It was my first time seeing Guided By Voices live, and it was a long time coming. Most of my hipster indie rock friends have been praising this band over the past decade, plus calling it a show for the ages. There was an enormous beer cooler on stage in front of the drum kit, which halfway through the show started to make sense. “We get drunker, better and younger as we go along,” exclaimed frontman Robert Pollard just before he twirled his microphone round and round Roger Daltry Style.
The “classic lineup” of guitarists Mitch Mitchell and Tobin Sprout, bassist Greg Demos, and drummer Kevin March ruled the stage at the Regency Ballroom. I haven’t spent much time celebrating the band’s impressive 20-plus studio albums, and I had no idea that the average length of their songs was about two minutes. “What a fantastic approach to songwriting,” I told my wife who was in attendance with me as it was her first time ever hearing the band. I followed up, “If you don’t like the song they are playing, at least you know there’s another one coming up in about 90 seconds.”
I thought the band was fantastic though. There was a certain Robin Zander/Rick Neilson chemistry between Pollard and guitarist Mitch Mitchell, with a bit of Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious thrown for attitude. Having never seen them live before, it would have been very easy to think they are from the UK, as their songs borrowed greatly from the sound of the ’60s British Invasion, and I swear I heard an English accent happening at one point.
These guys seem to be on quite a tear having just released their sixth “reunion” album titled Cool Planet. I dug the show so much that I picked up that record, along with last year’s Motivational Jumpsuit. (Both sound amazing on vinyl by the way.) These are two very solid rock ‘n’ roll records clocking in with 18 and 20 songs respectfully. Much to my surprise, I have some catching up to do, as Pollard has reportedly co-written more than 1,600 songs with 500 of them being released by GBV. (Where’s the box set by the way?)
Opening the show was Nashville alt-country extraordinaire Bobby Bare, Jr., touring in support of his latest release Undefeated. I’ve always been a casual fan of Bare’s music, but the last time I saw him live was during his time fronting the major label band that carried his name in 2001 (Bare, Jr.) and had a minor radio hit called “You Blew Me Off.” Bare has come a long way since those days and has found success along the way. While he still carries the over-the-top energy from those early shows, he’s become quite the prolific singer-songwriter.
I thought he did a fantastic job setting the stage for GBV, and I think his new record could quite possibly be the best work he’s done to date. It’s lo-fi, it’s got Bare, Jr.’s signature twang, the lyrics are fantastic, and it’s a record that really pulls the listener into Bare, Jr.’s world for a moment. Well done, Bobby Bare, Jr., although I would have loved to hear an encore of “You Blew Me Off.”
Oh, and by the way, Dogfish Head Brewery is releasing “Beer Thousand,” an imperial lager created in honor of the 20th Anniversary of Guided By Voices’ iconic Bee Thousand record. Beer Thousand will be accompanied by a 10-inch record of the band performing “Insects of Rock” on June 25, 1994, during their first tour. The release is available only while supplies last.
Bobby Bare, Jr.’s latest Undefeated is highly recommended as well. It’s available on vinyl through Bloodshot Records.
Check out the hi-res shots from Bobby Bare, Jr. and Guided By Voices.
