Live Music Blog.com

Soulive @ Brooklyn Bowl, 3/9/10: Photo & Video Round-up

whitperson — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:27:41 +0000

Last night, I was able to finally check out one of Soulive’s “Bowlive” shows, as a part of the band’s 10-night residency at Brooklyn Bowl. My tickets came courtesy of the fine folks at Relix who drew my name for a free pair (thanks dudes!).

Overall, the show was loose and intimate, featuring a rotating cast of characters for a variety of interesting sit-ins and lineups. The band welcomed Charlie Hunter as their main guest to show off his skills with his signature 8-string guitar as well as a standard six-string electric. But, of course, Mr. Hunter wasn’t the only guest appearance, with Nigel Hall and Kofi Burbridge also making appearances throughout the night. The opening sets included a mellow, soul set featuring Nigel Hall on vocals and Charlie Hunter laying down the instrumentals, followed by a standard funk-laden set by Soulive. But the main feature of the night was all about honoring the Beatles and celebrating the band’s latest official release, Rubber Soulive, which is an album of all-instrumental Beatles covers.

Like the new album, the “Rubber Soulive” set featured the band’s funky re-workings of classic Beatles tunes. Highlights included an uber-funky “Come Together,” a bouncin’ “Day Tripper” featuring Charlie Hunter on six-string, some soulful takes on “In My Life” and “Something,” and a nearly unrecognizable version of “Get Back” that had the crowd dancing hard. At times, the crowd sang along with the well-known melodies, and it was clear that both the band and crowd were totally into it and having a blast. After a quick break, they returned to the stage for a one-song encore capping off a stellar show with a rockin’ version of the Abbey Road classic “I Want You (She’s So Heavy).” I was able to grab most of the tune on video:

Soulive @ Brooklyn Bowl, 3.9.10 – “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” [YouTube]

It was a perfect way to end a super fun show. it was so fun in fact, I might just have to return for another round of “Bowlive” later this week. Check out the full photo gallery of the night’s festivities below:

If you’re interested in a recap of the band’s first week at Brooklyn Bowl, head on over to Royal Family Records site.

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August Phish Shows in Telluride Approved by City Council

whitperson — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:06:05 +0000

It looks like it’s game on for Telluride Phish this summer. The City Council of Telluride has given the thumbs up for those August 9 & 10 Phish shows we mentioned recently. But the approval came with an interesting twist: a sweetheart deal for 1,500 tickets to be set aside for local residents. That ought to get a few phans riled up. Let’s just hope none of those tickets pop up on Stubhub.

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Washed Out, Small Black, Pictureplane @ Mercury Lounge, NYC 3/7/10

whitperson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:48:33 +0000

Sunday night, I hit up the Mercury Lounge for an intimate show featuring Washed Out, Small Black, and Pictureplane opening.

Although I was definitely curious about the openers, my main reason for going was Washed Out, whose Life of Leisure EP I’ve been thoroughly enjoying ever since I checked out a few tracks on The Hype Machine this past fall and decided to make the purchase. If you’re unfamiliar with Washed Out, it’s basically one young dude (Ernest Greene) from a random town in Georgia who has caught the attention of the Hype Machine crowd with a unique blend of dreamy synth-pop that some are giving the unfortunate label “chill wave.”

Washed Out has managed to cull some of the most perfect synth tones from the 80s and update them with a more contemporary rhythmic and atmospheric framework. That’s all topped off with heavily-processed and “hazy” vocals that makes for a mesmerizing sound that’s familiar and nostalgic but totally fresh. I’d definitely recommend checking out his EP or getting a taste from the blogs or his MySpace page.

But before Washed Out came on, I also got to check out sets by Small Black and Pictureplane.

Pictureplane

Like Washed Out, Pictureplane was a one-man show, complete with a bunch of beat sequencers, samplers and effects pedals (i.e. toys). He got the party moving with an interesting mashup of house-oriented dance tracks overlaid with high-pitched, moody vocals. What the guy lacked in technical agility with his various contraptions, he definitely made up for with lots of energy and a silly, fun vibe. He could use a little work on delivery, especially in the transitions and endings (more on that later), but it was a fun way to kick off the night.

Small Black

Next up was Small Black, the only real “band” of the evening. Although much of the night’s music was characterized by synths mixed with dreary/moody vocals — and these guys played into that trend — Small Black provided much more of a rock-oriented groove that really made them stand out from the rest of the lineup. The presence of a full drum kit, bass, keys, and multiple singers made all the difference and created a key distinction from the other acts performing that night.

It took Small Black a few tunes to get things rolling, but towards the end of their set, they tore into some truly memorable melodies and tight grooves. Their standout track “Despicable Dogs” is totally hypnotic and has basically been stuck in my head since I left the venue. I’m not yet all that familiar with their other tunes, but I thoroughly enjoyed their blend of melodic, moody synth-based rock, and I definitely think that they’re set was the most cohesive of the night. I’ll be looking out for more music from these guys in the near future.

After a short break and a quick sound check, Washed Out started into his set, playing to a thoroughly enthusiastic crowd that clearly was familiar with his material. Now, one of the things I wondered about Washed Out was whether or not he could truly translate the perfection of his studio tracks to the live stage. On the one hand, I really admire a guy who rolls completely solo with just a mic and his contraptions. But, given how much I love his EP, I just felt like the sound didn’t work all that well in the live setting. The vocals were a little too distorted and, dare I say, “washed out” to really catch your ear. More importantly, I’d say the set suffered a similar lack of cohesion and flow like the opener Pictureplane, especially in the song transitions and endings. They were a bit abrupt and unnatural as compared to the gradual studio fades that characterize the tracks on his EP. Now it’s important to note that this guy has barely played more than a few live shows since breaking out last year, so I’m sure his live set will continue to improve. Besides, the crowd basically seemed to eat up every single track he played, so perhaps I’m being too critical.

I think what struck me was really the distinction between watching a full band locking into a groove versus watching one guy singing while tapping some buttons and twisting a few knobs. Without a few instruments or even all that much movement, the one-man band approach sort of felt flat to me. And, as if to emphasize this perception even further, about halfway through his set, Washed Out was joined by the guys from Small Black for a full-band take on some of his signature tunes. The change provided a vibe and energy that that instantly kicked things up a notch and finished out the show with a bang.

Washed Out – Get Up (3.7.10) [YouTube]

Unfortunately, this show was a pain in the ass to shoot because of the lighting. But unlike a bunch of other douchebag photogs who were flashing away throughout the entire show, I wasn’t willing go against the standard common courtesy of not using a flash for shooting concerts. Despite the lighting challenges, I think I still nabbed a few decent a shots; my full photo set is available on Flickr.

One a brief side note, I mentioned Small Black’s signature tune “Despicable Dogs” above. As it turns out, Washed Out recently did a remix of that tune, and it has subsequently been playing in my head non-stop since I discovered it. Naturally, you can check it out on the Hype Machine, but beware of its infectiousness.

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Stream: The White Stripes New Live Album

whitperson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:05:14 +0000

Remember that White Stripes live album we mentioned a while back? NPR Music is streaming the album, Under Great White Northern Lights, in its entirety.

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High Sierra 2010: Lineup Additions

Justin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:32:04 +0000

High Sierra just announced a slew of new acts for their 2010 festival, including Widespread Panic, The Black Crowes, Lotus, The Mother Hips, and more.

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Tour Dates: Band of Horses Hits the Road Ahead of New Release

whitperson — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:06:35 +0000

photo by kk+

Band of Horses are returning to the stage in 2010 with a busy touring schedule and a new album called Infinite Arms, due out on May 18 on Fat Possum/Brown Records. They’ve just released the cover art, too. Check it out:

The band’s tour takes them on a nice jaunt throughout North America and Europe, with a number of key U.S. festival stops like Beale Street Music Festival, Jazz Fest, and Sasquatch.

Band of Horses 2010 Tour Dates:

3-15 Boulder, CO – Fox Theater
3-16 Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
3-18 Austin, TX – Stubbs BBQ
3-19 Austin, TX – Central Presbyterian Church
4-08 Paris, France – La Fleche D’or
4-09 Brussels, Belgium – Orangerie
4-10 Rotterdam, Netherlands – Motel Mozaique
4-12 London, England – Koko
4-14 Cologne, Germany – Kulturkirche
4-16 Oslo, Norway – Rockefeller
4-17 Gothenburg, Sweden – Tradgarn
4-18 Copenhagen, Denmark – Vega
4-23 Raleigh, NC – Walnut Creek Amphitheater opening for Widespread Panic
4-24 Raleigh, NC – Walnut Creek Amphitheater opening for Widespread Panic
4-27 Gainesville, FL – University of Florida’s Rion Ballroom
4-28 Miami, FL – The Fillmore with Josh Roberts and the Hinges
4-29 Orlando, FL – House of Blues with Josh Roberts and the Hinges
5-01 New Orleans, LA – Jazz Fest
5-02 Memphis, TN – Beale Street Music Festival
5-30 Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater with She & Him
5-31 George, WA – Sasquatch
6-05 Bangor, Ireland – Ward Park with Snow Patrol
6-09 London, England – Roundhouse
6-12 Glasgow, Scotland – Bellahouston Park opening for Snow Patrol
6-19 Toronto, Ontario – Olympic Island with Pavement, Broken Social Scene, Beach House and Timbre Timbre
9-25 Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre

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Arcade Fire Announces First 2010 Concert

whitperson — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:23:19 +0000

Arcade Fire has announced their first tour date for 2010 — a headlining slot at the Oxegen Festival in Kildare, Ireland, set for Friday, July 9th.

The band is also heavily rumored as a headliner for Lollapalooza 2010.

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Video: Vampire Weekend on Saturday Night Live

Justin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:17:38 +0000

This weekend’s newest episode of Saturday Night Live with Zach Galifianakis was a solid effort from the NBC crew. I wasn’t sure how well his humor was going to translate to that sort of setting, but his monologue set the tone for the evening with a piano jam, “Kilometers Davis” style, and the rest of the evening was totally watchable. Which, for Saturday Night Live, continues to be the yardstick by which my friends and I measure whether or not it was a good episode or not.

The strong performers of the night besides the crew and host were the musical guests in Vampire Weekend, making their second stop by the fabled franchise. The band performed “Cousins” without exception for their first song, and brought in some backups for “Giving Up the Gun” to help close out the show as their second song. It’s exactly what I would have expected from the band.

Vampire Weekend “Cousins” [Hulu]

Vampire Weekend “Giving Up The Gun” [Hulu]

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Podcast #067: Medeski, Martin & Wood @ The Fillmore

Justin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:22:57 +0000

A few weeks back, I caught one of my favorite Medeski, Martin & Wood shows I’ve seen to date. These guys seem to be a point in their career where they can do no wrong, and the show I saw definitely did not disappoint. So I thought I’d ask a friendly taper if we could use his source of the show for our next podcast and he happily complied with the ask, so hopefully this little podcast mix will help you groove your way through your Sunday. I threw the tracks together using my new “DJ” setup and it’s the first of many more mixes to come from me. Think of it as a dubbed out version of the memories I came away with from the show. Enjoy!

Live Music Blog.com Podcast #067 [mp3]

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I also zipped up the MP3’s from the show which can be downloaded here.

The original source was posted on bt.etree.org. Here is the summary from the info file.

Medeski, Martin & Wood
The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
February 21st, 2010

Set I

Free Go Lilly
Agmatia >
Reliquary
Baby, Let Me Follow You Down
Coconut Boogaloo
Amber Gris

Set II

Junkyard >
Big Time >
Spy Kiss >
Back & Forth
Amish Pintxos
Cloud Wars
~encore~
Fuck You Guys

source: Schoeps mk4v/kc5/cmc6 > Lunatec v2 > Sound Devices 722 @ 24/48 (fob/dfc/din)
transfer: CF card > Powerbook G4 > Sound Studio 3.0.1 > xACT > FLAC
taped & transferred by jeffrykennedy@gmail.com

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Long View: The Disco Biscuits @ Stubb’s

Justin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 01:04:28 +0000

If you’re anything like me, you usually take the weekends to chill and consume some of the media backlog that can occur throughout the week. Normally I’ll throw on an album I haven’t heard yet or a concert video that gets sent our way, and more and more we get links for full concerts being posted online. It’s not like this is a new thing, but it really does seem to be commonplace these days. It’s rad to see it continue to proliferate for the benefit of all of us.

To celebrate that fact, we’re introducing this new column called Long View that will be dedicated to the idea of highlighting a video online that’s a full concert worth of material. Sometimes we’ll highlight some longer videos like a montage of stuff, kind of how I wrapped up the Outside Lands festival this past year, and other times we’ll post an entire set of music for you to digest. If you have any great examples that you think we should share with the rest of the internets, send it our way!

For the first post of the series, I’ve decided to reach back and find that Disco Biscuits video that the crew over at Roxwel.com put together. The band came through Austin late last year and played Stubb’s, bringing two full sets and some interviews to post online.

Roxwel got the chance to interview each member of The Disco Biscuits individually before their 9/19/09 Stubb’s show – Aron with his pants down in the port-a-pottie, Allen sticking by the rails, Marc chilling in the back of the bus and Barber bouncing around after the show.

Read on for the full concert embed, then relax, sit back, and crank your stereo.

09/19/09 Stubb’s Bar-B-Q, Austin, TX – Set One
Set I: Konkrete, Little Betty Boop> Voices Insane> Little Betty Boop, ¿Donde?, Stone> The Devil’s Waltz

Set II: Rivers, Mirrors> Basis For A Day, Caterpillar, Mr. Don
Encore: Therapy

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