Dave Matthews

So a couple friends and myself decided as of a few days ago that we're going to see the Dave Matthews Band concert at the Gorge on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. To be quite honest, the qualifying attraction for my dear friends is the notion of booze and fun, but it'll be a bit of nostalgia for myself and for the evolution of my taste in music.

Before I began listening to Dave and Co., I was woefully addicted to top 40 bullshit and the popular "modern rock/adult alternative" hits of the day. From Dave I was introduced to the jam band scene, and from their I became hooked on Zappa and started brushing up on the classics that I used to hate my dad for playing. My indie breakthrough was via the fan message boards that I had started browsing as a DMB fan.

I still maintain that up until 2001, there were few bands putting out records as diverse and well-recorded as those produced by the Matthews Band. While I (along with most of the rabid fans who made up the fanatical fanbase of the early 2000s)have lost interest in the group over the years, I honestly can't wait to experience their live performance, the first one I've been to since seeing their Gorge shows from 2000-2003. It'll be a nice little walk down memory lane.

Ryan Adams.

As naive and commercialistic as I was when it came to all parts of popular culture in middle school and the beginning of high school, I still like to think that I've had a good ear for a while. That is to say, while I listened to more than my fair share of horrible modern rock, my tastes and preferences have constantly evolved (for the best I believe).

I remember I read an article about Ryan Adams in a magazine in 2001, which compared his alt-country sound to Lucinda Williams' Car Wheels On A Gravel Road album which has been one of my favorite cds for a long time. After buying Gold and giving it a good listen, I discovered that apart from the alt-country vibe both records had, the comparison was pretty far off base. I was certainly intrigued though, and began to look into everything else the guy had done.

After one listen through Heartbreaker, I was hooked. Grabbing every unreleased B-side, outtake and live bootleg I could get my hands on, there was no turning back. The next "phase" in my musical timeline was in full effect.

While I've moved past that stage where everything done by the man transcends mere perfection, there's little doubt in my mind that he is one of, if not, the best lyrical songwriters performing today; he's also one of the most self-destructive. His live performances are radiant (when he's not too wasted or stoned), his lyrics are amazing (when he's not too enamored with creating 123,000 unfunny hip hop songs) and his rhythm and melody are untouched (when he's not resigned to performing and writing like he's imitating himself).

His discography is incredible and bland at the same time, and who knows where Ryan Adams will be in ten years. If he keeps on evolving and moving forward, he deserves everything he'll get; if he continues to put out mediocre material in the mass quantities his fans are used to, he'll deserve everything he'll get.

Either way, the jury is still out.

Strength In Numbers.

Strength in Number was a bluegrass supergroup that formed for a short period of time in the early '90's, culminating in the release of a single album, Telluride Sessions. Featuring bluegrass stalwarts Béla Fleck, Sam Bush, Mark O'Connor, Jerry Douglas and Edgar Meyer, the group has a dynamic sound, showcasing their many musical influences in fantastic form. This video is from their Austin City Limits performance and is an excellent example of the diversity of their music. The track is called "Blue Men of the Sahara".

A first post of something that will likely turn into nothing.

While its definitely true that I feel I have some sort of knowledge and appreciation for music that most people don't have experience with, its also true that I understand my limitations in my effort level. I'm likely going to start out with a bang (if I start out at all), and slowly peter off until I've embarassed myself to previously uncharted levels. Nobody will ever read this but me, but back off; I've wanted to try my hand at this for awhile.

What you'll find here: Music news, album reviews, Youtube links and my general bullshit. I'm an overly confident chump, and I can also be a pretentious prick. Who better to listen to?