Mazzy Star/Hope Sandoval @ Coachella Week 2 (more by David Andrako)

One of my all time most anticipated reunions happened earlier this month when Mazzy Star (a band, not a person) once again took the stage six times across California (two of those times were Coachella). The touring continues this summer with a few select shows and festivals in Europe - Oya, Primavera Sound, Field Day, Optimus Alive, and Way Out West included. All dates are listed below. While we patiently await for more North American dates to be announced, let's recap what the reunion has looked (and sounded) like so far.

To quote Wikipedia, "On October 12, 2011, [it was] confirmed the duo would release their first new material in fifteen years later that same month. The double a-sided single 'Common Burn/'Lay Myself Down' was released digitally on October 31, 2011. A limited edition blue-coloured 7" vinyl was also announced for release on November 8, though a manufacturing delay resulted in its release being pushed back to January 24, 2012. Their fourth studio album is expected to be released in the latter half of 2012, following completion of a tour earlier in the year."

The first live show was April 6th in Petaluma, CA, and the live lineup for all six shows has been primary Mazzy Star writer, producer and band member David Roback along with vocalist Hope Sandoval, original keyboardist Suki Ewers, original drummer Keith Mitchell, and two more touring musicians playing bass and guitar: Paul McQuillan and Colm Ó Cíosóig. You also know Colm as the drummer of My Bloody Valentine and 1/2 of Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions (who were active again in 2009 and 2010).

The setlists were very similar at all the shows and ranged between 9 songs (Coachella week one) to 12 songs (Sacramento and Santa Cruz). The setlists included new/unreleased songs "Spoon" and "Flyin' Low", and every show got hit song "Fade Into You". Check out the exact setlists below.

Audio, video and pictures of the shows have been popping up, and I compiled a lot of it in this post too. Previously posted week 2 Coachella pics are HERE and week 1 Coachella pics are HERE. The rest, including bootleg links, full videos, the setlists and tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Mazzy Star reunion megapost - they played 6 shows in California (videos, bootlegs, setlists, pics, dates & more)"

Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions kicked off their second NYC show in three days much like they did the first, with the song "Blanchard" and with not enough vocals in the speakers. By song three, an early highlight ("Courtin Blues"), the sound was better. Hope's vocals were coming through loud and clear. I wasn't as close to the stage as I was at Music Hall, so maybe my perspective was different, but the Manhattan crowd seemed way happier to be there than the Brooklyn crowd. The cheers seemed louder and more in line with the return of someone who we haven't seen in seven years. Song four was "Willow" and all signs pointed towards a great show. The projections, though exactly the same at Music Hall, were maybe even better because Bowery Ballroom seemed to have a bigger screen.

Then, 3.5 songs in, all of a sudden the music stopped. Hope couldn't hear herself in the monitors. Some audience members, possibly misunderstanding the problem, started screaming that it sounded great. They weren't lying and it didn't help. Hope continued to stand there. She was growing increasingly frustrated as she expected someone to make it work again. She said she was sorry for embarrassing everyone, and mentioned that they had spent three hours soundchecking earlier in the day.

"It's OK Hope, we love you," someone screamed. "I'm on the verge of throwing a tantrum," Hope replied. Killing time, someone asked if she loved NY. Unexpectedly, Hope answered, "I absolutely fucking hate NY... but I love everyone who is here. I'm a country girl". She may have lost a few people there, and then she spoke again. It was definitely the most I've ever heard her talk on stage. "There's gonna be some heads chopped off... Sorry about this you guys," she said. Someone else yelled, "We love you Hope". Then next thing you know, faster than you can say Fiona Apple, Hope made one final frustrated gesture forward, and then stormed off the stage. Her confused band followed soon after.

continued below...

Continue reading "Hope Sandoval stormed off stage at Bowery Ballroom... but then returned to finish the show"

LA Weekly spent a considerable portion of their Hope Sandoval cemetery show review talking about the NO-photo policy. Now I know why. Hope Sandoval didn't just deny photo passes. She didn't just post warning signs all over the venue (see above). She didn't just have someone give a stern, pre-show announcement. Hope basically had her own security detail on hand to blind and humiliate would-be-photographers (and anyone near them) with flashlights. During the second song, one of the security guys actually jumped into the crowd and rammed through a group of people to stop someone.

Ironically the security was just as distracting as people who hold cameras over their heads, but all in all it probably made for a nicer show since I think everyone learned their lesson by song three... well (speaking of irony), except the people who were being paid to video the show. They blatantly moved around the crowd near the stage. One audience member got so angry that he started motioning towards the flashlight police and pointing at the video guy's head who was at that point right in front of him. I imagine he was mouthing something like, "Where are you now? Why is this even-more-annoying guy allowed to bother us with his camera???".

Speaking of filming the show, there was also a stationary video camera back by the soundboard. I asked someone after the show, and they said the footage is going to be used for music videos that will be released online soon, not for a DVD. I also asked if the photo policy was related to their own official filming, and they basically admitted that, "no, that would be Hope".

Speaking of Hope, she is of course the star of the show, the reason approximately 600 people packed into Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday night (10/10) (the first of two sold out NYC shows), and she can basically do and say whatever she wants and we'll still love her. Someone (a few people actually) yelled, "I love you Hope!", which was followed by one of her rare speaking moments: "If you love me, then get the people talking to shut up." (or something like that) After an awkward silence in the crowd, Hope followed that with something about sending those talkers... "to the corn"!! My new favorite line, I've already used it a few times since the show.

Irish band Dirt Blue Gene opened the night and then returned to play, along with My Bloody Valentine's Colm O'Ciosoig, as Hope's backing band (aka The Warm Inventions). They were a very capable band, running through 13 psychedelic songs (2 of which were during the encore) of the the dreamiest dream pop with Hope on xylophone, harmonica, and most importantly vocals. There were many highlights throughout the set. If I was better with song names I would mention more, but "Susanne" (the "hit" off the first record) was definitely one of them.

"The set was drawn mostly from her newest CD with a few from her first. What stuck out was "Trouble" off of the new CD. Yeah brah, that song was so erie live and had this sort of smokey sexuality to it. Speaking of sexuality, Hope had on a flower dress that was pretty short on her, I couldn't help from checking out her legs, but of course I restrained myself from looking up her skirt (I'm into her, but I'm not a creep either)." [Alex Caprio]

Um... No comment on that guy, but it's safe to say that there was plenty to look at during the show, not the least of which was the stunning visuals being projected on to a white sheet on the back of the stage, all seemingly-perfectly synced with the songs they were playing. I can't wait to see the videos (and the show again at Bowery).

There were a few technical issues - the mic in front of Hope's harmonica wasn't working at one point which caused her to get frustrated. She kept motioning at the sound person until she finally walked over to him (side stage), but I think the problems and funny moments only add to the show. If everything went perfectly, Hope would just stand there, quietly, do her thing, and then exit the stage as quickly as possible (which would be fine too).

Like in 2002 (when photography also wasn't allowed) (when Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions played two nights in a row at Bowery Ballroom), they didn't play even one Mazzy Star song, but like Anonymous said, it didn't matter. The new songs are great, as is most anything Hope sings on. For Mazzy, we'll have to wait for the reunion (side note: I was thinking how Hope is probably not that famous because everyone always used to think her name was Mazzy Star... "Hope Sandoval".. "who?"... "Mazzy Star"... "OHHHH".)

They do it again tonight (10/12) at Bowery Ballroom . A picture of the merch and the setlist from Music Hall (and a video), below...

Continue reading "Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions played played Music Hall of Williamsburg (setlist & no pics!), play Bowery tonight"

DOWNLOAD: Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions - Blanchard (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions - Wild Roses (MP3)

Colm & Hope...

Below, you can see the artwork for Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions' new record, Through The Devil Softly, out September 29th (changed from the original 9/15 date) on Nettwerk Records. You can pre-order the album at Amazon starting Wednesday.

The album's first single, "Blanchard" is posted above. The album's first single, "Blanchard," and its second track, "Wild Roses," are posted above. "Blanchard" is the track we posted with the album announcement. "Wild Roses" is actually from that Air France compilation, but is also on the new album (it's possible the album version is slightly different) (though they are definitely both the same length).

"The Warm Inventions" pairs Sandoval with My Bloody Valentine drummer Colm Ó Cíosóig. Colm plays with My Bloody Valentine this weekend at All Points West (and Thursday in Virginia).

Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions have a set of UK & Ireland tour dates scheduled for the fall (below). North American dates are still TBA.

Hope hasn't given up working with her other band, Mazzy Star, either! Rolling Stone wrote on July 7th...

Sandoval confirms her and her bandmate David Roback haven't called it quits and they are still working on their anticipated fourth album. But she declines to give many specifics. "It's true we're still together," she says. "We're almost finished [with the record]. But I have no idea what that means."

Warm Inventions cover art, tracklist and tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Hope Sandoval - new Warm Inventions cover art, European tour dates ++ plans for NEW MAZZY STAR ALBUM"

DOWNLOAD: Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions - Blanchard (NEW MP3)

"New Warm Inventions record is coming out in September. Honest. - Anonymous | July 7, 2009 1:01 PM"

"Since the release of Mazzy Star's debut album She Hangs Brightly, Hope Sandoval has defined the sound and style of California psychedelic dream pop. The world took notice when the breakthrough single "Fade Into You" (from sophomore album So Tonight That I Might See) hit the airwaves and MTV heavy rotation.

Sandoval's trademark vocals helped to make her a modern day music icon. Now the revered singer returns along side My Bloody Valentine's Colm O'Ciosoig to deliver her long awaited sophomore album Through The Devil Softly on September 15.

Over the past decade, the sought after vocalist has collaborated with artists from across the musical landscape: The Jesus & Mary Chain, Air, Death in Vegas, The Chemical Brothers, Massive Attack and Bert Jansch, to count a few.

In 2001, she joined Colm O'Ciosoig to form Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions and release their debut Bavarian Fruit Bread. Now on Through The Devil Softly, the definitive star of the Paisley Underground scene reignites her trademark sound in an epic journey across the 11-song album. The project continues the laid-back, slowcore sound they are renowned for and places Sandoval's sensuous, hypnotic voice in the forefront. Recorded in both Northern California and the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland, the spare, subtle arrangements reinforce Sandoval's gentle vocal style.

An extensive North American tour is planned for Fall 09, with dates in the UK and Europe to follow. -[Nettwerk Records]

It was just two months ago when I last stalked Hope. I had no clue at the time that she was coming back so completely. According to the newly redesigned HopeSandoval.com, the shows will be Hope on vocals, glockenspeil, harmonica, and Colm O'Ciosoig on drums. I wonder where they'll play. In 2002 it was two awesome nights at Bowery Ballroom.

Track one from the new album is available for download above.
Full album track list, and some older videos, below...

Continue reading "new HOPE SANDOVAL (& the Warm Inventions) album & MP3! TOUR DATES COMING SOON"