GroovyStylie

WE'VE MOVED!!

2008-12-10T19:10:00.006-07:00

We've finally got the blog rolling on our server so CLICKY HERE to get the GroovyStylie scoop. You'll find a couple of new posts that never made it to blogspot and we'll no longer be posting here in the future so don't miss out!

So. Yeah. Click here and it will bring to the permanent home of GroovyStylie.com. Then get yer RSS feed rolling so you won't miss a thing!

Rock on, rockers

Wet messy smooches,
smacca
oxox

Pirate Radio Tucson!

2008-12-08T21:12:00.005-07:00

I just found out about Free Radio Chuckshon, a local, streaming site (and broadcasting a pirate station at 90.9 FM, which you seem to be able to get clearly around the downtown area with a decent antenna). At this point, the station seems to run mostly on auto-pilot, giving us a wonderfully bizarre and eclectic mix of music, heavy on the low-fi punk. Among the few things I heard in my scattered moments listening that weren't completely (and wonderfully) obscure, included some Pixies, John Lennon, and Elvis Costello. They have a few scheduled shows, which might be a little irregular yet in their reliability (especially, it seems, with frequent dead air and no-show DJs), but the on-line playlists from past shows seem promising, and the fun of pirate radio is the unpredictability of it and the shows filled with technical glitches, right?

As I'm writing, I'm streaming Butt Pirate Radio, which describes itself as a "bi-weekly show where we talk about queer issues, both social and political and spin queer and queer friendly artists." This episode is a cover show, I'm guessing inspired by the upcoming Great Cover Up (at Congress this Thurs-Saturday, benefiting Tucson Artists and Musicians Health Alliance. This is one of the great events of the year, where local Tucson acts,who normally play their own original material, pull out all the stops--usually costumes and/or other flair is involved--to cover an artist's or band's material). So far, the covers have included one's done by Sarah McLachlan, Fiona Apple, Grace Jones, Smashing Pumpkins and Goldfrapp. A little more well-known fare than the randomized obscurities of the autopilot, but still, some quality stuff.

There are times when KXCI just doesn't do it for me, and this could be a good place to go as an alternative. See if you can get it at 90.9 FM, or stream it at http://freeradiochukshon.org

Stefan George @ Plush, Tucson, December 2, 2008

2008-12-03T02:10:00.002-07:00

This bluesy-folky-standards singer guitarist made his way around his

guitar and into the hearts of the unusually full crowd at Plush.
Stefan George:

Clare & The Reasons, The Complainiacs, The Fisters and Chango Malo November 29, 2008

2008-11-30T18:38:00.005-07:00

I got to Solar Culture a bit late. Camera in hand I make my way through the crowd in the back and as I get closer to the front, people were sitting on the floor so I slip to the side. Clare and the Reasons are onstage, though it appears they have just started their set. On stage, the band is dressed all in red with Clare playing guitar along side Olivier Manchon, her husband playing violin and various other instruments and a cellist. Clare has a voice like a song bird and a playful style that is a cross between jazz, classical, forty's pop and Disney princess music (think Snow White or Cinderella singing with blue birds flying around their heads). Lest we think she is sophisticated beyond her years, she reminds us that she's just like everyone else living in Brooklyn, NY when she sings, Can Your Car Do That? (I Don't Think So) where she tells the tale of an old but lovable car that leaks and whose doors don't open.

From there, I head around the corner to Vaudeville to hit the other end of the musical spectrum. I walk into a virtually empty bar where The Complainiacs are onstage with the volume up to 11. I order a beer and insert my earplugs. The guitarist says to the sound guy, "Just to let you know, I'm going to turn the volume up on the amp even higher. Well, because I can!" The handful of people (mostly members of the other bands playing and the bar employees) are congregating at the back of the bar as far away from the band onstage as possible. Suddenly the band seems to care about the audience and tells them to come up front because they're just a rock band and they won't hurt us, which is when the sound guy heads to the stage and tells them they're done. If they want people to stick around and listen, well then they don't need to be assholes and turn up the sound so loud it drives the beer drinking patrons away. You'd think it was their first gig. It was probably the last at Vaudeville. Gotta love punk rock.

Next up The Fisters take the stage and show us what real punk rock is all about. Tim Fister and Joy Fister bicker like brother and sister. Joy complaining that they're all playing too fast. Tim complaining that she's playing too slow. Joy gives him the finger, grabs her crotch and gives him the handjob gesture more times than I can count. Tim disses her white pant suit. Joy shouts out to the crowd, "I want at least two people to get naked...so I can make fun of you!"

Solid 2 minutes songs. Loud. Hard. Fast. Pure punk rock.

The night is wrapping up so I make my way to Plush where Chango Malo is getting ready to hit the stage. They get set up with feedback blaring and chaotic noise getting louder before slipping into the first song. Chango Malo have been a staple in Tucson for years. Their high energy, hard rockingness, endearing personalities and the offkey vocals of the lead singer are what make the crowd love them.

Four bands. Three venues. One amazing night.

Clare & The Reasons:

The Complainiacs:

The Fisters:

Chango Malo:

The Rosebuds with Tracy Shedd @ Solar Culture, Wednesday, November 26, 2008

2008-11-25T13:07:00.003-07:00

Start the holiday off right Wednesday night at Solar Culture where The Rosebuds will be performing for the turkey and Tofurkey lovers alike. North Carolinians Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp will be back in our fair city to promote their newest CD release, Life Like, which came out at the beginning of October. The Rosebuds epitomize indie rock with everything from shoegazer to pop so there's something for everyone.

Opening up for The Rosebuds is local favorite, Tracy Shedd.

Where: Solar Culture Gallery, 201 N. Toole, Tucson, AZ
When: Wednesday, November 26, 2008, doors at 9PM
How much: $7

Dirty Me with No Fucking Bueno @ The Hut, Tucson, AZ November 21, 2008

2008-11-22T02:28:00.002-07:00

Dirty Me:

No Fucking Bueno:

Gang Gang Dance, Rainbow Arabia @ Plush, Tucson, AZ November 17, 2008

2008-11-18T22:45:00.002-07:00

Gang Gang Dance:

Rainbow Arabia:

Crooked Fingers, Port O'Brien, Sarah Jaffe @ Plush, Tucson, AZ November 14, 2008

2008-11-16T17:53:00.002-07:00

Crooked Fingers:

Port O'Brien:

Sarah Jaffe:

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals @ Club Congress, Tucson, AZ November 11, 2008

2008-11-12T11:50:00.002-07:00

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals:

Apollo Sunshine @ Plush Tucson, AZ November 11, 2008

2008-11-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

Apollo Sunshine:

Garboski @ Plush, Tucson, AZ November 9, 2008

2008-11-11T16:40:00.002-07:00

Garboski:

Parts & Labor @ Solar Culture, November 5, 2008 A review by KDD

2008-11-07T10:22:00.009-07:00

Well I got my KDD ass out of the house on Wednesday night to go to a concert. When I say “concert,” that’s not really true to what the event was. It was more like performance art or a "happening." I went to see Parts & Labor perform at Solar Culture. Solar Culture is a tiny warehouse, stacked to the rafters with art from the community. The train tracks run behind the building, and frequently trains disrupt the sound of the show. There is no bar, no kitchen.
People bring their own beer to drink if they are so inclined. The entire space is probably about fifteen feet wide and fifty feet long. And the shows are dirt cheap (7 bucks for P&L) and end early (which is good for me since I never go out late). It makes sense that Parts & Labor would play at Solar Culture because they are of that the only musical genre that inspires me to get out of the house and experience live – Art Rock.

Parts & Labor deliver the great pummeling tightly orchestrated Wall of Noise I love to experience live. I enjoy the art of pummeling, and I wanted to see Parts & Labor because I wanted to be pummeled. Since the show was on Wednesday night, one day after the election, I knew that it was either going to be a Pummel of Despair or a Pummel of Hope. I could say that I am glad that it ended up being the Pummel of Hope, except for one thing. As soon as they tore into the opening song "Fractured Skies" (one of my all time favorite Parts & Labor songs), I realized that the ideas of Hope and Despair didn’t matter anymore because I was lost in the giant blissful wave of sound. I like to experience Noise Rock because it frees my body and mind from the trap of binary thinking (hope/despair, good/evil, republican/democrat), and turns me into a field of sensation almost without body. The first thrust of the drums, scream of guitar, and piercing whine of electronics shot right through me and reminded me why it is I really like to get pummeled. To disappear. And indeed, I did disappear for forty-five minutes while Parts & Labor went through a set of songs that that built into towering levels of sound only to dismantle themselves into white noise then start the process all over again. It was divine.

The thing about Parts & Labor is that every single musician plays the fuck out of his/her instrument. What makes the music such a gorgeous cacophony of kaleidoscopic sound is that no one holds back. Certainly Joseph Wong’s pummeling of the drums notoriously provides the first tear into the song, but he just rips open the sound space so the storm of bass, guitar and electronics can burst into the room. The sound is demanding, immediate, and all consuming with Friel’s vocals pulsing with in a desperately urgent cry to be FUCKING HEARD. I heard him and I heard every single fraction of sound that those artists pulled out of their instruments.

Parts & Labor:

BJ Warshaw. He rips up on the bass. I particularly like when he held his instrument high in the air, and he violently but precisely pulled streams of sublimely heart ripping thrums out of it. His entire body seemed to be part of the bass and the bass part of his body. Like the pulsing sounds are the beat of his own heart or another avenue for his voice, and this pounding pulsing beauty was all coming from one being. He’s also a really nice guy. I talked to him after the show and told him that I only go to concerts that are also art. Like the guys from the Liars and Oneida, Warshaw was pleased that I see Parts & Labor as artists first. They are artists who use sound (noise and music) as their medium. I told him that my favorite songs are the ones that rip open into long jams of noise that build and build and build, layer upon layer of sound, and then explode orgasmically and subside into disintegrated sound. He said, “Oh, that would be every song.” Insert KDD smile.

Dan Friel. Friel is the master of electronic sound and really helps give Parts & Labor their distinct sound, moving them from just another post-punk guitar band to sound construction artists. Tweaking keyboards, tape players, and all variety of tubes, amps, buttons, and gizmos, Friel’s electronic sound weaves through the music like some kind of industrial ghost. It is the voice of machinery, media, and the electric grid that wires the sound into the 21st century. It thrums with interference, noise, church organs gone awry, the possessed voice of answering machines, and the distant call of radio broadcasts. It is these sounds that help the music transcend into a new kind of space but also keep the music firmly grounded in a self-reflexive relation to its place an electronic media driven world. Friel’s electronic orchestrations jar us into remembering that we are listening to a sound construction by breaking up the space of the songs with the intrusion of “non-music.” These disruptions force us to listen to the “parts and labor” that create the whole of the music. And that makes sense, since many of the songs, following the punk tradition, are indeed laced with politics about labor and disenfranchisement.

Sarah Lipstate. Lipstate is a new member to the band. I’m always a sucker for a girl guitarist, and Lipstate's ghostly, tinny, melodic sound laces the music with a kind of beauty that makes the bludgeoning noise of the bass and drums even more sublime. I talked for her a good while, mostly about the gay marriage issue. She was so nice that I decided to buy the new CD Receivers because she is on it. I also got Mapmaker. It’s good to support artists, and they get a lot more of the proceeds from their sales when you buy their albums from the artists themselves. And by the way, the new album is absolutely amazing. There are so many moments of greatness on it that I can’t even begin to tell you. But FUCK YEAH, it is full of awesome.

Lisa didn’t get a photo of the drummer Joseph Wong, but let me just say right here that there is no way Parts & Labor could be Parts & Labor without absolutely relentless fierce drumming. The drumming refuses to allow you escape. It grabs you buy the neck, thrusts you headfirst into the music, and doesn’t let up. And I like it that way.

This morning it was such a beautiful crisp morning that I decided to ride my bike along the Rillito and listen to my new Parts & Labor albums. What a great way to start my day. Pedaling and pummeling. The one thing that struck me this morning is how much Hüsker Dü must have influenced their sounds. Seriously, I could really hear the punk undercurrent and it sounded great, that kind of forceful “we will not relent” sound that is both fierce and heart splitting, emotionally intense yet consciously avant-garde and political, just like Bob Mould and Hüsker Dü. I also realized they share much of the sentiment and sound of Billy Bragg. Well, nothing wrong with that.

Here are a couple of my favorite songs from the show:

Fractured Skies (MP3)

Satellites (MP3)

The Mountain Goats @ Club Congress, Tucson, AZ, October 29, 2008

2008-10-30T15:36:00.003-07:00

The Mountain Goats:

John Darnielle with Kaki King:

Evangelicals w/La Cerca @ Solar Culture, Tucson, AZ, October 27, 2008

2008-10-28T17:20:00.003-07:00

Evangelicals:

La Cerca:

Brian Field @ Plush, Tucson, AZ, October 20, 2008

2008-10-21T17:46:00.001-07:00

Brian Field:

Bang Camaro @ Plush, Tucson, AZ, October 11, 2008

2008-10-12T22:54:00.004-07:00

Bang Camaro:

Ra Ra Riot, Walter Meego, Morning Benders at Plush, Tucson, AZ September 30, 2008

2008-10-01T23:43:00.002-07:00

Morning Benders:

Walter Meego:

Ra Ra Riot:

Silver Jews, James Jackson Toth at Plush in Tucson, AZ September 22, 2008

2008-09-22T23:22:00.001-07:00

Silver Jews, James Jackson Toth at Plush in Tucson, AZ September 22, 2008

James Jackson Toth:

Silver Jews:

Congress Street Urban Block Party and Tom Walbank, Left Lane Cruisers and Bob Log III at Plush Tucson, AZ August 23, 2008

2008-08-24T23:03:00.002-07:00

Last weekend it was the Congress Street Urban Block Party and Tom Walbank, Left Lane Cruisers and Bob Log III at Plush

Courtney Robbins:

Tom Walbank:

Later on, we hit Plush.

Left Lane Cruiser:

Tom Walbank and his band:

Bob Log III:

KaiserCartel, Jeremy Michael Cashman @ Plush, Tucson, AZ August 1, 2008

2008-08-02T23:19:00.001-07:00

Jeremy Michael Cashman:

KaiserCartel:

The Dickies @ Club Congress, Tucson, AZ, May 24, 2008

2008-05-25T16:08:00.001-07:00

The Dickies:

Band of Annuals @ Plush, Tucson, AZ, May 23, 2008

2008-05-24T16:40:00.001-07:00

Band of Annuals:

Traffic Violator, The Year of Acceleration @ Spring Club Crawl, Tucson, AZ April 19, 2008

2008-04-20T17:19:00.001-07:00

Traffic Violator:

The Year of Acceleration:

Dusty Buskers @ 4th Avenue Fair, Tucson, AZ, April 6, 2008

2008-04-07T18:43:00.001-07:00

Dusty Buskers:

Bon Iver and These United States @ Plush, Tucson, AZ, March 18, 2008

2008-03-19T18:57:00.001-07:00

Bon Iver:

These United States:

Bill Callahan @ Plush, Tucson, AZ March 7, 2008

2008-03-08T19:40:00.002-07:00

Bill Callahan:

A Place to Bury Strangers, Holy Fuck, El Ten Eleven @ Plush, Tucson, AZ March 4, 2008

2008-03-05T21:25:00.001-07:00

A Place to Bury Strangers:

Holy Fuck:

El Ten Eleven:

Super Furry Animals with Holy Fuck @ Club Congress, Tucson, AZ February 5, 2008

2008-02-06T22:19:00.001-07:00

Super Furry Animals:

Holy Fuck:

Traffic Violator @ The Wooden Ball @ Club Congress, January 5, 2008

2008-01-06T22:40:00.001-07:00

Traffic Violator:

BellRays, Okkervil River @ Club Congress, Tucson, AZ September 1, 2007

2007-09-02T17:02:00.001-07:00

After hitting The Loft to see Once (it is a MUST see movie!!) then meeting friends for food and drinks at Sports we walked the long way around via the ATM machine to get to Congress.

The BellRays were minus a couple of band members, at least one of whom just quit. Their stripped down set was not exactly what we expected but they were still amazingly awesome! Lisa promised to be back soon with full band.

Then Okkervil River hit the stage. I love their catchy emo-y nerdy pop rock songs and they are worthy of the hype they've been receiving lately.

The Lashes' Eric Howk Hospitalized

2007-05-09T20:26:00.001-07:00

The Lashes' guitarist, Eric Howk was injured Saturday night after falling into an unsecured hole in a friend's neighbor's yard. Initial reports indicated he fell from a roof but Ben Clark, lead vocalist for the band, set the record straight so no one mistakes his accident for "drunken horseplay or bad judgment." He suffered broken bones and injured his back.

The Lashes were scheduled to play the Old Firehouse in Redmond, WA on Friday night with Ms. Led and The Snakebites, however, U.S.E. have stepped in to fill the void, donating their earnings from the night to Howk's medical bills. As is the case with many musicians, Howk does not have health insurance.

If you're in the Seattle area, look for many benefit shows to ease his financial burden. Go to them all. Put money in the till. Feel good. And hope Eric feels good again soon.

Thanks to Matt Brown at NadaMucho for letting us know about this.

Bang Camaro Rock It Early Morning Style

2007-05-03T12:53:00.001-07:00

If you weren't in the Boston area this morning, or were, but weren't awake at 7:30AM, then you missed Bang Camaro rockin' early morning television.

Don't fret, you can find the action here and be sure to click on the side bar link to see their Early Morning Rendition of "Swallow the Razor."

It's official. I have a crush on Bryn Bennett.

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

2007-04-30T21:25:00.001-07:00

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

2007-04-26T20:58:00.001-07:00

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?

2007-04-19T19:49:00.001-07:00

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!

2007-04-19T12:56:00.001-07:00

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

2007-04-13T22:41:00.002-07:00

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

2007-04-10T22:50:00.001-07:00

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

2007-04-09T19:18:00.001-07:00

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

2007-04-07T12:23:00.001-07:00

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!

2007-04-05T20:43:00.000-07:00

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.