Concert Haiku: Bear in Heaven's Openers

Mariage Blanc: shoulda
included yinz guys in that
post on loc's. My bad.

Elliott Smithish
Apples in Stereo? Hate
to summarize by

comparison. But
hey, this is high coup. If they
were a bird: blue. Then

Freelance Whales rocked me
with glockenspiel. Whoah, Nelly.
Banjo, sqeezebox, five-

part harmonies and
fuzzy bass make PBR's
flow at Brillobox.

Download:
Freelance Whales - "Hannah"

Stream:

Harlan Twins at Brillobox tonight

As long as we're lifting stories from elsewhere, check out the Trib: Harlan Twins quintet has one-of-a-kind sound

And as Speed of the Pittsburgh Sound points out, Big Hurry (who will be opening for Harlan Twins) have a new video out:

Video: White Rabbits on Letterman

Catch them at Brillobox on June 6.

Pomegranates live session

Several good shows in town tonight. You'll have to decide for yourselves which one best lets The Man know how you feel about the relationship between your hard-earned coin and his so-called 1040EZ. Me? I got a pretty decent refund this year, so I'm planning to blow it on something totally stupid, like bodywork on my car because some a-hole in the Southside keyed it last Halloween. On with the music:

First, in the unlikely case that you missed the big banner up top, Good Night States are playing with Anathallo over on the Northside at the New Hazlett Theatre. They haven't hosted many concerts there in the recent past, but it's a very cool venue and they're working to bring more music in. Also, I shouldn't have to tell you that we firmly support the tunes of GNS around here.

On up the Allegheny in old Millvale, North Mississippi Allstars will be rocking out some dirtified southern blues at Mr. Small's.

And not least, inland a bit in that Bloomfied/Upper Lawrenceville region, art-pop maestros Pomegranates promise a solid performance at Brillobox. Earlier this week they stopped by the WOXY studios near their Cininnati home to play a live radio show, which you can hear below. The five-song set includes "Everybody Come Outside," "Sleepover," and (obviously) three others.

Download:
Pomegranates - Live On WOXY

Recent Handsome Furs show reviews

For the tired and weary out there who may be debating whether to suck it up and make it out for an 11:00 p.m. Handsome Furs show on this fine Tuesday night, here are some recent reviews to help you make up your mind. You know you want to.

Minneapolis, MN (via Gimme Noise)

Columbia, MO (via The Bathysphere)

NYC (via Pop Wreckoning)

Download:
Handsome Furs - "I'm Confused" (Mediafire link)

Free Antlers live recording via NYC Taper

For those looking to warm up for Friday's show at Brillobox, NYC Taper has the Antlers' March 5 New York show in its entirety right... here. The sound quality's not half bad. Enjoy.

Brillobox in bloom

Maybe you didn't make it to SXSW this year (neither did I), but over the next few weeks some of the most deservedly hyped indie acts of 2009 are going to be rolling through this here city of Pittsburh--specifically, to Bloomfield (or "Upper Lawrenceville" maybe? I'm always confused about that part of town).

The New York Times last year compared Brillobox to “an arty East Village bar,” but this café/eatery/tap room is all our own, from its Warholian handle to its friendly staff and a selection of suds via East End Brewery. It’s also a cozy place to catch a rock show. Why not try one of these:

• Antlers this Friday
• Handsome Furs next Tuesday
• Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin April 11
• Pomegranates April 15
• Headlights April 19

Be warned, however: the main acts at Brillobox tend to go on pretty late. Still, you’ll want to be timely for this set of shows, as openers will include some of Pittsburgh’s best young talent, including Chalk Dinosaur for SSLYBY and Triggers for the Headlights, either of which would be worth the price of admission by themselves.

Downloads:
Handsome Furs – “All We Want Baby Is Everything” (Mediafire link)
Pomegranates – “Corriander” (Mediafire link)
Antlers – “Bear” (Mediafire link)

I Heart Pittsburgh

This Valentine’s weekend, show a little love for the hometown as two great local acts will be performing in the ‘Burgh.

First up on Friday, the Modey Lemon will be bringing home their dirty blues-rock with a show at Brillobox in Lawrenceville. A one-time staple on the local scene, this is the band’s first hometown show in almost a year. Here’s a POP City video piece of the band talking about the generic “garage rock” label that’s been applied to them and their feelings on staying true to their Pittsburgh roots:



Then, slow things down a bit on Saturday night and celebrate Valentine’s Day with a slice of some homegrown Americana, courtesy of Paul Luc. Luc will be playing an intimate show at Club Café on the Southside, and he won’t be alone; via his website, Luc advises listeners, “While I may write the songs, make no mistake, we are a band.” Understood. Check out the band performing “Shores” in the studio here, or download a few tracks below.

Downloads:
Modey Lemon – “Milk Moustache”
Modey Lemon – “We Move in Waves”
Paul Luc – “How I Live”
Paul Luc – “Turn Around”