It Conveys A Subtle Mystery

Au Revoir Simone @ Webster Hall 5/2/2007
Sad Song / A Violet Yet Flammable World / Dark Halls / Fallen Snow / Through The Backyards / Lark / The Way To There

I have not been entirely forthcoming about this in the past, but if I’m going to mention Au Revoir Simone on this site, you ought to know that Heather, one of the band’s three members, has been one of my closest friends for nearly a decade now. As a result, it’s sort of impossible for me to hear their music without feeling incredibly proud of what she’s accomplished with her band mates in the past two years. I’m reasonably certain that I’d be a fan of the group whether I knew them or not, but you know, it’s kinda hard to describe just how cool it is to see someone you’ve known and loved for so long finally find herself as an artist and then go on to become internationally famous for her work. It’s not just Heather — her partners Annie and Erika are two of the loveliest women you could ever hope to meet, and watching them evolve as musicians and performers has been just as inspiring.

Au Revoir Simone “Stars” – I’ve had a copy of “Stars” for quite a while now, and for a lot of that time, it was kinda driving me crazy that I couldn’t share it with all of you. Then the album leaked, and it was released in Europe, and though I had permission to post it, I kinda froze up because I don’t know how to write about this music in an honest way without being sappy and sentimental. In fairness, it’s kind of a sappy, sentimental song — it’s essentially about the sort of intense fascination and excitement you feel when you meet someone new and inspiring. It works very well as a love or crush song, but it was written about platonic friendship, and that’s a lot to do with why the tune has this wonderful innocent quality.

“Stars” has a gorgeous, sparkling arrangement and one of the catchiest melodies of anything I’ve heard this year, but I suspect that it’s my favorite of their songs because it’s the one that is the most Heather-ish. She’s the primary author of this particular track, and whether she intended it or not, it sums up so much of what is great about her — the wide-eyed enthusiasm, the intellectual curiosity (it might help to hear this song with the knowledge that she studies astrophysics at Columbia), the suburban roots, the romanticism, the mix of self-possession and unapologetic girlishness. Seriously, I just can’t hear it without feeling sappy. I wish that all of you had songs written by your friends that could remind you just why you like them so much in the first place. (Click here to buy it from Insound.)

Peter, Bjorn & John @ Webster Hall 5/2/2007
Roll The Credits / Let’s Call It Off / See Through / The Chills / Start To Melt / Amsterdam / Paris 2004 / Tailormade / Young Folks (with Heather D’Angelo) / Objects Of My Affection / Up Against The Wall // Poor Cow / Far Away, By My Side / Teen Love

One more thing to be proud of: Heather sang Victoria Bergsman’s part in “Young Folks” with Peter, Bjorn and John last night, and she did a rather fantastic job of it. She went from obsessing over the song on tour to singing it every night with the band a few months later. There’s no denying it: She has a very charmed life. You don’t know the half of it!

Peter, Bjorn & John “Up Against The Wall” – Oh, and yeah, Peter, Bjorn and John played a show too! Though it wasn’t the exciting experience that I had when I saw them at the Mercury Lounge back in January, it was certainly a solid and entertaining gig. Peter dialed down his charisma a bit for this show, but he was still very magnetic and amiable throughout the performance. Aside from “Young Folks,” the highlight of the set was an extended version of “Up Against The Wall” that kept going through at least three false starts before finally ending with just Peter strumming his guitar and plaintively singing the title. A PB&J concert album might be a bit redundant, but they really ought to release a live recording of this particular number. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)

Elsewhere: My new Hit Refresh column is up on the ASAP site with mp3s from Wild Beasts, Lucky Soul, and Good Shoes.