Russian Circles are one of the best active touring bands you can find. Although their records rarely reach the affirming highs and crushing lows this three-piece is capable of, their show is the best bang for any concertgoer’s buck. See if they’re coming your way.
Russian Circles 8/9/12
“From the moment you pull in to Fort Adams State Park, with its views of the Newport Harbor and the Narraganssett Bay, it’s clear that this is a special setting for a weekend of ‘folk’ music. While every performer at the Newport Folk Festival has some sort of traditional foundation, this year’s festival stretched the folk label to include such acts as My Morning Jacket and Alabama Shakes. To the conservatives this may seem like a step in the wrong direction, but the audience definitely skewed younger and more enthusiastic than at prior incarnations of the festival. Add to the wider scope of performers a brilliant layout that prevented stage noise crossover, and the beautiful setting, and you have all the necessary ingredients for a perfect festival.”
Newport Folk Festival, reviewed by Wayan Zoey. The beautiful photoset comes courtesy of Feathertree Photography.
“Some women compulsively buy shoes. Others prefer handbags. Me? I have a berry problem. Straw, rasp, black, blue, mul – you name it. I love berries in all their juicy, staining glory. I have written before about my untamable desire to buy produce, but it’s a good berry that really drives me wild. The jewel-toned colors, the sweet-tart pucker, their welcome place in oatmeal and pancakes! J’adore. The only downside is how fleeting their season really is. But I shall teach you to make summer last forever! [Insert villainous laugh.]”
Freya Bellin walks us through the process of DIY jam making and canning.
“Sadly, older and distinctive manhole covers are becoming harder to find. Newer covers, while often maintaining the use of geometric patterns, are being simplified and systemized. They feel cold and dispassionate. That’s why I take photographs of manhole covers: I’m afraid a unique form of street art is slowly disappearing.”
Author and photographer Max Maddock takes us on a photo tour of Manhattan’s manholes.
Surfer Blood brought the ruckus to Hoboken’s Maxwell’s this week on their three-year bandaversary, and god damnit was it a good time. It’s fun to play the “sounds like” game, and, in more ways than two, Surfer Blood tempts you to do so: “it’s like if Weezer lived near a beach in the 80’s” -or- “It’s like if Vampire Weekend could only grow one beard forever” and so on. But Surfer Blood expands and extends beyond their self-styled ramekin - just when you think you’ve got their dish contained. An apparent favorite of the “incendiary” Jim Rome (don’t judge a book by its readers), the West Palm foursome prepped their own guitar pedals before plugging in for real betwixt the shadows of two NFL alpha QB’s condos (Tebow and Eli, duh).
“This song is about all the places we’ve stayed on tour,” says cherubic front-man John Paul Pitts before launching into “Take it Easy”. “We love to stay over. If you have an Xbox, we love(!) to stay over.”
-Submitted by first-time (or is it?) FP contributor, Dominic Dooley.
“I started design around the same time I got into music, but I didn’t take music as seriously. So working on this record, I spent a lot of time trying to learn more, and getting the right equipment. I was absolutely unprepared for it. I feel like I’m just now recovering from the spiral that it threw my life into, because it turned into this absolute project. I heard these songs and I knew that this thing could become this thing, but from point A to point B was a chasm of ignorance.”
Tycho’s Scott Hansen discusses with Peter Lillis the challenges he faced when recording Dive.
Filmmaker Mark Meatto joined us at Pitchfork Music Fest last weekend. Here’s a sampling of his photos, you can see more in his essay. While you’re at it, read Peter Lillis’ review of the fest.
“The focus on old movies and old bands and old memories can get tiresome, but there are some sundrenched moments that call for recall. I look forward to fondly remembering my Independence Weekend of 2012.”
Woodsman getting all heady on us last night at The Empty Bottle. Despite some amp issues, the band filled the small venue with entrancing drones and reverb. Last night was pedal night at The Empty Bottle, that’s for sure. Their newest Mystic Places was noted as one of our favorite psychedelic albums of 2011.
Some shots of Dustin Wong’s fantastic solo performance at The Empty Bottle last night. As you can see, this effects virtuoso came well equipped with a multitude of pedals, all which helped him build sounds so large, dense and bright, you’d think you were floating in a visualizer program. Whatever, you get the point. His newest Dreams Say, View, Create, Shadow Leads on Thrill Jockey is one of this year’s best. An interview to come.
“Whether it be your lack of access to a Girl Scout rep (if these things can be ordered online these days with those newfangled internets, I don’t want to know about it), or your distrust of foods that come in boxes, I have a cookie for you. It’s fancy enough that it should almost match the excitement of getting your very own GS cookies delivered, and it doubles—nay, triples!—as an Easter OR Passover cookie.”
Freya Bellin stops by to share a delicious new recipe for Coconut Macaroons with Meyer Lemon Curd, inspired by the Girl Scout classic Savannah Smiles. Click the photo to enjoy.
The Men at SXSW, Wednesday night for the Sacred Bones showcase. This was undoubtedly my favorite show of the weekend. They killed it, blew my mind and eardrums to pieces. If you haven’t heard Open Your Heart or Leave Home yet, do yourself a fucking favor.
Tennis at SXSW, playing The Stage on Sixth for Paste Magazine on Wednesday. Another example of a band that thrives in a live setting, Tennis far surpassed my expectations, putting on a show worthy of it’s buzz. While the album has a tinny sound to it, the live show was vibrant and full, complete with strong synths, intertwined guitars and convincing octave pedals. Read more from our Wednesday journal here.
More SXSW photo goodness. Here are some snaps of Poliça’s fantastic set at Red Eyed Fly on Wednesday. Although you can’t see too well in these photos, vocalist Channy Leaneagh stole the show from the rest of the group, which included a bassist, two identical drummers and a clutch collection of loops. Leaneagh’s performance alone was enough to put this show on our favorites list. Read the rest of our journal from Wednesday here.
