Click here to see the photos.

The Hold Steady partied in State College, PA on 11-05-2008 at the State Theatre with their high intesity rock and roll.  They were touring as part of the co-headlining “Rock and Roll Means Well Tour” with the Drive-By Truckers.  To see the Drive By Truckers photos click here.

Since this is a co-headlining tour, the Drive-By Truckers and The Hold Steady are taking turns being the opener and headliner.  For this show, Drive By Truckers were the opener and The Hold Steady were the headliner.  State College is a college town (home of Pennsylvania State University) so it was probably a good idea that The Hold Steady were the headliners for this show.  Drive-By Truckers play a no apologies southern rock and The Hold Steady is a college favorite that plays rock music with a party theme and their sound somewhat reminicent to Bruce Springsteen mixed with Paul Westerberg (Replacements).

If you have never seen The Hold Steady live, you are missing a rock and roll party full of youthful energy.  The front man Craig Finn (Guitar and Lead Vocals) runs around the stage and flails his arms around rapidly over top the fans while singing as the fans are yelling the lyrics back at him at the same time. Franz Nicolay’s (keyboards) feet spend more time in the air than on the stage and Galen Polivka (bass) runs back and forth between the front and back of the stage like he is doing the shuttle run in gym class.  All the while Bobby Drake (Drums) and Tad Kubler (Lead Guitar) are holding the thing together while the others are rocking out.

They kicked off the setlist with “Positive Jam” into the title track off the new album “Stay Positive” no doubt this is anthem or message that is most appropriate for the tulmultuous election year we all experienced this year.  The setlists as shown below then conitnued to play current and older song playing the hits along the way like ” Sequestered In Memphis”, “in Between Stations”, and “Chips Ahoy”.  The entire encore included two covers (“Burning For You” by Blue Oyster Cult Cover and “Lookout Cleveland” by The Band ) and both were played with Patterson Hood and John Neff of the Drive-By Truckers.

The setlist for The Hold Steady that night was:

Positive Jam
Stay Positive
Constructive Summer
Multitude of Casualties
Hot Soft Light
Stuck Between Stations
Don’t Let Me Explode
One For Cutters
Cheyenne Sunrise
Stevie Nix
Sequestered In Memphis
The Swish
Hoodrat Friend
Navy Sheets
Chips Ahoy
Song About Jamaica
Lord I’m Discouraged
Slapped Actress

Encore:
Sweet Payne
Burning For You (Blue Oyster Cult Cover) w/ John Neff and Patterson Hood
Lookout Cleveland (The Band Cover) w/ John Neff Neff and Patterson Hood
How A Resurrection Really Feels

Click here to see the photos.

The Drive-By Truckers rolled into State College, PA the day after the elections 11-05-2008 and pummeled into the State Theatre with their brand of rock and roll with southern charm.  They were touring as part of the co-headlining “Rock and Roll Means Well Tour” with The Hold Steady. The Hold Steady photos can be seen here.

Since this is a co-headlining tour, the Drive-By Truckers and The Hold Steady are taking turns being the opener and headliner.  For this show, Drive By Truckers were the opener and The Hold Steady were the headliner.  State College is a college town (home of Pennsylvania State University) so it was probably a good idea that The Hold Steady were the headliners for this show.  Drive-By Truckers play a no apologies southern rock and The Hold Steady is a college favorite that plays rock music with a party theme and their sound somewhat reminicent to Bruce Springsteen mixed with Paul Westerberg (Replacements).

Both bands brought tons of energy, Mike Cooley from the Drive-By Truckers loves to hover over the crowd while ripping through his solos. The lead vocalist/rhythm guitar Patterson Hood punishes his guitar when he strums to the point that I can’t believe his strings last much longer than two songs.  John Neff provides the lap steel and back up guitar while Shonna Tucker and Brad Morgan provide the beats and rhythms on bass guitar and drums that pound your chest.

The Drive-By Truckers came out to an extremely smokey foggy stage… probably the most fog I have ever seen at a rock concert.  Through the thick fog I noticed one person (Mike Cooley) was missing, they spent a few minutes tuning up before Shonna Tucker took to the mic saying that Cooley was still peeing and he will just be a minute.  Thanks Shonna. :)  

As soon as Mike Cooley got to the state, Patterson Hood, an Obama supporter,  wasted no time talking about the election by poking a few jabs at Bush noting something to the effect that the new people have a lot of work to do and that it was time to send the old people up to the moon.  Then he started off the show with the resounding “Hell No I Ain’t Happy” which was a aimed at the current administration. It was obvious from that point on that the Drive-By Truckers were in great spirits about the election the night before and would play an energy packed show….. And they delivered. 

The last two songs had Tad Kubler from The Hold Steady on stage playing guitar, that made 4 guitars on stage and as you can expect… It was a loud and punishing way to end the setlist!

The Drive-By Trucker’s setlist for the night was:

Hell No I Ain’t Happy
Self Destructive Zones
(Something’s Got To) Give Pretty Soon
Sounds Better In The Song
That Man I Shot
3 Dimes Down
Putting People On The Moon
Marry Me
Tales Facing Up
Ghost To Most
Righteous Path
I’m Sorry Huston
Women Without Whiskey
Sink Hole
Carl Perkins Cadillac*
Let There Be Rock – w/Tad Kubler from The Hold Steady
Lookout Mountain – w/Tad Kubler from The Hold Steady

Click here to see the photos.

Joseph Arthur And The Lonely Astronauts played the Strand-Capital Theatre on 10/16/2008 in York, PA.  The night got off to a delayed start, fans all huddled in the entrance or took to the streets on an unusually warm October night while the band finished sound check.  Once inside, we all got treated to the music of Joseph Arthur.

Joseph Arthur is a singer songwriter that caught Peter Gabriel’s ear when he was looking for artists for his own creative label.  Joseph Arthur gained national attention however when Micheal Stipe of R.E.M. invited him and his band The Lonely Astronauts to open for R.E.M. in 2004 and 2005. 

Joseph Arthur is also a abstract modern painter, his artworks are displayed at his own art gallery in New York City called Museum of Modern Arthur.  Presumably, the painting on Joseph Arthur’s guitar in the photos was also done by himself.

Joseph Arthur is an artists while on stage as well.  He knows when to hold back, when to let the song go a little and when to release the energy.  Throughout the set you are introduced into folk, rock, alternative, as well as some indescribable music that you can hardly compare to anything but Beck.  It is actually difficult to peg him as a certain genre… His bounces around quite a bit musically, but it is all anchored down with solid songwriting. 

Songs like “Honey And The Moon” are shining examples of his superior songwriting skills.  The lush and textural soundscapes with layered and looped melancholy vocals are mesmerizing at times.  To play these songs live solo, Joseph uses looper and delay effects, with the full band the sound really comes alive.

If you get a chance to see Joseph Arthur, I’d recommend going.  His songs are heartfelt, at times rocking, and at times full of sound and feedback.  Just as you’d suspect an abstract painter would sound like.

Click here to see the photos.

Susan Tedeschi played in front of a packed Whitaker Center (if it was not sold out, it looked to be very close) audience in Harrisburg, PA on 10/15/2008.

Susuan Tedeschi is a multi-Grammy nominated blues guitarist/vocalist that has that is married to Derek Trucks (of the Allman Brothers Band and The Derek Trucks Band).  Each one has been very successful in their own solo careers and they also play together the band Soul Stew Revival.

Susan brought her soaring guitar and vocals interplay this night in support of her upcoming (now released) album “Back To The River”.  Her vocals and guitar playing are just as strong as they have ever been.  Susan has a very powerful yet very tuneful blues voice.  The new material sounded great live, it had a lot of energy and a lot of soul.  The two highlights for me were the hits “Angel From Montgomery” and “Just Won’t Burn”.  “Just Won’t burn” is an instant classic blues song that is absolutely gut-wrenching song that Susan spills her soul out on a table for.  That song could last 15 minutes and I would still be hanging on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Susan was backed by a very competent band which includes the legendary Ron Holloway which has recorded with the likes of the jazz great Dizzie Gillespie.  Also, on guitar is David Yoke which has a large task at hand playing the Derek Trucks’ riffs written for Susan’s recordings.  Not only did he prove to be capable of covering the ground but he also brought his own voice to the solos that was very refreshing.

Susan had great stage presence and talked to the audience frequently between songs wether it was about the upcoming election or jooking after she used a curse word and asked please not to record it so that her mother does not find out.

I got to meet Susan after the show and got her to sign the setlist and my ticket for me.  She is a very down to earth lady that was very happy to sign autographs and talk to the fans…. even about football noting her preference of Jacksonville after seeing one fan in a Steelers jersey. 

The setlist for the night was:
Wait For Me
Alone
Butterfly
Revolutionize Your Soul
True
Voodoo
Pack Up Our Things
People
Little By LIttle
Learning The Hard Way
There’s A Break In The Road
Just Won’t Burn
Back To The River
Love Will
Talkin About
Magnificent
Angel From Montgomery
Hurts So Bad

Encore:
For No One
Black
Rock Me

Click here to see the photos.

Ray Lamontagne played an amazing set of music at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA on 10-13-2008.  Ray is one of the few artists that were left on my list of “must see” concerts for a long time.  Ray is a singer-songwriter that has a very calm and sincere style of music.   There are many comparisons to him being this era’s Van Morrison or Joe Cocker.  He was the best male vocalist I have ever seen, period, and I have seen a lot. 

Unfortunately, I was limited to shooting only from mid-theatre for this show so there are no portraits or a large variety in photos for this show.

Ray is known to be an introverted artist with a bit of stage fright.  This perhaps is the reason that he prefers to stand stage side, photographers to shoot mid-theatre, and also perhaps also why he penned the song “Meg White” on his most recent CD “Gossip In The Grain”.  He reportedly wrote the song about Meg White, drummer of the White Stripes, because Ray thought she was treated unfairly by the media.  Meg White also reportedly has stage fright, caused the White Stripes to cancel 18 shows because of acute anxiety.

This concert was played with a full band backing except those songs noted on the setlist below.  The backing band was a complement to Ray’s music.  The guitarist had a great twangy tone that cuts through the mix and it takes great skill and practice for the full band to play at a restrained volume and tempo yet be concise.

The audience this night was for the most part quiet which is needed to fully enjoy Ray Lamontagne’s show.   Ray started the evening off with the new single, “You Are The Best Thing” then ”Hold You In My Arms”off his debut album “Trouble”.  The third song, “Empty” was amazing and I could hardly believe I was finally hearing it live as it will forever be the Till Dark CD’s centerpiece for me.  Lyrics paint vivid images throughout the song and it continues to build until he ultimately confronts his demons in the song.

“Well i looked my demons in the eyes,
laid bare my chest, said do your best, destroy me.
you see, i’ve been to hell and back so many times,
i must admit you kind of bore me.”

With my jaw on the ground, the rest of the night was a blur…  I was shocked, impressed, and stunned at how great of an evening that night turned out to be and I can not wait to see him again!

The setlist for the evening was:

You Are The Best Thing
Hold You In My Arms
Empty
I Still Care For You
Let It Be Me
Henry Nearly Killed me (It’s A Shame)
Old Roses And Cigarettes
Meg White
Burn (Ray Solo)
Winter Birds (Ray Solo)
Sarah
Hey Me, Hey Mamma
You Can Bring Me Flowers
A Falling Through (Only the first few seconds were played with guest Leona Ness and then it was aborted)
Trouble

Encore 1
Shelter
Three More Days

Encore 2
Gossip In the Grain
All The Wild Horses
Jolene

Click here to see the photos.

Langhorne Slim and the War Eagles played the Strand-Capitol Theatre in York, PA on 10-09-2008.  Langhorne Slim was originally from Langhorne, PA so he was back in his home state of Pennsylvania this Thursday night with the Hearltess Bastards opening. He expressed his happiness to be back in PA and also mentioned he was rooting for the Philadelphia Phillies that night to win their playoff game (they did).

This was the second time seeing Lanhorne Slim play, the first time he opened for Josh Ritter (Click the “Bands” page at the top to see that set of photos.) but this time they were the headliner and they invited Heartless Bastards to open which were also great!  Langhorne Slim has picked up a lot of airwaves on WXPN in particular since WXPN airs from Philadelphia.  Langhorne Slim plays a folk rock that at time seems reminiscent to Bob Dylan until the song picks up and the energy rivals the rock of the White Stripes. 

Langhorne’s backing band, The War Eagles, are exactly what he needed to make his music the punishing folk rock that it is.  They drive the tempo harder and faster at the drop of a hat and Langhornes nasal singing tone cuts right through it all.

I did not get a peak at the setlist but he played all his fan favorites including: Diamonds and Gold, Honey Pie, Rebel Side of Heaven, In the Midnight, etc.

Click here to see the photos.

Heartless Bastards opened for Langhorne Slim at the Strand-Capitol Theatre in York, PA on 10-09-2008.  It was the first time hearing and seeing the Heartless Bastards after hearing a lot of good things about them on various websites.  They are a trio from Dayton, Ohio though they had a friend of theirs, a violin player from Oregon, show up and play with them on a few songs.  Heartless Bastards are making a huge splash and are gaining popularity fast.  In fact, in a few months they are scheduled to open for the Black Keys in NYC which should be a huge show for them.

Even though I have never heard them before, they played a great set of indie rock songs that seem like something reliable you throw in your car’s CD player on a rainy day to make your drive a little better and brighter…  After their set was over the crowd tried to get an encore but b/c of a tight schedule, they were not able to play longer even though they wanted to.  Check them out on their myspace page to sample the muscic, it is good indie rock.

The setlist for their set was:

Into The Open
Done Got Old
Onions
Blue Day
Came A Long Way
I Swallowed A Dragonfly
So Quiet
Had To Go
Whicked Nothing
Gray