M-Theory Records manager Rick Tyner checks in with hia December in-store lineup:
Nortec Collective
Thursday, Dec. 2, at 4:30 p.m.
Tijuana's Nortec Collective have been pumping out Norteno-infused jams in and around our border town for quite a while now, and their modern update on traditional Mexican styles has gradually expanded beyond the dual cities' confines to delight critics and fans across the world. Continuing the diverse slate of high-profile in-store performances we've had recently (Martina Topley-Bird and Kurt Vile, to name a couple), Nortec Collective fits right in, keeping things fresh and interesting. Also, they're the first-ever in-store performers at M-Theory to have been nominated for a Latin Grammy! Be sure to sneak out of work early to catch this rare afternoon performance at the store.
The Greenhornes
Sunday, Dec. 5, at 3 p.m.
The trio of Craig Fox, Patrick Keeler and Jack Lawrence has been churning out the highest quality rock & roll for well over a decade. Formed in the late '90s in Cincinnati, the Greenhornes have toured the world over (and over and over) and released three full-length albums, an EP and a boatload of singles across a multitude of record labels. What to say about the sound? Pure, straight-up nuggets of inspired rock & roll. And by "straight-up," we mean sans revisionist new wave snotty garage-rock posturing. These guys have been weaned on a diet consisting almost solely of the finest British R&B and rock innovators: The Kinks, the Who, the Zombies and the Animals are immediately recognizable in their sound. This isn't a hobby or something these guys are doing between projects -- it's their life. Good, old-fashioned rock & roll, plain and simple. Their most recognizable tune, "There Is an End," was featured throughout Jim Jarmusch's 2005 feature, Broken Flowers. After a five-year hiatus, the Greenhornes are back and very excited to have Jack White's Third Man Records release their brand new full length album, the aptly titled ★★★★, in the fall of this year.
Fitz and the Tantrums
Friday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m.
Fitz and the Tantrums are not just a band, they're an explosion. Scaggs high steps it to the tight-as-hell rhythm section, while Fitz, cooler than cobalt, croons like Daryl Hall for a new generation. It's obvious that this is no tryst for the band -- this is a full-blown, head-over-heels love affair. Bring your dancing shoes for this one, then go to the Belly Up to watch them knock your socks off with a full set!
