Oh readers, we are so sorry the Owl and Bear Podcast is coming out a bit later than usual this month. But forgive us: there were lots of albums we needed to listen to so you could hear the best new fall music. Continue reading…
On his 2012 album, Maraqopa, Damien Jurado broke away from his normal sound to explore the psychedelic rock that came out of Los Angeles and San Francisco in the late ’60s. Continue reading…
The haunting, mournful stylings of Sharon Van Etten filled Fitzgerald’s in Houston on Thursday, celebrating a late Halloween with a small but dedicated crowd. Continue reading…
Portland rockers Viva Voce brought their sensual rock and roll to the Loft at UCSD on Thursday. The duo — comprised of the married Kevin Robinson and Anita Robinson — took to the stage following a set of hushed, delicate folk by Damien Jurado. Assisted by a backing track, Viva Voce treated the crowd to several songs from their upcoming album, The Future Will Destroy You. The new compositions fit well with the band’s previous work, blending seamlessly with performances of classics like “Alive With Pleasure” and “Believer.”
The pair sounded great — despite the ailing Kevin Robinson being propped up by copious amounts of cold medicine — but the stuffy Loft was an ill-suited choice of venue. Viva Voce are a band that should be listened to loudly, not at the Loft’s low, people-are-studying volumes. The Robinsons even jokingly complimented the sedated crowd on its “civility” before being rushed off the stage by 10:30. By the time they did finish their set, though, the reliably awesome Viva Voce were just getting warmed up. Check out the photos.
Word of mouth is the true test of any band’s worth. Critics and bloggers can go on about composition, thematic elements, and hidden meanings until they’re blue in the face, but at the end of the day, it’s the people around you who possess the ability to ultimately praise a musician or bury them.
It can be no coincidence, then, that Viva Voce chose the name that they did. The phrase is Latin for “word of mouth,” and just about anybody who has heard their steamy, electrifying albums can confidently attest to the band’s greatness. Continue reading…