Winter Jam Birmingham, AL 3/21/15

Atlas Road Crew "Halfway To Hopkins" Album Review

The first time I crossed paths with Atlas Road Crew, I knew there was something different about them. As the Music Director of a radio station, I listen to hundreds of bands a week - hardly ever giving second glances. The song I received, I immediately put it into heavy rotation so others could enjoy the same excitement I did while listening to the song.

The band's debut album, Halfway to Hopkins, has not left my car, laptop, or even my head since its Valentine's Day release.

Not only do I love this album, I also love every guy that makes up the band, Taylor, Max, Bryce, Dave, and Patrick. Not only are they wonderful musicians, they are also great friends.

So hear it is: my review on their album. Party on, Wayne.   

1. Voices - This song is so groovy. Taylor Nicholson's voice is stretched to it's potential. The choice to open the album with this track was great. This song remains one of my favorites on the album.

2. Black Eye Sunrise - I love the lyrics to this song because they provide imagery. It makes it easy for the listener to digest. It is a great chill-out song.

3. Low Country Blues - Blues. Exactly. This is a "get up and move" song. This song also has bass grooves for days. I love bass grooves.

4. Wasted Time - This is my favorite song on the album. I relate to it more than almost any song I have ever heard and I just want to put it on repeat and listen to it for the rest of my days, and I probably will after I finish writing this article. The first time I heard this song was a religious experience in the best way. This song will always be a 10 out 10.

5. I Want You To Know - The opening drum fill is awesome. This song is hard to write about. It fits in well in the middle of the album. The lyrics flow so well. The build up to the choruses in the song  are great as well. It is another one of my favorites.

6. Lose Control - This song reminds me of one of my favorite singers out of Nashville, Will Hoge. His older music was very much in this style and it is very comforting to see bands still playing with that sound. The vocals are what made me love this song and appreciate it more.

7. Weeping Will - This song is another song that hit my emotions. I even teared up listening to it. I cannot express enough how much Taylor conveys what he feels through the music. A good song, or even a good album, is one where you can feel the emotions with the band.

8. Halfway to Hopkins - I've always loved title tracks, and this song is no different. This is what Rock and Roll should sound like. The guitar and the drums go so well together. It reminds me of a good classic Southern Rock song. Bass grooves for days.

9. Runaway - This song sounds very psychedelic. I'm not sure what you would call it. Probably my least favorite song on the album, but it is still great.

10. Abilene - I have always loved songs that are singing directly to someone. If you replace Abilene with your name, it feels more relatable. The vocal range in the chorus is astounding and it really evokes emotion. This reminds me of a Pearl Jam song.

11. Betty - I absolutely love the drum fill in the beginning. To me it represents how Rock and Roll is still alive and well. Songs with girl's names in the titles are always jams and this song is no different. It's such a "smooth" song, if you catch my drift.

So there you have it. Halfway to Hopkins. This is my favorite album of 2015 and we are only into the second month. For me to think an album is this good is a rare thing. This band has found a special place in my heart, as I hope they will find a place in yours.

Happy listening!

Lee Bains & The Glory Fires Green Bar Tuscaloosa, AL 2/5/15

Whoever said Rock and Roll is dead is a big fat liar. The show I witnessed tonight at Green Bar was beyond one of my more memorable shows. That says a lot for a 19 year old who averages around 50 shows a year.

To start of the maximum Rock & Roll experience, was Tuscaloosa’s own The Golden Monica.

They gave the allusion of the 70s with their lead singer wearing vintage sunglasses and having hair like The Jackson 5.

The one aspect of their performance I thoroughly enjoyed was the way they moved about and presented themselves. I also thoroughly enjoyed their cover of Living On Tulsa Time.

It was a gritty, true, Rock and Roll experience.

Now, onward to Lee Bains…

Energy. Action. Passion. Those are a few of the elements to expect at a Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires show.

The band played over two hours of nonstop Rock and Roll.

Numerous moments and elements of the evening stood out to me.

The story behind the song Dirt Track was told. It was about Bains’ girlfriend’s mom’s boyfriend loving stock car racing, but not NASCAR. When the song was played, Bains went off mic and sang the line “Keep on working, keep it on the dirt track” and the crowd responded by clapping and singing the song at the top of their lungs. That is one moment of this particular show that I will not ever forget.

After that, the band said they were finished for the evening, but the crowd was not having it. The drummer jokingly asked, “Can y'all not just be happy with your number one recruiting class?” when asked for an encore.

There were also various stage antics, such as Bains jumping into the crowd and playing guitar, and the guitar player getting on his shoulders and walking around the venue.

So I will end this with a question. Is Rock & Roll dead?

No. It is not. 

Jack White Humphrey Coliseum Starkville, MS 1/27/15

Last night, WVUA-FM traveled to Starkville, MS to see Jack White.

The show took place at Humphrey Coliseum, better known as The Hump, which is about half the size of Coleman Coliseum.

This show was nowhere near sold out, an undersell, so to speak.

That is crazy, considering the next shows in Nashville at Bridgestone Arena with Loretta Lynn and the night after that at Madison Square Garden are both sold out.

The first band was called Chicano Batman from Los Angeles.

They were just as weird as the name sounds.

All four members came out dressed in powder blue ruffled shirts.

The singer looked like a mixture of Weird Al and Jesus.

At some point, the singer started playing Spanish Salsa songs and he was not easily understood because he was singing in Spanish as well.

It was different.

Jack White, however, rocked. Literally and figuratively.

Most people were on their feet and dancing around, just as they should be.

The college students on the floor were jumping, dancing, and tackling eachother in the politest of ways.

His set was riveting and he kept the audience entertained throughout the night.

He played

Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground *

Lazaretto

High Ball Stepper

Hotel Yorba *

You Know That I Know (Hank Williams Cover)

Weep Themselves To Sleep

Three Women

The Rose With The Broken Neck (Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi Cover)

The Hardest Button To Button *

Steady As She Goes ^

Unknown Blues Song

Would You Fight For My Love

Screwdriver *

Just One Drink

We're Going To Be Friends *

Blunderbuss

Encore:

Icky Thump *

Ball and a Biscuit

You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told) *

The Black Bat Licorice

Seven Nation Army *

During the performance he talked about the band being in Greenwood, MS and Holly Springs, MS for a few days.

The best quote from the night was

"Take a philosophy class and go to a baseball game. You don't have to like baseball you just have to sit there and meditate."

That prompted a huge response from the audience.

Before he walked off stage, he told the audience he did not know when he would be back to Mississippi.

He bowed with his band and walked away saying

"You've been incredible and I've been Jack White."

Is there any better way to walk off stage?

No.

* = White Stripes song

^ = Raconteurs song

Linkin Park The Hunting Party Tour Nashville, TN 1/17/15

Getting to photograph your favorite band is always a privilege. The fact that I have been able to do so for several of my bands makes me so happy. In November, when I was making my annual Christmas list, I found out Linkin Park was doing a winter tour. Thanks, Santa! So, with my ticket in hand, I was off to Nashville to shoot my favorite band.

Of Mice & Men was the first band of the evening. They always bring it live, regardless of whether they are headlining or opening. I always admire that about bands. They played

Feels Like Forever

Bones Exposed

Would You Still Be There

Another You

Identity Disorder

The Depths

You're Not Alone

Rise Against is also amazing. I wish I could follow them around on tour for a few days and just take pictures. The played

Ready to Fall

Give It All

Re-Education (Through Labor)

Behind Closed Doors

The Good Left Undone

Help Is on the Way

Chamber the Cartridge

Tragedy + Time

Prayer of the Refugee

Swing Life Away 

I Don't Want to Be Here Anymore

Satellite

Savior

I was so excited for Linkin Park. I have been following them since 2007. I was 11 years old. I hoped and prayed that I would finally hear my favorite song: Place For My Head. I had no idea the treat that I was about have with this show. They played

Mashup Intro #2 (w/ Session, 1stp Klosr, The Requiem, The Summoning, The Catalyst)

Guilty All the Same

Given Up

From the Inside

One Step Closer

Blackout (Shortened (Intro and Partial Outro Instrumental Only)

Papercut (Shortened (No Second Verse or Second Chorus)

Runaway (Shortened (Intro/First Verse/Chorus Only)

Wastelands

Castle of Glass (Experience Version; Wisdom Justice And Love Bridge; The Radiance Outro)

Leave Out All the Rest / Shadow of the Day / Iridescent (w/ Aaron Pauley from Of Mice & Men)

Robot Boy

Joe Hahn Solo (w/ Wretches And Kings, Victimized Remix, Buy Myself, Cure For The Itch, Session, Plc.4 Mie Hæd)

Numb (Numb/Encore Outro)

Waiting for the End (Apaches Intro w/ Until It Breaks Verse 2)

Final Masquerade

Wretches and Kings / Remember the Name / Skin to Bone

Dirt Off Your Shoulder / Lying From You

In the End

A Place for My Head (FINALLY. FINALLY. FINALLY!!!)

Faint (With Austin Carlile from Of Mice & Men)

Encore:

Burn It Down (No Second Verse or Second Chorus)

Lost in the Echo (Intro/First Verse/First Chorus/Outro Only)

New Divide (Shortened, No First Chorus or Second Verse)

What I've Done

Bleed It Out

I FINALLY got to hear Place For My Head. Oh my God. Thank you, Linkin Park. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Wait a minute, did Chester hurt himself tonight...?