No need for a review, I reviewed Grace Potter last month, and there is precious little I could say that has not been said before about The Allman Brothers. I will share this video of Grace and Benny Yurco on stage with Les Brers playing The Weight. Trully moving…even if the smartphone video howls and is generally a C- effort (but it’s still the best of the stuff I find on Youtube).
Warped Tour 2013

Last Sept. I promised a certain 15 year old girl that if she managed all A’s and B’s she could basically name her reward. Warped Tour Tickets were it…so I got to go.
All in all, a pretty enjoyable day of music. Quickie reviews of the bands I saw:
Never Shout Never – these guys are real musicians. I think they might have almost fit in better at a jam band festival, but the crowd really dug them, and so did I. Ukulele music for the win… (btw, these pics aren’t from the show, I wasn’t close enough to get any good shots, save the one in the lede).
Black Veil Brides – one look and you can tell they’re a band out of LA. Probably the best stage presence of any of the bands, everything about these guys was nailed down and under control. Loved it when Andy, the lead singer, nearly went into the crowd after some clown giving him grief.
Bring Me the Horizon – as a band, fairly tight. More hardcore than would normally appeal to me. The lead singer, Oli, is a total douche, however, inciting the crowd to “riot” and then trying to turn the entire crowd into a giant circle pit. Without question he sent people to the hospital with his words.
Sleeping with Sirens – For as bad as I say Ollie from BMTH was, Kellin Quinn was that good. He had the presence to see he had a tight crowd, and did the right thing, imploring the crowd to “help each other” so that no one else would have to go to the hospital. The band ripped through their mainstay numbers, and did not disappoint. Notably some dude in a wheelchair crowd surfed his way to the stage (yes IN his wheelchair). Musically, Sleeping with Sirens, as the headline act, was crisp and well deserving of that stature, starting with If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn with the classic line: “They say that love is forever, your forever is all that I need.”
Uncharacteristically for a post-hardcore band, he took the time to slow it down, pulling out Second Two: Roger Rabbit to slow things down a bit mid-set. This was a real audience favorite as judged by the number of fans singing along. Then from there they whipped it back up to a frenzy with Tally It Up, Settle the Score. The finished the set with If You Can’t Hang.
“You’re such a pretty, pretty, pretty face, but you’ve turned into pretty big waste of my time.” – from If You Can’t Hang
While waiting to leave I had a long time to talk with one of the Police Officers that works detail at ComCast Center. I casually mentioned to him “this must be your favorite day of the year”. He laughed.
“These kids are great. Last year, not a single arrest. This year, one, at the very end of the show, and it was really that the kid didn’t know when to shut his mouth. Tomorrow night, with 3-11, we’ll have a minimum of 70 arrests. The country music fans are the worst; they drink hard liquor. These kids don’t drink at all. Listen out there. Not even anyone screaming in the parking lot.”
I hadn’t noticed it before, but he was right. Other than the cars running waiting to leave, it was almost as quiet as it could be…
Friday Music Video: In Honor of the Political Conventions…King Crimson
Yeah…this about sums it up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLQhLcKyGs8Friday Music Video: String Cheese Incident
Here’s a well produced cut from String Cheese Incident of Joyful Sound. I have no idea where or when this was recorded, but I’m betting by the general quality it was from sothe 2005-2010 period.
Music Video: Keith Jarrett
It’s been a while since we had a jazz video. For some reason I had this little bit running around my mind this morning. Enjoy…
Keith Jarrett performing “Autumn Leaves”.
Friday Music Video: Levon Helm on Letterman
Levon Helm, playing “Tennessee Jed” off his “Electric Dirt” album live on the David Letterman Show in 2009. Tremendous version, great sound, well worth the listen…
For those who don’t know, Levon doesn’t travel much anymore. You should check out the Wikipedia page to read up on what’s going on, esp. the Midnight Ramble, then check out his own site.
He currently plays with a who’s who list of top musicians, many of whom you’ll recognize from past Friday Music Videos here. People like (via Wikipedia):
Artists who have performed at the Rambles include Helm’s former bandmate Garth Hudson, as well as Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Dr. John, Chris Robinson, Allen Toussaint, Donald Fagen of Steely Dan and Jimmy Vivino of “Late Night with Conan O’Brien‘s” The Max Weinberg 7. Others have been Sean Costello, The Muddy Waters Tribute Band, Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Justin Townes Earle, Bow Thayer, Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson, Ricki Lee Jones, Kate Taylor, Ollabelle, The Holmes Brothers, Catherine Russell, Norah Jones, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Phil Lesh (along with his sons Grahame and Brian), Johnny Johnson and David Bromberg.
Friday Music Video: Blue Touch – One More Kiss
Here’s one off the new album from Blue Touch, out of the UK – a band that’s lived the blues and it shows. Here is the music video from their latest album, “Outstanding” (which would be my rating) entitled “One More Kiss”. For my Atex friends, the bass player is none other than our own Merv Griffin!
Dig Deeper:
Be sure to check out their site for more tunes, to buy albums/mp3s and more…
Friday Music Video: Deep Banana Blackout
Caught up with these guys from a tweet by Shel Holtz. Gritty New Orleans funk you can really sink your teeth into.
Find more videos like this on Deep Banana Blackout
Dig Deeper:
Deep Banana Blackout site
Deep Banana Blackout on Archive.org (live show recordings)
Friday Music Video – Chris Amodeo
Excellent video of “Don’t Panic” from Chris Amodeo off his debut album, Homo Luminous…
Dig Deeper:
Chris’ website http://homo-luminous.com/ (This alone is worth a visit – a very wonderful and different design…)
On Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Chris-Amodeo-Homo-Luminous/133986026631106
Friday Music Video: Ric Porter and the Sons of the Soil
They’re playing a rare happy hour gig at Ralph’s Chadwick Square Grill in Worcester today from 5-8. Be there, and mention this blog post and your first beer is on me. Limited to the first 5 takers.