Band of Horses

I winded through the confusing line outside the Cuban Club. Buy a ticket here. Get your ID checked there. Get your ID checked again around the corner.
Thank God I turned 21.

Behind the cement perimeter was a large open area for the show. A huge blue half pipe stood in the corner, decorated with Red Bull advertisements. A mini-amphitheatre was close by.

Then, a drop of water fell on my uncovered head. I looked up to the sky. Rain was inevitable. It was a little before 8 p.m. Band of Horses was up on stage doing a sound check. With the banjo. At least I could be happy at that.

Then, it really started to rain. Most of the crowd that had developed outside started to shift towards the building; though, I was surprised to see a pretty large group stand their ground by the stage.

Inside, a member of Band of Horses brushed by. Reggae music blared from a band on a small stage. Bam Margera took pictures with blonds and brunettes. I searched for Chloe Sevigny, who I actually got to meet the night before at my job.

The show was a part of the Tampa Pro 2008, so there were all sorts of celebrities and skateboarders about.

Who knows how long we stumbled inside before I heard someone mention that Kimya Dawson from the Moldy Peaches was already playing.

At first, I couldn't tell if she was on stage. She sounded very soft and had already played most of her set by the time I arrived, several songs of which were popular thanks to the movie Juno.

Her set was more like a storytelling. She sang a little, talked a little then sang some more. She even encouraged "interpretive dancing" on stage.

Kimya wore a homemade ninja turtles skirt. She even brought her baby, Panda Delilah (yes, Panda Delilah).

They prolonged the time between sets, which was good because it was just long enough for the rain to finally stop.

Band of Horses emerged at last, playing "The Great Salt Lake," off their 2006 album Everything All the Time. They also played what seemed like nearly every song from their 2007 album, Cease to Begin, including my favorite, "No One's Gonna Love You."

Hailing from Mt. Pleasant, S.C., their music is a very soft, melodic and folksy kind, which is why they are so often compared with My Morning Jacket.

The show ended with a "fake last song," followed by five or six more in the encore. At least they're real.

OH. And did I mention the beards on those guys!?

Yes

Beardsley: Fighting Strangers in the Alps

Longtime local band Beardsley released their
first full-length project, Fighting Strangers in the Alps
January 15.

What kind of music do a bunch of lumberjacks make, you ask?

You'll just have to take a listen for yourself.

Each of the 16 songs reflects the members' personas in inventive ways. The album consists of stylistic undertones from several genre's, from folk to Oriental. Although every song is arguably of its own kind, they come together to complete what Beardsley is.

The album also supports other local artists, such as Mark Harman, from Orlando's So Help Me Rifle, and Christopher Costabile, from Palm Harbor.

Beardsley is planning a release party March 15 in Orlando. I'll keep you posted on the details.

Let's not forget to support local music! You can buy the album from their MySpace, or pick it up at Clearwater's Barnes & Noble located on Sunset Point and US 19.

The Oaks CD Release Party

The Social, Orlando
March 7, 2008
9 p.m.

This month, The Oaks are coming out with a new album, Songs for Waiting to follow up their 2006 release,Our Fathers and the Things They Left Behind.

The songs are stories and reflections from a stay in Afghanistan teaching creative agriculture. The story behind the band is really neat and is definitely reflected in their music.

Check it!

Vanna

Vanna
Monday, February 18, 2008
Transitions

I remember the last time that Vanna came to Tampa. It was nearly two years ago at with Austrailian hardcore band Parkway Drive. I think there may have been 10 people at the show. Maybe.

There were quite a bit more people this time, since the release of Vanna's newest album, Curses. I still like their old album, The Search Party that Never Came. The lyrics are bloody. The music is hard. Which makes for a happy Kristin.

At first glance, the size of the screamer may fool you. Chris is tiny. His scream is not. I assure you.

Anyway, apparently this was the first show with Vanna's new drummer, Ryan Seaman. According to the band's MySpace blog, old drummer Brandon "packed it up and caught a bus home leaving us to figure out how to finish this tour."

Ouch.

They are planning on finding a new permanent drummer to begin a new album. Hopefully we'll see them again soon.

Radiohead Tour Dates

Hello Tampa.
In case you haven't heard the Florida tour dates:

Monday, May 5 Cruzan Amphitheatre West Palm Beach
Tuesday, May 6 Ford Amphitheatre Tampa

Tickets go on sale February 14 at W.A.S.T.E. (from the Radiohead site), and February 16 general sale.

I'm sure they'll sell like fire, so heads up.

Kevin Devine

Dave Elkins of Mae, Kevin Devine with The Jealous Girlfriends
Friday, February 1, 2008
Orpheum

Love. Politics. Kevin Devine.

Acoustics all around, Kevin Devine mastered the stage, playing a lengthy set of songs. He even did some songs "full band" version, with help from The Jealous Girlfriends (a fun, retro band from Brooklyn).

I wasn't expecting Dave Elkins, guitarist and lead singer of Mae to be there, so that was quite a pleasant surprise. I haven't ever gotten to see Mae play, but this was almost better because he sang their most popular songs acoustic style. He mentioned that his band would be coming to St. Pete to play, but their website says they are only playing at the House of Blues in Orlando and at The Culture Room in Ft. Lauderdale.

Well, at least this show was quite the serenade.