best song going (11)

Caribou's "Niobe"

also like Melody Day from the same album - sounds a lot like Elliott Smith. Caribou's playing the Larimer lOunge, Denver's best venue, October 23rd. mark your calendar's people - Dan... VP...others?

These folks are going to cost me lots of money!

“The ability to live with contradiction is a sign of maturity.”
–Michelle Shocked, Aug. 26, 2007







I’ve always found recordings of live performances overrated. Even the best of men (or women) behind the mixing board can only perfect the levels in hindsight. And the vocals are either too loud or not loud enough, both versions invariably garbled. Harmonies and rhythms get lost in the transmission. The live performances themselves, on the other hand, are what phonophiliacs live for. They make surround sound seem like the poor substitute that it is, void of tangibility. Flaccid. And they remind us that music isn’t a lecture but a conversation. Musicians need an audience, just like we need them.

So was my thinking as I sat uncomfortably in the Boulder theater last Sunday stunned by the Charisma of the Avett Brothers and the rabid energy of Michelle Shocked. The Avett Brothers are exquisite performers brimming with effervescence and innocence, playfulness but precision. Their lyrics are simple but wise. Falsetto erratic harmonies filled the spaces between heavy banjo riffs not unlike those Pete Townsend would play given the chance. The brothers (and another) paid no mind to the broadcast audience…or all their special needs having not the chance to watch the music-body electric. They played to us—those who understand that music can only really be heard if it’s coming from musicians who speak to one another in time signatures and chords. Tuning in on FM, or AM or XM for that matter, just isn’t the same. Disembodied music is just that. Disembodied. It lacks a pulse.

Perhaps this is why I like etown, painful as it can be. It’s a rare moment to see musicians in their natural habitat. Unfiltered and porous, fermenting our affections and attentions until we are drunk on their vapors. No noisy couple standing next to you having a fight, no young and bouncing groupies shouting along, no beer-juice steeping its way into the canvas on your shoes, no long drive home. And still, I’d take all of these over pressing the button on my ipod and be all the better for it.

best song going (10)

Animal Collective's "Peacebone" (imeem might cut this down to a song preview at any point...)


after what might have been the most disappointing show of the year, AC comes out with this nice single from their upcoming album - Strawberry Jam. Available in stores September 11th.

Here's the video - it's a weird one ...

Brand Spankin' New!

Wierdness from the land of bird.


Andrew Bird - Imitosis

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best song going (9)

From the Fluorescent gRey EP - four excellent songs!

Rev. Horton Heat

The Reverend puts on a good show and held to his promise of "outlasting half the youngsters in the crowd." A set of covers was highlighted with a drummer led version of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid." Some guy behind me kept talking/yelling about how he had sinned and he needed to be healed by the Reverend. Could've done without that. Thanks 1190 for free tix!

VIDEO-

Papercuts - pics

The Hi-Dive - 08.14.07

Papercuts - Dear Employee (concert vid)

one of my recent song favs -


Just right for a Tuesday - thanks 1190 for the tickets!

D.C. al Coda

Livin' like a bug ain't easy (I got little tiny bug feet; I don't really know what bugs eat)

beirut's new video - postcards from italy

from pitchforkmedia -

best song going (8)

video from Larimer Lounge show (June '07):

songs of the week 6 (imeem.com is cool)

better than Andrew Bird

Jamie Lidell

best song going (1-7)

best song going (7)

Band of Horses/Modest MOuse

Wednesday's show at Red Rocks. It rained on us for a half hour before/during the first opener. Matt brought rain gear for everyone - saved us all. The videos don't reflect it, but the sound was good for both bands - particularly for Modest Mouse. It was well worth the extra time they took to set up.

band of horses - the funeral:



modest mouse - paper thin walls (opening song):



Definitely prefer smaller venues, but it was a fun show.

Wild Mountain Nation

Here's another video from Tuesday's Blitzen Trapper show:



Solid performers/musicians. They'll be back in Denver at the Hi-Dive 9-22. Hand gesturing at its finest!

Miss Spiritual Tramp