Q-Tip Tonight!

Tonight is the Q-Tip show at the House of Snooze and I can't wait! I never got to see A Tribe Called Quest back in the day or on their recent reunion...so, this is the next best thing. Besides, e'rybody know Tip's the main man anyway.

Here is his newest vidie off The Renaissance, called "Renaissance Rap." Nice. It's like Q-Tip's version of the Bourne series. I'll be covering the show for DC9 and I'll post a link to the "Last Night Review" tomorrow once it's posted.

*EDIT* Here is the link to the "Last Night Review" for the show on DC9.

One thing I forgot to write in my review was the greatness/awkwardness of "Sucka Nigga." That's one of my favorite tunes off of Midnight Marauders, but, it was super awkward to be a Caucasian singing it. It was one of those "should I?" moments. So, I just went with it. It's not everyday Q-Tip is 10 feet in front of me, ya know?

Under The Cover

I'm not really sure what the deal is with Of Montreal.  I know these guys are big fans, but, I don't really see what the huh-bub is all about.  I mean, Paul Rudd likes them so why can't I?  Every blog I read has a lot of posts about them and I've noticed Of Montreal is a big fan of the cover songs.  So, I was a readin' one of the blogs today and they posted OM's cover of my favoritest John Lennon tune, "Instant Karma" (Sorry "Imagine," I didn't want you to find out like this!)

So, I figured 'what the hell, I'll give 'em a chance.'  I'm sorry that I did.  This is the worst version of a cover song--any cover song--ever.  I tried, they failed, sorry.

MP3:  Of Montreal - Instant Karma

Yeah, They Local

So, I've been diggin' the hell out of the new Eastwood album, Everythings Personal. It's an album that combines the many elements of the band. Their sound can't really be described very easily, a little rock, a little country and little pit of pop sensibility and a dash of that sweet Bluegrass sound. Songs like "Givin' Up, Givin' In" has the countryfied-pop sound that is very reminiscent of The Eagles.

Their sound is approachable and very easy to get hooked into. The stand out track on Everythings Personal is "Right Place, Wrong Time." It's a situation a lot of couples find themselves in with the person they are in a relationship with. 'I love you, I really do. But, I really hate putting up with your shit. We've had this talk 100 times, remember?' If you have any questions about the tone of this song, just listen to that sweet, sweet steal guitar and you'll know this song was meant for lookin' back. Or forward, just depends on which side of the relationship your on.

Another stand out track is "They'll Never Take Me Alive," a nice little rocked up tracked about breakin' out of the hooskow and, well, they ain't gonna take him back alive. And, then there's "Natalie"--the I'm sorry for cheatin' on you song that is actually sweet and makes you want to forgive the guy for doin' 'er wrong.

Yep, Eastwood carries on the strong Dallas tradition in the Americana, Alt-Country and Roots-Rock that sounds just a great in the car as it does on stage. Whether they make music a full-time career or just for shits and giggles Eastwood are a damned good band.

MP3: Eastwood - Right Place, Wrong Time

Musical Obsession

Yeah, so, I've been listening to "Down Boy" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs quite a bit the last two weeks.  I'm not sure what it is about the song that gets me in the gut.  I like the loud/quiet part of the song, and I like thinking Karen O is telling me what to do.  And, it could also be about the energy of the loud parts.  But, overall, I think it's just the rockin' vibe the whole things gives out.  To me, it's the YYY's at their best.

MP3:  Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Down Boy

"...Speaking as a child of the 90's"

So, I don't really know a whole lot about Mike Watt other than he was in the Minutemen then struck out on his own.  Oh, and once my brother saw him play somewhere and some dude kept yelling "Mike, where's Jay?!" several times throughout the show.  To which mike finally told him he was in a new band or something.

So, I was looking around for "The Golden State" mp3 when I happened upon this little gem from Berkeley Place--a live show of Watt's from '95 featuring Eddie Vedder, Dave Grohl, Pat Smear and William Goldsmith of Sunny Day Real Estate!  I believe the writer put it perfectly when he said it's a "grunge supergroup."  Indeed.  But, I listened to their version of Pearl Jam's "Habit" and I really liked it.  Mike's hittin' the bass a little to hard, but, that's what punks do, right?  But, the best part comes when I believe Watt is the one who says the line "Speaking as a child of the 90's," excellente. 

MP3: Mike Watt & Friends - Habit

Local Bar Support Local Music

I'm not sure who saw this on DC9, but, it's a good thing for local musicians.  The Libertine is going to play only music from local bands on Monday nights.  When I first read it I wondered how they were going to fit a band inside that tiny place.  Then I read a little further and saw the DJ will be spinning music solely from local bands.  And, as I read a little further I read that they will play just about anything local if you recommend it to them.  

So, if you're having a bad case of the Mondays, hit up The Libertine and listen to good tunes as you drink away your worries about the "Bob's" coming in to interview you for your job.

My list of who they need to play:

Radiant*, Dove Hunter, Sarah Jaffe, Robert Gomez, Eastwood, Jason Bales, 100 Damned Guns, Elkhart, I Love Math/Deathray Davies and The New Frontiers.  

Play them ASAP!