Grizzly Bear - Friend EP

That dog is in every picture!


I just went and saw Grizzly Bear for the fourth time tonight at the Society for Ethical Culture near Central Park. Those guys are just incredible musicians. It’s really inspiring to be able to watch such a dynamic, young band like them. They’re the first band I’ve ever really known that is constantly changing the way they approach their material. Pretty much every song gets a different reading in a live setting. Among the most impressive of these new arrangements is the live version of “Little Brother,” which benefits hugely from an added opening section that features singer/guitarist Daniel Rossen belting disconcertingly, “My God, that’s not the way,” and a jarring, juggernaut of a coda not included on the more restrained rendition found on 2006’s Yellow House (It is, however, available on the band's new EP, details follow). Other highlights from the show tonight included a rare, yet confident performance of “Marla,” and a stunning-as-usual “On a Neck, On a Spit.”

The band releases the Friend EP this Tuesday, which includes some new songs including “Alligator,” which features Dirty Projectors’ Dave Longstreth and Amber Coffman on backing vocals. Other new material includes a surging, horn-laden untitled collaboration with Beirut’s Zach Condon tucked away after Rossen’s quiet and creepy version of the traditional folk song “Deep Blue Sea.”

On a side note, Tonight’s show was part of an ongoing series of really interesting performances coming up at both the Society for Ethical Culture and Good-Shepherd Faith Church in the mid-town area. It's called "The Wordless Music Series," and it's hosted by a sheepish (though thoroughly hip) guy named Ronen Givony. Scheduled for next weekend are two performances by Icelandic group Múm, and in mid-January, The Church of St. Paul the Apostle hosts the US premiere of Jonny Greenwood’s orchestral piece Popcorn Superhet Receiver. Finally someone has realized that cathedrals are perfect music halls.

Friend EP tracklist:

1. Alligator (Choir Version)
2. He Hit Me
3. Little Brother (Electric)
4. Shift (Alternate Version)
5. Plans (Terrible vs. Nonhorse Sounds Edit)
6. Granny Diner
7. Knife covered by CSS
8. Plans covered by Band of Horses
9. Knife covered by Atlas Sound
10. Deep Blue Sea (Daniel Rossen home recording)

Pre-order Friend EP here:

Insound

Listen to Yellow House for free online here:

grizzly-bear.net

Check out the Wordless Music Series here:

wordlessmusic.org