Remix Monday: Friendly Fires “Paris” Posted: 05 Oct 2009 03:16 PM PDT Friendly Fires is a pop trio from the UK and one of my favorite bands of the year. They've been making quite a name for themselves and were one of the nominated for this year's Mercury Prize. I haven't listened to their entire album in whole, but I keep running across its songs on different occasions and find myself loving them. I think I've covered the whole album by now and nothing on it disappoints me. They also make really fun and creative music videos, which all contain some pretty wild and funky dance moves by lead singer Ed McFarlane, which he alone could only pull off so that they don't look lame, but instead rather impressive. .Friendly Fires – “Paris” “Paris” was the second single released from their album and a track that really started to get them noticed. It features backing vocals from Au Revoir Simone during the chorus, which to me is the best part of the song. I say so because the vocals are matched with Ed McFarlane's words, which are sung so high they express a youthful yearning for something out of reach, both combining for a stargazing chorus. Musically it's quick with soft percussion featuring cowbells and an immensely depressed synthesizer for an organ feel. .Aeroplane Remix I like this mix a lot more than the original. It starts off with moody synthesizers with every press on the keyboard an isolated note. The track employs some mixed cool and refreshing musical 'ah's' that are more windy than wordy. It also isolates the best part of the song, Au Revoir Simone's vocals. In fact, McFarlane's vocals are absent, which isn't really a loss, just because the female vocals make it an intimate song. The mix also takes the cowbells from the original and amplifies them with a slight electronic touch that bounce and prance across the song for a glockenspiel effect. It's really just a pretty mix. .Arto Mwambe Remix A little rougher take on the song but still creative and good nonetheless. The Arto mix takes the soft, shoe gazey feel of the original and breathes a little more of a dance club vibe. We have some heavier dance beats, a touch of trance synths, and the lyrics come off more like rap than singing. This mix gets a little repetitive at times because it fails to diversify itself, but it really locks you in a trance if you're on the dancefloor taking some medication you shouldn't be taking. .Justus Kohncke Remix I have to say I really like this mix. It's the most re-worked of them all with a long instrumental intro that keeps the soft, intimate mood of the track. It breaks in with the vocals, which are heavier, coming across more direct to the listener. It then features a multitude of sounds that keep churning in a light trance/electro vibe. Friendly Fires: website | myspace | Friendly Fires review | remix monday: “skeleton boy” | @ black cat | @ Dot to Dot Festival | interview with pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 | @ Lollapalooza 2009 | @ le poisson rouge | @ music hall of williamsburg Photo by: Bethany Smith Related Posts - September 28, 2009 — Remix Monday: Au Revoir Simone “Another Likely Story” (0)
- September 22, 2009 — White Lies to Tour North America, Support Kings of Leon (0)
- September 15, 2009 — Interview with: Hockey (0)
- August 26, 2009 — Friendly Fires perform “Kiss of Life” on Jimmy Kimmel Live (1)
- August 22, 2009 — Phenomenal Handclap Band @ Liberation Dance Party, DC9, Washington DC (0)
- August 17, 2009 — Friendly Fires with the xx @ Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC (0)
- August 17, 2009 — Friendly Fires with Phenomenal Handclap Band @ le poisson rouge, NYC (4)
- August 14, 2009 — Lollapalooza: Sunday, Day 3 @ Grant Park, Chicago IL (2)
- July 23, 2009 — New Friendly Fires Video on MTV, Band to Play Jimmy Kimmel and Nylon Winter Tour, Release Expanded Version of Debut Album (0)
- July 21, 2009 — Mercury Prize Nominations Announced (2)
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Preview: Riot Fest, Chicago IL Posted: 05 Oct 2009 10:30 AM PDT Riot Fest, a huge punk festival, is entering its 5th year in Chicago. The festival started in founder Mike Petryshyn’s basement and has since grown into one of the largest punk festivals spanning several Chicago venues. This festival is the embodiment of the punk DIY spirit. This year’s bands include Alkaline Trio, NOFX, Screeching Weasel, Dead Milkmen, Butthole Surfers and more. The festival runs Oct. 7-11 and tickets are still available. Riot Fest: website | schedule Related Posts |
Interview with: A.A. Bondy Posted: 05 Oct 2009 09:00 AM PDT Alabama folk singer A.A. Bondy recently released his second solo album When the Devil’s Loose this past September and has spent much of his time extensively touring and hitting the festival circuit. Our writer Marc Z. Grub caught up with Bondy on the phone to ask him a few questions. .Listen to Marc’s full interview with A.A. Bondy. A.A. Bondy: myspace aa Most Commented Posts - July 27, 2008 — Spin releases their Top 25 Live Bands Now: (25)
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Amanda Palmer November Tour Dates Posted: 05 Oct 2009 07:00 AM PDT Punk cabaret artist Amanda Palmer is hitting the road for an East Coast November tour. Amanda Palmer has a new DVD, book and bizarre perfume line to help compliment her latest album: Who Killed Amanda Palmer? Nervous Cabaret will open and perform as Amanda Palmer’s back up band. Following this tour, Amanda Palmer will go to Australia to work on her project with the Evelyn Sisters and perfect the album release of the “joyfully tragic” tale of Evelyn Evelyn. Tour dates: Nov. 11 – Higher Ground / South Burlington, VT Nov. 12 – Port City Music Hall / Portland, ME Nov. 13 – Pearl Street / Northampton, MA Nov. 14 – Music Hall of Williamsburg / New York, NY Nov. 18 – Theatre of Living Arts /Philadelphia, PA Nov. 19 – State Theatre / Falls Church, VA Nov. 20 – Carrboro Arts Center / Carrboro, NC Nov. 22 – Bijou Theatre / Knoxville, TN Amanda Palmer: website | myspace | @ highline ballroom | Who Killed Amanda Palmer? review Related Posts |