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:

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