Roger Clyne can make peace with me A-N-Y-time

Just dancing around to a little Roger Clyne and I thought to make a post. Clyne was one of the first artists I posted about, and he is still worth a listen for those listeners just tuning in at home. One reviewer says, “Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers is the best live band in America…It’s a band with no radio play, no marketing, and yet fans from all over the world flock to sweaty, unbridled and kinetic 120-minute-plus shows.” (My edit: my brother heard Roger Clyne on the radio in San Diego, so some radio play, somewhere!). But having seen Clyne twice now in the past 6 months (he is from neighboring Arizona, so he comes through these parts with some blessed regularity), I can offer a hearty “amen” to that sentiment.

Roger Clyne used to front The Refreshments, and you may be familiar with their guitar stylings from King of The Hill’s theme song. Clyne has been steadily churning out great independent rock and roll with his new band The Peacemakers since The Refreshments disbanded, and puts on one of the best live shows I have ever seen. From the Live Music Archive, here are some highlights from the November 19, 2005 show that I attended in Boulder, Colorado:

“Counterclockwise” – Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers

“Banditos” – Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers (Refreshments song)

“Mexican Moonshine” – Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers

“Leaky Little Boat” – Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers

“European Swallow/Kiss Off” (Violent Femmes tag) – Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers (Refreshments song)

“I Don’t Need Another Thrill” – Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers

“Baba O’Reilly” (Who cover) – Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers (I went a bit nuts for this one, I think if I had sung along any louder I may have ruptured my spleen or something)

Their excellent 2004 album ¡Americano! is definitely worth adding to your collection. Allmusicguide.com says the following about the CD, and I think it is the perfect description:

“¡Americano! is one fine album; it should be played at earsplitting volume in pool halls, bowling alleys and backyard bashes and on college radio stations. It should blare from the CD players of fast cars roaring down empty highways under the stars and just before dawn. Indeed, it should be savored and celebrated by those swaggering street denizens known as the rock & roll faithful as proof that the good stuff never disappears.”

And Thom Jurek says in Paste Magazine, “Rock ‘n’ roll is still out there…¡Americano! is proof that the crazy, reckless, restless, swaggering soul of American rock is still burning a hole in the night sky…guitars blaze, quake and quiver, drums slip, thud and thunder with killer melodies and hooks and the occasional reggae or mariachi rhythm laced through the middle to keep it all honest and interesting.”

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers are on tour now, please check them out if they come to your neck of the woods. And if they are not coming near you, consider attending the twice-yearly Mexico beach bash that they throw. I would love to go, as I need a vacation.

03.10.06 & 03.11.06, Marquee Theatre, Tempe, AZ
03.17.06, Aggie Theatre, Ft. Collins, CO
03.18.06, Gothic Theatre, Englewood, CO
03.20.06, Skinner’s Pub, Brookings, SD
3.21.06, Knickerbockers, Lincoln, NE
03.22.06, The Reverb, Cedar Falls, IA
03.23.06, Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis, MN
03.24.06 &03.25.06, Martyr’s, Chicago, IL
03.26.06, Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH
03.28.06, Lee’s Palace, Toronto, Ontario CANADA
03.29.06, Harper’s Ferry, Allston, MA
03.30.06, Grape Street Pub, Philadelphia, PA
03.31.06, The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ
04.01.06, Rocks Off Boat Cruise, A cruise around NY Harbor and a headline RCPM concert!World Yacht Marina, New York, NY
04.02.06, State Theatre, Falls Church, VA
04.04.06, Smith’s Olde Bar, Atlanta, GA
04.05.06, Exit/In, Nashville, TN
05.06.06, The Roxy, West Hollywood, CA
05.20.06 (Saturday) RCPM Circus Mexicus
Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point), MEXICO
WHERE: A concert space next to the Sunset Cantina in Rocky Point, Mexico. Doors 5pm, Mariachis 6-6:45pm, Openers David Lowery & Johnny Hickman of Cracker at 7pm, Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers headline show at 8pm.
06.10.06 &06.11.06, Wakarusa. RCPM will play two days of this great music & camping festival featuring 70+ bands over four days. Lawrence, KS

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Also, a little bit of news that I found amusing, and one more reason for me to consider attending one of Clyne’s twice-yearly Mexican beach bashes:

“Realizing a long-time dream, Roger Clyne introduces Mexican Moonshine, a 100% Blue Agave tequila created in limited supply with two Rocky Point cantina owners. Distilled in Tequila, Mexico, the full-bodied spirit is only available south of the border. Check out Mexican Moonshine here!”

Ha! Roger Clyne is The Man. He definitely loves his tequila, drinks it like a fish during his shows and share shots with the audience. My relationship with the stuff is a bit more contentious.