W♥M (Archive)

Los Campesinos! at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn (10/16/10)

Tour Dates 10/19/10 Charlotte, NC @ Visulite Theatre (16+)* 10/20/10 Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse (All Ages)* 10/22/10 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theatre (14+)* 10/23/10 Austin, TX @ La Zona Rosa (All Ages)* 10/24/10 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live (All Ages)* 10/25/10 New Orleans, LA @ Republic (18+)* 10/26/10 St. Louis, MO @ Firebird (All Ages)* 10/27/10 Iowa City, IA @ The Blue Moose (All Ages)* 11/14/10 Constellations, Leeds Univesity (w/ Broken Social Scene, Les Savy Fav, Four Tet, Local Natives) * support from Johnny Foreigner Read More Los Campesinos! Let me get this straight: this is a Welsh band with a Spanish name. What's even stranger is that the name translate to The Farmers. Los Campesinos! have a new four-track EP called All's Well That Ends and features reworked version of songs from their Romance is Boring album.

Plenty has changed for Los Campesinos! since 2007, when they gleefully proclaimed that the “international tweexcore underground saved us all.” They’re a little more hardcore, but there’s still enough twee in their systems to include a few “bah bah bahs” into their choruses. Not to mention the recent lineup changes, with Gareth’s sister, Kim, replacing Aleks on vocals and keyboard, and long-time drummer, Ollie, being replaced by newcomer Jason. They’ve also thrown in a couple of new instruments into the mix (flute, trumpet) and had a brush with corporate fame by having a song featured in a Budweiser commercial. But despite these change, they remain as infectious –and glockenspiel-heavy—as ever.

When they descended upon Brooklyn, the band had all the frenzied enthusiasm from their debut album, Hold On Now, Youngster…, but with the added bite of their last two albums and EP as well. The setlist was heavy on the latter, as songs like “There are Listed Buildings” and “Romance is Boring” induced brief attempts at crowdsurfing. There were plenty of moments of harsh screaming from lead singer, Gareth, particularly on “Miserabilia,” the centerpiece of their second album, We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed. It wasn’t the kind of thing typically seen at an indie pop show, but then again, LC! Have proven that they’re not as cute as their hand-drawn album covers may have once suggested.

Still, the show’s climax (“You! Me! Dancing!” of course) re-affirmed the purpose of the exclamation point at the end of the band’s name. They definitely still have the catchiness gene. As they played older songs like “We Are All Accelerated Readers” and “My Year In Lists,” the audience adapted and switched from moshing to head-bopping. They got to do a little bit of both with the band’s encore rendition of “Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks,” as Gareth plunged into the audience (and barely escaped). Though “The International Tweexcore Underground” was woefully absent from the setlist that night, its message still held true: You can be both twee and hardcore – even if your drummer is wearing a Blink-182 shirt.

♥ Los Campesinos! at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn (10/16/10)

kateg () ♥ www.loscampesinos.com ♥ myspace.com/loscampesinos

We Are Scientists at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn (7/17/10)

We Are Scientists - The Great Escape We Are Scientists Tour Dates 07/21/10 Bottom Lounge Chicago, IL 07/23/10 Larimer Lounge Denver, CO 07/26/10 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR 07/27/10 media club Vancouver, Can 07/28/10 Neumo's Seattle, WA 08/01/10 Splendour In The Grass 08/03/10 Metro Sydney, Aus* 08/04/10 Princes Of Wales Melbourne, Aus* 08/06/10 Troubadour Los Angeles, ca 08/07/10 Slim's San Francisco, CA 08/08/10 Cellar Door Visalia, CA 08/10/10 Kilby Court Salt Lake City, UT 08/12/10 Record Bar Kansas City, MO 08/13/10 Old Rock House St. Louis, MO 08/14/10 Basement Columbus, OH 08/15/10 Brillobox Pittsburgh, PA 08/19/10 Pukkelpop Festival Kiewit, Belgium 08/21/10 Gampel Open Air , Switzerland 08/23/10 59:1 Munich, Germany 08/24/10 Lido Berlin, Berlin 08/25/10 Knust Hamburg 08/26/10 Luxor Köln, Nordrhein 08/28/10 Leeds Festival Leeds 08/28/10 Reading Festival Reading 08/29/10 Leeds Festival Leeds 09/03/10 Fountain Square Cincinnati, OH * with Ash Discography [2002] Safety, Fun, and Learning (In That Order) [2005] With Love and Squalor [2006] Crap Attack [2008] Brain Thrust Mastery [2010] Barbara

After two and a half grueling days of unsuccessful apartment hunting in Brooklyn, my attitude towards the borough wasn’t particularly fond. So by the time I reached Williamsburg to see We Are Scientists, I was feeling hostile towards anyone who seemed to look as if though lived comfortably in an apartment – whether it be a sprawling brownstone or a shared loft. The audience that night seemed to all have their housing situations in order, as many of them seemed to have come directly from the Siren Music Festival on Coney Island. The concert, which was the festival’s official “afterparty,” was full of sweaty, heat stroke victims, but despite this, they seemed quite forgiving towards the second opening act, Lightspeed Champion, whose act consisted of him pressing buttons on a boombox and belting out soft-rock songs. He oozed with schmaltz, right down to his never nude cut offs, but he seemed to fit in quite nicely in this particular Brooklyn neighborhood.

We Are Scientists took the stage quite late into the night, and Chris Cain and Keith Murray chatted with the audience frequently between songs. They had a booming rapport that reminded me of AM radio talk show hosts, but the audience seemed eager to laugh at all their jokes. Right from the start, they got on the audience’s good side by playing a number of their fan favorites, such as “This Scene is Dead” and “Nobody Move, Nobody Gets Hurt.” The familiar opening bars of the songs were usually met with a deafening scream, and the audience’s vocals usually overpowered that of the band.

Songs off their newest release, Barbara, were greeted with equal enthusiasm. “Nice Guys” was the first song on the setlist, and its repetitive rhythms gave the audience plenty to bounce to. Songs like “Pittsburgh” and “I Don’t Bite” were also seamlessly slipped in with older tracks, and unlike, say at a Weezer show, there was no clear preference for older material over newer material. Their drummer, Andy Burrows, (formerly of Razorlight) was a quiet but steady presence in the background and got quite a few whistles from the tipsy girls in the front. As a fitting way to kick off the encore, the band chose “After Hours,” their ode to endless nights of gallivanting and mild debauchery. However, the prospect of staying out all night is only appealing if you have a place to eventually go home to. Since I was currently homeless, I cut out early, after briefly considering sleeping in the sound guy’s booth.

♥ We Are Scientists

 07/20/2010 20:19:16 ♥ kate () ♥ wearescientists.com ♥ myspace.com ♥ @scientistbros 

Loney Dear, Lia Ices at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn (5/5/09)

Loney Dear at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn (05/05/09) ♥ photo by Laura

For years, my Scandinavian Holy Trinity has been set in stone: Jens Lekman, Sondre Lerche, and Erlend Øye. These three men embody everything I love about Nordic pop: catchy melodies, depressing lyrics, and above all, debonair looks (in a lanky, pale, probably-got-beat-up-after-school kind of way). But after last night, I may have to add another Swede to that equation: Emil Svanängen, a.k.a. Loney, Dear.

I had previously seen Loney, Dear (Yes, it’s “Loney,” not “Lonely.” Sorry, Spellcheck.) at Soundfix Lounge, a far more smaller, intimate venue. It was a lovely show, but I wondered if it would translate well into the much bigger Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Lia Ices at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn (05/05/09) ♥ photo by Laura Loney Dear at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn (05/05/09) ♥ photo by Laura Loney Dear at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn (05/05/09) ♥ photo by Laura

Things started off slowly with opener, Lia Ices. Her gradual but fierce, piano-centric ballads reminded me of slightly more subdued Frida Hyvönen. In a way, her sparse instrumentation and morose lyrics set the mood for the rest of the night. The audience remained politely quiet through most of her set, as Ices maintained an enchanting, often hypnotic stage presence. The whole girl-with-a-keyboard outfit has been done several times before, but there’s something strangely haunting about Ices that sets her apart from other singer-songwriters.

The solemn mood was somewhat lifted when Loney Dear took the stage, opening with the steady-building track, “I Was Only Going Out,” from his latest release, Dear John. Several other songs followed a similar format, and in the larger setting with his full band, the tracks were able to flourish into lush, sweeping mini-symphonies.

Svanängen’s band (which included a keyboardist who eerily resembled a somber Andy Samberg) contributed greatly to the “bigger” sound not usually associated with Loney Dear’s brand of thoughtful pop. Whether it was the more electronic tracks from Dear John or the earlier, orchestral tracks from Loney Noir and Sologne, the band added an exciting, almost urgent edge to Svanängen’s confessional lyrics.

Loney Dear - Airport Surroundings Loney Dear Tour Dates 05/08/09 Rivoli Toronto, ON 05/09/09 Schuba’s Tavern Chicago, IL 05/10/09 Cedar Cultural Minneapolis, MN 05/13/09 Crocodile Café Seattle, WA 05/14/09 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR 05/15/09 Bottom of the Hill SF, CA 05/16/09 Spaceland Los Angeles, CA 05/17/09 UCSD San Diego, CA See Also Jens Lekman http://weheartmus... I'm not gonna claim to have the most macho music collection in the world---nay, my playlists are ...

My initial concern of Loney Dear’s quiet demeanor clashing with a larger venue was quickly put to rest. Svanängen has a knack for endearing and warmly funny stage banter, and within moments, the audience was smitten. He even managed to pull of the impossible: an audience sing-along that was not completely awful. Choosing the simple na-na-na-na chorus from “The Meter Marks OK,” Svanängen led the audience like a junior high choir teacher. Considering that the crowd that night mostly consisted of PBR-slinging, hipper-than-thou Brooklynites – it was quite a feat.

Of course, none of it would have been possible without Svanängen’s unassuming and shyly charismatic personality. Whether it was through his heartfelt lyrics or random witticisms, he gave off an immediate sense of likability. It is somewhat telling that the two grown men (both in vaguely corporate attire) behind me had the following conversation midway through the set:

Guy #1: I haven’t been this happy since I was a kid.
Guy #2: This is just beautiful. Beautiful.
Guy #1: I know. I just want to… touch him.

I know how you feel, Guy #1. And just when Svanängen couldn’t get any sweeter, he ended the show with the fitting track, “Dear John.” With just him and his guitar on stage, he sang, “Sleep well, tonight. Sleep while you can.” It was a beautiful ending to an intimate and charming show. So charming, in fact, that Jens, Sondre, and Erlend may have to watch their backs.

 05/07/2009 23:24:27  ♥ kateg () ♥ loneydear.com ♥ myspace.com/loneydear ♥ liaices.com 

Peter Bjorn & John, Chairlift at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn (4/30/09)

Peter Bjorn & John ♥ photo by Jason Tour Dates 05/02/09 Washington DC @ 9:30 Club 07/24/09 Toronto, ON Molson Amph* 07/25/09 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre* 07/28/09 Bristow, VA @ Nissan Pavilion* 07/31/09 Mansfield, MA Comcast Center* 08/01/09 Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata* 08/03/09 New York, NY @ MSG* 08/04/09 New York, NY @ MSG* 08/10/09 Seattle, WA @ Key Arena* 08/12/09 Mtn View, CA Shoreline Amph* 08/14/09 Chula Vista, CA @ Cricket Wireless 08/16/09 LA, CA @ Hollywood Bowl* 08/17/09 LA, CA @ Hollywood Bowl* 08/20/09 Santa Barbara County Bow, CA* 08/22/09 Las Vegas, NV @ Pearl* 08/23/09 Phoenix, AZ @ US Airways Ctr* 08/25/09 Salt Lake City, UT @ E Center* 08/27/09 Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Pav* 08/29/09 Dallas, TX @ Superpages Ctr* 08/30/09 Woodlands Pavilion, TX * 09/01/09 Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amp* 09/04/09 Tampa, FL @ Ford Amp* 09/05/09 Sunrise, FL @ Bank Atlantic Ctr* *with Depeche Mode Read More Peter, Bjorn and John http://weheartmus... Speaking of solo album, Peter Morén (you know him as Peter from Peter, Bjorn and John) will also...

Two bands, two synonymous songs. First up, there was Chairlift with their “iPod Nano song” opening for Peter Bjorn & John, the band that brought you the “whistling song.” Were it not for these two songs, I doubt this show would have been a sold-out Ticketmaster event. Despite this, PB&J proved their chops – and in pastel-colored shorts, no less.

Chairlift - Bruises

Chairlift ♥ photo by Jason

PB&J ♥ photo by Jason

PB&J ♥ photo by Jason

Chairlift played to a half-filled venue, and for the most part, the audience seemed half there mentally as well. Perhaps it was the dreary weather or the slow playlist, but there was very little movement among the crowd, save for the occasional headbob or tipsy-girl-in-heels faceplant. Naturally, the audience got excited during their bubbly hit, “Bruises,” but from then on, the band stuck to their mellow, 80’s-revival pop. Lead singer, Caroline Polachek, showed off clear, hypnotizing vocals, but coupled with droning synths and sparse drums, it got lost somewhere in the muddle.

Excitement for PB&J was buzzing even before they took the stage, as the crew unveiled their straightforward, neon-lit backdrop (complete with word, “backdrop” repeated several times). They opened with the slow-burning “Just the Past,” from their latest album, Living Thing, which had just the right amount of energy to slowly awaken the crowd from their reverie.

The popularity of their breakthrough album, Writer’s Block, was palpable, as favorites like “Amsterdam” and “Objects of My Affection” were greeted with instant cheers and dancing. The audience didn’t seem too familiar with songs from Living Thing, but quickly warmed up to catchier tracks like “The Feeling” and “Nothing to Worry About.”

Much of this was attributed to the band’s infectious, sometimes corny enthusiasm. In his powder blue suit, Peter Morén, flaunted Bowie-inspired dance moves while guitarist Björn Yttling had no problem assuming cheesy rock god poses. Amid the flurry of blog-induced hysteria surrounding the band, such unassuming eagerness was endearing. Besides, how can you hate a band with a drummer who hula hoops?

Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks

When they left the stage, an encore was obvious – they hadn’t even played “Young Folks” yet. Unlike the last time I saw them, they didn’t rely on a pre-recorded whistle. I suppose it wasn’t even necessary, as the whole audience took it upon themselves to whistle the all-too familiar melody. After the group whistle, PB&J ended the show with their obligatory make out/break up song, “Up Against the Wall.” Despite the somber nature of the song, the band seemed entirely joyful, jumping around, dancing, and inviting audience members to hula hoop on stage (and failing miserably).

Such enthusiasm made it easy to overlook all the online hype and Twitter-testimonials, claiming Peter was an asshole. Instead, they were just a band glad to have made it this far. And if they wanted to celebrate such success by playing the bongos in tiny pastel shorts, why stop them?

 05/02/2009 03:58:28 ♥ kateg () ♥ peterbjornandjohn.com ♥ myspace.com/peterbjornandjohn