When I last saw Darker My Love in the flesh up in Baltimore a few months back, their set was heavy with tunes from their fine, fine new record Alive As You Are. The songs struck me then as quite a departure from the swirling, dreamy nouveau psych concoctions I'd initially loved, and the record too steers this new, electric countryland course. But here's the thing about Darker My Love that y'all need to know. Be it the "Rubber Soul" meets Laurel Canyon meets Syd Barrett meets twang with pistols at dawn vibe of Alive As You Are or the heady retro rush of their older records, the end result is ultimately the same: A collection of absolutely killer songs played by a group of incredibly gifted musicians. Alive As You Are gets better with each and every listen, and it was pretty fucking fantastic to begin with.
I must confess, y'all, I sometimes don't pay Baltimore all that much attention when it comes to shows. Yes, it's only an hour or so away, and yes they have some fine venues up there...but sometimes it just slips my mind. What can I say. Obviously, I'll have to change my evil ways, cuz I almost missed the boat on one heck of a show. If it hadn't been for my partner in crime, the lovely Laura, I would have remained painfully unaware of the amazingness Baltimore had in store at the Ottobar, featuring the one and only Delta Spirit and the one and only (and LET faves!) Darker My Love. To say shame on me just doesn't quite resonate loudly enough. But it all worked out in the end. I came, I saw, I sonically swooned.
MINI RECAP: Darker My Love = Full of Awesome Surprises! The Delta Spirit = Full of Expected Awesome! Overall Score: B++
Darker My Love. What more can I say about this band? For a little while now they've been one of my favorite bands, and some of my favorite band people. Their brand of crazy California psych revival revelry puts me on Cloud 9. So naturally, I was thrilled when they took the stage. And, ladies and gentlemen, they proceeded to rock my world once more. Obviously, while recording new record Alive As You Are, the band locked themselves in the California desert with their collection of Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons, and Crosby, Still, Nash & Young records. I say this because the sounds that came from that stage were quite a departure from records numbers 1 and 2. They strutted their bad sonic selves all over the place, heavy on the hot damn twang and purty harmonies. It was a direction I never would have expected, but then again, isn't it awesome when bands can throw you for a loop? It's one heck of a magical mystery tour, but I'm telling you now that Darker My Love might just be better than ever.
After catching my breath and washing it down with another beer, it was time for The Delta Spirit. When last I saw TDS, they were sassing it up on an opening slot for the beloved Nada Surf a couple years back. I was impressed back then, and was excited to see them do it all over again headlining their own show. And I tell you what. I wasn't disappointed. From the get-go they were saucing it up on that there stage, throwing out beaty, meaty riffs and tight drumming and entirely excellent little ditties galore. The crowd absolutely loved 'em, and I second the mob's opinion. Here's a band that can take you to real lovely, gentle places just as easily as they can get you dancing around without a care in the world. Let it not be said that The Delta Spirit can't get their rocks off, friends. Their jumbly, big sound was ever so delightful. And the way they fed off the crowd was so nice to see, the band seemed blissed out playing for the lively Baltimoreans. "This has been a really fun show for us," they said, and there's no doubt it was the truth. The crowd was attentive to each and every note. "People C'mon" was a crowd favorite, ragged and rough and hot diggity dog fantastic. Their set was so rowdy it was almost exhausting.
All in all, friends, this was one of the best shows I almost forgot about all year long. These two bands are great in their own right, but stick 'em together and you've got quite the golden ticket. But hey now. Don't take my word for it. Go see 'em for yourself, and just try to tell me I'm wrong.
I must admit, I was a little predisposed to like White Fence’s new record before I even heard it. After all, the man behind the White Fence is a familiar face around these parts: Tim Presley of LET favorites Darker My Love. Tim’s a busier guy than I had thought, what with his Darker My Love duties, other band obligations, and yet the man can still find the time to crank out a damn fine record of his own. Let’s hear it for multitasking.
On first listen, you might ask yourself which long-lost gem of a 1968 record you might have stumbled upon. But no sir. No ma’am. It’s just the good works of Tim Presley. Tim’s definitely been listening to his Syd Barrett records, and has managed to create a really great sound here, evocative not only of Syd’s solo work but with glimpses of Pavement, The Fall (particularly on “Baxter Corner”), and overtones of obscure 60s bands that very few people are fortunate enough to know about. The album is more than a little lo-fi, crackly and muddy and sounding a lot like a basement or bedroom recording. And I’ve got to say that in this case, that’s a wonderful thing. It’s very atmospheric, very exposed, and very, very good. You production snobs might not agree, so if you’re looking for super slick look elsewhere. In the meantime, the rest of us will enjoy the beauty that a little roughness around the edges can provide.
Knowing the proclivity of Darker My Love to the realms of nouveau psychedelia, the content of this record comes as absolutely no surprise. The only surprise is just how much I like it. It’s a sonic kaleidoscope, a musical merry-go-round. Tim tries anything and everything, seemingly, and his experimentation really pays off. There are bonus points to be had for including a song called “Sick Doctor Blues.” Brilliant. Listening to this record, and it’s not a short one, you feel like the whole thing is done before it’s barely begun. And at that point, you’ll just wanna keep listening. And listening. And listening.
Fact: Darker My Love is one of LET's pet bands (see here, here, and here). Not only is this one hell of a band, they're also one hell of a bunch of nice dudes. Sure, I'd still love their music if they were assholes, they're just that good. Digressions aside, Darker My Love is a band worth checking out, and keep those feelers up because I've been assured a new record is in the works (the sooner the better, my loves). Also, they're pretty killer when it comes to the whole playing live thing, as I have been fortunate to learn not once but twice, most recently last month at the delightfully cozy DC9. They were one piece of a rather excellent bill, sandwiched between All The Saints and A Place To Bury Strangers (note to bands: extra points for using dry ice). Darker My Love doesn't go for dry ice, but it's of no consequence.
The last time I saw these Los Angelinos live, they were seriously stealing The Dandy Warhol's psych-addled thunder at the 9:30 Club. While they certainly did well on such a large stage, I'd been dying to see them somewhere like DC9, all up close and personal like. I knew it would be special, and lo and behold, I was right. It's a miracle the five of them and all their gear fit on the stage, but despite the cramped quarters it was rock'n'roll from the word go. They overcame some initial soundboard difficulties and played a solid, saucy little set. It felt much more rock, somehow, than my first Darker My Love experience. Perhaps it was the lack of that wacky gooey projection or something, but the slightly more stripped-down sound was incredible, and really demonstrated how great a band this really is. Sure, they left "Two Ways Out" off the setlist, but I'll forgive them. The set was heavy with new songs, heightening expectations for a quick release (please?) of even more retrodelica. Happily, a couple songs from their debut made it onto the setlist, too. Sometimes you have to see a band live to really appreciate the sounds they make, and a live Darker My Love show proves just how gifted these guys are as musicians. They are simply compelling live, and command your attention. Which, of course, you'll readily oblige them with.
All in all, I left DC9 feeling totally impressed by the entire show, but especially by Darker My Love. This is a band that not only can wow you on record, but also knows how to put on a live show.
Setlist above written out by DMLer Will Canzoneri, who has so much musical knowledge it will knock your socks off. "Talking Words" is below for your enjoyment. And believe you me, you will enjoy it. For all you Euro kids out there, make sure you keep a close eye on DML, as they are on your side of the Atlantic as we speak.
Take Deep Purple's cover of "Hush", the Beach Boys (circa the early 60s), the Dandy Warhols' "Be-In"-era pysch-heavy sprawl, dashes of the Beatles and the Stones, throw it all into a blender with some hard liquor, and you're getting warmer. With sophomore effort 2, California's Darker My Love (complete with Virginia transplant!) paints a pretty picture of swirling, booming soundscapes full of voluminous waves of heavy, crunching guitars, twinkling of the (electronic) ivories, and tunes drenched in reverb and perfectly muddied vocals. Oh, and they know how to harmonize, too.
In other words, 2 is a fucking awesome album.
They belong among the best of the nouveau psychedelics, but unlike bands like the Black Angels and Black Mountain, there's less of a far out element, less frenzy among all the noise. There's no threatening to veer out of control.
I've got a handful of favorites begging to be brought to your attention, so consider yourself highly encouraged to give special attention to "Talking Words", "Northern Soul", "Blue Day", "Two Ways Out", and "Pale Sun". Of course, the rest of the record's not too shabby, so you might also wanna listen to the whole thing. Many, many times.
Teensy little confession here: I was kinda looking forward to seeing Darker My Love more than the band they were opening for. And that’s despite the fact that the Dandy Warhols has been one of my favorite live bands for over ten years now. But something about this group of dudes had me all sorts of fascinated and entranced, and I was counting the days til I could finally have an in-person experience with their sonic psych-outs and killer retro-heavy, rip-roaring riffs.
The day, September 22, finally arrived. After the weekend up in the Catskills for All Tomorrow’s Parties, I somehow summoned up a few more hours’ worth of energy and managed to keep awake for the highly-anticipated Darker My Love set. And may I just say, I sure am glad I did.
It was a set that flashed before my eyes and ears so briefly, and by the time it was over I was craving more, desperately in need of another fix. The projector in the balcony near me displayed swirling liquid, and the simple yet effective idea was a perfect backdrop to Darker My Love’s all over the place sound and tendency to late-60s homages. The band was superb, both affable in banter and impressive in performance. Listening to the increasingly appreciative noise coming from the huge crowd, I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one with those thoughts.
The night was made for me as soon as the first notes of “Two Ways Out” filled the air, but the entire set was dynamite. The sharp, attention-grabbing haze of “Talking Words” was particularly excellent as well, but the same can be said for pretty much every other song Darker My Love undertook. It was a blinding flash of brilliance, and it was over far too soon. They and their aural bliss made me forget how tired (and hungover) I was, and anytime a band can do that you know they’ve gotta be pretty darned fantastic. If you haven’t quite figured it out yet, go see Darker My Love. As many times as you possibly can. They’re touring again towards the end of the year, and you can bet your sweet ass I’ll be there. I hope you will be, too.
My oh my how I do love me some Darker My Love. Chances are, if you’re reading this, you will too. Over the course of two albums they’ve honed a nice little sound indeed, all retrosexual with lots of fuzz and soul, soul, soul. And they sure do sound like California, though at this point that can mean so many things (most likely involving sun-related adjectives) I’ll let you interpret that as you will.
The thing you need to glean, my friends, is that Darker My Love is dynamite. They are also touring with the one and only Dandy Warhols, which is a cause for joy if ever there was one. Go and see them in your citay, I know I’ll be seeing them on September 22 (and yes, it is in fact marked on my calendar) at the 9:30 Club. In the spirit of the recent release of their second album, 2, and their potentially Bacchanalian tour with the Dandys, I contacted Camp Darker and was gifted with the following from lovely Will Canzoneri, he of much keyboard-tickling. Read on, and go to the show. As ever, you can thank me later.
Les Enfants Terribles: How the hell are you? Will Canzoneri: Mortified.
LET: What was the last song you listened to? WC: Well, right now I'm listening to this record by a band called Jelly. I found it in the dollar bin at Amoeba. It's from 1977. You know Amy Madigan, the actress? You know, the mom from “Uncle Buck”. Turns out she was a singer before all that, in a slick-ass late 70's L.A. Rickie Lee Jones/Nicolette Larson kinda studio thing. Tom Scott-arranged horns, cream-of-the-session-player crop. I picked it up because she looked real cute, and then I realized it was her. This is the only time I'll ever listen to it.
LET: What album most made you realize that you wanted to make music? WC: All Summer Long by The Beach Boys. Probably the album cover more than the music. It looked like endless fun, frolicking on the beach with your bros and some babes in California. I was 9. Turns out, of course, I was right.
LET: Beatles or Stones? WC: Really? One or the other?
LET: What're your top 5 albums (of this minute, this year, or ever)? WC: Of lately: Beau Brummels / Bradley's Barn The Chills / Kaleidoscope World NRBQ / Tiddlywinks Rotary Connection / Aladdin Dennis Wilson / Pacific Ocean Blue
LET: Favorite music-related movie? WC: What's that old Richard Dreyfuss movie where he's an angsty classical pianist and he gets laid by his hot archrival in his motel room? Yeah, that one.
LET: What city or venue would you like to play, but haven't yet been to? WC: Europe. That's a city, right?
LET: What's your favorite song to perform in concert? WC: Our cover of Can's "Mother Sky," which we don't seem to play anymore.
LET: Half-full or half-empty? WC: Whatever it was, I drank it.
LET: Apart from your band, of course, who among your peers do you think is making the best music these days? WC: There's a guy here in LA we know named Aaron Embry who has a project with his wife, among others, called Amnion. Rob and I first saw him when he was playing keys for Daniel Lanois a few months ago, and we got them to play with us at our record release show here at the Troubadour. Amnion is my musical wet dream. I mean, literally, it's that amazing, perfect-in-every-way shit I hear in my dreams that I can't put together in my waking life. That show was the first time I'd seen ‘em live, and they fully infiltrated me in a way I haven't been in a good 5 years or so. I'd say it's kind of a cross between Donny Hathaway's live album and the New Radicals, with the songwriting intelligence quotient upped by 5. And if you haven't copped to the fact that New Radicals did some really sweet shit, then Amnion might not be for you.
LET: What's the first thing you think when you wake up in the morning? WC: I shoulda gotten up earlier.
LET: The greatest record store in the world is: WC: Can't deny that it's Amoeba.
LET: What's the longest flight you've ever been on? WC: The longest I was on a plane was when I flew Continental from Boston to Phoenix. We had a stop in Cleveland, where it was sleeting, and I was stuck on the plane at the gate for - I kid you not - 7 hours. 7 hours of "we should be pushing off from the gate any minute now." They wouldn't let us off, and they wouldn't feed us. Nothing. Stale-ass air, miserable passengers, deadbeat flight attendants... and I got nothing for it.
LET: This one's for Rob. What's your favorite and least favorite thing about Richmond, and why did you leave? WC: I'm putting Rob on speakerphone here: "I actually lived in Midlothian, which is just outside Richmond... but I used to love going to the Richmond Braves games when I was younger... I saw a lot of great players play before they were in the majors. Worst thing is the humidity. The reason I left was cause my dad got a new job in Massachusetts. I then got made fun of for saying "yes ma'am" and "yes sir" to all my teachers so I conformed to a "wicked vocab" after that."
LET: You are all about to embark on a nation-wide tour with the Dandy Warhols. Please list five words describing what the experience of this tour could be like. WC: Courtney Taylor-Taylor-Taylor-Taylor.
LET: If you could share the stage with any musician, living or dead, who would it be, and how come? WC: I dunno, probably some Beach Boy. Pick one.
LET: Shaken or stirred? WC: I've always wondered if I'd start drinking martinis when I'm older.
LET: Best song ever written? WC: The chorus to Billy Joel's "The Stranger." The sheer skin-crawling awfulness of the verse - so sleazy and plain bad it makes you feel like the slimiest slime ball piece-of-shit there ever was - makes the chorus sound like the pinnacle of human achievement.
Les Enfants Terribles is a Washington, DC music blog. It's run by a music-loving lady who answers to Megan Terrible.
Please note, if you're looking for Terrible Chris, try his new joint.
Le Obligatory Disclaimer
Hear ye, hear ye.MP3s posted here are done so with permission wherever possible. If you like the bands you hear on this site, you should without question support them. Buy their music, go see them on tour, and/or buy their merch.
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