Sunday, January 31, 2016

WSPC PLAYLIST JANUARY 2016

January 1, 2016
"New Year's Day" performed by U2

"The Right Thing Right" performed by Johnny Marr
"The Only One I Know" performed by The Charlatans UK
"San Francisco" performed by Foxygen
"Just A Little" performed by The Beau Brummels
"Near Wild Heaven" performed by R.E.M.

"Floating On Air" performed by Dam-Funk
"Burning Bar" performed by Tangerine Dream
"Does It Really Happen?" performed by Yes
"The Little Blue Frog" performed by Miles Davis
"E=MC2" performed by J  Dilla

January 2, 2016
"The Captain And Me" performed by The Doobie Brothers
"Dust" performed by Steve Winwood
"Pinball Wizard" performed by The Who
"It Is Not Meant To Be" performed by Tame Impala
"Tour De World" performed by Northside

January 3, 2016
"Back To The World" performed by Curtis Mayfield
"Feeding Off The Love Of The Land" performed by Stevie Wonder
"I'm Dying Of Thirst" performed by Robert Glasper

January 4, 2016
"5 a.m." performed by David Gilmour
"Back 2 Life (A Capella)/Jazzie's Groove" performed by Soul II Soul
"It's Working" performed by MGMT
"Catch Me I'm Falling" performed by Real Life
"Welcome To The Working Week" performed by Elvis Costello

"Killin' The Vibe" performed by Ducktails
"A Place You Return To In A Dream" performed by Field Mouse
"Living My Life" performed by Deerhunter

"Crush With Eyeliner" performed by R.E.M.
"Hellbent" performed by New Order
"Life's What You Make It" performed by Talk Talk
"Crushed" performed by Cocteau Twins

January 5, 2016
"Man In A Suitcase" (live) performed by The Police
"Suitcase" performed by Badfinger
"The Suitcase Song" performed by Sam & Ruby
"Suitcase" performed by Keb' Mo'
"I Live In A Suitcase" performed by Thomas Dolby

January 6, 2016
"Debaser" performed by Pixies
"Kundalini Express" performed by Love And Rockets
"Fool In The Rain" performed by Led Zeppelin
"Loving Cup" performed by The Rolling Stones
"Rocket's Tail" performed by Kate Bush

Janaury 7, 2016
PRINCE 2005 NAACP AWARDS PERFORMANCE

Janaury 8, 2016
"Hang On Sloopy" performed by The McCoys
"Friday On My Mind" performed by The Easybeats
"A Girl Like You" performed by Edwyn Collins
"The In Crowd" performed by The Ramsey Lewis Trio
"Lazarus" performed by David Bowie

"Untitled #2" (live on "Jimmy Fallon") performed by Kendrick Lamar-WSPC PREMIERE

"Space Oddity" (live in Oslo 2012) performed by D'Angelo and the Vanguard
"The Man Who Sold The World" (live MTV Unplugged) performed by Nirvana
"O Astronauta de Marmore (Starman)" performed by Seu Jorge
"Letter To Hermione" (live) performed by The Robert Glasper Experiment featuring Bilal
"Ashes To Ashes" performed by Tears For Fears
"'Heroes'" performed by TV On The Radio

January 9, 2016
"Good Lava" performed by Esperanza Spalding-WSPC PREMIERE

"Drop Dead Legs" performed by Van Halen
"In The Evening" performed by Led Zeppelin

"Under Cover" performed by Ducktails
"Numbers" performed by Ryan Adams and the Cardinals
"American Wife" performed by Rilo Kiley
"One Less Bell To Answer" performed by The Fifth Dimension
"Embuscade" performed by Phoenix

January 11, 2016

DAVID BOWIE  JANUARY 8, 1947-JANUARY 10, 2016
"Loving The Alien" (live 2003)
"Bring Me The Disco King"
"5:15 The Angels Have Gone"
"If I'm Dreaming My Life"
"Seven Years In Tibet"
"Subterraneans"
"Word On A Wing"
"Soul Love"
"I Can't Give Everything Away"-WSPC PREMIERE

January 12, 2016
"Rebel Rebel" (live) performed by Todd Rundgren-WSPC PREMIERE

"The Loneliest Guy"
"Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud"
"Quicksand"
"Cat People"
"John, I'm Only Dancing Again"

"Moonage Daydream" (live) performed by Modern Mod

January 16, 2016
"King Of The World" performed by Weezer-WSPC PREMIERE
"Kingdom Come" performed by David Bowie
"Life On Mars?" performed by David Bowie
"Cindy Tells Me" performed by Brian Eno
"Sad American" performed by Kaki King
"The Headmaster Ritual" (live) performed by Johnny Marr
"Just Like A Woman" performed by Jeff Buckley-WSPC PREMIERE

January 18, 2016

KEVIN JUNIOR DECEMBER 26, 1969-JANUARY 15, 2016
All songs performed by The Chamber Strings
"Baby It's You"
"Let Me Live My Own Life"
"Flashing Star"
"Telegram"
"Last Lovers" (acoustic version)

January 21, 2016
"Pretty Thing" performed by Bo Diddley
"Planet Earth" performed by Duran Duran
"I'm Designer" performed by Queens Of The Stone Age
"Outlaw Man" performed by Eagles
"Papercuts" performed by Modern Mod

January 23, 2016
"High Roller" performed by Cheap Trick
"Jailbreak" performed by Thin Lizzy
"Bandoliers" performed by Them Crooked Vultures
"Secrets" performed by Van Halen
"Armenia City In The Sky" performed by The Who

January 24, 2016
"Maggot Brain" performed by Funkadelic
"Before The Beginning" performed by John Frusciante
"Thousand Knives" performed by Ryuichi Sakamoto
"Kiev Mission" performed by Tangerine Dream
"Birds Of Fire" performed by Mahavishnu Orchestra

"Bowie By Request" (live 2002)

January 25, 2016
"Find The River" performed by R.E.M.
"Thur These Walls" performed by Phil Collins
"Playa Playa" performed by D'Angelo
"I Wanna Breathe" performed by Sananda Maitreya
"Save Me" performed by Queen

January 26, 2016

HAPPY 61ST BIRTHDAY TO EDDIE VAN HALEN
all songs performed by Van Halen
"I'll Wait"
"Don't Tell Me What Love Can Do"
"Mean Street"
"Year To The Day"
"Intruder/Pretty Woman"

"High Flying Bird" performed by Elton John
"Letter Of Intent" performed by Ducktails
"Take Care" performed by Deerhunter
"Trichotillomania" performed by Trophy Dad
"Bachelor Kisses" performed by The Go-Betweens
"Sleepy Night" performed by The Chamber Strings

January 27, 2016
"One Of These Days" (from "Live At Pompeii") performed by Pink Floyd

"Water" performed by The Who
"Oceans" performed by Pearl Jam
"Yes, The River Knows" performed by The Doors
"To Live Forever" performed by Planet P. Project

January 28, 2016
"You Never Know" performed by Adrian Belew-WSPC PREMIERE

"Warszawa" performed by David Bowie
"Wallflower" performed by Peter Gabriel
"Another Galaxy" performed by Paul Simon
"Sweet Sucker Dance" performed by Joni Mitchell
"Do U Dig U?" performed by Q-Tip

January 29, 2016

R.I.P. PAUL KANTNER MARCH 17, 1941-JANUARY 28, 2016
all songs performed by Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship
"We Can Be Together"
"D.C.B.A.-25"
"Come Up The Years"
"Caroline"
"Thee Will Be Love"

January 30, 2016

HAPPY 65TH BIRTHDAY TO PHIL COLLINS
"The West Side" (live 1982)
"I Know What I Like" (live 1976) performed by Genesis
"Abacab" performed by Genesis
"Nuclear Burn" performed by Brand X
"Drum Duet/Los Endos" (live 1987) performed by Genesis

January 31, 2016
"Sunday" performed by David Bowie
"Blues To Elvin" performed by John Coltrane
"Freddie Freeloader" performed by Miles Davis
"Footprints" performed by Wayne Shorter
"Cantaloupe Island" performed by Herbie Hancock
"Win" performed by David Bowie

"Find Your Way Back" performed by Jefferson Starship

Saturday, January 30, 2016

SAVAGE RADIO PLAYLISTS JANUARY 2016: WVMO-THE VOICE OF MONONA 98.7 FM

SAVAGE RADIO: EPISODE #9-WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2016 PLAYLIST
1. "Gotta Start Somewhere" performed by Jon Brion
2. "So It Goes" performed by Nick Lowe
3. "Whatever We Want" performed by Red Hot Chili Peppers
4. "Panorama" performed by The Cars
5. "Love, Love, Love" performed by Lenny Kravitz
6. "Heart Of Stone" performed by Dave Stewart
7. "What In The World" performed by The Dukes Of Stratosphear
8. "Sunshine In The Shade" performed by The Fixx
9. "Too Young" performed by Phoenix
10."To You" performed by Paul McCartney and Wings
11."Lockdown" performed by Johnny Marr
12. "Doncha Wanna" performed by Tinted Windows

SAVAGE RADIO: EPISODE #10-DAVID BOWIE TRIBUTE  WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016 PLAYLIST
1. "Space Oddity" (1969 original demo version)
2. "Speed Of Life"
3. "Sorrow"
4. "Moonage Daydream"
5. "Station To Station"
6. "Pretty Pink Rose" performed by Adrian Belew and David Bowie
7. "Looking For Satellites"
8. "All The Young Dudes" (original Bowie 1972 version)
9. "Dollar Days"

SAVAGE RADIO: EPISODE #11-SAVAGE RADIO MEMORIAL SERVICE  WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 PLAYLIST
1. "I Love You, Goodbye" performed by Thomas Dolby
2. "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" performed by Elton John
3. "Here Today" performed by Paul McCartney
4. "Dear Friend" performed by Queen 
5. "Life Goes On" performed by The Kinks
6. "Lost Horizon" performed by Todd Rundgren
7. "It's No Wonder" performed by The Chamber Strings
8. "It's Your World Now" performed by Eagles

SAVAGE RADIO: EPISODE #12-WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2016 PLAYLIST
1. "D.J." performed by David Bowie
2. "Mary Anne" performed by Marshall Crenshaw
3. "A Villa In Portugal" performed by The Pursuit Of Happiness
4. "Crooked Crown" performed by The Anniversary
5. "Way You Walk" performed by Papas Fritas
6. "Eyes" performed by Modern Mod
7. "Use Once And Destroy" performed by Hole
8. "Three Mile Smile" performed by Aerosmith
9. "Snow Blind" performed by Ace Frehley
10. "President Gas" performed by The Psychedelic Furs
11. "Ring Me Up" performed by DiVinyls
12. "Untitled" performed by The Smashing Pumpkins

NOW PLAYING IN THE SAVAGE JUKEBOX JANUARY 2016

"KAZEMACHI ROMAN"
HAPPY END
Released September 23, 2002
"INVITE THE LIGHT"
DAM FUNK
Released September 4, 2015
"RATTLE THAT LOCK"
DAVID GILMOUR
Released September 18, 2015
"FADING FRONTIER"
DEERHUNTER
Released October 15, 2015
"UNITED"
PHOENIX
Released September 19, 2000
"LODGER"
DAVID BOWIE
Released May 18, 1979
"GOSPEL MORNING"
THE CHAMBER STRINGS
Released June 13, 2000
"STATION TO STATION"
DAVID BOWIE
Released January 23, 1976
"A REALITY TOUR"
DAVID BOWIE
Released January 26, 2010
"THE BUDDHA OF SUBURBIA"
DAVID BOWIE
Released November 8, 1993
"PIN UPS"
DAVID BOWIE
Released October 19, 1973
"DESPERADO"
EAGLES
Released April 17, 1973
"DRAGONFLY"
JEFFERSON STARSHIP
Released September 1974

WORDS FOR GLENN


GLENN FREY
November 6, 1948-January 18, 2016


"Well, my time went so quickly/I went lickedy-splitly.."
-"Ol' 55"
music and lyrics by Tom Waits

Indeed...

While driving home from a movie on the early evening of Monday, January 18th, I heard the news on the radio that made me emphatically and sadly shout out loud inside of my car. Glenn Frey, singer/songwriter/musician and co-founder of the Eagles had passed away that day after enduring complications stemming from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia. He was 67 years old.

Dear readers and listeners, the passing of Glenn Frey is something that has not even fully begun to register with me, especially as I am still coming to terms with the passings of both David Bowie and Kevin Junior this month. That being said, Frey's death is by no means any less impactful. Quite honestly, his death means even more to me personally.
I do not care what anyone says but I have always and will forever love the Eagles. I do realize that the band has caught its more than fair amount of slings and arrows over time, whether for either not being "rock and roll" enough, for their polish and sheen, for their supposed and oft-criticized faux-outlaw personas, or even for their sheer ubiquity in the public's consciousness. Absolutely none of those perceptions mean a thing to me when I think of the actual music and the truth of their music, at least for my sensibilities, cannot be debated or disqualified.

Under the direction of Glenn Frey's leadership, the Eagles amassed a rock solid discography with not one bad album in the bunch and one undisputed top-to-bottom masterpiece with "Hotel California" (released December 8, 1976). The band contained a line-up of superior musicians whose pristine vocal harmonies could have given The Beach Boys a serious run for their money. Believe me, many of their songs are some of the most beautifully sung songs that I have ever heard in my life. And while he wisely and rightfully placed Eagles bandmate/drummer Don Henley at the forefront with his emotive, rugged and soulful vocals, as a singer, Glenn Frey had a voice that was as clear as the cleanest blue skies.

As for Glenn Frey, as writer or co-writer of material including "Take It Easy," "Peaceful Easy Feeling," "Lyin' Eyes," "New Kid In Town," "Desperado," "One Of These Nights," "Heartache Tonight," "Tequila Sunrise," "I Can't Tell You Why," as well as the aforementioned epics like "Hotel California" and "The Last Resort," among many others, he created not only a songbook that I would argue supplied a certain blueprint for what is now considered to be "Americana" music, the amalgamation of pop, soul, rock and country. Frey was at the forefront of creating undeniably timeless material that transcends generations. Going even further, the timeless nature of the music Frey created with the Eagles cannot be over-stated as these are songs that absolutely everybody knows! What I mean by that is I believe that you know these songs so well and so completely that one does not have to even know who the Eagles are in order to know these songs. The music that Glenn Frey had a hand in creating has long become part of our culture, and our soundscape. These songs are part of the atmosphere.
It is almost immeasurable to quantify what the Eagles have meant to my life as they have essentially been present to the point of being a fixture for as long as I am able to remember. They were part of my formative years, ever present through childhood, adolescence, college and adulthood. And when I think of them, I guess what they mean the most to me is how they brought every member of my family together as the power and grace of their music served as the tightest of connective tissue.
Certainly, that album cover is instantly recognizable. The Eagles' first compilation album "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975" (released February 17, 1976), the album that sits just behind Michael Jackson's "Thriller" at #2 for the highest selling albums of all time, is the very album that was a constant inside of the family car. Whether driving around Chicago and more importantly, when taking long car trips from Illinois to Kentucky each year, this album would sit proudly inside of the vehicle 8 track player and my parents and I--and sometimes some cousins along for the ride--would be so happily embraced by every single song.

This is no small feat. While my family has always embraced the arts and especially music, our personal tastes are wide and often do not intersect. My Father's adoration is jazz while my Mother's could voyage between R&B, show tunes, gospel or even opera. My cousin Adam's devotion was to the funk while his sister Susan's was more eclectic. But with the Eagles, all of us snapped together in harmony as there was not one song we disagreed upon. Not very much music throughout my life as able to perform such a communal accomplishment but (aside from The Jackson 5), the Eagles were one of the first and undeniably one of the very best. If that is not "rock and roll" enough for some of you out there, that's fine. Because who cares about rock and roll purity when an entire family can be lost and found together in song and harmony? This is what Glenn Frey gave to me.
Going back to the family car, I am unable to relinquish images on long stretches of endless highways and the sights seen when driving across America without hearing the music of the Eagles as the soundtrack. They are lushly inseparable and blissfully indistinguishable from each other as the land, the Earth, the plains, the farm  houses and animals, the gas stations and rest stops, the clouds, weather and sky, and the freeways, cars and trucks all informing the music and vice versa. The music Frey created with the band was the music of movement, of travel, of voyages, of journeys and odysseys--never stationary or sedentary.

Even now, I find that when I do listen to the Eagles, I am in some throes of transportation, moving from one location to another. Mostly, now, it is an inner journey I would suppose. Growing up and growing older, thinking about the journey of my life, where I have been and where I hope to be and those beautiful songs have only increased in weight and meaning through the passages of time. They touch me in deeper places, unveiling newfound truths, sounds and emotions along the way.
"New Kid In Town," for instance is one of those blissfully arranged and sung songs in the Eagles catalog where Glenn Frey operated at peak powers. I am just unable to tell you about how many times that I either still get chills or find a tear in the eye when he gets to the line, "There's so many things you could have told her/But night after night, you're willing to hold her/Just hold her/Tears on your shoulder..." The way those vocals curl and rise stop me cold EVERY time. Those songs have been so composed, constructed, produced, arranged and performed to withstand the test of time and I have heard these songs possibly thousands upon thousands of times. They have never deteriorated in quality, or entertainment or meaning. I don't care what kind of music one may worship or which musical allegiances that may carry, but I also believe that any songwriter would kill to write songs that are able to achieve what Glenn Frey achieved with the Eagles and I would gather for some listeners through his solo material.

For me, the magic of Glenn Frey was greatest with his band. That's right. His band as even no less than a figure as mercurial as Don Henley would always attest when interviewed. Frey was the captain of the ship, the leader, and the visionary. The one who would always take it to the limit one more time, inspiring all of us to do the very same within our own lives. Like David Bowie, Glenn Frey to me felt to be as ever present as the Earth and sky, something so unmovable, something so constant, so strong and therefore something immortal. But mortal he was, as they all are and I guess that is something else to try and grasp, as difficult and as painful as it is...even our heroes have to pass onwards too. It feels almost fitting that the first members of the band to depart is the leader. Even eagles need to take their rest.

On the Eagles' final album, the double set entitled "Long Road Out Of Eden" (released October 30, 2007), the record concludes with a Glenn Frey composition on which he sings the following words of farewell:

"It's your world now
My race is run
I'm moving on
Like the setting sun
No sad goodbyes
No tears allowed
You'll be alright
It's your world now...

...It's your world now
Use well the time
Be part of something good
Leave something good behind
The curtain falls
I take my bow
That's how it's meant to be
It's your world now"

And so it is.

Rest in peace, Glenn. My dear friend, rest in peace.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

GRAND FINALE: MODERN MOD with POST SOCIAL, TROPHY DAD and SURGEONS IN HEAT-LIVE AT HIGH NOON SALOON JANUARY 21, 2016

MODERN MOD-FAREWELL PERFORMANCE
with POST SOCIAL, TROPHY DAD and SURGEONS IN HEAT
HIGH NOON SALOON
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016
MADISON, WI

With all of the recent and painful goodbyes in the musical world, I must admit that I was just a little bit nervous to attend this concert due to any possibilities of injecting even more sadness into my life. What surprised me, however, was how superbly healing of a night it actually was.

Dear readers and listeners, it was just a little over one year ago that I found myself introduced to and fully enraptured by the music of a collective of the young Madison, WI musicians that have formulated the bands of Post Social and Modern Mod. If you have been regular visitors to this blogsite over the past year, you will have already seen the steady chronicling of my passionate ravings for both bands and their music, from the album reviews to the extensive interviews I was fortunate enough to have conducted with several of the band members during last summer and fall. Yet, it was through my conversations with Modern Mod bassist/singer/songwriter Alivia Kleinfeldt that I have been privy to a certain tidbit of very important information for quite some time: Modern Mod would soon disband.

Yes, Modern Mod, whose current and longest running incarnation, who in addition to Kleinfeldt, includes drummer Brendan Manley, guitarist Cal Pocernich and lead vocalist/guitarist Emily Massey, have decided that after five years of existence, that it was time for all of them to move onwards for different musical and life experiences. As a promise to Kleinfeldt, I held onto this information tightly because frankly, it was not my information to release. The end would and should arrive as the band saw fit, on their own timetable and besides, I not-so-secretly held out some hopes that maybe, possibly, they just might change their minds. Aside from myself, I knew that their families, and I would assume, some close associates also had this news, and I was certain that they equally housed the same hopes. And truthfully, as the band exited the stage for the final time and delivering what some longtime fans have already been celebrating as being possibly the very best concert they ever performed, those hopes of continuing still echoed through the hearts of their fans, including myself. And how could they not?

Modern Mod's final concert only re-confirmed everything we already knew about the band in spades. That this is a collective of superlative and superior musicians, singers and songwriters who are made for the stage and designed to be creative artists and who just have that inexplicable knack for forging a powerful connection between themselves and the audience as well as with each other. It is rare that an ending has proven itself to be so joyous, so affirming, so uplifting and just so much damn fun with smiles, laughter and open camaraderie rampantly abound and set to music so fervently inventive, open hearted and body slamming.

But, let's rewind a bit....
 
On a frigid Thursday night, I entered the High Noon Saloon to find the members of opening act Post Social already upon the stage preparing themselves for the evening and their role as one of Modern Mod's opening acts. On my way to the stage, I was happily intercepted by Modern Mod auxiliary member, guitarist Henry Stoehr who graciously presented me with a copy of one of his multiple band's new releases per a previous on-line discussion. We quickly exchanged pleasantries before he had to return to the backstage inner-sanctum where the members of his band Trophy Dad would also be performing on this special night. And after a few more moments of just milling around, checking out the sound board and saying a few quick words to Post Social guitarist Mitch Deitz and drummer Brendan Manley, it was time for the night to begin.
POST SOCIAL:
Shannon Connor: Guitars, Vocals
Mitch Deitz: Guitars, Vocals
Sam Galligan: Bass Guitar
Brendan Manley: Drums

I am truly finding that anytime that I am able to witness the band Post Social in a live setting is a most special thing due to the infectious spell they weave through their increasingly ambitious arrangements and songwriting plus the sheer exuberance of their musicianship and overall performances. Believe me, it is one of my greatest wishes that this group finds the level of support and adoration that Modern Mod has been able to cultivate as Post Social is more than deserving of any and all accolades and attention. As with the previous times that I have seen the band, as well as through listening to both of their albums, Post Social's musical foundation is superbly textured, seasoned and deeply sophisticated while also possessing a boundless kid-in-a-candy-shop enthusiasm that is tremendously infectious.

The bulk of their performance on this night centered around material from their second album "Young Randolphs" (released October 3, 2015), proving again that they have amassed a body of work that is tailor made for the stage and more than worthy of re-visiting through the album as the dynamics, melodics, and qualities of their performances demand the fullest of your attention.
Mitch Deitz again proved himself to be the consummate showman. From shredding his vocal register to rambunctiously leaping about the stage, he is a figure that you simply cannot take your eyes off of for his energy is that captivating. Deitz simply looks happy to be alive while upon the stage, as if he is doing the only thing that he would ever wish to be doing, regardless of how many people happen to be in attendance. His energy is that of the Pied Piper, you become excited simply because he is excited himself. You're drawn inwards and closer and then pulverized by the full band's expert delivery as they demonstrated over and again on selections like "Online," "Wall," "Gentle Ben," "Everyone" and the band's personal favorite track to perform live, the monumental "Ohio."
As a counterpoint to Deitz, guitarist/singer Shannon Connor offers a dreamier yet no less complex stage presence as selections like the stunning, shimmering "Green Screen" and "Haunt Me" transfix beautifully. It has been really something watching Connor grow as a singer while the interlocked guitar patterns he constructs with Deitz possess a glistening psychedelia that is just pleasurable to the ears and brought out to blissful delight on "Days," a track from the band's debut self titled release.
Bassist Sam Galligan, who confirms himself as the band's John Entwistle, only continues to impress with his dazzling musicianship that simply flows from his stoic, and therefore, nearly enigmatic stage presence. Rumbling and fluid, Galligan surrounds the music with muscle and that ever present and always important melodicism, always allowing the songs to continuously reveal themselves with every new listen and performance.
I will speak more to the undeniable strengths and skills of Brendan Manley a bit later as I focus upon Modern Mod, but simply stated, he is a phenomenal drummer. Hunched fully over his trap set with long locks flowing freely and often obscuring his face, Manley's drum performances are filled with palpable swing and force, thoroughly cementing the lockstep rhythm section he has formulated with Galligan.

And I think that is the beauty of a band like Post Social when it comes down to it. It is not always just enough to be a fine songwriter or even stellar musicians in and of themselves. What Post Social is able to achieve is firmly established through the combination of their skills, their love of music and the fellowship they share with each other as bandmates and as lifelong friends. Throughout this entire night and at other concert performances I attended over the last few months, I have seen the members of Post Social just hanging out together, supporting other musicians and artists and even happily cheering Manley and his Modern Mod co-horts onwards at their performance last month at the Barrymore Theater. Their affection for their music, their position as being creative artists and doing so with each other within this unique community all flows within to the music they create and share. The alchemy of that combination is nothing less than magical as far as I am concerned, making Post Social exist as so much more than a band. They are truly a brotherhood.

TROPHY DAD:
Justin Huber: Drums
Abby Sherman: Vocals, Bass Guitar, Trumpet
Henry Stoehr: Guitar, Keyboards
Jordan Zamansky: Vocals, Guitar

This was a great surprise and only served to fully elevate the night even further.

After witnessing Henry Stoehr's excellent guitar work performing with Modern Mod at the Barrymore Theater last month and having a few very warm and animated conversations with him, I was more than curious to see what he would offer within one of his own musical projects. Trophy Dad, a four piece collective in which Stoehr serves as guitarist/keyboardist, struck a musical palate that was possibly even a tad left-of-center from the already idiosyncratic Post Social!

With even stronger lead vocals from singer/bassist Abby Sherman leading the fray, the music of Trophy Dad also stems from a certain post-rock approach a la Tortoise or The Sea and Cake, while also finding ways to inject familiar motifs, which range from '60s and '70's pop to '80s new wave and punk rock, to '90's alt-rock to '00's indie rock, all of which is fueled by strong melodics augmented with priceless boy/girl harmonies that I have heard in bands like The Anniversary or Papas Fritas.
And yet, there was also something so arcane or even unfamiliar about the band's approach that nearly lended itself to something as ephemeral as jazz. Often times during their performance, I discovered that I was somewhat musically lost and I wondered if the increasingly packed house was feeling the same as I was. Still, I believe that we were all mesmerized as portions of Trophy Dad's performance felt as if we were witnessing their music being invented on the spot. I was unsure at times as to how and where the vocals were aligning themselves alongside the chords being played, and then, like placing that final piece into an elaborate jigsaw puzzle, the music would just snap together triumphantly, all making sense and becoming gracefully transportive as the whole house jumped and danced exuberantly together.
Trophy Dad's performance was a remarkable and dexterous display of musical agility that was also coupled with a fully down-to-Earth and at times goofy charm from the band members, who were clearly enjoying themselves, laughing openly and smiling broadly throughout, even as they created sonic textures that flew into forms of atonal psychedelia. Abby Sherman made for an excellent frontwoman, again propelled by her clear, assertive vocals, bass playing and even, at one point, picking up a trumpet to provide some deeper musical colors. Sherman was supported heroically by her excellent bandmates as guitarist/singer Jordan Zamansky provided equally terrific instrumental and vocal textures while drummer Justin Huber delivered the deep grooves.

As for Henry Stoehr, he was captivating. Despite Sherman's magnetic stage presence, my eyes continuously drifted to Stoehr, who seemed to function as the musical glue holding all of the various elements of the music together valiantly. He was the expert team player, never once calling attention to himself and providing whatever each song needed at precisely the right time.
Once Trophy Dad concluded their performance, I was so deeply impressed with their skill and their inventiveness that all I could ask for was to hear even more of it. I felt as if I was finally being let in on a certain musical secret within the Madison music community, one that often congealed into a vibrant musical stew that had the crowd happily upon its feet--including members of Modern Mod who gleefully danced at the lip of the stage.

photo courtesy of SCOTIFY
SURGEONS IN HEAT:
Adam Gilmore: Drums
Johnathon Mayer: Vocals, Guitar
Ryan Reeve: Bass Guitar

The evening's third opening band hailed from Milwaukee, WI., and delivered a set that was raw and ragged yet also tight and soulful. Surgeons In Heat, led by the scruffy, scrappy Johnathon Mayer and aided by the ace rhythm section of bassist Ryan Reeve and the Herculean drummer Adam Gilmore, performed a brief set of aggressive, agitated soul tunes that often made me think of a slightly updated version of "Get Happy!!" era Elvis Costello and the Attractions.

Clad in a flannel shirt and carrying a demeanor that sort of suggested the barfly balladeer of a figure like Alex Chilton crossed somewhere with Paul Westerberg, Mayer carried a more mercurial presence on stage, whether adjusting his guitar speakers or directing the proper tempos to his bandmates, leading to several moments of anticipatory pauses between songs. Yet when the songs arrived, they came on with an urgent slow jam seductiveness, a wicked energy that possessed a more authentic force of what romance, love and sex actually tends to really feel like.
 
While Reeve's prowling bass lines were expertly hip swaying with Gilmore's pulverizing drums supplying the lusty beat, Mayer sang pleadingly, often with a gorgeous Smokey Robinson-esque falsetto that gave every song that vulnerable edge that sat at the core of the persistent grooves and rock and roll power.
photo courtesy of SCOTIFY

And I do have to give special mention to Adam Gilmore, who nearly stole the show as his drumming was monstrous! Every hit felt to be a body slam, so much so that I was convinced that drum sticks would be broken before reaching the conclusions of songs. But there was much finesse to this particular behemoth, who confessed to me afterwards that there is a certain showmanship at work with his gyrations. Even so, they only added to the excitement contained within Surgeons In Heat's vigorously dynamic performance.

And now, it was time for the main event...

photo courtesy of SCOTIFY

MODERN MOD:
Alivia Kleinfeldt: Bass Guitar, Vocals
Brendan Manley: Drums
Emily Massey: Lead Vocals, Guitar
Cal Pocernich: Guitar
with special guest 
Henry Stoehr: Guitar on "Moonage Daydream" 

With the strains of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" appropriately filling the room, the evening's main act, Modern Mod entered the stage to a full house and rapturous applause before blazing into a head snapping opening knock out punch, a letter perfect cover of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid."

Immediately, there was something noticeably different in the air with this particular performance as compared to what I experienced at the Barrymore last month. As much as I was impressed with the band's performance one month ago, this time Modern Mod was coming out of the gate white hot, instantly feeding off of the energy of the crowd's shouts, screams, energy and the frequency of flashing lights from a variety of photographers, including myself. Modern Mod delivered the first shot brilliantly and they just basked in the glory, smiling away inside of the maelstrom they were creating.
And so it went for the remainder of their spectacular farewell performance. To best describe the experience, it was precisely like the saying of an artist giving their all as if it would be the last time they would ever perform because for Modern Mod, this night was indeed the final night and they make every single second of it count beautifully. Perfectly sequenced and presented fast and furiously, Modern Mod performed many of their now beloved songs as featured upon their album "Tunnels" (released April 21, 2014) from the propulsive "Don't" and "SLUTS," to the gloriously catchy "N.Y.C.," my personal favorite "Undefined," and of course, their signatures "Papercuts" and "Monday Morning" with its infectious chorus of "like John and Yoko" which had the packed High Noon Saloon in constant motion and singing along loudly.
photo courtesy of SCOTIFY

Modern Mod then only expanded their canvas with explosive cover versions of The Who's "I Can See For Miles" and Dinosaur Jr.'s "Feel The Pain." Both "A Reminder" and "Capture," two unrecorded/unreleased original selections also made their return, bringing the dark psychedelia a la The Smashing Pumpkins tinged with The Doors into the proceedings. The band truly achieved complete lift off with their jaw dropping cover version of David Bowie's "Moonage Daydream" with guitarist Henry Stoehr returning to the stage, making the band five members strong, and supplying an even more sky scorching solo than he achieved last month. Once the strains of that song faded, leaving the crowd successfully obliterated, I was certain that Bowie was beaming proudly from somewhere in infinity.

In fact, Modern Mod's final performance fully eclipsed what I had seen one month ago. As I have stated earlier, there was truly something in the air. When I addressed several of the band members afterwards and expressed my feelings about the show on this night, they each expressed similar feelings. Massey proclaimed that they were really "feeling it" on this night and Kleinfeldt even exclaimed to me afterwards that she hadn't even really seen Pocernich perform at the level to which he played on this night before. While the band was firmly in lockstep, they impressed each other, a quality that I am certain only helped to raise their individual games while functioning superbly as a unit.
photo courtesy of SCOTIFY

Where Emily Massey displayed an ethereal confidence at the Barrymore last month, on this night she fully embraced her role as Rock Goddess!!! Massey completely soared from the first note she sang all the way until her final sung note faded into the ether. She was stunning to behold as she was a vision in white, flowing from one end of the stage to the other, dropping to her knees in rock star rapture, holding her mic into the audience and even jumping into the audience at one point during "Undefined."
photo courtesy of Anita Sattel

Emily Massey did not just exist as a strong frontwoman for this final bow. She owned the stage, grabbing the night powerfully with both hands, demonstrating fully that she is indeed a creative force to be reckoned with, for now and wherever she chooses to head in the future.
photo courtesy of SCOTIFY

As for Cal Pocernich, I was tremendously excited to finally see him in action (as well as officially meet him afterwards) and he was dynamic. Like a prowling prizefighter, he struck a silent yet anxious pose initially but when it was time to bring the noise, Pocernich burst from his corner and slayed the crowd with his guitar fireworks while shaking and quaking in constant motion. With his mop-top of hair flailing around and his tall, thin frame jerking violently, he truly reminded me of a young Pete Townshend crossed with a young Elvis Costello.
 
And finally, there remains bassist Alivia Kleinfeldt and drummer Brendan Manley, the dangerously tight rhythm section who executed their combined skills flawlessly. As with Massey, Kleinfeldt fully owned the stage and the night as a whole as she, a vision in scarlet, twirled magically while laying down the rock foundation with superior melodicism and again, a certain muscle that was pile driving.
photo courtesy of SCOTIFY

For Brendan Manley, already having performed with Post Social earlier, felt fully warmed up and efficiently stretched out as he was especially limber with Modern Mod, becoming faster, more fluid, more malleable and shape shifting. Whatever jazz influences that are sprinkled within his overall playing felt to be firmly in essence by this point of the night. I felt his confidence as never before and therefore, the full extent of his considerable power which was a privilege to witness once again.
photo courtesy of SCOTIFY

In fact, the entire evening was a privilege to witness as all four bands represent something truly special within our local music community and frankly, for the music genre as a whole. Remember at the outset of this posting when I expressed my trepidation that this night just may exist as another sad night of musical goodbyes or at least something where the bittersweetness of the evening contained more bitter than sweet? Not once did I ever capture those melancholic feelings. Certainly, seeing Modern Mod take their final bows contained elements of sadness and how could it not. But, I just saw this band do what the very best are able to achieve when they call it a day: Modern Mod concluded upon their own terms, upon their own timetable and closed the door of the band in peak, fighting form. They transformed the High Noon Saloon into their house and we were all the honored guests. They went out completely on top and most importantly, the band members remain friends as well. 

Just take a moment to really think about what these young people, all aged between 18 and 20, have achieved within the five years of the band's existence. These people were inspired to learn instruments and formulate a band. They have written songs together, began performing and built a loyal and loving fan base while also eventually attaining praise from their peers, critics and even Garbage's Butch Vig. They have recorded an award winning album, starred in music videos and television commercials, and achieved copious radio airplay around the country. They have participated in numerous interviews and have performed several concert tours. They have weathered several band personnel changes and now, they have performed a farewell concert. There are long established bands that have achieved far less than Modern Mod and to think about everywhere they have been in such a short span of time, it is staggering, and just so amazing, especially as I think about where they can go from this point. 
The members of Modern Mod have truly been to the circus, so to speak, and now that they have had a front row seat to the experience of the full life of a band, and at such a young age to boot, the end of Modern Mod only signifies a much grander and brighter future for all of its members as whatever they choose to pursue from here, they can do so with the full knowledge of all that they have experienced so far. The Modern Mod experience will fully inform all of their future decisions and the knowledge that if the experience is not fun and free, then it is not an experience worth having.

It thrills and warms me to see that after all they have accomplished, these musicians continue to not possess any jaded feelings or a world weary "been-there-done-that" attitude. These are music professionals still filled with the excitement of performing, playing together and creating, and also just being surrounded by other creative people and being fans of music overall. This was a powerful element I witnessed throughout the night with all of the bands as this felt to be a supportive group of people. I was so pleased to see various members from all of the bands checking out each other's shows and gleefully so. And it also felt to be more than fitting that between sets, the music of David Bowie permeated the High Noon Saloon, uniting the audience in song, sound and vision as this particular artist has most likely inspired and has been embraced by everyone in the room at some point. 
photo courtesy of SCOTIFY

A grand finale this night was indeed! Celebratory, communal, invigorating, illuminating, rapturously ecstatic and euphoric. Modern Mod closed their existence in high style, uncompromising artistry and a whirlwind of fun and excitement. I do realize that it is more than a bit of a cliche to say that we shouldn't be sad because it is now over but to be happy that it happened.

But, this did happen and man, how could I not be happy?

All photos by Scott Collins except where indicated...extremely special thanks to SCOTIFY who took the best photos of the night by a mile and in turn assisting me greatly as my battery ran out!!!