Fresh Bread

Bread In Review - Top Concerts Attended

I'm feeling a bit nostalgic today so I decided to list my favorite shows from 2006 that I attended:

Akron/Family @ the Knitting Factory - January 14th - Insanely good show by this Brooklyn band.  I didn't fall in love with  their fall 2006 release Meek Warrior like I did for their first album but that's okay...this band is like a marriage of my jamband past to my indie present.

Wolfmother @ Northsix - February 19th - No camera for this one but that's okay; my memories will last forever.  The packed Northsix could barely contain the aussie band.  You could sense they were destined for bigger venues and brighter praise.  They seriously rocked.  Hard.

Jose Gonzalez @ Joe's Pub - March 22nd (early show) - This Swedish singer/songwriter had a banner year in 2006.  The intimacy of Joe's Pub proved to be the right venue to hear Jose's hushed guitar and enchanting voice.  I went through a big phase of only listening to Jose's albums...which coincided nicely with this show.

Gorillaz @ the Apollo Theater - April 6th - My first trip to the storied venue in Harlem was for a live performance by Damon Albarn and company aka the cartoon band, Gorillaz.  This show was chock full of guests (De La Soul, Nena Cherry, Dennis Hopper), recorded by MTV, and I also ran into David Gilmour (sweet).

America @ B.B. King's - June 6th - The encore alone from this show gets it on the list.  James Iha, Adam Schlesinger, and Ryan Adams joined the America for a version of the band's classic "Horse With No Name".  Look for the guests plus Jim James and more on America's new album out January 16th.

Band Of Horses @ The Bowery Ballroom - June 16th - The newest darlings of Sub Pop toured maniacally in 2006 in support of their Everything All The Time album (released in March).  The band played to a sold out Bowery - even Rolling Stone wanted to get in on the action that night.  In case you were wondering, "The Funeral" IS fucking awesome live.

Magic Numbers @ Joe's Pub - August 30th - Brother/Sister & Brother/Sister from UK perform old and new songs for under 150 people.  I am stage side.  Excellent.

This show was fantastic.  On display were songs from their first album as well as tracks from the upcoming Those The Brokes.

Mountain Goats @ The Bowery Ballroom - September 30th - I was in awe the entire show.  You could hear a pin drop during the entire show.  John Darnielle performed many tracks off the 2006e Get Lonely release.  GL is one of my favorite and most played discs of 2006.

Elvis Perkins @ The Bowery Ballroom - November 1st - Elvis Perkins and band turned out to be the best show from the 2006 CMJ fest for me.  Check out their release Ash Wednesday and see them.  soon.

 

Picture of the Day - Happy Hannukah!

Freshbread Alter-Ego In This Week's Billboard

Daryl Hall & John Oates - The China Club 12.11.06

WPLJ 95.5  hosted a Christmas Show Monday night by the legendary duo, Daryl Hall & John Oates.  I had never been to the China Club before...nor seen H&O.  I was pretty excited to take in their patented "Rock & Soul" sound in such an intimate venue.

The first half of the hour-long set took from their most recent, x-mas themed album Home For Christmas.  Included were the Hall-penned "Home For Christmas" (a top 5 radio song at the moment), Robbie Robertson's "Christmas Must Be Tonight", and traditional tunes "Jingle Bell Rock" and "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear".  It was six songs before the classic - and most eagerly anticipated - tunes were played.  You know the songs:  "Maneater".  "Say It Isn't So".  "One On One".  "Sarah Smile".  "I Can't Go For That (nooooooooo)".  "Rich Girl".  Honestly, they are all classics and all sounded great. 

The show ended with an encore of "Oh Holy Night"; Daryl mentioned that he used to sing the soprano part of this song when he was younger in his church choir. 

Watch "Home For Christmas" Performance from the Today Show here

The Mooney Suzuki (Private Party) - The Cutting Room 12.09.06

My coworker, Al Risi, celebrated his birthday this past Saturday night at the Cutting Room.  Al enlisted New York City rockers The Mooney Suzuki to help him celebrate in style.  The show began with an introduction by Al while the band jammed on the Parliment classic "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes".

The Mooney have been working hard on their next album Have Mercy (due out in Jan 07) for most of 2006.  I've had a copy of the rough mixes since July and since then, I have been itching to see them perform the material live.  I am very excited for this release - on display is the growth of this band.  Yes, the in-your-face garage rock sound is still there.  However, a greater feeling of pop sensibility makes this album primed to help the Mooney make the jump from being that band in the Suzuki ad to a mainstream hit.  "99%" is the song man.  Seriously.

The show was very good - high energy as you would expect.  A good mix of old fav's and new tracks.  Lots of stage/amp/table/chair jumping from the band.

Birthday Boy Al Risi

Straylight Run - Bowery Ballroom 12.03.06

On a friend's suggestion I checked out Straylight Run at the Bowery last Sunday.  I had only heard one song, one time.  They are reeeeaaaalllly emo.  Peep the bio on them:

In the early 2000s, emo rock outfit Taking Back Sunday was steadily gaining popularity among a new generation of punk rock fans, due in part to the dynamic songwriting and vocal team of Adam Lazzara and John Nolan. However, as their powerful debut, Tell All Your Friends, kept gaining momentum, restlessness among bandmembers grew as well, leading to the eventual departure of guitarist/vocalist Nolan and bassist Shaun Cooper. Regrouping together under the name Straylight Run, the two completed the band by recruiting Nolan's sister MichelleBreaking Pangea drummer Will Noon. Forming in May 2003, Straylight Run turned its back on the aggressive attack of Taking Back Sunday -- whose formula many young bands were in turn adopting and expanding upon -- and opted for a more indie rock approach with pensive, dreamy, and often piano-driven tunes. (vocals/keyboards) and ex-Breaking Pangea drummer Will Noon. Forming in May 2003, Straylight Run turned its back on the aggressive attack of Taking Back Sunday -- whose formula many young bands were in turn adopting and expanding upon -- and opted for a more indie rock approach with pensive, dreamy, and often piano-driven tunes. (allmusic.com)

Overall, I had a good time.  The best part was when two super-fans pushed their way in front of me, were screaming every word to every song (all the while fist pumping towards the stage to coincide with every word), and called out a song request to a song that was just played.  Wow. 

Matt Pond PA (above) and Kevin Devine opened.  I only caught the last song of Kevin Devine....but I did like what I heard.  Matt Pond was really good.  I'd check them out again...just plain old good indie-pop.  Listen to a few of their songs on the band's myspace

Umphrey's McGee - Nokia Theater 12.02.06

Umphrey's McGee w/Jennifer Hartswick on vocals

Umphrey's McGee played two nights at the Nokia in Times Square last weekend.  I went to the second one (Saturday night).  It is nice to see that this band can sell out such a nice sized venue twice.  While I can't say with certainty that this show was a stronger/better show than the other three I've seen I can say they are consistent. 

The jamming is always solid - lead guitarist Jake Cinninger shreds...seriously shreds.  Highlight was Trey Band member Jennifer Hartswick joining the Umph-umph for a second set cover of GNR's "Sweet Child 'O Mine".  The setlist was:

Set One	Hurt Bird Bath, Ocean Billy > "Jimmy Stewart" > Resolution* > Ocean Billy, Morning Song, Mulche's Odyssey
Set Two	Bridgeless > The Triple Wide**@ > "Jimmy Stewart"$, The Bottom Half, Sweet Child O' Mine^, Push the Pig^^, Miss Tinkle's Overture > Much Obliged > Bridgeless
Encore	Band On the Run@
Notes	* with Norwegian Wood tease ** with Carol of the Bells tease @ with Jake on acoustic $ with jam resembling Babe I'm Gonna Leave You, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, and 25 or 6 to 4 ^ with Jennifer Hartswick on vocals ^^ with Jake on keys last Sweet Child O' Mine 10.16.00 last Band On the Run 10.22.02

I just noticed on the band's website they have a new ticket purchase policy...a very green policy.  Peep the link. 

View the rest of my pics here

Stale Bread - Umphrey's McGee - 04/21/06 and 02/17/06