Concert Review: Steel Train - First Unitarian Church...errr The Barbary, Philadelphia 7/21/10

Going into Wednesday I was equally as excited to see a show at the First Unitarian Church as I was to see Steel Train.  Unfortunately when we arrived we found out that the show had been moved to another venue because of electrical problems.  The new venue (The Barbary) just happened to be on the complete opposite end of the city!  A few wrong turns and sketchy neighborhoods later, we managed to get there. 

Steel Train put on a good high energy performance drawing material mainly from their new self-titled album.  The highlight of the show for me was when all 5 members of the band gathered around 1 microphone to sing together accompanied only by a guitar.  During the song, the lead singer whipped his head to the side and flung sweat all over the bassist's face.  Kinda gross but the band and the crowd got a good laugh out of it.  In moments like that you could tell they were a group of friends having fun and doing what they love.  That was refreshing to see. 

Here's a recent session the band recorded at Daytrotter:
1. Welcome to Daytrotter
2. S.O.G. Burning in Hell
3. Kill Monsters in the Rain
4. You and I Undercover
5. Bullet
6. Touch Me Band
7. Fall Asleep
Download - Steel Train at Daytrotter

NPR To Stream The Newport Folk Festival Live

NPR is providing a live webcast of performances from the festival which includes some of my favorite artists (The Avett Brothers, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and Yim Yames aka Jim James of My Morning Jacket).  Here's an exerpt from the article:

"NPR and folk music — it seems like a natural fit. On July 31, NPR Music will offer a live webcast of the Newport Folk Festival. In addition, NPR Music and WFUV New York, FolkAlley.com (WKSU) Kent, Ohio, and mvyradio in Martha’s Vineyard and Newport will broadcast select sets from the Fest — air times are July 31 and August 1 from 11:30AM to 7:30PM (ET).

Fans can tune in to hear performances from The Avett Brothers, Andrew Bird, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Justin Townes Earle and more. They’ll also be posting on-demand streams from John Prine, My Morning Jacket’s Yim Yames, Blitzen Trapper, The Low Anthem and Nneka at NPR.org/Music."
http://www.americansongwriter.com/2010/07/npr-to-stream-the-newport-folk-festival-live/

Boot: Muse - Glastonbury Festival 6/26/10

Here is Muse's set from the Glastonbury Festival last month.  The show includes a cover of U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name" with special guest The Edge.  Enjoy.

Setlist:

1. Uprising

2. Supermassive Black Hole

3. New Born

4. Map of the Problematique

5. Guiding Light

6. Citizen Erased

7. Nishe

8. United States of Eurasia

9. Feeling Good

10. Undisclosed Desires

11. Resistance

12. Interlude

13. Hysteria

14. House Of The Rising Sun
15. Time Is Running Out
16. Starlight
17. Stockholm Syndrome
18. Where The Streets Have No Name (with The Edge)
19. Plug In Baby
20. Man With A Harmonica
21. Knights Of Cydonia
Download: Muse - Glastonbury 2010 Part 1 ........Glastonbury 2010 Part 2

Passion Pit cover Tonight, Tonight

I've never been a big Smashing Pumpkins fan, Billy Corgan annoys the hell out of me.  I always did enjoy this song though, and the same goes for Passion Pit's recent take on it.  The song is part of "Levi's Pioneer Sessions" where artists provide their version of songs that inspired them.  Other contributing artists include: She & Him, The Shins, Dirty Projectors, John Legend & The Roots, and more. 

Boot: M. Ward - KCRW 2009

Here's a radio interview/performance that M. Ward did back in 2009 while out promoting his album "Hold Time".  He's been a busy guy recently, along with releasing "Hold Time" he's put out albums with Monsters of Folk and most recently She & Him.  I'll be looking forward to hearing his next venture whatever it may be.

KCRW 2009 Setlist:
01.(=Intro=)
02.One Hundred Million Years
03.Never Had Nobody Like You
04.To Save Me
05.Rave On
06.(=Interview With Jason =)
07.Fahey
08.Requiem
09.Epistemology
10.Oh Lonesome Me
11.(-Outro1-)
12.Fisher Of Men
13.Chinese Translation
14.(=Outro2=)
Download - M. Ward - KCRW 2009

Concert Review: She & Him - River Stage, Philadelphia 7/2/10

A cool evening at an intimate outdoor venue was the perfect setting for She & Him last Friday night.  With the Delaware River as the backdrop, Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward churned out tunes from their two records along with a couple of covers in the encore.  Now that I've gotten to see She & Him I'd really like to hear M. Ward play some of his solo material.  Hopefully it won't be too long before he comes back to the area.
Setlist:
1.Black Hole
2.Thieves
3.Over It Over Again
4.Me And You
5.Lingering Still
6.Take It Back
7.Home
8.Sentimental Heart
9.Change Is Hard
10.I Thought I Saw Your Face Today
11.Brand New Shoes
12.Would You Like to Take a Walk?
13.You Really Got a Hold on Me
14.Magic Trick
15.Gonna Get Along Without You Now
16.In The Sun
17.Don't Look Back
18.This Is Not a Test
19.Ridin' in My Car
20.Made For You
21.Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
22.Sweet Darlin'
Encore:
23.Fools Rush In
24.Roll Over Beethoven

Happy Independence Day America!

I woke up this morning with "This Land is Your Land" by Woodie Guthrie stuck in my head.  There have been countless covers of this song over the years, including one by Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings that I heard recently in the film 'Up In The Air'.  Give it a listen and have a happy 4th!