Dave Goes to GRRRL Camp: Rosali, Girl Ray // PLUS: Babes in Toyland/Die Spitz // Swervedriver // (VIDEO)

Hello, friends, and welcome back to the channel. In this edition of "This Year's Week," we begin at the GRRRL Camp Music and Arts Festival last weekend. This two-day festival was designed to spotlight women and girls in music and featured performers like Indigo De Souza, Mannequin Pussy, Rosali, Hurray For the Riff Raff, Girl Ray, and many more.

I was only able to attend the second day of the festival. Regardless, I don't see how anyone could have been better than Rosali. Her afternoon set was thrilling. I felt like I was seeing Aimee Mann fronting Crazy Horse (as in Neil Young & Crazy Horse). Rosali's band were all familiar faces, as they are also known as David Nance & Mowed Sound. The combination of the two was epic. Rosali's most recent album, Bite Down, is amazing and was released earlier this year by ‪Merge Records‬ 

The only other "major" act I was able to see was Girl Ray. The UK indie pop band was fun and lighthearted. After a disappointing food truck experience, I would up leaving the festival a bit early. Still had a great time though! 

Swervedriver is taking advance orders for a special record called Doremi Faso Latido at their bandcamp: https://swervedriver.bandcamp.com/. The record is a collection of outtakes from their album, 99th Dream.

This episode marks the introduction of my newest segment: Old School/New School. The premise is simple enough, and it will hopefully introduce you to some artists you may not already know. This week, the Old School is represented by Babes in Toyland and New School is represented by Die Spitz.

I also have a brief update from Neko and Blackie, a reminder about my "terrestrial" radio show, and some reflections on a friend who recently passed away.

Swervedriver Wrap-Up

Holy shit. My ears are still ringing this morning from the Swervedriver show last night! I had no idea what to expect, really, so I guess the show exceeded my expectations. I've liked this band for over 15 years, and was finally able to see them live.

The set list (see above) drew heavily from the first two albums. There was only one song played from 'Ejector Seat Reservation' and only two from '99th Dream.' Oddly, they played a Toshack Highway (Adam Franklin solo band) song as well. I am hardly complaining, though. Getting to see the band play songs like "Duel" and "Girl On a Motorbike" was beyond cool.

There were only about 75 people at the show, which was a lot lighter than I hoped, but better than I had feared. It was a pretty busy week with Cursive on Monday and Rilo Kiley Tuesday and Wednesday. Still, that should not have prevented anyone from hitting this Swervedriver show last night.

The band was tight as hell, and sounded as though they had never broken up. I freakin' loved it. If the band is coming to your town on this tour, make a point of seeing Swervedriver. Oh, and bring ear plugs.

SWERVEDRIVER TONIGHT!!

Today is the day, people! The recently reformed Swervedriver will be kicking off their tour tonight at Waiting Room (6212 Maple St). Opening is The Life and Times and Mr. Gnome.

Tickets are still available here.

Check out my Swervedriver podcast.

Swervedriver TOMORROW NIGHT!!

It's coming down to the wire for the Swervedriver show in Omaha at Waiting Room. It's tomorrow night, and I keep encountering people who were unaware the band was playing here. WTF!?

Buy your ticket and hit that show. There is no excuse for missing this.

Swervedriver: 2 Days and Counting

Thursday night at Waiting Room (6212 Maple St), Swervedriver, The Life and Times, and Mr. Gnome. You must attend.

Swervedriver: 3 Days and Counting

Just four more days until Swervedriver at Waiting Room. I'll be posting daily reminders until Thursday (show day). In the meantime, make sure to grab your ticket ($15 here). Remember, the band's reunion tour starts in Omaha, so we need to kick it off right. No excuses. YOU WILL BE THERE.

To get yourself prepped for the gig, check out my Swervedriver podcast.

SWERVEDRIVER! SWERVEDRIVER! SWERVEDRIVER!

It has just been announced that the recently re-formed Swervedriver will be playing in Omaha! The show is Thursday, May 22 at Waiting Room (6212 Maple). Tickets are $15 and they go on sale April 19 from Etix.

This is a mandatory, must-see show for anyone in Omaha claiming to have good taste in music. As a warm-up, check out my Swervedriver/Adam Franklin podcast. Then, buy a ticket and go to the freakin' show. This band will blow you away, I have no doubt in this.

Swervedriver Announces 2008 Reunion!!!

Got this bulletin sent to me today on MySpace:

"After almost a 10-year long absence, the revered UK band SWERVEDRIVER plans to reform for an early 2008 worldwide tour. Swervedriver is Adam Franklin on guitar and vocals, Jimmy Hartridge on guitar, Steve George on bass, and Jez on drums. Swervedriver formed in Oxford, England in 1989 and released a series of EP's followed by their debut full-length, Raise, in 1991 on Creation Records in the UK and A&M Records in the U.S. Mezcal Head followed in 1993, then in 1995 Ejector Seat Reservation came out on Creation in the UK, but was only available as an import in the US. Their last release, 99th Dream, was released by Zero Hour in 1998. Tour dates for Swervedriver will be announced shortly. Adam Franklin is in the midst of a U.S. solo tour in support of Bolts of Melody, which was released this past June on Hi-Speed Soul."

Adam Franklin Wrap-Up

I am feeling beyond exhausted this morning sitting here at work because I barely got any sleep last night after the Adam Franklin show. How was it? It was amazing. Thanks for asking. I was able to chat with Adam for a good while prior to the show, and it turns out that he did listen to some of my podcast on Swervedriver. Cool. Apparently, though, not too many people from Omaha did, because the attendance at the show was minimal. Still, for the 25 or so people who were there, it was a thoroughly enjoyable show. Adam's guitar playing was spectacular, and though I didn't recognize any Swervedriver songs, it still felt a little bit I was seeing him play "back in the day."

Thanks to Omahahype and Lazy-I for helping me plug the show (by plugging my podcast). Every little bit helps, you know.

This Week's MUST SEE Concert - Adam Franklin

The next two weeks are pretty crowded on the Omaha concert calendar, and I am worried that one particularly special concert may get overlooked. That show is the Adam Franklin show on Tuesday night at Waiting Room.

Adam, as you no doubt already know, was the lead singer and guitarist for 90s British rockers Swervedriver. I love Swervedriver's music more than words can say. For a time, they epitomized pretty much everything I liked about rock music: lots of distortion, lots of noise, and nice, catchy pop songs buried beneath the chaos. No one did it better than Swervedriver. That important band broke up (or went on "hiatus") in 1999, and since that time, Adam Franklin has been recording and touring using the name Toshack Highway. He explored some quieter sounds, with more acoustic based music. He also began adding elements of ambient music to his palette as well.

A few months ago, Franklin released his first album under his own name, Bolts of Melody. To many -- myself included -- it signals a return to the "Swervedriver sound" or a more aggressive, guitar based sound. I love it! He is currently in the midst of a nationwide tour promoting the album. Check the tour dates here.

As I mentioned, Adam plays in Omaha Tuesday night. I implore you to attend. Tickets are a mere $10 and are available here. This will be the first time he has ever played in Omaha, and I don't want to be embarrassed. C'mon people!!

To get yourself primed for the show, check out my all Swervedriver and Adam Franklin podcast here. That should wet your appetite for the concert. Don't miss this show, it could be the sleeper show of the year.

Podcast #19 Available Now!!

If you haven't listened to any of my podcasts yet, I suggest you start with this one. Podcast #19 is dedicated to the band Swervedriver. I interviewed singer/guitarist Adam Franklin for the show, and he discusses his old band, as well as his new solo album and tour, and his plans for the future.

If you don't know about Swervedriver, let this serve as an introduction. They were one of the best. If you're already a fan, then you can enjoy the classic tunes, and learn what Adam has been up to since Swervedriver ended back in '99.

Listen to the show here.

Download the show here.

Subscribe via itunes.

By the way, Dark Stuff readers in Omaha, can see Adam Franklin in concert Tuesday, October 16 at Waiting Room. (tickets)