Tag Archives: tune-yards

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tUnE-yArDs: “Giving me a heart attack don’t let me lose my soul” – Live at the Mystic Theater in Petaluma (Dec 1, 2017)

Written by Erica Andreozzi

It’s too hard to truly convey how much love and admiration I have for Merrill Garbus, creator and curator of tune-yards. Her live performances evoke a visceral vortex of mixed emotions (aggression, desire, laughter, pain) that words can simply not describe. I still recall how feverishly my body was overcome with curiosity and vitality the first time I saw her perform at Outside Lands Music Festival in 2011. Since then, I had seen her a total of 5 or 6 more times (SASQUATCH! Music Festival, The Regency Ballroom, Fox Theater – Oakland, Electric Brixton, Live for Contemporary Colors), and I am STILL electrified by her power, a “powa” that “gives me thrills I can’t describe.” Yes, ‘Powa‘ (in addition to favorites like ‘Bizness,’ ‘Water Fountain,’ and ‘Gangsta‘), were some of the old gems that Merrill, Nate (bassist), and her new badass drummer (forgot his name!) treated us to last night at Mystic Theatre in Petaluma. I of course got a bit OUT OF CONTROL for ‘Bizness‘ and nearly lost my voice trying to shout along. That song gave the world a serious taste of such MUSICAL MASTERPIECES that can manifest from creative, clever experimentation with loops pedals, saxophones, and an untamed vocal chords (the way Merrill distorts her vocals to create a variety of sounds is simply something else). Merrill is simply MESMERIZING to watch, and last night was no exception. We were all glad to watch her perform new songs from her highly anticipated new album, ‘I can feel you creep into my private life‘ (thank gosh she has), scheduled to be released on Jan 19. Standout tracks for me were ‘Heart Attack,’ ‘Honesty,’ and ‘Colonizer,’ (although all were pretty freaking awesome), and most of these showcased Merrill on synths and drum kit, in addition to her notable ukulele. Merrill is a FEMALE FE-LION, and and I cannot be more inspired/empowered by the femininity, strength, and intolerance that she radiates out to her fans. I’m grateful for artists like her that are not afraid to share their passion with the world and believe they deserve a chance of changing it. She could not be more SPOT ONT when describing the vision of her music: “altering the way the music industry functions to positively and responsibly impact our communities and our people, to act not only as soothing pacifiers with music but also activators, inspiring innovators, and revolutionary booty-shakers.” I have so much love for this woman and cannot WAIT to see her again at Noise Pop in February.

Videos of entire set on my YouTube page (see below):

 

*Check out full videos from the night on my YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/eandreoz

Instagram: beatsthatsetmypulse
Twitter: @beatsthatsetmy

 

 

 

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Up All Night (Playlist: Oct 29, 2017)

Up all Night

Compiled by Erica Andreozzi

FRESH NEW PLAYLIST (54 songs) inspired by recent shows/sets (The War on Drugs, Benjamin Booker, She Keeps Bees, Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile, Jen Cloher, Tash Sultana, Pierce Brothers, Silversun Pickups, Father John Misty, Minus the Bear, Broken Social Science, The Belle Game, The National, Public Service Broadcasting, Skyscraper Mori, Maggie Rogers, Frendship, and Oh Wonder). There was additional influence from recent track/album releases by Charlotte Cardin, Walk the Moon, Overcoats,  Tune-Yards, Sharon Van Etten, and Outlines (side project of James Graham from The Twilight Sad). Although title track ‘Up All Night‘ was on my previous playlist (Capsized), I included it here since it was my ULTIMATE ANTHEM for Sept/Oct and FLIPPED MY LID when I saw this live at the Greek Theater Berkeley earlier this month.
“There’s no way, If I hold on
The shots may ring, Through a lonely hall
But the hole in my head, Emptied out into a love
Came pouring out into a life” ❤

That show was one of my top 10 for 2017, and you can see why in my War On Drugs review. Other reviews can be found here: Benjamin Booker, She Keeps Bees, Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile, Tash Sultana, Pierce Brothers, Silversun Pickups, Minus the Bear, Broken Social Science, and Public Service Broadcasting. 

Check out my fb music page (https://www.facebook.com/Beatsthatsetmypulse/) and YouTube page (http://www.youtube.com/user/eandreoz) for pics/videos from these shows.

Previous Playlists: Capsized, Creature Comfort, I Know You Know, Feeling Electric, Wake Up, Oceans Away, I Want it All, Standing Rock, Jungle, When Things Fall Apart, and more…

(In order to access the playlist, you have to press the 3 vertical dots in the upper right hand corner and select download. You can then cancel the download immediately and still have access to the playlist. If you are still having uses, let me know and I can send you a link to download the tracks!)

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  1. On + Off- Maggie Rogers
  2. Truth Is Heavy- Benjamin Booker
  3. Surrender-  Walk the Moon
  4. Gimmie- She Keeps Bees
  5. Up All Night- The War On Drugs
  6. Main Girl- Charlotte Cardin
  7. The Wild Kind- Silversun Pickups
  8. Keep In Mind- Pierce Brothers
  9. Protest Song- Broken Social Scene
  10. Continental Breakfast- Courtney Barnett And Kurt Vile
  11. High On Humans- Oh Wonder
  12. Believe- Benjamin Booker
  13. Friendly Fires- Silversun Pickups
  14. Spirit- The Belle Game
  15. Murder to the Mind- Tash Sultana
  16. Untogether- Courtney Barnett And Kurt Vile
  17. Split Stones- Maggie Rogers
  18. Invisible- Minus The Bear
  19. Breezy- She Keeps Bees
  20. Latchkey Kids- Silversun Pickups
  21. Up Again-  The Belle Game
  22. The Slow Drag Under-  Benjamin Booker
  23. Towers And Masons- Broken Social Scene
  24. Fear Is Like A Forest- Courtney Barnett And Kurt Vile
  25. Carpet- Frenship
  26. Take A Shot- Pierce Brothers
  27. Mystik- Tash Sultana
  28. Wait Up For You- The Belle Game
  29. Over Everything- Courtney Barnett And Kurt Vile
  30. Cherry Wine- Overcoats
  31. Strong Woman- Jen Cloher
  32. I’ll Still Destroy You-  The National
  33. Nightcrawling- Saint Raymond
  34. Nothing To Find- The War On Drugs
  35. Ultralife- Oh Wonder
  36. Genevieve- Pierce Brothers
  37. Our Beloved Dead- Out Lines
  38. Peepin’ Tom- Courtney Barnett And Kurt Vile
  39. Winter Dream- Skyscraper Mori
  40. Flying Home (Live)- Pierce Brothers
  41. Look at Your Hands- Tune-Yards
  42. Chippewa- Benjamin Booker
  43. There Is a Saved Place- Out Lines
  44. All Or None/Dark Horse- She Keeps Bees
  45. Please Take Me With You- Broken Social Scene
  46. Kai’s Song (Acoustic)-  Overcoats
  47. Thinking Of A Place- The War On Drugs
  48. Big Smoke, Pt. 2- Tash Sultana
  49. Strangest Thing- The War On Drugs
  50. Everest- Public Service Broadcasting
  51. Born To Beg- The National
  52. Measures & Locations- Skyscraper Mori
  53. I Wish I Knew- Sharon Van Etten
  54. Ballad Of The Dying Man- Father John Misty

*Check out full videos from the night on my YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/eandreoz

Instagram: beatsthatsetmypulse
Twitter: @beatsthatsetmy
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Dirty Projectors- “I Haven’t Found it Yet…But I’ll Keep on Dancing Until I Do”

Dirty Projectors– The Fox Theater, Oakland

(July 28, 2012)

 

“Miraculous, harrowing, and moving in less than an hour…”  
Dirty Projectors are a Brooklyn-based experimental rock band consisting of Dave Longstreth, Amber Coffman (vocals, guitar), Angel Deradoorian (vocals, keyboard, samples, guitar, bass), Brian McOmber (drums), Nat Baldwin (bass), and Haley Dekle (vocals). The group has released seven full-length albums through 2010, Bitte Orca (album five) being the most complete and most acclaimed album. Vampire Weekend frontman (and onetime Dirty Projector) Ezra Koeing describes this album as follows: “I hear big riffs that make me think of classic rock, so I think, ‘Is this Led Zeppelin deconstructed?’ I hear folk guitar picking and gorgeous strings, so I think, ‘Is this 60’s folk-pop re-imagined?’ But, as is usually the case, my lame attempts at categorization fade away and soon all I can hear is Dirty Projectors … It’s not Physical Graffiti for 2K9; it’s 2K9’s Physical Graffiti.”  Speaking about the band in general, Ezra also says: “I couldn’t explain what I meant about ‘fucked-up American music’ six years ago and I’m not that interested in trying to explain it now. I just think it’s fitting to describe Dirty Projectorss with a phrase that’s been exploited by the worst of the worst and the corniest of the corniest, but has always had the potential to mean something rad: Uniquely American.”
I found it so cool that Vampire Weekend was tied to Dirty Projectors! Vampire weekend is one of my all-time favorite groups and you’ll find many of their songs spread throughout my playlists. Also, I love that Taylor Guarisco of GIVERS is also a big fan of Dirty Projectors. He is actually how I initially found out about them! PLUS, I later found that one of my FAVORITE FEMALE ARTISTS OF ALL TIME (Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs) was first discovered BECAUSE OE the Dirty Projectors. She was living out of her car for while, trying to pick up some opening slots for artists while road tripping, and the Dirty Projectors gave her an opening slot for one of their gigs in the Pacific Northwest (I think it was Seattle or Portland). It was then that she starting to gain exposure and support, especially with a band like Dirty Projectors fathering you. NOW she is definitely STANDING ON HER OWN TWO FEET…(far from it!)
Dirty Projectors are seriously one of the most musically creative, pushing-the-envelope type bands that I’ve come across, and definitely one of the most fun to watch. I was so happy to share my DIRTY PROJECTOR DEVOTION with Kyle and Nick at Sasquatch music festival in May. A musical trick that distinguishes them from most other bands (and makes them THAT MUCH MORE BADASS) is a technique called “Hocketing”..where a single musical line is shared between a number of people to create an infinitely more complex and beautiful sound. Dirty Projectors use it for percussion, handclapping, and most of all, for insane VOCAL arrangements (see the video for Beautiful Mother and Unto Caesar). AMAZING TO WATCH come alive before your eyes. Cheers to Heather for telling me about the hocketing technique (I didn’t know what it was called!)…Dirty Projectors are their own breed, and surely cannot be defined or cornered into any particular style/genre of music…I LOVE THAT. Do yourself and favor and GO SEE THEM. Just prepare for your JAW to DROP TO THE FLOOR. 🙂

My favorite songs are: Gun Has No Trigger, Dance for You, Unto Caesar, Just from Chevron, See What She’s Seeing, Swing Lo Magellan, No intention, Cannibal Resource,  Stillness in the Move, As I Went out in the Morning

“I haven’t found it…but I’ll keep on dancing till I do.”  –Dirty Projectors (Dance for You)

 

VIDEOS:

Stillness in the Move: 

Dance for You: 

Unto Caesar: 

Useful Chamber: 

Just from Chevron: 

Beautiful Mother:    (INSANE “Hocketing”)

No Intention: 

Gun Has No Trigger: 

Cannibal Resource: 

The Socialites: 

See What She’s Seeing: 

PICTURES:

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