(click on the Image to the left for their official website)
Center Stage in Atlanta, GA
photo by Ross Feingold
photo by Ross Feingold
Outernational is a Tom Morello project, guitarist and all around badass formerly of Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, and Harvard University fame. Outernational when I saw them open for Chris Cornell, they were sans Morello, but they still had a cool sound and a definite stage presence. It is always a tough job to open for someone who the majority of the crowd is coming to see and in this case that "coming to see" was Chris Cornell. When you deal with someone of Chris Cornell's musical stature, also like Morello of Audioslave fame, but the front man not the lead guitarist, which depending on the type of person you are, each carries it's own weight differently.
Cornell who is best known for his bands, which need no introduction, bands that created the "grunge" style and dominated the 90's much the way Zepplin, the Stones, Black Sabbath and others dominated the 70s. Chris Cornell whose black eye badge of rock music included, Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog and career filled filled on again, off again, this time way on again sound in a new mystic hip hop styled album Scream (released 03.10.2009) that resonates a mix of un-yielding beats with his patented banshee howls. Cornell puts whatever he does musically out there, uncompromising to anyone, with vocal patterns that at least to my ears evoke Dylan Thomas inspired fury, an unmatched iconoclastic rock, tonal bays like few others have done and might possibly ever do. So to say Outernational had their work cut out for them is more than hulk smashing understatement, it's not just the truth, it's also something that had do with hardly any pre-show coverage that I saw.
Outernational did a very solid job, and if seen as a stand alone act you would have come away shocked and awed by their intensity, passion, vocal, rhythm and lead guitar slashings. You also, if you are like me, really had to appreciate the drummer's enthusiasm back there, hammering his kit like it stole his girlfriend from him and made her his sex #$@$!. Not only was Eitenne Bowler (drummer) bashing the tubes, the fact he was sporting an old school Punisher t-shirt deserves a shout out.
Outernational is a Brooklyn based band, whose lead singer Miles Solay, had a definite stage presence and a flashy red shirt that couldn't help, but remind me of something you might see at a White Stripes show (though their sound is definately more ska - punk sounding reminiscent of not just the Clash, but also Rancid, but a far more political and extrospective newsworthy slant).
As noted on BBC Radio, "These boys are the next big thing... They are an incredible mix of hip-hop, hard-rock, and world music. They mix politics and dance music in the best way, much like The Clash did." (BBC Radio)"
They are managed by Red Light Management (which happens to be a management group whose lineup of talent I really dig, so much so that I link to them over yonder ------>); and they happen to also be on the Warner Bros. Label, which is fairly big-time if nothing else worth mentioning. The mere fact that this band is so highly respected in the industry and yet has such little press coverage on them is something of an enigma and exceptionally rare these days as even William Hung has a recording contract of (Fuse music channel and Koch Entertainment) American Idol fame seen here http://www.williamhung.net/ in case you don't remember this
guy has me somewhat bothered. I am definitely going to get some more info on Outernational for you all, because anything sounding this good and with this much backing needs some decent f'ing PR or I suggest Eitenne take the drum sticks (imaging once again the g/f scenario) to the rib cage of whomever is lacking in regard to press or lack there of for these guys. I promise that if you check out their personal MySpace webpage and check out the link to the fan site below you too should be at least as intrigued as I am.
Lyrics like: "I don't wanna hear the same old sound, I'm ready for the showdown!" off of Future Rock grabs you by the cojones and holds on tighter than one of Michael Vick's dogs going for your junk. The fact that a lot of what I find and see about these guys, on the web, and in various articles, although still to far and few between at least for me to make much of a coherent connection, which may be why I like them so much. If you haven't seen it by now, incoherent connections that actually do exist is something I can relate to and is definately seen in my posts and style of writing.
"Enough about us, let's talk about me, it's not about you, it's not about sunshine...it's about time." (E. Dando - Lemonheads)
I have read that Outernational's "I'm ready for the showdown" is a direct reference to an attack on the "War" our country USA (for our foreign readers) is involved in. That kind of in your face lyrical tonic is something so few bands and labels are willing to take a chance on drinking. That is the kind of stuff I remember the Pharcyde used to do back in the early 90s, old Red Hot Chili Peppers and of course you have the Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan type stuff from the 60s, but recently it's been a genre or lack of, that I have mentioned and spoke about before and personally would love to hear. Show me a song on how tax dollars are appropriated or how committee chairmanship's are handed out in a spoils (patronage dating back to U.S. Grant - ya know the guy on the who's face adorns a $50 bill here in America) versus an actual meritocracy.
Meritocracies are how it should be in this county, where you get rewarded for what you put in, your 'merit' versus who you know and who you helped get into office and your 'patronage'. Rather than doing anything proactive, you self serve with a side plate for your friends. Rather than working for the people whose tax dollars you live off of, whose money keeps you in office (if you are a politician of this particular ilk) and whose rights and objectives you are supposed to be defending, you just toe the party line and wait for your corner office in the Longworth Building. Too often in this country, we have relied on the spoils/patronage system style of not only government, but everything down to getting a good table at the chic clubs in NY or LA to coaching in college football to getting a job at your local Starbucks. If what I hear is true about Outernational and they care about political issues, like the ones just mentioned I am all for them, using that big label name and money to help educate and maybe induce change even if it effects one person and their life and their career or tax shelters or unhealthy appropriations of funds and a whole slew of socio-political problems effecting our nation, but basically ignored in the music industry, especially when compared to similar art forms such as writing, art, film and even fashion. Definately, more to come in the future from The Brass Hat Group on and about Outernational and their music (which, even without understanding the lyrics sounds good) to their views and stances on issues incorporated into their music. As an old friend of mine used to say, "Cool beans."
Indeed.
Miles Soley
Outernational - 04.01.2009 -
Opening for Chris Cornell
Outernational - 04.01.2009 -
Opening for Chris Cornell
Center Stage in Atlanta, GA
photo by Ross Feingold
photo by Ross Feingold
See tour listing below:
| Upcoming Shows | ( view all ) |
| Electric Factory | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | ||
| 9:30 Club | Washington DC, Washington DC | ||
| Webster Hall | New York, New York | ||
| Webster Hall | New York, New York | ||
| House of Blues - Boston | Boston, Massachusetts | ||
| Wellmont Theatre | Montclair, New Jersey | ||
| House of Blues - Cleveland | Cleveland, Ohio | ||
| Michigan Theater | Ann Arbor, Michigan | ||
| The Vogue Theatre | Indianapolis, Indiana | ||
| Pabst Theater | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | ||
| MYTH | St. Paul, Minnesota | ||
| Riviera Theater | Chicago, Illinois | ||
| THE KNITTING FACTORY (ALL AGES) | NY, New York | ||
| BAMBOOZLE FESTIVAL - Giants Stadium | East Rutherford, New Jersey | ||
| BONNAROO | Manchester, Tennessee | ||
| Vans Warped Tour 2009 | Pomona, California | ||
| Vans Warped Tour 2009 | San Francisco, California | ||
| Vans Warped Tour 2009 | Ventura, California | ||
| Vans Warped Tour 2009 | Phoenix, Arizona | ||
| Vans Warped Tour 2009 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | ||
| Vans Warped Tour 2009 | San Antonio, Texas | ||
| Vans Warped Tour 2009 | Houston, Texas | ||
| Vans Warped Tour 2009 | Dallas, Texas |
Now it's time for you to judge for yourself, here are songs off of their MySpace Official website, add them as friends, their sound is fun, energetic and definitely worth a listen, I will certainly DIGG this post later, be sure to check out my other DIGG's as well, and always give them a positive. Also please check out http://iheartouternational.blogspot.com/ a fan site with some really great home video type recording stuff that deserves mention if for nothing else it's sheer dedication to Outernational.
(seriously we are new and need the diggs, so give positive stuff. Really you don't want me come down there and open a pony keg sized glass of shut-up juice, force you to funnel it and then a can of whoop ass on you if you don't! Hmm...on 2nd thought I might have to get fellow Brass Hatter Lennox to issue a whooping, she's a wicked ninjas //\/...rawr!)
(seriously we are new and need the diggs, so give positive stuff. Really you don't want me come down there and open a pony keg sized glass of shut-up juice, force you to funnel it and then a can of whoop ass on you if you don't! Hmm...on 2nd thought I might have to get fellow Brass Hatter Lennox to issue a whooping, she's a wicked ninjas //\/...rawr!)
(click on the Image of Outernational guitarist Leo Mintek to the directly above to be directed their official site & to hear their muzak!
Photo by: Ross Feingold)
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This sounds really interesting. The article is pretty much in your face and they make it sound like the music is too, but I can't hardly find nothing except this site? Any help anyoe?
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