The Days of Lore

There are many hiatus

Monday, January 25th, 2010 | musiX, pdX | 1 Comment

Talk about a hiatus.

TDoL—the blog that never sleeps (except Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 a.m. to 6:15 a.m.)—has been away for a couple of weeks, traveling, learning to put chains on tires, and being just plain naughty. But mostly I’ve spent the time away recharging the batteries and contemplating the plural of hiatus. Hiatus? Hiatuses? Hiati?

Of course, there’s been a soundtrack to all of this fun: Surfer Blood (April 3 at the Doug Fir!), The Goodnight Loving, and more recently the new Spoon and Yeasayer records. And, of course, you’ll be reading about these bands right here (look for my interview with Milwaukee country five-piece The Goodnight Loving in the coming weeks) in addition to all of the usual nonsense.

Until then, here’s a song that’s near and dear to my heart, a song that needs no introduction, a song that sums up the past two weeks at The Days of Lore …

… I guess that would qualify as an introduction.

“Holiday Road” - Lindsey Buckingham

Tags: "Holiday Road", Lindsey Buckingham, Spoon, Surfer Blood, The Goodnight Loving, Yeasayer

There will be (Surfer) Blood

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 | musiX | 4 Comments

I’m often drawn to bands based on their names … which is why I am a big fan of Italy’s Necrodeath—not to mention they sure can play some good jams.

Surfer Blood is another band I had to check out because of their handle. Quick word association: Surfer Blood, Great White shark, Jaws, Steven Spielberg, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harrison Ford, Han Solo, the Millennium Falcon, tractor beams, the Death Star, Deathstar, brilliant noise-pop …

… which brings me back to Surfer Blood. Now, calling Surfer Blood brilliant would be a bit generous, but the four-piece is making some pretty fun and rambunctious rock out of West Palm Beach, Florida … a place I will likely never visit.

The band’s debut Astro Coast—which actually has a Great White on the cover—was recorded in a dorm room at the University of Florida. The familiar elements are there—Beach Boy harmonies, skuzzy guitars, ramshackle indie rock arrangements—and I must say these guys have managed to strike a perfect balance between them all, churning out songs that are sweet and reckless (and I will say that the second half of the 6-minute “Slow Jabroni” comes close to brilliance).

The almighty blogosphere has already latched on to these young lads like a fleshy chunk of Vampire Weekend-flavored chum, and will probably not let go for the duration of ‘10. For once I might be with them … then again, I also predicted big things for Necrodeath.

“Swim” - Surfer Blood

“Slow Jabroni” - Surfer Blood

Tags: Astro Coast, Deathstar, Kanine Records, Surfer Blood