If you want style, Gothenburg’s got it in spades. Sweden’s second city is the epicentre of Scandinavian hipster cool – the threads are sharp, the Converse are old-school, the trouser cuffs high enough for a flash of colour-co-ordinated sock, every moustache is waxed. Gothenburg’s dudes are so laidback they’re almost horizontal. But the veneer is thin. When Stooges’ legend James Williamson lets rip with the opening riff from Raw Power, the world-weary facade cracks – and the gaggle of too cool for school middle-aged Gothenburg hipsters crowding up against the stage barrier burst into tears.

It’s been 11 years since Pavement imploded after a final, miserable gig at the Brixton Academy in London. Even at their peak, Pavement were mercurial. The band would break your heart delivering a show so sublime, so perfect you would swear never see them live again because it couldn’t possibly get any better. The next time? They would grind the shards of your heart underfoot with a gig so disastrous, so sour and bad tempered that – once again – you would vow never to see them again. Last week at Oslo’s annual Øya Festival, more than 6000 ageing slackers clutched their pints, breath caught in their throats, collectively willing Pavement to rise above every bum note they ever played and repay their battered faith.

Well, if you’ve seen the Contests page lately you know we spent a little time with the Arc Angels recently. The boys played two nights this past weekend in Austin to help commemorate the 35th Anniversary of iconic blues bar Antone’s. We saw the band last year when they came through Houston at the House of Blues, but didn’t get very good gear shots. Well, let’s remedy that! Take a look at some photos from the show after the jump… and after that, click on over the Contests page and enter to win the Prescription Electronics COB pedal signed by Charlie and Doyle!

WTDP? took a road trip this past Fourth of July weekend to Austin, Texas to take in a show by the legendary Storyville. Now, these guys don’t get together that often anymore. In fact, it had been three years since they had played together. They were moved to reform briefly to help celebrate the 35th Anniversary of legendary Austin blues hot spot Antone’s. Singer Malford Milligan, guitarists David Grissom and David Holt… and ‘Double Trouble’ – Tommy Shannon (bass) and Chris Layton (drums) – played for a little over two hours running through a good mix of songs from their three studio releases. More on the show, and a gear rundown, after the jump!

Seattle grunge godfathers Pearl Jam closed the final Saturday of the 2010 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival with a blistering set of tunes covering their entire catalog, and some cover tunes to boot! The band shined on their take on The Byrds’ So You Want to be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star as well as on their own tunes… Corduroy, Given to Fly, Even Flow, Daughter, Got Some and FM radio stalwart Alive. In between, singer Eddie Vedder worked in a few political pot shots including a swipe at oil major BP for its role in the US Gulf oil spill. We took a few shots ourselves… See ‘em after the jump!

Guitar hero Jeff Beck, fresh from a gig here in H-town, made his way over to NOLA for an appearance at the 2010 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival last weekend. Touring in support of his just-released Emotion & Commotion, Beck and his band rolled through a similar set from the Houston gig, playing Over The Rainbow from the latest disc, People Get Ready, Rollin’ and Tumblin’. The Gentilly stage crowd packed in tight, showing love for the guitar great who does not appear to be missing any steps during his fifth decade on stage. A few pics from the gig are yours for the perusing after the jump!

Strat slinger Kenny Wayne Shepherd brought his overdrive-fueled blues/rock bravado to the 2010 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival last weekend. Shepherd played to a packed crowd at the Blues Tent and dazzled with guitar gymnastics on his own tunes as well as a few blues classics – like King Bee – and his marathon 20-minute version of Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Chile. Cut from the same cloth as idol Stevie Ray Vaughan, Shepherd’s last album – The Place I’m In – was decidedly more straight-ahead rock than his past efforts. In either case, the fact the man has serious chops is undeniable. Check out some pics from his set after the jump!

New Orleans’ own Galactic brought their unique blend of funk, rock and rap to the 2010 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival last weekend. Fresh from the release of their latest album – Ya-Ka-May – the band was joined on stage by the likes of Cyril Neville, Boe Money, Irma Thomas and Troy ‘Trombone Shorty’ Andrews during the hour-long set. Galactic always makes for a good party. Drummer Stanton Moore was probably the busiest of the bunch playing Galactic gigs as well as shows with his own trio and the Midnite Disturbers – a horn-player’s dream band – both at the festival and around town! Check out some pics after the jump!

Slide guitar virtuoso Sonny Landreth brought his unique brand of American blues to the Gentilly stage of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival last weekend. The Louisiana native, and current resident of Breaux Bridge, played songs from his latest album – 2008’s From The Reach – as well as other tunes from his catalog. We didn’t have long to spend listening to Sonny as the schedule had us running the show from end-to-end fairly regularly. While we were there he was playing The Promised Land from 2003’s Grammy-nominated The Road We’re On. Check out a few pics from Sonny’s set – including one of his Dumble – after the jump!

Seattle-born Band of Horses brought their brand of Americana rock to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival last Saturday. The band, which includes frontman Ben Birdwell and guitarist Tyler Ramsey, tore through a tightly delivered set of gems from their back catalog including The Great Salt Lake, Is There A Ghost and Weed Party. The band has a new record hitting the stores later this month entitled Infinite Arms, which was recorded with producer Phil Ek in North Carolina. The new one will be their first for Columbia who they joined after breaking with Sub Pop. Check out a few pics from their Gentilly Stage appearance after the jump!

Friday of the second weekend at the 2010 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival found heavier foot traffic, but thankfully less rain. One of the highlights of the day was the husband and wife team of slide master Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, who packed the Blues Tent in the afternoon heat. Playing a selection of newer songs, including Space Captains – a sample of which is up on You Tube – and classics, the pair and their band, which includes Derek Trucks Band singer Mike Mattison singing back-up and former John Mayer drummer JJ Johnson, had the capacity crowd in the Blues Tent on their feet most of the set. Check out some pics after the jump!

Once in a blue moon here at WTDP? we get asked if we take submissions. In fact it happened twice just the week! The answer is a qualified ‘yes’. It has to be something pertinent to the site, be easy to follow and so on. A few weeks back, friend to WTDP? Rob Carty offered to cover the Jeff Beck concert for us. Beck just recently hit the road in support of his new Emotion and Commotion album. Knowing we would be at the first weekend of Jazzfest while Beck was in town, we eagerly accepted! You can read Rob’s write up on the show and a few pics from said gig after the jump!

We skipped out on the end of My Morning Jacket in order to swing past the Acura stage at the end of Day Two of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival to take in a little bit of Simon and Garfunkel. We showed up after Art Garfunkel left the stage due to a bout with hoarseness, but we did arrive in time for a few songs from Simon’s Graceland album including one of our favs – The Boy In The Bubble. He also reached back and played The Only Boy Living In New York off of the Bridge Over Troubled Water record sans Garfunkel. Garfunkel later returned to close out the set. We managed a few pics of Simon from our stage right vantage. Check them out after the jump!

Kentucky-based My Morning Jacket played to a good crowd at the Gentilly Stage at the end of Day Two of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Frontman Jim James and his crew played a good mix of songs including newer tunes Touch Me I’m Going To Scream and I’m Amazed off of the band’s last effort Evil Urges. James hit the stage with in western flare sporting a smart-looking vest, holstered toy guns, his trademark cape… and a Gibson Flying V. He played back to a 3 Monkeys Orangutan amp. Guitarist Carl Broemel played back through a pair of combos – one Carr and one Top Hat. Check out some pics from the show after the jump!

New Orleans rock trio Better Than Ezra brought their solid catalog and a bit of stand-up comedy to Day Two of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Between pounding out energy-filled versions of their pass hits like Good, King of New Orleans and Desperately Wanting, the band also offered up a cover of Tom Petty’s Last Dance With Mary Jane and The Rolling Stones’ Miss You. Frontman Kevin Griffin also treated the audience to a brief Bruce Springsteen impersonation, complete with dance moves from the Boss’ Dancing In The Dark video. Better Than Ezra were joined on stage by the horns from Bonerama. Check out some pics from the gig after the jump!