Casiotone for the Painfully Alone @ The First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA 7/2/09

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone aka a lone Owen Ashworth put on a mesmerizing show at the itty-bitty chapel at Philadelphia's First Unitarian Church. The venue only holds 50 people, no joke. And so we sat, packed in the pews and watched Owen tap away at his keyboards as he made lo-fi musical magic. For those of you unaware, his latest album Vs. Children contains some of the best songs ever written about children having children, emotional and literate lyrics ensue.


Oh and by the way, CFTPA played two back-to-back shows at the chapel. We attended the early one. But guess who attended the late show? None other then SUFJAN STEVENS! (A little bird called Twitter told us so). And to think we missed sitting inches away from that dreamboat by a mere few hours. What have we done to anger the indie rock gods so much??

White Jetta - Casiotone for the Painfully Alone

CFTPA totally conquers the children

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone have one of the most painfully emo band names I've ever heard. However do not let that deter you from checking out their music. Owen Ashworth creates some of the most lyrically devastating music this side of John Darnielle. Using lo-fi keyboards, electronic flourishes and deep, wavering vocals, CFTPA's music is at its most melodic on their latest album Vs. Children, which is sonically intricate and lyrically melancholy. Also many of the songs have to do with the unintended consequences of pregnancy, which is a fascinatingly weird yet oddly listenable concept. Check out my lengthy review at Crawdaddy! where I use my grown-up words to attempt to describe how awesome this album really it.

Natural Light - Casiotone for the Painfully Alone
Traveling Salesman's Young Wife, Home Alone on Christmas in Montpelier, VT - Casiotone for the Painfully Alone

The Emerald City, Pt. I: About Seattle

In honor of Jess' first-ever visit to the left west coast, I offer up some of the choices tracks about the jewel of the pacific. Sadly, some much-needed key songs about Seattle are missing (by Anti-Flag or Jeffrey Lewis, for example), so if any of you have these, feel free to share the love. Songs about Seattle (and her neighbors):

Nirvana - Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle.mp3

Todd Snider - Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues.mp3

Sir Mix-a-Lot - Seattle Ain't Bullshittin.mp3

See You In Seattle.mp3 (Theme to 1964 World's Fair)

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Seattle Wash.mp3

The Hot Toddies - Seattle.mp3

Jakobinarina - Sleeping in Seattle.mp3

Spacels - The New Seattle.mp3

Cop Shoot Cop - Seattle.mp3

Bobby Sherman - Seattle.mp3

Cameo Dance Orchestra - That Tacoma Home Of Mine.mp3

MxPx - Move to Bremerton.mp3

Andrew Bird - Goth Olympians.mp3

Tumwater High School Girls' Choir - Washington My Home.mp3 (State Song of Washington)

Say Hi - Northwest Girls.mp3

Stay tuned tomorrow for Part II: Songs by bands from Seattle!