Bonnaroo 2010, Part 1: Thursday
Let me paint a picture for you: it’s at Friday 7:10 a.m., you’re sleeping in your tent, face buried in an air mattress. The sun is screaming at you to wake up or suffocate. You went to bed three hours ago while hardcore techno music throbbed in the distance. You consumed about ten beers the day before — that’s a low ballpark estimate — and you’re already sweating profusely. You smell the way you feel. (more…)
Fanfarlo – Fire Escape (Video)
U.K. five-piece Fanfarlo will release their new, digital-only “Fire Escape” EP on July 13th. In addition to its unadulterated title track, the EP features remixes by TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek, The Horrors, Toro Y Moi, and Tom Elmhirst.
O&B’s Guide to Bonnaroo 2010, Part 2: Who to See
There are over one hundred bands playing at this year’s Bonnaroo festival, so you might as well face it — you’re not going to see everyone you like. Instead, you’re inevitably going to be faced with a choice that could very well make or break your musical experience.
No one wants to be on the wrong end of the “Oh man, did you see so-and-so’s set? It was mind-blowing!” conversation, silently steaming over why you chose to watch Gaslight Anthem over Edward Sharpe. But don’t despair — after hours of intensive, scientific research, we here at Owl and Bear have come up with a list that guarantees your satisfaction. Continue reading…
Poetic Memory: The Miserable Rich (List)
When I listen to Brighton, England’s The Miserable Rich, I feel like I should be chasing a wheel of cheese down a cobblestone street somewhere in the South of France.
Well, not all of their songs make me feel that way. The song I speak of is called “Somerhill” — off the band’s excellent Of Flight and Fury LP — and it just has that old-timey, European feel to it. Their sound is typically referred to as chamber pop, but after a deeper listen, the plucky folk influence begins to shine through. If you’re a fan of Beirut or Fanfarlo, The Miserable Rich are a must-listen.
The band’s swirling, whimsical orchestral arrangements can feel lighter than air, but it is front man James de Malplaquet’s sincere, quivering croon that keeps the songs from floating away. De Malplaquet decided to create a list of the things that keep him grounded. His Poetic Memory is below. Continue reading…
Photos: SXSW; March 17-21, 2010; Austin, TX
Fanfarlo
When planning what shows to catch at SXSW, a marriage between ambition and delusion is required. The reiterated advice is simple: the only plan to make is to not make plans. With over 2,000 live bands and a complementing number of parties to accommodate that much music, I loyally abided by said advice. As a result, my highlights of SXSW were, for the most part, serendipitous. Continue reading…
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…)
