Colourmusic

Entries tagged with: Colourmusic

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Colourmusic
SXSW

"It is what it is." I must've heard that phrase 30 times during SXSW -- be it in reference to alloted set times, equipment, sound or the free food at whatever day party I was at. You have to, as Diamond Dave once said, roll with the punches to get to what's real. Or at least have a good time.

So this year for this year's fest in Austin, I attempted to be as stress free as possible. I mostly avoided anything that would be a pain to get into, be it the hyper-hyped (James Blake, Odd Future), already popular (Strokes, Kanye), or overly hip (Fader Fort, PureVolume House). Which is probably why this was probably the most fun SXSW I've attended yet, with almost no dud bands seen.

I flew into San Antonio this year, where friends picked me up and we then drove down to Austin with a pit stop on the way for lunch, which got us to the Convention Center around 2pm to pick up our badges. First stop: The Palm Door to catch Austin locals Ringo Deathstarr whose album Colour Trip is one of my favorites of 2011 so far. I call a lot of things shoegaze, but these three have the classic '90s sound -- including Kevin Shields' glide guitar style -- down pat. Some seriously catchy songwriting keeps it out of pastiche territory. They are good and loud on the Palm Door patio, my first of many Lone Star tallboys of the week in hand, and it's a great start to the fest.

From there I headed over to Emo's for the first of BrooklynVegan's many day parties. Got there just in time to see the tail end of Mr Heavenly's set. I stuck around for Surfer Blood who I expected to play a bunch of new material but instead gave us an enjoyable hits-packed set from their first album.

Guides and sched.org were scrutinized over dinner, as the evening was planned out. First stop was to Beauty Bar for the Moshi Moshi party, specifically to see electronic duo Beat Connection who sound like they're from Sweden but are actually from Seattle. Not a lot of stage presence (two dudes behind keyboards, one of whom looks like John Daly from Freaks & Geeks) but they sound great and it's already a dance party in Beauty Bar at 8PM.

We next stopped by the Oklahoma showcase happening at Friends. Stillwater's Colourmusic lay down some awesome Can-style prog, made extra heavy with two bassists. Flaming Lips, early-'90s psych influence casts a shadow on them too. Some crazed (drunk) superfan from their hometown jumps on stage, takes off his shirt and joins the band on the mic, making for the best picture I took all week. Easily one of my favorite performances of SXSW 2011. Their album, My ____ is Pink, is out next month on Memphis Industries and is very good.

While there, a woman comes up to me and asks if I was at SXSW the previous year. I answered yes, to which she then says "Remember me? I was dressed as a hippie rooster and danced all around you." Nope, sorry lady, don't remember that. And I think I would.

Leaving my friends, I hit Maggie Mae's to catch Glaswegian electronic outfit Errors, part of the Creative Scotland showcase. I was a big fan of their first album and had been wanting to see them ever since. Kinda like the Scottish version of Ratatat, their instrumental electro-rock translates well to the stage. Worth the wait. You can see Errors all over the U.S next month on tour with Mogwai (whose label, Rock Action, they're signed to.) Tour dates, two nights at Webster Hall included, are at the bottom of this post.

Looking back over things, Wednesday was maybe the best day for me overall. Next was London's Mazes who make superior '90s style indie rock. (Not to be confused with 1900s offshoot Mazes who have since changed their name I think.) The obvious comparison is Yuck, but it's less GBV/Sebadoh and more Pavement/Number One Cup. Also like Yuck, they're not the most energetic band I've ever seen but they sound great.

I close out the night at Red Eyed Fly. Sky Larkin have been telling me to go see fellow Leeds band Pulled Apart by Horses for nearly three years, warning me I might not want to get too close. I now understand why... they are an explosion on stage, bouncing off the walls, bounding into the crowd, climbing trellises, singing on the bar and other wild behavior. No puking, thankfully, which I hear has happened on occasion. Kinetic and spastic as they are, Pulled Apart by Horses' music -- thrashy, mathy, riffy, shouty -- is not really my cup of tea.

Pete & the Pirates were supposed to be on at 1AM but things were running very late. I'd been up since 3:30AM -- my flight had left at 5:45am -- so when it hit 1:30, I opted for a much-needed full night of sleep. Slightly disappointed but I'd see P&P later in the week anyhow...it is what it is.

A few more pictures, video of Colourmusic's performance, and those Errors tourdates (with Mogwai) are below.

Continue reading "Bill's Week in Austin (Day 1 - Errors, Ringo Deathstarr, Beat Connection, Mazes, Colourmusic & more)"

posted at 11:37 AM on March 23, 2011 in music | pictures | tour dates | Comments (20)

"Too Fake" might sum it up
Hockey

There's no doubt that the Capitol/Virgin-signed Portland, Oregon band Hockey have some catchy songs, but my current take on the self-described "New Wave / Soul" group is undecided, but leaning towards..."too fake"?.

"Too Fake" is actually the name of the first, LCD Soundsystem-biting, track streaming on their MySpace. It's also the name their 7-inch single being released on March 2nd. In September, they received the honor of the Guardian's Band of the Day...

Too Fake presents Hockey's funky verbosity in all its glory, all hi-hat and harangues, forming an arresting statement of intent that sees the frontman declare in no uncertain terms, "I've got too much soul for you and it's breaking my heart in two!", 3am Spanish is a tumble of narcotic imagery and nagging hooks, like Mink De Ville had they spent longer at Studio 54 than CBGBs. Curse This City isn't miles removed from Primal Scream when they do funky while Work, possibly the best track, recalls the Stones when they went disco circa Miss You, and Preacher, like much of Mind Chaos, is maddeningly infectious. Song Away, one of many potential singles on the album, is almost too memorable - you can imagine radio going mad for this song about songs, with its references to "Roxy Music" and "80s grooves", and driving you mad next summer.

What are they like live? I know they were here for CMJ. Did you catch them? Regardless, they are back to play, not one or two, but FOUR NYC shows in the next four days.

The first is tonight, Wednesay January 21st, at Union Hall in Brooklyn. They play on what is actually an interesting three-band bill that's rounded out by Oklahoma's Colourmusic and Oregon's David Karsten Daniels who just finished some dates with Frightened Rabbit.

NYC show #2 is Thursday at Santos Party House. They share that bill with Cale Parks of Aloha and now-solo-on-Polyvinly Records fame.

The third one is Friday at Mercury Lounge. Futurecop!, Hey Willpower, and Theophilus London are also on that bill.

Last but not least, number four is at Pianos on Saturday. At that one they go on right before (Olga) BELL

All dates below...

Continue reading "Hockey play 4 NYC shows starting today, 2009 Tour Dates "

posted at 12:59 PM on January 21, 2009 in music | tour dates | Comments (28)

David Karsten Daniels w/ his (frightened?) rabbit

David Karsten Daniels is a songwriter/composer/performer who has lived in too many places to really be from anywhere. He currently resides in Ashland, Oregon with his lovely wife and schizophrenic pet rabbit. He's spending this winter film scoring, snow shoeing and writing songs (about rabbits) for a collaboration with Richmond VA's Fight the Big Bull. Most recently, he's put out two albums and a few singles on Fat Cat Records.

David Karsten Daniels is out on tour, currently with his Fat Cat label-mates Frightened Rabbit, and then soon for a few more shows without them. Catch him tonight, Saturday January 17, at Bowery Ballroom in NYC, and then again this Wednesday, January 21st, with Colourmusic and Hockey at Union Hall in Brooklyn. All dates and a video below...

Continue reading "David Karsten Daniels (from Oregon) - 2009 Tour Dates"

posted at 6:14 PM on January 17, 2009 in music | tour dates | Comments (2)

Christmas Music

Merry Christmas everybody. Here's another collection of free Christmas songs - mostly random and found in my email.

Nina Hynes (above), The Cloud Room (not above), and many others appear on "An Indiecater Christmas" album.

The Gorgons and Charles De Mar tracks are from a free comp called "various friends of Silber: Winterizing".

The Secret Machines song features Tamaryn and was released for charity.

More free holiday mixes HERE and HERE.

Low's video for "Santa's Coming Over", below...

Continue reading "Merry Christmas! Here are some more free Xmas songs..."

posted at 12:41 AM on December 25, 2008 in MP3 | music | Comments (1)

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

fun fun fun fest

Fun Fun Fun Fest (a music festival this weekend in Austin) successfully mixes punk, indie, singer-songwriter, hardcore, dance, hip-hop, metal, comedy, new and old. For instance, after blowing my mind to the thrash metal stylings of Municipal Waste, I immediately ran over to catch the end of Bishop Allen's family friendly indie rock set. I like that. One of the bad things, like most festivals, is how much overlaps. On Saturday I had to completely give up seeing The National, Z-Trip, Neil Hamburger, Yacht, and Hawnay Troof. Tonight (Sunday, November 9th), I'll probably have to miss all of Clipse, Tim & Eric, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, in favor of seeing Bad Brains. I also have to decide between Bouncing Souls and Minus the Bear.

Highlights from day one (yesterday, Saturday) included Dead Milkmen, Municipal Waste (wall of death), Dead Milkmen, Walter Schreifel's solo set (Rival Schools was good too), Dead Milkmen, Killdozer (killed it), Dead Milkmen, Dan Deacon (camp counselor of the year), Dead Milkmen, and Krumbums (punk is not dead). What I caught of Octopus Project, Trail of Dead and Deerhoof was also great. If I say anymore, I'll be late for Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears and/or Kevin Seconds. For now, here are some more pictures from day one...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2008 - (some of) day one in photos "

posted at 1:22 PM on November 9, 2008 in music | pictures | Comments (5)

British Sea Power

An ambulance was called out to British Sea Power's Leeds gig last night (January 23) after a 12 foot fall floored over-exuberant cornet player Phil Sumner.

According to reports, Sumner plunged 12 feet after he'd climbed an amp stack during the encore of 'A Rock'. The hapless musician decided to jump off but instead of landing on his feet he ended up chinning himself. The result was unconsciousness and a nasty cut.

He was then rushed to hospital by ambulance.

Suffering concussion, a broken molar and stitches to his chin, it's anticpated that Sumner will make a full recovery. How attractive he finds leaping from amps in future is anybody's guess.

This isn't the first example of ill health to have struck the band. Drummer Woody is currently recovering after slipping his disc while using a dustpan and brush. [XFM]

Don't worry, Phil is doing okay. In fact, BSP have already played more shows since the incident. That includes their televesion appearance on Later with Jools Holland. Check out the videos of that at the end of this post.

British Sea Power's new album Do You Like Rock Music? is out this week (in US/Canada). You can listen to the whole thing at MySpace or Spinner. Then catch them live on one of the many shows they're playing in North American from February 25th-May 18th. That includes some dates with Colourmusic, others with 1900's, SXSW, and a final leg with the Rosebuds. NYC shows are (with the Rosebuds) at Bowery Ballroom on May 10th and Music Hall of Williamsburg the day after that - no tickets yet. All tour dates (and those videos) below.....

Continue reading "British Sea Power - new album stream, 2008 Tour Dates (w/ the Rosebuds, 1900's), Jools Holland videos"

posted at 11:05 AM on February 11, 2008 in music | tour dates | Comments (6)