The Chorus Music Club Society • Page 249

Glad you liked both! Especially glad you liked "The Freefall" That's a top 5 Cory Branan song for me!

 

Yeah that track was my fav from that album off the first couple I listens I gave the album.

 

@Micool1 and I have decided on next week’s trades

He gave me:

The Longshot - Love is for Losers
Sing Me a Fiction - Hole in the Sail


I gave him:

Hawthorne Heights- Bad Frequencies
A Perfect Circle- Eat The Elephant

 

No! I’m a bad person!

But Colin not knowing what to do when you are dead seems just as bad to me!

 

That's true. Classic album, I feel @Colin Your Enthusiasm will really dig it.

 

I'm here to bring you another CMCS concert review! @Bad Frequencies was kind enough to get me a ticket to the album release tour for Hawthorne Heights and it was a blast.

I went to the April 28th date in Raleigh, NC at IMURJ. I got to the venue about 15 minutes early as the doors were supposed to open at 6 and the first band was scheduled to play around 7. As soon as I entered the venue, I knew I was going to be up close and personal with all of the bands. The venue was VERY tiny and the stage was essentially smack dab in the center of the room leaving no more than a 50-100 foot perimeter around it for people to stand. Nestled on one side of the stage was a bar and the other side housed all the merch booths. As soon as I entered, I checked out the merch booth and JT was manning the HH table and I got to chat with him for a few minutes. The bassist from Sienna Skies instantly eye balled me and we chatted for at least 20 minutes about Walmart, Bojangles, America (they are from Australia), New Jersey (which is where I am from and they played there three nights ago).

The first band to perform was Heavy Things. I had discovered them literally days before the concert and played their album non stop because it's just that good. The venue was still pretty empty with maybe 50 or so people but everyone that was there knew all the words to all of their songs. They stopped after a couple of songs to say that they are so amazed that people know the words to their songs because they literally released the album a week ago and had never toured before and this was their first official tour ever. They, like Hawthorne Heights, are from Ohio and play a mix of indie rock/pop punk Americana. Their lead guitarist was insane and I felt like he was channeling Lynyrd Skynyrd while the lead vocalist/guitarist and drummer traded vocals and it was really cool to see the dynamic between them. I had listened to the album a handful of times and never once thought there were dual vocals. The other funny thing is that they must have had family from the area come because there had to be at least 10 people in their 50 and 60's up there rocking out with them and it was awesome! They played around 5 songs and it was great. I highly recommend people check out their new album: Glimpse.

Next up was Sienna Skies from Sydney, Australia. They were just pure fun and were also the heaviest band on the bill. They play a mix of metalcore/hard rock. You could tell they just had a great sense of humor and were so happy to be there and touring. The coolest thing happened during their set where the lead vocalist pulled the mic stand down into the crowd and they played a ballad. He asked everyone to turn on their cell phone lights and it was really amazing. The fact that a band that could only play maybe 5 songs took the time to do a ballad is great. It was something I had never seen before in a small show like that. They also use multiple vocalists including their drummer.

Hotel Books was up and is the only band on the bill I couldn't connect to. They are a sort of post hardcore/spoken word/Gospel hybrid. The band was incredible and if they did instrumental versions of their albums I would be totally sold. All of the members looked like they were literally still in high school and the lead guitarist looked like he was having a hard time even holding the guitar, but man could he play it! The lead singer even took a lot of time to just talk and not even play. They also only played around 5 songs.

Listener was a band that totally impressed me. This was their second date on the tour and they play a mix of post rock/progressive/classic rock with spoken word vocals. Prior to the show, the band were all separated except for the lead guitarist at the merch table and were some of the quietest guys on earth. They look like a bunch of backwoods rednecks! I believe they are from Kansas City. When they got on stage, something possessed them! They were out of this world and I can't even describe their performance. They were drenched in sweat by end the set and were literally all over the stage. The lead vocalist/guitarist was barefoot because he was moving that much. Oh, and they use a trumpet, how sick is that?! I really need to check out their new album that was just released a couple of weeks ago. I also need to give some credit to the drummers of both Hotel Books and Listener and that they are insanely talented and are the glue that holds these bands together.

Next up: Hawthorne Heights!!! They opened with Bad Frequencies and to anyone that has heard the new album, they know about midway through the song there is screaming involved. The coolest part was that it was handled by the singer from Sienna Skies. After that they proceeded to go through a nice set that really paid tribute to their past and only playing 3 songs from the new album. They even did an acoustic rendition of Four Become One that was split into a cover of Bush's Glycerine with the help from the vocalist of Heavy Things. I will link the set list below in case anyone is interested. They sounded incredible and hit every note perfectly.

I think JT said it best in that the bill had a great mix of artists that sounded entirely different from one another and that it isn't fair to stand there listening to 5 bands that all sound EXACTLY THE SAME. It was a great night and I got to discover some new artists while also finally getting to see a band I have been listening to for quite a while. I look forward to when they come back around again!

Thanks @Bad Frequencies for this awesome opportunity! I will post some pictures shortly since both my phone and computer are acting up right now.


Hawthorne Heights Setlist at Imurj, Raleigh

 

Excellent man! Glad you had fun!

 

This week I'm listening to Sum 41 - Chuck and @broken22 is checking out Hot Rod Circuit - Sorry About Tomorrow

 

@mad gave me Offering by Cults
I'm not sure I've ever listened to them before, though I've heard of them, but once it started I was like oh yeah I get why she'd know I'd be into this because I love poppy stuff

standout tracks- Recovery,Right Words,Talk In Circles, Clear From Far Away

 

@Davjs and I are trading this week

They are listening to:
Heavy Things: Glimpse
Sink the Ship: Persevre

I am listening to:
Senses Fail: Life is Not a Waiting Room
Wolves at the Gate: VXV

 

Yeeeeeeeeeee!

 

The first record of the week @ugman_2000 gave me was Butch Walker- Sycamore Meadows. The funny thing is that when Stay Gold was released, I absolutely loved it, and always meant to check out his previous releases. I’ve had Sycamore Meadows, and the rest of Butch’s discography saved to my Apple Music library since Stay Gold was released. I’m glad this group forced my hand in listening to more of his stuff!

The record begins with more of what I’m familiar with in hearing Stay Gold. The Americana aspect in “The Weight Of Her” is instantly recognizable. Although, his vocals and delivery remind me a lot of 90’s alternative like Counting Crows a lot in the song. I loved the storytelling lyrics in the song, as well. The record continues on with more storytelling lyrics and 90’s alternative vibes in “Going Back/Going Home” and “Here Comes The” One of my favorite songs was “Ponce De Leon Ave” which was a high energy song with full horn and percussion sections present. What was crazy about the song is that it truly sounded like it could be a b-side to the Academy Is… record Santi. There were some Americana influences throughout the record seen in “Vessels” which had huge Tom Petty influences, and “A Song For The Metalheads” which definitely sounded like it could’ve been written during a Tom Petty binge era in Butch’s life. My favorite song on the record was probably “Closer To The Truth And Further From The Sky” which was a high energy Americana influenced song, again with fantastic lyrics. The record ended with “Atl” a gorgeous piano ballad and “Untitled” which went into a piano ballad after 5 minutes or so of silence. Clocking in at just over 2 minutes it sounded like a continuation in a way to “Atl”

While the Americana influence was scattered throughout the record, the alternative side of things really was the main focus of Sycamore Meadows. You could see glimpses of what was to come with his music going forward, and flashes of his greatness. There were a good amount of influences heard throughout the record, and sometimes it felt like someone trying to find their identity as a musician. You could hear the potential that he was able to reach on Stay Gold, and from what I’ve heard Afraid Of Ghosts is also peak Butch Walker. While the array of sound was enjoyable for the variety, I also feel like sometimes it brought the record down because it didn’t flow the way that a record like Stay Gold does.

This definitely makes me want to go through the rest of his stuff to continue to see him coming into his own as a musician. It was a cool experience to flashback in time to see someone prior to their career peak, but starting to come into their own.


Favorite songs: “The Weight Of Her” “Ponce De Leon Ave” “Ships In A Bottle” Passed Your Place, Saw Your Car, Thought Of You”, “Summer Scarves” “Closer To The Truth And Further From The Sky” “Atl” “Untitled”

 

Glad you enjoyed the album, Closer is my fav track off that album too (and I think probably my fav Butch track in general).

All of Butches albums have had their own twist to them, it's been fun seeing him go from being that emo/alt rock sound and transforming into a more americana artist over the last 10 years. If you want another Butch sound and a proper fun record next then go for his album with the Black Widows called The Spade.

I don't know if your Santi reference was intentional or not but Butch produced that album the year before this came out, so there's a fair chance he helped mold Santi to that sound or took ideas from it.

 

Honestly, I didn't even know he produced that record. That makes me hearing it that way even more wild.

 

I’d like to announce the return of one of our original memebers after a long hiatus, @Mary V is coming back. I will be trading with her this week, albums TBD.

Also, I will post the 4 reviews I have listened to from last week tomorrow evening.

 

He's got a great track record as a producer (and a couple of duds lol)

Butch Walker - Wikipedia

Also I seriously recommend checking out Butch's book at some point too, it's a really funny recollection of his life up to just before Afraid Of Ghosts and boy does he have some stories. The ebook version is really cool as it drops in a couple of tracks into it too.

 

The second album of the week @ugman_2000 recommended was Tubelord- Our First American Friends. My first instinct in pulling up the record, was that I absolutely loved the album cover. I was hoping the album cover would match the quality of the music; it delivered.

The album started with “Your Bed Is Kind Of Frightening” My first influence I’m hearing on the record is Puzzle-era Biffy Clyro, which is a huge compliment to the band as they’re one of my favorite bands. The time signature changes and sudden starts and stops with the music reminded me a lot of The Fall Of Troy, as well which is also a good thing. The quirkiness and randomness in the music and lyrics continues on in “Somewhere Out There A Dog Is On Fire” which makes the album continue on as a fun listen. My favorite song was “Stacey’s Left Arm” It was the type of song that I could see myself playing repeatedly. I loved the back and forth between the singer and backing vocalist (maybe they have two vocalists?) Another one of my favorites on the record was “He Awoke On A Beach In Abergavenny” which has quiet moments that led into fantastic power-pop moments within the same song.(The track even featured a xylophone, I mean come on!) “Cows To The East, Cities To The West” was an unexpected track on the record. It was a gorgeous acoustic track, but of course the lyrics remained spontaneous and random as is the theme for the entire record. The last three tracks on the record including that song “Synthesize” and the title track “Our First American Friends” were probably the best run on the record. The title track begins and appears like it might be another acoustic track, before going into a bouncy, extremely catchy song with “Ohhhhs” in the verse, and frantic drums the lead into a catchy chorus. The bassline after the first chorus is also yet another highlight of a fantastic record. The last track definitely encompasses everything great about this band into a grand finale.

I hear so much Biffy Clyro and The Fall Of Troy in this band, that I’m honestly surprised they hadn’t fallen in my lap sooner through friends and RIYL through Chorus. It was unfortunate to read on Wikipedia that the band was no longer together, as I’d love to see what the band sounds like almost ten years later in 2018, especially after seeing the transformation Biffy Clyro has gone through in the same timeframe. This was easily one of my favorite records I’ve been recommended through this music club, and I’m very thankful! This will be in my rotation often. Thanks @ugman_2000

I tried to grab this pressing of the record, but it was sold out unfortunately:



Favorite tracks: Your Bed Is Kind Of Frightening, “Stacey's Left Arm”, “He Awoke On A Beach In Abergavenny”, “Cows To The East, Cities To The West”, “Synthesize” “Our First American Friends”

 

I was really hoping you’d enjoy this album, especially with the Biffy influences. So I’m ever so happy you liked this one so much. This is one of my all time favourite indie albums and your review did it justice. My favourite tracks are I am Azzarad and Synthesize but this albums flawless start to finish imo.

It’s a real shame they split up, they’re second album is really good too but as such is the way with small bands. I was lucky enough to discover them at the time so I managed to see them live back in the day and they were amazing.

I picked up that limited test pressing splatter when it was pressed the other month and it’s bloody gorgeous, it sold out well quick though.

Alcopop did just put up 50 more records (of just the plain yellow vinyl) here today so jump on this quick if you still want the vinyl (it will sell out quickly again).

Tubelord – Our First American Friends (Repress w/ original test pressing splatter)

For anyone else reading @Larry David ’s awesome review and are intrigued by this wonderful album I couldn’t recommend it enough, especially if you like quirky indie music

 

It sounds like something I would enjoy so I will definitely check it out!

 

@Bad Frequencies Posting my Yellowcard and Andrew McMahon reviews tonight!!

 

Woo! I’ll be posting your reviews tomorrow night :)

 

Yehaw!

 

@ugman_2000 I just found what record your avatar is from. i'm excited to give it a listen.

 

I was able to get 3 listens of my first rec from @Nate_Johnson

Heavy Things - Glimpse



This is going to be a tough write up for me, because even though I really liked it, there isn't too much I can say about it. As weird as that sounds, it's because this type of rock to me isn't about stand out parts and just the songs as a whole. This is just a really solid rock album with good, catchy vocals and the instrumentals were serviceable/good, even if nothing really stood out like "omg that drum fill/guitar lead is so cool!"

There wasn't a weak song on the album and each time I listened I enjoyed it more and more, which I bought it after my 3rd listen because these guys earned my support. The one thing that really stood out to me instrumental wise was the guitar solo on the track Last Night. The stretch from Vices-Last Night-Glimpse is honestly my favorite part of the record and what I would recommend to anyone who is curious. The first full track (album opens with a short intro song) Missing Out is maybe their fastest and most upbeat track and worth checking out as well. I quoted the music video @Nate_Johnson posted below.