Initially, we placed Sara Haze in the attractive-blond-marketing-ploy album pile due to pictures of her posing on the beach.

Then we listened to the album, and like finding a somewhat healthy meal at a fast-food restaurant, we were surprised. Sure, her voice isn’t the strongest, but there’s earnest in there and it’s complemented by her skills on the piano.

And her new album, My Personal Sky, doesn’t dip into the Top 40 sound all that easily (though it’s a shoe-in as background music for those introspective scenes on various TV dramas).

In the end, she’s here because she showed up looking like an American Idol and left us thinking that there might be more to her than a blonde who looks good sitting at the beach.

March 14 2010 8:45P Thunderbird Cafe – Hello Music Presents: Sara Haze Full Band Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Mar 16 2010 9:00P Hard Rock Cafe – Hello Music Presents: Sara Haze Full Band Nashville, Tennessee

Mar 18 2010 6:30P One 2 One Bar – Hello Music Presents: Sara Haze Full Band – SXSW w/ Chris Pierce austin, Texas

Apr 1 2010 12:00P Stork Plaza at University of California, Santa Barbara – Sara Haze Full Band Santa Barbara, California

Apr 10 2010 7:30P Studio 519 – Sara Haze Full Band Redondo Beach, California

May 7 2010 8:00P The Crepe Place – Sara Haze Full Band Santa Cruz, California

May 8 2010 8:00P Frog And Peach – Sara Haze Full Band San Luis Obispo, California

Jul 18 2010 12:00P Queen Mary – Sara Haze Full Band at LA Calendar Motorcycle Show 1st Show w/ Katie Cole and Long Beach, California

Jul 18 2010 3:15P Queen Mary – Sara Haze Full Band at LA Calendar Motorcycle Show – 2nd Set Long Beach, California

Sara Haze – Every Heart
[audio:http://www.52shows.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/04-Every-Heart.mp3]

“Some people say…at the end of the day…that there’s a life that’s magnificent…”

Those are some lyrics from The Uglysuit‘s “The Magnificent Life,” which you can hear below. I dunno if it’s the fading pangs of a hangover or the fact that one is given a sense of clarity after a friend’s bachelor party, but this song really makes sense to me right now (and no, I can’t explain why).

It also gives an excuse to start our SXSW (or the music event I never get to go to) watch list a bit early this year.

Though I’m not one to heavily rely on press releases from a band’s PR company, something did ring true in this particular document. It mentions a word about honesty, and how these six Oklahoma friends approach music the same way most Okies react to pop culture: sans pretension.

Because of that, there is something different, almost Band of Horses-esque with songs “The Magnificent Life” and “…And We Became Sunshine.” Or maybe I’m just a fan of repeating chords and soaring vocals.

Either way, this is a band that has piqued my interest in 2010, and something tells me it won’t be the last. At the very least, they have reminded me to get off my ass and to try to find a way to get to SXSW on a meager budget (read: I can’t afford tickets).

The Uglysuit – The Magnificent Life
[audio:http://www.52shows.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/the_magnificent_life1.mp3]

Feb 13 2010 8:00P, Belle Isle Brew Pub Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Mar 4 2010 8:00P, Town Ballroom w/ Umphrey’s McGee Buffalo, New York

Mar 5 2010 8:30P, Newport Music Hall w/ Umphreys McGee Columbus, Ohio

Mar 6 2010 9:00P, Madison Theatre w/ Umphrey’s McGee Covington, Kentucky

Mar 10 2010 8:00P, Canadian Music Week Toronto, Ontario

Mar 11 2010 8:00P, Canadian Music Week Toronto, Ontario

Mar 12 2010 12:00A, Lee’s Palace – CMW Billion’s Showcase Toronto, Ontario

Mar 13 2010 12:00A, Canadian Music Week Toronto, Ontario

Mar 17 2010 8:00P, SXSW Austin, Texas

Mar 18 2010 8:00P, SXSW Austin, Texas

Mar 19 2010 8:00P, SXSW Austin, Texas

Mar 20 2010 8:00P, SXSW Austin, Texas

May 15 2010 8:00P, Private Event Kingston, Jamaica

Jun 5 2010 8:00P, WAKARUSA Ozark, Arkansas

Jun 6 2010 8:00P, WAKARUSA Ozark, Arkansas

There’s been something of a hiatus around here at 52 shows, which can be attributed to the holidays, a new PS3, a new Netflix account and cheering on Conan as he sticks it to NBC.

Clearly, the resolution for 2010 (and it’s twenty ten) is to listen to more music than I did last year. Posting is secondary, which is still an improvement from the abysmal display of blurjourlism (a blog masquerading as music journalism).

And now, on to my love of firsty firsties.

These are names that use only traditional first names. Doug Keith is prime example. So is Ashley John. One should always be on the lookout for the rarely seen firsty firsty, girlie girlie name, but for a dude. Think Kelly Shannon. As always, I digress.

Doug Keith was previously a member of the punk band The Gods Hate Kansas, and has apparently mellowed out with his solo efforts, one of which can be heard below in “The Lucky Ones.”

It’s always interesting to see someone who was reportedly in a punk band suddenly find a mellow patch in their soul. There is precedence for this with Nikola Sarcevic who was a part of the punk outfit Millencolin. His solo debut “Love-Sport-Kruk” is a collection of acoustic guitar, coffee house songs, most of which are about love and the pain that comes along with it.

While Doug Keith isn’t that dramatic in his efforts, the idea is the same: punk dude transitions into a new chapter. For the reason, it gives the music a slight edge, and forgives any off-key singing or strange choices, mainly because we place these musicians in a strange box, one that allows them a little more latitude to experiment, for better or for worse.

So when Keith sings “I must have done something pretty good in a past life/Cause now I got it made…” in “Now I’ve got it made” (#subtletitle), one has to wonder just how bad this guy may have been during his punk days. Sure, it could be conjecture and lies…but the narrative is already there, which allows it to live.

As for 52, Doug Keith represents another step onto the breach…and you can never go wrong with a firsty firsty.

More coming…I swear on 2010.

Doug Keith – Lucky Ones
[audio:http://www.52shows.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Doug-Keith-The-Lucky-Ones-The-Lucky-Ones.mp3]

Feb 10 2010 8:00P Howlers Coyote Cafe Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Feb 11 2010 8:00P The Treehouse Columbus, Ohio

Feb 16 2010 8:00P Vaudeville Mews Des Moines, Iowa

Feb 20 2010 8:00P Sunergos Coffee Louisville, Kentucky

Feb 22 2010 3:00P Wake Forest Radio Session Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Feb 22 2010 8:00P The Garage Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Feb 26 2010 8:00P The Green Bean Greensboro, North Carolina

Feb 27 2010 7:00P The Cave Chapel Hill, North Carolina

David Gray: Making it acceptable for PDA whenever his music is played

The Wang Theatre in Boston is an impressive place, with its vast lobby and impossibly high orchestra sections (there are three people). It has staged plays, musicals, opera singers and probably a few world-famous drunken rock stars.

All of this makes the appearance of Lisa Hannigan all the more magical. We wrote about her this past February on the strength of her song “Lillie” and the accompanying video that came with it. For a while, her track live on my iPod as the random track on my Nite playlist and the one my friends would inevitably ask “Hey, who is this?”

To see her play live in such a massive venue and opening for David Gray brought with it a strange sense of satisfaction and pride, as if anyone who had heard of her prior to this moment was with her on stage, singing to a massive audience who were all thinking the same thing: “Hey, who is this?”

It was a nice precursor to David Gray, the Englishman who launched a thousand relationships with his songs of love, friendship and snow falling…slowly.

Almost immediately into his set, you could see the couples in the audience convene and embrace. I suspect most of them, like myself, have a personal memory attached to one of his songs.

Despite his punkish roots, Gray has emerged as the go-to guy whenever couples need something to wake up or fall asleep to together in bed on a rainy Sunday afternoon. These are songs that are simple and have a way of being realistic cinematic, in the sense that hearing them in a certain place and time can create a musical postcard people hold onto forever.

And though you may not understand how the two ugly people in front of you are caressing each other in public, you can appreciate it because, in this place and time, it truly is a beautiful thing to see love in its rarest and unbridled form.

For me, Gray will always remind me of the night my future wife and I connected, not as former lovers-turned friends-back to lovers again. This was two incredibly horny people who took out their frustrations on each other on a rainy Friday night with Gray playing in the background.

First, I like how the guy is grabbing his crotch in this picture.

Special Patrol came into my life randomly through the email with the song “Right On.” With the childlike opening chorus and the rolling lyrics that follow, the song had me replying back furiously for more information on this band. Since then, the group’s music has done nothing but grown on me.

I’m told the song is off their third album, titled “A Stranger’s Dozen,” and has been gaining traction in the Australian music scene. Why they haven’t cracked into the States is beyond me. All the elements are there for hipsters to salivate over: a pop sounding tune, an ambiguous music video with a creepy set of kids and a chorus that uses a phrase from the 70s.

Oh, and having a hot cellist in the band doesn’t hurt either.

I’m always attracted to music that initially sounds good and then offers a deeper level of appreciation once you get around to the lyrics. Special Patrol falls in that category. Unfortunately for us, they are not touring in the States anytime soon.

As for “Right On,” I still don’t know what it means, but I can’t get it out of my head (which strangely enough could have been one of the lyrics).

Special Patrol – Right On
[audio:http://www.52shows.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/01-Right-On.mp3]

Current Tour

Sep 25 2009 8:00P The Gov, with The Whitlam’s Adelaide, South Australia

Sep 26 2009 8:00P The Gov, with The Whitlam’s Adelaide, South Australia

Oct 2 2009 8:00P Jive Adelaide, South Australia

Oct 10 2009 8:00P The X and Y Bar Brisbane, Queensland

Oct 24 2009 8:00P The John Curtain Room Melbourne, Victoria

Nov 6 2009 8:00P Fowlers Live Adelaide, South Australia

It’s rare on this site for us to lead with a YouTube video, but there’s something special that translates with Kram‘s “Good Love.”

Kram, which I’m assuming is both the name of the band and the bearded dude singing, has a Zach Galifianakis quality to it, provided that Galifianakis got married and had a child.

Good Love is just about that, a man who loves his wife and little boy, and the only way he can express those feelings is through a rock song he apparently wrote while in a cab.

In his own words, via the PR:

“My girl, my little boy and me. It’s our life. Wrote the song in a cab on the way to the studio. 4 hours later it was finished. Full on and a little bit fucked up. My best guitar solo. Mix Tape is a luv and rock n roll record, and I made ‘Good Love’ because that says it all:  just me and my girl Ree and our little boy Lonnie. Pretty simple… but awesome.”

And it is awesome. I would add this to your summer jams playlist immediately.

Oh, why is it awesome? I have not idea. I can only tell you that there is something pure about a man playing a rock song about his family and then incorporating said family into his video.

Maybe it’s because I’m on the cusp of getting married myself, but I kind of see this as Family 2.0. In this age of file sharing networks, it seems people are learning to share other things in their life. And that’s the kind of family everyone really wants. Screw the picket fence. It’s about sharing Good Love.

2 April, 2009 Northcote Social Club (18+) Northcote, VIC Sold Out

3 April, 2009 The Annandale Hotel (18+) Sydney, NSW Sold Out

5 April, 2009 Moonee Valley Youth Festival Melbourne, VIC Sold Out

25 April, 2009 Luna Park Big Top (w/ Eagles Of Death Metal) Sydney, NSW Sold Out

26 April, 2009 The Palace Theatre (w/ Eagles Of Death Metal) Melbourne, VIC Sold Out

2 May, 2009 The Sand Tavern Maroochydore, QLD Sold Out

3 May, 2009 Caxton St Festival Brisbane, QLD Sold Out

5 June, 2009 Newcastle University Newscastle, NSW Sold Out

6 June, 2009 Woodport Inn Newscastle, NSW Sold Out

7 June, 2009 Come Together Festival (Luna Park) Sydney, NSW Sold Out

21 JuNE, 2009 The Community Cup (Elsternwick Park) Melbourne, VIC Sold Out

3 July, 2009 Pelly Bar Frankston, VIC Sold Out

4 July, 2009 Ferntree Gully Hotel Melbourne, VIC Sold Out

9 July, 2009 Quiksilver Instore – George St – 10PM Sydney, NSW Sold Out

9 July, 2009 UncharTED – Oxford Art Factory – 6PM Sydney, NSW Sold Out

11 July, 2009 Quiksilver Instore – Manly Sydney, NSW Sold Out

12 July, 2009 Quiksilver Instore – SDS – Bondi Sydney, NSW Sold Out

17 July, 2009 Quiksilver Instore – Bourke St – 6PM Melbourne, VIC Sold Out

26 July, 2009 Splendour In The Grass Byron Bay, NSW Sold Out

21 August, 2009 (Kr)Amplifier Perth, WA Buy Tickets

22 August, 2009 Prince Of Wales Bunbury, WA Buy Tickets

23 August, 2009 Mojos Bar Freemantle, WA Buy Tickets

28 August, 2009 Brisbane Hotel Hobart, TAS To Be Announced

29 August, 2009 Hotel New York Launceston, TAS To Be Announced

4 September, 2009 Ding Dong Lounge Melbourne, VIC To Be Announced

10 September, 2009 Heritage Hotel Wollongong, NSW To Be Announced

11 September, 2009 Spectrum Sydney, NSW To Be Announced

12 September, 2009 Bimbadgen Blues, Roots, Funk n’ Grooves Festival Huneter Valley, NSW Buy Tickets

A little over a month ago I got an email telling me about the Wisconsin band The Nod and their “quirky single.”  Then I saw the title was about frustrating the shit out of someone and it immediately had me intrigued, probably because it was either going to be hilarious or silly. While it is both those things, it’s also catchy as hell.

Summer singles should be lighthearted affairs, just like hookups during the warmer months of the year. A song that embodies that element of fun and has lyrics like “She turned her back/said grow a pair” is a winner in my book.

But the thing this song does the best is talk about a failed relationship with a pop-infused tune and how sometimes it’s funny to talk about one’s assholish moments, assuming you can laugh about it later.

So listen to “Frustrating,” and then after drunk dial that person you screwed over that time and have a good laugh.

The Nod – “Frustrating (The Shit Out of You)”
[audio:http://www.52shows.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/02-Frustrating-The-Shit-Out-Of-You.mp3]

Aug 27 2009 9:00P The Frequency – CD release show Madison, Wisconsin

Sep 4 2009 1:00P WSUM’s Snake on the Lake – Union Terrace Madison, Wisconsin

Nov 6 2009 9:00P Club Tavern Middleton, Wisconsin

Though it was still cool for a Boston summer evening, the sun had managed to poke through around midday, creating a positive atmosphere with smiles and flip-fopped feet lining the street. In many ways, it was the perfect prelude to a Matisyahu concert, the Hasidic Jew with a penchant for reggae beats and hopeful lyrics.

As I changed out of workday clothes into concert gear in my girl’s car, the faint sound of a “Ohhhhh” floated through the air, telling us the punctual Bank of America Pavilion had suddenly come to life.

“Do you think my car will be towed? It’s ok in that spot, right?” she asked as we walked, the sound getting louder.
“Yea, I’m sure it’s fine.”

Truthfully, I wasn’t that sure, but at that point it was too late. Like the sun poking through rainclouds at noon, there’s a strange sense of contentment and happiness that hits you during a Matisyahu concert. Maybe it’s the ambiguous religiosity of the shows. Or maybe it’s the strong scent of weed in the air.

We walked in as he was performing “Jerusalem” and as I paid my $10 beer (at least it was Samuel Adams) and headed to my seat, I began to look around at the crowd.

There was a mix, from some loners to my left to the bald-headed dad in front of me who looked like he was there with his entire family.  There was also a girl further down my row with her arms crossed, possibly wondering why she picked the hippie over the jock as her boyfriend at that party that one time.

Pretty soon, the music started to pick up causing everyone to do the same kind of dance, a sort of backward march thing, but in place (It’s the kind of natural movement that immediate comes when hearing reggae. Put some on now and see).

And then the DMB jam session began.

It’s a term my better half and I made up and it refers to an extended section of a song where everything slows down and suddenly it turns into a different song that is slow and sounds nothing like the initial song you were listening to.

This happened. A lot. At one point it was just Matisyahu singing “waaaahhhhhhoooooooooohhhhhh” into the mic for what seemed like 10 minutes.

It’s not that it was bad. Quite the opposite. But it was relaxing and as the shoulders began to slump downward, some in the crowd began to look tired (bald dad sat down and crossed his legs, the ultimate sign of “I need rest now”).

It got to the point when I started to ask why other songs weren’t being played like “Youth” or “Indestructible.” Inevitably “King Without a Crown” was played and I feared it was the end of the set. Thankfully, it wasn’t.

The show ended with his new single “One Day,” a Top 40-radio ready song that will be in numerous Summer 09 iPod playlists once it gets more airplay.

At this moment, life crept back into the crowd. The loners started to smile at strangers. Bald dad uncrossed his legs and held his wife. Even angry girlfriend started to sway and nod her head.

Granted, it’s an undeniably catchy song, but as we left with the chorus still ringing in my ears, I realized the basic message of staying positive for a better tomorrow is probably what gets people. And in the end, that’s the essence of religion and music. One guy just decided to take the best of both and grow a beard.

[Below is a video of some pictures with "One Day" playing. It's admittedly horrible. But I like to think it will mark a new project for 52shows, the video/pic documentation of a show. Just need to sneak in a better camera.]

[vimeo 5518046]

WordPress is shitting the bed again, so sorry for no streaming audio.

Auld Lang Syne has been kicking around the stereo for a while now and everytime I listen to it, I start to dig it more. Had this blog the function right now, I would stream “Rusty Prayer” for you, with it’s slow-draw of a beat along with the incorporation of an accordian, which is every indie-rock fan’s dream to have in a band.

“Down the wrong tracks/ Down the wrong way/ Like a rusty prayer/ Leading to the highway…”

It’s a slow tune, the kind you drink whiskey or a bottle of red wine to at the end of the day. Yet, as you listen to the rest of the album, there’s a bite there. At times, it feels like the band is waiting to bust from the seams and that underneath this slow, southern drawl, there’s a different animal waiting in the wings to tear the house down.

This is apparent in the album opener “Long Ago,” a song that sounds like the group is channeling a demonic Johnny Cash with a band from hell backing him. This experiment doesn’t last long and the Auld soon folds into a quieter version of itself, with the aforementioned bite.

Again, apologies for no streaming audio. WordPress, like cheap tequila, is failing to cooperate.

Jul 10 2009 8:00P
Abilene Rochester, New York

Jul 11 2009 8:00P
The Barn Fulton, New York

Jul 24 2009 7:00P
Boulder Festival Rochester, New York

This will be a quick post since we just got this track in our email and I wanted to get it out, mostly because I can foresee the weeks/weekends getting crazy in the near future.

Andrew Bryant, in the simplest terms, is a bearded man with a guitar singing songs about whiskey, being hungover and, with this song in particular, how to get someone out of your mind. In this case, it’s the Chicago Wind and a steady rock beat.

It’s the kind of tone that makes your head bob endlessly, though you don’t seem to mind. We’ve asked for the album, so there could be more coming from Bryant. For now, listen to the track below and grow yourself a beard with some whiskey.

Andrew Bryant – Chicago Wind
[audio:http://www.52shows.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/chicagowind1.mp3]

Jun 15 2009 9:00P   Grape Escape w/ Theodore Galena, Illinois
Jun 16 2009 5:30P   Open Door Supper (First United Methodist Church) w/ Theodore Southaven, Michigan
Jun 16 2009 9:00P   Foundry Hall w/ Theodore Southhaven, Michigan
Jun 17 2009 8:00P   Elbow Room w/ Theodore Ypsilanti, Michigan
Jun 18 2009 9:00P   Southgate House w/ Theodore Newport, Kentucky
Jun 19 2009 9:00P   Green Lantern Bar w/ Theodore Lexington, Kentucky
Jun 20 2009 9:00P  Donkey Coffee w/ Theodore Dayton, Ohio
Jun 21 2009 8:00P  The Treehouse w/ Theodore Columbus, Ohio
Jun 22 2009 9:00P  Allegany Center for the Arts w/ Theodore Warren, Pennsylvania
Jun 23 2009 9:00P  123 Pleasant St. w/ Theodore Morgantown, West Virginia
Jun 24 2009 9:00P  The Fire w/ Theodore Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jun 27 2009 9:00P  El Rancho Grande w/ Theodore Baltimore, Maryland
Jun 28 2009 9:00P  House Show w/ Theodore Fredericksburg, Virginia
Jun 29 2009 8:00P  Spazzatorium Galleria w/ Theodore Greenville, North Carolina
Jun 30 2009 8:00P  The Boot w/ Theodore Norfolk, Virginia
Jul 1 2009 9:00P       Tin Roof w/ Theodore Charleston, South Carolina
Jul 3 2009 8:00P      Caledonia Lounge w/ Theodore and Casper & the Cookies Athens, Georgia
Jul 6 2009 8:00P      The Acoustic Coffeehouse w/ Theodore Johnson City, Tennessee
Jul 7 2009 8:00P      The Basement w/ Theodore Nashville, Tennessee
Jul 8 2009 8:00P      Hi-Tone w/ Theodore Memphis, Tennessee
Jul 9 2009 9:00P      TBA w/ Theodore Oxford, Mississippi
Jul 10 2009 8:00P   Schlafly Tap Room w/ Theodore – Andrew Bryant w/ Theodore St. Louis, Missouri
Jul 11 2009 8:00P    Maxine’s w/ Theodore Hot Springs, Arkansas
Jul 12 2009 8:00P    Notsuoh w/ Theodore Houston, Texas
Jul 13 2009 8:00P    TBA w/ Theodore Austin, Texas
Jul 14 2009 8:00P    Plush – Front Room Tucson, Arizona
Jul 16 2009 8:00P    Modified Arts w/ Theodore Phoenix, Arizona
Jul 17 2009 8:00P    Chyro Arts w/ Theodore Scottsdale, Arizona
Jul 18 2009 8:00P    TBA w/ Theodore Los Angeles, California
Jul 19 2009 8:00P    TBA w/ Theodore Ukiah, California
Jul 20 2009 8:00P    House Show w/ Theodore Portland, Oregon
Jul 21 2009 8:00P    Sunset Tavern w/ Theodore Seattle, Washington
Jul 22 2009 8:00P    Bob’s Java Jive w/ Theodore Tacoma, Washington
Jul 24 2009 8:00P    Flying M Coffee w/ Theodore Nampa, Idaho
Jul 25 2009 9:00P    The Woodshed w/ Theodore Salt Lake City, Utah
Jul 28 2009 8:00P    The Roman w/ Theodore Kearney, Nebraska
Jul 29 2009 8:00P     The Slowdown w/ Theodore Omaha, Nebraska
Jul 30 2009 8:00P     Vaudeville Mews w/ Theodore Des Moines, Iowa
Jul 31 2009 8:00P     Ames Progressive Office w/ Theodore Ames, Iowa
Aug 1 2009 8:00P      TBA Chicago, Illinois