Music > This Little Underground
This Little Underground
So, you been diggin’ this extended winter? Ha! Take that, vacationers!
The Beat
Speaking of tourists, local country band Giddy Up Go (March 4, Will’s Pub) kind of resembles a group of them right now. If they’d get over the novelty aspect of their chosen genre and get real, these guys could actually be decent. There are seriously some good melodies in their songs, and that’s as solid a foundation as it gets.
However, the same bill provided this week’s best surprise with Philadelphia’s Hymn for Her. The domestic duo of Maggi Jane and Pierce Ternay tour and record in a vintage 16-foot travel trailer with their toddler, though I didn’t personally see that little thing play shit. Their amalgam of folk, blues and bluegrass ain’t no easygoing sweet-tea affair. It’s an intensely haunting, alternative vision that sometimes strikes cutting moods.
He basically plays a one-man band setup with drums and banjo, while she makes them a full band. They employ a cigar-box guitar with only a few strings that, when fed through her pedals and played with a slide, has a wild, untamed drone that’s just enormous in presence. But despite their intriguing instrumentation, a big part of their sound is the vocal dynamism between the two, like when they rocked a Zeppelin cover where the typical guitar parts were performed with their voices.
Together, it all weaves extraordinary atmosphere. From otherworldly meditations to fire-breathing rave-ups where banjos are banged like bongos, their live show is riveting and transcendental. Hymn for Her conjure a grippingly modern vision of folk that’s completely free of cliché. Though they’re Northerners, they seem to love Florida because they play here a lot, including a couple upcoming dates (March 26 at Copper Rocket, March 29 at Stardust Video & Coffee). Do yourself a solid and check ’em out.
Local band the Soul Birds (March 5, Will’s Pub) are a proudly regressive act. Touching on the ’60s, the ’70s, big blues-rock, even woodsy folk rock, they hit every classic rock note imaginable. Now the tag “classic rock” may give you a justifiable shiver, but this trio has good influences and is anything but some lame dinosaur bar band. With some serious wardrobe demonstrating a penchant for animal prints, tie-dye and crazy-ass pattern combinations, they totally live the gimmick. Like I’ve said before, if you’re gonna do it, go all the way. And all these young dudes do it and do it pretty respectably.
Later up the road was the CD release for local psych-gaze band Cotton Candy Cookies and Cream (Copper Rocket), who brought out the weird big time with animal costumes and all. As for the sax-playing lion, well, that cat’s a liability. The horn has a neutralizing effect on their guitar-driven sonic power. The massive effects are key to this band’s appeal and it was simply absent this time.
There’s something mighty in Minneapolis’ water when it comes to rap and a couple of its notable talents rolled through (March 3, Back Booth). I really dig the music of headliner P.O.S. but I had yet to be convinced of him as a live act. I’ve only seen him perform as an opener in a large room and it sucked. All the will of his impassioned delivery couldn’t save him from just sounding flimsy. In more up-close environs this time, his trademark fire burned brightly and with full force. But as good as he was, much of the actual music that frames his raps was muted, which is unfortunate because it’s a critical and distinguishing element of his sound.
Though it took her a while to hit her swagger, opener Dessa showed a solid combination of genuine singing voice and sharp rap flow when she finally did. But I suspect the basic track-act format is too constrictive to showcase her particular range, at least for a concert of any real size. What she needs to render her virtues in full color is live accompaniment, even if it’s as simple as just a human drummer.
It’s an energy that would allow her to truly get swept up into her own music, which she seemed on the verge of doing only occasionally. A more robust format would bring her game to the next level and make her a heavyweight contender.
Comments on this story:
On 3/10/2010 9:49:30 AM, Anonymous said:
My Live Music Meetup.com is going to see Hymn for Her in St. Pete:
http://livemusic.meetup.com/96/calendar/12731831/
On 3/10/2010 11:05:51 AM, mydogsnameisbooger said:
Thanks Bao. I mean fucking cigar box guitar? What ar you a fucking moron? I bet 50 bucks you shop at Ikea. Ill also bet you buy cute "whimsical" things as well as "kitchsy' things. I mean shit, cover the oak hill drifters, or jubals kin. Those are some local Bluegrass/country bands that dont relie on gimmicks. You seem to love gimmicks and ironic facial hair. I mean fuck dude...really? Is that all you can come up with with a whole week of covering venues? Cigar box country? Cmooon. There was just a country/bluegrass fest a almost a month ago. I was surprised to see the talent that was playing there. Now mind you, no one had perfectly aged jeans,weird "vintage" lowtop sneakers and just the right amount scruffy facial hair. However I would definitely say they were better than giddy up go.
Now with the psycheldelic band? I wont bother. No one gives a shit about psychedelia other than you and your scene friends. true psychedelia is fucking dead. Also I will add, psychedelic bands are like people who pick up cameras and usle old film to develop. Its cool when you first see it, then you realize how easy it is to do and the lack of substance. You learn to take it for what it is.
On 3/10/2010 12:01:32 PM, Anonymous said:
mydogsnameisbooger, why did you thank him? Also, you say "I won't bother." and then you do. You're completely self-contradicting, absurdley condescending, and all around confused by your small and inadequate cock and lack of sack. Quit grooming your pubes in front of your mothers mirror and go back to work at starbucks. Assmunch.
On 3/10/2010 12:28:46 PM, Anonymous said:
mydogsnameisbooger: I'm glad you exist. Otherwise how would I know all the ways in which we are all completely inferior to one with such refined tastes and amazing thoughts. Little did I know that if you liked kitsch, you must shop at Ikea and buy whimsical things and have ironic facial hair. I'm also glad to know that psycheldelic bands as you called it, are dead and I should no longer bother listening to it, I was unaware that bluegrass and country are the only true forms of music and will change my listening practices accordingly. I'll expect your full list of approved bands and shows within the day of this comment. I also will no longer wear "vintage" lowtop sneakers (i do own a pair of converse, I apologize) and will throw away all my old film in preference for something new, something with real substance as you said. Thank god you exist sir, or I would be lost in a sea of irrelevance and mediocrity.
On 3/11/2010 12:37:46 AM, booger said:
arf arf. my owner fucks me! arf arf. dogfucker!
On 3/11/2010 8:58:05 AM, Anonymous said:
Poor Booger. At least your owner has an extremely small penis which makes entry less painful for you. Do yourself a favor and run away the next time he lets you out.
On 3/11/2010 12:37:56 PM, Anonymous said:
Lets get back to the point Orlando has a music scene that is not being covered. By this guy that has the nerve to call his article "This Little Underground". Hey I read your piece every week. You don't cover local bands. You write about some pretentious out of town band that nobody but some sad old man like yourself would care about. Then you bash the local opener. You know local bands headline shows too? Your a disgrace and if this is any hope you will be run out of your office and I will see to it myself. Orlando has been sleeping for far to long. Mark my words Bao your days are numbered. -Jordan
On 3/11/2010 6:20:29 PM, Anonymous said:
sounds like a personal vendetta. you are obviously a lousy musician, perhaps one of the openers this guy is referring to. I wasn't there, but it's very obvious from reading your posts. I like Bao's reviews and appreciate his musical tastes. I think you need to get off the computer and practice your instrument. Until then, remain a loser.
On 3/12/2010 10:08:11 AM, Anonymous said:
Hey Jordan:
Local band the Soul Birds (March 5, Will’s Pub) are a proudly regressive act. Touching on the ’60s, the ’70s, big blues-rock, even woodsy folk rock, they hit every classic rock note imaginable. Now the tag “classic rock” may give you a justifiable shiver, but this trio has good influences and is anything but some lame dinosaur bar band.
Later up the road was the CD release for local psych-gaze band Cotton Candy Cookies and Cream (Copper Rocket), who brought out the weird big time with animal costumes and all.
I recently told you about the hex-trembling Saint Sibian and the Nutrajet-setting Hot Mouth. Now meet Magick Finger.
Local musician RJ Harman (Feb. 23, Back Booth) is an undeniable wunderkind on harmonica.
thats just from the last two weeks, maybe he should write about "name your shit band here" more often i guess, who knows.
On 3/12/2010 2:06:29 PM, Anonymous said:
Just came across this article. I was in my car and my friend was at the show. He played me Him for Her on his cell phone. I raced over and caught 4 or 5 songs. They were frickin awesome!!!! I love all kinds of music and there was nothing trite or contrived about them. They just rocked and blew me away. Can't wait to see them again with a bunch of friends. I think this reviewer was right on!
On 3/14/2010 10:52:08 PM, jeffreyhoward said:
Jordan, perhaps you will start a column, blog or zine. I wish you would. There is a lot of neat and interesting things happening musically in this town. This singular column could never give any "fill-in-the-blank" scene justice but I'm glad it exists for what it is. You guys and gals are writing so many negative comments here so you must think the music scene here is important in some way.
It doesn't do any good to complain (ala mydogsnameisbooger) all the time. It's a waste of time and disservice to the things and people you think are good and awesome. Why would you leave a whole community up to one outlet? If you think there's good things happening here you shouldn't waste time. Tell the world about it. Wouldn't it be terrible if there was some amazing thing going on and no one could share in it because, well, you didn't say?
Do any of you read http://blogs.tampabay.com/tbt/ ? It makes me jealous Tampa has something as awesome as that. Why not here?
On 3/15/2010 2:29:54 PM, mydogsnameisbooger said:
I dont leave everything to one outlet. There are other local local zines. However that being said. There will never be any bigger than the weekly in print. It does do good to complain. Complaining creates awareness, it creates dissent and eventually it creates change. So whats wrong with complaining? Besides, you cover the same crap he covers. Is there that much good indie here in Orlando (doubt it). Again with the back patting here in orlando. I mean seriously...Why do you even bother with kickshine when Bao already covers the same shit as you? How many times can we hear about "that" local label's bands? Now I do agree with you on our scene, so why dont YOU cover something new? I guess indie music critics are like 7/11's around here. A dime a dozen. Almost as prevelant as photographers who consider themselves "artists"
On 3/16/2010 1:44:11 PM, Anonymous said:
for mydogblahblahblah...jeez you are pretentious and boring! leave the writing for people who know how to do it. yawn.
On 3/16/2010 2:22:26 PM, Anonymous said:
I really don't see that many similarities between Kickbright and Bao's column but there are good things about both...for one, that they actually both are doing something. More than a lot of other people can say unless you count bitching on this website every week as doing something. Jeffrey's been doing a relevant blog for a long time in this town...since before it was cool to have a blog. I think he deserves credit for that and for always supporting so many different things that happen in Florida as a whole.
On 3/17/2010 12:34:53 PM, mydogsnameisbooger said:
Wait,...So If I make fun of pretentious and boring music,scene and reviewers. That makes me pretentious? Last I checked being pretentious meant being closed minded,myopic and stuffy. Which alas my young one, I am not.No, see Im actually "bitching" about pretentious and boring reviews. See, I dont really dont like Connections magazine cause they cover "brah" metal and nightclubs where I can only stand to hear jeezy/lil wayne/puffy/reggaeton remixes once in a blue moon. Not that Im not saying Im close minded, just I can only hear it till it becomes too much and I get brainwashed and end up getting affliction tshirts and a faux hawk. As well as Axis magazie. Now what does that leave me to read? Well..you guessed it. The weekly. Now I do really love the weekly and it does a great job for what it does. However I truly believe that. However, there is only so much I can stand when it comes to "This Underground" Its a piss poor review. Also, I would like to state that its not very "underground" Its more or less one facet of our great scene here in Orlando. There is SOOOO much good punk,metal,blues,country,bluegrass and so on so forth here that will never get reviewed. Now Im not in a band and never really wanted to be but, I bet that we all have at one point or another wondered why some bands/people dont get any coverage. Well, from what I guess, the popular magazines here are more targeted to more "pop" music and the one so called "indie" review is a 3rd rate spin/rolling stone whatever you want to compare it to. I cant help but question his credibility when accusations are made by other bands/labels/venues that he shows favoritism. Look at all the posts in the last few weeks. There is always some form of truth to an accusation. When many accuse, then well...you do the math. Also, with the Jeffrey Howard comment I made earlier, Kickbright and Bao do pretty much cover the same thing. Maybe slightly different but thats like trying to explain the various shades of white,off white,eggshell,antique white and so-on so forth. Yeah its slightly different but, more or less the same thing. So...how is it that Im pretentious when all I want to see is more coverage of various genres music? I dunno, Id figure that akin to being open minded and tolerant.
On 3/17/2010 12:54:07 PM, Anonymous said:
Booger, you have yet to name one single band or show, specifically, that you've seen lately that you feel so strongly should have been written about. You jump on Jeffrey for offering solid, helpful advice and keep slagging off what's written but you don't name a single thing that should have been covered and wasn't. Is it because you know, somewhere deep down, that it's not at all credible?
On 3/17/2010 8:44:19 PM, jeffreyhoward said:
Mydogsnameisbooger, If you really want more diverse coverage you wouldn't constantly bash any writer(s) already covering music in some capacity. Perhaps you can write a letter to the editor of the OW or whatever publication in town that bothers to have any music content at all. Tell them that they need more writers. Hell, I'd like to more coverage of the different things Orlando has to offer. I do what I can but I know from experience no one person can cover it all. That's where you come in. Help those bands, artists, promoters, clubs that you fell need coverage. Start a blog, write articles and submit them to publications. Fighting with the people already giving coverage isn't going to get you to your goal of change.
On 3/17/2010 9:27:58 PM, mydogsnameisbooger said:
3/17/2010 12:54:07 Pm Sweet tits, I have been name dropping bands that should have gotton some type coverage. You just need to look at previous "This little underground posts"
Jeff, I do appreciate the fact that you are getting my point. That being said however, I dont agree with the whole "he cant cover everything". No I think he can cover alot more. I dare Bao to step outside of the whole, Wills pub,backbooth,peacock room scene. Check out the dungeon. Go to the haven. There are clubs in Dtown as well. Go check em out. I just dont think he has the nutz to step out of his little box he puts himself in.
On 3/18/2010 12:18:45 PM, Anonymous said:
DUNGEON!! HAVEN!! HAHAHAHAHA!!! I knew booger was one of those guys. Believe me dude, there's nothing worth talking about going on in those places. That's why any ANY fourth-tier drop-out band can play them.
On 3/18/2010 3:32:38 PM, Anonymous said:
Wow. Mydogsnameisbooger - you are one of the most cynical and close minded individuals I have seen on here (and that says a lot). Shame that your life is that bereft of anything worth any satisfaction.
On 3/18/2010 3:37:09 PM, mydogsnameisbooger said:
{3/18/2010 12:18:45 PM}
Thats exactly my point. The great Awakening. Excellent thrash. Saw at the dungeon for the first time. Whats third or fourth tier to? Wills...The former wills I call it. Peacock Room? Whats this fourth their you speak of? Really? One of those guys. You gotta come up with something far better than one of those guys. I mean, cmon. God knows your prolly wanna of those wannabe floridas dying boys. Or wait lemme guess, with your weak ass comment. Your wanna those guys who plays at wills and uncle lou's. Thats probably it. Yeah, your so scene. Hows life treating you and all? Saw your dad recently. He still cant get over your affinity for bad poetry and american apparel. Hey btw, did you finally get the proper wear look on your white macbeths/white all stars? God know you gotta look the role when your taking those photobooth shots at BBQ/stardust. You know, perfect facial growth, oily hair, tight clothes. Gotta look good for those girls who take themselves seriously as artists/photographers/photagraphy artists..(lol). Hows your new band going? Remember, you gotta name the most abscure band that played south by southwest 3 years ago. Not too recent or you'll be exposed as a wagon jumper. We cant hve that now can we? Hey, did you get any new causes to fight for? I head the hummus enema movement dident work out to well. Its cool I know how it is. Sometimes people can be soooo ahead of the stupid masses that it can be fruitless to instill new idealogies. I guess thats what it is sometimes.It can be tough being soo unqiue and a social trailblazer sometimes. Its been tough for me as well. Last week I was at pom poms eating my bean sprout and hummus sandwich while drinking boba tea. You wouldent believe what happened next, Some metalhead/punk rock/outdated indie guy came in and got the same order I was having. I was sooo angry that I had to go to the bathroom to cut myself to see if I could still feel. I proceded t take pics of it and post it to facebook. Needless to say, they are only superficial scrapes and nothing serious. Anyhow, I left. On the bright side, I got my new 7's from from amazon. Im soo happy, now i got the only LHS made out of urine yellow wax. Its the shit!!! I hpe no band I like makes it big. Cause then all of the posers will jump on the bandwagon and I cant have that. Im truly a unique individual. I voted for obama, Im a vegan, because Its the ethical way of living.I love blogs,photography and masturbating to myself. My girlfriend was a former slamhound in H.S. But that is all changed. We now hangout in parks reciting Nietze/choamsky and having picnics. Cause we both experienced "growth" . I bet you love britpop and after watching "24 hr party people" You bitlorded everyband. Good for you!!! So....how long till you grow up and drive a volvo/saab/mini? Maybe live in thorten/baldwin park and reminissce of the good old days slumming during your 5 1/2 year stint in college on your parents dime?
Anyhow, be cool man and remember..YOU LIKED THEM BEFORE THEY WERE COOL!!
On 3/18/2010 8:40:34 PM, Anonymous said:
booger, you are a freak and nobody reads all of those words you type. stop complaining because whatever plays at the venues you go to doesn't get coverage. i go to shows almost every night and have never been to either of those bars or heard of any bands around town i would ever want to see play there, so whatever. keep hating on "hipsters" or whatever you want.
oh and please name the bands you are talking about because we would all love to go to these shows and see what's up. seriously!
On 3/20/2010 11:43:42 AM, mydogsnameisbooger said:
3/18/2010 8:40:34 Just look above....and I dont mean literally. Like your looking up at god. I dont think I have ever even used the term hipsters at all. Weird... Is that what you are? i would have never even guessed honestly.
On 3/20/2010 10:03:14 PM, Anonymous said:
aah, bao didn't like your show. maybe the weekly should include tissues so you can wipe your pussy ass tears. toughen up.
On 3/21/2010 1:18:44 AM, Anonymous said:
Bao, you rule. Fuck everybody else.
