Recap: Owen Pallett and Blonde Redhead

I wrote this up over a month ago, and never got around to posting it. Better late than never? I'll let you be the judge.

2011 was a weird year.

I spent the first third of it at Aspen Grove: running in the woods, playing house with a fake husband, and thoroughly confused about school. I spent the summer just outside DC: running on the Washington Old Dominion Trail, making no friends, and reading lots of books. I spent the last third of the year back in Provo: not running at all, watching too much Gossip Girl, and slogging through 19 credit hours in my final semester.

It was my most varied, puzzling year, a great time for a thorough introduction to Owen Pallett. His songs were as unsettled as I felt. I remember listening to Heartland while driving up Spanish Fork canyon after a Relief Society retreat. It was just like girls camp. Except I was 24, and feeling totally out of place. We had a devotional by Hillary Weeks where she talked about struggling to stand up for the important things that you believe in. Like modesty. And then they had these pedicure station set-up for "glitter toes". And duh, I got them done, but I was conflicted about it ok? I was one of the oldest ones there, and was feeling pretty odd.

I woke up early the next morning and snuck away. It was beautiful and the air was crisp. And I listened to Tryst with Mephistopheles over and over, and tying not to pay too much mind to the lyrics. Mephistopheles is the devil from Faust, the collector of damned souls. My dad always claimed he got my named me after the Gretchen character in the story who meets a tragic end. Too eerie. 

Faust and Mephistopheles Waiting for Gretchen at the Cathedral Door - Wilhelm Koller

Ever since then, Owen Pallett has maintained a special place in my heart. Each of his songs is about THE STRUGGLE and I love it, His last album is just one big tribute to existential crisis, so you know that's a good time. 

I was thrilled when I found out he would be playing the new Ogden Twilight concert series. I even opted to take an early hour-and-a-half long bus ride to make sure I didn't miss any of his set. It was worth it. The sound wasn't that great, but being reminded of all those songs was sweet enough.

Image from here

Check out In Conflict from his latest album here. Warning, it's a bit much:

And one of my fave songs from went he was known as Final Fantasy:

The headliner was Blonde Redhead. Their music is beautiful, but listening to one of their songs is the same as listening to 10 of their songs.

Image from here

This one stood out to me though. So pretty:

We hung around, hoping they would play Misery is a Butterfly, but no dice. Listen to it:

Ogden was good to us. Long live Ogden.

Belle and Sebastian Concert Recap: "Make me dance, I want to surrender"

This was the first time I went to a Twilight Concert, and left thinking "That was nice!". I've had a good time at past shows, but last night was the best. The crowd was less dense, the weather was forgiving, I got a great pita wrap, and I was just really happy to be there. We danced the night away. I found this video from some stranger if you want to see what it was like:

Also, this may be a new favorite Belle and Sebastian song:

They brought people on-stage to dance during this song. It was darling. 

Oh yeah! I almost forgot!

First show of the Twilight Concert Series is tonight! I'll be car-pooling up from Provo with my roommate and her friends and we're going eeeeeaaaarrrrly. So, come find me there! I'm hoping to hear these songs:

Don't know much about Blitzen Trapper, but this tune sounds groovy:

Belle and Sebastian have a special spot in my high-school heart.

True story. I crashed my car while listening to "Fox in the Snow". Oh memories. 

And a newer favorite:

I'm interested to see how this music be when faced with an outside-crowd-of-thousands.

Music for your Midweek: Old Crow Medicine Show

Apparently, this chorus of this song was written by Bob Dylan, and O.C.M.S. fleshed out the rest of it. I just love it to pieces.

They're coming to Salt Lake this summer at the Red Butte Outdoor Concert Series on July 5th. You can get your tickets on May 6th!

Alt-J Concert Recap: "C-O-double-M-O-N"

I really really like Alt-J.

I've been hyping myself up for their concert this past week by watching interviews, reviews, and take away shows. I was a little bummed they would be playing at the Complex. It's not my favorite venue. When I saw Jonsi there a couple years ago, it was decent, it's
Just.
So.
Big.
I Arrived in time to catch a bit of Wildcat! Wildcat! and their Tears for Fears cover before finding Julia. We got a good spot, though it was outside the on the outside edge of the speakers so the sound was a little muddy. BUT what we lacked in sound, we made up for in ambiance. Smelled so great where we were standing. FER REALS. Someone had to have been wearing this perfume that I used to wear while I was on my mission. And it mixed well with the other smells around us. A nice bouquet. haha.

ANYWAY, take a look at these guys:

They're so young. Babies really. Like college kids that got big seemingly out of nowhere. We could see it on keyboardist's face while while they were playing. Shock and awe at their own success. The music was fine; they were charmingly awkward. They essentially played their album along with Buffalo from the Silver Linings Playbook soundtrack and a mashup of Kylie Minogue and Dr Dre.

I've been feeling sort of old lately and being around all these hip whipper-snappers that looked like they came from an Urban Outfitters catalog made me feel even more so.
But then then Alt-J did an cover of Real Hero by College.
It was so tender. Melted my heart, and I felt a bit better.

No luck getting a set-list this time, but I got a piece of paper with their name on it in fancy font? It was great. Sure sure.

Music for your Midweek: Mason Jennings

On Saturday, Mason Jennings stopped by BYU(?!) and put on a little show. His was the second concert I went to after I got back from my mission, so it made me a little nostalgic.

Oh man. This one gets me every time.
"I don't want no victory, I just want you back" 

So sassy.

This is a video I found from his performance at BYU! It's a new song, and I quite like it.

Music for your Midweek: Darwin Deez

Here's a fun one for you.
So hip, he'll make your head hurt.

He's coming to Kilby Court on March 1st suckaaaaaasssss
Let's go!!!!!!

Also, I have a little Spotify playlist that I update with artists who we'll be in Utah sometime soon.
Check it out. 

Music for your Midweek: Punch Brothers pt. 2

I saw Punch Brothers Friday night, and I'm still floating on a blissful musical high. I want to watch them play all day long, all the time! Honestly, they were incredible. Each of them are so talented.

Golly.

So here is a song for you. It's even a Christmas one!



and a couple others, just for kicks.

Concert Recap: "They are beautiful music" (Kishi Bashi, Nightlands, and SONDRE LERCHE)

I'd never been to the 9:30 club before, but I guess it's legendary? Also, I worried about finding the right thing to wear, which means I ended up wearing the worst thing possible. The worst thing possible being a soccer mom outfit, complete with nikes. Note: Whenever I wear running shoes with anything other than running attire, I feel that I am giving up on life. WHATEVS.
So I got there (it was so not hard to get to I LOVE the metro).

I really liked it inside:

I know it looks like, massive (it has a capacity of 1200). But it didn't feel ginormous. It think maybe because there weren't a ton of people there. I'm glad I got there early, because it would have been a shame if I missed this guy:

He does violin and keyboards for Sondre Lerche. He is crazy talented. He recorded and looped all the parts for his songs on stage; super creative. Kind of like Animal Collective + Nick Drake + Jonsi - sadness + accessibility. And look! You can listen to his tracks RIGHT HERE!

Isn't he lovely?

Next up was Nightlands. They were nice to listen to. But I don't know, not mind-blowing. Their songs sound like musical exercises to me. It might be worth your your while to give them a listen:

The lead singer is the bassist for Sondre Lerche.

And now onto the main man!

See more photos and a short review HERE. 

He is just adorable.

But one thing first. Going to concerts outside of Utah is a shock to the system. We Utahns are part of the western frontier, the lawless wilderness. We are just so darned appreciative when people venture out to our city, knowing they'll be in front of small, sometimes clueless crowd (Remember The Big Pink at Graywhale last year? REMEMBER? I didn't see you there, so I guess not. That was a travesty). DC is just so polished and civilized. No one was dancing except the brave, limited few, swaying about. How are you supposed to stand there with your arms folded tight when you are listening to this? I do declare, I do not know.

ANYWAY.

You know all about that one time I saw Sondre Lerche. He plays so well, and I think he loves the world. Maybe it was a good thing the crowd was so polite; it fit him. Mr. Lerche is a gentleman. Turns out that Tuesday was the release of his new album. He asked, "Is anyone from the WHite House here?" with a strong "h" sound. He is so charming. 

You have to see him. He will be in Salt Lake He has something for everyone! He sings! He jams! He stutters on command! He does tricks of all sorts! He has lovely guitars! One of them sounding vaguely like my name!

GRETSCH

He is a genuine musician. OK. Enough gushing. But I really do hope you'll see him when he is in your neck of the woods.

Private Caller (official video) from Sondre Lerche on Vimeo.

Love,

Gretchen