Words by Shawn Hinojosa
Loney Dear
A lot of little indie pop gems have come stateside from Sweden over the past couple of years, and Loney Dear are one of them. Their melodic charm resonated with me after witnessing them for the first time in mid-February opening for Andrew Bird. Backed by a new female keyboardist, singer Emil Svanangen, playfully harmonized with her haunting vocals creating a stripped folk feel as opposed to their orchestral-synth pop exhibited on their latest release. Their new album, "Dear John," was released in late January and the standout tracks are "Airport Surroundings" and "I Was Only Going Out."
Horse Feathers
Horse Feathers are one of my favorite discoveries of 2008. Their songs are enriched layers of violin, cello, mandolin, saw, acoustic guitar, and sparse drums emphasizing the beautiful hush-folk coming from singer Justin Ringle's mouth. The Portland quintet's 2008 release "House With No Home" could capture its listeners instantaneously, and the live recreations of songs like "Curs In The Weeds" and "Helen" were even more beautiful and less restrained than on the record.
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down
The perky and playful Thao Nguyen has been writing simple pop melodies ever since she was a teenager. The Virginia-bred, but Portland-based songwriter debuted with a subdued 2005 solo album "Like the Linen," but returned in 2008 with a backing band and introspectively exuberant lyrics on tracks such as "We Brave Bee Stings And All." Songs like "Swimming Pools" speak of ice cream cones and cannonballs, and she slyly incorporates beat-boxing on the brilliant track "Bag of Hammers." Live, she's precocious and has a self-deprecating sense of humor which is bound to make anyone smile. Thao is performing at the Parish on Aug. 24.
The Hard Lessons
Detroit's the Hard Lessons are a sexy three-piece garage rock band who mix twangy vocals with an alluring stage show. Co-lead singer Korin Louise Visocchi matches the bluesy sass of Neko Case, and intertwined with the rough and raw vocals of Agostine Visocchi they create an entertaining and endearing duo. Both have different strengths and play off of each other well, but it's Agostine's unpredictable stage antics that make them a fabulous live band.
Crystal Stilts
The past two years have seen the replacement of the word "The" in every band with the word "Crystal," but musically, Stilts are less like Crystal Castles and more like Joy Division. With a haunting deep baritone, Brooklyn's Brad Hargett soothes the crowd with his dazing and reclusive monotone voice, infused perfectly with simple 60's-style garage pop.
Handsome Furs
"Face Control" is one of the standout albums of 2009 thus far. From Wolf Parade, Dan Boeckner, fronts this synthetic-punk duo alongside wife Alexei Perry and their nuanced compatibility is evident on both their album and live. Boeckner is a rock star through and through, but he's kept at bay with Perry's perfect timing and elaborate sound effects. The songwriting is great, the delivery is stellar, and the two make simple music anyone can find themselves dancing to. The opener "Legal Tender" off "Face Control" suggests dancing, that any listener will find hard to dispute.
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
From the Mohawk to Emo's to the Continental Club, Black Joe Lewis and his group the Honeybears have quickly made a name for themselves locally and nationwide. After touring with Okkervil River and performing at many major music festivals, this Austin nine-piece garage funk band blends the soulful blues of yesteryear with a gritty spontaneity. The aggressively wailing Lewis permeates their long-awaited, just released debut album, "Tell 'Em What Your Name Is", with attitude and vision, and they're even better live.
Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers
She might be a tiny little thing, but Oklahoma crooner Samantha Crain has a rich, soulful voice that is punctuated by her witty and elaborate storytelling. Rhythmically, Crain's folky pop sounds a lot more upbeat than it really is. On her debut five-song EP "The Confiscation," the songs are well-written and incredibly sad. One, in particular, is called "Traipsing Through The Aisles" and is probably one of my favorite songs heard recently. In the ending bridge Crain repeats that she "did something wrong," and you can't help but relate to it.
Words by Sarah Vasquez
El Guapos
Performing at Momo's for the Underage Showcase, The El Guapos urged the crowd before their short 15-20 minute set to prepare themselves for a show full of high energy. The gussied-up band danced along with the audience to their folksy indie pop tunes. Meanwhile, the vocalists/guitarists Aaron Miller and Cory Dennis ran with the wardrobe idea and wore brightly colored-coordinated suits.
Val Emmich
His face may look familiar to those who tune in to the tv show Ugly Betty. Val Emmich played one of the title character's love interests, "Jesse." His day performance of his melancholy indie pop music was a welcoming change from the high-energy in-your-face shows witnessed earlier in the day. He played songs from his May 2008 album "Little Daggers" such as "Get On With It" and included a newer track, "Absolutely Still," which he co-wrote with Better than Ezra who is releasing the song as a single in the future.
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