The Czars
Empty Bottle in Chicago 3/7/6
I love The Czars I mean…really love them. There are bands that I blog about that I think put on a really good live show or that seem to have a great deal of potential for the future or whatnot but The Czars fall into a completely different category. The Czars are what I like to listen to when it’s raining inside me if that makes any sense. At times reminding me of Red House Painters and at other times just a tiny bit of perhaps Devotchka, The Czars are really truly one of my favorite bands. John Grant’s vocals often give the songs a moody and reflective quality that makes them not only memorable but truly haunting. I was only slightly worried when he came out with just him and his guitarist-really nice guy who was really engaging in conversation about The Red House Painters and Low and manic depression when I went to the merch booth to ask them why when they are American they have an early record before The Ugly People vs. The Beautiful People and a covers record that has only been released in the UK-but the essence of the songs are really the vocals, the lingering guitar chords and the piano. On the albums, the songs are a bit thicker with bass and sometimes guest female vocalists but this felt intimate and right.
The Czars have just released their album Goodbye in the states (it has been available for a couple of years already in the UK and has garnered much recognition in the British press.) Most of the set consisted of songs off of Goodbye save for “Drug,” the openeing track off of The Ugly People vs. The Beautiful People and a couple of new ones that I don’t believe have even been recorded yet. What’s even better, Grant chose some of my very favorite songs including, “Paint the Moon,” “Little Pink House” and “Bright Black Eyes.”
Here are some direct link to mp3s found on their website. You can also hear songs on their myspace page
More songs can be found on their music page.