Lola In The City

Someone recently suggested that since I am no longer dating (and I have now decided to think of this as a "lifestyle choice" rather than a sad state of affairs) I should start reviewing all of the music I go hear. Because while I may not be dating, I am certainly not sitting home like some sort of wall flower. And if I am going to go do stuff by myself I might as well do what I love...which is listening to live music. 

But let's be honest. I'm not really qualified to be a music reviewer. I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket so perhaps I am not the most qualified to give a critical review. I guess I could share what I've been seeing and hearing. In fact, now that I think about it, I wish I had started this sooner. I've seen some really good shows in the last several months and there are actually some pretty good stories. Like the night a security guard hit me in the head with his Mag light at Dropkick Murphys. Or the look of joy on my gay boyfriend's face when he saw all the shirtless young men in the mosh pit at Social Distortion (and people wonder why I like them). There was the admiration I received at the Meat Puppets when two guys saw me shove a dude who was a good 8" taller than me out of my way. Of course, there was the night I went to see Movits, my favorite Swedish jazz/swing/hip hop band. Or Black Bear Combo whose line up includes a tuba and an accordion. They opened for Omar Souleyman whose music was described as "better suited to the culturally curious, to budding musicologists or to people who eat pills and dance." It's true. 

But these are stories whose time has passed. So I will start with this weekend. 

One of my first memories of Music That Is Cool was seeing Stray Cats on Saturday Night Live when I was in the 7th grade. Sure, I still feel a sense of nostalgia when I hear Shaun Cassiday or KC and the Sunshine Band. But Stray Cats were the first band I heard and thought, "Wow! That is cool!!!" And I have not changed my mind in all of these years. So when I learned that Stray Cats front man, Brian Setzer, was bringing his Rockabilly Riot to the House of Blues I was there! I've been around for a while. I have always loved music. I was married to a guy who loved music. I had that thing with Rock Star. So I have seen more than a few shows in my day. Believe me when I say that this was one of the BEST. SHOWS. EVER! In my opinion, there is just something about pure, ol' fashioned rock 'n' roll. Music just for the sake of music. There was no fancy light show. No special effects. But what a show! Sure, maybe Brian Setzer's pompadour isn't as high as it used to be. And maybe his tattoos are starting to fade. But he has not slowed down one bit. In fact it took two drummers (one of which was the original drummer for Stray Cats) and two bass players to keep up with him. The best was when they were all on stage together. I loved it! The crowd loved it! Even the man himself didn't seem to want it to end. After the second encore he was signing an autograph (did I mention he autographed someone's guitar - how cool is that???). Everyone else had left the stage. The lights were coming up and the canned music was starting to play ("C'mon Everybody" by Eddie Cochran). He was up there by himself and just started playing along as he slowly strolled off stage. It was magical! 

This show alone would have made for a great weekend of music. But there was more! On Saturday night I went to see my friends' band, The New World Ancients, at Subterranean. These guys are awesome and I am not just saying that because I know them. Hell, I'd probably like the band better if I didn't actually know them. (I'm kidding, I'm kidding.) Many of you reading this know these guys (and hopefully agree with me). But if you don't know them go to their website RIGHT NOW. Download "Shapeshifter." Pre-order their CD. Like them on Facebook. I'll wait...

Was I right or was I right? 

They opened for a band called Savvy (whose name will be changing sometime in the near future). Remember what I said about music for the sake of music? No fancy light show? No special effects? Well, fuck that shit! This could not have been any further from that concept and it was amazing! I am not sure how to describe them other than to say that from what I understand many of their members are now in a Talking Heads tribute band (This Might Be The Band - I've seen them and also pretty amazing). This particular show was called The ACTual Show where they were acting out many of the songs. That includes a song titled "It's About How My Face and Balls Itched Real Bad for About a Week." I will let your imagination run with that one. The show also included spoken word, people painted in black light paint and the lead singer getting his head shaved on stage. I loved every second of it and want to see more!  

How do you top that? By going to see a Polish Christmas concert the next afternoon.  

Some of my favorite Celtic punk bands have shows in the next few months and I found out today the Reverend Horton Heat is coming back to town in March! There are sure to be some good stories from those shows so stay tuned.