Concert Review: The Drums – Wicker Park Fest – Chicago
I am still recovering from last weekend. Chicago was the venue, there was a bachelor party and I was in charge. A group gathered to pay homage to a dear friend. Steaks were smashed, craft beers were demolished, and humiliating headaches were shared. Being the childhood friend, I knew little about the crowd of college friends, but a special bond was formed post-destruction. While the fantastic beer selection helped bridge the gap, it was a special band from Brooklyn that brought the boys together.
The Drums played headliner to not only Saturday night at Wicker Park Fest, but also bachelor party weekend. When front man Jonathan Pierce took the stage, the atmosphere flipped and fans were zoned in. The Drums are one of those bands that seem to grow in my favor on a monthly basis. Their self-titled debut and 2011 follow-up Portamento have been heavy favorites in my rotation and the songs translated brilliantly live. I had seen the Drums last year at Lollapalooza and enjoyed them, but this time I was completely blown away.
A group of new friends traded high fives as The Drums traded songs from their two full-length releases. The crowd was huge and they were singing along throughout. Pierce maintained his charismatic persona throughout while plowing through a heavy set. The Drums delivered a magnificent setlist that kept momentum while demanding my full attention.
Setlist:
If He Likes It Let Him Do It
Baby That’s Not the Point
I Need a Doctor
Book of Stories
I Need Fun in My Life
Money
What You Were
How It Ended
Best Friend
The Future
Days
Let’s Go Surfing
Encore:
Me and the Moon
I still can’t decide if it was the atmosphere, the bachelor party festivities, or simply The Drums, but this was the best live set that I have seen this year. The Drums offered a laid back coolness that provides the perfect soundtrack to a summer evening. While segments of our group were scattered throughout the venue, all agreed that The Drums were it. While the body continues to heal, I will spend this week diving back through The Drums catalog….they’ve earned it.
Connect with The Drums via Facebook | Twitter
Written by Brett McGrath
Album Preview: Bobby Womack ‘The Bravest Man in the Universe’
I am as excited for Bobby Womack‘s June 12 release of The Bravest Man in the Universe as any album of the summer. The release is Womack’s first album of original material in 18 years. The album was co-produced by Damon Albarn (Blur/Gorillaz) and Richard Russell. It will be released on XL Recordings.
Earlier this spring, legendary funk bassist and longtime friend Bootsy Collins broke the news that the soul singer is in the initial stages of a fight with colon cancer, saying via Facebook: “JUST SPOKE TO OUR FRIEND BOBBY WOMACK. He Wanted You All to Know That He Loves You & Thxs for the Prayers. Docs Says He Is In 1st Stage of Colon Cancer, He is Very Up Beat About His Future, we laughed & joked before we hung up. Thxs Funkateers, we will get him Back on the One!”
It’s hard to believe that the man responsible for classics like “Across 110th Street”, “Woman’s Gotta Have It” and “Lookin’ For a Love” considered himself forgotten and inconsequential just a few short years ago. His return to relevance began in 2009, when Womack was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Around the same time, Albarn and Womack connected to collaborate on a track called “Stylo” for Gorillaz’s third album Plastic Beach. The song also features a guest appearance from Mos Def.
In a trailer for the album featured below, Womack explains “When Damon called me, I had lost that desire. I had lost my confidence. And when people sayin’, ‘Oh man, it’d be just amazing to cut with you.’ I said, how do you know that? You listenin’ to that record. That record is old man. You ain’t even seen me.”
Call it swagger. Call it confidence. Call it drive. Call it what you will, but after the release of the title track and first single “Please Forgive My Heart” we can be sure of one thing – Womack has his groove back. Don’t sleep on The Bravest Man in the Universe. Pre-order your copy via XL Recordings. Celebrate the resurgence of one of soul’s strongest voices.
Track Listing
1. The Bravest Man In The Universe
2. Please Forgive My Heart
3. Deep River
4. Dayglo Reflection
5. Sweet Baby Mine
6. Stupid
7. If There Wasn’t Something There
8. Love Is Gonna Lift You Up
9. Nothin’ Can Save Ya
10. Jubilee
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Written by Rob Peoni
Thought on Tracks 
Outside Thoughts: 1
This is the first of what I plan to make a weekly wrap-up post. We are a small, albeit passionate blog. As such, we cannot possibly cover all of the artists that strike our fancy. Nor would it prove healthy to attempt to do so. I will use this weekly post as an opportunity to share quality content from other blogs and musical sources. The posts will typically be features, in-depth interviews, etc. In other words, you likely will not find any “New Hot Song” posts here.
There will be no rhyme or reason regarding genre or order of the selection. Just hoping to pass along some of the more interesting articles that I read each week. My mother always told me to share with my friends. With that in mind, check out the links below.
1
Link: Interview: Richard Lloyd on CBGB, Pringles
Author: Kelsey Simpson
Source: NUVO
Description: Humorous interview with Television guitarist Richard Lloyd. The strummer speaks on the definition of “punk” and his role in one of the genre’s most influential bands. Catch him this Friday at The Melody Inn in Indianapolis. Highly recommended start to race weekend.
2
Link: Changes at WLFY
Author: Zach & Hank
Source: We Listen For You
Description: WLFY might be my favorite music blog. This week, the authors announced that they will be changing the blog’s format. As a duo, WLFY has decided that they are finished “playing the blog game.” Beginning Monday, they will only publish one post per day, in the hope that quality trumps quantity. I am thrilled to see where this shift in focus takes these cats.
3
Link: CoSign: Conveyor
Author: Harley Brown
Source: Consequence of Sound
Description: An interview/preview of Brooklyn’s Conveyor, surrounding the release of their debut, self-titled LP. Interesting look at a band worthy of your attention.
4
Link: Underscore: The Quiet Storm
Author: Eric Harvey
Source: Pitchfork
Description: An in-depth look at Smokey Robinson’s underrated 1975 album The Quiet Storm. The writer attempts to assess The Quiet Storm‘s position in the pantheon of all-time great R&B and Soul albums. The piece offers insight into the state of popular African-American music in the middle of the 1970s.
5
Link: Weird and Wild: Chicago Bulls Hat “Step by Step on a Weeping Floor”
Author: Jon Rogers
Source: Musical Family Tree
Description: MFT has begun a new series of posts entitled “Weird and Wild.” The first installment takes a look at the “experimental, digitally manipulated soundscapes” of Chicago Bulls Hat. This Indiana-based electronic duo offers up some auditory food for thought at an alarming pace.
6
Link: Scratch the Surface :: KISS, Alive!
Author: M. Garner
Source: Aquarium Drunkard
Description: I’m a big fan of this semi-regular installment on Aqua Drunkard. “Scratch the Surface” examines the influence that album art has on the listening experience. KISS has always been a band that is as interesting to watch as hear. Their 1975 album Alive! is no exception. Don’t miss the comment section beneath the post, where AD reader Nelson offers up an interesting rock n’ roll factoid.
7
Link: [Abby’s Road] The Happiest Melancholia
Author: Abby Ross
Source: Knox Road
Description: A short think-piece on the use of music as self-medication.
Curated by Rob Peoni