Consisting of early MGMT takes, the re-mastered re-release of the group’s 2005 Time To Pretend EP offers a glimpse at what the duo was up to during their Wesleyan University days—foreshadowing last year’s lush full-length landscape of sounds dubbed Oracular Spectacular. Only two songs—“Time To Pretend” and “Kids”—from the EP overlap with the 2008 effort. Though most of Oracular Spectacular’s songs are dominated by Andrew VanWyngarden’s vocals, bandmate Ben Goldwasser’s voice is higher in the mix on these early recordings (though both musicians’ voices at times sound thinner). VanWyngarden’s impressive guitar skills also play a more dominant role than on Oracular Spectacular. The band fully embraces new-wave and Bowie-inspired glam-rock on “Indie Rokkers,” while “Destrokk” barrages listeners with synthesizers and noise but lacks a true melody. Things slow down on the drum-heavy “Love Always Remains,” where the duo relies on vocal overdubs as well as auto-tune in order to create a roundabout effect, leaving the infectious chorus lingering in listeners’ heads. Video game sounds are featured throughout “Boogie Down". So, while MGMT is in the process of recording a new album and road-testing fresh material, this re-release will tide over diehards still recovering from the band’s late-night Bonnaroo performance—at least until they come down.
This review can also be found at http://www.relix.com/Features/Reviews/MGMT_200907134040.html
This is simply too good not to post. There were tons of video bootlegs after the Hampton run but all of them (that I saw at least) were lacking multi-cam. Thankfully I discovered this 3 cam shoot of the last two songs from night 3 of hampton. Enjoy this great closer of Bug > Tweezer Reprise.
Wilco displayed why they may just be the most popular band in music today during their Monday night show at Keyspan Park baseball stadium in Coney Island. Not only did the crowd show them much love during the slinky, guitar-driven opener “Wilco (The Song)”, the band reassured its adoring fans that the feeling was completely mutual as they sang the words back to us, “Wilco, Wilco, Wilco will love you baby”. As Lead singer Jeff Tweedy kept stressing how good-looking an audience we all were, its no wonder the band is as popular as they are. The love fest really never stopped as the group moved through a wonderfully updated version of “I’m Always In Love” which now features a prominent guitar riff instead of the usual standout keyboard work. Wilco nodded to the sweet smell in the air and the smiles on everyone’s faces as they sang “The way things get, you get so high. Funny how we make new friends” during the classic “Can’t Stand It”. Lead guitarist Nels Cline reminded us why he is one of the best guitarists in rock and roll as he ripped through the solo section of “Impossible Germany”, straying far away from the recorded version from 2008s Sky Blue Sky. The band brought out some of the industry’s hottest stars during their extended eight song encore. First came Leslie Feist to lend her sweet vocals to the new duet “You and I” from the band’s latest release Wilco (The Album). She remained on stage as another popular friend emerged, this time it was Ed Droste from the indie rock group Grizzly Bear. Both guests lent vocals and percussion to the classic sing-a-long “California Stars” as well as the Lennon-esque “You Never Know”. As Feist and Droste exited the stage, things appeared to be winding down that is until all of Yo La Tengo appeared for the extended guitar-rocker “Spiders (Kidsmoke)”. Tonight was clearly a night for love and friends as Feist and Droste reemerged for the appropriate closer of “Hoodoo Voodoo”, penned just down the street on Mermaid Ave. by the legendary Woody Guthrie.
This review can also be seen over at http://www.relix.com/Features/Show_Reviews/Wilco,_Keyspan_Park,_Brooklyn,_NY_7%1013%1009_200907214066.html
Setlist: 01 “Wilco (The Song)” 02 “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” 03 “Shot in the Arm” 04 “At Least That’s What You Said” 05 “Bull Black Nova” 06 “You Are My Face” 07 “One Wing” 08 “Handshake Drugs” 09 “Deeper Down” 10 “Impossible Germany” 11 “Jesus Etc.” 12 “Sonny Feeling” 13 “I’m Always in Love” 14 “Can’t Stand It” 15 “Hate it Here” 16 “Walken” 17 “I’m the Man Who Loves You” 18 “Hummingbird” —- 19 “Heavy Metal Drummer” 20 “You And I” with Feist 21 “California Stars” with Feist and Ed of Grizzly Bear 22 “You Never Know” with Feist and Ed of Grizzly Bear 23 “Misunderstood” 24 “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” with Yo La Tengo —- 25 “The Late Greats” 26 “Hoodoo Voodoo” with Feist and Ed of Grizzly Bear
Thursday night was my third time seeing Umphrey's McGee within one week. Before any of these shows I can honestly say I didn't truly "get it". Sure, I dabbled into their music and even really enjoyed a handful of songs. Like many other casual listeners, I basically felt Umphrey's was too crunchy. They do play a lot of muted notes and they really do take their time to ease into a jam that isn't driven by their progressive and metal influences. Well, it wasn't until I rode the rails (front row,center) of the Central Park show that I truly understood Umphrey's McGee. First off, they are definitely the tightest and most technical live band out there today (in the jam scene at least). Umphrey's started the show off with "Professor Wormbog" a quirky, older tune that pleased a lot of the hardcore Umphreaks in the crowd. The band really got my attention with the next tune, "Cemetery Walk" off of 2009s Mantis. Channeling Pink Floyd in the introduction, "Cemetery Walk" evolves into a Steely Dan piano driver rocker. The piano riff is so memorable that I've been humming it since the show ended. The boys explored some prog-rock territory in the "Jimmy Stewart" section of crowd-favourite "Nemo" before dipping deep into their huge catalog and pulling out another oldschool song, "Mulche's Odyssey". Sooner than later a playful "Got Your Milk" segued into the techno-dance-remix-reprise of "Cemetery Walk II" which featured guitarist Brendan Bayliss joining Joel Cummins on keyboards. The boys jammed this one out hard and proved the Umphrey's can play dance music better than any of the current jam-tronica acts out there. Sorry Disco Biscuits. The final song of the night was a spirited take on the Beatles' Abbey Road classic "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", a dark, bluesy and not to mention lengthily song that stayed pretty true to the original with the exception of some colourful guitar licks by Cinninger. The man simply cannot help but rip apart every guitar part he plays, be it solo, lick or riff. While I now consider this my first true Umphrey's McGee show, its safe to say it won't be my last. Thankfully for fans and newbies out there, Umphrey's tours just about 365 days of the year. Thanks for a wonderful night in the park guys.
Setlist: Professor Wormbog, Cemetery Walk, Nemo, Walletsworth, Mulche's Odyssey, Higgins, Turn & Run, Got Your Milk (Right Here) > Cemetery Walk II, I Want You (She's So Heavy)
This is probably the coolest music video I've seen in quite some time. It's more like a mini-movie which is completely appropriate because "Black River Killer" is really more of a story set to music than a song. Check it out.
Rather than attempt to re-create the festival in writing, I've decided to post some of the better pictures I took instead. Hopefully they will be a gateway into what Rothbury was all about, music, music, music, people having a great time, and of course, some more music. Enjoy. Black Crowes Black Crowes Broken Social Scene Broken Social Scene Disco Biscuits Femi Kuti Femi Kuti Phil Lesh (The Dead) The Dead Davey Knowles (Back Door Slam) Nas & Damien Marley Nas & Damien Marley The Hold Steady Giant Panda Guerrila Dub Squad Giant Panda Guerrila Dub Squad Umphrey's McGee & Pretty Lights Umphrey's McGee Sherwood Forest Decorations
The Slip are making up for lost time. Two years off the road as The Slip has done the boys well. As hard as it is for fans to have a band take time off, it keeps the artists sane and it keeps the material fresh. While The Slip were still drawing pretty heavily from 2006s "Eisenhower", they also managed to mix in enough old gems, as well as new tunes to keep the setlist interesting and subsequently, the audience engaged. Opening the show with a spacey jam that teased a bit of the old, Cumulus and The Landing, it segued into a new tune which featured bassist Marc Freidman on an old hollow-body electric guitar. The tune (tentatively titled D'Gary) is a dark rocker with a nice finger-picked lead by Brad Barr. Next up came a new-school favourite, "Even Rats" which was pretty standard aside from Brad teasing "Sorry" in the solo section. The raging funk of "Get Me With Fuji" displayed The Slip's jammy side and got the crowd dancing. Like always, it was a showcase for the breakbeat drumming of Andrew Barr who was simply putting on a clinic all night. Another new tune came next, the bluesy-rocker called "Motherwolf". Brad was reaching for the grizzly falsetto and surprisingly enough, reached it most of the time. This is a tune that is sure to sound great on record and occasionally live. A reworked version of "Dear Melina" came next and this time we had Freidman playing the lead lines on electric guitar with some nice slide work throughout the song. The boys saluted Michael Jackson during the ending of "Paper Birds" with some nice "Man in the Mirror" teases that had the crowd singing aloud. A big surprise came when long-time collaborator Marco Benevento showed up during the solo section of "If One Of Us Should Fall" to add some pretty, get this, accordion work to the ballad. The Slip left the stage briefly, but the crowd was cheering way to loud for the show to be over. They came back out and hit us with the re-worked version of "The Weight of Solomon" with Brad belting the lyrics out, knowing it was a sing-a-long favourite. "Children of December" came next, with Brad singing it in the high register, rather than the monotone manner that was showcased in 2006 and 2007. Proving he was a rockstar, Brad signalled for a crowd surf and the fans happily obliged. The final tune of the night was a new one people are calling "England". It features a nice acoustic loop and some singing from Andrew as well as Brad. It's a pretty song and one that is sure to sound good in the studio. At one point during the show, Brad alluded to the fact that this is not a comeback tour. The Slip never broke up. After last night's show I truthfully believe him. The Bowery was packed and the crowd was loving it. The Slip will continue to rage on in the future, but we may just have to accept them in small, powerful doses.
Setlist: Intro (with Cumulus and/or The Landing teases) > D'Gary Even Rats (with Sorry teases) Get Me With Fuji Motherwolf Dear Melina Airplane/Primitive Paper Birds (with Man In The Mirror teases) Suffocation Keep That Love Ain't Enough Wolof The Soft Machine If One Of Us Should Fall (with Marco Benevento on acordian) Encore: Weight Of Solomon Children Of December England
