The Indie Anthology 30: essential songs

I've been meaning to go back posting on the Indie Anthology series for ages, but September and October are being very stressful and frustrating months. Anyway, I guess I needed a reason to be cheerful & a little push to recover the "section", and today I found one, in the form of a gentle gesture from a wonderful friend.... who happens to be and indiepop wizard (yeah, this is going to get a bit emotional, too). Ladies and gentlemen, there's an indiepop classic below, so prepare you ears...

Song: Good Fight Fighting
Artist: The Very Most
Year: 2008

Is this my favourite tune from The Very Most? The most representative from their best release imo? The first one I heard perhaps? Or the most cheerful song of their immaculate career? The answer to all these questions is no. But "Good Fight Fighting" has a special meaning for me since summer. Hear how the mind blowing chorus flows into the second verse as if they were born together. How a toy piano can make your hair bristle. Or how voices can intertwine and become a shining harmony. Hear. Listen. Enjoy. The music of The Very Most stops time. But aside from being another perfect pop tune coming from Jeremy Jensen's mastermind, "Good Fight Fighting" to me also means a privileged moment. An instant of unexpected intimacy shared only with me and my girlfriend while TVM was rehearsing at Jeremy's home, and they came with a stunning rendition of this tune. One that made everyone on the room say: that was a good one, wasn't it? But it wasn't just that. It was a incredibly brilliant interpretation of a fantastic song from someone I'm so honoured, proud and lucky to call my friend. What an special moment.

Plus, the video is as charming as the song.

A Weekend with The Very Most (part II)

As promised, here's the next chapter of our recount of the days spent in Boise, Idaho, visiting our friend and indiepop genius Jeremy Jensen, aka The Very Most. We ended part I of this special double post with the rehearsal at Jeremy's house. After it was over, we quickly moved to downtown Boise to carry the equipment to the gig's venue. My first experience as a roadie was quite curious, learning two lessons: 1) Backstages are not very glamorous (at least the indiepop ones); 2) The loneliness of the self-made man artist is blatantly evident (only indiepop artists?). Still, after a quick dinner and a very awkward act prior to TVM (the night's line-up had four bands/artists scheduled), and some tension because a couple of band members didn't show up until the very last minute, it was finally time for Jeremy and Co. to pack the stage (I mean it, six-seven musicians on such a tiny place). Aww! I've been waiting so long to write this!

The Very Most. The Crux, Boise, August 24th 

TVM's on stage. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Yes, I know that Jeremy wasn't very happy about the gig, frustrated by how they sounded and some coordination issues. And yes, I'm the first to agree that seven tunes aren't enough to have even a little hint of such a wonderful career represented live. Not with the amount of songs "our man" can offer. At all. But how can one aspire to be really objective when a gig starts being publicly dedicated to you and your girlfriend?  

Man on duty. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

No let's get back to the "serious stuff" here. What can you say if the opening trio of tunes are "Today It Is Even Better", "We Don't Have Any Cuts to Waste" and "Good Fight Fighting"? Blink and you missed it. Hard to find a better start, with "Cuts to Waste" in particular revealing itself as a tremendous song live with this fierce and upfront version. While it might be truth the pace was speed-up a bit during the whole set, I don't think that until the final number, the joyful "Congrizzle 4evzz", presented by Jeremy as "their danceable hit", that meant a sounding issue.   

Two more rescues from the unmissable "A Year With The Very Most" (one of these records that should be in every indiepop collector shelf), "The Motor-Vu Lights" and "When Summer Finally Dies" where followed by another favourite, "Changed Me", from the magnificent "Ununiversalizable Us" EP, allowing the female-male voices shine live, before the rousing finale with "Congrizzle 4evzz". Too short, sure (not even 40 minutes), but as intense and lovable as expected. Which made the last band of the night pale by comparison. Hearing them after TVM didn't make sense to any of us (think on The Fray meeting The Lumineers, or on every chapter's "Grey's Anatomy" epic song and you'll understand why we ran from the place). Another day was expecting us. 

Bloodbuzzed & TVM in McCall.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Sunday was reserved to visit the touristic and picturesque town of McCall, a two hour drive from Boise, which allowed us to "fill" the trip with endless talks about politics and oh surprise!, music. If you allow me to make a quick digression on the first issue, one of the worst things we, citizens (doesn't mind if you are from Spain or the United States) have done, is to forget WHY do we want/need politicians for, what are the reasons of giving them the power to take decisions for us. It's so gratifying to see Jeremy is an exception: he does remember perfectly. Anyway, between giant ice-creams, a soundtrack composed of Luna, McCarthy, The Go-Betweens, Aztec Camera or The Soft City among others, pleasant views of the Payette Lake even despite the smoky day (caused by the terrible fires devastating Yosemite National Park) and the unbeatable company, the journey was just lovely. Back home, and after discovering I have been missing Arrested Development for many years (something that must be solved as soon as I get back to Barcelona) it was time to close the day and, after saying 'til soon, early next morning (Jeremy back to work, us ready for several hours on the road again, towards Salt Lake City), also put the end of a great weekend, that I do hope is only an unforgettable chapter of a friendship that will provide many more stories to tell.

I do have one final question, though. Does anybody know why everywhere Jeremy goes The Beach Boys' music start playing?

A Weekend with The Very Most (part I)

It took me a little while, but here it is: the first part of the summary of an unforgettable weekend in Boise, three days with The Very Most! First I thought on focusing just on Saturday's gig, but then I changed my mind. Trying to bring you the most complete picture of these days is way more fun (its the first time I'm doing this sort of travel journalism so be kind with the writer)!

Introducing Boise's finest (views & musician)
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

We arrived to Boise on Friday afternoon, after a long drive through Oregon along Interstate 84 (don't miss the views of the Columbia river if you are able, mesmerizing) just in time (time zone mistake included) to finally meet Jeremy Jensen and his wonderful family and go dinner together. Took us just a matter of seconds to realise TVM's music and the person behind it are inseparable. As his tunes, Jeremy is shy & subtle, unpretentious and natural, warm, inviting, sweet and friendly. Talks about the differences between the States and Spain, the current politic situation and of course, music and more music began. Back home and after watching a pretty curious movie, "Jeff Who Lives at Home", the exciting first day was over. And the best was yet to come...

Nostalgic Jeremy strikes gold!.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Saturday morning was devoted to visit Boise's downtown, bursting with activity as they were celebrating their weekly street market, and of course, couldn't be any other way, "hunt" for some music. Heart's "Dog and Butterfly" (I know I know, but he said it was just for sentimental reasons, so we can forgive him) and Real Estate's masterpiece "Days" were the findings of the day. Call it coincidence if you like or the little homage of the record store, but why once Jeremy stood in The Beach Boys's songs started playing on the speakers? After a very funny family lunch that included purple fries (I'm not mad), Sarah Palin's dolls (I repeat, I'm not crazy) and candies that makes you speak with Irish accent or erase your memory if you don't want to remember (swear you can buy this) everything was ready for the final rehearsal, at Jeremy's living-room, prior to the night's gig.    

TVM's home rehearsal.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed 

Yeah, for a fan, a rehearsal or soundcheck can be very special. It has a sense of discovery, maybe because of the intimacy of the situation, being part of what's supposed to be a private moment. Maybe because of the feeling that songs can be deconstructed and re-built several times, that can sound very different each time the band plays. Like a mystery being revealed just in front of you, and it this case revealed exclusively to me. Can you imagine? The first time I hear such a fantastic song as "Good Fight Fighting" live is on Jeremy's house, after several takes and a couple of serious issues (oh the drums, the drums) that could have been dramatic without more time before the gig. And just when you don't expect it, here it comes, an incredibly perfect, shiny, mind-blowing rendition of the tune, heard just by the five musicians rehearsing and you (and Carla). Same goes to "When Summer Finally Dies". Or "We Don't Have Any Cuts to Waste". A privilege.

In part II... the gig, of course, and more!

Going to Meet the Man

Tomorrow begins a very special weekend ahead. Bloodbuzzed will meet the mastermind who created this masterpiece...

The guy who penned this deliciously wonderful tune... The amazing musician behind this gem... And many many others...

We are going to the spend the weekend with Jeremy Jensen, Bloodbuzzed meets The Very Most's man! Boise here we come!