CONCERT REVIEW: Shovels and Rope at State Theatre

Folk duo Shovels and Rope made their annual trip to Florida last week, stopping by St. Pete for a show at the State Theatre. The husband - wife pair are on a winter tour in support of their second album - Swimmin Time. I had previously only seen a quick set from these guys while they were opening up for Dawes, and was happy to be able to catch a full performance.

Opening up for them was solo artist Caroline Rose. The young singer / guitar player seemed to fit the folk-rock vibe and was very thankful for the opportunity to play the gig. Her final song "I Will Not Be Afraid" was excellent and could spark a small headlining tour in her future.

It wasn't long after the opener when Cary Ann Hearst and husband Michael Trent took the stage. Trent originally took position with an acoustic guitar on the center mark while Hearst sat and played piano with one hand while controlling a scaled down drum kit with the other. However, this was by no means a constant for the night. I lost track of how many times the pair switched places and instruments throughout the night. They are clearly very talented instrumentalists.

The beginning of the set was pleasantly heavy on more of the bands better known songs. After opening up with "Keeper," the duo played a strand of tunes with no breaks, including two of the strongest tracks off the new record with "Bridge on Fire" and "The Devil is All Around."

The later of those tunes best shows off the incredible vocals of Hearst. While the pair mainly harmonize together on all songs, this is one where the female excels with propelling her voice past the appropriate background vocals of Trent. She really had the ability to captivate the room.

As the couple got more into the set, they took time to acknowledge the larger than expected audience for their first trip to St. Pete. The State Theatre has a capacity of 700, and the crowd expanded across the floor and up into the rarely used balcony. Both Hearst and Trent repeatedly thanked fans, and spoke proudly about expanded their reach as a band from their South Carolina origins.

The second half of the show was much of the same, with the bands two most popular songs coming at the close of the set - debut self titled track "O' Be Joyful" and lead single "Birmingham." The crowd cheered on as the pair played a quick encore after departing the stage briefly.

Overall, it was a very strong show, especially for just two musicians being in the band. One recommendation I would make though is that the show was a bit long. I would estimate the group played close to, if not more than 20 songs, and I could tell towards the end that the crowd was getting a bit restless. So shorten the setlist a bit and keep the audience wanting more!

But good show for any folk / Americana fan.

Concert Rating: 2.5 Stars

Bleachers and Misterwives Close Out Concert Season 2014

With the exception of Young the Giant, there was no band I saw more often in 2014 than Bleachers. Their free show at Jannus last month marked the 4th time I caught Jack Antonoff's new group on their first year of touring. This followed up seeing their sets at GovBall, Lolla, and Coral Skies throughout the summer and fall. I didn't necessarily feel the need to see Bleachers again, but the free show was tempting and I was very curious to see opening band Misterwives.

Overall, I was very happy that I attended. Misterwives starting the show was absolutely fantastic. I first heard of this group back in June, and their popularity has since catapulted. Their first single "Reflections" recently spent something like 15 days on top of the 97x "8 at 8," which is actually a current record. They also have announced plans to release their first full length album this upcoming February.

The group itself is comprised of 5 members and is based out of NYC. Their energetic lead singer is a female by the name of Mandy Lee. Lee is the catalyst for the band, belting out the vocals and actively patrolling the stage. She spent the entire night jumping, acknowledging the fans and showing off some dance moves that were not up to her own standards. Her voice was excellent and it doesn't hurt that she happens to be quite attractive.

But enough about the singer, since the backing band deserves just as much praise. The indie pop band featured a solid rhythm section and a superb brass section that showed off multiple saxophone and trumpet solos throughout the performance. The group provides a solid base for Lee to compliment. It works well both on the bands first EP, as well as their live show. For first time listeners of Misterwives, check out "Twisted Tongue" and "Coffins."

Misterwives got the crowd warmed up nicely for Bleachers, who were quite the busy band in 2014. They released their debut album - Strange Desire, over the summer, and have toured extensively to support it. They've hit the big festivals and have also played some small gigs along the way, including a stint with Misterwives opening up for them.

All the touring experience has definitely worked in their favor, at Bleachers put together the strongest of any show of theirs I've seen this year. Jack Antonoff was his usual self, encouraging the crowd to get into it, and showing off some solid guitar skills. I find myself more and more surprised with how good Antonoff is at guitar each time I see him. He leads a musical group comprised of two drummers, and another talented brass section, that at times even rivaled the electric instruments.

Bleachers showed off Strange Desire well, playing the album almost in its entirety. The opening to the show featured strong tracks "Wild Heart," "Shadow," and "Like A River Runs" to get the crowd jumping. They also mixed in a familiar cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way," before moving into current single "Rollercoaster."

On set closer, "You're Still a Mystery," Antonoff took some time introducing the band and giving everyone some jam time. He spoke briefly about their year on the road, which must have taken a toll on him. Jack said how this was their first time playing in Tampa, even though they were in the Bay area just about two months prior. Some of the other band members were shaking their heads in the background but nobody dare stop Jack's thunder.

The expected finale to their encore was "I Wanna Get Better," leaving the crowd quite satisfied. For being a free show at Jannus on a Monday night, both bands certainly made it worth it for everyone that came out. Bleachers are keeping their foot on the petal, touring this spring including a stop in St. Pete in late March. Misterwives will be back too! They're playing Coastline Festival on February 20th, right before releasing their debut album on the 24th.

Misterwives Concert Rating: 3 Stars

Bleachers Concert Rating: 3 Stars

The Top 10 Albums of 2014

As 2014 has come to a close, it's only appropriate that I name my favorite albums of the year. Now my rules for this list are as follows: the album does not have to have been released in the 2014 calendar year. As you will see, this list contains some albums that were technically released in 2013. However, I am including them if this was the year (2014) where they got BIG. That way, this list can be a true account of the albums that dominated the the past 365 days.

There's lots of great albums here, and even more that just missed the cut. It's gonna be tough to top in 2015. Hope you enjoy.

10. Foo Fighters – Something from Nothing

            This album definitely has the coolest story behind it out of any on this list. Foo’s front man Dave Grohl wanted to do something different for the bands 8^th studio album. So he took the group out on a cross-country adventure, recording each of the eight tracks in a different city rich in musical history. Grohl even waited until arriving in each location to write the lyrics for each tune, referencing how he wanted the vibe and back-story of that city to inspire him. This process was well documented on the HBO Series – Sonic Highways.

            The end result is a solid LP, even for Foo Fighters standards. Singles “Something from Nothing,” “What Did I Do? / God As My Witness” and “Outside” lead listeners through the album. My only complaint is that at just 8 songs, it seems a bit rushed. However, it is enough to lay down a solid foundation for what is sure to be a HUGE 2015 for the Foo Fighters.

9. Black Keys – Turn Blue

            Following up their massive 2012 album – El Camino, the Black Keys seemed to return to their roots a bit for their 2014 LP. Turn Blue doesn’t quite have the ferocious radio singles we’ve become accustomed to for this duo, but it finds a nice blues-rock sound for a pleasant easy-going record.

            The best song to summarize the album is slow-burning opener – “Weight of Love.” You can tell right away that the musical aspect of the album takes center stage, as Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney create a two minute instrumental beginning that entices the listener. It's an incredible invitation to start Turn Blue. 

8. Bastille – Bad Blood

            In my opinion, Bastille had one of the top ten albums of 2014 and is my pick for ‘Rookie of the Year.’ There’s no denying that “Pompeii” was one of the largest singles of the spring, and the backing debut album behind it is just as good. Other essential tracks include “Flaws” and “Laughter Lines.”

            The British group took a bit longer to catch on in the US but they have since made up for it – headlining festivals and going on their first arena tour this past fall. The album overall reminds me most of Imagine Dragon’s Night Visions from two years ago and the rise in popularity of the two bands has been similar.

Full review of Bad Blood here: ALBUM REVIEW. 

7. Fitz and the Tantrums – More than Just a Dream

            No album grew on me more throughout the year than the second LP released from Fitz and the Tantrums. Everyone by now has heard the hit radio singles from it – “Out of My League,” “The Walker,” and “Fool’s Gold.” These tracks lay down the foundation of an outstanding modern day pop-soul album.

            Michael Fitzpatrick and Noelle Scaggs work tremendously well on this album, complimenting each other’s voices perfectly as two co-lead singers. Fitz has a very soulful voice while Scaggs is absolutely electric, both on the record and live. Not only is this a great album, but Fitz puts on one of the best live shows you'll see all year. 

6. The Orwells – Disgraceland

            I first heard of The Orwells following their rousing performance on David Letterman where even Letterman himself started demanding for an encore. (Video here) The group is full of Chicago kids around the age of 20 that have been playing together since their 7^th grade. It’s essentially a high school garage band that has broken out and is one of the most promising young bands in rock n’ roll.

            Disgraceland is actually the follow up to debut album Remember When. It benefits from actually being recorded in a professional studio, as opposed to their first album, and is full of youth themed songs. Lead singer Mario Cuomo sounds like Jim Morrison and he already has the stage presence of a quintessential rock star. Essential tracks on the album include – “Bathroom Tile Blues,” “The Righteous One,” and the terrifying “Blood Bubbles.”

5. Cage the Elephant – Melophobia

            One of the best concert experiences of the year was catching Cage the Elephant’s set at Lollapalooza. For one, you had entertaining front man Matt Schultz stage diving and rolling around in the mud on the stormy Sunday afternoon. But it also exposed me to the newest material from Cage, their third album entitled Melophobia.

            After much listen, this has evolved into my favorite of all Cage’s material. You have a classic Cage opener in “Spiderhead” to start the album, a few catchy radio singles with “Come a Little Closer” and “Take It or Leave It,” as well as some slowed down acoustic tunes in “Telescope” and “Cigarette Daydreams.” It’s a weird but magical album. I’m surprised these guys aren’t more popular.

4. Arcade Fire - Reflektor

            Arcade Fire released one my favorite albums of all time in 2004 with their debut - Funeral. Since then, I have had sky high expectations for them. They somehow though have never let me down. Reflektor is the bands fourth release and first since Grammy winning The Suburbs. As is typical for Arcade Fire, it's full of indie rock anthems and long creative songs.

            The album is actually broken down into two discs. The first contains seven minute opener "Reflektor," groovy "We Exist," and rowdy "Joan of Arc." The second disc is much darker, centered on the theme of life, death and the afterlife. Though the songs may be centered on somber subjects, Arcade Fire excel in creating great rhythms. Each tune keeps things moving, and with almost all being over five minutes in length, Win Butler and company have plenty of time to stretch their creative genius.

3. Jack White - Lazaretto

            The man behind the top selling vinyl of the year is no other than Jack White. White released his second solo album this year and it's just as good as his debut - Blunderbuss. Jack is in usual form on the album, shredding on guitar, most easily seen in the no-lyrics needed "High Ball Stepper" and title track "Lazaretto."  

            White also shows off his musical ability by spending some time on the piano in this album. Those skills are best displayed on opener "Three Women" and bouncy "Alone in My Home." My favorite part of the album is the middle section containing "Just One Drink," "Temporary Ground" and "Entitlement." Those songs seem to break up the standard blues-rock sound with some more laid back charmers. Overall, just a very diverse and enjoyable album. 

2. Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City

            I was late to jump on the Modern Vampires of the City bandwagon. I didn't discover the album until early in the springtime, in preparation for Vampire Weekend's set at Big Guava Fest. I had high expectation after all the praise I heard of this album prior to listening. Luckily, those expectations were met and exceeded.

            This third album release by Vampire Weekend is a true alternative album, combining many different musical styles. My personal favorite song is old-fashioned feel "Step" in the middle of the album. There's great support with "Diane Young," "Everlasting Arms," "Ya Hey," and lead single "Unbelievers." One of my other favorite things about this album is the excellent flow from one song to the next.

Read the full review here: ALBUM REVIEW

1. Arctic Monkeys – AM

          

 

            In 2013, Alex Turner and company spent their summer touring with fellow rockers - The Black Keys. Following that tour, the boys from Sheffield went back into the studio and put together the smoothest and cleanest album of their five-record discography.

            The theme of AM seems to be Turner singing to a former lover with so much uncertainty and struggle, that each line comes off especially captivating. Whether it's questioning if feelings are mutual in "Do I Wanna Know?" to asking 'Are you mine tomorrow or just mine tonight?' in "R U Mine." The storytelling and visuals created by Turner are just exceptional, best displayed in strong tracks - "Knee Socks" and "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" 

            In addition to strong lyrics, Turner also displays excellent vocals with an exceptionally pristine voice. This overlays the bashing drums, smooth guitar riffs, falsetto harmonies and haunting attitude of the album so perfectly. This one would have been difficult to beat in any year.