Readers, I’ll be taking next week off so the column this week will cover happenings until In Tune returns on July 12. Have a safe and happy Independence Day!
Belle and Sebastian at the Civic
On June 11, Belle and Sebastian came to New Orleans for the first time in their over twenty year career. The Glaswegian baroque pop ensemble dropped into the Civic Theatre on their latest tour and delivered a career spanning set. A number of songs from their new EPs were bookended with a deep offering of their greatest efforts. It was great to see “Dog on Wheels”, “I’m a Cuckoo”, “Piazza, New York Catcher”, “The Blues are Still Blue” and “Funny Little Frog” all show up in the same set. Singer Stuart Murdoch’s voice was positively on point that night and the crowd was right there with him. I like Belle and Sebastian shows because they are fiercely independent. They have been doing their thing for a long time and they know exactly what their fans are looking for in a show. I love the tradition of inviting the audience up on the stage to dance during “The Boy with the Arab Strap”—it amplifies the party atmosphere and just makes everyone happy (makes for great pictures too). It’s nice to see a band transcend the need to be anything other than a group of folks in love with the act of performance itself—and Belle and Sebastian excel at performance. Check out their full set from ACL in 2014 below:
Guts Club album release party at Banks Street Bar Next Friday
Next Friday night, July 6, Guts Club will have a free show at Banks Street Bar to celebrate the release of their new record Trench Foot. Lindsey Baker and company will be joined by Blind Texas Marlin and Justin Ready and the echo prairie. I liked this record quite a bit. Check out my interview with Lindsey from April when she opened for Waxahatchee. Check out the track “Mustard Tears” below.
To Do For The Next Two Weeks
Tomorrow night Brass-A-Holics are the Free Friday show at Tips with CoolNasty. Next Thursday Rest, Repose is at Southport Hall. Essence Music Fest is the July 5 – 8. This year essence features Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, The Roots, Snoop Dogg and more. On Friday, July 6, Walter Wolfman Washington plays the Free Friday show at Tips. On the July 7, you can catch Questlove also at Tips with DJ Soul Sister. On Tuesday, July 10, C.W. Stoneking is at Gasa and Paramore is at Bold Music at Champions Square with Foster The People. Wednesday, July 11, Unknown Mortal Orchestra will be at Republic.
To Listen
- The Mothers have dropped an excellent new track via Youtube
- Great new single from Saintseneca as well via Youtube
- A complete version of the Radiohead song “Come To Your Senses” has finally surfaced online via Youtube