Quaker City Night Hawks - Honcho

I have been meaning to review the new Quaker City Night Hawks CD ALL WEEK but I have been putting it off like a mofo. I saw them for the first time last weekend when they opened for Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights. It was a hell of a show. I normally don't stand up on the church pew for opening bands, but about two songs in, I couldn't sit still and I was up there shaking my hips and stomping my feet. I left with a CD of their new record, Honcho, that they had only released the night before. I have had a hard time listening to anything else.

I hadn't even heard of this band before I heard they were coming to Blue Light, but this week, upon the release of their new record, I have been seeing their name everywhere.

I'm stealing these words directly from their website because I can't find a better way to describe them...

QUAKER CITY NIGHT HAWKS BRAND OF HARD ROCK N’ ROLL IS BRED FROM TEXAS BOOGIE, MEMPHIS SOUL AND HEAVY BLUES. THEIR MUSIC IS SOUTHERN ROCK RIGHT OUT OF ’75, PLAYED WITH THE FERVOR OF A SERMON CRACKLING OUT OF THE RADIO IN A ’68 LINCOLN. THEY’RE THE WHISKEY BOTTLE YOU FINISHED SATURDAY NIGHT AND THE PRAYER YOU SAID THE NEXT MORNING. LIKE A COUNTRY GUNSHOT ON A HUMID NIGHT AND YOUR FIRST ILLICIT BEER, QUAKER CITY NIGHT HAWKS ARE THE SPIRIT OF ROCK N’ ROLL. COME SHAKE YOUR HIPS!

That's exactly right. All week I was listening to this album and trying to decide what to say in my review when I finally got around to writing it. Well, I guess I should have acted sooner because Hogleg from Galleywinter took the words right out of my mouth... so again, I'm stealing his review, but it's OK because he told me I could so I am. (Damn my job is easy today.)

My recommended tracks are  as follows:
“Fox in the Hen House” because it immediately puts you in the groove for the full Hawks experience. It has all the ingredients of a kick ass tune.
“Cast the Line” has a very Creedence, Lodi feel to it. Makes me want to run or skip (whatever feels right) through a field of Sunflowers with a cape on.
“Rattlesnake Boogie” has that Ray Wylie strut to it. I believe Ray would approve.
I have to like “Greasy Night” because I understand the concept of greasy all encompassingly.
“Yellow Rose” makes me want to sway back and forth with my West Texas lady friend.
I’m no writer here. I’m no album reviewer. I’m just a dude who likes to shake a leg and smoke one if you got it. Get this record. It’s rock and roll.

Hogleg nailed it... QCNK is gritty, greasy, groovy rock. Something about "Train Rolled Home" has me reaching for the volume knob about five times before it's over... it can't get loud enough. "Lavanderia" is just plain fun and almost makes me want to do laundry (not really because nothing NOTHING makes me want to do laundry, but if I had to, this song should be playing). And the CD doesn't do them justice. See them live and see if you can sit still. I promise I'd never lead you astray.

Now turn this up and JAM it.

Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights with Taddy Porter

Normally when I see bands I've been looking forward to seeing for a long time, I take notes in my phone or at least don't let myself get too carried away so I can remember enough to write about it the next week. Well I saw Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights twice this past weekend as well as Taddy Porter for the first time. Taking notes just wasn't in the cards for me but it was worth it. Both shows were right up there with the times I saw Josh Weathers or the Departed at Blue Light. Top 5 caliber for sure. Even if I don't remember everything, it was pretty damn unforgettable.

I can't lie, I was a little disappointed that Taddy Porter didn't play more songs that I knew, but I guess that just means new music is on it's way. The guys in that band are amazing though. I love a band that isn't afraid to come hang out in the crowd and watch the next band play and that is just what they did.

I'm pretty sure this is my favorite picture of all time. Not real sure why these faces are being made but my friend Layton (photobomber in the background) says it's because I just called him out on calling Andrew (the lead singer) Taddy. And not only did I know his name wasn't Taddy but that he comes from a family of baseball legends. I think he was surprised I knew that.

(Sorry - I can never pass up the opportunity to quote Friends.)

Anywho, for the first time I think ever at Blue Light I stepped outside of my comfort zone (fron row, center stage). This time I stood on the church pew by the side of the stage and realized that it's damn near as fun. Maybe more fun because you can see the entire band and also the whole crowd. And for someone who loves people watching so much, that's a plus.

Favorite moments of the JTNL shows:
Gypsy Woman, of course.
Honky Tonk Women (Stones cover).
This new song.
Everything that came from Miss Emotion Brown.
The finale/encore Beatles cover with Taddy Porter.
Everything else.
From the beer slinging, to people taking off their clothes and just plain raging - you can't explain a Jonathan Tyler show until you've been. Even though I was practically deaf all day Sunday and only wanted to sleep off my hangover, I could probably still go for round 3 and 4. So if you haven't been yet, do whatever it takes to get to a show immediately. If you love blues, rock and roll or just good music of any kind, you can't go wrong with JTNL.

Friday night - Round 1.

One of my favorite moments. JT walked out on the tables right in front of where I was standing.

Friday night - the finale with Taddy Porter. Slinging beer. Yes.

Sometimes I'm so impressed with my drunk iPhone photography! Actually I think I handed the phone to somebody else to take this one.

I love her! I want her to be my best friend.

Jonathan Tyler acoustic - 6/2/12

I feel like I talk about Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights on here a lot, which is with good reason. They are one of my very favorite bands and to be so young with two (if you're lucky enough to find the first one) albums out and another on the way, there's a lot of potential for their future.

In the past year I've seen the full band, two band-members' side project Rise and Shine, and then this past weekend I got to see just Jonathan Tyler do an acoustic show at Blue Light. I nearly didn't get to go because everyone who originally was going with my bailed, and Lord knows I can't be left alone, so I texted everyone in my phone who might possibly be going and then some who I knew probably weren't, just for good measure. I had one taker, and he was a Blue Light virgin and had never heard of JTNL. I didn't care though, a ride's a ride, and he even had a handicap parking permit so why not take advantage if he's offering??

Usually when JTNL is in town, Blue Light is packed beyond belief and such a weird mix of people, which makes for awesome energy. I didn't know what to expect with it being summer and an acoustic show,  it was the first time I've ever walked in and not instantly known at least a handful of people. Nope, didn't know a single person all night.

Red Shahan and Brandon Adams opened with an acoustic show, which was incredible, as always. Then Jonathan Tyler strutted out with nothing but his guitar, so I grabbed my friend and assumed the position at the front of the stage and told him that was completely normal behavior. JT kicked off with Young and Free, one of my favorite songs. It sounded so different without the full band but it really gave him a chance to show off his vocals, which always sound good, but were the star of the show Saturday night.

Then he pulled out the electric guitar and harmonica for Young Love and my friend turned to me and said something about how you could hardly call this acoustic because it was so rocking. He played several songs that I hadn't heard before, so I'm guessing they'll be on the new album, whenever it comes out, plus at least one cover. I figured out what it was but then I deleted the video from my phone accidentally. I liked everything I heard so I can hardly wait for the new album. I also remember he played Paint Me A Picture, She's From The Other Side, Hot Sake (which sounded so different acoustically), the prettiest version of Sunshine I've ever heard and of course Gypsy Woman.

If nothing else, that night proved to me how damn talented and gifted Jonathan Tyler is. He can front a full out rock band or just rip through an acoustic set like nobody's business, and has the voice and musicianship and lyrics combined to pull it off.

After he played, he brought Red, Brandon and a new guy I'd never heard of that sounded like Sean McConnell back up to do some more acoustic songs together. I tweeted Mr. New Slang and he told me that guy is Erick Willis and he was incredible. Him and Red had to get up in the morning and drive to the DFW to be on the Red Dirt Road Show Sunday morning, which I am pissed I didn't get to listen to.

I have lots of videos and pictures from the other night that are actually pretty good but YouTube and Apple and me are not getting along and it's nearly 5:00 so I am so over it. Maybe someday I'll have a little patience for technology, but not today. Just go listen, watch and of course buy their music.

I know I converted my friend into a JTNL (and Blue Light) fan this weekend, which is always my goal, now go preach it.

Taddy Porter

Thanks to one of my music/Blue Light junky friends, I recently found out about a band from Oklahoma called Taddy Porter. I had heard/seen the name because he? she? had played at Blue Light last week. When I went to the bar Saturday night, my friend mentioned he was bummed that didn't get to come see them (I found out Taddy isn't a he or a she but a them) play because he had a final Thursday. I asked him a little about the band, and basically he said they are like the Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights of Oklahoma.

Well of course that sparked my interest. The next day I listened to them a little bit on Spotify and about two songs in caved and bought their entire self-titled album. It's tough to compete with the playlist I'm into right now since it's full of Josh Weathers, Turnpike, and some other new stuff, but I have found myself hitting skip over and over and eventually wind up just listening to Taddy Porter.

I did a little stalking research and figured out some more about them. Evidently Taddy Porter isn't the name of the lead singer, it's the name of a random beer they've never even tried. They are a blues-rock band from Stillwater, Oklahoma and they tour with JTNL a lot. (!!!) Lead singer Andy Brewer is from some sort of baseball dynasty and they've played with some pretty big names and had their music used for lots of cool stuff.

Taddy Porter is the kind of old rock music that just doesn't exist anymore. But bands like this, JTNL, and potentially Whiskey Myers and Cody Canada & The Departed give me hope that it can be resurrected. TP's music isn't angry like most rock tends to be these days. Songs like Big Enough have such sweet lyrics, just delivered in a way that makes you want to head bang, which is totally my kind of love song. Mean Bitch isn't even an angry song, it's more about a strong, opinionated woman (LOVE).

So far my favorites are King Louie (be careful listening to that in the car, it causes me to drive way too fast), Whatever Haunts You, Big Enough and Mean Bitch.

Here's the video for Long Slow Drag:

And a live one of King Louie:

The Blue Light website says they'll be back June 9th, and yeah, it's on my calendar. See ya there.

Check 'em out here.
And buy their CD here.

Videos I Love: Pardon Me

I have never really been into scrawny little guys with straggly long hair, but DAMN that Jonathan Tyler is sexy.

JT&NL Score.

*Originally posted May 28, 2011*

What I am about to tell you about ranks higher on my totem pole than about any other accomplishment I've ever had. I may be a little dramatic, but yes, this is very high on my list.

So here's how it happened. A few weeks ago when I discovered my love of Pandora, I heard some songs by one of my favorite bands (favorite as in the creepy-stalkish way that I obsess over a few bands). Jonathen Tyler & The Northern Lights. I've learned a lot about this band and I knew they had an older CD called Hot Trottin' that they released independently before the album they have out now, Pardon Me. This previous album was taken off iTunes and is no longer being made once they signed the record deal for their current album. They re-recorded a few of the songs off Hot Trottin' for Pardon Me, but they sound a little different than the older versions. I am a huge fan of hearing the original, un-producer-man-edited, versions of songs.

So when I was listening to Pandora, I hear JT&NL's songs Sunshine and She's From the Other Side, and I was thrilled to hear these songs that I'd never heard before. That's when I began my hunt for the original Hot Trottin' album. It had been removed from iTunes before I ever had a chance to purchase it so that option was out. I looked on the merch store on their website and it wasn't available there so my next option was eBay or Amazon. I figured I could find it pretty cheap somewhere since they are a somewhat unknown band and surely somebody is selling their album for the original price.

Wrong.

The first thing I saw when I typed my search into Amazon was this:

oh.hell.no

Seriously??? $75 for a used CD? My heart was hurting at that moment. So I decided to try eBay and what I found was just as shocking. After I did a little more searching, I found something that I really didn't believe was true at first. I found the album on sale for.... $0.01. Yup, that's right, one penny. I was timid at first but after looking into the seller a little more, evidentaly the person has stacks and stacks of random CDs and DVDs that he sells for a penny a piece. Lucky for me, the man hadn't done his research and was clueless as to how much he could get for the album. As luck would have it (I'm generally a lucky person), I looked at just the right time as the sale ended in a few days and not a single person had bid on the item. I right away put $5 on it and was outbid later that night by someone else. I strategically outbid the person the next day and just when I thought I had won it, they outbid me again less than an hour before the auction ended. I contemplated what to do, and I was driving back to Lubbock with and right when I was supposed to arrive in Lubbock is when the sale would end. So when I got to the parking lot, I sat in my pickup and risked waiting until there were about 5 seconds left in the auction, outbid the other person and ended up winning the album for a little less than $15 with shipping. Great success.

I have never felt more accomplished in my life. Not only had I strategically outbid somebody to win something in an auction, I also scored an awesome deal. Go me. I am so damn happy with the album. The original versions are so raw and pure and I was so giddy to hear these versions of songs I already know plus a few other songs that are not on the newest album.

What a good day!