Flying Anvil update
For those of you who may have been wondering what the latest status of Greensboro's new music club is... well, it's getting closer.
The Flying anvil now has a Web site - www.theflyinganvil.com - and it has a schedule listing upcoming shows.
While there are a couple of shows booked for the end of April, it looks like the "Grand Opening" is scheduled for May 11 - 13.
So, who's playing?
A quick glance at the schedule may show some unfamiliar names - Mark Kozelek, Kylesa, Kind of Like Spitting.
However, they are pulling in someone a little more familiar.
Squirrel Nut Zipper fans may recognize "Maxwell/Mosher." The duo are former members of the retro-swing/jazz group and even cover a few of the Zippers' songs.
Hopefully, Greensboro-area residents will give the club a chance and get out and support live music.
The lineup may not compare with Ziggy's or Cat's Cradle at this point, but it's still early in the game. Give it time, and give it a chance.
Oh, and you may also want to go ahead and sign up for a membership - it's required at the club.
Greensboro is expecting big things from the new club.
So, please, Flying Anvil, don't let us down.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:31 AM
March 29, 2006Idol thoughts (March 28 show)
Here are my thoughts on last night's Idol performances:
Lisa Tucker - Sounded off-beat and off-key at times. Had some power, but it wasn't a good song choice. It wasn't smart to cover a hit song by a former Idol, especially because she couldn't pull it off.
Kellie Pickler - I never heard the song before. She should be doing Faith Hill or Shania Twain or something a little more mainstream that would win over more people. Her song choice was too far on the country side. She's also getting slack on the goofy sayings. She's no good at improv.
Ace Young - With the Pouty Lip Tour waiting to launch, Ace sings off-key in the hope that he'll get booted and him and Constantine can get their party started. Again, at least if that doesn't work out, he can have a career as a pouty sock model. He had no range in the song. Overall, it was just weak.
Taylor Hicks - It was not the best song choice, but I thought it was a great way for him to showcase his vocal range. One of the best of the night.
Mandisa - Right off the bat, she's talking instead of singing. She went with a religious song - kind of strange. She's got range and power, but the song choice was a little odd. No worry - she'll be around for a while.
Chris Daughtry - I think it's funny that they mentioned last week's cover song debacle. Way to cover your butts, Idol people. He did a great job with the Creed song. I'm still not a big fan of his vibrado at some times - sounds a little too shaky, but the sharp notes seem to be gone. It was pretty daring to go with a heavy song.
Katharine McPhee - It's tough to sing a Christina Aguilera song. I thought it was pretty good, but it just showed she doesn't have the range or power of Aguilera. Still, one of the best of the night.
Bucky Covington - OK, is this "Nashville Star"? It was a good song choice for his voice, but not a song I've heard before.
Paris Bennett - I liked her confidence. She's having fun. It wasn't the best song vocally, but it showed both her playful side and some attitude.
Elliott Yamin - Oops - he missed a word. I didn't think the song fit his voice well, and it didn't show any range. Of course, the judges loved it, and I still have no idea why.
On the bubble: It's a tough one this week. I'll say Bucky and Lisa, again.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:13 AM
March 28, 2006Daughtry's 'Live' Performance
Last week on "American Idol," McLeansville's Chris Daughtry sang a version of Johnny Cash's "Walk the Line" that closely resembled the version done by the band Live.
Daughtry, and the show, made no mention of the resemblence. Of course, we shouldn't expect the judges to make such a comparison, because they don't seem to be too in touch with today's music.
An article over at MTV.com discusses the "Walk the Line" controversy and asks for viewer comments.
While one former Idol contestant says it's not a big deal - after all, it's a cover song competition; an Internet blogger suggests that Daughtry should be removed from the competition or publicly apologize.
It's interesting - "American Idol" is completely controlling of their contestants, but dont' have a problem when their contestant takes credit for someone else's work.
It should also be noted that in the latest edition of "Rolling Stone" magazine, Daughtry says his favorite band ever is - you guessed it - Live.
What does this all mean? Probably nothing. The competition will continue, and Idol will probably act like it never happened.
Coming tomorrow: A look at tonight's Idol performances.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 11:15 AM
Pickler attention growing
I commented last week about whether or not Kellie Pickler's "dumb blonde" routine was an act or not.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 8:26 AM
March 27, 2006This week's new releases (March 28)
Here's a look at some of the new albums hitting shelves on March 28:
Ghostface Killah "Fishscale" - I know nothing of the album, but can tell you he's playing in Carrboro soon.
Morrissey "Who Put the 'M' in Manchester?" - Everyone's favorite guy from The Smiths releases another solo album.
Rammstein "Rosenrot" - I bet most of it's in German...
Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Show Your Bones" - The more I hear from this band, the more I like them. I'll see if I can't get a review of this album up in the near future.
Rob Zombie "Educated Horses" - It's not White Zombie, but it's as close as you can get.
What would this entry be without the bands with animal-related names releasing albums this week?: Moth
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 11:07 AM
March 24, 2006Kellie Pickler - a good actress?
Some Web sites around the country are trying their best to rip apart American Idol contestant Kellie Pickler.
They claim she didn't have the hard life she claims - at least she's not as ignorant as she appears.
Today, I saw this gem - Kellie in her prom dress.
Personally, I'm not sure what to think. I think she's taking the Jessica Simpson thing a little to far.
I mean, I understand that she didn't know the word "minx" the first time. But I'm sure that after the show, someone explained it to her.
So, how did she not know it the next week?
And to not know what it means when someone says the performance was "ballsy"?
As we know, nobody's perfect, but I think her acting is going a little too far.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:33 AM
March 23, 2006Tre Stylez update
You can find out the latest in the death of Tre Stylez here.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:43 AM
March 22, 2006Idol thoughts
Before I give my comments about individual singers from last night's "American Idol" competition, can I make one suggestion to the people at Fox?
- Turn off Paula Abdul's microphone after a singer is done. Her off-key, obnoxious "Woooo!" is really getting annoying. Thanks.
On to the critique:
Mandisa - A solid performance with good vocals, but it didn't knock me off my chair. I thought the ending was a little bit overdone. First Simon says Kellie is a minx, now Mandissa's a stripper. He needs help... And Ryan, if I hear one more person say the word "bling," I'm going to jump through the TV and give them a roundhouse kick to the nether-regions.
Bucky Covington - Oh boy, that's a bad song choice to showcase your vocals. He must be praying for Skynyrd night - if he makes it that far.
Paris Bennett - Bad hair. Bad dress. Best female vocals so far. She gave the right amount of power to her vocals without going too far.
Chris Daughtry - Unbelievable version of the song. If it were out on CD, I'd buy it. (But maybe it already is? Keep reading.) He didn't hit those sharp notes like he had previously, and flat out ripped it up. Best performance of the night. HOWEVER - last week, Chris got credit for his own version of "Higher Ground" that was similar to the Chili Peppers. This week, his version of "Walk the Line" was very similar to that from the band Live. Still a great version, but once again, not as original as people think.
Katharine McPhee - She continues to get better each week. She had a solid vocal, though she could have gone for more of a blues version of the song. It still worked though.
Taylor Hicks - A true performer with a whiskey-soaked voice that tears it up every time.
Lisa Tucker - It felt like a cheesy Broadway performance. She's young and it showed tonight. Simon was right in saying it was like a high school play.
Kevin Covais - I feel like I'm watching a 12-year old on Star Search. He's still the worst of those left in the competition. He lacked any emotion.
Elliott Yamin - Goat Boy was b-a-a-a-a-a-a-d tonight. He's almost worse than Chicken Little. When the judges rave about him, I swear they're deaf. I just don't get it.
Kellie Pickler - She's on a downhill slide. It's not bad, but no longer amazing and the dumb blonde act is getting old. I think her shirt is brighter than her...
Ace Young - He needs to get voted out so he can go on the "Pouty Tour" with Constantine. However, I would say he was better than Elliott and Kevin tonight.
On the bubble: Lisa and Bucky.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:46 AM
March 20, 2006This week's new releases (March 21)
Here's a look at some of this week's new releases:
Bola Abimbola "Ara Kenge" - I have no idea who this is, but their name sure is fun to say...
Chicago "XXX" - This week's pick for "What year is this?"
Teddy Geiger "Underage Thinking" - He may no longer be "Wayne" on "Love Monkey," but you can get this album and pretend the show is still on...
Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders "Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders" - I like that the Foo Fighters drummer has the sense of humor to say he's a coattail rider.
LL Cool J "Todd Smith" - He's still making albums, and, probably, still licking his lips a little too often.
Prince "3121" - It's been a long time since Little Red Corvette...but I still wonder if he parties like it's 1999.
Kenny Rogers "Water and Bridges" - I had no idea he was still recording albums... "What year is this?", Round Two.
Southern Culture on the Skids "Live and Doublewide" - Unfortunately, it doesn't come with banana pudding or fried chicken.
As always, the bands with animal-related names releasing albums this week: Band of Horses, Arthur Dodge and the Horsefeathers, Gram Rabbit, Loose Fur
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 8:51 AM
March 18, 2006CD Review: Marty Casey and The Lovehammers "Marty Casey and the Lovehammers"
Release date: Jan. 24, 2006
11 tracks; 38:36
If you watched "Rockstar: INXS" on TV last year, you probably saw Marty Casey - the long-haired singer trying to become the band's new frontman.
Casey lost out to J.D. Fortune, but he and his band, The Lovehammers, garnered an opening spot on the newly formed INXS tour.
Don't expect INXS on the band's self-titled album - it's harder brand of rock that the Lovehammers are selling.
The album is actually the band's fifth, though first for Epic Records. Casey actually has said the album should be looked at as a greatest hits album, since only "Casualty" was written after the TV show wrapped.
Casey was known for his harder style on the show, but there are lighter moments on the album.
"Casualty" starts off with a nice melodic intro before getting a little heavier. I hate to use a cliche comparison - but it sounds a lot like Nickelback during the chorus.
"Trees" was performed by Casey on the show - once acoustically with Dave Navarro. While that performance would be difficult to top, the album version is solid on its own.
I'll have to admit that I didn't like "Trees" on the show. Mostly because I was looking at the performance as someone trying to become the frontman for INXS. On it's own - the song has easily grown on me and has become my favorite of the album.
"The Tunnel" could be compared to Foo Fighters and while other songs may resemble other artists (there's something about "The Riddle" that sounds so familiar...), the band's major-label debut is a solid one.
It's not groundbreaking, but it is better than a lot of the garbage that's on the radio these days.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:08 PM
March 16, 2006RockStar plans announced
All I can say is, "Wow!"
From Dave Navarro's Web site:
According to Variety.com, MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee, along with bassist Jason Newsted (VOIVOD, ex-METALLICA) and Gilby Clarke (ex-GUNS N' ROSES), are forming a new band called SUPERNOVA and will use the "Rock Star" TV program to search for a lead singer.
In addition, "Rock Star" has signed songwriter-performer Butch Walker to produce SUPERNOVA's first album, to be released just before the new band hits the road in 2007. Walker, named Rolling Stone's 2005 "hot" producer, has written or produced tracks for AVRIL LAVIGNE, PINK, BOWLING FOR SOUP and TOMMY LEE.
Dave Navarro and Brooke Burke will return as hosts. Each weekly episode, which will air on CBS-TV, will also now feature guest appearances by celebs or rockers.
"Friends of mine, like Slash, Macy Gray, Moby and Rob Zombie, will join us and throw in their two cents about who should stay and who should go," Navarro said.
Lee released his third solo album two years ago and starred in NBC's "Tommy Lee Goes to College" last year.
Newsted left METALLICA in 2003, forming the band ECHOBRAIN and performing for technothrash band VOIVOD. Clarke has worked with various artists since GN'R split, including Michael Jackson and Lenny Kravitz.
Burnett, David Goffin, Lisa Hennessy, Navarro, Lee and Carl Stubner will exec produce the second season of "Rock Star". Conrad Riggs and Eden Gaha are co-exec producers.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 4:41 PM
Lost and Found
The other day, I was listening to Yahoo! Radio and a song by the band Tool came on.
I noticed that the album title was "Salival" - one I was not familiar with.
I took notice of the album, enjoyed the song and let it slip out of my mind.
Last week, while shopping for CDs, I looked through the Tool section. No sign of "Salival." Hmmmm.... I'll have to look on the Internet.
Of course, it slipped out of my mind again. Yesterday, another song from the album came on Yahoo! Radio.
I began searching the Internet to see what I could find.
"Salival" was a limited edition DVD/CD combo that was released in 2000. The DVD features four of the band's videos, and the CD has 8 tracks, most of them live.
Searches at popular CD-purchasing sites turned up the set, but for nothing less than $65.
I clicked on one page and saw a photo of the set.
"That looks a lot like that Tool DVD I bought a while ago..." I thought.
For the rest of the day, I was trying to think of the set that was sitting on my shelf at home. I had bought that DVD years ago, watched it once and put it away.
When I finally got home after work, I found the DVD case, and opened it up.
"There's a CD in here?!?" For six years, that Tool DVD/CD sat on my shelf, practically unopened, and little did I know that it had songs I had never heard before.
I may have "lost" that CD for six years, but now it's been "found" again and it hasn't left my CD player since.
What's on your CD shelf?
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:21 AM
March 15, 2006Idol Top 12 Review
It was Stevie Wonder night last night, and for some odd reason, some of the contestants picked some pretty obscure songs.
Note: If you're trying to win over the majority of America, you need to pick more commonly known songs.
So, here are some quick thoughts on the performances last night:
Ace Young - As my sister-in-law says, if Ace doesn't get better soon, he'll be selling socks in a JCPenney catalog in no time.
Kellie Pickler - The Southern Belle act is wearing thin. It wasn't bad, but she's on a downhill slide.
Elliott Yamin - (In my best Simon Cowell accent) If I'm being completely honest here, you're really starting to bore me. And not to be mean spirited, but something about him reminds me of Jim Breuer's "Goat Boy" skit from Saturday Night Live - the vibrado, the look...
Mandisa - They said it was the best so far, but I really wasn't into her performance either. It was probably her worst performance so far.
Bucky Covington - I expected Chris Daughtry to sing "Superstitious," but I think Bucky did a good job with it. Unfortunately, in the battle of raspy voices, I think Daughtry has the edge.
Melissa McGhee - A couple of bad notes right off the bat. Not a great performance, but thanks to those who are worse, she could be around for another week or two.
Lisa Tucker - Good job, but she lacks power in the vocal. She looked very comfortable for a 16-year old.
Kevin Covais - This Chicken Little's got to go, hey hey, ho ho. He thinks he's a sex symbol? His dancing remains painful to watch. Even if you think he's "cute" or "fun to watch" he's not even close to being the best singer on the show.
Katharine McPhee - Her dress looked like a 70s tablecloth, but she's getting better each week.
Taylor Hicks - He's got rhythm. He's got soul. He has fun. He's not going anywhere, any time soon.
Paris Bennett - One of, if not the best, female voices on the show. She has confidence and power.
Chris Daughtry - Great song choice and he did a good job with it. Simon said he made it his own, but to me, it sounded just like the Red Hot Chili Peppers' version. His rock style made him stand out among the crowd of others, and enabled him to stay true to his roots.
On the bubble: Kevin Covais, Melissa McGhee
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:23 AM
March 13, 2006This week's new releases (March 21)
Here's a look at some of this week's new releases:
Devo 2.0 "Devo 2.0" - The "what year is this?" of the week.
D.M.C. "Checks Thugs and Rock N Roll" - It's good to see him and Rev. Run are still putting out music, despite the death of Jam Master Jay.
Gil Mantera's Party Dream "Bloodsongs" - Sounds more like a nightmare than a dream.
Willie Nelson "You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker" - Truth in advertising. I don't know who Cindy Walker is...
Queensryche "Operation Mindcrime II" - It only took them 10 years to create a sequel to the first album. What is this, a Star Wars movie?
Joe Satriani "Super Colossal" - Lots of incredible guitar playing - guaranteed.
As always, the bands with animal-related names releasing albums this week are: Ultra Dolphins, David Wolfenberger
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:54 AM
March 12, 2006Alice in Who?
This past weekend, there was a show up in Atlantic City, N.J. for VH1 about the band Heart.
The show will air at some point in the coming weeks...
One of the bands that performed was a reunited Alice in Chains, well, except for the late Layne Staley.
According to Dave Navarro, who attended and performed at the show, William DuVall of Comes with the Fall sang on some of the songs.
The other singer - Phil Anselmo of Pantera. I'm in shock.
Anselmo "went into hiding" after the death of "Dimebag" Darrell, but it's nice to know he's still in the scene.
I'm looking forward to that show - whenever it airs.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 12:04 PM
March 11, 2006CD Review: David Gilmour "On An Island"
Release date: March 7, 2006
10 tracks, Time: 51:44
I bought David Gilmour's solo album today with one thought in my mind, "Please, sound like Pink Floyd."
Ever since the Live 8 reunion of Floyd, complete with Roger Waters, I've missed the days when the band was touring.
I was lucky enough to see them twice in concert, but a third time would be wonderful.
Perhaps it's not to be, though, as Floyd's singer/guitarist Gilmour has released "On An Island" and only plans to tour on his own.
"On An Island" may not exactly be Pink Floyd, but moments of it sure are close.
Gilmour's soft vocals and/or signature guitar sound can be found all over the album's 10 tracks.
The most Floyd-like would probably be the title track, which features guest vocals from David Crosby and Graham Nash.
There are even moments when a saxophone plays and Floyd instantly comes to mind - "Red Sky At Night."
Don't get me wrong - this is NOT a Pink Floyd album. It stands on its own as enjoyable.
I was disappointed that the album only contained 10 tracks, but with a running time of 51 minutes, I have no complaints.
Even "Take a Breath," though it had a questionable beginning, turned into a solid track after the intro.
The album, if purchased at Best Buy, comes with a bonus track - the six-and-a-half minute "Island Jam."
It's mostly a mellow album, but one that I will be listening to for a while to come.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 7:34 PM
March 10, 2006CD Review: Kid Rock "'Live' Trucker"
Release date: Feb. 28, 2006
14 tracks, Time: 73:35
I should start off by saying that I'm not a Kid Rock fan.
Sure, some of his songs can be kind of catchy, some can be annoying, but I figured I'd at least give his live CD a chance.
I saw Kid Rock live once, on the Vans Warped Tour, back in 1998. No one knew who he was, and mostly no one cared.
So, now the "Kid" has released "'Live' Trucker," which according to fans, has one big complaint - the lack of the song "Bullgod."
Frankly, I don't really notice that it's missing. The CD plays like a greatest his album - chock full of profanity and some off-the-cuff shots at Clay Aiken, Britney Spears and Radiohead.
"Cowboy," "Bawitdaba," "Only God Knows Why" - they're all here.
It should be said that Kid is a talented musician - he can play just about every instrument, and his heart seems to be in the right place - make music and have fun.
After all, that's what it's all about, isn't it?
I will say that for a live album, the production quality is incredible. Crystal clear vocals, and you can hear the crowd screaming in the background, over the music.
It's not a bad album for those who want a greatest hits or for fans who want a live album. There are even appearances by Uncle Kracker and the late Joe C.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 7:20 PM
March 9, 2006Idol continues
Here are my thought's (as I had them) on the guy's performances last night on "American Idol":
Gedeon McKinney - Hmmm... Guy Smiley looks like David Allen Grier this evening. I'm hoping he'll bust out "Jeremiah was a bullfrog" if he makes it to the next round. Wow - I think I could see more than his dentist on that last note...
Chris Daughtry - There are still one or two notes that sound sharp to me. He's got a little too much vibrado for my taste, but he's still got a lot of power to his voice, and he's not going anywhere for a while. I wonder if he's scared about disco week? See ya' in the top 12.
Kevin Covais - Bye, bye, Chicken Little. What a horrible song choice. He'll only advance if enough people over at "Vote for the Worst" make a difference.
Bucky Covington - Who in the world picks these songs? Good voice, bad song. He's starting to grow on me. I'm digging the country rock vibe.
Will Makar - Peter Brady/Donnie Osmond has a weak voice. He'll be on the sidelines with Chicken Little next week.
Taylor Hicks - Great bluesy voice. He's tearing through the Doobie Brothers. He's another one that may struggle in disco week, but who cares. He has fun, completely feels the music and would be great to see live.
Elliott Yamin - I'm glad the Amish beard is gone. His voice lacks power. To me, he's just another run-of-the-mill R&B singer. Note: I hate "runs" during singing. I still don't understand all of the overwhelming praise this guy gets.
Ace Young - Along with runs, falsetto is horrible, too. Another bad song choice. Falsetto just sounds so goofy. He won't last long.
On the bubble: Gedeon "Guy Smiley" McKinnon, Kevin "Chicken Little" Covais, Will "Peter Brady" Makar
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:39 AM
March 8, 2006American Idol - Ladies Night
Here were my thoughts on last night's "American Idol" as the singers performed:
Paris Bennett - I wouldn't have gone with such a dated song as Gloria Estefan, but she'll move on.
Lisa Tucker - To put it simply - see you in the top 12.
Melissa McGhee - Tell us about car racing, because that's what we want in an Idol. Oh, and the 80s called, they want your ripped jeans back. Did I actually see her do the Roger Rabbit dance at one point?
Kinnik Sky - Was she singing? All I can think about it pig intestines now. Thanks. Whoops - she hit a few bad notes. She's gone.
Katharine McPhee - This is the first time I can remember what she sang. She just jumped a couple spots on my list. Probably the best of the night in my opinion.
Ayla Brown - She picked a good, modern song, but has a weak vocal performance. Stop pointing at the camera, that's not nice. She's only 17? I thought she was in her mid-20s. She needs to relax and have more fun.
Mandisa - How can someone suck their thumb until they were in their mid-20s? Good performance. Send the thumbsucker to the next round!
Kellie Pickler - Again, her sad story and strong voice are her ticket to the top 12. Though she called herself a "mink" and pronounced the 'l' in salmon... Her ignorant country girl routine could get old fast. She's starting to come across like Jessica Simpson.
On the bubble: Melissa "Roger Rabbit" McGhee, Kinnik Sky, Ayla Brown
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 7:23 AM
March 7, 2006Those rumors are true...
If you haven't already heard, the rumors are true: Vanilla Ice will be performing in Winston-Salem on Thursday night.
He'll be at the Red Rooster - a place described as a "10,000-square-foot piece of country heaven."
Country bar...mechanical bull...Vanilla Ice. Somehow, it all makes sense. Doesn't it?
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:00 AM
March 6, 2006This week's new releases (3/7)
Here's my take on a few of this week's new releases (March 7):
David Gilmour "On an Island" - Sure, I wish it was Pink Floyd, but I'll take what I can get.
I Love You but I've Chosen Darkness "Fear Is On Our Side" - How long did it take for them to decide that this was their best possible band name?
Matisyahu "Youth" - The Jewish reggae songster releases yet another album. He's also coming to Cat's Cradle in Carrboro - if it's not already sold out...
Public Enemy "Rebirth of a Nation" - I'm glad that Flavor Flav found the time to get away from all those VH1 shows and make a new album. However, I hope it's better than the last few they released.
My "What year is this?" selections of the week: Jethro Tull, Kris Kristofferson, Van Morrison
A side note: I think it's hilarious that a band called "The Duke Spirit" is listed right before "Eastern Conference Champions" on the list of new albums.
As always, the bands with animal-related names releasing albums this week are: Dogme95, Pinmonkey
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:45 AM
March 5, 2006Concert review: Cowboy Mouth at Ziggys (3/4)
For their latest tour, Cowboy Mouth is trying to bring Mardi Gras with them.
OK, maybe that's an overstatement, but they sure are bringing a party.
The New Orleans-based band's second night of their tour hit Ziggy's in Winston-Salem with a fury.
Singer/drummer Fred LeBlanc comes across as a mixture of Jack Black and Chris Farley.
He easily gets the crowd into a frenzy from the opening notes to his final a capella of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
The band played a mixture of old tunes and most of the tracks off of their latest album, "Voodoo Shoppe."
Two of those tracks included the post-Katrina written "Home" and "The Avenue" - probably the only two times in the night that the crowd stopped moving and simply listened.
For most of the band's 90-minute set, the crowd was singing along and jumping up and down.
They also found the time to carry on the tradition of throwing Tootsie Rolls during "Hurricane Party" and red spoons during "Everybody Loves Jill."
Of course, they rounded out the set by ending with their biggest hit, "Jenny Says."
I hadn't seen Cowboy Mouth before, and had only heard their latest album and a couple other tracks.
The show came off like a giant frat party with people of all ages (mostly early 20s) singing along, pumping fists in the air and following the commands of LeBlanc.
Four songs into the show, LeBlanc was covered in sweat and still asking for more "rhythm" from the crowd.
His drum set up front, he targeted random spectators to "clap more" or "move more." He even called up "Angie" to help hit the drums.
Overall, the show played out like a short-lived adventure, but judging by LeBlanc's soaking wet t-shirt and a worn-out audience, no one could have handled much more.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 1:21 AM
March 4, 2006Rockstar Rumors
Rumors about the next band for the CBS television show Rockstar continue to swirl.
Queen, Blind Melon, Van Halen and Journey have all been in the rumor mill.
Now, a post on Dave Navarro's Web site says, "all I will say is that you have never heard of this band before."
Interesting concept, but Dave's last album was entitled, "Trust No One."
He also says a press release will come out this weekend. We'll have to continue waiting, I guess.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 11:40 AM
March 2, 2006Idol thoughts
Here are my thoughts on the guy's performances last night on "American Idol":
Taylor Hicks - He had to hold back too much on a slower song. I'm still waiting for him to tear up a Joe Cocker or Ray Charles song.
Elliott Yamin - Way too much vibra-a-a-a-a-a-to. I have no idea why they say he's so incredible. I foresee him as this year's Scott Savol. Each week, I'm going to say, "Why is this guy still here?!?"
Ace Young - I'm glad he has a "woobie" in his back pocket, since he's just another average voice.
Gedeon McKinney - If he was judged on his fake English accent during his promo clips, he'd have been sent home already. However, "Guy Smiley" isn't actually such a bad singer.
Kevin Covais - It's almost painful to watch "Chicken Little" try to dance. He doesn't move his feet and is in need of dancing lessons. I feel like I'm watching the 2006 version of Screech from "Saved by the Bell."
Jose "Sway" Penala - I'm glad the falsetto is gone. He's got the "one-hand-outstretched-toward-the-cameras" move down pat.
Will Makar - Is that Peter Brady?
Bucky Covington - He may not be able to understand a menu, but he's got the country rocker market covered.
David Radford - He's a weak Rat Packer who needs to lose the vibrato and channel the essence of Harry Connick Jr. - if he makes it another week.
Chris Daughtry - He may have a little trouble with some notes - hitting sharps that make you wince - but he's at the top of the guy's list. Go ahead and put him through to the next round.
I'd say those on the bubble to be voted out tonight are: Kevin Covais, Will Makar and David Radford
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:45 AM
March 1, 2006Idol: Week 2
Here are some of my thoughts on last night's "American Idol":
Katharine McPhee - She might be a good singer, but her song put me to sleep. The video of her being silly with roommate Kellie Pickler was more entertaining.
Kinnik Sky - Her vocals weren't clear, and why are there backup singers? Do we need to judge them too?
Lisa Tucker - She has an effortless talent. When I was 16, I was more worried about my driver's license and how to get rid of acne.
Melissa McGhee - Is it country night? Carrie Underwood already won this competition, didn't she?
Heather Cox - Hmmm... Maybe I'll pick something easy, like Mariah Carey.
Brenna Gethers - Her attitude is worse than Simon's. Sure, everyone loves arrogance and disco. Good choice!
Paris Bennett - She talks about fashion like this is "America's Next Top Model." And "Wind Beneath My Wings"? How old are these contestants? Where's the fun?
Ayla Brown - From sporty to chic - it's Extreme Makeover, the American Idol edition. Her performances remain robotic and lifeless.
Kellie Pickler - Country night continues. Just go ahead and put her through to the next round already.
Mandisa - A good performance - we'll see her in the next round, too.
On the bubble to be voted out: Kinnik Sky, Heather Cox and Brenna Gethers
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:19 AM | Comments (1)
