...And For Those About To Rock...I Salute You.

Last night, the triumvirate and I got to see one of the coolest shows in music - the Hotel Cafe Tour. This venue in Hollywood is big into the indie artists and a few years ago, Cary Brothers decided to take a few regulars on tour. There is a different lineup for every city but one band that backs them up. Myspace is a contributor to the tour, as well as Red, Bono's latest attempt at changing the world. Seriously, check out Red...great cause.

First of all, we were in a tiny venue and were standing at the foot of the stage, which was maybe a foot and a half off the ground. Meaning...we were in touching distance of all these performers. Second of all, everyone played two mini sets - about 3 songs the first go 'round and 2 or 3 the next. And the last song of most of their second sets, they were joined on stage by everyone else. It made for over 3.5 hours of non-stop music and mayhem...and quite often, heavy on the mayhem.

Jonah Matranga: The only artist of the night that I don't see myself rushing out to get to know but still fun on stage. He's all sorts of affected and pretentious. Think Chris Carrabba with a smaller range and less confidence. And he liked to say the F word...a LOT.

Sarah Bareilles: Think Fiona Apple, without the sullenness...or Rachael Yamagata without the raspiness. Sarah B was my favorite find of the night. She's hot, talented, and quite possibly the most charismatic performer of the night (on a stage that was brimming over with charisma, that's saying something). I bought her EP and highly suggest you find and download the song "Love Song". Happiness on a piano.

Jim Bianco: Oh, the pyschoness that is you, Mr. Bianco. He's got a voice like Tom Waits and a freakiness like a handicapped person on crack. He's quite the comedian and quite the exhibitionist (during Cary Brothers, he was seen briefly wandering around the side with nothing but a towel hanging in front of his...special parts). My favorite Bianco moment was during his second set, he had the whole gang come down off the stage, stand in the middle of the crowd and, accompanied by an upright bass, an accordion, some random percussion, and a guitar, sing all harmony'd and clear. And even had us singing with him. (Note - on their way back up on the stage, I patted him in the back, much to the delight of the 14 year-old that is me!)

Cary Brothers: (Before the show - Me: "Ooh, I like them." A: "Um...I think it's just one guy." Me: "No - it's THE Cary Brothers." A: "No...I'm pretty sure that's just his name - Cary. Brothers." Me: "Nope - I'm positive. It's THE Cary Brothers."....I'm lame.) So, this dude totally channels Dominic Monaghan. I expected him to start into "You ALL everybody!" any minute. He was good - raspy and lyrical. My favorite was when the whole gang came up for "Blue Eyes" and, being on the Garden State soundtrack, everyone in the audience sang along, too.

Rachael Yamagata: She's the reason we were here. If you don't own her album Happenstance..., then you should stop the lameness that is you and buy it. She's one of the best "up and coming" (I hate that term) artists today. And once you get to know her...see her live. She walks on stage and pretty much no else is there. She owns the audience with her eyes, even though they're more often than not peeking out behind her long disheveled hair. The greatest part of maybe the whole night was her cursing and subsequent flirting with some random dude in the corner who was talking during her set. She almost didn't get through "Reason Why" because she couldn't stop coming on to him. When last seen, Random Dude was hanging backstage with Cary and Rachel...

Schuyler Fisk: You know her as the girl who made out with Colin Hanks in Orange County...now she's all folky and Zach-Braff-y and the cutest thing on stage. I'm quite certain she has a romantic attachment to our next artist as, when they were on stage together, she looked at him with the most lovey-dovey eyes I've seen in a long while.

Joshua Radin: ...Which brings us to my new boyfriend. He's like a younger, cuter Ray LaMontagne. In the liner notes for his CD (which I bought), he thanks Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, and Nick Drake, and it's obvious when listening to him that he relies heavily on their influences. He so adorable that he is currently residing in my pocket. During the song "Closer", he kept giving me the eye - I am not kidding - the rest of the triumvirate can attest to it. He would look at me, standing at his feet, hands clasped in front of me, looking up at him, stars in my eyes, and he would smile...the sexiest eye-crinkly smile ever. No matter that he was also doing it occasionally to the girl next to me...Joshua Radin has a fan in me for just about ever. Favorite Joshua moment (aside from his falling in love with me) was the gang coming on stage to sing "Cecilia"...like I said, mayhem, mayhem, mayhem.

Thus concludes my chatty and hyperlink-heavy review. Seriously, check out these artists. There was not one time last night where I wanted someone to get off the stage. Such a fabulous show. And if you're in a city where this tour is coming, pay the small fee ($12 for us!) and go. Discovering new music is best when it's live.