Hooves on the Turf

New Grizzly Bear video way better than the last one

That last Patrick Daughters video, though I usually like him, with incessant weird eye movements and random firework activities inside Grizzly Bear’s heads was totally underwhelming. Here’s a new one for “While You Wait for the Others”, and it’s directed by Sean Pecknold (brother to Robin of Fleet Foxes), whose choice of colors, texture and imagery I dig!

And if you haven’t heard Michael McDonald’s “cover” of the song, do so now. It’s better than the original in many ways.

Download “While You Wait for the Others” by Michael McDonald and Grizzly Bear

Audio: Grizzly Bear and Final Fantasy with Brooklyn Philharmonic at BAM

As I was watching Grizzly Bear play with the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra, I couldn’t help noticing how much of their music is really defined by restrain–their passages aren’t passages of growth, and there isn’t an overflow of any sort, which I guess is comparable to the economy of poems: all of the little bits are born fresh and sacrificed young, before anything is allowed to grow old, ever, by the time the song is over. The band mentioned that having an orchestra allowed them to play songs that they normally wouldn’t play, and while the orchestra sounded pristine, I don’t think there was a whole lot it could add to Grizzly Bear’s music anyway; it was more of a unique experience created for the sake of indulgence and pampering the senses, which allowed some people rare opportunities, such as to my neighbor who found himself annoyed when the audience greeted the beginnings of familiar songs with wild applause–it seemed that he felt you just don’t do that when there’s an orchestra involved, or if you’re at a venue like BAM.

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Grizzly Bear played Town Hall (w/ Feist)

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Brooklyn’s own Grizzly Bear are on tour with Feist, and they played a sparkling set at Town Hall on Monday night. It was awesome to see a band play every note and sing every melody as intended. This performance really showed that the roles they’ve found for each member, with all four singing at various times, is a reflection of their organic coming-together. They fit right into each other. I was seated in front of drummer Christopher Bear, whose every nuanced movement produced great, refined sounds. Bassist Chris Taylor was often on his knees to play the flute, but I especially enjoyed it when he stood up to sing in a high voice.

More after the jump.

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Grizzly Bear does French

From who else but La Blogotheque:

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I believe this is the result of the lyrics contest. There’re also the take-away shows from last year, and the band will be supporting the Decemberists at this year’s Summerstage on July 16.