Coming Soon. Recaps of Janelle Monae, Jonsi, and Yeasayer

I've been really busy attending shows and hadn't had a good amount of time checking out shows in the future.  I'm planning on posting some comments on the last few shows I have seen with pics in the upcoming days.  Any good shows you know of that are coming up in May, comment them below!!

Generationals

May 3rd at Turner Hall Ballroom

w/ Apples In Stereo

   I really had only heard one song from them, the song that I'm going to put below, and instantly fell in love with them.  You know, I was wondering, I wish there were more groups that would sound like that old, motown sound.  You know, kind of like Sharon Jones.  And then I got this mix from the interwebs and I heard The Generationals.  At first I was picturing another beautiful black female doing the vocals and some stylish black men accompanying her on some guitars and drums.  Then I saw their picture and I was like, wait, this music is coming from them.  Totally throwed me off.  But I love the music and I love what this band has to offer.  And it probably will decide for me to see Apples in Stereo in Milwaukee

Con Law (2009)

When They Fight, They Fight 

Faces In the Dark

Nite Jewel

May 13th at Project Lodge

w/ Rory Kane (AKA I AUTOTUNE the shit out of all my songs)

First Project Lodge brought White Hinterland, which I should check the local blogs to see how that show went.  Now they are bringing another up and coming "Space pop" band to Madison and this one I'm equally excited about.
Nite Jewel is composed of three people.  They produce ambient music, with a little more uptempo beat and throw in occasionally some great pop girl vocals.  Maybe like a strip down Ladytron.  Or even better, a stripped down Goldfrapp.  But not as dancey.  If that makes sense.  Check out some of their songs and then correct my interpretation of their sound in the comment section.  They seem to have gotten a lot of attention for their remix of the Caribou song, Odessa, which was pretty awesome to begin with.  So I'll include that on here.  

Good Evening (May 19)

Odessa (Nite Jewel Remix) 
Weak For Me



 

The Show is the Rainbow, The Shakes & Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt

I will start off this show review by saying that I haven't been able to figure out how to write show review.  I mean I can type fine, but whenever I reread what I wrote about a show, I tend to focus a lot on the details and less on the overall feel.  I also tend to not use descriptive terms like "Screaming guitars" or "viscous animalistic vocals".  They never are really screaming and I haven't heard any vocals in my life that I would equate with animals, unless  they were intentionally so.  With this disclaimer being said, here's my effort in doing it. 


     I got to the Union in the middle of The Show Is The Rainbow's (TSITR) set.  I wish I got some pictures of him because he looks very different then he does in the current pictures he has up on his Myspace page.  The first thing I noticed was a slightly larger guy with long red hair, a big red beard and a pretty hairy torso dancing in front of the stage.  Man, he certainly looked like he was having fun.  Shane Shane was there with some other peeps from Screamin Cyn Cyn and the Pons and a handful of other people. TSITR was actually pretty awesome.  He had great beats playing off of his laptop (He even thanked the person who created these majestic beats..himself).  He had probably 10x's more energy then everyone else in that room combined which led him to climb over chairs, headbang whipping his long hair around, and doing some pretty cool tribal dance moves.   His music is actually well written and though sometimes I feel someone singing to a laptop takes away from the show, I can appreciate the time and effort he put into creating the music.  I got to talk to Darren afterwards for a short time and he said that he tries to make it to Wisconsin 2 or 3 times a year (he resides in Nebraska currently).  If you see this guy performing in town again, I definitely recommend everyone to see him.  

Second up was a member of the headlining band doing his solo thing.  His name was Jesse.  He seemed to hate to perform in front of the microphone and instead tried to get the audience as much as possible to get into his performance space with him.  We couldn't hear him so well when he sang without the mike, but what we could make out sounded great.  He had great vocals.  His music was more in his voice then his guitar, the solo instrument with him.  He had a folky sound to him when he was singing and in between some of those songs he would interject a few songs that he would rap.  He actually reminded me a lot of Why? because of this but with a lot simpler musical setup.  

Third up was The Shakes.  I wasn't really prepared for this band.  Everyone else was dancy, great lyrics and vocals, fun dancy music.  The Shakes were pure out punk music.  And as my friend said, they definitely looked the part. I actually appreciate punk and have been in quite a few mosh pits in my time.  But either it was because I saw this band out of a punk scene context or maybe it was because I just didn't care for them, but I thought they were not very good.  I did enjoy the guys who had some crazy dance moves happening in front of the stage during their performance.  I was really curious where these guys came from until I saw that they were in the headlining band.  ahhhh.   Well at least they rocked out to a good time.  I kind of sat down and had some beer instead.  Which would have been ok except they kept saying they wanted their vocals higher.  And higher.  No, sir, your vocals don't need to be higher.  Your music needs to be softer.  They were able to empty out a large number of the Union before the headlining act came on.

Last was Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt.  What?  While most bands take a large amount of time to set up their equipment and do sound check, TPDR took more time decorating the Union.  There were blow up lawn ornaments.  There was a glowing Snowman.  They had long chains of teddy bears that they threw around people's necks and around speakers.  They also had a giant costume box which they pulled out multiple outfits for people to wear during their show.  It was crazy, but I do love the simple way they were turning their performance space into a party space.  And everyone who showed up was digging it.  A larger crowd came up to the stage and many don different forms of dresses, wigs and other crazy outfits.  Others closed in tight around the two singers of TPDR who, one was only in his boxers while the other one had a giant red cape on.  We couldn't hear their songs to well (except their last song which was about something to do with a heart) but the crowd was loving every minute of their set.  We were more enjoying the two people who found each other drunkenly and proceeded to grind and makeout throughout the whole set.  They seriously were paying less attention to the performance then we were.  It's a good thing that people I was with tried to help them at least move to the beat, but alas, it didn't work out well.  
Anyway, that was the show.  Next show I probably will review will be

The Antlers w/ Phantogram This Sunday, April 18th at High Noon Saloon.    

Dear Madison, Please Bring this Band! GOBBLE GOBBLE

These guys are amazing.  Fun.  Unique.   Weird.  I love them!  Book them, ole ye Promoters of the Gods!
Gobble Gobble

Powerman 5000, Lollapoolza, and other randomness

Not that I like this band at all, but I think it's kind of funny that they are playing at the Annex.  And not for a very high ticket cost.  Was it just me or didn't these guys get big at some point?  Anyway, if you are interested, check out their show on June 12. 

The Lollapalooza lineup is up and I can say I am actually kind of tempted to go to this festival this year.  I always said if there is any well known band that I want to see before I die that I haven't seen yet it would be Tina Turner's reunion tour, and Arcade Fire.   And fuck if Arcade Fire isn't playing this year.   There's also Cut Copy, Hot Chip and some chick named Lady Gaga.   Very impressive lineup.  To see all of the bands playing, check out their website Lollapalooza.

My roommate's sister's band is playing tonight at the Wisco.  Victoria Echeverria is an amazing performer and I hope Wisco can handle all of that awesomeness tonight.  Check out Venus in Furs tonight!!

Let's Wrestle!

April 16th at the Annex

w/ Quasi

I might have a soft spot for British bands, this I admit.  Especially when they come from the great big isle across the ocean to play in our landlock state of Wisconsin.  I also haven't been disappointed yet from seeing a show from a band from the UK.  It's true.  

I admit that I knew that Quasi was playing at the Annex but of the few songs I heard from them, nothing really stuck out as being amazing.  I do have to admit having Janet Weiss, the drummer of Sleater Kinney, performing in your band really kind of bumps it up a notch.  The music doesn't have to be that spectacular to get me to buy a ticket to see the beautiful and amazing Janet banging away at lightening speeds on her drums.  But I still wasn't sold on this show.  Hey, I'm a poor guy who needs to make sure his money can be spread out for all the shows he wants to see in the Spring and Summer.  Already I've spent close to $400 including Sasquatch.  So I'm picky.  

But then I saw that Let's Wrestle is playing at this show.  I will say that their music doesn't stand out all that much for me.  But I've seen their band pop up on quite a few mixtapes that I have come across to the point where I'm really curious to see them now.  Let's Wrestle are three dudes singing some basic rock music.  Sometimes there is some more performance additions other then the guitar riffs and drums, such as looping and distortion.  But all in all, these guys are primarily the straight up rock sound with of course a lead singer with a British Accent.  OK, I'm sold! 

Let's Wrestle

We are Men You'll Grow to Love Soon

Check out this Review of the Titus Andronicus show at Project Lodge

From the blog, Muzzle of Bees:


By Tyler Fassnacht
Ever since I saw Titus Andronicus open for No Age back in 2008, they have been in the running for my favorite live band. Each time I have seen them grace a stage with their energy and stage presence, it has been better than the last, and this concert was no exception. When it was announced that they would be playing the Project Lodge, one of my favorite intimate venues, I bought my ticket immediately, especially because this would be my first time seeing them as a headliner.
Local Madison group His and Her Vanities opened and started the evening off a great foot. They are able to mix jangly and catchy with dissonance and elements of math-rock, into their art-rock sound. Their set did a good job of getting everyone excited for the headliners, but was also memorable in their own right. Since this band doesn’t play too many shows, I would suggest seeing them if you ever get the chance, or just pick up last year’s awesome The Mighty Lunge.
Titus Andronicus came out on a stage covered in American flags, to a cheering, completely packed audience and jumped into the opening track from their near perfect new album, The Monitor. As soon as the song began, the front of the crowd went crazy and continued throughout the rest of the show. It had been a while since I left a concert so sweaty. Something that makes this band so great live is that in almost every song there is opportunity to dance, pump your fist or shout along with big choruses and memorable lines (I have never heard so many people shout “FUCK YOU” in unison). Playing mostly tracks from their new album, they tore through all the epic songs, even the magnum opus, fourteen minute long, “the Battle of Hampton Roads.” They also threw in a handful of tracks from their amazing debut album; so older fans were made happy as well.
There was some trouble with the mics turning off at some points, but they were fixed pretty quickly. My one complaint with the sound, however, was how the vocals seemed a little muddy, but with front man Patrick Stickles growls and yelps, it wasn’t too noticeable.
After more than an hour of playing, they put down their instruments and left the stage. The audience applauded and chanted “one more song!” until Stickles came out to say that they actually didn’t know how to play any more songs. That was the sad realization that the night was over. Though after the comical banter, the moshing, the raging guitar solos and the scream a longs, I was completely satisfied. Yet again, Titus Andronicus blew me away with their live show, which is something I think everyone should experience at least once in their life.

Janelle Monae!!! Forget the last post. See this Woman!

April 23 at the Union Terrace

   I love this woman.   I saw her at Bonnaroo last year and she was one of the best acts that I saw.  This woman has amazing, fun beats.  She has great lyrics and has one of the best voices I've heard in a long time.  At the show I saw at Bonnaroo, she demonstrated how she was musically trained in opera, wowing the crowd with a short operatic piece.  She also proceeded to do a painting on stage while singing another one of her songs where at the end, she threw it into the audience (glad no one got their eye knocked off).  All in all, this may be one of my big highlights of the season, and a GREAT way of kicking of my three large concerts in under a week.   Check out her music and videos and see you at the Union!!

Metropolis: The Chase part 1

Many Moons (Video)

The Archandroid (May 18th)

Tightrope (Video)

Surgeons in Heat

 

April 23 at The Frequency

I saw these guys open up for Woodhands and can say that I have another local Wisconsin band that I enjoy. Again, as some of you know, I have a soft spot for a male lead singer that sings in falsetto. I also have a soft spot for local talented bands.  So they have two for two there.  As they took the stage before Woodhands, the guitarist of Surgeons in Heat admitted that he was "Really fucked up" and the lead singer also seemed overly intoxicated.  He could barely open his eyes as he held on tight to the microphone.  And as they performed theirs songs, what was supposed to sound more like pop rock turned into more of a mellow rock.  But as "fucked up" as he was, the lead singer was still able to hit that falsetto and belt out some great songs.  Here's another "local" band I'd recommend you checking out.  

Fang Island

April 22nd at High Noon Saloon

w/ Red Sparowes & Caspian

Another Brooklyn band trying to break out, I think this band has a good chance to do just that.  Although I don't find their songs that complex, there definitely is a sense of experimentation and fun.  There's a little Animal Collective.  There's a little Black Lips.   There's a lot of just one word or one sound choruses.  But it works and it's fun.  Here's what Pitchfork has to say of their new album:

"Fang Island's self-titled second album is joyous despite its general lack of verses or choruses. It's fractured like any post-punk record while also speaking the language of classic rock, yet often feels like an intricate collage pieced together from elements that make songs memorable-- palm-muted power chords following wide-open intros, blistering solos, double-time outros. Pretty much all of that is crammed into the deleriously infectious "Daisy", an emphatic crossbreed of the Go! Team and the Promise Ring's "Is This Thing On?" The dance routine in the song's video feels like the only natural reaction to hearing it."

Fang Island


Daisy
Life Coach (Video)