#songbyrd

[cherry-png]

Do you guys have an recommends for ppl to watch ironically? I already watch Nikocado, AmberLynn, Eugenia Cooney, and SongByrd clips 🫡

[multimikedc]

Bad Moves playing their last show for a while.

[onemillennia]

Lil Xelly on stage at Tony Shhnow & 10Kdunkin’s show at Songbyrd DC

Photography by Ayedatsmanny

Shot on 35mm

July 2023

Developed & Scanned by 1MILLENNIA

[riconastyfan]

[sinceileftyoublog]

The Rural Alberta Advantage Interview: The Ultimate Arbiters

Photo by Leroy Schultz

BY JORDAN MAINZER

Like all bands still dealing with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Rural Alberta Advantage had to adapt. Due to the worldwide pause on live music, they were unable to follow 2017′s excellent The Wild the way they knew best: writing, workshopping, playing live, then finalizing. Fast-forward, and they surprise released an EP, The Rise (Saddle Creek), last spring, announcing the return of founding keyboardist Amy Cole, their first music in five years because they could simply no longer wait. They survived by remotely sharing demos, ignoring the typical album release cycle, releasing this batch of songs soon after they were finalized. Ready to tour and then play some more unreleased material, the band launched on a U.S. tour, their first since the pandemic, in May 2022. By the third show, lead vocalist and guitarist Nils Edenloff, followed by the rest of the band, tested positive for COVID. As many bands two years in had the pandemic in their rearview mirror, The Rural Alberta Advantage were left wondering when it would seem a bit more normal.

Thankfully, the band was able to play a handful of shows in Canada during the latter half of 2022, finally bringing The Rise to the stage and even--yes--debuting an unreleased song. That tune, “Plague Dogs”, was released as a standalone single last month with the announcement of what will (hopefully) be their first full U.S. tour post-COVID. (No, “Plague Dogs” is not a pandemic reference; it was inspired by the Richard Adams novel of the same name.) Though The Rural Alberta Advantage are planning to release a full-length later this year, “a culmination of everything we’ve been working on this whole time,” as Cole told me over Zoom earlier this month, they aren’t taking their time for granted. Instead, they want to put as many songs out into the world as they can and play for as many people as possible. Their tour starts tomorrow night at Lincoln Hall in Chicago.

Read my interview with Cole below, edited for length and clarity, about “Plague Dogs”, The Rise, and the history of the band.

Since I Left You: It seemed fitting to me that the debut of “Plague Dogs” coincided with the announcement of these tour dates, because the video shows live footage and the song has such a live sound. Was that something the you purposefully did?

Amy Cole: Yeah, it was. It sort of always is. It wasn’t because of the live video that we wanted to make the song sound more live. We’re always trying to capture what we sound like live. We’ve had varying degrees of success over the years [doing it], but it’s always our goal, because we consider ourselves a live band. I’m going to rehearsals right after this, and it’s when the three of us are in a room together that we feel the best. With Gavin Gardiner, who has been a friend for many years and has been the one recording and producing these last few songs with us, we’re able to get that [live feel.]

SILY: It definitely has a loud-quiet-loud dynamic going on. Was that also something the band went into recording trying to do?

AC: A lot of our songs do that. [laughs] We weren’t trying to rip ourselves off, but we love playing with dynamics in our songs. Whenever we can try to do it in an inventive way we don’t feel like we’ve done before, we do. This time, there are all these ups and downs and dropouts, and we really leaned into that aspect of the song. We go by feel: we work songs to death until we all feel really great about them. We’re really happy with how “Plague Dogs” turned out.

SILY: I’ve never seen you live before. Do your songs tend to take on new life live, arrangement-wise or in any other way?

AC: Yes, 1000 percent. That’s what was so challenging about The Rise. It was the first time we weren’t able to do what we normally do, which is start a song, get it to a place where we feel like we can try it out live, and then go on tour and road test that song, see what’s working and what isn’t, so by the time we get into the studio, we’ve played it live for a bunch of people and feel like we’ve got it to a really good place [to record]. Because of the pandemic, we weren’t able to do that with the songs on The Rise. That was really challenging for us. We were going in a lot more blind than normally. “Plague Dogs” we were able to play live quite a few times for people during the shows we did back in the fall. When we were recording, we felt really good about where we were at with it; we were feeling really encouraged by its response at our shows. When we went in to record it with Gavin, we knew what parts needed to be bigger, what parts needed to be smaller. That bridge in the middle didn’t come up until our last mixing session, where we thought, “Let’s amp the bass up four times as much as it is compared to the rest of the song, and let’s lean into the organ.”

SILY: Was there a different way you went about getting the feedback you needed for The Rise?

AC: Not really. Each of us played demos for close, trusted friends and loved ones. Sometimes, you’ll get a good, honest response, but sometimes they’re gonna be nice. What’s lucky with the three of us is we really trust each other’s taste. Even if it was just one of us not feeling it, we’ll listen and keep going and hacking away until the three of us are good with it. The ultimate arbiter is the three of us, so we really had to rely on that because we didn’t have a live audience telling us something was good or okay or not great. Luckily, we feel like it worked out for The Rise, but we’re happy our new songs we’re recording, we’re playing live, listening for feedback and seeing what’s hitting.

SILY: “Plague Dogs”’ launching point was the Richard Adams novel of the same name. Do you find that films or books are often the origins for your songs?

AC: I’m speaking for Nils, but sometimes he gets the idea for songs from TV or films or art. A lot of Hometowns and our first couple records was inspired by real stories from Nils’ personal life, as tons of songwriters do. A lot of those songs were about people and places he was thinking about from back home. That’s where he drew a lot of inspiration in the early days. If he were the one answering, he’d say inspiration comes from a lot of places for him. Plague Dogs happened to be the inspiration for this song, which made a lot of people [incorrectly] think it was inspired by the pandemic. [laughs]

SILY: How do you think the band has grown over time, instrumentally, lyrically, or in general?

AC: We’ve grown in the ways that people do over the 15, close to 20 years we’ve been a band. We’ve definitely gotten a lot better musically. We’ve learned a lot about making music, writing songs. We all know each other a lot better. We’ve been through a lot together, and we know how to collaborate. We know how to listen to each other and present our ideas to each other. Anyone who has worked in a group would understand this, but people have really different styles of working and communicating, and it takes a long time to learn how to best work with another person. We’ve gotten to a place where we’re super comfortable with each other and get each other, and now we sound tighter.

SILY: What else are you specifically looking forward to on this tour besides road testing new material?

AC: I’m sure it’s the answer every band gives: getting to play in front of people after not being able to do so after a number of years. We never took it lightly, but we’ll never take it for granted again. To be on stage and get to be the ones performing is one of the best experiences you can have as a musician, playing your songs in front of people who want to hear them. The fact that we’re going to get to do that again is an incredible gift. We weren’t sure we’d ever get to do this again. There were long stretches where we didn’t know what the future held for us, but we’re so happy it’s this.

SILY: Is there anything you’ve been listening to, watching, or reading lately you’ve enjoyed?

AC: I watched a bit of Wednesday. My friend edited the show, including the iconic dance sequence that went viral recently, so I was very excited for him. I watched Fleishman Is in Trouble. I love The Amber Ruffin Show, which I hope comes back. She’s a writer for Late Night with Seth Meyers, which I also watch all the time. I just watched “Seth and Lizzo Go Daydrinking” last night. I loved it. It was so hilarious. Lizzo’s amazing. I was happy she won Record of the Year.

I was listening to Television just before we got on. I’ve been listening to them a lot the last couple days.

SILY: Mourning Tom Verlaine?

AC: Yeah. Listening to how much of the seeds of so many bands are in them. 

02/23 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall

02/24 – Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall

02/25 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Café

02/26 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown

02/28 – Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive

03/02 – Kansas City, MO @ recordBar

03/03 – St. Louis, MO @ Old Rock House

03/04 – Indianapolis, IN @ Hi-Fi

03/22 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall

03/23 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

03/24 – Woodstock, NY @ Levon Helm Studios

03/25 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s

03/27 – Washington DC @ Songbyrd

03/28 – Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall

03/29 – Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall

03/31 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom

04/01 – Detroit, MI @ El Club

04/02 – London, ON @ Rum Runners

06/16 – Beaumont, AB @ Beaumont Blues & Roots

07/06 – Calgary, AB @ Wildhorse Saloon Stampede Party

07/07 – Orillia, ON @ Tudhope Park

[aptbs]

The finalt night of this incredible tour! Thanks so much to everyone that came out.  We hope you had a blast at the shows. Tonight we’re in Washington, DC at @songbyrddc Our last show with @glovetheband plus @swollmusic will be kicking things off. Doors at 7pm Tickets: https://dice.fm/event/rxdvv-a-place-to-bury-strangers-7th-jun-songbyrd-washington-dc-tickets?lng=en-US (Linkinbio) Photos by the wonderful Gerson Vargas @thegighunter from last night’s show at @musichallofwb #aptbs #aplacetoburystrangers #washingtondc #dc #songbyrd #songbyrdcafe #letsseeeachother #letsseeeachothertour #dedstrange #glove #glovetheband #swoll #swollmusic (at Songbyrd Music House) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ceg2_2QpRbt/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lemonclock]

This part felt like a family dance party

[asexual-hugger]

Eating Like a Mukbanger: Vegetarian Cheetos Hot Dogs with Hash Brown Potatoes. Inspired by SongByrd ASMR on YouTube.

[csharchive]

1 Trait Danger at Songbyrd Music House, 2020

[andshesback]

anyone elses hands start shaking Songbyrd ASMR style when they're about to b/p after starving for a while?? it's like calm down you greedy pig lmfao

[danzafila]

NOVA TWINS at Songbyrd Music House, DC

5.14.2024

[ekkoastral]

Ekko Astral at Songbyrd Music House, Jan. 26 2024

[daggerzine]

Laetitia Sadier- Rooting For Love (Drag City)

The album begins with “Who + What,” an eerie, moody keyboard-driven melody that builds with layers and layers of instruments and vocals. “I need to I want to I have to; Need to expand, want to expand; Embrace my Goddess; Escape the fortress; The walls are falling down, cultures are communing; Muses are converging; On the verge.” Track 2, ”Proteiformunite,” is the first of many French songs on this album. This time the bass gets the spotlight. Laetitia’s soft vocals take the listener away to another world. And then the band kicks in with a full-out jam! Next up, “Une Autre Attente," is another French track. Eerie keyboards and robotic piano are highlighted here, but the beautiful vocals truly add to this one. Check out the video:

Track 4, “The Dash,” is a soft, gentle, jazzy number complete with “Ba dee dup, Ba dee dup” Bossa Nova vocals. “Through the center; The discreet shine of your darkness; Eyes of children the heart of another; Things we fear are false; A current life; The place inside; Into the night slowly; Swells vitality.” Next, “Don’t Forget You’re Mine” has a stripped-down beginning, but eventually the music soars and swells with beats and strings. “Hey, don't scream with rage it’s vain. I’m not impressed, just exasperated again. A good slap is what you need; a good slap is what you want; take that take that, get up get up babe.” Track 6, “Panser L’inacceptable,” is another beauty of a song. It has a tropical feel to it. Love the horns here. Here’s the video:

Track 7, “The Inner Smile,” is possibly my favorite track with shifting flutes and a major jam near the end. It’s the most upbeat song on the album. “Smile at all parts of your being. Smile at the parts you’re aware of and those you’re not. Smile, smile and thank your whole body.” Next up, “La Nageuse Nue,” is a French-titled song with English lyrics this time. Laetitia gets deep with her poetry. “The dissolution beliefs; The singular world; Volunteers the ego. Social body, For a cleansing and healing, Experience. Which may turn the personality inside and out; Discloses the gold hidden within the heart.” Track 9,“ New Moon,” develops into a hypnotic blast of ambient sound. It actually came out way back in 2021. It’s one of those songs you just don’t want to end. A beautiful video directed by Laetitia and Tanya Small captures the song here:

   The album closes with “Cloud 6,” a repetitive outer space choral vocal exercise complete with blasting horns. “You have a power I haven't got. I have a power you don’t have. We need all the power we can get. Our psyches, well-being, brutalised, The world renounces its liberty because it is in fear. Because it is in fear, because it is in fear.” More deep thoughts from Laetitia as we would expect. Another great one from Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier from start to finish.  Make sure to check the tour schedule beginning in March to see if she’ll be hitting your part of the world. ERIC EGGLESON

Sat. March 2- San Francisco CA @ The Chapel

Mon. March 4- Portland OR @ Polaris Hall

Tue. March 5- Seattle WA @ Barboza

Wed. March 6- Vancouver BC @ Fox Cabaret

Fri. March 8- Salt Lake City UT @ Kilby Court

Sat. March 9- Denver CO @ Lost Lake

Mon. March 11- Minneapolis MN @ Turf Club

Tue. March 12- Chicago IL @ Empty Bottle

Wed. March 13- Detroit MI @ Third Man

Fri. March 15- Toronto ON @ Garrison

Sat. March 16- Montreal QC @ Bar Le Ritz

Wed. March 20- Brooklyn NY @ National Sawdust

Thu. March 21- Boston MA @ Arts at the Armory

Fri. March 22- Philadelphia PA @ Johnny Brenda's

Sat. March 23- Washington DC @ Songbyrd

Mon. March 25- Atlanta GA @ EARL

Tue. March 26- Nashville TN @ Blue Room

Thu. March 28- Houston TX @ White Oak Music Hall Upstairs

Fri. March 29- Dallas TX @ Club Dada

Sat. March 30- Austin TX @ Parish

Tue. April 2- Phoenix AZ @ Rebel Lounge

Wed. April 3- Pioneertown CA @ Pappy & Harriets

Thu. April 4- Los Angeles CA @ Zebulon

Fri. April 5- Big Sur CA @ Fernwood Tavern

https://www.dragcity.com/products/rooting-for-love

(Photo credit: Marie Merlet)

[onemillennia]

Belvedere at the Bigbabygucci’s show

Photography by Ayedatsmanny

Shot on 35mm

Circa 2023, Washington DC

Developed & Scanned by 1MILLENNIA

[cowgirlclue]

my new song, Picket Fence is out everywhere today 🏴‍☠️ www.cowgirlclue.com/picket-fence

Written & Produced by me

Mixed & Mastered by Oren Ratowsky

Wearing: custom Rock Revival & vintage

…also……….. I’m going on TOUR with LustSickPuppy & Kumo 99 this Spring

Tickets on Sale Friday💋

3.9 Los Angeles, CA at The Lodge Room

3.11 New York, NY at Racket

3.12 Philadelia, PA at Ukie Club

3.14 Washington, DC at Songbyrd

3.15 Richmond, VA at The Camel

3.16 Charlotte, NC at Snug Harbor

3.17 Atlanta, GA at Masquerade

3.18 Nashville, TN at Drkmttr

[radicallicious]

there's this mukbang channel called songbyrd ASMR and gosh 😭 i don't really watch her videos but compilations of them and sometimes i think people are being too harsh to her and her husband chuck i guess ("aw, songturd's teeth are fucked uppp lmao" yes, we can tell her teeth are crooked, mine are too. what about it?) yet i can't help but laugh at the editing and sounds these reaction channels add osbdkdms they're too funny sorry