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Pale White Moon’s Call of the Wolf Peach draws on Native American influences and folktales whose songs carry listeners through the seasons and a well-grounded story.

The title of the album and the accompanying cover image of a floating woman stretching out her arm to call wolves out of the forest with her sweet peach is a good reflection of the album’s contents. It’s straight-forward in its statement that this is the call of the wolf peach, but it also leaves room for interpretation with the mysteriousness of the blank eyes, the second arm holding another peach well-out of reach and the dark sky. Like this image, the musical contents are straight-forward, but they also have an element that’s just out of reach of a simple interpretation. Album opener, “Heirlooms,” is warmingly akin to “Ashokan Farewell” with it’s light plucky pattern with rich arco bowings weaving an extra layer of pattern into the tune, but then like the gray sky on the album cover, it broods into a mysterious, glassier sound–I think done by enharmonics–and it’s like a wind whispering unattainable secrets through the familiar tune.

“Heirlooms” is the start to summer and the next few songs carry listeners through the seasons. “Stars Hollow Day” brings in some light piano and is the type of tune that you’d listen to while walking through a park on a warm day. “The Seven Years Cicadas” is the type of song best suited to resting on a rocking chair on a porch during dusk as the cicadas emerge to welcome the night. And yes, I believe those are really the recordings of real cicadas used in this song.

“The Search for Helium Three” and “Sir Basil Humphrey’s House on the Hill” begin to get a heavier feel, which I feel is a transition from the summer into late fall and early winter. “Sir Basil” follows a sort of oompah pah pattern made by the use of tuba. I picture Sir Basil as one of those tubbier chaps who like to wear the black pants with red stripes and a matching bowtie. He probably is the type of guy to wear a bowtie and a monocle.

The album namesake, “The Wolf Peach,” is the heart of the album. Again there are rich pizzicato layers behind rich bowings on lower string instruments. It my favorite song on the album and much like my favorite season of Autumn, it’s beautiful, but too brief. Autumn is over once frost hits, and fittingly, “Frost Flowers” follows. The frosty element of this tune is in the airy vocals and the dramatic lyrics.

Finally the album ends with “Stars Hollow Days,” which much as the seasons run full circle, the album has circled back on itself–the third track was a singularly titled “Stars Hollow Day,” and it’s brighter sound carries listeners into spring. It has a vintage quality to it that kind of makes me think of the days of Mary Tyler Moore, which is similar to the vibe track 3 gave.

This really is a seasonal album and there are some amazing qualities going on, but my only regret is that it wasn’t a completely instrumental album. Vocals are sparse, but with a song like “Heirlooms” starting the album off, “Rabbit’s Run” comes as a bit of a shock for a follow-up when nasally vocals are paired with the full-sounding strings.

Nonetheless, this was a great release from Pale White Moon, so be sure to check them out with Call of the Wolf Peach and perhaps catch them featured on “This American Life.”

Track Listing:
1. Heirlooms
2. Rabbits Run
3. Stars Hollow Day
4. The Seven Year Cicadas
5. The Search for Helium Three
6. Sir Basil Humphrey’s House on the Hill
7. The Wolf Peach
8. Frost Flowers
9. Stars Hollow Days

The Salt Walter Taffy House is a venue that I often frequent for shows, usually for friends that happen to be playing on a Monday night for 30 or so people. When I heard that Native and La Dispute would be playing there, I jumped at the opportunity to see them. Except this time, there were almost 200 people in attendance.

Let me explain what the Salt Walter Taffy House is: a two story house plus a basement. That basement is where these shows take place. It’s a small basement with a bar (used for selling merch), where 50 people is normally a large crowd. Over 200 is extremely packed with no room to move, especially not to dance without hitting someone next to you.

Six bands took the stage, or rather floor, starting at 7 p.m. Appleline, a local band, opened the show. They had an amazing female drummer who impressed me greatly and a female vocalist who rattled the windows with her pipes. They set a great mood for the rest of the night, setting up much anticipation for the rest of the bands.

Next was Grizzly J Berry, an indie/progressive/experimental band who also happens to live at the Salt Walter Taffy House. Having seen them a million times, I kind of knew what to expect. But, they brought out the fireworks for this show, changing up their set list with a new song.

Native was third, all the way from Northwest Indiana. The crowds moved in so close to see, the band barely had any room to move around. Their sound is almost like an angry Minus the Bear with edgier vocals. The guitar’s clean riffs accent the way the bass and drums fit together. The vocalist/bassist Bobby Markos puts so much passion into his performance, it’s intriguing. You can listen to Native by downloading their album Wrestling Moves on their Myspace or by streaming the entire thing.

I have never seen an audience as emotional as the one watching La Dispute. Well, except for maybe N*Sync when I was in the 4th grade. I was surprised to see that at least 40 people who knew every single word to all of La Dispute’s songs, and that’s a lot of words. The most memorable thing about La Dispute, are their lyrics. They’re deep and have so much emotion, enough emotion to send the crowd into tears. The fans were beating their chests as they yelled along and pushed closer and closer – even crashing into the band a few times. I walked away physically bruised and in mental awe.

La Dispute’s latest album, Somewhere At The Bottom Of The River Between Vega And Altair was released in 2008. As part of their Here, Hear series, Here, Hear III was just recently released. Until January 17, the band will be taking only donations for it with all proceeds going to the Well House, in their hometown of Grand Rapids, MI. The Well House is a shelter that gives the homeless a place to stay and to try to get back on their feet.

After La Dispute, local bands took the stage to round out the night. The Senators, who had recently broken up, did a reunion set consisting of two songs.

Guitarist Dylan Pyles’ other band, Bottle Rocket, played a set after the Senators. Bottle Rocket is an instrumental band usually compared to Explosions in the Sky.

A hardcore band, Coronado Left for Dead ended the night. CLFD puts just as much emotion as La Dispute does into a show. Vocalist Storm Shaw has been known to lie on the ground and is always jumping around. He puts his entire heart into their set.

Having seen the other bands before, Native and La Dispute blew me away. This show was extremely breath-taking. The bands are currently on tour together so if you get a chance to go see them, do so!

Tour Dates:
Jan 2, 2010 – Ft. Worth, TX (US) @ 1919 Hemphill w/ Jubilee & Sohns
Jan 3, 2010 – Austin, TX (US) @ Emo’s w/ BrotherGhost & Candidate
Jan 4, 2010 – Hattiesburg, MS (US) @ 1126 House
Jan 5, 2010 – Tallahassee, FL (US) @ Coolifornia
Jan 6, 2010 – Melbourne, FL (US) @ 1008 1/2 House
Jan 7, 2010 – Marietta, GA (US) @ Swayze’s Venue
Jan 8, 2010 – Rome, GA (US) @ The Greenhouse
Jan 9, 2010 – Louisville, KY (US) @ St John’s Church
Jan 10, 2010 – Normal, IL (US) @ Jake’s House w/ Jake Cary