How's My Living? » butch walker

Guest Post: Seven Albums That Came Out in 2010 That Mike Listened To and Enjoyed the Most

Sarah — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:05:27 +0000

Hey, it’s Mike again, you know the friend of Sarah’s from way back who occaisionally fulfills her need for a list of albums because she spends 90,000 hours agonizing over her own. (Do I really like this Andrew Bird album more than this other Andew Bird album?) Ha. I keed. So I did this thing last year, and since I mentioned Paper Route, and Gavin (Paper Route’s drummer) tweeted a link to the site, I gave Sarah a bunch of traffic, so she owes me, and that’s why you get the:

Seven Albums That Came Out in 2010 That Mike Listened To and Enjoyed the Most

Devo – Something For Everybody
Devo’s first foray into the world of music since Smooth Noodle Maps was met with much ado (mostly by the band itself who used focus groups and a lot of fake promotional material to choose everything from what songs appeared on the album, what order they were in, what type of outfits Devo would don, and of course what color the new Energy Domes would be). Hoopla aside, this is actually a really awesome album. What We Do and Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man) are worth the price of admission alone.

Something For Everybody was released June 15.
Devo: Official Website | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter | Store

Chromeo – Business Casual
This is my pick for album of the year. Nobody is able to mix 80s beats, Roger Troutman Voicebox, and fun better than chromeo, and this album is nothing short of spectacular. I don’t think its possible to not like this album. From start to Huey Lewis finish, this album is nonstop fun.

Business Casual was released September 13.
Chromeo: Official Website | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter | Store

Gogol Bordello – Trans-continental Hustle
Gogol Bordello’s music is absolutely nuts, and their latest album continues the trend. With all this punk-polka it leaves me to wonder if there are any Mariachi Punk bands out there. That would be truely amazing, but I digress. [See Mariachi el Bronx. -S]

Trans-continental Hustle was released April 27.
Gogol Bordello: Official Website | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter | Store

The Soft Pack – The Soft Pack
It’s been a while since I’ve heard such awesome surf music. Plus these guys use organ. That alone puts these guys up there with Man or Astroman? as surf punk greats.

The Soft Pack was released February 2.
The Soft Pack: Official Website | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter

Frank Turner – Sleep is for the Week
I really like this album, but it’s just songs about being hungover, so thats probably why. This guy is either the English equivalent of me, or he just reads my mind, and makes songs that I like.

[ Sleep is for the Week was released in 2007, apparently, but I'll let it slide. This time. -S]
Frank Turner: Official Website | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter | Store

Balkan Beat Box – Blue Eyed Black Boy
Rarely do you get a mix of ska, dub, rap and disco, and even more rarely is it any good. Balkan Beat Box manages to pull it off, though. This is great music to cruise around to in your convertable. Especially in suburban areas where there are few Israelis.

Blue Eyed Black Boy was released March 29.
Balkan Beat Box: Official Website | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter | Store

The National – High Violet
My love of The National’s music can only be compared to my hatred of their live show. High Violet is moody, emotional and beautiful.

High Violet was released May 11.
The National: Official Website | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter | Store

Honorable Mentions
Butch Walker – I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart. Maybe it’s just cause Butch is now 40 but this is his most mature album to date. That said, there aren’t any real rockers on this album, so it falls short of my list.

Gorillaz – Plastic Beach. I didn’t like this album as much as I liked Demon Days, but Stylo and Superfast Jellyfish are awesome.

Maroon 5 – Hands All Over. Maybe its because the first time I heard Misery I was in the middle of a break up and the person in question didn’t answer any of my texts that day, or maybe it’s just cause I have a secret love of Maroon 5.

And of course the Worst album of the year.
This year it goes to Katy Perry for Teenage Dream. I am no snob to popular music, as many people I work with will tell you how disturbing it is for me to sing along to Kelly Clarkson and Miley Cyrus when it comes on over the muzak, but Teenage Dream is just beyond garbage. It’s not great dance music, its not great pop music, and there’s a song about penis. Well, that’s not bad in itself, but it makes it seem like its really hard for a girl like Katy Perry to see dong. Though maybe it was in regards to Elmo, who ran away from her the entire Sesame Street skit that was yanked due to cleavage issues.

[ While not compiling Best Of lists for me, Mike can be found at landofabsurdity.com. ]

This Week in Great Music: 5/3 – 5/9

Sarah — Mon, 03 May 2010 15:00:26 +0000

It looks like a quiet week, but I find myself strangely busy. I’ll be checking out the Laura Marling show tomorrow night, and Jerome Holloway’s show on Friday. I saw him open for Nneka in February and thought he was really good, so I’m looking forward to seeing what he does with a headlining spot. Saturday also has some strong line-ups of local bands, both at Bottom Lounge and at the Beat Kitchen.

And if irreverent, snarky humor is your thing, Joel McHale is doing two shows at the Chicago Theatre on Saturday. It looks like both shows are sold out, though, so you might have to do some Craigslist sleuthing to get tickets.

Monday, May 3
Robbie Fulks, Gerald Dowd, and KC McDonough; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation
Prohibition Orchestra of Chicago; SPACE. 7:30 pm, $5

Tuesday, May 4
Laura Marling, Smoke Fairies, Pete Roe; Lincoln Hall. 7 pm, $15
Shelby Lynne; Martyrs. 8 pm, $27.50
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone; Schubas. 8 pm, $8-10
Ozomatli; House of Blues. 9 pm, $18-20.50

Wednesday, May 5
Aqualung, Krista Polvere; Schubas. 9 pm, $15

Thursday, May 6
Kaki King, An Horse; Park West. 7:30 pm, $16
Crooked Still; SPACE. 8 pm, $18-30

Friday, May 7
Jerome Holloway, Simplesinger, Cassy Baxter; Double Door. 9 pm, $5
Lt. Dan Band, ft. Gary Sinise; Hard Rock Cafe. 9:30 pm, $25-30 (Proceeds go to ®Artistic TOOLS for Wounded Soldiers and arts programs in Vietnam.)

Saturday, May 8
Canasta, Gregory and the Hawk; Schubas. 7 pm, $10
Mary Gauthier, Mindy Smith; Old Town School of Folk Music. 7 pm, $18-22
My My My, Green Sugar, How Far to Austin, Josh and the Empty Pockets, Cobalt and the Hired Guns; Bottom Lounge. 8 pm, $8
Frightened Rabbit, Maps and Atlases, Our Brother the Native; Metro. 9 pm, sold out
Derek Nelson and the Musicians, Soft Speaker, Mallory, Ceiling Stars; Beat Kitchen. 9 pm, $10
Canasta, Brighton MA; Schubas. 10 pm, $10

Sunday, May 9
Butch Walker and the Black Widows, Locksley; House of Blues. 9 pm, $20-23
Relaxation Record, Tadoma, Shalloboi; Empty Bottle. 9:30 pm, $3

February in Review

Sarah — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:04:25 +0000

While I fuss about, trying to upload photos and write reviews of the past two nights’ worth of concerts, have a little mixtape of some of my favorite songs/artists from this past month.

News & Links – February 25

Sarah — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:57:56 +0000

Now that Mumford and Sons have released Sigh No More in the US, there are tons of great reviews coming out for it. My Old Kentucky Blog, John (of Meandre and Radio Free Chicago) and Popdosehave all weighed in. I love the album, no question about it, as it was one of my top CDs of 2009. Maybe I will cheat and name it a top album of 2010 as well, in honor of its US release date. The band will be appearing at the 2010 Bonnaroo festival; I’m hoping they stick in a few more tour dates, perhaps one in, oh, say, Chicago, en route to the festival.

Popdose has also a look at Butch Walker’s latest, I Liked it Better When You Had No Heart, which is currently sitting around, calling my name on my desk at home.

Next to it on my desk is the Preservation Hall benefit album, which Popdose has also reviewed. Short review on my part: I loved it. Go buy it. Longer review forthcoming.

Two more reviews of St. Vincent’s all around stellar performance earlier this month at Metro, this time from Uniform Grey and Gapers Block.

If bootlegs are your thing, here’s an audience recording of Ben Folds’ February 13th show with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Dawn Landes stops by HearYa for a quick set. MP3s and video are available.

Suburban Chicago’s Daily Herald profiles Justin Townes Earle, who plays at Lincoln Hall on Saturday.

Rocky Votolato talks to Popmattersabout depression, success, and the truth. Votolato plays Schubas on Friday.

Famed opera singer Renee Fleming is releasing an album of covers. Dark Hope is due out on March 18th, and tackles songs by Muse, Arcade Fire, Peter Gabriel, and, of course, Leonard Cohen. This is either going to be great, or a train wreck.

Gapers Block looks at Tinariwen and their unique brand of desert blues. The group is at the Old Town School of Folk Music this weekend, performing two concerts on Saturday and one on Sunday, as well as a guitar and percussion workshop on Sunday.

Small Chicagois a new web series presenting three songs, performed live and taped for the internet’s viewing pleasure. First up is Coltrane Motion.

Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore did an instore show in a Lexington, Kentucky CD Central. You Ain’t No Picasso offers a review, photos, and MP3s of the set.

Antony Hegarty, of Antony & the Johnsons, talks to Stereogum about two recent shows he did in Japan, where he performed alongside dancer Yoshito Ohno, whose father Kazuo is the Butoh dancer on the cover of The Crying Light.

Josh Rouse’s latest album, El Turista, streams for free at KCRW through March 22.

While the review is from much earlier in the month, Consequence of Sound takes a look at Movits!New Year’s Eve show at Schubas. Sounds like it was a great show. You can’t go wrong with Swedish jazz/hip hop/awesomeness.

News & Links – January 12

Sarah — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:45:14 +0000

Bowerbirds; photo by Alissa Anderson

In conjunction with the Tomorrow Never Knows festival, kicking off this week at Schubas and Lincoln Hall, Reckless Records has four fantastic (and free) in-store performance coming up:

Thursday, January 14, 5:00 pm - Bear in Heaven – Lakeview store (3126 N Broadway)
Friday, January 15, 5:00 pm – Icy Demons – Lakeview store
Saturday, January 16, 4:30 pm – Bowerbirds – Lakeview store
Sunday, January 17, 5:00 pm – Pomengranates – Wicker Park store (1532 N Milwaukee)

I’ve seen different times listed for all four of these shows at almost every source I’ve seen. My times are taken from Reckless’ website, but who knows what’s accurate and what isn’t. I’d recommend showing up early anyway. Shop around while you’re there and support local business. I’m going to try to make it to Bowerbirds and Pomengranates – the latter’s a little less likely, because cold weather + me trying to get motivated to go to Wicker Park = me staying at home and yelling at the television instead.

Gapers Block has a great summary of the Tomorrow Never Knows festival, including profiles of many of the bands.

Lizz Kannenberg at the Chicagoist has a set of fantastic photos from the first night of Butch Walker’s four show stint at Schubas last week.

Chromewaves has a preview of Basia Bulat‘s new album, Heart of My Own, scheduled to be released on January 26.

Pitchfork’s always captivating Cemetary Gates series features The Mountain Goats this week. First up, John Darnielle and company perform “Psalms 40:2″ in an old empty church.

Consequence of Sound gives a second look at Tegan and Sara‘s Sainthood. The album’s grown on me, though I still like The Con better. They also give a glowing review to Owen Pallett‘s Heartland, due out for release today.

Elvis Perkins in Dearland do four stripped down, acoustic songs for the Lakefever Sessions: Stay Zombie Stay, Weeping Mary, Gypsy Davy, and Sweet Roseanne.

NPR streams Spoon’s new album Transference, which is due out January 19.

NYCTaper has a listing of all recordings posted in 2009. Highlights include Alela Diane, a whole lot of Antlers shows, the Decemberists, Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy), the Mountain Goats, Sharon van Etten, and Wilco.

Robert Loerzel at Underground Bee posts a review of the My Gold Mask/Violetness/the Bitter Tears show at the Hideout last weekend, one of those shows where I’m wondering why I didn’t just suck it up and head out into the cold so I could go see it.

Speaking of My Gold Mask, Loud Loop Press profiles 10 up-and-coming Chicago bands, including My Gold Mask, Bailiff, and Puerto Muerto.

Cover Lay Down offers up acoustic blues covers by artists including Keb’ Mo’, Kelly Joe Phelps, and Taj Mahal, of songs by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Pete Seeger, Cat Stevens, and more.

Muzzle of Bees takes a look at the upcoming release from Clogs, an artistic collective that counts Shara Worden and Sufjan Stevens among its members. The new album, The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton, features Shara Worden on vocals for a good portion of the songs. Sign me up!

Concert Review: Butch Walker @ Schubas, 1/8/10

Sarah — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:21:48 +0000

Butch Walker can sleep well at night, knowing that if he were ever to become suddenly and inexplicably incapacitated during a concert and could no longer sing, that his incredibly exuberant fans would pick up the slack and sing every last word. Even to songs which he would much rather forget, apparently.

Closing out four nights of his residency at Schuba’s Tavern in Chicago, where the setlist on this last night was set by fan requests sent in over Twitter, Walker’s material included new songs, songs that were never released (oftentimes with good reason, he reminded the audience), and a good deal of songs stretching back to his days in the late ’90s with rock band Marvelous 3.

Alternating between being charming, somewhat jittery, and incredibly self-deprecating, Butch Walker kept the crowd entertained for his 90-minute set. Repeatedly reminding the audience that he wasn’t the one that picked the setlist, Walker shuffled through a stack of lyrics to songs that he hadn’t played in years. He forgot words, cut songs short because he couldn’t remember them, made bad “that’s what she said” jokes, and apologized several times for some of the songs he sung.

From just about anyone else, the lack of polish would come off as unprofessional, but for Butch Walker, the show was just one big sing-along party. Even “Vampires in Love,” a song from Marvelous 3′s 1998 release, Hey! Album, which he mocked as being one of the stupidest songs he’d ever written, was met with a happy sing-along from the audience. He seemed genuinely surprised that the audience was with him for every last word. There was even at least one song in which Walker didn’t sing a single word; he just happily strummed along and let the audience take the lead. For the last song of the night, Walker unplugged his guitar and sat on the railing at the corner of the stage, treating the audience to an unplugged version of “Take Tomorrow (One Day at a Time)” — a nice, laid-back way to end the evening.

Walker was joined for part of his set by Gregory Macdonald, who can usually be found playing keyboards with Canadian rock band Sloan. Song selections for the evening included “Cigarette Lighter Love Song”, “Suburbia”, “Best Thing You Never Had”, ”Grant Park”, “Beautiful”, “Every Monday”, “Valium”, “Canadian Ten”, “Let Me Go”, and “Wreck Me”. Butch Walker is also notable for his cover songs (I think I may actually have first heard of him through covers, actually), so of course the setlist included some covers, including “Always Something There to Remind Me”, “Laid” (which absolutely sounded like a Butch Walker song but is apparently by English rock band James), a Sloan cover, and a mashup of “I’m a Believer” and “El Scorcho”.

If you read about opening band Gold Motel, you’d be surprised to know that they’re a new group — they just performed their first show together in December. So how does a brand new band with only one self-released EP wind up opening for four sold out Butch Walker shows? Well, the fact that the woman behind Gold Motel — Greta Morgan — was also part of the Hush Sound (currently on hiatus) might have something to do with it. Morgan’s vocals belie her young age, and their short set was certainly a treat to watch. Looking forward to hearing more from this young but very talented group.

Behind the jump is video (not mine) of Butch Walker singing “Cigarette Lighter Love Song”. Nearly every song he did at the show is up on Youtube, so go do a search for Butch Walker and Chicago and check it out.

My photos from the show can be found over at Flickr.

News & Links – January 8

Sarah — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:20:04 +0000

Every day, I sit down and go through my Google Reader account and through Twitter and open up about a million tabs of things to read. I figured that on a slow, snowy day like this — right now, I’m the only person who’s managed to show up to my workplace — I might as well share some of these with you.

With the unfortunate passing of Vic Chesnutt on Christmas, fans across the internet have been sharing their stories about him — memorable concerts, quotes, photos, etc. Southern Shelter, an Atlanta-based music blog, has posted recordings of nearly 20 shows from over the years. This includes a recording of a show from 2003, where Andrew Bird popped in to play violin on two tracks (“Zippy Morocco” and “Stay Inside”, both from his 2003 release, Silver Lake). I haven’t had the chance to listen yet, but recordings from Southern Shelter are always great, and I’ve no doubt that this one will be any different. MP3 files are available direct from the blog. FLAC files are available elsewhere, if that’s your thing.

The Music Memoirs asks you to weigh in with what you’re most excited for in music for 2010. I can’t wait to find out the Lollapalooza lineup so I can figure out if I made a good decision to cave and buy a 3-day pass already or not.

TJ of Viva La Mainstream is subjecting himself to Top 40 radio for the good of mankind, or something like that, in his new feature, aptly titled Adventures in Top 40 Radio. Music bloggers: listening to questionable music so you don’t have to.

The Chicago Sun-Times’ Jim DeRogatis previews the Tomorrow Never Knows festival, hosted by Schubas and, this year, sister venue Lincoln Hall.

SXSW has named many more acts, including headliner Cheap Trick. The still incomplete, yet already incredibly overwhelming list of bands performing at SXSW is available on the calendar. Other acts I’ve noticed which have caught my eye (or ear, as it may) include Azure Ray, Jessie Baylin, Basia Bulat, Danielson (last time I saw him, he was singing inside a giant foam tree), Efterklang, Elizabeth & the Catapult, Freelance Whales, The Happy Hollows, Ed Harcourt, Harper Simon, The Magic Numbers, Mariachi El Bronx, Marina & the Diamonds, Kate Miller-Heidke, Holly Miranda, Smith Westerns, Butch Walker, Imaad Wasif, The xx, and Jenny Owen Youngs.

This Week in Great Music: 1/4 – 1/10

Sarah — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:00:17 +0000

“This Week in Great Music” might as well just be renamed “This Week in Chicago Residencies That I Couldn’t Get Tickets To”, with series of shows by Butch Walker and Lady Gaga both selling out before I could even get around to clicking the purchase button. (Bet you never thought you’d see those two names in a sentence together!) Not that I’m bitter that all of the new seats that opened up for the Gaga concert sold out in apparently negative time or something. Whatever.

And if you’re looking for something to do on Thursday, and you didn’t want to suffer through the low quality Vampire Weekend leak that appeared on their MySpace page, head out to the Four Treys (3333 N Damen) for a Contra listening party.

Monday, January 4
Nothing. Seriously.

Tuesday, January 5
Butch Walker, Schubas. 9 pm, sold out.

Wednesday, January 6
Kevin O’Donnell’s 2nd Annual Epiphany Spectacular, Martyrs’. 8 pm, $8.
Butch Walker, Schubas. 9 pm, sold out.

Thursday, January 7
Butch Walker, Schubas. 9 pm, sold out.
Buddy Guy, Buddy Guy’s Legends. 9 pm, $40

Friday, January 8
Lady Gaga, Rosemont Theatre (5400 N River, Rosemont). 7:30 pm, sold out.
Alejandro Escovedo, FitzGeralds (6615 Roosevelt, Berwyn). 9 pm, $20.
Buddy Guy, Buddy Guy’s Legends. 9 pm, sold out.
Butch Walker, Schubas. 10 pm, sold out.
Mucca Pazza, Empty Bottle. 10 pm, $12.

Saturday, January 9
Lady Gaga, Rosemont Theatre (5400 N River, Rosemont). 7:30 pm, sold out.
O Canada! Tribute to Canadian Musicians, Old Town School of Folk Music. 7:30 pm, $15.
Alejandro Escovedo, FitzGeralds (6615 Roosevelt, Berwyn). 9 pm, $20.
The Damnwells, Double Door. 9 pm, $12-14.
Buddy Guy, Buddy Guy’s Legends. 9:30 pm, sold out.

Sunday, January 10
Lady Gaga, Rosemont Theatre (5400 N River, Rosemont). 7:30 pm, sold out.
Buddy Guy, Buddy Guy’s Legends. 7:30 pm, $40.