Tunesday: Playing Catch-Up

This is where I was about to write about how long it's been since I wrote a Tunesday update. I'm glad I didn't. Although I did. Man...

Even though I have been pretty lazy with keeping up to date in the writing department, I have still been buying new music almost on a weekly basis. There's been so much good stuff coming out lately and a lot of it is coming from one of my favorite labels / distributors, Suburban Home Records / Vinyl Collective. I found out about SH Records when I first started listening to Tim Barry and Drag The River, both of which are on SH Records. I first saw Tim and DTR probably about 4 years ago when they played Alex's Bar in Long Beach. Such a good show, I think I walked away with some merch from both bands.

I began buying more and more releases from Suburban Home Records. I started getting their newsletters and they were just putting out so many good records by bands like Tim Barry, Josh Small, Drag The River, Austin Lucas, Two Cow Garage, Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, The Takers and more. I started falling down the rabbit hole.

I discovered SH Records was putting out 7-inch vinyl titled 'Under the Influence' where they find a set of bands or artists to do a cover version of a song that has influenced them and their music. Well, I didn't own a record player, but I had to buy one to hear these songs since they were only available on vinyl or digital download. Now, I have a problem collecting audio. I need the artwork. I need the physical copy, so here I am now with the whole first run of the 'Under the Influence' series (even multiple copies of some since there were some released in different colors of vinyl).

Now since I own the record player, the world is my musical oyster. To top it off, the dudes that run Suburban Home Records also run The Vinyl Collective where they sell tons of awesome vinyl. The most recent releases I bought were a couple of Jawbreaker records... so good.

All that ruthless plugging aside, I'd like to share with you some music from a few of the bands that have been on my turntable / in my CD player / on my itunes. Please pay close attention to the following:

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That's Micah Schnabel's (Two Cow Garage) solo record. I'm really impressed with the album front to back, and can't wait to see what he comes out with next.

Then dig this... the new Look Mexico record!

And... Tim Barry at Alex's Bar this weekend! With a true G, Possessed by Paul James:

Tunesday: Austin Lucas / Mike Hale / Two Cow Garage

We are proud to have another set of videos that we shot ourselves live at a gig to represent our fine Tunesday update.

This Tunesday will focus mainly on Austin Lucas, but in a few of the videos, he has some really good back up musicians. Last night we headed out to Hollywood to check out Austin Lucas, Mike Hale and Two Cow Garage at Crane's Tavern. Upon arrival, everyone was locked out of the venue since the hired help was running late, but after a short wait, we were inside on the back patio enjoying $1 Budweisers... not bad.

The first act up was some kind of rockabilly setup that all dressed the part, but was lacking in the originality / musically diversity category. Every song sounded the same, they even started a few songs with some really cool first couple of seconds, but then jumped back into their washed out sound once the time for vocals to show up came in. Funny thing is that most of the crowd was there to see them (all of which were out on dress-up night too).

Next, Mike Hale and Austin Lucas played an unplugged acoustic set out on the patio. Damn fine stuff... too bad many people that weren't watching the show decided that it was their right to be goofing off and making a bunch of noise about 5 feet from there Austin and Mike were performing. Roll tape...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH7P9REJyf0

Following Mike Hale and Austin's outdoor set, Two Cow Garage played inside. Now, this venue is tiny inside, lacks a stage, and was unable to stand up to the volume that Two Cow Garage played at. Needless to say, they could have had a bit of a stronger P.A., but either way Two Cow Garage really turned it on. These dudes play with so much excitement and energy, it is just fun watching them. We did shoot a couple of videos of them, but due to their sheer volume, the microphone on the camera wasn't handling the audio well. Maybe next time. They did play backing band to Austin Lucas for a few songs, which came across really well, especially since the only stuff I've heard of Austin Lucas is acoustic. Clip #2...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WnB-KoUzxo

After about a half dozen songs or so, Two Cow Garage left the stage and Austin Lucas played unplugged for the dozen or so people that were watching. All of which were obviously fans since they were singing along to the tunes and actually keeping quiet while Austin got to playing. The coolest part was that Austin made everyone that was watching him play stand really close in a circle around him. Everyone that was in the front of the circle was practically a foot away from him while he played, which brings the whole idea of an intimate show to the next level. A very cool feeling indeed. Enjoy this last clip and Austin Lucas' golden voice, beautiful song writing and impressive guitar playing...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vsaqn41j78

After the gig was through, we got ourselves an Austin Lucas LP and headed home. A nice Monday night indeed. Sorry that the videos appear so red, but the lack of actual lighting and abundance of mood lighting don't help our little camera. You're supposed to listen to the music anyways.

You can check out music by all three of the above mentioned artists at Suburban Home Records. Best get on it!

Tunesday: Look Mexico

Check it out... Tunesday is back. Unless this is your first time reading The Tasty Morsel, then Tunesday never left.

Lately I've been tripping out on Look Mexico. These dudes do some magic with their instruments on their full length titled 'This is Animal Music'. I find the complexity of their playing and orchestration to be one of the most interesting things I've heard in a long time. Check out this pretty awesome video for a track off their full length:

Since I found out that they recently joined the lineup on Suburban Home Records, I am very excited to see what they come out with next and who they will hit the road and tour with. I hope you agree with me that Look Mexico is a pretty tight outfit.

Here's another video where the band eats cherry pie and drinks red wine... all while being served by a unshaven and unkempt metal version of Mario Batali.

Tim Barry Weekend

"I write standard, boring songs with standard, boring chords...",  but Tim Barry's music is anything but standard.  It is not easy to write songs that cover topics like friends that have passed, gentrification, and hopping freight trains in a way that you understand the complexity of his messages and experiences yet can still party, drink a beer and sing along with fists in air.

Like people in general there are a lot of musicians that just don't seem approachable, but Tim is the exact opposite.  Tim needs his fans; he needs his fans to have a drink and a smoke with and he needs his fans' energy when he is on stage.  The louder and more excited the audience gets the better Tim plays.  When you are at a Tim Barry show you really feel what music is supposed to be; a shared experience between musician and audience.

This weekend Josh Small, Tim's long time touring mate and friend, called him 'Papa Barry' and it stuck with us because, yes, Tim's band is family (Josh and usually sister Caitlin) and once you go to one of his shows you feel the same.  Tim and Josh always seem to recognize your face and are more than happy to bullshit about music, the tour, etc.  The other fans also feel like family.  Over the years, you start to see the same faces and at every show you are likely to make friends.  After the show at the Casbah, in San Diego, on Friday we partied well into the night with a couple we met during Tim's set.

On Saturday the gig was at Alex's Bar in Long Beach, a venue very close to home, and we brought friends who have never seen Tim Barry perform before.  They had much of the same experience we had when we first saw Tim at Alex's Bar years ago and so it happens...  Tim's family continues to grow.

The other great thing about Tim is the musicians he surrounds himself with.  On this tour Tim brought along Josh Small and Austin Lucas. As we mentioned before, we have known Josh for awhile since he has been on many tours with Tim.  Josh has a really strong voice and usually switches between banjo and steel guitar.  He also backs Tim with vocals and guitar during a handful of Tim's songs which really adds a great depth to the music.

Austin Lucas, who was also on the bill, is a musician we'd never really heard too much about besides a few tracks that Suburban Home Records had put out online.  This guy's a real talent.  He possesses a great voice, some crazy guitar skills and lyrics that are strikingly well-written.  Needless to say, after seeing him we spent some time at the merch table stocking up on Austin's records.

We had a hell of a weekend watching these guys play music and sitting down to write this post is depressing since we won't be able to have this kind of fun until the next time Tim and crew come back to town.

Heading South and fueling up on Sandwich Saloon

Tim had some technical problems so he just hopped into the crowd and played

Mr. Josh Small

Austin Lucas