Ever since I started playing Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band’s self-titled debut album, out now on Dead Oceans, I haven’t stopped listening it. Needless to say, I was stoked to hear the band would be touring the States in support of the stellar effort and would be stopping in my fair city before hitting South By Southwest (where I’m lucky enough to catch the five piece again) before continuing on their way opening for indie pop outfit Bishop Allen.
Openers Singsing and Marmar were totally wrong for the show. Their mellowed and boring indie rock was punctuated with great beats on two floor toms played by the band’s front man that made certain songs listenable, but the vocals left something to be desired and the overall set just dragged. It was a weak start to what I was expecting to be a high energy and fantastic show.
The basement gradually filled as Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band began to set up. I was disappointed that place was little more than half full for the band I’ve been addicted to for weeks, but so it goes, be it the not so stellar economy or the fact that it was a Thursday night. Either way, the Seattle based band turned in a solid performance featuring the eclectic mix that is their album. The entire band exhibited great energy and I was most impressed by the skills of young drummer Marshall Verdoes, adopted brother of front man Benjamin Verdoes. Keeping it in the family, Benjamin’s wife Traci provides jangling tambourines and silky and driving keyboard melodies all while moving around at a frantic pace.
With only one album under their belts, the band had have little wiggle room in regards to what to play, but they churned out a full range of danceable pop jams including my favorite track, “Going On A Hunt”, complete with group vocals and racing riffs, “Cheer For Fate” and “Anchors Dropped”. They culminated with the slightly more toned down “Albatross, Albatross, Albatross” and had the crowd fully pumped for headliners Bishop Allen, who turned out an equally danceable set full of lilting pop rock gems.
Tour Dates: Mar 14 - Local 506 / Chapel Hill, NC Mar 15 - Rocket Club / Asheville, NC Mar 16 - Hi Tone Cafe / Memphis Mar 17 - Sticky Fingerz Chicken Shack / Little Rock Mar 18 - House of Blues / Dallas Mar 19 - The Mohawk / Austin (SXSW) Mar 20 - Back Lot: Urban Outfitters / Austin (SXSW) Mar 20 - Austin Convention Center / Austin (SXSW) Mar 21 - The Palm Door / Austin (SXSW) Mar 21 - Home Slice Pizza / Austin (SXSW) Mar 22 - Plush / Tuscon Mar 23 - The Troubadour / W. Hollywood Mar 24 - Rickshaw Stop / San Francisco Mar 26 - Kilby Court / Salt Lake City Mar 27 - Velour / Provo, Ut. Mar 28 - Hi Dive / Denver Mar 29 - Jackpot Saloon / Lawrence Mar 30 - Off Broadway / St. Louis Mar 31 - Subterranean / Chicago Apr 02 - Iron Horse / Northampton, Ma. Apr 03 - Middle East Downstairs / Cambridge, Ma. Apr 04 - Music Hall of Williamsburg / Brooklyn Apr 05 - Bowery Ballroom / New York City Apr 07 - Brillobox / Pittsburgh Apr 08 - Bear's Place / Bloomington, In. Apr 09 - Courtyard Cafe / Urbana, Il. Apr 10 - Der Rathskeller / Madison Apr 12 - 7th St. Entry / Minneapolis Apr 13 - The Aquarium / Fargo Apr 15 - The Badlander / Missoula Apr 16 - Empyrean Coffee House / Spokane Apr 18 - Doug Fir / Portland May 23 - Sasquatch Festival / George, Wa.
If music moves anybody, it’s New Orleans by way of Sweden songbird Theresa Andersson. Moves isn’t even the right word. Andersson is music personified. The voice that emanates from her petite stature is truly a treasure. I can’t imagine Andersson doing anything other than performing music and playing around with her looping equipment while writing songs in her kitchen.
With her immense talents for singing, looping, playing the guitar and violin and banging away on the drums, it’s a wonder to think that any part of Andersson’s life isn’t completely consumed by the music that moves her so. And until I talk to her about it, I can go on believing that she is all music, all the time: no silly hobbies like gardening or blogging (meta!) or snow globe collecting. Andersson epitomizes great music and anyone who gets to experience her performance in the flesh is nothing short of lucky. I, myself, got to catch Andersson at the Tin Angel, for the second time, and was just as impressed the first time around, even though the set and jokes were essentially the same.
From the sampling of Smokey Robinson to the four part harmonies of “The Kitchenettes” (essentially Andersson looping herself singing three harmonized parts, with the last part live) to the energetic violin strumming or heated banging on the drums, Andersson puts on not only a fanastic show to get the audience pumped, but she more than delivers musically and vocally.
Tour Dates: Mar 14 - Blueberry Hill / St. Louis Mar 18 - Emo's Annex / Austin (SXSW) Mar 20 - Antone's / Austin (SXSW) Mar 23 - The Basement / Nashville Mar 25 - Bijou Theatre - Tennessee Shines Radio Show / Knoxville Apr 12 - New Orleans Botanical Garden / New Orleans Apr 30 - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival / New Orleans
Ida Maria is releasing Fortress Round My Heart digitally on March 24th from Upper 11 Records and is already making waves with single “I Like You Better When You’re Naked”. Check out the video for “Oh My God” here!
You don’t have to be a thief to get your hands on the new Company of Thieves album Ordinary Riches. We’re giving it away! This Chicago group is being praised for their singer’s Fiona Apple-like vocals and witty lyrics filled with pop culture and literary references.
To win a signed copy of the album Ordinary Riches, just comment on this post what movie is being referenced in the band’s video for “Oscar Wilde”.
We’ll select a winner by Sunday, March 22. Please use a valid email address. Also, we sadly can’t ship internationally, so this is limited to US residents only.
Want some more goodies? The band has another contest going on where you win a year of Netflix from the band. Check it out here.
The Get Up Kids are playing a 24-song set tonight at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, KS and are giving their local fans the thrill of their lives. The GUK are currently playing Something To Write Home About in its entirety and the whole thing is being videotaped. So don't you worry, non-Kansas folks. You'll soon be able to watch the entire set. And that, my friend, is definitely something to write home about. (See set list below).
In addition, to surprising fans with the announcement of the recording, the band surprised bandmate James Dewees (keys) with a cake and a “Happy Birthday” singalong to celebrate his 33rd Birthday. Happy Birthday!
Set list: (All of Something To Write Home About….) Holiday Action & Action Valentine Red Letter Day Out Of Reach Ten Minutes The Company Dime My Apology I’m A Loner Dottie, A Rebel… Long Goodnight Close To Home I’ll Catch You (First Encore) Man of Conviction Coming Clean Up On The Roof No Love Woodson Never Be Alone Anne Arbour Campfire Kansas Holy Roman Danny Pound cover Mass Pike
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Reunited, and it feels so goooood.
