Music Reviews


Meditative tunes: Breathe, lean back, drift away Published on Oct 7th, 2004 0 comments John Wubbenhorst and Facing East at the PrismSaturday, October 2 I regret to say that my college experience wasn't the best. I spent most of the four years attempting to sleep my way to graduation....
No sips: Jazz? Funk-grass? Beats me Published on Sep 30th, 2004 0 comments Peyton Tochtermanat the ShebeenSeptember 24 "This next one is a song I wrote in the shower about peanut butter and jelly," explains singer and guitarist Peyton Tochterman as a chuckle ripples across...
Two, not one: A welcome Texas surprise Published on Sep 30th, 2004 0 comments Published September 30, 2004, in issue 0339 of the Hook Porter Davisat Miller'sSaturday, September 25 BY MARK GRABOWSKI [email protected] Expecting a singer songwriter by the name of Porter Davis...
In your head: Sounds like old friends Published on Sep 23rd, 2004 0 comments Published September 23, 2004, in issue 0338 of the Hook The Damnwells with Justin Jones and Small Town WorkersStarr HillSeptember 18 BY MARK GRABOWSKI [email protected] The shushing was in full...
Just a Bob: NGNM make faces hurt Published on Sep 23rd, 2004 0 comments No Gods No Monsters and Beef Jerkyat Tokyo RoseFriday, September 17 There's something about Bob. He's a poet. The kind that sings Christmas hymns at poetry readings. The kind that describes the act...
Let's look back: Save Dexys from oblivion! Published on Sep 16th, 2004 0 comments Dexys Midnight Runners':Too-Rye-Ay Hey kids, remember 1982? The release of Thriller? Effusive praise for Quaker Oats PB & J cereal? The first artificial heart transplant? 1982 was also the...
Snzzzz...: Buy NoDoz before listening Published on Sep 16th, 2004 0 comments Various Artists: The Groove Boutique: Volume One Selected and Mixed by Rafe Gomez(Tommy Boy Records) In my humble opinion, quantized or electronic drums– combined with engineers who can'...
Dangerous skies: Picnics and harmony below Published on Sep 9th, 2004 0 comments Uncle Henry's Favoritesat Rhythm on the River at Dorrier Park in Scottsville September 5 Last Sunday, September 5, saw yours truly, for the second time ever, making his way to Scottsville for a...
Make it good: Food for thought x 3 Published on Sep 2nd, 2004 0 comments Lyrics Ave, Richelle Claiborne, Etchings of Soul Women at Live ArtsSaturday, August 28 I have come under a lot of fire recently for some comments I made about the new G. Love album. Apparently...
Road range: Friday fun on all sides Published on Sep 2nd, 2004 0 comments Monticello Road at Fridays after 5August 27 Though making brothers and sisters for only about two hours once a week, the Fridays After 5 concert series on the Downtown Mall is a sort of group...
Ginger ale: Almost as fizz-ful as Brie Published on Aug 26th, 2004 0 comments Terminal Ready at Outback Lodge and Mike Brieat R2Saturday, August 21 Alcohol has never been my drug of choice. This has always put me at a disadvantage with the ladies on the bar scene. Somehow,...
What's in a name? Oldsters get into the dream Published on Aug 26th, 2004 0 comments Dreamcar at Miller's August 21 Five reasons prompted me to see the band Dreamcar at Miller's last Saturday night, and they were, in order of increasing importance: * If I don't know the bands...
Dancin' fools: Harris wows 'em after 5 Published on Aug 19th, 2004 0 comments Corey Harris and the 5X5at Fridays After 5 August 19 Though the sky looked dark as tropical storm Bonnie theoretically drew near, the mood I was in last Friday as I walked to the Downtown Mall made...
Hateful! CD crop (bar one) raises the bile Published on Aug 19th, 2004 0 comments Charlie Hunter Trio: Friends Seen and Unseen (RopeADope) G. Love and Special Sauce: The Hustle (Brushfire) Har Mar Superstar: The Handler (Brushfire) Have you ever met a supreme hater? I'm...
Can't stop the pop: Marky likes it Published on Aug 12th, 2004 0 comments Zag at Miller's Friday, August 6 "Zag" is: a) A town in Kentucky b) A meteorite c) A human protein d) A geography journal in Germany e) A good pop/rock group f) All of the above If you picked answer...
Step closer: Local idols look to win Published on Aug 12th, 2004 0 comments Idol Semi-finals Starr Hill Music HallSunday, July 31 As an artist, I can't think of anything more difficult than covering a song written and popularized by someone else. People tend to have an idea...
Never-ending: Funk jams to disco and back Published on Jul 29th, 2004 0 comments Southside Funk Brothers at West Main July 24 I made my second attempt to check out the band Southside Funk Brothers at West Main Saturday, July 24, and I'm happy to say things went a lot better this...
Bluesy jazz: Frigid art with heart Published on Jul 22nd, 2004 0 comments The Dinah Pearson Band at West MainJuly 17 Friday was my second evening watching shows at West Main, and I haven't quite figured the place out yet. They have been promoting shows for live music on...
Work it! Drummers, dancers evoke Africa Published on Jul 22nd, 2004 0 comments African Showboysat ShebeenSaturday, July 17 Shebeen has been hosting music for a while, but for some reason I've avoided it as a venue. But when I got wind that the African Showboys were in town, it...
One of the 'Boys': Mystery deepens on the Corner Published on Jul 15th, 2004 0 comments The Slate Hill Boysat JaberwokeJuly 9 The Slate Hill Boys, mysterious beyond all other Charlottesville groups I've heard, were a chance discovery as I walked down the Corner Friday night. In search...
Oogling: Skimpy threads, hot doings Published on Jul 15th, 2004 0 comments Sumthingat West MainThursday, July 8 Lounge Sessions (DJ Ellipsis, Kenny M)at StationFriday, July 9 Far be it from me to make vulgar/chauvinistic comments, but one must admit the summer in...
River grass: Rhythms rock the James Published on Jul 8th, 2004 0 comments The Dixie Power Trio and the Rogan Brothers at Dorrier Park, ScottsvilleJuly 3 For the past five years, Scottsville (population: 555), has thrown free concerts in Dorrier Park, and I've missed every...
Transfixed: Old stand-bys set standard Published on Jul 8th, 2004 0 comments Thompson/D'earthat Miller's Thursday, July 1 Driving around Charlottesville, it's hard to miss how quickly the city is growing: apartments on Main Street, developments out Avon Street, Route 20...
Andy's problem: Too good for his own good Published on Jul 1st, 2004 0 comments Andy Waldeck:Offering Last issue, the guy who writes the column to the right of mine and I scrambled to bring you a accurate and relevant cross-section of the Charlottesville music scene. Judging by...
Curreri the Younger: Playing His Own Way Published on Jul 1st, 2004 0 comments How to Play the Songs of Matt Curreri Matt Curreri(City Salvage Records ) Matt Curreri, brother of local country-blues mastermind Paul, is standing in a long shadow. A fabulous songwriter and...
June 21: Music for the shortest night Published on Jun 24th, 2004 0 comments LhasaThe Living Road The sun had long gone down before anyone told me what the day was. "Somewhere there are pagans dancing, singing, and celebrating," she said, prefacing her momentary revelation...
What luck!: Tempted by the fruit of another Published on Jun 24th, 2004 0 comments Jason and his Vacationsat JaberwokeSaturday, June 19 I ventured to the Corner's Jaberwoke watering hole in search of a review of Travis Elliott's group– word on the street (namely my friend...
Schizo prowl: From corn to cool Published on Jun 17th, 2004 0 comments Okayplayer's True Notes Vol. 1 (a compilation); Masta Killa's No Said Date; Vast Aire's Look Mom No Hands; Righteous at Garden of Sheba; DJ Dingus at West Main This weekend couldn't have been...
Vega-esque: Something in the way she grooves... Published on Jun 17th, 2004 0 comments Finally Wokenby Jem(ATO) Though singer/songwriter Jem's tie to this town is rather tenuous– she is signed to ATO Records, the label started by Dave Matthews, the omnipotent Coran Capshaw,...
Studied sound: Paying attention pays off Published on Jun 10th, 2004 0 comments Inner Space at Coupe DeVille'sSaturday, June 5 Every summer, after the students and other college hangers-on fall off the face of the earth, I make my yearly pilgrimage to Coupe DeVille's on the...