Way Left of the Dial

Patterson Hood at The Atlantis

2025-03-26T17:24:00.004-04:00

I was really looking forward to hearing Patterson Hood's new album live. I have been listening to Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams in prep and I have to say I loved hearing the songs live. Gave them a whole different color and now when I listen to the songs I can hear the "live" version coming through.

Patterson was pretty chatty between songs and added a lot of color about what the songs meant to him. The man had a wild childhood and was happy to share.

And I loved seeing Patterson Hood and Lydia Loveless as my first show at The Atlantis! It was an intimate room, sound was great, and good site lines except for that pole in front of me :-) What took me so long to see a show at The Atlantis?!?! Can't wait to return!

Jason Isbell at Wolftrap

2024-09-11T17:25:00.001-04:00

Dead & Company at the Vegas Sphere

2024-05-16T17:30:00.002-04:00

The sound was perfect, the video was so cool and the overall experience was incredible. The whole event was almost overwhelming!

What would I do different? In the sphere you want to be on the 2nd or 3rd level, the lower level or the floor kills your neck!

Lucero at the Ottobar

2023-11-04T18:26:00.009-04:00

I got there late so didn't have the best vantage point, but Lucero never disappoints! They were having a good time tonight! Something so pure about a band doing what they love and loving what they do. Love these guys!

Michigander - DC9

2023-04-23T15:48:00.000-04:00

The man can sing. The venue was too small for him, but that also kind of made it perfect!

Amos Lee at Wolftrap

2021-07-27T23:40:00.000-04:00

So happy live music is back again! Thank you Amos Lee and Wolftrap!

Steve Earle

2019-01-26T00:01:00.001-05:00

Portugal. The Man at the Orange Peel August 22, 2017

2017-09-16T00:57:00.001-04:00

Is it true their management won't let them talk live during the show so they had to use the pre-

approved slides?

The Revivalist at Flying Dog Brewery August 12, 2017

2017-09-16T00:54:00.002-04:00

Rag n Bone Man at the 9:30 Club August 1, 2017

2017-09-16T00:53:00.001-04:00

I was torn at this show - he obviously has a great voice. An awesome voice! But it was obvious during the show he is using pre-recorded music and maybe voice tracks too? I love horns, so when the sax start wailing I got excited, but then I looked around on stage and... no one is playing the sax? It's recorded! How much of what is going on onstage is pre-record? Again, the man has a voice, I give that to him. But I didn't know what I was watching live and what I could have stayed home and watch on youtube.... I didn't pay to see a Britney Spears show.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at Merriweather Post Pavilion June 30, 2017

2017-09-16T00:51:00.001-04:00

Is Jason Isbell the new Ryan Adams? The man can write, he has soul, and his music is great. And his wife is an awesome artist on her own too. Ok, now I am a little jealous...

Band of Heathens at the Hamilton June 21, 2017

2017-09-16T00:49:00.001-04:00

The Old 97s at the Birchmere

2017-09-16T00:47:00.002-04:00

I've loved the Old 97s for what - 20 years now? Why aren't these guys in the big room? In the Bandstand it is kinda nice to be able to stand and not feel like you are blocking anyone's view. But these guys rock, where is the huge sold out crowd?

The Record Company at the 9:30 Club

2017-06-11T12:17:00.001-04:00

The Record Company
Interesting tidbit of the night - I had no idea when I saw them last year at the Rock and Roll Hotel that was one of their first headline shows. They brought it, it didn't show at all.
And almost a year later at the 9:30 Club just as good. (Love this venue. Sound is just so perfect.)

And The Deadmen had a way too short opening set, I am going to have to catch them again.

Wilco at Wolftrap

2017-06-10T14:33:00.001-04:00

Wilco!
They were great. As always :-)
Once they played Via Chicago and Impossible Germany back to back I thought "that was it, I got my songs" but then they played Theologians! And then Heavy Metal Drummer and I'm the Man Who Loves You and then The Late Greats! Just blew me away.
And California Stars, Monday and Outtasight was an awesome way to close the show out.

HayDaze - Jammin Java

2017-05-23T23:22:00.001-04:00

Can't believe they were playing such a small club (no offense Jammin Java, love you guys)! And even then it wasn't sold out! Next time they are in the area I expect they will be in a much bigger venue.

Ryan Adams at the Merriweather

2017-05-13T19:33:00.001-04:00

Jenny Lewis is Jenny Lewis how can you not love her? So much talent.

Then the sky parted and the rain stopped (unlike some others who claimed the rain stopped for them when the took the podium, this time it really happened) and Ryan Adams took the stage like the rock god he is.

The New Pornographers at the 9:30 Club

2017-05-13T19:25:00.001-04:00

I ended up having to go to the show solo, but The New Pornographers made it worth my while. They seemed to warm up, but once they hit Dancehall Domine they kicked it into high gear. And their voices are great together. At one point I remember thinking the women in the group harmonizing together was just incredible (and not just because I love Neko). It was almost transcendent :-)

Grado SR325e headphones

2017-03-23T17:17:00.001-04:00

As I said in my last post, after a certain point, headphones are like wine, depending on my mood or what I am eating I might pick a different wine. Or what I love, you might think sucks. Headphones are like that too, so what I love you may not - everyone has their own taste.

Brent Butterworth on thewirecutter.com said "Grado is to the headphone world what Subaru is to the automotive world: It's not for everyone, but those who like it really, really like it." Well I guess I am one of them because I really really like the sound.

Grado Labs says the "new SR325e has a new driver and cable design. The added mass from the metal housing minimizes transient distortions. With the new 8 conductor cable design you will notice superb control and stability of the upper and lower range of the frequency spectrum, with both supporting Grado's world renowned midrange. The SR325e will produce a sound that is pure Grado, with warm harmonic colors, rich full bodied vocals, excellent dynamics, and an ultra-smooth top end."

I've had the Grado SR325e headphones for a little over a week now and I am impressed.

Sound:

To me they are headphones, so you start with the sound! I find the Grado SR325e spacious with a great soundstage. I've listened to music I thought I knew well and heard new intricacies I had forgotten were there. I have another pair of open-back headphones that I thought were great before, but now they seem "muddy" (that's the best description that comes to mind) on some songs when compared to the Grado SR325e. Most reviewers would say that Grado's are not bass heavy, but most of the music I listen to is more guitar and vocals, not thumping bass. But I don't feel that I am missing anything though. To me they reproduce the sound, across genres, very accurately. They don't artificially boost the bass, but I also don't feel that they skimp either.

Audio Specs:

Transducer Type: Dynamic

Operating Principle: Open Air

Frequency Response: 18 - 24,000 hz

SPL 1mW: 99.8 dB

Nominal Impedance: 32 ohms

Driver Matched dB: .05 dB

Comfort:

I've read reviews where people have complained about the headphones being too tight, but these fit me fine. I think I have a normal size head and there is no squeezing or pinching. And I have wore them in comfort for hours at a time.

Even when I wear my reading glasses they still worked fine.

I've also read that some find the cup material that goes around your ear to be itchy. Again, I don't see it. It's not felt or suede, it's a foam material, but it feels fine.

And they are really light (but made solid, you know).

I think the Grado SR325e headphones look great, sound great and are very comfortable. If you are in the market for open back headphones these should definitely be on your short list.

More information may be found at:

http://www.gradolabs.com/headphones/prestige-series/item/5-sr325e

Throw away those white earbuds

2017-03-16T12:49:00.001-04:00

I've been very biased about what headphones I've used in the past. And some headphones are better than others. But I've slowly have learned that, after a certain point, headphones are like wine, depending on my mood or what I am eating I might pick a different wine. Or what I love you might think sucks.

Well I don't drink two buck chuck so maybe headphones are just like wine. Spend a few dollars to get something decent, but you don't have to go crazy. The difference between a sub $10 wine and low teens can be huge. But I've had $16 wine that I thought was better than $60 bottles. Headphones seem to be similar.

I'll stick by my assertion that the earbuds Apple includes in the box with your iPhone suck for listening to music. And they do. But you are getting them for "free" and they are fine for calls. I guess they fill a need. (But if you want to use earbuds both Sennheiser and AKG by Harman Kardon sell much better sounding earbuds for under $30.)

For listening to music at my desk nothing beats a pair of open-back headphones - spacious, natural, not too much bass. I've used many different brands and models, but right now I am blown away by the Grado SR325e's that I won (thank you Grado and 9to5toys). For my listening preferences they are perfect. Spacious with a great soundstage. I can hear every instrument; so much detail. I listened to music I thought I knew well and heard new intricacies I had forgotten were there (or that I just hadn't heard before?). They are not bass heavy, but most of the music I listen to is more guitar and vocals, not thumping bass too often. But for bass heavy music I think you'd be better off with closed back headphones (with big drivers). It's a trade off. For what I listen to 90% of the time and for the sound I am looking for the Grado SR325e's are awesome. Highly suggested.

iTunes - Sampler album showing up as multiple separate albums?

2017-03-15T19:47:00.000-04:00

Is your sampler or compilation album (or album with lots of artists) showing up as multiple separate albums in iTunes?

It was happening to me and I was going nuts - why was the new sampler from Paste showing up as 20 separate albums instead of one sampler?

I had check the "Album is a compilation of songs by various artists" check box. That has gotten me in the past, so I know to check for it now.

Then I figured out that the album artist field was filled in. So the compilation checkbox was checked but because the "album artist" field had a different artist iTunes thought it was a different album. Keep the "artist" field, that's ok - just delete the "album artist" field (see the image). Once I deleted the "album artist" field from each song the album was grouped properly as one album.

Grado SR325e unboxing

2017-03-14T18:10:00.001-04:00

My Grado Labs SR325e's arrived today (in the middle of a snow storm even, well done UPS)!

Just a box.

Nice reveal. Cool to read the history of Grado. And it's great to see they are still family owned and made in the US (Brooklyn).

Aren't they beautiful? Love the old school look. Nice and solid too - weighty (not too heavy) from the aluminum housing, not plasticy, and look at how thick that cable is! Leather wrapped head-strap and, at least for my head, they are very comfortable.

Included Accessories:
Headphones, Warranty, that story-sheet, and a 6.5mm Golden Adapter

I'll post about the sound soon after I do some serious listening (but my initial thoughts, for my listening preferences, are very positive. I am very impressed).

Paste Magazine Spring 2017 quarterly

2017-03-11T10:51:00.001-05:00

I know we live in the digital age, but does that mean it has to be a post-paper, post- print age? There is something to be said for holding this work of art - art made of pictures and words. With an LP sampler (which truly is a work of art). Analog and analog - perfect together. Put together just right to entertain and educate. Flipping through the pages while listening to the sampler of songs I hadn't heard before and finding articles I didn't know I wanted to read, but I do...

Japandroids - 9:30 Club, February 27th 2017

2017-03-09T21:36:00.001-05:00

So incredible two guys can make that much sound! The crowd loved them and sang the words to every song. There was even a mosh pit for a while. What a great show!

Craig Finn - 9:30 Club, February 27th 2017

2017-03-09T21:33:00.001-05:00

I thought Craig Finn's show opening for Titus was kind of "a work in progress" and the crowd that comes to see a Titus Androdicus show didn't work as well for him being solo. But this show with Craig opening for Japandroids at the 9:30 Club with his backing band was a great show and great performance. Sound was perfect (as it always is at the 9:30), his hands were flailing around, and his sing / speaking was working :-). Both were odd pairings I agree, but I loved both performances. Craig is a modern day poet.