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Wooden Nickel ------Spins------CD of the Week Downstait $9.99 With You in Mind BACKTRACKS Point blank, if you’re a fan of bands Paul McCartney like P.O.D., Korn, and McCartney (1970) Three Days Grace and you’re looking for a local band to get into, Downstait In press kits for this, Paul Mc- will be just what the doctor ordered. Cartney’s first solo , it was an- Each song on their sophomore LP, With nounced that were break- You In Mind, is loaded with an enviable ing up. In fact, this album was released sonic bag o’ tricks; check out the flanged guitars that kick off “High almost a month before Let It Be, much Heels” and the thrashy fury that starts off “World Divided” before to the dismay of the other three Beatles, the band switches it up in a breakdown that segues into an anthemic especially John Lennon. chorus. In addition, the songwriting and structure on each of the al- McCartney opens with “The Lovely Linda,” a love song to bum’s 13 songs are so sturdy and flow along so effortlessly it’s easy his then wife Linda Eastman which was recorded in his home for the listener to get sucked in and stay with the band through the studio in 1969. “That Would Be Something” follows and sounds $11.99 entire song cycle. like a “lost track” from “White Album.” “Valentine Day” has a Much of the music on Mind is aggro with lean guitars and touch- great guitar , as does “Every Night,” which also has a es of . The most well-known band that Downstait could Beatles vibe with its solid acoustic guitar blend. Magnetic be compared to is probably P.O.D. They mix a generally aggro stance Side two opens with “Oo You,” a funky garage-rock number and streamlined but heavy guitars with hip-hop and electronic inflec- that proves Paul could play more than just bass guitar. The vocals The 10th album by Goo Goo Dolls is tions to create an urban heavy . While Downstait may not are great on this song; you can tell he wanted to be more than just receiving heavy demand in the adult con- be a batch of Christians the same way that P.O.D. are, they mix their a guy in the Beatles. “Teddy Boy” is reminiscent of “Rocky Rac- temporary sphere with the anthemic first anger with a dose of positivity. coon” while “Singalong Junk” is “Blackbird” without lyrics. It single, “Rebel Beat,” and is expected to The band cleverly hooks in the listener from the start and doesn’t seems lazy now, but it’s nice and mellow. “Maybe I’m Amazed” add to the band’s record number of hits let go until the record is done. The opening lyrics of the first song, is on this release and is still one of my favorite songs. He really on the charts. Magnetic, a sunny album “Open Your Eyes,” find lead singer Daren Zack Call repeating the nailed the keyboards and the guitars on this song. His wife sang filled with gorgeous layers of melody and refrain “It’s the end of the world, and I feel fine.” Most listeners will backing vocals on this (and a couple of other tracks as well). rhythm, is available at all Wooden Nickel immediately recognize that it’s an allusion to R.E.M.’s 1987 single McCartney, a true genius, has appeared on records with total “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine).” By sales of over 100 million units. That’s amazing in itself, even if locations for only $11.99. putting a new spin on a familiar lyrical refrain, Downstait give the you’re not a fan. He played all of the instruments on this album audience something to identify with before the band switches things and was the sole producer. (Dennis Donahue) TOP SELLERS @ up and takes them in different (and often unexpected) directions. And truthfully, Downstait are able to pull off a surprising variety ing refrain that closes “Breath On a Window”: “I would let you go/ Wooden Nickel of material convincingly. Not many bands would be able to deliver but you’re always in the way” – or the near cacophony that breaks (Week ending 6/16/13) both the blustery furor of “Kill Me” along with the sincere ode to a out halfway through “Phantom Limb.” It’s moments like those that romantic relationship “Wherever You Go” back to back, let alone TW LW ARTIST/Album make you think the band is doing more than just coasting along in make both fist-pumping anthems. Put simply, it’s difficult to deny an 1 – KANYE WEST neutral and they still have the ability to make original statements and album of 13 songs that are so uniformly well-written, arranged and connect with their listeners. (Ryan Smith) Yeezus executed. (Ryan Smith) 2 1 13 ... Like Clockwork The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here 3 3 ALICE IN CHAINS Other than producing acclaimed The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here When Alice in Chains released for the past 15 years, the Black Gives Way to Blue (2009), their reason why Queens of the Stone Age 4 5 BETH HART/JOE BONAMASSA comeback album with vocalist William have enjoyed a cult status with a loy- Seesaw DuVall in place of departed vocalist al fan base has mostly to do with the 5 – J. COLE Layne Staley, many hailed it as some- band’s facetious sense of humor. Seri- Born Sinner thing of a second coming for the band. ously, what other band writes a sardonic After all, it was their first album in a mantra to excessive drug use and calls it “Feel Good Hit of the Sum- 6 2 QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE full 14 years, and many had considered AIC to be done for good mer?” One could also note the prevalence of special guest roles as ... Like Clockwork after Staley died of a heroin overdose in 2002. While it may be true a distinguishing feature, but without that unique humor, what else that Black was a strong album that maintained the main elements of would QOTSA be other than just another band? 7 6 JASON ISBELL AIC’s sound, there were also some subtle shifts in the band’s sound In the months prior to the release of …Like Clockwork, primary Southeastern that tended to get lost in the welcome-back accolades. Namely, on and lyricist Joshua Homme (rhymes with “mommy”) sent Black, AIC had shifted into more of a moody, brooding sound with perplexing letters to publications like NME and Kerrang! that teased 8 – SIGUR ROS increasingly prosaic lyrics that tended to lack the bite of much of fans as to what the album could be called, possible song titles and Kveihur their earlier work. an ambiguous release date. In true QOTSA fashion, these cryptic 9 4 That trend continues on their second album with DuVall, The letters utilized the band’s trademark quirks to describe the album’s Super Collider Devil Put Dinosaurs Here. In many ways, the album works as a sound as a “codeine cabaret” which isn’t too far from the truth. One seamless whole, blending all of the band’s elements into a murky element that separates this album from the others is its solemn and 10 – MAC MILLER goo that oozes out of the speakers. It could be that AIC have simply introspective mood that haunts tracks like “The Vampyre of Time Watching Movies ... gotten too good at being AIC – heck, they even quote themselves, and Memory” and the title track. with the title track directly quoting guitar licks from “Love Hate Along with referencing the consistent cycle of ups and downs Saturday, June 29 • 1pm • All Ages • Free Love” from the band’s debut Facelift (1990). But all things consid- the band experienced during the recording of this album, …Like Live AT OUR North Anthony Store: ered, the album comes across as a bit on the murky side. The gui- Clockwork is an appropriate title given that this new album isn’t a tars and vocals especially seem to sonically drift together at times. progression from the band’s previous works, but rather a refinement That may be something musicians of a more atmospheric or avant of the ideas explored on the last two . The resulting product DYLAN CONSILIUM garde inclination might do intentionally, but here it seems like their reflects predictable qualities as dictated by the title, but rarely veers attempts at streamlining their sound may be diminishing some of into less than interesting territory. For a 46-minute album the pacing their impact. In other words, while they have their more aggressive is continuous, but it wouldn’t be if it weren’t for the strength of the CALDWELL moments (“Stone,” “Breath on a Window”), they simply don’t match songs. 3627 N. Clinton • 484-2451 the sonic whiplash of, say, “Sea of Sorow” from Facelift. Craftsman- Not that QOTSA didn’t need help crafting this album along 3422 N. Anthony • 484-3635 wise, it’s a solid album, and it’s still remarkable that the band is issu- the way. Special guest contributors this time around include Trent 6427 W. Jefferson • 432-7651 ing any new music at all, but at times it feels like the band is saying Reznor, and (), along with re- We Buy, Sell & Trade Used CDs, LPs & little more than, “We know the drill – here it is.” turning guests like , () and www.woodennickelmusicfortwayne.com Then again, the band still has its striking moments, even if they are a little more subtle than in years past. Take for example the haunt- Continued on page 13 6------www.whatzup.com------June 20, 2013 DISTORTION - From Page 4 cial D doesn’t put a record out in a certain amount of It took the band four years to record a followup, time,” he told me by phone from Toronto. “We’d like but the wait was worth it. With a new rhythm sec- to get something out in the next few years but that’s tion and Ness off drugs, in 1998 the band released never really been a big issue for us. I personally think , a record that found Ness veering into the best way to do it is to go about it as organically a souped-up country sound. In 1990 a self-titled re- as possible [and] let it happen naturally. Working this cord included the June Carter Cash/Johnny Cash tune way we’ve always had the best results. Bands that put “Ring of Fire.” out a record every year haven’t had time to do any liv- The band finished the 90s with two more releas- ing. They’ve got nothing new to write about. You need es, Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell in ‘92 and time to live between records.” White Light, White Heat, White Trash in ‘96. In early Wickersham said the band members tour so much 2000, Danell died from a brain aneurysm. The loss that they don’t really have time to do anything but hit Ness hard. Jonny Wickersham replaced Danell on make the shows as good as they can. guitar for the 2004 record Sex, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll “We work on new things at soundcheck once in a which Ness dedicated to his friend. JULY 12-20, 2013 • FORT WAYNE, INDIANA while. But mostly when we get off the road, when we Ness has made good use of his time between So- take a break and go our separate ways and work on cial Distortion records, releasing solo CDs and rais- other projects is the time when we do things that we ing his two sons with his wife, Christine. He’s spent can write about. Some of my favorite bands have been his time writing a memoir, The Story of My Life, due SERIES around for a long time and have like 30 albums. At out 2014. The book, named after the song of the same some point you get kind of bored.” name, looks at his life and the challenges of parent- PRESENTED BY Boredom is not a problem with . ing. In a published interview Ness said that writing the Ness was only 15 years old when his father booted book was one of the hardest tasks he’s ever tackled. him out of their Fullerton, California home. The hard- “I would never want to do it again,” the Social Festival Plaza • Headwaters Park core L.A. punk scene of the time influenced him in a Distortion frontman admitted of the book-writing pro- big way, and in 1978 he formed Social Distortion with cess. “It’s not like writing songs. It’s been much more Friday, July 12 • 6pm-1am • $9 adv or w/TRF Button, $12 dos brothers Frank and Rikk Agnew and . But in-depth and personal.” MUSTANG SALLY that lineup didn’t last long. By 1983 when the band re- A vegetarian and avid collector of hot rods, Ness w/HUNTER SMITH (of the Indianapolis Colts) leased its debut, Mommy’s Little Monster, Ness’ child- is looking forward to the day he can retire from his NICK CROSS • NASHVILLE NIGHTS hood friend Dennis Danell had taken over on guitar. near constant touring schedule and settle in with his Presented by K105 & The Rusty Spur The album was well-received, and critics called the wife on their plot of land in Northern California to music “Rolling Stones on steroids.” Ness dealt with mow the grass and watch it grow again. Until then, Saturday, July 13 • 6pm-1am the success, which included exposure on MTV, by he’ll keep touring and recording with the band that has $15 adv or w/TRF Button, $18 dos diving into a heroin addiction. kept him occupied for 35 years. JACKYL w/G-MONEY & FABULOUS RHYTHM • TONE JUNKIES GROTTO - From Page 4 Presented by UAW/GM FW Assembly & 98.9 The Bear with record companies and the like. This Time Round and that kind of intimacy often splinters even the most Sunday, July 14 • 6-11pm • $10 adv, $20 dos, $5 kids 6-12 has been, May admits with some frustration, a long talented of twosomes (i.e., Simon and Garfunkel, Son- time coming. May and Lynch finished the 12-tracker ny and ). So, what’s Guggenheim Grotto’s secret MERCYME • HAWK NELSON last August, and since then there’s been a great deal of to maintaining a good working and personal relation- w/CAPITAL KINGS • WARREN BARFIELD • MORE back and forth on the business side of things. Despite ship? Strangely enough, competition – of the friendly Presented by Star 88.3 that, May said This Time Round has been a joy to work variety, of course. Recently, on the band’s Facebook Monday, July 15 • 6-11pm • $5 on. For the first time, he and Lynch gave a great deal page, Lynch wrote this in response to May’s victory of control to the fans, using the site Pledge Music as a in a fantasy football league: “A nail-biting finish saw MAKE ME A STAR + SHOOTING STARS way to raise funds and offer exclusive perks to lucky Kevin win by two points over the Ginger Heroes to FAWN LIEBOWITZ following Talent Show followers. The album even includes a hidden track, take the coveted title ... Congratulations Kevin. As I Presented by STAR Financial Bank & Majic 95.1 “Imogen Blue,” that May wrote specifically for a fan have always said, you’re wasted in Music.” and his wife. “When we started off way back when we joined a Tuesday, July 16 • 6-11pm • $2 “That was a cool experience,” May said. “At first band a mutual friend started, we were really competi- BROTHER I was worried, you know. I didn’t want to write a ter- tive with each other, maybe even unhealthily so,” May w/THE EASTHILLS • KILLNANCY rible song when it was obviously important to this said. “The competition’s still there, but we’ve really Presented by OneMain Financial & Rock 104 couple, and I thought for a bit, ‘What have I gotten settled in. We know how to work with each other, to myself into?’ But then I just sat down and went hog- get the most out of the other. We still have arguments, Wednesday, July 17 • 6-11pm • $15 adv or w/TRF Button, $18 dos wild, using images that were significant in their rela- sure, but nothing we can’t handle.” tionship and they were really, really pleased.” There could, however, be one thing that kills SEVENDUST Guggenheim Grotto got their start as a duo in Guggenheim Grotto. Drugs? No. An Irish Yoko Ono? w/DOWNSTAIT • DEVOUR THE DAY 2003 and put out their first LP, A Lifetime in Heat, in Oh no. The culprit is none other than fantasy writer Presented by 98.9 The Bear 2004. Their unique sound quickly got the attention of George R.R. Martin. May, the duo’s main lyric writer indie music fans and critics, and they followed the LP (Lynch often supplies the melodies and chords), has Thursday, July 18 • 6-11pm • $5 up with their full-length debut, Waltzing Alone, which been struck with Game of Thrones fever, and the epic WHAMMY WINNERS SHOWCASE came out stateside in 2006. The album earned them novels are stripping him of his will to write. I, WOMBAT • U.R.B. • UNLIKELY ALIBI • COUGAR HUNTER their first U.S. tour and some serious attention from “This stuff is terrible for me. It’s killing my inspi- Presented by Rock 104, Sweetwater & whatzup taste-makers like NPR and Paste magazine. Next up ration. It’s drama after drama after drama and when came Happy the Man, which climbed to the top of the I’m done with one book I don’t want to write a song,” Friday, July 19 • 6pm-1am • $8 U.S. iTunes folk chart, and The Universe is Laughing, May said. “I just want to know what happens next. It’s a project helmed solely by May and Lynch. like Days of Our Lives in chain mail.’ I’ll be so happy THE MAIN SQUEEZE In a duo there’s obviously a lot of togetherness, when I’m done.” w/WILLY JOY • BLACK CAT MAMBO • SUM MORZ Presented by Ivy Tech Community College SPINS - From Page 6 Saturday, July 20 • 6pm-1am • $5 adv or w/TRF Button, $8 dos their former bassist, . Traditionally, big 2007. Surprisingly, this time gap has not diminished PINK DROYD names create distracting presences, but each contribu- QOTSA’s ability to compose songs, but a little ventur- w/MARTIN BROTHERS BAND • JADED JOKER tor blends in nicely with QOTSA’s signature sounds, ing into unexplored territory couldn’t have hurt much Presented by Rock 104 and the best representations of these collaborations either. include “Kalopsia” and “Fairweather .” Ultimately, this record will stand as the band’s re- There’s also something to be said about the irony affirmation into the contemporary scene so that their behind the title of …Like Clockwork, considering that comfort zone can be expanded in the future. (Colin the band’s last album, Era Vulgaris, was released in McCallister) June 20, 2013------www.whatzup.com------13