How do you express enthusiasm for a band when you’re trying to focus on other things?  Even trying to post other articles and focusing on a minor equipment error?  Easy when it’s Maserati.  The drummer was so perfectly in time and the droning guitars enveloped the room like the batter on a Jalepeno corndog.  These fellas really brought their A game tonight and I couldn’t be more pleased to recommend a Maserati show whenever possible.

After a ho hum first number their synthesizers decided to accept the festival, and boy are we lucky they decided to cooperate.  The band has learned something quite important about music.  Your drummer doesn’t have to play fast to be heard.  As I write this, Summerbirds have moved onto their second song, and that combination of driving percussion and swirly guitars are sending goosebumps down my spine.

Their lyrics are a little lost on those powerful but muffled main speakers, which may be a good thing.  Songwriting is an interesting art form.  Everyone looks for something different, and yet, even though I only catch every third word, it sounds like SITC wrote these songs just for me.

I run sound at night so I didn’t get a chance to see a lot of the headliners but from what I’ve seen, Summerbirds in the Cellar have my pick for first place, which is actually an understatement of how much I enjoyed their set.  This band may be one of my new favorites PERIOD

(earplugs removed, bliss ensues) 

Sometimes dudes just want to get on tiny motorcycles and jump over stuff.

Today they did.

Loud and fast are the only words needed to describe X-Nuns. Comprised of the three essential punk instruments, these guys were relentless. Along with the occasional humorous song names or mid-performance joke, the screaming vocals, fast-paced guitar riffs, high-speed drum beats and grooving bass lines were all X-Nuns had to offer. They didn’t draw much of a crowd, nor did they put out too much energy, but these guys were definitely a solid band. Aside from some flimsy guitar solos and a song restart, it was a decent show.

Adam says Led Zeppelin.  I says Jimi, Howlin Wolf, or any other bluesy rock legend.  All this comes from Handsome Jack.  Nasty down home music straight from Buffalo, N.Y.  The only band to play Corndogorama three days in a row.  And they claim “if you get a chance to do it, don’t.  [You'll be] throwin’ up all morning.” Well, that could be the case even if you weren’t one of the performers.  

Regardless, you know a band’s got it when the bar wench pulls up a chair to stand on so she can wind to the music.  That was yesterday, today she’s upgraded to sitting in front of the band, seductively chewing a straw.  This is the type of music that makes ladies want to wind and tatted up couples finally get comfy enough to tongue each other: guitars that chime out with their own voice and an animated drummer that boosts the already vibrant energy.

Standard blues lines get a progressive overhaul as Handsome Jack accelerates into a frenzy.  Any band that can pull off three days of Corndogorama has got to be worth the wheels they rode in on.  

Did you think with all this Corndogorama madness that we forgot about the Royal Bangs? Not likely! We’re still excited about the video we did, and we think the session is even better. Check out the songs below, or download the entire thing through the zip.

Royal Bangs - Handcuff Killa

Royal Bangs - Japanese Car

Royal Bangs - New Scissors

Royal Bangs - Shit Christmas

Download the entire session
HYH Session: Royal Bangs

Have You Heard Session: Royal Bangs from HaveYouHeard on Vimeo.

Space rock tinged metal ala Anthrax or Disturbed, they’re a much more interesting group when they focus more on the space than the rock. Their sludge metal and outer worldly vocals owe a lot to Tool, but the drummer can’t quite pull off the intense complexity of Danny Carey.

Never has a name been more appropriate.  If I were fortunate enough to be drafted into this club, I’d spend the bulk of my time taking dancing lessons from the tambourine wielding vocalist, Chris.  Direct from the gap between classic rock and post punk, unabashed shout/sung vocals are set off by driving instrumentation.  The still building crowd can’t keep still to the thorough mix.  This is the kind of music to model your days around. Hmm, maybe their Dynamos album would be a good investment.

I don’t know how day 4 of the festival can possibly let me down as every single day I’ve found more and more local and not so local groups that have knocked my socks off!

Our buddies Club Awesome should be… well… awesome.  Also I’m really excited to finally see Lazer/Wolf live.  Should be some surprises too!

June 29

The surprise hit of Corndogorama is officially The Howlies. What other rockers could cover R. Kelly so convincingly? Perhaps it was a heartfelt tribute to his recent court victory.

I convinced the guys from Atlanta Rock Blog to stick around and see them play as they were one of my “shows to see” this weekend. A very enthusiastic high five followed. In the same vein I’ve seen nearly five kids walking around in Howlies shirts they bought after the show. 

Ever wanted to hear a sixties girl group reincarnated into four down south rockers that like playing loud and mean? Get your chance next time the Howlies jump on stage.