Fresh Bread

Miracle Fortress - Mercury Lounge 03.21.08

Last week in Austin it was Graham Van Pelt's other band that made my SXSW.  Friday night at the Mercury Lounge, his Polaris Prize nominated Miracle Fortress made my...Friday.  But that's saying a lot as this particular Friday was fantastic (for no particular reason).  I have been waiting very patiently to see MF - ever since the old CMJ 07 border scandal.  The wait was worth it though as my expectations of greatness were met.  They were on the bill with opener Liam Finn (only caught the last song) and headliner The Most Serene Republic...who you already know I like.

The setlist was songs from the great Five Roses.  I think "Maybe Lately" would be a song in my desert island top 10...its that good.  They also played a new track though I didn't catch the title.

I'll Blame You For No Sleep This Next Week, CMJ...the Miracle Fortess Edition

I  am really looking forward to next week's CMJ Music Festival.  Lots of "the next big thing" bands converge on the city for five days of live sets, long nights, and hopefully exposure and growth.  While I have yet to finalize my show-going schedule, I have decided on a few I can't miss.  One of them is Miracle Fortress. 

My previous post got me thinking about roses, which of course is part of the name of Miracle Fortress' debut LP (Five Roses).  Definitely under the radar here in the US but back home in their native Canada (Montreal to be exact) they are almost a house hold name....almost.  What exactly do they sound like?  Well according to their myspace:

Miracle Fortress is Graham Van Pelt's main recording project, based in Montreal.  It's inspired heavily by (and occasionally pays homage to) weirder Nilsson, Phil Spector and Beach Boys stuff, but draws mainly from straight-up studio accidents/surprises, FX mush, ambient drones, drum programming, post-rock, classic rock etc.

What I hear is invitingly sweet indie pop.  Van Pelt can write some catchy, hooky tunes that just seem to scream "play me again!"  For me, no moreso than  the track "Maybe Lately."  Peep it below as well as the title track from MF's first full length album.

"Maybe Lately".mp3

"Five Roses".mp3

Van Pelt Has another band, Think About Life, that is just as sweet.

I will be in the house Tuesday night when Miracle Fortress makes their first US appearance during Brooklyn Vegan Presents at the Bowery Ballroom.  Pretty fantastic bill including Dean & Britta, The Rosebuds, and headliners Voxtrot.  What a way to kick off CMJ!  Cheers to no sleep this week ^_^

Pop Tarts Suck Toasted has a pretty good guide to CMJ 2007.