Show Review: Samiam/The Draft @ De Helling

Monday isn't the best night for a show...it's not as bad as lazy sunday evening shows, but still...it's monday... Though I was pretty excited to finally see one of the best poppunk bands around, this night might've just as well turned out to another dissappointing monday night show. Luckily I got my money's worth last night in Utrecht.

I haven't really listened to the debut album ('In a Million Pieces) of The Draft yet. With three members of the great Hot Water Music this is a band that definitely deserves more interest from my behalve. Last night they showed that there is life after HWM. They are blessed with one of the best singers in punkrock today, while musically I think they can be seen as a more accessible (not better though) version of HWM. They played a solid set and I'm listening to their album as we speak. However, singer Chris Wollard was so stoned that his between song speeches sounded more like the late Steve Irwin than anything else. I'm glad it didn't affect his singing voice (which really was great), but it was actually quite lame...

Up next: Samiam.
What I like about this band? They write good songs. There's no image. Just 5 guys playing good music and that's exactly what they did yesterday. Starting off with one of the best opening lines I've ever heard on a show ("Here's some songs we know") they came out strong, opening with some classic Samiam songs. They finished their set strong too and although some people might say that the middle part (with some new songs en some slower songs) was kind of dull...I loved every minute of it. This is the poppunk I love. Heartfelt, well written songs sung passionately by (again) a great vocalist. This band has the gift to make you sing along like these songs are a part of you.

Thus...a 'unmondaylike' show. Samiam's 'She found you' has been stuck in my head. Check out the video below.

Samiam on MySpace

"New" album Ben Folds

Tomorrow Ben Folds will release 'supersunnyspeedgraphic, the lp', which is "a comprehensive collection of original songs culled from his successful series of EP releases, b-sides, covers and film soundtrack appearances".
The album (amongst Ben Folds originals) contains his infamous and hilarious interpretation of Dr. Dre's hit 'Bitches ain't shit' (yeah it's true... lyrics like 'Bitches ain't shit but hoes and tricks lick on these nuts and suck the dick' on sweet pianopoprock) and covers of the Cure ('In Between Days') and the Darkness ('Get your hands off my woman'). My favorite song on the album so far is 'There is always someone cooler than you', which reminds me of the better songs from his Ben Folds Five era...good stuff!

Ben Folds - There is always someone cooler than you
Ben Folds - Bitches ain't shit

Ben Folds on MySpace

The Thermals

Ok...the following scenario. There's this band. Their name sounds familiar and you're quite certain that you've checked some of their songs out, but you never really cared for this band. After reading some really positive reviews, you decide to check out this bands new album. The first listen is not enough to blow you away, but it touches some nerves. The singer has a voice that you either love or hate and you haven't decided yet which side your on. You do like the intensity, the energy and the music. Then you listen to the album again and there are a couple of songs that stand out. These are the songs that make you play this album over and over again and after a few listens you find other song that you love. All of a sudden...you 'get' this band and you can't wait to tell your friends about this band and you're excited because you find out that they're touring Europe in november.

Yeah...I'm talking about the Thermals and their new album 'The Body, The Blood, The Machine'. I am pretty certain that this album will make it to my yearlist. From the Subpop website: "The Body, The Blood, The Machine adds walls of guitars, organs, and even a few "ballads" (aka slightly pretty songs) to the mix, while still retaining the gritty post-pop-punk sound for which The Thermals are globally famous. The lyrics envision a United States governed by a fascist Christian state, and focus on the need (and means) to escape. While hardly a concept album, there is definitely a story told in the songs: a story about getting the fuck OUT while you still can."
Check out the single 'A Pillar Of Salt' to which I can't stop singing the opening lyrics to ("We were born to sin, we were born to sin / We don't think we're special, sir, we know everybody is /")


The Thermals - A Pillar of Salt
The Thermals - An Ear For Baby
The Thermals on MySpace

Finally Friday Video's Part VI

If there is one music related book everyone should read...it's 'the dirt'.

Pipettes again...

Woohoo...the Paradiso show of the Pipettes has been added to the fabchannel archives. Watch the show here in its entirety and practice those dance moves!

...some popular culture observations

* I'd already read that the new Killers album (Sam's Town) sounded a lot like Bruce Springsteen. I, however did not expected it to sound as much "bosslike" as on the first single "When we were young". Not that this is a bad thing. I actually really like this song!


* There are many reasons not to like George W Bush. Artist have shown different ways (from Fat Mike's punkvoter to Kanye West's "GWB doesn't care about black people") to ventilate their opinion about this wannabe president. Concerning GWB, there is so much to criticize that you sometimes get a feeling that you've heard it all before. You still hate that redneck president, but you don't really want to hear another band preaching about him on stage. This morning however, I saw a video by Jurassic 5, who have managed to put a lot of criticism in a quite funny video without being unoriginal. I didn't pay attention to the music, but great video!

Do the Math!

Lately, there has been some controversy in the Netherlands concerning the mathematical abilities of future school teachers. Apparantly they have trouble adding, substracting and dividing without a calculator. Oh my...how will they teach our children?!! Fortunately there are bands who make doing math sound a little cooler. Take Math and Physics Club for instance. A geeky name, but they deliver simple but solid catchy indiepop in the vein of Belle and Sebastian. Their self titled debut LP (they've already released two EP's) will be released this month. I've already heard it and it's good!

Math and Physics Club - Movie Ending Romance (From the Movie Ending Romance EP)
Math and Physics Club - Weekends Away (From the Weekends Away EP)
Math and Physics Club - La LA LA Lisa (from their new self titled album)

An even geekier bandname is The Mathletes. With a more electronic driven sound -not unlike They Might Be Giants- they write silly yet simple tunes, with silly lyrics and silly song titles. 'It's a difficult thing, being a mule' for instance starts out with the following lines: "My Mom was a donkey, my dad was a horse, that makes me a mule...of course". Now...how's that for education? By the way...this video is weird!


The Mathletes - Pinocchiobot
The Mathletes - Your Wings Are Made of Gold (I Reamain Unimpressed)