Peter Bjorn and John
Hey kool kids. Unfortunately I could not make it down to Austin for SXSW this week (FML eh?) but I’ll do my best not to cry and push through this post - smirks. Before we get into what I have been listening lately, discovery of the day: Robin Pecknold has a Twitter! And it’s real funny/ironic/weird/awesome! Fleet Foxes is a fave of mine so I got really outrageously excited about this for no particular reason. You should post-haste over there and follow him. (And me too.)
As a small make-up gift for not eating BBQ in the Lonestar state, I was invited to go see Peter Bjorn and John at the W Hotel as part of their WonderLust concert series last night. Totally fancy-pants party. Totally loved it. Totally felt super trendy and hip. (I’m not.) Peter Morén has the kind of stage presence that makes you break out into this huge smile: jamming on the guitar and purposely mugging for photographers. He’s all about the adorable little winks. I really enjoyed the fact that John Eriksson’s kit is not pushed towards the back of the stage; it is smack in the center so you really get to watch him be in the middle of the action. Feels more participatory. Especially when they played “Nothing to Worry About” off their new album Living Thing (due out March 31st) and Eriksson became a main focus drilling out the heavy beat. Incidentally, they also played the title track, which was more upbeat, fun, and lighthearted than I expected so it seems like the new LP is going to have a good mix of tunes. I’d never had a chance to see these Swedish rockers live so thanks you muchly to the W and also my friend Yomi who snagged me a spot. (Cheers big guy!) My favorite part OF COURSE was the “Young Folks” encore because they brought out Heather D’Angelo from Au Revoir Simone to sing too! WHEE. One of my tops Brooklyn-based groups and she is as cute as a button to boot. I walked home singing to this to myself the whole way. (Also Au Revoir Simone is set to release a new album called Still Night, Still Light in May so expect me to be raving about that soon as well.)
Speaking of Brooklyn-based groups. So we gotta talk new Grizzly Bear, do we not? I listened to “Cheerleader” for the first time yesterday. (I have held off listening to the leaked album so far but I can’t resist when Stereogum is right there posting MP3s and taunting me. I’m not made of stone. Also yes. Sometimes I think we should hold off until the album release date. I miss the days where you absolutely HAD to wait until you could buy it in a store. Whatever, I’m old.) Everyone seems to be in consensus that the song is stellar and the album is going to be on every blog’s list o’ the year. They’re probably right. I don’t mean to sound under-enthused (because I am not AT ALL) but when an album has already been heralded as the second coming because of its outstanding vocals, wonderful blending stylish harmonies and perfect mix of traditional and electronic instruments, there’s not much to do but nod your head and say, “Yah. That’s about right.” If you need more convincing, “Southern Point” is kicking around the internets today. Cannot really describe how excited I am for this group to roll into NYC at the end of May cause who got tickets?! Oh that’s right. This chick! No worries, I’ll be coming back to report. Let’s all cross fingers and hope they also show up to this. (And if Sufjan Stevens doesn’t make an appearance mark my words I will cry. Like heaving hysterical sobs. He’s just got to!)
Speaking of Sufjan Stevens. And Dark Was the Night. And albums that will be making all the blogs’ year end lists. I had a discussion with a co-worker the other day how occasionally writing about music is an arduous task because well, there is just so gosh darn much of it I often I find myself without time to give tracks a proper listen. As we all know, sometimes things take a few listens before the genius seeps into our brains. So it was with “You Are the Blood.” Upon the first round, it was a little rough going for me. I expected the soft soothing tones of his state albums and instead was bombarded by loads of electronica. (I know I am not the only one who felt this way.) Then, on a ride back to the city this past weekend I listened to the entire compilation and when that song hit something clicked in my brain and I said to myself, “Hot damn. THIS.IS.AMAZING.” Now I can’t STOP listening to it. Who knows what happened? The layers are so intricately woven that it makes me dizzy. It has now gelled with the “iLike” button in brain and cemented itself as the current favorite track.
And there you have it. Let me know what you think of the new Grizzly Bear. They are BRAWLING over in the Stereogum comments section. I want to brawl too! Pick a fight below!!!
PS. I also just found out that Dave 1 from Chromeo was at the W last night and I ONCE AGAIN missed out on a chance to hang with him. I am currently devastated and will be locked in my room for the rest of the night listened to Fancy Footwork and crying.
