Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
For all the times I’ve seen Shearwater live – a half dozen times prior to Monday night – I’ve never seen them play what I’d call a full set. It’s always been shorter showcase slots at SxSW or opening slots for other bands here in Toronto. The critical praise laid at the feet of their last record Palo Santo didn’t prove to be enough for them to graduate to the headlining circuit, but it wasn’t until this year’s even more-lauded Rook that they would finally get to see their names on the top of the marquee… except here.
In deference to the hometown (or home-country, at least) advantage of their tourmates in Frog Eyes, Shearwater took the middle slot in Monday night’s bill at the Horseshoe. I got there a bit late, missing openers Evangelicals completely (but I’m okay with that, I saw them in March and that was plenty) as well as Shearwater’s opening number – an a capella cover of Nico’s “Nibelungen” – and arrived as they began “Red Sea, Black Sea”.
With the five-piece touring configuration of the band swapping instruments both conventional and esoteric, the early portion of Shearwater’s set was beautiful yet seemed strangely ghostly. I felt as though it was viewed/heard through a soft-focus lens (no my camera lens wasn’t dirty), an impression heightened by Jonathan Meiburg’s soaring vocals – I’ve heard it so many times but it always amazes. Not until “Century Eyes”, when Thor Harris settled in for some serious drum kit abuse, did their feet touch the ground and the sound began to hit with some serious weight and snapped into focus. That extra dimension really propelled the band through the finale of their set, culminating as always with a feedback-laden “White Waves”. But as they were readying to leave the stage, the smallish but vocal crowd persuaded them to stay for two more songs.
The encore in all but in name added two more Rook songs to the set including the almost never-played “Home Life” (Meiburg said it was the second time they’d ever played it), tilting the balance of the set to the new material and cementing the performance as a remarkable one. As much as I like Palo Santo, I had hoped that Rook would get more time in the spotlight – those who caught the “Rook live” shows in Austin and NYC have my envy. I was also a little sad though completely understanding that none of the pre-Palo Santo material was included and probably never will be again. That was practically a different band, but it’s still sad that some great songs have essentially been retired from the stage.
The contrasts between Shearwater and Frog Eyes are significant, and yet the two bands were more complimentary than I’d expected. Where Shearwater are airy, led by Meiburg’s angelic voice and have between song banter explaining how an exhibit in the American Museum of Natural History inspired a song, Frog Eyes are similarly earthy, defined by Carey Mercer’s manic on-stage persona and fill in the space between songs with lines like, “it’s hotter than two rats fucking in a wool sock”. I wouldn’t claim to be a Frog Eyes fan by any measure, but their last album Tears Of The Valedictorian has grown on me some and though it’s not the best setting for getting acquainted with their songs – they’re rather dense and tend to sound samey at first pass – I’ve enjoyed them the couple times I’ve seen them live. Mercer is quite entertaining to watch as he spends as much time singing/bellowing straight up into the air to no one in particular as he does into the mic.
I didn’t stay for all of Frog Eyes’ set – I’d gone mainly to see Shearwater and was quite satisfied with the night before they even started their set. What with being tapped to open up some dates for Coldplay later this Summer, it seems that Shearwater are finally getting the notice they deserve and I expect that next time through town, they’ll be firmly entrenched as the headliners no matter who else is on the bill or where they’re from.
The Arizona Daily Star talks to Carey Mercer and eye also has a review of the show.
Photos: Frog Eyes, Shearwater @ The Horseshoe – June 23, 2008
MP3: Frog Eyes – “Bushels”
MP3: Frog Eyes – “The Oscillator’s Hum”
MP3: Shearwater – “Rooks”
MP3: Shearwater – “Leviathan, Bound”
MySpace: Frog Eyes
MySpace: Shearwater
Will Sheff talks to The Calgary Herald in advance of Okkervil River’s appearance at Sled Island this week. They will release The Stand Ins on September 9 and play the Phoenix on October 12.
In advance of their show at Lee’s Palace tomorrow night opening up for The Black Angels, Warlocks will be doing an in-store set at Sonic Boom June 26 starting at 6PM.
The August 5 show featuring The Go! Team, CSS and Matt & Kim appears to have been moved from the Kool Haus to the Phoenix.
Sigur Ros’ new album Med sud I eyrum vid spilum endalaust is currently streaming at Spinner. If you, like me, missed out on last week’s presale for their September 22 show at Massey Hall – and may I just say that staggering the on-sale times throughout the whole day of the floors, balconies and gallery seats without any hint of when each was actually going on sale was kind of lame – take note. The “Friends Of Massey Hall” presale goes today at 10PM and the regular onsale via Ticketmaster goes Friday at 10AM.
Stream: Sigur Ros / Med sud I eyrum vid spilum endalaust
Billboard reports that The Verve have thought long and hard about what to name their comeback record, out August 19, and come up with… Forth. Man, bet Portishead are kicking themselves for not thinking of that one. The first single from the album is currently streaming on the band’s MySpace and it’s called “Love Is Noise”, aka the song with the annoying sample in the encore of their Spring tour. As a first taste of where their collective muse is these days, it’s not terribly impressive but at least I know the other new song they were playing live – “Sit And Wonder” – is considerably stronger.
Also of delight to old Anglophiles is the news that Oasis have also set a release date and title for their next album. Dig Out Your Soul will be out on October 7 and I imagine they’ll preview some material from it when the close out the second day of V Fest on September 7 – but hopefully not too much. Noel Gallagher delivers the first salvo of album hyperbole to Billboard.
Prefix and Exclaim! interview Jason Pierce of Spiritualized. Exclaim! have also assembled a timeline tracking the career of J Spaceman over the years. They’re playing day one of V Fest.
Prefix also has an interview with Adam Franklin of Swervedriver. If you were at their NxNE show, check out this photo shot from the stage and see if you can find yourself. I see me!
The Times examines the return of a kinder, gentler Primal Scream with their new album Beautiful Future, out July 22. You can download the first single from their website for free by signing up to their mailing list. The Sunday Mail also has a chat with Bobby Gillespie.
Billboard talks to Adele.
Stereogum has got the first MP3 from Neil Halstead’s forthcoming solo record Oh! Mighty Engine, due out July 29.
The AV Club dips into their record collection. Comes up with a Field Mice 7″. Reminisces.
The Guardian gets psyched for Glastonbury this weekend by compiling a downloadable mixtape of some of the performers. Via No Rock And Roll Fun.
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008
Photo via
MySpaceEef Barzelay used to be in a band called Clem Snide, but then decided to go solo and has just released a new record called Lose Big. Casey Deinel used to be a solo artist but decided to become a band called White Hinterland and has just released a record called Phylactery Factory. Perhaps they’re comparing notes as to who’s now better off as they tour together, including a stop at the El Mocambo this Friday night.
Courtesy of Against The Grain, I’ve got three pairs of passes to see Eef Barzelay and White Hinterland at the El Mocambo on Friday, June 27. If you want em, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Eef Barzelay and White Hinterland” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Get that in to me before midnight tomorrow night, June 25. Thanks for playing.
The Cleveland Free Times chats with Barzelay.
MP3: White Hinterland – “Dreaming Of the Plum Trees”
MySpace: White Hinterland
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008
Was out late last night, so all you get today is this. Sorry.
If you’re not Chris from Toronto or Valerie from Quebec City, then you probably didn’t win my giveaway of passes to Osheaga, but don’t worry – I’ve got another opportunity for you to catch some heat stroke this Summer at no cost to you.
This is the second year that the Rogers Picnic has set up shop at Historic Fort York, though despite the name I’m pretty sure you won’t be allowed to actually bring a picnic to the show. Last year’s edition notable for finally bringing together the respective fanbases of The New Pornographers and Bad Brains under one, er, figurative roof. This year’s lineup is slightly less eclectic but still a bit of a head-scratcher in a good way. Which means that it’s probably safe to say that no matter which band it is that sells you on attending, there’ll be another that will utterly confound (and possibly annoy) you by not only their inclusion, but their very existence. Which is really the fun part.
This year’s even is headlined by Alexisonfire frontman gone country City & Colour but also features Cat Power, Tokyo Police Club, Vampire Weekend, Chromeo, Animal Collective, Dizzee Rascal, Born Ruffians and The Carps. Whoever it is in that list that makes your skin crawl, think of it less as an irritant than an opportunity to grab a bear, hit a portapottie or otherwise take a nap, guilt-free.
Update: Also just announced is the lineup for the Nokia Tent (read: DJs) – Jeremy Greenspan of Junior Boys, Team Canada DJ’s, Let’s Go To War, VND/LSM and a special surprise guest DJ set.
Anyways, courtesy of REMG and Embrace Productions, I’ve got a pair of passes to give away to the festival. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to picnic with Roger” in the subject line and your full name and mailing address in the body. I’ll let this one run a week, closing at midnight July 1.
MP3: Cat Power – “Metal Heart”
MP3: Cat Power – “Song To Bobby”
MP3: Vampire Weekend – “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa”
MP3: Tokyo Police Club – “In A Cave”
MP3: Tokyo Police Club – “Juno”
MP3: Animal Collective – “Peacebone”
MP3: Dizzee Rascal – “Where Da G’s?”
Monday, June 23rd, 2008
It’s been a couple years since David Berman surprised pretty much everyone and turned his Silver Jews from a recording-only entity into a touring proposition, but that particular traveling roadshow has yet to cross the border and make it up to Toronto… until now. In support of their just-released new album Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea, Berman and band will be coming to town for a show at Lee’s Palace on September 2, tickets $15.
I’ve only heard a very little of the Silver Jews’ material, but what I have heard certainly sounds like it’s something that I should be hearing more of – methinks that doing so before tickets for this particular show cease being available would be a good idea. Anyone care to suggest a starting point, though the reviews would suggest that the new record is as good a place as any to start.
There’s interviews with Berman at PopMatters, The New York Sun and New York Magazine have interviews with Berman about the new record while The Village Voice chimes in with a profile, and Largehearted Boy talks to wife and bandmate Cassie Berman. There’s an MP3 available to download from the new album while fansite The Corduroy Suit has got a few older tracks on offer.
MP3: Silver Jews – “Strange Victory, Strange Defeat”
MP3: Silver Jews – “Room Games & Diamond Rain”
MP3: Silver Jews – “People”
MP3: Silver Jews – “Black And Brown Blues”
Video: Silver Jews – “Sleeping Is the Only Love”
Video: Silver Jews – “I’m Getting Back Into Getting Back Into You”
Video: Silver Jews – “Punks In The Beerlight”
Video: Silver Jews – “How Can I Love You If You Won’t Lie Down”
MySpace: Silver Jews
Seattle’s Mudhoney – still around and with a new album out in The Lucky Ones – will be at the Horseshoe on September 19. Tickets for that one will run you $25.50.
MP3: Mudhoney – “I’m Now”
Just under a month after Paul Weller (hopefully) plays some Jam songs at V Fest, his former bandmates Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler, currently AKA From The Jam, will be at the Opera House on October 1 to do the same.
The Northwest Herald and The Colorodoan talk to Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers.
The Edmonton Sun, Montreal Gazette and The Edmonton Journal profile Constantines, who are playing day one of V Fest on September 6 at the Toronto Islands.
emusic solicits thoughts from Liz Phair on her songs from Exile In Guyville, just in time for the deluxe reissue of said album tomorrow while Newsweek and Pitchfork.tv also offer up interviews. Pitchfork gives the reissue a glowing review, which sort of balances out the not-so-glowing one they gave her a few years back.
There’s another live version of a song from Supergrass’ new album Diamond Hoo Ha available for download.
MP3: Supergrass – “Diamond Hoo Ha Man” (live)
The Tripwire recounts some comments Kevin Shields made to the BBC before My Bloody Valentine’s “official” comeback shows at the Roundhouse in London this past weekend. The Guardian, Uncut and Pitchfork report on how one of those went. They’ll be coming to punch Toronto in the side of the head September 25 at the Ricoh Coliseum.
JAM reports on the Toronto connection in R.E.M.’s latest video for “Man-Sized Wreath” (which hasn’t yet been released). It was also a local production house – Crush – that was responsible for their last video for “Hollow Man”.
Video: R.E.M. – “Hollow Man”
NPR is streaming a World Cafe session with Duffy. She’ll be at the Phoenix on August 2.
Billboard reports that rather than jump to a major now that their deal with SubPop is done, The Shins intend on going even MORE indie and will release their fourth album themselves.
SF Weekly Q&As Death Cab For Cutie.
Spin goes backstage with Broken Social Scene at Bonnaroo.
Fleet Foxes queue’s up for a Black Cab Session, talks to The Times. They’re at the Phoenix on July 16.
AOL invites The Ting Tings over for a session.
Saturday, June 21st, 2008
Photo by
Fredrik Egerstrand
That Swedish-Argentinian troubadour Jose Gonzalez is not stopping in Toronto on his upcoming cross-Canada tour might seem odd at first, but considering he’s visited us twice in the past half year – last December and this past March – it’s reasonable to think that maybe he’s just a bit tired of us.
Instead, he’s bringing his 2007 release In Our Nature to other parts of our fine nation, mixing up appearances at festivals like Sled Island in Calgary and Bluesfest in Ottawa with his own shows in Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Quebec City and Halifax. And it’s to some of these shows that, courtesy of Ideal Friends, I have some passes to give away. Who says I don’t take care of the rest of the country?
I’ve got one pair of passes to dole out for each of the following shows:
- Thursday June 26th at St. Matthews Church in Halifax, NS
- Monday June 30th at the Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon, SK
- Tuesday July 1st at the Park Theatre in Winnipeg, MB
And to make sure the rest of you don’t feel neglected, six copies of In Our Nature on CD plus posters for additional winners – Canadians only, please. To enter, send me an email at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Jose Gonzalez in <INSERT NAME OF CITY>” in the subject and your full name in the body if you want to go to the shows or “I want the Jose Gonzalez CD” in the subject and your mailing address in the body if you’re seeking the album. Contest closing dates are rolling – for the Halifax show, have your entry in to me by midnight, June 24. For Saskatoon, June 26 and for Winnipeg, June 29. For the CDs, contest closes at midnight, June 30. Complicated enough? Good.
Gonzalez recently got up on a rooftop to play a song for Pitchfork.tv while The Hartford Courant and Norwich Evening News have interviews.
MP3: Jose Gonzalez – “Teardrop” (live)
Video: Jose Gonzalez – “Teardrop”
Video: Jose Gonzalez – “Down The Line”
Video: Jose Gonzalez – “Killing For Love”
MySpace: Jose Gonzalez
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