Outta Luck(smiths)

Nooooo The Lucksmiths broke up! This deeply sadens me you guys. I'm well aware the split was amicable, but who cares. This was a band I truly loved that never got the appreciation they deserved over their 16 year long career. They were waaaaay more then an Australian version of Belle & Sebastian.

Their melodies were peppy, their lyrics were melancholy, their accents were hot. Not to mention, the lead singer Tali White was also the drummer. Considering I can barely walk and chew gum at the same time, I can't fathom how any one individual could be as coordinated as to keep time AND melody.

According to the band's label Matinee Recordings, Tali is pursuing a career as a primary teacher(!). Man, those kids are in for a treat, especially come sing along time.

Here are a few of my favorites songs by the band. Enjoy these gems.

A Hiccup in Your Happiness
Guess How Much I Love You?
Adolescent Song of Mindless Devotion
T-Shirt Weather
The Art of Cooking For Two

"And we drank to absent votes, at the chance that you were right"

If you live in one of 24 US states holding primaries today we hope you made it to the polls (even if you were just writing in rock stars).

And now a song by a distinctively Australian band. It's called "To Absent Votes". And here are some choice lyrics:

They're packing up the polling booths
And pulling down the posters
As the sun sets on the primary school
And the streetlights flicker on
Across the town your mother left behind
At a bittersweet sixteen
You’re trying to convince me
That the government is gone

And you’re not one for anecdotes
But remember our delight
As we drank to absent votes
At the chance that you were right

Enjoy!

The Lucksmiths - To Absent Votes.mp3

The Lucksmiths @ The Knitting Factory, NYC 9/28/07

Last Friday at New York's cozy Knitting Factory, Australian indie-pop outfit The Lucksmiths put on one of the most charming shows I've seen in ages. If you're unfamiliar with the trio (who actually performed live as a four-piece), you should really rectify that and get to know some of the most witty and heartfelt acoustic/semi-orchestral pop songs of the 00s. Additionally lead singer Tali White happens to be the drummer. His agility and sense of rhythm were mighty impressive.

My biggest gripe of the night had nothing to do with the music, or even the crowd - just two specific audience members- two specifically tall audience members with excessively massive hipster-fros. Now I'm sure they're very nice people, it's just that when you and your friends barely crack the five foot mark, it's easy to get fed up with those who arrive at the venue just minutes before you do, but happen to be less, um, vertically challenged.

Be sure to check out the recently released Spring A Leak, a two disc collection of b-sides, covers and rarities.

A Hiccup in Your Happiness - The Lucksmiths (Off 2005s Warmer Corners)