Forward Music Festival Review: The Antlers 9.19.2009

Needing to care for my 12-week puppy dog kept me from fully immersing myself in the Forward Music Festival this year. But over the three days, I still managed to see Richard Buckner, A Night in the Box, Gentleman Loser, El Valiente, Collection of Colonies of Bees, Cougar, This Bright Apocalypse, Maps & Atlases, Low and The Antlers.

The highlight for me was certainly the show at the High Noon Saloon by The Antlers and Low. There was a good size crowd and the sound was great.

I'm a fan of Low, have many of their recordings, and was anticipating their set since the festival line-up was announced. What proved to be a real bonus was the fantastic opening set by The Antlers. This band - composed of frontman Peter Silberman, drummer Michael Lerner and Darby Cicci on keys - expressed their sense of honor to share the stage, but I thought it was really an inspired pairing.

All three of these musicians have great chops, and their music is dramatic and dynamic. They pull it off superbly live. I was up close - in the "zone of participation" as we refer to it at MMR - so I clicked off a few shots with my little camera.








Hope you had a chance to see them! I've since been continuing to enjoy their most recent album - Hospice. It is recommended listening and re-listening.

See more MMR photo coverage from Forward Music Festival here.

More coverage of The Antlers at FMF and an interview by Seizure Chicken

Forward Music Fest: Saturday

I'm very excited to see Low at the High Noon Saloon on Saturday (6 pm) as part of the Forward Music Festival.

Low was formed in 1993 and is an originator of what has come to be called "slowcore." In the face of post-punk grunge, Alan Sparhawk wondered what would happen if they turned down the volume. Low's arrangements are spare but intense. Their harmonies are haunting. And they can take a song from a quiet hush to an explosion of sound.

I've only seen Low once, a few years ago here in Madison, touring behind the fantastic album "The Great Destroyer." Their performance was really impressive, and I've been longing to see them again.

The Antlers will be starting the Saturday line-up at the High Noon (5pm). If you've not heard of them, you probably will. They have been garnering major buzz, particularly around their new release "Hospice." Pitchfork named The Antlers one of the "best new bands" and gave their album high marks.

Robin Hilton, with NPR's All Songs Considered, had this to say:

"Hospice is an epic but intimate album of astonishing beauty, as well as one of the most moving, heart-wrenching set of songs I've had the pleasure of hearing. It evolves and unfolds majestically, soaring from hushed moments to grand, cage-rattling swells of shredded guitar noise."

I know that I'm looking forward to seeing them live.

This should be a great bill. Hope to see you there!

Links of Interest:
Low Set To Mesmerize Forward Music Fest Audiences
This preview on Channel3000.com includes a great interview with Alan Sparhawk.

Forward Festival Kick-Off: Thursday Plans

I'm kicking off my Forward Music Fest experience this year with Richard Buckner and Blake Thomas at the Majestic Theatre on Thursday Sept 17th, starting at 7pm.

I first saw Richard Buckner at the High Noon Saloon in early 2007 backed up by The Six Parts Seven. I became an immediate fan of both that night.

Earlier this year, Richard returned to the High Noon Saloon for a solo show. He basically sat down started playing and didn't stop until the show was over. It was a simply beautiful performance.

To me Buckner is the epitome of "alt-country." His voice is pure country. But there is nothing cheesy about his emotional or musical expression.

His songwriting is real deep, and I love his rhythms and melodies. His music is melancholy and that soothes me. Trust me, you won't see any line dancing here.




Hope you can make it out for this artist, and get your fest off to a great start.

Madison's own Blake Thomas starts things off.

Forward Music Festival Schedule

I had a really great time last year at the inaugural Forward Music Festival. I spent my time bumping on foot between the downtown venues on Friday night and saw lots of bands that I had not heard before. And that's what is so sweet about music fests. One ticket provides access to lots of music. You can't really go wrong.

In this case, it's a low cost ticket at that - single day passes are only $15 for Thursday, $25 for Friday/Saturday, or $45 for all three days! Such a deal. Buy advance tickets here.

Thursday, September 17th
Majestic Theatre - 6 pm
* Richard Buckner
* Blake Thomas

High Noon Saloon - 7 pm
* Megafaun
* Juniper Tar
* All Tiny Creatures
* Cedarwell

The Frequency - 7:30 pm
* Gentleman Loser
* Dark Clan
* The Atomica Project
* Glassghosts

Majestic Theatre - 9:30 pm
* Reverend Peyton & His Big Damn Band
* Davila 666
* Gold
* A Night in the Box

Friday, September 18th
Capitol Theatre - 4:30 pm
* Blueheels

The Frequency - 4:30 pm
* Tyrone Wells
* Denison Witmer
* Brooke Wagonner
* John Statz

High Noon Saloon - 4:30 pm
* Gomeroke

Majestic Theatre - 5 pm
* Dan Wilson
* Jeremy Messersmith

Orpheum Stage Door - 5:30 pm
* Between the Trees
* Farewell
* Punchline
* Action Item
* Start From Scratch
* Invade Rome

Orpheum Lobby - 6:30
* YACHT
* Rory Kane
* Das Racist
* Baaad Boiz
* Purple Crush
* French Horn Rebellion
* Problem Child
* Terrior Bute
* The New Loud
* Pezzetino

Overture Rotunda - 6:30 pm
* The Daredevil Christopher Wright
* The Wars of 1812
* Meridene
* We Are the Willows
* The Cloud Hymn

Project Lodge - 7 pm
* Daniel and the Lion
* Nathaniel Rateliff and the Wheel

Capitol Theater - 8:00
* Atlas Sound
* Cougar
* Collections of Colonies of Bees
* El Valiente

High Noon Saloon - 8 pm
* Ra Ra Riot
* Sleeping in the Aviary
* Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s
* Flatbear
* Princeton

The Frequency - 9 pm
* Decibully
* Icarus Himself
* Early Day Miners
* Jeremiah Nelson & the Achilles Heel

Majestic Theatre - 9 pm
* Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe

The Corral Room - 10 pm
* Worrier
* Direct Hit
* Team Band

Orpheum Stage Door - 10:30 pm
* Delta 9
* Caustic
* Cyanotic
* Los Bastardos Guapo

Saturday, September 19th
The Frequency - 4 pm
* Pronto
* Filligar
* The Pomegranates
* Crane Your Swan Neck
* Little Red Wolf

High Noon Saloon - 5 pm
* Low
* The Antlers

The Inferno - 5 pm
* Parasite Twin
* Captive Six
* CTRL
* Sensuous Enemy
* Null Device
* Alter Der Ruine
* The Gothsicles
* Iszoloscope

The Corral Room - 5:30 pm
* Maps and Atlases
* Nuclear Woods
* The Hussy

Project Lodge - 5:30 pm
* Laura Barrett
* Joe Pug
* The Chairs

Orpheum Stage Door - 6:30 pm
* Fruit Bats
* Iran
* Kevin Warner
* BLK JKS
* Occidental Bros. Dance Band Intl.
* This Bright Apocalypse

Overture Hall - 7 pm [This event requires a separate ticket!]
* Andrew Bird
* Pale Young Gentlemen

Corral Room - 9 pm
* Wavves
* Ganglians
* Eat Skull
* Blackwell Beauties

The Frequency - 9 pm
* Garaj Mahal
* The Hue

High Noon Saloon - 9 pm
* Solid Gold
* Exceptor
* Salem
* Peaking Lights
* Savoir Adore
* DJ Real Jaguar