Cancelled: Forward, Russia!

The Plague!

Forward, Russia! were to play the Mercury Lounge on March 23rd. It's been cancelled.

No reasons stated. Perhaps they're just gaining buzz.

Video of "Fair Doreen"

Maxfire sent me this YouTube link of Tunng playing “Fair Doreen” at the Green Man Festival. As you can tell in the screen shot, it’s not really a performance but instead the five of them chilling out at their camp site. While the video won’t convert any fans, it’s still a fun casual little performance. And none of the electronics that make up 50% of Tunng are present in the song.

If I didn't know better I'd swear they are a buncha hippies.

Congratulations to Tapes 'n Tapes

Things are really moving for NYC's adopted heroes (actually from Minneapolis), Tapes 'n Tapes. I'm partially surprised PFM reviewed it, but the band definitely deserves all the attention they have received. Yep. The Loon is "Best New Music."

-Download several tracks at their website.
-Their S/T EP has sold out, but you can order The Loon here.
-I call it "Essential 2006" myself, inspite of it's official 2005 street date.
-CMG also loved it. I think they have better written reviews in general (without the immense influence).

I caught Tapes 'n Tapes 3 of 4 times last month:
-Review of TnT @ the Delancey
Now come back ASAP.

Blog Tips; Kunek Review

I met Amrit for the first time at the Cherry Tavern last night and we shared a few Tequila Specials. I'm making Monday the new Friday. We talked a lot about music and online music culture, so on the way into work today, I thought of a few secrets to generate traffic. Here we go...

-Instead of writing out long and tedious band names, abbreviate. “What Made Milwaukee Famous” can abbreviate to MILF. We’ll know what you mean.

-Colorful adverbs, normally viewed as cursing, help add intensity: Wow. MILF are fucking brilliant.

That's about it. Sit back and watch traffic to your site skyrocket.

Anyway, the two of us hit up the Kunek show at Mercury and the band held my attention throughout the show despite knowing only three songs. They definitely write with a knowledge of Radiohead and Pink Floyd, moving in and out of “pastures of music” (did I mention they are from Stillwater, Oklahoma?). In addition, they're constantly caught up in minor keys emoting more introspection than Jean-Paul Satre at Walden Pond. The instrumentations are well-built, and they truly have a good ear for composition, but is that enough? Are the influences too overpowering?

I enjoyed it, but I also know it’s hard to dance with the devil on your back.

-Amrit Village Indian has his thoughts up.
-The Music Slut was at the show and gives their opinion. (The Music slut also knows a thing or two about tricks for traffic.)

Free 'Picture' Show Tonight

I’ve never been to the Rockwood Music Hall although I've walk past it many times. I guess there’s no cover, just a one drink minimum. Finian Mckean, Undisputed Heavyweights, and others play there regularly (including E Perkins in April). I might hit this up:

Tonight, February 27: The Picture (acoustic) @ 10:45

Kunek

Kunek plays at the Mercury Lounge tonight. Their website is really beautiful. I'm a sucker for that type of design. They are from Oklahoma, also known as the "sixth borrough." After listening to a few clips, I hunted down some full mpegs for y'all. If I could write about music, I'd probably say something about windswept soundscapes. Then you'd delete me from all blogrolls, bookmarks, and deliciousness, so I won't. They remind me a little of a stripped-down Radiohead, in a sad introspective Tom Yorke-ish way. It's not as developed as anything Yorke does, but what is? And no, that first song isn't about Conor Oberst; I don't think.

Kunek - Bright Eyes/The Swell
Kunek - Good Day
Kunek - Coma

Kunek goes on at 9:30 and it's $8.

Review: Man Man @ Northsix

Man Man played an energetic set Friday night at Northsix. At the beginning I had thought that it’s what I wanted a Wolf Parade show to be, but by the end I changed my mind and felt it’s what I wanted an Akron Family show to be. I love the percussive intensity to all their songs. They opened with Feathers and Engwish Blood, the first two off their new release, and played a good mix of their two albums. I didn’t mind the small group of drunk ruckus around us, but some did. Julia’s friend gave the drunk boys a few death stares, and some guy to our right almost wanted to kick their ass. But c’mon: they warned us before hand. They gave each other high fives, and then turned to us, “Hope you guys are ready to dance.” They were to the crowd what Man Man is to music. Disrupt the status quo. Cause mayhem.

They didn’t bother me, but for some reason I was still distracted. The band was great, the crowd was great, but something was missing and I still can’t say what exactly.

Maybe it was the smell. Northsix never has a good air circulation.

The band was dressed all in white, as usual, and included an array of intruments and members that appeared to multiply. Whilst the Men in Man Man do a great job of providing femine falsetto, they added Woman Woman (that is: two females) to back-up sing near the end. The untame assault on stage was further reflected by their face paint, which called to my mind little boys playing war, or even Lord of the Flies.

You could almost hear them chanting: Kill the pig, Cut her throat, Spill her blood.

Man Man plays Mercury Lounge on Thursday (tix).

Review: Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ Bowery Saturday

Since no one else seems to be talking about the Yeah Yeah Yeahs shows this weekend, sheesh, I might as well lead the charge.

I was surprised to see when we arrived at 10:45, that the room was half empty. Once Oakley Hall finished, the place got packed, the YYYs came out to an excited crowd, and opened the set with Gold Lion.

Immediately I could tell the crowd wasn’t going to go nuts. I was a little disappointed, but then by the next song I was so entranced by the energy Karen O puts forth, and how much enjoyment she has on stage, I forgot the crowd (eventually they did warm up). No photograph can accurately capture the frantic Karen O. I’m not even sure a video or a flipbook would do the trick.

Well, that’s about it. It was really great, but not in the way I had expected. I expected the band to be decent and the crowd to be ravenous. Instead, the crowd was normal (but by no means lame), and the band immensely talented. I wish they played clubs of that size all the time.

The omitted "Modern Romance" from the set list, even though they played it both nights before. Damn.

Bloody Engwish

I wrote about American Jarret "Speedy" Peterson last week. Now we learn that he punched his friend in the face and got kicked out of the Olympic Village. Nice.

In other news, Ryan Jarman of the Cribs isn't satisfied with only making his mouth bleed during shows. During the ShockWaves NME awards, he crashed onto the Kaiser Chiefs table and got sent to the hospital for stiches. Drunk, he insisted on returning to the party. "When he did get back, he went AWOL, and then another ambulance was called when he was eventually found and was seen to be bleeding." Link.

Elvis Perkins: SXSW; More Mp3s; Selling Out

I missed Elvis Perkins in Dearland’s set last Saturday Feb. 17th at Mo Pitkins. I rushed over from the West Side after catching Group Sounds play a fun set at R&R (prior to the Morning After Girls show there that night), only to discover it was sold out. Not only sold out, but we waited for 30 minutes to try and squeeze in, but the waiting list was far too long and Mo Pitkins too small. I was told by the band that Jim James of My Morning Jacket was in attendance. Now I see that Elvis and crew are also heading to SXSW. Very nice.

But we don’t have to go to Texas to see them. They are on the same bill as Blood on the Wall at the Mercury Lounge March 9th (tix). They also play every Friday in April at the Rockwood Music Hall.

I’ve posted tracks before. You can get them and a few more off their website now.

Reminder: Man Man Tonight

Just thought I'd remind you. Actually I only wanted an excuse to post that picture. Not that Man Man are actual pirates, but they are not not pirates either. But that pirate is sure a MAN MAN!

Man Man! Tonight. Northsix. Only 10 dubloons. Fee Fi Fo Fum!

Dave Deporis @ Mo Pitkins

Dave Deporis – At the End of the Tunnel (mp3)
(I think this is the one that gave me goosbumps)

I saw Dave Deporis last Thursday, Febraury 16th at Mo Pitkins. In a word, he was unbelievable. Only two songs in I was so moved that my eyes watered and goosebumps ran down my arms. If you’ve been keeping up online, then you probably already know Deporis from Audiofile, then Sixeyes, then Brooklyn Vegan. Even so, last Thursday night felt like a secret show. It wasn’t really, but I got the same feeling that I was witnessing some rare spectacle, as if Deporis could easily play a venue drastically larger. It was intimate and his voice all-too-perfect; I was astounded.

Thing is, I’ve seen him before. Twice. It didn't completely click until now. Try you damn hardest to see him at Mo Pitkins. Something wonderful occurred in that room that night.

FYI: Editors Tix On Sale

Editors at Webster Hall sold out.

But Editors with Stellastarr @ Warsaw now on sale.

Top Olympic Moments

I find the Olympics inspiring, but not for the winners; they bore me. The two most amazing things I’ve seen so far have been by a fourth-place and a seventh-place finishers, both Americans going balls-to-the-wall.

Moment #1
Kelly Clark’s final run in the Snowboard Half Pipe
I was watching the women’s runs and they weren't that interesting. The Men are physically able get higher and do cooler tricks, and thus it’s more fun for the casual viewer like myself. Then Ms. Clark (2002 Gold Medalist) shot down the pipe, and holy shit, that all changed. She was getting huge air, pulling out tricks unheard of, and could rival even some of her male counterparts. On her very last trick, which she didn’t need to easily secure a Gold Medal, she slipped on the landing and finished fourth. I don’t care. Even the announcers were excited and commented that even with the slip-up, it was the most intense run ever for the Olympics. The medalists’ runs were lame. She made history.

Moment #2
Jarret “Speedy” Peterson’s Final Aerial Ski Jump
With a name like “Speedy” you know he’s either a great jumper or a lousy lover (ba dum dum crash). NBC had been building up all night to this moment. At every commercial break and then on returning, they'd gush over this thing. Not only does he have a nickname, but his big trick has one too: “The Hurricane.” It makes for good TV. The Hurricane is a quintuplet twisting triple backflip, and maybe a somersault sextuplet or something. This is when others were doing double triple thingies. Boooo-ring. Of course, Speedy is the only person in the world even capable of this. Hur -i-cane! Hur -i-cane! Hur -i-cane!

So he pulls it off, makes history, lands with a pound, and places seventh. He didn’t care. The announcers didn’t care. I didn’t care. Nothing can deny that was the most awesome thing ever to happen in that sport.

I’ve watched this several times, and it’s still incredible. Watch it here.

Final Note: I can’t stand figure skating, but I watched a little last night. While 7th-place Emily Hughes was having the time of her life (and it showed), Miki Ando of Japan was a disaster on skates. Did she escape from Skating with Celebrities? Was I watching FOX? It was dreadfully painful (read as: fun) to watch her keep falling over and over, and still have to finish the program.

And For the Record: I applaud Lindsay Jacobellis in her performace of the Snowboard Cross Finals. So what if she fell down having a good time in her race? God forbid if people actually enjoy themselves.

Beware of Dark Agents

From last Saturday's NY Times:

Unpaid Shills Wanted
Sony BMG, fresh from being exposed by a blogger for planting stealth, and potentially dangerous, antipiracy code in some of its CD's, is seeking interns to plug its artists online. The interns will promote artists in Web communities where many people go specifically to share music without the influence of corporate marketers. "Do you blog, have lots of friends at your MySpace page, and love music?" its ad at entertainmentcareers.net asks. Epic Records, a Sony BMG imprint, "is looking for skilled, motivated interns to promote artists on social networking sites like MySpace, Purevolume, Facebook and others." The ad doesn't say whether the interns will identify themselves to their online "friends" as agents of Sony BMG. But they'll get college credit (for this unpaid job, Sony BMG only wants applicants eligible for that) and a bullet point for their résumés, so what's the difference?

I'm sure they're going to blend right in. Planted comments about Train will surely be undetectable.

Especially on this blog.

Metal Hearts

When I first heard the Metal Hearts album (which surprise surprise also came out Tuesday), I dismissed it. My first impression was that it’s too soft and sleepy. Then at their Moveable Hype show, a couple weeks ago, Rob who helps out with Slowlands, said to me that they reminded him of Pinback. Of course, if you know me, I love Pinback like a cuddly white Canadian baby seal. WHACK*!

Then Metal Hearts performed and really impressed me; I didn’t hate them like the scourge as I expected. I would exactly describe them as a more mellow Pinback.

Metal Hearts – Disappeared
Metal Hearts – Socialize (mp3)

Metal Hearts play Knitting Factory again on March 4th with Ester Drang. Many more dates across the US here.


(*) Please whack gophers and snakes, not baby seals. Just this one.

Can You Spot Karen O?

....in a lineup of Franciscan monks?

Good luck.



A'Monks - Saint Francis (Fake Tales from a City By this Name) Live (rapidshare link)

(I should rename this site Indie Rock PhotoShop)

Jerry Eats Bode; "Yummy"

Bonus:
The Sound of a Happy Yeti (wav)

Bloggers Not in Mourning

I had a post up earlier this morning about the demise of the Test Icicles, but I deleted because I saw everyone else is carrying the story. The only thing bloggers like better than a hyped band from England, is a hyped band from England not getting along. And word on the street is people are 20% happier. From comments sections of various blogs:

"I hope it's true, because this band sucks." bv
"good riddance to TI." sg
"thank god." ps
"that's awesome i did not like that band." ir

Were they that bad? Yes and no. While I didn't love the band, they at least had a couple good songs. Did they reeeeaallly make your life that miserable?

I still like these two:
Test Icicles - Circle Square Triangle (mp3)
Test Icicles - Dancing On Pegs (mp3) (via Woodentop for now since EZarchive is a bitch)

Well, some people are upset:

Ace Fu Listening Party Tonight

I won't mention either band by name, but the label Ace Fu is having a listening party for their two (excellent) releases that came out yesterday.

It's at Hi Fi (169 Ave A) at 9:00.

"Tonight has the added bonus of free Becks Light from 9:00pm till 10:00pm and the usual deal of $3 Brooklyn Lagers, IPA's and Pilsners till midnight."(thx vaso)

Time Mag at it Again

Arctic Monkeys are so last week. Literally.

This week Time Magazine features Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Shout Out Louds, The Go! Team, Lady "Save My Hoodie" Sovereign, and.... Chris Brown. I don't know that last one, but according to Time he's 16, and according to Chris, he's getting laid.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Time is catching up. The good news, for all you over-the-hill 30-somethings, is that Time says it's OK to like any of those albums.

Like the A'Monks of yesterweek, Time can't say anything without first stating something of the rags-to-riches backstory, this time about Clap! "This Brooklyn band released its debut without money..."


Conveniently, Pitchfork's feature of the week is about this "idea" of a backstory. I know because on my morning visit to the indie rock self-proclaimed Mecca (please don't burn my embassy), I was sucked in by the image of CYHSY in the upper righthand corner, like a fish irresistant to the lure. Then I read two paragraphs, got bored, and read the New Yorker instead.

Editors + Stellastarr at Warsaw

"I'll skip Editors and see a real show: Stellastarr* at Bowery." -comment by "Spinach" at Brooklyn Vegan.

Now you don't have to skip anything. Stellastarr and the Editors will play the Warsaw on March 28th. (thanks natalie)

While it looks like they are co-headling on their tour across America, it doesn't look like Stellastarr has been added to the Editors Webster Hall show on March 30th. The former headlines their own pair of shows at Bowery Ballroom earlier that week.

UPDATE: On sale Friday February 24 at noon.

All dates:
03.20.06 - Boston, MA (The Roxy)
03.21.06 - South Burlington, VT (Higher Ground)
03.22.06 - Montreal, QC (Cabaret du Musse Juste Pour Rire)
03.24.06 - Toronto, ON (Phoenix Concert Theater)
03.25.06 - Cleveland, OH (Agora Theater)
03.28.06 - Brooklyn, NY (Warsaw)
03.29.06 - Washington, DC (9:30 Club)
03.30.06 - New York, NY (Webster Hall)
04.01.06 - Philadelphia, PA (Trocadero)
04.02.06 - Baltimore, MD (Sonar)
04.04.06 - Norfolk, VA (The Norva Theatre)
04.05.06 - Carrboro, NC (Cat's Cradle)
04.06.06 - Athens, GA (40 Watt Club)
04.07.06 - Orlando, FL (The Social)
04.08.06 - Miami, FL (Studio A)
04.09.06 - St. Petersburg, FL (State Theater)
04.11.06 - Nashville, TN (Exit/In)
04.12.06 - Columbus, OH (Newport Music Hall)
04.13.06 - Detroit, MI (Magic Stick)
04.14.06 - Covington, KY (The Mad Hatter)
04.15.06 - Columbia, MO (Blue Note)
04.16.06 - Chicago, IL (Metro)
04.18.06 - Minneapolis, MN (Fine Line Music Cafe)
04.19.06 - Lawrence, KS (Granada Theatre)
04.21.06 - Denver, CO (Bluebird Theatre)
04.22.06 - Salt Lake City, UT (TBD)
04.25.06 - Vancouver, BC (Richard's On Richards)
04.27.06 - Seattle, WA (Chop Suey)
04.28.06 - Portland, OR (Dante's)
04.29.06 - San Francisco, CA (Mezzanine)
04.30.06 - Indio, CA (Coachella)

Sasquatch 2006 Announced!

Wow. It went from a single day festival last year to three. I betcha tickets won't still be $55.

FRIDAY May 26: Nine Inch Nails, And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, HIM, Wolfmother, & Special Guests TBA

SATURDAY May 27: Ben Harper, The Flaming Lips, The Shins, The Tragically Hip, Neko Case, Iron & Wine, Sufjan Stevens, Gomez, Rogue Wave, Architecture In Helsinki, Sam Roberts, Constantines, The Brunettes, Matt Costa, Bedouin Soundclash, Tim Seely, Korby Lenker, Common Market

SUNDAY May 28: Beck, Death Cab for Cutie, Queens of the Stone Age, Matisyahu, The Decemberists, Nada Surf, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Blue Scholars, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Arctic Monkeys, We Are Scientists, Chad VanGaalen, The Heavenly States, Rocky Votolato, Laura Viers, The Village Green, Mercir and Special Guests TBA

Presale begins Thursday.
My review of Sasquatch 2005 (U.S.E., Bloc Party, A.C. Newman, Arcade Fire, Wilco, Bobby Bare Jr., Kanye, Joanna Newsome, Modest Mouse.)

Here's the Beverage Enforcement team from last year, making sure everyone was boozing it up in the sweltering desert.

The M's on KEXP

As Matt pointed out in my comments yesterday, when I was highlighting a few albums that probably didn't need much highlightion, I didn't mention much about the M's. They are also releasing an album, Future Women, but since I hadn't really heard it, I couldn't really put my two cents in. Of course that song, "Plan of the Man" is good enough to warrant everyone's attention, and these other songs hint at an album that you shouldn't pass up. I especially like the title track "Future Women."

The M's played KEXP on Saturday:
The M's - Plan of the Man Live
The M's - Shawnee Dupree
The M's - Future Women
The M's - Never Do This Again

Future Women got a score of 78% at CMG.
The M's open for Of Montreal at Bowery on March 3rd (sold out). They also play at Southpaw on the terribly busy day of March 25th with What Made Milwaukee Famous (tix).

Update: and at Piano's March 27th. Tix.

Video: W.A.S Accepts Arctic Monkeys Award

By now you've heard that Keith of We Are Scientists gave the acceptance speech for the Arctic Monkeys Brit Award (flanked by the A'monks). Here's the Vid. Click image above. (via laura).

Big Release Day: Tunng, Man Man, Two Gallants, Destroyer, A'Monks

Tomorrow is Tuesday February 21st, which is the date for many many (many) releases. My picks?

Tunng: Mother's Daughter and Other Songs (Ace Fu)
I've talked a ton about this album. Now you have no excuse. It's my favorite album from the past 18 months, maybe 24. That good.

Even Ang -whom never loves the exact things I do- is going to rush out and by the CD... even though she already has it on her iPod.

That good.

Man Man: Six Demon Bag (Ace Fu)
Also an Ace Fu release. Pitchfork-approved (8.3), and just barely missing a Best-Of designation. It's so much fun, it probalby deserves one. CMG was a little lower(69%). Definitely check out their album release show this Friday at Northsix. I'll be talking more about them this week and next I'm sure.

Two Gallants: What The Toll Tells (Saddle Creek)
I've only had this for a few days, but from the half dozen spins I've given, I'd say it's as great as everyone thought it'd be. Super excited for their show in April.

Destroyer: Destroyer's Rubies (Merge)
A Pitchfork Bester (8.5), I'm not sold on this yet. Bejar at times sound like David Byrne -or is it Alec Ounsworth? (hehehe)- which never came through on his New Pornographers collaborations. Not a criticism, just an observation. A lot of people are creaming over this, and I haven't been able to see why... yet. Of course, as often occurs, I hate a LOT of stuff when I first here it. Anyone remember my first Arctic Monkey post? I've not heard Bejar's previous releases, so I can't compare. It's definitely good, and had the ability to grow on me, but when compared to the three albums above, it's not as strong. Watch me eat my words in another week.

Arctic Monkeys: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (Domino)
U.S. Release. Probably old news by now, but it's good nonetheless.

Here are other albums on my radar, although I haven't heard them all. I know Eef and M's have been generating buzz, not to mention They Shoot Horses and Elbow:

Arab Strap: The Last Romance (Transdreamer)
Eef Barzelay: Bitter Honey (spinART)
Bloc Party: Helicopter EP (Dim Mak)
Coldcut: Sound Mirrors (Ninja Tune)
Eels: With Strings Live at Town Hall (Vagrant)
Elbow: Leaders of the Free World (V2)
The M's: Future Women (Polyvinyl)
Maximo Park: Missing Songs (Warp)
Metal Hearts: Socialize (Suicide Squeeze)
They Shoot Horses Don't They: Boo Hoo Hoo Boo (Kill Rock Stars)

Go to Coolfer for a complete list of albums released tomorrow.

Friday I'm in Wuv D - runk

Part I: Let's Meet up at the Urinal
Friday night, after a couple homemade rum and cokes at Palazzo DiYeti, I saw a decent set by the Aeroplane Pagaent at the Mercury Lounge. While their vocal melodies didn't come across as memorable, the place was full and even seemed almost sold out. Yeah, I was stunned: the first of five bands that night, the least known, and they really packed'em in.

After their set, I ran into a familiar face waiting for a turn in the Mens Room. Of course, I wasn't 100% sure, so I threw him a couple questions: "Are you in a band?" Yes. "A band that's actually not playing tonight?" Yes. "Are you in... Slowlands?" Yeaaaah! It was Josh Kolenik, the main wrecking force behind the group. I told him how disappointed I was to learn he wasn't from the Mid-west (he wore an Oilers hat the first time I saw them), and that I really liked the album they just released. I'm not the only one either. Check these reviews out: Rachael, Amrit, and Jeff have all joined the chorus of praise.

Part II: I'd Rather Get Cialis Offers
After taking our leave of the Mercury, we hopped over to Scenic where I had to turn down an opportunity to join the mailing list of the band we just missed. Well, I saw them play ONE song. "That should be enough," the manager told me.

It wasn't.

I ran into Matt Fake Century -or I should say he ran into me. He's been a Mugs fan by association much longer than my recent "discovery." The Mugs themselves started off the set with mostly songs I wasn't familiar with, but ended with all their strong stuff. By this time, the drinks were working the magic, so I really can't give an accurate review.

Part III: They Call Me Doctor Worm
In my party mode, I agreed to head to Carrol Gardens to check out some band Angela's friend's boyfriend was in. You're probably thinking what I was thinking: Some friend's boyfriend's band? Awesome.

Turns out, it wasn't a band at all... but laptop electronica. You know, the type that repeats for hours and hours? N-ss N-ss N-ss nonstop. How drunk was I by this point, you ask? Let's consult the fist:

That's me, my fist, and the shadow caused by my fist on the projected visuals. And that's the guy at the laptop, if you couldn't tell. By Law, Section III Article B, he's bald with standard-issue black frame glasses. That's also why I think James Carville must do electronica when he's not battling demons republicans. Hell, for all I know, that was Carville.

Anyway, on the walk home around 3:00, I made a fool of myself to Rachel, Angela's friend, since at one time she had in fact dated the guitarist of They Might Be Giants, Dan.

I kept singing, "'They call me Doctor Worm. Good Morning, how are you? I'm Doctor Worm...' That's more fun than N-ss N-ss N-ss"

... and into the night....

Friday I'm In Wuv

Today is Friday, which means that tonight is Friday night. Sweetness abound. If you live in Philly (c'mon, you know you do) the National Eye are playing the Khyber for $8. Not only that, they will also give you a copy of their album which came out Lover's Day this past Tuesday. But that's not all!!! Yeti-approved Spinto Band will be opening. It's such a good deal, they should be paying you to go! Wait. I mean, you should be paying them, which I guess is what you'll be doing anyway. The 'Stamps will be there, I think. Tell them hello.

I've posted several tracks before by N'Eye before, but here's my favorite again in case you missed it. It's still Valentine's Day, right?

National Eye - Waves of Love

A lot of the press-releases I get lay claim to genre-hopping, but lemme tell you that these guys are all over the place, and most of the time it works. This one is on the softer side.
----------------------------------------------------------
In other parts of the listening world, Julseas been ragging on me to love the Bound Stems. At first listen I didn't trust her. But, it turns out I do like the Bound Stems, and I really love this song:

Bound Stems - Risking Life and Limb for the Coupon

Finally, 'cause you care, my weekend plans consist of Group Sounds at R&R followed by Elvis Perkins in Dearland at Mo Pitkins. Go to this post for some excellent Elvis Perkins mp3s while they last.

RIAA: "We Want Your Souls"

I usually don't post RIAA news, because I like to keep things generally pretty cheery around here, but I'm piqued by this piece of news. The RIAA now claims that it is unlawful to put your own CDs on your iPod, and that doing so does not constitute fair use. Know what I say? I say constitute rhymes with prostitute, so screw'em. Grrrrrr.

Nor does the fact that permission to make a copy in particular circumstances is often or even routinely granted, necessarily establish that the copying is a fair use when the copyright owner withholds that authorization.

You see, last year to the Supreme Court they said, "it's perfectly lawful to take a CD that you've purchased, upload it onto your computer, put it onto your iPod."

Does the RIAA eat babies?

[via Spinme]

Good News Bad News

Bad: My work is downsizing and have cut staff by 25% in the last week. Not me, I hope. I think they must like my blog.

Good: Both my bosses are going on vacation all next week.

Jack Johnson and G. Love - Holiday (Madonna Cover)
The Mugs - Holiday (own song) mp3

Yes, I admit. I liked Jack Johnson's first album, and even some of his second. I even saw him play La Boule Noire in Paris in 2002 which is the size of the Mercury Lounge.

PS. The Mugs play Scenic tonight. I'll be there and square.

Two Gallants - Speaking of Long Songs...

I was in the process of writing how much I like the Two Gallants shorter songs off The Throes, but get less excited for their more expansive narratives. Then of course first thing this morning I go and post a 23 minute epic by Pink Floyd. Maybe I need to sync the Two Gallants with Big Mommas House 2. Five of the nine tracks on The Throes are at least seven minutes long and between them, it really tries my patience.

So guess how excited I was to learn that “Waves of Grain” off the forthcoming album is more than 9 minutes and 33 seconds! Except that, well… it’s so excellent, time flies. I love it. I hope I like the rest as much. Currently on repeat:

Two Gallants – Waves of Grain (mp3) from What the Toll Tells
Two Gallants – You Losin’ Out from the Throes

The new album comes out on February 21st, along with 112 other great albums you need to get. Stream here.
Two Gallants play the Bowery Ballroom Monday, April 24. Tix not yet on sale.

Pink Floyd and Beyond the Infinite

Last night I took a break from Valentine’s Week to re-watch one of my favorite movies –“of ALL TIME!”- 2001: A Space Odyssey.

I had a couple questions this time around, after my 20th viewing. Not the usual “What the fuck was that about?” or “What the hell?" I'm beyond that. I’ve read the book, many of drafts of screenplays (which are startlingly revealing), and in-depth essays over the last ten years, so I have a pretty solid stance on all the major issues.

No, my main question is regarding the interview by the BBC 12 with Dave, Frank, and HAL. The correspondent clearly states that the time delay for transmission –seven minutes- has been edited out for broadcast. The beginning of the interview goes something like this:

BBC 12: Hi fellas.
Dave: Hi.
Frank: Hello.
BBC 12: Hope you guys are doing alright up there?
Dave: Yeah. We’re doing fine.
BBC 12: Good to hear.... (and so on)

Put in the seven minute time delays and you have one long and stunted interview. Just curious.

The last 23 and a half minutes of the film, titled “Jupiter and Beyond the Infinite” sync’s great with Pink Floyd’s song "Echoes".

“Out of all Pink Floyd synchronization theories, we believe that this may have been purposely done, the most. Because Kubrick had asked to use Atom Heart Mother (Pink Floyd, 1970) in which Pink Floyd denied and later regretted.” (PF-Online)

Pink Floyd – Echoes (savefile mp3)

Sorry it’s savefile, but besides being 23 minutes, trippy, and good, it’s also 35 MB.

(Insert Arctic Monkey Exaggeration Here)

Remember way back, when the NY Times made the gaff about the Arctic Monkeys album -ohhhhh- two weeks ago? You know, the one stating that it "has been instantly — and accurately — hailed as a modern classic, even though it was only released a week ago."?

I direct your attention to Time Magazine:

"Americans who don't love music can sniff at the band's impossible youth"

What about Americans who do love music? Can we sniff too?
and:

"Music lovers need only glance at dusty albums by Oasis, Super Furry Animals, the Prodigy and Bloc Party to remind themselves that the Brits routinely mistake mediocrity for greatness. Here's the thing, though: this time there's no mistake."

This time, eh? And is the Bloc Party album that dusty already?
and:

"They aren't referencing anything as they fly through tunes like The View from the Afternoon"

Anything? An-eeeee-thing?
and:

"Perhaps the best thing about it is that it has no interest in speaking to anyone over 30."

Ha! All you 30-somethings are too old and frail to understand us hip kids.

Oh boy.

Yeti ed. note: I love me some A'Monks. I like the album a lot and in concert are great, but it's also not the "the fifth greatest British album--of ALL TIME!"

Shady Bard

Shady Bard flew into my radar when I saw that they released a limited edition debut EP called Treeology on Static Caravan, and sold out instantly. Now it's fetching for a pretty sum on ebay.

This happens with all bands in England nowadays.

This sad song resembles a little of Shout Out Loud's "Go Sadness," and it really grew on me this past week:

Shady Bard - Torch Song Demo (mp3)

Anyway, currently there's no way of listening to their EP, but if you're resourceful, you can sneak around their site and get two more demos. And you gotta love that Holga press photo.

Need Help: Domain Game

I’d like to register a domain name, but I’m not quite sure to which I should commit. There are the obvious choices, and then others I kinda like more. All of these would have a Dot Com, of course. I'm stumped.

Something Old:
noyetidance
yetidontdance

Something New:
noyeti
jerryyeti

Something Borrowed:
yetipedia
yetiforkmedia
brooklynyeti
yetiTunes

Something Blue:
blueyeti.com

Any other suggestions?

March Gets More Crowded

Yikes. Did you see the recent additions to the calendar?

The Go Team at Bowery Ballroom March 20th. Tickets on sale tomorrow.

This is in addition to the other shows that week: Youth Group, Jose Gonzalez, Forward Russia, Love is All, Arctic Monkeys, Joggers, ... not to mention ones I'm missing: Annie, Zutons, Rakes, Noissettes, Mystery jets, and probably even more.

Also on the calendar:
Sondre Lerch at Bowery, April 6. Tix tomorrow.

Joggers will open with Giant Drag for Pretty Girls Make Graves at irving Plaza.

Finally:
March 28th, Snow Patrol at Bowery? I thought they were big.
(thx Chris for the heads up)

I Killed My Valentine

Valentine. I killed my Valentine.
And I laughed until I cried for my Valentine.

Bobby Bare Jr. – Valentine (Live EP Version)
(Dodge posted the regular version last week, as well as another track)

Flat chested girl from Maynardville
Lies about much she needs
Trades all her CDs for weed and ecstasy.
Bobby Bare Jr. - Flat Chested Girl From Maynardville (myspace mp3)

When all of your famous friends have all stopped dropping in,
I’ll be around, on your way down.
Bobby Bare Jr. – I’ll Be Around (mp3)

Bobby Bare Jr.'s live show is top notch. He cranks up the volume and rocks hard. He’s hitting the Mercury Lounge on Tuesday February 21. Always a good time.

A Perfect Love Song

This came in my into my inbox a while ago, and it ended up surprising me. It's a great little love song.

Kid Theodore - I Am A Moth

Yes, I know it's not the most romantic title. You'll have to trust me. If you were a fan of Iron & Wine's "Such Great Heights", you'll like it. Put it on that mix-tape you're crafting for your Valentine. Visit Kid Theodore on myspace.

Essential 2006: The Gaskets Loose Change

One of the best songs I've ever had the honor to post:
The Gaskets - Hold Steady Hot Weather

Previously my favorite song:
The Gaskets - Eiffel Tower

Buy the album for $10 + s/h only via paypal here, or by check go here.

When I first heard the full length album from the Gaskets, I quickly realized my high expectations probably weren't going to be matched. The first few songs were decent, but not on the same level as the demos I heard back in November. Even the venue's sound problems at their last showSaturday night didn't bode well. Once I re-ordered the tracks to better cohabit the same forty minutes, something popped back into place. At first I thought maybe the Gaskets write better singles than albums, but when I shuffled them, they all clicked together. It was magic. You cannot deny “Hold Steady How Weather” is the boogiest track.

That’s right, boogiest.

The only real quirk about the album is not the songs themselves, but the order in which they appear. But that can be fixed. I know I am destroying the “artists’ original vision,” but I don’t care. This is so much better, and some of the lesser songs actually improve.

Preferable track order (elimi-dating the unnecessary track “De Sunuke Sufain”); and my rough score of each track based on it’s new location:

1. Eiffel Tower 5.0 / 5
2. Motivation 5.0 / 5
3. End Game 4.0 / 5
4. Earthquake 5.0 / 5
5. Left Hand 5.0 / 5
6. Hold Steady Hot Weather 5.0 / 5
7. Cold Busted 4.0/ 5
8. The Easy Life 5.0 / 5
9. Pennies and Dimes 4.0 / 5
10. Deportees 4.5 / 5
11. A Movie About You 5.0 / 5


Here is the original order, which, don't be fooled, disguises it as only an above average album.: Deportees, End Games, Cold Busted, Left Hand, Earthquake, Hold Steady Hot Weather, Motivation, Eiffel Tower, Pennies and Dimes, De Sunuke Sufain, The Easy Life, A Movie About You

This is Not a Competition

After snubbing the Oly-o’s Opening Ceremony Friday night to enjoy the last of Arrested Development, I decided that I’d spend my weekend catching some of the games. When I tuned in Saturday to NBC, I was a bit puzzled. Sure enough I saw athletes going down the half-pipe doing tricks, but something was off. Then I asked myself “When did they rename the Olympics the Next Snow Search All Stars?”

Then when the skiers went off a jump and 20 foot high flames shot out of the ramp, I thought, “Waaaait a damn minute… when did the Olympics get this coooooool?”

It turns out that NBC wasn’t excited enough to air actual Olympic game footage, so they aired some fourth-rate competition of kids between 8 and 15 years of age tooling around on the snow.

Fine and dandy, but next week, when you tune in for the Olympicnic games, you might discover that the Daytona 500 has been added this year. And a monster truck rally.

Speaking of games, here’s a not-so-common BP track:
Bloc Party – This is Not a Competition

"I Got a Sneaking Suspicion"

Saturday night wasn’t quite the mayhem I envisioned, but I can’t blame the Gaskets. When we first arrived at Arlene’s Grocery, a band –whom I won’t name since I don’t like hate mail– was performing, and while they had the look of heavy metal (read as: Mohawks), they played wussy modern rock via 2000 alla Everclear. Luckily the sound level for them was perfect for me: not that loud.

Even so, we only could take (((--this much--))) and we chilled at the adjacent bar for the remainder. When the Gaskets took the stage at 12:30, the problem was immediately, and "ever" so, clear: volume. It was too damn quiet. I recall the volume last November being a little quiet, but this time it was excruciatingly low. Even Low is louder.

You know that saying, “Those who hear not the music, think the dancer’s mad.” Well… while I couldn’t hear enough to really rock, I was glad to see about thirty people up front still getting down. In the end, the Gaskets sounded nothing like they did in November and nothing like they do on the album. The band even wrote me a sweet apology for the mess… That was nice, but of course, not their fault. Arlene’s Grocery needs some damn voltage.

Angela and Helen both said it was good, but I think Kristen and Prav bounced early. I ran into a piece of Jay’s crew, Beach and Julia, on our the way out, but I didn't get their opinion. Maybe next time they can be at Mercury Lounge… or really, anywhere…

"New" Beat Radio

Not "new", but a new version of "Elegy" is now available. There's something remarkable about Beat Radio's songs and the versions they've made available. When I first heard their rough demos, there was a quality to them that was distinct and raw. I like to view these newer versions not as "better," but rather as equally coexistent.

Beat Radio - Elegy (mp3) from the forthcoming Ecstatic EP
Beat Radio - Elegy (mp3) original demo version

Beat Radio plays a big show Wednesday opening for the Grand National and DJ Cam at the Hiro Ballroom. More info here.

More mp3s here.

Glee Club

Yay for Fridays. I really have nothing to post, so I’ll offer up something a little different today: A Capella groups covering hits from the radio. I’ve had these for ages and over the years forgot who actually sings them. Sing along!


A Capella - Aha’s Take On Me
Key words: “do do DOO do / do do DOO do.”

A Capella - Indigo Girl’s Least Complicated
Key words: “doom doom de de dee de”

A Capella - The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Be
Key words: “Chum! Chum! Chum! Chum! Dadalum bum bum bum bum”

BONUS: Since I know you’re curious as all hell to hear the Guide Dog Glee Club, which uses “249 samples of two guide dogs and a sequencer program to arrange and combine pitches,” here are two samples. People streaming music from the Hype Machine are going to ask, “what the fuck?”

The Juno Waltz (mp3 sample)
Adogio (mp3 sample)

And by request: Rockapella. These are hilarious! Especially the first one:
Rockapella - Almond Joy Vs. Mounds #1(mp3)
Rockapella - Almond Joy Vs. Mounds #2(mp3)
or stream them:
Rockapella - Almond Joy Vs. Mounds #1(m3u)
Rockapella - Almond Joy Vs. Mounds #2(m3u)

Awesome.

Arrested Development

I was going to post this first thing, but I had a long night last night, and Jeff beat me to it.

The "Last" Four New Arrested Development Episodes.
Tonight.
Fox.
8:00.

Gaskets! Gaskets! Gaskets!

Julia asked me last night if there is anything I’m excited about that’s coming up. There was. I wrote a skit about it:

Some bar in the LES Saturday night:
Guy 1: This place is so much fun. Let’s do another jager shot.
Guy 2: Oh Dude what time is it? Almost midnight? … I gotta get going to Arlene’s Grocery
Guy 1: Arlene’s Grocery? What for?
Guy 2: Oh man, this dude I know, Jerry, told me of this group that is supposed to be awesome. The Gadgets? The Three Gasketeers? Something like that.
Guy 1: So you’re going to leave me for a show?
Guy 2: No. You're coming. It’s only be for an hour, and I was told there would be mad sluts there. It’ll be awesome. Then we can come back here for the DJ.
Guy 1: What do they sound like?
Guy 2: Don’t you trust this dude, Jerry? If he says they are awesome, then you don’t ask questions.
Guy 1: That wouldn’t be Jerry Yeti would it?
Guy 2: Yeah… you know him?
Guy 1: Sweet. His taste in music is thirst-quenching.
Guy 2: So you coming?
Guy 1: Hell Yeah. If he recommends it… Just after this jager shot.

The Gaskets – Eiffel Tower (#24 on my Top 60 of 2005)
Arlene’s Grocery
Midnight.
This Saturday Only.
Come!
Drink!
Dance!
More!

Morning News

Editors for March 30 at Webster Hall will go one sale tomorrow at noon via ticketweb. Presale is today at 2:00.

Also today at 2:00, Elvis Perkins will be playing live on WNYC radio. Listen on 93.9 FM or stream on the 'net.

-Elvis Perkins in Dearland play Mo Pitkins on Saturday February 18th around midnight.
-Samamidon and Dave Deporis also play Mo Pitkins next week, on Thursday February 16th. My review of Sam and Dave's last show together.

State of the Year in Songs

I just posted my most-played of last year a bit late. Here's my top songs played, so far this year.
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1. Tunng – Surprise Me 44 (Zeldzaam Dwars Session)
It’s actually the album version that is better, but since I could easily post entire album, I have to watch myself so that I don’t. I’ll offer up this live version instead. It’s not even necessarily the best song on the album, but it’s the cheeriest and highest bpm. It closes out the LP so well, that I often go back and replay the whole thing just to get to this moment. Again... the version I'm posting is a live track, and while a good one, is only a shadow of the studio recording.

2. Tapes ‘n Tapes – Cowbell (mp3)
By now you should have and love this song. No excuse. The syncopated guitars and vocals make this one of the most tricky and fun songs around.

3. Man Man – Engwish Blood
A hilarious intro with an ingenious chorus of Fe Fi Fo Fum. What more can you ask?... What's that? Oh, a whole kickass album to support it? No problem. Check it out on February 21st.

4. Elvis Perkins – Sleep Sandwich
Don’t let the slow first few bars fool you. It quickly gains strength when the mallets on the drums crescendo into the chorus and come the lines “Someday everyone will know who you are / Someday everyone will know who I am.” Then backed by a muted trumpet and brushes on the drums; maybe someday everyone will know indeed.

5. Slowlands – Listener’s Dilemma
Such a beautiful song. The soft vocals, the beautiful melody… listen and relax.

6. Viva Voce – Wrecking Ball (Tunng Remix)
More Tunng than Viva Voce, the minor chords –understressed in the original- are set within heavy downbeats that give it urgency within its slow tempo, that almost tick-tocks like a clock. The vocals are overlaid and they too seem both rushed and paused. Mid-song, the lines “I think I like it” stand out without much support, but when the rhythm and guitar rejoin, the down beat is even more intense. Finally, the overlaying male/female vocals guide it to completion.

7. Voxtrot – Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives (mp3)
Gotta love this group. Just when the you think the transition to the chorus is can’t get better, then comes the actual chorus. Magnificent.

8. Samamidon – Levi (mp3)
Sam’s vocal style is perfect for this style of folk. I love the descending transition chord (a V chord?) that gets two beats on its way to the next (a IV chord?). I love the simple snare and tom that always remains unpredictable enough to be deceptively complex.

9. DFAified Britney Spears – Untitled, DFA Demo
I’ve always hated Spears. I still do. But DFA created a superb track here despite Britney’s failings. Ok, ok. So it was done in 2003, but since it didn't leak until now, it qualifies.

10. National Eye – Waves of Love
I admit it… it reminds me of Andrew Bird a little. The intro is soft keyboard whole notes, and then vocals enter ever so gently. Slowly adding a strum, a gorgeous chorus… and build.... Build. Ahhhhhh.

A List of 60 Songs

Yesterday I posted (aka: “lied about”) random songs I sing. Since I never got around to sharing which songs I listen to most from 2005 …here they are without repeating an artist (with one exception):

Built to Spill Touring with Camper Van Beethoven

I never really got into Built to Spill but I guess it's time I caught up. Angela got hooked shortly after we missed their Irving Plaza and Southpaw shows last year. This year I'm sure she'll drag me along. I'm not sure if Camper is along for all these dates, so check your local listings.

Apr 11-27 they tour the Mid West. See dates here.

Apr 28 2006 8:00P Mr. Smalls Millvale, PA
Apr 29 2006 8:00P Town Ballroom Buffalo, NY
Apr 30 2006 8:00P Higher Ground South Burlington, VT
May 1 2006 8:00P The Roxy Boston, MA
May 3 2006 8:00P Irving Plaza New York City, NY
May 4 2006 8:00P Irving Plaza New York City, NY
May 5 2006 8:00P Irving Plaza New York City, NY
May 6 2006 8:00P Trocadero Philadelphia, PA
May 7 2006 8:00P Trocadero Philadelphia, PA
May 8 2006 8:00P 9:30 Club Washington, DC
May 9 2006 8:00P 9:30 Club washington, DC

May 10-20 they hit the South. See dates here.

Tickets available for NYC dates on the 13th. Built to Spill's new album You In Reverse will be released on April 11.

Tuesday Show Additions

Jay has the latest news on the next Editors show. Go there for the info about the NYC date and when tix go on sale.

Also added to the calendar: two nights of Stellastarr at Bowery, which I might have gone to, but they are Sunday night and Monday night March 26th and 27th. Yuck.

The Rakes play Bowery March 21st, but I'm already busy that night. Are they worth seeing, anyone?

Since Man Man was added to the Mercury Test Icicles show, I might skip their Northsix show.

Finally, I should mention that after Elvis Perkins last night, I caught a set by the Rinse, and surprisingly stayed for the whole thing. They were a blast and sounded like We Are Scientists meets the Gaskets. If I was a tennis racket and had a sweet spot, and as long as the ball -even a weak ball- hits that spot it would go over the net, then the Rinse would be in bounds.

That analogy sounded much better last night. Anyway, they play the Tank on February 25th, if you aren't at the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Songs I Sing

If you know me, you know that I love Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumbing.” At random points throughout my day, for no reason, I will get the impulse to yell out “I! GET! KNOCKED! DOWN!” and off I go into another heartfelt refrain. Oh, Chumbawamba, you are geniuses. They must be billionaires off that song.

That’s not to say that’s the only hit I've adapted for my life. Soul Asylum’s “Misery,” aka “Frustrated Incorporated,” is another gem I whip out whenever someone says either magical word “Frustrated” or “Incorporated.” The lyrics have no equal:

They say misery loves company
We could start a company and make misery
Frustrated, Incorporated

Right? Right?!?!

I’d post an mp3 of it, but alas… I do not own. There are a few others that cause me to break into song at a moment’s notice. The nominees are:

Stay by Lisa Loeb:
I’m only hearing negative… nononono…
You say. -long pause- stay.

We Built This City by Jefferson Starship:
“We built this city (x13)
On roooooock aaaaaand rooooooooll.” (repeat all x14)

Pray by M.C. Hammer:
(faux thug voice): “You Got To Pray.”
(girlie voice): “Praaaaay”
(thug): “PRAY”
(girlie): “Praaay- ay – ay”

Up on the Housetop (sung year-round) by Gene Autry
“click! Click! CLICK!”

Essential 2006: Elvis Perkins in Dearland Excerpts from "Ash Wednesday"

Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Without Love (mp3)
Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Ash Wednesday (mp3)
Elvis Perkins in Dearland - May Day (mp3)

(get one more via Dodge at MOKB)

Sometime yesterday, something clicked. Earlier in the day I was trying to find someone to go to see some band no one knows on a Monday night at the Mercury. And while convincing them that Elvis Perkins wouldn't be bad, I beleived it myself. In truth, I didn't really know.

Then I saw him and was convinced. Not WHAM convinced, but slowly over the course of the whole set. It was enough to make me listen to him on my way home, and that... that was where I was hooked.

The band was solid, far too good to be playing the first of four bands on a Monday night. Perkins himself has a voice 90% of the indie world dreams of having, and boy does he put it to use. He could have sang a medley of "Twinkle Twinkle/the ABCs/Ba Ba Black Sheep" and it would have been great. On stage he is a cross-breed of Clem Snide, Devin Davis, Colin Meloy, and maybe a little Alec Ounsworth. I throw out those names not to say that Elvis is a lesser version of them, but rather their peers, and maybe occassionally their superior. (Laugh now, but after you listen to "Ash Wednesday" a half dozen times, you'll see).

Obviously a song titled "It's a Sad World After All" is not going to be cheery, but even the more upbeat songs, "May Day" and "Without Love" are a bit sad. It's really on "Ash Wednesday" though that Perkins soars and dives with his voice. I'm not sure what the lyrics are, or what he's singing about, but it's so sad and beautiful, it's hard not to be moved.

Can you even buy his music? I don't even know. I guess they were selling demos at the show, but being dumb, I didn't snag up everything he had.

Elvis Perkins on myspace.
Elvis Perkins in Dearland on myspace.

Doveman at Joe's Pub

While everyone else went to the Amanda Palmer show at Joe’s Pub Friday night, I went to the earlier show to see Doveman and Nico Hurley. Prince, M. Ward, and Conor Oberst all showed up and sang a tear-jerking version of “Mister Mistoffelees.” No one else will recall this because we swiftly had our minds erased. [pic credit]

Doveman played many new songs, some better than others, and their new version of “Chasing Clouds” which I prefer much more over the album version. “Sunken Queen” wasn’t as breathtaking as the first few times I heard it, but it might still be one of the better new songs. Joe’s Pub worked great as a venue, but I missed the collision of Doveman’s whisper of a sound with venues more fitting for rock and roll. Joe’s Pub is just too pretty and perfect of a setting. I really need to see Doveman play a prison.

I have nothing really to add that I haven’t said before, that being this is a band meant to be experienced via performance. At one point, when one of the chairs creaked as on the record, I thought, “they need to put a mic on that.”

Spotlight on Slowlands

Slowlands - Listener Dilemma (mp3)
Slowlands - One More Fire (mp3)

This week I’ll be seeing a few lesser-known bands here in New York City who have flown into my radar. One them is Slowlands who will play the Moveable Hype show at the Knitting Factory Wednesday with the Metal Hearts and Burnside Project, (so Jen obviously likes them as well). I’ve listened to their album Never Was There a Town many times now, and while it didn’t all strike me at once, a few songs immediately made an impression. Once I revisited those, the other tracks revealed that there was more to them as well. The end result: an excellent debut album worth checking out, and one of the better releases I've heard this calendar year.

I’ve posted “One More Fire” a couple times before, and since it’s still my favorite track, I’ll push it again. "Listeners Dilemma" is another that I fell in love with on first listen. As I've said before, there's something about that guy's voice that I love.

Also:
-I’ve seen Slowlands once before.
-Tonight I’ll be swinging by the Mercury Lounge to see Elvis Perkins, and Saturday will see the return of the Gaskets, who I’ve raved about a couple times, and will be tearing up the dance floor at Arlene’s. More on them later. Just clear you plans for Saturday at midnight and join us for an awesome night.

Fruit Bats on Tour

The Fruit Bats are coming back East, this time headlining. At CMJ last year, they were excellent, and I've been waiting forever (four months) for them to really come back. So far, their tour dates are as follows:

Thu Apr 6 Neumo's Seattle, WA
Fri Apr 7 Lola's (inside Crystal Ballroom) Portland, OR
Mon Apr 10 The Independent San Francisco, CA
Wed Apr 12 Troubadour Los Angeles, CA
Thu Apr 13 The Casbah San Diego, CA
Wed Apr 19 Walter's on Washington Houston, TX
Sun Apr 23 Mercy Lounge Nashville, TN
Mon Apr 24 Drunken Unicorn Atlanta, GA
Fri Apr 28 Mercury Lounge New York, NY
Sat Apr 29 Maxwell's Hoboken, NJ (tix available)
Sun Apr 30 TT The Bear's Cambridge, MA
Tue May 2 Mohawk Place Buffalo, NY
Thu May 4 Kraftbrau Kalamazoo, MI
Fri May 5 South Gate House Newport, KY
Sun May 7 Schubas Tavern Chicago, IL

(thanks dave for the other dates)

Fruit Bats - Lives of Crime (mp3)
Fruit Bats - A Bit of Wind (mp3)

Viva Voce's Wrecking Balls; Tunng Remix

Viva Voce – Wrecking Ball (mp3)
Viva Voca – Wrecking Ball (Tunng Remix) (mp3)

My last post this week features the duo Viva Voce and their happy little song “Wrecking Ball.” Is it happy because of the handclaps and tambourine, or is it the other way around? Does that question make any sense? It’s not a bad little song… but then….

but then…. test out the Tunng remix. The “remix” isn’t so much a remix but almost a complete redesign of the song entirely. They “slipped it some Tunng” I guess you could say. Tunng has taken a decent song, dropped the overly pop aspects, and reconstructed it around minor chords and ingeniously placed samples. They must be wizards.

I guess you can now listen to Tunng’s performance last night over at Radio One. Can anyone convert that to a file?

Here’s a bonus mp3 of the Creeper Lagoon hit from 2001 with the same title. It’s still a goodie.
Creeper Lagoon – Wrecking Ball

Stephanie Tanner to be Back on Market

Thanks to Stan, I found out that Jodie Sweetin (aka: Steph of the long-ended-but-ever-omnipresent TGIF hit Full House) will soon be single, after her divorce is finalized. Jodie, 24, blonde, almost single, will be ending her marriage to her husband of four years. Do I smell a new ABC hit, Bachelorette: Extreme Full House Edition?

Oh. And did we mention she's getting over her Meth problem?

After a three-day "lost" weekend, reportedly followed by an intervention staged by her former Full House costars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, John Stamos and Bob Saget, Sweetin checked herself in to the Promises rehab facility for six weeks of intense treatment.

Not to make light of a drug addiction, but that sounds like one hell of a Reunion special.

COME ON ABC! Get your shit together.

All Your Wine (Are Belong to Us)

After hitting Bar None for a couple $2 pints, we hit up the Plug Awards in time to completely miss Beans and Holy F*ck. Again.

Chad VanGaalen sounded great in spite of the circumstances and the non-attentive crowd. He was followed by Celebration, Mr Lif & Akrobatik, and Cage… all three whom I didn’t care for. We moseyed up close for Emiliana Torrini who has a great voice and made me want to mosey up even closer.

Then before I knew it, the National were next. And yes, I stayed; I even liked it. Well, most of it. It helps that it was a short set. The first two songs they played were far more intense then I recall them being capable of (damn prepositions. recall them of which being capable?). They almost lost me, however, with the third and forth songs, when they slipped into their dippy ballad stuff, but then quickly recovered. It turns out that I don’t mind the National per se, I just don’t like the singer’s baritone voice. So when he hides it, it’s good.

“I like it when you do that thing, you know, where you sing loud. Only do that.”

“All Your Wine (Are Belong to Us)” is one of my least favorite songs of 2005, and of course they played it; to spite me for disliking them since last spring. Just about when they were starting to suck, they saved themselves at the end by rocking out again. Maybe I've been too hard on the National all this time.
-----------------------------------------------------------

And the last thing about the night: What was up with Sylvester? “No comment” is all I’ll say.

Brooklyn Vegan has a list of all the winners, in case you’re dying to know who took Best Music Store. No, it was not Logos.

Raise Your Hand If You’re Having Fun

A still shot from the Freshbread video of the Editors show at Mercury Lounge.

Yes, that’s me.

As was this.



It doesn't look so white-power-scary when you see it in motion (trust me).

Fact: The more I've had to drink, the higher my arm goes.

Fact: Tom Smith isn't really that pale.

Fact: MOKB has yet another Editor B-side, this time a Sterolab cover.

The Plugs, The Mugs, Tu(nn)g(s)

I'll be at the Plugs tonight. I just rented my tuxedo and an escort service. Should be pretty sweet.

I'm excited for Chad VanGaalen, but wonder if he can fill the Hall and keep people quiet, like Sufjan failed at last year. I hear that Beans and Holy Fuck are excellent, but the big looming question remains: will I be able to make it through the National this time. I'm 0 for 2. I realize they are big and popular, but I'm a dork and not into them.

Since Mugs rhymes with Plugs, I thought I'd mention their show at the Delancey tonight also. And since Tunng rhymes with Tongue -I think- then I must mention that they are performing live on Radio One with Rob Da Bank tonight, around 11:00 GST, or 6:00 EST. I can't seem to get the Real Audio link to work, but I hope I can record this to Mp3 tomorrow.

Mugs on KEXP

I just posted on the Mugs on Monday night, and then I see that KEXP played them Wednesday morning. Coincidence? I, of course, had nothing to do with it... but I could pretend I did. Lola311 said in response to my other post, "okay now i'm mad. wtf? this is what we've been saying for over a year now." All's fair. I've sung the praise of many-a-band falling on deaf ears. I guess John in the Morning has been playing it for a few weeks, I am told.

The Mugs - Broken Signals (mp3)

Go back here for many more Mugs mp3s, and stay tuned for more of today's hottest music...

New Voxtrot MP3

Happy day. You can now download the song "Mothers, Sisters, Daughters
& Wives" that you've been streaming at Myspace for song long.

Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives (mp3)

It's also the title track of their EP out April 3rd. Order it via their website and it will ship March 21st.

James Blunt is the Most Likely To Tour with Boy Least Likely To

When it was announced yesterday that The Boy Least Likely To would open for James Blunt at Webster Hall, my first question was "Who is James Blunt?" After finding out he is as bad as Damien Rice, my next question was why? Why is he so bad and why tour together? From TBLLT's blog, in October, after their first tour with him:

we went on tour. with james blunt. we went on tour with him because i thought it would be funny. i thought the idea of a band like us going on tour with one of the biggest selling mainstream pop artists around at the moment was funny. when pete told me we’d been offered the tour i laughed. i guess some people didn’t see the funny side. in the end, all i can say is that i had three of the happiest weeks of my life on the tour. i got to spend every day with seven of my best friends, and go to seventeen towns and cities that i’d never been to before. and play our songs to people who’d probably never heard of us before and seemed to genuinely understand and enjoy what we were doing. there was nothing calculated or distasteful about it. we weren’t thinking about ‘shifting units’ or reaching new demographics. we just thought it would be fun. and it was.

“I’m not asking anybody,” said Eeyore. “I’m just telling everybody. We can look for the North Pole or we can play ‘Here we go gathering Nuts and May’ with the end part of an ants’ nest. It’s all the same to me.”

It goes on to tell a depressing story about Christmas and a puppy (yes, I am serious). Oh, and it looks like that Tiswas show for April First is cancelled. :(