Life is Music™

Trampled by Turtles live at The Cabooze

A capacity crowd of Minnesota faithful packed The Cabooze once again to stomp and romp in support of the bluegrass boys from Duluth, MN, Trampled by Turtles.  I attended night two of their two-night run at the club on the west bank of the Mississippi on Saturday, April 25th, 2009.  Good times were had.

The Hackensaw Boys, a six piece of assorted looking fellows from Charlottesville, VA got the night started with a banging hour long set of foot-stomping colorful Americana music.  Before their set I had only heard a few of their tunes, and after their set I wanted to hear more. 

The Hackensaw Boys

The fiddlin’ and sometimes bass playin’ Ferd Moyse IV was as entertaining as they come with a stretched out Yosemite Sam crossed with Les Claypool look whose face bore an unvarying yee-haw expression.  Together The Hackensaw Boys were wildly entertaining and an ideal opener for the boys from up north.

The Hackensaw Boys

Ferd Moyse IV

Trampled by Turtles hit the stage at 11:00 PM and by this time The Cabooze was jam-packed with fervent fans and a few new concert-goers who came to see what all the fuss was about.  Since releasing their debut album Songs From a Ghost Town in 2004, Trampled by Turtles have successfully expanded out far and wide from their home state of Minnesota with constant touring throughout the country and a few stops in Europe.  The fuss is that these guys have the talent to raise the roof on every given night, yet the humbleness to never forget how they got there and where they are from.  They are from Minnesota and their local shows seem to be as much a celebration of this wonderful state as they are a celebration of their wonderful music. 

Dave Simonett & Tim Saxhaug

Last night’s show was no exception as they worked through songs like “The Darkness and the Light” from their 2008 release Duluth where singer and guitarist Dave Simonett sings “Colorado was so nice, but I’m Minnesota’s son”.  Later the band hammered through two of the more punkish numbers from Duluth; “Truck” the fantastic momentum building instrumental that hits the breaks just before completely going out of control and ”White Noise” which showcases Tim Saxhaug on a driving bass so swift it feels like you’re chasing your tail trying to catch the beat.  They also slowed things down with one of my favorites, “Trouble”, the title track of their wonderful 2007 release that is in my opinion their best album.  As always, their set was mixed well with this night’s show hitting on a lot of their newer material. 

banjo Dave Carroll

Early in the set singer Dave Simonett stated they were recording the show for a new live album.  Between songs he gave the always raucous crowd an opportunity to say something and what came out was a deafening wail of indistiguishable screams.  At a Trampled by Turtles show in Minnesota people are always screaming, and dancing, and smiling, and hugging, and pumping their fists to the fabulous homegrown music this band shares. 

Trampled by Turtles rock The Cabooze!

When the show was over The Hackensaw Boys were waiting in the crowd to play some acoustic tunes with a few members of Trampled by Turtles joining them.  Yes I said “in the crowd”!  Even as The Cabooze workers swept up a night’s worth of beer bottles and concert debris, a large circle of fans hung around and the music never stopped.  It’s just another day in the life I suppose.  “Come on children, come on and clap your hands.” 

Ryan Young on fiddle

Erik Berry on mandolin

 

 

My Morning Jacket

Even if you’ve been hiding underground for the past ten years you’ve probably felt the presence of My Morning Jacket.  This band has given new meaning to rock! and thankfully at just the right time when the rock scene had little to be grateful for.  David Dye, the longtime Philadelphia radio personality and host of the terrific public radio show World Café gave me my first dose of My Morning Jacket in the summer of 2003.  This was just before the release of their third album It Still Moves and I’ve been pumping my fist ever since.

1. Z - This album is an ass kicker.  My Morning Jacket’s evolution from It Still Moves to this album is an amazing accomplishment especially considering the addition of two new members.  Just as I wouldn’t punch a good friend in the gut without first telling him it’s coming, Z is not my first recommendation to anyone new to the band.  Their first three albums should be given some spins before this one gets tackled or one may get hurt and sent home crying.  The production of Z is much cleaner than their previous efforts which were thick in foggy reverb, and singer & guitarist Jim James took his song writing to a new level while leaving production duties behind for the first time.  John Leckie produced this magnificent gem that is the most creative, pulsating and rhythmically driving record to date for the band.  From beginning to end Z is nearly flawless, and it produced some of my favorite tracks ever by the band including “It Beats 4 U”, “Gideon”, “Anytime” and the patient monster, “Dondante”.  I hold this album in very high regard.
2. At Dawn – Recently I found out that a bottle of wine, a warm and sunny evening, and At Dawn at a moderate volume is a wonderful combination.  At Dawn is My Morning Jacket’s second album and was released June 5th, 2001.  It soon got the recognition it deserved and became a key turning point on the road that got the band to where they are today.  This album is warm in layers of acoustic and electric guitar and is the first with keyboards which is an essential element to the band’s southern gothic sound.  Jim James’ vocals on At Dawn are dreamy at times, and emotionally raw at others, all the while pushing the edge to what would become My Morning Jacket’s trademark sound.  I really like the title track as well as “Death is the Easy Way”, “Honest Man” and “Phone Went West”.  At Dawn is a perfect place to start.
3. It Still Moves - It Still Moves was a nice follow up to the buzz shaped by At Dawn and it layed the roots deep for their present rock-n-roll sound.  This album was released September 9th, 2003 on ATO Records, the first major label release for the band.  The record was introduced with some critical acclaim and it certainly doesn’t shy away from being accessible with a poppier rock sound, but overall it lacks the edge and inventiveness of their previous and follow-up efforts respectively.  That doesn’t mean this isn’t a good album though as It Still Moves produced some powerhouse live tunes like “One Big Holiday”, a huge rocker with some of the nastiest guitar riffs ever.  “Mahgeetah”, “Dancefloors” and “Run Thru” also rock big and ”Steam Engine” and “Golden” are nice mellower numbers.  This was my introduction to this great band and I imagine it was many others’ as well.  Check it out.
4. Evil Urges - My Morning Jacket’s most recent record Evil Urges was released June 10th, 2008 and represents once again a major change for the band.  Following the 2005 classic Z, Evil Urges once more explores experimentation but this time it takes it up a notch or three as a genre-bending album full of funk inspiration, falsetto vocals, prog-rocking structure and everything else the band has been known for.  The eclecticism mentioned sometimes makes for a bumpy ride and therefore Evil Urges falls to #4 on my list when evaluating the album as a whole.  That doesn’t mean Evil Urges lacks brilliance because it is brilliant in numerous places.  Just check out the title track “Evil Urges”, the country-rockin “Sec Walkin”, the hard rockers ”Aluminum Park” and “Remnants”, the great lyrics in “Smokin from Shootin”, and perhaps the best track on the album “Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Pt. 2″.  I imagine the band had a lot of fun writing Evil Urges, but overall my funny bone ain’t always tickled by this one. 
5. The Tennessee Fire - It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since My Morning Jacket released their first album on May 25th, 1999.  In The Tennessee Fire, Jim James shines through the dark smoky reverb filled atmosphere the acoustic guitars, electric guitars, lap steel, bass and drums evoke.  This album was recorded in a grain silo on a Kentucky farm and in its echoey chamber sound it is quite obvious.  But leaving all production judgement behind, The Tennessee Fire is a beautiful alt-country album made of emotional songs that sound like they were written by Jim James and a bottle of cheap bourbon in a backwoods mountain shack.  The deliberate reverbed sound of this album keeps one warm through the moody and intimate lyrics Jim James cries.  “The Bear” is a very fine song that foreshadows where this band soon would go.  “Evelyn Is Not Real” is extremely beautiful as is “I Will Be There When You Die”.  The Tennessee Fire is a terrific album that sits at the bottom of my list more so due to the strength of the others, rather than the lack of its own brilliance.  If you’re a sad bastard, you’ll probably love this one.

Today I updated my music photography gallery and portfolio with a bunch of new and older images.  Go have a looksie why don’t ya?

“Can you hear that singing?  Sounds like gold.
Maybe I can only hear it in my head.
Fifteen years ago we owned that road
Now it’s rolling over us instead.
Richard Manuel is dead.“

After last night’s performance at the Turf Club in St. Paul, MN I know whose voice sounds like gold.  Jason Isbell once sang the above lyrics in his song “Danko / Manuel” with his former bandmates, Drive-by Truckers, and after two years on his own with his tremendous band the 400 Unit, Isbell is still leaving his mark on the world with new wheels on the road.

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit pulled into St. Paul, MN on April 15th, 2009 and left heap of devoted fans smiling in the dust.  But before they hit the stage, “Hailing from Nashville, TN”  Justin Townes Earle, opened the show at this small rock venue under lights lit in a photographer’s worst nightmare of red.  His pedigree boasts being the the son of legendary rebel country-rocker, Steve Earle, but Justin Townes seemed more comfortable leaving that lineage behind in every way with his tall gaunt frame, thin moustache and short 1940’s style pomaded hair (Dapper Dan perhaps?) parted on the side.  At times his voice illustrated tones of his father, but while singing songs like “Mama’s Eyes”, it was obvious that the real pride was in his mother.

Justin Townes Earle

Justin Townes Earle was joined onstage by long-time cohort, Corey Younts, who displayed mastery of the banjo, harmonica, and a “never-in-tune mandolin”.  Together this duo’s sound could best be described as American roots with heavy strokes of old-time country mixed in.  With a southern drawl and a sometimes twitchy look in his eye, I found myself questioning which mountain Townes Earle crawled out from under but once he sang none of that mattered.  His songs told stories of the grand southern tradition and midway through his hour long set he had everyone’s consideration.  After his set was over there was no questioning that Justin Townes Earle is his own man who has long shed the large shadow cast by his famous father.  And it’s refreshing to know that music like this is still being made.  

Justin Townes Earle & Corey Younts

Justin Townes Earle

Jason Isbell opened his set with “Soldiers Get Strange”, a song about an Iraq war vet returning home and a standout on his newest self-titled release album Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit.  From there the band worked through a majority of the songs off of the new release including the brilliant tunes “Cigarettes and Wine”, “The Blue” and ”However Long”, several from his first album Sirens of the Ditch, the gems he originally wrote and played with Drive-by Truckers, and two terrific covers.

Jason Isbell

Anyone who knows Isbell’s voice understands the impression it can leave upon you, but equally impressive on this beautiful Wednesday night was his backing band, the 400 Unit .  Guitarist, Browan Lollar, undoubtedly bleeds rock-n-roll holding nothing back throughout the night with looks of a distant Kings of Leon cousin.  Keyboardist, Derry deBorja, drummer, Chad Gamble, and bassist, Jimbo Hart, all held their own respectively and together the 400 Unit demonstrated remarkably the experience of two years on the road.

As Isbell worked through the set it was apparent the band was appreciating the intimacy of the packed Turf Club and the big response from the diversely aged crowd.  Isbell’s former Drive-by Truckers songs tended to bring the largest applause but his solo material never faltered and provided a perfect mix.  “Outfit”, “Never Gonna Change”, “Goddamn Lonely Love”, “Decoration Day” and “Danko / Manuel” were Isbell’s Drive-by Truckers tunes that were played.  For each one the 400 Unit mixed in their own spice which oftentimes was an extended jam over the bridge.  It was sometime during the “Danko / Manuel” jam that I felt the feeling I’m constantly searching for, the feeling that keeps me coming back to shows over and over again but oftentimes never happens, it is the feeling of sheer pleasure that creeps up unexpectedly that only pure music can bring.  Isbell’s slide guitar was touching and unbelievably moving and I am so fortunate to have witnessed it.

Midway through the set guitarist Browan Lollar took the mic for a hard-rocking version of the Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer”.  Saying it rocked like all-hell is a gross understatement!  Later the band brought up Corey Younts to add some harmonica and after a couple of acoustic numbers, Isbell brought the full band back out for the encore.  They played a nice version of the awesome tune  “Decoration Day” and then got their road manager on stage to sing and end the night in an all out assault of Tom Petty’s “American Girl”.  Isbell being the Alabama gentleman that he is, thanked the St. Paul crowd profusely before finally leaving the small stage.  And just like Isbell I was very grateful for sharing those musical moments and to see and hear first hand whose voice truly sounds like gold.  It was a beautiful show.

Browan Lollar & Jason Isbell

Browan Lollar

Jason Isbell

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit