Limbeck combines 60's melodies and southern charm

What happens when you combine alt-country with 60's pop? You get the new self-titled album from California rock group Limbeck.

Limbeck has soaked up much of the music that southern California was known for in the 60s. The album is littered with catchy bits of melodies the are reminiscent of The Beach Boys, The Mamas and the Papas and The Association. The backing vocals and harmonies also have a very 60's pop vibe.

What makes Limbeck unique is that they combine their 60's pop influences with alt-country. The tracks heavily resemble bands like The Old 97s and early Wilco.

The lead vocals fall somewhere between Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) and Chris Collingwood (Fountains of Wayne). They're gritty yet a little nasal, sitting perfectly in the mix.

The records includes groovy upbeat tunes like "Wake Up" and "Let's Get Crazy" which mix a groove based verse with a jangly, hooky chorus. The rhythm section (bassist Justin Entsminger/drummer Jon Phillip) is tight with Entsminger and Phillip locking like a couple of seasoned session players.

The closing track, "Sunset Limited," is a charming mid-tempo song with a country groove. The song is complete with pedalsteel guitar and lyrics that evoke images of deserted deserts of the southwest.

On Limbeck's self-titled album, each song plays with the balance between pop and alt-country. Some are more one than the other which gives the album a great flow keeps the record from getting boring. This album is a solid effort and one you don't want to miss.

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Limbeck will play at the Cat's Cradle on August 26 with The Format, Piebald, Steel Train and Reubens Accomplice. The band will play third. Doors are at 6:30pm and the show is at 7:30pm. Tickets are available via etix.com.


Download Limbeck via iTunes

The Comas shoot video podcast for Spinner

The Comas recently shot a video podcast for AOL's "The Interface." They performed four songs from their latest album Spells. The podcast includes, "Red Microphones," "Come My Sunshine," "Now I'm A Spider" and "New Wolf." There is also a little interview at the end of the podcast with a very uncomfortable/awkward interviewer.

Check out the podcast via the Spinner page or via iTunes by clicking the iTunes logo below.


Download Spells via iTunes

Cheers for Old Crow, Jeers for House of Blues

With little help from the rowdy, very typical Myrtle Beach crowd, Old Crow Medicine Show stormed the stage Sunday night at the House of Blues.

The band had just played the day before at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Mancheseter, Tenn. and energy was still high from the massive festival.

From song one, fiddler/harmonica player/singer Ketch Secor had an energy unlike any player in any string band I've ever seen. Donning an Austin City Limits t-shirt and a blue bandana, Ketch played the fiddle like it was the last time he'd ever get to play. His body moved and felt every note he played.

Old Crow played their first 45-minute set highlighted by the crowd favorite "Wagon Wheel" from the band's debut album, O.C.M.S. After a short break, the band came back with songs including "Tell It To Me," "Down Home Girl" and "Bobcat Tracks."

Even with a lengthy setlist including songs from both of the band's officially released albums, the highlight of the evening was the one-song encore. The band took the stage and played the classic Bob Dylan tune "Lay Lady Lay," from the 1969 album Nashville Skyline. It was an unique cover complete with bluegrass harmonies.

Old Crow Medicine Shows is definitely a band you don't want to miss. The band will play at An Appalachian Summer Festival in Boone on July 20.

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Now, the negative. The House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach has to be one of the worst venues in the Carolinas. First, why does a $17.50 cost $22.00 when you buy it at the venue? House of Blues charges not only a service charge at their own box office, but they also charge a venue/facility charge. Maybe Ticketmaster is partly to blame, but the venue chooses to charge a facility charge.

Next, having been to the House of Blues many times in my life, I'm finally ready to say that House of Blues audiences are the rudest around. Maybe I'm spoiled by North Carolina's respect for bluegrass music, but the Myrtle Beach crowds don't ever show respect for acoustic music. I've seen both Nickel Creek and now Old Crow Medicine Show at the venue and both shows were practically drowned out by crowd chatter. It's really ridiculous.

I guess you really can't expect much from a venue stuck in the middle of the tourist-trap nightmare that is Myrtle Beach. It's the only venue I can remember going to that wasn't 10,000 capacity and up, yet uses metal detectors at entry. I'm sure the reason for that ties in with the rude crowds the venue draws.

With the unreasonable ticket fees and generally bad concert experiences to be had at the House of Blues, I won't be returning. I'd much rather drive to a more respectable venue that's a little further away than be ripped off then disappointed by another show at the House of Blues.

Claymates delusional? Never.

Some things are just a long time coming.

Playbill is reporting that Idol: The Musical, "based on the idol worship of former ‘American Idol’ contestant Clay Aiken," will debut Off-Broadway this summer.

According to a press release, the show is "a satirical musical comedy that focuses on the outrageous and delusional fan base of the hit television show."

In other words, it mocks the hell out of some Claymates.

The show will begin previews July 5, though no ticket information is currently available. As someone who is visiting New York in early August, I must find a way into this show.

Don't hold your breath for the touring production to swing by Memorial Auditorium. Raleigh just isn't ready for this. Something tells me this isn't what Clay's fans had in mind when they said he'd be perfect for Broadway.

Ryan Adams cleans up, goes emo

Yesterday's New York Times featured an article on my second favorite Raleigh expat, Ryan Adams.

The story chronicles his recent battle with substance abuse and the writer also spent a bit of time hanging out in the studio as Adams recorded songs for Easy Tiger.

Here's one of my favorite snippets from the story, just for the mental image it provides.

"Mr. Adams stood at the microphone, played a blistering riff and screeched a placeholder vocal: “This is where the verse is gonna go/And it’s gonna be emo.”

“Obviously keeping up with him is a big part of the job,” said Jamie Candiloro, who produced the album.

Um, yeah, no kidding. You can hear all the non-emo-goodness yourself when Easy Tiger is out in stores on June 26.