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Hello, Owl City
Filed Under Updates
The crowd at the hot Spokane venue The Filling Station undulated like a wind-swept sea. A black-suited man skipped across the black stage and was framed by a spotlight. He waved, awkwardly. A 15 year-old girl somewhere in that crowd, I’m sure, fainted. Hello, Owl City.
An inspiration to insomniacs everywhere, Adam Young spent the owlish hours of the night sprinkling fairy-dust on electronika and the pensive cynicism of Gen X groups like Postal Service. “I can’t sleep unless I take sleeping pills,” he says, “I’ve been awake for 52 hours before. I win,” (cheap shot).
A 23 year-old Baptist who enjoys fantasy (The Fledgling, by Jane Langton, in particular) and works by the inspiration, apparently, of sleep-deprivation, Adam waxed eloquent in an email. When he sings, “I see warm motorcycles and giant polar crust devils with venomous, wet sucking lips,” he says.
By way of a well-aimed EP, Owl City caught the roving eyes of Universal Republic after Adam, stirred perhaps, by the description of his inspiration Johnathon Ford of Unwed Sailor , vaulted Owl City from the basements of Owatonna, Minnesota to the status of global heart-throb at the “tender age of intent.” Ford helmed the instrumental Unwed Sailor on numerous tours manned by a crew of friends and trusted associates, and Adam’s entourage seems to be following a similar pattern. Breanne, the dazzling brunette smile behind the keyboard providing the candy-colored harmony (“Salt Water Room,” yes?), is a close associate. Adam commented, “She and Adam are friends… Adam is a happy clam.”
“Australia inspires me. Antarctica inspires me. Greenland inspires me,” Adam continued in his email, and “the thing I love most about Owatonna is its hard, irony water. It makes your hair feel like a stiff helmet after you take a shower.” That, dear readers, is the difference between boys and girls.
Thank you, Adam Young. In the words of Owl City, this is a world of dreams and reverie where I felt the world explode around me.
Molly Miltenberger is a freelance writer with an interest in postcards and goldfish, and, incidentally, a love for owls and similar mollusks.
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4 Responses to “Hello, Owl City”
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So were they any good?
Ah, forgive me, yes – the Owl City show was a beautiful experience. They give an excellent performance because it’s all about the music, not about the band. There is plenty of personality involved, and, without stuffing themselves in your face (Example A being the super tacky opening band), Owl City doled out charisma and established a connection with the audience that was quite lovely to behold and even juicier to experience.
Actually, I would have screamed myself hoarse if I hadn’t been hoarse to begin with, and as it was, I felt like a teenybopper anyway. It doesn’t get better than that.
I could go on. You have no idea how it feels with the cello and the violin. The sound swallows you.
I could go on…
but, if you have a chance, make a concert.
[...] other news, our own Molly did an interview with Owl City. We here at Stereopathic pride ourselves in not being music snobs and are happy to [...]
Our organization hosted this show. My daughters were very happy about that. I bought the CD prior to the show, and I must admit that I find the CD to be “OK” but not one I HAVE to spin – not bad, mind you, just not great. However, the live show surprised me with vitality, subtleness, and certainly a very positive spirit. The 3 gals that Adam has recruited added a ton to the appeal, and in honest, sincere ways – not trashy or corny. Adam is a charasmatic performer, and a very shy, quiet person. You should see for yourself – the show IS worthy.