Live

A Celebration Of BIG STAR’s ‘#1 RECORD’ Released 50 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

27 September 2022

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of BIG STAR‘s debut LP #1 RECORD, members of
R.E.M. (bassist Mike Mills), The DB’S (frontman Chris Stamey), The Posies (drummer
Jon Auer) and Wilco (guitarist/keyboardist Pat Sansone) along with Big Star‘s original drummer Jody Stephens will play the album in full (plus other Big Star gems) on
a short tour.

Big Star was fronted by the late great Alex Chilton,
who passed away in 2010, only 59.

AllMusic about that debut LP: “The problem with coming in late on an artwork lauded
as ‘influential’ is that you’ve probably encountered the work it influenced first, so its truly innovative qualities are lost. Thus, if you are hearing Big Star’s debut album for the first time decades after its release (as, inevitably, most people must), you may be reminded of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers or R.E.M., who came after — that is, if you don’t think of The Byrds and The Beatles circa 1965. What was remarkable about #1 Record in 1972 was that nobody except Big Star (and maybe Badfinger and The Raspberries) wanted to sound like this — simple, light pop with sweet harmonies and jangly guitars.” Score: 5/5..

Stream #1 Record here…

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BIG STAR: Bio – Discography

(Image Alex Chilton: cover of his ‘No Sex’ album, 1986)

ROXY MUSIC Celebrate 50th Birthday Of Debut LP With Reunion Tour

Posted on by JL

26 September 2022


Debut LP released 50 years ago

British iconic glam rockers ROXY MUSIC celebrate the 50 birthday of their
eponymous debut album the band including original members Bryan Ferry,
Andy Mackay, Phil Manzanera and Paul Thompson with shows in the US and
the UK.

7 Sep Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
9 Sep Capitol One Arena, Washington DC
12 Sep Madison Square Garden, New York
15 Sep Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
17 Sep TD Garden, Boston
19 Sep United Center, Chicago
21 Sep Moody Center, Austin
23 Sep American Airlines Center, Dallas
26 Sep Chase Center, San Francisco
28 Sep The Kia Forum, Los Angeles
10 Oct OVO Hydro, Glasgow
12 Oct AO Arena, Manchester
14 Oct The O2, London
Tour trailer

Three classics they should play

– VIRGINIA PLAINE –
Debut single – 1972

– DO THE STRAND –
1973

– LOVE IS THE DRUG –
1975

ROXY MUSIC: Bio – Discography – Instagram

Drop-Dead Gorgeous Garage Rock Amazons THE DARTS Will Get Messy In Europe

Posted on by JL

19 September 2022

I’m gonna try not to be too euphoric here. Because every time I listen to THE DARTS,
every time I see videos/pics of THE DARTS, and the two times (so far) I saw THE DARTS
live I’m lost/losing a bit of control of myself. A bit goofy for an adult, right? Anyway, it will be fab to see the black-hot-blooded US Amazons back again in Belgium for 2 gigs (2 & 6 October). If you never heard of these drop-dead gorgeous ladies, I’ll tell you why you should discover them. NOW.

They ROCK
They ROLL
They PUNK
They CRAMP(S)
They STEAM
They SWING
They SHAKE
They SWAY
They RULE

And they’re a pure drop-dead gorgeous band.
Was I too euphoric again? Whatever.

– LIVE LIVE LIVE –

(At Seattle KEPX studio, July 2022)

– BLACK WHITE BLACK WHITE BLACK WHITE –

– MESSY MESSY MESSY –

THE DARTS: Facebook – Instagram


One dart down

Horntastic Post-Punk Spectacle In Belgium With British Gang OPUS KINK

Posted on by JL

13 September 2022

As a music junkie and gig addict, I’m always searching for the next new band/artist kick. Last Saturday I discovered London gang OPUS KINK live (after discovering their music
the day before) at the indie-splendid Leffingeleuren Festival in Belgium.

Here are the 3 main reasons why these mavericks
are Turn Up The Volume‘s find of the year (so far).

1. First of all the music of course. Post-punk exorcism heated up with saxophone
and trumpet. Not in a Black Country, New Road way, but rather in a James Brown
punk orchestra way. Awesome.

Check their new EP ‘Til The Stream Runs Day below.

2. Their high-intensity-passion-emotions-loaded songs all got an enormously extra-power injection on stage. All burners on, all engines on. They jump from rock opera to scream-your-lungs-out chants (mostly in one and the same song) to barb-wire funk pushed by a steaming hot rhythm section. And, yes, the saxophonist and the trumpet player are really, really special. Ever heard raw punk commotion jazz-ed and soul-ed up all the way? I didn’t. Trust me, it’s startling.

3. Besides being blessed with a knife-edged vox, frontman Angus Rogers has all eyes on him. One time, he moves and grooves like an underground ballet dancer, then again he sneaks around as Gollum in The Lord Of The Rings. But he has competition. The horn boys also got lots of visual attention. They look pretty cool with their shades on, their curly haircuts and their fine mustaches. If they can’t play music anymore for whatever reason, I’m sure they can pursue a career as horn(y) porno actors.

FINAL RESULT: Opus Kink is my new favourite band.
As I yelled in Angus Rogers ears afterward “YOU ARE FANTASTIC”.
Don’t miss them, folks.

Here’s an idea of their live firepower.

Buy/stream their new EP below via Bandcamp.


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OPUS KINK: Facebook – Instagram


Angus lost his way.


Wait, he’s back with a flash


Karmeliet beer for the thirsty ones

OPUS KINK: Facebook – Instagram

MODEST MOUSE Celebrate 25th Anniversary Of 2nd Album ‘THE LONESOME CROWDED WEST’ On The Road

Posted on by JL

8 September 2022

Alt rockers MODEST MOUSE from Portland, Oregon
have two things to celebrate.

Their 30th year as a band and the 25th anniversary of their 2nd album
THE LONESOME CROWDED WEST, released on 27 November 1997.

They’re going on the road in the US to celebrate it all. The group will tour
as a four-piece, with original members Isaac Brock and Jeremiah Green
joined by Russell Higbee and Simon O’Connor.

Tickets go on sale this Friday (September 9) at 10AM local time. More info here.
MM also fabricated a limited-edition vinyl picture disc of the album that can be
pre-ordered alongside the tickets and will be available at each show.

The Lonesome Crowded West on Spotify.

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MODEST MOUSE: Website – Instagram

Volcanic Post-Brexit-Punks SHAME Totally Concrete At Pukkelpop Fest 2022

Posted on by JL

SHAME – Pukkelpop Fest – 20 August 2022

Last Saturday British volcanic post-punks SHAME turned the big tent at Pukkelpop Fest (Belgium) into a heatwave sauna. Sweat all over the place. Their steamy-red-blooded set confirmed once more that they’re one of the hottest live bands (as I experienced before) on this fucked-up planet.

A sign left from the stage stated: No Crowd Surfing

Really?

Hello Belgium

My favorite Shame jackhammer Concrete when down a storm. Check it out…

Frontman Charlie Steen. A job well done (again)>

Tracklist

1. Alibis
2. Alphabet
3. Fingers Of Steel
4. Concrete
5. The Lick
6. Six Pack
7. Tasteless
8. Adderall
9. Born in Luton
10. Water in the Well
11.One Rizla
12. Snow Day

Newest album (their second) DRUNK TANK PINK

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SHAME: Facebook – Instagram

Godlike Genius LIAM GALLAGHER And His Delirious Fans Went Champagne Supernova In Heatwave Hot Belgium

Posted on by JL

15 August 2022

The way the 2018 NME Godlike Genius was hailed out loud when he hit the stage yesterday at the Hear! Hear! Festival in Belgium was as deafening as the noise of
a supersonic jet.

The delirious cheers from about 20.000 ecstatic people packed in a red-hot-sauna tent (and thousands standing outside) were over the top. From there on everybody sang every word of every song (also of 3 new ones from his recent LP, Better Days, More Power, and Diamond In The Dark).


With a parka and a hat on? It’s 1000 degrees in here, Liam!!!

The exhilarated – from 14 to 75 years old – audience’s reception of Oasis classics (especially Morning Glory, Rock ‘n Roll Star, Cigarettes and Alcohol, Wonderwall – dedicated
to Belgian footballer Kevin De Bruyne, the hero of Liam’s favorite team Manchester City and the dumbfounding version of closer Champagne Supernova) was nothing less than staggering.

This was not a concert, it felt like it was one of Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League Finales, with tireless fans chanting non-stop (even when he performed, surprisingly, the Beady Eye song Soul Love), while having a shower with their own sweat and lots of beer.


Who is Noel?

I experienced this over-the-top sensation 30-plus times now (27 x Oasis, 4 x Liam solo) with this one as, truly, one of the most memorable. The fact that this was my first big festival since the 2 lockdown years helped of course.

I witnessed other standout performances yesterday. The ones by the good old Pixies,
the Parquet Courts, Wolf Alice, and Thurston Moore, but Liam‘s grand gathering was the
one everybody (except his diehard haters) was talking about afterward.

Our (rich) street Kid has the gift to make you feel over the moon, on cloud nine, as happy as a lark. He made everybody feel like a rock ‘n roll star last night. Live forever, Liam.


Everybody was a rock ‘n roll star last night

SETLIST

1. Morning Glory
2. Rock ‘n’ Roll Star
3. Wall of Glass
4. Better Days
5. Roll It Over
6. Slide Away
7. Soul Love
8. More Power
9. Diamond in the Dark
10. Once
11. Cigarettes & Alcohol
12. Wonderwall
13. Champagne Supernova

NME’s 2018 Godlike Genius Award Winner in action.

(all photos by Turn Up The Volume)

THE AFGHAN WHIGS – A Sonic Jet And God’s Rock Voice In Belgium

Posted on by JL

12 August 2022

Two days ago THE AFGHAN WHIGS landed in Belgium and played at
the 10-day Lokerse Feesten Festival. I was, as a longtime fan waiting for
weeks to see Greg Dulli and his whirlwind band back at work on a stage.

I wasn’t alone. Despite the heatwave, 10.000 enthusiastic people joined me
for a blazing show turning up the degrees even more (the organizers made free
water available. Unfortunately, the beer wasn’t for free). I’ll give you 10 highlights,
but first I’ll Make You See God, the seething lead single of the upcoming album.

10 HIGHLIGHTS

1. Just the fact that The Whigs came
to Belgium again after 7 years got me high

2. Their set was fucktastic.
No fillers all killers.

3. Greg Dulli‘s voice is out-of-this-world.
Unique Godlike rock pipes.

4. No brakes, no breaks, no mistakes.
Full steam ahead like a sonic jet.

5. No BS chatter between songs. Only music, music, and music
to keep the heatwave momentum and the ecstatic crowd going.

6. Their wall-of-psychedelic sound made
me gasp for breath at times. Jaw-dropping.

7. No arty farty light show for The Whigs (like Kings Of Leons
displayed the day before) to shine brightly. Their boundless
vehemence does not need special effects. Their towering
rippers do the talking.

9. The new supreme single ‘I’ll Make You See God’ (the thundering opener)
and ‘Aline Of Shots’ are a loud and clear harbinger for an astounding album.

10. They made you see (hear) Bo Diddley too.
Who do we love? The Afghan Whigs. Hands down.


God’s rock voice

SETLIST

1. I’ll Make You See God
2. Matamoros
3. Light as a Feather
4. Oriole
5. The Tide
6. Gentlemen
7. Who Do You Love?
(Bo Diddley cover)
8. Fountain and Fairfax
9. Algiers
10. Heaven on Their Minds
11. Somethin’ Hot
12. A Line of Shots
13. John the Baptist
14. Summer’s Kiss
15. My Enemy
16. Into the Floor
17. There Is a Light
(The Smiths cover)

New album HOW DO YOU BURN? out 9 September. Pre-order info here

THE AFGHAN WHIGS: Facebook – Instagram – Website- Spotify

Oops… WEEZER Cancelled

Posted on by JL

Fab veteran rockers WEEZER had a residency planned in Broadway Theatre
in September. Just now came the news that the 5 shows are canceled due to
poor ticket sales. I’m sure the band didn’t see that coming.

Frontman Rivers Cuomo issued this statement.

“I just learned that our Broadway shows have been canceled (due to low ticket sales and unbelievably high expenses.) I’m very sorry to be telling you this now after we’ve already invested so much time, thought, and emotion. Extra apologies to those of you who cleared
your schedules and made travel plans to be with us. Thanks to @Broadway Producer for all your hard work and great ideas. I loved where we were going and I hope we can find a way
to resurrect our vision.”

Their fans: Say It Ain’t So

Maybe, instead, they can enjoy their hashpipe again.

WEEZER: Instagram