Rachel’s Secret Stache
The Brown Bag
(self-released)
myspace.com/rachelssecretstache
Rachel Roberts is a woman you can’t get out of your head. Her
smoldering, torchy croon winds serpentine around a retro-’70s blend
ranging from foot-tapping folk that channels Joni Mitchell (“Bloody
Knees”) to sultry, wah-drenched rock rave-ups (“Skelebones”),
shoulder-shimmying cocktail soul (“Modest Affair”) and bouncy,
rock-tinged Americana (“Gotta Go [Get My Dancin Shoes]”). The music’s
familiar styles are a lulling Trojan horse disguising a real “grower.”
Roberts’ versatile, winsome vocals and the catchy, synapse-sticking
hooks overwhelm attempts to dismiss their debut’s reliance on
time-tested sonic glyphs. — Chris Parker
Rachel’s Secret Stache perform with Sewing Machine War and Good
Morning Valentine at 9 p.m. Saturday, September 26, at Musica (51 E
Market St., Akron, 330.374.1114, akronmusica.com). Tickets: $12.
Nick Wolff
(State of Intoxication)
Depending on your tastes, punk rocker Nick Wolff’s second album is
either low-rent garbage (it’s not) or no-collar brilliance (it is).
Album opener “Sollozzo” recaps the first Godfather movie.
“McNulty” sings praises of the hard-headed, anti-authoritarian
character from The Wire. In “Nobody Likes the Hulk,” the crew of
underdogs find a kindred spirit in Marvel Comics’ surly, formidable
outsider. The Subtones’ Holly Berry lends backing vocals to “Meat in
Her Mouth,” which skewers pierced vegans. “Army of Morons” flips off
shitty bands and shifty promoters. We’ll drink to that. — D.X.
Ferris
The Nick Wolff Band performs with Criminal Menacing and Steve
& Julies at 10 p.m. Saturday, September 26, at the Beachland Tavern
(15711 Waterloo Rd., 216.383.1124, beachlandballroom.com). Tickets:
$5.
This article appears in Sep 23-29, 2009.
So Nick Wolff’s “Army of Morons” flips off shitty bands and shifty promoters? Coming from a horrible band with nonexistant work ethic and THE GUY that backed Phil Lara? Is this a joke?
cry baby