Corrosion of Conformity fans (more by BBG)

The lastest list of SXSW additions is below....

Continue reading "More SXSW 2011 lineup additions"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Metz - Negative Space (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Valleys - Ordinary Dream (MP3)

Suuns

There was a smattering of band performances throughout the day Friday -- anywhere they could cram them it felt like at times -- before the night's "official selection." Honestly, I wasn't really psyched at seeing a band at 2 in the afternoon when I'd rather go record shopping or, say, getting lunch but Newfoundland's Hey Rosetta! turned out to be worth the detour. "We're usually a lot louder than this," singer Tim Baker admitted, but the less-electric approach to this performance made it kind of special. Hushed vocals, strings and soaring choruses... the band's sweeping orchestrated sound definitely held our attention. The band's last album made the Polaris 2008 shortlist and their third album, Seeds, will be out in February 2011.

A couple hours later we were taken to the the Chapel historique du Bon-Pasteur for an event called M for Martini where we were plied with said drinks while watching four more intimate-style performances, including the Dylan-esque Courtney Wing, all-girl country band Ladies of the Canyon, and the art folk of Lief Vollebekk.

The only band to really leave an impression on me was Ensemble, the brainchild of Oliveir Alary whose baroque sound is akin to early Broadcast or '60s cult band The United States of America. We only get three songs -- including a brilliant reworking of UB40's 1980 single "Food for Thought" -- and they're maybe the only band of the week whose set I wanted to be longer. Ensemble's new album, Excerpts, is out early next year but you can download its first single, "D'Avalanches," for free if you give them your email address.

After a very heavy, very French meal we headed back to Just Pour Rire (which apparently is closing soon) for what was probably the single-best night of music at M for Montreal. The evening began with Molly Rankin who is descended from Canadian Rock Royalty. (The Rankin Family were folk megastars in the '90s. No those words aren't mutually exclusive. It's Canada.) Backed by members of The Stills, her music is charming, clever, heart-on-the-sleeve pop. A nice way to start the night.

Next up were The Barr Brothers. Andrew and Brad are both also in The Slip but under the family name they are much folkier, but still experimental. Usually when I see an acoustic guitar and a harmonica stand, I'm looking for the exit but they really knocked me back. Brad Barr entered the stage tugging on a string on his acoustic guitar as if he'd broken one on the way out. It was actually a loop of wire, filament, something that worked like a bow, giving the guitar a woozy, somnambulant quality. The band also has a full-time harpist. Most of their set is on the quiet side, but they go full-on Who for one song. One of the best surprises of the fest.

Shuffling over to Just Pour Rire's other stage, we then saw Metz, who kept getting compared to Fucked Up but that seemed more because they're also from Toronto and are making in-your-face noise punk. To my ears it's more the kind of noise you got from Amphetamine Reptile in the '90s. They are loud and spazzy and sludgy and pretty awesome. Check out an MP3 at the top of this post and there's video from their M set at the bottom.

Continuing on, Valleys were next who've played Brooklyn enough times (and I've written about them plenty already) that I should've already seen them but this was my first time. Their debut album was kind of Saddle Creek-y methadone folk kind of stuff, really good, but they have evolved into something louder, more sinister since then. Intense, even without percussion, but when they do break out the drums it's like scream therapy. Check out "Ordinary Dream" from their new Stoner EP which is out now on Semprini.

This flowed nicely into Suuns' set (pronounced "Soons"), definitely the most well-recieved of the night. This was my third time seeing them -- they played the official BV showcase at CMJ you may remember -- and they just get better every time. Singer Ben Shemie is a pretty intesnse frontman, especially when the band locks into a Kraut-y groovy. He bends over, laying into his guitar and leaves the planet.

Final act of the night was Random Recipe who are kind of folk, kind of hip hop, and definitely popular with Montreal locals. Their single "Shipwreck" is okay but overall I don't really get why the crowd is going so wild. I ask a local who shares my indifference. His answer: "Montreal is a really weird place."

More pictures from the whole day and the Metz video below...

Continue reading "M For Montreal 2010 - night 3 in pics & review (Hey Rosetta!, Ensemble, Barr Brothers, Metz, Suuns, Valleys & more) "

The Whitest Boy Alive @ Coachella 2010 (more by Rachell Carr)

tonight in NYC
* The Luyas secret show
* The Specials @ Terminal 5
* Kings Go Forth, Rafter @ Mercury Lounge
* Micachu & the Shapes, Mon Khmer @ Mercury Lounge
* Sonos, Peter Bradley Adams @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* Capstan Shafts, USVS, Lame Drivers @ Public Assembly
* Sunglasses, My Gold Mask, Lagoon, Neighbors @ Union Hall
* The Thermals, Past Lives, The Tony Castles @ Brooklyn Bowl
* The Whitest Boy Alive, Keepaway @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* The Midnight Sounds, Valleys, Sally Head, Psychic @ Glasslands
* Kelis, Maluca, Skeet Skeet, Sammy Bananas @ Santos Party House
* Apples in Stereo, Generationals, Laminated Cat @ Bowery Ballroom
* Mixel Pixel, Hosannas, Unicornicopia, Hermit Thrushes @ Cake Shop
* Jakob Dylan & Three Legs (with Neko Case & Kelly Hogan) @ Town Hall
* MATA Festival w/ Ensemble Pamplemousse, Lisa Moore @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* Miniature Tigers, The Grates, The Stationary Set @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn
* Amanda Diva, Apollo Heights, Black Thought, Styles P, Currensy @ Highline Ballroom
* Mastodon, Between The Buried And Me, Baroness, Valient Thorr @ Starland Ballroom
* Dusty & The Dreaming Spires, Atlantic/Pacific, The Oxygen Ponies, Cat Martino @ The Bell House

Miniature Tigers headline a show at Knitting Factory tonight, which is one night before they open for The Morning Benders at Knitting Factory which is four nights before they go out on tour with Free Energy and Jukebox the Ghost, which is three days before they are back in NYC with that tour to play Bowery Ballroom

The Grates open that show at Knitting Factory tonight. I guess the Australian band is still living in NYC.

The Luyas are playing a private/secret loft show tonight, so maybe check them out at one of their other three shows this week instead, while still getting your Canadian fix with Valleys who play Glasslands tonight.

The Capstan Shafts returns to town.

The Specials return to Terminal 5 (they played there last night).

Greg Ginn & The Texas Corrugators and Cinema Cinema were bumped from Maxwell's tonight by the rescheduled Los Campesinos!/Cymbals Eat Guitars show that's now canceled anyway.

Micachu and the Shapes will be replacing the volcano-canceled Mary Onettes at the Mercury Lounge tonight with Mon Khmer.

The Jarboe show at Union Pool tonight with Bezoar and Chaos Majik is cancelled because she is stuck in Italy.

Bad Lieutenant was scheduled to play Webster Hall tonight but the volcano made them cancel all US dates (including Coachella).

Real Estate and Family Portrait played a show at Monster Island the other night. Videos from that show by Ian Perlman are below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

DOWNLOAD: Valleys - Silent Woods (MP3)

words by Bill Pearis, photos by Ryan Muir

"What seemed like an improvisational, spontaneous unfolding of creative ideas, sounds and unconventional methods of playing standard musical instruments was in fact Montreal's Valleys performance on Wednesday evening at Sala Rossa.

Vocals reminiscent of A Silver Mount Zion, on the fly instrument switching, a blend of acoustic guitars, casio keyboards, flugalhorn, samples & looping, noise, electric guitars drumming and wonderful harmonies. All good things coming from this local 4 peice." [Indyish]

At Bruar Falls tonight (10/8) is a FREE show with some good bands. Montreal's Valleys have just released Sometimes Water Kills People, which falls somewhere between early '70s Island Records folk, and the Saddle Creek scene. Think hushed vocals, layer upon layer of acoustic guitar, with some droney fuzz in the background. Really nice stuff. They're on MTL label Semprini, which released last year's underheard Pas Chic Chic album, and will be putting out the first major platter from Red Mass in November. Valleys also play Shea Stadium tomorrow (10/9) with German Measles and Blue Jungle.

Also at Bruar tonight are L'Altra from Chicago, who've been around for a decade, making moody, electronic-tinged folk (or is that folk-tinged electronics?). They haven't had a record since 2005's Different Days and promise that tonight's show will lean heavy on new material from a new album that is due imminently.

All dates and more pictures from Pop Montreal below...

Continue reading "Valleys (MP3) played Pop Montreal (pics), are on tour (dates), in NYC tonight with L'Altra, Friday with Blue Jungle"