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Musical Rumblings: The Dream Is Over

Old Spectrum>>> It was bound to happen: Conshohocken’s own Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is releasing his long-rumored solo album. And we have a sneaking suspicion that it’s going to be great, for two reasons: One, we’ve had an earlier version of one of the tracks, “When You’ve No Eyes,” on our iPod for a few years now, and if this is anything to go by, it’ll be tender and organic and sweet in a way the CYHSY never was. Two, CYHSY has proven that they’re basically a shell of a band (egad, that last album) and Ounsworth outgrew them years ago. The newsbit on Pitchfork about this doesn’t mention anything about CYHSY’s status going into the future, but they almost don’t even have to. Ounsworth’s debut, Mo Beauty, will be out in October. [Pitchfork]

>>> The new MeWithoutYou video is out, proving that emo bands, now that the white belt and screamo era is definitively over, have now turned to aping the Arcade Fire/Neutral Milk Hotel and hawking freeganism as cravenly as they once hawked some guy called Jesus. From the press release:

[Singer Aaron] Weiss is the real deal – a full-fledged freegan who only from waste food that has been discarded by supermarkets and restaurants. He owns very few possessions: no car, home, computer or cell phone. Any money he acquires goes to charities or to help family. His whole way of life is to minimally consume resources and to avoid materialism, values that are palpable in his songwriting. Further demonstrating mewithoutYou’s values is their lifestyle both on and off the road.

Can this dude dumpster dive for a spot of, oh, I dunno, humility? Gross. On the other hand, freeganism as a marketing tool is really a stroke of genius. [EW]

>>> And finally, Pearl Jam will be the last band to ever play the Spectrum (pictured), on October 28th and 30th; meanwhile, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are gonna say their final farewells to scrappy ol’ place on October 13th and 14th. PJ tix go on sale on July 17; Bruce on July 27.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 at 2:38 pm.

  • http://mrthursday.com TC

    I don’t know, man: Some Loud Thunder was, for me, the proverbial grower. It’s a spotty album, to be sure, but I like “Yankee Go Home” and “Emily Jean Stock” about as much as I liked anything off the first album.

  • mikemikemike

    I met the dudes from mewithoutyou at a BBQ in Germantown once. I didn’t really know who they were or about their music. As I was talking to one of them (lead singer I think) I asked where he lived.

    “Northern Liberties,” he responded. “It’s a neighborhood in North Philly, I don’t know if you would have heard of it.”

    That response was enough to make sure I would never listen to their music, ever. This band is like one of those Main Line moms who are so proud their little Jeremy is going to Exeter on a lacrosse scholarship, except in the other direction.

  • phillyforlosers

    Philebrity Musical Rumblings: smalltown, provincial, laughably narrow-minded, but able to read & reprint badly written press releases. You don’t really get paid for this, do you? Philly deserves way better than this.

  • shiv

    Hey, just because a bunch of teenage Christian kids choose to make mwY their God doesn’t mean they like it. Aaron didn’t write that quote about himself. Hate the music if you want to hate the music.
    And Mike, Aaron has never lived in Northern Liberties, as far as I know, none of the dudes have. They all grew up in Upper Darby and all still live there or in Kensington and West Philly, respectively.
    When did music reviews start sounding like small-town gossip? Give it up, boys.

  • tips

    Bold first comment, phillyforlosers. But I gotta wonder: How often do you read this site? We’ve made a very conscious effort – especially in the last year or so – to include all kinds of music coverage on Philebrity. I’m guessing that you’re more likely a dickhurt mewithoutyou fan who came here to troll. Also, shiv, keep in mind that Musical Rumblings occupies more of a newsy space. We tend to write about more established artists here. It kinda doesn’t matter whether we personally like them or not. And if course, if you think there’s an act (or entire scene) that you think we’re ignoring, by all means, we’d like to hear about it, either here or via email.

  • shiv

    Not sure exactly what you were trying to justify there, tips, but let’s also have it known that what you quoted wasn’t a press release, it was a review from a Christian magazine. I consider that a bit misleading.

  • tips

    I hate to burst your bubble here, but that blockquote came from a press release that the band’s own publicist (I believe it’s Angie Carlson) sent out. It was not a quote from any press, Christian or otherwise, the band received. I can paste it in its entirety when I get back to the office. Had it been a quote from elsewhere, you can be sure we would have linked or attributed it.

  • snaps

    ugh, i can’t believe it’s come to creating an account just to comment on this, but what the hell. usually i don’t care what people write about our band, but i’m bored right now. first of all mikemikemike…no one in the band has ever lived in northern liberties nor would they say ‘you’ve probably never heard of it.’ i live in kensington, and i’m sure you’ve heard of it. peace, brother. to whoever wrote their little ‘rambling’ about the band, you’re entitled to your opinion as much as anyone else, but here’s mine. i laugh at any article or press release i read about the band being ‘freegan’ or not owning anything. i, as well as everyone else in the band, own plenty of things and have a roof over my head. we’re not freegan. we’re five indivuduals, we’re not all aaron weiss. though one thing i’ve never owned (or wore) is a white belt. much peace.

  • phillyforlosers

    As a resident of Chicago & the lucky reader of its many local music writers, my “bold 1st comment” is more a lament at the sad state of Philly’s music coverage. I stand by what I wrote- not really as a defense of any band (I happen to like both CYHSY & MWY)- but to let you know that your column- YOUR column- comes off as petty & smalltime & amateurish as all get out. Get better. Read your competition. Practice makes perfect. Until then, we’re laughing at you.

  • tips

    Newsflash, phillyforlosers: Music scenes, almost by definition (and certainly the band-dude culture that populates most of ‘em) are “petty & smalltime & amateurish as all get out.” Have fun laughing while you’re at this amazing Chicago Rock Critic party you’ve taken time out from enjoying to comment on Philebrity.

  • tips

    Angie C at Press here PR here – hope all’s well. What do you think of these guys? Just seeing if you’ve had a chance to check out the new album by mewithoutYou and if you’d be interested in doing something on the band. Their new full-length, it’s all crazy! it’s all false! it’s all a dream! it’s alright? (out May 19 on Tooth & Nail) finds the Philly indie band taking a creative leap from their post-rock beginnings to deliver a deftly arranged, orchestrated group of songs that work as a concept album – frontman Aaron Weiss is deeply influenced by the writings of Sufi mystic Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, which is where the album’s title comes from.

    Produced by Daniel Smith (Danielson Familie) and Brian McTear (Mazarin, Matt Pond PA), it’s all crazy follows where the mwY’s last album, Brother, Sister, leaves off with a series of meditations on forgiveness, love, death, and the illusions of self. The band’s Combining heavy instruments (tubas), horns, cellos, and an orchestra of guest musicians to create a storybook sound, mewithoutYou asks the listener to hear creation’s groans, adding the cawing, chattering, and warbling of foxes, crows, sheep, donkeys and over a dozen other animals to bring the songs to life. The album’s eclectic sound is slightly reminiscent of Neutral Milk Hotel, or a heavier Arcade Fire or the Decemberists. Fans familiar with the band’s full-length debut, [A -> B Life], their sophomore effort, Catch for Us the Foxes, or 2006’s Brother, Sister, will hear a surprising, but impressive shift from frontman Aaron Weiss’ signature sing-shouting to a more nuanced, dynamic (yet still intense) vocal style.

    Weiss is the real deal – a full-fledged freegan who only from waste food that has been discarded by supermarkets and restaurants. He owns very few possessions: no car, home, computer or cell phone. Any money he acquires goes to charities or to help family. His whole way of life is to minimally consume resources and to avoid materialism, values that are palpable in his songwriting. Further demonstrating mewithoutYou’s values is their lifestyle both on and off the road. The band tours in a 40-foot converted charter bus that uses vegetable oil waste as fuel.

    For more information check out http://www.mewithoutyou.com or http://www.myspace.com/mewithoutyou. Give a shout for more info or to be serviced with the album.
    Best,
    Angie

    Give a shout if you need anything or are interested – scroll down for complete tour dates.

    Best,
    Angie

    Tour Dates:
    Fri May 8 Newark, DE @ University of Delaware
    Sat May 23 Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
    Mon June 8 Richmond, VA @ Canal Club downstairs lounge
    Tue June 9 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
    Wed June 10 Orlando, FL @ The Social
    Thu June 11 St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theater
    Fri June 12 Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds
    Sat June 13 Metairie, LA @ The High Ground
    Sun June 14 Houston, TX @ Java Jazz
    Mon June 15 Dallas, TX @ The Door
    Tue June 16 Austin, TX @ Emo’s
    Thu June 18 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
    Fri June 19 Tempe, AZ @ Clubhouse Music Venue
    Sat June 20 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theater
    Sun June 21 Pomona, CA @ Glasshouse
    Mon June 22 San Luis Obispo, CA @ Downtown Brewing Co.
    Tue June 23 San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
    Thu June 25 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
    Fri June 26 Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s
    Sat June 27 Boise, ID @ The Venue
    Sun June 28 Salt Lake City, UT @ Avalon Theater
    Mon June 29 in Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
    Wed July 1 Lawrence, KS @ Granada
    Thu July 2 St. Paul, MN @ Station 4
    Fri July 3 Marietta, IL @ Cornerstone Festival
    Sat July 4 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
    Sun July 5 Chicago, IL @ Metro
    Mon July 6 Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop
    Tue July 7 Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Small’s
    Thu July 9 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
    Fri July 10 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
    Sat July 11 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Downstairs
    Sat Aug 15 Lewisberry, PA @ Ski Roundtop

  • mikemikemike

    Maybe whoever it was didn’t say Northern Liberties. Maybe they said Fishtown. It was certainly one of those two, though. Either way, the guy who said it (who was most certainly in the band) was a condescending, arrogant asshole the whole night to my wife and I. So, I may have gotten the location wrong. The band is still a bunch of jerks.