Summer vacation and all semblance of a writing calendar gets tossed. Though not posting, I haven’t abandoned my need to hit shows and hear/buy new music. A few highlights from July:
Concerts — I made it out to five shows in July. The two clear standouts were Jason Isbell at the Lafayette Theater and New Pornographers at The Vogue. Counting the DBT days, I’m now into double digits seeing Isbell live, and he’s never been better. The new songs from Something More Than Free were outstanding, and the older ones still pop with electricity. He’s in rarefied air right now. The New Pornos didn’t have Neko or Bejar, but it didn’t matter. The harmonies were tight and the set list was a perfect mix of the band’s catalog. Ninety solid minutes of pop energy.
Records — As for new(er) releases, I’m still obsessed with John Howard & the Night Mail, which has logged more spins than any other album this year. Close behind, though, is Isbell’s latest. I’m also really enjoying Wilco’s Star Wars, the new Titus Andronicus, Orange Humble Band’s Depressing Beauty, and Christopher Paul Stelling’s Labor Against Waste.
Other new stuff I can recommend:
Minky Starshine – Pop Jewelry
The London Souls – Here Come the Girls
Rocky Votolato – Hospital Handshakes
Andy Shauf – The Bearer of Bad News
Reno Bo – Lessons from a Shooting Star
Crate digging has been solid lately, too. Top finds include:
Badfinger – No Dice
The Records – ST
The Beat – ST
Hudson Brothers – Hollywood Situation
Housemartins – London Hull O 4
Richard Davies – Telegraph
Now on to August. Sloan’s Twice Removed vinyl reissue should be arriving in the next couple of weeks.
What shows are on your calendar? What are you listening to?