Jan
03
2010

Mission Hans Achieved!

Hanksgiving @ Yucca

(Add / View Comments) (0)Sunday, January 3, 2010 - 10:51:01 pm
(Posted Under: Tempe Music Scene Tempe Music Scene, Music Music, Live Shows)
The mission as it were, dates back years ago, to the first day I ever spent in Arizona. The mission being seeing Hans Olson play live. At the time, I had no idea that it was going to be a mission, nor almost 5 years in the making. My first time out here, I was excited that Hans was playing the Tempe Music Festival. The only problem was that he played at midday, and my flight got in at 1pm, hence he is one act I didn't get to see that day. I didn't end up getting to see him play that entire trip, nor on my second trip in 2006. Not that I think I thought that much of it at the time.

It really became a thing last Halloween, when he was scheduled to play at the Mill Ave. Halloween Music Festival, at which point it dawned on my that I still hadn't seen him play. And the situation turned into a 'mission' when - you guessed it, we missed his set! For someone who plays arguably as regularly as Mark Zubia (ie; a lot) it's kinda surprising that I still hadn't.

We'd headed down to Yucca particularly to see Shelby James & The Crying Shames at the Hanksgiving night. We'd seen the flier for it the night before Christmas Eve, and taken note that Shelby was playing. I don't think we'd notice that Hans was, or if we did, I'd forgotten by tonight. But walking from the car, I immediately recognized him out the back.

Bachman was playing (who outside I mistook his voice for Steve Larson, and rushed inside), and Hans followed, which was cool. While it was a surprise to us, I think he was the highlight of the night for me. No disrespect to the Crying Shames, but Hans was just really good. Hans isn't really my era, nor genre and not an artist that is in constant rotation for me, but he's just that good that you can't not be sucked into his music. You don't have to be hard core into country or the blues to get something out a Hans Olson performance. And all three aspects of it (vocals, guitar and harmonica) are actually equally as impressive. Definitely watching him tonight, it makes perfect sense to me why he and Larson have done a lot together. I definitely thing they both go hand and hand together. I'm sure Hans has some years and experience on Steve, but there is no doubt that they're both cut from the same cloth. And with both of them, if you have any musically incling at all, it behooves you direct your attention to the stage. A nice touch was also Hans use of a loop machine, for laying down a rythmn before taking a solo. Which obviously takes me back to the days of Larson at Sugar Daddies. Maybe Hans is where Steve got the idea. In anycase, it was only a 3 song set of Hank Williams covers by Hans. The shortness of which has reminded me that I need to get to a Hans Olson show sometime soon. One with his originals will be even more enjoyable in theory too.

Since we certainly weren't looking to make it a big night (it's kinda impressive that we actually made it out to Yucca tonight), it was a bit of a wait until Shelby took the stage. Worth the wait, though sadly it as only 3 songs by them also. Which was fine, but given that we'd figured they were playing at 7, it was kinda funny to have waited around for so long for 3 Hank Williams songs. But, despite the still feeling rundown from the cold and wanting to get home at a reasonable time, it was actually pretty nice hanging out at Yucca. Though, once Shelby had played, it took nothing for us to V-Line to the car! [smile]
Jan
03
2010

Desert Botanical Gardens & The Vig

A Sunny Sunday Afternoon Of Fun

(Add / View Comments) (0)Sunday, January 3, 2010 - 02:44:12 pm
(Posted Under: Tempe Music Scene Tempe Music Scene, Music Music, Live Shows)
It was a nice afternoon today, at the Desert Botanical Gardens, before heading over to The Vig for Elvis Before Noon.

There was not a cloud in the sky when we left the apartment, and out at the Botanical Gardens, you could not help but be struck with the heat from the desert sun (about 21 degrees celcius) while walking around. So? Sure, it's been a lot hotter when I've been at the Botanical Gardens before. But, only 3 days ago I was amongst the freezing, snowy conditions of the midwest, where the fact that it's winter was inescapable! Coming back home to Phoenix is like getting an instant summer! And while it's actually winter here, walking around today in the sun and completely blue skies, it was easy to forget that it isn't actually summer. Today felt as much like a summer day than any other one!

The gardens were great as always, and it would have been easy to have stayed there for the rest of the afternoon, than going over to The Vig.

I was interested to see the luminaries still set up on one building there. Hilariously, moments after taking a photo, a guy appeared on the roof to start collecting them. Unbelievable timing on that photo!

Our membership was really the best money we spent last year. We've only had it for 2 months more or less, and are $5 off already having it pay for itself. It's incredibly nice to be able to, on a whim, to decide to take a trip down there!

I could definitely feel the warm weather doing wonders for my cold!

At 3pm it was a short trip down to The Vig. Fun as always. The coolest part to report was the band doing Cajun Song. It seemed pretty impromptu, and went off quite well. The other thing was the pimping of Scotty's show this Wednesday there, with Steve Larson. We're definitely looking forward to it, especially if it means a night of Scotty originals. One can only hope. There was also something rewarding to me when Daylon pointed out that both were ex Peacemakers. Though, I bet his intention was completely different to why I found it rewarding. [wink]

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