Friday, July 17, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Holding Steady.
Yesterday I went to see Tapes n’ Tapes and The Hold Steady at the Basilica Block Party. Cities 97 sponsored it. I would of much rather attend an 89.3 The Current sponsored Tapes and Hold Steady show. When I originally heard that The Hold Steady was playing at the Block Party along with TNT I thought it weird that 2 hugely popular indie rock bands were playing at the same festival alongside Cities 97 bands Matt Kearney and The Black and Counting Crow(e)s. Regardless of the lineup the part of the block party I saw was very good.
Tapes n’ Tapes were one of my favorite groups back a few years ago. I went to see them at The Taste Of Minnesota in 2007. They put on a great show and played a bunch of new songs that made me very excited for a new album. When it finally did arrive in April of 2008 I was very disappointed with the results. Every song seemed distorted in every way possible and the vocals got more and more annoying. Not every song on the album was awful but for the most part it wasn’t that great. This time when I saw them live I had similar feelings as I did about their 2nd album. As soon as I saw them I immediately thought of Josh Grier who has grown out his hair to a fairly long length. He looked like he belonged in a 70’s classic rock band. On most of the songs he head banged, or tried to. As usual he was playing his red Fender Stratocaster. Bassist Erik Applewick grown some glasses since I had last seen him and he hat cut his hair shorter. And it was LOUD! The mix was on the side of awful as the guitar and vocals were a lot higher than the bass and the drums. Matt’s keyboard was barely heard, when there was a keyboard part to be heard. As on the most recent record everything was distorted. Even the drums; Jeremy Hanson is probably the most talented musician in the band didn’t shine half as much as he did the last time I saw them live. One of their most popular songs and one of my favorites “Cowbell” with a driving bass line, was totally re-done with a lot more guitar and less bass. The Dirty Dirty, the 5-minute closer to Walk It Off (and the highlight) was one of the best songs of their set. The show ended on a good note when they closed with the mostly instrumental “Jakov’s Suite” from the 2005 debut “The Loon” was surprisingly good. At the end I found myself clapping for them and enjoying the show very much. After The Hold Steady I walked up to Josh and Jeremy and had them sign my ticket. As people they hadn’t changed at all since the last time I met them and were very nice. Hopefully the next Tapes n’ Tapes will be better than the last one.
As for The Hold Steady, they were amazing. I think they are a lot better live than on record. RT Rybak the mayor of Minneapolis came on the stage before the show with a Hold Steady shirt and said nice things praising the block party, the fans and the “best city in America, Minneapolis” Mayor Rybak, I agree with you. I think that pumped everyone up and he went off saying that they would be on in a few minutes. About 10 to 15 minutes later Craig Finn and the gang took the stage. As soon as Tab Kuebler played the first few chords of “Constructive Summer” I immediately grinned. This was going to be a great show. Ever since Stay Positive came out I have never gotten tired of that song. When the “Raise a toast to saint Joe Strummer” part was said, everyone raised their drinks, which was such as nice thing to see. Hopefully those people all know who Joe Strummer is. Everyone at the show seemed to know all the words to all of the songs. They played everyone favorites “Massive Nights,” “Chips Ahoy!,” “Southtown Girls,” and of course “Stay Positive.” When “Party Pit” started (My fav HS song) there was some sort of feeling of happiness that I don’t often have when listening to music. When the song came to the part where Craig yells “we walked across that Grain Belt Bridge into BRAND NEW MINNEAPOLIS!” It made me think about how much they love playing music and singing about their favorite city it made me so thankful that we have a band like this from my hometown. When “Lord, I’m Discouraged” was played It was a nice song to be played at festival at a house of worship. Tad played his double neck SG, and did some amazing shredding during the solo, which made them seem like a classic rock band. Maybe in 35 years that’s what they will be called. They played other songs from older albums that I wasn’t too familiar with but they were still great. They left the stage at 9:56 only to return 5 minutes later and play a 4 or 5 song encore. They started off with the acoustic ode to beer “Citrus” which is as much of a laugh as is a song. Then they launched into the half acoustic “First Night” and then “Your Little Hoodrat Friend” which is the first song I heard by the Hold Steady which actually didn’t make me a fan. In between songs or during some low part to the song with some quiet drum and bass Craig praised the crowd and Minneapolis and thanked his family, which was in the crowd. He also thanked the bands’ other kind of family, the road crew. At one point he said the two greatest places of worship in Minneapolis were the Basilica and First Avenue, which put a smile on my face and most likely everyone else’s in the crowd. They also played the amazing Stay Positive closer “Slapped Actress” which included keyboardist Franz Nicolay (the only person in the band that doesn’t have a Minneapolis connection) putting his hand over his heart when Craig Finn mentioned Ybor City Franz’s hometown. The second to last song was “Stuck Between Stations.” That was quite possibly the highlight of the show and possibly the best Hold Steady song ever. They ended with “Killer Parties.” Every so often I would stop listening to the music and look over around me and see all these happy people around me and the wonderful city around me. It sorta made me feel grateful about everything I have in life and I’m not sure why. Minneapolis is a wonderful city and when people like Mr. Finn sing about it with such a passion it brings a smile to my face. At one point in the show he said, “there is so much joy put into what we do up here.” (here being the stage) I agree with Craig and RT, Minneapolis is a wonderful city. May the Hold Steady live on forever in the hearts of music fans all around. For people that understand what my closing statement is: The Hold Steady almost killed me last night.
-Eliot Larson, June 12th, 2009
Tapes n’ Tapes were one of my favorite groups back a few years ago. I went to see them at The Taste Of Minnesota in 2007. They put on a great show and played a bunch of new songs that made me very excited for a new album. When it finally did arrive in April of 2008 I was very disappointed with the results. Every song seemed distorted in every way possible and the vocals got more and more annoying. Not every song on the album was awful but for the most part it wasn’t that great. This time when I saw them live I had similar feelings as I did about their 2nd album. As soon as I saw them I immediately thought of Josh Grier who has grown out his hair to a fairly long length. He looked like he belonged in a 70’s classic rock band. On most of the songs he head banged, or tried to. As usual he was playing his red Fender Stratocaster. Bassist Erik Applewick grown some glasses since I had last seen him and he hat cut his hair shorter. And it was LOUD! The mix was on the side of awful as the guitar and vocals were a lot higher than the bass and the drums. Matt’s keyboard was barely heard, when there was a keyboard part to be heard. As on the most recent record everything was distorted. Even the drums; Jeremy Hanson is probably the most talented musician in the band didn’t shine half as much as he did the last time I saw them live. One of their most popular songs and one of my favorites “Cowbell” with a driving bass line, was totally re-done with a lot more guitar and less bass. The Dirty Dirty, the 5-minute closer to Walk It Off (and the highlight) was one of the best songs of their set. The show ended on a good note when they closed with the mostly instrumental “Jakov’s Suite” from the 2005 debut “The Loon” was surprisingly good. At the end I found myself clapping for them and enjoying the show very much. After The Hold Steady I walked up to Josh and Jeremy and had them sign my ticket. As people they hadn’t changed at all since the last time I met them and were very nice. Hopefully the next Tapes n’ Tapes will be better than the last one.
As for The Hold Steady, they were amazing. I think they are a lot better live than on record. RT Rybak the mayor of Minneapolis came on the stage before the show with a Hold Steady shirt and said nice things praising the block party, the fans and the “best city in America, Minneapolis” Mayor Rybak, I agree with you. I think that pumped everyone up and he went off saying that they would be on in a few minutes. About 10 to 15 minutes later Craig Finn and the gang took the stage. As soon as Tab Kuebler played the first few chords of “Constructive Summer” I immediately grinned. This was going to be a great show. Ever since Stay Positive came out I have never gotten tired of that song. When the “Raise a toast to saint Joe Strummer” part was said, everyone raised their drinks, which was such as nice thing to see. Hopefully those people all know who Joe Strummer is. Everyone at the show seemed to know all the words to all of the songs. They played everyone favorites “Massive Nights,” “Chips Ahoy!,” “Southtown Girls,” and of course “Stay Positive.” When “Party Pit” started (My fav HS song) there was some sort of feeling of happiness that I don’t often have when listening to music. When the song came to the part where Craig yells “we walked across that Grain Belt Bridge into BRAND NEW MINNEAPOLIS!” It made me think about how much they love playing music and singing about their favorite city it made me so thankful that we have a band like this from my hometown. When “Lord, I’m Discouraged” was played It was a nice song to be played at festival at a house of worship. Tad played his double neck SG, and did some amazing shredding during the solo, which made them seem like a classic rock band. Maybe in 35 years that’s what they will be called. They played other songs from older albums that I wasn’t too familiar with but they were still great. They left the stage at 9:56 only to return 5 minutes later and play a 4 or 5 song encore. They started off with the acoustic ode to beer “Citrus” which is as much of a laugh as is a song. Then they launched into the half acoustic “First Night” and then “Your Little Hoodrat Friend” which is the first song I heard by the Hold Steady which actually didn’t make me a fan. In between songs or during some low part to the song with some quiet drum and bass Craig praised the crowd and Minneapolis and thanked his family, which was in the crowd. He also thanked the bands’ other kind of family, the road crew. At one point he said the two greatest places of worship in Minneapolis were the Basilica and First Avenue, which put a smile on my face and most likely everyone else’s in the crowd. They also played the amazing Stay Positive closer “Slapped Actress” which included keyboardist Franz Nicolay (the only person in the band that doesn’t have a Minneapolis connection) putting his hand over his heart when Craig Finn mentioned Ybor City Franz’s hometown. The second to last song was “Stuck Between Stations.” That was quite possibly the highlight of the show and possibly the best Hold Steady song ever. They ended with “Killer Parties.” Every so often I would stop listening to the music and look over around me and see all these happy people around me and the wonderful city around me. It sorta made me feel grateful about everything I have in life and I’m not sure why. Minneapolis is a wonderful city and when people like Mr. Finn sing about it with such a passion it brings a smile to my face. At one point in the show he said, “there is so much joy put into what we do up here.” (here being the stage) I agree with Craig and RT, Minneapolis is a wonderful city. May the Hold Steady live on forever in the hearts of music fans all around. For people that understand what my closing statement is: The Hold Steady almost killed me last night.
-Eliot Larson, June 12th, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Wilco (the album) Review
Wilco (the album)
[Nonesuch; 2009]
6.6
Wilco is one of the most interesting indie rock bands of the last 15 years. Each of their albums has been fairly unique and different. First there was the country debut “A.M” followed by the more popular but still country-ish “Being There” next came a couple of albums with Billy Bragg and then their third album “Summerteeth” which, is an example of Wilco at their prime. Then came the electronica phase and “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” which pushed Wilco even more into the mainstream with the popular “Heavy Metal Drummer.” In 2004 they released “A Ghost Is Born” and soon afterward added master guitarist Nels Cline. Sky Blue Sky was released in 2007 and now we have Wilco (the album), let’s see….this is their 7th studio album. It seems that with almost every new album release Wilco’s lineup changes. This time it hasn’t and probably for the better. All the members play an important roll in all of these tunes including their two keyboard/pianists Michael Jorgenson and Pat Sansome.
When I first heard Wilco (the song) back when they played it on The Colbert Report in November ’08 I was a little disappointed. Couldn’t Jeff Tweedy think of anything better to write than “Wilco, Wilco, Wilco will love you baby?” The more times I’ve heard it the more it grows on you and it is for sure one of the album’s stronger tracks. Track 3 “One Wing” is a sad song, but nonetheless pretty good and worth a listen. On “You and I” Mr. Tweedy brings in Broken Social Scenster Leslie Feist, better known for her solo work for a nice duet. “You Never Know” is one of the best Wilco songs to date and sounds similar to Summerteeth era Wilco. Check out the George Harrison-esque riffs. “Country Disappeared” is a nice, mellower, no chorus tune. “I’ll Fight” sounds like it could of made it on to Sky Blue Sky but with some added organ. “Sonny Feeling has a short solo and is the closest the band gets to something like the amazing guitar work in Sky Blue Sky’s, “Impossible Germany” or “Walken.” “Everlasting Everything” ends the album on a nice note and features some violin and trumpet.
-Eliot Larson, June 27th, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
New Music.
I've been hearing a lot of Kevin Devine on The Current lately and I'm really enjoying his song called "I Could Be with Anyone"
Apparently he is good friends of Brand New singer Jesse Lacey, which is another band that I started listening to lately. Brand New is a emo-ish band and they go on the Warped Tour, most bands that go on that tour i don't care for but Brand New has some okay songs.
Conor Oberst has a new album out, it's pretty great. Almost half of the songs are written by people in his Mystic Valley Band but even those are great. This is certainly one of the best 2009 releases so far. Highlights include Nikorette, Air Mattress and Bloodline.
Recently a friend burned me an album by a band called Cursive. He gave me their 2003 album called "The Ugly Organ" they are sort of an emo band but never the less an interesting band.They have a cello player and an organ player so most of the songs are pretty interesting. The album closes with a 10 minute epic build up song. My favorite tracks are: Some Red Handed Sleight Of Hand, Art Is Hard and The Recluse. The album is produced by Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes fame.
Matt & Kim are a keyboard and drums duo from Brooklyn. They are sort of a more fun version of Mates Of State with a little more energy. Their new album is entitled "Grand" named after the street they live on in New York. They are plenty of fun, and for sure a great listen for fans of Mates of State and Tokyo Police Club. Their single "Daylight" is currently number 13 on the Alternative iTunes charts and was featured in a Bacardi commercial.
The Gaslight Anthem are a great band out of New Jersey. Their most recent album is entitled "The '59 Sound" and is influenced by 50's a 60's rock n' roll. They were origanally tagged as a a punk band but they sound a lot closer to Bruce Springsteen meets The Clash's London Calling. It's hard to describe their music. They have been on the Warped Tour before but their music differs quite a lot from any of the bands that go on the Warped Tour such as Rise Against and The Alkaline Trio. The title track is one of my favorites from 2008.
In music news Conor Obest, Mike Mogis, M. Ward and Jim James are teaming up to put out an album under the name "Monsters Of Folk" which is sure to be interesting.
Apparently he is good friends of Brand New singer Jesse Lacey, which is another band that I started listening to lately. Brand New is a emo-ish band and they go on the Warped Tour, most bands that go on that tour i don't care for but Brand New has some okay songs.
Conor Oberst has a new album out, it's pretty great. Almost half of the songs are written by people in his Mystic Valley Band but even those are great. This is certainly one of the best 2009 releases so far. Highlights include Nikorette, Air Mattress and Bloodline.
Recently a friend burned me an album by a band called Cursive. He gave me their 2003 album called "The Ugly Organ" they are sort of an emo band but never the less an interesting band.They have a cello player and an organ player so most of the songs are pretty interesting. The album closes with a 10 minute epic build up song. My favorite tracks are: Some Red Handed Sleight Of Hand, Art Is Hard and The Recluse. The album is produced by Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes fame.
Matt & Kim are a keyboard and drums duo from Brooklyn. They are sort of a more fun version of Mates Of State with a little more energy. Their new album is entitled "Grand" named after the street they live on in New York. They are plenty of fun, and for sure a great listen for fans of Mates of State and Tokyo Police Club. Their single "Daylight" is currently number 13 on the Alternative iTunes charts and was featured in a Bacardi commercial.
The Gaslight Anthem are a great band out of New Jersey. Their most recent album is entitled "The '59 Sound" and is influenced by 50's a 60's rock n' roll. They were origanally tagged as a a punk band but they sound a lot closer to Bruce Springsteen meets The Clash's London Calling. It's hard to describe their music. They have been on the Warped Tour before but their music differs quite a lot from any of the bands that go on the Warped Tour such as Rise Against and The Alkaline Trio. The title track is one of my favorites from 2008.
In music news Conor Obest, Mike Mogis, M. Ward and Jim James are teaming up to put out an album under the name "Monsters Of Folk" which is sure to be interesting.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Sunday, December 28, 2008
2008 Favs
After a long deep thought, I finally pulled together my top 10:
1) Death Cab For Cutie / Narrow Stairs / "Cath..." (Why is this not played on The Current?)
An great album from an great band. 'Nuff said.
2) Adele / 19 / "Daydreamer"
Probably one of the best singers of this past decade.
3) The Hold Steady / Stay Positive / "Magazines"
What is there to say?
4) Fleet Foxes / Fleet Foxes / "Oliver James"
They bring 60's rock and folk and make it cool again.
5) Bon Iver / For Emma, Forever Ago / "Skinny Love" (duh)
One of the best releases of this DECADE.
6) Los Campesinos! / Hold On Now Younster / "Knee Deep At ATP"
I really love this band. One of, if not the most energetic album of the year. A ton of fun.
7) She & Him / Volume 1 / "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"
From Actress to Musician, Zooey Deschanel does a pretty good job.
8) Ra Ra Riot / The Rhumb Line / "Can You Tell"
The most under rated band of this year make a great album.
9) Coldplay / Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends / "42"
They used to be a sad sappy band and now sound like a normal Alt. band. This album may appeal to fans of indie rock.
10) Atmosphere / When Life Gives You Lemons... / "Yesterday" (Why is this not played on The Current?)
The indie hip-hop duo just keeps getting better. Slug sounds best when he's got real instruments behind him.
*Vampire Weekend's album should be in here but its not.
*Also, I love MGMT's "Time To Pretend" but I don't have the album so it can't be in my top ten, I haven't heard all of it.
1) Death Cab For Cutie / Narrow Stairs / "Cath..." (Why is this not played on The Current?)
An great album from an great band. 'Nuff said.
2) Adele / 19 / "Daydreamer"
Probably one of the best singers of this past decade.
3) The Hold Steady / Stay Positive / "Magazines"
What is there to say?
4) Fleet Foxes / Fleet Foxes / "Oliver James"
They bring 60's rock and folk and make it cool again.
5) Bon Iver / For Emma, Forever Ago / "Skinny Love" (duh)
One of the best releases of this DECADE.
6) Los Campesinos! / Hold On Now Younster / "Knee Deep At ATP"
I really love this band. One of, if not the most energetic album of the year. A ton of fun.
7) She & Him / Volume 1 / "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"
From Actress to Musician, Zooey Deschanel does a pretty good job.
8) Ra Ra Riot / The Rhumb Line / "Can You Tell"
The most under rated band of this year make a great album.
9) Coldplay / Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends / "42"
They used to be a sad sappy band and now sound like a normal Alt. band. This album may appeal to fans of indie rock.
10) Atmosphere / When Life Gives You Lemons... / "Yesterday" (Why is this not played on The Current?)
The indie hip-hop duo just keeps getting better. Slug sounds best when he's got real instruments behind him.
*Vampire Weekend's album should be in here but its not.
*Also, I love MGMT's "Time To Pretend" but I don't have the album so it can't be in my top ten, I haven't heard all of it.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
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