Author Archive for Eriisu

14
Jul

Dave Carroll (United Breaks Guitars)

Elise Cole
By Eriisu 0 Comments
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Categories: Music Review and Show Review

Dave Carroll's Perfect BlueNo I heard through Twitter that Dave Carroll was going to be in Riverview (with Bassist Mike Hiltz and guitarist/back up vocals Chris Pauley) and I got pretty darn excited. Like most of you [I assume], I thought “United Breaks Guitars*?! Woo!” and figured it’d be pretty darn cool to hear that song live.

I also thought I could deal with two hours of live country music if I got to hear United breaks guitars, but I’d be really sad if I didn’t. For the record? I am not a country girl.

I will happily clear this up right off the bat; his music is a well rounded, healthy mix of folk, soft rock a hint of country. A sprinkle of jazz for good measure, too. I was pleasantly surprised at the lack of twang and ‘she stole my heart, my truck and my dog’ lifeless type lyrics.

The play list included songs for every type. Humorous lyrics that had you grinning from ear to ear in his song The death of ol’ Papi, where his poor dad unknowingly eats rotten chicken left in the fridge accidentally for 6 weeks and dies (The chicken is based on true events… but his dad’s ok!). Or even Give me a reason where he sings to his girlfriend about how he’ll be the first to bail if she gives him just one reason to run, and he’s just waiting by the door for it. Not all songs were meant to be funny, though, A woman like you is a love song to his wife so sweet that Disney princesses are glaring at their Prince Charmings saying “All you did for me was slay a stupid dragon.”, equally as touching was Even more tomorrow, a song for his son about how he will always be there with him and will love him “more today, and even more tomorrow”. My husband will curse him for giving my biological clock a good winding with that one!

Lyrics were as impressive in songs like Easy come, Easy go or The place that I call home. Another favourite of mine was the song Now, about living in the moment and not looking too far ahead or sticking too far behind. “Now’s never been, and now never ends. All of your answers are waiting for you here” (my apologies if I’ve misquoted).

Every single piece had me tapping my foot or refraining from dancing like a fool on my chair… or at least trying. In all honesty, the only song that didn’t do it for me wasn’t even his. It was Bruce Sprinsteen’s “I’m on Fire”. I always thought that song was creepy… but he sung it very nicely, nonetheless.

I talked to Dave and shook his hand, got a picture with him. Now all that’s left if to do copy the songs from his Perfect Blue CD (which I bought) to my iPod. I hope I find his other CD soon, too, ’cause I’ll be buying that one in a heartbeat!

Dave and I

Dave and I

*If you haven’t heard of United Breaks Guitars, you can find the story and the videos here. Sadly, it is based on a true story.

08
Nov

The Motes, Trigger Effect and Priestess

Elise Cole
By Eriisu 0 Comments
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Categories: Music Review, Reviews and Show Review

I went to a show, last night at the Manhattan in Moncton. Three bands took the stage, Moncton’s The Motorleague and Montreal’s Trigger Effect and Priestess. Honestly, my left ear is STILL ringing, you’d think I’d learn and bring earplugs, eh? Nope!

So, I’ve been a pretty big Motorleague fan since the first time I heard them, and this time was no different. Well, I suppose it was… The last show I saw was one of the best I’ve been to, but this one was better! Bigger venue means bigger sound, baby! I’ve never seen anyone get the crowd riled up quite like they did, until they were satisfied that we were loud and rowdy enough to be worthy of another song; “It’s about time you fuckers wake the fuck up!” The ‘speeches’ between songs consisted of reminding us how awesome all the bands were and screaming sarcastic comments at us (which we love over here, by the way) to get us screaming back at them. My review on them is essentially the same as their last review, but yeah. Better.

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Montreal’s Trigger Effect was quite the set as well. They were a very energetic bunch, to say the least. The singer ran around the stage screaming and spitting and accepting pizza offered from the crowd (which he later said was quite delicious)… How many bands get pizza from their fans while still on stage in the middle of a song? I want to know. In any case, the crowd loved them and they loved the crowd. The singer even reached into the crowd and gave high fives and let a few fans dress him with a banner between spittings; of which I wasn’t really a fan. I found it quite disgusting and over-the-top, not to mention it was WAY too often and too much, but hey… the other band mates didn’t seem to mind the occasional shower, so, spray on, I suppose.

“Enough about them, what about their music” you surely just asked me. It was good. I’m not exactly a screaming aficionado, and this is all it was. I think he sang for a few seconds for two slower parts of the set, but that, unfortunately, was all. The music was great and so was the energy from the band and the crowd alike, but at some point the vocals just started drilling into my brain quite painfully. I’m pretty sure that’s the reason my ear is still buzzing ever so painfully. It was traumatized, I tell you! They were fun to watch and played really well, but I’m sure other people enjoyed them much more than I did.

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Montreal’s second band, Priestess, the stars of the show was up last with quite the set list at that! (Do they sound familiar? They should!) As soon as I saw the lead guitarist’s double neck [Gibson, I believe?], I knew I was in for a good show! Along with fantastic sound and vocals, they had quite the light show going on in the background. Awesoooooome! I’m sure the mosh pit didn’t notice the lovely background scenery, but they were busy getting their cocks/box rocked off.

Even though I saw the drummer only had two arms before he started playing, I’m convinced he kept a few spare ones behind the scene along with the lead guitarist’s extra fingers. He was delightfully hard to follow in the blur that was he. The last time I was this impressed with a drummer was when I was 8, watching Animal on The Muppets Show with my dad. It was also refreshing to have the vocals sound like vocals and not a banshee. I really don’t know what else to say about these guys… but let me suggest that if ever you have a chance to see them? Go!

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Thank me later.

All in all, it was an awesome show with some pretty damn solid bands. I already have Motorleague on my iPod, Trigger Effect won’t make it, and I must find Priestess’ new album to get on there as well!

24
Oct

Life’s a Gambol

Elise Cole
By Eriisu 1 Comment
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Categories: Uncategorized

Gambol Cover Art

I got an odd little email this morning… Not quite spam, but not quite my usual email, either. It mentioned a band in great detail, including a list of suggested tracks, and my curiosity was piqued (I swear, that proverbial cat had nothing on me!). So I email back with my version of “waaaaaaaaah?” and was told that the email was not a review, but a bio (I’m still not convinced), and that if I wanted, I could get a digital or CD copy of their album to review!

I see.

You’re just using me to get a review, aren’t you, you dirty little musician? ;) Well I’ve got news for you…

DONE! Send it on over!

The album I got is Gravity Wave‘s Gambol and is due to be released on November 3rd.

I assume 2009.

How to begin? I should’ve known this would be a special album when I read that they are “an arty electro-pop album with musical depth” and that “each song is brimming with the rich brass winds, haunting strings, wistful flutes. The album’s mature production puts focus on strong lyrics full of witticisms and metaphor, all delivered with a slick drawl”. Sounded a hint pretentious to me, but then again, a band must sell itself to sell albums…

Ok, ok, I admit, this is not my kind of music. I like my share of brain melts, but this? This was a bit special. Even for me. I like that it takes itself apart from what seems to be popular nowadays; screaming nonsense over bad music and/or annoyingly repetitive annoying repetition. I can see the appeal it would have for some people, and some tunes like “Yo-Yo” and “Popular People” were very catchy, I must admit. Unfortunately, I think they could do without certain… pieces? “Fishhook”, for example, starts off great, but don’t listen to it using head/earphone. Trust me. The piano in this tune sounds like it was attacked by a toddler using his soft plastic hammer toy as a weapon and jumps from one ear to another. It’s painful. Moments like these ruin albums for me.

Amongst the wreckage; however, you will find little nuggets of gold. Hidden under the vocals and mostly good guitar you will find cute little things like a wonderfully played flute and in “Dissolve”, a cute little 8-bit beat. Granted, it’s a tad repetitive, but everyone loves an old video game inspired tune! Spelling buff as I am, I was even amused when I heard them spell d-i-s-s-c-o-v-e-r in “Kumquat” after asking “what’s Yoga food?” Funny!

…right?

All in all, I would not suggest this album for everyone, but I wouldn’t quite go against it, either. It’s not my style and I grieve for their poor piano, but I can see how this would be the proverbial cat’s meow for some people. There was just enough fun stuff to keep me from passing the album to someone else, but it didn’t make it to my iPod.

08
Oct

Nice to Share

Elise Cole
By Eriisu 0 Comments
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Categories: Music Review and Reviews

You may remember my last review of Fredericton’s Share. If not, you should be ashamed! Follow this link and I will forgive you.

Now;

I wasn’t too impressed with them live, and I wasn’t too impressed with the samples I got from their website, either. “With all this potential”, thought I, “Surely they can’t really be that bad!” So when Joe asked if I wanted their album to review, I sighed, sucked it up, took a deep breath and said I’d do it; “but don’t expect a good review.”

I couldn’t quite put my finger on it last time, but I figured out why I didn’t take a liking to them… after all, I’m pretty easygoing when it comes to music (just keep that western and screamo away from me!) and they were all great musicians!

As it turns out, they just shouldn’t play at a venue such as Moncton’s Paramount playing before a band such as The Motorleague. Simple as that. It messes with one’s expectations!

I got their album Slumping in Your Murals and put it on. Their music was soft and soothing and was quite pleasing, really, but I was still doubtful. As the album went on, I found myself head-bobbin’ along. The instruments, as I’d said in my last review, were played wonderfully and I found the vocals harmonized in such a way that accentuated the music. I still think most of their stuff sounds too alike for my day-to-day musical needs, but I can see them doing very well in a Café or other calmer environment. They’d be great as a background to a dinner or cocktail party, and I plan on getting the album for my mom, but a club just doesn’t suit them in the least.

All in all, even though their album didn’t blow me away, I did find it quite pleasant and relaxing; especially after a long day of not feeling that great. I think I’ve found my new I’m-sick-and-I-want-to-feel-like-I’m-not-dying album, but not a day-to-day album I’d mention to everyone as a must-buy.

03
Oct

Musical Shares!

Elise Cole
By Eriisu 2 Comments
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Categories: Music Review, Reviews and Show Review

Heya, folks!

Eriisu here, with a review for Forward Music Group Contact East Showcase! A show that played in Moncton’s Paramount last night that included four maritime groups and a small but loyal and engaged crowd.

First one up; Moncton’s Paranerd. Paranerd’s stuff is… well… mind boggling. The sound started off like something you’d expect at a meditation center. You know that synthesized, soothing sound? Notes mixing and fusing into each other in a way only a genius can master. Before long, beat is added and feet are tapping. The “tune” (I don’t want to use the word “song”, since it wasn’t divided into segments of similar sounding melodies so much as it was constantly evolving and changing.) was mesmerizing and involving. You might not be able to sing along to Paranerd, but you’ll find yourself lost within it and enjoying the mind trip it’ll lead you on. Definitely something to be experienced! And it was mixed live. Awesome.

Second band and first to hit the stage was Fredericton’s Share. My husband has always told me in his fleeting moments of wisdom to “never judge a band by their live performance”, so as soon as I got home, I checked out their myspace page and helped myself to samples of studio recorded songs and I still remain unimpressed. Although I am completely enamored with the idea of a stand up bass (played wonderfully, I might add), and I do enjoy softer, slower melodies, I found their sound to lack depth. Each musician was individually great, and melodies were nice, but nothing reached out to me. Nothing really ‘wowed’ me. And though I can see having their music as a nice background while entertaining company, I found that the lower energy levels from the music affected the performance. I’m a girl that likes some energy in her shows!

Third band was Halifax’s Sleepless Nights. My original assessment of them was; “Great musicians cursed with so-so vocals and a bad sound check”, but after checking them out online, I’ll have to go with “Great musicians that just so happened to not have great sound at the show”. They were energetic onstage… although the guitarist warranted a few eyerolls for moves that weren’t as cool as he surely thought; I’m sorry, but musicians and magicians should not turn their back on the crowd (not to interact with the drummer, just to kneel down with his back to us? Come on!)… and there’s only so many times you can get down on your knees in an “intense musical breakdown” before it gets old. It got old real quick. I appreciated the effort and they were obviously having a good time on stage! All in all, I loved their music but the vocals took away from the performance. The instruments complimented and accentuated each other wonderfully. The beat was perfect. And the final piece with the guitarist grabbing two drumsticks and playing along with the drummer on his own floor tom? WAY COOL! I just wish the vocals were as good live as it is on their webpage.

Finally, the stars of the show; MONCTON’S THE MOTORLEAGUE, BITCHES! Ever since Ryan got their stuff to review, I’ve been singing Their “Hymn For The Newly Departed” (that will forever be “We Are Ghosts” in my head. Sorry, guys!) and I just couldn’t wait to see them live! I don’t even have my iPod yet, but when I do, they are the FIRST thing to be uploaded in there! This song is definitely in my top 5 favorites at the moment. But, I digress; this is about the live show, not the song I’m currently fan-girl-ing over. I did not expect them to be as heavy and loud as they were (I’m not a big fan of anything too heavy or plain ol’ scream-o), but I was not in the least bit disappointed! I found myself not foot-tapping or head-bobbing, but plain out dancing and jumping along to their songs. I loved it! I loved their energy, their music, their vocals, they were awesome! I tried to snap some pictures to throw in the review, here, but they wouldn’t stop MOVING! Fitting, though, that they’d sing “we are ghosts!” and have their pictures all come looking like colorful, non-corporeal blurs… The energy was non-stop from all four members of the band and one of the guitarists would even walk up over the stage, on a huge speaker and point people out if they weren’t active enough for their liking not to mention getting everyone to sing with them. Baaaaa ba ba baaaa ♪ Talk about getting the crowd into it! I would DEFINITELY go out of my way to go see them perform again! My ears are still ringing happiness.