Tonight I was supposed to go see Jesse Malin in concert. He’s one of my faves and I love his new albumNew York Before The War. I even sent out a mass email a few weeks ago urging my friends to go see him. But he cancelled the show about a week and a half ago. (So much for my skills as a concert promoter. I’m no Don Kirshner.) He played Chicago last night, and he’s playing Pittsburgh tomorrow night, so it’s not like Cincinnati would’ve been out of the way. Looks like he booked an in-studio performance at a Pittsburgh radio station for tomorrow afternoon instead of coming here tonight. Can’t say as I blame him, as he usually doesn’t draw well here. Still, I’m crushed. Maybe next tour. Until then…
I saw a fantastic concert last night by Chuck Prophet and his band, the Mission Express. I’ve enjoyed his albums for quite some time, but this was my first time seeing him live and he crushed it out of the park. He looked a bit like Andy Kaufman, tall and skinny and resplendent in a suit that was some sort of pinkish-red. (I’m sure Sherwin-Williams has a name for the color, but I don’t.)
Chuck and his killer band (which includes his wife Stephanie Finch on keyboards, James DePrato on lead guitar, Kevin T. White on bass and Vicente Rodriguez on drums) rocked the Southgate House Revival (which is an old church) with a religious fervor. They played several tunes from his stellar new album, Night Stalker. Here’s a recent live in-studio performance they did at KEXP in Seattle, featuring 3 songs from the new release, as well as a tune he co-wrote with Alejandro Escovedo.
Chuck is a true road warrior – just a man and his band in a van. He even sings an ode to their mode of transportation on the new album with his song “Ford Econoline.” It would be easy to become jaded playing night after night in small clubs, but Chuck appeared to be enjoying himself immensely, even coming into the crowd to play guitar during his song “Willie Mays Is Up at Bat.” If Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express come to your town… and trust me, they will… please go check them out. You’ll love them. And “Love Is The Only Thing.”
I didn’t even know MySpace still existed, but apparently it does, and you can check out more Chuck there.
If you think National Public Radio is just a bunch of news anchors who speak in very calm, measured tones and talk shows about books or cooking, guess again.
NPR actually rocks. Their entire music section is fantastic. One of my favorite features is “First Listen” where you can preview albums in their entirety prior to their release date. Right now they’re streaming new releases from Dwight Yoakam, Calexico, The Mountain Goats, Waxahatchee, Wire, Jessie Baylin and Toro Y Moi. Take that, Pitchfork!
I’m talking about Jesse Malin, of course. (Shame on you for conjuring up Rick Springfield… actually shame on me.)
Jesse Malin is a rock star, or would be if most of the world weren’t too busy watching American Pop Idol Star Voice crap. Over the course of his long career, he’s put out albums that have been critically acclaimed yet commercially ignored. I’ve seen him in concert a few times, as a solo artist and with a band, and even when the crowd was rather sparse, Jesse gave his all. A recent interview on Bearded.com sums up his attitude:
‘There’s a lot of hard work; long hours, bad food, soundchecks, so much waiting around but the benefits are getting to play your songs for people and having your outlet. You do it all for that hour or so on stage… you get to do things that other people dream of’.
‘Some nights you’re staying in a five star hotel playing to a sold-out house or sometimes you’re playing a Monday night in the middle of nowhere for 40 people and you’ve got to give it to them. You’re staying at the worst hotel, it’s freezing and the van breaks down’ He pauses for a second, ‘But every job has its Mondays’.
Jesse Malin is on tour – if he comes anywhere near you, please go see him. If you’re not completely blown away by his talent, I’ll give you a full refund of your ticket price. But don’t just take my word for it, take it from Mr. Green Day:
Here’s the video for a song from the new album:
And now two more of my favorite Jesse tunes…
(One of the best lines ever written: “I sometimes lie awake until sunrise, wondering how we become what we despise.”)
There’s the bro-country music that gets played on commercial radio stations (pickup truck + six-pack of beer + girl in shorts = Top 10 Hit), and then there’s real country music. Jim Lauderdale is the real deal. His new album I’m A Song is fantastic, right up there with the best stuff from George Jones, Merle Haggard and other real country artists.
You know you’re getting old when the “alternative” bands you grew up listening to are now playing casino ballrooms:
The Pixies and Alice In Chains are both playing at the local casino this summer. The same casino that features a “Super Seniors Slot Tournament” every Wednesday!
What’s a guy to do when he’s too old to rock out anymore, but too young to qualify for the Senior Slot tourney?
Of course, perhaps the reason that both bands are playing a casino (besides being 20 years removed from their ‘hit’ songs) is the fact that both are missing key members. To me, the Pixies without Kim Deal ain’t the Pixies, and AIC without Layne Staley is very sad in more ways than one.
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