August 31, 2006

Happy College Football kickoff day

Well Tulsa plays in roughly 15 hours so I'm ready for the season. I assume those of you with rooting interests are too. This is not a sports info blog so I won't go game by game with breakdowns. I'll only talk about games of relevance to me and my known comment contributors. Since most of these games like OU-UAB and Vandy-Michigan are Saturday I'll post about them tomorrow. However, tonight the new season begins for the defending C-USA champs, and no I haven't done enough to scout today's opponent and provide insight other than it's Stephen F Austin so if Tulsa struggles too much someone may need to check on my well-being.

Prediction: TU 37 SFA 10

That's it for now as the adrenaline is fading again.

Song lyric of the day:
"I try to shake my daily routine
I gotta escape from their watchful eyes
'cause I'm not sure if this is about me
or if they're reliving glory days gone by

you don't want to walk in my shoes
beneath all this envy green
I'm varsity blue"
Caroline's Spine -- "Varsity Blue"

August 24, 2006

Less than a week until regular season football and I'm wasting too much time with music

Ok the title pretty much explains things but between Edgewater tomorrow and Deep Ella Saturday, those that know me know how much trouble I'm in.

With the space space-related news of Pluto being downgraded to dwarf planet and the concert calendar as it is, the lyric of the day is reasonably thematic.

Song Lyrics of the Day,
"We're not robots
More like astronauts
We're not programmed
We make choices"
Edgewater-- Digging for Sounds (yes I've used a different part of this song before but it fit the theme)

August 21, 2006

No animals were hurt in this concert experience, but the saplings sacrificed for the pamphlet may have died in vain

Knowing my readership, we've all been to shows, and as we leave, inevitably street teamers for bands coming to town soon (I'm guilty of this to a degree) will hand out reminders of the upcoming show. This I've come to expect. I didn't expect social activists to pick a post-concert parking lot to hand out pamphlets on why I and the rest of the fleeing audience should change our ways and become vegan. Just to emphasize, I appreciate their message but question their timing. I have a few suggestions to help them in their quest for converts (though my reasonably rural Oklahoma background makes it not particularly likely I will be converting).

First off, there are few things in this world that should be attempted under cover of darkness. Social enlightenment of complete strangers is not one of them. I live in a town with one of the highest crime rates in the free or oppressed world. Therefore, if I'm walking back to rail station and am approached by someone at that time of night, there are about 5 possibilities and none of them are particularly appealing. My advice, I know there aren't as many daytime events but I would suggest canvasing those to get a better reaction.

Second suggestion, as with any rock show, 60-70% of the people you're conversing with have been partaking of $8.00 beer for several hours and therefore won't remember a damn thing you said anyway. Thus the post show parking lot may not be the best opportunity for coherent life-changing conversations.

And finally, since you have limited experience with post-concert behavior, just a hint from the title of this post. Save the trees don't bother with the pamphlets. No one I know saves the leaflets they get after concerts. They peruse them for 5 seconds for reminders of shows they likely know about already and will then often leave them in the car floorboard or god forbid the parking lot.

Just trying to help and good luck on your quest.

Speaking of the walk back I pieced together a small piece for a new writing/song lyric set but I don't know if I should continue with it. I'm posting what I have as the lyric of the day. Comments and suggestions welcome as always.

Song Lyric of the Day

"Don't look down
Or this ride may be over
I'd rather continue to fly
Don't shake me
Interrupt the dream
I don't want to fall from the sky"
Caffeine and Starlight -- "Adrenaline (Icarus)"

After a long Houston area concert hiatus, I picked a nice return show

As you might guess based on my review of Phobia and my admitted Breaking Benjamin fandom, when it was announced that they and Evans Blue were coming to Houston I knew I would be there if at all possible. Unlike some shows, I was not only entertained but quite frankly impressed with the entire show. First up was Minnesota-based piano-rock group Dropping Daylight who I had only vaguely researched prior to show time. As you can see by the addition to the "Music I've yet to acquire" list, they made quite an impression. Highlights of the show included "Take a Photograph","Brace Yourself", in which Chad of BB played drums as a guest and apparently blew something up at the end, and lastly the lead single of Dropping Daylight's album "Tell Me" is a special tune.
Next up was Evans Blue. I'm proud to say I hit the opener with the energetic "A Cross and a Girl Named Blessed". This flowed smoothly into "The Promise and The Threat" one of my other favorites. On the track "Beg" Matisyn had a little backing vocal help from Ben Brunley which added to an otherwise solid track. There were a couple of tracks in the Evans Blue set that I didn't recognize but there efforts on "Cold (But I'm Still Here)" and "Over" were solid and had the crowd going.
Let us make no mistake though this was Breaking Benjamin's show from the first mention of "my polyamorous friend" there were 4000-5000 people singing along and active bouncing (in so much as it's possible for some of us). "Polyamorous" kicked off the set follow by a pause in which Ben commented on the crowd and then let to the next Saturate contribution with the simple warning "The wicked witch this way comes" leading into "Home" and its plethora of "Wizard of Oz" references. Sebastian Davin of Dropping Daylight contributed backing vocals to "Shallow Bay" followed by "Break Down" from We Are Not Alone. There was overall a good mix of old and new. "Topless",which is a much better live song, "Had Enough", "Breath" and "Dance With the Devil", were included with "The Diary of Jane" from Phobia, "Sooner or Later", "Simple Design", "Break Down", and "So Cold", which was the closer, appeared from We Are Not Alone . Saturate provided "Polyamorous", "Home", "Shallow Bay" and "Phase". Midway through the set Matisyn and company from Evans Blue joined BB for a solid cover rendition of the Deftones "My Own Summer (Shove It)" and Breaking Benjamin led off their encore with a surprisingly good rendition of Tool's "Aenema" before closing the show with "Blow Me Away".

Having seen Breaking Benjamin previously at Buzzfest I was entertained then, but I think the smaller venue and the close proximity of the crowd at Verizon accentuated alot of the interaction moments (the wicked witch clip, stopping the show twice to toast the crowd and have a beer, and the various sing along parts). Even on the new songs the majority of the fans I was near were singing throughout and carrying the song when asked. As a result of the crowd and the show I felt entertained more become it seemed that I was a more active participant.

Anyway, all three bands put on a good show but in order of lasting impression it goes
  1. Breaking Benjamin
  2. Dropping Daylight
  3. Evans Blue

As always I must include at least the college football counter ... 1o days

August 17, 2006

Given my other options I think today needs a random new music suggestion

As a Houstonian, I should comment of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals striking down the Star of Hope momument again, but that will inevitably turn into me railing on the legal system once again. So, although I vehemently disagree with the ruling that a 50-year-old momument to a noted Houston area philanthropist at the Harris County courthouse is a violation of the establishment clause, I refuse to get bogged down in the legal battles.

Instead I had a good musical night and thought I would share. In perusing one of my usual music boards I came across and announcement regarding the release of Air Stereo by a New York City band the Damnwells. For those who like acoustic music in the spirit of bands like the Fray or bands in a similar vein to Augustana, you should enjoy based on the four songs I've heard.
In a completely different genre, I was happy to note the return of Smile Empty Soul. Sadly last year's disc Anxiety got permanently shelved and will not be available other than at shows. However, SES has switched labels and finished a 3rd album Vultures to be released October 24th. The two songs I have heard are a marked improvement musically from their self-titled album though I enjoyed it as well. The first single "The Hit" does a solid job of ripping the recording process while still providing some of the simple entertainment of their previous efforts. The other song I enjoyed for the title as well as the tune but I'll save that for the lyric of the day.

I leave my vast readership of 2 with a request. Please provide any new music suggestions you've come across recently that you believe warrants my attention.

Today's counters
14 days until college football and the defense of the C-USA title begins
19 days until Revelations
47 days until The Open Door, Sam's Town, Shine On, and numerous others worth noting

Song Lyric of the Day
"Close your mind with the door
To keep the demons out
Everyone in the store
Shut their little mouths
He said this when we say
Look how much we sank
And all we have to do is smile
While our minds decay
Because Jesus is the manager at Walmart"
Smile Empty Soul -- "Jesus is the Manager at Walmart"

August 09, 2006

Music Review: Phobia

The Pennsylvania quartet Breaking Benjamin have come a long way since the initial success of "Polyamorous" from their first album Saturate. Phobia, the group's third national release follows up on the growth shown in We Are Not Alone while protraying a more consistent hard edge than the previous effort.
Musical intros and outros aside, all the songs themselves are all worth at least a cursory listen, but there a few significant standouts. The lead single "The Diary of Jane" is an excellent song that establishes an energy level that the rest of the album works to duplicate but doesn't sacrifice lyrical quality in doing so. The following track "Breath" is quite solid. It's not of "Diary.." caliber but it should not be discounted.
Tracks 5-7 are outstanding. "Evil Angel" may not be the most intricate song on the album but I'm for the most part a simpleton. If a song is lyrically solid and has a music track I can enjoy that's all I ask. That said, it's probably my favorite track, either that one or "Dance with the Devil". "Until the End" has a strong lyrical message of strength and perseverance which personally connects with me. It's a very lyrically driven track with somber almost brooding verses balanced by the uplifting chorus. "Dance with the Devil" is again lyrically fairly simple but it works for me. It's a solid and entertaining track which I look forward to hearing live (8/19/06).

The other solid tracks are the lyrically driven "Here We Are" which protrays the standard relationship at a crossroads, but does so quite well. I don't sense as much blame or self-pity as in other songs with the same theme. It appears more like a call for introspection than a standard feud. "Unknown Soldier" is an effective song in the present war climate but it's not on the level of Cold's "When Angels Fly Away" as these tunes go. "Had Enough" is a simple high-energy track about the effects of greed on friendship.

Disappointments are the tracks "Topless" and "You Fight Me" which I couldn't connect with. "You" (track 4) is a decent track which to a degree falls victim to positioning. The instrumental and sound effect intro and outro don't really add anything for me other than providing a sense of completeness.

That's all for the official tracklist but the acoustic piano and cello version of "The Diary of Jane" as a bonus track was a nice capper to an enjoyable musical ride.

Rating: 8.5/10 (will continue to get more than a few listens in the coming days)

August 08, 2006

A good musical week

Today has been the culmination of a fantastic music acquistion week for me. Saturday featured the purchase of Hurt's Vol. 1 and Seether's One Cold Night. Today was Breaking Benjamin's Phobia, Midlake's Trials of van Occupanther and on the suggestion of Pandora and Mike, Nada Surf's The Weight is a Gift. I suppose now I should actually review these at some stage.

Song Lyrics of the Day
"Put me to sleep evil angel
Open your wings evil angel
Fly over me evil angel
Why can't I breathe evil angel?"
-- Breaking Benjamin