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November 16, 2009

Why? at Rhino’s 11/13/09

Why- at Rhino's 13 November 2009 (4 of 15)

If I had to choose one album that defined my freshman year of college, I would hands down pick Alopecia by Why?.

I can’t even come close to being able to count the number of times I listened to that album. Whether I was walking to class or staying up late working on homework, Alopecia was by my side and in my stereo. When I heard that they were going to be in town that year, I was ecstatic. Unfortunately, they played at Bear’s, a venue that is 21+, so I wasn’t able to get into the show.

Needless to say, finally getting to see Why? last Friday at Rhino’s was a wonderful and satisfying experience.

Local band Tammar was the first band to play that night, but I unfortunately missed their set. Luckily, I’ve gotten to see them a few times already, as they play quite frequently in Bloomington. They are definitely one of the best local bands I’ve seen perform.

Acoustic duo, The Moore Brothers played next and uncannily resembled Tenacious D. They were a lot quirkier than expected; in one song they beat boxed and in another they rapped a segment from Eric B. and Rakim’s “Microphone Fiend”.

The Moore Brothers at Rhino's 13 November 2009 (1 of 15)

I didn’t particularly like their music and it wasn’t something I would have expected to see before Why? but I must say that I did enjoy their cover of “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson.

When they were done with their set, the crowd waited patiently for Why? to take the stage. As a smaller band without an excessive amount of instruments, I figured that they wouldn’t take long to set up. However, after a half hour had passed, I began to grow impatient. Rhino’s was extremely hot and there was an abundance of excited young girls who didn’t have any qualms about stepping on people’s toes.

Why- at Rhino's 13 November 2009 (15 of 15)

45 minutes later, after decidedly taking off my tights to help quell the heat, the band announced that they were finally ready. They apologized for missing their sound check earlier that evening and explained that they had missed it because of the eight hour drive from Iowa to Indiana.

Watch their performance of “One Rose” off Eskimo Snow:

As soon as I heard the opening beats of “The Vowels Pt. 2” however, all was forgiven. With bone-crushing beats and an added echoing effect on Yoni Wolf’s vocals, this beast of a song was absolutely incredible live. It was the first song I had ever heard by Why? so the experience was truly special.

Why- at Rhino's 13 November 2009 (10 of 15)

Going into the concert I thought Why? would mostly play songs off Eskimo Snow since that is the album they are currently supporting on their tour. Practically all the songs they played were off Alopecia however, which was quite a nice surprise for me. It’s not that I don’t like Eskimo Snow, but as I said earlier, Alopecia is very sentimental to me.

Yet another great surprise of the night was their performance of the epic and raw “Simeone’s Dilemma”, which I believe is one of their most underrated songs. The drummer completely let loose, exposing his talent and the deliverance of Yoni’s rhymes gave me the chills.

Why- at Rhino's 13 November 2009 (11 of 15)

Although I could have been completely satisfied after hearing that song, when they performed “The Hollows” as their last song of the night, I was even happier.

This is their performance at the show:

They didn’t give the crowd the satisfaction of an encore, but in all honesty it wasn’t needed. The concert was the perfect length and they played every song that I wanted to hear.  If you ever get the chance to see Why? live, please don’t pass up the opportunity, they are truly incredible.

Set List

  • These Hands
  • The Vowels Pt. 2
  • Good Friday
  • January Twenty Something
  • Gnashville
  • Brook & Waxing
  • Gemini (birthday song)
  • One Rose
  • A Sky For Shoeing Horses Under
  • Simeone’s Dilemma
  • The Hollows

XOXO,

Words by Katie McKenna
Photos and Video by David Ray

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A Sunny Day in Glasgow to play Bishop Wednesday 11/18

A SUNNY DAY IN GLASGOW
@ The Bishop
Wednesday November 18
9 p.m.
$7
18+

a sunny day in glasgow

Facebook’d.

A Sunny Day in Glasgow are at the point in their career where they’ll swing by Bloomington, but the band’s exponentially-growing success indicates that next time, the show won’t be so cheap and in such an intimate location. Remember what Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste said this summer about previously playing at a church to a handful of audience members in Bloomington? You can laud all about seeing them before they open up for the Jesus and Mary Chain/My Bloody Valentine/Radiohead, or whatever “We’re not in Kansas anymore” moment will come about for these guys.

ASDIG is fronted by identical twin sisters Lauren and Robin Daniels along with their brother Ben. ( Sidenote: I’m glad they don’t sound very eerie, because the whole twins thing might give me some “The Shining” type chills).  The band’s beginnings were in the 2000s, but it wasn’t until the 2006 release of their EP, The Sunniest Day Ever that folks really started talking. Once the EP floated through the top of the blogosphere, they signed to Notenuf Records and released their first LP, Scribble Mural Cosmic Journal later that year.

In September, Ashes Grammar gave the group a strong foothold by not disappointing their critics(they hate to praise potential then find it’s all wasted). Most importantly, they hate to be wrong! Pitchfork continued to grant them the seal of approval, both in terms of the album and stage performance. Under The Radar magazine, Coke Machine Glow and BBC also applauded their sophomore effort.

A Sunny Day In Glasgow - Ashes Grammar (2009)

Indeed, there is a shoegaz’d ethereal quality to their sound, but it doesn’t come off as an artificial attempt to emulate their musical heros. It’s easily accessible poppy, and trippy: the stuff that pasty white liberal arts college girls will listen to while smoking pot with pasty white liberal arts college boys. The swirling release can send you on a pulsating trance, a meditative state or a flashback to 80s lo-fi.

The low point of the album, as one would predict from any 22-tracked LP(ranging from a few seconds to nearly 7 minutes), is its tendency to drag. Pop Matters writes “While there are many indisputable highlights to be found on Ashes Grammar, it can be a chore to find them.” But All Music Guide suggests that anyone who powers through the album  will be richly rewarded in the end. It might not jump at you on the first listen. My biggest problem is the passivity of the vocals, as if the Daniels sisters know they can turn things up a notch, but they’d just rather not.

Regardless of  some defects on Ashes Grammar, I feel pretty confident in saying the best has yet to come for A Sunny Day in Glasgow, and that they’ll be yet another band that strolls through Bloomington before blowing up beyond belief.

Check out some mp3 downloads via Stereogum.

-$tefania

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November 10, 2009

WHY? TO PLAY AT RHINO’S 11/13/09

music-why02

Why?

W/The Moore Brothers & Tammar

Friday, November 13th

8pm

$10

All Ages

“Even though I haven’t seen you in years
Yours is a funeral I’d fly to from anywhere.”

Couple these emotionally driven lyrics with jarring drum beats and catchy pop hooks, and you have the fierce music of Why?, a trio that will be in town this Friday at Rhino’s All Ages Club.

The lyrics are from the song “These Few Presidents”, which appears on Why?’s 2008 release, Alopecia. The album, which is known for having both hip-hop and pop elements, is critically acclaimed and was named one of the best albums of 2008 by the likes of Stereogum and CMJ.

Their latest album, which they are currently on tour in support of, strays from the sounds of Alopecia but doesn’t leave listeners stranded or in hope of something different. As front man Yoni Wolf put it in an interview with Pitchfork Media:

“The Eskimo Snow songs are a bit more wild, and the drums have more room mics. They’re more open. The sound is more open, more live … This record, Eskimo Snow, is really the least hip-hop out of anything I’ve ever been involved with.”

The members of Why? have also dipped their musical hands into other various projects such as cLOUDDEAD, Doseone, and Atmosphere.

Californians, The Moore Brothers and local band, Tammar will be opening for Why?

Listen to one of their wonderful tracks, This Blackest Purse.

xoxo,

Katie

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November 8, 2009

Mount Eerie, No Kids, and Prayer Breakfast at the Banneker Community Center 11/06/09

Mount Eerie 6 November 2009 (15 of 17)

On Friday night a crowd of dedicated fans trekked out to the Banneker Community Center to see one of today’s most prolific independent musicians, Phil Elverum, play with his band, Mount Eerie. Read the rest of this entry »

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November 7, 2009

Ghostface Killah @ Bluebird TOMORROW!

Ghostface Killah

Bluebird Nightclub(21+)

Sunday November 8

$18 tickets available at Landlocked Music, The Bluebird and Ticketmaster

Tony Starks. Ironman. Pretty Toney. Whatever you call Ghostface Killah, he remains one of the most enthralling members of Wu-Tang Clan, perfectly balancing his loyalty to the group while also maintaining a lucrative solo career.

ghostface-killah-wizard-of-poetry

He will dominate the Bluebird stage fresh off the release of "Ghostdini the Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City."

This equilibrium prevails during his live sets, which usually consists of a tribute to Ol’ Dirty Bastard, “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” and crowd pleasers like “Ain’t Nothin’ Ta Fuck Wit” and “Cream” from the quintessential “Enter The Wu-Tang(36 Chambers).”

If Ghostface’s “Be Easy”, “Kilo” and “Greedy Bitches” won’t get you off your feet, I advise you to check your pulse.

These jams were staples to his sets at the Bluebird in 2007 then Pitchfork Music Festival ‘08 alongside Raekwon(who will perform at the Bluebird December 8.) Both performances were simply a blast, and probably the closest a 21st century hip-hop fan can get to NYC block parties during the genre’s early days. The rapper’s frequent samples of 70s soul only enhances this feeling.

He’s also collaborated with everyone from Mary J. Blige, Amy Winehouse and Ne-Yo.


Also catch his brief collaboration with 30 Rock’s “Muffin Top” here.

Stay tuned for my review of the show!

-$$tefania

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November 3, 2009

Pictures from Neon Indian @ The Bishop 10/29/09

My story is below, but here are more of the pictures that weren’t included

-David Ray

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