Madison Music Review

Majestic Theatre – November 28th, 2007

I like the Cowboy Junkies a lot, but have not had the chance to see them before. So I’m excited about their upcoming appearance at the Majestic Theatre.

The name fits the band, I think. And no, they are not cowboys or junkies – but their beautiful, well-crafted songs could be placed in the alt-country genre (although I wouldn’t do that) and their trademark slow-core sound has a dark, woozy, narcotic feel with full-on psychedelic touches. This will be a very intimate, seated performance – only 300 tickets will be sold. (And have you heard the sound in the Majestic yet? It’s great!) Amazingly, there are still tickets available. So I would highly recommend buying a ticket now!

Cowboy Junkies formed in 1985 in Toronto, and their original line-up has remained intact since then.They are Margo Timmins (vocals); Michael Timmins (songwriter, producer and guitars), Peter Timmins (drums) – yes, they are siblings – and Alan Anton (bass). They are touring now behind the new album – At the End of Paths Taken – which is said to be one of their best. (I’m picking up my copy from Strictly Discs today!)

They are also celebrating the 20th anniversary of the recording of their breakout album – Trinity Session – which was recorded on November 27, 1987 using a single Calrec Ambiosonic microphone at The Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto- so I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that material either! This album is a favorite of evey Junkies fan. To celebrate this anniversary, they returned to Trinity Church, along with special guests Ryan Adams, Vic Chesnutt and Natalie Merchant to revisit this material which has been documented with a CD/DVD – Trinity Revisited.

Hope to see you at the show — Mister Bill

www.cowboyjunkies.com
www.myspace.com/cowboyjunkies

Saturday, November 10, 2007 – by Mister Bill

Modest Mouse brought all their tools to the Orpheum and blew the roof off a sold out show. Among all the other things, note the cool amp behind Isaac Brock …

There has been a lot of buzz this year about what a great fit Johnny Marr is with this band. And its all true. He is one of the journeyman guitarists in rock, and it was cool to see him driving these songs with the rest of Mouse.

Here’s the setlist

• Black Cadillacs
• Paper Thin Walls
• Dashboard
• Fire It Up
• Bukowski
• Tiny Cities
• Bury Me With It
• Here It Comes
• King Rat
• Trailer Trash
• Float On
• We’ve Got Everything
• Education
• The View
• Satin in a Coffin
• Talkin Shit
• Parting of the Sensory

Every time I see a show at the Orpheum, I can’t help but fantasize about what a great venue it could be if they would knock out the back wall and reclaim the Stagedoor area. It’s really bizarre to have a 7ft high stage in front of a 10 ft dance floor, and the configuration must also really complicate the sound engineer’s job. But I’ve got my favorite spots, which I refer to as the $300 seats. It’s definately worth getting there early … While we waited for the doors to open, one of the fans in line told me that seeing Man Man alone would be worth the price of admission. They lit up the crowd with their wild stage energy. Really unhinged band. See them when you can.

See ya at the next show!

The Replacements (Civic Center)

In 1989, I was in High School and I can recall always playing my cassette tape of Don’t Tell A Soul that my girlfriend gave me. This show was amazing; I recall the opener, Night Club Jitters (from Pleased to Meet Me) and how a drunk (as usual) Paul Westerberg gracefully drifted onto the stage grasping his martini glass and microphone. After that, “The Mats” launched into cuts from Let it Be and Tim. I can remember this show getting extremely loud towards the end and how the lights came on in the venue during their second encore – as if they tried to shut them down for the evening with no luck. The highlights from this show were “Waitress in the Sky, Answering Machine”, “Skyway” and “Can’t Hardly Wait“.

Whiskeytown (Club Tavern)

Sometimes as I drive down University Avenue and pass the Club Tavern what flashes though my memory is a young, disheveled Ryan Adams sitting on a bar stool reading a worn out copy of some paperback novel. Whiskeytown  played the small, but intimate Club Tavern on 3/22/98 and fortunately my wife and I were there to witness this great local performance. A year or so after this, Whiskeytown broke up and Adams launched into his prolific solo career.

J.J. Cale (Luther’s Blues)

An American icon with a full band in a great venue made for a remarkable experience in the summer of 2002. We arrived early and moved to the front of stage left never really knowing that the microphone stand directly in front of us was Mr. John W. Cale’s. To experience this show up close was truly a life  changing event. The Highlights included Ride Me High and Travelin’ Light. Check out JJ Cale Live.

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (Barrymore Theater)

A rainy evening and a great last minute decision to venture out to the Barrymore brought an intimate evening with two accomplished musicians.  After this show I became an admirer of  David Rawlings. His guitar style, being truly unique and Welch’s guitar/banjo blended together so well with their indistinguishable vocal harmonies. The highlights of this show included an out in front (no microphones) rendition of Long Black Veil. This was that kind of performance that left you speechless on the way out of the theater.

Tortoise (Barrymore Theater)

Around the time of this show I was really into the Standards album and how they started to introduce more eletronica into their already complex progressive sound. I had always wanted to witness Tortoise in live setting. Autumn of 2002 at the  Barrymore Theater, I recall talking to Dan Bitney (former Madisonian and ex-Tar Babies member) about their tour, the recording process and how I was excited to witness Tortoise for the first time. I was not prepared for what was to follow. As a musician, I was so  intrigued at how each  band member was so musically adept and could freely move about from one instrument to another. The highlights from this show was when Herndon and John McEntire got behind the drums kits and dove into “TNT” (from TNT) and “Seneca” (from Standards) The latest rumor is that drummer/producer McEntire (Sea & Cake) is hinting for a late 2007 Tortoise release.

Guided By Voices (Annex)

The Annex on Regent Street: What an amazing little place to witness a band up close…close enough for lead singer, Robert Pollard to hand me a beer from his “stage cooler”.  November, 19th, 2003 – his show was about one year before they had decided to announce the end of GVB. Since then, the creative Pollard has put out several great solo releases. Also check out the new live release from GBV. See pictures from this show.

fS

featuring CRACKER, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit and Backyard Tire Fire
Thursday, November 8 at 8:00 pm
High Noon Saloon ($18 advance / $20 door / 21+)
Cracker is one of my favorite bands. After 17 years, 8 albums, 4 gold records and 8 bass players, they are about to bring their “Tornado Alley Tour ’07″ into Madison. I saw Cracker just over a year ago at the High Noon, when they were backed up by Trampled by Turtles. It was one of those great August nights when hanging out on the High Noon patio is so enjoyable. Despite spending too much time bumping out to the patio to catch up with friends, I still thought this was one of the great shows of 2006. I’m expecting no less this time.

The band was founded by David Lowery (vocals/ guitar – and also co-founder of the influential alt-rock band Camper Van Beethoven) and Johnny Hickman (lead guitar / vocals). These guys are a really great guitar duo. They are joined by bassist Sal Maida (Roxy Music / Sparks / Runaways) and drummer Frank Funaro (The Dictators / Joey Ramone / Del Lords) , as they tour in support of their most recent album – Greenland.

I picked Greenland up at the last show, and really like it a lot start to finish. And indeed the closing song, Darling We’re Out of Time, is a thing of beauty – it just floors me every time.

Here’s a cool video:

Come on out and see them. You won’t be disappointed. I promise!

For more info:
www.crackersoul.com
www.myspace.com/crackerhatesmyspace ( … best myspace name ever)

- Mister Bill