P O T L A T C H - P R E S E N T S

It was a long vacation, and an even longer re-acclimation to home. While on the road, I had the pleasure of reviewing two separate bands, and here I will document my experience with them.

The first, and most importantly, chronologically speaking, is Sound Semantics. Why? Because their album, "At the Drop of a Hat," is coming out tomorrow at Work/Sound, along with a pretty impressive tour afterward. Here's some quick specs on the band: a two piece, usually just guitar, simple percussion or other noises, and two amazingly skilled singers. The style is something that, for a lack of over-explanation: has probably been done before (I'm looking at you, Elliot Smith). That's not to say its not worth listening to, as there are some things this band does right: the vocal control of Allie Silverberg is impressive, the melodies are unique-- so unique that sometimes its even hard to see how someone would craft such things. But they do craft such things--somehow. The drawbacks to this album was that it was so sparse, there is so little happening, that if you don't entirely like one quality of it, lets say-- the lyrics, or the melodies, the guitar parts, or the tones of the singers-- well, you're probably not going to like this record. And as neutral as a statement as this is: if it clicks, well, then it clicks, and you're going to listen to the whole thing and love it. If not, try picking up Elliot Smith. If you didn't like Elliot Smith, then you probably won't want this in your CD player.

Sound Semantic Space: http://www.myspace.com/soundsemantics

 

On another plane of musicianship, I was able to hear a two song EP from Van Go Lion. This is a two piece in an entirely different realm than Sound Semantics: electropop. Their sound is energetic, deep, and amazingly produced. It sounds kind of like a top 40's song that I haven't yet heard. The energy is there, I can almost see or feel it! There are moments where this band goes into a state that would make other 90's-pop-revivalist acts ashamed, as this EP accomplishes it incredibly well. By God, I can see a parallel universe where I am sitting as an eight year old next to my mom in our minivan in 1992, and I'm singing along to Van Go Lion as a child before I hit puberty, and my mom and I are both so happy. And we are driving back from getting milkshakes together. This band is something I want to hear more from.

Van Go Lion Space: http://www.myspace.com/vangolion

 

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This video was shot in the fall but took awhile to edit as I wanted to make all the footage work just right- good things take time sometimes! Watch as Luz and her neighbor cook and Ben plays with Bamba- the namesake cat. Many jokes, oddities, and tastiness ensue as Luz makes the first decidedly "NW" dish in the Cooking with... series. Enjoy!

 

Magical Quinoa Scramble

• Pumpkin Seeds
• Coconut Oil
• Currants
• Quinoa
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Yams

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It has been awhile since the last cooking video... sorry for the delay folks. But, we're back with a bang- a chilled out bang a la WAMPIRE. Rocky teaches us how to make what he describes as a "good stoner comfort food" and a darn delicious one at that!

Eat Yr Heart Out - A Culinary Music Fest

Be sure to come and see the live incarnation of "Cooking with..." at Holocene on April 8th 2010 for $3

If you're a band and you fancy yourself handy in the kitchen, you should definitely enter in the "Band Bake Off" competition to be judged by TYPHOON Once the show happens we will post all the recipes from bands and winners on the Eat Yr Heart Out Website

St. Frankie Lee & WAMPIRE will both be performing in top form. There will also be a poutine eating contest courtesy of Potato Champion and a live cooking demonstration by Guidance Counselor and a food themed DJ set by Broken Window (Community Library) 

So, bands, food, wackiness, uh yah... you don't want to miss this!

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Here's some belated footage of Zoo Girl at Potlatch Present's first year anniversary show. Expect more video's bubbling up from this show as the weeks continue! Hey, it's better late than never, which, if you're anything like us, is something you hear all the time when it comes to birthday gifts.

        Zoo Girl @ Potlatch Presents 1 Year Anniversary from oknowitsfuntime on Vimeo.

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"Inside Out" by Swim Swam Swum from Robin Margolis on Vimeo.

It was New Year's Day. Hang-overs (alcoholic and otherwise) were in full effect, along with a returning sense that things might not be so different after all this year. Even so, a large number of brave souls ventured out (including yours truly and Darren with cameras in hand) to catch  Quiet Countries, Swim Swam Swum, and Wow and Flutter.

As Winter returns declaring our last few days to have been a cruel charade, tells us no, Spring has not yet sprung, here's a song from that subdued yet triumphant night.

Special Thanks to Mississippi Studios, Nalin, and Jeremy for helping us make this video the best it could be.

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