Sarah Borges - 'Daniel Lee' (at Sun Studios)

Seems to be a steady stream of great albums from talented alternative-country women over the past few years (Kathleen Edwards, Shannon McNally, Tift Merritt, etc.)... or maybe I'm just more receptive to this kinda music than I would have been when I was younger. Lately, I've been listening to Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles a lot. If you're not allergic to a bit of country, definitely check out her two albums, "Silver City" and "Diamonds in the Dark".

Clinic - 'The Witch'

Caught Clinic the other night. They started by playing their new album "Do It!" in its entirety. Their sound hasn't changed all that much since their first album, 2000's "Internal Wrangler", but that sound was so eclectic and distinct from the get-go (they're about the last band I'd expect to have come out of Liverpool, England) that they can easily keep exploring it for another eight years. Their mix of eerie 60's psychedelica, garage rock, dub and the kitchen sink came off pretty well live, especially when they starting getting into some choice songs from previous albums. Loved the surgical masks and Hawaiian shirts get-up they had on too...

John Schooley - 'Drive You Faster'

So this is one of the 96 (!) bands at the Deep Blues Festival, former Revelator John Schooley.

Deep Blues Festival

Man, do I wish I was able to go to this. They have an unbelievable lineup-- pretty much anyone who's anyone in the blues-punk underground.

Polvo - 'Tragic Carpet Ride'

From the 9:30 show last month. Horrible sound quality, but the volume level of this show was deafening. Thank god I had earplugs!

Polvo easily surpassed any expectations I had of them as a live band. I couldn't believe how tight they were for a band that hasn't played together in ten years. Even the extended jams that many of the songs morphed into were riveting, rather than boring (as those type of things usually are).

Sons and Daughters - 'Johnny Cash'

Recently stumbled on this Scottish band and their 2003 EP "Love the Cup", from which this song comes. Also worth listening to is their new self-described 'pop album', "This Gift".

RIP Bo Diddley

The eulogies for Bo have unfortunately focused on the use of the "Bo Diddley Beat" by others. However, the raw, driving rock of his 50's-60's albums can stand on their own, regardless of how big an influence they were. Point being that some records and artists are better noted as a progenator, not actually listened to. Not so with Bo.

If you can ever it find, the live "Bo Diddley's Beach Party" is mindblowingly raucous. This clip is a pretty good dose of Bo jamming in his prime, though.

The Kills - The Good Ones (Live @ Album de la Semaine)

Have missed these guys the last 5 or 6 times they've been in town. Supposed to be one of the most intense live acts around right now. Can't say I'm on board with the new direction they've taken with the latest album, though.

The Oranges Band

Caught these Bawlmer natives the other week and had a big smile on my face for their entire set of straight-up pop rock.