Saddle Up Pardner....

Saddle Creek Records is pound for pound the greatest record label around. I just watched The Faint and Bright Eyes perform at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles and both were amazing. That makes five bands that I have seen from said label and all not only sounded great but performed just as well. It is abundantly apparent that the music these bands play come deep from within and that they aren't some fly by night, ride on the coat tails of the latest sound type bands. Each offer a unique and independent sound from each other and really from any of the crap played on the radio. What makes these bands even more special is their ability to intermingle with each other and create even more magic (and not that David Copperfield magic). What I mean by that is this. The Faint came out and rocked the house. Their music was pulsating, the accompanying light show mesmerizing and the energy level of Mt. Saint Helens on eruption day. Their drummer kept pounding out the pop/dance/rock rhythms that made me tired just watching him. So they finish and the roadies set up for Bright Eyes. Two drums kits? Yeah, I thought that they just moved The Faint's drums to the side but no, Bright Eyes had two drummers, one of which was The Faint's drummer. Amazing this guy's energy. Not only did he come back out and perform during the entire set but so did the keyboard and bass player. Also from the Saddle Creek family was the cellist from Cursive. She played with both The Faint and Bright Eyes. It's like one big musical family and surprisingly, one without the ego problems. They play music to play music, because it means something, if to no one else but to them. These huge record labels that have these semi to no talents asshats that are there just to make themselves and the record label as much money as possible before they force feed the next flavor of the day down our throats. (Thanks Kat for asshat, I like) As for Bright Eyes, they were awesome. Conor Oberst may be a musical genius. His ability to combine powerful angst rock with classical and melodic undertones is almost indescribable. Several times there was this beautiful cello, violin and piano (keyboard) with pounding dramatic drumming (again by two drummers playing basically the same thing which in itself was amazing but on the verge of creating something unsettling) along with guitar feedback and then Conor. I would elaborate but I find myself lacking the appropriate vocabulary to accurately describe his temperamental vocal style. All in all, I am entirely impressed with the bands of Saddle Creek and for what they and the label stand. Not only do they sound great on the studio records but their live shows leave you wanting more. Check them out, you'll be happy (or sad in Conor's case).