Beirut, a gig review, or, How I learned to love life and stop worrying about everything

Just before leaving NZ I ended up bunking with James and Ami for a bit. Technically I was not in the same bed and I slept in a different room, but I wanted to use the word "bunking" because I think it sounds neat. Hanging out at their place had its benefits, like drinking on their back deck in the sun, but the greatest was exposure to a world of music. The muse living within James extended my music collection from the 200 songs I'd been listening to since I was 16, to an overwhelming collection and a new appreciation for music that lives outside of the retard stuff we hear droning on the radio. And one of these bands I was introduced to was Beirut. I was hooked.

After two unsuccessful attempts to see them (first tour sold out in London the day before I arrived, and then they pulled out of the Benicassim festival a few weeks before I was to go) I was all but giving up hope. But in January of this year a golden platter was put in front of me. After selling the platter for a pretty penny, I used the proceeds to buy tickets to Beirut's 2009 tour. Last May my life became complete. I saw Beirut live.

And it was awesome.

I took my Beirut Virgin friend along who had never listened to a single note of their music. “What kind of music is it?” she asked. Er, well, er, there is a ukulele, accordion, double bass, trumpets, trombone, tuba, bass guitar and probably some drums. “Well, how do you dance to it or respond to the music?” Er, again, well, I guess you just listen and do whatever feels right. Perhaps sway a little?

But how does one define the music of Beirut? Perhaps a bit of folk,? Some country? Maybe Russian gypsy, Spanish, Parisian, or Mexican? World? It is music you can sit back and enjoy, get lost in, float away then return to earth with a big smile on your face that makes people think you might have been on the wacky dacky. I'm not sure there is a genre for it but I'd happily be told otherwise.

For those who don’t know, Beirut started out as a solo project for a very talented young dude called Zachary Condon. He roped in a few others to help out, eventually becoming the band Beirut. They have a bit of a cult following here in London, if not Europe, which makes it difficult to get tickets to their always sold out shows. One couple I got talking to, Dan and Nikki from Brighton, bought tickets to their first tour a few years ago by mistake (lucky buggers) but have since seen every show they've done in London (which is probably only 3... but still).

They played songs from both their albums, Gulag Orkestar and The Flying Club Cup. To my shame I’ve only got their first album but it means half the songs where fresh and new to me. I think my night was topped when Beirut Virgin turned to me during “Postcards from Italy” and said, "Doesn't this music just want to make you smile. It just makes you love life." And that is exactly what it does do. When Zach (can I call you Zach?) sings, his unique voice and the way he sings is like someone gently telling you to just forget about your worries. All will be OK. When i die, and if there are Angels, I want him to be one so he can sing me to my rest.

The best was saved until last though. The encore contained two new songs from their up-coming album. If the quality of the music is anything to go by then it is definitely a must have for the Christmas stocking. They were a little bit more up-tempo from what I've previously heard of but still fit well within the style I've come to appreciate. The final song of the evening left everyone on a high and I'm sure a few woman down the front screamed, tore their bras off and even fainted. Gulag Orchestra filled our ears and got the crowd wanting more. But alas their was none.

But everyone was happy and the world was at peace... for a little bit anyway.

For all of you in the USofA, they are touring in September and October. Their new album will be released on October 9th, or so I've heard.

I Was a King [fuzzed out power pop from Scandinavia]

"[I Was a King]'s self-titled album confidently weaves together shoe gaze, indie rock, and pop to create a product that can appeal to both the cynical and the cheerful." - NPR

Buy I Was a King from Amazon

Sounds Like: Elefant 6

RIYL: Sonic Youth, Apples in Stereo, The Thrills, The Clientele, My Bloody Valentine (circa Strawberry Wine)

A Few Words: Noregian fuzz pop quintet I Was a King marries Byrds-era flower power melodies (so readily employed by The Clientele) with the distortion that set apart bands like Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine. The result isn't earth-shattering, but it has something that Apples in Stereo always lacked: subtlety.

The album, which features collaborations from Sufjan Stevens, Danielson, Ladybug Transistor and Serena Maneesh, clocks in at just over 30 minutes. Yet the robust composition, layering, and instrumentation makes it feel more like 35--maybe even 40. The tracks tend to be void of guilt or angst, musing instead on the decadence of enjoying what you have while you have it.

I Was a King has toured Europe several times, performing with bands such as Magnolia Electric Co, Ladybug Transistor, Herman Dune, and Why? And if you catch them soon, you can see them with Crystal Antlers and Constantines.

Eulogies :: Here Anonymous

Guest post by David Schutz
Buy Here Anonymous from Amazon.

Sounds Like: They’re on the verge of an iPod commercial

RIYL: Shins, Built To Spill, Film School

A Few Words: At first glance, Eulogies' second, Here Anonymous, comes across like it’s pre-fabbed for Apple’s ad division. Driven by Peter Walker’s restrained, lilting vocals (a la Shins, Chairlift, Shins), the quartet engages for the most part in jangly, mid-tempo, middle-of-the-road indie rock. When they’re going through the motions (“This Fine Progression”, “Eyes on the Prize”), they’re predictably boring and ultimately marketable.

But sometimes they throw a wrench in the formula and things get good. “Bad Connection” is weighed down by a subtle melancholy that Walker seems bent on trying to sing his way out of. The resulting tension creates a more complicated emotional landscape than on other songs, where optimistic and dejected feelings tend to inhabit different sections, fearful of stepping on each others’ toes. “Dark Place” is a welcome mid-album respite—a great Constantines impression, compete with skronky guitar squall that threatens to drown the rest of the song out, while “Out Of Character” is a great pop piece that kicks things up a notch, tempo-wise. I could've used more of both.

But these variations combined don’t do quite enough to make Here Anonymous as engaging as, say, the last Love As Laughter joint or a good Wilco record. And Walker’s lyrics are insufficiently compelling or equipped with imagery to capture much attention, except for rare moments (“Day To Day”). It’s not much of an album, but it’s got a couple decent singles and enough harvestable parts to end a few scenes and sell a few products. I suppose that’s all you need these days

Download "Bad Connection"

Download "This Fine Progression"

Why the Music Industry Sucks and How to Fix it [Video]

Music producers and musicians, ranging from Frank Z to Chuck D, discuss (well, rant about) the demise of the music industry. As most of us know, the music industry as we knew it in the 80s and 90s is already dead, but the remaining litigious execs in the RIAA are holding the last note of their swan songs as long as possible. Will the digital music "revolution" replace the old model with something better? I think the jury's still out on that one, but judging from the fact that both Bacardi and Starbucks have a music division, the horizon is not entirely sunny.

The original post and commentary can be found on CrunchGear.

Thank You, Listeners--New Tunes Are on Deck.

I just wanted to take a minute to say 'thank you' to everyone who submitted music. Mere minutes after the Help post, the Duck & Cover mail box was innundated with suggestions. To be honest I was surprised. Not that I believe D&C readers don't care, merely because there was so much good stuff I hadn't heard before. So, thank you, everyone. Everyone, that is, except Mark, who suggested Medeski Martin and Wood. Does this look like a Trustafarian blog? Have you read a reveiw of Phish on here? No. No, you haven't.

Just kidding. I appreciate all the emails, and I'm excited to get started writing things down. You'll hears tunes from An Horse, Rainbow Arabia, The Forcefield Kids, Naam, Quest for Fire, and Low Anthem. . . Christ--there are so many! I'm suddenly realizing how much work I have before me. I better get typing.

Thank you again, team listeners.

Sincerely,

Jamie

Help! We Need New Music!

Help! For the past two weeks, my inbox has received a steady flow of new tunes from various labels and media agencies. The problem is that everything just sounds contrived and heartless. I know I've been guilty in the past of just posting whatever comes through (apologies for that. It was a momentary lapse of judgement), but I've been careful to restrict my reviews to music that is not only under-the-rader, but more importantly music that is unique and interesting. Duran Duran impersonators and imitators of Pet Shop Boys just don't make the grade.

So I need your help. What have you been listening to? Send me a link to some tracks, a MySpace page, an mp3: anything. I need to break free of this rut!

Send your emails and files to duckandcovermusic[at]gmail.com. And hurry!

Yours truly,

Jamie

Snoop Dogg Pimps Our World Live at the Avalon in LA

Guest post by Dakin Snyder

The show, advertised to begin at 9:30pm, didn't start until well after 10pm, with the organizers citing "technical difficulties", likely resulting from OWL's web feed. The crowd was somewhat lethargic and entitled at first; the kind of vibe that can be expected when you put too many hipsters in one room (enthusiasm on command is not our forté) until it was apparent that Snoop was on the way out. All of this changed when Snoop hit the floor, and the evening only went up from there.

Snoop played a mix of old and new, bringing out a selection of special guests, (the names of which I didn't fully catch and haven't been able to track down; so apologies) including the phenomenal DJ Quik, creating a near variety show atmosphere. Towards the second part of the show, when the chronic smoke began wafting up from the floor and Snoop's uncle got down with a smooth r&b number inviting everyone to "smoke weed, get drunk, and fuck", the atmosphere shifted from enthusiastic to straight up love fest. Dance offs began breaking out between show goers on the floor, there was a fair amount of grinding going on, and Snoop and co were completely on top of their game. In fact, the thing that struck me most was the overall positive vibe that Snoop was cultivating; there was a refreshing lack of pretense and posturing from Snoop and his entourage, and they delivered an amazing evening that left everyone feeling upbeat and full of love. (At the end of the show, Snoop invited everyone to put their fingers in the air, forming the 2 for Tupac, and chant "Peace" and "Love" followed by a closing cover of Steam's "Na Na Na Na Kiss Him Goodbye" with "good bye" being supplanted by "Snoop Dogg".

Highlights? "Gin and Juice" early in the set, being almost front row and bouncing to a cover of House of Pain's "Jump Around", followed immediately by "Drop It Like It's Hot", and above all seeing Snoop in a small and intimate venue.

Look for additional coverage later of the Our World Live broadcast of the show, when we match up our impressions of what happened at the show with how it came out on the web.

More Pics of Snoop Dogg at the Avalon in LA

Duck & Cover co-founder and former D&C blogger, Dakin most certainly will drop it if it is hot enough. He shizzles his nizzle in Los Angeles.

Duck & Cover Drops it With Snoop Dogg

Dakin, former blogger for D&C, gets ready to sip gin and juice with the d-o to the double g

We here at Duck & Cover are fans of using technology to the advantage of musicians and artists, and are excited to experience firsthand Our World Live's HD webcast of Snoop Dogg's private show tonight at the Avalon in Hollywood. The "secret" show is the perfect showcase of how social media and the internet may be exploited to best serve an artist. For instance, a series of cryptic tweets on Snoop's Twitter had us scrambling to Griffith Park Dog park Saturday afternoon for the chance at some free tickets. While the Griffith Park set under represented (2 present, and both bloggers!), we're told by the publicist for the event that 25 showed at Silver Lake, and a whopping 75 at Runyon Canyon in Hollywood. All told, 200 tickets were distributed to the general public, with the message also being broadcast by Snoop on Facebook and Myspace; again, an experiment in utilizing social media to connect fans and publicize an event.

The show itself will be streamed live and in HD on the web via both Snoop's site, and at the Our World Live site. The show is going to be an interesting exercise of what can be accomplished in bringing the live show experience to the at home viewer, as, in addition to OWL broadcasting in high def, there is also the option to choose from 5 different camera angles. While you will be able to watch the event live (beginning at 9:30p pst), Duck and Cover will be onsite to deliver live commentary and a next day recap... So keep your eyes on this space, pour yourself a gin and juice, and off we go! Follow us on Twitter for a full recount of the revelry and super secret surprise guests.