Tag: Indie folk

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Live music galleries

Live music galleries: Of Monsters and Men [2012]

(I got the idea for this series while sifting through the ‘piles’ of digital photos on my laptop. It occurred to me to share some of these great pics from some of my favourite concert sets from time to time. Until I get around to the next one, I invite you to peruse my ever-growing list of concerts page.)

Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir of Of Monsters and Men

Artist: Of Monsters and Men
When: August 3rd, 2012
Where: Green stage, Osheaga Music and Arts Festival, Montreal
Context: When festival organizers scheduled Of Monsters and Men for the relatively small Green stage in the middle of the afternoon, they hadn’t really broken yet. By the time the festival rolled around, though, “Little talks” was pretty huge and the Icelandic indie folk collective drew a massive crowd, probably bigger than should have fit in that space. I had already been at that stage for a couple of sets and so had a pretty prime spot right near the front. The band was still pretty green and they were still finding their stage feet but the energy from the both the crowd and band was just awesome.
Point of reference song: “Little talks”

Of Monsters and Men at Osheaga 2012
The other half of the stage for Of Monsters and Men, Osheaga 2012
Ragnar Þórhallsson of Of Monsters and Men
Brynjar Leifsson of Of Monsters and Men
Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson of Of Monsters and Men
Ragnhildur Gunnarsdóttir and Árni Guðjónsson of Of Monsters and Men
Kristján Páll Kristjánsson of Of Monsters and Men
Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson of Of Monsters and Men

*I started taking tons of photos at concerts in the days of my old blog, Music Insanity. I actually took down that blog in part because I was spending far too much time at shows taking pictures and jotting down notes for reviews and I wasn’t enjoying the music experience enough. Nowadays, I try to take to some good shots during the first few minutes and for the most part, put my camera and phone away for the rest of the set.

Categories
Tunes

100 best covers: #87 Amy Millan “I will follow you into the dark”

<< #88    |    #86 >>

…And speaking of Death Cab for Cutie… Here’s a cover by Stars vocalist Amy Milan of the standout single from Death Cab for Cutie’s fifth album, “Plans”.

The original was recorded by frontman Ben Gibbard by himself on guitar, using just the one microphone. The result is a quiet and lonely sounding number that is kind of morbid on first listen but is quite romantic upon further reflection. The idea that one loves the other so much that he or she would them even into death to keep them company is quite lovely. “I will follow you into the dark” didn’t originally chart very high as a single but has since become one of the band’s best-selling, still receives quite a bit of radio play, and has been covered many times over by various artists.

Canadian songstress Amy Millan covered it a mere four years after the original’s initial release for her second solo record, “Masters of the burial”. Hers is slightly longer than the original’s three minutes and markedly different in style and tone. A full band backs her. The use of banjo and lap steel giving it a decidedly old time country feel. Her soft touch on vocals is more upbeat than in Gibbard’s original but definitely lends the subject matter the weight it deserves.

“If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no’s on their vacancy signs
If there’s no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I’ll follow you into the dark”

I am a fan of both of these. In fact, I refuse to pick a favourite. Thoughts?

The cover:

The original:

For the rest of the 100 best covers list, click here.

Categories
Vinyl

Vinyl love: The Decemberists “The crane wife”

(Vinyl Love is a series of posts that quite simply lists, describes, and displays the pieces in my growing vinyl collection. You can bet that each record was given a spin during the drafting of each corresponding post.)

Artist: The Decemberists
Album Title: The crane wife
Year released: 2006
Year reissued: 2010
Details: Gatefold sleeve, 2 x LP

The skinny: Anyone who thought The Decemberists would temper their idiosyncratic sound and inventive, yet sometimes esoteric narrative lyrics for their major label debut, obviously never met the Portland-based five-piece. Songs included a prog rock masterpiece and a three part mini-rock opera based on a Japanese folk story, the latter being where this, their fourth album draws its name. Another brilliant work by one of my favourite bands.

Standout track: “O Valencia!”