• Choosing the Black Lips as my third most anticipated show was extremely difficult and ultimately it was just a toss up between this show and the second most anticipated show (to be discussed tomorrow).
• The New Material: The Black Lips’ new album ‘Good Bad Not Evil’ comes out on Sept. 11th. A few tracks have been released from the album including Katrina, and Cold Hands, and word is that the rest of the album is damn good (I’ll definitely be forgoing Napster and buying a hard copy of the LP). Based on the two singles released and the rest of tracks you can find if you look well enough ‘Good Bad Not Evil’ is really good, may feature expanded instrumentation and will translate well to their high energy performances.
• The Performance: The Black Lips are known for their live performances. They were banned from playing Atlanta’s 40 Watt for quite awhile, were named SXSW 2007’s Hardest Working Band and based on personal experience put on a great live show. I didn’t witness anything quite like what has been rumored throughout their infamous performance history; I did witness a band full of energy (that the crowd really soaks up), a commanding stage presence, and a sense that they’re having a good time playing music for their fans.
• The Opener: The Selmanaires opened for Deerhunter last spring upstairs at the Middle East and I was thoroughly impressed. You’re not going to see any of the Selmanaires trying to catch their own spit or playing ‘solos’ with their teeth (see: Black Lips), but you will see good musicians playing very well. Their ‘strut rock’ translates well to a live show and the band captures the audience’s attention with their tight playing and lead singer Herb Harris’ incredible range. I would pay to see both bands separately so both for the price of one will be a steal.
• The show is Sept. 21 and tickets can be had at the Middle East box office: Open 1-7pm, 7 days a week.
In unrelated news…Aesop Rock’s newest LP ’None Shall Pass’ is out today.
~ aaron
Filed under: Shows! | 4 Comments
Songbird
Sweet, I’ll have to check out The Black Lips’ new stuff too. Keep it coming.
ah im impressed, manders putting in work, ill try to add some once im back in il stati uniti, keep it up..
I’m always putting in work on the site when I’m home. I’ll be getting hosting and moving over to WordPress.org and (hopefully) a rad comment system within a week.
I think I saw a “No Cowbell” belt buckle that looked like a no smoking sign with a cowbell in it. I must find it again and you must make it the site banner.