Brett Dennen - LIVE ON CARSON DALY - TONIGHT

For those of you unaware with Brett's music it is unique. I am sure that you hear that about many artists, but Brett's vocals if nothing else are silky smooth, calming in a way that few others have or can do. He reminds me in many ways of Tracy Chapman meets Bob Dylan if music were a blender and sound came out. It does not and personally I hate making comparisons of one artist to another especially after I just called him unique, a sentiment that I strongly believe. Is that hypocrisy or what?!? Anyhow, I think it is best for Brett to talk/sing/write and for you, me, your dog and/or cat (if you own one) and whomever else is around to just listen, as the music really speaks for itself.

(I have linked his MySpace page where you can listen to a few songs, as well as his personal website where you can buy copies of all of his albums, including the latest "Hope For The Hopeless".)

http://brettdennen.net/
www.myspace.com/brettdennen

Here is a recording of one of my personal favorite songs (directed by Claire Carre) "Ain't No Reason". As Brett says in his own words about this song, and about this video are the following text seen below:

"It is our routines and our comforts that allow us to ignore social issues. For some of us, it is our privilege to be ignorant. This video tells the story of social issues challenging our privileges and entering our routines making them impossible to ignore. Social injustice cannot be ignored when you are forced to deal with them. That is the idea behind this video.

What would happen if you were forced to deal with something that you may think has nothing to do with you? If suddenly the world's problems came into your
own home? You would have to realize that you are connected to everything and everyone one earth."



Brett who also was just on Ellen and performed "Make You Crazy" off of his latest album "Hope For The Hopeless" off his latest album



I definitely will review "Hope for the Hopeless", along with a more in depth look at the CD and etymology of music in the very near future so be on the look out for that, if you are a Brett fan or are now just becoming one. Personally, I find his music to be that infectious (in a non-strep throat sort of way, but in the good sense), that one listen to a track or tune, he has so many that speak to so many different topics, that instant karma is gonna get you and you, like me are going to be a Brett Dennen fan for life. Sometimes life can be just that easy. Sometimes life can be just that simple. For me, hearing "Ain't No Reason" for the first time, I that sense of 'wow me likey,' was a case of something being just that simple and easy. I hope for all of you new to hearing Brett feel this and I promise that if you look around and check out the links posted and the show tonight (if you can) that you will get that unified feeling of the 'me likey(s)' too.

As for the coming months I personally hope to see Brett at either at Bonaroo or when he comes through Atlanta on 8/21/2009 to Verizon Wireless Amphitheater @ Encore Park. Having never seen Brett live in concert before I expect this be a real treat, definately a summer highlight. Additionally, tonight on NBC at 1:35 EST and 12:35 CST following Brett will be on the Carson Daly show following Jimmy Kimmel




Below is a copy of Brett's upcoming tour schedule, including an international tour, music Festival and venues throughout the United States that runs from 4/27 (where he initially will be supporting The Fray in Europe, before heading back home to the US for the aforementioned festivals and concerts with O.A.R. Those shows should all be awesome! I hope to see you there!

European Tour:
04/27/09 Brett Dennen in Belfast, Ireland Mandela Hall supporting the Fray
04/28/09 Brett Dennen in Dublin, Ireland Olympia supporting the Fray
04/30/09 Brett Dennen in Glasgow supporting the Fray
05/01/09 Birmingham, UK Academy supporting the Fray
05/02/09 Manchester, UK Academy supporting the Fray
05/03/09 Leeds, UK - US Leeds Academy supporting the Fray
05/05/09 London, UK Roundhouse supporting the Fray

Festival Dates:
05/29/09 Hunter Mountain, NY Mountain Jam - www.mountainjam.com/
06/11/09 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo - www.bonnaroo.com/
7/2 – 7/5 Rothbury, MI Rothbury - www.rothburyfestival.com/
8/28 - 8/30 San Francisco, CA Outside Lands - www.sfoutsidelands.com/
9/5 - 9/7 Seattle, WA Bumbershoot - www.bumbershoot.org/

Tour dates with O.A.R:
06/05/09 Morrison, CO - US Red Rocks Amphitheatre
06/06/09 Bonner Springs, KS Capitol Federal Park at Sandstone
06/07/09 Council Bluffs, IA WestFair Amphitheatre
08/13/09 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion
08/14/09 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion
08/15/09 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
08/18/09 Philadelphia, PA Penn’s Landing
08/20/09 Memphis, TN Mud Island Amphitheatre
08/21/09 Atlanta, GA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre @ Encore Park
08/23/09 Cary, NC Koka Booth Amphitheatre @ Regency Park
08/26/09 Tampa, FL Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
08/27/09 Orlando, FL Hard Rock Live
08/28/09 St Augustine, FL St Augustine Amphitheatre
08/29/09 Pompano Beach, FL Pompano Beach Amphitheatre
09/03/09 Madison, WI The Coliseum at The Alliant Energy Center
09/04/09 Rochester Hills, MI MeadowBrook Music Festival
09/05/09 Toronto, ON The Kool Haus

Also here is one more recording of The Official Video of: "Make You Crazy!"...

Enjoy! Be sure to check out a post about this post (that seems a bit oxymornic, doesn't it? Sadly for me that somehow seems to fit bill today, ha! Either way the music is AMAZING) on DIGG too...and don't just look, but hit us up!





Also we at the Brass Hat Group have a special treat for you later today and no they are not 'smores', sorry kids ;p...BUT definately tune in and be sure to check back later to find out what it is! This is something I personally am very excited about and would not want anyone to miss!

"When Rock Stars Get Naked!" - Chris Cornell / 04.01.2009 / Center Stage - Atlanta, GA - Part II / REVISED - UPDATED - FULL SET DOWNLOAD AVAILABLE!!!)

(This article is a revised and updated version with new copy, info and more badass things for you to DOWNLOAD free...see the 04.01.2009 full set available courtesy of 96.1 aka 96 Rock and The Brass Hat Group who is always looking and dedicated to bringing you the best and hottest music, fashion, art, film and entertainment available. Please Enjoy!!!)

Chris Cornell, was at Center Stage in Atlanta, GA on 04.01.2009. This is a particularly small venue for someone of Cornell's stature, holding 1,100 people at maximum capacity. On this night it was maximum capacity. To think of someone who just released a Timbaland produced album, on the Interscope label whose artists include 2Pac, 50 Cent, U2 and The Police, such a small and intimate venue was at least to me very surprising. The last time I saw Chris Cornell was with Audioslave and 19,000 other people at a huge amphitheater, so be so close that as Ginger put it, "He sweated on me," is no joke. We got that close.

Throughout the lead up to the show, which was something of a cluster f$@#, the crowd was made to stand outside for at least an hour beforehand, most of them arriving early told doors by every ticket seller, news paper, radio station, everyone and everywhere that the doors opened at 8pm. The rain started coming down and people, waited, patiently as the Center Stage staff sadly carried a sort of arrogance you might expect from a rock star, the likes of which I just described above, but not from a pack of guys who resembled jail guards more so than the minimum wage workers who had nothing more than a free Cornell tour black hoodie to show for their 'power'. I stood with Ginger by the doors as we too waited for our tickets as the crowd security were intent on showing their very police like demeanor and I don't mean that in an excited friendly, part of the good cop/bad cop scenario you often see in movies. These jokers acted like this was Training Day and we were their verbal "punching bags" when in fact it was barely over 1,000 people all too happy, too excited, to let anything like these asshat noble warriors get them down.


The irony of the limits of their "pull" with regard to Chris and the bands, hit home when a young woman who apparently was quite close to Chris, asked about the location of her backstage tickets and the 'security detail worker' knew nothing other than, "[he] would go check on it," which was what we learned quickly was code for getting his ass back out in the rain to hand out wrist bracelets to those people over 21 before his boss yelled at him. The worm always turn and the farce of human nature got its chance to rears its ugly head even before a concert featuring one of the greatest rock and roll stars of my lifetime.

So as Ginger and I waited for the press passes so kindly granted to us by the great folks over at Red Light Management, us and the mass of others who also had similar type passes were given a laissez faire attitude about where our tickets might or might not be. It got to the point after over an hour of waiting and hearing "The tour manager still has the list," by a plump boned woman totally big rig riding her temporary power role that evening that tensions had risen. Ginger and I stayed calm, laughing, as she discussed fashion tips and I looked on like a kid wanting an ice cream, as Ginger and the other gorgeous women chatted about this and that. There was a certain comfort in knowing that this was something that would sort itself out, eventually, but clearly was not half as smoothly by the Center Stage door workers as I have seen it done by so many others, at so many other places. It was a shame watching as this nice young who woman inquired about her passes was told to, "stand up against the wall or you will be outside with them!" the 'guard' pointing as I felt like I was in 3rd grade and we were doing a tornado drill. At least they didn't ask me to cop a squat and stick my between my legs, because I really am no longer capable of kissing my own ass, though I have been asked to do so a few times since those 3rd grade year. The good news was that the Center Stage staff, with all their might and all their "don't you eye ball me son," demeanor, could not take away the enthusiasm and overall good nature of the people coming to see this show, which simply amazed me. I know that Ginger and I personally were happy just at the idea of seeing a live concert and honestly the overall vibe of 1100 people as far as we could tell was that we were going to eventually see this "legend" perform at some point on this first night of April. Hell, given the fact it was April Fools day a part of my psyche almost expected the worst and that NEVER happened.

In mingling on the periphery of the throngs of people I heard great tales, big fish stories, about the old days of Chris Cornell. I heard one man recant how he saw him at the "Joint" in Las Vegas, Nevada with Audioslave at one of the first Audioslave shows ever. The memory even made me excited and I have never been to the "Joint" in Vegas. Another guy jumped into the conversation telling of unfounded rumors about the drummer being high on that night in Vegas and off beat, but Cornell, "totally carrying the set bro."

To the other side we heard another pack of folks, an older set, i.e., early 40's telling about seeing Cornell and Soundgarden to a group of teenagers - dressed in black, kids who were Johnny Cash styling fan clubbers of Chris Cornell on some level. This was no contest. The music carried the day and in this case the night. How can you not appreciate diversity like this, that was one of the great things about this show, ages and dressware ran the gamut, but everyone had the love of the music binding them together. These guys said that they saw Soundgarden in Toronto, Ontario way back in November of '96, as if '96 was soooo long ago, and how that was the best concert and still is the best concert these guys have ever seen. Moments like this went on and kept the crowd invigorated as the rain came down and the delays were if this were any other concert, I think we would have seen a lot of outward acts of frustrations, but most of the crowd they had their tickets and their drink bracelets and time was merely a matter, and for some I assume the memories were enough to enable them to wait one hour or two if needed, but we were going to see Chris Cornell. People were in a trance. We were going to see Chris Cornell.

I cannot say for sure what the actual reason was, but going on what my gut is telling me is that in part due to the intimate setting of Center Stage, the friendly and excited crowd, but there was a certain esoteric energy going on that night, April 1st 2009, that the concert goers and performers (Outernational and Chris Cornell) alike were able to venture off the beaten path of easeful iteration. Once inside, even before opening act Outernational (see my review to come on them in the next few days) had a chance to go on stage that we heard chants of 'Chris, Chris, Chris' and every little movement or stage hand with long hair, who might have only been restocking the band's water or putting picks on the mics, raised a frenetic hollar from the audience. All of this I believe attributed to the show that we did wind up seeing. The opening act Outernational was quite good and quite charged up, doing their own thing, solid, blasting powerful chord managed rock with tastes of ska and punk. They definitely had a stage presence and I am sure we will hear more from them in the future. As for Chris Cornell I believe that he felt this crowd vibe, he felt that Atlanta and these people cared for him and his art - the music. It was because of all of this I believe, a comprehensive slant towards interacting with the crowd on a deeper level. Chris Cornell on April 1st, 2009 at the Center Stage in Atlanta was not just the front man for mega bands Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog, but on this night, he too was able to morph into a person with his own palpable sense of want. There was no need for ridiculous hype, over the top non-stop radio promotions, street signs and billboards, there was the ability to let go and for him simply be - Chris - part-time rock star and as we soon found out during the story telling moments of the show a full-time Husband and Father as well. That to me made all of the pre-concert fussing, all of the waiting in the rain and dark skies, the build up akin to some kind of frenzied orgazmic wait worth it with the result being - phantasmic.

Before I go on describing the show and the album, I think a very special thanks should go out to not only to record label behemoth Interscope Records for putting this tour together, but specifically, Red Light Management. Red Light is no slouch themselves, less known to masses as management companies tend to be, but with their own well known, super-sized, talent section that includes stars such as the Dave Matthews Band, Alanis Morissette and Phish to name a few. What is interesting about Red Light is that besides the mega stars they have on their roster, they also seem just as willing to take on diverse, more niche associated musicians, such as the North Mississippi Allstars, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Herbie Hancock's Imagine Project and Ben Harper (all personal favorites of mine) and many more. Big props to Red Light Management and Interscope Record and whomever else had a part in having 'cojones' to schedule the Center Stage in Atlanta, GA . The Scream tour also has similar stops at places like Washington, DC's, famous dive venue known for getting big-time acts the 930 Club and two nights in NYC's East Village at Webster Hall, which is small enough that you can seriously rent it out for your Bar-Mitzvah or Sweet Sixteen parties if so desired. If only my parents had known.

To me the night was summed up by several specific incidents that occurred during the show. To give you an idea, there is one that I want to explain that took place a little more than half way through the 28 song set. And yes it was 28 songs deep! A solid hour past the midnight curfew that was supposed to be imposed by the Center Stage, I do give them credit for that solid memento. This story Chris shared with us summed a lot of what we had been talking about in regard to Cornell's sense of authenticity, a debate that has been waged across the media waves, because Scream and its new style, at least for Chris, with more synth/pop sounding traits. Despite it being April Fools' this album I believe is no joke as the new musical sound off of Scream and the sense I took away from hearing it live was that Chris Cornell truthfully believes in these new songs and this new approach. I think if he did not believe in Scream with an absolute devotion, he would have ripped through a short, terse set the way that so many bands on long national and international road tours often do, especially on rainy Wednesday nights in the center of Little Five Points, Atlanta, GA by guys who have been around for as many years as he has. Chris spent time diverging from the music at various moments throughout the set, explaining how the album was nourished from his soul, wanting us all to see and understand that again, this was no April Fool's joke despite the date and that to him this new album was something his heart and mind told him was where his musical guile needed to go. I can't say with 100% accuracy what the overriding factor that sold me on this performance was that night. Maybe it was being so close and free to move or sit wherever, maybe it was Ginger's smiling face and astute comments, maybe it was hearing Spoonman or Burden in My Hand live after so many years, no matter the reason or my feeble attempts to be all Freudian (something along with the rambling is appearently a personal flaw), but in my estimation the show, as a fan not a person looking to do a review, took away was a genuine connection to Chris Cornell's performance, the clandestine musical value of Scream and the possible future direction of Chris Cornell the musician. For me, those things were the gifts from the 'rock gods' as Jack Black likes to call them and were a heck of a lot to get from a single concert, a few hours out of my otherwise chronically squirrel caged (which is a real saying meaning 'boring' and totally not gerbil cage) life.

As mentioned above there was a specific moment in the show that I wanted mentioned, because of its unique quality (and coolness I think) that both in what is written above and in the rest of review below, completely humanized, for me a man and his music who that I have been listening to for over 15 years. It was the 16th track of the night that this rarefied, truly authentic "Rock Star" showed all of us at all the Center Stage, in Atlanta, GA and those lucky enough to hear the replay on 96.1 FM (check that link out for a listen of the ENTIRE show and more) where he is at in his life and who he is as a person. As if the replay wasn't enough 96.1 FM (aka 96 Rock) changed their name to Chris FM for 2 days in homage, where they allowed him to play his favorite tunes, talk about his music and that of those he admired or whatever else caught his eye (again available on here, because I REALLY don't want you to miss this).

After a very short break, more like a rearrangement where people rushed around on and eventually off the stage, Chris was able to put aside the rest of the band, snag a swig of faintly green hued bottled water, probably some kind of tea energy concoction, grab an onyx colored, Johnny Cash looking guitar, a fairly tame moment to much of what we had been listening to that night (go to that link now if you want to be able to DOWNLOAD the actual live set from that night, courtesy of us benevolent Brass Hat Group folks and those good people at 96 Rock). As he worked his way into this 3 song solo set, he started in on a personal story about his wife. Having seen Chris over the years I had never heard him tell personal stories like this regarding family or ever mention the fact he even had a wife. That playa image I had of him just went flying out the window and it was nice to see. Chris went into this story about his wife, speaking of her as if he was still deeply in love. This was something that I think everyone at the show understood on some level, even the young teenage kid standing next to us much of the evening, goth'd to the max, hair to boots booing every time songs from Scream were played, even he seemed to "get" it.

Chris had also during the show as to how and why he has loved Atlanta. It was not some happenstance, but rather since the late 80's, after pulling some shenanigans and getting into a show through methods less than kosher and Chris spoke of how he loved being able to play this small venue and re-live his own memories, the way most of us were able to do seeing him perform here on this night. Chris continued on, heartfelt, telling us about the song he was about to sing for us called, "Finally Forever" that he said he wrote for his wife for their wedding night. He made light of guys who write songs to get chicks, the self-deprecating way that guys, such as myself, often do when we are not wanting to sound too uncool to our fellow man. It wasn't until he sang this song, acoustic and alone - bared soul with shards of humanity, away from all the BS about selling out this way or fitting into a category that way; unconcerned about the genres and the constant attempt of so many "hip" media outlets who find the need to classify everything. Hell, even this site has a section for labeling posts at the bottom of each write up so that you can eventually search for the keywords or genres, if you want to really call it like it is, that appeal to you. In truth the only classification for this rendition of "Finally Forever", as Ginger, the kind of mind rattling gal, out my league woman Chris was talking about, so aptly remarked about what was just said on stage, "Wow, that is so real."

Indeed.

The audience was now settled down, with the occasional scream (no pun intended) and, or cheer, quieter than before as if something special was going on, and it was, during this three song solo set. Chris Cornell, lead singer of all the aforementioned bands and solo projects and now most recently teamed with producer/rapper/media mogul extraordinaire Timbaland, Chris Cornell a man who will one day be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall, sat on a wooden stool, guitar in hand and delivered to us this three song acoustic mini-set where as just mentioned in detail he talked and sang, recanted this beautiful tale of surrender to his heart strings, much the way you might find in a Jeff Buckley 'Hallelujah' rendition, accomplishment, fame and all things that transcend music, such as true love, true honesty and the kismet heart fogs that only those of us who have ever been in such a rapture with another person at one time or another can truly understand. As far as I see it, this kind of heartfelt devotion, this kind of putting it out there the way Chris Cornell does on in a subtle way hiding behind the dance remixed timbre on his new album Scream and most succinctly in this performance on 04.01.09 is really the only thing other than maybe hyperspace that possibly transcends time (if you notice this song Finally Forever or many others played that night were not on the original set list seen below).

For me, it was these moments of the concert where the crowd and the musician had a syncopated connection, it happened for sure on this one and with several other great songs throughout the night, some old, some new, covers and the whole phenomenon of it all that made this show truly special in my imaginary book of greatest concerts ever seen by yours truly.

("Finally Forever" from this 04.01.2009 show, can be heard in the player below courtesy of 96.1FM (96 Rock) and available for download if you click on it:





See the official set list below, which as noted above he deviated from about half way through deciding to do his own thing as well as a photo from last night's show and the actual set list that was play.

4.1.09 Center Stage @ Chris Cornell Show (original set list)

4.1.09 Center Stage @ Chris Cornell Show (The Actual Set List Played):

01 Introduction
02 Part Of Me
03 Time
04 Light My Way
05 You Know My Name
06 Spoonman
07 Hunger Strike
08 Set It Off
09 Show Me How To Live
10 Be Yourself
11 Ground Zero
12 Never Far Away
13 Outshined
14 Rusty Cage
15 Preaching The End Of The World

16 Finally Forever (Acoustic)
17 Can't Change Me (Acoustic)
18 Fell On Black Days (Acoustic)
19 Like A Stone (Acoustic)

20 Cochise
21 Watch Out
22 Burden In My Hand
23 Scream
24 Enemy
25 Jesus Christ Pose

-Encore Break-

26 Immigrant Song
27 Like Suicide
28 Black Hole Sun

(photo taken by - 04.01.2009 - Center Stage)

Also special thanks to Ginger for your keen insights about the music, you were really helpful and thanks to everyone else who helped with this show's review, passes, photos et al...and a shout out too Wayne John who is like the Yoda of how to do stuff with web blogs. He really helped a lot and saved me a lot of time as I tried to figure it out myself.

"What's the sound of the Clash getting pistol whipped?" - OUTERNATIONAL - Live @ Center Stage (Opening Act On The Chris Cornell '09) -Updated Copy!

(click on the Image to the left for their official website)

Etienne Bowler

Outernational - 04.01.2009 -

Opening for Chris Cornell

Center Stage in Atlanta, GA
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

Center Stage in Atlanta, GA
photo by Ross Feingold

See tour listing below:

Upcoming Shows

( view all )

Apr 4 2009 7:30P	Electric Factory	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Apr 5 2009 7:00P	9:30 Club	Washington DC, Washington DC
Apr 7 2009 7:00P	Webster Hall	New York, New York
Apr 8 2009 7:00P	Webster Hall	New York, New York
Apr 10 2009 7:00P	House of Blues - Boston	Boston, Massachusetts
Apr 11 2009 7:00P	Wellmont Theatre	Montclair, New Jersey
Apr 13 2009 7:00P	House of Blues - Cleveland	Cleveland, Ohio
Apr 14 2009 6:30P	Michigan Theater	Ann Arbor, Michigan
Apr 15 2009 8:00P	The Vogue Theatre	Indianapolis, Indiana
Apr 17 2009 7:00P	Pabst Theater	Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Apr 18 2009 5:30P	MYTH	St. Paul, Minnesota
Apr 19 2009 6:00P	Riviera Theater	Chicago, Illinois
Apr 25 2009 8:00P	THE KNITTING FACTORY (ALL AGES)	NY, New York
May 3 2009 12:00P	BAMBOOZLE FESTIVAL - Giants Stadium	East Rutherford, New Jersey
Jun 11 2009 5:00P	BONNAROO	Manchester, Tennessee
Jun 26 2009 12:00P	Vans Warped Tour 2009	Pomona, California
Jun 27 2009 12:00P	Vans Warped Tour 2009	San Francisco, California
Jun 28 2009 12:00P	Vans Warped Tour 2009	Ventura, California
Jun 30 2009 12:00P	Vans Warped Tour 2009	Phoenix, Arizona
Jul 1 2009 12:00P	Vans Warped Tour 2009	Las Cruces, New Mexico
Jul 2 2009 12:00P	Vans Warped Tour 2009	San Antonio, Texas
Jul 3 2009 12:00P	Vans Warped Tour 2009	Houston, Texas
Jul 5 2009 12:00P	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!)

(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)

We have up and moved...

The Brass Hat Group has moved to http://www.riddledphantasms.com

We still will be providing the same content and great reviews and updates, in Music, Film, Art, Fashion. Go ahead and please bookmark and follow us via Google and we still will be available at this location if you prefer http://brasshat.blogspot.com (at least until I figure out what the f#$@, I'm doing with that new domain ;p)

We also can still be found at the following locations, in case you really are missing us (mainly me, but I say us, so it feels less depressing ;p) and we are excited about the big boy name.

Website: http://www.riddledphantasms.com/ and http://brasshat.blogspot.com
Digg: http://digg.com/users/Brasshatgroup
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BrasshatGroup

Stumble: http://calix09.stumbleupon.com/

Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/user/Brasshat/

RSS Feed: http://brasshat.blogspot.com/default?alt=rss

Facebook: http://xrl.in/1zqe (tiny url)

For those of you wondering, why 'riddledphantasms', well, I was stuck getting an MRI of my knee many years ago reading a Jack Kerouac novel, Desolation Angels where he was one of his famous long winded rants (that I often get accused of, and labeled a lousy writer as a result - opinions and derrieres - we all got 'em, myself included).

Anyhow, Jack was talking about his friends. I believe he was referring to his self imposed writing junkie writing guru of that Cornell University, NYC, 'beatnik' crowd, of which kids are now made to read in High Schools across the country in order to learn about english and literature and 'all that jazz...'. I believe and this is just my theory that Jack was talking about William S. Burroughs, who was an older, wiser, less of the road traveling, rowdy youngster pack that Jack was migrating back and forth cross country at the time. He mentioned how this friend and others often "riddled my phantasms..." or something to that effect. I don't know the exact quote and I promise to go on a grail quest and find it, but it was moments like that, phrases like that, which made me a Kerouac fan when I was still in my late teenage years and that kept me reading through a lot of the run-on sentences and boring stories about Lowell, Massachusetts that kept me going, hopeful of finding another gem in the knoll another phrase that riddled my phantasms. And so that is how I personally arrived at the new name for The Brass Group and all our future endeavors.

I hope everyone had a nice Easter weekend...and in the words of Jack Kerouac at the end of Vanity of Duluoz (available on Amazon along with all the others mentioned in this post, just click the links for a look at a few passages and a place to buy if you are so inclined -


"Forget it, wifey. Go to sleep. Tomorrow's another day.
Hic calix!
Look that up in Latin, it means "Here's the chalice," and be sure there is wine in it."

Indeed Jack...Tomorrow is another day, goodnight all and I hope you had a great Easter weekend!

- Calix
(aka The Brass Hat Group's official ghost in the machine)