Just Be Cool; That's the Motto
David Bazan speaks out about his new tour and music
Anthony Francesco
Issue date: 4/8/10 Section: Entertainment
After a 5-year hiatus from full-band touring, David Bazan recently went back out on the road. His new album, Curse Your Branches (released September of '09), was drafted in the distant wake of his former band Pedro the Lion, and is Bazan's first full-length solo foray.
"Due to personal reasons, I just had to put the brand name to rest," said Bazan. Having already been the creative force behind PTL, Bazan translated his act to a one-man show with hired members picked up where and when they were needed. "I certainly would be considered the musical director. Sometimes I would work with the other members to figure things out," says Bazan.
With the completion of Curse Your Branches, Bazan played a series of 70 sold-out, low-key house shows, forging into a full U.S. tour after the album's public release.
Who would have thought that one of those stops would have been here at the quaintly populated Messiah College? Bazan said that he has been buddies with Jeff Rioux, the college's SAB director, for over six years.
"If not for him, I probably wouldn't have come," says Bazan.
Bazan has been touring around the country with the five-piece garage-rock band, Headlights.
"Sounds like they're doing something different tonight. They're great… yeah," Bazan noted, detaching for a second to listen in.
Bazan came onto the stage with an air of melancholy - it was an interesting departure from the story-telling, talkative performer. Without any dissatisfaction, though, his music spoke volumes.
The demeanor, however, came with the territory. Curse your Branches is a fairly well-encompassing categorization of doubt running in the same vein as The Arcade Fire's Neon Bible with the snapshot lucidity of Bright Eyes' I'm Wide Awake it's Morning.
The performance was relatively relaxed, drifting into sounds reminiscent of Control (one of Pedro the Lion's albums) while refining the variety of sounds beyond his previous band's hallmark fuzzy guitars and garage drums. Bazan's live show held relatively true to the album, which simply adds on a few synth and percussive embellishments.
"Due to personal reasons, I just had to put the brand name to rest," said Bazan. Having already been the creative force behind PTL, Bazan translated his act to a one-man show with hired members picked up where and when they were needed. "I certainly would be considered the musical director. Sometimes I would work with the other members to figure things out," says Bazan.
With the completion of Curse Your Branches, Bazan played a series of 70 sold-out, low-key house shows, forging into a full U.S. tour after the album's public release.
Who would have thought that one of those stops would have been here at the quaintly populated Messiah College? Bazan said that he has been buddies with Jeff Rioux, the college's SAB director, for over six years.
"If not for him, I probably wouldn't have come," says Bazan.
Bazan has been touring around the country with the five-piece garage-rock band, Headlights.
"Sounds like they're doing something different tonight. They're great… yeah," Bazan noted, detaching for a second to listen in.
Bazan came onto the stage with an air of melancholy - it was an interesting departure from the story-telling, talkative performer. Without any dissatisfaction, though, his music spoke volumes.
The demeanor, however, came with the territory. Curse your Branches is a fairly well-encompassing categorization of doubt running in the same vein as The Arcade Fire's Neon Bible with the snapshot lucidity of Bright Eyes' I'm Wide Awake it's Morning.
The performance was relatively relaxed, drifting into sounds reminiscent of Control (one of Pedro the Lion's albums) while refining the variety of sounds beyond his previous band's hallmark fuzzy guitars and garage drums. Bazan's live show held relatively true to the album, which simply adds on a few synth and percussive embellishments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
senior moving Allentown
posted 4/28/10 @ 4:43 PM EST
Sounds like it was a good performance. I was a fan of Pedro the Lion back in the day...
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