Concert Review: Nick Lowe at Knuckleheads

I had no intention of attending Nick Lowe’s concert at Knuckleheads when I woke up last Wednesday.  My itch for nostalgia had been thoroughly sated at the previous week’s Janet Jackson’s concert.  My life partner wasn’t having it.  In an uncommon role reversal, she dragged me to see the Jesus of Cool.  The opening salvo of “So It Goes,” “Ragin' Eyes” and “Without Love” compelled us to shimmy in front of the stage like it was 1987.  The masked surf-rock ensemble Los Straitjackets, Lowe’s backing band, struck the proper balance between reverence and relevance.  I’m pleased as punch that the bride still rock-and-rolls.


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The production at Arcade Fire’s appearance in Independence was the most impressive display I’ve encountered since Kanye West’s Yeezus tour touched down at the Sprint Center in 2013.  Here’s my review for The Kansas City Star.

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George Young, a genuine rock Zelig, has died.  Many of his obituaries fail to mention his role in Flash and the Pan’s forgotten 1976 hit “Hey, St. Peter”.

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Chuck Blackwell, the Tulsa based drummer who performed with the likes of Leon Russell and Joe Cocker, has died.  (Tip via BGO.)

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Martin Ain of Celtic Frost has died.

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I prefer Lee Ann Womack’s throwback country on The Lonely, the Lonesome & the Gone to Margo Price’s more progressive All American Made.  Unconcerned with- and probably indifferent to- the current climate, Womack evokes dusty albums by the likes of Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton and Glen Campbell.  Price sounds as if she’s consciously competing with Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton.  Here are Womack’s “Sunday” and Price’s “Weakness”.

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Big K.R.I.T.’s 4eva Is A Mighty Long Time recalls the era in which the Dirty South ruled hip-hop.  RIYL: T.I. country, Killer Mike.  Here’s “Keep the Devil Off”.

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The rough-and-tumble blues-rock set by Cinderella’s Tom Keifer at Rockfest was one of the year’s most pleasant surprises.  Although The Way Life Goes is substantially cleaner than the show in June, it still impresses me.  Here’s the representative “The Way Life Goes”.

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Kim Wilson’s Blues and Boogie is wild-eyed barroom blues.  RIYL: James Cotton, carousing, Little Walter.

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Not surprisingly, I’m smitten by Agrima, the new album by Rudresh Mahanthappa and the Indo-Pak Coalition.

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I had a violently allergic reaction to Live in Montreal, a duet album by Edgar Castaneda and Hiromi.  RIYL: leaf blowers, Friday Night in San Francisco, ostentatiousness.

(Original image of Nick Lowe by There Stands the Glass.)

Concert Review: Phil Neal & the Wornalls at the RecordBar

I should have been drinking Guinness and wearing an Eddie & the Hot Rods t-shirt rather than enjoying Boulevard Pale Ale while bundled in a sweater.  Attending Phil Neal & the Wornalls' recent matinee performance at the RecordBar was akin to stepping into a London pub in 1976.  The earnest band banged out pub rock with casual grace. 

Ever since I reviewed the delightful album Lonely Tonight in February, I'd been meaning to catch the band.  Better late than never. 

Neal comes by the no-frills sound honestly.  Check out his 1983 video for "2 Time Loser".  Thirty years later, Neal's pop aspirations have been replaced with gritty defiance.

Aside from the shaky vocals I referenced in my album review, the band- particularly lead guitarist Gary Paredes- played with admirable fortitude.  While callow audiences might be put off by the multi-generational composition of his band, Neal's perseverance inspires me.


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Josh Berwanger's Strange Stains is RIYL: Dwight Twilley, Lindsey Buckingham, the Shoes.  (Tip via Tim Finn.)

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A favorite parlor game in the There Stands the Glass compound is determining which version of a popular song is best.  The winner of the "Both Sides Now" entry is Dave Van Ronk. 

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Care to watch grainy footage of Don Ho and Tom Jones singing Willie Nelson's "Night Life"?  Of course you do.

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Disappointed!  Robert Glasper's Black Radio 2 is a self-indulgent mess.  Most of the raps are corny while the melismatic vocalists sound way too blessed out. 

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Boy George's album is remarkably solid.  Check out "King of Everything".  RIYL: Culture Club, Culture, Club Med. 

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I enjoyed Arcade Fire's new Reflektor album far more than the band's 2010 breakthrough album The Suburbs. RIYL: Let's Dance-era David Bowie, NPR, Chic.

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I really wanted to like Alan Jackson's Bluegrass Album album, but it just brought me down.  RIYL: The Grand Ole Opry, moonshine, poor execution. 

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Skeletonwitch's Serpents Unleashed is excellent.  RIYL: dirt, Torche, beer.

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I'm glad to have listened to Allen Tousssaint's Songbook once, but the live recording accentuates the brilliant man's weaknesses.  RIYL: Bobby Short, cabaret, Elvis Costello. 

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Malaco re-upped a fine promotional video for a 1999 Little Milton album. 

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This week's new releases of special interest to There Stands the Glass include titles by Trace Adkins, Arcade Fire, Bad Religion (Christmas Songs!), Bardo Pond, Kelly Clarkson, Chris Forsyth, Robert Glasper, Roy Harper, Toby Keith, Los Lobos, Nick Lowe, Johnny Mathis, Minor Alps, Juana Molina, Warbringer and White Denim.

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Kansas City Click: My official picks are published here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)