Brother Lowdown to play Otto’s

This week’s Playback is with rootsy blues rock band Brother Lowdown, who will play Otto’s Niteclub and Underground Friday night with Second Hand Poets.

Nate Aydelott — Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Jason Collett — We All Lose One Another — “I love the mellow, country and folk-inflected pop of this entire album, and this song in particular.”

Laura Veirs — Magnetized — “This is about as good as it gets: great lyrics, a beautiful voice, wicked guitar playing, and ridiculously cool production.”

The Elected — Fireflies in a Steel Mill — “The Elected is Rilo Kiley guitarist and co-songwriter Blake Sennett’s band. Jenny Lewis’ solo disc has gotten a lot more attention than this one, and it’s a great album, but I think The Elected’s disc is even better.”

The Kinks — Have a Cuppa Tea — “I’ve been on a Kinks kick for the last year or so, and right now I’ve been obsessing over Muswell Hillbillies. This song is a great sing-along country-blues-rock stomper.”

Mike Kellogg — Drums

Wilco — A Shot in the Arm — “Despite all the press about their next album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, this might be their best pop song.”

Son Volt — Tear-Stained Eye — “This gorgeous song is as good as alt-country gets.”

Bettye LaVette — Joy — “This cover of a Lucinda Williams song is a stand out on her soul album from last year.”

Belle & Sebastian — Another Sunny Day — “Their newest album is another great collection of pop tunes, and their recent live show in Chicago reminded me of what a great live band they are as well.”

Matt Stern — Lead Guitar

Oranger — New Comes and Goes — “All the urgency of a great Shins song combined with the cool of a Velvet Underground tune. And then there’s a freak-out at the end.”

Matt Pond PA — So Much Trouble — “Love how all the parts fit together; just great drums, guitar, keys, vocals, strings, everything. This tune sticks in your head.”

Calexico/Iron & Wine — A History of Lovers — “A great melody mixed up in some crazy Country-Americana thing. How many times do you get to hear lap steel and horns in the same song?”

Shayla Thiel — Bass, Keys, Vocals

The Replacements — Alex Chilton — “The perfectly perfect pop song that not only rocks but name checks one of the major songwriters of the last three decades.”

Michelle Shocked — Come Along Way — “Her songs are so well written and really, always make me sad even though they are so easy to sing along to.”

The New Pornographers — The Laws Have Changed — “Neko Case’s vocal parts on this song are simply amazing. And again, a fantastic though complex pop song.”

Liz Phair — 6’1″ — It makes me sad to write this given the crap that she’s released recently, but “6’1″” and all of the songs from “Exile in Guyville” really were brilliant. (Plus, I’m five feet two, which she says over and over again in the song.)