26 May 2016: The Reverent Few @ El Mercado: Austin, Texas

“Comeback is a good word, man. “~ Mickey Rourke

Just when I thought that I was done writing about show reviews… I got blown away by something different. Something fresh. Something friggin’ AMAZING!!!

This was something unforeseen and unexpected.

Not to say that since I have not been doing show reviews in a while. Because I have.

I rolled into new and strange territory a few weeks ago along the Red River area to a place called THE MOHAWK to follow some singers that I had stumbled upon at this year’s Texas Rock Fest.

The Reverent Few rocks out at THE MOHAWK

The band that was “newest” to me was called THE REVERENT FEW.

Rooted deeply in the Blues and cranks out the rock and roll in its purest form. Just like it used to be.

I sat there listening and for me, it was fresh, it was new. And a very distant thing from the particular genre of music that I have been accustomed to for such a long time. And I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with that. However for myself, I must cleans the palate once in a while and spend time venturing out of that “comfort zone” and experience something different. And that’s what I did.

I found myself in a mystic world of heartfelt, soulful mix of anything and everything under the sun. Only BETTER!

Paige DeChausse on vocals and Nick Boettcher on guitar, these two rev it up and then blast off to the moon!! It has been a very long time since I have seen that kind of dedication and passion towards music while on stage.

But by the end of the night, I had tears in my eyes at least once and goosebumps the whole way! Those of you who have been reading this blog for a while know that once that happens I have to get in some more. And I won’t rest until I do. 

And then the resident gig at EL MERCADO.

After a long flight back home from Los Angeles, a short rest, and a long bus ride to the other side of the city, I arrived at El Mercado Restaurant. Not to mention I was attempting to beat the weather to the gig, hoping to not get rained on.

Arriving a tad early, but in time to catch a sound check. .

However when the show officially started, that’s when total awe, magic, and pure rock and roll began. The entire world and its problems disappeared completely if only for a short evening.

It didn’t take long for about 30-50 people to arrive. Friends, family, fans alike. All joined together as one with a rocking common bond.

So let me begin this review as this build up is probably killing you. (Okay, maybe not. But let’s do this.)

Is Ladiest First okay? Good.

The Reverent Few at El Mercado

Paige DeChausse obviously has the kind of voice to grab my attention. Otherwise this blog post wouldn’t be written. To try and describe Paige’s voice is like a mixture of Janis Joplin, Donna Summers, Alanis Morrisette (in some ways), Billie Holliday, and quite possibly a little bit of Adele. All strong, all vibrant, all powerful, and all influencing.

As I stated, the tears and the goosebumps came and I couldn’t stop them!

Nick Boettcher has one helluva stage presence with his guitar and backing vocals. Almost to the point where I wished I could sing like that. If you want a sound like B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Billy Gibbons then Nick is your go-to-guy. If there’s ever an event that I am aware that needs a guitarist, I am asking him first.

Stage chemistry between the two of them is out of sight. And you’re stuck in this blissful confusion in trying to figure out which of them is causing you to move around.

I am given to understand that “home” to the two of them is actually near the Chicago, Illinois area and now they are here.

I for one, danced the ENTIRE night with The Reverent Few. But only from where I was sitting which was dark. So I doubt I have to worry about humiliating videos surfacing online of me “gettin’ down.”

By the end of the evening, there were surprise musicians from Ireland who sat in for a while, and they were just as lovely. They have a CD release party on the 1st of June at the Continental.

Yet half the room approached the stage and began dancing. I do hope that my camera flash didn’t bother any body. It is always a great idea to capture these kinds of moments.

I was met up by Nick’s mother who offered a dance and promised me that she would make it happen. She was dead serious. And I believed her. So funny!!

I had just one trick up my sleeve before everything came to a close.

If you actually research Paige DeChausse online, you’ll find something rather interesting about her musical career. I won’t say what it is, but now (at least in my eyes) she’s a celebrity, and she just happens to be local. I insisted for an autograph, she smiled kindly and obliged the request.

That’s all I am going to say about that.

When I said my farewells and departed I noticed that it was raining and raining hard. “Beat The Rain” may have lost in the first round but there was no way I was going to win on the return trip.

The restaurant staff caught me staring at the windows and doors at the rain. They asked if I had enjoyed myself with the show. And I had. Then I mentioned to all of them a comment about how hard it was raining.

I departed with these words: “At least I can say that the band got me all wet.”

Everyone who heard it was on their knees laughing as I popped open the front door and exited into the wet and stormy night.

As I waited in the storm, I was STILL dancing around, reminiscing the awesome tunes that I had just finished hearing.

It can’t be helped though. If you love to dance, THIS IS IT!!!

The Reverent Few caught me by surprise. And I cannot say that I will complain.

I’m stuck. I’m sold. They win. They have pulled me back in. Game Over. I’m going to do my best to follow their gigs and shows as much as I can. And if you love music and near the area, I encourage you to do the same.

 

https://www.facebook.com/paigeandthereverentfew/

16 March 2014: Blood Must Be Shed With Fear Control @ Dirty Dog Bar

“Never stop yearning. Never stop learning. Never stop fighting. Never stop trying.”~ Kash Sarkaria of Fear Control

Minutes after CASKET OF CASSANDRA and immediately after Echoes In Oblivion came a band that I was able to see the Friday before for the first time at the HoT Rock Fest stages. 

These guys totally captured my attention. 

And this is the exact reason why I say that there’s no harm or foul in going to these kinds of shows where many bands are playing and to check them out instead of just seeing who you want to see and then leave. 

Supporting the music industry is what it is all about. 

So on Friday the 14th of March here was this local band called Fear Control. They were hard. They were fast. And most importantly they were completely brutal. 

Damn. Who are these redheads that you draw to your stage? And the rest of the party animals too???

I had never heard this kind of metal before. At least not live.  Fear Control got up there and everything was passion-fueled and full throttle, balls to the wall heavy metal music. 

People who had been out there for hours and probably most of them drunk or drinking lost their minds and just went into their own little worlds and enjoyed the crap out of the show. 

Several times for my own safety, I had to roll far away to the left of the stage because impromptu mosh pits kept popping up and I didn’t want to get hit by anyone. Especially if they were drunk or drinking. 

Nonetheless the music alone captured my attention and I was hooked and reeled in. And yes, the eye candy was pretty good!! 

Kudos to Fear Control on that one. And my apologies if I am offending anyone’s girlfriend/wife. 

For a good half hour was hardcore and thrashing music. Something that I hadn’t heard all day long. And knowing that I was going for a band that wasn’t that hard… it was different to my ears but it was a GOOD different. 

After the show I just felt so compelled to talk to them. Or at least to the lead singer. I threw the horns up at the bass player and then the head nod and then the thumbs up. He reciprocated. 

Ladies and gentlemen: That right there is a full conversation from beginning to end, in the heavy metal world. 

The weather started to suck but Fear Control made it through. Their headbanging style was incredible. Their musical abilities and talents were beyond what I had even thought possible. I really was liking this friggin’ band. And I was still going to be around for a while. 

So I had my five minutes in the sun with Kash Sarkaria and I felt like a childish dork with words stumbling out of my mouth. Thankfully he probably realized that I was still in awe of the band’s music and was relishing every moment of it and he gave me a break. Kash is a rather nice man. Funny as shit too!

At the end of our conversation he gave me a t-shirt, for FREE. His only rule was that I wore it. Well when I found out that they were going to be playing along with CASKET OF CASSANDRA two days later, that was a no brainer. 

These two bands together at one show? How fortunate could I have been??? 

Frankie Rodriguez (left) and Kash Sarkaria (center) of Fear Control playing at Dirty Dog Bar.

I really have enjoyed Fear Control’s music live though. I rolled on throughout the rest of the week and I remember passing by Kash and he asked if I had even left the stage area.. and I jokingly told him that I had slept on stage overnight. You know, because that would be so metal. 

Sunday the 16th at the Dirty Dog Bar it took a couple of passes by Kash for him to realize that I was there. The rest of his band mates noticed me and said hello as well. It was like a funky groovy family reunion that had only been separated by 48 hours. But that was okay. 

It was more of the same goodness that I had heard on Friday. 

The exception was that I was again front and center on the stage. I remember giving Franke and Kash both the horns and they flared them back at me. It was so awesome. I love it when I am able to interact with people on stage one way or another. It just shows that they are seeing and caring about those who have come out to hear them. 

I sat there with my new Fear Control t-shirt and just soaked it all in. Until they got to the end of their set and then Kash was giving lyrics for singing instructions for their final song called “Off With His Head.” 

However someone struck a guitar chord during the explanation of the lyrics and I could not hear what they were so I could not really sing along. 

Off with his head …
……… something. 

Whomever played that chord? Step into my office, ‘cuz you’re fuckin’ fired!! 

I jest. As well as digress. I asked after the show what the lyrics were. But by then it was too late to sing along. 

I looked over and saw members of CASKET OF CASSANDRA screaming and headbanging and raising their beers into the air off to the left of me and I thought about how that was cool of the band members to come over and support this new (to me) band. 

Kash gave me their EP, and I could’ve just hugged the man. But hey, keeping it metal…. 

Now I’m addicted to the song “Off With His Head” and I haven’t stopped playing it today. 

I cannot wait until they know when their next show is going to be. Apparently they play at the Dirty Dog a lot. And since I kinda know the place it won’t be that difficult to manage. Just sucks having to take that long 30+ minute bus ride each way. 

But Fear Control was a band that I picked up during the SXSW Festival this year. I think that they’re going to stick just like POC NATION did. 

Rock on and always UP THE HORNS!!!!!! 

Fear Control’s Facebook Fan Page