Month: January 2023

Top 25 live shows of 2022: #’s 15 – 11

We’re almost to the top ten! Let’s get to it!

#15: Primus – Clyde Theatre / Ft. Wayne – May 10th

It’s a bit baffling that it had taken me this long to see Primus. I’ve been listening to them since 1991. I caught them on their “A Tribute to Kings” tour, in which they played Rush‘s entire “A Farewell to Kings” album as the second set. It was a mind-altering show that mixed Rush’s material with Primus’ own stuff.

#14: Gary Numan – Park West / Chicago – March 21st

This was a loud, powerful set in a smaller venue than the last place I saw Gary Numan (Chicago’s Thalia Hall), so it felt more visceral. It was a jam-packed crowd, too, with everyone anxious to finally be out of the house and seeing live music again. Numan played a great mix of new and old material that had everyone buzzing.

#13: The Black Angels – Levitation Austin / Stubb’s – October 30th

The Black Angels never disappoint, and this hometown / home festival set was another solid one. Coming on stage in matching “Black Angels” jackets, they got down to business and killed it with a lot of excellent material from their new album, Wilderness of Mirrors, and classic material.

#12: Frankie and the Witch Fingers – Levitation Austin / Stubb’s – October 30th

One of the bands opening for The Black Angels that night was Frankie and The Witch Fingers, who were dressed for the Halloween weekend in zombie makeup and ready to tear into us like a pack of ghouls. They had the crowd moshing, throwing stuff, and crowd-surfing before the set was halfway done.

#11: Earthless – Pierre’s / Ft. Wayne – September 13th

Shame on you if you missed this show because it was practically a private concert. A small crowd had gathered to see Earthless unload their cosmic rock in a small space. It was the last show of this leg of their tour, and they held nothing back for the enthusiastic fans who were there.

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

Keep your mind open.

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Top 20 albums of 2022: #’s 15 – 11

We’re getting close to the top half of the list. Who’s in the top 15?

#15: Psymon Spine – Charismatic Mutations

This album is a full remix record of Psymon Spine‘s Charismatic Megafauna. There isn’t a bad remix on the whole record, which isn’t easy to pull off.

#14: Lu.Re – Ruminate

Another excellent EP that came out this year (and there were several). Lu.Re’s EP of house music mixed with a bit of dark wave was an EP that made me sit up and think, “Oh, I need more of this.”

#13: Abdul Raeva – Atlas Corporation

Seriously, there was a ton of great electro and house music released last year. I’m sure I barely heard the tip of the iceberg, and yet there were great finds like this EP from Abdul Raeva that hits heavy and with undeniable grooves.

#12: Frayle – Skin & Sorrow

It wouldn’t be a “best of the year” list for me without some doom metal, and Frayle‘s newest album fits the bill. Described to me as “Black Sabbath meets Portishead,” I knew I was going to like it. Imagine the ghost of a witch fronting a doom band, and you’ll get the idea.

#11: Goat – Oh Death

As weird and wild as the cover depicts, Goat‘s new album covers death, transcendence, and sex – three of their favorite topics – and was a great return for them. Their psychedelic voodoo sound was sorely missed.

Who makes it in to the top half of my best records of the year? Tune in tomorrow!

Keep your mind open.

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WSND DJ set list for January 08, 2023

It was another fun Nocturne show on WSND last night. Thanks to all who listened. Here’s the set list:

  1. Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings – All Over Again
  2. Slim Harpo – Please Don’t Turn Me Down
  3. Isaac Hayes – Theme from Shaft
  4. Beastie Boys – Futterman’s Rule
  5. Scorchy radio ad
  6. Gov’t Mule – Blind Man in the Dark (requested)
  7. The Ramones – Learn to Listen
  8. Reverend Horton Heat – I Can’t Surf
  9. Dry Cleaning – Unsmart Lady
  10. Dave Brubeck – In Your Own Sweet Way (live)
  11. Acid King – Busse Woods (live)
  12. The Who – promo for BBC Radio
  13. Gus Gus – Blue Mug
  14. Wanda Jackson – Kansas City
  15. Wanda Jackson – You Can’t Have My Love
  16. Garner State Park concert radio ad
  17. J. Frank Wilson – Dreams of a Fool
  18. Chemical Brothers – Let Forever Be
  19. Paul Van Dyk – Vega
  20. DJ Zinc – Nu Sound
  21. Bonde De Role – Office Boy (CSS remix)
  22. King Geedorah – Monster Zero
  23. Thom Yorke – Atoms for Peace
  24. The Redeemer radio ad
  25. Cuffed Up – Terminal
  26. Sleater-Kinney – Male Model
  27. Twinemen – Come Clean
  28. Blondie – Rip Her to Shreds

Thanks to all who listened. Be sure to tune in for the last one of the winter break next week!

Keep your mind open.

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Top 25 live shows of 2022: #’s 20 – 16

Who were among the top 20 bands I saw last year? Read on to learn!

#20: Gustaf – Levitation France – June 04th

Wild, weird, and wonderful, Gustaf put on a fun late afternoon set under the Angers sun. You could tell they were having a great time. I spoke with Lydia Gammill after the set and she told me they still couldn’t quite believe they’d just played a set in France.

#19: Death Valley Girls – Empty Bottle – August 04th

This was the second time I’d seen Death Valley Girls in the same year, with the first being at Levitation France just two months prior. This set was more up close and personal (which is every show at Chicago’s Empty Bottle) and a bit more dangerous to boot. Lead singer Bonnie Bloomgarden delighted in walking out into the crowd to sing and mingle with fans.

#18: Warm Drag – Levitation Austin / Hotel Vegas – October 28th

Speaking of dangerous shows, Warm Drag‘s set at Levitation Austin was sexy and deadly, not unlike a panther. Blending dark electro with sultry vocals, the set had a lot of people grooving and trembling at the same time.

#17: Automatic – Levitation Austin / Stubb’s – October 27th

This was the second time I saw Automatic last year. Yes, the first time was in France in June. The trio had only improved in that short time, and they wowed the Austin crowd. The number of Automatic band shirts and tote bags we saw after their set was extensive.

#16: The Joy Formidable – Piere’s / Ft. Wayne – September 20th

This short set from Welsh power trio The Joy Formidable packed more wallop than most sets I saw from other bands that were twice as long. They were so fierce that lead singer / guitarist Ritzy Bryan headbutted bassist Rhydian Daffyd in the chest twice during the set.

Who’s in the top 15? Well, you’ll have to come back tomorrow to find out!

Keep your mind open.

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Top 20 albums of 2022: #’s 20 – 16

I reviewed 42 albums last year. So, here’s who came in the top half of those records.

#20: Adam BFD – Innervisions

2022 was a great year for electronic music, and this EP from Adam BFD was among the best pieces of EDM I heard. It thumps from beginning to end and should be in every DJ’s toolbox.

#19: System Efe – Carpetania

Speaking of great electronic music, here’s another one for you. This EP is dance music for androids.

18: P.E. – The Leather Lemon

What do you get when you mix members of Pill and Eaters? You get P.E., and their excellent debut album of post-punk, electro, and art rock.

17: Primer – Incubator

Another album that blends electro well (with dream-pop in this case), is Primer’s Incubator. It’s a fun listen, even though a lot of it is about a break-up.

16: BODEGA – Broken Equipment

I think it’s a guarantee that anything released by Brooklyn post-bunkers BODEGA is going to end up in my top 20 of any year. Broken Equipment was another solid album from them, with great beats and sharp, biting lyrics about everything from consumerism to British disaster movies.

Who’s in the top 15? Come back tomorrow to find out!

Keep your mind open.

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Deep Dive of Shirley Bassey

Thanks to all who listened to my Deep Dive of the music of Shirley Bassey. It was a fun set list. Here it is for your viewing and listening pleasure.

  1. Shirley Bassey – Goldfinger
  2. Showboat original cast – Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man
  3. Al Jolson – Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (live)
  4. Shirley Bassey – Burn My Candle (live)
  5. Shirley Bassey – The Banana Boat Song
  6. Mitch Miller – Down By the Old Mill Stream
  7. Shirley Bassey – If I Had a Needle and Thread
  8. Shirley Bassey – As I Love You (live)
  9. Georgia Brown – As Long As He Needs Me
  10. Shirley Bassey – Reach for the Stars
  11. Nelson Riddle – Route 66
  12. Shirley Bassey – What Now My Love
  13. Shirley Bassey – No Regrets (live)
  14. Shirley Bassey – The Liquidator
  15. Shirley Bassey – Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
  16. The Beatles – Something
  17. Shirley Bassey – Spinning Wheels (DJ Spinna remix)
  18. Shirley Bassey – Never Never Never (Groove Armada remix)
  19. Shirley Bassey – Diamonds Are Forever (live)
  20. Shirley Bassey – Moonraker
  21. Shirley Bassey and Alain Delon – Thought I’d Ring You
  22. Yello – The Rhythm Divine
  23. Propellerheads – History Repeating
  24. Shirley Bassey – The Living Tree
  25. Shirley Bassey – I Owe It All to You
  26. Shirley Bassey – This Is My Life (Meco Monardo Disco Mix)
  27. Shirley Bassey – Easy Thing to Do (Nightmares on Wax remix)

The next Deep Dive, and my last of the Notre Dame Christmas break, will be one on the music of Captain Beefheart. Don’t miss that. It’ll be weird.

Keep your mind open.

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Top 25 live shows of 2022: #25 – 21

It’s time for a look back at my top live shows of last year. I saw 51 bands last year, some of them multiple times, and a good amount of them at the Levitation Austin and Levitation France music festivals. Here’s the start of the list…

25. The Well – Levitation Austin / Antone’s – October 29th

The Well are one of the best doom bands out there right now, and their live shows never disappoint. They were damn loud in Antone’s and walloped the place with thundering sound. They also played some new material, which bodes well for a new album from them in the future.

24. The Psychedelic Furs – Andrew J. Bird Music Center / Cincinnati – July 20th

My friend described the venue as “the Borg Cube of music venues,” but the Furs filled the place with gorgeous sound, playing a good mix of old and new material. Richard Butler sounded as good as ever and everyone on the band was clicking.

#23. The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Levitation France – June 05th

“You don’t need more drugs, sir, you need better drugs. If you had better drugs, you’d be mellowed out and not yelling.” Those words from band leader Anton Newcombe pretty much summed up the trippy feel of their set to close the 2022 Levitation France music festival.

#22. La Femme – Levitation Austin / Stubb’s – October 30th

Sexy, sweaty, sizzling, and super, this set from the French quintet had the Stubb’s crowd go from, “What is happening?” to “Wow! This is amazing!” by the end. The whole place was bouncing and even yelling back French lyrics they didn’t understand.

#21: Pelada – Levitation France – June 04th

Booked somewhat at the last minute for the 2022 Levitation France music festival, Pelada closed the Scène Elevation (Elevation Stage) one night to a gobsmacked crowd who was bowled over by their fierce industrial-tinged electro. Everyone was in their hands for the entire set, and everyone left with a crush on singer Chris Vargas.

Who makes the top 20? Come back tomorrow to find out!

Keep your mind open.

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