Birmingjam

Just got back from seeing AL natives Brightblack Morninglight/Royal Trux on lot's of downers at Birmingham's newest (and best) answer to longstanding calls for a decent club, the Bottletree. If you are unfamiliar with the Brightblacks, or don't remember seeing them open up for Will Oldham at Orange Twin, they kinda sound like this, or this, or maybe this. Matador picked them up about a year ago as their answer to the whole freakfolk thingy. Since opening up for Oldham, apparently, they've expanded into a four-piece with a percussion section added to the original duo of the guy on guitar and "vocals" and the girl on keys and "vocals." I would put it not too far below those shows that, in my opinion, constitute the greatest shows in the state of Alabama EVER:

• GNR (at the Racetrack circa Lies)
• Drivin' & Cryin' (New Years Eve '93, AL Theatre)
• Nirvana ('94)
• Kool and the Gang (City Stages)
• Pavement (last show of Brighten the Corners tour...lot's of stuff they never play)
• Robert Plant/The Black Crowes (91ish)
• James Taylor (Oak Mtn. Amphitheatre)
• Replacements (last tour ever)

My only regret was that they were playing at the Bottletree, rather than the 2nd greatest bar in Alabama (next to the Garage Cafe), the Florabama, where I think their noodly, pastoral pontifications would have fit perfectly with the sound of the gulf and endless high life. Actually the other regret I have is that I missed my chance at my patented cold-calling "Hi I'm John, would you like to have dinner?" (sans tequilla, Senor Huevos) with a cute redhead who walked off with her friends as I was gathering my nerve. Maybe next time.

With regards to the Bottletree, it's a pretty impressive club, somewhere between the Caledonia and the 40 Watt. One nice touch is that they show movies between acts. Tonight they showed some Jefferson Airplane thing and Saturday featured some hip hop doc with lots of breakdancing and interviews with guys like Kool Herc. Elf Power played there a few months ago, as did Oldham. Liz Durrett is playing at some point. Wolf Eyes comes to town in October, and then it really heats up, with This Heat in early November, Captain Beefheart in late November, Charlemagne Palestine in early December, and a double bill of Three Six Mafia and a reunited Polvo on New Year's Eve. So...I guess you guys can keep acting like Athens is a music town, if you want. Birmingham's the real deal.