A few parts charm and humor, several parts rock ‘n roll, and one part slightly-awkward geekiness, frontman Ezra Furman seems to have a gift for solid “indie” music that pays homage to its rock ‘n roll roots. While I wasn’t always entirely sure whether Furman was genuinely that random and tired---"I’m tired from a lack of sleep. Yeah and from standing alot"--- or trying to be funny, it didn’t detract from my or the rest of the substantial crowd’s ability to bop along to the tunes at Submerged. I noted some almost 50’s style pacing and rhythm and enjoyed that several of the tunes let bassist Job Mukkada carry the melody.
The entire sound was catchy, with Jorgen Jorgensen-Briggs’s electric guitar solos flourishing without straying too far from the pace and focus of the rest of the band. Furman, possibly channeling an inner Bob Dylan (and I noted that before he even busted out the harmonica) framed most of the songs with some sort of comment, betraying what sounds on a cursory listen to be everyday indie rock as something a bit more personal and anecdotal: “This song isn’t so much a complaint as a description.” Well, that clears things up.
DOWNLOAD: Ezra Furman and the Harpoons - Take Off Your Sunglasses (MP3) or Follow us for more Ezra Furman and the Harpoons MP3s (Twitter)
Fantastic review and show Colin. Agree with the other posters that the bands all complemented one another. I was originally going to the show for the Friendly Fires, but picked up on The xx a couple weeks prior to the concert and was definitely looking forward to them. They did not let me down. BTW, thanks for the note with the link to the site. Enjoying all the concert reviews.
by Jerry on Sun Dec 6, 2009 at 11.12 pm from the entry: Friendly Fires + The xx + Holly Miranda - Doug Fir (Portland, OR; Nov. 25, 2009)
money mark: do you like them better than other groups like Outkast, Clipse, UGK, EPMD, (insert other classic group here)? If so, what is it that makes them the best?
by colin on Sun Dec 6, 2009 at 06.46 pm from the entry: Chiddy Bang's "The Swelly Express" Mixtape (download)
this is the best hiphop group ive ever heard.
by money mark on Sun Dec 6, 2009 at 05.51 pm from the entry: Chiddy Bang's "The Swelly Express" Mixtape (download)
Ooooh helllllloooooooooooo there!
This is a little cheeky number. Thx for sharing yo!
xxx
by lisaxlloyd on Sun Dec 6, 2009 at 03.06 pm from the entry: Ginuwine's "Pony" Deconstructed Through Dubstep (Remix)
Agree. Great album. And a very nicely written review!
by Daniel on Sat Dec 5, 2009 at 08.23 pm from the entry: Memory Tapes - "Seek Magic" - Buy It
This record is so good. Everybody go buy it.
by colin on Sat Dec 5, 2009 at 07.07 pm from the entry: Memory Tapes - "Seek Magic" - Buy It
Hi Brad - Thanks for letting us know! You are now credited, with a link to your portfolio. Amazing collection of Phish shots, by the way!
by Joshua Bean on Sat Dec 5, 2009 at 04.49 pm from the entry: Phish in Hampton: The Super Bowl of Concerts
electric guitarist is Jorgen Jorgensen-Briggs