So Cow

"It's more humid in here than I was expecting," admitted a sweaty Brian Kelly three songs into So Cow's set at tiny Bruar Falls. Four days of rain and warmer than expected temperatures did have things moist for the Irish trio's first show of their American tour. Kelly and his rhythm section (head-down drummer, lumberjack bassist) burned through 12 or so super-catchy songs in about 30 minutes, a speedy jangle not unlike early Wedding Present or Orange Juice (or Wedding Present covering Orange Juice). A small room, yes, but it was full and the crowd (which included members of Crystal Stilts, Blank Dogs, the Beets, and openers German Measels) was definitely into it and sweating along too.

MP3: So Cow – Casablanca

MP3: So Cow – Shackleton

And you should definitely try and catch So Cow on tour, which includes three more NYC shows. (Maybe four… rumor has it So Cow will play before caUSE co-MOTION at Bruar Falls tonight again.) And buy some merch while you're at it, like his excellent self-titled American debut. Here's where he'll be:

May 8 Silent Barn Brooklyn, New York
May 9 Death by Audio Brooklyn, New York
May 10 BAR New Haven, Connecticut
May 11 O'Brien's Bar Boston, Massachusetts
May 12 TBC Providence, Rhode Island
May 13 TBC Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 14 Velvet Lounge Washington DC, Washington DC
May 15 TBC Baltimore, Maryland
May 16 Brillobox Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
May 18 Rancho Relaxo w/ Tyvek Toronto, Ontario
May 20 Now That's Class Cleveland, Ohio
May 21 Cafe Bourbon Street Columbus, Ohio
May 22 TBC Kalamazoo, Michigan
May 23 The Black Sparrow Lafayette, Indiana
May 24 Ronny's Chicago, Illinois
May 25 The Dipping Station Milwaukee, Wisconsin
May 26 TBC Madison, Wisconsin
May 30 Little Mountain Studios Vancouver, British Columbia
May 31 Funhouse Seattle, Washington
Jun 1 Help needed here Olympia, Washington
Jun 2 The Know Portland, Oregon
Jun 4 Live at KDVS Davis, California
Jun 5 Luigi's Fun Garden Sacramento, Colorado
Jun 6 The Hemlock San Francisco, California
Jun 8 Help needed here Santa Cruz, California
Jun 9 Boo Boo Records San Luis Obispo, California
Jun 11 5..4..3..2..Fun! @ KCSB Santa Barbara, California
Jun 12 LKEG Gallery w/ Le Face, Shark Toys, Saturn Los Angeles, California
Jun 13 Soda Bar San Diego, California

It was a total High Fidelity moment. I was hanging out at Academy Records Annex, getting my fingers dirty flipping through used records something came over the speakers that instantly made me prick up my ears. Low-fi pop, a bit shambly, but in the best way and every song was super-catchy and there was a clever wit going on too. They had by by the third song and I went up and asked what was playing. "So Cow. He's this Irish guy, played an in-store here last year. Some of the record was made Korea, so…a real international affair." Indeed.

So Cow is essentially Brian Kelly who is originally from Galway, Ireland but who also spent time in South Korea where some of his early records were made. To date he's released EP, Best Vacation Ever, in 2006 and albums These Truly Are End Times and I Am Siding with My Captors in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Plus a couple odd singles.

This new record, only on vinyl in a truly lovely sleeve, compiles some of So Cow's best moments from all his releases. It pushes most of my buttons, owing more than a little to the Pastels, Flying Nun, Calvin Johnson, Jeffrey Lewis… but he's clearly got his own point of view. Highly recommended.

Here are a couple tasters:

MP3: So Cow – Casablanca

MP3: So Cow – Shackleton

You can buy So Cow directly from Tic Tac Totally or, if you live in NYC, you can get it at Academy Records Annex on North 6th St. Emusic, meanwhile, has I am Siding with My Captors to download.

He's also got a free covers EP where he tackles Television Personalities, Tracy Ullman, The Who and others. Free!

So Cow is heading out way next month for a pretty extensive North American tour, including NYC stops at Silent Barn on May 8 and Less Artists More Condos on May 9. Here's the schedule:

May 8 Silent Barn Brooklyn, New York

May 9 Less Artists More Condos New York, New York

May 10 BAR New Haven, Connecticut

May 11 O’Brien’s Bar Boston, Massachusetts

May 12 TBC Providence, Rhode Island

May 13 TBC Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

May 14 Velvet Lounge Washington DC, Washington DC

May 15 TBC Baltimore, Maryland

May 16 Brillobox Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

May 18 Rancho Relaxo w/ Tyvek Toronto, Ontario

May 20 Now That’s Class Cleveland, Ohio

May 21 Cafe Bourbon Street Columbus, Ohio

May 22 TBC Kalamazoo, Michigan

May 23 The Black Sparrow Lafayette, Indiana

May 24 Ronny’s Chicago, Illinois

May 25 The Dipping Station Milwaukee, Wisconsin

May 26 TBC Madison, Wisconsin

May 30 Little Mountain Studios Vancouver, British Columbia

May 31 Funhouse Seattle, Washington

Jun 1 Help needed here Olympia, Washington

Jun 2 The Know Portland, Oregon

Jun 4 Live at KDVS Davis, California

Jun 5 Luigi’s Fun Garden Sacramento, Colorado

Jun 6 The Hemlock San Francisco, California

Jun 8 Help needed here Santa Cruz, California

Jun 9 Boo Boo Records San Luis Obispo, California

Jun 11 5..4..3..2..Fun! @ KCSB Santa Barbara, California

Jun 12 LKEG Gallery w/ Le Face, Shark Toys, Saturn Los Angeles, California

Jun 13 Soda Bar San Diego, California

So Cow | Bruar Falls | 5.7.2009

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