Rant: What'cha talking about [at a concert]

I go to lot of concerts. Whether they are free or paid, outdoor or indoors, general admission or seated, I tend to go to about 2-or 3 a month. To some people, this may be an overabundance.  But I really do enjoy live music. There is something about the roar of live guitars with a crowd of eager and attentive fans that really gives me joy.

However, I've noticed a recent trend at New York City-area concerts that I am unhappy about: TALKERS. Yes, concert talkers.

These people are the ones standing with their friends in a small circle. They always have adult beverages in hand. They are engaged in conversation about their work days, mutual acquaintances, weekend plans, that time they saw Skrillix.

Its fine.  You can talk to your friends. I don't mind. Just please, keep it short, say your piece and get back to enjoying the show. If you must talk, please take it into the back...or to the bar...or outside. I can't fathom how anyone can enjoy a concert if they are talking throughout the set.  Even when the music is loud, they talk over the music.

[I am not saying I am completely innocent. I'm known to make a witty remark during a band's set or comment on banter (especially if your name is John Darnielle). I'm even guilty of texting during a band's set.  But these vocal comments and phone vibrations only occur for a moment or two and then I am back to enjoying the music.]

The worst offenders are those who know "the single," and momentarily pause their conversation to sign out the chorus. Once they clap and cheer, these offenders go right back to their conversation.  I've tried giving dirty looks. I've tried sighing loudly. I've moved to another area of the venue. I've even said something to these people. But for some reason, it does not seem to help.

Are people just more interested in talking to their friends than they are in seeing awesome live music?
Are we all just so jaded that we go to concerts and just say "meh" at the performance?

Maybe this whole rant is too "get off my lawn." Maybe I'm just old. I just do not know. All I know is these "concert talkers" really get to me.  I go to concerts to hear the band, not to hear your tween conversation about how this chick you know is 23 and that is "so much older, bro."


Follow up:  I found this article on The Spinner, outlining how to behave at concerts. Its a good read. 

We'reeeee back!

the euphonie blog is back!  After almost 3 years, we decided to start up again.  You (our still loyal readers, hopefully) can expect the same variety of witty (and often irrelevant) posts.  Expect lots of concert reviews, artist profiles, Top 5 lists, rants, and other general jabber. Thanks for reading!



xox, Jenna & Allie

Profile: Alexa Wilding

Alexa Wilding is a Brooklyn-based brunette, prone to writing ethereal pieces that sound and feel like a dream with her sweet as honey voice and gorgeously ghostly lyrics. The talented chanteuse earned her street credit by playing with former Sonic Youth drummer, Bob Bert, in Int’l Shades from 2006 to 2008.

Since then, Alexa has been working on her own EP, written solely by her, which features Tim Foljahn, who has collaborated with talents such as Cat Power, Thurston Moore, and the late Townes Van Zandt. Foljahn has also fronted Two Dollar Guitar with Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley. Furthermore intriguing, the debut EP was mixed by Fred Smith of the legendary band, Television.

In a world full of songstresses, Alexa’s superb musicianship has set her apart, earning her attention from publications such as Nylon Magazine, New York Post’s Page Six, Scallywag & Vagabond, and JOY Quarterly. With a well-crafted and devastatingly beautiful EP forthcoming, Alexa Wilding continues to amaze us with her style, grace, and music so enchanting that we lose ourselves in it if we aren’t careful.

Assessment! Regina Spektor's "Far"

(Sire Records)

June 22, 2009

In the past, Regina Spektor has displayed a knack for crafting off-kilter tunes that are melodic and intricate.  This latest album is no different. The first tracks, "The Calculation" and "Eet," are excellent examples of Spektor's ability to travel up and down vocal scales with mastery. "Blue Lips" starts off with just Spektor's voice, but as the song continues piano and other instruments join in.  "Laughing With" seems like a play on Joan Osborne's "One of Us."  

Like with every Spektor record, some songs do not work as well as others. "Dance Anthem of the 80s" contains a overpowering piano melody and her voice is definitely on display for all to listen to.  The breakdown appears to be heavily influenced by the music of Spektor's Russian roots. Its unique but doesn't present itself as an everlasting track.   "Machine," a rough-and-tough song about, I think, post-apocalyptic life and living with full reliance on technology, exists somewhere off the scale of normalcy but could be a grower in some cases.  

 

"One More Time With Feeling" is one of the more standout tracks of the album.  It sounds joyful but is actually a depressing and easily relatable tale of "playing parts" and going through the motions.  "Genius Next Door" is a definite example of her background in classical music while "Folding Chair" operates as an alluring ode to companionship.   

Overall this album operates in line with her other releases. It is as accessible as 2006's "Begin to Hope" and contains quite a few glorious pop songs along with some stranger tracks that convey Spektor's off-beat and charming personality. Her voice is as potent as ever.  This album is an essential for those who are already a fan of her work as well as those who crave unique piano melodies coupled with even more unique lyrical composition. 

• Mp3s: "One More Time with Feeling"  and "Folding Chair" 
• For more information about Regina Spektor, check out her myspace and official website. 
  

Top 5: Soundtrack for a Vampire Obsessed Nation

It seems inappropriate to talk about anything non-Michael Jackson related these days, but I have watched enough tribute specials, heard enough "Billie Jean" on the radio, and even laughed at enough dead MJ jokes ("His heart just couldn't beat it anymore...") to know that there is no such thing as "too soon". 

Instead, I'd like to write about a trend that has been and continues to sweep the nation. Vampires. They've always been present in common folklore, but suddenly they've taken over the books we read, the movies we watch, and even HBO. Not only are these blood-lusting creatures, inexplicably sexy, but they've got indie cred too. Although the Twilight soundtrack surprised me with moments of goodness, Radiohead's "15 Step" in particular, I can't help but think that a few of these tracks may have also benefitted. Here are my favorite vampire songs for your listening pleasure, in between episodes of True Blood and Twilight novels, of course.

• Margot & the Nuclear So and So's, "Vampires in Blue Dresses" mp3
  

It was with the help of this Indiana band that vampires found their way into chamber pop. With lyrics such as, "Your mother is a vampire/ She sucked your old man's life away/ Turn everything off/ Just cover your neck/ Cause life is full of your regrets/ And I should be one," and a drumbeat outro resembling an execution, this song is utterly appropriate. 

• Chad VanGaalen, "Red Hot Drops" mp3
  

If you have ever listened to a Chad VanGaalen song, or better yet, watched one of his animations (recommended) you know that just about everything he creates is eerie in the most terrific of ways. Check out his new album, Soft Airplane, and give this creepy ditty a listen. It reads like an vampiric meditational chant, calmly urging, "Sharpened teeth that dive deep into veins/ Slowly draining with no pain, sinking and drinking in a thick way." It's no wonder he creates everything in a hermit-like style, barely emerging from the privacy of his Calgary basement. 

•  Arctic Monkeys, "Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But..." mp3
  

Who could forget the English breakout band from Myspace? The term "vampire" is used as an insult in this song, and it sure sounds like one through Alex Turner's churlish Yorkshire accent as he snarls, "Cause all you people are vampires/ And all your stories are stale/ And though you pretend to stand by us/ I know you're certain we'll fail." 

• Sufjan Stevens, "You Are The Blood" mp3
  

Although not quite about vampires, this song still fits the mold with the unearthly quality it possesses. Stevens turned this Castanets song into an odd anthem weaving in and out of genre's all in the name of good will. The cover was released on Dark Was the Night, the compilation release for the Red Hot Organization, a charity dedicated towards HIV and AIDS awareness and research. 

• Radiohead, "We Suck Young Blood (Your Time Is Up)" mp3
  

Radiohead are the champions when it comes to producing hauntingly beautiful music. Thom Yorke poses questions in his trademark falsetto, crooning, "Are you sweet?/ Are you fresh?/ Are you strung up by the wrists?/ We want the young blood." Whether it's young blood or true blood, these days, it seems like everybody wants it. 

Concert Review: Band of Horses @ Carnegie Hall, June 11th, 2009

How did we get to Carnegie Hall on Thursday evening?  Well, it was a combination of "practice....practice...practice" ....and the D-train. Ha.  All stupid (awesome) puns aside, last night Jenna and I traveled uptown for a performance by Band of Horses at a little place known as Carnegie Hall.  As we took our seats in the obstructed view sections on the third "dress circle" tier, it was obvious we were in for quite a treat. 

The opening act,  Arbouretum [myspace], was reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel in their softer moments.  This band, hailing from Baltimore Maryland, was a great match for BOH.  Their mountain-ish and melodic sound, along with the deep and throaty voice of lead singer David Heumann delighted the crowd for a tight set.  Once they were done, though, the whole hall was ready for BOH to take the stage.

Band of Horses took the stage around 9:15 and positioned themselves on metal chairs, which were on top of oriental rugs.  It was so appropriate.  They opened up with "Part One" and "Marry Song."  The tempo of "Weed Party" was quickened while "Wicked Gil" was slowed down considerably. "The Funeral" turned into an extended jam session. They conquered Gram Parsons' "A Song For You" and played two new songs, one by Tyler Ramsey and another that referenced "compliments down there."  

The band left the stage, momentarily, and then came back for an encore of "Ode to LRC" and "Detlef Schrempf." For their closing tune, "The General Specific," the mood of the show swiftly shifted from mellow to cheery. As Ben Bridwell grabbed a tambourine, people throughout the venue began to rise from their seats.  There were even two people in our section who shook their hips and clapped their hands throughout the upbeat song.  The most awkward thing was a business-man, dressed in a baggy white button down and dress pants, who busted a move as his arms flailed around in a crazy fashion. You could tell this man really enjoyed dancing like the whitest man alive.  

Overall the show was a chilled-out, sit-back epic masterpiece.  Everyone seemed to embrace the sit-back-and-enjoy tone of the concert, except for the few random bros who decided it was appropriate to yell out "Free Bird" and attempt to get others to stand up when most people wanted to retreat to their velveteen cushioned seats. Even though BOH's said this was the first time they had ever embarked on this type of show, the band seemed to be in their element: playing acoustic gems on carpets to a mostly mellowed-out and attentive audience.

• Check out Brooklyn Vegan for a complete(ish) set list and some pictures.  

Top 3: Tuesday Trio Giveaway

We haven't posted in a while, this was such a whirlwind week, and it's been raining all day. Here are three songs I've been holding onto for quite some time now. They are hot in my hands and I don't want to carry them anymore so I'm giving them to you.

• Clues, "Perfect Fit" mp3

The morbid yet lovely band, The Unicorns, captured my high school heart, so it should come as no surprise that Clues, featuring Alden Penner (previous member of The Unicorns) as well as Brendan Reed (ex-member of Arcade Fire), has also piqued my interest. The song starts with a spooky tune that sounds as if it could be the soundtrack for a haunted house at an amusement park and then picks up to form a whimsical anthem of sorts.

• Suckers, "It Gets Your Body Moving" mp3

This song lumbers on dependably in a grandiose display of percussion and synth. It's sing-a-long style may evoke an image of a roaring campfire from a summer long ago, embers sputtering and bits of ash popping into the air. Feel free to hold hands and sway to this communal beauty. 

• Stars of Track & Field, "With You" mp3
  

This three-piece Portland band took its name from a Belle and Sebastian song. The track is wistful and dreamy with an added digital chill of synth. Get lost in the melancholy void of their shoegazer sound. It is still raining after all.