Local Natives w/ The Suckers
On Tuesday, May 11 (yes, the Cavs will be playing Game 5 of the playoffs), there is some great music coming to The Beachland Ballroom and Tavern. Los Angeles' Local Natives will not only play one set, but also two completely different sets that night. The first set of the evening will be a free all-acoustic instore performance at Music Saves that starts at 7:00 pm. The Local Natives have come a long way in a short amount of time, from a band who released their debut album Gorilla Manor in February, to a band that played Coachella festival in April and this summer will take the stage at Bonnaroo. Local Natives are frequently compared to Vampire Weekend because of their afro-pop influence, and to Grizzly Bear owing to psychedelic guitars and dreamy delivery. However, they clearly have a rhythm all their own, with highly percussive arrangements backing charismatic vocal harmonies.
Metric w/ Bear in Heaven
One of the best Canadian groups (of which there are many) in the indie rock game will be coming to the House of Blues on Wednesday, May 19. Their fearless leader is edgy chanteuse, Emily Haines. During the last few years, Metric, much like Haines herself, have been undergoing a musical transformation. On the band's biggest seller, 2005's Live it Out, the band found not only widespread critical applause, but also strong record sales, with dynamic New Wave–inspired hooks. A musical shift has resulted in a subtle change of pace, with Haines (as result of her strong solo record, Knives Don't Cut Your Back) finally liberated in her artistry, sounding confident, defiant and gutsy. The whole band seems to be playing with a greater sense of possibility. On their latest release, Fantasies, they are – arguably for the first time –really flexing their musical muscles. On first listen, it may sound harsh, menacing, but subsequent listens reveal a tender undertone that often conveys a real sense of vulnerability – the catchy melodies are a bonus.
The Twilight Sad w/ Mono
The Weapons of Mass Creation Fest will be going on May 22, but if you can tear yourself away from the fest that night, head over to the Grog Shop where you are in for a real treat - one of Scotland's finest, The Twilight Sad. The group will be the supporting act for Japan's Mono. The group earned critical acclaim at home and abroad for their 2007 debut Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters, a densely textured record full of nuance that belied the band's relative inexperience. The Twilight Sad are led by vocalist James Graham, whose dark lyricism is the backbone of 2009's Forget the Night Ahead, a similarly lush recording, with traces of Leonard Cohen, Daniel Johnston and even Phil Spector. Their recorded music is haunting, anthemic, though they're noted for mixing it up live, still delivering a wall of sound, albeit with a raw energy that's not to be missed. Mono have been captivating and thrilling audiences throughout the world for more than 10 years, with their unparalleled ability to brew up some of the baddest and most dazzling instrumental rock that will ever captivate your eardrums. When you get lost in a fog of noise and find yourself embracing the comfort of the unknown that shadows provide at night, there is where you find Mono.
