music

I’d be fooling myself if I said that I didn’t have a weakness for front women in rock bands. My music collection is busting at the seams with Heart records, Karen O’s unmistakable growls, and everything that Jenny Lewis touches. So it’s no big surprise that it was love at first listen when I heard The Ettes’ “Shake the Dust” (Sympathy for the Record Industry, 2006). The Ettes are a Nashville based band with a pretty straightforward garage rock sound. However, they’ve got Lindsay “Coco” Hames in their corner and her salty voice changes their game big time. Backed by the raucous drumming of Maria “Poni” Silver and the confident bass playing of Jeremy “Jem” Cohen, Coco shells out the lyrics with gusto and it pays off. The album “Shake the Dust” is a bright listen all the way through. The starting track “Reputation” lets the listener know that this album is a party, not afternoon tea. It’s delightfully brash and, like the rest of the songs that follow, barely flirts with the 3-minute mark. The songs “No More Surprises” and “It Ain’t You” flaunt Coco’s commanding vocals with aggressive lyrics. The twangy “Soft Focus” serves as a welcome reminder that the record was produced under Liam Watson, the man behind The White Stripes and The Kills.

From the U of A Creative Campus website, one can learn that their mission is to build a collaborative environment where students can connect with each other, faculty and their community while turning innovative ideas into action.  This weekend, on March 27th to be exact, one such innovative idea is taking place, the Druid City Arts Festival.  Bob's your uncle.  You should, nay... ought to attend.  It's your Tuscaloosa art duty. Read more »

Ham Bagby and Greg Staggs sit down after a show taping to record some songs for us.

• Ham Bagby and Greg Staggs
• Classic Flame
• The Southpaw Bandits
• The Bangtail Cats
• Rock With Ham
  • Episode 3

The Classic Flame stopped by Well That's Cool Studios to perform a couple of songs. Check them out at http://myspace.com/theclassicflame.

Shot by Joshua J. Hamilton and Matt Smith. Edited by Joshua Hamilton.  http://wellthatscool.com

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