Win Butler stands on a balcony, with only a mic and the dark sky to keep him company, belting out the beginning lyrics of “Keep the Car Running.” Random answering machine messages are played from calls placed to 1-866-Neonbible, with some being messages of hope, some of hate, some of sheer desperation. There is also an awesome takeway show where the band is squeezed into an elevator and the beat is kept with the ripping of pages out of a book.
Miroir Noir was released by Arcade Fire on December 15th. It is a documentary on the band’s live shows, recording sessions, and random goofy moments. It covers the warming up and the cooling down. Intriguingly, it brings a sort of humanity to one of the most notable indie rock bands of the 21st century. If you are a fan of Arcade Fire then their 76 minute documentary is a must have.
Amazing Baby was started last Jan. with former band members from Diamond Nights, Lions and Tigers, Nebula, Heavy Hands, and Stylophone. Their noise is indie rock all the way, if David Bowie were dead this Brooklyn based band could resurrect him with their tunes. The band’s single Pump Your Breaks was sitting at number 2 in Spin’s August 2008 issue one of the “Songs You Must Download Now.” As it turns out you can download the Amazing Baby’s entire debut album for free on their website.
Do your stretches, and get ready for some dance inducing, fist pumping music, Amazing Baby plays at The Mercury Lounge Saturday, November 29th with Tigercity, you do not want to miss this show.
Dubbed the “closest contender to an overwhelming buzz band” at the CMJ Music Marathon , Friendly Fires played 5 gigs in 4 days during the marathon madness. The UK based band mixes up sounds from the 70′s and 80′s that give them a post punk feel to their sound. It’s like disco, meets 80′s pop, meets indie rock, meets electronic. In other words their music is magical.
Friendly Fires finished out the rest of October opening up for Lykke Li. Come November you can find them across the waters as they continue their tour in Europe with theFoals. You can also check out their latest album, “Friendly Fires” which was released this past September, 2008.
One of the reasons why I love live music is the chance to see how a band feeds off a crowd, how they relate to their music, and how they rock it out. The initial excitement of seeing Spoon live and in person wore off about a song and a half into the set. Frankly, Spoon doesnt rock live. Their songs sound exactly like their albums and the four chaps from Texas are so lacking in emotion and energy, they may as well give public speeches on fossil fuel.
Blasting “I Turn My Camera On” from my iPod speakers and dancing around my living room seemed like a better time. I’d warn against spending the money to see Spoon, perhaps the “too cool for school attitude” Spoon exudes wont feel as obvious if you got in to the show for free.
“Feel Good Lost” was released in 2001 as Broken Social Scene‘s debut album. The instrumental album suits its name perfectly as it does make you feel good getting lost in the tunes. There was one problem with this, when it came time to play it live it was difficult to create an interesting show with the instrumentals.
The band pulled together some of their Toronto friends from the Indie music scene to create a more bangin live performance. The collaberative line-up included Leslie Feist, Amy Milan, from the Stars, and James Shaw, from Metric(to name a few.) The creative group came back to work on Broken Social Scene‘s second album “You Forgot It In People”, adding lyrics to their already groovy sound.
Lesson: Sometimes it takes 14 people to get the sound you are looking for. Broken Social Scene is rockin out on tour this season and you can see them at The Brooklyn Masonic Temple on October 24th, 2008
Does You Inspire, released in November, 2008, is Chairlift‘s first album. The band began playing in 2006 in Colorado where they found themselves rocking a “new breed of pop” with their mystical, somewhat spooky tunes. Chairlift created a lot of buzz when their single “Bruises” was featured in a recent Ipod commercial.
Caroline Polachek, Aaron Pfenning and Patrick Wimberly, make up the Chairlift this awesome trio, and I suggest you check them out on October 18th @ Bowery Ballroom, or October 21st for the CMJ Music Marathon.
It was roughly 4 am when I first caught this band’s tunes floating through my external acoustic meatus (ear canal.) It was one of those songs that stops you mid-dance twist to hear more, “I got a gnome in the backyard, I put him right on the x mark, he’s supposed to show me where the money is, hey wont you show me where the money is.”
The Spinto Band has been pushing out handfuls of indie pop-ish tunes since I was (ahem) 12. They are back on the road promoting the latest album, Moonwink. Check them out on Saturday, October 18th, 2008 at The Music Hall of Williamsburg, the show is guaranteed to get your tail feather shaking, you might even just catch yourself clapping along.
One of my friends recommended I check out this band called Minus the Bear, a rock band from Seatle with, apparently, 6 albums under their belt. Upon first listen you think “hmm ok maybe this is something I could be into.” Then the track called “Hey! Is That a Ninja up There?” starts to play. The sound quality of Minus the Bear resembles a CD one could record in their very own basement. Perhaps I’ll give them another listen, perhpas not. Maybe I’m just not that into rock? Nah. You can check them out for yourself as Minus The Bear is on tour this fall. October 25th, Webster Hall, 6pm.
Small plastic animals were being thrown into the crowd from a paper bag held by a scruffy looking man wearing a top hat. It was during the set up of the upcoming band, so I, along with friends, assumed he was a quirky part of the crew to keep the crowd alive and entertained. As time went on and Les Savy Fav began to play I was still convinced this man was not a member of a band, but rather slightly disturbed. Tim Harrington just might still be slightly insane, but along with that insanity comes a brilliant stage performer who puts on one of the weirdest, intriguing shows you could ever set your eyes upon.
Mr. Harrington has the element of surprise in his favor. One minute he is feeding cake to the crowd, the next he is climbing up the rafters of the stage in a skin tight belly shirt, and for the grande finale he sports a seemingly clear body suit, that was painted with human organs in their perspective places on Tim Harrington’s body.
Les Savy Fav is a little bit of rock and a little bit of roll, definitely one of those bands you want to listen to with the volume turned up. Keep an eye out for their new album INCHES; it is supposedly the album they have been writing since the band’s inception in 1995. Les Savy Fav will be playing this sunday, 10/12/08, at The Music Hall of Williamsburg. I highly suggest going to this show, the last thing you will be is bored.
The CMJ Network provides music fans, musicians, and professionals an up to date “discovery service” as they call it. CMJ hosts the longest running event of its kind, the Music Marathon is going on its 28th year in business. The Marathon brings over 1000+ artists to over 50 venues throughout the city drawing more than 100,000 listeners, other artists, and music pros to the shows. Magnet has come up with a hot 15 list for your viewing pleasure, but please check out the extensive list for more. CMJ has not posted a schedule so dates/venues are tentative.
Music Mararthon hits New York City March 21st-25th
Lesson: Sometimes it takes 14 people to get the sound you are looking for. Broken Social Scene is rockin out on tour this season and you can see them at The 
