Interview: The Morning Benders
The Morning Benders are still coming down from the success of Talking Through Tin Cans, their 2008 album that earned them Alternative/Indie Album of the Year on iTunes.
For their sophomore effort, they have teamed up with Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear to create Big Echo. Taylor’s fingerprints are all over the album; instead of three-minute pop songs, the band has opted for more sprawl and experimentation. The result is a more mature album, both in its lyrics and musical composition.
The band is currently trekking across the country on a tour that includes a stop at The Casbah on March 26th. We recently had a chance to catch up with singer/guitarist Chris Chu to discuss what it was like working with Chris Taylor, and what we can expect from the new tunes. (more…)
Review: Chain and the Gang with Strange Boys; February 25, 2010; Casbah, San Diego
Have no doubt about it: Ian Svenonius is one hell of a showman. (more…)
Poetic Memory: Langhorne Slim (List)
A few weeks ago, Langhorne Slim and his ridiculously good band played the Casbah. We loved it, and as with many who’ve seen him on this tour, an obsession was born.
We recently asked Langhorne and his band — Jeff Ratner, David Moore, and Malachi DeLorenzo — to reveal their Poetic Memories, and they came back with a wide-ranging and reliable list that sheds light on what they’re reading, watching, and playing. Check it out below. (more…)
The Besnard Lakes to ‘Roar’ Through San Diego (MP3)
Photo credit: Chris Gergley
The peasants rejoiced! O&B’s favorite “sonic bludgeoners” The Besnard Lakes are planning to pillage San Diego as part of their tour to support Are the Roaring Night, their new record. (more…)
Poetic Memory: The Clientele (List)
Photo credit: Andy Willsher
London’s The Clientele are coming back to the U.S. and Canada to support their new album, Bonfires on the Heath, and The Casbah is on their itinerary.
Their songs have been described as “dreamlike suburban landscapes” with a “trippy sense of menace,” and the album has been featured on year-end lists at The AV Club, Pitchfork, and elsewhere. It’s good stuff, and we’re pretty excited to see them play.
The Clientele’s Alasdair MacLean recently provided us with a fitting list of “5 Recommended Hallucinatory Children’s Books” — which is, without a doubt, the most creative Poetic Memory we’ve ever received. Full list of tour dates and Mr. MacLean’s Poetic Memory are below.
You can pick up Bonfires at the Merge store; it’s available in CD, LP, and MP3 formats. For samples of their music, check out “Harvest Time” and “I Wonder Who We Are” (MP3s).
Review: Langhorne Slim with April Smith and the Great Picture Show; February 8, 2010; Casbah
I’ve never understood the significance of The Casbah’s “Anti-Monday League,” except that the bands are better than average and that it seems to draw the scene. I’ve found that it does not mean drink specials, but scenesters don’t need specials anyway when PBR tall boys are cheaper than water. Looking around, I assumed the bands would be an afterthought for this crowd and that I would be one of the only true Langhorne Slim fans — but then he came on and everyone started shouting the words! I’ve been too judgmental, scene kids. Your taste is exquisite. I’m sorry. Hold me. (more…)
Photos: Langhorne Slim with April Smith and the Great Picture Show; February 8, 2010; Casbah
Photos of Langhorne Slim with April Smith and the Great Picture Show at the Casbah. (more…)
The Morning Benders Make ‘Promises’ You Can Keep (MP3)
If youthful exuberance were a baseball bat and pitch perfect pop songs were candy, The Morning Benders would be a ruptured piñata. The Berkeley, California natives are gearing up for a big 2010 that includes a new LP—Big Echo, out on March 9th through Rough Trade—and a headlining tour in support of the album.
On March 26th, they’ll be joined by opening act Miniature Tigers for an evening of indie pop goodness at San Diego’s dearly beloved Casbah. If you haven’t had a chance to hear The Morning Benders, we just so happen to have a fresh MP3 download for their new single, “Promises”. View the complete list of tour dates after the jump. (more…)
Drew Andrews Celebrates His ‘Birthday’
Let it never be said that Drew Andrews can’t multitask. The multi-instruentalist’s best-known gig, San Diego flagship electronic act The Album Leaf, are set to release their fifth full-length album, A Chorus of Storytellers, on February 2nd through Sub Pop records. Andrews also plays in the side project Via Satellite with fellow Album Leaf member Tim Reece. He’s even written two novellas, The Shepherd’s Journals and Lella, both of which are available as free downloads from Feedbooks. But when Drew Andrews isn’t dividing his time between those worthy endeavors, he devotes his energies to his best project yet: Drew Andrews. (more…)
Photos: Harper Simon & The Chapin Sisters; December 7, 2009; Casbah, San Diego
Harper Simon, with a backing band that included the Chapin Sisters and members of Cat Power, The Elected, and the Beastie Boys, played San Diego’s Casbah on a cold, wet December night to an extraordinarily small crowd. (more…)
Harper Simon Kicks Off Left Coast Tour 12/6 (MP3)
Harper Simon, son of Paul, will be touring the West this winter to prove that genius doesn’t skip a generation. The younger Simon’s West Coast/Left Coast tour starts with a solo show (opening for none other than Brian Wilson, who has somehow not yet transformed into pure energy), after which he’ll kick off a slew of full-band gigs with a show at San Diego’s beloved Casbah on December 7. (more…)
Review: Noah and the Whale; October 21, 2009; Casbah, San Diego
The first thing you notice about Charlie Fink is how young he looks. With his curly, tussled hair resting atop an angular but cherubic face, Fink hardly seems like the person responsible for the world-weary outlook and deep, creaky vocals that have come to characterize Noah and the Whale’s sound. Of course, the band’s music wasn’t always grim—it used to be as youthful and fresh as Fink’s appearance. (more…)
Poetic Memory: The Moviegoers (List)
In the 1960s the average band enjoyed fame for a couple of months, if that, before people’s attention shifted to the next rising (and soon to be falling) stars. Being a one-hit wonder wasn’t a failure, it was the norm, and accomplishments by bands like The Beatles and The Kinks were rendered all the more impressive by the fact that any kind of longevity was exceptional, and enjoyed by only a small percentage of groups.
Not much has changed since then: nowadays most bands—particularly in the realm of indie rock—still amount to little more than passing fads, soaking up their proverbial fifteen minutes of fame before succumbing to irrelevance. But one thing that has been accelerated by the internet is that entire genres seem to rise and fall in the space of a few months, leaving up-and-coming groups scrambling to tap into the next sound du jour and ride the Wavves waves of recognition before they fizzle out.
Then there are bands who are content to just create great music. Unfazed by meaningless trends, they place emphasis on great songwriting, captivating melodies, and a distinctive but inviting sound. They may not get drooled over by Pitchfork (and if they do, it’s only so long until P4K’s drool runs dry and the inevitable backlash begins), but they do create a body of work that speaks for itself, and will outlast the one-MP3 wonders that permeate the blogosphere. San Diego’s The Moviegoers are one of those bands, and though they may not auto-tune their vocals or mangle their guitars with lo-fi crunch, they do create moving and memorable songs accented by rich harmonies and understated confidence. And that never goes out of style. (more…)
Review: Soulsavers feat. Mark Lanegan, with Jonneine Zapata and Redghost; September 12, 2009; Casbah, San Diego
View more photos on our Facebook page.
The prospect of moody singer-songwriter Jonneine Zapata opening up for Mark Lanegan and Soulsavers seemed like a winner.
As it turned out, Redghost, the first act, was probably the highlight of the night. And that should say something, since her solo set consisted of smokey vocals over guitar loops, delivered to an audience that eventually resigned to chatter. She did, however, inspire me to coin a rule—let’s call it Harry’s Law—in which an audience will be politely receptive to solo artists, but if attention isn’t kept rapt, the audience will grow chatty in proportion to the setlist’s length. By song five of Redghost’s set, at least half of the show’s attendees were talking amongst themselves.
Photos: Heartless Bastards and Local Natives; September 4, 2009; Casbah, San Diego
I call this one “Clobbered by Good Music.” View the rest of the photos on our Facebook page.
Jonneine Zapata Casts Out Demons, Mark Lanegan Saves Souls (MP3)
Plagued by demons? Don’t worry about it. Is your immortal soul in need of saving? We’ve got just the thing. Do you enjoy the pairing of “magnificently mournful” musicians? We’ve got you covered there too.
Highland Park songstress Jonneine Zapata will be on hand to exorcise your demons this Saturday, September 12th, at the Casbah. Lending a hand for the night’s rites will be former Screaming Trees front man Mark Lanegan, backed by the UK’s divine Soulsavers.
Zapata combines the pacing of Low with the grittiness of P.J. Harvey (with whom Lanegan has recorded, to much acclaim), to create a style as beautiful as it is intense. She’s relatively new to the music scene; she’s been writing for several years, but only got serious in November 2008. It didn’t take long for her to make a name for herself, though, and she just released an album, Cast the Demons Out. For a sample, check out the track “Good Looking” (MP3).
In addition to Mark Lanegan’s work with the Screaming Trees, he has released a slew of solo albums, including 2004’s terrific Bubblegum. Of late, he is best known for his collaborations, which include duets with Belle & Sebastian’s Isobel Campbell, his Gutter Twins album with the Twilight Singers’ Greg Dulli, and two records with Soulsavers, the UK-based production team with whom he’s currently touring. They’re here to support Broken, their latest effort together.
Blending gritty melancholia with morose wisdom, Jonneine Zapata and Lanegan are pretty much kindred spirits, which makes their Casbah appearance seem so promising.
Even if you’re going just to see Lanegan—who rarely plays anywhere, let alone San Diego—be sure to get there early to catch Ms. Zapata. With any luck, there will be duets. We’ll be there to report the results and sip on some Jameson holy water.
Full list of Soulsavers/Lanegan/Zapata tour dates after the jump. (more…)
Elvis Perkins Brings ‘Doom’ Upon Us
Elvis Perkins has been good to us this year. In March, he released his non-solo debut, the ominously jubilant Elvis Perkins In Dearland. That same month, he treated some lucky San Diegans to a rollicking, intimate performance at M-Theory Records. And now, just when it seemed that Mr. Perkins couldn’t have anything else up his sleeve for us in the near future, he goes and announces a new EP.
Set to be released October 20th on XL Recordings, The Doomsday EP features six tracks, including the titular song in its Elvis Perkins In Dearland incarnation and a new slower version [MP3]. The EP was recorded in three days at Machines with Magnets in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and will almost certainly sound “earthy.” (more…)
St. Vincent to Play L.A. Tonight, San Diego Saturday
We’re happy to announce that after years of unquiet admiration, we’ll finally get to see St. Vincent. She’s touring in support of her acclaimed new album, Actor, and will play San Diego’s Casbah on Saturday, May 30.
According to the LA Times music blog Pop & Hiss, the new record was written and recorded on a laptop in St. Vincent’s apartment.
Her 2007 debut, “Marry Me,” was recorded over a number of years. Actor, by contrast, was pieced together over a nine-month period on a computer in Clark’s apartment in Brooklyn, where she relocated after her initial success.
“I had just moved to New York, and I couldn’t make a lot of noise, and I was really inspired by the idea of recession,” Clark said. “If I had a melody I really liked, I would double-time it later in the song, and take it half-time and use it somewhere else, or invert it and transpose it. I was really into this idea of using one simple idea in as many ways as possible, like milking every idea. It’s music for the new American recession.”
The Casbah’s doors open at 5:30 on Saturday, so only get there at the usual time if you want to miss the show. You can (and should) purchase Actor in a variety of physical and digital forms over at Beggar’s Banquet Records. Tourdates after the jump. (more…)
Review: Cloud Cult; May 14, 2009 at The Casbah; San Diego
Cloud Cult have worked hard to get where they are. Their early albums contained moments of brilliance, but were weighed down by a lack of focus, frustrating silence, and cacophonous filler. After releasing six promising but inconsistent albums, the band finally struck gold with 2007’s The Meaning of 8, which balanced quirkiness and catharsis without succumbing to the ADD-addled wanderings of previous efforts.
They further refined this aesthetic on 2008’s Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes), and in doing so crafted one of the year’s finest albums. With the one-two punch of those records, Cloud Cult had ascended to a new creative peak; naturally, the prospect of seeing them live during this renaissance promised to be thrilling and memorable. Why, then, did their May 14th performance at the Casbah prove disappointing? (more…)
Neko Case Announces Summer Tour
A few months ago, Neko Case played a “secret show” at the Casbah, which was announced ahead of time on the underground Internet site MySpace. The show, designed to promote music enthusiasts TurboTax, was set to open its doors at 7pm and would only admit people on a first-come, first-serve basis.
However, people on the Casbah’s e-mailing list were told that they could show up at 3pm to get a wristband guaranteeing entry, and then reappear later and walk right in—information that was unavailable to anyone who found out the correct way (through MySpace). This therefore greatly benefited otherwise oblivious Casbah mailing list members; in other words, lots of people showed up a mere three to four hours ahead of time to find the show already sold out.
Those who missed Neko that night may be wondering if San Diego is to be included in her upcoming North American tour, but this time as a real show with purchasable tickets and an adequately-sized venue. Well, San Diegans can now rest easy because Neko has finally announced her tour dates and, if you did miss her last time, you remain hopelessly and utterly screwed.
However, if you live in any other city in North America, you’re in luck. Neko and her goddess-like vocals are coming to you! Tickets can be purchased here, and we’ve got the dates for you after the jump. You know, in spite of everything, we do still love you, Neko. (more…)
Cloud Cult Playing Casbah May 14th
In case you haven’t noticed yet, we at Owl&Bear really love Cloud Cult. Their most recent effort, Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes) earned a much-deserved spot on our Best of 2008 list, and still hasn’t lost any of its resonance, despite the endless rotations we’ve subjected it to. So, it is with no small amount of giddiness that I remind you that the Minnesota septet are bringing their quirky and cathartic sounds to San Diego’s world-famous Casbah on Thursday, May 14th.
Cloud Cult are currently on tour in support of their new DVD No One Said It Would Be Easy, which documents the eco-friendly band’s storied career from its humble beginnings to its auspicious present. Their San Diego show is one of but a handful of dates remaining on the tour and, since rumor has it the band may unfortunately be calling it quits soon, you should make it a point to check them out while you can. Say Hi and Ice Palace will be joining them for what is sure to be a memorable night.
We’ve got a video of the band performing their song “Pretty Voice” after the jump. I know we’ve posted it before, but it’s just so good it would be a crime not to watch it again. Plus, I’m pretty sure the violinist has a crush on me.* (more…)
Black Mamba Eat Octopus, Discuss New EP
In anticipation of the band’s star-studded EP release show at the Casbah tomorrow night, CityBeat has published an interview with Aimee Sanchez and Keith Milgaten of San Diego dream-pop quartet Black Mamba. In it, the pair discuss the new EP, fleshing out the band’s sound, and what it’s like creating music with your significant other:
“I remember the first time we hung out,” Milgaten recalls. “It was at my house. We looked at Aimee’s MySpace page so I could hear her music. I was really blown away by it, even though her recordings were very, uh, very demo-y at the time—.”
“That’s because they were demos!” protests Sanchez with a giggle.
Milgaten smiles. “Yes, they were demos. I was fascinated by her singing style and how she wrote for the piano. I could tell that she was very special.”
And cute, right?
“I’m trying to pertain to the subject,” he laughs. “You don’t even want me to go off on how cute she is.”
Aren’t they adorable? Come by the Casbah tomorrow and bask in the warmth of their gorgeous, sensual compositions. The Paddle Boat, Tape Deck Mountain, and Drew Andrews will be on hand to make the evening even more special.
Black Mamba To Celebrate ‘Birthday’ at the Casbah
Up-and-coming San Diego band Black Mamba are set to release Golden Birthday, a 12-inch EP, at the end of the month on the illustrious Single Screen record label. To commemorate the event, the band will be playing a show at the Casbah on April 30th, with The Paddle Boat, Tape Deck Mountain, and Drew Andrews. Don’t miss out on what will clearly be an amazing show.
Speaking of amazing shows, San Diego blog extraordinaire Sezio has just published their review of Black Mamba’s Luce Loft performance from two weeks ago. If you weren’t at any of the five incredible Luce Loft performances—which showcased local heavies The Silent Comedy, Writer, Joel P. West, John Meeks, Calico Horse, and the ubiquitous Paddle Boat—be sure to read Sezio’s reviews so you can at least pretend you were.
Can’t read? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Check out the video of Black Mamba playing the dreamy “Smoke & Mirrors” after the jump.
Cloud Cult Coming to San Diego, Releasing DVD
If you read our Best of 2008 list, you may have noticed a little band called Cloud Cult on there. The prolific Minnesota collective has already released eight wildly creative albums—including the highly recommended The Meaning Of 8—so you have no excuse for not knowing/loving them yet. The band will soon be heading out on a tour which will take them to Coachella and, more importantly, to San Diego’s beloved Casbah on May 14th.
In conjunction with the upcoming tour, the band will also be releasing a career spanning-documentary on April 21st, entitled No One Said It Would Be Easy. According to our friend Gary:
No One Said It Would Be Easy is an intimate, inside look into the origin and development of the ethereal and epic Cloud Cult. The film envelops viewers into the story and people behind Cloud Cult. Serving as both an introduction and introspection meant for newcomers to the music and fans of the band alike, the film explores the emotional and philosophical underpinnings on which Cloud Cult was founded and continues to operate, namely those of love and hope.
Cloud Cult truly are a special band, and you should be sure to check them out, whether it be in concert or on new-fangled digital video disc. To help seal the deal, we’ve got a live video and tour dates for you after the jump.
