Tiny Vipers + Balmorhea

Now. Balmorhea is probably the pinnacle of all orchestra post rock. Now, imagine seeing that in a church. With about.... 50 people. That's what it was like Tuesday the 23rd. Philadelphia. Hot as balls. First Unitarian Church's Chapel. It was brilliant. The band played a great set that lulled me like a little baby. Music has an innate ability to get me to close my eyes and just listen. I did just that and it was amazing. The band was simply an electric guitar, paino, violin, cello, and bass. Drums were not present sans the backing drum track. I don't know what happened to their drummer, but none the less, they were fantastic and totally moving as a post rock preformance should be. It was silent, haunting, and the dudes were so nice.

Tiny Vipers is Jesey Fortino of Seattle and she's super soft spoken. She appeared on air at WKDU earlier that day and I had the very fortunate pleasure of meeting here. Her music is that of very sparring, minimalism. It's lyrically focused and thus mostly moving. quite moving, actually. Her voice is perfect for the music and the music is the perfect sort of thing for a church. Let a lone a church at 10PM on a Tuesday night in the midst of summer. Her preformance was no bullshit, straight through, the kind of 'i'm playing music, so get over yourselves' preformance that makes me feel the music. Granted, it's nice to hear the band talk to you, but that's not for every one and every band, I suppose. She, did, however, play 'Dreamer' from the new record Life On Earth which was so beautiful, I can't even tell you.

I highly reccomend everyone see this tour. It's small, intimate, and amazing.

Acid Tongue

So.  Everyone knows that I am literally in love with Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley/solo fame.  She's probably the coolest fucking girl ever.  

Anyways.  

So R5 booked the show to the Troc (I rarely seem them book shows for the Troc's main room.  Anyways.) and I was really excited about that since that's one of my favorite places to see shows (Next to the First Unitarian Church [Except the basement.  I fucking hate the basement]).  I went out and bought a ticket the minute they were available and it was totally worth it.  The show was phenomenal.  Farmer Dave and Deer Tick opened which was was a great way to start the night. Farmer Dave's band consisted of, strangely enough, two members of Obi Best (Who also played with Jenny) and they were sort of a noisy-surfy band, I suppose?  I don't even know.

Deer Tick is working their way up on my list of bands I love.  They sound like Tallest Man On Earth, but with Bob Dylan's electric age mixed with country pop like John Mellanchamp.  Or whatever the fuck his name is these days.  They played a bunch of songs from their new record, Born on Flag Day (Which is great, everyone go get it when it's widely available) and also a bunch of really awesome songs from their first record like Art Is Real (City Of Sin).  They eventually ended up playing a bunch of cover songs, finishing with La Bamba.  I laughed.

Anyways.  Jenny Lewis takes the stage and blows my fucking mind.  For real.  The girl is not only amazingly gorgeous, but she can sing like no other.  The band was super tight, and they played an awesome selection of songs from both solo records.  And she did Silver Lining from Rilo Kiley's last record solo acoustic which was awesome, because that song rules, even if people hated Under The Blacklight.

Go see the show.  Just fucking do it.

I'm Alive

And kicking some hardcore jams. Granted, this isn't any PMA or Hype Machine.... But.... I've been meaning to write about one of my new favorite musical acts. They're a band... but not. But they rule.

If anyone hasn't heard of Chiddy Bang.... You're a fucking fool. Four Drexel University freshman (Yeah, fucking FRESHMAN) formed one of the best collaborations of rock and hip hop. I'm no wordsmith with hip hop and rap music, but I certainly appreciate it (What? A folksy pop punk kid likes hip hop? WHUT!?). None the less, I met Noah and Zach when they came to WKDU to join and be a part of our radio station. They told me about their band, Chiddy Bang, and I had to check that shit out. Their first single, On Our Way, featured a Weezer sample. Yeah. Weezer. Hip hop and Weezer doesn't end well, USUALLY (ex: Jay Zeezer. God that was depressing). But this.... This was fucking brilliant. Since, they added Pat Braz on the guitar and the songs have gotten so much better. Featuring samples from blog hipster favorites MGMT and Passion Pit to a legit ass remix of a Kid Cudi song (granted, I hate the original. So... Anything is better. But this track is DAMN good) to Radiohead. I know what you're thinking. Radiohead is fucking absurd! Why Radiohead!? THE INJUSTICE! Cue dramatic lightning bolts and rain and dramatic music. Shut it. The sample is nothing more then the string parts and chorus of Reckoner (Which is sung by guitarist Pat Braz, so... I don't think it counts quite the same.

None the less, this is probably the hottest band of 2009 and if they don't wind up signed to a major lable and touring with some sweet jams (They've already opened for Mr. Lif and are opening for Wale at the Roots Pre Picnic Show here in Philly [At the TLA]). Now. Everyone do yourself a favor and go to WWW.MYSPACE.COM/CHIDDYBANGPHILLY and rock the fuck out.

You won't be dissapointed. Good dudes making amazing music that will shatter your preconcieved notions. Do it. Right the fuck now.

Playlist for 6-2-09

Black in blue. + Morrissey covers.

Death Vessel	Jitterkadie	Nothing is Precious Enough For Us
Tallest Man On Earth	Pistol Dreams	Shallow Grave
The New Amsterdams	Mayble I'm A Fool	Killed or Cured
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band	Bloodline	Outer South	√
Headless Heroes	Just Like Honey	The Silence Of Love	√
Neko Case	People Got A Lotta Nerve	Middle Cyclone
Deer Tick	Art Isn't Real (City of Sin)	War Elephant
Zee Avi	First Of The Gang To Die	Zee Avi	√
Telekinesis!	Rust	Telekinesis!	√
When I Was 12	You, Me, & Symmetry	Dear Eskimo	√
It Hugs Back	Don't Know	Inside Your Guitar	√
The Weakerthans	A New Name For Everything	Reconstruction Site
The Explorers Club	Last Kiss	The Explorers Club EP
Asobi Seksu	Sing Tomorrow's Praise	Hush
Grizzly Bear	Two Weeks	Veckimest	√
Au Revoire Simone	Anywhere You Looked	Still Night, Still Light	√
Bat For Lashes	Moon and Moon	Two Suns	√
Balmorhea	Night In The Dew	All Is Wild, All Is Silent
Iron & Wine	Swans And The Swimming	Around The Well	√
Alela Diane	White As Diamonds	To Be Still
American Football	But The Regrets Are Killing Me	American Football
Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner	Big Red Machine	Dark Was The Night
The Low Anthem	(Don't) Tremble	Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
M. Ward	Oh Lonesome Me	Hold Time
Marianne Dissard	Track 1	Live at WKDU
Maritime	Tearing Up The Oxygen	We, The Vechicles