Kirstiecat | Blog

I heard the news as soon as I woke up…Sparklehorse, a band i’ve listened to for a decade is no more because Mark Linkous died. I only saw him four times live but each time was really special for me. Linkous was funny…he always brought a fan to blow his hair all around when he played. I found myself imagining him with the wind fan all the time…eating breakfast with a fan, reading novels with a fan, going deap sea diving with a fan. I’m not laughing at Mark-far from it. It just makes me sadder to think about all of that now.

I never met Linkous officially…but he seemed like the sort of understated rock star that would be impossible to forget for anyone who did know him even for a moment.

It’s funny with aging. I remember when I was a teenager and Kurt Cobain passed away and how shook up I was about it. I got into Jeff Buckley right before he drowned. I had been listening to Elliot Smith for awhile but I had never seen him live and didn’t have any pictures.

It’s a strange way to experience a life now gone through potographs. I don’t have too much experience with it but this year both Linkous and Jay Reatard have left me feeling so odd inside. I wouldn’t want to not have the photos, as in the case of Elliot Smith or Jeff Buckley, but at the same time they also make me really sad, particularly for Linkous. And yet, the first thing I did when I found out was look through old photos to try to gain sense of it. I didn’t see any glimpses of foreshadowing in my photos of any of the three shows I took photos at. He seemed full of modesty with a head of rock star hair.

I wasn’t sure if I should edit a photo of Linkous while I sat here this morning feeling sad and listening to Sparklehorse songs. Part of me fears it’s in really bad taste so soon after death. At the same time, I know a few of you in real life. I remember when we went to these concerts together. I know you’re feeling what I’m feeling what I am. Is it a wonderful life, Linkous, now that you’re gone? I’m really not so sure.

photos from Lolla 2008
photos Double Door 2007

“I know how to do the play now. It will all take place over the course of one day. And that day will be the day before you died. That day was the happiest day of my life. Then I’ll be able to live it forever. See you soon. ”

-Caden Cotard in Synecdoche

When you left the world , Mark, the entire collective conscious of it was altered irrevocably.

***It’s always weird for me to see these kinds of best lists…this is really just one girl’s opinion about the albums she liked. I may be missing more great albums that are on import only or I haven’t had access to. Please feel free to share your best albums as well so that I can discover more music! ***

*photo by Cinchel

1. Fanfarlo (Sweden,London): Reservoir

I hoped like mad these guys would come to Chicago after hearing their fantastic album. The group is so dynamic with each member playing such an instrumental role on stage and on the album. The songs are both complex and catchy live and on their recording. In other words, they aren’t ruined by too much added to them. It works the way a band of their size should work, emphasizing all the right kinds of melodies and memorable chords. This album clicked with me immediately but I can see it also being a grower for some. It’s warm and sing songy in a way that makes it very accessible. At the same time, the more you listen to each song, the greater you sense their heartfelt appeal and long to hear them for repeat listens. The album is also solid in a way where each moment seems quite magical and never dull even when it’s not the catchiest part of the song, it still feels essential in a way. Truly an accomplished work here!

Myspace: www.myspace.com/fanfarlo
Live photos and a review from their Schubas Tavern Chicago show here: www.soundcheckmagazine.com/reviews/concert-reviews/1832-r…
Portrait shots of Fanfarlo here: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157623045722600/

2. The Veils (NZ,London): Sun Gangs

Finn Andrews has the ability to be so emotionally labile it’s awe striking in it’s incredibility. Take the edginess of “The Letter” and “Three Sisters” here and contrast it with the sad lullaby of “Larkspur” for instance. Always engaging in both his stage presence and his albums, Andrews has a passionate way of writing songs in a way that makes you feel he was born to create them, as if he has lyrics instead of oxygen filling up his bloodstream. The Veils are the kind of band that, once you discover them, can truly change your life.

Myspace page: www.myspace.com/theveils
Photos and a review of their Empty Bottle show in Chicago: www.popmatters.com/pm/post/109329-the-veils-23-july-2009-...
Photos of The Veils when they opened for Liam Finn at Lakeshore Theater: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157607737076026/
Portrait shot of Finn Andrews: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/3751570369/

3. Rural Alberta Advantage or RAA (Canada): Hometowns

I feel like this album may not technically qualify as a 2009 release. It was definitely released in 2008 originally in Canada and was re-released this year on Saddle Creek records. In any case, I’m a little embarrassed to say I hadn’t heard this album until 2009. I had heard of the band early in the spring and have not been disappointed in seeing them live twice this year. The songs really feel like intriguing personal stories from lead singer Nils Edenloff. There’s a very Neutral Milk Hotel essence to Edenloff’s voice and a few times songs hit on a twinge of the catchy urgency that characterizes The Arcade Fire’s songs. Mainly, however, there’s a real sense of rich human story and sincerity here that wholly completes the album.

Myspace: www.myspace.com/theraa
Favorite photo of RAA at Pritzker Pavillion: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/3856085832/
Review and photos of RAA at Schubas Tavern in Chicago: soundcheckmagazine.com/featured-content/1774-reviewphotos…

4. Pains of Being Pure at Heart (American) (self-titled)

It’s ok, friends, we don’t have to invent a new genre of music every other minute. Sometimes, it’s just so ultimately reassuring to have the genres we have brought to their best. I found out about Pains of Being Pure at Heart in the early spring just when the harshness of winter was ending. It’s the time when you start to remember what it’s like when everything seems new again and long for it desperately. If life is sort of like one epic mood swing mirrored by the seasons with late fall the ultimate devastation and spring bringing a sense of balance and everything right within the world, this album fits perfectly within that context. In mid February, they were playing Schubas and by July they had secured a prime spot at Pitchfork Music Festival.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart album is intelligently romantic, full of a lighter and sometimes ethereal shoegaze that seems to brim with bliss and shimmer as the best dream pop does. Missing is any sort of caustic sense to it. It’s what My Bloody Valentine may have created if they were young again and extremely wistful. You know the perfect way a bar of chocolate dissolves on your tongue during a warm afternoon? That’s the way listening to the Pains of Being Pure at Heart makes you feel. It helps you feel good in all the right places.

Myspace page: www.myspace.com/thepainsofbeingpureatheart
Live photos and a review of their show at Logan Square Auditorium: www.popmatters.com/pm/post/111312-the-pains-of-being-pure…
Portrait shots of the band: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157613715361287/

5. Sharon Van Etten: (American) Because I was in Love

There’s something about folk singer Sharon Van Etten that is incredibly impossible to put one’s finger on. The lyrics aren’t complex or even all that abstract but it’s the perfect music to listen to in the middle of the night and feel so very deeply. Sharon Van Etten is one of the nicest people and though her sense of being feels quite subtle and understated, she still manages to impact you as you go through your daily motions. Somehow, her songs feel unforgettable. There are no catchy choruses but you’ll long to sing along. There are no rock rifts but you’ll remember the chord progressions intimately. Much like Sibylle Baier’s Colour Green album, there are no frills needed. This is just a woman who overall knows how to make it work when she puts together her songs and the effect is very genuine and touching, which is frankly a relief in this postmodern world we live in.

Myspace page: www.myspace.com/sharonvanetten
Portrait shot: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/3912145659/
Live review with photos: gapersblock.com/transmission/2009/10/18/sharon_van_ettent…

6. Dead Man’s Bones: self titled (Canada, Los Angeles)

Stop groaning! Yes, yes, it’s another actor in a band and Ryan Gosling has been in both dismal maintream flicks as well as arty films that made me weep so loud in the theater I embarrassed myself and everyone around me cough Lars and the Real Girl cough. Anyhow, I greeted these songs with extreme skepticism as I rarely like bands that actors are in. Even Juliette Lewis, whose performances on stage are always striking and powerful, is not someone who has the studio material to match the greatness one sees live. However, this album is a real win. It captures all the best aspects of fall and Halloween in a way no other album I own can do. It’s spooky, catchy, and has songs elevated by the use of the Silverlake Conservatory of Music Children’s Choir. (Gosling used Children’s Choirs in different cities when he performed live, which made the performances equally amazing.) This is honestly a real treasure that, at the very least, you’ll yearn for every time Autumn comes rolling around

Myspace page: www.myspace.com/deadmansbones
Photos and a Review of their Schubas in Chicago show: www.soundcheckmagazine.com/reviews/concert-reviews/1808-r…

7. I Was a King (Norway):s/t

So fuzzy and friendly…a little like Teenage Fanclub in their best moments. It’s incredibly catchy and likeable and fills you with a lighthearted sense that everything is going to be alright. It’s sugary but not too sweet. It’s pop but with enough guitar effects to recall some of the highlights of 90s alternative songs. In any case, it’s accessible music that one can’t help but feel incredibly nostalgic about even upon first listen. The lovely female/male vocals from Strømstads and Anne Lise Frøkedal definitely work together to make this record a real win, though they were definitely more pronounced/audible when I saw them live!

Myspace page: www.myspace.com/iwasaking
Portrait Photo: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/3574325766/
Live review of Empty Bottle show with photos: www.popmatters.com/pm/post/94232-i-was-a-king-26-may-2009…

8.Viva Voce (American): Rose City

I wouldn’t call it psychedelic if it wasn’t great. Viva Voce are one of those bands who should have become much more famous by now. Anita and Kevin Robinson certainly aren’t suffering from lack of talent and they’ve proven themselves to be very hard workers, touring and releasing five solid albums in the last 11 years. They know how to bring the gentle and the fierce but always take enough time developing each so that they hit you with their fullest capacity. This album has it’s mood swings but most of the time is the sense of lushness between slower and more savory songs like “Flora” and the songs more filled with obvious psychedelic rock such as “Die a Little.”

Myspace: www.myspace.com/vivavoce
Photos of Viva Voce at Do Division Festival in Chicago: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157618985524901/

9. Marissa Nadler (American): Little Hells

There’s always something so beautiful about Nadler and so intrinsically intimate and special…she seems removed from everything modern when she sings about death and intimacy. She’s not doing anything incredibly different or out of the ordinary when she sings these songs but she fills them with such melancholy longing that you won’t be able to resist them very easily. Nadler demonstrates the capacity for great feeling in the sense of experiencing all kinds of moments that befall us in life. It’s folk music but it’s also something with immense human value to it. Nadler is full of shy and wonder. It’s a great honor to try to understand the world through her eyes, despite the pains it must take her to share it with us.

Myspace: www.myspace.com/songsoftheend
Review and photos of Marissa Nadler at Schubas Tavern in Chicago: www.soundcheckmagazine.com/reviews/concert-reviews/1839-r…

10. Kurt Vile (American): Childish Prodigy

I’ve been intrigued by this record for some time now. Some of the lyrics come back to haunt me when I least expect them. I can almost picture a lonely guy in the middle of the desert, playing to sand with all his heart, which is strange as he’s from Philly. I can also picture listening to this during an epic sort of road trip when you leave everything behind and nothing else matters. It has elements of both psychedelic rock as well as folk music and all the songs just work really well as part of the overall album.

Myspace: www.myspace.com/kurtvileofphilly

Honorable mention: Here are some albums I really enjoyed that didn’t quite make the cut.

Howlies: Trippin’ With the Hollies
Raveonettes: In and Out of Control
St Vincent: Actor
Vivian Girls: Everything Goes Wrong
Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

PLEASE JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON FLICKR

I realize we’re halfway through the music festival season so I should have posted this sooner but here in Chicago where I’m from, we’re gearing up for Pitchfork Music Festival to start tomorrow and in less than a month Lollapooza will also be happening. This is my third summer shooting music festivals including Pitchfork Music Festival, Lollapalooza, Hideout Block Party, and Coachella. I wish someone had told me a few things three years ago to help prepare me. I thought I’d share the love.



First, a disclaimer….you know that part in Say Anything where John Cusack/Lloyd Dobler proclaims: “I don’t want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don’t want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don’t want to do that.” Well, I sort of loved him for that even more than when he was holding a large boombox over his head. That said, I’m going to recommend some products here not because I want to encourage materialism and consumerism but because these are the things that have worked for me. The reality is that there are a lot of products out there that are not well made or will let you down and ultimately waste your hard earned cash. As most of us are just scraping by and not making $1000 a photo, very few of us can afford to waste our money on stuff that doesn’t work or is poorly made and will cost us a great deal more overall.



Some obvious things first:



1.Unless you are meticulous and not scatter brained in the least, you will need some extras of everything. I recommend bringing extra lens caps, lens cleaning cloths, memory cards, batteries, and a couple extra pairs of ear plugs. You are going to be exposing your ears to some really massive amounts of input. I don’t find the foamy earplugs to be very helpful for me. First, it distorts the music so that it feels like you are sort of just listening under water. Second, it’s usually not enough protection when you are up against huge amps. I highly recommend: earlove.net/. They are worth the extra cost, trust me!

2.You know those pseudo benches in a lot of larger photopits where you can take a rest, especially if the stage/band you’re shooting is running behind schedule? You’re going to really want to do it but do NOT set your bag down while you’re shooting unless everything of any value is around your neck. Fans steal bags and (I hate to say it) other photographers steal bags. I know your bag is heavy and, in this case, my only recommendation is this: suck it up! I’m so sorry but no amount of temporary shoulder relief is worth thousands of dollars. Also, I recommend using these Chrome Messenger backpack bags: www.chromebagsstore.com/messenger-packs-ranchero.html Yes, it’s a bag that costs nearly $200 after taxes, shipping, etc. but the good news is that you will never have to buy another bag again. I cannot tell you how much I’ve pretty much beat the heck out of mine and there are no signs of wear and tear whatsoever. It has two nice shoulder pads, a cell phone holster, and is extremely waterproof. Basically, it’s worth the investment. Did I mention you’ll never have to buy another bag to haul all your stuff around again? That’s important.

3.Drink water, not beer. Oh wouldn’t the beer just take the edge off? Make you feel relaxed, etc.? Don’t do it Take all the money you would have spent on overpriced festival beer throughout the weekend and put it aside. When you’re finally finished with all photoediting on that Sunday night or Monday morning, buy yourself a nice bottle of champagne or Belgian and drink up to celebrate surviving. Also, I highly recommend bringing your own more durable water bottle. Most music festivals have stopped giving out free water to press OR they will have one tent set up that’s destined to be far away from whatever bands you are assigned in the media area which is not very helpful. However, quite a few festivals have fountains or opportunities for free water of some sort. I also recommend supplementing your water with electrolytes. This one works quite well: www.rei.com/product/779683. Also, don’t forget your Ibuprofen/Aspirin and vitamins!

4.Sorry to be gross, but you should bring some tissue or toilet paper and a little bottle of hand sanitizer. You should not count on the porta potties to have these things in full supply, though I’ve been happily surprised the last couple of festivals I’ve gone to.

5.Have you ever sat around and wondered how China became such a national super power? It’s probably because of this: www.tigerbalm.com/. Buy yourself a jar of it and rub it into your shoulders, neck, and any other part of your body that aches every single night. Trust me, you’ll feel so much better the next day. It stings a little and there’s an after effect that goes on as it sinks into your muscle tissue that might actually hurt a bit but let it work it’s magic.

6.You need suncreen (duh!) I am so pale I’m ghostly. If I’m out in the sun for even a half hour without sunscreen, I burn. That said, I highly recommend this Kiss My Face spray SPF30 product: kissmyfacewebstore.com/detail/KMF+1800403 You can pick it up at some Whole Foods but, because it’s a natural product, it isn’t usually available commonly at most grocery or convenience stores in the US, which means you might end up having to order it online. Why I love this product is simple…it works! Also, it is a lot less greasy, you can spray it on your back (for your facial areas, spray it on your hands then rub on your face.) and you should be able to get away with spraying it on once in the morning before you leave and not having to worry about re-spraying for the rest of the day. That’s really important because the last thing you’ll be thinking about when you’re photographing beautiful Karen O doing a backbend is re-applying your sunscreen, trust me. On occasion, I have gotten minorly burned around my shoulder straps as the suncreen has rubbed off in those areas. However, I burn excessively easily so if you’re like 99% of the rest of the population, you don’t have to be worried.

7. If it’s going to be especially sunny, consider bringing a small compact umbrella to shield you while you’re waiting in the photopit or photopit line. ( I learned that one from excessively wise and experienced Robert Loerzel: www.flickr.com/photos/robertloerzel/ who graciously held one over our heads during the two hour wait for Iggy Pop when we were suffering through Amy Winehouse at Lolla 2007)

8.I recommend you start every day of the festival by having a large mocha with an extra shot of espresso and one-two bagels (depending on your metabolism.) You want a complex carbohydrate that your body is going to have to break down over time through the course of the day. Make sure to obviously give yourself enough time in the bathroom after eating before taking off to minimize porta potty usage..besides, you don’t have time to go to the bathroom…you have bands to shoot! For quick sugar intake when you’re running on low, pack a couple of energy or granola bars. Plan on eating more after you’re done and waiting for your 4,000 photos to transfer from your memory card to your hard drive. Did I mention to make sure to take your vitamins?

9.If you are traveling to this music festival, I would recommend the following portable external drive: Smartdisk 160GB FireWire Portable Hard Drive …it worked very well for me when I went to Coachella. Don’t forget to bring your battery charger!

10.If you are lucky enough to have “scored” your pass without actually knowing anything about photography because your dad’s a CEO of a company sponsoring the festival or something, do us all a favor and actually try to learn as much as you can on your own. There are photographers who would give up alot for this opportunity so take it as a serious gift. Besides, the last thing I want to hear in the pit five minute before Daft Punk take the stage is “Hey, you have the same camera as me! Can you teach me how to use mine?” And yes, that actually did happen to me at Lolla 2007.







Now, some non-obvious things…..





1.Camera gear recommendations: I can only recommend what I know and I’m a Canon vs. Nikon user..that doesn’t mean Nikon is inferior at all, though! I use the 5dMkII with the Canon IS 2.8 70-200mm lens most often during music festivals. If this lens is too expensive, consider renting one, especially if you are planning on photographing bands you may never have the opportunity to photograph again (i.e. Leonard Cohen.) I should warn that this lens is excessively heavy. I actually prepared myself after its purchase by lifting weights while jogging on the treadmill. The Canon 15mm fisheye lens is also great for smaller stages and crowd shots. Paige K. Parsons has some great fisheye crowd shots with her Nikon D700 as well. Here’s a good example: www.flickr.com/photos/paigekparsons/3620173399/ If possible, bring an extra base as backup.

2.We’re unfortunately in a troublesome age in terms of photographer’s rights and what that means is that you may not be given full information about what restrictions bands are giving until the day of, even if you received a press release from the festival organizers detailing these restrictions…it doesn’t matter. Artists/musicians change their minds at the last minute about photography and unfortunately festival organizers don’t consider the idea that some photogs have actually made a huge financial investment to shoot that particular band on the basis that they’d gasp be allowed to. (Such was the case last year when Kanye West decided on the same day of his performance he wouldn’t allow photography from the pit even though the concert was taking place in his own city and he had allowed it previously at Lolla.) In addition, some bands/musicians may limit the photopit to only Wire service photographers. However, the trend I have seen (with Pearl Jam and Radiohead specifically) is to not allow any Wire service photographers into the pits. Another thing I have seen is a band decided to only let his buddy, a barely competent photographer, to shoot and bars every other photographer. It completely sucks and it’s extremely difficult to get a good shot from the crowd. The only thing you can do to prepare yourself for this is to read all press information and check in at the media tent of the festival every single day.

3.If you absolutely have to sign a contract that takes away all your copyrights, sign and date it so that you can argue it was signed under duress. Also, give your publication the exact number of photos requested and keep the others private/friends only if you use them. If you are not assigned that band and do not have to take photos but want to, strongly consider not signing because your rights as a photographer are way more important, trust me.

4.Some festivals, particularly Lollapalooza have “caps” on their photopits. In other words, they won’t allow past a certain number (in Lolla’s case, 50) of photographers to be in the pit. What that means is, for the larger bands, make sure to keep an eye on the pit and make practical decisions about time management. It’s a lot better to be #3 in a photopit for a larger band and miss out on shooting a smaller band you can easily photograph again than to shoot the smaller band, be #51 and not get into the pit for the larger band. Also, be aware for that more aggressive bands where there is an issue with crowd control, the festival could potentially lower the amount of photographers they are going to allow in the pit. Arrive extra early if you are assigned these bands. By extra early, I mean, check in atleast 2 hours in advance. Yes, I’m serious.

5.Make a special effort to photograph bands that typically play in darker conditions. (Pretty much every band I love fits this description.) If you know this may only be the only time you’ll ever be able to shoot this band without them being behind a heavy gush of smoke playing in what looks like the pit of despair, go for it! Also, make an extra effort to photograph international bands you know won’t come around very often.

6.If you’re like me, your deadlines are pretty immediate and you have to bike home like mad and start photo-editing as soon as possible so that you’re up until 4am or 5am working on your assignment. You are bound to grow really tired doing this and be all sleepy. What usually helps me stay up is re-watching the ending of Twin Peaks: (If you can fall asleep right after watching this, you’re a much braver soul than I am!) www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ0qHLAsS2w

7.Feel free to run like mad and shoot as many bands as your body and time will allow. If you have limited time to get across a crowded park and you are exhausted with way less adrenalin than you’d expected, it might be helpful to use a visualization technique. Usually, I picture a younger version of Hannibal Lecter in a sweaty Kings of Leon shirt running after me with a vicious look in his eyes…that often does the trick! However, with age I am realizing more and more it’s also important to listen to your body. Take rest breaks when possible and keep hydrated. Have I mentioned vitamins yet?

8.Make friends! It is great to have a few people you can trust to update you when you are across the field to know how fast a photopit line is growing or if a band cancels or is running late. Texting is amazing in these cases and make sure to return the favor to your friend as well. In this age of concert photography when we are slowly losing our rights, it’s important to really stick together with the people who won’t let you down.

9.Play nice! Be fair! Everyone knows of that 300 pound behemoth (usually male, sorry men!) that always cuts everyone off in line and tends to have about 42 elbows while in the photopit. Shooting a festival with strict deadlines is stressful enough without these types of people but you’re bound to run into a couple. Feel free to be extra snarky when they hit on you later. I usually find, “I don’t have a name” does the trick.

10.Be nice to your security guards! They are working long hours in the hot sun for probably about as much pay as you are. The ones that seem the strictest are also the ones most on the ball that are going to end up protecting you if the fans get crazy and out of control.

11.Have you ever been at a music festival when it started to rain? I’ll exercise the words of legendary author Douglas Adams with this one: Don’t Panic! Especially if you have a waterproof bag! It’s good to keep some heavy duty plastic bags to wrap around your camera base and the contacts with the lens when this happens. Just exercise good common sense…shoot as little as possible in these cases in the rain with some heavier duty plastic bags wrapped around your camera then put your camera back safely in your bag. This is one reason, however, that I would recommend buying camera equipments with warranties. I usually request, “I would like the kind of warranty where I could basically go fishing with my camera and as long as I can pull it out of the water and return it, it will be replaced.” That said, I treat my camera bases and lenses with huge amounts of respect and don’t do anything stupid but it’s great when you don’t have that sense of anxiety over a freak accident or storm looming over you. Also, I know there are a lot of rain gear protections out on the market…this is one thing I have yet to try so if someone has a good recommendation, feel free to put that in the comments section.

12. Don’t forget to shoot the drummer! They really like it when you remember them! ?



Above: the drummer for Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Aaron Sperske, at Coachella 2009.



TO READ or LEAVE COMMENTS, PLEASE GO HERE:

http://flic.kr/p/6Fk3rs

Well, I began my top 2008 in photos which will continue to be added to throughout the year. For now, you can find pictures of Dresden Dolls (as above), Dan Deacon, Girl Talk, Efterklang, Super Furry Animals, Hayden, Explosions in the Sky, Caribou, Xiu Xiu, Ladytron, Britta Phillips, and more….Images are much larger in megapixels than I can feasibly upload to blog…

View Best of 2008 on flickr

7/7/8

Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park

As part of the Pitchfork presents lunchtime series “Audible Architecture” series, Le Loup returned to Chicago (having played Schubas at the end of March). After seeing them in a relatively smaller space earlier, I wasn’t sure how it would sound in such a large open area. Coming off as equally transcendent as Grizzly Bear, Le Loup played for over an hour demonstrating that they had grown as a band even since just a few months ago. It was an incredibly impressive set that made me remember how much I loved their album with an impossibly long name deep breath Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations’ Millenium General Assembly.

One thing that really sets this D.C. band apart is their use of so many instruments which really help create an organic sound, despite the use of a laptop on stage. With 7 band members on this tour, including three drummers, the sound was also very layered and rich, though I think perhaps it was a bit of overkill to have that many drummers. Unfortunately, the two girls in the band May and Nicole have moved on and are no longer with Le Loup but otherwise the band is really taking off and making their live shows one of the best in this indie rock world. Though they haven’t announced any further upcoming tour dates, keep a lookout as seeing them is incredibly worthwhile.

View the complete set on flickr

6/28/8
Schubas Tavern in Chicago

When I think of Hayden, I get an immediately nostalgic feeling of hazy summers between university years. It was a different time and I was in a different place (only a couple of hours where Hayden resides in Toronto, actually) and in some ways I feel younger just listening to the songs. It’s strange how certain music can transport you back. Subjectivity aside, Hayden is one of those poppy folk musicians that can consistently write interesting songs. Even when they are lackadaisical, there is enough in them to keep you engaged as a listener. That’s a talent in and of itself and something he’s been doing since those early days I began listening, all the way back to 1998’s The Closer I Get.

Though Schubas is probably the best place you’ll ever hope to see Hayden, he made the stage even more special with decor seemingly fitting for a Canadian cabin nestled snugly in the woods. On the floor was a red living room rug and blanketing the keyboard was a blanket with a deer prominently displayed in the pattern. Along the back wall lay the visual scene to match. Not too many bands made that special effort these days and that set a certain tone…one of comfort you might feel if you actually were in Hayden’s living room for example.

On stage, Hayden was just as sincere as his setup might suggest. Though he had other band members adeptly backing him up with keyboard drums and bass, it was difficult to remember anyone was up there except Hayden. He showed a little of his personality when asked about his vest. (He said it was a reference to There Will Be Blood, which happens to be my favorite film of 2008.) Mainly, he kept quiet between songs, though, in an understated sort of subtleness that drew the audience’s attention to his rich melodies and talented musicianship between playing the guitar, harmonica, and keyboard. The setlist was also incredibly strong with highlights being “Home by Saturday,” “The Hazards of Sitting Beneath Palm Trees,” “Dynamite Walls” and “Worthy of Your Esteem.” Though Hayden is really Canada’s darling, it was nice for Chicago to have him all to ourselves, even if it was just for one night.

Click to see the complete photoset

Belmont Arts and Music Festival in Chicago
6/28/8

I’ve been a fan of Cursive for several years now and have seen them in various venues around the city in that time. Their lyrics are some of the most poetic and intense that the indie rock world has come by. Lead singer Tim Kasher brings the passion to match. Every note sounds like a harsh cry of love lost, pain and anguish. It’s the cry of someone from the darkness who can still see that sad and beautiful world illuminated around him. Amidst his shrieks and lost cries, it’s impossible to not become very quickly aware of one thing that remains after the songs are done and the audience is standing there in the aftermath of the maelstrom: He really means it.

In some ways, this is a band that really fits the label of “emo.” It is a very emotional band with such a sense of the tumultuousness within the shrieks of the vocal delivery, the despair of the lyrics, the building intensity of the guitar playing and drums especially, and the utterly heart wrenching quality of Tim’s delivery. Yet, most of the bands labeled emo or emotional tend to occupy an area of space inhabited by whiners. They aren’t interested in telling a story or creating a grand concept, such as is present in The Ugly Organ. They are much more self absorbed and, in turn, self pitying. Lost in this is the real possibility of poetry and an appeal to those who may not want to sit around and mope about how awful life is all day. Cursive is much different than these other bands, indeed!

What was especially great about Saturday night’s set headlining the Belmont Arts and Music Festival? It’s true the horn section was spot on but cellist Greta Cohn is still very missed. Tim has a way of delivering those vocals consistently throughout the years that has only increased with intensity. Yet, what really made the night for me was the setlist. With songs from both their stellar ep Burst and Bloom and their best full length to date The Ugly Organ, Tim really couldn’t have picked a better collection of songs to play. Everything sounded extremely effective and the audience, contained in thankfully a nonviolent way, was also incredibly responsive. Unlike many of the shows I’ve gone to lately, it actually felt complete at the end and you left feeling like a whole person…which may be strange considering such devastating lyrics. Ultimately, it’s the idea that these things can be shared and there is a great hope for humanity when this becomes possible.

View the complete photoset

setlist:

7/23/8
Double Door in Chicago

Just about every couple of years, Canada’s Sloan puts out an album and does a North American tour. They’ve amassed a following based on their consistency and going to a Sloan show, you see the same exact people you see at every Sloan show year after year…it’s almost like a family reunion except you aren’t related to the other audience members and you get to hear power pop instead of eating bad potato salad that has been sitting out in the sun for too long….

I’ve always had a certain theory about the band members of Sloan: Chris Murphy, Andrew Scott, Patrick Pentland, and Jay Ferguson and that is a simple one. Mainly, they are from Halifax, Nova Scotia originally (now relocated to Toronto) and it can get pretty cold up there, especially in the winters. This is why I think they are adept at playing eachother’s instruments and such great songwriters as well as performers. It’s the kind of stage presence that takes a great deal of practice without all of the distractions that endless sunny days would provide. There is a certain art in live performance alone and in a band’s ability to captivate an audience. That said, Chris Murphy is definitely the biggest performer of the four piece, showing forth classic rock moves while he plays as if he wouldn’t know how to accompany the songs with anything else. Patrick Pentland joined along in walking along the front of the stage near the audience this time and acting like a member in a quintessential rock band.

I’ve seen Sloan numerous times over the past seven years and have seen the band’s output increase to where they are right now, a band with a massive nine studio album catalog with Parallel Play being their most recent release. The band played the album’s clear hit “I’m Not a Kid Anymore” as well as some other past hits very adeptly including: “Money City Maniacs,” “G Turns to D,” “People of the Sky” and the stellar song “Losing California” from my favorite album of theirs, 1999’s Between the Bridges.

There were only a couple of differences between this and other shows was the heavier amount of Andrew’s songs as Chris Murphy had reportedly wore out his voice just a bit in NY. The other change from previous Sloan performances was that they added a kitsch element with a faux radio station, the MRCH with “Skip Low” which ended up being more disruptive to the flow and energy than the band may have anticipated. It was just a little too cheesy to be funny and didn’t add anything to their set, making it a rather unfortunate addition. Still, overall the show was energetic and fun, with an encore that ended on a real high note with “The Good in Everyone.”

View the complete photoset

Setlist:

6/19/8
Empty Bottle in Chicago

Psychedelic duo MV & EE or fully Matt Valentine and Erika Elder were the main feature at the Empty Bottle last Thursday. The Ecstatic Peace couple were not without the help of both a drummer/guitarist and bassist to complete their sound while Matt Valentine played both banjo and harmonica at different points in the set to create layers of structured psychedelic noise, guaranteed to make any fan of the genre a happy and satisfied listener.

This was my first time seeing MV & EE and the major difference between their albums and their live performance is twofold: the songs are longer and it comes together more powerfully altogether in a live setting. It’s strange how the noise seeps into you and almost relaxes you even though you feel it’s intensity. It’s an odd sort of psychedelic landscape that is created but it works. The songs themselves, though only a handful, felt like they were enough and didn’t leave you wanting or feeling bereft.

The band itself is also a thing of beauty. These two are real creative artists who even hand paint some of their record art. There’s a perfect sense to them as two humans from Brattleboro, Vermont. Maybe it’s the sense of being natural or just one with themselves and that factors into the way the music sounds and makes the songs more complete. Aside from this, both Matt and Erika are both very talented and it was interesting to hear how not only their instrumentation but their vocals complemented eachother and the band as a whole, making MV & EE definitely a band worth seeing live.

Click to view the whole set on flickr

Schubas Tavern in Chicago 6/16/08

Though Fink was the headliner of this bill, it seemed there were even more Jaymay fans in the audience. The singer songwriter has apparently gotten some buzz around her and there were men and women alike that were lip singing the words when she was on stage. Jaymay is a folk singer who writes personal songs about feeling the winter as much as she does relationships. The audience member standing next to me said she had heard one of her songs played at Starbucks and that doesn’t really surprise me. It’s accessible and sing-songy enough that it makes for wide appeal. There are seemingly no pretensions to it as it presents as honest and straight ahead with just Jaymay and her acoustic guitar. The one thing different from her and most folk artists was that she has a higher pitched humming solo in one of her songs that actually sounded a little more like a kazoo being blown through instead of a voice. I’ve never seen anyone do that on stage and I’m not sure how common this ability is but it was probably one of the moments I enjoyed most.

Jaymay herself acted incredibly flattered by the audience attention. The Long Island singer, whose full name is Jamie Seerman, received all kinds of requests for autographs and to actually hang out after the show. Though she is an attractive woman, I think much of the appeal was actually the innocence in her music that people were drawn to. There’s a lovely picture of Jaymay on the internet (you can see it on her myspace page) of her and a cat she’s lifting up in the air with girlish wonder. I think people are drawn to that image as well as the music. There’s a sense that life’s going to be tough and painful as well as happy and not only did audience members feel that way about their own lives but I think they also wanted to experience that with her…and perhaps let her be their voices as well.

Fink took the stage after Jaymay and much of the crowd stuck around although it was initially out of curiosity vs. dedication. Fink is the work of Fin Greenall currently based out of Brighton, England who plays with both a drummer and bassist on stage while he centers himself on a stool with his guitar. Playing accessible alternative music (“Make it Good” even appeared on an episode of Lost), I wouldn’t be too surprised if someday Fink rose to the same level as Coldplay even, though of course the band is a long way off from this point. Still, an edginess is present with a musicianship adept at moving forward into subtly overpowering choruses just when you thought the verse melody line would dominate the song. The songs are about typical things-always being late, or a broken up relationship meaning you feel you can’t return to a place you ate pancakes at. There is some potential with this one to be in the radar, though, so watch out for him.

View the complete photoset on flickr