Results tagged “dirtyprojectors”

          

Thursday night wasn’t the first time that the Dirty Projectors have ever played the Black Cat, but it was possibly the first time that a lot of those Black Cat patrons had seen the Dirty Projectors. That the band has raised its profile in the wake of album-of-the-year contender Bitte Orca was not lost on the musicians, as they alternately rose to the occasion and second guessed their decisions. Not two songs after singer/multi-instrumentalist Angel Deradoorian victoriously proclaimed, “We finally get to play upstairs,” singer/guitarist David Longstreth pondered aloud whether the group's mixture of acoustic and electric instrumentation on "The Bride" was actually working live. Despite audience assurances, he seemed unconvinced.

              

Two years ago, Travis Morrison tipped us off to the wonder that is the Dirty Projectors, telling us they saved his relationship with rock 'n' roll after he saw them play at the Black Cat. After last night, we know why. Frontman Dave Longstreth has assembled an unbelievably talented band, including three woman whose ability to harmonize a) with him, and b) with each other in peculiar keys is truly a work of fate. Or perhaps, the best Craigslist posting of all time. It's experimental music that's fueled by aerobatic vocals and precision from all parties involved. Taking influences from rock, pop, hip hop, world music and who knows where else, the Dirty Projectors are offering some of the most unique, inspiring and downright amazing music available right now. The band's lush, spastic, dense music can be polarizing -- people tend to either fall immediately, madly in love with what they hear, or take an immediate and aggressive dislike. Which makes us sad -- the same way we feel for the people that don't have the cilantro gene. We wish you could hear what we're hearing, because if you could you'd be so very, very satisfied.

Monday >> Not every band can pull off the feat of traveling with and playing a turn of the century Vittrolio Grammaphone, playing the saw, or convincing you that the theramin is a real instrument. But Portland band Norfolk and Western seem to be bear this burden with ease and a bit of quirk. This band plays a mix of folksy, whimsical and occassionaly dark rock music, using an eclectic array of instruments and revolving...