Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Video Day #tzaubeat

Clams Casino is about to take over the album of the Summer, starting with this video for All Nite which shares the same sharp style as the song.  Changing gears, I can’t believe I’m putting Band of Horses on the upbeat Video Day, which I guess is almost as weird as their video for Casual Party.  One more left turn with the new Julie Ruin video - mostly because Kathleen Hanna is still a rock goddess.

Bonus:  The other (newer) Clams Casino with the magnanimous Samuel T. Herring from Future Islands.  Again - amazing production, but this time with a distinctly darker tone.

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Video Day #tzachill

As I would expect, my Montreal favorites (Plants and Animals) released a visually stunning video for We Were One without me ever feeling like I even need to know what’s really going on.  Speaking of… I’m beyond thrilled to be getting a glimpse at the first new stuff coming from Sin Fang, with this new video for Candyland.  Blood Orange has been ruling my summer playlist so far… this video for Augustine shows you why.  

 

Bonus:  This isn’t what I would call a captivating video - but this epic trio collaboration deserves total exposure.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Pitchfork Music Festival 2016

Every year I wonder if I’ll still go to Pitchfork this year, and yet every time I get there - I can’t imagine not coming.  Another great year, and you’ll see who my favorites were based on the videos below.  Then a compilation video and some random shots.  Until next year...

Pitchfork Music Festival 2016

Pitchfork Music Festival 2016

Pitchfork Music Festival 2016

Some of my other favorite shots from the festival… 

Pitchfork Music Festival 2016

Pitchfork Music Festival 2016

Pitchfork Music Festival 2016

Pitchfork Music Festival 2016

Pitchfork Music Festival 2016

Woods (7/14/16)

Woods is in my top favorite bands, like Plants & Animals.  That’s why I delayed our arrival to Chicago for the Pitchfork Music Festival by a day.  I couldn’t pass up finally getting to see Woods in concert.  Granted I was going to get to see them in several days at the Festival - but it’s just not the same.  I was so glad I stayed - and so glad I was introduced to Big Thief!  I’ll definitely keep an eye on these guys… 

Big Thief (7/14/16)

Woods (7/14/16)

Woods (7/14/16)

Brandi Carlile & Old Crow Medicine Show (7/12/16)

Jacobs Pavilion has been knocking it out of the park with the double-header shows this summer.  This one, with Brandi Carlile and Old Crow Medicine Show, was a real treat.  Old Crow Medicine Show was one first and brought their hard-drinkin’, foot-stompin’ good time as you’d expect.  As for Brandi Carlile, I’ve been sold on her live shows since that first House of Blues show.  Once again - she proves to be one of the best live acts touring right now.

Old Crow Medicine Show (7/12/16)

Brandi Carlile (7/12/16)

Brandi Carlile (7/12/16)

"Many bands embark on what they call ‘co-headlining’ tours. Few execute the concept as well as roots rockers Old Crow Medicine Show and singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile did last night at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica. While each played a hearty 90-minute set, the two acts also shared the stage on several occasions, making the show into a truly collaborative venture. "

(Via Brandi Carlile and Old Crow Medicine Show Successfully Share the Spotlight at Jacobs Pavilion | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog | Cleveland Scene.)

Some other shots from that night… 

Brandi Carlile & Old Crow Medicine (7/12/16)

Brandi Carlile & Old Crow Medicine Show (7/12/16)

Lily & Madeline (7/7/16)

Lily & Madeline have been making it a point to come through Cleveland every year lately, and i couldn’t be happier.  These ladies have such excellent harmonies, songs, and a great stage presence - I love seeing them.   Opening for them was a new local band called Poro, who would be worth seeing again.

Poro (7/7/16)

 Lily & Madeline

Lily & Madeline (7/7/16)

Summer Solstice 2016

Another great year.  This year having Giorgio Moroder (think Donna Summer) was truly amazing.  Having seen him last year at Pitchfork Music Festival - I already knew this would be a good show.

Summer Solstice Party 2016

Summer Solstice Party 2016

Summer Solstice Party 2016

Summer Solstice Party 2016

Summer Solstice Party 2016

Summer Solstice Party 2016

Summer Solstice Party 2016

Melissa Etheridge (6/24/16)

Melissa Etheridge and I go way back, even before her 1993 Yes I Am album.  Henceforth, I’ll always go see her when I can.  Having her perform on a gorgeous Summer night outside at Cain Park - SOLD.   She continues to be a great performer, and demonstrated it by this being a solo show where she worked on looping instruments for volume and layering.  I’ve definitely seen that before (Andrew Bird!), but was really happy to see Melissa expanding her stage repertoire to do so.  What a great (nostalgic) night.

Melissa Etheridge (6/24/16)

Melissa Etheridge (6/24/16)

I was also really happy to see covering Joan Armatrading’s The Weakness in Me.

Son Little (6/21/16)

This was a great double-header show at the Beachland, with Waxahatchee in the Ballroom and Son Little in the Tavern.  My original plan was for Waxahatchee, but a strong recommendation pushed me to decide on Son Little.  He has this great bluesy, folky, rock & roll sound about him.  Very enjoyable.  Dylan LeBlanc opened, and was quite enjoyable as well.  Check them out.

Dylan LeBlanc (6/21/16)

Son Little (6/21/16)

 

Monday, August 8, 2016

BØRNS (6/13/16)

Yet another great concert!  This BØRNS show was originally scheduled for the Beachland Ballroom (yay!), but moved to the House of Blues (boo!).  But whatever, good for him.  The album was gold the second I heard it - very easy to connect with.  However, I wasn’t sure how well that’d translate live.  Well, the lead singer easily captivated the audience, and was also a bit more flamboyant than I was expecting!  It was hard not to feel Freddy, or maybe Elton with the cover of Bennie and the Jets (in the video!).  

BØRNS (6/13/16)

M83 (6/8/16)

I’d been luke warm on M83 of late.  Their most recent album didn’t resonate right away, and eventually fell off my playlist.  I wasn’t sold on this show either, and I don’t even remember now what actually convinced me to go - but I was so glad I did.  A much more upbeat and energetic show than I was expecting.  I only wish the main floor at the HOB was larger to accommodate more people…  Since that show, I’ve rediscovered their latest album and fell in love with it.  This show also introduced me to Bob Moses - who I obviously liked enough as an opener to post a video.  :-) 

Bob Moses (6/8/16)

M83 

M83 (6/8/16)

Blitzen Trapper (6/12/16)

In what felt like a somewhat unusual match, Blitzen Trapper performed at the Grog Shop.  For some reason the Beachland just feels like the natural home for an alt-country rock band like Blitzen Trapper.  Opening was Quiet Life, who I just heard several days before and instantly enjoyed.  Check them out below as well… 

Quiet Life (6/12/16)

 

Blitzen Trapper (6/12/16)

Blitzen Trapper (6/12/16)

Death Cab for Cutie / CHVRCHES (6/7/16)

While I’m pretty much over CHVRCHES (for now), getting a chance to see them with Death Cab for Cutie outside at Jacobs Pavilion - I was sold.  While it didn’t feel too strange to me to have these bands performing together, the crowd seemed quite mixed about the lineup.  CHVRCHES really seemed to struggle to connect with the audience, in the earlier time slot.  Death Cab for Cutie were superb.  Everything I wanted in a show by them, despite their lineup change.

CHVRCHES (6/7/16)
CHVRCHES (6/7/16)

CHVRCHES (6/7/16)

Death Cab for Cutie (6/7/16)


Death Cab for Cutie (6/7/16)

Death Cab for Cutie (6/7/16)

"Co-headlining tours always manage to draw an eclectic mix of people, and last night’s show at Jacob’s Pavilion featuring both Death Cab For Cutie and CHVRCHES was certainly no exception. In fact, one might suggest the gap between the former’s compelling indie rock anthems and the latter’s upbeat synth pop tunes might be too large to feature both on the same bill. You can see a slideshow of Death Cab for Cutie performing here.

While that might be up for debate, there’s no doubt that both acts deserved their equal time in the spotlight."

(Via Death Cab For Cutie and CHVRCHES Draw an Eclectic Crowd to Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog | Cleveland Scene.)

Movement 2016

Another phenomenal year...

Movement 2016

Movement 2016

Movement 2016

Movement 2016
Movement 2016

Here is the official Recap Video:

Digitalism (5/25/16)

Similar to the Plants & Animals show the week before, I love Digitalism enough to get up to Detroit on a Wednesday - even though I’d be back up there on Friday for the Movement Electronic Music Festival.  That much.  It turned into a great trip with a friend - totally worth it…   Unfortunately traveling to other venues means my good camera stays home, and the lighting didn’t help either - so only one measly photo was salvageable. 

Digitalism (5/25/16)

Plants & Animals (5/19/16)

Plants and Animals are truly one of my top 5 favorite bands of late - so of course I would drive down to Columbus for a mid-week show.  These guys from Montreal couldn’t feel more authentic if they tried.  Their talent for long and winding jams is quite enjoyable.  It was a unique space, I just feel like the venue should have been able to bring in a bigger audience - and it could have served my video with better lighting as well. 

Plants & Animals (5/19/16)

Heartless Bastards / Old 97's (5/18/16)

(Quickly catching up…) I was thrilled to see Heartless Bastards again, and hear Erika’s powerful voice.  The Old 97’s were a real treat as well, a band I’m going to have to find some more time for.

Heartless Bastards (5/18/16)

"The Heartless Bastards and the Old 97’s, two high-energy alt-country acts that defy stereotypes about the genre, have teamed up for a string of East Coast, Midwest and Canada dates throughout May with opener BJ Barham (of American Aquarium). The 'Bastards have built their reputation around Erika Wennerstrom's 'powerhouse vocals that electrify a crowd.' And the Old 97’s singer Rhett Miller tends to sing until he’s hoarse. "

(Via Alt-Country Rockers the Heartless Bastards and the Old 97's Share a Blue-Collar Ethos | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog | Cleveland Scene.)

Old 97's (5/18/16)

"They stormed onto the stage with a rousing rendition of 'Nashville,' an upbeat track from their most recent album. And with Miller's patented forearm twirl, they jetted into the equally speedy 'Rollerskate Skinny' and 'Melt Show.' They slowed only a little for their fourth song of the evening, an angsty version of 'Stoned.'"

(Via The Old 97's rock the Beachland Ballroom | cleveland.com.)