Debut of Sufjan's ode to the BQE

"Lift Up Your Weary Heads"

Last night thanks to two super sweet friends I was able to attend the world premiere of Sufjan Stevens "The BQE" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The 30 minute orchestral piece on the infamous roadway took Sufjan 9 months to complete and boy was it sweet. BAM's description of last nights event:

The BQE—a 30 minute symphonic and cinematic exploration of New York City’s infamous Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, the 11.7-mile roadway championed by Robert Moses and constructed beginning in the late 1930s.
Merging a virtual road trip (shot in 16mm film and Super 8) with an orchestral ensemble— accompanied by hula hoopers—The BQE uncovers abstract musical patterns in the snaking traffic, stunning city views, potholed pavement, billboards, historic landmarks, and badly marked exits. The evenings will also feature new songs by Stevens and orchestrated selections
from his previous albums.

The evening started with swirling arrangements from Sufjan, band, his orchestra, and a few happy go lucky performance artists in uniforms and goofy blonde wigs tossing and twirling and spinning neon hula hoops. All this was accompanied by hyper-speed video footage of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway fused with the music. Needless to say the crowd was smiling and chatty at intermission and no one could stop talking about the hula hoops (which were on sale in the lobby). While it was indeed exciting to be apart of the world premier of one of my favorite musicians new pieces, the real treat was the second act which saw Sufjan & Co. (including massive orchestra) "playing the hits", including songs from Seven Swans, Illinois, Michigan and last year's one off "Majesty Songbird." In all honesty it was one of the most beautiful hybrids of music, art, light, hula hoops I've ever seen. If you're lucky enough to have a ticket for tonight or tomorrow, hold it close to your heart. You're in for a treat. Take a peak at the digital version of the program, including Sufjan's phenomenal essay on the BQE and Hula Hoops, as well as a clip from one of last weeks rehearsals.

BAM's BQE Program with Sufjan essay

A Rehearsal of Movement 6 from the BQE

Re: I'm Not There Soundtrack

"Your Debutante Just Knows What You Need/But I Know What You Want"


Been waiting for this since the tracklisting was announced a few months back and it was definitely worth the wait. This tuesday October 30th, aka Mischief Night, the re-dick-u-lus I'm Not There soundtrack will be available for purchase from the fine folks at Sony. On MySpace (HERE) they're streaming Sufjan Steven's "Ring Them Bells", Jim James & Calexico's "Going to Acapulco" (highly rec'd), Cat Power's "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again" and Jeff Tweedy's majestic "Simple Twist of Fate." No doubt this soundtrack is probably going to be one of the best compilations released this year. Below are a few more reasons, Eddie Vedder's bad ass foot stomping "All Along The Watchtower" and Stephen Malkmus' rendition of "Ballad of a Thin Man." This tuesday kids, this tuesday.

nu musick: St Vincent

"Paris is Burning After All"

I have been anxiously awaiting the full length debut from Dallas' St. Vincent (government name Annie Clark) since Gorilla vs Bear posted her phenomenal cover of "These Days" last fall. Marry Me dropped today and is a platform for St. Vincent's talent as a multi-instrumentalist. Stirring compositions like "All the Stars Aligned", "Paris is Burning" and "Jesus Saves, I Spend" showcase her outerworldly fret work, soaring string arrangements, cryptic yet contemplative lyrics and her sweet soaring vocals. She's only 23 and has already been a member of the Polyphonic Spree, Sufjan Stevens touring band as well as opened for the Arcade Fire's.

If the dreamy piano flourishes, haunting harmonies and delicate poetics of "All the Stars Aligned" don't give you the middle school butterflies, then the melancholic cabaret act of "Paris is Burning" will convert you. The Gorilla vs Bear crew know Annie's onto big things. I agree. Big, big things. Her website is www.ilovestvincent.com. It's an appropriate domain name.

St. Vincent- All the Stars Alligned
St. Vincent- Paris is Burning