Concert in your area for Indie & Alt, Pop, Rock, Folk & Blues, and Funk & Soul.
Born in Seattle, Washinton on 4 November 1975, Karou Ishibashi studied classical music, later going on to become a renowned violinist. He went on to become an international touring member for Regina Spektor, Sondre Lerche, and Of Montreal. On top of his work as a violinist, he is also a singer and founding member of Jupiter One, a New York based synth pop band formed in 2003. Jupiter One released their self-titled debut album in 2007, followed two years later by their sophomore album, “Sunshower.”
Kishi Bashi also started to record and perform as a solo artist starting in 2011. He started his solo career as the opening act for such artists as Alexi Murdoch, Sondre Lerche and Of Montreal. He released his first studio solo album entitled “151a” in 2012 through Joyful Noise Recordings. The album brought him some acclaim, including being named as favorite new artist of 2012 by Bob Boilen, the host of NPR’s All Songs Considered. Additionally, some of his songs off the album were featured in television advertisements. Kishi Bashi has also toured extensively, playing festivals such as SXSW in Austin, Texas and Austin City Limits, and in Spring 2013 spent time touring around Europe and the United Kingdom.
Front man and leading creative force, Michael Deni formed Geographer in 2007. Initially the project acted as a medium through which Deni channeled his emotions relating to the inter-turmoil eroding his family; however, once he moved from New Jersey to San Francisco it started to take on a new and more intricate form. While in San Francisco Deni befriended two former students of the Berklee College of Music, Nathan Blaz and Brian Ostreicher. The two aspiring musicians met Deni at one of his open mic shows, and not long after joined Geographer.
The band independently released their debut album “Innocent Ghosts” on 17 August 2008 and started a regional tour in support of it. Though the album did not tap into the mainstream it received high praise from various renowned publications such as Spin who cited Geographer as “one of the three bands you need to hear now”. The group’s profile was also boosted as a result of one of their songs “The Morning” being featured in the film “New York, I Love You”.
In 2009 the group entered in a recording contract with the label Tricycle Records and by the year’s end released the 7” single, which featured an original “Kite” and a cover of New Order’s “Age of Consent”. The following year Geographer issued their six song EP “Animal Shapes” to critical acclaim, particularly earning recognition from SF Weekly. At this point their music was being heavily circulated through various add campaigns and media outlets, obtaining featured spots in the MTV series “Awkward” and “The Buried Life”.
By the time Geographer released their next studio album “Myth”, they had switched from Tricycle Records to the New York label Modern Art Records. The album’s lead single “Life of Crime” was mixed by Chris Zane (who has in the past handled works by tUnE-yArDs, Passion Pit, and Deerhoof).
After the release of “Myth” the group went on a five week tour with Miniature Tigers. In addition to their extensive touring they have played various festivals such as SXSW, Treasure Island Music Festival, and Fun Fun Fun Fest, alongside artists like Atlas Sound, Stars, Toro y Moi, and Tokyo Police Club. The band has also provided several well received covers such as Kate Bush’s “Cloudbusting” and Arthur Russell’s “This Is How We Walk On The Moon”.
Rarely have I encountered an individual and performance so charming. Travelling Australia without his band, Kishi Bashi is doing a very impressive solo show. Being very familiar with both of his albums, I was curious to see exactly how we was going to pull it off. Both albums are riddled with complexity and layered sound, it was difficult to imagine how this was going to work. The answer, it turns out, is to have two loop pedals and be surprisingly adept at beat boxing. So hear we have this waistcoat wearing fellow, with wild hair and a big grin, working his violin adeptly, displaying an incredible vocal range in between, and laying down the bout of beat-boxing, all while stepping on and off the loop pedals - and to incredible effect. The venue was tiny, which turned out to be perfect. The closeness and intimacy meant that you could see everything that happened, particularly if you were fortunate enough to end up on stage. When Kishi Bashi realised there were a good number of short people in a tall crowd, he cheerfully invited as many people as would fit to join him on the podium. Hugely interactive with the audience, and utterly charming. He talked over his rare looping fumbles with aplomb, was incredibly conversational, involved the audience in producing beats for the music, he even handed out candy. At the end of the show after disappearing for a little while, he even popped out to mingle with the people who stuck around. Highlights of the night were Q&A, Wonderwoman Wonder Me, Atticus In the Desert, Bittersweet Genesis for Him & Her, and of course the closer - Manchester. It was perfect. Thank you Kishi Bashi.
Geographer deserves to play the big venues, but I hope they stay in the ones as intimate as 7th Street Entry at First avenue in Minneapolis. My heart would break if I had to be 50 yards further away from them. They include the audience; they get right up next to you and their music absorbs you. Michael (vocals) soothes you with his satin voice and wows you with the layers upon layers each song brings. Nathan (on his electric cello) brings such depth with every movement, adding even more life to the room. The drum beat is engulfing and you have no choice but to move with it and get lost in their self-described "soulful music from outer space" which rocks you out 'til you don't think you will ever want to stop.