by Carrie Brownstein

Ladyhawk, Minus Rutger Hauer

Though entirely coincidental, on the same day I published a post about eagerly anticipating new music to come along and light a fire under 2008, I received a package from Jagjaguwar. As already mentioned on these pages, I am looking forward to the label's January 22nd Black Mountain release, In The Future. If you haven't already listened to the MP3 of "Tyrants", you should check it out.

Yet this entry isn't about Black Mountain, it is about Ladyhawk (and, no, I'm not talking about the Matthew Broderick/Michelle Pfeiffer movie, because if I was it would be spelled Ladyhawke).

Ladyhawk are four guys from Kelowna, British Columbia. Their second album, which will be out in March, is called Shots. Let's get some comparisons out of the way: Neil Young, Screaming Trees, and on the quieter moments, maybe even Bill Callahan.

Heavy and melodious, moss covered, twig snapping, tree felling--the Ladyhawk tunes are glimmering droplets in dark woods.

I'll put up a new MP3 when I can, but for now, head to their MySpace page or to the band's beautiful website to check out older songs.

Jagjaguwar has been the label to watch for a few years now, and Ladyhawk is the band that might have me traveling across Canada .

Lastly, if you live in Portland, or nearby, check out the Reel Music Festival, which starts tonight and goes through February 3rd.

Have a good weekend.

1:34 PM ET | 01-11-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

That Ladyhawk has a little "Sugar" vibe to me as well. Dig it!

Sent by MJL | 6:28 PM ET | 01-11-2008

I graduated from Kelowna. Thank you so much for mentioning this city, I'm so used to being from a city that doesn't exist to anyone outside of the province.

And everybody should come to Canada. I swear we have music not made by Nickleback, Celine Dion, or Avril Lavigne.

xo
Kirie

Sent by Kirie | 6:31 PM ET | 01-11-2008

canada's been up on the Ladyhawk for years! so good. Shots is my most anticipated of the new year. be sure to see them live...as many times as possible.
(also: i am not in Ladyhawk, i just really like them)

Sent by pjlavergne | 6:48 PM ET | 01-11-2008

I??ve seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion, I watched C-Beams glitter in the dark near . . . all . . . the Tannh??user Gate. All those . . . moments . . . will be lost in time, Like tears in the rain . . . Time to die.

sorry I was watching blade runner recently and you mentioned Rutger Hauser, had to drop the famous last words.

I would like it if design of the current time period went back to Art Deco as predicted in the sci-fi classic.

Sent by Devin(shire) | 9:05 PM ET | 01-11-2008

Excellent! I've been waiting for Ladyhawk to get their proper respect. Their first record is terrific - the song "Teenage Love Song" is the Canadian "Thirteen." Lyrics - "Meet me outside the skating rink. Your mom is a b**** I don't care what she thinks of me. If you can't come I'll get fucked up by myself." There are 5 great songs on that record.

Sent by matt | 10:36 PM ET | 01-11-2008

I'm sold on "My Old Jacknife" alone. If it's possible to have a favorite record label, mine is Jagjaguwar. Everything they release is solid. Okkervil River and Sunset Rubdown live in my car.

Sent by Nick L. | 1:52 PM ET | 01-12-2008

I just wanted to share with you guys about an interview with Oliver Jones talking about Oscar Peterson and the upcoming tribute. You can watch the full interview and hear them play at the Movies News Feed ??? you will find the video box on the right hand column. It is a 6:30 minutes interview I think you will enjoy and should not miss. This is the link: http://theoddandentertaining.blogspot.com Spread the word, the interview will be up just for a few days. Thanks.

Sent by Roger | 3:10 PM ET | 01-12-2008

I just heard a few of their new tracks over the weekend - fantastic. Jagjaguwar is becoming one of my favorite record labels, last year's release from The Besnard Lakes was in my top 5 end of year list.

Sent by -CB- | 11:16 AM ET | 01-14-2008

Black Mountain is great and I'm excited to finally get to see them live in a couple weeks. It's funny how different the Vancouver area music is from Seattle. I can't think of anything close to Black Mountain or Ladyhawk that's going on here just 2 hours away.

Sent by JJ Hellgate | 2:37 PM ET | 01-14-2008

The problem I have with Ladyhawk is not in how good they are, as they are very good, but that his voice is too reminiscent of Oldham (mostly the mellower stuff) for me to seperate the two. I have this same problem with Band of Horses, all I hear is My Morning Jacket. I know they are not consciously ripping each other, but the similarity is too much for my feeble senses. My first love (Jim & Will) will always triumph over the followers. Perhaps my bout with Tone Deafness needs a cure!

Sent by John Longstocking | 2:55 PM ET | 01-14-2008

I just want to say I like how mike censored "bitch," and not "fucked." That made me laugh.

Sent by Cindy | 4:26 PM ET | 01-14-2008

i love the photo of the woman playing the pinecones in the photo for the documentary noisy people! i'd love to go to the reel music festival and see that movie.

Sent by lea | 4:34 PM ET | 01-14-2008

There must be something in that Canadian water- great music coming from there!

Sent by DK | 7:45 AM ET | 01-16-2008

got the black mountain release early (a perk for working at a radio station with a two mile broadcast radius), and you are in for a treat. won't elaborate further, don't want to let anything out. i suppose a useless comment. good morning!

Sent by sam | 7:42 AM ET | 01-22-2008

Check out the trailer for Let Me Be Fictional: a documentary about Ladyhawk
www.letmebefictional.com

Sent by Rob Leickner | 3:07 PM ET | 01-23-2008

Thanks for the Ladyhawk shout out. I've never heard of these guys but I'm getting really into their sound. Wicked strong guitar.

Sent by Stacia | 2:03 PM ET | 02-16-2008

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Carrie Brownstein

Carrie Brownstein is a writer and musician. She was a member of the critically acclaimed rock band Sleater-Kinney. Her writing has appeared in 'The New York Times,' 'The Believer,' 'Pitchfork,' and various book anthologies on music and culture. Read Carrie's F.A.Q.

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