Usually, I don’t plug shows that I’ve put at the top of the page again in the blog, but lest you looked at the dude, read what I wrote and called bullshit, I’ma post some songs below. It’s not exactly revelatory songwriting, but Sweany’s got a voice.
PATRICK SWEANY BAND
10 p.m., White Water Tavern. $5.
What the hell’s going on in the Buckeye State? Out in Akron, the Black Keys churn out thick slabs of feedback-laden blues that would sound fine at any North Mississippi juke. Representing Cleveland, the Magpies (formerly Roger Hoover and the Whiskeyhounds) specialize in that grand ol’ bar-shaking Americana. Cincinnati’s Pearlene does mournful Southern rock in the tradition of “Beggars”-era Stones — filtered through a little derangement from the Stooges. Now, White Water’s Matt White, an avid Ohio supporter, introduces us to the Patrick Sweany Band from Massillon, Ohio. Nominally a blues man, Sweany sings with one of those genre-defying, deeply soulful voices that Dan Penn used to turn into gold. On Sweany’s “Every Hour is a Dollar Gone,” the Black Keys’ Dan Aurebach works his magic as co-producer, giving the album a dirty, end-of-the-night-in-a-dive-bar feel. I’m going to need a little more persuading to quit hating on white-boy blues, but pipes like Sweany’s should get a pass any day.
From “Every Hour is a Dollar Gone”:
“Your Man”
UPDATE: Argh. This second doesn’t seem to be working. Anyone know anything about m4p files and Odeo?
“Hotel Women”