A lot of important albums snuck up on me this past week so I wanted to cover some of the bigger releases. These two albums have almost nothing to do with each other, but that's the beauty of music they don't have to. One is releasing their first new album in 16 years the other changing their sound completely. This week I'm reviewing Mumford and Sons' Wilder Mind, and Faith No More's Sol Invictus.
Mumford and Sons- Wilder Mind
Here is my review of Mumford and Sons Wilder Mind.
Recommended Songs: The Wolf, Snake Eyes, Broad-Shouldered Beasts, and Cold Arms.
3.5/5 Stars
Faith No More- Sol Invictus
Here is my Review of Faith No More's Sol Invictus.
Recommended Songs: Superhero, Cone of Shame, Motherfucker, and Matador.
It would be just like me to wrap up a concert recap blog for the month of April at the end of May, but these things happen. I have so many cool music stories that I just have to tell them when I have the time. That time is now! In the month of April 2015 I saw three concerts Sabaton with Nightwith, Sufjan Stevens, and Ok Go. So many cool bands so little time, so lets get started.
Nightwish/Sabaton 04/19/15 7 Flags Event Center
The show actually had another opener before Sabaton, but I didn't get there in time to see them. Sabaton have their own brand of live shows. They turn the area into an army marching ground. They had 45 minutes to play and got in 9 songs, a ton of bits, and the greatest night ever for one young fan. They opened the show with Ghost Division and To Hell and Back before breaking for a bit about the singer sucking at guitar. He tried to prove that wrong with Smoke on the Water. Next came a jam and more songs, including one in Swedish. They ended the set by bringing a young fan on stage to honor his first metal show and jam with the band for the last few songs. The singer even gave the kid his glasses. This kids first show must have been one to remember.
Next up was a Symphonic metal band called Nightwish. I didn't know much about them, but I had heard nothing but great things. Nightwish have one of the best female rock vocalists ever, and they know how to showcase it well. She does trade off vocal duties with the guitarist as well. They play a 2 hour show off of 7 albums and 17 songs. The show even had some rarities thrown in that hadn't been played in a long time like Stargazers. The show reminded me of renaissance music if it were turned electric. Plug in that Lyre Orpheus and let us see if we can wake Hades himself. My favorite moments of the show were the ones were they brought out flutes, bagpipes, or acoustic guitar ballads. I love how easily they incorporate different instruments into their overall sound. They put on an overall amazing show full of solos, stories, light-shows, and overall mid evil symphonic show that was unlike anything else I had ever scene. I immediately bought their new album and played it on repeat.
Sufjan Stevens 04/21/15 The Midland
This back to back shows in Kansas City might be the best example ever of my own inability to say no to certain bands live. I missed seeing Ok Go in Minneapolis and immediately bought tickets to see them in Kansas City. Too bad I didn't notice I already had tickets to Sufjan Stevens. After a brief panic thinking I had two shows on the same day, I realized that I had to make two back to back trips to Kansas City. We left later than we planned and got there after the opener. The audience as expected was full to the brim with hipsters, but in this case it's ok. You really have to have a quiet audience to take in all that is Sufjan Stevens.
Sufjan Stevens Performing Chicago Live.
He opened the show with Redford and followed that with almost all of the new album Carrie and Lowell. The last track Blue Bucket of Gold would end the main set. Seeing Sufjan perform is like seeing Neil Young or Bob Dylan perform in their prime. His lyrics, music, and performances are that of a much older soul and a poetic folk master wise in the ways of the world. He has a way of working dynamics like none I have ever seen before. His quiet songs are just him and a guitar or banjo, with you on the edge of your seat just to hear, but when he plays loud he plays really loud. During the song Blue Bucket of Gold he blasted the song with an extended outro that grew so loud that rock stars would take notice. He played songs of all of his albums including Futile Devices off of The Age of Adz. The encore is where the real magic happened, back to back hits. He opened the encore with Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland Illinois followed by For the Windows in Paradise, That Dress Looks Nice on You, John Wayne Gacy Jr, and ended with Chicago. I was an absolutely stunning show with very little said throughout.
Ok Go 04/22/15 Uptown Theater
The second of two nights of stupidity began with work and then a job fair. After that I made my way to Kansas City. I got there around 9:30 just in time for Ok Go. Around that time I walked in and somehow made my way into the VIP section. In truth I just walked in, but so did another drunk girl and we had a lovely discussion about how we should form a club about sneaking into the VIP section. That girl ended up getting caught and thrown out before the show started, big surprise. Finally around 10 Ok Go came out to a clip of actors from famous movies saying the word Ok and then Go.
Here is Ok Go performing Here is Goes Again Live.
They opened the show behind a video monitor for Upside Down and Inside Out and You're So Damn Hot. They played a few songs including This Too Shall Pass before making a song using recorded audience noises as the back beat. The song was There's a Fire, following that Damien entered the crowd solo and played the Last Leaf from the crowd solo. Several times during the night they had the audience ask them questions. These were very entertaining, including how singer Damian's dog almost ruined the music video for White Knuckles by smelling so bad. From there they played music off of all the albums, shot the audience with confetti, covered Led Zeppelin's Black Dog so well it gave me chills. The came back from the encore with a new outfit and did the dance form A Million Ways and then ended the show with White Knuckles, I Won't Let You Down, and Here it Goes Again. They are one of the quirkiest and and most fun live shows around. Don't miss them if you get the chance.
I have two big review to wrap up today. I never thought I would see the day when we would have another Blur album to review. This album was never supposed to see the light of day, so I guess we can count our selves lucky to have it at all. That's not the only exciting piece of music I have to review. Alabama Shakes are back with the follow up to their critically acclaimed Boys and Girls. This week I will be reviewing Blur's The Magic Whip and Alabama Shakes' Sound and Color.
Blur- The Magic Whip
Here is my Review of Blur's The Magic Whip.
Recommended Songs: Go Out, My Terracotta Heart, Ghost Ship, and Ong Ong.
4/5 Stars
Alabama Shakes- Sound and Color
Here is my review of Alabama Shakes' Sound and Color.
Recommended Songs: Don't Wanna Fight, Dunes, Gimme All Your Love, and Miss You.
Let's jump back a little bit to the month of March. I saw a few cool shows in March 2015, and I would like to tell you about them. First I went back to middle school for Jason Mraz. That streak then continues into freshman year for New Found Glory. Finally on to a tried and true legend, Stevie Wonder.
Jason Mraz 03/09/15 Stevens Auditorium
I have been a fan of Jason Mraz since Waiting for my Rocket to Come, but I haven't been a fan of everything he's done. His last album before the new one was Love is a Four Letter Word and I hated it. I even decided not to see him on the tour because all the material on it was from that album. This time he was playing in Ames on a tour from his newest album Yes. So I checked the setlist, and I listened to the new album. After being pleasantly surprised I decided I wanted to go. There was no opener and we got there a little bit late, so right as we walked in his back up band Raining Jane was playing without Jason Mraz. I got there and they gave a speech about how they met him at a festival and needed a change of underwear as he loved their set and wanted to record with them. Apparently it went well that he wanted them as his new band.
Jason Mraz performing The Remedy Live.
Right after that speech, out came Jason in his hat as typical. He was charming and started the show with a medley Rise/ Love Someone and Song For a Friend before playing a song that was written for a song writing challenge. That song was Dynamo of Volition, a fast and fun song like the old Jason I remember. The only downfall of the show is that it was one of the only fast songs played. Even The Remedy was changed and played in a slower way. The First half was a fun set of music mostly composed of music from We sing We Dance We Steal Things and Yes, with some Four letter word songs thrown in. The arrangements for the live show were set to string quartets with Jason singing and only a few full band songs. I was OK with that because they were beautifully performed and the second half would have the hits, and it did. The second half had them play I'm Yours, The Remedy, and I Won't Give Up. The show was beautiful and a lot of fun, but I have to admit that the lack of material from his first two albums, and a lack of fast paced songs was a disappointment. I loved what I heard and it was worth it, but his focus on new stuff and complete lack of old music was my biggest fear from the beginning. It's a different Jason from when I knew him, so go see him but keep that in mind.
New Found Glory 3/19/15 Wooly's
Going into this show I hadn't lightened to New Found Glory in a very long time, so for me this was a high school punk rock refresher course. The show had several openers some I loved, some I didn't care for, and New Found Glory. As New Found Glory later explained that was the nature of their fan base. They toured the world with ska bands, punk bands, hardcore bands, and emo bands. Their fan base was a melting pot of all of that put together. The first band was an acoustic duo in the style of Dashboard Confessional, a band I have never been that much of a fan of so I tuned it out and waited. For the next band everyone started to storm the stage to get a better view and I wasn't sure what to expect. What came next was nothing like the first band. A band called Turnstile took the stage and blew everyone away. They were like witnessing a young Black Flag live. I had never seen a band on the rise to what surly would be a long career, but this band is destined for it. They officially converted me. I bought their album and personally think it is the best hardcore album of 2015.
New Found Glory performing My Friends Over You live.
They took the stage with style at 9:30 on the nose. They played material from all of their albums including their debut. They started the show with Selfless and Resurrection from the new album Resurrection before diving into material from their other albums. The show was an hour and half and 21 songs. They ended the set with My Friends Over You from my favorite album Sticks and Stones. The encore was The Ballad For the Lost Romantics, The Story So Far, Intro, and ending the show with All Downhill From You. During the encore they blasted the crowd with a crap ton of confetti. The show was a blast from the past and a ton of fun.
Stevie Wonder 3/29/15 Target Center
Everyone has one of those shows that is like a pipe dream and a footnote on the bottom of a concert bucketlist. I have a few of them, but Stevie Wonder has always been one of them. I saw that he was playing in Minneapolis on a Sunday. I had been watching that show for a while, knowing full on that it was a terrible idea. However I knew that he doesn't tour very often and he is getting up there in age. I didn't want to miss my chance. This show was even more special because he was playing all of his monumental album Songs in the Key of Life. We got to the show and were very thankful for there being no opener and Stevie not coming on time, because the lines were insane and we didn't get into the show until 8:30
Stevie Wonder performing Superstition live.
He came on stage at around 8:40 and he gave his speech about how important tonight was because of how important this music was to many people. His band was the most elaborate thing I have ever seen. He had a horn section, back up singers galore, guitarists, bassists, organ players, piano players, drummers, and a string section local to Minneapolis. He played the entire album all the way through stopping several times to do bits, tell stories, jokes, and just in general be charming as hell. He did a bit where challenged the back up signers to a sing off and of course he won, but they sounded great and he won because they stopped out of respect. After the first half of his set he came back to do his second half and was greeted by the mayor who presented him with a plaque and a key to the city for his movements to equal rights, charities, and for helping create MLK day. They also official named March 29th Stevie Wonder day in Minneapolis.
He played all of the hits on the album like he hadn't aged a day; Sir Duke, As, and Isn't She Lovely sounded amazing like his voice hadn't aged a day. I could've listened to him all day, and we practically did. After he finished Songs in the Key of Life, he said that it was past his bed time and if we wanted more music that we would have to except him as his DJ alter ego DJ Tick Tick Boom because Stevie Wonder had left the building. For a while he played around with DJ things, before he launched into parts of songs starting with Part Time Lover and several others before launching into an amazing version of Higher Ground. After that he played Living in the City and ended the show with the obvious closer Superstition. This show was unbelievable on every level, a legend performing as a true legend. The band was awesome and full of experts, the bits and stories were great, and Stevie himself sounded as he always did. He blew the crowd away. The show was a marathon for both him and the audience lasting from 8:30 to midnight and 29 full songs. I am amazed he can do that. If you ever get the chance to see him, go!
I had jaw surgery recently so you can imagine why recording video reviews might be some what of a problem, but I'm back now. This week I will be reviewing two of the most important bands in the indie rock scene. Two of the biggest releases of the year. One, the first in almost a decade, and the other a shift back in an old style. This week I will be reviewing Modest Mouse's Strangers to Ourselves and Sufjan Stevens' Carrie and Lowell.
Modest Mouse- Strangers to Ourselves
Here is my Review of Modest Mouse's Strangers to Ourselves.
Recommended Songs: Lampshades on Fire, The Ground Walks With Time in a Box, Sugar Boats, and The Best Room.
4/5 Stars
Sufjan Stevens- Carrie and Lowell
Here is my Review of Sufjan Stevens' Carrie and Lowell.
Recommended Songs: Whole Album, or Forth of July, John My Beloved, The Only Thing, and Drawn to the Blood.
This is another blog that is a long time coming. I went to a few cool showsin the month of February and now I would like to tell you about them. I realize this concert recap blog could also double as therapy for my concert addiction. As long as my problems entertain, it's ok. This week I will be reviewing Machinehead, Sleater-Kinney, and Motion City Soundtrack live in concert.
Machinehead 02/11/15 Wooly's
I got to Wooly's early because tonight there was no opener just an evening with Machinehead. I had never seen a metal band do something like this. Machinehead had more than enough music to host a full two and a half hour show, most bands just don't want to. This was a different sort of show. It was a test of endurance for all the metal heads headbanging and moshing. Because of the one band playing the show didn't start till nine. However they were very punctual and right at nine they started playing.
Machinehead performing Halo live
They started the show with Imperium followed by Beautiful Morning off of The Blackening. The next song played was the lead single Now We Die. He told a story about how the last time they played for something called Lazerfest, it was years ago, and when they announced the show on the radio they didn't even mention Machinehead. So when the band played the fest they went on stage trashed the equipment and then left. Then finally last year they played Lazerfest again and described it as really awkward. The show lasted for two and an half hours playing songs off of every album, including four from the new one, and four from The Blackening. They started the encore with an ode to Slayer by playing Aesthetics of Hate. They followed that with Game Over, Old, and finally the obvious closer Halo. At the end of the show after two and an half hours of head banging, moshing, sweating everyone was exhausted and ready to pass out. It was one of the best metal shows I have ever seen.
Sleater-Kinney 02/13/15 Slowdown
I must confess that my first dose
of Sleater-Kinney didn't come until I heard all the buzz about the band and
picked up their reunion album No Cities to Love. I knew Carrie Brownstein from
Portlandia and because of that I was expecting a super indie buzz band. That
was not what I got. What I heard was a balls to the wall punk band with some of
the fieriest female vocals I had ever heard. I loved ever second of it and
picked up all their other albums. It was settled I had to go see them live. So
I looked at their tour dates and made the horrible realization that the reunion
tour was all sold out. I looked on craigslist, and all the other ticket sites
and finally the week of the show bit the bullet and bought a ticket. The show
itself was mix of two different types of fans your hipsters and your old school
grown up riot girls. The opening act was an up and coming female rapper. She
was really good, and had an inspired message about feminism.
Sleater-Kinney perform A New Wave Live.
Around nine Sleater-Kinney came out
blasting played for a furious hour and a half. They opened the show with their
new lead single Price Tag and sounded fierce and raw. Even though the topics of
their songs have changed and they have grown up, they still pack a real riot
girl punch. They show dug heavily from No Cities to Love playing eight of the
ten songs live, but they played songs from every one of their albums. Their was
very little dialogue from the band aside from band introductions and thank
you's after almost every song. Aside from one speech, where the lead singer
described what is what like to be a band again by playing the song Surface
Love. The back drop was a giant white piece of construction with slots cut in
it so that when they jammed fans under it would make it look like they were
destroying the stage with their rock. It was a really cool effect. The encore
started with one of loudest moments of the night, where the lead singer Corin
Tucker dropped her guitar for the first time all night and went to the front of
the stage with just a mic and let loose. From there they played I Wanna Be Your
Joey Ramone, Turn It On, Modern Girl, and ended the show with Dig Me Out. The
show was a rocking good time and everyone in attendance left with a smile and a
little spark of rebellious spirit.
Motion City Soundtrack 02/24/15 Wooly's
I have been a
fan of Motion City Soundtrack since the first time I heard the album Commit
This to Memory, and since have learned to love and appreciate both the band and
the album as one of my favorites. Especially Commit this to memory which I know
every word to. So when it was announced that Motion City Soundtrack was doing a
10 year anniversary for it, touring and playing it all live, I lost my shit.
Even better was that the show was coming to Wooly's in Des Moines. I immediately
got out all my Motion City albums and listened to them all in preparation of
this momentous occasion.
Motion City Soundtrack perform Everything is Alright
Come the night
of the show another shocking discovery. The show had sold out. My music keeps
doing that. I don't like cool things, do I? The one thing annoying about Motion
City live is their choice in openers which is always terrible. The highlight
being the former singer of emotastic band The Academy Is. Once that was over,
Motion City took the stage and blasted right into Attractive Today and the
whole room lost it's collective shit. Which pretty much continued in a haze of
bouncing, screaming lyrics, and nostalgia all the way from Everything is
Alright to Hold Me Down. After that they made a joke bit that bombed and
jumped into more music. The next songs were from their whole discography
starting with Invisible Monsters, a secret songs from Commit This to Memory,
followed by Anything At All our first taste of the upcoming sixth album. This
played the best songs form all previous albums except Go with is a very
polarizing album for fans. From A Lifeless Ordinary and Her Words Destroyed My
Planet from My Dinosaur Life, Last Night, and This is For Real from Even If It
Kills me, and the rest from their debut I am the Movie. They Hit up my favorite
song Capital H, before going to The Future Freaks Me Out to end the set. They
came back and ended the night with My Favorite Accident.
My nostalgia
meter was so full that I decided to hang around for a minute after the show to
soak it all in when the most incredible thing happened. One by one all of the
members of Motion City Soundtrack came out and started talking to the fans. As
the most insane music fan that I am, I always bring something for the band to
sign just in case, you never know. For once I was right to do so! I went around
and got my first copy of Commit This to Memory signed by all the members of
Motion City Soundtrack, and even got my photo taken with the singer Justin Pierre. He
was extremely grateful to meet the fans, but apparently was getting over being
sick and couldn't even talk after the show. It's amazing he was able to play
the show at all. It was one of the best nights I have had in a very long time.
This blog is the blog of expectation and hype. Both artists are dropping their second album after a huge first album. One is a commercial giant and the other is a critical and artistic wonder. So is the sophomore slump apparent here? One artist will succeed and one won't watch and find out. This week I will be reviewing Imagine Dragons' Smoke and Mirrors and Father John Misty's I Love You, Honeybear.
Imagine Dragons- Smoke and Mirrors
Here is my review of Imagine Dragons' Smoke and Mirrors.
Recommended Songs: Shots, Trouble, and Friction
2/5 Stars
Father John Misty- I Love You, Honeybear
Here is my review of Father John Misty's I Love You, Honeybear.
