Shooter Jennings played the Grand Sierra on 5/30/09, Pics & Setlist

"I've got the cure if your lovecat is feeling depressed ..."

Lucero Pics from Harlow's 5/19/09

Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears Pics

Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears opening for Lucero times 3.

Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears opening for Lucero?! When I first heard about this pairing I was little skeptical. I thought the juxtaposition would be a little weird. I was pleasantly surprised at the shows though, the crowd was completely into the lineup.

The Slim's show was packed for the Black Joe Lewis set. I always love to see folks coming out to support the openers. I brought a friend along to the Slim's show who was completely unfamiliar with both Black Joe Lewis and Lucero. He became an instant BJL fan and didn't really care for Lucero, how about that? The crowd was dancing and really enjoying the funk soul vibe of the openers. All pistons were firing for both bands on this night, both sounded great and had the crowd wrapped around their fingers. Thank you to Tristen and Filter for putting me on the list for this show!

The second night's show in Santa Cruz was a little more complicated. The show was initially schedule to be at the El Rio Theatre, but for some reason it got moved to a VERY SMALL restaurant across the street from the El Rio. Perhaps it was moved due to low ticket sales and it being on a Sunday night, I don't know. However, when I say small I really mean small. Picture the size of your average Starbucks, and not the spacious ones ... yeah, super tiny! BJL and his 8 piece band were packed like Sardines into one corner of the place. Quite frankly it looked uncomfortable. The crowd was about a foot away from the band, no one beyond two people deep could see anything. The sound was okay, if not a little loud for the space, but there was no watching the band play at all. I guess I am glad the show did not get cancelled, and it was very nice of The Crepe Place to provide a space so that the show could go on, but not the best show I've seen - mainly because I couldn't see anything! I am still very grateful to Parker and Lost Highway for putting me on the list for this show. There was some confusion about there even being a Lost Highway guest list due to the show being moved and the space being super tiny but we ended up getting in thanks to a nice gentlemen who worked for The Crepe Place.

The third night I bought tickets to see BJL and Lucero in Sacramento at Harlow's night club. Harlow's is one of my top five places to see a show and everything came together beautifully for the third night in this run of shows. BJL once again played a killer opening set, the horn section sounded amazing! Ben from Lucero was out front watching them play for the majority of their set. I really appreciate seeing members of the other bands on the bill coming out front and watching their tour mates' sets, and conversely when Lucero took the stage several members of BJL were front and center watching Lucero. Both bands were very complimentary to each other during their own sets and both bands seemed to be enjoying being on tour with one another. Lucero played a somewhat mellow set at Harlow's and it was weird but nice. Usually Lucero shows are pretty upbeat and rowdy, but this one included more of the slower Lucero songs and it was a perfect way to end a three night run of shows.

I've got more photos from the shows to post and will do so as soon as I get them out of my camera and weed through them. Thanks again Filter & Lost Highway for facilitating me being able to live it up and see three nights of kick ass live music.

Hear Ya has a review and some great pics here as well, check it:

http://www.hearya.com/2009/05/18/black-joe-lewis-and-the-honeybears-at-slims-san-francisco-concert-pics/

Lucero at Slim's 5/16/09

Cursive at First Avenue 5/8/09

The Gaslight Anthem Setlist

The Heartless Bastards ~ 4/15/09 ~ The Boardwalk

The Hold Steady in Tahoe

Tahoe, you are a weird town.
Hold Steady, you are a good time.

Full set of photos on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/biggaydragon/sets/72157616726422211/

Peaches in Reno!!!!!!!!!!

Holy hell, there is only one Peach with the hole in the middle and she's coming to Reno! I Feel Cream will be released May 4th in conjunction with a tour of North America. Peaches will be playing June 4th at 210 North. Sweet Machine will be her support on this tour. Ticket on-sale info through the big bastard; Ticketmaster.

May 15th: Theater of the Living Arts (Philadelphia, PA)
May 16th: Webster Hall (New York, NY)
May 17th: Paradise Theater (Boston, MA)
May 18th: Club Soda (Montreal, CN)
May 20th: Phoenix (Toronto, CN)
May 21st: Majestic Theater (Detroit, MI)
May 22nd: Metro (Chicago, IL)
May 23rd: Majestic Theater (Madison, WI)
May 25th: Gothic Theater (Denver, CO)
May 26th: In the Venue (Salt Lake City, UT)
May 27th: Knitting Factory (Boise, ID)
May 29th: Starlight (Edmonton, CN)
May 30th: Ballroom (Calgary, CN)
May 31st: Commodore (Vancouver, CN)
June 1st: Showbox (Seattle, WA)
June 2nd: Wonder Ballroom (Portland, OR)
June 4th: 211 North (Reno, NV)
June 5th: Regency Ballroom (San Francisco, CA)
June 6th: Henry Fonda Music Box (Los Angeles, CA)
June 7th: Henry Fonda Music Box (Los Angeles, CA)
June 8th: Pappy's (Joshua Tree, CA)
June 11th: Emo's (Austin, TX)
June 12th: Granada (Dallas, TX)
June 13th: House of Blues (New Orleans, LA)
June 15th: Masquerade (Atlanta, GA)
June 16th: Cat's Cradle (Chapel Hill, NC)
June 17th: 9:30 (Washington, DC)

The album title we won't mention ... because we loathe it.

The new Cursive record is out and it does not disappoint! Go to Saddle Creek's web site and buy it. It is only $4 today, $5 tomorrow, $6 Friday, etc. Pretty clever marketing Saddle Creek!

I pre-ordered the vinyl (red!) and cannot wait until it arrives.

Antony's Noise Pop Setlist

Where Is My Power
Her Eyes Are Underneath The Ground
Epilepsy Is Dancing
For Today I Am A Boy
Kiss My Name *
Everglade
Another World *
Shake That Devil *
The Crying Light
Crazy In Love *
Fist Full Of Love
You Are My Sister
Twilight
Aeon


Cripple and the Starfish
Hope There's Someone *


* = my personal faves