Remembering A Music Legend: Lou Reed 1942-2013*

Today news quickly spread about the passing of legendary music pioneer, Lou Reed.  His band, Velvet Underground, may have never gained huge commercial success but its cult status continues to live on.  I hate to admit that I am not familiar with too much of Reed's works, but his music touched the lives of many other musicians that went on to form some of my favorite bands and for that I am grateful.  You will be missed, Lou Reed.  Time for you to join Andy, Edie and Nico and take a walk on the wild side.  

Thanks to iAN Ottaway for the photo.  

Heart & Soul and a Little Magic in NOLA

Magic and voodoo are two words that come to mind when thinking of the great city of New Orleans.  Making the drive from Houston, I started to feel a little bit of that magic as we approached the Crescent City to see the current owners of my heart and favorite band, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

I first caught BRMC about six months ago during their first leg of the U.S. tour in support of their new album, Specter at the Feast.  At that time, I knew little about the band, even less about their music, but what happened that night was magical, indeed, and changed my heart and soul forever.  Now I was finally heading east for my second BRMC show, fully armed and ready to rock.  Walking through the French Quarter and along Bourbon Street, I quickly knew I was in the right setting for a BRMC show.  There was grittiness and brilliant beauty in every corner; darkness and lightness casting shadows throughout.  Much like the band, the city has weathered many storms, but only the scars remain and it is a stronger version of its previous self, sharing that spirit with the world. 

The day finally arrived that I had been waiting anxiously for the last 12 weeks.  The warm sun shined down and the air was breezy as we made our way over to check out the venue, the recently renovated Civic Theatre.  No signs of the band yet, so we decided to take it easy…and then magic stepped in.  When we came back, the band had just gotten there for load in and sound check and Robert and Peter were outside talking to the members of opening band, Plowboy (more to come on them).  I nervously made my way over to Peter in hopes of being able to speak and not sound like a bumbling, star struck idiot.  I barely made it out alive, but it was one of the greatest “magic” moments of the day.  Peter scurried off with the members of Plowboy so we chatted with Robert for a few minutes and I got to thank him for his music as well as let him know that his father’s music was a big part of my life growing up and today.  After Robert left to join his band mates inside, I stood there in amazement and awe of the fact that I just met two people that have unknowingly become such a huge inspiration to me.  I definitely needed a drink after that.

Finally, it was show time.  The lights dimmed and out from the darkness emerged those three angels of music.  Three chords into opening song, “Hate the Taste,” and I felt like I was home.  After all the anticipation over the previous weeks, I was finally there, standing in front of Peter as he struck every chord and sang every note.  His face wrought with emotion every step of the way.  Leah remained hidden from my view for most of the show, but her power behind the kit blasted through causing my heart to skip a few beats, resetting it to match her rhythmic pulse.  And then there was Rob a.k.a. Babe Shadow whose light may have shined the brightest as he energized the crowd with those driving lines.  Magic was happening.

The night continued with other favorites from Specter as well as other classics from previous albums like “Ain’t No Easy Way,” “Berlin,” and “In Like the Rose” sprinkled throughout the show.  Surprise of the night was the addition of “Evol” from 2010’s Beat the Devil’s Tattoo, but for me seeing and hearing “American X” and “Promise” performed live were the most magical moments of the show.  Robert poured so much heart and soul into those two songs you couldn’t help but experience the emotional intensity right along with him.  I’m pretty sure my heart stopped during “American X” before Peter brought it back to life with “Screaming Gun.”  And “Promise” was so heartfelt and pure that I had to wonder if a certain someone was on Rob’s mind that night as he pounded the piano keys, taking an extra tender moment at the end and keeping his head down before leaving the stage for Peter’s acoustic solo of “Some Kind of Ghost.”  I got the feeling that the band might have had a little bit of a chip on their collective shoulder which only brought the passion out on stage that much more.  All of that emotion and passion and intensity helped to create a very special show in the Voodoo City.  I wasn’t ready for it to end, but are we ever?

What I left with will be another moment embedded into my heart forever.  That is why those who love this band, love them wholeheartedly because they connect with you on another level, bury themselves into your soul and take you along for one hell of a ride leaving you feeling satisfied yet wanting so much more in the end.  Seeing them twice in one year, meeting them and thanking them for allowing us to be a part of their world through their music as well as finding some new friends  along the way has been beyond amazing for me these last six months.  And somehow I feel like the magic is just getting started. 

Atomic: A Night of Blondie & X

I recently won a contest from one of my favorite Houston live music venues, Warehouse Live, and the prize was getting to attend all of their fall shows for free.  Seeing as how I love live music and have caught some other great shows at this venue, this was right up my alley.  First up on the list of “must see” shows was Blondie and X.

Legendary New York punk pioneers, Blondie, returned to Houston last Friday as part of their “No Principals” tour and they brought along their west coast friends, X, to join in on the ride.  And what a ride it was.  I have been fortunate to see Debbie Harry and company a handful of times before, but I never thought I would have the opportunity to see X up close and personal in such an intimate venue.  It was like something out of a Los Angeles punk scene fairy tale.   And it was no surprise that the moment Exene Cervenka and John Doe took the stage the place exploded with excitement.  Ripping through raging hits like “I’m Coming Over,” “True Love,” and the cult classic “Los Angeles,” X never skipped a beat and got the crowd lit with excitement and left them wanting more.   Throughout the show, Exene and John exchanged quite a bit of banter with the audience expressing their gratitude to be back in Texas.  Seeing as how X are punk legends in their own right, it was the perfect beginning to a night sure to be wrought with nostalgic bliss for both the bands and fans alike.

Then it was time for those sweethearts of CBGB’s to take the stage and what better way to keep the party going than to kick it into higher gear with “One Way or Another” before introducing the crowd to a new track, “Rave,” from their 2013 release Ghosts of Download.  There was no slowing down either as the hits kept coming while Debbie, guitarist Chris Stein and drummer Clem Burke raucously pounded out more gems from their extensive catalog sharing the very heart and soul that has kept these three a tight knit group for over four decades.  Incorporating new songs with the classics that most people come out to hear can sometimes be a tricky situation, but definitely one of the highlights of the night was when they performed “Drag You Around” from their latest endeavor which featured some amazing guitar work by Tommy Kessler who has been touring with Blondie as lead guitarist since 2010.  Let’s face it though, Blondie is probably most notably known for a certain little song called “Rapture” that changed the face of music upon its initial release.  This time around, though, Debbie upped the ante and followed the tune with a short cover of “No Sleep ‘til Brooklyn” of Beastie Boys fame.  Yep, that happened.  And it was awesome.   The show ended with my favorite Blondie song of all time, “Dreaming” from 1979’s Eat to the Beat.  

The night could not have been more perfect from beginning to end.   This was undoubtedly the best Blondie show I have witnessed and to see X live was just the icing on the cake to make the night that much sweeter and memorable.  For two bands to still have the following they do is a testament to the imprint they have left on music forever.  And may the light never go out on their legacy and only shine brighter as the years go on.  This was truly a show I will never forget.  Until next time Warehouse Live.