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Today I'll digress from the usual Portlandcentric narrative to talk about a remarkable album by a New York band called Clem Snide. You Were a Diamond (Tractor Beam) is by turns wistful, uplifting, pensive and celebratory, and--most oddly for an indie-rock record--it's utterly romantic. Sparse arrangements constructed from guitar, bass, cello and violin could symbolize emotional barrenness, but Israeli-born frontman Eef Barzelay registers a theme of closeness early on in the song "Better," singing, "We'll laugh hard when we play cards, because we'll both win/And stay at home, ignore the phone, because that's no sin." It's rare to hear such expressions of love in indie rock, a genre better known for forwarding the bitter cynicism of Sebadoh, the eccentric emotionality of Will Oldham, the dour defeatism of Elliott Smith and the gloomy musings of Magnetic Fields. This isn't to damn these acts, each of which writes songs that follow in the great tradition of American break-up music. In a way, Clem Snide is in this league as well. The trio covers Hank Williams' existential romp "Lost on the River," rendering it with sloppy harmonies, cello and banjo. Barzelay is up to the task of writing a brilliant lament himself. In "I Can't Stay Here Tonight," a snare drum, stand-up bass and chiming guitar set the woozy, Palace-like backdrop to a tale in which two people come together and then separate, opting to take their love and "store it away behind memory's glass." But desolate images don't reign on You Were a Diamond. Just as often, Barzelay sings of simple pleasures, like going for a drive with a lover or listening to a wonderful song. On the brightest, bounciest and most winsome tune on the record, "Nick Drake Tape," he and a companion put a cassette in the stereo, lay on the floor and become blissfully lost in the music. Barzelay, string player Jason Glasser and bassist Jeff Marshall extend this song and others with sustained sonic explorations that push Clem Snide beyond its alt-country limitations. Its musical inventiveness aside, Clem Snide's distinguishing characteristic is its sensible optimism. As a lyricist, Barzelay emphasizes life's funny asides and cinematic moments rather than its pitfalls, an approach that few of his songwriting peers take. Neutral Milk Hotel, which released its second album this week, is comparable, though Jeff Mangum's viewpoints tend toward the wide-eyed and surreal. Barzelay and his oddly named band--taken from the term William S. Burroughs used to describe his asshole--offer a refreshingly lucid perspective, and they've created a graceful and eloquent album that's worth seeking out. Venue News: Portland's live music scene is about to expand again. The Tonic Lounge opened last weekend at 3100 NE Sandy Blvd., adding another Satyricon/EJ's-size space to the club circuit. According to booking agent Shawn Sonnenschein, the Tonic has a capacity between 250 and 300; it will feature local and national acts on weekends, DJ nights on Thursday and Sunday, and a Monday open mike. Upcoming shows include Thrillbilly and the Cowtrippers on Friday, and the Bella Low, Pinehurst Kids and Vox on Saturday. LaLuna's new manager, Greg Gilbert, is spearheading a major reworking of the Southeast club's balcony. The upstairs section now features a permanent stage that's significantly higher than the risers it replaced. Gilbert says he's designing the space to feel more permanent and to feature better sight lines. The approximately 300-capacity balcony will also have a more consistent schedule, with local and national acts playing throughout the week when the main room isn't in use. The renovations should be completed when Kristin Hersh comes to test out the freshened balcony for a two-night stand April 21 and 22. Using Canucks for Bucks: For its upcoming benefit, community radio station KBOO has enlisted two eclectic Canadian singer-songwriters, Veda Hille and Bob Wiseman. Hille's a strong-voiced performer who uses her classical training on the piano to reel off provocative rock vamps. Wiseman, a keyboardist, should be more familiar to Portland audiences. The witty songwriter and ex-Blue Rodeo member descends from the Great White North frequently to play here. The two co-headline the benefit, with local duo Adam and Kris opening. It takes place at the Community Music Center, 3350 SE Francis St., 8 pm Friday, March 13. Tickets are $10. |
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