It’s that time of year again-
A time to reflect on the past year’s successes, failures, loves gained and lost, nights we’d rather not remember and nights we won’t soon forget.
It’s safe to say we had a helluva year at The Abbey Bar at Appalachian Brewing Company. A few sellouts, a few solid up-and-comers and some of our staple favorites made nearly every weekend a weekend to remember (or not)
The crowds didn’t always translate to massive nights, but the bands always played as if they were in front of a stadium filled with thousands.
Here, in descending order, are my ten favorite shows from two thousand and seven at ABC-
10. Bobby Lee Rodgers and The Codetalkers- 2/6/07
Chances are, you weren’t at this show. It was one of those “our own private “fill in a great bands name here” shows. It was a Wednesday and it was no cover- but all but forty-or-so die-hards braved the snowy (I think?) night of some of the most ridiculous acid-jazz fusion we’ve seen to date.
9. Midnight Spaghetti and The Chocolate G-Strings 8/18/07
It was sweaty. I’m pretty sure the A/C was busted that weekend. And the place was jumpin. Midnight Spaghetti, from HarrisONburg VA, is one of those bands that has been quietly plugging away for several years now. Having first heard their name a couple years ago via the MMC, it was only a matter of time before the gigantic sounds of this eight piece funk band rocked our room. Look for a return sometime in the spring.
8. The Bridge 9/8/07-
Seriously, The Bridge are teetering on the edge of a massive year- groomed under the wing of Walther Productions 8×10, Funkbox, 8×10, they’ve gone from tiny bar jamband to main-stage attraction at several of the larger festivals this past summer. The place is packed every time we see them. And it’s only a matter of time before we start chargin’ a cover- wink, wink.
7. Rose Hill Drive and Freekbass- 11/10/07
Both bands are considered “nationals”. Both bands have been around for a couple of years. One of them is Bootsy Collins’ protege, the other is often touted as our generation’s version of Led Zeppelin crossed with Black Sabbath. Plain and simple, though, both bands rocked our socks off.
Great night, overall- and it was no cover. But chances are, next time either of these bands comes back you’ll have to buy tickets.
6. The Shackeltons- Indie@theAbbey- Wed 12/5/07
Sneaking in at the last minute, we were supposed to see The Shackeltons earlier in the year but scheduling mis haps do happen. But if there’s one regional band that’s got anything close to “what it takes” to do something with themselves in this business, it looks to be The Shackeltons. Fitting, too, was they were Spin.com’s artist of the day on 12/4- and in true Harrisburg form, there were maybe fifty people at the show.
5. Joe Russo and Friends- 9/20/07
When bassist Justin Wallace was about to take the stage, he had a bit of a slip-and-fall and rendered himself unable to play bass for the night- leaving Joe Russo and Tom Hamilton to fend for themselves in front of the moderate-sized crowd of die-hards and local fans. Until local bass-machine Tobey Forsman stepped up and rocked the bass for the rest of the night. Part of the Brothers-Duo Trifecta- look for Clay Parnell from Brothers Past to make a return to our stage next February and the Benevento/Russo Duo roll back into town on 1/18/08- (tix are onsale now)
4. Toubab Krewe and Artists Over Industry- 4/7/07
Beside the fact that this show was the strongest selling “first play” we’ve seen from a national act, Toubab Krewe heightened the musical consciousness of all who attended. Rooted in Malian, American, and “Dirty South” influences into a genre all its own, Toubab Krewe “has set a new standard for fusions of rock ‘n’ roll and West African music,” says Banning Eyre at Afropop Worldwide. Attended by mostly first-timers and curiosity piqued music aficionados, it ’twas a sweaty, schwilly night to be remembered.
3. Motel Creeps with The Thrives 08/17/07
Another one of those “our own private show” shows, Motel Creeps could be the standout of the year for this writer/promoter/music fan. Based in New York City and gathered from parts throughout the Northeast, Motel Creeps play the kind of music that I cannot seem to get out of my head. Their debut LP, The Gifts of Happenstance, was in rotation for weeks after I got a copy (a feat only held by one other band this year…see “#1″) Fans of shoegazing, early nineties britpop to the tune of Echo And The Bunnymen, Joy Division and The Cure. If they do make it back this year, I sincerely hope more locals make the trip-
2. Hackensaw Boys- 6/29/07
Look out! Sweaty, stomping, dancing, drinking goodness in a smoke-free show at the beginning of summer with a packed house and a fresh batch of ABC’s Hefe Weizen- does it get any better than that?
Grab yer girl, spin her round- they’re back for one final show of the year- this Friday- Winter Solictice 2007- December 21st. Smoke free, cheap tickets and a belly full of beer.
1. The Hold Steady- May 12, 2007
Proof that overweight, not-quite-good-looking, emotionally scarred, beat down, sometimes tattered and most definitely genuine guys from the midwest can rock the planet was demonstrated this year by The Hold Steady.
If this is you’re first time reading this blog, click here, here, here, here or here and catch up.
The Hold Steady are seriously on a mission to conquer the planet with rock and roll. And the odds seem to be in their favor.
Along with a handful of dates in May, this show was likely one of the last that Bobby, Franz, Tad, Craig and Galen will play in a small club. Which is no small feat considering they’ve pretty much been granted honorary copyright on the term “bar band”.
They got their central PA start playing the Lizard Lounge at Chameleon to no more than thirty or forty kids…eventually selling out the main room in March and finally making their way to Harrisburg- greeted by over six hundred gleeful and joyous fans who wrapped their way around the building and waiting all night to get into the show-
As referenced in “#3″, The Hold Steady is the only band I’ve heard in years who have impressed me to the point of actually purchasing copies of their records, tee shirts and show tickets. Which is a pretty big deal considering how much free music I get and the perk of my job being free admissions to shows at my fingertips.
Enough blubbering.
That’s that for 2007.
See you out there in 2008…
