Neko Case @ Radio City Music Hall

September 26th, 2013

Neko Case is on the road promoting her stellar new album "The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You".  She and her band took to the gargantuan stage at Radio City and I was there, seated in orchestra seats about 100 yards from where an orchestra would actually set up.  It had been a coon's age since I'd seen something at the Showplace of the Nation.  After countless shows at small venues around town, it felt enormous when I walked in.  I'd also forgotten how much I love Art Deco.  

After skipping the opener AC Newman (not feeling him) and downing a couple insanely priced Stellas, I settled into my aisle seat under the warm glow of the radiating arches of the proscenium. 

Joined by a four piece, and another female vocalist, Neko sang her heart out for almost two hours. 

There are two things that blow me away about Neko Case.  First, there's her voice.  It's as clean and clear as Rocky Mountain water.  She can do anything with it from belting high notes to delivering deep whispers.  The second thing that sets her apart is her eclectic sound.  Ms. Case's catalog includes acapella lullabies, country noir, coffee shop folk, refined bluegrass and indie rock.  Her performance at Radio City proved her to be an artist in her prime.  From a raucous version of "Man" to the sweet, chugging train rhythm of "This Tornado Loves You" to a painfully pretty rendition of "Calling Cards", her love song to former band mates, Neko and her band spun a beautiful web of wide ranging emotions and genres.  One of the highlights for me was "Night Still Comes".  It's a favorite of mine from the new album and she hit it out of the park.  Overall, I arrived a fan and left a bigger one.    

Scroll down for the set list, Neko's upcoming shows,

and to listen to her latest release.

Setlist

Where Did I Leave That Fire
This Tornado Loves You
Bracing for Sunday
Lion's Jaws
People Got A Lotta Nerve
That Teenage Feeling
Set Out Running
The Pharoahs
City Swans
Maybe Sparrow
Red Tide
Wild Creatures
In California
Deep Red Bells
Calling Cards
Hold On, Hold On
Night Still Comes
Man 

Encore:

Nearly Midnight, Honolulu
Local Girl
Margaret vs. Pauline
Ragtime (with AC Newman)


Upcoming Dates

10/05/13 – Santa Monica CA @ Way Over Yonder
10/06/13 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival
10/13/13 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival
10/15/13 – Lawrence KS @ Liberty Hall
10/16/13 – Minneapolis MN @ First Avenue
10/17/13 – Minneapolis MN @ First Avenue
10/18/13 – Milwaukee WI @ Riverside Theatre
10/19/13 – Columbus OH @ Newport Music Hall
10/20/13 – St. Louis MO @ The Pageant
10/23/13 – Nashville TN @ Cannery Ballroom
10/24/13 – Atlanta GA @ Buckhead Theatre
10/25/13 – Ponte Vedra FL @ Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
10/26/13 – Durham NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center
10/27/13 – Charlottesville VA @ The Paramount Theatre
10/29/13 – Ithaca NY @ State Theater of Ithaca
10/30/13 – Washington DC @ Lincoln Theatre
10/31/13 – Washington DC @ Lincoln Theatre
11/01/13 – Boston MA @ Orpheum Theatre

Majical Cloudz @ Glasslands

September 13, 2013

Photo courtesy of Arbutus Records

Going to this show felt a bit like I was on my way to finally meet someone I'd been having deep conversations with for months online.  Montreal's Majical Cloudz dropped their album "Impersonator" in May and we've been going steady since then.  My opinion of it evolved rapidly after putting it into heavy rotation.  The first couple listens I was conflicted.  Its minimalism drew me in, but it also challenged my ability to sit and focus.  The music transported me somewhere, but I couldn't figure out where I was.  Then, one night while cursing the Sandman being late again, this album revealed its beauty.  I felt a sense of peace wash over me.  Like a week alone at a cabin devoid of modern technology, the record's open spaces force you to slow down and look in the mirror.  At first, it feels uncomfortable, as you fumble for something to distract you.  It's an extended face to face conversation with strangers and no smartphone to reach for.  Stripped of all hipness and fluff, Majical Cloudz force you to bare your soul as they do the same.  I have no clue if this was the intended impact or just what comes naturally to the Canadian duo, Devon Welsh and Matthew Otto.  Whatever the case, their debut album is one of my favorites of 2013.  

Opening for the Cloudz was a band called Moon King from Toronto.  Had never heard of them and they were surprisingly good.  Big sound, big hair, and big crowd favorites.  Will be keeping an eye out for them.  

Next up was the main event.  Holding down stage left, as usual, I camped out with a pair of cold ones and took it in from close.  For over an hour they weaved their way through songs from "Impersonator" and a handful of new songs.  Devon warned the crowd before he started singing that he was suffering through a cold.  Here and there his voice fell short, but overall his pipes sounded great to me.  As a performer, his delivery was intense and focused.  He clenched the mic and stiffly bobbed his head.  He stared at the audience, only occasionally closing his eyes to focus on the notes he reached for.  In between songs his banter was awkward and playful.  The sold out crowd cheered him on and let him know they were on his side.  He rewarded their adulation by inciting them to pogo during their performance of "Mister".  "You'll seriously make my dream come true if you join me", he said.  Sure enough, the crowd bounced themselves into a borderline mosh pit as Devon and Matt delivered the goods.  It made for one of the more surreal moments of any show I've seen all year.  Just listen to the track and see what it incites you to do.  Losing your mind like a molly filled undergrad isn't a likely outcome.  But hey, the crowd loved it.  Maybe the duo's desire to get the crowd moving is a sign of where they're headed with their next release.  It will be a daunting task trying to improve on what they established on their debut.  

Overall, the Cloudz performance at Glasslands fell just short of great.  Meeting them after building them up in my mind for so long likely set the bar too high.  Oh well.  Still a solid show.  Unfortunately, photography wise, there wasn't much to see, thus the single photo above.  Plus, I just wanted to take them in.  I highly recommend giving "Impersonator" a chance in your rotation.  I'd be shocked if you fell for it immediately.  Give it time to work its majic and it may become a favorite of yours too.