Ranking the Top 100 Greatest Gothic Rock Anthems of all time

New England Music News

Music Seen: Lady Lamb The Beekeeper at Empire

Music Seen

By CHAD CHAMBERLAIN | August 19, 2009

It's easy for Portland to get behind an act as well-put-together as Lady Lamb the Beekeeper.

Aly Spaltro takes to a new level a likeable Maurice Sendak aesthetic somewhat common to "indie-rocker scene" — suspenders, knickers, face-paint whiskers, and a quasi-shy attitude. But musically it is as if she seeks to contradict this childish image with insightful songs that share a world vision with the likes of Kimya Dawson. From a narrative standpoint, she seems to encapsulate something nostalgic about young love; she forces us to miss our summer-love melodramas of yesteryear. We — the audience — are easily sold on this mix of visions from our childhood storybooks and remembrances of love when it actually hurt.

It's a simple arrangement. You have the small-framed, cute-faced girl on guitar and vocals, and an eyes-closed, tossed-hair chap keeping the beat on an undersized drum kit. While watching, it's hard to comprehend that so much cuteness has been fit into such a small space. But cuteness and witty lyrics can only go so far. I was left wanting a little more from the set. Surely there is talent there to be expanded upon. Simplicity in the indie-rock genre always risks becoming passé. I think for us all to grow with Lady Lamb, the act will have to eventually move on from that whole beauty-in-simplicity angle and try out bigger and more daring ideas.

myspace.com/LadyLambTheBeekeeper

Topics: New England Music News , Kimya Dawson, Maurice Sendak, Empire, More

| More

ARTICLES BY CHAD CHAMBERLAIN

MUSIC SEEN: LADY LAMB THE BEEKEEPER AT EMPIRE | August 19, 2009
It's easy for Portland to get behind an act as well-put-together as Lady Lamb the Beekeeper.

MUSIC SEEN: WILCO | July 22, 2009
My first car was a big green Buick LeSabre, and my only options then for music were Extendo-Ride, who were awesome, and a mix tape my older sister had made, full of Wilco songs off Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

REVIEW: BIG MEAT HAMMER AT GENO'S ROCK CLUB | July 01, 2009
On my way to the club, I walked hunched in the drizzle behind a fellow in a leather jacket with white paint on the back: "Punks not dead." I pondered this idea and assumed we were heading to the same place, only to watch him pass by Geno's without a glance.

MUSIC SEEN: SEYMOUR | April 29, 2009
Seymour's gentle, mellifluous sound is the type that quiets a chattering room.

MUSIC SEEN: TURN DOWN DAY, MARIE STELLA, PHANTOM BUFFALO | April 02, 2009
Turn Down Day opened with a song that hovered almost entirely on the A chord, only breaking with it for a slight G on the bass to distinguish the verse from the chorus. It was a bold statement.