|
Concert Poster of the Day 6/1/08
2008-06-01 11:01:00 This is the poster for one of the Honorable Mention shows earlier in the week.The Sword (Bottletree '08)
Concert Poster of the Day 5/31/08
2008-05-31 11:01:00 I couldn't find a good Laura Reed, so here's one from the Bottletree vault:Dan Sartain (Bottletree '08)
Pick of the Day 5/26/08
2008-05-26 11:03:00 Ok! So another large gap in postings has occured, despite my assurances otherwise. Fear not! I can guarantee this weeks posts will all be there, 'cause I wrote them already. This works out for everyone. I get more time during the week, you get more notice as to what's coming. I've added an upcoming shows section that will highlight the picks ahead so you can start planning your nights accordingly. Alrighty, onwards and upwards:Flowers Forever / Teen Getaway @ BottletreeAdmission: 9PMZero Hour: 8$If the world was a predictable place, then Flowers Forever would be a whiny hippy band with twelve acoustic guitarists all playing rhythm. Fortunately for us all, the world's a twisted bitch with a trick up her sleeve, and Flowers Forever is crunchy and foul mouthed, with it's muddy boots planted firmly on the ground.Teen Getaway label themselves as "Punk / Rock / Soul" on their myspace profile. Well...they certainly have a punk rock soul, but it's wrapped in an experimental indie fles...
Pick of the Day 5/20/08
2008-05-20 19:06:00 This show may not get your sweat broken, but it'll start your toes tappin', and on a Tuesday that may be all you need:Jim White / John P. Strohm @ BottletreeAdmission: 12$Go Time: 9PMI wouldn't call them mellow, but tonight's duo have a certain crusty folkitude to them that mediates their otherwise rambunctious souls. What?
Pick of the Day 5/15/08
2008-05-15 11:03:00 Here it is:The Last Vegas @ BottletreeAdmission: 13$Go Time: 9:00 p.m.The Last Vegas isn?t going to change anybody?s life, but it is good al? fashioned rock till you drop music, which more than I can say for anyone else playing in Birmingham tonight. Make sure you het there on time, because these guys are opening.
Pick of the Day 5/8/08
2008-05-08 18:26:00 First of all, let me apologize for the sparse nature of my posts lately. I've got stuff goin' on! Anyway, I'll try to get back on the regular horse soon enough, but for now here's a taste.Langhorne Slim / Amy Lavere @ BottletreeAdmission: 10$What Time: 9PThis show is gonna be a killer! Both these folks make the good the stuff. Fill up your soul now, cause the prices are rising. Get while the getting is good.
Pick of the Day 4/25/08
2008-04-25 16:36:00 It's here! It's here! It's finally here! Today is the first day of Bottletree's Raindrop Music Festival. Here is the line up for todays half of the festivities:Raindrop Music Festival Day 1 @ BottletreeAdmission: 20$ day / 35$ weekendGo Time: 6PMFriday, April 256 p.m. - Squirrelhouse7 p.m. - The Triceratops8 p.m. - Arkadelphia9 p.m. - Sworn Enemies10 p.m. - The Broken Letters11 p.m. - Duquette Johnston & the Rebel KingsDon't forget, all proceeds benefit the Hulsey Little River Trust and all ticket-holders receive a souvenir pint glass with unlimited refills from the keg and 1-year membership to the Hulsey Little River Trust. So...much...good...music! Must...contain...drool.
Concert Poster of the Day 4/25/08
2008-04-25 16:33:00 This isn't my favorite poster ever, but I'm putting it up for documentary purposes.Raindrop Music Festival (Bottletree '08)
Pick of the Day 4/21/08
2008-04-21 17:59:00 Another movie night is upon us, and what a weird cult classic they've selected for us:Road House @ BottletreeAdmission: FREEGo Time: 8PMTo quote Bottletree's excellent intro:"Road House is one of those films you spend about two hours watching and never really understand what is happening but you're too entertained to care. It is about Dalton (Swayze), the greatest bouncer, who has come to a small road house to instill order. He cleans up the bar's poor crop of bouncers and manages to fall in love with the town doctor. All the while, pissing off the local crime boss. Monster trucks, tons of breasts, kung fu, and a blind guitarist later, you still don't have to think to be amused. All in all, Road House is the perfect movie to do just about anything too because it has everything a good time requires."There you have it. Have at it.
Pick of the Day 4/14/08
2008-04-14 15:55:00 Time for another great movie night:Grass @ BottletreeAdmission: FreeGo Time: 8PMThis 1999 film is narrated by Woody Harrelson, and covers the history of marijuana in the United States using mostly archival footage of propaganda films. It recieved critical acclaim, and should be good viewing for the baked and unbaked alike.
Pick of the Day 4/12/08
2008-04-12 15:56:00 I'm running short on time today, so I'm not going to be able to post the video or concert poster until later in the day. Here are the picks:13 Ghosts / Kate Taylor @ BottletreeAdmission: $8Zero Hour: 9 p.m.13 Ghosts just released their creepy new album The Strangest Colored Lights to critical acclaim, and local label Skybucket Records is celebrating it with a kick-off party here in their hometown. Always a good time live, I?m sure the fellas are gonna kick it up a level for the special occasion.Kate Taylor is a label mate of 13 Ghosts, so it?s not surprising that she gets the nod. She plays pleasant and heartfelt acoustic numbers which should be a nice warm-up before 13 Ghosts takes the mood down a notch. I should point out that today?s honorable mention is Art Garfunkel, but he doesn?t get the full treatment because I believe in supporting the locals when they?re as good as these guys are. Do what you will.Honorable Mention: Art Garfunkel @ Alys Stephens Center
Concert Poster of the Day 4/9/08
2008-04-09 17:10:00 I picked this Bottletree poster mainly for the colors, and for whatever dark whims may lurk beneath the surface of my mind.Rogue Wave (Bottletree '07)
Pick of the Day 4/5/08
2008-04-05 17:54:00 Today is a real occasion here Birmingham. Here's why:Ralph ?Soul? Jackson / Roscoe Robinson / Wiley and the Checkmates @ Bottletree Admission: $12Zero Hour: 9 p.m.I know a lot of people are going to shake their mugs at me in confusion when I point them in the direction of Bottletree tonight. After all, Diana Krall is playing elsewhere in the city. Well, for all you naysayers out there I?ve provided info for her show in the honorable mention section. For my part, I?d rather bask in the golden glow of some old soul. Ralph ?Soul? Jackson was known for some great but obscure singles back in soul?s heyday, but he?s still got it, and I want some.Roscoe Robinson was performing gospel for twenty years before he even recorded his first soul single, and has a celebrated and lengthy career since then. He?s recorded over 20 singles and 7 albums in that time and performed with the likes of Sam Cooke and The Blind Boys Of Alabama. This guy is a legend, and you should take the opportunity to see ...
Video of the Day 4/5/08
2008-04-05 17:53:00 Here's A clip from the last time Mr. Soul graced Bottletree's stage.Ralph "Soul" Jackson LIVE @ Bottletree 2006
Concert Poster of the Day 4/5/08
2008-04-05 17:52:00 This is tonight's poster. Bottle bottle bo bottle banana fana fo fottle me my mottle Bottletree!Ralph "Soul" Jackson / Roscoe Robinson (Bottletree '08)
Concert Poster of the Day 4/4/08
2008-04-04 15:47:00 Here's an oddity. This is a Blue Mountain poster from a show at Bottletree, not Workplay.Blue Mountain (Bottletree '07)
Concert Poster of the Day 3/26/08
2008-03-26 16:32:00 Couldn't find a poster for either of today's picks, so I'm going with an old one from a local venue:Great Lake Swimmers (Bottletree '07)
Pick of the Day 3/22/08
2008-03-22 16:09:00 Oh man, it's gonna be another beautiful day today. Make sure you get yourself some sun before you head indoors for:The Broken Letters @ BottletreeAdmission: $9Zero Hour: 9 p.m.The Broken Letters are locals worth loving. Their stuff can be as methodical as a funeral march, but it doesn?t drag, nor is it a drag. They have a new album coming out soon, and you will probably get a pretty good sneak peek if you come out to the show tonight. Be the first among your friends!
Concert Poster of the Day 3/22/08
2008-03-22 16:07:00 This is tonight's poster. Thank the lizard every day that there is a venue who consistently puts out great posters for us to peruse.Broken Letters (Bottletree '08)
Pick of the Day 3/20/08
2008-03-20 16:00:00 Hey, hey, hey! What's happening. You say nothing, I say wrong!The Legendary Shack Shakers @ BottletreeAdmission: 10$Get There: 9PMJello Biafra once called J.D. Wilkes, the lead singer of The Legendary Shack Shakers, "...the last great Rock and Roll frontman", and apparently Robert Plant is also in their fan camp. Comin' straight out of Nashville to cram your skull full of blues harp and rock-a-billy, these guys bring the energy live, so get ready to sweat. Consider yourself forewarned.
Pick of the Day 3/12/08
2008-03-12 16:42:00 It's been awhile since my last movie night, but tonight's is a film I've been wanting to see for a long time:Gimme Shelter @ BottletreeAdmission: FREEGo Time: 8PMThis documentary tells the story of The Rolling Stones disastrous 1969 tour, ending in the death of a young man at Altamont. This is a classic piece of Rock and Roll history, and you all should come and see it. How many times do I have to say FREE FREE FREE!
Pick of the Day 3/10/08
2008-03-10 17:55:00 It's another gorgeous day here in The Ham, and to celebrate such an occurence I suggest you head out to see:Vampire Weekend @ The BottletreeAdmission: 14$ (SOLD OUT, but most likely available from a scalper)Go Time: 9PMThese dudes are being hailed as one of the best new bands around, and they play perfect music for the beauty of a day we got goin' on here. If you don't have a ticket, I suggest you give finding one the old college try!
Pick of the Day 3/8/08
2008-03-08 17:52:00 Today's pick is:The Big Sleep @ BottletreeAdmission:10$Zero Hour: 9 p.m. The Big Sleep is a strangly inappropriate name for a band that makes as much sheer noise as this one (though perhaps they?re channeling Chandler). It?s not all glorious feedback either. There are these fractured little moments of beauty sprinkled throughout, and they hit you all the harder because of the caustic nature of their surroundings.
Pick of the Day 2/06/08
2008-02-06 17:50:00 Today's pick is sold out, so I'm including a secondary pick for those of you who are unsuccessful at weasling into the show.Band Of Horses / Cass McCombs and The Middle Class/ Tyler Ramsey @ BottletreeAdmission: 17$Zero Hour: 9PMThis evening promises to be awash in drifting waves of atmospheric melody, a slightly morose daydream punctuated by momentary strikes of distorted mayhem. Congratulations if you actually have tickets in your grubby little mitts.SECONDARY PICK: The Big Tasties @ Bailey's
Pick of the Day 2/1/08
2008-02-01 17:14:00 Alright, let the leap month begin! The last dark, crushing month before the beginning of baseball season is finally upon us, but there are plenty of great bands playing to get us through these final days. Like today's pick for instance:Wiseblood @ BottletreeAdmission: $10 Go Time: 8 p.m.Wiseblood is a meeting of creative minds. It contains members of local bands The Ashes, The Bridges and The Spots, and it?s clear that the new mix has had immediate benefits. These guys write great music together, full of grooves yet ready to kick it at a moments notice. There are Edge-like moments of soaring solos mixed with upbeat camp-fire acoustic numbers, as well as a gutsy re-imaging of ?the Sound of Silence?, which I didn?t recognize the first time through when I was listening in on their myspace page. I wouldn?t be surprised if we started to see Wiseblood pop up a little more often in the future.
Pick of the Day 1/30/08
2008-01-30 16:27:00 Since Monday's pick was not a movie this week, I thought it would be appropriate to pick this cinematic excursion:Sidewalk Film Festival Presents: An Evening Of Short Films @ BottleTreeAdmission: 5$Go Time: 7PMIt's not free like other movies at Bottletree, but short films rule, so open you wallet. There will be a lot of local favorites from past Sidewalk festivals, so if you've attended any of those, this might be a long awaited second chance to see 'em.
Pick of the Day 1/25/08
2008-01-25 17:40:00 Hi there. Everybody up and about? Good, then you're ready for some picks.Roman Gabriel Todd?s Beast Rising Up Out Of The Sea / Baak Gwai @ BottletreeAdmission: 9$Go Time: 9PMIt?s hard to tell if Roman Gabriel Todd?s Beast Rising Up Out Of The Sea is pulling a fast one on us all. This music would be hardcore if it wasn?t completely amorphous and sung by a guy who could be my grandpa. This is noise rock at it?s most unapproachable core. I could probably make something comparable by going into my garage and having a violent epileptic fit, but somehow it wouldn?t catch quite the same level of structured cacophony. This band is worth catching for the novelty alone, but they might just rearrange your entire DNA structure, who knows?I've featured Baak Gwai a number of times. Have you been to see them yet? If not, make sure you get down there this time. These guys are some of the best rock to be had ?round these parts, and every show you miss will be one for which you kick yourself later...
Pick of the Day 1/24/08
2008-01-24 17:33:00 Here we go again. Another weekend is upon us, and that means it's time to put your nice t-shirt on and step out the door for:Through the Sparks / Kristy Kruger @ BottletreeAdmission: $8 Go Time: 8:00 p.m.Through the Sparks are one of the few bands signed to local label Skybucket Records. They are a constant presence at the clubs here in Birmingham, so chances are you?ve already seen a show of theirs. If not, you?re missing out on the goods. These guys intertwine hazy organs and honky-tonk keys with indie style guitars and end up with a brew all their own. It?s hard to pigeon-hole, but easy to listen to.Kristy Kruger sounds like she should be coming through the tinny speaker of a gramophone. She plays lonesome music, the auditory equivalent of a storm gathering. Just when I think I?ve got her figured out, she slips in a devious little change. She?s channeling Tom Waits a bit, and she?s surrounded herself with the same apocalyptic jug band feel that a lot of his work has in spades.
Pick of the Day 1/23/08
2008-01-23 17:22:00 Wednesday arrives with a pocket full of legendary guitar hero (flesh not pixels):The Bill Frisell Trio @ BottletreeAdmission: 25$It's On: 9:30 PMBy the way, when I say guitar hero, I'm not talking grinding out riffs. I'm talking long tasty grooves full of shifting patterns you just wanna wrap yourself up in like a blanket. This is a great mulling band. Music to think to. I know it's a hefty price, but if you pony up it'll be worth the moolah.
Photos: Bottletree 1/5/08
2008-01-08 20:52:00 I've been snapping pics at shows I go to see, and I figure it's time to start sharing those with y'all. Here's some from last Saturday's Pick.
Pick of the Day 1/7/08
2008-01-07 16:14:00 I've been looking forward to this one since it was announced. Tonight Bottletree is showing , for FREE, the Final Cut of Ridley Scott's Blade Runner. This is one of the best films every made, a twisted sci-fi noir starring marvelously grumpy Harrison Ford. Be there people, it doesn't get better than this on a Monday night.Blade Runner Final Cut @ BottletreeAdmission: FREEGo Time: 8PMI'll see you there, or you can cry on my shoulder later.
Pick of the Day 1/4/08
2008-01-04 17:10:00 I've got mixed feelings about today. One of the three bands playing at The Nick (Morning State) should be worth checking out, but the other two don't inspire my confidence in a good time. If you don't mind risking you auditory instruments, be there.Morning State / Halfdown Thomas / Young Agent Jones @ The NickAdmission: 7$Go Time: 9PM|If, on the other hand, you just can't stomach it, head on down to Bottletree. They're having another DIY DJ night, so listen to what you want.
Pick of the Day 12/27/07
2007-12-27 17:21:00 Yay! Another movie night at Bottletree. Too bad I'm not in town.Documentary Film Night: The Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars @ BottletreeAdmission: FreeGet There: 8PMHave fun everybody!
Concert Poster of the Day 12/22/07
2007-12-22 19:10:00 Here's a great gig rag from today's Pick Wild Sweet Orange, from everyone's favorite venue!Wild Sweet Orange (Bottletree '06)
Pick of the Day 12/15/07
2007-12-15 18:30:00 Today's pick is another benefit, but this one hits a little closer to home. Bottletree has lined up four bands and and art auction to help Wes Frazer, a local photographer who was recently the victim of a home robbery and lost ALL of his equipment. This is win - win folks. See a great show, help a guy out, and pick up some art (it is Christmas time after all -- and why not get a gift that means something instead of some compromise they already know they're getting).Broken Letters / Sworn Enemies / Slow Masters / Lee Bains @ The BottletreeAdmission: 10$Get down there: 7PM Let's call tonight's bands "Music To Burn A Barn Down To". Broken Letters for the preparation. Sworn Enemies for the perspiration. Slow Masters for the annihilation. Lee Bains for the desolation.
Pick of the Day 12/14/07
2007-12-14 18:09:00 Bottletree is serving up a smorgasbord tonight. On the menu: retro latex, glitter glam, chick-punk, and that's just the first band:GORE GORE GIRLS / THE RECOGNITION / SILVER LIONS 20-20 / SEX DRAGON @ The BottletreeAdmission: 12$Lift Off: 8PMIt's possible Silver Lions 20/20 and Sex Dragon are the same band, but I can't be sure. It can only add to the mystery of the evening! Which band will show? If both come, will they form some sort of mutant hybrid super group? Will our faces melt? Only YOU* can discover the answer, at Bottletree tonight!*everyone
Concert Poster of the Day 12/13/07
2007-12-13 19:17:00 I wanted to throw a little more lovin' at these guys, and I've never had a local bands poster as CPOTD, so here we are:Through The Sparks (Bottletree '07)
Pick of the Day 11/30/07
2007-11-30 19:37:00 I'm tempted to send you to see Sons of Roswell at The Nick, but you'd have to sit through atrocious mediocre-ville in order to get to them, and it's not worth that much agony. Instead, I'm opting for:Raquy and the Caveman @ BottletreeAdmission: 12$Get down: 7PMThough Middle Eastern drumming isn't really my area of expertise, it's definitely the most interesting thing going on tonight. Also, Raquy and the Caveman will be accompanied by three regional dance troupes, and I'm thinking there might be little belly-dancing involved! Hooray for bellies. |
|
 |
|
 |
