Friday, April 20, 2007 – Red Room – Courtney Robbins, Plush – Graig Markel

We celebrated 4/20 by seeing one of favorite performers, Courtney Robbins at The Grill’s Red Room. This time, armed with guitar and Sopporo beer, Courtney played 2 sets to the packed Red Room as well as to the diner section where hipsters and hippies quenched their thirst with Bacardi and RC Cola and ate tots (without cheese – absolutely forbidden at The Grill), exchanging banter with people on both sides of the wall. I believe that Courtney is the only songwriter who has used the word “douchebag” in a song which makes me love her all the more.

As usual, “Hardcore” Brian Field joined her in singing Something’s Wrong, a song about a girlfriend she parts ways with only to find she’s engaged to, well, a guy. “Maybe she just likes the cock,” Brian blurts much to Courtney’s dismay but certainly not to her surprise. She expects such comments from her pal.

We had planned to make our way to Plush to see Will Elliott at his CD release show, but couldn't seem to bring ourselves to leave Courtney knowing she’s got just a short time left in Tucson. We walked into Plush long after Will’s set and caught the tail end of Seattle denizen, Graig Markel and his band. Are you beginning to see the Tucson/Seattle nexus here?

Although Graig's music can hardly be called high tempo, a bachelorette party rushes the stage and Drunk Girl climbs on up. Thankfully a member of the Plush staff escorted her off without much effort. Graig handled it with grace.

I was disappointed that we only experienced a couple of songs. His sound is beautiful and dreamy and sexy and smart and has been accurately compared to Elliott Smith, though I'd throw in Manic Street Preachers and Chris Isaac into the mix as well.

He just finished up his west coast tour so you'll have to pick up his latest CD, "Via Novella," which has guests Jeremiah Green (Modest Mouse) on drums, Jen Wood (Postal Service, Rachels) on vocals, and got production, mixing and engineering help from Aaron Prellwitz (Sun Kil Moon, Alaska!, Death Cab for Cutie, Trans Am) and John Vanderslice. It's a gorgeous shoegazing masterpiece.

Bang Camaro Self Titled CD - Black Swords Records

There wasn't a whole lot about the 80's that was worthy of remembering, but wasn't 80's heavy metal great? Didn't you just love driving around in your Pacer with the windows down, the wind blowing through your giant hair, radio blasting the cassette tape of Skid Row's Revolutions Per Minute, singing at the top of your lungs, "WE ARE THE YOUTH GONE WILD!"

This is what Bang Camaro are all about. The power chords. The noodly guitar solos. The big drums. The cowbell. And of course, the gang vocals, from what they call their "Choir." It's everything good about the rock of the 80's without the hair. Their songs are about girls. They're about sex. They're about drinking. They're all about the rock. Bang Camaro consist of artists, video game developers and a who's who of Boston musicians who are or were members of Reverse, Model Sons, High Ceilings, Noble Rot, The Drags, The Good North and Taxpayer to name just a few.

Rocketed to fame by Guitar Hero II (can YOU make it through their song, Push Push (Lady Lightning) without a mistake??) and a MySpace artist spotlight, they've yet to play anything but packed houses, selling out EVERY show in Boston and NYC the first year they played. (Their recent show in Philly broke their sell out streak, but only by 20 tickets). "Yeah," you might say, "but they've got a couple of guitarists, a drummer, a bassist, and EIGHTEEN lead vocalists. All they have to do is invite their parents and the venues will be packed." I'm talking about selling out places like the Paradise in Boston, The Middle East downstairs in Cambridge and the Mercury Lounge in NYC.

The sexy testosterone comes through loud and clear on the CD so you can imagine what their live show is like. In a recent interview, lead singer of Damone, Noelle LeBlanc summed it up perfectly saying, "I want to make out with everyone of them, and I'm not just saying that because I'm drunk."

Wait. Isn't she only 18 years old? That's okay. The drinking age in the 80's was 18. Close enough.



Check out Bang Camaro on their website and MySpace and be sure to get their music either by downloading on MySpace or getting it through Newbury Comics or CD Freedom.

Fugazi....why didn't I know about them back in the day?

Over the past few years, I've become quite fond of Fugazi. Okay, that's an understatement. I really do love them.

In the early nineties, I had already gone through my punk rock, Ramones, Clash, Sex Pistols, Talking Heads phase and it was the tail end of my goth/new wave Cure, Echo and the Bunnymen, New Order phase, almost into my grunge phase. Somewhere along the line I missed the DC Hardcore scene.

When I met Brian back in 2000, one of the reasons why I liked hanging out with him was because he always played the best music. I had heard of Bad Brains, Fugazi and Minor Threat but it wasn't until he blared the music on his car CD player on our numerous road trips to nowhere that I became attached.

When we saw French Toast open up for, shit, I can't remember who (when I remember, I'll edit this) at The Black Cat in DC a few years back, I expected an epiphany. It didn't come, so I discarded any Fugazi spin offs.

There will never be another Fugazi. And that's a shame.

Fugazi's Waiting Room

MAYDAY!! Truckee Brothers make single available exclusively online!

With all the hoopla surrounding the recent decision to increase royalties fees for Internet radio, San Diego's Truckee Brothers are making their single, "Mayday" available May 8th, royalty free and exclusively online because as they put it, "it is illegal to repeatedly use the term "mayday" on terrestrial radio." HA! Cool.

Sure, they are trying to bring attention to their new website and the release of their second CD, Double Happiness coming out the same day on Populuxe, but I've got to give these guys credit - though they are capitalizing on a really bad situation (Yeah, the RIAA really needs more money. I'll believe that when the artists make more than they do.), at the same time they're doing something good.

Go out and buy their CD, will ya? Or since you'll be sitting at your computer anyway, buy it online.

Truckee Brothers' website
Truckee Brothers' MySpace

Thursday, April 12, 2007 - Epic Cafe Open Mic - Zack Toporek, Brian Field also Plush - Little Black Cloud and Woven Hand

Thursdays are Open Mic Nights at Epic Cafe. Usually we stay to see all the acts but tonight we only saw a couple. Newcomer Brian Field has played several open mics at Epic over the last few months. Tonight he played two new songs never before played in public followed up by crowd favorite, Slow Edy. Armed with a twelve string guitar, Brian's clever, smart and thoughtful lyrics elicit both laughter and admiration from his audience.



Next up - Zack Toporek.

Zack is a fixture at the Epic Open Mics. His charm and charisma suck in even the most skeptical coffee drinkers and Internet surfers. Zack, at just 18 years old, writes Green Day/Flaming Lips/Weezer type songs about relationships that are at the same time emotional and amusing.

Next Thursday order a coffee coffee milkshake, a giant Rice Krispie treat and settle in for a bit of Zack at Epic.

After Zack, we made our way down the street to, you guessed it, Plush, to see local musician and local musician advocate, Cathy Rivers.

Cathy's latest ensemble, Little Black Cloud, served up some psychedelic, beautiful surrealism complete with Victrola, theremin, pedals and sound effects galore. More than once, I found myself saying, out loud, "Wow. That is COOL."

She doesn't play out as often as most acts in Tucson so when you hear she's playing again, cancel whatever plans you have and see her.



Headlining Thursday's show at Plush were Woven Hand, featuring 16 Horsepower's David Eugene Edwards. I knew nothing of Woven Hand (or of David Eugene Edwards) and was caught off guard when the band played the first notes of their opening song and I hadn't put my earplugs in. We quickly put them in.


Loud and theatrical, David Eugene Edwards and his band played to a crowd clearly familiar with their blaring rock.

Woven Hand brings the Christian rock to Europe in the coming months so you European readers inclined to admire the spiritual rockness should check them out.

Monday, April 9, 2007 - Plush - Dave McGraw and Courtney Robbins

Plush. Again. If there was any doubt as to the
best live music venue in Tucson, there should be no more.

Tonight it was singer/songwriter/producer (Courtney Robbins) Dave McGraw from San Juan Island, WA with his friend and bassist, Tom Lord, who he met in Costa Rica.

Dave has a unique style of fast paced rhythmic guitar combined with beautiful, deep, thought provoking lyrics that kept the full bar enthralled.

Dave is finishing up his spring tour to support his latest CD, Where the Sea Settles Down, with stops in Colorado, Utah, California and Oregon before heading back to Washington.

Courtney Robbins, armed with guitar, beer and smile, was entertaining as ever. Counting down her last few shows in Tucson before embarking on The Wandering RV Tour with Coyote Grace, Courtney, as usual, called on JC Olsen, "Hardcore" Brian Field and, of course, pal Dave McGraw for help on various songs.

Courtney plays a few more shows in Tucson before packing up her guitar, a few t shirts and her Chucks and heading east. Check out her website or MySpace page for dates and more details.

And don't forget to buy her CD, Red Sky in Morning, at one of her shows, CD Baby or on iTunes

Sunday, April 8, 2007 - Plush - Serpe and Carrie Clark & the Lonesome Lovers

It was Plush again Sunday night. Michael John Serpe just started his set in the lounge. Accompanied by his bassist, Rochelle, Serpe picked his way through old songs and a few new ones from his upcoming EP expected out in the next month or so. Serpe, another Seattle transplant, writes smart, beautiful songs and is a super nice guy to boot.

Serpe's old friend from Seattle, Carrie Clark, followed with a set with her band, The Lonesome Lovers. Their unique sound makes them fit in a jazz lounge, a hipster club or a country honky tonk. The band was tight and are extremely talented musicians. Guitarist, Greg Fulton, floored us with his guitar solos and his banjo and mandolin accompaniments as well as the harmonies shared with bassist Dana Smith. Completing the band is drummer Daniel Hunt.

Carrie switched between keyboard and acoustic guitar belting out songs from their latest CD, Seems So Civilized, with a sweet and powerful voice reminiscent of Bettie Serveert or a songstress from the 1940's.

Carrie Clark and the Lonesome Lovers make their way north to Phoenix for a few shows then it's on to Oregon and back to Washington, wrapping up at the end of April. Check out her Myspace page or website for dates and locations. You won't want to miss them!

Friday, April 6, 2007 - Plush - Matt the Electrician and Cyril Barrett

Last night we hit Lindy's on Fourth for tots then strolled down to Plush to check out Cyril Barrett and Matt the Electrician.

The crowd was thin when
we arrived, before the music started, so we grabbed a table on the patio next to Austin, TX's Matt the Electrician. Brian chatted a bit with Matt before heading inside as Cyril Barrett began playing.

Cyril Barrett is a Seattle transplant, as I am discovering many Tucsonans are, who creates beautiful sounds from picking the strings of his guitar and singing stories of life and love. His set was a bit short, but by the time he was finished, the room was beginning to fill up with mostly college kids.

We ran into Dr. Dan, who had interviewed Matt the Electrician earlier in the day on Live @ 5 on KXCI and said they were great so we were excited to find out what he was all about.

Matt the Electrician, known in real life as Matt Sever, along with his band, wow-ed us with amazing melodies, witty lyrics and disconnected anecdotes. Bassist Seela's voice blended perfectly with Matt's creating beautiful harmonies that I've not heard in some time.

Also accompanied by drummer Jon Greene and finger picking guitarist extraordinaire, Scrappy Jud Newcomb, Matt finished up with cover of Danzig's "Mother" complete with what he called his banjolele ("half banjo, half ukulele").

Matt the Electrician has shows in California and Texas throughout April and May with a solo show in Cambridge, MA (at the Lizard Lounge, Wednesday, May 16th) and another solo show in NYC (The Living Room, Friday, May 18th) thrown in for good measure. Check out his website for details.

We made it an early night before Greyhound Soul hit the stage.

Welcome to the new GroovyStylie!

Way back when, in the year 2000, GroovyStylie was born from the alcohol clogged pores of The Mistress, Ciderjane and yours truly, Smacca. Many years have passed. We all made our way into adulthood - bought houses, got married (The Mistress to Jillsie and Ciderjane to Bobby Sunshine) or entered into committed relationships (me to Ben Linus) and I moved from the Boston area to the desert heat of Tucson, AZ.

While we tried to keep up the website, it became too much work for us to fit into our already busy schedules. You can still visit the site for all the yummy goodness that was GroovyStylie back in the day but for what's new and what I'm into these days, this is the place to be.

I'll hit you with my latest musical crushes, favorite bands, latest photos and various ramblings. Feel free to comment with suggestions, love or "fuck-offs." It's all good.