Entries Tagged 'Shoegaze' ↓

Swervedriver. Remeber them? If you do.. 10 indie bonus points for you. The last time I saw this band they opened up for Soundgarden and Monster Magnet at a show in 1992. Holy crap is that really 16 years ago?

I originally wanted to go to this show because I like “Film School” a lot. Film Schools self titled 2006 release is a great ride and they can weave some magic with two guitars and shit load of effects pedals. Live they seemed a little ethereal, I think the guitars were a little washed out. I would still see them again though.

My only reservations about seeing Swervedriver was the whole, not a show in ten years and even when they did it was a revolving door lineup thing. There just seems to be a whole lot of bands getting back together for “Reunion” tours, and for the most part, most reunion tours suck.

So here is the kicker. Swervedriver was great. I mean not just, good like “wow those old guys can still play” kinda thing either. They rocked.. From note one. Super upfront bad ass guitars and it just kept coming. I would have liked to hear them mix it up for a song here or there, if only to give my poor ears a break but other than that, a great time. I was blown away by Adam Franklins guitar playing. I suddenly realized that he must have a surf guitar player hidden away under all that Marshall stack. Two encores and the crowd still wanted more.

Alanna’s prayers were answered after she yelled out “Play ‘Last Train to Satansville’ or I’ll fucking kill you” and they did. Do not screw with Alanna at the show. She will eat you for lunch.

Side note. They had great gear. I’m kind of a gear nut and they had nice matching Marshall half stacks, each guitar player also had a matchless combo to switch between. Adam Franklin alternated between 2 Fender Jaguars and Jimmy Hartridge alternated between a nice 80’s Les Paul custom and what looked like a Fender Tele Deluxe. The bass player had some nice 70’s Fender P basses player through a huge Ampeg head an cab.

I’m not sure if Brian Wilson ever traveled to Montreal Canada when he was on tour all those years ago, but if he did, he probable had something to do with Graham Van Pelt.

This is a one man show that is so textually rich you could swear you can see it coming out of the speakers. I mean even without the peyote. Simple beats give way to rich harmonies give way to drowning organs and that is before the chorus kicks in. Once your hooked your hooked. You’ll find yourself humming his indicipherable melodies waiting at the bus stop and then wait….. Is that how people finally go insane? They get Miracle Fortress songs stuck in their heads?

Lock me up and throw away the key kids, cause this week all I need is an iPod and Miracle Fortress – Five Roses.

Try his MySpace for a Taste:
(Try “Hold your Secrets”)

Thanks Hank. It’s so good I should kill you.

There are albums that when you listen to them you just know you have found something special and such is the case with Radical Face (hey that rhymes!) I don’t know if this is Ben Cooper’s side project but if it is then it should probably be his main focus because this album just blew me away! When I first discovered Electric President (Cooper’s other band) it just felt to derivative of Death Cab and The Postal Service. But with Radical Face he has found his own sound, the only person his voice reminds me of is DoseOne from Subtle. I just absolutely love this album and I recommend you go buy/steal it right now!