Over the Weekend: Hello Kavita CD release at the hi-dive

Hello Kavita, Houses, It's True
October 23, 2009
hi-dive
Better Than: Prozac

Omaha band It's True started things off with some sweet 'n simple melodies and starry-eyed vocals.  They cranked the feedback a bit because they're no pushovers, but theirs was certainly the odd performance out on a night of retro feel-goodery.



Houses continues to be among the most entertaining bands in Denver. Andy Hamilton and crew delivered half an hour of warm and full pop magic, stuff you can sing along to even if it's your first time. They love this town, and between the whoah-ohhs, the fuzzy keyboard and the classic riffs, it's hard not to join them. "We're Alright" off the Spring EP, continues to be the band's most rewarding live cut, but Summer's "Fairweather" isn't far behind. The band itself is more subdued than it has been in the past but no less infectiously content to be on stage in Denver, Colorado.

Now halfway through a year-long, four EP project with one for each season, Houses played mostly tunes from their first two releases on Friday night. It will be interesting to see where such a warm-weather band takes its sound for the Fall installment, due out on November 14. No matter what it winds up with, we'll be there, drinking whisky ginger and paying close attention.



The show marked the release of Hello Kavita's second album To A Loved One. It's an immaculate record, there for you on any sort of day with old-school comfort. The title track is the best of the new stuff, incredibly striking in its halting chorus and golden build. The band plays a polished set, which is both good and bad in the sense that it sounds really great but isn't as entertaining as some other bands with similar vibes (like, umm, Houses).



Hello Kavita makes use of a couple violins, which pair extremely well with Corey Teruya's honey vocals. We're not exactly making any revelations in likening this stuff with '70s radio gold; the band said themselves they were influenced by Big Star and Fleetwood Mac. We've made the incredibly apt Wilco comparison before -- a couple tracks on the new album would fit right in on Summerteeth, and that is an incredibly good thing.
 
They were selling the aforementioned album for a very reasonable $5 at the show, although they made a point of telling the crowd that they cared more about getting the music out there than the money. Donations of any amount got you To A Loved One on Friday. Our copy is already getting worn out.

CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK
Personal Bias: Houses is one of my favorite two or three Denver bands, and Hello Kavita isn't far behind.
Random Detail: Hello Kavita summoned Houses back onstage for a cover of Neil Young's "Alabama," and it was awesome.
By The Way: I wouldn't bet against either band in a local music basketball tournament. They've got some height and, especially in the case of Houses, considerable depth. Plus, they (mostly) all seem fairly athletic. Can we somehow arrange this?