Miracles DO happen: Passion Pit, Phoenix, Spoon @ The Orpheum, Boston

Anyone that says Boston's crowd is the worst to perform in front of was not at the Orpheum last Friday.  I mean, what-a-show! WFNX hosted their annual "Miracle At Tremont Street" concert with Passion Pit, Phoenix** and Spoon as the guests of honor.  What's not to love?  It was heavy-loaded synth dream pop, french-infused alternative rock, and intense hoarse-vocal indie... it was rock and roll.

Passion Pit faced the Bostonian beast first.  Personally, this Boston band is one of my favorite discoveries of the last two years, and from what I could see, also favorites of the ecstatic crowd.  They have built a rather decent fan base.  I'm talking about a crowd that was dancing and singing-a-long at the beat of Sleepyhead and Smile Upon Me, and unleash an deafening scream with Moth's Wings and The Reeling.  I was happily surprised, why? Well, let's say, it was not their usual crowd twisting and shouting.  These were young professionals and the trendy clique of girls wearing heels and heavy make-up.  You have to understand that this is outstanding, having seen Passion Pit play at their niche, the Great Scott, before.  Clearly, they are Boston's very own group of heroes that have redeemed dream pop and heavy synth melodies, taken away the "hipster-only" label and made it mainstream. 

Phoenix followed the Brighton/Allston natives.  All they needed was two songs to unleash a rampage within the Orpheum premises.  Behold the power of the French! It has been a while since the last time I saw any band do what they did.  I'm still unsure how they did it.  When you listen to their albums, yes, you get mildly jolted, but how did they get happy-tunes with slightly romantic lyrics and turn them in to the loudest, craziest examples of contemporary rock I've ever seen? [and not to be presumptuous, but I've seen a lot].  And of course, it's worth mentioning that Thomas Mars was giving to the audience, as much as they gave to him.  He finalized his set by coming off the stage, and sang among the crowd... falling, falling, falling...  One word: EPIC.

The closing act: Spoon. 

The Austinites had quite a challenge; I mean, Phoenix had set a benchmark pretty high.  Still, they gave a fight and brought the crowd on a musical roller coaster, from mellow toe tapping songs to throat tearing hollers.  

These three bands are among the most acclaimed acts of the year.  I gotta give it to the people in WFNX that made this possible.  For lack of a better word, I have to say this was AWESOME.  I was definitely heart-warmed with musical joy... may the holiday season officially begin.


* There's a few extra videos of the show... do check 'em out!

Mew @ The Paradise, Boston

Visiting Northern Europe is still at the top of my to-do list.  I’ve realized there must be something magical about this land, as so many great bands have come from its pastures.  Is it the weather?  I mean, cold weather makes you remit to your living quarters, and mixed with a little bit of leisure and creative impetus, it’s got to produce a much rather artistic output, right?

Well, whatever it is… I’m grateful for it because it exported great bands, like Mew, Radiohead, Bjork, Sigur Ros, Royksopp, The Hives, The Cardigans, U2, The Knife, and the list could go on and on…

Mew was at the Dise this Wednesday.  It was a night of surprises.  Being the music junkie that I am, I looked at some previous set lists, so I had in mind what the show would be like.  I was wrong.

The Danish covered a little bit of Frengers, Kites and No More Stories […]  Of course, the expected tracks:  “Introducing Palace Players”, “Am I Wry? No”, and “Repeaterbeater”.   The unexpected?  An acoustic mash-up of “New Terrain” and “She Came Home For Christmas” with Jonas Bjerre behind the piano; it was a gasps, sighs and forgot-to-breath kind of moment.  This time I’ll let the videos of the show speak for themselves… Definitely a little early holiday gift Danish style.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ the Orpheum

So who needs Red Bull when you can have a fix of Karen O?


O... O... Oh my god.
When I first listened to It's Blitz I couldn't stop.  It became an immediate fixation.  I had to listen to it all-the-time... while reading, when walking, during a bike ride, even before going to bed.  It was my little secret delight.  Now, after seeing the Yeah Yeah Yeahs live for the second time, I can't honestly say this will become a healthy addiction.


I'm almost certain the rest of the Orpheum can relate.  The YYY's played most of the new album and a few from their previous hits, including "Cheated Hearts", "Honey Bear" and "Gold Lions".  And... opened with my favorite: "Runaway".


Karen O was unstoppable, Nick Zinner kept moving from the guitar to the synth and Brian Chase, well... I think we all owe Chase a big one for making "Heads Will Roll" a great dance-until-you-can't-dance-no-more song.  There was nothing that could stop EVERYONE from shaking it "like a ladder to the sun", not even the Orpheum's awful seating arrangement, which, by-the-by, gives you less leg space than many airlines in this country.

One minor detail... After seeing their performance live at All Points West, I must admit that their stage design is made for bigger spaces.  Everything looked crowded and the Eye just wasn't the same.


Of course, "Maps" had to be in the track list... oh... yeah...

Julian Casablancas | Going solo. Alone, Together?

For some, The Strokes are a religion.  I am NOT kidding! I've heard people say it out-loud first hand.  And if the Strokes are a religion, then that would make their frontman... the prophet? the Messiah? the chosen one?


Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension



Julian Casablancas released his first single 11th Dimension on September 18th.   His PR staff must be deliriously happy because it seems that the entire blogging community is talking about it and fans have it on permanent loop.  What a tease! Keeping his followers on the verge of ecstasy, just waiting for the final release of his solo album Phrazes for the Young.


Like it? Yes. Love it? No.
You can't blame me for expecting a Strokes-esque single.  
It is rather jolly and we owe that to the synth - the 80's are back to stay!  Now, don't take me wrong -and this might sound pretty awful- but I was expecting something sinister, angry, playful and witty all at the same time... what I like to call optimism with overtones of realism and apathy.  Sorry for being so crude.


I'll remain faithful to the band... for the time being, but I'm stubborn and have detachment issues and I like my Casablancas with some Moretti, Hammond, Fraiture and, especially Valensi on the side.  Cut me some slack.


and... it's Friday.  So, like Julian says:

"Drop your guard, you don't have to be smart all of the time"

***NOTE:  He also released the album cover.  Now THIS I really like. No text , just great photography, high contrast, and muted colors blended with neon details.  The design makes Julian appear as the king and master of the music studio and for some reason, makes me think of Dorian Grey, Dada and collage.  Yup, a mixture of the classical and the new.

It Might Get Loud, the Movie

So their once was the good, the bad and the ugly.  Now the equation goes like this: the guru, the enlightened and the witty.

Three guitarist, three hometowns, three genres, three personalities... Beautiful.


It Might Get Loud is protagonized by Jack White from the White Stripes/Raconteurs/Dead Weather, the Edge from U2 and Jimmy Page from Led Zepellin - guess whos who in the equation.  The film is a documentary of three music generations put together to discuss the electric guitar; it goes beyond a mere examination of the instrument, it explores the significance of it in their lives.  


The film is full of visual memorabilia and is a great opportunity to share the experience with anyone; sooner or later you'll identify with one of the three virtuosos. In fact, the movie theater was loaded with quite a mixture, from old-school rockers to youngsters that clearly dragged their parents to the screening.  I was delighted to catch more than a few bopping their feet.


The soundtrack is awesome and quite varied (of course, it had to be like that considering the sources of inspiration), although some transitions were slightly off and you'll find unexpected animations inserted now and then.  They just didn't work out for me, but nothing to be upset about. Still worth watching.


Sadly, the movie is being screened only in Kendall and Coolidge Corner theaters.  Onwards! Enjoy!


           

IT MIGHT GET LOUD

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