Sights and Sounds: #BOTH (Aimee Mann/Ted Leo project), Field Report, Moreland & Arbuckle,

Happy Friday everybody! Here is the latest roundup of news from all corners of my jammed inbox...


#BOTH (Aimee Mann & Ted Leo) SET TO PERFORM IN MARCH

#BOTH, a new collaboration of Aimee Mann and Ted Leo, will be showcasing songs they have written together as well performing some of their own original material. See their first shows ever at Largo in Los Angeles on March 8 and 9 and Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco on March 26th and 27th.

Mann is also set to perform at the Petty Fest next week, as well as a string of solo dates. Visit Mann's official Web site for more details on all the concert dates.



NPR Premieres Debut Video "I Am Not Waiting Anymore" From Field Report

March 2013 Tour with Sara Watkins


Watch: http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2013/02/20/172503021/first-watch-field-report-im-not-waiting-anymore?sc=tw&cc=twmp



"Enchanting...a breakout debut" -Rolling Stone


"Meticulous...gorgeous" -NPR

"Drop dead elegant" -Esquire


Field Report and NPR present the video for "I Am Not Waiting Anymore" from the band's debut full-length, Field Report, with a First Watch premiere. The emotionally arresting video was directed by Manny Marquez and creates a wrenching narrative of a formerly homeless man seeking healing and redemption amidst the urban decay of Field Report's hometown, Milwaukee. Here is the link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2013/02/20/172503021/first-watch-field-report-im-not-waiting-anymore?sc=tw&cc=twmp.



By listening to Chris Porterfield's lyrics on repeat during his daily bike rides through Milwaukee, director Marquez says, "I started to see this world that he was creating, a world that was this Field Report album. It reminded me of Raymond Carver's work or Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, OH. You have this series of seemingly normal situations, and people in different phases of life dealing with these situations. I'm talking about love, lost love, happiness, and longing. And with all the empty factories and old houses in Milwaukee, the town just set the scene."


Marquez continues, "The most difficult part of shooting the video was the scene in the church food program at the end. That's St. Ben's in Milwaukee, and it's a wonderful place where the Capuchin Brothers feed about 400 people every night. We had to shoot it in a way that the only faces seen were those of the people that wanted to be in the video, and respect all the other people that were just there for a meal."


Field Report will play songs off their widely praised 2012 record across the US this spring. They will headline a handful of dates before appearing at SXSW in March, followed by a tour of the East Coast with Sara Watkins.

http://www.field-report.org/




ROOTS ROCKERS MORELAND & ARBUCKLE SET TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM ON TELARC THIS SUMMER

Aaron Moreland

Since their beginnings in the Kansas heartland, guitarist Aaron Moreland and vocalist/harpist Dustin Arbuckle have captured the visceral spirit and raw energy of the early 20th century Delta blues and distilled it all down to a hard-driving and powerful garage-rock configuration.

Working for the first time with Seattle-based record producer Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Minus The Bear, Sword, Norma Jean), Moreland & Arbuckle are set to release a new collection of “raw, dirty, primal sounds” (USA Today) on Telarc, a division of Concord Music Group, in late summer 2013.



The follow-up to the band’s acclaimed 2011 release Just A Dream, this new recording captures the excitement of their live shows, showcasing the best of Moreland’s dynamic and compelling guitar work – and his custom cigar-box guitar – Arbuckle’s emotionally charged vocals and edgy harp, along with a rock-solid backbeat of drummer Kendall Newby.

Dustin Arbuckle

I caught Moreland & Arbuckle in a fantastic 45-minute outing when they opened for Buddy Guy in September 2011. Read my review of that show here.

For more information on the exciting Moreland & Arbuckle, visit http://www.morelandarbuckle.com/




Moreland & Arbuckle photo credits: Jon T. Cruz, 1369 Photos

Aimee Mann delivers rousing performance in San Juan Capistrano

Photos courtesy of Bob Steshetz

I've caught Aimee Mann in concert a number of times since the 1990s and being a big fan of her songcraft, I have always been impressed. But last night's performance by the Richmond, Virginia native on the first night of her fall 2012 tour proved to be the best show I've ever caught from the celebrated singer-songwriter.

Mann is touring in support of her fantastic new album Charmer, and kicked things off here in the O.C. with an 80-minute performance at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. Backed by a terrific 4-man band (featuring multi-instrumentalist Jamie Edwards, as well as bassist-vocalist Paul Bryan, who also produced Charmer), the show featured more than half of the cuts from Charmer and enough classic material to thrill everybody in the near-capacity crowd.

When Mann came out on stage at 9:20 p.m., she acknowledged the heartfelt screams and applause of an obviously-delighted crowd: "Thank you so much. This is the first show of the tour...and the first show I've played with a full band in years."

And play they did. Melody is such an essential ingredient in Mann's approach that both folk-rock (say "Gumby" off Charmer) or sparse acoustic material ("Save Me," which she performed alone with her acoustic guitar, and the subsequent "Wise Up" where she was supported only by her guitar and a keyboardist) can address the darkest of topics and still rouse.

Mann is obviously comfortable performing stripped-down acoustic material, but many of the greatest moments on Thursday night came when she and her band rocked. Fans of her powerful, upbeat melodic rock got plenty of chance to groove. There was the textured Beatles-tinged approach of the duet "Living a Lie" where she traded lead vocals with Bryan (who ably handled James Mercer slot featured on Charmer), the '80s-flavored synthpop of "Crazytown" and joyful gloom of "Slip and Roll," the latter featuring some fantastic fret work courtesy of Edwards. "Jamie's over here doing eight things at once," Mann said before noting wryly:  "I have the leather jacket."

Speaking of tuneful delights, "Labrador," also off the new album, is obviously already a fan favorite based on the collective cheers when Mann announced that the song was coming next. Few shows fly by with the speed of this one.

The encore featured Mann taking over bass guitar duties on "King of the Jailhouse," with the artful harmonies of Bryan and Mann adding a welcome warmth to the song. Saving the best for last, Mann strapped back on her guitar and led the troupe through an epic version of "Deathly" that grew in power from its quient launch to its roaring finish seven minutes later.  

Opening was the Wisconsin band Field Report. Having just released their self-titled commercial debut a few weeks ago, the six-man ensemble performed an inspired style of dreamy Americana that draws natural comparisons with Band of Horses and The Wilderness of Manitoba. In an age where many newcomers grab the spotlight with bombast and hype, Field Report achieved that same sort of attention with well-crafted and sterling arrangements over the course of 40 fine minutes. Led by Chris Porterfield (pictured on left) the group was the rare opening act that really got fans listening and later earned the praises of Mann herself. From their strong opening ("Route 18") to the memorable closing song, the monumental "Fergus Falls," Field Report proved themselves more than ready on this night.

Visit the band's official Web site for more information.

Aimee Mann at The Coach House, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012

Main set: Disappeared / Gumby / Labrador / You Could Make a Killing / Lost In Space / Living a Lie / Charmer / Crazytown / Save Me / Wise Up / Slip and Roll / Soon Enough / That's Just What You Are / One / It's Not Safe
Encore: King of the Jailhouse / Deathly

Aimee Mann kicks off tour at The Coach House tonight

Aimee Mann performs kicks off her Charmer tour at The Coach House. Photo: Sheryl Nields/Courtesy of the artist

No contemporary artist crafts songs quite like Aimee Mann. On her newly-issued album Charmer, the singer-songwriter offers up her literate observations via melodic and haunting songs that go down like vintage power-pop classics while boasting rich sonic colors and lyrical insights that artfully reveal themselves with each subsequent listen.


Retro '80s sounds permeate the cool neo-New Wave "Gamma Ray" and the album's winning title track. The undeniable "Labrador" is as catchy as any song released this year but further enhanced by Mann's emotive soprano conveying the song's deeper feelings of betrayal.

On "Living a Lie," she shares lead vocals with The Shins' James Mercer, their voices forming another magical point on a potent and powerful album.

The good news for Southern California fans of the artist is that Mann kicks off her tour in support of Charmer with a headlining show at The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, at 8 p.m. tonight (Thursday, Sept. 27). Adding icing on the cake is that the wonderful Americana band Field Report will open the show.

Tickets are only $25, and every seat at the legendary Orange County venue is a great one.

Information: 949-496-8930   Online information: http://www.thecoachhouse.com/