The Hopscotch Music Festival is just around the corner, and I have slowly but surely been making a list of all the different shows I want to see over the course of the three day event. And right at the top of that list is Akron/Family. If you are anywhere near Raleigh on Thursday the 9th, be sure to make your way over to The Pour House to check out their set. In anticipation of this show, Miles Seaton was nice enough to chat with us about the band, their tour, and things to come. We know that tours are a busy and hectic time, so special thanks to the band for taking a little time to talk with us. Here’s how it went:
TN&TG: I have to admit, the first time I heard Akron/Family was on a song you recorded for a collection called Rogue’s Gallery. The song, “One Spring Morning,” was a quiet, heart-breaking, folk-driven song that seemed a departure from the more layered, multi-instrumental sound, which appears on your albums. What was it like working on that project, and have you considered other ventures into this style and these sorts of projects?
Akron/Family – “One Spring Morning”
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A/F: The Rouge’s Gallery compilation was a very specific situation that we found ourselves in. We were performing with several musicians and asked to pick from a playlist of songs which ones we wanted to record. We actually recorded two songs, “One Spring Morning” being by far the more cohesive and clearly executed of them. The pace of the session was quite quick, without much room for error, and the song was a traditional sea shanty and not anything we had written. It was an amazing experience because we were amongst Bill Frisell and Eyvind Kang (who played the violin on the track) and playing their songs with them. We have actually spent most of our time as a band in and out of collaborative situations with free improv masters to African drum groups, to Megafaun, and Greg Davis to the Dodo’s, to anyone that looks ready to play a wild recorder solo during a show. So in this regard, it felt natural.
As far as playing a traditional ballad, I feel like we have moments like this throughout our records, stripped down, hymn informed, but more recently they have been used as foils to other more rocking moments. I imagine that we will continue to explore the extremes of stripped down, or quiet, just as we have with the opposite as of late.
Akron/Family – “Sun Will Shine”
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Akron/Family – “Ed Is A Portal”
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TN&TG: Speaking of a more stripped-down style, you’ve been touring lately as a three-part band. How has this affected performances of songs off of albums like Set Em Wild, Set Em Free , which utilize a broad range of instruments and sounds to produce a much more layered sound?
A/F: It’s always different. In the case of Set ‘Em Wild, we had this amazing flag [see above] that we carried everywhere with us that a dear friend made for us by hand. It hung behind us every show that we played after Ryan left the band and while we figured out what we wanted to do with ourselves, learned a tremendous amount about each other and recorded our whole record. So it really seemed to have a lot of juju built up…it just made sense. there is a fair amount of gratuitous discussion about some concept or spirit, and usually the cover image just finds it’s way to us and the majority of differing opinion is about layout or insert or fonts or whatever. Goofy inane things that never matter once it’s all released…HA! We are all very excited about a potential for our artwork on the forthcoming record (due in January), we are lucky enough that it seems to expertly match a lot of the abstract imagery associatied with the record for us.
TN&TG: Speaking of visual media, many groups of turned to music videos for additional promotion. Any interest in producing a new music video? If so, what song would you choose to use and what would you envision in such a production?
A/F: Peolple have made videos for us with varying results. I am very interested, but the “promotional” aspect seems a little less interesting, unless it were a goofy home made commercial for an album or something…that sounds FUN!
Akron/Family – “River”
TN&TG: As you continue to tour the US, have you started to develop plans for another album? Are there new directions that you would like to explore/experiment with? New influences that have peaked your interest since the release of Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free?
A/F: We haven’t actually been touring much at all this year. We have been recording and are currently mixing a new record that we will release early next year. As far as influences, we were moved almost beyond words by a performance by the amazing group the Boredoms [check them out here] at ATP NY last September. I don’t know if the music sounds anything like it, but we were all floored in our own way. We also were blessed with the chance to tour japan briefly last year and this was something that really inspired all of us. the natural world and it’s magesty are a constant source of inspiration as well. We live in a great and beautiful and diverse land and all feel very lucky to get to be in the out of doors here and there.
Akron/Family – “The Alps & Their Orange Evergreen”
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TN&TG: And I guess while I’m on the subject, I should ask what sorts of things you are listening to (and reading) at the moment.
A/F: Hmmm. We all listen to a lot of different things. I have been listening to a lot of dub and Nyabinghi reggae. Also i’ve been totally excited about finding an archive of Bob Dylan’s “Theme Time Radio Hour” [have a listen here] which is a radio show that he hosted for a few years on satellite radio. It’s amazing. A must. But I love that kind of stuff. As far as reading, I have been reading the short fictions of Borges [but it here], and (thanks to my sweet girlfriend) I just started a book by Cesar Aira, who is amazing. It’s called the “Literary Conference” [buy it here] and the other two small books that I’ve read of his are amazing as well. “An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter” [buy it here] is certainly one of my favorite books of all time.
Akron/Family – “Lake Song/New Ceremonial Music For Moms”
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TN&TG: I know, that’s probably a question that you get asked all the time and hate answering, and I’m sure there are plenty of others (believe me, as an Ohioan, I am very curious to find out your connection to the rubber capital of the world and the home of the goodyear blimp), but I’m sure I could find these things out in other places. So in closing, I figure why not give you the power? Any questions you never get asked but would like to answer? Anything else you would just like to let the people know?
A/F: Akron: Lebron. And I really just like that you asked what i’m reading and listening to. That stuff is always interesting to me when I see other folks answer it.
Akron/Family – “Woody Guthrie’s America”
A special thanks again to Miles Seaton and Akron/Family, we definitely appreciate your time and enthusiasm. To the rest of you out there, don’t forget to be at the Pour House on September 9th to catch Akron/Family, and while you’re there, enjoy the rest of the Hopscotch Festival as well.
A few years back, MGMT released their widely popular Oracular Spectacular…and let’s face it, it’s hard not to love that album. But there was always that irksome little voice in the back of your head telling you something was wrong. The album was full of catchy pop-songs that were fun to listen to and even more fun to sing along to, but it always felt like these songs belonged on the opening credits of some new show on the WC. OK, maybe that’s a little harsh, because Oracular Spectacular was such a great album, but with the release of Congratulations, the band has matured and produced what may be one of the best albums of the year.
Before I get into the ever developing sound of the band, I have to start with the album cover, which features a little cartoon critter riding a surfboard and frantically fleeing the cat-shaped wave that is about to swallow him up. RIght, I get it…I just said the band was maturing and now I’m talking about cartoon kitties. That’s valid, but bear with me. The artwork was designed by Anthony Ausgang and features a hidden picture buried behind the checkerboard design. All you have to do is scratch away the pink and purple squares. Yes, scratch away…like a lottery ticket. The album even includes a coin to do this with! I don’t know about you, but that’s pretty awesome. Maybe not as cool as unzipping the cover of Sticky Fingers, but still, not too shabby. And just in case you don’t want to destroy your copy of the album, here’s what it looks like underneath (spoiler alert!!!).
Alright, so once you open up the cover, what do you get? If you’re expecting the same catchy, dance inspiring, pop-songs of Oracular Spectacular, you might be disappointed…but you shouldn’t be. There are still the occasional pop hooks, but the album is far more serious, delving into long stretches of psychedelia, thumping drums, and screeching guitars. The twelve minute long “Siberian Breaks,” for example, sounds more like something from Pink Floyd than MGMT, but it works. These tracks aren’t so much songs as works of art…it’s as easy to picture them hanging on a wall as it is to hear them playing through a speaker.
MGMT – “I Found A Whistle”
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And the entire album plays like this…at times catchy hooks at times hypnotic detours. The lyrics are darker, more serious, but far more moving. And in the track “Someone’s Missing,” all of these things come together. The soft, droning beginning gives away to a vibrant ending, but through it all, the lyrics haunt and excite:
Someone’s telling the toll to me
I’m cut and I’m weeping like a rubber tree
But i don’t care who’s left behind
Lost revelations that I’ll never find
In the long hall pipes are whispering
Blues prepared for anti-christening
Somewhere there’s an honest soul
To mirror teeth where neon lures troll
And what’s extinct might come alive
A purple smoke in some internal shrine
With a long sigh let the hissing in
Stones deformed by gentle kissing and
All the closed eyes start to glisten
But it feels like someone’s missing
Yeah it feels like someone’s missing
MGMT – “Someone’s Missing”
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And as though all of this weren’t enough, the band has just released a video for the title track “Congratulations.” I’m not even going to begin to pretend that I understand this, but as with the rest of the album, I am completely transfixed. It’s hard to imagine that a band could develop so much in just a couple of years, but it leaves me wondering what another two years will bring.
Well, I’ve slowly but surely been working my back down to the land of the south…and I have to admit, I’ve been less than excited about the move. It’s been hot, humid, and oh so flat. But, there is always a silver lining, and for me, it is Raleigh’s Hopscotch Music Festival.
Now, I don’t often write up public service announcements, but if you live in the Triangle and you don’t know about Hopscotch, then it’s worth it. The Hopscotch Music Festival is organized by the Independent Weekly and is a three day music festival scattered throughout the bars and clubs of Raleigh. The festival runs from the 9th through the 11th of September, and the lineup is impressive to say the least. Panda Bear is among the headliners (along with Public Enemy and Broken Social Scene), but it’s the myriad bands performing throughout Raleigh that are most appealing to me. To name a few, you can catch Woods, Akron/Family, Megafaun, Harlem, Bowerbirds, Kingsbury Manx, Cults, Sharon van Etten, Richard Buckner, and War on Drugs. You can checkout the full lineup here. If you’re in the Triangle, or shoot, if you’re in North Carolina at all, get your tickets and take a trip. Here’s a little taste of what you’re in for…
Akron/Family – “River”
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Woods – “Suffering Season”
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Megafaun – “Worried Mind”
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Harlem – “Be Your Baby”
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And that’s just scratching the surface! Be sure to get your tickets soon!
I’ve finally made it back to the States, and it is great to be back home. But, I can’t believe just how far behind I am on everything, including all the music I missed while I was gone. On top of that long list of albums I missed, though, is without question Delta Spirit’s History From Below, which, of course, came out all of one week after I left the US. Sigh.
Delta Spirit is the San Diego based project of Jon Jameson and Brandon Young. The two have managed to put together a band that seems to have embraced anything that will make noise (including trash can lids) to create a deep and textured sound behind the larynx tearing, but oh so soulful, vocals of Matthew Vasquez. His is not a voice that one would ever describe as soothing or melodic, but it is alive. It has a certain indescribable sort of energy that creates a vibrancy and liveliness not seen (or heard) nearly enough. And on top of the vitality of the sound and vocals, the lyrics possess a kind of spirituality and positiveness that pull everything together and become infectious. I could try to describe it more fully or in different terms, but the band seems to have done that for me already:
Songs we never wrote, seeds they wouldn’t sow
We’re taking it all to the end, and we’re planting our own garden
The sun came while you were shining
The tide flew when we were writing a symphony in the key of D
Songs that had lost their luster
Finally they found their color
Delta Spirit – “Strange Vine”
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Delta Spirit released their first album, Ode to Sunshine, back in 2008, and to be honest, I’m not sure why it has taken me two years to write about the band. The entire album is an overwhelming infusion of life and energy, and it’s one of those records that always leaves you wanting more…and well, the band has finally provided that. History From Below came out back in June, and though it’s taken me a while to get around to it, better late than never right?
Delta Spirit – “White Table”
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History From Below maintains some of the energy and exuberance of the group’s debut album, but the band doesn’t try to simply recreate the magic of its older album. Rather, they have replaced overwhelming energy with an increased sweetness and a palpable softness. The thing is, though, that this is neither a criticism nor a disappointment. It’s a welcome and successful change. They have escaped the quagmire of sticking simply with what works and have dared to step in new directions. With History From Below, Delta Spirit has managed to hold onto those things which made their first album wonderful, but have introduced something new and something very welcome. Now the long wait for album number three…
Delta Spirit – “Scarecrow”
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So a friend of mine recently suggested that I write up a “guilty pleasures” post…you know, all those songs that you rock out to in private but vehemently deny whenever in the company of others. That got me to thinking…I’m not sure I have any songs that make me feel that guilty or ashamed. Granted, I own plenty of music that I used to listen to and don’t really enjoy anymore (ahem…Matchbox Twenty), but we all make bad decisions when we are younger, and it’s best to never look back. So then it occurred to me. Maybe guilty just isn’t the right word…I mean, let’s face it, we listen to what we love. You shouldn’t have to defend that. If you love the New Kids on the Block (and there are plenty of you out there who lined up for tickets for the reunion tour…you know who you are), then by all means crank it up. So how do I write this post then? I think I just need to change it from “guilty pleasures” to “unexpected pleasures.” We’ve been going strong for over a year now, so most of you have figured out that, for the most part, I stick to the mellowed out indie folk…but here are a few that you might not have expected. What are yours?
So I suppose I should start with Duffy. My sister gave me her album a couple of months ago, and I basically haven’t put it down since. I was a little skeptical at first…I mean, top-charting Welsh pop-stars aren’t exactly something I would usually give a second listen to, but what can I say, she is pretty amazing. She has one of those voices that is somehow both retro and modern, and each of her songs is instantly catchy. And the more I listened to her debut album Rockferry, the more I was inspired to break out my old Joss Stone albums…there must be something in the water in the UK, because there are some great pop/jazz/blues singers coming from up there.
Duffy – “Mercy”
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Joss Stone – “All The King’s Horses”
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Who knows, maybe I’ve just been reliving the days when all I would listen to was bigband, jazz, and blues, but all of this reminiscing about retro sounds has reminded me of my deep appreciation of Harry Connick, Jr. Yes, I realize that his music would be lucky to make an easy listening station, and yes, I definitely realize that when he tries to move away from his big band roots, he is…well…absolutely terrible (see She, for example). But, you get the man behind a piano and let him stare at you with those Frank Sinatra eyes, well, you tell me you aren’t moved. And we can just forget his rather checkered acting career.
Harry Connick, Jr. – “With Imagination (I’ll Get There)”
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So on a slightly different note, I’ve been living in Greece for the last couple of months, and let me just say, the TV here is TERRIBLE. Seriously. Our daily regiment consists of Baywatch, The Nanny, and Police Academy. So basically, most of our TV watching revolves around Euro-pop MTV. But the other day, MTV-Greece showed the video for Jack Johnson’s new single “You and Your Heart (To the Sea),” and what can I say, I really liked it. Now, I have to admit here, I was a big Jack Johnson fan way back when. I definitely bought his first two albums, and I have infinite respect for the fact that he started his own record label and has signed the likes of Zee Avi and Donavon Frankenreiter…but who are we kidding, his last couple of albums were pretty darn bad. But this song, I really like…maybe it’s just refreshing to have a break from endless amounts of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, but you have to own up to what you like.
Jack Johnson – “You And Your Heart (To The Sea)”
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And finally, since we are discussing the the joys of Greek MTV, I can’t help but put up a couple of fantastic videos for fantastic songs. I don’t listen to a whole lot of pop music, but I would be lying to myself and to you if I didn’t admit that these are both pretty awesome. Enjoy.
I’ve always considered myself something of a “lyrics guy.” There is just something to be said for a song that is exceptionally well written…despite what my high school English teacher might have said, music is poetry, whether you like it or not. Bob Dylan and Conor Oberst are no less writers, poets, and artists than Walt Whitman and Robert Frost. All that having been said though, there are times when it all comes down to sound. The sound simply blows you away…in the case of Fang Island, that is quite literally true.
Fang Island released their first full-length album (Fang Island) earlier this year, and I suppose I should have known what was coming when the first track quite literally begins with fireworks…yes, fireworks. What follows is 32 minutes of pure exhilaration…drums pound, guitars wail, and people sing…and yes, they sing something, but for the life of me, I don’t know what. I’ve tried to hear the lyrics, to understand the words, but I just can’t do it. The vocals aren’t so much words on a page but rather another instrument screaming away with all the rest…and quite frankly, it works.
Fang Island – “Daisy”
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I was a little surprised by all of this at first. I mean, it’s not everyday you hear a band that just, well, rocks. Everything about Fang Island is grandiose. To use the term “arena rock” would be an understatement. Then I found out that the group was from Rhode Island, and I thought to myself, “well, maybe they’re compensating for something.” That might just be why a band from the smallest state in the US has somehow produced the largest sound I have heard in ages.
Fang Island – “Treeton”
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Of course, I realize that I have accused a band of “compensating for something,” but in no way is this meant to be an insult. The entire album is bigger than life. It’s impossible to listen to a single track…it’s as though the whole thing is just one massive rock-a-thon. I might not understand a word they are saying, but I think this is one of the things that is great about the group. The guitars, the drums, the vocals all melt together perfectly. The words don’t seem to matter as much as the sound, yet they are necessary to the sound. So turn up the speakers, and while I can’t say sing along, by all means, start screaming!
Fang Island – “Davey Crockett”
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The Needle & The Groove is now over a year old…as such, we have seen holidays come and go, but I just can’t ignore the 4th of July. Last year I posted on this day as well, and for some reason, every time the 4th of July rolls around, I can’t help but think of all the songs written in protest. Yes, I realize this is remarkably pessimistic, and yes, I understand that the 4th is a day of celebration. But “protest songs” are a celebration. They are a celebration of where we have been, where we can go, and what we can become. Call it pessimism if you will, but I prefer to look at it as a hope for a better country and a better world. These are songs of every age, written for specific generations…and yet they are timeless.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
(The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of American)
Of course, thousands of songs have been written in protest in the centuries since our country was born, but what make’s such songs legendary is their timelessness. They may have been written forty or fifty years ago, but even now, they are relevant…they bear witness to our faults and call for us to change. And it is that hope of change that keeps us going. Last year on the 4th of July, I posted mostly “protest songs.” This year, I prefer songs that don’t simply point out our faults, but that praise the idea that things can someday change. The only problem is, these songs are a lot harder to find…
Bruce Springsteen: “How Can I Keep From Singing”
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I’m not entirely sure why it is so difficult to find songs that aim to inspire and not just criticize (and yes, I realize there are plenty of country songs that do this, but blind patriotism is little better than unfettered criticism). With any luck, people will send me more…but Springsteen’s rendition of “How Can I Keep From Singing” is hard to surpass. And yet, without question, Ray Charles has done so. I’m well aware that I posted this same song last year…but what can I say, it’s impossible to hear this and not feel moved and inspired. I may just have to make this a yearly tradition on the 4th…there are definitely worse things:
Ray Charles – “America the Beautiful”
Oh beautiful, for heroes proved,
In liberating strife,
Who more than self, our country loved,
And mercy more than life,
America, America, may God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain devined.
