Save the Date: Wednesday, September 2nd @ Spaceland

Wednesday, September 2nd at Spaceland Division Day celebrates the release of their new record which I've not heard, but the consensus seems to be that it is quite good. At any rate, Division Day is always worth your time. Pay $10 now or $25 next year.

LoveLikeFire @ Spaceland 05-19-08

As added incentive, let me mention that San Francisco's LoveLikeFire, a band which I have considerable admiration for, is the first opener.

I last saw LoveLikeFire about fifteen months ago at the Mezzanine Owls residency. I was very impressed, noting: "Usually in your dreampop / shoegaze / psych rock groups there's a dynamic where no particular band member stands-out; everything meshes together into a single wall of sonic wash. But each of the members of LoveLikeFire felt like four very clearly defined pillars of the same shimmery-fog obscured temple."

I still stand by that observation. It is also true of their recorded material where the shoegaze aspects are less apparent, at least compared to the live show. I'd also add that there is some grungy crunch and janglepop found in their sound. But what I really remember about that show is how much it felt like a theatre-sized venue performance. LoveLikeFire was a really well-polished act then, they can only be better now, and if you've felt burned by lackluster performances at Spaceland lately (which seems to be a trend) then this would be a cure for what ails ya.

LoveLikeFire's new album Tear Ourselves Away will be released in the UK on September 14th on Heist or Hit Records. The album is being supported by a week-long West Coast jaunt before a blistering two-week UK tour. Singer Ann Yu talks about each track on the record here.