They suffer from a lack of originality and a severe shortage of focus. Let’s start with the name:

The name was already taken – but that doesn’t seem to bother the Suns. (Actually the original band I am talking about was The Suns – this band is simply Suns – but you get my drift.) Most people probably forgot about the late 80’s hip hop group anyway, but this inability to be original is symptomatic of the 21st century Suns and what they do.

The music – which vacillates between The Fray-lite and unfocused Coldplay – is as uninspired as you are likely to hear. The production values rival that of the worst reel-to-reel mix down I can remember hearing.

Vocals get lost at best. The drums – which are well played – seem to be the driving force – although not in the traditional sense. There is an orchestral groove to much of the drum playing and that is often the only individual instrument that can be picked out of the wishy-washy mess of music.

So the name has already been used. The band sounds like cheap versions of bands we already know. Then we get to the names of the discs. “The Howl and the Many” is the name of an unsigned suburban Chicago band from a number of years back. The other disc “Close Calls in the U.S. Space Program” seems to have no grounding in anything that I can figure out.

I was also dismayed that they released two EPs. This is kind of disrespectful to the family member who will buying the discs. I understand there is a free download, but there is still no apparent reason to make someone go through the process twice. (Also for those uninformed – you have to pay for the downloads on other sites.)

Perhaps some time with the help of a producer who can clean up the sound and reduce the white noise count – and with an identity counselor – this band could do become compelling. Right now – they seem to be caught in an eclipse.

Atlanta’s latest export – The Constellations – are bringing their southern style – and their “Southern Gothic” to a town near you this summer. Their touring plans have them criss- crossing the country spreading joy and music with reckless abandon.

I caught up with lead singer Elijah Jones recently between stops to get a handle on the band that has evolved and solidified into a tight touring unit – a group so tight they can recreate much the intricately nuanced “Southern Gothic” live on stage.

“We are touring with eight members which allows us to recreate a lot of the album,” Jones said.“Still some of the songs have to be reinterpreted.”

“When we recorded the album, we were worried about recreating it live,” Jones said. “Eventually we learned that if the song was good – it doesn’t matter how you present it.  If it truly is a good song – you can play it any way you feel comfortable with and it will be enjoyed by the audience.”

The Constellations – by all accounts – got their name because of the stars that orbited this humble project in the early days – stars that  illuminated it and blended their special talents into the mix. Over the last year the eclectic band has developed a solid more permanent line-up.

“We started this as sort of a side project – a studio project,” Jones said. “We want to push the boundaries of music and explore a variety of genres. This was the first band that let me push the envelope.”

“None of this was planned,” he said. “We just did what we felt. Everything came from the soul and became the heart of the band.”

The idea that having no musical road map or boundaries can be challenging for a band – music is basically a logical pursuit (it is – after all – pure mathematics) and having a vision to focus on makes it easier to adhere to a specific genre.

“Southern Gothic” adheres only to the quality of the music.

“The challenge is for the listener,” Jones said. “We just play what we feel is the most honest and true to ourselves.”

While Jones cherishes his time on the road, he has spoken of the longing to get back into the studio for a while.

“I am aching to get back in and record something,” he said. “I just want to get involved in a project. I just love to write music.”

Dirty rock:

The only real way to describe Atlanta-based band, The Constellations. Grinding bass lines, filthy guitar riffs and a pair of sexy background vocalists make me want some biscuits to go with the smoky eight-piece in front of me.

Lincoln Hall is one of my favorite venues, but they were a little off this Friday. The band packed its instruments on the stage: drums and bongos, keyboards, and plenty of electric guitars. After kicking out the early birds so the band could sound check, the venue still couldn’t cope with the posse’s large sound. Lead singer Elijah Jones could barely be heard when the entire band was in full force. Outside of the occasional “ba ba ba”, I heard maybe two full songs. His vocals are similar to the Gorillaz in the fact that it’s half-sung, half-spoken. The group’s music is more than enough to make-up for a lack of vocals. The crowd was digging every note the band put out there, and they were especially hungry for that cowbell.

Oh, and there were enough fog effects for eight B-rated horror films.

The group’s debut album, Southern Gothic, drops June 22nd. The band has described their sound as “a psychedelic soul-rock explosion” getting by with a little help from Cee-lo (of Gnarls Barkley), Asher Roth and Ben Allen, the producer of several hits like Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” and Christina Aguliera’s “Here To Stay”. They are currently on tour with the Oregon-based Hockey, before and after their stint at SXSW in March.

The ring leader’s parting words: “I don’t know about you, but I’m drinking a s— ton of whiskey.”

Pick up a free download and give a listen to The Constellation’s cover of Tom Waits’ “Step Right Up”. I dare you not to dance.

www.theconstellationsmusic.com
www.myspace.com/ConstellationsATL

Written by: Blake Russell

“In terms of the actual show it will still be a raucous high energy show. Everyone’s ready to give it their all.” – Joe Kwan, in my recent interview with The Avett Brothers.

Bursting onto the scene, The Avett Brothers did not disappoint their friends, family and fans that packed the three levels of the House of Blues. The show was sold out, but people were still asking for tickets in the line that spanned a full block just before the doors opened. The high energy show pumped-up the House of Blues crowd so much, the band could barely start their next song. Fans shouting out what song they hope will be played next, anxious and knowing their next song will be just as great as the next.

For some reason, there was a rediculous amount of heat at the venue which caused their instruments to lose their tuning between songs. Seth Avett performed a new song solo, just his guitar and voice, but had to stop to re-tune the guitar several times throughout the brief song. Brother Scott Avett broke so many banjo strings he literally did not play through a single song with just one banjo, oftentimes leaving the stage to switch from the backups they brought “just in case.” He broke the most banjos during the song “Kick Drum Heart”, probably breaking several world records for banjo breaking. The band recovered well, and I don’t think the audience cared too much. As long as they didn’t stop the show, we were more than okay dealing with a banjo change or three.

The Avett Brothers brought very folk values of family and honesty to the Chicago scene.

In my interview with band member Joe Kwan, he mentioned the folk group loved to come through the city of Chicago and not just for the food. little did we know, The Avett Brothers have a lot of family throughout the city and suburbs, and many were in attendance that night singing every word to every song from their most recent album I and love and You, which was released in September of 2009. Since it’s release it has peaked at #16 on the Billboard Top 200 and scored the #1 spot in folk albums. Seth and Scott Avett even brought a member of the family (cousin Gina) on stage to play drums for a song or two. She was sent off with some of the loudest applause for the entire night topped only by the applause before and after the encore performance we were treated to.

Their truly honest lyrics and values are more than present in their most recent albums from Emotionalism, released in 2007, and on.

Thankfully, the show was filled with songs from a wide range of their discography, spanning as far back as their 2003 record “A Carolina Jubilee” to their most recent, released late last year. I know that most bands want to premier their new works in the hopes that it will be the best material they have. However, The Avett Brothers revitalized their old work with new instruments and the energy of the Chicago scene to show off some of the older work they are still proud of. There really isn’t an album of theirs that is terrible. They are pretty folk-like, and some of their albums can cross a bit too far into country territory for me, but the band maintains its honesty in lyrics and the music is right where you want it to be. Each album gets a chance to express itself a little differently, drawing from real life experiences.

When The Avett Brothers tour through Chicago again, be sure not to miss it. Their sound is constantly evolving and their live shows are not to be missed!

www.theavettbrothers.com
myspace.com/theavettbrothers

Having never seen or heard Gomez before last Thursday night, I had no idea what was in store for me. With no expectations and an open mind, I attended the opening night of Gomez’s current tour in the States. Quite honestly, it felt pretty cool to be seeing Gomez live in concert for the first time while they were kicking off their tour in my hometown of Chicago. The fivesome hailing from Southport, England are promoting their latest album A New Tide, which was released almost a year ago on March 31, 2009. Three lead singers told me that Gomez is not your typical English indie rock band. There is nothing ordinary about a band whose members play multiple instruments in addition to having three out of five of the guys sharing lead vocal duties. Gomez earned my respect the second they walked out on stage and picked up their respective instruments. My admiration for Gomez and the group’s songs only grew as each song finished and a new one began. I am now a fan for life and will be at every Gomez show in Chicago from here on out.

More photos of Gomez after the jump…

Ian Ball (vocals, guitar)

Ben Ottewell (vocals, guitar)

Paul Blackburn (bass)

Tom Gray (vocals, guitar, keyboards)

Set List / Chicago

Revolutionary Kind

Hamoa Beach

If I Ask You Nicely

Mix

See The World

Meet Me In The City

78 Stone Wobble

Sweet Virginia

Pick Up The Pieces

Rhythm And Blues Alibi

Other Plans

Bring Your Lovin’ Back Here

Ruff Stuff

Ping One Down

Step Inside

Win Park Slope

Girlshapedlovedrug

Devil Will Ride

—————————-ENCORE—————————

Airstream Driver

How We Operate

Olly Peacock (drums)

Just to get it out of the way, I need to come clean with two random observations that I noticed. First off, singer/guitarist Ben Ottewell’s voice at times reminded me of former Barenaked Ladies lead singer Steven Page’s voice. Secondly, singer/guitarist/keyboardist Tom Gray physically appeared (to me, that is) to be a cross between Harry Potter, Elijah Wood, and Paul McCartney. Feel free to completely disagree with me on both points. Moments before launching into “Sweet Virginia,” Gray admitted to the crowd that the band was about to perform a song that they “haven’t played live in five years before tonight.” As Gray made the final adjustments to the placement of his guitar, he made the comment that it was the “perfect time for a waltz.” Indeed, “Sweet Virginia” is in fact, a waltz. “Are you ready Chicago?” asked singer/guitarist Ian Ball. And then Gomez began playing Sweet V as if they had played the song every night for the past five years.

Next up was “Pick Up The Pieces,” which had Gray stepping up to the edge of the stage and initiating the first of three clap alongs. “Bring Your Lovin’ Back Here” was the first composition included in Gomez’s set that I labeled as my favorite. If I had never gone to this Gomez show, one of the most catchiest tunes ever written would have never gotten the chance to reach my ears and become my new musical obsession. “Bring Your Lovin’ Back Here” was released back in October of 2000 on the Gomez record Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline. It took ten years for that particular song to be introduced to me. Songs affect my life in a way I can’t even begin to describe. It’s hard to explain and for some people to understand, but I feel as if my life would not be the same without BYLBH in it. That piece of music just makes every day living so much better to experience and get through.

Next up was “Ruff Stuff,” which became my second favorite song of the night. Not to say that I relate to the song, which contains the lyrics “Darling, I’ve given up fags and drugs now baby. Darling, I’ve had enough of the ruff stuff baby.” Can’t say I’ve ever taken any drugs (excluding medicine). A brief episode of smoking cigarettes lasted less than three months back in my early angst-ridden rebellious college years. But just like the addiction brought on from the use of drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes, the lyrics in “Ruff Stuff” paired with the melody the words are written to served as my new addiction. The way I look at it, is that it’s better to be addicted to songs and music than any of that body-harming ruff stuff. Wouldn’t you agree?

“Ping One Down” brought about the second of three clap alongs lead by Tom Gray. This time around, the clapping had a syncopated rhythm to it and the song later included a jam session breakdown showing off Ben Ottewell’s ridiculous electric guitar playing chops. Man, that guy can play! Note to those who don’t enjoy listening to or watching jam bands: “Ping One Down” may turn you off of Gomez’s music. Give their other songs a chance before you decide not to see Gomez live in concert again just because they got a little too “jammy” for your tastes. “I guess it’s time to play a song we’ve never played before. We wrote it a long time ago,” Gray said to introduce the next song “Step Inside.” Of course, the simple fact that Gomez had only played “Step Inside” during the recording of the song years ago had no effect on how well the guys performed it live last week in Chicago. To my aurally trained ears, Gomez performed “Step Inside” as if they had been playing it live every night of every tour since the beginning of the band’s career in the 1990s.

“Win Park Slope” gave Gray the opportunity to rock the shaker (as best as one can rock out on the shaker) while Ian Ball’s lead vocals were mixed with plenty of reverb and delay. “Girlshapedlovedrug” had Gray leading the audience in the third and final clap along of the evening. “Devil Will Ride” featured Gray on the vocoder, with him switching back and forth between singing into his regular microphone and his vocoder mic. Near the end of the song Gray brought the two microphones together and sang into both. In sum, Tom Gray is totally awesome. The kid plays every type of acoustic and electric guitar in existence, as well as the shaker, tambourine, keyboard, synthesizer, and piano. Oh yeah, and he can sing. Basically, I want to be him. Gomez started their encore with “Airstream Driver,” the group’s big hit from A New Tide and finished their set off with “How We Operate.” The sold out crowd was left with the final words “try to see things my way…i’ll try to see things your way.” A perfect way for humans to operate, indeed.

COLLABORATIVE ALBUM ONE FAST MOVE OR I’M GONE: KEROUAC’S BIG SUR OUT OCTOBER 20 ON F-STOP/ATLANTIC

One Fast Move or I’m Gone: Kerouac’s Big Sur, a new album featuring 12 original songs composed and performed by Jay Farrar of Son Volt and Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie–with lyrics based on the prose of Jack Kerouac’s landmark 1962 novel Big Sur–is set for an October 20 release on F-Stop/Atlantic Records along with a feature-length documentary of the same title in which both Gibbard and Farrar appear.

Gibbard and Farrar, having never previously met, discovered a mutual kinship in their passion for Kerouac’s work while recording several songs for the documentary, produced by Kerouac Films.

After the initial San Francisco recording session in July 2007, they decided to develop the project further to create an album using Kerouac’s own words from the book as the lyrics. Big Sur is an evocative account of a time in Jack’s life when he’d “come undone,” both emotionally and spiritually. He escapes to a cabin in Big Sur to confront his inner demons and find a modicum of peace by the sea.

Trailer after the jump…..

Gibbard stayed in the original cabin Kerouac wrote about, to compose songs for his band’s 2008 Grammy-nominated album, Narrow Stairs. For many years, Jay Farrar’s songwriting has been inspired and influenced by Kerouac’s compositional style.

Jim Sampas, (Badlands, Kerouac–kicks joy darkness) is executive producer of the album. The documentary, One Fast Move or I’m Gone: Kerouac’s Big Sur, is directed by Curt Worden and produced by Gloria Bailen and Jim Sampas of Kerouac Films. The film features appearances by writers, poets, actors and musicians including, Tom Waits, Patti Smith, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Sam Shepard. The album and film will be released on October 20, the day before the 40th anniversary of Kerouac’s death, as a stand alone CD, a CD/DVD package, a limited edition boxed set packaged with the novel, a 40-page book on the documentary and the CD/DVD. The album will additionally be released on vinyl.

Full track listing here:

1. California Zephyr
2. Low Life Kingdom
3. Willamine
4. All In One
5. Breathe Our Iodine
6. These Roads Don’t Move
7. Big Sur
8. One Fast Move Or I’m Gone
9. Final Horrors
10. Sea Engines
11. The Void
12. San Francisco

SEE JAY FARRAR & BENJAMIN GIBBARD LIVE!

10/22 – Largo at the Coronet – Los Angeles, CA
10/23 – El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
10/24 – Bimbo’s 365 Club – San Francisco, CA
10/26 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
10/27 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
10/28 – Webster Hall – New York, NY

Jay Farrar and Benjamin Gibbard will perform songs from their collaborative album One Fast Move Or I’m Gone: Kerouac’s Big Sur, along with other surprise material, at four concerts in October, underscoring the influential author’s enduring legacy 40 years after his death on October 21, 1969.

The band features Jay Farrar (Son Volt), Benjamin Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie, Postal Service), Nick Harmer (Death Cab for Cutie), Mark Spencer (Son Volt) and Jon Wurster (Superchunk, Bob Mould, The Mountain Goats).

Official Site: http://www.onefastmove.com/
Link here: https://kerouacmovie.hasawebstore.com/

Chris Martin (lead vocals, piano, rhythm guitar)

Words cannot explain the feeling of complete and utter happiness that I feel when I’m at a Coldplay concert. If you ever attend a Coldplay show with me, you will not be able to wipe the smile off of my face no matter how hard you try. A sense of euphoria rushes through me, almost as if the sensation I’m experiencing is a drug being pumped through my veins and spreading all throughout my body giving me a high like no other. Basically, I was feeling ecstatic without actually using the drug Ecstasy. Simply put, I LOVE Coldplay and their songs! After Green Day, Chris Martin and Co. are my favorite band without a doubt. Each member can play each other’s instruments and as a bonus, each member can sing! I love that during the band’s live shows, all four guys harmonize with lead singer and frontman Chris Martin. Singing backing vocals is just another part of playing in Coldplay for guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, and drummer Will Champion. For the song “Death Will Never Conquer,” Champion takes over lead vocal duties, giving Martin a brief break, and proves that some drummers really can carry a tune.

Jonny Buckland (lead guitar, vocals)

Opening with “Life In Technicolor,” fans couldn’t quite glimpse the band as the lights were still off, leaving the stage dark and the audience’s anticipation growing. “Life In Technicolor” is the instrumental track off of Coldplay’s latest studio album Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, which was released in June of 2008. It is the first song on the record and also happens to be the first song that kicks off Coldplay’s live set on their Viva La Vida Tour. During the band’s performance of their hit single “Yellow,” which brought the English foursome mainstream success, gigantic yellow balloons were dispersed from each side of the stage by tour crew members who chucked them out into the crowd to be thrown about like beach balls, much to every fan’s delight. Coldplay performed a medley of songs from a B stage positioned halfway between the lawn and the stage on the far right edge of the pavilion seats. Those four songs can be found below in the set list with (B) following their titles. Coldplay then returned to the main stage to perform their massive hit “Viva La Vida” and past single “Lost.” Once more, the guys were seen running up the far left side of pavilion seats to a C stage positioned in the center of the lawn directly behind the mix. The three songs performed in the lawn can be found below with a (C) following their names. The C stage set concluded with what was probably the best cover of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” that I have ever heard.

Guy Berryman (bass, vocals)

While the band ran back to the main stage from the lawn to launch into “Politik,” a remix of “Viva La Vida” kept the crowd singing along and desperately wanting more songs to be played. Confetti in the shape of multi-hued butterflies covered every single fan (me and my friend Vilmarie!) in the GA pit, as well as the majority of fans in the pavilion seats, during the second half of Coldplay’s newest single “Lovers In Japan.” Although “The Escapist” is not listed as an actual track included on Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, Coldplay ends their Viva La Vida Tour with this outro. If you have the album, you’ll recognize “The Escapist” from the last 2 minutes and 46 seconds of the closing track “Death And All His Friends.” I have seen Coldplay live in concert five times and this was by far the best show yet. You must make it a point to see the band play a show at least once during your lifetime. You will NOT be disappointed. And make sure to catch Coldplay on tour NOW to pick up your free physical copy of the band’s brand new live album LeftRightLeftRightLeft. I got mine, now go get yours!

Set List / Alpine Valley

Life In Technicolor

Violet Hill

Clocks

In My Place

Yellow

Glass Of Water

Cemeteries Of London

42

Fix You

Strawberry Swing

Talk (Dance Version) / God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (B)

The Hardest Part (B)

Postcards From Far Away (B)

Viva La Vida

Lost

Green Eyes (C)

Death Will Never Conquer (C)

Billie Jean (Michael Jackson cover) (C)

Viva La Vida (Remix)

Politik

Lovers In Japan

Death And All His Friends

————————Encore———————–

The Scientist

Life In Technicolor II

The Escapist (Death And All His Friends)

More photos of Coldplay after the jump…

*Not photographed: Will Champion (drums, vocals)

WHO:

Team Noise is comprised of: Kevin Baldes from LIT on bass and vocals, Keri Kelli from Alice Cooper and Skid Row on guitar and vocals, Jimmy D’Anda from BulletBoys on drums and Andrew Freeman from The Offspring and Lynch Mob on lead vocals and guitar.

WHAT:

The Orange County based “All-Star” Jam band is comprised of a group of musicians that when not touring or recording with their respective bands, form the ultimate rock experience. From Alice Cooper to Zeppelin, AFI to Weezer their live show covers the spectrum of rock the way it should be… down and dirty!

Guests must be 21 years and older. Tickets are $15 and are available by calling 702.474.4000, online at www.ticketmaster.com or at the door the night of the show. For more information on upcoming shows, please visit www.smashmagazine.com.

WHEN:

Saturday, May 23

Doors open at 10 p.m.

WHERE:

Rock Room inside Penthouse Las Vegas

3525 W. Russell Rd.

Dates with Dave Matthews:

4/22: Raleigh, NC   Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
4/24: Charlotte, NC   Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
4/28: Alpharetta, GA   Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre At Encore Park
4/29: Alpharetta, GA   Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre At Encore Park
5/1: The Woodlands, TX    The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
5/2: Dallas, TX   Superpages.com Center
5/5: Albuquerque, NM   Journal Pavilion
5/6: Phoenix, AZ   Cricket Wireless Pavilion

Need Poster Prints from Scott Avett(as seen above)?

They also have a limited number of prints from past New Year’s Eve shows available at the 5 remaining tour stops.

Remaining Tour Dates: PS They are ALL SOLD OUT!

Dave Matthew Band Members:
Dave Matthews – Guitar, Vocal
Carter Beauford – Drums
Boyd Tinsley – Violin
LeRoi Moore – RIP (8/19/08) Flute, Sax
Tim Reynolds – Guitar
Rashawn Ross – Trumpet
Stefan Lessard – Bass

This is called posting on the run. I thought I would throw some teaser pictures up for all of your Dave Matthews fans. See our Dave Matthews coverage when they hit Chicago earlier this year with LeRoi here.

UPDATE: Posted more photos of the show. I hope this satisfies the minds and eyes of all Dave Matthews fans. Let us know by leaving a comment.

Dave Matthews

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Rashawn Ross

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Tim Reynolds

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Jeff Coffin

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Carter Beauford

Stefan Lessard

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