Show Preview: David Bazan @ The Parish (12/1)

Date 12/1/12
Location The Parish
Doors 9pm
Tickets SOLD OUT!

If only I was in town Saturday night, I’d surely be at the Parish on Saturday night for a nostalgic show featuring David Bazan playing the Pedro the Lion classic Control.  Now I don’t see any word of an opener on the website, so attendees are all in for a special treat to take us back to our younger days.  My apologies for those of you without tickets, because the show is sold out.  This show post made me go back and listen to that classic album from 2002, and you should really be there to relive the glory.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Penetration.mp3]

Download: Pedro the Lion – Penetration [MP3]

Mellow Folk Jam from The Crackling

Kenton Loewen is a Vancouver musician who works with the name The Crackling, but he might do well just to go with Dave Bazan Jr. I meanest this in the sincerest form of flattery, and also with the intent of letting you know how much we love both Bazan and our newly annointed Bazan Jr.  Loewen, with help from various collaborators is set to release the Ashen EP on May 22nd, and you should expect to find some similarities to early Pedro work, from the heavy soft heavy guitar strumming to the introspective lyrics.  I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve heard so far, so I wanted to share it with you all, my Inter web friends!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/01-Keep-Me-Drunk.mp3]

Download:The Crackling – Keep Me Drunk [MP3]

David Bazan – Strange Negotiations

Rating: ★★★★☆

David Bazan has a long list of accomplishments and releases, be it with Pedro the Lion, one of his other bands, or alone. With this as his third full length under his own name, Bazan adds another notch to his belt of alternative indie rock achievements, and with it he brings the same in-depth songwriting and deep man voice as before.

For fans of this bloke, you’ll be pleased to hear that not much has changed sound wise; he didn’t feel any urge to suddenly mix things up with electronic beats. It’s classic Bazan, profound lyrics that delve into personal subjects, urging you to do the same as you listen. Records from this man have always been personal, and Strange Negotiations is no exception (not that you would want it any other way).  The album begins with “Wolves At The Door,” which kicks things off a little faster than one might except from this gentleman. You get more of a grasp of a pop tune as opposed to a deeply rooted and meditative slow jam that you would expect. Nevertheless, the implications of this man are not to be missed, especially when he plainly states, “You’re a goddamn fool and I love you.” It begins the motif of acceptance through faults and Strange Negotiations.

As you move down the track list, song after song strikes with the same deep resonance, none of which fall as too vague or intricate. Each and every song has aspects that push it up to Bazan’s level of intimacy, adding to your relationship with this man, as he confides in you his innermost sentiments and stories. Whilst doing this, he is able to build up such a relationship to the point where he can give some epigrams to his audience, but it doesn’t feel like he is preaching, but rather mentioning something to a close friend over a drink. On “People,” one of my favorites, Bazan nonchalantly iterates words of solemn truth like “When you love the truth enough you start to tell it all the time / when it gets you into trouble, you discover you don’t mind.” It’s the little lines like that, that increase my love for this man and his writing.

Much later on the album, when you reach the title track “Strange Negotiations,” it only feels right that it is a long, drawn out reflection. It feels like this whole album has been building up to this point, and at six minutes and ten seconds, you can let his voice sink into the recess of your mind, touching something, hopefully evoking some sort of emotional response. The finisher, “Won’t Let Go,” which is as slow and provocative as its predecessor, follows, to end on a serious note.

In all, Strange Negotiations is a ten song work of carefully crafted lyrics and melodies that are sure to strike companionship into those who choose to listen, if companionship with David Bazan had not already existed.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/01-Wolves-At-The-Door.mp3]

Download: David Bazan – Wolves At The Door [MP3]

New Music From David Bazan

We here at ATH love us some David Bazan so we tend to pay attention when the man drops new music our way.  This new track called “Wolves at the Door” is the opening number to Bazan’s latest album Strange Negotiations due out May 24th on Barsuk.  It really is a great pop song that highlights one of the most underrated songwriters in the indie game.  The guy’s good.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/01-Wolves-At-The-Door.mp3]

Download: David Bazan – Wolves At The Door [MP3]

ACL Wrap-Up: The Top Ten Acts

Well, we’ve finally recovered, and we hope your sunburn is peeling and your liver is resting quietly in a tub of water.  After a long weekend, filled with good memories, tunes and pretty much anything else we needed, we got down to the nitty-gritty. That’s right folks, after careful collaboration, and tireless hours of discussion, we bring you our Top Ten Acts of Austin City Limits 2010.

ACL Interviews: David Bazan

I first discovered David Bazan and his work in Pedro the Lion when I was just a young lad in my early high school years. I was always drawn to Bazan’s early post-emo work and have continued to follow his career for the last 10 years or so. Being such a big fan of his work in Pedro, Headphones, and now solo, I was pretty excited to land an interview with Bazan to preview his spot on the ACL festival roster this weekend. Sometimes this job has it’s perks. Follow the jump to read more from the conversation between David and I.

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ACL Battles: LCD/Bordello/Monsters/Bazan

So every year ACL festival has a few tough choices to make when they schedule two really great bands playing at exactly the same time.  Typically we’re stuck with making a choice between two bands, but this year we have been faced with a choice between FOUR great bands.  The first thing that came to mind when I saw the ACL schedule was this huge conflict between these four heavy hitters on Saturday.  So let’s see what we have here… First up for consideration is a performance from incredible gypsy-punk band and awesome live group Gogol Bordello beginning at 6:30 on the AMD stage.  Then you have the option of stopping by the Austin Ventures stage at 6:00 for the two hour long Monsters of Folk show.  Or maybe you fancy a solid veteran songwriter in the form of David Bazan beginning at 6:40 on the BMI stage.  Last but not least, you can check out great live performers LCD Soundsystem on the Budweiser stage at 6:30.  So what’s it gonna be?  Some are saying you could maybe check out a few songs from each?  Maybe you want to check out a bit of one and then slide over to catch the end of the Monsters of Folk set?  I personally don’t like a lot of migrating during sets so I want to make a choice and stick with it.  I’m honestly still torn on this one… You guys have any insight?

New Music from Frederik Teige

Frederik Teige spends the majority of his days backing up Efterklang in the live setting. But, he’s just released a new single of his own, which shows a lot of incredible promise.  The tracks is called “What is New,” and it might surprise people who follow his main gig, mostly because it’s so straight ahead in its approach to pop goodness.  Somehow I keep thinking of David Bazan when listening. Give it a test, and tell us if you dig it.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/FrederikTeige-WhatIsNew.mp3]

Download: Frederik Teige-What Is New [MP3]

2009 Top 50 Albums

bestof2009cover_albums

Creating a Top 50 Albums list is never easy.  You have to battle with what you think the world believes, and what you truly believe in your heart, to be solid jams.  We have even more trouble because we have to three writers, all who have different ideas, and we have to make those ideas fit into a neat box.  Well, we got it done, and honestly, our criteria was based on two things: how great we thought the album was, artistically speaking, and how long we listened to it without getting bored.  That’s it. It’s fool proof; you might not like it, but it’s our list, so here it is… Read more

FT50: Songs of 2009

bestof2009cover_songsWe have to start this list off with a disclaimer.  We have three writers, all with different tastes, so the list should reflect that a little bit.  Also, these are our opinions, and by no means, are they meant to be seen as an “end all be all” to the question of what were the best songs of 2009.  That being said, we like our list quite a bit.  Sure, it’s got some expected numbers at the top, but the rest of the list is genius.  We’ve got some of the songs streaming for you, and the rest take you straight to youtube.  Follow the jump for full list.

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