What I'm Listening To

Amy Winehouse

I've loved Amy for a long time now, and she's always been inspirational to me.  Her music and her voice was like no other, her style was unique quintessential to who she was, and she was just so dang cool.  She died three years ago today, but her music will live on through generations.  On days like this, I can listen to her voice all day long.

Natural Child

This band is pretty laid-back, fun loving, and somewhat tongue-in-cheeks.  One of their albums has a woman's bare butt on the cover, and I guess that would sum up most of their lyrics.  But it's great driving music, great singalong party music.  These dudes seem pretty down to Earth and ready to drink and talk after shows.  I've seen them play a few times, this last time being at  Happenin Fest at Good People Brewery.

The Felice Brothers

Another folk-Americana band, the Felice Brothers have kind of always reminded me of someone's drunk and rowdy cousins.  Their sound gives off a haunting vibe with their heavy accordion use and morbid lyrics with historical motifs mixed in.  I've only gotten the chance to see them play once, to a packed out Bottletree crowd, but their song, "Whiskey in My Whiskey" will always be one of my favorites.

The Night Beats

I've only seen this band play once, to open up for The Black Angels at the Exit/In in Nashville, TN.  They were supposed to headline a show at Bottletree with my good friends' band, The Dirty Lungs, back when I still worked there.  They had to cancel, unfortunately, and I'm somewhat disappointed that they've never ventured back.  But their sound pretty much parallels The Black Angels', but with a fuzzier surf sound and upbeat melodies, with some spacey themes.  Their latest album, Sonic Bloom, has been really killer to listen to lately.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

I know I'm pretty late in the game on this one, but I've JUST started listening to BRMC this year and I'm in love.  They're really popular, I've just never gotten a chance to really hear their stuff til now, which is disappointing, because all of their shows are crazy huge, and I prefer seeing bands in intimate settings.  Nonetheless, I like them more and more with each song I hear.  Hopefully they'll put something new out soon, but I mean, Beat The Devil's Tattoo is pretty amazing.

Five Bands I'm Listening To Right Now

1. Hurray For The Riff Raff

- I've been listening to this band for a few years now, and I'm never disappointed.  We all know that most of the bands we like will or already have put out an album or two that just isn't great.  I've yet to see this with HFTRR and they've been around for a while.  From Louisiana, they combine Southern roots with soulful, passionate songwriting.  One of the best performances I saw with them (and Spirit Family Reunion) was at Gip's Place in Bessemer, AL, which is actually a pretty frightening city in some parts, but finding Gip's was like a beacon in twilight, haha.  It was one of the best venues I've ever been to, with a fun and laid-back, BYOB atmosphere, although it was shut down last year.  I also saw them play with Clear Plastic Masks at Bottletree where members of the Alabama Shakes came onstage to sing a soulful rendition of the Stones' "Time is On My Side," which I thought was pretty cool, but my picture from Instagram exploded on social media, making my debut as an al.com ~photographer~ (not really).  Needless to say, Hurray For The Riff Raff is pretty unforgettable. 

2. Father John Misty

- Former member of probably one of the most famous indie bands ever, Fleet Foxes, Josh Tillman left the band to pursue creative endeavors that seem to be more genuine, although fantastical.  First, he made music with his brother, Zach Tillman, of Pearly Gate Music fame, then he released an album of, frankly, a bunch of Fleet Foxes carbon copies as J. Tillman, but he finally got it right when he released Fear Fun with his new band, Father John Misty, in 2012.  After that, it really seemed like he found his niche in indie rock music, and the band garnered a huge amount of success.  I rarely find albums that I can listen to all the way through multiple times, and Fear Fun is one of those albums.  Every song is amazing. I've only had the opportunity to see them once at the Masquerade- Heaven Stage in Atlanta, GA, and it was a show in every sense of the word.  It's kind of hard to imagine members of Fleet Foxes actually having much of a personality, but Tillman actually surprised me by being actually... really funny.  With a huge theatrical set, grandiose performances, and a great Beatles cover of "Happiness is a Warm Gun" (I usually LOATHE Beatles covers) it was definitely a unique experience, and I can't wait to hear what they release next.

3. The Growlers

- The Growlers are one of those bands that are just... odd.  In the best way possible, that is.  Kinda surf, kinda psych, they create a really unique sound that is mellow to listen to, but the lyrics reveal a lot of dark themes throughout their two albums.  Death, murder, and drugs are some of the motifs that appear in their songwriting, and it makes you want to ask, "are you ok??"  All jokes aside, I'm excited to see them surge onto the music scene, obviously they draw more of a crowd on the West Coast, but I'd love to see them again soon!

4. Those Darlins

- You'll never find a better girl band than Those Darlins.  I'm serious.  Hailing from Nashville (obviously), they mesh the best parts of country and punk to make some of the best girl power lyrics since Alannis... I'm only half kidding.  I've had the chance to see them a few times, and they're seriously awesome performers.  The lineup has changed throughout the years, and their last album was great, but a little too clean... possibly reverb-heavy.  But, heck, I'll still go see them any time they're in Birmingham.

5. Creedence Clearwater Revival

- Saving the best for last; I've seriously been playing this album on straight-up repeat for the past few months.  I remember loving them when I was a little kid and my grandparents listened to them, but now it's come full-circle, and I'm obsessed.  In a completely fateful and coincidental moment, however, I heard of a CCR cover show playing a the Spring Street Firehouse on this past July 4.  Well I obviously had to go, and I was not disappointed.  It was the best way to end a drunken night, singing a long with a bunch of randos and free beer.  But anyway, CCR speaks for themselves. They rule.  Forever.

CCR cover show at the Firehouse, July 4