Tim Williams - Careful Love

So, I don't know much about Tim Williams the person, next to nothing in fact. Usually how this works is, I find someone I like to listen to, then try and learn about them so that I can sound "informed" when discussing their music. Here's what I know; he's a Brooklyn based troubadour. That's all I got. Maybe that's a poor attitude, but really it's all just trivial, what matters is what his music invokes and whether or not it's what you like. So, hopefully I can start you down the path and rest is up to you, choose your own adventure.

The first track I had was "Right All along". A mid tempo song, simple electric guitar, droning vocals with a wide range, lyrics are on point, but the thing that separates it from standard singer songwriter is the use of electronics. As if The Radio Dept. remixed the original song and this is the product. There are quite a few artists who have one song I like, I listen to that one song, with out really getting into the other songs in their catalog. Honestly, I thought that be the case with Tim Williams. But, I listened to 30 second samples, then I dropped in on the whole album, then I found myself playing the album over and over. Standout tracks are abundant; "Right All Along", "I Hit Another Wall", "Oceans", "Love Hate", etc.

The company you keep podcast vol.4

I slept on this one. Great songs ahead...

Podcast Vol. 4

Tracklist:
1. Portugal. the man - People say
2. Tim Williams - Oceans
3. Dan Mangan - Robots
4. Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - Know better learn faster
5. The Jim Carroll Band - People Who Died
6. The Swell Season - Low Rising
7. Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Summer of Fear Pt. 2
8. Florence and the Machine - You've Got the Love
9. The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You
10. Califone - Funeral Singers
11. The Hood Internet - Cult Logic Forever

Ghostland Observatory - Anchorage, AK 11-5-09

"HEY YO RICH MAN!!", I yell in unison with my 4 year old son as him and his twin sisters dance at my feet. We're in the living room dancing away to Ghostland Observatory several hours before they are slated to take the stage at the Bear's Tooth. I had the date marked on the calendar, I had a pink silk shirt to wear, I had mastered my Native American techno dance moves, I was ready to do this!

Ghostland, is one of the most excitingly fun bands to come out of Austin, TX in recent memory. They are renowned for their live shows, which includes a laser show, costumes, and most notable for me, the dance moves of frontman Aaron Behrens. They are a two piece, that builds their sound on the keys on Thomas Turner, with his arsenal of synthesizers. Aaron sings with conviction, migrating between his natural octave and a mean falsetto. They have had modest success with the sales of their albums, but attract huge crowds, typically being one of the bigger draws at large festivals because of what they bring to the live stage.

When I heard that they were coming to Anchorage, I was elated, my most anxiously awaited local show in recent memory. In the weeks proceeding the show I watched the Austin City Limits show recorded on my DVR a dozen times. I questioned what the crowd would be like. First tap shows at the Bear Tooth seem to be hit or miss, some bands that suck, draw huge crowds. Others who are damn good, like the Hold Steady in September, are sparsely attended. One thing you can count on is drunken mayhem, people are always looking for a reason to drink way too many IPA's in the name of a good time. As the date drew near and the promotional posters popped up everywhere you could think of finding a hipster, it was clearly going to be crowded.

The crew of friends I was going to the show with gathered to "pre-funk" downtown at a friends apartment. I had already decided to drink a few vodka/sodas and then lay off the sauce. One of the most frustrating things to happen at a show is to give up your front row spot because you have to take a piss. We got there early, bobbed our heads to the opening DJ and made fun of pretentious people who looked determined to convey an aura of "I heard of them first" while refusing to smile or have a good time to solidify their claims. About that time things were getting crazy in the front of the crowd. People were trying to pick fights with the people around them, a girl next to me talked shit to the 120 lb. girl in front of her for "taking up to much room". A guy punched a girl in the face, apparently on the behalf of his girlfriend. Stay classy Anchorage. Ghostland took the stage in full garb, Thomas with his cape, Aaron in braids and sunglasses. I was happy to see Aaron wielding the same Telecaster, retro fitted with a humbucker pickup in the neck position, as I had seen him play on the ACL show. There was smoke, and a laser show, and tight white pants. Unfortunately, there were also an insane amount of people obsessed with the idea that their whole experience would be significantly better, if only they were two feet closer. This equated to a huge rush of pushing forward, then the reactionary push back. Which turned into elbows and trying like hell to stay on your feet. Pretty soon you couldn't hold your own space, the shoulder in front of you was your head rest. I realized I'm 5 feet from the band and I'm not watching them.

I lasted a few songs before giving up. You win Anchorage, a place with great people, but collectively at a concert, you become a sea of douche bags. I fought my way back, all the way back to the back wall. One by one the people I came with found their way to the same place. This was not a designated meeting spot, but one of the only places to actually enjoy the show. I take my music experience seriously, I take vacations with the sole purpose of seeing live shows, I've been to festivals in Europe. I can't remember a crowd that was so collectively retarded. Friends that have traveled with me to see shows 3000 miles away all found their way to the back. Our first words were not, "Ghostland is killing it", which they were. It was "what the fuck!". People up here think that that is what you do at shows, that that is a good time. I could understand if it was ministry on stage, or any other power chord heavy metal, scream the words band. But it wasn't, it was Ghostland Observatory, not the same thing. There is a time and a place, know how to distinguish and recognize the time and place.

Ghostland did their part, they killed it, the show was on point. It's too bad for them the whole experience was tainted by the stupid fucks of Anchorage who don't know how to enjoy music. The light show was better from the back anyway.

Rumor has it, that Girl Talk is coming here soon. I saw them this summer at the Gorge in Washington. It was freaking amazing, fucking astounding. I don't think I'll even go see him up here.