We saw them a few weeks ago at our clutch venue First Ave and despite a small mishap towards the end with their PA system they were phenomenal. We danced our tails off and they provided a wonderful time. I nearly forgot to do a post about the show until I saw this ad for Brooks Brothers. yeeeeooowwwww.
It was a cold night so we swung into a local pub close by to warm up before the show...
Hot Toddy
Michael Angelakos
G took some video at the show so hopefully she'll be by soon to show off the experience!
Check out their latest album Gossamer and their first single:
Disclaimer: We at Girl Palace strive to bring you the BEST music with our Music Monday series. Beware, this is one of the best we will post ever.
As of 24th of September I found my most recent obsession: Babel. What is Babel you might ask? No, not the 2006 movie featuring Brad Pitt, no not the ancient city in the land of Shinar, but the sophomore album released by none other than Mumford & Sons.
If you are unfamiliar with the aforementioned group please, take the time to read this lengthy post in full, you will not be disappointed.
As I said, Babel is the follow up album from these cuties.
Their debut, Sigh No More, was enough to get me interested and I knew it wouldn't take much to achieve adoration but Babel has led to pure obsession.
Sigh No More is a complete labor of love. It is painful and touching and artistic and raw. None of these qualities are absent in Babel but it is a departure from the freshman project. If at all possible, Marcus Mumford and his comrades have exceeded harmonic perfection and topped it with sentiment. The reflective compositions show a vulnerability only achievable with the effortless, raspy, addicting voice of Marcus Mumford.
Their sound is similar to that when they emerged but maturation is obvious and the familiarity of their hum is more impressive with each listen. There are plenty of critics out there saying they managed to fill an entire album with the same sound and songs with different words, I disagree. I am a lover. This will be purchased on vinyl and blasted throughout our apartment as G becomes familiar with tracks and eventually falls in love as well.
My first obsession:
"Below My Feet"
I also enjoy the title track "Babel" and "Lover of the Light." I do listen from start to finish though without skipping a single track. They are releasing new tour dates every week--you can bet on us purchasing tickets when they come through Minneapolis! < Hopefully soon.
I'll admit it. I wasn't as pumped as I should be for this show. The Grizzly Bear concert kind of crept up on us, so much so that I forgot that it was happening until only a couple days beforehand. Nonetheless, I dragged my tired and slightly sick self to the concert with my lovely friend Katy, after we stuffed our faces with some Chipotle burritos. We both finished them. We are so good at eating.
First Ave is becoming a second home to Girl Palace. If we are not at our apartment, work, or a thrift store, we are at First Avenue (now you know the top places to look if we go missing).
Very full, Katy and I showed up at First Ave just before the opener--Lower Dens--took the stage. We found a standing spot on the upper level, which worked out quite well. I don't think the concert was sold out, but it was pretty packed by the time Grizzly took the stage. I hadn't heard of Lower Dens beforehand, and overall, I did enjoy their music. Katy and I decided that the band's music was good, but not really that exciting live. More like, study music. And that's just my opinion--but no one in the crowd was really dancing or bobbing their heads. Maybe they were all just taking it in like me.
Here's a good one:
Lower Dens takes the stage
So all in all, would I buy tickets to a Lower Dens concert? Probably not. Will I add a couple of their songs to a (calming, relaxing) Spotify playlist? I think so.
On to Grizzly Bear...
These guys did NOT disappoint. There's nothing I love more than seeing a band perform that actually looks like THEY are having a blast, too. These boys were dancing around, talking to the audience...very engaging. Everyone's heads in the sea of people below were bobbing in unison (including a dude with a realllly sweet afro), and after a couple of songs, many were dancing along with the band. Their stage set-up really added to the experience, too. Gauzy lanterns hung at different levels around the stage, that lit up to the beat of the songs, creating a whole light show to go along with the performance. This concert was great to hear AND see. Take a gander:
I only really knew a couple of Grizzly Bear songs well before this, so I was going into this concert kind of blind--and they definitely sold me. I've been listening to old and new Grizzly Bear stuff (new album JUST came out a couple weeks ago) and I'm really liking their sound. Here are some of my faves:
So all in all, this was a...beary good night of music and entertainment. (TC Bear &) I give it two thumbs up.
From one Bear to another...
Next on the concert docket: Passion Pit at (you guessed it...) First Ave!
I have a problem. I am pretty sure I have fallen in love with 6 people all at one time. And they all happen to be members of the same band: The Head and the Heart.
The Head and the Heart at First Ave was quite magical--this group really knows how to put on a show and get the crowd belting the tunes just as loud as they are (I like to pretend I sound as good as Charity, but let's be honest--no one can ever EVER sound as good as she does...)
H & I (plus our lovely friend Kim) got to the concert in enough time to see Blitzen Trapper sing some tunes, and I've got to say, I will definitely be adding them to my next Spotify playlist. Here's one of their tunes. I like their country/folk style--it reminds me a lot of Dr. Dog, who we saw not long ago in the same venue...
We found our way to the side of the stage, where we were not in direct view of the band, but right by the backstage and in a good spot to move around and boogie.
Each of us had our one song we were most excited about. But as the night went on, I realized that I was super excited about each and every one of their songs. Cats & Dogs? Rivers & Roads?! Sounds Like Hallelujah?!?! My excitement grew more and more as the night went on, and a lot of me wouldn't have minded buying another ticket for their second show at First Ave the next night. Wait--why DIDN'T I do that!?!?! If you have a chance, I'd definitely recommend seeing these guys live. It will undoubtedly be a heavenly time. And if you're reading this...Josiah Johnson, Charity Thielen, Jonathon Russell, Chris Zasche, Kenny Hensley, and Tyler Williams: will you guys be my boyfriends/girlfriend? K thanks bye.
Oops. We missed Music Monday. My apologies... hopefully what is to follow will make up for the delay, actually I am certain it will.
Behold a duo of the most magnificent geniuses..
The Civil Wars
Joy Williams and John Paul White
It doesn't get much more bare bones and beautiful than these two. They harmonize together as if they were conceived to be a musical duo. They don't use anyone but themselves. They travel with no band. They are described on their website with the most perfect words, "Each song is an intimate conversation, and no third wheels or dinner-party chatter are going to interrupt that gorgeous, haunting hush." Grey's Anatomy gave us a first taste of them in the foreground of a past episode, but country sensation Taylor Swift helped them skyrocket to the forefront when she tagged them in her iTunes playlist saying their track "Poison and Wine..."
"...is my favorite duet. It's exquisite."
They are something astounding, amazing, impeccable. I cannot get enough of them. It should also be mentioned, my most recent crush (yes, a boy) asked if he could play a favorite song for me. Of course you can! I responded. I want to know what kind of music you enjoy. Without seeing the screen of my phone I heard the angelic voice of Joy Williams and screamed "OMG The Civil Wars?! Are you the man of my dreams?!" Yes, yes he did play The Civil Wars. Big time brownie points, boy. =)
He played....
Their debut CD Barton Hollow is a must. Check out their website too! I can only hope that they will make a stop in Minneapolis on their tour. I would die to have the chance to see this humble, majestic pair.
I also learned that they won some Grammy Awards earlier this year for their collaboration with Taylor Swift on The Hunger Games Soundtrack, "Safe and Sound." MTV actually wrote a nice article about their debut on the music scene.
Sometimes this is how I feel: washed out. Nothing left. Down to zero. Often times I turn to music to help my mood. Washed Out is the best cure to an empty feeling. Go grab a hot cup of tea and a blanket. Find a nice quiet spot in the house and set this for your background. You will not be unhappy.
My favorites from them:
Sorry for the delay on the musical insight for the week. I will not let you down.
Talk about luck. I went to the Minnesota State Fair last eve with a few friends. We thought about the things to do at the fair: eat, drink, and people watch. But what was missing.... music. I quickly downloaded the State Fair app and about jumped out of my pants. The act scheduled to perform is one of my latest favorites: Caroline Smith & The Good Night Sleeps.
What a delight to have a surprise concert, not to mention a perfectly warm, summer night at the fair.
Caroline Smith sports a similar look to Taylor Swift (long curly, blonde locks) but a magnificent voice a la Feist and Florence & the Machine with touch of Regina Spektor. Her band mates are adorable little hipster boys and despite the fact that they are on a State Fair tour, suggesting some humility and a slight bit of inexperience, they appeared no such way when they took the stage. Caroline herself played about 3 different instruments and the guys jammed along so seamlessly.
A favorite from them:
"Tanktop"
Check out their website.. it has a cute blog-like layout and has a recent post about a show with Dawes.
Forgive us ahead of time for a potential hiatus these next few days while we relocate! Gina and I are moving into a garden apartment in a splendid yellow mansion!
Oh hot damn. Don't get me started. Never have I ever been able to answer the question 'What is your favorite band?' now I think I have the answer: these guys. Oh should I say, this lady and her comrades.
Brittany Howard
As a friend of mine said 'that lady has absolutely awesome pipes.' Yep, yep she does. I saw them recently at First Avenue. She made it sound effortless. While I would have hoped for a more energetic set they never cease to amaze me and I can still listen to their CD on repeat, daily.
The whole gang
Members: Brittany Howard, Heath Fogg, Zac Cockrell, and Steve Johnson
They have such a poetic, precious conception which makes them all the more irresistible. Taken directly from the About section of their website:
The story of the Alabama Shakes begins in a high school psychology class in Athens, Alabama. Brittany Howard, who had started playing guitar a few years earlier, approached Zac Cockrell and asked if he wanted to try making music together. "I just knew that he played bass and that he wore shirts with cool bands on them that nobody had heard of," says Howard.
Delightful.
Not much else I can say to do these kids justice. Continue on to experience the pure and soulful strums...
"Hold On"
Join us next Monday for a flashback to a musical binge we enjoyed back in July. Additional commentary can be found here: Minnesota Public Radio
In the meantime, sit back, relax, and be astounded.
So each Monday we'll bring you a tale of something musical.
On this day we had three choices: the Olympic opening ceremonies, New Medicine concert at the Cabooze, or Dr. Dog at First Avenue Mainroom. After much deliberation we chose the latter of the three. Why? Well, I am not certain but, looking back it was quite the wise decision on our part.
The brief story of Dr. Dog by ME Guitarist and vocalist Scott McMicken leads the bunch with his energetic yet raw sound and fierce dance moves *sigh.* Their website explains how McMicken and bass guitarist Toby Leamen met in the 8th grade. They played in barns and basements drawing massive hometown support. Today, far from their 8th grade days, McMicken says this, "At this point, we've set out this buffet for ourselves, but first we had to cook that food and figure out what our tastes are, now it's time to dig in." Their website goes on to explain the philosophy behind a handful of their tracks, all of which are addictive. Learn more here http://drdogmusic.com
So, we were sold on the ticket price and obsessed with a handful of songs. We were not prepared for what happened after the purchase. Shortly after I cashed in on the tickets online, SOLD OUT. Talk about nice timing. And then there was the show; PHENOM. Far beyond our expectations. As previously said, that McMicken... irresistible moves, like whoa.
If you have the opportunity to see these guys, do it.
Here are our favorite tracks:
"Lonesome"
"The Breeze"
And if that wasn't enough... Feast your eyes on these dudes...one.last.time.
