Spring finally (fingers crossed) seems to be here. We got a few flurries over the weekend, but they’re talkin’ 70 degrees for Wednesday. And what better way to say a howdie-do to Iowa’s Spring (i.e. tornado season) than with some wonderful Iowa City tuneage this fine evening?
Actually, it may be more shaking off the last shreds of Winter as far as 12 Canons are concerned. The Iowa City two-piece, who’ve graced our fair festival twice now (once in ‘07 at the Mill and this most recent fest as part of Sam Locke-Ward’s speaker- blowing big band extravaganza), construct sparse, eerie ditties, perfect for nights trapped behind several feet of snow and put down by the better part of a bottle of Old Crow. But they’ll come out of their shells all the same, with ghostly pianos and violins in minor keys and raspy vocals (think Jeff Magnum but creepier).
But after 12 Canons and 2 Beers, you only need 1 Liberty Leg. The Iowa City trio may have listened Mule Variations one too many times, because these boys bring the Waits, and hard. Get an earful of the muscle and bones number below, and if you’re Bone Machine doesn’t get worked-up for a strong belt of whiskey and some Liberty Leg then I just don’t want to know you.
Oh, yeah, did you get your taxes in? Just lookin’ out for you.
Who: Liberty Leg w/ 12 Canons and Acoustic Guillotine
Where: The Picador
When: Tonight (4/14/08), 9 pm
Cover: $5
Download: Liberty Leg - Old Machine
Download: 12 Canons - My Home Is Fine
Thanks for the comments, man. Jon Spencer and Tom Waits are comparisons Ethan gets a lot, but the man acts like Iggy Pop and Peter Popoff rolled into Jim Morrison’s body. He’s a damned fine poet, too.