Looking Ahead to 2009

[ERawkStar]

lol i remember someone's sig said something about offending Decemberists fans...
but I don't remember who's it was.

That's me. The Decemberists can eat a bag of dicks for all that I'm concerned. I'm also not used to checking on the signature box every time I make a post...

Andrew Bird is playing the Civic Opera House a week before my birthday.

I think Lovers is coming out with a new album and I think I saw something about them playing Quenchers in February (or is it an imposter band?).

I saw an old friend last week play with the Woes. I'm hoping 2009 does for them what 2008 did for O'death (like, get them more fans).



P.S. to SG, what's up with the embedding quote limit?

[GhostOfElectricity]

I try and check out as many new-to-me bands as I can but it gets so overwhelming. I practically get the shakes reading the posts of people here. My to-read pile of books threatens to topple over and crush me and somehow that is less anxiety-making than coming on the interwebs and, by the time I've read this board and a couple of music blogs and listened to the NPR song of the day, having all these band names spinning in my head.

yeah I can relate to that. For me seems like I'm discovering a new band everyday and it's really hard to keep up.
Not only do I also have a huge pile of books to read, I've got this large list of bands that I've been wanting to check out but it doesn't seem to get any smaller.

well, all i know is what jonathan posted on his myspace blog:

We are currently at work on a new album after a jam-packed 2008. We'll be touring Europe in May and are very pleased to be playing this year's All Tomorrow's Parties festival.

More frequent updates can be found at our web page: http://www.shearwatermusic.com

JM

thanks for posting that
Shearwater obviously don't rest much lol.

[papertiger]

I'm also looking forward to the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs record. And Handsome Furs. I don't know about the Decemberists... I really like them but I think The Crane Wife sounded way too 'big' sometimes. But still, I'm kinda curious about the next one and I'm still hoping they'll play here one day.

[beamish]

Oh, I love the Woes. I join you in hoping 2009 is a break-through year for them. Of all the live covers I saw last year by far the best was their (New Orleans funeral dirge style) "Purple Rain." They kick all kinds of ass, and have one of my favorite things in a band, that obvious joy in being up there and playing music. I can't think of another band, not even OR, so contagiously happy.

[suzanne78704]

THE LOW ANTHEM!!!

I am so excited someone else has finally heard of them! Aren't they great? I am listening to them right now.

I just saw that The Low Anthem is playing SXSW!

[beamish]

Okay, here's the part where I have to mention I've seen them live twice, once at a decent sized venue and once in a teeny tiny room, and both times they just did not take control of the room. They own wherever they are when doing the up tempo, rocking, stomping songs, but on the slow songs and in between they have a real lack of charisma/presence. The first time I saw them I thought it was just that they were playing a bigger room than they usually do, but that second time the place was miniscule. I think it's because there's no real frontperson to take control (they play musical instruments--I mean, musical musical instruments--on one song the person who was just playing bass plays drums, etc.). I'm seeing them this Thursday in a gorgeous, intimate club where the audience is likely to be older, and seated, and thus more quiet, and I'm interested to see how they do with that. It's the one thing that keeps me from recommending them unreservedly. But I'll let you know how they are this Thurs.

[beamish]

Andrew Bird at Carnegie Hall: Extraordinary! I am so, so grateful I got the chance to be a part of that. The new stuff sounds great (I mean, beyond the sounding-greatness of acoustic perfection). Old stuff played included Imitosis, Tables and Chairs, a truly inspired version of Why?, a very old song I'd never heard called Some of These Days, and for the second encore, an absolutely incredible Fake Palindromes with the entire audience on its feet clapping along.

[suzanne78704]

Andrew Bird at Carnegie Hall: Extraordinary!

Glad you enjoyed Andrew Bird. Was this the show that included the Low Anthem? How were they? You mentioned lack of charisma/stage presence...although I agree with you that it helps, that's low on my priorities. I love Jay Farrar and Son Volt, but Jay has the stage presence of a saltine.

As I posted in another thread on the OR index, Shearwater tonight at the Mohawk! There's a brief interview with Jonathan in the Daily Texan today (available on-line). Speaking of stage presence, I saw Shearwater before and after they opened for Coldplay...Jonathan has really amped up his stage moves...he totally rocks the banjo

[beamish]

Andrew Bird at Carnegie Hall: Extraordinary!

Glad you enjoyed Andrew Bird. Was this the show that included the Low Anthem? How were they? You mentioned lack of charisma/stage presence...although I agree with you that it helps, that's low on my priorities. I love Jay Farrar and Son Volt, but Jay has the stage presence of a saltine.

HA!

No, Dosh opened for Bird. Low Anthem was last night. It was by far the best live experience I've had with them but they're still a little green and unfortunately Ben's vocals on my favorite song, "Charlie Darwin," were very quiet and it was a bit rocky. But then they warmed up and it turned out to be a great, great set. Definitely see them at SXSW but I hope, for your sake and theirs, that the room isn't rowdy and that a couple more months of touring toughens them up. They are just adorable and everything they do is noticeably infused with love, so now they just need a bit more backbone and there will be no stopping them.

Have a great time tonight! I still haven't listened to Shearwater (please, nobody kill me, I'll get to it!).

[Cedric]

I still haven't listened to Shearwater (please, nobody kill me, I'll get to it!).

We can postpone it, but not for long!
lol

(but seriously, i know how that goes. there aren't enough hours in the day...sigh)

[Falling]

Andrew Bird at Carnegie Hall: Extraordinary! with the entire audience on its feet clapping along.

Sounds like the crowd was more energetic at Carnegie Hall than at MHOW. The crowd was mostly silent and inanimate for the first half, which prompted him to ask if he was playing too many new songs. That set off a couple of rounds of suggest that tune, which he then ignored. I love him and was happy to be there, but it wasn't his most inspiring show (and audience). He also kept coughing and it seemed like he wasn't feeling well.

And I would have preferred Dosh for the opener.

Disclosure I: I left before the encore.

Disclosure II: I have no idea who/what Dosh is, but anyone/thing would have been better for me than the opening band we had.

[GhostOfElectricity]

Have a great time tonight! I still haven't listened to Shearwater (please, nobody kill me, I'll get to it!).

haha! Don't worry you're not the only one. I haven't gotten around listening to them either yet.
It's not that I want to but I just never seem to remember or have the time.
I will listen to Shearwater.....eventually.

[ManekiNeko]

shearwater is the best. you are missing out

[cruzichick]

NPR has a nice shearwater archive, if you want to listen before committing to buying anything. I definitely don't think that if you like OR that you'll like shearwater - the sound is really different. Palo Santo may be the most perfect piece of aural art I've ever heard. And as a bonus, if you really get into it and start buying the older stuff, you get more Will Sheff songs!

Suzanne - any chance you could post something about the concert on the shearwater message board? Did they try out any new songs? It's really quiet over there, and we're all going through a little SW withdrawal...

[suzanne78704]

Suzanne - any chance you could post something about the concert on the shearwater message board? Did they try out any new songs? It's really quiet over there, and we're all going through a little SW withdrawal...

Well, I'd love to post something about the show...if I'd actually attended They said the show was going to be outside. I am such a whimp when it comes to cold weather...if it's below 50 degrees I can't take it... Lame, so lame, I know...