Posts archived in Bands

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October 25, 2009

10.23 The Native Young, Tammar, Vollmar perform @ Collins

Tammar rocks small crowd with big sound Friday night.

Tammar rocks small crowd with big sound Friday night at Collins

Hello readers,

It’s Mickey here and it’s my first blog, so go easy on me! I saw some tasty treats this weekend and I wanted to tell you all about it.

There was a small, low-key crowd seated comfortably in the Collins dorm lounge where big sounds were being produced by local bands The Native Young, Tammar and Vollmar.

Tammar opened the show with their WIUX favorite, “The Last Line” from 2009’s “Live From Bloomington” CD. The crowd swayed along to the poignant lyrics and the churning beat.

I’d never seen Tammar live before, but was so impressed by their focus. Everyone in the five-piece band leaned on the  intensity of lead singer Dave Walter , with the percussion getting wilder and the keyboard pads smoothed things out.

Walter is amazing – you could practically see the tension of the band’s lyrics in his jaw.

And the crowd was fixated, there were fewer tapped feet and bobbed heads during Tammar’s set as each song felt like an adventure.  If you added any more falsetto and electronic skills to their sound, this fivesome would’ve sounded like Muse’s distant cousin, and if that is the case, Tammar is really on to something awesome.

I’m excited to see them again.

Unfortunately I missed Vollmar, whom I heard went solo, as the Justin half of the mighty brother duo commanded the stage with their signature dreamy low-fi.

I would love to see them again  since it’s been a while since my first Vollmar experience, but when I was talking to attendees outside after the show, they seemed to really enjoy Justin, but said you can’t have one without the other. How cute. 

The Native Young were a treat to watch as well. The energy picked up with this trio as they cruised through three-minute pop ditties with a 90’s twist. Toes tapped and I even saw a couple dance along to the rollicking electric guitar and churning drums.

They reminded of a more serious Bishop Allen, or one of those cutesy singalong sugar-pop bands such as Weezer or Sugar Ray.

It’s not a bad thing, I swear – especially if you leave the show and find yourself still humming along.

The Native Young fill room with bright, indie-pop tinged sound.

The Native Young fill room with bright, indie-pop tinged sound Friday night at Collins.

- Story and Photos by Mickey Woods

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October 19, 2009

LAKE To Perform @ Russian Recording 10/24/09

LAKE press photo
Photo by Sarah Cass

LAKE

w/ Karl Blau

Saturday, October 24

@ Russian Recording

9pm

$8

All Ages

More like a loose-knit gang of musicians than an actual band, LAKE will be performing in Bloomington this Saturday. From the Pacific Northwest, LAKE (”all caps dudes!”), is an indie rock band that has made 12 albums (three actually released) in four years, with the most recent, Let’s Build a Roof, being released in early October of this year on K Records.

Karl Blau will be opening for LAKE, although it seems more like that means he will be in LAKE for a few songs, then leave the stage. From his MySpace: “I’m going on a huge tour of the US (coming to your town!) in this October/November with the amazing band LAKE. They will be my band, and it’s going to be radical.” Translation: Anacortes party!

LAKE describes themselves as “A’cappella / Bossa Nova / Nu-Jazz,” which is more inventive-sounding than indie pop from Washington.

So if either of those sound appealing to you, make sure you head out to Russian on Saturday.

“Madagascar” is a great song so check it out (from Stereogum).

-David Ray

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October 18, 2009

tUnE-yArDs, DM Stith and Redbird @ The Bishop

Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs. This could be the most "rock & roll" picture ever to feature a ukulele.

Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs. This could be the most "rock & roll" picture ever to feature a ukulele.

As live music goes, Tuesday night’s tUnE-yArDs show at the Bishop proved to be my biggest surprise of the year so far.  I never go to a show with the intention to slate it, but I must confess that I went into this one a little skeptical.  In my experience, “avant garde” has rarely ever equated with “good” — and, man, tUnE-yArDs is way out there.

However, I am very pleased to report that my fears were unfounded: this turned out to be a terrifically entertaining show.

Read the rest of this entry »

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October 14, 2009

Blitzen Trapper to play @ The Bluebird 10/15/09

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Blitzen Trapper with Wye Oak
Thursday, October 15th
@ The Bluebird

If you missed Blitzen Trapper’s foot-stomping performance at this past summer’s Pitchfork Musical Festival, you’ll get a second chance when they play tomorrow at The Bluebird Nightclub.

Hailing from Portland, Oregon this experimental folk sextet promises to bring some rockin’ grooves to Bloomington. When they weren’t busy on tour, they were working on their latest album Furr, which was mostly recorded in the group’s studio at Sally Mack’s School of Dance. An antique piano found at the sparse studio helped build on the album’s ancient warmth, which features twangy, crisp guitar, harmonica and lyrics that conjure up images of the wilderness.

The show starts at 9 PM with dreamy duo, Wye Oak.

Listen to Blitzen Trapper

xoxo,

Katie

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October 12, 2009

Landlocked Top 5 10/5-11

Landlocked Music Top 5 Selling Albums

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For the week of 10/5-10/11:

1. Built to Spill- There Is No Enemy
2. Kurt Vile- Childish Prodigy (Playing the Video Saloon TONIGHT!)
3. Girls- Album
4. The XX- XX
5. Califone- All My Friends Are Funeral Singers (Coming to The Bishop on 10/30!)

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October 11, 2009

Woven Hand @ Russian Recording 10/10/09

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Those who attended the Woven Hand show on Saturday night at Russian Recording were kicked in the face by a set that was both terrifying and entrancing.

Always at the peak of intensity when performing live, the brainchild of Woven Hand, David Eugene Edwards, showed why he is known for putting on intense concerts. It was hard to believe that the music being played was Christian. Unlike most “Christian music,” Edwards seems to be obsessed with the power that god wields, and less concerned with his penchant for forgiveness. People forget that the Old Testament has plenty of war, murder, and contains a god that enjoys punishing those who cross him. Woven Hand likes to remind people.

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Edwards is also known for his use of antique instruments

Despite his frightening demeanor, it was impossible to take my eyes off of Edwards. His intense eyes and bulging veins commanded the attention of the audience. I can’t recall the last time I went to a concert that was so dark and serious, and honestly it was a great change of pace from the indie pop that Bloomington is known for. The bass lines provided the undercurrent for Edwards’ folk melodies and slide guitar. Leaning heavily on his whammy bar, he pushed the bridge of his Gretsch Tennessee Rose to the limit.

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Woven Hand cemented the dark gloom that had fallen over the concert by ending the night with a cover of “Heart and Soul” by Joy Division. Let me just say, my life was exponentially better afterward.

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This is the picture Katie took and she told me to include it (I also dig his boots)

- Pics and Words by David Ray and Katie

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