New music: Peter Wolf Crier "Inter-Be", live review

Peter Wolf Crier at Great Scott in Allston (6.14.10)

Peter Wolf Crier is just a duo, but they make a very big sound.  Their debut record Inter-Be, recently re-released by Jagjaguwar, has totally knocked me out.  At the core these are organic folk songs influenced by early rock n' roll, soul and Phil Spector's wall-of-sound - the lazy comparisons are M. Ward or Bon Iver (especially considering Peter Pisano's bell-clear falsetto).  However, drummer Brian Moen's dynamic percussion shares the spotlight here, adding another dimension to these songs.  Like The Dodos and Local Natives, rhythm is at the forefront - adding texture and propulsion to the songs.  Enjoy the first two tracks off of the fantastic Inter-Be here:

Peter Wolf Crier - Crutch and Cane
Peter Wolf Crier - Hard As Nails

Before Monday's show at Great Scott, I was curious how the duo would be able to pull the songs off live.  When the pair opened with Crutch and Cane the answer was obvious - the songs sounded even better live.  More intensity, percussion even more upfront, and an incredibly layered sound made possible by bass pedals and vocal looping.  Don't miss Peter Wolf Crier when they open for Heartless Bastards at the Middle East on July 17. 

Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons: Great Scott Allston 2.20.10

Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons' record, Death Won't Send A Letter, is fantastic - but like most good bands, the songs reach another level when played live.  The band's excellent 45 minute set opening for Dawes at Great Scott in Allston showcased a wide range of songs - some catchy, upbeat songs that recall Petty's Heartbreakers, others bittersweet ballads with some great male/female vocals.  Really gave me a new appreciation for the album - looking forward to hearing more from these guys in the future.

Full set is available for download/stream below - think the sound on this one is excellent.  If anyone knows the names of the songs labeled "Unknown" let me know in the comments.  Enjoy!

Angel Of Mine
What Do You Need
So Wrong For Me
Curious Thing
Tennessee
My Heart Would Be There
Calm Down
See It My Way
Unknown
Born Again
In The Deep End
Longer Time At Sea

Note:  recordings are posted with the consent of the artist for personal use - do not sell any recordings found on visible voice.  Please support the artists featured on this page by buying their albums and visiting their websites.  Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons official site

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Justin Townes Earle: Great Scott Allston 3.4.10

Justin Townes Earle at Great Scott March 4, 2010

Justin Townes Earle is the kind of songwriter and performer that reminds me how important real country music is.  With the utter shit that passes for "country" music these days, it seems that real country music is getting increasingly lost behind the redneck pop that is marketed as country music.  Sure, plenty of people can reference Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams or Gram Parsons in conversation -- but when you think of country music, for most people, the first image that comes to mind is Garth Brooks or Taylor Swift.

I don't get the impression that Justin Townes Earle is on a mission to change that, but I think his music has the power to.  His background and musical influences are obvious (um, Justin Townes Earle) -- but this dude clearly loves and appreciates the history of the music he plays.  During his set at Great Scott he took us all on a tour of southern roots music -- folk, honky tonk, blues, -- covering Woody Guthrie, Lightnin' Hopkins and The Replacements (!?).  His originals vary from traditional rave ups to country inflected folk ballads.  Live, the songs come to life even more than on record thanks to a fantastic band (fiddle and upright bass) and captivating stage presence and showmanship.  The full set is offered for stream or download below in excellent sound quality - enjoy!

Poor Fool
They Killed John Henry
Halfway to Jackson
I Don't Care (Woody Guthrie)
What Do You Do When You're Lonesome
Mama's Eyes
Boy Keep Movin'
Ain't Waitin'
A Wanderin'
So Different Blues (Mance Lipscom)
Starter Wont' Start (Lightnin' Hopkins)
Hard Livin'
What I Mean to You
Someday I'll Be Forgiven For This
Ain't Glad I'm Leavin'
Workin' For The MTA
Mama I'm Coming Home
Midnight at the Movies
South Georgia Sugar Babe
Can't Hardly Wait (The Replacements)
Walk Out
Yuma
Close Up The Honky Tonks (Buck Owens)

Full set download (mp3 zip)

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Check out State of Mind for fantastic photos from the show here

Wanted to share this video of Joe Pug and Justin Townes Earle covering Atlantic City by Bruce Springsteen from their show in Carrboro NC.  Love the quote "If you don't like Springsteen, then you don't like Woody Guthrie, which means you don't like songs"

Joe Pug: Great Scott, Allston - 3.4.10

Joe Pug's Nation of Heat EP was one of my favorite releases of 2008 and his set at the Newport Folk Festival last year was one of many highlights of that fantastic weekend.  When i talked to him following his set at Newport he wasn't sure when the debut full-length would be released, despite the fact that it was already done. The wait was well worth it - nearly six months later, The Messager was released on February 16.

I have given the album quite a few spins in the last couple weeks - highly recommended.  The songs sneak up on you, the magic is in the lyrics.  These are songs of doubt and loss, but are at the same time comforting and even uplifting.  Touring behind The Messenger and supporting Justin Townes Earle, Joe Pug played a fantastic 50 minute set featuring songs from both Nation of Heat and The Messenger.  Solo acoustic with electric accompaniment from Andrew Harrison on a few tracks (who notably sports one mean ass beard).

Full set available below for stream/download - sound is excellent despite some audience noise and a bit of distortion at the louder moments.  Enjoy!

Nation of Heat
I Do My Father's Drugs
How Good You Are
Unsophisticated Heart
Nobody's Man
The Door Is Always Open
Speak Plainly Diana
Unknown Song
Not So Sure
Hymn #35
Hymn #101

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Note:  recordings are posted with the consent of the artist for personal use - do not sell any recordings found on visible voice.  Please support the artists featured on this page by buying their albums and visiting their websites.  Joe Pug official site

Surfer Blood: Great Scott, Allston - 3.2.10

It must be difficult to live up to the kind of hype that has been piled on Surfer Blood over the last few months.  On the heels of the release of their debut LP, Astro Coast, last night's show at Great Scott was sold out weeks in advance.

Astro Coast is an album made for blasting from boomboxes on hot summer days.  These songs should explode live - instead, last night's show was tentative and lacked energy.  Maybe my expectations were too high - and stage presence will come with time.  That said, it was a solid set of very good songs, I guess I just expected more given the amount of hype. 

Full show offered in mp3, stream or download.  Vocals are a bit muddy, but overall not a bad recording - enjoy!

Floating Vibes
Take It Easy
Harmonix
Twin Peaks
Fast Jabroni
Anchorage
Catholic Pagans
Swim
New Song
Slow Jabroni

Full show (mp3 zip):  Download here

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Note:  recordings are posted with the consent of the artist for personal use - do not sell any recordings found on visible voice.  Please support the artists featured on this page by buying their albums and visiting their websites.  Surfer Blood on myspace

Dawes: Great Scott, Allston - 2.20.10

Dawes is a four piece from Los Angeles California, touring behind their great debut album North Hills.  On record I can hear elements of The Band in their music (Rick Danko's soulfulness, Robbie's guitar licks and Levon Helm's raw passion), and the unmistakable laid-back vibe that most California bands exude.  Live, however, the songs take on a greater intensity - lyrics are belted with more emotion, guitar solos are longer, crescendos build to higher climaxes. 

 Dawes at Great Scott in Allston - Feb 20, 2010Dawes' recent show at Great Scott was, as far as I can tell, their first headlining show in Boston.  The sold out crowd was ready to party (it was a Saturday night afterall) and the band did not disappoint.  The show was high energy from the start, tight and very well-paced - this is clearly a band that knows what they're doing on stage, a trait that seems harder to come by when blog hype often leads to extensive touring before bands find their legs.  New songs were met with rapt attention, favorites from the debut album North Hills were often nearly drowned out by enthusiastic singalongs.  Standout When My Time Comes was a cathartic end to the main set.  The encore featured a Warren Zevon cover (Lawyers, Guns and Money), album highlight Peace In The Valley and one last singalong to the chorus "i've got a feeling, it's gonna be alright".  I have to admit, while I love this band, I did not expect the crowd to be *that* into the show - it was great.

By the end of the 1 hour 15 minute set, i don't think anyone in the packed and sweaty Great Scott doubted that Dawes is one of the best and hardest working live bands on the road right now.  Check out the full set below in mp3, sound quality is very good:

MP3s:  

When You Call My Name
Give Me Time
Bedside Manner
If I Wanted Someone
Love Is All I Am
How Far We've Come
If You Let Me Be Your Anchor
My Girl To Me
Time Spent In Los Angeles
That Western Skyline
When My Time Comes
Lawyers, Guns and Money (Warren Zevon)
Peace In The Valley
I've Got A Feeling (It's Gonna Be Alright)

Full show (mp3 zip):  Download here

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Photos courtesy of Boston through my eyes

Note:  recordings are posted with the consent of the artist for personal use - do not sell any recordings found on visible voice.  Please support the artists featured on this page by buying their albums and visiting their websites.  Dawes official site