December 2009

DTL Live Report U2 10-12-2009

December 9, 2009
By
dtl-live-generic

Finally – my first U2 concert. I have always lived too far away to make it to any previous U2 tours. But when they started building Jerry Jones’ Mothership (aka The Dallas Cowboys Stadium) around the corner from where I work – I only had one thought: when U2 tours, they are going to stop there. I just knew it was going to happen, and sure enough, my speculation proved to be true. And thanks to having an uber-U2 fan for a friend and a glitch in the Ticketmaster system, I was able to get floor seats before most fan club members could snatch them all up. The opening act for the night was Muse. I really like Muse’s albums, but I can’t really say if they are good in concert. The mix for their set wasn’t good, and I couldn’t see thanks to some drunk Muse fans that shoved…

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Book Review: And Yet You Continue To Provoke The Night by Shawn Ness

December 1, 2009
By
journeyto1000pic

And Yet You Continue To Provoke The Night is a book of poetry that my friend Shawn Ness has put together. It was something that Shawn decided to do for the Joslyn and Lowrie families after their tragic loss on the night of 10-24-2004. All of the royalties of this book will go to the families… families that Shawn has actually never met or spoken with. This book is a journey on many levels: it is personal, productive, painful, and proactive. Shawn is a great poet and has the ability to really express and get in touch with the feelings that many of us probably feel, but cannot express. Shawn has the unique gift of expressing these feelings, and turning them into a work of art. The book is split into 3 separate chapters. The first is called “Within” and in the author’s words are best described as, “The darkness…

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Book Review: God’s Not Dead (And Neither Are We) by Jerry Wilson

December 1, 2009
By
godsnotdead

If you are reading this magazine, then you need to get this book. Don’t give me any ‘buts’ or ‘whys’ – just go get the book. All done? Good. Since you have to order it online, I will go ahead and tell you a little bit about the book you are about to get. Because you did go buy it, right? The basic summary of this book is that a long line of musicians from some of Christian alternative’s foundational bands tell their stories. The good, the bad, and the crazy are all recorded here. They tell where they have been and where they are now. They talk about the mistakes they made, the ways they were screwed by others, and the good memories they have of their musical days. Some of them are still at it, but most have moved on to something else. What I like about this…

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Punk Sounds by The Huntingtons

December 1, 2009
By
huntingtons-punksounds

I saw these guys at the first TomFest and they blew me away! I got to hang out with them, we talked a lot about the Ramones, in fact I saw the Ramones in San Francisco the same night I started my drive to Tomfest! I’ve seen and heard many bands in what’s been dubbed “Ramones-core” and nobody is as good as the Huntingtons. The reason, well it’s all about the playing, the super fast down stroke on the guitar, playing bass with the same speed an octave up, the one handed 8th and 16th beat on a closed high hat, and the ever moving, almost military, kick patterns. Everyone rips on the Ramones until they try to play Ramones songs the proper way, it’s very difficult, the Huntingtons can do it. As I started this review I discovered that there are two versions of the album, a 13 song,…

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Pillar of Salt by Kissing Cousins

December 1, 2009
By
kissing-cousins-pillar

Kissing Cousins first full length Pillar Of Salt is as haunting as it is beautiful. This release is full of breath-y (is that a word?) vocals and dark, brooding, majestic music. If you have their EP’s already, you will be very pleased with this full length. Pillar Of Salt is a culmination of a band that has really honed their skills and talents over the last few years. The music here is probably best described as indie rock or college rock. The use of the flute is what is most striking to me, I don’t think that I have ever heard a flute used in music like this, but it works amazingly well. Check out their MySpace page to listen to some tunes, but definitely purchase the record – which is available in vinyl and CD. This five piece all-girl band is a welcomed addition to any collection and reminds…

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Take Back The Scene by Western Grace

December 1, 2009
By
western-grace

Western Grace puts the PUNK back into punk rock. Too many bands have been doing rock with a glossy punk sheen lately. Josh Lory is here to remind them that punk was meant to be in your face and rough. Sissy pop-punk fans should stay away from this – it might make you wet in your skinny jeans. Okay, I say rough and nasty, but I still find the songs catchy and enjoyable. Josh has laid down some great riffs all over this album. Despite the gruff vocals, you will find yourself wanting to sing along. The lyrics are also very in-your-face. Not to mention that you get a sound clip of a lecture at the end of the last song to chew on. This album will leave you thinking… and wanting more. If you haven’t seen it posted all over the place, this album is available for free. Yes…

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We All Gonna Face The Rising Sun by Michael Roe

December 1, 2009
By
michael-roe-we-all-gonna

Michael Roe is as unique as they come. His latest solo recording We’re All Gonna Face The Rising Sun continues down the same path as the last 77’s record Holy Ghost Building. I say that it continues down the same path, at least with the song choices it does. This offering has Roe paying homage to the traditional hymns, spirituals and old-time gospel songs that he continues to unearth from a time long by. The major difference here is that Roe plays almost all of the instruments himself, which includes the mandolin and (for the first time) the banjo as well. As told in the original press release, Roe really tried to get in the songwriters boots (so to speak) and emulate that spirit in which these tunes were first recorded. Regardless of which era of Roe’s music you are partial to, this is a welcomed and unique edition. Mike…

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Broken Reunion by 4-4-1

December 1, 2009
By
4-4-1-broken-reunion

4-4-1 was one of many bands that re-united for a one night concert event in 2005. I’ve heard rumors of DVDs and other live recordings from this show, but so far, this is the only show to officially surface from that night. This disc makes me wish that other recordings would get released soon. These are not has-been musicians trying to cash in on resurging trend. I say that not because there is nothing resurging at the moment, but because the guys in 4-4-1 show they still have what it takes to put on a great live show. The recording quality is also great here. Four each songs from 4-4-1’s first two albums are featured here. If they played anything from Sacrifice that night, it was left off of the recording. The big bonus for this album is the inclusion of two newly recorded songs: “Inside Me” and “Rain Fall…

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Cabin Songs by Bill Mallonee

December 1, 2009
By
bill-mallonee-cabin-songs

Trying to decide which Bill Mallonee discs to review is like trying to decide which child you like best. It was an obvious choice to review this one. WPA Volume 5 is the latest to come down the pipe. It should be available by the time you read this. Bill named this gem Cabin Songs after moving into a small cabin and writing these tunes during a tremendous rainy season tucked away around the changing fall colors in his new home remotely located in the mountains. The surroundings come through here in spades! This offering has it all in abundance… Each WPA Volume is unique in it’s own way, and Volume 5 is basically just Bill and his guitar work, acoustic and electric, mixed in and laid down over the softness of the lyrics which cover faith, loss, love and life in a generous offering of poetry that settles softly…

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