Other Lives in Manchester
The Deaf Institute, Manchester, 17 August 2011.
Other Lives is an American indie rock band from Stillwater, Oklahoma. The band formed in 2004 as Kunek and released one album in 2006 under that name. Other Lives’ self-titled album was released physically April 7, 2009 by TBD Records and digitally March 17, 2009. The album was recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Joey Waronker. The lead single “Black Tables” was featured on the 16th episode of season three, “Things Fall Apart” of the television show Ugly Betty, the first episode of season five, “In the Light” of the television show “Covert Affairs”, Dream a Little Dream of Me, Part 1 of the television show Grey’s Anatomy. and the episode Every Picture Tells A Story of the television show One Tree Hill.
As of February, 2011, Other Lives finished working on their new record titled Tamer Animals that is due out on May 10, 2011 in the USA and August 29, 2011 in UK/Europe. Their new song “For 12″ was featured as KCRW’s “Today’s Top Tune” on October 27, 2010. The band is spending their Summer 2011 tour with S. Carey and The Rosebuds.
“The core of that band is still with me,” says frontman Jesse Tabish, who founded Kunek with cellist Jenny Hsu and drummer Colby Owens. “In a lot of ways, it’s still what I gravitate towards, songwriting wise.” Tabish added, “I’d rather us be an ensemble than a rock band, That’s my goal—to get away from those traditional ideas. It’s not a strength in numbers kinda thing, either, where 12 people are on stage
and five of them are playing the same melody. When the music calls for that many players, we’ll go there. We’ll destroy the band itself.”
Band Members:
Jenny Hsu - Cello, Keys
Jonathon Mooney - Vocals, Guitar, Violin, French Horn, Trumpet, Keys, Percussion
Josh Onstott - Bass, Mellotron
Colby Owens - Drums
Jesse Tabish - Lead Vocals, Piano, Guitar, Harmonium, Organ, Vibes, Electric Harpsichord
Live
As I approached the venue I could not help thinking of the chaos that engulfed northern Manchester on my last gig visit. Tonight I’m here to review a concert by the creator of one of my favourite albums of the year so far. The band is Other Lives, the album is called TAMER ANIMALS which was released on the 29 August. Comparisons have been made with a number of acts including Fleet Foxes, Radiohead, and even Philip Glass. For me Fleet Foxes come closest although Other Lives has a much more interesting sound that seems to revolve around its powerful rhythmic heart.
I’m reminded of the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble music that often includes medieval percussive sounds. The power of Radio 1 to influence an act’s popularity became obvious tonight in an almost packed house following the band’s R1 Live Lounge performance. In fact Tabish commented that the band’s Manchester audience was larger than a home town USA one. The big question for me was whether the band could replicate its glorius sounds to the live stage, and I have to say the band did not disappoint.
However, the question has to be asked on why a band (with loads of instruments) even tries to perform at this particular venue. It’s tiny and at best only suits a solo performer maybe with minimal backing. Tonight the small stage was way too overcrowded, and with dreadful lighting and busy backdrop, this
show was less than satisfactory. It’s absolutely vital that promotors/acts ensure that the venue is adequate for their needs and while the Deaf Institute has an almost mythical reputation in reality it’s a fucking awful venue. In fact so bad that I have now decided I will not cover another gig there. The Band On The Wall would have been more appropriate.
Well that’s the bad news, the good news is Other Lives performed out of their skin and played every highlight from the new album plus a couple of wonderful encore surprises. Opening with ‘As I Lay My Head Down’ the band made an immediate impression. Jesse Tabish excelled from the first vocal note while the band’s signature, original sound came through loud an clear. There’s a lightness of touch but at the same time an expansive sound which comes with truckloads of emotional impact. It’s at moments like this that a better venue would have been ideal.
Two other favourites followed including the brass-led ‘Dark Horse’ which opens the album in grand style. Jonathon Mooney was incredible as he blew his horn one moment and then shifted over to his violin for the next. I was reminded of the distinction of Low Anthem who I also saw at this venue a couple of years ago. Then came the album’s first single track ‘For 12′ which received awards back in the USA, perhaps because of it’s Tex-Mex flavour and memorable melody. It’s not my favourite album track but by heck it’s good…
An encore was demanded and delivered by and to the most enthusiastic audience. First the wonderful ‘Black Tables’ from the band’s first album followed by a beautiful Leonard Cohen cover - ‘The Partisan’. My summary of the night: Great band, great songs, distinctive folk sound, shit venue.
Here’s what another reviewer wrote:
“This is not simple acoustic folk music: technology is exploited liberally, evident in the synth keyboards and copious reverb. This gives a dreamy feel, where multiple parts blur into a expanse of rich sound, so you give up trying to analyse the harmony and submit to the introspective atmosphere. It’s emotional stuff, coaxing long lost memories from your subconsciousness, and leaving you with faith that
everything will work out in the end. It’s so creatively inspiring, the transmission of love through music leaving you a little more enlightened and tolerant at the end.”
SET-LIST: As I Lay My Head Down, Dark Horse, For 12, Tamer Animals, Dustbowl III, Landforms, Old Statues, Weather, Black Tables, The Partisan.
The Raghu Dixit Project Live
Band On The Wall, Manchester. 9 August 2011.
Raghu Dixit’s first UK album release proved to be a joyous, exuberant celebration which I’ve enjoyed immensely since receiving it a few months ago. So, naturally, I had to see the man perform live and where better that one of my favourite Manchester haunts, The Band On The Wall situated in the Northern Quarter of the city. As I approached the city centre the ominous sight and sound of a hovering helicopter was worrying, especially since it seemed to be stationery, like a preying bird, over the part of the city I was heading for.
As I approached the venue sirens were wailing and I sensed tension in the air, and even wondered whether I should turn back - visions of overturned and burning cars flashed across my mind. Hell, fuck ‘em, I thought, parked the car and aimed for the venue just a few metres away. The front of the venue was shuttered and a side door opened for people attending the gig. Venue staff stationed outside was not comforting but they seemed to be in good spirits and offered up their usual warm welcome.
First up was Seamus Mcloughlin, a Preston based singer/songwriter who I had never heard of before. I was impressed… He had a powerful voice with wide vocal range and sang songs with real passion and meaning. He also is sensitive to melody and his short set was bursting with songs that immediately made an impression. He explained that he was a last-minute replacement and observed “why would you burn TK Max?”, lifting his hood as he spoke almost hiding his weather-worn face. It was a good set and strong enough for me to make a mental note to make contact.
Now usually there’s a thirty-minute drinking break to allow venues to make some money as well as setting up the stage. But within minutes of Seamus clearing his equipment a member of venue staff walked up to the mic. He announced that the performance was cancelled due to a strong recommendation from the police. He also advised the half-full auditorium that train, bus and tram services had been suspended, but staff would be on hand to assist with travel arrangements and liaise with car owners who may be able to provide lifts.
But then he said to loud cheers that Dixit would perform one song… And with that Dixit and his band arrived on stage traditionally dressed in the brightest colours and promising to ‘make the song last…’. The song chosen was the uplifting and intensely optimistic ‘Mysore Se Ayi’ performed like it was the last song of the set and not the first. This guy has already garnered much acclaim for his live performances but to witness him and his band ‘in the flesh’ was an inspiring experience. Dixit’s voice has that Indian ethnic sound and is delivered with such power and expression… One song was all that was necessary to confirm that Raghu Dixit is one special performer who can make an audience spark into life.
I was pleased I had ventured out but now it was my journey home through the city centre that worried me just a bit. Sure enough as I approached Piccadilly Square the police presence was tangible and crowds were watching whatever action was taking place. As I headed towards the G-Mex centre I could see smashed windows and even a pulverised pub front door frame. A newsagent shop had been totally emptied - it wa sickening. But in a country of extreme inequalities, I was not surprised.
“Really sad to have to cancel the gig today, but we managed to squeeze one song in. Apologies to everyone who came out to watch us, please drive home safe and leave us a message that you did. We’ll make it up to you soon, keep watching this space. Lets also hope things settle down in Manchester tonight and better sense prevails!” - Raghu Dixit
Some Punters:
” Enjoyed your one song and very glad I decided to come up for the gig - as I have just said on my own status, I refuse to stop living my life just because of idiots. Hopefully will get to see you again somewhere in the near future. Thank you so much to a really nice guy called Chas who went miles out of his way home to give me a lift back to my car.”
” The one song we heard tonight was amazing, and out of the mess on the streets came an act of kindness, a man gave me and my wife a lift home 30 miles to Preston. Hope to see you soon, it was great to see you”
The New Regime Story!
The New Regime SPEAK THROUGH THE WHITE NOISE
The New Regime is Ilan Rubin (born in 1988), an American musician, best known for being former drummer of Lostprophets and drummer of industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails during their last tour.
THE NEW REGIME
Ilan’s first solo album, under the pseudonym ‘The New Regime’ and called Coup, was recorded throughout 2007 and 2008 and released in November 2008. While touring with Nine Inch Nails and following the conclusion of the “Wave Goodbye Tour Ilan had been working on his second album, ‘Speak Through The White Noise’ The release date of this album has been confirmed as April 1st, 2011. Prior to this, Ilan released a free single titled ‘Remission Of Guilt’ through his website. It has been confirmed that this track will not be on the new album.
SPEAK THROUGH THE WHITE NOISE
With Speak Through the White Noise, Rubin reaches the critical mass he has been moving toward the majority of his life.
While there is the obvious and impressive technical prowess evidenced by Rubin throughout Speak Through the White Noise, there is also a deeper current of noise, a buried transmission that broadcasts through the static, the Greek chorus unmasking a time and a place. “The album is a social commentary on the way the media, entertainment industry, and people in general instill fear and paranoia by exaggerating news and events either for the sake of an agenda or their own entertainment. The album title is a way of counter-broadcasting these themes in the form of an expansive and dynamic album,” Rubin says of his sophomore album, which he wrote, played, sang all parts, and recorded with his brother and manager Aaron Rubin.
Rubin’s journey to Speak Through the White Noise belies his years. Only 22 years old, Rubin has been involved in the music industry for most of his life, picking up the drums at 8, and in quick succession mastering the guitar, bass and piano. Armed with a veritable musical arsenal, Rubin was content to cut his teeth playing drums in numerous outfits, including stints drumming for Welsh rock act Lostprophets and industrial rock pioneers Nine Inch Nails, which he credits working with a musician, Trent Reznor, whose precision and discipline complemented his own. “When I joined the band, I finally felt like, ‘Yes, this is the kind of organization I want to be a part of.’ A lot of work, and a lot of making everything perfect,” Rubin says of the experience.
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