Breathe Owl Breathe have released a download of “Across The Loch” from their fantastic Home Tapes debut, Magic Central. On the subject of the record, it’s now available on pretty pink vinyl. Check it out and order it here. We saw the band a few weeks back at Schubas and were once again blown away by their live show. Fear not Wisconsin, Muzzle of Bees is presenting the band in Milwaukee (Cactus Club, 11/9) and Madison (High Noon Saloon, 11/10) next month.
In advance of her new record (out in early 2011), Jill Andrews will be returning to Madison on Saturday, December 11 to play at the High Noon Saloon. Jill and her partner Josh Oliver will be opening for their good friends Evan Murdock and Katie Powderly, a.k.a. The Kentucky Waterfalls, who will be playing their final show that evening. Tickets are $8 and the show is 21-and-up. I have seen Jill and Josh twice this year, and while I am partial to any show at the North Mendota Supper Club, the show at the Beachland Tavern in Cleveland two weekends ago was quite outstanding as well. The set list features more material from her forthcoming record, some deep cuts from the everybodyfields catalog, and a spectacular cover of the Highwaymen’s “Silver Stallion.” It should be a great night of music.
“Me and my friends we might not look like much, but we got the time and know when to push our luck.” - “Sounds of the City”
There is a band like Lucero in almost every town, large or small, in these United States. Lots of guys can play guitars, play the bass, and play drums; just as many can sing, some good, some not, but most are okay. What separates the bands that make it from those don’t is the drive, the desire, the dedication, and outstanding original songs. Memphis, Tennessee’s Lucero is one that did pull away from the pack, mostly thanks to writing of Ben Nichols. To say his lyrics resonate with fans is a major understatement – it has to be a seriously back catalog track or brand new cut for most of the crowd not to be singing along with each and every song. This is a band, as highlighted in the 2005 documentary Dreaming in America that was continuously getting screwed by record labels, playing 200+ concerts a year, traveling in a Ford Econoline van with two seats and split-level bunks, and spending what little per diem they had on used records. Five years later, they have a major label deal with Universal, a nice tour bus, and a horn section. Nichols still wears the same v-neck white t-shirts and Brian Venable still wears a Realtree camouflage hat, two of the many pieces of evidence that they have never forgotten where they came from. The songs are still played with the same reckless abandon and intenstiy that got them this far, with the only difference being that they are a band that has MADE it.
Friday night at the High Noon Saloon, Lucero played thirty songs before a passionate crowd that had to be reminded on more than one occasion to chill out and relax. About four songs, guitarist Venable leaned into the crowd, grabbed a fan by the head and berated him for trying to mess with his gear and the people around them, Much of the crowd seemed over-served and pretty oblivious not only to those around them, but the show as a whole, too. Then again, it was a Lucero show. Opening with “Sounds of the City” off last year’s excellent 1372 Overton Park, Lucero hit all the right notes with the setlist, balancing their catalog of drinking songs with slow, sad songs. At one point Nichols apologized, saying “We haven’t been out here very long, and I’m used to sitting at home drinking whiskey and listening sad songs, so sorry to make you sit through all this.” After a paritcular raucous back-to-back pairing of “Bikeriders” and “Johnny Davis,” Nichols played a few songs with a pared down band – the excellent “Last Pale Light in the West” (from his ode-to-Cormac-McCarthy solo record), and “The War” that remnds us that heroes come in many forms (the above YouTube clip is a perfect snapshot of the Lucero experience). ”Nobody’s Darlings” proved to be an excellent set closer, while the three-song encore provided another Ben solo effort, while “All Sewn Up” gave the horn section and keyboardist Rick Steff a chance to shine before a slowly dwindling, but appreciative crowd. The last two times I have seen Lucero, they played sixty total songs for nearly five hours, with nary a set break. This incredible energy paired along with their everyman allure and their ability to float between drunken garage-punk and touching songs of loss and love with ease make for a disjointed, but nonetheless fulfilling adventure, especially if you escape without getting yelled at by the lead guitarist.
Setlist: Sounds of the City / That Much Further West / Can’t Feel A Thing / Nights LIke These / I’ll Just Fall / Joining the Army / Last Night in Town / Goodbye Again / Sixes and Sevens / Kiss the Bottle / All the Same to Me / Sixteen / Sweet Little Thing / Bikeriders / Johnny Davis / Slow Dancing / Last Pale Light in the West / Mom / The War / Smoke / I Can Get Us Out of Here Tonight / Darken My Door / Chain Link Fence / The Last Song / Wasted / Tears Don’t Matter Much / Nobody’s Darlings Encore: Better Than This / My Best Girl / All Sewn Up
Over the last ten years, New York band Liars has experimented with more sounds than any other band I can think of around today and throughout five albums, the band has touched on frantic dissonance, danceable grooves and ambient bliss, sometimes all in the same song. It honestly would be very difficult to notice that all these sounds were the same band, if not for the recognizable moans and yelps of singer Angus Andrew.
One of the best things about seeing Liars live is that all of the aforementioned sounds are represented, which makes for an extremely entertaining show and Wednesday’s concert at the High Noon Saloon did not disappoint.
Opening the evening was John Wiese, a composer of, simply put, noise. His set consisted of approximately twenty-five minutes of droning low frequencies with plenty of feedback, bleeps, swooshes and other various sounds that made an eerily entrancing performance for someone sitting at a table with a laptop and a mixer. Having said that, I must say I am not really into the live aspect of such music, especially because it was just one guy sitting down; it wasn’t all that exciting. Also, it didn’t help that I had come for the sonic blast that is Liars.
By the time Liars came on, the audience had grown in size and came up closer to the stage, all in preparation for what was to come. The band came out, all very normal looking, and started to play, but one thing was missing. Several moments later Angus took the stage. Standing at some height significantly taller than six foot, with mangy hair long enough to cover his entire face for most of the show, the Australian front man really did make the evening. During songs he shook his hands and waved his arms about as he moved his hips back and forth. His dancing and kind stage banter with his charming accent made him entertaining, but his creepy falsetto stuck in songs between deep wails and growls made him a driving force for the band. With two guitars, who also played keys, bass and drums, Liars built a wall of noise and they continued to build it higher and to push it closer to the audience as the show went on.
Even though the set list took a lot from their recent release, the great Sisterworld, Liars filled the gaps with tracks spanning their entire career, like the pummeling “Plaster Casts of Everything” and the beautiful “The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack.” They also played a Killdozer song! Which was quite awesome. After ending their set, the original three members of the band came out for a two-song encore. There was shaking, dancing and a lot of cheering on the audience’s part and the band thanked Madison and seemed genuinely happy to be performing. Liars amazed me as their music kept me moving as well as thinking, with their bizarre arrangements and sometimes deranged lyrics.
I had read about Liars being one of those live bands that people need to see and after seeing them myself, I could not agree more. If you get a chance, take it and trust me, you will not regret it.
Liars play Turner Hall Ballroom in Milwaukee tonight. Tickets are $14 and still available.
Last year, I made the trip to see Menomena at the Empty Bottle in Chicago with a couple of friends. After dropping me off in Milwaukee, I made the remainder of my trip back to Madison solo. Not only did I receive a speeding ticket, but only ten minutes later hit a deer and ended up enduring one of the longest/worst nights of recent recollection.
I can’t hold that against the band though. They were fantastic. On July 27th, Menomena will release their new album Mines via Barsuk Records. The band will be out on the road supporting the new album including a stop at the High Noon Saloon in Madison (Friday, September 24th) and the following night (Saturday, September 25th) at the Metro in Chicago . Tickets are $12 in advance and $14 day of show. On top of that, Suckers are supporting the tour. Sounds like a can’t miss night. I’m in, who wants to drive?
I got my admittedly late introduction to Mission of Burma three years ago from a customer at the record store I worked for. Immersing myself in their back catalog I was ready and excited for new material when Matador released The Sound The Speed The Light late last year.
Over the years I’ve been fortunate to see a lot of amazing concerts. In doing so, I’ve crossed a lot of “must see” artists off of my now dwindling list. Still amongst the list of those I’ve yet to see live is Mission of Burma, who play the High Noon Saloon in Madison on Friday, April 9th. Oh yeah, Surfer Blood is on the bill too!
Giveaway: We have one copy of The Sound The Speed The Light on vinyl and a pair of tickets to give away to the Madison show. Drop a comment letting us know what bands/artists you’ve got on your “must see” list and we’ll notify the winner by e-mail later this week.
