In House #1871: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Plays Salt Lake City

A couple of years back, L.A.'s Black Rebel Motorcycle Club surprised everyone with the soulful and largely acoustic musical about-face that was Howl. Immersing their music in country, blues, and even gospel flavors, BRMC essentially recreated their sound, transforming themselves from a frantically-paced, multi guitar layered, Jesus & Mary Chain-compared rock & roll act to an old world, gospel-tinged trio with a bit more on their minds. Plenty of harmonica, slide guitar, and good old fashioned soul-searching propelled Howl to one of the best-sounding releases of the year. Two years later, and the band is back to their rock & roll ways, albeit tempered with a few of the new-found elements employed with such success for Howl. Baby 81 finds the guitars plugged back in but doesn't necessarily rock with wild abandon. Instead, bluesy moments like album opener "Took Out a Loan," come across like a louder, less classic blues driven version of The Black Keys, while other moments suggest the influence of past acts like The Stooges and The Rolling Stones. Despite all of the volume, which is generally (much) higher this go around, there are moments of comparatively delicate texture to be found within: Robert Turner's piano turn that drives the rather epic "Window," for example. For the most part though, it's a loud and loose return to form, which is fine, except that Howl suggests that their real strengths lie elsewhere. BRMC plays In the Venue in Salt Lake City tonight.

BRMC

In House #1871.
Airdate: 5/16/07
Focus: New release, Baby 81, from the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, also playing Salt Lake City tonight. Plus, new music from Spoon, Electrelane, The Ponys, The Arcade Fire, and more.


PLAYLIST

In House PODCAST #310


Coming soon: Our Filter Tourzine report from tonight's BRMC show

In House #1853: Los Straitjackets' Rock En Espanol, Vol. 1

For over a decade, the Nashville-based quartet Los Straitjackets has taken to stages donning Mexican wrestling masks, concealing the faces behind the guitar-fueled instrumental powerhouse. Theirs has been the sound of Dick Dale, Link Wray, and The Ventures heard through a modern filter, a mysterious, slightly ironic blend of retro surf and twang. Rock En Espanol, Vol. 1, the band's latest out on Yep Roc, marks their first spanish language album and features guest vocal turns by Thee Midniters' Little Willie G., Big Sandy, and Los Lobos' Cesar Rosas, who also produced the album. Though the thirteen songs (+1 instrumental) are sung in Spanish, most of them are imminently recognizable '60's pop songs, some of which are directly modeled here after Spanish versions of the time recorded by the likes of Los Freddys, Los Rockin' Devils, Los Teen Tops, and Rebeleos de Rock, among others. The Kinks' "All Day and All of the Night," therefore, becomes "De Dia y de Noche," while Jackie Wilson's "Lonely Teardrops," (given an excellent turn here by Big Sandy) is "Lagrimas Salitarias." Others, meanwhile, are given less literal translations, including Larry Williams' "Dizzy Mizz Lizzie," known here as "El Microscopico Bikini," and The McCoys' "Hang On Sloopy," which is changed to "Hey Lupe." The collection also features songs made popular by The Troggs, The Coasters, and Marty Robbins, among others. It's a fresh take and a new perspective on a genre that has always been English-dominated. Los Straitjackets are currently touring along with Big Sandy.

Los Straitjackets with Big Sandy

In House #1853.
Airdate: 4/20/07
Focus: New release from Los Straitjackets, Rock En Espanol Vol. 1, plus music from The Tornados, Band of Bees, The Detroit Cobras, Jon Rauhouse, and more.

BONUS MP3s-
Los Straitjackets, from Rock En Espanol, Vol. 1:

"El Microscopico Bikini" (MP3) (with Cesar Rosas)

"Lagrimas Solitarias" (MP3) (with Big Sandy)

The Tornados, from Vampires, Cowboys, Spacemen, & Spooks: The Very Best of Joe Meek's Instrumentals:

"Ridin' the Wind" (MP3)

The Detroit Cobras, from Tied & True (due 4/24):

"As Long As I Have You" (MP3)

PLAYLIST

In House PODCAST #297

In House #1826: Neil Young's Live at Massey Hall; New Graham Parker

Following last year's release of a 1970 recording with Crazy Horse at the Fillmore East, Neil Young issues the second in his new archives series with the release today of Live at Massey Hall. The 1971 recording captures Young solo and acoustic in his hometown at a point between the classic full-lengths After the Goldrush and Harvest, the latter of which would propel him into full-on star status. The perspective here is the important thing. This is Young at just 25, having already enjoyed much success with Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young, as well as Crazy Horse, and much of what would make his legend was still to come. Plenty of songs here make debut appearances, some with slight alterations. As he tells the audience at the outset, he plays mostly "new stuff," including Harvest heavyweights like "Old Man," and "A Man Needs a Maid," which is played as a medley with "Heart of Gold." One of the real revelations here is "Dance Dance Dance," a song that appears on Crazy Horse's 1971 self-titled release. In other words, it's not an oft-heard song, but Young's stage stomping version here, easily the most energetic number of the night, unearths a forgotten gem. Other songs from future recordings include "Love In Mind," and "See the Sky About to Rain,"; "Bad Fog of Loneliness" appears for the first time anywhere. Live at Massey Hall is a wonderfully-recorded, intimate portrait of the artist as a young man.

Neil Young, 1971


In House #1826.
Airdate: 3/13/07
Focus: Neil Young's newly released Live at Massey Hall, plus a new album from Graham Parker, Don't Tell Columbus, as well as new music from Son Volt, Wilco, Willy Mason, and more.

BONUS MP3-
Neil Young, froom Live at Massey Hall:

"Dance Dance Dance" (MP3)

Graham Parker, from Don't Tell Columbus:

"Stick to the Plan" (MP3)

BONUS Vid-
Official trailer for Live at Massey Hall:


PLAYLIST

In House PODCAST #274