Spring Soundtrack

It's a busy time of year, but somehow I've still managed to get out to hear some good music lately.

The New Pornographers and Belle & Sebastian played the Paramount theatre in Seattle on March 26. Neko Case's voice is so distinctive that, for me, without her the New Pornographers sounded like just another indie rock band. But I got over my disappointment at not seeing Neko and realized they're still a good band - A.C. Newman has admirably stepped up to the plate as frontman, and Twin Cinema is a fun record.

There's something about Belle & Sebastian that brings out the adoring fangirl in me. Maybe it's because my appreciation of their music has survived otherwise drastic in taste over the years. They put in a great show, always ready to interact with their audience. I love bands who have this ability to convince every audience that this particular show is special (or, ya know, maybe it's just the shows I go to). "I feel like we fit in this place like a hand in a glove or something," said Stuart Murdoch.

Stuart was as charming as the last time I'd seen them play (on my birthday in Toronto a few years ago), but this time I was increasingly impressed (ok, it's possible that "enamored" might be a better word) with Stevie Jackson, the suit-wearing, robot-dancing, melodica (or impromtu spaceship)-touting other frontman.

When they played “Jonathan David,” a really sweet song about a love triangle, they brought up a cute girl in a vintage dress from the audience to act out the song. She played the part well, dancing with both Stuart and Stevie and mimicking a beating heart with her hands. I grinned like an idiot, as I did when they played "Boy with the Arab Strap," one of my favourite songs. Thanks to the persistence of a couple of friends (because I would never have pulled off this kind of thing on my own), we ended up meeting the band after the show. I tried to avoid turning into a puddle of gushing fangirl, but did tell Stevie that I enjoyed his dancing.

Frog Eyes and the Pink Mountaintops played at Sugar in Victoria last Friday night, April 7th. A favourite of the local indie scene, Frog Eyes is a ubiquitous opening band in Victoria. Though they definitely had me tapping my toes and wiggling my shoulders, there's something aggressive about the lead vocals that I find a little off-putting.

I think Sugar uses especially potent gin or something, because it tasted a little funny, and by the time I'd had a double G&T and the Mountaintops got on stage, I couldn't not enjoy them. I especially love their song "Tourist in my Town," written about (where else?) Victoria. It's pretty fitting that I saw these two bands near the end of my tenure in Victoria, actually, because they played the first show I saw in Victoria in September 2004.

Last night Sarah Harmer played the Alix Goolden Hall, a gorgeous church and concert venue. There's something to be said for a show where you can sit down -- it was very calming, and cozy. Ms. Harper looked quite fetching in her pretty skirt and black heels (which she removed by the end of the show, dancing in her bare feet). I'm a sucker for large string instruments (in this case, the upright bass) and was quite impressed with the clarinetist. I used to be a clarinetist, so I really appreciate it when the clarinet is incorporated into any type of alternative music. Basically, I like it when bands deviate from the standard guitar, bass and drum combo.

Sarah Harmer had a nice chemistry with the audience that made for a great show. She played an good range of songs and several covers, including an especially gorgeous one by the Weakerthans, one by Luther Wright, one by Dolly Parton (she received a fax from Dolly on Valentine's Day about this song), and something bluesy from the 40s. I liked the stories that introduced many of the songs -- before the Luther Wright cover she talked about how, one of the first time she played in Victoria, Luther Wright got so into it he accidentally caught her just above her left eyebrow with his guitar. She still has the scar. Then there her introduction to "Escarpment Blues," lamenting that some company wants to turn parts of the Niagara escarpment, including the wetlands in her parents' backyard in Burlington, into a giant rock pile.