Sunday 5/3/09 | The Earl | $8 (advance)/$10 (door)
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Enjoy seeing the "next big thing" according to basically every blog, all for the low, low price of $8! Plus, you can get a burger at The Earl before the show. How could this possibly be a bad idea??
Saturday 5/16/09 | The Drunken Unicorn | $8 (advance)/$10 (door)
Horse Feathers and Joe Pug
At a venue called "The Drunken Unicorn," you don't necessarily expect to hear the soft, bucolic sounds of these two artists. As long as the music from MJQ doesn't bleed over, it should be a very entertaining concert.
Wednesday 5/20/09 | The Earl | $8
The Explorer's Club
It's entirely possible that these guys have only ever hear The Beach Boys (and just the sun-tinged, surfer-and-his-girl variety... not the Pet Sounds variety). If you like that sound, you'll love this band, and it should be interesting to see if they can hit their harmonies live.
Wednesday 5/27/09 | The Tabernacle | $25
The National
Well, unfortunately, this show got moved from The Variety Playhouse (great venue and staff) to The Tabernacle (good venue, crappy staff, Live Nation online ticket sales). I love The National, but I'm not sure I can drop $25 + my first born in Live Nation "convenience charges" to see them without a new album to hear live.
Friday 5/29/09 | Variety Playhouse | $16 (advance)/$18 (door)
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Will Oldham's recent album as Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Lie Down In The Light, is phenomenal as is his newest album, Beware. He's also apparently great live, but really, I just want to see if he makes fun of Wes Anderson.
Video: Bonnie "Prince" Billy - "I Am Goodbye"
Saturday 6/6/09 | The Drunken Unicorn | $12 (advance)/$14 (door)
Passion Pit and Harlem Shakes
There will be all kinds of sweaty kids rockin' out their awkward dance moves at this show. And I plan to be one of them. Seriously guys, let's go!!
Sunday 6/7/09 | Variety Playhouse | $18
Bon Iver
I'm starting to run out of things to say about this band (and lead-man Justin Vernon). So seriously... just go. Go to this concert. Spend $18 and go. Go.
Friday 6/12/09 | The Earl | $8
Here We Go Magic
I know almost nothing about this band except that I heard them on XMU radio (when I had my free trial period) and they have a self-titled album that just came out. But that's what concerts are for... checking out new bands!
Saturday 6/13/09 | The Tabernacle | $26
TV On The Radio and Grizzly Bear
I will be at this show despite the fact that I should be studying for an exam. You're basically getting to see a full set from TVOTR and Grizzly Bear (and their phenomenal upcoming album Veckatimest) for $13 each. That's unreal! Make sure you buy tickets from the box office to avoid having your wallet taken advantage of by Live Nation.
Sunday 6/14/09 | The Earl | $12 (advance)/$14 (door)
St. Vincent
Annie Clark's debut as St. Vincent (Marry Me) was eccentric and tight, and her upcoming Actors promises more of the same great songwriting from the Polyphonic Spree alum.
Showing posts with label TV On The Radio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TV On The Radio. Show all posts
Monday, April 27, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
March Music Madness - The Final Four
And so here we are... the Final Four. Possibly one of the most exciting weekends in all of sports, and I'll be missing most (if not all) of the action due to studying. Grad students really are the worst. But fear not. Before we essentially shut the blog down for a week (save for a couple of random posts), we have to finish up the March Music Madness competition, and I think the national semifinalists speak for themselves. Some of the best talent out there rose to the top, and although there's no Animal Collective or Grizzly Bear (which could possibly be a mistake), the bands left standing all have a strong case for being there. Let's do some quick analysis of the Final Four match-ups before the epic Championship throw-down on Sunday!
(2) Lil' Wayne vs. (4) Beirut
Winner: (2) Lil' Wayne
I probably love Beirut and Zach Condon more than a heterosexual male should, but I submit the following:
Tha Carter III vs. Any of Beirut's albums
Billboard's 2008 Top-Selling Albums
I understand the case for "rap isn't music, and what Beirut is doing is music!" I really do. I'm the same guy who never listened to rap until 2006 (unless it was played while I was awkwardly dancing* with a girl at a school dance). But you have to listen to this album. Is it misogynistic? Yes, at times. Is it filled with vulgarities? It has a Parental Warning Label, doesn't it? But this is poetry. This is comedy. This is extravagant, boisterous entertainment delivered by a man who may very well be losing his mind. And if a basic aversion to rap and hip-hop keeps you from hearing Tha Carter III (I mean... really hearing it), then you've let a seminal album slip through your fingers. Rarely does an album's popularity match its quality (and if you don't believe me, read the rest of the Billboard article). This one does.
(1) TV on the Radio vs. (4) The Decemberists
Winner: (1) TV on the Radio
By calling TV on the Radio this tournament's Louisville, I had a feeling I'd either be jinxing Louisville or TVOTR. But since I already knew who'd be advancing to the final in this tournmanet, Louisville had to fall (and they did). Admittedly, this is a tough match-up for the Brooklynites. The Decemberists have great length (discography-wise) and a rabid fan base. Colin Meloy's hyperliterate lyrics weave intricate stories that lend themselves to multiple listens... always a bonus. In fact, I entertained the thought of moving The Decemberists into the final, but to be honest... I was a little underwhelmed by Hazards of Love. Of course it's good (it's a Decemberists album, after all), but if it had blown me away, I think they had the potential to jump TVOTR (by the thinnest of margins). However, by putting out a merely good album, they lack the momentum to pass the behemoth that is... TV on the Radio. Dear Science is a treasure, and I feel a little sissy for saying that. This is a "tell your kids about it" type of album. I envision myself pulling out Dear Science 20 years from now, in middle-age, and still being blown away. In those 20 years, maybe 25 albums will be in the same league, and maybe 5 bands will have been as consistently as impressive as TVOTR. Maybe. Criticism is prone to hype and "Greatest of All Time" debates (see our last post if you don't believe me), but when something or someone elicits such an indelible visceral response, signs and blinking lights should go off. And so TVOTR is Las Vegas, and The Decemberists are Reno. And that's all right.
* Standing in a corner, avoiding eye-contact
(2) Lil' Wayne vs. (4) Beirut
Winner: (2) Lil' Wayne
I probably love Beirut and Zach Condon more than a heterosexual male should, but I submit the following:
Tha Carter III vs. Any of Beirut's albums
Billboard's 2008 Top-Selling Albums
I understand the case for "rap isn't music, and what Beirut is doing is music!" I really do. I'm the same guy who never listened to rap until 2006 (unless it was played while I was awkwardly dancing* with a girl at a school dance). But you have to listen to this album. Is it misogynistic? Yes, at times. Is it filled with vulgarities? It has a Parental Warning Label, doesn't it? But this is poetry. This is comedy. This is extravagant, boisterous entertainment delivered by a man who may very well be losing his mind. And if a basic aversion to rap and hip-hop keeps you from hearing Tha Carter III (I mean... really hearing it), then you've let a seminal album slip through your fingers. Rarely does an album's popularity match its quality (and if you don't believe me, read the rest of the Billboard article). This one does.
(1) TV on the Radio vs. (4) The Decemberists
Winner: (1) TV on the Radio
By calling TV on the Radio this tournament's Louisville, I had a feeling I'd either be jinxing Louisville or TVOTR. But since I already knew who'd be advancing to the final in this tournmanet, Louisville had to fall (and they did). Admittedly, this is a tough match-up for the Brooklynites. The Decemberists have great length (discography-wise) and a rabid fan base. Colin Meloy's hyperliterate lyrics weave intricate stories that lend themselves to multiple listens... always a bonus. In fact, I entertained the thought of moving The Decemberists into the final, but to be honest... I was a little underwhelmed by Hazards of Love. Of course it's good (it's a Decemberists album, after all), but if it had blown me away, I think they had the potential to jump TVOTR (by the thinnest of margins). However, by putting out a merely good album, they lack the momentum to pass the behemoth that is... TV on the Radio. Dear Science is a treasure, and I feel a little sissy for saying that. This is a "tell your kids about it" type of album. I envision myself pulling out Dear Science 20 years from now, in middle-age, and still being blown away. In those 20 years, maybe 25 albums will be in the same league, and maybe 5 bands will have been as consistently as impressive as TVOTR. Maybe. Criticism is prone to hype and "Greatest of All Time" debates (see our last post if you don't believe me), but when something or someone elicits such an indelible visceral response, signs and blinking lights should go off. And so TVOTR is Las Vegas, and The Decemberists are Reno. And that's all right.
* Standing in a corner, avoiding eye-contact
Friday, February 6, 2009
Hearing Music Whilst Watching Television
TV On The Radio - Saturday Night Live (NBC, 11:30pm) and The Colbert Report (Comedy Central, Monday, 11:30pm)
Critics rarely agree on anything, but TVOTR brought all those bespectacled, tight-clothed, scruffy-so-it-looks-like-I'm-a-slacker-but-it-takes-me-an-hour-to-get-ready writers together last year by releasing Dear Science,. They're on a victory lap, of sorts, and will be playing on SNL this weekend (that dude from Wedding Crashers... Sac, or Zac, or something... he was the d-bag... will be hosting), with a follow-up performance on the Colbert Report Monday [MLT: I fought hard to use a "TV On the Radio... On the TV!" joke. ARW: But that's lame.] This isn't meant to be a review of the album or a discussion on the band, but anyone who likes music should be listening to TVOTR. Start with Dear Science, and if you don't want to check out the rest of their catalogue, I'll take it back.
Various Artists - 51st Grammy Awards (CBS, Sunday, 8pm)
51st Grammy Awards, and the first relevant Grammy Awards in as long as I've followed music. This should actually be a really interesting show; between the rumored collaborations, the strong nominees for the major categories, and the insane Katie Couric interview of Lil' Wayne this week, nothing could surprise me. I can't wait to see if they have the balls to give a major award to Lil' Wayne (this generation's James Brown). We'll have a full recap of the Grammys next week, breaking down performances and the winners. Grad Student style.
Critics rarely agree on anything, but TVOTR brought all those bespectacled, tight-clothed, scruffy-so-it-looks-like-I'm-a-slacker-but-it-takes-me-an-hour-to-get-ready writers together last year by releasing Dear Science,. They're on a victory lap, of sorts, and will be playing on SNL this weekend (that dude from Wedding Crashers... Sac, or Zac, or something... he was the d-bag... will be hosting), with a follow-up performance on the Colbert Report Monday [MLT: I fought hard to use a "TV On the Radio... On the TV!" joke. ARW: But that's lame.] This isn't meant to be a review of the album or a discussion on the band, but anyone who likes music should be listening to TVOTR. Start with Dear Science, and if you don't want to check out the rest of their catalogue, I'll take it back.Various Artists - 51st Grammy Awards (CBS, Sunday, 8pm)
51st Grammy Awards, and the first relevant Grammy Awards in as long as I've followed music. This should actually be a really interesting show; between the rumored collaborations, the strong nominees for the major categories, and the insane Katie Couric interview of Lil' Wayne this week, nothing could surprise me. I can't wait to see if they have the balls to give a major award to Lil' Wayne (this generation's James Brown). We'll have a full recap of the Grammys next week, breaking down performances and the winners. Grad Student style.
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