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.
Andrew Hoepefner moved to New York City in 2004 to (surprise!) play music. He has given the name “Creaky Boards” to every musical project he initiated since his move. Although the sound changed with every new group, the peppy undertone always remained.
You might recognize Andrew Hoepefner from the subway platforms. Before being swooped up in the underground indie-folk scene, he spent his time serenading the City’s commuters. This November Creaky Boards‘ released their sophomore LP Brooklyn Is Love. Their first, titled Sunshine, came out three years prior. Brooklyn Is Love is by far the groups best work and includes the controversial song “The Songs I Didn’t Write”, which Andrew claims was copied by the worldwide infamous British band, Coldplay. Union Pool hosts the Creaky Boards on Sunday the 7th as the band continues their promotion of the new album.
Last January saw the release of The Teenagers newest album Reality Check to mixed reviews. Its the truth, The Teenagers put off a snide, smug, pretentious attitude on their debut album. Reality Check will not dazzle you with vocal ability, or even complex beats, but it will keep your attention with its garish vibe. Love them or hate them, The Teenagers are opening up for Vampire Weekend at Terminal 5, Tomorrow, Wednesday December 3rd.
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.
Combine Arcarde Fire, LCD Soundsystem, and Beirut and you have Team B. Sound unbelievable? Agreed. This musical melting pot can be witnessed, today, November 10th, for 8 dollars at Union Pool in Brooklyn.
The group, brought together by Kelly Pratt, includes members from both Arcade Fire and Beirut. Pat Mahoney from LCD Soundsystem is also involved and featured on drums. The project is still in the works and has not been signed to a label, but they do have an album ready for purchase on their myspace page (it’s only 10 bucks!). The musicianship is paramount, the vocals are grooving, and the instrumentals infiltrate various musical genres into one solid track.
After Show Thoughts:
Union Pool is an intimate venue with a max capacity space of 74 people. If the bar was a pool the Union Pool music space would be the pool shed. The bar and the stage are connected by a courtyard with picnic tables for the smoker in you.
The show sold out minutes before Team B hit the stage, which left a couple late arrivers out in the cold. For those of us who were lucky enough to cram in the feeling in, the room was excitement, and eager anticipation to witness Team B’s very first show. Despite the hectic confused feel that Team B portrayed in between songs, their sound was amazing. Its as if you hop in an elevator and each floor is a different genre of song, and an entirely different world. One of the best crowd pleasing songs of the night was “On My Mind”, an easy listening piece about getting love out of your head.
Team B should consider their first show a success.
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.
Close your eyes, slow down your mind and drink up the lyrics of a Portland, Oregon folk-rock combo. The Decemberists put music to stories and paint some of the most beautiful sounding ballads my ears have ever heard. Some call these guys a “rock band”, I consider them to be more or less the keepers of folk lore. Colin Meloy’s voice resonates a unique, sharp sound that is quite catchy.
The Decemberists are playing at the Terminal 5 this Wednesday, November 5th.
Born in a real log cabin (yes log cabin) it is no wonder Meiko has the gift of bringing her listeners smokey, melancholy folk songs. Her self titled album was released last September, 2007, to a hungry fan base. She quickly became one of the top selling female folk singers on the Itunes Folk Album Chart.
Meiko’s story reads like a fairy tale, she worked as a waitress in the Hotel Cafe where she would be moved to the core by musical artists like Sia and Patty Griffin . Slowly, instead of the listening to the acts she became one, and soon enough “the whole town was talking.”
Even for you off beat folks, this band can lead you home, a step in time.
Shout Out Out Out Out‘s unique sound relies on 2 drummers, 4 bass players, 5 synthesizers, a handful of cowbells and other gidgets and gadgets. These west coast foreigners, Alberta, Canada, leave the crowd in a sweaty dancing fever. It is a sight unlike any other and one I highly recommend you see. Keep a look out for upcoming tour dates, and keep your fingers crossed for a swift return back to NYC. The new Shout Out Out Out Out album isn’t expected to be released until March, 2008. In the meantime check out their new single “In the End Its Your Friends.”
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.
