Music

Mickey Hart: A Good-Hearted Sorcerer Spins Spirit of Fun

While recording his new album, Superorganism, Mickey Hart donned an EEG cap and a computer channeled the electrical impulses of his brain waves into sounds. From there, according to his silly liner notes, he incorporated them with his music. "These sounds are noise--harsh and strange--and it is only after dancing with their essence face to face that music can be created." But that doesn't answer the question Superorganism's cover picture of his brain provokes: Isn't Mickey Hart's brain scan a lovely replica of a jellyfish? From the Dead's ubiquitous skull logo to Mickey's mental matter--this is progress? The squishy weird thing that floats by you in our dirty, filthy, medical-waste-strewn oceans isn't what came to mind last week when Hart and his band played under the big tent in the Woodlands Tavern's back parking lot. No, first of all, the lovely, frightening post-Grateful Dead crowd of forever young and yet old-before-their-time pre-humans make one think it was a collection point for a Noah's Ark of unwanted pets. Funny-lookin' folk, really.

Euro-Weenie Doily Music Fires On Few Cylinders

 This is as deep as Vampire Weekend got for me Monday night outdoors at the LC Pavilion, as I pondered how to describe the Brooklyn band's South African township-meets-new-wave music.
 A quirky swirl?
 A swirl of quirk?
 A swirly quirk?
 Or maybe a Spockian shock to Captain Kirk?
 Well, any old way, I didn't start out annoyed by them. Quite the contrary, photographing their first three songs, I was close enough to untie front man Ezra Koenig's sneakers so it wasn't hard to get caught up in their huge energy, their dynamic drummer's pounding, their bassist's below-the-waist knee-knocking contortions and Koenig's rather arresting onstage persona of Donny Osmond, Elvis and David Byrne. Then, by the fourth song, as I moved into the crowd the excitement wore off.
 I guess that's what drug users call a "rush", huh? Or so I have read.

Queens of the Stone Age Leave Lukewarm Private Parts

Ray Davies of the Kinks might've paraphrased himself after seeing the Queens of the Stone Age last Sunday night and asked: Where have all the good riffs gone?

 

     Or as George Thorogood once answered my question as to why he didn't write his own blues and rock'n'roll songs, "All the good ones have already been written."

 

     So as much as they are considered a riff-heavy band and leader Josh Homme a songwriter in his own league, I'm somewhat verklempt and confused about the alleged greatness of the Queens. Yes, they pack a five-fingered death punch rhythmically--sometimes. Yes, they have a fabulously enthusiastic bassist in Michael Shuman who, when his Fender bass playing locks in with drummer Jon Theodore's bass drum pedal (and together they were locked in tighter than a stripper's belly button piercings all night), it's a bit Jones/Bonham. And with a few of the guitar riffs the effect WILL grab you by your privates and make you shake, rattle and roll--a little bit.

 

Pass the Peas! Fred Wesley laid down the funk

Like an old-fashioned Saturday night tent revival, the world's greatest funk trombonist came to town and made the lame dance and the doubters believe. Fred Wesley, 70 years old and a man who helped give funk the feel in its infancy (when he wasn't reading charts under Count Basie), blew smooth, then warm and then finally rip-roaring hot funk at the Hot Times Festival downtown on the grounds of the old Highway Patrol building. Those old walls of trouble, strength and justice still stood at the end of the night but only just. Jericho wasn't achieved but the tent roof was figuratively raised and the spirits therein literally.      Opening with Sultry Zambia, it was pleasant. Fred up there--have stool, will travel--flanked by a crack band of locals handpicked by "Superfly" guitarist and the night's musical director, Craig Mac, the sound was of jazz ripples on a placid rhythm.

The Columbus Music “Scene”

What is a “scene” anyway? What does it look like, sound like or even feel like? What does it mean for a city to have a “music scene?” And if you were asked, “what is Columbus's music scene like?” How would you answer that question? I remember all too well the words of a very old musician who once said to me, “you will never have a strong 'music scene' in a town that is so consumed with sports.” I believe he was right. We all know most major cities across the country have some kind of big sports team. But here in Columbus, the Buckeyes rule, sports are everything and music is just a side note or not played at all. In short, one can take it or leave it. When you think of cities where music rules, which ones come to mind? Nashville, home of country music? Chicago, home of the blues? New York City, home of the eccentric, where “under ground” is cool? L.A., home for anybody looking to be somebody and anybody could be somebody so people are nice to you because YOU could be that “somebody?” Get my drift here? Even Detroit was once known as the R&B music Mecca.

Nightlife Music Events for the Weekend of Sept 5th.

Ace of Cups 2619 N High St, Columbus, OH 43202

(614) 262-6001

Thursday TKLS, The Girls! Paul Collins

Friday 60's Night Live!

Saturday Heatwave

Sunday Karaoke

Monday Shocked Minds

Tuesday Excess Trivia

Wednesday Jackson scott


 

A&R Music Bar 391 Neil Ave Columbus (614-461-5483)

Saturday Griffin House


 

Axis on High

Saturday Tyra Sanchez, Roxxxy Andrews, Penny


 


 

The Basement 391 Neil Ave Columbus (614) 461-5483

Thursday El Ten Eleven with Eliot Lipp

Monday Pere Ubu


 


 

Bernie's Distillery 1896 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43201

(614) 291-3448

Thursday The Danny Kabl Trio

 

Friday The Angry Samoans, Downtown Brown, Skagnetti, The Girls!

Saturday B Day party Bash

Sunday Suicide Ghouls

Monday Open Stage

Wednesday Super Bob, Blameshift

 

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