Posts about The Tallest Man On Earth
Come see The Tallest Man on Earth at Bowery Ballroom Wed night (15th). I can’t even believe that this show isn’t sold out yet. It will be so good. The more I listen to “King of Spain”, the more I’m convinced that it’s one of the most remarkable songs of whatever we’ve lived of this century.
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Download “King of Spain (Live at Union Hall)“
You can download the unedited audio of the entire show after the jump.
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Here’s part two of The Tallest Man on Earth’s set at Club 1808 in Austin, Texas, when the town was bustling with SXSW festivities. You can also watch Part 1 of this video, in case you missed it. Tallest Man will be playing Union Hall on April 14 and Bowery Ballroom on April 15. I’ll be posting a SXSW set of Tune Yards next Monday.
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Download “King of Spain”
(If re-hosting or re-posting this mp3, please link back to this page out of kindness and all around goodheartedness!)
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The Tallest Man on Earth is just a band name, and it belongs to Sweden’s Kristian Matsson, who has adopted a heritage of American folk music as exemplified by Bob Dylan and his peers, the result of which are a collection of fervent songs teeming with raw energy on the jangly acoustic guitar, and lyrics that are amongst the most simple yet piercingly romantic and thoughtful. Seeing him at the “inside stage” of Club 1808, which was basically a small floor space by the bar, was one of the highlights of my trip to Austin, and not managing to see him multiple times, though I did try, was one of my regrets. I filmed the entire set, of which Part 1 is presented here, and Part 2 will be posted next Monday, April 6 is now up.
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Download “The Gardener”
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Day 3 in Austin was March 19, 2009. We headed to Red House Pizzeria to meet with England’s Fanfarlo and shoot a Secret Garden video nearby.
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Admittedly, I’m not familiar with every single band involved in this year’s SXSW festivities, officially or unofficially, though I did listen to well over two hundred bands I don’t care to listen to ever again. Unlike them, the list compiled here includes twenty performers I think are most worth seeing, and for free, no less; as far as I know, all of them are either playing unofficial shows, or plan to play whatever last-minute gatherings that come their way.
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Where I indulge in the overrated phenomenon of a year-end list and discover my bias for sullen songs over happy ones; 20 most-loved songs of the year, with a self-imposed rule of one song per artist so as to not make it entirely pointless.
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A gift for those smitten by one Kristian Matsson and his two boots. Video is performance of “The Gardener” at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (this way for previously posted goodies from that show); it lives in its original form in this year’s Shallow Grave. Audio is “King of Spain” from that same night, the quality of which is bearable, though they were a few loud talkers around me, talking about absolutely mundane things, as is usually the case.
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You know that voice of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon’s? The one that sounds like specks of moon come colliding into bells of rain under an ever-widening evening sky? It churned out a lot of fans this year, including one Zach Condon of Beirut (pictured below, at Friday night’s show), most of whom seemed pretty devoted, showing up early, sushing out the chatters and singing their hearts out when asked. Three consecutive dates in the city sold out fast, and some bought tickets for up to $200 per pair on Craigslist. Then there were those, like one friend of a friend who made a trip from Boston, who traveled from elsewhere. That, and I haven’t seen many “Best of 2008″ album lists that didn’t include Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago, even though it was released in 2007 and re-issued in 2008. Reflecting on this golden year, most of which was spent on the road, Justin said that he was “ready to come back down to earth” and that he felt somewhat bittersweet about having been done with what needed to be done for the year. Then there were all these songs they played, some new ones from the forthcoming EP, and one cover. Favorite goosebumps moment that involved audience participation is captured in video.
(Zach Condon of Beirut at the show Friday night. They’re playing BAM on February 6. Thanks for posing, I know I made you feel awkward, sorry!)
Onward for videos! Hit continue! Now.
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