JAB and Mugg's

JAB performed at Muggs in Doylestown, a bar I've never been in before even though I drove by it many times. They have no parking lot, I accidently pulled into the dealership next door, so I ended up parking at the bank across the street. The section of the bar the band perfomed in looked like someone's basement and there was a divider and posts seperating them from the bar so it was hard to take pictures of the whole group. It was better than before, John Neumann told me the bands used to perform in front of the front window. There were also couches there so you could sit right up in front if you wanted. They sounded great, Eric sang lead on "Gimme Some Lovin'" and they also covered "Heaven Beside You" by Alice In Chains but Andy never played any harmonica which was unusual to see a JAB show without it.

Check out the entire set of photos from this show on my Flickr page!

A Quick Switch Works Out

Victor Victor Band

For a while I was wondering when I'd be going to John and Peter's again, but a few weeks before I had noticed on their MySpace that they had scheduled Dave Devlin for a Thursday night show. The weekend before Dave confirmed that he would be there through his newsletter. So I came out for what became for a reunion show featuring the Brothers Gruff, Parker Barrow and the exciting Victor Victor Band, (Dave's new band was supposed to play but they broke up a few weeks ago.) Dave's fiancee Christy came out to the show for the first time since The Stand release party in 2006. I had to head over right after work so I missed the first few songs of Dave's set, the band hadn't rehearsed before this show but they are so tight I really couldn't tell the difference. His mike went bad during the set, it took another song or two but he finally switched to the other set-up one during a break in "Bomb". Parker Barrow, who referred to themselves as a cover band for this show, had a slightly different line-up. They were a quartet with singer Nick handing off bass duties, leaving his Hofner at home, and a different drummer. Since they had a shorter set than usual they just played covers of the Beatles, Johnny Cash, Beach Boys and the Animals. The closing Victor Victor Band was the real highlight of the night. Actually a married couple, husband Jamie sings with plenty of fire and plays guitar like Jimi Hendrix (also with an upside-down Stratocaster). Wife Danelle plays drums and keyboards, sometimes at the same time, with a maracca taped to one of her drumsticks. At first glance they seem like the White Stripes, but both have equal contribution to the group. I took a few videos of Dave and the band and you can view them here and on my MySpace video channel.

Check out this video: Dave Devlin - Perfect (Live)

Dave and The Gruff together again

Parker Barrow

Birthdays and New Editions

This was a very special night with the Pheromones. New parents Jessica and her husband Donnie were in town for the holiday and it was also a night to celebrate Adam's and Brian's birthdays which are close together. Tommy was back on bass and Seven Day Sunday, a band which are friends of Brian's, was opening. The groups traded off throughout the night, performing two sets each. Seven Day Sunday played mostly '90s covers but those were done very well and guitarist played some amazing solos. The Pheromones played two new covers, "What I Like About You" and The Killers' "All The Things I Have Done," a favorite of Linzi's. Brian wore a wireless headset so he didn't have to set up a mike for himself. After the Pheromones' first set Brian's wife Sheeva brought in cake for the birthday boys. "Hillbilly Hellbeast", usually a good song for the band, kicked off the second set but was derailed by crazy mike feedback and Brian loss of the beat. After the Pheromones' second set Brian came up and jammed with the guys from Seven Day Sunday, showing off his guitar skills. He is very good guitarist but means more to the Pheromones as their drummer. Also, see the video I took of the band above, it was my first one since the summer after high school and is not too bad for a still camera.

The band, with Tommy sitting in on bass once again.

 Check out the entire set of photos from this show on my Flickr page!

Back To The Street

Loretta Allen (left) with StelliumFor my next appearance at a concert I was at another venue I had not been to in a while, the Street Road Bar and Grille, this time for Stellium. Since I was last there with Dave Devlin, the bar was incorporated within the Stadium banner, started offering live music on nights other then Saturdays and put in a new stage. There were also some new games to enjoy. Stellium was listed on the show flyer third but played first, they had told their fans to not come until 10:30 so many of them missed all or part of their set. In the end, however, Stellium were very different from the other groups so it seemed better for them to be first up. They played about five songs and were probably running out of material but were given some extra time so made up a instrumental song which Lara's friend Alex came up and played drums on.

There were a variety of acts also performing but the one who stood out as Better Day. They brought plenty of friends, including one that busted quite a few moves during the show. I would have gotten up as well but for my aching knees. Loretta is friends with their singer Chris and was getting a ride with them so she stuck around for awhile. That allowed me to hang out with and talk to her at length for the first time since her solo show in 2007.

Scaling the Mile High Club

Blue SinatraI went to see Blue Sinatra for the first time since last June. It was one of the last shows before the band went on hiatus for the summer to write and record new material for their first full album. I also came to Doc Watson's for the first time since 2006, after it was briefly closed for code volations, the original owner returned and the upstairs club had been renamed the Mile High Club. Because of a sparse crowd that basically consisted of Blue Sinatra and myself and since of their lead singers was sick the other members of the two bands who were to play before them formed a jam band and had some fun. During that set a group of girls arrived led by Steve's girlfriend and Greg's sister in-law. Even with them there wasn't much of a crowd but we were able to fill up the tiny club. The band played most of the songs from the upcoming EP We're All On Drugs and were very tight. At least, until Greg's sister-in-law leaned on the table Steve's beer was sitting on and caused it to collapse. The show was halted briefly while the floor was mopped up and Steve got a replacement beverage. I received an advanced copy of the new EP after the show.