3 posts tagged “thao nguyen”

The Cedar Cultural Center is like the NPR of the venues around Minneapolis. The venue is usually a sit-down (removable fold-out chairs) venue that seems to be catered to World Music, jazz, and acoustic/folky bands. That's exactly the atmosphere last night, when Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, stopped by on their on-going tour.

The Cedar is notorious for keeping its schedule, so starting at 7:30pm sharp, was David Shultz and the Skyline (myspace) a pretty mild singer/songwriter that did end with a strong finish when Get Down Stay Down's Adam Thompson and Willis Thompson joined him on stage.

The Portland Cello Project, aka PCP, (official / myspace) are an interesting band. They consists of five cellists, who, as told by ringleader Douglas Jenkins, started around the Portland area between classically trained musicians. Lots of highlights, the Pantera cover, "Mouth For War", the Halo theme song, and the Elliott Smith cover. You can tell they like Smith, having stated that he passed away six years and two weeks.

Thao with the Get Down Stay Down was eager to get on stage. Lots of foot-tapping and lots of hand-clapping. Thao admitted that this was only the second-ever sit-down venue they played. That the other one, it was a Christian college, and they weren't allowed to dance. "It was the Footloose town!," she laughed.

Since that story, the audience seemed to warmed up and pretty soon everyone stood up. This is weird, considering that I don't think I've ever seen the venue with people standing up.

Thao with the Get Down Stay Down ♥ Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (10/27/09).

Highlight of the show for me was them doing earlier songs, like "Feet Asleep" with David Shultz and Douglas Jenkins joining on stage to help out. In fact, throughout the show, various other band members joined on stage to play. As you can see on the setlist list, they ended with "Easy" and their encore was "The Give" and "Fear and Convenience". What's not on their setlist is "Violet" and a goofy Salt N Pepa's "Push It" cover.

Thao Nguyen with the Get Down Stay Down are currently on tour. Their latest album, Know Better Learn Faster is out now. For a free download song, "Know Better Learn Faster", head over to their record label, Kill Rock Stars.

My favorite songs are about rejection, despair, and soul-crushing loneliness. I also like songs that make you dance like an inebriated uncle. For me, these two qualities are not mutually exclusive. On Thao Nguyen’s latest album, Know Better Learn Faster, she provides me with plenty of material with which to dance/cry, a combination that I’m sure is freaking out my roommate.

Know Better Learn Faster starts off with a room full of clapping and hollering. “If this is how you want it, okay, okay,” sings Nguyen, along with a chorus of mournful voices. It’s a haunting dirge that quickly turns into a stomping hoedown, and it acts as an oddly appropriate segue into the next song, “Cool Yourself.” The chorus of voices returns for the oh-whoa-whoa refrain, and they make several appearances through out the album, providing a crowded, communal tone. It may not be a total Andrew W.K. vibe, but there’s definitely a party happening on this record.

But even at its most infectious, the album’s lyrics always hint at something slightly darker. On the rambunctious “When We Swam,” Nguyen mourns the loss of a drowned relationship, all the while luring in listeners with the instantly danceable chorus: “bring your hips, bring your hips to me.” As seen on previous album, We Brave Bee Stings and All, Nguyen showcases a recklessly bold and honest style of songwriting. “What am I, just a body in your bed?” she demands on the deceptively buoyant, “Body.” Even under a smokescreen of handclaps and cheerful sing-a-long refrains, there’s no denying the flare of aggression in her voice.

It would be easy to become overwhelmed by the album’s chaotic energy, but there are several respites from the party scattered throughout the album. “The Give” is definitely more subdued and reflective than the first four tracks, but it is by no means quiet. Taking on the persona of a family patriarch, Nguyen spins a bittersweet narrative about broken promises and tokens of regret. It seems like an unlikely interlude within such an upbeat album, but the melancholy tone weaves in and out of even the punchier songs. It’s never blatantly obvious, but it lurks in many of the songs, adding a touch of pathos to even the most rowdy choruses.

True, these songs won’t make you weep, but it’s definitely not mindlessly catchy fluff either. So whether you’re looking for something to dance around in your underwear to or something to mull over on the train ride home, you can probably find a good balance of both on this album. Either way, you won’t end up slitting your wrists or waking up to find unsavory pictures of yourself on Facebook. See? Everybody wins.