Heavy Duty. Kinski & Liquor Bike Were Here. Where Were You?

Posted on April 20, 2013 by meanwhile, Back in Mobtown

Kinski & Liquor Bike – Metro Gallery – 4.12.13

Mrs. Dohler has no idea what the fuck you did last Friday night but the Dohlers were among the select few who went to see Kinski and Liquor Bike at the Metro Gallery. Seriously, there’s no way you had anything better to do but whatever. You missed a good show.

Liquor Bike, who has the power to stop playing for years, start back up again and sound just as good as ever, did the normal Liquor Bike thing, which is remind you that shit can get heavy. They, by the by, just released Taking the Blame: Singles, Demos and Other Rarities. You really should check it out. You know, especially considering you didn’t make it to the show.

PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER
M.B.M. friends Liquor Bike. Colin Preston, David Koslowski and Michael Gaitley.

PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER David Koslowski gets it done.

PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER
Oh shit, it looks like David Koslowski done found Jesus. With Colin Preston on bass and Eric Dixon on drums.

Seattle’s Kinski has also been living the rock dream for oh so many moons and has a new record, Cosy Moments, on Kill Rock Stars. The aptly named Cosy Moments features the band’s signature sound of fuzzy, genre-defying and super-satisfying guitar driven heavy rock yet it may be just a little more accessible than most of the earlier records. And, Kinski manages to pull off the rarest of rock-n-roll tricks: they incorporate a flute in a way that isn’t immediately nauseating. Too bad you weren’t there to see it.

PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER
“If we had known we had so many fans in Baltimore, we would’ve played here a long time ago.” Sorry, Kinski. The Dohlers don’t need to tell you that the rock-n-roll lifestyle is never easy.

SXSW 2013

Posted on March 31, 2013 by meanwhile, Back in Mobtown

All the bad things people say about SXSW are true. It’s exhausting, it’s crowded and it’s corporate. Yep, everyone has heard about the stage shaped like a giant ass Doritos vending machine. It reaches several stories high and is home to a bunch of crap that’s to be avoided at all costs. A sign of the antichrist? Perhaps. But, really, it’s just noise that gets in the way of our groove. We don’t care and don’t have time for it.

The Dohlers will continue to take from SXSW what it is willing to give: an absolute shit ton of new music from bands who have come from all over the country and the world to play their asses off for us. The atmosphere is relaxed and there are plenty of opportunities to chat with musicians whose work you admire (check out the Meanwhile, Back in Mobtown Portrait Gallery). All we know is that for five days and nights in March, music is the only thing that matters. It’s a luxury that the Dohlers don’t plan to give up anytime soon.

With that, we give you just a little of what we saw at SXSW 2013.

: Orange County brats, Audacity, at SXSW 2013.

: Pop-psychedelia from Bipolariod at SXSW 2013.

: Hippie Shit: The Blank Tapes at SXSW 2013.

: Hard charging guitars from California X, SXSW 2013.

: Booty shaking fun times with Calvin Love at SXSW 2013.

: Pop punk with Crooked Bangs at SXSW 2013.

: No introduction necessary. Michael Des Barres at SXSW 2013.

: Smarty pants act Détective at SXSW 2013.

: Eagulls and a super drunk guy at SXSW 2013.

: Isabel Almeida of Hunters at SXSW 2013. She’s no shrinking violet.

: The always energetic Keith Streng of the Minus 5 at SXSW 2013.

: The mighty Queen Kwong at SXSW 2013.

: Pleasing power pop from the Rite Flyers at SXSW 2013.

: The mesmerizing and memorable TOY at SXSW 2013.

: Dreamy: Beliefs at SXSW 2013.

: The multi-talented Eddie Baranek and the Sights at SXSW 2013.

Welcome to the M.B.M. Portrait Gallery

Posted on March 24, 2013 by meanwhile, Back in Mobtown

The Meanwhile, Back in Mobtown Portrait Gallery portrays the lovelies who make rock happen. The Dohlers enjoy capturing their joie de vivre and sharing it with you. We will update the Gallery as the mood strikes.

: PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER Ken Stringfellow inside the M.B.M. Studio on February 15, 2013. We don’t need to tell you he’s a great musician. But, did you know he’s also handsome, charming, cautious behind the wheel and a great eater?

: PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER Drummer Tommy Larkins and Jonathan Richman at the Golden West Cafe in Baltimore, February 23, 2013.

: PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER Jesse Crowe and Josh Korody of Beliefs in Austin, SXSW 2013. They sound as good as they look.

: PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER Calvin Love looks pretty following a day show in Austin during SXSW 2013.

: PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER The one and only Michael Des Barres in Austin, SXSW 2013.

: PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER LG Galleon and Ana Breton of Dead Leaf Echo looking good and communing with nature in Austin at SXSW 2013.

SXSW 2013 Day Five Highlights: Eagulls and Beliefs.

Posted on March 17, 2013 by meanwhile, Back in Mobtown

The Dohlers finished Day Five strong. We are now left in a state of total exhaustion with filthy shoes and aching feet. The rock-n-roll lifestyle is never easy but we soldier on.

Beliefs and Eagulls were two bands that the Dohlers were looking forward to seeing and we are happy to report that both delivered big. It doesn’t always happen that way. And, that is why they are the highlights of SXSW 2013, Day Five.

Eagulls administered a nice jolt of punk with hooks, God bless ’em. Mrs. Dohler does love a hook. The entire presentation was so very British in the best possible way.

Super drunk guy gives Eagulls vocalist George Mitchell some instant feedback. How very punk.

PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER
Super drunk guy gives Eagulls’ vocalist George Mitchell some instant feedback. How punk.

Toronto’s Beliefs scored with the Dohlers, giving it to us just the way we like it: dreamy, distorted, loud and pretty.

PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER
Beliefs’ Jesse Crowe and Josh Korody. They sound as good as they look.

More on the rest of SXSW 2013 later. Meanwhile, the Dohlers are headed back to Mobtown.

SXSW 2013 Day Four Highlight: Chelsea Light Moving.

Posted on March 16, 2013 by meanwhile, Back in Mobtown

The Dohlers had seen many great guitar performances by the late evening, early morning hours of Day Four of SXSW 2013. Eddie Baranek of the Sights, Kyle Thomas of King Tuff, Dominic O’Dair of TOY, just to name a few. It’s easy to get jaded. Then we went to see Thurston Moore’s band, Chelsea Light Moving. Holy hell. In case you’ve forgotten, Thurston Moore can play the guitar in a way that makes you instantly understand why boyfriend is a legend. He stands out from the pack, even when the pack is operating at a high level. Thurston Moore is an actual guitar God. And, that’s why CLM was the highlight of SXSW 2013 Day Four.

PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER
Thurston Moore showing the kids how it’s done at the Mohawk Patio.

Not surprisingly, the Dohlers did not have a portrait session with Thurston Moore. We did, however, have a fortuitous meeting with Magic Jake of King Tuff. So, instead, we leave you with this.

PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER
Magic Jake, bass player for M.B.M. fav King Tuff, smiles pretty for the camera. Thanks, Magic Jake. The Dohlers think you’re swell.

SXSW 2013 Day Three Highlight: TOY.

Posted on March 15, 2013 by meanwhile, Back in Mobtown

It’s getting hard to choose just one but that’s what we’ve done. The Dohlers made a late change to our SXSW schedule to include the British band TOY. We thought we’d check them out for a few songs and then go see Camera. Well, so much for that because TOY totally paralyzed us with psychedelic supersonic grooves and tons of gorgeous hair. We were completely captivated to the end, which came abruptly when technical difficulties caused singer Tom Dougall to heave his guitar behind the stage with impressive panache and call it a night. TOY kicked our asses. That is why they were the highlight of SXSW 2013 Day Three.

PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER
TOY at the Hotel Vegas Patio.

PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER
TOY lines up for M.B.M. Mmmmm. Pretty.

SXSW 2013 Day Two Highlight: Michael Des Barres.

Posted on March 14, 2013 by meanwhile, Back in Mobtown

Let’s face it, anyone can strap on a guitar and form a band. There ain’t nothing wrong with that. But, make no mistake, not just anyone can be a rock star. Elusive, rare and beautiful, Mrs. Dohler knows one when she sees one. SXSW presented us with that opportunity yesterday when the Dohlers went to see Michael Des Barres and his band. Simply put, Michael Des Barres is a motherfucking rock star. And, this is why he was the highlight of SXSW 2013 Day Two.

PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER
Michael Des Barres onstage at Molotov Lounge. “80% of you would fuck me right now. And, I’d fuck 75% of you.” Thanks, Michael Des Barre.

PHOTO BY MR. DOHLERMichael Des Barres mugs for M.B.M.

PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER
The fabulous Michael Des Barres takes a moment to mug for M.B.M. Thanks, Michael Des Barres.

SXSW 2013 Day One Highlight: Queen Kwong.

Posted on March 13, 2013 by meanwhile, Back in Mobtown

“This song is about a big black guy that I got intimate with” and who, as the song goes, has a small penis. This is just one of the things that the Dohlers learned last night during Queen Kwong’s set at Buffalo Billiards.

PHOTO BY MR.DOHLER
Queen Kwong getting shit done.

We also learned that Queen Kwong embodies the rock-n-roll spirit as God intended it to be. And, this is why she is M.B.M.’s highlight of SXSW 2013 Day One.

PHOTO BY MR. DOHLER
Queen Kwong strikes a pose after the show.

You can check her out for yourself here. As for the Dohlers, we are off to begin Day Two.

SXSW 2013 Starts Tuesday. We’ll Show You Our List If You Show Us Yours.

Posted on March 10, 2013 by meanwhile, Back in Mobtown

Don’t look now but it’s time to pack the SPF 45 and some sensible shoes because SXSW 2013 starts Tuesday. Here’s some of what we plan to see…besides all your pretty faces.

Who: The Blank Tapes

Why: Everyone else has seen them so it is high time the Dohlers did, too.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wT9EJMCGyQ]

Who: Queen Kwong

Why: She was opening for Nine Inch Nails when she was 17.

Who: King Tuff

Why: Mrs. Dohler’s love for K.T. is known and abiding.

Who: Beliefs

Why: Cream of the shoegaze crop.

Who: Wax Idols

Why: You could do worse than cute and sassy.

Who: Metz

Why: They’re keeping the rock dream alive.

Who: The Death Set

Why: Because it wouldn’t be SXSW without questionable decisions.

Who: The Sights

Why: The Dohlers have loved them before and hope to love them again.

Who: Ghost Wave

Why: They’re coming all the way from New Zealand.

Who: Autosalvage.

Why: Because it just isn’t everyday one has the opportunity to experience Autosalvage.

Who: Bleeding Rainbow

Why: Sounds more rock-n-roll than the Reading Rainbow.

Who: Shoes

Why: Longtime power poppers don’t play live often.

Who: Bearhug

Why: Perfectly pleasant. And, who doesn’t like a big, heartfelt hug?

Who: Alba Lua

Why: It’s dream pop from Paris.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwhrTRZBezY

Who: Buffalo Killers

Why: Because Buffalo is the new Black so the Dohlers must see at least one of the Buffalo bands.

Who: Chelsea Light Moving

Why: Thurston Moore.

Who: Little Barrie

Why: Hey, look, it’s Steve Howe’s son on drums.

Who: Eagulls

Why: Striking vocals, high energy noise pop.

Who: Bipolaroid

Why: It’s trippy.

Who: Dead Leaf Echo

Why: Dreamy. Poppy.

Who: Camera

Why: Have you seen this video?

Who: The Warlocks

Why: A little sonic, a little psychedelic.

Who: California X

Why: Sounds an awful lot like an old friend.

Who: Weekend

Why: The Dohlers could stand to have more bass in our lives.

Who: Calvin Love

Why: Dreamy electronica the Dohlers can get behind.

Who: Bloody Knives

Why: Because it’s nice to be scared every now and then.

Who: Dead Gaze

Why: We like them better if we aren’t looking at them.

Who: Kestrels

Why: Yet more nice noise pop.

Time Flies. Tomorrow’s March 1st and It’s Almost Time for SXSW 2013.

Posted on February 28, 2013 by meanwhile, Back in Mobtown

The Dohlers have emerged from an unexpected hibernation, just in the nick of time to plan for SXSW 2013. More on that later. Meanwhile, we thought you might enjoy some of Mr. Dohler’s images from SXSW 2012. Get ready, kids. The most wonderful time of the year is nearly upon us.

: Cotton Mather together again at the Beauty Bar to promote the deluxe release of their melodic gem, Kontiki.

: Lush grooves with The Black Ryder at Red Eyed Fly.

: The Jesus and Mary Chain at The Belmont. (A sympathetic security guard let the Dohlers in the back alley stage door to join the capacity crowd.)

: In a trance: Tammar’s Dave Walter at Swan Dive.

: Former Replacements and current Guns N’ Roses bassist Tommy Stinson at The Whiskey Room. It is entirely possible that he was indulging in intoxicating liquors. And, that’s Mrs. Stinson on tambourine.

: Ken Stringfellow (The Posies/Big Star/Disciplines) sings lead on KIzza Me during a performance of Big Star’s Third/Sister Lovers following the screening of the new Big Star documentary at The Paramount Theatre. A highlight of SXSW 2012, for sure.

: Peter Case (left) hangs out on 6th Street after performing a strong set of songs from The Nerves, The Plimsouls, and The Beat with Paul Collins at Jackalope.

: Tashaki Miyaki makes dream pop at Latiude.

: Fuzzed-out drone with Seattle’s VibraGun during the STPP shoegaze party at Casa Chapala.

: High energy instrumental surf-style garage rock from Copenhagen’s The Good, The Bad.

: King Tuff (Kyle Thomas) is good to his subjects at Red 7 Patio.

: The “King” strikes a royal pose.

: Texas punks Riverboat Gamblers whip up the home crowd at Jackalope.

: The dB’s — Stamey, Rigby, Holsapple, and Mitch Easter on bass — reunite to promote their first new album in 30 years at The Dogwood.

: Easter and Holsapple.

: Dead Leaf Echo makes dreamy drone at the STPP shoegaze party at Casa Chapala.

: Oklahoma’s Junebug Spade won over the crowd with solid songs and free beer koozies at Friends.

: Indian Handcrafts were high octane at Bat Bar. They’re also into Bruce Lee.

: Ken Stringfellow solo at The Ginger Man.

: Veteran rock scene maker and jack-of-all-trades BP Fallon (center) performs songs from his 2009 “Fame#9” album released on Jack White’s Third Man Records at Skinny’s Ballroom. His band included former Blondie bassist Nigel Harrison (left) and guitarist Aaron Lee Tasjan.

: Drumming double-team: Scott Asheton and Hector Munoz back up BP Fallon on “Van and Gloria” — his ode to Van Morrison. (Oh, and the Dohlers were on the stage to take this photo because Fallon recruited the front row to sing the chorus. Unexpected fun.)

: Pop punkers Bleached at Hotel Vegas.