Austin City Limits Fest: Stay Tuned!

ClubD will share her band notes following Austin City Limits, Oct 2 - 4.
Night shows planned:
John Dee Graham at Continental Club
Them Crooked Vultures at Stubb's
(hopefully) Devotchka at La Zona Rosa

& more!

Rusted Root Brings Utter Joy

Rusted Root, the State Theatre, Falls Church, VA
September 25

The Pittsburgh-based Rusted Root always puts on a stellar, high-energy live show. With a heavy influence on percussion, the roots rock band draws sounds from world music, especially African rhythms, to create their infectious sound.

This spring, they released their first studio album in 7 years, titled, Stereo Rodeo. They interspersed a few tunes from this new effort at the show and threw in old favorites, as well as fantastic covers of Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds" and Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl."

They closed the show with "Ecstasy," a song that feels so utterly good, it makes me jump around like a jellybean on crack. Rusted Root is music therapy. Left the show feeling light and joyful.

ZZ Top: Still Kickin' after 40 Years

September 13

The bearded bad boys of blues-rock, ZZ Top rocked out on their first of two nights at the 9:30 Club. The Houston-based trio formed in 1969 and retain its original members--Billy Gibbons (guitar & vocals), Dusty Hill (bass & vocals), and Frank Beard (the drummer, and only one not actually sporting a beard).

Why, you may ask, would ZZ play a smallish venue such as the 9:30, which generally maxes out around 1,400. Local ZZ Top fans have Steven Tyler to thank. The lead singer of Aerosmith fell off the stage about a month ago, breaking his shoulder and thus cancelling the remainder of their tour. ZZ had been Aerosmith's opening act. The ZZ three were already revved up to tour, so they carried on in smaller venues, though at an elevated price. Tickets went for $75 + service fees.

From older bikers to young preppies, the crowd rocked out to all the classics, in a high-energy set that included "Cheap Sunglasses," "Sharped Dressed Man," "Legs," "Tush," and "Gimme All Your Loving." Gibbons had two rules for the crowd: he said there'd be no drinking during their gospel songs, and rule 2: there wouldn't be any gospel songs. The crowd roared. The club's acoustics were particularly good that night, and opening act, local blues-rockers Justin Jones & the Driving Rain, were the perfect complement to this rocking evening.

Long-Awaited Living Colour Show Does Not Disappoint

Living Colour, the Birchmere, September 1

It’s been six years since Living Colour’s last tour. They are back with a new disc, The Chair in the Doorway, and opened the tour on September 1 at the Birchmere. The nearly two-hour set showcased the stellar musicianship of these four New York lads. Three of the four are original members while bassist Doug came on board back in ’94.

Drummer Will Calhoun* had told me, “Bring earplugs, girl. It’s gonna be loud.” And he was right. But it was good loud. Living Colour’s sound fuses hard rock and metal, with funk, punk, and a bit of hip hop, ably led by Cory Glover’s talented vocals.

When they first hit the music scene in 1983, there was nothing quite like it. They were the first African American hard rock band and inspired the sound of other similar bands to come. The quartet burst into the public eye in 1988 with their radio hit, “Cult of Personality.” And they’re still touring and making new music. Of the songs they played from their new release, which wasn’t out yet at the time of this show, they complement their earlier sound well, with hard-driving beats and insightful lyrics.

*ClubD wishes to thank drummer Will Calhoun for putting her & ClubDave on the list for this show. We met barely two weeks earlier when he arrived in Reston, VA as the drummer for the Stanley Jordan trio. Meeting him: with his down-to-earth, goodhearted nature and spectacular smile, has been nothing short of a joy.

Virgin Mobile Fest Was Franz-Tastic

Recommended beverage: Starr Hill Wheat

(by far the best beer option there)

This year, a few distinct features set Virgin Mobile Fest apart from ones in recent years. First, it was free, absent even of those dreaded service fees, apparently a gift to us from the Virgin and Ticketbastard folks for years of loyalty. And, it took place at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD, as opposed to Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore. Third, it was a single day instead of a whole weekend.

This was the first Virgin Fest that cooperated with my schedule, and so I spent the late afternoon and evening there. As with any free, and surprisingly well organized, event, the place was mobbed, though any potential troublemakers were already passed out on the lawn, no doubt from a Miller Lite/nicotine overdose. There were two stages: the main pavilion stage, snaked by two massive and unmoving lines on either end of people hoping to get into the pavilion, and a west stage, set up on the site of what’s usually a parking lot. Plus a dance tent seemed to be hopping, but noise levels exceeded what's acceptable for my old ears so I steered clear.

The bands I primarily came to see both performed at the west stage, but I did lounge on the lawn a bit too to catch a couple of main stage acts. Arrived just in time for Australian rockers Jet. Don’t let their preppy, clean-cut appearances deceive you. These guys rock hard. If you close your eyes, in your mind they'd have long hair and massive tattoos. The blokes alluded to their last appearance there, opening for Oasis a couple years ago. Sounded fantastic and their new stuff sounds equally intriguing.

Weezer was a ton of fun too. There’s something special about geeky guys rocking out with all their hearts, and doing it well. Their set showcased their ever-changing styles: from mellow to hard, pop to indie. The crowd sang loud and lovingly to such radio hits as “Island in the Sun” and “Buddy Holly,” and frat boys emerged from their drunken slumber for “Beverly Hills.”

One act I sampled for the first time was The Bravery. The music was solid rock, and the lead vocalist sounded uncannily like the Cure’s Robert Smith. It was a fantastic sound and I will keep an eye on those guys. Then, Blink-182 proved to me, in less than a minute, why I just don’t like them. Grossly off-key vocals, however, seemed to excite some folks there. But off I roamed to the west stage.

The National played the west stage with a set that was emotive and well-done. They're from Brooklyn but sound as though they could have easily come straight from any British club. There’s a touch of Joy Division in their sound, accented by a couple of horns. Excellent and creative stuff.

The highlight, as I just knew it would be, was the Glasgow quartet Franz Ferdinand. They played a 70-minute set of danceable goodies from their three albums, including a healthy sampling from their first album. They’re tight, blending dance and rock. Alt-indie at its finest. “Take Me Out” naturally got the biggest response, though the crowd seemed transfixed by the rest of the set, which undoubtedly generated a few thousand new fans. Was thrilled to hear "Darts of Pleasure" which they skipped when I saw them back in May at New York's Roseland Ballroom.

The catch to the “Free Fest” was charitable giving. Donations were encouraged toward a group that works to combat youth homelessness. Folks left with their ears ringing from good music, and a satisfied feeling that their presence helped the larger community.