littlerocklivemusic.net

 A week ago I was corralled in to going to Waffle House at 2 am with Uncle Marshall, Doc Possum, and a mutual friend.  You know how those late night excursions turn out, so I don’t need to elaborate on that much.  We were sitting there, shooting the breeze and spelling messages out in ketchup.  I brought up the long overdue review I promised, and now I’m here.

Frown Pow’r is a motley crew comprised of Doc Possum (Blake Phillips), Flash Gurdon (JT Tarpley), Uncle Marshall (Marshall Dunn), Stankerbell (John Babb), and Mean Paul (Paul Fennig).  Yeah, they have normal names too, but their stage ones are totally more fun to use.I’ve referenced their real names above so you know who is who.  These men have a good thing going here, and I’m proud to know & support them.

Their first full length album, Don’t Doubt It, Shout It!, in accordance with Little Rock’s own Thick Syrup Records and Last Chance Records, was finally released on September 11, 2009.  Sticky Fingerz was abuzz with people waiting in anticipation of FP’s set.  However, they had to make it through sets by the equally talented Androids of Ex-Lovers and The See.  Androids killed their set, and I have a feeling they made some new fans because of that.  The See came up and performed with their trademark antics and energy.  However, the focus was on the five-piece band gearing up to play.  Sound check always takes a hot minute for Frown Pow’r because they have a plethora of instruments, but those who’ve seen them expect that delay. 

The show went off without a hitch, and I eagerly got my copy along for one with my friend in France.  I chose to listen to it with fresh ears a day or so later, and since I was sick it was easy to accomplish that task. 

I knew I’d like them for the long run after my first outing to see them.  I was immediately drawn to the song Stomp Wagon.  I love the fact that Flash Gurdon’s vocals start off uniform and get progressively more erratic almost to the point of sounding painful.  It’s a song about living and dying with music, and I don’t think it could be anymore truthful if it tried.

The song Keep on Clappin’ also grabbed my attention early on due to the fact that it’s extremely catchy and positive.  Yes it’s repetitive, but not in the obnoxious, shut the hell up kind of way.  It has an uplifting message, and never fails to get people smiling, dancing, and tapping tambourines with such fervor that I haven’t seen in some time.  “Bad things just keep on happenin’,” but you just have to forge ahead even if it means you clap them out to cheer up.

That Pow’r You Possess is the album’s midway point.  I believe the band chose wisely to place it here.  It’s what I like to consider their “slow jam,” a breather if you have it.  A band needs a slight rest once in awhile as does the audience, so it fits perfectly.

Everyone’s A Winner evokes an outer space like feel when I listen to it.  I’m not a huge noise music enthusiast, but I can deal with the amount they infused in to this track.  After the noisy section, Tarpley’s voice cuts through clear as day to your ears.  His vocals get rougher as the song goes on to the point where I wonder if it hurt to sing this song.  Even though his voice sounds stressed by the latter part of the song, you can tell he’s singing his heart out. 

To save a bit of time, I’ll talk about one other specific song, O! Lord!, and describe a group of other tracks in a bit.  O! Lord!, is the absolutely best possible way to end this album.  It culminates in the listener basically being transported in their minds to an old school, southern style church.  When I first heard it, I felt as if the guys needed a twenty-person, boisterous church choir to back them up on the chorus.  The tune also offers up a chance to showcase each member’s individual talents, while ensnaring the audience and convincing them to sing along and join in rapturous revelry.

Several songs remind me of the Beatles, as David Fair of Half Japanese, pointed out in his review.  I strongly urge you to read what he wrote because it’s just that good.  However, not all the songs sound like that.  A few of them remind me heavily of the Chuck Berry & Jerry Lee Lewis era of rock ‘n’ roll.  These men have found a happy medium that seems to be working quite well for them.

Listening to this album from start to finish basically leaves me feeling as if I was just at a Frown Pow’r show.  Well, minus the tambourines and dancing people.  I love that the album causes me to think and feel that way because it’s a rare thing to capture, but they have perfected it.

Don’t Doubt It, Shout It! is gloriously lo-fi.  I personally would not change it in the least.  Even if you’re not in to the whole lo-fi scene, I suggest you check out the album.  You’d be hard pressed not to crack a smile or at least like one of the songs on the album since there is something for everyone on it.  In a relatively new era of music from Little Rock, this album, with several others, are shining examples of the many talented musicians we have here.  I’m proud of all the hard work that they put in to this record, and it’s evident to those who listen to it.  Until the next album or show, whichever comes first, “I’m going to keep on, keep on clappin’ as I hop on the stomp wagon and head on up the road.”

-L


(Photo by: Judea Jackson)

I’d first like to point out this interesting phenomenon that’s going on here in Little Rock.  We’re almost like the sister state of North Carolina these days.  I mean, every time I turn my back there’s a new NC based band here.  First American Aquarium, then Red Collar, and now Roman Candle have invaded The Natural State.  I’ve probably forgotten a few, but these are the ones that stand out in my mind, and I’m continually surprised and amazed by all these individual musicians and their respective groups.  I wonder who’ll be next?  It’s probably a good bet that they’ll be great as well, but I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself.

With that being said, Roman Candle, originally of Chapel Hill, North Carolina who have now semi-relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, certainly made a positive impression on me last night at their show at Juanita’s Cantina Ballroom.  I’m not entirely sure how they got on the bill opening for Rocco Deluca, but I’ll address that in a while.

As I walked in, I was greeted to an energetic, five piece band.  Roman Candle had already taken the stage and were most likely a couple songs in to their set.  The first thing I noticed was Skip Matheny’s commanding vocals.  If one were to drift and lose focus, his vocals would certainly wake you up and pull you back in, magnetic if you have it.  The next thing I noticed and couldn’t keep my mind off of was the fact that the keyboard, bass, and drums were the three instruments to stick out.  It may have just been the sound system, because the guitar on the album is more pronounced, but it was a nice change of pace for once.  Because of that fact, the vocals were a bit difficult to hear over the actual music, but were the most clear and spirited during their song “One Hundred Thousand Miles,” which coincidentally was my favorite tune of the night.

Each song tells a story.  I appreciate musicians who are able to tell a concise, interesting tale within the span of a five minute song.  It is such a talent that many, but not all possess, and to be able to do it in such a vivid & vibrant way is truly a gift.  With all of the right elements combined, their set was fluid and a pure pleasure to watch.  Exhibiting a carefree attitude, they look like they’re have a lot of fun on stage, and that is such an integral quality a band should have.  If a band isn’t having fun, chances are the audience isn’t, but thankfully that was not the case here.  In my opinion, a band is supposed to capture their audience’s attention, and that is something this group does extremely well.  

It is beyond me as to why Roman Candle was opening for Rocco Deluca and The Burden.  The opening band is supposed to get people geared up to see the headliner, but RC stole the show in my opinion.  They left me on a positively high note, but out of respect for Deluca, I stayed through his set.  Personally I see no redeeming factors to his music.  I fail to see the comparisons to U2, Thom Yorke, & Jeff Buckley among others that have been mentioned.  The thing that no one could miss was his insistent whining.  I feel as if he should leave that to Ben Gibbard, who has built a pretty decent career on doing similar things.  Just because you are on Kiefer Sutherland’s co-owned record label, Ironworks, does not automatically make you good.  I was thoroughly under impressed, but I urge you to make your own mind up about him.

Roman Candle should have played the whole night.  Frankly, I think it would have made several other people other than myself happier.  The only thing I would change about their show would be to bring to a smaller, more intimate venue like White Water Tavern.  While they are seriously lovely folks, I’d rather see them at a venue where the crowd could interact with them more.  Other than that one small change, I sincerely hope to see good things happen to this band because they are hardworking, and it most definitely shines through their music.

-L

www.romancandlemusic.com
www.myspace.com/romancandle

(Photo credit unknown)

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

Last Saturday, a band made their way to town in a troubled truck.  Troubled enough that The Only Sons weren’t even sure if they could make back home to Murfreesboro, TN.  I arrived to White Water expecting Mat Mahar to be kicking things off for the night, but was sorely disappointed that they weren’t playing.

I missed The Only Sons' first song or two, but no more than that.  I had been communicating with at least one of the members prior to the show, and he was kind enough to send me the link to their latest release, Steel Hearts.  This was at least two weeks before they made it to Little Rock, and I listened to it multiple times with each time making me grow fonder of them as a band.  I liked their sound directly off the bat, but more time with their material made me clamor to go out and see them.

Upon first listen, I picked up on the subtle undertones of Glossary, Lucero, and bands of that type.  I wasn’t aware of the fact beforehand that Joey Kneiser had done vocals on at least one of their songs, so I guess I was spot on with describing them. They played a great mix of newer material and older material, which I was not familiar with, much to my delight.  I’m going to have to get my hands on a copy of Young Lungs some time in the near future so I can further acquaint myself with it.  They’ve got the playful quality of their music like Glossary, the less gravelly than Ben Nichols’ voice in Kent Goolsby’s vocals, and a rock aspect to tie everything together.  However, they don’t have the typical rock star attitude that some might expect.  I met four seemingly very grounded men, good old boys if you have it, whom I could tell genuinely loved what they do.

In their performance, along with their new record, these men come across as true musicians who are doing what they want and are happy with that decision.  It was an atypical Saturday night at White Water, with no more than 40 total people there, which should have been packed.  However, that didn’t bother TOS.  They actually went on to say, “Fuck Memphis!  Only five people came out to our show there.”  Well, I had a great time standing up front supporting them, and I can only hope the next show brings more people out to see them because they’re good.  If you want to see true musicians doing their thing on stage, despite the downfall of a small crowd, a sick truck, or some other random, negative reason, catch them the next time they stop through Little Rock because they put on a great set.

--L

Here’s a link to their Myspace if you’re interested.

(Photo by: J. Anne Photography)

What I thought would turn out to be a great night quickly went down as one of the worst I’ve ever had at White Water.  I went out to see Ben Nichols (pictured) & Christopher Denny.  I knew Nichols was playing solo, and I was under the impression that Denny’s band would be in tow, but they were nowhere to be seen.  Instead, the packed bar was greeted to one of the more interesting round robin shows I’ve seen. 

Nichols would play a song, and Denny would follow quickly with one of his own.  I’ll be the first to admit I’m not the biggest Denny fan out there, but I give him credit where credit is due.  The one thing I’d forgotten about a show with Nichols headlining was the rabid amount of douchebags he brings out of the woodwork.  I felt like I was a real life part of that one website that chronicles douchebags & the women they date.  For reference it’s here.  It was eerily similar to some of the people on that website.  I know it’s not Nichols’ fault, but man those types are not fun to be around in a small bar considering my friends & I are nothing like them.  However, to each their own.

I saw very quickly that they weren’t there for Denny.  Most everyone just paid attention when Nichols sang Lucero’s bigger hits, Sweet Little Thing, Nights Like These, etc.  Then they would turn around and basically bitch about the fact he was playing his new solo stuff, and that they didn’t really like it.  What’s the point of going to a Nichols show if you aren’t there to hear his solo material?  I mean really. 

I kicked myself out of the bar at around 11:30.  I knew if I didn’t leave the night might end very poorly for me and some unsuspecting person.  I wish I’d stuck around to catch more of the show, but it was just one of the worst, most tension fueled atmospheres I’ve ever been in.  I love White Water, but I just wasn’t feeling it that night.  I hope the next show proves to be less off kilter. 

--L

Sometimes, Tuesday pitcher night at White Water Tavern is a real gamble when it comes to the musical acts featured. One week you get the excellence that is Red Collar, and the next week you get some knock off southern rock wannabe. But the beer is cheap, and the company’s good so it’s a chance I’m usually willing to take.

Now, I’d heard the name Kristy Kruger floating around Little Rock for a while. A WWT frequenter, Kruger stopped in this past Tuesday and sweetly serenaded the auspicious Tuesday night crowd.

Having taken the stage a little bit late, because she was changing clothes and applying make-up in the bathroom, I noticed Kruger doing mic checks on two different microphones. I’m not going to pretend I knew the difference between the two microphones, but one was markedly older and when she sang into it she sounded like a vinyl record version of herself.

When she started to sing, I was taken aback by her mysterious and almost ghostly voice. She wasn’t demanding or over the top, not callous or in your face, but just delicate.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the loud stuff, but after a few weeks of loud and energetic acts, (Red Collar, American Aquarium, Drunken Angels, Frown Pow’r) it was nice to listen to Kruger, sip my beer and be able to converse without fear of busting someone else’s eardrum. 

Kruger has a downright pretty voice, and demeanor as well. In a world of boring solo acoustic female acts, Kruger stands out with her 1920s-esque voice. It almost sounds like she should be broadcasted on a low frequency radio somewhere in the Ozark Mountains.

Her voice reminded me of major label songstress and Grammy nominee Adele, who is out of the U.K. Kruger’s voice has girth and fearlessness that seems to come so naturally, and is very accessible to the audience.  

Kruger’s performance was consistent, intimate and thoughtful; it was a nice easy summertime show.

Go by her Web site and pick up an album or two. “Songs from a Dead Man’s Couch” is her latest full-length release, and I highly recommend it.

http://www.kristykruger.com/

-Liz S.

Last Wednesday night was arguably one of the best shows of the summer.  Yes, I know it’s early, but I don’t think anything in the near future will rival it until Slobberbone takes the stage at White Water on August 11.  Three talented acts took the stage, but I’d really like to focus more on Red Collar (pictured).  

To begin the night, Ben Nichols, the gravelly voiced lead singer of Lucero, took the stage.  At 2:30am Wednesday morning, in a whiskey drunk state, Nichols agreed to play an impromptu solo show.  I didn’t know Todd Beene was going to accompany him therefore making it a non-solo show but you get what I mean.  I should have guessed since Beene is a recent Little Rock transplant from his previous home of Murfreesboro, TN.  Anyways, Nichols played several new Lucero songs, at least one song off his new EP, The Last Pale Light In The West, and a couple old favorites.  The standout new song in my mind was penned about his mother, and I must say I can’t wait to hear that one again.  

To speed things up, and of course out of sequential order, American Aquarium played the last set of the night.  Don’t get me wrong, I love these men, but playing favorites to Little Rock and canceling a prior gig just isn’t professional in my mind.  I believe they should have finished their tour and come back in August when they were scheduled to.  Putting that aside however, even though the crowd was dwindling, they played their hearts out.  Whit Wright is a wizard on the pedal steel.  Their new drummer, Kevin McClain, has already proved his worth and is playing very well with them.  It’s almost like he isn’t the newest member.  AA played a bunch of crowd favorites but tended to stick to the newest material off their latest release, Dances For The Lonely, on Little Rock’s own Last Chance Records.  Those of us who stuck around had a great time, and I’m sure the next will be just as fun.

However, the standout act of the night was Red Collar.  They hail from Durham, North Carolina and are friends with American Aquarium.  That friendship led them down to our humble little town, and in my opinion they will be welcomed back with open arms any time.  They originally played Tuesday night with The Nightmare River Band from NYC, but due to impeccable timing, had no other obligations the next night and convinced White Water to let them play again.  Of course I thought this was a spectacular idea along with several others who’d caught them on Tuesday night.  

I was in awe of them when I saw them several months ago and was highly anticipating their return to White Water.  I really think what caught me by surprise and just roped me in were Jason Kutchma’s gold combat boots with spurs attached by bungee cord.  I mean, who does that these days?  Badasses do apparently!  Nonetheless, with as much energy if not more than the last time I saw them, they rocked the house down.  They have a nice blend of punk influenced rock music. They are lound and in charge, but know how to tone things down when they along with their audience need a breather. Their songs are geared towards those folks who work for a living and the proverbial "losers, dreamers, & the in-betweens."  There is something there for everyone and I think that's why I find them so appealing.

Their first album, Pilgrim, is about as solid as they come.  I haven’t found a song on it that I don’t like, and that makes me really happy.  Several of the songs are infectious and you can’t help but keep time with them.  Trust me, they’re even more so in person.  I found myself dancing along more to some of their songs because of the energy they instilled in those watching them, and it sounds corny to say this, but I love when bands are able to accomplish such a feat.

Just to add a bit of character reference, the members of Red Collar made plans with a mutual friend & I to eat lunch at Vino’s on Thursday.  Our friend couldn’t make it and it ended up being just the five of us.  Beth, Jason, Mike, & Jon are beyond nice.  We ate lunch and just talked for over an hour, and it was just neat to hear some of their stories involving winters in the north, craziness in North Carolina, and whatever else we cared to talk about.  The best thing about the day was that they allowed me, someone they don’t really know at all, to hang out and enjoy one of the best places to grab a slice of pizza in town.  They’ve made such a great impression on me, personally & musically, that I can’t wait until their next visit to Little Rock.  

--L


P.S. On a semi-related sidenote, I apologize for not keeping the gallery up to date.  I have painstakenly decided to just start from this date forward.  I'm sorry if I left your show out, but chances are sometime in the near future you'll make your way back.

When you pack in three of Little Rock's favorite musical acts at White Water in one night, something explosive is bound to happen.  White Water was slow to fill up last night, but by 11:30 or so the place was sold out (hopefully the proceeds put a small dent in to the total cost of a new PA for .  The See opened the night with a rowdy set and even handed out tambourines for audience participation during their song "Storytelling."  People were dancing and generally behaving themselves as much as they can when they're playing. 

Jonathan Wilkins came up next as the lone solo act of the night.  He played a several new songs interchanged with older songs.  It's so neat to see die hard fans, along with myself, singing along to his songs.  That being said, I love the honesty in his songs.  Sometimes they are so truthful it's almost like an imaginary kick in the stomach.  Nonetheless, the crowds and anyone who has listened to him can clearly see the emotion and time he's put in to his music.  I've seen him perform more times than I can count, but yet he still keeps wowing me.

Arguably one of the best band of bar rockers in town, Smoke Up Johnny, played the last set of the night.  They're loud, full of life, and apparently bring out an odd demographic at White Water.  There were more non-regulars at WW than I've seen in a while.  Either way, they're fun and if you like to dance around and scream, then catch them sometime.

However, all of this goes back to my original crazy point.  Weird things happen when non-regulars and WW sell out.  T mentioned this to me before, and I never put two and two together.  A fight always breaks out on sold out nights.  I can't for sure say why, but a few song in to SUJ's set, a massive fight broke out near the bathrooms.  It resulted in one of the doormen having his shirt almost completely ripped off.  Another doorman unfortunately lost his glasses on the floor and had them returned to him with a bent frame and a missing lens.  I can sympathize on that front because I've damaged glasses in a similar way, and well we all know glasses aren't cheap.  Either way, I'd never seen the bar owner that upset during a fight, and within minutes of the troublemaker being thrown out, two cop cars showed up.  Of course curiosity got the best of me, but I decided to leave as opposed to snooping around to figure out what the hell just happened. 


To sum all these things up, the local music scene is going strong.  White Water is always an amusing source of entertainment.  You never know what's going to happen on a given night, and who knows what will happen the next night out. 

--L

(Photo Source Unknown)