Live: aldenbarton @ Rose Live Music 10.16.10

It's been way too long since aldenbarton has deigned to grace the stages of our fair Gotham. Not that they've been totally idle, as they do a fair amount of time in their alter ego of 57th Street, wherein they back the stellar Jason Anderson at some of his band performances, but with the prospect of the utterly depressing CMJ looming, it was nice to have a known quantity.

This show was a benefit for the good folk of LitWorld, who evidently do good works revolving around literacy for the less fortunate. Safe money is on the drummer and singer thinking that this was some sort of way to further their respective alcohol problems, but sadly their Granite State dreams of a besotted indie pop friendly world may have to go unrealized for another day.

I didn't catch much of The Dang-It Bobbys, but seem to recall some sort of a bluegrass thing going on. Aldenbarton were up in short order after, making the most of a small stage and somewhat underskilled FOH person to knock out a solid 40 minutes. A couple new songs are in the set, hinting at more of a roots rock sound down the line. Jason sat it for the last four or five songs, adding some sweet guitar and lending a bit of a Robbie Robertson vibe to the proceedings that fired up the room nicely. The boys did well despite the not-especially-great sound and the somewhat less than typical (read non-show going) crowd.

Inertia overcome, you can see aldenbarton at the Fort Useless Halloween extravaganza 10/29. Here's a link to their social networking engine with details.

R

a whole lot of Drew @ The Creek And The Cave 3.6.10

So it's my boy Drew St. Aubin's 30th year. He's a good buddy and a hell of a musician, so I would give up my general hermitude anyway to celebrate one of his bands or his birthday. As I am not on the freakshow that is Facebook, I didn't realize that the evening was quite an ambitious endeavor featuring seven of his musical endeavors old and new. In a lot of ways I feel that ex-bandmates that aren't friends are much like ex-girlfriends in that you rarely need them around past your respective dalliances. As unlikable as I find him personally, it seems like it might be better to be in a band with the gent, as there was much musical love to be had for St. Aubin on the anniversary of his arrival. Here's a brief rundown:

I arrived just as Jim Of The Woods kicked things off. The ensemble marked another of the increasingly frequent Jim Wood solo band shows. This night featured the backing of his alden barton bandmates bassist Paul Bates on keys and the birthday boy on drums. It was the first time I heard any of his solo stuff, but within half a song it became obvious that Wood has talent as big as his beard, which is to say large. Keep an eye out for more solo shows soon.

Super Mirage were up next. A four, if I remember properly, piece that played the type of guitar driven indie rock I expected that (only band that didn't reunite, and the one with the most notoriety) Princeton Reverbs sounded like. A little Pavement, a lot of E6 Athensry. A good time. They were followed by more of the same with Mo' Matching Drapes, who I enjoyed until drinking with the birthday boy's lady took precedence.

Anger Management Seminar were next, and comprised the reason for the season for me musically this night. Drew had mentioned that they were the closest unit to my own little purveyors of blaaarrgh and my interest was definitely piqued. The gents dropped some angular Chicago meets DC rockage and featured a guitar presence whose hips were evidently possessed (very much to the positive) by Guy Picciotto. Good stuff, and obviously I'll be cadging the recorded material from Drew with some expediency.

By this point, Drew's voice was pretty much shot, and as I would be seeing the aldenbarton gents back 'headliner' Jason Anderson the following night, I eschewed both and rode my ass back to JS-NYC HQ. While I have seen aldenbarton many times, many other of you have not. You would do well to rectify that situation. Also know that the AB members are available for a myriad of musical projects and/or other proclivities, depending on the color of your cash. Seek them out at the aldenbarton web presence here.

R

Live: Jason Anderson and 57th St @ Cake Shop 5.18.9

So I finally made it down to see Jason Anderson play at his Cake Shop residency. Queens beardos aldenbarton opened the show and backed Jason for his set later on in the evening as 57th St.

JS-NYC arrived just as our heroes were just about to morph into the 57th St alter egos. One line check later, Jason set it off and set to rocking the half-filled room like it was Madison Square Garden. Springsteen is a obvious influence, but is that really a bad thing?

ab/57th St kicked a hell of a lot of ass, especially bassist Paul Bates. The gents deserve big things, so check out the aldenbarton web presence and snag a copy of their debut Exodus Of The Eldest. Here's a link. Jason is cut from a little bit more of a classic rock cloth, but is pretty good his own self. There's one last date of the Cake Shop residency this coming Monday. You would be wise to be there. If you're dumb enough to miss it, see when you can see Jason next here. Go for the dates and stay for the (free) downloads.

R

Live: aldenbarton with Yoni Gordon and Jason Anderson and 57th St @ Cake Shop 5.11.9

For the uninitiated, the mighty aldenbarton have been doing double duty backing fellow Granite State titan Jason Anderson for his live performances. Jason has been the king of the residency of late, playing solo four weeks in a row at Pete's Candy Store in Brooklyn and Pianos on Ludlow last month, and now doing the full band thing with aldenbarton at Cake Shop. Band rehearsals have precluded my sticking it out to see the ab/JA pairing, but I was able to pop in early and catch the aldenbarton opening set.

I showed up a little but into their opening set, but it was one of the best ab sets I've ever heard them play. Drew always sings well, but he was absolutely killing it this night. Even Jason, who plays with the gents often, came over to comment on it. Jim and Paul were solid as always. The guys have played together forever, so the midset audible that precipitated the cover of GbV's Teenage FBI was hardly a stumbling block, rather the cherry on top of the set, even prompting Jason to step in early with some backing vocals. I sure would have liked a recording of that and the stellar ab original New England, but it appears we'll have to wait for the gents to finish up their recordings at The Fort for that.

In the interim, you (and I) really need to get down and check out the Jason/aldenbarton pairing next Monday. Each week has a different hand-picked act in the middle slot. This week featured Yoni Gordon, who evidently plies his trade in the Ted Leo/Elvis Costello end of things. Drew gave him high marks and Jason picked him for the show personally, so suffice to say the guy brings it. Check out Yoni here and keep tabs on the last two Cake Shop shows here. They are free, so get off your duff and make it down.

R

Live: Aldenbarton with Spirits Of The Red City @ The Creek 3.19.9

Aldenbarton have busy lately. The gents have been on studio duty in Brooklyn lately crafting their new full-length, but took some time to play a couple of shows with the Twin Cities powerhouse that is Spirits Of The Red City. The bands played Fontana's together the previous Sunday, took some time off so Spirits could do a little time and a show by themselves, then got together again at The Creek for a last hurrah.

It's a short ride from the JS-NYC HQ on the swinging Lower East Side of Manhattan to LIC and The Creek. I came in for the last half of the Spirits Of The Red City set. They are a ten piece band (although I don't think they were all out on tour) with limited amplification and a whole lot of harmonies, as well as the loveliest bassist I've seen in some time. That's a whole lot of people, but if you want cello and muted trumpet in your band, you make space in the van. Spirits Of The Red City are getting quite a name for themselves in the Twin Cities, selling out two release shows for their debut Hunter Moon before embarking on their first tour. This show was pretty sparse, but it was by no means a reflection of the quality of the music. The band is pretty spartan for it's size, with economical arrangements and very little in the way of solos. It's a good idea, much more Lambchop than Phil Spector. More bands should exercise such restraint. Main singer Will Garrison has an earthy voice that sounds years older than his baby face might suggest and he's in the company of a gang that are no stranger (or joke) with a harmony. 

While there are a number of voices in harmony at some points, don't think that you're getting the Danielson Family or Polyphonic Spree. Choral music makes me want to shoot myself, but quality harmony that doesn't go all CSNY is a pretty good thing. Spirits Of The Red City are closer to Low than they are any of the afore-loathed bands. I have fantasies about decking Graham Nash in medias doo-doo-doo-doo-doot, but the Minneapolis collective soothed this savage beast and made him buy a copy of their new record Hunter Moon. You should, too. Here's a link. You can keep tabs on Spirits Of The Red City here.

Aldenbarton had a tough act to follow, but did their usual stellar job. Some of the songs that will turn up on the new release made appearances, including the stellar Winter. Their pretty aces Damian Jurado cover made an appearance, reminding everyone assembled that Aldenbarton are just as good with other people's songs. That hasn't gone unnoticed by underground phenom Jason Anderson, who has tapped the trio to back him for a May residency that should have the City buzzing. While we're all waiting for the new Aldenbarton record, pick up their debut Exodus Of The Eldest on Itunes. Keep tabs on the Granite State beard aficionados here and stay tuned for some Drew St. Aubin solo shows soon.