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| Popwreckoning to Check Your Head & Give You Free Stuff Posted: 14 May 2009 11:47 AM PDT Generally speaking with time and popularity comes demand. After 17 years, the Beastie Boys have finally decided that the demand to release their third studio album was great. Popwreck Winner will Receive: Prize can only be sent to United States addresses. For more information on Check Your Head, please check out www.beastieboys.com Related Posts |
| Manchester Orchestra @ The Record Bar, Kansas City Posted: 14 May 2009 10:37 AM PDT In this economy, some may have noticed that concert attendance has taken a bit of a dive, so a good solution seems to be cheaper ticket sales. Hence the “96 Cent Stimulus Show” offered by 96.5 The Buzz and Manchester Orchestra at the Record Bar. OK, so tickets were really a $1, but still, that is dirt cheap for a concert to see one of this year’s biggest buzz acts. Not surprisingly, it sold out in a matter of minutes and there was really no question that it would. The only question really was would the band’s deliver a $1 show or would they deliver a performance worth more than its weight in gold? The tiny Record Bar–it only holds a little over 200 people–was already quite packed and hot from the summer air and body heat by the time opener Winston Audio took the stage. The band quickly had the crowd’s attention with their dark indie-rock, but it was “Hey Ann” that had people rushing over to the merch table to buy their new album The Red Rhythm. Joined by a few Audrye Sessions members, “Hey Ann” juxtaposed heavy strums and heavy beats with a lighter, catchy chorus. Winston Audio tricked the crowd by seemingly drawing this song to a close before coming back even bigger than before with the chorus.
Audrye Sessions set the mood with some special lights that reflected up at them. They started off with their radio single “Turn Me Off” and then proceeded with a melodic set filled with keys and lots and lots of percussion. Though the group is from Oakland, CA, they channeled a wide range of British influences, most notably that of Muse. Often times lead singer Ryan Karazija went Zeppelin on his guitar, playing it with a bow. The set mostly stuck to their self-titled release, but on new song, “Bone Dry” members of FUN joined the band on stage and added extra percussion like xylophone and washboard. Though their debut is still relatively new, this song had me aching for the follow-up album.
FUN is quite literally fun. This band name has driven me crazy because it seemed so cheesy, but after seeing this band for a second time, I must admit this is the most accurate band name I’ve heard in a long time. Soundwise, this band may have been a little out of place with the angstier music of the other groups. A little more tropical, vaudevillian in sound, but lyrically, they fit in quite well. However, the contrast was most welcome and it was nice to see the audience join in ass-shaking and hand clapping for practically every FUN song. For the Format fans in the crowd, Nate Ruess appeased them with “The Snails” and “First Single.” Ruess owned the stage and despite the tiny stage already putting him ridiculously close to the crowd, he stood on the monitors and leaned out into the crowd. They ended with their single “At Least I’m Not as Sad” and taught the audience to sing along with the “Oh oh ohs” making it extra loud and rocking. FUN doesn’t have a record out just yet, so I may not have song titles right, but they played:
“Oh fuck. It’s us,” shouted singer Andy Hull as headliners Manchester Orchestra took the stage. The strange greeting was a fair representation of Hull’s unique sense of humor. Manchester Orchestra has drawn some comparisons to Brand New and while the similarities are there to some degree, Manchester Orchestra is still a very unique band. With six members squeezed on a stage that is practically smaller than my closet the rising rockstars showed that their biggest similarity to Brand New is the intense passion they use to deliver their music. Every aspect of this show was entertaining. Every musician was skilled and Hull had to be closely listened to as he changed phrases or added bits and pieces to various songs. Watching multi-instrumentalist Chris Freeman was like a show in itself. Freeman went from playing keys to drumming to air drumming and at times, lifting his shirt over his head and letting loose a chilling howl. The mood of the performance and the songs was enough to raise hair and by the end of the band’s set broken chairs, drum sticks and guitar strings littered the stage. It looked as if a tornado had gone directly through the stage. As a weird sort of calm after the storm, Hull finished the show alone with an acoustic guitar. In stark contrast to the angst-ridden set, he closed with a humorous cover of “Me and Julio.” Though not a true encore, it was a perfectly cathartic ending to a near perfect show.
Set list: (** designate pieces that I remember as being extended or slightly altered.)                          Manchester Orchestra: website | myspace | Mean Everything to Nothing review | @ radio room | interview with Chris Freeman  Related Posts |
oning has decided that our need to make you happy is greater. Therefore we’re giving you the album. The catch? We need you to place the phrase “http://popwreckoning.com asked me to Check My Head and Pass the Mic!” on as many forums as you can find. Then, leave the links you’ve created in our comment box for us to read. The comment box with the most links will be crowned out winner. We’ll choose a winner by Friday, May 29.
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