The Frontier Brothers - “Everyone’s A Neutron Bomb”
I’ve been pretty obsessed with ‘brother’ bands lately and I’m not sure why. Seated somewhere between the Avett Brothers and the Felice Brothers lie the Frontier Brothers. Hailing from the city of Austin in the state of Texas, The Frontier Bros. have this subdued yet intense folk-rock sound. The vocals almost sound out of place, but that just makes for greater enjoyment. There’s also something British about their sound, but I can’t place it. Help me out in the comments if you can.
They’ve also got a great flyer on their MySpace. Too bad the show was last week.
Heartless Bastards - “Done Got Old”
If you’ve ever washed the stamp off your hand just to see if the bartender ID’s you again, then this song is for you. If I’m the only one who does that, and you simply want to hear a young woman who sounds like Janis Joplin, then here. Erika Wennerstrom and her band, Heartless Bastards, are currently in the studio working on a third album with producer Mike McCarthy (Spoon). They’ve opened for Wilco, and they played at SXSW 2005. The lyrics are soulful just like her voice, and she plays the guitar and piano. She’s much closer to 30 than she is to 20 in case you were wondering.
Bo Diddley - “Before You Accuse Me (Take A Look At Yourself)”
One of the greatest persons ever to make music has passed away today. Bo Diddley laid the foundation for raucous rock n roll styles and sensibilities.
Tuneage salutes you Bo, you will be missed.
“I opened the door for a lot of people, and they just ran through and left me holding the knob.” - Bo Diddley
Jeff Buckley - Everybody Here Wants You
Okay so I know I continue to stray from the doo wop theme… I’m sorry I just can’t help it. I have a great one for tomorrow, that’s for sure, so definitely check back early and often.
As for the tune above - Jeff Buckley is a legend; there is no doubt about that. Just as Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Selena, and a host of others were taken from us under unfortunate (and in some cases, avoidable) circumstances, Jeff too died at a very young age, and before his true ‘grace’ was known. His legacy does live on though, and for any serious JB fan, you might be getting that feeling in the pit of your stomach, knowing that you are about to hear something very, very serious.
I feel strongly about Jeff’s music. He showcases a vulnerability that is so sad, honest, and heartfelt that it’s transformed into a rock-solid confidence - confidence that to his listeners may seem unattainable. It’s a bold statement, but is Jeff the Bob Dylan of the 90s?
I’ve listened to 1994’s Grace an inordinate amount of times, as I’m sure any JB fan has, but have yet to find a song that touches me as much as “Everybody Here Wants You” (from Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk). I’ve met that girl. I’ve seen her around. I know exactly how Jeff feels in this one…
Alberta Cross - Old Man Chicago
I describe Alberta Cross to my friends as the UK’s answer to My Morning Jacket. High-pitched, whiny (in a good way, of course) vocals abound, coupled with a traditional rock-twang. With vocals more similar to hollering than singing, Alberta Cross provides a visceral rock experience that stays true to its roots of Americana and Blues Rock.
I’ve seen them at the Puck building (last year’s CMJ) and at the Living Room for acoustics sets, but have yet to enjoy the full show experience. I won’t lie and tell you what saw of them was amazing, far from it actually. I was dissappointed by their song selections at Living Room, choosing to play slower, droney-er tunes, as opposed to their quicker, more rock based jams - and the ones that I knew.
If you like this, check out the epic The Devil’s All You Ever Had on their Space.
