White Denim - Corsicana Lemonade

I cannot get enough of this record.

It is endlessly dense and diverse; parts 70's jazz fusion and progressive rock mix with bluesy Tex-Mex rock and Latin inspired rhythm.  So many groups come to mind when experiencing the aural journey that Corsicana Lemonade supplies; The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Beatles, Yes, ZZ Top, and Wilco (unsurprising as the record is co-produced by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy).  The double guitar attack of James Petralli and Austin Jenkins is truly formidable and the six string onslaught is propelled by the tireless efforts of bassist Steve Terebecki and drummer Josh Block.  Atop of this magic sits Petralli's soulful vocals ranging from tender whispers to all out funky growls.

Here is a quick rundown:

1) At Night In Dreams - An explosive opener boasting nasty guitar riffs, verses punctuated by big band-esque rhythmic figures, and a swinging middle section that modulates quite delightfully.
2) Corsicana Lemonade - This burning title track boasts an undeniable groove throughout, sensational transitions of complex rhythm, and a middle section that demands a highway cruise of terrific speed.
3) Limited By Stature - Conjures a Sgt. Pepper era Beatle's vibe, wonderfully psychedelic with wah-wah and sitar guitar effects abounding.  I particularly enjoy the concluding drum fill at the end, superb.
4) New Blue Feeling - Begins with a somber mood, seemingly deconstructs to nothing, and then erupts into a driving middle portion with blazing guitar solos.
5) Come Back - Perhaps it is just me but this one brings Lenny Kravitz to mind, specifically in the vocal quality.  I particularly enjoy the high pitched guitar and vocal exclamations that intersperse throughout and the intense drive of the middle section that invokes early 70's Yes.
6) Distant Relative Salute - This pleasant number has a delightful swing groove that highlights the jazzy feel of Josh Block's drumming and fantastic chorus that begs to be sang along to while disguising well its complicated odd measures.
7) Let It Feel Good (My Eagles) - Truly a feel good tune, as the title endorses.  The funk abounds in this song as it builds from the restrained beginning to the frenzied end culminating in burning guitar harmonies.
8) Pretty Green - Another funky number that switches gears to swinging propulsion in the verses.  Terebecki provides a deliciously subtle envelope effect to the bass and it seems like the ghost of Nels Cline (Wilco guitarist) creeps in at times with bird like chirping guitar swells, specifically during the interlude preceding the second verse.
9) Cheer Up / Blues Ending - Josh Block provides a shuffle groove so hard on this cut that it hurts. Petralli's vocal wails on the verses conjuring Hendrix while the guitars provide a bed of intricate patterns.  The outro portion is also a prime example of White Denim's improvising prowess.
10) A Place To Start - Don't be fooled by the shopping mall string sounds found in the intro, this is a beautiful, tender number that conjures soul legends Al Green and Bill Withers.  And the double drum tracks panned hard right/left are nothing short of brilliant.


So there is a brief glimpse of my take on Corsican Lemonade.  And I cannot say enough about the drumming on this record.  Josh Block is a current favorite of mine; exemplifying diversity, restraint, and a great feel and sound.  Of course it also takes the talented maturity of Terebecki on bass to assure that the genius of the drumming translates to record.

Anywho, hope you all are inspired to check out this wonderful album and that it continues to further inspire.

White Denim online
Corsicana Lemonade on iTunes
Corsicana Lemonade on Spotify

Happy listening,

Ty

Happy Thanksgiving and Music, Music, Music

Hey all.

Apologies for my lack of blogging recently, let's just say that November was emphatically "unblogtastic" on my part.

Anywho.

I'd like to quickly wish everyone a belated Merry Thanksgiving, I hope that it was wonderful for you all with much eating and enjoyment of family/friends. Most of 28 North is currently back east, Taylor will be joining us in a couple weeks to play some dates in the Eastern region.  We are very excited to be playing in our respective hometowns of Pittsburgh and Cleveland.  We will also be performing in Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Chicago, and St. Charles, IL.  It has been a while since we've returned to some of these cities, so if you are in any of the aforementioned areas, anticipate a hefty, long overdue dose of spirited rock 'n roll.  We are PUMPED!!  Get more info/details on the shows at 28North.com.

So.

You may have noticed that I have been using 28 North Speaks as a forum to share the music that currently inspires me these days.  As I've mentioned previously, J. Roddy Walston & The Business and Deer Tick both released excellent new albums which I continue to enjoy extensively.  However, they count for just two of many wonderful fall releases.  And now I would like to recommend two more records which deserve your immediate attention.  Those being White Denim's Corsicana Lemonade and Jonathan Wilson's Fanfare.  These albums contain a massive wealth of musical creativity.  I'll have extensive reviews for both in the coming weeks but for now just trust me and indulge in these fantastic aural achievements.

Happy listening,

Ty

Show Review/Album of The Month pt. 2 - Deer Tick at The Troubadour

First off, thanks to those that joined us last Friday at SoHo for our first appearance in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA.  It was a blast to play with great talents Drew Southern, Louder Space, and The Fire Department.

So.  You may have gathered that I enjoy music.  So much, in fact, that I will even attend a rock 'n roll concert from time to time.  I did exactly that on this past eve of October 26th.

Deer Tick; perhaps a juvenile, abrasive name to give one's band, perhaps that is the point.  The group is notorious for inviting rowdy behavior at their shows with recurring instances of beer being sprayed upon the crowd near shows conclusion.  Essentially Deer Tick is a glorified bar band.  And I love them for it.  Suffice to say I got a healthy dose of vicarious misfit behavior at the sold out Troubadour show in West Hollywood.  However, the level of crude, drunken behavior was slightly less than their storied past.  After seemingly endless touring/partying and an unusually rough year, lead singer John McCauley has mentioned that he is toning down his indulgent behavior.  Pussy.

Anyway, the band simultaneously boasts great talent in all its members despite the reputation that precedes them.  Proficient in numerous genres; various country and western styles are successfully infused with grunge and punk.  Deer Tick has in fact been known to play full sets of Nirvana songs under the moniker Deervana.  Yet on their latest record there are a couple songs with the distinct feel of show tunes.  Alas, no band's catalog is complete without a few tender numbers, no complaints from me.

The band showcased its ability to hold down the structure and also stretch out some tunes into the ether.  This was specifically apparent when opener Robert Ellis joined for an extended guitar duel with McCauley while guitarist Ian O'Neil joined Dennis Ryan on the drum set.  All the while bassist Chris Ryan unfailingly propels the groove and keyboardist Robbie Crowell augments his superb piano playing with brilliant sax solos.

The latest effort Negativity provided the bulk of the set list.  The record is a collection of songs which bemoan the travails of love and partying, surprise.  It seems that McCauley has slowed down and perhaps misses some of his untoward behavior as "Trash" depicts.  A somber character reminisces his playful past in a delightful, "show tunes"-infused, bluesy rock number.  This song on record contains some lovely vibraphone and horn arrangements interspersed with leads from McCauley.  "The Rock" opened the set beginning with its vocal harmony laden, hypnotic intro and exploding into the haunting swing groove reminiscent of "The House of The Rising Son".  This track also incorporates some fanciful horn arrangements which are implanted regularly throughout the album.  Particular highlights of the new material included the Springsteen-esque single "The Dreams In The Ditch" with guitarist Ian O'Neil taking lead vocal and drummer Dennis Ryan singing his psychedelic tune "Thyme".  Also played from Negativity was "The Curtain" and "Mr. Sticks" containing perhaps the strongest melody and dynamic.

The band continued to roll through a varied set list culled from their entire catalog and peppered with some well chosen covers including The Beatles' "One After 909" and Hank Williams' "I Can't Help It".  Highlights of older material included the mostly a capella version of "Dirty Dishes" and a rowdy take on "These Old Shoes".  Deer Tick classics "Ashamed", "Art Isn't Real (City of Sin)", and "Baltimore Blues No. 1" were also pulled from 2007's War Elephant.  The lone representation of 2009's Born On Flag Day was the rocker "Easy" while 2010's The Black Dirt Sessions provided "Twenty Miles" and a solo McCauley effort on piano for the very somber "Goodbye, Dear Friend".  "Main Street", "The Bump", "Let's All Go The Bar", "Clownin' Around", and "Miss K" from 2009's Divine Providence rounded out the set.

As a fan I was completely satisfied, perhaps not satiated.  Tick has never let me down in concert and every time I've seen them I leave saddened that the show is over.  They grace the stage with complete lack of pretension and delightfully confront the audience with uninhibited shenanigans paired with adept musicality.  For this, their fans are endeared to them.

Listen here:

iTunes
Spotify
Deer Tick online

More soon,

Ty

Album of The Month/Show Review - J. Roddy Walston & The Business

I had the pleasure of attending the sold out J. Roddy Walston & The Business show last weekend at The Troubadour on my birthday.  'Twas a lovely way to spend my special little day.  Of course Mr. Roddy and his accompanying "Business" put on a fantastic show.  It was a rowdy, raucous, and righteous display of old-school rock 'n roll.  For anyone that harbors reservations about the spirit of rock 'n roll today, simply look to J. Roddy & The Business to deliver.  The sound and attitude of said style is very much alive in this group.  The long hair flails, the guitar wails, and the drums pummel.  The bass thumps, the piano pounds, and flannel is worn.  The group provides an accurate measurement of today's rock 'n roll pulse, and it is very much alive.

J. Roddy is currently touring in support of their latest release Essential Tremors, which I will now appropriately feature as "Album of The Month". This record, released last month, is the group's third full length effort.  It continues with the gritty styling of their previous records, containing the usual suspects of distorted guitars and raw, boisterous drum sounds.  Accompanying that are the traditional rock culprits of bouncing bass lines and rhythmic piano playing.  Atop all of this sits J. Roddy's raspy yet sensual and, at times, riotous voice which is augmented by delicious, playful backing harmonies.

There is much to be said for this third effort, these fellas have matured well and offered up a great batch of classic sounding cuts mixed in with a few curveballs.  I personally love the hypnotic, tribal pulse of "Sweat Shock" reminiscent of Led Zeppelin a la "Immigrant Song".  "Black Light" is a groovy nod to AC/DC with a simple beat and a killer distorted bass tone.  Another favorite is "Hard Times"; furnishing the record with the necessary rolling, rollicking drive that pairs well with a joyride, windows down.  And a J. Roddy record would not be complete without a healthy dose of some good old boogie woogie shuffle which is achieved with the tunes "Marigold" and "Tear Jerk".  "Boys Can Never Tell" is a country-esque ballad showcasing Mr. Roddy's sensitive side and contains some tasteful pedal steel guitar playing.  And the closer "Midnight Cry" is a lovely anthem which yields a grand sing-a-long outro which was heartily embraced by all at the Troubadour show.

From the  thrash of "Heavy Bells", the laid back funk of "Take It As It Comes", and the tender falsetto of "Nobody Knows", J. Roddy Walston & The Business have added a rock solid album to their arsenal.  It is sure to receive many a repeat spin on my figurative record player (iPhone) and I hope it does the same on yours.  Enjoy and keep rock 'n roll alive!

jroddywalstonandthebusiness.com
J. Roddy Walston & The Business - Essential Tremors on iTunes
J. Roddy Walston & The Business - Essential Tremors on Spotify


More soon,

Ty

San Diego Adventures

"Stay classy San Diego."

Had a fantastic little getaway to San Diego this past week.  Arriving Tuesday evening Mike and I discovered the sleepy quality that downtown San Diego provides in the wee hours.  Hence, no booze at 1:30 in the morning.  Oh well, whattaya gonna do?  No big deal, no big whoop.

So, that brings us to Wednesday.  A day full of anxious anticipation of the National League Division Series game five between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals.  In order to calm our nerves we proceeded to take in one of the finest attractions San Diego has to offer; the San Diego Zoo.  Superb would be an understatement to describe this zoo and we didn't even have time to experience it in its entirety.  Now, of course we were excited that the Pirates had a chance to advance to the National League Championship in their first playoff run since 1992.  Alas, their fate was not to our preference with the Cardinals ultimately defeating the Pirates, however, we are very proud of the ball club making a strong effort this year after a twenty year dry spell from the playoffs.  And you can still support our Buccos in 28 North fashion with our song Bucco Fever.


Anywho, this brought us to Thursday which found us spending a lovely afternoon with a buddy in Del Mar, taking in the beauty of the Southern Cali Pacific, and having some epic jams.  And in the evening I proceeded to get very intoxicated in celebration of my birthday.  Overall, I had a fabulous birthday outing, thanks to all who participated/contributed/encouraged my indulgent behavior.  Special thanks to Michael & Rick Lindner, Chris Wherle, Al & Josh Wein; had a blast in San Diego with you guys. 

More soon,

Ty

Album of The Month: Washed Out - Paracosm

Come along and hop on the trendy chill-wave wagon with me.  All the hip kids are getting down to the smooth introspective sounds of this laptop driven genre.  Also commonly referred to as glo-fi, this style of music typically employs heavy use of drum loops, synthesizers, samples, and vocals put through dense sound effects.  There is some debate as to whether this swank, retro-leaning, ambient, 80's synth pop influenced music rightfully deserves a specific title to group together seemingly disparate groups.  In the modern age of such a vast, voluminous inundation of musical acts this is an all too common issue with new "genres" being birthed seemingly everyday.  But anyway, Washed Out is an artist most certainly grouped in with the chill-wave genre, and I have been enjoying his latest offering Paracosm very much.  Thus, I am featuring this record for album of the month.

As mentioned above, all the elements regularly found in chill-wave music are undeniable ingredients in Washed Out's aural recipe.  This album is extremely vibe heavy, even upon the brief into track "Entrance" the waves of chill will begin to encompass you immediately.  It is a perfect album to pop on during a drive, or a jog, or a stroll around the neighborhood; really any activity that would be accompanied well with a relaxing mood.  It provides a wonderful soundtrack to any scenery, especially one in motion.  The concise record contains what seems to me the perfect amount of music that both relaxes and encourages dancing simultaneously.  I find it simply impossible not to bob my head along at the very least.  The songs all provide feels that perfectly resemble their titles like "It All Feels Right", "Weightless", and "Great Escape".  Washed Out has definitely achieved something quite impressive with this record by truly creating his own paracosm of aural design.

Hope you check it out and enjoy riding some waves through the land of chill.

Washed Out - Paracosm on iTunes
Washed Out - Paracosm on Spotify

Til next time,

Ty

Phish Hollywood Bowl

So, I told you about the AmericanaramA show Mike and I attended featuring the likes of Bob Dylan, Wilco, My Morning Jacket, and Ryan Bingham.  A couple days later we had the privilege to see Phish at the Hollywood Bowl.  For those unfamiliar with Phish, let me start by saying there is a very large, rabid, loyal, and close-knit fan base for this genre defying act now in its 30th year as a band.  Simultaneously, there is a large contingent of people who feel quite the opposite about said band.  Their improvisational styled music coupled with a dedicated traveling audience and a bit of a carefree attitude towards controlled substances makes for an environment that is perhaps not suitable to all.  In other words, there are a lot of hippies and a lot of drugs, to be blunt (pun).  You can dive deeper into the debate over Phish on Earwolf's special podcast series Analyze Phish with hosts Harris Wittels and Scott Aukerman.  For the fan, hater, and indifferent alike, this program is sure to entertain and provide legitimate insight into the world of Phish.

Anywho, the music itself is of the highest technical caliber, the scene an amalgamation of all walks of life, all seeking fun.  Only a crowd at Phish moves with such energy and excitement to such unusual music.  The Hollywood Bowl was a beautiful venue for Phish providing the wonderful natural acoustics of the legendary Bowl's dome structure and a picturesque canvas for lighting director Chris Kuroda to work his magic on.  The swirling psychedelic effects were in abundance on this beautiful evening tucked away in the Hollywood hills.  And even in my limited Phish experience (compared to those who have literally attended hundreds of shows) I would conclude that Hollywood Bowl is one of the best visual Phish affairs to witness.  

As a long time appreciator of Phish I must say that the group is performing at possibly its highest level ever in its 30 year career.  The poise and sense of adventure that is being injected to their compositions is exceptional.  And this is certainly no easy feat for a catalog as varied and dense as this Vermont quartet boasts.  At any given Phish show you will hear all types of music from laid back funk to upbeat pop and latin infused rhythmic extravaganzas to all-out shred fest progressive rock.  And each show's setlist is tailored specifically to each venue with never a repeat in consecutive shows.  They also typically inject several covers in each show which range from classic rock covers like The Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" to modern favorites like TV On TheRadio's "Golden Age", both of  which we were treated to at the Hollywood Bowl performance.  And every show is an extensive trek through approximately three hours of music divided between two sets.

For those Phish-heads interested, here is the track list for the first set:

Set I: 

1. AC/DC Bag

2. The Moma Dance

3. Sparkle

4. Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan

5. Lawn Boy

6. Wolfman's Brother

7. Roses Are Free (Ween cover) ->

8. Scent of A Mule (highlight)

9. Cavern

10. Ocelot

11. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (The Beatles cover)

And the more improv heavy second set was as follows:

Set II:

1. Chalk Dust Torture

2. Golden Age (TV On The Radio cover) ->

3. Birds of A Feather

4. Sand ->

5. Down With Disease ->

6. My Friend, My Friend

7. Harry Hood -> (epic, stand out highlight of the show)

8. Character Zero

Encore:

9. Loving Cup (Rolling Stones cover)

So, there you have it.  If'n you are hungry for more you can always visit Phish.net, the fan run site that catalogs everything Phish, and Mr. Miner's Phish Thoughts for reviews of shows.  Not to mention you can download this particular show along with countless others at LivePhish.com.  And shamelessly (not true, tons of shame) I will also share more of my own sophomoric ramblings about Phish here: bit.ly/SjrGyh on an entirely seperate and unnecessary blog.  Hope you enjoyed, if not, my apologies.

Also, here is a video sample which you can find many of on Phish's YouTube channel:

Til next time,

Ty