GRANT LEE BUFFALO: NEW (OLD) RIDERS ON THE STORM (HYMNALS)?

You'd never have known these guys hadn't played together in a very long time...
Their show the other night would not have given you any indication. Grant Lee Phillips
mentioned the songs they would be playing were from an era when they "practiced a lot".
It showed. The airtight rhythm section of Paul Kimble (bass) and Joey Peters (drums) and Phillips on twelve string played through any number of pedals sounded like a well oiled and muscular machine. They joked about loud / quiet dynamics and showed them off effortlessly. "The loudest slow songs you'll ever hear", Phillips joked. I always associated them more the alt-country of the mid-90's, mostly because of Phillips Americana-soaked  lyrical bent. His voice was always front and center for me, burnished baritone and aching falsetto waltzing through songs of of the old weird America, which seems to be getting weirder by the way... But Phillips also shreds. Reminded me of Sonic Youth or Dinosaur Jr at times, with big blasts of riffs.

Phillips is a natural storyteller and cut-up. He spent most of the evening cracking jokes between songs. Some of the music is melancholic to say the least and he and the band recognize that. It's like they are introducing oddball members of the family. That humor may be absent in the bands earnest songs, but it is an essential part of their show. They looked like they were having a blast and it certainly sounded like it

When they mentioned knowing a "hybrid of a Doors song", the audience roared. What followed is their version of The Doors-doing-the-theme-to-Gilligan's Island to the music of 'The End'. Phillips' Lizard King was dead on complete with drone-y eastern tinged guitar riffs.

Giligan.
Yes, little buddy.
I want to kill you.

Devastatingly funny and musically perfect.
Then they tore your heart out with "Rock Of Ages".

Hopefully not the end.... Maybe a new record!?




GRANT LEE BUFFALO:

The OG line-up consisting of Grant Lee Phillips, Paul Kimble and Joey Peters.
Live at the Old Town School. March 29, 2014.

BLACK FLAG X BLACKHAWKS T SHIRT

     I grew up listening to Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Adolescents... My uncle actually managed the Circle Jerks - 'Golden Shower Of Hits' era. I grew up in L.A., but moved to Chicago years ago. I was riding my bike home one day and got the idea for the shirt. My cousin 'Gwar' (yeah, that's his nickname, has been for 20+ years) is a huge Kings fan, so it was kind of a dig at him, too. Of course he secretly likes the Hawks and wants one, too. The greatest punk/hockey shirt of all time?!?! Dunno. Is there another one?

Well, hopefully sue-happy Greg Ginn doesn't come after me. (Or the Blackhawks, either...)

In the meantime; RISE ABOVE!

 

WANT ONE? BUY IT HERE

Sleepless in Siver Lake

Back after a lapse and subsequent demolishing of the original concept, or not. But anyway Les Savy Fav closed Green Fest in Wicker Park with colored tape, a dog, grease paint, lots of spakle-y sh*t, an American flag cape... Singer Tim Harrington is a Care Bear gone bad ass, constantly climbing up on things (in this case a beer tent) and sometimes falling down (also the case in the photo sequence). He reappeared in the third story window of an apartment overlooking the show in which earlier he had encouraged a woman in the window sing opera - and she obliged. Chair surfing as well, the band just rips it up while he goes nuts.