I caught the first six songs, and Jim James vocal on “Evil Urges” was ridiculous, a Curtis Mayfield inspired complete triumph but the night (or what I saw of it) belonged to lead guitarist Carl Broemel, who was beyond awesome on “Circuital. How a band who have been at it so long can be so clueless as to how to record themselves is beyond.
So here we go, sixteen days and the nyc festival of the year hits and I will take a closer look at each day. It sure seems to me, the big draw closers on Friday should be a repeat of Skrillex versus Jack White last year, Drake is going to have 75% of the attendants. Me? I haven’t seen MMJ since New Year’s Eve 2008 and I saw Drake twice last year…
Over heard at Amoeba during the signing of ‘The Waterfall’, the new album of the band My Morning Jacket on Friday night: ‘my favorite artists are My Morning Jacket, Bob Dylan, and Björk’… Really? I thought, in this order? Whatever works for you!
The Waterfall – My Morning jacket – When they say it is MMJ’s best work in years, what they mean is it is better than Circuital… which it is, but so are more things. A lovely, low key, very melodic break up album that will come to life on stage – B
‘Florida Key’ is one of these tracks, and it seems to me that the project is part too-ambitious, part already-doomed … how can you possibly adapt a lost, abandoned Dylan song? isn’t Dylan totally untouchable? absolutely iconic?
Far be it for me to mock the afflicted, but this line up is painful just to read , let alone see. My Morning Jacket peaked in 2008 and Dawes, War On Drugs, and, oh god no, Dr. Dog, might peak one of these days, we don’t really know. The only name that excites me here is Biz Markie, and really I think I’ve heard “Just A Friend” live once or twice before.
Rodney Crowell makes an appearance with a hat in the ring country song of the year, as do the bluegrass Seldom Scene, the Stampfel album is a real treasure and Bruce releases a fair EP. I guess Bruce got the memo: keep your name out there.
Text Me In The Morning – Neon Trees – This defines the bands main problem, they have life and they have an idea, but they don’t have a strong and they miss out on the execution – C+
The last time I saw Billy was at the 12-12-12 gig, and the time before that the closing of Shea Stadium. He was terrific in one and not terrible in another but absolutely the perfect way to take out (or bring in) 2013 – 2014.
With an album considered the best of the year by many of my peers under their belts and a full force return to touring for a salivating fan base, here the Del Lords are joined by one of the best garage rock bands around, Spanking Charlene, in what is certain to be the rock show to beat in 2013
