52 posts tagged “folk”

Where we last left the British folk band, Noah And The Whale, I had noted that this band was very new, based on the fact that their name was taken from the 2005 film, Noah Baumbach's The Squid and the Whale. I also felt that their songwriters are based on things in life: love, happiness, and death.

So let's catch up to see how far they've come since that Saturn car commercial. Since their release of their debut album, Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down, after a string of hit singles. The band found themselves doing all the festival gigs (Leeds, Glasto, V), which probably help boost their record to #5 on the UK album charts. Let's just put it this way, 2008's been a fantastic year for Noah and the Whale.

Unfortunately, their promotional push did not carry over to the states when they released this announcement:

It is with no little remorse and disappointment that we are compelled to cancel these dates. These words are being typed in the studio as we make progress on the next Noah and the Whale album.

Instead, the band headed back into the studio to work on their sophomore, (appropriately at the time) named The First Days of Spring. Which really brings us to the album being officially release in the US, this Tuesday, October 6^th on Cherrytree Records. I got a chance to listen to the album over the weekend in my car.

Immediately, you'll notice the first thing that free download song, "The First Days Of Spring", brings in a sense of wide open space. The lyrics sounds more like reading a book, trying to describe this feeling of nature and life.

The spring song is followed by "Our Window", with the same nature theme, about looking at the stars through a window. This is such a departure from their themes from the first album. Another departure seems to be in the backup singers department - there are not any on the new album.

I thought I read somewhere that The First Days Of Spring is "more electric", I don't really think is the case. There are electric guitars, as heard on such song as "My Broken Heart", but I wouldn't exactly put this against any rock album. This is a folky album, especially with some acoustics and fiddles andsuch mild and gentle vocals.  In fact, what rock album features a very nice instrumental break?

The most upbeat (and possibly will make a great single), is "Love Of An Orchestra". It doesn't sound anything like the rest of the album, but I think that's why people might be drawn to the song.

Personally, I think the band's grown in the short time they've been together. It should be interesting to see where they band is at, in say, "five years time".

PS, just prior to the album's release in the UK, drummer and brother Doug Fink, announced that he will be leaving the band to pursue a career in medicine. Good for him. I suspect if the music-thing doesn't work out for, Charlie Fink, he can always pursue film, as he's made the film version of "The First Days Of Spring". If you were thinking it's a documentary or maybe a "live" concert, it's not, it looks vibrant and artsy. You can check out the trailer on vimeo yourself.

I believe the film is made available on DVD on the first limited pressing of The First Days of Spring, which is selling for only $10 on amazon (or $12 on insound.com).

Sheila Carabine and Amanda Walther are Dala, an acoustic folk-duo from Toronto, Ontario. The origin of these two best friends sounds like an Afterschool Special, both having met each other at band practice at their Catholic secondary school in 2002.

Their first record was on an indie label called Big Bold Sun Music, called This Moment Is a Flash, in 2005. In the same year, major-label, Universal Records, must've liked what they heard and quickly sign the band with Angels & Thieves - an album consisting of half cover songs and half original songs.

It's been two years since their last record, but last June saw the release of their label record called Everyone Is Someone. As an album, it's full of melodies, where Carabine and Walther do their vocal harmony thing - often syncing or overlapping each other. It's very soothing, perfect for a quiet evening reading a book.

Some of their songs are quite funny, but not ha-ha funny. For instance, the opening track, "Lonely Girl" is about a lonely girl who "wears her body like lifetime achievement" and a jerk boy who "holds his lovers like quarters for the pay phone". The punchline is to remain the same, "I rather be alone ... than someone you take home".

My favorite song is also the most accessible song, "Levi Blues". The song sounds so familiar to me, I feel like I should know the lyrics and found myself trying to guess the next line (which actually didn't go in the direction in my mind). There's some of that humor, I previously mentioned, about going to China and writing "I Love You" on the wall.

I think someone else must've liked that song too as there is a bonus track on the album, a remix of this song. Personally, I don't like remixes - and especially on "folk" songs, which by definition should remain organic. Still, the "AM Transistor Remix" of "Levi Blues" doesn't take it too far and actually made the song sounds as if it's a pop song (with a full background band).

What makes Dala an effective band is the perfect pitch harmony, combined with usually an acoustic guitar, and personal songs. Listening to them in a quiet setting is ideal, but unfortunately these type of songs rarely fit a dancing or party mood. If you're in the mood for a Jewel or Joni Mitchell, then Dala is perfect for you.

It looks like the band is currently on tour, doing mostly festival or theater settings. Unfortunately, it looks like it's mostly East Coast or Canada-area. Everyone Is Someone can be purchased at Amazon or iTunes.

Megafaun is a neckbeard, folky band from North Carolina. Pitchfork loves them (recently gave Gather, Form & Fly a 8.1/10) and Stereogum calls the trio, band to watch: "neatly splice together different strands of sounds".

It would seem they've continued their strange mixture of sound on their latest album, Gather, Form & Fly (just released July 21^th on cute and awesome handmade Hometapes Records).

Starting with a simple mostly-acoustic instrumental "Bella Marie", it quickly turns into mountain folk banjo-driven "Kaufman's Ballad"- which I quite like. There's old timey pianos on "Impressions of the Past" (the first part of the song is pretty not listenable to me), reflective country folk on "Worried Mind", hoedown/goodtime jam on "The Process".

They also seem to enjoy pitting opposites against each other, like organic sound (the rain and birds on "Darkest Hour") mixed with weird warped computer sounds effects. I could go on, but let's just say that Megafaun's music are all over the place, yet strangely remaining true to their folk roots (possibly due to their banjo and harmonica usage). While I think this will work for most people, I feel the album is too uneven for me.

When the band is at their best, is when they start sounding like early R.E.M., especially on "The Fade". Unfortunately, none of their other songs is like this one.

If you don't mind or enjoy a variety of different genres, check out Megafaun. You can pick up Gather, Form & Fly from Hometapes Records or, alternatively, Amazon and iTunes.

Aly Tadros' debut album, Things Worth Keeping is scheduled for release on August 22^nd, but for some reason it was on my calendar for next week (usually I schedule my review around the time of its release). Since Tadros is actually doing the touring thing with Alyse Black, I suppose it's still a good time to mention her album.

First and foremost, I think Tadros is pretty ballsy. Her first paid concert gig required her to play for two hours. She only had three original songs written then. She does have the drive to be a singer and, of course, entertainer.

Unlike many acoustic singer/songwriter type, she does come loaded with backing musicians (when she's playing live, it looks like she has drums, upright bass, guitar, and slide guitar). The full band comes in loud and powerful, especially during the second half of her album. Check out my favorite song from the album, "Linger". It starts off very explosive, but slows down a bit when Tadros asks "how low will you go?".

As usual, strings like violins on "Serendipities" and cello - as played by Ben Sollee - on "Keep Up" always add a nice touch to any songs (usually making the song sadder). And speaking of sad, be sure to stay to the end for the hidden track. I think it's about a post-attack (rape?) crime and feeling helpless as the police officer states "you're not a victim if you manage to survive". With just the acoustic and aching Tadros' vocals made it very emotional.

Things Worth Keeping will be out soon-ish, see alytadros.com for more details - as I don't have any information on how to purchase her album.

Check out her Kate Walsh cover song, "Your Song":

As expected, a pretty quiet evening at the Beat Coffee House in Minneapolis, with an all-star cast of women-singers and songwriters.

Starting it all off is Aria Souder, who started off by herself and then gaining a cellist, then by the time "The Experience" was played, she gained herself a drummer (who incidentally was "working" at the Beat). She started off quiet, but ended loud... before going back to her solo self on the last song.  She seems quite happy on stage and I get the impression that she's been around the stage and the Beat for a while now.

The Dirty Darlings brought a much needed upbeat energy to the bill. They also brought friends and families, who may have been in book clubs and math leagues. The Darlings sounds very garagey and definitely twee-ish. While they may be a little young, they certainly have an ear for great indiepop melodies and it should be interesting to see how these BFFs may evolve as a band.

The highlight of their set is their cover of Lykke Li's "Dance Dance Dance". It's too cute when Bri introduced the song: "It's by Lykke Li. She's Swedish. Er..." (as if no one's heard of her... as you know she's on my top 5 for 2008). Their version is definitely more fun and 'dance' and less tribal.

With just her amp and guitar, Holly Newsom did a series of "short songs". She seems to have a lot of songs. Possibly because she's normally in a band called Zoo Animals? I'm assuming she also writes and sings for this band? If not, well I think she should be. She has a very interesting way of singing and talking. Like a lazy southern sound.

Sydney Wayser ♥ the Beat, Minneapolis (9/16/09) Bella Koshka♥Beat, Minneapolis (9/16/09)

Sydney Wayser's setup was quite a change from the minimalistic Newsom. We were wondering about all the fancy mics and recording equipment, but it all made sense when she tells us that if you give her our email address, she will send out information on how to download the recording of this live show.

The prospect is kind of neat: you can re-live Wayser's sunburnt or her endorsing of the $10 Indian food buffet. I guess food is not that inexpensive in New York (although when I was there, I had the best food from Indian to Egypt to Italian, since NY is a mashpot of ethnic cultures.)

Bella Koshka sounds like a very melodic European gypsy gothic music, with a bit of triphop thrown in! I think most of their set is from their 2008 debut album, Slow Dancing on the Ocean Floor, and every song heavily relies on Hilary Davis's violins and backing track. This proved to be a problem towards the end, when they had some minor difficulties with their background music not coming through.

Check out this video of Bella from last night, from minnscene.com:

Bella Koshka - "Matinee" at the Beat Coffeehouse July 16th

I noticed they're playing with UltraChorus at the Nomad World Pub in a few weeks (Lara, who was at last night's show also reviewed UltraChorus)... so that upcoming show should be interesting.

You can pick up Slow Dancing on the Ocean Floor at amazon.

The Beat Coffee House ♥ flyer Sydney Wayser - Place De La Bastille Sydney Wayser 1 comment

I went to bed with a headache, and woke up in a worst state. There's no doubt about it, I am old.

My pending list is growing larger, it seriously does not matter how many I review, 10 more will always show up to replace the one album I review. While I will just add music to the list if we get it sent to us, for those inquiring about an address, I will politely discourage them from sending music in. I'm not trying to brag, it is just the state of things: too many bands, too little time.

So to take it easy, I've compiled a few newsworthy items:

SYDNEY WAYSER IN MINNEAPOLIS
I will be attending the Beat Coffee House, this Thursday. I've been to the Beat before, this is quite a tiny cafe and the sit-down atmosphere will guarantee a quiet evening.

Here are is the lineup:

Thursday July 16th @ The Beat Coffee House (All Ages) $7
5:30-6:00 Aria Souder
6:15-7:00 The Dirty Darlings
7:00-7:45 Holly Newsom (Zoo Animal)
8:00-8:45 Sydney Wayser (NYC)
9:00-10pm Bella Koshka

We've mentioned Sydney Wayser before, she just released a second album called The Colorful and will also be performing at The Music Box Theater on Friday, July 17^th.

Nebraska Pop Festival ♥ flyer Mammoth Life - Convoluted I Mammoth Life

THE NEBRASKA POP FESTIVAL The Nebraska Pop Festival is happening August 27^th to 30^th, all proceeds (tickets are reasonably priced, ranges from $5 to $10, or $25 for all four days) will benefit the University of Nebraska college radio station Mavradio. Looking at the indiepop bands on their lineup, they seem really hardcore indie. It's so indie that I honestly haven't heard of any of these bands. And that may be the problem, I feel like I'm not hip enough to attend (also the fact that I don't live near Nebraska). Well for about $1 per band (24 total bands), that is not a bad price to check them out. And who knows? Maybe you'll discover something new.

Here is the lineup:

Thursday August 27th @ Barley Street Tavern

Start time 7:00PM with end time at 1:00AM (This show is 5 USD at the door)

1. The Argyle Wishlist (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) 
2. The Sleepover (Lincoln, Nebraska) 
3. Magic Crayon (United Kingdom)
4. Honey and Darling (Omaha, Nebraska)
5. The Tinycakes (Chicago, Illinois)
6. Pennyhawk (Ames, Iowa) 


Friday August 28th @ The Waiting Room.

Start time 7:00PM with end time at 1:00AM (ALL AGES SHOW)

1. Spiders For Love (Omaha, Nebraska) 
2. Transmittens (Lawrence, Kansas)

3. Mr. and Mrs. Muffins (Jakarta Indonesia & Seattle, Washington)

4. Talking Mountain (Omaha, Nebraska)
5. Poland (Seattle, Washington)
6. Strega (NYC, New York)

Saturday August 29th @ The Waiting Room.

Start time 7:00PM with end time at 1:00AM (ALL AGES SHOW)

1. Electric Needle Room (Omaha, Nebraska)
2. Jam on Bread (Manchester, United Kingdom)

3. Labrador w/ special guest Dereck Higgins on bass(Copenhagen, Denmark)
4. Mammoth Life (Lawrence Kansas)
5. Thunder Power (Omaha, Nebraska)
6. Cleemann w/ special guest Dereck Higgins on bass (Copenhagen, Denmark)


Sunday August 30th @ The Waiting Room.

Start time 7:00PM with end time at 1:00AM (ALL AGES SHOW)

1. Sweet Pea (Omaha, Nebraska)
2. Probably My Son (Dallas, Texas)
3. Cowboy Indian Bear (Lawrence, Kansas)
4. At Land (Omaha, Nebraska)
5. The Mother Z's (Chicago, Illinois)
6. Darren Keen (Omaha, Nebraska)

Thankfully, I did listen to the mixtape that Matt Beat sent me, and the bands seems to lean towards sugary sweet indiepop. The few bands that I liked right away are Labrador, Transmittens, and Mammoth Life. For more information, you can email NebraskaPopFestival.at.gmail or myspace.

FREE BLOOD DIAMOND MIXTAPE
I got a chance to listen to the nicely clubby Blood Diamond Mixtape from Buraka Som Sistema (available as a free download on July 13^th via buraka.tv). The album was conceived and mixed by J-WOW.

I only listened to it once, but it's very thumpy. There's a lot of movie dialogue mixed in the songs, I'm not sure which movies they were taken from, but I think some may have came from the "Blood Diamond" movie that the album's name is taken from. Lots of Afrikana/world music with dance beats, but I was a little surprise to see Lykke Li being thrown in the mix "Dance Dance Dance (BSS Mix)".

Good stuff - and it's free. This is a great promotional for their debut LP, Black Diamond (available on Fabric records in April 2009). So check it out.

Special thanks to World's Fair.

NEWSBRIEFS
Mill City Live is a series of "rock the museum" every Thursday in July and August. Prices are reasonable (the cost of getting into the museum at $5 for none members - members automatically get in for free) and there's catering. The bands on the music series ranges from shoegazing (Gospel Gossip), to bluegrass (Caroline Smith), to salsa orchestra (Charanga Tropical), to "neo-psychedelic" ( First Communion Afterparty), to blues (Butanes).

Since it's museum, expect the atmosphere to be low-key and quiet.... less the paintings starts falling off from the reverb. More details at Mill City Museum.

Put it On is a brand new website catering to fashion designers, artists, musicians, and filmmakers. I quickly look over the music section and it just looks like a mess. I suppose I just need some direction, you know? What bands are good ? I didn't recognize any of the bands on there, so don't bother searching for Lilly Allen or whoever is hot right now.

I randomly found a Spanish band from the Dominican Republic called Xtrema Causa and downloaded one of their song as a test: it was free and it was very quick. Unfortunately, the brief biography and lack of additional links, videos, and (large) pictures, kind of made the website useless for me. I ended up looking up their myspace for more info.

Well, the website is new, so there's potential, if you think I'm being harsh, check out the website for yourself: putiton.com.

Playboy begins their Uncovered series. As a cover lover, I will be checking in from time to time to see Nina "Cardigans" Persson's A Camp doing "Pyscho" (Leon Payne), Murray "Dears" Lightburn doing "Doctor Blind" (Emily Haines), and Patterson "Drive-by Truckers" Hood doing "Range War" (Todd Rundgren). The series appears on playboy every second Tuesday of each month and limited to just 10 months. Kicking it all off is Dinosaur Jr doing the Cure's "Just Like Heaven".

Their version is acoustic and J Mascis seems to know all the words by heart. The band just released their 9^th album Farm, check out their cover at playboy.com/uncovered.

So, if someone asks you why you read playboy, you can tell them it's for the articles and the music.

M Ward @ Manchester Academy 29/06/09
by Duncan Walker

Fisher of men.

If messrs Oberst, Ward and James are the new, new folk ratpack, then M Ward is the George Clooney of the bunch.

Guitar balancing off his hip, twinkle in his eye he exhales post orgasmically the most soulful of melodies before releasing the sort of shimmering guitar line that makes you feel like you're somebody's Dad at an Eric Clapton concert.

Having never previously witnessed Ward in action, he certainly has plenty in reserves to back this kind of confidence up. Song after song, it doesn't really matter which one he chooses to play as the audience continue to lap it up.

...And the band enjoy themselves though their concentration hardly drops to show it. Ward's shimmering guitar lines continue to build over the band revving like a truck, the momentum gathering with no chance of breaking down.

The band depart for a mournful solo version of Bowie's 'Lets Dance', a little awkward, as if practiced on a dusty summer Manchester pavement that afternoon... If the rendition struggles, then the charm is well practiced... Nothing woos the crowd like an ego flattering cover version of a cherished British icon. He's complimenting the badge on our collective jacket. The line's firmly in the water.

The band are back out and kicking along, the smile gets wider, the posturing more Vegas. I hear a guilty murmuring of 'cheese' from behind, they're obviously not a Clooney fan, one bouncing drum fill and a wink of an eye and I'm reeled back in.

We're in the boat, he's whacked us on the head with a couple more from the back catalogue, we're done for by the time 'Magic Trick' is over, it really doesn't matter what comes next, heck, even an encore of some old time rhythm and blues. Beethoven rolls over and he's gone, and left me with the only thing left to ponder... does he smiles as much on record as he does when performing. I'm smiling, I guess thats whats important.

Linda Draper - Time Will Tell Linda Draper 1 comment Tour Dates 06/04/09 Spaceland - Los Angeles, CA 06/05/09 Room 5 Lounge - Los Angeles, CA 06/07/09 99.1 FM KRLY Radio Fillmore, CA 06/08/09 Silverlake Lounge - Silverlake, CA 06/11/09 Blue Moon Tavern* Seattle, WA 06/13/09 Chaos Cafe* Portland, OR 06/14/09 Make-Out Room* San Francisco, CA 06/16/09 KFJC Radio* Los Altos Hills, CA * Feat. Rob Woodcock on Bass Discography [May 2001] Ricochet [May 2001] Snow White Trash Girl [Jan 2002] One Two Three Four [Jan 2003] Patchwork [Aug 2005] Needlessly EP [Nov 2006] Traces Of EP [Apr 2007] Keepsake [Apr 2009] Bridge & Tunnel Read More Joni Mitchell http://weheartmus... Joni Mitchell is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small n...

SXSW: SUMMARY
You know, the festival is only four days, but it really seem like weeks.

While having every band in the world merge at one place might sound like a great idea... sometime their appearance conflicts with other artists that you also want to see. So one of the biggest problem I had was sacrificing who to see.

Music happens from daylight (probably closer to 10am start) until two in the morning, or even later.

I usually started my day around 8am, working out my schedule for the day. Sometime it's logistics, sometime it's time-issues, but usually I have a full day's worth of stuff to do. I don't follow my schedule to a T, but there are certain items that I absolutely cannot miss (scheduled interviews takes priority over shows).

IMIW09	Shay in the Blackwatch Studios	Camera Obscura - Setlist (3-19-09)
The May Fire - Set List (3-18-09)	Proclaimers - Set List (3-19-09)	Glasvegas - Set List, La Zona Rosa, Austin TX (3-20-09) - From Bob
Late of the Pier - Set List, Austin TX (3-21-2009)	Crimea - Set List, Austin TX (3-21-09)	Superdrag - Setlist, Guero's (3-19-09)
Wave Machines - Friends, Austin, TX (3-18-09)	Jay Jay Pistolet - Friends, Austin TX (3-18-09)	May Fire - Havana, Austin, TX (3-18-09)
Meiko - Cedar Door, Austin TX (3-19-2009)	Superdrag - Guero's (3-20-09)	Primal Scream - Austin, TX - Photo from Bob
Ed Harcourt - Cedar Door, Austin TX (3-19-2009)	Kate Tucker - Cedar Door, Austin TX (3-19-2009)	Diane Birch - The Garden Party, Austin TX (3-21-09)
The Gin Riots - Rio, Austin TX (3-21-2009)	Goldielocks - Rio, Austin, TX (3-21-2009)	Crimea - Austin TX (3-21-2009)
Babies Loves Jeremy Jay - Austin, TX (3-21-09)	Jeremy Jay - Club de Ville Austin, TX (3-21-09) 1 comment	Melissa Auf De Maur - The Garden Party, Austin TX (3-21-09)
Camera Obscura - La Zona Rosa, Austin TX (3-20-09)	Solid Gold - Beauty Bar, Austin TX (3-20-09)	Laura Marling - The Garden Party, Austin TX (3-21-09)
Ed Harcourt - Until Tomorrow Then 1 comment	Cedar Avenue - Running Home 2 comments	Los Fancy Free - JAJAJA 1 comment
The May Fire - Under The Wave 3 comments	Solid Gold - Get Over It 2 comments	Kate Tucker & The Sons of Sweden - Saturday Night 1 comment
Meiko - Piano Song 1 comment	I Am Incinerator 5 comments	The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - The Sun Ain't Shining No More 2 comments
Glasvegas - Geraldine	Camera Obscura - Eighties Fan (original version)	The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) 8 comments
Primal Scream - Suicide Sally & Johnny Guitar 2 comments	Jeremy Jay - While the City Sleeps	Laura Marling - Ghosts 3 comments
Late of the Pier-Space and the Woods [Cenzo Townshend Mix] 1 comment	The Crimea - Jellyfish 3 comments	Camera Obscura - Hands Up Baby 2 comments
Ed Harcourt - Until Tomorrow Then	Crimea - Jellyfish 1 comment	The Proclaimers - 500 Miles

WHAT WORKED
- Offline gmail. This worked! I read/did most emails offline and when I was connected, all emails were sent, marked as read, etc.
- iPod Touch, worked like a charm. I was able to grab onto various (free) wifi to receive emails or websurf (maps), etc.
- Austin Convention Center's SXSW wifi stayed up most 99% of the time. Wonderful!
- Cash (ATM) availability
- Blocking off 6th street for pedestrians

WHAT SUCKED
- AT&T Network, apparently everyone in Austin had an iPhone
- Walking......
- Sony Memory Stick not supported on my laptop
- Bands playing 30 minutes or less
- Badges are ridiculously expensive ($600-$700). I think they should make it more affordable, especially since most places don't bother to check for a badge and/or were free. If there was a cover charge, it is usually under $10.

I guess my problems are not really that bad.

DAY ZERO (Tuesday)
Travelling… nothing too exciting. My least favorite state was the one with the road tolls (I think this was in Oklahoma). We did stop in Oklahoma City to see Blackwatch Studios (myspace). We got to hear a few songs from Minneapolis' Cedar Avenue (official/myspace) band from their forth-coming long playing record. The few songs we heard were incomplete, but it sounds really layered with a variety of tracks.

By the way, if the name Cedar Avenue sounds familiar to you, it is because Kristin reviewed their debut album a while back.

DAY ONE (Wednesday)
Getting my barring was hard. I didn't know where any of the streets were. So when people text me: come over to (name of venue), I replied and ask what the cross streets were. Since walking around was my main means of transportation, I ended up crossing out outlier venues immediately.

Wednesday was evening-only, so I mostly went to see some British acts over at Friend's. These guys were all from the London area, with the exception of Liverpool's Wave Machines (official/myspace). These guys creeped me out with their masks that they wore on stage - however, due to heat and comfortableness, they took them off half way into their short set. Also caught a bit of Jay Jay Pistolet (myspace), whose singing voice is very peculiar... it's like he sounds like he's sing out the side of his mouth.

When Mumford & Sons (myspace) took the stage, it was very, very, very crowded. The audience loved them and it's apparent that these guys are going to blow up this year.

The Havana Bar had some Spanish showcase, featuring mostly Mexican bands such as Songs For Eleonor (myspace), Satin Dolls (official), Cosmopolitan (myspace), and Los Fancy Free (myspace). With the exception of The May Fire (official/myspace) and Spain's Capsula (official). We like Spanish acts, so be sure to read more Mexican Summer and my coverage of Los Fancy Free.

DAY TWO (Thursday)
I think this was the big press day, I got to meet & greet Victoria who setup the interview with Solid Gold (myspace). She was kind enough to have me in the Myspace Music event, featuring some artists that I really enjoy: Kate Tucker, Meiko and Ed Harcourt.

To kick off the party was The Real You (myspace), a power-pop band from Seattle, Washington. According to their biography, they've been on constant tour since forming in early 2007 - so I'm sure you'll run into this young band eventually.

I haven't been keeping up with Kate Tucker (official/myspace), but apparently her latest project is with a band called The Honeydove (myspace) - who debuted at SXSW! Unfortunately, I had prior commitments, but I would've liked to have seen her new band play at the Beauty Bar.

Anyway, the nicest bit about her set was that she wanted everyone at the event to get a copy of her last album, "I want to give you my music!"

So if you weren't at the event, you missed out. Hey, maybe you can stop in and say hi to her in Washington:

04/05/09 Sunset Seattle, WA
05/21/09 Chop Suey as honeydove Seattle, WA

Read more Kate Tucker & The Sons of Sweden on W♥M.

Meiko (official/myspace) had a guest trumpet player on for most of her set (she requested him on for the rest of show because I guess she felt more comfortable with having someone else with her). She actually started her set with "Piano Song", which ironically just her and her guitar... She made some funny comments, such as "I've never played to a bunch of porta potties before".

You get the impression that she was happy to be there, and maybe it's yellow-iest dress combined with her orange/red dyed hair, but she looks gorgeous.

Ed Harcourt (official/myspace) was very engaging…. During "Until Tomorrow Then", he got down to the audience and walked around, singing and putting his hands around people while everyone was filming and taking pictures. Enclosed is a video evidence.

Harcourt is releasing a new six-track EP called Russian Roulette out on May 5^th, but SXSW audience were privy to some of his new songs courtesy of Dovecote Records and Directv. Pay close attention to "Caterpillar", as this is a personal song about his newborn daughter being placed in an incubator as they helpless sit and wait.

Went to an open-door new talent showcase, this was not an official sanctioned SXSW event (you'll find that there are many, many unofficial events), so I don't have a listing of who played at what time. They were all giving away their CDs, but I couldn't bother to pick them up (this would require me to carry around stuff, and I didn't have a hand bag ready). Reminder for next year: bring a man purse.

Also went over to check The Elevaters (myspace) and Rumspringa (myspace) at the Hi-Lo venue. While Elevaters were fun and energetic, it seems the drums/guitar duo of Rumspringa had a lot of problems with their equipment. They had to cut their southern-sounding melodic set short after four (?) songs, quote from the singer, "my shit ain't working."

DAY THREE (Friday)
The busy day. Walked all over town basically. My only out-of-the-way venue was at 3 o'clock to see Superdrag (official/myspace) at Guero's, which I thought was far walking there. I ran into one of our RV family, who we'll call Rose because she looks like a pint-sized Pippettes, complete with dress and all. We walked back across the river so I can make it to my Asteroids Galaxy Tour (official/myspace) interview (this was delayed because of some miscommunication).

Afterward, headed over to Beauty Bar to see Solid Gold play, mustache and all. I can tell the audience was having a good time, especially the girl at the backstage.

Then snuck over to see this punk(ish) band that MTV was covering. I didn't catch their name, but it sounded something like Dirty____ Something. The singer had bleach blonde hair and eye shadows.... and likes to walk around with no shirts on.

Evening was spent mostly at the Scotland show: We Were Promised Jet Packs (myspace), Dananananaykroyd (official/myspace), Camera Obscura (official/myspace), The Proclaimers (official/myspace), Glasvegas (official/myspace), Primal Scream (official/myspace). I was in-out so I did end up missing Glasvegas & Primal Scream, but thanks to Bob for sending in some pictures.

DAY FOUR (Saturday)
Saw a few bands in the daytime at the Press Here Garden Party at the French Legation Museum across the Freeway (this is actually closer than it sounds). The walk there was interesting, and I discovered a no-seating Wendy's on the right side of 7th Street. Yep, I ended up having dinner there since they were making these chicken things that's not available in Minnesota.

I got to the Garden just in time to see Jeremy Jay (myspace), and enjoyed the most of the day with The Soft Pack (myspace) and Diane Birch* (myspace) before heading over to 900 Red River to see Jeremy Jay again.

Listened to Camera Obscura afterwards with those Peelander-Z, as I previously mentioned.

Headed back to the Garden to see Melissa Auf De Maur (official/myspace), who started her set with three cover songs: Nancy Sinatra's "Bang Bang", Danzig's "Devil's Plaything", and The Smiths "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before". Although the first two went off pretty well, she totally messed up on "Stop Me" - which is understandable because that song has a lot of Morrissey's lyrics and also they had only practiced it the night before in their hotel room.

It wasn't long before people started filling up the seats at the Garden to see Laura Marling (official/myspace). She was joined on stage by Marcus Mumford, I think. He played percussions and sang backup, although I have to say that Marling would've done just fine with her lovely voice and acoustic guitar.

Saw Late of the Pier at the Bat Bar later that night. Since it was being broadcast live on Directv, I think the pressure got to the band and it was just embarrassing to watch. Towards the end, they seem to not be so nervous, and the (rather long) setlist ended with men in death masks coming on stage to carry the band offstage. I don't have Directv, is there a way for non-subscribers to watch this?

Honey Ryder (myspace) was really happy to be Austin, I think this was their first ever US appearance or something. I believe also that their name came from a James Bond girl ? I don't know much about them, but they seem to have a wider audience and following in the UK, where their single "Fly Away" entered the UK Top 40 at #31.

GoldieLocks (myspace) is 75% English and 25% Swedish from Croydon (South London). She raps to DJ Sports (?), who is wearing this Skeletor T-shirt. After the show, she wanted to give everyone in attendance her EP, which actually went pretty fast. As I previously mentioned, keep an eye on this one.

There's no denying that The Gin Riots (myspace) have quite a few hardcore fans here, as evident by a bunch of Gin Riots T-Shirt in the audience.

It's been a few years since The Crimea (official/myspace) toured in the US, so I was happy to be there for them on their second and last SXSW appearance. They were the last band on my list, so it was kind of a relief when it was all over.

And as corrected by superfan Christopher, Tara Blaise shared the stage to sing backup for the band.... Highlight of the show was then Davey Macmanus stepped down and sang in the center of the audience.

* A note on Birch is that she has these incredible legs, but too bad they were well-hidden behind her piano on stage.

Arcane and Abel, 4 Song EP, December, 2008
by
All of us/None of us
Genre: Alternative/Folk/Metal/Blues

All of Us/None of Us Guitarist and singer Eric Ray, a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and R Tyck, bassist, a recording engineer and college instructor, began collaborating while Ray was living in San Francisco and Tyck in Los Angeles. Originally intending their work to be a studio project, the two wrote and recorded by sending tapes back and forth and making occasional trips between the two cities. Much of their debut album, Lucky Robot, was recorded in this manner.  Upon Ray’s return to his native Los Angeles, the two decided to start performing their material live and began looking for like-minded musicians. In 2005 they added cellist Catherine Cavella and drummer Courtney Olsen and began to perform in and around Los Angeles and the Bay Area to enthusiastic audiences. In 2006 Cavella moved away to Philadelphia. Later that same year Olsen left the group.  All of Us/None of Us continues to write, record and perform with a variety of different musicians.

All of Us/None of Us has been compared to Beck, Radiohead, P.J. Harvey and Jane's Addiction to name a few.  While I did find Arcane and Abel to be a bit Beckish, I also found enough originality in it to call it their own.

"A folk song is what's wrong and how to fix it or it could be
who's hungry and where their mouth is or
who's out of work and where the job is or
who's broke and where the money is or
who's carrying a gun and where the peace is.” (Woody Guthrie)

To this end, Arcane and Abel conveys the hopelessness, social injustice and “I am fed up with society” values of  Guthrien folk music with a unique blues/metal twist, while keeping  it relevant to today's world.

My overall rating:  90 out of 100.
Would I buy this EP:  Yes
My favorite track:  #3 Excess
My least favorite and ironically the longest, track:  #4 Knew That  

At $3.96 on i Tunes, this 4 song EP is a true bargain and should find it's way into everyone's collection.

References: All of Us/None of Us MySpace Page

                      Band website