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Video: Chiddy Bang @ The Shelter

We sat down to some breakfast with Chiddy Bang recently. They minded their manners (HA!).

Melt Banana Live at Mac’s Bar

Last night was my first time seeing Melt Banana live.  Although fellow Asian Invasion co-host Danny and I had interviewed front-woman Yako about their current American tour, and had been listening to their music we really didn’t know what to expect.  Melt Banana’s studio albums are certainly not for everyone, but with a record of sharing the bill with such artists as Slipknot, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Le Tigre, and Tool, I was really interested to see what the live show would be like.

When I arrived at Mac’s Bar, the parking lot was packed and cars were spilling out into lots of surrounding businesses, or any sort of pavement that resembled a parking lot.  We took our spots near the front to get a good view of the band, but were completely unprepared for what was about to happen.

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A Final Night With The Hard Lessons

A Final Night With The Hard Lessons

Saturday night was probably just a normal winter night for most on campus. Some probably went out to parties while others stayed inside to study or relax. A select few experienced something different on Saturday. Those select few experienced a homecoming and a farewell to some homegrown heroes.
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Impact Chats With… Mountain Man!

The Virginia-based Mountain Man consists of Amelia Randall Meath, Alexandra Sauser-Monnig, and Molly Erin Sarle.  Their debut album, Made the Harbor, is a stunning, expansive landscape of harmonies, accompanied sometimes by a guitar, and sometimes nothing at all.  Their songs are comfortable and broken-in without ever sounding gimmicky or plain.  On November 5th, Mountain Man’s live set included a few new songs, and almost every song performed off of Made the Harbor had been reworked in some way.  I thought they were something of an odd fit to open for the particularly energetic Jónsi, but they captivated the audience better than most opening bands I’d seen.  Their voices could start slow and quiet, drawing in the listening, and would swell into three-part harmonies that hold, move, shift, and trickle back down to a single voice.  I was able to catch up with them back stage after the show.  I sat cross-legged on the floor, while Molly, nursing
a broken foot, was stretched out propped up on her elbows and Amelia sat rubbing Molly’s back and stroking her hair.

Matt Revers: I understand you guys met in college.  How did you decide to become Mountain Man?

Amelia: I heard Molly’s music.  And molly’s music made me want to sing more, and so I taught one of Molly’s songs to Alex, and Molly wanted Alex to sing more, and then we all came together as a trio.

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Margot & the Nuclear So and Soʼs at the Blind Pig

Having previously seen Margot in Grand Rapids, I was ready for an excellent concert. Iʼve been a fan since their first release, Dust of Retreat, and have praised every demo, single, session, and album theyʼve followed up with. Buzzard is no exception. Buzzard explores the rougher side of what the sextet can create. Margot has always been dark, but their latest effort combines Richard Edwardsʼ haunting lyrics with an energy that used to exist only in their live shows.

Sleigh Bells: July 15, 2010

At the very pinnacle of restless anticipation, strobe lights burst into the anxious eyes of the crowd. A giant swell of violent energy exploded from both the stage and the audience at the same time. Everyone began shoving everyone else as “Tell ‘Em,” the opening song off of Sleigh Bells’ freshman LP Treats, tore through the venue. Continue reading ‘Sleigh Bells: July 15, 2010′

Lemuria: July 10, 2010

The Impact Presents… The Apples in Stereo!

Robert Schneider: I have a son who’s 9 years old, and we always act futuristic on the phone… I’ll be like, “I’ll see you in the future, future, future” (voice fades), and he’ll be like “Okay Daddy, daddy, daddy”. My wife said I should use it on stage. Continue reading ‘The Impact Presents… The Apples in Stereo!’

Minus The Bear: April 25th, 2010 at St. Andrew’s Hall

The Detroit area has been buzzing over the past few weeks in high anticipation of indie group Minus the Bear making a stop in town on their current tour. The Seattle based band is in the process of promoting their forth full-length album, Omni, and played at the infamous St. Andrew’s Hall on April 25^th, to much enthusiasm from local fans. Continue reading ‘Minus The Bear: April 25th, 2010 at St. Andrew’s Hall’

Gogol Bordello: April 21, 2010 at the Royal Oak Music Theatre

Jimmy Malkin opened up the concert with a powerful performance by dancing much like Thom Yorke and dressing much like Jack White. However, the crowd was obviously Gogol loyalists and only displayed meager enthusiasm before the second act Devotchka revved up the crowd to a slow hopping jaunt as they swayed to the haunting howls and chanting vocals of Nick Urata who seemed to make the audience inhale and exhale on command as he would lean back and forth on the microphone. The group combines a mixture of Eastern European traditional folk songs with the theremin, guitar, bouzouki, piano, trumpet, violin, bass and percussion to produce a sound that is all unique and still projects the attitude that is so uniquely gypsy punk. The highlight of Devotchka’s act came from two lovely young ladies who did scarf acrobatics during one of the band’s longer instrumental pieces. I had a chance to meet these young women after the concert who say they have always looked forward to working with such high energy acts after graduating from Boulder Circus School (I had inquired where I could learn how to do that.) Continue reading ‘Gogol Bordello: April 21, 2010 at the Royal Oak Music Theatre’