The Clientele

August 2023 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for a recent production of Il Signor Bruschino at Rossini at Wildbad by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums of August

1. Karol G- Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season)

Pop perfection.

2. Jaimie Branch- Fly Or Die Fly Or Die Fly Or Die (world war)

This ain’t no picnic.

3. Jonathan Blake- Passage

My review.

4. Bonnie “Prince” Billy- Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You

Spill the beans.

5. Grupo Frontera- El Comienzo

A celebratory debut.

6. Arnold Dreyblatt- Resolve

Classical grit.

7. Evan Parker- Etching the Ether

My review.

8. Miguel Zenón y Luis Perdomo- El Arte del Bolero, Vol. 2

Transcendent duo.

9. Bobby Rush- All My Love for You

He’s the one.

10. Ratboys- The Window

Heartland rock.



Top Ten Songs of August

1. L’Rain- “Pet Rock”

Heavy.

2. Turnstile and Badbadnotgood- “Underwater Boi”

Aqualung.

3. Noname with $ilkmoney, Billy Woods and Stout- “gospel?”

Fight song.

4. Kirk Franklin- “Try Love”

The gospel truth.

5. Armand Hammer with Elucid, Billy Woods and Pink Siifu- “Trauma Mic”

Crisis of faith.

6. Earl Sweatshirt, The Alchemist and Mike- “Sentry”

Drowsy.

7. Snoh Aalegra- “Wait a Little Longer”

Patience.

8. Doja Cat- "Paint the Town Red"

Walk on by.

9. Miguel and Lil Yachty- “Number 9”

Pet sounds.

10. EST Gee with Yo Gotti- “A Moment with Gotti”

Time stands still.



Top Ten Performances of August

1. Kassa Overall and Omari Jazz at Mississippi Studios

My Instagram clip.

2. Parker Quartet at Polsky Theatre

My review.

3. Randy Porter, Tom Wakeling and Todd Strait at the 1905

My review.

4. Truth Cult, Young Mvchetes and Burning Bush at Howdy

My review.

5. The Clientele and Papercuts at Mississippi Studios

My review.

6. Culture Club, Howard Jones and Berlin at Starlight Theatre

My review.

7. The Phil Collins Experience at Barkley Square

My review.

8. Jass at Second Presbyterian Church

My Instagram clip.

9. Claes Almroth Trio at Starday Tavern

My Instagram snapshot.

10. Rich Hill Trio and True Lions at Volker Park

My Instagram snapshot.



The previous monthly survey is here.

Concert Review: The Clientele and the Papercuts at Mississippi Studios

Original image of the Clientele by There Stands the Glass.

I didn’t make any friends in the line to the bathroom at the conclusion of performances by The Clientele and Papercuts at Mississippi Studios on Tuesday, August 22.

My assessments- “those songs weren’t bangers, they were bummers!” and “instead of party-starters, we heard party-enders!”- didn’t go over with fans of the morose bands.

As with the other 300 people in the Portland venue, I bought a $20 ticket because I’m partial to British sad boy bops like "Bonfires on the Heath". Unlike the humorless devotees, I think it’s funny that all of us chose to wallow in misery.

The lavish production of the Clientele’s gorgeous new album I Am Not There Anymore led me to believe the core members of the British band would be supplemented by additional musicians. I was wrong.

Rough and lean, the Clientele sounded little like its refined recordings. And never having previously seen the band, Alasdair MacLean’s guitar shredding came as a shock.

Papercuts was an ideal opening act. The group’s downcast jangle-pop reminded me of my affinity for the style 40 years ago. A rendition of “John Brown” felt like a faded postcard from my Kansas home.