I was listening to the Self Titled disc (actually am right now) and songs like Italy and Shoes are devistatingly good. has anyone seen them live or heard anything new from them? I havent heard the Angels of Light split but these fellas got some chops.

what dya think?

from what i heard, their live shows are out of this world. 2.5 hour rock marathons.
they (other than the Truckers) are the one band i need to see ASAP.

based on some of the full out bombastics on the disc I can picture a folk rock explosion but I'll never find a show close. damn.

There was a thread a while back that touched on A/F's live show. They are incredible. When I saw them, they did a pretty little acoustic song to huge applause, and then launched into an insanely loud 20 minute krautrock jam that sent the hippies scurrying for the door. They were tired, they were sick, they fought with hecklers, they converted a packed club into a group of 30 around the stage, and they played some of the most draining, intense, polarizing music I've heard in a long time, including a massive version of "Raising the Sparks". They need to translate that live sound onto record, because in person, they are something to behold.

While i didn't actually go to that show, i've only heard amazing things from people who did. Apparently the live shows are either something you'll remember for the rest of your life, or something that, the next day, you'll tell everyone "wow that was the worst show i've ever attended." Either way...

As for their music, the self-titled disc is AMAZING, probably the best thing to come out of 2005 and that is a challenge for anyone who thinks they have anything better. i also have not heard the split, but that's mostly because i don't trust splits.

The self titled album is incredible, though. Every song is fairly different, and each one brings its own special treasures to the table. Wow. Akron / Family. i can't describe how amazing they are, but if you haven't heard the album, i posted it a long while ago in the Y S I thread and i'll be happy to reup in here. i was actually thinking about starting an Akron / Family thread while i was driving this morning. Beat me to it, cinnamon. Oh well. As long as everyone knows how amazing these guys are.

I didn't get to go to their show because of FUCKIN' AGE RESTRICTIONS. I'm not happy about that. But, yes, great, great band. Self titled album is amazing. Split with Angels of Light is amazing. They're probably the second best band in the world right now. The best is Broken Social Scene. I didn't get to go to their show because of FUCKIN' AGE RESTRICTIONS, as well. I am definitely not happy about that, either.

Geez i could hardly tell that you were upset . That face on your signature perfectly describes my feelings towards FUCKIN' AGE RESTRICTIONS! Oh darn. Anyway, i'm not sure who the "best" band in the world is, or even how to rank that exactly...But on the Billboard Charts located in my head, BSS and Akron/Family are definitely up there.

What happened on Love is Simple really? going back to really listen to this thing, it has maybe 10 good minutes on the whole disc. Lake Song/Music for Moms, the last minute of ed is a portal, and Dont Be Afraid, Your Already Dead are the only things this disc has going for it. I really got into these guys but the singing is all off, the music/lyrics are annoyingly dumb and there's none of that real rock out folk shit. its all bland.

ok, quick edit. more of the disc is good but it's a fall off from the past three releases to me.

Yeah, but, that there is one split you can trust.

The split and the s/t are all I've heard, and they're great. I hear worrisome things about the more recent releases.

Also, I was reading a review of that Bon Iver record and it mentioned that the Bon Iver dude used to be in a band that went on to become "...Akron/Family's backing unit", I believe the article mentioned...what's up with that?

I believe Megafaun was the backing band they're referring to, which also opened for them on their last tour. I've seen them 3 times, and to be honest I like it for the first hour, but after awhile it just gets tiresome. The first two times were a little better, because they were in tiny ass clubs, but the last time I saw them it was in a huge theater and they played for 3+ hours after an hour and a half of opening acts. That said I prefer the live to all of their albums, but the split. (fyi I bought the megafaun album at the last show(case handsewn by one of the band members girlfriends) and it's actually quite good. I'll up it if anyone wants it.

Yeah, please up that Megafaun. I thought they were really solid last time I saw AK.

Personally, I've never been a big fan of Akron/Familys records - I just feel most of their songs don't translate. However, they are a force of nature live.

http://www.mediafire.com/?evvsnik4j2z enjoy LAME V0 mp3 rip enjoy Megafaun - Bury The Square

Love is Simple is the best record of 2007. I still haven't heard anything else from them, it's one of those things that I'm scared to try, just in case it isn't as brilliant and amazing as what I know now. There are few if any records that I've heard that are as flawless as Love is Simple.

for the record they're down to a 3 piece now and as one of them said "working with the quiet and the space and the distance" that they have to work with now. (That's not a direct quote but you get the point)

and I thought Love is Simple ruled, but self-titled reigns supreme.

hey jordan, why don't you post more often?

40 hour work week/full-time college/trying to run a record label/reading Anna Karenina/making it to shows
kind of sucks my life away
plus my tastes drifted further & further from the typical Somb thread
always nice to say hello every once in a while though

oh, also at the last akron/family show, I got Seth Olinsky's 3 disc solo record thing(I can't resist limited and handmade things). It's like half early and demo versions of songs on akron/family and half random solo acoustic guitar stuff. So if anyone wants me to up it I will.

and I'm not sure how close any of you are to Pittsburg, but there's a big Akron/Family show/party at the Andy Warhol Museum on March 7th. Should be killer.

Just saw on their myspace that this band will be playing the AV/Aerie on Dec. 2nd. Can't find any ticket on sale information yet but prepare for what may end up being one of the best shows of your lives!

Yes! How is that venue? Can't imagine anything better than their Empty Bottle show.

The venue is great and perfect for a band like this. I couldn't have imagined them being better than that Empty Bottle show until I saw them at the Av-Aerie around this time last year.

Get excited.

Holy shit.

I'm going.

Are there more tour dates? I can't view MS at work.

Fuck all of you who have seen them. Fuck you with a rusty tire iron.

I saw them at AV-aerie over a year ago and it was the second best show I've ever witnessed. Just absolutely transcendent.

Now I have the chance to see them in that same place, a venue that proved to be more perfect for their music than I could have imagined.

Seriously, fuck me.

Dec 2 2008 8:00P
AV-Aerie Chicago, Illinois
Dec 3 2008 8:00P
Waldron Arts Center Bloomington, Indiana
Dec 28 2008 8:00P
TT the Bears Boston, Massachusetts
Dec 29 2008 8:00P
Higher Ground Burlington, Vermont



edit: yeah, i think i remember determining in a past Ak thread that I was standing right next to Pavement for some of the show and even had some interaction with his harem of girls.

This was before I had ever posted on the SOMB IIRC.

"harem of girls"

lol

Bitches thought they were so cool with their fake IDs.

I wonder if one of them wants to go to this with me.

So, I have since come to realize that these guys are from rural PA, somewhat close to Pittsburgh. During the show jordan posted earlier, I was not around the area. Now, they are coming to Boston, except I will be in PA at that time. I'm going to kill everyone I know.

Tomorrow night...

Yeah, I am so excited - trying to mobilize as many of my friends as possible for this one. I took off Wednesday. Anyone know if there is still readmission at av-aerie?

Fuck yeah, this is going to be great.

I already got my tickets but some friends are sticklers about paying fees to ticketmaster/ticketweb/anyone. I can't see this selling out but what do you dudes think the odds are? This situation happened last time as well and when I called the Empty Bottle to inquire as to projected ticket availability they pretty much laughed at me.

I didn't buy them in advance last time and I didn't exactly get there early, 'cause I went to LSA first... remember, it got changed to Av-aerie, etc.

I doubt that it's going to sell out. Show up on time and you'll be fine. These dudes don't have the rep of, say, Animal Collective.

Asher Ford has gone too far this time!

Looks like I accidentally didn't go to this, LOL.

Please tell me last year's show was better.

great show but last time was SOO MUCH BETTER this didnt start til 8 (with opening band starting then) and was out by 10:30.

Thats AK and ANOTHER BAND WITH A DECENT SIZE OPENING BAND SETLIST

IN ONLY 2.5 HOURS!!!!


OUTRAGEOUS

That's how long the Akron/Family supergroup played last time!

I know man...I never want to talk about last night again. They were great as usual...but it was such a let down in regards to the set length...

Fuck. I am emailing the band AND the empty bottle AND the av-aerie.

While it didn't quite match the intensity of the Empty Bottle show of a few years back (probably more due to the loss last year of one of their guitarists, who left the band to join a Buddhist commune), it was still Akron/Family looking like Lebowski's while morphing quiet freak folk-gospel into hectic, colliding psych rock workouts. Amazing as always. The highlight was Ed is a Portal.
Also was cool to talk with the band and their manager after the show. I was surprised to hear that they have never been extended an invite to play Lollapalooza.

Did they mention coming back at all?

Yes- they said they will be back in the spring or summer as they tour their new album. The band feels like the new record is the best thing they've ever done.

I think every band feels this way (and I guess they probably should).

But I hope they're right because I don't think their last couple have been as good as their debut and the Angels of Light split. Those both gave me really high hopes for this band that they've never quite lived up to.

Crazy that it was that short of a show. Were there any tapers, by chance? I've noticed that they've been promoting their 2008 tour schedule with "Tapers Welcome" prominently displayed, yet I know of no audience tapes that have surfaced... anyone else?

awesome, album in april. sooner than i'd expected.

http://www.tinymixtapes.com/Akron-Family-Sign-to-Dead-Oceans

Fairly certain that the forthcoming Akron/Family album will be top five of 2009.

Agreed. I arbitrarily feel like it'll be by far the best thing they've done.

I wasn't quite thrilled with Love Is Simple, but I'm jacked for this either way. Their self titled is probably a top-5-o'-the-decade record for me.

and when did they become a three piece?

Ryan Vanderhoof (dark-haired dude) left right after Love Is Simple to join a Buddhist colony in rural Ohio or something.

At this point I kind of have to dread this. There is almost no way I could enjoy it as much as Love is Simple. LiS is in my top 7 records of all-time now.

But I'll stay hopeful, and if they pull it off they'll clearly be one of my all-time favorite artists.

I think I'll probably listen to Love Is Simple tonight, too.