Camp Revival

I have spent hours, days, sometimes weeks tirelessly searching the internet in hopes that I would stumble across sound that excites me. It’s frustrating, but on the occasion that I do, stumble, across a band that intrigues my ears I am elated to the point where the hours, days and weeks vanish into hindsight and all of the time spent is forgotten in an instant.

Outside of the internet, where I spend most of my time, I also find it very rare that I stumble upon music that draws me in. That’s what makes Ugly Purple Sweater so special. It was the 4th of July and I was hanging out on Wallingford Ave in Seattle. Across the street a band started playing. Already having had a beer, or two, or…Ok five beers! I STUMBLED across the street to catch some of their music. As my ears started to tune in I noticed the ethereal music they were creating was starting to formulate into something; holy shit, that something was Voodoo Child and it was being played on the cello. At that point I was cursing that I didn’t have my digital camera handy to capture the performance. After Voodoo Child the band performed originals until the fireworks started popping off. The way that they performed put the audience at ease and evoked an immediate response. As can be seen by the images below, Ugly Purple Sweater had the audience literally dancing in the streets of Wallingford. I made a point to look this band up when I got home. Sure enough their recordings were equally as good as their live performance. I was hooked and knew I needed to write about them.

Ugly Purple Sweater resides in Washington D.C. The band just wrapped up a Pacific Northwest tour where they played with cellist virtuoso Joshua Stacy. The band itself is made up of Sam McCormally and Rachel Lord. They currently have an album out titled: “You Are Alone But You Are Not Alone”. You can listen to the entire album here FOR FREE (I highly suggest you do so). This is an album you can listen to all the way through. I listened to the album on repeat today and I heard everything from: The Smiths to The Cairo Gang. This is fun, social music.

(Photos by Britta Lisa Gess and Jonathan Larson)

Jumbo Slice

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

When the Summer Came…

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The Sinking of Lake Anne

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

(This one’s not what you think…)

I know, I know- there better be a pretty good explanation to why there’s not a embedded YouTube clip featuring some scary devil band you’ll never listen to. And you’re absolutely right. For behold! There is a reason- by the name of Mount Eerie.

Those of you who keenly follow The Microphones/Mount Eerie’s lengthy output probably already know of what’s coming on August 19th. The name of the record is Wind’s Poem, and by all accounts is very black metal-inspired. That is, musically. Don’t worry- there is no face makeup involved. Yet.

So, what to expect on the new album? In an interview with Stereogum, Eerie’s sole permanent member Phil Elverum says, “Basically the idea with Wind’s Poem is that this crazy beautiful force of erosion and destruction (wind) constantly wraps around the world and permeates our lives, and is occasionally audible, blowing through buildings and branches.” Basically, it sounds like it’s going to rock pretty hard.

Additionally, according to the press junket, the tour in support of the new record will feature two drummers, walls of amps, and….gongs. Crikey.

Here’s the tracklist:

01 Wind’s Dark Poem
02 Through the Trees
03 My Heart Is Not at Peace
04 The Hidden Stone
05 Wind Speaks
06 Summons
07 The Mouth of Sky
08 Between Two Mysteries
09 Ancient Questions
10 (something)
11 Lost Wisdom Pt. 2
12 Stone’s Ode