Madison Music Review

High Noon Saloon, Madison
October 30, 2008 – 8:30 pm – $18

What a line-up!

Blitzen Trapper returns to Madison on October 30th to warm up the house for one of my favorite bands – Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks – at the High Noon Saloon.

I was really rocked by Blitzen Trapper last April, when they headlined the High Noon (with Fleet Foxes opening). In fact, I went so far as to buy the tour poster, got it signed by the boys and framed it for my office!

I also recently picked up Furr – their new album released late September – and have been enjoying it a lot (as in “daily” – I kid you not). It includes plenty of hooks and headphone treasures, and I especially dig the variety of genre-bending soundscapes they create: alt-country, freak folk, psych rock, and . . . more!

Blitzen Trapper is a group of native Northwesterners that have lived and played together in Portland since 2000. Eric Earley writes all songs and provides vocals, keyboards and guitar. Brian Adrian Koch is on drums and vocals – Michael VanPelt plays bass – Erik Menteer is on guitar and Moog synthesizer – Drew Laughery plays keys – and Marty Marquis contributes on guitar, vocals and melodica.

Furr – like their previous releases – was recorded in the group’s studio at the Sally Mack’s School of Dance -along the Wllamette River in downtown Portland. One new element in the new recording is the addition of an abandoned old piano that they found and muscled into the studio. Though warped, out-of-tune and missing keys, Earley wrote and recorded much of Furr on the clattering old beast.

I hope you are able to see this show. You cannot miss Stephen Malkmus and you should not miss Blitzen Trapper! — Mister Bill

Bltizen Trapper will also be playing these Midwest venues in the next few weeks:

October 31, 2008 Picador, Iowa City IA
November 1, 2008 Pageant, St Louis MO
November 2, 2008 Blue Note, Columbia MO
November 4, 2008 Slowdown, Omaha NE
November 5, 2008 Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS
November 8, 2008 Turf Club, St. Paul MN
November 9, 2008 Schubas, Chicago IL
November 10, 2008 Locals Only, Indianapolis IN
November 11, 2008 Skullys, Columbus OH

Once again Madison brings in another artist from this summer’s Lollapalooza festival. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks will be hitting the High Noon Saloon on October 30th with Blitzen Trapper.

Take a listen to some choice tracks:

Malkmus fronted one of my favorite bands (Pavement) 20 years ago and since then, has put out some of indie rocks best albums. His guitar work since breaking away from Pavement (1999) has only gotten more brilliant and creative upon each release. There is evidence of SM’s best ax-wielding on Pig Lib (2003) one of my personal favorites.

We caught SM +Jicks last time they came though the state at the Pabst Theater on March 20th. This was not only a great performance but it was the first time I had seen SM. The show was incredible (everything I had expected), SM’s guitar work was immaculate and it was great to see ex-Sleater-Kinney drummer Janet Wiess with the Jicks adding vocals and beat to the mix.

Here is listing of Malkmus’ work other than Pavement:

With Silver Jews

* Dime Map of the Reef (1992) 7″ep
* The Sabellion Rebellion & Old New York (1993) 7″
* The Arizona Record (1993) 12″
* Starlite Walker (1994)
* American Water (1998)
* Hot as Hell – Live 1993 (1999) CD/7″ Single
* Tanglewood Numbers (appears on “The Farmer’s Hotel”) (2005)

With The Crust Brothers

* Marquee Mark (1998)

With The Jicks

* Stephen Malkmus (2001)
* Pig Lib (2003)
* Face the Truth (2005)*
* Real Emotional Trash (2008)

This has to be one of the hottest tickets to get this year. I am thinking it will sell out so get your tickets as soon as you can here.

- fS/above photo fS

When: 10/30/08 @ 8:30pm
Cost: $16 adv., $18 d.o.s. (18+)

Do you want a pair of tickets to any of these upcoming shows?

Alejandro Escovedo – Oct 16 – High Noon Saloon
Jennifer O’Connor – Oct 19 – Cafe Montmartre
. . . courtesy of True Endeavors

Yael Naim – Oct 25 – Wisconsin Union Theater
. . . courtesy of Atlantic Records

You should! Send an email to tickets@madisonmusicreview.com.
Winners will be notified by email at least 24 hours before the show.

For show details and previews, visit madisonmusicreview.com

The Barrymore Theatre, Madison
October 7, 2008

I had such a great time at Todd Rungren’s recent “Arena” show at the Barrymore! It was one of those shows where I feel so grateful for the Madison music scene – where “those with ears to hear” enjoy $200 concert experiences for $20. You know what I’m talking about: the ability to easily see legendary musicians – both young and old – up close and personal in great little venues.

I hesitated to review the show, since I already gushed about TR in my preview. But I do want to tell those Rundgren fans down the road to “Enjoy the Show!” . . . The band consists of Todd on guitar / Jesse Gress on guitar / Prairie Prince on drums / the lovely Rachel Haden holding it down on bass / and another old friend – Kasim Sulton on guitar, keys “and things.”

As you can see from the lineup, the current tour is guitar-heavy – which suits me fine, especially when it includes one of my real Guitar Heroes! Kasim added great rhythm color, and Jesse Gress was a really fine player also.

After opening with Love in Action, Todd played a number of oldie but goodies – including Black Maria (a personal favorite) and even way back to Open My Eyes. Then he played the Arena album in its entirety, before closing the show with the ever-popular Couldn’t I Just Tell You and Just One Victory.

I picked up Arena at the show, and have been enjoying it since. As usual, credits are pretty simple: Produced, Performed and Written by Todd Rundgren. TR fans will not be disappointed. . .

Cheers! — Mister Bill

Jennifer O’Connor’s most recent album “Here With Me” has received critical raves!

She is seemingly always on the road, most recently for a spell on the west coast with Damien Jurado. Next she will head homeward (she now calls Brooklyn, NY home) for some east coast dates, leading to the midwest, and then back to the east coast, veering south for some dates supporting Amy Ray!
“Here With Me” is out now on Matador Records!

Check out her TOUR DATES and more links below!

New website!
http://jenniferoconnor.net/

“O’Connor’s greatest strength as a songwriter is her surgical choice of detail, her ability to render a moment both terribly personal and easily relatable by picking just the right minutia to focus on.” PopMatters (8/10) 

“(O’Connor’s} unflinching lyrics and stunningly strong voice leap from distressing folk ballads to buzzing rock with ease…Here With Me peers into romance with the bittersweet dexterity of Elliott Smith and Aimee Mann.” SPIN
http://www.myspace.com/jenniferoconnor