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I have been putting off writing about the Slobberbone show at White Water Tavern now for a while now.  Frankly, I didn’t know if I could do it justice, and I’m personally still not sure I can.

Slobberbone, perhaps the most randomly named, best alt-country band out there, recently reunited for a ten show tour.  Little Rock was their first stop, and I like to think a lot of that had to do with the numerous ties Brent Best has with the place.  One of his best friends, since the age of eight, Kevin Kerby, is here.  Travis Hill is a massive fan and brought them down in conjunction with Last Chance Records.  Lastly I cannot forget the fans.  If it weren’t for the fans that packed the small bar on that Tuesday night, the show would have been missing something.

I knew Slobberbone would draw a crowd.  They broke up in 2005 and some of the members formed The Drams.  I’d seen The Drams & Brent Best’s solo act and knew what I was getting in to.  Well, I thought I did.  

Let me start with the openers first though.  Kevin Kerby + Battery started precisely at 9:45.  I was surprised that the show started only 15 minutes later than the time predicted online.  They performed most of their new album Beautiful & Bright and threw in a few old favorites too.  I was gunning for Kerby’s new song about “Christian boys, their fucking cocaine, and their skinny girl jeans”, but alas that was not on the set list that night.  Perhaps it’ll be next time.  I’m not making that up either, he really does have a song that’s tentatively titled that.  It’s humorous and well written which, if you are a fan of Kerby’s, is expected.  They always put on a great set, and this was actually better because Best was there to egg Kerby on.  

Glossary, a local crowd favorite, from Murfreesboro, TN, took the stage next.  They played a good mix of songs from their albums The Better Angels Of Our Nature and For What I Don’t Become.  They even threw in a few new ones from their forthcoming album Feral Fire.  I’m highly looking forward to it as are a multitude of other diehard fans.  If the new album is anything like Angels… it should be amazing.  Joey & Kelly Kneiser’s vocals are pretty stand out.  Bingham Barnes is an enthusiastic bassist that really shows on stage.  Todd Beene is still one of the most bad ass pedal steel players I’ve seen and their drummer is no slouch either.  Put them all together and you have one hell of a band that I’ll continually go out and support when they come through town.  With sharp lyrics, pretty melodies, and a bit of country twang to spice things up, they certainly form a coherent band that is such a p.  In fewer words, along with Kerby + Battery, they were also perfect openers for the band to come.

Slobberbone formed in 1994.  I feel as if the way of life back then was a bit more laid back and accepting of alt-country.  Denton, TX probably didn’t know what hit them.  Brent Best (pictured) and his motley crew proceeded to crafts some amazing albums.  My personal favorite and the most widely received album in my opinion is 2000’s Everything You Thought Was Right Was Wrong Today.  There isn’t a bad song on that album and Slobberbone sure delivered many of them during their nearly 30 song set.  

During the show, there were several childhood Kerby/Best stories exchanged.  One of my old, standby favorites was when Best gave Kerby some more than run of the mill tequila.  Apparently, Kerby vomited so hard that night that he woke his wife up, she came out, took the tequila away from him, and poured it out in front of his face.  I bet that was a priceless night. I love hearing these stories as a glimpse in to the lives of those that I don’t know well.  Also about this time Todd Beene made his way up front and well none of us could quiet him.  He just kept saying in a high-pitched, southern hick voice, “Gimme back my dog.”     Obviously that was in reference to their song with the same title, but Beene was having too much fun pestering Best while he was on stage.

Regardless of all the bantering between audience and musicians, the show was a complete success.  Three of the hardest working bands, that ought to be more popular than they are, delivered literally one of the best shows I’ve ever been to.  I’m still in awe of how great of a show it was, and I must apologize for not being able to convey it in better words.  I really hate to say this phrase, but it must suffice for now, but you just had to be there.

-L
 
 

A few short days ago, two of the most technically sound acts made their way through Little Rock.  Brent Best and Glossary played the night away and left me astounded at just how great they were.  I was  a tiny bit surprised that White Water wasn't full up, but those who were there had a great time.

Best (pictured), a former member of Slobberbone and current member of The Drams, played first.  He is full to capacity with raw energy.  I was expecting something like that, but he certainly wowed me.  Best came up with nothing more than his guitar, several harmonicas, and a sassy attitude.  He started to play and as the night progressed, the audience could not take their eyes off of him.  Best is a wonderful songwriter.  His songs, when heard, seem like they were written in the style of a children's book.  However, there's a haunting complexity to each one.  Even his really sad songs didn't seem so sad because of the skillful way they were written.  Best has effortlessly, in my mind, tapped in to his emotions and created some beautiful material.

Best played and bantered with the audience for the better part of an hour.  There was a short break between sets and then Glossary took the stage.  Hailing from Murfreesboro, TN, Glossary travels to Little Rock several times a year.  I had only seen them once before, but I unfortunately didn't pay that much attention to them.  I went in to this show with a solid determination to give my full attention to them and I'm content that I did. 

Glossary is straight up indie rock with a slight twang here and there.  This twang manifests itself mostly in Todd Beene's pedal steel and in certain vocals by Kelly & Joey Kneiser.  It just gives the music a little something extra and I'm glad they've gone in that direction.  Every aspect of their band fits tightly together like a jigsaw puzzle, and they have a good thing going for them.  The moment I saw the angel and devil on the bass drum head and heard the first song, I was sold on them.

Glossary played for well over an hour.  Many of the songs including my favorite, Little Caney, were from their new album, The Better Angels Of Our Nature.  If you have heard of these guys and don't have the album, I highly suggest purchasing it.  However, it might be sold out and you can find a free download at their home website.  I choose to describe it as lilting and reminiscent of one's favorite bedtime story.  This specific album is wholly comforting and a joy to listen to all the way through, and that's something I haven't been able to say about many bands recently.  I will happily go to future shows.

Best and Glossary were just genuinely good musical talents.  People seem to really love them and I have convereted to one of the many who do.  They are welcome to come back to Little Rock anytime White Water will have them.  I'll definitely be there front and center supporting great music, and I can only hope others will do the very same.

--L

 
 

Maybe it was the beer.  Or maybe it was the brown-haired girl in the white summer dress.  Glossary had been a disappointment with their out of tune guitars, muddy vocals and nonexistant keyboards.  But then The Drams took the stage and it all got better.  This wasn't the band I had intended to listen to tonight.  I was going to go to Rev Room and hear Headlights and Mates of State.  But I couldn't get anyone to go, and I'm not one to go hear music by myself.  T was already going to hear The Drams, so my itinerary for the night changed.  I wasn't exactly excited about it.  I'm a little alt-country weary.  I'm fairly new to the genre and I've been pouring it on thick lately, to the point that Drive-By Truckers have been the soundtrack to my dreams.  It was time to take a break.  But, by the end of the night, I was thoroughly enjoying myself.

The Drams hail out of Denton, Texas and are comprised mostly of members of the former band Slobberbone.  They've been touring with Drive-By Truckers, playing their first studio album Jubilee Drive.  They're one of the most amped-up alt-country bands I've heard in a while.  Tonight was the second night of a two-night gig at White Water with Glossary.  You could tell they enjoyed the crowd. 

I don't know what it was with Glossary, but they sounded like they were having some major technical problems, although from the looks on their faces they were oblivious to it.  They're clearly talented, and there were moments in their set which showed some promise, but I thought their performance fell short of the standard set by their studio work.  It was a Glossary crowd, though, and they clearly loved it.  I thought it was a nice touch when their keyboardist joined The Drams on stage and played cowbell with all the fervor of Will Ferrell.  Bruce Dickinson would have been proud.

But it was a Drams night, no doubt about it.

-G