Front Range - Recommended shows, 8/6

This week is one of the hottest of the summer, at least musically. There are plenty of great shows this week.

6 August (Ogden Theatre, Denver CO)
Die Antwoord

South African rappers, Die Antwoord, celebrate their Zef culture with an outrageous flair. Trashy, foul-mouthed, and occasionally shocking, their act incorporates enough campy elements that it's not clear how seriously they take it all. They're certainly an acquired taste, but this should be a fun show.

8 August (Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison CO)
Jack White

Jack White's work with the White Stripes, the Raconteurs, and The Dead Weather have demonstrated his full on commitment to playing and capturing the right sound. He's touring with his new solo album, Blunderbuss. Accompanied by two different bands, the Peacocks and Los Buzzardos, this should be a memorable performance. I hope you already got tickets because it's sold out.

9 August (Hodi's Half Note, Ft. Collins CO)
12 August (Larimer Lounge, Denver CO)
Reverend Horton Heat

Psychobilly master, Reverend Horton Heat will make a couple of appearances here on the Front Range. His shows are high energy as he serves up country fried licks with a punk attitude.

10 August (Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison CO)
Thievery Corporation
Beats Antique

World-tronica fans unite! Electronic grooves, anchored by a world wide selection of rhythms and tonal scales will take over Red Rocks. Beats Antique is one of my favorite bands to see live. They're opening for the ever eclectic Thievery Corporation. I just recently saw See-I (review), who are supporting members of the band. Of all the Red Rocks shows this year, this should be the most amazing.

CD review - Mojo Nixon, Whiskey Rebellion (2009)

Psycho-billy rocker Mojo Nixon is back from the dead (or at least the '90s), with a collection of recordings he found along with a couple of newer pieces. The songs are typical Mojo: over-the-top, simple rockabilly tunes with a heap of attitude on top. Taken as a whole, Whiskey Rebellion feels a little more haphazard than his earlier work because the instrumentation, arrangements, and recording quality vary wildly from song to some.

The world, according to Mojo, is split into the things he likes (Elvis, Kinky Friedman, America) and the larger group of things he hates (Dr Laura, his wife, asparagus, Don Henley, Judge Judy, small planes, drug testing). Mojo taps directly into his inner 13 year old (which is a bit more of a smart ass than his inner 8 year old) and vents forth. This is what he's always done and continues to do here. Once he gets started, nothing slows him down. If it weren't for his sins, he could have become one of those manic southern preachers, almost speaking in tongues he has so much to say.

The high point is clearly Just a Little Favor for the Kinkster, with Prisoner of the Tiki Room and Promised Land II as nearby peaks. Just a Little Favor has a stream of consciousness delivery that warns you that every live version will be different, even while the frantic rockabilly groove stays constant. Prisoner of the Tiki Room is Mojo's send up of Tom Waits. Finally, Promised Land II has enough autobiographical bits mixed in to sort of explain how he got where he is.

The screeds about Judge Judy, Dr. Laura, and urine testing seem fairly dated. And I understand that he wants to support his good friend Kinky Friedman, but reworking Elvis is Everywhere into a campaign song (Kinky is Everywhere) is a weak offering.

All in all, it's a mixed bag. As with all reviews, "if this is the sort of thing you like, you'll like this." I don't know if it's me or Mojo, but I'm not really feeling the magic this time, myself. I used to love Mojo back in the '80s and this doesn't live up that level.

The best link I found for listening was the Amazon site, so drop by and check him out.

Pour yourself some Pearl or PBR while you listen. Sure it's corny, but sometimes that's just what you want.