The Blow Were Out Of My League

On May 15, minimalist pop duo The Blow performed at The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza, opening for Electrelane. Of course, with half of the group (Jona Bechtolt) off doing his one-man YACHT thing, Khaela Maricich was left to perform by herself, as she often does. However, despite the fact that it was just a woman alone on stage with nothing except a microphone and a backing beat, The Blow did not disappoint.

For her first song, Khaela ushered in an evening of intimacy with the song "How Naked Are We Going To Get?" She stood on stage, solitary and vulnerable, an apt opening to her set. The song was sparse, even by The Blow's standards, an invitation to the audience, bringing them into a pact with the performer, hinting at the emotional tension that underlies her otherwise poppy tendencies. For the remainder of her set, Khaela playfully danced around on stage, devoid of self-consciousness, with a kind of in-front-of-the-bedroom-mirror innocence. Her fragile voice sang about the allure of the unattainable, those things that are always just out of reach yet constantly beckon to us. In between songs, she offered lengthy anecdotes about the lyrics-writing process, providing a humorous version of her personal life.

The set formed a sort of narrative, a linear progression detailing one woman's path to empowerment and emotional well-being. From the opener to the middle songs, Khaela sang of a lonely soul, someone seeking but never truly finding love and connections. By the end, happiness appears in sight. With "Parentheses," Khaela seems to have found her elusive partner in punctuation, singing "I know I’ll be safe in these arms." While things do not turn out perfectly, she's finally okay with it. The love was real, but it's over.

After The Blow finished, I left. Today, Electrelane got a "Best New Music" label from Pitchfork. Who knew?

Setlist:
How Naked Are We Going To Get
Big U
Knowing The Things That I Know
Hock It
Hey Boy
Eat Your Heart Up
Pardon Me
Pile of Gold
Parentheses
True Affection
Read more!

My city's summer festival can beat up yours.

The lineup for Coney Island's Siren Festival was just announced, to the delight [and jaded scorn] of NY hipsterdom. The annual Village Voice-sponsored concert, which also happens to be free, enters what might be its last year, as the famous Astroland is set to be destroyed and replaced with evil symbols of capitalist wealth (read: condos and stuff).

According to Brooklyn Vegan, the initial lineup consists of New York Dolls, We Are Scientists, Matt And Kim, The Black Lips, Dr. Dog, Lavender Diamond, The Detroit Cobras, Elvis Perkins, and The Twilight Sad.

I mean, I like the new-wave-revival as much as anyone else, and who can go wrong with Matt and Kim (seriously), but I still hope they add some other cool acts. For example, last year, they brought in Interpol -- sort of. Actually, it was just She Wants Revenge. Nevermind.

Sometimes I look at past Siren lineups and cry.

2004: Death Cab, Blonde Redhead, Trail of Dead, TV on the Radio, The Fiery Furnaces, The Thermals
2003: Modest Mouse, Ted Leo, !!!, other bands I don't listen to
2002: The Shins, Sleater-Kinney, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Les Savy Fav

I blame Pitchfork for this and most of the problems of the world. Obvi!

Sometimes I wish I lived close to Seattle, Chicago, or Austin.

Coming next: A review of The Blow @ The Fillmore @ Irving Plaza (worst venue name ever).
Read more!

I stepped out onto the midway.

Great news, Slint lovers. The post-rock progenitors have finally added two US dates to their upcoming performance schedule. As part of ATP's "Don't Look Back" concert series, a reunited Slint will be playing their landmark second album, Spiderland, in its entirety for crowds around Europe and for two dates at New York City's Webster Hall (7/17, 7/18).

Slint are often credited, along with Talk Talk, with launching the so-called "post-rock" genre, which also includes bands like Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Although they broke up almost immediately after recording Spiderland, they've become something of indie-rock legends.

Slint guitarist David Pajo went on to play in Tortoise and Billy Corgan's Zwan.
Read more!