rhetoric, writing, and technology

Anvil

Anvil: The Story of Anvil is a documentary out now on one of the original metal bands from the early 80s. I actually have an album of theirs on tape from around 83-84, Forged in Fire. They were pretty good and I always thought they should have gone farther. I'll definitely have to get around to checking this out at some point. Here's some notes from Rotten Tomatoes and the trailer. This is a great QA after their hometown screening. They really were an influential band for the transition from NWOBHM to Thrash, but they never made it on any kind of large scale. They kind of got lost in that transition. It's kind of nice to see them getting some props.

Posted by: bhawk at 15:41 | link | comments (5)
music, video

Top Five Live

I've been thinking about this post for a while, so after seeing Mace again this weekend I thought I should get to posting it. These are my top five live acts *when you compare the live show to the recordings.* Some acts are just live acts, and a CD just can't capture the live experience.

1. Gore Gore Girls

I first saw GGG in Tempe just down from ASU. We were there at a conference, looked up some shows in the local paper, and decided this was the one. Good choice. GGG are powerful and clean live. The guitars really pack a punch without getting muddy. Plus they have their act down. I went and saw them again when they came through DC and they were equally as good. So, I bought the CD. The tracks they have online and on CD just don't represent what they can do. The guitars are thin and lose all of the punch they get through a big PA bouncing the sound off the back wall. If they come anywhere near you, go. Classic Detroit roots rock. (The vid below just can't capture their power live, but it will give you a taste of what they are after.)

2. Mace

I first saw Mace a few years ago when his band the Rubes played F-burg (they are on the local label Underdogma). The Rubes were good, but ended up breaking up. The upshot was Mace, who played bass and sang in the Rubes, decided to go solo. Just him and a guitar. While the recordings posted to myspace are fine, they just simply can't reproduce the experience of his voice filling up an entire room. When he came through F-burg again a couple of years ago he did an impromptu free show and just set up a pitcher at the stage and asked for donations. By the end of the night he had around 250 bucks. His range of songs from bluesy originals to classics like Zeppelin to underground favs like Raging Slab to a traditional bluegrass song sans guitar all show off his incredible vocal range, power, and feeling. Somehow this guy really needs to get on the road and catch a break.

3. Retarted Elf

Back in the early 90s Retarted Elf jumped on the short-lived funk resurgence brought on by the Chilli Peppers and others. Hailing from TX, they had a record and hit in Japan, if I'm not mistaken, but never got the record deal here to take off, and then the trend fizzled out. But these guys were a live party band all along anyway. Incredibly fun to see live. Again, a record or a video just can't capture the feel of the horns filling the room, the dancers coming off stage and starting a train during "No Stop Party Train," and the energy coming off stage. The recordings aren't bad, just no substitute. (I picked the vid below because it captures a little of what their live show was about, but the sound can't compare to the real live show.)

4. Dan Deacon

I saw DD not too long ago and sort of jumped on the band wagon. Hailing from Baltimore and creating his own persona as techno-DJ meets DIY punk, DD is another act that is really created for the live experience. The songs are written to be performed. Recordings I've heard and fine, but the whole show is geared toward being down in front with Deacon and soaking in the energy and experience. A must see at least once. (See the link above for my review of the show I saw and a vid.)

5. Buck-o-Nine

I decided to round this out with another 90s band. Again the short-lived ska movement was destined to be short-lived. The genre is centered on the live experience. No Doubt aside, bands like Bo9 (named for how much a quart of beer cost at the corner store) were more about fun and performance than hits and fame. Not as much of a distinction between the records and the shows as some of these other acts, but still something better experienced live. Bo9 has a new album coming out (or out). Glad to see they are still kickin. (The vid below is from their newest album and is more polished, hence their lower ranking on my top five.)

RT

Retarted Elf - "What Up G" by Tara Venaruso

GGG:

click here for more videos like this

Bo9:

Buck-O-Nine - Im Not Dead

Posted by: bhawk at 12:47 | link | comments (3)
music, reviews, video