Before we proceed with our glorious future, here are the 10 albums I think of when I think of 2008:
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Shearwater - Rook
Drive-By Truckers - Brighter than Creation’s Dark
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride
Nas - Untitled
Nico Muhly - Mothertongue
The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)
My convoluted reasoning behind these choices can be found here, but any one of them, yes, even the ubiquitous Lil Wayne record, would have made 2008 an excellent year of listening. The albums I picked for the local top 5, found here, were no less illuminating. One correction should be noted, however, that the link for Harlan’s Web site is now under construction. The ongoing saga of this great little band can be read here.
In the here and the now, there is plenty worth exploring. One of the more diverse lineups this week involves local subterranean metal agents of change Thou along with New Orleans chamber music/avant-folk outfit Why Are We Building Such a Big Ship? at Spanish Moon. I caught Big Ship? at an informal show/cookout in a warehouse on a backstreet in New Orleans about two years ago, their sound as scintillating and tangled as the holiday lights strewn around the makeshift stage; I look forward to hearing them in better acoustic environs especially in contrast to the meteoric impact of Thou. New Orleans metal quintet Haarp offers a bridge between the two.
For those about to rock but don’t have the gear, North Gate tavern is hosting their Wednesday Night Music Club and providing drums, amps, mics and cables, according to their Web site. “All we need is you.” The world needs your heartfelt power ballads and scorching axe skills. Deprive us no longer, young rock stars. Plus there are drink specials! See the North Gate Tavern’s Web site for more details.
Finally another nautical addition to the seafaring bands of Baton Rouge, If I Were a Battleship raises their sails in the name of Melodramatic Popular Song, according to their myspace page. Set sail for Click’s on Saturday to check these salty dogs for yourself.
Wednesday, Jan. 7
Wednesday Night Music Club at North Gate Tavern
Thursday, Jan. 8
Magnolia Sons at Chelsea’s
The V-Tones at The Varsity
Blue Magma and Subject Optional at North Gate Tavern
Ryan Jenkins at Click’s
Friday, Jan. 9
justinbailey, Rhinosaur, Black Falcon Destroyer and Bird at Spanish Moon
Illuminasty Trio (Skerik, Mike SDillon, and James Singleton) at Chelsea’s
The Chee Weez at The Varsity
No Fuego, We Are the Living, and NADJA at North Gate Tavern
Jonathon “Boogie” Long at Boudreaux & Thibodeaux’s
Bright City Lights at Click’s
Saturday, Jan. 10
Thou, Haarp, and Why Are We Building Such a Big Ship? at Spanish Moon
Mabel’s Parlor Band at Chelsea’s
Blowermotor, Peckernut, and the Axes of Evil at North Gate Tavern
Trouble with Lefty at Boudreaux & Thibodeaux’s
Ayerlon and If I Were a Battleship at Click’s
19th Street Red at Teddy’s Juke Joint
Sunday, Jan. 11
Troy Turner at Teddy’s Juke Joint
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