Mp3s: Midlake live in Cambridge, MA
Posted on July 31, 2006 at 11:13 am | No Comments
Y’know, I almost missed this one. Last Wednesday I was home after a pretty stressful workday, my mind already dead set on a restful evening, when an email arrived reminding me that the Denton, Texas band Midlake was playing across the river at TT the Bears in Cambridge. I’d heard a couple of their songs, and while I remember liking them, I was too distracted at the time to really dive in. But that last-minute note motivated me to load up some mp3s, read a couple glowing reviews, and arrive just in time for their opening set. And it was magic.
Midlake are the back seat of my parents’ car, sunday afternoons in the mid-1970s, driving down long Vermont roads towards the homes of random relatives. Listening to the radio, looking out rolled-up windows as the tops of trees flew by. A little Fleetwood Mac, some Steely Dan, and America. Midlake take these songwriting sensibilities, throw in a dash of Flaming Lips (who they recently toured Europe with), and end up sounding both nostalgic and unique to now all at once. You hear a one of their songs and you know it’s no one else making music nowadays. Their just-released second album, “The Trials Of Van Occupanther“, is the perfect summer disc, and I haven’t stopped listening to it since the show.
Here’s their all-too-short set from last Wednesday…
Live at TT the Bears
Cambridge, MA
Monday, July 26th, 2006
01. Balloon Maker
02. Young Bride
03. In This Camp
04. Van Occupanther
05. Some of Them Were Superstituous
06. Roscoe
07. Bandits
08. Head Home
Six of those can be found on the new disc, while the opening song and ‘Some of Them Were Superstituous‘ appear on their 2004 debut, ‘Bamnan and Silvercork‘ (which I’m now compelled to buy immediately).
I’ve never seen TT’s stage so packed with equipment… Midlake’s drummer was behind a veritable bunker of musical machines. Four separate keyboard setups (though only one band member played keys exclusively, the rest rotated), multiple guitars, and a projector that backlit the band with homemade visuals and old movie clips. Hard to beat the combination of great songs being played in front of a young Nastassja Kinski.
Fans of the Cold War Kids and Sound Team, who played after Midlake left the stage, will be wondering what I thought of (and more specifically, if I recorded) their sets… and I’m sorry to disappoint you. My indifference towards those bands, the packed room, and the increasing crowd-fueled heat led me outside and back to Allston. I wanted to keep the lingering sounds of Midlake’s set in my head, and it was easy to do… listening to the disc on the way home, and editing the recording well into the night. Can’t wait until they return to Boston as the headliners they should be, and treat us to a much longer list of songs.
Midlake plays a few more dates with Sound Team and Cold War Kids before hitting Lollapolooza on Friday, and then heading overseas for some festivals…
August 2nd – The Magic Stick, Detroit, MI
August 3rd – Kuyahoga Festival, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
August 4th – Lollapalooza, Chicago, IL
August 11th – Bergen Festival, Bergen
August 12th – Oya Festival, Oslo
August 15th – Rotown, Rotterdam
August 16th – Paradiso, Amsterdam
August 19th – Pukkelpop, Hasselt
Some Midlake links…
Boston music bloggers Synaptic Blur and Hello Gina were both at the show, and wrote about it, too. More Cowbell raves up their new disc, and Gorilla vs. Bear expected great things back in March. How right they were. Australia-based Get Big, Little Kid offers up not only a song from the new album, but one of the alternate versions that appears on an Oz-only EP. Midlake’s MySpace page.
the fine print… If anyone has an issue with this live set being made available, just say the word (email link on left). 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.
Lucky me, I’m on vacation this week, and mere moments away from hitting the road to head towards scenic Newport, Rhode Island for a few relaxing days. I’ll pick a winner of the DMZ giveaway when I get back, and hopefully be posting a bunch more in the days before I head back to work. Yeah, I know, promises promises.
Mp3s: Camera Obscura live in Allston
Posted on July 26, 2006 at 9:30 pm | No Comments
Scottish sextet Camera Obscura are at the tail end of a North American tour that brought them to Allston’s Great Scott a couple weeks back, and the packed room was more than happy to have ’em. Reviewers can’t seem to resist referencing Belle & Sebastian when they write about them, thanks to their shared homeland, similar instrumentation, and gentle-pop stylings, but that didn’t really occur to me until I read it somewhere (and I lost my B&S love long ago). I get a ‘slightly more somber Heavenly‘-vibe from Tracyanne Campbell’s songwriting, and appreciate the way they’re easily able to incorporate varied styles (motown, country) into their work. Their latest disc, “Let’s Get Out Of This Country“, is their best yet, both production and song-wise, and they did an excellent job of bringing the new stuff to the stage. Here’s their Boston set…
Live at Great Scott
Allston, MA
Thursday, July 6th, 2006
01. Come Back Margaret
02. I Love My Jean
03. The False Contender
04. Teenager
05. Tears For Affairs
06. Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken
07. banter 1
08. Dory Previn
09. banter 2
10. Let’s Get Out Of This Country
11. If Looks Could Kill
12. banter 3
13. Country Mile
14. banter 4
15. Eighties Fan
16. banter 5
17. Razzle Dazzle Rose
18. I Need All The Friends I Can Get
19. banter 6
20. Suspended From Class
Tracyanne relays this story in the banter above, but it’s worth a retelling here: When the band pulled into town, they noticed a couple of teenagers hanging around outside the doors to Great Scott. Too young to get into the show, they actually had a note from their mom, in hopes that would be enough for the staff to let their ages slide. Unfortunately, thanks to Boston’s ultra-strict liquor-laws, that was a no go. Their mom was still in the area, so she came by to try and chaperone them inside… but no luck there either.
But here’s the thing: It was Lloyd Cole’s family. Yes, that Lloyd Cole. The Scottsman who wrote 1984’s “Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?” with his band The Commotions. The song that Camera Obscura’s “Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken” was written in response to. Mrs. Cole & kids had driven 90 miles to see the band play it, and they were sadly shut out. Some band t-shirts, and perhaps a muffled listen outside the fire door, were all they got. But hopefully the kids will surf by here and get a listen to the song they drove all that way to hear.
Something else you’ll hear between songs: The band dedicates a number to my pals Jesse & Keira (aka The Flarsons), who were celebrating their wedding anniversary that night. A nicer couple you will never meet, and it was super-cool to hear the crowd share in the congratulations (and to hear Keira’s ‘thank you!’ on the recording).
Some Camera Obscura-related links for you…
Chromewaves writes up the first show of the tour in Toronto, and provides us with some beeeeyooootiful pictures. His shots get better and better. For the Records wrote up that show as well. The band has a tour blog, but it’s very much in need of an update. Openers Georgie James were quite good, prompting me to dig deeper into their stuff. Exitfare profiled them recently. The band gets a write-up, and Tracyanne gets interviewed, at Rolling Stone online. Can’t remember the last time I had a reason to link to, or even think about, Rolling Stone. Have a look or listen to their appearance on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic from last week. Eight songs live in the studio, including a Sheena Easton (!) cover. Check out the video for “Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken” over at YouTube. Lots more CamOb video to be found there, too, including a newly-recorded live clip of that song from the Troubadour in Los Angeles. The Village Voice reviews the new album.
Camera Obscura’s North American tour finishes up this week with just a few more dates, so don’t miss ’em if they happen to be near you…
Thursday, July 27th – Varsity Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
Friday, July 28th – Logan Square – Chicago, IL
Saturday, July 29th – Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH
Sunday, July 20th – Southgate House – Newport, KY
as always… If anyone has an issue with this live set being made available, just say the word (email link on left). 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.
I’ll end this with a chance for kindness: Gabe over at Audiocrush (one of my favorite indie podcasts) has a 10-month old kitty named Gertie, and she fell three stories to the ground last week. She’s doing ok now, but not after a painful $3000 in vet bills. If you’re feeling generous, help Gabe & Gertie out with a little donation. It’ll do your heart, and Gabe’s wallet, a whole lot of good.