hooves on the turf

Christine Fellows Plays Tomorrow

Download “What Makes the Cherry Red” (from Nevertheless)

If I hadn’t already got Man Man tickets for tomorrow, I’d be certain to go see Christine Fellows at Music Hall of Williamsburg. I’m hoping the city will lure the Canadian at another time. The thickly-layered songs from her 2007’s Nevertheless (especially the opening “Let Us Have Done With The Umbrella Of Our Contagion”) and the rich classical/theatrical roots in her music spell, “We make for a great live show, come see us”.

I didn’t get around to the album when it first came out, or else my November would’ve been that much warmer. Joanna Newsom comparisons are inevitable, but Christine definitely leans towards the more traditional. The two voices roam the same woods, but in the end they leave different impressions. After all, one is an elf and the other simply can’t pass for one. A difference of cosmos.

Au says, Summer Is Here!

Download “RR vs. D” | There is a fresh pop collective on the horizon, from Portland no less, for warmer days that await us. The preview track from Au’s summer record, Verbs, is so tinged with the colors of sand, grass, the sun, parades, and crisp rolling waves, that it can only mean one thing: Behold! Summer Marches Towards Us. The group has announced some tour dates, but these don’t include the east coast yet. However, the album comes out June 26th, so I’m sure we’ll be getting our share of the feast: Verbs was recorded over three days with Luke Wyland pulling in nearly thirty collaborators from the area. Listen to “RR vs. D” — it’s an absolute blast.

No Kids & Silje Nes at Mercury Lounge, photos

Download “The Beaches Are Closed” | There’s bound to be a lot of talk about Vancouver’s No Kids this year. At Mercury Lounge I was certain the stage seemed too modest for the trio, and what the room was witnessing was sure to pale as “humble beginnings” in no time. They played with two sets of keyboards (one Nord Electro, two Yamahas) and a drum set. For such an onslaught of jangly key tones, and by jangly I mean nightmarish purple infused with rainbow swirls, the band packs quite a load of funk. And despite the innocence the big glass rims convey on singer Nick Krgovich’s face, he packs his own brand of tude. I found his dance moves to be a secret door to the music: every flick of his feet and every little angle of twist and lean his upper body made (he didn’t miss a beat) was a complete impression of the music’s imprints. In his moves you could visualize the negative space of the sounds they were creating; yes, if he were a block, you’d slather him with ink and press him against paper to decode the odd songs. It’s hard to tell if they’re being humorous about the R&B/soul/hip-hop flavor or if they’re simply digging it.

All photos after the jump

The Dodos at Mercury Lounge, photos

Dowload “Fools” | It might’ve been a year ago when I first encountered The Dodos at Pete’s Candy Store in Williamsburg. Frontman Meric Long seemed timid, self-conscious and determined. His hair cloaked his face for the most part, and from what I can remember, he barely looked up at the audience from his guitar. But with the accompaniment of a fantastic drummer, Logan Kroeber, the duo delivered that night. I left with pieces of the songs in my head, and an album that stayed on my playlist for months to come.

All photos after the jump.