Horrorpops February 29, 2008 Agora Ballroom Cleveland, Ohio

 

This was my first exposure to Horrorpops. They were headlining this show that also included Lords of the Highway (local Cleveland band), Cute Lepers and Pink Spiders. I actually went to this show to see Pink Spiders, and this was the first of many times I've seen Cute Lepers. All the bands were really good, and Horrorpops absolutely rocked. This show is incomplete as we decided to go hang out with Pink Spiders before the Horrorpops were finished. Pick up their 2008 release, Kiss Kiss Kill Kill and give it a spin.

1. Freaks In Uniforms
2. Thelma & Louise
3. Drama Queen
4. Ghouls
5. Hit 'n' Run
6. Missfits
7. Baby Lou Tattoo
8. Trapped
9. Undefeated
10. Heading For The Disco
11. Miss Take
12. S.O.B.
13. Walk Like A Zombie

Download this show HERE.

Cute Lepers August 12, 2008 Bernie's Distillery Columbus, Ohio

Mighty, mighty good punk/powerpop show at this basement dive on High Street. Seattle's Cute Lepers sprang from the ashes of the legendary Briefs (which are now back together, and the Cute Lepers defunct), on Joan Jett's Blackheart Records. Headlining the "Throwing A Fit Across The USA" tour supported by San Diego's Powerchords and Avenue Rose, the Cute Lepers roared through an extremely tight set of musical bliss, despite the obvious sound issues. I had seen them once before, and once since, but this was by far the band at their best. The twenty or so people in attendance that night were certainly treated to big fun. The band release three full length albums, and a slew of  7 inchers. It had been over twenty years since I had been to this club, a regular stop when I attended The Ohio State University in the '80s, and not a thing had changed.

On a side note, there is this (homeless?) guy, Don B., who attends shows in the campus area and asks the bands to play the Batman Theme to which he "sings" vocals. He was there this night- what a hoot.


1. intro
2. (I'm) Out of Order
3. Nervous Habits
4. Terminal Boredom
5. Batman
6. No, No, No
7. The News Is Always The Same
8. It's Summertime Baby
9. Prove IT
10. Modern Pests
11. Fall To Pieces
12. The Day After The End of the World
13. Cool City
14. So Screwed Up
15. Young Hearts
16. Opening Up

Download this show HERE.

Pick up their full length releases if you can find them, or download them from the usual spots.

"Can't Stand Modern Music" 2011 full length vinyl LP (1-2-3-4 Go! Records on vinyl in N. America/Asia), Blackheart Records (CD and Digital in N. America/Asia) and Damaged Goods (Vinyl and CD in Europe)
"Smart Accessories" 2010 full-length album (1-2-3-4 Go! Records in N. America/Asia), and Damaged Goods (in Europe)
"Adventure Time" 2008 full-length album (1-2-3-4 Go! Records in N. America/Asia), and Damaged Goods (in Europe)

Pink Spiders February 29, 2008 Agora Ballroom Cleveland, Ohio

A great bill this evening with Lords of the Highway, Cute Lepers, Pink Spiders and Horrorpops. Two of my girls and I made the trek to Cleveland to see Pink Spiders, who we had seen open for Good Charlotte a couple years earlier. A really good time was had by all, and the guys from the band were super cool to the girls.


1. Sleeping On The Floor
2. Soft Smoke
3. Teenage Graffitti
4. Stranglehold
5. Gimme Chemicals
6. Modern Swinger
7. Hollywood Fix
8. Teenage Kicks
9. Still Three Shy
10. Talk Hard
11. Nobody Baby
12. Little Razorblade
13. Adalae
14. Easy Way Out

Download this show HERE

Preservation Hall-Stars November 18, 2008 Preservation Hall New Orleans, LA

A recent Facebook post regarding one's affinity to Dixieland Jazz motivated me to post this one. Preservation Hall was on my bucket list, and I finally had the opportunity to visit when work sent me to the area several years ago.  I was surprised by the size of the hall, but the place just oozed music history. Scores of greats have played there since it opened in 1961. This nite, the Preservation Hall-Stars were on tap. It seems the Hall-Stars line up of high-quality jazz musicians frequently changes, but on this beautiful nite just off Bourbon Street they were:

Leon Brown - vocals and trumpet
Freddy Lonzo - Trombone
Carrie Brown - Drums
Gerald Adams - Bass
Lars Edegran - Piano

They played three loose sets each steeped in New Orleans tradition to the roughly forty folks that filled up the tiny hall. There were no amplifiers or microphones used, so the vocals are a bit weak, but there are not a lot of vocal parts to begin with.

1. Royal Garden Blues
2. How Come You Do Me Like You Do
3. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
4. Ain't She Sweet
5. Tiger Rag
6. South Rampart Street Parade
7. Petite Fleur
8. Millinburg Joys
9. Slide Frog Slide
10. Just A Closer Walk With Thee
11. When The Saits Go Marching In
12. Bogalusa Strut
13. Someday You'll Be Sorry
14. That's A Plenty
15. When My Dream Boat Comes Home

Download this show HERE.