Typically, when there are three or more bands performing on the same bill, something's gotta give. I mean the odds of all three bands being competent, interesting musicians with a catchy set of songs to perform is pretty slim. Hell, most times the odds of two good bands sharing the same bill is a goddamned miracle. This past Sunday, however, was different. Almost.
Sandwiched between The Ambitions and The Detroit Cobras was a band from Birmingham, Alabama called Taylor Hollingsworth and the Spider Eaters. This trio was well aware of their thankless #2 spot — and they knew the only way out was sheer, energetic, foot-stompin' rock n' roll. Some times their songs sounded just a few notes shy of someone else, while other times they would blow through three or four songs in a row sounding like punk had just parked it's guitar in rock's grungy garage to rev its engines and let out the throttle. A drummer called “The Death Machine” thumped on his kit while the other two careened about the stage amidst a flurry of crunching chords and surprisingly pleasant harmonies. When the Spider Eaters lost sight of their pop sensibilities and veered off into a baaaaad Led Zeppelin-like jam I think everybody was wishing the Detroit Cobras would take the stage sooner rather than later. Still, I think there was more good music played by this young band from Alabama, than bad. And that has to count for something.
Sandwiched between The Ambitions and The Detroit Cobras was a band from Birmingham, Alabama called Taylor Hollingsworth and the Spider Eaters. This trio was well aware of their thankless #2 spot — and they knew the only way out was sheer, energetic, foot-stompin' rock n' roll. Some times their songs sounded just a few notes shy of someone else, while other times they would blow through three or four songs in a row sounding like punk had just parked it's guitar in rock's grungy garage to rev its engines and let out the throttle. A drummer called “The Death Machine” thumped on his kit while the other two careened about the stage amidst a flurry of crunching chords and surprisingly pleasant harmonies. When the Spider Eaters lost sight of their pop sensibilities and veered off into a baaaaad Led Zeppelin-like jam I think everybody was wishing the Detroit Cobras would take the stage sooner rather than later. Still, I think there was more good music played by this young band from Alabama, than bad. And that has to count for something.
The Happy Medium Song of the Day is “When I Get Around” by Taylor Hollingsworth and the Spider Eaters. Yumm. (Please use the comments box to share your thoughts.)