Surfer Blood - New and Interesting Grooves from the Sunshine State

Surfer Blood - CMJ 2009
Originally uploaded by Giulia Mazza

Surfer Blood caught my attention because someone described them as punk. I was hoping they would be punk revival along the lines of Against Me! or Anti-Flag. They didn't sound like that, but that is ok. They do have an interesting groove. More like power pop and indie rock rolled together. I hear the surf guitar of the 60s, the Shins, and a little My Morning Jacket along with some new stuff that washed up on the beaches of the Sunshine State. "Surfer Blood are a band from West Palm Beach, Florida. Their debut album, Astro Coast was released on January 19, 2010 on Kanine Records." That is all the information I can find about them on Last.fm. Simple enough. If you want to get some fresh grooves for the fresh decade of the 2010's, check out Surfer Blood.

NOFX turns 25!

NOFX 073
Originally uploaded by Juan The Fly Factory

Geez am I getting old! NOFX, the band that I considered the new punk, is 25 years old. It is funny that the whole 1980's wave of SoCal punk bands that emerged after the original onslaught of bands like Black Flag, the Dead Kennedys, et al... are now the old guard. Bands like Lagwagon, NOFX, Rancid, Bracket, etc.
So NOFX are turning 25 years old. Lots of great music. Lots of great cds, lots of great shows. The band that will play a punk show ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, for ANYONE deserves our debt of grattitude for keeping the fire going. The last cd they put out was a live one that captures the fun that is a NOFX show and it is definitely worth the listen. NOFX has done everything but a Christmas cd. How about NOFXmas? Nice idea, huh.
I always like the sense of humor in their music, their prolific writing, their liberal politics and their sloppy great musicianship. Believe me, it takes a great musician to sound like you don't practice...
Fat Mike and the gang, Here is to another 25 years! I will be 70 years old at that time, but probably still a punk, after all...

Musicians on the Mend - Travis Barker and Jim James

My Morning Jacket
Originally uploaded by kingpinphoto

Here is a note from the band on their website:
"Ler the doctor's orders, Jim will be off the road and recovering from his injuries for the next two to three weeks. Sadly, we must postpone the two shows in Chicago on Thursday and Friday until further notice. [...] Thank you so much to our fans for the kind sentiments and well-wishes on Jim's behalf. We hope for Jim's quick recovery and to be back out on the road soon." Jim is recovering from a fall from a stage in Iowa last week.

Here is a note from Travis Barker, who is recovering from an airplane crash in South Carolina that killed four:

"Like the doctors said from the beginning, its been a slow recovery process. I am coming up on the 7th of my surgeries Monday. Today I finally was able to move all my fingers on my right hand. Every step seems huge at this point, and Im doing EVERYTHING I can possibly do to get back to my kids. Yes, I did start eating meat again, but if it helps me to be home holding my little humans sooner, then its all worth it. The staff here are all bomb! Dr. Grossman and his staff are the best... Despite any rumors you might have heard, Ive been treated amazingly well, both here in LA and in Georgia. The hospitals Ive been treated at are THE BEST... I got to see AM the other day. Seeing him after he was discharged was an inspiration. I saw just how awesome the doctors' work here is, and got to see how well he is doing. I am so happy to see him doing well, and we are both so lucky and grateful that we are alive today. "

My Morning Jacket Leader Jim James Injured in Fall

My morning jacket Jim James
Originally uploaded by corey_bayless

Here is what I found from the Des Moines Register
"IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) _ Singer and guitarist Jim James of the rock group My Morning Jacket has been injured in a fall during a concert at the University of Iowa.
Reports say he slipped and fell about 30 minutes into the show Tuesday night, apparently hitting his head in the fall, which happened between songs. James was taken to a hospital, but the extent of his injuries was not known. The band's four other members left the stage seconds after James fell.Drummer Patrick Hallahan returned several minutes later to say James fell and his injury was being assessed. Hallahan and the other band members returned to the stage to say the show was canceled."
Let's hope he recovers soon. They are on quite a roll now with the new album and tour. They are scheduled for a New Years Eve gig at Madison Square Garden. Get well soon!

Louisville Listed on MSN's "7 Cities Shaping American Music"

freakwater
Originally uploaded by mybloodyself

Here is something I have known for years. Louisville is a great place to play live original music, and see interesting bands. We have turned out our share of interesting bands over the years. My Morning Jacket, The Shipping News, Joan Osbourne, Freakwater, Flaw, Days of the New just to name a few.

I have lived in other towns, and there is a real difference here. Other cities often have "Cover" bands at every venue. Not so here. Here, the club owners are very encouraging of original artists. There is a place for cover bands too, but the norm here is original artists and tunes. I once spoke to a musician from Cleveland, and when he found out I played all originals he said "You are really brave", and insinuated that in his local scene, no one wanted to hear it. I am so glad Louisville is not that way.

I am glad Louisville is getting some overdue attention. We have been a well-kept secret for far too long...

My Morning Jacket's Tonight Show Gig!

My Morning Jacket's Jim James: In My Face
Originally uploaded by supernova9

I was pleased to see MMJ on the Tonight Show last evening. They are currently on tour and sounding great. Their performance was energetic and exciting, although television usually doesn't do justice to live music. I applaud Jay Leno for having a wide variety of bands on his show. MMJ has also appeared on Conan Obrien, but the Tonight Show is the gig of gigs! Congrats to the hometown heroes...

My Morning Jacket-Louisville Homecoming

From all accounts, the hometown concert by My Morning Jacket was a smash success. Three of the members of the band call Louisville home, and the band was started here. On the Great Lawn, the sprawling park along the banks of the Ohio River, under a full moon, MMJ returned to their hometown as conquering heroes. Even though the mayor referred to them as "Our Morning Jacket" (intentional or not?) they ran through a 3 hour set that covered both new material from the latest cd, "Evil Urges" along with tracks from their days of playing the 'Ville back in the 90's, MMJ showed why they are fast garnering a reputation of being one of the best live bands on the scene. I, unfortunately, had to work and couldn't make it. I have heard nothing but positive reviews of the show however. The local Courier Journal had nice writeups both pre- and post-concert. www.courierjournal.com

My Morning Jacket- Louisville- August 16

Touring in support of their new release, "Evil Urges", the Jacket will return home to Louisville on August 16th. When they were just local guys making noise, who'd have thlought they would be playing big gigs like Red Rocks, coming up later this month, or their New Year's Eve gig at Madison Square Garden? Good to see the locals make big. Looking at their tour schedule, it looks like a nice mix of outdoor gigs like Red Rocks and Riverfront Park, and some arena shows as well. The tunes aren't that bad, either. None other than Rolling Stone Magazine said that they are fast becoming the best live act on the planet. Still the haunting vocals, layered guitars and hook-laden riffs they are known for.