Friday, April 30, 2010

Weezer's On An Island Having Fun




Weezer has always been seen as one of the best alternative rock groups. Whether you like the introspective Pinkerton or the rocking Raditude. they have a place in rock history that can't be denied. So with a reputation like that how can a live show compare?

As I sat in the media section, an are a that was new and scary to me, Weezer took the stage. I took a ton of photos before they kicked us out. Rivers Cuomo didn't come out for a while though, he knows how to play an audience. He's an excellent frontman and his nerdy exterior really deceives you as he jumps across the stage and onto speakers. He almost scared me a few times, I was worried I was watching their last show.

The highlight of the was "Say It Ain't So" which Rivers opened up by saying "I gotta get this right, because I care, I really do." I know he probably says it every show, but it seemed like he really cared, which is good, because I was getting worried that Weezer had lost it's way. With all their party songs, I felt they had stopped being an artistic endeavor and more of a band that sticks around for a paycheck. But after this concert I have to say that Weezer may have tripped but they have not fallen.

The Band That Was There


The band that was on everyone's lips Thursday night at SunFest was the band that wasn't there.

From the warning signs at the entrance to the repeated apologies from the stage, the cancellation of The Flaming Lips' show due to a band member's illness enveloped the Meyer Amphitheater atmosphere. Local band and last minute fill-in for the missing Lips, Ladies and Gentlemen, even did a spirited version of "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots."

When the Canadian trio Bedouin Soundclash took the stage, replacing the Lips as the headliners, guitarist and singer Jay Malinowski said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we are not the Flaming Lips."

With that ice-breaker, Bedouin Soundclash launched into a one-hour set of their infectious brand of pop-oriented reggae and ska. Although Malinowski's voice wavered at time, the rhythm section of bassest Eon Sinclair and drummer Sekou Lumumba were solid and strong.

The small crowd, only about a quarter of the seating area, were up and dancing for the length of the show. The band, which is heading into the studio next month to records its fourth album, were obviously pleased with the response.

"We weren't sure what was going to happen," Malinowski said.

What happened was the talented trio took a bit of the sting out of the disappointment about the band that wasn't there.

Nothing To Say” by Bedouin Soundclash (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)


(Photo by Palm Beach Post)







Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Weird Cover Wednesday: "Weezer- Kids and Pokerface"


The band Weezer has performed many weird
covers, most of them caught in crappy youtube
cell phone videos. So here's their cover of
shot by the band themselves. Also in our daily
Sunfest plug, Weezer will be performing tonight
at 9:00 on the Bank Of America stage. I'll be
there and I'll deliver a review.

“Kids/ Poker Face” by Weezer (mp3)

Flaming Lips Cancel at SunFest


The Flaming Lips has cancelled its SunFest appearance for Thursday night.

The cancellation was prompted by the hospitalization of the group's lead guitarist Steven Drozd. This is a large disappointment to area fans as the Lips were probably the most anticipated set of the festival. Here's hoping a quick recovery for Steven.

The ZZ Top show, scheduled at the same time as the Lips' set, just got a lot more crowded.

Monday, April 26, 2010

SunFest Survival Guide


Now that the
storms have blown through and there's nothing but clear skies ahead, it is time to get your prep on for West Palm Beach's annual music and arts festival, SunFest. After more than 20 years of SunFest attendance, I have discovered there are several tenets for a successful festival. Here are a few:
Have a great festival! See you there.

Party Out Of Bounds” by The B-52s (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)







Friday, April 23, 2010

Five Video Friday: Sunfest Edition

With SunFest coming up, we decided to give you the best music videos of some of the bands playing at the West Palm Beach festival.

Weezer- Buddy Holly

The music video made both Weezer and director Spike Jonze stars. It's also well known for being
the last big music video on MTV, before it descended into a hole of reality TV it has never
escaped from.

Smash Mouth- All Star

In the summer of 1999, everyone knew this song. It was impossible to not hear it if you turned
on the radio without hearing it. It also gave us the phrase "she was looking kind of dumb with
her finger and her thumb in the shape of an L on her forehead." So you know, that's pretty cool.

The B-52's- Rock Lobster

Some may say that Love Shack is the best B-52's video. We here at After Hours Music Blog buck
that tradition, giving you the craziness of Rock Lobster.

Flaming Lips- Yoshimi Battles The Giant Robots (Part 1)

I honestly have no idea what is going on in this
video.

Bedouin Soundclash
the Ni

While starting out kind of slow, this video picks up around the 50 second mark into awesome.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Weird Cover Wednesday: About A Girl


Everything about this trippy cover of Nirvana's "About A Girl" by the Cibo Matto drips of the hipster scene. One can imagine the song drifting from a small downtown club amidst the smoke of foreign cigarettes. The streets are wet from a light, early morning rain, the taxi cabs are blowing their horns and the kids are all dressed in black. On the stage are two cooler-than-thou Japanese ex-pats. Their pitch tends to wander with the song, but that really doesn't matter. This is all about the attitude. These crazy girls have it in spades.

The Brazilian jazz piano opening is oddly reminiscent of the "Sex and the City" theme song. For a brief, shining moment, Cibo Matto held court in downtown Manhattan. Hell, Sean Ono Lennon was their bassist for a time. But like last year's fashions, the girls have moved on. They split up the band and moved on to other exceedingly hip endeavors. This cover of Kurt Cobain's first "pop" song is a fine souvenir of the trip.

About A Girl” by Cibo Matto (mp3)

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Five Video Friday

Piano Chat Improv With Merton

The newest internet hit, Merton has become a household name
among the nerdy and computer savvy. He's got millions of views
in just a few months and even got Ben Folds to give him a tribute.
Merton continues to upload videos and you may even see him on
Chatroullete if you dare to go.

Pomplamoose Covers Single Ladies

Folk band Pomplamoose has gotten famous due to this great
cover of Beyonce's Single Ladies. The interesting video and
fresh take on the song made it an instant hit.

The Golden Age of Video

An amazing mash up of a staggering amount of
quotes from TV show and movies. See how many

Transistor Radio- Cloud Cult

This home made music video for Cloud Cult makes you feel like
you're reading your favorite childhood picture book. NSFW as it
will make you cry like a little girl, and no one at your work wants
to see that.

The Hives Medley

Sweden's most American band plays it's heart out, doing
great covers and just rocking the stage.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Weird Cover Wednesday: "While My Ketar Gently Weeps"



Everyone knows the Beatles, they’re famous and every single music lover knows their songs. So when a band covers them they must tread lightly, or they might tread on a classic, alienate fans and bring shame on their family. But not so with Lemon Demon’s cover of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Throwing reason to the wind, he totally redid the song, with no guitar to weep and a vocoder replacing George’s voice. Is it destined to be a classic? No, but it shall remain one of the weirdest songs on my iPod and the weirdest cover I ever heard.

While My Keytar Gently Weeps” by Lemon Demon (mp3)