Author: Nik Havert

I've been a music fan since my parents gave me a record player for Christmas when I was still in grade school. The first record I remember owning was "Sesame Street Disco." I've been a professional writer since 2004, but writing long before that. My first published work was in a middle school literary magazine and was a story about a zoo in which the animals could talk.

VIVA PHX 2017 festival announces initial lineup.

Good grief! Check out this first round lineup announcement from the VIVA PHX festival on March 11th.  It’s one night in downtown Phoenix with 75 bands playing in 18 venues.

At first glance, my must-see bands are (reading from top to bottom on the list above) Girl Talk, Temples, the Reverend Horton Heat, X, Invisibl Skratch Piklz, Yacht, Blackalicious, Deap Vally, Night Beats, Froth, and Death Valley Girls.

There will be many local area bands there I’m sure I’ll want to see by then.  I already have my airfare and will be getting my tickets soon.  Don’t wait too long.  Tickets are only $25 bucks right now and will go up as the date gets closer.

Keep your mind open.

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Elephant Stone announce Canada and U.K. tour dates.

Psych-rockers Elephant Stone have released a big batch of tour dates across their home country and in the United Kingdom.  Catch them if you can.  You won’t regret it.

Feb. 08 – Grad Club – Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Feb. 09 – Starlight – Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Feb. 10 – Adelaide Hall – Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Feb. 14 – Casbah – Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Feb. 15 – E-Bar – Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Feb. 16 – Red Dog – Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

Feb. 17 – Zaphods – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Feb. 18 – Theatre Fairmount – Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Mar. 24 – Trou de Diables – Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada

Mar. 31 – Petite Boite Noire – Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

Apr. 01 –  La Sainte Paix – Drummondville, Quebec, Canada

May 26 – The Moth Club – London, UK

May 27 – The Moon Club – Cardiff, UK

May 28 – Eiger Studios – Leeds, UK

May 29 – Mono – Glasgow, UK

May 30 – Picture House Social – Sheffield, UK

May 31 – Hope & Ruin – Brighton, UK
BTW check out this live in-studio performance they did of Ship of Fools sitar track “Silence Can Say So Much”. Listen to Ship of Fools HERE.

Keep your mind open.

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U2 announces 30th anniversary tour of “The Joshua Tree.”

I guess it was thirty years ago when I saw U2 on their Joshua Tree tour in Indianapolis at Market Square Arena (which no longer exists).  The band recently announced they will be playing the album in full during an upcoming anniversary tour that will stretch from Vancouver to Brussels.  There are plenty of U.S. dates, but you’ll have to get your tickets from the resale market if you missed the sale.  The tour sold out in minutes.

Keep your mind open.

 

A Perfect Circle to tour North America this year.

A Perfect Circle had announced earlier this year that they’d perform four tour days, but lo and behold they confirmed everyone’s hopes by announcing a full North American tour for 2017.  Catch them if you can if you’re in the west or south (or Missouri).  They don’t tour often.

April 7 – Las Vegas, Nevada @ The Pearl
April 8 – Las Vegas, Nevada @ The Pearl
April 10 – Phoenix, Arizona @ Comerica Theatre
April 11 – San Diego, California @ Open Air Theatre
April 13 – San Francisco, California @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
April 14 – Reno, Nevada @ Reno Event Center
April 15 – Sal Lake City, Utah @ Maverik Center
April 17 – Denver, Colorado @ 1st Bank Center
April 19 – Kansas City, Missouri @ Starlight Amphitheatre
April 20 – St. Louis, Missouri @ Chafietz Arena
April 22 – Tusla, Oklahoma @ BOK Center
April 23 – Grand Prairie, Texas @ Verizon Theatre
April 25 – Austin, Texas @ HEB Center at Cedar Park
April 26 – San Antonio, Texas @ Freeman Coliseum
April 27 – Houston, Texas @ Smart Financial Center
April 29 – Jacksonville, Florida @ Welcome to Rockville
April 30 – Fort Meyers, Florida @ Fort Rock Festival
May 2 – Atlanta, Georgia @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
May 3 – Nashville, Tennessee @ Bridgestone Arena
May 5 – Concord, North Carolina @ Carolina Rebellion
May 7 – Los Angeles, California @ Hollywood Bowl

Keep your mind open.

Bad Luck Gamblers – Casino Maldito

I got an e-mail from a band called Bad Luck Gamblers who wanted to know if I’d like to hear and review their latest record – Casino Maldito. They’re a psychobilly band from Brazil. How could I resist?

It turned out to be a good decision, because these three cats are putting down some serious grooves. The title track (about a cursed casino) opens the record and travels by at approximately 80mph. “Like a Bat” has some jaw-dropping slap bass as they sing about the long-term effects of late night partying. “8%” has a fun country twang to it, but the rock guitars and auto factory assembly line precision drumming aren’t far behind.

I hope the horror film of the same name starring Jamie Lee Curtis inspired “Terror Train”. They mention that it’s loaded with zombies and surrounded by bats, and the number on the engine is 666. The guitar solo rips through it like a runaway locomotive, and is that a Theremin I hear in the background? That’s a win. You can’t have a psychobilly album without a song about a car, and “Rusty T-Bucket” certainly qualifies. I like the way it starts off slow, like an engine having a bit of trouble turning over, and then roars to life.

A sure sign of a good psychobilly record is an instrumental track in which the band cuts loose. “Thylacinus Attack” is that track on Casino Maldito. All three Gamblers shred for about two glorious minutes. “Somebody Stole My Pet Possum” is goofy fun, but the guitar solo on it is serious business.

Another must-have on any psychobilly record worth its salt is a song about Ole Scratch, and “Drinking with the Devil” has a cool swing vibe at the bridge that’s about as slick as Satan’s Brylcreem. “Shoulder Mount” blasts by as quickly as a Stinger missile. The closer, “No Chips No Chicks,” grows in velocity until its at mosh pit-level speed, even though I think it’s a song about a party being lame because there isn’t a girl or even a bag of chips there.

I don’t know how Bad Luck Gamblers found me, but I’m glad they did. There’s no gamble on Casino Maldito. It’s a sure thing.

Keep your mind open.

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Wayne Hancock – Songs from Slingin’ Rhythm

Wayne “The Train” Hancock is a living legend and one of the best country crooners and guitarists working today. His seven-song album Songs from Slingin’ Rhythm is another fine entry in his catalogue and just what you need in these contentious times.

“Slingin’ Rhythm” is a song about life on the road and his love for even the rough parts of it (“I sing 15 hours a week just to pay my bills and rent. By the time I head back home, most of it is spent.”). Theguitar work is crisp and slick throughout the whole track, making you want to catch him live as soon as possible.

“Wear Out Your Welcome” has Hancock telling an ex-girlfriend to get lost. “You’re gonna wear out your welcome, treating me like you do. Why don’t you leave me alone? ‘Cause you and I are through.” The sentiment continues on the fun and swinging “Divorce Me C.O.D.” It has a great toe-tapping beat and a guitar solo that will make you grin. “Ride” has a bit of a rockabilly edge that is great for fast drives down country roads.

“Viper of Melody” is almost a blues track with its slow rhythm and lap steel wails, but you can hear Hancock grinning through a good portion of the vocals. “Man of the Road” is another salute to Hancock’s live on the road and how he won’t give it up until he’s dead. The steel guitar on this is fantastic. “Now matter where I’ve been, no matter where I roam, I’m a shootin’ star from Texas, but the highway is my home,” Hancock sings on “Shootin’ Star from Texas” as his backing band puts down sizzling guitar work and a Johnny Cash beat.

Few people are playing this type of country music anymore, so it’s always great to find it and especially so when it’s this good.

Keep your mind open.

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DJ set list for January 08, 2017

Thanks to all who listened to my last show of the 2016-2017 Notre Dame Christmas break.  I plan to be back on-air Thursday nights over the summer.  Here’s my set list from last night:

  1. Bad Luck Gamblers – Casino Maldito
  2. Night Club – Dear Enemy
  3. Megafauna – Desire
  4. Cosmonauts – Doom Generation
  5. Electric Six – After Hours
  6. True Widow – V.O.O.T.P.V.
  7. Dressed to Kill radio spot
  8. The No Talents – I Want Some More
  9. Buddy Guy – Got to Use Your Head
  10. Deap Vally – Julian
  11. Wavves – Destroy
  12. Band Aparte – Creatures of Culture
  13. House of Large Sizes – Fine Time
  14. Race with the Devil radio spot
  15. Scattered Hamlet – Swamp Rebel Machine
  16. The Black Angels – Holland
  17. Jim Croce – Time in a Bottle
  18. Blood-O-Rama Shock Festival radio spot
  19. The Smithereens – The Seeker
  20. The Black Keys – Run Right Back
  21. Overlord – You’re Gonna Love This One
  22. Jimi Hendrix – Hear My Train A-comin’
  23. Savoy Motel – Souvenir Shop Rock
  24. Dracula A.D. 1972 / Crescendo radio spot
  25. David Lynch – We Rolled Together
  26. Muuy Biien – Moral Compass
  27. People’s Playground Version A from the Vampyros Lesbos soundtrack
  28. The Flaming Lips – We a Family
  29. La Femme – Ou Va Le Monde
  30. Vinyl Williams – Riddles of the Sphinx
  31. Echo and the Bunnymen – Do It Clean
  32. Army of the Universe – 1999
  33. Halfnoise – Know the Feeling
  34. Fictionist – Free Spirit
  35. Radiohead – Where I End and You Begin (live)

Keep your mind open.

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Turn to Crime announces new album – “Secondary.”

TURN TO CRIME ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM, SECONDARY, 
OUT FEBRUARY 3RD ON MUGG & BOPP RECORDSLISTEN TO FIRST SINGLE, “CHASING”
https://soundcloud.com/turntocrime/chasing 

U.S. TOUR BEGINS NEXT MONTH

Turn To Crime has announced their new album, Secondary, out February 3rd on front man Derek Stanton’s own Mugg & Bopp Records. Secondary is Turn To Crime’s fourth album in as many years – Phantom Buzz (2016), Actions (2015) and Can’t Love (2014). Like Actions and Can’t Love, it was recorded in Stanton’s basement studio in Detroit’s Southwest, Molten Sound. The album was mixed by Jonathan Schenke of Doctor Wu’s Studio in Brooklyn and mastered by Sarah Register, who has mastered all previous Turn To Crime albums.

The writing and recording of Secondary coincided with the release of Actions. Around this time, Stanton noticed something was off. “I started to lose hearing in my left ear,” he explains. That prompted him to obtain a hearing test. A subsequent MRI uncovered a brain tumor. “It was about a millimeter from being too big to remove and I had about a 50/50 chance of losing hearing and the movement on the left side of my face.” The band canceled their tour in support of Actions and Stanton underwent surgery only a week after that album’s release.

“I didn’t want to write a downer album about the fragility of life or anything too personal or autobiographical,” a now healthy Stanton remarks. “What came out is an important (to me) oddball pop album with a sense of urgency. I think it’s Turn To Crime’s best album to date. It’s also part of a ton of songs I wrote at the time. So, we have a few more albums just hanging out. We’re trying to figure out what to do with everything, as I keep writing like crazy, but we’re still doing the DIY thing.”

Stanton’s sense of humor and resolve is apparent on lead single, “Chasing,” premiering via Noisey today. “I love the guitar riff in this song. It’s super fun to play. When you get to the chorus you don’t want it to end,” exclaims Stanton. Stream it below.

Turn To Crime will tour in support of Secondary starting next month. A full list of dates is below.

LISTEN TO TURN TO CRIME’S “CHASING”:
https://soundcloud.com/turntocrime/chasing TURN TO CRIME TOUR DATES:
Fr. Feb. 17 – Cleveland, OH @ Euclid Tavern
Sat. Feb.18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Sunnyvale
Sun. Feb. 19 – Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
Tue. Feb. 21 – Winston-Salem, NC @ The Garage
Wed. Feb. 22 – Athens, GA @ The World Famous
Thu. Feb. 23 – Nashville, TN @ DRKMTTR
Fri. Feb. 24 – Indianapolis, IN @ Musical Family Tree
Sat. Feb. 25 – Chicago, IL @ The Hideout

SECONDARY TRACKLIST:
1. Dead Man
2. Chasing
3. Get Your Pills From Tony
4. Fall Down
5. Secondary
6. Her Love
7. Don’t Let Go
8. Mary Jean’s Chocolate Pie

Sleater-Kinney to release “Live in Paris” January 27th.

Alt-rock riot grrl legends Sleater-Kinney will release “Live in Paris” on January 27, 2016.  This recording comes from their “No Cities to Love” reunion tour and they’re offering the album on vinyl, CD, and cassette (along with some T-shirt combo packages, too).

Don’t miss what’s sure to be a fine record.  I hope they get back in the studio and on the road again soon.

Keep your mind open.

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My top 25 live shows of 2016 – #’s 5 – 1

Here we are at my top five live shows of 2016.

#5 – Earthless at Levitation Chicago March 12th

Earthless are the only band to be in my top 10 concerts of 2016 twice.  This was the second time I’d seen them and the first time I’d been close to the stage.  It was a stunning performance that nearly left me speechless.  They were also cool cats who were happy to sign my concert poster after their performance.

#4 – Night Beats at Levitation Chicago March 12th

Night Beats are the only band to be in the top 30 concerts of 2016 three times.  Their Levitation Chicago performance was downright dangerous and established the swagger and tight chops I’d see from them all year.  They, too, were also cool cats who signed my copy of their new album Who Sold My Generation for me after their set.

#3 – Deap Vally at the Chicago House of Blues October 13th

They were first on a bill with Death from Above 1979 and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and they set the bar so high that the other two bands couldn’t match it.  They came to kick ass and take names…and they were all out of names.  They, too, were cool cats who chatted with me after their set.  Everyone was still talking about their performance as we were walking out of the venue.

#2 – Gary Wilson at Levitation Chicago March 10th

I didn’t know much about Gary Wilson before seeing him at Levitation Chicago.  I walked out a devoted fan.  His show was part-lounge act, part-psychedelic freak-out, and part-performance art piece.  He creeped out a woman next to me, made others laugh, others cheers, and others stand there with a “What the hell am I seeing and hearing?” look on their face.  I couldn’t stop talking about his performance for weeks and haven’t stopped recommending him to everyone since.

#1 – Bebel Gilberto at Ann Arbor Summer Fest June 18th

Only one concert had a moment that made me cry in 2016, and that was when Bebel Gilberto and her guitarist performed a cover of Radiohead‘s “Creep.”  Seeing this member of bossa nova royalty in a great venue (The acoustics in Ann Arbor’s Powerhouse Theatre are sublime.) was a dream come true, as I’ve had a serious crush on her and her music for many years.  It was also the first show I attended on a press pass thanks to this blog, so it will always hold a special place in my memory.

Thanks for reading.  I hope to get to just as many shows in 2017.  Wish me luck and let me know about bands I need to see this year.

Keep your mind open.

[I might get misty if you subscribe to my blog.]