I first saw My Graveyard Jaw play around October 2007. My friends and I were riding that high of first semester Freshman year in college when everything in life is simple and the only thing you feel the need to do each night is go out with friends, get drunk and enjoy yourself. We were at a fraternity party. It was their biggest party of the year, and had a Bayou theme, so they'd hired a local act to come out and play some music. The first thing I felt when I saw Stix duh Clown -- the lead man and only current member of the band -- was awe. He's a mountain of a man, and has a full mane of curly dark hair and clown tattoos over his eyes. He was calm and sage-like, completely unaffected all the noise and activity surrounding him. The music reflected this image, and I was blown away. My friends and I still talk about that night as one of the best we've had together. I've seen My Graveyard Jaw play about 3 or 4 times since then and my admiration of Stix has only increased. I saw he'd be playing a show last weekend at One Eyed Jacks in the French Quarter following the Krewe de Vieux parade I knew I'd have to be there.

I'd had a busy day that Saturday. First my friends and I went down to "the Fly" -- a field in Audubon Park that's a popular spot for Tulane students to spend sunny afternoons. We made our way down to the Quarter that night just in time to catch the parade. When the parade reached its end we hopped in the back and marched along for 30 minutes or so, dancing behind the jazz band. By the time we got to One Eyed Jacks everyone was exhausted. Once Stix stepped out on stage, though, we jumped up with excitement.

I should take some time here to explain the style of music. The lineup has changed several times over the last few years. When I first saw them there was a guitar and banjo, and there was also a suitcase drum kit and a barrel with a large piece of wood coming out if it and single steel string stretched across it that acted as a bass. Since he's been solo it's just acoustic guitar, suitcase kick drum and tambourine (he plays all at once, utilizing both feet for the tambourine and suitcase). The songs are bluesy folky hobo jams that range from dark, grizzled dirges to light and sweet harmonic tunes. While not exactly "dance music", the rhythm is great and it's hard not to want to get up and stomp your feet along.

The show was spectacular. Many of the songs were off his most recent album, which I hadn't heard at the time, but they were all immediately accessible and enjoyable. He played two of my favorites: "I Don't Know" and "Pushed Time" (both available on his MySpace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=77200874) He dropped a bombshell midway through the show when he announced that this would be his last time performing as My Graveyard Jaw. It was hard to be too upset, though, because his reason for calling it quits is that he and some friends are starting a new band, to be known as Death By Arrow.

My Graveyard Jaw is a a wonderful chapter in New Orleans music that I'm sad to see come to an end. Although the band comes to an end, the music lives on. I urge you to seek out the albums already released. If you find yourself in New Orleans, try and catch a Death By Arrow show -- there's a good chance I'll be there.

J. Lakin - NOLA

Changing Horses - Ben Kweller - 2009-02-02

Pre-listen feelings - hopeful and somewhat expectant - only know the artist from an appearance on Letterman recently. Was a high-energy performance of a song with a good hook and an interesting lyric. Download from iTunes. Track-by-track.

Gypsy Rose - Nice voice over guitar with drums and bass . Lots of space, love the slide guitar. 'world will make you cry', vocal not perfect but very heartfelt. Very sparse - 'world will suck you dry' - Sings about summer day and it feels that way, languid and with some regret but hope also.

Old Hat - nice pedal, he won't become the 'old hat' she puts on her pretty head. Rather set her free, nice harmony and very strong vocal. Really lets it hang out. No fade on ending, live.

Fight - shades of Pancho and Lefty, more literal, this song could be/should be a hit. Wonder if it will find an audience. Toe tapping, finger-snapping barrel of fun and cautionary advice. Honky-tonk piano and pedal. First place his voice reminded me of Gram Parsons. Very strong influence.  Another great ending. Can't beat a super ending, tight and thought out to a great song.

Hurtin' You  - Indestructible Mom, always pulling everything together, real longing and some fear - she has to survive the hurt and come back - nice tune. Well sung.

Ballad of Wendy Baker - Feel like you are in the room with him, while he plays the guitar and sings about Wendy. No one loves till it's gone. Strings, 'rain inside your eyes', plaintive and emotion-laden vocals. Sparse bass line with only the strings and vocal. Bass doubling the melody. Very nice. Never mentions title, - shades of Gene Clark with the personal writing and singing.

Sawdust Man - Dobro and loose feeling - head over heals in love - on top of the Greyhound station, won't you please come home? Sounds like the Beatles? Direct homage. Killer track - could be another hit. Find an audience. Some kind of machine voice, CB radio again Beatlesque. Fade out, oh well.

Wantin' Her Again - 'she just wants me wantin' her again' - bridge - nice change in tempo and structure - couple of bridges - guessing at what the girl from California wants but thinks he'd better be cautious.

Things I Like to Do - straightforward - thought about what he likes. Mainly with her - simple, heartfelt love song at the end.

On Her Own  - Great pop song, Katrina reference, chorus that doesn't quit. Like other songs very interesting structure, will be more fun the more listens to the song/album.

Homeward Bound - homeless - hymnal quality, lost soul, nice Dobro and an Accapella section.

The Biggest Flower  - out on the road, need some more listens - not a very strong song to finish with? Might just need a few more listens

Really like the album first time through. Both accessible and leaves the strong impression the 2nd listen will be more interesting and fun than the first listen.

Wantin' Her Again - video - in the woods with his band-mates - kind of lame but I guess there's not much budget.

tags - alternative country, gram parsons, gene clark, beatles, ben kweller

Changing Horses - Ben Kweller - 2009-02-02

Pre-listen feelings - hopeful and somewhat expectant - only know the artist from an appearance on Letterman recently. Was a high-energy performance of a song with a good hook and an interesting lyric. Download from iTunes. Track-by-track.

Gypsy Rose - Nice voice over guitar with drums and bass . Lots of space, love the slide guitar. 'world will make you cry', vocal not perfect but very heartfelt. Very sparse - 'world will suck you dry' - Sings about summer day and it feels that way, languid and with some regret but hope also.

Old Hat - nice pedal, he won't become the 'old hat' she puts on her pretty head. Rather set her free, nice harmony and very strong vocal. Really lets it hang out. No fade on ending, live.

Fight - shades of Pancho and Lefty, more literal, this song could be/should be a hit. Wonder if it will find an audience. Toe tapping, finger-snapping barrel of fun and cautionary advice. Honky-tonk piano and pedal. First place his voice reminded me of Gram Parsons. Very strong influence.  Another great ending. Can't beat a super ending, tight and thought out to a great song.

Hurtin' You  - Indestructible Mom, always pulling everything together, real longing and some fear - she has to survive the hurt and come back - nice tune. Well sung.

Ballad of Wendy Baker - Feel like you are in the room with him, while he plays the guitar and sings about Wendy. No one loves till it's gone. Strings, 'rain inside your eyes', plaintive and emotion-laden vocals. Sparse bass line with only the strings and vocal. Bass doubling the melody. Very nice. Never mentions title, - shades of Gene Clark with the personal writing and singing.

Sawdust Man - Dobro and loose feeling - head over heals in love - on top of the Greyhound station, won't you please come home? Sounds like the Beatles? Direct homage. Killer track - could be another hit. Find an audience. Some kind of machine voice, CB radio again Beatlesque. Fade out, oh well.

Wantin' Her Again - 'she just wants me wantin' her again' - bridge - nice change in tempo and structure - couple of bridges - guessing at what the girl from California wants but thinks he'd better be cautious.

Things I Like to Do - straightforward - thought about what he likes. Mainly with her - simple, heartfelt love song at the end.

On Her Own  - Great pop song, Katrina reference, chorus that doesn't quit. Like other songs very interesting structure, will be more fun the more listens to the song/album.

Homeward Bound - homeless - hymnal quality, lost soul, nice Dobro and an Accapella section.

The Biggest Flower  - out on the road, need some more listens - not a very strong song to finish with? Might just need a few more listens

Really like the album first time through. Both accessible and leaves the strong impression the 2nd listen will be more interesting and fun than the first listen.

Wantin' Her Again - video - in the woods with his band-mates - kind of lame but I guess there's not much budget.

tags - alternative country, gram parsons, gene clark, beatles, ben kweller

Art Quote of the Day
Any good music must be an innovation.
Les Baxter

Unlike some of my friends who preferred foosball to the half-time performance yesterday, I eagerly anticipated 'the show'. As a long time fan, I knew what was coming. While my last concert with Bruce was in the somewhat distant past, I knew what he could and would do. Full bore, no quarter asked or given, mainline rock n' roll. And that's what he did.

So why am I disappointed? Couple of reasons. First the new album. See review in a previous post.

Then half time. It was nice for the world to see the redemptive power that great music and specifically rock n' roll can bring when a dedicated artist brings his best to the party. Bruce always brings his best. My preference would have been more great music, more emotion in the singing/playing and less climbing on the piano and sliding on his knees into the camera!?

He waited a few years too long. Maybe 10. I could feel his pain and even though he seems to be in fine shape he is an older man. So am I, dammit. Rather be young and dancing in the dark but time is a bitch. There is no way he can do what he did 30 years ago. Neither can Dylan or the Stones. Either you recognize that and adapt, like Dylan the Stones or you become a parody.

I don't hear much innovation in 'Working on a Dream". The concerts will be like before only not quite. I think he could still be a compelling artist, on record and live. We always wanted records faster than he produced them. But when he has enough songs for two records, he should take the best and put out one record. Second, a show that is less physical but has more feeling. His voice is not the same either but he can still bring it.

Love Bruce, thought the performance was vintage, just made me nostalgic for the mid-70's and tickets in hand for an upcoming show.