Search Results - "Tilly "
Monday, April 2nd, 2007
I mentioned yesterday that due to visa problems, Aereogramme were no longer headlining the show at the El Mocambo on Friday – they won’t be getting into North America until the second week of April and will pick up the tour on April 13 in Seattle. But this isn’t to say that it’s not still worth your while to spend Good Friday at the venerable ElMo or to catch any of the Aereogramme-less first leg of the tour. The rest of the bill will still be playing and you’ll still be able to get a dose of epic-style Scottish rock thanks to The Twilight Sad.
Led by James Graham’s wonderfully thick brogue, their latest album Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters (out tomorrow) is like nine feature-length soundtracks of anthemic melancholy, bellowed from the rooftops. Taken all together they can sound rather alike from one to the next but it’s a bit like complaining that Die Hard 2 was a lot like Die Hard. Not incorrect, but also irrelevant. I would say that they sound like Arab Strap’s Aidan Moffatt fronting Mogwai, but they’ve already done that and it sounded nothing like this. But if they hadn’t then maybe it would.
I heard some impressive things about their numerous shows at SxSW last month so there’s no reason to think that they won’t be equally impressive here on Friday, more than making up for the absence of their countrymen. Volume-wise, at least. Bring earplugs.
MP3: The Twilight Sad – “That Summer, At Home I Had Become The Invisible Boy”
MP3: The Twilight Sad – “And She Would Darken The Memory”
Also on the bill are Hamilton’s own A Northern Chorus and the always reliable purveyors of dream-pop have actually managed to surprise me with their new album The Millions Too Many. The gauzy drift that heretofore defined the ANC sound has been brought into sharp focus, with a drier, vocals-up-front production and shorter, more concise song structures. It’s a welcome shift as on record, I’d always found them to be more dream-inducing than dream-invoking. This isn’t to say that they’ve given up their signature sound – keening vocals still dance upon swirling guitars and strings – it’s just that however good you thought they were half-asleep, they’re even better awake. You can stream the whole album right now at Sonic Unyon.
MP3: A Northern Chorus – “The Millions Too Many”
MySpace: A Northern Chorus
Spinner has a video interview with Land Of Talk. Nothing of consequence is revealed.
This week on Daytrotter – Tilly & The Wall in session and in conversation.
Aversion talks to Low about drums, guns.
Lou Barlow talks to NME about the working dynamic in the new old Dinosaur Jr: “J doesn’t say anything directly, he only speaks through his manager. It’s weird, but it’s part of the comedy.” The new album Beyond is out May 1 and they’re at the Phoenix on June 8.
Norway’s DATAROCK will be opening up for Brazil’s CSS on June 4 at a show that has apparently been moved from the Horseshoe to Lee’s Palace, at least according to their booking agency. Bonde Do Role was also supposed to be on that bill though the aforementioned booking agency says nothing about that – they do, however, say they’re playing at the Social in Toronto this Thursday night and are opening for Klaxons next Sunday at Lee’s…? Brazilians. Who knows.
Fujiya & Miyagi will follow up their opening gig for Peter Bjorn & John at the Phoenix on May 6 with a show of their own at the Horseshoe on July 11.
Watched Children Of Men on the weekend – holy hell what a good film. Bleak yet utterly engaging, and man – that one-take battle in the refugee camp. Wow.
Wednesday, March 14th, 2007
So today it begins. Four days of glorious weather (though not the case yesterday, as it was pouring rain all day), foodstuffs cooked over open fire pits and round the clock rock’n’roll. The trip in was mostly uneventful – I actually slept pretty much every minute that I wasn’t required to actually be boarding or disembarking a plane. The past week/month/whatever has picked a fine time to catch up with me but last night’s 10 hours of sleep should go a looooong way. Be surprised if I get that much over the next four nights (okay, probably an overstatement but not by too much). My hotel room is interesting – it’s designed for wheelchair access so there’s a handy ramp from the the parking lot to my door and the washroom can accommodate the turning radius of a Buick Roadmaster. And there’s an IHOP outside my window.
But now I’m wide awake, its morning and I have a working cellphone (yay!). A man, a plan, a canal. Putting together my tentative game plan was a lot easier this year than in the past thanks to my obligations to the various day shows I’m helping present. Can’t very well not show up to my own parties. Thankfully the lineups are by and large solid so I won’t feel the urge to slip out the back door and check out someone else’s show (not too much, anyway). But if you’re curious, looking to find me or just living vicariously through me (not nearly what it’s cracked up to be, trust me), here’s the what where and when of the next few days.
Today I’ll mainly be at the Mohawk for the Austinist/Gothamist/GvsB show, mainly to catch Headlights and Loney, Dear but happy to catch Nicole Atkins, The Hourly Radio and Sparrow House while I’m there. This presumes, of course, that I get my wristband situation sorted out in the early afternoon and am not running frantically around downtown Austin looking for scalpers.
In the evening, after filling up at the annual Horseshoe BBQ, it’s off to Emo’s for the big Beggars/4AD showcases. The UK’s iLikeTrains are pretty much the only thing on at 8 so they’ll get the nod there, and then it’s ex-Delgado Emma Pollock showcasing material from her debut solo record. It’ll be a coin toss between seeing Beirut outside or The Early Years inside but no question about hustling over to the Parish at 11:30 for San Fran’s Minipop. We’ll see how long I stay there because at midnight Courtney Tidwell is at the Ale House and then… well I’m not sure since Daylight’s For The Birds has canceled their show at the last minute. Boo! Not a lot of other options so if I don’t turn in early, I’ll probably stay at the Ale House to see France’s Cyann & Ben.
Thursday’s the day of the Spaceland/LiveDaily jag I’m co-presenting at Antone’s, so my stomping grounds will be limited to the west end of downtown for the most part. Hoping I’ll be there in time to catch at least some of Monsters Are Waiting’s noontime set but am not optimistic. But I’ll definitely be seeing Dirty On Purpose, Annuals and Blonde Redhead and I’ve heard good things about Datarock. That’ll most likely do it for the day, and then it’s foraging for grub before night falls.
But when it does fall, I will be safely ensconced in the Central Presbyterian Church at 7:30 to see Shearwater play. With luck I’ll be able to squeeze in some of The Besnard Lakes at the Mohawk before zipping to The Ale House for Joan As Police Woman at 9. I hear Cloud Cult is the act to see at 10 – they’re at Emo’s – and then at 11, David Vandervelde has the inside track on my attention though I could be easily distracted by a shiny object. Or maybe I’ll just get in line for Bloc Party’s midnight set at Stubb’s. Apparently that’s a 3000-capacity venue so I’m hopeful that I’ll get in eventually. My optimism is somewhat less so for Okkervil River’s 12:45AM show at the Mohawk – if my two-hour wait to see them last year is any indication I’m not getting in, so as a 1AM fallback I’ve got either The Rumble Strips at the Rio or The Hot Puppies at BD Riley’s.
Friday equals Hot Freaks day one, so that’s me at the DeVille/Mohawk complex bright and early. I expect to be running around from stage to stage all day, but will definitely be taking in Small Sins, The Black Lips, Apostle Of Hustle, Imperial Teen, Midnight Movies and again, Shearwater. There may also be some sneaking out to see The Pipettes and Elvis Perkins elsewhere, but not for certain.
I’m hoping to start off Friday night at Exodus where Nellie McKay is slated to perform at 7:45. She won’t come to Canada because some of us club baby seals, but she’s no problem performing in the BBQ capital of the world. Okay. 9:00 means Buffalo Tom at The Parish and I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to see them live, something I thought I’d never get to do. Then it’s Via Audio at Club DeVille at 10 and Bon Savants at Buffalo Billiards at midnight. In an ideal world, I’d catch some of Bedroom Walls’ 11:20 set but Club One 15 is a bit of a hike from the other venues and I don’t think it’s going to happen. Then I intend to finish off the night on Maggie Mae’s Rooftop with the UK’s Electric Soft Parade.
For Hot Freaks: The Morning After, we’ve got the wonderful Broken West making 11AM a good time for Mohawk rock and Toronto’s Hylozoists offering a vibraphonic counterpoint at Club DeVille. Other hot and freaky must-sees are The Early Years, Land Of Talk, Asobi Seksu, The Rosebuds, Margot & The Nuclear So & So’s and many, many more. And if you haven’t guessed who our super-secret headliner is, you probably haven’t tried very hard.
Saturday night doesn’t offer the dizzying array of choices the previous nights did, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to fill up the sched. Locked in at 8PM are Scots My Latest Novel at Buffalo Billiards, whom I skipped some four or five times this past weekend in Toronto at Canadian Music Week. Then it’s Austin’s Lovely Sparrows at the Mohawk – I hear they’re lovely – and then possibly Tilly & The Wall at Beauty Bar. Partly because there’s not much else going on at 10 and partly to already be inside at 11 to catch The Pipettes, assuming I haven’t seen one of their dozen or so other appearances this week. And then, finally and at last, I’ll zip across town to Antone’s to see The Tragically Hip try for the umpteenth time to impress America.
And that’s all she wrote. The preceding has been geographically optimized – some artists I would have otherwise have liked to see were omitted if they were playing a venue clear across town from where I was going to be. So assuming reasonable lineups – and I’m only hitting a handful of what you’d call “hot” shows – I think the above is doable. I hope. But if not, there’s contingencies in place. I think this is going to happen. I can feel it in my bones. Yessir. But hey – if there’s something you think I should see (and you don’t work for a label/PR company/whatever), lemme know. I’m open. Pitchfork has their picks for the week but they’re rather the usual suspects so not that useful to me.
Trying to keep up with all the press surrounding artists playing the fest will be an exercise in futility so I’m not even going to try. These, however, are some that I’ve already saved down so I may as well get them out there.
Paste names Cortney Tidwell their artist of the week, Salt Lake Weekly talks to Malajube, PopMatters has an interview with Loney, Dear, Harp talks to Elvis Perkins, Uberdrivel interviewed Emma Pollock and The Austin Chronicle and Austinist have a slew of capsule interviews with, like, everyone.
And this Rolling Stone piece wondering aloud if SxSW has sold out or not makes me laugh, though I can’t figure out if it’s because RS is pretty much the last entity that should be calling out ANYONE’S integrity or because the writer seems to have such a hate-on for KC & The Sunshine Band. This Harp piece tearing the once-mighty tabloid is also a fun read.
Okay, that’s it. Once more unto the breach. And by breach, I mean breakfast tacos.
Sunday, November 12th, 2006
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Camp Radio / Camp Radio (Kelp)
I think I said once the best way to get me to listen to something cold was to send me it on a lovely slab of vinyl – Ottawa’s Camp Radio got the message, loud and clear! I got their self-titled debut on a nice and thick 180g pressing, packaged in a gorgeous full-colour, matte-finish gatefold sleeve… whew. Easily some of the nicest packaging of anything I’ve gotten my hands on lately. But, of course, not even the prettiest dress can help the homely girls so it’s lucky that Camp Radio – a trio of veterans of the Ottawa indie scene – have filled the album with sharp, tight and hooky guitar pop that would still be every bit as melodic and terrific if you dressed it up in a paper bag and scotch-taped banana peels and peanut shells to it. Muchos recommended. And if you buy the vinyl (which you should) it comes with a CD version of the album as well. You can’t beat that with a stick.
MP3: Camp Radio – “Cons At The New Moon”
MP3: Camp Radio – “At The Landing Strip”
MySpace: Camp Radio |
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Tralala / Is That The Tralala (Audika)
I get the feeling that Brooklyn’s Tralala prefer to have their band name spelled with all caps. I refuse to indulge them this. On their second full-length, out Tuesday, the seven-piece girl-group/power-pop fusion experiment boasts four lead singers who opt to sing in unison, chorus-style, rather than swap moments in the spotlight (much of the time, anyway). This wall of voices, coupled with the simple and punkish musical accompaniment, makes for an exhilarating sugar-rush, if one that risks a serious come-down before the 39-minute running length of the album is over. Tailor-made for indie-night DJ mixes, Tralala are best prescribed in short doses but definitely good fun. And I would love to see them in a knife fight with Tilly & The Wall.
MP3: Tralala – “Take Me As I Am”
MP3: Tralala – “All Fired Up”
MySpace: Tralala |
Thursday, September 28th, 2006
As I mentioned earlier this month (before Pitchfork’s “exclusive”, you may note), Austin pop mavens Voxtrot will be releasing a new EP as a “don’t you forget about us” to fans while prepping their debut full-length for release next Spring. Your Biggest Fan will be out on CD and 7″ on November 7 via their new home at Playlouder and I have a sort-of exclusive of one of the b-sides from said release (there’s 3 songs in total). It’s a short but sweet (and cheap!) EP that doesn’t necessarily expand on the band’s sound too much but does reinforce their strengths in classic pop songcraft. A nice reminder of why I like these guys.
The UK just got their first taste of Voxtrot as their Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives EP was released over there last week and reviews are ContactMusic – not surprisng considering how anglo-indebted they are, stylistically. Also note that you can grab another MP3 for frees by signing up to their label’s newsletter.
MP3: Voxtrot – “Trouble”
MySpace: Voxtrot
Pitchfork interviews Camera Obscura’s Tracyanne Campbell about making ends meet and Lloyd Cole. If you’re ready to be heartbroken, he’ll be obliging November 5 at The Mod Club.
The Dish talks to Kianna from Tilly & The Wall.
Grok the new video from Howling Bells, via Torr. The Sydney Morning Herald talks to Juanita Stein about the transition from Waikiki to their current incarnation.
Video: Howling Bells – “Setting Sun” (YouTube)
I think people are as sick of me talking about Lollapalooza back in August as I am about saying “When I saw so-and-so at Lollapalooza“… but it’s worth noting that a goodly number of official (read: soundboard) recordings are now available on iTunes (via Lollapalooza.com). Some are complete sets, some just highlights but all are almost certainly of better sound quality than the audience boots circulating in torrent-land. Also note that if the Apple AAC thing isn’t your bag, they’ll also be selling the tracks on LiveLollapalooza.com shortly in other audio formats (MP3, FLAC). DRM-free? Lossless? Not sure yet.
Offbeat.com converses with Drive-By Trucker Patterson Hood. Hood and compatriots are at the Phoenix October 18.
The Chicago Tribune makes interview with Amy Millan.
New Pornographer Todd Fancey tells Pitchfork to expect their next album around June of next year, and yes – it will again be Bejar– and Case-powered. But in the meantime, they’re embarking on a cross-Canada tour next month including an October 11 date at the Kool Haus.
Billboard gets caught up in all the goings-on in the world of Stephin Merrit – namely a new Gothic Archies album on October 13 (Songs From A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Tragic Treasury
– Pitchfork has details and streams) and two new Magnetic Fields albums in 2007.
eCard: Songs From A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Tragic Treasury
The first single/EP from the forthcoming Dean Wareham & Britta Phillips album (still untitled but due out in January) will be out October 17. Check out the artwork and tracklisting for The Words You Used To Say at Head Full Of Wishes.
Whoo! Pagination! Down there. At the bottom of the page.
Well I’m excited about it.
np – Malajube / Trompe L’Oeil
Thursday, September 14th, 2006
As worn out as I’ve been of late, it didn’t take too much effort to find the energy to see Shearwater at Lee’s Palace Tuesday night. While it was going to be great to see them on the second night of a short jaunt with The Magnolia Electric Co, I was also a little frustrated that while this would be the third time I’d seen them this year (twice at SxSW), none of them were proper full-length sets. But hey, I’ll take what I can get.
Opening was Julie Doiron, once upon a time of Eric’s Trip. I’ve always thought of Doiron’s material as being the epitome of ultra-delicate singer-songwriter-ness, ideal for folks who find Cat Power way too metal. But to my surprise, she came out this night electric and amped up with a four-piece band (including two drummers and a tickle trunk of percussive toys – double drummers is the new black). Her vocals are still frail and wavery, occasionally evidencing only a passing acquaintance with the idea of being in key, but the more forceful musical accompaniment did much to balance out the fragility of her voice and songs, coming across like early Cat Power crossed with electric Neil Young. Unexpectedly good stuff.
I mentioned back in May that Shearwater’s new album Palo Santo was on a shortlist for one of my top records of the year. Well four months and many, many new releases later, I’m still standing by that statement. Interestingly, as I listen to it more, it almost seems to get less accessible and more mysterious but also more engrossing if that makes any sense. But while it’s not a pop record and maybe requires a bit of work on the part of the listener, I make no hesitation about recommending it to anyone and everyone. But anyway, to the show. Jonathan Meiburg had been fighting off a bit of illness that had been affecting his voice, but if you didn’t know I highly doubt you’d have noticed. His vocals still soared where they needed to and the band was electrifying, intense, delicate and affecting throughout.
The 40-minute set drew from many points in Shearwater’s catalog and sounded great – it’s amazing how just four players can create such a rich, textured and wholly organic sound – but I’d also have been happy to hear a Palo Santo-heavier set. Hell, I’d like to hear the whole thing played start to finish though I doubt that’s going to happen anytime soon. Like I said before, it’s frustrating to not be able to see Shearwater perform a full set short of flying down to Austin sometime (besides SxSW). If there’s any justice, they’ll be doing headlining tours of their own before long and while the band is unequivocally Meiburg’s vehicle now, there are some Will Sheff-penned tunes in their repetoire that I’d love to hear live. Oh, and if anyone in attendance was wondering, this is the shark that Meiburg dedicated a song to.
As for the headliners, I had to bow out – I’d already seen them twice before and I was beat. Considering Mr Molina and his company come through town about twice a year now, I’m sure I’ll get my chance to see them again before long.
The Daily Texan previews Meiburg’s other band – Okkervil River – in advance of their performance at the ACL Fest this weekend. Meiburg and co will be in Boston that night instead. But the whole band was assembled for a recent show being recorded for a live DVD – eyewitness accounts at Party Ends.
Photos: Shearwater, Julie Doiron @ Lee’s Palace – September 12, 2006
MP3: Julie Doiron – “Goodnight Nobody”
MP3: Shearwater – “Seventy-Four Seventy-Five”
MP3: Shearwater – “White Waves”
MySpace: Julie Doiron
MySpace: Shearwater
The Boston Globe recounts the true-life love story of Mates Of State. Watch them make lovey-eyes at each other from across the stage at Lee’s Palace on Saturday night.
R.E.M. tell Billboard that on their next album, they’re going to rock. For real. Honest. And to prove it, they a rock show at a tribute night to themselves in Athens. Way to make the other bands (including one fronted by Patterson Hood) feel inadequate.
In case you hadn’t heard, on October 1 there will be a free (free!) show at the Kool Haus to celebrate the UNESCO International Day of Music. Sponsored by CBC Radio 3 and Bande à Part (the Quebec equivalent), it will feature two anglo artists and two francophone – The Joel Plaskett Emergency and Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton while Quebec is represented by Les Trois Accords and Les Breastfeeders, whose name I suspect means the same thing in both languages. To reserve a ticket, go here and to read about the event go to Chart and to read an interview with Emily, go to Adam Radwanski’s site. The Toronto Star has a review of her recent solo show at the Gladstone – a hint of what you can expect at the upcoming show.
New City Chicago chats with John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats and the second part of his Amoeba Records instore/conversation with Carl Newman is now up on YouTube.
B(oot)log has a Tilly & The Wall radio session from June of this year available for download.
Pitchfork has the tracklist of Pavement’s Wowee Zowee: The Sordid Sentinels Edition, out November 7.
The Arizona Star and The Houston Chronicle talk to John Roderick of The Long Winters. They’re at Lee’s Palace on October 4.
And a couple upcoming shows – Clem Snide frontman Eef Barzalay and Casey Dienel will be at Rancho Relaxo on October 14, Sparta and Sound Team at the Opera House on OCtober 15 and Scritti Politti is at the Opera House November 6. Scritti Politti? The Opera House? Really? That’s… a big venue for a band without a website.
np – Portastatic / Be Still Please
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