The last few weeks, I've been out and about, catching all the live music I can and still produce a radio show. Those include interviews and concerts from 3 and Tanner Horn and the Sextronauts, as well as catching Jenny Lewis last night. Here's the rundown:


3 @ The Troubador in Hollywood - 10/14
Joey Eppard and company put on a great show!! His style of playing an acoustic guitar is a great way to change up the normal format of prog rock. These guys are tight! and they should be. They've been doing it for a while now, and their most recent effort "The End Is Begun" on Metal Blade Records is their best effort to date. The dynamics on this release are well above their previous albums and the way it translates on stage is very effective. It was fun to watch these guys blast through their intense arrangements, and the craziness of a drummer, percussionist, and Joey's whizzing strumming and fingerwork of the 6 string staying tightly wound through syncopation was quite a sight! Their good enough that it never falters, but it's always developed enough that a trained ear can tell that it's too complicated to just pick up and run with that kind of song structure. There's an argument to be made that it's too similar to some notable metal-ish acts that have come and gone, but I would be willing for any detractors to watch their set and still try to make those arguments. They're different enough to not be anything but themselves, and the result is a great new record and an impressive set that is enjoyable from any musical background, not just prog-rock or nu metal.


Tanner Horn and The Sextronauts @ Club Moscow in Hollywood - 10/22
Besides the dicks that work at this establishment, this was a frickin' awesome set. Tanner asked me to write a "real" review of the show, and it encompasses everything important. I'll just paste it here:
"Sometimes the SexRok is good enough to not have to call the day after"
Is it a giant pile of steaming over-hype, masked in a stench of condom wrappers coming straight from thefloor of Tanner Horn's own dressing room? Or is SexRok all it's cracked up to be? Club Moscow was about to be our first date. I had heard about their abilities to please, but talk is cheap. From the moment I was in the door, I sensed that something extraordinary was about to take place. The only question being would it feel as good as advertised... Tanner Horn and The Sextronauts descend from five different corners of reality, Tanner himself looking like a sober Keith Richards, circa early 20s. But I digress to true first impressions: astronaut helmets. During a countdown for the show to start, as that mentioned chill of extraordinary was manifesting, Tanner and Ava (harmony vocals and sometimes lead) brandish astronaut helmets that for some reason, don't make me laugh. As a seductress knows just how to remove her silky stockings ever so slowly, they steadily remove their protection, revealing themselves to the atmosphere. The mounting energy from the crowd breathes life into the collective libido of the band and by the time the countdown is at one, they are full-throttle through every song they've got. Oozing sexy from every inch of the stage, Tanner constantly displays the energy and assuredness that only the best of front men have obtained; commanding respect, attention, and your focused enthusiasm towards The Sextronauts at all times, no exceptions. Ava is the perfect vixen in an angel's disguise, providing a sensual and silky counterweight to Tanner's raw and enthusiastic gyrations. If this is SexRok, "hi, my name is Murphy and I'm a SexRok addict." ... What feels like moments later but is closer to 45 minutes, The Sextronauts ascend back to the obscurity from which they came, having expelled everything on the stage. Like a good first time, I feel like we've used each other for the last several moments, but I can't help wanting to try it again. As the next few minutes pass by and I'm hearing the buzz from the crowd, I'm a little jealous at the amount of repeat customers to this musical massage parlor. I'm wondering how long they've been letting these Sextronauts ravage their energy without telling me about it. Selfish bastards, wanting to keep it all for themselves. In any case, I'm left with a smile and that "sure I'll call you tomorrow" feeling, knowing they won't. And anyhow, It wouldn't feel as good the next time if they did. I'm left to gossip with my friends about how maybe they were the best I've had. ... Best of the best- "Do Ya With My Mouth" This track had the most fun combination of the Tanner and Ava juxtaposition, a perfect combination of dirty and sensual.
~Murphy, Host & PD for Undiscovered Radio Network


Jenny Lewis @ The Orpheum in LA - 10/30
I am convinced that Jenny Lewis fans could watch her take a big shit on the stage and they would wildly applaud and cheer as if she just solved world hunger. Good for her I suppose, but I need a little more than that. Her new record has bored me to tears the last few weeks in prepping for this show, and that's not because it's bad, I think I've come to expect a little more from her efforts. And this is coming from a fan of hers. I think "A Man / Me / Then Jim" is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. However, in concert, the songs from Acid Tongue worked M U C H better! I'm convinced that she could read ingredients from a can of fix-a-flat and it could sound beautiful. The only other show I've seen and thought that was when I saw Peter Rowan play at a tiny bar in Ohio. In that regard, maybe the fans cheering for that hypothetical shit I mentioned makes sense. HMmm... anyhow, my favorite moment came from "Acid Tongue" the song, the biggest offender of those I want to like on the record but think it sounds fake and cheesy. In the show however, they pulled out two condenser mics and the band crowded around her and did it with her, one acoustic guitar, and the band providing the choir. It was great and moved me the way I want the song to on the record. HOWEVER, some of those dipshits were trying to clap along at the most intimate portion of the show - during this song - and it was pissing everyone off. I'm constantly amazed at how poorly an audience can clap along with a song, but it's even worse when only 4 people are trying and STILL fucking it up. Dickholes. Looking past those wonderful patrons, that song was my favorite and overall the show was great.

She was dressed in an outfit that made even the hipster-doofuses pants get just a bit tighter, something I thought not possible. It reminded me of a young Carly Simon, blue bibs-type jumper, complete with matching hat and delicious camel toe. Yummy! Furthering this love affair her devoted stalkers, I mean fans, have with her, at some point early in the show, some guy yells out "female Bob Dylan." Now, I'm not trying to discredit her in any way because as I said, I'm a huge fan and maybe an even bigger one after this show, but let's be realistic. If she can keep it up for decades without sleeping with bandmates and breaking up wonderful groups, we can discuss that possibility. I love her writing and I love her voice. And no one would argue that her voice is exponentially better than Bob Dylans. But that's quite an unfair comparison in my mind, and more importantly in the history of popular music. But I will assume that this person would be first in line for the shit-cheering crowd, so I take the comment with a grain of salt and assume he was drunk with her presence in the same building.

Another thing I want to mention - people seemed to be uninspired with the two opening bands, and very fidgety when the second act of Beachwood Sparks was on stage. Besides that whoever was mixing Front Of House for Beachwood was a giant deaf dilbert, they were great! It's straight up late 60's California country that the later Byrds and Gram Parsons would be proud of. But for all of your hipsters grumbling about it being dorky country, but you'd do anything Jenny Lewis asked of you, you need a history lesson in music. I hate to break the news to you, but someone with a cultured musical ear can tell you immediately, it's closer to real country than it is anything else. (by REAL country, I don't mean the top 40 shit on the radio). So if you were hating the second band, as many of you were, but you loved Jenny Lewis, quit listening with your eyes.

I don't mean to diss the hipters so much here, but it really rubbed me raw last night. I found it rude. In general, I don't care what crowd you belong to - hipsters, bikers, cowboys, NAMBLA, The Democratic Republic of The Congo, or creepy old white guys that watch little kids at the mall. All I ask for is a little consideration before you grumble, or maybe a little history so it doesn't sound like ignorance because a band doesn't look like models. I would bet if you ask Jenny herself, she could tell you all about where her music comes from and sounds like, and if you thought Beechwood Sparks was not cool, I bet you don't like her answer.

Overall, a busy few weeks but it only gets worse! LOTS of shows in November - Gay Blades, Lady Dottie, End Roulette, and many more. See you at the show!

~Murphy