Mp3s: Caspian in Allston, MA
Posted on April 8, 2007 at 8:28 am | No Comments
It’s a big week for the boys in the Beverly-based band Caspian, as their long-awaited first full-length, “The Four Trees”, officially arrives this Tuesday. To mark the release, the guys will be on WFNX tonight, appearing on the weekly New England Product program at 10pm, and will be hanging out at River Gods in Cambridge tomorrow night for an album listening party (and playing some of their owns faves). The week peaks with a bound-to-be-great Friday night headlining show at the Paradise in Allston, which launches the band into a month-long national tour, delivering the sounds of “The Four Trees” to our west and south.
Having spent a solid week with my pre-order copy of the disc, I’m so glad to discover that it delivers on the promise of their lauded 2005 “You Are The Conductor” EP, and much more. They’ve expanded on the balanced sides of their sound, adding depth in both directions, from pure power to remarkable fragility. There are moments of massive near-metal (the good kind), and others that are too beautiful for words (so to speak). The effects-laden dual-guitar interplay is more intricate, aided even by the occasional acoustic lull, and the rhythm section is even more dynamic, two facts that set them above and apart from other like-minded instrumental artists.
Y’know, it almost seems a slight disservice to categorize Caspian as an “instrumental” band, although there’s no denying that’s what they are. Unfortunately some more passive music fans stick modern instrumental acts in a box, labeling them “post-rock”, and moving on to others with lyrics and singers that serve ’em up (the same types might skip an amazing foreign film just because of subtitles). But the fact that Caspian offers no words, and therefore no easily-uncovered meanings behind their music, for me only adds to the emotional impact of what they create: it is what you make it, it brings to you what you bring to it. Critics will use easy words like “cinematic” to describe their sound, and the songs may find their way onto soundtracks (which has brought cash and exposure to some of their categorical peers), but it can’t be dismissed as “background music”. It demands your attention, and in fact, it’s driving me to distraction as I’m trying to write this. I’m taking long breaks just listening, getting even more psyched for the Paradise show on Friday.
With the band’s permission, here’s a set they played back in January, just down the street at Great Scott. The night was a benefit for those impacted by the fire at the Pan9 art collective space in Allston (and despite the passage of time, I’m sure they could still use your help if you’ve got a little cash to spare). While the sound quality of this set is pretty good, it still doesn’t do the band’s live shows justice, doesn’t recreate what it’s like to stand in front of them with eyes closed and ears open…
Live at Great Scott
in Allston, Massachusetts
on Tuesday, January 9th, 2007
01. Some Are White Light
02. Crawlspace
03. Quovis
04. Further Up / Further In
05. Last Rites
06. Moksha
07. Brombie
Buy Caspian’s “The Four Trees” from Dopamine Records, for a mere $8 at Newbury Comics, or digitally via eMusic. You can also pick it up at Friday’s show at the ‘Dise, so grab tickets to that over here, or cheaper at their box office. Joining Caspian will be the excellent On Fire and Constants.
Some Caspian links…
Their own website, the band’s MySpace page, and the Dopamine Records site. Mp3s: “ASA“ from “The Four Trees”; “Further In“ from “You Are The Conductor; “Loft“ from their May 2004 demo; Download a complete live Caspian set from Seattle in 2005 at the Live Music Archive; A live version of “Last Rites“ recorded in December 2004 at Gordon College; other recordings can be found on Caspian’s music page. Video: Check out a short video of Caspian working on the new song “Some Are White Light“ in their practice space, and a couple live clips as well. As I mentioned, Caspian’s month-long U.S. tour in support of new album kicks off on April 19th in NYC. For a full list of all the dates, check here. As ever, you can listen to all ‘Nac-hosted tracks on the Hype Machine.
the very fine print… Recorded with a Sony ECM-719 mic and a Sony MZ-RH10 minidisc, converted to .wav and then edited to 192kbps mp3s. Mp3s are made available for a limited time, and are not reposted once removed.
Mp3s: Ted Leo + the Pharmacists in Boston
Posted on April 3, 2007 at 9:52 am | No Comments
At any given moment, it’s more likely that Ted Leo and his Pharmacists are on the road than not. And with the recent release of “Living With The Living”, Ted will be hunting for cheap hotels and good vegan food all over the place, with North American shows in April and May, then a ton of European dates over the summer. Rinse, rest up, and repeat.
Boston’s been lucky enough to get no less than four (maybe five?) Ted visits within the past year as he readied material for the album, and two of them couldn’t have been more different from each other: a Sunday afternoon all-ages show at the small-ish Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge (an announced solo set that turned into a full-band surprise), and just a few months later, an opening slot for Death Cab For Cutie at the resplendent Boston Opera House. While seeing Ted and his band play is never less than worth it, it’s not tough to guess which set was more fun.
When I shared that Middle East set back in August, I deferred to Ted’s wishes that I hold off on posting the not-yet-recorded new songs. Regardless of how blown away I was by the first ever live performance of “The Lost Brigade“, the songs were still in their formative stages, and I was happy to oblige. But with the album’s arrival, the spreading of various live versions around the ‘net, and the many requests from ‘Nac readers, I thought it’d be alright to let them see the light of day. So along with the TL/Rx Opera House set below, you’ll also find the missing songs from that amazing August performance. Enjoy…
Live at The Boston Opera House
in Boston, Massachusetts
on Thursday, November 2nd, 2006
01. My Vien Ilin (fade-in)
02. Dial Up
03. Sons of Cain
04. Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?
05. Me and Mia
06. Army Bound
07. Counting Down the Hours
08. Little Dawn
09. Timorous Me
10. Walking To Do
(Death Cab For Cutie’s set can be found here)
and the new songs from August 6th, 2006
at the Middle East Upstairs
in Cambridge, MA
(for the rest of the show, go here)
11. Sons of Cain
13. Some Beginner’s Mind
18. Army Bound
19. Unwanted Things
21. Who Do You Love?
23. Colleen
26. The Lost Brigade
Some Ted Leo links…
Ted’s own website, which should soon see a redesign, the band’s MySpace page, their Wikipedia entry, and the Touch & Go label page. Mp3s: “Sons of Cain“, courtesy of Touch & Go; an alternate version of “Bomb.Repeat.Bomb.(1954)“; No less than sixteen downloadable mp3s on Ted’s audio page. Video: The new clip for “Bomb.Repeat.Bomb.“; an older one for “Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone?“; and a link to a full Ted Leo YouTube search, where you can find a wealth of Ted footage. For some truly excellent TL video action, pick up the “Dirty Old Town” DVD on Plexifilm, which chronicles the Pharmacist’s 2003 visit to Coney Island for the Siren Music Festival. For a taste, check out this live clip of “Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone“. More Cowbell has a great write-up of Ted’s appearance with DCFC when hit the DAR Constitution Hall in DC a few days after the Boston stop. Ted Leo & the Pharmacists return to Boston on Friday, May 4th for a show at Avalon. Tickets are still available here. Opening up are tourmates Love of Diagrams. As ever, you can listen to all ‘Nac-hosted tracks on the Hype Machine.
postscript… If anyone has an issue with this live set being made available, just say the word (contact info in the ‘nac faq). Recorded with a Sony ECM-719 mic and a Sony MZ-RH10 minidisc, converted to .wav and then edited to 192kbps mp3s. Mp3s are made available for a limited time, and are not reposted once removed.