Feist at Wexner - Nov07

*Photo by Kim Rottmayer, picturethesound.com

Feist came through town on November 18th for a stop at the Wexner Center, bringing with her a bunch of fellow Canadiens, a badly sprained ankle, and tons of notoriety as "that girl from the new nano ad". As it turned out, the very subdued-arts center crowd was perfect company for a set-list with emphasis on the mellow and a "healing" front-woman. Chit-chatting with the audience, directing sing alongs, helping someone propose to his girlfriend, showing up on drums for a few songs during Jason Collett's opening set(the girls in front of us felt pretty stupid for talking through his set after he thanked her for sitting in) - all contributed to the creation of a loose and friendly vibe. Feist's skills as an artist, singer, guitarist, and all around entertainer are abundantly clear. Seeing her perform live is a very enjoyable experience. Jules and I don't make it out together that often at this stage of life - so this made the payoff all the more satisfying. The night brought back fond memories of western Ontario and my time at the Wex. As I pondered all that is the Canadian musical renaissance these days, I couldn't help thinking back to the MuchMusic playlists of the late 80's. Back then it seemed that nothing of any kind of quality came from north of the border (save Neil Young - but he doesn't count cause he lives in Northern Cali). It was comical to watch - like a Christian music video channel - all imitation no innovation. It's not Triumph, Rush, and Tragically Hip anymore. Nowadays it's like auto-cred to be a cannuck. I've always loved the fishing, the beer, the provincial parks, the northern lights, and Kids in the Hall. Well that nation's indie-rock has remained safely on my "list of things I like about Canada" for most of this decade now. Feist is at the top of that list.

where were you when moment...

i was at the local grocery store with my mom. i was 7 years old. they announced it over the public address system. people were stunned into silence. my mom got really serious. it was probably my first experience with grief. elvis was a regular part of the fox residence. my dad would put on a stack of elvis records and work around the house. he had this big old tube amp and very large solid wood jensen speakers. that warm sound would envelop the entire house. that voice, that sound, the charisma visible in performance and films, provided some of the best memories of my life. elvis was important because he was experienced and enjoyed with people that were the most important to me, and he was important to them. i remember being confused and little unsure, but it was clear that these people believed that he was gone....

Thanks Jack White - 70's Rec Room Soundtrack

my socioeconomic/historic placement in this life meant that i spent my formative years in places like this. every respectable suburban breadwinner supplied such spaces for their progeny. i can recall with vivid clarity my introduction to LedZep2 in my friends basement. a high-school graduation party - and all of the italian families in town showed up, young-ins in tow. while the responsible folks celebrated upstairs, the youth were invariably asked to go to the rec room to play pinball, bumper pool, etc. one guy in our neighborhood had a house PA in his rec room with a drumset on a riser. woody looked like sly stone - always wore a visor. his basement parties were like being invited into a movie. what i'm saying is that the rec room crossed all ethnic barriers. sadly - these spaces are a relic of american culture. you don't see this kind of stuff at your local "great indoors". damn shame.

i've been listening to the new White Stripes record Icky Thump for a week or so. the association with the aforementioned recreational spaces is strong. this time out the Jack/Meg pull heavily from all of that 70's sound. a few years back think i called elephant their "zeppellin album". that description was about 4 years premature. the references are pretty blatant "english/scottish folk", heavy handed slide riffs, country inflections, bigdrums. jack white is jimmy page&robert plant, he's angus young&bon scott, he's keithrichards&mickjagger, - all packed into one person and sprayed across these 13 tracks liberally (even a little eddieVH&DLroth on this one (rag&bone - recognize this riff and attack?)) . put simply - it's great fun listening to this record. maybe it's the proximity of columbus & detroit? but i'm still drinking the red and white kool-aid (even if originates in nashville these days).

perhaps the most remarkable thing about the Wstripes is their staying power and their fan base. they are the rare exception of a band who's appeal crosses many barriers. when i was working at the arts center in 2000 - all of the art types (undergrads, grad-students, curators) were in love with them. a Wstripes release is a cultural event. all the fashionable types that i work with these days are talking about this record, sharing it, and name dropping it. all the magazines have to cover it. whether you're headed out tonight to whole foods, the 9:30 club, your local starbucks, or your town art museum - you're probably listening to Icky Thump right now. me? i'd prefer shag carpet, wallpaper, and onkyo amplifiers for my listening experience.

MIA and her Zubaz greenscreening in jamaica

this thing can be watched a few times. go here to listen to a quality stream of the track - totally different experience. go here to see how her visual people present it. we may be sick of this track before the record is released in August, but it's fun in june.

you haven't picked up this many dance moves since the peanuts.

The Walkmen- Brandy Alexander


my man coreyH and i have had the pleasure of seeing these guys a few times over the years (he more than I). their sound is unique and the energy and care that they spend on their live sets is impressive. they are building a hefty body of work as well. i once watched them carry twelve packs of black label in cans on stage at a Jdaniels sponsored event. a stroke of coolness that only underscored the prevailing "vintage" impression that exudes from these guys. they never seem to stop touring, so if you check their schedule it's likely that you can catch them in the next couple of months at a venue near you. this is quite possibly my favorite song from 06. corey just shot me this video link. enjoy...

More Canadian Sounds

That Wolf Parade record was a good one. The side project of Dan Boeckner (the WP singer with the Beck-esque sound) is called Handsome Furs. The sound is minimal and repetitive - by design. It might not be the most accessible stuff, but Boeckner's ability to take a verse melody into a chorus melody is omnipresent (same as WP). I don't mind hearing stuff over and over when it's dialed in like this. For some strange reason, it's not easy for semi-famous Canadian musicians to get visas - so their US tour has been canceled for the time being. Hopefully it will all get straightened out soon.

La Blogothèque and his Take-Away Shows

#41 - Arcade Fire - Neon Bible & Wake Up
Uploaded by lablogotheque

maybe you've heard the stories about these guys setting up impromptu performances on NYC streets and the like. this means that arcade fire and the La Blogothèque guy should become fast friends. stick with this one - they perform neon bible in an elevator & head out into the venue to perform for the waiting crowd. the french may be cynics - but they are also romantics....