What happens in Salt Lake City stays in Salt Lake City, unfortunately.

This morning, for no particular reason, I started listening to the kind of music that breathes in the heart of the west. It is also the kind of music that speaks to my sole in a sad solemn way... maybe because I was born in the west and so my heart will always be tied to the mountains and the desert that reside there. The songs that float from the mountains like the great hot air balloons of Albuquerque, will always make me laugh, love and live. But this post is not about Albuquerque, although there is some great music that has come out of Albuquerque... this post is about Salt Lake City... or rather, in the words of the locals, the Wasatch Front.

A year and a half ago I was coming out a sickness, not the physical type, but the type that is involved with emotion... I will spare the details, suffice it to say that it had something to do with a girl. I made friends with another girl and started to date her, looking back it might have been better to remain just friends with this girl, but its all water under the bridge now. For whatever reason my involvement with this girl got me re interested in music, or the exploration of it. This was the circumstance that led be to the Modified sometime in mid June 2007 to see Band of Annuals.


There are not a great number of people outside of the Wasatch Front who have heard of Band of Annuals... but those of us who have, sing the sweet praises of the soft fire-light glow that they are. It is unfortunate that BOA is not on the road with the likes of Ryan Adams (for one thing Ryan doesn't tour with people any more... BOO!), Wilco, My Morning Jacket or even Dr. Dog. But the Wasatch Front is not known for its music scene, unless you want to count the Osmond's... and I don't. So BOA never makes it too far out of Utah... occasionally hitting Colorado, Arizona Idaho and California. However, this doesn't deplete from the beautiful music produced by these 6 alt/country truests.

Their album, Let Me Live (2007) was among the top 5 on my year end list in 2007. That fateful concert is probably one of the more insightful in my concert attending career. Luckily BOA will be in town again on Oct 27th at the Modified... make the time get get to this show if you! and check out their website, and buy their music and tell your friends and so on and so on.
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The Wasatch Front

However, I would be doing the Wasatch Front an injustice is I didn't mention a couple of other incredible bands coming from that area: Here is the short list.


David Williams
I saw David with BOA last Dec... he was the grungy, bearded homeless looking guy. He had some old Gibson guitar that was worn and tattered. But when he sang it was brilliant. I bought his EP, each CD case had a different cover that was drawn by David! He is kind of Elliot Smith meets Conor Oberst.


The Black Hens
This is actually David Williams band... great group, they do a lot of the same songs David does, only with more instruments.


Ru Ru
His Debut album was released June 3rd. Great stuff but kind of a clone of Joshua James.


Joshua James
I have mentioned Josh before... but couldn't leave him out. He is really the brain child of North Platte Records and I think the owner of the record or at least a large contributor. He is originally for North Platte Nebraska. He was just touring with David Gray which is a big deal in my book. He's got a great voice and a passionate way of writing music.


Glade
Man this guy can write a song. And he has such a pure delivery.


Wendy Ohlwiler
Great voice and organic sound. He reminds me a little of an early Jolie Holland.


The Devil Whale
I'm going to see them tonight! The Coldplay with a slide guitar of the Wasatch Front.

I know I have said a lot of incomplete things in this post. Please forgive me for that.

"Don’t confront me with my failures I had not forgotten them." - Jackson Browne

Release of the Week: Mount Eerie - Lost Wisdom

Mount Eerie - Lost Wisdom
Along the great expanse of music, there are dozens and dozens of record labels that are just that, "record labels"... the antithesis being, obviously, CD companies or rather mp3 companies. The bands who float along this sphere stay close to the earth, content with lo-fi music and the simplest means of production. They make strange music and their performances are often stranger. Those that are crawling on the underground of this scene meet in a Dean & Sal'ist style, on porches and couches across the catacombs of America. Okay, I'm vamping... This week I want to highlight a collaboration of three of these pioneers: Julie Doiron, Fred Squire (Eric's trip) and Phil Elverum (Mount Eerie), playing under the name Mount Eerie.

Elverum has been a huge fan of Eric's Trip and Julie Doiron for years and finally had the chance to meet them in between one of their tours. Of course a recording session in sued! Before long the three had a dozen sounds loosely recorded which in the record/tape world constitutes a record. Which brings us to present day, the release of Lost Wisdom!

Here is where you can get this album: Don't miss it. It's night listening... but good night listening.

Phoenix Concerts 10/6 - 10/13

Silverplatter really has the best list as far as up coming shows go. Below I have listed a couple you don't want to miss. I really want to recomment the Birdmonster show... one thing, Birdmonster is awesome, Yacca Tap room is awesome... and the show is FREE! You won't be able to see these guys in this type of venue again.

THURSDAY, OCT. 9
MATT HOPPER & THE ROMAN CANDLES @ Modified Arts

SUNDAY, OCT. 12
HIGH PLACES @ Modified Arts

MONDAY, OCT. 13
Birdmonster @ Yucca Tap Room

Ra Ra Riot @ the Modified

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This was the second time I caught Ra Ra Riot at the modified. The first time there about 15 of us... but we had fun. This time there were over 100! I think the band was pretty exited to see such a large fan growth in only 6 months. All 6 of them huddled on to the little stage at modified and played their hearts out. Wes Miles (vocalist) was wearing the coolest tie dye Yoda shirt... I actually found the image: Its to the left if you hadn't figured that out yet.

See Ra Ra Riot live is a lot like seeing Tokyo Police Club... most of the experience is about what you put into it; but then the quantitative aspect of what people put into it varies. But I generally judge how much people put into it by how much they are dancing and/or singing. I could be wrong / probably am.

One thing is for sure, Ra Ra Riot gives you no excuse to sit back and just watch... they performed with the same enthusiasm and energy for 15 as they do for the 100+. Wes, coyly made jokes that missed for the most part, but were genuine, so he was able to win over the audience despite his lack of humor.

The ladies were also very energetic in their roles. Rebecca danced avaunt-garde style on her side and as the music intensified she gazed up into the sky. I'm pretty sure no one has rocked harder on the Cello then Alexandra, including Yo Yo Ma! The energy of these two was contagious.

If I had one qualm with the experience it was the family that planted themselves center stage front row and then didn't move! (I was right behind them) I have nothing against families coming to show like this, or even being in the front row. But if you're going to be as bold as to plant yourself up there... you'd better be ready. Instead the family, emotionlessly watched, occasionally clapping or leaning one way or the other (I think they thought this was dancing). Mid show the two kids (10 and 13) sat down! I mean, just plopped down right there in the front row... I was uphauled and started clapping and screaming in protest; and then mom had the nerve to look back and glare at me! Soon however, the 10 year old girl with the vampire weekend tee-shirt (3 sizes to big) got up and informed her mom that she was tired and they left. Okay, okay I have taken my 5 min and will speak no more of this matter.

Don't miss Ra Ra Riot if you get a chance... they are touring small venues right now, but won't be for too much longer... so see them at all cost.

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On a side note, The Morning Benders opened the show. I was a little late and didn't get to see them but I talked to them after. They are a young group out of San Fransico with a lot of promise. Their debut album: Talking Through Tin Cans is really a great album, check it out if you get a chance. They are really young and from talking to them that was pounded home even more but they have played with some incredible musicians; Yo La Tengo, Death cab For Cutie, The Kooks, MGMT, Grand Archives, Yeasayer, Two Gallants, The Rosebuds, Au Revoir Simone, and White Rabbits.

Dr. Dog / Delta Spirit / Hacienda‏

I don’t normally review concerts because once a show is over you can’t relive it… you might go and see them again but it won’t be the same show. However, I have changed my ways and realized that everyone derives a difference experience from different concerts, so with that change in the concert list each week I am also going to try to review the shows I go to now and then, please don’t expect me to review every show I go to…

I made the trip to Tucson last night with Mindi and Allen to see Dr. Dog / Delta Spirit / Hacienda at Club Congress. The trip down was pretty uneventful, besides political discussions by Allen and I (Mindi didn’t know we were discussing politics), a couple of candy bars, lime chips (yum) and one of those really cheap fruit pie things that probably should be illegal in the US.

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Hacienda:



This Quartet was one of the best throw back to 60's I've probably ever seen. They were formed from cousins and 3 brothers in San Antonio TX. Rene Villanueva, the basses was absolutely brilliant, I would have been satisfied just watching him play! They did a couple of oldtimey Otis Redding covers and then some originals. After I have a chance to talk to Rene for a min about his influences. The claims to be influenced in the most part by, Buddy Holly, the Zombies and other late 50s pop.

There set was tight and fun to watch... they were able to please what is always a tough crowd in Tucson.
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Delta Spirit:



To be honest I was just as exited to see Delta Spirit as I was to see Dr. Dog. They lived up to every expectation. They started with an intense arousing version of, Bleeding Bell. Much more involved then the album version. Matthew Vasquez, just glared out into the audience like he had nothing to prove to anyone... like a penitent preacher facing his patronage with fearless reckless abandon! As the music intensified so did his glare and... um, yeah I'm going to say it, lust for the music.

At first I was a little upset that he wasn't entertaining us. But soon i realized that it was his passion for the music that was driving his emotions... and that is the essence of true musical expression. By the end of the their set, they had me begging for more music to feed my weakened emotion state!

After the show, I talked with founding member, Jon Jameson, he was so humbled to realize that I had already heard of them and we talked for a min about Ode To Sunshine and about Fate (Dr. Dog's latest album).
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Dr. Dog:



As always Dr. Dog was at peak performance. Scott and Toby danced nearly the entire set. Trading lead vocals from song to song. The set consisted mostly of Fate, which I was exited for because I wanted to hear the new stuff. They opened the set with "the old days" and from there just rolled from one song to the other. A couple of highlights were; The Ark, The Rabbit, The Bat & The Reindeer, Army Of Ancients and My Old Ways.

However, there was the horrible smelling women behind me! I mean rancid, and I'm not talking about Tim Armstrong! I mean she was stinky!

Over all this was one of the best line ups I've seen all in one place this year, so if you get a chance to see anyone of these guys alone... don't miss it!