THE TOP 70 SETS OF 2014

2014 was an absolute excellent year for music. I was lucky enough to see some great festivals (GovBall, Lolla, Big Guava), fall in love with a band (Arctic Monkeys), get introduced to some new bands that have since become favorites (The Orwells and New Politics), see some bands 4+ times this year alone, (Young the Giant and Bleachers) and to finally lose my Arcade Fire virginity. It's definitely one that will be going down in the record books.

Even though I have already ranked every show on a 5 star basis as I have reviewed them throughout the year, it only seemed appropriate to put them in order to cap off 2014. Now this is not exactly a list of the top 70 concerts I saw, as it also contains individual performances from festivals I attended. But it ranks the sets in their entirety. Sometimes a festival atmosphere can enhance the performance, while other times bands can be more captivating in a small club. Either way, this is my opinion of practically every show I saw for 2014.

It was a great year. Hope you enjoy:

#70: Edward Sharpe headlining Clearwater Jazz Festival - Full Review
#69: Benjamin Booker live from Hogan's Beach - Full Review
#68: Bronze Radio Return live from Crowbar - Full Review
#67: Bleachers set at GovBall
#66: Haim set at Big Guava

#65: Wild Child live from Crowbar - Full Review 
#64: Vance Joy set at Lolla
#63: Alt-J at 97x Next Big Thing - NBT Review
#62: Blue October set at Big Guava
#61: Bleachers set at Lolla

#60: American Authors live at Jannus - Full Review
#59: MS MR set at Big Guava
#58: Deer Tick live from Crowbar - Full Review
#57: Cherub live at the Cuban Club - Full Review
#56: Outkast set at GovBall

#55: J Roddy Walston & the Business at Gasparilla Music Fest - GMF Review
#54: Foster the People set at GovBall
#53: Mowgli's live at Jannus - Full Review
#52: Magic Man set at Big Guava
#51: Young the Giant at 97x Next Big Thing - NBT Review

#50: Orwells at the 97x BBQ - Festival Review 
#49: American Authors set at Big Guava
#48: Airborne Toxic Event live at State Theatre - Full Review
#47: Capital Cities live at the Ritz - Full Review
#46: Portugal the Man set at Lolla

#45: Young the Giant live at the Hammerstein Ballroom - Full Review
#44: Cut Copy set at Lolla
#43: Trampled by Turtles live from the Overture Center - Full Review 
#42: Young the Giant live at Jannus - Full Review
#41: Phoenix set at GovBall

#40: Jimmy Buffet live at the Amphitheater - Full Review
#39: J Roddy Walston & the Business at 97x Next Big Thing - NBT Review
#38: New Politics live at Irving Plaza - Full Review
#37: Smallpools set at Lolla
#36: Fitz and the Tantrums live at the Sundome - Full Review 

#35: Local Natives live at State Theatre - Full Review
#34: Train live from the Mahaffey Theatre - Full Review
#33: Frank Turner set at GovBall
#32: Lorde set at Lolla
#31: Twenty One Pilots set at Big Guava

#30: Grouplove set at Big Guava
#29: Portugal the Man live in Central Park - Full Review 
#28: Foster the People set at Big Guava
#27: The Strokes set at GovBall
#26: Vampire Weekend set at GovBall

#25: Cage the Elephant at Coral Skies - Festival Review
#24: Black Keys live at Amalie Arena - Full Review
#23: Avett Brothers set at Lolla
#22: Bastille at the 97x BBQ - Festival Review
#21: Fitz and the Tantrums set at GovBall


#20: Jake Bugg live from the Riviera - Full Review 
#19: Bastille live at HOB Orlando - Full Review
#18: New Politics at 97x Next Big Thing - NBT Review
#17: Old Crow Medicine Show live from Jannus - Full Review 
#16: Outkast set at Big Guava


#15: Arctic Monkeys from Hard Rock Live - Full Review
#14: Cage the Elephant set at Lolla
#13: Twenty One Pilots live at the Dome - Full Review
#12: Springsteen live at the Amphitheater - Full Review  
#11: Grouplove live at the Metro - Full Review


and now for the top 10...

#10: Empire of the Sun set at GovBall

#9: Jack White set at GovBall

#8: Band of Horses acoustic in NYC - Full Review

#7: Jack White at the Township - Full Review

#6: Fitz and the Tantrums at the Metro - Full Review

#5: Young the Giant + Friends at HOB Chicago - Full Review

#4: Arcade Fire - Round 1 at Barclay's - Full Review

#3: Arctic Monkeys set at Lolla

#2: Vampire Weekend set at Big Guava

#1: Arcade Fire - Round 2 at Barclay's - Full Review



Thanks so much to everyone that came out and joined me for a 2014 show. It is going to be tough to top, but I have big plans for next year. 2015 should bring some great things - hopefully a return to both Lolla and GovBall, maybe even add a new festival, and of course the long awaited return of Foo Fighters! It should be another good one.

*side note - the Bleachers / Misterwives show from Dec. 29th is not included on this list.

Concert Review: BLACK KEYS on Turn Blue Tour

One of my top albums of the year is Turn Blue by the Black Keys. The eighth release from the Akron duo seemed to take the band back to their roots a bit, heavy on smooth hooks and a seventies funk-rock feel. It has a more bluesy vibe than the previous LP El Camino, which contained many arena rock singles.

My fan hood for Turn Blue took me to the recently renamed Amalie Arena to see the Keys on their 'Turn Blue' tour two weeks ago. This a true arena-venue, and says a lot about how far the Black Keys have come. Their most recent Tampa headlining show was back in 2004, playing Skipper's Smokehouse for 750 people. Ten years later and the Keys are playing shows for 10 times as many people.

Opening up for the band was St. Vincent, a female fronted indie rock band serving as the stage name for musician Annie Clark. Coming off a huge year, Clark displayed some impressive guitar skills and used a lot of spectacle in her performance. Unfortunately, the crowd did not appear too interested, and were clearly ready for the Black Keys.

The consensus wish was answered soon after as the Keys came out jamming to El Camino's "Dead and Gone" to open. This was just the first of seven songs played off El Camino on the evening. Things stayed high energy at the beginning with "Next Girl" and "Gold on the Ceiling" both coming early in the set. The latter featured the Keys backdrop lowered to reveal multiple LED screens that traveled behind the stage throughout the show.



The band itself is fronted by guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney. The pair go way back to their garage rock days in 2001. They paid tribute to those early days by performing "Leavin' Truck," a song off their debut album entitled The Big Come Up. The Keys in total actually played material from six of their studio albums.

Carney is not your typical drummer. Rather than a standard setup, Carney's drum set is practically center stage, taking its place right next to Auerbach. Carney never speaks during the set but remains very active. He barreled through fan favorite "Howlin' for You" and provided the necessary backing rhythm for the entire set.

With so much experience together, Carney obviously works exceptionally well with Auerbach. The guitarist and vocalist sounded great, leading the crowd through all of the Keys biggest tunes - "Gotta Get Away," "Fever," and "Tighten Up." The expected closer was "Lonely Boy," capping off a very strong second half of the set list.

One slightly disappointing note was the energy of the crowd. As mentioned before, it had been so long since the Keys had been in the Bay area. Therefore, I imagined a crowd anxious and rowdy for the Akron boys. Throughout the show though, there wasn't as much jumping and singling along as expected. The floor was surprisingly tame and I even saw some people in the lower bowl sitting down. To the bands credit though, it is difficult to get everyone connected at an arena show.

An exception to the lack of singing along came with final song of the night - "Little Back Submarines." Auerbach started this tune off with an acoustic guitar, motioning for the audience to sing with him, before departing from the mic and letting the fans sing the chorus. He then ditched the acoustic for an electric performance closing the show. This followed up other encores - "Turn Blue" and "Weight of Love," which are two of my favorites from the new album.

Overall, I was very happy to finally see the Keys and have that moment be in Tampa. Not always do huge rock bands stop by Tampa, (hint hint Arcade Fire and Foo Fighters) so this was quite the treat. The band has a few weeks off before hitting the international circuit all spring. They also seem very logical to headline GovBall in 2015. I expect to see them then.

Concert Rating: 3.5 Stars




Setlist:
1. Dead and Gone
2. Next Girl
3. Run Right Back
4. Same Old Thing
5. Gold on the Ceiling
6. Strange Times
7. Nova Baby
8. Leavin' Trunk
9. Too Afraid to Love You
10. Howlin' for You
11. A Girl Like You (Edwyn Collins Cover)
12. Money Maker
13. Gotta Get Away
14. She's Long Gone
15. Fever
16. Tighten Up
17. Your Touch
18. Lonely Boy

Encore:
19. Weight of Love
20. Turn Blue
21. Little Black Submarines

Concert Review: Train at the Holidays

A band with a true roller coaster story is Train. The pop-rock group from San Francisco reached considerable success in the late 90's and early 2000's before falling off a bit after the release of their fourth album. The band, led by Patrick Monahan, then took a three year hiatus before returning with a fifth LP.

At that stage of a career, it's rare for a band to put out a hit record heavy on radio singles. But that's exactly what Train did. Monahan released 2009's Save Me, San Francisco, containing hits "If It's Love," "Hey Soul Sister," and "Marry Me." The rediscovered success brought new life to the band. All of a sudden they were touring with Maroon 5, playing large amphitheaters, and performing for fans of all ages.

Since Train revitalized their career, I have been lucky enough to see them live four times. The first time was practically a mistake, but their live performance won me over. This year, they were playing a Christmas themed show at the Mahaffey Theatre in St. Pete.

Train opened up with "Cadillac, Cadillac," just one of three songs played off the bands newest album, entitled Bulletproof Picasso. The new songs sounded great, as did the old classics. Two of the bands earliest hits - "Meet Virginia" and "Calling All Angels" received some of the loudest ovations of the night.

What I believe takes Train shows to the next level is the front man ability of Pat Monahan. They guy has an incredible voice, but also is very interactive. At one point of the show, Pat took advantage of the smaller venue acoustics and sang a slower song without any microphone. It was an incredibly pure moment.

Monahan also went into the crowd on one occasion and picked out audience members to help him sing the duet "Bruises." Additionally, he brought kids up on stage to play different percussion instruments on holiday themed tune "Shake Up Christmas." The singer is a true entertainer, making the show what it is.

The biggest sing-a-longs of the night came towards the end, with "Hey, Soul Sister" leading into 2011 hit "Drive By." Train exited the stage with the same energy they came on with.

Of course Monahan and the boys would return for the expected encore of "Drops of Jupiter," which had the crowd belting out the choruses. They followed this up with an Aerosmith cover of the classic - "Dream On." This is quite the difficult tune to sing, but Monahan has the necessary powerful vocals to hit the famous Steven Tyler notes.

After seeing Train 4 times now, I can come to one clear conclusion. When you see them perform live, they will play their best songs. Even as their catalogue continues to expand, they select the best tunes off their new album and combine those with their overall greatest hits. It's a guarantee at this point and that's a nice feeling for a concert-goer. You can attend a show and know that you're going to hear the hits. It's a winning formula for bands to stay relevant and attract fans to come back to future shows. I know it works for me as I'll definitely see Train again for their summer tour.

CONCERT RATING: 3.5 Stars



SETLIST:
1. Cadillac, Cadillac
2. 50 Ways to Say Goodbye
3. If It's Love
4. Meet Virginia
5. Bulletproof Picasso
6. When I Look to the Sky (sans microphones)
7. Calling All Angels
8. Save Me, San Francisco
9. Shake Up Christmas
10. Bruises
11. Angel in Blue Jeans
12. Hey, Soul Sister
13. Drive By

Encore:
14. Drops of Jupiter
15. Dream On (Aerosmith Cover)

Festival Review: 97x Next Big Thing

Without a doubt, one of my favorite days of the year is the 97x ‘Next Big Thing.’ Over the years, it has introduced me to some of my favorite artists. From Young the Giant and Cage the Elephant in 2011, to Grouplove, Twenty One Pilots and Of Monsters and Men in 2012, it’s always a respectable lineup. This year was no exception, as 97x put together a show heavy on bands that get regular traction on their voter based station.

Opening up the day were three relatively young bands that all have a successful single on their resume. Young Rising Sons started the show, finishing with their hit – “High.” They were followed up by alt-rockers, Bear Hands, who I believe have the most backing material of the early bands. They entertained the crowd with catchy song after song. The same cannot be said about Big Data, who followed Bear Hands and had the lowest sound quality of any band on the day. Even overplayed radio single “Dangerous” sounded flat and unimpressive live. This was one negative mark on an otherwise positive day.

The real ‘must see’ part of the festival started at 3:15 when J Roddy Walston and the Business took the stage. This was my second time seeing J Roddy, with the first being in the springtime when they won GasparillaMusic Fest. Following a similar theme to that show, J Roddy let it be known early that they were going to use their set time to play some old fashioned rock n’ roll music. The essential tracks of their performance included “Take It as it Comes,” “Don’t Break the Needle” and 97x favorite – “Heavy Bells.”   

The pounding piano style of J Roddy would have been the best set of the day, if not for punk rockers New Politics who immediately followed them. Now I just reviewed the New Politics Irving Plaza show last week, so their performance was fresh in my mind. As you can read here, the small club gig for New Politics was great, but they made it well known at NBT that they are a festival band!

The trio from Denmark played a shortened version of their NYC show but they sure did not shorten their energy. Front man David Boyd thrived off the crowd, playing all the bands most well-known material. They also threw in the same Beastie Boys cover of “Sabotage” and the opening to Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which only fueled the alternative rock based crowd. The set highlight for me was “Fall Into These Arms,” where Boyd departed the stage and sang with the fans.

The pair of J Roddy Walston and New Politics were so strong, that it would have been difficult for anyone to follow up those sets. It was not surprising that Dirty Heads seemed way too laid back and non-energetic after performances like those. It’s unfortunate they played after and have such a different musical style.

Even Alt-J, who was making a rare Florida appearance, could not seem to measure up. I’ll admit this was the band I was most excited to see, since I had never before seen the British indie rock band live. They had a solid setlist combining material from both of the bands albums, and they were definitely unique to watch. My recommendation though is that they would have been much better in a club rather than massive Vinoy Park.

Closing out the day for us was a very familiar band in Young the Giant. These guys are no strangers to Tampa, and after seeing them play shows at Jannus, Hammerstein in NYC, and a Lolla Aftershow this year alone, we knew what to expect. The predictable setlist was still fun though as Sameer Gadhia led the band and the crowd through hits both off the debut album and 2014’s Mind Over Matter. If there’s one thing these guys are, it’s consistent, satisfying the fans and always ending with rock favorite – “My Body.”

The headliner for Next Big Thing was Fall Out Boy, but sorry readers, that’s not really my style. My group opted to get a head start on the downtown St. Pete bars after a long day in the park. Despite skipping the ‘headliner’ though, it was still another great year for NBT. Once again, my props go to New Politics for winning the day, and I hope to see them return to Tampa soon. And as always, credit to 97x – the GREATEST radio station in the world. Can’t wait for next year!      

CONCERT REVIEW: Benjamin Booker, Live from Hogan's Beach

It did not take long for rocker Benjamin Booker to return to Tampa for a hometown show. Following up his opening performance at Coral Skies Music Fest, just one month prior, Booker announced a show at Hogan's Beach. It was sponsored by 97x and named the official 'NBT Pre-Party.' 

Booker and his two backing members took to the beach stage just after 10pm and played about an hours worth of songs from his self titled debut album. (which was recently named #37 on 'Rolling Stone's 50 Best Album's of 2014' list)

Majority of the songs were very rock heavy, with Booker spending almost equal time between singing verses and shredding on guitar. He also dismissed the guitar for a few tunes and was accompanied by a violin and mandolin to play some songs with a more bluegrass feel. The 25 year old sings with much passion as he anxiously stomped and pulled at his shirt while belting out the words.

While Booker has a signature raspy voice, one negative I took out of the performance is that it's very difficult to understand him. Each word of the songs seem to run into the next, and it's tough to decipher one from another. This could have also been caused by Booker's on stage antics, as he appeared to be a bit 'out-of-it.'

The set ended with a lengthy jam session, followed by Booker quickly departing the stage and mysteriously exiting through the parking lot. The audience was appreciative of the performance but definitely confused with some of Booker's mannerisms.

The guy definitely has talent though and should continue to get more popular once his album catches on. His lead single, "Violent Shiver" is starting to get radio play and should lead to another strong year for this young guitarist. Booker has shows scheduled in Australia, Japan and the UK next spring before returning back to the States in March.

CONCERT RATING: 2 Stars  

CONCERT REVIEW: New Politics Live from Irving Plaza

While traveling up to New England for Thanksgiving a few weeks back, I found myself in NYC for a few nights. After the success of New York concerts this year, (Arcade Fire, GovBall and Band of Horses just to name a few...) it seemed foolish to not see a show while in town. So after doing some research, I ended up at Irving Plaza to see New Politics.

This was the second US headlining tour for New Politics, and this time they were accompanied by fellow alt-rockers Bad Suns and Somekindawonderful. I had seen Bad Suns before at the 97x BBQ in the springtime, and they performed a similar set. They're a band increasing in popularity and should go out on a headlining tour soon.

Somekindawonderful started the show, and in my opinion, was the least impressive of the night. They're lead single is called "Reverse" but the live version did not seem as captivating as the strong radio single.

It was about 9:30pm when New Politics took the stage. The band is a trio from Copenhagen, Denmark. Lead singer David Boyd really only provides the vocals. You then have drummer Louis Vecchio and bass player / piano player and occasional singer - Soren Hansen. I couldn't help not immediately thinking of twenty one pilots as the members took similar positions and provided much more sound than instruments seen on stage.

New Politics have released two albums and majority of the songs on the night were from their sophomore LP - A Bad Girl in Harlem. After hearing songs from this album performed live, it has quickly become one of my favorites of the year. Tunes like "Berlin," "Give Me Hope," "Goodnight Copenhagen" and "Everywhere I Go" get everyone in the crowd singing and jumping.

Even if you did not know many songs, this trio was still thrilling to see live. Boyd not only sang, but went into the crowd and displayed some impressive acrobatics with his breakdancing and hand-stand abilities. The group also added in some familiarity with a cover of Beastie Boy's "Sabotage," as well a snippets of other covers including Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

The rowdiest section of the show came at the end, as New Politics ended with debut single "Yeah Yeah Yeah." They then encored with personal favorite "Fall Into These Arms," and appropriately titled - "Harlem" to close out the NYC show.

 Overall, this was a classic punk rock show that absolutely killed it. I found myself jumping and singing along more than I ever expected going into the concert. It was a pleasant surprise and I'll absolutely be looking to see these guys on their next headlining tour. I love concert surprises like this. Great job New Politics!

CONCERT RATING: 3.5 Stars

SETLIST: 

1. Tonight You're Perfect

2. Berlin

3. Die for You

4. Give Me Hope

5. My Love

6. Loyalties Among Thieves

7. Die Together

8. Sabotage (Beastie Boys Cover) 

9. Dignity

10. Overcome 

11. Goodnight Copenhagen 

12. Just Like Me

13. Stuck On You

14. Everywhere I Go (Kings and Queens)

15. Yeah Yeah Yeah

Encore: 

16. Fall Into These Arms

17. Harlem

FESTIVAL REVIEW: Cage the Elephant at Coral Skies Fest

After the somewhat success of Big Guava Fest this past spring, Live Nation put together another festival at the Amphitheater. Coral Skies Fest featured two stages and a dozen bands in the alternative-indie rock genre. You also had food trucks and beer gardens to help build up the fairgrounds aesthetics A decent lineup made for a nice Saturday in Tampa.

Opening the day up on the main stage was Tampa native Benjamin Booker. The young guitarist commented on growing up just 8 miles away from the Amphitheater stage, before jumping into a rock heavy 30 minute set. Booker is increasing in popularity, partially due to his opening gig for a number of Jack White shows this summer. You can definitely tell White had some influence on the 24 year old, but he also reminded me a bit of the Jake Bugg show I saw earlier this year. The arrangement was similar as Booker took center stage in a trio. Check out "Violent Shiver" to get a feel for the style.

The bands following Booker were all average performances for the most part. I was neither overly impressed nor bored with Wild Cub, Bombay Bicycle Club, Tokyo Police Club and Bleachers. All the groups have familiar songs though, so it led to a decent afternoon of music.

After a quick dinner break at the Winghouse conveniently located across the street from the venue, I was back for the main acts. After seeing the Strokes at GovBall this spring, I was intrigued by the idea of Julian Casablancas set with his new band. Let this be clear: they are not similar to the Strokes! Jules and his new group, The Voidz, were NOT good in my opinion. They sounded like the background music you would hear while watching a horror movie, and despite the chants, it was easy to tell that Casablancas clearly did not want to play any Strokes material.

The strange vibe set by The Voidz quickly turned positive as headliner Cage the Elephant took the stage. Guitarist Brad Shultz walked up to the main microphone and yelled at the crowd immediately to move up to any empty seats they saw and get as close to the stage as possible. He was followed by younger brother and lead singer Matt, who didn't say anything before jumping into opener "Spiderhead."

I've written about Shultz before, mainly during Lollapalooza when Cage delivered one of the best sets of the weekend. The frontman is absolutely unpredictable on stage. During the Coral Skies performance, he did some stage diving, crowd surfing, and for lack of a better term, crowd-jumping/walking. Shultz is the perfect example of a lead singer that makes the most of not playing an instrument.

Through the exciting stage antics, the 6 band members put together a great setlist. It was heavy on their most recent album - Melophobia, which I was not at all upset about. I believe the album is a bit more laid-back than the first two Cage albums, but is still upon one of my favorites for the year. Lead singles on it include "Take It or Leave It," "Cigarette Daydreams," and "Come a Little Closer."

The Bowling Green, Kentucky natives also mixed in some of their greatest hits throughout the set as well. In total, it was just a classic rock show. There was no backdrop or fancy screens. This was simply a performance where the band was the main attraction.

Cage the Elephant Concert Rating: 3.5 Stars



Setlist:

1. Spiderhead
2. In One Ear
3. Aberdeen
4. Take It or Leave It
5. Cigarette Daydreams
6. Ain't No Rest for the Wicked
7. It's Just Forever
8. Halo
9. Telescope
10. Bach Against the Wall
11. Teeth
12. Come a Little Closer

Encore:
13. Shake Me Down
14. Sabertooth Tiger

Concert Review: American Authors with The Mowgli's

Honda has done an excellent job with their 'Civic Tour' this season, combining exciting bands for 2 month stints across the country. I saw the 'Honda Civic Tour' featuring Portugal the Man and Grouplove back in September. This time was two younger bands - American Authors and The Mowgli's. The pair performed last month at Jannus Live in St. Pete.

I first heard of the Mowgli's from their excellent Lolla Aftershow back in 2013. They're a band that not only has catchy songs, but gives off a feel-good happy vibe. They constantly stress that the audience should go out and do whatever it is that makes them happy. This definitely reflects in their music and it's no surprise that majority of their tunes focus on the theme of love.

The Mowglis played some of their best songs off their superb 2013 debut, Waiting for the Dawn, including hit single "San Francisco." They also threw two brand new songs into the mix, giving hope that new material could be on the way soon. For anyone that's yet to hear a Mowgli's tune, my essential tracks include - "The Great Divide," "Clean Light," and "Time."

After a set break that seemed a bit longer than necessary, American Authors took the stage. Since seeing these guys and ranking them highly at Big Guava Fest earlier this year, they've only gotten bigger. They have a smash radio hit on their resume, and they've actually backed it up nicely with a decent debut album - Oh, What a Life.

Lead singer Zac Barnett started things off with "Home." This was the first of ten songs from their debut album throughout the night. The front man seems to have fully bought into the teenage rock sensation role, as he went into the crowd and picked out girls individually in the crowd to sing to throughout different parts of the show.

The group did a nice job of keeping fans entertained that may have only known "Best Day of My Life." They threw in covers of both Coldplay's "Yellow," (an all time favorite) and current radio hit Sam Smith's "Stay With Me."

It's been a huge year for American Authors and their performance only indicated that they would continue to build. The band is playing a handful of holiday shows to close out the year.

CONCERT RATING: 2.5 Stars



American Authors Setlist:

1. Home
2. Heart of Stone
3. Believer
4. Luck
5. Ghost
6. Trouble
7. Yellow (Coldplay Cover)
8. Think About It
9. Nothing Better Than You
10. Love
11. Stay With Me (Sam Smith Cover)
12. Hit It!
13. Best Day of My Life

Encore:
14. Keep Me Dreaming
15. Oh, What a Life



Mowgli's Concert Rating: 3 Stars

Mowgli's Setlist:

1. Emily
2. The Great Divide
3. Whatever Forever
4. Kids in Love
5. Love is Easy
6. Summertime
7. Make It Right
8. Say It, Just Say It
9. San Francisco

 

Concert Review: Fun Capital Cities Show at the Ritz

Indie pop duo Capital Cities broke into the top 40 radio scene in 2012 with their smash hit "Safe and Sound." Since it's release, the group has been riding the coat tails of the singles success, as well as it's backing album - In a Tidal Wave of Mystery. The California group became a regular at festivals and have toured extensively for the past two years. I caught my first Capital Cities show this past month at the Ritz Theater in Ybor.

Capital Cities haven't released new material since their 2013 debut, and the initial signs may be beginning to show. My initial reaction upon entering the venue was a negative one in regards to the crowd. The Ritz holds 1,100 spectators, and on this night the club did not appear to be half full.

However, the fans in attendance were still plenty excited when Capital Cities were set to take the stage. Their set followed a slightly corny Xbox commercial and an opening performance by the Night Terrors of 1927. (Look for their first single, "When You Were Mine," to start hitting radio waves soon.)

The Capital Cities duo is comprised of Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian. Right away, they displayed this would not be a show where the crowd would stand quietly. The high energy opening tunes had everyone jumping and dancing. During their first tune, "Tell Me How to Live," the pair even showed the audience how to do the 'Capital Cities Shuffle.' (A simple few steps to the left, few steps to the right, and then a spin.)

Merchant and Simonian definitely kept the show entertaining for those who may not know more than just their big hit. Their second single "Kangaroo Court" flowed perfectly into a familiar cover of the Bee Gee's "Stayin' Alive" that had everyone grooving.

Another huge factor towards the entertainment level of the show was the trumpet player Spencer Merwin. I saw Merwin first perform with Foster the People at their Governors Ball set and he was just as impressive on this night. The trumpeter is the backing rhythm behind the albums success and he has the ability to take control of the room with his rousing solos.


One observation I made during the set was how the pair always sing simultaneously. There was never a moment when either Merchant or Simonian took a verse or even a line to sing solo. They sang each part of every song together, combining their voices into one solid performance.

The obvious set closer was "Safe and Sound," erupting the crowd into a huge dance party. The song even prompted the crowd to start the encore chant, which eventually led to a second performance of the big hit single. Merchant even jumped down into the crowd this time to dance with some fans.

Overall impressions - Capital Cities is a fun band riding the success of a fun debut album. They remind me of a more pop friendly Broken Bells and they definitely have the ability to get the crowd jumping at their shows. I'll see them when they come back to Tampa.

Concert Rating: 3 Stars




SETLIST:

1. Tell Me How to Live 
2. Chartreuse 
3. Origami 
4. Center stage (/do you remember the time-Michael Jackson) 
5. Kangaroo Court 
6. Stayin' Alive 
   (Bee Gees cover)
7. Love Away 
8. Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast 
9. Lazy Lies 
10. I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo 
11. One Minute More 
12. Safe and Sound 
13. Encore:
13. Farrah Fawcett Hair 
14. Nothing Compares 2 U 
    (The Family cover)
15. Holiday 
    (Madonna cover)
16. Safe and Sound (Cash Cash Remix) 

Edward Sharpe Takes a Big Step Backward

Headlining the Sunday slot at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday this year was Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero's. This indie band is comprised of wacky frontman Alex Ebert and a backing band of up to 13 members at times. They're responsible for two of the best concerts I saw in 2013, including a great opening set to Mumford's 'Gentlemen of the Road' St. Augustine Stopover.

After building up a great reputation for live shows last year, the group made an unfortunate decision earlier in 2014. One of the best things about Edward Sharpe is the work of singer and instrumentalist Jade Castrinos. Jade was disappointingly asked to leave the band in the spring, taking away a key piece of the band. The resulting product without Jade produced a somewhat depressing show for the Clearwater crowd.

After opening up with their hit "40 Day Dream," the band seemed confused. Rather than having a concrete setlist, Ebert simply asked the crowd what they wanted to hear next. He would listen to the requests, pick one of the titles out, and ask the rest of the band if they were ok playing it. Now this may sound great (Springsteen displayed a similar technique by picking out songs off signs in his May show) but the the presentation wasn't great. The vibe seemed that the band didn't really care what they were playing, and they just wanted to get through the show.

Over the next two hours, (well over their allotted time limit) the band combined these crowd requests with a few tunes that Ebert suggested on the spot. They did do a good job of playing the most popular songs, but it was nowhere near the energy of the two shows in 2013.

One of the reasons for this was simply the venue. Rather than a uniting general admission crowd like Jannus, the venue of Coachman Park was entirely different. Most of the intense fans were in the GA section, but that was located on the lawn behind multiple VIP sections of seating. The guests in VIP did not seem interested in singing or dancing, even when Ebert himself came into the crowd to dance from chair to chair.

I think the best way to sum up the show was general discomfort. There was no moment more awkward than when the band inevitably had to play their most popular song, "Home." This was a crown jewel of the indie rock scene for years, topping playlists with a catchy chorus and conversational versus between Ebert and Castrinos. The problem with that is it becomes exceptionally difficult to perform live when you take away the female singer. Alex had the crowd try to sing Jade's parts, giving off an unprofessional and cheap feeling. I think the band would be better off just putting their biggest hit on hold until Jade returns to the band.

I have to try to make some positive comments before this review is over. I will admit that the group played most of the songs I was hoping to hear. My essential Edward Sharpe tunes for newbies are "Janglin," "I Don't Wanna Pray," and "Life is Hard." I'll also give credit to the band as a whole, since they did show off to be excellent musicians.

In total though, it was an awkward and disappointing night. Unless Jade returns to the band or Ebert improves on being a sole frontman, I will not be seeing the Zero's on their next tour. These guys have great music, but their live performance this night was lousy. I hate writing negative reviews, but this one is deserved.

Concert Rating: 2 Stars

Jack White Rocks Columbia

Back in June I attended Governors Ball Music Festival and had the opportunity to see many great acts. On the top of the power rankings that weekend was Jack White. White delivered an epic show spanning his entire career. (FULL Review Here) It was a memorable night in NYC.

Almost entirely opposite of seeing a rock legend headline a festival for 40,000+ fans was the experience I had last month in Columbia, SC. While in Augusta, GA for work, I traveled over to the South Carolina capital to see White play the Township Auditorium for a sold out crowd of 2,500. Although the capacity was far different, the ferocity and performance by White stayed the same.

The Nashville, TN resident played for over 2 hours and gave the audience exactly what they wanted, delivering 21 songs while sampling from every act he’s had his hand in. (Enter: The White Stripes, Dead Weather and the Raconteurs) In total, he entertained the audience through 13 covers.

While the history behind Jack is excellent, my favorite tunes of the night came from the 8 remaining songs that are considered his ‘solo career.’ White has released two solo albums – 2008’s Blunderbuss and the excellent – Lazaretto, released just earlier this year.

As the curtain opened to start the show, White appeared center stage, raising his hands to encourage the crowd to start screaming with him for opening tune “High Ball Stepper.” This was just one of five songs from the most recent album that would appear in the first set. The essential tracks included “Just One Drink” and “Three Women.”

In traditional rock star form, White kept his first set short in order to set up an epic 12-song encore. The hits seemed to flow one after the next with “Fell in Love with a Girl” and “Steady, As She Goes” to begin. The energy was high and White showed off his musical talent, spending time on both the guitar and piano.

White made quick work and did not speak too much during the night. While known for going off on rants at shows from time to time, the opinionated rocker kept quiet. He did mention prior to his final song that he had not played this venue before, but claimed he wants to come back now after the success of the show.

The appropriate closer was “Seven Nation Army,” capping off a great set. White acknowledged the audience as the blue light that illuminated the stage all night finally dimmed. While White is great as a festival headliner, seeing him in a small venue with an up close and personal feel is a true treat. I'm giving this the slight advantage over the GovBall show. 

CONCERT RATING: 4 Stars

SETLIST:

1. High Ball Stepper 
2. Lazaretto 
3. Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground 
   (The White Stripes song)
4. Temporary Ground 
5. Just One Drink 
6. Cannon / Little Room 
   (The White Stripes song)
7. Misirlou 
   (Dick Dale cover)
8. Three Women 
9. Apple Blossom 
   (The White Stripes song)
10. Blunderbuss 
11. Encore:
11. Fell in Love With a Girl 
    (The White Stripes song)
12. Steady, As She Goes 
    (The Raconteurs song)
13. Old Enough 
    (The Raconteurs song) (First verse and chorus only.)
14. I Cut Like a Buffalo 
    (The Dead Weather song)
15. Missing Pieces 
16. We're Going to Be Friends 
    (The White Stripes song)
17. You've Got Her in Your Pocket 
    (The White Stripes song)
18. Icky Thump 
    (The White Stripes song)
19. I'm Slowly Turning Into You 
    (The White Stripes song)
20. Would You Fight for My Love? 
21. Seven Nation Army 
    (The White Stripes song)