Couple Shows Tonight...

Still recovering from some St. Patrick's Day shenanigans... But that's not going to stop me from seeing a couple shows tonight.

At the Beachland is Richard Shindell w/ Chris Castle opening (7:30). I've only seen Richard Shindell as part of the Cry Cry Cry group back in the day. I haven't really been keeping up with his current music, but I'm sure he'll be great. Though I'm really going to catch up with a local favorite - Chris Castle.

From the Beachland's website:

An expatriate New Yorker now living in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Richard Shindell is a meticulous craftsman of song whose six studio albums and one live recording have been revered by critics and fans alike. Innovative, original and occasionally spiritual, Shindell’s songs weave tales that interchangeably champion the downtrodden, exalt the disaffected or wax empathetic to those lost to society’s fringes. From his first record, Sparrow’s Point (1992) to the newest album Vuelta (2004), Shindell has demonstrated a penchant for songwriting at once passionate and profound. His songs are often slowly and painstakingly crafted until honed to perfection. Conversely, he is also capable of writing tunes that are simply clever and amusing.

Shindell’s songwriting is truly eclectic, ranging from lighthearted ballads and adulterous love songs, to dirges and diatribes that skillfully skewer politics, prejudice, war and religion. He has a unique ability to morph into the soul of the many and varied personalities he casts as narrators in certain songs--songs that are veritable novellas framed in haunting acoustic melodies, sometimes including cryptic, revelations through the eyes of a woman.

"After more than a decade and a half of playing music, 32-year-old Chris Castle is still a well-kept secret. Maybe it’s because the Ohio-based singer/songwriter put down his guitar for six years before re-emerging last summer to record this 11-song collection, which feels like a confession from the heart of the American Midwest." - Cleveland Magazine

Tonight is another show at the Spot on campus (CWRU). Plushgun is another Brooklyn electro-pop band, but they sound great - and the Spot hasn't let me down yet. Here's their description:

Plushgun is a project birthed in the cramped confines of Dan Ingala’s overpriced and undersized “bedroom” in New York City. While writing a song on his acoustic guitar, Dan had an idea: “what if I added some synths to this?” And synths he added, and this song is known today as “Just Impolite.” Dan incorporated the name Plushgun to this project, as in something soft, something killer. With a newly released album, Plushgun is sure to make a splash in 09.

For Fans of The Postal Service, The Magnetic Fields, and The Notwist, as well as older acts like New Order, this is not a Spot Night to be missed!

Here's a sample:

Without A Light - Plushgun

Getting up for my early morning flight to Memphis won't be easy, but it'll be worth it. ;-)