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!
Showing posts with label Fruit Bats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fruit Bats. Show all posts
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Tuna.
So, finally, the big Tuna Blog. I had a really hard time deciding how I'm going to go about this, because I know you don't want to hear about aaaaaaaaall the bands, and I kind of think that would be redundant and silly anyway. So I thought it would be fun to do it high school yearbook mock-election style.
Best Misfits: Boy In Static (Night One)
After an ungodly 40-minute soundcheck (we were told the band's gear had been misplaced by the airline and arrived one hour before their set was to begin), San Francisco synth/viola 2-piece Boy In Static sheepishly took the sheepish-looking stage at the Strutt to a patient and enthusiastic crowd: house regulars (the K College- affiliated intellectual-and-hip-in-that-order crew) stood alongside disconnected hippie burnouts and aging upper-middle-class sophisticates alike, sipping pumpkin lattes and microbrews (goodness. I love the Strutt). At first, the crowd received them mostly with curiosity; a tiny Asian guy jamming on a viola and singing and a tiny white guy pounding on a drum machine don't exactly fit into the paradigm of the Kalamazoo scene, and this newfangled San Francisco shenanigan of a band felt a little like being in an electro-indie Oz. Needless to say, everyone loved it. Their music was fun and enthusiastic without an overwhelming or annoying amount of energy. The guys themselves brought a lot of personality to their set, which I really liked; although, at times their set felt a little bit like I was watching VH1 Storytellers or something, because they literally told us the name of-- and often, the story behind writing-- every. single. song. I had kind of mixed feelings about this. But, these guys had a great sense of humor and interacted with the audience in a way that made it feel like we were all friends, like they were playing a house show in the student ghetto.
Probably the most entertaining element of this set was just watching the synth player. I haven't seen a whole lot of electronic acts live, but until now, I have never seen anyone bring the all energy (and more) of a "real" drummer with a drum machine. At the end, everyone was having so much fun that an encore was all but demanded; the hipsters were a-jumpin' and the wood floors of the Strutt were creaking like it was some kind of indie hoedown. It was magical.
Most Misjudged: The Legendary Shack Shakers (Night Two)
Man-oh-man, do I have some explaining to do.
You might remember that when I was scoping out the Tuna bands, I said some not-very-nice things about the Shack Shakers. Lucky for you guys, I am pretty ok at admitting when I am wrong (don't ask my mom or any of my ex-boyfriends, but I am) if I do say so myself. And now is one of those times, because these guys BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE. Not only did they draw the biggest crowd I saw at any of the three shows, but they made Papa Pete's into the biggest madhouse I have seen it since I saw Mustard Plug there about this time last year. These guys played something that, if I had to, I would label "bayou metal." I think normal people call it "rockabilly." [I had heard this term used before, but apparently there is a whole rockabilly culture/ scene I had no idea about, which basically consists of guys with beards in flannel shirts and girls who dress like Lucille Ball but wear lots of makeup and have full tattoo sleeves. Huh.] Regardless, while their sound is uniquely country-slash-cajun-influenced, it's essentially just an extremely danceable bar rock. The Nashville four-piece (guitar, stand-up bass, harmonica, and drums) is lead by a singer who reminded me of a combination of Scott Weiland and my friend Kyle when he's on acid (read: batshit crazy, but captivating in a pied-piper kind of way) and they created a manic, tent revival-like atmosphere which even some of the biggest bands strive for, but don't always attain. And, oh yeah, it was a complete shit show. I haven't seen that many people THAT drunk since... well... Mustard Plug, about this time last year. And even though I myself did not partake (oh, the sacrifices made in the name of responsible journalism) it was completely impossible not to have a killer time. And I did.
Biggest WTF?!: Small Brown Bike (Night Three)
I hate to say I told you so, but...
This was my biggest Tuna letdown. By far. I had considerably low expectations for this band in the first place, and I have to say, they did not redeem themselves whatsoever as a live act. State Theatre is a historic venue with an amazing vibe and I've seen some of the best shows of my life there (well, only one comes to mind [Ryan Adams] but still) and Small Brown Bike managed to create an atmosphere with all the awkward, stagnant discomfort of a high school prom (just speculating, 'cause like I know what that's like). I don't want to write about this anymore, but I still want you to know what it's like, so I will give you some uncensored, unchanged, (semi-) unedited excerpts from my notes that night:
-at best, a poor man's Foo [Fighters]
-sorry, Chad Houts, I DON'T LIKE THIS BAND.*
-I feel like I'm being smoked out of a standoff situation. PANAMA!**
-LOL @ coordinated hair-flip***
-there are more important things in life than charismatic rhythm guitarists.
-[upon a bashful guitar re-tune between songs] "You guys might be getting the sloppy E right now" --oh really? is that what this is?
-un-miked shouting [shitty but common screamo move] alarming and spazzy.
-sound like a Rise Against cover band. Not ok
-Rise Against playing between bands. Of fucking course
*my friend, Chad Houts, had been telling me how awesome this band is.
** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_(song)
*** at one point, both guitar players and the bass player all flipped their hair in unison. Annoying.
So hopefully that gives you a pretty good idea of what it was like. It's so shitty to think that this band drew the second biggest crowd I saw for the whole festival; I estimated that there were over 300 people there. Not too many, but it was the perfect fit for State; when State is sold out, it is unbelievably claustrophobic and awkward. If you've never experienced a sold-out show at State Theatre, it kind of feels like being at your grandma's house for Christmas and all of your cousins are there instead of just you and your siblings like you're used to. You're excited, but then you get there and it's just a stuffy, crowded mess and you inevitably run out of gravy (in this analogy, Red Stripe).
Speaking of grandmas, at some point during Night Three, I noticed that there was an entire family behind me-- complete with a grandma (glean what you will from my description of Small Brown Bike and then imagine a grandma there). Imagine how weirded out I was in that moment. I am eavesdropping as I always do in public until I find out that they are people who say "whenever" in place of "when;" and at one point, I literally hear a naggy matriarch shout "You know, you could die from smoking!" And then, my favorite part of the show at this point: the dad (who had been slouching in a chair separate from the rest of the family, with his feet up on a chair in front of him) looks at his phone, stands up, shouting, does a victory dance and screams "TOUCHDOWN! I LOVE TECHNOLOGY!"
But, I digress.
Most Tragically-Underrated Band: Fruit Bats (Night Three)
When I see The Grandma up front, taking pictures on her cell, I realize why the family is there: for Fruit Bats! Of course! I always knew grandmas had great taste in music (although I find out that they are there with a band member [obvs] by the way they keep shouting "CHRIS!" and various song requests).
Actually, I am sad to report that this family makes up about 1/4 of the audience which witnesses the true glory of Fruit Bats' set. Everyone inexplicably left after Small Brown Bike's set and I have never taken such a blatant disregard of amazing music so personally. This band put on literally one of the BEST SHOWS I HAVE SEEN lately. I'm not even joking. Fruit Bats are an indie 5-piece led by a singer (he also plays guitar and keys) who resembles Ben Gibbard both physically and musically... The Death Cab influence is undeniable, but they sound essentially like a mix between the Shins and the Allman Brothers Band. Sounds crazy, I know, but this blend of indie-pop with a little (even though I hate this phrase) Southern rock resulted in a beautiful, completely original sound.
The best parts of Fruit Bats' set, though, were songs performed solo by their lead singer/ guitar player Eric Johnson. A natural vocalist and poetic songwriter, Johnson has a stunning ability to play to a room of 25, make it seem as though he feels like he's playing to a room of 2,500 and make you feel like he's playing to just you. His songwriting has a poetic, narrative style that I thought would be good, but was heartstopping to hear in person. Even though at times, like during the encore-- requested by essentially one guy-- the music was obscured by awkward (but well-meaning) clapping, they never lost their beautiful, intimate connectedness. This band was amazing and I would be surprised if I never heard about them again. Keep an eye out for Fruit Bats. If you like indie at all (and I'm assuming you do since you're reading this and it's pretty much all I talk about) check them out. You won't be sorry. That's all I'm sayin'.
And, so (I bet you saw this coming)...
BEST TUNA BAND: FRUIT BATS!
Honorable Mention: The Daredevil Christopher Wright (Night One)
Daredevil kind of sounded like the Decemberists meets Ben Folds Five. Delightful! They had me right at the first song, when their drummer (/percussionist) walked out from behind the drum kit and kept drumming on random shit that was onstage. It was amazing. I know that sounds weird, but everyone else thought it was cool too. I used to date a drummer and I know how annoying it is how they drum on everything in sight. But, take this and apply it to actual MUSIC, and it's actually really cool and creative. Their music has a sentimental vulnerability to it at times that was really endearing (like "East Coast," about a family member who gets married and moves across the country). As a band, they come off as the geeky choir boys from high school, who got picked on but then one day everyone realized how talented they were and then they got laid more than the lacrosse players. And rightfully so; one of their songs was led off by an a cappella doo-wop intro that was an entertaining, refreshing, amazing novelty. This is another band from whom I promise we can expect great things in the future.
The bottom line:
Three nights of amazing music... and I am simply exhausted. I had an awesome, awesome time and can't wait until next year. I'm going to take a little break from live music, but expect some new album reviews this week.
Special thanks to Clarke Babcock for being my companion throughout the festival!
-thejunkie
Best Misfits: Boy In Static (Night One)
After an ungodly 40-minute soundcheck (we were told the band's gear had been misplaced by the airline and arrived one hour before their set was to begin), San Francisco synth/viola 2-piece Boy In Static sheepishly took the sheepish-looking stage at the Strutt to a patient and enthusiastic crowd: house regulars (the K College- affiliated intellectual-and-hip-in-that-order crew) stood alongside disconnected hippie burnouts and aging upper-middle-class sophisticates alike, sipping pumpkin lattes and microbrews (goodness. I love the Strutt). At first, the crowd received them mostly with curiosity; a tiny Asian guy jamming on a viola and singing and a tiny white guy pounding on a drum machine don't exactly fit into the paradigm of the Kalamazoo scene, and this newfangled San Francisco shenanigan of a band felt a little like being in an electro-indie Oz. Needless to say, everyone loved it. Their music was fun and enthusiastic without an overwhelming or annoying amount of energy. The guys themselves brought a lot of personality to their set, which I really liked; although, at times their set felt a little bit like I was watching VH1 Storytellers or something, because they literally told us the name of-- and often, the story behind writing-- every. single. song. I had kind of mixed feelings about this. But, these guys had a great sense of humor and interacted with the audience in a way that made it feel like we were all friends, like they were playing a house show in the student ghetto.
Probably the most entertaining element of this set was just watching the synth player. I haven't seen a whole lot of electronic acts live, but until now, I have never seen anyone bring the all energy (and more) of a "real" drummer with a drum machine. At the end, everyone was having so much fun that an encore was all but demanded; the hipsters were a-jumpin' and the wood floors of the Strutt were creaking like it was some kind of indie hoedown. It was magical.
Most Misjudged: The Legendary Shack Shakers (Night Two)
Man-oh-man, do I have some explaining to do.
You might remember that when I was scoping out the Tuna bands, I said some not-very-nice things about the Shack Shakers. Lucky for you guys, I am pretty ok at admitting when I am wrong (don't ask my mom or any of my ex-boyfriends, but I am) if I do say so myself. And now is one of those times, because these guys BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE. Not only did they draw the biggest crowd I saw at any of the three shows, but they made Papa Pete's into the biggest madhouse I have seen it since I saw Mustard Plug there about this time last year. These guys played something that, if I had to, I would label "bayou metal." I think normal people call it "rockabilly." [I had heard this term used before, but apparently there is a whole rockabilly culture/ scene I had no idea about, which basically consists of guys with beards in flannel shirts and girls who dress like Lucille Ball but wear lots of makeup and have full tattoo sleeves. Huh.] Regardless, while their sound is uniquely country-slash-cajun-influenced, it's essentially just an extremely danceable bar rock. The Nashville four-piece (guitar, stand-up bass, harmonica, and drums) is lead by a singer who reminded me of a combination of Scott Weiland and my friend Kyle when he's on acid (read: batshit crazy, but captivating in a pied-piper kind of way) and they created a manic, tent revival-like atmosphere which even some of the biggest bands strive for, but don't always attain. And, oh yeah, it was a complete shit show. I haven't seen that many people THAT drunk since... well... Mustard Plug, about this time last year. And even though I myself did not partake (oh, the sacrifices made in the name of responsible journalism) it was completely impossible not to have a killer time. And I did.
Biggest WTF?!: Small Brown Bike (Night Three)
I hate to say I told you so, but...
This was my biggest Tuna letdown. By far. I had considerably low expectations for this band in the first place, and I have to say, they did not redeem themselves whatsoever as a live act. State Theatre is a historic venue with an amazing vibe and I've seen some of the best shows of my life there (well, only one comes to mind [Ryan Adams] but still) and Small Brown Bike managed to create an atmosphere with all the awkward, stagnant discomfort of a high school prom (just speculating, 'cause like I know what that's like). I don't want to write about this anymore, but I still want you to know what it's like, so I will give you some uncensored, unchanged, (semi-) unedited excerpts from my notes that night:
-at best, a poor man's Foo [Fighters]
-sorry, Chad Houts, I DON'T LIKE THIS BAND.*
-I feel like I'm being smoked out of a standoff situation. PANAMA!**
-LOL @ coordinated hair-flip***
-there are more important things in life than charismatic rhythm guitarists.
-[upon a bashful guitar re-tune between songs] "You guys might be getting the sloppy E right now" --oh really? is that what this is?
-un-miked shouting [shitty but common screamo move] alarming and spazzy.
-sound like a Rise Against cover band. Not ok
-Rise Against playing between bands. Of fucking course
*my friend, Chad Houts, had been telling me how awesome this band is.
** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_(song)
*** at one point, both guitar players and the bass player all flipped their hair in unison. Annoying.
So hopefully that gives you a pretty good idea of what it was like. It's so shitty to think that this band drew the second biggest crowd I saw for the whole festival; I estimated that there were over 300 people there. Not too many, but it was the perfect fit for State; when State is sold out, it is unbelievably claustrophobic and awkward. If you've never experienced a sold-out show at State Theatre, it kind of feels like being at your grandma's house for Christmas and all of your cousins are there instead of just you and your siblings like you're used to. You're excited, but then you get there and it's just a stuffy, crowded mess and you inevitably run out of gravy (in this analogy, Red Stripe).
Speaking of grandmas, at some point during Night Three, I noticed that there was an entire family behind me-- complete with a grandma (glean what you will from my description of Small Brown Bike and then imagine a grandma there). Imagine how weirded out I was in that moment. I am eavesdropping as I always do in public until I find out that they are people who say "whenever" in place of "when;" and at one point, I literally hear a naggy matriarch shout "You know, you could die from smoking!" And then, my favorite part of the show at this point: the dad (who had been slouching in a chair separate from the rest of the family, with his feet up on a chair in front of him) looks at his phone, stands up, shouting, does a victory dance and screams "TOUCHDOWN! I LOVE TECHNOLOGY!"
But, I digress.
Most Tragically-Underrated Band: Fruit Bats (Night Three)
When I see The Grandma up front, taking pictures on her cell, I realize why the family is there: for Fruit Bats! Of course! I always knew grandmas had great taste in music (although I find out that they are there with a band member [obvs] by the way they keep shouting "CHRIS!" and various song requests).
Actually, I am sad to report that this family makes up about 1/4 of the audience which witnesses the true glory of Fruit Bats' set. Everyone inexplicably left after Small Brown Bike's set and I have never taken such a blatant disregard of amazing music so personally. This band put on literally one of the BEST SHOWS I HAVE SEEN lately. I'm not even joking. Fruit Bats are an indie 5-piece led by a singer (he also plays guitar and keys) who resembles Ben Gibbard both physically and musically... The Death Cab influence is undeniable, but they sound essentially like a mix between the Shins and the Allman Brothers Band. Sounds crazy, I know, but this blend of indie-pop with a little (even though I hate this phrase) Southern rock resulted in a beautiful, completely original sound.
The best parts of Fruit Bats' set, though, were songs performed solo by their lead singer/ guitar player Eric Johnson. A natural vocalist and poetic songwriter, Johnson has a stunning ability to play to a room of 25, make it seem as though he feels like he's playing to a room of 2,500 and make you feel like he's playing to just you. His songwriting has a poetic, narrative style that I thought would be good, but was heartstopping to hear in person. Even though at times, like during the encore-- requested by essentially one guy-- the music was obscured by awkward (but well-meaning) clapping, they never lost their beautiful, intimate connectedness. This band was amazing and I would be surprised if I never heard about them again. Keep an eye out for Fruit Bats. If you like indie at all (and I'm assuming you do since you're reading this and it's pretty much all I talk about) check them out. You won't be sorry. That's all I'm sayin'.
And, so (I bet you saw this coming)...
BEST TUNA BAND: FRUIT BATS!
Honorable Mention: The Daredevil Christopher Wright (Night One)
Daredevil kind of sounded like the Decemberists meets Ben Folds Five. Delightful! They had me right at the first song, when their drummer (/percussionist) walked out from behind the drum kit and kept drumming on random shit that was onstage. It was amazing. I know that sounds weird, but everyone else thought it was cool too. I used to date a drummer and I know how annoying it is how they drum on everything in sight. But, take this and apply it to actual MUSIC, and it's actually really cool and creative. Their music has a sentimental vulnerability to it at times that was really endearing (like "East Coast," about a family member who gets married and moves across the country). As a band, they come off as the geeky choir boys from high school, who got picked on but then one day everyone realized how talented they were and then they got laid more than the lacrosse players. And rightfully so; one of their songs was led off by an a cappella doo-wop intro that was an entertaining, refreshing, amazing novelty. This is another band from whom I promise we can expect great things in the future.
The bottom line:
Three nights of amazing music... and I am simply exhausted. I had an awesome, awesome time and can't wait until next year. I'm going to take a little break from live music, but expect some new album reviews this week.
Special thanks to Clarke Babcock for being my companion throughout the festival!
-thejunkie
Friday, October 09, 2009
Barking Tuna 2009 NIGHT THREE PREVIEW!
That's right, kids. The full monty, the prestigious Night Three of the Tuna! Here's a little bit of what's going down.
Night Three: Sat 10/10/09 at State Theater
Fruit Bats (Chicago) {pop/folk-rock} [http://www.myspace.com/thefruitbats]
I have to say, on behalf of all Kalamazoo music geeks, it is really exciting that Fruit Bats are playing Barking Tuna this year. Led by singer-songwriter Eric Johnson (no, not that Eric Johnson, guitar nerds), Fruit Bats have been around with various lineups for the past several years, and signed to Sub Pop since '02. They have even played alongside indie heroes the Shins. Also, after they play this show, they are embarking on a European tour... But enough credentials and nerdery.
As for the music. Not to get all Carrie Bradshaw but...
"When listening to this band, I couldn't help but wonder: is there such a thing as too indie?"
My answer: no. And if there is, Fruit Bats aren't (Bright Eyes? maybe?). I just impulsively bought this band's music from their Myspace, and you know you like music when you pay for it. Tell you what... before you go to the show on Saturday, do yourself a favor, and listen to the music, because you're going to want to sing along. I promise. Check out "When U Love Somebody."
Small Brown Bike (Marshall, MI) {screamo} [http://www.myspace.com/smallbrownbike04]
Don't get mad at me, K-zoo scene kids, but... Yikes.
Just yikes.
Not to be a snob, but how did an screamo band from Marshall land this spot anyway? Screamo is over. It should have never happened and it's done now. Acclimate!
Can I please go back to Fruit Bats?!
Notes To Self (Toronto) {hip-hop} [http://www.myspace.com/notestoself]
This is another opportunity we don't get in Kalamazoo a whole lot: A GOOD HIP-HOP SHOW!!!
I want to reiterate what I said about bluegrass last weekend: just because you think it's not your scene doesn't mean you won't have a completely awesome time. Not only is hip-hop fairly rare to come by as far as live music goes, Kalamazoo doesn't really have the facilities, a following or a much of a scene at all for hip-hop. [P.S. This is something I've wanted to talk about for a long time, and I feel now is the time to discuss it. "Hip-hop" and "rap" are not the same thing. "Rapping" is the VOCAL PART of "hip-hop" music. That would be like calling rock music "singing" or "shouting," neither of which you would ever do, right?] [Thanks for humoring me there. Just a little pet peeve I had to shout.]
So, moving on, as a closet hip-hop enthusiast, I am PSYCHED for Notes To Self. Notes to Self is from Toronto, but they have a distinct West Coast influence: hypnotically smooth, swaying beats riding under articulate rapping that ranges from defiant to introspective and even psychological ("I'm about me/ I never got enough me as a child").
I'm digging the studio work posted on their Myspace, but, like all hip-hop acts, I'm sure their live show will produce a completely different sound. So I'm interested for now, and stoked for tomorrow night. Because, as you can see, it's official: THIS ENTIRE SHOW IS GOING TO BE AMAZING.
The Verdict:
Fruit Bats-- You are magical and beautiful.
Small Brown Bike-- I still have faith in you. I'm just a little perplexed. Not judgin'!
Notes To Self-- Please stay here in Kalamazoo! And bring your friends! Live, good hip-hop every weekend? That would be great. Canada sucks anyway.
See you guys at the show!
Night Three: Sat 10/10/09 at State Theater
Fruit Bats (Chicago) {pop/folk-rock} [http://www.myspace.com/thefruitbats]
I have to say, on behalf of all Kalamazoo music geeks, it is really exciting that Fruit Bats are playing Barking Tuna this year. Led by singer-songwriter Eric Johnson (no, not that Eric Johnson, guitar nerds), Fruit Bats have been around with various lineups for the past several years, and signed to Sub Pop since '02. They have even played alongside indie heroes the Shins. Also, after they play this show, they are embarking on a European tour... But enough credentials and nerdery.
As for the music. Not to get all Carrie Bradshaw but...
"When listening to this band, I couldn't help but wonder: is there such a thing as too indie?"
My answer: no. And if there is, Fruit Bats aren't (Bright Eyes? maybe?). I just impulsively bought this band's music from their Myspace, and you know you like music when you pay for it. Tell you what... before you go to the show on Saturday, do yourself a favor, and listen to the music, because you're going to want to sing along. I promise. Check out "When U Love Somebody."
Small Brown Bike (Marshall, MI) {screamo} [http://www.myspace.com/smallbrownbike04]
Don't get mad at me, K-zoo scene kids, but... Yikes.
Just yikes.
Not to be a snob, but how did an screamo band from Marshall land this spot anyway? Screamo is over. It should have never happened and it's done now. Acclimate!
Can I please go back to Fruit Bats?!
Notes To Self (Toronto) {hip-hop} [http://www.myspace.com/notestoself]
This is another opportunity we don't get in Kalamazoo a whole lot: A GOOD HIP-HOP SHOW!!!
I want to reiterate what I said about bluegrass last weekend: just because you think it's not your scene doesn't mean you won't have a completely awesome time. Not only is hip-hop fairly rare to come by as far as live music goes, Kalamazoo doesn't really have the facilities, a following or a much of a scene at all for hip-hop. [P.S. This is something I've wanted to talk about for a long time, and I feel now is the time to discuss it. "Hip-hop" and "rap" are not the same thing. "Rapping" is the VOCAL PART of "hip-hop" music. That would be like calling rock music "singing" or "shouting," neither of which you would ever do, right?] [Thanks for humoring me there. Just a little pet peeve I had to shout.]
So, moving on, as a closet hip-hop enthusiast, I am PSYCHED for Notes To Self. Notes to Self is from Toronto, but they have a distinct West Coast influence: hypnotically smooth, swaying beats riding under articulate rapping that ranges from defiant to introspective and even psychological ("I'm about me/ I never got enough me as a child").
I'm digging the studio work posted on their Myspace, but, like all hip-hop acts, I'm sure their live show will produce a completely different sound. So I'm interested for now, and stoked for tomorrow night. Because, as you can see, it's official: THIS ENTIRE SHOW IS GOING TO BE AMAZING.
The Verdict:
Fruit Bats-- You are magical and beautiful.
Small Brown Bike-- I still have faith in you. I'm just a little perplexed. Not judgin'!
Notes To Self-- Please stay here in Kalamazoo! And bring your friends! Live, good hip-hop every weekend? That would be great. Canada sucks anyway.
See you guys at the show!
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