Friday night at the Oxford Art Factory was my seventh time seeing the greatness of Okkervil River. Eight if you include a Will Sheff solo show in Melbourne. It's been interesting to see their development and growth over the years since seeing them the first time back in 2005. One thing they have always had is a fierce intensity. An intensity that has made each and every show completely worthwhile. In 2013 the band released their latest album in "The Silver Gymnasium". Whilst I don't believe it is their best it has definitely grown on me. Which is a good thing because they played a fair slew of it. Throw in some classics and this night turned out to be as great as all the previous live visits to this great Texan band.

Of course it all starts with the main man Will Sheff. This man of punchy intelligence and a complete ability to offer his heart and mind to every single live show. There is a manic energy to his persona on stage. Almost deranged by the time he throws himself into the unstoppable closing song in "Unless It's Kicks". He looks exhausted and bedraggled. Which is probably because he has offered himself to the the fray for the previous hour and a half. It starts with a beautiful rage in "It Was My Season". "Black" has us bouncing off the walls and "John Allyn Smith Sails" has us clearing our throats and screaming in unison. "The Valley" tears us a new one and then he announces he will play a classic in "Kansas City". We were putty in his hands. The encore gives us Sheff solo as he entrances us with "A Stone". It is at this point that I feel it's time to give thanks that bands like Okkervil River exist. That songwriters and singers like Will Sheff are in the world. There is no substitution for king size hearts and angry intelligence.


Set List
It Was My Season
On a Balcony
Black
Rider
Pink-Slips
White
John Allyn Smith Sails
Stay Young
The Valley
Kansas City
For Real
Our Live Is Not A Movie Or Maybe
Lost Coastlines

A Stone (solo)
A Girl In Port
Down Down the Deep River
Unless It's Kicks

You might know by now that I am love with music made by Woods. This Brooklyn based band are not only pretty damn great but also very prolific. So I'm very excited to record that they will be releasing a new album on April 15. "With Light and With Love" contains 10 tracks and judging by the songs released so far it is destined to be very special.

With Light and Love Track Listing
1 Shepherd
2 Shining
3 With Light and Love
4 Moving To The Left
5 New Light
6 Leaves Like Glass
7 Twin Steps
8 Full Moon
9 Only The Lonely
10 Feather Man


 

Over many years of hard work and inspiration The National have become a phenomenon. They have gone from bedroom burners to stadium rockers. But they are a band with a difference, a band unique. They present dark and introspective lyrics and topics that somehow have found a wider audience then I'm sure they would ever have expected. It's quite a surreal experience to see thousands of people singing with joy to such dark material. But somehow The National pull it off. Their songs are anthemic and epic. They build with certainty and contain hooks that slowly swallow you. Saturday night was the second of two shows in Sydney. But it wasn't any old venue. It was the Sydney Opera House. But more than that it was on the Forecourt, with the band facing the sails of Sydney's most iconic building. On a perfect summer evening this felt special. Really special. And it was. Two hours of euphoric intensity.

With each and every album the audience of The National has grown. "High Violet" took them to another level and 2013's "Trouble Will Find Me" consolidated their position. Whilst I don't consider it to be their best album it is still a fine one. Last night we would naturally get a good serving of it. Ten I counted. And I actually think they grew a leg live. Especially "I Should Live in Salt", which was more aggressive than on record. I also loved "Sea of Love" and "Graceless". But it was older numbers that really nailed it. Such as "Bloodbuzz Ohio" and one-two punch of "Afraid of Everyone" and "Conversation 16". Much loved too was the slow burning duo of "Slow Show" and "Apartment Story". And of course I was very excited to hear "About Today" once again. I sincerely hope that they never tire of playing this live. But it was the encore where things got a little crazy and a whole lot great. Firstly we heard them ply us with the Perfume Genius cover in "Learning", then "Mr. November" broke loose as Matt Berninger made his way into the rapturous crowd, still wailing as we cheered and sang in full voice. Berninger went in again during the showstopping "Terrible Love". If that wasn't enough then we received, as is expected now, an acoustic version of "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks". The band fronted the stage and we sang along with glee and pure joy. As it ended we all knew this was a night to remember for a very long time.

Set List
Don't Swallow the Cap
I Should Live in Salt
Mistaken for Strangers
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Demons
Sea of Love
Hard to Find
Afraid of Everyone
Conversation 16
Squalor Victoria
I Need My Girl
This Is the Last Time
Lean
Abel
Slow Show
Apartment Story
Pink Rabbits
England
Graceless
About Today
Fake Empire

Learning (Perfume Genius cover)
Humiliation
Mr. November
Terrible Love
Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks (acoustic)

Seeing a band several times can be a good thing and a bad thing. Of course, if you love them, then it's obviously pretty good. Hearing songs you love and adore. But sometimes there is a feeling of repetition. A feeling of 'I've seen this before'. Frightened Rabbit are a band we love. Naturally. But their show on Thursday night was one I was looking forward to, but in all honestly I was maybe thinking it would be good but maybe not great. Fatigue. How wrong I was. By the end of their set at the Metro Theatre I was wanting more. My heart was bleeding. My face was aching with joy. I guess that's the power of music and the inherent quality of a great band. Thank you Frightened Rabbit.

There were two moments that really set this night apart. Made it extra special. Of course we enjoyed the greatness of songs like "The Modern Leper" and "Fast Blood" and "State Hospital". But it was towards the end of the set that things went up a notch. Firstly Scott Hutchison gave us "Nitrous Gas" on electric guitar with only his brother Grant and Gordon Skene providing harmonies. That was special enough but soon it was just Scott on acoustic blowing us away with "Poke". After this there was rapturous applause. But it was more than that. It was sustained. Long. Overwhelming. Rare. Special. Then Scott said that this would be the band's last proper gig for a while and wanted to make it a little special. So he gave us two more solo numbers in "Floating In The Forth" and "Fuck This Place". At this point the gig could have ended and it would have been fine. But there was more. An encore of encores (please see below). An encore for the ages. "The Loneliness And The Scream" is now the traditional closer and it's anthemic to say the least. Full of crashing moments and joyous thunder. It ends with the band and audience in sync, a chorus of 'whoas'. But as the band left the stage, spent and joyous, the audience continued. For seemingly a good five minutes. Singing with unrestrained joy. I don't even think it was an attempt to entice another encore but more that we were all having such a great time that we never wanted the end to come. It was that good. So yeah, basically, I'll definitely be seeing you guys again.
Thank you Frightened Rabbit!


Set List
Holy
The Modern Leper
Nothing Like You
Living In Colour
Backyard Skulls
Dead Now
Old Old Fashioned
December's Traditions
Music Now
Fast Blood
State Hospital
Head Rolls Off
Nitrous Gas
Poke (solo)
Floating In The Forth (solo)
Fuck This Place (solo)
My Backwards Walk
The Oil Slick
Acts Of Man

The Woodpile
Keep Yourself Warm
The Loneliness And The Scream

Danny Brown is an excitement machine. The Detroit rapper with the unique voice is a whirlwind live. Basically, pure and utter entertainment. For many years I didn't listen to any hip hop or rap. I was a fan back in the day. The days of Public Enemy and De La Soul and the like. But I had turned away from it for various reasons. More than likely it was the genius of Kanye West who reignited my interest. Danny Brown was the icing on the cake. I had really got into him about a year ago when I stumbled upon his second album in the shape of "XXX". Then in 2013 he released "Old", which has seemingly introduced him to a bigger audience. So it proved when he was added to the Laneway Festival. Last night in Sydney he played his own show at the Enmore Theatre. In fact it was a triple bill. Run the Jewels gave a robust opening and then Earl Sweatshirt impressed with his intricate rhymes and cadences. My favourite Earl numbers were "Pre", "Whoa" and "Hive". But ultimately it was Danny Brown I really came to see.

In the end Brown played an identical set to the one he did at Laneway. But I easily swallowed this up. He is just so much fun live. His DJ SKYWLKR warms us up good and proper before Danny bounces on stage. "Break It (Go)" hits us hard and it never stops. My favourites on the night were "Side B (Dope Song)", "Monopoly" and of course the ever crowd pleasing "Dip". Brown has an amazing delivery and cadence. There really is no one quite like him out there.

Set List
Break It (Go)
Molly Ringwald
Smokin and Drinkin
Express Yourself
Blueberry (Pills and Cocaine)
I Will
Side B (Dope Song)
Witit
Monopoly
Blunt After Blunt
Kush Coma
25 Bucks
Dip

Laneway Festival is now a veteran on the festival circuit. Seemingly going from strength to strength. Each year they seem to book bands before they break out. This year seemed the year of pop. Lorde and Haim broke fairly big in 2013 and no doubt helped ticket sales. They aren't to my taste, but there was plenty that was. Some hip hop acts that produced stellar albums last year. Some great Indie rock and boom, a great day was had. The Rozelle venue, since its expansion, is now a comfortable way to spend the day. Plenty of grass and shaded areas. Plenty of good quality food outlets. Good bars. Yes, Laneway generally does it right and I always feel satisfied from a day out in their company.

Dick Diver are just great. The Melbourne band have released two albums of sublime music. Melodies that bend and nearly break. They are odd and beautiful. Australian but still unique. The should be huge but probably never will be. Despite some technical issues that produced a beautiful set of languid melodies and good times. I love this band so much.

Set List
Water Damage
Calendar Days
Gap Life
Head Back
Flying Tea Towel Blues
Lime Green Shirt
Amber
Alice

Scott Hutchison was in good form. The lead singer of Scotland's Frightened Rabbit said they have no hits. They are fat and ugly. Well, this might possibly all be true. But this band are the shit. Just a great, great band. They should have hits and really they run rings around most of the bands that followed. Despite a poor mix, the vocals were buried and there was a fair amount of distortion, they shone and dazzled in the mid afternoon heat. Yes, once again they rocked my world.

Set List
Holy
The Modern Leper
Nothing Like You
Old Old Fashioned
Fast Blood
My Backwards Walk
The Oil Slick
The Woodpile
Keep Yourself Warm
The Loneliness And The Scream

I'm kind of in love with Kurt Vile. This guitar genius had rocked my world for the last week. In one way or another this would be the fourth time that I have seen him. Yes, it was all worth it. The man makes music that is both excellent and unique. Rock on Kurt!

Set List
Wakin On A Pretty Day
KV Crimes
Jesus Fever
On Tour
Freeway
Girl Called Alex
Freak Train

Danny Brown was insanely good. The best fun of the day. His DJ was amazingly good and warmed us up nicely before Brown took the stage. When he did he had the crowd in his palm. We were there for the ride and the never let up. Just great song after song. Brown's delivery and flow is quite unique. And his laugh is hysterical. So much fun!

Set List
Break It (Go)
Molly Ringwald
Smokin and Drinkin
Express Yourself
Blueberry (Pills & Cocaine)
I Will
Side B (Dope Song)
Witit
Monopoly
Blunt After Blunt
Kush Coma
25 Bucks
Dip

Earl Sweatshirt has a great rap pedigree. He also released a great album in 2013 in the shape of "Doris". Part of the Odd Future Wolfgang crew he is now standing out on his own. A rapper with exceptional flow, his is also lyrically insightful. I don't think he's as unique as Brown. There is no one quite like Danny Brown. But Sweatshirt was still very enjoyable, packing a lot in in a small amount of time. Highlight was probably the dark and threatening "Hive".