Wight- Love Is Not Only What You Know

So.. I know I'm early, but this album is already way up on my Top Ten list of 2016. Some super smooth and classy tunes from an incredibly groovy band of gents.. reminiscent of "Rides Again"-meets-"Bang"-era James Gang and every Free album ever, with true psych/stoner grooves, great vocals, awesome bassings, frettings, and drummerings... That's some serious music. And that cover is rad, let's just be honest. Wight rules. You'd be nuts to let this one slip by you...
As far as the band goes, they send out transmissions from Darmstadt, Germany. Over the years, they have released a few really good heavy albums (Through The Woods Into Deep Water, a split with Stone Axe, etc.), and everything has been showing nonstop signs of growth for the band. Musically, they once had a doomy vibe. Heavy, downtuned, sludge-driven riffs accompanied by exceptionally smooth basslines. A stoner/doom band working their stoner/doom band magic. But then while listening to the albums over the years, you notice a real progression and "coming of age" in the songwriting and general musicianship. Then they slyly began including some real jamming in their songs, some inspired songwriting, and some sneaky groovy-ness, live shows turning into real muscial experiences (Live In Athens)... so Love Is Not Only What You Know is a culmination of these years of simply growing and becoming the incredible band they are.
Check it out here!

Not Dead

So.
I've been away from the Blog scene for a while. I'm not dead. I originally intended this to be a music review blog, and that's the way I intend to keep it. Starting today.

Thanks.
- A

BullDykeRodeo

What more can be said about a band that I always wished I was in? I mean, with so much sludge, you'd think we would have hung out as young 'uns and traded tapes. The scattered members are all from different bands now... BDR was made up of future members of various bands around these parts known as Dubuque, Iowa. More on these bands to come. BDR II - Dykefuge, is their third recorded undertaking. This one boasts some snarling vox from Piranha, who also abuses his bass guitar privileges often in other bands (Mantaur). The average band would cringe at the likes of the doom-laden riffs and fuzzed-out space jams. We can all be happy to blow our own minds while listening to such stonery wildness. Download it here.

Incidentally, Jeagle from Grainbelt went on to play the drums for BDR. It's always an ever-changing affair around here.

Apparently BDR are sleeping at the moment, but will probably be roused with the proper incantation...

Grainbelt

From the banks of the Mississippi came Grainbelt. This three-piece of friends got together based on a few common things: Boredom, love of music, love of playing music. The fact that I played in this band has no real bearing on the fact that they were a cool band.

Dubuque produces many interesting bands. I have had the joy of playing in a few of them over the years. Grainbelt... rose out of the ashes of a bunch of other bands. Sometimes we get together again and play a show in front of our peers. Back in the day, it was rock stardom. Playing out with the likes of The Heavenly States, Exodus, Jucifer, 31 Knots... it was all really blurry. We had one night where we were recording The Accidental Death EP, we recorded all day, played a show that night, the people at the show loved us so we went to their house and played another show at their after party. So many night of absolute madness, and I look back sometimes and feel all warm and fuzzy. 

 

The EP was recorded in Milwaukee at the Herzog Zound Studio with Colin Gagon... This was big for us. The EP still sounds good, and we manage to make this seem easy at our young age. Go Dubuque.

Okay, my first post here. Not quite from the Midwest, like I intend to do, but here to check out because it's great.

Befriend them here.
Stay tuned for some local bands, and a few from around these parts..