Grandfather is coming to a city near you

Tour Kick-Off in NYC

*SATURDAY JULY 16 @ SPIKE HILL (FREE)
8:00 – Herzog Rising
9:00 – The Tenth Generation
10:00 – Madam Trashy
11:00 – Grandfather
AFTER-PARTY @ 268 STAGG ST

*SUNDAY JULY 17 @ BRUAR FALLS (FREE)

8:00 – Ovlov
9:00 – Grass is Green
10:00 – Grandfather

7.29 – Boston, MA – All Asia
7.30 – TBA (HELP)
7.31 – Hamden, CT – The Space
8.01 – Providence, RI – AS220
8.02 – Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
8.03 – Baltimore, MD – The Windup Space
8.04 – Richmond, VA – Sprout
8.05 – Durham, NC – The Layabout
8.06 – Athens, GA – The Caledonia Lounge (Need Local Bands)
8.07 – TBA (HELP)
8.08 – Nashville, TN – The Log Cabin
8.09 – Louisville, KY – 627 Brandeis
8.10 – TBA (HELP)
8.11 – Lawrence, KS – TBA
8.12 – Kansas City, MO – Czar Bar
8.13 – Clive, IA – Bombay Bicycle Club
8.14 – TBA (HELP)
8.15 – Omaha, NE – The Slowdown
8.16 – Elgin, IL – Gasthaus Zur Linde
8.17 – Chicago, IL – The Subterranean
8.18 – Columbus, OH – Carabar
8.19 – Columbus OH – The Airplane Room
8.20 – Akron, OH – Annabelle’s
8.21 – Youngstown, OH – The Lemon Grove
8.22 – TBA (HELP)
8.23 – Cleveland, OH – Duck Island
8.24 – Buffalo, NY – Club Diablo
8.25 – Toronto, ON – Bovine Sex Club
8.26 – Rochester, NY – The Bug Jar
8.27 – Cortland, NY – The 77 Club
8.28 – Ithaca, NY – TBA
8.29 – Seneca Falls, NY – Day Off
8.30 – Winooski, VT – The Monkey House (Need Local Bands)
8.31 – Portland, ME – Rough Draft Records House
9.01 – Boston, MA – TBA
9.02 – Brooklyn, NY – Cameo Art Gallery

RSVP HERE

Bobble Heads

Did you know that you can slow dance at a rock concert? Yep. It can be done. Last night I went to a Grandfather show at Pianos and did just that. I first heard Grandfather in a small Brooklyn basement venue when they opened for RIBS and thought they were a pretty solid band. The vocals appealed (which is a must) and as an ensemble, they played musically and were pretty tight. Based off this, I decided to hear them again. When I go to a show–whether it be classical, jazz or rock, I not only pay attention to the performers on stage but also the audience. The audience’s participation can really enhance a concert not only for the performers but also for the other members of the audience. Pretend you are on stage and you see that there is no movement in the audience and just a bunch of sad faces. Worst nightmare. Anyway, I’ve noticed that most people have no rhythm/can’t dance/can’t let loose or whatever you want to blame it on (just don’t blame it on the (alcohol). I, on the other hand, would rather be dancing and enjoying myself no matter what I may look like. Last night, Grandfather made me dance. They have a lot of songs that are slower with more mellow rock rhythms that some audience members just don’t know how to handle. I look around me, and there are a handful of people getting into it visibly, but for the most part, there were a lot of upright trees that would have needed a storm to sway them. Considering rock concerts are generaly populated by males (that’s why I go! hahah. Just kiddin’), I guess I can understand why the faster tempos bring out the audience movement. It’s easy to bop your head up and down when the metronome marking is 120 compared to 56. 120 is the safe route. Never changing tempos within one song is the safe route. I think since I’m a bass player, I tend to hang onto the slower beats even if there is a faster tempo happening.
Unfortunately, these bromidic bands do draw an audience, but they are full of bobble heads.

Bottom line: NYC music goers look out for Grandfather. They play June 18th at Matchless as a part of The Northside Festival, and you should definitely go and dance, but be careful what family related jokes you decide to yell out. I guarantee you lead singer Josh Hoffman will have a good comeback. Download their album on their website http://www.grandfathermusic.com
Meanwhile, slow dance to this. It really grooves (metronome marking quarter=66):