Scottish indie rock five-some Frightened Rabbit is a band I should have heard about long ago. I should have all their albums in hand and I really should have checked out their show a couple weeks back when they graced Cleveland.
I should but I don’t and I did not.
The fact is until last week I had no interest in them. Why? I really do not know. Sometimes I just pass up bands even when friends and reviews try to point me towards something good. I can not say I have been in the indie rock mood recently either so I am sure that added to my neglect.
I admit, I missed out… Thankfully a friend played them for me last week rather than telling me how good he thought they were. I was intrigued and thanks to Kyle wanted some more.
I just finished checking out their latest release The Winter Of Mixed Drinks and I pretty much want to kick myself for turning my ear away from this amazing act. It was good and when I say good, I mean collected and start to finish good. Good as in the entire album could be on repeat for hours and during that recycled time not one song would become tiresome to listen to. That is how I felt after I finished listening to Frightened Rabbit’s latest release.
Where I am not familiar with their older material I have made plans to make sure that I change that in the near future. They may still be borderline underground at the moment but with a full US tour presently going on that will end at this year’s Lollapalooza it is probably safe to say that will not be lasting long.
I am sure most of you have already heard about them already but if you have not and you are looking for something new you should get your hands on a copy of The Winter Of Mixed Drinks. Why? Because it’s good.
Hey kids! There’s a new video by The Constellations‘ out there that I wish I could share on here. Due to a naked hottie in the video I can not post it on good ol’ BHP, but that does not mean you can not check it out for yourself!
It’s tasteful don’t worry…. but the video is explicit. You should be this tall to ride this ride. 18+ kiddos, not like anyone reads this blog but still… Check out the world premiere of the titilating (pun intended), uncensored video from The Constellations for “Perfect Day,” off their upcoming album Southern Gothic, out on June 22:
In T-minus just under 4 days, vinyl lovers around the world will once again have their day…
Actually music lovers can have that day too as Record Store Day, which falls on the third Saturday of April, will turn a seemingly normal Saturday into a limited edition, independent music store, sales boosting, event with plenty of live music around the states (and even world).
With a ton of releases this year it is going to be an exciting day for many music lovers out there. Check out the full list of limited presses on vinyl from some of your favorite artists. I know there are a few in there I hope to acquire…
Focusing on Cleveland, since that is my city, I thought I would just post a few things going on this Saturday beginning around the noon o’clock hour.
I will mainly be in the Waterloo district in the good ol’ North Collinwood area with friends this year. The day will revolve around indie record stores Music Saves and Blue Arrow Records, two stores I should add I have become very familiar with over the past year, as well as all the other amazing shops that line up Waterloo. At one point I may have to escape with Matt over to E. 185th to grab some grub from Chili Peppers but I will return back to the fun once I am full of their delicious food.
The stores in the area will open at noon and I can only imagine the lines that will be forming before the stores even unlock their doors. With quantities limited, and of course the always awesome eBay resellers who know they can make a profit off of some of the vinyls (thanks for that btw, jerks), it is best to get there early.
Music Saves was kind enough to make a list of the vinyl they hope to have in stock but they will not know until the day of. No holds either in case you were wondering… I am bummed to see a blue line through the Get Up Kids on that list. Oh well. Also if you get there in time there might be some grab bags give out along with other random things to all who partake in the purchasing of goods.
What is even cooler is that Music Saves (MS) and Blue Arrow Records (BA) will be featuring free indoor/outdoors DJ events / shows throughout the day for all to check out.
* 4:30PM – White Hinterland DJs – MS
* 5PM – DJ Will Rigby (drummer for the dB’s and Steve Earle) – BA
* 5:30PM – The Lighthouse and the Whaler – MS
* 6PM – Prisoners – BA
* 6:30PM – The Muttering Retreats – MS
* 7PM – Tasty Cakes – BA
* 7:30PM – Cloud Nothings – MS
* 8PM – Party Sweat – BA
To close the big day the Beachland Ballroom will host a 9PM show featuring Dosh, White Hinterland, and locals The Sleep.
It’s going to be a great day/night so if you have nothing going on head out to Waterloo and have some fun!
Imagine, if you will, what would happen if you mixed the Gorillaz with MGMT. The combination of similarities form into this great multi genred track without going overboard. The song seriously impressed me upon first listen. Learning that the band contains eight members intrigued me even more.
Making things even more interesting I happened to receive a Constellations 7″ (not kidding) in the mail today that not only had “Setback” but also the killer track “Love Is A Murder” featuring Cee-Lo! This is no Gnarls Barkey attempt but rather something much more likable (at least to me). After hearing just two tracks off the album I have very high expectations of the full length.
I have to say I am rather pumped for The Constellations to release their debut album titled Southern Gothic on June 22nd. It took the band two years to record the album with help from producer Ben H. Allen (Animal Collective, Gnarls Barkley).
You fancy yourself a Broken Bells fan? Well you should check this band out pretty quickly before they blow up all over the music scene.
Many fans of indie rock know who The Weakerthans are and what exactly they do. For years now the Canadian four (and sometimes up to six) some have been creating amazing albums that are heavy on the indie but also incorporate folk and twang into their material. They are a band that I label as an “accident band”. What I mean by that is I became a fan of them by accident.
Back in the days of slinging coffees at the café at the Borders Books & Music I worked at I came across a Weakerthans’ album at a listening station one day while on break. This was at a time and age when the internet was still ruled by AOL and MySpace was just an idea waiting to be hatched out. I remember clearly putting the headphones on at the listening station and checking out a couple tracks from Left and Leaving. Liking what I heard, I recall reading a bio about the band while listening to more tracks and taking a double look at the card when it mentioned one time Propagandhi member John Samson. Seriously, my mouth dropped open.
I was maybe 23 at the time and was slowly opening my musical tastes more. Being a punk rocker at heart I was in awe that the bassist of one of my favorite punk rock bands was fronting such a melodic and low-key band. I heard enough, grabbed the CD, and took it to the register for purchase. Needless to say my musical appreciation was given a boost thanks to the Weakerthans and to this day I am still an avid fan though I have yet to see them live.
Having missed them the couple times they did roll though Cleveland one could say I was excited to see that they had released a live DVD/CD titled Live At The Burton Cummings Theatre on Epitaph Records/ANTI- Records. Performed in their hometown of Winnipeg, Canada in April of 2009, the band recorded the performance at the Burton Cumming’s Theatre (yes, the sweet mustached Burton Cummings of The Guess Who). Just to clarify I believe the theatre was named after the classic rock musician and that he has nothing to do with it.
The DVD/CD captures the perfect evening of a show with the talented indie rockers as well as their dedicated fans who filled the venue up the night it was recorded. With no fancy light shows or theatrics the band hit the stage and played a very fun and great sounding show. Their sound, I should add, almost sounds studio and one could be fooled until the fans started hooting and hollering after every song.
Playing songs old and new the band just sounded amazing and looked ever so comfortable on the stage. Hearing them open with “Everything Must Go” really reminded me why I have been a fan for so long but seeing how happy they were performing the song brought a whole new appreciation from me for them. With the crowd cheering and the band just having fun it was apparent that this show was going to be a good one. Speeding things up they broke into “Tournament Of Hearts” immediately after. With five members on stage it appeared as if Samson’s wife Christine Fellows was hiding in the shadows offering vocals as well.
The band’s (and the crowd’s) friend Julie played on some songs as well including “Night Windows” where she offered some violin. Keeping the show rolling the band broke into “Reconstruction Site” a twangy delight of a song to listen to as well. The band completely rocked out during “Aside” all while Samson smiled big while singing. “Bigfoot” was another track I really got a kick out of with all the instrument playing.
Hearing perhaps my favorite Weakerthans song of all time, “Plea From A Cat Named Virtue”, put the biggest smile on my face even if I was watching a recording of the show. The song revolving around a wise feline carried on perfectly, even the trumpet playing at the close of the song. Samson also offered a simple impromptu guitar solo that was cut short on the CD but the DVD shows the humorous moment.
During “Wellington’s Wednesdays” Samson pulled up a fan on stage named Ernesto who had the pleasure of filling in a guitar solo in the key of E. I must say after a nervous start Ernesto started jamming hard with the rest of the band as Samson took the honorary member’s place in the crowd for a short moment. The band then followed up “The Reasons” as well as “Sun In An Empty Room”. I swear if it were not for the fans cheering at times my mind tried to argue with me that I was not listening to a live album.
Overall the show was a fun time full of a great set by an outstanding band. The DVD featured shots of the band throughout the 75 plus minute performance with good angles as well as occasionally would focus in on a true fan singing along. Capturing The Weakerthans in their hometown was one hell of an idea and even if I have not seen them live in the flesh, I am glad I had the opportunity to have this performance in my possession.
The DVD/CD ranks high with my all time favorite live albums and I have listened to it multiple times now and I am not just saying that. Great music by a bunch guys made even more entertaining by the simple fact that they were having a blast while doing their job. If you are a fan of indie rock or just want to spend the evening with some great music do yourself a favor and grab a copy of Live At The Burton Cummings Theatre.
Track Listing (DVD/CD):
01. Everything Must Go
02. Tournament of Hearts
03. Our Retired Explorer (Dines with Michel Foucault in Paris in 1969)
04. Night Windows
05. Reconstruction Site
06. Aside
07. Civil Twilight
08. Bigfoot
09. Plea From A Cat Named Virtute
10. The Reasons
11. Sun In An Empty Room
12. Left and Leaving
13. Wellington’s Wednesdays
14. Benediction
15. Manifest
16. One Great City!
17. This Is A Fire Door Never Leave Open
18. Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure
This music blog could have a driver's license by now…
Scottish indie rock five-some Frightened Rabbit is a band I should have heard about long ago. I should have all their albums in hand and I really should have checked out their show a couple weeks back when they graced Cleveland.
