I was lucky enough to attend Redfest again this year (I missed Jack’s Mannequin last year, but saw Flogging Molly in ‘06) and it was fantastic.  The lineup was Kalai, Brother Ali, and Matisyahu.  I was bummed about missing Matis on the Unity Tour with 311 last summer, so there was no way I was missing this one.  Unfortunate transport issues mean I missed the bulk of Kalai’s set, only realizing towards the end that they closed with a cover of “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” so I can’t comment on them.

I did catch all of Brother Ali’s set, though.  Since everybody’s favourite Hasidic Jewish reggae mic master headlined, I guess it’s worth noting that Ali is Muslim.  He’s also white and from Minnesota, if you must know.  I only mention these details because he did, otherwise I’d only feel obligated to tell you that he is ably-tongued and amiable, and that he put on an enjoyable hip hop set and got us pumped for Matisyahu.

Matis, for his part, did not disappoint, but a lot of credit has to go to the backing band.  It didn’t seem like there was any kind of setlist, rather, as my bandmate Dave pointed out, “They just played, and sometimes songs happened.”  Like the opening song: jam for a bit, do some of a new song, jam some more, do a slowed-down verse of “Dispatch the Troops” over whatever the band is playing at the time.  A lot of the show was like that, with portions of other songs showing up when it feels right.  The encore featured a new song, and based on that I’m super excited about the release of Light later this year.

Sorry if this review feels a little weak, I’ve been away for too long.  I’m hoping to be sharper for the next Matisyahu show, Nov 26 at Harry O’s.

I freaking LOVE the beginning of this song. That’s all. Peace.

The Cosmic Game | Thievery Corporation

 Thievery Corporation - Sol Tapado [3:58m]: Play in Popup | Download

Hot on the heels of Jen’s glowing review of 311’s set and Lango, it’s 3-11 Day!! This year marks the return of the celebratory bi-annual marathon concert to New Orleans (it was held in Memphis in 2006). So, to celebrate, I’m offering you some of my favourite 311 tracks for your auditory enjoyment.

First off, “Life’s Not a Race” from 1999’s SoundSystem. Jen’s got a crush on P-Nut, this song makes me fall in love with guitarist Tim Mahoney. The song isn’t entirely typical of 311 lead guitar playing, in fact it kind of reeks of Santana, but I don’t care. Mahoney puts it down and I like it.

Displaying another distinctly different approach to guitar is “Use of Time” from 1997’s Transistor. This song always struck me as unique for it’s strummed guitar opening, closest I’ve heard 311 get to an acoustic number. It’s super-atmospheric, which is one of the reasons that Transistor is my favourite 311 record. And also, Mahoney hits it hard again with some soaring solo action.

Rounding out MahoneyFest ‘08 is Evolver’s “Beyond the Gray Sky.” It’s got a great dynamic, moving from slinky verse to sweeping chorus. One closer listen, it’s not really lead heavy, but it’s still kickin’ and fairly catchy, and fitting now that the weather here is lightening up a smidge. Excellent.

Happy 311ing!!

311 Official | 3-11 Day Unofficial | 311 MySpasm

Buy a 3-11 Day Concert DVD!

 311 - Life's Not a Race: Play in Popup | Download
 311 - Use of Time: Play in Popup | Download

Eric Lyman, of the West Coastian band Slackstring, has released a solo album called Champagne Air. Gotta tell you, I’m a fan. If anyone out there enjoys listening to some simple Jack Johnson grooves at the beach, this guy is for you. It just emits mad mellow vibes and simple, easy grooves, light lyrics and sing-a-long-able tracks with a voice and guitar thats easy to fall in love with. A good name for this kind of music would be ’stupid-rock’. Not because anyone is stupid, but because you don’t have to think about the music when you listen to it. Its just laidback, great for jamming to at the beach or wherever else.

I’m saying this as I listen to the album for the first time, and to be honest, usually it takes me a couple of times to find the rhythm of the album. Not this one. It’s so easy. Hopefully it won’t get old.

Happy Halloween/Samhain/Whatever everyone!

Eric Lyman // MySpace // Buy Champagne Air

Check out Slackstring, too.

 Champagne Air - Eric Lyman [3:45m]: Play in Popup | Download
 Knock on Wood - Eric Lyman [4:20m]: Play in Popup | Download
 Fastest Machines - Eric Lyman [3:51m]: Play in Popup | Download

One day I came home from work, or some other place I went and came from. Wade beckoned me over to the computer, to show me some videos on YouTube. Typical guy.

I suppose it was a serendipitous accident, because as he was searching for musicians, he found a band called Tommee and the Neighbourhood.  He was impressed enough to show me, and I was impressed enough to remember the band for over a year. Now that I've got my kickin' music website, I knew I definitely wanted to feature them. Turns out, though, that the band has…disbanded, and Tommee has a solo act, which is fine with me, because he is still exceedingly awesome. 

After some investigating at Tommee's website, I found that he is from a village in Indonesia, and uses a wide range of indigenous and contemporary instruments to create his super-chill sound. His website even features them, with pictures, explanations, and audio samples, that made my boyfriend's mouth water (he has a thing for world stringed instruments).

Tommee's music is pretty crafty. It's relaxing, but with message, and is oddly simple and intricate at the same time. It has some reggae-island grooves, and a good, organic sound.  

He has two solo albums, Kachampo, and Get On So Well. He is currently touring Europe. Hopefully I'll have an interview pretty soon, but for now enjoy these MP3's and keep checking back for more Tommee goodness.

 See What Got Us Hooked

Links 

Tommee Official Website 

Buy Kachampo

Buy Get On So Well

 Music

 Cengaa Aruziki MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/04%20Cengaa%20Aruziki.mp3] 

Get On So Well MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/03%20Get%20On%20So%20Well.mp3] 

No Reason To Cry MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/04%20No%20Reason%20To%20Cry.mp3] 

Io Ariku MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/01%20Io%20Ariku.mp3] 

 Tommee's On Tour

So, Bad Brains have a new album out, Build a Nation, which was produced by Beastie Boy Adam Yauch.  Chances are that you like several bands who would list Bad Brains as a strong influence.  They were founders of the D.C. hardcore scene (which brought you the likes of Fugazi and Rites of Spring) and threw down an eclectic sound with roots in punk, prog and reggae (which influenced Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sublime, 311, Beastie Boys, Black Flag, Rage Against the Machine, Faith No More and about a billion other bands).  The band is one of those 'as volatile off stage as they are onstage' situations, and have broken up and reformed plenty over the years.  The album can be heard on their myspace page, and is rightly hailed as a return to their hardcore roots.
I've been listening to it, and I've gotta say that I've really enjoyed the reggae jams, but I reacted to the hardcore parts the same way I react to most hardcore– unimpressed.  It might be hard for some to go from hardcore to reggae and back like this, but the whole album's up, give it a listen.  I'll give you some older Bad Brains tracks for you to mull over, too.  It's historical, ya'll!

Bad Brains Official // Myspazz // Buy Build A Nation 

Bad Brain - I Against I

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/Bad%20Brains%20-%20i%20against%20i.mp3]

Bad Brains -  Re-Ignition

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/Bad%20Brains%20-%20re-ignition.mp3] 

Bad Brains and Henry Rollins - Kick Out the Jams

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/Bad%20Brains%20&%20Henry%20Rollins%20-%20Kick%20Out%20The%20Jams.mp3]