W♥M

The Baseball Project

Tour Dates 07/24 Madison, WI - Warner Park 07/24 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon 07/25 St Louis, MO - Wood House Concert 07/26 Rock Island, IL - Rock Island Brewing 07/27 Minneapolis, MN - 400 Bar 07/28 Chicago, IL - Wick Park Fest Read More R.E.M. Like many of you from my generation, I wasn't hip to R.E.M. until they had their big hit crossover song, "Losing My Religion"….

I've previously written about the cancellation of the SoundTown Music & Camping Festival. Their loss is your gain! Get a chance to see some of these fine bands at smaller venues:

Friday, July 27
• Dr. Dog at First Avenue
• The Baseball Project at 400 Bar

Saturday, July 28
• The Temper Trap at First Avenue
• Best Coast+Those Darlins at Cedar Cultural Center
• White Denim at 400 Bar
• Black Box Revelation at Triple Rock Social Club

We've basically covered most of these the bands before - the only one I didn't know about is called The Baseball Project.

Apparently this is a sort of "supergroup". Members includes Peter Buck (REM), Scott McCaughey (singer of The Young Fresh Fellows* and The Minus 5**), Steve Wynn (Dream Syndicate), Linda Pitmon (Hazel Motes), and sometime Mike Mills (REM).

If you were wondering, yes, these guys are hardcore baseball fans.

* who got a mention in a They Might Be Giants' song.

** who got a mention in a Momus song… technically they commissioned Momus to write a song about them.

 

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

Beady Eye and Black Box Revelation at First Avenue, Minneapolis (12/05/11)

Four Letter Word Beatles And Stones Millionaire Two Of A Kind For Anyone Three Ring Circus The Roller In The Bubble With A Bullet Bring The Light Standing On The Edge Of The Noise Kill For A Dream The Beat Goes On Man Of Misery The Morning Son Wigwam -- World Outside My Room Sons Of The Stage Setlist courtesy of stopcryingyourheartout.com

"Its fookin' cold here innit?", observation quote from Liam Gallagher. Welcome back to Minneapolis.

Long time readers to W♥M should know that I love Oasis*, so I was rather excited to finally check out Beady Eye (it's basically Oasis minus Noel Gallagher) last night at First Avenue. I believe that this will be the only time that I will experience this band up close.

I won't spend too much time on them, needless to say, if you've seen Oasis live before, as I have seen them multiple times, you've basically seen Beady Eye. Of course, these are all new songs from their Different Gear, Still Speeding album, no Oasis songs were played (and none were expected).

The stood-out songs from their set was my favorite "Beatles and Stones", "Standing on the Edge of the Noise", and "Bring the Light" (this had scene of dancing girls from their video played in the background). Liam had a sweat towel, which he used constantly. He was clearly burning up on stage, sweating through his jacket but refused to take it off. You have to give him some props for maintaining his looks.

As for the opening band, Black Box Revelation, I ran into a mutual friend who was rather impressed with BBR. I'm not surprise, seeing as this duo is described by people as sounding like "Beatles-meets-Kinks British invasion pop" (all in good company, but I would also throw in The Rolling Stones in there too).

With just a drummer and guitarist, they were able to turn out a full, loud rock 'n roll style of songs. All their songs were sung in English, but with this weird Belgium accent.

I know I keep saying they sound "rock", but the seven, or so, songs that were played live, they had a good mixture of different type of songs - starting off with an energetic "High On A Wire" to get you moving, to sweet lyrics like "Did you ever stop to look while it makes you blind, I should feel the love from the skin to my bones" from "I Think I Like You". Between that song and "Shiver Of Joy", those were the only songs I recognized from their latest EP, Shiver of Joy, which I did get a chance to listen to before I saw them live.

I think my favorite song from their brief set was "My Perception". It was the first time I heard the song and I thought singer Jan Paternoster was saying "all I got is my position". Then I found out later that the word is actually "perception". But I don't feel that embarrass because apparently their song is a play off of a mis-heard lyrics of "My Obsession" by The Rolling Stones (Paternoster thought Mick Jagger was singing "my perception"). Too funny, right?

There are only a few dates left from BBR and BDI (Beady Eye) with Mil-rock-ee tonight:

Dec 6 - The Rave - Milwaukee, WI
Dec 8 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC
Dec 9 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY
Dec 10 - House of Blues - Boston, MA

Black Box Revelation at First Avenue, Minneapolis (12/05/11)

* Interviewed Liam Gallagher nearly 20 years ago in Sacramento for KFSR 90.7 FM, played their records on my radio show, bought nearly everything they've released up to their final album, Dig Out Your Soul .

PS, No photos of Beady Eye because at least four different people told me that Beady Eye are not to be photographed and I had to check my camera at the door. It seems that they are okay with bad/blurry/crappy photos of the band from cellphone cameras.
PPS, Liam must've picked out their intro song, because it was for another Manchester band, The Stone Roses' "I Am The Resurrection" played in its entirety.

vu () ♥ www.beadyeyemusic.com ♥ blackboxrevelation.com

Black Box Revelation

I haven't heard of Belgium's Black Box Revelation before, but seeing that they've played with Girl in a Coma and currently on tour with Beady Eye (yes, that "Oasis minus Noel Gallagher" band), I can tell you that I am very keen on hearing what this band sounds like.

Luckily, I have checked out their new EP, Shiver of Joy and it is good, kind of like 'rocknrolla'-type (the title track features a cowbell and it's catchy!). The rest of the EP plays out like they were from the swagger of The Rolling Stones to fuzzy rock Raveonettes. Whatever it is, I liked what I heard.

But don't take my word for it, CMJ praised them as "foot-stomping, 60s garage rock sounding eerily reminiscent of BRMC...these dudes are extremely talented." Also, apparently Minnesota Public Radio seems to love them, check out their live performance on MPR. Songs performed: "High on a Wire," "Shiver of Joy," and "Sealed with Thorns."

Here are their remaining tour dates:

Dec 5 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN *
Dec 6 - The Rave - Milwaukee, WI *
Dec 8 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC *
Dec 9 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY *
Dec 10 - House of Blues - Boston, MA *

w/ Beady Eye *

Hopefully, if things work out, I will be there to check them out tomorrow night and report back on their live performance.

vu () ♥ facebook.com/#!/theblackboxrevelation