Album Review - Echoes of the Outlaw Roadshow - Counting Crows

Counting Crows shows are not just shows, they are an experience, a wondrous musical journey. The myriad of emotions the band puts you through is staggering. Echoes of the Outlaw Roadshow captures that feeling so well, that it seems as if you are there, in the audience, witnessing the magic. The recordings on this album perfectly reflect what a Counting Crows show feels like; the guitars, the vocals, the harmonies, Jim's intensity as he counts off for songs, Dan's hat. The only thing that's missing is the "Lean on Me" intro and the "California Dreamin" outro. Recorded over several months (June, October and November, 2012) and multiple cities (New Orleans, Vienna, Virginia, Anaheim, California, Huntington, New York, Austin and Huston, Texas) on Counting Crows' summer and fall tour, Echoes flows as one complete concert thanks to expert mixing by Shawn Dealey.

Opening the record is a favorite of mine, a song that was included as an iTunes bonus track on Underwater Sunshine: "Girl From the North Country". Recorded in New Orleans, Louisiana, "North Country" is just Adam Duritz on vocals and David Immergück (Immy) on acoustic guitar. Though not a song that one would think to open a live album, it is a beautiful example of what this band is capable of; the combination of Adam's voice, delicate yet powerful, and Immy's guitar, telling it's own unique story, is hypnotizing. It leaves you yearning for more, excited for what is to follow.

"North Country" leads into a Counting Crows live staple: "Round Here." This performance of "Round Here" has a trippier intro than I'm used to, but it works, I dig it. One of the mysteries of  a Counting Crows show is not only what songs they are going to include in the set list that night, which is usually made up after sound check, but also what songs, what lyrics to other songs, are they going to weave into their own. There are a handful of songs which Duritz will slip into other songs in the middle of his own, and "Round Here" is one of them. On this track he includes lyrics from Van Morrison's "Sweet Thing" and also the "come outside with me..." lyrics I've heard before in a few other performances of "Round Here". I love when Duritz does this, with any song. He adds a different feel, a different personality to the song each time he sings it. It may be a song you've heard live a dozen times, but he keeps it changing, he keeps it unique.

"Untitled (Love Song)," also one of my favorite songs from Underwater Sunshine, follows "Round Here." I've heard this song live many times, and I have to say, this is one of my favorite performances of the song. It is so full of energy, so full of life here.

I think what I like best about this live album is that the songs that were chosen to be on it are not your standard Counting Crows songs, there are songs on here that one wouldn't hear often, songs that the casual listener may not really know. Sure, there's the absolutely amazingly brilliant rendition of "Rain King," with lyrics from Elbow's "Lippy Kids," a song which since hearing it here has become a favorite, and Elbow becoming a favorite band, you've got "Round Here," you've got other tracks from Underwater Sunshine, including the harmonic "Start Again," and "Hospital," showing off Immy's bass skill and Millard Powers' acoustic guitar, and the album closer "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere." But this time in the mix we get some deep cuts, we get songs that fans love, songs that fans like me hope to hear someday live, songs that we include on our perfect set lists.

One of these happy they're there, but somewhat unexpected songs is "Carriage." A track from the 2002 album Hard Candy, "Carriage" features a trumpet line, which without a trumpet player is difficult to replicate onstage. For this show, the band was joined by Andre "Don" Carter, who takes the trumpet line and makes it his own. This Desert Life's "I Wish I was a Girl" and "Four Days" pop up in the set. "Four Days" precedes "Hospital," and like on "Hospital" Immy takes the bass, and Millard plays the distorted electric guitar.

Also appearing on this recording is the Recovering the Satellites track "Mercury," the Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil", another favorite of mine, from Hard Candy, "Up All Night (Frankie Miller Goes to Hollywood)" with members from the other Outlaw Roadshow bands on backing vocals, and two of my favorite songs from my favorite Counting Crows' record, Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings, "Sundays" and "Le Ballet d'Or." "Le Ballet d'Or" is on my list of all time favorite songs, not just Counting Crows songs, but all songs. I was very excited to see it on the track list for this album, and upon hearing it was completely blown away. Adam Duritz brings great emotion and feeling to the song, and of course, being me, I really, really love Immy's acoustic guitar work in the song (the man is fan-damn-tastic.)

If you were lucky enough to catch one of these Outlaw Roadshow's last summer, get this album to relive the magic. If you didn't get to see one, get this album to see what all the fuss was/is about. This band is truly amazing; they have a stranglehold on the top spot in my life (especially after that show that was streamed live via YouTube from Sydney last week)

The album right now is only available in the UK, but you can order it through amazon.co.uk or the UK iTunes store, and will be released in the US on 11/11/13, again you can order it on CD or vinyl from Amazon or Counting Crows's merch page.

Album Review - Fits of Reason - Brown Bird

With the release their newest album Fits of Reason, Rhode Island based duo Brown Bird proves that they are more than just a folk duo, they are a ridiculously good folk duo; Dave Lamb and MorganEve Swain continue to wow me with their talent. A follow-up to 2011's Salt for Salt, Fits of Reason has a different feel to it than Salt for Salt, which was more Americana, with hints of Eastern European flair. Fits of Reason is riddled with Eastern European/Gypsy influences with bits of Americana thrown in. With this record we see the musical growth of the band, with the addition of new instruments and expansion of new sounds. Fits of Reason helps solidify Brown Bird's status as one of my favorite bands.

The lead off track on the record, Seven Hells, feels like a perfect Brown Bird track, the folk sounds I know and love is there, but then, wait, what's that? An electric guitar. Genius. The inclusion of the electric guitar brings a whole new level to the sound. Also used on the next track, Nine Eyes, the electric guitar's trippy, psych rock sound is a welcome addition. The psychedelic eastern European folk rock sound is not one that is heard often, but here it is flawless.

MorganEve Swain takes over lead vocals on Bow for Blade. Again here we drift off from your typical folk sound. Sure, the basis is there, but with a twist. This time it's Swain's vocals, which are memories of those from the 1940s, like the Andrew's Sisters or similar, but with that heavy folk influence I love. Along with Swain's vocals, her violin, nay, fiddle, playing is perfect, the bass line a superb compliment to the song. Bow for Blade is easily one of my favorite tracks on the record.

The layered sound and impeccable instrumentation transcends every track on the record. Many of the songs have more instrumental parts than vocal parts, but that's totally OK, for Brown Bird, it works. Fits of Reason has two straight instrumental tracks: Iblis and Abednego. Iblis is the far more complex of the two, with guitar, violin, tambourine and percussion all lending a hand in the magic. Through the song you're drawn into scenes of Eastern European or Middle Eastern festivals, bands of dancing Gypsy's, or other various wonderful things. Seriously, close your eyes and listen to Iblis and tell me it's not freaking fantastic. Abednego is short and sweet; Lamb's acoustic guitar singing you a brief instrumental interlude, a mellow melody, with the personality of a love song.

Abednego leads into Threads of Measure. This song not only shows off Lamb and Swain's musical skills; the guitar and cello "talking" to each other, but also Lamb's lyrical skills. Really the whole record is full of brilliant lyrics. The first listen though the record you almost get too caught up in the music to notice the lyrics, but then you do, and one song after another, you get sucked in, you get thinking, you just want to listen over and over and over.

The closing track on the record, Caves, opens with layered guitars, Lambs vocals, then Swain's, layered as to sound like they're singing a round, like the song is meant to be played and sung around a campfire. The lyrics of this song with haunt you to your soul:

"The corners of the heart are caves and echo with the blood curdling cries of babes we've sheltered in shadow of a doubt where faith is abated by design"

As you listen to Fits of Reason you almost forget that Brown Bird is just two people. The tracking and layering of this record is amazing. It's the same when you see them live too, you close your eyes and forget there's just two people on stage, they can produce many of the same sounds on stage. It's pretty fantastic.

If you can, be sure to catch them on tour this spring/summer. A list of tour dates can be found on their website, brownbird.net. While you're there go ahead and purchase Fits of Reason and if you don't have it Salt for Salt (you can get them both on vinyl, of you're into that sort of thing. Personally, I think Salt for Salt sounds way better on vinyl, and I bet Fits of Reason will as well when my copy arrives.)

Music, Mayhem & Memories - SXSW 2013

On Friday March 8th I found myself making a musical pilgrimage of sorts. My destination: South By Southwest. I was heading from Spokane to Austin, Texas to immerse myself in a week of something I love more than anything else in the world: music. South by Southwest is arguably the biggest music festival in the world, and I was beyond excited to be a part of the madness this year. 

There were two main showcases I was going to Austin specifically for. The first was The Outlaw Roadshow, presented by Ryan Spaulding (of Ryan's Smashing Life) and Adam Duritz of Counting Crows. The Outlaw Roadshow was a two day event this year. The showcase was held at Rusty's Austin, a venue with three stages, so bands could be playing simultaneously.  

I saw so many amazing bands over those 2 days. Some I had seen before, either last summer with the touring Outlaw Roadshow or last October at the Outlaw Roadshow at CMJ, and some were bands I had not seen, some that were new to me, but were excited to see nonetheless. 

The Susan Constant

Day one of the Outlaw Roadshow, March 9, was opened by a band called The Susan Constant. This Boston based band was one I hadn't heard before. I really liked their sound. They have a sort of REM sound/feel to them, their record Shapes is a really good listen. I recommend checking it out. 

Little Brave

Next up was a favorite of mine, Little Brave. She was playing outside on the patio stage. I have been a fan of Little Brave's music for a while, but had yet to see her live. As expected, she was fantastic. Little Brave (Stephanie Macias) was backed that night by Daniel Thomas Phipps and K Phillips (who would also play later that night with his band, The Concho Pearls.) One thing that I love about Little Brave is that her instrument of choice is not your typical guitar, but a baritone ukulele. Little Brave actually holds the record for "band I saw most during SXSW" with a total of four shows. Each show was great, each had it's own feel. Two of them were with the "band," one was just her and K Phillips, and the last was a solo show, just Steph and her ukulele. 

Roem Baur

After Little Brave I wandered between the sets of Fort Francis and Roem Baur. I'll admit that I was slightly taken aback by Roem's set. When you see him, dressed all fancy in his waistcoat, you don't expect what comes out of his mouth to come out of his mouth. I saw Roem twice that week, and both times I was impressed. He totally tears it up on the guitar, his vocals smooth and polished, yet full of feeling. His cover of Bruce Springsteen's I'm On Fire was a joy to experience. 

Golden Bloom was up next on the patio stage outside. Golden Bloom is another band of whom I am a big fan. I had seen them at the Outlaw Roadshow at CMJ in October and was very much looking forward to seeing them again. I had plenty of chances, as they were playing no less then six shows that week. I, however, only saw three. Golden Bloom's set included songs from their recently released EP No Day Like Today, like Flying Mountain and Deliver it for Me, but also some songs from their previous record, Fan the Flames, including a favorite of mine, and it seemed, the crowd as well, Theme for an Adventure at Sea which features guitarist Jeff Patlingrao using a butter knife as a sort of slide on his guitar. Pretty frickin' amazing, actually. It started to rain just as Golden Bloom was finishing their set, which was actually sort of fitting, as their last song was Theme for an Adventure at Sea. 

Golden Bloom

 

To get out of the rain, it was back inside for Wisconsin based PHOX. PHOX is from the same small town in Wisconsin as another favorite band of mine, Daniel and the Lion (who were slated to play on the second day of the Outlaw Roadshow.) It's kinda hard to pick one word to describe the sound of PHOX: kinda poppy, kinda jazzy, kinda fantastic. Lead singer Monica Martin's vocals are amazing. They have the sound of an old school soul singer, with a refreshing lightness. 

Following PHOX, the last band I saw that night was K Phillips and the Concho Pearls. K's record American Girls has of late become one played quite often in my car/flat/ears. I really, really, like it. His country twang with a Motown vibe is a welcome addition to today's, yes I'll say it, crappy country music industry; K Phillips really needs to become a household name. Witnessing his performances is like being at a good ol' southern church sermon. One of my favorite things about his band's set was the horn section; just a saxophone and a trumpet, but it made the set that much more fun. There's just not enough horns in music these days.  

Sadly, I didn't catch the last few acts of the night. There was a crazy (well, crazy to me) Texas thunderstorm rolling in, and frankly, I hate thunderstorms, so I cowardly ran back to my hotel to hide from the storm.

Cask Mouse

Seven days later, March 16, was day two of the Outlaw Roadshow. I'll be totally honest here, this was the day I was most excited for, this was the day that had the most bands on the bill that I love, but also some new bands that I very much enjoy now that I've heard them. 

First up, outside on the patio stage was Cask Mouse, a super fun country band from Massachusetts, not somewhere you'd expect a country band to come from. This band was so full of energy, so full of personality. They traded off lead vocals between three singers, and had an fantastic fiddle player, because, you know, if you're gonna play in Texas, you gotta have a fiddle in the band. Their energetic brand of rock & roll influenced country music is a throwback to the Charlie Daniels Band. This is another band who I'd love to hear on my local country/western radio station.

Steven Roth

Back inside, Los Angeles' Steven Roth was getting his groove on. Roth was one of two acts at this year's Roadshow who beat out more than 3,500 bands in a contest through ReverbNation for a spot in the line-up. I think that Ryan and Adam made a great pick here. Roth reminded me of a funkier Black Crowes, and he wore a top hat, which equals instant bonus points with me. His debut record Let It In flows like a 1970's funk/soul/rock & roll record, with memories of Joe Cocker, and at some points, hits notes of a more grown up, matured, Huey Lewis & The News (this is a good thing. Really.)

Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons

Next up on the main stage was Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons. I'd heard nothing but good things about Joe Fletcher, but really hadn't listened to his music, which is good time-y, foot stompin' folk music. His harmonica player was crazy good, and his set lots of fun. 

After Joe Fletcher I wandered outside into the set from Fantasmes, a band from Puerto Rico. After a couple songs, which were really good, by the way, I made my way back inside for the first of my favorite bands that day: Air Traffic Controller. Another band who I discovered at the Outlaw Roadshow in NYC, Air Traffic Controller is a super fun, poppy band with infectious melodies and rhythms. Their newest record, Nordo, is fantastic, and was included on several "Best of 2012" lists, including my own and Ryan's Smashing Life's. As expected their set was fantastic. They played many of my favorite tunes: Test 1,2, You Know Me, Hurry Hurry, If You Build It, and Bad Axe, MI (I think I'm missing a song or two, but there was a lot to remember from this week.) 

Air Traffic Controller

The order in which I saw the rest of the bands has been lost in my mind. The set times on the schedule card in front of me do not reflect the actual set times, as things got moved around that afternoon, the next few bands are not in any sort or order, but that really doesn't matter, does it?

Pretty sure the next band I saw was Mellow Bravo. This Boston based rock & roll outfit is pretty frickin' amazing live. Lead singer Keith Pierce is one of the most exhausting and entertaining performers out there. He had been provided with a cordless microphone, and he used it to his advantage, running around not just the stage, but also into the crowd and outside. During one song Dan Nicklin of OldJack joined Mellow Bravo on stage (sadly OldJack wasn't playing the Roadshow, that would have been rad though.)  

Daniel and the Lion

Back outside I caught the last couple songs from Lucy Rose. The sweet voiced, British songstress will be joining Counting Crows on their UK tour this spring. After Lucy Rose I hung around outside, waiting for (probably my most favorite band playing that day) Daniel and the Lion. I had seen Daniel and the Lion a couple days earlier, at another showcase where they shared the bill with Golden Bloom, Roem Baur, and other Outlaw Roadshow alums, Jay Nash and Matt Sucich. I can honestly say that Daniel and the Lion are one of my favorite bands, and one that I was most excited to see in Austin. When they played the Outlaw Roadshow in NYC, it was just Jimmie and Daniel. This time they brought a whole band with them, and they were amazing. Both shows incredible (if you want to, you can download their set from the showcase at Hyde Park Bar & Grill here. Only $5, totally worth it.) During their set at the Outlaw Roadshow, Jimmie Linville was so intense, so deep into the songs, that during Forever he nearly brought me to tears. It was seriously that good. Monica Martin of PHOX joined the band on stage for Lavender and On Berlin, songs which she sang back up for on their record Death Head. 

Here's a video of Daniel and the Lion doing one of my favorite songs: Flash Flood. Go ahead, watch it. I'll wait.

Field Report

Next up was another band I was quite excited to see, another band I love: Field Report. I was lucky enough to see Field Report over the summer when they were touring with Counting Crows. I absolutely love their music, their record. If you have a Daytrotter membership, I highly recommend checking out their set from the Barn on the 4th show, if you don't have a Daytrotter membership, what's wrong with you? Get one. 
Just as I expected, Field Report's set was brilliant. The emotion and passion that Chris Porterfield brings into his songs is intoxicating. They played my favorite songs from their record: Fergus Falls (watch a video here,) Taking Alcatraz (oh, look! More video!) and I Am Not Waiting Anymore, and also a new song that was really good (everything they do is really good.) 

Following Field Report I meandered back outside to catch the tail end of Star & Micey, who were doing an "unplugged" song, standing in the crowd, playing and singing, sadly it was quite loud out there and I really couldn't hear anything, but I've put them on my list of bands to check out. 


The last band I saw that day was one I'd been very eager to see since I heard their record for the first time: Filligar. The Chicago based band of brothers Johnny, Teddy and Pete Mathias and long time friend, Casey Gibson, are good old fashioned rock & roll. Just as expected, Filligar put on a killer set, everyone in the crowd was super into it. They played a bunch of new songs, such as Knock Yourself Out and Trepador, and also a fan favorite, from their album The Nerve, Robbery (Shocking Love). At the end of their set the band invited other Outlaws in the crowd to join them, Matt Sucich, Tyler Stenson, Ryan Spaulding, Frank Germano, Chris Fullerton and Adam Duritz joined Filligar onstage to sing the Bob Dylan song I Shall Be Released. This was as amazing as you'd expect it to be. Luckily for you, someone in the audience had enough sense to film this musical magic. 

Seriously, the Outlaw Roadshow just keeps getting better and better with every show. I can't wait to see what Ryan and Adam have in store for us in October for CMJ. These shows have been some of the best experiences of my life, and I am so glad that I have been able to be a part of them, part of the Outlaw Roadshow family.  Not only for the amazing music, and bands I've discovered, but also for all the friends I've made through them. Who doesn't want to be an Outlaw?

The second showcase on my scheduled agenda was The Nekkid Armadilla Extravaganza, presented by Tim Slusher and Chris Fullerton. This showcase only had two acts who I had heard of prior to the show, but again I was eager to hear the bands which were new to me. 

I was lucky enough be able to help out with this event: hanging up posters, getting the venue ready, keeping snacks stocked. All in all, the Nekkid Armadilla Extravaganza was a really, really fun night; The music was great, the company was great.

Sadly, for reason's unknown to me, my brain seems to have blocked out a couple of the sets from that night. I'm going over the line-up and can't seem to recall any details from couple of the bands' sets. So, I'll just go over what I remember. Sorry to the bands I've forgotten. And again, some of these sets may be out of order.

Opening up the show that night was Coby Brown. Brown is one of the artists whose song Counting Crows chose to cover on last year's Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did on Our Summer Vacation.) Though Brown's "original" of Hospital is lyrically different than the Counting Crows version, they did keep it at the same emotional level as Brown's. Being a cancer survivor, Coby Brown's music is heartfelt and personal.Brown pulls from those experiences to bring out the depth and felling that flows in his songs. Seeing him perform live was very cool. 

Coby Brown

Next up was Denver's My Body Sings Electric. Chosen from more than 200 bands, My Body Sings Electric was winner of the Nekkid Armadilla's ReverbNation contest. The band had a good stage presence, lead singer Brandon Whalen did a great job at keeping the crowd engaged, they seemed to be a big hit with everyone. I really dug them as well. One of my favorite moments from their set was their cover of Tears for Fears' Everybody Wants to Rule the World. I love Tears for Fears, and that's probably my favorite song of theirs. Usually I'm very picky and protective when it comes to covers, but they did a very, very good job. 

My Body Sings Electric

New York's Swear and Shake swung the night into a folky mood. I'm really digging this re-emergence of indie folk music, and Swear and Shake has been a pleasant addition to my playlist of folk bands.  

Little Brave played this showcase as well, making this show number three of her's that I saw that week. He was backed again by K Phillips on keys and Daniel Thomas Phipps on bass. Just as before, she put on an amazing set. Her use to party poppers during Under Wings was a fun addition to the set, she had used them at the Outlaw Roadshow as well. This set, however, included a performance of the elusive fan favorite song, Fact or Fiction, Little Brave's homage to The X-Files. Being a big X-Files fan, I found this to be totally awesome. 

Little Brave

The second to last band to play was Mobley.  A unique blend of rock, pop, and funk with a touch of dance rhythms, Mobley is a super fun band to watch, to experience. You get sucked into the groove, into the songs. Charismatic frontman, Anthony Watkins II  transitions seamlessly from keys to guitar, bass to a simple snare drum, played with the assistance of nearby audience members. Mobley is band I'd love to see again, a band I'd love to see make it big. Head over to their website and check out their music, pick up their new record Young Adult Fiction, it's really good.

The last band that night was a young alternative/punk band from Jacksonville, Florida called the Pinz. These guys, and girl, were really good. These kids could go places. They were the perfect band to close out the night. In their sound I could hear the likes of early Green Day and various '80s punk bands. I really liked their cover of The Who's The Kids are Alright, again with me and the covers, but I dug it; they did it right. 

After eight days of music, friends and memories in Austin, I did not want to go home, back to the real world. The whole week was fantastically surreal. This is my life, I get to do this stuff, I know these people. I get recognized by bands, by people in these bands, some of whom I didn't even know knew my name, some of whom it still boggles my mind that they know my name. 

This is the part of the post where I'm going to bombard you with photos of me with people from bands/friends, because frankly, I couldn't be more proud of my life at this point, that I've gotten to do all of these amazing things and meet these amazing people, so just deal with it.

Ryan Spaulding, Me, Adam Duritz

K Phillips, Tim Slusher, Me, Little Brave

Me, Dan Nicklin (OldJack)

Dave Munro, Me, Rich Munro (Air Traffic Controller)

Josh Cohen, Me, Shawn Fogel (Golden Bloom)

Jimmie Linville (Daniel and the Lion) Me