Wednesday 05.04.11: RHETT MILLER / ROBERT FRANCIS/ RT N THE 44S @ Heritage Court at the Autry


Rhett Miller || Listen||Watch
On Rhett Miller’s fourth solo album, the former Old 97’s frontman once again remembers bitter valentines, exposing his battered heart in a collection of ambiguous love songs that replays the age-old war of the sexes with new language and a new outcome. The difference: The female always comes out the victor.
“I’ll take a beating, and you’ll take a bath,” he complains on lead track “Nobody Says I Love You Anymore,” while the heroine in “Caroline” has a “hot blood heart made of stone.” “Take my hand darling / Don’t squeeze my fingers so hard / We’re off to a curious start,” he wryly observes in this rather confusing song of longing and self-castigation that eloquently restates the famous Pogo quote: “We have met the enemy and he is us.” This is a stance Miller has long occupied over the arc of his career—despite his stunning good looks, model wife and one-time scholarship to Sarah Lawrence. While it might be an uncomfortable state of mind for the musician, it makes for some compelling tunes here. Paste Magazine


Robert Francis || Listen||Watch
At the tender age of seventeen, Robert Francis dropped out of high school, faced the demise of the most serious romantic relationship of his young life, and then—like any aspiring musician dealing with a personal disaster—headed to the nearest recording studio. Over the next year and a half, he laid down the tracks that would become One By One, an elegantly haunting and fragile album of modern folk spurred on by heartache and loneliness. Four years later, on Before Nightfall (his major-label debut, out on Atlantic last fall), it seems his work is still fueled by those same raw emotions. Gone is his earlier acoustic fragility, though, replaced with an aggressive full-band sound and a newfound confidence in his rich, baritone vocals. Paste Magazine

RT n the 44s || Listen || Watch
Using instruments crafted from tin, 2×4′s and salvaged parts, MS Webb and RT Valine began the DIY band in 2007 in an attempt to make listenable music from junk. In 2009 long time friend and band mate BP Willard suggested dusting off the old cowboy tunes RT used to perform to empty bars around LA in the late 90′s. In an attempt to revive these songs with junk instruments, RT N’ the 44′$ were born on a cold night at the Cold Spring Tavern in Los Padres National Forest. With a warm embrace from local audiences they are returning the love through intimate performances which involve the audience through sing along and call and response. With the help of fellow friends and musicians they’re coming soon to a dive near you!

7pm / $20 adv / $22 dos seated; $15 adv / $17dos standing / ALL AGES

For more information please visit: The Autry

February 9th, 2011 filed in events
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