Robbing the end of the alphabet

YellowFever was at Emo’s Friday night, and received an impressively enthusiastic reception from an audience largely there for another homegrown band, Voxtrot. Even with guitarist/backup vocalist Isobel Martin missing for a good portion of the set, remaining band members Jennifer Moore and Adam Jones had an experimental, chill sound that was too cool for school. This group switches instruments at the drop of a hat, and while that can sometimes feel contrived, it works well for their sound: minimalist, twee, lo-fi 60’s-tinged pop. Moore has a melancholy, sweetly appealing voice, and when Martin chimes in, they seamlessly blend into harmony.

They'll be playing locally this month with some pretty impressive acts, including Health, Belaire, and The Black and White Years. Catch them live before they take off on a summer tour of the west coast, and for a sample of their quirky charm, listen to Alice.

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Xiu Xiu does not create music you can easily ignore: love or hate, you will have an opinion. They are avant-garde, experimental, with every track like a sometimes-great, sometimes-insane recording session that the band was just enjoying too much to end.

Singer Jamie Stewart’s voice is shaky, unstable, on the verge of complete breakdown. With spoken, sung, screamed, and whispered lyrics – sometimes all within the same song - screeching sound effects, and crashing, discordant piano, Xiu Xiu is never what you expect, and does not often go where you think. Yet they have an appeal, if only to see where they’ll lead you next. But a word of warning: don't listen before going to sleep; they may give you nightmares. Try them out with I Luv the Valley OH!, and if you can manage it, catch them at the Mohawk this Saturday.