You always hear about bands that are described as "tight" but yet I have never really used the expression myself, before now.  I think it best describes the band  Laarks.    Their music is just so perfectly timed.  The electronic effects fit in so well, the vocals, fantastic.  I have also never referred to a drummer as amazing.  So in one night of music, in the Volume One, Sounds Like Summer concert series, we are breaking lots of ground.  The band the Laarks, well, they are tight!

I first saw Laarks warm up for Megafaun at the House of Rock.  They were a bit of an unexpected pleasure.  I don't know if it is nervousness, or just luck of the draw as far as song choices, but when they come out on stage their first couple of songs don't really go over very well.  I remember myself thinking, "This music is rather annoying"  But, then, a few songs into the show, I found myself loving it!  Even tonight, having temporarily forgotten my House of Rock experience, I found myself listening to the first couple and saying, "God, I thought I remembered these guys being better than this"  ...a particularly disappointing feeling, since I was flying solo, risking spousal wrath to attend an event when my lovely wife was unable.   But then, a few songs later, I was remembering why I knew tonight's concert was a "must see" event.  It was worth it!

I think the most amazing drummer I have ever seen in my entire life is Brian Moen.  He pours his entire being into playing those drums.  On Thursday night, with the afternoon temperatures being what they were, he definitely poured his body moisture into the show.  Brian was consuming one canned beverage, I hope it was lemonade, not beer, between each song.  Streaming in sweat and literally WHALING on those drums.  The first time you see  Laarks, he is positively distracting.  But you soon get over that and really appreciate his playing for what it is.  And, it *is* very good.

It is also very interesting to me how these bands create the effects they do.  During the opening of one song, Moen had his keys, house key, car key and the 20 other keys he uses to run his life, over the end of  a drumstick and glazing over the surface of a drumhead.  Proving interesting effects don't always have to involve electronics.

I guess I just feel like I can't heap enough praise on this band.  The vocal stylings of lead, Ian Jacoby, are really, really fascinating.  The guitars, bass, synthesizer, and effects, super cool!  Perfectly timed and just right.  The music itself, pop? Punk? Dance?  I don't know.  It is hard for me to classify because this is the first, and thus far, only, band doing this type of music that I have liked.  It is different for me, but different in a way I find interesting.  Musical high point?  I am not sure of song titles because they weren't really announcing them, but there is one that might have been called So Much Better, I really liked.  After the first couple of songs, really, I liked them all.   Laarks music is available on iTunes, their recording, An Exaltation of Laarks.  But, if you can, see them live.

The warm up for Laarks was Myrna Loy.  An indie alternative band from Eau Claire.  Though I was not a fan of Myrna's music, she was well received by the audience.  So, I am just going to say it wasn't my thing.  Your milage may vari.  Loy is a singer/songwriter performing original works.  And, though I found her lyrics quite repetitive, they were sung with a crystal clear voice, perfect tone, perfect rhythm.   Stylistically, one thing that was quite cool (though I wonder if I would like it if I had a whole CD of it) was Loy would sing "yeah" repeating in tempo with the music.  It's hard to describe such a simple thing, but the way she did it was a very interesting effect.   The one cover Loy performed was by the New York indie rock band, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, They don't love you like I love you.  My favorite song for her performance was Down the path of a bad dream, a Myrna Loy original.  Check out her Myspace page at: http://www.myspace.com/myrnaloyband

Laarks have a web site but I couldn't find it.  And, they don't link to it from their Myspace page at: http://www.myspace.com/laarks

And, finally, I don't feel like I can write about music today without mentioning the death of Michael Jackson.  Michael was an incredible performer.  For me, he was a guilty pleasure while I was mostly listening to classical music.  I remember the videos for Thriller and Billie Jean.  They were revolutionary genius in the music business.  Such a shame he became so bizarrely wacko.  And, too bad he had to die when he did, before his comeback tour.  It would have been better, more fitting, for him to have him die at a peak, rather than a valley.  I think it is important to think of the change he brought to music.  He was the right thing at the right time and music changed forever because of Michael Jackson.  Rest easy Michael.

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