A self-proclaimed "life long lover of all things synth," Philly-based Strand of Oaks ' Tim Showalter and bandmate Chris Ward (also of Pattern is Movement ) helped The Tallest Man on Earth re-imagine the title track to his 2012 LP There's No Leaving Now for Moog Sound Lab . The two projects were on tour together last summer, with Showalter supporting his own 2012 release Dark Shores . With a plethora of Moog gear at their disposable, the collaborators turn the [...]
Spring music in the past has been different for me. I always wanted something to evoke the riotous bloom of flowers, the world opening its clenched palms toward the jolly sun. The rain splattering on thirsty ground, and on the wet shins of kids running around in the park for the first time since [...]
If there was ever any doubt that Phosphorescent (the nam de plum of Matthew Houck) has been playing music since 2002, seeing Houck and company in a live setting should squash any skepticism. But a vast majority of the crowd at Lincoln Hall (Chicago, IL) on April 13 wouldn't have known that, hell, I heard a few members of the audience asking "Who's up next" and "what type of music they play" just before Phosphorescent took the stage. The show was sold out, so I haven't the slightest idea how they got in. The [...]
Check out my photos of Phosphorescent at the Troubadour over at Stereogum .
The Troubadour was completely sold-out for the stunning combination of Phosphorescent and Strand of Oaks. Phosphorescent have been gaining traction on their latest album, Muchacho . Matthew Houck slashed away at his Fender Jazzmaster throughout the evening, visiting his discography and managing to work in covers of Randy Newman ("Days Of Heaven") and Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter ("Storms Never Last") before appropriately closing out the evening with "Los Angeles." Check out the gallery of photos above.
Photos and words by Leslie Kalohi “You’re never going to see them play a place as small as the Troubadour again” a fellow concertgoer proclaimed after witnessing Phosphorescent’s sold out show. The moniker of multi-instrumentalist Matthew Houck, Phosphorescent is a fully realized sonic experience on stage. Weaving in pristine, haunting melodies with aching lyrics, it’s easy to see much bigger venues on the horizon for Houck and company. Excited fans frequently shouted out song requests from albums past and latest release, Muchacho . The night’s encore ended with the popular and appropriate, [...]
Phosphorescent' s breakout new record, Muchacho , builds upon Matthew Houck's barstool folk-rock with elegantly produced dashes of disco and electronica; seas of strings and piano keys. It blurs the line between Houck's contemplative, forlorn folk balladry and assured, lighthearted roots-rocktimism. Tuesday night, Phosphorescent tried to bring the melancholic party to the Rock and Roll Hotel. Blown out speakers and horrid sound mixing tried to stop them. Though the sound screamed out of the monitors with pain, it was clear that Houck's outfit could tear the roof off of a better-equipped venue. Their [...]
The Tallest Man On Earth hitting up dates with Strand of Oaks. The Tallest Man On Earth has announced a slew of tour dates, including spots at Sasquatch and Bonnaroo. Check out the...
Strand of Oaks , a.k.a. Tim Showalter, has been quite a road warrior ever since the release of his much-beloved 2010 album Pope Killdragon . He's currently on tour promoting his latest album Dark Shores with Phosphorescent, who is also sharing material from his critically acclaimed new record Muchacho . Tonight they'll be rolling into Johnny Brenda's for a sold-out show that will surely have their fans eating up the new tunes. (BTW: Strand of Oaks also just released an EP with earlier versions of tracks from Dark Shores , which I actually enjoy more [...]
When Strand of Oaks' Tim Showalter began writing his last album 20122s Dark Shores, it was noticeably different from the album that was released. He wanted it bathed in moody old synthesizer tones, all contemplative and eerie and maybe a little goth. The sonic direction of the record changed when Showalter got in the studio ... Continue reading
Chris T Popper reviews Strand of Oaks at St. Pancras Old Church, London, Friday 22nd February 2013 Apparently the oldest place of Christian worship in England (it has believed to have existed since AD 316) St Pancras Old Church in central London was a beguiling if somewhat confusing venue for a music gig. Convinced we were in the wrong place we had almost turned to leave before three gentlemen who were sort of loitering in the foyer put us right, telling us to come on in… an intriguing [...]
Well, it took a bit longer than expected (losing your job in November and having a baby in January will disrupt the blog-writing process a bit), but Given and Taken in Ink's list for best albums of 2012 is finally here. This year, a handful of bands came out of nowhere and blew me away. I knew right away that debut albums from Drew Smith and The Rest would stand among the best releases of the year. They are joined by 28 other great albums, by artists well-known and obscure. I'm pleased that GTI's 2012 list is a [...]
As well as our Top 100 tunes of the year posts over the past five days, each of the MM contributors have put together their own lists. Kicking us off is Polly Pocket ... This has been the hardest year ever to pick the best of - it has been a cracking year for top tunes but here goes..... 30. Sinead O'Connor – The Wolf Is Getting Married a 29. Two Gallants – Broken Eyes 28. Tame Impala – Elephant [...]
Today we countdown songs 40-21 in the Mad Mackerel Favourite 100 tunes of the year. You can check out the previous days entries here: 100-81 , 80-61 , 60-41 . 40 ALABAMA SHAKES - HOLD ON Almost a head-banger done country style, love the underlying guitar rhythm. ( SB ) a 39 LOWER DENS - BRAINS When I picked this song out in June I said it was like a [...]
10. Lana Del Rey - Born to Die ( Spotify ) I’ve read various articles online trying to get a grasp on why exactly Lana Del Rey has taken so much heat. What I have pieced together is that people hate her because she’s “inauthentic,” that she is fake and crass, a creation meant solely to take your money. I would not disagree. She might be all those things. But in a certain way, that’s the essence of America. So I'm just going to take her music as it is, and in doing so, this album takes the [...]
XPN welcomes Strand of Oaks to Johnny Brenda's tonight for his first headlining Philadelphia show. The stage name of local bearded guy Tim Showalter, Strand of Oaks is a vehicle for storytelling and yarn-spinning that has taken Showalter through the darker days of his life and into the better-lit year of 2012; this year saw ... Continue reading
Strand of Oaks has had a helluva 2012, which saw him release another beautiful album in Dark Shores and found him reaching out to the masses on tours with the likes of Bowerbirds, Yellow Ostrich, and The Tallest Man on Earth. Showalter is all set to wrap up his successful year with his first headlining show at Johnny Brenda's this Saturday, and it will likely be one of the last chances to see him play a hometown show before he heads for a tour of Sweden and Norway with Tallest Man on Earth in 2013. Little [...]
well, here we are. 2012 almost over, my 7th year of running this joint has passed, and this is what i have come up with. most of this will not be a surprise to anyone who follows this place with any regularity. this year was increasingly hard, i must admit. i think every record in my top ten has the potential of landing that coveted #1 spot cause they're all amazing records in my very very humble opinion, but at the end of the day there can only be one, much like the highlander. my number one record this year [...]
photos by David Andrako Yellow Ostrich's Jon Natchez at Bowery Ballroom - 11/14/12 Yellow Ostrich returned to NYC last night (11/14) for the last club date on their fall tour (they play Bard College tonight (11/15) ) at Bowery Ballroom. The tour started in October just a few days after member Jon Natchez returned from his trip around the country with David Byrne and St. Vincent (he plays saxophone, flute, clarinet, [...]
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