Live: WHYH does Lollapalooza

"So," (you might ask) "What might WHYH have to add to the plethora of Lollapalooza 2007 reviews and retrospectives littering the blogosphere that we haven't seen before?"

And the answer, in our fine, mature, and well-stated elegant prose is:

Well...um...not much, really.

No doubt by this time, the truly curious will already have lived the event vicariously through the coverage offered by large, mega-staffed, well-funded superblogs like the 'Fork *shakes fists at their budget and staff, the wankers*, but the fact remains that those jaded hipsters seem to forget just what an experience like that means to someone that doesn't have the thing happening in -almost literally- their own backyard. Those of us struggling through Design School in Calgary, Alberta just DON'T have the option to go to Pitchfork Fest, to Bonaroo, to all of Folk Fest and Sled Island, even. By proxy, this means that we probably don't take the whole shebang for granted the way that those guys might, and usually do.

Fact of the matter is, for those of us who just love music, beyond the name-dropping, the "indier-than-thou" posturing, and the giant aviators, a weekend of unadultered live shows by some of the bands that you never dreamed you would ever get to see (what with living in a city NOT considered a hub of culture and artistic expression) is beyond amazing.

So, let's just forget that someone else HAS said everything journalistically about the event. Let's treat this like what it is, really: a friend coming back from one of the most musically exciting experiences they've had thus far, telling you about how wicked the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Daft Punk were live, how being stuck behind people a foot and a half taller for an hour before any given show sucks but is ultimately worth it when Iggy Pop calls up the entire front row to dance onstage, and just how out-of-control Pearl Jam's stardom seems to be when the entire field leading up to the stage is literally CRAMMED with bodies starting at 11:00 a.m., while the band is slated to play at 8:00 p.m. that night.

Thank god we're not Pearl Jam fans. >.>

Getting right down to it, there's a lot of ground to cover, so we'll go point-form and (hopefully) easy to follow:

Day 1 - Friday
Saw last part of Ghostland Observatory's set, which was amusing, but could probably get old rather fast; caught Ted Leo's set at the Myspace stage and was rather impressed, especially by his hardcore punx-ness. Watched Against Me for irony's sake. Left for two hours and ate amazing Chicago steak, returning in time to catch the end of the Black Keys. Watched LCD Soundsystem play "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House" RIGHT BY where Daft Punk would be playing later that evening. Danced like an idiot to the rest of their set, then completely and totally lost it at Daft Punk, which was one of the most amazing electronic experiences I've ever witnessed. Truly, they are Alien Robot Rock GODS.

Day 2 - Saturday
Got to Grant Park early and watched I'm From Barcelona's lovely, happy-hyper Swedishery while Phil caught Tokyo Police Club's set on the opposite side of the park (yes, he is, surprisingly, alive. However, he is also, curiously, mute and seems to be plagued with keyboard dyslexia). Rushed off to see Tapes 'n Tapes rock it up at the Myspace Stage (another performance that impressed me with new appreciation for the band's material and ability to play in the BEATING HOT SUN), then stood in a crowd much larger than expected to humour my way through Cold War Kids; this, if nothing else, has impressed me with the fact that they are a TEENSY bit overrated. Rushed off to see Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (and was, once AGAIN, surprised), then listened from a distance to the Hold Steady while crushed in a massive crowd waiting for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Following Karen O's gyrations and that band's all-around awesomeness, sheltered from the sudden rain and watched Spoon, who were great, then Interpol, who I had seen before. Later, realized that my poncho smelled more like cigarette smoke and weed than all my concert shirts ever put together.

Day 3 - Sunday
Missed the morning, due to family obligations on the part of Philip. While it was a bummer to miss Los Campesinos!, it was somewhat interesting to see a real, honest-to-god suburb. Got back to Grant Park at the tail end of Apostles of Hustle, but rushed off to watch Iggy Pop & the Stooges rock it up like it was 1969. Which, they played first. Which is my favourite song by them ever. ROCK! Also, due to his calling up the first few rows onstage to dance, we got second row for Modest Mouse, which was even more rock. Lamentably, this also meant that we couldn't go see Peter Bjorn & John (one of the list of missed acts that still causes twinges of sadness), but instead we were ridiculously closer to Isaac Brock, Johnny Marr, and the rest than I will probably ever be again. Following their set (which lamentably included no cuts off Lonesome Crowded West, le sob, though it was wonderful anyway), caught the end of TV on the Radio, and wished for probably the billionty-eth time that some of these bands would just PLAY THE BLOODY CANADIAN WEST ALREADY.

Afterwards, sat eating cheesecake with Philip and dissing Pearl Jam while no-doubt surrounded by evangelical fans. We seem to like danger, apparently. XD We left three or four songs in, seeing as they weren't playing "Do the Evolution" and "Even Flow", whereupon they then revenged themselves upon us by playing those two songs when we weren't close enough to see the screen anymore, but still close enough to hear the music. Bleh.

****Food for thought: Despite the fact that it's fun to rag on Pearl Jam, the real reason we left was more along the lines of this - the stage was WAY too far away to see, and the screen was so distant as to be smaller than a TV. Which provokes the question of whether it wasn't just like, well, watching Pearl Jam on TV. *shrugs* This causes me to ruminate on the nature of the live show vs. the screen broadcast, but these thoughts are probably more of interest to crackpot philosophy students than anyone that might actually trip and stumble on this blog. Crackpot philosophy students don't have the internet, anyway. XD

~Ju

Artist updates: Stars, Kevin Drew, Metric

Metric have (finally) just released their very first album (which was never released to begin with) - yes, that's right, Grow Up And Blow Away has finally hit the shelves. If you hadn't already downloaded it all (and even if you have), go out and pick it up!

Next up would be Kevin Drew, as part of the "Broken Social Scene Presents..." series - personally, I'm most excited for the Brendan Canning album slated for a 2008 release. One of the most underrated out of the BSS camp; and I think the most likely to have a wicked "solo" release. And I say "solo", since these albums feature none less, then the rest of the Broken Social Scene crew doing the rest of the noise on the tracks. Who are we to complain though; there's an awesome new Kevin Drew song floating around. Album to be released on September 18th; it's called Spirit If...

And last but not least; my second most anticipated album for the next little while (first, of course, going to Radiohead's new album) is Star's In Our Bedroom After the War (September 25). Arts and Crafts have quite recently posted a song from it titled The Night Starts Here. The song is nothing spectacular; pulling more from their Nightsongs days than the more focused sound found on Heart and Set Yourself on Fire; but I'm still quite hopeful that the rest of the album will make up for it. Oh, and the entire album is available for download at GalleryAC.

While we're on the BSS crew, I suppose it's only proper to mention all the things we've missed: Young Galaxy released their self-titled album, and it is the things that dreams are made upon; Jason Collett has released Prodigals, which I haven't actually heard, but really do plan to; and Feist's The Reminder came out to underwhelm those of us who actually expected her to move on after Let it Die (don't get me wrong; it's not Let it Die all over again. It's just she hasn't actually moved on from there.) Oh, and Stars released quite possibly the best titled remix album - too bad only about half of the mixes bring anything new to the originals.

Metric - Raw Sugar
Kevin Drew - Tbtf
Stars - The Night Stars Here
Feist - My Moon My Man
Jason Collett - Parry Sound
Final Fantasy - Your Ex-Lover Is Dead (Stars remix)

So, we at WHYH have proven that we can have the most underwhelming relaunch ever, seeing as it was less of a relaunch and more of a "oh look, a post." More things to come; including full coverage of the Calgary Folk Festival at the end of the month, and many a band review once I go through the suggestions piling up in my inbox (speaking of; do tell us your favourite underrated bands - or the overrated ones you think we'd like. We're music junkies. We need our fix.)

Local Feature: Azeda Booth, Hot Little Rocket, SIDS

So much for the epic relaunch. >.>

For the uninitiated, the new and (we hope) improved look of the blog was supposed to be a massive and life-changing event. In the original plan, there was fanfares, and dancing, and fire, and clowns. Yes, clowns. We'd just about finished ordering the mini bikes and everything.

Plans seemed to have changed last minute, however, due to the scarce nature of human being willing to incinerate themselves while riding a miniature bicycle for free. Instead, this feature on some thumping-good Calgary outfits, following the event by a good week or so, will have to do.

Azeda Booth
This experimental indie pop gathering is loosely describable as what would result if you took the most fragile-sounding beautiful female vocals, dusted them across the glittering shards of traditional instruments backed with just a tad of synth melodies and percussion...and then confused everyone by not actually having any female members in the band. Yes, those beautiful breathy vocals floating over what is surely what angels would sound like if they played guitars and synth on "Dead Girls"? That would be vocalist Jordon Hossack. And not Jordon in the androgynous, "can also be a girl's name" sense.

Regardless, the melodies and absolutely captivating ebb and swell of sound will draw you in. You'll drown in it, forget your confusion over how male vocal chords can create those sounds, and let the music speak for itself, especially if you have the great good fortune to witness the band live.

Myspace: http://myspace.com/azedabooth
Website: http://www.azedabooth.com/


Hot Little Rocket
If ever there was a band to pay its small-town dues, it's Hot Little Rocket. Despite the fact that they've been rocking local Calgary venues for some time period akin to ten years now, things are only beginning to happen for these straight-ahead rockers very recently. Good things DO, apparently, come to those who wait, and in this case, that would be having their new album How To Lose Everything produced by Steve Albini. That's right, b**tches. Steve "The Pixies and Nirvana" Albini. Furthermore, they're opening for those loveable-yet-not-actually-on-an-indie-label indie lads, Spoon, for their slot on local music 'Fest Sled Island on June 29th.

Who cares about any of that! (you might say) What do they sound like? Are they awesome, like all those other bands you tastemakers on WHYH deign to grace us with features on? Or have you (gasp!) stumbled, just this once?

Have no fear. HLR is, though the melodies might sound deceptively simple at first, a musically solid outfit with a knack for composing good melodies with enough interesting rhythms and counter-melodies to keep you singing along without feeling mortified embarrasment if anyone were to catch you doing it.

Keep in mind, just like...just about every band covered on here, there's a certain something special to seeing them live. XD

recommended listening: "Down With Safe", "Spill It"
Myspace: http://myspace.com/hotlittlerocket
Website: http://www.hotlittlerocket.com/


Sudden Infant Dance Syndrome (SIDS)
And here we see my addiction to live shows rear its ugly head in earnest. Yes, it's made its appearance from time to time, but here we see a band that must REALLY be seen live to be enjoyed. The pure zany energy, the hyperactive keyboards, the short gym shorts...merely describing it does the reality no justice.

I also think that, somehow, hearing the recorded version also does the live no justice. You just don't get the same feeling of surreality watching the members flail and jump offstage with the mic AND the mic-stand to sing a cover of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division while getting everyone in the front two rows to sing along to the chorus at top volume about a billionty times faster than the original, yet somehow managing to NOT blaspheme the original.

...If you have to ask, you probably won't get it, anyway.

XD

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/suddeninfant

~Ju

Abernethy - College Grove

This music is the dream you have after the most intense day of your life. The music is fierce, yet whimsical at the same time. From the driven opening piano of Astronaut, to the closing (what sounds like a) violin in Flowers, the musicality and melody of College Grove will pick you up, and sweep you away.

I couldn't begin to think how to classify this album; Abernethy seems to be a genre upon himself. Indie folk would be the technical term for it, I suppose, but that hardly seems to cover it. Abernethy switches seemlessly from moving ballads (such as The Voice), to something that wouldn't sound too out of place in Sufjan's playlist - very playful, like Unforgettably Young. However, it works in a way that most musicians cannot capture.

But the music will speak for itself more eloquently then I ever could.

And if anyone could possibly need more convincing; Everyone Who Knows You from his first album, He Teeny She.

Myspace \ Website \ Purchase

[Local Feature] Remote Kid

Greetings. Ohayo. Hola. Guttentag. Bonjour. (insert-greeting-in-some-other-steriotypical-language-here)

Yes, I am aware that it has been a while. Quite a while. >.>

I am also aware, however, though you dear little ducklings may not be, that if I don't start working on all those projects I SHOULD have been doing during Reading Week, I will very soon be in a very large amount of trouble.

Thus, I have decided to balance my guilt over NOT doing what I should be by attending to another aspect I feel to have been woefully neglected.

(This is the excuse I maintain, instead of the real reason, being that it took me a full week to figure out/remember how to log into Blogger again. *feels rather like an idiot*)

...Upon reading what I have just written, it is clear to me that I am making little, if any sense. Thus, let us move onto the point. "Cut to the chase", as those industry types would have it. (Yes, I was just watching the Oscars...and I STILL think Pan's Labyrinth should've won the little statuette thingy for Foreign Language Xp). Oh dear, I'm rather bad at NOT rambling, aren't I? O_o

Remote Kid.

Yes. That was, rather, the point.

Witness here the beginning of a change in the focus of at least MY contributions to this blog; having this wonderful space to rant and pretend someone cares what I think, I have decided to create yet another section, focusing on some of the local talent happening right here in our fair city of Calgary.

Once again...Remote Kid.

Despite the underwhelming name, this little band has managed to impress me live not just once, but TWICE. For cheap, too...O_o Can't underestimate the importance of an art student's budget in determining what, exactly, is a worthwhile pursuit. ^^;

What do they sound like, you ask? Well, rather like everything good and pure that we love about indie music. Those little melodies and fragile things that make us hold our breath when we listen to something beautiful. Yes, there's the glockenspiel, and the sweet guitar riffage, and mellow (yet multiple members singing) vocals and...what? Is that...a violin? Why, yes! Yes it is! And thank God, because good violin is something that makes everything better.

EVERYTHING. *narrow eyes*

Now, I know there's probably a few skeptical minds in the audience...I mean, some small-time Calgary band can't be THAT good, right? Their wonderfully heart-stopping shoegazing and sighs of iridescent ambient indie pop couldn't be THAT arresting, right? Of course, in thinking this, you would be calling our friends over at I (heart) Music ignorant clods, since they seemed to like our wonderfully local Woodpigeon so very much.

Who, coincidentally, recorded a split 7" with Remote Kid.

Take that.

B*tches. Xp

So yes, you have no choice BUT to check out these guys. I mean, Woodpigeon thinks they're good. And I (heart) Music thinks Woodpigeon's good. And you wouldn't want to gainsay those guys, would you? Xp I thought not.

Remote Kid can be found on their Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/remotekid). Or on their website, at http://www.cardboardboxrecords.com/remotekid.

~Ju

The Acorn - Tin Fist EP

I was all excited to make a post about the new Feist song that's surfaced off her upcoming album The Reminder - but I was beaten to it. So go check that out, it's really worth a listen.


But now onto The Acorn's latest release, Tin Fist EP. Again proving how slow I am on the draw, this album was released Dec 2, 2006. It's among my favourite albums last year, hands down.

The intensity this band captures never ceases to imaze me. Which is why I'm absoultely thrilled to see they're stopping by Calgary on their Canadian tour.

This album is a journey; alebit a short one (which really is a shame). It starts off hauntingly with Heirlooms, a song that I promise you, will make your skin crawl if you listen to it somewhere alone with all the lights out. Hauntingly beautiful would be a good way to describe it.

From there, Tin Fist EP continues to grow, twisting and turning, giving and taking. Dents takes us on a softer ride, but the intensity returns in Spring Thaw.

Brokered Heart and Spring Thaw are both available to listen to on the band's myspace; along with some earlier songs (one of which, Blankets, you'll recognise from a WHYH mixtape).

Lets also throw in some links here: Go Jeff!!! is a band from Saskatchewan, who are going to do big things this year; Manic just recently released their EP Floor Boards, and I'll have a review of that up here shortly.

I can't promise that posting here will become more regular, but I am trying.