7th Level Music

Top 15 live shows of 2021: #’s 10 – 6

I saw over 30 bands last year, despite many shows being cancelled or postponed, and here are the ones that made the top ten.

#10: Frankie and the Witch Fingers – Ft. Wayne’s Brass Rail – October 08th

This was the third time I’d seen Frankie and the Witch Fingers in as many months (and the last time I’d see them in 2021), and they played a wild set in a small club that included some new, unreleased material.

#9: Danzig – Psycho Music Festival – August 21st

I’m not sure how I hadn’t seen Danzig in concert until now, but he and his crew put on a good show. They played Lucifuge in its entirety and plenty of other tracks – including a long encore missed by at least half the crowd.

#8: Claude Fontaine – Psycho Music Festival – August 20th

In the middle of the Psycho Music Festival, which is heavy on metal of all sorts, Claude Fontaine came onstage at the Mandalay Bay House of Blues and put on the most beautiful set of the entire festival. Backed by two percussionists and a guy on acoustic guitar, she performed gorgeous bossa nova and dub tracks for her first show ever in the Sin City. Shame on you if you missed it.\

#7: Death Valley Girls – Psycho Music Festival – August 19th

Playing as the sun set and the moon rose, Death Valley Girls were a highlight of the “Psycho Swim” opening night of the 2021 Psycho Music Festival in Las Vegas. Like pretty much everyone there, it was their first gig in nearly two years and their excitement was palpable.

#6: The Flaming Lips – Psycho Music Festival – August 21st

It’s always a joy to see The Flaming Lips, and hearing their uplifting songs and soaking up the energy from the loving crowd was just what we needed as we returned to live music and hope. This show will always have a special place in my heart, as it was the last time my late wife was able to see them. Their shows always boosted her spirit.

Who’s in the top five? You’ll have to wait until tomorrow to learn!

Keep your mind open.

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Top 30 albums of 2021: #’s 25 – 21

Let’s not waste time. Here are the records that cracked my top 25 (of over 60) that I reviewed last year.

#25: The Beths – Auckland, New Zealand, 2020

This delightful live album from The Beths is full of joy. The band was over the moon, the crowd was ecstatic, and daring to open with “I’m Not Getting Excited” was a gutsy move when everyone in the place was bursting with energy.

#24: Acid Dad – Take It from the Dead

Acid Dad were a band I’d heard a lot about, yet didn’t know much about them. I caught them live about an hour from my house and was sold within two songs. Take It from the Dead is a fine psych-rock record with touches of surf that make it a standout.

#23: Ty Segall – Harmonizer

Ty Segall added a bunch of synths and electronic beats to his already heavy fuzz rock, and the result, Harmonizer, was impressive. He showed his love for krautrock and even dance rock, and that he could pull off both genres as easily as psych jams.

#22: Morly – Till I Start Speaking

Easily one of the loveliest and sexiest albums of 2022, Till I Start Speaking is a great mix of Morly’s vocals, electro-beats, and synths. I hadn’t heard of Morly until this record was sent to me, and it was a pleasant discovery.

#21: Pearl & The Oysters – Flowerland

Speaking of lovely records, here’s another one. Bossa nova, disco, ambient, and house all merge together for an album as pretty and trippy as its cover.

Who makes the top 20? You’ll learn tomorrow!

Keep your mind open.

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Top 15 live shows of 2021: #’s 15 – 11

Live shows made a comeback in 2021, thank heavens, but many were still canceled or postponed due to the ongoing pandemic. As a result, I only saw 35 live bands this year. Cutting that list in half (or thereabouts) to save time, here’s the start of my top fifteen concerts of 2021.

#15: Acid Dad – Ft. Wayne, Indiana’s Brass Rail – October 08th

I’d only heard a couple tracks by Acid Dad before seeing them live, and they didn’t fail to impress everyone at the Brass Rail. It was a rocking show of groovy psych-rock with hints of surf and garage rock.

#14: Protomartyr – Kalamazoo, Michigan’s Bell’s Eccentric Café – November 12th

This was the first time I’d seen Protomartyr live as well, and it was a fine show indeed with a ton of great post-punk rock in front of an excited crowd of fellow Michiganders.

#13: Stöner – Ft. Wayne, Indiana’s Piere’s – September 29th

This was two firsts in one, both seeing and hearing Stöner for the first time. They played a cool heavy set of desert rock and won over a lot of fans (including yours truly) at this show. Their shirts and LPs were flying off their merch table after their set.

#12: King Buffalo – Ft. Wayne, Indiana’s Piere’s – September 29th

Yes, the same show. King Buffalo were the first of three bands that night (the third being Clutch). I’d heard of King Buffalo before, but only a couple songs. They played an excellent set of psychedelic rock that set the table for the rest of the night.

#11: All Them Witches – Chicago’s Metro – December 16th

This was the last show I saw in 2021, and ATW put on a solid set of heavy psychedelia. It was the last show of their tour before a break until they played a series of shows around New Year’s Eve.

Who’s in the top ten? Come back tomorrow to learn!

Keep your mind open.

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Top 30 albums of 2021: #’s 30 – 26

As always, I actually wait until the previous year has ended to put out my list of my top albums (and live performances, which will be listed in other posts), because albums are released all the time. Many excellent albums have been released in many Decembers and gone forgotten or ignored by music critics and bloggers.

So, without further ado, let’s get started. I reviewed sixty-five albums last year, so I cut the list in half to cover the top of the bunch.

#30: Shred Flintstone – Unlimited Power

This is a wild punk rock record from a band with a goofy name and serious chops. I mean, you have to be good with a name like “Shred Flintstone.” Unlimited Power is appropriately titled, because the whole thing is bursting with energy.

#29 Open Hand – Weirdo

This is a fun dance-rock record that was several years in the making. It’s like a combination of LCD Soundsystem and !!!.

#28: Jealous – Lover / What’s Your Damage?

This is a wild double EP of post-punk and krautrock from Berlin. It ranges from dance beats to rock riffs and was one of the best releases fro Dedstrange all year.

#27: Cuffed Up – Asymmetry

This four-song EP is solid alternative rock with catchy hooks, great double vocals, and heavy riffs that bode well for a full-length album in the future.

#26: The Black Angels – Live at Levitation

The Reverb Appreciation Society has been issuing “Live at Levitation” albums for a little while now, so it was no surprise that The Black Angels, who started the RAS and also started and still help curate the annual Levitation Music Festivals in Austin, Texas and Angers, France, should get their own release in the series. It covers some of the bands’ earliest performances at the festival and is a treat for fans of the band, the festival, and psychedelic rock.

Who cracked the top 25? Come back tomorrow to find out!

Keep your mind open.

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Review: Bremer / McCoy – Natten

Natten (“The Night”) is a beautiful album of ambience and improvisation from Denmark duo Bremer / McCoy. Written and recorded straight to tape, with no room for second takes, the album becomes meditations and explorations for the bassist (Bremer) and keyboardist (McCoy).

The title track, written by McCoy as he watched a Swedish sunset, opens the record with groovy organ that reminds one of riding in a taxi from the airport into a quiet city as the night emerges. “Mit Hjerte” and “Gratitude” have bright, shining piano from McCoy. “Hjertebarn” sounds like something Vince Guaraldi might’ve dreamed up one night in his studio.

“Nu og Altid” and “April” are dreamy, drifting tracks. “Aurora” and “Nova,” on the other hand, are trippy, cosmic chill-outs. “Måneskin” effortlessly drifts into “Natten (Part 2)” – a welcome return on our relaxing journey – before we end with the sexy and subtle “Lalibela.”

This whole album blends together for an intoxicating sound that lingers with you for a while after you hear it. It’s a delight.

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Sam at Pitch Perfect PR.]

WSND DJ set list for December 26-27, 2021

Thanks to all who listened to my Deep Dive of My Bloody Valentine and then two hours of eclectic stuff on Nocturne. Here’s my Nocturne set list in case you weren’t able to stay up until 1am Eastern time.

Gwen Mars – Control
Arthhur – (Immanentizing the) Eschaton
Fountains of Wayne – All Kinds of Time
Okay Kaya – Insert Generic Name
Ben Folds Five – Selfless, Cold, and Composed
Partner – Creature in the Sun
Tom Waits – Ol’ 55 (request)
Rival Sons – Electric Man (request)
Mephistofeles – Black Sunday
Slift – Ummon
Comacozer – Navigating the Mandjet
The Dunes – Badlands
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Float Along – Fill Your Lungs
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – The Bird Song
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Intrasport
Falle Nioke & Ghost Culture – Barké
Fred Schneider and the Superions – Fruitcake (request)
Gary Wilson – Cindy Wants to Cry
Warm Drag – Cave Crawl
Osees – Animated Violence (live)

Tune in next week at 8pm EST to hear my Deep Dive of Sonny Boy Williamson!

Keep your mind open.

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WSND DJ set list for December 19-20, 2021

Thanks to all who listened to my Deep Dive of Ernest Tubb last night from 8pm to 11pm, and then three hours of my Nocturne show until 2am. It was nice to have a lot of listeners enjoying everything from classic country to Tuareg music. Here’s my Nocturne set list for all interested.

Khurangbin – Christmas Time Is Here
Céu – Veranda Suspensa
Jealous – K-Hole II
A Place to Bury Strangers – In Your Heart
Alex Maas – 500 Dreams (live)
Dunsmuir – Crawling Chaos
Splash ’96 – Local Radar
Imarhan – Achinkad
Open Hand – Again?
JEFF The Brotherhood – Melting Place
Bantha Rider – De Wanna Wanga
David Bowie – Life on Mars?
Delta 5 – Mind Your Own Business
Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor – All Is Lust
Morphine – A Head with Wings
The Ever Expanding Elastic Waste Band – Palestrina
Primus – Over the Grapevine
Blackfoot – Train Train (request)
Warm Drag – End Times
Ty Segall – Everyone’s a Winner (live)
Material Issue – Merry Christmas Will Do (request)
Nick Cave and the Bad Sees – Red Right Hand (request)
Osees – Heavy Doctor (live)
Dum Dum Girls – Always Looking
Gruntruck – Tribe
The Kills – Hitched
Drive-in intermission
Damaged Bug – Sold America
Adam Neely – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Japandroids – Art Czars
Spinerette – A Prescription for Mankind
Zeke – Horror at Red Hook
Hi Fi and the Roadburners – Run Johnny Run
The Rolling Stones – Live with Me
Gary Wilson – I Saw Santa Dancing in the Dark
Screaming Females – Chamber for Sleep I
Remington Super 60 – Misconception
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – Crazy in Blood
The Soft Moon – Machines
Com Truise – When Will You Find the Limit
Cookin’ Soul and MF DOOM – MF Grinch

I’m back on air at 8pm EST on December 27th starting with a Deep Dive of My Bloody Valentine. I don’t yet know if a Nocturne show will follow.

Keep your mind open.

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Review: Blackwater Holylight – Silence / Motion

It’s easy to write nowadays that albums released this year are reflective on the trying times of the previous year (that still persist into this year and probably 2022), but Blackwater Holylight‘s new album, Silence / Motion, captures the ache of those times like few others. It’s at times sorrowful, other times euphoric.

The album opens with dark, folk-like sounds of gray sky guitars and violins before it turns into a heavy, doomy growler on “Delusional.” Lead singer Allison “Sunny” Faris sings “I can’t describe this pain I wear. It suffocates and you left it here.” on “Who the Hell,” a gut-wrenching song about loss. The title track winds around you like a ghost that desperately wants you to understand why she can’t leave this plane just yet. Sarah McKenna‘s synths on it are like the sound of that ghost piercing the veil.

“Falling Faster” starts off sounding like a gothic ballad and then McKenna’s synths brighten it up to almost a synthwave track you’d hear on late night 1988 public access television. “MDIII” is mixes ethereal vocals with buzzing guitars from her and Mikayla Mayhew. I love the guitars on “Around You,” which are solid shoegaze riffs. The album ends with the psychedelic, heavy, and spooky “Every Corner.” Eliese Dorsay saves some of her best chops for the end, pounding out metal chops with the urgency of a fierce warrior.

It’s a haunting album. I mean, the cover image alone should tell you this. The sound of it gets under your skin and in the back of your head, creeping around for a long while.

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Dave at US / THEM Group.]

Review: Parquet Courts – Sympathy for Life

Constructed from a lot of improvised jam sessions, Parquet Courts‘ new album, Sympathy for Life, continues to embrace the band’s love of dance music and club rock.

Starting out with the groovy, bad-ass “Walking at a Downtown Pace,” the band makes you want to dress up, throw on some sunglasses at night, and strut your stuff on the way, at, and back from the club. The bass line is killer, the guitars a bit frantic, and the drums downright wicked. The song, like all the others on the record, was written before the pandemic, but now takes on an altered meaning post-pandemic. The lyrics are brutal truths: “I’m making plans for the day all of this is through…Food that I’ll taste and all the drinks that I’ll consume, return the smile on an unmasked friend…” / “Walk at a downtown pace and treasure the crowds that once made me act so annoyed.” / “Planning the future as if time is yours to choose.”

“Black Widow Spider” is a rocker about intense grief and trying to move beyond it. Believe me, I get it. “Marathon of Anger” brings in more synthesizers and electronic beats to create a dub-like banger about all of us getting back to the work of supporting each other after being separated for so long. “Just Shadows” is a tale of becoming addicted to routine, and how that gives you the false impression that you’re happy and everything is go well.

The beats on “Plant Life” would fit right in on a Talking Heads record. “Application Apparatus” is a song about the benefits and creepiness of GPS mapping – told with post-punk electro dance beats and guitar. “Homo Sapien” cranks the distortion for a song about how we’ve evolved from ancestors who beat stones into tools to people who crave “the sensual touch of glass, so smooth on the fingertips, the erotic quality of not feeling meaningless.” The title track seems to have been recorded with the ghost of Curtis Mayfield in the studio – it’s that groovy.

“Zoom Out” encourages us to look at the bigger picture (“When you zoom out, tomorrow is now. When you zoom out, together is now.”) – and to dance. “Trullo” is a weird, funky, skronky tale about cabin fever. The closer, “Pulcinella,” is a tale about being hesitant to embrace love again, especially after a long time away from it (“…the mind wanders home like a cat does when it knows it’s time to feed again.”). Again, I can relate.

The album is a clever mix of excellent lyrics, funky beats, and the promise of more epic things to come. Two of the tracks, “Marathon of Anger” and “Plant Life” were edited down from forty-minute jam sessions. I hope they kept recordings of them, because I’d love to hear those. How about releasing them to start afresh in 2022, PQ?

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Jacob at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Review: The Monsters – You’re Class, I’m Trash

Hailing from Bern, Switzerland, The Monsters are punk giants in their homeland who make unapologetic trash rock, as is evidenced on their newest album You’re Class, I’m Trash.

The album opens with the explosive “Gimme Germs,” and sets the tone for the whole record. You barely have time to breathe throughout it. “Smell My Tongue” belongs on a soundtrack for a John Waters film with its trashy lyrics and frantic pounding. “Carpool Lane” borders on sludge rock. “Dead” cranks up the fuzz on the guitars and vocals (Them yelling “Dead!”).

The guitars on “Stranger to Me” sound like angry hornets. “Blasphemy” is equally angry. “Yellow Snow Drink” is almost goth-country, and “Electro Bike Asshole” is back to the fiery punk (and might be the best punk song title of 2021). “Get Drunk on You” must slay live because it flattens your immediate surroundings coming out of your speakers as they subtly sing about oral sex with lyrics like, “I eat you, baby, and you eat me.” “I Love You” is a love song sung by a madman.

“Devil Baby” could fit into a 1960s Italian horror film (especially with the creepy opening piano chords) or an occult biker movie (with the wild guitars) with ease. “My Down Is Your Up” sounds like something Mr. Bungle wishes they’d written. The album ends with another, even spookier version of “Dead,” a live version of “Gimme Germs,” and the title track – which sounds like a runaway train in which the musical entertainment in the dining car is a zombie DJ playing scratched records.

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Matt at Shattered Platter PR.]