Tag Archives: AL

Transmitting a message from We Have Signal

If you missed the October 2nd preview and inaugural episode of APT’s new live music show We Have Signal, you’re in luck. Tonight (10.16) is the first episode to feature never before seen recordings of bands who have played Bottletree.

The show airs two 30 minute segments back to back and so tonight’s first band up will be Chicago melodic princes Pelican at 10 p.m. (which I highly recommend; I could listen to these guys and their seemingly endless number of guitars for hours) and later at 10:30, The Weakerthans (for fans of Ted Leo, Propagandhi and Jets to Brazil).

There are some things the APT crew want you guys to know (after the jump): Continue reading

Plans for a musical interlude this weekend

Hi guys! This is Whitney making a valiant post-cold effort to bring news of good music.

Wednesday night, I checked out the Cordero/13ghosts show at Bottletree. May I say one thing? ADORABLE! I’ve never really been a fan of much Spanish-centric music, but singer/songwriter Ani Cordero and her band of indie veterans (from Calexico and Rock*A*Teens) endeared me. Check them out on their website and pick up their new album, De Donde Eres.

As for 13ghosts, they never disappoint and I’m a big fan. They’re signed to Skybucket Records, so I expect nothing less with all the stuff Travis Morgan has got going on lately. Be sure to check out the nterview I did with Brad Armstrong of 13ghosts back in August.

Here’s a few shots courtesy of George Atkinson:

 

So, what’s on the agenda music-wise this weekend?

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Got plans this weekend? 10.10 – 10.12

OK, here’s the run down for the weekend. As always, add what’s missing in the comments section.

You can join the folks at Jones Valley Urban Farm Saturday from noon to 5 for their “Fall Harvest Pumpkin Celebration.” Pumpkin carving, lots of children’s activities, music and food — all for FREE. The farm is located downtown at 701 25th St. North.

Also on Saturday from noon to 5 and also FREE, it’s “Art of Flight” Family Day at the Birmingham Museum of Art. It’s in conjunction with the new “Leonardo da Vinci: Drawings from the Biblioteca Reale in Turin” exhibit. Here’s what I copied from the Web site: “Learn about flight from U.S. Space and Rocket Center experts and make your own flying machine. Meet City of Birmingham mounted police and their horses, just like the ones Leonardo loved to draw, along with feathered friends from the Birmingham Zoo. Meet a character straight out of Leonardo’s time, compliments of Birmingham Children’s Theatre.” Remember, even If you don’t have kids, the museum is always a bargain by being FREE.

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Counting Crows/Maroon 5 play Birmingham

cc/m5 live!

Terminal music photog Tony Diliberto took one for the team Tuesday night while Whitney was sick. Hey, wait… sounds like Tony got the better deal, by shooting CC/M5 live at Verizon Wireless Music Center in Pelham. He got some amazing shots and had this to say about the live performance:

“This was a great show. I have been a Counting Crows fan since the early 90s. It was especially nice to be 3 feet from them. Maroon 5 played a variety of favorites and the intensity was outstanding.”

Venture on over to Tony’s page on SmugMug to check out the pictures from both bands.

On a musical note…

A few things for those in town for Birmingham’s many festivities this weekend:

Saturday night flyer

Two of Birmingham’s best local bands will be playing an unofficial “after” after-party at Bottletree just as Sidewalk is letting out and the WordCamp crew is looking for some trouble to get into on Saturday night. Do yourself a favor and check out both of these bands’ respective pages (here and here) before the show.
Here’s a handy map of how to get to Bottletree courtesy of their site.

 

Also, for those who helped me usher in the arrival of Birmingham’s newest radio station Live 100.5 FM, here’s an aside: I HEARD INTERPOL ON THE DRIVE INTO WORK TODAY! Kudos to Davi Rossi and the fine programming he put in order today!

 Through the Sparks flyer art by Shawn Avery.

Dead Confederate lives on at Bottletree

Dead Confederate live photo courtesy of George Atkinson

Dead Confederate performs live / George Atkinson

If you weren’t at Bottletree last night for the Dead Confederate/Wax Fang/Twin Tigers show, you missed one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.

Any show that starts off with a girl wearing a Guitar Hero-esque haircut playing bass in a band that’s covering The Cure’s “A Forest” and ends with the headlining band playing in shadows reminiscent of  the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video is a mighty fine night indeed!

More photos and glorious details after the jump.

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Got plans this weekend? 9.19 – 9.21

Hi folks! I’m still haven’t decided what all the family will be doing this weekend. But here are some of the possibilities:

Want to have a hand in wine making? How about a foot? The annual Grapestomp is Saturday at Morgan Creek Vineyards from 10 to 4. There will be music, food, and of course, wine tastings and tours all day. You can even leave with your own footprint poster. Cost is $5. Dress like Lucy for the look-a-like contest at 2 for a chance at a cash prize.

Considering I have one car fanatic in the house and another household member who points out every plane that passes overhead, it is a good guess that I’ll be at the Bessemer Airport this weekend. That’s where the Birmingham Aero Club is hosting its 75th Anniversary Wings and Wheels 2008 Air Show and Car Show both Saturday and Sunday. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. each day and the show begins at 2. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for kids 12 to 6, and under 6 free. Follow this link to the show’s FAQ page to find out what you can and cannot bring and the answer to the question, “Can you fly your airplane to the show?”

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Bright Henry lights up Zydeco tonight

Hey guys! It’s that time again… five questions from yours truly. Who’s this week’s target? Why, one of our favorite blogger/musicians, former Terminal contributor Sam George!

His band Bright Henry is playing Zydeco tonight and therefore, we aim the spotlight in his general direction.

WHITNEY: Bright Henry performances are always so warm and lively. It seems like a collective. How did the idea for all of you guys playing together come about?

SAM: I recently moved here from NYC and was unwilling to be without a band for any kind of a sustained period, so I began to put one together almost immediately. I have this theory about finding musicians: It’s as important for your fellow band members to be folks you’d like to hang out with as it is for them to be musically talented. You ain’t gonna get chemistry without kinship. The way I deal with this is to ask everyone I meet who I enjoy spending time with if they play a musical instrument. My first job here in Birmingham was slingin’ coffee at O’Henry’s in Homewood, and that’s where I met the fellas. It was serendipity really. Matt (guitar) and Barrett (bass) both worked behind the counter with me, and Daniel (drums) was a regular customer. I couldn’t believe I had found such a good group of friends in one place, but there they were. It was gravy that they could all play like the dickens. The band is actually named after the founder of O’Henry’s, Henry Bright. So I guess my incredibly long answer to your question is that we’re warm and lively because we grew together as a group organically before we even knew we were a band. Continue reading

Skybucket’s new sampler is out!

For those that missed our tweet from yesterday, Skybucket Records has released their new sampler for (wait for it…) FREE! That’s right folks, you get a chance to enjoy 93MB of zipped goodness (complete with art if you decide to burn it to CD), with tracks featuring 13ghosts, The Dexateens, Barton Carroll, Through the Sparks, Wes McDonald and more. So what are you waiting for? After you do that, then you can head out and buy all their albums…

Image: CD case art for 2008 Skybucket Sampler. Courtesy of Skybucket Records.

It’s almost time for a Taste

Screenshot of justataste.org (Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival) website.

A redesigned website (courtesy of MBI) and a slight breeze in the air means that it’s almost time for the annual Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival. The fun takes place in the 4th Avenue Historic District next Saturday. The parade starts at 12:30 p.m. and will include performances by Neo Jazz Collective, Eric Essix and Michael Ward. A perfect complement to that other event going on that weekend (and that conference we’re organizing).