2009: The Year of Lists - Kevin

Kevin Sears is not related to the people who sell you cheap crap with expensive warranties that only work in that you never have to cash them in...except when you didn't purchase one, then something goes wrong. No, he's of the Oklahoma Sears and they always drive a hard bargain.

Kevy-Kev is a newer-ish member of the Emergency Umbrella family but he's been around the proverbial block when it comes to the rock and roll. He's the one with the doughnut for a hoo-ha on that Dark Meat 7" (NSFW).

I asked him to give me a list. He gave me three, plus a list of honorable mentions that was longer than any of his actual lists. So, he more than did his part. Welcome him with open arms and remember that the opinions below are not mine - especially that pic of the doughnut vayjayjay. So, don't go typing in all caps in the comments section just because he didn't include U2 in his top-10.

2009 was actually, and to my surprise, a wonderful year for music. There were several great albums from new and seasoned bands/musicians. So without further ado here are my "Best of 2009" lists:

Best Albums of 2009 (In no particular order):

1. St. Vincent - Actor
2. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
3. Why? - Eskimo Snow
4. Bosque Brown - Baby
5. Stardeath and White Dwarfs - The Birth
6. Cursive - Mama I'm Swollen
7. Tortoise - Beacons Of Ancestorship
8. Balmorhea - All Is Wild, All Is Silent
9. David Bazan - Curse Your Branches
10. Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band

Honorable Mentions:

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish I Were An Eagle
Dan Deacon - Bromst
Danger Mouse + Sparkle Horse - Dark Night Of The Soul
Flaming Lips - Embryonic
Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
Jason Lytle - Yours Truly, The Commuter
Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3
Molina & Johnson - Molina & Johnson (Will Johnson's half...Molina's songs are very weak on this record.)
Sherree Chamberlain - The Wasp In The Room
The Swell Season - Strict Joy
Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

According to my Last.fm (http://www.last.fm/user/sitandspinradio) data, here are my top 10 bands who released a record in 2009....

1. Flaming Lips
2. Headlights
3. Bosque Brown
4. Cursive
5. Why?
6. Wilco
7. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
8. Starlight Mints
9. Stardeath and White Dwarfs
10. St. Vincent

Best Shows I Attended In 2009

1. Grizzly Bear - Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
2. St. Vincent - Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
3. Cursive/Bald Eagle - Slowdown (Omaha, NE)
4. Emergency Umbrella Showcase...aka Bald Eagle's final show - Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
5. Russian Circles - Mojo's (Columbia, MO)
6. Jason Lytle - Tonic (Columbia, MO)
7. Why? - Firebird (St. Louis, MO)
8. Burning Hotels/Pretty Black Chains - Dfest (Tulsa, OK)
9. Colourmusic/Gentleman Auction House - The Vault (Stillwater, OK)
10. Cursive - Hailey's (Denton, TX)

2009: The Year of Lists - Nardy

Nardy is Justin Nardy of Bald Eagle and sometimes Foundry fame. He prints t-shirts for tea-baggers, blogs once in a blue moon, draws some cool-as-shit portraits of famous people, Tweets some insanely depressing stuff, and will someday illustrate a children's book for yours truly (if I ever get my act together). Also, he wrote me a top-10 list for 2009. Notice the label mentions. Nardy (I'm considering calling him "Nard-Dog" like the dude on The Office.) spends many of his waking hours on team Emergency Umbrella. Read his list and learn something.

It should also be noted that the opinions expressed in these posts are not those of comoprozac (a pseudonym) or of the owner of this blog. The lists are entirely attributed to the author identified above.

2009 Top Ten

1. Russian Circles- Geneva/ Suicide Squeeze Records

2. Iron and Wine – Around The Well/ Sub Pop Records

3. Jason Lytle- Yours Truly, The Commuter/ ANTI Records

4. Obits- I Blame You/ Sub Pop Records

5. Cave- Psychic Psummer/ Important Records

6. David Bazan- Curse Your Branches/ Barsuk Records

7. Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix/ Glassnote Records

8. Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest/Warp Records

9. Cursive- Mama, I’m Swollen/ Saddle Creek Records

10. Tortoise- Beacons of Ancestorship/ Thrill Jockey Records

Here is my top ten list for 2009. While making this I had to think back about what actually came out this year and if anything was actually good. I found myself going back and listening to more older obscure records this year than I ever have before. I visited a lot of jams from the 70’s and dove into some weird African jazz/funk/soul via Swami Land and African Afrodesiac, all suggested by my friend Ahmed Gallab. This music inspired me way more than anything that came out this year. I became really obsessed with the sounds of the 70’s and the quality and noises these musicians were getting out of their instruments. Not a lot of music does it for me anymore. I am very very rarely blown away by a band's live performance. So coming up with a list of ten worth while records was somewhat of a challenge. I am sure I am missing some things in my list or have forgotten about certain records that came out in early 2009. I do know for sure that these ten records actually did something for me and either inspired me or were an important part of my life this year. So here is my list, I can’t put them in any order, just the top ten records you should have picked up this year in my opinion. These are the records that I actually listened to over and over and went out and bought actual copies of (as well as downloading them all for the iPod). These are the ones that meant something this year.

Russian Circles- Geneva

The third full length from this Chicago trio. This just came out in early October so it is just scrapping by for the releases of 2009. I really feel like RC are coming into their own and this record shows it. I remember when RC only had their first record “Enter” out and they would tour non-stop playing just those songs. Everyone that saw them would be blown away by how tight they were. My biggest complaint was, that they only had 6 songs that they were playing. Of course they were going to be tight as shit, give any band just 6 songs to learn and have them play them over and over for a few years, they better be fucking tight. So it is nice to see the RC catalog grow and for them to come into their own. With the addition of bass player Brian Cook (These Arms Are Snakes, Botch) I really feel like they made one hell of a record and on Geneva the bass finally stands out. The thing that really does it for me with RC is that they all are amazing musicians. Anymore I think that is what it takes for me to be blown away, is seeing musicians that can actually play their instruments. I feel like these guys grew up with a lot of the same influences that I did, and I really respect what they are doing. There aren’t a lot of instrumental bands that continue to blow me away but RC is definitely one that does, and is one band that I will always be curious to pick up a new record by.

Iron and Wine – Around The Well

While this is simply just a collection of rare songs, out-of-print, never released, and cover songs, it still might be my favorite collection of Iron and Wine songs. If you happened to buy this on vinyl it came as 3xLP and had something like 23 songs on it. There is just something about Sam Beam’s voice that does it for me, while I’m more of a fan of the super lo-fi recordings from Iron and Wine, pretty much everything on this record blew me away. I made a set of 4 mix cd’s for someone this year and I think at least 5 songs from Around The Well made it on those cd’s. I must have listened to this 20 or 30 times at work just to get through the day. Just a great laid back record, so much so it might stir up some emotions and get you a little teary eyed from time to time.

Jason Lytle- Yours Truly, The Commuter

After 15 years with his band Grandaddy, this is the first solo record we see from front man Jason Lytle, let’s hope there is more to come. While I have always been a fan of Grandaddy and had the chance to see them twice before they called it quits, I have never thought any of their albums were as solid as this by Jason himself. Every Grandaddy record has those songs that blew me away but they never felt like complete albums to me. Yours Truly has all those songs, they all go together, it feels complete. I downloaded this way before it came out and listened to it a ton, and finally had to break down and buy it on vinyl. Apparently the story goes something like this: After the break up of Grandaddy Jason moved from California to Montana, while in Montana and facing nothing to do during the harsh winter months, he locked himself in a house and wrote and recorded this entire record, the results are pretty amazing. Jason played in Columbia on July 3^rd this year (the day after my birthday) it was a pretty special show. I had just started hanging out with a new girl, who was a huge fan of Grandaddy and Jason, so this was a nice excuse to go to a show and hang out and get to know one another a little better. The next day (the 4^th of July) I had the pleasure of going to a private BBQ at my friend Daryle’s house, Daryle had grown up with Jason and had done some touring with Grandaddy, he was the whole reason Jason even came to Columbia to play. That night I got to meet Jason and the rest of the band which included ex- Grandaddy drummer Aaron Burtch. We had BBQ and shot the shit, and then later climbed a ladder to the top of the Hearnes Center to watch fireworks and drink wine out of a bag, the night ended with drunken volleyball inside the Hearnes Center. That truly was a night that I will never forget, and was probably the best night I had in 2009. With all of that how could this record not have been in my top ten this year.

Obits- I Blame You

The only reason I even picked this up or gave it a chance was because it was band that had Rick Froberg in it. Rick is one of my favorite guitar players and singers, if you aren’t familiar with his previous work check out pitchfork (the band, not the site), Drive Like Jehu, and Hot Snakes. Now the thing with Rick Froberg is that he works really well with his counterpart John Reis, they simply might be the best guitar duo there is in my opinion and they have influenced every single band I have ever been in. The problem is when these guys do bands by themselves they usually kind of suck. This is not the case with Obits. Obits picks up where Hot Snakes left off, but they kind of add a little garage rock/surf thing into the mix. Either way it works for them and I love Froberg’s voice, I even love the one song he doesn’t sing on. It is just a great rock record. I got to see them in Chicago at the Empty Bottle this year as well. I was having a really shitty time with life and just kind of took off and drove to Chicago to get away, by chance I looked in the Chicago reader while eating some pizza and saw that Obits were playing that night, it definitely made the trip to Chicago worth while. Obits is rad, go buy this record or at very least download it.

Cave- Psychic Psummer

It is really nice to see such a good record and band come out Columbia. Cave started as a Columbia band then headed north to Chicago to really establish themselves as a band. I had seen them a few times live and sometimes they came off really sloppy and other times it was one of the tightest rock and roll shows I’ve ever seen. What I really like about this record is that it has that 70’s feel to it, but it also has something new and refreshing to it as well. I think that 70’s sound is coming back in music and while that’s cool I can also see every “cool” band going in that direction. Cave is led by guitar player Cooper Crain and has somewhat of a rotating cast of characters. Some people hold Crain as musical god in these parts (I won’t go that far), but fact of the matter is when Cooper wants to write a good song he does (see his work with Warhammer 48k and One Inch Punch), and this record is full of them. It’s loud, catchy, psychedelic, has sick drum parts, is full of catchy keyboard/synth parts. It’s just a fucking good record and it gets props from me because of it roots to Columbia. Definitely one of the better records and bands to come out of Columbia. Hopefully they can keep in together and not fall apart like every other good band Columbia has produced. They have been busy touring and putting out a bunch of releases, a couple 7”s a split 10” another full length etc. all good, but I think Psychic Psummer is the crown jewel in the Cave catalog.

David Bazan- Curse Your Branches

You are probably most familiar with Bazan’s work in the band Pedro The Lion. I never really got into Pedro, they had a few songs here and there that I thought were ok. After my roommate Kevin told me about this record and directed me to a free download of it, I figured I would give it a shot. This is hands down better than any Pedro The Lion record. This is such a personal record and Bazan sings about religion, his struggles with drinking, his family life and love. I guess when I started listening to this record I could really relate to what he was singing about. I have never been a big Christian music fan, and sometimes Bazan and Pedro The Lion get lumped into that category, and it is a little off putting for me. In this case I don’t think it matters, Christian or not this is just a good, honest record full of great singer/songwriter songs. My band Bald Eagle was in the middle of writing a record called Drug Church and a lot of themes in our record were about religion and addiction to drugs/drinking, so I found a common bond in Bazan’s subject matter on Curse Your Branches. Even though I had the free download of this, I broke down and bought it on vinyl, it was definitely worth it. This is slowly becoming not only one of my favorites for 2009 but one of my all time favorites. It might force me to go back and give the Pedro The Lion catalog another chance.

Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

It felt like Phoenix just came out of nowhere. One day I was hanging out with my friend Chris and he was like have you heard that band Phoenix. I had no idea who he was talking about. He popped it in his car stereo and almost immediately I was hooked on how catchy and poppy these songs were. Wolfgang Amadeus is Phoenix’s masterpiece and really helped them explode as a band. All of sudden this little French band was on every cover of every hip and cool music magazine, they were playing every music festival that mattered, and they were on Letterman and Conan. The fucked up thing is that have been a band for a pretty long time and have few other full lengths out, it just that no one really gave a shit about them until this record. I don’t know why I am such a sucker for music like this, but there is something just fun about putting on this record and turning it up and singing along, it is so so so catchy and pretty easy to get into. There are a few duds on the record towards the middle that can easily be skipped over, but when the good songs come on, they are good. I still don’t have a proper copy of this and still haven’t went back and checked out Phoenix’s older records, I need to do both of those things. Maybe I fell on the band wagon of falling in love with the next cool band to like, but hey as I get older I just don’t give a shit. If it’s good, it’s good and well I think this shit is good. A few weird facts about Phoenix, they started out as a backing band for a remix project of some Air songs. A few of them were in a short lived band who eventually turned into Daft Punk. They have been a band since the late 90’s and there is a band called Empire of The Sun from Australia who sound almost exactly like them.

Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest

I feel like this record is going to be on a lot of top ten lists this year. While I like this record and Grizzly Bear I don’t think I am shitting my pants over them as much as everyone else is. I tried to see them at SXSW and the line was so ridiculous that I just gave up. I finally got to see them a few months ago at The Blue Note here in Columbia, and they put on a great show. They can pull it off live and the big thing for me with Grizzly Bear is the vocal harmonies, I think that is their secret weapon. It is pretty amazing to see a band who have all of the members singing, and doing it very well. At times they remind of the Beach Boys a little bit. The down fall of all of this is that ever fucking hipster and cool kid out there LOVES Grizzly Bear, hey I get it, they are good band, they put out a pretty good record. However there are a lot of bands trying to do this same thing right now. So I am not real sure how long the hype of Grizzly Bear will last. I don’t think ever song on this record is mind blowing or amazing. However songs like “Two Weeks” and “Ready, Able” are really really good and make this record worth checking out and owning. I usually don’t fall into the Brooklyn, NY trap of cool bands, but there is something about Grizzly Bear that is in fact good, again I think the harmonies pull me in and keep me interested enough to always give whatever Grizzly Bear is doing a chance.

Cursive- Mama, I’m Swollen

I have personal ties to this record and to Cursive, so that is why Mama, I’m Swollen makes it into my list this year. My band got to play with Cursive a few times this year and we were personally invited by them to come to Omaha and open/play with them to a sold out crowd. Cursive was one of my favorite bands in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. I still think to this day that Domestica and the Burst and Bloom ep are fucking amazing records. People fell in love with them later on with their record The Ugly Organ, which is a great record as well. Then Cursive kind of fell off the radar and put out a record called Happy Hollow that wasn’t received as well as some of the previous records, their drummer quit and then there is always the on going drama of singer Tim Kasher. If you have ever followed Cursive or Saddle Creek Records, you know that most of their releases are at very least worth checking out, they just have that history to them. I came pretty familiar with the new songs that were going to be on Mama, I’m Swollen and became friends with Cursive through playing these shows. Also when their bass player Matt Maginn moved to Columbia, we developed a small friendship and shared lots of beer and stories of record labels, bands, and touring. Cursive are a Midwest band and down to earth, genuine nice dudes that write good songs and like to drink beer. I owe them a lot for helping out my band and allowing us to play some shows with them. We were in talks of possibly touring with them and maybe even doing a split 7” with them before we called it quits. While all of these personal ties make me love Cursive not only as a band but also as people, I do also think they made a great record this year. This record again pulls into some religious themes, questions of human condition, and Kasher ongoing subject matter of “the Peter Pan Syndrome”. While Mama, I’m Swollen might not be my favorite Cursive record, it is still a damn good record and the songs “From The Hips” and “In The Now” might be two of the best Cursive songs to date.

Tortoise- Beacons of Ancestorship

This is Tortoise’s first new studio album in five years and it is probably my favorite Tortoise album or at very least has my two favorite Tortoise songs on it. If you are not familiar with Tortoise, they are an instrumental band from Chicago that have been around since 1990 or so and have ties to a zillion other bands. Their drummer John McEntire also plays in the Sea and Cake, which are one of my favorite bands. McEntire would probably fall in my top ten list of favorite drummers. All you need to know is that Tortoise is full of great musicians and they make some damn fine music, combining dub, indie rock, electronica, and various styles of jazz. They have an amazing catalog of records and all of their releases are worth checking out. I had no idea they were even working on a record, and then boom this fell into my lap and I was blown away. I am still kicking myself in the ass for not going to see them in St. Louis a while back, they are one of the few bands that I still really need to/want to see. I ordered this on vinyl sometime ago and I am still waiting to receive it, it has been on back order for ever. Anyhow buy this record it will floor you, and at very least check out the songs “Prepare Your Coffin” and “Charteroak Foundation”.

*other notable releases this year, that didn’t make my list, but were definitely considered and should be checked out.

-Dark Meat- Truce Opium/Emergency Umbrella Records

-Sinkane-Sinkane/Emergency Umbrella Records

-Call Me Lightning- When I’m Gone My Blood Will Be Free/ (this never officially got released)

-St. Vincent- Actor/4AD

-Dinosaur Jr.- Farm/ Jagjaguwar

-The Flaming Lips- Embryonic/Warner Brothers

-So Many Dynamos- The Loud Wars/Vagrant Records

- White Rabbits- It’s Frightening/ TBD Records

-Monsters of Folk- Monsters of Folk/ Artist First

Emergency Umbrella Showcase, etc.

Last night was the Emergency Umbrella Showcase at the Note. A small-but-loyal crowd showed up so see 67% of the EU lineup. Of course, one would expect that the crowd would be larger had classes been in session. Still, it was a nice way to spend a Friday evening in July.

A couple of or more things before I get to the rock...

I think my latest (and second) batch of beer is ready for consumption. The Simcoe-dependency was sampled and labeled after work and before happy hour. It's so deliciously bitter and grapefruity that I puckered all the way through.

R and I hit the 'Tag for happy hour. (Sorry that we missed so many people. We would have enjoyed the company.) Barry has added some taps behind the bar, giving the 'Tag six great craft beers on tap. And I didn't drink any of them. I had heard through the hop vine that the Old Rasputin XII Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout was now available at the 'Tag.

What a lovely bit of bourbon barrel yumminess this beer is. It reminds me a lot of Schlafly's own bourbon barrel imperial stout, but not as sweet. It's so good that I'm trying to scheme another trip to the 'Tag before it disappears.

Of course, there will be more details on these beers and others at my beer blog Bottles and Cans.

After putting the Lu to sleep, I slipped out for the showcase. There is video of all the bands, but time and my upload limit at Vimeo will cause you to wait for all the footage to make this blog. In the meantime, enjoy Billy Schuh (The Foundry Field Recordings) doing a Big Star song, 3/4 of COMO legends Kingdom Flying Club with Schuh, and a song from new EU signees Netherfriends.

It's been a long, long time since I've been to a club where I knew so many people. I ran into folks from several COMO circles from the EU crowd to the failed ComoMusic takeover to some beer enthusiasts to one of R's colleagues. For all the complaining I do about this town, I do like a homegrown event with homegrown talent.

As far as the rock music, the Foundry (or this version) were loose, not perfect, but good. A couple of members of Malone and a cellist joined Schuh on stage for most of the set. I felt like I've been listening to versions of the next record for over a year, but it will be fully appreciated once it arrives. Look for a change in the sound. I'm hearing Shins all over this thing. That may turn some folks off, but it is what it is. I'm OK with the Shins, so the new material is fine for me. Now, if the record could just arrive.

Billy Schuh does Big Star from comoprozac on Vimeo.

3/4 Kingdom Flying Club from comoprozac on Vimeo.

Netherfriends put on a raucous set that screamed "We're from Brooklyn!" Of course, they're not, but a lot of the influences I heard were Brooklyn-based. Imagine all those bands like The Walkmen, White Rabbits, Delta Spirit, etc. wrapped up with a considerable dose of Animal Collective experimentation. Additionally, with the band being from Chicago, they had moments that reminded me of the Coctails, Sea and Cake, and Joan of Arc. They are a really enjoyable outfit and I look forward to hearing their record, particularly their opening track from last night.

Netherfriends from comoprozac on Vimeo.

As for the rest of the show, Gentleman Auction House and Bald Eagle killed as usual. I don't know that I'm a big fan of GAH's music, but I really respect what they're doing. That and they are maybe one of the more professional bands with great potential for stardom that I've seen in a while. There are always rumors of bigger labels showing interest and I can understand why.

Bald Eagle is just ridiculous live. They're unapologetic as they convert hipsters and indie nerds into rollicking metalheads. Unfortunately, I could only stay for the first three songs of BE's set as I promised to take the baby when the ten-month separation anxiety and teething would cause her not to sleep.

Boy, that last sentence just stripped me of any rock 'n roll cred I may have had.

Today, the party continued as all the EU folks and friends got together for a barbecue. We had some great ribs and some nice conversation. Folks played bocce ball and lobbed water balloons at each other, showing that EU is more than a label.

I've always been a big local music supporter - well, in theory anyway. It's nice to see a healthy scene here in COMO with EU at the heart.

Friday: EU Records Showcase

Friday is the Emergency Umbrella Showcase at the Note. You should go. Hear Billy Schuh's new material for his Foundry Field Recordings. See the latest addition to the EU lineup: Chicago's Netherfriends. There will be STL road warriors Gentleman Auction House. Plus, don't miss Bald Eagle as they unveil new material of their own. It should be a hoot-hollerin' good time!

Netherfriends video below...

Best of 2008: Homegrown in COMO

In order to make this place tolerable, I've had to search out local merchants and producers that fill my many wants and needs. I prefer local to corporate anything and COMO has a lot to offer in that department. So, here is my list of the best local businesses of 2008 (most likely not to change in 2009).

Best Farmers Market Vendor: (Tie) Show-Me Farms and Susie's Grass-Fed Meats
I was able to justify giving up my vegetarianism (7.5 years) once I realized you could buy locally meat that was not force-fed corn. Show-Me has been a staple in our household since moving here. We still have a bunch of meat from the cow we shared with friends. Plus, Show-Me makes a mean breakfast burrito and we always buy their eggs. We shared a lamb with neighbors from Susie. The lamb is fine, but her friendly nature is what sells the meat.

Best Ice Cream: Sparky's
This has been a hotly contested topic at other blogs, but the choice is clear. No other ice cream shop provides the same flavors and local color as Sparky's. Also, they serve alcohol.

Best Brewery: Flat Branch
This is easy since it is the only brewery in town (for now - look for the co-op by the Root Cellar), but it is a solid brewery. Sure some of the beers lack the characteristics you'd expect from particular brews and most of the wait staff don't know the difference between a porter and a Hefeweizen, but the beer is good overall and the food is among my favorites. (I'm currently obsessed with the stout meatloaf.)

Best Beer Selection: Sycamore
Sycamore has really improved as a restaurant since moving here, but the beer selection is what sets it apart. Sanford does an amazing job bringing in beers one does not normally find in Mid-Misery. New Belgian puts out several keg-only releases, and somehow Sanford always gets his hands on them.
A Close Second: The Ragtag - Barry has put together a solid, yet accessible selection in a short amount of time.

Best Restaurant - Dinner: Wine Cellar and Bistro
This is the home of R's favorite chef. We had our first date night since Lucia's birth at Wine Cellar and Bistro. Someone describes their food as "one-ingredient-too-many," but I would contend that it's better to have one-too-many than not enough. Plus, they hosted a fantastic beer dinner with Bells.

Best Restaurant - Breakfast: Cafe Berlin
When Cucina Sorella closed, we were fearful that we would never have a non-diner/bakery breakfast again...Then Cafe Berlin arrived. At first, the food was so-so, but the little family joint has prospered over the last year. The highlight for me is the pancake burrito. It's filling and satisfies both my salty and sweet desires simultaneously.

Best Restaurant - Old Stand-By: Murry's
Nothing about Murry's is spectacular. It's located in a strip mall. There's always a wait. But what Murry's is is consistent. I know that I can always get the steak "sandwich" when I'm in-need of some iron and protein. They have also been a great employer over the years, giving many in the COMO restaurant scene their first start.

Best Chocolate: Patric Chocolate
I'm not talking about confectioners and their bite-sized morsels in heart-shaped boxes. I'm talking real, from-the-bean-to-the-bar, artisan chocolate. And it exists in Columbia, Missouri. Alan (a beer-tasting buddy) makes the most intensely complex chocolate I've had. Seriously, buy his chocolate. I'll wait...

Best Indie Label: Emergency Umbrella
Sometimes, like Patric Chocolate, COMO doesn't realize what they have. EU is on the rise. Let me run down the label's roster...Sinkane's Ahmed Gallab just toured as Of Montreal's second drummer and has done some recording with members of TV on the Radio and Yeasayer. Now there's word that Merge might be interested in Sinkane. Gentleman Auction House have a ton of buzz swirling around them with interest shown from Polyvinyl. Bald Eagle just secured a spot opening for Cursive on an upcoming tour and recently had a song picked up by Microsoft Zune for a marketing campaign. Drew Danburry is a favorite among the indie elite, including members of Death Cab for Cutie. Finally, there's the Foundry Field Recordings who have a record and tour on the horizon. FFR has been featured in numerous magazines and websites over the years, just Google them. Look for the label to possibly have a showcase at next year's SXSW.
Best Place to Take Visitors: Booches
If you want the best hamburger in the world, go to Booches. Need I say more? I order mine as "2 E, GRO" (everything, grilled onions).

Best Coffee: Kaldi's
This might be a cheat since Kaldi's is technically a STL product, but the best coffee in town was roasted by Kaldi's before they set up a shop in COMO and it still is now that their on 9th and Cherry.

Best Video Shop: Ninth Street Video
For whatever reason, I've never been a "regular" anyplace. If I have or will ever be considered a "regular," it will be at Ninth Street Video (now on Hitt St.). Almost everybody who works there knows that I'll return the movies late and that the account is under R's name. I've been let off the hook for so many late fees that I might be able to pay for my child's first three years of college. Besides that, the selection is second-to-none.

While we're at 10 Hitt Street...

Best Bar/Movie Theater/Bakery: Ragtag Cinema/Uprise Bakery
Sharing the building with Ninth Street Video is my favorite hangout. The Tag has been a beacon of light in my sea of Misery since moving here. And now, they have two screens. The bar/bakery area is spacious and hip. Uprise serves the best bread in town (available everywhere these days) and the bar is first-rate with its copper top and great beer selection. Have I mentioned my love for The Tag before?

There are plenty more local businesses that get my money, but few of them would thrive in other cities like New York, Seattle, Chicago, etc. These just happen to be businesses that I would put up against any other city's. So, you should support them (and their kind) with whatever money you have left. COMO can't afford to lose such homegrown successes as these joints to economic environment in which we find ourselves.

Sure, think globally, but buy locally.

#17 of 2008: Emergency Umbrella Records (Sinkane, Gentleman Auction House, Drew Danburry)

Thirty-Two Words: This may be pandering to the locals, but records each put out by Sinkane, Gentleman Auction House, and Drew Danburry respectively make Emergency Umbrella a label to which you should pay attention.

The Moment of Truth: Seeing the buzz and excitement these three acts (plus local heroes the Foundry Field Recordings and Bald Eagle) have garnered has made me realize that EU is doing something right.

Killer to Filler Ratio: 3:0

Sinkane, Of Montreal at The Pageant

I joined the folks at Emergency Umbrella for a little trip to STL for the Of Montreal show at the Pageant. EU's Sinkane was set to open. In case you hadn't heard, Sinkane ringleader Ahmed Gallab is playing drums (and some guitar and bass) for Of Montreal on this tour.

We met up with members of another EU band, Gentleman Auction House. They promised to save us seats as they planned to drink their dinners. Our crew opted for food of the solid variety.

It's always good to talk some Columbus scene stuff. Ahmed, for being as well-traveled as he is, still keeps close ties with C-bus. It's also funny to hang out with Missourians who have no idea what Columbus and Ohio State are all about. I almost more look forward to reminiscing about Columbus with Ahmed than watching him play drums.

We hustled back over to the Pageant. I was the +1 on the list at the door. Luckily we made it through the door in time to catch Sinkane's set. Ahmed played drums and guitar with his buddy Evan and some members of Of Montreal. The band basically played through their excellent Color Voice. The set was very short, but it energized the crowd. Ahmed expressed later that he wished they could have played longer. The songs lend themselves to sprawling jams. However, this may have lost the audience. They fully embraced what Sinkane was doing and it was evident by all the kids chatting it up with Ahmed after the show.

The headliner blew onto the stage shortly after Sinkane's set ended in feedback and dissonance.

If you have not seen pictures of Of Montreal's performances, I highly recommend you look them up. It is one of the most ridiculously extravagant things I have ever seen in my life. Two drum sets sit on risers on either side of the stage. Meanwhile, sets and costumed dancers are wheeled in and out of the stage from the center as if interpretive dance is giving birth every evening in rock venues hosting Of Montreal. To summarize, there were dancing Budhas, an old west saloon scene, commandos, a hanging, a coffin, and many other unidentifiable accouterments and props. (Sorry, no horse.)

Personally, I found the whole exhibition to be silly and somewhat amateurish. Most of the props either came from cheap novelty stores or were paper mache creations from a seriously disturbed arts and crafts studio. The music did little for me as Of Montreal seems to only play the material that could best be described as psychedelic disco.

They finished the night with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" which Ahmed had hinted to me earlier at dinner. With two drummers and what seemed like an ever-multiplying army of guitars, the cover worked the crowd into an absolute frenzy.

At this moment, it occurred to me how old I am. I saw Nirvana 15 years ago this November in Dayton at the infamous Hara Arena. Maybe I was too old to get what was going here. Somebody mentioned that if they were 19 or 20, this show would have been mind-blowing. Maybe they were right.

No one can deny the enthusiasm and passion ignited that night in Of Montreal's fan base. Besides the raucous dancing, many fans were all decked out in costumes or dressed in a similar neon miss-matched manner as their heroes.

I was not won over by Of Montreal, but they proved themselves as a band taking that next step to some form of stardom. The only evidence I needed were all the very giddy kids leaving the Pageant Friday night.

Today in COMO Music

I have been getting more and more involved in the local scene here in COMO. Although it's not nearly as large as the one in my former city (Columbus, OH), it is thriving nonetheless. So, I figure I should dedicate a post to the scene from time to time.

In case you missed my last couple of posts, the bands from Emergency Umbrella have been busy.

For those of who weren't aware, EU is COMO's own music label, primarily catering to the indie elite but still accessible to most other music tastes.

EU's Bald Eagle played for the fist time in a while last Thursday, unveiling some new songs and experimenting with some new dynamics in their live show. The band played four previously unheard songs along with four crowd favorites. The blistering set was shortened with the band barely pausing between songs, sometimes filling the space with a short sample or two.

Although Gentleman Auction House is from St. Louis, they are still an EU band. As previously posted, GAH played at the Bluebird in St. Louis in celebration of the release of their forthcoming album, Alphabet Garveyard. According to those behind the merch table, the band was able to sell 70 or so copies of the album that night.

Speaking of EU bands not living in COMO, Sinkane is busy recording their follow-up to this year's Pitchfork-approved Color Voice. Sinkane mastermind Ahmed Gallab is preparing to join Of Montreal on their tour this fall in support of the upcoming Skeletal Lamping. The new Sinkane effort should be out sometime next year.

The Foundry Field Recordings will be opening for Dr. Dog when they play Mojo's on July 29. Then, The Foundry will join Gentleman Auction House for a tour in the fall. This tour will hopefully stir up some interest in the band as Billy Schuh and his new line-up release an album sometime next year.

Another EU act, Witch's Hat will call it quits after their August 8 show, also at Mojo's.

Both Mojo's and The Blue Note are "enjoying" a quiet summer, but things should pick up in the fall when the kids return. Mojo's does have an upcoming show featuring Saddle Creek's Son, Ambulance with Matador's Jennifer O'Connor. The Blue Note features a visit from the well-traveled guitarist Nels Cline on July 16 and Cracker for free on July 30. Rumor has it that one of my heroes will make a stop in the fall to play the Note, but I'm not at liberty to divulge that information just yet.

Although the summer months are slow, COMO needs a Pitchfork or BrooklynVegan-type of website to keep us all abreast of upcoming rock shows and album releases. There are currently a few blogs like this one and that one that attempt to cover the local music scene and there is CoMo Music. Right now, CM is a schizophrenic mess. The basic premise was to create a MySpace-type of website in hopes of getting community input regarding the music in COMO. It was a good idea, "ahead of its time" some might say. However, the result is a conglomeration of silly rantings, music reviews of little or no consequence, a Craig's List for local bands (among other things). Someone needs to intervene and quick.

Pandering to the Locals: Two Reviews

Sinkane - Color Voice
Two Hundred Thirty-Six Words: Sinkane mastermind Ahmed Gallab has come a long way from playing in hardcore bands while attending The Ohio State University. The former Sudanese resident has found a home banging the skins in the states for his band as well as the likes of Caribou and a band to be named later.

In the meantime, Sinkane has released a wise-beyond-their-years debut on COMO's own Emergency Umbrella imprint. Color Voice is incredibly layered and complex with its torrential drumming, backwards guitar play, and waning woodwinds. But I have to go back to the drumming. The propulsive fervor with which Gallab bangs his kit is almost otherworldly. It is easy to see why Caribou sought the young man's services when their own drummer went down with an injury.

To me, the album seems more suited as an EP. The four songs total somewhere around 30 minutes and only give a taste of what's in store from this new talent. The idea that an EP gives the listener just a taste in anticipation of things to come helps build hype and a following that makes room for a much-anticipated full-length.

Of course, this record is an example of quality over quantity. There's no room for filler in four tracks. Although brief, the moments of genius contained within Color Voice are more than apparent. I look forward to whatever else this young Sudanese from Ohio has to offer the listening community.

The one song that makes it worth $17.95: "Autobahn"

Pitchfork Says: ???

Gentleman Auction House - Alphabet GraveyardFour Hundred Four Words: Since the hardcore days of the eighties and the lo-fi days of the nineties, indie rock has come a long, long way. Bands are no longer winging it with few resources and too much naiveté. Today, they are part of intricate networks of record labels, clubs, and even bloggers. They use these connections to build careers out of rock 'n roll. This new underground has lasting power and in many cases, is far outproducing its corporate competition.

Gentleman Auction House is a perfect example of this new underground. The St. Louis band has built a solid following and has attracted the interest of larger indie labels through these networks. They recently played a live webcast thanks to a friendship with the guys over at Daytrotter. Things are looking up for another Emergency Umbrella act.

Of course, no matter how connected or sophisticated a band is, the music has to be good if there are any plans of longevity. I've seen so many bands build a ton of hype only to come crashing to earth once their ruse was up. The songs were superficial and built more on aesthetic than substance.

Luckily, GAH comes through with Alphabet Graveyard. The band's sound is varied and their song structures both play on conventionality and innovation to create an accessible record that stands out among the rubbish passing for alternative rock these days. What highlights GAH's sound is its diversity and sophistication. Of course, this should be expected from a seven-piece band that includes keys or all types, a myriad of percussion instruments, and the occasional horns.

This record might be Emergency Umbrella's most accessible release to date. Along with the diversity and connections, GAH's nod to indie rock forefathers makes this accessibility possible. The boy/girl hollers over jerky rhythms remind one of the first Starlight Mints' record (before they went downhill). The cool soulfulness from a Midwestern white boy recalls the ghost of Greg Dulli and his Afghan Whigs. (I know, Dulli's not dead.) The complex pop structures fit together with those of indie pop heroes, The New Pornographers.

Comparing Gentleman Auction House to other bands is lazy on my part and somewhat unfair to such a hardworking band. However, if we are to see how far underground music has come, we have to make connections with its past and future. Thankfully, bands like GAH keep popping up, making the indie scene better all the time.

The one song that makes it worth $17.95: "We Used to Dream About Bridges"

Pitchfork Says: ???

Thursday Night in St. Louis: Caribou

I feel I have very few opportunities left to see great live shows before I have another mouth to feed. Last night was the perfect opportunity to take in one of those shows. (Saturday will be another.) Caribou played the Billiken Club on SLU's campus and was featuring a bright new artist of the underground.

Billy, the two Justins from Bald Eagle and I piled into the BE van to see Ahmed Gallab of Columbus, OH's own and Emergency Umbrella signee Sinkane play drums for Caribou. I had never met the guys from BE, but I can tell you that they are honorable gentlemen with a sharp wit and sharper tongue. Again, another trip to St. Louis resulted in good conversation and some good rock 'n roll.

After arriving at SLU's campus and killing some time, we were able to meet up with Ahmed after his sound check. We added another guy to our group and headed to The Tap Room, Shlafly's downtown restaurant. The Vietnamese Po' Boy was delish, and the conversations humorous. We laughed and discussed everything from Canadian prog bands to the best video game controllers to the great white shark. All of this over a few sandwiches.

While Billy and Ahmed talked business, some of us took in the opening act, Fuck Buttons. Yes, you read that correctly. Fuck Buttons sounded exactly as you would imagine. While Caribou filled the stage with guitars, two drum kits, and various synthesizers, FB set up a folding table and some laptops.I don't want to be too critical, but it kinda sucked buttons. There's just something missing from watching two kids play iMacs. This was the twosome I suspected Rob Gordon signed to Top 5 Records in High Fidelity. Some kids apparently loved FB. I just didn't get it.

As Caribou began setting up, I wondered how their sound would translate to a live setting. I had only recently picked up Andorra, the most recent release from Daniel Snaith's project, and was somewhat unfamiliar with the rest of the discography. Ahmed had introduced us to "Danny" earlier and he seemed a nice enough guy. This was aprapos for the dreamy, nonthreatening soundscapes on Andorra. I wondered if it were possible to recreate such sounds in a live venue. I also wondered how two drum kits fit into the equation. My interest was peaked.

The Billiken's stench of "wet burritos", ridiculously high temperatures, and poor sound system did not dampen Caribou's phenomenal set of drones, big beats, and psychedelia. Snaith effortlessly moved between guitar, drums, synth, and recorder while handling a good part of the vocal duties. While the other players worked guitar, bass, and synthesizers from behind, the other star, Gallab, played his kit across from Snaith. Ahmed is easily one of the top five drummers I've seen in-person, in my lifetime. (I feel a blog post coming...) All in all, the band was incredibly tight and sounded even bigger than they do on record. It was like watching My Bloody Valentine if they came up in the late sixties and added Keith Moon to their lineup. It really blew me away.

Besides the thrilling set from Caribou, I discovered what many in the underground are already fully aware of: Ahmed Gallab has "superstar potential" written all over him. Not only is he a gifted drummer and musician, but Ahmed has a charisma rarely seen...well, anywhere. His friendliness is genuine. His knowledge of music is both rich and unique. Drum and cymbal companies want to sponsor him and bands want him behind their kits. Pitchfork even wants to break him. The man is going to be huge. Besides, he's from Columbus.

As you can see, the night was loaded with good times and will not soon be forgotten. If this happens to be one of the last shows I see for a long time while my kid grows up, that will be OK by me. Thursday night was enough show for me for a while...or until The Walkmen hit town this weekend.