Way Back Wednesday: U2

The U2 of my youth and the U2 of now...two totally different things.  Which is weird, because they are the exact same band.  Back then, Bono was a total fox.  I had their poster on my wall and used to crush out on him and Larry Mullen Jr.  Now, they're so serious.  And, kinda annoying (Bono, lose the yellow shades, please.).  I'll never forget listening to War over and over and just thinking it was the best record I had ever heard.  I wouldn't say that I don't like U2 anymore, but I'm just not as passionate about them as I used to be when I was a teen.  I watched their live show at the Rose Bowl on YouTube and enjoyed it - even though I was watching on a 3x5 inch screen.  It made me wish that they would do a show of all their songs pre-1993.  How great would that be?  Songs from Boy, War, Unforgettable Fire and Joshua Tree.  Now, that's a show I would pay $200 for.  "Unforgettable Fire" is one of my most favorite songs by them.  This song makes me all emo and nostalgic and happy.  This is definitely not a song that they play in their current set list, but it would be encore material in my U2's Pre-93 Dream tour.  Who do I need to talk to to make this happen?

New Single: Young Liars

Go ahead and add Young Liars to the list of Canadian bands I want to IMPORT.  Oddly enough, their story starts in Paris (a strange start for a band full of Canucks), where they met and promised to reconnect back in Vancouver.  Thankfully they did and now we have the Homesick Future EP.  I can't get enough of this electro influenced indie gem.  "Colours" is the first single they are releasing and it's awesome and fun.  I get a little Two Door Cinema Club vibe with "Marathon" and "Navigator Island" is a little reminiscent of Keane.  I'm definitely keeping an eye on these kids.  I have a feeling they are going to go far!

New Band Crush: Walk The Moon

Walk The Moon's "Anna Sun" pretty much had me at hello.  We're talking quick-witted 80's synth beats with lyrics to make you swoon, it's emo, it's indie and the video has some sweet ass dance moves (take note of the dude in the Lakers tank).  Love.  Walk The Moon are a not-so-ragtag group of guys from Cincinnati, OH who performed in competing a capella groups and later formed a band.  Not the most punk rock bio I've read...but they are just way too cute to pass by.  Nerds are in, right?   They're on the road with Kaiser Chiefs now with some headlining shows sprinkled in between (YO, come to LA!).  The Anna Sun EP is available now on iTunes and through their website.  Can't wait to hear more!

Weekly Resolution: Patience is a Virtue

I'm not even mad at him anymore.

I decided to make a belated new years resolution. And, since I'm not 100% sure it will stick, I'm test driving it for a week.  I live in LA, you see.  And, traffic here fucking sucks.  It's not that I commute or that I have a long way to drive.  On most days, the furthest that I drive is about 3 miles from my house.  But, it's a stretch of pavement that sometimes contains the most frustrating drivers on the planet:

- Tourists
- Illegal immigrants
- Tour buses
- Topless vans explaining to groups of Asian tourists about why you can't turn right off Sunset Blvd after 10pm (this happened)
- Looky lou's
- Old Russians
- People looking for parking
- People trying to get discovered
- Giant SUV drivers who are scared to go over 15mph
- Construction workers/handymen who often have so much crap crammed in the back of their trucks, they don't want to pick up speed for fear that it will all come crashing out from behind them
- People who are scared of driving next to a city bus
- Texters
- Elderly

   ...to name a few.

I often get myself in a tizzy for what should be a leisurely 10 minute drive down Sunset Blvd.  BUT NOT ANYMORE.  I'm working on my patience this week.  Trying to keep my trigger finger from honking the horn.  That old lady who decides when there are 3 seconds left on the light to start shuffling across the street?  You go girl!  The topless van stopped in the middle lane of traffic pointing at the exterior of Guitar Center?  Park that thing anywhere!  The wannabe club promoter blaring Sasha & Digweed out of his BMW while texting and swerving all over the road?  Add me to your mailing list!  Because I don't care anymore.  I am ZEN.  Drive as slow as you want.  Stop at the yellow.  Don't make a right on red.  Roll your calls.  Catch up on emails.  I'm no hurry. 

One day in and I only honked once.  That's pretty good for me.  I wanted to honk at least five times.  I guess it's baby steps, but we'll see how it all sorts out by the end of the week.  Life is too short to hate on people the way that I have been...even if they are shitty drivers (and probably really annoying in person too).  We'll have to save that for the next resolution.

Ommmmmmm....

An Open Letter to Bob Lefsetz: Alabama Shakes Edition

Dear Bob,

First of all, you're wrong about Alabama Shakes.

I saw them last night at the Troubadour for their (over)sold out show and it was fucking awesome.    Despite what you think, lead singer Brittany Howard is the real deal.  She's got all the passion and soul that comes across in the Alabama Shakes EP that you didn't get.  In fact, she's got enough for the both of you (and me too).  The EP is pretty great, but live?  It's amazing.  And, isn't that what it's about?  The music?  I feel like you always say that.  Maybe you forgot.

From what I gather in reading your letter dated December 26, 2011, you don't think that Alabama Shakes has put in the hard work, that they don't have what it takes.  You left the window open saying you hope that they will be a success, but you doubt that they possess that special something.  Which I'm sure is your defense to all of those who saw them last night and are saying right now that you're an idiot.  Sorry, but you are.

You didn't really give them a chance.  You assumed solely because people were actually excited about them that they must not be good.  You were wrong.  Maybe you were thinking of Lana del Rey.  It was weird how people so quickly took time from their post-Christmas hangover to pile on with you.  Your bashing of them stirred up a shit storm from bands who had "never heard of them" on the road and also from the music industry "elite" of Alabama who couldn't help but draw parallels between your "10,000 hours" letter and the sudden hype around this band.  When I read those responses I couldn't help but think that they were just jealous.  Jealous because people are connecting with Alabama Shakes and really like them.  And jealous because Brittany Howard is going to be a fucking star.  Or, maybe because she already is.  I guess that doesn't fit into your paradigm of how you think things should go.  Well, I guess that's just too bad.

So, Bob, you can go back to listening to your Eagles records.  Rhinofy some John Hiatt.  Maybe throw back a couple of Harvey Wallbangers with your buddy Irving Azoff.  I'll be here.  Checking YouTube to see if anyone else uploaded footage from the show, drinking bootleg Four Loko and anxiously awaiting April 10th when Alabama Shakes' debut record Boys Girls will be released.

LYLAS!

Jeannie



And, here's a video from the Troubadour last night:

Way Back Wednesday: Wild Colonials

I got some sad news last night that a friend Paul Grillo passed away.  Not only was Paul someone who always made a good time better, but he was funny as shit and the only other person I've ever met that despised wearing pants as much as me.  I met him many moons ago when he worked at Geffen Records with my BFF and immediately loved him.  I, like everyone who ever knew him, was such a huge fan of his.  I have fond memories of being at our friend Teresa's wedding and having the best time ever, getting Jenna Elfman's mother drunk and making fun of people on the dance floor.  Hearing Wild Colonials makes me think of him.  Wild Colonials were a Geffen band and one of Paul's favorites (I'd also guess that he had a hand in getting this video made).  So, this post is dedicated to Paul.  He will be ferociously missed.

New Single: Dr. Dog

I was a little late to the Dr. Dog party.  For some reason, I thought they were in the same category as Disco Biscuits, moe. and other Grateful Dead-ish jam bands.  NO IDEA WHY because they are NOTHING like that.  Thankfully my friend Carlyn set me straight, otherwise I would have been missing out on a really great band!  With that, I'm super excited for their new album Be The Void coming out February 7th on Anti-.  The video for "That Old Black Hole" is just as fun as the song, though director George Salisbury described the video as "the product of two manic, mate-fueled days in studio with no less than 144 complete takes in a non-stop performance marathon. The hypnotic result of this process-driven experiment gives the viewer a brief glimpse into both the disorienting lyrics and the wavering sanity of the band members across the two-day session.”  Deep.  I just like how the song combines southern rock with sing-song-y pop to create a melee of good times. 

Catch Dr. Dog on the road this Spring:

02-01          Newport Music Hall        Columbus, OH         02-02          Granada Theater              Lawrence, KS          02-03          Boulder Theater               Boulder, CO         02-04          Urban Lounge                  Salt Lake City, UT         02-06          The Crescent Ballroom    Phoenix, AZ          02-07          Belly Up Tavern               Solana Beach, CA         02-10          The Orpheum Theater      Los Angeles, CA**    02-11          Regency Center Grand Ballroom   San Francisco, CA         02-13          Crystal Ballroom               Portland, OR         02-14          Neptune Theatre              Seattle, WA        02-17          First Avenue                     Minneapolis, MN       02-18          The Vic Theatre                Chicago, IL            02-19          20th Century Theatre      Cincinnati, OH         03-01          Mr. Smalls Theatre          Pittsburgh, PA         03-02          Headliner                         Louisville, KY          03-03          War Memorial Auditorium  Nashville, TN         03-04          Buckhead Theatre               Atlanta, GA         03-05          Workplay                          Birmingham, AL          03-07          Alabama Music Box         Mobile, AL          03-09          Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheatre   Austin, TX          03-10          Fitzgeralds                      Houston, TX          03-11          Granada Theater              Dallas, TX          03-13          Blue Note                        Columbia, MO       03-14          Deluxe @ Old National Center   Indianapolis, IN          03-15          The Orange Peel              Asheville, NC         03-16          9:30 Club                        Washington, DC         03-17          Rams Head Live                Baltimore, MD        03-19          Higher Ground            South Burlington, VT          03-22          House of Blues            Boston, MA        03-23          Terminal 5                 New York, NY         03-24          Electric Factory        Philadelphia, PA         03-25          Electric Factory        Philadelphia, PA