[...music...]

2013-03-19

shows of 2011

yes, i'm still alive, even though this blog has been dead for a while.

i'll start the update by listing the shows attended during the remainder of 2011.

sept. 21 - [popmontreal] arcade fire @ metropolis

grimes was the opening act:

arcade fire on stage:

i purchased grimes' "halfaxa":

sept. 22 - [popmontreal] arcade fire @ place des festival

kid koala played his set dressed in a koala costume. cute!

karkwa was the other polaris-prize-winning act on the bill.

arcade fire played a free show; a zillion people attended.

sept. 23 - [popmontreal] the planet smashers @ club soda

a ska/punk night! east end radicals, the fundamentals, and the creepshow were the opening acts.

the planet smashers were a lot of fun, as always.

i purchased their "life of the party":

oct. 6 - explosions in the sky @ metropolis

opening act was wye oak:

explosions in the sky:

setlist here.

~~~

Labels: arcade fire, cd purchase, club soda, east end radicals, explosions in the sky, grimes, karkwa, kid koala, metropolis, popmontreal, shows, the creepshow, the fundamentals, the planet smashers, wye oak

2011-04-28

take care

continuing on with my post-rock week... monday, i was at the mogwai show. on tuesday, explosions in the sky's new album "take care, take care, take care" was released. i had pre-ordered it from temporary residence; i received in the mail yesterday.

the packaging is pretty nice. take a look:

"open" house, with poster, and postcard in the bottom left corner:

house, front view:

house, view from corner:

musically, there are no surprises, they haven't deviated at all from their sound. still, i like it. after a few more listens, i am sure that one of the six tracks will emerge as my favourite.

~~~

Labels: cd purchase, explosions in the sky

2007-03-25

explosions in the sky @ le national

friday night, rox and i went to a show, the first since november, so we were both a little starved to see some live acts.

the first opener was eluvium, a one-guy band. during the set, my view was obscured, so i had no idea what he was doing; i think he was playing keyboards. anyway, he ended up making some stunningly beautiful music. most of his songs were the same few notes played over and over again; but at each repetition, there is a subtle change; the songs builds and builds and builds until... release. i spent most of time with my eyes closed, my head rested on my arms, letting the music sink in.

after eluvium's achingly beautiful music, i wondered how the next openers, the paper chase, could even match that. i got my answer as soon as their bass player hit the first note, a very loud sound that took me by total surprise. the paper chase killed. there were amazing live, infinitely better than their sound on disc. i only really recognised one song, "what i'd be without me", from the album "god bless your black heart".

they gave a very energetic performance. the singer was hyperactive, jumping everywhere all over the place; i couldn't get a still photo of him. he stared and pointed intensely at audience members; he mimed out certain lyrics, stabbing his heart, slitting his throat; he wiped his face with a hankerchief (how quaint). the singing sounded tortured, and he looked like he felt it. the music was loud; strong drumming, discordant wailing guitars, mixed in with some gentle notes from a keyboard. it sounded like a lovely musical box, breaking apart as it tumbles down a long flight of stairs; in a good way, of course. i was just a little disappointed that they did not play my favourite song "said the spider to the fly"; it would have been awesome to see performed live.

a fact unknown to me: it was the paper chase's first time in canada. well, i hope they will come again. they put on such a great show, i was really impressed.

finally, explosions in the sky came on stage. before starting, they said some words, and in french. he must have practiced, because he said quite a few sentences, and it was pretty good too. it's so nice when non-franco bands come to montreal, and try to say things in french.

well, i am not good with words, and so it would be pointless for me to try to comment on their performance, since i cannot find a way to fully describe how truly awesome it was. one has to really experience an explosions in the sky show to know what it is like. those guys give everything, and really exhaust themselves. i left the show feeling all giddy inside.

in short, this was one of the best shows i've been too, where i enjoyed the opening acts as much as the main performance. and there was a bit of everything to. eluvium was music to cuddle to. the paper chase was perfect for moments when you want to slit your wrist with a jagged piece of glass. and explosions in the sky is just music to feel content about; that's all.

~~~

cd purchases:
-- eluvium "copia". i had heard "prelude for time feelers" and it is stunning.
-- explosions in the sky "all of a sudden i miss everyone". yes, i bought this again, just because it is the limited edition, with the extra disc of remixes.
-- the paper chase "young bodies heal quickly, you know" and "hide the kitchen knives" and "now you are one of us". i went to the show just wanting to get the most recent album. but i was so impressed by their live performance that i got a couple of their older material too.

hearing damage: i expected my ears to get blasted during explosions, but i was pre-deafened by the paperchase's very loud set. it did not help that i had a slight headache during the show.

~~~

Labels: cd purchase, eluvium, explosions in the sky, le national, shows, the paper chase

2007-02-20

explosions in the sky

two new album releases today = visit to hmv megastore. i made an effort not to listen to any of the leaks online.

first, calla's "strength in numbers". but at $27, forget it. i can either order it online for cheaper, or wait to get it at their show, in april.

instead, i got the other new release, explosions in the sky's "all of a sudden i miss everyone". what a sad album title. and what a sad (but pretty) album cover: a loner drifting over the dark seas, with nothing but an oil lamp.

i am listening to it now, for the first time, at full volume. it's a lot of what i expect: guitars, bass, drums; quiet and loud; not exceptional, but comforting. file under 'music to study to', along with all the other explosions albums.

the opening track "the birth and death of the day" is the standout of this album. i love the beginning, with the ringing guitars, very dramatic.

i cannot wait to get my ears blasted at the show in march.

~~~

Labels: cd purchase, explosions in the sky

2005-12-29

post-rock

i ordered these just a couple of days ago, and they arrived in the mail today. so glad with the quick service (i was not expecting the delivery until january).

explosions in the sky - how strange, innocence
the re-release of their debut album. in the liner notes, they said they were "embarrassed" about this album, and at one point, wanted to buy all the existing copies (300 cd-r copie) and burn them. well, i'm glad they didn't, and instead decided to re-release it because the album is great. i am on my first listen right now, and i already love it.

sigur rós - ágætis byrjun
sigur rós - ( )
sigur rós - takk...
their videos are beautiful, but for some reason, i was never able to sit through one of them. maybe it's all the slo-mo testing my patience. i've only heard a couple of songs from each of these albums, and liked them. now, i'll have a chance to listen to the complete albums.

~~~

i was definitely in some kind of post-rock mood when i ordered those.

~~~

Labels: cd purchase, explosions in the sky, sigur rós