October, 2011

I missed Lord Huron on their swing through Seattle and as luck would have it I was in Detroit a couple weeks later as they played a show.  It was a good show.  Normally I am not a fan of folksey-alt-whine in flannel shirts.  But, there is something kinda cool about Lord Huron. Lord Huron on iTunes.

You can read a nice review of them on Flotzam by Nick Moffit.

Twitter: @LordHuron

Twitter: Nick Moffit

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The South African band The Parlotones returned to Seattle to play The High Dive. While these guys have a pretty unique sound it is more their ability to pack a space. I know these guys are huge in SA and played before 80,000 for the opening ceremonies but I have never seen such a rabid group of fans in small venues before. Not only that but every other person is wearing an SA flag or a Springboks jersey.

They put on a good show and it would be worth giving them a listen.  Kahn Morbee has a good stage presence and seems to live a pretty interesting life off stage too. He does own a winery after all.

Here is a previous photo set of The Parlotones.

Twitter: @Parlotones

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Kathyrn Calder has been playing keyboard and singing with The New Pornographers since 2005.  With the release of ‘Are you my mother‘ she now can claim the title of being a solo artist too.  Her songs are filled with the whimsy and alt feel that a lot of female singer/songwriters attempt to pull off but can’t.  Ms. Calder’s songs sound sincere with out saccharine. Hip with out pretense.  She has confidence in her style in a way that only someone that has been singing in major acts can.

Her videos are great too. Slip Away and Arrow

Twitter: @KathrynCalder

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To continue my praises of the Maryland based band J Roddy Walston and The Business. When I saw these guys the first time at Chop Suey in Seattle. There were maybe 6 people in the crowd and yet that didn’t stop J Roddy from giving it everything he had.  The second time I saw them the crowd had tripled. The place was in to these guys and a stint of opening for the Black Keys I am sure didn’t hurt.

The lead guitarist has some ear melting solos. He wrings his Gibson SG so tight that I swear the Super-Model-Love-Child of Chuck Berry and Angus Young duck-walked in to his hands.

Enough of the praise. Just check these guys out.

J Roddy Walston and The Business iTunes link.

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How can you describe J Roddy Walston? The first time I heard someone describe him they said “Think Jerry Lee Lewis crossed with AC/DC.” Well, I like both JLL and AC/DC so how bad could it be? When listened online I thought ‘Wow this guy is good and yeah JLL+AC/DC’. Then I arrived to the show.

What happened next was amazing. J Roddy Walston proceeded to pound on his piano and sing like a man that would have made Sam Phillips cream his jeans. J Roddy doesn’t do some sort of Stray Cats rock-a-billy retro-tribute kind of thing. J Roddy busts out original songs with underlaying melodies that pay homage to an era in a fresh way.

Don’t Break The Needle

Pigs & Pearls

Be sure to see these guys if you ever have the chance.

Twitter: @JRoddyBusiness

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