SXS-Westilence (like Pestilence, get it?), Citay tonight; Pitchfork poops on Bright Eyes/Neva…

Category: Blog — @ 11:25 pm March 25, 2010

by Tim McMahan, Lazy-i.com

I’ve talked to three people who went to SXSW last week. All three — like me — are now suffering from a head/chest cold. What are the odds of that? Is it because we all foolishly sloughed around Austin last Saturday under-dressed for the unseasonably cold weather? I blame that, along with a weakened immune system from multiple 3 a.m. nights. I also blame air travel, which I consider to be one of the most dangerous endeavors from a disease/illness standpoint. I always get sick after I fly.

Anyway, I’m sick. But I think (I hope) I’m getting better. I was too sick for last night’s show at O’Leaver’s, and I’m still too sick for tonight’s gig at The Waiting Room. I’ll be missing Ezra Feinberg and his San Francisco band Citay. This funky act plays a groovy sunshine-filled, multi-harmony pop rock that you’d expect from someone living on the Left Coast. Their new album, Dream Get Together (just released on Dead Oceans), is a throwback psychedelic gem that isn’t afraid of the occasional guitar solo. This is the kind of band you’d have heard at The Fillmore circa 1967 (if you around). I’m buzzing right now just listening to the album (it’s either that or all the cold medication). Opening is Leslie Wells and Anniversaire. $8, 9 p.m.

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An addendum on that Bright Eyes/Neva Dinova item from yesterday: The Pitchfork review hit last night. Rating: 5.8 — which translates to “please ignore me.” Says reviewer Ian Cohen (who incidentally reviewed and hated the last Neva album): “As songwriters, Oberst and Bellows sound more comfortable than challenged here. As a tribute to once prolific and unique songwriting community, One Jug is better served as a reminder of how much outstanding and original music Saddle Creek produced from 2000-2003 rather than a document of it.” Cohen also says that the Neva songs are better than the Bright Eyes songs, but with this caveat: “Bright Eyes were never convincing as a rock band, and the transparency in which Desaparecidos tried to be a rock band always made it feel hollow.” Okay. So take the review for what it’s worth… Hey, it’s Pitchfork, right? Read the whole thing here.

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Read Tim McMahan’s blog daily at Lazy-i.com — an online music magazine that includes feature interviews, reviews and news. The focus is on the national indie music scene with a special emphasis on the best original bands in the Omaha area.

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