popwreckoning » Procol Harum http://popwreckoning.com without music, life would be a mistake. Sun, 25 Dec 2011 10:15:36 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 The Big Pink with Crystal Antlers @ Black Cat, Washington DC http://popwreckoning.com/2009/12/09/the-big-pink-with-crystal-antlers-black-cat-washington-dc/ http://popwreckoning.com/2009/12/09/the-big-pink-with-crystal-antlers-black-cat-washington-dc/#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:00:41 +0000 Mary Chang http://popwreckoning.com/?p=20067

f-bigpink1The backstory of , England’s is, shall we say, quite interesting. Robbie Furze (vocals/guitar) and (programming/keyboards/synthesizer/vocals) first joined up to run a record label called Hatechannel. At the end of 2007, they got to the point where they wanted to make some noise of their own and see where it would lead. They’ve admitted that they originally wanted to be “the digital ” and “more than “; these descriptions may give you some indication of what they sound like if you’ve never heard a tune of theirs. But their foundations in loving (whose first album provided the band’s name – Furze’s parents were huge fans of ‘s group) and soul legends like and Otis Redding should not be dismissed. In fact, the duo now say they are more of a “soul band” than anything else; they are quick to dismiss the lazy “shoegaze” label that was applied to them almost immediately when they first appeared on the British music scene. They appeared at the Black Cat Saturday night with Long Beach indie rock band .

Because of the freak D.C. area snowstorm earlier and the deathly cold temperatures, I wasn’t sure how many people would actually be in attendance. Before the / show at the Paradise in Boston the night before, I chatted with some fellow English music fans who said the crowd for the Big Pink at that venue earlier in the week was small (around 100 people). So I wasn’t sure if Washington would make a good showing. When my friend and I arrived in our winter coats and stepped on the main stage floor at 10, my worries disappeared as I saw the crowd that had assembled and ready to receive the opening band (which, in my experience, isn’t always the case at a local show). Phew.

e-crystalantlers5Crystal Antlers launched into a set of psychedelic but raucous numbers. The first question that came to mind when they started playing: do you like ? (Their classic “A Whiter Shade of Pale” should jog your memory, if you ever listen to compilations with names like Songs of the Sixties.) If yes, you will like what organ player brings to the table. , the band’s singer/bassist, has a shouty style of vocal delivery that didn’t impress me much, but the audience was receptive and overall approved of the band’s sound, especially when they went for it, guitars flying and percussion crashing (drums by and all manners of other percussion by a very lively ). A good example of their style was “Tentacles,” the title track off their 2009 debut album.

When the crew began setting up the stage for the Big Pink, I spied strobe lights, big and small, being hauled out and carefully arranged. The last time I’d seen anything like it at the Cat was for White Lies last winter. In a ridiculous way, the Big Pink’s lights and fog far surpassed that of White Lies’s set-up in March. I think both the lights and fog detracted from the fantastic, but brief performance they put on for us. Furze stood center stage in a black muscle tank – note emphasis on the muscle. The boy is ripped. He was also sporting a tattoo on his right arm and multiple gold necklaces (with key pendants) around his neck that looked like they were stolen from the stylist’s trunk of the xx. Cordell stood behind his synthesizer, wearing a hoodie and looking completely content to let Furze take the limelight.

h-bigpink3Live, Cordell and Furze are augmented by (bass) and (drums/vocals). One of the best moments of the night was when Furze and Ross went balls to the wall with their guitars, like in “At War with the Sun,” balanced oh so well with the wistful refrain of “Young hearts know nothing but say it all / celebrate no control / but it is enough to realize / and miss us when we’re gone / live for the words that we sung / and don’t let go.” Breathtaking. Furze slowed things down a bit with a cover of Otis Redding‘s “These Arms of Mine,” which showcased his amazing voice. The Big Pink’s far too brief set was punctuated by their latest single, the almost celebratory “Dominos,” fists a-flying in the crowd to the band’s rhythms. Bloody fantastic. Following the 2010 Shockwaves NME Awards Tour in the UK in February, the band will return to North America next year for a March-April tour – I highly recommend seeing them before they start filling bigger venues.

The Big Pink Set List:
Too Young to Love
Frisk
At War with the Sun
Velvet
Crystal Visions
Count Backwards to Ten
Tonight
These Arms of Mine (Otis Redding cover)
Dominos

a-crystalantlers1 b-crystalantlers2 c-crystalantlers3 d-crystalantlers4 e-crystalantlers5 f-bigpink1 g-bigpink2 h-bigpink3 i-bigpink4 j-bigpink5

Tour Dates:
Mar 10 – Great American Music Hall / San Francisco*
Mar 12 – Neumo’s / Seattle*
Mar 13 – Venue / Vancouver*
Mar 14 – Doug Fir / Portland*
Mar 18 – First Ave / Minneapolis*
Mar 19 – Turner Hall / Madison, WI*
Mar 20 – Metro / Chicago*
Mar 22 – Southgate House / Newport, KY*
Mar 23 – Grog Shop / Cleveland*
Mar 24 – Mod Club / Toronto*
Mar 26 – Cabaret / Montreal*
Mar 27 – Paradise / Boston*
Mar 28 – Maxwell’s / Hoboken*
Mar 30 – Webster Hall / New York City*
Mar 31 – Theatre of Living Arts / Philadelphia*
Apr 01 – Rams Head Live / Baltimore*
Apr 02 – Cat’s Cradle / Chapel Hill, NC*
Apr 03 – Masquerade / Atlanta*
Apr 05 – Club Downunder / Tallahassee*
Apr 07 – Warehouse Live Studio / Houston*
Apr 08 – Parish / Austin*
Apr 09 – Granada / Dallas*
Apr 10 – Bottleneck / Lawrence, KS*
Apr 11 – Bluebird / Denver*
Apr 12 – Urban Lounge / Salt Lake City*
Apr 14 – Rhythm Room / Phoenix*
Apr 15 – Casbah / San Diego*
* with

The Big Pink: website | myspace
Crystal Antlers: myspace

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2009/12/09/the-big-pink-with-crystal-antlers-black-cat-washington-dc/feed/ 0 Cat Power – Dark End of the Street http://popwreckoning.com/2008/12/04/cat-power-dark-end-of-the-street/ http://popwreckoning.com/2008/12/04/cat-power-dark-end-of-the-street/#comments Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:17:55 +0000 Bethany Smith http://popwreckoning.com/?p=3239

likes covers. And, it turns out, so does everyone else. If the success of her cover-filled Jukebox is any indicator, fans will receive her new EP The Dark End of The Street just as warmly.

The record opens with the title track, an cover. While I don’t care for the way she pronounces certain words, or the slightly nasal quality in her voice, she still has an incredibly warm and inviting tone. Certain elements of the song remind me of ‘s “A Whiter Shade of Pale”. The whole song is very shoegaze-y and heavy on the reverb.

Next, and ridiculously appropriate for the current state of affairs is ‘s “Fortunate Son”. Power gives us a glimpse of the soul we know is inside her, but still doesn’t completely let loose. The rich harmonies over piano and strings is captivating.

I found a cover to be an interesting choice, but Cat Power makes the right choice with “Ye Auld Triangle”. An absolutely beautiful viola line carries through the tune, adding to the utter loveliness the song already possesses. Something in this song grabbed me, and it won’t let go, making it my personal favorite on the record.

Leave it to to get someone to let loose. On “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)”, Power finally lets the song almost control her. While her voice is beautiful, it’s always so very controlled, and those moments where you would expect a voice like hers to take over and knock the world on its ass are still so restrained. However, this disappointment doesn’t hinder the rest of the song. Her smoky tone is perfect in the sexy, soulful melody and the drum work is delectable.

With an introduction that sounds like a snowstorm, “Who Knows Where the Time Goes?”, originally by , is nice, but not as captivating as the rest of the EP. The tune has a Colonial feel to it, with a nice piano line and a haunting organ.

Closing the album, (and rounding it out as well) is another Aretha cover, “It Ain’t Fair”. As I listen to the soulful and bluesy cut, and relish the brushes being used on the drums, I wonder what makes Cat Power choose the songs that she does. I wonder why she won’t let that rich voice of hers off of its leash so we can see what it’s really capable of. But even if she never does, and still continues to put forth these deliciously lo-fi gems, Cat Power will still be sitting pretty. After all, she’s indie rock’s Queen of Covers, and who doesn’t love a good cover?

Tracklisting:
1. Dark End of the Street
2. Fortunate Son
3. Ye Auld Triangle
4. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
5. Who Knows Where The Time Goes
6. It Ain’t Fair

Cat Power: website | myspace | Jukebox review | @ virgin mobile 2008 | @ lollapalooza 2008

Written by: Sara Bellum

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