It sure felt like a long time since I had been to the Howlin' Wolf. In fact, it had, five months, I belive. But it didn’t take me long to get comfortable in the dark, spacious warehouse as I sipped a beer and settled into the crowd. On the bill that night were two of local indie label, Park the Van Records’ top acts, Philadelphia’s Dr. Dog and New Orleans’ own Generationals, as well as hometown faves MyNameIsJohnMichael. As for myself, though I’ve kept close tabs on the Generationals and MNIJM, it had been some two-to-three years since I’d last caught Dr. Dog. Needless to say in those few years, they’ve developed from a burgeoning DIY outfit to full-on indie rock royalty… without allowing the sweet smell of success to cloud their senses. All the while, they’ve managed to maintain their street-cred… unlike several of their contemporaries, ie Kings of Leon and My Morning Jacket. Their last three albums, Easy Beat (2005), We All Belong (2007), and Fate (2008), easily dwarf the quality and the creativity of their aforementioned cohorts' outputs. I’d say it’s fair to liken their rise in popularity to that of Pavement's in the Nineties… but I’ll leave those musings for another day. Now, back to the review. Oh, yeah, did I mention that New Orleans favorites, the Rebirth Brass was slated to accompany Dr. Dog…

Fresh off of an East Coast jaunt, MNIJM marked their return to the Big Easy by kicking the night off with the haunting, adventurous drama, “The Bittersweets.” It’s been a hell of a year for this 7-man ensemble, and I've had a hell of a good time watching them come into their own. Always lively, energetic, and exuberant, they've evolved from an intriguing hodgepodge with a world of talent and contagious melodies to a formidable rock and roll consortium, brimming with zest and confidence and helming one of the most exhilarating live shows you’ll see anywhere. This night, they left everything on the stage – well almost – cutting through the churning “Not Much to Say,” electrifying the gushing “Character Piece,” enlivening the soaring “Every Night of the Year,” and taking the show [literally] directly to the fans. For their final number, drummer Eric Rogers jumped into the front row and pummeled a tin trash barrel as frontman John Michael Rouchell joined the jubilant melee unfolding below him.

Next, after a rather tedious soundcheck, the Generationals took the stage. Perhaps it was a bad omen, but their set was plagued with audio mishaps – at least the first half of it. Whereas MNIJM thrives on oversized, ebullient pub rock, the Generationals’ forte lies within cool, vintage pop. Their sound combines sunny iridescent melodies with minimalist, disaffected New Wave - seemingly equal parts Beach Boys and Joy Division. Finally, after wrestling with the mix for a handful of songs, things came together during the spunky “When They Fight, They Fight.” The electro-infused “Wildlife Sculpture” definitely wowed the audience, and their punctilious closer “Angry Charlie” sealed the tumultuous set on a high note.

With the Rebirth Brass Band in tow, headliners Dr. Dog opened their set to the plush, whimsical bounce of “Worst Trip.” Rebirth would add their signature New Orleans sparkle to two other numbers: the eruptive euphony “Army of Ancients” and the dreamy drifter “Die, Die, Die.” For most of the show, the group’s unique blend of raucous, psychedeila and hypnotic reveries left me mystified. I didn’t remember them being this trippy – odd considering when I last saw them I was most definitely well-blitzed. Songs like “Fool’s Life” and “Keep a Friend” swept the crowd away in a sea of pastel hues and kaleidoscopic harmonies while the droning nightmares and jarring dissonance of tracks such as “The Ark” and “The Beach” encircled the hall. At the Howlin' Wolf, Dr. Dog's surrealist harmonies, gripping choruses, vivid melodies, and hallucinatory jams shaped a sound that was just as intimate and engrossing, as it was invigorating and enormous. The darting streaks of “The Rabbit, the Bat, and the Reindeer,” sealed the evening with a rhapsodic rush. Wow, I was taken aback! And judging by the looks of things I wasn’t the only one… guess fate has a funny way of coming around. Plus, you can’t argue with an encore entitled “Fuck It!”

CaptAbernathy
Remixing the Musical Landscape
Groovescapes 2009