Heartbreaking Bravery

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Tag: Treehouse Sessions

November 29, 2015

Watch This: Vol. 103

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to the nature of these upcoming posts, a truncated version of this introductory paragraph will be appearing over the next several installments of this series.] It’s been quite some time since the 100th edition of Watch This went up on this site. There have been a lot of factors going into the extended interim but, as usual, a focal point of that absence was to make sure the preparation work was kept up to date. Full sessions, single song performances, DIY videos, and impressive turn-ins from radio stations abound. So, as always, sit back, adjust the setting, crank the volume, focus up, and Watch This.

1. Soul Low – Always Watchin’ Out (Radio K)

Soul Low have slowly been building up an impressive discography and staking out a respectable spot in Wisconsin’s music scene. “Always Watchin’ Out”, the lead-off track from this year’s Sweet Pea EP, is their finest moment to date. Radio K recently had the band swing by their studio to deliver a blistering take on the song, which packs even more punch live than it does on record.

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2. Mikaela Davis (Consequence of Sound)

One of the most unexpected sets I saw over the course of 2015 came from harpist Mikaela Davis, who was part of Johanna Warren’s NYC release show for nūmūn. It was also one of the most beautiful. In the basement, it was just Davis– apart from a few songs she shared with Warren– playing solo. Consequence of Sound invited Davis and her full band into their treehouse for a captivating two song session that showcases the emerging songwriter’s prestigious talents.

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3. PUJOL (WKNC)

Every now and then, it’s necessary to just cut loose and blow off some steam. In those moments, there are few acts who seem more naturally suited to be the soundtrack than Pujol. No-frills rock n’ roll at its finest, it’s the musical equivalent of the kind of party that doesn’t leave a trace of bitter aftertaste. In this three song spree for WKNC, the trio rips through a few highlights that are surprisingly substantial for how light and airy they appear at first glance.

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4. Timeshares – Heavy Hangs (Little Elephant)

When Timeshares at their absolute best, they recall the finest moments of bands like Lucero and The Drive-By Truckers. They’ve never been better than “Heavy Hangs”, an impassioned cut from 2015’s Already Dead, the strongest record of their career. Shedding any hints of Fat Wreck influence in favor of a Southern drawl served them well on record but it works even better in performance.

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5. Day Wave (KEXP)

Just as Pujol seemed perfectly suited to those perfect kind of parties, Day Wave’s locked into breezy, consequence-free days. KEXP had the band come in for a session and the young quartet capitalized in full. Here, they deliver a five song showcase of their latest material that feels as comfortably lived-in as it feels refreshing. There’s not a weak track or performance here, just an emerging act intent on making the most of any opportunity that comes their way.

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August 24, 2014

Watch This: Vol. 41

The Watch This series, up to this point, has mostly placed the overall focus on videos that just feature a band performing. For the 41th installment, that rule gets slightly modified. With the exception of a typically astounding performance from Noun (Screaming Females’ Marissa Paternoster’s extraordinarily consistent solo project), every video to earn a feature spot in this volume features a brief interview with the band playing music. In the case of the videos that bookend this week’s Watch This, the result is incredibly endearing- while the rest manage to be moderately informative without stripping away a sense of playfulness. More importantly though, the performances included below are uniformly outstanding and deserved to be spotlighted. With that said, it was a very difficult class of videos to select from, thanks to the abundance of great performances that surfaced from artists like Unicycle Loves You, Cousins, Bahamas, Jenny Lewis, Hollow Boys, Cheap Girls, and St. Vincent. So, as always, pour a drink, grab a seat, adjust the contrast, turn up the volume, and Watch This.

1. White Lung, ft. Katie Crutchfield – Dead Star (Noisey)

In what seems like a gift tailor-made for this series, White Lung’s Mish Way and Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield teamed up together for a pair of acoustic performances. Crutchfield holds down guitar and melody duty on this stripped-down take of White Lung’s excellent “Wrong Star”. Before the performance, the two share a few words and a palpable connection, subtly setting the stage for how complementary their musical abilities wind up being. Unsurprisingly, this is a gem of a performance that reaffirms both artist’s deserved status.

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2. White Reaper (Consequence of Sound)

Delivering a fiercely committed performance, White Reaper gives Consequence of Sound (and everyone else) a startling reminder of the strength of their debut EP. Here, they hold nothing back and just go full-throttle, emphasizing the kind of spastic energy that’s frequently a hallmark of the most entertaining live bands. In the short-form interview, the band discusses the meaning behind both “Half Bad” and “Oh Yeah”, giving a direct line of insight for their work- an increasing rarity. Starting and ending with two memorable performances, this is a can’t-miss video.

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3. Noun – You and Mr. Rogers (Don Giovanni)

Screaming Females’ Marissa Paternoster’s solo project, Noun, should be every bit as prominent as her main vehicle. After releasing an incredible 7″ and what’s one of the decade’s finest LP’s, Holy Hell, Paternoster understandably refocused on Screaming Females. Lately, though, she’s been playing solo shows with greater frequency and quietly unveiling new material. Here, Don Giovanni captures Paternoster delivering a gripping take on a song called “You and Mr. Rogers” that showcases her raw talent. It’s genuinely stunning, offering up a more fully-formed portrait of Paternoster’s quieter side. All of the applause at the end of the clip is absolutely warranted.

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4. Mannequin Pussy (BreakThruRadio)

Mannequin Pussy’s Kiss Me Tender EP was a beast of a release that was highlighted by the unrelentingly fierce “Kiss“, which also headlines their recent session for BreakThruRadio’s excellent Serious Business series. In the video, there’s the standard irreverent interview portion that is intercut with some blistering live footage of one of today’s more exciting new on-the-rise bands (it’s worth noting their first demos were released back in 2011). “My Baby (Axe Nice)” and “Anything” also get featured here, cementing Mannequin Pussy as another live act that’s not worth missing.

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5. Waxahatchee, ft. Mish Way – Coast to Coast (Noisey)

Returning to the collaboration of Katie Crutchfield and Mish Way, the pair reverse the featured project- this time delivering an arresting performance of Waxahatchee’s “Coast to Coast”. Way’s melody lines float along effortlessly, providing a welcome layer to an all-acoustic take of what was easily one of last year’s finest songs. Even though Cerulean Salt only came out last year (as did Groovy Kind of Love), this performance alone is enough to reignite excitement for whatever Crutchfield has in store next.

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