The Sonic Parthenon Playlist: Spring 2011, Vol. 1

A little bit different for this recap of the passing season.

Albums
Airborne Toxic Event - All at Once ("Changing" is by far the stand-out on what may prove to be a sophmore slump record for a band that has exploded.)
The Lonely Forest - Arrows (as of right now, my album of the year - except I didn't think to put this in the list when I first published it, and I forgot to play them as I intended on last week's Sonic Parthenon Show.)
The Low Anthem - Smart Flesh ("Boeing 737" sounds like nothing else as their road of a record.)
Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Belong (the title track and "Heart in Your Heartbreak" rule the roost but overall the Pains have asserted themselves as one of THE bands of the era. They're in this for the long haul.)
The Strokes - Angles ("Taken for a Fool" is great. "Under Cover of Darkness" could be the single of the year. Everything else is essentially dreck. Letdown.)
Tv on the Radio - Nine Types of Light (With each record, TVOTR not only improves but makes the case that they may be the band we cite first and foremost for this generation of music, the way we cite Nirvana).

Songs

4 on the Floor - "Junkie"
Boat - "Forever in Armitron"
The Dogs - "Dance More"
Manhunt - "Just in Time"
A quartet of rockers that I've grouped for simply being straight-up rock n roll. "Junkie" is straight out of the playbook and "Just in Time" sounds like the stepchild of Dinosaur Jr (only missing of course the solos).

Usonia - "It's Your Night"
Starfucker - "Bury Us Alive"
A pair of dance numbers for that warm weather groove. There are two more that I just started listening to that will be around for the summer recap. Dirty Vegas on the Sonic Parthenon Show?! Anything is possible...

The Airborne Toxic Event @ Bowery Ballroom

The Airborne Toxic Event; Alberta Cross; Henry Clay People
@ Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY - March 8, 2009

13 months ago the Airborne Toxic Event opened up a Wednesday night at Pianos. The Annex, another Pianos gig, two Carson Daly appearances, a Conan appearance, a Mercury Lounge headlining gig, and a Letterman appearance later...and they sold out a headlining show at the Bowery Ballroom on a Sunday night (and another to come on Wednesday). This amazing stratospheric rise through the hip ranks of contemporary rock shows no signs of stopping and with good reason: the inherent magic in Mikel Jolet's compositions, animated and magnified by his four ubertalented friends, appear to be ready to stand the test of time AKA the fickle world of popular music.
It was a sight to behold as hundreds of people sang along, went nuts, and jumped on stage to dance to music that the vast majority of whom did not even know about a year ago. It was even more of a sight - and a sonic revelation - to watch and hear the Airborne Toxic Event change the tempo and even melodic flows of many of their songs - and succeed at sustaining the dramatic momentum of those Jolet-penned insta-classics. Presumably the band changed them up to adjust to Mikel's recent laryngitis. If it's because they are already tired of their initial catalog of music...that could be a problem. But one step at a time.
The crux of the night, the epicenter of the grandiosity, the great contextual moment: In the opening build-up to "Happiness is Overrated", Mikel sang a couple lines of "Stuck Between Stations". Yep. That Song By You Know Who. And there you go, a little bit of solidarity in this crazy world. And why not? Craig likes to sing of "White Noise", a phrase the Airborne Toxic Event has purposefully acquainted itself with in its own genesis. But this is far from white noise. It is at the least a reminder that there is a bevy of quality rock music out there. It is at the most, one great colossal band of The Now and hopefully the future.

Alberta Cross are a throwback to 70's post-psychedelic jam arena rock. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

Henry Clay People are two nerd brothers with a couple of pals who play tried and true odes to classic rock. Channeling alt country rockers as well as the Ramones, these historically attuned Los Angelinos made for very fun openers. No fuss, no muss, just happy rock n' roll and you couldn't ask for more. Not bad for a NYC debut either.

More Airborne Toxic Event: Live on Letterman

Dave, Paul, and the crowd seem a little extra taken than usual with the musical guests, but considering this rendition of "Sometime Around Midnight", perhaps it's not surprising:

The Amazing Rocket Ride of the Airborne Toxic Event

One year after playing Pianos, the Airborne Toxic Event have sold out their Wednesday, March 11th show at the Bowery. They've added a new Sunday, March 8th date. They'll be on Letterman this Friday.

Sonic Parthenon's The Year In Music 2008: Part 1

The 1900’s
The Chicago pop band picked up right where they left off in 2007 with a swell show at Union Hall in January. Are they still together though?

AC/DC
With the very first notes of "Rock n' Roll Train" there was no fooling as to who was back and back as only they can be. Angus, Malcolm, Brian, Cliff, and Phil don't get together very often these years but when they do, the world is a little bit more fun.

Action Painters
Two reviewed gigs this year - including a Bowery gig that completely trounced the Siren Festival going on earlier in the day - established Action Painters as THE band to watch in New York City. The single "Supermarket" only helped that cause. And they'll be your band to take you into 2009 should you choose to attend their New Year's Eve gig at the Lit.

The Airborne Toxic Event
If there was a Best New Artist Award on this blog, here would be your winner, with little in the way of competition. Their debut LP is certainly the best candidate for Album of the Year (if there were to be candidates). And their live show is up there with the cream of the crop. The new master of the crafty hook, Mikel Jollet has put together the most exciting band to debut from west of the Mississippi in a very long time. They'll never play Pianos again but you can say you saw them when, before they blew the lid off the world.

Be Your Own Pet
They were a bit too much when they debuted (with the grand exception of "Damn Damn Leash"). Then they released a mainstream label record this year that featured "What's Your Damage?" and "The Kelly Affair" and it was all "woah this band is for real". They even generated a bit of punk rock controversy with their label over some content. Then they broke up. Just like that. Punk.

The BellRays
At long last, the BellRays returned to New York and with textbook precision (and a new record) made the case as one of the truly heart-pumping yet soul-satisfying acts to emanate from a now very healthy Southern California scene.

The Black Keys
I'm not going to kid you. I wanted to dislike the new Black Keys record, Attack & Release. This nice and very talented but nevertheless stoic duo from Ohio is one of the landmark bands of the decade but their energy seemed to have run its course after the disappointing Magic Potion and the Chulahoma EP. And the prospect of working with Dangermouse did not translate to automatic excitement. But as it happened, the Auerbach-Carney song-construction company recaptured its old glory and Dangermouse caught the band's sound like lightning in a bottle. Fittingly enough, they've become one of the bigger bands out there and they deserve it.

Black Kids
Along with Vampire Weekend, Black Kids burned the hype candle so bright and caught an insta-backlash so severe, that candle blew out before the LP even debuted. Unlike VW however, there was little love left for this pretty annoying band from Florida. But damn if the hooks on some of the cuts fight through the incredibly dumb lyrics. Anyone who dislikes "I've Underestimated My Charm Again" needs to relax. But it is probably a good thing I didn't see them live because there has yet to be a single positive review in that department.

The Blacks
Their 2007 record, Nom De Guerre, started to gain traction (and my attention) in 2008, and while the Hipstervese was too busy trying to have the Vivian Girls' babies, this trio out of Frisco reminded us what it is like to just appreciate a hook whilst absolutely shredding your amps to beautiful pieces.

Basia Bulat
"In the Night" was one of the singles of the year sung by a Canadian folk dame of the highest caliber, cute as a button, with a fine album (Oh, My Darling) and a beautiful supporting gig with DeVotchKa to boot. If the Grammys had any decency she'd have been the big nominee this year.

2009 Sneak-Peak (Airborne Toxic Event, Action Painters, Orion Experience, X, Black Keys, more)

2008 isn't quite over yet - the Year in Music review has yet to be compiled (though anyone who reads this page can gather it'll be a little slimmer this year than last) but we're already getting a taste of what's coming in the pipeline for 2009, at least in terms of some early gigs (see the concert calendar for details):

• The Rosebuds and the Raveonettes are playing on January 16th, separately but hey.
• If you can't go more than a few months without your Hold Steady fix, Franz Nicolay is playing with World Inferno Friendship Society on the 9th and a solo show on the 11th
• Frightened Rabbit made a good mark in '08 with "The Greys" and they'll be at the Bowery B on Jan 17th.
• SP faves Action Painters and the Orion Experience team up again at the Mercury Lounge on Jan 22nd...with Billy Joel's daughter opening. Yep.
• Devotchka. Webster Hall. Saturday, January 24th. I may have an excuse but you won't.
• In Feb, the Black Keys return to Terminal 5. In case you didn't hear, they are one of the biggest bands in the world.
• On March 11 - the Airborne Toxic Event headline the Bowery Ballroom, going from playing Pianos to the Bowery in 13 months. That's not Vampire Weekend-fast but that is still pretty fast.
  

The Airborne Toxic Event's Self-Titled LP: The Pennypacker Perspective

So anyone who reads this blog (all four of you) could pretty much expect that this record was going to get a positive review here. But even I did not expect how much of a positive review I would have to offer. As of right now, the Airborne Toxic Event's self-titled LP is the best album of 2008. There is not a stinker in the bunch, not a single filler track. It is an album full of hits from start to finish. The live shows and the pre-LP releases made a pretty overwhelming case for Mikel Jollet's just about perfect ability to write a catchy pop hook but this record not only showcases that ability, it puts it in amber. He knows what makes a hit (whether the songs actually become hits or not is irrelevant, it's the fact that he knows, you know, and I know that this is what it takes to sound like a hit factory). The word "craft" is more applicable to this band right now than pretty much anyone out there. The songcraft, the actual construction, the precision, the methodology - sure it sounds sort of mechanical but don't be mistaken, this is far from lifeless. This is as vibrant and potent and moving as modern pop-rock can be and can go.

OK there is one sort-of-problem: When something like this is so easily, almost effortlessly, good, it sort of leads to a shortage of words. Let's face it, a record with problems can lead to a more in-depth dissection. What's there to dissect here? Five very talented people got together, put together some very sharp, very spot-on rock n' roll songs, found an equilibrium between rock and pop, and released just about the most damned flawless record of 2008 so far. It's to their credit, not their detriment, that a full-blown long-winded essay is not in order (ironic, considering all the literary basis for the band's music).

Erica over at BL&L (the East Coast's best source for all things A.T.E., we're number 2! we're number 2!) caught up with Mikel at the band's recent DC show. Erica has provided a link to the Conan performance in the comments page (I plum forgot that NBC puts its programming up at that HULU site) and the band itself has linked to this (probably illegal) YouTube clipping of the performance on their MySpace page (which is still, god bless 'em, their only official web page).

The Airborne Toxic Event @ Mercury Lounge

The Airborne Toxic Event; Blacklist
@ Mercury Lounge
New York, NY - July 31, 2008

The night before they shook the world on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, the pride of Silver Lake made their Merc (and New York headlining?) debut with a solid set that showcased a large chunk of songs they did not play at their two Pianos appearances this year. The band has become so sharp and reliable, they didn't even bother playing 2 of their 4 previously released songs ("Does This Mean You're Moving On?" and "Papillon") though they should have, just because. Now with the Conan appearance, the record release next week, the KCRW appearance to come, and their upcoming tour, it will only be a matter of weeks before people recall the time they saw the Airborne Toxic Event at the Mercury Lounge.

And if you want to find connections and meanings in things, here's something to reflect on: When Mikel discussed Silver Lake and got some cheers, he remarked about how he may as well have talked about Brooklyn and that got cheers in obligation. This led to mentions of the National and the Hold Steady, two of the most written about bands on this blog...company the Airborne Toxic Event has been keeping here for so far this entire year. It's all one big happy family these days...



pictures

Blacklist sounded like Joy Division, New Order, Depeche Mode, and the Cure. That's about all I can say.

New Videos From The Airborne Toxic Event and The Duke Spirit: It's a Fight!

Yahoo is having a fight among 4 videos which requires we the people to vote.

Without giving a fair shake to the other two videos, the only two you need to vote for over and over are "Sometime Around Midnight" by the Airborne Toxic Event and "The Step & The Walk" by the Duke Spirit.

The Duke Spirit will be back in New York at Webster Hall on July 30, opening for Supergrass. The Airborne Toxic Event will be in New York on the next night, headlining a late show at the Mercury Lounge in prep for their appearance on Conan.

Meanwhile, the next rounds of acoustic Airborne re-do's are up, including "This is Nowhere" and this very cramped version of "Does This Mean You're Moving On?":

Airborne Toxic Event Takes Pennypacker's Advice: Playing Mercury Lounge, Conan

Well...kind of.

July 31 at the Merc. It's a late show, so one may be able to catch the free Flogging Molly/O'Death show at the other side of lower Manhattan first. Anyone care to make a crosstown run with the old man?

And having nothing to do with anything I've said or posted, the band will be on Conan O'Brien on August 1, about 4 months after making their TV debut on Carson Daly. At this rate, they will be on Jay Leno by Christmas (though really between you and me, they should be playing Letterman already), and Saturday Night Live by next February sweeps. And by that point, forget the Mercury Lounge, we'll be up to the Bowery Ballroom, if not Terminal 5. But one step at a time...

Oh, forgot to mention...this DC-based blog conducted an amazing, thorough interview with the band back in April. And this reminded me that I forgot to plug the band's recent project of 10 acoustic performances via YouTube. I get so hyper and distracted by news of gigs and TV appearances that some good stuff slips by. The first four installments are up on the band's MySpace page.

The Airborne Toxic Event @ Pianos...Again.

The Airborne Toxic Event
@ Pianos
New York, NY - June 12, 2008

This may be the most original band in America. They don't sound or look like anyone else. So far the only thing they repeat is their intense and immense performance on their visits to New York City and Pianos in particular. Whether they are playing straight up rock n' roll like "Does This Mean You're Moving On?" and "Gasoline", pleasant pop like "Happiness Is Overrated" (you can catch their February Pianos performance of this song shot by yours truly here), or monster, thundering bust-your-heart-into-a-million-pieces power ballads like "Sometime Around Midnight" and "Wishing Well", Mikel and company construct deep-seeded, substantive songs.

Free of gimmicks, pressure, cliquishness, and all those other things that usually go with the territory of rock n' roll, the Airborne Toxic Event curl up with a literary bent, and then unfurl a torrent of prose and poetry. On a deeper level than even that, they just know how to tear it up. The twin Fender Jaguar guitar attack by Mikel and Steve make for some potent mixes of boogie and pop. "Shy"Anna is a one woman wrecking crew on keyboards, viola, tambourine, and sudden mosh pits on the floor literally knocking this poor old writer for a loop. Meanwhile, Noah and Daren provide the most pumping, pounding rhythm section to come along in a long while.

Earlier today, I was asked to name my five favorite bands playing in the world of music right now: I easily came up with the Dirtbombs, the National, the Hold Steady, and Camera Obscura. The fifth took me a second, and I realized it was the Airborne Toxic Event. And as if to back me up, tonight's crowd demanded, and received, the first opening band encore that I have ever witnessed.

Once again, Pianos was too small to hold it in. Forget just the loud crowd that was jammed in like sardines. The sound of the band seemed to test the walls. During the crescendo within "Sometime Around Midnight", it felt like the floor was about to tear apart. When
they blow away the Fratellis' fans tomorrow night at Webster Hall, they are going to have figure out a bigger place to play (Mercury Lounge, Mercury Lounge, Mercury Lounge) when they come back, probably next month.

The debut LP is out August 5th on Majordomo. I can't wait.

Insta-Clip 1
Insta-Clip 2
Pictures coming soon

The XYZ Affair, Action Painters, Airborne Toxic Event, Tullycraft, My Teenage Stride, Others All in a Single Week

Tue June 10 - XYZ Affair and Action Painters at Music Hall of Williamsburg...for FREE.


Thu June 12 - Airborne Toxic Event at Pianos (the night before they open for the Fratellis at Webster Hall)


Fri June 13 - Tullycraft at Pianos as part of the NYC Popfest


Sat June 14 - My Teenage Stride (as well as well the Pains of Being Pure at Heart and others) at the Music Hall of Williamsburg


So to recap - Music Hall, Pianos, Pianos, Music Hall

Last time I saw the A.T.E., they played Pianos and I had to run after they played to go catch another a show at...the Music Hall. It's all connected.

Airborne Toxic Event Return to New York Via Fratellis

The Fratellis exploded last year with their one hit and have retracted a bit, playing Webster Hall on June 13. That show sold out quick, and now the Airborne Toxic Event have been added to the bill. They say on their MySpace bulletin they will attempt to play their own NYC show the night before. They're also playing the Virgin fest in Toronto on September 6th.

In the meantime, the debut full length album art is up and the album will be released August 5th.

Airborne Toxic Event - "The Girls in Their Summer Dresses"

The Airborne Toxic Event – The Girls in Their Summer Dresses

Yet another way to hear yet another song as the countdown till the LP release rolls on.

Anna of Airborne Toxic Event Perfoms With Vampire Weekend

The headline is pretty self-explanatory but it can also be pointed out that, as per the report from the Airborne Toxic Event's MySpace bulletin, Anna was a dorm-mate of the VW boys at Columbia.
Vampire Weekend - "Ladies of Cambridge" in the studio

You can see the rest of Vampire Weekend's MySpace Transmissions performance here.

Airborne Toxic Event on Last Call

Until someone can show me how to merge the clips into one, you get it in two parts (why oh why did the performance have to happen as the hour changed?)



On YouTube

Set Your VCR's: The Airborne Toxic Event on Last Call

April 22 - Last Call with Carson Daly

Yeah I know no one uses VCR's anymore but I can't get used to the phrase "set your TIVO". Feh.

Your New Favorite L.A. Band: The Airborne Toxic Event @ Pianos

The Airborne Toxic Event; Bombaldi
@ Pianos
New York, NY - February 27, 2008

With their first few chords, the Airborne Toxic Event instantly became the second best band from Los Angeles (hard to top X y'all). Driving power pop, substantive deeper melodies at work in the background, anchored by the deep, flowing voice of Mikel Jollet - this band covers all the bases and then some. This wasn't just a typical show either. This was a PACKED Pianos waiting for these guys, a band arriving only with 3-song EP at the merch table. Furious yet elegant, the total package, the ATE cover all the bases of rock n' roll and lived up to what were obviously high and enthusiastic expectations.
It felt like a CMJ show. An overcrowded Pianos, managers/publicists swarming the band in seconds after the set was over.
It cannot be overstated what an unbelievably good time this was. It's not even March yet, and this may have been the show of the year. And where the heck did they come from? It may be premature, but we may be looking at the next big thing here...
And as previously mentioned, here is a band with a great literary reference, but they've proven that DeLillo's White Noise isn't just an ode to the wonders of fat chicks. That's what the book was about, right?

Photos
Caught Bombaldi upstairs while waiting for the doors to open. Seem like nice guys working through the pop-rock thing. More hits than misses. Just don't get the costumes though. But at the rate things are going, these guys will be packin' em somewhere soon.

Maybe It Is All Waves and Radiation: The Airborne Toxic Event

Pennypacker's been reading Don DeLillo's White Noise for most of the last two weeks, so when the band known as the Airborne Toxic Event became known of tonight, it was a bit of...well...Deja vu. Well not really - but it was a tad stunning. Especially considering one of Pennypacker's favorite pastimes is to find band names in potentially every phrase in the language...but this one had not occurred to me in the last two weeks. Maybe I'm on Dylar.

And they're actually quite good too. Credit goes to Oh My Rockness for its latest batch of podcasted mp3's (ignore my weak comment on that page..."kinda" and "weird" may work on other sites but they have no room on this page).