Words, Images, Video and ‘Surprised Kimock’ meme by Jake Krolick

Last night the North Star Bar welcomed back Bonerama for the second time in Philadelphia on their east coast residency stop. They invited Guitarist Steve Kimock and String Cheese Incident Keyboard player Kyle Hollingsworth to join in this time around. Their New Orleans double wide set ended around 2:00am and included rocking versions of “Frankenstein”, “Helter Skelter”, “War Pigs”, “Less is Moore”, and “You’re the One”. Kimock’s small contributions were nice added sonic rips in which he inserted patiently into Bonerama’s spirited blowing. He wore a look that can best be described as his attempt to one up the ‘Sad Keanu’ meme with his own ‘Surprised Kimock’ meme.  The video below contains a mash-up of the “Frankenstein” > ‘Helter Skelter” and back again.  They fit well together – enjoy!  For more info on Bonarama visit – http://boneramamusic.com/

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11.20.10 – North Star Bar

set 1:Big Fine Woman, Folly – (Holligsworth and Kimock come up), I’m In Love Again, Lost, Less Is Moore, MR GO, Seventh Step, Indian Red, Frankenstein

set 2: I Don’t Wanna Play Guitar,You’re the One, Helter Skelter,The Way It Goes, Redemption Song, Warpigs,Saints

 Words, Photos and Video – Jake Krolick

The name Daniel Lanois should turn the head of any music fan. Seeing and hearing him play live with his new band Black Dub really shined some new light on this ultra- talented producer with the old soul of an artist. His work producing artists like Neil Young, Bob Dylan, U2 and Peter Gabriel are one thing. But as we watched Lanois interact with the three other band members on Johnny Brenda’s stage it was clear that his on stage emotions and abilities were a long time in the making. Lanois ripped on his vintage Gibson guitar in the most gallant and distinguished of ways. His touch on the strings was a unique mix of thumb picking, and finger plucks. He was not aggressive by any means bringing the most heated moments towards the end of the show as he soloed several times during Black Dub’s reworked reggae cover “Ring the Alarm”.

Black Dub’s singer plus second drummer and keyboard hand Trixie Whitley shined brilliantly all evening, you could say that she stole the show. Watching her contently the crowd traded their day jobs and button down shirts with old rock tees and pints of courage. They gazed up in amazement at the daughter of the bluesman Chris Whitley, as she traded lyrics with Lanois on the soulful Reggae tinged, “I Believe In You”. Whitley squirmed with a passion around the small stage. Her facets as a singer led one to a variety of comparisons, but Ms. Trixie Whitley had her own unique way with the octaves. She was quick on the delivery and between songs her speaking voice had a subtle sing-song quality that suggested she sung that well effortlessly hitting the highs or lows at her whim. As Whitley wrapped her sultry no holds barred voice around Black Dub’s smoldering original “Nomad”, her powerful and dynamic vocal range even pulled attention away from Daniel Lanois.

Black Dub is a clear project of love for Lanois. He surrounded himself with superb musicians who he dabbled with in a variety of styles, Gospel, Reggae, rock and Blues, each adding to the extremely palatable mix of music. Lanois was unafraid to push off the charted boundaries of the songs as he jammed freely with drummer extraordinaire Brian Blade and joining them on a second kit, Ms. Whitley during “The Maker”. Backed by the double drummers, the guitarist and producer unleashed a bit of the magic that he had brought into the recording studio and smiled as he charged away with his band into the night. Check Out Black Dub here – http://www.blackdub.net/

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Caught these guys play a small show in Philly right before tearing it up at CMJ.  Peep this video of Jamaica playing the basement at Club Voyeur in Philadelphia and see what you think.

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Lucha VaVooM – 11/4 – Electric Factory – Jake Krolick

Combine Mexican Wrestlers, Burlesque Performers and some raunchy comedy and you have a night to remember. Seriously the Lucha VaVooM tour stopped at the Electric factory in Philadelphia and it was a no-holds-barred evening to celebrate the bizarre throwback world of 60′s Mexican Lucha Cinema filled with a wild cast of characters. Take the villain Dirty Sanchez, a masked wrestler with a massive wad of pubic hair and a moustache that would make ex Hold Steady accordion player Franz Nicolay jealous. Half way through his routine Sanchez decided to pop some sort of butt mud contraption and tossed his chocolate soiled skivvies into the screaming crowd.

Then there was the Little Chicken a “Little Person” in a chicken suit who wrestled two goliaths as the crowd cheered him on louder than any masked combatant all evening. The Little Chicken’s best move; a flying leap off of the Electric Factory stage ten feet down onto his two opponents heads. Mixed into this melee of hilarity were burlesque performers. One dressed as a futuristic dominatrix, another was a flexible duo featuring a naughty monkey man and his temptress lady. Plus, in true burlesque form the finale had the crowd reeling as the hooping lady revealed herself to actually be a man. In-between the titillations and high flying acrobatics was a witty announcer who did his homework on the venue and city. He exclaimed how this night would be even cooler on a few hits of acid and that …”If you licked anything in the old Electric Factory that you’d get high for a week.” His wit was just right and not that annoying nails-on-a-chalkboard kind as he pointed out the best crowd signs and how to avoid the Police after too many drinks. Not sure if you’d enjoy Lucha VaVooM? Well wondered what we were getting into also, but the audience in Philly was sixty percent women and the show was one of the wilder scenes I’ve seen recently. It’s a perfect primer to a long night of tequila drinking and acting on bad ideas.

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