speed of dark

Tokyo Police Club put on a great show last week at the Glasshouse, their final gig of their current tour in support of this year's amazing Elephant Shell, their first LP. After the show at the Glasshouse, TPC goes on tour opening for Weezer, a big break for them, with dates scheduled into late October. Elephant Shell will likely be on my favorites list this year, since in between other albums, I keep coming back to it.


Josh Hooks - guitar / Dave Monks - lead vocals, guitar


Graham Wright - vocals, keyboards
I was dissappointed that I couldn't get a picture of drummer Greg Alsop.

COPYRIGHTED CONTENT HAS BEEN REMOVED
Setlist:
1 Music Box
2 Graves
3 In A Cave
4 If It Works [buy]
5 Sixties Remake
6 Juno
7 Your English Is Good
8 "New New Song"
9 Centennial
10 Le Ferrassie
11 Cut Cut Paste
12 The Baskervilles [buy]
13 Nursery Academy[buy]
14 Citizens of Tomorrow
15 Tesselate
16 Shoulders & Arms
17 The Harrowing Adventures Of...
18 Nature of the Experiment
19 Listen to the Math
20 ??
Encore:
21 Cheer it on

official website | myspace

Prepare to be wowed by Brooklyn trio School of Seven Bells whose first full-length CD, Alpinisms, is set for release on October 28. Their smooth dance-beats, Benjamin Curtis's guitars, and the breathy, entwining vocals of sisters Alejandra and Claudia Deheza have sweetly seduced most of the music-blog world with the pre-release of the single "Connjur" from that album.

Fans of Blonde Redhead, Psapp, and Metric will have their hearts stolen as quickly as victims of one of the seven pickpockets of the legendary school from which SVIIB takes its name. Take these two tracks as examples and stream more on their MySpace page and Amazon. They are now on tour, so check their MySpace page for dates and venues.

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Connjur from Alpinisms (October 2008)
Half Asleep from Half Asleep single (2008)
Also available: Face To Face On High Places three-song EP (2007)

MySpace | Website | Label: Ghostly International
Buy at Ghostly International Store, Amazon.com, and eMusic

Photo by Guillermo Herren

Davey Quon from We Barbarians

Uber Drivel has photos and reviews from the 2008 Virgin Festival.

Trendwhore agonizes over the lineup at the Montreal Pop Festival and the tough decisions between seeing SNFU or Bad Religion...decisions, decisions...

Thanks Captain Obvious reviews the new TV on the Radio and Damien Jurado releases, shares a lovely Manchester Orchestra video, and makes another excellent covers mixtape.

Song By Toad interviews The Builders and the Butchers and reviews the new Kings of Leon album that I haven't had a chance to listen to (yet).

Rollo & Grady are going to ACL this weekend (lucky bastard) and has some nice photos from My Morning Jacket at the Greek.

Count Me Out has a Wilco contest and so much other good stuff I can't even list it all.

And finally, a random selection from iTunes:
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mark kozelek: i'm sorry [john denver cover]
calexico: love will tear us apart [joy division cover]
beck: the golden age
franz ferdinand: the fallen
belle and sebastian: the boy with the arab strap

We Barbarians
Indie Mom and I arrived uncharacteristically late to last Friday's Tokyo Police Club show at the Glass House and found We Barbarians had already started their set. I didn't know anything about them, but I was soon taken in by their act, which was better than many openers we've seen. Come to find out, every music blogger who has ever seen them perform has good things to say about them.

I'm just sorry that they have sold out of their EP, In the Doldrums (2007), because I would have bought one. They do still have vinyl copies for sale (and the vinyls have two bonus tracks), and hopefully they'll have a full-length CD to release later this year.

David Quon handles vocals, guitar, and keyboard; Derek Van Heule plays bass; and Nathan Warkentin is on drums.


David Quon at left on guitar and keys, Derek Van Heule at right on bass

Click to enlarge

Left, Quon; Right, Van Heule

These songs are from We Barbarians' Daytrotter Session:
Yes Men and Bumsuckers
War Clouds

MySpace | Website | Label: Independent

Parker Gispert of the Whigs
The Whigs from Athens, GA, brought some southern charm to Pomona's Glass House last Friday night when they opened for Tokyo Police Club. Parker Gispert (vocals, guitar) and Tim Deaux (bass) took turns with the keyboard while Julian Dorio provided more than the usual drums and hair.


I was impressed with Dorio (above) even before I learned that Esquire Magazine named him "Drummer of the Year" last year, as I watched him air-drum perfectly in time with a song coming over the sound system during the stage setup. He wasn't even thinking about it; his hands just automatically made the movements.

Click to enlarge

Left, Tim Deaux; Right, Julian Dorio just before the show
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Setlist:
1 Like a Vibration
2 Right Hand On My Heart
3 Technology
4 Nothing Is Easy
5 Sleep Sunshine
6 O.K. Alright
7 Already Young
8 (unidentified: lyrics include "standing where I stood")
9 Half the World Away


MySpace | Website | Label: ATO Records
Buy at Whigs Store, iTunes, and eMusic
MP3s are from a live session in WOXY studio.

Joe Williams of White Williams

Cleveland's "happy hardcore" threesome White Williams opened for Vampire Weekend at the Glass House last Tuesday, September 16. Joe Williams fronts the band, but information is sketchy about the other band members.


This might be Cale Parks
In a live setting, this group earns their hardcore self-description by sounding much messier and louder and more prog-rock than recorded versions would lead one to think. Williams kept asking the venue techs to make adjustments, so perhaps the mix was not exactly as they wished. Our opinion was that the music would sound better if the band did not seem to try to cram every sound they can make into the songs.


Left, Joe Williams sings; Right, a brief pre-performance band meeting


Possibly Tyler Drosdeck on bass
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Setlist:
1 New Violence
2 The Shadow
3 Going Down
4 new song about going to the prom
5 Route to Palm
6 new song
7 Violator

MySpace | Label: Domino
Buy: iTunes and eMusic


Also opening for this show were Abe Vigoda from Los Angeles.


Juan Velasquez, vocals and bass
Juan Velasquez made sure he got local cred by announcing at least twice that he is from Chino, a town only a few miles south of Pomona, where the Glass House is located.


Michael Vidal, guitar


David, vocals and guitar
We didn't know their songs well enough to get a setlist. The numbers were universally energetic and very loud with quirky, off-kilter tunes. This one, from their album Skeleton, was probably one of them. I did not get a photo of their drummer, Reggie. Sorry, Reg.
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Abe Vigoda: Bear Face from Skeleton

MySpace | Buy: eMusic

Lizzie Powell of Land of Talk

I am so excited that a couple of the tunes from Land of Talk's second CD, following up their debut EP Applause Cheer Boo Hiss (2006), and first full-length, Some Are Lakes, are appearing ahead of the early-October release date. I'm sure I'll have more to say when I get my hands on it. I saw them last year at the Glass House, and Lizzie Powell is a force of nature on the level of a hurricane. Wowza!

From Some Are Lakes (October, 2008):
Corner Phone
Some Are Lakes

Photo: Land of Talk at the Glass House (June 2007).

MySpace | Label: Saddle Creek
Preorder: Saddle Creek, CD Universe

Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig--snazzy shorts!

The last time Vampire Weekend came through the Los Angeles area, I missed them because I was still in my denial phase that they were a band that could not possibly live up to the hype surrounding them. Then I learned the error of my ways and bought their debut self-titled CD which may likely appear on my favorites list this year. So I was glad to catch them Tuesday night at the Glasshouse, a small, all-ages venue.

I think Alt-gramma was less enthused than I to see this band, since she hadn't heard the whole album and hadn't really gotten into their island-influenced music. However, I think she left the show quite a bit more impressed than before the show. In a stark comparison to the two opening bands, Vampire Weekend really knew how to put on a show, especially lead singer Ezra Koenig, engaging the audience in a sing-along and generally entertaining the audience, which I feel is an important part of a concert and too many young bands, especially, fail to do.

Vampire Weekend played every track from their debut album, and a few new songs which were as yet unnamed (or at least, no names were given). Koenig told the audience that they were looking forward to writing a few more new songs. Check out a few of our favorites and Alt-gramma's photos from the show.


Click to enlarge

Left, Koenig; right, Koenig with bassist Chris Baio

Left, Rostam Batmanglij on keys; right, Koenig

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Setlist:
1 Mansard Roof
2 Campus
3 Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
4 M79
5 (new song)
6 Bryn
7 (new song - lyrics included a refrain of "can't take it")
8 A-Punk
9 One (Blake's Got A New Face)
10 I Stand Corrected
11 The Kids Don't Stand A Chance
12 (new song - lyrics included "80% still agree")
13 Oxford Comma

Encore
14 Walcott

MySpace | Website | Label: XL Recordings
Buy at XL Store, Amazon, and eMusic

Just from a glimpse at other reviews of the Stills' new album, I'm not alone in thinking that Logic Will Break Your Heart (2003) was the album we hoped would form the foundation the Stills would build on. I ate that thing up like ice cream, song after song. Their follow-up, Without Feathers (2006), did not carry out that hope. I can't remember a single song, only thinking, "WTH did you do with the STILLS???"

Oceans Will Rise remains haunted by that question. Where are the gentle violins of "Retour a Vega"? The windshield-wiper rhythms and synths of "Still In Love Song" and "Love and Death"? The biting lead guitar of "Allison Krausse"--and its stinging question? She lied and said she was a virgin/and I asked her which, Which version?/ Cards out on the table, Allison.

Not to say that there aren't some good songs on this album. I think "Don't Talk Down" and "Dinosaurs" are nearly as good as anything on Logic, and "Hands On Fire" and "Snakecharming the Masses" are almost as good as Logic weakest numbers. "Snow In California" employs those dreamy synths. "Rooibos/Palm Wine Drinkard" gets a bit lost in the middle and at the end, but otherwise is pretty good. "Eastern Europe" is a good one too.

The official single, "Being Here," is as infectiously sing-along as something by...uh...Keane. Don't take that wrong; it's not an insult. I like Keane. But hey, that's another band. Why reinvent that wheel? After going through this album, I still don't know who the Stills are. Something they had five years ago that was earthy and dark and had its finger on the pulse of heartbreak is missing. I honestly hope that if I keep listening to this album, I'll find it somewhere. I really want to love this band again.
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Being Here from Oceans Will Rise (2008)
Love and Death from Logic Will Break Your Heart (2003)
Fevered from from Logic Will Break Your Heart (2003)

MySpace | Website | Label: Arts and Crafts
Buy at Amazon, iTunes, and eMusic

Speed of Dark has recently passed its second anniversary. I can't promise anything really different in the future, but it's still fun, and we will keep on going until it's not. We have some cool shows coming up in the next few months, and hopefully Uncle T will write about his adventures at Austin City Limits later this month.

Thanks to our regular readers--We know you're out there, and we know you are all over the world! Give us a comment once in a while.
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Midnight Movies: Two Years from Lion the Girl (2007)
MySpace | Website | Buy

The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers: Two Good Years (2002)
MySpace | Website | Buy

Now, Now Every Children: Not One, But Two from Not One, But Two EP (2008)
MySpace | Afternoon Records | Buy

Calexico: Two Silver Trees from Carried To Dust (2008)
MySpace | Casa de Calexico | Quarterstick Records | Buy

My Morning Jacket: Two Halves from Evil Urges (2008)
MySpace | Website | Buy

Ryan Adams: Two from Easy Tiger (2007)
MySpace | Website | Label: Lost Highway Records | Buy

Photo by Alt-gramma! A California towhee at the Huntington Gardens

I have to confide that sometimes I just get so filled to the brim with music that, good or bad, my sensibilities get kind of dulled to it all. This never lasts long because I can count on something to come along and zap me like an electric current, knocking the boredom and lethargy away.

The breakthrough this time is a young man named from Rhode Island named Joel Thibodeau who performs under the name of Death Vessel. His second full-length CD, Nothing Is Precious Enough For Us, recorded with longtime producer/collaborator Pete Donnelly of The Figgs, was released just a few of weeks ago.

After I heard the official single, "Bruno's Torso," two days ago, I just immediately bought everything I could find by Death Vessel. Everything about this music hits my taste right on the nose: the unusual and sexually-ambiguous voice, the acoustic guitar and the fiddle finely overlaying the drums, and the thrilling melodies. Oh my, this is the stuff. Like Fleet Foxes, Death Vessel is somehow old-timey and utterly timeless at the same time. I am kicking myself that I just missed seeing Thibodeaux in L.A. only six days ago. Hopefully he'll be back.

Meanwhile, I highly recommend both this new album and the equally amazing Stay Close (2005). You can't go wrong with any of it.
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Bruno's Torso from Nothing Is Precious Enough For Us (2008)
Dancers All from The Sound the Hare Heard, a sampler from Kill Rock Stars (2006)
Deep In the Horchata from Stay Close (2005)

Photo by Lisa Corson

MySpace | Website | Label: Sub Pop Records
Buy at Sub Pop, Amazon.com, iTunes

Visit The Yellow Stereo for a HUGE Daily Graboid, including Mogwai, Okkervil River, Calexico, The Broken West, and The Lovely Sparrows, among others, plus some coverage on Athens Popfest 2008.

The Vinyl District highlights some amazing albums, including The Posies' Frosting on the Beater, Jeff Buckley's Grace, and John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band.

To Die By Your Side exposes the dirty truth about the indie music scene (the fact that any band who makes it "big" is instantly despised by the indie scene) and brings out a David Bowie cover by The Flaming Lips.

Thanks Captain Obvious reviews the new Okkervil River and shares a really nice covers mixtape.

Rollo & Grady share a bunch of Flight of the Conchords (can't WAIT for the new season in January), has a lovely ode to the great state of California by Jay Farrar, some tracks from Radiohead's recent stop at the Hollywood Bowl, and much more.

Muzzle of Bees has a live video of possibly my favorite Wilco song...can't settle on just one, but this one is close.

Music Under Fire reviews for new Earlimart album, which I haven't had a chance to get into yet (I'm about 2 years behind in my music listening, sadly), while Music is Art reviews the upcoming new album from Annuals.

And finally, I've been listening mostly to NPR, something I never would have imagined of myself, and enjoying myself at some of my favorite timewasters: Comics Curmudgeon, Photoshop Disasters, Passive Aggressive Notes, and It's Lovely, I'll Take It!, especially since I'm trying (and failing) to find a house I want to buy.

Next Week: Vampire Weekend and Tokyo Police Club at the Glasshouse!
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muse: house of the rising sun [animals cover] [support]
franz ferdinand: come on home [buy]
rogue wave: own your own home [buy]
dire straits: money for nothing [buy]

Not too long ago, I posted a letter from the core members of Canadian band The Dears, Murray Lightburn and Natalia Yanchak. Today I got the word that the band's latest album, Missiles, will be released on Dangerbird Records on October 21.

Upcoming tour dates:

Sep 30 Starlight Room, Waterloo
Oct 1 The Casbah, Hamilton
Oct 2 Masonic Temple - Pop Montreal
Oct 9 Music Gallery, Toronto
Oct 10 Music Gallery, Toronto
Oct 16 Porchester Hall, London
Oct 21 Great Scott, Boston*
Oct 22 Maxwells Hoboken, New Jersey*
Oct 23 CMJ @ Hiro Ballroom, New York*
Oct 24 Metro, Chicago^
Oct 25 The Majestic Theatre, Madison^
Oct 27 Bluebird Theatre, Denver^
Oct 28 Belly Up Aspen^
Oct 30 Key Club, West Hollywood^
Nov 1 Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach^
Nov 3 The Independent, San Francisco^
Nov 5 Berbati’s, Portland^
Nov 6 Neumo’s, Seattle^
Nov 21 Crossing Border Festival, The Hague

* w/ Eulogies
^ w/ Secret Machines

Check the tracklisting:
1 Disclaimer
2 Dream Job
3 Money Babies [stream here]
4 Berlin Heart
5 Lights Off
6 Crisis 1 & 2
7 Demons
8 Missiles
9 Meltdown in A Major [listen on myspace]
10 Saviour

the dears: raise the dead [b-side to Gang of Losers]
the dears: we can have it [from No Cities Left]
the dears: this is a broadcast [from End of a Hollywood Bedtime Story]

Hear a little bit of title track "Disclaimer" here:


official website | myspace | Label: Dangerbird Records

We at Speed of Dark are movie and book buffs as well as music lovers, and in the area of film few hold higher esteem with us than the Coen Brothers, Joel and Ethan. Indie Mom can quote verbatim from "Raising Arizona," and my husband's favorite is "The Big Lebowski," which we have to watch every couple of months. For his birthday last year he asked for a T-shirt that says, "The Dude Abides." No surprise that our copy of the 10th Anniversary Edition, released today, is already on its way. I did not, however, order the Limited Edition, with its bowling ball display case (at right). The regular DVD case will fit better on the shelf.
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I couldn't begin to cite all the websites and references to "The Big Lebowski" here, so I'm not attempting that. Today's Time Travel is not about the movie or even about any of the music in the movie although a lot could be said about that. Rather, this is about three bands whose names come from some reference in the movie.


The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers

Even for those who have watched "The Big Lebowski" many times, this one might require some explaining. Remember the man in the iron lung machine, the father of the boy whose homework was found in the Dude's car? That character is Arthur Digby Sellers, the author, according to Walter (John Goodman), of 156 epidsodes of "Branded" (a real 60s TV series that starred Chuck Connors).

The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers are Perry Wright and Alex Lazara of Chapel Hill NC. Wright, a guitarist with a master's of divinity degree from Duke University, is the songwriter; Lazara is the arranger as well as in-house producer for Bu Hanan Records, their label. The band's sophomore release, The Mother of Love Emulates the Shapes of Cynthia (2005), won acclaim from Pitchfork and other publications when it was released. Indie Mom did a post on this album in October 2006 (Rock Star Laments). Their latest activity that I know of was contributing a song to It's Hard To Find a Friend blog's Peace On Earth Christmas charity project last December.

I find their somber, lo-fi offerings compelling which makes them my personal favorite of these three. I love this melancholy cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean." They have made an EP of b-sides and rarities available for free download at Bu Hanan Records. Just follow the link below to Bu Hanan.

The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers:
Billie Jean (Michael Jackson cover)
Saving Since September from Psalterie (2003)

MySpace | Website | Label: Bu Hanan Records Collective
Buy at Prayers and Tears Store

The Fucking Eagles

This band name references the Dude's reaction to hearing "Peaceful Easy Feeling" on the chauffeur's radio: "I had a rough night, and I hate the fucking Eagles, man."

The Fucking Eagles are a rockabilly punk outfit from Tacoma, WA, who love to make fun of the name of their hometown (versions include Tacomatose, Tacomama, and Tacomausoleum) and list about a billion influences in their MySpace page. Obviously these are some fun-loving dudes who don't take themselves very seriously, which is in-synch with the movie Dude's life philosophy.

The Fucking Eagles:
When Will I Be Loved
Out of the World from A Million Dollars Worth of Music (2007)

MySpace | Label: Gaptooth Jukebox Records
Buy at Sonic Boom Records

Little Lebowski Urban Achievers

In the movie, the Little Lebowski Urban Achievers were the beneficiaries of the charity foundation run by Maude Lebowski. This band, from Minneapolis, which is the Coens' own childhood stomping grounds, probably takes its connection to the movie the most seriously of the three. Below is a photo of two of the members with the Dude himself, Jeff Bridges, probably at a Lebowski Fest, from their MySpace page.



This track suggests another Coen Bros movie, "Raising Arizona," where H.I. (Nicolas Cage) punches his boss Glen in the nose for suggesting to swap his wife (Frances McDormand) for Ed (Holly Hunter).

Little Lebowski Urban Achievers: It's a fine line you walk in the wife swapping business from Is This a Party or An Intervention? (2007)

MySpace | Buy Is This a Party or an Intervention? 7-inch at Interpunk or purchase tracks for download from LLUA on their MySpace page.

Lebowski Trivia:
The role of the Dude was originally offered to Mel Gibson. Can you imagine that? Naw, me either! The Dude's film wardrobe came from Jeff Bridges' own closet, including those awful jelly shoes. Bridges still has the shoes and that sweater, but Jesus' purple pantsuit was thrown out after the movie was completed.

Excellent site on the works of the Coen Brothers: You Know, For Kids. Includes scripts!

It was clear from the placement of the equipment on the stage that somebody in the Glaswegian band Sons and Daughters planned on moving around a lot. When the band came on, it was tiny Adele Bethel who took command of the stage, all glitter and gold like a Mardi Gras queen or a Las Vegas showgirl. Throughout the show, she paced back and forth, gesturing and playing to the audience. Regular bassist and other "daughter" Ailidh Lennon is taking time off because she is pregnant and was replaced by a young man Bethel referred to as Graham.


Lead guitarist Scott Paterson and singer Bethel play off each other to deliver sexy, dirty, hard-rocking goth/folk led by Adele's sweet, strong vocals and Paterson's Celtic howls and moans. Paterson plays lead like he must have graduated with honors from the Jimmy Page school of rock. Throughout the set he wrenched growls and tortured squeals from his guitar that heightened the tension.

"They are the anti-Blonde Redhead," commented Indie Mom, contrasting Sons and Daughters' heat with BR's cool, aloof stage presence, as the guy next to us leaped up and started to bounce vigorously to the beat. This band has been constantly on tour the entire year, hitting nearly every festival in the U.S., including SXSW, the Coachella, and Seattle's Bumbershoot, as well as those elsewhere in the world. Today they'll be appearing at Toronto's Virgin Festival.


Scott Paterson, lead and vocals
Songs on the setlist came mostly from this year's This Gift, with a few from The Repulsion Box (2005), and one ("Johnny Cash") from the band's 2003 EP Love the Cup.

Click for larger image

Left, Adele Bethel; Right, Scott on his knees at her feet

Setlist:

1. Goodbye Service
2. Johnny Cash
3. This Gift
4. The Nest
5. Rebel With a Ghost
Here Adele and the band paused for breath long enough for the audience to bombard them with requests.
6. The Bell
"This is a song about murdering your girlfriend," announced Adele to introduce:
7. Rama Lama from The Repulsion Box (2005)
8. Gilt Complex
9. Iodine
10. Darling
11. Dance Me In - Adele pranced over and whipped Scot's legs with her mike cord
12. House In My Head

Encore: Chains
(MP3s are from various live shows this year.)

MySpace | Website | Discography and Lyrics | Label: Domino Records
Buy at Domino Records, iTunes, and Amazon, and eMusic

Kiss Me at the Gate is a four-piece from Birmingham, Alabama. On this song, "Underfoot", lead singer Claire Cormany evokes Shirley Manson. Get three more tracks from the band's official website and listen to "Come On", a track from their new album Tape and Scissors on their myspace.

kiss me at the gate: underfoot

I originally posted this song by Her Space Holiday a long time ago, but it's finally being released on October 7 and it's such a cute and happy song that I'm posting it again. Enjoy!

her space holiday: sleepy tigers [buy]

Even though this photo doesn't depict the members of the band, I had to post this picture of a Penfold coffee mug. I loved DangerMouse. But I digress...Computer Club, will be releasing Before the Walls Came Down, their UK debut album October 27 and have several nice tracks from the album available to hear on their myspace page. I especially liked "Some Kind of Love" and "Fragile Minds" - definitely a band to watch. Check out their cover of one of my favorite New Order songs.

computer club: bizarre love triangle

All photos from each band's individual myspace page. Find these and more emerging artists on Hype Machine.

Across the nation, moms and retailers are celebrating the fact that many children went back to school this week. A few children are even happy about it.

Marcy at Lost In Your Inbox is celebrating the end of the week with some Friday songs. Earlier in the week she listed the qualities she shares with new VP-nominee Sarah Palin. Scary! I had no idea that Palin has a blog--who doesn't, I guess?

Muzzle of Bees has got hold of a live video of Jeff Tweedy playing a new Wilco song, as yet unnamed. Nice.

Our new blog-buds Rollo and Grady have an exciting group of covers that includes Cat Power, Hot Chip, and the Veils.

Zeon Music has a wonderful end-of-summer mix that includes a couple of my very favorites, "Irene" by Caribou (made my 2007 favorites list) and "Ghost World" by Aimee Mann, as well as a great b-side by the Cardigans.

I have listened to only one song by Chad VanGaalen, but Thanks, Captain Obvious is ahead of me with an album review of Soft Airplane and two more tracks.

Contrast Podcast # 127 has us introducing our songs with a poem. A very interesting a beautiful set is the result.
COPYRIGHTED CONTENT HAS BEEN REMOVED
Amp Live: 15 Stepz, Radiohead remix ft. Codany Holiday, from Rainydayz Remixes (2008)

MGMT: Weekend Wars from Oracular Spectacular (2007)

Passion Pit: Sleepyhead from Chunk of Change (2008)

Motel Motel: Coffee from New Denver (2008)

Ratatat: Mirando from LP3 (2008)

Indie Mom first discovered Birdmonster's debut full-length CD, No Midnight (2006) with her favorite song of theirs "Janine." "The Bar In the Back of the Basement" from that album wound up on my Favorites of 2006 list. We've been trying to see them ever since then, but somehow it just didn't work out when they happened to come to town. This past Tuesday we finally succeeded when they opened for Sons and Daughters at the Troubadour. This was the first of many show dates coming up in the next two months, with many opening for Brit band the Rumble Strips.

Coincidentally, Tuesday was also the official release date for Birdmonster's second full-length and first label release, From the Mountain To the Sea, so it was not surprising that the setlist was comprised mostly of the new songs. I am just getting into the new album, but my first impression is that it seems more gentle and reflective than its predecessor with more focus on singer/lyricist Peter Arcuni's vocals and a bit less focus on guitars. I am finding new favorites here in "New Country," "I Might Have Guessed," and "The Iditarod."


Peter Arcuni


Peter with Justin Tenuto on melodica
Justin is also the author of the always informative and often hilarious Birdmonster Blog.
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Setlist:
1. My Love For You
2. Our Ashes
3. Born To Be Your Man
4. I Might Have Guessed
5. New Country
6. Balcony (from No Midnight)
7. The Iditarod
8. Lost At Sea
9. Indie Mom wrote "You Don't Know Me" on our notes, and when we asked Peter about this snatch of song after the show, he said he had made it up a half hour before the show, and our guess at the title was as good as his!
10. Ball of Yarn(from No Midnight)
11. Heart of the Dead
12. Residue
13. Spaceman (a short version of an adorable song from No Midnight that makes a great ending song)

Click to enlarge

Left: Guitarist Dave Klein, who always looks happy; Right: Peter and Dave


Left: Peter; Right: Zach Winter (drums), Peter, and Justin (bass)
Birdmonster Blog | MySpace | Website | Label: FaderLabel
Buy at Birdmonster Store, Amazon.com, iTunes, and eMusic (No Midnight)

Show Schedule: Check MySpace -- dates are being added.