(Sam Coomes of Quasi)
This year's Noise Pop was chock full of neat goodness, and photographer Jeff Enlow was there for most of it. Check out the extensive slideshows of flicks Jeff brought back from Quasi, The Dodos, Cursive, and Port O'Brien. Then click "More" for some thoughts and notes from each night. -- Oscar Pascual
By Melissa Baron
The Mountain Goats
March 1, 2008
Better Than: Anything other interns get to do at their respective media institutions.
Download: The Mountain Goats tracks on Daytrotter.
Lots of people decide on careers in journalism for the Almost Famous factor. A theory seems to exist that reporters mingle with celebrities and go to fantastic rock concerts. Frequently, this pursuit ends in disappointment when once enthusiastic writers become bored and frustrated fact checkers. Not for me. The morning of March 1 I had one of those moments that makes you want to write about music forever.
Daytrotter, an innovative music website based out of Rock Island, Illinois, held recording sessions at the Mosser Hotel. Obviously this prompts two questions: what does Daytrotter do and how do you record at a hotel? Daytrotter records bands when they tour across the country. They post these recordings on the internet for streaming and download. Along with the tunes they have text (more narrative than journalistic) and illustrations (no photos). The result is an art project of sorts, a creative center for multiple senses. Founder Sean Moeller says that the site "cuts down to the compete core of what makes music great." The impact of live music is undeniable and Daytrotter brings raw and fantastic music to listeners. Previously recorded artists include Rivers Cuomo (you know, the Weezer dude?), Beirut, GWAR and Tokyo Police Club and almost everyone else you can think of.
By Melissa Baron
Blitzen Trapper with Fleet Foxes
February 28, 2008
Bottom of the Hill
Better Than: Watching the OC on DVD while doing homework. Way better.
Download: Anything from Fleet Foxes, "Wild Mountain Nations" and "Sci-Fi Kid" by Blitzen Trapper. Also check out opening bands Sholi from the Bay Area (they covered a song in Farsi) and Here, Here from San Francisco (they sound like the Arcade Fire's pop punk baby).
Some people claim that the bigger the better, a more music savvy interpretation of this theory could be the more instruments and band members the more rockin'. Tonight's show provided the perfect evidence. Bottom of the Hill opened their doors to about a hundred musicians and five hundred instruments for the four band Noise Pop show (only a slight hyperbole). Sure preparing the stage , tuning and set change took a billion years, but it felt worth every minute.
Sub Pop band Blitzen Trapper hail from the Pacific Northwest. Portland, OR to be exact. "The City of Roses," home to loads of breweries, several bridges, Powell's Books (a full city block of reading material), the Trail Blazers and several indie rock phenomenons (the Shins, the Decemberists, the Thermals, anyone?). Obviously the city could foster enormous talent.
(Left, Zooey Deschanel)
It’s official—Noise Pop has fallen off like whoa. Sure, you could make arguments for The Mountain Goats, Magnetic Fields and Cursive, but this year’s lineup can’t hold a candle to last year’s big names like Sebadoh, Roky Erickson, Ted Leo and tons more good shows. But c’mon, Stellastarr*? How does Carson Daly’s favorite band hold up to a 60-year-old mentally ill psych rocker? Fear not, there’s a few events to note in between all the middle-of-the-pack indie artists playing this year. -By Oscar Pascual
Wed 2/27 — What We Do is Secret, 9:15 p.m. at Roxie Theatre. $10.
Since there’s no band at NoisePop even a smidgeon as aggressive and vitriolic as The Germs were, you might as well just check out the screening of What We Do is Secret, a new biopic about frontman Darby Crash, that will be followed by a Q & A with the film’s director and cast. But please don’t give yourselves cigarette burns at the Roxie. The smell of popcorn butter and searing flesh just don’t go well with each other.
Thur 2/28—Human Giant, 8 p.m. at Mezzanine. $15/$20. ... (Click 'More' to Continue Reading 'NoisePop
