weekend in music

The Intelligence
AMSTERDAM / HARLEM / TOURS



The Intelligence, Lars Finberg’s thrash/pop brainchild, have put forth experimental lo-fi post-punk since 1999, with ever-increasing irony. In Deuteronomy (2007, In the Red) Finberg sneers, “Going out with you is like going out with a cop,” and on this year’s Fake Surfers, lyrical material oscillates between dissatisfaction and complacency with life’s many cop-outs. Thursday, June 11 they will play Paradiso in Amsterdam before heading west to Patronaat Harlem in the Netherlands on June 12 and hitting Tours, France on June 13. Check out their myspace to hear a lot of songs off their breezy yet energetic new album: www.myspace.com/theworldisadrag.



Vivan Girls
LONDON



Along with label mates the Intelligence and NYC shoegazers Crystal Stilts, Vivian Girls are at the helm of this grungy surf explosion dominating the independent music world. Their Beach Boys-inspired harmonies range from haunting incantations to soothing but questionably condescending suggestions (“It’s alright just leave the light on/I will never ask you why”). But lullabies Vivian Girls write not — the Brooklyn trio rest on their punk ethos and thrashing, simple drumbeats. In the last year Vivian Girls have put out a wealth of 7”s, a self-titled album, and anticipate the release of their second LP, Everything Goes Wrong from In The Red Recordings in September 2009. They finish their European tour in London Friday, June 12 at the Lexington with Male Bonding and all-girl punks Wet Dog, followed by White Light club at 11 PM, with DJs “bringing you whatever music we fancy from Jesus.”

Vivian Girls with Male Bonding and Wet Dog
Friday, June 12, 2009, 8 PM; 8 euros advance
The Lexington, Music Venue and Whiskey Lounge
96-98 Pentonville Rd, London N1 9JB
www.myspace.com/viviangirlsnyc



Camera Obscura
LOS ANGELES / MEXICO CITY



Scottish dream-pop quintet Camera Obscura’s latest release My Maudlin Career is their most critically acclaimed album to date. It’s as though the sugary harmonies they’ve developed on Underachievers Please Try Harder, and thickened with brass sections in Let’s Get Out Of This Country have finally caramelized just in time for this shoegazey craze in the music world. Their melodramatic orchestral climaxes soar and shine through the mingling, lo-fi waves of softer, mellow tones. The video for their exhilarating single “French Navy” sees a couple travel through London, Paris and Rome, but Camera Obscura will be touring in North America this weekend. Catch them in L.A. June 11th at the Henry Fonda Theater supported by Tracyann Campbell’s favorite new band, Agent Ribbons, or solo on Saturday, June 13 in Mexico City at El Lunario.

www.myspace.com/cameraobscuraband


Other bands also touring:

Women are playing June 11th in ROUEN.

Asobi Seksu and Cymbals Eat Guitars in BROOKLYN June 13th.

Frightened Rabbit at RockNess in DORES June 13th.

Sunset Rubdown in BROOKLYN June 12th, PHILADELPHIA the 13th and D.C. the 14th.