Azure Ray at Mississippi Studios

Fair warning: I'm a huge music appreciator... listener... whatever. Well, with good music... that is. I may possibly be a music snob ;)

For the very first time I got to see Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink sing in unison right before me. It was the first time too that I got to experience Mississippi Studios' intiment setting. It was awesome and magical. I've been a fan of Azure Ray since that day I came across their album, Burn & Shiver at a local record store in Omaha, Nebraska. Since the band disbanded in 2004, I've seen Maria perform a few times around her solo albums. I've seen Orenda alongside Adrianne (from The Anniversary) performing as Art in Manila too.

photo via azureraymusic.com

When I found out that Azure Ray was getting back together, I was a very happy girl. I think I even jumped up and down a couple times. Big dork present? Yes. When Drawing Down the Moon album become available on Saddle Creek's website, I purchased those mp3's immediately. I hope to own it on vinyl someday. Saddle Creek has a charming Drawing Down the Moon vinyl + t-shirt + flair package. Hint hint.

Along with A.R.'s performance that night... I also got to see Tim Fite. I had no clue who this guy was. I didn't bother to listen to his stuff before the show. And boy was I surprised after his first song. I was thinking, 'okay he's probably going to be some singer-songwriter artist, that would coincide with A.R.'s genre'. Nope. It's was like country, hip-hop, and alternative music mashed together. It threw me off at first. It was pretty fun music though. My friend and I giggled most of the time. I loved how his friend was on webcam singing along on the screen behind him.

He ended his performance with teaching us his "gang sign" which soon turned into hand/finger motions of Itsy Bitsy Spider. He told us we can join his gang even if we are in one already. Lol.

You can download his latest album for free on his website. To be honest I got pretty annoyed with every song after sampling 20 seconds of them. He has pretty repetitive lyrics... and a little too focused on the topic modern culture of consumerism and greed for my taste. So overall, I enjoyed his silliness live but probably won't jam out to his work in the future.

I'm leaving you with a snippet of Azure Ray playing their last song that night... one of my favorites, Rise. Even if Orenda didn't want to play the audience's request.

Sierra sings and plays guitar and flute. Bianca sings and does percussion.

"CocoRosie are two American-born sisters, Sierra and Bianca, who started making music together in Paris in 2003. Their first album, La Maison de Mon Rêve, was released in 2004 and their second album, Noah's Ark, followed in 2005. Their third and, to now, most recent album, The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn, came out in 2007. All three of these albums were released worldwide on Touch and Go Records and earned critical acclaim both overseas and at home. The nomadic duo (currently and temporarily residing in New Mexico) spent much of 2008 writing and recording in Buenos Aires, Melbourne, Berlin, New York, and Paris, finding amazing and diverse musicians to collaborate along the way. The result is their eleven song Sub Pop debut, Grey Oceans." -via Insound.com

Last week I discovered that one of my top 10 favorite bands, CocoRosie is releasing a new album this May! AND you can pre-order the LP from Insound.com!  In college/dial-up days I used to regularly surf Insound, I feel a lil' nostalgic for the first days of exploring all the bands out there. Epitonic was another favorite site. Hmm... I wonder if they are still up and running. I'm really really really looking forward to putting some new vinyl on the turntable!

And then yesterday while flipping through the Portland Mercury a friend and I found out that CocoRosie is performing here in Portland on June 26th! I have never been to one of their shows. Their music is pretty wild... very unique. Their genre is kinda indie... folk... experimental... and a little bit electronic. In a few of their songs you can also hear children's toys playing in the background. I first heard their music back in Nebraska on UNL's radio station, KRNU.

A few interesting facts that I found out about CocoRosie...

• The name CocoRosie comes from their nicknames from their mother. "Rosie" is Sierra's and "Coco" is Bianca's. • Both of their parents have Native American ties which influences their music. • Sierra & Bianca lost contact for about 5 years. Sierra wanted to be an opera singer and moved to France to pursue her interest. Bianca had an interest in visual arts & writing. Off she went to New York. They reunited in 2003 to begin making music together.

Lastly, I leave you with some of my favorite tunes of theirs. Enjoy and have a great weekend.

• Rainbowwarriors by CocoRosie

More CocoRosie music on iLike

• Butterscotch by CocoRosie

More CocoRosie music on iLike

• Werewolf by CocoRosie

More CocoRosie music on iLike

Maria Taylor show recap

Talk about serendipity! If you read my post yesterday, I had written about Azure Ray being an inspiration to me. I had planned this topic for a week... so when I buckled down and started typing away about them, I find out that Maria Taylor was playing that evening! So how was the show last night, you ask? It was enchanting. It's been a few years since I have seen her and the band perform. Doug Fir Lounge is such a great venue, awesome acoustics. Talk about an upgrade from the Sokol Underground in Omaha! I love their lounge seating and their glowing cubed tables.

Hearing Maria's new songs live was so dreamy and blissful, I just had to pick up a copy of the new album. And check out the album art! I really think it represents Miss Taylor and the music. I love the color palette the designer chose, Seafoam green is one of my favorites. Someday when I'm able to paint my home, I'm totally going to paint a few walls this color. Martha Stewart's Signature paint color line has this color too, she calls it Vintage Map. How clever. Back to the album art, I also love the simple outline flower drawings that envelope the whole album. Oh and the notebook paper overlapped and behind the lyrics. I can't hide the fact that I'm a designer, huh?

I've been listening to her new album all morning. Silly me. My favorite songs on her new album are Time Lapse Lifeline & Cartoons and Forever Plans. They both have music videos out, that are super fun and clever... so decided to share them with you!

If I had to pick one favorite song that Maria Taylor and her band played last night, it would be No Stars. I enjoyed this song even more live than recorded. I love how the song became more and more intense as it was played. Very well done.

"And what I knew, was left behind. There were no stars, or a wish, to find. And there was nothing in my clenching fist, And I just can't wait for tomorrow, Cause I will let go- Just ask me."