Burlington Music: Never a Dull Moment

Burlington music never a dull moment

While Burlington’s weather has not been all too kind to us lately, the Burlington music scene never stops giving.
Last Monday, Higher Ground’s Showcase Lounge was surprisingly packed for Welsch Los Campesinos!’s jangly indie rock. And this past Saturday night featured two prominent UVM bands at The Monkey House, friends Buzzjar and The Feverbreakers.
At that show, a show that featured an unusually large amount of college kids dancing while sipping their 40s, I began wondering — after this semester, two of the most prominent bands on campus are taking their last stand: what junior bands will take their place?
This weekend offers a show at the Fifth Element at 9 p.m., one of Burlington’s secret venues associated with Tick Tick. While not a favorite hangout week in and week out, an evening jaunt with the hipsters of Burlington can provide for an enjoyable, entertaining night.
Osage Orange and Ryan Power are the main acts at the Element, two Burlington bands with lots of experience in the area. Ryan Power offers up experimental-tinged singer-songwriter material while Osage Orange has its roots in indie folk. Both bands are worth the trek to end of Battery St., where drinking and dancing will be aplenty.
For a change, Radio Bean features bands new to the schedule — and possibly new to the world too, as some of them do not have a Myspace. Bluegrass band Something with Strings headlines the Bean on Friday night, while Amherst, MA native shoegaze band Rusty Belle should take the stage on Saturday night.
Although a relatively light weekend for Burlington without any major shows, Higher Ground keeps busy with soul singers the Felice Brothers at the Showcase Lounge on Saturday night and Atlanta nu metal ‘90s outfit Sevendust on Sunday night in the Ballroom.
UVM also anticipates Springfest, featuring electrorockers Ratatat on a hopefully sunny day on the CBW green.

Experimenting with Experimental

 

Hollerado, who play Thursday night at the Monkey House. (Credit: Marathon Mgmt.)

 

Hanging out at Radio Bean last weekend, I re-realized the prominence that experimental music has in Burlington. Yet while enjoying a set by the New York-based experimental jazz/bass group Xander Naylor Trio, I realized that the diminishing crowd depicted that the rest of Burlington is not as keen on eclectic sounds.

I suppose any genre off the beaten path is not going to have as large of a following, but I would think that the emphasis that Tick Tick, Aether Everywhere and other Burlington outfits put on experimental music would make steps towards change. Keep in mind, this is coming from a avid music listener who thought that Explosions in the Sky was experimental before I came to Burlington — showgoers ought to make a point to keep an open mind and attend concerts that might not be their usual cup of tea.

There definitely has been a trend towards linking the two scenes recently, as many shows feature both mainstream rock and acts based more in electronica and ambience. Next Friday, actually, UVM talent the Feverbreakers and Buzzjar are opening for AMPM, a NH based electro band, at the Monkey House.

Although the digression, most of the acts worth seeing this week are along the lines of mainstream rock, for Burlington standards at least.

Jeff Tweedy, lead singer and guitarist for Wilco, will be the big man in Burlington on Thursday night as he headlines a sold-out show at Higher Ground. One of the more prominent alternative acts at Higher Ground recently, Burlington locals have been waiting awhile for this one. On a sadder note, Andrew Bird’s scheduled show in April at Higher Ground was cancelled due to “personal reasons.”

More in tune with the drug scene and Burlington is Lotus, who is performing for the third and fourth time in the last several months at Higher Ground.

In addition, Wales punk/indie rockers Los Campesinos! is making their first appearance in Vermont on Monday at Higher Ground. Be wary of hipsters that night, if Tick Tick hasn’t already scared you away.

In local action, In Memory of Pluto will be playing a show at Monkey House on Thursday night. They will open for Montreal-based bar rockers Hollerado, fresh off a visit down to Austin, TX for South by Southwest. The guitar driven pop punk is catchy and could lend well to a large crowd, but the lack of coverage of this show bodes for a lackluster Thursday at the Monkey.

For the first time in awhile, Higher Ground might be your best bet for live music this weekend. If crowds aren’t your thing, though, then mosey on down to some of the more intimate venues for a night on the town.

No Winter Woes for Rockers

Well, we’re all back to the grind of classes and exams post-spring break. How will you rejuvenate yourself in this late winter season? Well, with the always stellar Burlington music scene, that’s how.

            Some locals got some loving this past weekend, as The New York Times featured Burlington natives Rough Francis in their Sunday edition

            Rough Francis, a punk outfit, is a special brand of punk. Continuing in the footsteps of their fathers, the buzz band covers material from three of the band members’ father’s bands, a ’70s punk band called Death – a phenomenon that caught the NYT’s eye. 

            For most locals, indie rockers In Memory of Pluto, the Vacant Lots and the Cush are household names. As in much of the US, Burlington has been hit with lots and lots of indie rock. A bit off the beaten path, though, there is much to explore.

            On Friday, the Firehouse Gallery will explode with some much needed sound to accompany their lonely exhibits. Sponsored by Aether Everywhere, soundscape masters Ensemble Pamplemousse make the trip up from New York City to help bring the gallery alive.

            With an emphasis on composition, the self proclaimed electroacoustic group features a diverse assortment of instruments such as flute, violin, cello in addition to the typical band instruments. This assortment ought to spice up Firehouse Gallery’s unique space and allow for the viewers to be entertained by an aural and visual experience.

            A hip hop showcase comes to Higher Ground on Friday night. Seasons of Hip Hop, featuring Phil the Agony of Strong Arm Steady is ready to bring out the diehard rap fans to the venue. Considered part of California’s underground hip hop scene, Phil’s soulful raps run akin to Talib Kweli. And, for all you environmental fanatics out there, Phil’s “Think Green” campaign features a 100% recycled, eco-friendly sleeve for his latest CD.

            And for all of you grunge fans, check out the Monkey House on Friday night as Portland (ME) based Metal Feathers show off their best lo-fi impression. On other hand, Paper Castles, the headliners, are better off suited as a sleep aid as their muted minimalism accomplishes little.

            Another week in the books in grand ol’ Burlington, another spectacular week for local music.

                        

New and Old Rock in the Deserted Collegetown

While most of UVM is elsewhere, the Burlington music scene continues to thrive. From local experimental rockers to music legends of the ’70s, this weekend is one of those weekends when there’s much more to listen to than I have ears for.

One of Tick Tick’s signature shows of winter ’09 is going down tonight, a celebration of string instruments at the cozy, homely Fifth Element.

Prolific Burlington local Ryan Power opens up the night with loop heavy lo-fi backing his melodic, inviting voice. In essence, he is Burlington’s Ben Folds – just primarily with a synth at his hands rather than a piano.

Then, New England native Nat Baldwin takes the stage. His deep, accented double bass and Middle Eastern tinged voice will woo in all the latecomers. In DeVotchKa fashion, the dark, alluring strings and voice make for an expansive sound.

The main act, Sister Suvi from across the border in Montreal, is a ukulele, drum and guitar trio. The girl-led band features quick paced singy-songy folk rock with subtle Irish roots.

The most diverse of the bands on the schedule, the prominent display of the ukulele allows for some intriguing dynamic shifts, while the quick paced, introspective lyrics conjures up the Talking Heads at times.

Also tonight and tomorrow night, Maga, the Rosesmiths and the Villanelles grace Radio Bean and the Monkey House, respectively.

Maga, a local duo and close friends of the Villanelles, call to mind some Animal Collective-like sounds, intricate drums and harmonic voices. While a little scattered at times, their rushed sound produces original, yet jagged ambient rock.

Lady Lioness and Tooth Ache are on the bill first at the Monkey House on Saturday night, then at Radio Bean the following night.

Lady Lioness, another woman fronted band, features muted acoustic folk with a vintage ’60s woman’s voice. The stripped down girl with a guitar will do well at the Radio Bean.

On the other hand, Tooth Ache invokes similarities to a toned down M.I.A., except with a xylophone-like instrument and a drumbox as accompaniment and a lot fewer sexual overtones.

On Friday night, 242 Main stars progressive, ambient rockers Bridges to Dreams from Montreal. Opening for them are up and coming local high school bands Front Page Fix and Next Time We Talk, lo-fi amateur pop punkers with promise.

While these new bands come to the stage, longtime mainstays The Wailers will bring out the fans at Higher Ground tonight and legendary blues rocker George Thorogood & the Destroyers headline the Flynn Theatre on Saturday night.

Not so hidden venues

So, you’ve been to Higher Ground, the alternative Monkey House in Winooski, nostalgic Nectar’s, its little brother Metronome, retro Radio Bean, even Club 242 and other bars with the occasional hip act in town.

Think you’ve seen it all in town? You’re going to be happily surprised. 

One of the more surprising venues featuring folk and singer-songwriters is The Skinny Pancake. Yes, that incredible creperie with a perfect view of the beautiful sunset on Lake Champlain. 

Although the cozy nook known for it’s delicious French-inspired delicacies has had acts on Friday and Saturday nights for the last few months, the upcoming schedule is particularly enticing. 

On Friday night at 9 pm, local act Villanelles will strip away their amps and showcase their alternative, tavern-friendly rock in an intimate setting. The garage rockers border somewhere between the riffs of upbeat Spoon and the distinctive voice of Cold War Kids’. They hope to satiate the concertgoers’ aural need just as the Pancake fills them up with delicious cuisine. 

Next Friday, look out for highly touted jazz rock That Toga Band at the Pancake. 

Earlier in the night, a weekend of avant-garde electronica opens up at Radio Bean at 8 pm with Montreal-based Echoes Still Singing Limbs. Labeled experimental folk, the Middle Eastern tinged ensemble features a diverse assortment of instruments: a trained Operatic vocalist, a classically trained cellist and noise guitarists. The melodies akin to DeVotchKa push genre boundaries in a dark, mysterious fashion, but they are sure to be an intense listen. 

On Saturday night at 8 pm, the lesson in sound experimentation continues at The Bakery. Sponsored by the Burlington, VT based noise label Aether Everywhere, another intimate setting will be sure to set the mood for a night of ethereal melodies. 

Pawlet Performance Project, a local act known as “a vehicle for experimental and non-mainstream events and performances using audio and visual elements,” will be sure to utilize the close confines of the Bakery. In addition to setting a introspective mood, their eclectic instruments — including bulbul tarang (an Indian banjo) and kalimba (an African sound box with metal keys) — will be sure to please. 

Local favorite minimalist vocalist and electronic dabbler Nuda Veritis and free improv band the le duo will open. 

Tonight, Vantage Point hosts a benefit at the Metronome at 8:30 pm featuring UVM mainstays the Feverbreakers, Powder Kegs, Buzz Jar and Goldtown (members of Greyspoke). 

On Friday, local favorite Rough Francis will bring the grunge folk to Monkey House at 9 pm. At Nectar’s, Mardi Gras will be celebrated a few days late as New Orleans tinged rock will be featured after the parade well into the night. 

This weekend, UVM students will be sure to flock to Higher Ground as The Disco Biscuits come to town for a sold out two night stand. Just remember, guys, there’s more to music than jamming out to groovy tunes.

MA bands take the stage

After lots of press and hype that the former hometown boys were back, Pretty & Nice failed to bring out the local fans on Thursday night at the Monkey House. 

The now Boston-based band on Hardly Art, a Sub Pop imprint, pulled out a bag of pop punk in the vein of OK Go and got their fans dancing — but, for a band that left Burlington for bigger and better things, the fan support was particularly lacking. 

And, well, those who didn’t brave the cold didn’t miss a lot. 

While the Burlington scene is alive with diversity and originality, lots of lower tier Boston bands tend to favor radio, MTV friendly rock. Although Pretty & Nice was dynamic and had poise, they are quickly falling into the dreaded cookie cutter land.

In order to break up the monotony, singer and lead guitarist Jeremy Mendicino tries the theatrical approach to get fans’ attention – with a quick wit, an Elvis haircut, tight clothes and a reliance on falsetto, he does not fail. 

A “Spin Magazine” friendly band, the scenester kids are not all squeaky voices and twangy guitars. Akin to the Foo Fighters, the quick talking music men do feature a foot tapping beat and catchy, if unrefined lyrics. And they make mistakes like the rest of us. 

“I’m wearing long underwear; it’s really hot. I’ll keep you updated on the status,” vocalist Holden Lewis said, unabashedly.

Yet, they are also quite the cynical jokesters. 

Before one particularly dark song, Mendicino attempted to foreshadow. “This next song makes more sense… if you’re dead,” he said.

After the show, the brainchild and producer of the simply titled band, Mendicino caught up with his parents and reverted back to childish fantasy in a spurt of nostalgia. 

“I hatched out of an egg. Holden plucked me out of a burrow, he gave me a name,” Mendicino said. “Every year, Holden and I take an annual trip to the wilderness without instruments. When we come back, an album is done. Nobody asks any questions,” he said. 

“Boston’s like swimming in a cold pool, like falling through the ice,” Mendicino said. 

While bandmate Lewis was quick to discredit most of Mendicino’s verbal antics, he reiterated the differences in atmosphere between the two cities.

“In Burlington, we knew people. Boston doesn’t love people. In Boston, there are people who love music – tons of really nice people and a good community, but it is hard to get people to shows. Burlington maxed out for us quickly; Vermont’s cool, but it’s not all that helpful if you’re trying to increase popularity,” Lewis said. 

On Saturday night, the scene at the Monkey House was much different as poppy post-punk band the Pains of Being Pure at Heart filled the packed Valentine’s Day crowd with a sound akin to My Bloody Valentine. 

This weekend, another Massachusetts band graces the Monkey House as string enthusiasts (think cello, viola, organ) Tiger Saw show off their waltzy campfire songs on Sunday night. 

And for those looking for something a little more upbeat, be sure to catch NYC hipsters the Dig with their Walkmen-esque riffs.

Slade Underground

It’s a Friday evening and the campus is empty, with everyone partying elsewhere. Yet, those hippie folks at Slade Hall believe otherwise – their hallowed halls are too wonderful to give up even for one night. Instead, they bring the action to them.

Slade, a UVM dorm on Redstone known for its sustainable, environmentally friendly community, is also the hub of the underground music community at UVM.

And, underground it definitely is, as one must part with their shoes at the entrance to this warm house and proceed downward into an alternate realm of happiness, complete with colorful paintings on the walls of peace signs and welcoming phrases.

Known for its Wednesday night Open Mic sessions, Slade also hosts occasional Friday night concerts with bands both from UVM and the surrounding Burlington community.

On this particular Friday night, Slade hosted a benefit concert for sending UVM students to Power Shift, a national youth summit in DC focusing on climate change. The show featured dub reggae band Free Louis groovin’ the basement back to its retro roots and alt-rock band Reverse Neutral Drive.

The bands were definitely altered by the atmosphere, as they played off of the positive vibes of the perpetual shameless dancing of the packed crowd. As a result, the show was much more communal than most, even those in Burlington.

Although the crowd would have been perfectly content with any band, Free Louis did live up to their name and provide an unbound backbeat for the dance party. The primarily instrumental band focused their energies on elaborate guitar jams with dynamic crescendos in order to rev up the crowd.

While their intricate melodies showed off their delicate proficiency of the guitar, it was often wrapped up in an amped up basic bass line. The warm mood was more of a facet of the crowd, packed into the welcoming room shoulder to shoulder, but transported to a much warmer climate by the beats.

Reverse Neutral Drive offered more standard fare, upbeat rock attempting to be grungy. While the crowd ate it up, the band had little individuality, instead playing off of the style of 90’s alt. hits and serving up guitar laden college rock. This band also made sure to relish their environment, exaggerating their quirks and even reading a snippet from a “Winny the Pooh” story during an interlude.

Listening to typical college fare, Slade still performs wonders as the enthusiastically dancing crowd provides more than enough enjoyment. On the other hand, it would be that much harder to fully enjoy a top notch band at Slade because of the crowd.

On Saturday night, Radio Bean offered up its stage late night for the fan favorite rockers, the Powder Kegs. The over capacity crowd spilled onto North Winooski St., adding to the typical end of the week spirit of merriment in downtown Burlington. Unfortunately, this merriment exuded itself in the form of a fight during the show.

Earlier on Saturday night, I interviewed the Feverbreakers in an intimate practice setting. Look out for that in the next issue of the Cynic, in which the band depicts themselves up close and personal.

This weekend promises some highly acclaimed indie at the Monkey House, with Hardly Art (a Sub Pop imprint) signed art-rockers Pretty and Nice on Thursday night and Pitchfork-worthy post-punkers The Pains of Being Pure at Heart on Saturday night.

Chillin’ out at the Bean

 
It’s a Saturday night and you find yourself in a hip little coffee shop straight out of an independent film, the nostalgic type with warm sounds of live music, a lively crowd and artsy decor to match. 

If this scene doesn’t strike as familiar, you are utterly depriving yourself of everything inherently Burlington — plan to make a trip downtown tomorrow night to experience the wonders of Radio Bean. 

And, lo and behold, most of everything the local Burlington music scene has to offer has a place at Radio Bean. Whether it be Honky Tonk Tuesdays, UVM and local Burlington Jazz on Thursdays or hot new acts on the weekends, it’d be hard to be disappointed by the current going-ons. 

On this particular Saturday night, Nosebleed Island, a local Burlington staple, opened up the sound waves with his ridiculous, catchy sounds. The oft ruffled comedic star shines at the Bean, as his loyal fans came out for his umteenth successful set there. 

Click here for Thrust Lab Audio Clips

After hearing that there would be a half hour delay in between the opener and Thrust Lab, the main feature from Baltimore, Radio Bean emptied quickly. When the stage was set again, the Burlington version of clubbers — a crowd of twenty-sums looking to hear some danceable beats — hit the floor.

Remember, this is Radio Bean, not your run-of-the-mill coffee shop. 

The three-piece band from Baltimore threw down a drum and bass backed electro set to try to shift the adored coffee shop into a nightclub, with only some success due to the tight surroundings. The Bean could use a bit more space, after all, but the cozy atmosphere is definitely also a selling point.

While Lab was synth-heavy, their post-rock, grand melodies shifted them away from the mess that the Killers have gotten into post-“Hot Fuss”. Along the same lines, the excellent drummer and bassist backbone kept them from sinking into an overly melodic puddle of sound. 

And, surprisingly, the fare was not simply one brand of electronica. The band mixed it up a bit, using dissonant chords interchangeably with more melodic ones. Although a raw sound oftentimes, my only other qualm is that they sounded as if they were trying out too many different sounds during a short four song set. 

Yet, while they may have been trying to hard, who cares? It was midnight on a Saturday night and the crowd was satisfied as they walked into the sub freezing temperatures. Better known as a successful night at the Bean.

The low-down on the shows downtown

One of the newest mainstays of the local music scene, Tick Tick, a local show promoter and the Burlington equivalent of a society of hipsters, is hosting a CD release party for June Debris on Friday at the Monkey House in Winooski. 

June Debris, an electronic duo based locally in Burlington, is currently on an East Coast tour for their third album. On Young Optimists Records, a small collective of artsy folk in Brooklyn, NY looking to say that they own a record label, Debris is hoping to make a splash in their hometown. 

Based on overused, yet catchy drum, bass and synth roots, the solo act of Jonny Wanser has expanded recently to feature Teddy Georgia and Liza Miller for the upcoming album and tour. These additions have brought in much needed lyrical support to the experimental music in the vein of Beach House and Postal Service. 

Although primarily focused in an almost video game-like, highly artificial, technologic band, Wanser pushes his luck with borderline Explosions in the Sky crescendos and dynamics. These post-rock melodies will impress, but they may have to wake up the audience first.

After experiencing a similar Tick Tick show starring ambient noise artists Dygn and Kira Kira in December, while this upcoming show may draw crowds to hear a band coming out of hiding after almost a year, the crowd will not be in their boisterous, Friday night spirits.

As a prelude to the experiment in sound, the Monkey House will be filled with a peculiar assortment of familiar faces in the Burlington music scene – melodic Liza/Lisa, raw Voles, comedic Nosebleed Island and the oddball, a token budding garage band, Vultures of Cult. 

The night begins with Liza/Lisa, mellow coffee shop music. The combination of stripped, soft yet wide ranging voice and fragile background guitar might get lost in the shuffle of people arriving and chatting after not seeing their long lost friends for the previous five days. Yet, if Liza/Lisa’s Myspace is any proof, the girl band based on a Vermonters’ ideals of “raw bones. bare feet. green groceries.” might just stand a chance. 

Voles follow with a preview to the main act: a raw guitar, bass and drum act with a slight resemblance to the beats of Massive Attack. In a city where jamming and music are synonymous, this simplistic approach may take many by pleasant surprise. 

Then, fan favorite and omnipresent Burlington music aficionado Nosebleed Island will take the stage rolling around in his iconic wheelchair. Although putting casual concertgoers in a state of confusion, Joe Agresto’s comedic songs ranging from a “Rent a Cop” song based off of the melody of “A Whole New World” to the dancing favorite “Pterodactyl,” his set will be an enjoyable deviation from the mellow mood. 

Leading up to the main act are the Vultures of Cult, distortion-heavy local garage band anomaly. Against the airy beats of June Debris and the fun mood of Nosebleed Island, the primarily instrumental collective akin to Queens of the Stone Age would do better on a different night at the Monkey House.

In other local music news, Radio Bean is hosting a full docket on Friday night starting at 9 pm. After a successful show last fall well attended by UVM students, Bostonians Truman Peyote are coming back for a second round. Accompanied by Many Mansions and the main act, Kegs of Acid, a Brooklyn, NY psychedelic band, this show would be at the top of my list if not for the aforementioned Monkey House gig. 

After rocking the Monkey House Friday night, Nosebleed Island will be back in action the following night at Radio Bean at 9 pm. He will be opening up for a highly recommended singer from the local noise label, Aether Everywhere, Nuda Veritas. A 2005 graduate of UVM, she impressed a Friday night crowd a couple of weeks ago with her dynamic voice and experimental music comprised of loops, guitar, tapes, violin and xylophone. 

All in all, should turn out to be a good weekend.