Tales of a Concert Junkie From Poulsbo

Summer Cats played a show in Seattle this past summer. What a shame that more people didn’t know about it since it was such a good show in an incredibly hot house. Unfortunately for the Summer Cats, KEXP started playing the heck out of their latest release after their Seattle appearance. Then maybe more people would have shown up, a bigger venue announced, a longer set played…who knows?

In June is probably my favorite song released last year. Yeah, I know. I like lots of songs and bands, but for an officially released song from 2009, In June might have to be it (favorite undiscovered song I heard last year was They’re There by Cosgrove that was released in 1997 on a compilation CD–Is this the only Cosgrove song in existence?). I could listen to this song over and over and over again. Actually, their whole CD is fab. If you want to listen to an incredibly wonderful CD, pick up Songs For Tuesdays. You won’t be disappointed.

I can’t remember when the Coachella Music and Arts Festival started, but it’s been going on for at least 8-9 years. Maybe longer, I just don’t know and I’m to lazy to look up a wiki to find out that answer. I do know that Coachella has become quite a popular festival over this time and many bands come from far away to play. While I’ve never been to Coachella and really and don’t ever plan on going (this is the second time The Cure has played), the effects of Coachella are felt far away in Seattle.

Just looking at the main acts you can see that this festival has a lot going on and gets some good bands. Although this year with Paul McCartney on the bill, I think it loses some cred, but that is just me. Now if it was the rest of the Beatles, that would be something different, but Paul doesn’t strike me as the type of guy that would be playing Coachella since when he does tour he charges an arm, a leg, and your first newborn to see him–OK, maybe not the newborn, that honor would probably go to Barbara Streistand or something, but I think you catch my drift.

Since all these bands are coming out to California in April, inevitably that leads to a west coast our if not a full blown tour of the US for many of the acts and this is where the Coachella effect hits me in the Pacific Northwest–too many bands play during the month of April. If it was spread out a bit more, that would be super, but it isn’t.

Last week, I was at four different shows. Four great shows, but they all add up. Of course, one of the shows wasn’t really Coachella related and I’m not sure Travis is playing Coachella at all, but still because of Coachella I’m left scrambling trying to decide what shows to attend and which shows to skip.

Take for example, this week.
Tonight I’m going to Glasvegas with Brian (and I could just as easilly be doing Franz Ferdinand or Turbonegro–Andreas and Anna really like them–but I had by Glasvegas ticket before the others were announced. Glasvegas is a good band that isn’t really doing anything all that new, but I like them. They played the Chop Suey back in January and are now back in Seattle for a larger gig–although I don’t think tonight’s show is a sell out or anything.

Glasvegas builds a wall of sound that fills your body with music, then you find yourself singing along to their chorus, and by the end of the song wanting even more. To me they have some classic songs and while their album is good, some songs work better than others. Personally, I hope they play there two bonus tracks included on the US release of their CD as I find them quite good. I doubt that will happen and I don’t think this show will last longer than an hour, but that is alright with me especially if I can catch that 12:15 ferry home. I love it when I can catch that early ferry. Here’s The Stranger weighing in on Tonights show:

Glasvegas, Von Iva

(Neumos) Glasvegas’s excellent self-titled debut is full of big, soaring, cathartically slushy rock songs that beg to be sung along to—at the band’s live shows (which are also excellent), in the shower, while jogging (“Go Square Go” will cause you to run too fast and break your ankle, but it will be worth it). Singer/guitarist/former footballer James Allan sings with a Scottish accent and a terrifically overblown sense of melancholy that are, in combination, totally swoonworthy (also, I am somehow completely charmed rather than put off by the band’s silly greaser aesthetic and Allan’s pomaded shelf of hair). And the band bathes his songs in walls of sound and washes of reverb that should make Phil Spector and the Jesus and Mary Chain proud. Of their many fine songs, I’m currently most taken with the anthemic, airborne single “Geraldine.” ERIC GRANDY”

Tomorrow night in town is another British buzz band called Late of the Pier. I’d really like to see them, but not sure I can pull it off. I’ll probably try, but let’s look at shows for the rest of the week as well, to put this into perspective of why the Coachella effect is bad for me.

Thursday night El Ten Eleven rolls through town and they aren’t playing Coachella, but since the Coachella effect is in place, it makes hitting smaller or local bands hard to hit. Last week, I missed Wavves (a band I just found out about) and Born Anchor (a Seattle band that I just found out about as well). If I wasn’t trying to figure out how to get to the Coachella bands running through town, I may have found out about those other bands playing sooner or at least before they played their show in Seattle!

Late of the Pier plays tomorrow and while the local press has mentioned the opening band The Whips more than Late of the Pier, I find Late of the Pier to be the superior band. But what do I know?

Here’s what the Seattle Weekly says:
The Whip ~ Tuesday, April 14
On their debut disc, X Marks Destination (released March 3), UK-based dance/rock quartet the Whip emphasizes instrument-fueled musicianship as much as machine-powered mechanization. It’s a combo that makes for potent, refreshing listening, reflecting lead singer/guitarist Bruce Carter and keyboardist Danny Saville’s background in the band Nylon Pylon, as well as their previous lives as club promoters. Think Fleetwood Mac meets Felix da Housecat. Rave-rock opener “Trash” loops fuzz and bass around a teenage anthem-style hook that proclaims “I wanna be trash!” More dance-centric jams include “Fire,” a blazing inferno of feedback and metallic pulsation, and “Sister Siam,” a sonorous electro-fied reconfiguration of a Nylon Pylon tune. The Whip aren’t the next big thing, but they’ll make you pine for some E. With Late of the Pier. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8000. 8 p.m. $12.50 adv./$14 DOS. ” And again, not only does Seattle Weekly concentrate on The Whip, but so does the Stranger:
Tuesday 4/14
Late of the Pier, the Whip
(Chop Suey) First of all, let’s take a moment to remember Jared Warren, Joe Preston, and Scott Jernigan’s excellent band the Whip (RIP). This is not that band. Rather, this Whip are a foursome from Manchester, England, that carry that city’s legacy of meshing vocal rock and electronic dance music on to pleasant but not always remarkable ends—certainly good enough to get a dance floor moving at peak hour, but maybe a little hard to recall all that well through the next morning’s hangover. Depending on what dance floors you frequent (and, I suppose, the severity of your hangovers), you may know the Whip from their breakout 2006 single “Trash” (or its many remixes), a catchy, would-be-sing-along (“I wanna be trash” would be the sing-along part, not “And I have become the trigger for your gun”), which opens their hit-and-miss new album, X Marks Destination. ERIC GRANDY

So, it could be a good show. I may just have to go. You only live once and I can Sleep When I’m Dead as I recently told Brian.

Over on the fantastic Tullycraft website almost daily a song is posted with whatever thought or event was written about that day. The songs range from bands covering Tullycraft songs, to Elastica, Neil Diamond, and even the Smiths. I even found a new current fave from the posts last year when I stumbled across Nana Grizol and it seems that Torsten can’t get enough of that band.

Over the last week or so, some real Tullycraft gems have emerged and the songs are fantastic. I wonder what other gems are lying around on the floor of their recording studio..hint…hint…hint.

But more importantly is the live song from their first show that was put up. The quality is fantastic and makes me wonder, what was I doing on that night years ago? Why didn’t I get tuned into Tullycraft sooner and why did I take such a hiatus from them? I truly wish I could have been there all those years ago. I’m hoping there is some way that I can get the whole show. I’ll have to try and convince Sean that one song wasn’t enough.
Here is the review that was posted on the Tullycraft site. I hope it is OK to use:

Better news is that Tullycraft is playing a show the day after I get back from southern Utah and I’m excited. It will be my first time being inside the new Crocodile Cafe and it will be my first Tullycraft show of the year 2009–since I didn’t go to Portland back in February. April 4th…I will be there!

OK, so after solving or at least believing that I’ve solved the reason why my mic was having difficulties with the loud levels, those SPL’s will get you every time. You can read about this on my updated post. I think I’m going to go with the Rode StereoVideoMic. It costs more, but since I’m selling some extra mics I have, won’t really end up costing me much in the end. The funny thing is, I was actually considering this mic at one time until I saw the new SP-PSM-8 from Sound Professionals. If I had just gone that route to begin with, then I wouldn’t have been able to excite you with all this mic talk. So, it is a good thing. I also would not have purchased the mic when I did. Of course, I will still talk about mics as I have a Nevaton post coming soon.

Here are the specs for the Rode:
Power: 9V battery powered
Acoustic Principle: Pressure gradient
Directional Pattern: Super Cardioid
Frequency range: 40 Hz – 20 kHz
Output impedance: 200Ω
Signal noise ratio: 74 dB SPL (A – weighted per IEC651)
Equivalent noise: 20 dB SPL (A – weighted per IEC651)
Maximum SPL: 134dB SPL (@ 1kHz, 1% THD into 1KΩ load)
Maximum output voltage
Sensitivity: -38 dB re 1 Volt/Pascal (15 mV @ 94 dB SPL) +/- 2 dB @ 1kHz
Weight: 288gm
Dimensions: 65mmH x 170mmW x 102mmD

Don’t even think about asking me what it all means because I don’t know! I always let others help me with all these terms and stuff! I just try to act like I know what is going on!

Here is what the Rode website says about it:
Now videographers can use true ‘studio’ stereo recording techniques in the field with ease. The X/Y configuration enables the StereoVideoMic to capture the true ambience of the recording space, while still offering a high level of rear rejection and low noise. Fitted with a shoe mount, the StereoVideoMic has the same low noise circuit design as the best selling VideoMic. The StereoVideoMic offers 9V battery operation, an LED battery status indicator, high pass filter switch, and a -10dB pad switch which allows for the mic to be used on most cameras with perfect level control. You can also use the StereoVideoMic as a remote mic on a stand, or a RØDE boom pole (optional), which truly makes this versatile product well suited for all video applications including Electronic News Gathering (ENG), Weddings, Sports Events & Interviews.
Stereo X/Y Condenser Microphone
Broadcast Sound Quality
Low Noise Circuitry
Two step High-Pass Filter – Flat or 80Hz
Rugged cast aluminium body
Custom designed integral windshield
Low handling noise
9V battery powered
Integrated camera-shoe mount

Here are some pics:

As you may have read, I replaced my Sony ECM-909a microphone (used with my video camera) with the SP-PSM-8. I really thought there would be a huge improvement in sound quality over the Sony mic. The Sony mic isn’t bad, but it sure doesn’t sound as good as Schoeps, DPA’s, or even AT mics.

Honestly, after I read this:
“Finally, an all-in-one handheld stereo microphone with built-in power that offers excellent sound quality and a wide dynamic range. If you have been using the Sony MS907 or similar stereo mic, this mic will make you want to list your old mic on Ebay! It sounds better (much better bass and highs), can handle loud sounds better, is more sensitive for those quiet situations, and will take care of everything in-between, too.”
I thought my mic problems would be solved and I wouldn’t have to take months (years) to sync up a better audio (since I’m so lazy).

Listening to the two Nana Grizol shows I filmed last week, I was disappointed with the sound quality of the mic. It sounds as if the mic was overloading, yet levels weren’t bad as I have an attenuator that I bought from Sound Professionals to lower the sound levels.

As you can see there is a volume control range. I’ve used it in the past to successfully control the levels with the Sony mic, but not now. I’ll have to post some samples on here of my disappointment.

I think I should call/get a hold of Sound Professionals and let them know of my disappointment. I hope I don’t need some secondary device to run inbetween the camera and the mic as then I just have more bulk. I was really hoping this mic would work! It appears that I can return it. At least, I don’t think I’ve had it for more than 30 days. I will have to check the receipt when I get home.

So, my new microphone for the video camera arrived yesterday. I ordered it before my $50 Verizon card came through, but I was able to transfer the $50 from the card to the bank account so it is a mute point. First thoughts, it is bigger than I thought it would be especially compared to the Sony ECM-909a microphone I was using with the video camera. The diameter is the same as the sony, but the length seems about twice the size.

So, I put the two mics next to each other and it is about twice the length! That doesn’t bother me too much as when I film I usually have prior approval from the band. I’m hoping to be able to use it this week at the two Nana Grizol shows. Not hearing back from a band doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t allow filming, it just some times means they haven’t responded or simply been too busy. Sometimes the band isn’t even reading their messages, it is read by someone associated with the band and I’m guessing taping requests are just not taken as seriously. So, hopefully I can find a member of the band before the shows and be given the go ahead.

The cable that comes with it is an XLR to 1/8″ ra stereo mini-plug. I’m going to have darktrain from taperssection head over here and give me a quote on how much it would cost to have him make another bad ass cable like the others. I’m thinking a straight male stubbie would be perfect for this. I’ll be writing another post, possibly tonight, updating my cable situation from an earlier post I did.

As you can see the mic is also a bit tall. So, I want to use the old mic attachment that came with the Sony mic. The one problem is the end of the mic attachment is beveled in such a way that the mic doesn’t slide all the way through. I’m going to ask my buddy Lee if he can help me dremel that out or something. I’m sure there has to be an easy way to do that. I hope.

Wow. What a great show. Sometimes you hit a show and it is alright, the band was good, the music tight and everything is fine. Other times you hit a show and leave wondering what happened to the band that night. Tonight, was simply put, way too short! Seven dreamy blissful pop ditties and then it was over leaving me longing for more. Obviously the band is recording some new mateiral as only 3 songs from the incredibly good Dust and Stars were played: Set Fire, It Could Work Out, and Dust And Stars. The four others, I’m guessing are new since they don’t appear to be on their self-released 2007 ep that I picked up that night. Of course, I can’t really make out the titles since the cursive gold font blends in way too well against the cardboard back drop. But from what I can tell, none of the songs appear to be remotely close to the other four songs.

I’m going to work on getting some video up here. I’ve been trying to host videos on my own site, but appear to have all sorts of problems when I do that. I think it might simply be 1and1 hosting and I’m planning on jumping ships to Bluehost once I get the guts to transfer the site. Hopefully, it won’t be too painful and then I can embed video again.

I chatted with the band after the show and they were all really nice. They had even heard of Poulsbo before. Which is cool.

Come back to Seattle soon. I will definitely try and get back and enjoy the tunes again.

Oh man, I should just never pick up a The Stranger. The Stranger is a free Seattle magazine that goes into the What’s Happening around Seattle for a week. The newspaper doesn’t just talk about music; mostly what I pick it up for, but movies, places to eat, escorts (if you are into that), and editorial pieces. Saturday, on my way back from Sleepy Eyes of Death, I picked up the latest issue. Little did I now that I’d be kicked in the head with a new band that I really want to see this week.

If you’ve noticed there are a couple of newspaper cut-outs to go with this piece. I was perusing what The Stranger is recommending for the week and stumbled upon Reporter. Apparently Reporter are a band from Portland that I should know about! When the words “dark dream pop” and “Slumberland’s current roster” are used to describe a band, I immediately pay attention.

Included in this weeks issue is a review of the CD, by the same guy that wrote the Stranger suggests piece. After reading the review I decided I needed to try and see this band or at least here some of their songs. I surfed over to their myspace page and have been mesmerized by “Set Fire” and “It Could Work Out”. The other songs are also quite catchy. Next stop, Amazon.com to see if the CD could be purchased via download as I refuse to do anything Itunes related.

Yes. The Cd is available for download and it was only $9. Cheap. I’ve been listening to the songs non-stop and think I will try and hit the show tomorrow night. I’ll have to OK it with the powers that be, but hope it is OK. It’s is cheap. I also need to myspace them and see how cool they are with video.

I found the flyer for the show online as well. Good stuff.

Dang it. It is snowing right now. That totally jeopardizes tonights show. Ugh. Stop snowing! I want to go because I have permission to film now. I got this message back from the band:

Hey Steve
that would be cool if you wanted to record us! just be forewarned that i don’t think we’re gonna sound anything like a “dreampop” band live. we’ve changed our sound a wee bit since our last record. anyway see you tonight!?
xo
alberta