Ezra Furman & the Harpoons @ 3rd & Lindsley. Nashville.

I'm starting out here by saying that Ezra Furman and the Harpoons are the shit.


With that said, I attended their show at 3rd and Lindsley last night and was shocked at how engrossed I became in it. I first saw Ezra play at the WXPN festival in July in Philadelphia. They definitely got my attention, but I could have gone with never seeing them live again.. or so I thought.

This band makes me think of how Bob Dylan would sound if he were just starting out today, only a bit quirkier and with a mascot goose named "Mortimer". There are similarities, especially in Ezra Furman [the lead singer]'s voice. They popped out songs from their past album,"Banging Down the Doors", like "I Dreamed of Moses" and "How Long Diana?" and did newer songs like "We Should Fight" and "Take off Your Sunglasses" with the addition of a harmonica, which the crowd seemed to respond most to. Andrew Langer, guitarist for my favorite band of all time, The Redwalls, flew in to play guitar for this show and is also featured on Ezra's newest album [not yet in stores]. Ezra Furman and the Harpoons don't need him; however, his help certainly payed off and together, they made some beautiful music last night.

Check out Ezra Furman and the Harpoons @ http://www.myspace.com/ezrafurman
And if you like their music, go out and get their album, "Banging Down the Doors", then wait for their new album "Inside the Human Body" which should be in stores mid October.

Matt Wertz @ Borders. Nashville.

Matt Wertz played a free show at the Borders West End in Nashville on September 16th. My best friend is in love with the man and dragged me with her. Because I had never seen him live, I had not a clue what to expect. One fourth of the store was packed, mostly with kids from Vanderbuilt University. We arrived early, yet had to sit on the floor because all seats were taken. When he sat down on his stool and started to play, I was pleasantly surprised. The mini soundcheck he did prior to the show was even entertaining. I could have sat on that carpeted floor all night and listened to the man sing.

Wertz is a singer/songwriter type with an acoustic guitar and melodic put-you-in-a-happy-mood songs. He was promoting his new album, "Under Summer Sun", which includes handpicked songs from past albums, plus a few new tunes. My personal faves are "Carolina" and "5:19". If you enjoy the type of music that is light and mellow while still giving you the urge to tap your feet, run [don't walk] to your local record store and buy Wertz' new album.

Wertz [in white] from the floor's view

*Check Matt out @ www.myspace.com/mattwertz

Michelle Branch @ The Nashville Airport

This just in: We met Michelle Branch at BNA, Nashville's International Airport. I know this has nothing to do with live shows, but it does have a lot to do with good music, so it's getting its own post.

I flew in today from New York City to spend a few days with the best friend. There I was, minding my own business at the baggage claim and who did I see but Michelle Branch plus her tatooed husband and adorable daughter standing next to me. We walked out to the parking garage at the same time and just had to say something. We told her we were huge fans and asked for a picture. Despite being with her family and attempting to leave the airport, she was extremely friendly. Her hubby took the picture and even offered to take a second one. She apologized for looking like "crap", having just come off of a plane and I told her I had too. She asked where I flew in from, then asked for our names and repeated them back to us. She told us thank you, then went on her merry way.

Thank you, Michelle Branch, for being a normal person.

And yes, please do excuse the lack of glamour in the above photograph.

Gavin DeGraw @ City Hall. Nashville.

Gavin Degraw played at City Hall in Nashville on Thursday, August 28th. My friend and I managed to get into the show for free, thanks to Gavin himself remembering us from 2003, when we were two "teenie boppers" obsessed with his "Chariot" album.

I went into the venue expecting to take a trip down memory lane and be completely consumed by his artistry. I'm sorry, Gavin, but I have to admit that did not happen and I was indeed disappointed. The place was packed with fans of all ages, most of whom seemed to not even know that DeGraw was around five years ago and wouldn't even know he existed today if it hadn't been for his latest *cough*sell out*cough* single "In Love with a Girl". He played songs mostly from his new album and the oldies even sounded more mainstream, as if they'd been changed. I was pushed so far back by drunken fans, DeGraw looked like a tiny bug with a guitar/piano, but from what I could see, he did interact well with the fans, even coming into the crowd a few times. He had a lot of energy, but the soul was missing.

After the show, we spent a bit of time at a local bar with him and he was very kind and offered to take pictures with us. There we are up there with his pals who decided it would be fun to act like idiots in the background. Thumbs up... to the bar anyway.

There's a [poor quality] video of Gavin singing "Young Love".

*Check Gavin out at www.myspace.com/gavindegraw