Tortoise Live at the Bowery Ballroom - 9/17/06

For more then a decade, Chicago post-rockers Tortoise have been exploring just about every realm of music you can possibly think of. And while the boys have been busy this last year in terms of albums (with their Bonnie “Prince Billy covers collaboration “The Brave and the Bold” and their rarities box-set “A Lazarus Toxin”) , the boys have only been making a copy of live appearances here and there. So it was a real treat for Nadine and I to see them at the Bowery Ballroom on September 17^th and their brief U.S. Tour.

When we got there, we became aware that the band had been having a rough day. They had just flown in from Los Angeles earlier that day and they had lost some of their equipment during their travels. But the band soldiered on and tried to make the best of the situation. We had been working hard to set up an audio interview with the band at the show, and while we wouldn’t have been surprised if they had to cancel, multi-instrumentalist Dan Bitney was gracious enough to give us a few minutes of his time and answer a few questions for Universal Buzz (which will be posted shortly).

And when the band took the show, they were all business. Not to be detoured from the obstacles they had encountered earlier, Tortoise ripped through of fantastic set of material both old and new. Bitney told us earlier that the best of part of playing these shows was to shake up the setlist a little bit and play material that haven’t been a part of their live show in a while. And the audience let them know that this was greatly appreciated.

While the show did feature a solid amount of material from “Standards” and “It’s All Around You”, they did bust into a number of rarities such as “Glass Museum”, “Djed” and “Gamera”, which brought out some of the loudest cheers among the packed Bowery Ballroom. The greatness in seeing Tortoise live is not so much hearing the band play the songs you love but to see how the group attacks these songs. Actually watching the boys go about performing these compositions is really a site to see. With their two drum kits, vibraphones, laptops, guitars, and never-ending row of keyboards, Tortoise is a band of infinite musical possibilities and for the 100 minute set, they always keep you guessing as to what is going to come next.

When leaving the venue late Sunday night, I couldn’t help but feel how lucky I was to check out Tortoise in NYC. There are not many opportunities to check bands that are true innovators and Tortoise is one of them.

i hate show as*holes.

Someone spilling their beer before the show even starts all over the stage that is clearly marked "do not put your drink on the stage" is the first sign that you will be standing next to the token show asshole. This is the guy who very loudly makes rude comments about the opening band. This is the guy who thinks yelling "Freebird" is funny. This is the guy who likes to yell "yeee heee" like a damn hyena over and over after every song. You are NOT funny!

So tonight was Sunset Rubdown at Bowery.

I couldnt wait to see them again after their pre-Pitchfork performance in Chicago a few months ago. Besides that annoying ass next to my friend and I, it was a good show. Spencer always seems lighthearted and a bit goofy in-between songs but when the music starts he rocks it . Beaver opened up for Spencer and the crew. I had no idea it was going to be a dude with a guitar. He had a similar voice to John K. Samson of the Weakerthans. Very endearing.

Jose, Sia, and Zero 7. It's a party!

Brendan headed out to NYC on September 16th to check out Zero 7 and Jose Gonzalez at Webster Hall with me. I was expecting a relatively mellow evening and it was at first. Jose was brilliant as usual. His voice blew me away when he covered the Massive Attack song "Teardrop".

All mellowness was lost as soon as Sia stepped onto the stage to sing with Zero 7. She had amazing energy and voice! She brought new life to the songs that she sings on the Zero 7 album, The Garden.



The band played well together. Jose came out now and again to perform the songs he collaborated with Zero 7 on. It all fit together lovely. The night ended with the whole band as well as Jose on the stage saying their good-byes. Before that though, a shy Jose aided a not so shy Sia in an on-stage cartwheel. Heck yeah.

Dust off the atari ...Ozma is back.

I saw Ozma a few years back at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, NY opening up for =W=eezer. It was a time of black frame glasses, blue chucks and a crush on a boy who wore sweaters and tight pants... and it all came back to me on August 4th at Iriving Plaza when they opened for The Rentals.


Listen to a talk with the Ozma gang here.


The band is currently touring through October with Hellogoodbye. Keep up on these guys. They put on an energetic show. Remember "Battlescars"? It still f*cking rocks.






The Rentals are planning another album due out in 2007. They were simply amazing.

A chat with G. Love

Rochester, NY

A chat with Junior Boys

Clicky

Annuals at Sin-e 9/14/06

I ran into a Woodland Creature last night and asked him, “Hey, Woodland Creature, if you were a band what band would you be?” the answer caught me off guard, yet it was surprisingly accurate: “Annuals,” he said, “If I, a Woodland Creature, could define myself as any one band, it would be Annuals”.

I kept the Woodland Creature in mind as we interviewed Annuals. Yet, when performance time came pictures of lions and grizzly bears filled my head. The sound coming from the six piece group was suspenseful and perfectly overwhelming. Two drum sets, two guitars, two key boards, a half dozen other random instruments, and a steady rotation between Kenny, Mike, Adam, Donzel, Anna, and Zach—a bit ambitious? You better believe it. And can they pull it off? You better believe it.

Lead singer Adam Baker has a viciously smooth and beautiful voice; along with exceptional song writing skills (he writes all the words and music) that need not only be heard but experienced. Lead guitarist Kenny Florence (19 yrs old? seriously?) kind of blew my mind with his guitar skills (Can we say mini-Jimmy Page?). Be sure to see them live as well as get their full length Be He Me set for release later next month.

Annuals have reclaimed a certain purity that “new bands” had lost in my mind. You may have to meet them to understand this, but give our interview a listen to see what I mean. Between the roars of laughter and “Gnarls Barkley…yeah, we’d tour with them”, you can tell these people have a genuine interest in what they are creating together.

Definitely one of my favorite new artists of 2006,
I anticipate a lot of “blog buzz” about these guys in the next few months (especially because they are touring with freaking MAN MAN and Tapes ‘n Tapes and were a huge deal at SXSW) but I don’t see these guys and girl as a trend. They have brought something back to the scene, and they bring it with their own hands--As my Philly pal Daniel Joseph just said, “I missed their show but talked to them for a good 20 minutes, and now I like them even more …they’re quality people”.

Ok, I just got busted staying at the office on a Friday night... rapid loss of Charm and Mystery Appeal.

In conclusion, Go see Annuals and listen to their ep until the full length is in your hands. I don't think you'll regret it.

Listen: Universal Buzz Interviews Annuals

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The differences between snacks and Junior Boys

Nadine and I went to see Junior Boys last night at Bowery Ball Room.

There’s a bunch of hype about this Canadian duo—great Pitchfork ratings and blog buzz galore. Indie kids, Euro-“yah”- mods as well as cross-dressing-Charm-School-clubbers dig the synth beats and tender Jeremy Greenspan lyrics, understandably so, the last full length and upcoming release are sonically accessible. But I’ve got to say: The show was a total disappointment.

How is this progressive and newer than any of the synth-pop we’ve already heard? Junior Boys is two white guys looping beats that lean more toward Disco not Hip-Hop, with lyrics that are a bit more emotionally targeted and not as sexually exclusive as most electro/urban dance. The music lacked variety, and the lyrics were incomprehensible. The matching white outfits (one with a popped collar) were a nice touch, but a British accent would’ve totally helped.
It was nice to be on the guest list. It was nice meeting them and interviewing them (I finally asked good questions, although our 4 tracker broke) but I think my expectations were wa(aaaaaaa)y too high. We ended up leaving before the last song and decided it may be better to just listen and never see them again.

Now, here we are at the office. Both Nadine and I received care packages from our mothers—hers, a wide array of easy bake biscuits and trail mix; mine, filled with enough seeds and tea to become an immigrant all over again. Snacking and chatting we came to the final conclusion about last night:

What’s the difference between snacks and Junior Boys?

Snacks never let you down.

Disclaimer: Universal Buzz does not accept responsibility for negative reviews. I take full responsibility for not enjoying last night, actually, wait, no, I blame Junior Boys.

interview w/ Syd of les savy fav and frenchkiss records

Click here for the July interview

Enjoy.