owl and bear

The Dead Weather Get It On with Your Mother on Cinemax

chris maroulakos — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:16:32 +0000

That’s right: The Dead Weather are set to get it on with your mother on everybody’s favorite childhood soft-focus porn channel. But before you pour lye in your eyes, let me clarify: the band will be debuting their new short film Treat Me Like Your Mother on Cinemax on July 11th. Wordplay!

Directed by Jonathan Glazer, whose credits include Sexy Beast, Birth, and the amazing videos for Radiohead’s “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” and UNKLE’s “Rabbit in Your Headlights”, the film stars band mates Jack White and Alison Mosshart in what promises to be a dirty, dirty experience.

Says White, “It was overwhelmingly electric working with Jonathan Glazer on this project, which feels more short film than video. I’ve never felt an intensity like I did on the set of this shoot. Absolutely violent, explosive, and poetic.”

The video premieres promptly at 9:55pm, just days before the release of The Dead Weather’s highly anticipated debut album Horehound. You can watch a trailer for the short film here, and we’ve got the afore-mentioned Glazer-directed music videos after the jump.

Rabbit in Your Headlights music video

Radiohead – Street Spirit (Fade Out)
by camiloandrex

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Scott Avett Plays Townes Van Zandt – Greensboro Woman (Video)

harry s truman — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:41:32 +0000

h/t Muzzle of Bees

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Poetic Memory: Alan Wilkis

harry s truman — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:37:30 +0000

Poetic Memory is a regular Owl and Bear feature in which musicians disclose their influences—whether it’s albums, songs, artists, or something random. If you’re interested in being featured here, send us an email.

Brooklyn’s Alan Wilkis calls himself “a sponge type of listener” who is “influenced by many different artists, genres, and time periods” and it’s easy to tell from his music. His new EP is called Pink and Purple, and it’s a blast. To describe his taste, Wilkis says, “One day I might be listening to some death metal, next day it’s 80s hip-hop, then Bach fugues, and then it’s Elvis Costello all weekend.” His style will take you by surprise, but it’s a good thing—and it’s plain that he writes for sheer enjoyment.

We described his last album, Babies Dream Big, as “reminiscent of anything from funk to deep soul to something like the soundtrack to Ghostbusters,” and Pink and Purple operates in a similar dimension. Given last week’s passing of Michael Jackson, it seems only appropriate to publish Wilkis’ list of influences, which he readily admits is “a little 80s funk-heavy.” Below are Alan Wilkis’ top 10 influences.

1. Michael Jackson: Unless you’ve been living in a barn with no contact to the outside world for decades, chances are you are acquainted with a large quantity of MJ’s music. I certainly am, and chances are you felt the effects of his loss.

As is the case for so many musicians before me, Michael’s music has been a major influence. Listening to Thriller with my parents at age 5 is my first musical memory. I loved it then, I love it now, and I most certainly will continue to do so for years to come. I could go on and on, but I’ll try to pinpoint a few things that hit me hardest. One major lesson I took from MJ was his knack for working with exceptionally talented people in the studio (Quincy Jones as a producer, for example). I am a one-man band in most regards, but I have a lot of old friends that are, simply put, monster musicians, and I tried to bring them along for the ride whenever possible. It’s so much fun to work with them, have one over for a guitar or horn solo here, or a little drum break there. On my song, “Snuggle Up to Nail Down,” for example, I had my friend Ryan play a total shred-guitar solo, a blatant homage to Van Halen in “Beat It”, and I credited him in the liner notes with “Van-Halening by Ryan Ferreira.”

The other big thing from MJ—something that I kind of joke about but is also completely accurate—is that my entire “thing” is derived from the song “PYT.” It’s a total powerhouse pop song, so catchy, so danceable, but musically intelligent at the same time. I strive for that aesthetic (and obviously don’t even come close, but you gotta aim high, right?). Also, specifically on the choruses of that song, those little synth jabs that come in between lyrics, like, “I got to love you/P-Y-T/Pretty Young Thing [in comes synth jab].” That call-and-response to vocal melody is a huge part of what I do, and I owe that to Michael Jackson.

2. Prince: Who doesn’t love Prince? Do I even have to say anything? Seriously? My new EP is called Pink and Purple, and clearly Prince had something to do with that. I’m not sure what I love most about him; he’s a timeless and unbelievable songwriter, an uncompromising artist, performer, guitar player, producer, and (like me) also one-man band.

One thing I perhaps love most is his use of playful synth sounds, played so skillfully, but frankly if anyone else were on the keys without Prince at the helm, a lot of those sounds would come through as cheesy—like on the intro to “I Feel For You” for example. Try making a song with those sounds and it will not be cool. I can almost guarantee that, but give it to Prince and it’s just magical.

If I had to pick a Prince album, it would definitely be Dirty Mind. It’s so short; maybe 30 minutes total. So dynamite, so concise and to the point. There’s no filler whatsoever. And it’s really that perfect combo of funk and rock that only Prince can pull off. Also, if I’m not mistaken, the album is his original demo recordings from his basement, and he played all the parts. You wanna talk about ridiculous do-it-yourself-ing, look no further. Badass.

3. Rick James: Rick James is another artist I could expound upon for quite some time. I think that a lot of people don’t take him as seriously as he deserves, most likely because of his bravado and ridiculousness, but Rick James was the man. Unreal songwriter, unbelievable producer (of his own music as well as of others), amazing singer/performer/persona/virtuosic bassist, etc. Check out a song he produced called “Candy Man” by the Mary Jane Girls – if you’re not smiling and feeling happy within the first 30 seconds, I will send you a free download of Pink and Purple. (Seriously, email Owl and Bear and we’ll make it happen.)

4. Dazz Band: The Dazz Band were incredible, specifically Let It Whip. I believe they at times had as many as 11 people on stage at once—synthesizer heaven, top-notch musicianship, full horn section, great guitar-playing. They’re another example of very intelligent but very fun pop music, with so much soul. Let It Whip is an especially big one for me. It’s intense, and just forces you to dance. It’s impossible to resist. And I love the whip crack that happens with every other snare drum.

5. Frank Zappa: I’ve been a pretty devoted Zappa fan since high school. Such an absurdly prolific dude with a twisted sense of humor and complex songwriting and arrangements. He was a true master of style. It’s for me to pick a favorite song or album, but definitely one of them is the live recording of Village of the Sun from the Roxy and Elsewhere record in the mid ’70s.

One of the many things that I admire and respect about him is his utter megalomania—not to say that I’m as harsh or strict as he ever was, but I do about 99% of the playing, writing, recording, producing, and mixing of my music, and Zappa was probably the one who taught me that it’s okay to be that way (sometimes).

6. Tortoise: Tortoise is one of my favorite bands in current existence. Their ability to combine so many decades and styles of music into seamless recordings is astounding. I often describe listening to their music as “the soundtrack to my imagination.” They touch on so many different musical memories for me—for example, at any given moment, I’m entranced by a certain repetitive beat of theirs, and then they throw in one little guitar line that takes me straight to a Spaghetti Western soundtrack a la Ennio Morricone. And then, a Reggaeton drum beat drops in and I feel like I’m back in Brooklyn. Every listen is truly an adventure to me, and their newest album, Beacons of Ancestorship does not disappoint. I’ve been waiting for it for five years!

7. Wilco: Wilco is another favorite in current existence for me. As songwriters, they are just top-notch, and Jeff Tweedy’s voice is so fragile and powerful, it really shakes me to the core. The thing I love most about Wilco is that their albums always grow on me. I don’t mean that in a bad way at all, only that on first listen, I’m never overwhelmed or shocked by anything. It feels comfortable and familiar already, and I keep coming back to figure out what makes their music is so special. By the 3rd or 4th listen, I’m just in love with it. I feel like I’ve known the songs for years, as if they’re classics already. Layer upon layer of subtleties and nuance, and just damn-near perfect old-fashioned songwriting. That is a rare thing to achieve.

8. Raphael Saadiq: I adore Raphael Saadiq as a producer (D’Angelo), band member (Lucy Pearl, and yes, even some Toni Tony Toné), but as a solo artist the most (especially Instant Vintage and the newest record, The Way I See It). The man is a master musician, songwriter, and has a voice from another universe. So much soul! And as a producer, he just kills it. He’s equally comfortable making hip-hop, R&B, hardcore funk, and 100% faithful, sophisticated, updated Motown (the new record puts Motown throwback records to shame, Amy Winehouse included). Another awesome thing about him is that he puts out his own records, owns his own stuff. He probably has some distribution set-ups etc. with major labels, but the man is on top of his business and in control, and immensely successful. Very inspirational as a musician and businessman

9. Jimi Hendrix: Hendrix is akin to MJ and Prince in that obvious influence sense, but Jimi was single-handedly my entrance into more serious guitar playing. Until I discovered him as a teenager, I was noodling around with Green Day, Nirvana, more basic popular rock stuff like that. Jimi opened my eyes to the true power of electric guitar, feedback, noise, giant solos, whammy bars, and all the good stuff. I spent countless hours learning the solos to “Red House”, “Purple Haze”, “Little Wing”, and the intro to “Castles Made of Sand”. ‘Nuff said.

10. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Okay, this is a weird call, and I can’t say that I love their music, because I don’t. However, they were the first artists that are roughly my age who more or less “made it” doing everything on their own. They self-released their first album, had barely played any shows anywhere—no more than 10—before a couple write-ups in the right places (such as Pitchfork), and suddenly they were selling thousands of albums. They were the first band I experienced in my adult life to really break through and become very popular without the help of a label, and that was inspiring to me. I am self-released, self-published, and I’d like to believe that it’s at least possible to reach more people than my immediate friends and family without label help. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is part of the reason behind that belief.

That’s pretty much it. Hope you’ve enjoyed my ramblings, and I hope you get familiar with some of these artists!

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Elvis Perkins – Chains, Chains, Chains (Video)

chris maroulakos — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:32:20 +0000

Elvis Perkins in Dearland have released the new video for “Chains, Chains, Chains”, off their moving self-titled album.

According to Spinner: “The video…seems to be swimming (literally) in symbolism and insinuation. There are rising tides, silhouettes, aquatic birds and then, of course, embryonic sea people entangled in a womb-like waterworld. Or something of the sort. It all adds up to an eye-catching video that is mystical and imaginative and perfectly suited for Perkins’ poetic hymn.”

If you haven’t seen the group live yet, we highly recommend it. Dates for their current tour after the jump.

Tour Dates:

July 08 Joe’s Pub New York, NY – Elvis Solo – Happy Ending Music & Reading Series w/ Binnie Kirshenbaum, Nick Laird & Kevin Canty
July 25 Subterranean Chicago, IL
July 26 Wicker Park Festival Chicago, IL
August 02 Newport Folk Festival – Fort Adams State Park Newport, RI
August 15 Mass MoCA North Adams, MA
September 03 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR
September 05 Bumbershoot Festival Seattle, WA
September 12 B-Side Festival Murcia, SPAIN
September 14 Cahagranada Culture Center Granada, SPAIN
September 15 Black Note Valencia, SPAIN
September 16 Sala Apolo Barcelona, SPAIN
September 17 Matadero Culture Center Elche (Alicante), SPAIN
September 18 Sala Heineken Madrid, SPAIN
September 20 Leffingeleure Festival Leffinge, BELGIUM
September 22 Scala London, UK
September 24 La Marquise Lyon, FRANCE
September 25 Osophere Festival, Le Club Strasbourg, FRANCE
September 26 Le Grand Mix Tourcoing (Lille), FRANCE
September 28 L’Alhambra Paris, FRANCE
October 04 Strictly Hardly Bluegrass Festival – Speedway Meadow Golden Gate Park San Francisco, CA

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Issue-Having Michaels and the State of Things (TV)

andy fargnoli — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:57:29 +0000

Michael & Michael Have Issues, a headbirth of Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter (note that, so as to not get political, from now on I’ll refer to them as M&M because I can’t be sure which Michael comes first in the title, and I only mentioned Mr. Showalter after Mr. Black above for alphabetical reasons), is, simply put, an upcoming television show. Premiering on Comedy Central July 15 at 10:30 EST, the show is a sketch show about M&M making their own sketch show, according to a press release from Comedy Central. We’re in store for some meta-sketching, it seems. But not to worry—we may be in good hands.

The folks over at Punchline Magazine, a website that takes comedy seriously, had the good fortune of seeing the pilot. The show, according to Punchline, is “fucking hilarious” and suitable for those who got down on the idiosyncratic humor of Stella and also for newcomers unfamiliar with M&M but looking for something edgier than SNL.

Comedy Central has had mixed results with its original seasonal programming. Many shows, like Freak Show and Dog Bites Man (and Stella, for that matter), go unappreciated and don’t live to see a second season. Others, like Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist and Strangers with Candy, have a decent go at it. And still others, like South Park and Reno 911!, endure.

What does this mean for M&M? If precedent is any indicator, things could be good for them. Like Chappelle’s Show and Important Things with Demetri Martin, M&MHI features sketches from the minds of very funny people. Chappelle’s show did very well until Dave decided he didn’t want it to anymore, and Martin’s show is getting a second season. Plus, M&M have already proven in their careers that they know how to make some funny sketches, in particular, and funny stuff, in general. There’s also this clip from the M&MHI pilot to consider:

Michael & Michael Have Issues Premieres Wed, July 15, 10:30pm / 9:30c

If this isn’t convincing, take M&M apart and restore them to their original state as Michaels—just Michael and Michael (or maybe Michael versus Michael). By many measures they are individual successes, with, between them, dozens of shows and movies, a few comedy albums, some kids, a bunch of cats, a wife, at least one commercial parody, a collection of mind-blowing essays (in paperback July 14), a web talk show, and a children’s book. (Because I’m being the paragon of pre-Pearl Harbor U.S. noninterventionism and somewhat of a sleeping giant here, I’ll not mention who did or has what, but I will note this: children’s-book-author Michael has a last name that is the color of clothing worn by people in a grim mood, a mood in which one might often find the other Michael, perhaps because he has no children’s book of which to speak. In all fairness it should be noted that grim Michael has dabbled in the erotic-travelogue genre.) That said, it’s M&M’s work together that seems to lend them their greatest notoriety, which collaborations include Stella, a stand-up tour, and, of course, The State.

In the same week that M&MHI hits airwaves, M&M receive their first royalty checks from the DVD sales of The State: The Complete Series, which releases July 14. If you can’t wait until then, check out some clips via MTV’s website.

The DVD set’s release has been much discussed at O&B. First, there’s excitement of the set’s existence and, second, there’s the worry that things’ve changed. Not that the show won’t be funny to us anymore, but that the sketches will have been literally altered. “I hope the music’s the same as when the show originally aired,” O&B’s Chris began to bloviate. “I can’t imagine, for instance, the ‘Pants’ skit w/o [the Breeders’] ‘Cannonball’ . . .” (It’s so obnoxious when Chris speaks with abbreviations and slashes and brackets, though the ellipsis is a nice touch.)

While we don’t know the fate of any of the music or what went on with rights, comments sections everywhere are ablaze with worries similar to Chris’s. See what Venkman1984 (thanks for the tip, Rick Klau), Lifelong Ambition – Movie Usher, or LutherMac has to say about this.

Sci Fi Wire, currently powered by the Sci Fi Network (soon to be SyFy, on July 7 actually, a full week before The State’s DVD set hits markets; also, Sci Fi Wire will remain just that and not transmogrify into SyFy Wyre, according to a SyFy press release), quotes Thomas Lennon, who you know from The State and Reno 911! (but you may not know him as the cowriter of Taxi [the Jimmy Fallon vehicle not the sitcom], The Pacifier, Herbie Fully Loaded, and both Nights at the Museum even though he is; this isn’t a judgment, mind you; just a little surprising; I’d've written all of those and more for a quarter of what Mr. Lennon got paid had I the chance), as saying, “[I]f [the music] wasn’t cleared, we had to redo it.”

The State DVD

Lennon further notes that there are lots of extras, some admittedly crappy (like cut sketches too subpar for televisual release) and others pretty great (like commentary on every episode, if that’s your sort of thing like it is mine). Though the set is complete in a sense, it won’t be packaged with The State’s uninformed, poorly researched, and out-of-print guide to the United States. That’s a battle for another decade.

To wrap things up, July is M&M Appreciation Month, so, if you enjoy them, why not support them? If you don’t like them, how’d you get down here?

What this accidentally long-winded post should’ve been: Michael & Michael Have Issues premieres July 15. I’m looking forward to it and so should you. Speaking of things we should be looking forward to, The State comes out on DVD the day before the show premieres.

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St. Vincent – Live on Letterman (Video)

harry s truman — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:14:35 +0000

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Review: Local Natives; June 20, 2009 at House of Blues; San Diego

harry s truman — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:03:11 +0000

L.A.’s Local Natives played their first show in San Diego on Saturday, and they sounded great—even though lead guys Taylor Rice and Kelcey Ayer seemed astounded that they’d pulled it off. It wasn’t because of band discord or unfamiliar material, though; in fact, Local Natives are nothing if not tight-knit and talented. Rather, the troubles that plagued the band were more ethereal—and possibly supernatural.

Fortunately, the faux voodoo vibe at House of Blues was strong enough to diffuse what the band chillingly called the curse.

Ayer was especially glad to have finally made it to San Diego, after past attempts to play here had been thwarted by various acts of God.

That’s not to say the curse had finally worn off: just hours before the doors opened, House of Blues downgraded the show (headlined by Ben Kweller) from their normal large theater to a banquet room with bad sound, no bathrooms, and no booze.

During sound check, the venue’s less-than-durable soundboard blew out, which forced HOB’s engineers to buy a new one from the Apple Store—or at least that’s what it looked like. I also believe that the curse briefly affected me: earlier, when I went to the nearby cupcakery, Heavenly Cupcakes, I was forced to leave empty-handed after discovering that a single cupcake cost $3.00, which was well outside my price range.

Despite this, good spirits were maintained. When I talked to bassist Andy Hamm after the show, he said “Hey, I got a meal out of it; I can’t complain.” Lucky bastard.

The unfazed Local Natives happily played to an exuberant crowd. Normally a five-piece band, this time they brought a talented violinist, who faithfully accompanied the excellent “Stranger Things“, among other songs. When she wasn’t on violin, she helped out with the percussion, as on “Airplanes“.

Throughout the show, every band member contributed to the vocals, whether the songs were led by Ayer or Rice. Members also rotated instruments; occasionally Ayer took Rice’s spot with the guitar, and vice versa, and guitarist Ryan Hahn also doubled as a keyboard player. More interestingly, Ayer often switched from his usual keys to a nearby snare, supplementing Matt Frazier’s regular drumming. Even more interestingly, their violinist also took a hand at Ayer’s snare, so at times three people were contributing to the percussion. It was pretty cool.

The band members didn’t show any sign of weariness from a long tour with Kweller—or their 30-hour drive from Minnesota—but after the show, they did seem ready to be off the road. But who would blame them for wanting to relax and play a few shows back home—before they hit the jetstream for July’s string of London gigs.

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The Avett Brothers and Love and You (MP3)

chris maroulakos — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:32:58 +0000

We at Owl&Bear make no secret about our love for The Avett Brothers. Whether it takes the form of gushing over their impeccable live performances or praising our fair city for having the good taste to share in our Brother-ly love, the fraternal folkers sure do get a lot of press around here. And, what with the impending release of their new album, that’s probably not gonna change anytime soon.

Case in point: The Avett Brothers, in conjunction with Spinner, have just made their new single “I and Love and You” available as a free download. The song is the title track from their new Rick Rubin-produced album, and finds the duo maintaining the same creative heights they’ve been soaring at for their past few releases.

Judging by this song and the lovely “And It Spread”—which they played at their amazing Belly Up show last month—the new album will be nothing to shake a stick at, unless shaking a stick at things is just the weird way you show your love.

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‘Heh heh heh, I’m the Decider’ (Video)

harry s truman — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:34:34 +0000

Part three of a four-part series in which Daily Show correspondent Jason Jones carefully compares Iranian culture with our own, and unequivocally declares America’s superiority. Holy crap, it’s amazing.

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Wilco Archive Updated [Download]

harry s truman — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:48:17 +0000

It’s been a long time since our last update to the Wilco Archive, so this is a pretty hefty one. Below, you’ll find shows from Jay Bennett and Edward Burch, to 1994-era Wilco, to Alpha Romeo Tango, the fan-made collection of radio chatter. Hope you enjoy!

Complete list of new shows after the jump.

Jay Bennett and Edward Burch

January 31, 2002
February 2, 2002
May 16, 2002
August 27, 2002

Seven Worlds Collide

January 7, 2009

Jeff Tweedy

January 30, 2009
January 30, 2009 Tom C source
January 31, 2009 MKHstudios source
January 31, 2009 rhinowing source
March 26, 2009 Daly source
March 27, 2009

Wilco

November 17, 1994
November 23, 1994
February 15, 1997 DVD
May 18, 1997
October 3, 1998 Ventura source
August 12, 2000
September 3, 2002 Ian Clark source
October 27, 2002 ctfshjohn source
July 13, 2006 MKHstudios source
October 13, 2006 Davis source
November 11, 2007 All Vox Man source
April 30, 2008
May 12, 2008 Lee Hart source
December 6, 2008 Lowden source
December 7, 2008 igaines source
December 7, 2008 ninkassi source
December 13, 2008 musicjaime source
December 15, 2008 NLI source
December 16, 2008 scb source
April 16, 2009 OBrien source
April 16, 2009 Ryan Earl source
April 18, 2009 bhadella1 source
April 18, 2009 Pollock source
April 18, 2009 Wang source
April 21, 2009 bhadella1 source
April 21, 2009 Pollock source
April 22, 2009 Chris Hall source
April 22, 2009 DTyler source
April 22, 2009 JHatcher source
April 23, 2009 jcallery source
May 29, 2009 FM
June 3, 2009 tomirockin source
June 12, 2009 bporter source
June 13, 2009 bhadella1 source
June 13, 2009 stober source
June 18, 2009 jbanyai97 source
June 18, 2009 u22utoo source
June 19, 2009 CDiPietro source

Etc.

Alpha Romeo Tango

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The Owl and Bear Podcast vol. 120

harry s truman — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:00:58 +0000

Don’t you believe the words of handsome men; they’ll fall like birds only to rise again.

Subscribe to the podcast by adding this link to your RSS reader
or in iTunes (Advanced menu > Subscribe to Podcast):
http://feeds2.feedburner.com/owlbearpodcast

One of Us Cannot Be Wrong – Gregory Alan Isakov
When It Rains – The Builders & The Butchers
Walking on the Devil’s Backbone – Ha Ha Tonka
Josephine – Magnolia Electric Co.
My Unusual Friend – Fruit Bats
Don’t Believe The Words Of Handsome Men – Rock Plaza Central
You Want That Picture – Bonnie “Prince” Billy
Love & Mercy (Live) – Golden Smog w/ Jeff Tweedy
You’ll Be In The Air – Microphones
The Bride – Dirty Projectors
The Privateers – Andrew Bird
Obligatory Highway Analogy – Adam Balbo
I Heard Your Voice In Dresden – Elvis Perkins
Poncho And Lefty – Steve Earle
The End Is Near – The Fiery Furnaces
Low – Mark Lanegan
Though The Night – Of Great & Mortal Men
The Lie/The Truth – Double Dagger
Pistol Packin’ Mama – Al Dexter & His Troopers

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More Tortoise Tour Dates Added to Support ‘Ancestorship’

harry s truman — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:37:53 +0000

Tortoise’s first album in over five years, Beacons of Ancestorship, is out June 23rd on Thrill Jockey. The band had previously announced some shows around the time of Pitchfork Music Fest, and now they’ve added a some Midwest dates to their fall schedule. They’ll also be playing a few shows in Europe and one in Japan. If you have the chance to see them, don’t waste it. According to our biased-but-correct friends at Thrill Jockey

Witnessing the element of group play between the five band members in a live setting and their adept skills at playing interchanging instruments to create this sound is truly an inspiring experience and one that should not be missed!

Complete list of tour dates after the jump.

July 11 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
July 13 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
July 15 – Austin, TX – The Mohawk
July 17 – Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Music Festival
July 19 – Washington, DC – Black Cat
July 20 – Philadelphia, PA – Sanctuary at First Unitarian Church
July 21 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge
July 24 – Tokyo, Japan – Fuji Rock Festival
August 14 – St. Malo, France – La Route Du Rock
August 22 – Hasselt, Belgium – Pukkelpop
September 29 – St. Louis, MO – Firebird
September 30 – Kansas City, MO – Beaumont Club
October 1 – Omaha, NE – Waiting Room
October 2 – Minneapolis, MN – Cedar Cultural Center
October 3 – Dubuque, IA – Voices Warehouse Gallery

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Double Dagger Support ‘More’ With Tour

harry s truman — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:00:34 +0000

Baltimorians and Beach House friends Double Dagger are getting ready to tour in support of their brand new album More, which came out May 5 on Thrill Jockey Records. Their sound is of the classic Baltimore variety, with a dash of old-school Dischord Records, coupled with modern day “political and social commentary.”

They’re playing in San Diego on June 28, and since they only use only drums, bass, and vocals, the show should be pretty interesting. Check out “The Lie/The Truth” (MP3) and the above video so you’re not surprised when you go to the Soda Bar on June 28. Tourdates after the jump.

Jun 17 – Washington, DC – Crooked Beat (In-Store @ 7:00 PM)
Jun 18 – Durham, NC – Pinhook
Jun 19 – Asheville, NC – The New French Bar
Jun 20 – Atlanta, GA – Club 529 w/Liverhearts
Jun 21 – Mobile, AL – Alabama Music Box
Jun 22 – New Orleans, LA – Saturn Bar
Jun 23 – Houston, TX – Superhappyfunland
Jun 24 – Austin, TX – Red 7
Jun 25 – El Paso, TX – Garage Tequila Bar
Jun 27 – Palm Springs, CA – J Dee’s Landing
Jun 28 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
Jun 29 – Los Angeles, CA – Pehrspace
Jun 30 – Oakland, CA – 21 Grand
Jul 1 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Crepe Place
Jul 2 – San Francisco, CA – The Knockout w/Mi Ami
Jul 3 – Portland, OR – Backspace
Jul 5 – Seattle, WA – Comet Tavern
Jul 6 – Missoula, MT – Badlander
Jul 8 – Minneapolis, MN – Turf Club
Jul 9 – Chicago, IL – The Hideout w/The Fiery Furnaces
Jul 10 – Chicago, IL – Permanent Records
Jul 10 – Chicago, IL – Automatic
Jul 11 – Cleveland, OH – Now That’s Class
Jul 12 – Baltimore, MD – Whartscape

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Review: Metric; June 7, 2009 at FM 94/9 Independence Jam; Oceanside

chris maroulakos — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:21:37 +0000

Despite boasting a roster that overlaps with that of Broken Social Scene, Canadian quartet Metric have spent the last decade amassing a dedicated but modestly-sized fan base. Their previous albums have garnered plenty of critical acclaim but little airplay, and their new release Fantasies made it to #76 on the Billboard Top 200 but stopped short of making the band an indie-household name. And so it was that Metric, buried beneath headlining acts The Black Keys and Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the FM 94/9 Independence Jam, proceeded to blow both of those bands away.

Dressed in an all-white ensemble—including a microscopic pair of cutoffs that generously showed off the best legs in indie rock—and sporting a mane of bleached blond hair, Emily Haines exuded the stylish cool of a young Debbie Harry. The outdoor stage, positioned on the beach with the Pacific glimmering behind it and flocks of seagulls flying overhead, may have seemed ill-suited for the band’s moody, futuristic tones, but Metric’s brilliantly executed performance proved a fitting soundtrack to the gorgeous SoCal afternoon.

Easing into the set with an extended version of “Twilight Galaxy”, the band piled layer after layer around Joules Scott-Key’s brisk, palpitating drumbeat. It was an assured beginning to what would be a relaxed but captivating set: the band in no apparent hurry, clearing each song’s hurdles with confidence and ease. “Satellite Mind” upped the pace to a jog, with guitarist James Shaw’s tight riffs sharpened by Haines’ gleaming synth lines. Every note was tastefully marinated in an array of effects, resulting in a thrillingly unique and perfectly mixed sonic onslaught.

Though “Sick Muse” is one of Fantasies’ highlights, its live performance proved a rare stumbling block for the band. Haines’ reticent demeanor worked against her during the song’s chorus, with her sheepish delivery—she appeared to have forgotten the lyrics—depleting the hooky refrain of its joyous energy. But all was forgiven as they began to play “Gimme Sympathy”; with its half-cooed, half-spoken chorus, the song recalled 2003’s Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?, and allowed Haines’ confidence to return in full force.

The band formally dipped into Old World Underground with their performance of “Dead Disco”, that album’s ballad of musical dissatisfaction. The song’s complaint that “All we get is dead disco, dead funk, dead rock and roll” was clearly not a sentiment shared by fans in the crowd, who sang along enthusiastically. Metric also checked back into “Monster Hospital”, their furious single from 2005’s Live It Out, before hammering out their current hit, “Help I’m Alive”. The band capped their set with the anthem “Stadium Love”, which was bolstered by a fist-pumping chorus and the tight interplay between Haines’ synth and Shaw’s guitar.

Describing their new album in between songs, Haines stated that the band had sought to make a perfect summer album: something you could blast from your car with your sunglasses on and the windows rolled down. It was an odd mission statement from a band best known for crafting dark, moody synth-pop with a political bent. But by the time they wrapped up their performance, the idea made complete sense. The compositions may have dark undertones, but Metric rocked the stage with enough propellant attitude to send their songs soaring higher than the seagulls that circled above.

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Interview: Adam Balbo

harry s truman — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:13:19 +0000

NorCal musican/humorist Adam Balbo just released Fix, his excellent and umpteenth album. Featuring instant classics like “The Girl at My Pity Party” and the tongue-in-cheek “Obligatory Highway Analogy” (MP3), the album sounds like a cross between Bob Dylan and Mason Jennings, but is set apart by Balbo’s drier-than-bone wit. As a service to our readers, we commissioned Fancy Dan of The Fancy Dan Band to interview the self-aware, self-deprecating musician. Balbo’s insights about Legos, mosquito-shooting lasers, and how to invite someone to be in your porno can be found below.

Fancy Dan: How have the places you’ve lived inspired your songwriting?

Adam Balbo: This can probably only be answered years after the fact. Elegant Pond, an album I wrote in 2002—my last year in Bloomington, Indiana, when I was finishing college—is contemplative and has lots of big ideas. But after living in Beijing for over two years, my perspective changed and I cussed a lot more with More Stuff Other People Said, in 2005. Now I’m in California and not sure what is happening to me. This probably has as much to do with growing up as environment.

Fancy Dan: What kinds of music have influenced you in the past and are influencing you now?

Adam Balbo: Man, good question, but I’ll evade it with a metaphor. Let’s say the entire body of music in existence is Earth—the spherical rock we know it to be. I might be the like ancient Greeks charting my flat world. But, like them, I try to explore and plunder what I like.

Fancy Dan: How do you feel about folk music as a tradition and in what ways do you think folk music is relevant today?

Adam Balbo: Folk music will always be relevant at least to the folks doing it, right? As for tradition, I study the canon but am not beholden to scripture.

Fancy Dan: Where do you see your music going in the future?

Adam Balbo: Moving forward. Down the line. Into the sunset.

Fancy Dan: Do you find it difficult to write with a sense of humor in your songs without coming across as being jokey or like a novelty act?

Adam Balbo: Sometimes. But ultimately I don’t let it bother me. With “6 Outta 9 w/Beats,” I confined myself to use an old Casio keyboard to see what I could do with the programmed beats. It was an experiment—and kind of silly. But I think music can be both humorous and serious simultaneously.

Fancy Dan: In many of your songs you seem to reference cliches and things that have already been sung about for a long time, but you do it in an original way. Is it important for you to put a fresh spin on traditional topics or styles of songs?

Adam Balbo: Do you know there are lasers that shoot malaria-carrying mosquitoes? Some images seem timeless, others fleeting or narrowly topical. As long as there are people, there will be rocks or the sun. Love. The ocean. Timeless. So people will keep singing about those things. Referencing 1980s cartoon bad guys can be fun and meaningful, though, if the audience gets it. I try not to get bogged down thinking about it too much.

Fancy Dan: You sing with a sense of self-deprecation in a number of your songs, which seems sort of like a reaction against the self-righteous nature of many folksingers. Is this an intentional thing or do your songs just come out this way?

Adam Balbo: It is not meant to be a reaction against anybody. I guess making fun of myself sometimes is just my sense of humor.

Fancy Dan: Are writing lyrics and storytelling the most important aspects of the songwriting process to you or are melody and arrangement equally important?

Adam Balbo: Both are important – like wheels on a bicycle frame.

Fancy Dan: Do most of your songs get written quickly or do you take time to refine them before they are finished?

Adam Balbo: Some just come out. My song “Let’s Make a Porno” I wrote in about 20 minutes. “Obligatory Highway Analogy” I wrote in a day. Others take awhile—maybe weeks. Some I don’t finish.

Fancy Dan: What was your favorite childhood toy and why?

Adam Balbo: Hard to pick a favorite. It’s maybe a three-way tie: Yogi Bear stuffed animal, GI Joes, and Legos.

Fancy Dan: Are there particular aspects of what you do – from songwriting to performing to recording – that you find are the most satisfying?

Adam Balbo: I like aspects of all three. Most important, for me, is that I don’t feel stale when I’m writing, singing, or making an album. If I’m bored or I find myself trying to recreate something that I’ve already done, I inevitably won’t want to do it. I try to put myself in situations where I’m not entirely sure what I’m doing.

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The Cribs Won’t Be Ignored

chris maroulakos — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:33:45 +0000

Hey scenesters! Post-punk sibling act The Cribs have formally announced the impending release of their fourth album, titled Ignore The Ignorant. The album marks their first release since adding a guitarist by the name of Johnny Marr to their ranks, and was produced and mixed by Nick Launay of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, and Nick Cave fame.

Set for release through Wichita Recordings on September 7th, the album will be available in limited edition CD/DVD, CD, download, and sweet sweet vinyl format. For the impatient, the band will also be releasing a single for the new song “Cheat On Me” on August 30th.

We’ve got a track list for you after the jump, as well as the hilariously NSFW video for “Men’s Needs” off their endlessly listenable 2007 album Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever, which proves the group is capable of ignoring way more than just the ignorant.

Ignore The Ignorant track list:
1. ‘We Were Aborted’
2. ‘Cheat On Me’
3. ‘We Share The Same Skies’
4. ‘City Of Bugs’
5. ‘Hari Kari’
6. ‘Last Year’s Snow’
7. ‘Emasculate Me’
8. ‘Ignore The Ignorant’
9. ‘Save Your Secrets’
10. ‘Nothing’
11. ‘Victim Of Mass Production’
12. ‘Stick To Yr Guns’

“Men’s Needs” from Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever (NSFW):

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‘Thank Youuuuuu’

harry s truman — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:32:17 +0000

This interview is amazing. It’s making the Internet rounds because O’Reilly later remixed it to exclude “all evidence of [his] fist-shaking, red-faced tantrum,” but more importantly, I really like how his head appears to be on the verge of explosion in the beginning. Then, at the end, he does a victory fist-pump after nailing Walsh in true Colbert style (”Thank youuuuuu!”). Finally, as the segment closes, he just continues to chime in with stuff like “You bet”, and the insincere “I’m sorry about that”; you can tell he’s just sitting there trying to think of more ways to be obnoxious instead of actually trying to discuss anything with his guest, whom he obviously hates.

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Larry David on Conan

harry s truman — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:12:56 +0000

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Duncan D. Hunter: If Only ‘We Could Override The Endangered Species Act’ (CA & San Diego Links)

harry s truman — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:00:34 +0000

CA’s State Parks Generate $4.3 Billion Annually Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to close 80% of California’s state parks to address the state’s $24 billion budget deficit—even though park visitors pump $4.32 billion into the economy each year. In Grave Danger, Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard Gets a Reprieve The rare reptile may have one last chance, thanks to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. CA to Cut Water Usage to Save Fish Californians’ thirst for water has pushed salmon and other fish to the brink of extinction, a federal agency has ruled. CA Rep. Duncan D. Hunter Weighs in on the Water Ruling In a recent interview, Hunter dropped this gem: “If there’s some way that we could override the Endangered Species Act for things like the smelt fish and allow water to flow again down to Southern California that would be huge.” CA’s Climate Change Plan Will Boost Economy The floundering state’s plan is a watershed moment in history—but there’s still room to improve. Hatchery Fish May Hurt Efforts To Sustain Wild Salmon Runs Steelhead trout that are originally bred in hatcheries are too genetically impaired to expand populations in the wild. 40 Environmental Groups Back Frye for Coastal Panel More than 40 environmental groups in California lobbied Thursday for San Diego City Councilwoman Donna Frye to take over a position representing the region on the state Coastal Commission. Chaparral Institute Sues San Diego County Over Tree Removal Plan The wildlands advocacy group announced a lawsuit yesterday, alleging that the county failed to adequately analyze the environmental damage of removing trees and shrubs in the backcountry to reduce wildfire risks. EPA to Begin Unprecedented Coastal DDT Cleanup in 2011 The proposal includes placing a cap of silt and sand over one of the most hazardous places in the country—and mark the first time a Superfund site has used this method. California’s Thorny History of Cactus Theft In the early 1900s, gardeners took a shine to the prickly plants, and ‘cactus rustling’ was born.

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Darwin Killed Off The Werewolf (Links)

harry s truman — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:53:16 +0000

The Amazon: The Future of the Forest Brazil’s government hopes that land reform in the Amazon will slow deforestation. Sierra Club’s Carl Pope Debates Chevron CEO Dave O’Reilly When O’Reilly said, “If you can get the government to move faster, then good luck,” Pope replied, “It would help if you’d get out of the way.” Coal Ash Coming to a Town Near You? Tennessee’s toxic coal sludge is headed out of state. 24 Charged in Crackdown on Native American Artifact Looting Many charged with theft of ancient artifacts in the Four Corners region. Anna’s Hummingbird Declared Fastest Animal on Earth When the bird swoops, it experiences forces 10 times the pull of gravity—more than experienced jet pilots can endure without passing out. What Limits The Size Of Birds? Maximum body size in birds is constrained by the amount of time it takes to replace flight feathers during molt. Charles Darwin Killed Off The Werewolf After the publication of Darwin’s Origin of Species, werewolves were relegated to a fictional footnote. Gay Marriage Bans Linked to Rise In HIV Rate Bans on same-sex marriage can be tied to a rise in the rate of HIV infection. Homosexual Behavior Widespread in Animal Kingdom The phenomenon may be part of a necessary biological adaptation for the survival of species. Stress Makes Your Hair Go Gray Those pesky graying hairs that tend to crop up with age really are signs of stress. Teenager Hit by 30,000 MPH Meteorite The only other known example of a human being surviving a meteor strike happened in Alabama, in November 1954 when a grapefruit-sized fragment crashed through the roof of a house, bounced off furniture and landed on a sleeping woman. Marijuana Damages DNA And May Cause Cancer Scientists report “convincing evidence” that marijuana smoke damages the DNA in ways that could increase the risk of cancer. Alcohol Really Does Go Right To Your Head It only takes six minutes.

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I Was a Marine Sniper (Links)

harry s truman — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:34:28 +0000

Leader of Minuteman Militia Group Arrested for Murder & Robbery Raul Flores, 29, and his daughter, Brisenia, 9, were killed when the group forced their way into the home. Who Is to Blame for the Next Attack? Republicans in Congress have no plausible economic, health care or energy policies to counter the president’s; the only card they have left to play is 9/11. I Was a Marine Sniper I’d like to say [that I went to Iraq because it had to do with patriotism], but no…I just wanted to fucking kill people. Door to Door as Missionaries, Then as Salesmen A security company is employing Mormons with experience cold-calling for their faith. Is That Blog Review Really a Paid Ad? The FTC Wants You to Know Even though reviews published on blogs are often assumed to be word-of-mouth rants or raves, writers often get paid with free samples, gift certificates, and cash—or even (in some instances) the loan of a $30,000 Ford Flex for a year. Facebook May “Undo” Twitter-like Homepage Remember the uproar over the latest Facebook re-design? Enjoy the Free Hulu While You Still Can Speaking at a recent event, newly-installed NewsCorp officer Jonathan Miller said he envisions a future where at least some of the content on the video site is available only to paid subscribers. TV Crews Flee Hollywood for…Hoboken? A first-of-its-kind study confirms that a key part of the TV industry – pilot production – is moving to other states, costing California millions. Blacks Abandon San Francisco No U.S. city has seen a more rapid decline of its African-American population. Stealing the Iranian Election Top pieces of evidence that the Iranian national election was stolen. The “Bomb Iran” Contingent’s Newfound Concern for the Iranian People Much of the same faction now claiming such concern for the welfare of the Iranian people are the same people who have long advocated a military attack that would result in the slaughter of many of those very same citizens. The Harlem That Was Photographs of New York’s most interesting neighborhood in its most neglected age.

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Local Natives Close Kweller Tour in San Diego, Move on To London

harry s truman — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:19:00 +0000

Our Silver Lake-based friends Local Natives are very busy. They’re finishing up their U.S. tour with Ben Kewller—the final show will be here in San Diego—and then in mid-July, they’ll be hopping a plane for a string of shows in London. Meanwhile, their new album, Gorilla Manor, will be out soon.

Check ‘em out if you can; even if you’re already going because you like Ben Kweller, you should get there early for Local Natives.

You can listen to some of their songs at MySpace (above) or download some MP3s over at Daytrotter.

Jun 19 2009 – El Rey w/ Ben Kweller – Los Angeles
Jun 20 2009 – House Of Blues w/ Ben Kweller – San Diego
Jun 22 2009 – Spaceland (Castledoor residency) – Los Angeles
Jul 13 2009 – The Lexington – London
Jul 14 2009 – Shephard’s Bush Empire w/ Of Montreal – London
Jul 16 2009 – Borderline – London, London
Jul 17 2009 – Latitude Festival – Southwold
Aug 23 2009 – Sunset Junction – Los Angeles, California

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Review: Yeah Yeah Yeahs; June 7, 2009 at FM 94/9 Independence Jam; Oceanside

chris maroulakos — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 05:02:02 +0000

The Black Keys may have been the technical headliners of FM 94/9’s Independence Jam, but as the sun began to set and Yeah Yeah Yeahs were welcomed to the stage, the throng of maniacal tweens made it clear that nobody was there for the blues. Having spent the last six years teetering between indie and mainstream success, a hero’s welcome is likely nothing new for the band, and as frontwoman/force of nature Karen O wrapped a spiky-gloved hand around her microphone, nothing stood between her and the hysterical crowd’s expectations.

Ever since discovering Pro Tools during the recording of Show Your Bones, Yeah Yeah Yeahs albums have been lushly produced and layered affairs, which can’t help but make their performances seem anemic by comparison. The masterful Nick Zinner—who thankfully, unlike on this year’s It’s Blitz, was not forced to waste his talents on synth duty—did his best to fatten up the sound with his reliably inventive guitar work, but could only do so much. Unsung drummer Brian Chase wrangled the songs with his forceful, syncopated percussion, while an anonymous fourth person thanklessly handled acoustic guitar, synthesizer, and bass from the rear of the stage.

But Yeah Yeah Yeahs have always been The Karen O Show, for better or worse, and Sunday was no exception. Oozing extraterrestrial charisma and sporting what appeared to be a giant pillowcase with technicolor Native American patterns over a neon-green leotard, the singer growled and strutted around the stage, spitting water into the air and deep-throating her microphone. The routine is probably a staple of every show, but what it may have lacked in spontaneity it made up for in goofy charm. Opening with “Dull Life”, It’s Blitz’s only straight-forward rocker, Karen and company quickly ramped up the energy for the festival crowd.

Though it’s natural for bands to lean heavily on their latest release, Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ set list was diplomatically diverse. Show Your Bones tracks “Gold Lion”, “Honeybear”, and “Cheated Hearts”—which featured a prolonged intro—were all dusted off, as were “Pin” from 2003’s Fever To Tell, “Rockers To Swallow” from last year’s Is Is, and “Miles Away” from their self-titled EP. The song selection was a welcome mixture of the band’s hits and deeper cuts, and served as a fine introduction for casual listeners.

Of course, no Yeah Yeah Yeahs show would be complete without the obligatory performance of their hit single “Maps”, the opening notes of which caused several of the teenagers in the crowd to convulse in tears (seriously). Once an oddity among Fever To Tell’s balls-out post-punk, the song has become the band’s calling card, attracting fans who otherwise have little interest in the group’s usual sound. The song has ultimately proven to be a mixed blessing, forcing Karen O to (over)indulge her sentimental muse on subsequent releases. On Sunday, the band seemed even more sick of the cartographic ballad than longtime fans are; their perfunctory performance limped along with a fraction of the emotional intensity it should have had.

Luckily, the band was far less sick of playing their new material, and they tackled songs from It’s Blitz with aplomb. “Soft Shock” and “Heads Will Roll” sounded far fresher than the played-out “Maps”, and they ended the set on a high note with their hit single “Zero”. Despite having been scheduled for an hour, the band only played for forty minutes, ignoring the crowd’s feeble attempt to summon them back for an encore. The brevity of the set made the performance feel phoned-in: passable, but clearly not their “A” game.

Even more problematic was how out of their element the band seemed as they played a sunny festival show with the ocean behind them. Yeah Yeah Yeahs are at their strongest when they exude sex and danger; they belong in seedy night clubs, not playing outdoor twilight shows for Twilight fans. “Maps” may have earned the band deserved attention, but it also neutered them in the process; it’s highly unlikely that they’ll ever again release anything as raw as Fever To Tell. Nevertheless, there were moments on Sunday, in between the rehearsed theatrics and sappy balladry, where the Yeah Yeah Yeahs of yesterday revealed themselves in all their unbound, feverish glory.

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100 Best Movie Lines in 200 Seconds

harry s truman — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:23:17 +0000

Welcome to the party, pal.

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Golden Red Release EP, Play Soda Bar

chris maroulakos — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:26:03 +0000

San Diego’s favorite purveyors of ominously sweet folk, Golden Red, are adding a touch of black to their palette. The band is set to drop their debut EP, titled Sad Loud Black Sound, later this week. To celebrate the release, the quintet will be playing a show at the Soda Bar this Friday, June 12, alongside fellow rustic acts River City and Silverleaf.

The five-song EP consists of three familiar tracks—”October”, “Near Dark“, and “Sad Loud Black Sound”—as well as the previously unheard “Down In The Quarry” and “Alabaster”. Each copy of the self-produced EP comes adorned with a handmade cover, individually drawn and numbered by the multitasking band.

Golden Red’s Americana-infused ditties sound rich and carefree, but in case you’re neither, they’ve still got you covered. The EP is priced to own at a measly three dollars, and the show is free, so you really have no excuse not to come down and immerse yourself in all the folky goodness.