Notes from a Genius

I came across this talented lady a few years ago, walking down Congress Street in Portland and I saw a poster for her show at Port City, advertised for $10 and I thought, why the hell not?! The minute she took the stage, I was blown away. She'd only recently put out her album "Til the Casket Drops" and I honestly had not heard any of her music, but I was instantly hooked. Her smoky, twangy, Southern-esque rapping-bluesy singing voice was enrapturing. It's always been hard to categorize her music other than hip-hop/blues/rock. You just have to hear it and experience it. I've seen her about 4x times now, I believe. Last weekend, she played a sold out show at the Paradise in Boston and I knew I had to go see her, again. It had been a year or two since the last time. She did not disappoint at all, even when she attempted to play one of my favorite songs "Last Love Song" and just couldn't remember the verses or the chords and had to give up after a coup...

Sleigh Bells returned to Portland, ME after probably about 5 years, with local musician Anna Lombard opening the show for them. I've been into Sleigh Bells since I heard their first album years ago and discovered it was a band contrived of the ex-guitarist from Poison the Well (from my old hardcore days, whom I'd seen open for Thursday at the State Theatre so so many years ago) and a female singer. They came together for this project of loud guitars and pre-recorded drum parts for an electro-rock type of music years ago in New York after the dissolution of Poison the Well left him looking for a creative outlet and a friend put him in touch with this girl looking to sing. It's a very simple concept that works well. Pre-recorded drums are part of their set and it allows for a very simple stage set-up. Female vocalist, two guitarists and that's it. It was a great show with awesome energy. Blue Trash Mattress Fire Play Video Riot Rhythm Play Video Fav...