Tag: alternative rock
Alaiyakasico - WHY (Short Review)
Alaiyakasico reworks Nashimoto Ui's pop-punk classics into crunched out noise-rock ragers
Foo Fighters at The Forum
There are no bad Foo Fighters shows. It's simply not a thing. There are certainly variations in quality, but none are bad. Why? Well, it's hard to have a bad show when someone like Dave Grohl is having the time of his life, leaving everything out on the stage and an entire stadium is singing along with him. I haven't loved their recent output. It felt like they hit a creative dip following Sonic Highways , but it is quite tragically clear that the passing of Taylor Hawkins and Grohl's mother led to an emotional return to form in But Here We Are . It was easy to feel that emotion when Dave played a solo rendition of Under You from But Here We Are and dedicated to Hawkins. Nobody can replace Hawkins. You can't. He was core to the band's identity. But , Ilan Rubin is perhaps the closest you could get. His chemistry with the band, talent, understanding of their catalogue and ability to play along with Grohl's extension of songs and improvisations was impressive. Pat Smear was also absent from the lineup for this show with a broken leg, but they opened the show with a hilarious video he recorded at home and had his face plastered on Rubin's kick drum in black and white. Hilarious, cathartic and a massive singalong. An incredible show to kick off the year. Setlist My Hero (Dedicated to Pat Smear) All My Life Times Like These The Pretender La Dee Da These Days Walk Stacked Actors Learn to Fly Run This Is a Call No Son of Mine (With Motörhead's "Ace of Spades" interlude) Under You (Dave solo on electric guitar, dedicated to Taylor Hawkins) Aurora White Limo Arlandria Monkey Wrench Hey, Johnny Park! Best of You Encore Exhausted Everlong Note: "A Special Evening with the Foo Fighters: a show benefiting Hope United (Hope The Mission x LA Mission)"; on Dave Grohl's 57th birthday.
Superheaven at Oxnard Elks Lodge
This was my second time seeing Superheaven this year. The first was in your standard "professional" venue and this in a wholly informal venue. The sound at the former (as you might expect) was smoother, but not by much, which really speaks to the skill of the band. They sounded excellent here and sound was being run from a card table. There was a whole bunch of stage diving that never flies (haha) at more traditional venues, the banter you'd expect with the crowd, the now required inclusion of Youngest Daughter and a quick exit. If you get the chance to see them make sure you take it every time. Setlist In on It Sponge Leach Downswing Cruel Times Numb to What Is Real Around the Railing Youngest Daughter Hothead No One's Deserving Stare at the Void Long Gone Crawl Poor Aileen
Superheaven at Oxnard Elks Lodge
This was my second time seeing Superheaven this year. The first was in your standard "professional" venue and this in a wholly informal venue. The sound at the former (as you might expect) was smoother, but not by much, which really speaks to the skill of the band. They sounded excellent here and sound was being run from a card table. There was a whole bunch of stage diving that never flies (haha) at more traditional venues, the banter you'd expect with the crowd, the now required inclusion of Youngest Daughter and a quick exit. If you get the chance to see them make sure you take it every time. Setlist In on It Sponge Leach Downswing Cruel Times Numb to What Is Real Around the Railing Youngest Daughter Hothead No One's Deserving Stare at the Void Long Gone Crawl Poor Aileen
Superheaven at The Belasco Theater
Humans for Toys (Jake's rig not working; tossed his Strat and switched to his Les Paul on backup rig (no Marshall)) Numb to What Is Real Leach Crawl Youngest Daughter Downswing Cruel Times Life in a Jar Knew Sheltered Stare at the Void Long Gone Encore In on It Poor Aileen
Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too
Pondering “You Get What You Give,” the one-hit wonder recorded by a guy smart enough to realize that it would be a one-hit wonder. It’s a survival story.
Songs About Superman
Why was alternative rock inundated with hit songs about Superman throughout the 1990s and early 2000s? Consider the monoculture.
The Smashing Pumpkins at Hollywood Bowl
Atum Empires Bullet With Butterfly Wings Today We Only Come Out at Night Cyr Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads cover) Solara Eye (with The Veronicas) Ava Adore Tonight, Tonight (with Mike Garson) Starla Stand Inside Your Love Cherub Rock (with WILLOW) Zero 1979 Beguiled Silverfuck (with Frank Catalano) Note: Soundcheck: Silverfuck
Dinosaur Jr. at Henry Fonda Theater
Bulbs of Passion I Ain't Garden I Expect It Always To Be Waiting I Met the Stones No Bones Been There All the Time The Wagon Little Fury Things Mountain Man Start Choppin Feel the Pain Freak Scene Gargoyle Encore In a Jar Just Like Heaven ( The Cure cover)
They Might Be Trailblazers
One Brooklyn duo embraced a DIY aesthetic and technology to forge a successful musical career.
Kicking Out The Jams
The unlikely rise and amicable fall of the world’s funniest alt-rock, DIY band—The Presidents of the United States of America, who only needed five strings.
Everything You Want
A theory about the inspiration for Verizon's name that Verizon probably doesn't want to admit, because then they'd have to pay Vertical Horizon royalties.
New Wave Titans
How Oingo Boingo, which began as a theatre troupe, forged an endearing legacy and launched the career of one of the most popular film composers of our time.
Literal Dad Rock
How a famed guitarist best known for working with Frank Zappa and King Crimson scored a hit with his daughter, mocking his semi-successful music career.
Why “Zombie” Lingers
In the wake of Dolores O’Riordan’s passing, reflecting on why The Cranberries’ “Zombie” is one of the most-watched YouTube videos of all time.
Congratulations I’m Sorry
The sad story and tragic death behind one of the most memorable power-pop songs of the 1990s, the Gin Blossoms’ “Hey Jealousy.”
Counting Crows at Greek Theatre Los Angeles
Lean on Me (Bill Withers song) Sullivan Street Daylight Fading Scarecrow Colorblind Good Time Omaha Cover Up the Sun Recovering the Satellites Miami Goodnight Elisabeth Goodnight L.A. A Long December Mr. Jones Hanginaround Encore Palisades Park Rain King Holiday in Spain California Dreamin' (The Mamas & the Papas song)
Chartered Waters
Being gatekeepers, music charts have a massive influence on the songs we hear on the radio. And that influence isn't exclusive to Billboard, by the way.
Osees at El Rey Theatre
The Dream Tidal Wave Lupine Dominus Carrion Crawler Block of Ice Drum Solo Contraption / Soul Desert Goodnight Baby Meat Step Lively I Was Denied Destroyed Fortress Reappears Dead Energy (Unknown) (Unknown)
Foo Fighters at Golden Gate Park
Outside Lands 2012. White Limo All My Life Rope The Pretender My Hero Learn to Fly New Way Home Walk These Days Aurora Best of You Everlong