photos by Andrew St. Clair, words by Rachel Kowal

Going into Friday night's show at the Bowery Ballroom, I thought I was in for a mellow evening, but boy was I wrong. Holopaw, the first of two openers, may have made good use of the pedal steel, but thanks to a healthy dose of electric guitar as well, their Americana bent definitely recalls good old indie rock... and even a little punk. And from there, things just got more raucous.

Canadian group Land of Talk makes the kind of music that's made for dancing with abandon in your empty apartment. With the exception of a few mellower tunes, the majority of their catalogue is upbeat and packed with raw power. Lead singer (and sole female member) Lizzie Powell is far more than eye candy. She may have a sweet demeanor, but with a guitar around her neck and a mic at her lips, she is fierce - and quite emotive when it comes to facial expressions.

Land of Talk is a fitting band for the evening - and not just thanks to their sound and impressive energy level. Their upcoming album (to be released in August) on Saddle Creek was produced by Besnard Lakes singer Jace Lasek (who has also worked with Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown). At the end of Land of Talk's set, Lasek also joined them on stage to contribute backing vocals.

By the time The Besnard Lakes took to the stage, it was already nearing midnight but spirits were high. After playing just a single song, Jace Lasek excitedly announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, it's a very special day. It's my wife Olga's birthday." For her birthday, bass player Olga ('Auggie') Goreas had apparently put in a request for unending mojitos from a man dressed like Fidel Castro, but Lasek was unable to find someone with the right facial hair configuration and the appropriate army fatigues. Goreas did get a mojito and a chorus of Happy Birthdays from the audience, though.

Mojitos and birthday announcements out of the way, The Besnard Lakes launched into "For Agent 13" from The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse, which features a nice call and response with Lasek and Goreas on vocals. With the exception of a few sleepier songs like their 2007 stand-out track "Disaster," the majority of the songs in the headliner's set had a definite bent toward rock. I suppose it's hard not to act like a rockstar when you've got what must have been a custom-made 12-string sparkling white guitar and tinted aviators like Lasek. Given the name of their newest album, The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night, I guess I should have had a better idea of what to expect.

The Besnard Lakes wrapped up their nine-song set with the expansive song "And You Lied to Me," which features a pretty sweet guitar solo. Mid song, Lasek walked over to Goreas and started jamming, and before they walked off stage, Lasek leaned gave the birthday girl a hug and a kiss.

After a brief hiatus backstage, the band came back for another couple of songs - Goreas, with mojito in hand. In response to a couple of screaming audience members, The Besnard Lakes closed with "Thomasina" from their 2007 EP, Volume 1.

The two openers' setlists, some videos and more pictures from the whole night, below...

Continue reading "The Besnard Lakes, Land of Talk & Holopaw played Bowery Ballroom - pics, video & setlists"

Two final NYC Voxtrot shows are now on sale.

Forgetters are playing The Bell House on May 27th with Holopaw and Callers. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets are on sale for the Eli Paperboy Reed show coming to the Bell House.

Tickets are now on sale for the Cake show at Rumsey Playfield.

Tickets are now on sale for the She & Him show at Terminal 5 (which is two days after their free show on Governors Island).

Tickets are on sale for the 2nd Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros show at Webster Hall.

Tickets are on sale for the Empire of the Sun show at Terminal 5.

Tickets are on sale for the Delorean show at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets are also on sale for the Glasslands show happening much sooner.

Tickets are on sale for the Mark Kozelek show at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Tickets are on sale for the Bob Log III show at Mercury Lounge.

DEADMAU5 are playing the Wellmont Theatre on July 27th. Tickets are on sale.

Katzenjammer are playing Mercury Lounge on July 6th. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets are on sale for two Fiery Furnaces shows happening in NYC in June (one is a Northside show).

Three of the four Northside Festival shows happening at Music Hall of Williamsburg are on sale (Thao & Mirah, Woodsist Fest, and Islands). The BrooklynVegan show is NOT on sale until Saturday now because it couldn't get into Ticketmaster in time.

Northside Festival badges are also on sale.

DOWNLOAD: Ape School - Wail to God (Daedelus Remix) (MP3) (via)

"Keane is not the coolest band to blog about when I'm all indie rock up in your business. I am a slightly apologetic Keane fan. I think there are a few bands that can make dynamic, catchy singles that can appeal to the masses while still be genuine and heartfelt. I can see the fellas sweating over lyrics in studios, rather than thinking what would sell to the Wal-Mart crowd.

More than anything, and the reason I would see the band again in another few years, is that they are an unabashedly energetic live act. Sometimes, I'll take a great live act first. As for tonight, a 90-minute set filled with their hits and the obligatory Springsteen cover to soothe the Jersey folks." [Music Snobbery]

That quote is from Music Snobbery's review of the Keane show that took place at the Wellmont Theater in Jersey on Tuesday. They also played Radio City Music Hall on Wednesday. Portland's Sub Pop-signed band The Helio Sequence were on tour with Keane and opened both of those shows.

Now that the tour is over, The Helio Sequence are going on a headlining tour of their own which starts tonight at Music Hall of Williamsburg (5/28). Also playing the Brooklyn show are Ape School, and the UK's Howling Bells who are currently on tour with... Coldplay! They can trade piano rock war stories. Speaking of which, did you know that...

After listening to Tim Rice-Oxley's piano playing during a weekend at Virginia Water, Surrey in 1997, Chris Martin invited him to join his newly formed band Coldplay. However, Rice-Oxley declined because he did not want to leave The Lotus Eaters, stating "I was seriously interested, but Keane were already operational and Coldplay's keyboard player idea was dropped." [Wikipedia]

Ape School, who are also playing MHOW tonight, is the new project of Michael Johnson who was in the Sub Pop band Holopaw, and in the Lilys in 2006. Ape School's self-titled album was released by Counter on April 28th. RCRD LBL has a track, and you can grab a remix Daedelus did above.

Daedelus has his own Brooklyn show coming up too - this June as part of the Northside Festival.

I have three pairs of tickets to giveaway to tonight's MHOW show. Details on how to win, and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Helio Sequence played Radio City w/ Keane, playing MHOW w/ Ape School (ex-Holopaw) & Howling Bells (tonight)"