Surely she hates me. Why else would she release albums that render me unable to function for hours after listening? Hmm? HMMMMMM? DAMN YOU, NEKO CASE!!!

And she's got a new LIVE album coming out in November!
For info:
http://www.mintrecs.com/release/index.html

Wait, albums? I thought she only had out the one.

I came this close to buying Blacklisted last year.

<holds up hands>

See? See how close I came?

I think she is very talented, but something is missing I think. I am basing this opinion on her performance with The New Pornagraphers. She seemed, I don't know, somewhat shallow. Like her job was to sing, and nothing else. There seemed to be no heart in her singing. It was like she could sing a happy song or a totally depressing song without emotion.
I don't know, her solo stuff feels pretty emotional, but the above mentioned concert kind of tainted my veiw of her.

I only have Blacklisted, but I like it a lot. Maybe she was just having an off night when you saw her, Aaron? We all have 'em. I can't say, I've never seen her live and haven't listened to much of the New Pornographers.

mr. fink, would you recommend her previous album? does she just have the two solo CD's out?

She has a grand total of 3 solo albums out, two of which predate her New Pornographer days. I don't actually have her first one "The Virginian," but "Furnace Room Lullabye" and "Blacklisted" are both wonderful.

I definitely wouldn't judge her based on her New Pornographers singing. That's where I heard her first, and I wasn't too impressed. But solo she has a booming bellowing boss-you-around til you cry kind of voice.

I would recommend "Blacklisted" as a good starting point. The song "I Wish I Was The Moon Tonight" alone is worth the full album price.

A disclaimer: She's been criticized in the past for not being fully authentic country, but I feel this is not a valid critique. I don't think she's trying to be authentic, but develop her own hybrid country/power pop/bizarro genre.

And she's sexy as all get out.

Thanks for the info, impetuousfink.

I was unaware of the new release.

Neko will be playing the 1st day of Austin City Limits festival Sept 17th.....yipeee...I am so pysched.....(Patty Griffin is playing that night too) Woo Hoo!!!

http://www.aclfestival.com/schedulegrids.html#friday

BTW, I wasn't ripping on Neko earlier, I was just saying that she seemed to lack substance in that one show. And, one thing about that show, like I siad, it was The New Pornagraphers, not her. So she did not write the songs.
Oh, and every time I hear the song "Pretty Girl" I get a shiver down my spine.

And I don't know that I would even be a fan of the New Pornagraphers if it were not for her singing. A letter from an ocupant was kind of my gateway drug too all things new porn.

New Pornos' lead singer Carl Newman released a solo under the name AC Newman called Slow Wonder. Basically New Pornos without Neko. It reminds me of earlier Wilco...maybe a bit of Shins......I agree the substance isn't always there in the lyrics, but the pop arrangements are brilliant. Carl (AC) knows pop music.

www.acnewman.net

It took me awhile to get into solo Neko 'cause I initially thought she was a Maria Mckee clone, but something just clicked and her voice and music is awesome. ears...can't wait to call in sick for work and play hookie to go watch Neko in a month....

Newman's song "The Town Halo" is on a constant cycle in my head. I should really do something about that, but what? Icepick?

I never really put Neko Case and Maria McKee together before, but now that you mention it, that does make sense. There are alot of similiarities.

Maria Mckee just put out a live album. Has anyone heard it yet? thoughts?

I finally picked up the new "live" album....

I love it. Neko Case is still definitely acquired taste, but I think she is great.

Best version of "This little light of mine" that I've ever heard.

Don't know if this has been posted already elsewhere--too excited to go look!

Just found out about Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, due out 7 March!!!!!! The site also has downloads for "Hold On, Hold On" and "Star Witness"--I'm insanely happy right now...... Also, Amazon has clips of each track as well.

Hmm, after my comments earlier - I must recant. While I still have not seen Neko Solo, I have seen her again with the New Pornographers, and it she was MUCH better. The one show was just an off night for her.

I kind of wish she would have waited a few months to put out the new album though. She has a policy of her solo stuff going before TNP stuff - so she won't be touring this spring with them (and belle and sebastian).

But yeah, I've liked the two tracks from the new album I've heard thus far.

She is phenomenal live!! I saw her with The Sadies a couple years back--one of the best shows I've ever experienced.

And, for good measure...

I got my hands on an advance copy of The Fox Confessor yesterday, and it is something else again! Picture Loretta Lynn meets Ani DiFranco. Here's a lyric from Margaret vs. Pauline:

Two girls ride the blue line
Two girls walk down the same street
One girl leaves her sweater sittin' on the train
And the other lost three fingers at the Cannery

Everything's so easy for Pauline...

There's a ridiculously cool honky-tonk gospel kinda song about John the Baptist on here too. So far I'm liking it a lot! I'll have to get Blacklisted, I only had Furnace Room Lullaby which I really like but it's much closer to traditional country.

I'm more interested in her as a solo act than part of the New Pornographers myself, really looking forward to seeing her at Webster Hall next month.

I first was introduced to Neko back in 2000 by a friend who introduced me to this neat little website out of Chicago called Bloodshot Records. If you're a fan of alt country, then you're sure to like what you see and hear there. I'm getting the new compilation, Bloodshot Records Compilations: For a Decade of Sin: 11 Years of Bloodshot Records. I have 2 other of their comps and absolutely love them.

Enjoy!

Cher

I have both and love them both.

Cher

new one sounds great Keith, I too like here solo stuff best
can't wait for the 3/7 release, plus she'll be here in Mpls 3/29
whoo hooo

kent

I think it might have been Cher who first told me about Neko on the CJ forum actually, as well as Stephen Bruton, Alejandro Escovedo and a few other artists I've really gotten to like.

I love Cher.

So does Neko bring a reverb chamber on tour with her?

This thread gave me the urge to bring out "The Unforgiving sounds of Maow." Yeah, interesting stuff.

Yes!

I mean, she might as well. I don't know how she does it, but she does. (And you must get Now the Tigers Have Spoken, too.)

And I'm jealous, jealous, jealous of you!!

At least I have these two songs--I've played them at least 10 times so far tonight.

Neko Case is on the cover of the new Harp Magazine March/April 2006,
and hers is the feature article.

Check it out on the magazine racks.
Their web site hasn't updated yet, harpmagazine.com
and still shows Cat Power and Beth Orton from last issue.

kent

Tour Dates on Pollstar:


Fri 03/17/06 SXSW Austin, TX Antone's (hey, same night/place as OtR!)


Wed 3/29/06 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue **

Thu 3/30/06 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theatre **

Fri 3/31/06 Chicago, IL The Vic **

Sat 04/01/06 Lansing, MI Temple Club

Sun 04/02/06 Toronto, ON Danforth Music Hall

Tue 04/04/06 Montreal, QC Club Soda

Wed 04/05/06 Boston, MA The Roxy**

Thu 04/06/06 New York, NY Webster Hall**

Fri 04/07/06 New York, NY Webster Hall

Sat 04/08/06 Philadelphia, PA The Trocadero & Balcony Bar**

Sun 04/09/06 Washington, DC 9:30 Club**

Tue 04/11/06 Charlottesville, VA Starr Hill

Wed 04/12/06 Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle

Thu 04/13/06 Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle

Fri 04/14/06 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse

Sat 04/15/06 Memphis, TN Hi-Tone

Mon 04/17/06 Dallas, TX Granada Theater

Tue 04/18/06 Austin, TX La Zona Rosa


appearing with "Sasquatch Music Festival"


Sat 05/27/06 George, WA The Gorge


appearing with "Telluride Bluegrass Festival"


Thu 06/15/06 Telluride, CO Town Park


** = Martha Wainwright opening (per http://www.marthawainwright.com)

Why thank you, Keith! Yes, that would have been me doing the recommending, but you must admit that you're not too shabby yourself when it comes to recommendations. I've been introduced to many good artists because of what you have to say about them as well. Remember ... music IS the drug, my friend.

Cher

Sigh, no Portland date as of yet. That would be a great addition to the New porn concert orgy I seem to have going down right now (ie any band related to the new pornographers - I saw Immaculate machine last month, seeing The new pornographers this month, and in may, I will probably see destroyer).

got the new album 'Fox Confessor Brings the Flood' this weekend and it sounds real good
it will be a few listens before I totally digest it into the system, but I really like what I hear so far

btw, got my tics for 3/29 in Mpls at First Avenue
with Martha Wainwright opening- this will be a fun night

kent

Release Day! Yippee!!!!

Yeah, Neko!!!!

North American dates. I'll be at the Lincoln Center shows.

February:
10 - Portland, OR, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall w/Merle Haggard
11 - Seattle, WA, Paramount Theatre w/Merle Haggard
12 - Spokane, WA, IMG Performing Arts Center
13 - Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
14 - Bellingham, WA, WWU Performing Arts Center w/Eric Bachmann
17 - Los Angeles, CA, Henry Fonda Theatre w/Merle Haggard
18 - San Diego, CA, Belly Up Tavern w/Merle Haggard
23 - New York, NY, Allen Room at Lincoln Center (7:30 and 10:30)

March:
31 - Grand Rapids, Michigan, Calvin College Fieldhouse w/Emmylou Harris

apparently she has just added a few more (according to pollstar)...


seriously considering a road trip to chitown...

the 02.12.07 show in Spokane, WA is with Merle Haggard as well.

She needs to come to Virginia!

regarding Merle Haggard and/or Eric Bachmann, her website has some different info on the shows:



(I'll be seeing her in LA!)

here's some more dates coming up for this wonderful lady!
trudes- boulder on 4/4!!!!
sue and i will be at the 4/7 show

WED 3/28 - CHICAGO, IL @ PARK WEST
THU 3/29 - CHICAGO, IL @ PARK WEST
FRI 3/30 - CHICAGO, IL @ PARK WEST + (SOLD OUT)
SAT 3/31 - GRAND RAPIDS, MI @ CALVIN COLLEGE ^
SUN 4/1 - CLEVELAND, OH @ BEACHLAND BALLROOM +
MON 4/2 - COLUMBIA, MO @ BLUE NOTE +
TUE 4/3 - LINCOLN, NE @ ROCOCO THEATRE +
WED 4/4 - BOULDER, CO @ BOULDER THEATRE/E TOWN +
THU 4/5 - DENVER, CO @ GOTHIC THEATRE +
FRI 4/6 - LAWRENCE, KS @ LIBERTY HALL +
SAT 4/7 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN @ FIRST AVENUE +
SUN 4/8 - DAY OFF!
MON 4/9 - MADISON, WI @ BARRYMORE THEATRE +
THU 4/12 - KNOXVILLE, TN @ BIJOU THEATRE +
SAT 4/14 - OKLAHOMA CITY, OK @ BRICKTOWN BALLROOM +
SUN 4/15 - ALBUQUERQUE, NM @ SUNSHINE THEATRE +

+ = Jon Rauhouse supports
^ = w/Emmylou Harris

ed--Jon Rauhouse is the pedal steel player who played in her touring band last year.

she is fanfrakingtastic. lovelovelove.

she had some special guests play before her set here in LA. Porter Wagoner, Marty Stuart, Dwight Yoakam, and Billy Bob Thornton. surreal.

All I can say is she better get all her solo stuff out of the way before August (or whenever the new TNP album comes out). And that goes double for Dan Bejer.

DOUBLE for Dan?? Are you kidding?? Bleh. Find something for Dan to do while the guys and Mmes Case, Calder, and O'Connor are recording and touring the next one. I'm not a fan. Certainly not double Neko.

I will admit, Dan is kind of one of those people one either really likes or really doesn't like. I do like a lot of the songs that Dan wrote for TNP though. Or rather, the songs that Dan wrote for destroyer and ended up TNP songs (breaking the law comes to mind).

A pretty spectacular backdrop for Neko & Co. earlier this evening:



Believe it or not, the two shows sounded even better than they looked. What a night!

Neko in her totally hot dress:



Take a good look, I'm betting it'll be a while before you see her like this again.

"What's the sense in dressing like a lady when you have to walk around like a goat?"

More tomorrow... umm, a little later today.

The set lists for Neko's shows last night:

8:30 Show

A Widow's Toast
Favorite
Dirty Knife
Set Out Running
Buckets of Rain
Star Witness
Margaret vs. Pauline
Maybe Sparrow
The Tigers Have Spoken
Wish I Was the Moon
If You Knew
Furnace Room Lullaby
Hex
Hold On, Hold On
That Teenage Feeling
Deep Red Bells

Encore:
John Saw That Number
Look For Me (I'll Be Around)

10:30 Show

Things That Scare Me
Favorite
Dirty Knife
Set Out Running
Buckets of Rain
Star Witness
Margaret vs. Pauline
Maybe Sparrow
The Tigers Have Spoken
Wish I Was the Moon
If You Knew
Furnace Room Lullaby
Hex
Hold On, Hold On
That Teenage Feeling
Deep Red Bells

Encore:
Lady Pilot
John Saw That Number
In California
Knock Loud
Look For Me (I'll Be Around)

These two shows were part of Lincoln Center's American Songbook series - playbills and printed set lists (without the encores) with songwriting credits were even handed out at each show!

Don't know what else to say, it was a magical evening (I've been having more than my share of those lately) and Rhonda and I were pretty much in shock after both sets. The late show was better IMO because the audience was more enthusiastic ("Y'all checked guns coming in, didn't you?" Kelly Hogan quipped) and because of the expanded encore.

wow, thanks for sharing Keith.
it looks totally incredible, looking forward to seeing her here again in Mpls. on 4/7.

Neko will be playing SummerStage in Central Park Friday July 20!

Neko , tonight, life is good!

Neko Case put on a wonderful show Saturday night in Minneapolis at First Avenue. My daughter came down for the show, it was our first concert together in at least 10 years, so was very nice. Neko had a few missteps, like the vocals from her microphone weren't coming out right on the very first song, then she forgot the words to one song, and started another in the wrong chord, but missteps aside, she played a rousing set, before a very, very, packed house. She played the entire set shown, then followed with 2 3-song encores, the first 3 songs shown in the first one, and Knock Loud in the second along with 2 others that I've forgotten. She just didn't want to leave. Anyway, with very cramped quarters and not much room to even move, the girl in front of Sue passed out towards the end of the main set, and then 2 very drunk people in the vicnity were falling into people and could barely stand up, they were holding themselves up through the encores, as I was waiting for them to fall into me.
Jon Rauhouse played a nice set as opener, and included Kelly Hogan in a few of his songs. She is such a perfect complement to Neko.
Heres the setlist and few pictures that my daughter Brandee took.
I was really happy that she played Train from Kansas City, one of many faves of hers.

<--- jealous.

Anyone see this ebay auction?

woohoo! - only 2 more days until i get to see her live...

brilliant show - she was amazing live - though i (personally) don't think the venue suited her, i was thankful nonetheless to have the opportunity to see her live.

very cool.

coming soon to a venue close to you (i hope)
she is a must-see in concert, no doubt about it- a must see!

from her labels web site-

hm! something is wrong somewhere because the WDCH site says Neko's playing November 16th, not December. there's plenty of time to find out which is the right date though. I'm planning to go. Neko is so amazing and the WDCH is a wondrous space.

she doesn't have any dates up on her web site yet, and came across these on her label's web site
as i was looking for stuff on carolyn mark, who is canadian and played with her on
the corn sisters. carolyn has a new cd coming out next week.