new songs: The Dead Trees - "Back to LA" and "Older"

the songs sound more like Little Joy than their own debut. "Older" also has a very Velvet Underground vibe. I like it. The Dead Trees played these tracks in frontman Michael Cummings' Los Angeles backyard for Fader Magazine

Back to LA:

Older:

concert review: Adam Green @ Cafe Du Nord 06 April 2010

Adam Green has an energy factor that surpasses the cool threshold in indie rock. His spirit would be better suited at a vaudeville show, full stage makeup and all. But then again, where would us indie kids go to work up an good sweat dancing?

His first of two nights at San Francisco’s Café Du Nord, Green’s show on the 6th was a magical combination of music and showmanship. With a masterful setlist that was obviously improvised as the night progressed, Green had the audience grinning at his erratic dancing and other eccentricities. I don’t think it’s possible to describe the sheer brilliance of his absurd dance moves. You had to be there.

Supported by a backing band of LA’s Dead Trees (who opened up the night by testing out a fresh batch of songs), Adam soon proved that—stumbling aside—he could do no wrong. Musically, he delivered his new songs in a similar vein to his older work (the restless energy that can be found on “Nat King Cole”, for example), abandoning the more tranquil nature of Minor Love. Perhaps most entertaining of all was the fact that responded to the standard shouts of “Adam, you’re hot!” by demanding that the liable girls “turn around”. Green is obviously an entertainer at heart, and he definitely thrives on the energy from the crowd. Much to the fans’ delight, Adam not only shared stories of his recent escapades to Jamba Juice but also kindly gave away some of his bracelets to girls standing up front. He is many things, but subtle is not one of them. Maybe this is why he crowd surfed—not once, not twice, but three times during the night. Combine this with the beatnick monologues interspersed between songs and you have yourself a mighty tasty recipe for success all the way from the big apple.

pictures:






The Dead Trees:






click HERE to watch Buddy Bradley & Goblin

Adam Green - What Makes Him Act So Bad [mp3]

showdown: SCOTLAND VS AMERICA

haha well maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it got your attention didn't it?




The Dead Trees VS Belle and Sebastian



I download a lot of music from blogs and usually don't get a chance to listen to all of the songs until the weekend

I came across an mp3 of a song of Belle and Sebastian's called "Pocketbook Angel" and I immediately started humming along, but to a slightly different tune...and then I realized:

I've heard this before.

wait,

what was it?

DAMN IT!

about a minute later, it came to me:

"Shelter", by The Dead Trees

now, I have no idea if The Dead Trees have even heard that B&S tune, as it's pretty obscure (it's a rare unreleased song).

in my opinion, The Dead Trees' tune is superior.

what do you think?

Belle and Sebastian - Pocketbook Angel [mp3]

The Dead Trees - Shelter [mp3]

Concert Review - Little Joy @ Slim's 09 Dec

LA based Red Cortez were the first opening band. They were decent, I didn’t like the lead singer’s voice very much, though. I liked that the drummer used maracas as drum sticks, that was awesome. Their fast songs were the best of the bunch, but when they played slower songs, it just didn’t work very well. When the lead singer pulled out a harmonica, it just went downhill. Stay clear of that, boys, keep up the good guitar work and you might have a chance to get signed someday. The lead singer banged the keys of the keyboard with his elbow on the last song, which I guess was meant to be cool but it was just kind of disrespectful. They had this weird energy thing going on, where they didn’t know where they belonged: slow folks-y songs or let’s-get-trashed-and-rock-out attitude. But yeah, their guitarist and drummer redeemed the set, which was a tad too long (at 40 minutes).
2/5

visit them on MYSPACE

Next on came The Dead Trees, from Portland, OR. These guys more than made up for the mediocrity of the previous band. They had everything a band should have on stage: good energy, excellent sync and an awesome sound. I would classify them as somewhat bluesy, but more edgy rock-ish. They had an extra member playing with them, bass player Tad’s brother Tory, who was on an extra drum kit and keyboards. Their songs were strange at times and tambourines were busted out in a quick frenzy, but they pulled it off somehow. The crowd was dancing along; the Dead Trees put us right in the mood for Little Joy.
3.25/5

visit them on MYSPACE

Little Joy was superb. They felt like a family on stage. They were having so much fun, and the crowd was LOVING it. They were joined by Matt Romono (the drummer from Albert Hammond Jr’s band) for most of the set. For the last song, “Brand New Start”, they were joined by The Dead Trees, and the three people who Fab thanked profusely (“without whom Little Joy would not have happened”): Noah Georgeson (their producer), Devendra Banhart (“the coolest fucking musician I have ever met”), and Greg Rogove. Greg later wore a scarf that we argued about, he insisted that it was Persian and not Palestinian, and I asked if he was Persian and he seemed offended. It was quite hilarious.

Despite the fact that they experienced some technical difficulties, as Fab’s guitar stopped working midway through the set forcing Binki and Matt had to keep the crowd entertained with an intermission of sorts, the set was perfect. They insisted that they kept messing up, but a few minor mistakes was nothing in the larger scheme of things. A funny point in the show was when someone yelled out “for no one’s better sake”, and Roderigo replied “we’ll play that in a minute!” and then Fab went “NO, we already did that one!”

Fab invited me and a couple of other people backstage, and I got to talk to the band, who were all SUPER down to earth. Roderigo told me that he wanted to move to the city because he really likes it here. I encouraged him to do so. I also told him that Little Joy really surprised me, as I just expected a mediocre side project-y thing, but what I got instead was one of my favourite records of the year. I told him I haven’t stopped spinning it since I first got it, after which he pulled out the record and said “ah! It’s alive!” and then proceeded to point out how cool it is that they hand engrave the number on the inside of the record. I never knew that before. Binki told me that the boys are teaching her Portuguese, but they tell her that her accent is perfect. And then Fab told me that what he loves about Little Joy is it is a lot more laid back from the Strokes (no duh haha). “Don’t get me wrong, I fucking love those guys, I’ve known them since I was 13, but the band is too obsessed with getting that perfect sound.” “Well yeah,” I said. “You are all very meticulous”. “It gets to you sometimes, though. Like tonight. We were all messing up and nobody cared. Not the band, not the fans. Everyone was having a great time”. He then offered us some beer and cookies, and about an hour later, Matt came in yelling “who ate all of the fucking cookies?!” hahaha

Set List:
The Next Time Around
How To Hang a Warhol
No One’s Better Sake
Unattainable (live at Slim's) [mp3]
Shoulder to Shoulder
With Strangers
Keep Me In Mind
*a cover of a Spanish/Portuguese song, I am sorry, I am culturally deprived and cannot identify it*
Eat At Home (Paul McCartney cover)
Don’t Watch Me Dancing
Brand New Start

4/5 because they are just that awesome

visit them on MYSPACE

photos:

Band of the Week: The Dead Trees

this Portland based band (originally from Boston) opened up for Little Joy on Tuesday night. the combination of their lead singer's scratchy carefree voice which gets intense sometimes when he yells verses (see "well I could use another helper to see me through" in 'Shelter') and their lead guitarist's uncanny talent (which meshes beautifully with the rhythm) is like a good kick in the groin, metaphorically speaking of course

Tad - bass



Matthew - lead guitar (he may or may not have been the highlight of the set. ok, fine, I'll say it. he. was. freaking. brilliant)



Michael - lead vox, rhythm guitar



Noah - drums


+ Tory (Tad's brother who plays an extra set of drums + keyboard + other miscellaneous things)


they are all lovely people, kind of broke though. poor Noah had to drop out of Berkelee because it was too expensive. support them and other starving musicians! go out to shows, buy their shit. they put all of their soul into their music, the least we can do is reciprocate with 15 bucks or whatnot.

for fans of: Grand Ole Party, The White Stripes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

unfortunately, the vinyl copy of King of Rosa that I bought didn't come with a digital download, so I am going to post the song floating on hype machine:

The Dead Trees - Shelter [mp3]

oh, and they had a DAYTROTTER SESSION

visit the band on MYSPACE
and catch them on their remaining Euro tour dates with Little Joy!

Jan 10 2009 8:00P
Botanique w/LITTLE JOY Brussels
Jan 11 2009 8:00P
Paradiso w/ LITTLE JOY Amsterdam
Jan 12 2009 8:00P
Gebaude 9 w/ LITTLE JOY Cologne
Jan 13 2009 8:00P
La Maroquinerie w/ LITTLE JOY Paris
Jan 15 2009 8:00P
Audio w/LITTLE JOY Brighton
Jan 16 2009 8:00P
The Leadmill w/ LITTLE JOY Sheffield
Jan 17 2009 8:00P
Stereo w/ LITTLE JOY Glasgow
Jan 19 2009 8:00P
Cockpit w/ LITTLE JOY Leeds
Jan 20 2009 8:00P
Academy 3 w/ LITTLE JOY Manchester
Jan 21 2009 8:00P
Dingwalls w/LITTLE JOY London