You are currently browsing the monthly archive for June 2010.
If there’s any doubt about a nu-noise revival stateside, one only has to look to the recent tour featuring Surfer Blood, Hooray For Earth and headliner The Pains of Being Pure at Heart for proof. Two weeks ago, the trio of bands left Cleveland’s Beachland Ballroom buzzing. While no band really stole the show, that observation is more a testament to the night’s hypnotic consistency than lament on the lack of obvious show-stopper.
So, while any of the three acts would be worth full-setlist documentation, it’s The Pains of Being Pure at Heart that gets the treatment as we continue the Inglourious Black and White series: songs 1-11, including the rollicking encore, where the band is joined by members of the two openers. Other highlights include new single, “Say No to Love,” and “Heaven’s Gonna Happen Now,” a song from the forthcoming album.
1. This Love is Fucking Right!
2. 103
3. Young Adult Friction
4. Say No to Love (new single)
5. A Teenager in Love
6. Come Saturday
7. Higher Than the Stars
8. Heaven’s Gonna Happen Now (new song)
9. Stay Alive
10. Everything With You
11. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
About an hour after April Smith and the Great Picture Show‘s Cleveland set, something special happened.
While Smith and the guys signed CDs and took pictures with fans, they were approached by two girls with one simple request: Play more songs. They pleaded their case, saying they were told the wrong start time, which then caused them to miss a good chunk of the set. Apparently, these tenacious go-getters even spoke to the sound guy, who agreed to keep the band’s equipment mic’ed. As my buddy said to me after I told him the story, it takes a lot of balls to ask a band to play more songs once the players have called it a night.
So it was all set. All Smith had to do was say ‘yes.’
Of course, being the darlin’ she is, she agreed. But there was one problem. Thirty or so minutes of continued cordiality with straggling audience members passed and the sound guy got tired of waiting. No more mics. Smith, who I happened to be speaking to when the girls presented her with the request, later walked by expressing disappointment.
It didn’t look good. But then, just a few minutes later the band was back onstage. Smith picked up her acoustic guitar and took a seat. The rest of the fellas huddled in close. Three songs later, including an appropriately placed little cover of Melanie’s “Brand New Key,” the surreal evening came to a close. Take a listen…
[The main part of the set can be seen here.]
1. Brand New Key
2. Movie Loves a Screen
3. Can’t Say No
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdFG76we7oY
According to Nicole Atkins‘ Twitter, the New Jersey singer/songwriter has signed to Razor & Tie records. No other specs at the moment.
This must be a relief for Atkins, who seven months ago told McCarthy’s Media Menace her and her band, the Black Sea, were in talks with an “indie with major resources” to release her upcoming album, still unofficially titled, Mondo Amore. Sensing a jinx if she went any further, she decided to leave it at that. It’s probably safe to assume Razor & Tie was the mystery label all along, seeing as it enjoys major-label distribution through Sony’s RED Music.
Sony sound familiar? That’s because Columbia Records, owned by Sony Music Entertainment, dropped Atkins last year when the two parties couldn’t come to terms on the direction of the new songs.
There are some performers who have moves. Others who have musical ability. Then, there are those who simply have “it.” Like, the complete package. Someone who’s completely immersed in showmanship. What is “it”, though? I guess that depends on individual interpretation. For me, it’s possessing unique style, class, humor and ability all the while being in complete control of one’s mannerisms and emotions for maximum audience reaction.
Vague? Yes, perhaps. I could go on and on expounding and whittling it down. Or, I could just show you what I’m talking about.
Continuing the Inglourious Black and White video series I bring to you April Smith and the Great Picture Show performing songs from the band’s new album, Songs For a Sinking Ship. The setup: a slightly muggy-but-pleasant Monday evening. May 25, to be exact. Cutie-pie Smith and her well-dressed boys graced the less dramatic section of Cleveland’s Beachland, the tavern (as opposed to the grander elegance of the ballroom), but still managed to whirl the audience into a surreal cabaret world of mimbos, potential catfights and acts so horrendous they can’t be mentioned.
As with the previous sessions, this one was captured on DVC. But be warned: The sound is a bit harsher on a couple of the songs this time around. It could be where I was sitting, or I may have damaged the mic somehow. Not quite sure. But seeing as I uploaded the entire 10-song set (the mini-unplugged encore will arrive shortly), there’s enough good to outweigh the bad.
Charming, equally sassy, but always lovable, here’s April Smith, live in Cleveland.
1. Movie Loves a Screen
2. Drop Dead Gorgeous
3. Terrible Things
4. Stop Wondering
5. What’ll I Do
6. Colors
7. Can’t Say No
8. Dixie Boy
9. The One That Got Away
10. Wow and Flutter
