the Order of the Phoenix

DID YOU READ THE DISCLAIMER AT THE BEGINING OF THE LAST BLOG SAYING TO READ THE BLOG BEFORE THAT (read enough disclaimers to scare you away yet)--this was supposed to be an early show, but plans fall apart right--everyone ran late, i myself didn't get home from erranding until almost 6:30 (show is supposed to start at 5:30) and there were only 2 people and no bands-but eventually things pick up speed--eventually we start with the Black Birds, from Canada, who had a short and very intense set (except for 1 broken string which stretched things out a bit) very hard, very loud, very fast--which juxtaposed very strangely with Lexington's laid back folkrock rockers Rain Junkies, who had a great set, very mellow--the surprise hit of the night (expect the unexpected at the shack) B.B. Salmon, who dress in costume--2 girl singers singing in harmony over garage rock beats, reminds me of His Name Is Alive--definitely check these kids out, they're from New England, but i have a feeling they will be back--then we were lucky enough to see the combination of B.B. and Nuclear Power Pants into a super group known as the Order of the Phoenix--more costumes--giant day glo shark heads, rapping co-joined twin MC's--larger than life electro punk--disco black lights--these kids pull out the stops--so much music so little time--tragically, due to the late start of the show (and the early start of my days, 5:23 comes impossibly early) i had to miss the Goat Bell, who i believe were the ones who contacted Darin about having a show in the first place--alas--still, i had a blast--we are sitting on the best kept secret in town--rocking it out on the underground--we invite you to come around--never know what be going down--until then--keep rocking

michigan wednesdays part 2

DISCLAIMER:BEFORE READING THIS BLOG, PLEASE READ THE PRECEDING BLOG ENTITLED TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS INSPIRATIONAL NIGHT GETS SUCH A CRAPPY BLOG--The acoustic fun continued a week ago last night with the 2nd part of Michigan Wednesdays--thematically Zephanias once again leads off the night with his ever expanding repertoire of folk--this time he started the show with a capella version of Be Your Husband that was like a folk blessing, also new to the set was funk beat boxing accompaniment--honestly (hope this doesn't sound patronizing), i think Z. sounds a little bit better, a little more sure of himself, every time he plays--anyway after Z., we deviated from the acoustic theme of the night (really it was more of a folk night than acoustic) and we went inside to see Goodnight and Goodmorning who were also adding to their repertoire with the addition of (recently changed name) A.P. Swearinger (formerly Parsen) on 2nd guitar--so that rounds out GNAGM's ambient folk vibe--also they've got a video projector playing really cool old 8mm films loosely associated with the subject matter of the song--winter scenes during the song about winter and what not--very serene, almost classically appealing--and then A.P.'s solid solo set made a dream bubble in the living room, i think i was lost in my own thoughts for a minute--then it's back outside for a rip roaring run through of Jack and Ondine's set--admittedly they were a bit drunk but they played straight through it--started to tap my toes and the whole crowd sings along--it'll be a worldwide early retirement--ain't that great--and onto the Michigan portion of the Wednesday--Misty and the Big Beautiful, from Ann Arbor Michigan--straight country set up, but with obvious rock and roll leanings, they may be my favorite band that has played at the Shack yet, so pretty and yet so rocking at the same time--the night cooled considerably--almost just as impressive, Matt Jones comes off the drum kit for an amazing duet set with fiddler Carol--ironically very similar musical setup to Jack and Ondine--Carol picking at the fiddle to make little beats while Matt strums over and they sing in 2 part harmonies--picture perfect setting on the front porch Matt tells us the story of how a whole music scene formed in Ann Arbor around a house similar to our house where they had shows--and hope is restored for a little while--in the front yard

technical difficulties

well this blog is all setbacks and apologies--this is the 2nd day in a row i've come to my magic blogging spot (the public library) and I can't get the computer to play music for more than 5 seconds at a time--separate computers, separate days--you can't write about music while not listening to music--impossible--so now, i'm getting further and further behind--can't let a 3rd show pass without an entry, i'm already getting the last 2 shows muddled in my mind, and they were wildly different shows--of course our true diehard fans (who don't technically exist right now but we keep believing) know that it's always wildly different at the shack--well, time keeps on slipping but the show must go on--just grit and get through it and we will hope for better blogging conditions in the not so distant future--so without further ado, 2 musicless blogs--written in the sand of memory against the rising tide of time and new experiences--the blogger strikes back

Michigan Wednesdays (part 1)

this was a very special show to me (all reviews are subjective, i said it before i'll say it again)--poised on the new moon it turns out this was a pivotal night in the life of Trey--not to get too bogged down (hate for the blog to become bogged) in my own personal stuff, i do want to mention i am involved in a constant struggle to maintain my own mental equilibrium--and it is a struggle--and all these shows but especially this one on the new moon--they heal me--or allow space for me to heal myself--praise Lady Jah--but to the heart of the matter--Zephinias (who's name i can never quite remember how to spell) started off with a short but incredibly beautiful set--if you haven't checked this cat out you really can't believe how talented he is--sometimes when he plays i swear the world stops and spins in the other direction--well at this show Z. was helped out on the, was it last 2 or just last song, by a buddy (of Sound and Vision) on steel drum--i think that's what the instrument is called--looks like a giant steel bowl but the interior is flattened to produce various notes--it sounds both tropical and otherworldly at the same time--it fit in perfectly with Z.'s usual style--you just can't be immersed in sound that pretty and not stand to benefit--even if just by osmosis--next Mr. Cody Swanson rocked our faces off with a eclectic electric set complete with looping and playing over himself--one piece in particular reminded me very much of funkadelic's maggot brain (and in my scene you don't get any higher praise than that)--then came the kids from Michigan--last wednesday and next feature (from what i hear) brilliant solo artists from Michigan--Hezikiah Jones, who has a very straight forward folk delivery, kinda like your cool uncle whispering a funny joke during church--like he was speaking directly into your ear--and such funny, poignant, and self effacing songs--everyone is in a band (might be more than i can stand), i'm making cupcakes for the army--1 more point about Mr. Jones' work (ok 2--how about 2 acoustic, very talented musicians play our house in 1 night, 1 named Zephinias, the other Hezikiah--I'm not sure what it means just that it gives spell check hell) as great as his performance was, his CD demonstrates this is just the tip of the iceberg--that CD (wish i could remember the name) is unbelievable--of course now as usual, the library clock runs down--the headliner Chris Bathgate, who said a tad chagrinly at the start of his set that this was the first gig they had done where someone else had done looping--tore it up--creating a rhythm and then layers of rhythms--songs of lament bathed in almost white notes--like a ghost whispering on a beach--but it makes me happy--the world is ours to hate or appreciate--want to end this blog with a big thank you to all our friends and supporters, the house itself but especially the traveling musicians (talking to you guys is the next best thing to being on the road)--until we are all one even when we are all alone--keep rocking