Jets To Brazil
Irving Plaza
5/26/01
Jets To Brazil is certainly a departure from its members’ previous outfits. All were heavy hitters in the hardcore scene and most of them splintered after fraternization with success and/or major labels. While the Jets had some elements of the past on their first record, their latest release Four Cornered Night, is more middle of the road and reflects frontman Blake Schwarzenbach’s newfound obsession with Wilco. Nothing wrong with that. The problem is that the boys seem to think that they are doing something remarkable, even going so far as to thank the audience for being so open-minded about what they’re doing. Their new stuff may be remarkable for the average 18 year old, but for anyone Blake’s age, there are a staggering amount of precedents. That being said, the boys put in work. Some new songs popped up, with a healthy dose of the mid-tempo favorites from both records. I myself would have like to have heard something that rocked a little more, but it seems that I’m living in the past. It’ll be interesting to see where the boys head in the future.

Firebird Band
Brownies
5/28/01
This was the first Firebird show that I’ve seen that wasn’t bogged down by electronic problems and it was a pleasure. Is it that hard to get a damn DI that works properly? After three shows that had more moments of silence than a funeral I was prepared to bring my own so I could get home at a reasonable hour. I’ve heard tell of new songs and a couple of EPs that are in the works, but to the best of my knowledge none of them popped up. We did get most of the highlights of The Setting Sun And Satellites. I also got some wine. Both of these things made for a good show, but I’m champing at the bit for new stuff and a longer set. Let’s hope the summer hasn’t been a vacation for Chris and the boys and we get some new stuff soon.

Rock*A*Teens
Cordero
Brownies
6/2/01
The Rock*A*Teens are a great band on the great Merge records. They hail from Cabbagetown, GA and always seem to bring a little bit of the South with them when they make it North of the Mason Dixon line. No surprises, just Orbison-esque rock and plenty of it. Why these guys aren’t huge I don’t know. The big surprise was Cordero. I hadn’t heard of them, but evidently all the players have been around, having tenured in the Rock*A*Teens and Man Or Astroman? as well as Brooklynites Bee And Flower. Hell, it seems like frontwoman Ani Cordero still plays with them. The double dipping hasn’t tapped her creative well, as she sings like Mary Timony if she cared about performing. Not too shabby. Evidently they are just getting off the ground, but they show a hell of a lot of promise and are totally worth seeing. Peep the website at anicordero.com.

White Octave
Brownies
6/8/01
The White Octave is Steven Pederson’s (ex-Cursive) North Carolina based project. It’s got all the earmarks of the Midwestern rock of the last couple years: lots of dynamics, Travis Bean basses and the frosting on the beater of Mr. Bob Weston in the producer’s chair. You’d figure that all of these things would add up to some quality fucking rock. You’d be right. Not sure why these guys were on the same bill as the Heroin Sheiks, although they kinda carry the torch of the Cows rhythmically if not vocally. I’d say Shellac is more of a precedent and if you can be compared to them boys, you’re doing something right. There wasn’t a huge crowd, but they rocked every damn person who showed up early, this guy included. They’ll be back in town at the Mercury in July. Be there or be L7.

Old 97s
Josh Joplin Band
Irving Plaza
6/15/01
Well, it seems that hell has frozen over. I can’t begrudge the Old 97s success, but they are going out on tour with Matchbox 20 and that doesn’t bode well at all for this bitter old fuck. And just when I was getting over the shock of the Alkaline Trio going on tour with Blink 182! At least Blink 182 are almost good. The Old 97s are one of the greatest live bands you’ll ever see and they still put on a hell of a live show, but man are the Matchbox fans unworthy. Now crap like the Josh Joplin band I could see doing that tour. Boy do those guys suck. Those kids are for people that find Matchbox 20 too threatening. They’ve got all the earmarks of a major label alternaband: female guitarist of ambiguous sexual orientation, "rocker" guys, and lets not forget the overly demonstrative Mr. Joplin. Doesn’t make them any better to listen to, though. Look for him selling the new Matchbox 20 record in a store near you.

Alkaline Trio
Dashboard Confessional
Hot Rod Circuit
Wetlands
6/18/01
Wetlands has been having more and more great shows recently, but man is it laid out poorly. Thank God I’m tall. Got there in time to catch most of the Hot Rod Circuit set. Those boys set it off. The guitarist could spend a little less time jumping around for jumping around’s sake, but hey I hate the game, not the player. Speaking of hate, boy are Dashboard Confessional silly. I think I hate them. Of course, I think I was the only one there that felt that way, but the whole campfire singalong thing gets a little tiresome. Plus the lyrics are so trite: "I just called to see how you were making out/I wish I was anywhere making out" Puh-leeze. Are we thirteen? I will give my eternal caveat that the kid seemed to be into what he was doing, but they are not my cup of Prozac. Now Alkaline Trio are my kind of potent potable. It wasn’t the best show that I’ve seen them do, but after the execrable Dashboard ridiculousness, some rock was in order. And rock they did. Nothing remarkable, save for my level of irritation with the whole "Six Flags Over The Pit" crowd-riding extravaganza. That gets my vote for most tired rock phenomenon ever. Songwise, it was a pretty comprehensive cover of all the records, with the customary set ender of Radio. Look for the boys on tour forever on the Vagrant and Plea For Peace tours this Summer.

Dismemberment Plan
Bowery Ballroom
6/21/01
The D-Plan are probably the most original band around today. They’re on album number four now and have consistently come up with the most innovative stuff around without sacrificing the song. That’s a lesson that a gang of bands would do well to take to heart.

There’s a new record in the can that’s coming out on Desoto in the Fall and it featured a lot of the songs they’ve been playing in their set for the last couple months including my personal favorite: Time Bomb. This was the first of two nights with live drum and bass ensemble Lake Trout and a testament to the versatility of the Plan. They can (and do) pretty much play with everybody, regardless of genre or place on the bill. That’s probably why they’ve got such a rabid following. Get bitten by them and foam at the mouth like I do when I hear they are coming around.

Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers
DC Barbecue Fest
6/23/01
There aren’t too many genres that feature timbales and cowbells that don’t make me want to shoot myself. Ok, there’s only one and that’s Go-Go. I’d like to say that my infatuation stems from having been born in DC, but since I was out of there by age two, I can’t claim props. Now if you’re going to see some Go-Go, Chuck Brown is the guy to see. He’s pretty much the Elvis of the genre and has been setting it off for about 20 years now. Combine that with a Barbecue festival and you better hope I’ve been wearing scotch-guarded boxers cause that’s a hell of a good time. And it was. It seemed like half of DC was there to see the man. He had lost his voice the night before and still rocked it, with the help of a whole bunch of his family. Three generations in fact, all the way down to his 2 year old grandson. Not a bad bloodline there. If you’ve not heard any Go-Go, you really owe it to yourself to get rid of that Fatboy Slim record and get some real dance music. Check it out now — Chuck Brown is the Funk-Soul-Jazz-Latin brother. You’re just a customer.