So I went to this show expecting absolutely NOTHING, expecting this was a mistake. When Eulogies came on i think we were the only paying punters there, your shame I enjoyed this group, not majorally but decent music. Then land of talk, again nice if not spectacular music. Surprize to me - I really enjoyed Small Sins. Energetic fun band, time sped by when they were on, and i felt sorry when they left the stage. I have their second Cd, I only wish i could have bought their first Cd from the merch table and handed them some cash.
film School, Why is the main guy singing, his voice merges and not in a good way but boy can he play guitar. swirling atmospheric music, lousy vocals but way better than I thought it would be.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Art Brut NME Rock N Roll Tour
NME comes to the US. Some support bands are Blood Arm and 1990s who are both great. We got Demander, sorry you seem like nice folks but your music was forgettable trash. Art Brut were under-appreciated, and the Audience a million times less appreciative than the two manic shows before at the middle east. Eddie was brilliant, still going into the nasty Hold steady naff crowd inciting them to a reaction. The sweat running down my back I danced like crazy. I totally love the predictability of Art Brut, it makes me smile, makes me go crazy. So glad to be there at the front, so appalled by Hold Steady fans. Hold Steady are such lame Springsteen ripoffs we left after about six songs. Why bother?
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
iLIKETRAINS, Division Day October 14th 2007
iLIKETRAINS are an interesting band with a very British sound (to my ears), Being guided to ¡Forward,Russia! by Steve Lamacq I very soon expanded my horizon's to other bands on Whiska's and co's Dance to The Radio Record Label plus friends. There is a whole slew of music out there including demos which allow you to see the full breadth of this band's talent. http://www.thisgreenandpleasantland.com/ This Green and Pleasant Land is a very comprehensive fansite for this band and one interesting footnote is that Zack from that site though actually from Washington State was in New England for the weekend and managed to attend this gig. It was really nice to see the band both name check him during the gig but also pull him into their post-gig meal.
The website describes the band as
'iLiKETRAiNS are a band as obsessed with history as they are with the dramatic music they create to tell it. Hailing from Leeds, they offer something completely unique to its vibrant music scene, described by The Guardian as "grand and slightly unapproachable civic music, less to be listened to and more to be visited like a museum or war memorial, and all the more interesting because of it." The Times referred to them as the leaders of "library rock"' in their piece on the band describing their passion for history and the somewhat gloomy demise of the industrial era, and NME descried them 'brilliant, unique, wry... at odds with pop's present trends.'
After seeing the band come into the venue in normal clothes they disappeared up to the box-office to change into their stage outfits of 'British rail uniforms' really just black trousers white shirts black ties and black armbands.
They have a slideshow that accompanies the show with suitable pics.
The setlist stated by the website is
1 Twenty Five Sins
2 A Rook House For Bobby
3 We Go Hunting
4 The Deception
5 Terra Nova
6 Spencer Perceval
Though I remember the gig starting with A rook House, not twenty five sins. Switching between using flash or not i managed to at least get some images from the slide show.
We Go Hunting was preceded by discussion about the fact it is about the Salem witch hunts. They were asking how many folks had been to Salem mentioning they hadn't (they drove in from Washington an exhausting 10 hour drive. Why do these booking agents not take into account just how large and sometimes undrivable America can be.)
There were a few jokes about not being there during the hunts.
Despite the moody dark music which isn't exactly mosh material, the guitar work was quite energetic at times, almost manic.
It was a short set but one to treasure. We had wanted to see them at SXSW but the only show they did was at the same time as we were seeing The Automatic, Jamie T and Sunshine Underground so they lost out. So it was real treat for the guys to get to Boston and this time I wouldn't have missed it for anything.
Division Day were an after thought, a band we hadn't had time to listen to (hey you have to see our concert agenda for Fall, three night with two concerts a night). So when they started we thought stay for a few and assess. We actually started to realize this is a very sweet little band that we should be behind. Some songs are better than others, they do suffer from the standard American Indie issues but seem to have new songs that go above and beyond this to be promising little songs.
We had a chat with the guitarist and he was telling us about their record company woes (BOO HISS) and the fact that they have a second album already to go but they wanted to try and get some mileage and play the songs from Beartrap Island. We also talked to the drummer, Kevin, hearing the same story as we bought the album. We would definitely go see this band again.
Photos should be on flickr soon but there was a lot of red eye to sort.
The website describes the band as
'iLiKETRAiNS are a band as obsessed with history as they are with the dramatic music they create to tell it. Hailing from Leeds, they offer something completely unique to its vibrant music scene, described by The Guardian as "grand and slightly unapproachable civic music, less to be listened to and more to be visited like a museum or war memorial, and all the more interesting because of it." The Times referred to them as the leaders of "library rock"' in their piece on the band describing their passion for history and the somewhat gloomy demise of the industrial era, and NME descried them 'brilliant, unique, wry... at odds with pop's present trends.'
After seeing the band come into the venue in normal clothes they disappeared up to the box-office to change into their stage outfits of 'British rail uniforms' really just black trousers white shirts black ties and black armbands.
They have a slideshow that accompanies the show with suitable pics.
The setlist stated by the website is
1 Twenty Five Sins
2 A Rook House For Bobby
3 We Go Hunting
4 The Deception
5 Terra Nova
6 Spencer Perceval
Though I remember the gig starting with A rook House, not twenty five sins. Switching between using flash or not i managed to at least get some images from the slide show.
We Go Hunting was preceded by discussion about the fact it is about the Salem witch hunts. They were asking how many folks had been to Salem mentioning they hadn't (they drove in from Washington an exhausting 10 hour drive. Why do these booking agents not take into account just how large and sometimes undrivable America can be.)
There were a few jokes about not being there during the hunts.
Despite the moody dark music which isn't exactly mosh material, the guitar work was quite energetic at times, almost manic.
It was a short set but one to treasure. We had wanted to see them at SXSW but the only show they did was at the same time as we were seeing The Automatic, Jamie T and Sunshine Underground so they lost out. So it was real treat for the guys to get to Boston and this time I wouldn't have missed it for anything.
Division Day were an after thought, a band we hadn't had time to listen to (hey you have to see our concert agenda for Fall, three night with two concerts a night). So when they started we thought stay for a few and assess. We actually started to realize this is a very sweet little band that we should be behind. Some songs are better than others, they do suffer from the standard American Indie issues but seem to have new songs that go above and beyond this to be promising little songs.
We had a chat with the guitarist and he was telling us about their record company woes (BOO HISS) and the fact that they have a second album already to go but they wanted to try and get some mileage and play the songs from Beartrap Island. We also talked to the drummer, Kevin, hearing the same story as we bought the album. We would definitely go see this band again.
Photos should be on flickr soon but there was a lot of red eye to sort.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
The Little Ones, 1990s Middle East October 13th 2007
The Little Ones from LA in CA, bright poppy and very listenable. I cant figure out what the ethnic danceability exactly is. But when you listen to these guys you smile and it gets a little difficult to stop moving. During the set they asked about who was from certain areas, their inclusion of Philippines suggest that is where Ed and Brian (brothers) are Filipinos. They played mostly new songs finishing with Lovers Who Uncover. Talking to Ian the guitarist at the merch table (nice blue T-shirt for females by the way but it is way small made) we learnt that the album is not only written it is recorded mixed and everything and that the record label is sitting on it until January/February of next year. We also found out it is going to be full of brand new songs - yeah!.
So the 1990s, if you pick up cookies and listen to it you basically get the same effect as sitting down and eating a whole packet of cookies. The saccharine sweetness starts to get to you and you feel less than enthused. I had the chance to speak to Jackie at the merch table before anything started. If you can identify and speak to the band intelligently about the music before they go on stage when they are the support band they tend to appreciate it a lot. Jackie is a very down to earth personable drunken Glaswegian musician and our conversation about their music, music generally and music in Scotland was fun and I appreciated Jackie taking the time.
Michael's drums were set up so close to the front of the stage I could have easily touched the bass drum's skin without too much effort. I have a picture of the fact that Michael keeps his glasses on top of the bass drum while he plays which I thought was amusing. Then Jackie comes out and set up his guitar in about 30 seconds flat. This is a guy that has been playing for years and years and his experience shows in little points like this.
So they came out and started going through their tracks but these are not the saccharine instances found on the album, instead Jackie added depth and substance by playing the guitar like a madman. His guitar solos and riffs made this great. He adjusted a song to add a chorus from Jonathan Richman's Roadrunner song BUT this was totally lost on almost all of the audience. He then mentioned Jonathan Richman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Richman) amazed nobody was recognizing one of Boston's legendary musicians. Of course he asked if anyone knew about him and of course we yelled yes.
but I guess is because we are ancient.
This was so much fun, if you listen to the album and are unimpressed can I suggest you still go and see them live you may change your mind and totally enjoy the show despite any of your preconceptions. BTW they played a new song called The box, I recorded this on the camera and I need to cut it and hopefully make an mp3 available for a bit. The box live
Standard disclaimer if anyone has any issues with this being made available please just let me know.
We stayed for Voxtrot but went to the back got a beer and chilled out. I still can't exactly see what folks love in this band. Boston audiences showed their disdain as normal as some folks were more interested in watching the baseball than any band.
As we left we saw Michael from 1990s and had a quick chat, again a stellar guy.
Addenum
check out this NME story from CMJ http://www.nme.com/news/we-are-scientists/31873
"I'm not going to lie anymore, everyone thinks we're so soft and fuzzy but we've been known to drink our rider before sound check" singer Ed Reyes says "I am going to go to rehab soon. I've been drinking a lot, I've been doing a lot of... drinking. We're going to drink (We Are Scientists) under the table I think."
And Moreno says there will be more than just drinking on tour
"We're going to have a dance-off party. We're from Southern California so we're into a more hip-hop vibe. We're Filipino, we could out-dance any white dude. We're brown! It's in our genes!"
Such Party Guys!
So the 1990s, if you pick up cookies and listen to it you basically get the same effect as sitting down and eating a whole packet of cookies. The saccharine sweetness starts to get to you and you feel less than enthused. I had the chance to speak to Jackie at the merch table before anything started. If you can identify and speak to the band intelligently about the music before they go on stage when they are the support band they tend to appreciate it a lot. Jackie is a very down to earth personable drunken Glaswegian musician and our conversation about their music, music generally and music in Scotland was fun and I appreciated Jackie taking the time.
Michael's drums were set up so close to the front of the stage I could have easily touched the bass drum's skin without too much effort. I have a picture of the fact that Michael keeps his glasses on top of the bass drum while he plays which I thought was amusing. Then Jackie comes out and set up his guitar in about 30 seconds flat. This is a guy that has been playing for years and years and his experience shows in little points like this.
So they came out and started going through their tracks but these are not the saccharine instances found on the album, instead Jackie added depth and substance by playing the guitar like a madman. His guitar solos and riffs made this great. He adjusted a song to add a chorus from Jonathan Richman's Roadrunner song BUT this was totally lost on almost all of the audience. He then mentioned Jonathan Richman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Richman) amazed nobody was recognizing one of Boston's legendary musicians. Of course he asked if anyone knew about him and of course we yelled yes.
but I guess is because we are ancient.
This was so much fun, if you listen to the album and are unimpressed can I suggest you still go and see them live you may change your mind and totally enjoy the show despite any of your preconceptions. BTW they played a new song called The box, I recorded this on the camera and I need to cut it and hopefully make an mp3 available for a bit. The box live
Standard disclaimer if anyone has any issues with this being made available please just let me know.
We stayed for Voxtrot but went to the back got a beer and chilled out. I still can't exactly see what folks love in this band. Boston audiences showed their disdain as normal as some folks were more interested in watching the baseball than any band.
As we left we saw Michael from 1990s and had a quick chat, again a stellar guy.
Addenum
check out this NME story from CMJ http://www.nme.com/news/we-are-scientists/31873
"I'm not going to lie anymore, everyone thinks we're so soft and fuzzy but we've been known to drink our rider before sound check" singer Ed Reyes says "I am going to go to rehab soon. I've been drinking a lot, I've been doing a lot of... drinking. We're going to drink (We Are Scientists) under the table I think."
And Moreno says there will be more than just drinking on tour
"We're going to have a dance-off party. We're from Southern California so we're into a more hip-hop vibe. We're Filipino, we could out-dance any white dude. We're brown! It's in our genes!"
Such Party Guys!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Hot Hot Heat Paradise 20071011
So I ended up at Hot Hot Heat on my own. Surprisingly I got a good space at the front despite an awful commute. De Novo Dahl were OK but sequined suits guys are well over. The music was not offensive but not memorable.
Bedouin Soundclash, must be one of the most difficult bands to spell and google.
The vocalist, guitarist has one of the most extreme board of pedals I think I have ever seen
But to his credit I think he uses the effects well. He does seem a little addicted to the deley pedal both for his guitar and the vocal. I had never heard anything from this band and was open minded. I ended up very impresses and found them very enjoyable. They remind me of early Police with a touch of the Clash thrown in. Sweet to listen to and certainly has lead me to investigate more of their music. It was a bit weird for both of these bands they had no sooner started than they broke a guitar string. You feel a bit sorry for them but they played on like troopers which I show what people can do when they can actually play.
Hot Hot Heat, lets say I 'like' their music but I had not a moment of doubt to choose SHITDISCO over HHH. But SHITDISCO became vomit DISCO as one of tehm was diagnosed with cyclic vomiting disorder. Rather than stay at home on Peel Day we changed plans and bought HHH tickets.
I was a bit weirded out not sure i really wanted to be there but decided to go with the flow. Steve Bays. the vocalist/keyboard player really plays up to the girls, and yes I say girls, in the audience singing into their face, grasping their hands and generally hamming it up any time he wasn't jumping around. He gives a energetic enthused act which tends to outshine the rest of the band. I smiles I danced.
Again not my band to know track names but we got Goodnight, Goodnight, Middle of Nowhere, elevator, Bandages and Let Me In. A fun night.
Bedouin Soundclash, must be one of the most difficult bands to spell and google.
The vocalist, guitarist has one of the most extreme board of pedals I think I have ever seen
But to his credit I think he uses the effects well. He does seem a little addicted to the deley pedal both for his guitar and the vocal. I had never heard anything from this band and was open minded. I ended up very impresses and found them very enjoyable. They remind me of early Police with a touch of the Clash thrown in. Sweet to listen to and certainly has lead me to investigate more of their music. It was a bit weird for both of these bands they had no sooner started than they broke a guitar string. You feel a bit sorry for them but they played on like troopers which I show what people can do when they can actually play.
Hot Hot Heat, lets say I 'like' their music but I had not a moment of doubt to choose SHITDISCO over HHH. But SHITDISCO became vomit DISCO as one of tehm was diagnosed with cyclic vomiting disorder. Rather than stay at home on Peel Day we changed plans and bought HHH tickets.
I was a bit weirded out not sure i really wanted to be there but decided to go with the flow. Steve Bays. the vocalist/keyboard player really plays up to the girls, and yes I say girls, in the audience singing into their face, grasping their hands and generally hamming it up any time he wasn't jumping around. He gives a energetic enthused act which tends to outshine the rest of the band. I smiles I danced.
Again not my band to know track names but we got Goodnight, Goodnight, Middle of Nowhere, elevator, Bandages and Let Me In. A fun night.
Friday, October 12, 2007
The Donna The Paradise Boston 20071007
When this was announced they had Switches as the support band. I liked Switches when they played last time to we went ahead and bought tickets thinking that the Donnas would be fun too. A week before they changed the lien up and Switches disappeared. The problem is of course that the support band isn't considered part of the lineup so you have no come back.
So we turned up anyway. The audience was old school rockers and you could see the wrinkles a mile off including ours.
The first band whose name I cant remember had a lead singer who spent his time making misogynist comments but the band made ok text book heavy rock music -Pass!
Then came on Donita Sparks. Dreadful, Cliche after cliche delivered by a has been. Sorry but this made me cringe like crazy.
Watching The Donnas was weird like floating above it. I am so not their target audience. But i could see Brett picking the audience up into the palm of her hand, manipulating them to feel included and to 'Rock out'. They play well, put their heart into the setup and are a fun band. Do they make me go crazy - No.
So we turned up anyway. The audience was old school rockers and you could see the wrinkles a mile off including ours.
The first band whose name I cant remember had a lead singer who spent his time making misogynist comments but the band made ok text book heavy rock music -Pass!
Then came on Donita Sparks. Dreadful, Cliche after cliche delivered by a has been. Sorry but this made me cringe like crazy.
Watching The Donnas was weird like floating above it. I am so not their target audience. But i could see Brett picking the audience up into the palm of her hand, manipulating them to feel included and to 'Rock out'. They play well, put their heart into the setup and are a fun band. Do they make me go crazy - No.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
American Music bad and good
I went to see Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly last night at the Brattle theater. They are part of the New England 'Rock Royalty'. I keep trying to like this as they are so loved by the locals and I see that they have points. Tanya was on first then Kristin then songs together. We stayed for three then ran. I am so sorry but I find the Brattle a HORRIBLE music venue it was cold and antiseptic. Both women have degenerated in singer songwriters of little talent. Their voices aren't wonderful, I wasn't impressed by the guitar and the songs aren't scintillating. I do try but this does NOTHING for me. And hey morons don't take kids under five to a music concert, the rest of the world should not be subjected to that, one word - babysitters.
BTW as you see despite having several of both women's albums the two merged together so we couldnt tell them apart- makes me terribly ashamed I DID love Kristin's Hips and Makers album. Also Joe McMahon was on stage with Tanya, playing double bass and keyboards, he made the show for me. We see him all the time at Great Scott and had no idea he played so well.
So at 8 we moved on and got to the Roxy as fast as we could getting there about 8:30. Word of warning due to fights, drugs and injuries (deaths?) Boston has clamped down and totally shut off the balcony removing huge number of visual vantage points.
So we got there just before The National came on stage and thanks to having our ear plugs managed to find spots just in front of the speakers.
After being annoyed and just feeling I was totally alienated from American music we moved onto the National which is a band which totally slips into my heart regardless of their American roots.
We were late, pressing in at the last moment so our photos are lousy and non-existent. But as we walked out I saw someone with a set list so I did beg the chance to take a photo, probably the only photo worth while for the whole night.
Loved them starting with Brainy and I was so ecstatic when they launched into Secret Meeting. I love this band, their lyrics are dark and brooding, their energy is vibrant, Matt is haunted and possessed on stage, Padma makes you realize that the violin can sometimes be a manic instrument that infuses your veins. I love Boxer but people who love Fake Empire but do not know Secret Meeting, Abel and Mr November make me think they are some of the scum that latched on when The National joined arcade Fire and brought decent music to their tour and sorry but I have no patience for any of you. True I only latched on when Mr all knowing Music God Steve Lamacq started playing Abel but I hope I have becoem true and listened to all their tracks being there when they played TT's.
Every track beautiful, every track inspiring- perhaps there is hope for American music and for me to love it. And Mr November even knocked 'Don't You wanna be relevant'out of my internal mp3 player for a while.
BTW as you see despite having several of both women's albums the two merged together so we couldnt tell them apart- makes me terribly ashamed I DID love Kristin's Hips and Makers album. Also Joe McMahon was on stage with Tanya, playing double bass and keyboards, he made the show for me. We see him all the time at Great Scott and had no idea he played so well.
So at 8 we moved on and got to the Roxy as fast as we could getting there about 8:30. Word of warning due to fights, drugs and injuries (deaths?) Boston has clamped down and totally shut off the balcony removing huge number of visual vantage points.
So we got there just before The National came on stage and thanks to having our ear plugs managed to find spots just in front of the speakers.
After being annoyed and just feeling I was totally alienated from American music we moved onto the National which is a band which totally slips into my heart regardless of their American roots.
We were late, pressing in at the last moment so our photos are lousy and non-existent. But as we walked out I saw someone with a set list so I did beg the chance to take a photo, probably the only photo worth while for the whole night.
Loved them starting with Brainy and I was so ecstatic when they launched into Secret Meeting. I love this band, their lyrics are dark and brooding, their energy is vibrant, Matt is haunted and possessed on stage, Padma makes you realize that the violin can sometimes be a manic instrument that infuses your veins. I love Boxer but people who love Fake Empire but do not know Secret Meeting, Abel and Mr November make me think they are some of the scum that latched on when The National joined arcade Fire and brought decent music to their tour and sorry but I have no patience for any of you. True I only latched on when Mr all knowing Music God Steve Lamacq started playing Abel but I hope I have becoem true and listened to all their tracks being there when they played TT's.
Every track beautiful, every track inspiring- perhaps there is hope for American music and for me to love it. And Mr November even knocked 'Don't You wanna be relevant'out of my internal mp3 player for a while.
Patrick Wolf Paradise Rock Club October 4th 2007
I started to listening to Patrick as the music board I frequent has several ardent fans. When he supported Amy Winehouse at Avalon I was mildly annoyed to be unable to see him so when the tickets became available for his solo show I did not have a moment of doubt about getting the tickets.
I started to listen to his albums in earnest and watch the Gill Mills podcasts too which in turn lead me to listen to them as a whole as he had intended which was actually a good idea. Patrick does have a bit of a reputation as a Pop Diva especially after firing his drummer on stage in a tantrum which involved him physically chastising the man and chasing him off stage then there was the rant where he claimed to be leaving the music business for ever.
Bishi opened, I hear she got luke warm receptions in the UK but here she was warmly received and put on an interesting little set where she reflected the warm reception with a warm and sunny set of songs. she played a sitar, wore a traditional outfit (Bengalese?) and had her ipod to provide backing.
Then we got Patrick, stick thin and with more glitter than a 8 year old let loose in CVS he was obviously channeling Ziggy stardust in his makeup choices. My flickr shows the makeup as garish but it looked just theatrical when in front of you.
He seems so fragile but real and honest. Not the most handsome but he is stylish and accentauates what he has, musically his songs encompass slow and emotive points to the exuberance and joy that resonated around the Paradise as he played Accident and Emergency and The Magic Position. His classical training shows as he easily moves between his viola to keyboard. His talent is obvious to all who listen.
It was a smallish audience but deeply appreciative and Patrick was happy on stage, this showed as when he went to sing Tristan his mike just failed leaving the front row hearing his utterances as the rest of the audience lost his voice. He smiled laughed and grabbed the keyboard mike and carried on. On another night you feel that may have become a tantrum but instead it was an inside joke which we all giggled about but moved on to enjoy the wonder that Tristan is.
I am not enough of a fan to recognize the song where Patrick name checked Boston but it just added to the warmth of the evening.
I came to this gig interested, I left feeling a deep affection to this talented human angular musician.
BTW the set list became fiction as the night progressed but it gives almost all songs played though stars was played about three songs before the encore and A&E became the song before encore with the magic position as the closer.
I started to listen to his albums in earnest and watch the Gill Mills podcasts too which in turn lead me to listen to them as a whole as he had intended which was actually a good idea. Patrick does have a bit of a reputation as a Pop Diva especially after firing his drummer on stage in a tantrum which involved him physically chastising the man and chasing him off stage then there was the rant where he claimed to be leaving the music business for ever.
Bishi opened, I hear she got luke warm receptions in the UK but here she was warmly received and put on an interesting little set where she reflected the warm reception with a warm and sunny set of songs. she played a sitar, wore a traditional outfit (Bengalese?) and had her ipod to provide backing.
Then we got Patrick, stick thin and with more glitter than a 8 year old let loose in CVS he was obviously channeling Ziggy stardust in his makeup choices. My flickr shows the makeup as garish but it looked just theatrical when in front of you.
He seems so fragile but real and honest. Not the most handsome but he is stylish and accentauates what he has, musically his songs encompass slow and emotive points to the exuberance and joy that resonated around the Paradise as he played Accident and Emergency and The Magic Position. His classical training shows as he easily moves between his viola to keyboard. His talent is obvious to all who listen.
It was a smallish audience but deeply appreciative and Patrick was happy on stage, this showed as when he went to sing Tristan his mike just failed leaving the front row hearing his utterances as the rest of the audience lost his voice. He smiled laughed and grabbed the keyboard mike and carried on. On another night you feel that may have become a tantrum but instead it was an inside joke which we all giggled about but moved on to enjoy the wonder that Tristan is.
I am not enough of a fan to recognize the song where Patrick name checked Boston but it just added to the warmth of the evening.
I came to this gig interested, I left feeling a deep affection to this talented human angular musician.
BTW the set list became fiction as the night progressed but it gives almost all songs played though stars was played about three songs before the encore and A&E became the song before encore with the magic position as the closer.
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