War on Drugs + Here We Go Magic CD Release Show @ MHOW

We're a bit late in posting this review, but last Tuesday we had the pleasure of checking out Philadelphia's War on Drugs and Brooklyn's favorite electro-rockers Here We Go Magic -- Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson was also on the bill, but we didn't get a chance to check him out. It was a celebratory show as HWGM released their newest album titled, Pigeons that day via Secretly Canadian.

War on Drugs have been an enigma wrapped in an engima; after releasing, Wagonwheel Blues in 2008 (#7 on Vince's 'Best of'" list,) aside from a few small tours, we haven't hear much about their musical pursuits. What we knew was we loved that record especially the standout tune, "A Needle in Your Eye #16" (video above.) We also love Secretly Canadian! Tuesday night, we put a face on the Drugs -- their show was rough-edged at times with finicky feedback issues and a couple missed drug hits, but the energy was there. They tended to jam on a bit in a haze of reverb heavy vocal lines and guitar riffs, but the experience was heady and ultimately rewarding for a Tuesday night show.

Hear more about the show including notes on an illuminated dimond/Here We Go Maigc after the jump.
The Drugs were nothing short of consistent, weaving their songs together to produce a great ambient feel with lots up emotional ups and downs. While their live show could still use some variable tweaks, it was good to see a band play some of our favorite tunes albeit at times meddled together too much for our liking. Keep rocking Drugs! Their new album is due this summer.

The headliners, Here We Go Magic are the brain child of Like Temple -- the man is a visionary for electro-pop riffs with a rock tinge, while at times, hitting vocal notes reminiscent of Paul Simon. Here We Go Magic took up the entire stage at MHOW with six pieces; joining them, in the background was a color-changing diamond which reminded us of Arcade Fire's stage set up with the luminescent halogen light rods. Again, we were hit with a super heady performance with lots of electro-jamming. Our one major criticism could be the liner-ness of the show, ultimate lacking that "wow" factor. But hey, people were smoking pot, grooving and feeling the vibe which, as a band, is a good accomplishment for a late Tuesday night show. We are big fans of the new record and look forward to a good summer for these Brooklynites.

Here We Go Magic CD Release Show

[mp3] Here We Go Magic: "Collector"

Admittedly, we've been spinning this record since it's way-to-early leak several months ago, but that extra time spent with Here We Go Magic's second LP, Pigeons (6/8 Secretly Canadian) has not dulled this ecclectic and compelling band's luster. Pigeons is an entirely different animal (sorry) from HWGM's stellar self-titled debut; the sound is closer in the headphones, and decidedly more analog. Luke Temple's songwriting veers away from the signature "Paul Simon" influence of the debut, while the band sounds tighter and more cohesive. Pigeons is a tough nut to crack, and honestly, the jury is still out with final verdict. It's clearly a step forward for the group as they become more of a band, rather than just a vehicle for Temple's songs. The true test of these tunes will be the live show. Luckily for us, Here We Go Magic will be playing on release day, June 8th at Music Hall of Williamsburg with War on Drugs. War on Drugs are excellent in their own right, yet have A LOT to prove live, after we caught a particularly dismal outing at The Mercury Lounge over a year ago. HWGM tour dates and video after the jump.

US Summer Tour

June 08 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY +
June 10 - Bonnaroo Music Festival - Manchester, TN
July 18 - Pitchfork Music Festival - Chicago, IL
July 19 - The Waiting Room - Omaha, NE *
July 20 - Hi Dive - Denver, CO *
July 22 - Neurolux - Boise, ID *
July 23 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR *
July 24 - Capitol Hill Block Party - Seattle, WA
July 25 - Media Club - Vancouver, BC *
July 28 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA *
July 29 - Troubadour - West Hollywood, CA * #
Aug 01 - The Rhythm Room - Phoenix, AZ *
Aug 03 - The LOFT at the Palladium - Dallas, TX *
Aug 04 - Emo's Outside - Austin, TX * #
Aug 06 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA * #
Aug 07 - Cat's Cradle - Carrboro, NC * #
Aug 08 - The Black Cat - Washington, DC *
Aug 09 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia, PA

+ w/ The War on Drugs
* w/ Beach Fossils
# w/CURFEW

God Is Saying This To You

[MP3]
Kurt Vile "Beach on the Moon"

The cover of Kurt Vile's record God is Saying This To You looks as it sounds. It conjures up sepia-toned, rural images of hazy landscapes passing one by out the window of a train. Vile's songs float along with a psych/folk lilt to them sounding no more produced than a set of demos. Yet, haven't we all heard countless demo records that are head and shoulders above the fleshed-out studio versions? I mean, Nebraska was originally just demos for the E-Street Band. Kurt Vile just happens to also be a Philly native and part of the band War on Drugs whose Wagonwheel Blues was quietly one of the best records of 2008. Vile's first record Constant Hitmaker should not be passed by either. God is Saying This to You is out now digitally on the vinyl and digital only label Mexican Summer.

Tour Altert: The War On Drugs (Woo) + Hold Steady (Boo)

The War On Drugs are teaming up with Craig Finn & Co. touring the US in support of last year's Wagonwheel Blues. After releasing the album in 2008, War On Drugs plundered the UK and European regions, touring like muppets. Last year, Craig Finn listed -Wagonwheel Blues- in his top five albums of 2008 on Pitchfork and said "they made an amazing record that I was obsessed with for most of the year".*

Good for Craig, but I had this to say: "Phantasmal." The record made the number seven slot on my Best of 2008 list.

After the jump includes Spring US tour dates and the intoxicating and repeatable video for "Needle in Your Eye #16". I really love this band. The guitar sound, is insinderary...incendiary, anyway, way to go.
*From Secretly Canadian PR

THE WAR ON DRUGS SPRING 2009 U.S. TOUR:
03/29/09 Cambridge, MA - TT The Bear's Place
03/30/09 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall
03/31/09 Albany, NY - Valentine's w/ The Hold Steady
04/01/09 Buffalo, NY - Tralf Music Hall w/ The Hold Steady
04/02/09 Grand Rapids, MI - Calvin College Fine Arts Center w/ The Hold Steady
04/03/09 Urbana, IL - Courtyard Cafe w/ The Hold Steady
04/04/09 Bloomington, IN - Jakes Nightclub w/ The Hold Steady
04/05/09 Chicago, IL - Schubas w/ Tallest Man on Earth
04/06/09 St. Louis, MO - Gargoyle w/ The Hold Steady
04/07/09 Iowa City, IA - The Picador w/ The Hold Steady
04/08/09 Omaha, NE - Slowdown w/ The Hold Steady
04/10/09 Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre w/ The Hold Steady
04/11/09 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge w/ The Hold Steady
04/13/09 Las Vegas, NV - Beauty Bar w/ The Hold Steady
04/14/09 Stateline, NV - Harrah's Tahoe South Shore w/ The Hold Steady
04/15/09 Sacramento, CA - Harlow's w/ The Hold Steady
04/17/09 Seattle, WA - Jules Maes Saloon
04/18/09 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge w/ Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band
04/20/09 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
04/21/09 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
04/22/09 Phoenix, AZ - Modified
04/24/09 Austin, TX - Mohawk
04/25/09 Denton, TX - Rubber Gloves
04/26/09 Nashville, TN - Exit/In
04/27/09 Knoxville, TN - The Pilot Light\

War on Drugs - "Needle in your Eye #16" Video

Now that we've cleansed ourselves of that rather unfortunate live show last month at the Mercury Lounge, we've been able to go back to what is a really great record from War on Drugs. Yesterday, Pitchfork TV debuted this psychedelic mish-mash of vintage Americana videos heavy on footage of displaced Native Americans. The tune "Needle in Your Eye #16" rolls along with pulsing Hammond organ accompanied by a steady drone of guitars, bass and drums. Similar to the entire record Wagonwheel Blues, the at-times-dull rhythms and electronic background noise, do little to detract from the band's great Dylanesque-rock melodies. Such is why the record succeeds - it melds the electronic and acoustic, but manages never to lose that catchy, organic feel.

Titus Andronicus, Ponytail, Abe Vigoda, War on Drugs @ The Mercury Lounge

...Bruce Springsteen comparisons came easy as Titus opened their set with several verses from "Thunder Road." As Springsteen freewheels around the stage and often strays from the vocal melodies, as did lead singer Patrick Stickles. Twisting and writhing, Stickles delivered lyrics in incomprehensible screams and moans. Just as the E-Street band does for the Boss, the rest of Titus Andronicus held tight to the form of every song. They played with a passion and maturity that allowed Stickles to go ape-shit on stage all the while delivering a tight well focused set...
Full review and photos after the jump...

Although surprisingly undersold, the show Sunday night at the Mercury Lounge featured three of the summer's most buzzed about bands. Abe Vigoda and Ponytail delivered energetic sets of noise-filled, punk-rock music, while Titus Andronicus closed the evening by clearly demonstrating how a fully formed band should look and sound. While delivering a great album earlier this summer, the War on Drugs' set failed to capture the record's urgency and passion as most songs dragged along in a sea of messy electronics and languid tempos.

Publications from Pitchfork to Fader have weighed in, favoring Abe Vigoda and Ponytail. Although Abe Vigoda did well to capture the sounds and aesthetics of noise rock legends such as The Jesus and Mary Chain, (one even sported an old JAMC tee shirt,) they failed to deliver the vocal power and melodies of their predecessors. Ponytail channeled a more progressive sound, at times reminiscent of Battles, only delivering their songs in accessible three to four minute pop nuggets. Driven by their spectacular drummer Jeremy Hyman, Ponytail managed an uplifting, positive, and infectious set; yet, the role of "lead singer" Molly Siegel seemed ill-defined, and at least live, she seemed more like an energetic place holder.

Like a breath of fresh air after what was becoming a long evening, Titus Andronicus set up, line checked and were ready to go a half-hour early. It's hard to describe maturity exactly, but Titus looked the part of a real band before even playing a single note. Complete with a self-produced light show, every band member seemed ready to go and conducted themselves with an adult demeanor that belied their real age and level of experience. While Vigoda and Ponytail captured a youthful exuberance, Titus Andronicus' set clearly demonstrated that those bands have some growing up to do before they are counted in the same league as some of their indie rock peers.

Bruce Springsteen comparisons came easy as Titus opened their set with several verses from "Thunder Road." As Springsteen freewheels around the stage and often strays from the vocal melodies, as did lead singer Patrick Stickles. Just as the E-Street band does for the Boss, the rest of Titus Andronicus held tight to the form of every song. They played with a passion and maturity that allowed Stickles to go ape-shit on stage all the while delivering a tight well focused set. Playing the best from their excellent record The Airing of Grievences, Titus Andronicus made their openers look like boys and girls amongst men and women. Titus made the Mercury Lounge their own and showed why they will remain standing long after the summer's hype has faded.
Lovely photos by Karp.