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Why I Decree it to Be So:
This is such a bittersweet record for me to write about, dearhearts. As you know, La Strada called it a day not long ago, but thankfully not before releasing the delightful New Home. I love this record. Love love love love love it. Did I mention that I love it? It’s just so…gosh darn cute (but not in a trite, twee way, just to be clear). If you’re not yet familiar with Brooklyn’s La Strada, may I be the first to do the introductions. This new record of theirs, New Home, is adorable, charming, enchanting, and utterly infectious. If you don’t love it by the time you’re done listening to it, I’m afraid to say your heart might be even colder and blacker than mine. New Home is one of the best and loveliest records of 2010, simple as, uniquely idyllic in that way that some big city bands have. (SEE MORE)
I've known about this little news item for a little while now, but it's one of those things that bummed me out so much I tried to pretend it was all a vicious lie (and yes, please do read that in the style of Mrs. Peacock from Clue the movie). Alas, it's no lie, it's the stone cold truth. I regretfully pass along the news that my beloved Brooklynites La Strada are heading for splitsville, leaving my little heart in tatters. Sayeth the band:
"From the very bottom of our hearts and souls we want to thank every one of you that came to see us play and supported us these last few years. We all feel extremely blessed to have such wonderful fans; we'll never forget you!"
Fortunately, if you've never had the chance to see the band live, you've got one more chance before they are no more. Their final show of ever will be at The Rock Shop in Brooklyn (where else?!) on November 20th. Joining them will be LET faves Birdlips and Hospitality. Get yer tickets here. I'll forever be glad I saw them before the end became nigh.
Dear loves, you know by now, I would hope, how very much I do so adore a little band called La Strada. This coterie of Brooklynites has totally, utterly, and completely won my devotion with their irresistible hodgepodge of all things musically good and wonderful. If you haven’t yet heard their latest record, New Home, yet, well, I have no choice but to frown in your general direction.
Introductions aside, the band recently took some time from their task of winning the world over one city at a time to answer the burning questions I presented them with. And sweet as pie, the band answered as a collective. So may I present to you, friends, the collective answers of James Craft, Devon Press, Brady Miller, Ted Lattis, Daniel Baier, and Isaiah Gage. Pull up a hammock, pour a glass of your favorite wine, and spend a few quality minutes getting to know one of my new favorite bands.
Les Enfants Terribles: How the hell are you?
La Strada: Pretty good, most of the time.
LET: What was the last song you listened to?
LS: “New Speedway Boogie” by Grateful Dead.
LET: Playing music is:
LS: Generally a fun thing to do.
LET: What album most made you realize you wanted to make music?
LS: Graceland (Paul Simon).
LET: Beatles or Stones?
LS: Beatles.
LET: Top 5 albums (of now, of this month, or of ever):
LS: MTV Smooth Jams Vol. 1-5.
LET: Favorite music-related movie?
LS: Romantico.
LET: Half-full or half-empty?
LS: Half-full.
LET: Which of your peers do you think is making the best music these days?
LS: Hospitality and Frances.
LET: What’s the first thing you think when you wake up in the morning?
LS: I'm going back to bed.
LET: Little-known La Strada fact?
LS: Our van was once owned by Rick Astley's evil twin, Harold Astley, III.
LET: The greatest record store in the world is:
LS: Rough Trade (London).
LET: Everyone probably asks this, but is La Strada in fact the band’s favorite Fellini flick?
LS: No, but 8 1/2 isn't a great band name.
LET: Shaken or stirred?
LS: Beer.
LET: Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
LS: Check the menu at Subway restaurants. Sometimes, the BLT is the same price as the veggie sub, so you might as well get the bacon.
LET: If you weren’t in a band you’d be:
LS: Grad students?
LET: If you were so inclined, whom would you form a tribute band in honor of?
LS: MC Hammer.
LET: Best song ever written?
LS: "Africa".
mp3: Go Forward (La Strada from New Home)
{Photo by Zandy Mangold}
I won’t even try to hide it from you, my loves, I was so incredibly beyond excited to see La Strada in the flesh (FINALLY) I was as giddy as Colin and Justin remodeling someone’s tacky Canadian house (if you’ve never seen those two on TV, please amend that immediately, for then you shall know just how bloody happy I was to head up to the Black Cat for what I had absolutely no doubt whatsoever would be a fantastic set. Not even the disgusting, awful, horrible 100 degree temperatures could keep me away. And guess what? I was right. The sweltering was totally worth it.
MINI RECAP: La Strada = Humidly Sublime! Overall score: A.
The weather did keep some folks away, I’m sure, as the crowd backstage wasn’t quite big enough (in my humble opinion), but those of us who braved the outdoor sauna were treated to a splendid little set courtesy of this sextet of Brooklynites. Even the pre-set music was great, Bowie’s Hunky Dory record to be exact. It set the tone, and the band took it from there. You already know I love them to bits and pieces, and what they did on that stage just cemented and put a plaque on my admiration for this band.
They began with the weather-beaten, rambunctiously-opening “My New Home”, the sound filling every nook and cranny of the room, drawing people in from the main bar like moths to a sonic flame. Man alive, any band that breaks it down with an accordion in the middle of a song is head of the class. The live version of the most excellent “Where You Want To Go” was even more nuanced and sensational than on record. It has to be said that even before they had finished the first song of the set, I was already loving them just about as much as air-conditioning.
“Mean That Much” harmonized its way to near-perfection, and in some way the pop overture reminded me a smidge of the Beach Boys in their California heydays. Well, the Beach Boys as filtered through a traveling Eastern European circus perhaps. “There’s Only Love” sent chills down my spine with all that lovely, pitch-perfect harmonizing. Keeping four voices in tune like that is no easy feat, and when you throw in the violin, cello, and yes, the accordion, well, it’s sheer magic. The song was wistful yet totally uplifting, much like the La Strada sound as a whole. “Wash On By” was possibly my favorite of a set of favorites, the bouncy, jaunty irresistibility was spellbinding.
I don’t know what else I can say, my little darlings. La Strada is not to be missed live. I’ve told you how amazing they as a band are, but really, how could you help but love a band that a) names their accordian, and b) names it The Beast? Quite obviously, you’ll agree, you can’t not love them. So go see them, buy their merch, and buy them a drink or five.
mp3: Mean That Much (La Strada from New Home)
I love this record. Love love love love love it. Did I mention that I love it? It’s just so…gosh darn cute (but not in a trite, twee way, just to be clear). If you’re not yet familiar with Brooklyn’s La Strada, may I be the first to do the introductions. This new record of theirs, New Home, is adorable, charming, enchanting, and utterly infectious. If you don’t love it by the time you’re done listening to it, I’m afraid to say your heart might be even colder and blacker than mine. New Home is one of the best and loveliest records of 2010, simple as, uniquely idyllic in that way that some big city bands have.
The pastoral romp begins immediately, as the band presents their record to the world with the effervescent and shining “Go Forward”. The guitar intro makes a slight nod to The Faces, but the rest of the song is the embodiment of sheer musical joy. I’ve listened to the song many times, and not once has it failed to elicit a smile. “Julia” makes me think of a favorable mix of bits and pieces of The Essex Green and Bishop Allen and The Shins, but it’s not derivative in the slightest. It’s a sweet, realistic love song, and it’s just plain irrepressible. The strings add a bittersweet poignancy to the sentiment of the song, and enhance the overall loveliness.
“Wash On By” is another rollicking little jangly pop song, uplifted by bouncy strings and an irresistible jauntiness. Oh my heavens, it’s a dream, a little piece of indiepop perfection. And rejoice, o you fans of the accordian. It plays a large part in the very appealing sound of “Baptism”, a rather crazy little pseudo Euro-folksy number (La Strada does DeVotchKa?). “My New Home” is yet another particularly noteworthy song, a fantastic little love song, gloriously sweeping and utterly impossible not to get the warm fuzzies for.
“There’s Only Love” begins with accordion play that makes me think of bagpipes, so naturally I love it. Oh, and there’s some pretty good harmonizing, too, if you’re into that kind of thing. The song crashes immediately into the longest song on New Home, “The Mountain Song”. It’s somewhat pensive, a departure from the sunny chirp (at least musically speaking) to be found on the majority of the album. Not to be outdone, “The Wedding Song” comes next, and the slightly twanging guitar sure does get my little heart pitter-pattering. And surprise, it’s another great song. Sorry to sound like a broken record, my dearest darlings, but New Home is really just that good. I can’t think of a single bad thing to say about it, and am having to restrain myself from totally letting the floodgates of gushery open wide.
It’s a rather long record, and for that I say hallelujah. I’d be ever so glum if it was any shorter. As it is now, I still can’t get enough. A word to the wise: keep your eyes and ears peeled for La Strada, friends, because you might just be hearing a lot more about them. Making music this good, it would be an absolute travesty if you didn’t. But in the meantime, do yourself a favor and begin listening to New Home immediately. What are you waiting for?
mp3: Go Forward (La Strada from New Home)
Why I Decree it to Be So:
