My 7 Day Weekend of Live Music!! (VIDEO)

Wow! What a freakin' week! Normally, the concert season doesn't start around here (Omaha) until Winter is over and everything thaws out. Not so much in 2024. This video documents a pretty wild week where I saw five different shows in seven days!

Porno For Pyros hit the brand new venue, The Astro. Despite being a Jane's Addiction fan since the late 80s, I never actually saw PFP after Jane's broke up. For the "final" tour, PFP added Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE, The Stooges) on bass, and that made the show mandatory for me! Opening the show was a UK band called TigerCub.

Veteran indie rockers, Yo La Tengo, returned to The Waiting Room for "An Evening with Yo La Tengo." The band did two separate sets - one quiet, one loud - and there was no opener. No matter how many times I see YLT in concert, they never cease to amaze.    

David Nance released his newest LP, David Nance & Mowed Sound, recently on Jack White's Third Man Records. He had a record release show at Reverb Lounge. Vinyl community members will recognize Dereck Higgins on bass. He played on the LP, and performs with the band when they play locally.

The last two shows I cover in today's video (Living Colour, Matthew Sweet) both have their own video reviews with lots more clips and photos.

YO LA TENGO Live at Waiting Room 2/19/24 (PHOTOS)

Yo La Tengo returned to The Waiting Room for the first time in 11 years on Monday, February 19. In fact, this was a re-scheduled date from last year when YLT postponed its tour because drummer, Georgia Hubley, needed knee surgery.

The band did two sets: a "quiet" set and a louder one. However, if you know anything about Yo La Tengo's music, you know it's not always easy to draw such a distinction.

Make sure to check out The Dark Stuff on Youtube for a future video review.

Yo La Tengo LIVE at Waiting Room 9/21/13 (PHOTO)

Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo, September 21, 2013 at Waiting Room, Omaha, NE

 

The Dark Stuff Podcast 109: Yo La Tengo

For episode 109, I am calling an audible. Originally, this was supposed to be a discussion on The Replacements reunion. However, on the scheduled recording night, Omaha was subjected to flash flooding, extreme storms, and tornadoes. So, obviously, we had to reschedule. In its place, I have found an interview with Ira Kaplan from indie legends, Yo La Tengo. 

This short interview was conducted live, on-air, during my radio show, New Day Rising. It was recorded Sunday, October 15, 2006, a week before Yo La Tengo's first ever Omaha concert. The interview had taken me by surprise, as I thought it had been cancelled. I didn't even bring my questions! I did the interview live on-air despite there being a strong prohibition against doing so at my station. 

At the time, Yo La Tengo was promoting its album, I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass. The rest is pretty self-explanatory. Sorry for the confusion about the episodes. All should be back to normal next week. 

 ©2014 The Dark Stuff Podcast

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New Yo La Tengo Video: "I'll Be Around"

The video stars Mac McCaughan from Superchunk for some reason.

Yo La Tengo Show Recap

Despite being kinda sick, I made it out to last Friday's Yo La Tengo show at Slowdown, as predicted. I got there as the opener was finishing its set, which worked for me. There was a decent crowd, but the show was definitely not sold out. (Note: how sad is it that on the same night Owl City sold out at a different venue. WTF?) Being sick, I opted out of drinking, and stuck with a regimen of diet Coke for the whole night.

I made my way on up to my usual balcony spot just as YLT was taking the stage. The band opened with a very rocking version of "Here To Fall" from the Popular Songs album, and it seemed that the band was intending to really deliver a loud, feedback drenched rocker of a set. Things did not exactly go like that. For those not familiar with Yo La Tengo, the band's music can veer wildly between loud, fuzzed out, droning rockers and very quiet, ambient, ballads. Friday's set leaned a little bit more in the quiet, ambient direction.

Though I really enjoyed the show, I do wish the band had "rocked out" a little more. While I do appreciate the quiet stuff at home, when I'm at a club with 500 of my closest friends, I want the rockers. Besides tunes from the new album, YLT went back a ways into their deep catalog, and played a lot from 1997's I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One. Their version of The Beach Boys, "Little Honda" was a show highlight.

To wrap up my brief review, I will say that Friday's show was not my favorite Yo La Tengo show (I've seen them 6-7 times), but it was still really good. There is no way I will ever miss YLT if they are in my town. They are one of the most consistently excellent bands I've ever seen, and even if they are a bit too mellow at times, I will always support them.

Yo La Tengo TONIGHT at Slowdown

For some inexplicable reason, tonight's Yo La Tengo show at Slowdown is not sold out. Lucky for you procrastinators, I guess. Tickets are $17. This will probably be my 5th or 6th time seeing the band. So far, they have never failed to deliver the goods live. Ira Kaplan is a monster guitar player, and is really amazing to watch. This show should not be missed.

Dark Stuff's Top 20 Albums of 2006

I know you've been clamoring for it. What will he pick for best album of the year? Well, here are your answers, friends. For this posting, I give you 20-11. The Top 10 will come in another day or so. Just deal, OK. I have included links to the bands' MySpace page (if they have one) or official website. That way, you can actually listen to the band if one of these descriptions sounds appealing and you aren't already familiar with them. I will also be doing a podcast featuring the best of 2006, so make sure to keep checking back for that!

20) MATTHEW SWEET & SUSANNA HOFFS - Under the Covers Vol. 1 (Shout Factory)
Under the Covers Vol. 1 was a real surprise when I first got it. I am only a moderate Matthew Sweet fan (love the Girlfriend album, obviously), and it has been a long time since I've listened to Susanna Hoff's old band, The Bangles. But I always liked Susanna's voice, and I figure she could sing just about anything and it would sound pretty good. So when Sweet and Hoffs got together to make an album, I was interested, but not overly so. Thankfully, the record is fantastic. The duo recorded a number of sixties classics from the artists that obviously inspired them to become musicians themselves (i.e. The Byrds, The Beatles). Their voices blend together remarkably well. For a covers record, it doesn't get much better than this. Stand out tracks: "It's All Over Now Baby Blue" "Different Drum" (which also features Linda Ronstadt) and "Cinnamon Girl."

Artist MySpace page: www.myspace.com/sidnsusie

19) FILM SCHOOL - Film School (Beggars Banquet)
This new San Francisco guitar band impressed the hell out of me with their new self-titled album, Film School. These guys obviously are inspired by many of the classic 80s alternative bands like The Cure, Love and Rockets and The Cult (think Love-era), but they are by no means a throwback or retro band. Film School is able to add a new, 21st century twist to the sounds of those classic bands, and they also add a ton more guitar! Also, there are also some interesting lyrics in the songs which seems to be a rare commodity in today's "alternative" music world. Stand Out Tracks: "11:11" "Harmed" and "He's a Deep Deep Lake"

Artist MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/filmschool

18) THE RAPTURE - Pieces of the People We Love (Universal)
I was never a huge fan of The Rapture's earlier CDs. I just didn't understand what the big deal was. As far as danceable punk rock goes, I consider myself a Faint guy. So I guess the reason I liked the new Rapture CD so much more than the others is that they are no longer really a "dance punk" band. Rather than sounding like a punk band playing dance music, The Rapture now sounds like a dance band playing punk. The songs are all insanely catchy, the lyrics often sarcastic attacks at scenesters who are afraid to dance, and the production values have been taken up a notch on this one. The band also scores big points with their roller skating themed video for "Get Myself Into It." Stand out tracks: "Get Myself Into It" "Whoo! Alright - Yeah...Uh Huh" and "Don Gon Do It"

Artist MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/therapture

17) YO LA TENGO - I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass (Matador)
Yo La Tengo wins the award for strangest album of title of the year, no question. I tried to get more information about the provocative title from band leader Ira Kaplan when I interviewed him, but he would not budge. None of the songs reveal anything about it either, so I guess it will have to remain a mystery. Any Yo La Tengo record is a complex artistic statement, but I Am Not Afraid... might exceed any of their previous records in terms of eclecticism. The band is all over the place on this one: droning psychedelia, 60s pop, garage rock, low-fi noise, and even falsetto singing! It's pretty impressive that after more than 20 years, Yo La Tengo is still so inspired and so varied in their approach. A great addition to their already stellar legacy. Stand Out Tracks: "Mr. Tough" "Pass The Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind" and "The Room Got Heavy"

Artist MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/yolatengo
Official Website: yolatengo.com

16) SECRET MACHINES - Ten Silver Drops (Reprise)
Calling Secret Machines a psychedelic blues band might be a touch misleading, but I really can't think of any other way to describe their sound. Perhaps that is why Secret Machines have not been able to crack the mainstream...no one knows how to describe their sound! In a perfect world, these songs would be all over the radio rather than Justin Timberlake or Hinder. But we don't live in that perfect world, so in order to hear one of the best bands (so far) of the 21st century, you will just have to pick up a Secret Machines CD. There is more of a melancholy vibe on Ten Silver Drops, so don't pop it on before going to a party. It is better for after the party when you have had a few. Stand Out Tracks: "Alone Jealous and Stoned" "Lightning Blue Eyes" and "All At Once (It's Not Important)"

Artist MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/secretmachines
Official Website: thesecretmachines.com

15) CAT POWER - The Greatest (Matador)
Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power) is a difficult woman to figure out. If you listen to her all covers album (creatively titled The Covers Record), you get a decent idea of who has influenced her musically, but not really how that fits into her current sound. At least that was the case prior to The Greatest. Marshall has always confessed a fondness for classic 60s soul music, so this time around she decided to make her album in Memphis with some of the musicians who played on many of the classic records she grew up listening to. The result isn't exactly soul music, per se, but whatever it is, it is really good. Marshall utilizes more straightforward musical arrangements this time around, and her singing is more direct and less quirky than on previous albums. Again, I like this new "mature" sound from her, despite many longtime fans expressing disappointment with this record. If you have never heard Cat Power before, this might be a good place to start. You can always go backwards later. Stand Out Tracks: "Love and Communication" "Living Proof" and "Lived In Bars."

Artist MySpace page: www.myspace.com/catpower
Matador Records' Cat Power page: www.matadorrecords.com/cat_power/

14) THOM YORKE - The Eraser (XL)
If you are already a Radiohead fan, and you like the Amnesiac / Kid A period from the band, then you will have some idea what to expect on the first ever solo album from band leader Thom Yorke. Critics have been mixed about the album, but I think it is a great record and may be better than those two aforementioned albums. Yorke works with Radiohead's producer Nigel Goodrich on the record, and at times, it sounds like these songs are demos for a future Radiohead album. I have long since given up hoping Radiohead would return to their classic The Bends or OK Computer sound. It ain't gonna happen. So this is likely to be how Radiohead will sound in the future. Stand Out Tracks: "Black Swan" "Harrowdown Hill" and "Cymbal Rush"

Artist MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/theeraser
Official Website: www.theeraser.net

13) SLAYER - Christ Illusion (American)
It has been over five years since the last Slayer album was released and the world has changed a lot since then. Slayer, however, remains the same. That is a good thing. As is the case with most Slayer albums, the band heavily targets religion (all religions) with their lyrics on Christ Illusion. The album is as brutal as ever. By this time, you already know if you are a fan of this band or not. They are not like Metallica who have mellowed over time. Slayer has actually gotten heavier. There is one song in particular that I am surprised has not generated more controversy. The song "Jihad" is written about 9/11 from the terrorists' perspective. I couldn't imagine trying to get inside the heads of those scumbags, but Slayer has managed to do it. Pretty scary stuff. Stand Out Tracks: "Cult" "Flesh Storm" and "Jihad"

Artist MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/slayer

12) THE MARS VOLTA - Amputechture (Universal)
I think I finally "get it" with The Mars Volta. I borrowed the first two Mars Volta CDs from a friend a while back, and I could not stand it. It was all over the freakin' place! Just when the band would lock into something I liked (a cool riff, a great bass line etc), they would pull a 180 and start doing something completely different. This might have happened three or four times in the same song! There is still a little of that on the new album, but the songs are so solid, and the playing so spectacular, that the "busy-ness" of the arrangements is easy to overlook. The band still frequently sings in Spanish, still writes the occasional ten minute song, and still packs about 40 ideas into each tune, but this time it works. Stand out tracks: "Viscera Eyes" "Vermicide" and "Meccamputechture"

Artist MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/themarsvolta
Official Website: The Mars Volta.com

11) EAGLES OF DEATH METAL - Death By Sexy (Downtown)
Usually a side project band would never make it this high in any Best Of list from me. But when the band is a side project of Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, I guess a new precedent can be set. While there are elements of QOTSA in the Eagles, EODM sound more like a garage rock version of classic ZZ Top. I'm talking the "Tush" era of ZZ Top, not the MTV version from the 80s. There are also elements of T. Rex and even New York Dolls in the sound. The lyrics are mostly comical, and cover typical 70s concepts like avoiding jailbait and keeping your buzz. This is a fun and rockin' album despite what Axl Rose thinks. Stand Out Tracks: "I Gotta Feeling (Just Nineteen)" "I Want You So Hard" and "Cherry Cola"

Artist MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/eaglesofdeathmetal