A New Year Resolution That Can Actually Be Kept

Welcome to 2018! Another year of promises to change things about ourselves. Promises that we may or may not keep. Promises that may be broken by mid-January. Every year I make some sort of New Year resolution that I try my best to stick to, but usually dissolves by March. Some years it’s to eat better or get physically fit. Other years it’s to stress less and dedicate myself to more writing and less work. And sometimes it’s to reign in my spending and put myself on a real budget that I will stick to.

This year I’ve decided to make concerts one of my New Year resolutions. Music is my lifeline, so why not resolve to enjoy it more? With that in mind, I made a resolution that there are some bands I will make myself see in 2018. If that means travelling to see them in concert, so be it. I rarely travel to see a band, but that needs to change this year. To make this resolution come to fruition I am going to have to take chances and make strides.

Throughout the month of January, I will be posting all my musical resolutions for 2018 starting with the concerts I resolve to see in 2018. And if you are of the same mindset, maybe I will see you at one of these shows.

The Revivalists

The Revivalists are a band that I just got into last year. I heard their song “Wish I Knew You” on one of the alternative stations through Amazon music and fell in love with them immediately. Suddenly I was playing their album Men Amongst Mountains a lot and it became my go to record for most of the summer. That then led me to listen to their other releases and before I knew it, The Revivalists had become one of my favorite new bands. Obviously, I have never seen them in concert, but 2018 will change that. Currently they only have one show listed, a music festival in Phoenix, AZ, but I will keep an eye on their website and as soon as shows are added, I will determine which one I am going to.

The Strumbellas

The Strumbellas are another band that I just got into last year because of listening to the alternative stations on Amazon music. I fell in love with them as well and purchased a copy of Hope days after hearing their music. From there I went on to enjoy all their material and I often find myself listening to them for hours on end. They are a young, up and coming band that has potential to be huge! Keep an eye on this band because I think they are going to take off and be one of the great ones for years to come. I almost got to see them live in 2017 but I had a commitment conflict the night they were performing in New York City. In 2018, I will make sure that does not happen. Currently, there are no tour dates listed on their website, but I am sure that will change as January marches forward. Once tour dates are up, I will lock in the show that I am going to attend.

Pearl Jam

I don’t even know if Pearl Jam perform in the United States in 2018, but if they do, I am going to have to be at one of their shows. Currently, Pearl Jam has European tour dates for 2018 but that’s it. That doesn’t mean they are going to tour America this year, but I know I’m not travelling to Europe, not even for Pearl Jam. So, I am going to hope that there will be a stateside show, or a Canadian one. I’ll travel to Canada to see this band. It has been over ten years since I last saw Pearl Jam in concert. That is far too long to go without seeing one of my favorite bands perform live. Pearl Jam is a top five band for me, so in 2018, they are going to be treated like a top five band. If they plan a show anywhere in the continental United States (or Canada), I will find a way to see them in concert!

Pop Evil

This one is easy and should be the first band I knock off the list. Pop Evil is going to be playing the Starland Ballroom in March, a local club that’s not too far from my home. I’ve seen them perform there a few times and every performance was exceptional! This time around they will be supporting a brand-new album (due out in February) and treating us to a Saturday night show. All signs point to awesomeness and I know this concert is going to be a memorable one.  A Pop Evil show always is. The last time around it was one of the best concerts of the year (possibly the best). Every time I see Pop Evil they are better than the last time. They continue to improve their skills and they continue to dominate the live scene. Pop Evil 2018 is going to be absolutely amazing.

Brian Fallon

Another one that should be relatively simple to complete. Brian Fallon is also going to perform at the Starland Ballroom on a Sunday night in April. He is also releasing a new album in February. The first two singles from his soon to be released record are some of the greatest songs of his entire career, which has me extremely excited for the new release. I’ve seen his former band The Gaslight Anthem perform live, but I’ve never seen Brian Fallon solo, so this will be interesting to me. I’ve heard that he does not play any Gaslight Anthem songs during his solo performances, but he will mix in a cover or two. Whatever he performs won’t matter too much to me. Brian Fallon is such a talent that he could perform just about anything and I’d like it. And that’s a fact that was proven by my love for his cover of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream.” 

Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews Band took 2017 off from touring, and while Dave and Tim (Reynolds) went out on an acoustic tour, I did not attend the local show (mostly since it sold out before I could lock in someone to attend with). 2018 should see the entire band back out on the road all summer long and I am sure that my friend Snaz will be coming stateside and want to see the band. I will just have to find out which dates she is going to and then find a way to attend them with her. Perhaps we can hit some Midwest shows and I will be able to take in a ball game in Milwaukee during the same trip. That would be magnificent! Part of this resolution is to see DMB multiple times. This can be achieved by seeing them locally, perhaps driving to a semi local weekend show and seeing both nights, and then hitting the Midwest. 2018 could find my attending my 25^th DMB show before the year is over.

What's The Guru Listening To? - July Edition

Welcome to the July Edition of What’s the Guru Listening To? I get asked this question a lot. What am I currently enjoying and what would I recommend? And since time is severely limited these days, it gets harder and harder to post a full review of the outstanding music that I am discovering (or re-discovering). Therefore, every month I will fill you in on the latest song, album, and/or band that I am obsessed with.  

Here’s what The Guru is listening to this month:

The Lumineers

After seeing this band open for U2, I transitioned from a casual fan to a hardcore fan. The band was amazing in concert and seeing their opening set left me with a desire to see their full headlining show. I’ve been listening to their two albums and anything else that I can get my ears on by this great band. Their music is calming, enjoyable, and deep. I love their sound and style and expect that as the rest of this year moves forward I am going to become an even bigger fan. And hopefully I will see them in concert as headliners.

Peter Wolf – Come as You Are

Admittedly, I revisited this disc for an upcoming post I am working on. Having said that, I honestly forgot how magnificent Peter Wolf’s second solo album was. Almost every song on this record could be a huge hit. As it is, almost every song on this record is worth listening to again and again and again. “Can’t Get Started,” “Love on Ice,” “Blue Avenue,” “Flame of Love,” the list of terrific songs goes on and on. Come as You Are is a pure 80s record. Baked in the sounds, styles, and themes of the 80s, this record just brings me back to yesteryear like it was yesterday. I’ve been having a lot of fun revisiting this album and I plan to continue listening to this record more even after the post is written.

Extreme

My love for hair metal music extends all the way back to my junior high school days. Listening to bands like Quiet Riot and Ratt set the stage for the influx of hair metal that I would enjoy in high school. One of my favorite bands from that time was Extreme. Earlier this month I decided to listen to Pornagraffiti for the first time in a long time. That led me down the path of listening to all of Extreme’s albums, which I have spent a bulk of my July doing. Reminiscing on their debut album as well as their later work has been a fun filled trip down memory lane. I’ve also forgotten how talented and amazing lead guitarist Nuno Bettencourt is. This July I’ve been reminded of that and now I want to see this band live again! 

The Strumbellas – We Still Move on Dance Floors

Having conquered their latest album, Hope, my desire to hear more of The Strumbellas led me to one of their earlier albums, We Still Move on Dance Floors. This was the second record that the band released and it is every bit amazing as their latest album. Songs like “The Long Road,” and “Did I Die?” get stuck in my head and I find myself singing them internally for hours on end. Just the mere mention of one of the songs from this album makes me want to listen to it yet again. If you are new to The Strumbellas, I still recommend that you check out Hope first, but if you’ve played that album out, then it is time to move on to We Still Move on Dance Floors.

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

What's The Guru Listening To - May Edition

Welcome to this brand new monthly feature, What’s The Guru Listening To? I get asked this question a lot. What am I currently enjoying and what would I recommend? And since time is severely limited these days, it gets harder and harder to post a full review of the outstanding music that I am discovering (or re-discovering). Hence the birth of this new column. Every month I will fill you in on the latest song, album, or band that I am obsessed with.  

Here’s what The Guru is listening to this month:

The Shins – Name For You

I first heard this song on The Spectrum and immediately fell in love with it. I haven’t stopped listening to it since. The Shins are an American indie rock band from New Mexico that have been around since 1996 and hit their stride in 2004. Oddly enough, I’ve never heard their music until now. Better late than never I suppose. “Name For You” is the fantastic lead track from their latest album, Heartworms. Honestly, I haven’t listened to the rest of the album (yet), but this one song is worth the price of adding this gem to your collection.

Junkyard

Considering that I just saw this band live at M3, it makes sense that I am listening to a lot of Junkyard lately. Before my trip to Maryland I listened to their debut album a few times. Now that I am back, I am still listening to their debut album, but I am also enjoying their new release, High Water. This is the band’s first album in 26 years. That’s a long time between releases, but Junkyard proves that they still have what it takes to rock and roll. If you like your hard rock sleazy with a touch of blues, check out Junkyard---and buy a copy of their new CD.

Breathe (2 AM)  – Anna Nalick

I asked my Amazon Echo to play music one morning and this song came on. I immediately stopped everything that I was doing and listened to the entire song. Then I listened to it 3 more times before I resumed working. This is an amazing ballad by an extremely talented artist. I can’t get enough of this song and I have a feeling I am going to continue to play this one for months and months. I realize now that this song is 12 years old and that I am late to the party, but it’s okay. Sometimes being late pays a higher reward.

The Strumbellas – Hope

I just can’t get enough of this album! I discovered The Strumbellas by watching a Lumineers video. When that video ended a song by this band came up next and I decided to check it out. I was simply blown away. They’ve been around since 2008, but it is this album, Hope, that is giving them much deserved attention. Almost every song on this record is perfect. If they continue to make music this good, I can see a very bright future for this Canadian Indie Rock band.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats

I can thank my good buddy Rob Rockitt for this one. He texted me one day out of the blue and told me that I had to check this band out. Naturally, when Rob recommends something, I try to listen to it right away, because it’s usually gold. Well, this album was platinum! Even though I can stream it on Amazon music, I still went out and bought the CD so that I can have it with me wherever I go. With songs like “S.O.B.,” “Howling At Nothing,” and “I Need Never Get Old,” Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats is one amazing record. I’ve played it dozens of times over the last two weeks, sometimes putting it on a constant loop. It is just that good!

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.