Last night I experienced the moment that I experience for one moment every year, and spend the rest of the year thinking about. I was driving and although it was only about 8 pm, and the sun was still shining, I felt just the slightest chill as the balmy wind blew over the skin on my arms. Right then, a gust of wind from the west sent a flurry of leaves tumbling across Westnedge in front of me, and it was undeniable: summer is on its way out.
To be fair, it's barely halfway through August and I hope this doesn't inspire that creepy, panicky feeling of impending Winter, but it's happening all around us. Summer's almost over. And, like every year since elementary school when I would make ambitious lists of things I wanted to do or accomplish over the summer (go camping. draw a lot. have a garage sale. save $50. Wait, these are still my summer goals.) I find myself evaluating what I really did and really accomplished this summer.
Fortunately-- or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it-- for me, I was unemployed for most of the summer (which you might have read on my Myspace blog). While this severely limited my possibilities due to financial constraints and the enormous amount of time and energy I put into finding a job (which I luckily found... at the beginning of August.) the freedom I experienced was enormously transformative in a number of ways: for one, the gift of spontaneity. And this was valuable in one major way: I went to a LOT of shows, many of which were unbelievably last-minute and, some might say, poorly planned. But that's how I like to roll.
So, this year, the question I ask myself as I feel the Chill descend over Kalamazoo is this: was it really worth it? Sleeping away the most beautiful hours of the most beautiful days we see in Michigan? Depleting my savings, my brain cells and every ounce of my bodily energy to travel across the Midwest-- across the country, in some cases-- to go to shows? Splitting my commitment-less days both writing, and agonizing about how much writing I wasn't doing? The highs and lows, all the luck and misadventures: was it really worth it?!
In a word: yes.
Some highlights:
-Wakarusa Music Festival. The Festie that started it all (this summer, anyway). If you've been reading my MySpace blog, you'll know that Waka was the (in?)direct cause of my unemployment this summer (that and a mega-bitch named Pattie; yes, with an "ie"). And if you've talked to me for more than ten minutes this summer, you've probably heard all about it.
Waka. I'm just now realizing I have not written about it at all. I think it was just too enormous an experience for me to even try to articulate. I'm going to take a deep breath and do my best to pocket-size it for you:
My roommate Nick and my good friends Alex and Rachel crammed in my Vibe with a weekend's worth of supplies and took off for Arkansas one sunny morning in early June. We arrived at Mulberry Mountain nearly 20 hours later, having braved torrential thunderstorms for most of the drive and experienced a plethora of victories and setbacks alike. Setting up camp (the four of us, plus our friend Agata, her twin sis Anna and their buddy Zach, a new friend of ours and, we would find out, the embodiment of the word "party") we had no idea what we were in for: several days of INTENSE Southern summer heat (most of which we beat by escaping the site, driving down the mountain, swimming and napping on the banks of the Mulberry River) and, of course, some truly lifechanging shows.
The one the comes to mind: STS9. If you are into any electronic music at all, I am sure you've heard of (and probably even like) STS9. On the second night of the festival, STS9 headlined, blowing our minds for several hours from Mainstage. If I don't wrap this up in one sentence, I will be here talking for hours: This show was truly one of the greatest gifts I have ever received.
The next night at Waka was probably the thing I had anticipated and built up in my mind the most, mainly because My Band, Umphrey's McGee, was playing a night show (they had played the previous night; a daylight set at Mainstage, which was good but not overwhelmingly so). I was "that guy" for the entire drive down and few days leading to this show: talking my poor friends' ears off about how Umphrey's is "the best live show in America;" "the most mindblowing shit you'll ever see;" etc etc etc. Unfortunately, I had become separated from my friends by the time Umphrey's took the stage (due to an enormously long and enormously unpublishable story, or set of stories) and spent the show front and center, literally, with other equally vigilant Umphrey's devotees: new friends who supplied me with water and other refreshments and, though I was in the wake of a partied-out moment, I was able to rally and had the time of my life (I even appear on the concert DVD of that show. Available on UMlive.com.). With the help of my new friends (and, not to mention, The Boys From Chicago) I truly came back to life. And, silly me, I didn't even know I wasn't living yet. Which is why I love-- LOVE-- festies. And Umphrey's.
But that is really what Wakarusa, as a whole, did: bring me to life. I re-discovered when I was there what it meant to have fun and enjoy life, and how little it truly takes (in the way of material things, sanitary conditions, etc) to thrive and love your life.
-Shows About Town
The walkability of Kalamazoo in the summer, as opposed to any time of year, is remarkable and lends itself incredibly well to various show-crawls. And yes, I think of them as show-crawls and not bar crawls. Why not go catch bluegrass at Bell's, indie at the Strutt and rock and Papa Pete's And hell, why not a basement show at the end there? And if I was getting REALLY crazy, why not work in a jam sesh of my very own?!
So that's exactly what I tried to do. And like I say, my funds were limited due to my job status, but we're lucky we live in a city where cover charges are seldom over $5 to begin with, and sometimes you can get in cheap-- or even free-- by showing up late. And while I'm not advocating this, as I believe fervently in supporting local bands and venues, it's not always impossible to slide in without paying a cover. Just sayin'.
It was my pleasure to catch a variety of Kalamazoo bands this summer; among my favorites:
--Re-renderings of some of my classic favorites-- namely, the new facade of Ender (they're acoustically delicious!) and Their Teeth Will Be of Lions, with their newly-solo frontwoman Jay Dykehouse.
--Elm Street Riot. Easily one of my favorite Kalamazoo bands.
--Kathryn Tapper. This new(er) chick on the block graced the first Kzoo NOISE! showcase at Old Dog; I was truly impressed and entertained.
--Brandon Mann and the Reprimand. Brandon Mann: He's everywhere you want to be and more. In case you haven't noticed, Kalamazoo NOISE! loves BM&TR, and I am no exception.
--Small Town Son. Alright, alright. I know I talk all the time about how I don't like country. But seeing them one balmy night at Old Dog, Oberon in hand, out on the patio right at dusk, I actually really enjoyed their good-ol'-boy swag, and their covers that even I knew. Oh, and they have a fiddle player who totally shreds.
--Speaking of country: Brother Bill. There has been some controversy surrounding my review of Brother Bill's album, "Wild On The Whiskey," due to a then-anonymous commentor's disagreement with, and, I think, misunderstanding of what I was trying to say (which happens in this medium! and is my fault for my colorful, and sometimes irresponsible, word choices). And allow me to set the record straight: I REALLY LIKE IT! I ALWAYS HAVE! So when I caught them at Harvey's one night, I half expected a little tension between me and at least one of the fellas in the band. But luckily for me, their personalities are as easygoing and good-natured as their music, and everyone was really cool to me. It wasn't until later that I realized that in my review, and/or subsequent comment thread, I promised them all Jim Beam shots, and didn't deliver. Awful. If you're reading this, Brothers, next time-- sorry!
-More Umphrey's
Yes, I am an "Umphreys Fan." This fandom is unlike any I've ever experienced. I feel like I am actually addicted to Umphreys shows. There is truly nothing-- nothing.-- in the world that makes me happier than being at an Umphrey's show: pressed up against the foot of the stage, jamming hard; spaced-out, sober, or anywhere inbetween. There's nothing like having not a single care in the world because your "world" doesn't exist outside of the show. That's what seeing Umphreys is like for me.
And I know you're probably smirking at the very least right now and might even have a slew of anti-"hippie jam band" thoughts in mind, your hand twitching in reckless anticipation of clicking the "Comment" button and unleashing a diatribe in which Trey, Dave, or-- God forbid-- Jerry, could become casualities at any moment. Or maybe not, because if you don't know I love hippie jam bands, you have no business here.
Just kidding. But seriously.
Anyway, Umphrey's. The two shows Umphrey's played at Waka did not satisfy, but only stoked, my desire to go to Umphrey's shows. All. Summer. Since I first saw them last summer at Rothbury, my heart had ached to be at another Umphrey's show. I don't know what it is about their live show, but like I say, there's one main word that comes to mind: addicting. And if you ask anyone who's ever been to an Umphrey's show, they will say the same thing. Not to mention, almost anyone I've ever played Umphreys' music around has asked who they were and if I could burn them some. So anyway. I'm just saying, don't knock it 'til you've heard it. And seen it.
But, in my observation, Umphrey's is more popular EVERY SUMMER, playing more shows on a wider plane to bigger, and more enthusiastic, audiences. And to be honest, I love it. But to be just as honest: in a selfish way, I kind of wish they were still the Midwest phenomenon that they used to be; I wish they still played Papa Pete's and needed couches to crash on in Kzoo (!). I wish I could walk up to them after shows and ask them if they wanted to hang out and talk and listen to Frank Zappa records on vinyl and drink tea in my living room. But, alas, they are far too cool-- and I am far too uncool-- for that to happen. But I can dream.
Alas, I caught them twice at Waka; once in Ohio; and once for a VERY crunchy and extremely beautiful double-set at Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. All were incredible, my favorite of which was the latter. On a hot, windy, gorgeous night, right at sunset, they threw down a truly unstoppable set, including one of my all-time Umphrey's faves, "Gulf Stream" (which, though it's not one they play very often, I called in the requisite drive-up-to-the-show set-prediction game) and a soul-satisfying cover of Toto's "Africa" which still makes me smile when I think about it.
-Land of Nod
Ah, Land of Nod. If you read my rundown "Going Gonzo in the Land of Nod" on my MySpace (friends only; sorry! friend-request me if you wanna read it and can't.) then you already know everything that happened in those crazy, crazy 5 days I was involved with/ attending the fest.
Unfortunately, there isn't a whole lot about music mentioned in that piece (I know; what?). It was really more about the experience. Which is really what Nod was to me. The lineup was so-so in the first place (aside from some killer headliners) and one of my most anticipated acts, Boombox (who we caught at Waka) was CANCELED. Bummer.
However, I got to see not one, but TWO, sets by the incomparable Big Gigantic! The synth/ horn electro act (the brainchild of Dominic Lalli, aka my dream man) blew my mind on the Saturday of the fest, backdropped by the most glorious sunset I have ever seen in my life. If you are into electro at all and don't know Big G, please oh please check him out. It'll be so worth it.
For me, the highpoint of the music at Nod was noneother than Kool Keith. Another show for which I was determined to be front-and-center (although there were probably only 500 or so people in attendance, so it was all too easy), KK (who moonlighted as his trippier alter-ego, Dr. Octagon) was everything I'd always imagined a Kool Keith show to be like.
So, yes, realistically, the summer is almost over. BUT: as always, there's plenty more to come. From up-and-coming local bands, to some big acts we're anticipating in Kzoo (for one, Ali Baba's Tahini; if you haven't heard of them, please search; I would just tell you but wouldn't that be anti-climacitc?) we are sure to be in the presence of some really amazing music in the coming days and months.
See you out there,
Meg [thevolumejunkie]
Showing posts with label Elm Street Riot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elm Street Riot. Show all posts
Monday, August 16, 2010
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Can't Make It To Your Favorite Band's Show This Summer?
Well, my friends, all you need is a new favorite.
Stuck in Kalamazoo for another summer? Looking at all the killer festivals and shows for the summer, but can't quite cut it on part-time minimum wage and milking the last few leftover student loan dollars? With declining revenue from album sales, EVERYONE is hiking up ticket prices (even DMB's lawn tickets are $40 and up this season... it seems like just yesterday I paid $24 to sit in the rain and jam out to "One Sweet World..." Oh, to be young.)
No worries! As we all know by now, there are plenty of outrageously good bands right here in K Town. Just because you didn't make it to Coachella and are "trying" to get your tix to Bonnaroo (c'mon) doesn't mean you can't rock out and have a really spectacular night.
[Dying to see...] [You should check out...]
Phish? DMB? The Ragbirds. This chick-fronted folk band plays a funky
repertoire of roots-folk and world music. The MI natives
have carved out a significant place in the regional folk scene
and are embarking on a summer tour that will take them all
over the Midwest... including right here in Kzoo. With a
wide range of sounds for a beautiful-- and fun, if you wanna
get your dance on-- and always-changing sound, The
Ragbirds offer up a sound that will surely leave you wanting
more. With artful and clever lyrics ("Honesty is following
your demons/ to the place that they reside/ and then you
pot some plants outside their windowsill/ to let you crawl
inside") as well as sounds from the Carribbean, Romania,
and beyond, this is one "hippie jam band" that definitely
breaks the mold.
Jay Z? Gorillaz? M.E.D. Just because you're in Kalamazoo doesn't mean
you can't get your hip-hop fix. M.E.D. (Mental Elastic
Dynasty) mixes infectious beats with a wide range of verses:
the three MCs of MED-- the "level-headed and serious"
Anagram; the stylistic chameleon Philosophy; and token
wiseguy L-C.I.D.-- blend together to create a multi-faceted
feel, with rhymes that would appeal to even the most
seasoned hip-hop aficionado (check out "There They Go"
and "Money;" both available on MySpace).
Weezer? Tom Petty
and the Heartbreakers? Vampire
Weekend? Dead Scene Radio. Known for their pop sensibilities and
choruses so sweet you just might get a toothache, these
Kzoo-scene bigwigs are the first word in pop-rock (be on
the lookout for a full-length from them this summer!).
The Black Keys? Kings of
Leon? The Raconteurs? Elm Street Riot. After blowing the roof off a show at
Corner Bar last weekend with A Friend Called Fire, and
rocking out Kalamazoo Noise Convention this Thursday,
Elm Street Riot have been pretty busy dudes lately... and,
lucky for us, there's no end in sight. With their bluesy
garage-rock, ESR just might be on their way to ruling the
Kalamazoo Scene.
Jeff Beck? Robby Haas Trio. While Robby Haas Trio might not quite
stack up to The Loner himself, they do just fine at
embodying the freewheeling blues style to get you grooving
this summer. While they currently do not appear to have
any shows scheduled, keep your eye out for these dudes
this summer if you're into a good crunchy blues jam every
now and again (and who isn't).
Steve Martin and the
Steep Canyon Rangers?
The String Cheese Incident? Rootstand. Summer is, indeed, the very best time to check
out one of my very favorite bands in Kalamazoo...
Rootstand! With a unique, "swashbucklin'" style of
bluegrass, Rootstand is sure to get you steppin' in the very
best way. Their hypnotizing, roots-oriented jams are
enough to convert even the most staunch naysayers into
bluegrass junkies... and, hey, what goes better with a
delicious Oberon than a sweaty hippie dancefest?
Welcome to Michigan, ya'll (check out the absurdly-good
"River Blues" on their MySpace). Oh, and of course,
don't forget about Greensky Bluegrass, who require neither
introduction nor explanation.
John Mayer or JM3? Four Finger Five. Those active in the jam scene in
southwest Michigan are probably already familiar with
FF5. Known for killer shows and facemelting blues
jams, FF5 epitomizes the perfect summer gig. Their
smooth funk/ jazz/ blues, polished by buttah-smooth vocals
reminiscent of the J-man himself, is sure to induce
involuntary booty-shaking all over the state... and
beyond... this summer (check out their groove "Giving It
All Away;" be careful, it's known to be habit-forming). If
you read this TODAY (5/1/10) they will be playing a set at
Bell's... what better way to kick off the summer?
Jason Mraz? Jack
Johnson? We Know Jackson. Ok, admit it. You loooove acoustic/
piano driven melodies, girl-I'll-be-your-best-boy-ever
motifs and catchy choruses aplenty (complete with "la-da-
da"s). Hey, I'm not telling. This jazz-pop trio, fronted by
boyband-ready Chris Janowiak, has been around in
southwest Michigan for several years, leaving no schoolgirl
uncrushed ("crush" figuratively, natch). With impressive
musical chops that set them apart from much of the "pop"
crowd, We Know Jackson prove they're more than just
pretty faces (check out "The Way,"available on MySpace).
Hot Chip? Imogen Heap? Juliana Stein. Did you think you weren't going to get your
electro-pop on? Relax; don't get your American Apparel
pants in a bunch. Juliana Stein-- a newcomer on the
scene-- weaves cool electronic tunes and remixes that will
either get you on the dance floor, or reignite your creative
fires... up to you. With her artfulness and indie aesthetic,
Stein stays grounded by a sense of humor with her music
and would likely put on a show this town wouldn't soon
forget. If you like Juliana Stein, check out DUDE aTOMic!
The Flaming Lips? Crash City Saints. These artisans of ambient guitar-rock
have been on the Kalamazoo scene for years, taking
listeners on a sonic journey with every release and every
show (most recently, they rocked the Strutt for Noise
Convention!). With their signature guitar sound
(heavily-distorted, layered and ambient for a lush, unique
feel) set off by haunting, mysterious-sounding vocals and
relentless but subtle percussion, Crash City Saints is like
the soundtrack to a daydream.Striking the perfect balance
between raw alt-rock and fuzzy swirls of ambient sound,
Crash City Saints is the perfect band to check out
when you need a vacation, but only have an hour or two...
hey, it's ok to space out and just enjoy the show. So go
ahead... close your eyes and lose yourself in the swirls of
beautiful chaos and enjoy your journey down the rabbit
hole.
Stuck in Kalamazoo for another summer? Looking at all the killer festivals and shows for the summer, but can't quite cut it on part-time minimum wage and milking the last few leftover student loan dollars? With declining revenue from album sales, EVERYONE is hiking up ticket prices (even DMB's lawn tickets are $40 and up this season... it seems like just yesterday I paid $24 to sit in the rain and jam out to "One Sweet World..." Oh, to be young.)
No worries! As we all know by now, there are plenty of outrageously good bands right here in K Town. Just because you didn't make it to Coachella and are "trying" to get your tix to Bonnaroo (c'mon) doesn't mean you can't rock out and have a really spectacular night.
[Dying to see...] [You should check out...]
Phish? DMB? The Ragbirds. This chick-fronted folk band plays a funky
repertoire of roots-folk and world music. The MI natives
have carved out a significant place in the regional folk scene
and are embarking on a summer tour that will take them all
over the Midwest... including right here in Kzoo. With a
wide range of sounds for a beautiful-- and fun, if you wanna
get your dance on-- and always-changing sound, The
Ragbirds offer up a sound that will surely leave you wanting
more. With artful and clever lyrics ("Honesty is following
your demons/ to the place that they reside/ and then you
pot some plants outside their windowsill/ to let you crawl
inside") as well as sounds from the Carribbean, Romania,
and beyond, this is one "hippie jam band" that definitely
breaks the mold.
Jay Z? Gorillaz? M.E.D. Just because you're in Kalamazoo doesn't mean
you can't get your hip-hop fix. M.E.D. (Mental Elastic
Dynasty) mixes infectious beats with a wide range of verses:
the three MCs of MED-- the "level-headed and serious"
Anagram; the stylistic chameleon Philosophy; and token
wiseguy L-C.I.D.-- blend together to create a multi-faceted
feel, with rhymes that would appeal to even the most
seasoned hip-hop aficionado (check out "There They Go"
and "Money;" both available on MySpace).
Weezer? Tom Petty
and the Heartbreakers? Vampire
Weekend? Dead Scene Radio. Known for their pop sensibilities and
choruses so sweet you just might get a toothache, these
Kzoo-scene bigwigs are the first word in pop-rock (be on
the lookout for a full-length from them this summer!).
The Black Keys? Kings of
Leon? The Raconteurs? Elm Street Riot. After blowing the roof off a show at
Corner Bar last weekend with A Friend Called Fire, and
rocking out Kalamazoo Noise Convention this Thursday,
Elm Street Riot have been pretty busy dudes lately... and,
lucky for us, there's no end in sight. With their bluesy
garage-rock, ESR just might be on their way to ruling the
Kalamazoo Scene.
Jeff Beck? Robby Haas Trio. While Robby Haas Trio might not quite
stack up to The Loner himself, they do just fine at
embodying the freewheeling blues style to get you grooving
this summer. While they currently do not appear to have
any shows scheduled, keep your eye out for these dudes
this summer if you're into a good crunchy blues jam every
now and again (and who isn't).
Steve Martin and the
Steep Canyon Rangers?
The String Cheese Incident? Rootstand. Summer is, indeed, the very best time to check
out one of my very favorite bands in Kalamazoo...
Rootstand! With a unique, "swashbucklin'" style of
bluegrass, Rootstand is sure to get you steppin' in the very
best way. Their hypnotizing, roots-oriented jams are
enough to convert even the most staunch naysayers into
bluegrass junkies... and, hey, what goes better with a
delicious Oberon than a sweaty hippie dancefest?
Welcome to Michigan, ya'll (check out the absurdly-good
"River Blues" on their MySpace). Oh, and of course,
don't forget about Greensky Bluegrass, who require neither
introduction nor explanation.
John Mayer or JM3? Four Finger Five. Those active in the jam scene in
southwest Michigan are probably already familiar with
FF5. Known for killer shows and facemelting blues
jams, FF5 epitomizes the perfect summer gig. Their
smooth funk/ jazz/ blues, polished by buttah-smooth vocals
reminiscent of the J-man himself, is sure to induce
involuntary booty-shaking all over the state... and
beyond... this summer (check out their groove "Giving It
All Away;" be careful, it's known to be habit-forming). If
you read this TODAY (5/1/10) they will be playing a set at
Bell's... what better way to kick off the summer?
Jason Mraz? Jack
Johnson? We Know Jackson. Ok, admit it. You loooove acoustic/
piano driven melodies, girl-I'll-be-your-best-boy-ever
motifs and catchy choruses aplenty (complete with "la-da-
da"s). Hey, I'm not telling. This jazz-pop trio, fronted by
boyband-ready Chris Janowiak, has been around in
southwest Michigan for several years, leaving no schoolgirl
uncrushed ("crush" figuratively, natch). With impressive
musical chops that set them apart from much of the "pop"
crowd, We Know Jackson prove they're more than just
pretty faces (check out "The Way,"available on MySpace).
Hot Chip? Imogen Heap? Juliana Stein. Did you think you weren't going to get your
electro-pop on? Relax; don't get your American Apparel
pants in a bunch. Juliana Stein-- a newcomer on the
scene-- weaves cool electronic tunes and remixes that will
either get you on the dance floor, or reignite your creative
fires... up to you. With her artfulness and indie aesthetic,
Stein stays grounded by a sense of humor with her music
and would likely put on a show this town wouldn't soon
forget. If you like Juliana Stein, check out DUDE aTOMic!
The Flaming Lips? Crash City Saints. These artisans of ambient guitar-rock
have been on the Kalamazoo scene for years, taking
listeners on a sonic journey with every release and every
show (most recently, they rocked the Strutt for Noise
Convention!). With their signature guitar sound
(heavily-distorted, layered and ambient for a lush, unique
feel) set off by haunting, mysterious-sounding vocals and
relentless but subtle percussion, Crash City Saints is like
the soundtrack to a daydream.Striking the perfect balance
between raw alt-rock and fuzzy swirls of ambient sound,
Crash City Saints is the perfect band to check out
when you need a vacation, but only have an hour or two...
hey, it's ok to space out and just enjoy the show. So go
ahead... close your eyes and lose yourself in the swirls of
beautiful chaos and enjoy your journey down the rabbit
hole.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Announcements, etc
Hello everyone.
I thought it might be time for a bit of an update since the Bird Rights feature was my 40th post and, no, that's not a huge number, but it's a little bit of a milestone (kinda). Espect somethin' cool for the 50th ya'll. Just sayin.
I just want to thank all of my readers for coming to the site; those of you who send encouraging words, feedback, etc are very much appreciated. Those of you will less-nice things to say are appreciated as well. It's true what they say: a handful of "haters" and critics (or even just one) makes you stronger and teaches you more than a million fans, even if it hurts at first. (As Nick Flora says, "Everyone's a critic with a sharp tongue/ I, for, one have been stung/ One too many times/ It's hard to fake a smile.") But you just have to keep on truckin'! Controversies in the greater Kzoo music scene, often in the form of blog-bashing, have been going around... whether you're a musician or a writer, just keep it up-- art is art, and criticism is at the heart of being any type of artist. My hope for all artists who are part of Kalamazoo media/ culture continue to love, support, and constructively criticize one another in the hope that we will all find our voices and create some amazing legacies to leave behind, in whatever medium we so choose.
Without further ado, a couple exciting news tidbits:
[NOISE! Convention]
When I first launched TVJ, I had an idea to have a big show with some of my favorite local bands to promote the site. That never occurred, since I have no idea how to go about booking a show... alas, the intervention of Fate brought two lovely young men into my life with their lovely new site, Kalamazoo NOISE!. As a contributing writer for KN, I'm pleased to announce that we will be hosting a HUGE bash, coined "NOISE! Convention." I believe I've briefly mentioned it previously, but I wanted to reiterate: this is a HUGE-ASS SHOW (16 bands will be playing) to which you and ALL of your friends are more than invited!! (Check out the Facebook invite here.... go ahead, RSVP, you know you wanna.) This is, no doubt, better than anything I could've cooked up. I am SO excited for this and I hope all of you guys will be there. It's going to be amazing. Here are the deets:
What? Quite possibly the most incredible show of all time. Ever.
Who? The Hex Bombs, Ghosts of the Great Lakes, Ender, Hello Victor, Please Promise, Branden Mann and the Reprimand, Elm Street Riot, Brena, Trixy Disco, The Sedgwyck Agent, Sara Never Loved Me, Dead Scene Radio, The Post Addition, Crash City Saints, Dunktank, and Kathryn Tapper. And me of course (and the other KN! boys and gal). And most importantly, YOU!
When? April 29th... the last day of exams for all you WMU folks!!! What a killer way to unwind!
Where? Both stages of The Strutt at the corner of Stadium and Academy.
To date, we've got exactly 400 confirmed guests on Facebook... just sayin', all the cool kids will be there. No pressure or anything. Come on out! Bring your friends! This will be a night none of us will forget! Please be sure to introduce yourself... I can't wait to see your beautiful faces!
[Upcoming Publications]
RECOIL: Check out the April '10 issue for an article by "yours truly" (I hate when people say that) which will hit newsstands (not so much newsstands as countertops in various music-peopley places like Fourth Coast, Guitar Center, and many other places in the greater Kalamazoo/ Grand Rapids area) April 1st... no foolin'!
REVUE: I've got a pending article for this which may or may not run. Long story...
KALAMAZOO NOISE!: As always, keep checkin'.
[Cool Upcoming Stuff]
April 7th at The Strutt: Koji, Ender, and Kevin Devine. AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING. Also be on the lookout for my coverage of this show via KN!
If you're not excited right now, check your pulse homey. For reallz.
XOXO
--Meg Alexander (thevolumejunkie)
PS: Don't forget to add me on Facebook and MySpace for any and all blog updates and other related matters. Big hugs to all of you who have already :) Later days!
I thought it might be time for a bit of an update since the Bird Rights feature was my 40th post and, no, that's not a huge number, but it's a little bit of a milestone (kinda). Espect somethin' cool for the 50th ya'll. Just sayin.
I just want to thank all of my readers for coming to the site; those of you who send encouraging words, feedback, etc are very much appreciated. Those of you will less-nice things to say are appreciated as well. It's true what they say: a handful of "haters" and critics (or even just one) makes you stronger and teaches you more than a million fans, even if it hurts at first. (As Nick Flora says, "Everyone's a critic with a sharp tongue/ I, for, one have been stung/ One too many times/ It's hard to fake a smile.") But you just have to keep on truckin'! Controversies in the greater Kzoo music scene, often in the form of blog-bashing, have been going around... whether you're a musician or a writer, just keep it up-- art is art, and criticism is at the heart of being any type of artist. My hope for all artists who are part of Kalamazoo media/ culture continue to love, support, and constructively criticize one another in the hope that we will all find our voices and create some amazing legacies to leave behind, in whatever medium we so choose.
Without further ado, a couple exciting news tidbits:
[NOISE! Convention]
When I first launched TVJ, I had an idea to have a big show with some of my favorite local bands to promote the site. That never occurred, since I have no idea how to go about booking a show... alas, the intervention of Fate brought two lovely young men into my life with their lovely new site, Kalamazoo NOISE!. As a contributing writer for KN, I'm pleased to announce that we will be hosting a HUGE bash, coined "NOISE! Convention." I believe I've briefly mentioned it previously, but I wanted to reiterate: this is a HUGE-ASS SHOW (16 bands will be playing) to which you and ALL of your friends are more than invited!! (Check out the Facebook invite here.... go ahead, RSVP, you know you wanna.) This is, no doubt, better than anything I could've cooked up. I am SO excited for this and I hope all of you guys will be there. It's going to be amazing. Here are the deets:
What? Quite possibly the most incredible show of all time. Ever.
Who? The Hex Bombs, Ghosts of the Great Lakes, Ender, Hello Victor, Please Promise, Branden Mann and the Reprimand, Elm Street Riot, Brena, Trixy Disco, The Sedgwyck Agent, Sara Never Loved Me, Dead Scene Radio, The Post Addition, Crash City Saints, Dunktank, and Kathryn Tapper. And me of course (and the other KN! boys and gal). And most importantly, YOU!
When? April 29th... the last day of exams for all you WMU folks!!! What a killer way to unwind!
Where? Both stages of The Strutt at the corner of Stadium and Academy.
To date, we've got exactly 400 confirmed guests on Facebook... just sayin', all the cool kids will be there. No pressure or anything. Come on out! Bring your friends! This will be a night none of us will forget! Please be sure to introduce yourself... I can't wait to see your beautiful faces!
[Upcoming Publications]
RECOIL: Check out the April '10 issue for an article by "yours truly" (I hate when people say that) which will hit newsstands (not so much newsstands as countertops in various music-peopley places like Fourth Coast, Guitar Center, and many other places in the greater Kalamazoo/ Grand Rapids area) April 1st... no foolin'!
REVUE: I've got a pending article for this which may or may not run. Long story...
KALAMAZOO NOISE!: As always, keep checkin'.
[Cool Upcoming Stuff]
April 7th at The Strutt: Koji, Ender, and Kevin Devine. AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING. Also be on the lookout for my coverage of this show via KN!
If you're not excited right now, check your pulse homey. For reallz.
XOXO
--Meg Alexander (thevolumejunkie)
PS: Don't forget to add me on Facebook and MySpace for any and all blog updates and other related matters. Big hugs to all of you who have already :) Later days!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Top 10 Things I'm Excited About
If there's one thing I love doing, it's making Top-10 lists. You might remember a minor overuse of them during Hip-Hop Week, but it's been months and I think it's ok now...
[10. The Sedgwyck Agents and Your Best Friend: Papa Pete's 3/5/10]
The first time I heard about Your Best Friend, the conversation literally went like this:
Much-cooler friend: What are you doing tonight?
Meg: Aw, I don't know.
MCF: Your Best Friend is playing a show at Corner Bar!
M: ...my best friend? .......who........?
MCF: NO, have you ever heard of the band, YOUR BEST FRIEND?!
She was/is way cooler than me, but now I know! Anyway, the Detroit-area band Your Best Friend will be bringing the hotness to Papa Pete's on March 5th! I saw YBF at Papa's last summer, I believe, with Ghosts of the Great Lakes and others. And, though those were my pre-blogging days (can you imagine? I can't), I still feel that I may tell you that they rocked my fucking face off.
For the record, I once had a similar conversation about Something Corporate ("Do you listen to Something Corporate?" "I listen to a lot of corporate music"); I swear to God that happened. Anyway...
Opening for Your Best Friend will be Kalamazoo's own Sedgwyck Agents. These masters of garage-grunge, also chock full of face-rocking goodness, mash heavily-distorted guitars, riotous cymbal-crashing fury and snarling, Johnny Rottenesque vocals: the kind of music you jacked up way, way too loud when you were an angsty high-school asshole (no worries, I've been there). Your parents' worst nightmare... but (ugh oh) your best friend.
Check this show out. Promise.
Also, look for my upcoming feature on Sedgwyck on Kalamazoo NOISE! for whom I will soon be a contributing writer. These guys rock-- bookmark this page to keep in the loop about Kalamazoo and southwest Michigan shows, as well as check out band profiles, etc, etc, etc.
[9. Ghosts of the Great Lakes' new full length "Erasing You"]
That's right, the band who once likened their sound to "shiny dirt" are releasing their sophomore effort. With a revamped lineup, Ghosts promise that "We are not fucking around in the least on this album." (from their blog); and vow additionally that it will "be loud." And while they brought the pain on their last release "The Death of the Party," which was favorably reviewed by Recoil, Revue and others, it will be interesting to see what they come up with this time around, having taken a minor hiatus from playing live shows and generally been off the proverbial radar.
And in case you've been curious about what they've been up to, they've released the a track list from the upcoming album on their blog. Though I can't see a reason to do this other than just liking the songs' titles a lot, they are officially... released. With promises that we will finally hear the music behind the titles in... June.
Anti-climactic, much?
Regardless, given the endlessly creative take on modern rock with which Ghosts have made a name for themselves in the Kalamazoo scene, I'm stoked for their next release.
See ya in a few months, guys!
[8. Elm Street Riot (formerly Bermuda Groove)]
Elm Street are sort of the new kids on the block of Kalamazoo indie-rock, blending classic 90s alt rock and gritty garage-blues with an indie perspective (think Cage the Elephant, the Black Keys and Ryan Adams' more "rock" stuff).
When I saw them in the fall at the Strutt as Bermuda Groove, I was confused and almost disappointed that they weren't more like this, given their name. But, I kicked back and enjoyed the set; they're kind of like seeing the first high school garage band you were really impressed by; like, "oh, you can be THAT cool and sound like that?! That's really good!"
Anyway, it's still in the early days of Elm Street Riot's tenure on the Kzoo scene, but I'm expecting to hear MUCH more from these guys in the coming months. In the meantime, you can check out their EP here and rock steady; during which time, please be advised that Elm Street "is sure to make your ears bleed in the best possible way."
[7. Trixy Disco] (what is "Dutch Pop?")
Another new band I've happened upon since selling out to MySpace: Trixy Disco. With a name like "Trixy Disco," a MySpace wallpapered in mosquitoes, and (most of all) their funky, experimental hard-rock sound, I was instantly intrigued. Though they only have one song up on MySpace, the headbanging "C'mon Sunshine," their sound has a presence and a uniqueness that you can't fake-- or ignore.
It might be a little premature but I'm expecting fantastic things from this band... they will be rockin' out the dungeon that is Corner Bar on March 19th, so I guess we'll see?
[6. Their Teeth Will Be Of Lions CD Release Show 4/17/10]
What the band rightly calls a "strange collaboration of talent and compassion" on their own MySpace is Kalamazoo's indie tour de force Their Teeth Will Be Of Lions. Taking us on an experimental-indie roller coaster ride of sound since their first release "Everyone Made it Out Alive.. Almost!" and through the darker "The Death... The Reincarnation... And The Unfamiliar Tales Of:" the band brings us their third album, "True Stories Are Harder To Make Up" in April.
Preferring their dance-y first album to the more brooding sophomore effort, I felt that their original B52s-meets-Rocky-Horror-Picture-Show antics suited the quirky seven-piece a little better than what they've been coming up with lately;. for example, "We Plunge Our Hands Deep Into The Sand:" an almost-harmonizing a cappella intro, leading into bass-driven indie, festooned with Sci-Fi synth and overdubbed with an excerpt from Obama's presidential acceptance speech... A little much? I think so.
However, while I don't know quite what to expect from the third-- a bridge between ridiculous-but-fun and serious-but-overbearing? or a third direction we don't even see coming?-- I'm sure that the CD release show will be worth catching. While naysayers can say what they will about Teeth's recorded work, there is no denying that they have always put on one of the most fun shows in town. And, alongside a killer lineup of some of the area's best bands-- The Skies Revolt (Grand Rapids), Hello Victor, Ghosts of the Great Lakes, Spacelift, and Toro and the National Guard-- this show is guaranteed to be killer.
[5. Reggae Dancehall Xplosion 2010]
What do you get when you mix the resurrection of one of Kalamazoo's greatest venues of all time (the Kraftbrau... nowadays "Old Dog Tavern") and the amazing island-inspired world-beat dance music spun by WIDR's Selector Jonathon/ "Dread I Sound?" That's right: a "Reggae Dancehall Xplosion" the likes of which this town has never seen. Spinning a combination of "roots music, afro-beat, dub, nyahbinghi, rock-steady, dub-step, one-drop, dancehall, rockers, acoustic, dubtronic, lovers, tropical, soca, steel pan, modern roots, calypso and the occasional non-reggae African-based music" (from the Reggae Revolution MySpace), Dread I Sound and DJ Assane (who I mysteriously cannot find anywhere on the internet, and consequently cannot provide you with a link; sorry) revive a long-lost art: the reggae dance party.
You might remember Dread I Sound from Bob Marley Birthday Bash this year; and, in true irie spirit, he has generously sent me playlists of his radio show, which I am thrilled to say IS AMAZING. Alongside super obscure reggae-oriented acts from all over the world (not just the Caribbean, but as far-flung as Sardinia, Italy, Sweden, the UK, France, and Belgium; and even the US and Canada... who knew?) are names you'll recognize from mainstream radio and probably your own music collection... Sean Paul, Matisyahu, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, Rancid (?! what are you doing here, Rancid?) and more.
And, well, it's not spring yet. So if you need a break, hit up Old Dog Tavern, crack open a Red Stripe and post. Dread I Sound has a gift for turning what is often misunderstood as a very homogeneous genre and turning it into a truly diverse and amazing tessellation of styles, cultures, and sounds. Interested? You bet your ass you are. Check out the next Reggae Dancehall Xplosion on March 18th; until then, Reggae Revolution is on WIDR (89.1 FM) Tuesday nights from 10-midnight.
[4. Dead Scene Radio's Full-Length; release date TBD]
Wellllllll if you read my last post (was that the last one? damn) you already know how I feel about Dead Scene Radio.
You know then, indeed that we are expecting a full-length from them coming up, the details of which should be released any time now now.
What they do have up is this video, which, even without vocals, sounds killer and falls squarely within their tried-and-true indie/pop paradigm, and resembles the rest of their music: laden with upbeat, electric instrumentation, bright melodies and subtle vocal harmonies.
Anyway, I'm going to try to set up an interview with these guys and see if we can get in the loop. In the meantime, check out their current stuff if you haven't: a feel-good blend of old-school Beach Boys/ Buddy Holly pop/rock and roll plus indie rock.
[3. Hello Victor: full-length due out in June 2010]
You might remember one of my very first local reviews, Hello Victor's EP, "1623" last fall.
After my mostly-favorable review of their EP, I saw them play a few times-- most recently over Christmas Break, I think-- and now can say that I thoroughly believe in this band. With an increasingly-killer live show to amplify their already impressive studio work (available on MySpace and anjuno), Hello Victor is building suspense for their first full-length, due out this summer, releasing a song or two at their recent shows but keeping fairly quiet about what they're up to in the studio.
During an unofficial interview with Hello Victor, I learned that they have been keeping quite busy; with a new management deal and studio options being discussed, the band seems to hope to live up to the buzz that their EP and live shows have generated, continue playing live shows (including a slew of Kalamazoo-area dates and a show in Chicago) in the coming months. With moderate lineup changes (including adding members of the now-defunct Kzoo indie gem The Rock and the Hive) and a notable feeling of newfound assurance in their music, Hello Victor is looking pretty good these days.
[2. Mustard Plug at Papa Pete's 3/16/10]
AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My favorite local(ish) band EVER and one of my all-time faves, MUSTARD PLUG, is playing at Papa Pete's in a mere TWO WEEKS!
I've seen this band I think around nine times (I lost track at seven) and they have never, never disappointed me. I checked them out for the first time when I was 15, at State Theatre. I think it was the first concert I ever went to. It was summer. I wore sandals. It was painful. I had an awesome time.
One thing I love about Mustard Plug's shows: consistency. They are consistently the most fun shows I see. Despite having serious ska chops and being a mainstay in the national ska scene-- and, now an internationally-performing band-- these guys are mindblowingly down-to-earth, allowing for an anything-goes atmosphere at their shows. I'm talking skanking, crowdsurfing, stagedancing and any other beer- /Beer- fueled shenanigans you can imagine, an elbows-and-knees melee over soaring requiems of 2 Tone chaos.
I can promise you that THIS WILL BE THE SHOW of the season in Kalamazoo. Except for...
[1. Fruit Bats 3/5/10 @ the Strutt]
At last, Fruit Bats are making their triumphant return to Kalamazoo after Barking Tuna 2009.
If you didn't catch my Barking Tuna coverage last fall, here's a synopsis: despite having played an amazing show at State Theatre on Night Three, the Fruit Bats received little attention in Kalamazoo, even from a city with what I observe as a pretty indie-centered music scene.
But still, it seems like people are fairly excited about this show; in a rare move, The Strutt is pre-selling tickets (they are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, I believe.). I know I am.
With a delightful, Shins-rendered style of indie-pop, Fruit Bats (currently on the music snobs' Most Infamous Label: SubPop) exemplify everything that is great about indie: intricate-but-accessible, tone-conscious guitar parts, weaving flowing harmonies with cerebral lyrics and the occasional piano jam. Frontman and principal songwriter Eric Johnson has an incredible combination of the characteristic indie sensibility with roots in classic rock; think Jeffy Tweedy meets Loud Reed meets the Beatles' "Let It Be" (Phil Spector style or "Naked," you decide) times indie, minus whining; to the tenth power.
Also, check out their blog; their latest chronicles a session with Sean and my boys over at Day Trotter!
[10. The Sedgwyck Agents and Your Best Friend: Papa Pete's 3/5/10]
The first time I heard about Your Best Friend, the conversation literally went like this:
Much-cooler friend: What are you doing tonight?
Meg: Aw, I don't know.
MCF: Your Best Friend is playing a show at Corner Bar!
M: ...my best friend? .......who........?
MCF: NO, have you ever heard of the band, YOUR BEST FRIEND?!
She was/is way cooler than me, but now I know! Anyway, the Detroit-area band Your Best Friend will be bringing the hotness to Papa Pete's on March 5th! I saw YBF at Papa's last summer, I believe, with Ghosts of the Great Lakes and others. And, though those were my pre-blogging days (can you imagine? I can't), I still feel that I may tell you that they rocked my fucking face off.
For the record, I once had a similar conversation about Something Corporate ("Do you listen to Something Corporate?" "I listen to a lot of corporate music"); I swear to God that happened. Anyway...
Opening for Your Best Friend will be Kalamazoo's own Sedgwyck Agents. These masters of garage-grunge, also chock full of face-rocking goodness, mash heavily-distorted guitars, riotous cymbal-crashing fury and snarling, Johnny Rottenesque vocals: the kind of music you jacked up way, way too loud when you were an angsty high-school asshole (no worries, I've been there). Your parents' worst nightmare... but (ugh oh) your best friend.
Check this show out. Promise.
Also, look for my upcoming feature on Sedgwyck on Kalamazoo NOISE! for whom I will soon be a contributing writer. These guys rock-- bookmark this page to keep in the loop about Kalamazoo and southwest Michigan shows, as well as check out band profiles, etc, etc, etc.
[9. Ghosts of the Great Lakes' new full length "Erasing You"]
That's right, the band who once likened their sound to "shiny dirt" are releasing their sophomore effort. With a revamped lineup, Ghosts promise that "We are not fucking around in the least on this album." (from their blog); and vow additionally that it will "be loud." And while they brought the pain on their last release "The Death of the Party," which was favorably reviewed by Recoil, Revue and others, it will be interesting to see what they come up with this time around, having taken a minor hiatus from playing live shows and generally been off the proverbial radar.
And in case you've been curious about what they've been up to, they've released the a track list from the upcoming album on their blog. Though I can't see a reason to do this other than just liking the songs' titles a lot, they are officially... released. With promises that we will finally hear the music behind the titles in... June.
Anti-climactic, much?
Regardless, given the endlessly creative take on modern rock with which Ghosts have made a name for themselves in the Kalamazoo scene, I'm stoked for their next release.
See ya in a few months, guys!
[8. Elm Street Riot (formerly Bermuda Groove)]
Elm Street are sort of the new kids on the block of Kalamazoo indie-rock, blending classic 90s alt rock and gritty garage-blues with an indie perspective (think Cage the Elephant, the Black Keys and Ryan Adams' more "rock" stuff).
When I saw them in the fall at the Strutt as Bermuda Groove, I was confused and almost disappointed that they weren't more like this, given their name. But, I kicked back and enjoyed the set; they're kind of like seeing the first high school garage band you were really impressed by; like, "oh, you can be THAT cool and sound like that?! That's really good!"
Anyway, it's still in the early days of Elm Street Riot's tenure on the Kzoo scene, but I'm expecting to hear MUCH more from these guys in the coming months. In the meantime, you can check out their EP here and rock steady; during which time, please be advised that Elm Street "is sure to make your ears bleed in the best possible way."
[7. Trixy Disco] (what is "Dutch Pop?")
Another new band I've happened upon since selling out to MySpace: Trixy Disco. With a name like "Trixy Disco," a MySpace wallpapered in mosquitoes, and (most of all) their funky, experimental hard-rock sound, I was instantly intrigued. Though they only have one song up on MySpace, the headbanging "C'mon Sunshine," their sound has a presence and a uniqueness that you can't fake-- or ignore.
It might be a little premature but I'm expecting fantastic things from this band... they will be rockin' out the dungeon that is Corner Bar on March 19th, so I guess we'll see?
[6. Their Teeth Will Be Of Lions CD Release Show 4/17/10]
What the band rightly calls a "strange collaboration of talent and compassion" on their own MySpace is Kalamazoo's indie tour de force Their Teeth Will Be Of Lions. Taking us on an experimental-indie roller coaster ride of sound since their first release "Everyone Made it Out Alive.. Almost!" and through the darker "The Death... The Reincarnation... And The Unfamiliar Tales Of:" the band brings us their third album, "True Stories Are Harder To Make Up" in April.
Preferring their dance-y first album to the more brooding sophomore effort, I felt that their original B52s-meets-Rocky-Horror-Picture-Show antics suited the quirky seven-piece a little better than what they've been coming up with lately;. for example, "We Plunge Our Hands Deep Into The Sand:" an almost-harmonizing a cappella intro, leading into bass-driven indie, festooned with Sci-Fi synth and overdubbed with an excerpt from Obama's presidential acceptance speech... A little much? I think so.
However, while I don't know quite what to expect from the third-- a bridge between ridiculous-but-fun and serious-but-overbearing? or a third direction we don't even see coming?-- I'm sure that the CD release show will be worth catching. While naysayers can say what they will about Teeth's recorded work, there is no denying that they have always put on one of the most fun shows in town. And, alongside a killer lineup of some of the area's best bands-- The Skies Revolt (Grand Rapids), Hello Victor, Ghosts of the Great Lakes, Spacelift, and Toro and the National Guard-- this show is guaranteed to be killer.
[5. Reggae Dancehall Xplosion 2010]
What do you get when you mix the resurrection of one of Kalamazoo's greatest venues of all time (the Kraftbrau... nowadays "Old Dog Tavern") and the amazing island-inspired world-beat dance music spun by WIDR's Selector Jonathon/ "Dread I Sound?" That's right: a "Reggae Dancehall Xplosion" the likes of which this town has never seen. Spinning a combination of "roots music, afro-beat, dub, nyahbinghi, rock-steady, dub-step, one-drop, dancehall, rockers, acoustic, dubtronic, lovers, tropical, soca, steel pan, modern roots, calypso and the occasional non-reggae African-based music" (from the Reggae Revolution MySpace), Dread I Sound and DJ Assane (who I mysteriously cannot find anywhere on the internet, and consequently cannot provide you with a link; sorry) revive a long-lost art: the reggae dance party.
You might remember Dread I Sound from Bob Marley Birthday Bash this year; and, in true irie spirit, he has generously sent me playlists of his radio show, which I am thrilled to say IS AMAZING. Alongside super obscure reggae-oriented acts from all over the world (not just the Caribbean, but as far-flung as Sardinia, Italy, Sweden, the UK, France, and Belgium; and even the US and Canada... who knew?) are names you'll recognize from mainstream radio and probably your own music collection... Sean Paul, Matisyahu, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, Rancid (?! what are you doing here, Rancid?) and more.
And, well, it's not spring yet. So if you need a break, hit up Old Dog Tavern, crack open a Red Stripe and post. Dread I Sound has a gift for turning what is often misunderstood as a very homogeneous genre and turning it into a truly diverse and amazing tessellation of styles, cultures, and sounds. Interested? You bet your ass you are. Check out the next Reggae Dancehall Xplosion on March 18th; until then, Reggae Revolution is on WIDR (89.1 FM) Tuesday nights from 10-midnight.
[4. Dead Scene Radio's Full-Length; release date TBD]
Wellllllll if you read my last post (was that the last one? damn) you already know how I feel about Dead Scene Radio.
You know then, indeed that we are expecting a full-length from them coming up, the details of which should be released any time now now.
What they do have up is this video, which, even without vocals, sounds killer and falls squarely within their tried-and-true indie/pop paradigm, and resembles the rest of their music: laden with upbeat, electric instrumentation, bright melodies and subtle vocal harmonies.
Anyway, I'm going to try to set up an interview with these guys and see if we can get in the loop. In the meantime, check out their current stuff if you haven't: a feel-good blend of old-school Beach Boys/ Buddy Holly pop/rock and roll plus indie rock.
[3. Hello Victor: full-length due out in June 2010]
You might remember one of my very first local reviews, Hello Victor's EP, "1623" last fall.
After my mostly-favorable review of their EP, I saw them play a few times-- most recently over Christmas Break, I think-- and now can say that I thoroughly believe in this band. With an increasingly-killer live show to amplify their already impressive studio work (available on MySpace and anjuno), Hello Victor is building suspense for their first full-length, due out this summer, releasing a song or two at their recent shows but keeping fairly quiet about what they're up to in the studio.
During an unofficial interview with Hello Victor, I learned that they have been keeping quite busy; with a new management deal and studio options being discussed, the band seems to hope to live up to the buzz that their EP and live shows have generated, continue playing live shows (including a slew of Kalamazoo-area dates and a show in Chicago) in the coming months. With moderate lineup changes (including adding members of the now-defunct Kzoo indie gem The Rock and the Hive) and a notable feeling of newfound assurance in their music, Hello Victor is looking pretty good these days.
[2. Mustard Plug at Papa Pete's 3/16/10]
AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My favorite local(ish) band EVER and one of my all-time faves, MUSTARD PLUG, is playing at Papa Pete's in a mere TWO WEEKS!
I've seen this band I think around nine times (I lost track at seven) and they have never, never disappointed me. I checked them out for the first time when I was 15, at State Theatre. I think it was the first concert I ever went to. It was summer. I wore sandals. It was painful. I had an awesome time.
One thing I love about Mustard Plug's shows: consistency. They are consistently the most fun shows I see. Despite having serious ska chops and being a mainstay in the national ska scene-- and, now an internationally-performing band-- these guys are mindblowingly down-to-earth, allowing for an anything-goes atmosphere at their shows. I'm talking skanking, crowdsurfing, stagedancing and any other beer- /Beer- fueled shenanigans you can imagine, an elbows-and-knees melee over soaring requiems of 2 Tone chaos.
I can promise you that THIS WILL BE THE SHOW of the season in Kalamazoo. Except for...
[1. Fruit Bats 3/5/10 @ the Strutt]
At last, Fruit Bats are making their triumphant return to Kalamazoo after Barking Tuna 2009.
If you didn't catch my Barking Tuna coverage last fall, here's a synopsis: despite having played an amazing show at State Theatre on Night Three, the Fruit Bats received little attention in Kalamazoo, even from a city with what I observe as a pretty indie-centered music scene.
But still, it seems like people are fairly excited about this show; in a rare move, The Strutt is pre-selling tickets (they are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, I believe.). I know I am.
With a delightful, Shins-rendered style of indie-pop, Fruit Bats (currently on the music snobs' Most Infamous Label: SubPop) exemplify everything that is great about indie: intricate-but-accessible, tone-conscious guitar parts, weaving flowing harmonies with cerebral lyrics and the occasional piano jam. Frontman and principal songwriter Eric Johnson has an incredible combination of the characteristic indie sensibility with roots in classic rock; think Jeffy Tweedy meets Loud Reed meets the Beatles' "Let It Be" (Phil Spector style or "Naked," you decide) times indie, minus whining; to the tenth power.
Also, check out their blog; their latest chronicles a session with Sean and my boys over at Day Trotter!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
