Live: Los Campesinos!

When: 1/14
Where: SoundFix Records Cafe

Los Campesinos! are a Welsh pop band that made my "Best Albums of 2008" list not once but twice (placing at #15 and #2). Their songs are pretty much irresistible, with rich orchestration, bright melodies and an attitude that draws equally from punk and twee (though the music is definitely neither one).

I thought there were eight Campesinos, but it turns out there are only seven, and for the present tour, their numbers have dwindled to six - the violinist was apparently too ill to travel. Still, it's a pretty big band with pretty complicated arrangements and I wasn't expecting their live show to live up to their records in terms of detail and precision.

But it did - it even surpassed the recorded material at times! Because the members of the band are all so young, it's almost disorienting to see how well they play - they achieve a level of tightness you would expect from much more seasoned musicians. This was made possible by a rock-solid rhythm section of high-speed drums and steady, dominating bass. However, the most impressive musicianship in the band certainly came from the guitars - both guitarists delivered their complex parts with outstanding ease, reacting to the rest of the band and churning out fresh ideas without missing a note.


Los Campesinos! (notice how Gareth is wearing a Bikini Kill shirt)
The band is massively fun to watch too. Drummer Ollie banged some parts out on the piano that happened to be stored next to his drumset, while singer Gareth grabbed some extra sticks and pounded on the cymbals. They were playing on the fly, having fun and still taking the performance very seriously. They stumbled a few times - mostly because they hadn't even rehearsed without violin and were just discovering new holes in their music as they went along. Things got messy at times too, but never out of the band's control, and anyway, Los Campesinos! aren't supposed to sound tidy.

The set list was killer:
1. Death to Los Campesinos!
2. My Year In Lists
3. All Your Kayfabe Friends
4. ??? (didn't know this one)
5. You! Me! Dancing!

Los Campesinos! are going on a tour all over the South and Midwest, so don't miss them if they come your way. For the New Yorkers who missed this show, don't worry - they play again on Valentines Day and the day after at Bowery Ballroom with the mindblowing Titus Andronicus. See you there!

Live: Longwave

When: 11/9
Where: Sound Fix Lounge, Williamsburg

When I heard Longwave was doing an acoustic set at a cafe this weekend, I certainly raised an eyebrow. If you're not familiar with Longwave, you'll have to trust me that they are not an acoustic band. They are known for their wall-of-sound, effects-laden guitar music. Unplugged, I was curious what would even be left.

As it turns out, a lot. Acoustic sets by electric bands usually involve everyone strumming their acoustic guitars just like electric ones and hoping the audience can imagine what effects would kick in where. But unlike so many bands, Longwave took the time to write new arrangements for the show, transforming their songs into something completely new but equally beautiful. Replacing overdrive pedals with ukulele and a full drum-kit with shakers and a snare drum, the band's acoustic set-up allowed their songwriting to come to the fore.

All of the members showed great restraint in never overplaying, even when members had to sit out. The set was refreshingly short and while I would have loved more, it's nice to hear a band limit themselves to the songs that they know are good for the show. I left the concert impressed not only with this band's musical talent but also with their outstanding respect for their fans. If all musicians were as considerate as these, concert tickets would be worth their prices and the world would be a much kinder place.

[I should mention that this show was in support of Longwave's new album, officially released tomorrow. I'm going to try my best to get an album review up very soon, so stay tuned.]