Roots Revival Live: September 2012

Thursday, September 27, 2012

First Aid Kit, September 25th, 2012, The Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, Michigan

My friends and I met in Ann Arbor, Tuesday night, for the First Aid Kit show at The Blind Pig. Kuddos to Jason at BP for reserving us our own little section of tables. It would have been a perfect evening if the room hadn't been 100 degrees. I am so happy I was able to see this duo live.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Amawalk by Port St. Willow

My find of the day.

Feist Wins Canada's Polaris Music Prize

Monday night, Feist won Canada's top music award for her latest album Metals. I saw Feist in concert a few months ago and was awestruck by her command of her stage and every element of it's setting. It's her show and she clearly is the boss. This is my favorite song from Metals.

Monday, September 24, 2012

The Best Youtube Covers of "Little Talks" by Of Monsters and Men

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, September 23rd, 2012, Old National, Egyptian Room, Indianapolis, Indiana

Here is a great link to the do317 photo recap! After the disappointment of a cancelled show earlier this year, I finally experienced Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros live. Notorious for starting their shows late, I was prepared for a bit of a wait. With all honesty, I'm not so sure this isn't an intentional and strategic practice, as it gives the audience enough time to drink themselves into a happier frenzy of anticipation. By the 2nd or 3rd song, lead man, Alex Ebert, admitted they'd "just woke up" and apologized for getting off to a slow start. From my perspective they are such polished musicians (the whole lot of them) and so well rehearsed, that I can't imagine what they would sound like if things went south. No disrespect to them, but I get the impression that the band is like an expensive playgroup for the whimsy of Mr. Ebert and his muse counterpart, Jade Castrinos, who he met outside an L.A. Cafe. They seem infinitely joyful at all times and you become happier just by watching them, whether they are singing or not. I wonder if that is what falling for a cult feels like. It was a wonderful show that I, unfortunately, did not get any photos of due to the venue not allowing me to bring in a simple digital SLR camera and my phone dying after my gazillonth text to my daughter and friends that I was sitting at a VIP table in front of Andrew Luck of the Colts. It was almost too much excitement for one day...............................

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

PAPA, September 18th, 2012, at The Bishop, Bloomington, Indiana

Honestly, I can't remember how I found PAPA. What I do know is, their lovely tune, "Ain't It So," off EP, A Good Woman Is Hard To Find has been on heavy house music rotation for sometime. The entire EP, for that matter, has escaped my open windows on cool evenings.

As much as I align myself with the universe of social media in order to hear about the rare appearances of my favorite, obscure bands, PAPA's lighting in Bloomington, nearly happened without me. How frustrating for B-town's own radio station, WTTS, with a part-time college format to not, one, play PAPA, and two, tell us they were coming. Time and time again, I am finding these appearances promoted by MOKB Presents in Indianapolis and now Spirit of '68 Promotions to be under marketing their shows. It's amazing that anyone shows up at all. Ten minutes to scheduled show time, Taylor and I were the 5th and 6th person in the room, or should I say shoebox. Ok, I'm turning off my mommy voice.

About PAPA. Their music is just yummy. Darren Weiss has a voice that is deep and manly, just how the college girls, middle aged working women, and over the hill divorcees, who didn't show up for PAPA's gig, love. Their sound has hints of throw back, that I find to be cozy cool and it was hard for me not be the only person, in the now standing crowd, not cutting a serious rug. (Yes, I realize that term dates me.) There was no indication of Darren losing his voice and having spent the entire day, not speaking, so that his instrument was in shape for our paltry representation of music lovers. Great job Darren.

As for the rest of the band? They seem like great guys and obviously are talented musicians, but their own website lacks a bio and I'm unable to determine who is Danny and who is Sean, their musical education, who they've toured with, what they had for breakfast, not to mention those sweet Instagram feeds; no band Facebook page to be found. They have the smallest digital footprint of any band I follow. They've been at this at least four years and I truly believe that PAPA is under selling and representing themselves. There is a problem when you are warming up for a band called Two (Who?) and are clearly the better band of the two (who?)

It's unfortunate that their name is PAPA. I'm a skilled researcher who pours over youtube videos of live performances. Every single Papa on the planet (see Papa Roach, see everyone's Papa who has a band in...Italy of all places, see Papa Johns, Lady Gaga's Paparazzi, Papa by Paul Anka, for example) are winning right now. This PAPA, the one from L.A. are much better than that. Shame, their passionate sound is sexy stuff.

The worst thing about the evening was that I was stupid enough to think that the vibration of their music would not put my beloved camera with my favorite Canon wide angle lens, on a death march off the drink shelf at The Bishop. This tragic event instantly made PAPA a $700 warm up, as said lens fatally shattered into three pieces. From the light turn out for this Tuesday night show, I'd say we are both losers. That said, I can't wait until they come around again.

Next, I see Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero on Sunday in Indy. Tuesday night, I'm hopping up to The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor, Michigan to see those fantastic Swedish sisters of First Aid Kit; Avett Brothers back in Indy at the end of the month.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

How Much Longer Must We Wait?

When will Of Monsters and Men make it to the states? Here is a video from a July 2012 performance.

Monday, September 3, 2012

First Aid Kit A Big Hit At Two Consecutive Polar Prize Ceremonies

I'm making a special trip to The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor on September 25th to see these Swedish sisters, who are huge in Europe, but are nearly unknown in the United States. The Polar Prize is an international Swedish award given each year to one contemporary musician and one classical musician. It's often referred to as The Nobel Prize for music. This year the prize was awarded to Paul Simon and last year, Patty Smith; who become emotional when hearing their own music and lyrics sung by First Aid Kit.

Shovels & Rope at MOTR, Cincinnati, September 3rd, 2012

I was only minutes away from driving 4 hours round trip and being told this concert had been cancelled. Close call.

Memory House at Radio Radio, Indianapolis, May 18th, 2012

SOJA at Earth House Collective, Indianapolis, August 16th, 2012

As a guest of do317.com, I saw SOJA at the now defunked Earth House Collective in Lockerbie. There is something forever joyful in reggae music. I really enjoyed this group, who arrive in a huge motorcoach and admitted they are used to playing for thousands rather than dozens.

Florence & The Machine at The Lawn at White River Park, July 7th, 2012

Thanks to Brent at etatickets.com, we had wonderful 10th row seats with VIP amenities. I had made the mistake of not seeing Florence and The Machine in 2011 and I was not about to make that mistake a second time. Considering she had recently injured a vocal cord and was back on the road after a few cancelled show, she sounded amazingly good. I loved the concert, but wished that Flo had introduced her musicians who where, IMO, very attractive and talented.