70 posts tagged “new york”

Save for their breakout single, “I’d Rather Dance With You,” Kings of Convenience’s music is typically the kind of fare that lulls you into a dreamy sleep or provides an ideal soundtrack to a rainy afternoon. I thought their live show would be just as low key, but coupled with their humor and warmth, Erlend Øye and Eirik Bøe had plenty of surprises (including a special, Mac-compatible friend) to keep anyone from drifting off.

Kings of Convenience at Bowery Ballroom, NY (9/10/09) ♥ photo by Jason Kings of Convenience at Bowery Ballroom, NY (9/10/09) ♥ photo by Jason

As there was no opening band, there was a palpable sense of excitement within the crowd as Erlend and Eirik finally took the stage. For one thing, their music is quite subdued and most of their songs require silence from the audience to be fully appreciated. For most of the show, the audience adopted sort of a hushed awe as they played, making it one of the most reverent shows I have attended at Bowery Ballroom. As the boys often reminded us, this was their first show in New York in four-and-a-half years, so the audience seemed hellbent on making it special for them. At one point, someone in the audience yelled, “Play some old stuff!” and she was immediately booed into submission. The crowd that night was oddly defensive of the boys, wanting them to feel as welcome and loved as possible. It was sweet, but also somewhat off-putting. This is how cults form, right?

The band made it easy to incite such passion, as they were charming and hilarious all through the set. As a contrast to their lyrical and delicate songs, they told several quirky, amusing anecdotes (including a particularly endearing one about spilling espresso on Eirik’s pants) and Erlend made everyone swoon with his haphazard, quasi-robotic dancing. They even managed to complain about loud photography graciously, posing like pouting male models for two minutes to provide ample material for the cameras. With their offbeat banter and obvious camaraderie, they came off as sort of a melodic, quieter version of Flight of the Conchords – but with tons more street cred, of course.

Kings of Convenience at Bowery Ballroom, NY (9/10/09) ♥ photo by Jason

Oh, and there was music too. The first half of the set was devoted to the upcoming album, Declaration of Dependence. The new songs weren’t a huge departure from their previous material, but they prove that they are masters at crafting perfect, intricate melodies with seamless vocals. They debuted songs like “24-25” and “Mrs. Cold,” and the audience swayed in appreciation. My personal favorite, “Boat Behind,” features jaunty acoustic guitars and a simple “oh-oh-oh” chorus in their signature blend of flawless harmonies.

The second half of the show was all old favorites, including “Misread” and “Little Kids.” They stayed away from their more popular songs, but once again, the audience didn’t seem to mind. Their final song before the encore was a completely unexpected but perfect cover of Leslie Gore’s “It’s My Party.” They sang about Judy and Johnny with such goofy sincerity that they left the audience completely smitten, practically heartbroken for an encore.

Feist at Bowery Ballroom, NY (9/10/09) ♥ photo by Jessica Amaya

They obliged and returned with “The Build-Up,” a duet from their previous album, Riot on an Empty Street. Someone behind me said, “I wonder who’s going to sing the Feist part,” and lo and behold, a voice beckoned from the balcony above us – Feist! The audience let out a collective gasp, Erlend and Eirik grinned like little boys, the photographers elbowed people in the nose for a good shot, and I was filled with the sudden urge to buy an iPod nano. It was a lovely surprise, and she eventually joined them on stage, prompting everyone to go completely ape-shit and inciting a tidal wave of frenzied Tweeting.

But despite this, I left the show in a quiet and happy mood. It was exactly the kind of feelings a good Kings of Convenience song conjures up: a sense of calm that lingers for a while, making you both wistful and hopeful at the same time.

THE CHURCH
thechurchband.com ♥ myspace ♥ twitter 

The first time song I heard from the Australian band, The Church, was "Ripple", which remained my all-time favorite Church song. Of course, even at that time, in 1991, they were well on their second wind from their big "come back" in 1988 with the brilliant "Under the Milkyway". No doubt about it, the band's old, as old as the church they are named after. It's really amazing that in 2010, that the band have existed, in one form or another (they were briefly known as The Refo:mation), in 30 years. 

Although, admittedly, I am not a mega-fan, as I haven't kept up with the band in the mid-90s, I am happy to report that with Untitled #23, their 23^rd album, that Steve Kilbey's songs have not much changed. And that's very comforting to me. Kilbey's voice is so familar and friendly, that Untitled #23 feels like it was written in 1996. 

Some of the things I've noticed is that Kilbey seems to really like medieval themes (for Pete's sake, he sings "Minotaur" in "Sunken Sun"). Another really good example of Kilbey's "past tensed" can be found on my favorite song, "Deadman's Hand":

On our way to crush the revolution
Camp by a lake in the blackened lands
Dealing out love and retribution
Dealing out the deadman's hand

The lyrics are like poetry to me. And, really, who writes lyrics like that anymore? Colin Meloy would be jealous. 

As I have previously mentioned, I have not kept up with the band, but reading quotes online, I got the impression that this might be The Church's best album in a long time. Australia's Rolling Stone gave the album a 5 star review calling it "[a] return to form with a stunningly ambitious album of shimmering rock". 

Not much to add to this, except if you love and remember The Church from the late 80s to the 90s, this latest album will fit comfortably in your discography. You can pick up the album, released in May via Second Motion Records, from amazon. 

PS, too bad I don't live in New South Wales, as that intimate "dinner & acoustic show" sounds deliciously awesome. 

CHURCH myspace  Church - Aquamarine Someone should tell these Portlanders that there is already a band called The Church. Well, they did drop the "the". Still, naming a band after a common word might not be the best move? I know from interviewing so many bands that coming up with a name for your band is possibly the hardest thing in the world. And when you do settle on a name you absolutely love, people might destroy your hard work with a simple "that name sucks".  Ignore that first paragraph, Church's album is called Song Force Crystal and it comes from my favorite silk-screening record label called Tender Loving Empire. I have mentioned before that I think their products are very attractive and reasonably priced (most albums are handmade and under $10).  I'll be honest, I don't really get this really spacey, psyschedelic album. There's a lot of weird noises, "organic" sounds, and electronic farts inserted in their music, which sort of distracts me from their music. When I do like the band, it's when they're doing simple songs like the first part of "Golden Girls", which is mostly (I think) the two brothers, Brandon and Reechard Laws singing over some acoustic plucks. But since they're more focused on the layers of Moog synthesizers and experimental noise, there's plenty of those on the track "Aquamarine".  Where I think the best will be best experience is seeing them play live, I've read they've got quite a "sizable following along the West Coast... with their intense tour ethic". So check them out live if you get a chance: 08/29/09 Missippi Studios Portland, OR  09/04/09 Berbati’s Pan Portland, OR  09/11/09 The Woods Portland, OR  09/19/09 MFNW 2009  Portland, OR  09/23/09 Northern Olympia, Washington  09/24/09 The Silver Moon  Bend, OR  09/25/09 The Crawlspace  La Grande, OR  09/26/09 Visual Arts Collective Boise, ID  09/27/09 Backyard Show Bellevue, ID  09/28/09 Idaho State Pocatello, ID  09/28/09 SHO Salt Lake City, Utah  09/29/09 Flying Goat Boulder, Colorado  09/30/09 Rhinoceropolis Denver, Colorado  10/01/09 Everyday Joe’s Fort Collins, CO 10/02/09 Velour Provo, Utah  10/03/09 Beauty Bar Las Vegas, Nevada  10/04/09 The Smell Los Angeles, CA  10/05/09 Che Cafe San Diego, CA  10/06/09 Dtown Brewery SLObispo, CA  10/07/09 Muddy Waters  S Barbara, CA  10/08/09 Boo Boo’s Record SLObispo, CA  10/09/09 The Crepe Place Santa Cruz, CA  10/10/09 Amnesia San Francisco, CA  10/12/09 North Bay Art Santa Rosa, CA  10/13/09 UC Davis   Davis, CA  10/13/09 Luigi’s   Sacramento, CA  10/14/09 Downtown Eatery Redding, CA  10/15/09 Lil’ Red Lion Eureka, CA  10/16/09 Jambalaya Arcata, CA  10/17/09 Sam Bond’s Garage Eugene, OR 10/18/09 The Space Salem  10/27/09 Portland State Portland, OR  10/30/09 Doug Fir Portland, OR Song Force Crystal is available in CD/digital from TLE and vinyl fromsohitek.com		THE LOW ANTHEM lowanthem.com ♥ myspace  The Low Anthem-Charlie Darwin 2 comments Rhode Island's The Low Anthem seem to have won a few hearts and fans (such as NPR and selling out at popular venues in the UK) with their rootsy, folksy sound. I briefly mentioned them earlier because I thought it was cool that someone was interested in Charles Darwin's 200th. Plus I thought the title, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, was oxymoronic clever.  Their all-things Americana record label, Nonesuch Records, re-issued the album for a second printing, due to their popularity, with new silkscreening artwork.  The Low Anthem - (Don't Tremble) So, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, deceptively starts off quite quiet - starting with the title track and to the almost Garfunkelesque singing on "To Ohio" to distorted guitars on "Ticket Taker". But soon enough, the foot-stomping "The Horizon Is A Beltway" and "Home I'll Never Be", they suddenly turned into a good-time, high-energy Americana jam band. I'm sure those two songs are crowd pleaser when they play live... but unfortunately, most of their songs are very soothing. "(Don't Tremble)" is a perfect example of the soothing gentleness, I mentioned earlier. The vocals aren't too sweet, and the song does come off as sounding kind of like Bob Dylan - complete with harmonica.  Looks like the band is still on tour! 08/30/09 Nixon Park Kennet Square, PA  09/03/09 Gaiety Theatre Dublin  09/04/09 Gaiety Theatre Dublin  09/05/09 Electric Picnic Stradbelly  09/06/09 Deaf Institute Manchester  09/07/09 Oran Mor Glasgow  09/08/09 Cluny 2 Newcastle  09/09/09 Glee Club Birmingham  09/10/09 Bullingdon Arms Oxford  09/11/09 End Of the Road Festival 09/12/09 End Of the Road Festival 09/13/09 Bestival Isle of Wight  09/15/09 La Salumeria Della Musica Milan  09/16/09 Atomic Cafe Munich  09/17/09 El Lokal Zurich  09/18/09 Broftabrik Frankfurt  09/19/09 Gebaude 9 Koln  09/20/09 Lido Berlin  09/21/09 Knust Hamburg  09/23/09 De Duif Amsterdam  09/24/09 Ancienne Belgique Brussles  09/25/09 Doornroosje Nijmegen  09/26/09 La Maroquinerie Paris  10/02/09 Austin City Limits Austin, Texas  10/15/09 Avon Cinema Providence, RI  10/17/09 Chop Suey Seattle, WA  10/18/09 Lola’s Room Portland, OR  10/19/09 The WOW Eugene, OR  10/21/09 Great American SF, CA  10/23/09 Troubadour Los Angeles, CA 10/24/09 Casbah San Diego, California  10/25/09 Plush Tucson, Arizona  10/27/09 House of Blues Houston, Texas  10/28/09 Granada Theater Dallas, Texas  10/29/09 The Parish Austin, Texas  10/30/09 Spanish Moon Baton Rouge, LA  11/02/09 Club Downunder Tallahassee, Florida  11/03/09 The Social Orlando, Florida  11/04/09 Earl East Atlanta, Georgia  11/05/09 Mercy Lounge Nashville, TN  11/06/09 University of NC Asheville, NC  11/07/09 Attucks Theatre Norfolk, Virginia  11/09/09 Cats Cradle Carrboro, NC 11/11/09 Black Cat  Washington DC  11/12/09 Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA  11/18/09 The Tabernacle London  11/20/09 Crossing Border The Hague  11/22/09 Crossing Border Antwerp Oh My God, Charlie Darwin is out now, you can buy it on Nonesuch oramazon.
DONOHOE donohoemusic.com ♥ myspace ♥ twitter  Donohoe - St. Francis of Assisi Colin O’Donohoe seems like a very cool, open-minded kind of guy. I mean, look at his debut album, Shi Jing: Ancient Book of Songs, are songs from Asia. This is followed by a Christian-themed album about some of the Saints, while his latest work is middle-eastern themed called Lyrical Sutras.  In keeping with the Christian/Church theme of my own article, Songs of the Saints, as a whole, sounds very world electronica, especially because there's the traditional soaring singing and Italian chants combined with dance music.  My favorite of the saint songs is St Francis of Assisi, who is known as the patron saint of animals and Italy - which would explain the vocals (but does not explain the wika-wika warped sound). In many ways, the mixing of old and new makes for an interesting album.  Songs of the Saints is definitely worth checking out if you're into dancing with the spirits. You can purchase O'Donohoe's albums (and sheet music!) directly on his website.		NICHOLAS HOWARD beliefandhustle.com ♥ myspace  Nicholas Howard - God is in the City 1 comment Nicholas Howard is a soul-singer from New York, who seems to be influenced by many musical styles, based on listening to his album called God is in the City. The album is full of urban soul, blues/jazz, salsa songs with lots of backup singers.  The title track, and opening song, is basically two songs: the first part with a smooth Howard vocals and the second part that turned into gospel dance floor. That second part comes out of nowhere and, I'll have to admit, it surprised me at how much I enjoyed the unexpected.  Also surprising is that I thought the vocals are by a woman. In fact, it's Howard singing in a weird falsetto... he'll sound normal when he slows down to a talk-like singing, like on "Life is a Mystery".  You can purchase God is in the City directly from CD Baby or via amazon.

Regina Spektor first came to my attention with her Soviet-navy-drinking cover artwork on Soviet Kitsch. I suppose it shouldn't be too surprising why this was the breakout album for her: she was after all signed to Warner Records and they had decided to re-release the album. So, by the time Begin to Hope came out, she was already a star among the singer/songwriter crowd.

Spektor's much anticipated album, Far, was released a few weeks ago (June 22^nd) on Sire Records. The release came in two editions: a standard album and a deluxe edition (you can find them at all major retailers, such as amazon and Best Buy). My review copy is just a standard version, but I will go ahead and recommend the deluxe version because you get two bonus tracks and a DVD for only a few dollars more. Fans should take a look at the Fan Edition, which comes with the CD and DVD, 6 panel soft pack, and a 14”x14” Limited Lithograph (The first 1000 will be hand numbered).

Far seems to me to be a lot happier and more comfortable and even knows where it's going, compared to Soviet Kitsch and Begin to Hope. This tells me a lot of things about where and how Spektor feels in her life at this moment. If you listen carefully to her songs, she gives little hints to her past. Her tendency towards making "instrument" sounds with her voice tells me she probably studies a capella (check out some examples like the snare drum with her voice on "Eet", ooof ooof sound on the foot-tapping "Folding Chair", and beep-bop and piano notes on "Dance Anthem of the 80's").

How about her religious views? She seems to have faith in the "Human of the Year" and the poignant "Laughing With", which states a variety of situations with "no one laughs at God when ... (insert scenario)", even though "God can be funny ... ha ha". It's sung in an ironic kind of way. Apparently, Spektor felt so strongly about the strength of this song that she made it her first single, preceding her Far album.

It was really hard for me to choose a favorite song to represent Far, as practically all the songs are very good. The lyrics are wonderful, the melodies are catchy, and Spektor's voice is irresistible. I have decided to go with "Blue Lips", which I am pretty sure the album is actually named after: "Blue, the color of our planet. From far, far away".

If you aren't already a fan, you should be. "Eet" is just an example of a great pop song, about the impossible notion of forgetting the words to your favorite song. The video gives it a dream-like quality:

For years, my Scandinavian Holy Trinity has been set in stone: Jens Lekman, Sondre Lerche, and Erlend Øye. These three men embody everything I love about Nordic pop: catchy melodies, depressing lyrics, and above all, debonair looks (in a lanky, pale, probably-got-beat-up-after-school kind of way). But after last night, I may have to add another Swede to that equation: Emil Svanängen, a.k.a. Loney, Dear.

I had previously seen Loney, Dear (Yes, it’s “Loney,” not “Lonely.” Sorry, Spellcheck.) at Soundfix Lounge, a far more smaller, intimate venue. It was a lovely show, but I wondered if it would translate well into the much bigger Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Lia Ices at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn (05/05/09) ♥ photo by Laura Loney Dear at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn (05/05/09) ♥ photo by Laura Loney Dear at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn (05/05/09) ♥ photo by Laura

Things started off slowly with opener, Lia Ices. Her gradual but fierce, piano-centric ballads reminded me of slightly more subdued Frida Hyvönen. In a way, her sparse instrumentation and morose lyrics set the mood for the rest of the night. The audience remained politely quiet through most of her set, as Ices maintained an enchanting, often hypnotic stage presence. The whole girl-with-a-keyboard outfit has been done several times before, but there’s something strangely haunting about Ices that sets her apart from other singer-songwriters.

The solemn mood was somewhat lifted when Loney Dear took the stage, opening with the steady-building track, “I Was Only Going Out,” from his latest release, Dear John. Several other songs followed a similar format, and in the larger setting with his full band, the tracks were able to flourish into lush, sweeping mini-symphonies.

Svanängen’s band (which included a keyboardist who eerily resembled a somber Andy Samberg) contributed greatly to the “bigger” sound not usually associated with Loney Dear’s brand of thoughtful pop. Whether it was the more electronic tracks from Dear John or the earlier, orchestral tracks from Loney Noir and Sologne, the band added an exciting, almost urgent edge to Svanängen’s confessional lyrics.

Loney Dear - Airport Surroundings Loney Dear 1 comment Tour Dates 05/08/09 Rivoli Toronto, ON 05/09/09 Schuba’s Tavern Chicago, IL 05/10/09 Cedar Cultural Minneapolis, MN 05/13/09 Crocodile Café Seattle, WA 05/14/09 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR 05/15/09 Bottom of the Hill SF, CA 05/16/09 Spaceland Los Angeles, CA 05/17/09 UCSD San Diego, CA See Also Jens Lekman http://weheartmus... I'm not gonna claim to have the most macho music collection in the world---nay, my playlists are ...

My initial concern of Loney Dear’s quiet demeanor clashing with a larger venue was quickly put to rest. Svanängen has a knack for endearing and warmly funny stage banter, and within moments, the audience was smitten. He even managed to pull of the impossible: an audience sing-along that was not completely awful. Choosing the simple na-na-na-na chorus from “The Meter Marks OK,” Svanängen led the audience like a junior high choir teacher. Considering that the crowd that night mostly consisted of PBR-slinging, hipper-than-thou Brooklynites – it was quite a feat.

Of course, none of it would have been possible without Svanängen’s unassuming and shyly charismatic personality. Whether it was through his heartfelt lyrics or random witticisms, he gave off an immediate sense of likability. It is somewhat telling that the two grown men (both in vaguely corporate attire) behind me had the following conversation midway through the set:

Guy #1: I haven’t been this happy since I was a kid.
Guy #2: This is just beautiful. Beautiful.
Guy #1: I know. I just want to… touch him.

I know how you feel, Guy #1. And just when Svanängen couldn’t get any sweeter, he ended the show with the fitting track, “Dear John.” With just him and his guitar on stage, he sang, “Sleep well, tonight. Sleep while you can.” It was a beautiful ending to an intimate and charming show. So charming, in fact, that Jens, Sondre, and Erlend may have to watch their backs.

The Wooden Birds, Andrew Kenny’s latest project, is a reflection of his move from Brooklyn, New York back to his hometown of Austin, Texas. The two cities have quite a bit in common (laid back atmospheres, blogworthy music scenes, skinny jeans galore), but the differences are palpable on the Wooden Birds’ mellow debut, Magnolia.

Kenny subtracted the signature synths and electronic beats from his former band, American Analog Set, and added rhythmic percussions, an acoustic guitar, and backing female vocals provided by Ola Podrida. Like Kenny’s hometown, the songs on Magnolia are laid-back and tranquil – but with a steady energy that pulses like a heartbeat.

With the simple instrumentation, focus is drawn to Kenny’s quivery vocals and intricate lyrics. The Ben Gibbard comparisons are obvious (they once split an EP together), but Kenny sets himself apart by eschewing pop hooks for intense, prose-like verses that provide quiet, melancholy insight. On the slightly more upbeat track, “The Other One,” Kenny seamlessly tells the tale of a brother with a “journal with the saddest words / that you ever heard,” weaving a thoughtful character study of a detached family.

Kenny’s attention to detail stands out on several character-centered tracks, such “Seven Seventeen,” where he continually laments over the fact that “she was seven when I was seventeen.” Small but specific details scattered throughout Magnolia such as “kissing bike tires,” “makeshift rafts,” and “mom’s Indian rug” emphasize Kenny’s return to Austin. On “Hometown Fantasy,” the simply maracas and acoustic guitar are an ideal soundtrack to any idyllic front porch conversation.

With such a peaceful ambiance, it’s inevitable that some of the slower songs suffer from the “sameness” stigma. It can sound condescending writing off certain albums as “background music,” but in The Wooden Birds’ case, it’s hardly an insult. The album would certainly compliment a drive down South Congress or a lazy afternoon at Barton Springs. But even if you’re miles away from Texas, Magnolia will leave you nostalgic for somewhere warmer, somewhere quiet.

Calvin Johnson is many things: founder of K Records, twee patron saint, notorious baritone… and spastic dance machine?

Yes, Calvin Johnson’s dance moves were front and center at 92YTribeca, where he unveiled his latest project, The Hive Dwellers. Fusing the stark catchiness of his influential band, Beat Happening, and the rock sensibility of his other influential band, The Halo Benders, The Hive Dwellers put on a hypnotizing set Friday night before a crowd of K Recs disciples and cardigan-clad pop fans. (Of which I admit to being both, but I refused to wear a cardigan to this gig. Too easy.)

Fred Thomas, of Saturday Looked Good to Me, opened as City Center: a one-man outfit with a microphone and a synthesizer. The mostly instrumental set was largely ignored by the audience, who seemed to be more concerned with the impending presence of Calvin and the tiny hope that he might play “Indian Summer,” the twee-equivalent to “Knocking on Heaven’s Door.” (He did not.)

Half an hour later, Calvin appeared, wearing his familiar uniform of a too-tight, too-small shirt. As this was the Hive Dwellers debut performance, none of the songs had titles yet, but this was of little concern to audience, who were too enthralled by Calvin’s erratic dancing to notice.

Compared to Calvin’s past work, The Hive Dwellers are much more fleshed out, with a bass player, synthesizer/keyboard, guitars, and City Center Fred on drums. Not to mention the mouth organ, acoustic guitar, and maracas Calvin occasionally whipped out between dance moves. As always, Calvin’s deep baritone was impossible to ignore as he rhapsodized about sitting alone in movie theaters and building pinewood coffins – typical subject matter in his case. He continued to charm the audience with his sardonic stage banter, in which he compared Manhattan to the Vatican and extolled the virtues of midriff-bearing t-shirts.

The Hive Dwellers ended on an exceptionally high note, finally plugging in the electric guitar that had been sitting in the corner throughout the whole show. (Too bad it also drowned out most of the vocals.) Though Calvin’s lyrics were unintelligible, his enthusiasm was evident –of course—through his frantic dancing.

Surprisingly, they were not the last act of the night. That honor went to Ian Svenonius’ latest project, Chain and the Gang. Unfortunately I had a midnight birthday party to attend and had to opt out of seeing them. Despite this, I left happy. I had just witnessed Calvin Johnson do suggestive things to a pair of maracas. What more could I want?

Big Blue Moon plays like the soundtrack to a gentle romantic drama, one with minimal daylight scenes and lots of long, winding walks past ivy-covered Brownstones and quaint Mom & Pop cafés.  It’s New York City, shot through the lenses of a poet, where the daily grime is tucked away in shadows and loneliness is as beautiful as a street-lit silhouette.  I was reminded of the film My Blueberry Nights, which begins in New York but follows the main character as she moves across the country and eventually returns to the small Manhattan diner that initially drew her in.  Jazz accompanies her journey, a fitting musical choice as the wayfaring heroine is played by Norah Jones.  Similarly, Tolar channels Jones’s calm, light-but-not-lite sensibility, which explains why this style of music complements the visual narrative of film—its simple elegance is understated without seeming obtuse.

Tolar is a self-described “Southwestern girl living in Brooklyn,” a transplant from Colorado by way of California, raised on folk legends like Carole King and the downcast country blues of Johnny Cash.  It’s fitting then that Moon addresses issues of displacement (a theme that Tolar cites in her bio); there’s an overwhelming connection with “home,” both geographically (“Colorado calls me home underneath a big blue moon,” from the title track) and as a symbol of romantic contentment (“Somethin’ in your words brings me home when I am lost,” “Somethin’”).  Despite an obvious attention to heartbreak, Moon avoids gloomy cynicism, perhaps owing to the conceptual quality of the album as a whole:  a kind of reflective “travel” diary, with each song documenting Tolar’s search for answers to The Big Questions in Life, like “why does love have to be so complicated?”

When Moon picks up in pace (on songs like “Along for the Ride”), Tolar proves that contemporary jazz can be sexy, in an unfussy, silk-and-red-wine sort of way, without sacrificing consistency.  Often the inclusion of one or two up-tempo tracks has the adverse effect of disrupting the balance of these mostly-mellow records.  But Moon opts for steady sophistication rather than stylized showiness, which speaks well of Tolar’s self-awareness as an artist and makes for a moving debut album.

Big Blue Moon can be purchased through Sarah Tolar’s official website at www.sarahtolar.com (via CD Baby; direct link:  http://cdbaby.com/cd/sarahtolar).  Tolar will be playing a CD release show at The Canal Room in New York City on April 13.  For more information please visit her website or Myspace.

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.

 01/10/2009 21:53:12  ♥ written by vu ()

My theory about band names with repeating words is that they're easy to remember and easier to say. So below are some bands with repeating words.

Gang Gang Dance - House Jam Gang Gang Dance GANG GANG DANCE ganggangdance.com ♥ myspace.com Gang Gang Dance caused quite a stir on last year's CMJ. I know for a fact that they left a great impression on all the people that went to see them. Their music is best described as "experimental", if not world primitive or tribal rhythm (see Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Apache Beat). Saint Dymphna is their fourth album, having already established themselves in the New York scene. If you listen carefully to the album, each song flows into the next with background noises and such. Among the songs that stood out, I did enjoyed the rap-ish song "Princes", which is sung by Tinchy Stryder. He's from London, so you can hear the distinctive accent in his lyrics. Although this could easily be their stand-out-track, I felt it wouldn't represent the band's sound as it sounds pretty different from the rest of the album. While as much as I enjoy the occasional, as Lara puts it, "Weird Crazy Things That Sound Like Woodlawn Creatures and Kitchen Utensils", Saint Dymphna does an OK job on balancing this sound with more pop-friendly tunes like "House Jam". "House Jam", along with "First Communion" and "Princes", really made the album worth checking out, even if you don't like that sort of thing. So find out why Fact Magazine thinks "one of the best albums we've heard all year." You can pick up anywhere, including amazon and itunes. They will be heading out to do a massive world tour: 02/13/09 Paradiso Amsterdam 02/14/09 AB Club Brussels 02/15/09 Uebel + Gefahrlich Hamburg 02/16/09 Schauspielhaus Leipzig 02/17/09 Volksbuhne Berlin 02/18/09 Karlstorbahnof Heidelberg 02/19/09 Generiq Festival Dijon 02/20/09 Point Ephemere Paris 02/21/09 Route du Rock Festival St. Malo 02/22/09 Grand Mix Tourcoing 02/25/09 Roadhouse Manchester 02/26/09 Dingwalls London 02/27/09 Fleece Bristol 02/28/09 Audio Brighton 05/30/09 Primavera Sound Festival Barcelona		Tapes N Tapes-Le Ruse Tapes N Tapes TAPES 'N TAPES tapesntapes.com ♥ myspace.com I'm not qualify to write this review, but since I couldn't actually convince my local writers here to do an article on their second album, Walk It Off, because they actually paid real-life money for it... I don't know what all the fuss is about this band. I think sometime in 2007, I started hearing this band a lot from friends and not-so-friends. So definitely, there's some huge buzz and they're known in other parts of the world - not just in Minneapolis. Andrew reckons that the band got so massive that they basically left Darren (from Kid Dakota) on his own for his just-released The Hopefuls' album (someone, not me, is supposed to review this one). Anyway, my expectation for Tapes 'N Tapes' Walk it Off is that it's supposed to be fun and bouncy and dancey. It's not. The album failed on all three accounts. Maybe I'm just not listening to it right? The most exciting song on the album is possibly "Le Ruse", all the other songs, including their single, "Hang Them All", did not did not impress me. Hey, but if you're looking for a cool indie band, you should check out Tapes 'N Tapes, everyone else seems to love them. Hopefully Lara & Kate will have some favorable things to say about them on February 6th, when they are stopping back home with what the LA Times are calling "2009 Artist to Watch", Wild Light. The tour dates: 01/15/09 The Waiting Room Omaha, Nebraska 01/17/09 Fox Theater Boulder, Colorado 01/19/09 Neurolux Boise, Idaho 01/20/09 Neumo’s Seattle, Washington 01/21/09 Doug Fir Portland, Oregon 01/23/09 Great American Music Hall San Francisco, California 01/24/09 El Rey Theater Los Angeles, California 01/25/09 The Casbah San Diego, California 01/27/09 Sante Fe Brewing Company Sante Fe, New Mexico 01/29/09 Parish Austin, Texas 01/30/09 Club Dada Dallas, Texas 01/31/09 Opolis Norman, Oklahoma 02/02/09 Jackpot Music Hall Lawrence, Kansas 02/03/09 Mojo’s Columbia, Missouri 02/04/09 Maintenance Shop @ Iowa State Ames, Iowa 02/05/09 Nutty’s Sioux Falls, South Dakota 02/06/09 First Ave Minneapolis, Minnesota 02/20/09 Legends @ Notre Dame South Bend, Indiana 02/21/09 The Basement Columbus, Ohio 02/22/09 Brillobox Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 02/24/09 Paradise Boston, Massachusetts 02/25/09 Bowery Ballroom New York, New York 02/26/09 Music Hall of Williamsburg Brooklyn, New York 02/27/09 Rock & Roll Hotel Washington DC, Washington DC 02/28/09 Johnny Brendas Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 03/02/09 Cat’s Cradle Carrboro, North Carolina 03/03/09 The Earl Atlanta, Georgia 03/04/09 Bottletree Birmingham, Alabama 03/05/09 Mercy Lounge Nashville, Tennessee 03/06/09 Phoenix Hill Tavern Louisville, Kentucky 03/07/09 Metro Chicago, Illinois
Pas Chic Chic!-En Chaine et en Vogue Pas Chic Chic! PAS CHIC CHIC! paschicchic.com ♥ myspace.com Pas Chic Chic! (which means "not smart"?) are a band based out of Montreal, Canada. Their debut album, Au Contraire was released last year on Semprini Records... and it's entirely in French. The songs are mostly sung by Eric (?), with the exception of a few songs by Marie-Douce ("Se Mirer Mare", "Mlle Mille" and "Brise Méprise") which comes off as very 60s girl pop. Eric's songs sounds like it's trying to be sexy, and maybe it is to girls swooning over his sex Canadian French accents. There's a few brilliant pop songs on the album that I really enjoy, including "Mlle Mille" and "Tesclichés Déclenchés". My favorite is "En Chaine et en Vogue", which is a good example of their sound because the boy-girl vocals works very well here. Apparently the band caught the attention of Julian Cope (who apparently when not being a musician is also a music critic): I've also been hugely impressed by AU CONTRAIRE, the debut album by Montreal's Pas Chic Chic, whose urgent, disorientating and eloquent experimental psychedelic pop inhabits a bizarre hinterland somewhere between Alan Gill's beautiful early Dalek I Love You COMPASS KUMPAS sound, The Teardrop Explodes circa ‘When I Dream’ and ‘Thief of Baghdad’, and Dave Balfe and Bill Drummond’s Lori & the Chameleons project as played by Stereolab. Whirling ice-rink string synths, uppity toy soldier snare drummers and clamorous tragic male’n’female French language vocals conspire to create a sound of huge tragedy and loss... Look for the band coming up on "Canadian Music Week" on March 12th in Toronto. You can find Au Contraire digitally (itunes or emusic) or CD via amazon.		I Hope My New House Feels Welcoming For You Pee-Pee PEE-PEE myspace.com Possibly one of the worst name for a band, and equally "catchy" album name, is Pee-Pee's Castile Jackine is Vooded at Broonus Mousin: Volume 1. If you can get past the name(s), this is a pretty interesting and developed band, from the strange non-sense improv of "Freakout Jam" to rock funk of "I Love U 2 Much" to the melodic folk "I Hope My New House Feels Welcoming For You". There's a lot of layers in their music, with a lot of instruments that you would find in bluegrass or Americana band: a saw here, an accordion there. I'm not sure if I hear the banjo, but I wouldn't be surprise if they incorporate that in their music. What sets them apart from traditional Americana bands is that they seem to really enjoy using technology to make them sound warp. For example, check out the sound from the acoustic guitar on "Love needs a Quivering, Restless, Aching, Fire to Lay its Head On" and vocals on "Madness Song (remix)". The different shifts in style and tone of their songs makes the album all over the map. I'll only recommend the album if you enjoy different genre of music, but fans of Animal Collective and Of Montreal to 60s psychedelic rock should like this band. Be on the look out for Volume Two of Castile Jackine..., as the album is actually already "in the can" as they say. Apparently in recording of their album, they had enough material to be split on two albums. You can get Castile Jackine..., released last November on the Helmet Room Label, at most online stores (emusic), physical CDs can be found on cdbaby. PS, bonus points for utilizing "Hey Jude" on "O, Little Boy".

Did you all like that? Check out some other bands that we've previously covered:

Tiger! Shit! Tiger! Tiger! - Crime Wave 2 comments	Tiger! Tiger! - Black Daggers 1 comment	Tiger, Tiger - I Suppose 1 comment	Dark Dark Dark - Ashes	Duran Duran - The Reflex 3 comments
Yo-Yo Mundi -There is a Light that Never Goes Out	Patron & Patron - Either Or 2 comments	Xiu Xiu - Fast Car 1 comment	Die! Die! Die! - Sideways, Here We Come	The Goo Goo Dolls - Dizzy
Caw! Caw!-Organisms 1 comment	Ra Ra Riot - Dying Is Fine 1 comment	Me Me Me - Hanging Around 2 comments	Sing-Sing - Feels Like Summer 6 comments	Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps

 01/04/2009 01:10:06  ♥ written by vu ()

School of Seven Bells-Chain School of Seven Bells 3 comments Tour Dates 01/16/09 PR (Self Titled Party w/Free Blood, Juan Maclean (live acid set), & Justin Miller (DFA)) New York, New York 02/06/09 Wellesley College Wellesley, Massachusetts 02/07/09 Terrace F. Club Princeton, New Jersey 02/11/09 7th Street Entry (w/Fujiya & Miyagi) Minneapolis, Minnesota 02/12/09 Bottom Lounge (w/Fujiya & Miyagi) Chicago, Illinois 02/13/09 Magic Stick (w/Fujiya & Miyagi) Detroit 02/14/09 Alfred University Knight Club (w/Fujiya & Miyagi) Alfred 02/15/09 Paradise (w/Fujiya & Miyagi) Boston, Massachusetts 02/18/09 The Trocadero (w/Fujiya & Miyagi) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 02/19/09 9:30 Club (w/Fujiya & Miyagi) Washington DC, Washington DC 02/23/09 Whelans Dublin, Ireland 02/24/09 Captain’s Rest Glasgow, Scotland 02/25/09 Cockpit Leeds, UK 02/26/09 Cargo London, UK 02/27/09 Night & Day Manchester, UK 02/28/09 Start The Bus Bristol, UK 03/01/09 Audio Brighton, UK 03/04/09 AB Club Brussels, Belgium 03/05/09 Le Point Ephemere Paris, Ile-de-France 03/07/09 Gleis 22 Münster, Germany 03/08/09 Bang Bang Club Berlin, Germany 03/09/09 Molotow Hamburg, Germany 03/10/09 Studio 672 Cologne, Germany 03/12/09 Flex Vienna, Austria 03/13/09 Atomic Cafe Munich, Germany 03/14/09 La Casa Milan, Italy 04/07/09 The Ritz (w/Bat for Lashes) Manchester 04/08/09 Queen Margaret Union (w/Bat for Lashes) Glasgow, Scotland 04/09/09 Stage 2-Northumbria University (w/Bat for Lashes) Newcastle 04/11/09 Metropolitan University (w/Bat for Lashes) Leeds 04/12/09 Birmingham Town Hall (w/Bat for Lashes) Birmingham 04/13/09 The Regal (w/Bat for Lashes) Oxford 04/15/09 Anson Rooms (w/Bat for Lashes) Bristol 04/16/09 Brighton Corn Exchange (w/Bat for Lashes) Brighton 04/17/09 Sheperds Bush Empire (w/Bat for Lashes) London See Also Bat For Lashes http://weheartmus... A friend of mine asked me to check out this errie music video for "What's a Girl To Do" by Bat fo... 1 comment