A few good shows are coming to town, and I was wondering if anyone is familiar with the band Iron and Wine, which is apparently mostly one guy, Sam Bream. I know he/they did a song on the Garden State movie soundtrack, which I loved, but I’m not sure which song was theirs. Can anyone describe their style, and would they be a decent band to see live?
Also, I just found out that Southern Culture on the Skids is coming to Orlando THIS Monday night, so I’m almost definitely going to go. I’m not too familiar with them, but I’ve enjoyed the few songs I’ve heard, and I hear they put on a great live show. They used to pass through my college town once or twice a year and I was never able to check them out, so this time I really want to see them live. Anything I should particularly look forward to, or be warned of?
Finally, I am most excited about seeing the Raveonettes live on May 21st. That’s a long way off, but I wouldn’t miss it for anything. They’re probably my favorite new band of the last few years, and I missed them over a year ago when some friends told me we were going, and ONCE I WAS IN THE CAR, they revealed that we were going to see Interpol play across town on the same night. I was so pissed. I guess Interpol is OK, but they are no Raveonettes. I will not blow the opportunity to see them this time!
Iron and Wine did a cover of “Such Great Heights” by the Postal Service. The original was used in the trailers for Garden State, and the cover was used in the movie itself. It’s been a while since I saw the movie, but I think they use the song when Zach Braff’s and Natalie Portman’s characters spend the night together (maybe that next morning?).
I don’t have any information about their normal songs, unfortunately. But I figured knowing this information may help you decide if you like their sound.
I saw SKOTS a couple of years ago here in Austin and it was an amazing show. Definitely go. I wanna see them again but they always seem to be here on a work night for an midnight show. Dang, I’m gettin’ old…
Iron and Wine has a song called “Bird Stealing Bread” that I really love. Besides that I’m not too familiar with his work, but based upon it I would give the rest of it a listen, and think I would enjoy a show. “Bird Stealing Bread” sounds kind of folky and mellow, but the lyrics are meaningful and well-written without being sappy–they paint a very good picture. The guitar is very strummy. I really, really, really like it.
I first heard Iron & Wine on the Volkswagon website a few years ago. I was prompted to get their album Our Endless Numbered Days. As Kaitlin (I had a moment of WTF when I saw the name at first, and then I realized it’s an i, not a y) has said, it’s very folksy, very mellow. Very acoustic. You can hear the sounds of the guy’s fingers slide on the strings. He sings very quietly. The instrumentation is rather bare; it’s just him and the guitar, and occasionally a harmony vocal track. I like it a lot.
I love SCOTS!!! They put on a great live show. I’ve seen them several times, the last time with Reverend Horton Heat and they kicked his ass all over the stage. Watch out for them throwing fried chicken into the crowd at the end of the show.
I don’t know from Iron and Wine, but SCOTS is awesome. I’ve been to one of their shows, and it was fun but not life-changing. Still worth going. Everybody’s there to have fun, and nobody takes it at all seriously, but they’re not just a gag band, either. Expect lots of surf-rock covers, as well as people way into the whole “rockabilly” thing. If I had to compare them to anyone, it’d be a less superficial version of the Stray Cats, or a less gay version of the B-52’s.
Before (or after) the show, check out Dirt Track Date. It’s their best, IMO, which is convenient because it’s also their most popular and easiest to find. (The references from earlier in the thread are from “Camel Walk” off that record). Next best is Ditch Diggin’, if only for their version of “The Great Atomic Power.” Those’ll give you an idea what to expect.
“Baby, would you eat that there cracker in your special outfit for me?”
Ooooooooooo-eeeee!
That is one infectious song.
I love SCOTS! Let me know how they sound live Lou.
"Hey, You don’t think there’s anyway I could get that quarter from underneath your pointy boot do ya? All I want is one more oatmeal pie. OOOOO-EEEE! Little Debbie, Little Debbie!
Iron and Wine is highly recommended; as others have mentioned, the sound is very mellow and folksy. Bear in mind that Sam has a very soft voice, so you’ll want to find a place to stand in the club that has good sound quality or the vocals are going to be drowned out by the instruments.
And as other have mentioned, SCOTS are a lot of fun. Think of them as being a kickass bar band.
I was pretty underwhelmed when I saw the Raveonettes. I like 'em fine on the radio, but when I listen to a CD or see them live, their sound gets pretty repetitious pretty quick. They’re one of those bands that you really oughta see once but probably don’t need to see twice.
