Concert review: Dax Riggs - Houma, LA 4/24/09

The trip was a little over an hour in length, and so was the show, but it was well worth it to see Houma’s golden boy Dax Riggs live and in concert. The former Acid Bath screamer has mellowed considerably in the past decade, presently performing and recording solo as a blues crooner. Further highlighting the connection between metal and the blues are Dax’s lyrics, which lend themselves to the genre. He’s still lyrically fascinated with death, albeit in a more subtle way, but he’s also celebratory of life on songs like “I Forgot I Was Alive”, a track that electrified the City Club of Houma that night with Dax’s signature soulful delivery of the titular chorus. Armed with only an acoustic guitar, Riggs played a passionate set of songs from his solo album, covers, as well as new songs. Not a neck hair was in place for the duration of the show, from opening song “Night is the Notion”, to finisher “Stop, I’m Already Dead”, a gem culled from Dax’s days with Deadboy & the Elephantmen. All the while, audience interaction was very high, with requests being taken for the entirety of the show. When this reviewer called for “Truth in the Dark”, Dax played the first three chords, sighed and said “I should have practiced that one, sorry man.” But all was well. He gave it an honest go and gave an honest answer, which is commendable. It was a bit of a shock to see just how humble he was. After nearly every song, he gave a meek little “thank you” to the audience and stayed late after for autographs and pictures. His fame, however niche it may be, hasn’t gone to his head after all these years, even after near brushes with stardom with Acid Bath and Deadboy. All in all, it was the best time I’ve had on a Thursday night in a while.

Interview: From Legends to Nancy

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Cody Palazzolo (vocals) and Jesse Roger (guitar) of local band From Legends to Nancy. Starting with last year's school talent show, to playing packed houses for some of their over 10,000 fans on Myspace, the band has come a long way. I asked about the success they've attained over the past year. "Shocking", Jesse exclaimed, noting their humble beginnings in a shed. "We didn't expect it to happen."

Indeed, the idea for the band originally came of a boring summer where no one in the band had anything better to do. That was when drummer Nick "Spanky" Roberts found a drumkit in a trashpile. The friends started playing together with (now ex) keyboardist Jordan Blanchard, and things got serious.

They've had lots of fun along the way though. When asked what they like most about being in the band, Cody did not hesistate to answer, "Beer and bitches. Nah, I'm trying to think. It's being on stage with my best friends; my brothers. We've always wanted to do this. Just being on stage is amazing." Jessie added, "Seeing someone appreciate what we do is amazing. It's the best feeling in the world. I can't wait to go around the world doing this one day."

They're soon to begin recording an album in Matt Goldman's (producer for Underoath, Drop Dead Gorgeous, As Cities Burn) Glow in the Dark Studios.

When asked about how students at Chalmette High School feel about the band, Cody says, "Some hate; some appreciate. We love everyone who appreciates us. Thank you for supporting us throughout the year. We wouldn't be here without you."

From Legends to Nancy play their next show April 24th at The Central in Chalmette, Louisiana.

News: The 'Skye' is the Limit for Mastodon

Atlanta progressive metal band Mastodon plan to play the entirety of their new album, Crack the Skye, on their forthcoming tour. Their new epic, a concept album about an astral plane traveling youngster who inevitably inhabits the body of Rasputin, is something that the band feels is wrong to play out of exact order. They also intend to incorporate a full stage show to accompany the tunes in concert, featuring short movies made of each song.

The album, though the storyline seems wonky, is a tribute to drummer Brann Dailor's sister, Skye, who died at the age of fourteen. Dailor told MTV News:

"Her name was Skye, so Crack the Skye means a lot of different things. For me personally, it means the moment of being told you lost someone dear to you, [that moment] is enough to crack the sky."

The album, recorded with Springsteen producer Brendan O'Brien, is set to be released March 24, 2009 with the tour starting in June.

Album review: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

[Interscope, 2009]

Bands tend to progress with each album released. This is understood, and it's nothing unusual. It's considered a sign of maturity and of pushing boundaries. These changes are often minute affairs, made to separate one release from another. Imagine my surprise when I put on the newest offering by the New York City based trio and instead of hearing the fuzz of a guitar, I heard a pulsing, plattering synth. This begins the first track and leading single of It's Blitz!, a fun electro-pop album that shows the band in much different form than 2006's Show Your Bones. Electronics make up the breadth of the band's new sound. Propelled by synthesizers and drum machines, Karen O's haunting voice dominates.

Melody is key here. The afformentioned synth lines are often simple yet effective parts of an interweaving whole of synth, bass, and vocals. Each complements the others well, and it's evident that each song was painstakingly crafted with great attention to detail. The album just sounds great. TV on the Radio member Dave Sitek did another phenominal production job for them. Every instrument is easily distingisable and vibrant, and the drums are characteristically punchy. It never seems overproduced though; never overtly pop.

There's no filler here, and every song just seems to belong. I came into it with modest expectations and was floored. If this is any sign as to where the Yeahs go next, it's clear they'll surprise me yet again with an album even better than this one. Here's hoping they do.

A Little Something About Me

I suppose now is as good a time as any to take a moment to introduce myself. I am a seventeen year old Junior at Chalmette High School in Chalmette, Louisiana. I started this "writing about music" bag for the school's literary magazine. I got a lot of positive feedback, some negative feedback, and decided I should do this for a living, since I'm decent at it, and I quite enjoy it.

I enjoy music of all forms, whether it's rock, heavy metal, jazz, classical, or another genre. Anything worth listening to will find itself in my library. I greatly prefer vinyl records to CDs for the warmness of their sound and artwork that towers over their booklet counterparts. All it takes to make me happy is music and a good book.

Well, that's enough about me, I'm interested in knowing a little about you, the reader. Leave me comments, and I promise to get back to you.

News: Bonnaroo 2009

By now anyone not living under a rock has seen the lineup for this year's hippie-friendly bonanza of a music festival. They've pulled out all the stops this time, with such luminaries as Bruce Springsteen, Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, and Elvis Costello. These legends are sure to please oldsters and hipsters alike with dazzling shows.

The newly reunited Phish is set to play two shows at Bonnaroo (the question is if the audience will be able to take that much jamming). The shows will be among their first since 2004. On a different token, Nine Inch Nails will play Bonnaroo as part of their going away tour. Frontman and multi-instrumentalist Trent Reznor, tired after releasing several albums in the past years, wishes to "make Nine Inch Nails disappear for a while".

To go along with these long standing icons in music are much newer faces. TV on the Radio, fresh off a torrent of critical acclaim following the release of last year's Dear Science, prog rockers The Mars Volta, and eclectic electro pop group Of Montreal. All three of these groups are finally getting their due after languishing with cult followings.

I will be attending the festivities and will be providing coverage of the event. The festival takes place from June 11th to the 14th in Manchester, Tennessee, and it is sure to be memorable