Matt Joyce/ Kyle Motor/ Adam Schabow/ Bob Koch/ Aunt Goodness; March 18, 2007; High Noon
Just when I thought nothing could be better than the happy hour show, there's a Sunday afternoon show. Too bad the show was scheduled to start at three, and at three the Badgers had just tied UNLV in their second round NCAA tournament game. So instead of going in to see Aunt Goodness who played first, I sat in my car and listened to the rest of the game. A mistake of course, because they lost and Michelle said Aunt Goodness was great. Sorry Erica, next time I will make the right choice.
When I finally turned off the radio in disgust and walked into the High Noon, Bob was on stage. I've seen Bob play as a member of countless bands, but I'd never seen the Super Eights. This is quite definitely a shame as their state themed songs are among the best on the Wisconsin Pop Explosion sampler CD. I'm guessing that two of the songs that he sang tonight, "You're in Missouri, I'm in Misery" and the one about one of the Dakotas being boring, were a part of that band's repertoire. I missed his cover of Uncle Tupelo's "Give Back the Key to My Heart," but I did see him do Big Star's "September Gurls," always a highlight of the Low Czars' shows. His higher-than-expected, strangely addictive voice makes every song interesting. Still, he seemed only too happy to yield the stage to Adam Schabow.
The Kites have been in the studio and it has been particularly hard on Adam's voice. "I can understand that," I told him, laughing. We both know I am not a fan of the Kites, but he promised me a copy of the CD and I promised to give them another shot. Not having a voice made it a little difficult for him to play a set. Undaunted, he did the next best thing; he became the guitar player for a Schabow cover band. Brilliant! The set started with John Wiedenhoeft taking the vocals on a couple of Mr. Pants' songs, ones that Schabow sang originally. Though I know I saw the terrifically-named Mr. Pants on more than one occasion, I didn't remember that Schabow was a member. And I also didn't remember their songs being as catchy as these two, one about Stacey and another about not liking your personality. I wish I had gotten one of those on video, because that probably isn't going to happen again.
Following John's stint, Aunt Goodness and Bob sang a Kites' song, which Schabow said had never sounded that good by the Kites. (This is where I should make another snide dig but I'm going to resist.) The set ended with Kyle taking the microphone for the ridiculously catchy Shabelles song "Ridin' My Bike," and then Schabow took the last song, saying that "for this one it doesn't matter that my voice is scratchy."
Kyle Motor opened his set with perhaps the best version of "Danny Boy" I have ever heard. Saying it was in tribute to yesterday's holiday, he did what he says is the Conway Twitty version, which starts traditional and then completely rocks out. Fan-tas-tic. I couldn't stop smiling. And that was true for the rest of his set which featured several songs that are going to be on the long-awaited two records the Motorz will be releasing simultaneously. CD release show information coming soon, at least that is what he promised. The Motorz songs make me happy. Every one is so immediately infectious, making me tap my foot and shake my shoulders. And smile, a lot.
Matt Joyce was taking a bus from Milwaukee today and no one was sure he would make it back in time. Not only did he make it, but he also came armed with a new guitar and a new song that he wrote on the bus. The gorgeous "Aura Lee" already sounded familiar by the end, it seemed impossible that he had just written it, but there he was, consulting the wrinkled sheet of paper for the lyrics. In addition to his own songs, he also had a few very well-chosen covers. While Neil Young's "Powderfinger" was terrific, the Soft Boys "Queen of Eyes" was drop-dead awesome, complete with a touch of fake British accent. He followed the former with a plug for the Shaky show on Friday. Shaky is a Neil Young cover band for which Pete Kaesburg is the drummer, and I have so far inexplicably managed to miss every one of their shows, due completely to circumstances beyond my control. However, this one I am going to make. Did I mention it's a happy hour show? And we all know how much I like the happy hour show.
Almost as much as the Sunday afternoon show.
Bottom Line: start time 3 pm end time 6 pm worth the drive? hell, I'm still smiling reason to see the Shabelles on Friday? Schabow promised me Jack Daniels, one of those little bottles, empty, huh? grade A
pictures!
here
video! and lots of it
Kyle & Schabow "Ridin' My Bike"
Schabow "Met a Girl"
Kyle "Angel Fingers"
Matt "Summertime"
Matt "In the Morning"
February 05, 2007
The Shabelles/ Goat Radio; February 5, 2007; High Noon Saloon
Gotta love the happy hour show, it's all good. Drink for half price with the High Noon's two for one deals, see some great music, still get home and to bed at a reasonable hour. Tonight's entertainment was the surprisingly likeable Shabelles and the apparently very lucky Goat Radio.
Sometime after doing a pretty good job opening for Centro-matic last April, half of the Goat quit, leading to the slight adjustment of John Wiedenhoeft moving to guitar from bass and singing every song instead of the occasional one, a new bassist was enlisted, but the guitarist position still seems up for grabs. For Last Band Standing back in December they enlisted the supremely versatile multi-instrumentalist Steve Burke in addition to former Randy Cliffs guitarist Brian Celmer who was visiting from Philly. Even though he was in the process of moving back to Madison, he was noncommittal about becoming a full time member.
OK, so who's the new guy tonight? Shabelles leader Adam Schabow mentioned later that the mystery guy had just met the band for the first time at 4 that afternoon (remember this was a happy hour show and Goat Radio played first). Bassist Jack Rice is originally from Milwaukee and he knew him from other Brew City bands like the Lackloves. OK, and you thought I was impressed with the Wandering Sons drummer? This was even more remarkable. Even though this was only the fourth time I had seen the Goat over a year plus with three different line-ups, surprisingly I am starting to recognize many of their songs, "Ariza" of course, but also the ode to alt-country band "Nadine" and the one about roller derby (uh, that is what is about isn't it?). Hard to know where their recording plans are, but I look forward to hearing something from them.
Seriously, who would have thought I would like the Shabelles? At one time I called the Kites (Schabow's punk rock outfit) the worst band in Madison. That may have been an exaggeration, everyone knows I like the Buffali even less (except when they are covering Guns 'n' Roses at least) and there are certainly bands who's CDs I've reviewed who I like even less than that. For some reason, I find Schabow goofily charming as the voice of the Shabelles. All of their songs are insanely catchy, smile-prompting and likely to induce seat-dancing. The last time I saw them only "Ridin' My Bike" from Happy Man was part of a set of newer material. Tonight I recognized more songs, but whether that was a result of having just seen them or actually knowing the songs I can't be sure (c'mon it was happy hour after all). I do know the should-be-offensive-but-isn't "She Missed a Period" is a new song, and an example of what we have to look forward to on the follow-up. And I am looking forward to it; I think Schabow has forgiven me.
Bottom Line: start time 5:30 pm end time 7:30 pm worth the drive? a very good time, and didn't even drive (thanks again for the ride home Michelle) next happy hour? tomorrow there are two more great local bands grade A-
pictures!
Tony
John
Goat Radio
John
new guy
Schabow
Ropin' Rodeo & Schabow
video!
The Shabelles "Nothing Without You"
The Shabelles "Ridin' My Bike"