Tyler Ramsey/The Drones/Band of Horses @ The Showbox 11/20

I know it's been a week since the show, but I've been kind of busy with Thanksgiving travels etc..

Anyway, I throughly enjoyed the concert, perhaps the most pleasant surprise of the evening was opener Tyler Ramsey. He has recently joined Band of Horses on guitar, and is opening for them on this tour. His bluesy, folk inspired solo set was very engaging, and left me wanting more. He opened and closed his short set with some beautiful guitar driven instrumental pieces that set the stage for the rest of his performance. His most memorable piece, titled 'Long Dream', which is coincidentally the title of his upcoming album, came off perfectly and was the highlight of the performance, with its meandering guitar segments as bookends to his poignant vocals about a dream of swimming across the sea.

The Drones hit the stage next, and didn't leave anyone in the audience disappointed. This being said, they didn't really blow anyone away either. Their live show comes off very loud, and as straight forward as rock can get. They didn't make any mistakes, but it didn't seem like they took any chances either. In sum they produced a very normal performance that, truthfully, seemed more fit for a stadium than the intimate setting at the Showbox.

Finally, the headliner Band of Horses came on (with Tyler on guitar) to a very receptive audience. The band considers Seattle its home away from home (South Carolina), and is pretty popular in the northwest (home to their label Sub Pop). I was very curious (and almost leery) to see them live. Bird's vocals are very unique, and mentally, I had been setting myself up for disappointment in light of what I experienced at the Pinback concert I attended just a month earlier. Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed, and Bird offered up a great performance hitting all the favorites from 'Everything All The Time' as well as new tracks from 'Cease To Begin'. The band was tight and seemed to transition well from the overcast stylings of 'Everything All The Time' to the southern rock inspired style of their new album.

Overall, I had an amazing night, and I can't wait until Tyler Ramsey's album drops later this winter.

Here's my favorite track from the night to hold you over (via stereogum):

Tyler Ramsey - Long Dream

Also, congrats to Conner who won the special edition Drones 7" giveaway, and thanks again to Sneak Attack Media for allowing me to give it away!

Until Next time...

The Drones // Custom Made 7" Giveaway

Although I haven't heard much from Australian band, The Drones, what I have heard so far has piqued my interest a bit. They are pretty heavy in the blues department, and have some pretty straight on guitar based rock elements as well (think Wilco).

Enough of what I have to say, see for yourself:
The Drones - Shark Fin Blues

Want more? Check out their myspace page.

I'll probably be writing about this band a bit more in the coming weeks since I'm seeing them live in Seattle at the Showbox where they will open for Band of Horses on November 20th. More on that later, though. Finally, if you're interested in this cool, 'Custom Made' limited edition 7" by The Drones (via ATP recordings), just send an email to climatechangeblog@gmail.com with 'Drones 7" in the subject line, and I'll choose a winner at random on Friday November, 16th at 5:00 PST-- dooo it.

From the record label:

"ATP Recordings is pleased to announce the release of a new series of double 7" vinyl called Custom Made. Custom Made invites artists to submit 4 songs which will be released on limited edition 7" and also made available as a digital download.

Bands will choose:

* Something old - an old song of the band
* Something new - a song from the latest album
* Something borrowed - a cover
* Something blue - open to interpretation, a blues song, the word blue in the title, anything.

Limited to just 1000 pieces, 100 of them will be special edition silk screened printed covers, numbered and signed by the sleeve designer."

Although I'm not sure if the 7" is one of those 100 special edition ones, it's still cool, so be sure and enter within the next week.

annnnnd I'm back.... // Pinback Viking Union 10/23

I'd like to start off with my apologies, I've been really busy the past few months, and I'm just starting to get back into the swing of things going back to school and getting to some concerts here in Bellingham and in Seattle.

I spent the summer traveling around and went to China, which was definitely a really cool and interesting experience. Now I'm back, and I hope to update anytime I get out to a show, or occasionally when I hear something that I absolutely have to post about.

In early October I got out to see the National in Seattle at the Showbox, and although this isn't a formal review, I will say that the band did not disappoint. They were absolutely amazing and played an awesome setlist including most of my favorites from Alligator, along with much of their new album. If you have the chance, I definitely recommend seeing this band. No matter what.

Now for last night's concert:

I must say, I was pretty excited to get out and see a band that I have enjoyed since high school. Pinback's melodic flow and subtle lyrics was something that I could listen to anytime; studying, driving, or with friends. That being said, I was a little skeptical of how that might translate into a live performance. Needless to say those worries were warranted. Last night at the show I remember remarking to my girlfriend midway through their set that it sounded more like Pinback karaoke than their actual music.

Their lead singers often came off as cliche and forced, and actually sounded like they were trying to mimic the effects produced on the record. That being said, the composition of the songs was still there, and the instrumental parts came off quite well. In sum aside from the kitschy vocals the show sounded pretty good musically.

One of my favorite (older) Pinback Tracks [too bad they didn't play it, it would have been awesome]:

Pinback - Starfish

The next time you hear from me will most likely be after the Minus the Bear concert which rolls around to my campus on November 9th-- I'm pretty excited.