Marcie Taylor

Tag: indie rock

  • Mistaken For Strangers and The National

    Mistaken For Strangers and The National

    Months later and I am still thinking about it. I watched the National in concert at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. As expected, the music was phenomenal. But what made the show extra special was the screening of “Mistaken for Strangers,” a documentary movie by Tom Berninger, who happens to be the younger brother of Matt, lead singer for the critically-acclaimed rock band The National.

    Painfully honest and comical at times, “Mistaken for Strangers,” tells the story of two brothers. It could be any two brothers in the world! The differences between two siblings, the unbreakable bonds, the joy and pain in any sibling relationship are universal. This film was supposed to be an opus BY the younger slacker bro Tom about his more successful older brother and his rock and roll lifestyle (which to Tom’s disappointment was really not very rock n’ roll). But in the process of going on tour with The National as a roadie, the film becomes more an introspective piece and leads Tom to think more about himself and where his life is going. Throughout the movie, awesome behind the scenes and concert footage are captured. You will also get a glimpse into the other “brothers” in the band – twins Aaron and Bryce Dessner, and Scott and Bryan Devendorf.

    If you are a National fan, you are in for a treat. And if you like docu-dramas with an indie feel about self-discovery, and maybe happen to have a sibling or two, then “Mistaken for Strangers,” will surely hit home.

    For your Music Monday listening and viewing pleasure, here is The National’s Tiny Desk Concert via NPR.

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    • Music Monday: Indie Rock Bands from Down Under

      I’m back to posting Music on Mondays. Here’s a playlist that I’ve been working on for a while. There are only a few songs but I do enjoy them. If you haven’t figured it out yet, they are all from Australian bands.
      I have fond memories of visiting Australia. And I even remember friends debating the virtues of Sydney vs. Melbourne (much like New York vs. Los Angeles), but it’s all good. Each coast is different but all lovely.

      I wonder why no Australian band has made it really big in America. I mean, Hollywood goes gaga over the Aussies… Hello, Hugh Jackman, the late Heath Ledger and now the Helmsworth brothers, why not music? I suppose AC/DC, INXS and Silverchair have experienced success in the past. But even Silverchair happened almost 20 years ago!

      Here are some promising new bands that are worth a listen.

      And just for fun, here is INXS’ breakout U.S. hit – “What You Need”(1986)

       

    • Music Monday: 2012 Indie Rock Ear Candy

      Thanks to Colorado blogger Greeblemonkey, I discovered Rdio in time to come up with my own list of tunes that make 2012 a memorable year in music for me. Some might be familiar to you as they’ve been played in commercials on TV, like for cars or computers. But if you want to know how I discovered this alternative sonic landscape, check out Sirius XMU, KCRW, NPR Music and various other online channels that feature new music.

      Don’t think me a music snob though.I listen to commercial radio too like KROQ but it is my sincerest hope that more people support independent artists in 2013. I mean, really, I get that Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were good and they’ve written good songs but we’ve been hearing them over and over for decades now. One might argue that bands like Gotye and Fun. have crossed over to mainstream consciousness but for what? To be played ad nauseam till Glee decides to cover it?

      I mean REALLY. So for my year-end music round up, check out three bands from the UK, six from the US, and 1 from Australia.

      Welcome to my 2012 jams.

      Update:
      It seems many people cannot listen to the music via Rdio, so I am adding some YouTube videos here and other links for your listening pleasure.

      “Jump Into the Fog” by The Wombats
      Most memorable line: I’m only here because…I want to twist the structure of my average day.

      “Trojans” by Atlas Genius
      Memorable lyric: Take it off, take it in, take off all the thoughts of what we’ve been.

      “Headlights” by Morning Parade
      Memorable lyric: Like a rabbit in your headlights, I am the beckon to your call.

      http://youtu.be/FcE9O2otHxs

      The rest of my list – 7 songs more are in this soundcloud set. Enjoy!

    • Music Monday: Tennis anyone?

      I’m on a serious retro kick right now, but more like retro contemporary in that I’m really digging shows (hello, Mad Men) and music that hark back to an earlier, more innocent time. It isn’t nostalgia either since I wasn’t born then and it isn’t just watching oldies just for the sake of it. What I really like are modern takes on the old stuff. I don’t think I’m alone in this.

      So I’m really into a band called “Tennis,” whose singer Alaina Moore’s voice is such a throwback,that it can’t help be adorable. The jangly guitars in the background only add to the retro vibe. Their music videos and website carry this theme as well.

      My favorite Tennis tune at the moment is “Origins.” Give it a listen.

    • Music Monday: Tapioca and The Flea

      New music excites me. New music performed live excites me even more. Unfortunately, my forays into live concert venues are few and far between so that I have to content myself to the usual online sources – blip.fm, myspace, bandcamp, soundcloud, npr music, kcrw, college radio, sirius xmu.

      Last month though I was lucky enough to catch an indie experimental pop-rock group called “Tapioca and the Flea”  at the Yelp All Hopped Up event at The Observatory in Santa Ana. According to what I’ve read, Tapioca and the Flea is really the stage name of recording artist Samuel Jacob from Los Angeles, who performs with his friends Ronnie Knott, (guitarist) and Frank Alva (Bass).

      Samuel is a charismatic lead singer and master-tinkerer of things ranging from vintage keyborads, synths, guitars and pedals. Someone told me that Tapioca reminded him of the Flaming Lips. To be sure, Samuel evokes Wayne Coyne, not only in his singing and songwriting style but in his skill at musical experimentation.

      Personally, I am not in love with the name Tapioca and The Flea but the music, ah, the music — with its infectious, beat-driven grooves now that’s something else.

      Give ’em a listen:

      http://youtu.be/zrnZUliN0lc

      Here are 2 videos I took at the Yelp event. You’ll have to forgive the quality. I shot them on my Droid.

      http://youtu.be/bWebvYIuSMg

       

      http://youtu.be/szN-tMCWoP8

    • Music Monday: Oberhofer

      How can you not love a band that name checks French composer Camille Saint-Saens in an interview and actually mentions Tchaikovsky and Mozart in song?

      Meet Oberhofer, one of my new favorite bands in the indie pop-rock music scene. Oberhofer is basically 21-year old musician Brad Oberhofer’s four piece band.  The music and words are all his and he comes across as genuinely sincere – a rare quality these days.

      Here is the video for “Away Frm U,” a very catchy tune that’s sure to have you singing along in no time.

      And if you want more, check out this Spin Magazine Backstage Pass interview.

      “I treat Twitter like a jokosphere.” — Brad Oberhofer  You can follow the band on Twitter at @oberhofermusic,  http://www.myspace.com/oberhofermusic and http://www.facebook.com/OberhoferJamz