*If any of you readers are more tech-savvy than I, also feel free to drop us a line and tell us a better way to do this.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Rockist Crossword Puzzle: The British Invasion
*If any of you readers are more tech-savvy than I, also feel free to drop us a line and tell us a better way to do this.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Round One to Jason Isbell

A few things have been written about the Truckers' set, most agreeing it was a decent showing but not quite up to what die-hard fans have come to expect. Last summer's 31 song marathon/death march/rock-and-roll-salvation was so intense, such a sweaty mess of a rock concert, that I don't remember much of it at all. I think they covered "Moonlight Mile" and I remember being in a headlock...
But this time it started out with their new acoustic thing -- The Dirt Underneath -- and just didn't quite sound right. The guitar's were tinny, the pace kinda dragging, and Jason's absence notable. For the past few albums (since he joined the band), he's always come across as the pop classicist in the group -- something his new solo disc proves. His songs had more polish, more melody, and I've said this before but if a member of the band was gonna make a million dollars penning some radio country hit, it'll definitely be him. The Truckers missed that strong melodic presence in their set and, if I'm being totally honest, John Neff just isn't the guitarist Isbell is.

Either way, after Isbell had done everything but burn the place down earlier in the week, the Truckers had quite a challenge on their hands. Jason's a rare breed: not many solo artists are bold enough to play 2 hours plus sets with a brand new band on their first solo tour. In that span, he ran through the highlights of his debut, with the exception of "Shotgun Wedding", and touched most of his best Truckers' tunes too. And then he also covered "Psycho Killer", "Keep Your Distance" by Richard Thompson, "Into the Mystic", and "Jailbreak" by Thin Lizzy. Not all of those were perfect -- "Keep Your Distance" with its delicately picked guitar part was damn close -- but they showed off a range and a confidence I didn't quite expect.
So the Truckers may still have the pedigree, the name, the reputation, and while I hear things ended amicably, you have to think they're looking over their shoulder while Isbell starts blowing up.
Jason Isbell @ RnR Hotel - Setlist:
Down in a Hole / Grown / The Assassin (P. Hood) / Hurricanes and Hand Grenades / Never Gonna Change / Goddamn Lonely Love / Chicago Promenade / Brand New Kind of Actress / Decoration Day / Dress Blues / ("old Muscle Shoals song"?) / Outfit // When the Well Runs Dry / Keep Your Distance (R. Thompson) / Danko/Manuel / Psycho Killer (Talking Heads) / Try / In a Razor Town // Into the Mystic (Van Morrison) / Jailbreak (Thin Lizzy)
Jason Isbell - "Dress Blues" (live)
Thursday, July 26, 2007
The National On Letterman, Tour
Here's a Rockist Society favorite, The National, on Letterman Tuesday night performing the lovely "Fake Empire". DCers take note as they are coming back in September for a two night stand at the 930 Club. If it was anything like the last time they were here, it's not to be missed.
The National @ 930 Club
September 5, 6
$18
Breaking News: Wes Anderson loves the Kinks
The Kinks pretty much invented/perfected this template on a series of albums running from 1966's Face to Face (the underrated one) to 67's Village Green Preservation Society (the overrated one) to 68's Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire (all conveniently re-released with bonus tracks these days). Songs like "Picture Book" have seen the light of day through commercials, but the real gems remain buried in there. Every Kinks fan has his/her favorite, but if you haven't given "Little Miss Queen of Darkness", "Drivin'", or "Days" a few spins, you'd do well to track them down.
Maybe Ray Davies attention to minutiae -- the guy's penned multiple songs about having an afternoon tea, for example -- that fits so well with Anderson's films. Maybe it's the tragic characters, maybe its the way the camera focuses on individual characters in their moments of crisis -- think about Davies's character studies. Either way, his affinity for the Kinks is beyond doubt, and I'm damn thankful for that, which is why I was pretty excited when GL sent me this trailer for his newest film, The Darjeeling Limited.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
...And The Winner Is

Results from Sunday's slugfest at the Rock and Roll Hotel are in and the winner of GL Naut's Favorite Band (Of The Moment) Award goes to...Blitzen Trapper! Yessir, the Portland, Oregon group brought it hard and did not disappoint. With six members, three sets of guitars, and three synthesizers they barely fit on stage, but that didn't keep them from banging tambourines and dancing all over the place. Shoegazers they were not, that's for sure. As I had mentioned in my preview, I was a bit concerned about their eclecticism, though to be honest it was a breath of fresh air. Their stoner-countryish stuff still stood out in my opinion, but the spazzed-out "Miss Spiritual Tramp", album opener "Devil's a-Go-Go", and space-oddity "Sci-Fi Kid" were extremely fun in a live setting. AND, they had an attentive and energetic crowd at their disposal, which made their set that much more enjoyable.
That energy and the carefree feel of the night took a sharp nosedive, though, as David Vandervelde and company came on stage. After the first song, "Cute Pretender" - from the new Nothin' No EP, the majority of the crowd took off, leaving maybe 20 people or so to revel in the bluesy sounds of the Moonstation House Band. But that reveling was rather short-lived, as a noticeably perturbed Vandervelde cut the set after about six songs. Only at one fan's insistence did he return and play the infamous Stones cut, "Cocksucker Blues". I loved it, as I knew I would, but it was rather disheartening to see a mostly empty venue.
This is not a new or unique situation; many musicians, fans, bloggers, etc. have commented on the lameness of DC concert-goers. They talk through sets, they don't cheer, they come late and they leave early. I mean, this isn't a Nationals game folks! It's Rock and Roll! I know giving tours of the Capitol is hard work and you have to deal with constituents, like, all day, but come the eff on people. You learn about new bands by sticking it out and, oh, I don't know, actually listening to them.
Blitzen Trapper - "Wild Mountain Nation"
The XYZ Affair: We Told You So
Dedicated blog readers will have already seen the band's video for "All My Friends". Featuring some of your favorite forgotten stars of your Nickelodeon days, it's popped up on a number of blogs -- including Stereogum and Oh My Rockness. Then we/I suggested them for DCist's Unbuckled show earlier this July, and that was a huge hit. And today they're featured on Spin.com as the Band of the Day, complete with a glowing writeup that very much echoes and even kinda mimicks our own praise.
Here's that video for "All My Friends". Classic.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Lucinda Williams w/ Charlie Louvin @ Wolftrap

Friday, July 20, 2007
Here Come the Truckers

Thursday, July 19, 2007
Sunday Bloody Sunday: Blitzen Trapper And David Vandervelde Compete To Be My Favorite Band

-In a recent feature, lead singer Eric Earley professes his love for Big Star and says his "favorite records no.'s 1 and 2 are Tonight's the Night and Wowee Zowee". Man after my own heart right there.
-Their genre-hopping rivals that of Ween (not really), so it should make for a lively show.
Why they might lose:
-Too ecelctic.
-I've only heard their latest album, which could make air guitarring to earlier stuff difficult.
-Illegitimate love child of Marc Bolan and David Bowie.
-I know all of his songs, so air guitarring along to each one will be a piece of cake.
-"Cocksucker Blues". 'Nuff said.
Why he might lose:
- I've heard all of his songs. All 10 of them.
-I've seen him before, may ruin element of surprise.
So there you have it folks, the stage is set for an epic battle royale, cage match, vicious cock fight, or what have you. Who do you think will win? Leave your predictions in the comments.
Blitzen Trapper w/David Vandervelde @ The Rock and Roll Hotel
Sunday, July 22, 2007
8:30pm
$10
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Workin'
Our apologies at TRS. It's been a little hectic with one going to Italy, one getting a new job, and one being lazy (ok, playing a lot of tennis, I'm just keeedeeeng!). The one in a new position is yours truly. Love the job, but a slight (read: huge) downside is that I don't have internet access... shoot, there goes my blogging time.
So, in honor of my Pentium II and shared office, here are a few tunes.
Elvis Costello - "Welcome to the Working Week"
Field Music - "Working to Work"
Huey Lewis & The News - "Workin' For A Livin'"
R.E.M. - "Finest Worksong"
The Deadly Snakes - "Work"
And, because the gov is paying my company waaay too much money...
World Leader Pretend - "Your Tax Dollars at Work"
(Did you notice that most songs about work are derogatory? I know I've said this before, but I wish I were a rock star.)