And your ears shall hear…

Whales Kill Bear, Spill Blood

Cranking the Generator

 

I saw The Freelance Whales open for Surfer Blood and Bear in Heaven last year at Schuba’s.  They had the biggest crowd of the night, and played the most confident set.  They blew me away with their off-the-wall energy, as they stole the show from a team of indie darlings.  At that time, Surfer Blood were being anointed the “Next Big Thing,” and Bear in Heaven had a cult following, who were spilling out the doors of Schuba’s back room, with beard on face and brew in hand.  It was an amazing show, and could have been the best triple bill to hit Chi-Town in a “coon’s age.”  For $10; I would have to say that it was.  But amidst all the indie hype and trixie confusion, there was this addictive charm that oozed from the ‘Whales live show.  They came out and kicked the crowd’s ass, but not by playing hard rock though.  But, by playing super-charged, banjo-pop, if you can believe it?  They brought the harmonies, the keys, the drums, and they jumped around the stage while singing and playing.  They had to be seen, and heard.  No one there that night could ignore the Freelance Whales.  They definitely got that message across to the crowd.  I know this because I can’t stop listening to this album, and now I’m writing about it.  You still might be able to catch these charmers, as they are currently headlining their own tour, after a year of supporting other bands.  I’ve been cranking up the generator for weeks now, I think you would enjoy it as well. 

Freelance Whales “1st Floor Generator (SXSW 2010)”   

   

    

2 responses to “Whales Kill Bear, Spill Blood”

  1. James

    While Surfer Blood had great songs, I didn’t feel like they executed very well that night at Schuba’s. The band sounded a little tired, and given what I’d read and heard about the band going in to the show; I expected a lot more from them than I feel I got. A handful of unison harmonies (which isn’t much in the way of harmonies); sometimes the guitarists were playing identical chords; and occasionally the “lead” guitarist would fill the top with a single note line. From that show, I felt SB had left more potential on the table than they’d realized to this point.

    Freelance Whales were a very pleasant surprise. Sure the whole thing was a little too child-like and innocent; but the band executed well by adding differing textures from several odd instruments (banjo, xylophone, synth, mandolin, etc.) Though I have to say I felt the live show from FW was an entirely different animal than the WEATHERVANE album. The songs just seem a little darker and creepier in recorded form; and the symbols and imagery of the album doesn’t match the light and innocence they successfully conveyed at Schuba’s that evening.

    With the way music has been going, it’ll be interesting to see if these bands are able to build upon their present positions so that this show was 2010’s answer to seeing Jane’s Addiction & Smashing Pumpkins at Metro in 1989 or Green Day & Smoking Popes there a few years later… or if this one will just be one of many faded hipster memories…

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  2. afrankl2

    Yeah, I completely agree James, the album is a little a darker and creepier. But, in a very fun, lighthearted way! Thanks for the in-depth reply.

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