Another day walking South Congress in the sun…Bahamas at the San Jose, a very well-named guitar and drum duo, sounded like the islands: laid back, quirky, carefree. Before that some thumping electro-pop from Living Days, somewhat at odds with the beer & taco vibe at Guero’s.
Kind of enjoyed the improv mood that sprang up at Music By the Slice after they were forced acoustic, so returned there in time to check out Still Corners, who I don’t think were ever very loud to begin with. The Autumn Defense turned in an elegant set at San Jose; but easily the highlight of the day was the Ben Kweller listening party for Go Fly A Kite.
Billed as ‘blogger kegger’, it was a low-key event in the backyard of the very hip St. Cecilia’s Hotel, involved a couple of kegs, pizza, some toddlers running around. Kweller said a few words about the album + old school recording process, and pressed play…and Go Fly A Kite sounded rich, warm, vibrant, fun. Maybe it’s the beer talking. If it was the beer talking, the beer liked the album quite a bit. The beer would like to listen again. Kweller’s left his previous label (ATO) + started his own (The Noise Company), seems to have done him good.
And we head back out…