It’s Memorial Day Weekend and everyone is starting to keep an eye out for their summer jam, the song that for most people will define the summer of 2009 for them, for better or for worse.
Enter Roman Candle, a breezy indie-rock group who enjoyed critical acclaim with their debut “Wee Hours.” They’ve returned with “Oh Tall Tree in the Ear,” which has the single “Eden was a Garden.”
It’s the first track of the new album and it opens with a Flaming Lips-sounding guitar strum, followed by lead singer/guitarist Skip Matteny going into a sort of rolling lyric: the kind that rolls so quick past you that you aren’t sure what he’s saying.
It doesn’t matter. The rhythm is easy and the perfect song to come in midway through the summer roadtrip, the point when you aren’t quite sure if the trip is going to be cool. Then this song comes on and you suddenly feel like you’re in an indie film and that the path you’re on is leading you to something crazy and memorable.
Much of the album feels the same way, injecting an easy lyric and sound and getting out before you realize what just happened (which also makes it the perfect roadtrip album since it reveals itslef through multiple listens.
And even though it’s early, there’s an optimistic feeling after listening to the entire thing that this is merely the beginning to a summer of worthy music.
Roman Candle “Eden was a Garden”
[audio:http://www.52shows.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/01-eden-was-a-garden.m4a]
(though these are it for now, according to the band’s MySpace, I have to believe more shows are coming…)
May 26 2009 8:00P PASTE MAGAZINE and WOXY PRESENT: Roman Candle and The Deep Vibration at The Summit Columbus, Ohio
May 27 2009 8:00P PASTE MAGAZINE and WOXY PRESENT: Roman Candle and The Deep Vibration at Club Cafe Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Jun 20 2009 8:00P City Stages Birmingham, Alabama
Jun 25 2009 7:00P Turley Park – Sunset Series – SIU Carbondale, Illinois
It’s refreshing to hear a band dedicated an album about a certain area and not actually be from that area. So instead of getting songs about how rainy and depressing Portland, Oregon is from The Dimes, we get something soft and lush about Boston, Massachusetts.
Their one sheet describes them as being close to the sound to Death Cab for Cutie and says the band’s influences range from The Beatles to The Decemberists. If you like any of those bands mentioned, it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll dig this band.
And though I like those bands too, there’s something else that draws me toward The Dimes. I can’t tell you what it is exactly except that i’m writing this late on Sunday night after watching Breaking Bad because they made me sit up in bed.
The New England EP has four songs, one of which is the John Lennon cover “Watching the Wheels.”
As mentioned before, they have a familiar sound, which is apparent on “The Ballad of Winslow Homer” and could have been a B-side to a Wes Anderson film (it would have been played in full during the movie during the character’s “moment of clarity” scene).
The Dimes – The Ballad of Winslow Homer
[audio:http://www.52shows.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/03-ballad-of-winslow-homer.mp3]
Then there’s “Clara,” which sounds nothing like Ballad, and yet has the same kind of laid-back tone. Again, you feel like you’ve heard these guys before and though you can’t pinpoint where and how, it feels good, which makes you assume it was a good memory.
This is your rainy day music, the EP you have on that you will listen to in full over and over again, either because it’s calming or because you’re in your own personal Wes Anderson film and you’re just waiting for your moment to arrive. And when it does, at least you’ll have the right song lined up.
Though the concert tour appears to a bit light, these guys may be expanding their live shows soon.
May 29 2009 12:00P Seattle University Seattle, Washington
Jun 5 2009 9:00P Doug Fir Portland, Oregon
Jun 6 2009 8:00P Crocodile Seattle, Washington
Real quick, because I have another blog that needs getting to. Got word of Deathcab’s new tour and in the email came this animated video for “Grapevine Fires,” a song off of the group’s Narrow Stairs album.
Why the big deal? Apparently the song was inspired by Ben Gibbard’s “up close and personal experience with 2007′s California wildfires.”
APRIL
7 Upper Darby, PA Tower Theatre
8 Washington, DC DAR Constitution Hall
9 Davidson, NC John Belk Arena/Davidson College
10 Louisville, KY Louisville Palace
11 Memphis, TN Orpheum Theatre
12 Tulsa, OK The Brady Theater
13 Omaha, NE Holland Theatre *
15 St. Paul, MN Roy Wilkings Auditorium
17 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom
18 East Lansing, MI Breslin Events Center/Michigan State University
19 Waukesha, WI Van Male Fieldhouse/Carroll College
22 Bellingham, WA The Mount Baker Theater **
24 Spokane, WA McCarthey Athletic Center/Gonzaga University
25 Boise, ID The Morrison Center
27 Sacramento, CA Memorial Auditorium
29 San Diego, CA RIMAC Arena/UC San Diego *
MAY
1 Austin, TX Austin Music Hall
2 New Orleans, LA Contemporary Arts Center ***
4 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
5 Birmingham, AL BJCC Concert Hall
6 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre
7 Orlando, FL Hard Rock Live
4/7-29 w/Cold War Kids and Ra Ra Riot
except * Cold War Kids only and **Ra Ra Riot only
5/1-6 w/Matt Costa and Ra Ra Riot except *** Matt Costa only
I had a note on my computer about Lisa Hannigan, reminding me to blog about her before February 11th since that’s when her tour begins. I forgot.
So sorry San Diego. This one’s on me.
For the rest of you who happen to me in the mood for dream indie-pop music, check out the Hannigan. We were given a video for “Lille” (which you can listen to if you’re not down with the combination of image and sound) and were immediately enthralled by the soft sound and her use of a pop-up book in her video (now you want to watch it, don’t you?).
Damien Rice fans may recognize her voice (she sang with the Irish singer on the majority of his tracks on his debut). Her solo effort, “Sea Sew,” is what you expect from a girl who enjoys the soft sounds of an acoustic guitar. So far, and she’s been played during many a wine-filled night, “Lille” is definitely the standout.
Like a pop-book book, there are layers and it seems something new comes out at me each time I listen to the song (meaning it’s gone from “this is ok” to “Whoa, who is this again?”), so much so that she’s been elevated to the “Cellar Door” playlist on my iPod (Yes. It’s a big deal. Ask around).
Feb 11 San Diego, CA Voodoo Club at House of Blues
Feb 15 Seattle, WA Triple Door
Feb 16 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
Feb 17 San Francisco, CA The Independent
Feb 21 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
Feb 22 Phoenix, AZ The Rhythm Room
Feb 24 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater
Feb 26 Minneapolis, MN The Varsity Theater
Feb 28 Chicago, IL Matyr’s
March 1 Toronto, ON The Mod Club Theatre
March 3 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
March 5 Philadelphia, PA World Café Live
March 7 New York, NY Highline Ballroom
March 8 Washington, D.C. 9:30 Club
March 10 Atlanta, GA Vinyl
March 11 Nashville, TN The Belcourt Theatre
March 12 Louisville, KY 930 Listing Room
March 15 Dallas, TX The Pontiac Garage at House of Blues
March 16 Houston, TX House of Blues-Bronze Peacock
It’s almost 1 a.m. on a Thursday and I was not expecting to be blogging again. But I went and checked my email and found something about Anya Marina, a girl who sings songs that are being described as “pop gems,” which translated to some weird musical treasure buried in a cave.
Her album, “Slow & Steady Seduction, Phase II” drops on Dec. 9 and her debut single is “Move You,” which started as most indie songs do: a simple guitar riff with a girl singing “Bending spoons with my mind…” in a sexy hush-hush voice.
Anya Marina – Move You
[audio:http://www.52shows.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/01_move_you.mp3]
Then it erupts into something else at 1:02 into some sort of rocking dance beat (but still with her sexy crooning in the background). Maybe it’s the steak I had tonight or the fact that I was simply in the mood for a blond with a guitar who poses like Liz Phair.
For whatever reason, I dug it.
10/13 Solana Beach, CA – Belly up – Hotel Cafe tour
For me, Plushgun is this year’s Grand Archives (and GA fans, you know exactly what that means).
Since I was sent their self-titled EP, I’ve been hooked on the poppy indie/electronic rock of the band. Fans of Chris Holmes album “Get Yer Yum-Yum’s Out” will hear a familiar sound.
The band was founded by Dan Ingala from Brooklyn (do any boring people live in Brooklyn?) and heavily employs the use of a drum machine with insanely catchy lyrics.
But there’s something else about Plushgun that feels different from other new, emerging groups (more genuine maybe?). It could be because their first music video was this. Or maybe it’s because I have a soft spot for stalker-ish songs.
And, for whatever reason, this music just feels right in the fall (sorry for y’all in the hotter areas of the country. I know how it is. I lived in Phoenix for five years, home of the 95 degree October days).
Their first album drops next year in January. For now, deal with the EP.
Plushgun – Just Impolite
[audio:http://www.52shows.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/02-just-impolite.mp3]
9.14 New York, NY @ Union Square Park, South Plaza
9.23 Chicago, IL @ Funky Buddha Lounge, Decibelle Festival
9.24 Chciago, IL @ The Abbey, Decibelle Festival
10.11 Salem, MA @ Dodge Street Bar
10.13 New York, NY @ The Cutting Room
10.16 Richmond, VA @ Alley Katz
10.17 Levittown, PA @ St. Paul’s Church
11.1 New York, NY @ The Bitter End
Stars, the epic melodramatic pop band will be back on the road. I saw these guys last year and enjoyed their howling the phrase “after the war,” which was initially intended to mean the end of the single life on their album, but took on political undertones at the show.
As of now, my personal war is the with the with newspaper industry and it’s complete lack of sense.
7/5/08 – Vieux-Quebec, PQ @ Festival D’ete de Quebec
7/8/08 – Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Bluesfest
8/24/08 – San Francisco, CA @ Outlands Festival
9/16/08 – Boston, MA @ Wilbur
9/17/08 – Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street
9/19/08 – Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
9/20/08 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
9/24/08 – Chicago, IL @ The Riviera
9/25/08 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pagaent
9/26/08 – Lawrence, KS @ The Granada
9/28/08 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits
10/1/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Avalon
10/2/08 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
10/4/08 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Rio Theatre
10/6/08 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
10/8/08 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
10/9/08 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
My good buddy Austria from AZ told me about Black Kids a while back and, as is always the case, whatever band Austria tells me about inevitably becomes one of the “it” bands down the road.
They play some funky, indie-pop goodness and have the special power of stirring people’s racial emotions due to the fact that only two out of the five people in the band are actually (says in whisper) black.
A clever marketing plot or a statement about race in our country? You can decide for yourself when you see them on tour.
Friday 07/25/08 New York, NY @ Santo’s Party House
Friday 09/19/08 Jacksonville, FL @ Freebird
Saturday 09/20/08 Orlando, FL @ The Social
Tuesday 09/23/08 Atlanta, GA @ Earl
Wednesday 09/24/08 Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club
Thursday 09/25/08 Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
Friday 09/26/08 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Saturday 09/27/08 Washington, D.C. @ Black Cat
Monday 09/29/08 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
Thursday 10/02/08 Boston, MA @ Paradise
Saturday 10/04/08 Montreal, PQ @ Cabaret Music Hall
Sunday 10/05/08 Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
Monday 10/06/08 Chicago, IL @ Metro
Tuesday 10/07/08 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Friday 10/10/08 Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s
Saturday 10/11/08 Vancouver, BC @ Richards
Sunday 10/12/08 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne
Monday 10/13/08 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore
Wednesday 10/15/08 Los Angeles, CA @ Mayan
Yes, remember this movie homeslice? The high school story about geeky love in suburbia with a teenager making up her own slang almost at will? Then you no doubt became obsessed with the music behind all those frames of dramedy. And the reason for that is Kimya Dawson, a leader in the revolution that is anti-folk (they find folk artists and beat the shit out of them…ok not really).
But then why did I put a picture of “Juno” on the front of this post? Because if put this picture up, you’d be taking my anti-folk joke seriously and wonder how many folk artists this person trapped in her closet.
Right, the news. Dawson is releasing a new album on Sept. 9 called “Alphabutt,” which is a collection of children’s songs she wrote with friends and their kids (if you’ve heard her music before, then you know this is a perfect fit).
And why is this tour a big deal? Because the dates with the “*” next to it means she’ll be opening for none other than Ani DiFranco, queen of the anti-folk massacre of 1999 (it’s too easy…and too much fun).
Get your tickets early. Ani sells out lightning quick.
July 2nd Music Hall of Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY
July 11th The National Richmond, VA *
July 12th Pines Theater Florence, MA *
July 13th Cape Cod Melody Tent Hyannis, MA *
July 15th Ives Concert Park Danbury, CT *
July 16th United Palace New York, NY *
July 25th Capitol Hill Block Party Seattle, WA
The Raconteurs to Play Los Angeles Show This Sunday
The Raconteurs have just announced they will be performing at the Henry Fonda Theater in Los Angeles, CA this Sunday, May 18th. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at noon PST and will be available at that time by going here.
All music and videos posted on this site are here in support of the artists. If you find anything that should not be posted, please let us know and we'll remove it immediately.
