Tag: Architecture in Helsinki
Set Yr Sights: 20 Bands Named After Places
by Dion on Oct.26, 2009, under Uncategorized
Here, for no apparent reason, is a collection of bands named after places.
Architecture in Helsinki
I never knew the city was renowned for its flair for buildings. I guess it’s catchier than Architecture in Slough.
Beirut
A New Mexican who named his group after a Lebanese city and plays eastern European, French and Mexican-influenced folk. Somebody has identity issues.
Arctic Monkeys
You see, the clever juxtaposition between the location (Arctic) and the beast in question (monkey) illustrates man’s struggle between different elements of nature and…oh forget it. It’s a rubbish name, even if they’re one of the most popular bands in Britain.
At the Drive-In
I applaud these guys’ specificity. Most bands on this list are vague in stating exactly where they are located. These guys are the locational band-name equivalent of Google Street View.
Balkan Beat Box
Believe it or not, they play Balkan music.
Bruce Peninsula
Bruce Peninsula (the location, not the band) is located somewhere on the ‘Niagara Escarpment’, whatever an escarpment is (and let’s face it – nobody cares).
Calexico
The band is named after a border town between CALifornia and MexICO. Oh, those clever Calexicans and their portmanteaus!
The Rural Alberta Advantage
Much better than their arch nemeses, the Urban Ontario Inconvenience.
Whiskeytown
Unfortunately for the alcoholics in the crowd, I’m not convinced this is an actual town.
Iran
This is TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone’s side band. To be perfectly honest, they’re a slightly less effective version of TV on the Radio, kind of like how Iran’s elections were a slightly less effective version of, you know, legitimate elections.
Glasvegas
What a shit name for a band.
Japandroids
See above. And don’t get me started on Japancakes.
The United Steel Workers of Montreal
Not actual steel workers.
The Mars Volta
Not actually from Mars.
The Dresden Dolls
I’m not quite sure why, but I think this band’s name perfectly fits their sound.
Phoenix
Given the fact that they’re French, this band is more likely named after the mythical bird than the geriatric Arizona city, but I’ll take any excuse to post a track from one of my favourite CDs from this year.
Songs: Ohia
Okay, it’s not QUITE a place name, but close enough, and also an excuse to post a band that I’ve been listening to a lot lately. After Songs: Ohia, Jason Molina formed Magnolia Electric Co. (taken from the name of a Songs: Ohia CD), who released the excellent Josephine earlier this year. Molina also has a record coming out on 3 November with Centro-Matic’s Will Johnson.
Mission of Burma
No longer technically a place, but they are, after 30 years, still a band. Plus, Mission of Myanmar wasn’t quite as cool sounding.
Mull Historical Society
The band was named after, well, the Historical Society on the Scottish island of Mull. I liked these guys quite a bit, but they never really caught fire with their quirky pop rock. Lead man Colin MacIntyre now records under his own name.
Warsaw Village Band
They’re from Warsaw, and they play a great blend of traditional Polish sounds melded with modern electronic and rock elements. These guys deserve a place alongside more famous cultural mash-ups like Gogol Bordello, Beirut and Devotchka.
New Music News
Them Crooked Vultures, the supergroup consisting of Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl (back on drums), Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme (guitar and vocals) and Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones (bass), is releasing their debut, self-titled album on 16 November. From the snippets I’ve heard, the album’s going to be as heavy as you’d expect from these three instrumental gorillas. See you next week!
Architecture in Helsinki - Heart It Races
Arctic Monkeys - Bigger Boys & Stolen Sweethearts
At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor
Balkan Beat Box - Bulgarian Chicks
Calexico - Quattro (World Drifts In)
The Rural Alberta Advantage - Don’t Haunt This Place
Whiskeytown - Too Drunk to Dream
Japandroids - Young Hearts Spark Fire
United Steel Workers of Montreal - For Love & Your Mother’s Sake
The Mars Volta - Inertiatic ESP
The Dresden Dolls - Girl Anachronism
Songs: Ohia - Almost was Good Enough
Mission of Burma - That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate
