SITKOT goes on holiday

In case you haven't noticed, we've taken a bit of a siesta. Expect it to last through mid-June or so as we all do a little traveling. Someone may surprise me and sneak a post in here toward the end of Arts Fest, but I doubt it.

Set List: Josh Ritter at Diesel, May 18, 2010

Let me know if you think I missed any...

Full band:
1. Change of Time
2. Southern Pacifica
3. Rumors
4. Folk Bloodbath
5. Right Moves
6. Good Man
7. Rattling Locks
8. The Curse
9. Lark
10. Wolves

Solo:
11. Monster Ballads
12. The River (Springsteen)
13. In the Dark [without mic]
14. Kathleen [as band rejoins]

Full band:
15. Girl in the War
[Edgar Allan Poe's "Annabelle Lee" read by Ritter's father]
16. Another New World
17. Harrisburg --> Wicked Game --> Harrisburg
18. Lantern
19. To the Dogs or Whoever

Encore:
20. Moon River
21. Snow is Gone
22. Wait for Love [dedicated to "Dan", who repeatedly requested "Lillian, Egypt" during the show]

Thanks to YouTube user ejg5068 for the posted video and a few others.

A word about My Morning Jacket and the birth of a blog (this one, actually)

As a phrase, title, or whatever else, "songs in the key of touché" has little meaning in the context of what this blog has turned out to be. But there was a time when My Morning Jacket released Evil Urges. The time was 2008. I loved it, Henry hated it. We argued, nobody won, and we talked about starting a blog where we fought over various albums/songs/concerts that we disagreed on. That blog never came to be, but the proposed title of "Songs in the Key of Touché" stuck with me, so when I finally got around to starting a blog on a spark of inspiration from AC/DC and a six-pack or so of warm Labatt Blue Light, I went with it.

Anyway, Henry tells me My Morning Jacket is awesome live, and I can't wait to find out on August 29 27 when they roll into the Station Square Amphiteatre, which I think has a new name that I don't plan to call it by.

Download/Stream:My Morning Jacket - "It Makes No Difference" (The Band cover)

Bonus Download - In honor of tonight's show, here's Josh Ritter a little over a year ago at Diesel playing what has turned out to be one of the best songs on his new record:

Josh Ritter - "The Curse" (live in Pittsburgh, 3-29-09)

SITKOT's current favorites

El Loco Mooso:
Hot Chip - One Life Stand
Guster - Lost and Gone Forever
Mastodon - Crack the Skye

Henry:
Josh Ritter - So Runs The World Away
Son Volt - American Central Dust
Madvillian - Madvillainy

JR:
Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
Sleigh Bells - Treats
The National - High Violet

Roberto:
The National - High Violet
Josh Ritter - So Runs the Worlds Away
Broken Bells - Broken Bells

Honorable mention:
Male Bonding - Nothing Hurts

Download/Stream:
The National - "Bloodbuzz Ohio"
Josh Ritter - "Change of Time"
Sleigh Bells - "Tell 'Em"

Some Monday FYIs

1a. According to one of our archrival local rockblogs, Pittsburgh Music Report, Interpol will be coming to Mr. Small's on June 23. Hot stuff.

1b. Carlos D. has left Interpol. Not too worried.

1c. Download "Lights," the lead single off Interpol's forthcoming LP at their site.

2a. The National's new album is awesome, and is now streaming in full on NPR and Grooveshark. Least satisfying lyric: "I was afraid I'd eat your brains because I'm evil." Buy it tomorrow.

2b. As of now, Pittsburgh is not among The National's stops on their upcoming tour. Come on.

Cymbals Eat Guitars Devour Ear Drums

When I heard that Cymbals Eat Guitars was making a stop in Pittsburgh, I was pretty pumped. For anyone who isn't familiar with the band, they put out a self-released album last year that received heaps of praise from several indie band websites as well as from yours truly who listed their debut album, Why There Are Mountains as the 11th best album of the year. Their sound is very unique with wailing vocals and some serious noise-shred guitar work. I was curious as to how they were going to pull this sound off in a live setting - I was not disappointed.

They started out playing the first song from Why There Are Mountains called "...And the Hazy Sea", which also happens to be my favorite song of theirs. Joe D'Agostino, the lead singer and guitarist offered some ear plugs to everyone before they began and I am still wishing today that I had used them. The sound coming from their set-up was monumentally loud, but at the same time controlled. On many of the songs, Joe's vocals range from soft to screaming, which is a little reminiscent of Pixies or Nirvana and the whole soft/loud style, but the songs themselves are instrumentally very different. One thing that struck me during the show was just how much Joe used an Ibanez Tube Screamer pedal. I even mentioned to him after the show how liberal his use of the pedal was and he said that he always has three of them just in case they break because they are so important to the band's sound.

Overall, the band played basically every song from Why There Are Mountains and a few new tracks. Their stage presence and energy was incredible and nothing I describe in this review could possibly do the show justice. If you ever have the opportunity to see them in person do yourself a favor and see them, but don't forget the ear plugs.

One additional note: the first opening act, Big Hurry, is a local Pittsburgh band with an awesome sound. I talked to the band a little bit before the show at Sammy's and they are also really nice people. Check them out if you get the chance. I would compare Kelly's vocals to a cross between Joanna Newsom and Feist. And the guitar work was great too. Definitely a fine addition to the Pittsburgh music scene.

An aside re: August 1st

So I realize that concert promoters don't consult with indie fans, or each other--or local parks officials for that matter--when planning shows. But in the future, maybe they could.

Anyway, my math is rusty, but if I had to guess:

(Built to Spill @ Mr. Small's) < (Yo La Tengo @ Hartwood Acres)?

Yo La Tengo coming to Hartwood Acres

What else is there to say? I guess that there are a few other concerts to look for at the county parks this summer too:

06.04: Pittsburgh Opera, South Park, 7:30 p.m.

07.02: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, South Park, Time TBA

07.18: Rosanne Cash, Hartwood Acres, 7:30 p.m.

07.23-25: 16th Annual Blues Festival, Hartwood Acres

07.30: Incendio, South Park, 7:30 p.m.

08.01: Yo La Tengo, Hartwood Acres, 7:30 p.m.
08.06: Livingston Taylor, South Park, 7:30 p.m.
08.13: Marcia Ball Band, South Park, 7:30 p.m.

08.22: Joe Sample Trio, Hartwood Acres, 7:30 p.m.

09.05: Rusted Root, Hartwood Acres, 7:30 p.m.

Download/Stream:

Yo La Tengo - "You Can Have It All"