Jukebox the Ghost, Futureheads, The Drums & Surfer Blood, Felice Brothers & Adam Haworth Stephens, Pigeon John, Ra Ra Riot, Film School & Depreciation Guild
Live: Music Picks Oct. 7-13
By Dan Nailen
Jukebox the Ghost
Philly-based trio Jukebox the Ghost got some hype for their 2008 debut, Let Live and Let Ghosts, but it was the 300-plus shows they played in support of that album that influenced their followup’s sound, taking it into louder, edgier terrain. As the band’s pianist, Ben Thornewill, puts it, “You’re going to think and write differently after 300 shows. People change, different things are going to happen to you, you get some new influences, and the way you do your songwriting and arranging is going to be different.” Producer Peter Katis, a vet of projects by Interpol and The National, still lets the sunny side of the band through on the new Everything Under the Sun, thankfully, and the new set is just as full of insistent hooks as its predecessor. Hooray for Earth and A B & The Sea open the show. Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 6:30 p.m., $8
Friday Oct. 8
Futureheads
Five years ago, it seemed like jaunty guitar rock from the U.K. was poised to take over the world, thanks to Gang of Four-influenced young pups like Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party and these fellows. That moment’s passed, but the Futureheads (allegedly named for the Flaming Lips’ album Hit to Death in the Future Head) have continued to produce winning albums of energetic pop-rock full of intricately layered harmony vocals and punk spirit. The band’s new album, The Chaos, is another in a long line of criminally underappreciated releases. Check it out, but more importantly, go see the show; seeing the Futureheads live will make you a fan for life. It happened to me when they played a long-defunct Salt Lake City all-ages joint while touring in support of their 2004 debut, and it can happen to you. Young the Giant and The So So Glos open the show. Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 7 p.m., $12
The Drums, Surfer Blood
This co-headlining tour of New York City’s The Drums and Florida’s Surfer Blood is an indie-pop fan’s dream gig. The Drums are currently being hailed as the “coolest band in New York,” and while I wouldn’t want to saddle any band with that label, this catchy quartet is doing its best to live up to the hype thanks to a strong self-titled debut album and growing rep as a live juggernaut. The deliciously named Surfer Blood is riding the success of their 2009 breakthrough hit “Swim,” a tune music-hipster Bible Pitchfork put at No. 37 on its list of 2009’s 100 best tunes. The Dewars open the show. The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 9 p.m., $12
Saturday Oct. 9
Felice Brothers, Adam Haworth Stephens
This double bill might be one of the more inspired pairings of the fall touring season. The headlining Felice Brothers are a remarkably rootsy crew, considering their upbringing in the New York vacation wonderland of the Catskill Mountains. As comfortable busking on a street corner acoustic-style as they are ramping up the energy with electrified takes on favorites like “Whiskey in My Whiskey” and “Frankie’s Gun!,” the Felice Brothers are a live gem. You can say the same for opener Adam Haworth Stephens, who is better known as half of Two Gallants. His solo debut, We Live On Cliffs, is a natural extension of his work in Two Gallants, while expanding his sonic palette in exceedingly pleasing ways. The State Room, 638 S. State, 9 p.m., $13 advance/$15 day of show
Sunday Oct. 10
Pigeon John
Los Angeles rapper Pigeon John named his debut Pigeon John … and the Summertime Pool Party. You might think that in naming his follow-up LP Dragon Slayer, the typically happy-go-lucky rhyme machine was moving into much darker territory. Thankfully, that’s not so, although Pigeon John’s new tunes do add a bit of rock instrumentation into the mix that wasn’t there before. Pairing with DJ Abilities for this tour, you can expect a fiery stage show with intricate beats and an even more intricate lyrical flow from the MC. Dark Time Sunshine and Scenic Byway open. The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 9 p.m., $10
Tuesday Oct. 12
Ra Ra Riot
Ra Ra Riot’s debut album, The Rhumb Line, introduced a crew who knows how to straddle the line between pop perfection and art-rock experimentation. New release The Orchard further
cements that skill, with songs that veer from bubblegum pop, sometimes
approaching Vampire Weekend-style funk, to sweeping orchestral ballads
that take full advantage of the band’s ace string players Alexandra Lawn
(cello) and Rebecca Zeller (violin), as well as emotive lead singer Wes
Miles. We Barbarians and Chikita Violenta open the show. In the Venue, 579 W. 200 South, 6:30 p.m., $15.50
Wednesday Oct. 13
Film School, Depreciation Guild
Depreciation Guild’s new Spirit Youth album
blends some video-game synthesizer sound effects with rock distortion
and moody vocals, the result being a reasonably successful homage to the
shoegazer bands that clearly influenced the New York City trio. Film
School is now 10 years into its career, and the Los Angeles crew led by
Greg Bertons just released a fine new set of super-catchy indiepop, Fission, that
puts the vocals of bassist Lorelei Plotczyk in a prominent role,
playing Kim Deal to Gertens’ Frank Black. Max Payne & The Groovies
open the show. The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 9 p.m., $8 advance/$10 day of show
Coming Soon
Tyler Hilton, Josiah Leming (Velour, Oct. 14), Social Distortion, Lucero (Great Saltair, Oct. 14), Menomena (The Urban Lounge, Oct. 15), Bob Schneider (The Urban Lounge, Oct. 16), The Defibulators (Burt’s Tiki Lounge, Oct. 16), Fun, Steel Train (Club Sound, Oct. 16), JP, Chrissie & The Fairground Boys (Eccles Center for Performing Arts, Park City, Oct. 16), Born Ruffians (The Urban Lounge, Oct. 18), Legendary Pink Dots (The Complex, Oct. 18), Phantogram (Kilby Court, Oct. 18), Blitzen Trapper, Fruit Bats, Pearly Gate Music (The Urban Lounge, Oct. 19), Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax (Maverik Center, Oct. 19)
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Dan
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