Driven Far Off

The latest on the indie, alternative, and rock music scene including news, music, contest, interviews, and more. Best described as your favorite place to find new bands.

David Bazan’s Strange Negotiations and Live in Akron

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Meet David Bazan, an indie rock musician from Seattle. He was the force behind the now defunct Pedro the Lion. The front man of Headphones. Currently he performs under his namesake.

Under Pedro the Lion, Bazan marketed his remarkable sense of assonance. His songs were based on theology. He spent the better part of a decade battling his religion and inner personal issues. His loss of faith and questioning of his world turned into a drinking problem. In an attempt to rid the demons and see angels, he went solo.

Three records in under David Bazan and each one is better than the previous one. Bazan recently finished up a slew of Living Room Shows. Which were exactly as they sound. He played in strangers living rooms across the country. The shows capped out at fifty people and he played with his guitar and nothing else. In between songs he opened the floor up to the audience for q&a’s. He answered honestly and played requests.

More recently, Bazan has released his newest solo album, Strange Negotiations. It’s a powerful record about humanity and battling self-delusion. It weighs heavy on what it means to be human and more than that, what does it mean to be apart of the human culture? It deals with love for life and the disgust for the world our lives exist in. Bazan battles the age old question of how to fight the battle while still being a part of the battle. He succeeds with his biting tongue, his keen sense of lyrical structure, and catchy choruses. It might be his best record yet.

On Sunday, Bazan and his backing band made their way to Akron’s Musica. It was one of the few times I’ve witnessed him live with other people playing and it was incredible. His energy was high as usual. His set list was impeccable. Surprisingly, he stayed true to his q&a technique. The questions were more broad and a lot funnier than they usually are. But again, he answered honestly.

Bazan is an extraordinary and rare musician. He’s humble, he’s funny, and he’s got a voice that sends chills throughout my body. His music evokes deep thought and dancing. Is there anything better than a poignant, gut-wrenching musician? Nope. This is as good as it gets.

So, stop reading and start listening.

My Sick Obsession: Ke$ha

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I am an avid music fan and I have been since elementary school. It took me a few years, but for many years now, I have been a proud fan of quality music. Music with substance, talent, and you know, created by driven musicians.

The only time I listen to the radio is on Saturday’s when Ira Glass takes over NPR with This American Life. I am uncertain, but convinced MTV ceased music videos and replaced them with Guidos and teen moms. My exposure to music that I do not love is very minimal.

I listen to real music, with instruments, thoughtful lyrics, and actual talent. My record collection is the anti-radio or pretty damn close to it.

Popular music is cheap, it’s a concept created by a fat man in an expensive suit. It’s overly catchy, it’s constructed by anyone other than the “singer”. It’s sexy, easy, and uses dancing as a distraction. The only requirement? Slight talent and the ability to be a puppet. Have a bangin’ body? Willing to sell it? You can be a pop star! It’s a formula.

Take a glittery alcoholic throw in a dollar sign mix in a little sex appeal and blend it with excess auto tune and glitter, voila! KE$HA is born.

The track “Tik Tok” launched Ke$ha into extreme fame. It’s loud, in your face, and hilariously bad. From the “brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack” to rhyming Mic Jagger with swagger. These are hardly lyrics. They are poorly written jokes.

The best part? Ke$ha is in on the joke. If she weren’t, her career wouldn’t be as successful. She “created” a new style of singing. It’s not singing exactly, but rather a hybrid of rapping and whining. She sounds (and probably is) perpetually under the influence. Her songs, vocal stylings, and overall demeanor, are what sells her as a product. She’s smart. She understands that she isn’t making serious music. That’s precisely why, she’s a serious artist.

It wasn’t by choice that I started listening to Ke$ha. On bad nights after the bars, my friends would say, “I feel like Ke$ha.” Instantly Animal was in the cd player, they were screaming, and I was embarrassed. Eventually I started recognizing the harmonies and soon enough, I was singing along. At first it felt shameful, but after a few listens, I knew I was a love sick crackhead.

When Ke$ha first emerged, I was an avid hater. Even as a “fan”, I still cannot put my finger on exactly what makes her so goddamn irresistible. Alone, speeding down the dark highways, I find myself slipping Animal into the cd player. I stop feeling dirty as the record wears on and through the hit songs.

Underneath the glitter, the drugs, and the ignorant lyrics, there’s a, dare I say it? Musician? Because there is. “Backstabber” is a heartfelt jam about bitchy backstabbing girls. It’s not in the typical Ke$ha styling either. She sounds like a female singing sensation. Rather than the bullshit singer she is now. The lyrics are simple, but golly, the girl has some pipes on her.

Will Ke$ha ever get over this phase and make music for the masses rather than the teenager alcoholics? Who knows. But what I do know is, “We R Who We R” is just as good, if not better than “Tik Tok”.

The line, “I’m so sick of being so serious / it’s making me delirious” explains it all. Ke$ha just wants to have fun and so do I. Don’t you? No? Okay, well we are who we are.

I am not ashamed.

Friday Recommendations – Bombay Bicycle Club

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I don’t recall how I came to know the band Bombay Bicycle Club, but it’s been great. They’re a band made up of British men who have an undeniably original sound and a firm grasp on the written word. Within seconds, I was hooked to their second album, Flaws. It’s 36.7 minutes of pure bliss. There’s a good chance they are better than 99.9% of the music you’re listening to right now or maybe I have a thing for the British. Either way, I say they’re a go and perfect for this time of year.

Tim Kasher Show Review

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Tim Kasher of Cursive/the Good Life fame is embarking on his solo tour. The solo tour is in support of his upcoming solo debut The Game of Monogamy.

I wasn’t exactly sure what the show would entail as the record isn’t entirely long. Would we get Cursive, the Good Life or covers? Kasher played essentially all of his solo songs and despite the record not being released yet, that didn’t stop the crowd from screaming along.

The show included a few surprising Good Life song. Such as “O’rourke’s, 2:10 A.M”, which launched the crowd into insanity. As well as a twice failed attempt at Cursive’s Driftwood. After the first two attempts, Kasher grabbed his Jameson, chugged, grabbed the microphone, and talked himself through the lyrics. He drank more Jameson and told the crowd how he didn’t pay attention during practice because this song was so old. On the third attempt, however, he managed to get it right.

The new material is typical Kasher-style. It’s sad, contemplative, at times loud, and always emotionally driven. The songs were received well and played even better.

Even if Kasher was a terrible musician, at the very least, he’s hilarious. His infamous random drunken tangents are worth attending the shows. This time around, he went on a five minute rant about his fantasy relationship with Dido.

The crowd was thin compared to a Cursive show, but that’s not to say that the place wasn’t packed. The solo songs are solid and while I loved every second of it, I’m still anticipating the next Cursive or Good Life records. That’s where my heart lies and hopefully Tim’s too.

Tim Kasher @ the Grog Shop – Cleveland, Ohio – September 29, 2010

Jenny & Johnny @ The Beachland Ballroom

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Jenny and Johnny is composed of Jenny Lewis and Jonathan Rice. Lewis of Rilo Kiley fame is name enough to sell out venues before the bands debut record ever dropped.

Lewis is a goddamn pro. She’s commanding with her dull red hair and bright red dress. She smiled like a child and waved as if she had no idea she was so adored. She’s used to being a front woman, but for the night, it was obvious she was sharing the reigns with Rice. Rice looked dirty with bands obstructing his view and a goofy smile plastered on his face. The two of them sounded magical when they harmonized, their voices blended just right. They shared glances and lovesick smiles. They made jokes and shared brief moments of intimacy. Rice is a better musician with Lewis by his side.

They performed the majority of their record and while the material isn’t as good as previous work by Lewis, it stands out on its own as something entirely different. The crowd went insane when the two of them launched into Lewis’ solo material. While most of the songs were off of Acid Tongue, a mediocre record, Rice enhanced them.

They also played “Melt Your Heart” from Rabbit Fur Coat, which was an odd choice considering how slow and quiet the song is. The crowd was almost overpowering with their chatter. But that’s not to say, the two didn’t nail it.

Lewis debut a new song, “One of the Guys,” the song was better than their entire record. It was straight up country and it put Lewis in both her element and back as the lead. These songs aren’t groundbreaking, but Lewis is endearing and enchanting.

The show ended with a cover of “Love Hurts” just like every other show and it felt right and they did not appear bored. In fact, they owned it.

Jenny & Johnny will probably never become what Rilo Kiley was, but who cares? These two are having fun now and that’s what really matters.

Warped Tour: In Review Part 1

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With so many bands playing on many different stages it’s very easy to miss bands you’d like to see and not discover a lot of new music. Each year, my goal is to see as many bands as I possibly can. This year’s count: ten.

Every Time I Die started the show off. They played at 11:55 AM and it felt as if I could not get into the venue fast enough. (Thanks Twitter for telling us the set time.) Every Time I Die is a band that never disappoints live. An excellent set performed by superbly talented men. Front man Keith Buckley was in a particularly hilarious mood. Chanting about how he didn’t give a fuck about LeBron James or basketball in general. He also singled out a member of the crowd for being dressed like the Joker.

Immediately following ETID, Motion City Soundtrack took the stage. Motion City is an extremely high energy band with a load of devoted fans. The floor was overfilling with screaming fans. With each song they played the crowd screamed louder and louder. They played all their hits and everything in between. While I’ve only ever preferred their obvious songs, they put on an enjoyable show.

Alkaline Trio is one of those bands that I could not imagine my life without. They’ve been a constant for as long as I can remember. I have never seen them (as they were rained out the last time they played Warped Tour). I was ready more than ready. They, however, weren’t as exciting as I hoped they’d be. Granted their music is not exactly high energy and they did play songs I have been itching to hear live, they were merely lacking in the energy.

The Pretty Reckless was my main interest this year. Front woman Taylor Momsen is a sixteen-year-old actress who is very new to this whole music thing. She was commanding, enchanting, and incredibly sexual. She wore a lace dress, thigh highs, stirrups and high heels. Which was a little weird considering her age, but strangely appropriate considering her voice. She put on one of the better shows of the day.

The All-American Rejects are a band I have always love to hate. They sing catchy tunes, they’re pretty, but Tyson Ritter’s voice can be down right horrifying sometimes. I also feel as if all their music is the same and not very good to start with. This, however, changes whenever I’ve seen them live. Ritter is a goddamn rockstar. He owns the stage and the crowd. One could almost get high off this man’s energy.

Part 1 – Recommendation: Closure in Moscow >> Part 2 – Warped Tour For Beginners >> Part 3 – The New Photographer

Warped Tour for the (New) Photographer

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Gaining credentials to Warped Tour is one thing, but shooting all day is a whole other. It’s like shooting a typical show, but ALL DAY LONG. It’s hot, crowded, and long. There are definite pros and definite cons. Either way, it’s best to be prepared.

1) You have to start somewhere”¦but”¦I’m not sure a huge venue/tour such as the Warped Tour is the place to start. It’s DEFINITELY a great idea to test out both your camera and your skills at local shows before you gain mainstream coverage.

2) An SLR does not equate photographer”¦Anyone can buy a fancy camera, but what’s the purpose if you only shoot automatic and can’t figure out simple settings such as ISO or white balance? No matter how much a camera costs, it will never be as perfect as a skilled and educated photographer. And it shows!

3) Know your CAMERA”¦I shouldn’t have to say that, but while standing in the photo pit at Warped there were several girls who had no idea what they were doing. One had a Sidekick (old school smart phone) as her camera. Another had a brand new Sony dSLR, but had no idea how to use it. As the photographers waited she asked me if I knew how to fix an issue. Sure, I did, but why did’t she? A camera’s manual, the internet, and experience are your best friends. Utilize.

4) BE COURTEOUS”¦Being in the photo pit is a privilege. Most people behind the barricade are there with a purpose and on an assignment. It’s rude when a) you hog the prime center spot the entire three songs b) you are using your phone as a camera c) you walk in front of shots d) you stop taking photos and simply hang where the other photographers are shooting and e) IF YOU DON’T HAVE AN DSLR OR SOMETHING EQUIVALENT, it’s not really the place for you.

5) The awesome thing about Warped Tour”¦is that’s it’s outside and you can rely on natural lighting. As long as you are aware of how to operate your camera, you don’t necessarily need a lot of fancy equipment. You could probably shoot with simply a kit lens and still walk away with good shots.

6) Pay attention to the crowd. Awesome shots are lurking there.

Chances are if you follow your instincts shooting Warped Tour should be a breeze.

Part 1 – Recommendation: Closure in Moscow >> Part 2 – Warped Tour For Beginners

Warped Tour for Beginners

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I’m going to be doing a series on Warped Tour”¦guides for beginners, photographers, show reviews, photos, and more. Stay tuned. Here’s the first part.

1) Dress accordingly. Warped Tour somehow seems to fall on the hottest day of the summer. Wear thin, light clothing. This year, I saw a significant amount of girls wearing bathing suits. Not a bad idea, at all.

2) Don’t need to arrive early. Regardless of when you arrive, you’re gonna be waiting. Show up a little late and you can avoid the crowds.

3) As soon as you get through the door find the schedule. It’s a huge blow up wall. They sell schedules for a couple bucks or they have paper and pencils for you to write your own down.

Using their paper is a better idea as it has the stages already written. Go through, write the times/bands you wish to see, and when you’re finished go through and see if anything conflicts. Decision time.

4) Bring a bottle of water. Warped Tour allows you to bring one unopened bottle of water (drink). They have FREE water faucets all over the place. Stay hydrated. You will NOT regret this.

5) Camera! You’re allowed a small non-professional cameras. The smaller the camera, the better. Less weight for your poor shoulders. I can assure you there will be 100 photo opportunities. From the live music, to your friends, to the crowd, and to meeting your favorite rockstars. You will want to document.

6) Sunblock, sunblock, sunblock“¦is your best friend.

Recommendation: Closure in Moscow

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Usually at large concert festivals such as Warped Tour, it’s unlikely that one will discover a new artist. I know that’s part of the purpose, but it’s hard considering the amount of bands one comes expecting to see. I usually am the kind of person who has a jammed packed Warped schedule, but this year, I took it easy. Which is precisely how I discovered Closure in Moscow. They were on a tiny stage, a distance from everything else. I was aimlessly walking when they took the stage. The singer, was wearing a white sparkly jacket, leggings and weird makeup. I was enchanted. He opened his mouth and I was in love. They’re Australian and a little bit like Anatomy of a Ghost (in the best way possible). I went home and immediately started soaking up their tunes and they’re just as wonderful as I imagined they’d be recorded.