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08/18: Seattle, WA - Private Beauty Pageant
08/23: Seattle, WA - Sunset 08/25: Portland, OR - Record Room 08/26: Portland, OR - East End 09/01: Seattle, WA - Live on KEXP Audioasis 09/08: Seattle, WA - Slim's Last Chance 09/09: Spokane, WA - Neato Burrito Baby Bar 09/10: Helena, MT 09/11: Bismarck, ND 09/12: Fargo, ND - New Direction 09/13: Minneapolis, MN - Hexagon Bar 09/15: Chicago, IL - Schuba's* 09/16: Pontiac, MI - Crofoot* 09/18: Toronto, ON - Drake Hotel* 09/19: Montreal, QU - Pop Montreal* 09/20: Cambridge, MA - Middle East* 09/21: New York, NY - Mercury Lounge* 09/22: Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory* 09/23: Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's* 09/25: Washington, DC - DC9* 09/26: Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird Cafe* 09/27: Cleveland, OH - Now That's Class 09/28: Milwaukee, WI - Quarters 09/29: Madison, WI - The Terrace* 09/30: Minneapolis, MN - 400 Bar* 10/01: Rapid City, SD - Romans Imperial Inn 10/02: Missoula, MT - The Badlander 10/03: Seattle, WA - Barboza* 10/04: Portland, OR - Bunk Bar* 10/05: San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill* 10/06: Reno, NV - Holland Project 10/07: Salt Lake City, UT 10/08: Fort Collins, CO - GNU 10/09: Denver, CO - The Lion's Lair 10/10: Colorado Spring, CO 10/11: Albuquerque, NM 10/12: Amarillo, TX - The 806 10/13: Oklahoma City, OK - 51st St. 10/14: Conway, AR 10/15: Nashville, TN 10/16: Cincinnati, OH 10/17: Pittsburgh, PA 10/18: Philadelphia, PA 10/19: New York, NY - CMJ Festival 10/20: New York, NY - CMJ Festival 10/21: Washington, DC - Brodome 10/22: Charlottesville, VA - Garage 10/23: Roanoke, VA - The Bazaar 10/24: Boone, NC - Black Cat 10/25: Athens, GA - New Earth Music 10/26: Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn 10/27: Pensacola, FL - Sluggo's 10/28: New Orleans, LA 10/29: Houston, TX - Walters 10/30: San Antonio, TX - Boneshakers 10/31: Austin, TX 11/01: Dallas, TX 11/02: Lubbock, TX 11/03: Las Cruces, NM - Trainyard 11/04: Phoenix, AZ 11/05: San Diego, CA - Bar 11 11/07: Los Angeles, CA - The Smell 11/08: Santa Monica, CA 11/09: Fresno, CA 11/10: Sacramento, CA - Bows and Arrows 11/11: Oakland, CA - Sugar Mountain 11/12: Arcata, CA - Shanty 11/13: Portland, OR 11/14: Seattle, WA - Comet * with Laetitia Sadier Read More Orca Team's new music video for "Ocean Ghost" can be seen at youtube.com.
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Seattle pop trio Orca Team describe their sound as “arctic surf” or “ice pop” and I have no idea what either means. A quick Google search revealed nothing to indicate that these are in fact legitimate musical genres. So, I’m left to ponder this self-classification as I listen to Restraint, the band’s latest LP on Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records.
Restraint is stylishly produced—with musical nods to not only surf, but also mod London and present-day Brooklyn’s “post-punk” revival—a fast-paced lesson in stylish cultural stimuli. Thematically, it ponders the concept of restraint with the shoulder-slumped weariness of someone who’s far too young to be so jaded (which is everyone in their twenties). Some examples of restraint, taken from the band’s press release pretty much verbatim: “Restraint is the tension found of a first date; restraint is smooth and smothered in disappointment; it is the soundtrack for a city where there isn’t enough social lubrication to get anyone to notice your woeful desires.” What I honestly admire in bands that grapple abstract topics, like defining a feeling via the Hipster Hallmark of song prose (“I used to know / just what to say / you’re stopping me trying this / turn my way,” “Little Suit”), is that they usually fail. Something always falls short—a flat note, dodgy vocals, weird off-putting lyrics—and because of these imperfections, I am more inclined to believe what they’re trying to say. Orca Team actually succeeds in their assumed objective to create chilly pop music for people too cool to be bothered by cheap hooks and warm deliveries. This is not an album that you can wrap yourself up in or even have a long-term relationship with (“Little Suit” is the most inviting, with the sweetness of a 60s love song performed by nice boys in nice ensembles). Restraint is like a one-night-stand that might leave you thirsty for more but after a quiet spell you realize “no, that’s enough.” Believe me, this isn’t a bad thing; we live in an age where today’s big hit is tomorrow’s bargain bin reject, so it’s just smart to create music that seems intentionally fleeting. Icy or not, Restraint probably sounds fantastic in a dancehall, and any band that encourages fans to groove can’t be too bent on indifference.
As a sidenote: much has been written about Orca Team’s wardrobe choices, specifically Anders’ affinity for formal wear. He’s been known to rock a full-out tuxedo—I’m talking GOING TO THE CHAPEL GONNA GET MARRIED suit—on stage, which, combined with square haircut and little bowties, kind of makes you wonder what he wears on “laundry day.” The trio has certainly cultivated a look to match their sound, and I say: bravo. Not since Interpol has a group of musicians made “dapper” appear effortless (and neither British nor metrosexual). The band is currently wrapping up the second leg of their U.S. tour, with a handful of dates in Seattle and Portland. For specifics, visit their website / Facebook. You can stream Restraint via the band’s Bandcamp or Soundcloud, whatever your digital preference.
Restraint is stylishly produced—with musical nods to not only surf, but also mod London and present-day Brooklyn’s “post-punk” revival—a fast-paced lesson in stylish cultural stimuli. Thematically, it ponders the concept of restraint with the shoulder-slumped weariness of someone who’s far too young to be so jaded (which is everyone in their twenties). Some examples of restraint, taken from the band’s press release pretty much verbatim: “Restraint is the tension found of a first date; restraint is smooth and smothered in disappointment; it is the soundtrack for a city where there isn’t enough social lubrication to get anyone to notice your woeful desires.” What I honestly admire in bands that grapple abstract topics, like defining a feeling via the Hipster Hallmark of song prose (“I used to know / just what to say / you’re stopping me trying this / turn my way,” “Little Suit”), is that they usually fail. Something always falls short—a flat note, dodgy vocals, weird off-putting lyrics—and because of these imperfections, I am more inclined to believe what they’re trying to say. Orca Team actually succeeds in their assumed objective to create chilly pop music for people too cool to be bothered by cheap hooks and warm deliveries. This is not an album that you can wrap yourself up in or even have a long-term relationship with (“Little Suit” is the most inviting, with the sweetness of a 60s love song performed by nice boys in nice ensembles). Restraint is like a one-night-stand that might leave you thirsty for more but after a quiet spell you realize “no, that’s enough.” Believe me, this isn’t a bad thing; we live in an age where today’s big hit is tomorrow’s bargain bin reject, so it’s just smart to create music that seems intentionally fleeting. Icy or not, Restraint probably sounds fantastic in a dancehall, and any band that encourages fans to groove can’t be too bent on indifference.
As a sidenote: much has been written about Orca Team’s wardrobe choices, specifically Anders’ affinity for formal wear. He’s been known to rock a full-out tuxedo—I’m talking GOING TO THE CHAPEL GONNA GET MARRIED suit—on stage, which, combined with square haircut and little bowties, kind of makes you wonder what he wears on “laundry day.” The trio has certainly cultivated a look to match their sound, and I say: bravo. Not since Interpol has a group of musicians made “dapper” appear effortless (and neither British nor metrosexual). The band is currently wrapping up the second leg of their U.S. tour, with a handful of dates in Seattle and Portland. For specifics, visit their website / Facebook. You can stream Restraint via the band’s Bandcamp or Soundcloud, whatever your digital preference.
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