Ben Folds on the Phone!

Okay, so Genevieve is a very excited little girl right now. Again, this has nothing to do with live music, but it does involve an unarguably talented, well-known musician, so listen up.


My best friend lives in Nashville, TN. She was in her local Panera Bread while talking to me on the phone when suddenly, who walks in? Ben Folds. Hello. The two of us have loved him since our awkward days in Jr. High. His album "Rockin' the Suburbs" reminds me of my senior prom because I listened to it on repeat while getting ready. Anywho, my friend approached him. They exchanged a few words, then... she put him on the phone. "Hello best friend", he said to me, seeming to be in a wonderful mood. He asked how I was. Then I said something dumb and fan-girl-ish like, "I friggin LOVE you!" to which he replied, "I love you too". I asked what he was doing and he said, "Just having a healthy meal here at Panera". I said something dumb again like, "Rockin'..." and he said, "Definitely! Well, it was good talking to you for like 2 seconds!" I thanked him and he told me to have a good day. He later signed things for my friend and was very personable the whole time, despite trying to have dinner with his family.


So, my dear blog-reading friends, if you ever wondered whether or not Ben Folds was a pompous jerk, the answer is: Ben Folds is not a pompous jerk. He is a friendly, down-to-earth guy who likes eating at Panera [specifically tomato soup and a sandwich, or so I was told].


Support Ben Folds. He is one cool dude.

Ezra Furman & the Harpoons @ Fat Baby. NYC.

I schleped my ass through the obnoxious rainstorm last night to get to Fat Baby, a small, underground venue off of Rivington St. near the lower east side of Manhattan. The subways were running out of whack because they apparently don't know what rain is, so I had to take a bus and then a subway and then walk a thousand miles. My heels almost broke. I nearly fell in the slippery streets. Why would I do this, you ask? To see Ezra Furman & the Harpoons, of course, and it was worth every curse word I muttered on the way.

This show was part of the CMJ festival and luckily, even though I had no badge, I was able to get in with a cover at the door. The venue was plastered with Halloween decorations, which was pretty cool. Unfortunately, it was the only thing they had going for them. The room was small; normally a good thing, but not when small means not knowing where to stand without being in someone's way. In between shows, horrible top 40 music blared from speakers, so loud you couldn't hear yourself or anyone else speak. Thank God it didn't take long for Ezra and the Harpoons to grace us with their presence. The suicidal music ceased and the good, honest rock and roll began.

Considering my last time seeing them play was in Nashville with a temporary fourth member, it was strange watching/hearing them as a three-piece again. I'll admit, some of the show was a bit shaky, with Furman forgetting some lyrics and a couple of mishaps with his guitar, but none of it mattered. Everyone in attendance was there to have a good time and that's exactly what they got. This band is certainly not short of songs that make you want to dance and if you don't know the words, make you wish you did so you could sing along at the tops of your lungs like a total lunatic. Not only are these guys talented, they are entertaining and are guaranteed to get a laugh out of you at some point. Again, "Take Off your Sunglasses" was the biggest hit with the crowd and songs like "We Should Fight" were enough to make you feel as though you were transported to a 1960's rock show. If you are into that sort of thing or prefer something different from the crap they're playing on the radio, I would bet that you'd dig Ezra Furman and the Harpoons.

I honestly believe this band is on it's way to becoming something big. Be on the lookout.

You can get in on this sweet action by clicking here: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=10848881

Ezra Furman


Myself with the Harpoons: Adam Abrutyn [drummer] and Job Mukkada [bassist]

Unsigned Band of the Month: Marry a Thief

Since being back from Europe, I've been through a dry spell. No shows for me! I'm on a strict school and homework diet. This blog has become a major part of me in some odd way and I've been jonesing to write, so my roommate suggested blogging about something other than a concert, maybe simply a post about a beloved unsigned band, in order to help get their name out there. Well, here you go, roomie and anyone else who gets thrills out of discovering new musical territory.



The Band: Marry a Thief.

It's Members: Erich Skelton, Brandon Kean, Patrick Davis and Colin Brown.



I was a teenager when I first saw Erich do a solo gig at a coffee shop near Orlando, Florida. He came across as timid, fidgeting and seeming afraid to look us in the eye. Despite his nerves, Skelton got my attention in an instant with his raspy yet somehow still innocent voice and catchy, mellow songs, a perfect soundtrack for sipping peppermint tea on an oversized couch, one rainy February night. I got the chance to talk with Skelton after the show and he was one of the most kind and welcoming guys I'd ever met.

Fast forward three years later. Erich Skelton went from being a solo artist who occasionally played with a live band to the lead singer of a full-time band, calling themselves Marry a Thief. If you're a fan of The Format or Damien Rice, you'll most likely fall in love with this band. Their new album, "I'm Dying to Outlive You" was released on March 4, '08 and can be purchased through their MySpace page. It features playful, yet insanely moving songs, with lyrics that are relatable and guaranteed to make a lasting impression within you. Erich Skelton also made two albums as a solo artist called "Some Other City" and "One More Smile, Fake as the Night is Blue". I'd stongly recommend checking those out as well.

I remember Skelton attempting a cover of Coldplay's "Yellow" that first night we ever met. He needed the help of the audience to remember the words. I guarantee if he took that on now, especially backed up by his kick ass band, they'd blow Coldplay out of the water.

Check out Marry a Thief at http://www.myspace.com/marryathief
My favorite tune: "Awful Things".

Do it. You know you want to. It'll change your life for the better.

The Redwalls @ La Maroquinerie. Paris.

We travelled 8 hours on a bus from Amsterdam to Paris to see The Redwalls play at La Maroquinerie, nestled in a well populated town filled with bar hoppers and trendy shop-aholics.

With it being a Fargo All Stars music festival, the price of a ticket was a bit high, but I wasn't about to forgo another opportunity to see the greatest band this generation has ever known.

Again, the place was packed and while waiting for the boys to take the stage, I met two girls from Scotland who flew all the way here to see them, after only knowing about them two weeks before. Let this be an example of just how much this band is able to get under your skin, so much that you become a world traveller just to feel that rush of another live show for under an hour. *Cough*like me*Cough*.

The Redwalls crept on stage and started the show with Justin shouting "Bonsoir!" and something else in French, then the crowd going crazy, then a setlist full of knock-you-on-your-ass-in-a-good-way type songs. Again, we danced, we sang and we forgot about life for a while. I know I recommended "Colorful Revolution" before, but for those of you who wanted something a little less bowl-cut Beatles, go with "They are Among us", about an alien invasion or "In the Time of the Machine", the last track on their self-titled album.

Unusually, there was a sad ending to the show this time. This was lead guitarist, Andrew Langer's last show. That's right, people. Langer left the band to "persue other musical opportunities". I have to admit, I was beyond upset when I heard this, as he is and always has been my favorite Redwall. I still am devastated and I'm going to be honest here and say that I don't think the band will ever sound at all the same again. Who knows. Without Langer, The Redwalls may be on their way to transforming themselves on a different level, appealing to more of a mainstream crowd and ultimately gaining more fame... or this could lead to their complete downfall. Don't get mad at me, but I'm going with the latter on this one. Even so, give them a chance. I'm planning on doing so... even though my life is pretty much over *cough cough*...

Logan Baren and his too-cool-for-school pants



Andrew Langer playing one of his last live Redwalls songs

And here's a [poor quality] video of Langer singing "On my Way":

Excuse me while I go cry myself to sleep. *Sigh*

Kraak & Smaak @ Gignant. Apeldoorn, Netherlands.

When my cousin asked me to join her at a "Kraak & Smaak" show, I was slightly confused and flat out afraid. It sounded like some kind of drug fest where I was going to lose my dignity and maybe an eye. Once I figured out it was a harmless Dutch band, I agreed. Glad I did.

Kraak & Smaak is a band of seven from Leiden, a small town in the Netherlands. Sitting here trying to think of what genre they fall into, the only thing I can say is that their sound is like a burst of confetti in the sense that each song has its own vibe - everything from electronic to jazz to even a classical feel, all mixing together to throw a giant shindig for your ears. You never know what they're going to whip out next. They even switch up lead singers, going from male vocals to female vocals. And Rose, the only girl in the band, has some pretty amazing pipes.

In addition to feeling as if you're at a wacky variety show, this band also gets the crowd involved to the point where you feel like you're at your own surprise party and they're hosting. You clap, you jump up and down, you scream, you play sing along games. By the time the thing was over, I was drenched in my own sweat and I felt like I could rule the world... or something almost as empowering anyway.

Kraak and Smaak has a Myspace page @ http://www.myspace.com/kraaksmaak
If you live in the U.S. check out the tour dates. Kraak and Smaak is about to start a mini U.S. tour and if they play near you, I suggest you make the effort to see them. And P.S. They sing in English :)

The Redwalls @ Paradiso. Amsterdam.

I travelled to Europe to visit family and had the pleasure of seeing The Redwalls play a show in Amsterdam last night. *Warning: This is my absolute favorite band of all time, so this review may be a bit biassed. Bare with me.

If you don't know The Redwalls, let me explain. They are four geniuses from Chicago who, in some eerie way, channel the rock of the 60's, constantly being compared to Dylan and The Beatles. Their songs are so catchy, it has been scientifically proven that you cannot refrain from tapping a foot or bobbing your head when hearing one.

The boys played upstairs at Paradiso, an old church turned into a music venue. Don't let that fool you. The inside was transformed into a chic, hip hangout and the architecture was beautiful. They played in a small room which was empty when I first walked in but eventually filled up entirely. The show started with "Modern Diet" which is their latest single from their most recent self-titled album, and plummeted into a mix of pieces, including "Colorful Revolution", the very first song they ever wrote and one of my all time favorites. Each made you want to dance around the room like a fool, and some fans got on with their bad selves and did just that, including one dude who felt the need to do the robot. Way to go.

After the show, I had several people come up to me to tell me they fell in love that night and how lucky I am to live in America where the greatest band in the world resides. I feel the same.

PLEASE for the love of God, check out The Redwalls @ http://www.myspace.com/theredwalls

You can't even begin to understand how much your life will be changed once you let yourself fall into their music.

Logan Baren, Lead Singer/Guitarist




Andrew Langer, Lead Guitarist/Singer

Justin Baren, Bassist/Singer

**Rob Jensen is the drummer, but everyone knows it's difficult to get photos of drummers.

Jarrod Gorbel @ The Cutting Room. New York City.

Last night, I went to the Cutting Room to see a last minute show done by Jarrod Gorbel, lead singer of The Honorary Title. Oh, the perks of living in New York City...

I walked into the Cutting Room as a first timer and looked around. It didn't take long to realize it was owned by Sex and the City star Chris North, as there was an enormous picture of him pointing and winking at me, taking up an entire wall. How pompous.

Once in the back room, I took a seat at one of the numerous candlelit tables and took in the first opener, Christopher Browder. Oh boy. I can't even go into this without laughing. Okay, I'll try. He was trying to hard to be Emo, trying too hard to seem poetic, trying too hard... period. Lyrics like "You're my Tangerine" and "You're my Substitute Angel" made me cringe and his voice was enough to drive me out of the place and to the nearest Duane Reade for a bottle of extra strength Advil.

The next opener was David Moore, who came with a band who thought they were cool but weren't and Moore sounded like an even more washed out version of Don Henely [I apologize to any Henely fans out there]. They overstayed their welcome and had most of us nearly asleep by the end of their set.

When Jarrod Gorbel tip-toed onto the stage in his red and black plaid button down and skinny jeans, the atmosphere did a complete turn-around. And when he started to play... hm, I'm not sure of which I want to say here: Either he was like a breath of fresh air or he took my breath away. Both, if that's possible. If you know The Honorary Title, you know that Gorbel's band gives certain songs a pop, get up and dance feel, but solo, the songs sounded like what you'd listen to if you sat in a dark room alone after a heart break; songs that cut you so deep they allow you to cry out every shitty feeling you have and afterward give you a new sense of purity. Gorbel's voice rang through the rafters, crept down the gothic chandeliers and fell delicately upon our ears, no doubt capitvating every single one of us. I wanted to leap from my chair and give the man a hug for making such stunning music. *Sidenote: speaking of stunning, Gorbel was drop dead gorgeous. Seriously, the photos do no justice.

Gorbel announced that this was "our" show and there was no set list, that he'd take requests and play whatever the crowd wanted to hear. We picked mostly sappy songs and he laughed at that, but kept his word. My personal favorite of the night? "Snow Day", an "oldie but goodie", if you will. Overall, I left the show feeling satisfied and in some sort of euphoric daze. I met Gorbel afterward. He signed my poster and made it out to "G-Lovin", then was nice enough to pose for a photo. I got home at 3am and had to get up at 7:30, but never once cared. Last night was worth all sleep deprivation in the world.

Check out the Honorary Title @ http://myspace.com/thehonorarytitle

Here's a video of "Snow Day":

Missy Higgins @ Borders. New York City.

As you may know, Ben Folds is currently on tour. Opening for him is Missy Higgins, a singer/songwriter from Australia whom I discovered at a Howie Day show in '05 and whom I am also in love with. However, since the Ben Folds show [held later that night] was over 40 bucks, I opted to just attend the free in-store at the Park Avenue Borders yesterday afternoon.

Missy Higgins first appeared in the U.S. about three years ago with her album "The Sound of White", the album I became obsessed with in the later part of that year because of its bittersweet lyrics and melodies that sounded as if they came from the heavens. They were songs that I, as a broken-hearted girl, could relate to. Fast forward three years and Higgins is still at it. Her newest album, "On a Clear Night" is pretty much the same deal.

This Borders gig was meshed with a reading by author Harlan Coban, who mentioned Missy Higgins in his latest novel. Due to Coban's reading and storytelling, Higgins only had time for four songs. "Sugarcane", "Steer", "Going North", and "Where I Stood", my personal fave, but this is where my complaint lies. These are all fresh songs. Not one song from that 2005 album was performed. In fact, during a question/answer session between Higgins and Coban, she put down a few of those older pieces, telling us that they were written when she was a teen and she felt most lyrics were "corny". I sighed and muttered to myself in a slight depression, but still managed to enjoy what was put in front of me. The truth is, it's impossible not to be completely stricken by the music of Missy Higgins, no matter what she sings of. Her charm and down-to-earth qualities also make it difficult not to love her. When answering Coban's questions, she gave us very personal accounts, such as when she wrote "Where I Stood" while lying in bed at 4 in the morning and that an older song, "All for Believing" was written last minute for a high school music class. She looked at us, smiling, as if we were her best girlfriends. In the middle of playing one song, a Borders employee made an announcement over the loudspeaker and Higgins simply giggled, stopped for a moment and said, "I'll let her finish". And she did.

So please [and never before have I been more passionate about any artist in this blog] check Missy Higgins out for yourself. I honestly believe that she appeals to fans of all genres. You'll thank me later.
http://www.myspace.com/missyhiggins

Here's a video clip of "Steer" for your viewing/listening pleasure: