[review] Operators @ the Vogue (8-9-2014)

Operators debut new jams in Indy 

This weekend, I ventured down to Nap Town to see Dan Boeckner’s new rock outfit, Operators, which opened for Future Islands at the Vogue on Saturday night. My road trip playlist consisted of Operator’s fresh EP1, Spoon’s new LP They Want My Soul, and Future Islands’ Singles (it was a rad mix!).

With Divine Fits on hiatus and Britt Daniel / Alex Fischel busy promoting Spoon’s new LP , Boeckner and Sam Brown are taking no breaks. Their new band consists of Boeckner on vocals/synth/guitar, Brown on drums, and Devojka (Macedonian singer/songwriter) on drum machine/synth/blips & boops. Since Operators had only released their 5-song EP a mere four days before the show, I was unsure what to anticipate. Based on their release, I was expecting a synth-driven, post-wave set, but what I heard was slightly different.

Operators kicked off their set with "Ancient", and immediately incited a dance party. Just listening to that track, how can you not want to groove? Songs that I recognized from their EP also included "Start Again", and "True" (which according to Devojka, is "written about sex so good, you think you’re in love"). Devojka's necklace broke during the performance of "True", and afterward she added, "and like good sex, sometimes your jewelry breaks..." The other songs of the night mostly featured Boeckner on guitar, and were definitely leaning more toward the Fugazi/punk influences that he hinted at in earlier interviews. I was slightly disappointed that "Book Of Love" made no appearance, but perhaps this song isn't ready for live shows yet.

While it was clear that the majority of attendees were there for Future Islands, it seemed that Operators wowed some Hoosiers into instant fandom. The energy during the set was at approaching level 11, and the trio authentically appeared to be having fun. Operators also seem to be tinkering with their sound (it’s only their 2nd show on this tour!). Taking a page from Fits band-mate Britt Daniel’s stage dress code, Boeckner donned a suit jacket for most of the show. However, toward the end, his trademark cut-off t-shirt made an appearance. Their quick 40 minute set left me hungering for more, and I’m already eagerly wishing for EP2 (if it exists).

The last song of the night reminded me of punk Springsteen (if such a thing doesn't exist, it does now). It was incredibly catchy, and a perfect send-off. Future Islands were expectedly fantastic, and the pairing of these two bands is an unbelievable gift from the rock gods. Please find a way to see this show if it happens to swing by a city near you.

Buy :: Operators - EP1

Pics :: Kristen Jackley @ NUVO

Operators Tour Dates
8/8 - Millvale, PA @ Mr. Small's Theatre w/ Future Islands * 
8/9 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue w/ Future Islands
8/10 - Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall w/ Future Islands
8/11 - Sioux Falls, SD @ Latitude 44 w/ Future Islands
8/12 - Fort Collins, CO @ Aggie Theatre w/ Future Islands
8/13 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
8/15 - Boise, ID @ Egyptian Theatre w/ Future Islands
8/16 - Portland, OR @ Doug FIr Lounge w/ Future Islands * 
8/18 - Sacramento, CA @ Harlow's w/ Future Islands * 
8/19 - Fresno, CA @ Star Palace w/ Future Islands
8/20 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre w/ Future Islands
8/21 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre w/ Future Islands * 
8/22 - San Diego, CA @ The Irenic w/ Future Islands * 
8/24 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom
8/25 - Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole w/ Future Islands
8/27 - Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre w/ Future Islands *  
8/28 - Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room w/ Future Islands
8/29 - Des Moines, IA @ Wooly's w/ Future Islands
8/30 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas
8/31 - Columbus, OH @ The Big Bang w/ Future Islands
9/2 - Montreal, QC @ La Tulipe w/ Future Islands * 
9/3 - Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground Ballroom w/ Future Islands
9/4 - Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall w/ Future Islands
9/7 - Toronto, ON @ Horshoe Tavern
9/10 - New York, NY @ Central Park Summerstage w/ Spoon
9/11 - Munhall, PA @ Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead w/ Spoon
9/13 - Hamilton, ON @ Supercrawl / FREE EVENT
10/23 - Halifax, NS @ Halifax Pop Explosion

* = SOLD OUT 

[review] Future Islands @ Pyramid Scheme (3-25-2014)

Future Islands in Grand Rapids

Last night, Future Islands treated Grand Rapids with a stellar live performance. This was the band’s second visit to the Pyramid Scheme (the first time in ’11 during Art Prize), only this show was in front of a sold out Tuesday night crowd. Michiganders welcomed the musical act with open arms, and the sentiment seemed to be deeply felt by the band. Last night also marked the release date of their newest LP, Singles, which created a celebratory atmosphere on stage.

Those in attendance – either long-time fans of the band or those just discovering them after their breakout appearance on Letterman – came away with an experience never to be forgotten. Future Islands showcased most of their new material, and peppered the set list with some of their classics. Kicking the night off with “Back in the Tall Grass”, attendees soon realized they were in for a night of entertainment. Lead singer Samual T. Herring sings with such conviction and emotion on stage, and tells honest tales of heartache and love. Each song was introduced with quick dialogue, setting the stage for what was to come. It's this simple act that connects the crowd with the passion behind Herring's croons. During the 16-song set, he channeled all the emotion on stage, and he served as a perfect foil to the rest of his bandmates. Stoically providing the rhythm and groove to the dance-worthy tunes were bassist William Cashion, keyboardist Gerrit Welmers, and drummer Michael Lowry.

This dramatic difference in stage presence between Herring and the rest of the band made it impossible to draw your attention away from his theatrics. Personifying heartache and love through Elvis-inspired hip gyrations and fist bumps to his very soul, listeners were directly connected to his beautifully-crafted stories. Herring stretched the very limits of his vocal cords on stage, which added emphasis at the perfect moments in songs. At times, Herring projected the voice of a death metal singer, and these guttural growls are part of what creates the uniqueness of Future Islands’ sound.

The songs from Singles received as many cheers from the audience as did the classics from On the Water and In the Evening. After some early encouragement from Herring, the Pyramid Scheme erupted into an all-out dance party. The band concluded the first set with a raucous version of "Long Flight", and later returned for a 3-song encore. The last song of the night was a torn-down version of "Little Dreamer" from Wave Like Home. Herring requested that the house lights be turned on so he could see the crowd more clearly. It was a perfect nightcap to an amazing show, and it sent everyone into the night with a new appreciation for the wonderful work that Future Islands has been crafting over the years.

This band is about to blow up, and this tour is going to continue building that wave of chatter. If these dudes are coming to a town near you, do yourself a favor and go to that show. You will not be disappointed.

:: Photos :: from the night by Anthony Norkus (here).

:: Buy :: Future Islands - Singles (vinyl) (CD) (cassette!)

Setlist: Future Islands @ Pyramid Scheme (3-25-2014)
Back in the Tall Grass
Sun in the Morning
Balance
Before the Bridge
A Dream of You and Me
Tin Man
Doves
A Song For Our Grandfathers
Seasons (Waiting On You)
Inch of Dust
Spirit
Walking Through That Door
Long Flight
Encore
Fall From Grace
Vireo's Eye
Little Dreamer

Three Colours' Year End List (2012)

Not another Year End List

2012 is officially in the books, and Three Colours has compiled its very favorites of the year. In our opinion, here's the best music of 2012. You may be surprised to see a year-end list released this late into the year, but after all the life-changing events that have occurred over the year, I'm just happy to finally get this out there. 2012 was a crazy great year!

Top 13 LPs of 2012

13 :: Twin Shadow – Confess

It only took me 5 seconds to fall in love with Twin Shadow's newest LP. Confess is chalk-full of retro-stylized rock and R&B that somehow maintains a contemporary groove.

12 :: Grimes – Visions

Claire Boucher offers up a beautifully crafted album of otherworldly electro-pop, shape-shifting throughout the entire record. Visions may be the most unique album of '12.

11 :: The xx – Coexist

Picking up where they left off, The xx deliver yet another amazing collection of intimate, smooth jams. Lacking the catchy hooks found on their debut LP, Coexist is slightly less memorable.

10 :: Vacationer – Gone LP

After wowing listeners with the "Gone" Single and the Gone EP, Vacationer added some more hits on this long player. No travel guide necessary for where this album takes you.

09 :: Lord Huron – Lonesome Dreams

Lonesome Dreams plays out like an epic western adventure. One of my most anticipated albums of 2012, the debut lives up to hype generated by the Mighty and Into The Sun EPs.

07 :: Sharon Van Etten – Tramp

Emotion-fueled folksy ballads with lush arrangements make Tramp a powerful listen. This LP is the sequel to Fiest's The Reminder that I've been longing.

06 :: Tanlines – Mixed Emotions

Electro-pop at its finest. Tanlines harness their uncanny ability to write catchy tunes that never wear out after repeated spins. 

05 :: Django Django – Django Django

This self-titled masterpiece is probably one of the most fun albums on this list. Very interestingly new sound, which lots of jingle jangle grooves.

05 :: Tame Impala – Lonerism

Tame Impala's sophomore LP is part throwback to '60s psych rock, part something entirely new... all amazing.

04 :: alt J – An Awesome Wave

A serious amount of hype followed this UK band, and after one listen to this genre-jumping debut, you'll soon understand why. Alt J's unique mix of indie rock sensibilities makes them a breath of fresh air in a musical landscape of imitators.

03 :: Kishi Bashi – 151a

Kishi Bashi creates fantastical dreamscapes and magical fairy tales throughout the amazingly wonderful 151a. Regardless of your mood, this LP is guaranteed to lift the spirits of any listener.

02 :: St. Lucia – St. Lucia

While this technically is an EP, this self-titled 6-song record plays like a full-length and lands into the number 2 spot on this year's best of list. Maybe it's the South African accent or the tropical-infused instrumentation, but this album plays out like an exotic island vacation.

01 :: Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits

Faithful readers of Three Colours should find no surprise in 2012's best LP. When I witnessed Britt Daniel cover Wolf Parade's "Modern World" back in 2010, I told myself it couldn't possibly get any better than this. Fast forward to '12, while lamenting over the dissolution of Handsome Furs, I was soon rejuvenated by news of Divine Fits. Worlds collided, and the results were A Thing Called Divine Fits. Excitement alive, as this LP marks the beginning of a beautiful marriage of sound and style that hopefully produces future works of art.

Honorable Mentions

:: Poliça – Give You The Ghost
:: Grizzly Bear – Shields
:: Beach House – Bloom
:: Moonface – With Siinai: Heartbreaking Bravery
:: The Drums – Portamento

Top 13 Hump Day Power Plays of 2012

Since HDPPs technically started in December of 2011, I've decided to include some of the playlists that originally inspired me to embark on a year of weekly playlists, released every Wednesday, to aid in pushing through the Hump. Notably, a "Year-End" HDPP was compiled in an earlier post to capture the essence of 2012. Below you'll find some of the playlists that seemed to get the most play throughout the year.

13 :: Afternoon Dream Mix (4-18-2012)
12 :: Winter Blues Mix (1-25-2012)
11 :: Spencer Krug Mix (1-11-2012)
10 :: Winter is Coming Mix (11-14-2012)
09 :: Ghost Mix (10-31-2012)
08 :: Premiere Mix (12-7-2011)
07 :: New Wave/Surfer Rock Mix (12-14-2011)
06 :: Dan Boeckner Mix Vol 2 (9-26-2012)
05 :: Day 340 Mix (12-5-2012)
04 :: Hula Dream Mix (4-4-2012)
03 :: Stargazer Mix (6-6-2012)
02 :: Phantasmagoric Mix (7-25-2012)
01 :: Mighty Sea Mix (7-18-2012)

Most Underappreciated of 2011

In recent years, there's always been a few albums that I managed to miss. Whether I was purposely ignored the buzz surrounding these albums, or I just plainly failed to approach the record, they were later "discovered" and enjoyed. Strangely, there weren't any surprises this year that I mistakenly snubbed from last year’s “Best Albums of 2011” list. I will list three albums that I recognized as honorable mentions, but now enjoy probably more than I did after last year's Year-End List. Therefore, I acknowledge that the following were both great LPs and worthy of making the top of ’11.

03 :: Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation
02 :: PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
01 :: Toro Y Moi - Underneath the Pine

[new music] Brazos - Saltwater

New music from Brazos!

Very exciting news to share. After releasing the amazing debut Phosphorescent Blues in 2009, Brazos has just announced the news on their upcoming follow-up. Set to drop on May 28 (via Dead Oceans), Saltwater will feature the new single "How The Ranks Was Won" (see video below).

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (2-20-2013)

Back From the Dead Mix

For those of you that are still with me, I salute you and your enduring patience. It's been a long while since I've put together an HDPP, but hopefully this one will fill the gap. There are some exciting albums on the way, and notably, there's some debut LPs dropping that you should check out - Atoms For Peace's Amok on February 25 (via XL) and Cayucas' Bigfoot on April 30 (via Secretly Canadian). Also, feast your ears on the Local Natives newest album Hummingbird (via frenchkiss) if you haven't already.

Stream the playlist below (or by clicking here).

:: Hump Day Power Play (2-20-2013) ::
01 ::"Breakers" – Local Natives
02 ::"Cayucos" – Cayucas
03 ::"Speaking In Rounds" – Grizzly Bear
04 ::"Judge Jury And Executioner" – Atoms For Peace
05 ::"Swin and Sleep" – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
06 ::"Revival" – Deerhunter
07 ::"High School Lover" – Cayucas
08 ::"Windshield Smasher" – Black Moth Super Rainbow
09 ::"Fingers Never Bleed" – Yeasayer
10 ::"Take It Easy" – Surfer Blood
11 ::"Exactly Nothing" – Real Estate
12 ::"The Base" – Paul Banks

:: Get Spotify ::

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (1-2-2013)

Year-End Mix, 2012 Edition

Well that was fun! Over one full year of Hump Day Power Plays, and we've compiled 53 mixes to date! Since 2012 is officially in the books, I figured I've give a sample of my year-end list for best albums of 2012. I picked a song from some my favorite albums of 2013. I'm still working on the actual list, so pay no mind to the order in which these songs appear. Just sit back, listen, and enjoy the sounds of '12.

Stream the playlist below (or by clicking here).

:: Hump Day Power Play (1-2-2013) ::
01 ::"Fitzpleasure" – alt-J
02 ::"Flaggin a Ride" – Divine Fits
03 ::"Money" – The Drums
04 ::"Five Seconds" – Twin Shadow
05 ::"Why Won't They Talk To Me?" – Tame Impala
06 ::"Temporary" – White Rabbits
07 ::"Alphabet Song" – Lower Dens
08 ::"Not The Same" – Tanlines
09 ::"Oblivion" – Grimes
10 ::"Myth" – Beach House
11 ::"Dark Star" – Poliça
12 ::"Serpents" – Sharon Van Etten
13 ::"It All Began With A Burst" – Kishi Bashi
14 ::"We Got It Wrong" – St. Lucia
15 ::"The Man Who Lives Forever" – Lord Huron
16 ::"Chained" – The xx
17 ::"Yet Again" – Grizzly Bear
18 ::"Everyone Knows" – Vacationer
19 ::"I'm Not The Phoenix Yet" – Moonface
20 ::"No Future/No Past" – Cloud Nothings

:: Get Spotify ::

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (12-19-2012)

Kubinski Mix

A great HDPP, inspired by a great man. Happy belated return to the States, bud!

Stream the playlist below (or by clicking here).

:: Hump Day Power Play (12-19-2012) ::
01 ::"Frontier Psychiatrist" – The Avalanches
02 ::"Exotic Talk" – RJD2
03 ::"We Could Forever" – Bonobo
04 ::"Animal (Mark Ronson Remix)" – Miike Snow
05 ::"Canto De Ossanha" – Jurassic 5
06 ::"And I Was A Boy From School" – Hot Chip
07 ::"Digital Love" – Daft Punk
08 ::"Grape Juice City" – Ratatat
09 ::"D.A.N.C.E." – Justice
10 ::"Vanished" – Crystal Castles
11 ::"Get Innocuous!" – LCD Soundsystem

:: Get Spotify ::

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (12-12-2012)

Now That's What I Call 2009!

I had so much fun making the 2008 HDPP, I figured it was only fitting to follow up with my favorite hits from 2009. There were so many great albums to choose from, but as I discovered during this exercise, it is very hard to put together a cohesive mix as it seems my favs were quite an eclectic collection of styles. Since today is 12-12-2012, I really tried hard to reduce this list down to 12 songs... but 15 is as close as I could get (you can see what I left off the playlist here). While listening, I hope this mix evokes as much nostalgia for you as it does for me.

Stream the playlist below (or by clicking here).

:: Hump Day Power Play (12-12-2012) ::
01 ::"Ephemeral Artery – Neon Indian
02 ::"1901" – Phoenix
03 ::"The Lady Vanishes" – White Rabbits
04 ::"Stroke Their Brains" – Spoon
05 ::"Apollo and the Buffalo and Anna Anna Anna Oh!" – Sunset Rubdown
06 ::"Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh" – Say Hi
07 ::"Two Weeks" – Grizzly Bear
08 ::"Officer Of Hearts" – Handsome Furs
09 ::"The Akara" – Beirut
10 ::"Skyscraper" – Julian Plenti
11 ::"Day By Day" – Taken By Trees
12 ::"Basic Space" – The xx
13 ::"Seven" – Fever Ray
14 ::"Beijing" – Patrick Watson
15 ::"Day Glo" – Brazos

:: Get Spotify ::

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (12-5-2012)

Day 340 Mix

December 5 marks the 340th day of the year (including Leap Day), and it happens to fall on a Wednesday. You know that means? Not really anything, but nevertheless, here's this week's HDPP for your listening pleasure.

Stream the playlist below (or by clicking here).

:: Hump Day Power Play (12-5-2012) ::
01 ::"Fitzpleasure" – alt-J
02 ::"True Romance" – Citizens!
03 ::"Chained" – The xx
04 ::"Girl" – Oposssom
05 ::"Heavy On Me" – Zeus
06 ::"It's Too Late" – Wild Belle
07 ::"Waiting For" – Poor Moon
08 ::"Hand Of Man" – Django Django
09 ::"All Your Gold" – Bat For Lashes
10 ::"Default" – Atoms For Peace
11 ::"Total Life Forever" – Foals
12 ::"Why You Wanna" – Poolside
13 ::"Blue Meanies" – Oposssom
14 ::"Tides" – The xx

:: Get Spotify ::

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (11-28-2012)

Lullaby Mix

Something huge has happened in my personal life, and while I don't talk much about that here on Three Colours, I think a quick listen to this week's HDPP should give it away. If you thought 3C has been lacking posts in recent times, don't expect that to improve any time soon. I'll still try to publish my weekly playlist on time, but any more than that would be a bonus for now.

Stream the playlist below (or by clicking here).

:: Hump Day Power Play (11-28-2012) ::
01 :: "Sweet Child O' Mine" – Guns N Roses
02 :: "About a Girl" – Nirvana
03 :: "Daughter" – Pearl Jam
04 :: "The Good Life" – Weezer
05 :: "Enjoy the Silence" – The Cure
06 :: "There, There" – Radiohead
07 :: "Don't Panic" – Coldplay
08 :: "Come as You Are" – Nirvana
09 :: "Speak To Me (Breathe)" – Pink Floyd
10 :: "Paranoid" – Black Sabbath
11 :: "Here Comes Your Man" – The Pixies
12 :: "Tonight, Tonight" – Smashing Pumpkins
13 :: "Soul to Squeeze" – Red Hot Chili Peppers
14 :: "This Lullaby" – Queens of the Stone Age

And for those who would prefer the non-lullaby mix, you can listen to that here as well. Enjoy!

:: Get Spotify ::

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (11-21-2012)

The Strokes Mix

I've been revisiting a lot of old Strokes songs, and it reflects on this week's HDPP. These guys can write such a catchy song... I'd forgotten how easily you can listen through their entire catalog.

Stream the playlist below (or by clicking here).

:: Hump Day Power Play (11-21-2012) ::
01 :: "You Only Live Once" - The Strokes
02 :: "What Ever Happened? " - The Strokes
03 :: "Last Nite" - The Strokes
04 :: "Taken For A Fool" - The Strokes
05 :: "New York City Cops" - The Strokes
06 :: "Juicebox" - The Strokes
07 :: "When It Started" - The Strokes
08 :: "Reptilia" - The Strokes
09 :: "Gratisfaction" - The Strokes
10 :: "Take It Or Leave It" - The Strokes
11 :: "Heart In A Cage" - The Strokes
12 :: "Games" - The Strokes
13 :: "Barely Legal" - The Strokes
14 :: "I Can't Win" - The Strokes

:: Get Spotify ::

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (11-14-2012)

Winter is Coming Mix

For this week's HDPP, I tried compiling a list of foreboding songs that had a crisp, brisk feeling. Hopefully, it'll remind you that winter is only a few weeks away.

Stream the playlist below (or by clicking here).

:: Hump Day Power Play (11-14-2012) ::
01 :: "The Glorious Land" - PJ Harvey
02 :: "Keep Me In Mind" - Little Joy
03 :: "Roscoe" - Midlake
04 :: "White Tooth Man" - Iron And Wine
05 :: "Round And Round" - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
06 :: "Walking" - The Dodos
07 :: "Fernando Pando" - The Virgins
08 :: "You Can Have It All" - Yo La Tengo
09 :: "Guest Room" - The National
10 :: "Cold War" - The Morning Benders
11 :: "Before Destruction" - Spoon
12 :: "Summer Holiday" - Wild Nothing
13 :: "Baby" - Devendra Banhart

:: Get Spotify ::

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (11-7-2012)

Now That's What I Call 2008!

2008 was a fantastic year in music. So fantastic, in fact, that it inspired me to start blogging about the great acts and albums of that time. After years of anonymous music writing on Wikipedia (fighting with editors on which bands were truly "notable" and Wiki-eligible), I decided to take my own shot at promoting my favorite acts, and thus Three Colours was born. Feeling a hint of nostalgia this week, I put together an HDPP with some of my favorite songs from '08. Hard to believe that was nearly 5 years ago!

Stream the playlist below (or by clicking here).

:: Hump Day Power Play (11-7-2012) ::
01 :: "Gamma Ray" - Beck
02 :: "Mexican Dogs" - Cold War Kids
03 :: "Balloons" - Foals
04 :: "A-Punk" - Vampire Weekend
05 :: "No One Does It Like You" - Department Of Eagles
06 :: "Bang Your Drum" - Wolf Parade
07 :: "Shake Shake Shake" - White Denim
08 :: "Mercy" - Plants and Animals
09 :: "Psychotic Girl" - The Black Keys
10 :: "Kim & Jessie" - M83
11 :: "Can You Tell" - Ra Ra Riot
12 :: "For Emma" - Bon Iver
13 :: "Ragged Wood" - Fleet Foxes
14 :: "Boats" - The Aliens
15 :: "Wedding Bell" - Beach House

:: Get Spotify ::

[video] Foals - "Inhaler"

Foals try out arena rock

You can now pre-order your copy of the Foals' 3rd LP, Holy Fire, which is set to release on February 11. You can also check out the new music video for their first single, "Inhaler". Additionally, if you pre-order Holy Fire from iTunes, you'll receive a digital copy of "Inhaler" today! Based on the new track, it seems the band may be headed toward new waters. 

Pre-order :: Foals - Holy Fire

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (10-31-2012)

Ghost Mix

This week's HDPP happens to fall on Halloween, so I thought if fitting to follow a ghostly theme. Of course, my all-time favorite Halloween-themed song is "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?" by The North American Halloween Prevention Initiative (video below), but that's unfortunately not available on Spotify. 

Enjoy the playlist, and Happy Halloween!

Stream the playlist below (or by clicking here).

:: Hump Day Power Play (10-31-2012) ::
01 :: "Walking With A Ghost" – Tegan And Sara
02 :: "The Ghost Inside" – Broken Bells
03 :: "Ghost Pressure" – Wolf Parade
04 :: "The Ghost of You Lingers" – Spoon
05 :: "Anyone’s Ghost" – The National
06 :: "The Ghost On The Shore" – Lord Huron
07 :: "Little Ghost" – The White Stripes
08 :: "Tuff Ghost" – The Unicorns
09 :: "Is There A Ghost" – Band of Horses
10 :: "Banana Ghost" – Man Man
11 :: "I Saw a Ghost" – Black Lips
12 :: "Give Up The Ghost" – Radiohead
13 :: "Ghost To Me" – Youth Lagoon

:: Get Spotify ::

[review] Divine Fits @ Deluxe (10-26-2012)

Divine Fits in Indy

Ever since uprooting from Seattle and relocating to SW Michigan, seeing good live shows has become a bit of a challenge. Not that Chicago or Indianapolis are extremely far away, but it requires a bit more planning when "must see" shows swing through the area. But when I learned that Divine Fits would be playing the Deluxe in Indy on a Friday night, purchasing tickets was a no-brainer.

It had been nearly 8 years since seeing a show in the Circle City. I was happy to experience one of Indy's newer venues: the Deluxe is a nice, intimate stage room which resides inside the Old National Centre (formerly the Murat Theatre). There was a decently-sized crowd in attendance, even with Sleigh Bells playing the Vogue on the same night. Cold Cave kicked off the night with a really great show. Their dark, new-wave sound paired well with the main act's synth-driven catalog.

Readers of this blog will know that my favorite bands tend to revolve around Brit Daniel (Spoon) and Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade, Handsome Furs). When Spoon covered "Modern World" during their set at The Moore in 2010, I remember saying "It can't get any better than this!" Friday night's show, however, would make me eat those words.

Seeing both Daniel and Boeckner walk out on stage together nearly invoked Worlds Collide Theory. It was so weird... but the feeling was short-lived once the band launched into a very powerful "Neopolitans". The first thing that popped into my mind was that these dudes are professionals. Having only finished recording their debut album a mere 3 months earlier, you would have sworn these guys had been practicing these songs for years. In fact, this was only the band's 23rd live performance! Another surprise was how great drummer Sam Brown's performance was all night. This dude was mesmerizing to watch, and his metronomic mechanics were both meticulous and masterful. Keyboardist Alex Fischel (dubbed by Daniel as "this generation’s Ansel Adams") rounded out the lineup.

Divine Fits played an extremely tight set (setlist posted below), covering nearly every song off their debut album A Thing Called Divine Fits. A few surprise covers were thrown in there, too. Tom Petty's "You Got Lucky", Rolling Stones' "Sway", and the Wipers' "Doom Town" all took on new life as the band added their own elements. Highlights of the night (apart from Tron in attendance) included the Daniel-Boecker duets during "Baby Get Worse" and "The Salton Sea", as well as the one-two encore punch of "Flaggin A Ride" and "For Your Heart".

All in all, this was a damn good show and totally worth the drive. The band has a handful of shows left on the US-leg of their tour before conquering Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia at the beginning of 2013. Be sure to catch them if you can!

Setlist: Divine Fits @ Deluxe (10-26-2012)
Neopolitans
Baby Get Worse
What Gets You Alone
The Salton Sea
Civilian Stripes
My Love Is Real
Doom Town (Wipers)
You Got Lucky (Tom Petty)
Like Ice Cream
What That Not Be Nice
Sway (Rolling Stones)
Shivers (Rowland S. Howard)
Encore:
Flaggin A Ride
For Your Heart

[new music] Chaos Chaos - S

New music from Asy and Chloe Saavedra

The first year I was out in Seattle, I vividly remember attending an Eels show at the Showbox. This was back in the summer of '06, but what really stood out though wasn't the weird performance by Mr. E and his kung fu dancing body guard (though that was quite weird). In fact, it was the opening band that really made the night memorable. That's because before any of the shows started, I felt like I was back in elementary school. I remember being completely surrounded by little kids and parent chaperones. At the time, I was quite confused, but when the opener Smoosh took the stage, which featured sisters Asy and Chloe (they were only 14 and 12 years old at the time, respectively), the tiny fans erupted in screams. This was probably the only concert that I've ever been to where I was "that tall person" where no one could see around.

So fast foward 6 years, and the Smoosh sisters have a new band called Chaos Chaos. Yesterday, they just released their debut EP entitled S, which you can get here. It's streaming on Spotify (and below), and it's definitely worth checking out. Pretty cool to hear how these two musicians have really grown, and it shows in their song structure and harmonies. Expect big things from these two indie pop prodigies!

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (10-17-2012)

Thom Yorke Mix

For most bands, following up a masterpiece album results in disappointment. Some bands may continue using the same winning formula, creating a similar sound that lacks its predecessor's soul. Others will hit writer's block, crack under time pressures, and release an album that leaves much to be desired.

For the great bands like Radiohead, they will continue to evolve and completely redefine their sound. After OK Computer, Thom Yorke and company embarked on a transformative journey that would change the indie music landscape. Still today, Radiohead continues to push their sound to new areas, leaving inspired young bands in their wake. This week's HDPP is a collection of my favorite Thome Yorke tracks that embody the truly uniqueness that I've grown to love (sadly for this playlist, In Rainbows is not available in Spotify).

Stream the playlist below (or by clicking here).

:: Hump Day Power Play (10-17-2012) ::
01 :: "Harrowdown Hill" – Thom Yorke
02 :: "Morning Mr Magpie" – Radiohead
03 :: "Morning Bell" – Radiohead
04 :: "Backdrifts" – Radiohead
05 :: "Idioteque" – Radiohead
06 :: "Electioneering" – Radiohead
07 :: "There, There" – Radiohead
08 :: "Black Swan" – Thom Yorke
09 :: "Packt Like Sardines In A Crushed Tin Box" – Radiohead
10 :: "Lotus Flower" – Radiohead
11 :: "Like Spinning Plates" – Radiohead
12 :: "Paranoid Android" – Radiohead
13 :: "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" – Radiohead
14 :: "Bodysnatchers" – Radiohead
15 :: "Myxomatosis" – Radiohead
16 :: "Karma Police" – Radiohead

:: Get Spotify ::

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (10-10-2012)

Buena Vista Mix

It was a struggle to get on top of the HDPP this week as I've been without internet for quite some time. Hopefully I haven't lost any listeners due to the delay. This week's list started from an oldie that I had forgotten about (Starlight Mints' "Buena Vista"), but upon hearing it last week, it sparked some really good memories. I just rode that wave to the 45 minute mark, and voila: this week's playlist!

Stream the playlist below (or by clicking here).

:: Hump Day Power Play (10-10-2012) ::
01 :: "Buena Vista" – Starlight Mints
02 :: "The Town Halo" – A.C. Newman
03 :: "Coquet Coquette" – Of Montreal
04 :: "It All Began With A Burst" – Kishi Bashi
05 :: "Sundialing" – Caribou
06 :: "The Salton Sea" – Divine Fits
07 :: "Genesis" – Grimes
08 :: "Be With You" – Vacationer
09 :: "Claudia Lewis" – M83
10 :: "Pulleys" – Animal Collective
11 :: "I Think About You All The Time" – Keepaway
12 :: "Drowatown" – Starlight Mints

:: Get Spotify ::

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (10-3-2012)

Black Keys Mix

Upon request, this week's HDPP is a collection of my favorite songs from The Black Keys. It was hard to do, as the band still refuses to upload their newest album onto Spotify. Luckily, however, there are some singles from El Camino that are at least accessible. Again, like many playlists, there are simply too many great songs from these dudes to fit on one mix. In my opinion, my collection of hits just fit together quite nicely. I hope you think so, too.

Stream the playlist below (or by clicking here).

:: Hump Day Power Play (10-3-2012) ::
01 :: "Set You Free" – The Black Keys
02 :: "Remember When" – The Black Keys
03 :: "Strange Desire" – The Black Keys
04 :: "Gold On The Ceiling" – The Black Keys
05 :: "Tighten Up" – The Black Keys
06 :: "Till I Get My Way" – The Black Keys
07 :: Lonely Boy" – The Black Keys
08 :: "Howlin' For You" – The Black Keys
09 :: "Nobody But You" – The Black Keys
10 :: "Yearnin'" – The Black Keys
11 :: "10 A.M. Automatic" – The Black Keys
12 :: "Your Touch" – The Black Keys
13 :: "Next Girl" – The Black Keys
14 :: "Strange Times" – The Black Keys
15 :: "All Hands Against His Own" – The Black Keys
16 :: "The Only One" – The Black Keys

:: Get Spotify ::