A Little Game We Play

For those of you who don't know, my husband is a music snob.

His snobbery on this subject covers a wide range of musical tastes, but he is mainly most outspoken about rock and roll (with an affinity especially for late 60's/early 70's and jazz funk groups).  This has at times created many memorable, and embarrassing (for me), conversations with friends and acquaintances.  I will never forget the the happy hour where he almost spit out his beer after a co-worker of mine requested Nickleback be played by the live guitarist.  Nor will I forget the time that he drunkenly belittled our current roommate for guessing that Ringo was her favorite Beatle.  I will not discuss in depth the look of disgust on his face when another co-worker of mine asked, very innocently, what was meant when the radio announcer yelled "It's time to get the Led out."

The great thing about having a husband who is a music snob, is that there is always new and interesting music in our house and on my computer.  And the BEST thing about it is that I didn't even have to go out and research or buy any of it.  It's like he's my own personal Pandora or iPhone app, making suggestions based on what he knows I like - or what he is brainwashing me to like.

To help (mostly me) catch up on a band's sound, we play a little game.   If you're making a suggestion for someone to listen to a new band, you need to describe that band by listing:

A) two other, different bands that if blended together, would sound like the suggested band
B) a noun
and
C) a place

Sounds complicated, but really, it's very helpful and easy once you get the hang of it.

For example, our favorite touring bar band is Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers.  Some of you may remember Roger as the lead singer of The Refreshments in the mid 90's.  I've been going to Peacemaker shows for about 8 years now and you will not have a better time.  But if you're not quite convinced yet, listen to this explanation.

Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers is a combination of:
A) Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
A) Jimmy Buffet
with
B) shots of tequila
in
C) Mexico

Now you're interested, right?!  Thank goodness for YouTube...
Americano!
Nada (old Refreshments song)
Green & Dumb (a personal favorite)
Here, check out their website at azpeacemakers.com.

If you have the pleasure of going to a Roger Clyne show, you need to.  Everyone that we've taken has become very passionate about this band.  Luckily, they tour Colorado often.

Or how about a new favorite band, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals.  Kendall and I first saw these guys play two summers ago with a crowd of 20 people in a little dive bar here in Fort Collins call Hodi's Half Note.  With their latest release, they have seemingly shunned the unwashed hippy look of their "jammy" upbringing and have thrown themselves into a world of glitz, glammer, and VHI Divas.  I really hate that this band is letting themselves be corrupted by the marketing gurus who want to bring their music to the masses because in the end, you don't need to hide talent behind makeup and big hair.  And frankly, this band has talent and is absolutely amazing to watch live.  Save the big hair and flashy makeup for the teeny bopper pop "musicians" who get their 15 minutes in the revolving door of pop culture.   I think Grace and her crew deserves to be in the spotlight, so please do me a favor- if you're going to buy a Grace Potter CD, please get Nothing But the Water in addition to their most recent album.

If you were to listen to Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, you should expect:
A)a little bit of Bonnie Raitt
mixed with
A)Jefferson Airplane
with
B)Tina Turner's short skirts
in
C) Paris (in part because it's one of their songs, another part because they are turning on the glitz)

Here's a little tidbit of Grace Potter & the Nocturnals after this past year:
Paris video

And here's what they used to be like:
Treat Me Right
Covering "Cortez the Killer" at the Jammys


I've recently been taken in by the soul revival of Fitz & the Tantrums.  While I haven't seen them live, I really enjoy the fact that they are bringing back the old fashioned Motown sound.  I'm sure Berry Gordy, even in his old age, rocks out to Moneygrabber, which is by far the best song on the album.

When I listen to Fitz & the Tantrums, I hear a blend of:
A) The Temptations
and
A)Kanye West fueled lyrics
with
 B)Aquanet (I think both Fitz and Noele use a bit much)
in
C)a seedy little nightclub, probably in Atlanta, GA

Here's a little listen:
Moneygrabber Video

And finally, Kendall's favorite band, the Flaming Lips. 

Oh- how do you describe the Flaming Lips?  We've discussed this many times in our home, as even our roommate Amanda did not know the Flaming Lips up until recently (OH THE SHAME OF IT!  In Kendall's own household!)  This is what we've finally settle on:

A)Pink Floyd
with, most recently, an influence of
A)Miles Davis
with
B) an alien spaceship
hovering over
C)Pee Wee's Playhouse

Also in contention for B) was fuzzy bunnies and for C) the North Pole.  If you've ever seen a Flaming Lips show, you would understand.

For your viewing pleasure:
Do you Realize (performed at the Oklahoma City Zoo)
Covering "Seven Nation Army"


In closing, I hope that I did Kendall and his fellow music snob friends justice in this blog.  Everyone else, I hope that I provided a little bit of entertainment and hopefully turned you on to something new.  If anything, consider this your warning for if you ever get pulled into this musical game we play.  It helps if you've taken the History of Rock & Roll at Iowa State.  If not, I'm sure Kendall could lend you his textbook or give you a personal refresher course.