Augie
March, Moo, You Bloody Choir. Charting number-one singles
on the Australian home front, it's shocking that Augie March
achieved close to no notice in the States. Elegant in its simplicity,
the band's brand of rock can be compared to post-alt-country-era
Wilco, but with a definite Aussie influence - think elements of
Midnight Oil, but more literate. Past albums saw Augie March rushing
forth like a speeding train, but this time the songs are built around
acoustic, rather than electric, guitar parts, so they have a more
cautious and quiet path to their destinations. From pop anthems to
grandiose ballads, singer-songwriter Glenn Richards uses lyrics as
instruments strung together to shimmer like violin strings or crash
into one another like cymbals. While Australian critics sing the
band's praises, and fans sing their songs, one can't help but
wonder if we Yanks are simply mooing in the wrong bloody choir.
If you're looking to "take a cup of kindness" this December 31, the following local venues will - to borrow some phrasing from "Auld Lang Syne" poet Robert Burns - be more than happy to fill your pint-stowp with a right gude-willie-waught. But they'll also be showcasing some of the area's most popular bands, so take a look at who's playing where, and when, and what sorts of New Year's Eve treats you can expect if you attend.
They're
not quite in the league with The Who or the Stones, but Bob Dorr &
the Blue Band are celebrating their silver anniversary this year. And
to mark those 25 years, they've released a retrospective two-DVD
set of live performances (produced with the help of Iowa Public
Television) and a separate live CD of their 25th-anniversary concert
recorded in April.
At
first glance, you wouldn't guess that the guys in Rude Punch are
ambassadors for reggae rock in the Quad Cities. Often sporting
T-shirts, jeans, and baseball caps, the three band members look like
typical white, early-20s college kids.
Imagine
if Dave Matthews moved back to South Africa to find inspiration for a
new album. After contemplating what really matters in life and taking
some elements of the native music styles, including hand-drum
percussion and backing vocals that at times sound similar to tribal
choirs, that new Dave Matthews album might sound a lot like the debut
recording from the Spiral Band.
(Editor's note: Although the December 2 Adler Theatre "Legends of the Blues" concert was canceled, the River Cities' Reader thought readers - particularly blues enthusiasts - would appreciate this interview with Bob Margolin of the Muddy Waters Reunion Band.)
At
this weekend's Quad City Symphony concerts at Augustana College,
David Bellugi will be the guest conductor and
the soloist. For much of the concert, he'll actually be playing the
recorder as he conducts. And that's just one of the elements of
this concert that make it unusual.
Shannon
Curfman is an old soul in a young person's body.
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Music Calendars
Submit your event listings to calendar@rcreader.com