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...

#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.

Gentleman Auction House CD Release Party

It's a rare day when I can say that I reviewed an album a good two months before its release party, but that's the case with Gentleman Auction House's Alphabet Graveyard. The album is loaded with indie pop giddiness and the band doesn't disappoint when they play it live.

Foundry Field Recording's Billy Schuh, Bald Eagle's Justin Nardy, and I drove to St. Louis' Bluebird to catch the band's official release party...and hang around for the after-party. I took some videos of GAH and one of the openers, Colormusic. Neither video do the bands justice, but I've posted them anyway. I only have enough space on Vimeo to upload the GAH video, so the Colormusic vid will have to wait.
Gentleman Auction House at Bluebird in StL 07/05/08 from comoprozac on Vimeo.

BTW-Whoever took my new BPA-Free Nalgene bottle should return it. Just give it to one of the GAH members to send on to Billy. Thanks.

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: ???