MJ LENDERMAN / M WARD Live / New Susanna Hoffs / Omaha Record Show /Jane's Addiction / Jesse Malin (VIDEO)

In the newest edition of "This Year's Week," I report on recent shows from M.J. Lenderman and M. Ward (pretty much all the M's), as well as a new release from Susanna Hoffs, and my trip to the Omaha Record Show. Make sure to watch until the end to see Blackie O and myself visit a cat groomer for the first time...

M.J. Lenderman is one of the most buzzed about indie artists of 2024. His new album, Manning Fireworks, is drawing comparisons to Neil Young and Paul Westerberg. Lenderman is featured on the newest Waxahatchee record, so he will be all over every critic's "best of" list for 2024. He played at The Waiting Room along with Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band.

Indie legend M. Ward returned to Omaha for the first time in 15 years for a show at Waiting Room. He's touring in support of a new greatest hits album. Shelley from ‪RockNRollBookClub‬ and I hit the very subdued show and enjoyed the music trip down memory lane. 

Susanna Hoffs is releasing a new solo record, The Lost Record, on October 18. These tracks were being worked on at the end of the 90s, but were never completed once The Bangles reunion happened. Note that October 18 is the day it will be available to stream. The vinyl will be released at the end of November.

Susanna Hoffs also appears on the new tribute album to Jesse Malin called 'Silver Patron Saints.' She appears alongside Bruce Springsteen, Tommy Stinson, Billie Joe Armstrong, Ian Hunter, and many more. It's a fantastic collection.

After showing some pickups from the recent Omaha record show, I give my (a little less than) two cents on the break-up of Jane's Addiction.

At the very end of the video, come along with me and Blackie O to The Grand Feline Hotel & Salon. In 30 years of cat ownership, I had never been to a cat groomer. There's a first time for everything, folks.

The Replacements Let it Be is 40!!! Paul Westerberg Tommy Stinson Chris Mars Bob Stinson (VIDEO)

Today is the 40th birthday of The Replacements legendary album "Let It Be." I've probably listened to this record a thousand times since I first picked it up as a sophomore in high school.

Initially, I picked it up solely for the cover of "Black Diamond" from Kiss. I was a metal head at the time, and Kiss was my absolute favorite. Any band that covered Kiss was going to be all right by me! But "Let it Be" is nothing like a Kiss record, and it took me some time to appreciate it. But once I did, I never looked back! The Replacements became my new obsession.

To be honest, they are still an obsession of mine. I can't believe this album is 40 years old!? Damn.

Dark Stuff Playlist October 2024 (Apple Music & Spotify)

Welcome to this month's playlist. This one is a pretty good reflection of where I've been at recently -- both musically and emotionally. Ezra Furman's "Wobbly" pretty much sums things up for me. Been having lots of anxiety about the upcoming US elections, so I've been self medicating by seeing lots of live music. I've seen some fun shows recently from Ringo Starr, Built To Spill, Faster Pussycat, A Giant Dog, and M Ward. I'm planning to see MJ Lenderman, Mdou Moctar, Superchunk, Jeff Tweedy, and Psychedelic Furs later this month.

About the music: I start off with some early Rush from their 1975 'Fly By Night' album. It is quickly followed a brand new band from NYC called SNOWMEN, and a 2020 song from Deep Sea Diver. I think that band is going to blow up in 2025. Since the early MTV days, I have always lumped Van Halen's "Intruder" and "(Oh) Pretty Woman" together (like VH did in the music video). It just fits.

Don't be thrown by the inclusion of Taylor Swift here. The song, "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me," is incredible, and very relevant to today's political and social environment. It took Evan Dando covering "Things" for me to truly appreciate the greatness of this particular Paul Westerberg song. Now, it's among my favorites of his. I chose "Raw Deal" by Judas Priest because, according to Rob Halford's memoir (which I'm currently reading), this 1977 song was his first ever "reveal" about his sexuality.

Real music nerds will appreciate my inclusion of Motorhead covering Ramones followed by C.J. Ramone (Ramones bassist 89-96) covering Dave Edmunds. Later on, after some BOC and KISS, I threw on a track from LL Cool J's latest record, The Force. In this song, producer Q-Tip samples the Gary Numan classic, "M.E." and it is so great! After some early Def Lep and Ringo, I close out with new Nada Surf, later period Led Zeppelin, and one of my personal favorite songs from both Beck and Rilo Kiley.

The playlist also features some intermittent jazz and R&B as a pallet cleanser between all this great rock. Dig it.

Apple Music:

 

Spotify:

Built To Spill + Quasi LIVE at Waiting Room, Omaha, NE 9/21/24 (PHOTOS)

Doug Martsch of Built To Spill

I caught Built To Spill for what I think was the 22nd time last evening at Waiting Room. On the band's current tour, Built To Spill is celebrating the 30th birthday of its There's Nothing Wrong with Love album. The opener for the show was Quasi, featuring former Sleater-Kinney drummer, Janet Weiss. Both bands were excellent.

Melanie Radford of Built To Spill

Janet Weiss of Quasi

Sam Coomes of Quasi

"Back in the Day" Concert Tales: KISS + White Lion Nov. 27, 1987 // Meeting Gene Simmons! (VIDEO)

In my newest installment of "Concert Tales," I take you back to a November 1987 show from KISS and White Lion. 

In 1987, I was 16 years old, and I could finally drive myself to concerts (no more begging for rides from Mom). I had learned, by then, that many of the bands that perform at the Omaha Civic Auditorium stay at the nearby Red Lion Inn hotel. November 27, 1987 was a Friday, and it was the day after Thanksgiving that year. Omaha was in the midst of a two day snowstorm, but I decided to drive down to the Red Lion on the off chance I might meet someone from KISS.

I had already met the band on the previous tour, but I was at the height of my fandom at this time, and I needed more! I spotted Gene Simmons dining alone in the hotel's restaurant, and I approached him. He invited me to sit with him, and I proceeded to do a spontaneous interview with the rock legend. 

Later that night, my friend and I hit the Civic Auditorium Arena to KISS and opening act, White Lion. For a variety of reasons, we were among the few, the proud, who went to this particular KISS concert. In the newspaper the next day, the attendance was reported as 2,592. The place was pretty empty. Regardless, KISS put on their usual, high energy show, and I loved it.

I hope you enjoy this trip down hair metal memory lane...

Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band LIVE September 12, 2024 (Review) (VIDEO)

Welcome back, friends, and thanks for watching my latest video. I was fortunate enough to get a last minute, free ticket to see Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band the other night. There was no way, I was going to pass up that opportunity to see music legend, Ringo Starr. He was in a band you may have heard of called The Beatles. {sarcasm}

In addition to Ringo himself, his band featured Steve Lukather (Toto), Colin Hay (Men at Work), Hamish Stuart (Average White Band), Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth), Warren Ham, and Buck Johnson.

Naturally, Ringo played many of his best known Beatles tunes ("Boys" "Octopus's Garden"), and songs from his solo career ("Photograph" "It Don't Come Easy"). But the band also played songs from Toto, Men at Work, and Average White Band. Ringo played along to nearly all of it!

Very difficult to believe that Ringo Starr is 84 years old. He was doing jumping jacks on stage!

Great times.

Best Album of 2024? Four More Contenders! NEW MUSIC (VIDEO)

This week, I offer up four more possibilities for Best Album of 2024. This is sort of a follow-up to a video from a few months ago, where I picked four very early contenders for album of the year. Those records are still contenders, but there have been quite a few top notch releases since then.

First up, is the new LP from LL Cool J. This hip-hop legend has just released his 14th album, and his first since "retiring" from music back in 2016. This album has no right being this good.

Next...Scottish indie rockers, Camera Obscura, return with their first new music since 2013, 'Look to the East, Look to the West.' Another incredible set of tunes from this sophisticated pop band.

If you're a subscriber to this channel, you've probably heard me going on and on about the newest album from King Hannah, 'Big Swimmer.' I will go on and on some more here.

Last of my four selections is the new self-titled album from Redd Kross. The McDonald brothers deliver their most consistent batch of songs in their entire, 40+ year career.

You got four better?! Name them.

Ringo Starr and His All-Star Band LIVE in Omaha September, 12, 2024 (PHOTOS)

Ringo Starr leading his All-Star Band

The All-Star Band includes Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Hamish Stuart, and Gregg Bissonette

Ringo (drums) and Hamish Stuart (bass)

Ringo says good night

No Oasis Reunion For Me // WEEN Says Goodbye? // Vinyl Haul // This Year's Week (VIDEO)

Welcome back, friends, and thanks for watching my latest video. In the newest edition of "This Year's Week," I have a brief follow-up to last week's review of the recent Faster Pussycat show. I can't believe I forgot this detail!

It's a new month, so you know what that means...a new Dark Stuff Playlist! (Spotify or Apple Music).

I have an honest to God VINYL HAUL to show you. I know, I know. It's been a while. I hit both Target (?) and 402 Vinyl, and found some decent stuff.

There's a little bit of music news on some of my favorite artists to report. I have some updates on Susanna Hoffs (Bangles), Bob Mould, and WEEN.

Your buddy Dave is not among those excited about the announcement of an Oasis reunion. The band is mediocre, at best; and tickets for this lame-o stadium tour will be hundreds of dollars. Save your money and go see Redd Kross instead. In this video, I make the case that Redd Kross is better than Oasis and that the McDonald brothers beat the Gallagher brothers on any day that ends in Y.

Dark Stuff Playlist September 2024 (Spotify and Apple Music)

Apple Music:
 

 Spotify:

REVIEW: Faster Pussycat LIVE at Waiting Room Lounge 2024 (VIDEO)

Welcome back, friends, and thanks for watching my latest video. This week, I caught the band Faster Pussycat at the Waiting Room Lounge in Omaha. When I was a teenager, I loved this band; but to be honest, I had lost track of them by about 1990.

I still have fond memories of Faster Pussycat, so I threw on their debut record from '87 to see what I thought today. I dug it. Very early Aerosmith vibe -- and lead singer Taime Downe's voice is a little bit Steven Tyler and a little bit Darby Crash. That sealed the deal, I was going to go to the show.

A lot of time has passed since May 1990 when I saw ‪Faster Pussycat open for KISS. The current version of the band features only lead singer Taime Downe from that period. I had no real expectations going in.

Faster Pussycat 2024 is a harder, grittier rock band than they were back in the day. They played an impressive set that featured all the classics from the first two records, as well as some newer material and a surprising cover song. It was a great night.

There were four openers for the show (way too many, imho), but I only caught two.

Buffalo Tom LIVE at Outlandia Music Festival, Omaha, NE August 10, 2024 (VIDEO)

Welcome back, friends. Thanks, as always, for watching my videos. This video compiles my short clips of Buffalo Tom performing at the Outlandia Music Festival on August 10, 2024. Despite being a fan of the band for nearly 35 years, this was the first time I was able to see Buffalo Tom in concert.

I was working at the festival as the stage manager, so these clips are shot either from the pit or from the side of the stage. Have you seen my video on the entire Outlandia 2024 festival: https://youtu.be/X0ba38CR1-c?si=1STbt0BXtOe-pmks.

Don't miss my Buffalo Tom catalog ranking either: https://youtu.be/sWJFjR8UgpY?si=ioqOQhfHtyAGm2tE

Dark Stuff Playlist August 2024 (Spotify and Apple Music)

 

The Dark Stuff Playlist is back!! Here is the mix for August 2024

Spotify: Apple Music:

Outlandia 2024 Behind the Scenes Recap: Flaming Lips, Buffalo Tom, Men I Trust, The Faint & MORE! (VIDEO)

Welcome back, friends. Thanks, as always, for watching my videos. This week's video is my behind the scenes recap video of this year's Outlandia Music Festival. Since the festival's inception in 2022, I have been fortunate enough to work as the stage manager for the two day event. So, this video will show you a little peak behind the scenes in the set up of the festival, as well as some close up video of many of the artists that performed.

Fortunately, the weather cooperated this year, and we didn't reach skin melting temperatures. All of the bands were excellent, and their accompanying crews were great to work with. My personal favorite set this year was from Buffalo Tom. I've been a fan for nearly 35 years, but had never seen the band live until now. By the way, if you are a BT fan, did you see my catalog ranking video on them:  https://youtu.be/sWJFjR8UgpY?si=ZgwqLC5H1uAffmk3.

Unfortunately, Dinosaur Jr. was forced to cancel at the last minute due the death of a very close friend of J. Mascis. Buffalo Tom, Flipturn, and The Revivalists each played an extra 15 minutes to make up for the absence (to the extent it could be). While speaking to Chris Colbourn of Buffalo Tom before the show, he told me that J had planned to join Buffalo Tom onstage to play a couple of songs with them. They are old friends, and in fact, J. Mascis produced the first two Buffalo Tom albums way back in the 1900s.

Here are all the artists who performed this year: The Flaming Lips, Men I Trust, The Faint, Vacations, Twinsmith, Ex Lover, The Head and The Heart, The Revivalists, Flipturn, Buffalo Tom, Devotchka, and The Eye.

Buffalo Tom LIVE at Outlandia Music Festival, Bellevue, Nebraska 8/10/24 (PHOTOS)

Bill Janovitz (gtr/vocals)

Here are some of my best photos of Buffalo Tom performing at the Outlandia Music Festival on August 10, 2024 in Bellevue, Nebraska.

Chris Colbourn (bass/vocals)

Tom Maginnis (drums)