Jack Diablo
by jack diablo
May 9 He’s My Brother She’s My Sister, Canary in the Coalmine, Wetlands @ Burro Bar
Los Angeles’ hipster-folk ensemble He’s My Brother She’s My Sister is rolling through Jacksonville before joining Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros on their tour. That should clue you in as to the nature of this crew comprised of real-life brother/sister songwriters and their friends. The band features classically trained musicians, actors, theater types and a tap dancer. Much like Tilly & the Wall, Lauren Brown provides the rhythm section with her feet. You could literally spend the better part of an afternoon watching the impressive collection of videos on their website, but it really only takes a few to get a feel for the fun energy these troubadours emit during their performances. Joining them are Jacksonville’s Americana/country-soulsters Canary in the Coalmine and St. Augustine’s bluegrassy buskers Wetlands.
May 10 Beach House, Zomes @ Freebird Live
When I think of Baltimore, I picture vacant tenement buildings, street violence and grime. None of these things come through in the ambient dream-pop of Beach House. Don’t get me wrong, I’m actually quite fond of Baltimore (and not just for that good old-fashioned NattyBo either), but how Beach House is able to create such melodies in such an environment amazes me. They even shared practice space with the likes of punk (Sick Weapons) and grindcore (Misery Index) bands. But despite the overwhelming bleakness that I’m probably blowing way out of proportion, Beach House has managed to create beautiful, hazy songs and consistently scored 8-plus points on their Pitchfork album reviews. The fact that they are coming through Jacksonville is mighty impressive, making this a performance you won’t want to miss.
May 12 Gospel Music, Opiate Eyes, Personnes @ Burro Bar
For a local band, the opportunities to catch Gospel Music, the newest project for Owen Holmes of the Black Kids, don’t come around so often. Pair it with the likes of the prolific Opiate Eyes and young, new up-and-comers Personnes, and you have a recipe for one hell of an indie show. In case you missed it, Gospel Music’s first EP featured duets from members of such indie stalwarts as Camera Obscura, Magnetic Fields and Vivian Girls. How to Get to Heaven From Jacksonville, FL was released last year on Kill Rock Stars, and sources tell me a new album is in the works. The band will play Jacksonville fresh off of a tour of the East Coast.
May 13 The Rocketboys, For the Future @ Phoenix Taproom
One day the Rocketboys will play arenas, maybe even the Super Bowl or something, but for now you can catch them at the Phoenix Taproom right here in Downtown Jacksonville. The Austin, Texas band plays perfectly crafted indie rock that lies somewhere between Coldplay and Explosions in the Sky. For the Future is Jacksonville’s newest melodic indie powerhouse and is worth the price of admission alone. Stay tuned for a possible surprise guest for this show that will make your heart swoon, if you have a heart that is.
May 14 East Cameron Folkcore, Antique Animals, The Valley The Storm @ Burro Bar
Suffice it to say that the indie-folk scene has gotten hip to the fact that Jacksonville is all about roots music, banjos and vintage dresses. Thankfully, the bands that have been coming through in droves lately each do what they do in their own unique way and manage to do it quite well. East Cameron Folkcore is certainly no exception. When ECF touches down in Jacksonville, they’ll bring mandolins, cellos, harmonicas, guitars and a chorus of harmonious voices. The band itself evolved from the similar-sounding Bankrupt and the Borrowers after the death of one of the co-founding members. Luckily, the tragedy didn’t slow them down and they reformed better than ever. Their live performances boast an energy that will rival that of local folksters Antique Animals, and The Valley The Storm who will join them for this night of frivolity.
May 16 Wilco @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre
It pains me greatly to have to write about recommending Wilco. There are so many nice things to say about how long I’ve waited for the opportunity and how magical a night it will be in the open air and the production quality of the amphitheater, but I won’t be able to attend. I honestly briefly considered canceling my month-long sabbatical to Paris just to hang around and witness this show, but that would be hella dumb. Wilco have somehow created their own unique sound by mixing the seemingly volatile combination of Americana and kraut-rock. It doesn’t make sense how it works, but it does, and it’s beautiful and only gets better with age. If you skip this show, you’re a damned fool, I don’t care what the ticket prices are.
May 23 Lucero @ The Original Cafe Eleven
Everybody’s favorite cowpunk legend Lucero is bringing its whiskey-soaked outlaw alt-whatever to St. Augustine’s Cafe Eleven. If you like Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, but also like Social Distortion, you’ll be in good company front and center with a red bandana around your head and some grease in your hair. All your friends from the last Drive By Truckers show will be there, maybe you guys can get together and cook hot dogs on the beach before the show or something! Just don’t be the guy who shows with light beer or you’ll never live it down. I’m only sorta kidding, but seriously, when music like this isn’t playing in a dive honky-tonk biker bar, it makes you wonder.
May 30 Black Cobra, GAZA, Dethlehem @ Burro Bar
Heavy. Brutal. Loud. Bring your earplugs because if all goes according to plan, that’s all you’ll remember from this epic metal show after the speakers rattle your brain into a pink ooze that drips out of your ears by the end of the night. Black Cobra hail from the bleak Bay Area, and their hardcore/punk-infused sludge is a testament to the terroir of their hometown. For the recording of their latest album, Invernal, the two-piece went full heavy, releasing it on Southern Lord and recording with Kurt Ballou of Converge in, where else but the most unholy of American cities, Salem, Mass. Joining them is GAZA, Salt Lake City’s premiere progressive crust outfit with whom they will tour, along with Corrosion of Conformity, after they leave Jacksonville. Bummer that CoC won’t be stopping through as well, but that just means cheaper ticket prices in a more intimate (for lack of a better word) atmosphere. As chance would have it, Philadelphia’s Dethlehem was already scheduled for the evening and will provide some comic relief with their D&D-inspired fantasy metal before the aural onslaught commences. They will provide foam swords and such, which I suggest repurposing into foam ear plugs if you have any sense of self-preservation.
May 9 He’s My Brother She’s My Sister, Canary in the Coalmine, Wetlands @ Burro Bar
Los Angeles’ hipster-folk ensemble He’s My Brother She’s My Sister is rolling through Jacksonville before joining Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros on their tour. That should clue you in as to the nature of this crew comprised of real-life brother/sister songwriters and their friends. The band features classically trained musicians, actors, theater types and a tap dancer. Much like Tilly & the Wall, Lauren Brown provides the rhythm section with her feet. You could literally spend the better part of an afternoon watching the impressive collection of videos on their website, but it really only takes a few to get a feel for the fun energy these troubadours emit during their performances. Joining them are Jacksonville’s Americana/country-soulsters Canary in the Coalmine and St. Augustine’s bluegrassy buskers Wetlands.
May 10 Beach House, Zomes @ Freebird Live
When I think of Baltimore, I picture vacant tenement buildings, street violence and grime. None of these things come through in the ambient dream-pop of Beach House. Don’t get me wrong, I’m actually quite fond of Baltimore (and not just for that good old-fashioned NattyBo either), but how Beach House is able to create such melodies in such an environment amazes me. They even shared practice space with the likes of punk (Sick Weapons) and grindcore (Misery Index) bands. But despite the overwhelming bleakness that I’m probably blowing way out of proportion, Beach House has managed to create beautiful, hazy songs and consistently scored 8-plus points on their Pitchfork album reviews. The fact that they are coming through Jacksonville is mighty impressive, making this a performance you won’t want to miss.
May 12 Gospel Music, Opiate Eyes, Personnes @ Burro Bar
For a local band, the opportunities to catch Gospel Music, the newest project for Owen Holmes of the Black Kids, don’t come around so often. Pair it with the likes of the prolific Opiate Eyes and young, new up-and-comers Personnes, and you have a recipe for one hell of an indie show. In case you missed it, Gospel Music’s first EP featured duets from members of such indie stalwarts as Camera Obscura, Magnetic Fields and Vivian Girls. How to Get to Heaven From Jacksonville, FL was released last year on Kill Rock Stars, and sources tell me a new album is in the works. The band will play Jacksonville fresh off of a tour of the East Coast.
May 13 The Rocketboys, For the Future @ Phoenix Taproom
One day the Rocketboys will play arenas, maybe even the Super Bowl or something, but for now you can catch them at the Phoenix Taproom right here in Downtown Jacksonville. The Austin, Texas band plays perfectly crafted indie rock that lies somewhere between Coldplay and Explosions in the Sky. For the Future is Jacksonville’s newest melodic indie powerhouse and is worth the price of admission alone. Stay tuned for a possible surprise guest for this show that will make your heart swoon, if you have a heart that is.
May 14 East Cameron Folkcore, Antique Animals, The Valley The Storm @ Burro Bar
Suffice it to say that the indie-folk scene has gotten hip to the fact that Jacksonville is all about roots music, banjos and vintage dresses. Thankfully, the bands that have been coming through in droves lately each do what they do in their own unique way and manage to do it quite well. East Cameron Folkcore is certainly no exception. When ECF touches down in Jacksonville, they’ll bring mandolins, cellos, harmonicas, guitars and a chorus of harmonious voices. The band itself evolved from the similar-sounding Bankrupt and the Borrowers after the death of one of the co-founding members. Luckily, the tragedy didn’t slow them down and they reformed better than ever. Their live performances boast an energy that will rival that of local folksters Antique Animals, and The Valley The Storm who will join them for this night of frivolity.
May 16 Wilco @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre
It pains me greatly to have to write about recommending Wilco. There are so many nice things to say about how long I’ve waited for the opportunity and how magical a night it will be in the open air and the production quality of the amphitheater, but I won’t be able to attend. I honestly briefly considered canceling my month-long sabbatical to Paris just to hang around and witness this show, but that would be hella dumb. Wilco have somehow created their own unique sound by mixing the seemingly volatile combination of Americana and kraut-rock. It doesn’t make sense how it works, but it does, and it’s beautiful and only gets better with age. If you skip this show, you’re a damned fool, I don’t care what the ticket prices are.
May 23 Lucero @ The Original Cafe Eleven
Everybody’s favorite cowpunk legend Lucero is bringing its whiskey-soaked outlaw alt-whatever to St. Augustine’s Cafe Eleven. If you like Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, but also like Social Distortion, you’ll be in good company front and center with a red bandana around your head and some grease in your hair. All your friends from the last Drive By Truckers show will be there, maybe you guys can get together and cook hot dogs on the beach before the show or something! Just don’t be the guy who shows with light beer or you’ll never live it down. I’m only sorta kidding, but seriously, when music like this isn’t playing in a dive honky-tonk biker bar, it makes you wonder.
May 30 Black Cobra, GAZA, Dethlehem @ Burro Bar
Heavy. Brutal. Loud. Bring your earplugs because if all goes according to plan, that’s all you’ll remember from this epic metal show after the speakers rattle your brain into a pink ooze that drips out of your ears by the end of the night. Black Cobra hail from the bleak Bay Area, and their hardcore/punk-infused sludge is a testament to the terroir of their hometown. For the recording of their latest album, Invernal, the two-piece went full heavy, releasing it on Southern Lord and recording with Kurt Ballou of Converge in, where else but the most unholy of American cities, Salem, Mass. Joining them is GAZA, Salt Lake City’s premiere progressive crust outfit with whom they will tour, along with Corrosion of Conformity, after they leave Jacksonville. Bummer that CoC won’t be stopping through as well, but that just means cheaper ticket prices in a more intimate (for lack of a better word) atmosphere. As chance would have it, Philadelphia’s Dethlehem was already scheduled for the evening and will provide some comic relief with their D&D-inspired fantasy metal before the aural onslaught commences. They will provide foam swords and such, which I suggest repurposing into foam ear plugs if you have any sense of self-preservation.
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