The Key » Kishi Bashi

Tonight’s Concert Picks: Kishi Bashi at the First Unitarian Church, XPN Welcomes Jeff Mangum to The Strand, XPN Welcomes Rufus Wainwright to the McCarter Theater, Cheers Elephant at Johnny Brenda’s

Julie Miller — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:37:08 +0000

Violinist, singer and composer Kishi Bashi performs at the First Unitarian Church tonight. Using his violin as a starting point, Bashi creates entirely new universes in his compositions with swirling loop sequences, layered vocals and atmospheric synth backdrops. In addition to touring and collaborating with of Montreal, Regina Spektor, The Barr Brothers and Sondre Lerche, the Seattle native takes his sonic creations to new heights with occasional solo recordings like 2012′s 151a LP. Tickets and information for tonight’s all-ages show with Plume Giant can be found here. Watch Kishi Bashi perform “Manchester” from 151a below.

XPN welcomes Jeff Mangum to the Strand Theater. The reclusive frontman of indie leaders Neutral Milk Hotel announced plans for a final tour this past fall, stating a desire “to play to all the silver citizens dwelling in citys [sic] that he has yet to sing in.” Following the dissolution of Neutral Milk Hotel in 1998, Mangum continued to make periodic solo appearances and released the live LP Live at Jittery Joe’s. Though his elusiveness is certainly intriguing, its Mangum’s poetic lyrics and sincere delivery that keep his shows selling out in seconds. Tickets and information for tonight’s show with Tall Firs in York, PA can be found here. Below, watch a live video of Mangum performing “Oh Comely” from In the Aeroplane Over the Sea at Penn’s Irvine Auditorium.

XPN welcomes Rufus Wainwright to the McCarter Theater in Princeton, NJ. The singer-songwriter continues to tour in support of last year’s Out of the Game full-length and will be performing a special solo acoustic set tonight. Though songwriting is his primary craft, Wainwright has branched out to work in other artistic media over the years including film and opera - elements of which are discernible in his charismatic and sometimes dramatic stage presence. Tickets and information for tonight’s all-ages show with Lucy Wainwright Roche can be found here. Watch the video for “Out of the Game” featuring Helena Bonham Carter below.

Philly outfit Cheers Elephant play Johnny Brenda’s tonight. The upbeat rock band released their third record Like Wind Blows Fire last May. Growing up in the Philadelphia area, the band was exposed to local scene anchors Dr. Dog and The Teeth during Cheers Elephant’s formative years. That exposure, both to the style of music and work ethic of the two bands, has definitely informed Cheers’ psych rock / pop sound, though they make it their own with hints of Arctic Monkeys-like Brit alt-pop. Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with The Explorers Club and Honeychurch can be found here. Below, watch the video for “Doin’ It, Right.”

Listen to Kishi Bashi’s “It’s Christmas, But It’s Not White In Our Town” via NPR Music (playing The First Unitarian Church on 2/6)

John Vettese — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 21:08:50 +0000

Indie rock violinist and songwriter Kishi Bashi is getting in the holiday spirit with a new Christmas single, and a string of winter concert appearances. A touring member of Regina Spektor’s band, as well as Of Montreal, Kishi Bashi premiered “It’s Christmas, But It’s Not White In Our Town” this afternoon via NPR Music. The song is woozy, melancholic, and vaguely reminiscent of Mercury Rev’s Deserter’s Songs, but undeniably seasonable at the same time. Get serenaded here, and get ready for Kishi Bashi’s appearance at the First Unitarian Church on February 6. Tickets go on sale this Friday at Noon, more information at the WXPN Concert Calendar (powered by The Swollen Fox).

Tonight’s Concert Picks: Kishi Bashi at The Fire, Pissed Jeans at Morgan’s Pier, Blood Feathers at Milkboy, The Sun Ra Arkestra at 40th Street Field, and Safari Dudes at Fergie’s

Lauren Thomas — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 14:30:27 +0000

Seattle-born musician K Ishibashi, who goes by the stage name Kishi Bashi, is a singer and multi-instrumentalist. He has toured and recorded as a violinist with Regina Spektor, of Montreal, and Sondre Lerche and started performing as a solo artist in 2011. The experimental indie pop artist put out an EP in 2011, followed by his first full-length solo release, 151a, in 2012. Kishi Bashi (along with bandmates from of Montreal) is playing The Fire tonight with openers Tall Tall Trees and Archer Sounds. The 21+ show is presented by Sunny Day Music and starts at 9PM. Tickets are available here for $10. Listen to the first track off Kishi Bashi’s new album in the player below.

Pissed Jeans are a hardcore/noise rock band from Allentown, PA who have released two full-length albums on Sub Pop Records. The band is playing a free 21+ show tonight at Morgan’s Pier with Brooklyn band A Place to Bury Strangers. The show starts at 6PM and is the last in the R5 Free Saturday Summer Concert Series. Download tracks from Pissed Jeans on Sub Pop’s website here.

The Sun Ra Arkestra, which formed under the leadership of Sun Ra in 1958 and now lead by Maestro Marshall Allen, is a Philly avant-jazz improvisation collective. They are playing a free show at 40th Street Field as part of the 40th Street Summer Series that starts at 6PM.

Philly rock band Blood Feathers have toured with The Walkmen and AA Bondy, now the group is playing a 21+ show at Milkboy tonight with Quiet Corral and St. James & the Apostles. Doors open at 8:30PM and the show starts at 9:30PM. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased here. The band’s album, Goodness Gracious is available for purchase here.

Finally, local indie two-piece group Safari Dudes are playing at Fergie’s Pub with Austin band Good Field and Philly’s Ghost Craters. The show starts at 7:30PM and there is a recommended $3 to $5 donation for the touring band. Download Ghost Craters’ album for free here. Check out Good Field’s video for their song “When You Walk” below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klS8dZTFWU&feature=player_embedded#!