Band of skulls toured to promote their new album “Sweet Sour” (released on February 21st) making a stop at the Granada theater Saturday March 17th (that’s right St Patty’s Day)! So for me, after a day in the sun drinking beer at a block party, by 7 o’clock I was ready for my fan fix of B.O.S., and believe me my excitement was not followed by any ounce of disappointment.
The show was energetic and the band really connected well with the crowd. They nailed the song “Sweet sour” rocking the room so well I couldn’t help but fist pump. And singing along wasn’t enough, I either did them proud  or embarrassed myself by screaming along with the vocals (my excuse being the song lyric’s suggestion to “shout about it!”). The words are so unique and “spoon fed” quite bluntly it’s easy to get lost in them. I also loved their performance of my other favorite song “Bruises”. Its witty lyrics and fluidly soft-core instrumentals made me really like it, but most importantly I think the harmonic duet in vocals by male lead vocalist/ guitarist and female bassist is what made me love it!
I have been a fan and follower of their music, really turned onto them by their single “friends” EP, I first heard on the “New Moon” soundtrack. With its irresistibly relatable lyrics and catchy beat.
The band members from Southampton, England include Russell Marsden (guitar and vocals), Emma Richardson (bass and vocals) and Matt Hayward (drums) had first formed in college in 2004. (Though members Matt and Russell knew each other since high school.) They were formerly named Fleeing New York, then later changed to Band of Skulls in November 2008.
They started out playing shows in their hometown London, later continuing onto Moscow and Tokyo. After signing with Electric Blues Recordings label in the U.K, they went into the studio to record their debut album “Baby Darling Doll face Honey” with its first single ” I know what I am” (released in the USA on Shangri-La Music), which proved to impress on iTunes by also being featured on the Friday Night Lights, volume 2 soundtrack.
I also found out that the wickedly impressive paintings designed for their album covers were created by the bassist Emma. Emma, not too long ago held an art exhibition called “Meat Me at the Butchers” hosted at the butchers shop where she used to work weekends.
The show was youthfully-loud which I loved, catering amply to the bands character and sound. I loved the show and really look forward to hearing what they come out with in the future.

P.S. Fun fact about Russell Marsden….. His great great grandfather was actually a stow-away on the Titanic who fled Southampton and left behind 3 wives and 16 illegitimate children….. Interesting huh?!

March 14, 2012

In a slim yet significant victory, Bruce Springsteen‘s “Wrecking Ball” shoved Adele‘s “21″ out of the No. 1 slot on the U.S. album chart this week. The New Jersey rocker’s highly politicized new Columbia set tracked 196,000 copies out of the box, according to Nielsen SoundScan data for the week ending March 11. That tally was enough to garner Springsteen his 10th chart-topping album and third consecutive No. 1 studio album (succeeding 2009′s “Working On a Dream” and 2007′s “Magic”).

Springsteen – who pushed Taylor Swift‘s “Fearless” out of the top position in ’09 – just nipped the still-robust “21,” outselling it by less than 1,400 units.

The Black Keys “El Camino”

(Released December 2^nd, 2011)

 Album Review

Enjoying the latest The Black Keys album, “El Camino” didn’t take much effort on my part. They made it easy with their passionate, fast-paced beat and blues-based sounds. It feeds the desire to keep at least one part of your body moving, urging you to tap your feet and fingers or pump some air guitar into the sky.

With songs like the hit “Lonely Boys”, the album takes on a charismatic heat with its smoky-sound of the blues, linked with an Indie/pop rock dance beat. The drum playing in “Dead and Gone” serves the song amazingly with its choppy, yet catchy beat. (Leaving you clapping along with the entire song.)

“Gold on the Ceiling” delivers a chunky country-style rock, infused with a gospel praise-choir sound. I really found this to be a cool affect, continuing your drive to dance and sway along.

With songs like, “Run Right Back, its 80’s funk sound, mixed with a confident light guitar rhythm, and “Mind Eraser” where I feel like I can hear the sweat in his microphone, this album sends out such a raw and artsy reverberation.

“Little Black Submarines” attracted me by starting off with its slow-waved, acoustic-guitar playing, transcending onto what sounded like the steps of “Stairway to Heaven” Led Zeppelin immortalized.

The folksy guitar sound goes so well with the high-energy drum beating. (Beating that wasn’t shy in any songs, to my satisfaction). Also, the vocals on “Stop Stop” and “Nova Baby” are scratchy and wildly compelling which I really dug.

I suppose it’s safe to say these Akron, Ohio natives did it again. After collecting 3 Grammy awards for the album “Brother’s”, sharing the songs “I Got Mine” and “Strange Times”(the ones that stopped us in our tracks to crank up the knob), it shows potential and substance. It’s as hot and pumped as a dance instructor, yet as calming and lovable as a sweet grandfather. When I first listened to it, part of me felt like I was in a coffee shop, snapping my fingers to the sounds of raspy poetry. The other part of me was in my own little world, swaying my whole body along with the music and clapping my hands (in the air!) I give quite a few claps for the songs AND for the album.

This Will Destroy You (review)

At the Granada Theater, Friday November 18^th I saw This Will Destroy You in Dallas. It was the kind of show that had a numbing affect (the good kind), because it pulls you into a zone. I felt like as they were playing I could almost see the energy waves generating outward towards all of us in the crowd. It appeared to me as though everyone also was stuck in a zombie-like state of “sound Zen”. And I loved it!

I was completely enchanted by the smoked-kissed floors on the stage, as well as the colorful lights that flashed during the songs. It made the experience more “magical”, (at the risk of sounding childish.)

The band formed in San Marcos in 2005. They met through mutual friends and played in various bands throughout high school, until they finalized in 2002. When doing research on them I discovered that they used to have vocals in their early work, eventually deciding to write instrumental music instead. Which, I think, is part of their uniqueness.

I’m listening to the album I bought there on my record player as I write this, and I feel instantly teleported back to that night. Although nothing is the same as watching/hearing/seeing it played before your eyes. That kind of experience cannot pull you in the same way through your car speakers, or through antique record player speakers. I really enjoyed the experience of seeing them live and find this instrumental band to be undeniably intriguing. I look forward to seeing these guys play next time they’re in Dallas