Somewhere along 290 to 495 to the Pike, we might just find a little piece of that elusive American Dream (Part I)
"We are in the middle of a musical renaissance."
This is what I have been told, on more than several occasions, lately by a coworker and friend. His reasoning is that the doors to the world of music have been forced open as a result of the internet. Indeed, anyone with a tape recorder and a MySpace account can get their shit out there and get themselves heard. The result is that we have a lot of crappy music out there, but we also get access to a lot of very good music that we previously would not have been able to even know about. Having very recently attended two shows with him (that would be two separate shows within the last three weeks), I am inclined to believe that seemingly hyperbolic statement. Indeed, he has broken me out of my musical rut of listening to bands that neither release new albums nor play shows. So I, too, am in the midst of a musical renaissance, albeit one purely composed of listening and criticism.
The first of these two shows was at Harper's Ferry in Alston. The headliner was The Long Winters (http://www.longwinters.com/) out of Seattle, Washington, an indie rock band with an indie rock sensibility and an indie rock sense of humor. Arriving at Harper's Ferry very early in the evening, we were inclined to consume quantities of alcohol (the quantity of consumption was not vast, but it was not miniscule either; quantities seems the appropriate word) and listen to the numerous bands opening the night. I think something like six bands took the stage of that intimate venue that evening, each getting something like forty five minutes a set, with The Long Winters obviously getting as much time as they wanted. All were lackluster until the penultimate act, Menomena (http://www.menomena.com/, it does not appear as if you can listen to any music at that site), a three piece outfit with obvious musical talent. They play some kind of intricate pop/indie/bluesy/rappy/electronica stuff. Each of the three maestros plays multiple instruments. I was dubious about their ability to recreate their sound on stage, having listened to several songs prior to arriving, but was pleasantly surprised. As I just said, they have very obvious musical talent, and a clearly defined musical sensibility, but I could not get into them, though it did seem as if most of the crowd (three hundred to three hundred fifty in all maybe?) was totally digging them, and even showed up to see them play. They rattled off four songs before getting cut off for whatever reason (I suspect a combination of time constraints and ragging on the sound guy).
The Long Winters got on stage at about 12:15 at night, and played up until 2 in the morning. Haper's Ferry being intimate, we had a pretty good back and forth going with the band, and they seemed to be digging the vibe (although they came off as having something against Boston; maybe they got mugged outside the Avalon in a past life while waiting in line for a Depeche Mode concert or something). They even gave it right back to one of the aging scenesters (how I loathe them) when he got upset when his song request was denied. "We'll get to that one, just keep looking cool in your two hundred dollar vintage army jacket" was the retort of the lead singer; said aging hipster then fled that violent scene, which at that time was only about halfway through the set. Of course, the loss of one scenester at a gig is never that bad. While the show was a good time, I cannot bring myself to purchase a Long Winters album. Sure they were fun to go out and spend ten dollars on for a show, but there is no reason to get obsessively into pretty straightforward indie/emo/sometimes punk music. I know that sounds like negative criticism, but it really is not. I like these guys, but their music is right in line with everyone else who is coming out of the northwest at this moment. Their lyrics, however, are much more complex than most other bands, which is clearly a major thing that they have going for them.
Show number two was Sunday evening at the Middle East on Mass Ave in Cambridge. It was Upstairs. If Harper's was intimate, Upstairs is downright cozy. My friend and I took note of the 194 person capacity of the room on the way into the confined space. Two notes about this venue: 1. It is wicked loud, but has great acoustics, and 2. Beer is expensive, as in three dollars (plus tip!) for the sixteen ounce Pabst cans (the ones that let everyone know how cheap you are). That being said, this show was, bar none, the single best live event I have ever been to. The nice thing about a 194 person room is that you only get people who want to listen to the music there, no scenesters (though for sure everyone there was a scenester, if that makes any sense). The lineup was as follows: The Kingdom (http://www.diealloverme.com/), then Viva Voce (http://www.vivavoce.com/), and then the Silversun Pickups (http://www.silversunpickups.com), which is a band you should probably know.
This show, while only clocking in at somewhere around the three to four hour mark, is something that requires much more description, analysis, scenester criticism, and some kind of relation to the American Dream. And I would like for you to keep reading, which I fear that you will not do if I make this too long and too boring. So, this is coming in two parts. Unfortunately, you get the lesser of the two shows first. But I will tell you these three things.
This is what I have been told, on more than several occasions, lately by a coworker and friend. His reasoning is that the doors to the world of music have been forced open as a result of the internet. Indeed, anyone with a tape recorder and a MySpace account can get their shit out there and get themselves heard. The result is that we have a lot of crappy music out there, but we also get access to a lot of very good music that we previously would not have been able to even know about. Having very recently attended two shows with him (that would be two separate shows within the last three weeks), I am inclined to believe that seemingly hyperbolic statement. Indeed, he has broken me out of my musical rut of listening to bands that neither release new albums nor play shows. So I, too, am in the midst of a musical renaissance, albeit one purely composed of listening and criticism.
The first of these two shows was at Harper's Ferry in Alston. The headliner was The Long Winters (http://www.longwinters.com/) out of Seattle, Washington, an indie rock band with an indie rock sensibility and an indie rock sense of humor. Arriving at Harper's Ferry very early in the evening, we were inclined to consume quantities of alcohol (the quantity of consumption was not vast, but it was not miniscule either; quantities seems the appropriate word) and listen to the numerous bands opening the night. I think something like six bands took the stage of that intimate venue that evening, each getting something like forty five minutes a set, with The Long Winters obviously getting as much time as they wanted. All were lackluster until the penultimate act, Menomena (http://www.menomena.com/, it does not appear as if you can listen to any music at that site), a three piece outfit with obvious musical talent. They play some kind of intricate pop/indie/bluesy/rappy/electronica stuff. Each of the three maestros plays multiple instruments. I was dubious about their ability to recreate their sound on stage, having listened to several songs prior to arriving, but was pleasantly surprised. As I just said, they have very obvious musical talent, and a clearly defined musical sensibility, but I could not get into them, though it did seem as if most of the crowd (three hundred to three hundred fifty in all maybe?) was totally digging them, and even showed up to see them play. They rattled off four songs before getting cut off for whatever reason (I suspect a combination of time constraints and ragging on the sound guy).
The Long Winters got on stage at about 12:15 at night, and played up until 2 in the morning. Haper's Ferry being intimate, we had a pretty good back and forth going with the band, and they seemed to be digging the vibe (although they came off as having something against Boston; maybe they got mugged outside the Avalon in a past life while waiting in line for a Depeche Mode concert or something). They even gave it right back to one of the aging scenesters (how I loathe them) when he got upset when his song request was denied. "We'll get to that one, just keep looking cool in your two hundred dollar vintage army jacket" was the retort of the lead singer; said aging hipster then fled that violent scene, which at that time was only about halfway through the set. Of course, the loss of one scenester at a gig is never that bad. While the show was a good time, I cannot bring myself to purchase a Long Winters album. Sure they were fun to go out and spend ten dollars on for a show, but there is no reason to get obsessively into pretty straightforward indie/emo/sometimes punk music. I know that sounds like negative criticism, but it really is not. I like these guys, but their music is right in line with everyone else who is coming out of the northwest at this moment. Their lyrics, however, are much more complex than most other bands, which is clearly a major thing that they have going for them.
Show number two was Sunday evening at the Middle East on Mass Ave in Cambridge. It was Upstairs. If Harper's was intimate, Upstairs is downright cozy. My friend and I took note of the 194 person capacity of the room on the way into the confined space. Two notes about this venue: 1. It is wicked loud, but has great acoustics, and 2. Beer is expensive, as in three dollars (plus tip!) for the sixteen ounce Pabst cans (the ones that let everyone know how cheap you are). That being said, this show was, bar none, the single best live event I have ever been to. The nice thing about a 194 person room is that you only get people who want to listen to the music there, no scenesters (though for sure everyone there was a scenester, if that makes any sense). The lineup was as follows: The Kingdom (http://www.diealloverme.com/), then Viva Voce (http://www.vivavoce.com/), and then the Silversun Pickups (http://www.silversunpickups.com), which is a band you should probably know.
This show, while only clocking in at somewhere around the three to four hour mark, is something that requires much more description, analysis, scenester criticism, and some kind of relation to the American Dream. And I would like for you to keep reading, which I fear that you will not do if I make this too long and too boring. So, this is coming in two parts. Unfortunately, you get the lesser of the two shows first. But I will tell you these three things.
- The guitarist for Viva Voce, of the female persuasion, is an utterly, ridiculously, amazingly talented guitarist. She shreds.
- For ten to fifteen dollars a show, you simply cannot beat this kind of entertainment. Really just a good night out (with cold beer too!), even if you are not all that into the music. And anyone of you who reads this is always more than welcome to come to a show and enjoy a night out with me.
- You should definitely be listening to the Silversun Pickups. Go to their website and check out their MP3s. I think you can get "Future Foe Scenarios" and "Little Lover's So Polite." On their MySpace page you can get "Kissing Families" and "Lazy Eye," which are two phenomenal songs. At the very least, listen to those guys and give them a chance.
So, then, until next time. I promise this will not always be about music, shows I attended, and my dislike of hipsters. No, most of the time you will get television, movies, literature, politics, sports, and music. All that good stuff you like, and so do I. And I promise, we will be taking a savage journey to the heart of the American Dream.
posted by Will S. at 7:36 PM
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