rroobbiinn:

a fallen fruit map of silverlake

“Public Fruit” is the concept behind the Fallen Fruit, an activist art project which started as a mapping of all the public fruit in L.A. neighborhoods.

Public fruit = all fruit on or overhanging public spaces such as sidewalks, streets or parking lots.

Camera Obscura, Live at Webster Hall.

This was my third time seeing Camera Obscura, an indie-pop quintet from Glasgow, Scotland, and sadly I must admit that I’ve outgrown them — at least in concert form. The first time was a few years ago at tiny Maxwell’s in Hoboken, New Jersey, which is an ideal venue (small, cozy) for a band with so many tender and sweet acoustic songs.

Webster Hall is simply too big. The mellower songs lack energy and the more upbeat tracks don’t have enough punch to fill the ballroom. It also doesn’t help that they’re one of the least animated bands on stage. They simply stand there and go through the motions and you cannot understand a word of their (what I must imagine is quippy) banter due to the heavy Scottish accent. Now, this isn’t always a bad thing. For example, when you go to an Oasis show, as I have done oh about 17 times in my life, they also pull a similar shtick. But they also create such an explosive wall of sound that even through they’re just standing there — Liam actually with his hands behind his back — there’s still enough raw energy and power of stormy guitars to fill Madison Square Garden. Liam’s voice alone can move the Grand Canyon.

First, Belle and Sebastian (I also find their live shows “blah”), now Camera Obscura… Slowly, I feel I’m letting go of all my adolescent heavyweights. The first couple of albums, in particular Underachievers Please Try Harder (top 5 best titles ever, btw), are still some of my favorite albums to listen to on the stereo or while driving. Maybe some bands are just better in record form. Is that so horrible?