The Decemberists- Riverside Theater 3/25/15

photo courtesy of Gigshots by Stephen Bloch

The Decemberists are true pros in the music industry, producing quality music and performing engaging shows for the past decade.  While their days of penning ten minute songs about nautical topics may be behind them, the Portland quintet proved once again at the Riverside Theater why they are one of the best live acts out there today.  If I were to sum up their performance in one word, it would be "fun."

photo courtesy of Gigshots by Stephen Bloch

Colin Meloy has fun on stage and is a master of ensuring that the audience is enjoying themselves as well. Whether that fun come in the form of sharing that "Calamity Song" started as a song to encourage his son Hank to eat his oatmeal, or jamming out with his bandmates on pulsing drums during "The Rake's Song," the act never ceased to amaze and engage the audience.  And what other band could have a full-to-the-gills theater of mostly people in their 30's-40's making their hands into fake jaws while a prop whale invaded the stage during the final encore of "The Mariners Revenge Song?"  If that's not a band having fun, I'm not sure what is? 

Touring in support of their latest LP, What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World, the Decembetrists focused their set predominately on the newer material, which was very well-received. Meloy and company are now mothers and fathers, and their songs are more reflective in nature these days.  In fact, the crowd was treated to a live debut of "Till The Water is All Long Gone," a tune that featured hypnotic guitar playing by Chris Funk.  Other new tunes that stood out were the anthem sing along, "Make You Better," beautiful set closing "Beginning Song," and lamenting first encore "12-17-12."

photo courtesy of Gigshots by Stephen Bloch

Older tunes brought the crowd to its feet as well.  The Decemberists played a lot of their poppier numbers from past records including "Crane Wife 3," "16 Military Wives," and "Down by the Water."  They did do a longer jam on "The Island," but for the most part the band stuck to their "short of it" material than their longer numbers.

As is typical now of a Decemberists show, the only complaint that I had was that I didn't get to hear all the songs I wanted to hear, and that's because their catalog is just so good.  I guess that's what happens when a band continues to grow and have fun together... you just keep coming back and wanting more. 

Set list:
The Singer Addresses His Audience
Calvary Captain
Down By the Water
Calamity Song
Till the Water's All Long Gone
The Wrong Year
Make You Better
The Crane Wife 3
Los Angeles, I'm Yours
Carolina Low
The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid
The Rake's Song
16 Military Wives
A Beginning Song

Encore:
12-17-12
The Mariner's Revenge Song

The Whale!

Samantha Fish- Cedarburg Cultural Center, 3/21/15

article originally published by Ozaukee Magazine

Google “Samantha Fish,” and you will find a plethora of praise for this Kansas City bombshell who rocked the Cedarburg Cultural Center this past Saturday.

The near-capacity crowd in attendance was treated to a two-set performance that showcased many variations of Fish’s two main musical tools—her powerful alto vocals and her masterful guitar work.  Fish played the latest installment of the CCC’s “Blues in the ‘Burgh” series.  While Fish certainly knows the blues, classifying her simply as a blues player is like limiting cheese to only being paired with macaroni.  Granted, you have an instance success, but have not begun to encounter the endless possibilities that exist beyond that.  Fish’s interpretation of the blues, country rock, roots and Americana music showcased the versatility of this white-hot artist.

Fish has the look and musical chops to go far in the industry, and in many ways reminds me of an artist she lists as a childhood idol, Sheryl Crow.  The crowd at the CCC saw and appreciated this, frequently rising to their feet with roaring applause after guitar solos and tunes.

For her sets, Fish alternated between three guitars, each of which greatly shaped the timbres of her music.  Her primary guitar is a custom made Delaney “Fish-0-Caster”which features a sound hole in the shape of a fish.  Set one opener, “Down in the Swamp” showcased the rich tonal quality of this guitar, as her solos took the listener down into the weeds.

In addition, Fish played an acoustic guitar on some of the softer numbers, and a very unique instrument, a Stogie Box blues guitar which she uses as her primary instrument for slide guitar tracks.  Fish’s slide work in many ways reminded me of a young Derek Trucks.  Fish masterfully put her own take on the classic RL Burnside Track, “Shake ‘Em On Down,” and the thick, muddy sound of the Stogie Box brought this tune to life.

Fish played original numbers alongside a wide array of covers.  Of her original pieces, “Foolin’ Me” off of her latest record, Black Wind Howlin’ might be one of her finest tracks, as it combines all of the genres Fish plays in to create a laid back rock track with an infectious guitar groove.  “Runaway,” another original that closed the first set, was a stand-out track as well with its fast paced tempo and swing rhythm.

Another highlight of the evening was Fish covering Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’s “I Put a Spell on You,” which showcased her vocal range and passion.  Fish saved a great surprise for her encore where she slayed a cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs,” a song that is usually reserved as a cover for hard-rock or metal leaning acts (like Faith No More, for example who covered the song on their 1989 The Real Thing LP).  However, Fish nailed this track through her deep vocal range and passionate delivery.

While Fish was clearly the star of the night, her drummer Go-Go Ray, and bass player deserve a lot of props for gluing the numbers together.

As always, the Cedarburg Cultural Center gets a lot of props for booking adventurous acts like Fish who are clearly on the rise, and the wonderful hospitality of the staff at the venue makes always going to the CCC a fun time.

Follow her online here.

Words by Music Column writer, teacher, father, and all around good guy – Will Piper.

TV on the Radio- Pabst Theater 3/24/15

photo by Sara Bill Photography

Brooklyn-based eclectic rock outfit, TV on the Radio, made a triumphant return to the Pabst Theater for their first show in Milwaukee since 2011.  This time they were touring on behalf of their strong 2014 release Seeds. The band was greeted by one of the most packed houses I've ever seen at the Pabst Theater, and the capacity crowd had much to cheer about over the band's hour and fifteen minute set and encore.  TV on the Radio is about as intense a live act as you're likely to find, with musicians pouring their soul into their tunes whether old or new.

As a fan who has followed TV on the Radio since its early days, it is interesting to see how the band as progressed musically.  While the group started off in its very early inception as a duo of Tunde Adebimpe and David Andrew Sitek performing tunes with mainly electronic instrumentation, the modern incarnation of TV on the Radio is a well-oiled touring sextet.  The artists in the band, most of whom have been with group since the early 2000's, are mature, masterful performers who use their craftsmanship to create new layers of timbres in older tunes as evidenced by the set opener, "Young Liars," a track that dates back to the band's inception in 2001-2002.  Likewise, the popular "Golden Age" off of 2008's critically acclaimed, Dear Science was performed with as much zeal and passion as if it were released just last week.

photo by Sara Bill Photography

This level of professionalism is noteworthy for TV on the Radio, who have transcended the level of  a"buzz band" to become a stalwart, strong, and bold ambassador of the modern rock scene-- with a continued willingness to push and challenge  their sound further.

For this reason, the highlights of the set were not necessarily the older tunes that fans were familiar with, but rather some of the newer material from Seeds.    The crowd on all floors of the Pabst rose to their feet to shout out the refrain of the 2014 track "Happy Idiot,"  Other newer numbers like "Trouble," and "Careful You" were also well-received.

The polished act upped their game with riveting performances of "Wolf Like Me," a standout track from 2006's Return to Cookie Mountain, and the final encore, "Staring at the Sun" off of the Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes album from 2004.

Also worth noting in this performance is the seventh member of the band-- the lighting director.  In one of the most visually engaging performances I've seen in some time, each track was choreographed with corresponding lights to add a rich visual texture to the songs.  The only complaint that I had with this show was that they could have played longer, with a resume as deep as theirs.  With that said, I hope it isn't another 4 years before TV on the Radio return to Milwaukee.

Opening for TV on the Radio was Nostalghia, an art-house, electro, avant-garde act, consisting of perplexing vocalist Ciscandra Nostalghia (who made Alanis Morisette's hair in the mid 90's look short), a drummer and a electric cellist.  They played to a polite and receptive crowd.  Their brooding dark music reminded me of a cross between The Faint and Siouxsie and the Banshees, without the catchy melodies.

photo by Sara Bill Photography

Other notes:

• TV on the Radio lead vocalist, Tunde Adepimpe strikes an eerie resemblance to the self-proclaimed Milwaukee Sports Legend, "Freeway," especially with the glasses, although Tunde is way more put together than the sports legend
• 
• Guitarist David Andrew Sitek has moved away from a straight guitar rig which he played in 2011 and now plays in front of a bonafide "rhythm lab" of sorts with a plethora of digital tools at his disposal.
• Speaking of "rhythm lab," in a brief bit of crowd banter before the encore, Tunde Adepimpe gave a shout out to 88.9 Radio Milwaukee and DJ Tarik Moody for a great interview that they did earlier at the station, stating it was a highlight of the tour.

photo by Pabst/Riverside/Turner Hall

Nikki Lane, Johnny Fritz, Hugh Bob and the Hustle- Cactus Club 2/13/15

photo courtesy of Gigshots by Stephen Bloch

You know a show was really special when almost a month after the fact, you still recall it like it was last night.  Lane is a white hot self-described, "outlaw country" singer out of Nashville who performed to race reviews last year at the Appleton Mile of Music festival, and performed on a chilly February night to a shoulder-to-shoulder capacity crowd at the Cactus Club.  While not touring, Lane runs a vintage clothing shop in Nashville, and this almost epitomizes her style with one foot in traditional country and the other taking a very contemporary approach to songwriting.  Lane is a storyteller and her songs run the gamet of love, lust, and travel.  Her back up band was both loose and precise at the same time, allowing Lane to perform a nearly 90 minute set without a set list.  Most of her material came from her latest album, 2014's Dan Auerbach produced  All or Nothing, and 2011's Walk of Shame.  Opening act and local star, Hugh Masterson took Auerbach's place sharing vocals on "Love's on Fire,"  The set also contained several well-placed covers including a rousing version of Bob Dylan's "You Ain't Going Nowhere" to close the concert.  Lane's personable nature was evident as she gladly posed for pictures with fans and even shared a cookie with buddy.  This is a star on the rise and I can't wait to check her out again opening for Jenny Lewis later this spring,

Opening for Nikki Lane were two unique acts, Jonny Fritz Hugh Bob and the Hustle.  Fritz is a unique act in that his songs, while often sounding similar, have an aura of comedy about them, often taking cues from mundane human living and penning them into ditties.  He reminded me a lot of the act The Bottle Rockets, who had a similar sense of humor in their compositions.  Fritz was a solid entertainer, and he engaged the crowd with songs like, "Shaved Like a Razor," "Chevy Beretta," and  "Trash Day."

The first act of the night was arguably the most popular with the Cactus Club crowd.  Hugh Masterson reunited with his former band, "The Hustle," as a surprise, for a riveting set of country-rock, with tracks like "North Country," "This Bar is a Prison," and "Milwaukee Man."  Hugh's vocals and band were spot on and we learned that he is now renting his apartment from Nikki Lane.  Not a bad gig if you ask me.

\

Nikki Lane shares a Valentine's Day cookie with Stephen Bloch

Hugh Bob duets with Nikki Lane; photo courtesy of Gigshots by Stephen Bloch

  

Bahamas with David McMillin- Shank Hall, January 28, 2015

photo courtesy of Steven Bloom

Bahamas is the stage name for Canadian singer-songwriter, Afie Jurvanen who has quickly become one of the fastest growing and most buzzed about acts on the scene today.  Simply put, Bahamas makes fun, lively music. Granted, it's not necessarily music that is going to redefine the indie-folk sound, but it's playful, enjoyable music that can brighten your spirits on a chilly January evening or serve as a solid part of a summer soundtrack.  Many comparisons have been made between Afie Jurvanen and his Brushfire Records label mate, Jack Johnson, and for good reason.  Both artists can pen personal tunes with a light touch. 

The distinguishing feature that sets Bahamas' music apart from other acts is Afie's self-taught, somewhat unconventional and loosely jammy guitar style.  His live show certainly showcased this style of playing well, and made the songs take on a vibrant life different than hearing them on the records.   Afie's vocal delivery is smooth, and his solid range is seen in many of his tracks. 

Often harmonizing with his female bass player and guitarist, Afie delivered a straight forward, and most importantly fun stage set for an hour and fifteen minutes which had the near capacity crowd singing along, swaying and having enjoying life for a while.  Not surprisingly, a good chunk of the set came from 2014's critically acclaimed, Bahamas is Afie record, which found Afie Jurvanen composing some of his more personal and reflective songs to date.  Highlights included, the whimsical, "Bitter Memories," the sway-worthy "Waves," and the energetic, "Little Record Girl."

Opening for Bahamas was David McMillin, the singer/guitarist/pianst from the Chicago-based quartet, Fort Frances.  Like Afie Jurvanen, McMillin is an extremely engaging performer who pulls in the crowd with his honest, narrative song-writing, which is trademarked by vivid similes and memorable imagery.  McMillin started his set with just a handful of folks standing by the stage, and the by the end of his set had the majority of the crowd packed up front to take part in this intimate set.  McMillin's set featured a lot of his own material, including: "Heartsteady," "These Days," "I Will Leave the Rest Behind," and his latest track, "Dreaming Backwards,"  McMillin also played a smattering of tracks recently recorded in Maine as part of the next Fort Frances record.  Based on the warm reaction from the crowd, which included a young woman asking McMillin after his set to sign her jacket, I think it's safe say many of the folks who came to see Bahamas would love to hear more of David McMillin as well.

photo courtesy of Steven Bloom

S.Carey- Cedarburg Cultural Center, 1/24/15

When asked in a recent interview how he would describe his sound, singer-songwriter Sean Carey (who performs under the moniker S.Carey) replied, “I always want my music to sound beautiful. I want people to have an emotional response to it. I want it to be moving.”  This description was spot on for S.Carey’s captivating performance at the Cedarburg Cultural Center on Saturday, January 24th.

S.Carey pushes the boundaries of the traditional singer-songwriter format of acoustic guitars and vocals.  Instead, he and his bandmates incorporate soulful lyrics set against a tapestry of sounds that, in isolation, may seem disjointed, but together allow the music to take on formative shape.  The instruments used during the two set performance alone help tell the tale of the sonic layers S.Carey creates : there was Sean on piano, a violinist/guitarist, a pedal-steel player, and a drummer/vocalist who also occasionally played the guitar.  Each musician had electronic instruments, too, to create effects and loops during the atmospheric jams that accompanied many of the numbers.

Music is all about the details for S.Carey, and the pristine acoustics of the Cedarburg Cultural Center made this a perfect venue in which to experience his “beautiful music.”  You could clearly hear the the musicians’ innovative playing throughout the set, and these slight nuances shaped the rich timbre of the music.  Some examples included the drummer using brush strokes and soft mallets instead of traditional sticks for most of the songs, and also running his fingers around the symbols to create a sort of hushed screech.  The lonely whine of the pedal steel interjected itself amidst the ethereal vibrations of the electric violin. All of these layers were set against Sean Carey’s exceptional work Musicianship creating piano driven melodies.

As an acclaimed percussionist, S.Carey clearly arranged his music for drums to take a prominent role, having the drummer in the front of the stage and using a variety of different percussion techniques in the songs.   This was seen from the first tune “Move” 2010’s All We Grow album, a heavily nuanced tune that featured rain sounds, brushwork drumming, and violin accents to create an opening jam before the tune started.  Other highlights included “Crown the Pines,” a stellar track 2014’s Range of Light LP, which draws many similarities to the music of Sufjan Stevens.  “In The Stream,” a tune Sean admitted was one of his favorites, stood out for its catchy repetitive piano layer, as did “Chrysalis,” my personal favorite song of the set, that Sean wrote about being a father.   The first set closed with a cover of Radiohead’s “Bulletproof… I Wish I Was,” a homage to Sean’s favorite band, and a clear influence in his music.

After a brief break, the band returned for a second set of tunes, which spanned all stages of S.Carey’s catalogue.  The three song series of “Avalanche” from 2012’s Hoyas EP, “Fire-Scene” and “Alpenglow” from Range of Light anchored the set and fully engaged the crowd who was as polite as I’ve ever seen throughout the entire performance.  By the time S.Carey closed the show with the uplifting finale off of * from Range of Light, “Neverending Fountain,” the crowd enthusiastically responded with a standing ovation.

At one point in the set Sean quipped about the last time he was in Cedarburg was for soccer tournament while he was playing high school soccer in Lake Geneva.  We hope that S.Carey won’t be away from the ‘Burg that long again.  S.Carey & co. accomplished their mission of ‘moving the crowd’ at the Cedarburg Cultural Center with his “beautiful music”… that is for sure.

Opening for S.Carey as Len Voy, a new band of musicians who grew up in Ozaukee County and came together at UW-Eau Claire.

The Americana trio feature an electric guitarist, violinist and singer/acoustic guitarist/kick-drummer Nick Lanser.  The band’s brief set was captivating and Len Voy received a riveting ovation from the crowd who clearly wanted to hear more tunes from this great up-and-coming act.

S.Carey Setlist:
Set I:
Move
Creaking
Crown the Pines
Mothers
Action
In the Stream
Chrysalis
Bulletproof… I Wish I Was*

Set II:
Glass
Marfa
Avalanche
Fire-Scene
Alpenglow
All We Grow
Bjork
Neverending Fountain

Review originally appeared in Ozaukee Magazine: 

2014: My Favorite Live Shows

I was blessed to attend a myriad of great live music this year in Milwaukee.  The following are my favorites.  Granted, there was a lot of exceptional music that occurred in the city this year that I did not see-- the Pearl Jam and Outkast shows were ones that have gotten universally rave reviews that  missed out on.  But, overall, I'd say this was one of the stronger years in recent memory for great live shows in diverse venues all across town.

Opening Act of the Year:
Sylvan Esso surprise opener for Volcano Choir 
-Volcano Choir was good, Sylvan Esso was great, and put on an equally engaging performance as Justin Vernon and the Volcano Choir boys  with nothing short of a flawless support set which featured the band at its energetic best.

Best Local Show of the Year:
Buffalo Gospel- Anodyne Coffee Roasting Company 12/20/14
-If Buffalo Gospel didn't tell you that their first trip to Madison was the night before, you would be hard pressed to believe that this superb Americana act is still at the local level.  Their musicianship is up there with top national acts.

Will's Favorite Concerts of 2014:

11.  Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers, Shank Hall, 6/17/14

-Nicki Bluhm is the real deal in terms of being a charismatic front woman with an outstanding voice. Her band, the Gramblers, produce great country-inspired rock.  I knew hardly any songs going into this show and left thoroughly "wowed."

10.  Spoon, Riverside Theater, 9/17/14
-Consistency is hard to maintain in the music business, but Spoon has become one of the most predictably good acts out there.  Their live show had a set list spanning their robust catalog and their energy was fantastic.  

09.  First Aid Kit- Bradley Theater at Lakeland College, 11/21/14
-The harmonies from the Soderberg sisters were breathtaking, as was catching a white hot band in a tiny venue.  Kudos to Lakeland College for booking this one.

08. Field Report, Pabst Theater, 10/1/14

-Marigolden comes across live as good if not better than it does on disc.  A remarkably polite and courteous crowd gave local singer-songwriter, Christopher Porterfield, a hero's welcome.  After all, it was "Field Report Day" in Milwaukee.

07.  Jack White, The Eagles Ballroom, 7/21/14 

-One could argue that Jack White personifies modern rock 'n roll, and personally I'd have a hard time refuting that statement.  White is a true rock showman, and had his fans engaged from start to finish on a sweaty night in the venue that smells most like arm pits in Milwaukee-- The Eagles Ballroom

06.    St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Cedarburg Summer Sounds, 8/1/14
-You couldn't ask for more energy in a soul band for over an hour and a half than you got from St. Paul and the Broken Bones, who played the Cedarburg Summer Sounds series.  The ambiance of a scenic outdoor setting on a beautiful summer's night added to the ambiance of this stellar performance.

05. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Pabst Theater 3/6/14
-I don't think a smile left my face for the two hour performance by Sharon Jones and her all-star backing band, the Dap Kings.  This is the most energetic performer out there in terms of raw energy and emotion- bar none.  The fact that she is returning to the road after a battle with cancer makes this show even more of a "wow."

04.   The War on Drugs, Pabst Theater, 9/20/14
-I had the pleasure of seeing the War on Drugs both at the Pabst as well as at the Metro in Chicago when their tour kicked off in March.  The September outing showcased a more polished live show of a band who reached a critical high this year.

03.  Tweedy, Pabst Theater 6/16/14 

-I have never seen a more engaging performance of a band who sold out the Pabst without the audience knowing any tunes from the band's first set, as Sukierae, didn't come out until September.  That said, Jeff Tweedy, son Spencer, and their band delivered a superb performance which one could argue even over shadowed some of Jeff's solo material from the same evening.

02. Trey Anastasio Band- Pabst Theater, Pabst Theater, 2/5/14 

-There are nights when musicians are really on, and I'd argue that I have never seen Trey Anastasio in finer form than I did at the Pabst on 2/5/14.  Listening to the live recording of this show, you can really tell how "into it" Trey was.

01.  Wilco, Riverside Theater, 12/3/14   

-Favorite band.  Front row.  Wonderful and robust thirty-song set list that spanned the band's career.  What more can one ask for?  This was the best I've seen Wilco perform in Milwaukee since their 2009 two-night run at the Pabst Theater.