Saves the Day with the Get Up Kids at Headliners, Toledo, Ohio; Saturday June 4, 2011

It's been about four years since I last saw my favourite band Saves the Day play and add a couple of years onto that for the Get Up Kids. I have to say, it was pretty lovely being reunited with some cherished old friends.

Even better, I got to enjoy old company with new company too. I went to this show with my very lovely Michigan native pal. The trip to Toledo from Ann Arbor, MI was only about an hour, completely worth the trek. My new friend actually knew two of the members of Saves the Day scoring us some backstage wristbands. So beyond just seeing one of my favourite bands, I could see them way close, closer than I ever did lining up hours before the show in the rain.

Headliners is an extremely small venue. Packed to the brim, it is somewhere between the Kool Haus and the Sound Academy. However because of the way it is set up, the actual concert viewing area is about half the size of the Kool Haus. I couldn't imagine it ever reaching full-capacity.

The two bands played pretty early sets with no openers. Saves the Day hopped on stage at nine, stumbling in just past the hour, I knew we were missing something. The punk bass drum sounds, I knew we were missing Saves the Day. Apparently, we only missed "Shoulder to the Wheel" of the classic tunes I'd have like to have heard. Pity.

Look how young they are here!!!!



I was very blown away by the group, song selection and sound, for the first time in a while, Saves the Day really looked as if they were really, truly having fun on stage. Lead singer Chris Conley, sounded better than ever - his vocals were top shelf. I was really surprised by the band - a total off-beat group of guys that look like they'd do more harm to the band than good. I'm basing this impression mostly on the fact that they resemble nothing of their old set up. I was really fortunate to have seen Dave Soloway and Eben D'Aimco play the first go around in Toronto back in 2003 (first go around for me). I don't think any band arrangement will live up to that, but this one really nears close. They're just a really tight band and although Saves has become the Chris Conley show, I think these boys stand a chance in hell.

Members

Chris Conley
Arun Bali
Rodrigo Palma
Claudio Rivera

Past members
Spencer Peterson
Chris Zampella
Eben D'Amico
Ted Alexander
Dave Soloway
Manuel Carrero
Durijah Lang
Bryan Newman
Reed Black[3]
Anthony Anastasio
Sean McGrath
Justin Gaylord
Pete Parada


Their song choices were spread beautifully across the seven albums the band has released in the last twelve years. Conley even made a comment about how people should approach him if a song was missed, he'd make a note to play it again the next time they rolled through. He went on to say it gets hard when you have over one hundred songs to chose from. When he said that, I started to think about how new band members would go about learning old tunes, new to them.

I was most happy to hear "Nightingale" off of their heavy hitter Stay What You Are. It's sort of an odd choice selection because it's slow and a bit romantic, people nonetheless still seemed to dig it. It always baffles me to look around at an audience and see people cling on to the words of a tune that are so close to you. Some lazy guy in flop-flops standing next to me at the show shocked me the most. He closed his eyes real tight when he sung the chorus of "Nightingale," it's not my song after all.

Didn't want to spoil it with a poorly recorded live version. Claudio, the drummer played the beginning bit with the hi-hat and I knew it would be "Nightingale":



They also slapped together "This is Not an Exit," "Freakish," "Cars and Calories," "See You," "Certain Tragedy," and closed with "At Your Funeral." I have never let myself go at a show as much as I did for "At Your Funeral," it was so easy and careless, a beautifully mashed together sing-along. The first bit of the tune is just Chris and his guitar, it was absolutely lovely to just allow the wreckless, maccabre lyrics explode out of me. A brilliant release for everyone in the crowd.



I remember this video came out around the same time as the Weezer video for "Island in the Sun," consequently, getting a ton of flack for the use of puppets.





(On the song "At Your Funeral"): "We loved writing and directing this one. We had to bleep the word "high" for the broadcast version, and this is the original without the audio edit. We were obsessed with "Requiem for a Dream," which is where we (the directors) got the idea to use motion control. Plus, my mom Patricia is in it at the end...and she rules."



He also touched a great deal of In Reverie, an album that I personally adore. This album did poorly in sales, but I really feel as though it was heartfelt and a good change for a little punk rock band from New Jersey. A very mature shift in their sound. They played "Anywhere With You," "What Went Wrong" and "Monkey." I was very shocked to hear the last two in their live repetoire. "What Went Wrong" reads like a children's poem, completely off the wall.

I'm so sorry for the advertisment, you can actually skip it in just three pointless seconds. This video is fantastic, it just look so organic:




I really loved hearing "Third Engine," a tune I never really gave the time of day when I was getting into Through Being Cool. There's something so ridiculous about the lyrics and that's something that really hasn't changed throughout the history of the band. Conley's words have sort of just maintained a weird feel to them, never ordinary, always off-beat. 

Did you know, my sweet

Yeah, that I once took the liberty of watching you in your sleep?
I rolled over and over
Trying to touch your knees, yeah, underneath the sheets
Trying to touch your knees



It was really lovely to hear one of my favourite bands play live. I really took comfort in being able to completely shut my wandering mind off and set my brain on auto-pilot, being over taken by the familiar.

Also, I should note that I have had the urge I need to get into their new trilogy, starting with Sound the Alarm. I have to admit, I really didn't give it the chance. As always, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the song "Eulogy."



Moving onto the Get Up Kids. Have you hear this band? Where were you in 2003 with the release of Guilt Show? I will forever and always remember the 2003 Guilt Show tour as my introduction to Leslieville, back when it was iffy. Leslieville has now become brunch capitol of Toronto and a lovely place for Toronto Life readers to raise their children. I remember being so wry about seeing the Get Up Kids at the Opera House that I got my friends father to drive us right to the door.

It was also the show that I was introduced to Rocky Votolato and Recover, two bands that I still kind of like (the former more than the latter).

I was a little heartbroken to only hear two tunes off of Guilt Show - "Never Be Alone" and "Holy Roman." They made a really beautiful instrumental transition into "Holy Roman" that copied the albums form to a tee.

Feast your ears on the sweet intro:



Pryor confirmed the song "Never Be Alone" was written by Rob Pope about his 2003 divorce from The Anniversary keyboardist Adrianne Verhoeven.



They really hashed through their lovely album Something to Write Home About, album that sold 140,000 copies after its release, single handedly saving the struggling label Vagrant. With "I'll Catch You" as one of the closers, very surprisingly. Apparently, Mark Hoppus proposed to his wife to this song in 2000, imagine that.



In their closing bit they did a cover of Blur's "Girls & Boys"



I love the energy this band puts into their songs. Lead singer Matt Pryor has an incredible live voice, everything he is recorded.

I learned that their bassist Rob Pope is also the bassist of Spoon as well.

Side bar:

"Roll On" Dntel featuring Jenny Lewis

The album Dumb Luck was released many years ago. My friend Taj recommended it to me way back when.

This song has stuck real hard throughout the years. Just lovely lyrics, Jenny!

TV on the Radio, Tunde Adebimpe touches Neil Young

Tunde Adebimpe did a really lovely cover of Neil Young's hit off of Harvest Moon called "Unknown Legend." It's just really lovely.

I've been all about the lovely lately.

Happiness in film

I know I railed American cinema, but I think my faith has been restored in two films I have seen in the last year. Tonight, I saw the film Midnight in Paris Directed by Woody Allen.

The other film is the very lovely Beginners.

Get your heart all warm and fuzzy with these trailers:

Trip to Ohio/Michigan for the Get Up Kids and Saves The Day

I'm making the big trek out to Ohio to see some of my favourite high school bands - the Get Up Kids and Saves the Day. I have to say, I'm pretty excited, these were bands that formed me musically. I'm currently stuck on the Get Up Kids' 2004 release Guilt Show, because it just is that good!

This song is so spotless:

Sondre Lerche at the Mod Club; Tuesday May 31, 2011

This is my fourth time seeing Norwegian Sondre Lerche. With each show he has a new album to promote, it's very tiring for me to be on top of all these albums, I can't even imagine what it's like for him. Lerche has been in this industry for ten years and he's only twenty eight! It's pretty remarkable to see what this guy has done.

His new self-titled album is dreamy and love-filled as most of his albums are. This album especially hints on anticipation, excitement through the sweet sounds of slower tunes. It's also his first release on his very own record label, Mona Records, after his actor/model wife Mona Fastvold.

I'm very excited to report that last night's show was a full-band set up. I got to the show missing the two opening acts who I later learned are also his back up band. I used to get to shows so early to catch every live minute, now I've just sort of flopped of the radar when it comes to live gigs, skipping any opening acts i'm not familiar with. I sometimes do my homework, I somtimes don't. These guys seemed to pack mega talent, so during the show I felt a little sad I didn't work a little harder to catch the acts before Lerche.

His band was a little different than past bands, they were definitely set up to play the slower tunes off of his new album. Furthermore, they were all American, also kind of interesting. Seems as though Sondre relocated to Brooklyn, New York... Who wouldn't?

He played a ton of new songs but a good balance between the two. This guy probably has such a hard time picking out sets because he has a slew of albums to choose from. He played "Two Way Monologue" in the first bit of his set with a very lazy introduction of "I'm gonna get this one out of the way." I suspect he's grown a little tired of playing this number. It sounded fantastic though, it wasn't lazy, but full of energy. It was also the first of the old songs he dipped into.

I was happy to hear a little off of each one of his albums...

His shows have grown a little predictable but no less exciting. I find myself completely lost in his presence and pretty looks.



As always there was that first funny turned annoying dip that talks far too loud at Sondre's Toronto gigs...

Little Joy DUMBO session

No Joy, Joy Orbison, Joy Divison and LITTLE JOY. So much joy.

Little Joy'll always be my number one. Isn't Binki Sharpiro just darling?



and one more:





they all seem like they need a good shower and hair brush.


ohmankelso 5 months ago

Beck covers Daniel Johnson's "True Love Will Find You In The End"

Beirut, Zach Condon

Have we all forgotten about Beirut? It's been a while since Zach Condon has released anything, but I still have high faith in him. He's a musical prodigy and I'm looking forward to seeing him again August 2 at the Phoenix. They've very wonderfully made a second show at the same venue rather than upgrading to a larger one.

I have these moments when I listen to Beirut where I have to remind myself how young Condon is. When he released Gulag Orkester he was only twenty!!



And twenty one with the release of the very gorgeous The Flying Cup Club:

Kelly Reichardt's 'Meek's Cutoff'

Sondre Lerche

I first dipped into Sondre Lerche about seven years ago when I was leaving through the clearance stock at the old record store I used to work at. The Don`t Be Shallow EP was only five dollars, a total steal!

I picked it up initially because I thought he was a total babe!

Well, nearly seven years later, I have had each and every one of his releases and have had the pleasure of seeing him three times. He`s playing a gig in Toronto on Tuesday and I can`t seem to shake the excitement. It`s going to be an awesome show, his first full-band performance in Toronto since 2007. He`s great on his own, but the full-band sound is absolutely untouchable.

Lerche keeps releasing albums and I can`t keep up. It`s technically only his sixth full-length release, but if you consider all of the other albums he`s dropped with EPs, he`s probably closer to something like ten.

I am absolutely in love with his new album`s front. My normal instinct with a new album is to hate it, especially if i`m going to have to see them in two days (and they`ll play new stuff galore). But I`m totally feeling this new album, I think this show is going to be pretty spectacular.





He`s also started his own record label called Mona Records, after his wife model, Mona Fastvold.

... I just stumbled upon a new Air Canada commerical on YouTube, ads galore now and Sondre Lerche was used. They pulled a song off of his much underrated album Duper Sessions.

Coachella 2011: aftermath twenty, Ratatat

Ratatat is an electronic duo from Brooklyn. Comprised by a guitar player Mark Stroud and bassist and keyboardist Evan Mast.

I only had a few moments to see these guys between acts, but I was totally blown away. I heard them a bunch when I worked at the record store, a co-worker really liked them, so consequently, I was subject to the album Classics.

Real fun to watch this video, because when I watched this gig from the back of the tent, I couldn`t really see what was going on. This was my first time seeing these guys live, and I had no idea that that`s all there was going on. It`s sort of hard for me to appreciate a couple of guys noodling to a recording, but it looks like a lot of fun.

Coachella 2011 performance:



Professionally shot:



Studio:

Woody Allen `Midnight In Paris`

I`m pretty thrilled to see Woody Allen`s new film Midnight In Paris. Beyond the fact that it takes place in Paris, France, I`d just like to point out how creative Woody Allen really is. He has an almost French imaginitive feel when it comes to his writing and direction.



In the last few years, I`ve really taken to French New Wave cinema, real-life films with big imagination and happy excitement. There`s something really lovely about all the old Truffaut and Godard films that have no colour, but are so full of life. Which makes Pierrot le fou all the more exciting, because it had colour.

I just watched the François Ozon film Potiche, or The Trophy Wife. A relatively light film that stars French classic vedettes - Catherine Denueve and Gerard Despardieu. By it`s finish, I couldn`t help but think about how different French cinema is from North American. North American film is so predictable and simple minded. The French have fun, they accentuate the oddities and complexities of life in a way that North American film could never do.



My word on Woody was that he, a New York native, does push the envelope significantly. His films often harp on people`s flaws, he essentially magnifies human flaws. For that, I really love all that Allen does - people are imperfect and make poor choices. I may be so bold to argue that North American film portrays a false ``perfect`` image of people. Don`t get me wrong, Allen casts the prettiest of pretty people in his films, but they all have their flaws.

I`m really looking forward to seeing his new film `Midnight In Paris.` Beyond the all-star cast, I look forward to seeing a non-New York Woody Allen film. I swear, I can`t keep up with this man, he`s on a one a year cycle. Film factory.

Also, a cute thing to point out is that on the Woody Allen filmography page, there are three boxes that serve to filter out what his role in the films listed have been. Writer, Director and Actor, the majority he has done all three, Allen truly is an auteur.

It`s also sort of interesting to note, his most recent films he hasn`t acted in. I guess being in your seventies has it`s downfalls...

Monthly Mix, May 2011

Dear dedicated readers (all five of you),

This marks my first official month making mix CDs for those who want to hear something lovely. I will make them as the month ends, as it will reflect what I've got my hands and ears on in the last month or so.

It's been raining a ton here in Toronto, my best friend in the whole wide world pointed out that out of twenty six days, it had rained something like eighteen days. For all this glum, weather I'm feeling pretty good. Spirits are high, as are the song selections of the album.

I'm feeling pretty sixties. My go to music has been all things from the past. This mix is just that sprinkled with a bit of here and now. The most significant, influential purchase of the last month or so has to be the Numero Uno released compilation Eccentric Soul: The Prix Label. Released three or four years ago, this album has got some serious life to it with the release of the Derek Cinefrance film Blue Valentine. Ryan Gosling handpicked the Penny and the Quarters song "You and Me" as he and Michelle Williams' character's song in the film. A song that Numero Uno is quite actively trying to find the original artists of to present them with the newly earned royalties. Very unfortunately, Penny and the Quarters have not been found!

If you'd like to receive a copy of the May mix, please email me your mailing address (how ironic!) and I will be sure to send you a lil something in the mail. I can be reached at kimberley.stemshorn@gmail.com

Get excited, this one's gonna be good.

Fiona Apple 'Extraordinary Machine'

Time travel back five years to 2005, Fiona Apple's beautiful, offbeat masterpiece Extraordinary Machine was released. This was another record store record, I only knew it because it was played over and over to the point where I just bought the damn thing.

Goes to show you can force yourself to like things.

But really, in all honesty, you probably like or at very least remember Fiona Apple's seductive song "Criminal" which sort of served as her one break the seal hit. I was around eight years old when it was released, Fiona was only nineteen years old! It's pretty remarkable that a young thing could produce such a sophisticated, mature album.

It's really funny how you remember these old music videos from a child's perspective and them come to revisit them years later. Although the music video is near obsolete, I still love it, it serves as a complete companion for the song itself. I need that extended listen.



Nostalgia aside, listen to Extraordinary Machine. It's totally wacky, in true Fiona Apple style.

"America" Simon and Garfunkel

Does it get any better than the song "America"? The intro is absolutely stunning, it bleeds real well from the tune before on the album. Can't really replicate that on here, but you should go out and buy a copy of Bookends because it's just that good. It's a cheap find too!

"Ballad of Sir Frank Crisp" George Harrison, How I Met Your Mother

I haven't fully emerged myself into Harrison's All Things Must Pass. I'd say I've put a fabulous effort into the first disc, but it's the second one I've really overlooked (along with Disc Two of The Beatles). 

But it was in watching How I Met Your Mother's most recent episode "Challenge Accepted" that got me really onto the song "Ballad of Sir Frank Crisp" that boasts the lyrics "Let it roll" prominently throughout the song. 

"Daydreaming" Dark Dark Dark on Bandstand Busking, Le cargo

Not sure if this spoils the song or not. On the upside, two new guerrilla-style video making groups.

On Bandstand Busking (They really need the piano!):



Le cargo (ah, piano. A little better):



Original:

Fine Canadian Forces 'Hebrew Lessons'

I always feel behind the pack when it comes to local Toronto music. What really kept me going before was attending concerts early for the openers and checking out the listening stations at record shops.

Marking a change in time (and location,) I've grown accustom to finding new gems on blogs. In this case, it was finding something I probably should've know about sooner. An acquaintance of mine, a music student from school, is  in a band called Fine Canadian Forces.

They just printed a pile of records and I stumbled upon their music on the artist's blog that designed and printed them - Deadweight. It was sort of an a-ha moment when I was checking out the members of the band expecting to find someone relatively famous, instead I found a lost acquaintance.

How Fun,

Check out and purchase their music here.

Jamie Hince, The Kills

I have yet to hear anything of The Kills, but I'm really loving Kate Moss' boyfriend Jamie Hince. Beautiful late thirty-something man. Fabulous style. 

Now, to get to the Kills.

"Victoria" The Kinks

Re-issues galore.

I swear I'm a girl of the sixties. Brilliant performance.

Rekindling love with Camera Obscura's 'My Maudlin Career'

Two years ago, my love affair with Camera Obscura began, just dynamite.

I had the pleasure of seeing them two times, once at the tiny, intimate Lee's Palace - both gigs after the release of their masterpiece My Maudlin Career. I had the urge to listen to a tune off of the album and I think I inadvertently triggered a rekindled love affair.

So, maybe I can big time share this love with you.

As requested, I've started to post actual playlists for easy listening.

"If the blood pumping through my veins would freeze, like a river in Toronto then I'd be pleased. You said it made you feel warm inside"

Death Cab For Cutie 'A Movie Script Ending' EP

The Photo Album  is tied for my favourite Death Cab For Cutie album. Perhaps because it's just under the radar, it just may be my favourite. 

I just stumbled upon this on the www. I've never seen it physically, it just may be my new Interstate 8. I have a serious case of the wants.

For Alex: An Okkervil River Education

"Westfall" was their set closer. I remember googling the lyrics "Evil Don't Look Like Anything" after hearing that song for the first time live. I was so excited and sad that I didn't know it.



En Espanol:



"For Real" has to be one of my favourite songs of this band. Will Scheff apparently wrote the lyrics of this song playing around to see how many times he could say the word "real." Success!



"Song For Our So-Called Friends" is a gorgeous song. This was the only song I really wanted to hear at the last gig that wasn't played. This is also from Black Sheep Boy.



"All The Latest Toughs" was the first Okkervil River song I fell in love with. I use to borrow CDs from the record store and browse at them during breaks without actually buying them. I remember listening to this in the food court on an MP3 player while browsing the lyric book that came with the CD.



THE BRIDGE:

"And I don' tknow what else you want here played, cant think what lines you'd like me to sing or say. Not sure waht subjects you want mentioned, just pause and add your own intentions, just pause and your own, let's pause and add our own intentions right here ______."

AND THAT'S HOW IT'S WRITTEN IN THE LINERS. AMAZING. It's the part I just wanna dance in, no lyrics. Unfortunately, when they play it live he sort of talks that bit rather than singing it.

If you buy this CD make sure you get the Appendix, or bonus CD with it. Artwork is painfully unattractive, but so amazing. Done by artist, Will Schaff (not to be confused with Scheff). Schaff also did their art work for I Am Very Far.

A live video of it:



"Unless It Kicks" has an incredible amount of edge to it. I love the punch this song packs.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE AT THE PHOENIX

... and I'm missing it.

So in honour of the show I wish I was at tonight, I just did a little feature of one song of each of their seven albums released (and unreleased). Death Cab are an amazing consistent band that I am perpetually amazed by.

Something About Airplanes




We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes




The Photo Album



Transatlanticism





Plans





Narrow Stairs





Keys and Codes