What Juliet Simms (Lead singer/guitarist Automatic Love Letters) doesn't cut with a knife and eat for dinner, she will slash with the razor sharp words that exude from her witty tongue. From the insecure couple, lame enough to wear matching T-Shirts, to any unfortunate and unfunny single men who brave the frigid elements of her cunning observations as she spotlights their "larger than life" chauvinistic egocentric means of expression. No man, or woman in this case, was safe from exclusion and ridicule. Not even her band mate & big brother, Tommy Simms, whose nickname of "Mumbles," could escape a spotlit tirade of how the band's van broke down on the way to the Bowery Ballroom.
It isn't so much Simms' sex appeal that fertilized my one track mind, and it wasn't the way she can arouse an already stiff audience out of their cultural comas. Simms' stands out from the many singer/songwriters I have reviewed live with her Mazzy Star like voice blending with her intimate Chris Cornell-esque music interlude that was equally matched by her Creed driven energy combining in one big pot luck flavor to give this Floridian the upper hand in a shouting match from center stage, all the while musically captivating and connecting to the audience beyond my expectations.
Automatic Love Letter's set included songs from their latest album self titled "Automatic Love Letters" and included very melodic songs such as "Let it Ride," "Unhearted," and "Parker," which were rich in lyrics and colorfully beautiful in music. Simms' long legs, liquid hand motions, and facial bling worked on me like a deer caught in headlights. The songs are well rounded, fluid, and very unpredictable with cord changes in every opportune area equally matched by the backing vocals of Simm's big brother, Tommy. The band is currently supporting Matthew Good who is now on tour in support of his recent album release .
Oh Canada. You have made the world swallow horse sized pills by introducing Celine Dion, Brian Adams, and the Bare Naked Ladies to the music fans. Much like the sport of Curling your music has taught us the meaning of unconditional love and support of our special needs cousin from the North. We have enjoyed your television-turned-music stars (Alanis Morissette), your Hollywood-esque blockbusters (Strange Brew & John Candy), your maple syrup, but not so much your beer (Molsen). Then when all was given up you brought new light to the world and unleashed the "Good." Matthew Good, Canada's answer to Bono, Glenn Beck, and Bob Dylan rolled into one tight political, blogging, musical package of serenity and "Good"ness. Good is the "Ace in the Hole" of Canada and is quite possibly the most underrated songwriter at the young age of thirty-eight who the world has yet to tap into.
Since the birth of the Matthew Good Band in 1993 Good has performed with his band throughout the Canadian provinces making his mark in music as Canada's most successful Alternative Rock band. The band would see enormous success with high Canadian music charting albums like "Underdogs" and "The Audio of Being," led to Good's equally successful solo albums such as "Avalanche", "In A Coma" and most recently "Vancouver." As the lead singer he has stood the test of time and it really wasn't until the band faced its first real break up in 2002 followed by the loss of bassist Geoff Lloyd who was replaced later by Rich Priske. Good would continue forward making more noise both musically and politically as a singer songwriting activist, blogger, and performer during this solo career stage he now is climbing on.
Good's writings extend outside of music and his blogs are evidently popular as they have been since 1997, so much that in 2000 his blogs were compiled and released in a book titled "At Least There Is Nothing Left To Say." Good has discovered a passion politics throughout most of his life and had welcomed Amnesty International to join him in spreading his messages while on 2004 tour. His website has been a truly resourceful means in spreading his political messages be it about American Foreign Policy or issues that stem closer to his home in Canada. His views aren't radical or extreme, but they are direct and very valid. Good launched "Dear San Diego" to web surfers where he writes fictional blogs to poke needed comedy relief about our human race including himself. It's Good's way of having "Good" fun in a "Good" way for the better. For someone who doesn't like being in the spotlight he has certainly made his view points crystal clear in song and written word. Good continues to tour and to write and it was at the Bowery Ballroom that I first got my "Good" taste of Matthew Good.
There was no mayhem. There was no fireworks. The entrance, you can say, was much like your buddy walking into a packed bar with a gentle smile and a minor hand gesture. Good went directly to his instrument, strapped on, and went right into his set. No "HELLO NEW YORK!" just a simple stroll onto stage and off we went into the "Good" mind of Good. His set included songs "Last Parade," "A Silent Army in the Trees," "Born Losers," "Giant," and "Everything Aquatic." were just a few of Good's sixteen song playlist. Equally impressive was the universal gesture to Wall Street. At one point, Good joked about himself and being a father which transitioned to the question of, "Hey what direction is Wall Street?" to which the audience (mostly New Yorkers) pointed is various directions as they are renown to do under directional pressure. Once the answer was gathered all eyes and hands faced South with a mighty roar and hundreds of birds flocking a big thank you to Wall Street.
The concert was such an experience for the music fan who may still be convinced that music is dead along with the poetic songwriters of yesterday. Let me be the first to say there is a diamond in the rough and even though this mighty maple tree may have fallen deep in the woods where no one has really discovered him. He made some sound. Good takes his passion for politics and raises it to an unfiltered and poignant level I haven't heard of since the last music movement of grunge and even more so since the revolution music of the 1960's. There is no fancy lighting, no stage antics, there is no flashy dancers, or mascots energizing the crowd. There wasn't even a scent of home grown hydroponic herbal intake anywhere. This was a pure show based on the insight and words of one man courageous enough to take a soap box stand to express his views to the world who has been listening. Well world, if you are listening, there is something "Good" in the air and it is coming your way. Don't miss your chance to hear the words, you've been reading, live right from the Mounty's mouth.
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