Not a bad mix of local and national talent performing around our area this hump day evening.
Anders Osborne, Stanton Moore and Josh Weathers at the Granada Theater
Born in Sweden but long a resident of Louisiana, Anders Osborne plays
rock with a friendly R&B/roots bent that comes across as warm and
accessible. A country songwriter of some note (Osborne wrote Tim
McGraw's No. 1 hit "Watch the Wind Blow By"), Osborne is also a talented
guitarist and singer. His most recent effort, American Patchwork, has
received some of the best reviews of Osborne's two decades in music.
Often compared to Springsteen and Van Morrison, Osborne is neither as
intense as the former nor as somber as the latter. Rather, his laidback
style masks a burning emotionalism that helps him create an interesting
niche all of his own. Opener Stanton Moore and his talented trio will
perform a set of their own and then back Osborne throughout his
performance.
Foe Destroyer, Tommy & The High Pilots, Without a Face and Babar at Hailey's
Sharing time between Denton and Austin, Foe Destroyer is a talented
group that has, in many ways, eclipsed the achievements of Oso Closo.
Consisting of basically the entire Oso line-up minus one guy, it's
rather remarkable the stylistic transformation from one band to the
other. Perhaps it's due to the sharing spirit between Daniel Garcia,
Chris McQueen and Cade Sadler. All three sing, play and write songs and
appear liberated by the leaderless concept of Foe Destroyer. Playing
with a simplicity that could have never been approached with Oso,
Garcia, McQueen and Sadler make happy music for not so happy times. Not
an easy feat. Also on tonight's jam-packed bill is California's Tommy
& The High Pilots, an earnest but capable alternative rock act with a
dramatic flair that fits the evening's mood perfectly.
Cuckoo Birds, Dharma and Florene at Rubber Gloves
Now that Denton's Cuckoo Byrds has gotten a couple of months of
seasoning under its belt, perhaps the duo of David Townsend and Lisa
McCollough will get into the studio and record a few of their oddball
songs. Reminiscent of Yo La Tengo's noisier moments, these Byrds' don't
mind reveling in feedback and tribal rhythms. Nothing wrong with that, I
say. I just wish the duo would book a Dallas show now and then.
