Category: tour

These guys have helped me fall asleep for years and that’s a good thing. Their easy/breezy singer-songwriter stuff is so kind, so gentle, and like a bath in Calgon, it helps set your mind at ease and put your worries aside.

I’ve never seen the Great Lake Swimmers live so I can’t tell you if they’ll lull you to sleep, but I’m hoping to experience their stuff in person some day. They’re touring now to support the recently-released Lost Channels, an album that the New York Press says “belong to a dreamtime” (See! I told you so!)

Apr 10    Atlanta @ The Earl
Apr 11    Asheville @ Grey Eagle
Apr 13    Charlottesville @ Gravity Lounge
Apr 14    Washington @ Black Cat
Apr 15    Philadelphia @ Johnny Brenda’s
Apr 16    Northampton @ Iron Horse Music Hall
Apr 17    New York City @ The Bowery Ballroom
Apr 18    Cambridge @ The Brattle Theatre
Apr 20    Newport @ The Southgate House
Apr 21    Chicago @ Schubas
Apr 22    Madison @ High Noon Saloon
Apr 25    Toronto @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Things don’t kick off until today but it’s always nice to get into Austin the night before the mayhem begins and get re-acquianted with the city. Last night Duffy, Niall and I grabbed dinner at the Jackalope this amazing punk rock bar with even more amazing food (pretty limited to burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches). After reading the Wired blog article, I was tempted to try the Tijuana Hot Dog but instead opted for the Frito Pie Burger (chili, cheese, red onions) and it was probably the best thing I’ll eat all week.

There was plenty of live music going on but not a ton that I wanted to see. We walked by Beerland where Micah from Two Cow Garage was hanging out talking to friends before their performance. Seeing Two Cow Garage the night before SXSW kicks off has been a tradition every year for us but last night everybody had their own plans so I passed too winding up, instead, at the Red-Eyed Fly next door to see Lions.

I wasn’t terribly impressed with the other bands on the bill that I saw (and therefore won’t name them here) but stuck around because I knew the payoff would ultimately be worth it. I caught these guys (with Ohio roots), fronted by Matt Drenik, maybe a year ago in Columbus and really dig their Soundgarden/Rage Against the Machine/Local H aggro-rock style. I’ve said it before (and didn’t mean it as insult so I hope it’s not taken that way) but Lions to me sound like the opposite of Audioslave – instead of Soundgarden’s singer fronting Rage Against the Machine, Lions sound like Rage Against the Machine’s singer fronting Soundgarden.

After the show I got to meet Aunt Bonnie, Matt ‘s mom. Bonnie is my daughter Abbey’s best friend’s mother’s aunt (wow – figure that one out, will ya!).

 

Lions have a few more appearances at SXSW this week so if you’re around and want to hear some great heavier sounding stuff, try to catch them here:

• Wednesday, March 18 @ The Scoot-Inn (11pm)
• Friday, March 20 @ Trophy’s (5pm)

David and Ross just arrived so we’re going to wander around a bit this morning before the music starts. On-tap for today/tonight: The Damnwells, Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer, Duquette Johnston.

Scottish noisemasters Mogwai have lined up tour dates in the U.S. this spring in support of their latest release, The Hawk is Howling.

04/20 Houston, TX- Numbers
04/21 New Orleans, LA- Republic
04/22 Birmingham, AL- Workplay Theatre
04/23 Asheville, NC- Orange Peel
04/24 Carrboro, NC- Cats Cradle
04/25 Philadelphia, PA- Trocadero
04/27 Brooklyn, NY- Music Hall Of Williamsburg
04/28 Brooklyn, NY- Music Hall Of Williamsburg
04/29 Brooklyn, NY- Music Hall Of Williamsburg
05/01 Boston, MA- Wilbur Theatre
05/02 Northampton, MA- Pearl Street
05/03 Montreal, QUE- Metropolis
05/04 Toronto, ON- Phoenix
05/05 Buffalo, NY- Tralf Music Hall
05/06 Pontiac, MI- Crofoot Ballroom
05/08 Chicago, IL – Congress Theatre
05/09 Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall
05/10 Minneapolis, MN- First Avenue
05/11 Omaha, NE- The Slowdown
05/12 Denver, CO- Bluebird Theatre
05/13 Salt Lake City, UT- In The Venue
05/15 San Diego, Ca- Belly Up Tavern
05/16 Los Angeles, CA- Orpheum Theatre

Mogwai bassist Dominic Aitchison will beat the rest of his band to the U.S. in order to play a few weeks worth of shows with his other band, Crippled Black Phoenix.

4/2 – Beat Kitchen (Chicago IL)
4/3 – Magic Stick (Detroit MI)
4/4 – Ravari Room (Columbus OH)
4/5 – Thirty First Street Pub (Pittsburgh PA)
4/7 – Great Scott (Boston MA)
4/8 – Soundlab (Buffalo NY)
4/9 – Sneaky Dee’s (Toronto ON)
4/10 – Zaphods (Ottawa ON)
4/11 – Katacombes (Montreal QC)
4/12 – Mercury Lounge (New York)
4/14 – Kung Foo Corner (Philadelphia PA)
4/15 – Talking Head (Baltimore MD)
4/16 – Soapbox Laundro-Lounge (Wilmington NC)
4/17 – Music Farm (Charleston SC)

Benjy Ferree’s new CD – Come Back to the Five and Dime Bobby Dee Bobby Dee -  is available digitally TODAY and will be available in physical form on Feb.17.

To promote the album, Ferree’s eulogy to ’50s teenage pop star Bobby Driscoll, the singer will play a handful of dates with Tim Fite before a few appearances at SXSW.

Here are the dates:

Feb 19 TT the Bear’s Cambridge, Massachusetts
Feb 20 Union Hall Brooklyn, New York
Feb 21 M Room Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Feb 22 Thunderbird Cafe Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Feb 23 Beachland Tavern Cleveland, Ohio
Feb 24 The Pike Room Pontiac, Michigan
Feb 25 Schubas Chicago, Illinois
Feb 26 Northside Tavern Cincinnati, Ohio
Feb 27 Rumba Cafe Columbus, Ohio
Feb 28 Black Cat (Record Release Party!) Washington, DC
Mar 18 – 21 SXSW Austin, TX