Pygmalion Preview: The Breeders, TBD, Common Loon
The Breeders are coming to town as part of their reunion tour. Try not to faint and then run over to the Canopy Club on Friday, September 27 for the show
A psychedelic pop duo straight from our very own Champaign Illinois, Common Loon has burst onto the scene with their dreamy, lush harmonies and smooth, building guitar melodies. Longtime friends Matthew Campbell and Robert Hirschfield dropped their debut album, “The Long Dream of Birds,” a few years ago, and it has been met with a lot of praise in the local community. The music is hypnotic in its sentimental quality, deep cynicism buried beneath the slow, poppy surface.
Foxygen was set to play right before The Breeders but, to keep with the tradition started by Sleigh Bells, had to cancel their performance due to an injury. The festival organizers are promising to do their best to get a good replacement. With such short notice it'll be a bit of a daunting task for them, but if there's anyone we can trust to put together a great show it's definitely Seth Fein and his trusty Pygmalion crew.
Once the bassist of the Pixies, Kim Deal met Tanya Donnelley of Throwing Muses while on a joint tour in 1990. Initially an art project between the two, they formed The Breeders while biding time between albums. With no plans for the immediate future, the duo completed their debut album, Pod, with Pixies producer Steve Albini and a bare bones budget of $11,000. Nevertheless, the album was received with universal acclaim, Kurt Cobain calling it one of the most influential albums of his life. Last Splash was their third and most popular effort. With the addition of Kim’s twin sister, Keeley, the group oozed with anguish and irresistible charisma. Experimental, full of sharp melodies and rough, Last Splash brought the group to the forefront of grunge. With its contrast of crushing guitar riffs, sweet voices and twisted lyrics, the album remains a staple in the formation of alt-rock. The Breeders are now on a worldwide tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the album’s release, playing it in it’s entirety. Champaign marks one of their last stops.