ALBUM STREAM: TWO COW GARAGE – SPEAKING IN CURSIVE

Jun 252009

So, Paste Magazine finally finished the internet’s equivalent of “spanging” and came back into the office in time to discover what the rest of us figured out last year…that the latest Two Cow Garage album is awesome.

Congratulation’s Paste. Next month perhaps you can tell us about that awesome new band, Drag The River.

All snark aside though…It’s nice to see a “major” press outlet giving Micah, Shane and Co. some props. Two Cow is easily one of the most underrated bands touring right now and any press is good press.

Two Cow is also currently on the road on a tour that not only shuns Tampa but doesn’t even come near us on a weekend. This breaks my heart.

Anyhow, tour dates are here and if your as late to the party as Paste you too can experience the awesome via the Suburban Home album stream below.

(Give track #10, Swingset Assassin, and tell me you don’t like it…I dare ya.)

AMERICAN AQUARIUM – DANCES FOR THE LONELY

Jun 242009

If it seems like it was just last month I was last writing about American Aquarium, that’s ’cause it basically was.

I opened the piece about their last album with the following line

“American Aquarium come out of Raleigh, North Carolina with an indie-rock sound that has enough country swagger to it to keep this particular blogger engaged.”

Dances For The Lonely finds Caitlin Cary returning for backup vocals detail while Chris Stamey (Whiskeytown, Ben Folds Five, The Rosebuds) takes the producer role. On Dances For The Lonely American Aquarium seems to have forgone the indie sound for a more straight-forward roots rock feel.

If you’ll allow me to expound upon that for a moment…

I’m not, by any stretch of the imagination, a Springsteen fan. Matter of fact, my favorite Springsteen songs are when they’re sung by someone else. I know that’s sacrilege to say in this segment of the music world, but it’s the truth. With that said, on this album American Aquarium has a sound similar to how I feel Springsteen should sound in my mind’s ear. I dunno if that makes any sense but, for myself, it certainly makes for Essential Listening.

American Aquarium – City Lights
American Aquarium – Katherine Belle
American Aquarium – PBR Promenade

American Aquarium on myspace, Buy Dances For The Lonely

TODD SNIDER – THE EXCITEMENT PLAN

Jun 232009

Todd’s eighth studio effort, The Excitement Plan, contains Todd’s signature whimsical, half-drunk vocal deliveries along with pared down instrumentals and another host of misfits and outsiders. It was recorded over 2 1/2 days by Todd and producer Don Was with little rehearsal beforehand. The lack of rehearsal (I assume) helps lend to Todd’s slightly ramshackle sound.

There are plenty of people out there much better educated on the back story and discography of Todd Snider than I so I’ll leave it to them to be told, as I only discovered Todd with The Devil You Know. That said, I do think The Excitement Plan, possibly moreso than any previous album, really manages to showcase and display all of his gifts. You have the biographical tale of a 70′s-era Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher, Doc Ellis, who managed to pitch a no-hitter while on LSD, “America’s Favorite Pastime,” as well as the confessional of “Money, Compliments and Publicity”. There is even a duet with Loretta Lynn (who also shared in co-writing duties) “Don’t Tempt Me”, where Todd and Loretta are romantic combatants.

My favorite thing about The Excitement Plan is that it manages to be political without feeling preachy, which is a complete turn-off even if I agree with the politics.

Check out the album, it’s a blast to listen to.

Todd Snider – Money, Compliments, Publicity (Song Number 10)
Todd Snider – America’s Favorite Pastime
Todd Snider – Greencastle Blues

Todd Snider’s Official Site, Todd Snider on myspace, Buy The Excitement Plan

TAMPA/ST. PETE: TO DO ALL NEXT WEEK: GRAYSON CAPPS/CORY BRANAN/JON SNODGRASS/JOEY CAPE/CITRUS CIRCUIT TOUR

Jun 192009

You know what they say, “when it rains, it pours”, and such is the case next week with three shows in four days. While I don’t expect anyone else to adhere to such a rigorous schedule I do think you could find something you like in one (or more) of these shows. If you do make it out to any, find me and we’ll tell fish tales over a beer.

WEDNESDAY 6/24 @ THE RITZ: GRAYSON CAPPS

I am so excited about this show. Honestly, I just assumed Grayson Capps would never come to Florida. BUT! Here he is and he’s bringing his full band, The Stumppknocker’s, with him.  If the sound of Southern soul mixed with back-country stomp with a little road-house blues sounds like something that might tickle your fancy, you need to get to The Ritz on Thurday night for this show.

When I last wrote about Grayson I said, “I find myself drawn to the drunks, whores and vagabonds that haunt Grayson’s songs. They’re like old friends you keep up with via letters in the mail, and with a new album comes new updates.” It’ll be nice to finally meet this motley crew of characters in person.

Grayson Capps – Going Back To The Country
Grayson Capps – Ike
Grayson Capps – Mermaid
Grayson Capps – Junior & The Old African Queen

THURSDAY 6/25 @ NEW WORLD BREWERY: CORY BRANAN, JOEY CAPE & JON SNODGRASS

The following night, Joey Cape (Ladwagon/Me First & The Gimmie Gimmies), Jon Snodgrass (Drag The River/Arm Chair Martian) and Cory Branan will be playing New World Brewery. All three of these guys have crossed paths and shared stages at various times in their careers, but this is the first time all three have played together. This tour was engineered by Jon (and booked by the fine folks at AES Presents) and, as I understand, it will mimic The Revival Tour where the artists will all share the stage. Should make for a fun show.

Cory Branan – The Prettiest Waitress in Memphis
Joey Cape – Errands
Jon Snodgrass – Brave With Strangers
Cory Branan & Jon Snodgrass – Wild One (Thin Lizzy Cover)

SATURDAY 6/27 @ NEW WORLD BREWEY: THE CITRUS CIRCUIT TOUR with LAURIS VIDAL, TRUCKSTOP COFFEE, HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL & THE TAKERS

After giving the liver a brief break on Friday, the musical week plans to knock us out with a right hook powered by another all-Florida band lineup brought to us by thxmgmt. This is the second all-Florida band mini-tour thxmgmt has done this month. Like the last, the idea is to get a collection of Florida bands together who can pull within their own markets and put them all on the road together with the “home band” headlining their respective market. This time we’re getting Tampa’s own Have Gun Will Travel, Lauris Vidal (Daytona Beach), Truckstop Coffee (Lake Worth) and the latest Suburban Home Records signee, Gainesville’s own The Takers.

To say this is a must-see show is a complete understatement. Everyone in the Bay Area should know how good HGWT is at this point (and if you don’t then shame on you), and the amount of love ninebullets has shown Truckstop Coffee over the years is still pitifully inadequate. In addition, I’ll finally get to see the *much hyped* honky-tonk outfit The Takers.

This will be one of the best nights of music of the year and it’s all homegrown. In addition, it’s a Saturday night so there’s no reason not to go.

Lauris Vidal – Good Years, Dark Clouds
Truckstop Coffee -Way Down South
Have Gun Will Travel -Blessing And A Curse
The Takers – Taker Easy

IN MEMORY OF HOBSON:

Jun 192009

Hobson, a melon who lived the life the other melons could only dream of died on the morning of June 19, 2009. Cause of death was antiquated TSA rules about produce and flight. He will be missed by Cafe’ Bohemia, Steve’s Tavern and ninebullets.net.

JJ Grey & Mofro – Goodbye
JJ Grey & Mofro – The Sun Is Shining Down

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