Live music

Time for me to get on my little soapbox: If you haven't seen some live music lately, go enjoy some!

We saw Man Or Astro-Man? this weekend--twice, actually--and had a great time. Yeah, we can listen to the albums, but there's still something about hearing it live. Plus we know one of the dudes, so it was cool to catch up.

While away earlier this month I caught some good jazz, too--just two dudes with guitars and an amp. We saw Maiden last month. So, whether a big production or something totally stripped down, it's all good.

Okay, now back to editing a story about cars.

No matter where you are there is probably a local band that will blow your mind. Get out and support them.

I have started going out for music again after a 10 year hiatus. I can't believe I gave it up

I love live music. I hate drunks and smoke-filled rooms. Unfortunately, that really limits my choices. :(

Just randomly picked up my guitar and started plucking last night.

petegossett wrote: I love live music. I hate drunks and smoke-filled rooms. Unfortunately, that really limits my choices. :(

It's true that the venue can have a huge impact on the show.

Case in point: I have seen NOFX before, and a year or so ago we saw in Jacksonville. It was basically a barn full of drunks--people throwing stuff, yelling, etc. You know it's bad when the band says something. Anyway, we left early. (Probably the only time I have left a show early.)

However, this past weekend we saw a show at Jack Rabbits in Jax--no smoking allowed, mellow crowd, etc. It's a small room, too. The sound was clear. Good venue. We'll go back.

N Sperlo wrote: Just randomly picked up my guitar and started plucking last night.

Cool. I played some last night, too--mostly power chords, but it was all fun.

I've been conditioned with the CD/cassette studio mixes, so live music sucks unless the band can sound like their studio cut. And in nothing here but the few cover bands covering country, PUKE, or live bluegrass, or Appalachian polka music as I call it since all the songs sound the exact same like a polka no matter how it's played.

Going with the wife to see Lyle Lovett tomorrow night at Roy Thompson Hall. Should be fantastic!

Love live music, it's like a drug. I can never get enough. Tonight I'm catching Agalloch. Next Friday, Helmet & The Toadies.

Fort Worth is more like Austin, when it comes to live music, than Austin is.

I have my choice of live music every weekend. I see from 3-5 different bands, most of them locals, every week. Even the food truck parks have live music. Other than pizza I simply don't eat out or go out without some sort of live music.

Here are some clips from where I go the most regularly - Live music

It's quite an interesting venue with plenty of good, reasonably priced food & drink. I don't think it's a place most of you would expect to go and listen to quality live music. We hear Bluegrass, Rock, New & old Country and even Celtic Rock along with any number of tribute bands.

You'll need to ignore the business part of the video. It's a video I made to send out to my Realtor & Builder customers to remind them that people buy the area, not just the house.

The band I lead off with in the video and used to take us out is called the Killdares. They are phenomenal and you'll find 1,000 people or more there when they play. I've found I love Celtic Rock and I didn't even know it existed until I stumbled upon them playing there.

Live is definitely much better than CDs. I am almost always disappointed in the sound on the CD vs. live. It's usually too "prettied up" on the CD and doesn't really sound like the band I heard live.

BUT I detest going to overpriced concerts for "name brands". There's nobody I want to hear enough to pay $50 a ticket.

Man or Astro Man! I love those guys, I actually had no idea they were still touring or playing live.

I love raucous shows like Reverend Horton Heat. Gogol Bordello puts on a hell of a show; unfortunately they've taken to touring with Primus which results in more expensive shows in larger venues so they're less fun.

There's also room for more calm shows, and one of the most fun shows I've been to was David Byrne; he and his band seemed to be having the time of their lives and they were really good. Hard to believe how long ago that was, I've seen a lot of concerts since and that one still stands out.

And don't forget to see your local bands; there is a lot of talent that's just out there to have fun and don't have any plans to move to a national stage. Sometimes those nights can be more fun (and of course more hangover producing) than anything that happens at an "Arena" or "Pavilion" or the like.

We saw Man Or Astro-Man? this weekend--twice, actually--and had a great time. Yeah, we can listen to the albums, but there's still something about hearing it live.

Big +1. Not a huge fan of their music, but they rock it the berkeley out live. Saw them open for Superchunk in Gainesville.

Saw Buckethead a few months ago. Good show. He broke up the face-melting stuff nicely with some slower stuff, nun-chukin', and gave/received Christmas presents.

I saw Metronomy at the Masquerade a couple months back, and it may be the best show I've ever seen. For what is effectively a "pop" band, I expected some of the keyboard stuff to be recorded, and for some reason expected them to be a little sloppy. Nope. Everything was live and TIGHT_AS_berkeley. Their bass player is a funky ass mother berkeleying MACHINE.

I saw Man or Astroman last thursday at The Social in Orlando. They even crashed at my buddy Nads' house. It was a good show.

petegossett wrote: I love live music. I hate drunks and smoke-filled rooms. Unfortunately, that really limits my choices. :(

Head on over to the Castle in Bloomington. Good shows without too many drunks, and no smoking. Of course, the comments on both drunks and smoking are rescinded if we're talking about Robert Earl Keen.

I've seen some great shows, but there were a lot I would like to have seen but just couldn't find the time or money.

My kids were not spoiled, but when they were in their early teens, I would strongly encourage them to go see whoever they were listening to at the time. I would pay for their tickets and even their friends tickets if I had to, and pick them up, and drop them off. They're now in their mid 20's and the younger one goes to the occasional show, but my older son sees dozens of shows a year. Last year I bought 3 tickets and we all went to Zappa plays Zappa. The younger one said it's the best show he's ever seen.

Zomby Woof wrote: I've seen some great shows, but there were a lot I would like to have seen but just couldn't find the time or money. My kids were not spoiled, but when they were in their early teens, I would strongly encourage them to go see whoever they were listening to at the time. I would pay for their tickets and even their friends tickets if I had to, and pick them up, and drop them off. They're now in their mid 20's and the younger one goes to the occasional show, but my older son sees dozens of shows a year. Last year I bought 3 tickets and we all went to Zappa plays Zappa. The younger one said it's the best show he's ever seen.

I'm not a Zappa fan, but I've come close to buying a ticket for that.

And good on you for getting your kids tickets for shows.

We just saw Tenacious D at the Brady Theater this past weekend.

Jack Black and co. put on a GREAT show!

Zomby Woof wrote: I've seen some great shows, but there were a lot I would like to have seen but just couldn't find the time or money. My kids were not spoiled, but when they were in their early teens, I would strongly encourage them to go see whoever they were listening to at the time. I would pay for their tickets and even their friends tickets if I had to, and pick them up, and drop them off. They're now in their mid 20's and the younger one goes to the occasional show, but my older son sees dozens of shows a year. Last year I bought 3 tickets and we all went to Zappa plays Zappa. The younger one said it's the best show he's ever seen.

My dad did the same thing for me (actually picked us up from Tenacious D this past weekend since we had a bit too much fun to drive) as a kid.

Foreigner, ZZ Top, Ozzy, Alice in Chains, Dio, etc etc........saw all those bands while I was in grade school/junior high.

Aeromoto wrote: I saw Man or Astroman last thursday at The Social in Orlando. They even crashed at my buddy Nads' house. It was a good show.

Ha, we were at the same show. They took several years off and started playing some a few years ago. We got lucky and caught them while in New York a year and a half ago. This past weekend they did a Florida-only tour: Orlando, Miami and then Jacksonville.

z31maniac wrote: We just saw Tenacious D at the Brady Theater this past weekend. Jack Black and co. put on a GREAT show!

Awesome! My cousin Todd, who is a berkeleying phenomenal artist, just got done doing a poster for the D:

http://www.toddslater.net/detail/Prints/tenacious-d/

I just found out that Death Angel is going to headline their own tour this fall. We listened to them while in college, but I never saw them until this past winter when they opened for Anthrax and Testament--easily one of the best openers I have ever seen. Nice to see older guys who can still shred. (That show was so good that we saw them again on the second leg; the third leg is about to begin.)

Little sample: http://youtu.be/4JFvlmaq0iA

Rush is also touring this fall, but I'm assuming it's sold-out. (Yes, I already have my tickets.)

That's one thing I'm really going to miss about Berlin. Live music frickin' everywhere. Lots of good musicians in the streets or train stations. Great live acts pretty much every night in bars and clubs.

Yesterday listened to an informal recital from a string quartet (I'm guessing they were music students) set up in an alcove in a train station. Stone walls, awesome acoustics. Really good music by really good musicians. Actually had another dancer friend with me and we busted out a couple tangos right there on the landing.

Then went to a rockabilly cowboy bar that evening (okay, it's Germany) to listen to an Australian blues musician.

There's going to be a big music festival here in September at Tempelhof airport (America used to bring you food, now we bring you music!). Too bad I'm going to miss that.

Where will you be moving too?

You don't have to miss that, many cities are just full of great local musicians. I found out Fort Worth is loaded with them while Dallas is a dry area. I have a choice of FREE music almost every night of the week and stumble upon music at places you'd never expect.

carguy123 wrote: Where will you be moving too?

I have an internship in New Ulm, MN that will finish up around Thanksgiving. Not going to be a lot of live musicians there. After that, I have no idea yet.

I can't think of too many places in the U.S. that are affordable and can just be wandered around the same way as Berlin, catching live music or dancing just wherever.

petegossett wrote: I love live music. I hate drunks and smoke-filled rooms. Unfortunately, that really limits my choices. :(

My town is having outdoor concerts at a tree service lot - it smells like mulch so we will see how well they can clean it up. Eddie Money - rock on!

http://www.lockportlogjam.com/