Weekend report | Who did you see this weekend?

The Britney Spears review gave B2R its largest day of traffic in the last four months. 

But there were several shows since Thursday in this town that showcased actual music. 

So tell us: Who did you see this weekend and how was it?

| David Frese, The Star

Comments

[andrew]

steve coleman @ the blue room. check out plastic sax review here:

http://plasticsax.blogspot.com/2009/04/steve-coleman-at-blue-room.html

[groove echo]

Ditto on Steve Coleman. Would have liked to see some of the other M-Base clan (David Gilmore, Gene Lake, Andy Milne, etc.), but it was an okay affair. Steve's 'snap' is what grabs me and the band wasn't necessarily 'snappy'!

[Penny]

Friday night Carolyn Wonderland was at Knucklehead’s and played to only a couple hundred people, at most.

I spoke with her before the show and she was very sweet, soft-spoken, friendly, and willing to talk while she was diligently setting up her gear. No roadies, no security, no managers, just her drummer, Mike "Lefty" Lefkowitz and keyboard player, Cole El-Saleh, doing sound check as people were arriving.

But when the show started, the quiet, seemingly shy, petite woman came out of her shell and blew the place away. Her scorching vocals and intricately picked, lightening fast guitar work lived up to her reputation. She can play a rockin’ guitar better than the best; Jimi Hendrix would be humbled. And she’s got that Bonnie Raitt bluesy-ness and proficiency on the slide guitar that gives you goose bumps.

She did about nine songs before the break, including a rendition of the Hendrix favorite, “The Wind Cries Mary” on electric mandolin; and then returned after 30 minutes to do about eight more songs, which included the title track to her album, “Miss Understood” that she performs on lap steel.

It was so illuminating to spend an evening in the presence of a pro, someone completely devoted to her craft, without all the frills and baggage and hype.

This woman is oozing with talent and is guaranteed to please. In my estimation, you can’t do much better than that.

(I have some good video footage posted on YouTube and I'd post it here if I could. Some pretty good pictures, too.)

[Charley.]

Flee The Seen was as solid as they've ever been in their career at their finale last Friday. They gave an inspired performance that a lot of bigger bands could take notes from.

[Randy]

"actual music"
haha this might be the best post ever!

[Chubby]

Wednesday - Brave Combo at Knuckleheads. Highly original and unusual. First time I've heard Bach played on the harmonica!

Thursday - Willie Stradlin at Knuckleheads. A Red Dirt/Southern Rock style band. Just one of thousands of smaller bands playing their hearts out every night all over the country.

Friday - Johnny Winter at the Voodoo Lounge. Superb guitar work, always a pleasure to watch. A woman threw a rather large bra up on stage (still warm!!)
I didn't realize that Fast Johnny Ricker was opening, he played a tasty little set.
Incredibly over the top security to get into the venue though.
I was intending to swing by Knuckleheads afterwards to see what was left of the Carolyn Wonderland show, but thought it might be just about over by the time I arrived so I went home instead. Penny, do you recall what time she went on stage?

Saturday - Knuckleheads again. The Roosters, a local three piece, who then morphed into a five piece and became Junebug and the Porchlights. As the former I was knocked out by the playing ability of the guitarist and bass player, KC has so much local talent. As Junebug the emphasis shifted a bit towards prop comedy, but it all went down well with the crowd.
Headlining were Blue Voodoo, who I really wish I could have liked more than I did. The lady singing had a great voice and put a lot into the show, and the band was good too, but there was something missing for me. I think many others agreed because by the time they started their second set a crowded room had become almost empty. It's a shame as I hate to say negative things about a hard working local band.

Sunday - Asleep At The Wheel, sold out show at knuckleheads. This was supposed to be an outdoor show, but the weather forced it indoors. As a result the place was packed, not just with people, but also with a couple of dozen large equipment cases, a mixing desk onstage, seven musicians and their equipment and a packed dance floor.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the show as I'm always a bit suspicious of bigger bands who I feel maybe get into a rut of playing the same songs with the same stage patter every night, but I must say it was a very good show.

Make sure you check out Knuckleheads and the Voodoo Lounge web sites, there are some great shows coming up from Wednesday through Sunday.

Support local music, reject corporate rock.

[It's a band not overalls]

anyone attend the Big Smith shows at the Beaumont/Bottleneck? Curious to see what KC has to say about one of the finest bands in our region. These guys bring it. A band that plays 2 1/2 hour shows for $10 is a rarity.

[Billy]

Big Smith was certainly a delight. It was a great night of music at the Beaumont on Friday night. Local soul band the Brothers Green opened and flat-out rocked for an hour before some tasty jams from Speakeasy and a great set from Big Smith. I would compare Big Smith favorably with the Wilders -- good old timey music with great vocal harmonies.

[Michael Stover]

Mike McCoy (ex-Cher UK/American People/Black Rabbits/Wood Roses) brought his newest group, The Service Industry, up from Austin TX. Possibly the best McCoy-related rock show I've ever seen.

http://www.sauspop.com/untitled1.html

[country jesus]

Quintron & Ms. Pussycat rocked the Record Bar Saturday night. I've never seen them put on a bad show and Quintron always gives 100%. Great music to dance to and freaky puppet shows.

[Steve]

Chubby, do you work? :)

[On the Scene]

Went to Crosstown Station for the First Friday celebration. Saw The Floozies. So much fun("DJ"/drummer combo). There needed to be way more people there though. And there should have been. I saw they'll also be with Perpetual Groove at the Beaumont in a couple weeks. Check them out!

[Penny]

Chubby, Carolyn went on stage about 8:20pm and finished about 10:20pm. Mike McClure was also on the bill and was playing after Carolyn, but we didn't stay. Don't know his music. We might have missed something good.

We were originally going to see Johnny Winter that night, but switched to Carolyn when we heard she was in town. Too bad they couldn't have gotten together, since she does a spectacular version of "Still Alive & Well."

[Chubby]

Steve, you'd have to ask my boss whether I work or not, I think the answer is subjective. Actually, one day a few months ago he came to me saying that he'd found this great blues club that I should check out called Knuckleheads! I and to burst his bubble and tell him we'd already met!

Penny, thanks for the info. I thought Carolyn was playing last. Johnny Winter finished at about 10:15pm so it wouldn't have been viable.
I also had to choose between the two shows and chose JW because he hadn't been in town since 2007 (ironically at Knuckleheads) and Carolyn was last here less than a year ago so I figure she'll be here again within a year.

[S]

Saw EnuffZnuff last night at the Beaumont. Sad turn out - about 100 people. 2 local band who apparently won a contest to get to be the opening act. Enuff Znuff were good - getting older but still rockin'... Going to the MORRISSEY show tonight!!