by Jane Lambert

The Beauty of the Sound of Dignan

dignan1

I’m an eighteen-year- old music journalist who pretty much sucks at everything I do. I do nothing with my life but go to shows. Lord, how I live for shows. I travel hours and hours to reach certain destinations and cities to go to shows and experience the feeling of live music.

This past year, I journeyed on to my first year of college. Going to a private university that I did not even want to attend, I made the best of it by making myself friendly with the music venues. I love San Antonio, but the music scene up here is horrible. And I hate even mentioning the word “music” and “scene” within the same sentence, but I’m being completely honest with the music style (I dig that word better) that San Antonio has to offer. Don’t g get me wrong, there are a few local bands from here that have some talent. But for the most part, I do not fancy it all that much.

I matured as a human being while listening to Dignan. Dignan is this beautiful five-piece band from McAllen, Texas. They play the most harmonic and melodic tunes that anybody will ever hear. (My father even loves their sound. Come on now!) Being in San Antonio separated Dignan and I a good four hours. However, that didn’t stop me to seeing and hearing them. I’d travel during the school week to see them and drive four hours in the wee hours of the night to make it to class the next morning. Dignan is the one band that I’d do anything for. They have molded me so much that I can’t even begin to explain.

It’s 2:02 in the morning as I sit in front of this computer and ramble on run-on sentences. I’m sorry for my lack of correct grammar. My weekly migraine decided to barge in on me today and keep my mind company. There I go again- I’m getting off topic.

About an hour ago, I was at Sam’s Burger Joint listening to Dignan. Right in front of lead singer, Andy Pena, mic as always, I stood there swaying side to side- more than likely looking like an idiot with uncontrollable spasms- and everything in my life felt right. How many times does every SINGLE thing in a person’s life feel right? Maybe it’s just me, but I hardly EVER feel that way. And last night/ this morning, everything felt perfect.

It was Trey Perez, the drummer, last night to perform with Dignan. He is pursuing his education and attend college in Austin. Maybe that’s what did it. The whole this-is-the-last-time-I’ll-hear-Trey-live momentum. I swear for a second, I wanted to cry when they played their last song. I thought to myself, “This can’t be his last performance. Trey IS Dignan. He belongs with Dignan. Dignan can’t be Dignan without him”. And then I realized, I felt the exact same way with Dignan’s former drummer too. Except, I didn’t see Dignan live when the other drummer was there. I started seeing them when Trey was there. And I felt as if Trey grew with me; as my mind and soul grew with him being there. That was taken away from me tonight.

I’m not too sure where I’m getting with this. I mainly wanted to state that tonight’s show was beyond amazing. It was beautiful. As always, their energy and passion took over the crowd. My Lord, I love Dignan so much. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to explain to a person how much I love them and how much they have changed me.

I’m a college student who has a lot on my mind. From my future to lack of future to ex lovers and everything in between, it consumes my life. I drown in my thoughts. But, seeing and hearing Dignan live…that takes it all away. I swear, it does. During their set, not a single unhappy thought races through my mind. My future has vanished. My misery of being single and lonely has vanished. It all vanishes. Dignan is the unconditional love that is sent from some sort of high heaven to guide me. I know I cannot possibly be the only person who feels this way about them. And if I am, then hell, I sure am sounding like some crazy fangirl. Really, though, if you haven’t already-PLEASE give Dignan a listen. There music is something so beautiful that every person must hear before they die.

I want every person who reads this to give them a listen. If you aren’t willing to cough up some bucks, I will personally e-mail you some of their tracks so you can experience the true joy that Dignan has to offer. It’s an offer you can’t refuse.

They are currently about to start their tour with O’brother (in which is another band you will be reading an article from sometime soon). Definitely check out the dates and locations. If you are by the area, go out and support them. Both bands put on mind blowing performances.

Dignan & O’brother tour dates:

Aug 27 – New Bern, NC @ Broad Street Music
Aug 28 – Raleigh, NC @ The Brewery
Aug 29 – Charlotte, NC @ Tremont Hall
Aug 30 – Greenville, SC @ The Channel
Aug 31 – Greenwood, SC @ Homemade Genius
Sept 01 – Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern
Sept 02 – Atlanta, GA @ The Wonderroot
Sept 03 – Milledgeville, GA @ Buffington’s
Sept 04 – Macon, GA @ Cafe 567
Sept 05 – Columbus, GA @ Gallery 13
Sept 06 – Orlando, FL @ Will’s Pub
Sept 07 – Tallahassee, FL @ TBA
Sept 08 – Fort Walton, FL @ TBA
Sept 09 – Mobile, AL @ Alabama Music Box
Sept 10 – Pensacola, FL @ Sluggos
Sept 11 – Hanceville, AL @ Space Camp Festival
Sept 12 – Hattiesburg, MS @ 1126 House
Sept 13 – Louisiana @ TBA
Sept 14 – Louisiana @ TBA
Sept 15 – Shreveport, LA @ TBA
Sept 16 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s
Sept 17 – Waco, TX @ Common Grounds
Sept 18 – Dallas, TX @ Mokah
Sept 19 – San Antonio, TX @ The Ten Eleven

Check out Dignan on MYSPACE

and TWITTER

By Krista

08.07.09

by Jane Lambert

Julian Plenti ‘Games for Days’ Video

Interpol frontman Paul Banks recently released his first video for his new solo project under the name Julian Plenti. The video for ‘Games for Days’ features Emily Haines (of Metric and Broken Social Scene ) and is rather dark but somehow also charming. The two get to know each other and then trash the place. Classic love story. Paul Bank has not only has returned to his old label Matador to release his record ‘Skyscraper’ but the album tends to sound a bit similar sounding to the first Interpol record, ‘Turn on the Bright Lights.’ This my friends is a good thing. We can’t wait to see more videos from Julian Plenti.

Watch the video for ‘Games for Days’

08.04.09

by Jane Lambert

Bat for Lashes Release New Video for ‘Sleep Alone’

Lately I’ve been on a huge Bat for Lashes kick. I just can’t seem to get Natasha Kahn’s infectious songs out of my head. Fresh out of the vault, Bat for Lashes has released the third video from ‘Two Suns’ for ‘Sleep Alone’. Kahn is by far making the greatest videos out there today. The small stories within and the overwhelming color palette that sets the perfect tone makes each song more haunting than it already is.

Bat for Lashes was also nominiated today for an MTV Video Music Award (VMA) for the Breakthrough Video catagory up against Chairlift, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Matt and Kim, Cold War Kids, Passion Pit and more. Wow that is some list.

Watch Bat for Lashes ‘Sleep Alone’

08.04.09

by Jane Lambert

Interview: A Little Bit with Elmor

Indie Brit band Elmor is a band you should love. The boys of Elmor intertwine delighful pop vocals with driving insturmentation to produce fun, “dance-y” and romantically charged rock n’ roll. I had the pleasure of interviewing the group before they embarked from England to LA to tour. Unfortunately this interview took place via Facebook chat due to the band’s location across the pond, but imagining the boys saying everything in a British accent made up for it.

Liv: Where’d you get your name? I’m sure you know there’s an Elmore band and an Elmore D Band?

Andy: It’s our lead singer Luke’s mother’s maiden name (she’s Scottish) and a street he used to live on. Elmore band…? There’s one in London but we’re bigger than them so doesn’t matter! Although myself and Rich here are big jazz fans and love Elmore James [of the Elmore D Band]! Don’t forget we’re Elmor though!

Liv: How did the band form? Where are you all from?

Andy: Luke and I have been mates for about five years. After living in Vancouver I moved back here [London] and hooked up with him for some drinks. Luke said he had written some songs and wanted to get a band together. We started with a five piece line-up then. However things weren’t working and our original guitarist had to be fired after a year, so Tristan joined who we knew from the muso circle around here! We went through three other drummers before getting Richard who we found on the net….so 21st century!!

Liv: What is muso?

Andy: People in England who are musicians basically…! But it’s like more of a cool term for rockers.

Liv: Ah, I like!

Andy: As a band we all have different influences though and so the sound we have is different than what it was when we began. The songs we did when it started three years ago? We don’t play any of them now!

Liv: Describe Elmor’s sound to someone who has never heard your music before

Andy: Melodic rock; energetic rock sound with a commercial vibe…hang on we once had a review from a national paper which describes us well: “A face-off between the west coast of America indebted soaring melodies of the Thrills and the day-glo pop of the hirsute Magic Numbers, with a dash of stadium rock U2 and even industrial Editors-esque riffs” THE FLY “A lot of scope and expansiveness to the music, a certain kind of wind-swept romanticism” THE INDEPENDENT ”

Liv: If you weren’t in the band, what would you be doing?

Andy: Working in the industry; I’d probably go into management. I was doing that before the band. Luke would probably carry on – writing, doing solo stuff – and start a gardening business.

John: I’d be song writing and producing.

Richard: Playing drums?! Typical drummer! Playing jazz though…

Liv: I’m glad you all would still be doing music stuff!! That’s refreshing.

Andy: The thing is we’ve never discuss that! We are part of the project and team and we don’t consider anything else.

Liv: What’s the song writing process? Song writing inspirations? Lyrical inspiration? Do you ever find it difficult to write a song?

Andy: When we wrote our current single it happened within an hour. Other songs have taken weeks! Sometimes the lyrics and melody are written first, sometimes another part is the basis. The songs can take weeks to tailor. “The Wedding Song” – which you won’t have heard; that shall be our next single – took about two months to get it how we wanted. Luke uses a lot of influences in his life for inspiration.

Liv: Yes, writing about what you know is always good! Do you have a favorite song to perform?

Andy: A track called “Use It”. This was originally called “Everything and Everyone” but we’ve changed the latter to the album name. Because it’s the first song we wrote we wanted to incorporate it into the album title. John’s and Luke’s favorite is “One Step”

Richard: “Seven Years”

Tristan: “Little Bit”

Liv: Why these songs?

Andy: They are all different. Each one has its own elements. How we play them physically is different too. We get a different reaction to each one. I think our main basis is every song should be unique but encompassing our signature sound! There are too many bands – especially in this country – who have an album of “samey” songs…..also bands we’ve met touring. But then there are a couple who are special…

Liv: Like you?

Andy: We have been told we are! Haha!

Liv: What song do you wish you had written?

Andy: “Be my baby”, The Ronettes. “Don’t Worry Baby”, The Beach Boys. Uum………. I know Luke would say Radiohead’s “Ok Computer”. For me: every album Muse has done!

Liv: Me too! I love Muse. Have you seen them live?

Andy: yeah last year!

Liv: Their keyboard player is fucking incredible.

Andy: Such a massive inspiration for me…

Liv: What’s your favorite thing about being on tour?

Andy: Making bets on how long it takes for Richard to fall asleep on the dance floor when we’re out! Oh, and tickling Tristan. He hates it!

Liv: Couldn’t you tickle him anytime?

Andy: Yes, but in a vehicle, he can’t escape! Meeting other bands is always fun. We come away from a tour having met loads of lovely people. Of course there are the obvious perks like trying different venues and crowds. England even though it’s small to you, you go an hour away and people/accents can be very different!

Listen to Elmor on their MYSPACE

08.02.09

by Jane Lambert

Secondhand Sunday: Sloan ‘Money City Maniacs’

Lately I’ve had Sloan on my mind, mainly because New York is usually graced by their prescene this time of year. The word is the guys are working on their next album, the followup to last year’s ‘Parallel Play’ hence why there is a lack of summer touring.

On a more serious note, Sloan bassist/singer/sometimes drummer Chris Murphy was hit by a drunk driver on Friday in Toronto. It was a hit and run. Murphy has a broken collarbone which he will need to have surgery on. Though this doesn’t slow him down one bit as the band is playing a show in their homeland of Canada today in which it was stated that he was just going to sing and not play the bass. Though the band stated that the other few tour dates may be affected since he needs surgery now.

We send all of the well wishes in the world to Chris and a very speedy recovery! He’s one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet.

Watch Sloan’s ‘Money City Maniacs’

Get more on Chris Murphy’s accident at Exclaim

08.01.09

by Jane Lambert

Like or Like Like: Acid House Kings

The Acid House Kings have been pumping out music for quite some time now, yet few to little praise has been given to them as they remain in the backdrop of indie-rock.

Returning back to the earlier days of retro twee pop, The Acid House Kings turned out cheery tunes that mirrored a pseudo-brady bunch era in the early 90’s. Having formed in 1991, the Kings are recognized as one of the founders of swede pop and could have very well opened up gateways for later swede artists such as Lykke Li, Peter Bjorn and John, The Hives, Jose Gonzalez and many more.

Yet more than a decade later, The Acid House Kings remain in the shadows. Perhaps, the Kings are yet to be accepted by hipsters worldwide because their music surpasses a superficial idea of what indie-rock should be: edgy, hip, and a stray from the normative mainstream sugar pop, above other things.

The Kings’ sound falls in line with that of Camera Obscura and Belle and Sebastian. Yet, don’t let their squeaky-clean image deter you because the indie-rock factor that we all treasure is very much alive in their music.

Sadly, the group has not released any new music since 2005 but the band anticipates a new album release in 2009. To my despair, the time is running out and my anxiety is climbing for new music from the Acid House Kings but I’m still crossing my fingers.

On a happier note, if a band couldn’t be any cooler, the Kings produced their “This Heart Is A Stone” music video in Karaoke form so you can bust out in song right along with the crew. Take a look below.

Here’s the proof, this is definitely a group that you need to have in your music library.

Check out the Acid House Kings HERE

Recommended tracks:

“Do What You Wanna Do”
“This Heart Is A Stone”
“Sunday Morning”

Watch the Acid House Kings ‘This Heart is a Stone’