Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ The House of Blues 7/28/2009

It’s no surprise the House of Blues was sold out for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs last night. Singer, Karen O and the boys have been playing Cleveland for years, first at the Beachland Tavern, then slowly building up to the Beachland Ballroom, then there was the show at the Agora to promote 2006’s ‘Show Your Bones’ album, and now, the House of Blues to promote 2009’s ‘It’s Blitz’. With each subsequent album and tour, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have graduated to a more radio friendly sound, and fan base (so I thought, while standing next to the upper middle aged female crowd), while still maintaining their creative integrity and veteran fans.

Known for their wild shows, Karen O in 2009 than on past tours; sighting wear and tear on not only her elaborate and unique stage outfits, that, after several days reeked of booze; outfits personally created for her by designer Christian Joy; but also her body. You can’t blame anybody for that. Years of traveling and putting on insane rock shows day in and day out must get old eventually. Replacing the days of beer throwing, microphone eating and microphone tossing is an extra touring musician, more synths and bass, one very large blow-up eyeball (trademark icon of ‘It’s Blitz’), and an all around fun, streamlined show.

However, not all the glitz (hey! that rhymes with blitz!), glam is lost on their current tour. This band does not disappoint. They still know how to put on one spectacular show. Now, it’s a spectacular show that doesn’t lead to destruction. Karen O walked on stage last night looking oh-so-very confident wearing a red zipped up romper, printed leggings, converse hi-tops and a scarf covering her head. Throughout the opening song ‘Runaway’ Karen O dragged and waved the scarf around her head and neck to the amble beated ‘Runaway’ and ‘Phenomenon’. It was eventually tossed off, and thrown aside as the band broke into ‘Black Tongue’ off of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ debut album “Fever to Tell” whilst K.O. launched little red ‘Y’ confetti packs into the air.

Karen O. one of the top woman of indie rock, holds the attention of the audience well. Pacing back and forth on stage like a lion in a cage, flexing and stretching in almost acrobatic poses, K.O. looks like she’s ready to pounce into the crowd at any moment. And the crowd equally would be glad she did.

Songs and highlights of the night included ‘Dull Life’ a slow starting song that blasts into an all out dance jam. “Skeletons” by far one of the softest tempoed songs in their discography, and crowd pleaser/the Yeah Yeah Yeahs ‘love song’, “Maps” was a unique acoustic version that fit well into the night’s set and had the entire building singing along.

Other songs included two singles from ‘It’s Blitz’; “Zero” which found Karen O running off stage and quickly back on donning the studded ‘K.O.’ initialed leather jacket from the song’s music video and “Heads will Roll” where K.O. wears a full facemask of lights which was just way too cool for school and ‘Date with a Night’ a quick and danceable song to close out the night.

issue 5: call for submissions (+ a little surprise!)

Hello friends of messy magazine!

It's finally summer, kids! We know, we know- it's BEEN summer, but we're really in the thick of it now. Can you feel it?

If you haven't realized, It's time to kick off those shoes, run around barefoot, get stung by bees, eat a bunch of watermelon, not pay for a tan, burn stuff on the grill, dodge mosquitoes...and mentally and physically prepare for your next messy magazine mission.

We have the theme for Issue 5 all shook up and ready to smooth all over your burnt bods like the aloe you need after a few too many hours in the hot summer sun. Also, as a public service announcement, we'd like to introduce you to our friend sunscreen...choose your SPF wisely!

This Issue's theme may sound short and sweet, but it is far from it. Like the quick fire challenges on Top Chef, we want you to think on your toes, be creative, be meaningful and most of all keep it brief...or don't...

The theme for Issue 5 of messy magazine iiiis (drumroll, please):

Two Sentence Confession

We're not so sure where the influence came from on this one. Maybe it's the fact that 150 character updates are defining our lives and telling us too much- or not enough- information about everyone in our virtual circle of friends. (shameless plug: follow us on Twitter. Join our facebook group. Thanks!) Or maybe it came from absurd stories of random break up and make up text messages, found Post-it notes, words scribbled in bathroom stalls (think Grog Shop)... we're not sure. But we think this one will be a lot of fun.

Plus, summer means less clothing, less worries... and more telling the world about something you did that nobody ever knew about.

Also, who knows, maybe the karma gods will take your heroic act of confession into consideration and the next time you go to the ATM more money than what you requested will come out... or maybe you'll find true summer love once you clear your aura of some naughty baggage. Who knows? Bottom line- it's worth a shot. And you won't be alone.

Ok- we know what you're thinking. 'I don't want to publicly confess something to your world-wide internet audience, messy magazine!' No need to fear kids. These can be anonymous. Unless you are moving away (to another planet) and want to leave in a blaze of printed glory, we won't out you.

Also, you may be thinking: 'Two sentence confession? how can I use this if I submit something visual? What will happen if I submit a poem, or an essay? What am I going to have for lunch today?' Fear not, friends. Our answers these questions can be summed up with an easy answer. (Feel free to write this down):

The theme is something to be inspired by, to pull from. It's a prompt. We create it and throw it into the pit with you wild hungry creative types as a means to guide you... and to help us shape the content of the magazine. If you want to submit something longer than two sentences, by all means, DO! Use it as a title or something. Be creative!

'Two Sentence Confession' is yours to interpret and run with. Think of it like bowling with those inflatable things in the gutters. Or like one of those raised concrete center lane thingies that keeps your old-fashioned automobile replica on the course at some cheesy outdoor theme park (where you accidentally stole those cheap bracelets from the gift shop in an effort to impress your friends when you were in 7th grade). Get it?

As far as lunch is concerned? That's all you.

We are hoping you guys will get into true-blue confession mode and perhaps submit more than one entry, especially if you are writing a true two sentence confession. The more the merrier! Plus, it will do wonders for your soul. We promise!

And now for the real goodness: for Issue 5, we are giving you more than two weeks to be creative and submit your work to us. Submissions from here on out will be due 5 weeks after the initial theme letter has been sent. (You can count this on one hand. Today is Wednesday July 29th September 2. We want to allow people more time to send us their entries without feeling rushed. Also, we want to eliminate that whole 'I wanted to submit but I just didn't get around to it' thing. In this issue, feel free to tell us what you were REALLY doing when you should have been making something to submit to the magazine...(hehe). so we want your stuff no later than Wednesday,

So mark September 2 in your calendars, kiddies. (don't worry. We know you're busy. We'll send you reminders... and all kinds of other juicy stuff in between now and then).

As usual, if you have any questions, need clarification or just want to talk, please email us.


Thank you (yes YOU)!

Thank you to everyone who came out and said 'hello' to us at Larchmere Porchfest and Made in the 216. We had an amazing time at both events and were completely flattered that you turned out and supported these events and messy magazine's involvement in them. If you signed up for our mailing list at either event, thank you, and welcome aboard!

Thanks also for the tremendous submissions, promotion and support you continue giving to messy magazine. Can you believe it has almost been a year since we came up with this crazy idea? Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you for allowing us to continue doing what we love!

The SURPRISE!

Since didn't want to leave you empty handed running around all summer, we have a mini-surprise for you. We have compiled a sneaky 'in between issues, issue.'

We would like to present you with

Issue 4.5: The Lost Issue.

Maybe in a two sentence confession in Issue 5?

We'll explain later.

Maybe in a two sentence confession in Issue 5?

The Walkmen/Cass McCombs Concert Review

Gritty, southern styled garage rockers, The Walkmen brought their upright piano, organ, brass players and a very streamlined, clean show to the Beachland Ballroom on Thursday July 23rd. Headlining, The Walkmen were accompanied by the well-paired, nearly- steak and potatoes matching, Cass McCombs and local musical heroes, Coffinberry.

To promote their latest album ‘You & Me’, The Walkmen have been on the road since its last August release date. Playing a well-rounded set, majority of their tunes came from ‘You & Me’.



The Walkmen opened up the late night with a new song, not yet recorded for their next coming album which Hamilton Leithauser stated they would be recording in the next coming weeks. Jokingly, after the completion of this new song, Leithauser, who towers over six feet tall (and as so, stands very tall on the stage), admitted the entire band seamlessly missed an full section of the song. Laughing off the mistake, the band broke into “In the New Year” the first single off of ‘You & Me’.



The night’s set was balanced well between powerful musically driven songs and slower more vocally driven tunes. Quick strumming songs like “The Rat” off of 2004’s ‘Bows + Arrows’, “All Hands and the Cook” from their 2006 release ‘A Hundred Miles Off -‘ where Leithauser, physically shaking, belts out at the top of his lungs “You don’t like it/Won’t you tell me/You don’t like it?”, the single, “Louisiana” also off of ‘A Hundred Miles Off ‘ and “I Lost You,”off of ‘You & Me’ gave way to a loud audience, shouting and clapping in approval. These songs paired well with the band’s slower paces like melodramatic “On the Water” which starts off slow and then picks up into a loud cymbal smashing, whistling tune and “Red Moon” a brass infused dreamy tune just begging to be listened to on a lazy summer night.

Cass McCombs was the perfect side dish to The Walkmen sound. Slower in tempo in comparison to The Walkmen, McCombs, complete with a four piece backing band played a full 40 minute set. Playing and weaving around dormant lain instruments and stands on the cramped stage, McCombs held the attention of the audience with his unique poetic lyrics as well as his intriguing shyness. He focused equal attention to his backing band as he did the crowd.

McCombs is on tour to promote his latest album ‘Catacombs’ released in the U.S. in the beginning of July. McCombs style is a true 50’s American folk rock, dressed up with a keyboard and McCombs’ beat up denim jacket and high-cuffed jeans. He is capable of blending and layering bluesy electric guitar and bass with often times, gentler lyrics and acoustic instruments. Most notable songs from the evening included ‘Dreams Come True’ where McCombs sings over a syncopated bluesy electric guitar riff ‘You’re not my dream girl/You’re not my reality girl/You are my dreams come true, girl’ and ‘Jonesy Boy,’ off of ‘Catacombs’ had McCombs stomping and marching in place with his guitar. McCombs also pulled from his most notable and best selling album to date, 2007’s ‘Dropping the Writ’ with fan favorites, “That’s That” and “Lionheart.”

Local act Coffinberry opened the summer evening show with the highest energy set of all three acts. The crowd rolled in through their set warming up the crowd on what is amounting to be a summer of very cool evenings.

Live Concert Review The Secret Handshake & The Cab

The all ages show at the Grog shop on 07/07 was packed with teenagers from the stage to the back wall. I set up camp at the bar with the parents and big sisters. The show started at 6pm and for teenagers on summer vacation the $12 dollar door charge for five bands was a hell of a steal. I arrived halfway into the second band, Eye Alaska, after missing the opener, My Favorite Highway. Eye Alaska was doing a great job getting the crowd pumped and was also highlighting the release of their record Genesis Underground. The songs “Walk Like a Gentleman” and “Roll Right Over” were particularly noteworthy and crowd pleasing.

The Summer Set, the third band of the night from Phoenix, AZ certainly lived up to their Myspace fame. All the bands on the lineup have large Myspace followings. The Summer Set played hard, full of teen angst and poppy lines. The crowd pleaser seemed to be the remake of Usher’s hit, “In Da Club”, which had all the teens jumping up and down. Another standout was “Chelsea”, that seemed it needed to be on the soundtrack of a major teen movie. The teens in attendance seemed to be more familiar with this band than the two openers and voiced their appreciation when asked by frontman, Brian Dales who had heard of them before this show. Dales was very appreciative of the support. Drummer and only girl in this five piece, Jess Bowen is as cute as she is amazing at drums.

Next up was The Secret Handshake from Dallas, TX. These guys came out with strobe lights flashing and a huge TSH sign lit up behind them. This was the first band of the evening whose songs were distinguishable from one another. The catchy lyrics, hard beats, and synthesized jams had the young crowd in a dancing frenzy. The stage presence was electrifying and lead singer, Luis Dubuc, actively engaged the crowd in conversation throughout the set. Dubuc made a great point in saying, “this tour is about discovering new music”, and he definitely made more than a few new fans this evening. It’s always refreshing to see bands appreciative of fans. Even the parents at the bar were into TSH. A cool thing the band does is the musical interludes in between songs are all electronic, pumped up versions of classics and today’s hit. It was a cool element that I have never seen before. Check out song “TGIF”, Dubuc gave the song’s inspiration to Full House’s Uncle Jesse.

By the time the headliners The Cab took the stage the teens were ready to explode. The Cab is out on their “What Happens in Vegas Tour”, that is taking them cross country all summer. The Cab, like TSH, was very appreciative of the fans, even saying at one point, “thanks for spending your money to come see us”, and judging by the screams of the crowd, it was worth every penny. The Cab is promoting their EP, The Lady Luck, which features the standout song, “Take My Hand”. There didn’t seem to be an unhappy fan in the place by the time this night was through.

An Enclave of Entertainment in Cleveland

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/08/realestate/commercial/08fourth.html