by Jane Lambert

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin @ The Bell House, Brooklyn, NY- December 7, 2009

Pass the Christmas lights and snow on the sidewalk stands the Bell House in Brooklyn. The only thing that glowed more than the twinkling lights was the smiling faces of the all ages crowd for Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. On a mini winter tour the band was seen throughout the venue before the show greeting friends and fans. The only thing that is cheerier than the holiday season is the boys in SSLYBY no matter what time of the year it is.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin by you.

The band took the stage at 10pm sharp and opened with the fan favorite “Pangea.” “It’s always something, it’s always something,” sang singer/guitarist John Robert Cardwell as the crowd sang along. Stage banter was at a minimum tonight and the band was in full form. SSLYBY not only played old favorites but blended in a mixture of new songs from their upcoming Chris Walla produced record that will be released early next year on Polyvinyl. The new tunes are filled with the melodic pop hooks that we love so dearly about the band and it surely has fans excited for the new record. One track in particular that the group has been playing for a while is a Phil Dickey song called “All Hail Dracula,” which he joked was on the Eclipse soundtrack.

Onstage the band never misses a note. Guitarist Will Knauer and bass player/sometimes-drummer when Dickey is on vocals Jonathan James keeps the beat going at all times. You can see the love in the crowd and the band and everyone is just having fun. Some highlight songs of the night included “Think I Wanna Die,” “Heers,” and “Oregon Girl,” though its hard to pick out favorites in this astonishing show. SSLYBY closed the show with “Modern Mystery,” a song that is a personal favorite of mine. They had the whole crowd dancing. After a short leave for the encore the band came back in full force and performed “I Am Warm And Powerful,” which ended the perfect evening. I wish there was a Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin show every day!

Check out More SSLYBY Pictures After the JUMP!! (more to come!)

12.08.09

by Jane Lambert

Sloan @ The Bell House, Brooklyn, NY-December 4, 2009

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The trip to the Bell House in Brooklyn is cold on a December night but the chance of seeing the legendary indie pop band Sloan is well worth getting your mittens out for. There’s something magical in the air when Sloan comes to town, almost like Santa Clause (Tis the season, right?). Fans expect nothing less than an amazing show and the band always delivers. At the venue early to interview the band, I had the pleasure of watching their soundcheck which was a Sloan fan dream come true. Even when they’re playing to a crowd of five it’s like they’re playing for a room of 500.

Openers Magenta Lane took the stage at 9pm and managed to get the crowd pumped up. Three females who know how to own the stage and their instruments is the best way to describe the band that have such a raw energy. With a bit of pop rock edge mixed with a little garage influence the Canadian trio knew how to work the crowd. Singer Lexi Valentine’s voice is incredible and heartfelt as she plays her guitar through a sea of hair. Though quite enjoyable the band wasn’t even off the stage yet before the crowd started in with the classic Sloan chant .””Sllllllooooooannnnn

Finally Sloan took the stage at a quarter after 10 to a packed venue. Opening with a new song off their Hit and RunEP (Murderecords) ”Take it Upon Yourself,” it was a great choice to start the set with. One thing that was great about this show was that the band brought out a lot of old, missing tunes that we haven’t heard on stage in a while. Only supporting the five song ep at this time it left everything to fair game, which leads me to the next tune. Sloan brought out “At the Edge of the Scene,” one of my personal favorites that dates back 10 years. Never thinking I’d hear this song live, I was amazed with how great this song was onstage. The back and fourth vocals of Chris Murphy and Jay Ferguson were pulled off flawlessly making it everything I hoped it would be. Throughout the night as the band switched instruments and lead vocals, it was one surprise after another. Murphy took over with such tunes as the always crowd pleasing “Money City Maniacs,” and “Keep on Thinkin’.” Patrick ‘the hit maker’ Pentland brought out some oldies but goodies as well ranging from “Friendship” to “Everything You’ve Done Wrong” as Jay Ferguson brought out “Don’t You Believe a Word” and “Witches Wand.” Andrew Scott came out from behind the drums for an extended period of time which is always nice to see. Playing such old favorites as “The N.S.” and “The Great Wall,” he nailed every bit of it.

The energy of the band always manages to match the enthusiasm of the crowd. Another great thing about Sloan is they may not be the early 20 somethings they were 18 years ago, but they still put on an amazing live performance that cannot be reckoned with. After playing the always wonderful sing-a-long “Who Taught You To Live Like That,” the band headed off stage and the “Sllllllooooooannnnn,” chants began immediatly. Not letting the fans wait to long, after a couple of minutes the band returned promptly and surprised us all by kicking in with “The Other Man,” a rather slow Murphy tune to start off the encore. From there he went into the infamous “Chester the Molester,” as Jay took over for “C’mon C’mon (We’re Gonna Get it Started),” and ending with Patrick’s “The Good in Everyone.” A perfect ending to a perfect night. Long live Sloan!

Come back to Modern Mystery in the coming days for our interview with Sloan’s Chris Murphy!

Check Out More Pictures After the Jump!

Watch Sloan Play “Chester the Molester” at Soundcheck
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12.04.09

by Jane Lambert

Spoon Streams New Song, Bumps Up Release + Reveals Cover!

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As you may recall late last week we told you the news about the new Spoon album to be released early next year on Merge. Well things have already changed since then and the band has bumped up the release date of their seventh album Transference to January 19th. Eager Spoon fans still have a month and a half to wait but I guess that one week less will take the edge off of things. The very retro looking photography artwork for the record was revealed on Merge yesterday. The group is also streaming another new song called “In Reverse” via the label’s website which you can also purchase starting today. The 11-track album was produced by the band and does not stray far from the classic Spoon twang and melodies. 2010 is going to be a big year for Spoon. Can’t you feel it?

Transference Tracklisting

01 Before Destruction
02 Is Love Forever?
03 The Mystery Zone
04 Who Makes Your Money
05 Written in Reverse
06 I Saw the Light
07 Trouble Comes Running
08 Goodnight Laura
09 Out Go the Lights
10 Got Nuffin
11 Nobody Gets Me But You

12.01.09

by Jane Lambert

Bishop Allen @ The Bell House, Brooklyn, NY- November 21, 2009

Making the trip to The Bell House in Park Slope, Brooklyn is always an adventure. Certainly an unlikely place for a venue amongst the family neighborhood and car washing stations, nestled on a loney street corner stands the venue. One of the nicest places you can attend a rock show was home to Bishop Allen’s last show of the year on Saturday night.

Opening the show were two great acts. The first being New York’s own Darwin Deez. Not really knowing what to expect besides the name being mentioned recently, the band came on doing a ’silly’ (and I mean that in a polite way) dance that brought back memories of seeing The Moldy Peaches on stage back in the day. From the moment they played the first note of “Constellations” everyone in the room dropped their jaws in amazement. Between the incredible songs came more fun dancing that also featured members of Bishop Allen and Throw Me the Statue in the mix. With pop hooks that will knock you dead and an explosive energy, this is one band to watch out for. Up next was Throw Me the Statue who had a hard act to follow but managed to pull it off. Playing familar tunes like “Lolita,” the band made a nice addition to the lineup.

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Around 10:30 Bishop Allen started to set up. No matter how popular they get, you still see singer/guitarist Justin Rice and guitarist Christian Rudder onstage warming up and tuning their own guitars. The band hit the stage at 11 and opened with the classic tune “Rain,” which immediatly had the band excited and dancing. The level of energy Rice and Co. brings to the stage is phenomenal and somehow, they never miss a note. The list of songs was a nice blend of new and old as they are nearly pass the stage of promoting Grrr (Dead Oceans) full on. The pages turned from the EP project tunes like “Winter Coat,” to Broken String tracks such as “The Monitor,” and ”Click Click Click.” Though when the band broke out the new tunes they came in full force. Stellar performances of “Dimmer” and “Cue the Elephants” in particular were the highlights of the night and had fans singing at the top of their lungs. Darbie Nowatka (aka the new Mrs. Rice) came from behind the keys and woodblocks to sing a few songs on her own but oddly enough not their newest single for “True or False” in which she showcases her vocals full on. Throughout the night Rice provided the crowd with witty banter which had everyone laughing; “I love New York graffiti. I saw one wall that had on it “Don’t be shy” and “You go girl,” and it reminded me why I love New York so much. It’s very uplifting.” The band closed the set with “Middle Management” which was a perfect way to go out with a bang. It’s good to have you back in New York Bishop Allen. We missed you.

CHECK OUT MORE BISHOP ALLEN AFTER THE JUMP

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11.29.09

by Jane Lambert

Secondhand Sunday: Sloan “The Lines You Amend”

This week’s edition of Secondhand Sunday is dedicated to ye olde Sloannnnnn. The band will be in the New York area TWICE this week with a show at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, NJ tomorrow night (Monday) and a stop at Brooklyn’s Bell House, Friday night. We’re a little bit more than excited over here for a couple of reasons. First of all….Sloan at Christmas time? That’s a pretty sweet gift. Secondly we will be interviewing the band on Friday and well, to interview one of your favorite bands of all time is just beyond imaginable. Enjoy one of my favorite Sloan videos for “The Lines You Amend.” Actually one time I told Jay Ferguson if he ever stops playing that song live, I’m not sure I can come to any more shows-it’s essential. His reply? “No don’t do that!!”

Alright time for some Sloooooannnnnnnn!

11.28.09

by Jane Lambert

Bear Hands Clawed Their Way Through CMJ, Now Preps for Upcoming Release of Debut LP, “Paper”

You hear a name like Bear Hands and you think what? Cute and cuddly? Or has the ability to gnaw your face off and rip you in two? Well with this particular band, you’re half right on both ends.

Punk-alt quartet Bear Hands make the nightly New York rounds, finding new venues to rock and new fans to woo. But it all started in 2006, just a couple of Metro North rides away, when singer Dylan Rau, bassist Val Loper, guitarist Ted Feldman, and drummer TJ Orscher decided to birth the band that is Bear Hands. Rau, Orscher, and Loper were well-versed in the punk-angst ways fashioned by Connecticut school boys, but when Rau graduated to the Wesleyan University music scene, he met fellow co-ed, guitarist Ted Feldman, and decided to refine his personal punk flare with the help of his cohorts’ musical inclinations. “I’m trying to rid myself of my more punk tendencies,” Rau says. Rau writes all of the group’s songs and remembers, rather shamefully, the first song he ever wrote when he was 13. A pre-teen emo anthem, I wonder? “Yeah, I’m sure,” he scoffs, rolling his eyes. But even in the group’s four-track outing, Golden EP, you can’t help but get sucked into Bear Hand’s brand of post-punk, laced with dynamic instrumental breaks and Rau’s ‘tudish cadence.

Rau’s voice does usher the band on stage, but in person he’s quite stoic, low key. In a pleasant way, not in an I’m-too-cool-for-this-interview sort of way. He’s thin, and the presence of his mangled bun atop his head gives him a towering feel. But when we sit on the top floor terrace at The Delancey, he hunches, coils himself into the chair. Cross-legged. Doe-eyed. Already in a humbled position, he states, “I’m really terrible at guitar.” Rau, who shares guitar responsibility with Feldman, has never taken a guitar lesson. “I’m trying to play the guitar less,” he says. This strikes me as ambitionless. “Oh, I have ambition. Just not to get better at guitar,” he quips.

The band recently flooded CMJ, playing the NME showcase with The Antlers and The xx—of which Rau is a big fan—The Mercury Lounge, and The Bowery Electric. Although they only played five songs, they stole the show from The Antlers, leaving everything on the stage, particularly during “Sickly Brunette,” a track so seeped in badassitude, it begs to be listened to on repeat to get your ass out of bed in the morning. They’re currently putting the finishing touches on their debut full-length LP, Paper (release date TBA), which Rau says is “85 percent done.”

Although Bear Hands remains unsigned, gigs keep popping up all over the globe. The band recently came back from a stint in the UK and around Europe. “We do pretty good in the UK. But Paris, that was a really great show.” The guys also recently played a November show in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with Chairlift and Telepathe. And you can bet they had fun, because in the end, Bear Hands is about fun. It’s about head banging till it hurts and reveling in how good it can be to just be. And that’s where the dichotomy exists. They shred on stage, tats ablaze, faces contorted. But when it comes down to it, they’re just a couple of nice kids from Connecticut that decided to extend their pipe dream. And now, Bushwick-based and Brazil-bound, it all seems possible. Inevitable, even.

Paola Capó-García