Live Music Spotlight ::: Vampire Weekend at The Fox Theatre

Vampire Weekend

w. Jacuzzi Boys

Monday 05/05/14

Fox Theatre

Atlanta, GA

One thing is certain, Vampire Weekend fans know their lyrics. This entire sold out show was singalong 4,700 concert goers strong. This made for a great atmosphere that felt like a full on party. The mood was set from the beginning as the Brooklyn quartet came out to Drake's 'Worst Behavior'. In late 2013 Ezra Koenig reviewed the Canadian hip hop artist's latest release Nothing Was the Same for The Talkhouse. 

One song Koenig did listen to though was “Worst Behaviour” and was particularly taken by a specific line: the “motherf*****s never loved us” one.

“It really struck a chord,” Koenig explains. “There are SO many motherf*****s out there. I’ve been making music since I was seven years old (started with piano) so I’ve been betrayed more times than I can count. You know how many people talk s*** behind your back and then try to be your best friend over the course of 22 years in the industry?? Drake only got into music like five years ago, so if you see how angry he is — IMAGINE HOW I FEEL.” 

The overall review made headlines on music blogs, becoming more of a story than it was. It's awesome and laughable that they come out to this song, as it is a great mood setter, the band has had many questions as they took a meteoric rise, and it's a kind of wink and nod at the whole thing. 

After taking the stage and a quick lap around, the group quickly broke into their first single, 'Diane Young',  off their latest critically acclaimed album Modern Vampires of the City, which received 2013's best album of the year from multiple publications including Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and Slant Magazine. This was a song, as well traveled and rehearsed as they are, we wondered how well it would come across live with the voice inflections and modulations. That turned out to be a silly question as it blew the roof off and set the night into a furious dance party. 

As they did for most of the night, the baroque rock group jumped  between their three albums with White Sky coming next off their sophomore release Contra. This song had more energy live thank comes across your home speakers. You didn't have to wait for the first lyrics, "As a young girl" to come from Ezra's lips to get a feverish response from the crowd, as many of their songs do, the opening guitar riff sets about a chain reaction. This was the case for 'Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa'. Returning to their newer material with 'Unbelievers' (video below). The theme heavy song was a fan favorite. As lead singer Ezra Koenig told NME: "Even though that song has some heavy themes about trying to figure out your place in the world and what you believe in and how your beliefs affect your relationships to other people, we don't mind goofing off a little bit." 

Follow us after the jump to see more from Vampire Weekend's Atlanta show, setlist, and future US tour dates!

Artist Spotlight ::: An Interview w. Typhoon

Ahead of their much anticipated show tonight (3/18/14) at Terminal West in Atlanta, YOTHT had a chance to catch up with Devin Gallagher of Typhoon.  Be sure to pick up their latest album White Lighter and listen as you read along below.

Get tickets to tonight’s show

Photo courtesy of Typhoon's Facebook Page 

You Ought To Hear This: Where did the electric eleven get its start? Are you all from the same area?

Typhoon: We started in Salem, OR. All of us are from Oregon except Jen (Indiana) and Pieter (California).  

YOTHT: Has there been any evolution to the band, member change, change in sound/direction?

T: Yes, a lot. We've been together for almost nine years. For an example: I was the sound engineer, then a guitarist, then the sole drummer, then a percussionist, and now I mostly play electric ukulele.  

YOTHT: When did you each get your start in music?

T: A lot of us played music in school. All of the original Salemite members played in garage bands and we were playing in coffee shops and the like through our teenage years. 

YOTHT: What are some of your individual influences?

T: We have a great many. Personally, I'd cite (in order) Motown, The Beatles, 90s alternative rock, K Records, post-millennial indie rock, and minimalist composers Glass, Young, and Riley. 

YOTHT: How did you come about deciding on a name for the group?

T: Toby, Kyle, and Tyler experienced a typhoon in Japan. A man there explained to them what the word means to him, and they thought it was good for a band.  

YOTHT: With eleven members, it must be hard to coordinate schedules for the recording process, practicing, and touring. How have you been able to get on the same page?

T: We just make this our priority. I've quit jobs, missed weddings, missed funerals, gave up a college scholarship, and dissolved businesses to be in this band.

YOTHT: With all this coordinating I’m sure being a band in the digital age has its benefits. Not only is it easier to interact with one another, but also your fanbase. How do you feel about social media these days and your ability to connect with fans worldwide and vice versa?

T: I like being able to interact with fans. It meant a lot to me when I was a kid and Animal Collective returned my email. I talk with fans most every day. 

  

YOTHT: Last summer you launched a kickstater campaign to fund your fall tour in support of White Lighter.  Talk about the success of the venture.

T: Specifically, we raised money to buy a van. It's great. I[‘m] sitting in it now. The biggest thing is it's safe, our old van wasn't. 

YOTHT: How did you come up with the different pledge “rewards”? What was the best experience you had, other than the actual tour, through this process?

T: We brainstormed a long time. Playing the private meet and greet shows was really fun.

YOTHT: At what point did you know you could make a living in music?

T: We're not making a living at this. We have day jobs. Or, I did... I had to quit a job bussing tables to go on this tour.

YOTHT: If you weren’t in music, where would you see yourselves?

T: I can't really see myself doing anything else. Maybe a different type of art. 

Live Spotlight ::: Cold War Kids

Cold War Kids
w. Houses
Wednesday 4/17/13
The Masquerade
Atlanta, GA

Still getting settled in at the Masquerade and encountering some old friends meant I miss most of opener,  Houses, but what I heard was enjoyable. As Downtown Records lablemates of Cold War Kids it makes sense that they'd tour together, but their ambieonic sounds (which I'm a big fan of) felt a little too mellow before a band whose tempo is all over the place and you know will come out firing. I would defiantly recommend giving Houses (Spotify page)a listen though. 

Having not looked at their setlists from the Dear Miss Lonely Hearts tour, I thought for sure they'd come come out blazing with 'Miracle Mile', their fast paced shake inducing first single. 'Loner Phase' is a great set-starter, but 'Miracle Mile' feels made for the leadoff spot. Having said all of that, the stead build from 'Loner Phase' to 'Mexican Dogs' to 'Miracle Mile' had Masquerade's Heaven soaring high. Once in the clouds the foursome from Silverlake, California came with the right hook of emotion belting 'I've Seen Enough'. 

As this was my third time seeing the band it's always interesting to see how they evolve and their stage presence changes. From the first time I saw them at Bonnaroo 2011 it was clear they band could grab and demand the crowds attention and that's only strengthened. The most interesting and attention grabbing part of their show is bassist Matt Maust whose stage movements are second to only Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I liken his dynamic stage maneuvers to a game of bassist tags as routinely through songs he'd lean on another member or just come by and touch them as long as he could. Maust also ventured into the crowd three times by my count, not an easy feat with an bass guitar. The group did one of the best jobs of mixing and matching from their music catalog while supporting a brand new album. The breakdown of four songs from their new Dear Miss Lonely Hearts, 3 from Mine is Yours, 5 from Loyalty to Loyalty, 5 from Robbers & Cowards, 'Audience' from their Behave Yourself EP and 'Minimum Day' a single released in support of their Minimum tour in early 2012. The group laid down some serious jamming following 'Fear & Trembling'. For fear of coming down from their musical high the crowd didn't break their eruption following their departure from the stage, begging for an encore. They were handsomely rewarded a passion laden trio. 

Hospital Beds

Cold War Kids Setlist
1. Loner Phase

2. Mexican Dogs

3. Miracle Mile 

4. I've Seen Enough

5. Royal Blue

6. Jailbirds

7. Audience

8. Every Man I Fall For

9. Rubidoux

10. Hang Me Up to Dry

11. Relief

12. Cold Toes on the Cold Floor

13. Louder than Ever

14. Fear & Trembling

15. Hospital Beds

16. Saint John

Encore

17. We Used to Vacation

18. Minimum Day

19. Something is Not Right with Me

Festival Spotlight ::: TomorrowWorld, Music Midtown, and Updates

TomorrowWorld 

September 27-29

Bouckaert Farm ::: Chattahoochee Hills, GA

For those who haven't heard TomorrowLand, the world's largest and greatest EDM festival, is expanding from it's current location in Belgium with its second home in Atlanta, GA! The festival site will be on the same property that hosted last year's Counterpoint Festival (rumored to be returning in the spring of 2014) and past Echo Projects. They've begun releasing artists already and will continue to do so here and there. Be sure to follow them on twitter & here and facebook. Artists released so far include; Dimitri Vegas, Like Mike, Alesso, Porter Robinson, Sebastian Ingrosso and Axwell both of which are members of Swedish House Mafia. Take the time to watch the videos below and be ready to be blown away!

To be eligible to buy tickets when they go on sale you MUST preregister here. Tickets to US residents go on sale Saturday, April 27th at 11:00AM and they will go FAST! You must also be 21 years old. 

2012 After Festival Video

TomorrowLand introduces TomorrowWorld

DreamVille, US

Music Midtown

September 20-21

Piedmont Park ::: Atlanta, GA

Though nothing has been set about the 2013 edition of Music Midtown if the past is any indicator then we should be closing in on the initial lineup this week or next. Last year no real mention of the lineup was made until the day it was released, so it wouldn't surprise us if that was the case this year as well. 

These are only guesses based on tour dates, previous scheduling, and fitting past Music Midtown lineups, but my guesses for acts would include Vampire Weekend, Mumford & Sons, The Killers, Foster the People, Big Boi, Imagine Dragons, Childish Gambino, and The Head and the Heart. Obviously they won't get all of the first four, but I could see two out of that four playing Piedmont with Mumford being the most unlikely. Hopefully we won't have to wait long to find out.

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival

June 13-16

Great Stage Park ::: Manchester, TN

Tomorrow Bonnaroo will likely release their first additions to an already stellar lineup since releasing the comedy lineup a few weeks ago. 

Bonnaroo Comedy Lineup ::: Daniel Tosh, Bob Saget, David Cross, Maria Bamford, Ed Helms’ Whisky Sour Radio Hour, Mike Birbiglia, Comedy Bang! Bang! with Scott Aukerman and Reggie Watts, Eric Andre, Nikki Glaser, Improvised Shakespeare Company, Chris Gethard, Michael Che, Kyle Dunnigan, James Adomian, Jared Logan, Jerrod Carmichael and Cristela Alonzo

Forecastle Festival

July 12-14

Waterfront Park ::: Louisville, KY

Forecastle Fest has announce their artists by dates below.

Hangout Festival

May 17-19

Gulf Shores, AL

Hangout has released their lineup here. We will be having our first lineup debate soon.

Live Spotlight ::: Chappo with Dynasty Electric

Chappo
w. Dynasty Electric 
Monday 4/15/13
Vinyl 
Atlanta, GA

Other than a few quick listens at the house before heading to Vinyl, I wasn't sure what to expect from opening act Dynasty Electric. The Brooklyn Duo is best described as an psychedelic new wave bass heavy creation made for dance. The group consists of Seth Misterka (guitar, synth, and sax) who started the band and Jenny Electrik (vocals, theremin, and synth) whose manic vocals is a perfect blending of Stevie Nicks and Robyn with the stage presence of Aleix Krauss and Janis Joplin. Pounding out hits including 'Just Like That', 'Golden Arrow', 'Automatic Ecstatic', and 'Electric Love' their dolphin-sonar, fathomless beats, space sounds mixed with the insane lungs of Jenny created quite the show for the small crowd. 

Also hailing from Brooklyn Chappo returned to Vinyl having played there last year, this time donning war paint. The band got it's name from the last name of frontman Alex Chappo, whose voice shows signs of early Ozzy mixed with the vocals that created The Wall and Dark Side of the Moon. Wielding a megaphone for added effects, the various echoed lyrics and diatribes had a distinct Pink Floyd feel as he graced the stage in a smoking jacket laced with a wolf's head. 
Opening with the emotion packed "Shots Fired" off their 2012 Moonwater release build excitement with the addition of confetti guns. Not holding back the foursome powered through their biggest hit, "Come Home" early and sounded great live. The concert continued mixing songs from their latest album Petite Plastique (Moonwater B-Sides), Plastique Universe II: Pisces Princess, and Moonwater. Perfectly placed midway through their show the band laid down a fabulous cover of Mickey Newbury's "Just Dropped In" of Big Lebowski fame. Maybe it was the repetitiveness that I've played Daft Punk's new single "Get Lucky", but the opening riffs of "Nomads" seemed eerily similar.  Chappo closed out their set with the story of 'a love song being a shapeshifter' portrayed in "Bodies Coasting".

Chappo Setlist

1. Shots Fired

2. New Song

3. Come Home

4. 5-0

5. New Song

6. Seance

7. Just Dropped In -to see what condition my condition was in(Mickey Newbury cover)

8. Golden Lights

9. Hell No

10. Explode

11. Nomads

12. M.O.O.N. Water

13. Bodies Coasting