A nice round of live music recently:

Tuff Darts - Maxwell's

The reunited Tuff Darts played in Hoboken and they were terrific.  The songs 
held up really well.  It was wonderful to hear Rats, (Your Love Is Like) 
Nuclear Waste, Fun City and of course All For The Love Of Rock & Roll.  The 
playing was very spirited with Jeff Salen's guitar and Tommy Frenzy's vocals 
(and guitar work) letting you know that the band was having as much (if not 
more than) the folks on the floor.  They are in the studio working on a new 
album and while they don't have a record label yet they do have a lawyer - I 
guess that is a good thing.

Jon Langford and his Sadies/The Sadies/The Waco Brothers - Maxwell's

Stewart Mason had recommended this show (I'm not sure if The Waco Brothers 
headlined the show he saw).  He was right as all bands were very good live.  
Langford and his Sadies reminded me of a prime Pub Rock band.  The Sadies on 
their own had some exciting instrumentals that made them a rootsier Los 
Straightjackets to me.  I bought their CD on this basis alone as you can 
never have enough instrumental filler for your comps.  The Waco Brothers are 
a very propulsive band - both aurally and visually - with lots of high kicks 
(as high as their old bones would go) and guitarist charges to complement 
the tunes.

The Pretenders - The Beacon

Josh Chasin told you about this show.  It was great and so was his 
description and so I'll stop here.

The Churchills - Arlene Grocery

A high energy early set from a hard working band.  Songs from their 
self-released 'Big Ideas' album such as Lights Are On But No One's Home and 
Sugar Daddy work really well live.  I think that they are off to Japan but 
when they get back you should take any opportunity to see them.  They are a 
four piece again and the sound is much richer for it.  Ron Haney's fun 
over-the shoulder acrobatic guitar sling alone is worth seeing.

Supergrass - Southpaw

This was the first night of the band's first visit this year to the US.  
They also sold out three nights at the much larger Bowery Ballroom.  They 
will be back shortly on tour with The Coral.  THAT will be a show not to 
miss.  The Coral is a great live band that will challenge Supergrass to 
shine.  Supergrass were very good and my only beef was the shortness of the 
set.  They did 50 minutes and came back for two more songs as encore.  The 
crowd was very into the band and sang along with both old and new tunes.  
The musicianship was spot on with crisp guitar and organ work a stand out.  
However, I must admit to wishing that they didn't pass on the opportunity 
for some guitar solos.  They did a fine cover of Neil Young's The Loner.

Next week is a little light with The Loser's Lounge Tribute To The Bee Gees, 
Fastball and a City Center revival of 'House Of Flowers' a musical with 
music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Truman Capote.

So how was Neill Finn in Chicago?  Anything else to look for coming East?

Henry





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