[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

[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

[news] Sasquatch! 2012 Line-up Announced

Holy crap! This line-up is good...

Sasquatch! 2012: May 25-28 at the Gorge in George, WA (Tickets)

- more info here.

Full Sasquatch line-up:

Jack White, Beck, Bon Iver, Pretty Lights, Tenacious D, The Shins, Beirut, Girl Talk, The Roots, The Head & The Heart, Portlandia, Feist, Silversun Pickups, Metric, Explosions In The Sky, The Joy Formidable, Mogwai, Nero (DJ), M. Ward, John Reilly & Friends, Childish Gambino, St. Vincent, The Civil Wars, Jamey Johnson, Little Dragon, tUnE-yArDs, Wild Flag, Blind Pilot, Wolfgang Gartner, Beats Antique, Apparat, The Walkmen, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Mark Lanegan Band, Spiritualized, Blitzen Trapper, The Cave Singers, Shabazz Palaces, Fun., Grouplove, Tycho, Sbtrkt, Strfkr, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Deer Tick, Imelda May, Alabama Shakes, Dum Dum Girls, The Helio Sequence, Kurt Vile, Cloud Cult, We Are Augustines, Ben Howard, Here We Go Magic, Zola Jesus, The War On Drugs, Shearwater, Cass McCombs, Active Child, Trampled By Turtles, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Araabmuzik, Star Slinger, L.A. Riots, Com Truise, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, I Break Horses, Walk The Moon, Dry The River, Allen Stone, Pickwick, Hey Marseilles, Gary Clark Jr., Purity Ring, Electric Guest, Yellow Ostrich, Nobody Beats The Drum, Coeur De Pirate, Lord Huron, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Beat Connection, The Sheepdogs, Hey Rosetta!, Said The Whale, Howlin Rain, Gardens & Villa, Felix Cartal, Craft Spells, Vintage Trouble, Poor Moon, Black Whales, Gold Leaves, Greylag, Awesome Tapes From Africa, and more to come...

[video] Wolf Parade - "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"

R.I.P. Wolf Parade

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.

Until the reunion tour...

[live] Wolf Parade @ Sasquatch! 2011

Wolf Parade make their Sasquatch! debut

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.

Stream :: Wolf Parade @ Sasquatch! '11 (via NPR)

Wolf Parade @ Sasquatch! (May 28, 2011) Set List:

Language City

What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had To Go This Way)

Ghost Pressure

You Are A Runner And I Am My Father's Son

Fancy Claps

Palm Road

I'll Believe In Anything

Shine A Light

California Dreamer

[reminder] Fleet Foxes @ The Moore (Tonight & Tomorrow)

Fleet Foxes w/ Cave Singers - May 2-3

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

* w/ The Cave Singers

[review] Lord Huron @ Tractor Tavern (4-10-2011)

Lord Huron Went Wild

One would think a rainy Sunday night in Seattle would bear a tepid crowd at the Tractor Tavern. Not the case. Those devoted fans who braved the weather were more than rewarded for their dedication. The Michigan natives (by-way-of Los Angeles) who play under the moniker Lord Huron performed to an eager crowd last night, and they did not disappoint.

Lord Huron began as a solo project for lead singer Ben Schneider, but to put this show on the road, he enlisted the help of a childhood buddy and three other Michiganders. The effect is quite nice - the live version of the band has a rougher, louder edge. Even by falling victim to the Tractor's poor sound quality, the beautiful soundscapes that appear on the Lord Huron's two EPs Into the Sun and Mighty were transformed into a frenetic romp through the band's small catalog. To date, Lord Huron have seven total songs to their name, yet fans heard every single one of them in all their gloriousness. A set list is posted below, and highlights included a beautiful performance of "The Stranger", as well as "We Went Wild", which closed the set with an energy-driven climax. All in all, these guys are making some exciting tunes, and may be coming to a city near you. Check out the dates below, and be sure to catch this act if you can.

Set List :: Lord Huron @ Tractor Tavern (4-10-2011)
Mighty
Into the Sun
The Problem With Your Daughter
Son of a Gun
The Stranger
When Will I See You Again
We Went Wild

Tour Dates :: Lord Huron
04/09 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir*
04/10 - Seattle, WA - The Tractor*
04/12 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill*
04/13 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill*
04/19 - Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room*
04/20 - Denver, CO - Hi-Dive*
04/21 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown*
04/22 - St. Louis, MO - Firebird*
04/23 - Indianapolis, IN - Radio Radio*
04/24 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom*
04/26 - Washington, DC - DC9
04/28 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
04/30 - Philadelphia, PA - North Star Bar
05/02 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick Lounge
05/03 - Chicago, IL - Schuba's Tavern
05/07 - Norman, OK - Opolis Coffee
05/08 - Austin, TX - Emo's
05/10 - Tucson, AZ - Solar Culture
05/11 - La Jolla, CA - The Loft at UCSD
05/14 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour

* w/ Rural Alberta Advantage

[reminder] Lord Huron @ The Tractor (4-10-2011)

The Return of Lord Huron

Just a friendly reminder - Lord Huron will be playing at the Tractor Tavern this Sunday (April 10) in support of The Rural Alberta Advantage and Land of Pines. Tickets are still available (here) or at your local Sonic boom for a mere $10. Doors open at 8pm. Don't miss Lord Huron. And if you don't know who these bad asses are, watch their video of "The Stranger" above. It's awesome. Also, they earned Three Colours' Best EP honors of 2010, if that means anything to you.

Who? Lord Huron (w/ The Rural Alberta Advantage & Land of Pines)
Where? The Tractor Tavern
When? April 10, 2011 (Doors at 8pm)
How? $10 (here)

[news] Sasquatch 2011 Lineup Announced

Holy crap, that's a lot of good bands!

So the lineup of bands for this year's Sasquatch! Festival has been announced, and the list looks overwhelmingly good. To mark the 10th anniversary of the outdoor festival held at the Gorge Amphitheater in gorgeous George, WA, an additional day of music has been added to make this a 4-day event.

Sasquatch! 2011 will take place on Memorial Day Weekend, beginning Friday night (May 27) and concluding on Monday (May 30). Tickets are on sale now: four day passes are available for $285, which includes camping (Premium camping and VIP parking will be available as an upgrade, $160 for premium camping, $80 for VIP parking). Single day tickets will be available Saturday, February 12th, 2011 for $79.50 per day.

With the addition of the fourth day comes a heftier collection of musical enjoyment. To view the confirmed bands, read on below.

Of note, Sasquatch! 2011 will be Wolf Parade's only show of the year since the band is on "hiatus." Also, The Flaming Lips will be playing their 1999 record The Soft Bulletin in its entirety.

Sasquatch! 2011 Lineup:
!!!
Against Me!
Alberta Cross
Aloe Blacc
The Antlers
Archers of Loaf
Axis of Awesome
Basia Bulat
Bassnectar
Beach House
Best Coast
Black Mountain
Bonobo (DJ Set)
Bright Eyes
The Bronx
CSS
Chromeo
City and Colour
Cold War Kids
Cotton Jones
Dan Mangan
Das Racist
Death Cab For Cutie
The Decemberists
Deerhunter
The Drums
Fitz & The Tantrums
The Flaming Lips
Flogging Molly
Flying Lotus
Foo Fighters
Foster the People
Gayngs
The Globes
Gold Panda
Guided By Voices
Iron & Wine
Jaill
Jenny & Johnny
K-Os
Local Natives
Major Lazer
Matt & Kim
Modest Mouse
MSTRKRFT
Noah & The Whale
Old 97's
Other Lives
Pepper Rabbit
Pink Martini
The Radio Dept.
Ratatat
Rebecca Gates and The Consortium
Reggie Watts
Rival Schools
Robyn
Rodrigo Y Gabriela
S. Carey
Sam Roberts Band
Secret Sisters
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
Sharon Van Etten
Skrillex
Sleigh Bells
Smith Westerns
Stornoway
Surfer Blood
Talkdemonic
The Thermals
Tig Notaro
Tim Minchin
Tokyo Police Club
Trailer Park Boys
Twin Shadow
Villagers
Washed Out
White Arrows
White Denim
Wilco
Wolf Parade
Wye Oak
Yeasayer
The Young Evils
Young the Giant
(and more to be announced as Memorial Day Weekend approaches)

[video] White Denim - Live at Emo's (12-31-2010)

White Denim on New Years Eve

What I find most refreshing about White Denim is their willingness to take risks. So many bands today reproduce their album sound in concert to the point where there's very little difference. Sure it's also about the live experience, and the stage presence adds to the whole aura of the show. But it's very rare these days to see a band constantly tinkering with their sound and song-structure through live improvisation. White Denim is one of those exceptions, and I think fans have become open to the idea of the experience, too, which is why it works so well. Suffice to say, you never get the same show twice, and everyone goes home very happy.

A prime example of this experience was documented by Austin Music Weekly when WD headlined a New Years Eve party at Emo's last month. Definitely check this out - there are new jams showcased in the mix! And since White Denim doesn’t perform songs so much as medleys, in an effort to preserve the live integrity of one of Austin’s most thrilling shows, AMW condensed the audio to reflect that distinction.

[tour dates] Plants and Animals w/ Frightened Rabbit

Plants and Animals Return to Seattle!

After touring across the Atlantic, Plants and Animals return to the US for another leg of the La La Land tour. Fantastic paired with Scotland's Frightened Rabbit, the tour kicks off here in Seattle this Thursday (Oct 7) at the Showbox Market (tickets here). Don't miss this show, and be sure to catch these dudes in a city near your. A full list of tour dates are posted below.

Plants and Animals tour dates:

Oct 7
Oct 8
Oct 9
Oct 10
Oct 13
Oct 14
Oct 15
Oct 16
Oct 17
Oct 19
Oct 20
Oct 21
Oct 22
Oct 23
Oct 26
Oct 28
Oct 29
Oct 30
Nov 1
Nov 2
Nov 3

Seattle, WA
Vancouver, BC
Portland, OR
San Francisco, CA
Los Angeles, CA
San Diego, CA
Anaheim, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Tempe, AZ
Dallas, TX
Austin, TX
Houston, TX
New Orleans, LA
Gainesville, FL
Athens, GA
Philadelphia, PA
Boston, MA
New York, NY
Washington, DC
Pittsburgh, PA
Detroit, MI

The Showbox~
The Vogue Theatre~
Wonder Ballroom~
The Fillmore~
Mayan Theater~
House of Blues~
House of Blues~
The Beauty Bar~
The Clubhouse~
The Loft~
Stubb's BBQ~
Walter's on Washington~
Tipitina's~
Common Grounds~
40 Watt Club~
Starlight Ballroom~
Paradise~
Terminal 5~
9:30 Club~
Diesel Club~
Magic Stick~

~ w/ Frightened Rabbit

[review] Local Natives @ Showbox (9-24-2010)

Local Natives play to their home away from home

When guitarist/vocalist Taylor Rice professed his love for Seattle as the band's favorite concert destination, the eruption of cheers from a very energetic crowd made it seem like The Local Natives were playing to their home crowd. And to then tell us Paseo was their favorite tour food in the entire country, I was almost convinced that these dudes were truly locals...

Last night, the Showbox hosted a sold out performance from a trio of harmonizing indie folksters. The evening began with a fantastic performance from The Union Line. If you haven't heard these guys, check out their MySpace page and their Daytrotter session. I picked up a copy of their Cernido Sonidos EP at the show, and it's been on constant rotation all morning. Following up with another quality caliber set was NC's The Love Language. It really got the sold out crowd excited for the Local Natives.

But the main event proved better than any reviewer can try to put to words. The Local Natives kicked off their set with a very powerful rendition of "Camera Talks" and immediately captured the crowds' energy. Based on the viewer reaction, it's amazing that the band only has one album to their name. However, when you don't have a weak song on your debut, it's not a problem to play your entire album for a show. And that is exactly what the Local Natives did, shuffling the order of Gorilla Manor's track listing.

And whether they're playing instrument roulette or switching between the band's dual lead singing capabilities (either Taylor Rice or Kelcey Ayer), to see these dudes live is a real treat. The three-part harmonies made possible from guitarist Ryan Hahn only add to the amazing live experience. And the rthym Highlights of the night included the performances of "World News," "Wide Eyes," "Shape Shifter," and "Airplanes." After a quick encore, the band returned with "Cubism Dream" and a very wild, crowd participating "Sun Hands." Overall, I was very impressed and pleased with the show, and highly recommend catching these guys live in a city near you. A set list is posted below.

Set list - Local Natives (9-24-2010):
Camera Talks
World News
Warning Sign
Cards & Quarters
Sticky Thread
Wide Eyes
Shape Shifter
Stranger Things
Airplanes
Who Knows Who Cares
Encore
Cubism Dream
Sun Hands

[reminder] Local Natives @ The Showbox (9-24-2010)

Friday Night!

Autumn has officially commenced, so go and celebrate the coming of rain by staying indoors! There's two great shows going on in Seattle tomorrow night: The Blakes @ Sunset Tavern ($10) and Local Natives @ The Showbox Market ($16). Sadly, you can't go to both, but at least you've got options. I'll be at the Showbox, rocking out to such songs like the one above and below. Details for both shows:

Friday - September 24, 2010

Local Natives @ The Showbox Market
Doors @ 8:00pm
w/ The Love Language and The Union Line
Tickets: $16 (here)

The Blakes @ Sunset Tavern
Doors @ 8:30pm
w/ Mal De Mer and Kids and Animals
Tickets: $10 (here)

[video] Arcade Fire on The Daily Show

Arcade Fire perform "Ready To Start" and "Month of May"

Last night on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Arcade Fire showcased two new songs off The Suburbs, which also happens to be the number one record in the country. The first song is my personal favorite of the LP, "Ready To Start," and the show was ended with "Month of May," which I think sounds much better heard here live. It's also fun to see just how short Stewart is compared to lead singer Win Butler (aka the kid in high school who protected Stewart from bullies). Check it out.

Also, new North American tour dates were just released, including a Key Arena performance scheduled for September 29! Tickets will go on sale soon.

[video] Crime Bustin' Local Natives - "Airplanes"

Local Natives and Yours Truly Fight Crime While Rocking Out

The Local Natives performed a few songs live for Yours Truly, but before the band could break into the lovely chorus of "Airplanes," the song was interrupted by a near-by mugging. In the first minute of the video above, you can see the mugger run by with a lady's purse in hand. What the criminal didn't count on was the quick legs of a fellow Yours Truly dude, who apprehended the assailant and reclaimed the lady's stolen purse. It's probably the best possible feel-good introduction to "Airplane," which is played after the break. Check it out above.

Also, don't forget to catch the Local Natives' amazing live act at the Showbox Market when the boys swing through in September.

Who :: The Local Natives
When :: September 24, 2010
Where :: Showbox Market, Seattle, WA
How :: $16 (Tickets)

[review] Toadies @ Showbox (7-28-2010)

Seattle Loves the Toadies

Seattle has time and again shown their appreciation towards Fort Worth's very own Toadies. It's this affection, expressed in fist pumps and hollers, that creates the perfect environment for an all-around good show.

Wednesday night's concert was no exception. From the moment the Toadies took the stage at the Showbox, an eruption of elation occurred. You have to understand, for hardcore Toadies fans, the idea of a Feeler tour equates to the same emotions brought on by Brian Wilson's SMiLE, or GNR's Chinese Democracy. And feeding off the crowd's energy, the band immediately broke into the classics to get the night moving in a good direction. The Toadies kicked the set off with "Backslider," and lead singer Todd Lewis's voice never sounded so good. But that's what you come to expect at a Toadies show - don't let drummer Mark Reznicek's hair color fool you - these guys sound as young as they did back in '94.

Since the band was promoting their new album Feeler, we got to hear a fair number of hits off the LP, including "Dead Boy," "City of Hate," "Suck Magic," "ATF Theme," "Waterfall," and "Mine." To give a quick back-story behind this ill-fated album, the band originally recorded Feeler in '97 as a follow-up to Rubberneck, but Interscope deemed the record ill-fit for release. The Toadies lost the rights to the songs and had to re-record the entire album, and after 13 years it finally gets its proper release. You could almost see the triumph in lead guitarist Clark Vogeler's eyes as if to say, "yeah, we knew these songs would be liked."

Highlights from the night included the Rubberneck gems "Away," "Possum Kingdom," and "Tyler," and surprise favorites like "Push the Hand" and "Heel" sounded incredible. I was happy to hear some of the stronger songs from No Deliverance ("Nothing to Cry About" and the title track), and I thought all the Feeler jams were excellent. Really my only complaint of the night came during the encore when they covered the Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down." It's not to say I didn't like the song, but I felt like they didn't need to throw it in there. If you buy Feeler through iTunes, you get this track as a bonus tune, so I understand why they played it. But I digress...

All in all, this one amazing show from a band that I'm so happy decided to make music again. At the end of the night, Vogeler thanked Seattle for being "the best fucking rock city in the country," and I think he was actually sincere about that comment. Mosh pits were erupting on the main floor, and the crowd was jumping up and down so much the band kept commenting on how the stage was literally shaking. A full set list is posted below, and as you can see, it's loaded with non-stop hits, and it ended with a crowd-favorite, "I Come From the Water."

Toadies set list (7-28-2010):
Backslider
Little Sin
Dead Boy
Away
Nothing to Cry About
Push the Hand
Doll Skin
City of Hate
Happy Face
Suck Magic
ATF Theme
Heel
Waterfall
Mister Love
Pressed Against the Sky
Possum Kingdom
Song I Hate
Mine
Tyler
Encore
Don't Let Me Down (Beatles cover)
I Burn
No Deliverance
Pink
I Come From the Water

[concert] Gorillaz @ Key Arena! (11-2-2010)

Escape to Plastic Beach World Tour 2010

Just announced via P4K, it looks like the Gorillaz will finally be taking their show through Seattle. And what venue could possibly accommodate such a large, orchestrated production? Looks like only Key Arena can contain such an extravagant show. Other dates are posted below, but make sure you mark November 2 and 3 on your calendar if you happen to live in the Northwest. Gorillaz hit Seattle on November 2, and Vancouver, BC on November 3. Tickets go on sale to the general public on August 20, but if you're a member of the Gorillaz fan club (sign up here), you'll get early access to some good seats.

Gorillaz tour dates:
10-03 // Montreal, Quebec // Bell Centre
10-05 // Wallingford, CT // Oakdale Theatre
10-06 // Boston, MA // Agganis Arena
10-08 // New York, NY // Madison Square Garden
10-10 // Camden, NJ // Susquehanna Bank Center
10-11 // Fairfax, VA // Patriot Center
10-13 // Detroit, MI // Fox Theatre
10-14 // Toronto, Ontario // Air Canada Centre
10-16 // Chicago, IL // UIC Pavilion
10-17 // Minneapolis, MN // Target Center
10-19 // Houston, TX // Toyota Center
10-20 // Dallas, TX // Verizon Theatre
10-22 // Austin, TX // Frank Erwin Center
10-24 // Denver, CO // Wells Fargo Theatre
10-26 // Phoenix, AZ // Dodge Theatre
10-27 // Los Angeles, CA // Gibson Amphitheatre
10-30 // Oakland, CA // Oracle Arena
11-02 // Seattle, WA // Key Arena
11-03 // Vancouver, BC // Rogers Arena
11-11 // Dublin, Ireland // O2 Arena
11-12 // Manchester, England // Evening News Arena
11-14 // London, England // O2 Arena
11-15 // Amsterdam, Netherlands // Heineken Music Hall
11-17 // Birmingham, England // NIA
11-18 // Brighton, England // Centre
11-21 // Berlin, Germany // Velodrom
11-23 // Paris, France // Zenith
11-25 // Antwerp, Belgium // Lotto
12-06 // Perth, Australia // Burswood Dome
12-08 // Adelaide, Australia // Entertainment Centre
12-11 // Melbourne, Australia // Rod Laver
12-16 // Sydney, Australia // Entertainment Centre
12-19 // Brisbane, Australia // Entertainment Centre
12-21 // Auckland, New Zealand // Vector Arena

[concert] Toadies @ Showbox Market Tonight (7-28-2010)

Toadies Return to Seattle

After having finally completed the thought-to-be-lost Feeler album, the Toadies have put together a mini-US tour with a stop tonight in Seattle. Tickets are still available (here) at the Showbox, and if you want to prime yourself for some of the tunes you'll be hearing, Amazon is selling Feeler digitally right now (here).

If you'd like to sample a couple of the tracks off this new LP, head over to Spin and AOL to listen/download the tracks "City of Hate" and "Mine."

Don't miss this show, it's going to be a blast.

[concert] Wolf Parade @ Showbox Market Tonight (7-26-2010)

Wolf Parade tonight!

Just a reminder: tonight is the night for Wolf Parade's sold out concert at the Showbox Market. Doors open at 8pm, and stage support includes the Moools.

If you haven't listened to WP's new LP, go here and get yourself a copy.

Buy :: Wolf Parade - Expo 86

Oh, and here's the first single off Expo 86, which you'll definitely hear tonight if you go to the show:

Wolf Parade - "Ghost Pressure"


UPDATE :: The show is no longer listed as sold out. Tickets are still available.