Make More Noise (Hometown Heroes Edition)

AWESOMESAUCE, dear listeners! It's the 50th episode of Make More Noise. To celebrate Sachi Subterranean put together a special 2 hour show featuring some of the best local, indie acts from Delaware, Philadelphia, and the general Mid-Atlantic region. This is the DIY scene that raised her, and shaped her musical tastes. Without these artists and friends, Sachi Subterranean never would have been able to DJ show after show, week after week, for the past two years. Press play and hear a myriad of aural influences from new folk to crust punk to experimental noise to electro pop. Originally aired on KXSC.org, a service of USC.

Make More Noise 50 (Hometown Heroes Edition) by Orsosachisays on Mixcloud

Playlist
Firefly - Travel Songs
Division - Fiance
Quakes - Sam Nobles
House - Thunderhank
Bok Choi - Rick Martel
Sister - Shane Palko
Dolphin Boy - Em McKeever
Don't Be Cruel - Dead Professional
I Wish I Could Lie - Stallions
Been A Long Time - Happy People
Heavy Home - The Spring Standards
Santa Clara - Brujo Magick
Down and Out in Delaware - Dustin Scobell
Way Up North - New Sweden
Rewind - Nathan Robinson
The Base of My Heart - The Hundred Acre Woods
What I Love - The Spinto Band
A Glitch Is A Glitch (NoSirE Mix) - Flying Lotus
Nights In - Nigro
Made Iridescent by a Passing Swan - Sun Airway
Toi Piano - Sacajaweeda
Seedstomper - Larhonda
Bed Bug - Point Breeze
Skygazer - Laika
Dinoye - TRTGA

Old Crow Medicine Show plays the El Rey

Opening with a rip roaring rendition of "Carry Me Back" the title track of their full-length release last year, Old Crow Medicine Show brought the house down for a sold-out show at the El Rey on Wednesday. The song's title and lyrics reference a tune from an older tradition "Carry Me Back To Old Virginia", which has roots dating back to the 1800s, and was popularized by many famous musicians including Jerry Lee Lewis and Louis Armstrong. These are the musical customs that inspire Old Crow Medicine Show, who reinterpret the sounds of folk long gone to speak to a new generation. In the digital era, Old Crow Medicine Show was discovered in a decidedly unmediated way. Doc Watson heard them busking on the corner where he used to play in Boone, North Carolina, and immediately asked the band to play his music festival. This band doesn't just talk the talk. They walk the walk.

Keeping true to folk traditions, frontman Ketch Secor regaled the audience with local tall tales while the band tuned. He went so far as to tell a story about driving down the Miracle Mile with a beautiful black haired Chicano girl...named Caroline, and as soon as he said her name, and the crowd laughed, the band launched into a song of the same name. The mood was thoroughly uproarious. Who would have known that Angelenos had such an appetite for old timey country music? During the foot-stomping "Mississippi Saturday Night", a single off the latest album, Secor and Chance McCoy wheeled off the original arrangement for a little double fiddle duel. Another song featured a mouth-blistering harmonica solo. If that sounds like something that would suit you, then you would have also appreciated Gill Landry's entire rack of resonator guitars, the upright bass solo, an audience singalong of "This Land Is Your Land", and the mason jar chandeliers that decorated the stage.

Just as the big old string bands of yesteryear would take turns leading songs or introducing members, the six guys that make up OCMS all had at least one chance to bring the crowd to a thunderous applause. This diversity made for a fantastically dynamic show that tackled everything from political songs that ended in a cry to bring the troops home to a George Jones tribute to a special mariachi inspired song complete with accordion to country cover of "American Girl". All that might sound a little crazy, but the authentic, warm, jovial personality and swagger of OCMS smooths everything out into the best time you could ever have on a Wednesday night.

I mostly write positive reviews on here, because I'm too busy for extra negativity. However, I don't always write over-the-ever-loving-glowing-moon reviews. This is a rare exception, because OCMS's live show not only put the biggest smile on my face and left my hands sore from clapping along, but it also pulled my heart strings. Their songs mention some of my favorite places in the world, like the Blue Ridge Mountains, the New River, the Cumberland Gap, Shenandoah, and the roads of North Carolina wreathed in dogwoods and pines. Not only do they sing about them, they capture the soul of soft blue-green mountains that roll on forever wreathed in mist. Several days later, and OCMS's harmonious lyrics are still leaving me homesick for the East coast.

Zion

Back in December I took a trip to Zion National Park in Utah. Not most ideal season for the park, but certainly less crowed. Though I had to slog through freezing rain and icy snow, it was worth it to capture the way the storm clouds collided with the canyon walls.

Youth Lagoon Plays The El Rey

Youth Lagoon, a.k.a. Trevor Powers, played the El Rey in Los Angeles this past Wednesday, one stop on a nationwide tour in support of his sophomore release, Wondrous Bughouse. The tour and album are markedly different than Powers' highly praised 2011 debut, but perhaps that's a good thing. While Youth Lagoon began as an introspective bedroom project tinged in adolescent longing, Powers has clearly matured as a musician and begun to explore the world. To achieve this new more intricate sound, Youth Lagoon has expanded to a full band. Consequently, Powers sounds less lonely. Though they played two popular tracks from the first album, "Cannons" and "17", Youth Lagoon mostly stuck to material of their new release.

Pausing between songs, someone in the crowed yelled, "How are you?" And, Trevor Powers pleasantly responded with "I'm good. Thank you for asking. This place is beautiful isn't it?" The audience cheered in appreciation. This was a far cry from the tour of his first release when he toured with just an accompanying guitarist, barely interacted with the audience, and brought sympathetic listeners to tears. While a Youth Lagoon concert is still a beautifully intimate experience, it's become a different kind of intimate, friendly rather than confessional.


These developments worked wonderfully for their new material, which driven by a drum kit thoroughly jammed and exuded all the psychadelic, otherworldly, experimental tones that make Wondrous Bughouse such an interesting album. The performance crescendo to an anthem-like end that left many in the audience with rapt smiles on their face. However, when the full band tackled Powers' earlier solo recordings, the songs ended up sounding like overblown ballads.

All the same, I'm really glad I went to check this tour out. Given Powers tremendous developments as a musician, I'm eagerly anticipating the continued success of his career. Plus, I left in a thoroughly better mood, and picked up a physical copy of Wondrous Bughouse. Basically, going to see Youth Lagoon live is always a good idea.

Make More Noise 049

Spring is sprung, and the world is blooming with new singles! Check out new music from Bibio, Small Black, Mount Kimbie, Oberhofer, and more. All of these talented artists are releasing highly anticipated albums in the next few weeks. Get excited! It's time for new mixes for sunny strolls and blue skies. Brought to you by KXSC.org and USC.

Make More Noise 049 by Orsosachisays on Mixcloud

Playlist
After the Afterlife - CocoRosie
Made To Stray - Mount Kimbie
Free At Dawn - Small Black
Slyd - !!!
Name In Lights - Little Daylight
Your Life Your Call - Junip
A tout a l'heure - Bibio
Shout It Out - Mikal Cronin
Earplugs - Oberhofer
All The Time - The Strokes
Evil Friends - Portugal. The Man
Never Run Away - Kurt Vile
Sacrilege - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Out of My League - Fitz and The Tantrums
Let's Go Swimming Wild - Sweet Baboo
Never Wanted Your Love - She & Him