A Former Greenhorn of the Greenhornes

I've underestimated your effect on me or maybe I was too blind to see... The Greenhornes - Underestimator

The Raconteurs released the great album Broken Boy Solider in 2006.  What initially seemed to me to be a Jack White vehicle, later I realized I underestimated the importance of the other 3 members.  First, I really got into Brendan Benson's great power pop type music.  Then later I discovered Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler's band The Greenhornes.  Their sound is reminiscent of 1960's garage rock and in particular The Animals.  I guess it is no coincident that they recorded with Eric Burdon in 2012.

I have been collecting their music, but some of their discs are hard to find or really expensive.  I guess to sum it up I will quote the great Michael Scott - "Next time you will estimate me".

Discography:

• Gun For You (1990)
• The Greenhornes (2001)
• Dual Mono (2002)
• East Grand Blues (ep) (2005)
• Sewed Souls (compilation) (2005)
• Four Stars (2010)
• Eric Burdon & The Greenhornes (ep) (2012)

The Opening Act

I remember when your neon used to burn so bright and pink... Houndmouth - Sedona

I have seen many concerts over the years, and the majority included an opening act.  The opening act can be a mixed bag.  Sometimes the opener adds enjoyment to the overall concert and sometimes you are left wanting the headliner to come on out and play.

Friday night Houndmouth opened for The Avett Brothers in Lexington and played a solid set.  I was not familiar with their music, but yet I was engaged and entertained.  Houndmouth's sound was tight, and the songs stuck with me, even after the show.  Their sound was a little reminiscent of Band of Horses, a band that I saw back in 2014.  I plan to investigate this band further.

Lexinton, KY 4/25/2025 Setlist

Some of the notable opening acts that I have seen:

• The BoDeans
• Josh Rouse
• Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez
• Lucinda Williams
• Old Crow Medicine Show

Some of the notable double-bills that I have seen:

• The Kinks / The Romantics
• Steve Earle / John Hiatt
• R.E.M. / 10,000 Maniacs
• Hootie & the Blowfish / John Hiatt
• Chicago / Brian Wilson w/Al Jardine & Blondie Chaplin
• Bob Dylan / Willie Nelson

The Avett Brothers - Will You Return?

Will you come again?  It's hard to say, I surely hope so... The Avett Brothers - Will You Return?

The Avett Brothers are amazing in concert.  First of all, they are uber talented singers and fantastic musicians, but they also connect with the audience so well.  Friday night, they played about 2 1/2 hours of passionate, fun music.  Their set covered their entire catalogue, and the audience knew the songs, singing along at any opportunity.

Lexinton, KY 4/25/2025 Setlist

The Baseball Project Season

Down went Rose, down went Morgan, down went Driessen... The Baseball Project - Dock Went Hunting Heads

The Baseball Project are a "Super Group" featuring the members listed below.  It is a project of love, the love of baseball.  The songs are all about baseball, which sounds ridiculous, but they pull it off so well.  The songs are brilliantly written and performed.

I grew up a Cincinnati Reds fan during the Big Red Machine era.  So, this song about Dock Ellis pitching against and throwing at the top of the Reds line-up makes me smile.  The song ties up the Dock Ellis saga with a bow at the end.

I am hoping to see these guys (and gal) this summer.  It's Baseball Project Season.

The Baseball Project

• Peter Buck (R.E.M., The Minus 5, Tuatara, The No Ones)
• Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows, The Minus 5, Tuatara, The No Ones)
• Linda Pitmon
• Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate)
• Mike Mills (R.E.M.)

The Avett Brothers in the City

If I get murdered in the city, don't go revenging in my name... The Avett Brothers - Murder In the City

I plan to see The Avett Brothers this weekend and it will be my 3rd time seeing them live. In recent years I have become very fond of their unique blend of Americana.  I highly recommend these guys and hope to review the concert next week.

The Beach Boys Do It Again

Well, I've been thinking 'bout all the places we've surfed and danced and all the faces we've missed, so let's get back together and do it again... The Beach Boys - Do It Again

For the past several years I have really enjoyed listening and learning the late 60's and 70's Beach Boys catalogue.  Up to then I had always thought that after Pet Sounds they became a greatest hits band.  I can't believe that I was unfamiliar with some of their best albums like Surfs Up, Sunflower and Holland.  

My journey into The Beach Boys really started with around the Covid year and watching videos on Youtube.  I discovered these channels: Giggens, The Beach Boys Basement and The Beach Boys Hangout.  Watching these channels inspired me to collect and really listen to these albums.  

The Records' Power Pop

I don't want to argue, there's nothing to say; Get me out of your starry eyes and be on your way... The Records - Starry Eyes

I've been into power pop for some time now and for me Power Pop starts with The Beatles and The Who.  I think you can throw in a lot of the 1960's "pop" bands into the mix like The Byrds, The Beach Boys, The Hollies, The Kinks and so forth.

Then in the late 1960's/early 1970's you had great bands like Badfinger, The Raspberries, Big Star, etc..  One of the lesser-known Power Pop bands, The Records made their debut in 1979 with Shades in Bed.  The album featured what has become a Power Pop classic Starry Eyes.  

Things Are Looking Up for Ringo Starr

No matter where you place in the human race, there is mercy, there is grace, look up... 
Ringo Starr - Look Up

I just heard that the original drummer for The Beatles, Pete Best announced his retirement.  I was looking forward to see him play in May but that show has since been canceled.  I wish him all the best.

His Beatles’s replacement and my favorite drummer (along with Keith Moon) Ringo Starr has recently put out his best album in years.  It is a fine one.  Aided by artists such as Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Lucius and Larkin Poe and produced by super-producer T-Bone Burnett, Ringo’s Look Up is a country flavored joy.  Burnett tends to bring out the best in whoever he works with and he has done it here once again.

Here are some of my favorite T-Bone produced works:

        The New Basement Tapes: Lost on the River (2013)

        Counting Crows - August and Everything After (1993)

        Peter Case - Peter Case (1986)

        The Wallflowers - Bringing Down the Horse (1996)

        O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Soundtrack) (2000)

        Los Lobos - Will the Wolf Survive (1984)

        Robert Plant and Alison Kraus - Raising Sand (2007)

        BoDeans - Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams (1986)

The Bluegrass is Where the Road Went for the Old 97's

Someday you'd watch this big green river flow, who knows where the road goes...  Old 97's - Where the Road Goes

 2024 was a fantastic concert year for me personally.  I finally got to see the Old 97's and to make it even better they had just released one of their better albums in several years, American Primitive.   The highlights of the show included Can't Get a Line, Barrier Reef, Where the Road Goes, Weightless, Longer Than You've Been Alive, etc...

The Lemon Twig's Golden Years

 'Cause in a blink of an eye I'll watch these golden years fly by...  The Lemon Twigs - My Golden Years

I remember seeing The Lemon Twigs on several best of the year albums in in 2023 for the album Everything Harmony.  So last year I had the opportunity to the Twigs live.  To gear up for the show, I bought their then latest A Dream Is All We Know.  I quickly came to love the song My Golden Years, which became my favorite song of the year.  The song was great, the album was great and the concert was great.  These truly are The Lemon Twigs golden years.