Hey everyone (wow that sounds lame, anyone got a better intro?), I went to a mini show last night for a local band. Novascotia played at The Beat cafe, opening up for Stephen Jerzak. This was their first show playing their new music and in my opinion, it went really well. They used to be kind of a post-punk-hardcore band (I think), but have since changed their sound to be more of an indie rock. They had the best intro (which involved dancing around in the crowd) and definitely kept up a good variety. They only had a 30 minute time slot, but they used it effectively. They definitely have a lot of talent and potential. CHECK ‘EM OUT.

This kind of crappy post-punk band played after them. They were all cymbals, whiny voices, and distorted guitar. But hey, the singer was cute and that’s all that matters right?!?!

Well, that’s all that I stayed for considering it was a school night and whatnot.

Now, to give y’all a concert schedule update:

2/11 My Brightest Diamond (Also, I need someone to accompany me so if you know me IRL, come with me!)

2/14 Polica

2/18 MuteMath

2/23 Tennis

3/2 SXSW sendoff show

3/7 Iamdynamite

3/13 Grimes w/ Born Gold

3/31 Gardens & Villa

4/16 Cults

4/19 Howler

5/12 St. Vincent

5/15 The Black Keys w/ Arctic Monkeys

8/3-5 Lollapalooza 2012

WHOO!

Total gig rating: 8/10

Nope I didn’t win tickets to this show. I saw Gardens & Villa for the first time in June when they were here opening up for Foster the People and really liked them, so when I heard they were coming back around to Minneapolis, I had to go. It was really nice to see them again after getting the chance to really listen to their self-titled album (which is fantastic, by the way). Unfortunately they didn’t let me bring my camera in. I was so excited, I was gonna take awesome pictures for you guys. Oh well, next time. Last night I had the joy of being overtly “hit on” for the first time, which was unbearably awkward. He probably thinks I’m super mean because I wouldn’t go with him to the bar and didn’t dance with him. Oh well. I also had the sheer pleasure of trying to restrain a drunk guy from messing with Chris Lynch’s pedals and microphone. He proceeded to be continuously rude and offered to buy me a drink, even though he knew I was under 21. Drunk people…

The first band on the roster was a local band called Love Lake. They really weren’t that good. Their frontman and songwriter, Anders Carlson, can’t sing very well (my “famous” mom agrees). The bassist and drummer both had talent, but I believe it went to waste with this band. The lyrics were pretty typical and seemed almost a little self-centered at times. Their music was boring and their lyrics were boring and they looked bored. That sums it up.

Youth Lagoon were definitely more enjoyable than Love Lake but still not the best. Trevor Powers’ lyrics are certainly better than Anders’. I like the sense of youth that the band emulates, but their set was a bit too boring for me as well. My mom thought every song began to sound the same, which they did. There was one fleeting and sweet moment during “Montana” where they started to get into the show, only to back off a few seconds later. They’re not bad, but they need to spice it up a bit.

*drum roll* Gardens & Villa! Before the show, Adam Rasmussen who plays keyboard for them waved to me and said “Lindsay, right?”. I was kind of confused at first but then he pointed to my hair. I had tweeted them earlier to look out for the “girl in the front with the faded turquoise hair” and indeed they did. So from being a twitter stalker I got two high fives, a few short conversations, and a handshake. Hey lesson learned, you never know when your tweets will be read, SO CONSTANTLY TWEET ALL THE BANDS YOU LOVE. (I’m just kidding, don’t do that. They might block you, and then where will you be?)

They played all of the Gardens & Villa album, aside from “Sunday Morning” “Chemtrails”. I really like Sunday Morning, but it’s not really fit for an active live performance and I’m not angry that they left it out. As for Chemtrails, it’s also a slower song but my least favourite on the album as well. Leaving that one out of the live show was a good choice. In addition, they also played their new bonus track (which you get if you buy an official G&V flute) called “Hailey”. Their whole performance was really quite wonderful. They have a lot of energy and stage presence and they just know how to use it right. Really every song of the night was pulled off so well and with such lightness and fun. The only very very small dip in the set was “Neon Dove”. It certainly wasn’t bad by any means, but it was the weakest part of their line up. My favourite song of the evening was “Spacetime”. It’s a wonderful 60’s-ish dance tune. The live translation of it was a bit harder than the album version but in a very good way. It got really intense at about 1:07 in the studio version, and I loved when they broke out into the slower part. Such a wonderful execution. The band ended the night with an encore in which they played a cover of Gary Numan’s “Cars”. I’m not a huge fan of 80’s music but their cover was really good Gardens & Villa just have this unique way of taking old sounds and music styles and making them fresh and their own. With great stage presence, kind demeanor, and excellent and fun music, I can see this band going places. Now when they’re famous I can say “Hey, I saw them twice when they were still small” and then show them to my room, where they can admire my signed 7” and official Gardens & Villa flute.

Quotes from the evening, as remembered:

*whilst a pre-recorded track is playing during the Youth Lagoon set and Trevors Powers isn’t touching the keyboard*

“WOAH, HOW IS HE DOING THAT?!”

“Computers.” -Guys in crowd (I don’t know specifically why, but that just made me laugh so hard.)

“I just had a vision… of Prince… on the horizon… with clouds” -Chris Lynch

“Well, I guess we’re gonna play some more songs now. I always hate the talking part.” -Trevor Powers