Recording: Bunny

Artist: Bunny

Songs: One Less Heart + Fat City (feat. Marker Starling)

Recorded at The Tranzac (Main Hall), January 13, 2018.

Bunny - One Less Heart

Bunny feat. Marker Starling - Fat City

I'd missed the release party for Bunny's superb self-titled album, so I was glad to see them reprising their role as openers at another Marker Starling release. There was a slightly-reshuffled lineup behind Drew Smith and the anchoring rhythm section of Jay Anderson and Andrew Scott with Lane Halley (Hooded Fang, Bart) sitting in on guitar as well as a now-rare Dan Werb sighting behind the keybs (although he did, indeed, play a lot of the keybs on the album). There was a tasty selection of material from the new album, and to close things out, Chris Cummings (another of the album's guest performers) came out to sing this new one to which he'd provided lyrics inspired, I'm given to understand, by the John Huston film.

Recording: Bunny

Artist: Bunny

Song: Face Your Own

Recorded at The Gladstone Hotel's Ballroom (Long Winter 5.4), March 24, 2017.

Bunny - Face Your Own

Long Winter ended its abbreviated, roving season with a return to The Gladstone, filling the second floor with art and the Ballroom and Melody Bar with ping-ponging live sets. While we await the release of the project's Memory Curator album, the live band continues to create rockin' frissons with their mind-meld precision, embellishing Drew Smith's winsome pop tunes with triple-guitar action.

[You can check out some video footage of the night over at Brandon Caswell Douglas' youtube playlist. Bunny plays tonight (Tuesday, May 9th) at The Burdock, along with a rare chance to catch Andre Ethier on stage.]

Recording: Bunny

Artist: Bunny

Songs: If Only in a Dream + If You Wanna Be My Boy, You Gotta Be Cool

Recorded at Burdock Music Hall, January 14, 2017.

Bunny - If Only in a Dream

Bunny - If You Wanna Be My Boy, You Gotta Be Cool

I hadn't caught The Bicycles' Drew Smith's solo project since its moniker shifted from the slightly-goofy Dr. Ew to the endearingly-cuddly Bunny. At the heart of things, the m.o. is the same here — Smith is a helluva pop songwriter and soulful vocalist. Even if they come in two-minute bursts, the songs are shifting a bit from cotton-candy rush to grown-up pop, in the way, maybe, that Carole King singing "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" is different than The Shirelles singing it. Excellently delivered, the band included Andrew Scott (bass), Jay Anderson (drums), Jordan Howard (guitar), Bram Gielen (keyb) and Christine Bougie (guit and lap steel). Still waiting on a follow-up to the glorious Gadzooks, for now there's not much to chew on besides a couple tracks over at Southern Souls.

^* Thanks to Drew fir passing along the title to this one!

Recording: Dr. Ew

Artist: Dr. Ew

Song: Stay in Place

Recorded at Recorded at Clinton's Tavern, September 12, 2012.

Dr. Ew - Stay in Place

Full review to follow. Although Drew Smith has been teasing us with some new songs and musical sketches on his soundcloud page, not much of that has filtered its way into his setlists yet. But alongside mainstays Andrew Scott (bass) and Jay Anderson (drums), the songs from Gadzooks got a new burst of energy from Jordan "AM Gold" Howard's guitar stylings.

Recording: Dr. Ew

Artist: Dr. Ew

Song: Oh Human History

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), December 31, 2011.

Dr. Ew - Oh Human History

Full review to follow. Bringing a bulked-up band (including Tranzac mainstay Bobby Wiseman) and some rocked-up arrangements to his New Year's Eve show, Drew Smith shocked some folks looking for genteel pop songs. "Judas!" cried one. Smith hardly looked up as he muttered under his breath, "I don't believe you." Then the band played fucking loud.

Recording: Dr. Ew

Artist: Dr. Ew

Song: Do As The Lord Tells Me

Recorded at The Garrison, December 28, 2010.

Dr. Ew - Do As The Lord Tells Me

My notes for this set can be found here.

Recording: Dr. Ew

Artist: Dr. Ew (feat. Steven McKay)

Song: If You're Happy

Recorded at Soundscapes, November 23, 2010.

Dr. Ew - If You're Happy

My notes for this set can be found here.

Recording: Dr. Ew

Artist: Dr. Ew

Song: Dance All Over My Grave

Recorded at !059, January 15, 2011.

Dr. Ew - Dance All Over My Grave

My notes from this set can be found here.