totally Unauthorized's Top 25 albums of 2021<p></p><p><span class="rendered_text">2021 was an excellent year for music, and
it's due to a deep class of young and upcoming artists. The entire Top 5
and 6 of the Top 10 are on their fourth album or less (with two
debuts!). What's more important is they are creating fresh music in a
variety of styles. So it's natural for this to feel like a changing of
the guard type year. And it's a huge improvement over 2020, a year which
gets an obvious mulligan anyway. </span><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">25. Tune Yards - Sketchy. <span class="rendered_text"> </span></h2><p><span class="rendered_text">Merrill Garbus's dizzying rhythms have
firmly placed Tune Yards into my ranks of long-time favorites for quite
awhile now. It's good to see they're still doing good work. Sketchy is
the most energized they've sounded in years, and my reward is allowing
them to sneak in and capture the last remaining spot on my Top 25 albums
list.</span></p><p><span class="rendered_text"> </span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">24. Sons of Kemet - Black to the Future</span></h2><h2><span class="rendered_text"></span></h2><p><span class="rendered_text">Picking up where they left off on 2018's excellent Your Queen is a Reptile, this English afro-jazz outfit continues to fascinate with the way they blur genre lines. They mix things up by dabbling in some Caribbean and spoken word influences. The most notable cut is the devastating diatribe on racial injustice, Pick Up Your Burning Cross.<br /><br /></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">23. The Weather Station - Ignorance</span></h2><h2><span class="rendered_text"></span></h2><p><span class="rendered_text">Much has been made of Tamara Linderman's exploration of environmental issues on The Weather Station's breakthrough album. At its most vivid, her writing practically conjures the breeze while sitting on a crag overlooking the sea. On Atlantic, she sings "In the half light, soft wind on my skin / Pink clouds massing on the cliffs / Thinking how can I touch this? How can I touch this softest petal / Softest stem, softest leaf / Bending, green, in my palm?"<br /><br />The guitars and drums conjure a melancholy undercurrent on standout Robber, while a compliment of horns and flutes close it out with gentle, jazzy, brushstrokes. The first three tracks build a head of steam that dissipates well before the album's close, but it's fascinating to watch them work their hypnotism when they're on.<br /><br /></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">22. Remi Wolf - Juno</span></h2><h2><span class="rendered_text"></span></h2><p><span class="rendered_text">This album is just fun. It's vaguely reminiscent of 00s pop, or at least a character that makes it appeal to those of us who grew up with that stuff. If you've had a rough day, this is a good one to put on to lift your spirits. It's like a little party for your ears!<br /><br /></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">21. Ross From Friends - Tread</span></h2><h2><span class="rendered_text"></span></h2><p><span class="rendered_text">Mostly chillout Electronica encapsulating a wide variety of emotions. Definitely borrows a bit from Burial but also weaves in the playful exuberance of acts like Balamb Acab. At certain points, Boards of Canada even come to mind (on Thresho_1.0 in particular). Approach with an open mind and allow yourself to be dazzled.<br /><br /></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">20. tricot - 上出来 (Jodeki) </span></h2><h2><span class="rendered_text"></span></h2><p><span class="rendered_text">A late release which likely missed most folk's radar with its mid December street date, but worthy nonetheless. All-girl rock outfit from Japan with an impressive variety of styles, running through everything from J-rock, pop, (with some slick background vocal work) post-hardcore, and even a bit of groove splashed in for good measure.<br /><br /></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">19. Darkside - Spiral </span></h2><h2><span class="rendered_text"></span></h2><p><span class="rendered_text">After eight years and a seemingly never-ending staircase of solo and side projects, Nico Jaar finally gets back together with his buddy Dave and gives us the Darkside album we almost forgot we needed. Spiral takes on a much more psychedelic bent than its predecessor, triumphantly showcasing yet another side of the duo's sound.<br /><br /></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">18. Brandi Carlile - In These Silent Days</span></h2><h2><span class="rendered_text"></span></h2><p><span class="rendered_text">A Top 10 contender immediately for me upon release, especially on the strength of You and Me on the Rock, Broken Horses, and Sinners, Saints, & Fools. I cooled on it fairly considerably, though. This one's rife with more intimate, introspective pieces that surely hit hard if you focus on the lyrics but maybe isn't best for the album's overall flow. Mid to low Top 25 feels pretty fair.<br /><br /></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">17. Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee</span></h2><h2><span class="rendered_text"></span></h2><p><span class="rendered_text">I got sucked in to the singles and perhaps overrated this one for a good portion of the year based on their strength alone. The rest of the album didn't hold up nearly as well on repeat listens but even discounting that fact it's hard to not appreciate what Michelle Zauner has put forth. Jubilee is a sticky, sweet bouquet of indie/dance pop, and I eagerly await her building further upon the foundation established here.<br /><br /></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">16. Mastodon - Hushed and Grim</span></h2><h2><span class="rendered_text"></span></h2><p><span class="rendered_text">If you like atmosphere, Hushed and Grim is seeping in it. The production brings out a melancholy vibe you might expect to see with bands like Katatonia or older Opeth, and it has unquestionably breathed new life into a band that had been fluttering south of the Mendoza line ever since 2011's The Hunter. You have tracks like Pushing the Tides and Teardrinker that are among the band's most vibrant singles to date. Not sure this needed to be a double album, though, a fact which brings out the album's only key shortcoming -- a number of these tracks float by anchored too much by the atmosphere and lacking somewhat on sound composition. I would have been much happier with the first disc with Gigantium added in along with maybe one or two others.<br /><br /></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">15. Squid - Bright Green Field</span></h2><h2><span class="rendered_text"></span></h2><p><span class="rendered_text">Out of the litany of English rock bands that cropped up this year, Squid feels the most indebted to the heritage of Talking Heads. Not to mention the obvious vocal similarity with singer Ollie Judge, many of the guitar lines demonstrate the same type of groove that made late 70/early 80s Heads album famous. Their biggest divergence with them -- and simultaneously their biggest ace up their sleeve -- is their ability to weave these dense, hypnotic instrumental patterns over extended sections. See specifically the mesmerizing later sections of Narrator or the long, spacey, belligerent outro on Boy Racers.<br /><br /></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">14. St. Vincent - Daddy's Home</span></h2><h2><span class="rendered_text"></span></h2><p><span class="rendered_text">Dressed in her white shag coat and boasting big, bold, yellow throwback lettering on the cover, Annie Clark leaves no doubt as to where her musical sensibilities lie on her sixth studio album. A certain warming up period is in order for this one. Opener Pay Your Way in Pain slinks and slithers its way in but by no means does it kick the door down, a significant left turn from what we're used to with St. Vincent albums. The dreamy production on Down and Out Downtown is more familiar while maintaining the album's motif. Standout stomper Run packs the biggest punch, while The Laughing Man and Live in the Dream are coated in atmosphere. This one's like sucking on a cough drop. The layers dissolve and wash away, revealing greater depth as it goes.<br /><br /></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">13. Mdou Moctar - Afrique Victime</span></h2><h2><span class="rendered_text"></span></h2><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">Guitar prodigy, traveler from faraway Niger, and leaker of last year's Bonnaroo lineup. Mdou Moctor is a man of many talents. His sound brings many of the musical elements of his homeland to your speakers, but also is deeply indebted to the many U.K. and American legends who shaped his style. Get yourself a front row seat to soak in his wizardry, if you know what's good for you. The man is primed to be blowing minds with his guitar displays for years to come.<br /><br /></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">12. Lucy Dacus - Home Video</span></h2><h2><span class="rendered_text"></span></h2><p><span class="rendered_text">Another great effort from one of indie rock's top young singer/songwriters. The best thing I can tell you is see it live if you can. There's nothing like watching her conjure forth Thumbs to an entire crowd waiting with baited breath. You could literally hear a pin drop. Some of these cuts are assuredly tailor made more for the stage than your headphones or car stereo, but it shouldn't take much to recognize the raw, ass kicking immediacy of Hot & Heavy and VBS, or the cutting lyricism of Brando.<br /><br /></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">11. Godspeed You Black Emperor! - G_d's Pee at State's End</span></h2><h2><span class="rendered_text"></span></h2><p><span class="rendered_text">These long standing post rock heroes barely missed out on ranking in my top 10 since 2012's Don't Bend Ascend, but there's plenty here I dig. The first side presents the type of burnt out, apocalyptic hellscape we know and love them for, whereas the second movement, beginning with Government Came, recalls BBF3 with its anti-government sound sample that runs over the course of the first few minutes but slowly becomes more esoteric from there. Never content to leave us on a sour note, however, the positively angelic OUR SIDE HAS TO WIN (For D.H.), is a rapturous palate cleanser that allows us to leave behind the grime we've experienced over the past 50+ minutes. It wouldn't sound out of place as the closing coda to The Passion of Joan of Arc's Voices of Light soundtrack, one of the greatest film soundtracks of all time.<br /><br /></span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">10. Silk Sonic - An Evening With Silk Sonic</span></h1><h1><span class="rendered_text"></span></h1><p><span class="rendered_text"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBRu9dDMU_xVF3nxw6GiP_-BIqVB6YSmxdC1tNEAwz6HP5XNCGH3C3NQkeePFQF0BSbEo9qxaP46OKhmAv9qGDtEjVMa35KvwNrQN626jsMWjVnVWMgv7-EJUpH7c0qyoXAYr9_HtIG52oZ5IcZ6KJ_Moqq8zdV7D9ZeY5pltEEN89KuE90iw_ofRuAA=s600" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBRu9dDMU_xVF3nxw6GiP_-BIqVB6YSmxdC1tNEAwz6HP5XNCGH3C3NQkeePFQF0BSbEo9qxaP46OKhmAv9qGDtEjVMa35KvwNrQN626jsMWjVnVWMgv7-EJUpH7c0qyoXAYr9_HtIG52oZ5IcZ6KJ_Moqq8zdV7D9ZeY5pltEEN89KuE90iw_ofRuAA=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>Just a fun album. This is an unabashed love letter to the golden age of funk and soul, effortlessly performed by two current titans of the genre. Every track punches above its weight class, and who can't get down to a bop like Leave the Door Open or Smokin Out the Window?<br /><br /><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text"> </span></h1><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text"><br /></span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">9. Turnstile - Glow On</span></h1><h1><span class="rendered_text"></span></h1><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmv-fm58Y8QiZEIBcnuP6J1_MBH_VRkTWlWcs3WOtR0KET-ZwoxDKdNngpQvSCqxbBohmwVfXIQ65cvKSR8MEmbDv98S2ikUwO0vnI1GbdqKq9tv5O7O4WBaok3852psbKWLyGyHDPcjtkbq8mVcaZ7vnYY6-dyO1XgfdvXSKVx9lWL4k4LguudYqPRA=s600" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmv-fm58Y8QiZEIBcnuP6J1_MBH_VRkTWlWcs3WOtR0KET-ZwoxDKdNngpQvSCqxbBohmwVfXIQ65cvKSR8MEmbDv98S2ikUwO0vnI1GbdqKq9tv5O7O4WBaok3852psbKWLyGyHDPcjtkbq8mVcaZ7vnYY6-dyO1XgfdvXSKVx9lWL4k4LguudYqPRA=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>They may be considered hardcore, but don't let that fool you. Baltimore-based Turnstile has broken through with their finest record yet, and it's a total genre-bender. This has some of the most effectively written riffs I've heard in a long time. They don't try to be too heavy, or too fast, or too indebted to a particular influence. They just kick ass. Mystery, Blackout, and Holiday are a pleasure to listen to again and again. Then you have experiments like Underwater, with its warbly guitar textures that perfectly create the sensation of being submerged. There are other small but effective touches, such as the dissonant piano intro on Fly again. And face it, what other hardcore act is going to have not one, but two collaborations with alt-R&B crooner Blood Orange? I can't wait to see what these guys come up with next.<br /><br /><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">8. Tyler the Creator - Call Me When You Get Lost</span></h1><h1><span class="rendered_text"></span></h1><p><span class="rendered_text"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiKMGwuDtoKi-WIC8HI6r17PFuSN8HjHcbHHS9pbMfEJ73kwFstwqBhJ0y2i9Qna7rJH7a64uA_JaBsRQSZuGNGihUlGklNCkEQHVEBxFaDe-9iv-OWXismMiLVE5Nr1e93sZSeaZOsNLy4e0fNGrJxUDubhHAGkB0_oRx2-F2PghBKiOKT4rEAmFCig=s600" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiKMGwuDtoKi-WIC8HI6r17PFuSN8HjHcbHHS9pbMfEJ73kwFstwqBhJ0y2i9Qna7rJH7a64uA_JaBsRQSZuGNGihUlGklNCkEQHVEBxFaDe-9iv-OWXismMiLVE5Nr1e93sZSeaZOsNLy4e0fNGrJxUDubhHAGkB0_oRx2-F2PghBKiOKT4rEAmFCig=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>Out of my Top 10 selections, this is the one that fluctuated the most. I wasn't convinced it was worth a damn when it first came out, but I reminded myself Tyler never does the same thing twice. This one eschews the otherworldly production and pseudo-R&B of his last two efforts to let Tyler focus on going big with his rapping skills. His delivery is bold and in your face, especially in the beginning, but his lyrics start to show his vulnerabilities as the album wears on. Each track effortlessly segues from one into the next, leaving you with an impressive 50+ minute suite of uninterrupted music. And of course, I would be remiss not to mention DJ Drama, who is overused but serves as a crucial drop in, drop out presence building Tyler up -- sometimes styling himself as Tyler Baudledaire, sometimes as The Creator. Whatever you call him, he's never less than brilliant, witty, and inspired.<br /><br /><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">7. Converge & Chelsea Wolfe - Bloodmoon: I</span></h1><h1><span class="rendered_text"></span></h1><p><span class="rendered_text"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbSgGRXCVYP50gdVLfdCoerzmXbXnYAF1sKQfWNy2LHa7lhADeO03Emvt7nrPQWBezHgMxE0bpHE4CBZvte1xhY9ZgpSAkrWz-5Olzpc4FCeaUgVbx6rctaaLgzvF8Q1TwZfqn1Wn8zGlziPERNE43XbjSmzqNN0_sujJJ5qMhbFu2Vzzr4hZUdBbV0Q=s600" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbSgGRXCVYP50gdVLfdCoerzmXbXnYAF1sKQfWNy2LHa7lhADeO03Emvt7nrPQWBezHgMxE0bpHE4CBZvte1xhY9ZgpSAkrWz-5Olzpc4FCeaUgVbx6rctaaLgzvF8Q1TwZfqn1Wn8zGlziPERNE43XbjSmzqNN0_sujJJ5qMhbFu2Vzzr4hZUdBbV0Q=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><p>Two artists I've investigated to varying degrees over the years. Never been into what I've heard from Converge. I do like Chelsea Wolfe, although my fandom for her never blossomed as much as I once thought it might. I definitely appreciate that this one has more of a progressive, post metal type of atmosphere. Slow burn opener Blood Moon, coupled with Crimson Stone near the album's close serve as twin bookends that plunge you into the album's dense world. Elsewhere, Tongues Playing Dead features the album's most ear grabbing riff, while the smoky atmosphere conjured on Wolfe's Scorpion's Sting reminds me of something Swans might have done in their Great Annihilator era if they gave Jarboe a song to herself.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">6. Pharoah Sanders, Floating Points, and the London Symphony Orchestra - Promises</span></h1><h1><span class="rendered_text"></span></h1><p><span class="rendered_text"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEuUtvA6K472FxYGsLomXrOYCVTFiCw6bOIE5BeJ-kYBi8YvLFCCAxYU8x7EFTy0t4SnSnd7e5Vf-pue7YDwcHV_PRJbzdzqxFrkC0Q5Lnm7rOyWWElktXhJsh2UlpOczjxBLSIfimxRgNRvVBSWcjHiwLgz7GqE5-fYSeCoX9B_Z8hLC1pokJWcKVyw=s600" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEuUtvA6K472FxYGsLomXrOYCVTFiCw6bOIE5BeJ-kYBi8YvLFCCAxYU8x7EFTy0t4SnSnd7e5Vf-pue7YDwcHV_PRJbzdzqxFrkC0Q5Lnm7rOyWWElktXhJsh2UlpOczjxBLSIfimxRgNRvVBSWcjHiwLgz7GqE5-fYSeCoX9B_Z8hLC1pokJWcKVyw=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><p>Another record that took some time to take its effect with me, although I respected it from the get-go. I revisited it when a friend of mine made this his AOTY and said to myself you know what, this is definitely a worthy record. My only prior exposure with Sanders was with his 1969 album Karma, which is nothing short of a masterpiece. Unlike that album, Promises makes no pretense at be overtly spiritual in any way, although it feels like the two albums share a similar ethos. What it presents is a grounded, calming experience that feels just right at its 46 minute runtime. Promises exhibits a rare divergence of artistry, musicianship, and collaboration on a major scale.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">5. Black Country, New Road - For the First Time</span></h1><h1><span class="rendered_text"></span></h1><p><span class="rendered_text"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8Ui9pNAr17rO2WQ2rnk_qqkvLUGJ2XQVQAx4bJ0349Jbl2BJWErQVkUL2JhnQIGOv9VZyp0PX_kNGHXvYUq7JhhSlfPeL6ZavJ6umS96P0o6tUn3psvck5akh5vGfZ3YaxpaABmhezJaJBe0cWCCFQhpFqz7Yd_rK82JtFXZQrXcK4cdyi0-ovGOQbQ=s600" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8Ui9pNAr17rO2WQ2rnk_qqkvLUGJ2XQVQAx4bJ0349Jbl2BJWErQVkUL2JhnQIGOv9VZyp0PX_kNGHXvYUq7JhhSlfPeL6ZavJ6umS96P0o6tUn3psvck5akh5vGfZ3YaxpaABmhezJaJBe0cWCCFQhpFqz7Yd_rK82JtFXZQrXcK4cdyi0-ovGOQbQ=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div>Black Country, New Road is another band that contributed greatly to the renaissance of post punk/rock we experienced this year. Their rolling rhythms are supported by a dazzling deployment of keys and saxophones, along with frontman Isaac Wood's journal-like, stream of consciousness style lyricism. They demonstrate confidence by opening with a punchy, yet off kilter instrumental before showing off their biggest strength over the next couple of tracks - an ability to build a slow bubbling, unsettling undercurrent without sacrificing their approachability. It builds to an utterly memorable climax on Sunglasses that has to be heard to be believed. The rest of the album feels like a much needed, winding, descending come down, highlighted by what vaguely sounds like a mariachi band of the apocalypse on closing cut Opus.<br /><br /><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">4. Magdalena Bay - Mercurial World</span></h1><h1><span class="rendered_text"></span></h1><p><span class="rendered_text"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQgPByIwFn5ZUUbKQ2T4lYWEfaczDQNmkBivLVPohm-PSR_QVzvfIfUiV7Apx9hS79HshOT_1-d0zrC-NtPHxBEFtXDmo0f34yvAdV_Bu0mqlRp3pLh-Aj-vQQ2B8fioOIdN5Jv6s-pTZ2xAUekuCdAJ_hc_wI4rQei2fnM3PdeEDPDyadJEBE3YK4Sw=s600" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQgPByIwFn5ZUUbKQ2T4lYWEfaczDQNmkBivLVPohm-PSR_QVzvfIfUiV7Apx9hS79HshOT_1-d0zrC-NtPHxBEFtXDmo0f34yvAdV_Bu0mqlRp3pLh-Aj-vQQ2B8fioOIdN5Jv6s-pTZ2xAUekuCdAJ_hc_wI4rQei2fnM3PdeEDPDyadJEBE3YK4Sw=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><p>This is some kind of futuristic, alien pop, and if you know me you know I eat this up. It has this very futurey, bassy production and Mica Tenembaum's deliriously exotic pitch shifted vocal. If you're telling yourself you've heard this gimmick before, it's not. The songwriting is strong enough to carry the album even without factoring in its disparate elements. Every track, especially the singles, are good-natured, ear grabbing fun, but a definite shout out to You Lose! and Secrets (Your Fire). With this debut album, Magdelana Bay have boldly announced themselves as a dance pop act to watch in the future.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">3. Black Midi - Cavalcade</span></h1><h1><span class="rendered_text"></span></h1><p><span class="rendered_text"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjQStonAZ6rarlrGhMSrPY2PTflYZElh7DAaJ6eh1ViYfPDgEsB4Zrrlw-x54mNQbB-yAnEVqjmil2Ko1X5Dtp1b7DNZeVeCVnaYvdDt_c03VH2QswDNeVGD3TupZHeX3Tl1bsLCZSCXOchcKC-eVOU25l-aG9CFnbf2pamUIReDZthLDnr1E1mj665g=s600" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjQStonAZ6rarlrGhMSrPY2PTflYZElh7DAaJ6eh1ViYfPDgEsB4Zrrlw-x54mNQbB-yAnEVqjmil2Ko1X5Dtp1b7DNZeVeCVnaYvdDt_c03VH2QswDNeVGD3TupZHeX3Tl1bsLCZSCXOchcKC-eVOU25l-aG9CFnbf2pamUIReDZthLDnr1E1mj665g=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><p>In a year of great post-punk/hardcore guitar rock, why does Black Midi stand as the best? The simple answer is their creativity. Their devilish rhythms boggle the mind, but are also very catchy and magnetic once your brain catches up with what's going on. Then they'll baffle you further every now and then with an odd genre detour on something like Marlene Dietrich or Ascending Forth. No band was as good as keeping us on our toes this year as Black Midi.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text">2. Spelling - The Turning Wheel </span></h1><h1><span class="rendered_text"></span></h1><p><span class="rendered_text"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxGpiqFdYsY12Jyoll_pBdWswG7gRf_AMiZr-dnCuXsmvsuxgSRlJi27r-5LxC1Xx6hxzIBN-zRJd0SY81n-HMQ0K8n3H9g89wK_OjQoUg-hUgH10Ep-dIp06peFItvzQR7a2xtqzmuJMlytR05D5DZo-W7gnZwE4uYHIAN9KXi_zJRUqd7JUbyIxU3g=s600" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxGpiqFdYsY12Jyoll_pBdWswG7gRf_AMiZr-dnCuXsmvsuxgSRlJi27r-5LxC1Xx6hxzIBN-zRJd0SY81n-HMQ0K8n3H9g89wK_OjQoUg-hUgH10Ep-dIp06peFItvzQR7a2xtqzmuJMlytR05D5DZo-W7gnZwE4uYHIAN9KXi_zJRUqd7JUbyIxU3g=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><p>With apologies to Adele, this is the pop album of the year. Spelling went big, with a brass band, choir, and tons of other collaborators that help boost this effort over the top. There's a very theatrical, art kid vibe that sounds like a musical stage production, but is also much more. Tia Cabral's voice arrests you immediately on opener Little Deer. It bends and turns in a very unassuming way, accenting the notes as the song slowly builds up and ultimately captures you with that huge hook. Other key moments include the surging swell of the title track, the emotional melodrama of Boys at School, and the whimsy of tracks like Queen of Wands. Spelling has presented a vibrant work that serves as a fresh way of presenting pop in 2021.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span class="rendered_text"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6vbnTW3bXIF741OGxVb1BerdHMT1AMu_vCENuMUWio8UcSuNTeRFehcN99Obfu1BbzmsMbDQY1xHsHG8ZJcLFPHXbtGK_8zaCPzF9cswFi4TWlbS0XJIRZZhFFbBOepB9thkXPWwXLxR2tDGtdsxm2PfX8prHZYgths4oArhBu_iJO5GbIQMtjqn2FQ=s600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6vbnTW3bXIF741OGxVb1BerdHMT1AMu_vCENuMUWio8UcSuNTeRFehcN99Obfu1BbzmsMbDQY1xHsHG8ZJcLFPHXbtGK_8zaCPzF9cswFi4TWlbS0XJIRZZhFFbBOepB9thkXPWwXLxR2tDGtdsxm2PfX8prHZYgths4oArhBu_iJO5GbIQMtjqn2FQ=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div>1. Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert</span></h1><h1><span class="rendered_text"></span></h1><p><span class="rendered_text">Like most folks, Simz first came to my attention with her blistering breakout Grey Area two years ago. But before that, she put out a very different type of album called Stillness in Wonderland. It was much more ambitious in terms of theme and concept, and tried to do some different things with the hooks and general vibe. You also had the appearance of the Simbi character as a unifying link. It wasn't terribly effective because the other elements kept getting in the way of what she does best. So it's little surprise her next move would be the more stripped back Grey Area. But when I listen to this, I can't help but feel like this is an attempt to return to some of the more far-reaching ideas she's flirted with in the past. Clocking in at a meaty 65 minutes, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert showcases numerous sides of Simz, from ally of the dispossessed to fierce fighter striving to bend a tumultuous world to her will. This is easily her most captivating statement yet.</span></p>The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-24974831006454773342022-02-06T22:42:00.003-06:002022-02-07T01:51:53.242-06:00Top 10 Songs of 2021<h2 style="text-align: left;">10. Turnstile - Holiday<br /></h2><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">You know that feeling you get when you hear a riff that you can feel in your gut? Well, this song has several of those. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sU1JXOB52ZI" width="320" youtube-src-id="sU1JXOB52ZI"></iframe></div><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><br /></span><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> 9. Lucy Dacus - Hot & Heavy</span></h2><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">The
hardest part is picking which Lucy Dacus song to go with. Almost every
song from her recent Home Video album could be viable, but I'm going
with one of her most effective foot stompers here. </span></span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vGaVVOyiVag" width="320" youtube-src-id="vGaVVOyiVag"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">8. Mastodon - Teardrinker</span></span></h2><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">There
are times when I feel Mastodon's latest relies too heavily on
atmosphere and not enough on sound composition, but not this one. Kick
back and immerse yourself in this one. </span></span></span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sx1L2XW1N0c" width="320" youtube-src-id="sx1L2XW1N0c"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">7. Brandi Carlile - You and Me on the Rock </span></span></span></h2><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Brandi
was actually the last song I decided was going to be on my list, before
I had quite decided on the order of everything. I almost left her out,
but you can't sleep on Brandi! Just far too many certified bangers.</span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/42NkasQSPA4" width="320" youtube-src-id="42NkasQSPA4"></iframe></div><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">6. Little Simz - Introvert</span></span></span></span></h2><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Here's
the attention grabber and chief mood setter from my favorite album of the year. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hxfGQ2AJHGk" width="320" youtube-src-id="hxfGQ2AJHGk"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">5. Mdou Moctar - Afrique Victime</span></span></span></span></span></h2><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">I
foolishly missed a chance to see this guy at Nashville's Third Man
Records after the Bonnaroo cancellation. From all reports, his guitar
playing absolutely knocked people's heads off. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z6CUSa_laj4" width="320" youtube-src-id="Z6CUSa_laj4"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">4. Black Country, New Road - Sunglasses</span></span></span></span></span></span></h2><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">This
song might not be on the list if it wasn't for those iconic last couple
of minutes but man, the way this song works that slow buildup into a
world encompassing coda is something extraordinary. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fPrLcM-uPwU" width="320" youtube-src-id="fPrLcM-uPwU"></iframe></div><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">3. Jessie Ware - Please</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h2><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Although
her show stopping album What's Your Pleasure was a 2020 release, the
deluxe edition didn't appear until the following summer and gave us
roughly half an album of new material. Among those was this glittering
tune, which also received its own single. This is the one most tailor
made to sink your teeth into. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-31FETutIr4" width="320" youtube-src-id="-31FETutIr4"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">2. Magdalena Bay - You Lose!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h2><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Another
artist with a number of tracks that could have been included on this
list. I love how this one sounds like futuristic alien pop and I am here
for it. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FQPXX_eZZAk" width="320" youtube-src-id="FQPXX_eZZAk"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">1. Spelling - Little Deer</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h2><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Such
a great vocal performance here, but still subdued so the more you pay
attention to it the more you get out of it. I admire the swell that
grows as you get toward the end, the big choral feel to it. There's
definitely an art kid/theater vibe to the whole production. Somebody in one of my Facebook groups referred to this as being Kate Bush-like, and I think that's a great descriptor. </span> </span> </span> </span> </span> </span> </span> </span> </span></span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yACWrKIKeMs" width="320" youtube-src-id="yACWrKIKeMs"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-26382098019315139662021-12-30T23:58:00.014-06:002022-01-08T10:30:50.209-06:00Totally Unauthorized's Top 25 Concerts of 2021<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdnLE0RPbhbfIjsj9HiUpR10nKNqCCiCbWtPbTCrJEu5rbS5XfEd4E6M_W91ICR1rIuOZe1i69mUjiRZ4vK_3RmWcFVpOiubACFBeD1_DYok06Qx_Adhz31WvcAJa2U_YpGbuN4kTH3qTsyVYJRtrVdZgkZYO1maGF4MLbTyYtthgB9YI6DfcRdhXFEw=s3200" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdnLE0RPbhbfIjsj9HiUpR10nKNqCCiCbWtPbTCrJEu5rbS5XfEd4E6M_W91ICR1rIuOZe1i69mUjiRZ4vK_3RmWcFVpOiubACFBeD1_DYok06Qx_Adhz31WvcAJa2U_YpGbuN4kTH3qTsyVYJRtrVdZgkZYO1maGF4MLbTyYtthgB9YI6DfcRdhXFEw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>25. Living Colour<br /></b></i></span></h2>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">October 23 at Shaky Knees</i></h3><p>Crazy, funky, zany -- Living Colour are an institution and they are everything you would expect them to be onstage. There's social commentary with cuts like Open Letter to a Landlord, manic fretwork on songs like Time's Up, and perhaps even a bit of controversy courted when performing The Rolling Stones's Brown Sugar, a longstanding cover in their setlists. "Some people get mad about this song," singer Corey Glover acknowledged, "but we're going to do it anyway." The closer was none other than Cult of Personality, a song whose power and message still hit hard to this day, while the nearly impossible solos have served as inspiration for guitar heroes everywhere for a very long time. </p><h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmFJuQmpPMAoz34a-r5Kw9Zv34tTna8Urm_yC6Vhz0r8V2l5fnbVEnjSkbjBhF2c5INKqWktQgkSIZfs2AT-bcHlP7xC-ZP1obAC2lwNjWso3KRItRNSiMVfNJXPdH6MmhgwWvvfo4bu1MDsLUXpMDRPdki49hitV8YJIJegw7aJKI2I6msQCDhOQ8fw=s3200" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmFJuQmpPMAoz34a-r5Kw9Zv34tTna8Urm_yC6Vhz0r8V2l5fnbVEnjSkbjBhF2c5INKqWktQgkSIZfs2AT-bcHlP7xC-ZP1obAC2lwNjWso3KRItRNSiMVfNJXPdH6MmhgwWvvfo4bu1MDsLUXpMDRPdki49hitV8YJIJegw7aJKI2I6msQCDhOQ8fw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>24. Ayron Jones<br /></b></i></span></h2>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">October 22 at Shaky Knees</i></h3><p>Hard hitting rocker Ayron Jones actually played both big festivals I went to this year and I felt a little bad about passing him up the first time, so I decided to post up front and center for his early day set at Shaky Knees. It isn't an outside the box type of rock and roll show but it's a good one. The compositions and level of showmanship is definitely above average for this type of set. There's perhaps a slight tinge of Seattle atmosphere that he allows to slip in and provide some coloring but he never fully tips his hand on it, other than when busting out a cover of Breed from hometown heroes Nirvana. </p><h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHOKFP2hR0l_kr0nBoehTrEIKKjDbjGsa7Q8qjHM9fJ5CcnJM2bp5A4XcxG4O3RLVO-VtkxSHOkL1ifPLNXvHCqJ_s7M2qjM8737J2vteZV8FDx9VXtzNM0j2F7qjwwcoUOx00zWjrDN1Yp-HFZ2M60KTPuIko1VoU_zECreVvl8J7uBi3nG0WlS4_Yg=s2433" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2433" data-original-width="1673" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHOKFP2hR0l_kr0nBoehTrEIKKjDbjGsa7Q8qjHM9fJ5CcnJM2bp5A4XcxG4O3RLVO-VtkxSHOkL1ifPLNXvHCqJ_s7M2qjM8737J2vteZV8FDx9VXtzNM0j2F7qjwwcoUOx00zWjrDN1Yp-HFZ2M60KTPuIko1VoU_zECreVvl8J7uBi3nG0WlS4_Yg=w440-h640" width="440" /></a></div>23. Jane's Addiction<br /></b></i></span></h2>
<h3><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">September 24 at Louder Than Life</i></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This set was a trip. I wouldn't say from a musical perspective it was the best I've ever seen but it definitely was memorable. Have you ever been on a camping trip, or Bonnaroo or somewhere and a random drunk dude crashes your campsite? That's kind of what singer Perry Farell is like. He kept going on about some cave that he wanted to play in Kentucky that no one could ever figure out exactly where he was talking about. He has enough charm to make it work, though. Dave Navarro on guitar still kicks ass, busting out kaleidoscopic riffs and ripping off breakneck solos in songs like Stop but also proving he can slow things down on cuts like Jane Says. It ended with some freaky vaudeville vibes as they had a couple of tattooed women swinging from hooks inserted into the back of their flesh during set closer Ted Just Admit It. </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQJRluYDNxLHxm8jBB6_jmyam3SRvM09AFDJOv3uALLwRao-PWOsuAw9LazWamFK5ME80L2IolCSo5pRnGT8OOaJHjwKkVE4ufmA7MPJpYMYR5IwqBUPdIyLP1ZmRbqggWJ6fzzkkqzv0oiLnU94QU7WEmSpNBToOIga5w6J2k1BYy6nncnWxM1jD39Q=s1495" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="1495" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQJRluYDNxLHxm8jBB6_jmyam3SRvM09AFDJOv3uALLwRao-PWOsuAw9LazWamFK5ME80L2IolCSo5pRnGT8OOaJHjwKkVE4ufmA7MPJpYMYR5IwqBUPdIyLP1ZmRbqggWJ6fzzkkqzv0oiLnU94QU7WEmSpNBToOIga5w6J2k1BYy6nncnWxM1jD39Q=w640-h490" width="640" /></a></div>22. Cypress Hill<br /></b></i></span></div>
<h3><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">September 23 at Louder Than Life</i></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here's another old throwback. They had a song or two I liked back in the day. What's most impressive about them, not surprisingly, is the production. These old school hip hop beats are just what you need for grooving and shaking your booty. B Real and Sen Dog are veterans at playing the crowd, and keep it coming with one crowd pleaser after another. </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></i></div><h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7GKNDuk_gINvjqtX1NwBGceJnIAyCbQ3q1eOA5sl7AeiWcrXORI809r3dn8GKSjLV5S62KEiyans_8tHlPyQ0SFyBIjQ-EyvjvZRgiDSeESYsGInQAGUIbtto7baRgnoKFFDPDaWh2Ko__qeGpnfeaZOCoWh7DrlBKnZ5C3ET8rtGDHmL72DuVrlMgA=s3200" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7GKNDuk_gINvjqtX1NwBGceJnIAyCbQ3q1eOA5sl7AeiWcrXORI809r3dn8GKSjLV5S62KEiyans_8tHlPyQ0SFyBIjQ-EyvjvZRgiDSeESYsGInQAGUIbtto7baRgnoKFFDPDaWh2Ko__qeGpnfeaZOCoWh7DrlBKnZ5C3ET8rtGDHmL72DuVrlMgA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>21. Arlo Parks<br /></b></i></span></h2>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">October 23 at Shaky Knees</i></h3><p>Arlo Parks was an early day treat. This UK based crooner was was very smooth, relaxing, and at times even a little bit jazzy. The standout track was Caroline, which she introduced by describing that she was inspired to write the song based on an ugly argument that she saw erupt in public between a couple. Parks's set was the perfect medicine for chilling out before embarking on a busy festival day. </p><h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEhmhnUNf6ne8CvKDC93k4P3d6Q_BhLjz4z9iPJj0kQHfYt_eppvSZWsuLBFh0UmcEwzanJr4_-Cp6u3re-a4edvrF9KymIU3BXZS9k2VCJaAmF7w8vVJOjRK47damYetMZ_2sjfUq58aVXNdLYgYyXuaf7NY0-G4EePBcYug4iFpCew3mteDUK63gQA=s2041" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1721" data-original-width="2041" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEhmhnUNf6ne8CvKDC93k4P3d6Q_BhLjz4z9iPJj0kQHfYt_eppvSZWsuLBFh0UmcEwzanJr4_-Cp6u3re-a4edvrF9KymIU3BXZS9k2VCJaAmF7w8vVJOjRK47damYetMZ_2sjfUq58aVXNdLYgYyXuaf7NY0-G4EePBcYug4iFpCew3mteDUK63gQA=w640-h540" width="640" /></a></div>20. The Hu<br /></b></i></span></h2>
<h3><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">September 26 at Louder Than Life</i></h3><p>Mongolian metal band The Hu was an absolute blast to behold, even if I couldn't understand a word. The guys knew how to play to the crowd and were heavy as hell. Their cover of Metallica's Sad But True got their point across in very short order. I doubt there's anyone who at this set who wouldn't tell you this was hands down one of the most badass things they saw all week. </p><h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivqS2CFcQQFbKekuAwH6Z79BItFy5dD0g1h0hX1A_XRZ7QPSBcPeILQAaCim8twl0Grw3VsQbmZaX0Go9ItPyM55Mo6KRcYhg3UfcL6enLIvtfs7OfpmSKqbKLE1MLhg5XfXDcOnP7JuKNeRzWqV7H7r9OoXhhN7kyo527bPs-tkqhasK5WSIT9EukfA=s1162" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1162" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivqS2CFcQQFbKekuAwH6Z79BItFy5dD0g1h0hX1A_XRZ7QPSBcPeILQAaCim8twl0Grw3VsQbmZaX0Go9ItPyM55Mo6KRcYhg3UfcL6enLIvtfs7OfpmSKqbKLE1MLhg5XfXDcOnP7JuKNeRzWqV7H7r9OoXhhN7kyo527bPs-tkqhasK5WSIT9EukfA=w640-h452" width="640" /></a></div>19. Avatar<br /></b></i></span></h2>
<h3><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">September 24 at Louder Than Life</i></h3><p>This Swedish melodeath/metalcore act were one of my favorite discoveries of the weekend at Louder Than Life. While I'm not sold on what I've heard of their catalog, the stage is where they truly shine. With their red and black outfits and facepaint, they put on a feel that is very theatrical. Especially so from vocalist Christian Rimmi, who cradled the audience in the palm of his hand with his well honed showmanship. </p><h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh36ZUF2UHGy7NJ6ONGnnbMWtOdSMwBObWykPYdn6Uuf4uiNm53ZmOcnR7s6Mni1khIEQl97XxkLFBKGMqUeoUNT84HoYIw9Iq58J6jdnpaALVEJV-FrHqRAT86-l-gBOYGt6MJfLSaLfOrZZg-aPe_cfwnWMTYRpezpbBVL2s1BMdYRht78MBEvlirlw=s1920" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh36ZUF2UHGy7NJ6ONGnnbMWtOdSMwBObWykPYdn6Uuf4uiNm53ZmOcnR7s6Mni1khIEQl97XxkLFBKGMqUeoUNT84HoYIw9Iq58J6jdnpaALVEJV-FrHqRAT86-l-gBOYGt6MJfLSaLfOrZZg-aPe_cfwnWMTYRpezpbBVL2s1BMdYRht78MBEvlirlw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>18. Korn<br /></b></i></span></h2>
<h3><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">September 23 at Louder Than Life</i></h3><p>One of the most vexing questions I asked myself was where I was going to rank Korn. These guys are heavily nostalgic, having been introduced on MTV's Total Request Live to videos for Make Me Bad & Somebody Someone, among others. Yet I had never seen them live. That was remedied with this Thursday night headlining set on the first day of Louder Than Life. Jonathan Davis was sitting on his throne, bassist Ra Diaz of Suicidal Tendencies did a righteous job filling in for Fieldy, and when the band started building up that opening riff on Blind, it was impossible to escape the sensation that all hell was about to break loose. </p><h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIZdGzske0rgQYASR5cjaOv7udtqAdPDp2vYWCKIfH48NmwIr4rguk_WK-FXDuUhYiWabq3a8Cr1Ufnl5fm-Vs5PkK97iqlX06S6563eRZ0s-GQPXiyirKjd7G17HUE7-O_agzsxotvLroTSXRrwUF9CZ6NYQzXPRblWy1j0FjnzNPJFim_Gd6Vt5hgQ=s2666" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="2666" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIZdGzske0rgQYASR5cjaOv7udtqAdPDp2vYWCKIfH48NmwIr4rguk_WK-FXDuUhYiWabq3a8Cr1Ufnl5fm-Vs5PkK97iqlX06S6563eRZ0s-GQPXiyirKjd7G17HUE7-O_agzsxotvLroTSXRrwUF9CZ6NYQzXPRblWy1j0FjnzNPJFim_Gd6Vt5hgQ=w640-h508" width="640" /></a></div>17. Local H<br /></b></i></span></h2>
<h3><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">October 22 at Shaky Knees</i></h3><p>Uplifting raw power is what you can expect from any Local H set. They've been at it for over 30 years now, and it's hard to find a band that's more tight or on point. They know how to have fun too, mashing up The Beatles' Helter Skelter into High Fiving MFer, one of their signature staples. </p><h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEQbP2PzwV1B4cMdV7NqGVIHahYhlDPEc8yrH7JzbTg91igouuSS0jybbqxhw27Quqj9UTg81BOkO0N2phuLXwzvs1jk38yDADF-n2UCiwyrq-6qitCp8UliAtwIfzMBMnPfJf6JxAItemq9A0nnv1fElADszKOzj5gNiZ773yY2HkYXyNO4GzVqx4mg=s2204" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1881" data-original-width="2204" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEQbP2PzwV1B4cMdV7NqGVIHahYhlDPEc8yrH7JzbTg91igouuSS0jybbqxhw27Quqj9UTg81BOkO0N2phuLXwzvs1jk38yDADF-n2UCiwyrq-6qitCp8UliAtwIfzMBMnPfJf6JxAItemq9A0nnv1fElADszKOzj5gNiZ773yY2HkYXyNO4GzVqx4mg=w640-h546" width="640" /></a></div>16. The Strokes<br /></b></i></span></h2>
<h3><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">October 24 at Shaky Knees</i></h3><p>Here we have easily the most controversial set. Differing opinions are par for the course when it comes to most Strokes live performances, especially so when dealing with a divisive frontman like Julian Casablancas. He was off point at times, but the set still came together into a demonstration of what makes the band great. This is still one of the highly respected catalogs in post 2000s rock and it just got better with the additions from last year's standout album The New Abnormal. The band plays great and the stage setup presents an attractive visual style. </p><h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCYvQyVTmD3VG-e5Xod57_ijvIcU7Ekvwqdq-Ko3rnlKKN886lATqdEmg7OiC3s3oexvymtNnYr1hz-6MyqBDvzeub8zOoK3_XAakJr2cb5Rzz-JKMrpp8Lf_QxT79rtQsJmR1hTagmkHTC1HVSfcVN5szsUt_6-HmJX74oFw6XVCU43RNpUQTZqV07g=s4608" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4608" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCYvQyVTmD3VG-e5Xod57_ijvIcU7Ekvwqdq-Ko3rnlKKN886lATqdEmg7OiC3s3oexvymtNnYr1hz-6MyqBDvzeub8zOoK3_XAakJr2cb5Rzz-JKMrpp8Lf_QxT79rtQsJmR1hTagmkHTC1HVSfcVN5szsUt_6-HmJX74oFw6XVCU43RNpUQTZqV07g=w640-h288" width="640" /></a></div>15. Lucy Dacus<br /></b></i></span></h2>
<h3><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">September 15 at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville</i></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Richmond bred singer/songwriter came out ready to cut up and so did the crowd that greeted her. Someone shouted out her high school chant, another person asked where her dress was from during a start of set technical snafu. At one point she asked if it was hot, and someone must have busted out with that Nelly song because she said she set herself up for that in a decidedly bemused manner. It provided a colorful patchwork a killer set, that ended up being a full album play of her latest, Home Video. She hit us early and often with standouts Hot and Heavy, VBS, and First Time before inviting us to sing along, in either language, with a cover of Edith Pilaf's La Vie En Rose. Some songs, such as Thumbs, which tells the story of a friend's encounter with an abusive(?) father, stood out a lot more live. It was incredible how everything just went silent and still during that song. But when I'm driving around listening to that song in my car I'm just like nah more often than not. Her ability to connect with a crowd is impressive considering how early she still is in her career.</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></i></div><h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4_qh-BujGVCw-Zpg6VZeA_bvrnSkk5hUvdOUhN6CWBQfZouRPryh2YSNP0UeiMhOvnLk_zJEx3D6buABLg3E9WG-z5XAq_rCdgrrfI8i_GE6KFWkNJlw22EDlcn9JjrVMDo2gt1rg2ynwcsfNOGFwBd4whL41FPqmZu9VR0mGZwOBbgN2iSrW0C3flw=s3200" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4_qh-BujGVCw-Zpg6VZeA_bvrnSkk5hUvdOUhN6CWBQfZouRPryh2YSNP0UeiMhOvnLk_zJEx3D6buABLg3E9WG-z5XAq_rCdgrrfI8i_GE6KFWkNJlw22EDlcn9JjrVMDo2gt1rg2ynwcsfNOGFwBd4whL41FPqmZu9VR0mGZwOBbgN2iSrW0C3flw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>14. Orville Peck<br /></b></i></span></h2>
<h3><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">October 24 at Shaky Knees</i></h3><p>That voice is simply something to behold. Orville Peck has quickly established himself as one of the prime newcomers in the country/western scene with colorful regalia, by serving as a staunch advocate for LGBT rights, and by having a songbook that sounds like something out of the old west. He maintained an easy command over the crowd with his personable nature. He demonstrated great knowledge of how to build his set to a big finish with a staggering three song run that featured the chilling and mournful Dead of Night, a rowdy cover of Gaga's Born This Way, and ending with a bonafide old style cattle call tune known as Take You Back (The Iron Hoof Cattle Call). </p><h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxwjweT_LkPWqMkiA73qLMLG1-39fFuHSbKgv6gLYxr2LabY2hZXg98i6VwbkdHQNG09fqZJHC1P8E4ykmN5MsQzbYQJRbVsnwkdTp1gweE9KZSMZfdYKwZLpNqzP1JbCo7KQfkbVvy-XwJxN03hJcrIsVn7srmfnEaQclapH59NOsbpEVucOhKs8ItA=s2201" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1417" data-original-width="2201" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxwjweT_LkPWqMkiA73qLMLG1-39fFuHSbKgv6gLYxr2LabY2hZXg98i6VwbkdHQNG09fqZJHC1P8E4ykmN5MsQzbYQJRbVsnwkdTp1gweE9KZSMZfdYKwZLpNqzP1JbCo7KQfkbVvy-XwJxN03hJcrIsVn7srmfnEaQclapH59NOsbpEVucOhKs8ItA=w640-h412" width="640" /></a></div>13. Mastodon<br /></b></i></span></h2>
<h3><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">November 23rd at Ryman Auditorium</i></h3><div style="text-align: left;">Atlanta heavy metal band Mastodon is capable of throwing down several different types of sets, but they were in a meditative mood playing before Opeth on their co-headlning tour. Perhaps that is appropriate for a venue like the Ryman. They unloaded a handful of tracks from their excellent new double album Hushed & Grim which leans into a more subdued and peaceful atmosphere than most of their past records. Also on display was their 10+ minute mindbender The Czar, replete with hypnotic rhythms and extended instrumental jams. They thankfully didn't forget their roots, closing the set by taking us in hunt of the fabled white whale on their pummeling fan favorite Blood and Thunder. <i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></i></div><h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgi_1-1BMg3CaMH6iyfNrCJ6jL3xY-oCLctkMlC38YkohEWyo845ktpUJVg6LVEpPf3Ywc1p3EwAoRqmaIEnarG6Ydv-6_Z_qrN-zuhh0-kcw-ztXRnwLL-daXu7IoMeyQGuzowU0ZLR8Zb1RZX5Us1T8eOipXzsfVODWCb9Gpk0ATMoMHsWOCKzdz8g=s2957" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1578" data-original-width="2957" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgi_1-1BMg3CaMH6iyfNrCJ6jL3xY-oCLctkMlC38YkohEWyo845ktpUJVg6LVEpPf3Ywc1p3EwAoRqmaIEnarG6Ydv-6_Z_qrN-zuhh0-kcw-ztXRnwLL-daXu7IoMeyQGuzowU0ZLR8Zb1RZX5Us1T8eOipXzsfVODWCb9Gpk0ATMoMHsWOCKzdz8g=w640-h342" width="640" /></a></div><b>12. Big Thief<br /></b></i></span></h2>
<h3><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">September 20 at Ryman Auditorium</i></h3><p>This was the first time I had the pleasure of catching these Brooklyn indie-folkers, who rose to acclaim a couple of years ago with a pair of standout albums, U.F.O.F. and Two Hands. Frontwoman Adrianne Lenker conjures up their sound with her guitar and wispy vocals, producing something sublime but a slightly off kilter in a way you can't quite place. This set was heavy on new and unreleased material. The standout among those was a never before played song called Promise Is a Pendulum, one of those songs that seems tailor made for an environment like the Ryman. It's a gentle, lilting acoustic tune draped in hushed tones but at the same time piercing so that one makes a sound while it's playing. </p><h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5zEiMBO-bo8rT1vDz-fcOmYHM9wwYQ_1R33Jbz40mRGZqTuWvg6G8s_5_Po1camy44iWobH2tBYjn0C4Gv6ezxJo_WJ4eEijgwcXQ67HZCR4SHMhyz7c_yMpenQZfo5kXl-aTc90phBlnibVbcWcNKk_d0lKenrWUU74lS6ydE84vFGzAdID5R-JVIQ=s3200" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5zEiMBO-bo8rT1vDz-fcOmYHM9wwYQ_1R33Jbz40mRGZqTuWvg6G8s_5_Po1camy44iWobH2tBYjn0C4Gv6ezxJo_WJ4eEijgwcXQ67HZCR4SHMhyz7c_yMpenQZfo5kXl-aTc90phBlnibVbcWcNKk_d0lKenrWUU74lS6ydE84vFGzAdID5R-JVIQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>11. Run the Jewels<br /></b></i></span></h2>
<h3><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">October 23 at Shaky Knees</i></h3><div style="text-align: left;">Any time you hang out with Run the Jewels, it's always going to be a blast. Killer Mike and El-P closed out the second day of Shaky Knees by gracing us with the same trademark bravado and hardcore production work that has always been a hallmark of their sound. It turned into a family affair with Mike bringing out his family onto stage and telling them there were going to do one more song, then go home and smoke a big bowl. But first, the duo had to dodge a pair of sneakers that were thrown onto the stage. El-P reminded the crowd that they're sneaker aficionados, and they're going to know if any shoe thrown on stage is quality or not. <i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></i></div><h2>
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<b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJ8Vp7J9jrTC5oZfPl4leKEyEmubDj_wC50quxOnsM_O10rvcX47bkDW0xfSglZkaerN8i8H-GWrdBqpalPVEwWXvnq5LQ-VkiZa--Eu1zq_ZfwK0Ixavh_pZQXp-aMjficcO6w0hUvyF_ciZucqiz_Qgnf9USh3eMbE5oRw1cX4TINaEr5yzCsdtNIA=s2314" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="2314" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJ8Vp7J9jrTC5oZfPl4leKEyEmubDj_wC50quxOnsM_O10rvcX47bkDW0xfSglZkaerN8i8H-GWrdBqpalPVEwWXvnq5LQ-VkiZa--Eu1zq_ZfwK0Ixavh_pZQXp-aMjficcO6w0hUvyF_ciZucqiz_Qgnf9USh3eMbE5oRw1cX4TINaEr5yzCsdtNIA=w640-h296" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. Brittany Howard<br /></span></i></b></div>
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<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>September 4 at Ascend Amphitheater</i></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kick
open the doors, because live music is back! That was the feeling I had,
since this show was my return to live music and something of a makeup
show in the wake of Bonnaroo's cancellation (the last show I'd seen
before this being Wire at Mercy Lounge with my good friend Miles
Goosens). Brittany played the middle slot in between Sylvan Esso and
Phoebe Bridgers and affirmed her mastery in controlling a crowd. She ran
through a few cuts from her latest, but the show kicked into a higher
gear once the band started jamming and Howard starting going nuts. She's
a bonafide star, and the passion she puts into her performances is
simply riveting. </span></span></span></div><h2><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></h2><span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><h2>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3GX5N2w2v4P8tM4R714DJy-LAgrXAGb0euxyRHo_kV8n57PYXuLFHhFVNujgd9QfH6qIu94tBmtznb_4DoTv7ecHYUDCDQ60FQsUBnDUbHw4FYIB8wxuwHRZFGv2_-nVxJr5NR8rBpKNcAyrRjO72ImKNEhklAbajV64YrzuXjMJROxzEvEu5jzK5Jg=s4608" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="4608" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3GX5N2w2v4P8tM4R714DJy-LAgrXAGb0euxyRHo_kV8n57PYXuLFHhFVNujgd9QfH6qIu94tBmtznb_4DoTv7ecHYUDCDQ60FQsUBnDUbHw4FYIB8wxuwHRZFGv2_-nVxJr5NR8rBpKNcAyrRjO72ImKNEhklAbajV64YrzuXjMJROxzEvEu5jzK5Jg=w640-h288" width="640" /></a></div>9. The Hives<br /></span></i></b></div>
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<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>October 28 at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville<br /></i></span></div></h2><span style="font-size: small;">By a show of hands, how many of you forgot all about this band? The Hives made sure we wouldn't make that mistake again with a out of control roller coaster ride of a show during a falltime run through the U.S. Singer Pelle Almqvist's humor was on full display, declaring Nashville as Music City -- at least for as long as they're there, that is. Almqvist, better known as Howlin' Pelle, was a hoot onstage and off, frequently hopping down from the stage and dancing around on the side, in the back of the crowd, even over by the bowling lanes. You name it. I'd be remiss not to mention their antics during show closer Tick Tick Boom, in which the band froze in motion for a few moments at the end of the last verse. It was like something out of a music video. Almqvist then joined us in the crowd once more, got everyone to crouch down with us, and chatted with us on a handful of subjects, including where we would like to see them play next. </span></div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"> </div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><h2>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyxHmIgLos3QNz6Lcs6Zxl0byMLbWKV3Iabx2qIfmzJjl7VWemPM41DuXwHgmDb69HvWV8Y3Rmd60ixwO7NQkulY4t7-pIoFQrJDe2OmmqFwZ5MVa8_Ntr8f_d0GZdbyy5ocYx3HpDbN9cxDHvhKUN_4EQ-K920lEikSFqlr0o2vOK3DW1PFYZH9JIZA=s2783" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1715" data-original-width="2783" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyxHmIgLos3QNz6Lcs6Zxl0byMLbWKV3Iabx2qIfmzJjl7VWemPM41DuXwHgmDb69HvWV8Y3Rmd60ixwO7NQkulY4t7-pIoFQrJDe2OmmqFwZ5MVa8_Ntr8f_d0GZdbyy5ocYx3HpDbN9cxDHvhKUN_4EQ-K920lEikSFqlr0o2vOK3DW1PFYZH9JIZA=w640-h394" width="640" /></a></div>8. Sabaton<br /></span></i></b></div>
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<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>September 26 at Louder Than Life<br /></i></span></div></h2><span style="font-size: small;">Chalk up Sabaton as one of the best kept secrets from this year's Louder Than Life. The Swedish metal group are kings in Europe but haven't made much of a dent in the U.S. consciousness. So much so that they were relegated to playing a side stage at 6pm on the festival's final day, or what's referred to as the hangover slot at European festivals, as singer Joakim Brodén put it. The crowd greeted them like headliners, chanting the band's name with such fervor that they had to stop a couple of times just to take it all in.</span></div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><br /> </div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><h2>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPyVzsNwxRHBF5H1cn7wYAWSvkQFF9GgxKSnawupSblL2FBO3zMFdcOPdj9oUTlXD2g0_fZXcA85fyBUtQTZb6PkCHs6-T17fYqu6IgDoE65qzB8mfDvgrNJrje2mimkfpDfF0k7Z675pFK03NCZuQmoFj2fDvraTo2UP4h5DbGia4RXyp0IE8Xh3ueg=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPyVzsNwxRHBF5H1cn7wYAWSvkQFF9GgxKSnawupSblL2FBO3zMFdcOPdj9oUTlXD2g0_fZXcA85fyBUtQTZb6PkCHs6-T17fYqu6IgDoE65qzB8mfDvgrNJrje2mimkfpDfF0k7Z675pFK03NCZuQmoFj2fDvraTo2UP4h5DbGia4RXyp0IE8Xh3ueg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>7. Opeth<br /></span></i></b></div>
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<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>November 23 at Ryman Auditorium<br /></i></span></div></h2><span style="font-size: small;">Drummer Martin Axenrot's sudden departure right before the start of the tour put Opeth in a bind, and nearly forced the band out of its co-headlining spot with Mastodon. Luckily, fortune intervened, and the Swedish prog/metal masters were able to go on with the show with Axenrot's drum tech Sami Karpinnen filling in. The setlist leaned heavily on Opeth staples, drawing predominantly from their prog era from 2011 onward with Cusp of Eternity, Devil's Orchard, and Sorceress making appearances. Vocalist/guitarist Mikael Akerfeldt was warm and charming as per his usual self. He made reference to the band's most recent set at the Ryman, which occurred not long ago in February 2020 shortly before the pandemic shutdown. We're beginning to make a habit of it, he joked.</span> </div><div style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div></h2><h2>
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<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxP_LL_5Dhab72FLuqvExtloQN3nk4Y9TFdaWOEVRuB3Os_18gUW8nyyMbH3V4QgfPUfLse_AA9td_0eo7U-hWsctp4XE8MwsTTtGyCRGXO8P7sjTZzC_LhP-kYOL4KV1gwMzZ1C-2PE_glt07V6ZVfOr_j6RYRJXFt9F4iZ88IsjaEwEDVPq90RGOPQ=s2842" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1919" data-original-width="2842" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxP_LL_5Dhab72FLuqvExtloQN3nk4Y9TFdaWOEVRuB3Os_18gUW8nyyMbH3V4QgfPUfLse_AA9td_0eo7U-hWsctp4XE8MwsTTtGyCRGXO8P7sjTZzC_LhP-kYOL4KV1gwMzZ1C-2PE_glt07V6ZVfOr_j6RYRJXFt9F4iZ88IsjaEwEDVPq90RGOPQ=w640-h432" width="640" /></a></div><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Idles<br /></span></i></b></div>
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<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>October 23 at Shaky Knees</i></span></div></h2><div style="text-align: left;"> This was one of the most anticipated sets on the Shaky Knees schedule when it was announced, and for good reason. Frontman Joe Talbot grounds the performance with his stage presence, which is one part intensity and one part ferocity. He does know how to lighten things up though, downshifting out of one of his band original's and segueing into a medley that contained Outkast's Ms. Jackson as well a few other songs. I think All I Want For Christmas Is You was part of it too. The band had one guy that was dressed in a frock or some type of foreign looking white dress. The players behind Talbot swayed and sashayed to the chaotic rhythms. This definitely had the feel of a late night Bonnaroo show. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><h2>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgTIKELoF9oDzS7aV3_D-T6DVY0FCJ_0DWFzR7BnwDqt5bcNL8Np4e61-9UMUdhVpsQwdZ55GrL2Vcqvrsz8syiNBl-R2g09jjiNbbU-CyErLkmxYScqAsUqJ9DMUPV0VttMxO8SPqezPB2BXddqTNiQz29P2CKsunh6Xwm4SrnUvDKR8k5dhyeNWDhg=s3200" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgTIKELoF9oDzS7aV3_D-T6DVY0FCJ_0DWFzR7BnwDqt5bcNL8Np4e61-9UMUdhVpsQwdZ55GrL2Vcqvrsz8syiNBl-R2g09jjiNbbU-CyErLkmxYScqAsUqJ9DMUPV0VttMxO8SPqezPB2BXddqTNiQz29P2CKsunh6Xwm4SrnUvDKR8k5dhyeNWDhg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>5. Judas Priest<br /></span></i></b></div>
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<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>September 26 at Louder Than Life<br /></i></span></div></h2><p>All hail the kings of metal. Priest has been at it for 50 years, and their show is still without compare. Even in his 70s, Halford's pipes are still a thing to behold. He positively wails on tracks like Painkiller and Victim of Changes. If I had to point out one instance where perhaps it wasn't, it might that on the verses of You Got Another Thing Coming, which are noticeably not as crisp. They tore through their hour long set with odes to heavy metal fellowship and leather, punctuated by Halford riding a motorcycle onto the stage during Hell Bent for Leather. Kirk Hammett also guested on the Green Manalishi prior to Metallica's set, with the band introducing him as the guy from the West Coast that we're going to give a chance. It was also a set with almost tragic implications, although none of us knew it at the time. Guitarist Richie Henderson [correct to what his actual name is] had an aorta bust open during the performance of the final song, Painkiller. It was reported that blood flowed into his chest cavity as he played the song's solo. Thankfully he was rushed to a nearby hospital and his life was saved. </p><p><br /></p><h2>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiR8kNDFP9OrdszCW7wLbSqL8enkuQz3e3gRoqbHkcVwJunQ0oA0kX1EZtAxNxXfhPZ9kjJBBJRfWvGeHo9CGNfxkXkBCTffH8S75jlJcxJJ-Oeq432KS4bA8crM_gefnIG0zNkB9LGFjg9QHwNezQXnqX3DeOVBUApF-ZopoNdPG3VWMCmLrGLv7hRMg=s1777" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1777" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiR8kNDFP9OrdszCW7wLbSqL8enkuQz3e3gRoqbHkcVwJunQ0oA0kX1EZtAxNxXfhPZ9kjJBBJRfWvGeHo9CGNfxkXkBCTffH8S75jlJcxJJ-Oeq432KS4bA8crM_gefnIG0zNkB9LGFjg9QHwNezQXnqX3DeOVBUApF-ZopoNdPG3VWMCmLrGLv7hRMg=w518-h640" width="518" /></a></div>4. Primus<br /></span></i></b></div>
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<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>September 18 at PNC Pavillion<br /></i></span></div></h2><p>What struck me the most is how wonderfully immersive their sound is. What sticks out to me about their records is the general grime and abrasiveness, which is, of course, an intentional design decision. Les forces you to decide whether you're in or out when it comes to this band. Live, however, I found myself enveloped in their sound and was able to revel more in the expert musicianship being delivered. Larry Lalond's off-kilter leads crackle in and out of the caldron the band brews, as though it were a random signal you were intermittently picking up an on old transistor AM radio late at night and vanishes as quickly as it appears. The bass and drum interaction is a lot of fun to watch too, since there's obviously no one else who does it like this. Of particular note is the drum rolls syncing up in time with Claypool's -- I don't want to call them bass rolls, I guess you'd call it his bass rhythm -- on Southbound Pachyderm, I believe was the song. Of course I'd be remiss not to mention the Farewell to Kings portion of the show, which as you'd suspect was an unmitigated blast and a trip all in its own. Lalonde and Claypool manned the double necked guitar and double necked bass combo as they unleashed those big, swaggering Rush riffs. Claypool joked they were doing the album for the three Rush fans in the crowd, and yes there will be a post survey card he hopes one of them will fill out but remarked not to be too tough on him as he can only sing so high. On a more serious note, he also took a moment to call out the simple yet profound statements Peart could weave into his lyrics, quoting the opening passage of Closer to the Heart, highlighting the populist sentiments often found in Rush songs to issue a call to action from those from a higher power.</p><p> </p><h2>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgptdlf9kszInSx9ID7sv44x4c1UwcpMp33sSi6KLVku7uueR8l2_GN7TCKBzgqoZJrAYclZEx_6pezvWSUqn_OCxXi4W0gGLdWxUf28jrNLfVUJBMMHkc4ho9tdvEyjMZKAk28nz7YclEEe_S355TQydKF1IRwoCpMSQMe2_P3niU_3WfhQetViZ0vBg=s3200" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgptdlf9kszInSx9ID7sv44x4c1UwcpMp33sSi6KLVku7uueR8l2_GN7TCKBzgqoZJrAYclZEx_6pezvWSUqn_OCxXi4W0gGLdWxUf28jrNLfVUJBMMHkc4ho9tdvEyjMZKAk28nz7YclEEe_S355TQydKF1IRwoCpMSQMe2_P3niU_3WfhQetViZ0vBg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>3. St. Vincent<br /></span></i></b></div>
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<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>October 9 at Ascend Ampitheatre<br /></i></span></div></h2><p>Expectations are always high whenever Annie performs. Her tours have been widely known for being strongly conceptual, visually dazzling showcases. So it shouldn't be hard to understand why I was a little let down by her prior Fear the Future tour, which felt tepid in comparison and not fully sure of what it wanted to be. There were no such troubles this time. Her set leans hard into bold color and on stage style of the 70s, a persona her recent album Daddy's Home fully immerses itself in. Much has been reported on her funkifying her back catalog during these shows. The way she does it causes the material to feel fresh without radically altering its DNA, such as you might see from Lauryn Hill. Her intention seemed to be to flex the muscle of her newer material, with more than half the setlist coming from Daddy's Home and the prior album, Mass Seduction. Downtown in Hollywood, Down [correct the names] delivered vigorous bite, and Birth in Reverse offered great opportunities for interplay between Annie and her guitarist, but Fear the Future is the one song my opinion might have been elevated the most on. With ts elegant, stripped down synth combining itself with Annie's powerful voice and guitar, she proved its status as one of the most vital rock songs in her oeuvre. <br /></p><h2>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKBY2K8egK7SeezMFSUtWZwwlFWOzpwG8DZbBhma9xFMrua6UIA8n6ZYORVU9t_UE5pfjvHAsn61ciVZ8175f-b7UUumCbj5cNnqaHqciGkHXFqt1hXy9SJYWIbx87tUJsj87gvgnQKHfxBshx0g0VkP2BxS6PvHxg9xZvK4O26n_VFhxxstrmuBFLvg=s3200" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKBY2K8egK7SeezMFSUtWZwwlFWOzpwG8DZbBhma9xFMrua6UIA8n6ZYORVU9t_UE5pfjvHAsn61ciVZ8175f-b7UUumCbj5cNnqaHqciGkHXFqt1hXy9SJYWIbx87tUJsj87gvgnQKHfxBshx0g0VkP2BxS6PvHxg9xZvK4O26n_VFhxxstrmuBFLvg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>2. Foo Fighters<br /></span></i></b></div>
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<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>October 22 at Shaky Knees<br /></i></span></div></h2><p>2021 marks the year I finally caught these guys. I can finally say the wait was worth it. I had been trying to catch this band for last seven years, but some comedy of errors or circumstance always got in the way. The band and catalog is solid but make no mistake, this is the Dave Grohl show. He captivated us by putting on a screaming clinic during Monkey Wrench, regaled us with tales of how they used to tear up shows the nearby Masquerade during the band's early days, and at one point got in some good natured riffing on a young fan who claimed to be a lifelong fan but apparently whiffed when Grohl led us in the recital of lyrics from "Breakout." We also got Dee Gees, a series of Bee Gees cover songs with drummer Taylor Hawkins singing and the mighty Grohl flexing his muscles behind the kit. Although I'm not a big fan, the change of pace that brought was very important to the pacing of the show. It also gave Grohl the opportunity to demonstrate drum breakdowns from the Queens of the Stone Age song No One Knows and was one of the highlights of the show. Hawkins showcased his charisma and proved to be a remarkable frontman as well. One of the nice things about having your boss being a drummer is that he understands the struggle of being a drummer, he remarked, which is trying not to get fired everyday. <br /></p><h2>
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<b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEMuoAvY01ze-S3vWYEOzA0hmvkDgRqoKDbwgTLFUhZ01igi4omDLnkhUWsGuVVQLLreN6iA0aDxyiWtg0C-rALUR45CKTj0Dr9Y8r17qCjkY_Tjto1CKh5k5Tl1UkxCMGYu47_CA4VZMMxZj0Yy6i_E3zUaxg1SWlRFfV8rlO7JsWvOZ5m0KdIKIj2g=s2995" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2053" data-original-width="2995" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEMuoAvY01ze-S3vWYEOzA0hmvkDgRqoKDbwgTLFUhZ01igi4omDLnkhUWsGuVVQLLreN6iA0aDxyiWtg0C-rALUR45CKTj0Dr9Y8r17qCjkY_Tjto1CKh5k5Tl1UkxCMGYu47_CA4VZMMxZj0Yy6i_E3zUaxg1SWlRFfV8rlO7JsWvOZ5m0KdIKIj2g=w640-h438" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Metallica<br /></span></i></b></div>
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<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>September 24 & 26 at Louder Than Life<br /></i></span></div></h2><p>Metallica's two night run at Louder Than Life festival was enough to draw me to Louisville, spurred on by the promise of seeing deep cuts and fan favorites you don't get a chance to see on their regular tour runs. It did not disappoint. Their opening Sunday run of Hardwired, Four Horsemen, and Welcome Home (Sanitarium) was so astonishing I could hardly believe what I was witnessing. That fest closing performance, of course, also featured the band's self titled Black Album played in full which is an idea I was tepid about at first. I didn't realize how much I needed it in my life. God That Failed and My Friend of Misery blew the doors off as anyone who knew those songs knew they would, and the extremely rarely played Don't Tread on Me also factored in, which James jokingly announced as Lars's favorite song. The Friday performance was just as blistering, giving us well known staples such as One and Seek & Destroy, but they also opened up their catalog for No Leaf Clover, Harvester of Sorrow, and Whiskey in the Jar. The crowd crush was ridiculous on Friday, I had to bail out and take in the sweat soaked finish from the back of the field. I'm definitely glad I did it. I got probably within about 10 feet of the band, but definitely wouldn't do it again. Considering these were two separate performances, I'm considering them 1a and 1b for the purposes of this list, and are two sets that are firmly within my favorites of all time. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4icL6auYSo_YhSkbXByjibt7JlXvUB6UtQNCeScBSXtU5TJnO7LJmYqL5lo76OHxabkf43c4GEIXXECijOk-uYc1hdfb6nk__WmgvhkUKi-78wzZNmuB03b1xsrcme_hxaELQJtIDXYr04TeYF7OPMNQIhIJP1g5OzrUdPokCxuP-FjsaHzwrV7yInQ=s2699" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2074" data-original-width="2699" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4icL6auYSo_YhSkbXByjibt7JlXvUB6UtQNCeScBSXtU5TJnO7LJmYqL5lo76OHxabkf43c4GEIXXECijOk-uYc1hdfb6nk__WmgvhkUKi-78wzZNmuB03b1xsrcme_hxaELQJtIDXYr04TeYF7OPMNQIhIJP1g5OzrUdPokCxuP-FjsaHzwrV7yInQ=w640-h492" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-30344184119246386732020-12-31T21:33:00.002-06:002021-05-27T07:54:31.885-05:00Totally Unauthorized's Top 10 Concerts of 2019<h2>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Honorable Mention: The Comet is Coming</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>June 13 at Bonnaroo</i></span></div>
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This up and coming London electro/jazz fusion act has been turning lots of heads. Their general sound is somewhat apocalyptic, building a sense of tension with the keys while Shabaka Hutchings blasts off something truly otherworldly sounding with his saxophone. Their sound works best when the low rumble of the bass interlocks with the spastic saxophone blasts to create something like truly sounds like the world is ending. Put another way, it works best when they play something that lets you drop your booty down low.</div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><h2>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. Parquet Courts<br /></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>June 14 at Bonnaroo</i></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></div>
</h2><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PhvhHYMOPdU/YK-U9LsGE-I/AAAAAAAABk0/HnjCd1eT6m0vU_SCcgEdz0fNcrfd4AgNQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/P6140011.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PhvhHYMOPdU/YK-U9LsGE-I/AAAAAAAABk0/HnjCd1eT6m0vU_SCcgEdz0fNcrfd4AgNQCNcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/P6140011.JPG" width="480" /></a><br /> </div><div>I was pleasantly surprised by how hard hitting this set was. You can
hear ecohes of New York post punk scene in the steely guitar jangle
found on some of their albums, especially on their breakthrough effort
Light Up Gold. They came out blazing with two songs from that record,
Master of My Craft and Borrowed Time, as though trying to press a point
that this is was going to be an ass kicking set. It was honestly
cathartic, doubly so given this was one of the few guns blazing rock
shows of the whole weekend. Of course, they were too smart not to mix
things up. Tenderness is catchy enough to be a radio hit, complete with a
bobbing piano melody perfect for swaying in the summer breeze, while
Wide Awake deliciously melds a sashaying rhythm groove between bass and
drums to craft a perfect dance freakout. </div><div> </div><div><h2>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. Alice Cooper</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>August 4 at Grand Ole Opry House</i></span></div><div style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></div>
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There aren't many hard rock/metal bands left that put on the visual spectacle Alice Cooper has made himself famous for. He's got an elaborate castle setpiece with multiple levels that takes up most of the stage. He swaggers out of one of the castle doors like a boss to start the show, belting out one of his new school hits "Feed my Frankenstein." He's got the giant monsters running around and he guillotines himself onstage, but just as jaw dropping are the dynamic solos laid down by guitarist Nita Strauss. Capping the evening was nothing less than a joyous rendition of "School's Out" joined by Lizzy Hale from Halestorm, who performed directly before Cooper.</div><br /><div><div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. The National</span></i></b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>June 15 at Bonnaroo</i></span></div>
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The National have been a tough nut for me to crack. Try as I might, I've never successfully gotten into them. That didn't stop me, however, from stumbling into the pit for their preheadling set. Those of you who've been to Bonnaroo are well aware you never know quite what you're going to stumble into. Despite my previous reticence toward them, what The National put on was no less than a certified trip. <br />
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Singer Matt Beringer is a presence. Sometimes he can be seen brooding on stage, like a weird neighbor in an enclosed patio glaring at you from across your yard. But in a good way, of course. The early part of their set saw them joined by guest singer Kate Stables, who pitched in with the quiet, tinder, and intimate material on their latest album I Am Easy to Find. Things turned up later when Beringer got up close and personal with his crowd, going right up into the embankment and even crowd surfing. I wasn't converted by their performance but I certainly gained a new appreciation for them. And Bloodbuzz, Ohio, is first rate banger that went straight to my to-listen to list.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. Odesza</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>June 15 at Bonnaroo</i></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></div>
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So chill and uplifting. An Odesza set is definitely one to have your fists and glowsticks raised into the air. The Washington based duo of Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight, in their final stages of their heralded "A Moment Apart" tour, became one of the rare purely electronic acts to crack Bonnaroo's main stage lineup. They provided a much needed contrast from the clang and clash going on at The Other by delivering a softer, but still energetic sound. They dazzled the crowd with a pulsating homage to Little Eva's R&B/doo wap hit "The Loco-Motion," while their gentle but engaging light show lit up the lot. Leaving the field to "It's Only" with the sweetly tingling cadence of Zyra ringing in my ears was one of the top moments of the weekend. Just sit back and let the euphoria wash over you.</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Bad Religion</span></i></b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>September 27 at Cannery Ballroom</i></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-01EHoOODQg8/Xo84eWaIgZI/AAAAAAAABf0/Jw-Nr39hJFgxeE4RQ4V_Ml-xFTjO3CmCwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20190926_215248.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-01EHoOODQg8/Xo84eWaIgZI/AAAAAAAABf0/Jw-Nr39hJFgxeE4RQ4V_Ml-xFTjO3CmCwCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20190926_215248.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>What can I say? The veteran L.A. hardcore/punks have been one of my favorite bands since high school, and this set featured them in fine form tearing through nearly 30 of their best known and best loved cuts. Unlike many bands who were part of their scene, they're as much brains as they are brawn. They're equally adept at blistering through tracks like "Fuck Armageddon... This is Hell," dropping intelligent and tuneful solos in "Infected," or washing over us with the big hooks on "21st Century Digital Boy" and fan favorite "American Jesus."</div><div><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Kacey Musgraves</span></i></b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>June 15 at Bonnaroo</i></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-evelbbk1q3Y/YK8RSGibJsI/AAAAAAAABjo/0AU5NvjmqRsmFMUC1lb7rzg77yi2wUiXACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/P6150176.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-evelbbk1q3Y/YK8RSGibJsI/AAAAAAAABjo/0AU5NvjmqRsmFMUC1lb7rzg77yi2wUiXACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/P6150176.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Sundown sets are one of the most memorable parts of Bonnaroo, and rising country starlet Kacey Musgraves gave us one for the books. Musgraves has worked her way through the Bonnaroo ranks, having played on this same stage as an early Sunday act in 2013. She donned a red dress, looking like country music royalty while lilting her way through the serene, breezy tunes from her Grammy award winning album Golden Hour (while also throwing an expected but amazing curveball in covering "Do You Realize??" from alternative psych rock heroes Flaming Lips), but her general ethos which first endeared her to this crowd hasn't changed. <span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. The Lonely Island</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>June 15 at Bonnaroo</i></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nJWeBKY5sX8/YK8TEouqKmI/AAAAAAAABj4/AVIO-Btv9tM0dFARzqvlKu9oHk_0FapDgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1751/P6150217%2B%25282%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="1751" height="410" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nJWeBKY5sX8/YK8TEouqKmI/AAAAAAAABj4/AVIO-Btv9tM0dFARzqvlKu9oHk_0FapDgCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h410/P6150217%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span></div>
</h2></div><div>Laughing is not something I think I've ever done during a concert, but leave it to the trio of SNL's Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone to crack us all up. The rarely glimpsed musical comedy group were embarking on their first tour, with this late night Bonnaroo set as their first big stop. As you might expect, the set was rife with dialog, skits, T-shirts being blasted into the crowd, and various visual props and costumes, including a puppet Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga to accompany the group on a medley of Dick in the Box, Motherlover, and 3-Way (The Golden Rule) Jamming Incredibad was one of the highlights of my time as a college DJ, and seeing those cuts brought to life on stage was top notch.<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Guns n Roses</span></i></b></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>October 13 at Exit 111 Festival</i></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lNndf4xl2sk/YK8UcosROSI/AAAAAAAABkc/CEnojSYnro0WnL_uwC6a183yqS3WwwACACNcBGAsYHQ/s1878/PA130689%2B%25282%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1878" height="370" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lNndf4xl2sk/YK8UcosROSI/AAAAAAAABkc/CEnojSYnro0WnL_uwC6a183yqS3WwwACACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h370/PA130689%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div></div></div>
</h2> If we're being honest this is pretty much the Slash show, but a killer back catalog doesn't hurt as well. The LA based hard rock outfit has catapulted back into headliner status since their reunion with their former axeman, and the way he can transform a song leaves little doubt it's well deserved. His dizzying playing and plucking on his double necked guitar amazed the crowd, but also added improvisation that allowed these songs to take on a new life. Axl's voice is not surprisingly rough in several spots, but did an admirable job as our conductor leading us through all the band's well-known hits, deeper fan favorites such as Nightrain and You Could Be Mine, and peppered in a multitude of covers ranging from Velvet Revolver's Slither to Jimmy Webb's Wichita Lineman. </div><div><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Brandi Carlile</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>June 16 at Bonnaroo</i></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B9u8Jl0fM3U/YK8U-O2743I/AAAAAAAABkk/QXTjdsgqHmMQZmzZ15zURSV_IoyVYRbUwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/P6160271.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B9u8Jl0fM3U/YK8U-O2743I/AAAAAAAABkk/QXTjdsgqHmMQZmzZ15zURSV_IoyVYRbUwCNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/P6160271.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div>What a big, beautiful heart and soul this lady has. The alt-country/folk/singer songwriter queen laid down easily the most uplifting emotional musical experience of the year. Part of her appeal is she extends a hand to the downtrodden, provides hope for those building for a better tomorrow, and celebrates the best elements of mankind. One of her most powerful songs, "The Story," lays out the tale of her life journey and recounts how much of the meaning would be stripped away without having a someone special by your side. It's hard not to get misty eyed with some of these songs and the way she projects herself. She spoke at length about her family, her wife and two kids, leading into one of the afternoon's most beautiful cuts, "The Mother," and extolled the virtues of progress for LGBT rights. She also dazzled with the propulsive "Hold Out Your Hand," the reflective "The Joke," humorously discussed the band's rise through the Bonnaroo ranks, beginning with their earliest performance at a tent on the festival grounds beside some trash cans, and even lit it up with her country music idol Tanya Tucker. Afterward, Carlile was presented with the key to the city from Manchester's mayor. There's no better way to top off the tour de force we just witnessed.</div><div><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Childish Gambino</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>June 14 at Bonnaroo</i></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vozobv26j0Y/YK8WMEV2blI/AAAAAAAABks/W_COavQEeSYfgxzSU1cJ-tEwIq1OmxXDACNcBGAsYHQ/s2014/P6140062%2B%25283%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="2014" height="530" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vozobv26j0Y/YK8WMEV2blI/AAAAAAAABks/W_COavQEeSYfgxzSU1cJ-tEwIq1OmxXDACNcBGAsYHQ/w640-h530/P6140062%2B%25283%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></i></span></div>
</h2></div><div>If these set of performances on Donald Glover's summertime tour were indeed his last as Childish Gambino, as the rumors indicate, he certainly followed the adage of leave them wanting more. I had skipped Glover's previous Roo set largely because I considered him mediocre at best as a rapper, although 2016's Awaken My Love expanded his sound in many important ways. No matter my thoughts on his rap ability, his Friday night headline performance left no doubt that as a showman very few are his equal.</div><div><br />
He is possibly the most talented person I have ever seen play the main stage, definitely the most charismatic. He came out to the pulsating rhythms of Algorithm and wasted little time descending into the crowd pit. He strutted about like a victorious Roman gladiator returning from combat, and was definitely received like one. That crowd was in the palm of his hand. I grievously regret not snagging a close spot when I had the chance; I opted for the VIP mound for the first time and while my feet definitely needed the rest, I feel like I lost a something from the best set of the weekend. The glittering beat of Worldstar impresses, not to mention the uninimitable swagger that tune exudes. Some of my other favorite memories is Gambino urging everyone who was fucked up to get wild for Sober and the gentle summertime vibe of 3005. The combination of set closer Redbone along with the fireworks was a massive gut punch, in the best possible way.</div>
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The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-35099925528540719462019-12-31T20:39:00.001-06:002019-12-31T20:39:38.526-06:00Recap of Bonnaroo Friday June 14<h2>
<b><i>Teskey Brothers </i></b></h2>
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<b><i>Which Stage 1:30pm</i></b></h3>
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10/10... the nap I took during them, that is. Old school soul revival, there's basically nothing more to it than that. Fine if you're a big fan of that stuff, but I'd rather listen to the old stuff.<br />
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<b><i>Cherry Glazerr</i></b></h2>
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<b><i>This Tent 2:45pm</i></b></h3>
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Off kilter alt rock. Nirvana is the obvious influence with those dingy power chords reminiscent of early 90s subpop Seattle scene (also see their Territorial Pissings cover). But rather than being jagged and abrasive like Nirvana, Cherry Glazerr's sound gently lilts it way through the speakers, as though emanating from a dream. The set was frontloaded with two of their catchiest songs, highlighted by the melodic power pop leads of Ohio and the shimmering Had Ten Dollaz. Later in the set, I can't help but think Cobain would approve of the slightly bent, sexual lyricism of Daddi, leading up to a delightfully unhinged set ending with Told You I'd Be With the Guys.<br />
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<b><i>Parquet Courts</i></b></h2>
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<b><i>This Tent 4:30pm</i></b></h3>
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I was pleasantly surprised by how hard hitting this set was. You can hear ecohes of New York post punk scene in the steely guitar jangle found on some of their albums, especially on their breakthrough effort Light Up Gold. They came out blazing with two songs from that record, Master of My Craft and Borrowed Time, as though trying to press a point that this is was going to be an ass kicking set. It was honestly cathartic, doubly so given this was one of the few guns blazing rock shows of the whole weekend. Of course, they were too smart not to mix things up. Tenderness is catchy enough to be a radio hit, complete with a bobbing piano melody perfect for swaying in the summer breeze, while Wide Awake deliciously melds a sashaying rhythm groove between bass and drums to craft a perfect dance freakout.<br />
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<b><i>Avett Brothers</i></b></h2>
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<b><i>What Stage 6:30pm</i></b></h3>
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The Avetts can throw down a variety of different sets based on what style they want to focus on from their massive back catalog. They've played here so many times they've become a Bonnaroo specialty. Accordingly, they came ready to throw down. They set the tone early with Satan Pulls the Strings. The experimented with a pulsating electronic beat on the album version, but here it was a fully acoustic, full band effort with Scott Avett going wild on the banjo and looking like he was ready to howl at the moon. You can tell they were trying so hard to write the Born to Run of alt-country with the emotional bombast of some of these songs, particularly anything from I and Love and You (the title track of which was curiously left out). However when they unleashed the swelling slow burn of Head Full of Promise/Room Full of Lies, just watching the way it slowly rose and built until the crowd reached a frenzy, you'd be damned if they didn't succeed, or at least close enough.<br />
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<b><i>Childish Gambino </i></b></h2>
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<b><i>What Stage 8:45pm</i></b></h3>
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He is possibly the most talented person I have ever seen play the main stage, definitely the most charismatic. He came out to the pulsating rhythms of Algorithm and wasted little time descending into the crowd pit. He strutted about like a victorious Roman gladiator returning from war, and was definitely received like one. He had that crowd in the palm of his hand. I grievously regret not snagging a close up spot when I had the chance; I opted to try the VIP mound for the first time and while my feet definitely needed the rest, I feel like I lost a little something from the best set of the weekend. The glittering beat of Worldstart impresses, not to mention the uninimitable swagger that tune exudes. Some of my other favorite memories is Gambino urging everyone who was fucked to get wild for Sober and the gentle summertime vibe of 3005. The combination of set closer Redbone along with the fireworks was a massive gut punch, in the best possible way.<br />
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<b><i>Solange</i></b></h2>
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<b><i>Which Stage 10pm</i></b></h3>
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Solange was a sizzling slow burn of a set. I surprisingly walked straight into the pit after staying at Gambino to the very end, a veritable late night rarity. Her stage setup was a visual treat; she had a second floor set up, and her dancers would walk up a step, pause for a moment, then go back up or down. Sometimes one of them would go to the top and shake their ass, which the crowd ate up. She had an impressive full band. You might think it would be a mellow set, but it got pretty up especially with her cranking out the bangers (for her standards, anyway) Down with the Clique and Way to the Show early in the set. She talked about how she used to reject spirituality when she was a kid at summer camps, but her new album reflected her coming around and embracing it.<br />
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<i>Deafheaven</i></h2>
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<b><i>That Tent 12am</i></b></h3>
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Metalroo! Deafheaven can kick out black(ish?) metal, post rock, and... that's pretty much it, but it's surely something to behold. They were intent on kicking our ass out of the gate, opening with the barraging riffs of Black Brick, released as a B-Side this past spring from Ordinary Corrupt Human Love. That album focuses on the softer side of the band's sound, which I was very interested in checking out. It's tough to decide which I like more, their heavy or mellow side. I think I actually appreciated their clean playing more; its mercurial beauty opened up pockets of bliss in between the heavier parts of their songs. It resonated with me in part because the lights were fucking with me during that set and my general fatigue at that point. George Clarke (who, with long hair, actually looks like a metal frontman now. The first time I saw them, he had short spiky hair and wore black gloves) announced it was time to let us freaks move on before blasting into Dreamhouse, typically regarded as the purest distillation of their light/heavy motif.<br />
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<b><i>Brockhampton</i></b></h2>
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<b><i>Which Stage 1am</i></b></h3>
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My burgeoning interest in Brockhampton began around the time of Saturation II, an album frontloaded with obviously west cost inspired stompers like Gummy, delivered by a meaty collective that recalled the days of Dre and the California hip hop hey day. The investment didn't necessarily pay off with this set, sadly. It seems they lost a lot with Ameer's departure. To borrow a basketball term, they now lack that big inside presence. That, coupled with the fact that their discography has always been inconsistent, kept this show from being what it could have been. Yet, to see the energy with them bouncing around up there was still a treat. They always go all in with their stage setups, which this time consisted of a big spaceship on stage with the guys all clad in silver spacesuits. One of the guys would walk out onto the wing of the ship regularly, but it was hard to see from my angle. I was splitting some of the set between here and waiting for the superjam to start, so I missed Gold and most of Gummy, but Boogie was a bomb ass way to close.<br />
<br />The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-7956824872609862372018-12-28T18:46:00.001-06:002018-12-28T18:46:37.467-06:00Totally Unauthorized's Top 10 Concerts of 2018<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. Pixies</span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>July 28 at Ascend </i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Amphitheater</i></span><br />
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My good friend Bill had a spare ticket to get me into Pixies coheadlining show with Weezer, so off I went to make my first trip to Ascend. It's an impressive place to catch a show; you can breathe in that outdoor, open air feel to watching a band that gets missed being in a small, dingy auditorium or club. The always reliable Pixies were, not surprisingly, the better act of the evening. Naturally, there was a solid dose of material from their newest album, <i>Head Carrier</i>, that went by the wayside. I admit I haven't kept up with their newer material. There's something so uplifting about alt-pop staples "Here Comes Your Man," and "Where is My Mind," rocking out with bassist Paz Lenchantin as she takes the lead on "Gigantic," while also diving in to the band's darker, grimier sound with off the rails blasts like "Crackity Jones" and "Isla Del Encanta."<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. David Byrne</span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>May 4 at Shaky Knees</i></span><br />
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Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne had a widely heralded set at Atlanta's Shaky Knees Music Festival and it's easy to see why. Bynre and his merry band of 10+ members put on what was basically a 80s music video style concert with tuba players, cymbal clangers, and dancers donning blue eyelid paint that transports you back to that period of time. The setlist pulled an even amount of classic Talking Heads tunes and material from Byrne's latest, <i>American Utopia</i>. My favorite part was during "I Dance Like This." Byrne and his band were doing a silly dance throughout, then the song suddenly stopped but their goofy dance kept going until the music kicked back in again. A cover of Janelle Monae's rattling civil rights anthem "Hell You Talmbout" closed the festivities. A Byrne concert is great not just thanks to the artist's stunning field of vision, but also due to the utter jubilance he and his band bring to the show.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. Jack White</span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>May 4 at Shaky Knees</i></span><br />
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This was my third time seeing White, and unfortunately it was not the charm. He didn't seem to be meshing with the audience as well, which may or may not have had to do with why he only filled 90 minutes of his scheduled two hour headlining set, but even a less than stellar White concert has more than its fair share of standouts. Touring on such an experimental and polarizing album as <i>Boarding House Reach, </i>I wondered if he'd shy away from some of its more unconventional cuts. To his credit White went for the jugular, showering with with spoken word/noise cut "Everything You've Ever Learned," his hip hop jam "Ice Station Zebra," and even took a moment to pound on a drumkit. His earlier career selections were also on point, including the slithering and grooving "I'm Slowly Turning Into You" from the Stripes late period as well as the cackling insanity of "Black Math."<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. Tenacious D</span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>May 6 at Shaky Knees</i></span><br />
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Of all the zany sights and sounds I've witnessed at music festivals, there is little that compares to seeing a legitimate film star less than 50 yards away from me. Who didn't love Jack Black's in the early to mid 2000s, whether flattening competition as a Mexican wrestler in Nacho Libre, or inspiring the next generation of musical geniuses in School of Rock? Seeing the D is a rare treat indeed, and it came with all the expected trappings. Everyone may recall "Tribute," their Devil Went Down to Georgia inspired duel with the devil in which the band struggle to remember the greatest song in the world, but the highlight was "Beelezeboss (The Final Showdown)," which saw the band's guitar player come under possession by the devil himself to challenge Kyle and Jack Black to a guitar shred off. We also witnessed the band break up and reform onstage during the saccharine "Dude, I Totally Miss You," we headbanged with "The Metal" and "Dio," and were educated on the finer points of lovemaking on the D classic "Fuck Her Gently." <br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>6. Queens of the Stone Age</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>May 5 at Shaky Knees</i></span><br />
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There's not too much to say about a Queens of the Stone Age concert, other than prepare to be buried under a barrage of rock and roll! Hope you weren't expecting to hear anything old school -- nothing was played from before the band's breakout record Songs for the Deaf -- but what we did get was a ringing testament to the specific brand of sludge/desert/hard rock the California band has championed since the early 2000s during their Saturday night headlining set at Atlanta's Shaky Knees festival. The biggest question for me was how the new material would translate to the big stage. Their 2017 album, Villains, polarized the fanbase with its switch to more dancy beats behind the helm of producer Mark Ronson. I personally found the production a bit thin but thought those riffs might translate into a meatier performance live. I wasn't disappointed as the band swished and caused the crowd to sashay to stompers "The Way You Used to Be" and "Feet Don't Fail Me Now." Their set lacked the variety of 2013 Nashville set the last time I saw them, but that just meant there was less time to rest during Queens Staples "In My Head" and "No One Knows," before finally coming up for air with the bone crunching "Song for the Dead." <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>5. Courtney Barnett</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>October 26 at Marathon Music Works</i></span><br />
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Courtney has grown so much as a guitar player since the first time I saw her I almost couldn't believe it. She may be known for being a gritty, indie rock dream girl but on this night she put on a guitarist's clinic. She must have picked up plenty of pointers from her time with Kurt Vile, as song after song cascaded into extended runs and breakdowns. Each one built more tension than the last. The trademark garage rock energy she's always had is still there, but now it's become even more mesmerizing and kickass than ever before. It all unfolded over a grand 21 song set, an impressive feat considering she only has two albums and a pair of EPs to her name to date. Barnett delighted with fan favorites "Depreston," "Avant Gardner," and " Pedestrian at Best," but demonstrated new potential with the brooding "I'm Not Your Mother, I'm Not Your Bitch" and a poignant covers of Gillian Welch's "Everything is Free" and Elyse Weinberg's "Houses."<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>4. Nine Inch Nails</i></b></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">September 29 at Ascend Amphitheater</span></i></div>
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Any Nine Inch Nails show is going to be a showcase of brutal power combined with creative and visual virtuosity. Their last visit to Nashville saw major production values with a crane suspending nine video cubes that could act as a ceiling, light screen, or source of video projection. This time it was actually refreshing to witness a set that was more or less anchored by just the band playing onstage, though there were just enough lighting wizardry to remind us whose show we were at. The reinvention wasn't confined to the sights but also to the sounds, as the setlist offered up some tunes that had been out of rotation for years. Most notable was "The Perfect Drug," a breakneck paranoid electro-hell drum off taken from the soundtrack from forgotten film <i>The Lost Highway</i>. It's peak 90s rave/goth for Reznor, and a song that had never been played prior to this tour. Other treats included the lusty "You're so Physical" off the Broken EP from the early 90s, the mechanical doom of "Reptile," the shout-along madness of "Head Like a Hole," and the sinister David Bowie cover "I'm Afraid of Americans." It's definitely a setlist that attempts to explore the finer corners of the artist's back catalog, but I could personally have done with a little more from the classic <i>Fragile/Downward Spiral</i> era over some of the newer cuts off the band's recently released EPs.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>3. Slayer</i></b></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">August 12 at War Memorial Auditorium</span></i><br />
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Goodbye is a hard word to say, but if it really is the last hurrah for the fabled thrash metallers they saved their best for last. It was simply the awe of Slayer that so impressed me here. My previous experience with them was their Bonnaroo set three years ago, and while that was a fantastic show, it was nothing that prepared me for this. For a farewell tour, there were disappointingly no surprises and the setlist was a bit by the numbers, but with Slayer that's all you need. The set ending run of "Hell Awaits," "South of Heaven," "Raining Blood," "Chemical Warfare," and "Angel of Death" was the most positively draining musical experience since my first time seeing Nine Inch Nails. If I'm being honest, I didn't expect them to rank this high, above several other bands on this list. The torrent of 90 minutes of some of the most chaotic, visceral metal you can see live in the area combined with propulsive pyrotechnics so dynamic you can feel the heat would be enough to excuse you for thinking you may just have descended into hell to dance with the devil's music alongside him and his army of lost souls.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Steven Wilson</span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>December 10 at Cannery Ballroom</i></span><i style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></i>
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I've long been enamored with the works of English prog rock musician Steven Wilson. It's such a shame that his visits to Nashville are so infrequent, but he most certainly took note of that fact in delivering a nearly three hour extravaganza that showcased each of his brilliant sides as a musician. As his latest album, <i>To the Bone </i>illustrates, he's been shying away from his more orchestral, extended pieces in favor of shorter pop nuggets with an anti-authoritarian vibe. This is best summed up by the intro video that played before the band came onstage that urged the crowd to think about the nature of security, surveillance, and to look at 21st century global matters from varying perspectives, signified by a single word emblazoned onto an image meant to represent it, which shifted from one image to the next as the film progressed. The set ranged from the spacey and delectable opening number "Nowhere Now," demented sludge rock with "The Creator Has a Mastertape," King Crimson inspired guitar bombast of "No Twilight Within the Courts of the Sun," and the heart melting isolation of "Routine." Wilson was very talkative and engaging with the crowd. His best moment came when he told the story of a kid wearing black metal shirt at a show in Turkey who turned his back when the band played their "disco" cut "Permanating." There was plenty of time to unleash their progressive side with "Home Invasion," a 9+ minute jam boasting guitar and keyboard solos that would make Yes proud. Wilson polished it all off with a cover of childhood idol Prince's "Sign o the Times" before closing with a tune of silent heartbreak in "The Raven that Refused to Sing." Hopefully it doesn't take another eight years before his return, but we'll always appreciate the memories, Steven.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Janelle Monae</span></i></b><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">July 13 at Ryman Auditorium</span></i><br /><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Monae has dazzled her way onto this list twice before on the strength of her wacky personality and energy, but her outing in support of April's fantastic <i>Dirty Computer</i> was on another level altogether. Monae has blossomed into something altogether different in the five years since her last album. The old elements of her show are still there but now there's a dynamic element of racial and gender empowerment. Monae is bold and dramatic in a way she's never been before, and much more openly sexual. She's ditched her black and white android dress from years before for a vastly more colorful repertoire; she switches from perching atop her throne to donning leggings meant to look like a vagina during "Pink." She played almost the entire <i>Dirty Computer </i>album, but found time for "Primetime," which Monae dedicated as a tribute to love of all kinds, as well as "Cold War," which morphed into a rallying cry for the masses. Her message is about love, acceptance, and tolerance. She's elevated her live performance from a fun, James Brown inspired stomp to something that now feels genuinely important, and utterly unmissable. </span>
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The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-76486922263040347462017-12-30T02:56:00.000-06:002017-12-30T02:56:41.410-06:00Totally Unauthorized's Top 10 Concerts of 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Some years are better than others in terms of album releases, but one area that never fails is in live music. Let's reflect on the best concerts of the past year.<br />
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<b><i>Honorable mentions:</i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">St. Vincent</span></i></b><br />
<i>Nov. 22 at Ryman Auditorium</i><br />
<br />St. Vincent is undoubtedly one of the most visual artists performing today. Her wild, wacky outfits and stage demeanor recall David Bowie. Her current tour is divided into two parts. The first features her wearing a tube shaped, sensual pink plastic outfit performing the best of her back catalog, and the 2nd act consists of her performing her new album Masseduction in full. The 2nd half is most definitely better. Masseduction is one of the year's best albums, with a full range of heartfelt balladry, twisted electro/rock and roll, and full throttle sensuality. The reason this set missed the top 10 was due to her heavy reliance on a backing track in lieu of a full band.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Nicolas Jaar</span></i></b><br />
<i>April 8 at Marathon Music Works</i><br />
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What I like about Nicolas Jaar is that his sound isn't super saturated with samples; everything is constructed from the ground up, so it all feels very natural. He's not the most obliquely dancable or high energy DJ around, but he is among the more thought provoking producers you'll have the chance to see. One of the most remarkable things he's capable of is enveloping you in a crushing wave of sound, and just when you think you can't take anymore it will suddenly break and dissipate beautifully like foam on a beachead. There isn't a whole ton of melody in his music, until it comes to the immensely booty shaking "Space is Only Noise," a track which offsets Jaar's admittedly monotone vocal with a thick, arresting bassline. The euphoric, extended breakdown that came in before the song's final stanza elevated a great song to the level of a glorious one.<div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. The xx</span></i></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>June 10 at Bonnaroo</i></span><br /><br />The first sight I saw at my first Bonnaroo Late Night was The xx's incredible laser show beaming from Which Stage, and since then had regretted not stopping by to take in some of their set. Catching the band's first performance at Roo since then was never going to erase missing that first time, but did enable them to sneak in and steal a Top 10 slot. The new material carries a large dose of groove and swagger, adding some much needed new dimensions to their sound. When I saw Jamie's solo DJ set a couple years ago, it was clear they were going to come back funkier, more soulful, and with a little bit of an edge without compromising the original sound. Oliver Sim and Romy Madley Croft's love duets provided the sultry soundtrack for sweating out the hot Manchester night, but Romy impressed with a some honest grit and moxie on cutting tunes like "Infinity" and the short but surprisingly crowd energizing "Intro."<div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. Garth Brooks</span></i></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>December 16 at Bridgestone Arena</i></span></div>
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The greatest spectacle in country music returned to Bridgestone arena after a seven year absence with a two and a half hour extravaganza. Out of all the big stars I've seen, he's one of the absolute best at making himself relatable. Garth reaching out and gesturing toward fans was a regular sight all night. His encore consisted of playing stanzas from songs on signs held up by fans in the stands. Hes got a hits catalog deep enough to rival almost any big act. Fans were dazzled by the strobe lights of "The Thunder Rolls," tropical backgrounds on the big screens during "Three Pina Colodas," or the romantic nostalgia of "The Dance. And to up the ante even further, he announced the night's show was being recorded for a live album. The momentum sagged a bit during the Trisha Yearwood segment and lengthy band introductions, but I never was a big fan of hers anyway.<div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. Sturgill Simpson</span></i></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>July 15 at Forecastle</i></span></div>
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Sturgill's guitar playing is what stands out most about this show. His albums don't give much indication of it but Simpson is a maniac on the axe. It's very rugged and bluesy, with hints of Stevie Ray Vaughan, but still fits in the framework of gritty country music. He reminded me of another guitar player I had seen on this same Forecastle stage a few years ago: Gary Clark Jr. Unlike Clark, however, Simpson has the songwriting chops to back up his playing. His subject matter concerns simple life truths stated directly: the joy of fatherhood on "Welcome to Earth (Pollywog)," his skepticism with religion on "Turtles all the Way Down," and good old fashioned despair on "Living the Dream." Simpson is one of today's most promising country music talents, and still doesn't get enough credit.<div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. U2</span></i></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>June 10 at Bonnaroo</i></span></div>
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Blood red light illuminated the stage for Irish rock titans Friday night headlining performance at Bonnaroo. The occasion? None other than the 30th anniversary of their most esteemed release, "The Joshua Tree," for which they played the album in its entirety. The show started dramatically with early career stunners "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Pride (In the Name of Love)," followed by propulsive Joshua tree gems "Where the Streets Have no Name" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." The momentum slacked up once they got past the album's well known songs. You could tell they weren't used to playing these songs as often. Things got strange on "Exit," where Bono donned a black bowler hat and made a bunch of jerky movements. It looked like he was practicing to be Batman. The new school material made its appearance in the encore, before finishing off with the sublime "One."</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Opeth</span></i></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>May 4 at War Memorial Auditorium</i></span></div>
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Six long years had passed since the Swedish prog barons last played Nashville. To be honest, their performance then eschewed much of what endears the band to fans, focusing instead on acoustics and clean vocals while supporting the oft-maligned Heritage album. They made up for all that and more, masterfully mixing the best of their new material with the classic stuff. Old school fans were treated to a guttural gut punch with "Demon of the Fall," a punishing salvo that expertly weaves folky, acoustic proggy passages with black metal bombast. Their always artful frontman, Mikael Akerfeldt, explained the song was written with former bandmate Peter Lindgren in the early days, when they were a couple of junkies in Gothenberg. Set closer Deliverance starts off brutally heavy and ends with a trancelike riff, covering a huge swath of ground over its 13 minute run time. Akerfelt joked you'd have to call your boss to tell him you'd be late after that song. The only disappointment was no Blackwater Park material, especially glaring given that The Drapery Falls had figured into virtually every setlist this tour.</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Kendrick Lamar</span></i></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>August 30 at Bridgestone Arena</i></span></div>
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I was unimpressed with Kendrick as a live performer until this set. I left his last two Bonnaroo sets after only a few songs as they seemed to lack substance. But realizing he's one of the great young artists of this generation, I gave him another go. One of the craziest things I've seen is the entire crowd rapping "Humble" to him -- not just the chorus, which would be expected -- pretty much the whole song. You could tell by the look on Kendrick's face he was like damn, and so was I. Other things I appreciate about Kendrick is his ability to set a mood. During "Pride" and "Love," he had this energy going that was so positive and uplifting it could melt all your troubles away if only for those few moments. Also enjoyable was watching him dodge sword swipes from ninjas while donning his alter-ego Kung Fu Kenny.</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Mayhem</span></i></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>November 27 at Cannery Ballroom</i></span></div>
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This was like some shit straight out of a graveyard. I knew of the long standing Norwegian black metal band more by reputation than by their actual music, but the novelty of this band playing Nashville, coupled with a pair of positive spins of their debut, <i>De mysteriis dom Sathanas</i>, convinced me it was worth a shot. Mayhem's set is up there with the greatest visual spectacles I've seen. Mist machines and tortured gargoyle/gravestone statues set the scene, but the centerpiece is vocalist Attila Csihar. Cloaked in tattered robes and demonic facepaint, he looks like a wight bent on delivering unholy retribution. Presentation has been the band's calling card since their early days. The music itself's not too shabby either; the ice cold opening riff of "Freezing Moon" split the crowd's skull like a guillotine blade, as the band blazed through the eight tracks of their debut album. They didn't stick around after that, but the brief performance proved short, sweet, and deadly to the touch.</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. LCD Soundsystem</span></i></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>July 15 at Forecastle</i></span></div>
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It's been a hell of a comeback. The New York disco/dance/punk outfit's reunion has allowed them to claim their rightful status of one of the best live bands of today after triumphantly overcoming initial chagrin from fans who felt jilted after shelling out for the bombastic "final" performances. I've seen them three times in this run, but their Saturday night headline set at Forecastle is my favorite. The densely layered dance beats of "You Wanted a Hit," the starry eyed melancholy of "Someone Great," the brazen jubilation of "Daft Punk is Playing at My House," and the fist pumping garage energy of "Movement" blew me away from my spot five rows from the front. The setlist was virtually identical to the one they played at Bonnaroo last year -- with one notable exception. I was on my way out of the crowd already when James Murphy announced the band's first ever festival encore: a deliriously twisted rendition of their renowned sing/chant along "Yeah."</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Radiohead</span></i></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>April 1 at Phillips Arena</i></span></div>
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Due to their somewhat elusive nature, the simple act of Radiohead announcing dates is an event in itself. This show was part of a small string of dates surrounding their headline Coachella performance, in support of last year's excellent A Moon Shaped Pool. To fans' delight, it featured a great deal more of the band's guitar based back catalog than we're used to seeing from them. Airbag, No Surprises, and fan favorite Iron Lung were among the highlights, but perhaps more astonishing was Subterranean Homesick Alien, an OK Computer cut so deep Thom Yorke warned it might be a little off-kilter, but it was nothing short of beautiful. They closed with Karma Police during the third encore, and, well, if you've never seen Radiohead, you've never lost yourself in show quite like this. I'd seen Yorke before with Atoms for Peace, but it did nothing to prepare me for this. Every individual member of the band is so talented that when the full unit is assembled, they truly are greater than the sum of their parts. This collection of talent is why Radiohead is one of world's truly great bands, arguably the defining band of its generation if there is one.</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Iron Maiden</span></i></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>June 13 at Bridgestone Arena</i></span></div>
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The longstanding British metal barons take the top slot after having placed 2nd on my year end list four years ago (behind Paul McCartney's once in a lifetime Bonnaroo performance). I've been big fans since high school, and I was left in awe after seeing them from about 10 feet away from them on the main floor. The energy, imagery, and general trappings of an Iron Maiden show lifted this one to the top. The show opened with Bruce Dickinson standing behind a dimly flickering flame ominously aglow. They then broke into "If Eternity Should Fail," the high octane opening cut from their excellent album The Book of souls, which they were touring for this show. Dickinson delivered a nod to the fans as reflected on all they years they've been around as a band. "The reason for our longevity," he declared, as he surveyed a full house, "I am looking at tonight." He riled them into a frenzy by waving the giant Union Jack flag during "The Trooper," donning monkey and wrestler masks, and unleashing giant monsters during "Number of the Beast." The three headed guitar battery of Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, and Janick Gers unleashed some mischief of their own during the 13 minute epic "The Red and the Black," designed pretty much as a love letter to frenetic guitar solos. Maiden shows are the perfect combo of virtuosity in musicianship and showmanship, and they don't show any signs of slowing down anytime soon.</div>
The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-72508925608157808762016-01-15T19:21:00.000-06:002016-01-15T19:23:43.326-06:00Totally Unauthorized Top Live Shows of 2015 25-12015 was such a phenomenal year for music that I couldn't fit it all into one post! If you missed part one, click here.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>25. Rodrigo y Gabriela</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">September 10 at Live on the Green</i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">These guys are always a fun sight. Their enthusiasm is infectious, as well as their breakneck guitar playing. Their Latin flared rhyth<span style="font-family: inherit;">ms can get a crowd rolling or mellow them out, and they i</span>nvited a bunch of people on stage t<span style="font-family: inherit;">o feel the vi<span style="font-family: inherit;">bes with them</span></span>. <span style="font-family: inherit;">But they're also well k<span style="font-family: inherit;">nown for their covers</span></span>. Rage Against the Machine's Bombtrack shreds, even on an acoustic guitar, Thrash metal classics Holy Wars, Symphony of Destruction & Battery are <span style="font-family: inherit;">also great for getting fists raised in the air. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>24. Flying Lotus</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 12 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
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Flylo has established himself as one of the most dominant personalities in electronic music. His trademark blend of twisted, warped electronica made it worthwhile. He brought along his Layer 6 stage setup, which consisted of one screen in front of him and one behind him showcasing crazy visuals. It looked like we were in space at one point, then we were being dragged into a wormhole at another. I got jazzed when he played “Sultan’s Request,” one of my favorite cuts from his 2012 album, <i>Until the Quiet Comes</i>. He also performed a little of his Captain Murphy side project, which consists of him coming out from behind the screen and rapping over his beats. We weren't fortunate enough to have Kendrick Lamar join for their collaboration, “Never Catch Me,“ but we were treated to it as the final song before the encore. I don’t do DJ music much, but I’m down with Flying Lotus. <i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>23. Sylvan Esso</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 12 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
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I adore this girl! Singer Amelia Meath had such a laid back demeanor. Her exuberant and cheery nature makes you feel good inside! She encouraged us to seduce ourselves in front of a mirror whenever we aren‘t feeling good about ourselves. “You all should try it,” she advised. “It makes you feel like a million dollars.” Her dance moves are so quirky and full of personality that it makes you feel less self conscious to bust out a move yourself. Nick Sanborn’s production is mostly minimal, sleek and sophisticated. It could be a commercial for Ikea or Ipod, but what can I say? There’s something about that aesthetic I really dig! Every now and then he’ll drop a thick, intense beat and that’s when you’ll go really nuts. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>22. Billy Joel</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 14 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This set was clearly not Billy Joel's best, but with an artist like this even a 50 percent effort is well worth watching. He ditched his attempts to interact with the crowd early on, and also cut out a big chunk of tunes that appeared regularly in his setlist. That made it hard to feel like we got the full Joel experience. Yet, the afro-boogie of "River of Dreams," the high spirited delivery of "We Didn't Start the Fire," his roadie coming out and delivering a spot on cover of "Highway to Hell," as well as the performance of rock solid gems like "Piano Man" made for a quality set, if not exactly a perfect ending to this year's Bonnaroo.</span></span></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>21. Courtney Barnett</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 11 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Courtney Barnett is my girl. She’s a bonafide rockstar. She’s sexy as hell. If you watch her set for longer than <span style="font-family: inherit;">four hours, you<span style="font-family: inherit;">'ll probably</span> have to call a doctor. </span>Most importantly, she knows exactly who she is as an artist and she owns it. Get yourself out to a club and see her. She pours personality into each song, meaning there’s no one doing quite what she’s doing. Best of all, she’s got <span style="font-family: inherit;">guts</span>. While she delivers a laid back, grimy guitar sound on her LP, on stage she emanates incredible power while delivering those riffs. “Pedestrian at Best” and “Elevator Operator” hit with manic energy, while “Small Poppies” notified me there’s not much greater than watching this chick develop a riff. Now I’d better stop, cause if I say much more this whole article is gonna catch fire. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>20. Run the Jewels</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 12 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Killer Mike and El-P bowled the crowd over with their incredible
confidence. They came onstage while Queen’s “We Are the Champions” reverberated through the speakers, and before leaving Killer Mike
declared themselves the best rap group in the world. Opening cut “Run the Jewels” served as the duo’s mission
statement, while notorious banger “Close Your Eyes and Count to Fuck”
was so intense that El-P felt bad for what was going to happen to
already sweat soaked crowd once they played it. But the singular moment that got the crowd most
fired up had to be El-P’s speech declaring that each attendee had been
given an invisible 36 inch chain, making them a member of the Run the
Jewels family. That came with certain privileges, he informed us. Any
political leader who “tries to tell you you’re not gonna do the job you
want, that you’re not gonna marry the person you want, that you’re not
going to be the person you’re supposed to be, you can tell them to suck
your motherfucking dick!” The crowd was in the palm of their hands the
rest of the night. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>19. The Strokes</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">May 8 at Shaky Knees </i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">There is a certain intrigue factor when it comes to The Strokes. They don’t tour often; their site listed only four other shows for all of 2015. There is an unmistakable aura around this band, that I can’t deny was generated to a certain extent by their well coordinated light setup and smoke screen, and that may not be everybody’s thing. Yet Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr. are not your everyday guitarists. The guitar/bass interplay on opening cut “Reptillia” showcases one of the band’s biggest strengths. The way that guitar blast mollified the crowd right out of the gate left no doubt th<span style="font-family: inherit;">ey were going to own this crowd. </span>“Under Cover of Darkness” and “Take It Or Leave It,” show that the band has an ear for guitar work that is catchy, distinctive, and full of energy. Not to mention “Automatic Stop,” one of my personal favorite<span style="font-family: inherit;">s, </span>It’s such positive, happy, feel good music. Julian’s stage banter leaves something to be desired. but as a whole the band was tight and on point. They sprinkled in some song rarely played or never played before on stage (“All the Time,” “You Talk Way Too Much,” Vision of Division”) and even allowed superfan Mac Demarco to come onstage and give Julian a hug in between songs. Unless you were just committed to being a hater, this was a set near impossible not to have a blast at. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>18. Exodus</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">November 16 at The Tabernacle</i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">You are in the presence of heavy metal royalty. They may be down a few members, but this is still the same band that played an integral role in the development of thrash metal. These guys shared a scene with all time greats Megadeth and Slayer, and even more so with Metallica. This was the band that Kirk Hammet was a member of before joining Metallica. Vocalist Steve Sousa is relentless in firing up the crowd, at one point splitting the crowd into two sides and then having them charge at one another to create a mosh pit. The bulldozing intensity of cuts like "Bonded by Blood" would give them all the motivation they needed. </span></span></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>17. Dwight Yoakam</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">September 4 at Ryman Auditorium</i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dwight keeps his shows running like a well oiled machine. The king of country/honky tonk/Bakersfield sound impressed early and often, but the set’s second half truly shined with classic tune after tune from one of the most impressive catalogs ever released with nary a break in between. He had to bring some of those high notes down, but what’s impressive is there’s really no break in between these tunes; he displays endurance much younger performers wish they had. Personally, it gave me a bit of a surreal feeling hearing these songs live that I’ve been jamming to since I was about seven years old on my parents old cds. Turn It Up, Turn It On, Turn Me Loose, Pocket of a Clown, The Heart That You Own. And if that’s not enough, how would you like to have Dwight’s job? He still boogies and scuttlebutts across the floor getting the women to look at his ass, and it still <span style="font-family: inherit;">elicits</span> high pitched shrieks from the crowd. Over 30 years in, he’s still a sex symbol. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>16. Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">December 9 at 3rd & Lindsley </i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He’s very warm and relatable. The biggest thing that shines through in his shows is just how personable he is. What you get is a very warmhearted, uplifting Englishman up there bouncing around on stage and whipping the crowd into a frenzy, and he’s very interactive with his crowds. He had us all sit down, then jump up at a certain point in the song, and told us to dance with someone we didn’t know before we came here. He makes everyone at his shows feel like part of a big, collective community. An artist who can pull that off is rare find indeed. </span></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></i><br />
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 11 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Mac Demarco tried to set a world record for most people sitting on other people’s shoulders, placed a rubber dildo on his keyboard, had a crowd surfer throw their shirt onstage, his bassist climbed onto a stack of speakers, he popped the cork on a champagne bottle onstage, and to top it all off, he got a running start and stage dived into the crowd before finishing it off with a cover of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” for an encore. He landed directly on my forearm. And I haven’t even (really) talked about the music yet. Known for his lo-fi slacker indie anthems, he kicks it up a notch or two live. “Freaking Out the Neighborhood” and “Salad Days” had the crowd in a fit, but I’m partial to slow groover “Rock and Roll Nightclub.” It sounds like something the Bee Gees might listen to when they’re ready to unwind. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>14. Modest Mouse</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">July 19 at Forecastle</i></h3>
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They’re a veteran live band who do damage in a variety of
ways. Songs like “Bury Me With It” and “Styrofoam Boots/It’s Nice on Ice
Alright” deliver almost punishing riffs, something I never got the
sense the band had in them when listening at home. The boogie groove of
“Dashboard” and ominous bass rumble of “Tiny Cities Made of Ashes,”
meanwhile, got fest goers in the mood to shake their can. We got a taste
of the band’s earlier days with “Dramamine,” pulled from their 1996
debut <i>This is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About</i>.
It paints a picture of the band as much more serene and thoughtful in
constructing their riffs and instrumentation, but still with a decidedly
rough edge. Frontman Issac Brock even broke out thumb picking on the
banjo with mid career cuts “Satin in a Coffin” and “This Devil’s
Workday."<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>13. Florence + the Machine</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 14 at Bonnaroo </i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Bonnaroo gods didn’t grant <span style="font-family: inherit;">Florence</span> much time, but she made the most of it. Whipping the crowd into a frenzy early and often by breathlessly <span style="font-family: inherit;">sp<span style="font-family: inherit;">rinting</span></span> across stage and down into the pit to mingle with fans, she put on a clinic on how to exert high energy while still slaying us with that captivating voice and never missing a beat. Kendrick Lamar needs to take lessons from her. Her show is a spectacle without pomp, lights, or confetti being blown everywhere. Florence herself is a spectacle, even if she were all alone on the stage. There's a devotional feel to her shows-- hands raised all throughout the crowd while those deep, rich, overpowering tones of her songs boom forth.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> All sig<span style="font-family: inherit;">ns p<span style="font-family: inherit;">oint</span></span></span> to her going down as one of the great performers of her generation. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>12. Slayer</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 13 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Slayer is primal. My glasses were knocked off twice, I was hit in the head in the pit, and then was literally knocked on my ass. You might ask what I was thinking, but I got to scream “Angel of Death” from about three rows back with a bunch of other dedicated Slayer fans, and they knew every word. I was close enough I could feel the sweaty hair of the denim jacket guys sloshing against my raised fist. Slayer didn’t fuck around. “Raining Blood,” “Postmortem,” “South of Heaven,” and “Seasons in the Abyss” shows just how deep and unrelenting their catalog truly <span style="font-family: inherit;">is</span>. But they also show off humor and self-awareness. “Dead Skin Mask,“ with its lyrics celebrating the pleasant fragrance of death in the light of the moon, <span style="font-family: inherit;">serves as one </span>of the band’s most romanticized notions of death. Before playing it, frontman Tom Araya introduced it as their version of a love song. This is the roughest show I’ve even been to at Roo, or maybe ever.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>11. Widespread Panic</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">July 19 at Forecastle</i></h3>
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I see these guys get bagged on a lot on internet music forums. Most websites don’t even bother to cover them when they play at festivals. Accordingly, I went in not expecting much but willing to give them a chance. They ended up being the best thing I saw all day. You can picture the scene: old hippies jamming out. Guitar solos for days. Elaborate light patterns washing all over the stage. I was skeptical at first, but the closer I moved to the stage the more I fell into the spell of their beat. Their tasty riffs and improvisation is easy to find yourself lost in. My biggest criticism is they don’t play with much passion. The guitarist plays his leads and solos with clinical precision. It’d be nice to see them legitimately attack for once, to really go nuts on their instruments. But when you can play like these guys do, I guess you can get away with it. Before I knew it I found myself having an amazing time, and would have gladly rocked out with them for longer. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. Sleater-Kinney</span></i></b></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">April 23 at Marathon Music Works</i></h3>
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This was one of the most celebrated reunions in the early months of 2015 and I was just like, "who?" I'm glad I found out. Carrie Brownstien is one of the most magnetizing rock stars of this generation, and it's truly a shame she's taken a decade off from it (minus a side project here and there). She was like a true punk conductor up there, gesticulating with her hand motions ripping out clever riffs that show why she's one of the most creative guitarists out there. Songs like "Dig Me Out" hit with the force of wrought iron. The sheer intensity of "Jumpers" was brought to life in stunning, immaculate fashion. Drummer Janet Weiss is also amazing. The guitar/drum combo on the opening of "The Fox," couple with Corin Tucker's ear splitting shriek near the song's close, was one of the best full band moments I've witnessed in awhile. I wanted to hear "One More Hour," yet they wrapped it up with the mellow but lovely Modern Girl before shaking hands with eager fans on the floor. (“You’re never gonna wash that hand again!” one girl exclaimed to another). But perhaps, they did what many of the best bands do -- leave you wanting one more song. And the fact there’s so many great cuts they didn’t play attests to the strength of their discography.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. Spiritualized</span></i></b></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">May 9 at Terminal West </i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I feel li<span style="font-family: inherit;">ke t</span></span>his is the quickest hour and a half that has ever gone by listening to live music. When it was done, I was like, is it done? Is it really done? It’s like that feeling when you first get out of the swimming pool. <span style="font-family: inherit;">My</span> senses <span style="font-family: inherit;">we</span>re assaulted by this wonderful, glorious noise coming at <span style="font-family: inherit;">me</span> from all directions. Their sound is very spacey and chaotic, but equally beautiful. On a song like "Electric Mainline," the bass and drums come together to create this pumping, seething, breathing engine that powers much of what the band does. It is hypnotizing to behold. There are moments of chilled out bliss when the band settles down to allow J. Spaceman to take the microphone. And when everything falls into place at the end for a glorious sing along like "Come Together," you know you've witnessed a truly incredible concert performance. </span></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R-YUyARaZhg/VmJ1dEzUp-I/AAAAAAAABNE/B16meB5oWA4/s1600/107_5530.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R-YUyARaZhg/VmJ1dEzUp-I/AAAAAAAABNE/B16meB5oWA4/s640/107_5530.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span></i></b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. Godspeed You! Black Emperor</span></i></b></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">September 19 at Marathon Music Works </i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">The best of the three times I’ve seen them. Much of that likely had to do with me knowing the material better, but this setlist was almost perfect. The new album material <span style="font-family: inherit;">is a</span> 40 <span style="font-family: inherit;">minute</span> roller coaster ride, and does a <span style="font-family: inherit;">nice</span> job of taking the place of “Behemoth,” which I never <span style="font-family: inherit;">particularly</span> cared about anyway. The twinkling chimes of “Moya” laud in 10 minutes of pure, sublime beauty, and it’s something anyone who’s a fan of live music should experience <span style="font-family: inherit;">at least once</span>. The only disappointment was no "Mladic." That would have elevated this concert from superb to unforgettable. “The Sad Mafioso,’ though, was the perfect way to end this set in a moment of bliss and serenity. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. Kraftwerk</span></i></b></span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">September 27 at Ryman Auditorium </i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I never thought silly songs about robots, highways, and computers could be so amazing. The defining characteristic of Kraftwerk is simply their warmth. They’ve got thi<span style="font-family: inherit;">s</span> element of holy crap, if you had verbally described what this show was going to be and told me how awesome it was going in, <span style="font-family: inherit;">I doubt I would </span>have believed you. The only band I can think of that comes close in that department is Animal Collective, and Kraftwerk blows them off the stage live. I’ve seen my share of concerts, as well as some impressive audiovisual displays as well. But nothing really compares to seeing the wide open autobahn stretching out before you on the display monitors and hearing those vibrant synth tones ring out. <span style="font-family: inherit;">I'd bet they're</span> the only band that can take you on an odyssey in <span style="font-family: inherit;">a</span> spacelab, unleash the grandeur of central European railways, and then tech things up with futuristic computer odes. Not to mention they’re THE pioneering band when it comes to electronic music. Get out and see them while you have the chance, folks. </span></span></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></i><br />
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">November 16 at The Tabernacle </i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It’s not often that live music feels like a theatrical performance, but still provides the fist pumping energy of a concert. King Diamond’s Abigail tour is <span style="font-family: inherit;">a truly captivating</span> music related spectacle. This tour features Diamond performing every song from his 1987 <i>Ab<span style="font-family: inherit;">i</span>gail </i>album, which tells the story of two travelers, M<span style="font-family: inherit;">i</span>riam and Jo<span style="font-family: inherit;">nathan</span>, who spend the night at a creepy mansion haunted by<span style="font-family: inherit;"> a </span>wicked spirit known as Abagail. The stage is dominated by a big gothic staircase<span style="font-family: inherit;">. Diamond</span> brought out the baby Ab<span style="font-family: inherit;">i</span>gail and stabbed it with a knife. Marian wandered around the stage possessed like, wrapped in a white sheet and <span style="font-family: inherit;">carrying</span> a lantern. The setup is impressive and the <span style="font-family: inherit;">musicianship</span> is top notch, but make no mistake as to who the star of the show is. Diamond himself is not only one of the most underrated performers in metal, but also one of the genre's most underrated vocalists period. </span></span></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bt8DgR7PZ-s/VmRBkniN1eI/AAAAAAAABQA/XhtfcKpRWV8/s1600/102_4336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bt8DgR7PZ-s/VmRBkniN1eI/AAAAAAAABQA/XhtfcKpRWV8/s640/102_4336.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Jack White</span></i></b></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">January 28 at Bridgestone Arena </i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">No two Jack White shows are the same. He was always going to be hard pressed to live up to last year’s transcendent Bonnaroo performance, which ranked #1 on <span style="font-family: inherit;">m<span style="font-family: inherit;">y 2014</span></span> list, but there were plenty of aces up his sleeve for his Bridgestone Arena show. We all knew he was going to play with Loretta Lynn (and what a treat that was, seeing a living country legend performing a set of vintage classic tunes to open the show). But what we didn’t know was that White would pull off a full blown reunion of The Raconteurs right here on our very stage! The boys came out to open the encore with a ravishing performance of their biggest hits. Other highli<span style="font-family: inherit;">ghts included t</span>he folksy shuffle of "Hotel Yorba" and the heavy blues garage rock of "Ball and Biscuit" lit up our nights, while new cuts like "Three Women" and "Black Bat Licorice" provided an energetic jolt that will hopefully figure into his sets for years to come. The final chords of Seven Nation army would send us with our ears ringing into the night. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. The Rolling Stones</span></i></b></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 17 at LP Field </i></h3>
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This night will always be a great memory for me. Summer is at its height, I was coming off of Bonnaroo hype from less than a week before, and it was the first concert I’d been to with my dad since Paul McCartney nearly five years earlier. Mick and Keith and the boys were in fine form and put on a stunning show. I just wish I had known half the songs they played. <i>Hot Rocks</i> and<i> Forty Licks</i> had not proven adequate to fully saturate my knowledge of their catalog, surprisingly, but The Stones had no qualms about reaching farther into their back catalog to pepper us with a few for the diehards. I did appreciate the nod to Nashville with the country swagger of “Dead Flowers” -- featuring Brad Paisley, no less -- which is a facet of the band that most people overlook in favor of I CANT GET NO SATISFACTION, MANG. Speaking of which, hearing Satisfaction’s opening riff live hit me in an all new way. After having heard the studio version a million times, I never pictured it sounding so thundering, world rattling, and all encompassing. If I didn’t before, I now understand why people would quiver at the very mention of this band’s name. They’re far removed from their glory days, but they still emit a shock that their records won’t ever quite be able to replicate. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. My Morning Jacket</span></i></b></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 13 at Bonnaroo </i></h3>
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Damn! These guys are good! What deal did they make with the devil? What kind of P.E.D.’s are they on? I don’t know, but I hope they keep taking them! The much ballyhooed house rock band of Bonnaroo lived up to their billing and more, putting on a two hour showcase that highlighted a wide selection from their back catalog. The Louisville jam rock outfit switched effortlessly between various styles, creating moments of sheer serene beauty, hair raising rock and roll, smooth, emotive soul, and everything in between. James never spoke to the crowd, letting his band’s play do all the talking that was needed. Their tour dates leading up to this point had focused heavily on their newest album, <i>The Waterfall</i>, but on this night they would salute their diehard fans by giving us only on the essentials from that album and focusing instead on older, fan favorite cuts. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Sufjan Stevens</span></i></b></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">November 11 at Ryman Auditorium </i></h3>
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What’s great about Sufjan as a live performer is his versatility. His latest album, <i>Carrie and Lowell</i>, is one of the major critical darlings of the year, and serves as the centerpiece of his 2015 tour. For the first little bit, he’s just audiovisually fucking you up there. There’s this magnificent combination of lights, scenery, and this beautiful, lilting, fingerpicked folk music. These waves of relaxation to undulate over you in a way the album versions can’t come close to doing. He’s masterful at extending songs, as “Futile Devices” and “All of Me Wants All of You” demonstrates, the latter of which features an wild extended keyboard/guitar solo that sounds very Genesis-like, in the best possible way. His encore stripped away all the production and showcased his ability to wow a crowd with just bare bones folk music, piercing through the stillness of hallowed Ryman Auditorium. “John Wayne Gacy” gave me goose bumps. There’s also quite a bit of warmth and humor to the man. When he tried to line up his band members to sing into a single microphone, he said he didn’t see how Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris used to do it. The night’s most staggering moment, though, belonged to main set closer “Blue Bucket of Gold.” I won’t spoil it for you. You’ve just got to get out to a show and see it for yourself. Seriously.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. D'Angelo & the Vanguard</span></i></b></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 13 at Bonnaroo </i></h3>
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If D’angelo hadn’t become such a recluse in the 14 years between 2000’s <i>Voodoo</i> and the shimmering followup, <i>Black Messiah</i>, he would have taken over the world two or three times by now without breaking a sweat. He’s drawn comparisons to Prince and James Brown. Women love him, but even if you’re male, he exudes such charisma that it’s impossible to not, at the least, want to have a beer with him or something. His band, The Vanguard, consisted of 10 members all engaging in crazy antics. His guitar had silver plated edges and had his name on it, two other guys would come to the front of the stage, guitars in tow, and jam with him. Later on, some of his band came up and did a little dance number with him. There was this one backup singer who was getting funky and kicking it the whole time. The Vanguard’s cascade of voices bubbled forth on “Back to the Future” and “Sugah Daddy” then put on his own personal vocal showcase on “Brown Sugar,” his breakout 1995 hit. He’s making a strong claim of not only being the greatest soul/R&B star of his time -- he might just be the greatest rock star of his generation as well. <i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></i>The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-37411652326884262932016-01-10T16:03:00.000-06:002016-01-10T16:04:03.180-06:00Totally Unauthorized Top Live Shows of 2015: 40-26This has been an exhilirating year for live music. I feel like I need to come up for air after everything I've seen over the past 12 months. I'm not sure if it's the best year I've ever seen; that honor would go to either this year or 2013. But I don't know if I'll see a year like it again. I'm not gonna come out and say this is the last year I'm gonna make one of these lists, but I will say not to expect one of these lists from me next year. At the least, it won't be anywhere near as big as the ones I have done. So in honor of that, I've decided to go big this year. Here are the 40 best bands I saw this year.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>40. Unlocking the Truth</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 11 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Can metal get more respect at Bonnaroo now? These 14 year olds showed that talent and energy can sometimes trump experience, as they put on the most memorable opening set I‘ve seen at Bonnaroo. With raw bravado, front man Malcolm Brickhouse ordered the crowd to split in half and form a moshpit. Cue relentless crowd surfing. He didn‘t break out the guitar solos often, but whenever he did they melted face. Bassist Alec Atkins proved to be a great, sweat soaked showman as well; at one point, he could be seen dousing himself with a bottle of Dasani. No doubt many were interested in them merely as a novelty act due to their age, but they showed they have the most potential of any young band since Black Tide. </span></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>39. Iceage</b></i></span></h3>
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</h3>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 11 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">These Danish post punkers are too chaotic and noisy for me to listen to
on record, but it translates very well live. Frontman Elias Bender
Rønnenfelt drug his mic stand around behind him like it was his personal
plaything and thrust himself toward the front of the stage like a
vicious rottweiler trying to free himself from his leash. Twisting and
sashaying around the stage, he exuded a heavy Jim Morrison vibe while
taking sips of Corona. Guitarist Johan Weith pitched in with walls of
battering sound, although at times he’d switch it up for a more American
rock and roll type of guitar riff that worked to perfection. Even a few
sound problems early in the set weren’t enough to sway them. Though I
can’t see Corona being Morrison’s beverage of choice, their hypnotizing
performance brought to mind memories of musical eras gone by.</span></span></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>38. The Offspring</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">April 28 at War Memorial Auditorium</i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">There aren’t many surprises when it comes to an Offspring set, but you’re gonna have a hell of a time anyway. Lots of jumping, moshing, and rocking out. You know all their songs and probably know the words to the vast majority of them. They stick pretty strictly to their mid to late 90s hits in concert, delivering an energetic punk rock blast with “All I Want” and “Come Out and Play.” Fun, bouncy numbers like “Why Don’t You Get a Job,” meanwhile allow you to catch your breath a little while still providing a great opportunity to belt it out at the top of your lungs. And when they finish it off with “Self Esteem,” you’ll be transported back to wherever you were when first heard that song in your wayward youth. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>37. Mastodon</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">May 8 at Shaky Knees </i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Third
time seeing these guys in less than a year. Definitely <span style="font-family: inherit;">my</span> least
favorite setlist of theirs; it was pretty much exclusively new album.
Nothing at all from <i>Blood Mountain</i>, although we did get to see Brent
Hinds break out his double necked guitar for “The Czar,” a rarely played
13 minute deep cut from their 2009 album <i>Crack the Skye</i>. None of that
mattered though, it was still a great time. The pit was hella fun. I saw
the same 45 year old shirtless guy I saw at the Clutch set. I was gonna
leave early to get a spot for Pixies but I was having so much fun I
decided to stay. Then they brought out Neil Fallon, the vocalist from
Clutch, to do the final verse of “Blood and Thunder” at the end and
ratcheted it up even further. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>36. Grimes</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">November 10 at Marathon Music Works</i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was drunk, in the back dancing wildly for most of this show. There’s a lot to like with her sets, but this was just too short. The warmth of <i>Art Angels</i> shines through very clearly, and she has the kind of personality that can translate very well to a live set, but she didn’t seem that interested in playing much of her material. I’m not a huge fan of when an artist decides they just don’t like their first two albums, so they’re just going to play you a shorter set. But she didn’t even touch on that much of her two newer album. "Flesh vs. Blood" didn’t get played, as well as a few other <i>Art Angels</i> gems. Right at the moment when it felt like the set was reaching its crescendo, it came to a screeching halt. My buddies and I had to work off our buzz at Café Coco. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>35. First Aid Kit</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">July 19 at Forecastle</i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The rich velour of their vintage, 70s infused, harmony rich folk is
slightly out of place in Louisville’s blazing summer heat, but even so
they got a crowd cheering under a baking midday sun. Johanna cheerily
greeted patrons to the duo’s first ever Kentucky show. “We’re used to
polar bears and snowstorms, not this!” she exclaimed. Rich harmonies,
tambourine banging, and Ryman inspired swinging country combined with
youthful wistfulness was the order of the day. </span></span></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>34. The War on Drugs</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 13 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">If you think they sound good in studio, you gotta see this band
onstage. The dusky reverb emanating from Adam Granduciel’s guitar
strings is one of the most glorious sounds I heard all weekend; his
soloing skills make it worth the price of admission alone. Tunes like
“Buenos Aires Beach” and “Arms Like Boulders” benefit greatly when freed
from the grainy production of the debut, while towering solos in “Under
the Pressure” and “Ocean in Between the Waves” serve as ringing
reminders as to why you see live music in the first place. The band’s
laid back onstage demeanor struck the perfect tone for a late afternoon
set. </span></span></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>33. Loretta Lynn</b></i></span></h3>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">January 28 at Bridgestone Arena</i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Seeing Loretta Lynn takes you back to a different time. Her set is composed of two minute little country stompers that come in, make a quick point about a no good woman or cheatin' man, and are done before you know it. It's not hard to imagine a time when this was the industry standard, watching Loretta or Johnny or Waylon tear up in front of a packed rowdy crowd at the Ryman. This show gives a great idea of how much the music industry has changed, but also reminds us of our roots. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>32. Metric</b></i></span></h2>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">November 18 at Marathon Music Works</i></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">I don't really remember much about this show. All I know is I was dancing wildly and Emily Haines has the best legs ever. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>31. The Tallest Man on Earth</b></i></span></h3>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">May 27 at Ryman Auditorium</i></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">About 20 minutes into his performance, Mattson stands stage right while the shadows drape his shoulder, eyes downcast, entirely focusing on the beautiful, finger picked riff emanating from his guitar. I’m sitting in the fourth row at Ryman Auditorium, close enough to hear the scraping of his thumb pick against the strings of his guitar. His band has left the stage. Matsson himself isn’t even really pushing himself very hard in particular and still he is killing it. “Your voice is sexy!” some girl calls from behind me. Mattson takes notice, approaches the mic and sardonically replies, “I’m just trying to figure out the pedals up here.” </span></span></span>The Wild Hunt” and “Where Do My Bluebird Fly” evoked lush, pastoral
dreamscapes, while closer "Like a Wheel" saw Matsson gathered with his band for a five part harmony
section in his most
stunning moment of the evening.<br />
<br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>30. Tears for Fears</b></i></span></h2>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 12 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">These guys have more great songs than I think most people give
them credit for. “Mad World” and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”
were obvious humongous sing alongs, but don‘t forget “Head Over Heels,”
popularized by Donnie Darko. I liked the backup singer dressed like
Debbie Harry; she was grooving the whole time. One of the key moments of
the entire festival occurred near the close of their set, when they
dropped a cover of Radiohead’s “Creep.” It was the biggest sing along I
have heard at Roo since Paul McCartney. Set closer “Shout” was almost
equally outstanding. There was so much power pulsing through everyone in
the tent, with dramatic light beams <span style="font-family: inherit;">sweeping <span style="font-family: inherit;">all</span></span> over the stage.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<h3>
</h3>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ApeCn_zq01c/VmJxrUoNy_I/AAAAAAAABMs/999VdQqcT2w/s1600/103_4450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ApeCn_zq01c/VmJxrUoNy_I/AAAAAAAABMs/999VdQqcT2w/s400/103_4450.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>29. Clutch</b></i></span></h2>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">May 8 at Shaky Knees </i></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vocalist Neil Fallon declared they were 100 percent committed to having a good time, and it showed. There was this shirtless 40-something dude in front of me who was going nuts the whole time, and his enthusiasm was neat to see. The only song I knew from the going in was “Earth Rocker,” but the last two songs were the best. The second to last song, which he said was from their first album, had some of the best riffs I heard all day. The finale, “Electric Worry,” had this great sing along section during its chorus. I walked away from this set with a big smile, and was able to say to myself I had a great time watching Clutch tear it up in a blazing Georgia field.</span></span></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></i><br />
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br /></i></h3>
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>28. Gogol Bordello</b></i></span></h2>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">July 2 at Marathon Music Works</i></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">They're unbelievable hype men who know how to get a crowd moving. The best part was this old guy they had wearing a ship captain outfit who played violin. At one point, the rest of the band stopped to let him solo for a moment and all the lights went out except for a blueish hued spotlight that centered directly on him. It‘s proof that sometimes minimalism can be the best driver of hype. “Start Wearing Purple” and “Pala Tute” were great, but they missed a few good ones from <i>Trans-Continental Shuffle. </i></span></span><br />
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </i></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b> </b></i></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SkW8E-EOL8o/VmJvFAVgWcI/AAAAAAAABMU/JCTQU9wBD1M/s1600/P8040028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SkW8E-EOL8o/VmJvFAVgWcI/AAAAAAAABMU/JCTQU9wBD1M/s400/P8040028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>27. Jamie xx</b></i></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </i></h2>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">August 4 at Marathon Music Works</i></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Jamie is big on 70s funk and soul -- music that’s easy and great to groove to. That final three song run of "Gosh," "Loud Places," and "Gonna Be Good Times," was something to behold. I had retreated back toward the back of the club by that point and I was having a better time back there. I’m not big on dancing, but "Gonna Be Good Times<span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span> had me visualizing dance moves in my head I’d never have the guts to break out in actual public. When an artist can do that to me, it’s safe to say they’re doing something right. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>26. Brad Paisley</b></i></span></h2>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 17 at LP Field</i></h3>
He might have been opening for The Rolling Stones, but Brad Paisley was doing his best to match them in star power. CMT queen Carrie Underwood and Joe Walsh of The Eagles made guest appearances to sing duets with Paisley. If you can't get hype about seeing a legend like Walsh, you can kindly get the hell out sir. My favorite part was seeing something a completely different subset of music fan sees. I admit I don't identify much with their scene but there is something electrifying about seeing these guys (and gals) I've heard about so much. Paisley's material ranged from hardcore honky-tonkers about moonshiners running from the cops to easy listening love ballads that sounds like something CMT would have on when I was a kid getting ready for school in the morning, to general beer commercial/titans commercial soundtrack music. There is talent, it's just that Nashville music labels whitewash the music until it sounds just like everyone else. <br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span>The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-19388083286363469602015-01-06T01:42:00.001-06:002015-02-23T21:31:49.957-06:00Totally Unauthorized: 2014 Album of the Year Awards <h2>
</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
There are several reasons why 2014 was not the greatest year in music or media. First off, Robin Williams died. Rest in peace to
one of comedy's all time greats. Secondly, a metric ton of my favorite electro-pop bands either split up or went into extended hiatus. Nicolas Jarr's ambient guitar synth project Darkside
fired the first shot by releasing an ambiguously worded statement that
they were disbanding but left open the possibility to a future reunion. Electro-freaks
The Knife called it quits, Alice Glass left the future of Crystal
Castles in doubt by declaring her departure from the group, and all-time
greats Orbital decided to hang up for the second (and presumably last)
time. In the span of a few months, four of my favorite groups in the
genre were no more.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Secondly, it just wasn't as good a year for music than what we've become accustomed to. When you think about it, who really had a big year? I suppose you could nominate War on Drugs. <i>Lost in the Dream </i>catapulted
them from being random Pitchfork Best New Music act to 80s rock and
roll enthusiasts' wet dream, but would their rise to stardom be as
recognizable to the random joe on the street as that of Yeezus? Or Vampy
Weekend? Or half a dozen others from the last few years? When the tale
of these years are penned, they're liable to be best remembered for a
six minute folk diss track than anything else. Sun Kil Moon's Mark Kozalek
had possibly his biggest moment yet, then managed to squander almost
all his goodwill overnight with his stirring rendition of "War on Drugs:
Suck My Cock." Foos
were a good candidate for awhile. Their Sonic Highways HBO series gave a
thought provoking look into the musical legends behind eight U.S.
cities, and their ticket controversy at Ryman
Auditorium on Halloween night attracted just enough any press is good
press controversy to bolster their status as a major story, but then the
album actually dropped and everybody realized: oh wait, it's yet <i>another </i>fucking Foo Fighters album. Swans already had their moment with <i>The Seer</i>. Aphex Twin, observing the success of comeback attempts by Neutral Milk Hotel, Nine Inch Nails, Outkast,
and tons of others, decided to step out of the limelight himself but
forgot that it doesn't really work the same way without the live act. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So
here we are, at the end of another year, and I guess it could have been
worse. If nothing else, this may stand as the year
to reaffirm our faith in guitar based rock music. Cloud Nothings,
Swans, St. Vincent, Ty Segall,
Rodrigo y Gabriela, The War on Drugs, Spoon, Jack White, and Tom Petty
all put out excellent albums, not to mention the fact that metal had a
banner year. Electronic music had a slow start but recovered in the
second half with strong releases from Caribou, Aphex Twin, and Iamamiwhoami. Rap, as mentioned before, decided to take the year off.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So if I don't seem that enthusiastic
about this year, well, just think that with all the technological
advancements we have now, coupled with
all the musical breakthroughs of the past 60 or 70 so years, I know we
can do better. And we will. But for now, let's get this out of the way
so we can move on to the (hopefully) far superior 2015.</div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>10. Badbadnotgood - III</i></b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
One of the most intriguing occurrences of the year was
Badbadnogood's transformation into an electro-jazz outfit. They shed
some of their hip hop stylings but the atmosphere has never been better.
It's like wandering around a darkened warehouse at night, but it's a
mystical and awesome experience. Not to mention that each band member
here -- even the bassist -- gets their moment in the spotlight with an
array of dazzling solos, proving just how deep the talent runs in this
outfit. These guys are bold, young, and know they're going somewhere --
and they make music that sounds like it.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">
<i><b>9. Swans - To Be Kind</b></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-muTysGclfxY/U7bo1kuVxUI/AAAAAAAABBA/Ru-19UUIBzs/s1600/swans-to-be-kind-artwork-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-muTysGclfxY/U7bo1kuVxUI/AAAAAAAABBA/Ru-19UUIBzs/s1600/swans-to-be-kind-artwork-1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
It's not that I didn't think anyone would ever make an album like this,
it's that Swans make music in ways that never would have occurred to me
in the first place. The first disc is an imposing slab of dark art rock,
while the second disc sounds like a crazy priest chanting while the
earth is being sucked away into a vortex. Admittedly, I like their more
straightforward (at least for their standards) rock more so than the 15+
minute post rock nightmares, but Swans are who they are and no one can
take their place.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>8. Thee Silver Mt. Zion - Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light on Everything </b></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G0cAmcLi0uw/U7-Oqd9p_eI/AAAAAAAABBw/sMv-nwt0GX4/s1600/theesilver-11.18.2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G0cAmcLi0uw/U7-Oqd9p_eI/AAAAAAAABBw/sMv-nwt0GX4/s1600/theesilver-11.18.2013.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Efrim Menuck has a way of talking about things that will stone cold
sober you. This side project fronted by Menuck, of Godspeed You Black
Emperor fame, touches on powerful themes including dealing with the
bleak reality of everyday life, trying to pass on a better world to your
children, and realizing that no matter how much love you put out in the
world you can never put out enough. Sometimes it's a tough listen with
walls of wavy guitars, Menuck's acquired taste vocals, and various
elements that stack up and sometimes crash into one another, but there
are other times where the post-rock/punk inspired ethos comes together
with the backing choir to create sheer beauty. Conceptually, it's one of
the most beautiful albums I've heard.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">
<b><i>7. Behemoth - The Satanist</i></b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The complaint may be that there's not much new in metal, and blackened
death certainly isn't either. But what makes The Satainst is all the
little touches Nergal puts into it. He's not the first to have to bone
to pick with the Almighty, but Nergal insists on elevating his dissent
to the realm of high poetry. The amount of passion he put into this is
staggering. There's abundance of biblical, Latin, and ancient Roman
imagery that gives the album an atmospheric, silver screen type of feel,
while the horns, backing choirs, and epic, weighty guitar solos will
compel you to raise your hand like a Roman emperor in the coliseum over a
downed gladiator. Do you point thumbs up or down?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Rodrigo y Gabriela - 9 Dead Alive</span></i></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
9 Dead Alive marks a key turning point for this Mexican acoustic guitar
duo. Once known for their white hot metal inspired guitar leads,
however, this one is much more of a thinking man's album. Each song is
dedicated to a luminary who fought to improve the human condition, or
who has pushed the envelope with their creative endeavors. There are
sounds of sorrow and of triumph, dedicated to finding our place in the
world and meaning in our lives. It appears that their fans didn't follow
them in their new direction as this is the least buzzed about album
yet, but what they do put forth here is contemplative music to calm the
soul, and I find great value in that.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. St. Vincent - St. Vincent</span></b></i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dH4Q2u7KkBA/U7bqM3U8i7I/AAAAAAAABBM/gz0auKNzXHE/s1600/st-vincent-album-cover-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dH4Q2u7KkBA/U7bqM3U8i7I/AAAAAAAABBM/gz0auKNzXHE/s1600/st-vincent-album-cover-600x600.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The tagline everyone floated with this album focused on how bizarre and
eccentric it is on the surface, but in truth it is actually a very
confessional and interpersonal record for Ms. Clark. She proves she can
kick ass and write a killer guitar lick, and crafts one of the most
intoxicating albums of the year thanks to her rose tinted guitar and
synth crunch. But she also reveals herself to be very sensual and full
of longing and desire. Which of her revelations are the most
confessional in nature? That she prefers her mother's love to Jesus?
That she begins her day with taking out the trash and beating off? Or is
it this line: I'm afraid of heaven because I can't stand the
heights/I'm afraid of you because I can't be left behind."
<br />
<br />
The mainstream publications may have focused on her zany image, but
this album, maybe more so than any album this year, is a triumph of
allowing us to see its creator as human and vulnerable.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. First Aid Kit - Stay Gold</span></i></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Soderberg have crafted their finest
work yet. It's chock full of themes that will appeal to youth, including
insecurities about the future, realizing the transience of people,
places and situations when you're young, and figuring out who you are.
There are themes of traveling or moving on from certain things in life,
which calls to mind Dylan in a way. Even if you aren't a youngster, the
breezy melodies, brilliantly arranged harmonies and that retro 70s
folk/country vibe are so easy to get swept up in. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Caribou - Our Love</span></i></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The electronic production here is better than any album I've heard this
year, and can hold its own with anything this decade. A deep, dense,
swirling world composed of IDM beats and hazy psychedelia rise up to
engulf the listener from the moment the needle hits vinyl. Dan Snaith's
tender croon paints images of love and love lost, but he never dives
full bore into the subject lyrically. Instead, he allows his stunning
dreamscapes to transpose the message he wants into the listeners' mind.
This album that will penetrate every little pore if you let it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else</span></i></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
This album is great for anyone who's ever felt uncertain about life,
which is a feeling I think many of us can relate to. It presents a
pulsating, driving hard rock sound accented with fist pumping choruses
and guitar leads reminiscent of 90s punk. Meanwhile, Dylan Baldi pours
out his frustrations and anxieties pour out in full force. It may not
help you chart your course for life, but it will provide a hell of a
soundtrack for doing so.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 2</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PWX-Zrkq6Iw/VKxdNA2yYyI/AAAAAAAABKU/jMx-y2bf18M/s1600/RunTheJewelsRTJ2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PWX-Zrkq6Iw/VKxdNA2yYyI/AAAAAAAABKU/jMx-y2bf18M/s1600/RunTheJewelsRTJ2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></i></b></div>
<br />
One of the biggest areas in which music this year lacked was that
there wasn't anything with much of a message. War on Drugs might have wowed listeners with waves of
reverb, and Swans sure as hell developed some intense experimental
soundscapes, but when you boil it all down it's all just music, and
nothing more. Run the Jewels 2 was one of the few notable albums this
year that actually attempted to say something relevant to its time. Now, I'm not going to try to tell you this
is <i>The Times They Are A-Changin'</i> or anything, but a hell of a lot happened
in 2014 that didn't involve our headphones and this sums it up as well
as anything else. "Early" presented a depiction of
police violence and a summation of our society's response to it. In a
year in which violent protest dominated our headlines, it's enough to rank
Run the Jewels 2 among the year's most socially conscious records.<br />
<br />
Of course, the album is great for many reasons other than that. Emcees Killer Mike and El-P
talk about some very real themes but don't shove it down your throat. They mix great production with mostly intense hardcore lyrics and then
slip the themes in here and there. It's very intense in every sense of the
word, from the beats and overall sound of the album all the way down the
to lyrics and presentation. They laid down basically what they wanted
to do with RTJ1, but this one fixed all of its problems. The beats are
better, they cut the shit, cut out all the weak watered down hooks, and
tightened everything up. <br />
<h2>
</h2>
The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-41821443058444670822014-12-24T11:16:00.000-06:002014-12-31T16:55:57.297-06:00Totally Unauthorized Presents: the Top 25 Live Shows of 2014If nothing else, the concert scene in 2014 shows why it's important to strike while the iron's hot. Two of my top six acts are highly unlikely to tour again in the imminent future, and one of those are headed out on their final tour next year. That said, it was still another great year for live music. Here's the best I saw:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vWHRN8I-mTA/UwXPUvNVo-I/AAAAAAAAA_s/zYER9ZOKoKI/s1600/P2180346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vWHRN8I-mTA/UwXPUvNVo-I/AAAAAAAAA_s/zYER9ZOKoKI/s1600/P2180346.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>25. Deafheaven</b></i></span><br />
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">February 18 at The End</i></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Watching Deafheaven on stage isn't
like watching a typical metal band. This was an epic, energy draining
set. Their frontman was kind of weird, but in a
good way. He practiced lots of exaggerated hand motions, and he liked to
scream right
in the faces of people that were close. Of course, they were eating it
up. His vocals were barely audible, though. I stopped by a Papa John's
on the way back to ask for a bottle of water. They were closed, but
thankfully they let me have one. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>24. Goat</b></i></span> <br />
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 15 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Even with all the shows
I've seen, there's still few bands like Goat. Their sound
is a carefully culled mixture of 60s psych folk rock, but the colorful
gypsy costumes they don onstage and their bold sense of creativity makes
this a must see. They're a rare act to catch stateside but with any luck
a successful new album might bring them around more frequently.</div>
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>23. Lily & the Parlour Tricks</b></i></span><b></b><br />
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 13 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Glorious
harmonies from this band. They showcase three part girl
harmonies backed up by crunchy rock guitar. And if that's not enough,
they closed with a cover of Black Sabbath's War Pigs, which segued into
Ann Peebles' "I Can't Stand the Rain" before finally morphing into Nine
Inch Nails' "Closer." They harmonized their
three voices together to replicate the closing piano coda of "Closer."
My jaw was
on the ground.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>22. Samantha Crain</b></i></span><br />
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">October 29 at Ryman Auditorium</i></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Crain is a consummate
singer/songwriter, in the sense that she definitely expounds on the
motivations and inspirations behind her
songs. Onstage, her manner of speaking to an audience causes her to
feels very down to earth, and easy to relate to. An example of her loveable, quirky personality: she wrote a song
inspired by a movie Convoy about a
trucker running away from cops and said if Convoy 2 ever came out she
hoped it would make the soundtrack. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>21. Swans</b></i></span> <br />
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 30 at Exit/In</i></h3>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
They rose from the grime
and grit of the early 80s New York art scene,
but now Swans have finally arrived and they're here to kick your ass.
There is also a strong art house vibe with frontman Michael Gira doing
some weird Native American spirit dancing, and rolling his tongue all
around the microphone. But more than anything else, it's all about those
riffs. The opening salvo on "Bring the Sun" hit with so much force it
felt like the equivalent of being mugged on a street corner. </div>
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1odZT1DGiH0/U_GBHK_ximI/AAAAAAAABEo/tRpOqBQ_6lI/s1600/P7210124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1odZT1DGiH0/U_GBHK_ximI/AAAAAAAABEo/tRpOqBQ_6lI/s1600/P7210124.JPG" height="265" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>20. Machine Head</b></i></span><br />
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">July 21 at Exit/In</i></h3>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rob Flynn
of Machine Head is one of the most well respected voices within metal
today, not to mention one of the most thoughtful and insightful. On
stage, he will stop at nothing to fire up a crowd. It may have been an
odd, between album cycle tour but it marked the band's first headlining
gig in Nashville in almost 20 years. The spitfire riffing in "Aesthetics
of Hate" and the pounding, old school punishment of "Ten Ton Hammer"
were as good of a welcome back present as any.</div>
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>19. MS MR</i></span></b><br />
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 12 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
<br />
If you know me you know I love my synth pop bands, so the moment I
found out that's what they were I had to check 'em out. They're more
about vocals/hooks as opposed to electronics/production, which has its
pros and cons. On stage though, the band is far too infectious to deny.<br />
<br />
Lizzy Plapinger and Max Hershenow ripped their way through most of the cuts from their debut, <i>Secondhand Rapture</i>,
and tossed in covers of the Arctic Monkeys' "Do I Wanna Know" and LCD
Soundsystem's "Dance Yrself Clean" for good measure. This was the first
band of the weekend I saw people seriously getting hype over, and it
looked like the band themselves were blown away by the reception they
were getting. We were feeding off their energy as much as we were feeding off ours.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FiT5NVYikHI/VFP0EWMH7oI/AAAAAAAABFo/LWnfA8ts_Ks/s1600/101_4149.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FiT5NVYikHI/VFP0EWMH7oI/AAAAAAAABFo/LWnfA8ts_Ks/s1600/101_4149.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>18. First Aid Kit</b></i></span><br />
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">October 29 at Ryman Auditorium </i></h3>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The
Swedish dual threat of Johanna and Klara Soderberg have emerged as one
of the day's most compelling indie folk duos, and the grand glory of
their dual vocal harmonies rang forth in fine fashion at Nashville's
Ryman Auditorium. They also put on display considerable charm that wowed
the audience, and left little doubt the only direction they're headed
is up. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>17. Rodrigo y Gabriela</b></i></span> <br />
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">August 8 at Ryman Auditorium</i></h3>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A duo doing little more than playing guitars on stage might not sound that exciting at first glance, but there's something living, breathing, and vital about Rodrigo y Gabriela onstage. They capture the giddy, whirlwind energy of street performers. Rodrigo works out speed metal inspired guitar leads and Gabriela practices the most insane rhythm playing I've ever witnessed. If that's not enough, they throw in a pretty bitchin' set of covers as well.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>16. Cake</i></span></b></b><br />
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 14 at Bonnaroo</i><b> </b></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bahaha, these guys are insane. I
knew of Short Skirt Long Jacket and
The Distance, but didn't get really turned on to these guys until I
started researching the fest lineup and heard their cover of I Will
Survive. I had a front row spot for this show, and one of my friends
caught a drumstick they tossed into the crowd. It's fun, sing along,
breezy feel good music that makes you feel good and doesn't make you
think too much.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>15. Tune Yards</b></i></span> <br />
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">October 9 at Marathon Music Works </i></h3>
<br />
It
has been a joy to see Merrill Garbus's band and stage show grow over
the years. The band's presence is delightfully bizarre, while never
deviating from their brand of exotic rhythm based pop music. They've
gotten more diverse and electronic since I first saw them, and seem to
be getting into the artier side in terms of dress and presentation as
well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>14. Hundred Waters</b></i></span></div>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">November 11 at Marathon Music Works </i></h3>
<br />
I
caught these guys opening for Interpol. I knew very little going in but
they turned out to be one of the most pleasant surprises I've had in a
while. What impresses me most is their versatility. They vary from
James Blake like downtempo soul vibe but can also get more upbeat and
frenetic in their drumwork without losing their aesthetic. They can be
more electronic/ambient at times, and sometimes the girl even pulls out a
flute and starts wailing away. I found myself wondering if there's
anything this band isn't capable of.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-acyYAZFXhjw/VJUOhWXz17I/AAAAAAAABHQ/a80UFspP_5w/s1600/P6130670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-acyYAZFXhjw/VJUOhWXz17I/AAAAAAAABHQ/a80UFspP_5w/s1600/P6130670.JPG" height="320" width="248" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>13. Janelle Monae</b></i></span><br />
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 13 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
<br />
Her
set was significantly shorter than the last time I saw her, but Monae
was undeterred as she demonstrated that sparkling, vivacious, electric
showmanship that's made her one of today's must see acts. It was mostly
an energetic set, only slowing down for rosy cheeked love tune
"Primetime," in which Monae urged us all to bring our lover closer
together for a slow dance. She closed the set by hopping off stage and
mingling with the crowd before being carried off piggyback by one of her
crew members. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>12. Cloud Nothings</b></i></span><br />
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 12 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
<br />
One
of my favorite Bonnaroo moments was raging out with this band. The set
was a pure unleashing of energy and emotion. So cathartic moments: the
shrieking of "Psychic Trauma,"
the colossal build up and release of "Wasted Days", straight up to the
eerie parting drone of "No Future No Past." The crowd responded in kind,
whipping up some of the most intense moshing of the entire weekend.
Apparently it was too much
for some, as people were leaving the show in droves. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>11. Kvelertak</b></i></span><br />
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">November 6 at Marathon Music Works</i></h3>
<br />
Norwegian
heavy metallers Kevelertak come across like viking conquerors onstage,
come to smite us with heavy metal. Their frontman, Erlend Hjelvik, knows
how to
play to a crowd; he came out wearing an owl mask for their opening
number "Åpenbaring," and never let up from there. The gang is very
energetic on stage. They hit loud, fast, and hard, and played with the
swagger of 70s rock and roll stars.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. Elton John</span></i></b></span></h2>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 15 at Bonnaroo</i><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i> </i></b></span></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Seeing
Elton was a highlight of the year, even if his show didn't quite live
up to other headliner caliber sets I've seen. He opened with the 11
minute epic "Funeral
For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding," which was among the greatest songs I
heard at Bonnaroo. After drawing top billing, many festivalgoers began
to wonder how he'd compare to last years #1 billed act, Paul McCartney.
He didn't come close to the majesty of that set, but that's not a bad
thing. Unlike fellow headliners Kanye West and Jack White, Elton didn't
have much to say. He simply kept his head down
and powered his way through his hits. It seemed like he was going
through the motions to a certain extent, but when your catalog contains
"Bennie and the Jets," "Tiny Dancer," and "All the Girls Love
Alice," it's not hard to forgive. Not to mention that Ben Folds came out
to join him for "Grey Seal." Before hitting the exit gate, I saw a
group of people who joined hands together and ran/danced
around in a circle, and then brought it in and high fived one another,
and I managed to get in on it. It was one of my favorite moments of the
weekend for
sure. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. Mastodon</span></i></b></span></h2>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 13 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
<br />
Mastodon
has gained a reputation as one of the best live acts in their field for
good reason. I saw them twice this year, and it was tough to decide
which performance was better. Ultimately I'm going with their Bonnaroo
set for its more varied setlist. They pulled a good amount of
traditional metal from fan favorite albums <i>Blood Mountain</i> and <i>Leviathan</i>,
but delved into their more noodly, progressive side also. They've got
great stage presence, one of the best drummers walking the planet, and a
killer light setup. I was also jazzed for Capillarian Crest, one of the
best deep cuts they've done.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. Beck </span></i></b></span></h2>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">July 15 at Ryman Auditorium</i></h3>
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Last
time Beck hit Nashville, we saw him stealthily slipping into a nearby
restaurant to wow patrons with secret set. No such festivities occurred
this time, but what we did get was a career retrospective from a
stunning artist who observes no rules but his own. He shared the tale of
how many cuts from his latest album, <i>Morning Phase</i>, originated
from recording sessions in Nashville and wooed us with a handful of
those dreamy cuts. The highlight, however, was when Beck rolled out
yellow police tape and finished his set with a combination of crazed
harmonica playing, 90s hip hop, and a mashup of Rolling Stones' "Miss
You."<br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds</span></i></b></span></h2>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 14 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
<br />
I only caught the last half of Nick Cave, but even from that it is dead obvious the man was born to be
onstage. He cast a sinister shadow as he leered over his crowd and wove his tale
of the murderous madman Stagger Lee. I loved how the drummer clashed his stick against
the kit to make it sound like gunshots when Billy Dilly got filled full
of lead. But if that wasn't enough, Cave drops a secret verse on us
where Stagger Lee straight up kills the Devil! I loved the the chilled out dissonance of his <i>Push the Sky Away</i> material as well as the gothic, Quentin Tarantino vibe, but Stagger Lee was the most badass moment of
Bonnaroo for sure!<br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Outkast</span></i></b></span></h2>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">July 18 at Forecastle</i></h3>
<br />
Forget everything you've
heard about that off-kilter Coachella
performance. Hip hop's most dynamic duo dominated Forecastle during
their Friday night headlining set, delivering spitfire rhymes and hooks
tastier than Southern fried steak and gravy. The duo's reunion was one
of the inescapable music stories of the year, and with a chance to hear
"Ms. Jackson," "So Fresh So Clean," and "The Whole World," among many
others, it's no surprise why. The only nagging concern was whether or
not Andre was truly on board, and apparently he wasn't. In a post tour
interview he talked about how much he disliked the entire experience so
it's almost certain we'll never have the chance to see them again.<br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Damon Albarn</span></i></b></span></h2>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 14 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
<br />
Albarn
is pound for pound one of the best pure performers I have ever seen,
but the frontman of Blur and Gorillaz had no designs on hogging the
stage during this solo set. Along with him came a dazzling cast of
guests, paving the way for one of Bonnaroo's most unforgettable main
stage acts in recent memory. He belted out hard rockers, hip hop
inspired beats, more downtempo
fare and even a bit of circus style music as he weaved his way through
material from all the various bands and collaborations he has been a
part
of over his career. But when he brought out De La Soul for "Feel Good
Inc." followed by Del the Funky Homosapien for "Clint Eastwood," an uproarious celebration broke out and engulfed the entire field.<br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Neutral Milk Hotel</span></i></b></span></h2>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 13 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
<br />
Few
reunions have been more lauded by fans and critics than that of 90s
indie folk darlings Neutral Milk Hotel. After a somewhat disappointing
performance at Ryman Auditorium, their set at Bonnaroo showed me exactly
why.What is typically a laid back affair became balls to the wall as
the normally timid Jeff Mangum unleashed a torrent of buzzsaw guitars.
The moshing, pushing and shoving became so intense that several people
had to flee the set. But suddenly you got hit with the 8 minute ballad
Oh Comely. After all the roughhousing we were all so drained it felt you
were dying and that song was the only thing keeping you alive.<br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Darkside</span></i></b></span></h2>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 14 at Bonnaroo</i></h3>
<br />
Navigating
Bonnaroo, especially on a Saturday night, can be a trying experience.
Fortunately, Dave Harrington's minimalistic, ethereal guitar work
coupled with Nicolas Jarr's heavenly, all encompassing synth washes
proved to be the perfect healing salve. Jarr's high pitched vocals sneak
in
to a track and then slip back out like a thief in the night. There was
an booming bass beat that keeps kicking you in the chest. And then there
was their gigantic mirror, reflecting radiant beams of light throughout
the tent. This was one of those experiences that made me forget where I
was -- to just forget about everything for a moment. For that reason,
I'll always hold it in the utmost regard.<br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Arcade Fire</span></i></b></span></h2>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">May 1 at Bridgestone Arena</i></h3>
<br />
Win
Butler and crew are some of the brightest, most innovative and forward
thinking musicians of our day. It's hard to put a finger on what exactly
it is, but everything about their stage show and production is a breath
of fresh air. The band's first stadium tour had it all: raging calypso
drums, blankets of confetti, Mexican wrestler masks and crystal monsters
dancing around. Famed DJ Kid Koala even showed up to jam while the
equipment was set up. But Arcade Fire also have the booming catalog to
back it up. They could rattle the arena with Springsteen-esque rock or
get experimental with more exotic material from their latest album, <i>Reflektor</i>,
but it was the giant anthems that carried the night as the entire
building was swept away in a riveting rendition of "Wake Up."<br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Jack White</span></i></b></span></h2>
<h3>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">June 14 at Bonnaroo </i></h3>
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He may hail from Detroit, for but
three hours in a field in Tennessee Jack White did all he could to
position himself in the pantheon of all time greatest Southern
musicians. He had a particular concept in mind, so I'll let him tell you in his own words:<br />
<br />
"All the musicians up here with me now, I think they all mentally decided that the best thing to give to you right now was not a show that would put on a bunch of explosions behind us and give you some sort of pyrotechnics for some festival or something like that. But the kind of show that we show you what kind of music we would play if we were in a room all by ourselves and you were there too."<br />
<br />
As simple as it may seem, some performers put too much stock into presentation or focus too much on trying to girls onstage topless with them. With Jack White it was not just about the music; it was a celebration of music. This show was special because everything about his delivery felt very personalized; it was like he was talking directly to
you in the crowd no matter where you were.<br />
<br />
But you also have to excel in terms of musicianship to make a concept like this work, and in White's case he's capable of doing things that many musicians can't. There are plenty of blues players with amazing instrumental skills, but White combines electrifying charisma with awe-inspiring musical chops, and he can actually write songs too. I found myself mesmerized by his playing. He belts out blues inspired solos but can also jam out quite a bit.<br />
<br />
"Seven Nation Army" was the moment the audience had been anticipating all night. When he hopped onto the speaker and belted out that riff it was a full blown coronation. Of all the iconic, instantly recognizable guitar riffs that one is the most recent, and may well be the last for all we know. But what we do know is this: there may not have been any pryo at this show but you're out of luck if you're trying to determine anything else it was lacking. </div>
The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-32645390000237973212014-11-11T12:33:00.002-06:002014-11-11T12:34:54.080-06:00Mastodon shreds Nashville with help from Gojira and KvelertakIt was one of the most hotly anticipated metal tours Nashville has seen in awhile, and the city's denizens turned out in full force. Atlanta heavy metal act Mastodon is part progressive metal and part sludge, but has been turning heads recently with their ability to make those sounds accessible to the masses. Their latest album, <i>Once More Round the Sun,</i> was recorded in nearby Franklin, Tennessee, and the lines nearly stretched to the end of the street in anticipation of the band's performance. <br />
<br />
The set served as a showcase for the band's new found sound. With plenty of catchy, sing-a-longable hooks, it shows just how much they've changed from over the years. Their sound is characterized by an abundance of noodly guitar leads, with a tendency to jam out for sure. Brent Hinds demonstrated his guitar mastery all throughout the night, while drummer Brann Dailor made a rare appearance on lead vocals during one of the night's most propulsive cuts, "The Motherload." There's a significant difference between their earlier material and that of the last two records, but they've maintained their credibility by augmenting their catchy hooks with top notch musicianship.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ItXhjImpMIY/VGJQXtBhHqI/AAAAAAAABGE/FTYHjacefDw/s1600/101_4228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ItXhjImpMIY/VGJQXtBhHqI/AAAAAAAABGE/FTYHjacefDw/s640/101_4228.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Troy Sanders and Brent Hinds (left) are proving their place as one of the greatest metal bands of our time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
They started breaking out older stuff later in the set, but make no
mistake -- with only two songs from Blood Mountain and three from
Leviathan, this was a showcase for the newest album.<br />
<br />
"Ol'e Nessie," from their 2002 debut <i>Remission</i>, stood in stark contrast to the rest of the set with its coarse, guttural shouted vocals and slow, crushing riffwork. But it was the older hits that had the fans tearing the place up. None did better than "Blood and Thunder," which tells the tale of a doomed sailing crew attempting to take down a mighty white whale. The gale force intensity coming off the pummeling guitar riff coupled with the devastating impact of Dailor's crash cymbal is enough to make you feel like you're right there with the crew, staving off a pounding rainstorm and aiming your harpoon right at the killer whale. Needless to say, the crowd lost their shit.<br />
<br />
On the downside, their sound was kind of muddy -- not exactly the most crisp, clear or sharpest sound by any stretch of the imagination. The vocals in particular were very hard to hear, and has been that way both times I've seen them. Hinds has drawn flak in the past for his live vocals, and he honestly isn't the best pure singer of all time so that's likely a design decision. But when it comes to songs you're less familiar with it's hard to pick them out by their melody. It seems strange since that's what they're focusing on more these days.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9fuppcQMdwQ/VGJQ1JvWabI/AAAAAAAABGM/wfHgD1lNg_I/s1600/101_4197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9fuppcQMdwQ/VGJQ1JvWabI/AAAAAAAABGM/wfHgD1lNg_I/s640/101_4197.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erlend Hjelvik and the guys from Norwegian metal band Kvelertak swipe, slash, and shred the stage to pieces.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
They were preceded by French heavy metal act Gojira, whose star has been rising ever since the release of their 2012 album <i>L'Enfant Sauvage. </i>I had previously seen this band when they held down the opening slot on Metallica's Death Magnetic tour in 2009, but all I can remember is some long haired guy frantically running around the stage. This time around, with a much closer view, I can say they are most definitely the most unique metal band I have seen. This is clearly more thinking man's metal. Joe Duplantier's vocals sound like a demon serpent being dragged out of a portal from hell. It's very heavy with a good bottom end. You could mosh to it, but there's much more to it than that. The best way I can describe them is exotic, and I'm always pleased when I get to witness a band like that. <br />
<br />
To top things off, we all had the good fortune to see Kvelertak as the opening band. These guys are a blast to watch on stage. They're like viking conquerors, come to smite us with heavy metal. The band really gets into it, rocking out hard and spinning their instruments around. Their frontman, Erlend Hjelvik, and knows how to play to a crowd. He came out wearing an owl mask for their opening number "Åpenbaring." They hit loud, fast, and hard and played with the swagger of 70s rock and roll stars. The only downside is there's not much variety in their sound as of right now, but they're still a young band and they're getting there. If you get a chance to see any of these three bands anytime soon, I highly recommend you do so.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-0wgAzVSjI/VGJTSBnEKbI/AAAAAAAABGY/fRdVK4gpadk/s1600/101_4217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="560" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-0wgAzVSjI/VGJTSBnEKbI/AAAAAAAABGY/fRdVK4gpadk/s640/101_4217.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe Duplantier of Gojira conjures odd time signatures and crushing rhythms to forge artistic and forward thinking metal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-87182840348614111332014-10-31T15:45:00.000-05:002014-10-31T15:50:39.164-05:00Swedish duo First Aid Kit bring wonderful harmonies to life at RymanOn Wednesday night, the glorious harmonies of Johanna and Klara Soderberg enchanted Ryman Auditorium. The Swedish sister duo, better known as First Aid Kit, mesh modern folk with the sounds of traditional country and do it better than just about anyone out there right now. They show off their playful side with cuts like "King of the World," while "In the Hearts of Men" and "Cedar Lane" show off a more contemplative side. They also demonstrated some serious bite during a cover of Jack White's "Love Interruption," a side of them that hasn't come across on their albums very often but they seem to pull off very well.<br />
<br />
They felt right at home at The Ryman, spinning out a cover of The Carter Family's "Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone." But perhaps most staggering of all was when the sisters sang side by side during an acoustic version of "Ghost Town" all the way back from their first album. It can't be overstated just how wonderful their voices are when they merge together onstage. They kept their set short and sweet at just around an hour, allowing the audience to head home sated but no doubt leaving eager for more. <br />
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The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-50654689874144739832014-08-31T23:44:00.000-05:002014-08-31T23:48:37.241-05:00Tune Yards branch out into bold pop music collage on Nikki Nack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The opening track on Tune Yard's latest album, <i>Nikki Nack</i>, sees frontwoman Merril Garbus meditating on making changes, both inward and outward, and coming to grips with the difficulty of flipping that switch. It's a fitting opening for an artist who's been ever changing and evolving, and now her third album, <i>Nikki Nack, </i>sees the dynamic singer emerging from the cocoon all set to splatter our world with a palate of brighter colors.<br />
<br />
Since the last album, <i>whokill</i>, in 2011, everything has gotten bigger, more complex, and, for the most part, better for the band. The brass and bass, which were huge driving forces on <i>whokill</i>, have been toned down in favor of a more complex, mulittracked electronic approach which at times borders on synthpop.<br />
<br />
However, she hasn't ditched her emphasis on rhythm. Along with bassist Nate Brenner, the percussion and syncopation
has reached new heights, and it complexity now rivals that of Thom
Yorke's electro-precussive side project Atoms For Peace. But the
production is also far bigger now than it has been on any of Garbus's
previous offerings. The horn section that so wonderfully colored <i>whokill</i>
are mostly absent, but in their place are a bevy of glorious electronic
synths are present here. "Wait for a Minute" features cool, subtle background washes, while "Time of Dark" is backed by buzzy techno that wouldn't sound out of place on a 2000s era Nine
Inch Nails record.<br />
<br />
Garbus, as always, comes through with a big and bold personality. She brings plenty of swagger and attitude, her lyrics often bring the sense that she is a survivor, incapable of being held down. She is also the chief percussionist in the band, but this time around she's added another drummer as well. <br />
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"Water Fountain" with its playful and innocent nature, sounds like it could be a jump rope rhyme for the kids on the sidewalk. But Garbus begins to cut loose as the track progresses, and it builds into something much more forceful and intricate. By the time the familiar melody arrives for the final chorus, it's the same but it has altogether changed. The clanging electronic production and much more complex vocal arrangements shows off Garbus's impressive ability to mix various layers together and make a song that is much more than the sum of its parts. <br />
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"Wait for a Minute" takes things in an opposite direction, showing off her mastery at slowing down and taking on more serene material, as
well as confirming her status as a fantastic singer. She delivers power
but also shows she knows how to reel herself in and deliver, sublime,
beautiful melodies. The song shows off her stunning range, and the production is bang
up as well. "Wait for a Minute" is one of the best synthpop songs of the year, and one of the
best she's ever done. It offers a dramatic contrast to her raw, jackhammer delivery on songs like "Real Life." Her ability to belt it out is impressive, but this song demonstrates that when she keeps it up too long it can become one note and lack variation, and after a while it grates on the nerves.<br />
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Meanwhile, "Stop That Man" continues to explore a lyrical theme of violence and crime in her native California, previously examined on "Gangsta" from <i>whokill.</i> It also sounds the most like her old material, as she declares in her ominous lower register that we'll have to be our own policeman. "Left Behind" and "Sink-o" are the most complex tracks rhythmically, but also are the most bass heavy and provide the best opportunities to shake your booty. <br />
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<i>Nikki Nack</i> is a strong listen from front to back, but the problems that do come up on on the album tend to result from mixing and arranging the various layers together. This is the most complex album Garbus has put together. There are more musicians, more layers, and just generally more going on here than on either of her two previous albums. Although it happens rarely, in some places things don't come together quite right. Opener "Find a New Way" kicks off with an awkward Vampire Weekend sounding opening and abrasive FIND A NEW WAY
refrain. All the layers previously present in the song are reintroduced simultaneously at the end, but instead of meshing well with one another they all
clash and conflict with one another. <br />
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The biggest offender, however, is "Look Around," which is super surreal but in all the wrong ways. Her dissonant ukulele combines with something in the background that sounds like a demented cuckoo clock, and is paired up with a halfhearted vocal track that doesn't mesh well with the music at all. <br />
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The entire album is abound with an African, Caribbean and world tribal influences, as well as playground chants that give the album a playful and inviting feel. It may sound like a lot to wrap your head around, and it is. But what's great is that the entire album operates off a pop sensibilities, so every song is pretty easy to get into without taking too many listens to get into, but the more time you do invest into this record the more layers you peel back that you may never have even noticed in the first place. This is what makes this one of the most refreshing and rewarding albums in recent memory. The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-10823001325006504892014-08-19T12:18:00.000-05:002014-08-19T12:19:08.946-05:00Crazed folk band O'Death announce new album Out of Hands We GoO'Death first caught my attention through an album cover. The art for their 2011 album, <i>Outside</i>, was so well done and thoughtfully illustrated I had to take a listen, and now the band is one of my favorite finds of the last several years. The best way I can describe them is that it's basically like a crazed, fire breathing Southern Baptist preacher fronting a stark raving mad folk band. I tend to think of these guys as the redneck folk version of Gogol Bordello, in large part due to the wild live performances both bands are known for giving. They've released a couple of new cuts from their upcoming album, <i>Out of Hands We Go</i>, which drops Oct. 7. They're not as rambunctious as some of their older material, but certainly not as subdued as <i>Outside</i>. It's good to see that O'Death seem to be reinventing themselves once again. <br />
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<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/157675405&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/157675406&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe>The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-88048324438841324342014-08-17T23:32:00.001-05:002014-08-17T23:32:07.662-05:00Metal veterans Machine Head smash Nashville like a wrecking ballThe 90s have never been considered the most fertile time for metal, but I don't agree that the decade was some sort of wasteland for the genre as many experts like to assert. Machine Head is one of the many reasons why.<br />
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Their first statement was perhaps their loudest, dropping their debut album <i>Burn My Eyes</i> in in 1994. Combining the frenzied edge of thrash metal with a straight ahead riffing style and an aggressive, take no prisoners attitude, the album is still considered a classic to this day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oakland based heavy metal act Machine Head graced Nashville's Exit/In.</td></tr>
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It had been far too long since we'd seen the Bay Area heathens properly tear Music City apart, as frontman Rob Flynn declared it had been 19 years since the last headlining tour from Machine Head hit Nashville. The occasion? Dubbed The Killers & Kings tour, the band had booked a small number of dates in support of their latest single of the same name. It seems like more of an excuse to get back out on the road more than anything else, but anything that gets Machine Head to venue near me won't have me complaining.<br />
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The setlist pulled almost evenly from the band's seven studio albums, but focused most heavily on their 2007 effort <i>The Blackening</i>. Now, it isn't too often a band releases their best album 13 years into their career, but Machine Head does not concern themselves with the operations of lesser mortals. If the spitfire riffing of "Aesthetics of Hate" or the lighters held high anthem "Halo" doesn't get you going, then buddy you've come to the wrong place.<br />
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Their latest album, <i>Unto the Locust</i>, is no slouch either. The technical complexity of the riffing in "Locust" demonstrates heady progress the band has made over the years. The real jaw dropper moment, however, came during "Darkness Within" as the crowd took over and sang the outro all by themselves, even after the band went silent. Chills.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob Flynn and Phil Demmel go back to back during a scintillating solo.</td></tr>
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Their older material shined, too. The punishing riffs of "Ten Ton Hammer" were impossible, while "Old" and "Davidian" gave us ringing reminders as to why we fell in love with this band in the first place. <br />
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I've read several blog posts from frontman Rob Flynn, and he seems like a great guy full of personality. He was a relentless motivator, constantly urging the crowd on and demanding their all. Guitarist Phil Demmel also deployed some great showmanship. He sliced through solos with the greatest of ease while making faces toward the crowd and exuding showmanship that reminds me of the guys from Iron Maiden.<br />
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The crowd, for their part, heralded the band's arrival by taking up hearty cries of Machine Fucking Head Other than that, though, they mostly just stood at respectful attention without really getting too into it. The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-69339272002293957312014-08-15T17:37:00.000-05:002014-08-15T17:46:21.067-05:00Kishi Bashi - Philosophize In It! Chemacilize With It!Japanese violinist Kishi Bashi crafts indie pop music that is full of warmth, exuberance, and a misty eyed sense of wonder. Most importantly, it's just plain good fun. The focus track from his latest, <i>Lighght</i>, loops and winds its way through bang up violin playing along with a delightfully delectable chorus that shows off Bashi's killer falsetto. But perhaps my favorite part is when he breaks it all down near the end and throws in an acoustic guitar backing that builds to the final chorus. It doesn't sound like something that should work at all in theory, but he executes it to perfection. See for yourself:<br />
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The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-36978749702274724252014-08-15T15:51:00.001-05:002014-08-15T15:51:40.172-05:00Latin guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela's ringing rhythms rumble RymanThere's this part during Rodrigo y Gabriela's packed to the rafters show at Ryman Auditorium where the Rodrigo is unmercifully tearing through the climactic final guitar solo from "The Soundmaker," the lead single from their latest album <i>9 Dead Alive</i>. As Gabriela leaps in excitement beside him, the energy in the room builds to a fever pitch and seems almost enough to take the roof off the place. A brilliant wash of auburn light suddenly illuminates the stage at the precise moment he finishes. And they were just getting started.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rodrigo y Gabriela dazzles the crowd with carefully crafted melody.</td></tr>
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The twosome, consisting of Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriella Quintero, hail from Mexico City but had to journey to Ireland before finding success with their self titled album in 2006. Their sound is heavily steeped in the great traditions of Spanish guitar style, but also borrows heavily from Rodrigo's experience as a heavy metal guitarist. For over 90 minutes, they wowed the crowed with almost purely instrumental play. Mini cameras were hooked up onto the head of their guitars so as to capture the insanity of their lightning fast finger movements and relay it to the big screen. <br />
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Just as impressive though, is how varied a repertoire they're able to create with only two acoustic guitars. Cuts like "Fram" and "The Russian Messenger" from <i>9 Dead Alive</i> are a little more dialed back and atmospheric, gently pulling the listener in with a swirling confection of strings. "Hanuman," on the other hand, hits you in the face like a hand grenade and never lets up. Its breathless spontaneity and in your face nature is highly indicative of the style of traveling street performers, which Gabreila explained they once were.<br />
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And what street performers they must have been! As this tune unfolded it was easy to envision the palm trees, majestic fountains, and palatial resort hotels rising in the distance. But of course, we couldn't escape without a little heavy metal influence, provided with a cover of Metallica's breathtaking "Orion." They may have lacked the electric amplifiers, but their performance gave you no less of a desire to pump your fist into the air.<br />
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Although Rodrigo sizzled with his lead work, Gabriela's rhythm playing was nothing short of nuts. She eschewed a pick in favor of a four finger picking style that looks like something you would see a bass player do. But when you consider she does it with six strings instead of four it's even more insane. She'll also drum a beat on the side of her guitar or over the sound hole and incorporate that into the rhythm parts she plays on guitar. It's one of the most unique styles of playing the instrument I've ever seen, and seems nearly impossible to replicate perfectly.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coloruful backdrops added a Southwestern flair to the group's set.</td></tr>
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Also great was a segment midway through the set where the duo performed a series of cover songs, mostly just pulling a short snippet out of each song. Rodgrio began playing Stone Temple Pilots' "Plush" on guitar, then motioned for the stage hand to bring out a microphone for what Gabriella termed as his karaoke set. He quickly ran through "Breaking the Girl" from The Red Hot Chili Peppers and "Symphony of Destruction" from Megadeth -- which sadly no one seemed to recognize -- before finally ending up with Radiohead's "Creep," which drew massive ovation from the audience. His voice was fine, but afterward did acknowledge that he doesn't sing much. "Don't go upload it to Youtube," he joked.<br />
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They had a lot to live up to, as opening act Milow absolutely killed it. The Belgian acoustic guitar duo delivered gorgeous vocal harmonies, while lead man Jonathan Vandenbroeck showed off great presence and a wonderful sense of humor. Near the end he did a song that he wrote as an advance apology to his guitarist for when he becomes famous and forgets all about him. He also made a few cracks about Belgium's soccer win over the U.S. in the World Cup, but after what they did for their final song I think we can forgive him.<br />
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For their set closer, they wanted to take advantage of the Ryman acoustics and perform a little closer to the crowd, so they stepped out from behind their mics and edged right up to the front of the stage. The crowd went silent as a pin drop as their unamplified voices and acoustic guitar sliced through the stillness of the Ryman air. It was one of the most beautiful moments I have witnessed in that building. The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-78279234587147405832014-07-25T02:39:00.000-05:002014-07-25T02:39:35.013-05:00Bombastic Outkast reunion graces Louisville's Forecastle festival<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After hitting virtually every festival in existence this year, Oukast's omission from this year's Bonnaroo lineup was a big buzkill. But I would not be denied my chance to see them. Having first heard Ms. Jackson in 8th grade, and having grown up with their Speakerboxx/Love Below era hits, it was fantastic seeing them onstage together once again. <br />
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They had a gigantic mesh cube on stage with screens you could see through, so you could see them when they were inside of it and they could also project images onto the screens. They opened the show by projecting the American flag from the Stankonia cover onto the cube screens.<br />
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They kicked off with a couple of tunes from that album, getting the crowd properly gelled up with "B.O.B" and "Gasoline Dreams," a pair of ferocious cuts that show off their hip hop prowess while simultaneously working the crowd into a frenzy. From there they began working through a catalog of their early hits, knocking out material from <i>ATLiens </i>and <i>Aquemeni </i>era. Although arguably less known than their later hits, these earlier tunes boast hooks every bit as potent, and its a testament that stacking songs this strong this early into their set helped them avoid the early set lull that many live acts struggle with. <br />
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The duo interacted well with one another and seemed like good showmen. Andre had on his white wig and a black jumpsuit that read Obviously Oblivious, along with a price tag hanging off of his suit with a dollar sign on it. <br />
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They moved swiftly through a set of greatest hits. Little time was spent delving into their back catalog, but it's a testament to them that they can fill a full set with pretty much nothing but killer hit cuts. <br />
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Midway through they did a couple of solo sets to allow them to deliver material from <i>Speakerboxxx/The Love Below</i>, a double album which consisted of individual solo discs from both members of the duo. Andre's was much heavier on visual elements. At times his screens looked the command module for the Starship Enterprise. At the end, there was a visual of a woman's legs, with the mesh cube positioned strategically to block out the view directly between her legs, and her panties could be seen gliding off and fluttering down her leg. "Who invented panties anyway?" Andre intoned. "I think they were meant to be taken off."<br />
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The best moment was when he invited a gaggle of female fans from the crowd onto stage during "Hey Ya!" One of them gave him a hug and told him this was the best moment of her life. "I disagree," Andre declared. "This is the <i>beginning</i> of the best moment of your life!" <br />
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Big Boi's solo spot was more grounded, but no less impressive. He invited Sleepy Brown out onto stage for "The Way You Move," a tune that packs some serious groove, but also proved he could bust some serious amps on the speaker shredder "Ghetto Musik." <br />
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They had neat ways of introducing songs. "Let me ask you guys a question. Do you guys know Jesse Jackson? Wanda Jackson?" Then they paused before slyly asking, "What about Ms. Jackson?" before busting into their indomitable breakout single. If they hadn't blown up by the time they launched that single way back in 2001, they certainly did after it hit.<br />
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But the night wasn't complete without a run through the group's old school hits. "Crumblin 'Erb" and "Player's Ball" showed off a vastly different and much more grounded sound than later Outkast, drawing heavily from a dirty Southern gangsta rap style, while still featuring heavy helpings of soul.<br />
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Though the tour may have started off rocky with that opening Coachella date, Big Boi and Andre have now hit their stride, and are playing magnificently off one another. Only they know what's in store at the conclusion of this tour, but it would be a shame for the group to dissipate right as they're getting their groove back.<br />
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The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632117241626763155.post-8633007014688927692014-07-16T23:50:00.001-05:002014-07-16T23:50:21.458-05:00Beck plays every style of music imaginable during night two at Ryman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The first night of Beck's two night stand at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium was championed by the subdued, acoustic guitar based folk of his standout 2002 album <i>Sea Change</i> and his most recent work, <i>Morning Phase</i>, released in February. For night two, he had something altogether different in mind.<br />
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The bright flashing lights and buzzsaw guitar riffs of set opener "Devil's Haircut" loudly blared to any of last night's holdovers that they weren't in Kansas anymore. Beck's indelible swagger and sing along delivery instantly made a deep impact upon everyone in the room, as he sidled up beside bandmembers and cut a rug all over the stage.<br />
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Beck got the ball rolling right off the bat and didn't let up, pummeling the room with crowd pleasing cuts early and often. He broke out the delectable deep cut "The New Pollution" from his defining 1996 album <i>Odelay</i>, tantalizingly merged "I Think I'm In Love" into Donna Summer's disco banger "I Feel Love," and also spun out the smooth, seductive alt/hip hop of "Black Tambourine." It was more than enough to keep all of our tambourines shaking.<br />
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He did pepper in a mellower mood periodically throughout the set. The mournful, contemplative mood of "Lost Cause" proved to be the sole <i>Sea Change</i> cut of the evening, while eerie electronics and deep cello swirled through the rafters during "Wave." Beck explained that he had begun work on <i>Morning Phase</i> in Nashville with the idea that he wanted to make a country based record before ultimately finishing up elsewhere. But he played a string of songs that developed from those Nashville sessions, including "Heart is a Drum," "Say Goodbye," and "Waking Light," all of which provided vast aesthetic differences from his early set material but were every bit as sing alongable. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It wasn't just Beck lighting it up; even his band brought raw intensity.</td></tr>
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Yet in a testament to the eclecticism of Beck, it wasn't long before the swelling emotional ocean of "Waking Light" gave way to the Gameboy bleeps and bloops that heralded "Girl," one of the singer's most prominent chart smashes after from "Loser." And speaking of "Loser," he got it out of the way early but holy balls did it turn the building upside down. He complemented it with other fun, quirky hip hop cuts "Que Onda Guero" and "Hell Yes."<br />
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After closing the main set with the caffeine high of hard rocker E-Pro, Beck's bandmates began mock bumping into each other and eventually collapsed into a gigantic heap on the floor, prompting Beck to roll out yellow police crime scene tape across the front of the stage. Then he put all his chips down for the encore.<br />
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After exploring the underbelly of freak funk with the darkly futuristic "Get Real Paid," he broke out two other cuts from <i>Midnite Vultures</i> for his encore. The dramatic bang of "Sexx Laws" led into the inevitable and indomitable strains "Debra," a falsetto soul love song to a girl working at a department store. He illustrated some of the song's scenes in spoken word, sweet talking Debra and then inviting her to take a ride in his Hyundai.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beck tries to hide all evidence of his crimes.</td></tr>
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He could have called it a night right there, but Beck would not be vanquished without a fight. After briefly vanishing, he returned and broke into "Where It's At," before transitioning into the old gospel country stomper "One Foot in the Grave," complete with Beck going nuts on harmonica. He then segued that into a rendition of The Rolling Stone's "Miss You" before finishing it out with the final chorus of "Where It's At."<br />
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Those bigger on Beck's mellow side no doubt would have enjoyed the first night more, but speaking as someone who doesn't consider <i>Morning Phase </i>to be the man's best work, the setlist couldn't have been better. Save for the off kilter mellowness of <i>Mutations, </i>virtually every conceivable side of Beck was on display. And personally speaking, three <i>Midnite Vultures </i>cuts was nothing short of astounding. Apologies to those who consider his many deviations mere distractions, but this set represents the Beck you have got to see. The Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06577937450919796304noreply@blogger.com0