Like they knew: Saturday (still) Looks Good To Me
By Jeff Milo
I could do what I do…and the rest of the world could pretend like they knew…
Stream: Saturday Looks Good To Me – “Apple”
A random, whimsical weekend afternoon –revisiting a “classic” during news of a “reunion…”
Five years ago I stumbled down into a rabbit hole’s odyssey of local music, consuming it, experiencing it, appreciating it, being moved by it and then eventually documenting it – and I was pushed (or pulled) into these bars, into these practice spaces and into these coffee shops by some dynamism of prominent bands, moments and songs; among them, the allure of an album like Saturday Looks Good To Me. (http://saturdaylooksgoodtome.bandcamp.com/)
This is a band that gets bandied-about and ballyhooed by many-a’-blog, still, even to this day – so its no surprise to see the buzz has simmered over Ypsi’s prolific singer/songwriter Fred Thomas’ recent announcement that the group is realigning to write a new record, re-release an old one, and hit the road for a month’s worth of dates. And that buzz flirts with grandiose language like “pop-genius,” that I, here, am tempted to employ myself.
Well, I won’t care if you judge, I consider the kaleidoscopic chamber-pop whirls of Saturday Looks Good To Me to be “genius” only because every time I’ve listened to this record (Fill Up The Room) their last proper full length release before going on what was an indefinite hiatus. Almost five years now – and I still find nuances to hone in and fixate upon, like the murmuring birds on the roof in the summer sun over that cheery organ’s wavy melody, or the epic, closing-credits-of-a-goosebump-raising-poignant-indie-art-film-feeling you get from the guitar-roaring build up of the tumbling anthem “When I Lose My Eyes,” or that Os Mutantes-tinged ending for those fuzz-gurgled guitars that fall into bathwater(?) at the end of “Make A Plan…”
And “Peg” is still one of my favorite songs, all time, ever, local or from anywhere in the world.
I’d consider genius to be anything that influences the way I think about a work, even if it’s a pop song.
This band was where the incorrigibly offbeat/experimental/left-field-flung pop auteur (Thomas) could get his kicks off to the fullest extent, backed by a rotating cast of talented players. He’s proven, in the time between, that he can be just as productive and provocative-within-a-pop-song-context through projects like the ambient/dream-pop-dirges of City Center, to the resplendent surf splashes of Swimsuit.
Just one hour before I wrote this, Doug Coombe and I parted ways after a photo-shoot at the Lager House in Detroit; he was on his way to Backseat Studios in Ann Arbor where he was going to get some shots of the band, currently working on their first album in five years – which, as reported by Polyvinyl Records, should be out within the next month.
No Ypsi/Arbor dates are on their itinerary – but they play Pontiac on April 6th, at the Crofoot. Their Polyvinyl debut, Polyvinyl debut, All Your Summer Songs, will be reissued on 180-gram white vinyl for Record Store Day!
News: http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/artists/index.php?id=291
http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/news/index.php?id=1155
I have to give it up for an album like this… Like glitter upon a spiral of glue on the construction paper of my brain, it’s stuck, assuredly, and continued to reward me for return listens. Evocative, warming, and pleasingly weird in all the right spots. It probably flew over my head five years ago – as just another rousing little album of sunburst pop with a sweet twee-twirl to it and a shuffling neo-psychedelia charm. It’s proven, through five years, to be so much more…
Let’s see (hear) what happens next…
A Celebration of Life
By Jeff Milo
~
“I feel like a lot of people don’t go out to live music anymore…”
People say this kinda thing all the time, but its gains gravity when you hear it from someone like Doug Coombe, esteemed, veteran local culture photographer, the guy who’s out every weekend snapping shots at edges of various stages and the guy who does his best to promote shows at Ypsi’s Woodruff’s.
“With a lot of these bands,” Coombe says, “people are missing out on…even though now you there’s usually three or four photographers.” He chuckles briefly, but continues on, as I’ve stoked flames of reminiscence in him, getting him to open up about “the old days” of the Detroit Garage Rock explosion.
“When I was taking pictures back in the late 90’s, there weren’t a lot of people documenting these things; there wasn’t a Pitchfork or anything; a lot of these bands, in the pre-Nirvana-era, people didn’t give a fuck about. The Free Press didn’t give a fuck about the White Stripes at the start…”
And in my own humble history of going to see local shows – I’ve never felt more energized.
So I’ll put it to you this way – come out and get bit. The bug, the muse, the wild romantic ruckus, will bite you; because if you think this town is boring, you have no idea what kinds of wonderful weirdos are churning out provocative rock-tinged, electro-dabbled, cutting edge music on a weekly basis.
“It’s a celebration of life,” Coombe said. And, being in the mix, if he’s just listening or if he’s up front taking pictures, you can get wrapped up in the energy of the ceremony – and yes, live local rock/electro/punk performances are ceremonies. “This music scene keeps on reinventing itself,” Coombe said. “We have an incredible history of being a great, creative community and it just refuses to die.”
Don’t let it die on your watch. Come out and watch it.
Cut to:
Me, the morning after one of the Blowout nights: Who did you see last night?
Friend: I’m not sure…but at one point he was wearing a feathered headdress…and there was lots of smoke. It was really dancey, too.
That’s Charlie Slick. Ann Arbor’s pied piper of funk-flared dance/rock – bolstered by Thunda Clap. They’re playing the Blind Pig on one of the first days (March 22nd) of his favorite season (Spring), joined by reverb-reveling, psychedelic-dabbling, garage/blues outfit from Ypsilanti, Bad Indians.
http://badindians.bandcamp.com
This duo of locals is opening for a San Francisco trio called Bare-Wires – blenders of electro-funk and garage grime. See what you think…
Listen: Charlie Slick & Thunda Clap – “Dance Like You’re Ten”
Listen: Bad Indians “The Path Home”
And that’s on a Tuesday night – so it’s an extra challenge to those who’ve been drifting away from live music as of late. Re-invigorate yourself – forget that it’s a weeknight. Stumble in and enjoy the songs.
Then cut to:
Hip-hop Emcee / Producer Jah Connery had a busy weekend. The Ypsi-based rap auteur (who helped bring us Smash Television, amongst many other projects/collaborations) performed at the Blue Collar Gentleman – Midwest Hip-Hop Function last Friday in Detroit, commemorating that week’s release of his collaborative full length album with Texas-based rapper Deuce Freight Rooks Rooks Rooks. (http://rooksrooksrooks.bandcamp.com/)
Listen:
It’s got a gritty aesthetic too it, shadowy brass blares swirl in the background and low, bristling bass grooves along while the two Emcees trade rhymes dissecting the maintenance of motivation, the catharsis of the creative process and the Chess-like focus required comparably in life and in rap music.
No local shows yet-slated for Jah Connery as of this writing – but head over to their bandcamp to stream the whole album.
And finally:
I’m currently streaming an album by Alex Winston – King Con, a quasi-concept album centered around The King of Rock n Roll – as imagined by a piano-charged indie-pop songstress with a voice like a silken gale; clattery rhythms, devastating hooks, atmospheric, swelling synths and a hint of quirky baroque-pop sensibility.
(facebook.com/AlexWinstonOfficial)
There’s no Ypsi connection – but she did used to call Detroit home – which means you might want to get your ears into it so you can know what those other Pitchfork-hipsters are talking about when they start blogging and re-blogging her songs, like this video: Watch: Alex Winston “Choice Notes”
Her album’s streaming (or, “SPINning”) here, for the next few days:
(http://www.spin.com/#articles/first-spin-hear-alex-winstons-seismic-king-con)
Walk the Moon live in Detroit
Walk the Moon are currently on tour with Young the Giant, one of the most promising indie rock bands of the past year. Walk the Moon follows the current trend in which a lead singer has to be more than just a vocalist; synths and extra percussion befall on frontman Nicolas Pettricca. Happy, Catchy, Melodic are the three words that came up repeatedly when I asked different age groups in the crowd regarding the band. Walk the Moon provided a very solid opening act. All the members in the band have excellent voices that fused in harmonies that are not often seen on current music. The songs were very catchy to the ear due to their emphasis on melody. They employ huge choruses that are extremely easy to sing along. I found myself singing along in the chorus after hearing one line. Walk the Moon’s cover of the David Bowie song “Let’s Dance” was excellent. It breathed all of its indie dust onto it and made it incredible. Guitar player Eli Maiman showed all of his skill when he ran through the solo with flair and delicacy. Walk the Moon showed the crowd what playing music is all about: having fun. An ever-present smile was found in each of the members of the band as they plowed through their set. If you are ever lonely and Walk the Moon come to town. Get some friends and go see this band from Ohio. You won’t regret it.
Fedde le Grand ended the Voltage Series in some serious style last week at the Necto. The #14 ranked DJ in the world not only killed the sold out crowd, but he also sat down with us prior to his set to talk shop, his favorite places to play and a little behind his creative process. Were you at the show? What’d you think of seeing him in such a small venue, considering he plays for 10’s of thousands world wide?!
IAMDYNAMITE wants to party with you.
Our friends IAMDYNAMITE are coming back to Detroit to record a live EP at GBS Detroit inside the Russell Industrial Center. Watch the video, give ‘em a few bucks and join the party. We’ll be there, just being awesome as usual.
(Source: facebook.com)
Russell Brand invades the EMU Convocation Center tonight at 7pm and his agenda is pretty clear…
Also, we got some exciting news late last night, he’ll be doing a phone interview with us this afternoon. Keep an eye on our Facebook page when we release the full QandA.
Tickets for the show are still available and can be purchased at http://www.emutix.com
We’re growing mustaches for Movember and fund-raising awareness for Prostate Cancer. While it may take some of us the entire month to grow the stache, it seems to thicken overnight for others (insert: That’s what she said. here).
Our team has started to grow and we’d love your support. Join our team, donate to our team member or just spread the word. More photos and updates coming throughout the month.
Check out the photos from last Friday’s Deadmau5 show at the Fillmore. View all the photos online or on our Facebook page.
Movember is here…
Our November issue is out and it’s a good one! We’ve got interviews with Fitz and the Tantrums, The Juliets, Chrome Sparks and a feature of Lupe Fiasco and his upcoming show at the EMU Convocation Center. That’s just the start, we’re also excited to announce the winner’s of our 2011 Awesome Awards. We asked our Facebook Fans to tell us what the most awesome places and things in Washtenaw County are and we’ve got the winners. Flip through the digital edition below and enjoy. Photos, video and mustaches coming soon….
