Poetic Memory: April Smith and the Great Picture Show (List)
April Smith at the Casbah - February 8, 2010
If I was only allowed to say one thing about April Smith, it’s that she can sing. Fortunately, there’s plenty of space here to gush about the Brooklyn-based belter: she also has an electric presence, she writes damn good songs, and she’s pretty much destined for greatness.
When I recently saw her perform with Langhorne Slim, I wanted to find her after the show and say, “What are you doing here? You should be on Broadway.” I never got a chance to have the conversation. However, she was nice enough to provide us with a wide-ranging list of influences.
If you’re even remotely interested in April Smith, definitely check out her song Colors (MP3), download her recent Daytrotter session, and catch her on tour. It’ll be worth your while. Her first album, Songs For A Sinking Ship, is out February 23rd. Tour dates and her Poetic Memory are below.
Owl and Bear’s Best Albums of 2009
Owl and Bear writers’ favorite albums of 2009. (more…)
Interview: Fanfarlo
Fanfarlo have had a whirlwind year. They’ve played giant festivals and toured Europe, and then headlined in the United States in support of their terrific debut LP, Reservoir.
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with multi-instrumentalist Cathy Lucas and drummer Amos Memon before their intimate December 12th performance at the Brillobox in Pittsburgh. In the wide-ranging interview, we talked about David Bowie, burglary, and bladder control. (more…)
Fanfarlo – ‘Harold T. Wilkins’ (Video)
It’s been a busy year for Fanfarlo. Their debut album Reservoir was released in February and recently got picked up by Atlantic for a rerelease. The band is currently touring the US and enjoying some much-deserved buzz for their impressive showing at this years CMJ Music Marathon. And now they’ve released a video for one of this writer’s favorite songs of the year: “Harold T. Wilkins, or How To Wait For A Very Long Time”. Directed by Alma Har’el—who has also directed videos for Beirut and Jack Penate—the clip finds the group telepathically controlling each other’s movements in the forest before culminating in a choreographed Fanfarlo dance and a magical rowboat ride at dawn. No, seriously.
Fanfarlo to Open ‘Reservoir’ 11/24 at the Casbah
Does anyone remember an album called Funeral, released by a then-unknown band called Arcade Fire? I know you’re racking your brain to remember. Do you remember how you felt when you first heard it? The sheer jubilation you enjoyed when the anthemic chorus erupted and subsided, sending chills down your spine? Some might say this is a stretch, but I experienced that once again listening to the album Reservoir, by yet another unknown band named Fanfarlo. (more…)
