popwreckoning updates |
- Múm w/Sin Fang Bous @ Black Cat, Washington DC
- Copeland Breaks Up
- Our Lady Peace ‘The End Is Where We Begin’ New Video
- Interview with: TJ of Broken Truth
- Hadituptohere – Wild City, Honest Dancing
Múm w/Sin Fang Bous @ Black Cat, Washington DC Posted: 29 Oct 2009 01:00 PM PDT Sindri Mar Sigfusson, aka Sin Fang Bous (or Sin Fang Blues Brothers as he asked us to call him) looks like an even more baby-faced Beck and is just as cuddly. It’s a rare occasion that I check out a support act as I hate waiting around for the main act to come on (why do they insist on taking so long?), but Sing Fang Bous’ warm and fuzzy sounds were a pleasant welcome to the friendly space of the Black Cat. Low-key retro pop was the order of the day, and, while it wasn’t revolutionary, it was certainly enjoyable, with a refreshingly sparse and pure sound — no unnecessary quirks. Elements ranged from folky acoustic guitar with handclaps to sea shantyish organ sounds, the best tunes being the simpler ones. He ended with “Life,” a song in the epic-indie style, which I found the least engaging. The milder stuff was better, something I’d happily settle down with now that winter approaches and the nights get darker. In contrast to the simpler pleasures of Sigfusson, Múm are a multi-instrumental band of multi-instrumentalists, with a rotating string and guitar section, at least three dedicated singers, as well as bass, organ, trumpet, laptop, kazoos, mouth-organ, harmonica, and drummer, and some other stuff I don’t know the name of. They were suitably foreign, all wide eyes, cute phrases and smiles, funny clothes and haircuts, just the kind of thing an indie crowd laps up (though perhaps it wasn’t part of the act? Maybe their clothes and haircuts reflect the collapse of the Icelandic economy?). I went in to the show having heard some of the older stuff and expected some ethereal ambient female-led electronica with some good glitchy beats, a bit Sigor Ros, a bit Bjork. What I ended up hearing was a little more down to earth and more along quirky indie lines, apparently a reflection of where the band is now, which is fair enough. They started out very soothingly, to the point where I began to wonder if their choir-like sound worked well in a space like the Black Cat, with it’s low ceiling and basement vibe (though it’s actually on the top floor). Soft electric slide guitar and mournful trumpet carried on the warm tones from Sin Fang Bous on “If I Were a Fish.” Other early songs made use of the strings and voices supplied by Hildur Guðnadóttir and Sigurlaug Gisladottir and the sound was quite experimental, with good use of the trumpet in particular. Gunnar Örn Tynes seemed to play the role of band leader and whipped out his mouth organ fairly often. He looked faintly ridiculous, but the toy-like sound fitted in well with the overall calming mood of the songs. Later on things were more uptempo, Múm’s amazing rhythm section working as well as a drum machine to get people’s feet moving. Playground 8-bit beats were layered with shimmery guitar; a cowbell was heard while Guðnadóttir and Gisladottir added theatrical (and somewhat overemphasised) yelps; whale-like bass backed up what sounded like a heavy rock christmas carol. The Orb-like dub and skittery beats of “A Little Bit, Sometimes” were particularly impressive, the overlayed mouth-organ bringing Red Snapper to mind. The electronic side of Múm is definitely impressive, but sadly there somewhat twee indie-rock side is less so — kazoo and harmonica orchestras are amusing, but an extended jam that seemed to last twenty minutes started to grate. Some of the latter dynamics were also predictable — loud-quiet, female-male, fast-slow. It’ll get most of the crowd going but it’s not particularly clever. Having said that “Sing Along” was scary and unhinged which seemed very apt for some reason. Live bird whistles were employed before the song vapourised into a rock lullaby echoing from the 50’s. The encore made up for the somewhat lagging final third of the show. “Green Grass of Tunnel” has that glacial vibe I was looking forward to, and the band stretch it out live into something far more filmic, with elements of the Cocteau Twins and (sorry) Bjork, and some glorious floor-shaking bass. A bit of a mixed bag then, but something to satisfy most indie-rock fans and even some electronica ones, if they don’t mind their beats a little buried under the avant-garde. Related Posts |
Posted: 29 Oct 2009 11:54 AM PDT With sad news, we give you this message was posted on Copeland’s website today:
Copeland: website | myspace | You Are My Sunshine review | interview with: Aaron Marsh | @ beaumont | @ slowdown Related Posts |
Our Lady Peace ‘The End Is Where We Begin’ New Video Posted: 29 Oct 2009 09:00 AM PDT
Our Lady Peace: website | myspace | @ troubador | interview with: Jeremy Taggart Related Posts |
Interview with: TJ of Broken Truth Posted: 29 Oct 2009 08:04 AM PDT Omaha’s rock pop group Broken Truth is doing something a little different and they’re hoping that with their difference, they can bring change not just to Omaha, but to all of the industry. Read on to learn about this piano rock group and their big plans: Bethany, PopWreckoning: I'm kind of bummed…I used to live in Omaha and I missed out on you guys, I guess. PW: How often do you guys play at Nomad? Is it once a week or several nights a week? PW: Yeah, I know that Nomad kind of does theme nights. Do you get in on that action at all? Do you have to dress up and participate in their circus or whatever theme? PW: So why do you consider yourselves vaudevillian? Why do you feel you fit in so well with that? PW: Nah, it was a good answer and it makes it sound like you've been doing the music business longer than a fresh band. PW: Now, how does having a stay in a club as opposed to touring around and doing a show in a different club every night compare? Do you have a preference or is this a really unique experience? PW: If it is confidential, I don't want to ruin anything. When you talk about Omaha artists, people often think Saddle Creek bands. What do you think of Saddle Creek and what advice to those Omaha artists that are trying to forge their own name when they're not Saddle Creek? PW: So what are some non-Saddle Creek or non-Saddle Creek sound bands in Omaha besides you guys? PW: Sweet. I'll have to check them out. To get back on you guys then, I was reading somewhere how tarot cards have kind of led you. What is that about? PW: So give me an example of something that it helped inspire to write. PW: Haha. So you have that new song and you do have this debut album, so are you already looking toward putting out a new album? PW: Sure. I'll ask around. To wrap up, for a lot of people that haven't heard of you, is there one thing that you'd like to emphasize or have your band be known for or to just get out to the masses? One final statement. Related Posts |
Hadituptohere – Wild City, Honest Dancing Posted: 29 Oct 2009 07:00 AM PDT "We're the Hadituptohere's and we've had it up to here with rock 'n roll." While this basic statement of love begins the Hadituptohere's live performances, it seems to also be the same idea that bore punk rock. Of course that idea has mutated. Somewhere along the way punk rock was commandeered (you probably already knew…I blame Blink 182, but feel free to blame any other band that proclaims "pop punk"). Just a few short years ago Avril Lavigne opined in Rolling Stone that she was the first to blend punk with other sounds. That is a false, weird statement. Furthermore, why blend punk with anything? The Hadituptohere's prove it was fine where it was. Their latest record, Wild City, Honest Dancing, being the most supreme example. On the record the Hadits seemingly channel the spirits of any number of bands: The Stooges, Black Flag, The Plugz, or any other band that could have/should have been on the Repo Man soundtrack. This implies some sort of mimicry, which is unfair. You shouldn't necessarily like a band just because they remind you of other stuff you like. The Hadits channel these bands but turn it into something raucous and true. “Party” may be the best of the 12 song album. Stu (guitar and vocals) casually transitions between riffs while Steve (bass) delivers an atypical flowing bass line. Jared (drums and vocals) continues to be punk rock's Keith Moon. Lyrically the songs delve into the social and emotional ("If I read the right books would that make me a scholar?/If I said the right words would that make me a prophet?") and the revelry created at their live shows ("And we'll dance till we get this town out of the gutter/Let's sing because it sounds so much better together"). Download Wild City, Honest Dancing here. A vinyl release will be upcoming. Want more information on the Hadituptohere's? Check their myspace. Tracklisting: Written by Adam Leroy Related Posts |
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