The Rakes break up

a while ago, I found this picture online, and it made me so happy (I'm the one grinning like a son-of-a-gun on the left, with the pale arms). I'm super bummed out that the band has broken up; they had three good records and one hell of a live show.

...and in the process, they also have deprived me of seeing Free Energy : (

here's what Free Energy's people had to say:

"a new country-wide tour is in the works for the early part of the new year, so it won't be long. Luckily, we have been able to hold on to the Boston date (which will now be a Free Energy show) and keep in the dates from Dallas-Philly in late November. There is a new NYC date announced as well below.

To sum it up:

The following dates (with the Rakes) have been cancelled:

10/31: Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy*
11/01: San Francisco, CA @ Slims*
11/03: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Urban Lounge*
11/04: Denver, CO @ The Bluebird*
11/06: Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock*
11/07: Chicago, IL @ Double Door*
11/09: Toronto, ON @ Mod Club*
11/10: Montreal, QC @ Petit Campus*
11/12: New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom*


The new Free Energy touring tinerary looks like this:

FREE ENERGY TOUR DATES:

10/24: London, UK @ Cargo (DFA Night)
10/26: London, UK @ Barfly
10/27: London, UK @ Rough Trade Records (Hoxton) In-Store
(Early Show)/Waterats (Late Show)
10/28: London, UK @ Windmill
11/11: Boston, MA @ Great Scott
11/19: Dallas, TX @ The Cavern
11/20: Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
11/21: Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
11/22: Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
11/23: Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
11/24: Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
11/25: Washington, DC @ DC9, set TBA
11/27: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
11/28: New York, NY @ Santos Party House"

RIP, Rakes.

Free Energy to play Slims with The Rakes

I was actually browsing the Slims' website yesterday and came across the November 1st show...I checked their website and they hadn't posted it yet, I guess the venue updates on weekends but the band doesn't!

anyhow, I'll see you all there, The Rakes put on one hell of a show and I've been waiting for this band to tour ever since I heard them for the first time, so this concert is bound to be oodles of fun.

09/25: Philadelphia, PA @ Phi Lam
10/02: Haverford, PA @ Lunt Basement
10/07: Beijing, China @ Modern Sky Festival (w/The Futureheads & British Seapower)
10/21: New York, NY @ Santos Partyhouse - CMJ Oh My Rockness Showcase
10/22: New York, NY @ Pianos - CMJ Windish Agency Showcase
10/24: London, UK @ Cargo (DFA Night)
10/26: London, UK @ Barfly
10/27: London, UK @ Rough Trade Records (Hoxton) In-Store (Early Show)/Waterats (Late Show)
10/28: London, UK @ Windmill
10/31: Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy*
11/01: San Francisco, CA @ Slims*
11/03: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Urban Lounge*
11/04: Denver, CO @ The Bluebird*
11/06: Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock*
11/07: Chicago, IL @ Double Door*
11/09: Toronto, ON @ Mod Club*
11/10: Montreal, QC @ Petit Campus*
11/11: Boston, MA @ Great Scott*
11/12: New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom*
11/19: Dallas, TX @ The Cavern
11/20: Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
11/21: Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
11/22: Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
11/23: Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
11/24: Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
11/25: Washington, DC @ DC9, set TBA
11/27: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
* = with The Rakes

Free Energy - Something In Common (Live on MPR) [mp3]

visit them on MYSPACE

Concert Review: The Rakes 02 April 2009

I discovered The Rakes through last.fm. They came up in The Strokes radio (which is what I usually listen to at work, surprise, surprise). I subsequently wrote down “THE RAKES!!!!” on a slip of paper and stuck it into my bag to look up later.

A few weeks later, I was cleaning out my room and decided to give my bag a go, too (I am a huge slob). I found three different slips of paper, all of them saying “THE RAKES!!!” in some form or another.

That’s how awesome they are.

Now, take my aforementioned enthusiasm, add a dance club and a stage for lead singer Alan Donohoe to act like a crazy robot on, and you’ve got yourself a formula for success.

Much to my pleasure, they had composed a set list which I heartily approved of. Before going to the show, I was hoping they’d focus on their debut (Capture/Release), their newest album (Klang), but also play “We Danced Together” and “The World Was A Mess But His Hair Was Perfect” from the second album (Ten New Messages). And that is precisely what they did. I was thrilled that they played my favourite of theirs, “Violent”.

Each member of the band was aware of their mates and they worked beautifully together, in sync throughout the night. Meanwhile, the crowd (including yours truly) was going crazy. One audience member tried to pull the lead singer down to the floor (this actually eventually worked), and eventually proceeded to jump onstage to dance with Alan (who didn’t seem to mind too much).

It was a great night, I am so lucky to have been able to attend one of their FOUR American shows, especially at such an intimate venue as the Popscene. They already played the Troubadour (LA) but still have two NY dates (Bowery Ballroom on the 6th and Bell House on the 7th).

Set list:


4/5

The Rakes are good at creating catchy dance music with realistic, dreary lyrics. They are not musical pioneers in any way, but they REALLY excel at what they do. I suggest that you check them out, I am quite enjoying their latest album Klang, but I suggest that you start with the following:

The Rakes - The World Was a Mess But His Hair Was Perfect [mp3]

you can find videos of "Violent", "We Danced Together" and "The Lonliness of the Outdoor Smoker" on my YOUTUBE page

more photos:

THE RAKES TO PLAY THE POPSCENE NEXT THURSDAY!

aiaiaiaiaiaiaiiaiaiaiaiaiaiiaiaia!!!!

I was listening to "we danced together" on repeat at work today. I even freaking posted about it. then, I was singing it on my way home from the BART tonight. I must have looked like a crazy person, singing really loudly with a REALLY bad British accent all the way home.

then I click onto NME, just to make sure no news slipped by me

I click on the following headline (The Rakes announce handful of US dates), not believing I was going to be lucky enough, because my luck is shite,

and, then,

Los Angeles, CA Troubadour (April 1)
San Francisco, CA Popscene (2)
New York, NY Bowery Ballroom (6)
Brooklyn, NY Bell House (7)

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was JUST telling a coworker today (er, more like 12 hours ago...) how much I love Brit pop. it FEEDS MY SOUL.

The Rakes - We Danced Together

I came across this song a few weeks back and immediately was enamoured with the English band.

I was just listening to it on youtube, and realized,

whoa, the video follows the lyrics!

I mean, a lot of times, music videos are really abstract; but in this case, it actually made a lyric a lot more apparent to me:

"we danced together on the roof of the party"
I never really registered the roof part until I saw it: