Dawes: Royale Boston 11.6.10

I distinctly remember listening to Dawes for the first time back in early 2009, just before the band opened for Delta Spirit at the Middle East in Cambridge.  As I did my due dilligence the night before the show, the obligatory myspace opening band research, something clicked when I first heard "When My Time Comes".  The soft arpeggiated intro building to a plainspoken verse and finally exploding in an anthemic, breathless refrain, an ambiguous mantra:  "When my time comes / Oh oh....".  The listener is left to fill in the blank of exactly what happens when our time comes (our moment to shine, redemption, death?)...and that's exactly what makes the song so easy to connect with.  It's a personal anthem, and I was instantly hooked. 

To be honest, I don't remember much about Dawes' set that night - except for the fact that I was impressed with the performance, enough so to pick up the album.  I later saw the band open for Langhorne Slim at a sweaty TTs, and then again headlining at Great Scott.  That show sealed the deal, I swore I would never miss a Dawes show in Boston.  Road warriors in the truest sense, Dawes tours constantly and leaves everything on the stage - as with all truly great live bands, their live performances completely transform and transcend the album versions.  A review and live recording from that show at Great Scott became the first ever post on visible voice. 

Now, almost 9 months later and with a triumphant Newport Folk Festival performance under their belt, Dawes returned to Boston again last week for a headlining show at Royale.  Still touring behind their debut North Hills, the setlist included most of the old favorites as well as a number of new songs from their upcoming LP (scheduled for a 2011 release).  The band was on fire right out of the gate - opening with "My Girl To Me" followed by "When You Call My Name".  The first new track of the night came next and was also one of the highlights - "If I Needed Someone" is propelled by a driving beat, Alex Casnoff's keyboard fills and a chorus that's impossible not to sing along with.  After that opening, the rest of the show was mostly a blur.  Another late highlight was the 1-2 punch of "Peace In The Valley" (that guitar solo!) and "When My Time Comes" to close the main set.  Frontman Taylor Goldsmith's always-impressive guitar work was especially firey, the rhythm section was in lockstep and the harmonies were perfect (well, perfect enough for rock n' roll, that is).  Before leaving the stage after a two song encore, Goldsmith promised to be back in Boston again in the upcoming months and I have no doubt the crowd will be even larger next time - and I know I'll be there.

Complete live recording of the show is available for stream/download below.  The sound quality is generally excellent (improves a bit after the first song), despite a bit of crowd chatter.  Also, thanks to the dude who decided to make an obscene comment directly into the mic during "If I Needed Someone" - classy.  Enjoy!

Dawes
Royale Nightclub - Boston, MA
November 6, 2010

My Girl To Me
When You Call My Name
If I Needed Someone
That Western Skyline
How Far We've Come
Love Is All I Am
Time Spent In Los Angeles
Bedside Manner
Fire Away
Peace In The Valley
When My Time Comes
Little Bit Of Everything
I've Got A Feeling

Lossless zip available upon request - comment if you want the link (and include your email address).

Photos from Dawes and Peter Wolf Crier at Royale

New music: 1900s - Babies

Chicago indie-pop band The 1900s just released their second LP Return of the Century last week.  Catchy 60s-inspired pop, gorgeous harmonies and more than enough melodic/instrumental twists to make it interesting.  Check out a free track from the album:

The 1900s - Babies

Stream or download the full album at the band's bancamp page, and check them out at the Middle East Upstairs next Sunday (11/14) with Tunng.

Video for "Amulet", the lead track off Return of the Century:

The Love Language - Heart To Tell (video)

The Love Language's Libraries is one of our favorite releases of the year.  The shimmering-yet-scruffy sophomore effort exceeded our high expectations, proving that Stuart McLamb could grow as a songwriter while still retaining the qualities that made the band's debut stand out - catchy songs, heart-on-sleeve honesty, and a lo-fi take on Wall of Sound arrangements. 

The band has just released a video for standout track "Heart To Tell" - check it out below, along with a video we shot of the band at TT The Bears in July:

New music: Faces On Film - Some Weather

     

Faces On Film's debut, The Troubles, was one of my favorite albums of 2008.  Now, two years later the band is back with follow-up Some Weather.  Where The Troubles recalled Modest Mouse at times, but mostly explored the darker side of indie-folk, the new record adds reverb and loud/quiet dynamics, creating truly epic songs that remind me at times of classic My Morning Jacket and The Walkmen.  Smart arrangements give the songs room to breathe, but add unique touches - sleigh bells pop up often, rich piano and organ compliment acoustic and electric guitars.  Still, the focus of these songs is Mike Fiore's personal lyrics which soar above the music, painting vivid scenes and memorable melodies.  With two beautiful records under their belts, Faces on Film are a band that deserve to be heard and loved by a national audience - hopefully it's just a matter of time.

Check out the band's bandcamp page where you can stream and buy the album.  Check out one of my favorite tracks from the album below:

Faces On Film - Moon's Row

Catch Faces On Film TONIGHT at the Paradise with Blitzen Trapper - tickets are still available

Delta Spirit - Waits Room EP

Delta Spirit's History From Below is still in heavy rotation on my ipod, and yet the band has just announced the Waits Room EP.  Here's what the band has to say about it:

We are happy to announce that we will be releasing a 5 song EP entitled "The Waits Room" just in time for our Fall tour! It will be available only as digital download and vinyl. The iTunes release date is November 16th. We are most excited to announce that we have a limited pressing of 300 12" 180 gram vinyl EP's available only at our shows! We had fun recording this EP with 2 mics live in the "Waits Room" at Prairie Sun Studios. Hope you enjoy!

This is one of the few bands that I will always see when they're in town and will buy everything they put out.  I can't wait to grab my copy of the Waits Room EP on vinyl when the band hits the Paradise on Black Friday (tickets).  Haven't seen a tracklist yet, but here's hoping that they include their excellent cover of Tom Waits' San Diego Serenade - it would be appropriate, afterall.

Balthrop, Alabama: Subway Songs & Cowboy Songs

I'm a few months late on this, but better late than never to mention Balthrop, Alabama and the excellent pair of records they released earlier this year: Subway Songs and Cowboy Songs.  As you might have guessed, the titles of the records hint at the contents - Subway Songs leans on the more urban, street-poet side of folk while Cowboy Songs has more traditional country influence.  The constant thread between the albums is the songwriting - quirky, well-crafted songs brought to life by an eclectic 10-piece band.

Balthrop, Alabama - Subway Horns

Junip + Sharon Van Etten at Royale TONIGHT

Junip, Jose Gonzalez' off-and-on side project is in town tonight supporting their fantastic new record Fields.  If you haven't listened to Fields yet, it comes highly recommended - especially if you like Gonzelez's silky-smooth voice/guitar playing on his solo work.  What's even better is that the supremely talented Sharon Van Etten will be opening for Junip at Royale.  Free tracks from both bands below:

Junip - Always

Sharon Van Etten - Don't Do It

 Unfortunately I won't be able to make it to the show tonight, but I highly recommend checking it out if you can.  Tickets are still available here and at the door.

HOWL: Allen Ginsberg gets the biopic treatment

Taking a quick break from the usual stuff to post something that isn't music related for a change.  Beat literature is defined, for most people, by two works; Jack Kerouac's On The Road and Allen Ginsberg's HOWL.  While an On The Road movie is finally in development (after years of rumors), Ginsberg has gotten the biopic treatment in the new film HOWL.  I'm a big fan of Beat literature and can't wait to see this.  If you missed the 10/1 screening at Coolidge Corner (like me), you can watch on Comcast On Demand.

Chuck Prophet at Lizard Lounge 11.4-5

I was casually surfing venue websites a couple weeks ago, trying to keep tabs on the must-see shows coming up, and I did a double-take when I saw that Chuck Prophet was playing two shows at Cambridge's tiny Lizard Lounge on November 4th and 5th.  To be fair, I can't claim to be well-versed in Chuck Prophet's solo work - but I've spent enough time listening to Green On Red's Gas Food Lodging to know that this is a show I can't miss.  Well before Uncle Tupelo took the country+punk combination and turned it into a movement, Green On Red was making great, nasty country-inflected garage rock - something like The Replacements playing Merle Haggard songs.  Truly one of the first "alt-country" bands, though that label probably didn't exist at the time.

Take the next week to brush up on Chuck Prophet's solo stuff (I'm starting with 2009's ¡Let Freedom Ring!) and then check out the shows next Thursday and Friday (11.4-5).  Tickets for both nights are available here.

Not sure I'm allowed to post this, but I'm taking my chances - a great song from Gas Food Lodging and one of my favorite songs for a Halloween mix:

Green On Red - Black Night