Rebel Fans Rally to Send Love & Light to Leah

"Pull me up on either side, don't leave me standing alone in the light."

A couple of weeks ago, I was just about packed and ready to head to Los Angeles for Moon Block Party to see Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Black Angels and of course, my rebel family, when I got word the night before my departure that drummer Leah Shapiro was sick and the show was most likely going to get cancelled.  I made the tough decision to cancel my trip, thinking that the illness was probably just a bad case of the flu and that all was fine and that I'd just save my trip for another time.  The next day, as I was feeling regretful for canceling and wishing I had boarded that plane, the news finally came from Leah herself regarding her illness. 

 

She shared with us her personal story of what the last few months have been like for her as she started showing symptoms of what would later be diagnosed as Chiari Malformation, a condition that affects the fluid from the brain stem.  Because this was affecting her playing, the band regretfully announced that they would have to cancel this and any other upcoming shows in the near future so that Leah could have surgery and recover to get back to being the beautiful badass behind the kit she is.  Immediately, love and support from fellow fans and friends came pouring in and we were all left wondering how we could help.  My friends still attended the music festival BRMC was supposed to play and I just felt so sad being away from them during this time.  It really hit us all so hard that one of the brightest souls on the planet could be having to fight this battle and I can't imagine the fear and worry that she must also be going through as her livelihood is put on hold while she waits for relief. 

 

Leah has a smile that radiates whenever you see it.  You just want to be near her light.  I was late in joining this family and wasn't around during the Nick Jago days, but it is clear that since she has joined BRMC, she has brought something completely different to the band that has bonded them closer together.  They truly are like brothers and sister.  I had the amazing opportunity to say "hi" and meet Leah after their show in New Orleans last year.  She was rushing to meet friends as they were heading out on the road in just under an hour, but she took the time to let me tell her how much their music meant to me and that I loved watching her play.  She even took a picture with me, which sometimes getting her after a show can be a little difficult.  The fact that she did that when she could have just blown me off cemented why these three are so special in my heart.  I've grown up around music all my life, but it wasn't until I first saw Leah play that I was drawn towards her thriving beat of the drums.  Even when I listen to their albums, I just listen in awe at how fierce yet delicate she really is.  Her fierceness and drive will be what carries her through this along with all of the love and support from the rebel family across the world.

 

Leah and I after the Civic Theater show in New Orleans last year. 

 

And family is what we indeed are.  In less than a week after a Go Fund Me account, entitled Pass the Helmet for Leah, was set up by my good friend and brother iAN Ottaway, we are already halfway to our goal of $33,300.00 which will go towards her surgery taking place at the end of November along with her subsequent recovery.  The band has also released a special edition "I Want to Beleah" t-shirt which will also go towards this very special cause.  I believe the first day those shirts were on sale, they had already sold out of almost every size, another testament to how special this band is to its fans.  We still have a ways to go, but every little bit helps and it just keeps that spirit alive that there are still a lot of really good people out there.  I can't wait to be back with my rebel family watching Leah, Robert and Peter take the stage that first time after her recovery.  Until then, her light will continue to shine brightly as she blazes through this journey with a world of love by her side. 

 

 

Here's to You My Little Love: Paying Tribute to Michael Been

For two nights in April of last year, the stars aligned and magic was made as the members of The Call and Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club came together to pay tribute to Robert's father and The Call frontman, Michael Been, who had passed away back in 2010.  I remember being with my parents that night here in Texas and telling my father, who was fortunate to see The Call back in 1986 on their 'Reconciled' tour, that these shows were happening and how cool it would have been to be able to be there and experience it live.  Being a thousand miles and two time zones away, I had no idea the magnitude of those nights, but lucky for me I would be able to still be a part of bringing one of those nights to life for everyone to enjoy.  And little did I know that in just over a week another Been would be forever changing my life when Robert and his band came to Houston for that fateful night.

It was a night about three years in the making ever since Robert reconnected with his extended musical family, those guys in his dad's band that he grew up with, Tom Ferrier, Scott Musick and Jim Goodwin.  You see, The Call never disbanded due to some high amount of drama or falling out.  Michael was just simply ready to hang up his bass guitar, but the remaining members always had that fire burning in their hearts to play together again.  When Michael passed away in August 2010, the seed was planted, but to make it grow would take a couple more years.  Then, in the midst of Robert preparing to embark on his own tour with BRMC upon their latest album release, he was still able to give The Call fans something they had been hoping would happen for many years, a reunion.  This wouldn't just be any reunion, however, as Robert would take the helm as frontman for the evening, singing his father's lyrics and even playing that very popular bass that his father played for so many years.  The very same bass that was stolen years before, but thankfully some vigilant Call fan spotted it, saved it and returned it to its rightful owner.  Robert is no stranger to his father's music.  Black Rebel Motorcycle Club do a very remarkable cover of "Let the Day Begin" and Robert's version of "You Run" never ceases to bring a tear to my eye, but on these two nights he would have to deliver in a way that would not disappoint those long time Call fans.  

Robert Levon Been with original members of The Call.

Not too long after the shows, The Call and BRMC announced that they were launching a Pledge Campaign in an effort to bring the Troubador show from April 19th to those that couldn't be there and allow those that were there a chance to relive it for years to come.  So, I quickly pledged to receive my T-Shirt, DVD and digital download.  Months went by, the goal was met and then we started receiving our gifts.  First the shirt, then the download of the album, but there was no word of the DVD.  We then started receiving messages from The Call that it was a work in progress because they wanted it to be perfect.  And then, after months and months of waiting, we received our DVD of that beautiful and magical night.  I was so excited to finally receive this gem in the mail because this was going to possibly be the only way I'd ever get to see The Call perform live in my lifetime.  

Once I received my DVD, I let it sit for a couple of weeks, because if you've read any of my other pieces, you know it has to be the "right" moment for me to experience music.  I knew that this performance could be a little emotional for me, so I waited until I had that perfect bottle of wine to accompany me and then I just pushed play.  I have to admit, I wasn't sure what to expect.  I had seen the teasers that were sent to those that pledged and I had seen videos from those nights on YouTube, but there can sort of be this idea that when a band that hasn't played together in years gets together, a band that has "aged," you might cringe at them getting up there and maybe taking a chance of embarrassing themselves.  That was not the case at all with these guys.  It was almost as if time stood still and picked up where they left off.  And Robert.  Well, Michael had a voice that probably no one could ever match, but Robert blew me away the way he brought his own touch to his father's music yet keeping it original at the same time.  These guys played together so tightly and sounded so perfect for only being able to rehearse for a short amount of time.  Robert looked like he was at home on stage with those guys just like he does with his own bandmates.  Robert even admits that the songs seemed easier when listening to them on the record, but he played them and sang his heart out as if he had written them himself.  I think my favorite moment was when they did "I Don't Wanna." It was so emotional and I truly felt like at that moment Michael was sitting up there watching this show with the biggest smile on his face.  There are some great surprises and bonus features as well, but you have to get your own copy to see.  I shed a few tears, but it was all in good love for two bands that I adore.

To say my life has changed ever since BRMC stepped into my heart would be an understatement, but The Call also played a huge part in my life growing up and I am thankful I was able to be a part of this Pledge Campaign to make this happen.  There are still plenty of copies left, they're even signed by the band members, so go and get yours and bring home this special piece of music history for you to experience for yourself.   And maybe if we're lucky and Robert's crazy enough, they'll embark on a mini tour for all of us to experience live.  Thank you to all that were involved.  You made this girl very happy.  Until next time, sweet friends.   

A Little Texas Heart + Soul Heads to the Rebel West

It's been months since my last hit and the withdrawals have been brutal. There's nothing like that almost out of body experience that takes you out of your head and into a happier place. That rush from the energy around you when nothing else matters but that moment. It's the dope in my black tar veins that keeps me feeling alive. I try to quit but this addiction will hold me for the rest of my life for it is in that moment when I finally feel at home. And in just a few weeks, heaven will surround me once again. 

I am of course talking about a concert, but not just any concert.  In just a few short weeks, I will be heading west to Los Angeles to see my third Black Rebel Motorcycle Club show.  A show that I honestly did not think would happen this soon.  Partly because of logistics of getting there and partly because after their European tour earlier this year, Rob told a good friend of mine that they were done for the year and taking a much needed and much deserved break.  Luckily for us, that break did not last very long as summer dates started trickling in and the dream was lit alive once again.  

 

Peter Hayes and brother iAN after the last L.A. show in October.


When I caught up with BRMC in New Orleans last October, I was fortunate to also finally get to meet and spend a lot of time with the famous iAN Ottaway from "Ask iAN" on the band's website.  It was like meeting someone you had known your entire life, which is pretty much how it goes in this family, and we shared a lot of great things that night; stories, Cheez-its, a bed.  Hey, keep it clean here, I was helping out a friend.  Anyways, I had a good heart to heart with iAN about something and three words that he told me that night have stuck with me ever since, almost becoming my new mantra or motto.  "Make it Happen." That was what he told me and I took it straight to heart.  So a few days later when he posted this picture of himself and Peter after the last show in Los Angeles, I said right then and there that I will be at the next L.A. show no matter what.  While I had *hoped* that my chance would come soon, I hesitated to get my hopes up too high because I knew they were going to want a break soon, yet something kept telling me I would be seeing them sooner than I thought.  Slowly but surely, dates started trickling in for summer festivals and one off shows in Spain and Italy.  They announced they were opening for Pearl Jam in the UK and for the Arctic Monkeys in Los Angeles.  I almost pulled the trigger on that show, but that same voice from earlier told me to wait since seeing them for their own show is the way to go.  Then, that magical day in May happened and BRMC announced they would be doing a show in August before their Arctic Monkeys date.  I, of course, freaked out like a little girl and immediately started making plans to get out there.  And quickly it all fell into place.  Like magic.    

  

This trip is going to mean a lot to me.  Not only will I get to see a band that I adore who has brought so much good into my life since falling in love with them, but I get to see my brother iAN again and finally meet so many members of my rebel family.  Of course, not everyone will be able to be there, but that just keeps the dream alive that one day we will all be at that mega show.  Until then, I hope California is ready for this Texas girl because I'm ready for you, all ready for you!  

Born Tonight: An Evening With Plowboy

It was not a typical winter’s night in Dallas last Friday.  The air was slightly warmer than the usual Texas version of frigid temperatures.   When the wind blew, it was as if it was filled with an excited electric current that pulsed to your heart.  Poor David’s Pub was brimming with a collective anticipation as a large crowd began to form waiting for the band to take the stage.   That band was the very impressive Plowboy.

Young Dallas band Plowboy has had a pretty formidable year.  On the heels of their debut album release, Headlong and Roaming, they scored the chance of a lifetime opening up for their heroes Black Rebel Motorcycle Club who was on tour in support of their latest album.  Plowboy struck gold again when BRMC invited them back out to play that magical night in New Orleans.  With all of the support they garnered from those very special shows, tonight was to be all about them.  No frills, no fuss, just pure rock and roll. 

If Led Zeppelin, The Doors and BRMC had a love child, its sound would be Plowboy.  And when Jonah and company take the stage, some may be surprised to see that these rockers are barely old enough to have their driver’s license let alone know who those classic bands are, but do not let that fool you.  Nobody ever told these guys they were too young to rock.  The sound these four young souls create is enough to blow the roof off the joint while commanding an audience to their feet and keeping them captivated for their entire set.  It is pretty evident from the first few chords of opening song, “Reaching,” that there is a huge amount of pure, raw talent developing that rivals that of many bands twice their age.  Frontman Jonah Smith belts out each lyric with his powerful voice as he fiercely plucks each string on his guitar, as if each one had wronged him in some way.  Then there's lead guitarist, Evan O'Brien, who wickedly makes his guitar sing with every lick and note while rhythm section Isaac and Colin maintain that driving force, never missing a heart stopping beat.  “Wits End” gets the audience fired up and from there the band plows through their catalog of tracks including "Hard Right," "Cold Fever," and "I Wouldn't Touch Her She Smells Like Suburbia." A grand mixture of songs from their debut album as well as newer gems that will certainly find their home on Plowboy’s next recording endeavor. 

As usual with great live shows, the end comes much too quickly leaving the fans always wanting more.  Plowboy is not done with their magic just yet as they dive into the melodic and shoegaze inspired piece, “Love You from a Distance,” which carries that little spark of influence from their heroes.  It also happens to be my favorite song by the band.  And then, just like that, the set was over and the withdrawals begin to set in. 

This young band certainly continues to leave its mark in the hearts of those that get to experience their soulful light in person. Their originality and pragmatic ways will keep them around for many years to come as they carry on that rock and roll torch, sharing their music with the world. 



Set List:

Reaching
High Strung
Wits End
Hard Right
Get Moved
Ever-Change
Cold Fever
I Wouldn't Touch Her She Smells Like Suburbia
Love You From a Distance

Plowboy are: Jonah Smith (lead vocals/guitar), Evan Obrien (lead guitar), Isaac "Iko" Brodsky (bass/vocals), Colin Scruggs (drums)

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. 

Whole Lotta Shows

Fall has arrived and it looks like I'm going to be one busy lady! In addition to the shows I was already planning on seeing this fall, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club in New Orleans, Holy Ghost!, Chromatics/Glass Candy and Brian Setzer Orchestra, I am now going to be catching quite a few shows at one of my favorite Houston venues, Warehouse Live.  Earlier this month, Warehouse Live ran a contest on their Facebook page and the prize was a guest list spot to all of their shows this fall as well as a signed Blondie poster.  Well, lo and behold, I actually won and will be enjoying the rockin' sounds of Blondie and X tonight.  I definitely plan to catch as many of these other shows as possible.  What an amazing opportunity to check out some great up and coming bands! So be on the lookout over the next few months for some reviews and photos.  Below is a list of the shows.  Which ones would you check out?

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Announce More Tour Dates

Yesterday was a day of happiness for many Black Rebel Motorcycle Club fans and a day of sadness for others as the band announced its next round of tour dates which will take them pretty much around the world and back. Still supporting their latest release, Specter at the Feast, BRMC aims to please all of their fans and will be making stops in the U.S., Russia and Australia before rounding it out in Japan in November. Many die hard fans in Europe were hoping for more dates to be added in their neck of the woods as were some in Canada and South America. Still, just because these dates don't include those stops, that doesn't mean the band won't continue on with their journey and pick those places up in an added set of dates at a later time.

I'm checking them out in New Orleans, LA! I have never been to NOLA so this will be a treat! Of course, the just mentioned Austin show would be the closer show, but I'm in the mood for a road trip! Hope you get to make it out to see them near your part of the world.

UPDATE: Additional dates have been added for New Zealand. 

 

 

 

Sometimes the Light Shines at the Right Time

It’s funny how you can listen to a song or an album as a kid and not really think much of it. Listening to it just becomes a part of your daily routine because your parents are listening to it, but somehow that song or album gets buried into your heart and soul and stays with you for years to come, molding what becomes your musical tastes for today. I must have been about six years old when The Call’s Reconciled album hit the airwaves. We were living in Corpus Christi and my dad’s band was pretty much on the outs by that point and soon we’d be moving to Houston. I remember listening to that tape in the car just about every day on my way to and from school and everywhere else in between. When you’re a kid, you don’t really pay attention to the lyrics and I couldn’t really understand why my parents had grown to love this album so much. I mean, “I Still Believe” sounds a little silly to a six year old that would rather listen to Duran Duran with her sisters instead of whatever band her parents were into at that moment. Now, as an adult, I’ve learned to appreciate that album and it is one that I still reach for whenever I’m in need of an old, comforting friend. Michael Been’s faith inspired lyrics are a breath of fresh air especially in today’s state of popular music that drones the radio waves. The Call was truly an underrated band in every sense of the word. They were pegged by critics to be the U2 of the US but never quite got to that point; still, they acquired quite the following that has stood by their side even to this day. When Michael Been passed in 2010, a huge part of music died with him. That is, until now. 

And I shouldn’t even say “until now” because this particular band has been around for the last decade and are only getting better as they go along. That band is Black Rebel Motorcycle Club with Been’s son, Robert, taking on duties as bass player and co-founder. I had seen the name Black Rebel Motorcycle Club floating around various websites over the years, but I’m ashamed to say that I never really gave them the time of day. I don’t know why, I can sometimes be a little bit of a music snob and I just figured they were some “new, rock alternative blah band” that wouldn’t do much for me. That all changed last summer when I was tooling around on YouTube looking for something new and exciting to catch my fancy.  I clicked on BRMC’s “Love Burns” video and I quickly fell in love. So I did what any modern person does when they want to know more about a certain subject; I Googled them. And I discovered that Robert was Michael’s son and that Michal had been acting as BRMC’s sound engineer, mentor, friend and honorary fourth member for many years up to his death. Well, now I have to love this band, right? But as much as I enjoyed their sound, I sort of put them on a shelf for a later date. Not much was going on with them at this point. They hadn’t announced too much of what would be their latest album, Specter at the Feast, during that time and I sometimes have a knack of getting into a band on the tail end of their existence so I didn’t want to start something with his band that I couldn’t finish. Plus, even in the world of music listening, timing is everything and at that time, BRMC just wasn’t meant to become a part of my life. 

And that’s the funny thing about timing. It can be a person or a thing or a song or an album that can come into your life and you don’t have any idea that it is going to be a life changer. And that’s exactly what happened when BRMC’s Specter at the Feast came into my life. I casually picked it up at Cactus Music on Record Store Day in anticipation of the concert the following weekend thinking to myself, “Hey, I better know some songs for this show.” I didn’t have any idea as to how much I was going to fall in love with that album and the band as a whole. After Michael Been’s passing in 2010, the band understandably took time to grieve and figure out the next step. During that time, they wrote what I believe to be some of their greatest pieces to date. There are so many great moments on that album starting with the ethereal, bass driven opener, “Firewalker” before tearing into a dynamic and inspirational cover of The Call’s “Let the Day Begin.” The listener gets invited into a journey of grief, frustration, hope, joy and sadness. I really felt a lot of Robert’s healing as he sang “Returning” and “Lullaby” with lyrics like “You are the hand I can’t reach, you are the words I can't speak.” The center of the album revolves around the classic, gritty guitar laden rock anthem songs that BRMC is more known for with “Hate the Taste”, “Rival” and “Teenage Disease” proving that Peter Hayes is still a solid songwriter and guitar player. Other great tracks on the album are “Some Kind of Ghost” and “Sometimes the Light.” Each song gives a feeling of connectedness, picking up where the other leaves off and the band does an excellent job at bringing the listener full circle by ending the album with the epic masterpiece of “Lose Yourself.” 

I have to say, there is one song in particular that on most listens, doesn’t leave me with a dry eye and that’s “Returning.” I don’t know what it is about that song, but between Leah's beautifully rhythmic pulse of her drums, Robert’s poetic words and the intertwining layers of Robert and Peter’s melodic guitar and bass, I really feel like I’m there with them, experiencing whatever pain or sadness they experienced during these last few years. Personally for me, the message in that song is about returning from such a sad event and learning to start over and move on and having faith that it will all work out in the end. And sometimes we just need to be reminded of that. I really get a sense that Michael was with them throughout this whole process of creating this beautiful album, even if it was in a spiritual, emotional way. 

Music is an amazing thing. It can touch people in many different ways. It can lift you up, it can make you sad, it can make you laugh, it can make you cry and it can help heal your heart. When people are able to make music like that it’s a special gift and not everyone that creates music is given that gift to touch someone the way certain bands or musicians do. Michael Been and his music that he created with The Call started a legacy that would be carried on by his son and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. There’s no doubt that I’m certainly in a different place in my life now than I was a year ago when I first gave this band a listen and that is why now I feel like they have become part of my soul. I needed them now and I needed this album to come into my life now. I don’t know why and I certainly wasn’t planning on falling in love with them the way I have, but to say that I have become “obsessed” with this band is an understatement. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is something special and their loyal fans know it. Seeing them perform live in April, experiencing first hand their passion and love of music and appreciation for their devoted fans only solidifies that place in my heart that only a few have ever been able to reach. It is a place that I expect Robert, Peter and Leah will hold for many years to come. Perhaps one day our paths will cross and I’ll be able to thank them for sharing their heart and soul with the world. Until then, I hope they continue to spread their love and share their light.

Photo taken by Summer Davis at Warehouse Live in Houston, TX on 4/28/2013.