Crippled Black Phoenix/Ascent of Everest/Brainbow
Ravari Room
Saturday, April 4
$10

Six years ago, almost to the day, Chris Wood pulls off a major coup, booking Aereogramme at The Factory. Anybody remember that? It was an amazing show and the only time that the great Scottish band Aereogramme ever played in Columbus. Chris now book shows at the Ravari Room and has once again delivered a fantastic early April present to me (and the city of Columbus) – Crippled Black Phoenix. Unless you’re an Electric Wizard or Mogwai fan, you’re probably not too familiar with this band and that’s too bad. But you’ve got potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the band – 8 people strong – Saturday night. How they are all going to fit on the Ravari Room stage is worth the price of admission alone!

While the band likes to describe their music as “endtime ballads,” I think it sounds like Mogwai covering Pink Floyd for a movie soundtrack. Check it out for yourself:

MP3: Rise up and Fight

I interviewed Justin Greaves, singer/guitarist of Crippled Black Phoenix, earlier this week, the day before he (and band) were going to hop on a plane and fly halfway across the globe to play two weeks worth of dates in the U.S. Here’s a quick snippet from the interview: (more…)

Benco’s got another great one coming up this weekend but this one is sliding in under the radar (no preview in either the Other Paper or the Alive this week). Meredith Godreau began performing under the name Gregory And The Hawk in 2003, added Mike McGuire in 2005, self-released an EP and a full length which sold about 15,000 copies, and signed to FatCat Records (where she joined Frightened Rabbit and The Twilight Sad among others) in 2008. Last month, Gregory And The Hawk’s FatCat debut, the excellent Moenie and Kitchi, was released and music bloggers around the globe are falling in love with the simple-yet-elegant indie/folk rock and Godreau’s almost childlike voice.

You can probably pick out the influences in GATH’s music but Godreau has gone so far as to clearly say that The Lemonheads, The Blake Babies, My Bloody Valentine and The Sundays (DEFINITELY The Sundays … and, while she didn’t say so, how about Lisa Loeb and/or Tanya Donelly too?) are important parts of her musical identity.

MP3: Doubtful

Benco says this will be an early one by Café Bourbon Street (2216 Summit St.) standards with Gregory And The Hawk playing around 9pm following an opening set by locals Our Cat Phillip. If you’re looking for a way to unwind after the Buckeyes stomp the Wolverines, this would be a good and safe bet. Cover charge is $8 and it’s an ALL AGES show (additional surcharge for those under 21). Info here.

I asked Meredith and Mike to snap some road photos on this leg of the tour and they were kind enough to oblige the request. You can check out the Gregory And The Hawk Photo Tour Diary over on AtomicNed.com.

Everyone who has seen them live recently have said they put on a really great show, so I am really considering hitting the Columbus show (pending ticket prices).

10/23/08 San Antonio TX [AT&T Center]
10/25/08 New Orleans, LA [City Park - Voodoo Festival]
10/28/08 Orlando, FL [UCF Arena]
10/29/08 Jacksonville, FL [Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena]
11/1/08 Greenville, SC [Bi-Lo Center]
11/3/08 Greensboro, NC [Greensboro Coliseum Complex]
11/5/08 Charlottesville, VA [John Paul Jones Arena]
11/8/08 Manchester, NH [Verizon Wireless Arena]
11/9/08 Worcester, MA [DCU Center]
11/11/08 Ottawa, QUE [Scotiabank Place]
11/12/08 Montreal, QUE [Bell Centre]
11/14/08 Hamilton, ONT [Copps Coliseum
11/15/08 Grand Rapids, MI [Van Andel Arena]
11/17/08 Columbus, OH [Schottenstein Center]
11/18/08 Fort Wayne, IN [Memorial Coliseum]
11/20/08 Cedar Rapids, IA [US Cellular Center]
11/21/08 Columbia, MO [Mizzou Arena]
11/22/08 Tulsa, OK [BOK Center]
11/25/08 Minneapolis, MN [Target Center]
11/26/08 Council Bluffs, IA [Mid-America Center]
11/28/08 Rapid City, SD [Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena]
11/29/08 Billings, MT [MetraPark Arena]
12/1/08 Saskatoon, SASK [Credit Union Centre]
12/4/08 Kelowna, BC [Prospera Place]
12/5/08 Victoria, BC [Save On Foods Memorial Centre]
12/7/08 Portland, OR [Rose Garden Arena]
12/8/08 Nampa, ID [Idaho Center - Arena]
12/9/08 Missoula, MT [Adams Center]
12/12/08 Sacramento, CA [Arco Arena]
12/13/08 Las Vegas, NV [Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino - Theater for the Performing Arts]

My birthday was yesterday. I didn’t celebrate. My real present came Sunday night courtesy of Rob DeLuca, bassist for Sebastian Bach’s band, who hooked me up with killer seats for the Poison/Dokken/Sebastian Bach show at The Schott in Columbus. I’ve been a fan(atic) of DeLuca’s since his days slinging bass for Spread Eagle and though the band never blew up the way they should have, I still tell people about driving DeLuca and singer Ray West to a party in Akron after a Spread Eagle show at the Akron Agora in ‘90 or ‘91.

If you thinking about checking out one of the upcoming shows – there are still a month and a half of dates left – do yourself a HUGE favor and get your ass to the arena early to check out Baz and his band tear things up (here’s my review of the Columbus show).

After the jump … Rob DeLuca answers some questions I sent him via email on an off day on the tour.

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Oct 10 Fri Minneapolis, MN The State Theater
Oct 11 Sat Madison, WI Capitol Theater at Overture Center for the Arts
Oct 13 Mon Dallas, TX The Majestic
Oct 14 Tue Austin, TX The Paramount Theatre
Oct 15 Wed Boulder, CO The Boulder Theater
Oct 17 Fri Atlanta, GA Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center
Oct 18 Sat Raleigh, NC Meymandi Concert Hall at Progress Energy Center
Oct 23 Thu Jersey City, NJ Leows Jersey Theatre
Oct 24 Fri Columbus, OH The Southern Theatre
Oct 25 Sat Philadelphia, PA The Merriam Theater
Oct 26 Sun Washington, DC Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University

Given the many guises the songwriting of Mark Eitzel took on after the disbanding of American Music Club in 1995, the band’s 2004 reunion album, Love Songs for Patriots, wasn’t quite the jarring return to form that might have been expected, but more of a subtle dipping back into familiar waters. The band’s new album, The Golden Age (Merge), recalling AMC benchmark California, treads over paths Eitzel first cleared more than a decade ago, only now there’s wisdom where once there was desperation, world-weariness replacing emotional exhaustion. When Eitzel sings “No one is going to save you” on highlight “Decibels and Little Pills,” it may sound like a familiar refrain, but here he comes off resolute instead of at the end of his rope. Elsewhere cuts like “The Dance” may lack such a dramatic lyrical hook, but Eitzel has developed a narrative form that’s just as captivating for its character development and miniature plot lines. Guitarist and only other remaining original AMC member Vudi is the real difference though. In some intangible way, the songs are more firmly rooted for his presence, his intricate playing still the perfect blend of tear-in-a-beer twang and ambient moodiness for Eitzel’s sadsack tales. It would be unfair to say that it’s like no time has passed since the band’s hey day because really it’s specifically time that has produced The Golden Age.

Moviola and the Black Swans will open for American Music Club when they play at Cafe Bourbon Street on Monday, April 14.

MP3: All the Souls Welcome You to San Francisco

2009 UPDATE: Click here for 2009 tour dates.

MP3: Ladies of the World

If you read the comments on the Flight of the Conchords MySpace page, you’ll see that almost the entire tour sold out in a few minutes. We were lucky enough to get two tickets to the Ann Arbor show.

The band has a full length coming out on Sub Pop on April 22. Season two of their television show hits HBO in January 2009.

May 5 – Tower Theater, Upper Darby PA
May 6 – Town Hall Theater, New York NY
May 7 – Town Hall Theater, New York NY
May 9 – Lisner Auditorium, Washington D.C. (early and late show)
May 10 – Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor MI
May 11 – Riverside Theater, Milwaukee WI
May 13 – Orpheum Theatre (Mpls), Minneapolis MN
May 14 – Chicago Theatre, Chicago IL
May 15 – Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver CO
May 26 – Sasquatch! Festival, George WA
May 27 – Nob Hill Masonic Center, San Francisco CA
May 30 – Orpheum Theater, LA CA

MP3: Wizardry

Columbus’ newest psychedelic sons, The Moon and Badtimes, are heading out on the road after having played only a handful of local dates since their debut this past Summer. What have they been doing with their time, you may wonder? Well, besides honing their mellotron chops, perfecting ‘tween song drone passages and unlocking the secret code to Guru Guru records, they’ve been converting a classic shuttle bus into an RV that will run on veggie oil. After a months-long search for all the right parts, it’s finally ready for some of that econo jam.

Dates:

jan 24 – brooklyn, ny – tommy’s tavern
jan 25 – baltimore, md – talking head
jan 26 – providence, ri – easy axxess
jan 27 – northampton, ma – the elevens
jan 28 – brooklyn, ny – the cake shop
jan 29 – philly, pa – tba
jan 30 – richmond, va – nonesuch
jan 31 – chapel hill, nc – the reservoir
feb 1 – atlanta, ga – crackhouse
feb 2 – asheville, nc – fred’s speakeasy
feb 3 – chatanooga, tn – tba
feb 4 – nashville, tn – the 5 spot
feb 5 – little rock, ar – pete’s place of employment
feb 6 – st louis, mo – cbgb
feb 7 – lawrence, ks – tba
feb 8 – columbia, mo – eastside tavern
feb 9 – chicago, il – tba

Columbus’ Two Cow Garage are heading East for their second European tour. Lots of dates, lots of countries. If you’re in the area, do yourself a favor and check them out.

MP3: Should’ve California

Jan 23 2008 1:00PM Plato (Deventer, Netherlands) In-Store
Jan 23 2008 8:00PM Burgerweeshuis (Deventer, Netherlands)
Jan 24 2008 5:00PM Parkhof TBC (Alkmaar, Netherlands) Radio
Jan 24 2008 8:00PM Studio 6 (Hilversum, Netherlands)
Jan 25 2008 12:00PM Sounds Poptotaalzaak TBC (Venlo, Netherlands)
Jan 25 2008 10:00PM Perron 55 (Venlo, Nehterlands)
Jan 27 2008 8:00PM Paradiso w/ Iron And Wine (Amsterdam,Netherlands)
Jan 29 2008 8:00PM HUB (Exeter, UK)
Jan 30 2008 8:00PM Prince Albert (Brighton, UK)
Jan 31 2008 8:00PM Windmill (Brixton, UK)
Feb 1 2008 8:00PM Dirty Water Club (London, UK)
Feb 4 2008 8:00PM Savoy Club (Gijon, Spain)
Feb 5 2008 8:00PM Gruta ’77 (Madrid, Spain)
Feb 9 2008 8:00PM Elvis et Moi (Fribourg, Switzerland)
Feb 10 2008 8:00PM Arci Tunnel Club (Reggio Emilia, Italy)
Feb 11 2008 @ SKC (Belgrade, Serbia)
Feb 13 2008 @ KSET (Zagreb, Croatia)
Feb 14 2008 8:00PM Subway to Peter (Chemnitz, Germany)
Feb 15 2008 8:00PM Real Music Club (Lauchhammer, Germany)
Feb 17 2008 8:00PM 013 (Tilburg, Netherlands)

The Celebrity Pilots are heading out for some Ohio touring. Dates:

November 8 @ WOXY.com, Live Broadcast @ 4pm. Cincinnati, OH
November 8 @ The Poison Room, Cincinnati, OH w/ Wolfy
November 9 @ Howard’s, Bowling Green, OH w/ Miranda Sound
November 10 @ Oregon Express, Dayton, OH w/ Joe Anderl

Erik Kang from the band just sent me the news. Margot has signed to Epic Records. New album “Animal” out in 2008. I imagine they need a $230 million deal to pay for the 542 people in the band and their bus of magic.

Upcoming shows:

12/7 Lexington, KY The Dame
12/8 Cincinnati, OH Mad Hatter
12/9 Cleveland, OH Beachland Tavern
12/10 Washington, DC The Black Cat
12/11 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church
12/12 Boston, MA Middle East
12/13 New York, NY Mercury Lounge

With all these “bands signing to label” posts it’s like we’re Billboard Industry Magazine. Okay, not really, but you know.

Nada Surf kicked off their fall tour last night in Columbus with Sea Wolf. Both bands sounded great and the place was packed (much to the chagrin of a lot of people there).

Nada Surf’s set list leaned heavily towards “Let Go,” which was fine by me — it’s one of my all time favorite albums. While “The Weight is a Gift” didn’t immediately grab me when it came out, it’s been a bit of a slow burner, slowly becoming an essential part of my music collection.

I was a little worried that the Sea Wolf crowd would leave after their set, but thankfully I was wrong. Both bands earned new fans last night, and I give an A+ to the booking agents who put this tour together. If Wilco wasn’t playing in town tonight, I probably would make my way down to Cincinnati to catch their next show together.

Here’s a bunch of photos of both bands by Kim Rottmayer

Nada Surf

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After reuniting last year with new singer Travis Warren, Blind Melon hunkered down in the studio owned by guitarist Christopher Thorn and bassist Brad Smith and started writing and recording new material. The result is 2 CDs worth of new Blind Melon music. Release dates haven’t been set for the CDs though the band has indicated that they probably won’t come out at the same time. In the meantime, they are doing a short, small club tour to get back into the swing of things.

October 8 Providence, RI – Decibel at Club Hell
October 9 New York, NY- Canal Room
October 11 Cleveland, OH- The Grog Shop
October 13 Columbus, OH- The Basement
October 14 Bowling Green, OH- Howard’s Club H
October 16 Chicago, IL- Double Door
October 18 Urbana, IL- The Canopy
October 19 Toledo, OH- Frankie’s
October 20 Pittsburgh, PA- Diesel
October 22 Allston, MA- Harpers Ferry

Whether or not “Harmful Belly” makes it onto one of the CDs remains to be seen but here’s a video for the song shot in the studio.