The thing about New York is it goes at one speed: Fast. While SXSW has a laid-back, barbecue-soaked vibe to it, CMJ , its northern cousin has a bit more harried feel; clattering trains and line anxiety fill the spaces between showcases. Sometimes, though, that hustle and bustle can be a beautiful thing. Rather than shutting down the city, CMJ becomes a web of hidden gems, sanctuaries scattered around a busy city that barely notices that the number of aspiring bands has increased by a factor of ten. There's beauty in the captured moments, [...]
It somewhat shames me to admit that Saturday night was my first venture to Mission Theater, because that place is definitely a sweet venue. The size and layout of the place allow for a perfect, intimate experience, and when it's with a band such as Deer Tick , that cozy closeness is just what the doctor ordered. Don't misinterpret that to mean this was a romantic-like concert (although there was a sexy on-stage moment during Deer Tick's set – we'll get to that later), but rather, know Mission Theater produced an excellent chance for the fans to [...]
Surfer Blood have taught us that being bored and indifferent is fine so long as you're skinny and stylish. Tarot Classics wins the beauty pageant but blows the talent show. When they're not doing a poor job at being energetic ("Miranda" is simply annoying), monotone vocals and vacuous rhythms prevail. Rating: 4.4 Reminds us of: New Order / Japandroids / The Cure Surfer Blood: MySpace / [...]
Metalheads can rejoice in the genre's recent renaissance, but Here Comes Forever is more beneficiary than driver of that trend. The album is eminently listenable, especially for a band that variously describes its sound as "drone" and "noise," but somehow that comes across as less complimentary than it should be. Reminds us of: Corrosion of Conformity with a funk sensibility Dibiase: Facebook | Soundcloud
The Martyr is filled with grand, dramatic beats backing grand, dramatic themes, often prefaced by grand, dramatic sermons; even the title is dramatic. This would be overwhelming if not for Immortal Technique's solid, rugged flow and a bevy of heavy-hitting guest spots. Occupy Wall Street has its new anthem! Reminds us of: Canibus, Killer Mike without the slow jams, conspiracy theories Immortal Technique: Label | MySpace
Sound familiar? It should. This Life is Not Ours to Keep isn't quite old school, but its debt to the jangle-pop of the Byrds is obvious enough. And why not? In these times of endlessly fragmented popular music, some good old fashioned rock'n'roll feels pretty good to come home to. Reminds us of : The Thrills | Pete Droge | Matthew Sweet New Ruins: Official | MySpace
Was Halloween the culprit for Trentemøller 's sparsely attended show Monday night? Were people not aware that this guy headlines huge festivals in Europe , which makes a club show a rare treat to be lusted after? Our photographer, Justin Kent, does not have answers to these questions. And to him they might be irrelevant, since he knows that the people that did come were jumping for joy from the get-go. You'll get 'em next time, Trentemøller. All you can do is rock it. Which you did. Here are Justin's pictures from this time, [...]
When was the last time a band put joy in your heart? When it's been a while, you start to get that creeping feeling of desperate necessity, clamoring for basslines thumping through your blood. Go too long without it, and you risk losing it entirely. Don't fret, though, just go see Scattered Trees . They begin with what may be the world's longest soundcheck – tweaking at the various instruments for what seems like an inordinate amount of time. Turns out this extended bout of tinkering was completely warranted. From the start, they sound incredible. [...]
It was a damp and menacing night. The citizens of Portland shrank away from the darkness like frightened mice, scurrying to the warm lights of bars and indoor festivities. The streets consequently looked lonely. Fear of the night offered little other than boredom, and dispirited conversation loomed ominously. But if tedium and lethargy were tyrannical ghosts feasting on the sleepy folks of Portland, The Quick and Easy Boys were the city's Ghostbusters. Careful to keep their crime-fighting identity secret, the Boys disguised themselves as The Three Amigos--a clever choice, considering their appearance was [...]
"Good afternoon," muttered Dawes front man Taylor Goldsmith into the mic. He's mocking Boston's Royale - in the kindest way possible of course. If there was one thing that was tighter than the harmonies Friday night, it was the schedule. Increasingly early start times have become the joke within Boston's music scene. I was bummed to have missed The Belle Brigade , whose set started at 6 that evening. Sorry guys, I wanted to check you out! On a more positive note, the [...]
Who loves James Franco ? We'd have to say Hoodie Allen , who named a song after him even though he made a burn on Spiderman 2 pre-chorus. Watch out for the crazy cameos, all of them unfortunately fake.
To those who wrote off Mayer Hawthorne's A Strange Arrangement as an opportunistic ballad aimed at hipsters' hearts (and wallets), How Do You Do won't change much. To everyone else, Hawthorne's new album brings higher production value, greater vocal confidence, and neo-soul that doesn't crumble when played alongside Motown classics. Reminds us of: A Strange Arrangement with a major label budget. Mayer Hawthorne: website | facebook | myspace
It only takes a listen or two to The War on Drugs ' latest album, Slave Ambient , to understand that any appropriate warm-up to the band is going to have to draw on a plethora of influences. That calls for the kind of opening lineup that the optimists among us should be stoked for: diverse, capable, nuanced, and above all, intriguing. But the more jaded concert-goers, myself included, can remember all too many examples of folksy cover acts opening for punk legends, or professed anti-establishmentarians opening for FM radio mainstays. The virtues of expanded horizons notwithstanding, it [...]
There's a popular bumper sticker around these parts, proclaiming "Keep Portland Weird." It's no secret this city has a reputation for offbeat behavior and eccentric residents, and the local weirdos are out in full force tonight. Attendees this evening include the middle-aged man and woman who have been entangled in a graphic makeout session since they arrived. To their left, the graying groupie who responds loudly to several people who weren't addressing her; on the other side, the plastered-drunk girl in rockabilly garb who has broken her high-heeled shoe while barreling from one side of the room to the other. [...]
In the Venn diagram comparing Justice's debut Cross with Audio, Video, Disco , here's the overlap: distorted synthesizers. Gone is the bombast of "Genesis," the infectious hedonism of "D.A.N.C.E.," and any notion that the listener might be having a good time. It's downright sad. Anyone know the French for "sophomore slump"? Reminds us of: The parallel universe where Daft Punk was a one-hit-wonder Justice: facebook | myspace
When Portishead comes to the States, it's a big deal. Like new Arcade Fire album, or leaked Radiohead type of big deal. Ok, maybe not leaked Radiohead; we all know that only Radiohead being held hostage at gunpoint could overtake that kind of buzz, but it's still an announcement that causes a ruckus out in music lovers' land. The reason? Portishead wows us, and then keep us waiting. Give and pull back. This has been true of their albums, and especially true of their touring schedule. Try to see them abroad and you might get lucky. Try to [...]
When Joe Pug and his bandmates took to the stage last Friday night, it was the sparsest crowd I've seen him perform for since the beginning of his Pickathon set in 2009 (see photos starting at #58.) That performance that ended up packed to the gills with sweaty and appreciative fans. Standing at the back of Somerville Theater , handing my ticket to the gentlemen showing people to their seats I expected the same thing to happen. I exclaimed to my new friend: "I can't believe there's no one here to see Joe Pug." [...]
Peter Wolf is an institution, the musical equivalent of Mayor Menino's longevity in Boston politics. His early years at the MFA School as a painting major (and roommate of David Lynch) introduced him to a club scene of psychedelic R&B, fronting a band that opened for John Lee Hooker. If you only remember the "Freeze Frame" and "Centerfold" fame of J. Geils , you've missed out on a performer who conjures a smoky past. Wolf alluded to his status by listing defunct local clubs, noting that he has outlived "The Rathskeller" and all the rest. [...]
Get into that spooky mood for the pending Halloween festivities in the form of some cult worship with The Marshmallow Ghosts . Their video for "Trick" is a NSFW treat that tantalizes dark fantasies we save for that late October date.
Feel right at home with the sounds of Philadelphia's The War On Drugs , who're coming to Bunk Bar in Portland this coming Tuesday. We saw them with Destroyer back in March, and while you may get the Petty and Springsteen influences on the record, be prepared to feel the band come into their own live. Tickets are only $10, and for that price you also get to see openers Purling Hiss and Carter Tanton . So make up for any cases of the Mondays on [...]
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