Thursday, February 9th, 2006
I was fortunate to get a couple free passes to the advance screening of Jonathan Demme’s Neil Young live documentary, Neil Young: Heart Of Gold last night. It’s hard to say what makes a good concert film, since it really comes down to the performers and the performance – which the director has no real control over – but whatever it takes Jonathan Demme has it.
Filmed over two nights at The Ryman in Nashville last August, the film captures the world premiere of Neil’s latest album Prairie Wind, accompanied by a host of musicians including Emmylou Harris, his wife Pegi, the musicians who played on the album and a string section and gospel choir. The film opens with some brief interviews with Neil and his band, but quickly gets into the concert portion and lets the music handle the rest. I haven’t heard Prairie Wind but if its anything as lush or gorgeous as the live renditions captured in the film, I really should give it a chance (or just pick up the soundtrack to the movie). The difficulties Neil faced in 2005 (the brain aneurysm, the death of his father) are well documented, and those brushes with mortality really inform the tone of the film. There’s a real serenity and vulnerability about Neil in these performances, in both the songs and the somewhat surprising openness of the between-song dialogue – it’s a real celebration of his life, his family and friends. The first half of the film is all new material, but later on he gets into some classic acoustic material which sounds so good, it might well bring a tear to your eye.
On the visual front, the film is appropriately understated, using slow cuts and tight close-ups on the performers in conjunction with simple but warm stage and costume design to create an intimate, elegiac and down-home atmosphere perfectly suited to the mood and setting of the Grand Ole Opry. Most past tour films featuring Neil have concentrated on trying to capture the chaos of his electrified Crazy Horse material, and justifiably so – the Horse in action is something to behold. But Demme shows that Neil Young the folksinger is just as electrifying on the screen as the ragged rocker, though in a completely different way. This is a very special film, not just for the quality of the music but for capturing a brilliant artist at a very key point in his life and his career. Definitely worth seeing for any Neil fan, and stay for the closing credits – they’re mesmerizing.
Collateral material – LA Daily News has words with Demme and Young about the film, and both Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes have collected incandescently glowing reviews of the film. Neil didn’t pick up a Grammy last night in either of the two categories he was nominated in, but I won’t call that an injustice. I think the Grammy Awards are utterly worthless, no matter who they’ve nominated, whether I like them or not.
Arcade Fire were nominated for a pair of paperweights too, but as they told Rolling Stone, they didn’ really expect to win anyway. Which is just as well, because they didn’t.
My Morning Jacket will be releasing a set of At Dawn and The Tennessee Fire demos – so says Pitchfork. Look for the cleverly-titled Tennessee Fire & At Dawn Demos on May 15.
Jenny Lewis tells her story to Scotland On Sunday. Via Largehearted Boy.
The Weekly Dig talks to Mark Eitzel about songwriting and opening for Spoon last Fall. Via Largehearted Boy.
The Harmony Korine-directed video for Cat Power’s “Living Proof” is now online in MOV format. Two words for you – Chan, PVC. Via Prefix.
Thanks to BrooklynVegan for pointing out the embaressment of live Billy Bragg riches over at Archive.org. Bragg is in town at the Opera House on March 11 for what will be a solo show – no Blokes, just Billy and his Burns Bison.
Aus-popster Ben Lee is at the El Mocambo on March 18 and legendary Kink-leader Ray Davies is at Massey Hall on March 30.
np – Emmylou Harris / Wrecking Ball
Wednesday, February 8th, 2006
The schedule for CMW 2006, running from March 2 to 4, is now is up, and there’s a lot of familiar and unfamiliar names on the list. Naturally, the former are the ones that jump out at me but they’re also known quantities for the most part – when I get a chance a little closer to the fest I’ll have to do a little deeper digging as to what some of the other acts might have to offer. It’s also worth noting this isn’t a final schedule – a few of the more high profile venues still have empty listings, so something is likely still in the works.
You may not have heard of Small Sins, playing the Horseshoe on March 3 at 10PM, but you probably actually have – that’s the new name for the artists formerly known as The Ladies & Gentlemen. They have a new name taken from their debut album released last year to go along with their shiny new record deal with Astralwerks, so congrats to them. Other shows that have caught my initial interest are Great Lake Swiimmers at The Reverb (March 3 @ 11PM), The Diableros at The Horseshoe (March 4, 9PM) and Bella at Healey’s (March 4, 11PM).
Interestingly on Thursday night at midnight, it’s like six degrees of me. My old band Lake Holiday will be doing an acoustic set at The Session, while former bandmate from said band Laura Barrett is at Sneaky Dee’s and a Bluescreen bandmate’s other band, Fjord Rowboat, is at the Silver Dollar at 12:30AM. And if you want to widen the net a bit, I think Gentleman Reg, playing midnight at the Reverb, appears on the apocryphal Lake Holiday record. What to do, what to do? Probably stay home and watch television, actually.
In addition to the previously announce Isobel Campbell show at Revival on the Saturday at 9PM, one of the bigger-name foreign acts in town will be Norway’s Even Johansen, aka Magnet. In addition to performing with Stars at the Indie Awards at The Docks on March 1, he’ll be doing a show of his own at the El Mocambo on the Thursday at 11PM. Filter declared him an artist to watch, and though he’s kind of easy listening in that indie non-threatening boy sort of way, it’s certainly not bad. I first heard Magnet a few years ago when he duetted on a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay” a few years ago with Gemma Hayes and the cover’s not bad. You can see the video for that tune below (that’s not Gemma in the video) as well as hear a track from Magnet’s new album The Tourniquet.
MP3: Magnet – “Hold On”
Video: Magnet with Gemma Hayes – “Lay Lady Lay” (ASX)
And as a segue – Gemma Hayes tells The Independent about the agony of making sophomore album The Roads Don’t Love You. AndMr Zimmerman, apparently tired of all the back-looking surrounding No Direction Home late last year, is moving forward and working on a new album. You go, Bob.
And some more Canadian music news – JAM! reports back from Leonard Cohen’s induction into the Canadian Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame (well-deserved, obvs, but why did it take so long?). And The CBC has audio of a 42-minute interview with the man, which I imagine would be worth hearing if I could get my bloody RealAudio player to work. But don’t let that stop you.
Billboard features Sarah Harmer, who released her latest album I’m A Mountain in the US yesterday.
Sixeyes conducts and interview with Destroyer, who will obviously not be on tour with The New Pornographers this Winter as he’s got a new album, Destroyer’s Rubies, out on February 21 and a tour starting up in mid-March. Similarly, Neko Case will not be along for the Pornographer’s ride as she tells Billboard she’s got her hands full promoting Fox Confessor Brings The Flood, out March 7.
Anyone from T.O. who wants to see Built To Spill touring You In Reverse will have to venture south of the border to Buffalo on April 29 to catch them. Their expansive touring schedule doesn’t include us. Once again. But on the bright side, it IS a Saturday. Warm Spring day in Cheektowaga, anyone?
np – Belle & Sebastian / The Life Pursuit
Tuesday, February 7th, 2006
The Undertow Orchestra tour, so named becaue all the participants share a management company, kicks off tomorrow night and while it won’t be crossing the border to our fair country, the fact that it’s happening at all is still exciting to me. The bill features four top-notch American singer-songwriters sharing a stage, playing each others’ songs, being each others’ bands. The artists in question are Will Johnson, mastermind of Centro-Matic and South San Gabriel, Dave Bazan, formerly of Pedro The Lion and currently of Headphones, American Music Club’s Mark Eitzel and Georgian eccentric Vic Chesnutt.
Glide finds out how the tour came together and plays Q&A with the performers on the bill, while Red & Black talks to Johnson and Chesnutt about playing with their new tourmates. If you’re not familar with some or all of these artists, you owe it to yourself to at least check out some of their work. And if the tour is coming to your burg, consider yourself lucky.
MP3: Will Johnson – “Just To Know What You’ve Been Dreaming”
MP3: Will Johnson – “Closing Down My House”
MP3: Vic Chesnutt – “I Melt With You”
MP3: Vic Chesnutt – “Tablet”
MP3: Pedro The Lion – “Discretion”
MP3: Mark Eitzel – “My Pet Rat St. Michael”
And as a bonus, I’ve found the whole of American Music Club’s awesome Everclear album available for free legit downloaded right here. It’s a masterpiece. Go get it.
Brian Pearl of Matt Pond PA will be keeping a tour diary over the course of their North American tour, which kicks off tonight in New York City and rolls into the Mod Club in Toronto on February 11. Mr Pond tells the Boston University Daily Free Press why students should shun their studies to see him play (Bugmenot).
Matt Berninger of The National admits to Pitchfork that he inadvertently missed meeting Bruce Springsteen after a recent tribute show because he went home to watch The West Wing. The National currently bear the dubious distinction of being the Susan Lucci of indie rock – they were nominated for six Plug Awards and headlined the awards ceremony but still went home empty handed. Hell, they even have to suffer the indignity of The Village Voice calling them “Coldplay, with teeth”. But being the troopers they are, they’re not holing up at home with a tub of Hagen-Dazs, but are hitting the road in March for a short tour that will bring them to the Horseshoe on March 22 (get your tickets! Go! Now!). Also on the bill are The Cloud Room, who were just here last week and recently had a Pitchfork feature of their very own.
In the wake of Lookout Records’ implosion, Ted Leo has packed up his apothecary bag and found a new home at Touch & Go records. Full deets in their press release, though nothing firm about his new album. And if you’ve tabbed out any of Ted’s songs, he wants to see them so he can correct them if necessary. Is this guy the greatest or what?
Some show rumours – The New Pornographers may be doing a CFNY-drone only show at the Horseshoe on February 24, the day before kicking off their tour with Belle & Sebastian at The Docks. And whether she’s on that New Pr0n tour or not, Neko Case may be in town April 2 or 3 for a show at the Danforth Music Hall. Via the fine print at Sucking A Lemon and For The Records. And more officially, Josh Rouse will be at Trinity-St Paul’s on April 11 in support of his new album Subtitulo, which is out March 21.
24: Figures – they follow up one of the best episodes of the show in some time with one of the, well, not best. So many recycled plot points last night – CTU head with a fucked up relative who happens to have a breakdown on crisis day? Check. A traitor being the only one who has the skills in their hour of need, and has to be released to do it? Check. Hell, when Jack busted into that bedroom and yelled, “hands up!”, I half expected Mandy to be hiding behind the bed. Or Zombie Nina. And, um, how does someone who’s in custody on charges of high treason (or something like that) get left alone long enough to hang themselves? And speaking of rhetorical questions, why do people always believe the bad guys when they say, “I’m not going to hurt you”? Of course they’re going to hurt you! That’s what they do! Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention… the impending return of Kim! Urrghghghghhhh. Someone’s going to lose a limb.
np – American Music Club / 1984-1995
Monday, February 6th, 2006
Chalk Champaign, Illinois’ Headlights as one of the first new bands I’m excited about seeing at SxSW. They’ve got great pop songs with sweet boy-girl harmonies and just enough mope and fuzz around the edges to keep things from getting too saccharine. For RIYLs, I’d say Dirty On Purpose or The Comas (and if you don’t know either of them, you should check them out as well).
Under The Radar featured the band in their “New Artists 2006” feature in the latest issue and talked to the band about their forthcoming debut full-length, which is currently being recorded and should be out in August or so. So far their recorded output amounts to a single EP which was rereleased by Polyvinyl late last year after selling out as a limited edition wholly independent release, with a 7″ due out sometime this Spring before the proper album is done. For the curious who will be in Austin next month, their main SxSW showcase will be on Wednesday night at Emo’s as part of the showcase, but they look to have some day parties on tap as well over the course of the festival.
This track comes from their aforementioned The Enemies EP – they’ve also got samples on their MySpace page and in a Flash player on their own website.
MP3: Headlights – “Tokyo”
The Toronto Star talks to Neil Young and Jonathan Demme about their Heart Of Gold concert film, the website for which has finally gone live with lots of goodies and downloadables. The film opens next Friday.
Mark Kozelek tells Harp how Neil Young’s Decade changed his life and Paste about tackling Modest Mouse. The Santa Cruz Sentinel also runs a piece on Mark’s Tiny Cities.
PopMatters talks to twee queen Amelia Fletcher about the road from Talulah Gosh to Tender Trap, and their new EP Language Lessons.
Everyone’s favourite Norwegian DJ/popstar/cutie-patootie Annie is at the Mod Club on March 21, tickets $18.50.
Zoilus picks up on my indie vs Best Buy post from last Monday, and takes it to another level with the help of Mr Catbirdseat. Required reading if you were at all interested in the discussion that took place here (and elsewhere).
Harp loves the live album and doesn’t care who knows it.
The Globe & Mail places Arrested Development in pallative care.
np – Elvis Costello & The Attractions / Blood & Chocolate
Sunday, February 5th, 2006
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Electric Six / Senor Smoke (Warner Bros)
If anyone knows the guys in Electric Six, and knows for a fact that they’re not kidding, please don’t tell me. I don’t think I can live in a world where someone can sing about “Evil boys eating evil hamburgers/Evil boys eating evil fries” and be dead serious. This E6 is not to be confused with the Elephant 6 collective. They sound like a dance-y KISS (the fact that they are from Detroit Rock City and have lightning bolt letters in their band logo is not to be overlooked) perfecting a set for a Hallowe’en party. Dumb, but fun from a certain point of view.
Electric Six @ MySpace
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She Wants Revenge / She Wants Revenge (Flawless/Geffen)
Please, God, make it stop. No more fucking monotone disaffected Ian Curtis-aping vocals over stabby trebly guitars and disco beats. No more attacks by the lame-ass, wannabe zombie corpses of 80s British post-punk art-rockers. It ends now. Someone needs to be made an example of, and I nominate these nimrods. No. Fucking. More. This album came out last week – if you happen to encounter it, do not make eye contact or acknowledge it. Just keep walking, and when its back is turned, smash it into little itty bitty pieces. And then burn them. And then nuke it from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.
She Wants Revenge are on tour with Electric Six in February, but will not be on the bill this Thursday when the latter plays Lee’s Palace. Electric Six fans, consider yourselves lucky.
She Wants Revenge @ MySpace
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Crosstide / Life As A Spectator (Slowdance)
I listened very carefully to this record, looking for some angle – any angle – from which to review this record, and came up pretty much empty. It’s not especially good, it’s not especially bad (though if you read the above review, you’ll note that my benchmark for “bad” just sank a few points), it’s just sort of… there. Reasonably melodic and well-executed, the record offers a balanced blend of angsty rockers, dancey numbers, emotional ballads… a little bit of everything. This is a record that if someone asked me what it sounded like, I could say “alternative rock” with a completely straight face and I’d be right.
MP3: Crosstide – “Empathy”
MP3: Crosstide – “Opposite Day”
Crosstide @ MySpace
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np – Crooked Fingers / Crooked Fingers
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