"You know you could be a rock n' roll star No matter who you are It's all the same `Cause you're a real dead end."
Let me get back to the nice Friday tradition of revealing a song filled to the brim with energy. This is another example of those songs which set me in perfect weekend mood.
Backyard Babies – Look at you is found on the record “Total 13” released in 1998.
"She has punished the Earth, she has turn down the heat She has taken away every morsel stone Where she walks cry-crying alone Crying for Prosepina, Prosepina, come home to momma, come home to momma."
One of my favourite record titles ever is the 2009 record “I know you’re married but I’ve got feelings too” made by Martha Wainwright. It was actually the record name that opened my ears to her music.
Tonight I have the chance to catch Martha Wainwright live but the combination of previous engagements and a rather expensive ticket price results in listening to her latest record instead of heading to the show.
Martha Wainwright – Proserpina is found on the record “Come home to mama” released in 2012.
"Relationships are like glass. Sometimes it's better to leave them broken than try to hurt yourself putting it back together."
According to many (but not all) of my friends I listen to strange, weird and most often dark and depressive music. In my opinion… Well it is music that is perfectly “normal” to me.
There are times though when even I believe that the music I listen to is “far out”. One such example is the Danish band Sleep Party People, sometimes their music even makes me wonder what I am listening to.
Nevertheless when I get a chance to catch them live tonight I will of course take that chance. Maybe the concert will twist my brain. Maybe the concert will be one of the concerts I have ever seen.
Sleep Party People – Gazing at the moon is found on the record “We were drifitng on a sad song” released in 2012. The quote above is taken from a restroom wall in London. Author unknown…
"There is a stutter in my lungs And a chatter in my breathing I'm engaged to be married to the method of my leaving I'm rarely found in situations that cause me to deliver Tonight I'll stay awake and write you To keep me from the shivers."
A couple of years ago I went to a Willard Grant Conspiracy show. Willard Grant himself was in a terrible mood which reflected the concert and the songs that he decided to play live that evening.
In one way it felt uncomfortable to watch them live when something was obviously wrong on the stage. On the other hand; I wonder that I would have heard them play a fantastic version of the monumental “From a distant shore” that night if Willard Grant had been in an exceptional mood.
Willard Grant Conspiracy – From a distant shore is found on the record “Let it roll” released in 2006.
"I’ll gone up to the sky And I’ll go up the land."
When heading to the Great Lake Swimmers concert last Sunday the opening act turned out to be a new experience to me, the band “Dusted”.
It is certainly not every day that found myself listening to a band that consist of one guitarist and one drummer be the end result was quite good and now a few days later I tend to like their music even more.
Give Dusted a spin or even better two, three, four spins. You may very well come to the same conclusion as I.
Dusted – There somehow is found on the record “Total dust” released in 2012.
"Take me to a place where I’ll need this Take me on the honest trial Speak to me words we can’t erase Take me there, it’s only us."
Yo La Tengo is finally back with new material, as always the perfect combination of beautiful and weird noises that somehow always seem to work together.
A really good taster of what the 2013 music year will have to offer.
Yo La Tengo – Before we run will be found on the forthcoming record “Fade” scheduled to be released in 2013.
"Stevie Wonder sees crack babies becoming enemies of their own families."
Radio is still this wonderful thing that keeps reminding me of songs I have forgotten about. Yesterday this one… Fugees – Fu-Gee-La is found on the record “The Score” released in 1996.
"It is madness says reason It is what it is says love It is unhappiness says caution It is nothing but pain says fear It has no future says insight It is what it is says love It is ridiculous says pride It is foolish says caution It is impossible says experience It is what it is says love."
The forth concert in five days, hectic days right now. Tonight a quite different show is awaiting when Mono play live. Instrumental music spanning from minimalistic parts that is almost hard to hear to shoegazing walls of sound. Of course I love it.
Mono – Legend is found on the record “For my parents” released in 2012. The quote above is taken from the poem “What it is” by Erich Fried.
"If I could do it again I'd make more mistakes I'd not be so scared of falling
If I could do it again, I'd climb more trees I'd pick and I'd eat more wild blackberries."
For years my days have started listening to this song simply because I use it as my wake-up alarm. For years I have wanted to see this song being performed live. Today it may happen.
Bloc Party – Waiting for the 7.18 is found on the record “A weekend in the city” released in 2007.
So… Here we go again, back to the weird and wonderful world of live performances. Tonight I am excited because I will get my first chance to see Great Lake Swimmers live following years as a fan of their music.
I try very hard to lower my expectations in order to avoid disappointment… At the same time I really don’t think it is possible that Great Lake Swimmers will disappoint me.
Great Lake Swimmers – Moving pictures, silent films is found on the record “Great Lake Swimmers” released in 2003.
"Men who seem to be blind Are throwing shadows here As a man, with stars in his eyes What does he care if the future's bright."
Today is a day when it is possible to stop for a breather, to stay home and listening to music instead of heading to a live show.
Let me take this moment to reveal another concert memory. A couple of years I went to a show in Los Angeles, at the moment I cannot even remember the main act. What I do remember is that The Fresh & Onlys was opening up the evening.
At the beginning of the show I had my doubts following an incident when the bass player of The Fresh & Onlys had a huge sip of whisky from a badly hidden bottle inside of his jacket and then fell to ground of the stage. “How will this end up?” was the question I asked myself.
I am happy to say that just seconds later I did not have to worry because when on his feet again he and the rest of the band did perform a great show. I am also happy to hear that The Fresh & Onlys have just released new material. If the forthcoming tour makes a stop in Sweden I will doubtless be there in the audience.
The Fresh & Onlys – Presence of mind is found on the record “Long slow dance” released in 2012.
"Losing the dream face to face sleeping losing the dream open mouth breathing."
Back home again, tired but very happy following one of the better trips I have ever made. Mozambique was great, so was Madagascar. And... South Africa is likely the most beautiful country I have ever visited.
Speaking about beautiful! From the airport to a show because I cannot possible miss Mark Kozelek playing live tonight. Hopefully he will include a Red House Painters song or two, likely he will include a Sun Kil Moon song or two.
Red House Painters – Down colorful hill is found on the record “Down colorful hill” released in 1992.
"Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of withering, of tarnishing."
I was not even aware that Orbital still existed as a group until I discovered that they are about to play live again. It would be quite interesting to show up at their show though I will instead make a quick stop in London sipping real ales together with a friend who happens to live there for few months.
Orbital – The box is found on the record “In sides” released in 1996. The quote above is taken from the French-Cuban author Anaïs Nin.
"It's not my words that you should follow, it's your insides You're just an inside Adjust your insides You're just an inside."
The last few days I have presented a few bands that I for sure have some mixed emotions about. The band playing live tonight in the capital of Sweden is yet another example of such artists and bands.
There are moments when I cannot understand their music at all. There are also moments when I see Animal Collective as geniuses. This is an example of the latter.
Animal Collective – Peacebone is found on the record “Strawberry jam” released in 2007.
"I walk with others in me, yearning to get out Claw at my skin and gnash their teeth and shout One of them wants only to be someone you'd admire One would as soon just throw you on the fire."
Nowadays Joshua Tillman performs under his alter ego Father John Misty and I guess it will be a pretty good show when they play live in Stockholm tonight.
Personally I cannot help thinking that Joshua Tillman should have continued his awesome drumming in Fleet Foxes…
Fleet Foxes – Someone you’d admire is found on the record “Helplessness blues” released in 2011.
"People to use, lovers to break Handful of pills, no life to take River too cold, oven too hot Bridge a one hundred and fifty foot drop."
From I Break Horses to another artist that made a terrific show at Way Out West this summer. Tonight live on stage, Mark Lanegan.
Though Mark Lanegan made a did great at Way Out West 2012 I must also mention his show, collaborating with Greg Dulli of Afghan Whigs under the name of The Gutter Twins at Way Out West 2008.
The show itself was really, really good but image I left the concert with was that Mark Lanegan hardly moved at all during the two and half hour that The Gutter Twins performed. I do not know how he do such thing; I wouldn’t be able to copy it.
The Gutter Twins – Front Street is found on the record “Saturnalia” released in 2008.
"Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong. Sometimes it's letting go."
It is a mystery to me why I have not mentioned I Break Horses in this blog yet. I Break Horses am really on the best groups I have discovered in recent years and their concert at Way Out West earlier this year was almost unbelievable good.
Though I am currently perfectly happy experiencing the Kruger National Park in South Africa there is a little part of me that want to be at the I Break Horses concert tonight.
I Break Horses – Empty bottles is found on the record “Hearts” released in 2011. The quote above is taken from the American singer Sylvia Robinson.
"Oh why is your hate so addicting and I Well I wonder where you've been I don't see you often."
The concert week in Stockholm continues. I guess that I a lot of people will head to the Band Of Horses concert tonight and I would not mind being there myself. At the same time, the ticket price at 425 Swedish kronas (about £40 or $60) is a lot of money even if I like Band Of Horses a lot.
If in Stockholm, I would have instead chosen to pay 120 Swedish kronas to catch Wild Nothing live. I am convinced it would have easily been worth each and every krona. I am as convinced that Wild Nothing will end up as more expensive shows at bigger arenas in the near future.
Wild Nothing – Shadow is found on the record “Nocturne” released in 2012.
"Never thought you'd go so far but now you're really gone and it's been so long I never really think about it."
I must say that the concert year have been phenomenal so far. I have had the opportunity to catch so many great concerts. One example is when I saw the DIIV concert at Brooklyn Sweden a couple of months ago.
Ok, it may not have been the best concert of the year but this song in particular is a strong candidate to the single best live song of the year.
If you missed the Brooklyn Sweden concert you will get another chance tonight. Take it.
DIIV – Doused is found on the record “Oshin” released in 2012.
"It can't be gone, we're still right here It took so long, can't say we heard it all Limbs parallel, we stood so long we fell Tear a moment from the days that carry us on forever."
Today marks the start of an amazing couple of weeks filled to the brim with concerts that I would love to see. I will miss some of them; on the other hand I am hardly in the situation to complain since I am visiting as amazing places like South Africa, Mozambique and Madagascar at the moment. Still…
Kicking off the concert weeks is Beach House. As How To Dress Well I got some mixed emotions when it comes to Beach House. In my opinion it is a band that always releases great singles but when it comes to a full-length album they have a hard time to convince me.
Live… Well it is basically the same. Some songs are quite boring, others are fantastic. Nevertheless towards the end of tonight’s Beach House concert it will be worth experiencing some boring songs when “10 mile stereo” explodes.
Beach House – 10 mile stereo is found on the record “Teen dream” released in 2010.
"But I won’t be sad and blue When I keep what I hold true A photograph of you."
A preview of something that I believe will be huge in 2013 because how can you possible resist the music of Sulk especially if you, like me, was part of the Manchester era of music in the early nineties.
Sulk – A photograph of you is found on the “Back in bloom” single released in 2012.
"When its discreet then your never complete, Can you keep the secrets well? Fifth in the traps and you know that you’ll lapse, Can you keep the secrets well? Can you keep them for yourself?"
Wearing surgical masks and costumes while performing live may seem like a strange idea. On the other hand, if you name your band “Clinic” you do have a very good reason…
Clinic – Circle of fifths is found on the record “Winchester cathedral” released in 2004.
"You accuse me of clowning Playing out my leisure I was thinking I would always stand up You just wanted pleasure."
Yesterday I fell asleep in a dark and rainy Northern Europe. Today I woke up in the sunny and warm South African Cape Town. The beauty of travelling, in just a few hours’ time you are able to completely change what is surrounding you. Zulu Winter – Silver tongue is found on the record “Language” released in 2012.
