Trip to Germany, 03/2013

The wife and I spent two weeks traveling around Germany (Wuerzburg, Munich, Bamberg, Berlin and Frankfurt/Cologne) in the first half of March, 2013. It was pretty awesome. I'm going to try to put some pictures and random thoughts from that time up here rather than necessarily an exhaustive rundown of the trip, though it might turn into that if I'm not careful. Just getting the ball rolling here for now ...

Menomena, Mercy Lounge, Nashville, TN - 02/23/2013

I had not seen Menomena since All Tomorrow's Parties a few years prior when they were still a three-piece. Some pals and I made a last minute decision of sorts to check this out. The expanded four-piece was a bit more rocking and certainly tighter. I really have not kept up with this band since their debut album, so I was really only familiar with "Muscle N' Flo" (which was pretty dang spot on) and "The Pelican" (which is great live). It was a fun time, and they sounded really great. Just not a band that I make a huge soul connection with.

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Exit/In, Nashville, TN - 01/26/2013

Some friends, the wife and I went to check out the JSBX, choosing it over Yo La Tengo as it had a higher potential for being pretty rocking. And rocking it was ... a lot of big hits, including "Bellbottoms," "Two Kindsa Love," and "Flavor" (with Judah Bauer doing Beck's rap toward the end). I saw the JSBX on the Orange tour back in 1995 or so at Rockafella's in Columbia, SC. That show was legendary. They've certainly aged a bit, though they can really bring it/channel it pretty dang well. Not life-altering, but a fun way to spend a Saturday night.