In Yr. Head...The Acorn

Those who have the honor (or curse....more likely curse) to hear my rants on a somewhat daily basis know that I can be prone to hyperbole when I describe things I like. I know this and they know this so it works. They just block out about half the adjectives I dispense and everything is alright. With this in mind, one would be hesitant to take my word when I say what I am going to say about The Acorn but honestly, I swear, I'm not exaggerating. Not much at least.

This story starts in September of 2007. Heady times full of mirth and innocence. Ahh, glory days. I had heard a few good things about on this internet thing about this band called Vampire Weekend so I made a note to check them out live. Conveniently they were playing a free show Vassar College (5 minutes from my apartment) three days from when I made a note to check them out. Really, it doesn't get much more convenient than that. So I went with not much in terms of expectations, having only heard a couple songs.....and was promptly blown away. I remarked to my friend at the show that this band, Vampire Weekend, would soon be playing on a much later stage. Much much larger. Well, here we are about 10 months, a Spin cover, and a SNL appearance later and I think it's fair to say that my prediction was pretty much on target (admittedly it was pretty obvious).

The first time I saw The Acorn was under similar circumstances. I'd heard a couple songs and really liked one. I'd heard some good rumblings on the internet about them. So I checked them out after work in May at the Mercury Lounge. I had low expectations. I was blown away. Once again I found myself telling a friend that this is a band that you're going to see playing much larger stages and soon.

Not that The Acorn is Vampire Weekend. They are obviously not. They don't have the same commercial appeal nor the same ability to write a great 3 minute pop song. No, on record they remind me more of early (EP) Arcade Fire, or maybe Arcade Fire with Vampire Weekend's sense of rhythm (technically wouldn't that be Paul Simon's sense of rhythm?). They play folk music with a world beat and that aspires to be grand and great without trying to be epic. Unlike so many other bands, The Acorn are not self-consciously hip. Maybe it's a Canadian thing?

Did I mention they're are from Ottawa? Not quite Montreal but you can see a similarity with many of those bands. They certainly are an interesting band to watch. The lead singer is half Honduran half Swiss. Their lead guitarist is asian. They have two drummers. Their latest album is a concept album about the lead singer/songwriter's mother. Not exactly your typical indie rock band (though the concept album about your mother sounds sort of like a Jeff Mangum/Fiery Furnaces collaboration...).

The record is good. Not great. Good. Interesting at times. Sort of boring at other. But live, they are fantastic. Live, these folk songs take on a grandeur and scale that brought to mind (and I hate to say this since I'm not really a fan of this band) U2. Yes, I just said it. The Acorn are the new U2. Lets hope Rolf is less insufferable than Bono.

Check this band out live and tell me if you agree.

Here is the band at City Sol on June 28th: Crooked Legs

Here are some links to some other videos I shot of the band in early May at the Mercury Lounge: Low Gravity, Crooked Legs, Flood