More good news coming from the Siren Festival camp...
Spank Rock, Japandroids, Bear Hands, and Future Of The Left have been added to Siren's bill. Already announced are Built To Spill, The Raveonettes, Frightened Rabbit, Grand Duchy, Monotonix, Micachu, and The Shapes.
Sounds like there's still a few more acts to be announced...we'll let you know when we find out, natch.
In case you missed the original announcement, Siren will be held again on Coney Island on Saturday, July 18. More info on the Village Voice Siren Festival at: http://www.villagevoice.com/siren.
Photo above of Ra Ra Riot at last year's Siren by Stefano Giovannini
Maybe it was the giant white ball hovering moonlike above the stage, its surface swarming with abstract film projections. Maybe it was the colored lights mounted under the white-draped tables where the three band members bent over their instruments. Or maybe it was the music itself: layered, percussive, hypnotic, and building moment by moment to a joyous climax.
Whatever the reason, Animal Collective definitely brought a ‘90s rave vibe to Boston’s House of Blues last night—even though most of the kids in the audience were probably way too young to recall the era of baggy pants and glowsticks. From the moment the first beats of new song “What Would I Want Sky,” exploded out of a delicate, looping guitar sample, the sold-out crowd started jumping and dancing frenetically—much like we did back in the day during an especially awesome DJ set.
Of course, though trance-influenced, Animal Collective’s music is anything but nostalgic; their set list drew heavily from the innovative sounds of the 2009 stunner Merriweather Post Pavilion, including a raucous version of “Summertime Clothes” and climaxing with the dizzy, ecstatic “Brother Sport.” Other highlights were an extended version of “Fireworks,” one of my favorite tracks from Strawberry Jam, featuring Panda Bear flailing out an energetic drum rhythm; and a mass sing-along to “Comfy in Nautica” from Panda ’s 2007 solo effort, Person Pitch. (“That’s not even an Animal Collective song!” the guy next to us grumbled, though I’m pretty sure he was the only one complaining.)
In an encore to the nearly two-hour-long show, the slow-building melodies of “Chocolate Girl”—featuring gorgeous Avey Tare vocals—merged triumphantly into the recent crowd-pleaser “My Girls.” And as the audience shrieked and flailed in approval, I glimpsed yet another sign of the new combining with the old: A young girl dancing a few feet away, twirling with a lit-up iPhone in one hand and a green glowstick in the other. --Anna Kramer
Animal Collective also played Letterman last week...
Seriously, as long as the hooks are huge and the lyrics dance off the singer's tongue, I'm in.
And show me an album loaded with good pop songs? There's a good chance it'll stay in my player for weeks. Case in point is the new album from Toronto's Matthew Barber, "Ghost Notes".
Barber's a pretty great lyricist, but the music really shines as well on this album, which is split between rock stompers, folky pop, and piano-driven slower songs, all of which are catchy as hell.
Must musicians can't pull off the rock/folk split-personality thing well. Many have tried and failed, but the few who do it well are legendary...Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Bob Dylan come quickly to mind. Not to say that Matthew Barber belongs to that lofty group just yet, but "Ghost Notes" would certainly not be out of place in a stack of that gang's CD's, next to the backyard boombox, waiting to be spun on a lazy weekend afternoon.
Having said that, I'm very interested in hearing Barber play these songs live. Thankfully, he's out on the road for a few dates, and is giving New Yorkers a couple chances to check him out:
Matthew Barber Live: May 12 Living Room - NYC May 13 Union Hall - NYC (with Jill Sobule) May 14 Milltown - Carrboro, NC May 15 Farm 255 - Athens, GA May 16 Criminal Records - Atlanta, GA
extrawack! wants to give one lucky reader a pair of tickets to Barber's show at Union Hall in Brooklyn on Wednesday night. The third email to extrawack@gmail.com with "Matthew Barber" in the subject line gets them.
It's no surprise to regular reders of extrawack! that we're cookoo for Silversun Pickups. So when we were given the oportunity to giveaway some SSPU and Xbox swag, we jumped on it.
The contest is in conjunction with the announcement that Silversun Pickups will play Guitar Hero® World Tour with Xbox LIVE® Gold Members on May 14.
If you're an Xbox LIVE Gold Member and you want a chance to play with Silversun Pickups, send a friend request to the Gamertag "Silversun GwF"and be online half an hour before (9:30 P.M. ET) the Game with Fame session starts on Thursday, May 14, 10:00 P.M. ET.
Silversun Pickups videos on the Xbox Marketplace here.
And the contest? We're giving away the following to one lucky extrawack! reader:
A copy of Swoon on 180 Gram Double Vinyl, includes download card for MP3 version of album
An Xbox belt buckle
An Xbox bag
You know you want it. Just be the sender of the 10th email to extrawack@gmail.com with "SSPU/Xbox" as the subject, and we'll have it sent out to you. Contest only open to US Residents. Sorry, Lichtenstein!
More good news coming from the Siren Festival camp...
