A.A. Bondy - "Believers" CD Review (Fat Possum) / Show at Bowery Ballroom on Nov. 22nd

AA Bondy - The Heart Is Willing by fatpossum

A.A. Bondy is releasing his third disc Believers (Fat Possum) on Tuesday and this follow-up to 2009’s When The Devil’s Loose shows Bondy continuing to expand on the full band sound of When the Devil’s Loose but moving away from his folky/Americana past into darker “Dax Riggs” territory.

Believers was recorded in the spring of 2011 by Rob Schnapf at Mant/Kingsize Studios in Glassell Park, California. The new ten songs (40 minute) disc sets a dark and melancholy mood and the disc’s press release states that these songs were “conjured during and between dreams, in bare rooms, and on the late night streets of America.” This is a lonely album where Bondy’s stark vocals and the steady undercurrent of neo-psychedelic echo and reverb will pull you into the restless night, right alongside of him.

In a 2009 interview, Bondy described When The Devil’s Loose as “something that more generates a feeling rather than telling someone how to feel” and I feel this new disc goes a step further in bringing out that emotive current within his music. This is also the closest that Bondy has gotten to replicating the sound of his live shows and he is joined on the disc by Ben Lester (drums, piano, pedal steel) and Macey Taylor (bass). Standout tracks are the slow burning “Skull & Bones” and the up-tempo disc opener “The Heart is Willing”.

"Believers is the last couple years in one long exposure" – Bondy



A.A. Bondy Tour Dates:
SEPT. 28 -- SAN DIEGO, CA -- THE CASBAH
SEPT. 29 -- LOS ANGELES, CA -- BOOTLEG THEATER
OCT. 4 -- PORTLAND, OR -- MISSISSIPPI STUDIOS
OCT. 6 -- SEATTLE, WA -- TRACTOR TAVERN
OCT. 7 -- VANCOUVER, BC -- MEDIA CLUB
NOV. 1 -- SALT LAKE CITY, UT -- URBAN LOUNGE
NOV. 2 -- DENVER, CO -- HI DIVE
NOV. 4 -- OMAHA, NE -- THE WAITING ROOM
NOV. 5 -- MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- 7TH STREET ENTRY
NOV. 7 -- MADISON, WI -- HIGH NOON
NOV. 8 -- CHICAGO, IL -- LINCOLN HALL
NOV. 10 -- NASHVILLE, TN -- MERCY LOUNGE
NOV. 11 -- LITTLE ROCK, AR -- STICKYZ CHICKEN SHACK
NOV. 12 -- DALLAS, TX -- PROPHET BAR
NOV. 13 -- AUSTIN, TX -- THE PARISH
NOV. 15 -- OXFORD, MS -- PROUD LARRY'S
NOV. 16 -- ATLANTA, GA -- THE EARL
NOV. 17 -- KNOXVILLE, TN -- PILOT LIGHT
NOV. 18 -- CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA -- THE SOUTHERN
NOV. 19 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- ROCK 'N ROLL HOTEL
NOV. 21 -- PHILADELPHIA, PA -- FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
NOV. 22 -- NEW YORK, NY -- BOWERY BALLROOM

There is no opening act (currently) listed for A.A. Bondy's show at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets are $15 the Bowery Ballroom's site lists doors at 8PM and the show at 9PM.

Links:
A.A. Bondy

Dax Riggs - Say Goodnight to the World CD Review (Fat Possum)

DOWNLOAD: Dax Riggs - "No One Will Be A Stranger"
DOWNLOAD: Dax Riggs - "Let Me Be Your Cigarette"

I found it hard not to think about Jeffrey Lee Pierce while listening to Say Goodnight to the World. Both Jeff and Dax have a blues/swamp-rock base in their music and both seem to have a number of personal demons. One difference that I can hear is that Jeffrey always seemed to be trying to exorcise his demons while Dax seems to be quite comfortable on the dark side.

The first thing that I noticed about this disc was Dax's powerful and emotive voice. His controlled delivery ranges from a Jeff Buckley/Ian McCulloch-style emotive plea to a John Cale-style deadpan snarl. The John Cale comparison is reinforeced with a haunting cover of "Heartbreak Hotel" that is about on par with Cale's version (on 1975's Slow Dazzle).

Musically, Say Goodnight to the World jumps between sludgey blues rock, neo-folk, straight-up psychedelic rockers and there are also a few reverb-drenched murder ballads. Staying on par with the dark music, song titles (and lyrical themes) include "I Hear Satan", "Gravedirt on My Blue Suede Shoes" and "Sleeping with the Witch". While Dax's music isn't intended for the light of day, it is perfect for late night listening.

Links:
Dax Riggs

Dax Riggs: Tour Photos & Setlist from Mercury Lounge, NYC 8-15-10

Every now and then, I run across an artist that everyone seems to know but I really have no clue about the artist’s past (bands, recording history, etc). Dax Riggs’ show at Mercury Lounge last week was a “gathering of the faithful” but I felt like I was probably the only one in the room who didn’t know (and couldn’t sing along to) Dax’s back catalogue.

To give an overview of the show, the room was full by the time Dax hit the stage. I don’t think the show was sold out but this was definitely not the night to arrive late. Dax played about an hour set (with no encore) – his music and lyrics served as his voice for the evening and he had a minimal amount of direct conversation with the audience. To repurpose a quote from recent interview that Dax gave to The Aquarian, last week’s show was a “kind of a shamanistic stepping out where there are no floor boards, kind of thing; the idea of dreams being real and the magic and the power of the human mind to dream and make dreams reality.” I haven’t seen anyone play with this much (emotional) intensity since seeing Jeff Buckley play Arlene’s Grocery years ago.



One funny moment during the show was when an audience member bought Dax a beer in an attempt to get a song added to the set list. This interaction seemed to puzzle Dax. He spent a few minutes trying to figure out what the guy wanted; all the while the crowd was heckling this audience member and a ‘wit’ in the back of the roof yelled out that the beer that given to Dax “has roofies in it”.

Seeing Dax Riggs in a live setting is an experience that shouldn’t be missed.



Upcoming Tour Dates:
Sep. 08, 2010 -- Casbah, San Diego, Ca
Sep. 09 2010 -- Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA
Sep. 10 2010 -- Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA
Sep. 11 2010 -- Cafe Du Nord, San Francisco, CA
Sep. 14 2010 -- Dante's, Portland, OR
Sep. 15 2010 -- Sunset Tavern, Seattle, WA
Sep. 18 2010 -- 7th St Entry, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sep. 19 2010 -- The Frequency, Madison, WI
Sep. 21 2010 -- Vaudeville Mews, Des Moines, Iowa
Sep. 22 2010 -- Mojo's, Columbia, MO
Sep. 23 2010 -- Proud Larry's, Oxford, Mississippi
Sep. 24 2010 -- Hal & Mal's, Jackson, MS
Sep. 25 2010 -- Thirsty Hippo, Hattiesburg, MS

Links:
Dax Riggs

Dax Riggs (x-deadboy & The Elephantmen) Releases Sophomore CD on August 3rd // Shows at Mercury Lounge on Aug. 14 & 15

DOWNLOAD: Dax Riggs - "No One Will Be A Stranger" (from Say Goodnight to the World)
Note: Song hosted on Spin.Com; It is sad that I have to includes comments like this to keep the RIAA weenies away

Former Acid Bath and deadboy & The Elephantmen frontman Dax Riggs is releasing releasing his second solo CD Say Goodnight to the World on August 3rd (Fat Possum) and he is kicking off a national headlining tour on July 30th in Frisco, TX. The tour wraps up at Hal and Mal's in Jackson, MS on Sept. 24th and the tour itinerary includes a two-night stand at the Mercury Lounge on August 14th and 15th.

Say Goodnight To The World was recorded at Riggs' Austin, TX, home over two weeks in January. This new disc has been described as being "at times heavy, haunting and otherworldly - unexpectedly beautiful or rocking in its deadboy-like deathpop at others". Riggs co-produced the album with Robbie Lee (guitar and multi-instrumentalist; also of The Howling Hex, Baby Dee), with mixing by Eric Wofford (The Black Angels, Bill Callahan). Bandmates Charley Siess and Kevin Fitzsimmons handle drums and bass, respectively.

The August 14th show at Mercury Lounge is a late show which is scheduled for 11:30PM. The August 15th show is scheduled for 9:30PM and tickets for each night are $12.00.

Here are the current tour dates:

JUL. 30 -- FRISCO, TX, LOCHRANN'S
JUL. 31 -- LITTLE ROCK, AR, JUANITA'S
AUG. 05 -- AUSTIN, TX, THE MOHAWK
AUG. 06 -- HOUSTON, TX, WALTER'S ON WASHINGTON
AUG. 07 -- NEW ORLEANS, LA, ONE EYED JACKS
AUG. 09 -- BIRMINGHAM, AL, BOTTLETREE
AUG. 10 -- ATLANTA, GA, THE EARL
AUG. 11 -- CARRBORO, NC, CAT'S CRADLE
AUG. 12 -- WASHINGTON, DC, DC9
AUG. 14 -- NEW YORK, NY, MERCURY LOUNGE
AUG. 15 -- NEW YORK, NY, MERCURY LOUNGE
AUG. 18 -- CLEVELAND, OH, GROG SHOP
AUG. 19 -- GRAND RAPIDS, MI, THE INTERSECTION
AUG. 20 -- CHICAGO, IL, EMPTY BOTTLE
AUG. 21 -- ST. LOUIS, MO, THE OLD ROCK HOUSE
SEPT. 08 -- SAN DIEGO, CA, CASBAH
SEPT. 09 -- LOS ANGELES, CA, SPACELAND
SEPT. 10 -- LOS ANGELES, CA, SPACELAND
SEPT. 11 -- SAN FRANCISCO, CA, CAFÉ DU NORD
SEPT. 14 -- PORTLAND, OR, DANTE'S
SEPT. 15 -- SEATTLE, WA, THE SUNSET
SEPT. 18 -- MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 7TH STREET ENTRY
SEPT. 21 -- DES MOINES, IA, VAUDEVILLE MEWS
SEPT. 22 -- COLUMBIA, MO, MOJO'S
SEPT. 23 -- OXFORD, MS, PROUD LARRY'S
SEPT. 24 -- JACKSON, MS, HAL & MAL'S

Links:
Dax Riggs