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Apples in Stereo The
Holmes Brothers |
Thunderbirds Are Now!
I knew to expect a little craziness from my research on the Internets and I’ll admit that as soon as they started bouncing around on the first song I was thinking, “OK. They do this at all their shows.” But folks, you don’t phone one in by going balls to the wall for your whole set. After venturing off the stage during the first song, singer Ryan Allen said that was probably the last time he was doing that but couldn’t help himself as he and keyboardist (and brother) Scott Allen continued to integrate themselves with the audience throughout the show. At one point Scott, who was fun as hell to watch, started rounding people up on the dance floor and depositing them in the sunken, circular booth. He then had everyone hold him upside down as he did a little maracas solo. Why, because it’s rock and roll bitch! Noteworthy was “From: Skulls” with it’s melodic beat slowly transformed into a sonic hailstorm of sound. Also “Eat This City” and “Better Safe Than Safari.” This band is easily one of the most entertaining I’ve seen in awhile and are sure to be playing to larger crowds in the future. Before this I dropped by the Hard Rock Café and caught a few songs being performed for a Songwriters in the Round series, hosted by Joe Grushecky. Not many folks there either but I caught one song each by Joe, Ford Thurston (wimpy, chick song), Jeff Schmutz of the band Good Brother Earl (great is slightly generic pop song “Lonely Heart”), and Bob Corbin, songwriter for hire who did a little medley of his number one hits (Alabama’s "Can't Keep a Good Man Down" and "Fire in the Night"). Joe then proposed that each person sing a song they wish they wrote. I think he picked a Stones song. Ford said he was gonna do an Ozzy Osbourne song, which seemed to get everyone interested, until he went through some lengthy setup only to play “Goodbye to Romance.” Weak! Though, his earlier accompaniment of Grushecky was impressive. Jeff Schmutz said he was gonna do a U2 song and I swear the first thing that came to mind was “One.” He just looks like a “One” kinda guy and I was right, dammit. I don’t remember what Corbin picked but he got everybody into the act as it became a sing-along. One other note: arriving at Lava Lounge early, I retreated to Red and Irene’s for my yearly visit. This place is more like a living room for the proprietors who live upstairs. Had a beer, watched some of the news, and then was shown some of the prom pictures of the younger of the two girls that work there. The mom is real nice and her name isn’t Irene. Go figure. |
