Eulogies doing WOXY Lounge Act today

So it's definitely not cool at all that their show at Diesel tonight was cancelled. But if you still want to hear them play live today, you can, sort of. They'll be starting their Lounge Act session at 4:15 today, and it will be available to download shortly afterward. Visit WOXY here.

Eulogies and more [WILL NOT BE] at Diesel on Friday

Of the Dears, Eulogies, and Great Northern, the only band I can speak of with any real familiarity is Eulogies, and as for them I can say I’m a big fan.

I’d heard a few tracks from the Homsepun Sessions before they opened for Good Night, States back in March. Unfortunately, I was running late that night and only caught the last two songs of their set. Nonetheless, I liked what I heard and bought a copy of the new CD, Here, Anonymous.

For about a month I kept the disc in my car and listened to it mostly on rainy nights, as I'd bought it on one such evening and it seemed to fit that mood nicely. Then one afternoon my girlfriend tossed it in on a sunny day while driving through the hills, and I couldn’t believe how great it sounded with the volume up and the windows down. Eulogies remind me of Sebadoh in that sense--their lo-fi feeling doesn’t lose brightness, and they can weave sounds that seem to mold to a setting. I have to think Lou Barlow would be a fan, too, and maybe he is for all I know.

But all I know is this: they play Diesel this Friday amidst a solid lineup. The problem is, of course, that Diesel holds concerts between about 7 and 10 p.m., before shutting down the music and throwing open the doors to welcome all good 'bags and 'baguettes in search of the Goose. That means that the Pens will be facing off against the Caps right about the time the show starts, which does not bode well for attendance. However, put one point in the "pros" column for the fact that Diesel will surely have the game on upstairs, so if you're in the 21-plus crowd get a seat between the TVs and the stage and multi-task your Friday entertainment.

As for the Dears and Great Northern, I like what I've heard and I’m looking forward to both. In particular, Great Northern's new disc is solid and refreshing. For more on both bands, see what the Music Slut had to say about their performances earlier this week in NYC.

Download:
Great Northern – “Houses”

EDIT: As good old Anonymous has pointed out in the comments, this show appears to have been nixed. Per the Joker website:

The Dears
CANCELED
Plus Great Northern & Eulogies
Fri. May 8, 2009

New tracks and upcoming shows

Granted, some of these shows are more than a month out, but they're worth keeping on your calendars. Here are a few songs that have fallen instantly into regular rotation on my media player this week:

Crocodiles – “Summer of Hate” (Mediafire link)
Action Painters – “456” * (Mediafire link)
Eulogies – “This Fine Progression” (Mediafire link)
White Rabbits – “Percussion Gun” (Mediafire link)

Crocodiles will be at the 31st Street Pub this Sunday. Then, Action Painters on April 30 at Lava Lounge, Eulogies May 8 at Diesel, and White Rabbits way off in the distance on the 6th of June at Brillobox.

As always, all of our recommendations for upcoming shows are on the sidebar at right.

* Not technically a new song, but new to me, and on the new Lay That Cable EP.

Concert Review: Good Night, States at Thunderbird Cafe

"Guitars erupt over vintage synths as Good Night, States fuses familial indie quirks with steady rock and roll sensibility. Four part harmony, homemade guitar pedal white noise, and warbly vintage synths augment stand-alone songwriting to craft a memorable, melodic live show."

We'd seen this unattributed quote in a few places on the old internet and, though we’ve given them a few recent shout-outs on the blog and we both dig their studio releases, neither of us had seen Good Night, States live. Turns out the description above is pretty apt, as we learned for ourselves this past Friday when we both skipped the Antlers in favor of the local indie darling. Here's our take on our maiden voyage with GNS at the Thunderbird Café:

Roberto: It was clear from their stage setup on Friday that this is a band who takes their sound seriously. And though that doesn't mean their studio sound is translated directly to the live show, it does mean that the band's many nuances don't get lost in the mix.

With a healthy array of keyboards and a plethora of pedals at the ready, the five-piece started out with a couple of more traditional rockers--including the excellent "Family Dark"--before really spreading out and showing off their experimental side.

Henry: Yeah, it was hard not to notice the meticulous weave electric of cabling and homemade pedals they deftly plugged together. In an era of big, booming, black amps their array of mini-boxes strategically miked in the few spaces allowed by the intimate T-Bird stage gave the show a friend’s living room kind of feel.

R: And while less energetic on stage than the well-received Middle Distance Runner, who played just before them, GNS bring a sort of studious professionalism to their live show that works well for their sound. The obvious comparison for their studio material is a slightly poppier Wilco, and that holds pretty true for their stage presence as well (perhaps thinking of a Wilco before the addition of the explosive Nels Cline).

H: At first, I was underwhelmed when they turned the soundcheck into a steady rocker. But the show picked up steam and you had to recognize the tightness of the group. That said, Middle Distance had just finished rocking the room into a swirling frenzy of cigarettey, wailing rock and GNS’ articulate harmonies felt sweet but punchless for the first 4 or 5 minutes as a result.

R: What struck me about GNS, particularly on the epic "Long Coats, No Energy," was their ability to keep it controlled during a few electro-instrumental interludes that recalled middle-era Sonic Youth, which could have strayed into the risky realm of noise-for-the-sake-of-noise in a small venue like the Thunderbird. Thankfully, the band fell back in line well short of that mark. To me, this showed a level of restraint unexpected for a band at only two years of age.

H: It was clear that all three bands on the bill (Eulogies, MDR and GNS, in order of appearance) are worthy of their music-blog-hype.

Shifting gears, I’d be remiss if I didn’t commend GNS’ clever and oh-so-indie marketing stunt: the band’s merch-girl (who’s name I unfortunately didn’t catch) wandered the crowd throughout the night and had audience members write messages to their friends on GNS postcards, which the band would then mail for you. She had five different cards featuring each of the band’s indie-glamour mugshots on them.

I guess what I'm getting at is this: they are everything you want your local indie-rock-act-with-big-time-potential to be. They’re clever, smallish, tight-jeaned--but above all else, immensely talented. A solid and pleasing show.

R: Totally agree. Their focus was clearly on the music, and I think the audience could feel that and appreciated it. Though all the night's performers showed up to impress, most folks in the crowd actually seemed to be there for GNS, and it's no secret why.

Final note: GNS will be playing next on April 15 at the New Hazeltt Theatre on the Northside, and Eulogies will be back in town on May 8, this time at Diesel opening for the Dears.

Weekend at Birdie's

When I was a young boy in the Indian Guides, my father and I wore rawhide vests and sewed patches on them and raced little wooden cars, which I assume did not exist back on the frontier, and we were called Lightning Bolt and Thunderbird, though I can’t remember who was which. But that has nothing to do with anything really.

So anyway, this week I’m not complaining about weekday concerts or Pittsburgh getting passed over, because just down the hill from Brillobox is another of the city’s best small venues, the Thunderbird Café, and as luck would have it, they’re also gearing up for a great weekend.

Friday has a bright indie rock lineup which includes the inaptly-named Eulogies, who have been seeing a lot of exposure over these past few weeks of SXSW buzz. Eulogies’ new LP will be out April 7, so if the Antlers are already yesterday's news to you, this may be your opportunity to get ahead of the next curve. But the highlight of the night will be Pittsburgh’s own Good Night, States. YEP christened them the best local act of 2008, and SPIN Magazine has described them thusly:

Like Ryan Adams singing for the Boy Least Likely To, Good Night, States marry singer-songwriter vocal stylings and confessional lyrics to near-twee tunes anchored by electronic blips, xylophone and the occasional drum machine. The
Pittsburgh-based quintet sprinkle carefree handclaps and sunny male/female harmonies on a Wilco-indebted Americana foundation.

That’s good company to be in, and the praise is well-deserved. Also playing Friday: Middle Distance Runner, who have enjoyed their fair share of hype over the last month as well. All tolled, this triple -bill (I’m not clear on the night’s order) warrants a ticket far pricier than the paltry $7 they’re charging.

Saturday, leave your American Apparrel gear at home. Calliope is bringing in Philly’s Hoots & Hellmouth—fresh off their own SXSW run—for a rollicking night of gospel-infused acoustic roots-rock. Hoots & Hellmouth have been touted by the likes of NPR and Paste, and they’re reputed to put on a hell of a good show. You can check out their Daytrotter session here.

Opening on Saturday will be local bluegrass maestros Mon River Ramblers. Known to burn through a mean jam before slowing it down for some blue crooners, the Ramblers never disappoint live, and should do well to warm up the crowd.

And, for the jammier fans out there who haven’t had enough come Sunday, Thunderbird will be holding their mostly-weekly Grateful Dead Hour to wind down the weekend. That is, unless you plan to cross the Mon for Josh Ritter, or maybe the Allegheny for Heartless Bastards. Either way, Monday may be a good day to call in sick.

Downloads:
Eulogies – “Two Can Play” (Mediafire link)
Good Night, States – “The Family Dark” (Mediafire link)
Hoots & Hellmouth – “Want on Nothing” (Mediafire link)

UPDATE: Good Night, States will be the headliner Friday.