September 12, 2007
By
My weekend of sonic exploration took on a decidedly blue tint when I stepped into The Exchange, a used-record store tucked away in a spot right next to the old Broadmoor theater. My leisure time used to be taken up with used record stores, gleefully killing the afternoon shuffling through the stacks, mentally assessing what I had at home I could trade, looking to see what just came in. LSU's North Gate area used to be dotted with them. I thought these spots were a dying breed until this weekend. Victor, the proprietor indulged me on chatter about labels and forgotten artists as I harvested as much as my trade value would allow from the blues section, with Junior Kimbrough's first record being the find of the day. His rock, jazz and soul sections were just as haphazardly comprehensive, so if you long for that click-click sound of rifling through shelves of jewel cases and weathered album covers, I highly recommend a visit.
Victor and I crossed paths again that evening at Teddy's as Fat Possum recording artist 'Lil Dave Thompson brought his powerful blues down from Greenville, Miss. Thompson mixes the hard stomp of the Mississippi hill blues with flawless guitar chops and clever songwriting. Around these parts, you start to think no one writes new blues songs anymore, opting to endlessly play "Big Boss Man" and "Sweet Home Chicago" like their needle is stuck. The LSU game took a dent out of the crowd, but if you have a taste for the blues and want something new, he'll be back Oct. 12, and so will I, hopefully with a new batch of old CD’s for the ride.
Required (New) Listening for the Week: Film School's new disc Hideout, which pushes the shoegazer revivalism of their debut last year farther out into the stratosphere. It'll get you through waiting to see if the My Bloody Valentine reunion actually pans out. Check out their single "Lectric" here.
Wednesday, Sept. 12:
Oakley Hall at Spanish Moon
Mike Foster project at Chelsea's
Devon Alman's Honeytribe at The Varsity
Liquid Cheese, BPM and Safe and Easy Action are at North Gate Tavern
Thursday, Sept. 13:
The Rosebuds at Red Star
Benjy Davis Project at the Varsity
Will Hoge at Chelsea's
Bravo Charlie, Manchac and Karmella's Game are at North Gate Tavern
Letters in Red at Click's
With Blood Comes Cleansing, Bloodlined Calligraphy, Bloodjin, Year of desolation, wake into the Nightmare and Through What Was at The Darkroom
Friday, Sept. 14:
Reception is Suspected with Folky J at Chelsea's
Subject Optional at the Darkroom
Meriwether at the Varsity
Highlines, Puzza Crido and Luke Starkiller ar at North Gate Tavern
Save the Last Bullet and Sunset Veil at Click's
Ned Fasullo at Phil Brady's
'Lil Ray Neal at Teddy's Juke Joint
Saturday, Sept. 15:
John Vanderslice at Spanish Moon
Gov't Majik at Chelsea's
Echelon, Lucid and Swords at Sundown at Click's
Revibe at Phil Brady's
Rico and the Zydeco Highsteppers (featuring Rudy Richard) at Teddy's Juke Joint
Comments
Posted by captcouv on September 12 at 3:56 p.m.
Don't write blues songs 'round here? Catch Larry Garner, Andy Squint, Susan Owens, Josh Garrett, Kenny Acosta, Big Daddy O, among others around the area... They do covers, of course, but you'll get great originals as well.
Posted by alexvcook on September 12 at 6:20 p.m.
BTW... Thanks, Alicia, for cluing me on The Exchange's existence!
Posted by randyf3 on September 12 at 9:56 p.m.
Aw man, I wish I'd known about that Lil' Dave Thompson show!
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