Tuesday's Live Pick = Gob Iron

Jay Farrar Plays the Troubadour Tonight

Another good night for all types of music.....

Tonight's Pick:

Gob Iron (Jay Farrar & Anders Parker) @ Troubadour ($17) – For the twang fans. Believe it or not, I was never a huge alt-country fan. I like some Uncle Tupelo and Wilco’s AM (their only real alt-country album) is pretty good. Over the years I’ve grown to appreciate the genre a bit more. Jay Farrar was in Uncle Tupelo with Jeff Tweedy and later went on to form Son Volt. Gob Iron is his collaboration with Anders Parker of Varnaline. I owned the first Varnaline album because when I moved to LA in 1996 you couldn’t dig through a dollar CD bin without seeing it. Anyway, this Gob Iron collaboration is pretty good. As the All Music Guide points out in its review, the album is reminiscent of (but not quite as good as) Uncle Tupelo’s March 16-20 album. Traditional folk (think Harry Smith, not Joni Mitchell) songs with the two singers trading off lead vocal duties. I wouldn’t quite put Anders Parker in the same company as Tweedy, but he does an admirable job. The Farrar songs are well worth seeking out if you’re a fan. There are only 10 fully fleshed out tunes, with nine instrumental interludes. Tonight, my understanding is that each of these guys will do a solo set and then they’ll get together and perform the Gob Iron material.

Also Appearing:

The Cops / Dead Ponies @ the Scene ($5) – For the rock ‘n’ roll fans. Download the Cops’ “Negative Cutting” I heard the Dead Ponies put on a great show at Spaceland a couple of weeks ago.
Jim Noir / Tralala / What Made Milwaukee Famous @ Safari Sam’s ($5 with RSVP) – A solid night of music for the indie fans. I’d recommend this if I wasn’t planning to see Jim Noir and Tralala on Wednesday at Spaceland along with Annuals. Download Jim Noir’s “Key of C” Download What Made Milwaukee Famous’ “Idecide” Download Tralala’s “Motorcycle Man”
The High Violets @ Silverlake Lounge ($7) – For the shoegazer fans. Download “Love Is Blinding”
Death Cab for Cutie / Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins @ Bren Events Center (Sold Out)
Roger O’Donnell (of the Cure) / DJ Jimmy Tamborello @ Spaceland ($8) – O’Donnell joined the Cure around Disintegration and now has a solo career.
Lemon Sun @ the Echo ($5) – They’re performing at the Echo every Tuesday in December.