Sunday, November 04, 2007
the kids twist and shout...
Owen, Rollie, and Dan, bka Final Fantasy, Cadence Weapon, and Destroyer doing Dan's "An Actor's Revenge," which you may remember Final Fantasy doing by his lonesome here a couple weeks ago. Dammmmmmmmn.
According to Laura, Owen had already played "An Actor's Revenge" when, a little later in the set, someone yelled something to him from the side of the stage, to which he replied, "he's here? He's going to come on-stage? And Rollie too?"... and they played it again together.
Nothing like that happened at Black Mountain last night, but it was still pretty good.
They were a little too jammy for my tastes at times, although I've seen them before, so I knew what I was getting into. It was nice to hear a bunch of new stuff (and also pick up a couple new tracks - that won't be on the next album - on the tour 12"), and the old stuff sounded pretty stellar as well. "Don't Run Our Hearts Around" was particularly impressive, as was "No Hits."
On a side note, Richard's has only been giving out plastic cups the last couple times I've been there. I presume this is to avoid having to pick up large amounts of broken glass, not so dudes who are assholes can throw their plastic cups indiscriminately at people.
now playing: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Y Control
Monday, October 22, 2007
what do you think will happen next?
Saturday:
I certainly wish I had seen this before the Final Fantasy show on Saturday. It seems that the resident Vancouverites on the FF message board held it down though. Good call to whomever requested "the Sea" (which was played over a bed of very nice sounding feedback).
What can you really say about Owen Pallet's live show that hasn't been said by now? I'll spare you the fawning praise and just note that Richard's was more packed than I've ever seen it and he covered "An Actor's Revenge" (by Destroyer, as you probably know).
I quite like Great Lake Swimmers on record, but the similar sounding tunes at mercilessly similar tempos made for a somewhat boring (albeit rather pretty) opening set.
I was driving around trying to find a place to park for most of Basia Bulat's set (like, in pay lots and everything). My penance for not taking transit is that I heard her second last song while hastily relieving my bladder, and caught the last song from the floor, which sounded pretty good.
I think this is the first time that urination has made it into a show recap. Hurrah!
Ardenstreet on Flickr has photos. So does Steve. A commendable job by both, especially considering the lighting.
Friday:
I made it to the Emergency Room for the Modern Creatures 7" release. I'd actually only heard them via MySpace before, and the live version of the dueling basses/reverbed girl vocals combo that they spit out certainly didn't disappoint live.
I've actually seen Nu Sensae three times in the last month, but I think this is the first time that I've ever written anything about them, other than giving a nod to their Wire cover. Though they're less precise and more snarling than my favourite post-punkers, they share a no frills approach to things. Bass and drums tangle up with screaming vocals and there's lots of stops and starts, but they keep it pretty simple, which isn't always the worst idea. Like I mentioned, I've seen them almost once a week for the last month, and I'm excited to see them again, if that says anything.
I got to the ER in time to see A.R.C., who were Jesse from Channels 3+4/Shearing Pinx/Cheerleader Camp/etc on sax and another guy on drums. Not exactly my bag, but I couldn't find anything to complain about either.
Jesse also played DJ along with Justin from Mutators. The mix of soul, new wave, and Madonna made for a good counterpoint to the noisier live music.
Speaking of Mutators and Modern Creatures, they're playing together at the Balmoral on November 9th. Ghetto fab.
Everyone's favourite fake DJs, Sex Attack, will be pressing play on their laptop and rocking you harder than most guys who pack around two crates of vinyl at Frank's on Franklin on November 17th. If you're not mulling around in front of your computer and telling dudes off for pissing all over the sanctity of turntablism, go and get sweaty and have some fun.
If the new Wu-Tang gets bumped back again it'll come out on my birthday. Best present ever.
Rob outlines why our government is stupid (if you needed another reason).
Monday, March 20, 2006
decorate, round the base, all the graves of our lost loves
download: Final Fantasy: The CN Tower Belongs To The Dead
I like to share a lot of music. I'm constantly either sending songs to, or shoving headphones in the hands of friends with the exclaimation, "you've got to hear this!" And, I didn't realize just how great this song was until I started sharing it with a lot of people. You see, I'm a huge sucker for violins, so initially, I chalked up some of my affection for the centre piece of Owen Pallet's glorious debut LP to that unquivocal love of the instrument. I'm sure a lot of the .mp3s I've inflicted on friends go unlistened, and I'm certain a lot of the mixCD tracks get skipped, but this song almost always illicits a positive reaction... "thanks for the CD, that 'CN Tower' song is amazing." It's even more amazing, because it's so very, well, weird. There are, of course, pop sensibilities buried in the track's three and a half odd minutes, but Owen's love of Xiu Xiu and Destroyer is evident in both the off-kilter delivery and story telling. That being said, you're never going to sell everyone on "Crank Heart," but for some reason "The CN Tower Belongs To The Dead" seems to click in the minds of the majority who are lucky enough to hear it.
Andrew Bird may still be independent music's most celebrated track looping fiddler, but he also, for better or worse, fills out his sound with guitar, xylophone, his awe inspiring whistling, and Nora O'Connor's very sweet croon. Conversely, while Pallett will sometimes be joined on stage by a drummer or string quartet, on record, he truly stretches a single instrument to its limits. "Bass" lines, descending pizzacato melodies, layer upon layer of bowed lines, and even an uncanny mimicry of a drum machine are all coaxed out of a violin throughout "Has A Good Home." And, while not all of the elements that pop up on the album are present on "The CN Tower...," it may be the best example of how each part builds to make the final, glorious, whole.
The song begins with a sonar-ping like set of stacatto notes that are soon joined by a deeper bowed figure that creeps underneath. Then comes Owen's voice, dried out almost to the point where it sounds like he's being recorded through a radio or telephone, mingling with further flourishes of violin. The whole thing builds remarkably fast, but it isn't until the two-minute mark that the song really hits its stride. It's then when a descending violin streaks in, then another, then another; a torrent of strings all threatening to collapse on eachother. And, just when you think the swirl of notes just might fall apart, it all ends just as it began, settling back down to earth with a lone violin.
now playing: Final Fantasy - The CN Tower Belongs To The Dead
the kids twist and shout...
You know, I would usually lead with a little something on Black Mountain last night (short version if you don't want to read after the following pics: they were good), but my friend Laura just sent me these photos from Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin.
Owen, Rollie, and Dan, bka Final Fantasy, Cadence Weapon, and Destroyer doing Dan's "An Actor's Revenge," which you may remember Final Fantasy doing by his lonesome here a couple weeks ago. Dammmmmmmmn.
According to Laura, Owen had already played "An Actor's Revenge" when, a little later in the set, someone yelled something to him from the side of the stage, to which he replied, "he's here? He's going to come on-stage? And Rollie too?"... and they played it again together.
Nothing like that happened at Black Mountain last night, but it was still pretty good.
They were a little too jammy for my tastes at times, although I've seen them before, so I knew what I was getting into. It was nice to hear a bunch of new stuff (and also pick up a couple new tracks - that won't be on the next album - on the tour 12"), and the old stuff sounded pretty stellar as well. "Don't Run Our Hearts Around" was particularly impressive, as was "No Hits."
On a side note, Richard's has only been giving out plastic cups the last couple times I've been there. I presume this is to avoid having to pick up large amounts of broken glass, not so dudes who are assholes can throw their plastic cups indiscriminately at people.
now playing: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Y Control
Labels: black mountain, cadence weapon, destroyer, final fantasy, lazy show recaps
Monday, October 22, 2007
what do you think will happen next?
Post-weekend update...
Saturday:
I certainly wish I had seen this before the Final Fantasy show on Saturday. It seems that the resident Vancouverites on the FF message board held it down though. Good call to whomever requested "the Sea" (which was played over a bed of very nice sounding feedback).
What can you really say about Owen Pallet's live show that hasn't been said by now? I'll spare you the fawning praise and just note that Richard's was more packed than I've ever seen it and he covered "An Actor's Revenge" (by Destroyer, as you probably know).
I quite like Great Lake Swimmers on record, but the similar sounding tunes at mercilessly similar tempos made for a somewhat boring (albeit rather pretty) opening set.
I was driving around trying to find a place to park for most of Basia Bulat's set (like, in pay lots and everything). My penance for not taking transit is that I heard her second last song while hastily relieving my bladder, and caught the last song from the floor, which sounded pretty good.
I think this is the first time that urination has made it into a show recap. Hurrah!
Ardenstreet on Flickr has photos. So does Steve. A commendable job by both, especially considering the lighting.
Friday:
I made it to the Emergency Room for the Modern Creatures 7" release. I'd actually only heard them via MySpace before, and the live version of the dueling basses/reverbed girl vocals combo that they spit out certainly didn't disappoint live.
I've actually seen Nu Sensae three times in the last month, but I think this is the first time that I've ever written anything about them, other than giving a nod to their Wire cover. Though they're less precise and more snarling than my favourite post-punkers, they share a no frills approach to things. Bass and drums tangle up with screaming vocals and there's lots of stops and starts, but they keep it pretty simple, which isn't always the worst idea. Like I mentioned, I've seen them almost once a week for the last month, and I'm excited to see them again, if that says anything.
I got to the ER in time to see A.R.C., who were Jesse from Channels 3+4/Shearing Pinx/Cheerleader Camp/etc on sax and another guy on drums. Not exactly my bag, but I couldn't find anything to complain about either.
Jesse also played DJ along with Justin from Mutators. The mix of soul, new wave, and Madonna made for a good counterpoint to the noisier live music.
Speaking of Mutators and Modern Creatures, they're playing together at the Balmoral on November 9th. Ghetto fab.
Everyone's favourite fake DJs, Sex Attack, will be pressing play on their laptop and rocking you harder than most guys who pack around two crates of vinyl at Frank's on Franklin on November 17th. If you're not mulling around in front of your computer and telling dudes off for pissing all over the sanctity of turntablism, go and get sweaty and have some fun.
If the new Wu-Tang gets bumped back again it'll come out on my birthday. Best present ever.
Rob outlines why our government is stupid (if you needed another reason).
Labels: a.r.c., basia bulat, final fantasy, great lake swimmers, modern creatures, nu sensae, show announcements, show recaps
Monday, March 20, 2006
decorate, round the base, all the graves of our lost loves
One Song: Perfect Songs for an Imperfect World
download: Final Fantasy: The CN Tower Belongs To The Dead
I like to share a lot of music. I'm constantly either sending songs to, or shoving headphones in the hands of friends with the exclaimation, "you've got to hear this!" And, I didn't realize just how great this song was until I started sharing it with a lot of people. You see, I'm a huge sucker for violins, so initially, I chalked up some of my affection for the centre piece of Owen Pallet's glorious debut LP to that unquivocal love of the instrument. I'm sure a lot of the .mp3s I've inflicted on friends go unlistened, and I'm certain a lot of the mixCD tracks get skipped, but this song almost always illicits a positive reaction... "thanks for the CD, that 'CN Tower' song is amazing." It's even more amazing, because it's so very, well, weird. There are, of course, pop sensibilities buried in the track's three and a half odd minutes, but Owen's love of Xiu Xiu and Destroyer is evident in both the off-kilter delivery and story telling. That being said, you're never going to sell everyone on "Crank Heart," but for some reason "The CN Tower Belongs To The Dead" seems to click in the minds of the majority who are lucky enough to hear it.
Andrew Bird may still be independent music's most celebrated track looping fiddler, but he also, for better or worse, fills out his sound with guitar, xylophone, his awe inspiring whistling, and Nora O'Connor's very sweet croon. Conversely, while Pallett will sometimes be joined on stage by a drummer or string quartet, on record, he truly stretches a single instrument to its limits. "Bass" lines, descending pizzacato melodies, layer upon layer of bowed lines, and even an uncanny mimicry of a drum machine are all coaxed out of a violin throughout "Has A Good Home." And, while not all of the elements that pop up on the album are present on "The CN Tower...," it may be the best example of how each part builds to make the final, glorious, whole.
The song begins with a sonar-ping like set of stacatto notes that are soon joined by a deeper bowed figure that creeps underneath. Then comes Owen's voice, dried out almost to the point where it sounds like he's being recorded through a radio or telephone, mingling with further flourishes of violin. The whole thing builds remarkably fast, but it isn't until the two-minute mark that the song really hits its stride. It's then when a descending violin streaks in, then another, then another; a torrent of strings all threatening to collapse on eachother. And, just when you think the swirl of notes just might fall apart, it all ends just as it began, settling back down to earth with a lone violin.
now playing: Final Fantasy - The CN Tower Belongs To The Dead
Labels: final fantasy, one song
