Xiu Xiu & Michael Gira Cover Queen & Bowie
You have to love Xiu Xiu. You don't have to, but you should. (Who else in indie rock has press photos that include Peter Sotos and Céline, right?) We've been digging Women As Lovers, as we've previously mentioned. Twice. There are a bunch of great moments, but we do have a favorite: Amid all the chaos and noise-pop hooks when the low-bit marching, sirens, and nursery-rhyming ominousness of "Guantanamo Canto" shifts into their uproarious cover of "Under Pressure," we always get a moment of true heartfelt glee. That Jamie sings it with Caralee and Michael Gira -- icing on the already iced cake. Gira's one of those other people you have to love. Or, again, at least you should. "'Cause love's such an old-fashioned word..."
Oh, that crazy saxophone. Oh, Caralee's crystalline voice. Jamie and M. harmonizing? Fuck yes. Such a good song and such a great version. Maybe Xiu Xiu can do this one next. Bring some good books on tour. We recommend Savage Detectives and Vollmann's new one, Riding Toward Everywhere, for what it's worth.
03/07 - Portland, OR @ Someday Lounge *
03/08 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey *
03/10 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge *
03/11 - Denver, CO @ Hi Dive *
03/13 - Ames, IA @ Maintenance Shop *
03/14 - Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club *
03/15 - Chicago, IL @ Reggies *
03/16 - Mount Pleasant, MI @ Rubble's Bar *
03/17 - Toronto, ON @ Sneaky Dee's *
03/18 - Ottawa, ON @ Babylon Nightclub *
03/19 - Montreal, PC @ La Sala Rossa *
03/20 - Bennington, VT @ Bennington College *
03/21 - Boston, MA @ Museum of Fine Arts *
03/22 - Annandale, NY @ Smog, Bard college *
03/23 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg *
03/24 - Purchase, NY @ Student Center *
03/25 - Bronx, NY @ Fordham University *
03/26 - Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church *
03/27 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat *
03/28 - Columbus, OH @ Skully's Music Diner *
03/29 - Newport, KY @ Southgate House *
03/31 - St Louis, MO @ Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center *
04/01 - Springfield, MO @ Randy Bacon Gallery *
04/02 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Conservatory *
04/03 - Ft Worth, TX @ Lola's *
04/04 - Houston, TX @ Orange Show Center for VIsionary Art *
04/05 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk *
04/07 - Santa Fe, NM @ College of Santa Fe Sub *
04/08 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room *
04/09 - Las Vegas, NV @ Beauty Bar
04/11 - Los Angeles, CA @ Echo *
04/12 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill *
05/01 - Krems @ Donaufestival
05/02 - Berlin @ Magnet Club
05/03 - Arhus @ Pop Revo Festival
05/05 - Hamburg @ Molotow
05/07 - Amsterdam @ Paradiso
05/08 - Brussels @ Les Nuits de Botanique Festival
05/09 - Nancy @ L'Autre Canal
05/10 - Paris @ Point Ephemere
05/12 - Düdingen @ Bad Bonn
05/14 - Rome @ Circolo Degli Artisti
05/15 - Milan @ Magnolia
05/16 - Florence @ Viper
05/17 - Turin @ Spazio211
05/19 - London @ ULU
05/20 - Manchester @ Roadhouse
05/21 - Glasgow @ Nice N Sleazy
05/22 - Dublin @ Whelans
05/23 - Barcelona @ Apolo
05/24 - Madrid @ Neu!
* w/ Thao and the Get Down Stay Down
Posted at 11:44 AM in Tour Dates
Tags: Angels Of Light | Michael Gira | Xiu Xiu
Okay, I really wanted to like this because I freaking LOVE the original. And parts of it were nice, the sax and Caralee's bits. But OH GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME, did I ever HATE the part of the song that is usually my favourite, the beautiful "Turned away from it all like a blind man..." Bowie section. AH! Who is it that's singing there ? :(
Posted by: Suzie at March 6, 2008 2:05 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I cannot get enough of this cover, I could listen to it for a year
The only cover I love more than this one right now is Tom Waits's cover of "Somewhere" from West Side Story, I listen to it and I laugh for an hour
Posted by: sketch at March 6, 2008 2:34 PM | ReplyScore = 0
yes, this cover gets far too much play in my car as of late. the caralee is the best spot, climaxing into "people on the streets!"
Posted by: MinorRockStar at March 6, 2008 3:37 PM | ReplyScore = 0
To be honest I was a little disappointed by Women as Lovers. There are just a few tracks I'm not so big on, but some tracks are amazing! Like this one. I'm seeing Xiu Xiu tonight, I couldn't be more excited. What an amazing live band.
Posted by: Morgan at March 8, 2008 1:17 PM | ReplyScore = 0