Portland-based Eyelids is probably one of the best-kept secrets. With three albums under its proverbial belt and a fourth on the way in the form of Colossal Waste Of Light (Jealous Butcher), it seems the group is about to change all of that. Given, the band’s pedigree leaves for an infinite amount of growth potential. The group, led by The Decemberists’ John Moen and one-time Guided by Voices member Chris Slusarenko, delivers a fervent amount of pop explosiveness. Rounding out the group is guitarist Jonathan Drews and drummer Paulie Pulvirenti, welcoming into the fold its newest member new bassist Victor Krummenacher of Camper Van Beethoven fame. R.E.M.’s Peter Buck produced the band’s last offering The Accidental Falls and returns for Colossal Waste Of Light, also appearing on a few tracks.
Today the band steps slightly away from the mid-tempo’d washes of guitars and the sweet echoing of voices from song to song in order to bring us all the video for the powerfully driven “They Said So.” The track is relentless, pulling together a hefty bounce within its rhythm, infectious vocal melodies & harmonies, as guitars battle for dominance. We receive a live performance of the song in the form of the band’s paper mache counterparts. It’s interesting and original. But it’s the music that will win you over every time.
Chris Slusarenko: “I often like to write more elaborate and haunted lyrics, but since this song is about the direct cause and effect of others’ judgments (and how they weigh on us), I wanted to be economical with my words. It ended up being a subversive pop song with a call and response from two different pinpoints of misunderstanding. You can’t stand still with those you love; love them.”
“I had seen John Robson’s fantastic short film, ‘Quality Time’–it really haunted me with its dark humor and unsettling sense of animated reality. We met, and he was really drawn to the life-sized paper mache versions of us Jo Hamilton had created for the new LP.
Since John is always trying to create an unsettling version of uncanny valley reality in his work, he wondered what it would be like to animate these sculptural static heads. So we ended up with an unsettling cross between Eyelids as mutated shells of humans and a break with the performance physics of the real world.”
You can preorder the album here.
Eyelids ‘A Colossal Waste Of Light’ U.S. Tour
Fri. March 10th Portland Mississippi Studios (&)
Sat. March 11th Seattle Sunset Tavern (&)
Fri. March 17th NYC Union Pool (*%)
Sat. March 18th Boston The Atwoods (*)Sun. March 19th New Haven Cafe 9
Mon. March 20th Philly Jerry’s On Front (%)Wed. March 22nd DC Pie Shop
Thurs. March 23rd Charlotte Snug Harbor
Fri. March 24th Atlanta The Earl (#)
Sat. March 25th Athens Flicker (#)
Fri. April 21st SF/Albany Ivy Room (&)
Sun. April 23rd LA Gold-Diggers (&)
Mon. April 24th San Pedro The Sardine (&)
Tues. April 25th The Best Show w/ Tom Scharpling (&)
Fri. April 28th Austin Mohawk
Fri. June 9th Chicago TBA
Sat. June 10th Cleveland Beachland Tavern
Sun. June 11th Toronto Horseshoe
Mon. June 12th Pittsburgh The Government Center
Wed. June 14th Detroit Outer Limits (!)
Thurs. June 15th Milwaukee Cactus Club (!)
Fri. June 16th Madison Kiki’s Righteous House Of Music
Sat. June 17th Minneapolis 7th St. Entry
(#) w/ Elf Power
(*) w/ Hallelujah The hills
(%) w/ Honey Radar
(&) w/ Peter Buck (6th Eyelid)
(!) w/ Model Citizen (Matt Patton & Jay Gonzalez of Drive-By Truckers)
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