Everything's Eventual

Before the inevitable Friday show review (in short, wet but excellent), I'd like to present a few short snippets of what's going to be a pretty excellent week of more concert-going, as well as some general musical happenings. Enjoy!


Eisley just released a delightful album called Combinations, and at long last, they'll be playing in the area at my favorite small venue, Joe's Pub, on Monday night. I believe the 7:00 show is sold out, but I'll be at the 11:30 one. I've quite literally been waiting to see them for the last two years, and the fact that it's an acoustic show makes it all the more special. However, not all is rosy. In a cruel twist of scheduling, the band's playing at Irving Plaza on October 18th, which is the same night as Stars' Town Hall show. I'm leaning towards the latter, but I'm toying with the idea of trying to get to both, as Eisley will be opening for Mute Math. Until then, there's a bonanza of rare tracks over at Trolleywood, and here's a Neutral Milk Hotel cover that filters the original's quirkiness into something quite stunning. Expect way more on this band as the year goes on.

MP3: Eisley - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea (Live)
MP3: Eisley - Telescope Eyes
MySpace: Eisley
Official Site: Eisley


A little over a week ago, I received an intriguing email detailing the release of Illuminea's new album Out of Our Mouths, which comes out this Tuesday. The self-described chamber pop band has a lot of appealing elements: multiple vocalists, a variety of instrumentation, and a strong sense of melody. What's especially interesting to me - and another example of how inter-connected this whole music thing is - is that one of the singers, Jen Appel, is also the publicist for Maria Taylor and Bloc Party, and I've contacted her in the past. Maria Taylor isn't a bad comparison point for "Homewrecker," a dreamy slice of indie pop with an electronic sheen.

MP3: Illuminea - Homewrecker
MySpace: Illuminea


Thursday sees the return of Bitter:Sweet to NYC at the Bowery Ballroom. There's a bit of an emotional connection here, as they're the first band I interviewed, but their live show is definitely worth catching. Although nominally a duo, the band brings a DJ, guitarists, a keyboardist and a harpist on stage, transmuting their chilled out electronic sound into something quite punchy. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how the group's progressed in the months since I last saw them.

MP3: Bitter:Sweet - The Mating Game
MP3: Bitter:Sweet - Joe's Pub Interview
MySpace: Bitter:Sweet
Official Site: Bitter:Sweet


Friday's penultimate Seaport show features the always appealing Camera Obscura. Their Warsaw show seems like an eternity ago, but whenever a track from Let's Get Out Of This Country comes on shuffle, my day's generally brightened. The Last Town Chorus opens, and from the Seaport's description, I can't wait to hear what they bring to the stage. And if all works out, I'll have my camera back by the time the show starts.

MP3: Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country
MP3: Camera Obscura - If Looks Could Kill
Blog: Camera Obscura

Some other bits...

There's a really evocative, if somewhat misleadingly titled feature over at Pitchfork. Great writing, and check out some mixes at author Philip Sherburne's blog.

There's live Tegan and Sara at Spinner. The Con is burning up Metacritic, and T&S play Webster Hall on November 19th...and it's sold out already!

Congrats to Carl Newman and Christy Simpson! The New Pornographers play Webster Hall on the 24th and 25th of November, with the wonderful Emma Pollock opening.

MP3: The New Pornographers - Myriad Harbour
MP3: Emma Pollock - Limbs

Have a great week!