Archive - Oct 2009

Houston's House Of Blues is still relatively young as compared to our city's other venues, but it has fast become one of my favorite rooms to see live music in. The sound is fantastic, lighting the same. However you want to take in the show – whether it be from the floor, the raised seating area behind the soundboard, or the extremely large balcony looming over head – shows there just are a bit better than the rest. While they aren't perfect – a strictly enforced curfew has literally cut off groups like Mos Def and George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, and the ridiculously priced drinks always makes you feel a bit lousy the next morning when you check your wallet – it usually calls for a good time.

My most recent trip to the HOB involved a vast majority of the our fair city's cougar club, and no, I'm not talking about anything affiliated with the University of Houston. Everywhere I looked, there were a group of 40-somethings, dolled up to a tee in their animal prints and skin-tight jeans, ready to rock out to the Southern stylings of road-stalwarts, The Black Crowes. What was even more ridiculous, were the groups of equally-aged men hawking these women. It was like a motorcycle rally, only instead of a bunch of mustachioed, leather-clad bald guys on Harley-Davidson's, it was the blue jean and matching shirt, Honda Goldwing cross-country type of bikers. Great people watching.

Read more about the show after the jump

I'm always a sucker for a good freestyle from any rapper, but when three of today's top MC's get together and throw out some fresh flows, I'm immediately stuck. Three prominent MC's – Mos Def, The Roots' Black Thought and Eminem – made a nice little video that aired on last night's BET Hip Hop Awards featuring all of them trading off verses to the beats of Houston's own DJ Premier. Not only is this incredibly good, but it hypes me up even more for the ensuing Eminem show I'm about to witness in just a mere two days. Check out the clip:

So freaking good, I can't wait for Voodoo!

Popping my New Orleans and Voodoo cherry in 2007, there was absolutely no question as to whether I would be back again. It's hard to believe that this will be my 3rd year in the Big Easy for one of the most diverse and fun musical experiences out there. What's not to like about a nasty ass festival over Halloween weekend in New Orleans? Absolutely nothing! And this years lineup impresses more then ever with Sunday being no different, guaranteeing to start your sabbath off right. It'll be more than splendiferous to meet up with my fellow BOT heads, and all of you freaks, in one of the most musically inclined cities on the planet. On that note, I sure as shit hope that I can book it down to Kansas City in time for my flight. But all will be well, because after all, it's N.O. Whose got my Monday night Saints tickets?

Click here for Sundays preview on a few of the acts that will be there, and see you in the N.O.!
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A few weeks ago, Glaswegian indie-rockers Snow Patrol drew a sizable crowd to Warehouse Live for a Monday evening performance. I was not very familiar with their body of work going into the show, other than the uber-radio friendly hit "Chasing Cars" made popular by Grey's Anatomy, but I still decided to check them out. While I dig that tune, I was more intrigued because I was so unfamiliar with the rest of their music. I went into it with a blank slate, and left pretty satisfied with what I saw. I don't see myself going out and purchasing their entire catalog, but I did leave the venue with a better impression of the band than I thought I would. I was expecting a set of catchy, borderline-emo tunes, but what I got was a pretty hard-hitting alt-rock performance that was elevated by the engaging banter and amiable vocal work of front-man Gary Lightbody. There's nothing too mind-blowing about what Snow Patrol is doing, but they continue to consistently grow with their solid live shows and critically acclaimed studio work. And for us guys out there, they never fail to bring a huge group of beautiful women anywhere they go.

I brought my camera along to document the show, so feel free to check out my shots after the jump.

Oh, New Orleans: my stanky sweet southern mistress. Ever since first visiting the city for Jazz Fest in 2006, I’ve unexpectedly returned on an annual or biannual basis to revel in your easygoing charm. Of course, these trips have all revolved around live music, starting with my first Voodoo Experience in the fall of 2006. Some of them have also been unplanned last-minute jaunts of joy – such as last year’s trip to catch Saturday of Voodoo Experience 2008. The Lil’ Wayne show that day was my first review for BOT, so this year’s Voodoo is also an anniversary celebration of sorts. Here’s hoping my wedding dress still fits, NOLA – because we’ll be getting down honeymoon-style for 3 straight days of amazing music and epic post-fest adventures. We’re gonna be all over this fest like vomit on Bourbon Street.

Check out a preview of Voodoo’s Saturday (Halloween!) festivities, including loads of videos after the jump.

The BOT crew are steadily gearing up for a trip down to New Orleans to attend the 2009 Voodoo Experience for the fourth year in a row. We've got the whole gang going this year, and are coming up with several great ideas for costumes to suit us at this year's festival.

So many of our favorite acts are set to hit the numerous stages surrounding City Park next weekend, including a bevy of first day performances from the likes of Eminem, Ween, Justice, The Black Keys and a whole bunch more. In my preview of Friday, October 30th, I've talked about the bands I'm most excited about seeing. As always, though, visual stimuli deviates me from my intended schedule, so expect different and expanded coverage after the festival concludes.

In the coming days, Toast and Bacon will be bringing you their favorites from both Saturday and Sunday, but for now check out my preview of Friday, October 30th at the 2009 Voodoo Experience after the jump.

State Radio may very well be one of our most covered bands here on BOT. We have had the opportunity to catch them at several festivals, and never miss an chance to see them when they are near. Needless to say, when I found out they were playing Slowdown in Omaha on Friday, October 16th, I was all over that shit! Well, sort of. Being a constant procrastinator, I forgot all about it until the Monday before, which relieved some of my excitement going into the weekend.

More after the jump.

A few months ago, some publicist sent me a copy of The Low Anthem's Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, and it has been in regular rotation in my car ever since. It's a simple, yet satisfying folk album that features some of the best acoustic music I've heard in quite some time. Recently, the music blog Hear Ya, which features regular live sessions with indie musicians and bands, recorded a mini-session featuring four standouts from OMG,CD. Check out the tracks here, but first watch an accompanying video for the tune "This God Damn House," which features the best cellphone/whistle solo I've ever seen.

The Low Anthem are coming to Houston next Tuesday, October 27th, where they will be supporting another group of merry folksters, Blind Pilot, at House of Blues's Bronze Peacock Room. Tickets are only $14, so if you have nothing to do, I'd highly recommend catching this show.

Warehouse Live played host to a bountiful group of old-school ravers who were all in attendance to catch a rare Houston appearance from famed DJ Moby. He brought with him a full live band to perform the many hits he's released over the past twenty years. I skipped a private performance from Common and The Roots to attend, and couldn't be happier with my decision.

Read all about the performance after the jump.

Bay-area DJ Bassnectar kicked off his latest tour on October 1st at Dallas’ Granada Theater, on his way to playing a sunset set and aftershow at Austin City Limits Festival. Bassnectar and his audio-visual crew are touring in support of his new album, Cozzy Frenzy, which was released digitally the week of the show. The chest-rattling bass kept the crowded house moving all night, and Bassnectar seems to have built up a sizeable number of loyal fans in Dallas - surely picking up a few new ones on the night. Though we missed out on the fun down here in Houston, BOT’s new-ish addition, Hash Browns, was there to capture the dance party with her stellar photography skills.

Check out more of her shots after the jump.