Actual Twang
TwangFest, the music and other things official-like, a companion piece to my TwangChow posting on Chowhound, and the TwangMush note to the fluff list. Because one weekend should never be summed up in a single post.
First night at the Tap Room started on a quiet, touching yet funny note with the Dan Bentele tribute. The P2 message that his brother read out was actually one of the first things I ever read on P2 - since I originally subbed the list during that particular TwangFest, and not much else was posted while it was happening. I never knew Dan personally, but based on all the things people said that night, I know that I really missed out on a special experience.
Surprisingly, the evening immediately took a more somber turn. What's more depressing than a tribute to a much loved, deceased member of the Twang family? Milton Mapes.
Jon Dee Graham picked things up with a much more energetic set, and was the first artist to make it onto my 'must buy CDs' list, though I wasn't actually buying them at the Merch tables for currency conversion reasons.
I've long enjoyed The Meat Purveyors, and it was a fun set from them. They're just so danged entertaining all the time. I'd have put them on my 'must buy CDs' list, except I already have some.
On Thursday, I enjoyed Rough Shop quite a lot, though I'm still having trouble mentally wrapping my head around the fact that the band isn't named Roughshod. Maybe y'all could change that, or something? They're on the 'must buy CD list', they just need to release one, and I'll buy
it.
I have absolutely no recollection of Richmond Fontaine at all. None. This is not a good sign, especially, as I wasn't drinking. I'm pretty sure I was there, but they just completely failed to make any sort of impression on me at all.
I enjoyed the Supersuckers a lot more than I expected. The country set was great, and certainly up my alley, but I had expected the rock set to be lame, loud and annoying. I'm so not down with the rawk. I was pleasantly surprised at how entertaining it actually was. As a personality, Eddie puts on a hell of a show, and he manages to act big and brash without actually riding roughshod (see, there it is!) over the rest of the band. Cocky and respectful, it's a tough combination, but there it was. I can't imagine buying an album of the rawk and listening to it in my car, but as a party experience it was hella good.
Twangpin was way too much fun. I particularly enjoyed the Roy Kasten theory of cigarettes and strikes. I also enjoyed the Bowling Stones set. That was one of the most entertaining sets of the whole weekend. Can we nominate Michelle for American Idol instead of that Carrie chick?
On Friday, we missed the large majority of Matt Grimm due to being caught up in the delights of Saleem's excellent Lebanese cuisine.
Nora O'Connor was like the exact opposite of Eddie Spaghetti. Does the TwangGang hand out humility pills to all the openers? Not everyone needs to think they're in the greatest band in the world, but man 'We'll do two more songs then get out of your way' is pretty lame when
people came to see you - and Nora wasn't the only one guilty of this sort of thing. Nora's set was the kind of quiet songwriting that I would buy an album of to listen to in my car, though. Plus, she had fabulous shoes.
I enjoyed the Moot Davis set despite thinking much of the time that I probably shouldn't enjoy the Moot Davis set. The resemblance to all things Chris Isaak was very strong. I hear he wants to be an actor, too.
Big Sandy was entertaining and technically proficient, but in a totally non-engaging sort of way. He just seems like a really, really good wedding singer to me. I get what he's doing with the style and the retro, and certainly a lot of people were totally into it, but it just doesn't grab me hard and hold me tight. On the other hand, he attracts a fan base of beautifully outfitted retro hipsters that I enjoyed watching immensely. Some of the outfits in the Duck Room that
night were amazing.
I watched a lot of TwangClips on Saturday, periodically making it out to the parking lot, usually to discover that whatever band had been on had just stepped off. I did manage to catch a fair bit of Steve Dawson's set, though, and I'll add that to my 'release a CD and I'll buy it' list. Plus, he's totally teh kyute.
Saturday night was the most solid night for stuff I really enjoyed. It was wall to wall greatness. The Townsmen, who I actually tried to buy a CD from at the merch table but who WOULD. NOT. STOP. TALKING. TO. SOMEONE. ELSE, were great.
Brent Best's set, I enjoyed, despite having never been much of a Slobberbone fan. I hear their earlier stuff was better, which is perhaps where the disconnect comes from.
The Bottle Rockets were one of the few bands on the weekend that I actually had significant familiarity with, so that helped me really get into their set. Plus, the vibe of the hometown crowd during that set was really amazing.
Finally, there was Neko. I <3 the Neko, I really do. Even when she's grumpy like she was that night, I still <3 the Neko. It's always a crapshoot with her shows, whether it's going to be a belter, or a quiet show, or if she's bringing the rawk, and this was on the quiet end of the spectrum. Still a hell of a performance, especially from my vantage point at the front near the rail. Her pores are huge, though. Someone needs to design Neko a new skin care regimine.