I dropped by World Cafe Live last week to catch Bear Hands’ set opening for As Tall As Lions. Their music has intrigued me for a while and I was curious to see how it translated live. The group’s recorded material is a hyper combo of surf guitars, tight drums and sing/speak lyrics which is pretty much what you get in their live show. While the four members of the band don’t have a whole lot to offer in terms of stage presence, they do a nice job of bringing some added flair to the live presentation.
Watching them – guitars(2), keyboard, bass & drums- create their music you get a much better sense of bass and percussion presence. The roots of their tracks are maintained but they really punched up the weight the bass lines carry in establishing the rhythm and the percussion was what added most of the draw.
With the ubiquitous extra floor tom, played by basist Val Loper, front and center it was hardtoignore the contribution the percussion makes to Bear Hand’s intensity. While there were the occasional aggressive guitar riff the wealth of their energy cam from drummer TJ Orscher’s side of the stage. As the set went on I noticed there is an interesting call and response relationship between TJ and Val that I never noticed on the recordings, perhaps because I assumed it was all one percussionist. On the whole, it was a good set and if their future works show signs of evolution then they have a good chance at growing their following. The group has been on the road for a long time and I’m guessing they’re gonna take some time to rest and regroup now that they’re back in Brooklyn. I look forward to hearing what directions they explore in their new work.
The evening began with Los Angeles’ Sea Wolf who seemed to have been the draw for a great many of the folks packed into the sanctuary. Due to some inclement weather I missed most of Sea Wolf’s performance but I did catch the last half-ish of their set from the back of the Church. I say this because where I sat wasn’t the best acoustical position so I don’t feel as though I got the best impression of what Sea Wolf has to offer. That being said, I can share these few observations; the cello was extraordinary, claiming an effortless spot amongst the rest of the band as though it were a female vocal line; the group needs to improve their general stage presence as they looked rather bored; their songs volleyed nicely between catchy pop and carefully built ambitious arrangements. All in all, I’d say Sea Wolf has a rightful claim on their place in the hearts of the indie masses.
The transition between sets was smooth as The Album Leaf, touring with a full band plus a string quartet quickly organized themselves and began playing. The ambient rock group, helmed by Jimmy Lavalle, is totally at home in the sanctuary of a church where their music can stretch and sore as the arrangement dictates. As the multiple instruments contributed their share to an astoundingly dense sonic whole a choreographed series of images were dancing on a scrim behind them as lights scattered around the stage pulsed in time.
The visual component working in tandem with the beautifully orchestrated music accentuated it’s cinematic quality. Lavalle creates music that takes your imagination places; he doesn’t hold your hand and walk you through the song instead he provides the catalyst – and soundtrack- to let your mind wander.
While many, including myself, associate The Album Leaf with electronic music the live show is actually a well balanced combination of synths, keys, guitars, strings and bass. The quartet that had accompanied them gave the music a lusciousness absent from strictly synthesized material. Lavalle’s greatness is intricately tied to his awareness of the boundaries of traditional and electro music making. A yin and yang relationship that was on its finest display last Sunday. After experiencing The Album Leaf live I’m not sure whether their records will be enough to satiate me. Of course, I’ll keep on listening until the next opportunity to see them arrives.
Saturday, May 22nd
AKA Music , 27 N 3rd St Philadelphia
5pm- 9pm
Beyonce embraces the retro trend in her new video and I like it. Remaining honest and avoiding kitschy she gives life to another memorable music video lady lead. This woman can do no wrong.
[MP3] Single Ladies – Pomplamoose
This video came to my attention via the fellas at Stark who nail their description of the song as a straight forward expression of emotion, in this case about long distance love. I really really like lead singer Emma Kulp’s voice which is always as straight forward as it is on “Philadelphia.” I love it when a video brings a new act to my attention.
Apparently I am in a girl vocals kind of mood and who better to scratch that itch than the wonderful ladies of The Like. This retro video is perfect for their vibe and the spirit of the song. They are releasing their new album Release Me on June 15th but will be in Philly, hopefully playing some of the new tunes, on June 2nd with the Futureheads.
Finally, this Glee flashmob made me long for my college days when the was the time and energy to organize such events. Watch and enjoy!
I know, I know I just did a remix rehash but when this niblet landed in my inbox a minute ago I just couldn’t wait for next week to share it. Phoenix’s Back Ted N-Ted is due to release his debut LP later this summer and is whetting our appetite with this yummy take on Imogene Heap’s Say Goodnight & Go. He playfully minces the beats the result is an electro tune worthy of it’s own music box. Glad to have Back Ted N-Ted on my radar; can’t wait to hear what his LP has to offer.
Another week, another grab bag of new remixes that have broken through the fog of, shall we say, less than stellar remix attempts I receive on a daily basis. It’s a nice mix of new and old faces providing you some rhythms to propel you through the week.
I tried to catch French Horn Rebellion’s Hype Machine set during SXSW but the clock gods were not operating in my favor. Listening to their remix of TWIPAC favs Savoir Adore makes me wish I had made a better effort. The brother Molinari clearly have a way with music as they flip “Bodies” on its head to make it down right disco. Isolating the vocals and adding some crazy synth action sheds all sorts of new light on the track. This one def gets a permanent spot on the summer jams playlist.
Bodies (French Horn Rebellion Remix) – Savoir Adore
Bodies (Original) – Savoir Adore
This is the first remix of Marina & The Diamonds’ single to really have much of an effect on me. Clock Opera works with precision as they push the original ever so slightly to give it some grit. I wasn’t entirely familiar with Clock Opera before this but a little investigation revealed the British quartet have some tasty track of their own, might I recommend “White Noise.” Their album A Piece Of String, comes out June 7th and I may need to get me some of that.
I Am Not A Robot (Clock Opera Remix) – Marina & The Diamonds
Currently bopping all over the place with his other project Telephoned Sammy had time to cranky out this chill little bounce. Considering it is crazy humid and the start of a new week – after a doozy of a weekend none the less – this jam’s low key vibe seemed fit just right into today’s slow churn. It had the perfect amount of pep to keep my head bobbing though dinner.
Work This City (Sammy Bananas Remix) – Body Language
I am beyond exhausted tonight after driving all over the North East this weekend for weddings, bachelor party crashing, charity walks and family time. Car listening included a whole lot of tunes I’m going to be sharing over the next few days but these three really stood out so, I could resist quickly pulling together a post before I collapse into a stone cold coma.
This Philly group has been itching to get some TWIAPC love for a while but they fabulous new eponymous record sealed the deal. On it, the trio keeps their loose ragged edges while giving their haunting lo fi music a holistic shape. Echoey jagged guitars scat in time with intense, almost tribal, percussion that leans on deceptively steady bass drum. The reserved howl of Busses’ lead singer Dave Brett often provides the frame in which the instrumentals find their context. The balance between Brett’s clean voice and the far more complex instrumentals sets a sonic trap to lure the listener. Once they hook you they pare it all down and prove that simplicity can be just as poignant as complicated arrangements. They’re celebrating their album release on May 13th at the Khyber.
Listening to La Strada takes you on a trip through musical history; Strings represent a traditional chamber structure, unfussy guitars suggest a bit of doo wop influence, group choruses -with a bit of accordion- enliven a gypsy folk vibe all tethered to the here and now with sing song confessional lead vocals. Their new LP New Home – partially recorded at Philly’s Minar Street Studio- captures the reverent spirit of the group’s sound. The nuances of each sonic variable is given a chance to shine without becoming muddied or overwhelming. La Strada’s music reflects a familiarity with a interesting assortment of historical generes which imparts a cinematic bent perfect for a Wes Anderson movie. They’re on a mini tour right now – sans Philly stop- but I hope they have plans to extend their schedule as I have heard great things about their live show. The album is out now and I suggest you nab yourself a copy.
This Arizona quintet is known for dabbling in all sorts of psych rock roots antics. They have no problem cutting loose and letting their vocals screech over a rabid drum line that, in turn, races a hyper guitar riff but their just as keen when slowly meandering through bluesy jam session. They maintain their sorted flavors on their new album Bloom Creek which travels a carefully constructed arc encompassing back woods chamber folk, dainty piano centered ditties and patiently rolling harmonies. What Laura Says’ unencumbered rootsy sound will draw a varied crowd and send everyone home pleased with what they heard. They are about to hit the road in support of Bloom Creek (sadly no Philly stop planned – yet) so if they’re passing through your neck of the woods well, you know what to do.
One of the main reasons I write The World In A Paper Cup is the community. I love sharing new music with people and hearing what they think of my recommendations. I love meeting other writers, readers music fans and discovering new music through them. I love helping artists pursue their craft whether is be through posting, encouraging folks to attend live shows or simply passing along a little advice. I love participating in larger conversations about the state of the music industry and how I/you/we could contribute to it’s evolution. I consider myself very lucky to be a part of this great community.
The last year and a half of writing TWIAPC has been a wonderful tumble down the rabbit hole that is music blogging; an adventure I have no intention of ending soon. I do however, want to extend the invitation to you all to join in a bit more. If there are bands you want to suggest – yours or your uncle Joe’s- I’m always interested in hearing new groups. If you like what you’re reading leave a comment. If you want to make a suggestion simply drop me an email.
While I do have a tendency to talk to myself every once in a while – just one of my many quirks – I’m much more interested in the back-and-forth with other heads interested in music. I try my best to reply to tweets so, iff’n you’re a tweeter follow me. If Facebook is your thing I’ve got that covered too. A little heads up, In the future I’ll be sneaking in some treats for you Facebook “likers.” And finally, TWIAPC has a Tumblr blog for the more random instantaneous musings that pass through my mind each day. I think I’ve made it pretty easy for you to dive into the TWIAPC community but, like I said, if you have any other suggestions about how TWIAPC could be improved let me know.
To get the conversation going I want to ask you for a little help on a series I’m assembling for the summer. If you know of a song or album that has been inspired by literature drop it in the comments. I’m hoping to start posting the series in June so any help you can give will be much appreciated.
Oh yeah there is the RSS too, for your feed reading pleasure.
As a thank you for reading, supporting, responding here are a few delectable covers I’ve collected lately…
[MP3] Ready For The Floor (Hot Chip) – Lissie Trullie
[MP3] This Must Be The Place (Talking Heads) – The Arcade Fire
[MP3] Walking On A Dream (Empire Of The Sun) – Kate Miller-Heidke
During my chat with Miniboone last month I asked, as I usually do, what artists they were really digging. Ava Luna topped their recommendations and for good reason. This troupe of Brooklyn music makers have tapped into doo wop-ish electro vein and are rocking it for all it’s worth. Lofty synths are paired with the delectable of the group’s lady harmonies then mussed up with some chewy bass and gritty samples.
Opting for a restrained experimentation Ava Luna’s lure is in their mix of soul and space. There is something immediately accessible about their sound but the more you listen the more you recognize their tweaks and zings. They’ve got quite a few shows all over New York in the coming weeks so, if you’re in the area I suggest you give them a try.
Mister Slim makes feel good music of the highest variety and the video for “Cinderella” – a collection of concert footage and fan hangs – captures his playfulness perfectly. If you’re unfamiliar with Langhorne Slim’s music you need to get busy buying his records and seeing his shows. He writes poetic ballads, as well as, some straight up rowdy good time tunes.
Langhorne Slim “Cinderella” from Kemado Records on Vimeo.
The video for Dosh’s new single “Airlift” reflects the whimsical and distracted spirit of the track. It is stop motion magic and such a fantastic 4minute 48second break in your day. Dosh’s new album Tommy came out on April 13th and features a little Andrew Bird action on the track “Number 41.” It is an adventurous album, well worth your ears and dollars.
Dosh – “Airlift” from anticon. on Vimeo.
[MP3] Number 41 (featuring Andrew Bird)
In a short period of time Wakey!Wakey! has burst into the hearts of the masses deservedly so. Having paid his dues playing scads of shows all over New York for years it is great to see him hit his stride. This video for “Car Crash,” just one of the grand tracks off of his new album Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said The Last Time I Saw You…, wears the simple beauty of pretty much everything Mike Grubbs touches.