Think About Life released album (MP3), played Pop Montreal (pics), playing CMJ (dates), added to BV CMJ show @ MHOW
photos by Ryan Muir
DOWNLOAD: Think About Life – Johanna (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Think About Life – Havin My Baby (MP3)
Some things’ strengths rest in the laurels of relative secrecy, allowing them to develop without the burden of public scrutiny or following. The opposite of the former statement applies to Think About Life, who Saturday night – or should I say, Sunday morning [at Pop Montreal] – proved yet again that they have the sharpest, most energetic, intensely electrifying, incredibly infectious live show this side of Parc Avenue during their late night spectacle at Pop Montreal’s Espace Reunion. Toss in the fact that it was Martin Cesar‘s birthday, some unexpected (albeit extremely low-budget) pyrotechnics, and a strange character with his hand up a plastic owl’s behind into the grand scheme of things, and you’ve got yourself an indomitable, impenetrable, unadulterated party on hand. Ripping through a raucous set that included old standbys such as “Cyanide,” “Paul Cries,” and “What The Future Might Be,” as well as new fan favourites “Sofa-bed,” “Havin’ My Baby,” and “Sweet Sixteen,” alongside some exceptional samples courtesy of the likes of Lil Wayne and Biz Markie, the band (who were flanked by all its former members) stirred the crowd into an impassioned frenzy. Knocking knees, rubbing elbows, the mass below danced, bounced, even crowdsurfed through the impelling set, all the while glazed in a thick layer of perspiration. I could numerically gauge my enjoyment of Think About Life’s performance by counting all of the bruises on my ankles and then dividing them over ten, but that would just be gratuitous.” [the neighbours]
Think About Life‘s awesome new album Family got a US release last week (10/13) on Alien8 Recordings (the label put the disc out in Canada way back in May). Two vidoes off the new record are below (“Sweet Sixteen” and “Wizzzard”) while a pair of MP3s (the first two of the album in fact) are posted above. More pictures from the above-described Pop Montreal set (from earlier this month), also below.
TAL will be in NYC for CMJ, but as usual their scheduled visit was short and random, and very easy to miss. To attempt to remedy that situation, I asked them to join the bill of the BrooklynVegan CMJ showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Tuesday night. They accepted! They go on at 7pm sharp, before the Walter Schreifels set which is before the Wheel which is before Laura Marling which is before The Antlers which is before Fanfarlo (who SPIN says you should hear). Tickets are still on sale. Get there early!
Music Hall of Williamsburg is also where Think About Life played last time they came to town (with Ponytail and Real Estate).
Think About Life’s only other, and previously scheduled, 2009 CMJ show is Wednesday, October 21st at Arlene’s Grocery. That’s the awesome M for Montreal showcase (flyer below) with fellow Canucks Duchess Says, Malajube, We are Wolves and Beast. More about this lineup later, along with a more-official announcement about Duchess Says being added to the free BrooklynVegan party happening at Pianos on Thursday (10/22) (not to be confused with the Dutchess and the Duke who are playing a BV CMJ show too).
And that’s actually the second Canadian showcase at Arlene’s in two days. The next night (10/22) the LES venue hosts “Canadian Blast!” with Priestess, Jets Overhead, Classified, Grand Analog and Spiral Beach.
After CMJ, Think About Life has a November Canadian tour with You Say Party We Say Die, but not until after TAL member Graham Van Pelt‘s band Miracle Fortress goes on a short tour with Liam Finn That trip includes a Bell House show on November 4th. Tickets are still on sale.
Think About Life played more than one show at Pop Montreal. In addition to the above-described showcase, they did a private taping for Canadian TV (to be broadcast Nov 4). Like he was for Tune Yards’ La Blogoteque Take Away Show session, Ryan Muir was in attendance. Those pictures also below.
All of those pictures from Pop Montreal, more new album details, some videos, and all tour dates, below…
Think About Life’s main Pop Montreal show…
Think About Life’s Canadian TV show appearance….
Think About Life – Sweet Sixteen
Think About Life – Wizzzard
Family tracklist
1. Johanna
2. Havin My Baby
3. Sweet Sixteen
4. Young Hearts
5. Wizzard
6. Set You On Fire
7. Sofa Bed
8. The Veldt
9. Nueva Nueva
10. Life of Crime
Think About Life – 2009 Tour Dates
Oct 20 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY w/ Walter Schreifels and many others….
Oct 21 @ Arlene’s Grocery in New York (CMJ) w/ We Are Wolves, Malajube, Duchess Says and more!
Oct 22 @ The Paragon (Halifax Pop Explosion) Halifax, Nova Scotia w/ Cadence Weapon
Nov 06 @ Le Trac Laval, Quebec *
Nov 07 @ Salon Il Motore Montreal, Quebec * & IMMACULATE MACHINE
Nov 11 @ The Black Shire London, Ontario *
Nov 12 @ E-Bar Guelph, Ontario *
Nov 13 @ The Grad Club Kingston, Ontario *
Nov 14 @ Babylon Ottawa, Ontario *
Nov 20 @ The Phoenix Toronto, Ontario *
* w/ You Say Party We Say Die
