When two substances collide: Andrew Bird kicks off U.S. tour

“I’m tired of playing all these instruments. It’s quite taxing,” lamented indie music superstar and whistling champion Andrew Bird toward the end of his July 16 show at the Grand Sierra Resort’s Grand Theatre in Reno, Nev. As a featured artist for Reno’s 2008 Artown festival, Bird kicked off his national tour performing fan favorites including “Fiery Crash”, “My Skin Is” and “Nervous Tick Motion of the Head to the Left” and five songs from his upcoming untitled album, two of which the had never played for an audience.

Decked out in striped green and pink socks, three piece tweed suit and tie and tousled hair Bird looked more like a mad scientist than a classically trained violinist turned indie darling, and to some extent he was. Flanked by his band, a sock monkey, glockenspiel and a modified gramophone, Bird looped Theremin-like whistles, staccato guitar riffs, and driving rhythms with his voice that impressed with its strength and range. Bird’s creations weave together music layers into a sonic tapestry that seems to move forward as if under its own power. In two hours Bird performed on the glockenspiel, violin, guitar and keyboard several times looping a track and switching instruments mid song.

Bird’s articulate phrasing and effective dynamic use, created an altogether unique sound that soared and fluttered as a leaf on the wind unpredictable and scattered but also purposed and graceful. The evening brought to mind sonic chaos of Radiohead and My Morning Jacket but also the harmonies of the Beatles and Beach Boys.

This was particularly evident on “First Impossible” a tune Bird himself described as, “tricky.” owing to a complex beat pattern that took advantage of the offbeat employing them with both skill and elegance, as Bird often does. The song conjured telegram rhythms coming to full and unexpected stops and starting again just as quickly creating a disorienting, fractured piece whose rhythms eventually broke down washed over the audience in waves ending miles away from where it stared.
Bird was full at ease with his audience whom he treated more as guests in his living room rather than paying audience members disarming them with humor and engaging them with colorful anecdotes. Several times during the evening Bird asked the audience for patience and leniency as the band ironed out some bumps and kinks in the set list. And though there were minute missteps in the newer tunes, Bird and company handled trademark complex rhythms and melodies, intricately and delicately designed with Swiss watch precision at dizzying and sometimes breakneck speeds.

Though there were only four people on stage they seemed backed by a virtual symphony of sound layering ethereal whistling skills, eccentric rhythms and to create an organic and distinctive sound and one of the most original and entertaining voices in music.

All Star Cast, VH-1 Honour The Who

Tune into VH1's annual Rock Honors concert tomorrow for an all star tribute to Brit rock legends and CSI theme songsters The Who featuring Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, The Flaming Lips and, of course, Tenacious D. The guests of honor will wrap up the show with a 40 minute set which should include classic Who standards, but may also feature the first live performance of "Slip Kid" since 1976. Though you may have to be in the LA audience to hear it as the performance may be cut down for time.

A candid Roger Daltrey told Rolling Stone recently, “What they use on the TV will probably be the same old stuff...They’ll probably just show ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again,’ ‘Baba O’Riley’ and ‘Who are You?’”

Daltrey also revealed in the same interview that the Flaming Lips are working on a Tommy medley and that Pearl Jam will cover “Love Reign O’er Me” which also appeared on the soundtrack for the film "Reign Over Me." “It’s gonna be weird having them play Who songs while we’re there,” says Daltrey.

Proceeds will be donated to multiple charities, including the Teenager Cancer Trust, an organization that builds hospital wards for teenagers with cancer with which Daltrey has been involved for years. Check here for local listings.

mp3: The Who - "Magic Bus"

Decemberists play The Pageant Theatre

Oregon’s Indie darlings The Decemberists played the Pageant Theatre in Saint Louis, MO with guests My Brightest Diamond on Saturday April 14, 2007 as they continued their Dangerous Forest tour.

My Brightest Diamond kicked off the night with a full on rock set complete with an onstage wipeout by lead (and trained opera singer) Shara Worden. Decked out in matching white leisure suits, MBD channeled their inner Jeff Buckleys and destroyed a short but raucous set which left many in the house noticeably impressed. Worden matches the vocal theatrics of Kate Bush the soulful seductiveness of Nina Simone, and the gothic pop of Portishead, for an altogether unique sound. While her vocal lines may mimic Puccini, her guitar style parallels PJ Harvey.

The Decemberists delved into their back catalogue and worked their way forward throughout the evening playing tunes from both Picaresque as well as The Crane Wife. From Colin Meloy's quavery voice and hyper-literate lyrics to the band's musical and stylistic eclectisim, which includes among others baroque, celtic, pop, prog rock, and dozens of other instrumental variations and styles, there was something for everyone in the house.

The Oregonian octet presented an impressively eclectic effort that was seamless and cohesive. Meloy and company engaged in some traditional and albeit somewhat expected theatrics including a sing along during an expansive rendition of “Sixteen Military Wives” (which included some pointed political punditry), a blistering version of “O Valencia!”, and a delicate, haunting rendition of “Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)” with Shara Worden from My Brightest Diamond. The show’s highlight however was the sprawling encore “The Mariner’s Revenge Song” with solos aplenty, audience participation (wails and moans on cue), and a low-to-no budget “stage whale” which ate the band. The evening’s only disappointment of was the lack of period dress which the stage whale more than made up for. Be sure to check out photos from the concert in our photo gallery.

Ryan Adams' Stonehenge show canceled

It didn't work for Spinal Tap either. Ryan Adams' monumental appearance at Stonehenge has been officially canceled.

Adams was set to play the site as part of the Salisbury International Arts Festival on June 5, but organizers have now scrubbed the show.

Organizers for the festival feared that non-ticket holders might attempt to watch the show from a nearby road, forcing English Heritage to change the venue for public safety reasons.

Unfortunately, neither parties could agree on a suitable alternative site, so Adams has decided not to take part in the festival. "We are very sorry that Ryan Adams will not be able to perform at Stonehenge, but the demand for tickets was both unprecedented and unforeseen, and we have to put public safety first," explained Stonehenge director Peter Carson in a recent NME interview adding, "We have worked with Salisbury International Arts Festival to try and identify a suitable alternative, and have offered to make available another English Heritage site, but we appreciate that it would be hard to find an appropriate substitute for such a unique venue."

Adams is due to release his new album, Easy Tiger on June 25.

Photos: Decemberists rock Pageant Theatre, Saint Louis

The Decemberists and My Brightest Diamond rocked The Pageant Theatre in Saint Louis, MO on April 14, 2007. Review of the show is forthcoming.

To the Decemberists Gallery

High Fidelity: Regina Spector to tour

Russian born, Bronx raised, Indie siren Regina Spektor embarks on her U.S. tour, beginning in Portland on April 24.

This upcoming tour is Spektor's second of the US in support of last year's Begin To Hope. Her September 2006 tour sold out venues across the country. The tour is scheduled to stops by both the Coachella and Bonnaroo festivals.

Spektor's confirmed tour dates:
Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom (4.24)
Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre (4.25)
Sacramento, CA - The Empire (4.26)
Indio, CA - Coachella (4.28)
San Diego, CA - House of Blues (4.29)
San Francisco, CA - The Warfield (4.30)
Denver, CO - Odgen Theatre (5.4)
Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre (5.13)
Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival (6.17)

MP3: Regina Spektor - Fidelity

Matchstick Women: Tegan and Sara complete "The Con"

Canadian sibling and rock duo Tegan & Sara recently completed recording their third album, The Con, set to drop July 24 via Vapor/Sanctuary Records. The Con is the follow-up to 2004's So Jealous.

Twin sisters Tegan and Sara Quin worked with Death Cab For Cutie guitarist Chris Walla to produce the new 14 track album. "They wanted something that was a little bit grittier," Walla told Billboard.com in January. Also sitting in on The Con is AFI bassist Hunter Burgan and the Rentals' Matt Sharp.

Tegan and Sara plan on a series of small club performances in July and August, plus an extensive, headlining, North American tour set for October.

The tracklisting for The Con :

1. "I Was Married"
2. "Relief Next to Me"
3. "The Con"
4. "Knife Going In"
5. "Are You Ten Years Ago"
6. "Back in Your Head"
7. "Hop a Plane"
8. "Soil, Soil"
9. "Burn Your Life Down"
10. "Nineteen"
11. "Floorplan"
12. "Like O, Like H"
13. "Dark Come Soon"
14. "Call It Off"

Live: The Good, The Bad, and the Queen play the 9:30 Club

The Good, The Bad, & The Queen recently played the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. and NPR was there to catch it. Featuring Blur frontman/Gorillaz member Damon Albarn, legendary Clash bassist Paul Simonon, Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen and onetime Verve guitarist Simon Tong, The Good, The Bad, & The Queen is currently crafting arguably the best rock in years.

Hear the group recorded live from Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club.

• Listen Now
• Download It

Smashing Pumpkins, Interpol, Killers headlining Virgin concert

The Smashing Pumpkins confirm that they will be headlining the upcoming North American leg of the Virgin Music Festival along with labelmates The Killers and Interpol. The Toronto leg festival scheduled for Sept. 8-9 will feature Interpol and Icelandic superstar Bjork the first evening with the Pumpkins headlining the mainstage for the second.
The Killers will anchor the Vancouver set of the festival along with My Chemical Romance. Vancouver dates are set for early May 2007.

The newly reformed Pumpkins have finished their latest effort which is scheduled for release July 7 and will be touring in support of the album.

Ben Folds, John Mayer to tour summer 2007

Guitar rocker John Mayer and piano rocker Ben Folds will be touring together summer 2007. Mayer tapped Folds to be the mainstage opener to support him on the upcoming Continuum tour. The mainly arena/amphitheater tour for the multi Grammy winning album kicks off on June 1 in Ridgefield, Wash. and runs cross-country ending in Palm Beach, Fl. on August 8. Tickets for most venues go on sale March 24.

Folds himself will set out on a headlining tour starting March 24 at Assumption College in Worchester, Mass finishing up August 8 with the final leg of the Continuum tour. Folds recently released his LP Super Sunny Speed Graphic a collection of previously "web only" singles and the wildly popular DVD Live at My Space, showcasing his performance on Myspace's first live-by-request online concert.

Dates for the Continuum tour:
June 1: Ridgefield, Wash. (The Amphitheatre)
June 2: George, Wash. (The Gorge)
June 5: San Jose, Calif. (HP Pavilion)
June 6: Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
June 8: Las Vegas (Mandalay)
June 9: Los Angeles (Hollywood Bowl)
June 12: Chula Vista, Calif. (Coors Amphitheatre)
June 13: Glendale, Ariz. (Jobing.com Arena)
June 15-16: Denver (Red Rocks)
June 19: Kansas City, Mo. (Verizon Wireless)
June 20: Maryland Heights, Mo. (Verizon Wireless)
June 22: Dallas (Smirnoff Music Center)
June 23: Houston (C.W. Mitchell Pav)
June 23: San Antonio, Texas (AT&T Center)
June 26: Cincinnati (US Bank Arena)
June 28-29: Chicago (Charter One Pavilion)
June 30: Indianapolis (Verizon Wireless)
July 1: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (Blossom Music Center)
July 3: Milwaukee, Wis. (Marcus Amphitheatre)
July 5: Auburn Hills, Mich. (The Palace)
July 14: Hartford, Conn. (Dodge Music Center)
July 15: Saratoga, N.Y. (SPAC)
July 17: Boston (Banknorth Garden)
July 20: Camden, N.J. (Tweeter Waterfront)
July 21: Hershey, Penn. (Hershey Park)July 24: Holmdel, N.J. (PNC)
July 25: Washington, D.C. (Verizon Center)
July 26: Uniondale, N.Y. (Nassau Colisuem)
July 30: Virginia Beach, Va. (Verizon Wireless)
July 31: Raleigh, N.C. (Walnut Creek Amp)
Aug. 1: Charlotte, N.C. (Verizon Wireless)
Aug. 3: Nashville, Tenn. (Gaylord Center)
Aug. 4: Pelham, Ala. (Verizon Wireless)
Aug. 5: Atlanta (Phillips)
Aug. 7: Tampa, Fla. (Ford Amphitheatre)
Aug. 8: West Palm Beach, Fla. (Sound Advice)

Arctic Monkeys unleash new single, music video

Brit rockers The Arctic Monkeys officially released the first single, "Brainstorm", from their upcoming sophomore release Favourite Worst Nightmare and the accompanying music video. The band will tour later this year to support their new album. Favourite Worst Nightmare's U.S. release is set for April 24, 2007.

Ben Gibbard to tour May 2007 with Pedro the Lion

Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service) officially announced that he will be touring with Jonathan Rice and Dave Bazan (Pedro the Lion) to promote his new solo effort while Death Cab for Cutie is between albums and guitarist Chris Walla works on a solo project of his own.

Official Tour Dates 2007
3 - Minneapolis, Minn. @ First Avenue
4 - Chicago, Ill. @ Metro
5 - Detroit, Mich. @ Majestic Theatre
7 - Somerville, Mass. @ Somerville Theatre

8 - New York, N.Y. @ Town Hall

9 - Philadelphia, Pa. @ Theatre of Living Arts

10 - Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club

11 - Carrboro, N.C. @ Cat’s Cradle

12 - Atlanta, Ga. @ Center Stage

13 - Nashville, Tenn. @ City Hall

14 - Dallas, Tex. @ Granada Theater

15 - Austin, Tex. @ Emo’s

17 - Los Angeles, Calif. @ Royce Hall

18 - San Francisco, Calif. @ Fillmore

19 - Portland, Ore. @ Roseland Theater

20 - Seattle, Wash. @ Showbox

Listen Now - Pedro the Lion - Never Leave a Job Half Done

Say hello to Captain Howdy

On Saturday March 3, Local Saint Louis trio Captain Howdy played the Schlafly Tap room in honor of the release of their first studio album, Rocks. Opening bands Highway Heat and John Boy's Courage led the way for Captain.

The vocal levels were a bit overpowered by the guitar work at the night's outset, but evened out at the night progressed. And though the amp levels were a bit askew making it seem as though CH's sound was too big for the room, the boys were musically sound with forthright guitar work, precision rhythm, high energy, and an eagerness to blow the doors off venue.

Captain Howdy stormed their way through their newest release, and while it took a song or so to settle in, the gents from Captain Howdy eventually found their groove. For fans of guitar driven, no nonsense rock, Captain Howdy is one of Saint Louis' finest.

For the Captain Howdy Photo Gallery, click here...

"This Man is Dope." - Saul Williams performs at MO History Museum

Last night (02.23.07), Poet/Activist/Actor/Musician Saul Stacey Williams performed at the Missouri History Museum on his "Love Jones" tour before a sold out house in the museum's Grand Hall as part of Webster University's event/speaker series supporting the "American Visions of Liberty & Freedom" exhibit.
Williams began his set after an hour long open mic showcase featuring local slam poets and local feature emcee MissInterpretation.

With an introduction simply saying, "This man is 'dope.'" Williams recited many of his better known works such as the ground breaking "Telegram to Hip Hop", biopoem "Black Stacey", and the award winning "I am that Nigga" as well as excerpts from his novel/poem Said the Shotgun, and several new pieces including an homage to his late father.

In addition to slamming, Williams also spoke about the nature and usage of words, the myth or race, the psyche of the modern "Emcee", and the relation of the feminine to the divine remarking, "Common sense says a Holy Trinity would be a father, a child, and a mother not a father, a male child, and a ghost. Oh, look, no lightning."

Electrifying the audience with a staccato internal rhyme scheme, dynamic and rhythmic crescendos, spiritual allegory and allusion, inventive incorporation metaphor and simile, and peerless narrative expression, Williams proves that he is among both poetry and hip hop's elite. As the night's emcee noted, Saul Williams is truly "poet laureate" of hip hop.

Saul Williams performs "Ohm" (excerpt)