Over a dozen humans dressed as butterflies filled the stage at the Pabst Theater on Monday night before Sufjan Stevens hit the stage with a giant set of bird wings affixed to his back and a Mardi Gras-esque mask that recalled early Elton John. Without any sort of introduction or acknowledgement he placed himself at the piano and led his band through “Sister” a standout track from his Seven Swans album.

Alternating between banjo, guitar, and piano Sufjan played a carefully chosen selection of songs from his albums as well as giving us a sneak peak at new songs. He touched on his upcoming Christmas album box set and performed an early Christmas tune, “That Was The Worst Christmas Ever,” that somehow managed to not fall out of place in the set. The addition of horns (lots of them) adds fullness to his music, but was a little distracting in a few instances. Needless to say Sufjan Stevens is selling out every venue he plays this year because he’s an intense performer. The costumes and additional musicians all make for quite the impressive performance which translated into a nearly silent crowd during his performance.

At the threat of not returning to the stage Sufjan returned after changing into jeans a t-shirt to play the now on their feet hysterical crowd a few more selections from Seven Swans along with Shara Worden from My Brightest Diamond. You come away wondering a few things about Mr. Stevens. With all these songs about birds, will he ever finish the 50 States project? Does it really matter anymore? Finally, when will he be back in Wisconsin?

Sufjan Stevens – That Was The Worst Christmas Ever [mp3]
Sufjan Stevens – The Lord God Bird [mp3]
Sufjan Stevens – Sister [mp3]

Elsewhere:

Mirr World’s Review of the Pabst show
Time Door has another excellet review with great pictures.
5 Questions with Muzzle of Bees: My Brightest Diamond
Gorilla vs. Bear’s video of “Majesty Snowbird” from the Paramount in Austin

If you stop by this blog or any of these fine places you’ll know that we all had an amazing time in Chicago this past August while attending Lollapalooza. Nothing goes better with great memories than high quality recordings of the shows that you won’t soon forget. That’s why the news that iTunes is now offering select songs from a variety of our favorite performances from the Lollapalooza weekend brings us great joy and satisfaction. Some of the artists sets that I took in, and can personally recommend are: Sleater Kinney, The Go! Team, The Hold Steady, Iron & Wine, Stars, and of course the infamous Broken Social Scene show plus many more!

Lollapalooza fans can also look forward to the launch of LiveLollapalooza.com at the end of next month that will include photos and audio in both MP3 and FLAC.

Wow, we are still wiping the sleep out of our eyes after one long, but incredible night at the Pabst Theater. My Brightest Diamond and Sufjan put on one hell of a bill. Check back here later for a review and photos, but until then check out the interview with My Brightest Diamond’s very own Shara Worden for your 5 Questions with Muzzle of Bees feature.

You’ve been touring with Sufjan Stevens for awhile now on this tour. Any performances or cities that stand out at this point of the tour?

Playing the Ryman in Nashville was incredible. It’s such a historical place. At first I was really afraid of the ghosts, the amazing artists who have played on that stage, but then I realized that history just smiles on you and is happy that music is still being made there. It’s a little bit weird cause it’s part museum, part music venue, but that somehow feels good too.

What music keeps you guys company on the road? Any band(s) or albums you care to recommend?

I just bought the new Justin Timberlake album and we’ve been having dance offs in the tour bus. I bought PJ Harvey’s new dvd for inspiration, Prince’s Purple Rain, because though I have the entire album memorized, I only had the cassette tape! So I decided it was time for me to own my very own cd. And I also picked up the new DJ Shadow album. We are putting out a remix album this winter of Bring Me The Workhorse, so I’ve been wanting to listen to a lot of electronic music to.

You’re about to head back to New York for a few shows before heading to the West Coast. Since you’ve been away for a bit are there any restaurants/places you are looking forward to being at while you are home?

New York is the only place I can find my favorite Japanese dessert, mochi’s!!! Even there, I have to go to the right grocery store to get them and I have several rules of limitation concerning mochi, since I’m slightly addicted. For one, I can’t go out of my way to buy one. Mochi can only be purchased if I “happen” to pass the right grocery store. Anyway, I hope to “happen” to pass one of those shops when I’m home!

The Internet has dramatically altered the way band’s can reach an audience. With things like blogs/myspace/etc, what are your thoughts on the power of the internet in terms of helping your music reach a larger audience?

Me and the internet are cool with each other. I have found some really great artists through my space and am super stoked about the possibilities of connecting with people, of moving beyond commerce and marketing, but as a way of discovering each other. The aspect that I cannot yet reconcile is that I think there is a certain assumption, a sense of entitlement about music, and while its vastly important for us to play records for our friends, it’s also important for artists to be self sustaining. Record sales and internet downloads are the way we survive and continue to make music. So I hope that as things do become continually more accessible, a sense of responsibility develops at the same rate as our bandwidth capacity.

You’ve been a part of Sufjan’s band on previous tours and this one as well. If you had to choose one song of his to play with your group, which song would you choose? Any song of yours that you’d like to hear his take on?

I am a big fan of Sufjan’s work. I think “Demetrius” off of A Sun Came feels very MBD, and I love Sufjan’s new song “Sister Winter” from the Christmas EP. On the flip side, I think “We were Sparkling” would fit Sufjan’s vibe and voice. It reminds me of him sometimes.

Emily Haines releases her album Knives Don’t Have Your Back today, and I am seriously wondering if there is anything this woman touches that doesn’t turn to gold? I dig Metric, Broken Social Scene is at its best when she’s on the bill, and now she goes and releases and absolutely gorgeous album that makes me wish I had one more vacation day to use just to spend alone at my apartment with this album (and maybe some take-out Chinese).

Piano-heavy tunes provide a perfect backdrop for lyrics that cautiously brush across the listeners ears; this album was made for rainy days. Make no mistake going in, this is a solo debut. Gone are what you’ve come to expect from her work with Metric and BSS, instead the void is filled with an all new side of Emily, one that will easily win you over and pull at your heartstrings. I can’t recommend this album enough check out the MP3 and Video below for the first single, “Doctor Blind.”

Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton – Doctor Blind [mp3]
YouTube video for Doctor Blind

Okkervil River is gearing up for their tour in October, but before they hit the road they wanted to pass along a free and legal MP3 to you for the song “The President’s Dead.”

A two-minute and forty-two second serving of alternative historical fiction camouflaged as a folk anthem tarted up as a pop single that never was, “The President’s Dead” empathetically depicts the shock felt by a young Republican upon hearing news of an assassination over the radio, its lyrics shifting sneakily from images of public horror to those of private tenderness as its music performs a similarly schizoid leap.

Okkervil River – The President’s Dead [mp3]

Tour Dates:

10/03/06 Little Rock, AR – Revolution w/ Elvis Perkins
10/04/06 Columbia, MO – Blue Note w/ Elvis Perkins
10/05/06 Ames, IA – The Maintenance Shop w/ Elvis Perkins
10/06/06 Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon w/ Elvis Perkins
10/07/06 Chicago, IL – Schuba’s w/ Elvis Perkins
10/08/06 Chicago, IL – Schuba’s w/ Elvis Perkins
10/09/06 Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig w/ Elvis Perkins
10/11/06 Columbus, OH – Little Brother’s w/ Elvis Perkins
10/12/06 Buffalo, NY – Soundlab w/ Elvis Perkins
10/13/06 Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall w/ Elvis Perkins
10/14/06 New York City, NY – Bowery Ballroom
10/15/06 New York City, NY – Bowery Ballroom
10/16/06 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar w/ Elvis Perkins
10/18/06 Durham, NC – Duke Coffeehouse w/ Elvis Perkins
10/19/06 Athens, GA – Caledonia Lounge w/ Elvis Perkins
10/20/06 Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle w/ Elvis Perkins
10/21/06 Memphis, TN – Hi-Tone w/ Elvis Perkins
10/22/06 Houston, TX – Warehouse Live w/ Oakley Hall

Will Sheff will be playing a few solo dates at the end of October:

Doveman is the guest this week on Daytrotter. Follow this link for 5 songs, 3 of them new. Those Daytrotter folks are fine peeps!

Doveman – Honey [mp3]