Saturday, July 31, 2004
New Obsession
It's official: every ounce of my being is completely smitten by Tilly and the Wall. Seeing them live last night just pushed me over the edge, as I was captivated by the undeniable charisma of two cute girls singing and banging trash cans (and looking like Chan Marshall and a cuter, younger Debbie Harry), another tap dancing, a dude guitarist channelling Conor Oberst, singing and playing ferociously, while another dude adding the nice touch of simple keys and loops. After their set, they could've asked me to go kill some puppies and bunnies -- and I would've done it.
By using only an acoustic guitar, a keyboard, and some innovative percussion (tap dancing, trash cans, etc.), the band's vocals took centre stage. At times, all three singers would sing, each providing a part of their brilliant harmonies -- yeah, the type that just makes me giggle with glee. When singing solo, each brought something unique to the table: the guitarist had the Conor Oberst-singing-pop-songs thing going on, the Chan Marshall look-alike had a crystal clear girly voice, while younger Debbie Harry's was earthier in tone. Blended together, they were like a fruit smoothie: delicious beyond words. Their energy and excitement sold their songs so well, basically telling the audience that they should fucking love this/them or else.
And did I mention they were smoking hot? They had not just one, but /three/ attractive girls! While I'm all about the Jenny Lewis, Emily Haines, and Amanda from stellastarr*, the sausage factor in those bands makes Tilly and the Wall the most attractive indie collective this side of Azure Ray (at least according to me). And they sure make a compelling argument for why there should be more short skirts in indie rock. Legs that set the room on fire, I say! Sweet dreams are made of these.
Oh yeah. Pedro the Lion played too. I can't help but be a little underwhelmed after seeing such brilliance from Tilly and the Wall for the first time. That said, Pedro were awesome as always, playing songs and answering questions. I found out that John Vanderslice has had problems crossing the border into Canada, so that's why he doesn't come up here anymore. Highlight: they played Penetration as well as Priests and Paramedics! I was singing those on the way down to the show cos my CD player ran out of batteries, and I was really glad to hear them live.
I only caught half of the set by the first opening band, the Western States. The ticket said the show was going to start at 8:00, but they took the stage at 7:30 while Janis and I were still waiting outside for Eggy. No probs though, as I could hear them still standing on Richards instead of being in Richard's. From what I saw, I'd say they were a Pedro-like three piece, complete with a husky frontman. They lacked the great songs that Pedro the Lion has, though, as well as David Bazan's evocative and impassioned singing. They were OK, I guess, but on a bill with Tilly and the Wall and the Pedro, it's really hard to be anything more.
NP: Tilly and the Wall - Hey Ya (Outkast cover)
posted by Hanson |
10:40 AM
Friday, July 30, 2004
Sokyrka Watch: Week Two
Theresa Sokyrka made it through another week, singing a pretty (cheesy) Carpenters song. The judges slammed her for, which was a bit much for me. I mean, yeah, it wasn't ideal, but she still sounded wicked good. I blame her tripping up on her de-glasses-ing. She must've worn contacts or something, cos the glasses weren't there this week. Stupid stylists! I hope they make a return on next week's "Rock & Roll" theme show (whatever that means), cos it just isn't the same without a bespectacled Theresa to look forward to.
Oh gees, I'm really, *really* digging Tilly and the Wall now. The gushing has left a permanent grin on my face. As they have shown, brilliant pop songs can come from such simple instrumentation and lyrics. I can't wait to see them tonight! Pleas. Do yourself a favour and have a listen to their album. It's free! It's indie pop! And it's wicked awesome!
Speaking of indie pop, I just bought the songs off Rilo Kiley's More Adventurous that I don't already have from Puretracks. Of course, I'll get an actual copy of the album when it comes out on August 17th, but now, since I have the whole thing, I can safely say that's it's The Album of the Year (so far). Fucking brilliant stuff.
NP: Tilly and the Wall - Shake It Out
posted by Hanson |
4:39 PM
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Pop Makes the Ho Go
Yes! As of 10 minutes ago, all my difficult projects are done and done. All I have now is a small assignment due Friday and your typical barrage of finals. Still, compared of hard-ass projects, exams are delightful.
I'm really digging Tilly and the Wall right now. They have a nice, pleasant, melodic sound that makes pop fiends like me gush with joy. Their label, Connor "Bright Eyes" Oberst's newly-founded Team Love, have posted their /entire/ album on its website, hoping people will buy it to support the band. An interesting idea, I must say, but if I were running the show, I'd only post half of it. That way, your audience will get a fairly comprehensive preview, and you'll still motivate them to buy. When I see them open for Pedro the Lion on Friday, I'll surely get a copy.
Yay. Almost over. Pedro, Tilly and the Wall, and Pretty Girls Make Graves will soon be here!
NP: Tilly and the Wall - Reckless
posted by Hanson |
1:08 AM
Monday, July 26, 2004
A Nervous Breakthrough
Breakthough! Breakthrough! Maybe I could even get a couple hours of sleep tonight!
NP: [singing] Luscious Jackson - Nervous Breakthough
posted by Hanson |
11:38 PM
Sunday, July 25, 2004
Oh Look -- My Head is Bleeding!
Aren't instructions supposed to make things /less/ confusing? This is beyond retarded.
NP: Pedro the Lion - Arizona
posted by Hanson |
2:59 AM
Saturday, July 24, 2004
I've Been Good About Not Whining
Tonight, a whole wack of cool bands -- namely Maplewood Lane, Sparrow, P:ano, The Flairs, and The Cinch -- are playing in various venues around town. Instead of being at any of those shows, I'm stuck at home, working on parts of 3 different assignments and projects -- and the two hard ones are still nowhere near done. I keep telling myself this will be the last end-of-semester-rush of my undergrad, but it still doesn't help. Ugh. Back to work. At least I'll have Pedro the Lion and Pretty Girls Make Graves to look forward to next week (after all this shit is done).
NP: Pedro the Lion - The Fleecing
posted by Hanson |
12:10 AM
Thursday, July 22, 2004
The Sokyrka Factor
So, Theresa Sokyrka made it past the first elimination in Canadian Idol. She sang a pretty boring Jann Arden song in last night's Canadian theme show, but she still shone brightly; with a voice like that, it's really hard not to sound good, no matter what she sings. Next week's theme is British stuff (do they always do themes on these shows??), and I'm hoping she'll break out a better song. Catatonia?! Belle & Sebastian!! Hehe, I'll bet it's Dido or the Beatles. But anyway, I cheer her on regardless of what she sings. She's fucking awesome and that's that (don't take off the glasses!!).
NP: (nothing)
posted by Hanson |
11:40 PM
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Ideas Come When You Have the Least Time to Act On Them
I'm seriously thinking about getting a domain name of my own, something like myindieworld.com, jaffakree.com, or iwanttofeedstrawberriestoanakedalexisbledel.com. That way, I could put my blog and my website under one roof, officially divorcing my web presence from SFU, not to mention provide downloads without getting automated passive-aggressive emails from the admin. And it'll just be cool. Hehe... sounds superific.
NP: Juliana Hatfield - Jaime's in Town
posted by Hanson |
4:46 PM
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Boo Hoo
Not only aren't tickets for Phantom Planet (opening up for Hoobastink) going to be on 2-for-1, I hear they're completely sold out too. Ah shite. At least now, I'll have more time to work on my projects during this week and a half of end of semester insanity.
NP: Rilo Kiley - Absence of God
posted by Hanson |
8:48 AM
Monday, July 19, 2004
Pleasure From Pain
Saturday. I led the crew known as "SFU Fake Junta: Mike's on Probation" into VETO VI, and came out of it a battered bunch, having finished at the bottom of the table with a 1-6 record. This was the worst finish by a team bearing the Junta name -- fake or otherwise. Still, fun was had, and that's all we can ask for. Next time, we need to continue the great Junta tradition of playing hung-over, cos this perfectly sober stuff just ain't working. Oh. And one of the best parts of the tournament has to be the bonus on Canadian indie rock during the exhibition game. The answers were Broken Social Scene, the Hidden Cameras, and Godspeed You Black Emperor! Hehe. Nice, albeit a little too hard for most people.
In other news, I went down to Scratch and picked up tix for Pedro the Lion, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Bright Eyes, and (quasi-) Sebadoh. Yay!
NP: Feist - One Evening
posted by Hanson |
1:09 PM
Saturday, July 17, 2004
Bumbershoot!
Bumbershoot's line-up has been announced. I want to see Death Cab, Pedro the Lion, Harvey Danger, Mindy Smith, Liz Phair (preferably without the stupid headset mic), The Killers, The Fitness, Hint Hint, The Catch, The Walkmen, Lou Barlow, Built to Spill, and Fred Armisen (!). And I'll probably check out the Beta Band, Nick Lowe, Robyn Hitchcock (!!), American Music Club, Presidents of the Uniteds States of America, United States of Electronica, Josh Ritter, and a bunch of other bands. Ooooo, Labour Day weekend's gonna be so cool!
NP: Sarah Slean - Day One
posted by Hanson |
12:29 AM
Thursday, July 15, 2004
A Pleasant Surprise
Wow. Pitchfork and I actually don't disagree! First, it was the glowing review of the new Fiery Furnace album, and then yesterday, they expressed sentiments very similar to mine about Feist's Let It Die. Incredible. Hey, maybe they'll love the new Rilo Kiley as much as I have/will! Then again ...
NP: Sarah Slean - California
posted by Hanson |
11:08 AM
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Lucky Me
I bought my first mp3 today. It was Sarah Slean's Lucky Me, the first single off her new album, Day One. I've spent $1.06 on far less, and just one listen is worth all that and then some. Slean makes me happy in ways only a handful can. Oh, lucky me!
NP: Sarah Slean - Lucky Me
posted by Hanson |
1:53 AM
Sunday, July 11, 2004
I Burst So Easily
It took a mere 3 seconds of hearing Sarah Slean's voice in the album version of California to make me squeal with pure and unadulterated delight. Orgasmic. Day One (i.e. Sept. 14th): please come soon.
NP: Sarah Slean - California (album version)
posted by Hanson |
9:34 PM
Ain't No Twang Like A Chicken Wang
I only ask for two things in country music: sincerity and twang. Sadly, mainstream country (e.g. Shania, Faith Hill, etc.) severally lacks both of those qualities, which makes it suck balls, necessitating the horribly-general-but-still-descriptive "alt-country" tag for country acts that don't sound like the status quo. That being said, I recently saw the latest Sara Evans video, Suds in the Bucket, and while the song isn't brilliant, it doesn't suck either. Why? It sounds totally twangy, and she didn't sound too fake! Even in the bleakest of hours, there is hope.
Speaking of country music, Loretta Lynn released an awesome album, Van Lear Rose, a few months back. I found it funny that people are calling it alt-country. I mean, isn't she what country is *supposed* to sound like? But given the status quo, I guess that label makes sense. Compared to what's out there now, she *is* alternative. Forgoing the overproduced Nashville sound, Van Lear Rose has a beautiful, organic, twangy simplicity to it. No gloss, no polish, just what country is supposed to sound like, and completely unlike what contemporary country radio sounds like. Hell, she even pulled in Jack White to produce the thing! Alt indeed.
NP: Juliana Hatfield - Some Rainy Sunday
posted by Hanson |
1:25 AM
Friday, July 09, 2004
Meh
Lately, I've been feeling less and less motivated to go out. Case in point -- I didn't go to the Organ tonight. I was going to, but then I got home, and my motivation to drive downtown to a maybe sold-out show that I don't have tickets for just plummeted.
I have no idea why I didn't go. I mean, their latest album is freakin' awesome, and I've been spinning them like mad these last few weeks. For some reason, I made up a whole bunch of excuses for myself not to go. Oh, I had to write questions for VETO. Oh, I should get started all on those assignments I have due next week. Oh, maybe they don't have any tickets left. Bull.
The truth is, normally, none of these would be nearly enough to stop me from seeing the 2nd best band in Vancouver headline a show. Hell, even an exam tomorrow wouldn't stop me. But for some reason, I didn't go tonight, and I don't know why. Hmm. Has my laziness crept into other areas of my life that I wasn't previously aware of? Or am I just less motivated because I'm sleeping so damn late? Speaking of which....
NP: Devendra Banhart - Fall
posted by Hanson |
2:11 AM
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
A Slow Descent...
Whilst playing CM 2003/04, I peripherally watched -- if you can use that word -- an episode of Faking It on The Learning Channel. If you didn't know, the show takes people and tries to pass them off as people who are in completely different professions. On this episode, they took this Harvard-educated girl and had her "fake it" as a cheerleader for the Atlanta Falcons.
Before her "transformation", this girl Leslie was totally hot in that artsy, bookish kinda way, a sort of younger, cuter Sarah Harmer. But after they were done with her -- a new haircut and goops of make up later -- she just looked like all the other cheerleaders: a bland, mall-bought chic. It was as if a big vacuum came in and sucked all the character out of her. And the worst part is, her cheerleading mentors thought it was an improvement just because she looked like everyone else!
For some reason, they also assumed she had self-esteem issues simply because she had a Plain Jane thing going on (which, BTW, can totally work, like it does for her). The audacity! Just because she didn't look like their cookie-cutter, Hollywood-inspired ideals, it doesn’t necessarily mean she secretly wants to look that way! To these cheerleaders, it's like there's a universal standard of beauty, and if you don't look like that, you're obviously inadequate and therefore want to change to be closer to those universal ideals. BULLSHIT.
This whole Hollywood-perpetuated myth that plain necessarily means unattractive needs to be dispelled. So-called plain chicks rule the school. Fuck the J.Lo worshipping, trend-following zombies who think trucker hats are still the shit. Nothing's more attractive than a cute girl, unencumbered by unnecessary and elaborate "beauty enhancements" like too much make up or $1500 haircuts. Alexis Bledel and Caroline Dhavernas -- fuck yeah. Paris Hilton and her like-minded cadre of so-called trendsetters -- fuck no.
And the whole glasses thing too! It's like when you put glasses on Rachel Leigh Cook, she automatically becomes un-hot. WTF? Tina Fey -- hot. Amy Acker as Fred, i.e. with glasses -- hot. Lisa Loeb -- so hot. Liv Tyler in Jersey Girl, glasses and all -- so, so hot! Seriously. Where do they come up with this shit anyway?
Hmm.... this came off a little more ranty than I had originally intended. Fuck it. It's late and I'm entitled to rant. Now I'm entitled to some sleep.
NP: The Organ - Steven Smith
posted by Hanson |
2:19 AM
Monday, July 05, 2004
Invasion of the Sarahs
I think I might have to get tickets for the Organ at the doors. I was going to get my ass down to Scratch to pick one up today, but I got tied up at school. Please, no bondage jokes. Anyway, I hope they don't sell out. I mean, I've only seen them six or seven times over the last couple years. Hmm... I guess this is how Sarah Slean fans in Toronto feel.
Speaking of the Slean, her new album (called "Day One") comes out on September 14th! WEEEEE!! Do Vancouver. Please. In fact, do it twice. I'll be there both times -- I promise.
And speaking of Sarahs, another Sarah -- Harmer this time -- is playing the Centre on October 16. Good thing I'm working so I can afford tickets! This means I'll be seeing two Sarahs within the span of a month of so, as I've already got tickets for the third of the Canadian singing-songwriting Sarah Triumvirate -- Ms. McLachlan -- for her show here in September. If the Slean comes too, that'll make it a hat-trick. If Sarah Shannon and Saint Etienne (with Sarah Cracknell) play here as well, it'll just be crazy. Yes yes. Too crazy to even fathom.
Oh, thought of the day: Joanna Newsom = sweetness. Too bad her and Devendra Banhart's tour won't be playing Van City anytime soon.
NP: Joanna Newsom - Book of Right On
posted by Hanson |
11:39 PM
Friday, July 02, 2004
Coherence Need Not Apply
Theresa Sokyrka goes through to the Top Ten as the top vote-getter! Apparently, she digs Sarah Harmer. Hehe, great singer and great taste -- another reason why she's so wicked awesome :-)
Portugal vs. Greece. Can the Greeks be this year's 1992 Danes? Five bucks says they can't. But then again, I'm the one who picked England to win it all (over the home side, ironically, whom I'm now picking to win).
For the second week in a row, Last Comic Standing got rid of one of its funniest -- the crazy, crazy Todd Glass. The way this is unfolding, next week will be Alonzo Bodden's turn. Ugh.
Big Brother 5 starts next week! Oh, the crazy people that await us. And updates! Is Ratbert back on the booze? Has Jun gained another 20 pounds? Did Dave get deployed to Iraq? Is Jee still a tool? I can't wait for the answers.
Another thing: sometimes, people don't look like the way the sound (ditto for the converse). Not so for Devendra Banhart.
NP: Devendra Banhart - Insect Eyes
posted by Hanson |
1:36 AM
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Nice Day
The Dutch went down in a blaze of orange under the Portugese heat. Theresa Sokyrka smoked the competition on CI, necessitating 10+ calls from my cell. I didn't do a single ounce of work today. Yeah, it's been nice.
And Sebadoh is coming after exams! Sweet.
NP: (Conan)
posted by Hanson |
12:57 AM
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