Reasons to Recycle
We all want to be a little more green. No, we’re not chaining ourselves to old growth trees in the Pacific Northwest, but we still want to do the right thing. We’re no different here at the A-List. We want to do our part. And while we sort our own paper from plastic, carry our inconvenient bags to the market, and return our hangers to the dry cleaner, we know we can do more. The adage is Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
So in the interest of our environment, this week the A-List is going to Reduce the effort and carbon emitting energy. Reuse an old post for the intro. And Recycle everything except this week’s musical line-up. Go green.
Make the A-List Work for You
(this is the part we’re reusing just in case you’re new around here)
How does the A-List work for you? Well, let’s say you’re talking to fascinating member of the opposite sex who expresses an interest in music. Maybe it’s the blues (see the A-List Archive 11/4) or underground punk (A-List Archive 1/25) or hot local artists (A-List Archive 2/8) or even kitschy cover bands (A-List Archive 1/4). You read the A-List. You’ve got a little insight. You’ve got a little opinion. Hell, for the first time you’ve got a clue. Your hipness is tuned just right. You get it now, right? And if you’re lucky you might even be gettin’ it.
Use the A-List blog. Sound cool. Be more attractive. We can all recycle that.
Walking through the Week (backwards)
If you, like me, are mourning the passage of Lux Interior, frontman to The Cramps, and allegedly the man who coined the phrase “pyschobilly,” then you need to head to Star Bar on Saturday night. (If you are not, then follow those links and learn a little punk rock history).
Saturday night’s line up is all rockabilly and while they might not ooze leather clad sexuality of the fallen legend, you should be able to get your fix on back beats and pentatonic riffs. If I got the listing right, the night will start with Hillbilly Casino. If you don’t like what you get from them, blame it on the PBR. Your second chance will be the Straight 8s out of North Carolina. They’re mean go-getters. The night will be capped off with Psycho Devilles (and now you see the Lux connection). Shine your boots, get out your best Nudie Suit, and head to Little 5′s community bar on Saturday night.
Before you get to the Star Bar on Saturday, you need to get to the Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge on Wednesday night to see the A-List’s first inspiration and long-time favorite, Bernadette Seacrest. Bernadette has a little history with that rockabilly stuff and it may be part of what makes her chanteuse swoon so much fun. If still you need an introduction check out this vid of “Where Does it Hurt” from her great show at Eddie’s Attic last fall. (Did you hear that Elvis nod at the end?) The video is one of several shot by B’s beau Justin and posted on YouTube – watch them all and then get out see how much better she is live on Wednesday. As usual she will be backed by the uber-talented Provocateurs.
And before you get to Bernadette’s show, you need to make it yet another Tuesday night at Smith’s Olde Bar. The drink and food specials will be the same as always but the highlight this Tuesday will be Philly’s own self-styled rock n’ roll machine, Marah. This one of those bands that I fell in love with the first time I heard them. The music recalls a time when rock n’ roll radio allowed big guitars, horns, organs, sing along choruses, tempo breaks, and hand claps to all exist on the same song. It’s hard enough to find all of those on the same album anymore – much less in a single simple song like “Hard Up“. Your first reaction might be Springsteen (and yes they have played with him) but there are also moments when they seem to be borrowing directly from post-punk/indie stalwart Paul Westerberg on songs like “Angels on A Passing Train” from last year’s great disc Angels of Destruction. This is a show not to be missed. And when you get there, just remember to turn your wrist toward the sky for Cotton at the top of the stairs – that’s where he likes to put the stamp.
And while you might find me out on a school night, don’t go out lookin’ for your A-List author this weekend, I will be invading the Jersey pines. Hoping to do a little pillaging up there too. You may have to wait to see what I may bring back – but I guarantee it will be worth the wait. While I’m up there I might just cross the Delaware into Philly for a little Thievery Corporation (since I missed them here) or check out classic rapper Dres (Black Sheep) at The Kyber (which has survived another decade since I last broke something in their bathroom).
In the meantime, Atlanta’s Tabernacle will be hosting two fine shows this weekend to keep you busy (while I am gettin’…oh, never mind). Ben Folds will be at the old house of worship on Friday night. I have not sampled his latest effort Way to Normal but if certain reviewers are right and it hearkens back to his best efforts (with the Five), like Whatever and Ever Amen, then it will be worth the service charges that unspeakable conglomerate makes you pay to see shows there. If you are lucky he will play “One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces“, if you are not so lucky he will cover “Tiny Dancer” – which we all need to admit is not Elton & Bernie’s best work, right?
Saturday night Lucinda Williams will be in town for the second time in as many years. I missed her last year and alas will again this year. I have been a fan since I first heard her monumental 1998 record Dirt Wheels on A Gravel Road – which warrants serious consideration for one of my top ten all-time favorite front to back records. (There might be a post in that, huh?) Fortunately for all us, she has become more prolific with age. Her latest record, Little Honey, features the single, “Real Love” – which I seem to be able to relate to more and more every day. It’s “Right in Time” and this new disc may be the positive antidote to that remarkable record she wrote ten years ago. This one undoubtedly should be worth the “service fee” extortion.
PSAs
We are on the verge of a great spring season and there are several dates that should not be missed. This paragraph is pro bono. Tickets should still be available for Death Cab for Cutie at the Fabulous Fox Theatre on May 6. Likewise, what I might call the pinnacle of pop show because these two artists made the two finest pop records I have heard in the last two years – Gomez & Josh Ritter – will be at Center Stage March 24. Another great pop act (though in a little bit different genre) who just collected a Grammy (for whatever that is worth), Estelle, will be at Center Stage on March 12. Finally, obsessives like myself will be making the trip to Athens on Monday night, April 20 to see category irrelevent greats Wilco at the Classic Center.
That’s the A-List and shouldn’t I have all of this and passionate kisses from you?
by Gunter Grass. All are welcome.
