VIDEO: Modest Mouse's "Little Motel"

Modest Mouse - Little Motel

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"Little Motel" was my definite favorite song off Modest Mouse's We Were Dead Before The Ship Sank, probably because it's one of the album's most diverse tracks, without Isaac Brock's (honestly, kind of grating) signature vocals. Right off the bat, though, "Little Motel" caught my ear with its sparse arrangement and way more subdued vocals that fluidly wash over all of it. I strongly recommend listening to it at night with headphones, if you want to get the full effect of this acoustic gem. And it doesn't sound shoegaze-y at all, but somehow I found that word crossing my mind as I listened that first time. Maybe it's all the strange, subtle ambient background noise.

The slowly paced, backwards-moving video fits the song well, as the camera lingers over images and details the way Brock's voice languishes and lingers over the song's few lyrics. The only downside: It kinda looks like an episode of ER at times. Without George Clooney.

LISTEN:
"Little Motel" [MP3]

ON THE WEB:
Modest Mouse's website
Modest Mouse's MySpace

The Immaculate Machine Hits Santa Barbara Saturday!!!

Immaculate Machine: Brooke Gallupe, Kathryn Calder and Luke Kozlowski

Last minute surprises! Immaculate Machine comes to town this weekend... and of course it's the weekend I'm going to be in Long Beach. Man oh man. the Immaculate Machine will be playing at the Biko Co-op on Saturday night at 8, with local bands Mouth and Clitorectomy and the Mutilators!! Amazing indie pop from Mint Records.

I complain a lot about not being close to the LA shows, but the great thing about Santa Barbara is that when bands do come around, they often play in our (by our, I mean college students) backyards here in Isla Vista! I saw the Advantage (the "8-bit Nintendo band," which is way more awesome than it sounds, and far less gimmicky) play last night at the Pink Mailbox. Great show. The crowd was really enthusiastic and captivated, especially when the band got gradually softer and softer until they were basically inaudible... "I can't hear you!" some drunk person jeered from the back, but it was all in good fun.

And, don't forget to go and check out Sea Wolf play downtown at SoHO this Thursday, Sept. 13, or Modest Mouse, who will be at the Bowl next weekend while I'm in Austin for ACL (and Hot Freaks! on Sept. 15). Enjoy the multitude of awesome musical events happening in Santa Barbara. You've earned it, neighbors.

LISTEN:
Immaculate Machine: "Dear Confessor" [MP3]
Modest Mouse: "Dashboard" [MP3]
Sea Wolf: "You're A Wolf" [MP3]

Modest Mouse Comes to Santa Barbara

Alright, so I'm always complaining about having to drive to L.A. to go and see shows... well, now I'm allllmost in luck. Modest Mouse will be gracing SB (at the Bowl) with its presence on Sept. 14! I won't be around, cause I fly to Austin, TX (for Austin City Limits) a day earlier, but this is good news for somebody, I'm sure. The show, to my knowledge, was just announced, and tickets go on sale Saturday.

Oh, and I'm not much of a Tegan and Sara fan (though judging from their latest album reviews, I should consider giving them another chance), but if you are, and you live in Santa Barbara, they'll be playing a show at the Bowl on Halloween! That's the kind of news this ghost likes to hear!

ON THE WEB:
Modest Mouse's website
Tegan and Sara's website
The Bowl's website
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