November is always a great month for music in New Orleans. The weather finally begins to cool down, and the bands flock to town to enjoy our fall weather. This year is no exception. Things kick off with three strong female voices. First, on Nov. 4, Angel Olsen will play One Eyed Jacks. Olsen’s unique blend of indie rock and folk is amplified by her astounding lyrical turns. Second, First Aid Kit will be at the House of Blues on the 6th. These Swedish sisters have absolutely internalized the feel and tone of American folk music. Their interlocking melodies are otherworldly and completely absorbing to the ear. Look for them to do one of their amazing covers.
The same night as First Aid Kit, This Will Destroy You will take the stage at One Eyed Jacks. TWDY are touring on their excellent new record, Another Language. The power of their lengthy instrumental journeys has never been stronger than on this record. In what proves to make for a busy week, the very next night on Nov. 7, The Pains of Being Pure of Heart, a headliner in their own right, will open for The New Pornographers at the Civic. On their last two records, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart have recaptured the fuzzy aesthetic that made The Jesus and Mary Chain such a force at their peak. What more can be said about The New Pornographers? The Canadian supergroup will leverage the vocal force of Carl Newman and Neko Case to run through a string of high-intensity hits. You will have to look hard to find a better evening of music. In a similar vein, Spider Bags will play the Gasa Gasa on the 8th. This Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based project creates excellent guitar-driven rock stories. Check out their most recent record, Frozen Letter, for a taste of their unique sound.
Early November contains the stand out rock acts, while late November is for the producers. On Nov. 21 Caribou, aka Dan Snaith, will bring his mathematically precise electronic spectacle to One Eyed Jacks. Snaith’s doctorate in mathematics is clearly present in the precision and complexity of his percussion. On the 29th FKA Twigs, aka Tahliah Debrett Barnett, will bring her sultry electro pop to Republic. Taken together, her records EP1 and EP2 offer a tour of the spaces that technology has opened for contemporary producers.
To contact Mike Griffith about music news, upcoming performances and recordings, email Mike@MyNewOrleans.com or contact him through Twitter @Minima.
Note: Dates are subject to change.
Playlist of mentioned bands available at: bit.ly/InTune11-14
Fun for fall
On the lighter side of coming attractions, Macaulay Culkin (yes, that Macaulay Culkin) brings his vanity project, The Pizza Underground, to the Publiq House on the Nov. 7. The Pizza Underground’s songs are all Velvet Underground songs with pizza-themed lyrics. It is as surreal and surprisingly fun as it sounds. Also check out the duo Garfunkel and Oats on the 22nd at the House of Blues. Far from their namesakes, these female comedians who sprang from the Upright Citizens Brigade will be performing their hilarious (often blue) musical narratives.
