Monday, February 14, 2011

concert review: Grand Lake, Yuck, Smith Westerns

Last night at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco, three midrange indie bands played their hearts' content to a packed crowd, as the show was completely sold out. Some was good, some was bad, and some was just plain melodic.

Grand Lake


All of the band's newer, soft songs have power on stage as lead singer Caleb Nichols has amazing stage presence, however, his stage banter was super humble as always. The band played mostly new songs from their forthcoming EP as well as one from their debut LP Blood Sea Dream ("Concrete Blonde on Blonde"...released by the brand new Hippies are Dead label, and previously on an EP). Grand Lake have had yet another line up change, and they're back to being a trio. Ex Port o Brien drummer Josh Barnhart is currently their drummer and John Pomeroy, who used to play drums for GL, is currently on bass and keys. They played two covers, including a heart wrenching version of "The Tourist" by Radiohead. Overall, a great set from one of the Bay Area's best local bands, even if they have relocated a few hours south.

Yuck


Spin heralded them as one of the best five bands of February, but at best they sound like an indie version of a power pop band a la The All American Rejects, acoustic songs interspersed and all. A few bearable riffs and the token chic on bass. "I could be your suicide on this one", the London frontman sang. Steer clear please.

Smith Westerns


The Chicago band was youthful and spirited, as the lead singer introduced "Dance Away" with "you should...fuck your girlfriend to this song". Somehow they sounded distorted and crisp at the same time. The vocals were confident, and the last part of "End of the Night" sounds a lot like 60's pop at its finest. The music is dreamy and feather light as well as melodic, and the band is not afraid to churn out a piercing Beatles-esque riff in nearly every song. They remind me a bit of MGMT at times, although substantially less weird. Do come out and see them.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Saturday Music Definitions: Joy


when was the last time you experienced random joy? this morning, I was driving and midway through my umpteenth listen of "Under Cover of Darkness", I just started laughing uncontrollably. I'm so happy right now. life is beautiful.





The Strokes Post #619


Albert's interview with SPINNER

What is the right frame of mind for the band?


It's complicated, but we got to a point where we would need all of us on the same page, and the band is only as strong as the weakest member. Sometimes it just takes time. People go and do stuff, no one really knows how to deal with success, at least me personally. We never parted ways, we always spoke, we just let it naturally take its course until eventually we all wanted to get together and make music and it was exciting. We were all ready to share.

How much pressure did you feel?

The pressure is what we like and what we don't like, it's our filter of how we pick things. It's not like an everyday thing. The pressure I myself feel is just the idea of releasing something, I want to hear something different and cool and exciting. Pressure comes more from deadlines. When it wasn't right and we had to do it again, the label was like, "I thought we were going to release it over the summer," and we said, "Well, we can't." That feels like pressure to me.

read more HERE

Friday, February 11, 2011

must watch video: Arcade Fire on KROQ

the incredible band crowds into a little radio studio to preform my two favourites from The Suburbs





Arcade Fire – Ready To Start (KROQ Session) [mp3]

Arcade Fire – Month Of May (KROQ Session) [mp3]

The Strokes Post #618


I never thought I'd see the day with pink in a Strokes album cover...

also, read NME's review of UCOD here

Thursday, February 10, 2011

The Strokes Post #617

this isn't my wrist, obv.
it belongs to Charlie Brown.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

The Strokes Post #616 (AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!)

this is fucking incredible. I heard it on my lunch break today and went insane


I love every bit of this song. I am not going to dissect it or tell you why. I just will tell you to listen to it LOUDLY on repeat with headphones on, like I'm doing now. also, I have a very strong feeling that Angles is going to be my favourite Strokes album. this song is perfect.

I FUCKING LOVE YOU JULIAN CASABLANCAS.

lyrics:

Slip back out of whack at your best
It's a nightmare
So I'm joining the army
Know how folks back out,
I still call
Will you hate for me now?
We got the righteous advice to use it
Got everything but you can just choose it
I won't tie me a puppet on a string
Don't go that way I'll wait for you
And I'm tired of all your friends
They're still at your door
And I won't, I better call you
So long my friend and adversary
But I will call you
Get dressed jump out of bed and do it best
Are you ok?
I've been out around this town
Everybody's been singing the same song for ten years
I'll wait for you Will you wait for me too?
And they sacrifice their lives
In the land of our closed eyes
I've been saying we're beaten down,
I won't say it again
So long, my friend
The sorry embrace
Don't go that way I'll wait for you
i'm tired of all your friends
Knocking down your door
Get up in the morning, give it your all
So long my friend and adversary
Won’t you wait for you?

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

watch: The Black Keys - Too Afraid to Love You (stripped)

goodness gracious. TBK + the South + this song.



my goodness gracious.

Monday, February 7, 2011

"many tears have fallen here// I'll be driving, you look the other way"


Phoenix - Rome [mp3]
I can't listen to this song without tearing up a little bit.

The Dodos - Black Night (+ tour dates)


sometimes I want to have children just so I can make them listen to The Dodos.

from the forthcoming No Color (15 March)

they are seriously excellent.

they play the Fillmore in April

TOUR DATES:
3/10/2011 – Reno, NV – Lincoln Lounge
3/11/2011 – Las Vegas, NV – Beauty Bar
3/12/2011 – Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
3/13/2011 – Phoenix, AZ – The Duce
3/14/2011 – Santa Fe, NM – Warehouse 21
3/15/2011 – Austin, TX- SXSW
3/16/2011 – Austin, TX- SXSW
3/17/2011 – Austin, TX- SXSW
3/18/2011 – Austin, TX- SXSW
3/19/2011 – Austin, TX- SXSW
3/20/2011 – Norman, OK – Opolis
3/21/2011 – Kansas City, MO – Record Bar
3/22/2011 – Omaha, NE – Waiting Room
3/23/2011 – Minneapolis, MN – Cedar Cultural Center
3/24/2011 – Fargo, ND – Aquarium
3/25/2011 – Winnipeg, MB – West End
3/26/2011 – Saskatoon, SK – Amigo’s
3/28/2011 – Calgary, AB – Republik
3/29/2011 – Edmonton, AB – Starlite
3/31/2011 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw
4/01/2011 – Victoria, BC – Sugar
4/02/2011 – Bellingham, WA – Wild Buffalo
4/04/2011 – Seattle, WA – Neumo’s
4/05/2011 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir
4/07/2011 – San Francisco, CA – Fillmore
4/08/2011 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theater
4/09/2011 – San Diego, CA – Casbah
4/27/2011 – Donostia, Spain – Gazteszena
4/28/2011 – Vigo, Spain – University
4/29/2011 – Madrid, Spain – El Sol
4/30/2011 – Barcelona, Spain – Plaça de la Odissea (Free Outdoor show)
5/02/2011 – Grenoble, France – Le Ciel
5/03/2011 – Milan, Italy – Salumeria Della Musica
5/04/2011 – Rome, Italy – Circolo Degli Artisti
5/05/2011 – Ravenna, Italy – Bronson
5/06/2011 – Aarau, Switzerland – Kiff
5/07/2011 – Munich, Germany – 59-1
5/09/2011 – Berlin, Germany – Magnet
5/10/2011 – Hamburg, Germany – Prinzenbar
5/11/2011 – Cologne, Germany – Blue Shell
5/12/2011 – Nijmegen, Holland – Doornroosje
5/13/2011 – Amsterdam, Holland – Melkweg
5/14/2011 – Brussels, Belgium – Botanique Festival
5/16/2011 – Vendome, France – La Chapelle Vendome
5/17/2011 – Strasbourg, France – La Laiterie
5/18/2011 – Paris, France – Divan du Monde
5/19/2011 – London, UK – Scala
5/20/2011 – Manchester, UK – Deaf Institute
5/21/2011 – Glasgow, UK – Arches

The Strokes Post #615

Radiohead - Just

Chuck Klosterman once wrote "The reason Johnny Carson was important was not because he was funny or clever or cool ... but that he was the last universally shared icon of modern popular culture"

what he meant by that is we live in such an intricate vast society and pop culture has so many damn subgenres that there are JUST no more cultural phenomenons. I think about that a lot, especially when I'm consuming music. There's just so much, yknow?

"Just" by Radiohead is one of my all time favourite songs. I realized earlier that I hadn't seen the video before. So I watched it. But then it hit me like a ton of bricks that I had seen it, probably ten years ago, way before I started listening to Radiohead.

you should watch it.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

preview Under Cover of Darkness!


BAHHHHH!

listen HERE

I'll wait for you, Julian C.

Jack White and Danger Mouse deliver a new song


Danger Mouse said:“I played some of the music for Jack White when I was on tour shortly after doing the first session, just to show him what I was doing, because at the time everyone thought I was just a hip-hop guy, or whatever. He liked it, but at the time I wasn’t even thinking of using him – you know, it’s Jack White. But in the end, I thought, he’s really into it – why not? He tried it in different voices – a high voice, a low voice, and I thought, why don’t we leave them all in? There’s a bunch of his vocals on Rose With The Broken Neck, and it doesn’t always sound like him – sometimes you’re like, is that Jack or not?”

"Two Against One" is eerie and has distinctive Southern charm. listen to it HERE

The song comes from Rome, Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi’s multiple-collaboration joint musical experiment. You know how Danger Mouse does it. Jack White also lends vocals on "The Rose With The Broken Neck"

Rome will be released on March 1st.

Tracklist:
01. Theme Of Rome
02. The Rose With The Broken Neck
03. Morning Fog (Interlude)
04. Season’s Trees
05. Her Hollow Ways (Interlude)
06. Roman Blue
07. Two Against One
08. The Gambling Priest
09. The World (Interlude)
10. Black
11. The Matador Has Fallen
12. Morning Fog
13. Problem Queen
14. Her Hollow Ways
15. The World

The Strokes Post #613

preorder Angles HERE
I want a leaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak now.

Alex Turner to release solo acoustic soundtrack (+ new AM album this year)


The film is called “Submarine” and was released at Sundance. The soundtrack (which is supposedly very much removed from anything Turner has done with Arctic Monkeys) is set for a March 14 UK release

read more HERE

read: Chuck Klosterman on The White Stripes


the cover story from October 2002 has been republished on SPIN's website.

"Like Pavement in '92, the Stripes brought romance and mystery to an indie underground devoid of rock'n'roll fantasy."

read the whole thing HERE

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

"you're the only thing I ever want anymore"

this song scared me the first time I heard it. that's how good it is.

RIP White Stripes


much respect.

The White Stripes - The Hardest Button to Button [mp3]

must watch video: Spoon on La Blogotheque

they're playing in a record shop in Paris. need I say more?


also, they play my personal favourite:


"I'm in need of someone to take care of me tonight"

Spoon - Black Like Me (La Blogotheque) [mp3]

Spoon - Got Nuffin (La Blogotheque) [mp3]


Spoon - The Ghost of You Lingers (La Blogotheque) [mp3]


many thanks to HAD who sent me this way.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The Strokes Post #612


via Edith =)

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Classic Track Thursday


Jimi Hendrix - Castles Made of Sand [mp3]

The Strokes Post #611

via RS

The lead single from the first new Strokes record in five years barrels into the bar with "Return to Form" written on its forehead. "Under Cover of Darkness" (set to be released February 9th on the band's website) takes the basic elements of their sound, breaks it down, builds it back up and expands it: the skinny-tie boogie bounce of "Last Nite," wave after wave of cute and sharp interlocking guitar, and a grand, gaping chorus where Julian Casablancas torments his vowels like he's got them trapped in his secret basement laboratory. The band members even throw in tricky tempo changes and a weird, slow breakdown just to show us they've been woodshedding. "I've been all around this town/Everybody's been singing the same song for 10 years," Casablancas observes. So the Strokes give us that same old song one more time, primed and polished for a new age.

Cold War Kids on Jimmy Kimmel + tour dates





Tour Dates:
March 3rd @ Crystal Ballrom - Portland, OR
March 4th @ WOW Hall - Eugene, OR
March 8th @ Ogden Theatre - Denver, CO
March 9th @ Granada - Lawrence, KS
March 10th @ First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
March 11th @ Riviera Theatre - Chicago, IL
March 12th @ The Rave - Milwaukee, WI
March 15th @ Blue Note - Columbia, MO
March 16th @ Newport Music Hall - Columbus, MO
March 17th @ St. Andrews Hall - Detroit, MI
March 18th @ Lee's Palace - Toronto, Canada
March 19th @ Corona Theatre - Montreal, Canada
March 21st @ Higher Ground - Burlington, VT
March 22nd @ House of Blues - Boston, MA
March 24th @ Radio City Music Hall - New York, NY
March 25th @ The Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA
March 26th @ 9:30 Club - Washington, DC
March 28th @ Cannery Ballroom - Nashville, TN
March 29th @ Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
March 31st @ Warehouse Live - Houston, TX
April 1st @ Stubb's - Austin, TX
April 2nd @ South Side Music Hall - Dallas, TX
April 8th @ Harrah's - Lake Tahoe
April 9th @ Fox Theatre - Oakland, CA

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The Strokes Post #610


Angles track listing:
1. Machu Picchu
2. Under Cover of Darkness
3. Two Kinds of Happiness
4. You’re So Right
5. Taken For A Fool
6. Games
7. Call Me Back
8. Gratisfaction
9. Metabolism
10. Life Is Simple In The Moonlight

Nikolai via SPIN

Friday, January 21, 2011

band of the week: Smith Westerns


When was the last time a good indie band came out of Chicago? The lo-fi scene in particular has been dominated by kids from Brooklyn, LA, San Francisco and San Diego. But Smith Westerns are ready to change that once and for all, and radically alter your perception of what trippy lo-fi music can be. Going beyond MGMT in terms of psychedelia, Smith Westerns are like a more upbeat, Beatles-inspired Girls minus the Elvis Costello vox and rigidly melancholy stance. Fuzzy, skuzzy and carefree, the songs balance Kinks guitars with simply delightful keys revive the 60’s in all of its glory. Not yet old enough to drink legally, these boys really know what they're doing. Listen below and head out to a show!

Smith Westerns - Weekend [mp3, highly recommended!]


Smith Westerns - Dance Away [mp3]
from Dye it Blonde, their second LP which was released on Tuesday

Fri-Jan 28: Nashville, TN - The End*
Sat-Jan 29: Knoxville, TN - Pilot Light*
Sun-Jan 30: Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506*
Mon-Jan 31: Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club*
Tue-Feb 1: Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn*
Thu-Feb 3: Orlando, FL - Backbooth*
Fri-Feb 4: Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder*
Sun-Feb 6: Houston, TX - Fitzgeralds*
Mon-Feb 7: Austin, TX - Emos*
Tue-Feb 8: Dallas, TX - The Loft*
Thu-Feb 10: Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room*
Fri-Feb 11: Los Angeles, CA - Echo*
Sat-Feb 12: Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar*
Sun-Feb 13: San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill*

(they're also playing a free instore show at Amoeba SF on the 14th)
Tue-Feb 15: Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
Wed-Feb 16: Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret
Thu-Feb 17: Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe
Fri-Feb 18: Boise, ID - Neurolux
Sat-Feb 19: Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
Mon-Feb 21: Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
Tue-Feb 22: Kansas City, MO - The Record Bar
Wed-Feb 23: Omaha, NE - Waiting Room
Thu-Feb 24: Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club
Fri-Feb 25: Madison, WI - The Frequency
Sat-Feb 26: Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
Mon-Feb 28: Toronto, ON - Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
Tue-Mar 1: Montreal, PQ - La Sala Rossa
Wed-Mar 2: Boston, MA - Great Scott
Fri-Mar 4: Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel
^ = w/ MGMT
* = w/ Yuck

Smith Westerns on MYSPACE

The Strokes Post #607

record review: Cage the Elephant - Thank You Happy Birthday

“taste of blood/broken dreams/lonely times indeed/eyes cast down”

Thank You Happy Birthday is Cage the Elephant’s second album, and it heralds two things above all else: unironic, Cobain-esque self-loathing and PixiesPixiesPixies basslines/anger. “Indy Kidz” is menacing and self critical, spinning a fuzzy, surfer tornado prelude to “Shake Me Down”, a hesitantly hopeful (and ever so endearing) song lost among explosive songs predicting the apocalypse and lamenting the inevitable stings of mainstream success. The 90’s alt-rock influences are abundant, most strongly manifested in the merciless self-disparagement which Matt Shultz uses to reflect his band’s artistic cred (or what’s left of it). Like Nirvana’s tortured frontman before him, Shultz contemplates how fame, radio play and commercial endorsements have blighted his band’s vision. No longer is there a distinct “us vs them”, and that is scary as hell to the Kentucky band that started out with such an undeniably fearless stance. The songs ricochet back and forth from seizure-inducing to Jimmy Eat World tender, but Cage the Elephant resonate best as they rock the living daylights out of your ears and any amps. Nothing’s sacred, and nothing is spared.
3.8/5

the album was released last week, buy it HERE

Classic Track Thursday


this song has been stuck in my head all day:

Herbert Stothart & Harold Arlen - If Only I Had a Brain [mp3]
from The Wizard of Oz (1939)

I know I'm a badass and all, but at the end of the day, I am a school teacher.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Strokes Post #606

this song makes me want to do shots and dance



also, I've been obsessed with Julian C's voice on "Alone, Together"

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

ex-Voxtrot frontman releases "The King"


Voxtrot loved The Smiths. maybe Ramesh will have a solo career as prolific as Morrissey's? decide for yourself:

Free Energy: new tour dates (with the Postelles)


catch them for the last time before they head back to studio to record their second lp!

January/February 2011 Tour Dates:
01/20/11 Chicago, IL @ Double Door * - BUY TICKETS
01/21/11 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue - 89.3 The Current Party - SOLD OUT
01/22/11 Fargo, ND Winter Carnival 2011/ Fargo Theater * - BUY TICKETS
01/25/11 Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile * - BUY TICKETS
01/26/11 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge * - BUY TICKETS
01/27/11 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent * - BUY TICKETS
01/28/11 West Hollywood, CA @ The Roxy Theatre * - BUY TICKETS
01/29/11 La Jolla, CA @ The Loft / UC San Diego * - BUY TICKETS
01/30/11 Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress * - BUY TICKETS
02/01/11 Dallas, TX @ The Loft * - BUY TICKETS
02/02/11 Austin, TX @ Emo's * - BUY TICKETS
02/04/11 Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon * - BUY TICKETS
02/05/11 Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder *
02/07/11 Orlando, FL @ The Social * - BUY TICKETS
02/08/11 Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds * - BUY TICKETS
02/09/11 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl * - BUY TICKETS
02/10/11 Norfolk, VA @ Jewish Mother Backstage * - BUY TICKETS
02/18/11 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church * - BUY TICKETS
* w/ The Postelles

COACHELLA 2011!!!!!

The Strokes Post #605


"Angles is the best album the Strokes have made since Is This It because of the stylistic depth and progressive excitement in those crisscross guitars, the tightly wound rhythms and Casablancas' dry trademark croon."

I've known for a long time that Strokes IV will sound unlike your run of the mill conventional alternative rock album, not just because it's the Strokes, but because they've all been exploring a ton of new musical territory as of late. and the word "progressive" is the best one I would use to describe what I imagine it'll sound like. King Crimson through the lens of Joy Division?

anyways, RS has a brand spanking new exclusive about the album (called Angles)

"The Strokes will tour this year — within reason, Hammond claims: "We want to come back strong but slowly, so we can grow live and also make new music. We want to release albums quicker."

"I don't want to make an album every five years," Valensi insists. "I love being in this band, and I want it to be a career thing. It's so worth it — for all of us."

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Noisepop lineup + badges


The complete list of confirmed headlining bands (thus far) is below.

ADMIRAL RADLEY
AESOP ROCK
ALEXI MURDOCH
BATTLEHOOCH
BEN GIBBARD
BEST COAST
GEOGRAPHER
DAM FUNK
DAN DEACON (SOLO)
FILM SCHOOL
HOW TO DRESS WELL
KID KOALA
KIMYA DAWSON
MAX BEMIS (SAY ANYTHING)
NO AGE
NOBUNNY
PEANUT BUTTER WOLF
TAMARYN
TED LEO (SOLO)
THE CONCRETES
THE GROWLERS
THE STONE FOXES
WAVVES
YO LA TENGO
VERSUS
ZACH ROGUE (ROGUE WAVE)

badges for the entire week are $160 and can be purchased at the NOISEPOP WEBSITE

video: Delta Spirit - Bushwick Blues on Jools Holland

this song...it kills me every time. Delta Spirit are one of a kind, and genuine as hell.



Delta Spirit - Flood [mp3]
from the Waits Room EP
"Flood" is layered in a way that explores the essence of Delta Spirit, though it's different from their previous songs. there was always this hidden softness, this fragile weaving of tales.

Friday, January 14, 2011

The Strokes Post #604


I just stumbled upon a gem.
Nikolai narrating these short films for the band The Rentals
en francais.


July 14
August 4
September 8
September 22
October 27

and Roderigo Amarante (of Little Joy) narrates November 10

read more about the project HERE

Thursday, January 13, 2011

video: Cold War Kids - Louder than Ever

a few months ago, when I first heard this song, I wanted to resume blogging because it was THAT GOOD. here is the video:



Cold War Kids - Louder than Ever [mp3]

from the forthcoming Mine is Yours

Ben Gibbard to play closing solo set at SF's Noisepop festival


a couple of years ago, Stephen Malkmus played a solo show for Noisepop at Great American Music Hall, a fantastic little venue in the city. this year, Ben Gibbard will do the same

Saturday, Feb. 27th at the Great American Music Hall
opener: Zach Rogue (of Rogue Wave)
tix go on sale Saturday Jan. 15th at 10AM PST, get them HERE

Ben Gibbard - I Don't Want To Get Over You (Magnetic Fields Cover) [mp3]

The Strokes Post #603

March 12, 2011
Las Vegas, NV
The Chelsea @ The Cosmopolitan
Pre-Sale Tickets

July 16, 2011 Lisbon, Portugal
Super Bock, Super Rock
On Sale Now

July 14-17, 2011
Benicassim, Spain
Benicassim Festival
On Sale Now

August 13, 2011
Tokyo, Japan
Summer Sonic
Ticket Details

August 14, 2011
Osaka, Japan
Summer Sonic
Ticket Details

Wednesday, January 12, 2011