Concert Review: Airborne Toxic Event at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, KS 4/24/13

Posted on May 2, 2013 by VocalsOnTop

Airborne Toxic Event / Kodaline poster for their show at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, Kansas. Some shows are a little out of your cannon. I’ll be the first to admit The Airborne Toxic Event is not a band I would normally go see. They are a good band and I have listened to them for a few years now but I just have never been enticed enough to drop dough on a concert ticket. Sometimes circumstances lead a person to strange situations and that is a great thing. The band was legit; this I knew, so I was in. The show started really early. An 8:00 start time is not something I am used to as a concertgoer at all. Being out the door by a quarter til 11:00 and on my way home was definitely an appealing thing though considering the hour and half drive I had ahead of me. The opening band that hit the stage at 8:00 was Kodaline from Ireland.

Kodaline fights jetlag during their half-hour set at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, Kansas on 4/24/13.

Kodaline fights jetlag during their half-hour set at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, Kansas on 4/24/13.

Kodaline is a basic four piece band that looked and sounded very European. The lead singer’s hair brought back memories of when Tears For Fears ruled the world and the band, and the group admitted they were suffering from jet-lag  worked their way through a well received opening set. The crowd at Liberty Hall was limited to the floor while the balcony’s seats remained empty. The polite crowd that seemed to not know the new band from across the pond accepted them as a mellow, but formidable opener for The Airborne Toxic Event. Kodaline had the drum sound of an 80s band as well. The actual drum kit lacked the bass thump of most live shows and instead sounded electronic, softening the music. Their song “High Hopes” was likely the highlight of their set with its gentle sway and pleasing melodies. The songwriting was good but like many European bands they sounded a lot like other European bands, You could hear the U2, think of their softer, slower songs, and you could hear the heavy influence of bands like The Verve and Travis as well. The biggest correlation was easily drawn to Coldplay. If someone asked, “What does Kodaline sound like?” The easy answer is simply “Coldplay.” While Kodaline really lacked anything to set them apart from many other similar bands they still won over the half-filled venue and championed many new additions to their 57,000+ facebook likes I’m sure.

The Airborne Toxic Event uses their backdrop to their full advantage at Liberty Hall in Lawrence.

The Airborne Toxic Event uses their backdrop to their full advantage at Liberty Hall in Lawrence.

Soon after Kodaline; the sheet would be torn down from the backdrop revealing The Airborne Toxic Event’s giant 3-D bird with and arrow sticking in it and blood coming out the other side. This caused an eager roar from the crowd. The soundman would soak up some undeserved attention by playing each instrument a little too much while another stagehand would wipe off all of the band’s mics getting ready for the show to start. The Airborne Toxic Event has an edgy sound that screams East Coast to me even though they are from California. They have released two well-received albums including one that placed in the Top 20 on the Billboard charts in the US. They also have a third album that was literally days away from being released at the time of this show in Lawrence, Kansas.

The Airborne Toxic Event plays to a young, eager crowd at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, Kansas on 4/24/13.

The Airborne Toxic Event plays to a young, eager crowd at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, Kansas on 4/24/13.

The band could be classified as modern glam as they have strong pop sensibilities but still share some punk leanings. They would roughen up the crowd right away with the punky “Gasoline” and hit one of their more popular songs early with “Does This Mean You’re Moving On?” During “Does This Mean You’re Moving On?” lead singer Mikel Jollett would hop on top of the giant speakers on the side of the stage and hang over the edge far above the crowd while singing the song only armed with his microphone. One of the highlights of the band’s 16-song set would be the guitar driven and hook heavy “Changing.” The crowd favorite “Numb” would have been a candidate to fit in with Kodaline’s set because of the 80s rock feel of the track. The group would tease their new album by doing “Safe” and “Timeless” from the upcoming record but the audience seemed to already know them well and were not taken off guard.

What did surprise many attendees was the cover of The Magnetic Fields song “Book of Love” that started the three-song encore. An almost solo acoustic version of the sappy “The Graveyard Near The House” would follow adorned by a quiet and respectful crowd sing-along. Jollett would comment after the singing it that he “never thought anybody would know that song.” This comment seemed strange because he performs the song frequently at the band’s nearly 200 shows per year. The comment did make the crowd feel special though and help draw a connection between he and his audience. They would end with their song “Missy” and mix in a medley of great American songs by including Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” Tom Petty’s “American Girl” and Bruce Spingsteen’s “Born In The U.S.A.” They would change a few words around in the medley cover, not changing the songs drastically but making them sound a bit off.

The Airborne Toxic Event plays to a young, eager crowd at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, Kansas on 4/24/13.

The Airborne Toxic Event plays to a young, eager crowd at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, Kansas on 4/24/13.

In the end the crowd was left satisfied and got a sprinkling of a few guitar picks as well. The band sincerely thanked the audience on a couple of occasions and didn’t seem to mind the half empty room at all. Jollett would gaze over the crowd as if it were Wembly Stadium acting both satisfied and amazed. The very young and mostly female audience returned as much energy as the band could have hoped for as well. Many shows don’t have the main band going on before 10:30 and on this night the band was saying their goodbyes at that point. There was nothing bad about it though. The group rocked like you’d expect any indie rockers to do and left the crowd happy and saving their money for the new album to be released within a week after of the show. Airborne Toxic Event at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, KS 4/24/13 setlist:

  • Gasoline
  • Happiness Is Overrated
  • Does This Mean You’re Moving On?
  • True Love
  • Changing
  • Something New
  • Numb
  • Safe
  • Wishing Well
  • Timeless
  • Sometime Around Midnight
  • All I Ever Wanted
  • All At Once
  • encore
  • Book of Love (Magnetic Fields cover)
  • The Graveyard Near The House
  • Missy > Ring of Fire(Johnny Cash) > American Girl(Tom Petty) > Born In The U.S.A.(Bruce Springsteen) > Missy
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Guest Column: Record Store Day Is Every Day For Me

Posted on April 26, 2013 by VocalsOnTop

Record Store Day 2013 Logo

By Danny R. Phillips

For the neo-hippie contingent, April 20th is a borderline religious holiday; for someone like me however, 4/20 this year held a much more important distinction then being a day of getting high and killing a bag or two of Chili Cheese Fritos: this year, 4/20 was Record Store Day.

Record Store Day, for those not familiar with vinyl geekdom, is a day set aside to celebrate brick and mortar record shops.  Places like Lovegarden Sounds and Kief’s Audio, both in Lawrence, KS, The Lucky Tiger, Joe City Records and Record Wearhouse in St. Joseph, MO and to a lesser degree, outlets like Hastings that carry the almighty records.  Many record labels and bands press limited run vinyl.  Doing so in hopes that worshippers of the hallowed black circle (ok, sometimes it’s clear, a picture disc or colored) will max out credit cards, drain bank accounts and obliterate tax refunds; all to purchase some long lost Husker Du, a coveted “Songs for Slim” or a tenth anniversary offering of The White Stripes “Elephant” on alternate color vinyl.

Husker Du Record Store Day release, Amusement

Hüsker Dü’s 2013 Record Store Day release, Amusement.

I would like to think I am above the hoopla, this painfully obvious money grab, that my standards are higher, my resolve stronger.  They were not.  I bought in hook, line and sinker.  I got up early with my teenaged daughter Drew in tow as we headed to St. Joe for some deals.  Disappointed, I found that none of the outlets in St. Joe was carrying any of the special RSD releases.  Thanks to a couple good friends (thanks Clint and Steve) I landed the records I wanted but it got me thinking.  “I don’t need one day a year to shine a light on my beloved records. For me, every day is Record Store Day.”

I truly love the idea of walking into a record shop, digging through the racks with little to no plan; the only clear objective is to find something to enjoy.  Curiosity guiding my fingers, mind racing,  What will I find?  What will I find?  This feeling is the meaning of Record Store Day to me.  Long ago, I traded in “hobbies” that did nothing but harm me, eating away at my being, allowing my love of records to take their place, never to look back.

The Stooges / Black Keys "No Fun" Split 7" released for Record Store Day 2013.

The Stooges / Black Keys “No Fun” Split 7″ released for Record Store Day 2013.

It is corny I know but music and records have always been a shelter of sorts for me.  As a kid, I could block the world outside, ignore the pain of the many surgeries that came along with my Cerebral Palsy, the negativity brought to bear by an a-hole stepfather.  With the help of some 1970’s earmuff headphones, a scratchy LP carefully selected from my Mom or older sister’s collections and a cool gatefold jacket to get lost in, I could forget who I was, be someone else.

Records and the music held within the grooves calmed my soul during some of the most trying times of my life. The loss of my beloved grandfather, moving away from my friends, abuse and loss have all been made better by a disc spinning at 78, 45 or 33 and a third rpm.  I’ve built a soundtrack through and because of these experiences.  That music that has stayed with me for my entire 38 years and will until I leave this Earth.

Sure, I got “No Alternative,” The Cure’s “Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me,” Husker Du’s “Amusement/Statues” and the side by side Stooges/Black Keys doing the classic garage monster “No Fun.”  It was a good Record Store Day but then again, every day is Record Store Day to me.

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Concert Review: Lucero / Langhorne Slim at The Granada, Lawrence, KS 4/23/13

Posted on April 24, 2013 by VocalsOnTop

Lucero and Langhorne Slim poster for their 4/23/13 show at The Granada in Lawrence, KS.

Seeing a band live after just listening to their music is similar to watching a movie after reading a book. Inevitably the listener paints an image of the band; this could mean their look, their sound or even their attitude on stage. Lucero and Langhorne Slim teamed up for a show at The Granada in Lawrence, Kansas on April 23rd, 2013 that didn’t quite match what I had imagined in my head.

Langhorne Slim performs with The Law at The Granada in Lawrence, Kansas on 4/23/13.

Langhorne Slim performs with The Law at The Granada in Lawrence, Kansas on 4/23/13.

Langhorne Slim is a great listen on album. The voice of lead singer Langhorne Slim (Sean Scolnick) sings with a gentle rasp that serenades to go along with the roots music he plays. He carried with him a backing band on this tour (The Law) that would add a surprising punch to his music. Slim typically plays a good mixture a few fast acoustic numbers and several slower, more soulful songs. This would lead a listener to believe his set would contain several slower songs.

Langhorne Slim & The Law brought their boxing gloves to the Granada though and knocked the crowd out with a high-energy set that was a perfect opener for a alt-country band like Lucero. The group would hit their latest record, The Way We Move, very hard by playing almost exclusively songs from it. It is refreshing to hear a band with a solid back catalog have the confidence to trot out a ton of new material and play with the attitude that it is their best; for Slim this may well be the case. Right out of the gate Slim was propelling himself upward off the bass drum during “The Way We Move” and upright bass player Jeff Ratner would slap his four strings to match the intensity. Longtime drummer Malachi Delorenzo and his massively dented cymbals would sweat out the intense set and David Moore would frequent the keyboards and occasionally take his turn on the banjo.

Langhorne Slim dials up the intensity with his antics at The Granada in Lawrence, Kansas on 4/23/13.

Langhorne Slim dials up the intensity with his antics at The Granada in Lawrence, Kansas on 4/23/13.

The set would take a couple of slower turns that allowed Slim to really display his vocal skills. With his surprisingly soulful voice he would belt out the banjo adorned “Salvation,” admiring tribute to his grandpa “Song For Sid” and the highlight of the slower songs “Tonight Again (Again Tonight.)” Slim would perform “Tonight Again” with the band absent from the stage and he would bring out Lucero’s Rick Steff to join him on accordion to make for a particularly intimate version of the unreleased song. The full band would go off stage with a straight up soul version of their appropriate closing song “Past Lives.” Slim would hop down into the crowd and detour a bit into the audience while belting out the final lyrics to the song and building the audience up to a massive participation in helping sing “I ain’t dead” before giving The Granada stage to the headliner.

Langhorne Slim serenades the crowd during one of his slower numbers late in the set.

Langhorne Slim serenades the crowd during one of his slower numbers late in the set.

Langhorne Slim setlist from The Granada in Lawrence, KS 4/23/13:

  • The Way We Move
  • Bad Luck
  • Honey Pie
  • Two Crooked Hearts
  • Fire
  • Salvation
  • Someday
  • Anything For You
  • Song For Sid
  • Tonight Again (Again Tonight)
  • Found My Heart
  • Cinderella
  • Past Lives

Having never seen Lucero live I was expecting a barnburner. Raunchy guitar boogie and a fast rocking set were a given right? Not so much. While the relaxed band would blast out of the gate with a driving “Sounds of the City” their overall set would not rock as much as I had anticipated. This by no means indicates that it was a bad show because the set I was about to see is almost a given to be included in my top concerts of the year this December.

Lucero marquee at The Granada in Lawrence, KS.

The group hit their newest album, Women & Work, pretty heavily playing 6 songs from it. They played possibly their most radio friendly song of their career from it right away with “On My Way Downtown.” They would also pepper in the reflective “When I Was Young” and the rowdy title cut “Women & Work” near the top of their lengthy setlist. They would miss many of the songs that are the usual suspects in their sets and replace them with more obscure tracks. Many of these obscure tracks came straight off of the audiences’ lips.

The seven-member band would spread across the stage but never overpower the songs with too much sound. The horn section, a trumpet and saxophone, would make nice additions to many songs but also not force themselves into numbers where they didn’t fit as the players would even occasionally even walk off-stage during songs. The other five members would be on bass, drums, keyboards, and guitar and of coarse Ben Nichols singing and playing guitar. It was shocking how casually confident Nichols was. He is undoubtedly the driving force behind the band, organizing it from his spot in center of the stage clearly making him the star of the show. Lucero for the most part is not a flashy band. The bass player, drummer and guitarist weren’t terribly impressive; they were good at their craft but didn’t do a ton to stand out. Solos were few and far between but not missed in the music at all. The exceptions to the band not being terribly impressive were Ben Nichols’ fantastic vocals and Rick Steff tearing up the keyboards and accordion.

Ben Nichols vocals are striking. Even after listening to him sing on record they will still catch you off-guard. His unique range adorns Lucero’s many songs about heartbreak perfectly. His effortless singing from his tall, lanky frame gives you the impression that his voice would never give out on him. Never. He is one of the most relaxed performers you will ever see on stage. While orchestrating the setlist on the spot he would win over nearly every audience member in attendance. He would spend his time making eye contact with several spectators and even trying to listen to what they had to say and occasionally talking to them. During songs he would shoot a sideways smile the way of people that knew every word or who were pumping their fists in tribute the songs. His white t-shirt and thick facial scruff only accented his tattooed arms and salt and pepper hair, as he would belt out nearly a two hour set while not even leaving the stage.

Lucero's driving force; Ben Nichols, blasts through an nearly two hours of music non-stop at The Granada in Lawrence, Kansas on 4/23/13.

Lucero’s driving force; Ben Nichols, blasts through nearly two hours of music non-stop at The Granada in Lawrence, Kansas on 4/23/13.

Nichols would sing several heartfelt songs. “Little Silver Heart” “It Gets Worse At Night” and “Hold Me Close” would all qualify here. Many songs about Nichols family were present too including the shocking twists of “The War” and the playfulness of “Raising Hell.” The band would be releasing a new EP on this occasion named Texas & Tennessee and would play three of the four songs from it. The would also stretch clear back to 2001 to their self-titled out-of-print first album to do three songs including the fitting “All Sewn Up” near the end of the set. “All Sewn Up” is a tribute to bad tattoos and it read true for the group. Each member of the core band was visibly covered in ink, averaging likely at least 30-40 tattoos each leading me to believe a couple members don’t even own any shirts with sleeves.

On a night that would miss the power-rock boogie of “That Much Further West” “Tears Don’t Matter Much” and “The Devil And Maggie Chascarillo” it would be strange how these giant songs would be overshadowed by the tracks performed in their place. It became obvious that Ben Nichols was a much more talented songwriter than he is given credit for and that the band really doesn’t have many songs that aren’t a welcome addition to any concert.

Nichols would conclude the show without and encore because he had lost track of time and played too long; the set would still fall just 10 minutes short of two hours. After the last song he would hop out into the crowd front and center and continue to win over fans. One crowd member would loudly fall on the ground after Nichols started making his way through the eager people and the band’s singer would quickly go back and be the first person to help him up while giving him a pat on the back. Another fan would ask, “If I bought a t-shirt could the whole band sign it?” and Nichols would respond: “I don’t know about the rest of the band but I’ll sure sign it.” Ben Nichols would prove he is not only a legendary talent but one hell of a nice guy as well.

Lucero's Ben Nichols: All Sewn Up with bad tattoos and one hell of a nice guy.

Lucero’s Ben Nichols: All Sewn Up with bad tattoos and one hell of a nice guy.

The combination of Lucero and Langhorne Slim made for a fantastic show. The high intensity of Langhorne Slim & The Law and the slightly subdued set by Memphis rockers Lucero may not have been what you I expected after listening to their records but as live bands they will both easily rise beyond your expectations. Records are great but sometimes to paint the full picture you need to go to a show and lose yourself in a great performance. I would pay good money to see Langhorne Slim and/or Lucero again in a heartbeat; if the setlists were exactly the same or if their wasn’t one song repeated from this show.

Lucero setlists from The Granada in Lawrence, KS 4/23/13:

  • Sounds of the City
  • On My Way Downtown
  • Nights Like These
  • Kiss The Bottle (Jawbreaker cover)
  • Hold Me Close
  • Women & Work
  • When I Was Young
  • Joining The Army
  • Tonight Ain’t Gonna Be Good
  • Like Lightning
  • Bastard’s Lullaby
  • It May Be Too Late
  • Rick’s Boogie #2
  • Goodbye Again
  • Texas & Tennessee
  • Other Side Of Lonesome
  • Ain’t So Lonely
  • Who You Waitin’ On?
  • Little Silver Heart
  • Raising Hell
  • It Gets Worse At Night
  • What Would You Have Me Be
  • Mom
  • The War
  • Take Shelter
  • San Francisco
  • All Sewn Up
  • Fistful of Tears

 

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250 Word Album Review: Edward Anderson – Low-Fi Goodness

Posted on April 17, 2013 by VocalsOnTop

Edward Anderson - Low-Fi Goodness

Edward Anderson - Low-Fi Goodness gets 4 stars

Edward Anderson escapes the shadows of projects like Magic Box and most of all Backyard Tire Fire to release his first solo album, Low-Fi Goodness. This 8 song EP plays like the solo project that it is. It is stripped down and often just features Anderson’s banjo accompanied by only his foot stomping.

Low-Fi Goodness starts with the epic line “It’s hard to think about tomorrow when you’re trying to make it through today.” on the album’s first single “Tears At Bay” making for the albums most memorable tracks. The next song, “Robbed In North Carolina,” has the gentle touch of an acoustic guitar while “Tears at Bay” is driven by a banjo. “Robbed In North Carolina” is a strange twist on a love song that takes you down the dark side of memory lane. The album continues to alternate between banjo and guitar tracks all the way to the end. The banjo songs have a rough touch while the soft strums of the acoustic guitar give the remainder of the songs a completely different feel.

The clear highlight of the EP is “Bums In The Sun” with its twisted first person narrative about how a person can fall through the cracks and become ruthless. With its soaring chorus of no remorse it makes for one of the most interesting narratives you’ll hear. “Patiently” profiles a man facing maturity and being blindly honest when put on the spot. The mixture of songs keeps the listener interested and the repeated themes make for an oddly unique experience that will keep you listening.

Key Tracks: “Bums In The Sun” “Tears at Bay”

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Concert Review: Third Wounded Man / Cupcake / Dsoedean at Cafe Acoustic in St. Joseph, MO 4/13/13

Posted on April 14, 2013 by VocalsOnTop

Brian Myers Birthday Blowout poster with Third Wounded Man, Cupcake and Dsoedean.Brian Myers has become an important puzzle piece in St. Joseph, Missouri. Known for his sometimes shocking honesty and blunt wit, he is either passionately loved or hated; depending on who you talk to. The turnout at the Cafe Acoustic for his “Birthday Blowout” proved that there are still several people in town he has yet to offend; the ball is in your court Mr. Myers.

Among the not-yet-offended was Brian’s girlfriend and the operator of the fantastic local business The Lucky Tiger, Amy Heath. She spent the time to make tons of heads on sticks for the crowd, each one with a unique fact about Myers; each more disturbing than the last. My favorite of which was “Brian once got busy in a Burger King bathroom.” No word on whether a second party was involved in this act.

The occasion did bring together three great bands as well. All three brought very different styles of music to the table. First up was one of St. Joseph’s hardest working bands: Dsoedean. Dsoedean was in its three piece variety featuring Colby Walter on bass. Zale Bledsoe would take exclusive guitar duties while Bobby Floyd would pound on his low-sitting drum kit. While the limitations of a bass around Walter’s neck inhibits his abilities, it does give the band a more brash, garage rock sound than when Walter is able to tickle the keys of his keyboard. The band continued to move up the ramp to their much anticipated first full-length release, Continue To Move.

Dsoedean busting through their opening set at Cafe Acoustic on 4/13/13. Left to right: Colby Walter, Bobby Floyd and Zale Bledsoe.

Dsoedean busting through their opening set at Cafe Acoustic on 4/13/13. Left to right: Colby Walter, Bobby Floyd and Zale Bledsoe.

Third Wounded Man would take control of the stage next with Bill Blizzard on drums, Tyson Bottorff on bass and occasionally taking a shot at the mic and Todd Cooper relentlessly taking on guitar and vocals. Blizzard would hit the drum head so hard it was difficult to imagine either the drum skin or drum stick wouldn’t eventually give way and his thrash-metal drum style perfectly complimented Bottorff’s machine gun bass playing and Cooper’s aggressive vocal and guitar style.

Third Wounded Man makes Cafe Acoustic's neighbors angry on 4/13/13. Left to right: Bill Blizzard, Todd Cooper and Tyson Bottorff.

Third Wounded Man makes Cafe Acoustic’s neighbors angry on 4/13/13. Left to right: Bill Blizzard, Todd Cooper and Tyson Bottorff.

Todd Cooper has the best guitar poses in town, he would lean his long frame back, position himself under the mic with a wide stance and sing up to the metal gods while doing his best to make ears bleed. The 20 plus year veteran to the hard rock scene has perfected how to sing in a heavy band. He avoids the “sceamo” tactics and really belts out clear, understandable vocals to go along with the band’s driving sound. Third Wounded Man has already stockpiled a few grade A original songs like “Every Little Thing She Does Is Tragic,” the Rush referencing “March of the True” and an overdue ode to album release day in “Ghosts of Tuesday’s Past.” They would even debut a new song named “I, Escapist” that is sure to graffiti the bands setlists for the foreseeable future. The group would also give a loving headbanging nod to one of the Ramones better songs by covering “I Believe In Miracles” before they would turn the stage over to the next act.

Cupcake challenges the limits of what is normal at the Cafe Acoustic, 4/13/13. Left to right: Shardie, Jeff Jensen, Marc Darnell and Kiley Bodenhamer.

Cupcake challenges the limits of what is normal at the Cafe Acoustic, 4/13/13. Left to right: Shardie, Jeff Jensen, Marc Darnell and Kiley Bodenhamer.

Cupcake would close out the night with their standard amount of weirdness. Jeff Jensen and Kiley Bodenhamer would steady the boat while the guitar playing of Shardie and vocals and guitar of Marc Darnell would attempt to tip the boat over. The crowd would be enticed to leave their seats and gather around the stage for the band’s antics. The set could be nicely summed up by Darnell uncomfortably positioning his guitar so he could lift his shirt to show his bare stomach for no apparent reason. The only debate about Cupcake is whether they are more fun to watch or to listen to; luckily those two things go hand-in-hand.

The three bands really didn’t fit together as a cohesive bill but kept the audience on their toes. The group of friends and music lovers that gathered to honor the revered Brian Myers would get a supreme sampling of what St. Joseph has to offer musically. Each band had it’s own personality and each band was personally connected to Myers. In retrospect, the powerful hooks of Dsoedean, the thrash of Third Wounded Man and the abstractness of Cupcake may have been the perfect way to celebrate St. Joseph’s favorite Jew’s birthday.

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250 Word Local Album Review: Aaron Blumer – Aaron Blumer

Posted on April 14, 2013 by VocalsOnTop

Aaron Blumer Self-Titled album gets 3 stars

Aaron Blumer embraced the country lifestyle. On his self-titled debut album his song “Livin’ Like A Country Song” pretty much explains it all. The themes heard on the album released in 2012 are nothing out of the ordinary; all the usual suspects are here: girls, dirt roads, beer, getting fired and lost loves. Don’t worry though, Blumer keeps from delving into the douchbaggery of Toby Keith and artist like him who shamelessly pander to their crowd.

The songs sound personal enough that they are believable unlike many current country artists you’ll hear on the radio. The songs on Aaron Blumer are very much pop country. The line between pop and country has been becoming really blurry in recent years, to the point where the line really doesn’t exist. The songs are all sing-along worthy and could really be called pop songs. Tracks like “She Never Hit The Ground” will have you singing them in your head hours after you listen. The songs have a clean, well recorded sound and sound every bit as good as modern country radio favorites. The heartfelt lyrics are accompanied not only by a full band but nice clean electric guitar leads. Blumer’s songs occasionally even venture in raunchy guitar territory as well on songs like “Moonlight” and “See Here Coming.”

The highlights on the record could easily fit in with any modern country playlist with the catchiness of songs like “Hard To Hold Onto” and “Pried It Out.” The album is a smooth listen all the way through and has the heart and honesty that a good country record should.

Key Tracks: “She Never Hit The Ground” “Pried It Out” “Hard To Hold Onto”

You can buy Blumer’s album from iTunes here https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/aaron-blumer/id585748627?ign-mpt=uo%3D4 or it would even be better if you would catch him live and snag a physical copy for yourself. Aaron has been moonlighting with his new band Money For Nothin’ lately. Money For Nothin’ is playing often; if you can’t catch them live; you aren’t trying. The band features fellow songwriters Casey Brett and Marcus Words with Sara Verduzco on drums.

Go like their facebook page here to try to keep up: http://www.facebook.com/moneyfornothinband

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It’s The Clamcast! with Sam Blumer and Clint Wiederholt

Posted on April 13, 2013 by VocalsOnTop

I am so very proud to officially unveil my first foray into audio adventure land. It is an internet show (don’t call it a podcast) with my research consultant and good friend Sam Blumer. Look for Vocals On Top type of topics along with hopefully a little more humor and a fresh input from the esteemed Mr. Blumer. You can head over to TheClamcast.com to hear our first and greatest episode right now.

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250 Word Local Album Review: Michael Coman – Go!

Posted on April 12, 2013 by VocalsOnTop

Michael Coman - Go

Michael Coman has been a St. Joseph mainstay for years now. Putting in countless hours at hole in the wall bars, playing to four people, hearing the echo in the tip bucket is all par for the course. It doesn’t matter how good you are sometimes; it is hard to capture an audience.

Michael Coman’s Go! is a forgotten piece of St. Joseph music. This well-recorded album has several gems on it. The opening track “Peace & Love” is nowhere near as corny as the title would lead you to believe and the hooky guitar and drum beat will draw you in right away. Influences are worn on Coman’s sleeve for the record which is no way a bad thing. It takes about a half second into “Give It To Me” to hear the George Harrison style guitar and the raspy vocals of “Burden Down” could have came straight out of Warren Zevon’s lips.

Songs like “B” and “Get On Board” read so personal that it feels like they were written for a very small audience that you aren’t a part of but for the same reasons are personally relatable. The head-bobbing, toe-tapping stomp of “Monkey” may be a perfect addition to your driving mix cd (though it might garner you a speeding ticket if not careful) you’ve been working on and the songs “Go!” and “Drive Me Crazy” will make you want pick up a guitar and start picking for yourself. Go! is a steady mixture of classic rock and blues that doesn’t wear thin with repeated listens.

Key Tracks: “Peace & Love” “Monkey” “Go!”

You can catch Michael Coman playing live with The Woodpile, a band containing his wife and son and see some of these songs. His album Go! is available at http://michaelscoman.bandcamp.com/album/go-carpe-diem. You can download it for free but if you like it be sure to tip him a couple bucks when you download it or go see The Woodpile live and tell him you dug it.

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VOT Editorial: Local Album Reviews

Posted on April 11, 2013 by VocalsOnTop

Writing for a website, much like writing a song, doesn’t always end up the way you planned. When Vocals On Top started on April 21, 2011, I didn’t intend on it being exactly what it has become. In most ways it is much better. I’m thrilled with the amount of people paying attention and the feedback I have gotten. I didn’t intend on it being a hotbed for local music though. It has turned into a site where the majority of content can be traced right to my hometown of St. Joseph, Missouri. It’s not a bad thing, it just isn’t what I had in mind.

My 250 Word Album Reviews section has had a couple local acts but is mainly national acts. I plan on writing more local review now but they will have to be slightly different. I want to provide feedback on the albums and review them whenever possible and plan on doing more of that. I will maintain the 250 word structure and also “key tracks” from the release but will drop the star rating.

The star rating (.5 – 5 stars on my scale) is a great way to glance at a review and see how much the reviewer liked the record. It is also an easy way to get the wrong idea about an album if you don’t read the article. It is also difficult to weigh a local album made in one of my friend’s basements against the new Bob Dylan record; it isn’t fair to grade them on the same scale. This is why I will abandon the stars on local albums, everything else will remain the same. I do plan to add one small detail though. I will put links to where to buy the band’s music. If I review a Bob Dylan record you know how to buy it, but if I review the new Scruffy & The Janitors record, it is a little more difficult to find.

I have a laundry list of reviews to write already. Time frame is not a concern to me on this, if I get a copy of an album released in 1996 in St. Joseph, I’ll review it. I know of a couple older albums I will be writing about at some point. My local music knowledge only goes back about two years for the St. Joseph scene so I missed the boat on bands like Full Power, Seven Mile Drive and Pig Farmer. My knowledge of the current scene is much better and hopefully Vocals On Top can stay on top of it.

The album reviews will be called “250 Word Local Album Reviews” and hopefully will be pop up frequently. I have obtained several local band’s music at shows and will review what I have and try to seek out more. If you have something you’d like me to review; I love music and would like to hear it and I will ramble about it for a bit on the site. If you would like to submit something just message either Clint Wiederholt or Vocals On Top on facebook or comment below. I always welcome emails at VocalsOnTop at Gmail.com as well.

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Coming Soon: Eric Sommer

Posted on April 10, 2013 by VocalsOnTop

Eric Sommer / For The Sound 2013 concert poster.

WHO’S PERFORMING?  Eric Sommer (Boston, MA) For The Sound (St. Joseph, MO)

WHAT TO EXPECT?  To be left in awe…

For The Sound is the one man wrecking crew that is Zale Bledsoe. Look for his heartfelt solo acoustic tunes to fill a relaxing set. He is also sure to throw in a couple Dsoedean songs for good measure. He should have a new EP available there too. It hopefully will contain his new song “Fever” that ranks as one of the best songs he has written.

Eric Sommer tours pretty much non-stop. Just look at the tour dates on his website, he is booked months in advance pretty much just touring in circles around the US. He will bring his expansive arsenal of around 7 guitars to the stage and meticulously set them up around his seat in front of the mic for the show. All of them will get played and each one is there for a reason and serves a purpose of its own. He will pluck, strum and rock out into the early morning hours.

Sommer is touring behind his album “Rainy Day Karma” and will be sure to hit that record hard with his setlist. Last time he gave out free domino pins and clothes pins with his website on them; if you show up, you just might get one of your own. Not only does Sommer have music to peddle but also sells unique little poetry books and posters.

WHERE IS IT?  The Cafe Acoustic, 2605 Frederick Ave., St Joseph, MO 64506

WHEN IS IT?  Friday, April 26, 2013; 9:30pm, 21+ FREE

WHY SHOULD I GO?  For The Sound is an unappreciated local act. It is songwriting stripped down to its bare bones with no bass, drums or distortion to protect it. Sometimes the best music is when it is played with a fearless vulnerability.

On a personal note; Eric Sommer is one of the most impressive guitar players I have ever seen live. I’m sure there are better but I’m also sure that they won’t be playing the Cafe Acoustic anytime soon. He is a true touring artist that travels the country doing what he loves. The most enjoyable part of seeing Sommer play may be seeing how comfortable and enjoyable playing is to him.

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