While the Aladdin’s sound is crystal clear and is a wonderful place to see a concert, the number of empty seats impacted the energy. Only a third full, the Mazda2 tour could have rolled into the Doug Fir Lounge and blown up. However, “beggars can’t be choosers”, or “haste makes waste”, whatever mom used to say. Mayer Hawthorne and the County are movin’ on up.
Meet Me at the Muster Station is the debut full-length album from Kingston, Ontario recording artists PS I Love You. A duo consisting of Benjamin Nelson and Paul Saulnier, the band mixes guitar, drums, organ, bass, and feedback galore to produce a brash sonic squall that has powerful strengths and a notable shortcoming. There is no doubt the band will make their mark with the Pitchfork-tight jeans and goofy glasses crowd searching for a hot new rave up but what is really happening inside this so-called Muster Station?
Aloe Blacc's ability to re-interpret and reinvigorate the beloved soul sound with remarkable song arrangements makes this debut stand out from the oftentimes cookie cutter format of two chord vamps and throaty vocals. Good Things is a grower, gazing toward the classics for inspiration and standing tall next to the modern champions. Let its charm slowly burn.
So is No Chocolate Cake any good? Honestly, it sounds a heck of a lot like New Miserable Experience, except not as memorable. The band’s sound is almost identical to what it was in its heyday but that’s not really a terrible thing. I didn’t expect anything super adventurous. The hooks are still plaintively sung just not as often as indelible.
On Wednesday September 15th, Truth and Salvage Co, a barnstorming new outfit with six musicians from disparate parts of the country, began their “Great Northwest Music Tour” at Lola’s Room in Portland, OR. The “Tour” is just part of a much larger west coast romp for these purveyors of a sweet and polished new Americana sound.
The Gaslight Anthem touched down in the Pacific Northwest on Monday September 13th to play Seattle’s Showbox SODO and Portland’s Crystal Ballroom. Central Jersey’s finest export since Carmela Soprano became Nurse Jackie is making a jump in venue size since the June release of their critically acclaimed third full length, American Slang.
Panda Bear is embarking on a rare U.S. tour in anticipation of his fourth LP, Tomboy, to be released “in a month or two” according to Noah’s recent talks with indie tastemaking blog, Brooklyn Vegan. A one-man band whose popularity skyrocketed with the 2007 critically acclaimed, Person Pitch; one of the more innovative and unique albums to hit the streets in a long time.
