See The Foundry Field Recordings Saturday (and some others)

I am terrible at supporting local music. In my youth, I was at every show or at least several every week and I never missed a local fav on consecutive shows. So, I've put in my time. At this point in my life, I'll just do the best I can.

That said, go to Mojo's Saturday night and see The Foundry Field Recordings do their thing for only a fiver. For this week's set, the line-up will be Billy Schuh (vocals/guitar), David Korasick (vocals/guitar/keyboard/trombone), Justin Nardy (bass), and Cody Mains (drums).

Then, the following Friday (the 13th), you should hit Eastside for Cpt. Captain. On December 12th, Cpt. Captain's label Yards and Gods release their second compilation. The party will be at Mojo's.

Most likely, you will find more info on both shows at Ravenous Horde, but I thought I'd do my part this evening.

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...

I Can't Make It

I am busy for multiple reasons. So, you should attend these shows for me.

Bathtime happens on Saturday at Slacker's and Eastside. Check the bathysphere for details. This might be the event of the year and I'll be out of town, gettin' my Easter on.

Also, The Foundry Field Recordings will be in your town shortly. Go see them. Ask them about Misery. Their new stuff sounds like more Shins and less Death Cab. Buy some merch and get Billy a club soda.

W Apr 15 St. Louis, MO The Firebird
Th Apr 16 Nashville, TN The End
F Apr 17 Atlanta, GA Lennys
Sa Apr 18 Athens, GA Farm 233
Su Apr 19 Chapel Hill, NC The Nightlight
M Apr 20 Washington DC The Red and The Black
Tu Apr 21 New York, NY Cake Shop
W Apr 22 Philadelphia, PA The M Room
Th Apr 23 Brooklyn, NY Union Hall
F Apr 24 New York, NY Pianos
Sa Apr 25 Pittsburgh, PA Brillobox
Su Apr 26 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom
M Apr 27 Columbus, OH Rumba -
Tu Apr 28 Bowl. Green, OH
W Apr 29 Cincinnati, OH Southgate House
Th Apr 30 Madison, WI Café Montmarte
F May 1 Chicago, IL The Hideout
Sa May 2 Urbana, IL Courtyard Café

*Correction! The dates are wrong. Go to http://www.myspace.com/thefoundryfieldrecordings for the updated itinerary.

One more thing...Should I get Baby Bangs for Lucia? You know, so that people recognize that she's a girl. Just wonderin'.

Make that two more things...When is someone going to make satirical response to this video?

COMO Music

One thing I am slowly learning to appreciate in COMO is the music scene. Upon moving here, I was highly skeptical and rather suspicious. What could a town of less than 100k and full of transient college students have to offer in terms of local music? Well, it turns out that there's more here than I once thought.

The funny thing is that I'm not even getting out all that often these days. I guess that's the price I'm paying for fatherhood and a demanding work schedule. I've been meaning to get out to see the kids from the bathysphere and their band Tops, but that has yet to happen. Additionally, a buddy in Malone invites me out via Facebook and attends my happy hours, but I haven't found time for his gigs either.


I did catch Bald Eagle's opening slot for Cursive, but their label mate (and sharer of several band members) The Foundry Field Recordings are hitting the road. Check the dates and some tunes here, but be aware that there are new songs I'm not allowed to leak on this blog. So, check them out.

And while I'm missing all these bands, a whole commune of musicians is flourishing below my nose.


I'm talking about the promising cooperative known as Yards and Gods. There is some good, vibrant music here and I almost missed it. Luckily, Y&G's Michael shared some tracks with me today. Here's a quick rundown of the material I sampled...

In Dark Trees is the Explosions in the Sky for the ambient set. The band's track "Some Summer Night" leads off the label's compilation. Upon further investigation, I found that one could obtain the band's entire catalog for nothing, not including the 3 bucks for the compilation. I will have to check out the rest of the material, but this first track makes me very hopeful.

The Kinksy garage rock of The Makeouts fills the second slot of the comp with a needed jolt. The band currently has no other releases, but you get the feeling that they have an LP's worth of two-and-a-half minute gems waiting in the wings.

Nonreturner slips two tracks from their self-titled full-length into the comp. There's a real Radiohead thing going here, not like Muse, more Radiohead of the past two or three albums. Something about the production/recording feels shallow and quiet, but there's some intense stuff going on in the music itself. I've just started listening to their album and it certainly shows a more diverse output. Again, there is probably more to say on this band.

An acoustic number by Palisades follows, fitting better with the hippie vibe that goes with a co-op. However, Palisades mixes in some Lips-like warped samples and subtle organ work to separate it from flat, hippie, folk music. This material surprises me the most with its mix of warbly folk and alt-country that actually sounds fresh.

Ursus Arctos rounds out the label's compilation with some aggression and hollers, reminiscent of the Hives or Franz Ferdinand when these bands had the potential not to suck. Between Clash-like pop awareness, Ursus also includes some prog flourishes that remind me of a kinder, gentler Bald Eagle.

This label still deserves more exploration, but I'm pleasantly surprised by the output they've had in less than a year of existence. You should go to their site, donate, and agree with me on all of my points.

So, maybe COMO's coming around. I'm still not changing the name of the blog.

The Foundry Field Recordings Hit the Road

There are very few shows hitting COMO this winter/spring. I have intentions to buy Handsome Fur tickets, but I'll get back to you all on that one later.

In the meantime, The Foundry Field Recordings have some tour dates up. My guess is that there will be dates for the other side of the country in the fall, but don't quote me on that.

If you live in one of these towns and read this blog, you should go. Tell 'em comoprozac sent you. (You'll probably get nothing but blank stares.)

Feb 26 2009 8:00P	The Billiken Club	St. Louis, Missouri
Feb 27 2009 8:00P	Schuba’s	Chicago, Illinois
Feb 28 2009 8:00P	Courtyard Cafe	Urbana, Illinois
Mar 1 2009 8:00P	Nomad World Pub	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mar 2 2009 8:00P	Replay Lounge	Lawrence, KS
Mar 3 2009 8:00P	Hi-Dive	Denver, Colorado
Mar 4 2009 8:00P	Kilby Court	Salt Lake City, Utah
Mar 5 2009 8:00P	The Palace	Missoula, Montana
Mar 6 2009 8:00P	American Legion Cabin	Moscow, Idaho
Mar 7 2009 8:00P	TBA	Seattle, Washington
Mar 8 2009 8:00P	Rontoms	Portland, Oregon
Mar 10 2009 8:00P	TBA	San Francisco
Mar 11 2009 8:00P	Satellite	Reno, Nevada
Mar 12 2009 8:00P	Silverlake Lounge	Los Angeles, California
Mar 13 2009 8:00P	Luxury Wafer Sessions	Los Angeles
Mar 14 2009 8:00P	Pink Elephant	San Diego, California
Mar 18 2009 8:00P	SXSW - TBA	Austin, Texas
Mar 19 2009 8:00P	SXSW - TBA	Austin, Texas
Mar 20 2009 8:00P	SXSW - TBA	Austin, Texas
Mar 21 2009 8:00P	Valley of the Vapors Fest	Hot Springs, AR

(Pic blatantly lifted from the bathysphere.)

I think I have finally out grown alt.country

I snuck into Mojo's last night to see the new Foundry Field Recordings' lineup and to see whether Dr. Dog was all they're cracked up to be...by friends and acquaintances, not the 'Fork. I even recorded some of the festivities for all to see. (And by "all" I mean the 35-40 people who read lim regularly.)

The Foundry included two members of Bald Eagle and a new drummer as well as front man Billy Schuh. It was sort of strange to see BE's Danny and Justin play such tame music and appear to be rocking out a bit at the same time. Overall, the band sounded very tight, even professional. I only say this because so many locals are often a mess on stage. Of course, as I write this, I seem to remember a Bald Eagle gig last month that was positively rawkin' without sounding towny or amateurish. Although this town has a small rock community, it makes up for that lack quantity with quality.

Anyway, here are two songs from Foundry Field Recordings. The first is "On Wings of Gold and Bone" and the second is "Quiet Failures." I had heard demos for both songs previously and have to say they translate well live (although the sound quality of my video would dispute that claim). "On Wings..." will feature a few more layers of percussion, guitar, and strings once it's released. I really love the bass playing on the demo for "Quiet Failures," but it didn't come through live due to the questionable sound system. Either way, I doubt Dr. Dog will get too many sets from openers as good as this one was.
Foundry Field Recordings at Mojo's #1 07/29/08 from comoprozac on Vimeo.
Foundry Field Recordings at Mojo's #2 07/29/08 from comoprozac on Vimeo.

Now, I can get to the main point of this post: I think I have finally outgrown alt.country. I didn't think it would ever happen, but it sort of has. It may be the change in the genre that seems to value the Beatles more than MC5 or the fact that I just don't feel the same angst I did in the 90's. Alt.country bands used to look to Johny Cash or Merle Haggard as their influences. Now, they look to Wilco. Wilco's a great band, but they have drastically watered down the alt.country aesthetic. Gone are the days of cow punk and Uncle Tupelo. Today's alt.country sort of bores me.

Enter Dr. Dog. I have had people telling me for the past couple of years how great this band is, but I don't see it. Sure, they have an interesting sound and seem to be a fairly accomplished collection of musicians, but I'm just not feeling the alt.country vibe right now. Maybe it will return, but Dr. Dog just doesn't excite me.

As for last night's show, Mojo's was pretty packed for a Tuesday in July. Folks drove in from all around to cheer on the Dr. It's a testament to the band's prowess and fan base that the joint was so full of hippies and alt.country enthusiasts despite being 'forked. (I'm trademarking that one. With their terrible rating of 3.3 from Pitchfork, one can now close the book on The Black Kids. Consider the one-time blogosphere darlings 'forked!)

Even though my appreciation for alt.country is going under faster than No Depression, I did feel an obligation to film at least one song for a couple of my readers who could not be there. I appologize for the shitty camera work, but it got really crowded rather quickly...and I just wasn't in the mood. I hope that you can get the main idea.

Dr. Dog at Mojo's 07/29/08 from comoprozac on Vimeo.

Shows and Shows and Shows and a Couple of Rumors

Since I mostly write about music, it would be neglectful of me not to mention some upcoming shows.

Tomorrow night (Tuesday), local heartthrob, Billy Schuh, will lead a brand-spankin' new lineup for his Foundry Field Recordings. He's mixing in some new material that's worth checking out. The Foundry will open for COMO regulars and Wilco openers, Dr. Dog. The Dr. took a beating in Pitchfork recently. You'll have to head out to Mojo's to see if it will unravel like the last time a band dissed by the 'Fork passed through town. I believe the doors open at 8, but my bet is that Foundry won't go on until 10. I'll be there as soon as our meeting with the doula ends.

The night after features Cracker on the Blue Note's Summerfest stage. Even if you don't like Cracker or their predecessors, Camper Van Beethoven, you can't beat the price: FREE. Maybe they'll play "Take the Skinheads Bowling," if you yell for it loudly enough. The gates, not doors, open at 6.

Mojo's will also feature the demise of Witch's Hat, which they are titling "The Last Huzzah" with mother f'n Bald Eagle! Come out and say goodbye to the Hat on Friday, August 8. I never said hello, but I hear they have a crazy live show.

August 16th features the return of Evangelicals. Apparently, they play some killer basslines. All the kids are talking about it.
Mojo's almost snuck in another show of note with their September 15th gig featuring The Oxford Collapse and Love as Laughter. I haven't really given either band much of a chance, but any band good enough to sign to Sub Pop can't be as bad as CSS. (That last knock might earn me an "ass clown" comment.)

For the most part, things look a little dead in these here parts...that is, until October 17th. You need to mark it down on your calendars now.

I'll wait.

...

OK, now that it's on your calendar, write three words: BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE!!! BSS are coming to Misery. In fact, they're hitting STL, COMO, and KC in the middle of October. Tickets go on sale Saturday. They'll rock the Note like it hasn't been rocked...well...since I've been here. Then, I may even proclaim them to be the new greatest live band ever.
Of course, I can't tell one of the acts to be rumored to come this fall. That will have to wait. (Of course, it may only be exciting for me, but that's OK.)

Speaking of rumors in the music scene...

There is word out there that KCOU is talking format change. A true college radio station that plays music you don't hear anywhere else is one of the few things I love about this place. Don't take that away from me now. Leave the format alone. Truly independent music is what college radio is all about.

In other rumors, something is happening at ComoMusic.com. Stay tuned...

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.

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.

Some Overdue Reviews

I haven't reviewed everything I've bought in the past few months. So, I'll take this opportunity to write some overdue mini-evals on some recent purchases.

The Foundry Field Recordings - Prompts/Miscues
Fifty-One Words: I previously misjudged this band. Meeting Billy Schuh made me give this local band a second (third, fourth, fifth...you get the point) listen. It's way bigger than COMO and that's a good thing. The songs are sophisticated in their structure and production, while maintaining the focus on matters of the heart.

The one song that makes it worth $17.95: "Assembled Hazardly"

Pitchfork Says: ???

Yeasayer - All Hour CymbalsEighty-Nine Words: Three things made me confident in buying this record: 1) Nearly every music critic listed it on their year-end list; 2) Their Take Away Show was incredible; and 3) The conversation between the two clerks behind the counter went something like this.

Record Store Clerk 1: Dude, this has sold really well.
Record Store Clerk 2: That's because it's good.

Well, it mostly sounds like silly hippie crap to me. The lack of good songs cannot be hidden amid drum circles and chorus lines. Sorry, record store hippie dude.

The one song that makes it worth $17.95: "2080"

Pitchfork Says: 7.8

Animal Collective - Strawberry JamSixty-Nine Words: I'm always slow to pick up an Animal Collective release. I like and totally get what they do, but I have to be in the mood for something so challenging and even somewhat silly to really get into it. This record really is as mind-blowing as all the critics claim, but it's almost too difficult to listen to on a regular basis. Pitchfork and I actually agree for once.

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

Pitchfork Says: 9.3

The Kills - Midnight BoomSeventy-Five Words: I've always had an appreciation for the dirtier, sleazier side of indie rock. Bands like Brainiac or John Spencer Blues Explosion filled this need. Now, The Kills have to feed my hunger for sleaze. At times, this record hits me in that good place. Other times it puts me to sleep with its overuse of synths and drum machines. Rawk bands like this should hit me with guitar, howls, and drums. That's it, nothing more.

The one song that makes it worth $17.95: "Black Balloon"

Pitchfork Says: 6.8

Destroyer - Trouble in DreamsNinety-Two Words: I've always wished that The New Pornographers could be more like their name suggests: dark and a little strange. Then, I listened to Destroyer. Dan Bejar makes as cool an album as they come. So much so, that it made me search the liner notes of New Porno records to see which songs were his. And sure enough, many of my favorite moments on those albums were Bejar-penned. This record does nothing to contradict this assessment. In fact, Trouble suggests that his New Porno band mates may actually be holding Bejar back.

The one song that makes it worth $17.95: "My Favourite Year"

Pitchfork Says: 7.7

Last Night at Mojo's

I recently befriended one Billy Schuh of local heroes, Foundry Field Recordings. He invited me out to the vastly under-publicized White Rabbits show at Mojo's last night. I didn't make it on the guest list, but I did make it through the door.

Let me first get the White Rabbits out of the way.This band left COMO for the greener pastures (musically-speaking) of Brooklyn a couple of years ago. Since then, they have turned their sound (that falls somewhere in between Vampire Weekend and The Walkmen) into a recording contract with TBD Records (Radiohead's label). It's the classic story of small-town boys head to the big city to become stars only to succumb to drug-riddled orgies with random sea life and end up on VH1's Behind the Music right before their triumphant reunion tour. (Actually, I made up that last part. They will become big stars shortly.)

I was surprised to see the band so nervous and unsure on stage. I mean, these are their old stomping grounds. Their parents were in the audience. Thanks to what I assume was a sizable advance from their new label, they will never work a day job in their lives again. Playing Mojo's should be old hat. It should be comfortable.

It was tough to watch the band nervously look around and continually ask for monitors to be turned up. It's as if there's all this new pressure on them to succeed. Luckily, it did not affect the music. They played all the "hits" and kept the set short. I like short sets. Short sets leave me wanting more. The Rabbits' performance made me wish I could travel to KC to see them open for two of my favorite bands, Spoon and the Walkmen. Oh well.

Back to Mr. Schuh.I have to admit that I haven't always cared for Foundry Field Recordings. I had only seen them once in their previous incarnation, opening for Spoon at the Blue Note. Let's just say that I didn't find it inspiring. In retrospect, I had expected other openers and was mainly interested in seeing whether Spoon could play a good show for once.

Then, somewhere along the line, Billy contacted me on MySpace. We talked. We met up at the Eastside Tavern. He turned out to be a nice guy with similar interests in music and education (and a few friends-in-common as well). So, I decided to give Foundry a second chance.

I gave his record, Prompts/Miscues, a good listen. Earlier exposure to the record gave the sense of another shoe-gaze band with too many layers to determine whether the songs were any good or not. However, since Billy's such a nice guy, I listened again. Upon further examination, I found a pop sensibility that I had missed before. The songs tended to lean closer to poppier fair like Rilo Kiley or The Shins rather than be My Bloody Valentine or Ride rip-offs.

This is why iTunes (and its ilk) is bad for music. No longer do people take the time to listen to whole albums. 30 second samples make or break bands. We don't look for hidden gems anymore or listen to albums in their intended sequences. I forget to do this from time to time, but I think I found the Foundry Field Recordings with a little of that old-time effort.

Anyway, last night was another new TFFR discovery. Billy debuted a new version of his band, complete with cello and half of a drum kit. Acoustic guitar and singing duties were handled by Schuh, of course. What was revealed was that pop sensibility I had to search for in the recorded work. This time, the pop sheen was out in front. I heard pieces of the Shins and the Cure with some start-stop action and nontraditional song structures.

I gained a better appreciation for TFFR's older material, but the new songs have me really excited for future releases. I'm hoping Billy will share this material with me as it was the highlight of the evening.

It all goes to show you that sometimes you have to look a little deeper for the good in your situation...even if it is in Misery.