Tag: Radiohead

Keane, Ingrid Michaelson, and Fran Healy @ Fox Theater (07.20.10)

Posted on by Keane Li


Keane | Ingrid Michaelson | Fran Healy

Yes, that’s still my favorite Keane song. And if you’re thinking I’m not a very good Keane fan for liking their old pop single, you’re right. I’m not. While I own their debut record, “Hopes & Fears,” I’ve never really been a fan of the band, despite the fact that we share the same name and that their popularity hides some of my web content when you search for me on Google (a blessing, really). I’ve always thought of them as talented, but just not my particular cup of tea. So when a friend messaged me with an opportunity to see Keane for free, I chuckled a little (again, we share the same name – the jokes went on WELL into the night) but happily agreed to check them out.

THE EXPECTATION

Going in, I knew little about Fran Healy, the lead singer of Travis, aside from a few quality songs I heard from his band. I fully expected to enjoy Ingrid Michaelson’s set the most, as I find her minimalist style of songwriting endearing. Keane, I suspected I would enjoy, though I was not really sure how much.

THE RESULT

Fran Healy completely won the audience with his solo act. His was an intimate set, filled with stories about playing on tour, “nicking chords” from Noel Gallagher of Oasis (he since slipped in the phrase “What’s a Wonderwall, anyway?” into the alleged Travis song, “Writing to Reach You”), and having his heart broken by girl after girl. He messed up noticeably several times on stage (“Ahhh, fuck!”), only adding to the warmth of his performance.

Surprisingly, I didn’t care for Ingrid’s set at all. I felt she spent a good percentage of her performance playing cover songs (“Creep” is overdone – everyone, stop it now) and being an overall goofball. While I think this works most of the time, going on a seemingly five-minute long rant about her boobs was a bit much. And perhaps if I hadn’t heard Or, the Whale‘s amazing rendition of Britney’s “Toxic,” I may have enjoyed her closing version of it more. Don’t get me wrong. I think she’s an amazing artist. I would have just liked to see more of her art.

I enjoyed Keane very much. While I’m not a fan of listening to their music at home, it translated incredibly well into a live show. The same endless vocals and keys that bore me at home provided a steady stream of energy into the crowd. And the crowd seemed to enjoy it thoroughly, as the band spent more time smiling in thanks between songs while the crowd cheered their mouths and my eardrums off.

There was a point when everyone started chanting, “KEANE, KEANE, KEANE, KEANE.” I may or may not have pretended in my head that they were chanting for me. Just a little bit.

Radiohead – "Everything In Its Right Place"

Posted on by Keane Li


www.radiohead.com
www.myspace.com/radiohead

I incorporated this song in a Yelp review a year ago. It was in response to feeling particularly down and listless, when I was trying to figure out how to find balance in my life. Unemployed and searching for meaning, I’m finding this theme particularly relevant again…

Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco

The naked, descending notes on the opening track of Radiohead’s Kid A fall into a schizophrenic scatter of ambient sounds. I remember first understanding this album in New York when I plugged in at the Museum of Natural History and it transformed my experience into one more visceral. The chaotic repetition is meditative, and it distracts from the endless noise and static in the head.

Everything…

Everything….

Everything…

There’s little better than enjoying a cup of coffee in the Ferry Building. The echo of spoken voices provides just the right amount of audio haze, and the view of the Bay keeps the mind at peace. The food options are also incredible – my favorites being Delica rf-1 and Acme Bakery – where one can grab a bite of quality comfort to enjoy with the scenery.

There are two colours in my head…

There are two colours in my head…

What was that you tried to say?…

I like to believe everything happens for a reason. Maybe it’s delusion, but there’s solace in knowing that, like the song, even random chaos retains some structure, that even the craziest noises can come together in meaningful harmony. Visitors enter from all around the world and are never seen again. It’s serendipity and chance that pulls us together. You prepare yourself as best you can for the world, but if the world isn’t ready, you must remain patiently wanting… and after that, it’s all a matter of luck…

It’s all a matter of timing.

Everything…

Everything…

Everything…

…in its right place.

Songs That Defined My Life

Posted on by Keane Li

These are the songs that defined my life. There are others, of course, but I felt the included were those important enough to share. Click on artist names for info and song names to have a listen for yourself…


Chris Cornell – “When I’m Down” (1999)
No one believed me when I told them the then recently Soundgarden-separated Chris Cornell’s solo album, Euphoria Morning, was an eclectic masterpiece of somber alt-rock. I’m sure they believe me even less after the crap he’s released since then (Audioslave aside).

The Wallflowers – “One Headlight” (1997)
My favorite band from 1997-2004ish. There’s a soulfulness to Hammond-filled, rustic Americana that I think anyone can appreciate.

Jewel – “You Were Meant For Me” (1996)
Sexiest song ever. If love were bottled into a song somehow, it would sound like this and come from Jewel’s mouth. I wasn’t a huge fan of some of the other songs on Pieces of You though. Additionally, I’m not sure one can actually bottle something into a song.


Oasis – “Don’t Look Back In Anger” (1996)
Post-Beatles, co-Radiohead, pre-Muse Brit rock at its best.

Gin Blossoms – “Til I Hear It From You” (1996)
Don’t hate.

Lisa Loeb – “Stay (I Missed You)” (1994)
One of the sweetest songs ever written. I think a whole generation of kids fell in love with Lisa Loeb the day this song was released.

Green Day – “Basket Case” (1994)
I didn’t get it at first…


Weezer – “Buddy Holly” (1994)
Pure 90s nerd rock. Weezer defined a generation with their Blue Album. Sadly, they sort of fizzled away creatively. Still, it’s amazing how their first two albums can still keep us loving them despite the mediocre fare Cuomo and crew have released since.

The Cranberries – “Zombie” (1994)
I actually just heard the MTV Unplugged version today. Click the song title link and listen to it. It’s even better than the original.

Radiohead – “Creep” (1992)
My anthem for about 70% of my high school experience. I had a great time but it was still high school…


Kris Kross – “Jump” (1992)
Okay, this one is kind of a joke. I remember liking it for a short while but not long enough to learn the lyrics. Honestly, I’m not sure why I even bothered. Maybe it’s because citing “Ninja Rap” just felt too wrong. Also, I was, like, 10 or something…

Michael Jackson – “Thriller” (1983)
I would leave the room when the video played on television. And this was BEFORE he was accused of child molestation.

The Carpenters – “Sing” (1973)
For the record, I don’t like the Carpenters. I sang this song at my preschool graduation in the Barbers Point Naval Base.


Gerry & The Pacemakers – “Ferry Cross the Mersey” (1964)
The first pop song I remember really liking…

I was five.

Radiohead – "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)"

Posted on by Keane Li


www.radiohead.com
www.myspace.com/radiohead

What more do you need to know? Download it here (proceeds go to charity) or stream it for free.

From Dead Air Space, the official Radiohead blog:

“i am the only one that got through
the others died where ever they fell
it was an ambush
they came up from all sides
give your leaders each a gun and then let them fight it out themselves
i’ve seen devils coming up from the ground
i’ve seen hell upon this earth
the next will be chemical but they will never learn”

Recently the last remaining UK veteran of the 1st world war Harry Patch died at the age of 111.
I had heard a very emotional interview with him a few years ago on the Today program on Radio4.
The way he talked about war had a profound effect on me.
It became the inspiration for a song that we happened to record a few weeks before his death.
It was done live in an abbey. The strings were arranged by Jonny.
I very much hope the song does justice to his memory as the last survivor.

It would be very easy for our generation to forget the true horror of war, without the likes of Harry to remind us.
I hope we do not forget.

As Harry himself said
“Irrespective of the uniforms we wore, we were all victims”.

This morning the Today program played the song for the first time and now it is available to download from our website.

Please click here to download.

The proceeds of this song will go to the British Legion.

To peace and understanding.

To peace and understanding…