Sounds of Silva - Vol. 3
Back to the gigs
The newsletter is a few days late this time around, but for good reason. For the first time in a while, I had several concerts on my calendar, so the music in Volume 3 is from artists I saw live within the last two weeks.
At the beginning of December, I went to a concert every day from Thursday through Monday, then two more this past weekend in a completely different city for good measure. It was an exhausting feat and a run I hadn’t attempted in nearly two years. My feet were punishing me for it. But I was instantly reminded of the rush of energy that flows once the music starts. Going to a concert has always been a unique experience for me since I started going when I was 8 years old (real friends know what my first concert was). There’s nothing like seeing a band you love and then realizing that the hundreds of strangers around you also love that band and probably know more lyrics than you do.
Obviously, being in a crowded room without much mask enforcement is still a nerve-wracking experience. I absolutely sympathize as someone who was still avoiding being around too many people at these shows despite being double-masked and hand sanitized up to my eyeballs. Do what makes you feel comfortable and don’t worry about missing the artists you love – there will always be another tour, especially in 2022 when everyone will very likely be out on the road after hibernating during the pandemic.
Please wear your mask if you go to a show and don’t be a jerk, not only for your own sake but also for the artists and many thankless workers at venues across the country.
The New Pornographers - “Jackie”
Friday, December 3 at Webster Hall, NYC
With some of the best Dan Bejar lyrics in a New Pornographers song, “Jackie” is a curious, joyous power pop song from the band’s debut Mass Romantic which they’ve been performing in full along with fan favorite Twin Cinema.
It’s a rare occasion to have the three principle songwriters in The New Pornographers all together for a tour, but there they were: AC Newman, Neko Case, and Dan Bejar in their full glory (although Bejar would stalk offstage until it was his turn to sing, “like a panther” as Newman quipped). Nothing else needs to be said about The New Pornographers other than they’re one of the most consistent rock bands of the 21st century.
“Visualize success but don’t believe your eyes / There's a world of wisdom and pain to despise”
Additional Listening: The New Pornographers – Mass Romantic; Destroyer – Have We Met; Neko Case – Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
Alice Phoebe Lou - “Dirty Mouth”
Saturday, December 4 at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY
Alice Phoebe Lou has seen a quick rise since I last saw her back in 2019. Her album at the time, Paper Castles, helped her sell out a 250-capacity Rough Trade (R.I.P.). Fans obviously responded well in the U.S. and Alice hasn’t stopped with several non-album singles in 2020 and two new full-lengths in 2021, including one that released on the day before a sold out NYC show at 650-capacity Music Hall of Williamsburg.
“Dirty Mouth” is one of the singles from the first of the 2021 albums. It starts as a true summer jam then evolves into a vintage croon that Alice has nailed down on these records. She’s a bridge between the recent burgeoning group of singer-songwriters and the psych-heads. Very excited for folks to see her perform live in 2022.
Additional Listening: Alice Phoebe Lou – “Something Holy”; Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra; Stella Donnelly – Beware of the Dogs
Surfbort - “Big Star”
Sunday, December 12 at The Roxy, Los Angeles CA
No concert is more joyous than a punk concert. Straight up power chords and gnashing vocals really get a mosh pit going, but the funny thing is that you never feel unsafe, not even for a second.
Surfbort are a celebration of the unabashedly goofy punk rock of the past, led by charismatic singer Dani Miller. “Big Star” is a fantastic single from their latest album Keep On Truckin’, a mission statement for a rock band dying to make it big but stay sober. And the song has come at the heart of their set list on this recent December tour to close out the year, a pretty clear sign that they know this song has legs.
Additional Listening: Butthole Surfers – “Who Was In My Room Last Night?”; Amyl and The Sniffers – Amyl and The Sniffers; Smirk - EP
Wet Leg - “Too Late Now”
Monday, December 13 at The Echo, Los Angeles CA
With a grand total of four songs officially released, Wet Leg is already selling out U.S. venues at an unprecedented rate. Following in the tradition of new, young bands from the U.K. like Dry Cleaning, Wet Leg is danceable indie rock with guitars and deadpan delivery and nonsensical lyrics which sounds insufferable, but it’s sneakily great.
The newsletter ends this week on the song that the band played to open their show, though in my opinion it would work *so much better* as a closer. The song starts very slowly and quietly, but erupts after the great line “I just need a bubble bath to set me on a higher path”, all three guitars, one bass, and drums wailing away to the point of a blown sound system if you’re not careful.
Despite their curiously quick ascent, the full album’s gonna be great, folks.
Additional Listening: Dry Cleaning – New Long Leg; Geese – “Disco”; The Fall – “Mountain Energy”
Follow the full playlist of Sounds of Silva featured tracks.
Follow Zach’s Favorite Songs of 2021 (So Far).
Listen to Zach’s radio show archive for Friend From A Big City on Deadbeat Radio. New episode this upcoming Saturday (December 18 at 8pm ET) featuring Wet Leg and the U.K.
*Full Disclaimer: I work directly with artists in this week’s newsletter.*