Halloween is a holiday that always has really high expectations, and typically doesn’t live up to them…so when I heard that Mount Eerie was playing my decision was made for me…Mount Eerie never disappoints.

This was my first time hearing Malkuth and Liturgy.  Malkuth went on shortly after we got to Market Hotel, and played for what seemed like forever…and not forever in a bad way, but more like…wow this opening band is playing for over an hour.  I was pretty impressed, but as I soon found out it is hard for any band to share the stage with Liturgy. I haven’t been to a metal show in a couple months, and I really did enjoy it…even klk got into Liturgy, and the metal typically isn’t her thing.  As far as black metal goes I got more out of Liturgy’s performance on Saturday than I did out of Wolves In the Throne Room earlier this year. Liturgy can keep the underlying melodic guitars even during a full blown thrash session.  Totally worth checking out:

[full album] Liturgy- Live on My Castle of Quiet at WFMU (via FMA)

Mount Eerie took the stage in a form that I have yet to see, and this was due to the recent release of Wind’s Poem.  Not only was Elverum on stage, but he was accompanied by both Julia Chirka and Nick Krgovich of No Kids as well as two drummers.  Their set consisted entirely of songs from Wind’s Poem, and Phil let us in on something that I was previously unaware of…Wind’s Poem was written by himself and Nick Krgovich (last time I saw Nick play it was less than exciting, but he redeemed himself on Saturday night).  Mount Eerie sounded thunderous, and the amazing part was that there was only one guitar on stage.  Krgovich and Chirka both played keyboards, and Elverum stood center with the guitar. For me heavier music can sometimes get lost in the wall of sound created by too many guitars, and I think Elverum has found the perfect combination for his live set up to show off both his song writing and vocals.  With only one guitar Elverum was able to shine over the the heaviest music he has ever written.  Mount Eerie’s set was near perfect, and Krgovich even interjected a dance beat into what I consider one of the best songs of the year:

Mount Eerie still have most of their tour to go…I highly recommend catching them…only good things can come of it….tour dates can be found here.

In other Mount Eerie related news….

Julie Doiron, who collaborated with Phil Elverum on last year’s wonderful Lost Wisdom, will be gracing NYC this Thursday, November 5th, accompanied by Herman Dune at the Bell House. Julie released an excellent album this year, I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day (which will also be making my best of 2009 list), and was great when she played Cake Shop this past spring.  If you are unfamiliar with Julie she used to play in Eric’s Trip, and has been making music on her own since the early 90’s.  Check out one of my favorite tracks from last year’s Lost Wisdom:

[mp3] Mount Eerie w/ Julie Doiron & Fred Squire- “Voice in Headphones” (from Lost Wisdom, buy it here.)

Links:

• more on Mount Eerie and Phil Elverum here.
• buy Mount Eerie and P.W. Elverum and Suns releases here.
• more on Julie Doiron here.
• buy Julie Doiron’s releases here.
• more from the free music archive here.
• more gprecs video (Karl Blau, Dum Dum Girls, Los Campesinos! and More) here.

End Note: There has been a lot going on in my real, non-internet, life this week…so blog posts will be scarce until sometime next week.  My stress will greatly decrease tomorrow, and I am looking forward to enjoying Julie play in one of my favorite venues in Booklyn…beer will be calling my name.

Julie Doiron wasn’t the first musician that Phil Elverum collaborated with that I became a fan of, and one of the others happens to be playing right here in New York next week!  This person is Nick Krgovich (formerly of P:ano, currently of No Kids and To Bad Catholics).

My introduction to Krgovich was at David Shrigley’s Worried Noodles concert at the Knitting Factory where he preformed a short set with Elverum (totes amazing!  check out the track below).  Nick had me as soon as he opened his mouth, and that soothing sexy soulful voice came out.  Not exactly what I was expecting from a skinny white guy from Canada.

It looks like this time when Krgovich comes to NYC though he will be playing a solo set, and his other band To Bad Catholics will be opening.  To Bad Catholics, and I admit I haven’t heard much, seem to be more of an electronic pop trio than Krgovich/No Kids’ take on R&B meets world music.    To Bad Catholics also features Julia Chirka (also of No Kids) and Mallory (who they “met when we shared a table at T.G.I. Fridays (it was packed) she was dining alone in a booth seat and the hostess asked if we could share, she said yes, thank God!!” via their myspace)

These shows are billed as Nick Krgovich shows (To Bad Catholics will be opening).  I assume he will be playing some No Kids songs, but can’t be sure. Here’s the Info:

• 5/19/09 New York, NY @ Cake Shop w/ Skeletons, Katie Eastburn and To Bad Catholics

• 5/20/09 Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, NY @ Sycamore w/ Katie Eastburn and To Bad Catholics

To Bad Catholics also have a “house show” listed on their myspace that is TBA on 5/22/09.  I’ll keep an eye on this, and update the post when there is more info.  For additional Nick Krgovich/No Kids dates click here.

Listen:

[mp3] Phil Elverum & Nick Krgovich- Whatcha Doin’ (off Worried Noodles via Soulblending) (Buy it!)

[mp3] No Kids- The Beach Is All Closed (off Come Into My House) (Buy it!)

Listen to To Bad Catholics here.

More No Kids/Nick Krgovich can be heard here.

Photo via To Bad Catholics’ myspace.  Taken by Michelle Mayne.