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Monday, September 22, 2008
Review: Pinback at the Mohawk
Take one listen to the clockwork precision on any of Pinback’s angularly constructed indie rock albums, and it’s immediately clear that the driving forces behind the band, Rob Crow and Zach Smith, never let a beat or note fall by the wayside.
Pinback proved that their live show is no exception when they played to a tightly packed crowd on Saturday night at the outdoor stage of the Mohawk. On both upbeat numbers like the hard-driving “From Nothing to Nowhere” and more subdued ones like the melancholy “Blood’s on Fire,” the clean chords of Crow’s guitar slid and stuttered in perfect time with Smith’s bass lines, while the drums pounded out tight rhythms. For the majority of the show, Smith strummed chords on the bass, which added depth and texture to the set.
Stripped of the many vocal layers present on the band’s studio albums, Crow’s vocals in particular floated atop the mix with surprising clarity. He dashed the verses of the classic “Penelope” with graceful shouts and touches of vibrato, which showcased his vocal control.
Unfortunately, a few minor setbacks on the technical side made for a tedious wait between many songs. The band even stopped in the middle of the last song in their four-song encore, only to pick up a minute later.
A new keyboardist joined Pinback for this performance because their usual keyboardist, Terrin Durfey, is again battling cancer. Posters that featured the album artwork of their latest effort, “Autumn of the Seraphs,” were available at the merch table in exchange for donations to the Durfey family. Additional donations can be made here.
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Review: Ani DiFranco at Stubb’s
With a new baby in her life and a new album on the way, it’s a wonder that Ani DiFranco has time to prepare for the demands of live performance. But judging by her show Sunday at Stubb’s, musical endeavors simply come easily for the singer/songwriter.
DiFranco’s backing band, which consisted of a drummer, stand-up bassist and xylophonist, perfectly complemented the frantic dissonant sounds of her guitar and the rapid staccato rhythms of her vocals. This chemistry was apparent early with the performance of “Here for Now,” which featured a xylophone solo over energetic tango percussion.
DiFranco’s set offered an eclectic glimpse of her catalogue. She performed songs from classic albums such as “Little Plastic Castle” and even reached back to her second release, 1991’s “Not So Soft,” for the song “Anticipate.”
More than any other album, however, DiFranco played from her forthcoming “Red Letter Year,” which drops on Sept. 30. Some, like the title track, which twisted the innocence of a cliché nursery rhyme with the harshness of a drug reference, showed that she is still a master of lyricism. Others, like “Smiling Underneath,” were simply cliché. But because her vocal delivery was so clear and her band’s performance so tight, the audience never grew bored or agitated when these new, unfamiliar numbers showed up in the set.
In fact, one of the highlights of the show was “Way Tight,” a lullaby off the new album with a jazzy, unpredictable chord progression that danced up and down the fret board. For this song, DiFranco’s band left the stage to let the rich, soothing melodies of the song shine.
Luckily for fans, the new album was available for purchase. If the show was any indication, they won’t be disappointed with the new material.
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Rock Hall nominations are in: Stevie Ray snubbed
Jeff Beck, Chic, Wanda Jackson, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Metallica, Run-D.M.C., the Stooges, War and Bobby Womack are this year’s nominees for induction into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame. Ballots will be sent to more than 500 voters, who will select artists to be inducted April 4 in Cleveland.
The list omits Stevie Ray Vaughan in his first year of eligibility. “Texas Flood” came out in 1983 and to be eligible an act must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination.
The five nominated acts most likely to get in are Beck, Metallica, Run-DMC, Wanda Jackson and the Stooges. All deserving. Still, it’s an outrage that Vaughan is not on that list. There hasn’t been a more influential guitarist in the past 25 years, except perhaps Eddie Van Halen.
But I guess Jann Wenner, who lords over the nomination process, is not an SRV fan.
