Wednesday Night Music Options 3/21/07

The Besnard Lakes Play the Echo Tonight

A plethora of options tonight.

Tonight's Pick:

The Helio Sequence / Dirty on Purpose / The Besnard Lakes @ the EXPLX ($12) – It’s been three years since the Portland dream rockers Helio Sequence put out their last record on Sub Pop. They’re only a duo, but they get a big sound, which makes them a lot of fun to watch live. Download the Helio Sequence’s “Blood Bleeds” and “Everyone Knows Everyone” Dirty on Purpose is a slightly shoegazey, more Yo La Tengo-inspired Brooklyn band who put out a good, but overlooked album last year. Download “Light Pollution” and “Mind Blindness” The Besnard Lakes is another new, very promising band from Montreal. I’m really enjoying their new Jagjaguwar-released CD. They get compared to a lot of disparate bands, but that’s mostly because unlike a lot of bands, they’re multi-dimensional. You have to spend some time with their album before you comprehend their nuances. I’ve said they’re like cross between Low and Band of Horses, but that’s probably bullshit too. I’m really enjoying them right now. Download “And You Lied To Me”

Also Recommended:

Club NME: Goldrush / Electric Soft Parade / The Explorers Club @ Spaceland – Goldrush and Electric Soft Parade are two interesting British bands on an excellent local label (Better Looking Records). Goldrush gets the Wilco, Flaming Lips comparisons. I hear a little Snow Patrol too (when Snow Patrol still rocked a bit). Their record comes out on April 10th and its good. Download Goldrush’s “Heaven’s My Destination” and “Every One Of Us” Electric Soft Parade rocks a little bit harder. The All Music Guide compares them to Doves and Elbow with a hair of Ben Folds. Download Electric Soft Parade’s “If That’s the Case, Then I Don’t Know” Explorers Club are a heavily Beach Boys-inspired band from South Carolina. Like unmistakably Beach Boys inspired. Seriously. I’m not screwing with you. Download “Forever” (not a cover of the great Beach Boys track) and “I Lost My Head”

Sondre Lerche @ El Rey ($24) – After that weird sidebar, Duper Sessions record, the indie pop singer from Norway returned to form with his latest. It’s a good record.

Local Picks:

400 Blows / Qui @ Knitting Factory ($12) – Local kick you in the dick rock.
Radars to the Sky @ Silverlake Lounge ($8) – Promising new local indie band.
The Mae Shi / Gowns / E.S.P.S. @ Mountain Bar – Noise rock.
Charlie Wadhams / Mike Andrews / Willoughby @ Bordello – Ex-Rex Aquarium lead man celebrates the release of his new album. Recorded with Mike Andrews.

Not for me, but maybe you?

James Morrison @ the Roxy – Yeah, his name’s James Morrison. If you like James Blunt you might want to check him out. He’s a new British singer-songwriter.

The Bravery @ Trobuadour (Sold Out) – Indie dance crowd.