Archive - Sep 2009

Recently, we posted a bit of news about a new hip-hop project based around the blues rock instrumentals of Akron, Ohio's The Black Keys. The project, entitled BlakRoc, features a marquee list of hip-hop's finest MC's tackling The Black Keys' finest beats, all mixed up by famed producer Dame Dash. I can't wait for the new album to be released November 27th, the day after Thanksgiving – better known as Black Friday. For now, they are promoting the album with a series of videos entitled The BlakRoc Sessions, with the first two clips focusing on the beginning of the recording process, and the first collaboration with Mos Def. So far, so good:

I wish November 27th was right now. More videos to come from The BlakRoc Sessions, as soon as they're posted.

The second in a line of fan-made videos for tracks off of Lucero's soon-to-be-released album, 1372 Overton Park, has recently been released, and is nothing like the puppet-enhanced sob story that was made for the first single, "Darken My Door." This video features a tattoo artist penciling his way through the story told during the punkish-country song "Johnny Davis." Great song, even better video – check it out:

I really want that "Faster Than Trouble" tattoo now...

Umphrey’s McGee rolled through Houston two weeks ago, and the missus, Eggs and four of our pals were there to witness the ROCK. The most metal band on the jam scene left us with ringing eardrums and tired legs – though some the music was fit for moshing, we awkwardly white-boy danced our way through the night to a pleasurable mish-mash of funk, jazz, reggae, metal, pseudo-electronica, prog, classic, and modern rock.

Check out some great photos and read more about the show after the jump.

Rock Out For Peace at Last Concert Cafe
Show starts at 3pm, and runs until after 2am.
Tickets are $10

Set Times:

Elaine Greer: 3:15 PM - 3:50 PM
Deux Frupis: 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
The Cadences: 4:40 PM - 5:05 PM
The Scene: 5:15 PM - 5:45 PM
Doghouse: 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Listen!Listen!: 6:45 PM - 7:20 PM
Two Star Symphony: 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Free Radicals: 8:10 PM - 9:10 PM
Chase Hamblin: 9:20 PM - 9:50 PM
Sideshow Tramps: 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM
D.R.U.M.: 11:10 PM - 12:00 AM
Nosaprise: 12:10 AM - 12:40 AM
Room 101: 12:50 AM - 1:15 AM
Smoke and Feathers: 1:25 AM - 2:30 AM

A while back, a tour-opening showcase featuring ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead and The Secret Machines took place on a hot night in the crowded Studio of Warehouse Live. I photographed the show, got down for a bit, then proceeded to drink the night away. I usually maintain a certain level of professionalism by remaining somewhat sober at shows I'm working, but the mix of a solid Secret Machines set added to a conveniently located bar with cheap draft beer easily made me end up in quite an inebriated stupor towards the end of the evening. My review is going to remain short because of my intoxication.

Read about the show and browse a bunch of photos after the jump

The newly announced Best Of Houston list, put together annually by the Houston Press, was announced today, and Breakfast On Tour was awarded "Best Local Music Blog." I, for one, am ecstatic that they chose us, and am glad to see some of our hard work finally starting to pay off. A huge thanks goes out to everyone over at Houston Press that I've met and worked with along the way. I also want to thank Cereal, Toast, Bacon and everyone else who's worked so hard to make this site what it is today. Most importantly, thanks to our great readers that have supported us along the way. We couldn't have done it without you all!

It's been a project several years in the making, but the supergroup consisting of M. Ward, My Morning Jacket's Jim James, and Bright Eyes' Mike Mogis and Conor Oberst has finally come to fruition under the deplorable name, Monsters Of Folk. The release of their eponymous debut album came yesterday, which also prompted the start of their interminable promotions blitz. Making their late-night debut, Monsters Of Folk brought their first single, "Say Please" to the newly-designed stage on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. The short song finds Ward, James and Oberst trading off vocal duties, while Mogis handles the ripping guitar solo midway through. Going into this, I didn't understand how four guitarists were going to start a band together, but with James on bass and Ward on keys backed by an unexpected sit-in from Centro-matic's Will Johnson on drums, it really comes together to create a pleasing sound. Give it a watch:

They are hitting several major markets on their fall tour, including a string of dates on Europe, but so far no Texas dates have been confirmed. Hopefully they'll make a special stop at Austin's Stubb's, or even better, Houston's House of Blues or Warehouse Live. If I could only be so lucky!

Victor Wooten at Warehouse Live
Doors at 8pm, show at 9pm.
Tickets are $23 at the door.

This spring, I was fortunate enough to catch Austin native's Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears performing a hometown showcase at the Parish Room during SXSW. Their funk sound was quite infectious from the start of the set, even pulling me on to the dance floor after a long day of hitting the streets. Black Joe Lewis is a charming and energetic frontman, and the Honeybears are an incredibly solid, tight-knit unit – both helping to bring this band some well-deserved national attention. They made their way to LA yesterday for their official late-night television debut, performing the song "Sugar Foot" on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Check it out:

As Annie325 said on Twitter, "They clean up well!" Good to see these guys on the tube. Letterman and Leno next!

One of my favorite performances of 2009 was a set by Langhorne Slim at the Wakarusa Music Festival. I've been digging up all his past work in the several months since Waka, falling in love with every little bit along the way. Slim is set to release his newest effort, Be Here Now, next Tuesday, September 29th, and I couldn't be more excited. I was making my usual blog rounds, when I came across a post from my friend Dodge on My Old Kentucky Blog. It featured a nice acoustic run-through of his new track "Back To The Wild," but also a short EPK on the making of the album. The clip finds Langhorne Slim in the studio with his War Eagles, and a few other auxiliary instrumentalists to fill out the albums sound. Produced by The Decemberists Chris Funk, Be Here Now is already proving to be one of the best albums of the year, and I've only heard three different songs from it.

Give the short clip a watch:

A tour in support of the new release will find Langhorne Slim zig-zagging across the country including a stop in Austin at the Mowhawk. Slim's publicist also sent over an Mp3 of the first single from Be Set Free – a break-up track entitled "I Love You, But Goodbye." A full list of tour dates, album artwork and the Mp3 download are all to be found after the jump.