Photos: Vetiver, Avi Buffalo, Secret Mountains, Small Sur

This week Sonar hosted two local bands paired with two outfits on the Sub Pop roster. Vetiver, Avi Buffalo, Secret Mountains, and Small Sur were all on the Tuesday night bill.

Vetiver were just as solid as they were last Baltimore go 'round. Andy Cabic's crew dropped a set heaviest in Tight Knit material, but well balanced with good stuff from their other records. My only complaint was that "The Swimming Song" was promised later in the set after requested via William Cashion's shout, and was a promise not lived up to. Here you go dude:



Vetiver were preceded by Avi Buffalo, one of Sub Pop's newest acquisitions. This was Avi Buffalo's third ever East Coast show, as these youngsters hail from Long Beach, California. They appeared to be a form of teenage Shins, yet far more engaging live than their label-buddy elders.

Secret Mountains at times sported an eight person lineup, and pulled the big sound off rather well. They featured a few that weren't on their debut, but some familiar tracks too. Look for more warm and fuzzy pop to come from these folks. Bob Keal's Small Sur sported a strong supporting cast as always, with Andy Abelow, Austin Stahl, and Wye Oak's Andy Stack making up the stage. Just as I said when I shared their recent Daytrotter session, I'm excited for Small Sur's 2010 release.



Take a gander at Chrissy's full photo set of the show after the jump.

Small Sur




Secret Mountains




Avi Buffalo




Vetiver





Photos by Chrissy

Secret Mountains - Kaddish (+ ticket giveaway to show with Vetiver)

Here's the first post from our newest contributor, Allie. Allie is a Baltimore native, and is currently at NYU studying within the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music. While studying sound, she is working with Underwater Peoples, a neighboring DC record label that's been responsible for some pretty great things as of late.

This is Allie's take on the debut EP from Secret Mountains, a local release that you can download for free right here. Get words, music, and a chance to win tickets to their upcoming show with Vetiver below.

Listening to Kaddish, the debut EP of Baltimore-based Secret Mountains, will cause you to breath a bit deeper, move a bit slower, listener a bit closer. The gradual crescendo of ocean waves and bird chirps in the title-track opener sets the mood for what’s to come—pensive nostalgia and a breath of fresh air.



The band seems to take elements from many disparate types of music, combining and layering them in a way that doesn’t sit within the confines of any one genre. One moment there are reverb-washed guitars and gentle croons, the next the voices have multiplied into a chorus and the guitars are squealing with distortion.

However, despite this seeming lack of conformity, the resulting sound is never out of place. The album as a whole flows seamlessly and intuitively from one track to the next, giving it the sort of cohesion not often found in a debut EP. And after listening to Kaddish, believe me, you’ll have to remind yourself that it’s their debut.

As a bonus, here is Rapdragons' version of "Growing Season", sampling the Secret Mountains track, and taken from our podcast session with them at the Copycat.



Secret Mountains, Small Sur, and Avi Buffalo all open for Vetiver January 19th at Sonar. Email bmoremusicallyinformed@gmail.com, and let us know you want a pair of free passes to this one. We'll email a winner the day before the show.

Small Sur - Daytrotter Session

The Midwest's most consistent outlet of cozy music session downloads, Daytrotter, dropped a late Christmas present for ears abound. Small Sur, one of Baltimore's finest folk projects, recently stopped by and played some tunes.

With four songs in total, the session consists of two unreleased tracks, and two off of We Live In Houses Made Of Wood. Both of the new songs will appear on Small Sur's next full length in 2010.

Hear one of the new songs and link to the full session download below.


One of the more familar tracks, "Sea Stones", is one of the session's many bright spots. With a two minute intro of soft and hypnotic hushed noise, this one entrances you rather quickly. When Bob Keal's voice soaks in, complete bliss ensues, and you are quickly reminded of the beauty of 2008's We Live In Houses Made Of Wood.

"Ohhhhh Pt. 1 & 2", lumps two consecutive album tracks into one MP3. Andy Abelow's sax work at the end of "Pt. 1" is incredibly enchanting, and provides the perfect segway to the latter half. These songs have aged well since their birth over a year or so ago, much like the rest. Their is a steady flow throughout the whole session, reminiscent to walking through a creek in late September.



Above is one of the new tracks, "My Elder Days". This song cements proof that Bob's 2010 release is something to be excited for, slowly crawling from a gently swaying melody to a bubbling sunny burst of folk pop perfection.

Austin Stahl's drumming in this performance is also worth noting, tastefully scattered in all the right places. Also, proving music of this variety sometimes does need elements of formal percussion. These four tracks are a fantastic representation of Small Sur, and downloading it here via Daytrotter of course comes highly recommended.

Small Sur croons the Sonar club stage January 19, opening for Vetiver. Recent Sub Pop acquisition Avi Buffalo, and locals Secret Mountains are also part of this stellar lineup.