By Jon Stone | @jwstone

I moved to Champaign-Urbana three years ago hoping against hope that the town would have something resembling a music scene. For all I knew, it was going to be quiet cornfields with infrequent trips to Chicago every now and then to get my live music fix. Within weeks of my arrival posters for a festival called Pygmalion showed up plastered around campus with Andrew Bird as the headliner.  It’s become a yearly tradition ever since.

Pygmalion is a gift for our little indie-rock town/s. It happens early in the school year in that moment between the swelter and snow (September 22-25). It spreads out across Champaign and Urbana highlighting the best venues but always moving into unique spaces as well (last year Low played in a church and My Brightest Diamond played in an art gallery). And year after year it is literally packed with amazing acts.

This year is no different. Well, actually it is a little bit different. This year there’s been a bit of drama and confusion about headliners and schedules. The headliner was first announced to be pioneering garage/psychedelic 60s artist Roky Erikson backed by Okkervil River. And, indeed, Erickson will play Saturday night of the fest in the typical headliner location, the beautiful Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. But Roky and Okkervil River have since been trumped on the Pyg concert poster by later festival additions, of Montreal and Built to Spill who will both play Wednesday the 22nd, the opening night of the fest.

In my view, however, too many good headliners is a great problem to have, and is the sign of a healthy festival. Organizer Seth Fein has been very forthcoming about the difficulties of booking a fest like Pyg. At first there were some really difficult-to-swallow scheduling conflicts (Built to Spill/of Montreal)– especially that first night, but Seth and his team have now tweaked the schedule so headliners can all be seen without (too much) overlap. This is also a good thing. Check out the full schedule here.

The best thing about a festival like Pygmalion is the chance to check out a ton of great new bands. I’ve spent the last few weeks going through the line-up, spending time on bands’ MySpace and homepages, paying attention especially to bands I’m less familiar with. So as a preview, I thought that rather than just regurgitating praise for the solid grouping of top-billed artists – the headliners, Caribou, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, and Surfer Blood among them – I’d prepare a list of mostly-new-to-me bands that have stood out as I’ve been doing my homework. So here goes:

Those Darlins: I’m cheating on the “less familiar” bit right off. I’ve seen Those Darlins before but if you haven’t, you gotta. When the lineup was announced earlier this year, Those Darlins was the band I was happiest to see on it. I love this band — I caught them on a whim when they came through town last winter, but the impression they left with their raucous country tunes and insatiable energy has lasted a long time. It will be great to see them again.

Janelle Monae: This one is also a bit of a cheat. Who hasn’t heard of Janelle Monae? I realize of Montreal is a big deal — Ryan here at Muzzle of Bees is a big fan — but I’m more excited about opener Janelle Monae and I know I’m not alone. Monae’s “Tightrope” and her enigmatic debut record The ArchAndroid aren’t just good, they are smart, and I look forward to see how she brings it on the opening night of the festival. If there’s anyone who can upstage the un-upstagable of Montreal, maybe she can.

The Cults – Speaking of enigmatic, all the internets offer up by way of sampling for this New York boy/girl duo is a bandcamp page. Pitchfork says they’re “film students” — I suspect they are playing up this mystery thing. The three songs you can download on that bandcamp page are great though, and if rocous country shenanigans aren’t your cup of whiskey, be sure to check out The Cults who play, tragically, right when Those Darlins do.

Cap’n Jazz: Preeminent emo-before-it-was-cannibalized Chicago natives Cap’n Jazz have reunited. They are amazing. And I’ve only listened to them on their MySpace page.

+/- {plus/minus}: I have a weak spot for bands who can mix electronic beats and acoustic instruments well. +/- do. I’m less fond of bands who make themselves difficult to write about by their weird band names. So +/- kind of equal themselves out. (Could this be the implicit message in their band name? We’ll never know.)  I’m interested, though, in seeing what these dudes can pull off live. I’ll be at their show.

Colour Revolt: Jackson, Mississipi gives us Colour Revolt. Their post-Pavement approach is wordy and the lyrics had me going “did they just say…? why yes, yes they did. Wow” on several  tracks. Looking forward to checking these guys out and not only just to find out what that British u is doing in their name.

Gold Motel – There are tons of great female artists playing Pygmalion this year, and the Hush Sound‘s Greta Morgan’s solo project Gold Motel is up there on my list of must-sees. This was one of the few artists who, once I landed on their MySpace page during my little study session, I didn’t leave until I’d listened to every song there.

(Speaking of amazing women artists, I should add that I’m also interested in seeing the band Psychic Twins, a new project featuring Erin Fein of Headlights.)

The Viper & His Famous Orchestra – Listen to this band for three seconds and you’ll feel the pangs I’m feeling related to their scheduled performance time: right during headliners Roky Ericksen and Okkervil River. I have this hunch that one day (and I hope it’s not far), bands with a bit of jazzy flare will get more appreciation in the indie crowd. Until then, I will listen to my Preservation Hall compilations and Bad Plus records and wish The Viper’s orchestra was famous enough to not get scheduled right during the festival’s headliner. (Let me insert here that I am not one of the out-of-shape-bent folks known to complain on certain CU blogs. I just like tappin’ my feet as much as I like bobbin’ my head is all.)

Zach May & the Maps – See above. I put together this list before I did things like check schedules. Zach May plays right before the Viper, but I still think he and his Maps have a great thing going. They’re a little Beirut-y — but well within the three-fourths of Beirut that I really like. So, if you don’t want to throw down the big bucks for the Saturday night shows at Krannert, head over to Mike & Molly’s for the evening. Cover is sure to be cheap, and the music will give those headliners a run for their money.

I haven’t mentioned any of the acclaimed DJ acts playing the fest, but if that’s your thing, be sure to check out the list of DJs spinning at the fest. I’ll definitely be at the Cut Chemist (of Ozomatli/Jurrasic 5) show, but wonder what other acts might help make me less ambivalent towards DJ shows. Any suggestions?

That suggestions question goes for the whole fest. Will you be at Pygmalion this year? Who is on your list of must-sees? Surely there is a great band playing that I don’t have on my list (I know because I whittled it down considerably). Educate me. And let’s meet up and hang out if you’ll be here. Also, let’s not forget that some of our favorite local CU bands will be playing too: Common Loon, Elsinore, Santah, Duke of Uke, I’m thinking of ya’ll. Support!

See you next week.

I’ve dusted off some of my favorite records from years ago since discussing The Best Soundtrack of the 90’s. In addition to throwing Live at Reading on the turntable a couple times last week, I really dug into a collection of Nirvana songs culled from BBC Sessions circa 1989-1991. It was just given to me, so I feel I must pass it along. Enjoy.

Nirvana :: BBC Sessions (1989-1991):

01: Nirvana – “Love Buzz” (BBC Sessions)
02: Nirvana – “Spank Thru” (BBC Sessions)
03: Nirvana – “About A Girl” (BBC Sessions)
04: Nirvana – “Polly” (BBC Sessions)
05: Nirvana – “Molly’s Lips” (BBC Sessions)
06: Nirvana – “Son Of A Gun” (BBC Sessions)
07: Nirvana – “Turnaround” (BBC Sessions)
08: Nirvana – “D7″ (BBC Sessions)
09: Nirvana – “Aneurysm” (BBC Sessions)
10: Nirvana – “Been A Son” (BBC Sessions)
11: Nirvana – “Something In The Way” (BBC Sessions)
12: Nirvana – “(New Wave) Polly” (BBC Sessions)
13: Nirvana – “Dumb” (BBC Sessions)
14: Nirvana – “Drain You” (BBC Sessions)
15: Nirvana – “Endless Nameless” (BBC Sessions)

Download: Nirvana :: BBC Sessions (1989-1991) (.zip file)

Here are the Wisconsin and Illinois shows we recommend you take in this week. Check them out below and let us know which ones you’ll be attending or ones you think should really make our list.

Upcoming Shows:

9/13 – Jenny And Johnny + Jaill – Lincoln Hall (MILWAUKEE)
9/13 – Pavement + No Age – Millennium Park (CHICAGO)
9/14 – Pavement + No Age – Pabst Theater (MILWAUKEE)
9/15 – Mark Olson + Cory Chisel – High Saloon (MADISON)
9/15 – Rev. Payton’s Big Damn Band + Backyard Tire Fire + Juniper Tar – Majestic (MADISON)
9/16 – David Bazan – Lincoln Hall (CHICAGO)
9/16 – Mark Olson + Backyard Tire Fire – Club Garibaldi (MILWAUKEE)
9/16 – David Bazan + The Mynabirds + Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band – Lincoln Hall (CHICAGO)
9/17 – Dirty Projectors + Happy Birthday – Metro (CHICAGO)
9/17 – Mark Olson + Cory Chisel And The Wandering Sons – Schubas Tavern (CHICAGO)
9/17 – School of Seven Bells + Active Child – Lincoln Hall (CHICAGO)
9/17 – John Prine – Overture Hall (MADISON)
9/18 – Brandi Carlile – Barrymore (MADISON)
9/18 – School of Seven Bells + Active Child – Majestic (MADISON)
9/18 – The Gaslight Anthem – The Rave (MILWAUKEE)
9/18 – Titus Andronicus + Free Energy + Best Coast + Male Bonding – Metro (CHICAGO)
9/18 – Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s – Mad Planet (MILWAUKEE)
9/18 – Dirty Projectors + Happy Birthday – Pabst Theater (MILWAUKEE)
9/18 – Justin Townes Earle + Jessica Lea Mayfield – Lincoln Hall (CHICAGO)
9/18 – Aimee Mann – Old Town School Of Folk Music (CHICAGO)
9/19 – Aimee Mann – Old Town School Of Folk Music (CHICAGO)
9/19 – Gaslight Anthem – Majestic Theatre (MADISON)
9/19 – Matt and Kim – Metro (CHICAGO)
9/19 – Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s – Lincoln Hall (CHICAGO)

Just Announced:

9/29 – M.I.A. – Vic Theatre (CHICAGO)
9/30 – M.I.A. – Vic Theatre (CHICAGO)
10/9 – Peter Wolf Crier – High Saloon (MADISON)
10/22 – Bob Dylan – Assembly Hall (CHAMPAIGN)
11/10 – Frontier Ruckus + Breathe Owl Breathe – High Noon Saloon (MADISON)
11/15 – Donavon Frankenreiter + Ximena Sarinana – Majestic Theatre (MADISON)
11/17 – Mike Gordon – Barrymore Theatre (MADISON)
11/17 – The Dresden Dolls + Mucca Pazza – Vic Theatre (CHICAGO)
11/18 – Futurebirds + Jonny Corndawg – Cactus Club (MILWAUKEE)
11/19 – The Hold Steady – Otto’s (DEKALB)

+Bookmark our upcoming shows page for all your concert announcements+

By Alex Schaaf

The vast majority of shows that I go to feature bands that I already know and love. With ticket prices these days, and my own status as a “professional job hunter,” it’s hard to just pay $10-15 every night to see a random band. Instead, I save up and go to see my favorite bands. With these shows, it’s not a matter of discovering something new or having your horizons broadened, it’s about seeing your favorite music reenacted in front of you, it’s about the comfort that comes with reaffirming your musical choices by seeing the band “prove” themselves live.

Sometimes, however, taking a chance on a bill that is largely unfamiliar, or with a band that is not necessarily one of your favorites, can result in new discoveries, a reawakening to a band you had forgotten, or, if nothing else, a pleasant night out.

Friday night’s show at Bruar Falls in Brooklyn featured two bands I had never heard of, one band I had heard of but never listened to, and one band that I was somewhat familiar with, having listened to their record once or twice. At the end of the night, I was not born-again, my life was not changed, but I discovered a couple bands that I never would have given a chance, and it was a much more interesting show than one where I could already predict the outcome.

Bruar Falls is located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on a quiet street surrounded by construction and cafes. It’s a small venue, if you could even call it a venue. For all intents and purposes it’s a nice bar, with a slightly enlarged space near the back of the room where there is a stage and a decent sound system. On Monday night I saw Wisconsin’s own All Tiny Creatures perform there (a great show that I just didn’t have time to review) to a small but appreciative crowd. Friday night’s crowd was a bit larger, a hometown crowd for Brooklyn’s Twin Sister, who were playing a quick local show before heading out on tour with The Morning Benders later this fall.

The first two bands, the ones I had never heard of, were Ava Luna (from Brooklyn) and Distractions (from Chicago). Ava Luna was the biggest head-turner of the night, as they proved to be a mix between the Dirty Projectors and…Stevie Wonder. A bit of a “indie soul” group, the band had three female vocalists and a slightly nerdy front man (like Dirty Projectors) but the music was funky and dirty, with heavy bass and big beats serving a backdrop behind the lead singer’s falsetto-heavy squeals and soul mannerisms. Not afraid to do something different, to break out of the “hazy beach-influenced dream pop” that so many Brooklyn bands seem to be presenting these days, Ava Luna was a breath of fresh air. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this band in the future.

The second band, Distractions, was not quite as memorable. Their music was good, it was enjoyable, but I didn’t come away with any lasting memories. Jangly chords and reverb-heavy vocals made for a pleasant set, but nothing to write home about.

The third band, Holiday Shores, is one that has been on my radar, but one that I’ve never really looked into. They played all new songs last night, from a record that they just recently finished. Made up of old keyboards and loud guitars, the band played sometimes-meandering songs that struggled to find a lasting structure, but songs that were played with enough energy and willpower to make them endearing. It’s one thing to see a band half-heartedly play excellent songs, but to see a band put all their heart and soul into what they are doing, even if the result is not perfect, is usually more preferable. Holiday Shores are from Florida, and they definitely belong to the “hazy beach-influenced dream pop” group that I described before, but these guys have a bit more power and rock in their stride, pushing the songs to huge crescendos and grooves during the set. This is definitely a group to keep an eye on: not great yet, but with the potential to get there.

The final band of the night, taking the stage at midnight after a night of long set-up and teardown breaks, was Brooklyn’s own Twin Sister. The definition of “hazy dream pop,” the band treads in Beach House territory, with jangly guitars and fuzzy chords setting the backdrop for a breathy, intimate female lead vocalist. The band is Pitchfork-endorsed, getting a Rising feature as well as a favorable score for their record, Color Your Life, which came out earlier this year. That may have been some explanation for the size of the crowd last night, but the band definitely deserves the press.

They opened the set with a long buildup for the song “The Other Side of Your Face,” starting from ambient guitars and building to a long crescendo before the vocals finally came in. Andrea Estella, the lead singer, most assuredly stole the show, as her vocals waver somewhere between Beach House’s Victoria Legrand, Stars’ Amy Millan, and Björk. The band behind her sets a fine backdrop for her voice, ranging from groovy synth-pop to more rocking guitar-heavy beats. The band played all of the songs I was familiar with (which was about 3) and a few more before ending the night with a rocking cover of “I Wanna Be Your Lover.” Overall the show was not a revelation, it was not mind blowing, but it showcased a band that is on the edge of a bigger audience, proving themselves to be extremely capable at what they do. The music of Twin Sister is catchy while ambient; it is beautiful while edgy. There’s no surprise that this music has caught on with the Pitchfork crowd, but it deserves more than a “here today, gone tomorrow” level of hype that many similar bands experience. This band will hopefully be around for a while, and I’ll be there to see where they go from here.

MP3: Twin Sister – “The Other Side Of Your Face”
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Buy: Twin Sister – Color Your Life

Head over to Pitchfork and read the glowing review they gave Strand of Oaks‘ Pope Killdragon, calling it “an astoundingly original twist on the loner-folk template” and giving it an 8.1. The album is only available via the eMusic Selects program, go here to pick it up.

MP3: Strand of Oaks – “Bonfire”
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Video: Strand of Oaks – “Sterling” (Milwaukee House Show)
Interview: Muzzle of Bees Interview :: Strand of Oaks
Previously: Strand of Oaks :: Leave Ruin
Daytrotter: Strand of Oaks Session

By Jeff Kollath

One of the recurring themes throughout the Poster Tube series is the artistic collaboration, and the boys at Animal Canon in Madison are no different. If you are a Project Runway fan, you know how poorly a collaboration can go – sniping, bickering, passive aggression, and in the end, throwing the weak link under the bus to save face. So, it was incredibly refreshing to sit down with John Soat, one-third of Animal Canon’s design team and learn not only about the firm’s design process, but also how a true artistic collaboration can succeed and thrive.

Soat, Matt Riley, and Mike Williams, all three Wisconsin natives, met while earning their MFAs from UW-Madison. Even creating their name was a shared experience, with Animal Canon a combination of (and improvement upon) Animal Pi and Mammal Cannon. About their name, all agreed that dropping the second “n” from “cannon” made all the difference, changing the name from mechanical to organic and open-ended. Despite having a strong desire to create art with a purpose and meaning, the printmaking classes at the UW were always full, so they invested all the equipment and taught themselves the finer points of creation. Soat noted that the beginning was a comedy of errors, wasting materials because they did not how to use everything, but they eventually figured it out and first produced a collective print last fall. Their Megafaun print for 2009′s Forward Music Festival (a Muzzle of Bees Showcase, no less) was featured here and has become one of Animal Canon’s most indelible works. A free-flowing, brightly colored print highlights design elements from all three artists. Soat noted that on this very first poster the group discovered that by combining their styles – both illustrative and typographic – they could create something better than they could individually. “It’s almost like we’re in a band. They are no limits when we work together,” Soat noted, “we provide inspiration and help each other break through.”

If Soat had to choose just one work to represent Animal Canon, it would be their poster for the Antlers. A simple, but elegant piece inspired by an old medical illustration, the Antlers poster is the perfect mix of understated artwork and proper, if not spot-on typography. Soat said the juxtaposition between the stark bones and the beautiful flowers was intentional, a perfect balance of death and warmth, sadness and sweetness. For many artists, typography is an afterthought – the image is what draws people to the poster, after all – but Animal Canon puts equal weight and time into both the imagery and typography. The craftsmanship on this poster, Megafaun, and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are clear examples to the precise nature of the firm’s work, and a forebear of what’s to come in the future.

The last six weeks have seen Animal Canon host a very well-received show of their work at Project Lodge in Madison, but also Riley and Williams’ departure from Madison, having moved to South Korea to teach English for a year. Riley noted, “Animal Canon is not over with, we just won’t be producing nearly as fast as the last year. We are hoping to design what we can from Asia and to also get into some freelance work and different mediums to show some of our breadth.” Soat has moved the studio to an old helicopter hangar on a farm near Janesville that, interestingly enough, housed the helicopter in which Stevie Ray Vaughan lost his life in back in 1990, and hopes to establish something for when Riley and Williams return. Here’s hoping they keep it going as we still haven’t seen the best that Animal Canon has to offer.

Giveaway: Animal Canon is about to launch their brand new website and to celebrate they are going to offer up a copy of the ANTLERS poster shown above. Just leave a comment answering the following question (in honor of that dropped “n”):  “What would you like to shoot out of a cannon and why?” After you enter the contest, check out their site, buy something nice for someone nice, and check out another special contest.