Concert Review: Wye Oak @ The Troubadour - West Hollywood, CA

Alright, alright. This will be the very first edition of concert reviews by Watercolours. I hope to have much more to come, as I will be attending several shows within the months of April and May.

It's only natural that I start off this (soon to be) long stream of reviews with one of my favorite and dearest artists, Wye Oak. I found out the duo was heading to the Troubadour on February 23 and I immediately got onto the Troubadour's website and purchased tickets for myself and my roommate. She didn't know the band very well, but I assured her that it was going to be an amazing time and experience.

Any who, a little background about of the band is essential. Wye Oak is comprised of the lovely, adorable, and yet badass Jenn Wasner and her partner in crime, Andy Stack. The two are from Baltimore, Maryland. Their original name was actually "Monarch," but they decided to stick to their roots and thought "Wye Oak" was a better fit considering it is the state tree of Maryland.

So yes, Wye Oak makes up an awesome duet. And really, who doesn't love duets?? You may think you need a full band to get the full effect of their live show--well think again. The tiny, crammed, and charming Troubadour atmosphere made for an amazing setting for these two as well. Their sound was so loud (in a good way) and so crisp that I was sure there was a full band lurking around somewhere. I am not sure if any of you have listened to their new album titled "Civilian," (if you haven't, shame on you!) but the very first track off of the album reminded me so very much of the chatter that surrounded the venue prior to when Wye Oak hit the stage on Thursday night. Although they did not open with this track, (titled "Two Small Deaths") "The Alter" also made for an epic, yet ethereal opening.

Surprisingly following "The Alter" was their single off of their new album, titled "Holy Holy," (I thought that they'd play this in the encores, but I was not complaining of the song's early arrival). As soon as I heard those first few chords and the synchronized banging of Stack's drums, I knew this song was going to be promising. Wye Oak is the perfect example of an "indie rock" group. Wasner's soft voice adds a comforting and soothing feel to their music, but the two can easily switch from mellow and graceful guitar riffs to some rockin' and (almost) head bangin' jams. "Holy Holy" definitely exemplifies these incredible transitions, as does "The Alter" and "Civilian."

"Dogs' Eyes" was also equally stunning live. On the record, "Dogs' Eyes'" chords (as my friend Rachel mentioned) resemble some of Modest Mouse's tracks. However, seeing and hearing it live added a whole 'nother twist, a "Wye Oak twist" if you will. This track was a little speedier live, which was just great. I loved swaying along to the chorus and then breaking down to some foot stompin' and intense listening when the tune inevitably shifted gears from an elegant folky melody to heavy guitar riffs.

With all this said, let's just say I was more than happy to hear that they were coming back to play three more encores. This included, "For Prayer," "Strangers," (which is a Kinks cover) and "Doubt," which Wasner played "all by her lonesome," as she said before she switched from her electric guitar to her acoustic. I never really appreciated "Doubt" all that much (it wasn't my favorite off of their album Civilian) until I heard it live, and until I realized what the lyrics were all about. To put it simply, as Wasner said, "this song is about anyone who has loved someone, but the timing just wasn't right." The lyrics read, "What I have learned of you/Does not assure your bow before my will/But I believed it then/Believe it still/Oh I believed it then/Believed it still," which shows the difficulties of timing and love. "Doubt" was beautifully sung by the smooth and gentle voice of Miss Jenn Wasner, and it was a wondrous yet quick ending to a memorable show.

Check out their Facebook page if you want to find out more about them! I highly recommend it, click below!

Wye Oak

Spreadin' the love

Really really feel loved today. Thanks Lizzy Szabo and Tommy Devoy for supporting Watercolours! More than happy that I can provide you with good tunes and good vibes every Tuesday afternoon from 1pm-3pm.

If you all have any requests for the upcoming weeks, be sure to comment below or go to my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/WatercoloursRadio and post right on the wall!

Stay tuned for a concert review of Wye Oak, whom I had the pleasure of viewing this past Thursday at the Troubadour. Truly amazing stuff! The post will be up soon!

Playlist Number Nineteen - February 28, 2012

Congrats to Perry for winning those He's My Brother She's My Sister tickets at SOhO! Here is the playlist in full my listeners:

"Dance My Pain Away" - Wye Oak - Album: Baltimore Collaboration

"Bohemian Dances" - The Do - Album: Both Ways Open Jaw

"The Wrestle" - Frightened Rabbit - Album: The Winter of Mixed Drinks

"Let's Go Swimming" - Allo Darlin' - Album: Allo Darlin'

"Landfill" - Daughter - Album: His Young Heart EP

"Bedroom Eyes" - Dum Dum Girls - Album: Only in Dreams

"Mona Lisa" - Atlas Sound - Album: Parallax

"Ease Your Feet In The Sea" - Belle and Sebastian - Album: Boy with the Arab Strap

"Helicopter" - Deerhunter - Album: Halcyon Digest

"Rinse Me Down" - Bombay Bicycle Club - Album: Flaws *Listener Request

"Take It In" - Wye Oak - Album: The Knot *Listener Request

"Losing My Mind" - Summer Camp - Album: Welcome to the Condale

"Trycolour" - The Jezabels - Album: Prisoner

"Away Frm U" - Oberhofer - Single

"How'm I Gonna Get Back Home" - He's My Brother She's My Sister - Album: He's My Brother She's My Sister EP

"Summer House" - Gold Motel - Album: Summer House

"Phantom Other" - Department of Eagles - Album: In Ear Park

"Gold Coast" - Grouplove - Grouplove EP

"Orange Blossom" - Gardens & Villa - Album: Gardens and Villa

"Sundialing" - Caribou - Album: Andorra

"Lose It" - Austra - Album: Feel it Break

"Saw You First" - Givers - Album: In Light

Downloadable mp3 of today's show (February 21) !

Click the link below to download today's full show if you missed out! My apologies, the first 5 or so minutes are silent, but after that you're good!

Clicky click HERE!

Playlist Number Eighteen - February 21, 2012

"We Are Fine" - Sharon van Etten - Album: Tramp

"Tamer Animals" - Other Lives - Album: Tamer Animals

"Summas Bliss" - WU LYF - Album: Go Tell Fire to the Mountain

"I Found You" - Tilly and the Wall - Album: O

"Petition" - Tennis - Album: Young & Old

"Herringbone" - Department of Eagles - Album: In Ear Park

"The Wild Hunt" - The Tallest Man on Earth - Album: The Wild Hunt

"King and Lionheart" - Of Monsters and Men - Album: My Head is an Animal

"O Lilac" - Wild Nothing - Album: Gemini

"Wolf Like Me" - TV On the Radio - Album: Return to Cookie Mountain *Listener Request

"The Same Thing" - Cass McCombs - Album: Humor Risk

"Courage" - The Whitest Boy Alive - Album: Rules

"Little Cup" - Thao and Mirah - Album: Thao and Mirah

"Squealing Pigs" - Admiral Fallow - Album: Boots Met My Face

"In A Dream It Seemed Real" - Islands - Album: A Sleep and A Forgetting

"Blackberry Stone" - Laura Marling - Album: I Speak Because I Can

"Godless Brother in Love" - Iron and Wine - Album: Kiss Eachother Clean

"Changing the Rain" - The Horrors - Album: Skying

"Afternoon" - Youth Lagoon - Album: The Year of Hibernation

"Parted Ways" - Heartless Bastards - Album: Arrow *Listener Request

"Winter Song" - The Head and the Heart - Album: The Head and the Heart

"My Angel is Broken" - Atlas Sound - Album: Parallax

"Ten Thousand Words" - The Avett Brothers - Album: I and Love and You *Listener Request

Playlist Number Seventeen - February 14, 2012

So much LOVE on today's show! Here is the full lovey dovey playlist my lovelies: 

"Lover of Mine" - Beach House - Album: Teen Dream

"Careless Love" - Camera Obscura - Album: My Maudlin Career

"Heartbreaker" - Girls - Album: Broken Dreams Club

"Don't You Give Up On Me" - Milo Greene - Album: EP

Playlist Number Sixteen February 7, 2012

Here is this week's playlist in FULL! Get ready for next week's romantic Valentine's Day show.

"Six Weeks" - Of Monsters and Men - Album: My Head is an Animal

"60 Years" - Portugal. The Man - Album: So American

"I'm Still the Same Person" - Sister Crayon - Album: Bellow

"A Marriage in the Dark" - Night Beds - Album: Night Beds EP

"Anything You Want" - Spoon - Album: Girls Can Tell

"Girl of 1000 Dreams" - Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Album: Belong

"Saint Nothings" - Daniel Rossen - Album: Single

"Plains" - Wye Oak - Album: Civilian

"South Carolina" - Tennis - Album: Cape Dory

"Undertow" - Warpaint - Album: The Fool

"I Belong in Your Arms" - Chairlift - Album: Something

"Summer Holiday" - Wild Nothing - Album: Gemini

"Corsicana" - The Antlers - Album: Burst Apart

"Zebra" - Beach House - Album: Teen Dreams

"Heart Skipped a Beat" - The XX - Album: XX

"Burning" - Wild Beasts - Album: Smother

"Vanessa" - Grimes - Album: Darkbloom EP

"You and I" - Washed Out - Album: Within and Wihtout

"Asleep at the Wheel" - Sea Oleena - Album: Sea Oleena

"Green Aisles" - Real Estate - Album: Days

"Happy" - Mazzy Star - Album: Among My Swan

"Cheerleader" - St. Vincent - Album: Strange Mercy

"Come Back to Me" - The Rapture - Album: In the Grace of Your Love

"Put Me To Sleep" - Porcelain Raft - Album: Strange Weekend