Sunday night at the House of Blues - Dallas featured a great show of two bands that influenced many bands with their sounds in the 1980s and have continued with solid musical efforts since.
Meat Puppets
The Meat Puppets opened the night with a too short 40 minute set. Most people seem to know the band from the Nirvana Unplugged show from the early 90s where Nirvana covered two classic Meat Puppets tracks. They played both of those on Sunday (Lake of Fire and Plateau). Surprisingly I did not recognize any of songs off their new CD, Rise to Your Knees, which I do recommend. They did throw out an excellent, extended version of Up on the Sun which made the show worth it alone. The band was more fun, looser, and more comfortable from when I saw them at this year's SXSW shows. They did only reunite this year, but they are sounding very good now. They play again at the House of Blues in November, and I hope to see them there again. Meat Puppets CDs that I recommend are Up on the Sun and Meat Puppets II.
Sonic Youth
Here is an indie band that stands as a large influence on many bands. This year they've done a tour to celebrate their classic 1988 release, Daydream Nation. Sonic Youth started with a furious blast of guitar from Thurston Moore and the post punk vocals of Kim Gordon. Throughout the entire set, the crowd had arms lifted and hands were banging. They played a good portion of Daydream Nation, but also included some other choice cuts from their 20+ year catalogue during the hour and a half set (with 2 encores). Two of my favorites of the night were Incinerate and 100%. Those looking for Sonic Youth releases, I'd recommend Daydream Nation and Dirty.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Monday, October 1, 2007
A Long Way Gone
The autobiography A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider by Ishmael Beah is a fascinating, sad, and disturbing read. The book recounts Beah's adolescent years as a boy soldier fighting in the Sierra Leone civil war of the 1990s.
Beah begins by recounting days of youth enjoying his childhood and playing with friends. It all turns horribly wrong as soliders begin invading the towns, and he and his friends must run for thier lives. Beah went from town to town until he was finally taken by the army and forced into being a solider at the age of 13. Using a mix of drugs and intimidation, the army turned these children into killing machines. It's a tragic story exposed and brought to life by Beah's heartbreaking recollections.
Luckily Beah found a way out where so many perished. The book inspires as Beah finds his way out of the madness, but ultimatey reminds us of the evil present in our world. This is a highly recommended read.
Beah begins by recounting days of youth enjoying his childhood and playing with friends. It all turns horribly wrong as soliders begin invading the towns, and he and his friends must run for thier lives. Beah went from town to town until he was finally taken by the army and forced into being a solider at the age of 13. Using a mix of drugs and intimidation, the army turned these children into killing machines. It's a tragic story exposed and brought to life by Beah's heartbreaking recollections.
Luckily Beah found a way out where so many perished. The book inspires as Beah finds his way out of the madness, but ultimatey reminds us of the evil present in our world. This is a highly recommended read.
