Wow! The cello suits Welcome Home really well. Got me thinking Ben, you've crossed choirs off the list, how about touring with different orchestras next!
So this is a slightly older song I quite enjoy. After this, I'll try to look up some recent digs of mine. Anyway, this is such extravagant storytelling of such a simple task...beetles investigating a pile of leaves burning (aka, this unknown "great light"). You gotta love that climax.
I discovered a great Danish band a few times ago called Efterklang. This is a video from an acoustic session: And another video from a Norwegian band, Moddi. Another acoustic session:
I got to see Sigur Ros last night. I've been trying to see them live for a long time now. They're a bucket list band for me, and I've wanted to see them for a good 10 years now, but I always miss them for some odd reason. Like when I had tickets to see the Jonsi solo show, and was gonna visit a friend at the same time, but I missed my flight. But it finally worked out. It was one of the best shows I've ever seen. If you ever get a chance to see them live, do it. Really a wonderful show. Makes me wish I had a sound engineer to travel with and someone to do lighting. Both the audio and visuals of their shows are brilliant. And it reminded me of how nice a live performance can be. I tend to forget that. But it also reminded me how much I don't like crowds at shows, especially in the US. I will never understand why people pay to see a show, then spend the entirety of it talking, constantly walking back and forth for drinks and taking pictures of themselves. There's plenty of time before and after for those things. Why do it during the sets? And I'm not saying this as a performer. When playing shows, I'm grateful anyone comes at all. But as a viewer, it's annoying. And it's why I almost never watch shows in my hometown. The past 3 shows I saw in Jacksonville, no one would stop talking. I never go anymore unless the show is in a theater, or I know the band is so loud that it won't matter (Mogwai was nice for this). But yeah. Sigur Ros. See them if you can. Really something.
I've found some great bands from Morr Music http://www.morrmusic.com/artist/all/, my favorites are Radical face (Which lead me to find Morr Music), Seabear (Favorite live performance from them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXL1P9GW3VI) and Butcher The Bar (http://soundcloud.com/butcher-the-bar).
This is something that has always bothered me as well. Why not just go to a bar if you just want to talk to your friends? It's annoying for the people around you and rude for the performer as well. If someone someone next to me just won't shut up, I ask if they can keep it down. It doesn't always work, but at least I tried right? It's really impressive when you see a band in a sold out venue and everyone is quiet. I've had that a couple of times, the one I remember the most was with Bon Iver a few years ago.
I saw Bon Iver live last year and you could have heard a pin drop in Re:Stacks, it was great. Personally, I always go to shows for the music but I think the reason some people are noisy is because they see music shows more as a social outing. And like other types of outings whatever it is you're doing, you're only really half there for that, the other half is for seeing and socialising with friends.
Last time I saw Iron and Wine, I couldn't even hear him over all the talking. I was towards the back, and they were drowning him out. It was a bummer. I was worried the Sigur Ros show would end up like that, but I quickly moved to a better position and got away from all the commotion. And I realize it's a social thing for some people. It can be for me too. I always see tons of folks I haven't seen for a while at shows. But I don't talk during sets. Only between or after. Or if I'm genuinely more interested in catching up than watching the current band, I'll step outside, or go to the back of the venue at the very least. But yeah, it's particularly bad in my town, to the point where I'd rather drive out of the city if it's a band I really want to see.
Hey Ben - I'm in complete agreement with you. However, I guess I was lucky here in Denver when I got to see Sigur Ros at Red Rocks. It was a while ago, but it was fascinating as it was the first outdoor show I'd ever attended where all of the people in the crowd (for the most part) actually sat down and listened! The performance was out of this world - just beautiful and I just could not believe how the crowd was really quiet and just sat there paying attention to the performance. Something in the air that night I guess, but Sigur Ros set the mood so perfectly that I think the wonderful music/songs played a part. I completely agree though - for the most part there is always way too much annoying chatter and I find that it is disrepectful to the performer(s). Yep, the 2 times I've seen Mogwai I didn't notice it as much, lol. Although during their super quiet parts, it was fairly quiet in the audience - I guess the loud parts really get everyone's attention!
I recently bought a Sigur Ros Vinyl, loved it. Really interesting to hear the musical details they put out in every song. I find that with shows, it depends on what kind of band you are there to see. At least here in my town, the social kind of people who won't shut up are usually show up for popular band shows. When its something more unique, people will actually listen. But I guess its something to do with the availability of music. Down here people listen to the radio or to whatever is on top 20 lists most of the time. Minstream music here is the very top of the mainstream bands in the U.S. So if you had someone like Sigur Ros or Album Leaf down here, only people who are really into it and whent out of their way to get the music will know about it.
I've discovered so many new artists from this thread thanks to everyone's great suggestions! I figure I ought to share a few myself. Here's an oldie I can't believe no one's posted yet, and a newish local band I'm sure you'll all enjoy. Neutral Milk Hotel - Oh, Comely (My favorite, but not as popular as Holland, 1945) Bison - Switzerland
I felt in love with Bison - Switzerland. Thanks for sharing mate. Here's my contribution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsVZny-F5sY
First of all I want to say thank you for so many good songs! I found some tunes that I really enjoyed. Actually I made a Spotify playlist with all off your suggestions and you can find it here: Welcome Home: Music Thread (Hope you all don't mind) There were some songs that was not available but at this time there is 105 tracks and I will update it as the thread continues My contribution for now have to be: and a Prince cover by John Heart Jackie - When You Were Mine http://goo.gl/6268Z
Been listening to a lot of Escalator Hill recently, a band that is very unheard of and has very catchy music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D98iv_YXmnU&feature=relmfu
I've been listening to Canada's band Stars new album The North. The release is Monday I believe but by my preorder I recieved it early Friday and I have had them playing all weekend. I'm loving the new works. Few live shows I've seen of theirs, and they never disappoint. Give a listen. Stars - The Theory of Relativity Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War
Hello everyone! I play in a folk duo called My Kingdom For A Horse, based in Amsterdam. Ben has always been one of the strongest influences I've had as a song writer, so there's a chance you might find what we do somehow enjoyable. This is our last song (any feedback is more than welcome). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFI2T2tMYGo On a separate note, I just found out about this forum and it's amazing (I'm already listening to some of the music that's been posted). And Ben, your last gig here in Amsterdam was amazing but we need you back, soon! Cheers Pietro
The video wasn't working for me Pietro, so I'm just embedding here so it might work Edit: Success, it worked. Very well played and sung. Somebody sent me this the other day, it's very beautiful:
Great work! Enjoyed listening to your playlist. For a bit of dirty lo-fi, you cant go past Chain and the Gang's new offering...almost need a shower after listening to this one:
I'm gonna see the Flaming Lips tonight. I haven't seen them since the Soft Bulletin tour, but that show was one of my all-time favorites. They made it feel like it was your birthday party.
