Last night, Wolf Parade played their last concert to a sold old crowd at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC. Fittingly (and quite strangely), the band ended the night with Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", which in reality could be their final song ever played. Joined by a mob of excited fans, Wolf Parade and Co. rocked out to the bittersweet ending of something beautiful. You can watch the fan-captured video above.
For those who couldn't make it out to The Gorge in George, Washington, this Memorial Day weekend, you can still hear Wolf Parade's 2011 Sasquatch! performance over at NPR (here). The show is one of two scheduled concerts to be played this year after the band announced its indefinite hiatus back in November. Hopefully, this is just a temporary break while the band members focus on their other musical projects.
But anyway, check out the 9-song set list of their show - it's practically a Wolf Parade "Greatest Hits" collection. Hearing these live had to have been awesome.
Well, our rumors have been confirmed. Fantastic news has been posted over at Jagjaguwar's site, announcing the release date for Spencer Krug's newest album, along with US tour dates.
Recorded under the moniker Moonface, Krug's LP will be entitled Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I'd Hoped. The album is set to drop on August 2, and it appears to only contain 5 tracks. As Krug describes in the press release:
"Organ Music runs around 37 minutes and is dense, but in a satisfying way, I hope, like eating a small, heavy piece of cheesecake. It's music played with an organ, organ beats, organ beeps and bloops, and some digital drums. Music based on layers and loops, the hypnotizing sound of a leslie speaker, and the onslaught of melody. Originally there were something like 9 or 10 almost fully formed songs, but late in the recording process I decided to cut it down to five, crystalizing the good stuff, killing my troublesome darlings, and avoiding the weighty world of a 1.5 hour double LP. You're welcome. Cutting songs is like shucking the husk off a cocunut. Now we can just drink the milk. Now, in my mind at least, there is no filler on this album. Hopefully you will feel the same way. Please, let me serve you cheesecake and coconut milk. Please, enjoy."
To hear said organ beeps and bloops, check out "Fast Peter" below. It seems to be quite a departure from Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown, though you may notice the familiar backing vocals from fellow Rubdown-mate Camilla Wynne Ingr contributing the backup vocals. Tour dates are also posted below (no love for Seattle, yet).
Track Listing: 01 :: Return To The Violence Of The Ocean Floor 02 :: Whale Song (Song Instead Of A Kiss) 03 :: Fast Peter 04 :: Shit-Hawk In The Snow 05 :: Loose Heart = Loose Plan
Moonface tour dates:
07/13/11 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern 07/14/11 - London, ON - Call The Office 07/15/11 - Detroit, MI - The Lager House 07/16/11 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall 07/17/11 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop 07/19/11 - Allston, MA - Great Scott 07/20/11 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge 07/21/11 - Washington, DC - Black Cat 07/22/11 - Raleigh, NC - King's Barcade 07/23/11 - Atlanta, GA - 529 07/26/11 - Austin, TX - Emo's Indoors 07/27/11 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada 07/29/11 - Oxford, MS - Proud Larry's 07/30/11 - Nashville, TN - 12th and Porter 07/31/11 - Bloomington, IN - Russian Recording 08/02/11 - Newport, KY - Southgate House 08/03/11 - Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe 08/04/11 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie 08/05/11 - Northampton, MA - Iron Horse 08/06/11 - Montreal, QC - Il Motore
Austin's White Denim have a brand new full-length D, which you can stream in its entirety here.
It's definitely an album that rewards upon multiple listens. Each song is a complex, genre-bending journey through American rock. This could very well be the summer soundtrack for 2011. Check it out.
White Denim tour dates: 5.24 - The Casbah - San Diego, CA 5.25 - The Echo - Los Angeles, CA 5.26 - The Bottom of the Hill - San Francisco, CA 5.27 - The Cellar Door - Visalia, CA 5.29 - Bunk Bar - Portland, OR 5.30 - Sasquatch! Music Festival - George, WA 6.1 - The Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT 6.2 - Larimer Lounge - Denver, CO 6.3 - Jackpot Music Hall - Lawrence, KS 6.16 - Hi Tone - Memphis, TN 6.17 - The Drunken Unicorn at MJQ Concourse - Atlanta, GA 6.18 - The Basement - Nashville, TN 6.19 - Uncle Slayton's - Louisville, KY 6.21 - Rock N Roll Hotel - Washington, DC 6.22 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia, PA 6.23 - Pearl St. Nightclub - Northampton, MA 6.24 - Brighton Music Hall - Boston, MA 6.25 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY 6.27 - Il Motore - Montreal, QC 6.28 - El Mocambo - Toronto, ON 6.29 - Rock Lobster - Indianapolis, IN 6.30 - Schubas Tavern - Chicago, IL 7.1 - Mojo's - Columbia, MO 7.2 - The Opolis - Norman, OK
The Handsome Furs are set to release their 3rd LP Sound Kapital on June 28, and you can now pre-order the record at Insound and SubPop.
Also revealed is the NSFW cover art (seen above).
The band has listed the first leg of their North American tour. Most notable is their July 23 appearance in Seattle at the Capitol Hill Block Party (can we rename it Kapital Hill?). More dates are posted below.
Handsome Furs tour dates:
07-03 :: Des Moines, IA – 80/35 Festival 07-16 :: Regina, SK – The Exchange 07-17 :: Saskatoon, SK – Louis (Univ of Saskatoon) 07-19 :: Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room 07-20 :: Calgary, AB – Republik 07-23 :: Seattle, WA – Kapital Hill Block Party 07-27 :: Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club 07-28 :: Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Club (Rave) 07-29 :: Chicago, IL – The Bottom Lounge 07-30 :: Detroit, MI – The Lager House 08-01 :: Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern
I'm filing this post into the rumor pit, but during Friday's Moonface show at New York's Envelope (review can be read here), Spencer Krug apparently stated that there will be a "full-fledged US tour this summer, along with an LP in August."
White Denim recently spent some time at Austin’s 5th Street Studio to record a fresh new jam. Straight off English rock band Hard Stuff's debut album Bulletproof, WD offer this funktified revamp of “Jay Time” over at their Facebook page. Enjoy.
White Denim's new album D is out May 24 on Downtown.
The last time I had seen Fleet Foxes live was back in 2008 when they made their first ever appearance as a headliner at the Moore Theater. At the time, I remember the band was seemingly surprised yet humbled to have filled all the seats in the house. It was almost like they still hadn't bought into their fame, yet. The band even joked about this issue, saying that they'll probably have to play the Moore lobby next year. They couldn't have been more wrong.
After a near-two year hiatus, the Fleet Foxes have emerged from their den with an amazing follow-up to their '08 self-titled LP. According to P4K, their new album Helplessness Blues is rated at a very impressive 8.8 (vs. Fleet Foxes' 9.0). I only mention this because it becomes relevant later in this review. To celebrate the May 3 release of their sophomore record, Fleet Foxes treated Seattle with their very own home show/record release party at the Moore Theater. Unfortunately to some, the concert sold out in mere minutes, which prompted the band to host a second show on the preceding night.
Luckily, I was able to snag tickets for last night's show, and experienced one of the best concerts I've witnessed in my time here in Seattle. Best show? Well for that, you have to have the right ingredients, and for starters, you'd have to make sure the opener is equally loved and adored by Seattleites. The solution? Put The Cave Singers on the bill as stage support. As expected, the night got kicked off right with a 45-minute set from The Cave Singers. They played a lot off their new LP No Witch, and of course the classics like "At the Cut," "Shrine," "Leap," and "Dancing On Our Graves." The Cave Singers sounded as good as ever, and were able to get the home crowd fired up for the main event.
After a quick set change, Fleet Foxes entered the stage with a surprisingly new-found swagger. Something seemed different - maybe it was confidence - but I couldn't help by notice how reinvigorated they appeared. After introductions and quick romp through "The Cascades" and "Grown Oceans," we learned that May 3 not only marked the release of Helplessness Blues, but it also happened to be drummer Josh Tillman's and guitarist Skye Skjelset's birthdays. Last night's rowdy crowd promptly sang "Happy Birthday" upon learning this fun fact. Later in the night, a more formal celebration was performed when cupcakes & candles were brought on stage for the two bandmates, and again, "Happy Birthday" was sung by the 1500 fans in attendance.
As stated, the crowd was really into the show, and the band's in-between-song banter was quality comedy. A memorable moment came when some ass from the crowd yelled "Hey! Pitchfork called and said they want to suck your dick!" Tillman quickly quipped, "They can do that over the phone?" and lead singer Robin Pecknold added his two cents by stating "no, they actually dinged us 0.2 points... it's more like a hand job." The crowd began to snicker, but bassist Christian Wargo was sharp to remind Pecknold of their mothers' presence in the audience, which caused only an eruption of more laughter.
Fleet Foxes sounded simply amazing throughout the night, somehow being more impressive live than on record. Harmonies were in perfect pitch, and the addition of "flutist/bassist/violinist" Morgan Henderson (of Blood Brothers and Past Lives) added all the needed subtleties for the multi-textured FF sound. The band blasted through all the best tracks as if creating their very own live "greatest hits" compilation. Fleet Foxes nearly hit the 2-hour mark and ended the night with an encore performance of their new album's title track. A full set list is posted below, but highlights included older tracks like "Mykonos," "Ragged Wood," "White Winter Hymnal," and my favorite, "Blue Ridge Mountains," as well as the new tunes "Grown Ocean," Montezuma," "The Shrine / An Argument," and "Helplessness Blues."
It was hands-down one of the best shows I've ever seen in Seattle - truly majestic.
Set list: Fleet Foxes @ Moore Theater (5-3-2011) 01 :: The Cascades 02 :: Grown Ocean 03 :: Drops In The River 04 :: Battery Kinzie 05 :: Bedouin Dress 06 :: Sim Sala Bim 07 :: Mykonos 08 :: Your Protector 09 :: Tiger Mountain Peasant Song 10 :: White Winter Hymnal 11 :: Ragged Wood 12 :: Lorelai 13 :: Silver Dagger (Joan Baez cover) 14 :: Montezuma 15 :: He Doesn't Know Why 16 :: The Shrine /An Argument 17 :: Blue Spotted Tail 18 :: Blue Ridge Mountains Encore 19 :: Helplessness Blues
Just a reminder, the Fleet Foxes are kicking off their record release of Helplessness Blues this Tuesday with a pair of home shows at the Moore Theater. With local stage support from The Cave Singers, these shows are sure to be nights to remember.
Unfortunately for people just hearing about this, tickets are sold out (they actually sold out within minutes of going on sale). The first show is tonight (May 2), and the record-release party is tomorrow night (May 3). The two bands will then embark on a cross-country tour (dates posted below). Be there! Also, check out the fan-made music video above of the title-track.
Approximate set times
Doors open at 6:30 pm
Cave Singers: 7:30 pm
Fleet Foxes: 8:45 pm
Fleet Foxes tour dates: 05.02 - Moore Theatre - Seattle, WA * 05.03 - Moore Theatre - Seattle, WA * 05.05 - Fox Theater - Oakland, CA * 05.06 - Spreckels Theatre - San Diego, CA * 05.07 - Hollywood Palladium - Hollywood, CA * 05.08 - Rialto Theatre - Tucson, AZ * 05.10 - Stubb's Waller Creek - Austin, TX * 05.11 - Palladium Ballroom - Dallas, TX * 05.13 - Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN * 05.14 - The Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA * 05.15 - DAR Constitution Hall - Washington, DC * 05.17 - Orpheum Theatre - Boston, MA * 05.18 - The United Palace Theatre - New York, NY * 05.19 - The United Palace Theatre - New York, NY * 05.21 - Tower Theatre - Upper Darby, PA * 05.25 - Astra - Berlin, Germany 05.26 - Dachau Summer of Music - Munich, Germany 05.28 - Primavera Sound - Barcelona, Spain 05.30 - Bataclan - Paris, France 05.31 - Hammersmith Apollo - London, UK 06.01 - Hammersmith Apollo - London, UK 06.02 - Hammersmith Apollo - London, UK 06.23 - Civic Hall - Wolverhampton, UK 06.25 - Custom House Square - Belfast, Ireland 06.26 - Live at the Marquee - Cork, Ireland 06.28 - Manchester Apollo - Manchester, UK 06.29 - Corn Exchange - Edinburgh, UK 07.01 - Eden Sessions - St. Austell, UK 07.03 - Rock Werchter - Werchter, Belgium 07.06 - Malta Festival - Poznan, Poland 07.08 - Alive Festival - Lisbon, Portugal 07.10 - Ruisrock - Turku, Finland 08.11 - Oya Festival - Oslo, Norway 08.12 - Way Out West - Gothenburg, Sweden 08.13 - Haldern Pop Festival - Rees-Haldern, Germany 08.20 - Green Man Festival - Brecon Beacons, UK
"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
