The Rock Report

THE ROCK REPORT: GODDAMN GALLOWS @ THE LOCAL 662; DOWNTOWN ST. PETERSBURG

Nov 112010


I’ll be honest, I’ve never heard a single song from The Goddamn Gallows outside of last Friday’s show at The Local here in St. Pete. I’d probably never have heard of them if it weren’t for the fact that Jayke Orvis joined them (something confirmed by the internets but he wasn’t at the show), and I definitely wouldn’t have gone out to see them that night had they not been opening for the evil muthafucker from Tennessee, Joe Buck.

So there I sat at a table in the back of the venue as they set up and performed a sound check. The people I was sitting with were talking about walking down to another bar until Buck came on and I was contemplating joining them once it was confirmed that Jayke had not been seen. Finally, it was decided we’d wait and see what they were like but it was agreed upon that “they had better be rad as hell or we’re out”.

The band started playing without so much as a “hello”, just a moment’s silence after soundchecking and then BLAM, the entire band lurched forward and it was fucking on. I don’t think anyone at my table of smug lasted 30 seconds before they were up and walking towards the stage. Over the course of about an hour I watched these guys put everything they had into a show that was comprised of more spit than a Shackshakers show, plenty of theatrics, members swapping instruments, blistering rock and roll, and the occasional drummer moving parts of his kit into the crowd for a portion of the song. Above all of that, though, we watched a band honestly enjoy themselves for an hour or so, and for that I thank them.

If they’re coming through your neck of the woods, go enjoy the fuck out of them. If you’re already a fan, what cd should I start with?

The Goddamn Gallows – Born 2 Lie
The Goddamn Gallows – Everybody Dies

THE ROCK REPORT: TORNADO RIDER @ MARKETPLACE ON 7th; YBOR CITY

Nov 102010


I caught Tornado Rider at Tropical Heatwave last year under the advise of many a friend. They’d tried to describe what the band was like but much like I am about to here, they fell woefully short. It’s not their fault. Trying to describe their live show is a lot like trying to describe a Legendary Shackshakers live show. You can put the spectacle in words, but the experience is beyond description. Visually, Tornado Rider is a three-piece featuring drums, bass and an electric cello being played by some fellows in fantasyish costumes. Sonically, they’re pure punk (think A.R.E. Weapons) music with pure fantasy lyrics that would be the perfect opener for The Protomen.

Heading to the show I wasn’t sure how many people would be at the show and I was less sure if Tornado Rider would be able to play with the same amount of energy I saw them play with at Tropical Heatwave. I was pleasantly surprise with the answer to both.

The bar was pretty full when I arrived and either the entire bar was there to see Tornado Rider or they immediately bought in to what the kids were selling cause nobody left when the music started and most wandered up towards the stage. The band not only managed to match the energy of Tropical Heatwave but it seemed like the up close and personal nature of a bar environment fueled them on even more. The band was more interactive than they’d been last time while the singer/electric cellist spent a good amount of time noodling electric cello solos on the floor in the middle of the crowd.

I can not recommend seeing these guys emphatically enough. They’re 100% pure fun who make me believe that the underground music scene is alive and well and even features a few re-purposed instruments.

To get an idea of what I am talking about, watch this video:

HONKY TONK REPORT: JEREMY STEDING AND MIKE KELLY @ THE ARMADILLO PALACE

Oct 182010

For the last two weeks I have been six feet under at work. I mean I have been there between nine and eleven hours a day and not able to take lunch, save eating at my desk, much less find time to post about the cool shit I have found. In the middle of all this I got a text from Jeremy Steding that he was playing a free show at the The Armadillo Palace with Mike Kelly. As far as shows go it was an early show so I wrapped up what I could and bailed out of work with the knowledge that I would be playing catch up the next day but that my need to decompress was more important than not adding a few more inches to the hole I was already buried in. I was not wrong.

The show was just Jeremy and Mike trading acoustic songs which was just the sort of thing I needed. Mind you I didn’t know I needed it until Jeremy texted me a couple of hours before the show. Now you may remember my posts (album review and live show) on Jeremy from a while back and he didn’t disappoint. The boy is a ham on stage and obviously loves what he is doing. He played a few songs off his upcoming album and they proved everything I have said about him in the past. He is an amazing songwriter and his talents are only growing. I highly recommend dropping by his site, if you haven’t already, and availing yourself of his first two albums, which he offers for free. And I am not just saying that because he wouldn’t let me buy my own beer at the show!

Mike Kelly is a new face here on 9B and one I hope I get to write a lot more about. He has lived all over the US and is now one of Texas’ own. His songwriting is different from Jeremy’s but the differences made the show that much better. Mike writes about everything and I mean everything. From barroom ditties about the joys of all girls becoming pretty at 1:30 to songs about nearly dying written during his recent recovery from open heart surgery to love songs that only those of us who could drink for living, if it paid, will really understand. This kid runs the gambit and does it with style. My internet connection at home is, on a scale of one to ten for uploading, classified as SUCK so the videos I have of him belting out his tunes will have to wait until I can get them uploaded but suffice it to say this kid is the real deal. I will be reviewing his latest release very soon but I will give you a little preview here…

In closing this show, in a honky tonk only Texas could create, was a just what this cowboy needed to get through a couple of week of hell at work. I can’t thank these boys enough for inviting me out and, shockingly, putting me on their tab. These guys love their fans as much as they love playing their music and in the country music scene that’s something you don’t see that much anymore. I did talk Jeremy into recording a 9B exclusive after the show. Mike was going to but time ran short and the venue was playing their canned music pretty loud so we agreed I’d get an exclusive from him next time he was in town. I hope you enjoy!



Jeremy Steding’s official site (Both his album are available for free here)
Mike Kelly’s official site

SOANGELICATE’S ROCK REPORT: YEASAYER @ THE STATE THEATER

Oct 142010


The Yeasayer show was the first of many for me in the month of Rocktober, and the first show I’d been to at the State Theater since I saw the Breeders open for Green Day, which was a long ass time ago. As anyone who read my Yeasayer post a couple weeks ago knows, I’ve been pretty damned excited about this show for a long time and it was finally here, their first ever show in Florida.

The first band up was Washed Out, which is technically not so much a band as it is a guy named Ernest Greene accompanied by touring musicians. I’m not really big on chillwave, but it was enjoyable, if not a bit sleepy. I basically drank my way through the first act, watching from the balcony as the crowd below gently swayed. After Washed Out finished their set, we were treated to some tunes by a duo of local DJ’s, The Soft Rock Renegades, and then it was time for the main act.

When Yeasayer took to the stage, the mostly laid back crowd was so excited they stepped up their swaying from level 3 to level 5. They started out slow, but three songs into their set they played “Rome”, one of my favorite tracks from the newest release, Odd Blood, and everyone seemed to come out of their trances. Chris Keating sang it like he meant it, almost yelling into the microphone, as if he was really trying to convince us of what he was saying, and we crowd chanted along with him. Anand Wilder had his own standout performance with an achingly slow and perfectly sung rendition of “Grizelda”, a song about Colombian drug lord Grizelda Blanco. Also, I had mentioned in my review of Odd Blood that I thought “Mondegreen” would be amazing, and it really, really was.

For the encore, the band played two songs. First was a version of “The Children” that was even creepier than the album version, which is saying something. The last song was “2080”, from their first release, All Hour Cymbals, and the whole place went nutso for it. Not only was it a brilliant show, but I was very impressed with the State Theater and I don’t know why it took me so long to come back. The staff was friendly and accommodating and the drinks were cold and strong. I definitely see myself coming back for another show. You can check out some pictures from the show here and read my review of Odd Blood here.

THE ROCK REPORT: TWO COW GARAGE @ RUDYARDS – HOUSTON, TEXAS 10-08-2010

Oct 122010
Two Cow Garage

I wasn’t going to cover this show because Two Cow Garage is playing tonight in Florida and I know AIV will be writing up his own review but after seeing them for my first time I realized that there can’t be too many reviews on any given site so this is my take. Let me start by simply saying OH MY GOD! These boys can rock! Without any competition at all this show came in second to only to Slobberbone for the best show I have seen in years. Loud, fast, and frankly fucking punk rock is the easiest way to describe what I witnessed on Friday night.

I got there early and got to meet Micah and Shane (finally) and hang out for a couple of hours prior to them taking the stage. Their piano player had to fly home the night before due to the death of a friend but that didn’t detract from the energy of the evening. I would say I got to meet Cody for the first time but it turns out I met him almost five years ago in Tempe, AZ at the Cory Branan, Koufax, Limbeck and The Honorary Title. I was hanging with Cory after his set and taking pictures of some weird Limbeck fan chick who had curled up in an empty merchandise box and Cody, who was with Koufax at the time, was sitting right there bullshitting with us. Some nights it seems the scene doesn’t get larger it just gets more crowded. So we hung out and talked about life, family, drinking, and so much more. We drank, drank and drank some more. And yes I went on and on like a fan boy and I am not ashamed! Shane confirmed there is some work on a solo effort from him but nothing like a release date or even a label just yet and while it’s not on the radar yet I am pretty stoked that it’s coming eventually. I also talked to the boys about a little idea I had to help promote the new album here on 9B and they approved so keep watching I hope to be able to post more on that next week. Did I mention we drank a little bit? There was whiskey to be had and we had it…

Then Two Cow Garage took the stage and the world came apart at the seams. Micah and Shane are nothing less that rock stars extraordinaire and Cody had a shit eating grin on his face the entire set. From the opening riff to the closing refrain they never stopped. It was song into song into song into song without even a break to catch a breath. Flinging sweat on to the audience from their antics on stage and screaming out every song I am completely amazed that either Micah or Shane could even talk after the show. I was exhausted from screaming along and dancing and they do it every night! They even broke out some older tracks like 135 at the audience’s request which I should mention had to be screamed over the strumming between songs because like I already said they never stopped playing or moving!

This is one of the first shows I have ever walked away from with regrets. I don’t regret leaving the still frame camera and video camera at home and just enjoying the show. I don’t regret screaming along so loud I could barely talk for two days. I don’t regret hanging out until after three in the morning. I don’t regret my ears ringing well in to Sunday. I do regret leaving SXSW early and missing them last year! I couldn’t have seen them locally because I only found out about them four years ago and they haven’t played here in five years. But I can sorely regret not having seen them when I had the chance. If you ever have the chance to catch them live and you don’t then you really must not have a clue. Their albums are amazing but their live show takes their music to another level. Get off your ass and see them. They are good enough that the next time they come through Texas I may well take a couple of days off work and do the Dallas, Austin, Houston circuit just to see them that many more times.

I just want to wrap this up by saying, again, OH MY FUCKING GOD!

Two Cow Garage’s official site
Two Cow Garage on Suburban Home Records
Two Cow Garage on Wikipedia

AUTOPSY IV SAYS: I tend not to review shows that I put on so there will be little more than “ditto above” said about the Tampa show unless someone who was there wants to review is. I’ll say, people came, beers were drank and hearing was damaged. Good. Fucking. Times.

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