Caught Kathryn Calder at The Mix in Georgetown on the last stop of her tour.  Hearing these songs live, you are reminded how catchy her songs are. She write pop very much in the tradition of The New Pornographers. Yes, if you like that band, you’ll like Kathryn Calder – she’s definitely following in that vein of Canadian indie pop.  Her voice sounded great; it was dominant in the mix, as it should be. She started out playing a tele and then switched to keyboard for the remainder of the show. Played with her eyes shut mostly, her foot tapping to the music, occasionally peeking out at the crowd, but seemed intent on internal evocation.  Can’t remember exact set list, but it featured all the pop songs from her two records, no covers. She’s got this one song “Who Are You” which always makes me think of The Who’s song of the same name.  Backing band knew their stuff.   Satisfying show.

Here’s some pics by Adam Forslund:

The guys from Real Estate might be some of the chillest people in Indie-rock. They make sunny day relaxed pop punk, ideal for a lazy morning or a slow afternoon. As a five piece their music is simple but not minimalistic; their songs sound like they were written on a bright summer day inside of a beach house full of pot smoke. I personally enjoy these kinds of songs in the fall, when the grey winter is approaching but the sun still sparkles through the changing colors on the trees. It is the warm reminder in cold weather that the sun is going to come back.

On stage their music is almost like a lullaby as it relaxes you to the core. They play their songs with energy and enthusiasm but they’re not songs that are going to make you jump around, they are songs that are going to make you feel good with a certain pleasantness. Their front man Matthew Mondanile, who also releases chill-wave music under Ducktails, looks like a the nerd of Indie-rock. They shoot the shit on stage, bantering with the audience and striking me as guys who would love to kick it with their fans. They’re not pretentious or whiney- just laid back cool guys whose music will make you feel happy.

Their single “Its Real” is their most upbeat song and contains an incredible catchy chorus. Here’s some pics by Adam Forslund:

The opening band was Big Troubles. I saw them about a month ago also at The Crocodile but opening for The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. They’re very similar to Pains in the sense that they’re trying to be the new past. Their guitarist slides his instrument as if he is emulating Johnny Marr of The Smiths. Their vocals are the sappy whiney sound that exploded in the early 2000s that bands like Pains are still holding onto but the singers in Big Troubles lack the confidence or power to make their sappiness worthwhile.

Their newest album is called “Romantic Comedy” which seems completely fitting. While they played I noticed all of the girls occupying The Crocodile. They smiled and danced, completely infatuated with Big Trouble’s tunes. I stood trying to hide the look of boredom on my face. Its kind of like a romantic comedy; girls swoon while guys tolerate.

Another Earshot Jazz Festival 2011 mind melter and they’re playin again tonight.  Matt Slocum Trio is Slocum on drums, Danny Grissett on piano and Darek Oles on bass. Once again, monster players with monster chops.  John Gilbreath introduced them, giving a shout to Tula’s – love that place – and then givin these guys props as up and cmoing masters. Wearing suits and looking snappy, they stayed a little more inbounds while they explored these tunes, enfolding themselves around tradition – doing things like trading 4s, or 8s, or at one point the trade just became a conversation between drummer and bassist.  Or moments of Slocum just playing a swing beat on the ride. But plenty of broken time. Such proficiency. Jazz musicians are Jedi.

They played two sets, mostly Slocum tunes, closing the second set with one called “Catalyst.”  Also played a Grissett song in the second set called “Viennese Summer” – what a melodic pianist he is, just so adept on the keys, unbelievable chording, beyond modal. Oles with emotive solos and so driving when all three were playing. Slocum getting some nice solos in, one all brushes. Real pretty tune in the first set dedicated to his girlfriend.  And another one about the Passaic River in New Jersey. Closed the first set with a Monk tune – they sent it. Also a couple tunes by some other composers. 

Kept thinking about interview with Eric Harland from James Farm, where he said:

Yes, when we play a song with a structure, we have the ability to float off away from that or remain in the structure.  But we all make the journey together and then whoever brings the song back, it’s not like there’s someone holding anyone back , like a ball and chain. You have the liberty to freely explore where you want to go. And we’ll go there with you and come back together. That’s the secret.

Well, it’s that time of year again in which mind blowing musical experiences await you in abundance: yes, Earshot Jazz Festival kicked off.  Caught the opening night performance by Endangered Blood.  Holy shit.  Was in the front row with three other drummers, all of our mouths agape at Jim Black’s prowess.  Not to mention Oscar Noriega (alto saxophone and bass clarinet), Trevor Dunn (bass) and Chris Speed (tenor saxophone), all of whom shredded with aplomb.  But it wasn’t just technical proficiency – it was the collective sound and energy of the band as a whole.  There wasn’t meter so much as a pulse, like the shoreline, everyone in tune to it but no one needing to reference it directly. We all know the ocean is there. Songs were journeys, going off in all directions, then coming back, rising to skronking heights and descending again to earth.  The occasional nod to genre but mostly going to brave new worlds.  As listener, flipped between tuning into a single player and then absorbing the collective sound produced, all four instruments greater than the sum, a force.  Reminded me a bit of James Farm: similarly mind blowing performance.

More coming from Earshot – see the upcoming shows page for additional recommendations for the festival.

Go see James Farm tonight/tomrrow ‘cause they were off the hook last night, just like last year: super hero players, rock star musicians, jazz virtuosos tearin it up.  Good sized crowd in attendance, appreciative, calling for an encore, giving them a standing ovation.  All players got their time in the limelight but also many moments of all four playing madly.  Kept thinking about the interview with drummer Eric Harland as I listened to them, his comment:

“When we play a song with a structure, we have the ability to float off away from that or remain in the structure.  But we all make the journey together and then whoever brings the song back, it’s not like there’s someone holding anyone back , like a ball and chain. You have the liberty to freely explore where you want to go. And we’ll go there with you and come back together. That’s the secret.”

You could hear that dynamic last night. Aaron Parks, the pianist, went some interesting places, very major key, even major pentatonic, although modal.  His solo w/o the other players was super emotive.  Harland too had a spot in the light w/o anyone else playing, super cool inventive drum solo. Joshua Redman tore it up of course, climaxing to a frenzied peak and then walking off to the side of the stage upon completing his statement. Didn’t catch the names of all of the compositions, but included “1981” by Parks into “If By  Air” by Redman, “Unravel” by Parks, “Coax” by Matt Penman, “Pollywog” by Redman, “Chronos” by Parks and a couple more I might have missed. Most of these are on their record, which is on Nonesuch, kinda cool to see that label signing these guys.

If you are a fan of jazz, get yrself to Jazz Alley Wed/Thurs of this week to catch a band at the top of their game.