Album review – Razika “Program 91” – September 29, 2011
September 29, 2011 Leave a comment
Fleet Foxes close impressive 2011 season at Mountain Park
September 26, 2011 1 Comment
If ever there was a group of musicians destined to play at the renovated Mountain Park in Holyoke, Mass. the northwest’s own Fleet Foxes would have to be near the top of the list.
Touring behind the release of their latest studio album “Helplessness Blues,” the Foxes led by lead vocalist and songwriter Robin Pecknold closed the 2011 summer season at the popular outdoor venue Sunday with an impressive nearly two hour set that featured plenty of new and classic material.
“I’m so glad to finally be playing in the birthplace of volleyball,” the normally reserved Pecknold joked partway through his group’s performance.
While one would be hard-pressed to imagine a less likely candidate for hitting the hardwood or beach than Pecknold, few songwriters of the current generation seem able to match the Seattle native when he’s at the top of his game.
Whether moving from the enchanting harmonies of “Mykonos” to the mature gallop of “Grown Ocean,” or from the deftly finger-picked “Sim Sala Bim” to the squealing saxophone of “The Shrine/ An Argument,” Pecknold as well as the rest of the band often attacked many of their songs with an aggression that is typically lacking from their recorded work.
Though the majority of cuts appeared to come from the new album, time was also made for fan favorites. “White Winter Hymnal” and “Ragged Wood” from the Foxes’ self-titled 2008 release were virtually merged into one song with no pause in momentum. And an audible gasp could actually be heard from the audience as the band tore through a powerful take on “Blue Ridge Mountains.”
Watch the Fleet Foxes perform the songs “White Winter Hymnal” and “Ragged Wood” live at Mountain Park in Holyoke, Mass. here:
Later on, while the rest of the group took a break before the encore, Peckold emerged from the wings solo to again thank the crowd for coming out to the show. And as a reward of sorts, those in attendance were treated to a new song penned “just a few weeks ago.” The haunting “I Let You” clearly showed that even when stripped of his fellow musicians Pecknold can ably command a room (or in this case the great outdoors) with just his voice and a handful of chords.
Still, at their core, the Foxes remain a combination of talents that when pooled together create a musical magic reminiscent of the best aspects of such ‘60s legends as Crosby, Still and Nash or the Beach Boys. And by the time the ensemble finished the night with their latest album’s title track, those in attendance likely couldn’t help but feel closer to a band and songwriter who at times seems only too willing to keep others at arm’s distance.
Sure he may still act like a “sad guy,” as one fan shouted to Pecknold during his solo time on stage. But by sharing his extraordinary gifts with others, one couldn’t think of a nicer friend to have around.
Indie rock openers the Walkmen delivered a short early set that, according to comments made by Foxes’ leader Pecknold later in the night, was apparently planned almost entirely from scratch before the group took the stage.
Fittingly, such a relaxed atmosphere allowed time for special birthday wishes to be paid to drummer Matt Barrick during the show, as well as for a sedate rendition of the traditional “The Auld Triangle” to be performed as the band’s finale. While not all of the band’s more atmospheric material translated perfectly to the gathered crowd, several upbeat numbers kept audience enthusiasm at a steady high until the Foxes took the stage.
For more information on Fleet Foxes or to see future tour dates please visit www.fleetfoxes.com. To find out more about the Walkmen please visit www.thewalkmenmusic.blogspot.com.
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Dark Dark Dark bring fall tour to the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton
September 24, 2011 Leave a comment
Dark Dark Dark (Photo credit: Tod Seelie)
Hitting the road one last time before disappearing into the studio for the winter, the musicians making up the sextet Dark Dark Dark are ready to bring their unique brand of chamber folk/ pop to their co-headlining stint at the Iron Horse Music Hall on Saturday.
Sharing the stage with fellow Eastern European folk fans A Hawk and a Hacksaw, the band led by frontwoman Nona Marie Ivie and fellow songwriter Marshall LaCount are still touring behind their 2010 release Wild Go, which was recorded at a series of locations in Minnesota including a renovated church and an old theater. However, while many bands might struggle to maintain consistency during trips from one studio to another, DDD were able to create a cohesive whole that, in the grandest of artistic traditions, also appears to equal more than the sum of its parts.
From the yearning first single “Daydreaming” all the way to the atmospheric album closer/ title track, Wild Go plays like an intimate experience. Ivie’s vocals continually hover over her soft piano lines, while the rest of the group weaves in and out with light percussion, guitar and accordion.
LaCount also gets in on the action, singing lead on “Heavy Heart” and “Right Path,” but his numbers inevitably feel less emotional than Ivie’s – still pleasant, but also departures from the rest of the work’s languid dream.
Watch the official video for Dark Dark Dark’s song “Daydreaming” here:
By playing as part of the Iron Horse’s “Breakout! Emerging Artist Series,” one would think that DDD is new to stardom but the group has already had their music heard by millions thanks to their songs’ prominent placement on such hit television shows as “American Idol,” “Greys Anatomy” and others.
Though you may not have heard of them yet, there’s no arguing that Dark Dark Dark’s future outlook already stands in stark contrast to their somewhat unwieldy moniker. Put on your sunglasses everyone. It’s going to be bright, bright, bright.
Dark Dark Dark with co-headliners A Hack and a Hacksaw and openers Pillars and Tongues, Sept. 24, $12-14, 10 p.m., Iron Horse Music Hall, 20 Center St., Northampton, (413) 586-8686, www.iheg.com.
For more information on Dark Dark Dark or to see future tour dates please visit www.brightbrightbright.com.
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Music news in brief: R.E.M. break-up, “Nevermind” lives again, and Pearl Jam looks back
September 22, 2011 Leave a comment
Nostalgia? Must be a catchy disease lately.
During the past week alone, a collection of musicians from years past have begun popping up in the news as various anniversaries and events have seemingly started to collide with one another in order to vie for fan’s attention.
So let’s recap shall we?
First off, after 31 years the band that defined ‘80s college rock and brought underground music to the masses years before Nirvana did has surprisingly announced its break-up.
According to a statement posted on their official website Wednesday the members of alternative rockers R.E.M. said, “We have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening.”
While many critics had lamented R.E.M.’s status in recent years as a group that had lost its way, the suddenness with which their end was announced still comes as quite a shock. After all their 15th and last record “Collapse Into Now” was just released in March, and rumors had been circulating that the boys from Athens, Ga. were already spotted back in the studio working on new material.
Sadly listeners will have to wait for a career-spanning retrospective before any of the new tracks are released. However, until then, solace can still be found in the band’s impressive back catalogue.
“As long as they kept running on, R.E.M. were an inspiration,” said music writer and author Rob Sheffield after hearing of the band’s demise.
Let us continue to cherish the memories.
Watch the video for R.E.M.’s song “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” here:
For more information on R.E.M. please visit www.remhq.com.
***
Speaking of other underground pioneers who paid a price for their trailblazing, the 20th anniversary celebration surrounding Nirvana’s seminal record “Nevermind” has been in full swing.
First came the hype surrounding the upcoming deluxe reissue of the iconic album itself, along with a bevy of other assorted Nirvana goodies including DVD’s, remastered recordings and vinyl editions.
Then, word was released that former band member Krist Novoselic would participate in a concert that not only honored the album, but also benefited Seattle music veteran and band friend Susie Tennant, who is currently battling ovarian cancer.
The concert, which took place on Tuesday at the Experience Music Project’s Skychurch in Seattle, Wash., appears to have been a success. Besides Novoselic, who performed with Northwest rockers the Presidents of the U.S.A., the bill included appearances by the Fastbacks, former Guns ‘n’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan, and the Foo Fighters’ own Dave Grohl (via video) amongst others.
Though audience reactions to the various bands’ interpretations of such classic songs as “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Lithium” and “On a Plain” were mixed, there was no denying why many in attendance were there in the first place.
“I want to remember somebody. I want to hear a cheer for Kurt Cobain,” Novoselic said shortly after taking the stage.
And after being met with a resounding cheer that echoed off the walls of the building, the former Nirvana bassist couldn’t help but smile.
“I could have said a lot of things about Kurt,” he said. “But I think you just said it all.”
Watch video of the whole “Nevermind” benefit concert here.
And for more information on Nirvana and “Nevermind’s”20th anniversary please visit www.nirvana.com.
***
Last but not least, also on Tuesday, fellow Seattle grunge icons Pearl Jam finally released their career-spanning documentary “Pearl Jam 20.”
Directed by Cameron Crowe, the movie – which “chronicles the years leading up to the band’s formation, the chaos that ensued soon-after their rise to megastardom, their step back from center stage, and the creation of the trusted circle that would surround them,” – will receive a limited one-week run in select theatres nationwide starting September 23.
A soundtrack album was also released to accompany the film and will feature rare and unreleased tracks from throughout the group’s existence.
Watch the trailer for “Pearl Jam 20” here:
For more information on Pearl Jam or to find out more about where the documentary “Pearl Jam 20” is playing near you please visit www.pearljam.com and www.pj20.com.
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Country singer Nikki Lane waves goodbye to the south on defiant Walk of Shame
September 20, 2011 Leave a comment
Release date: September 27, 2011
In recent years, the country music landscape has become harder to traverse than ever before.
Increasingly a series of artists, with roots seemingly honed by the history of pop songcraft as opposed to the sawdust and cowboy boots approach the genre was spawned from, have made impressive inroads into what was once the most traditional of fields (I’m looking at you Rascal Flatts!).
Even the charts themselves have been transformed with crossover hits an almost commonplace occurrence thanks to acts like Bon Jovi, Aaron Lewis and former Hootie and the Blowfish singer Darius Rucker, who have all taken their respective turns in the Nashville spotlight.
However, as is the case with most subjects that have begun to lean a little too close to the mainstream waters, there exists a chosen few who proudly wear the title of throwback performer around their shoulders with pride and defiance. Hello America. Meet Nikki Lane.
On her newest full-length release Walk of Shame, which was described in a recent Valley Advocate review as “more like a ‘walk of pride’ for the high school dropout turned country singer/songwriter,” Lane rekindles the vocal stylings of such perennial favorites as Loretta Lynn, Nancy Sinatra, and Bobbie Gentry with often pleasing results.
For instance, standout number “Gone, Gone, Gone” reads like a classic kiss-off story sung over slide guitar squeals and galloping drums, making it the perfect way to say goodbye to either small town doldrums or a deceitful lover (maybe both).
Watch the official video for Nikki Lane’s “Gone, Gone, Gone” here:
Elsewhere, the disc’s title track appears to have been written straight out of the stereotypical country handbook and features a singer who wakes up with a “bass drum thumping in their head” as well as a stranger for a bunkmate. Though such plots have been used hundreds of times before, Lane manages to put her own spin on the proceedings and does so with attitude to spare.
While those seeking something with more modern flavor may be taken aback by such a retro-sounding record, the odds are good that many listeners will be won over by Lane’s sheer perseverance and obvious talent.
Like she sings on the album closing “I Can’t Be Satisfied,” she “just can’t keep from trying.” But with a little luck all her years of hard work may just be on the verge of paying off.
For more information on Nikki Lane please visit www.missnikkilane.com.
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Angelo Spencer goes global on new release World Garage
September 14, 2011 Leave a comment
Angelo Spencer et les Hauts Sommets
Though summer is quickly coming to a close here in the northeast, the sophomore release by French-born musician Angelo Spencer is ready to play like a welcome soundtrack to the closing of the season.
Why? Well, part of this belief no doubt stems from the record’s prominent international flavor.
Consisting of tracks sung in English and French, World Garage resembles a travelogue more than an album. In fact, the idea of being on the road in a foreign land is not only suggested by the work, but also easily imagined as many tracks can be readily pictured as the background noise to youthful wanderings.
Having grown up in the French Alps many of Spencer’s songs sound like they are being sung from a mountaintop (les hauts sommets actually translates as “the high summits”). Only this particular peak is equipped with auto-tune and reverb-drenched guitars.
Elsewhere, heavy percussion and a collection of found sounds (alarms, noisy static, electronic squeals, etc.) create swirling mixes that enclose the listener such as on “Le Haut Sommet.” While such experimental collages are worthy of further examination, they also detract from the album’s simpler moments.
For instance, opening cut “Tanger, Tanger” is an upbeat enough rocker to give Vampire Weekend a run for their money. But too often other instrumental tunes lose themselves in underdevelopment. The addition of vocals, whether with auto-tune or no, could have pushed such moments over the top.
Watch video of Angelo Spencer Et Les Hauts Sommets performing the song “Tanger, Tanger” off of the album “World Garage” here:
Still, for those seeking an entertaining trip down the path less traveled there could be worse ways to greet the arrival of autumn. And at the very least Angelo Spencer and his band will make good company until Lou Reed and Metallica drop their collaboration “Lulu” on November 1st. Yes, you read that sentence correctly – Lou Reed and Metallica. More on that story soon.
But in the meantime…
For more information on Angelo Spencer or to see future tour dates please visit www.angelospencer.com.
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10 years gone: 9/11 remembered
September 8, 2011 Leave a comment
Throughout US history there has been a small collection of events that have shaped the course of not only individual lives, but also our national psyche as a whole.
The end of World War II, the Kennedy assassination, and the moon landing – these milestones and more all inspire the same question: where were you when…No matter the age and no matter the background we all remember.
Tragically, the date of September 11, 2001 will forever be etched in the pages of history. While there is much to respect about that day – the heroism of first responders, the kindness of strangers, and the emotional outpouring of grief from coast to coast – there remains a sadness and feeling of utter loss that permeates even the hardest of hearts. Even now, 10 years later, the memories sting and loved ones are missed just as much as they were when the towers first fell.
So as a small token of remembrance I share with you a song written to inspire a new set of ideals. The performance speaks for itself.
Watch video of Neil Young performing John Lennon’s classic song “Imagine” during the 2001 benefit concert “America: A Tribute to Heroes” here:
Even though hindsight has altered our view of the events that transpired after 9/11, let us remember the time of healing. Never before do I recall our country feeling so united. And though you may say I’m a dreamer, I believe we can be that way again.
Just imagine.
For more information on the anniversary of 9/11 and how people are remembering the day across our country please visit www.9-11healingandremembrance.org.
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Michael Cimaomo 