Let me be honest: I’ve known of the existence of both Husker Dϋ and Pavement for about as long as I’ve known what music was, but I’ve never really explored what either band sounded like. They’re both obvious icons of the indie-rock world, and for that I’ve always held respect for them, but have just never really took the time to listen to their music.
Then I discovered Scott Kannberg—former guitarist for Pavement—and his newest project, Spiral Stairs. I was absolutely blown away, and even more so when I found out they’d be playing in Portland this weekend. It also seemed pretty cool that Husker Dϋ’s Bob Mould would be headlining, because I saw it as an opportunity to properly expand my musical knowledge to the depths it should’ve reached years ago.
I was slightly happy to get to the show and see Mould would be opening, instead of headlining, due to “a family emergency.” And I got even happier as the show went on, because I became more and more anxious for his band to be done and off the stage. Sure, Mould’s got some major talent, but it felt too much like he was trying to regress from his earlier, punkier days, into something more easy-listening. He and his backup band of two played at least four songs that smacked eerily of mid-90s introspective rock, and it was boring, to say the least. But the second they launched into a Husker Dϋ tune, everything flipped. Mould seems to still carry a bit of rebellious angst in his back pocket, and he brandished it with a flourish. The band carried the flag with him, revealing an intense piece to their outfit that clearly needs to be used more often.
Toward the end of the set the crowd joined together to sing Mould “Happy Birthday,” and it weirdly seemed a fitting way to wrap up the hodgepodge of styles his band had laid on us.
After that, the real fun began. Almost fifty-percent of the crowd exited once Mould finished, and I’d like to let them know they should feel sorry for themselves. The Spiral Stairs set was playfully fantastic, full of dynamic grooves that kept the remaining audience shaking. Despite the fact he’s been performing for over twenty years, Kannberg showed an almost virginal excitement about what he was doing. And his band did just the same—I can’t say enough about his incredible guitarist, who frequently spasmed as if the guitar riffs were the things keeping his blood pumping. With appearances by members of The Posies, including founder Jon Auer, the show was brimming with excitement from start to close. Kannberg also brought songs from other projects to the table, and it all felt ridiculously right.
I got a chance to talk to some of them after the show, and Kannberg spoke as if he didn’t have the right to have played after a Bob Mould show. Truth is, Spiral Stairs upstaged the hell out of the accidental openers. They’ve got a delicious thing going, and I can only hope the boys that backed Kannberg up this night stay with him long enough to cook up much more good stuff.
DOWNLOAD: Spiral Stairs - Maltese Terrier (MP3) or Follow us for more Spiral Stairs MP3s (Twitter)
Two songs go in, one comes out. Pick a side.
Columbus Short Would be an excellent match for Sam Cooke (especially if this movie was to include Sam’s Soul Stirrer years). Just as long as in the movie Sam does the singing of course lol. But as far as physical resemblance my boy Columbus Short all the way. View this clip of Cadillac Records were he played lil walter… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmxTbcnW6bY
by Akin Z on Wed Feb 1, 2012 at 12.37 am from the entry: Sam Cooke to get a movie
Oops meant Aloe Blacc not Black. Sorry about the typo. If you doubt that he should play Sam check him out here on you tube singing Loving you is Killing me. The likeness is uncanny - but the voice is quite different.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yJuyaVcL2I&feature=artist
by Tamara L on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08.30 am from the entry: Sam Cooke to get a movie
I have read the Peter Guralnick book and it is thoroughly researched down to the minutest detail. Amazing.
I would go for Aloe Black because he looks so much like Sam, but for heaven’s sake why are we talking about the quality of the actor’s singing? Sam’s singing has got to be dubbed in. We want the real thing not an impersonator. There is only one Sam Cooke. The actor can act, let Sam do the songs.
by Tamara L on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08.24 am from the entry: Sam Cooke to get a movie
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by Dirty Ice on Tue Jan 24, 2012 at 11.04 pm from the entry: Yasiin Bey - Fete (Providence, RI; Dec.10, 2011)
John Boutte should play Sam Cooke. Except the point someone made about him dying young, this is true. Boutte may be a bit too old.
by Brendan on Tue Jan 17, 2012 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Sam Cooke to get a movie
La cara de kurt de: NO ME DIJERON NADA :| ajajjajajaja
by asdsad on Tue Jan 17, 2012 at 04.29 am from the entry: Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic Weigh In On Kurt Avatar
Blacks say the word 50+ times a day. Fuck the double standard, stop trying to create controversy.
by Steve C on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 02.00 pm from the entry: John Mayer is about to get swallowed up in public outrage
