So Much Good Stuff

Hey, It's been awhile...

I've still been updating the shows all this past year despite not writing anything. I felt that I just had to post something because there are some really great shows coming up from now till the end of October as well as new records coming out soon from some great bands.

There's a nice run of 7 shows in 5 days that started yesterday with RVIVR at Now That's Class. If you missed it then we'll just call it a nice run of 6 shows in 4 days starting with Wombs tonight at Now That's Class. Then Megachurch on Friday and the Dreadful Yawns on Saturday both at the Happy Dog. Also on Friday night Tinko plays at the 5 O'Clock Lounge. Finally you can wrap things up Sunday with Village Bicycle at the Beachland Tavern and Cloud Nothings at the Happy Dog. As always all the details for all the upcoming shows that are worth going to are on the right hand side of the page a little further down. Some really great stuff coming up. Check it out.

If you go anywhere this weekend make sure its Saturday at the Happy Dog. The Dreadful Yawns are so good its not fair. My copies of Rest and Take Shape are always in heavy rotation and soon to join them will be Picnic, their "new" record, which was supposed to be released at least a year ago. Unfortunately its been rumored that the Yawns will not be playing live for a long long time after this show as each member has a slew of other projects going on. I know there have been a few "last" Yawns shows, but this might just be it. I sure hope not. Be there.

Here are 3 records that recently came out that everyone should listen to on repeat for the next lifetime or so.

Vacation - Vacation

I once read Vacation described as a more spastic version of Delay. Not sure that's possible, but the author was clearly trying to complement the dudes in Vacation. Their debut full-length takes their previous seven inches and demos to a new level and I thought it was impossible for them to write a better song than "Ratricks Day 2k9." This is my favorite record of 2011 thus far. Think of The Ramones writing Guided By Voices songs after listening to The Marked Men for a few hours. Actually... calling them a more spastic Delay is just right.

Tenement - Napalm Dream

I've heard a few Husker Du and Replacements comparisons, but I hear a whole lot of Ergs influence in a few of these tracks. Now, I know The Ergs are Tenement contemporaries and its kind of strange to say The Ergs influenced a band when they have such obvious influences themselves, but "Spit in the Wind" and "Skyscraper" could easily have been on any of the near-sighted three's many releases. However, Napalm Dream could never have been an Ergs record as there's something totally different about the recording. What that is I can't quite pin down, but I'll let you know after another hundred listens. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with living in the Midwest.

Tin Armor - Life of Abundance

At first I did not welcome the change in tempo and the gospel-like vocals from Tin Armor. Their first record moves a lot quicker than these new tunes, but after a front to back listen of this album I am sold. Older tracks from the band tend to stand out on their own, but the songs on Life of Abundance work so well together as an album. "Queen Mob" is my favorite track, partly because its the name of the band a couple of these guys use to be in (Where's the song called "The Merkurs" or "Yikes"?), but mostly because the guitar riff is unforgettable.

New records this fall / winter from Herzog, Delay, The Sidekicks, Guided By Voices, The Black Keys, and the aforementioned Dreadful Yawns should be more than enough to keep my ears satisfied.

Finally, it's been over a year since I promised show reviews. Maybe reviewing these shows will get me in the mood... maybe. In the mean time please do yourself a favor and check out some shows around Cleveland and listen to those three records listed above. Do it.