20 Features September 28, 2004 THE RETRIEVER By Noah Albro Microphones, Calvin Johnson Music review corner and Walkmen crank it up

Charity works and locals debut big

Sub-City records has impressive bands taking action for equally impressive causes

Compilation:Take Action Volume 4 (available October 5)

To be completely honest, I was through all forty-one bands on the two ashamed of myself for knowing as few CDs. The album really kept me fully groups on this album as I did. When I engaged there was a good mixture of fast looked at the list of names I began to real- songs and slower ones but even more ize that I knew a grand total of maybe ten important than that, these bands really bands on the entire CD. Normally, we all cared about what they were playing for – buy compilation discs because there are all life (the funds from this CD support non these awesome bands that we always listen profit suicide help organizations). Take Oliver Baranczyk [Retriever Staff] to…but that was out for me. With that Action comes on the heels of the Hopelessly Back in Baltimore: Calvin “Death” Johnson emphasizes the emotions expressed in his songs. confession out of the way, the album was Devoted to You sampler also produced by solid and really purposeful. The songs were Sub City and Hopeless records and with incredibly diverse sporting such big bands any luck will sell more than its predecessor. OLIVER BARANCZYK The next Björk, without a doubt, has to be Genevieve Castree, who calls herself Woelv. as: Coheed and Cambria, Mae, Taking Back Sub City compassionately supports over Retriever Staff Writer Singing in her native French, with only a softly Sunday, NoFx, Hawthorne Heights and twenty-four charities and has risen over strummed guitar to augment her fragile voice, she many other punk bands. It was really hard $400,000 for these various organizations. First of all, I would like to disclaim any hint prepared listeners for the main event: the for me to analyze all the music on this CD It’s nice to know that by purchasing this of comparison and contrast within this review. Yes, Microphones. Though the Microphones have con- because every band really had a different album you are not only getting good music the Microphones, Calvin Johnson, and friends sisted of a conglomeration of K Records artists over sound and musical styling. Plus, this review but you may also be saving a life. Pick up played a sparse, intimate show Tuesday, September the course of the last six years, Phil Elverum is the would be three pages long if I went this album and make a difference. 21 at the Ottobar in Baltimore. And also, home- main musical contributor and now calls himself town boys the Walkmen shouted and turned their Mt. Eerie, named after his last album under the amps up to 11 on Thursday at D.C.’s 9:30 Club. Microphones pseudonym. And yes, the headline does place the Microphones’ Playing a taut 45-minute show, the somber musical sound at one end of the spectrum Microphones intimately incorporated its well- UMBCers rock it yet again and the Walkmen, with their bombastic rock, on known guitar nuances and solemn compositions, the other end. But I do not aim to compare and enthralling all to witness his jaw-dropping per- contrast the two, for that would detract from the formance. Signaling the end of each song, Phil sheer enjoyment provided on both evenings, as would take a small hop and shyly offer a quiet Sylvan Screen: Summer Sampler well as the individuality of the artists. “thank you” to the crowd. An evening of such sub- I headed to the Microphones/Calvin Johnson tle beauty can only end with a quiet calm, and (Available now at SylvanScreen.cjb.net) evening with high hopes and wide-eyed enthusi- thus, the Microphones closed the evening with one asm. Calvin Johnson is the main man behind all of such moment. the incredible music that has erupted from On Thursday night, I prepared myself for a Washington state in the last 15 years. He’s the much more straightforward show than that of Even though this CD is only a rough guitar work on the CD is inventive to say founder of K Records’ Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, Tuesday night. Having seen the Walkmen before, I demo, Sylvan Screen’s unique spin on the the least, the riffs are melodic one minute Beat Happening, the Halo Benders, Mirah, etc. have knew to anticipate a loud show with inaudible indie/punk sound far surpasses the lack of but have the ability to become complete- all, at some point, recorded with CJ. That’s a pret- vocals and a vibe that oozed coolness. The mastering and production that comes ly dissonant at any given point. The ty good résumé, not to mention that he and Phil Walkmen take a certain mood to enjoy, and their with full album status. Sylvan Screen is drums riffs are original and remarkably Elvrum (a.k.a. Phil Elverum, the Microphones, Mt. sound is not as immediately accessible to the gen- composed of two UMBC natives, gui- executed and the bass lines are innovative Eerie) tour together frequently, a fact that sends eral public, though they do find themselves lauded tarist and lead vocalist Neil Cotteril and and flawlessly performed as well. The shivers down my spine. by many as a distinctly innovative group. guitarist Ganesh Kumarachandran (of great thing about their style of music is But the thing that I always hear is how the To a packed house in celebration of their first course it has other members…they just that it’s so far from convention that you shows with these two geniuses are simply amazing, hometown gig in a long while, the Walkmen con- don’t go here) and just recently played a couldn’t get uninterested with it if you though unpredictable. As a result, I found myself fidently strutted through a set that lasted an hour. show in our very own Cabaret. Sylvan wanted to. I figure the best way to blindly excited, yet wholeheartedly sure that I Frontman Hamilton Leithauser’s raspy vocal made Screen’s musical style is far from common- describe this demo is by letting the music would be blown away by whatever events came to his lyrics difficult to understand, but that did not place, incorporating wonderfully crafted do the talking for itself so pick up this pass. detract from their performance. The grand influ- violin and cello pieces into tracks like demo and check these guys out. Also be Little did I know that after a spirited dance ence of drums, bass and organ often overshadows Thirsty Hearts and Artic Cat adds a new looking for their first full length album to party conducted by opener Dan Deacon, however, the involvement of the guitar and vocals most dimension to their creative sound. The be out this winter. the music would only become more sparse as the cases, making for a sound that is their own, and evening hours waned. Calvin Johnson, in a sur- one that never ceases to interest those who witness prise entrance as the second act, brought a guitar it in a live setting. Adequately stepping through and his deep bass onto stage, as well as a sense of material from their debut, 2001’s Everyone Who humor quite welcome in such an intimate setting. Pretended To Like Me Is Gone and this year’s Bows With the fans turned off, the lights turned up, and & Arrows, with highlights being the anthemic clos- eager listeners abound, each with eyes fixed on er “The Rat” and “Everyone Who Pretended To him, Calvin ‘Death’ Johnson alternated between Like Me Is Gone,” the band’s brevity left more pieces featuring his slowly strummed guitar and a than enough room for much tangible enjoyment. cappella tunes. Whether by nature or simply part While I still remain in agreement with my of the act, his body awkwardly threw itself into odd introductory disclaimer, I will attest to the fact that positions, almost akin to a Turrets tic, and he care- both the Microphones and the Walkmen are differ- fully chose his words and stories in between songs. ent yet intricately related. Often a setting for dis- The crowed enjoyed a healthy amount of appointment, concerts and other musical events laughter, especially during the comments and always are subject to intense criticism; however, questions session at the middle of his set. Two sets one may argue that Tuesday at the Ottobar and Hello, lovelies. of “Happy Birthday” were sung as well as the Thursday at the 9:30 Club were poles apart, but Features is creating an Art’s Focus section. Want to visit art galleries and write about them? explanation of Calvin’s middle name. He explained would be helpless to refute that they were not Want to show off your musical skills? Want to write a few offbeat stories? Contact me, Sun, at that he once was Calvin Dennis Johnson, but equally great. [email protected], since I’m the grand master behind all this. instead chose to change it to something that told In the meantime, check out the stellar new art gallery, A Thousand Hounds: A Walk with more about his personality. Based upon that Oliver Baranczyk is a staff writer for the the Dogs Through the History of Photography at the Alvin O. Kuhn Library and tell me what thought process, he came to choose a new nick- Retriever. You may reach him at your favorite print is! name: Death. [email protected]