Prior to the release of their career retrospective Vain, Erudite and Stupid in 2005, I hadn’t heard any pre-Harsh Seventies Reality material from the Dead C. My college radio station didn’t have the records, I’m lazy on the downloading tip, and copies of their first two albums, DR503 and Eusa Kills, weren’t crowding any store shelves, used or new. The compilation provided an eye-opening context for the band’s work: namely, they’ve barely changed at all over their run. There have been certain detours, but setting aside a slight fidelity increase, you could probably fool me into thinking that their entire output was recorded in several lengthy, mind-blowing sessions. I’ve never met a Dead C fan that negged on any period of their work, a fact that their consistency goes a long way toward explaining.
This isn’t to say that every piece of tape recorded has been genius, or that it’s impossible for one to single out a favorite Dead C record. However, I think those judgments have more to do with listener preferences than any objective differences in the band’s approach. I gravitate towards The White House, but that might be because I get down more with never-ending psych jams than mindfuckery like Future Artists, and those two records just happen to tilt toward those two poles. The richness of the band’s concept – conflating punk and psychedelic release through basement noise-crust – allows them indulgences and demands ceaseless exploration; fortunately, 20 years later, they’ve stayed true to the idea, and the creative well still hasn’t run dry. Moreover, unlike brothers-in-arms Sonic Youth, they haven’t abandoned punk rock restlessness for classic rock maturity. Rather than “advance” or “progress” or “develop the sound” or “take huge steps forward,” the Dead C remain in the thick of the fight. It’s a huge middle finger to an industry that sporadically pays attention, to “career,” to losing the plot as one gets older, to not trusting one’s instincts.
So, early Dead C material is just as essential as anything they’ve released, and not only for historical value. After getting a taste of the early stuff on Vain, it’s a huge pleasure to hear these releases in their entirety, newly collected on two beautifully packaged vinyl reissues. Overall, these albums and EPs might be more song-oriented than what followed, but they’re undoubtedly of the same minds and spirits.
DR503, released on Flying Nun in 1988, splits its time between borderline-pleasant drug-noise-pop like “Speed Kills,” rock throwdowns like “Max Harris,” and curveballs like “Mutterline.” As much as DR503 keeps the listener guessing, the release that it’s packaged with, The Sun Stabbed EP, hits more extremes than any of the four releases presented here. “Crazy I Know” is lighter than air, a reminder that the Dead C did share a label with pop bands. Two tracks later, “Bad Politics” provides a straightforward punk rush, probably the most “rock” track that the band has recorded. On the flip side, “Sun Stabbed” and “Three Years” manage to hit all these bases and more, lurching from driving rock to pure noise to hazily chiming guitar noodlings.
Two years later, Eusa Kills tipped the scales almost entirely in the rock direction; excepting the pitch-black rushes of “Maggot” and “I Was Here,” the album lives up to its reputation as the group’s most accessible album – accessible being, of course, a relative term. Though undeniably their own, one might mistake some of these tracks for SY or Labradford demos. Their sonic signifiers complicate that reading, and the gobsmacking cover of Tyrannosaurus Rex’s “Children of the Revolution,” breaks it completely. Titled “Children,” it’s a flat-out perfect moment, full of humor and knowledge. On the one hand, it’s a wink towards the record geeks; on the other, proof of the Dead C’s dominance – no chance in hell could your basement rock group sound as awesome as this. The Helen Said This EP completes the package with the title track, a deep cut of beautiful space-rock, complemented by “Bury (Refutatio Omnium Haeresium),” one of the group’s most impenetrable workouts.
Few groups in the underground are revered as much as the Dead C, and these reissues underline why. Right out of the gate, they sounded like no one else, and 20 years later, they still haven’t lost the chops, smarts and balls that are on display here.
A STORM OF LIGHT 02/15 Brooklyn, NY Europa 02/15 Philadelphia, PA Kung Fu Necktie 02/15 Boston, MA The Church 02/28 Atlanta, GA Masquerade Scion Rock Fest (w/ Neurosis, Mastodon) 04/25 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Beyond The Pale @ Roadburn Festival)
AKIMBO 01/29 Bellingham, WA @ Western Wa University 04/25 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Beyond The Pale @ Roadburn Festival)
AKRON/FAMILY 03/06 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern 03/07 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern 030/8 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern 03/10 Los Angeles, CA @ Steve Allen Theater 03/11 Los Angeles, CA @ Steve Allen Theater 03/12 Los Angeles, CA @ Steve Allen Theater 03/17 Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater 03/28 Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool 03/29 Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool (w/ Larkin Grimm)
AMEBIX 01/29 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom 01/31 Philadelphia, PA @ Starlite Ballroom
AMON TOBIN 01/30 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent 01/31 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
ANATHALLO 02/20 Naperville, IL @ The Union @ North Central College 02/27 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick (w/ Ribbons Of Song) 02/28 Toronto, ON @ The Drake Hotel (w/ Ribbons Of Song) 03/01 Montreal, QC @ La Divan Orange (w/ Ribbons Of Song) 03/03 Boston, MA @ Middle East (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/04 New York, NY @ The Mercury Lounge (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/05 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/06 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/07 Carrborro, NC @ Cat's Cradle (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/08 West Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/09 Orlando, FL @ The Social (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/11 Athens, GA @ 40 Watt (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/12 Nashville, TN @ Exit In (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/13 Oxford, MS @ Proud Larry's (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/14 Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon (w/ Sam Amidon)
ANTIBALAS 01/30 Brooklyn, NY @ Southpaw 01/30 Brooklyn, NY @ Southpaw
ASVA 01/28 Berlin, DEU @ Transmediale Festival 04/24 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Roadburn Festival)
BEIRUT 02/04 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall Of Williamsburg (sold out) 02/06 Brooklyn, NY @ BAM Opera House (Sounds Like Brooklyn Music Festival) 02/07 Brooklyn, NY @ BAM Opera House (Sounds Like Brooklyn Music Festival) 02/19 Mexico City, MEX @ Lunaria Auditoria 02/20 Mexico City, MEX @ Lunaria Auditoria 05/03 Hamburg, DEU @ Fabrik 05/05 Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso 05/06 Brussels, BEL @ Cirque Royal 05/08 London, UK @ Forum 05/09 Minehead, UK @ All Tomorrow's Parties The Fans Strike Back 05/12 Paris, FR @ Bataclan
BLACK LIPS 02/15 London, UK @ Islinton Academy (NME Awards w/ Vivian Girls) 02/16 Bristol, UK @ Fleece N Firkin 02/17 Glasgow, UK @ ABC 2 02/18 Manchester, UK @ Institute 02/19 Brighton, UK @ Audio 02/26 Birmingham, UK @ Bottletree 02/27 Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse 03/04 Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle 03/05 Washington, DC @ Black Cat 03/06 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's 03/07 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East 03/09 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom 03/10 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg 03/12 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom 03/13 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick 03/14 Chicago, IL @ Logan Square Auditorium 03/15 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom 03/16 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club 03/17 Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room 03/18 Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck 03/23 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks 03/25 Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder 03/26 Tampa, FL @ Orpheum 03/27 Miami, FL @ Churchill's 03/28 Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds 03/29 Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits 03/30 Orlando, FL @ The Social
BLOODHAG 02/07 Vancouver, BC @ Bourbon Street Pub 02/20 Tumwater, WA @ Tumwater Library
BOOK OF BLACK EARTH 01/28 El Paso, TX @ Uncle Paulie’s Pub 01/29 Austin, TX @ Red 7 01/30 Houston, TX @ Java Jazz 02/01 Metairie, LA @ High Ground 02/02 Pensacola, FL @ American Legion Post 33 02/03 Jacksonville, FL @ Fuel Coffeehouse 02/04/09 Orlando, FL @ Back Booth 02/05/09 Tampa, FL @ Orpheum 02/06/09 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade 02/07/09 Tallahassee, FL @ Engine Room 02/09/09 Little Rock, AR @ The Village 02/10/09 Dallas, TX @ Lounge on Elm Street 02/11/09 Farmington, NM @ Gator’s 02/12/09 Tucson, AZ @ The Rock 02/13/09 San Marcos, CA @ Jumping Turtle
BURNING IMAGE 02/07 Bakersfield, CA @ Empty Space Theatre (benefit show) 04/30 Oakland, CA @ Shadow Society
THE BYE BYE BLACKBIRDS 02/17 Fairfax, CA @ Peri's Silver Dollar 02/26 Berkeley, CA @ The Starry Plough 02/28 Citrus Heights, CA @ Ugly's Tequila Bar
CAUSE CO-MOTION 02/07 New York, NY @ The Mercury Lounge (w/ The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart) 02/12 New York, NY @ Cake Shop 03/12 Brooklyn, NY @ Monster Island (ALL AGES) 04/25 Brooklyn, NY @ Silent Barn
CLIPD BEAKS 03/16 Los Angeles, CA @ The Smell 03/17 Phoenix, AZ @ Trunk Space 03/18 El Paso, TX @ Black Market 03/19 Austin, TX @ Mohawk (SXSW Panache showcase)
COLOSSAL YES 02/26 San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall (Noise Pop Festival w/ Thao Nyguen)
CROSS STITCHED EYES - upcoming on Alternative Tentacles 03/26 Mülheim, DE @ AZ 03/27 Utrecht, NL @ ACU 03/28 Liege, BE @ Carlo Levi 03/29 Bristol, UK @ The Croft 03/31 Bradford, UK @ 1 In 12 Club 04/02 London, UK @ The Grosvenor 04/04 Dijon, FR @ Les Tanneries 04/07 Chemnitz, DE @ Crasspub 04/08 Berlin, DE @ KÖPI 04/09 Leipzig, DE @ Zoro 04/10 Hamburg, DE @ Stortebeker 04/11 Bremen, DE @ Bob Festival (w/ Restarts, Citizen Fish)
CRYSTAL STILTS 03/14 New York, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg 03/15 Washington, DC @ DC9 03/16 Lexington, KY @ Al's Bar 03/17 Jackson, MS @ 121 Milsaps 03/18 Houston, TX @ Rudyard's 03/20 Austin, TX @ End Of Ear (SXSW in-store 2 PM)
DAMON & NAOMI 01/30 Lyon, FR @ Sonic 01/31 Paris / St-Ouen, FR @ Mo'Fo Festival
DASH RIP ROCK 01/31 San Antonio, TX @ San Antonio Rodeo BBQ Cookoff 02/06 Lake Charles, LA @ OB's Bar & Grill 02/13 Panama City, FL @ Buck Wild Saloon 02/14 Panama City, FL @ Buck Wild Saloon 02/20 Nashville, TN @ The End 02/21 St Louis, MO @ The Broadway Oyster Bar
THE DEATH SET 02/27 Cholula, MEX @ Anonimo 02/28 Monterrey, MEX @ Garage 03/13 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/14 Virginia Beach, VA @ The Jewish Mother (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/15 Asheville, NC @ Emerald Lounge (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/16 Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/17 Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/18 New Orleans, LA @ Saturn Bar (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/21 Dallas, TX @ Lounge on Elm Street (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/22 Little Rock, AR @ Arkansas Community Arts Cooperative (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/23 St. Louis, MO @ Gargoyle Club (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/24 Chicago, IL @ AV-aerie (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/24 Chicago, IL @ Sonotheque (DJ Set) 03/25 Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/26 Madison, WI @ The Rathskeller (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/27 Columbus, OH @ The Summit (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/28 Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/29 Philadelphia, PA @ Danger Danger House (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik)
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD 03/06 New York, NY @ Webster Hall (w/ Pentagram) 03/07 Baltimore, MD @ Sonar (w/ Pentagram)
DIPLO 03/13 Los Angeles, CA @ The Shrine Expo Center 04/09 Denver, CO @ The Church 04/16 Pittsburgh, PA @ Diesel 04/17 Columbus, OH @ Skullys Music Diner 04/18 Cleveland Heights, OH @ B Side Liquor Lounge 04/23 Reno, NV @ 210 North 04/24 San Diego, CA @ Canes 04/25 Edmonton, AB @ Edmonton Event Centre 05/08 Toronto, ON @ Circa Nightclub 05/09 Chicago, IL @ Smart Bar
DISASTER STRIKES 03/11 Flagstaff, AZ @ Stab Mountain 03/14 Berkeley, CA @ 924 Gilman Street Project
DOA 01/29 Oak Harbor, WA @ Oak Harbor Tavern 01/30 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon 01/31 Portland, OR @ Satyricon
DOSH 01/28 New York, NY @ Carnegie Hall (w/ Andrew Bird)
DROP THE LIME 02/06 Mexico City, MEX @ Pasaje America 02/10 Portland, OR @ Holocene 02/11 San Francisco, CA @ Vessel
EAT SKULL 01/29 Portland, OR @ East End 02/27 Portland, OR @ The Know 03/11 Portland, OR @ Kenton club (w/ kurt vile) 03/13 Sacramento, CA @ Luigis Fun Garden 03/14 San Francisco, CA @ Li Po Lounge (w/ Hospitals) 03/15 Los Angeles, CA @ Echo Curio 03/16 Phoenix, AZ @ Trunkspace (w/ Abe Vigoda, Crystal Antlers, Wavves) 03/23 El Paso, TX @ Blackmarket (w/ Naked on the Vague, Nobunny) 03/25 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar (w/ Naked on the Vague) 03/26 San Francisco, CA @ Eagle Tavern (w/ Oh Sees) 03/27 Sacramento, CA @ 300 room 03/31 Portland, OR @ East End (w/ Naked on the Vague)
EFTERKLANG ON TOUR WITH PETER BRODERICK 03/5 Seattle, WA @ Nectar Lounge 03/6 Vancouver, BC @ Media Club 03/7 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir 03/8 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill 03/9 Visalia, CA @ Brewery 03/10 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland 03/11 Tucson, AZ @ Plush 03/13 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge 03/14 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge 03/16 Norman, OK @ Opolis 03/17 Denton, TX @ Hailey’s 03/23 Tallahassee, FL @ The Engine Room (w/ Canon Blue) 03/24 Atlanta, GA @ E.A.R.L. (w/ Canon Blue) 03/25 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 (w/ Canon Blue) 03/26 Washington, DC @ DC9 03/27 Philadelphia, PA @ The First Unitarian Church 03/28 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge 03/30 Boston, MA @ TT the Bears 04/01 Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo 04/02 Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artwork 04/03 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop 04/04 Chicago, IL @ Schubas
FINK 03/11 New York, NY @ Carnegie Hall 03/12 New York, NY @ City Winery
MICHAEL GIRA 03/03 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (w/Larkin Grimm) 03/04 Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern (w/Larkin Grimm) 03/06 San, Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Cultural Hall (w/Larkin Grimm) 03/08 Los, Angeles, CA @ Echo (w/Larkin Grimm)
GRAILS 02/19 San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord 02/21 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland 02/22 San Diego, CA @ Casbah
LARKIN GRIMM 02/04 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie 02/05 Baltimore, MD @ Talking Head Club 02/06 Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks 02/07 Columbus, OH @ Cafe Bourbon Street 02/08 Knoxville, TN @ Big Ears Festival (w/ Michael Gira) 02/10 Louisville, KY @ 21C Museum Atrium Gallery 02/11 Bloomington, IN @ Bear’s Place 02/12 Columbia, MO @ Mojo’s 02/13 Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar 02/14 Grinnell, IA @ Gardner Lounge @ Grinnell College 02/15 Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews 02/16 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle 02/17 Madison, WI @ Frequency 02/19 Milwaukee, WI @ Stonefly Brewery 02/20 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club 02/22 Fargo, ND @ Aquarium 02/24 Spearfish, SD @ The Hyve 02/25 Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater 02/27 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge 02/28 Boise, ID @ Neurolux 03/03 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (w/ Michael Gira) 03/04 Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern (w/ Michael Gira) 03/06 San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Cultural Hall (w/ Michael Gira) 03/07 Santa Cruz, CA @ Crepe Place 03/08 Los Angeles, CA @ Echo (w/ Michael Gira) 03/11 San Diego, CA @ Bar Pink 03/12 Phoenix, AZ @ Modified 03/13 Tucson, AZ @ Plush 03/14 Albuquerque, NM @ Atomic Cantina 03/18 Austin, TX @ Emo’s Inside (SXSW Leafy Green Showcase) 03/22 Orlando, FL @ Back Booth (w/ Vetiver) 03/23 St Augustine Beach, FL @ Cafe Eleven (w/ Vetiver) 03/24 Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club (w/ Vetiver) 03/25 Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall (w/ Vetiver) 03/29 Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool (w/ Akron Family)
PEGGYHONEYWELL 02/25 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall (Noise Pop Festival w/ Steve Malkmus)
ICY DEMONS 02/06 Chicago, IL @ Hideout (w/ Chandeliers) 02/07 Beloit, WI @ Beloit College (w/ Chandeliers)
INTELLIGENCE 03/20 Austin, TX @ Beerland (SXSW In The Red Showcase)
JUCIFER 01/30 Birmingham, AL @ The Nick 01/31 Chattanooga, TN @ JJ's Bohemia
MUMLERS 01/16 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill 02/06 Mountain View, CA @ Red Rock Café 02/07 Merced, CA @ The Partisan 02/20 Sacramento, CA @ Old Ironsides 02/21 Stockton, CA @ Plea For Peace 02/23 Vancouver, BC @ The Biltmore Cabaret 02/24 Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey 02/25 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge 02/27 San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s (Noise Pop Festival) 02/28 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour 03/01 Fullerton, CA @ The Continental Room
NEUROSIS 02/28 Atlanta, GA Masquerade Scion Rock Fest (w/ A Storm Of Light, Mastodon) 04/25 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Beyond The Pale @ Roadburn Festival)
NURSE WITH WOUND 02/15 Athens, GRC @ Kyttaro 03/14 Mexico City, MEX @ Por Confirmar 03/26 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
ODD NOSDAM 01/28 San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop (DJ set) 02/05 San Francisco, CA @ Underground SF (w/ Controller 7)
OM 02/13 Portland, OR @ Berbati's Pan (w/ Six Organs Of Admittance) 04/25 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Beyond The Pale @ Roadburn Festival)
THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART 02/07 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge (w/ caUSE Co-MOTION) 02/08 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie 02/09 Washington, DC @ Black Cat Backstage 02/10 Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks 02/11 Chicago, IL @ Schubas 02/12 Toronto, ON @ Neutral 02/13 Montreal, QC @ l Motore 02/14 Winooski, VT @ The Monkey House 02/15 Boston, MA @ Middle East 03/13 Brooklyn, NY @ Bell House 03/14 Baltimore, MD @ Talking Head Club 03/15 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 03/16 Atlanta, GA @ E.A.R.L. 03/18 Austin, TX @ Red 7 (SXSW Terrorbird/Force Field Party) PANSY DIVISION 01/29 San Francisco, CA @ Eagle Tavern 01/30 Berkeley, CA @ 924 Gilman
PAPERCUTS 02/25 San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Cultural Hall (Noise Pop Festival w/ The Mountain Goats)
POP LEVI 02/25 San Diego, CA @ The Loft 03/03 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echoplex (w/ Fujiya & Miyagi) 03/05 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent (w/ Fujiya & Miyagi) 03/06 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (w/ Fujiya & Miyagi)
PORT O' BRIEN 01/31 Brisbane, AUS @ Laneway Festival 02/01 Melbourne, AUS @ Laneway Festival 02/03 Melbourne, AUS @ Corner Hotel 02/04 Sydney, AUS @ Manning Bar 02/06 Perth, AUS @ Laneway Festival 02/07 Adelaide, AUS @ Fowler’s Live (Laneway Festival) 02/08 Sydney, AUS @ The Basement (Laneway Festival) 02/27 San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord (Noise Pop Festival) 03/06 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox 03/07 Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theatre 03/08 Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theatre
PYGMY LUSH 03/19 Austin, TX @ The Music Gym (SXSW Exotic Fever showcase) 03/20 Austin, TX @ Club 1808 (SXSW party w/ no age, mika miko, abe vigota) 03/21 Austin, TX @ Radio Room (SXSW Lovitt Records showcase)
REIGNING SOUND 03/20 Austin, TX @ Beerland (SXSW In The Red Showcase)
RESTIFORM BODIESON TOUR WITH EGADZ 02/19 Portland, OR @ Backspace 02/20 Seattle, WA @ Lo-Fi Lounge 02/21 Boise, ID @ The Bouquet 02/22 Salt Lake City, UT @ Uprock Records (6:00 PM) 02/23 Fort Collins, CO @ Re-Evolution House Party 02/24 Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive 02/25 Santa Fe, NM @ Warehouse 21 02/27 Winterhaven, CA @ Open Aired 02/28 San Diego, CA @ Access Music (In-store 3:00 PM) 02/28 San Diego, CA @ Kava Lounge 03/04 Los Angeles, CA @ Low End Theory @ The Airliner 03/05 San Francisco, CA @ Underground SF
RIO EN MEDIO 02/26 San Francisco, CA @ The Hemlock 03/06 Joshua Tree, CA @ Pappy and Harriets
CHRISTINA ROSENVINGE 02/02 Murcia, ES @ Auditorio VIctor Villegas 02/03 Barcelona, ES @ Bikini 02/04 Valencia, ES @ Loco Club 02/06 Bilbao, ES @ Antzokia 02/07 Madrid, ES @ Joy Eslava
SECRET CHIEFS 03/10 Oakland, CA @ Yoshi's (playing Masada) 03/13 Salt Lake City, UT @ Depot (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool and Saul Williams) 03/14 Denver, CO @ Fillmore (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Yard Dogs, Saul Williams) 03/16 Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Devotchka, Saul Williams) 03/17 St. Louis, MO @ Pageant (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Devotchka, Saul Williams) 03/19 Minneapolis, MN @ Myth (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Devotchka, Saul Williams) 03/20 Milwaukee, WI @ Rave (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Devotchka, Saul Williams) 03/21 Chicago, IL @ Riviera (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Devotchka, Saul Williams) 03/22 Cleveland, OH @ Agora (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Devotchka, Saul Williams) 03/24 Toronto, ON @ The Guvernment (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Saul Williams) 03/26 Boston, MA @ House of Blues (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Saul Williams, O'Death) 03/27 Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory(The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Saul Williams, O'Death) 03/28 New York, NY @ Terminal 5 (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Saul Williams, O'Death)
SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE 02/13 Portland, OR @ Berbati's Pan (w/ Om) 04/25 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Beyond The Pale @ Roadburn Festival)
SLIM CESSNA'S AUTO CLUB 01/31 Fort Collins, CO @ Aggie Theater 02/01 Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep 02/03 Boulder, CO @ Fox Theater 02/04 Breckenridge, CO @ Three 20 South 02/05 Vail, CO @ Sandbar 02/06 Vail, CO @ Sandbar 02/07 Aspen, CO @ Belly Up 02/08 Crested Butte, CO @ The Eldo 04/11 Hannover, DE Glocksee 04/12 Berlin, DE @ Festaal Kreuzberg 04/14 Hamburg, DE @ Hafenklang 04/15 Nljmegen, NL @ Merleyn 04/16 Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso 04/17 Diksmuide, BE @ 4AD 04/18 Middelburg, NL @ De Spot 04/19 Köln, DE @ MTC 04/21 Brussels, BE @ AB Club 04/22 Paris, FR @ L'International 04/23 St Gallen, CH @ Grabenhalle 04/24 Winterhur, CH @ Kraftfeld 04/25 Innsbruck, AU @ Treibhaus 04/26 Vienna, AU @ Arena 04/28 Marburg, DE @ Trauma 04/29 Bielefeld, DE @ Forum 04/30 Deventer, NL @ Burgerweeshuis (Queens Birthday Garden Party) 05/01 Tilburg, NL @ 013 05/02 Groningen, NL @ Oosterpoort/RnB Night
SOLEON TOUR WITH MYKA 9 01/28 Missoula, MT @ The Badlander 01/29 Salt Lake City, CO @ Bender's Tavern 01/31 Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf
SONIC YOUTH 04/22 Krems, AUT @ Austria Donau Festival 04/23 Munich, DEU @ Haus der Kunst 04/24 Dusseldorf, DEU @ 3001 SPARKS 02/14 Los Angeles, CA @ Royce Hall (UCLA)
THE STRANGE BOYS 03/20 Austin, TX @ Beerland (SXSW In The Red Showcase)
MARK SULTANON TOUR WITH KING KHAN & THE SHRINES 03/10 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade 03/12 Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel 03/13 Nashville, TN @ Exit In 03/14 Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone Cafe 03/15 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks 03/16 Dallas, TX @ Palladium Loft 03/17 San Antonio, TX @ The Warhol
THUNDERHEIST upcoming release on Big Dada 02/07 Geulf, ON @ Sleeman Center for Hillside Inside 02/27 Poughkeepsie, NY @ Vassar College 02/28 Vancouver, BC @ Cultural Olympiad
U.S. GIRLS ON TOUR WITH AIDS WOLF 03/08 Buffalo, NY @ Soundlab 03/09 Providence, RI @ NY @ Bard College 03/13 Cleveland, OH @ Now That's Class 03/14 Chicago, IL @ Co-Prosperity Sphere 03/15 Iowa City, IA @ Public Space 1 03/16 Lafayette, IN @ Scagnoli's Cajun and BBQ 03/17 Hot Springs, AR @ Valley of Vapors Festival (Panache Showcase w/ Monotonix, Fiasco)
VETIVER 02/19 Paris, FR @ La Maronquinerie Le Nuit Alligators Festival 02/21 Tourcoing, FR @ Le Grand Mix 02/22 Brussels, BEL @ Botanique 02/23 Gent, BEL @ Vorruit 02/24 London, UK @ Roundhouse (w/ Fleet Foxes) 02/25 Manchester, UK @ Dulcimer 02/26 Glasgow, UK @ Stereo 02/28 London, UK @ Cecil Sharp House 03/10 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's 03/11 Baltimore, MD @ Talking Head Club 03/12 Carrboro, NC @ Cats Cradle 03/13 Wilmington, NC @ Soapbox 03/14 Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor 03/15 Birmingham, AL @ BottleTree 03/16 Knoxville, TN @ The Square Room 03/18 Austin, TX @ Emo’s Inside (SXSW Leafy Green Showcase) 03/22 Orlando, FL @ Back Booth (w/ Larkin Grimm) 03/23 St Augustine Beach, FL @ Cafe Eleven (w/ Larkin Grimm) 03/24 Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club (w/ Larkin Grimm) 03/25 Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall (w/ Larkin Grimm)
VIVIAN GIRLS 02/06 Diksmuide, BEL @ 4AD Muziekclub (w/Crystal Antlers) 02/07 Rottedam, NL @ RoTown 02/08 Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso 02/09 Antwerp, BEL @ Trix 02/10 Metz, FR @ Triniaires 02/11 Strasbourg, FR @ La Laiterie 02/12 Limoges, FR @ Woodstock Boogie Bar 02/13 Paris, FR @ Point Ephemere 02/14 London, UK @ Proud Galleries 02/15 London, UK @ Carling Academy Islington (w/ Black Lips) 02/19 New York, NY @ The Apollo Theater (w/ M. Ward) 02/20 Philadelphia, PA @ rocadero (w/ M. Ward) 02/21 Washington, DC @ Sixth & I Historic Synagogue (w/ M. Ward)
WILDBIRDS & PEACEDRUMSON TOUR WITH LYKKE LI 01/30 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church 01/31 Washington, DC @ Sixth and I 02/02 New York, NY @ Webster Hall 02/03 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall 02/04 Montreal, QC @ Club Soda 02/06 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix 02/07 Chicago, IL @ Metro 02/08 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity 02/11 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore 02/12 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne 02/13 Seattle, WA @ Showbox 02/15 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore 02/17 Pomona, CA @ Glass House
DEVON WILLIAMS 02/01 Los Angeles, CA @ The Smell (w/ Calvin Johnson) 02/28 San Francisco, CA @ Independent (Noise Pop Festival w/ AC Newman)
WOODBOX GANG 01/29 Carbondale, IL @ Hangar 9 01/30 Peoria, IL @ Eamon Patricks 01/31 Saybrook, IL @ Shady Nook 02/05 Chicago, IL @ Reggie's Music Joint 02/06 DeKalb, IL @ Otto's 02/07 Davenport, IA @ Redstone Room 02/20 Murfreesboro, TN @ Wall Street 02/21 Carbondale, IL @ Hangar 9 02/27 Charleston, IL @ The Uptowner 02/28 Springfield, IL @ Marley's 03/06 Creve Coeur, IL @ B's 03/13 Denver, CO @ Skylark Lounge 03/27 Carbondale, IL @ Hangar 9 03/28 Bloomington, IL @ Coconut Louie's 04/03 Chicago, IL @ Reggie's Music Joint 04/04 Charleston, IL @ The Uptowner 04/24 Springfield, IL @ Marley's 05/09 Carbondale, IL @ Hangar 9
ZOMES 02/28 Bristol, UK @ Cube Microplex Cinema 03/02 Dalston, UK @ London Cafe Oto 03/03 Leeds, UK @ The Pack Horse 03/04 Newcastle upon Tyne, UK @ Bridge Hotel 03/05 Glasgow, UK @ The 13th Note 03/06 Saltburn-by-the-Sea, UK @ Alexandra Vaults 03/07 Nottingham, UK @ The Art Organisation
Beirut will be performing on David Letterman the night of February 6th, the night of the first BAM show (pre-recording on Feb 2nd). Beirut will be playing with at least a few extra musicians on strings, Paul Shaffer not included.
Beirut live dates: 02/04 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall Of Williamsburg (sold out) 02/06 Brooklyn, NY @ BAM Opera House (Sounds Like Brooklyn Music Festival) 02/07 Brooklyn, NY @ BAM Opera House (Sounds Like Brooklyn Music Festival) 02/19 Mexico City, MEX @ Lunaria Auditoria 02/20 Mexico City, MEX @ Lunaria Auditoria 05/03 Hamburg, DEU @ Fabrik 05/05 Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso 05/06 Brussels, BEL @ Cirque Royal 05/08 London, UK @ Forum 05/09 Minehead, UK @ All Tomorrow's Parties The Fans Strike Back 05/12 Paris, FR @ Bataclan
Upcoming Cause-Co Shows: 02/07 New York, NY @ The Mercury Lounge (w/ The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart) 02/12 New York, NY @ Cake Shop 03/12 Brooklyn, NY @ Monster Island (ALL AGES) 04/25 Brooklyn, NY @ Silent Barn
Every January Dusted runs their annual Destined series in which they select ten artists to watch over in the coming year. Second to last chosen for 2009 was In The Red's new signing The Strange Boys. Here's your chance to get to know the boys.
Dusted’s Nate Knaebel profiles the Austin garage band and Destined selection Strange Boys. Destined: The Strange Boys
The Austin-via-Dallas based Strange Boys are a young garage rock act whose loose, somewhat rootsy approach to the style brings to mind the old Doug Sahm adage “you just can’t live in Texas / If you don’t have a lot of soul.” The Strange Boys blend Nuggets garage, punk, R&B, blues and country without getting pinned down by any one of those styles. It’s as if those terms are used only as vehicle to create a musical feeling rather than a particular genre.
Formed as a punk band by guitarist/singer/songwriter Ryan Sambol and drummer Matt Hammer while the two were only in 8th grade, the Strange Boys have actually been making recordings for almost as long. It was with their 2007 Nothing EP on Dusty Medical, however, that the band truly came into its own. Despite their age (the majority of the band is just barely past 21, with Sambol’s older brother Philip coming in at the comparatively ancient age of 25), the Strange Boys generate a creaky jangle that sounds like it should be coming from a collection of old souls rather than guys barely in their second decade of living. Yet the Strange Boys aren’t a bunch of outsider savants who happened upon their style accidentally. As devoted music listeners, the Boys have done their homework. “You listen to a New York Dolls record in high school. “Pills,” the rock & roll nurse. Then you hear the Bo Diddley version,” explains Sambol. “You go from New York City in the 1970s to Chicago in the 1950s. Then you find out what Bo was listening to in Chicago. You just keep going back and back. And the further back you go the more sincere you get.”
There is a notable authenticity to the group’s sound that presumably comes in part from an interest in the past, however, the Strange Boys aren’t exactly retro fetishists either. It was with the arrival of Greg Enlow to the band around 2006 that they began to see themselves in more of a current context. “Greg introduced us to a lot of new stuff. King Khan & BBQ, Greg Cartwright stuff… the Reigning Sound, Oblivians, Compulsive Gamblers. I didn’t know anything like that was going on as a songwriter,” says Sambol. “They all made me say, Oh shit! and feel a lot better about things. You don’t have to be in 1959 to do this.”
Sambol also notes the influence of the Black Lips. “We learned a lot from them,” he says. “A lot of bands around us took themselves so seriously. The problem is when the music comes off like it’s more important than it really is. You’d see the Black Lips playing and they were smiling. It changes the vibe of things when the musicians on stage look like they’re having fun.”
But where the Black Lips sound entirely of these times, marinating their retro tendencies with Gangsta Grillz swagger, the Strange Boys evoke a sound not unlike that heard on Bob Dylan’s Basement Tapes, or at least a younger garage punk version of that album. That’s not to say the Strange Boys recall the Old Weird America, or the new one for that matter, yet both the Strange Boys and Dylan (and the Band) work a similar kind of magic, the end result being a rock ‘n’ roll sound plucked from numerous influences yet utterly unto itself. In the case of the Strange Boys, however, the Nuggets box set replaces Harry Smith’s Anthology as a blue print.
While the band’s musical scholarship is undeniable, one would be wise to avoid pinpointing a particular influence. “A band can make a whole career out of sounding like Radiohead, and no one says anything,” Sambol points out. “But when a band tries to go through someone that’s maybe easier to poke at – the Kinks or Dylan – people desperately want to reference it.” Touché.
While Sambol noted that he one day hopes to outgrow any influences, the band’s official debut full-length, The Strange Boys and Girls Club, already finds the band standing solidly on its own. It’s the sound of high school dances stomped out on gymnasium floors long since abandoned; cold nights and warm whiskey; bad decisions and trouble. The jangling guitars are punctuated with strategic bursts of fuzz; the drums provide a laconic shuffling rhythm that pushes the band along just so without ever rushing things. Sambol’s strained bleat sounds simultaneously desperate and elated. The album’s recording history, however, is a somewhat tumultuous one, despite the album’s almost insouciant feel.
Jay Reatard, an early champion of the band who helped get them signed to In the Red Records after seeing them live, actually recorded the original version of the record. The final album, however, comprises recordings made in an abandon liquor store with collaborator Orville Neley, who also recorded the Nothing EP, in Denton, Texas. About the process of recording And Girls Club, Sambol says, “There was definitely a comfort level with Orville. By the time we went to Orville’s, the tracks were old. At Jay’s, the tracks were fresh and the clock was ticking.
“It’s difficult to go somewhere and record with someone, and just because two people like each other’s music that doesn’t mean it’s always very good when you put it together. But what it comes down to is, we didn’t give him good enough tracks. If we did the tracks the way we did at Orville’s, we could have had a great record.” But as Sambol notes, “Jay’s cool with it, he wants the best record. And for someone who records everything himself, he understands that someone else wants to do what they want to do.”
Regardless of who the band records with, much of the quality of the Strange Boys music can be attributed to their commitment to a sound and finding that sound in the most natural way. “It’s really about playing the way you want to be heard. There are plenty of studios where you can do anything in. There were things in my head that I wanted to hear. You can get in trouble in a studio that way. You want to hear something that’s impossible to get. You have to accept what you’re getting and make it sound unique. If you don’t play something cool, it’s not going to sound cool.”
Lousiville Kentucky instrumental rock duo The Photographic will have their song "Secure" on CSI:MIami. The run date for the episode featuring the song will run next Monday 02/02/09. Get'em Horation Caine!
There are multiple charity auctions under way for Anna Ives who has cancer. Anna is the four year old daughter of Zac Ives co-ower of Goner Records. There's a wide array of cool stuff being auctioned, a Gennsis P-Orridge singed guitar, tons of Jay Reatard stuff, Vivian Girls original pressings, etc. The medical bills must be outrageous... even the smallest contribution would helpful. For more details on Anna Ives Fundraising go to the Goner Records Site or for a complete list of auctions click here.
Spectre Folk / Kurt Vile / MV & EE / Pink Reason / Christian DeRoeck[Monster Island; Brooklyn, NY] Tiny Mix Tapes original review “Do you want to hear it mellow or do you want a chunky version like Lil Wayne does?” Matt Valentine asked the crowd gathered in Monster Island’s basement, just a few steps from the East River. “Chunky!” someone shouted from the corner of the room.Of course, drawing a link between the New Orleans rhymester and the "freak-folk" of MV & EE might seem a little absurd at first, but since Valentine brought it up, let’s roll with it: both are quite prolific, releasing a spectrum of releases that range from DIY to major label-linked affairs, and both have a morphing sonic territory that includes that very realm of chunkiness.
Valentine and Erica Elder were joined by two percussionists for their set, but the chunkiness really came from Valentine’s guitar stylings, which, whether acoustic or electric, have a thick, deliberate, but also natural sound. The duo focused on their latest release, Drone Trailer, kicking off with its opening track “Anyway” and finishing up with a swirling take on the title number, which progressed from a blanket of banjo noise to a soaring electric guitar outro.
MV & EE were by no means the only notable act of the night, though. Christian DeRoeck, formerly of Meneguar and Woods, kicked off the night, and Pink Reason followed, amping things up with dual guitars and drums. After Valentine and Elder did their thing, Kurt Vile did his: effortless but intricate folk held together with grit and simple honesty.Spectre Folk (Pete Nolan of Magik Markers) brought things to a close with tinny percussion loops, noodling guitar wanderings, and occasional vocal spurts. The crowd had thinned by this point, but Nolan meandered on as chatter floated from the back of the room and Valentine and Elder lounged and listened nearby. He was a spectre to some, but not all. And that seemed perfectly fine with him.
Woolfy "Oh Missy" is featured on Fader's freeload podcast. Snatch it up right here.
Other tracks included: Charles Hamilton, "Brooklyn Girls" Lauren Flax f. Sia, "You've Changed" Blank Dogs, "Blaring Speeches" Little Boots, "Stuck on Repeat (remix)" De Tropix, "Bad Name" Woolfy, "Oh Missy" Antony & The Johnsons, "Another World" Amazing Baby, "Pump Yr Brakes" Electrik Red, "Drink In My Cup" Wavves, "No Hope Kids" Homebwoi, "Gimme a Break"
A STORM OF LIGHT 04/25 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Beyond The Pale @ Roadburn Festival)
AKIMBO 01/29 Bellingham, WA @ Western Wa University 04/25 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Beyond The Pale @ Roadburn Festival)
AKRON/FAMILY 03/06 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern 03/07 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern 030/8 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern 03/10 Los Angeles, CA @ Steve Allen Theater 03/11 Los Angeles, CA @ Steve Allen Theater 03/12 Los Angeles, CA @ Steve Allen Theater 03/17 Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater 03/28 Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool 03/29 Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool
AMEBIX 01/22 Los Angeles, CA @ Safari Sam's (w/ Book of Black Earth) 01/23 Los Angeles, CA @ Safari Sam's 01/24 Austin, TX @ Emo's 01/25 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall 01/27 Seattle, WA @ Neumo's 01/29 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom 01/31 Philadelphia, PA @ Starlite Ballroom
AMON TOBIN 01/30 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent 01/31 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
ANATHALLO 02/20 Naperville, IL @ The Union @ North Central College 02/27 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick (w/ Ribbons Of Song) 02/28 Toronto, ON @ The Drake Hotel (w/ Ribbons Of Song) 03/01 Montreal, QC @ La Divan Orange (w/ Ribbons Of Song) 03/03 Boston, MA @ Middle East (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/04 New York, NY @ The Mercury Lounge (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/05 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/06 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/07 Carrborro, NC @ Cat's Cradle (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/08 West Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/09 Orlando, FL @ The Social (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/11 Athens, GA @ 40 Watt (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/12 Nashville, TN @ Exit In (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/13 Oxford, MS @ Proud Larry's (w/ Sam Amidon) 03/14 Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon (w/ Sam Amidon)
ANTIBALAS 01/30 Brooklyn, NY @ Southpaw 01/30 Brooklyn, NY @ Southpaw
ASVA 01/24 Diksmuide, BEL @ 4AD 01/25 Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie 01/26 Dudingen, CHE @ Bad Bonn 01/27 Prague, CZE @ Chateau Rouge 01/28 Berlin, DEU @ Transmediale Festival 04/24 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Roadburn Festival)
BEIRUT 02/04 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall Of Williamsburg (sold out) 02/06 Brooklyn, NY @ BAM Opera House (Sounds Like Brooklyn Music Festival) 02/07 Brooklyn, NY @ BAM Opera House (Sounds Like Brooklyn Music Festival) 02/19 Mexico City, MEX @ Lunaria Auditoria 02/20 Mexico City, MEX @ Lunaria Auditoria 05/03 Hamburg, DEU @ Fabrik 05/05 Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso 05/06 Brussels, BEL @ Cirque Royal 05/08 London, UK @ Forum 05/09 Minehead, UK @ All Tomorrow's Parties The Fans Strike Back 05/12 Paris, FR @ Bataclan
BLACK LIPS 02/15 London, UK @ Islinton Academy (NME Awards w/ Vivian Girls) 02/16 Bristol, UK @ Fleece N Firkin 02/17 Glasgow, UK @ ABC 2 02/18 Manchester, UK @ Institute 02/19 Brighton, UK @ Audio 02/26 Birmingham, UK @ Bottletree 02/27 Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse 03/04 Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle 03/05 Washington, DC @ Black Cat 03/06 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's 03/07 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East 03/09 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom 03/10 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg 03/12 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom 03/13 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick 03/14 Chicago, IL @ Logan Square Auditorium 03/15 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom 03/16 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club 03/17 Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room 03/18 Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck 03/20-21 Austin, TX @ SXSW 03/23 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks 03/25 Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder 03/26 Tampa, FL @ Orpheum 03/27 Miami, FL @ Churchill's 03/28 Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds 03/29 Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits 03/30 Orlando, FL @ The Social
BLOODHAG 02/07 Vancouver, BC @ Bourbon Street Pub 02/20 Tumwater, WA @ Tumwater Library
BLUES CONTROL 01/20 New York, NY @ Grand Ballroom at Manhattan Center Studios (w/ Animal Collective)
BOOK OF BLACK EARTH 01/21 Santa Barbara, CA @ Jensen Mainstage 01/22 Los Angeles, CA @ Regent Theater 01/23 Berkeley, CA @ 924 Gilman Street 01/24 San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside 01/25 Hollywood, CA @ Knitting Factory 01/26 Tempe, AZ @ The Sets 01/27 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad 01/28 El Paso, TX @ Uncle Paulie’s Pub 01/29 Austin, TX @ Red 7 01/30 Houston, TX @ Java Jazz 02/01 Metairie, LA @ High Ground 02/02 Pensacola, FL @ American Legion Post 33 02/03 Jacksonville, FL @ Fuel Coffeehouse 02/04/09 Orlando, FL @ Back Booth 02/05/09 Tampa, FL @ Orpheum 02/06/09 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade 02/07/09 Tallahassee, FL @ Engine Room 02/09/09 Little Rock, AR @ The Village 02/10/09 Dallas, TX @ Lounge on Elm Street 02/11/09 Farmington, NM @ Gator’s 02/12/09 Tucson, AZ @ The Rock 02/13/09 San Marcos, CA @ Jumping Turtle
THE BYE BYE BLACKBIRDS 01/17 Oakland, CA @ Lobot Gallery 01/22 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern 02/17 Fairfax, CA @ Peri's Silver Dollar 02/26 Berkeley, CA @ The Starry Plough 02/28 Citrus Heights, CA @ Ugly's Tequila Bar
CHORD - upcoming release on Neurot Recordings 01/27 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
COLOSSAL YES 01/20 Seattle, WA @ Vera Project (w/ Devon Williams, Desolation Wilderness) 01/21 Bellingham, WA @ WHAAM (w/ Colossal Yes) 01/22 Olympia, WA @ The Big Room (w/ Devon Williams, Desolation Wilderness) 02/22 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern 02/24 Oakland, CA @ Stork Club
DAEDELUS 01/15 Santa Monica, CA @ Dakota Live Music Lounge 01/16 Santa Ana, CA @ The Crosby 01/17 San Francisco, CA @ Mission Rock Café 01/18 Santa Monica, CA @ The Broad Theater (performance with choreographed dancers)
DAMON & NAOMI 01/15 London, UK @ Luminaire 01/16 Lisbon, PRT @ ZDB 01/17 Porto, PRT @ Plano B 01/18 Vigo, ESP @ Vademecum 01/20 Gijon, ESP @ Casino 01/21 Huesca, ESP @ Matadero 01/22 Tarragona, ESP @ Loop 01/30 Lyon, FR @ Sonic 01/31 Paris / St-Ouen, FR @ Mo'Fo Festival
DASH RIP ROCK 01/16 Baton Rouge, LA @ Mike's Grill 01/17 Angie, LA @ Birdie's Roadhouse 01/23 Lafayette, LA @ Artmosphere 01/24 Baton Rouge, LA @ The Roux House 01/31 San Antonio, TX @ San Antonio Rodeo BBQ Cookoff 02/06 Lake Charles, LA @ OB's Bar & Grill 02/13 Panama City, FL @ Buck Wild Saloon 02/14 Panama City, FL @ Buck Wild Saloon 02/20 Nashville, TN @ The End 02/21 St Louis, MO @ The Broadway Oyster Bar
THE DEATH SET 02/27 Cholula, MEX @ Anonimo 02/28 Monterrey, MEX @ Garage 03/13 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/15 Asheville, NC @ Emerald Lounge (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/16 Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/17 Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/21 Dallas, TX @ Lounge on Elm Street (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/23 St. Louis, MO @ Gargoyle Club (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/24 Chicago, IL @ AV-aerie (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/24 Chicago, IL @ Sonotheque (DJ Set) 03/26 Madison, WI @ The Rathskeller (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/27 Columbus, OH @ The Summit (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/28 Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik)
DEPARTMENT OF EAGLES 01/15 Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern 01/16 Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center for the Arts 01/17 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's 01/18 Cambridge, MA @ The Brattle Theatre 01/19 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom 01/23 Hollywood, CA @ Troubadour 01/25 San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord 01/27 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge 01/28 Seattle, WA @ Neumo's
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD 03/06 New York, NY @ Webster Hall (w/ Pentagram) 03/07 Baltimore, MD @ Sonar (w/ Pentagram)
DISASTER STRIKES 03/11 Flagstaff, AZ @ Stab Mountain 03/14 Berkeley, CA @ 924 Gilman Street Project
DOA 01/29 Oak Harbor, WA @ Oak Harbor Tavern 01/30 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon 01/31 Portland, OR @ Satyricon
DOSH 01/28 New York, NY @ Carnegie Hall (w/ Andrew Bird)
DROP THE LIME 01/16 Charlotte, NC @ The Forum 02/06 Mexico City, MEX @ Pasaje America 02/10 Portland, OR @ Holocene 02/11 San Francisco, CA @ Vessel
MICHAEL GIRA 01/15 Sydney, AUS @ The Vanguard 01/18 Sydney (Cockatoo Island), AUS @ All Tomorrow's Parties/Barracks Stage 03/03 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (w/Larkin Grimm) 03/04 Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern (w/Larkin Grimm) 03/06 San, Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Cultural Hall (w/Larkin Grimm) 03/08 Los, Angeles, CA @ Echo (w/Larkin Grimm)
GRAILS 02/19 San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord 02/21 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland 02/22 San Diego, CA @ Casbah
LARKIN GRIMM 01/15 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs 01/16 Providence, RI @ Jake’s Bar & Grill 01/17 Portland, ME @ SPACE Gallery 01/18 Hamden, CT @ The Space 02/04 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie 02/05 Baltimore, MD @ Talking Head Club 02/06 Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks 02/07 Columbus, OH @ Cafe Bourbon Street 02/08 Knoxville, TN @ Big Ears Festival (w/ Michael Gira) 02/11 Bloomington, IN @ Bear’s Place 02/12 Columbia, MO @ Mojo’s 02/13 Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar 02/14 Grinnell, IA @ Gardner Lounge @ Grinnell College 02/15 Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews 02/16 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle 02/17 Madison, WI @ Frequency 02/19 Milwaukee, WI @ Stonefly Brewery 02/20 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club 02/22 Fargo, ND @ Aquarium 02/24 Spearfish, SD @ The Hyve 02/25 Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater 02/27 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge 02/28 Boise, ID @ Neurolux 03/03 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (w/ Michael Gira) 03/04 Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern (w/ Michael Gira) 03/06 San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Cultural Hall (w/ Michael Gira) 03/07 Santa Cruz, CA @ Crepe Place 03/08 Los Angeles, CA @ Echo (w/ Michael Gira) 03/11 San Diego, CA @ Bar Pink 03/12 Phoenix, AZ @ Modified 03/13 Tucson, AZ @ Plush 03/18 Austin, TX @ Emo’s Inside (SXSW Leafy Green Showcase)
JUCIFER 01/15 Augusta, GA @ Sky City 01/16 Atlanta, GA @ Lenny's 01/30 Birmingham, AL @ The Nick 01/31 Chattanooga, TN @ JJ's Bohemia
MUMLERS 01/16 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill 02/06 Mountain View, CA @ Red Rock Café 02/07 Merced, CA @ The Partisan 02/20 Sacramento, CA @ Old Ironsides 02/21 Stockton, CA @ Plea For Peace 02/23 Vancouver, BC @ The Biltmore Cabaret 02/24 Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey 02/25 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge 02/27 San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s 02/28 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour 03/01 Fullerton, CA @ The Continental Room
NEUROSIS 02/28 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade 04/25 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Beyond The Pale @ Roadburn Festival)
NURSE WITH WOUND 02/15 Athens, GRC @ Kyttaro 03/14 Mexico City, MEX @ Por Confirmar 03/26 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
ODD NOSDAM 01/15 Berkeley, CA @ Missouri Lounge (DJ set) 01/28 San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop (DJ set) 02/05 San Francisco, CA @ Underground SF (w/ Controller 7)
OM 02/13 Portland, OR @ Berbati's Pan (w/ Six Organs Of Admittance) 04/25 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Beyond The Pale @ Roadburn Festival)
PAIN JERK 01/20 Glasgow, UK @ CCA (w/ Emeralds) 01/21 Edinburgh UK @ Henry's Cellar Bar (w/ Emeralds) 01/23 Gateshead, UK @ Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (w/ Emeralds) 01/24 London, UK @ Luminaire (w/ Emeralds) 01/27 Bristol, UK @ The Croft (w/ Emeralds) 01/28 London, UK @ Grosvenor
THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART 02/07 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge (w/ caUSE Co-MOTION) 02/08 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie 02/09 Washington, DC @ Black Cat Backstage 02/10 Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks 02/11 Chicago, IL @ Schubas 02/12 Toronto, ON @ Neutral 02/13 Montreal, QC @ l Motore 02/14 Winooski, VT @ The Monkey House 02/15 Boston, MA @ Middle East 03/13 Brooklyn, NY @ Bell House 03/14 Baltimore, MD @ Talking Head Club 03/15 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 03/16 Atlanta, GA @ E.A.R.L. 03/18 Austin, TX @ Red 7 (SXSW Terrorbird/Force Field Party) PANSY DIVISION 01/29 San Francisco, CA @ Eagle Tavern 01/30 Berkeley, CA @ 924 Gilman
POP LEVI 02/25 San Diego, CA @ The Loft 03/03 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echoplex (w/ Fujiya & Miyagi) 03/05 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent (w/ Fujiya & Miyagi) 03/06 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (w/ Fujiya & Miyagi)
PORT O' BRIEN 01/31 Brisbane, AUS @ Laneway Festival 02/01 Melbourne, AUS @ Laneway Festival 02/03 Melbourne, AUS @ Corner Hotel 02/04 Sydney, AUS @ Manning Bar 02/06 Perth, AUS @ Laneway Festival 02/07 Adelaide, AUS @ Fowler’s Live (Laneway Festival) 02/08 Sydney, AUS @ The Basement (Laneway Festival) 02/27 San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord (Noisepop Festival) 03/06 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox 03/07 Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theatre 03/08 Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theatre
JAY REATARD 01/23 Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex 01/25 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
RESTIFORM BODIESON TOUR WITH EGADZ 02/19 Portland, OR @ Backspace 02/20 Seattle, WA @ Lo-Fi Lounge 02/21 Boise, ID @ The Bouquet 02/22 Salt Lake City, UT @ Uprock Records (6:00 PM) 02/23 Fort Collins, CO @ Re-Evolution House Party 02/24 Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive 02/25 Santa Fe, NM @ Warehouse 21 02/27 Winterhaven, CA @ Open Aired 02/28 San Diego, CA @ Access Music (In-store 3:00 PM) 02/28 San Diego, CA @ Kava Lounge 03/04 Los Angeles, CA @ Low End Theory @ The Airliner 03/05 San Francisco, CA @ Underground SF
RIO EN MEDIO 01/16 Santa Cruz, CA @ Historic Brookdale Lodge 02/26 San Francisco, CA @ The Hemlock 03/06 Joshua Tree, CA @ Pappy and Harriets
SECRET CHIEFS 03/10 Oakland, CA @ Yoshi's (playing Masada) 03/13 Salt Lake City, UT @ Depot (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool and Saul Williams) 03/14 Denver, CO @ Fillmore (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Yard Dogs, Saul Williams) 03/16 Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Devotchka, Saul Williams) 03/17 St. Louis, MO @ Pageant (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Devotchka, Saul Williams) 03/19 Minneapolis, MN @ Myth (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Devotchka, Saul Williams) 03/20 Milwaukee, WI @ Rave (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Devotchka, Saul Williams) 03/21 Chicago, IL @ Riviera (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Devotchka, Saul Williams) 03/22 Cleveland, OH @ Agora (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Devotchka, Saul Williams) 03/24 Toronto, ON @ The Guvernment (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Saul Williams) 03/26 Boston, MA @ House of Blues (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Saul Williams, O'Death) 03/27 Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory(The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Saul Williams, O'Death) 03/28 New York, NY @ Terminal 5 (The Oddity Faire w/ Les Claypool, Saul Williams, O'Death)
SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE 02/13 Portland, OR @ Berbati's Pan (w/ Om) 04/25 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Beyond The Pale @ Roadburn Festival)
SLIM CESSNA'S AUTO CLUB 01/31 Fort Collins, CO @ Aggie Theater 02/01 Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep 02/03 Boulder, CO @ Fox Theater 02/04 Breckenridge, CO @ Three 20 South 02/05 Vail, CO @ Sandbar 02/06 Vail, CO @ Sandbar 02/07 Aspen, CO @ Belly Up 02/08 Crested Butte, CO @ The Eldo
SOLEON TOUR WITH MYKA 9 01/16 Los Angeles, CA @ Knitting Factory 01/17 Fresno, CA @ The Exit 01/18 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill 01/20 Eureka, CA @ Red Fox Tavern 01/22 Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall 01/23 Portland, OR @ Berbati's Pan 01/25 Boise, ID @ The Bouquet 01/27 Bozeman, MT @ Zebra Cocktail Lounge 01/28 Missoula, MT @ The Badlander 01/29 Salt Lake City, CO @ Bender's Tavern 01/31 Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf
SONIC YOUTH 04/22 Krems, AUT @ Austria Donau Festival 04/23 Munich, DEU @ Haus der Kunst 04/24 Dusseldorf, DEU @ 3001
MARK SULTANON TOUR WITH KING KHAN & THE SHRINES 03/10 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade 03/12 Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel 03/13 Nashville, TN @ Exit In 03/14 Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone Cafe 03/15 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks 03/16 Dallas, TX @ Palladium Loft 03/17 San Antonio, TX @ The Warhol
THUNDERHEIST upcoming release on Big Dada 01/15 New York, NY @ Santo's Party House 01/17 Chicago, IL @ Schuba's 01/23 San Francisco, CA @ 103 Harriet 01/24 Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex 02/07 Geulf, ON @ Sleeman Center for Hillside Inside 02/27 Poughkeepsie, NY @ Vassar College 02/28 Vancouver, BC @ Cultural Olympiad
VETIVER 02/19 Paris, FR @ La Maronquinerie Le Nuit Alligators Festival 02/21 Tourcoing, FR @ Le Grand Mix 02/22 Brussels, BEL @ Botanique 02/23 Gent, BEL @ Vorruit 02/24 London, UK @ Roundhouse (w/ Fleet Foxes) 02/25 Manchester, UK @ Dulcimer 02/26 Glasgow, UK @ Stereo 02/28 London, UK @ Cecil Sharp House
VIVIAN GIRLS 01/20 Brooklyn, NY @ Danbro Warehouse (w/ Fucked Up, Pissed Jeans) 02/06 Diksmuide, BEL @ 4AD Muziekclub (w/Crystal Antlers) 02/07 Rottedam, NL @ RoTown 02/08 Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso 02/09 Antwerp, BEL @ Trix 02/10 Metz, FR @ Triniaires 02/11 Strasbourg, FR @ La Laiterie 02/12 Limoges, FR @ Woodstock Boogie Bar 02/13 Paris, FR @ Point Ephemere 02/14 London, UK @ Proud Galleries 02/15 London, UK @ Carling Academy Islington (w/ Black Lips) 02/19 New York, NY @ The Apollo Theater (w/ M. Ward) 02/20 Philadelphia, PA @ rocadero (w/ M. Ward) 02/21 Washington, DC @ Sixth & I Historic Synagogue (w/ M. Ward)
WILDBIRDS & PEACEDRUMSON TOUR WITH LYKKE LI 01/30 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church 01/31 Washington, DC @ Sixth and I 02/02 New York, NY @ Webster Hall 02/03 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall 02/04 Montreal, QC @ Club Soda 02/06 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix 02/07 Chicago, IL @ Metro 02/08 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity 02/11 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore 02/12 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne 02/13 Seattle, WA @ Showbox 02/15 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore 02/17 Pomona, CA @ Glass House
DEVON WILLIAMS 01/20 Seattle, WA @ Sonic Boom (In-store 6:00 PM) 01/20 Seattle, WA @ Vera Project (w/ Colossal Yes, Desolation Wilderness) 01/21 Bellingham, WA @ WHAAM (w/ Colossal Yes) 01/22 Olympia, WA @ The Big Room (w/ Colossal Yes, Desolation Wilderness) 02/01 Los Angeles, CA @ The Smell (w/ Calvin Johnson)
WOODEN SHJIPS 01/17 Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater (w/ Autolux) 01/22 San Francisco, CA @ Eagle Tavern (w/ Hank IV)
ZOMES 02/28 Bristol, UK @ Cube Microplex Cinema 03/02 Dalston, UK @ London Cafe Oto 03/03 Leeds, UK @ The Pack Horse 03/04 Newcastle upon Tyne, UK @ Bridge Hotel 03/05 Glasgow, UK @ The 13th Note 03/06 Saltburn-by-the-Sea, UK @ Alexandra Vaults 03/07 Nottingham, UK @ The Art Organisation
January 14, 2009 New Beirut Video - "La Llorona" (Stereogum Premiere)
A while ago we mentioned that Zach Condon headed to Oaxaca, Mexico -- the weaver village of Teotitlan del Valle to be exact -- and hooked up with the 19-piece Jimenez Band band, who helped him get the sounds he needed for his March Of The Zapotec EP. Condon plans to release some short films documenting the experience, but in the Owen Cook-animated video for standout "La Llorna" he stayed home and wrote a narrative about a little dog, a mourner, the band, a Mexican graveyard, and a puddle of tears (or, well, rain). It helps to know that "La Llorona"'s "the weeping woman" in Spanish and relates to a legend about a woman who killed her children then herself after she was rejected by a man. She spends her time as a weeping ghost, wandering in search of the kids.
ABC News.com kicks off a new weekly music series by speaking to Ryan Schreiber of Pitchfork about five new releases to look forward to in 2009. Schreiber gives an exuberant endorsement of The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. Way to be down with the people ABC.
Amebix's music was - and is - the sound of squalor and bleakness. "Crust" is the style they're crediting with helping pioneer, and as genre names go, they don't get much more descriptive. Influenced as much by Motorhead as by anarcho-punks Crass, Amebix merged metal influences with a gutter-punk mindset and a sense of apocalyptic doom. The group sidestepped the loud-fast template that was so common among early punk-metal bands, opting for a moderately paced sound built around repetitive bass lines, washed-out guitars, vaguely tribal drumming, and the occasional thin layer of gloomy keyboards. The end result often resembled early Killing Joke with half the chops and a tenth of the recording budget, which may sound like a slight, but it really isn't.
No Sanctuary is a reissue of three long out-of-print EPs recorded by the British trio between 1982 and '84. The liner notes provide scant information on the recording sessions, but bassist-vocalist Rob "the Baron" Miller's remembrances are still telling: "We lived in very squalid conditions, often without running water or electricity.... We lived by either begging, stealing, or appropriating food from supermarket skips, using ... dole money to get wasted enough to try and forget." This helps explain not only the recording quality - which might affectionately be described as "shitty" - but also the general vibe of the music, which is every bit as barren as the cover art.
AMEBIX Jan. 25, 8 p.m., $16 Great American Music Hall, 859 O'Farrell, SF
First of all, this is not the new Beirut album proper. Instead, we're receiving two EPs that together comprise Zach Condon's 2008 output – the first a collaboration with a Mexican funeral band, the second a resurrection of his early bedroom recordings moniker Realpeople. While good (very good, in fact), it's perhaps not exactly what you might have come to expect from this enviably talented young American.
Of course, the obvious curveball would be the Realpeople EP Holland, where horns'n'uke are substituted for gently synthesized beats and keyboards. The first, though, (album namesake March Of The Zapotec) intrigues in itself. I mean: you what? A Mexican funeral band? A 19-piece Mexican funeral band? A 19-piece Mexican funeral band from a remote weaver village in Oaxaca? What – that don't even speak Spanish, but the Mexican dialect of Zapotec? Not one to make things easy for himself, that Condon – though you wouldn't know it from the results.
For while the Zapotec EP is unmistakeably Beirut, it sees Condon marry his melodic verve with something almost imperceptibly darker. There's nothing here in any way as instant as 'Postcards From Italy', 'Elephant Gun', or anything off The Flying Club Cup. His mindset, perhaps (for the second time Condon bowed out of touring commitments by cancelling many-a-tour date last year, effectively citing exhaustion as the cause); the arid surroundings maybe – or perhaps simply the nature of the work, as moments here do sound suitably funereal.
Give it time though: it'll seep into your consciousness, lock and engage. Layers upon layers of brass that eventually come off warmer, grander and more precise than any before are steered by that voice, Condon's velvet tones and keen sense of composition reaching their zenith on 'The Akara'. Tumbling horns careen over minor chord ukelele, as he laments the "kite strings" that save him before he is, ultimately, saved. 'La Llorna' again brings his unfettered romanticism to the fore ("No man ever could steal her heart…"), while Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear makes a guest appearance trumpeting on 'The Shrew'. Soon apparent is a sense that the panoramic Mexican filter through which Beirut's previously established Gallic and Balkan influences trickle has blessed Condon's project with perhaps its richest collection yet.
Which brings us to Holland. Two of these tracks have surfaced prior to this release – 'My Night With The Prostitute From Marseille' appeared on a digitally released charity compilation compiled by one Natalie Portman, while 'Venice' featured on a compilation given away by uber-hip US monthly The Believer. In isolation, both were intriguing diversions from the trademark Beirut sound; nestled here among similar bedroom-electro gems, they sound less like oddities and more part of a coherent – though not entirely successful – '80s-influenced set.
It's fine stuff, mind – and once you get over the contrasting musical backdrop Condon's quavering, gorgeous enunciation finds itself atop, periodically superb (see: aforementioned opener 'My Night…', which intones little lyrically yet evokes untold amounts, or the chiming, addictive stabs of 'The Concubine'). The bizarre, inconsequential Euro-pop of 'No Dice' upon which this collection unfortunately closes does mar slightly; though as a flipside to the superbZapotec, Holland offsets proceedings in a manner admirably diverse.
To reiterate, then: it's not the third Beirut album, like, proper. But as a means of sating collective appetites before that record does arrive – heightening expectations, even – it is a remarkable achievement. Beirut 8 / 10
UPCOMING BEIRUT LIVE DATES: 02/04 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall Of Williamsburg (sold out) 02/06 Brooklyn, NY @ BAM Opera House (Sounds Like Brooklyn Music Festival) 02/07 Brooklyn, NY @ BAM Opera House (Sounds Like Brooklyn Music Festival) 02/19 Mexico City, MEX @ Lunaria Auditoria 02/20 Mexico City, MEX @ Lunaria Auditoria 05/03 Hamburg, DEU @ Fabrik 05/05 Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso 05/06 Brussels, BEL @ Cirque Royal 05/08 London, UK @ Forum 05/09 Minehead, UK @ All Tomorrow's Parties The Fans Strike Back 05/12 Paris, FR @ Bataclan
The four songs on this free download live EP were recorded at the festival in Roedovre (a suburb of Copenhagen) on November 8 2008. This was the first and maybe also the last concert by Slaraffenklang. The idea is simple and fun. Slaraffenklang is the mutant hybrid of Efterklang and Slaraffenland. There were 12 musicians on stage, and the songs performed were versions of songs by Efterklang and Slaraffenland. Sometimes just louder and heavier, and sometimes in new arrangements.
SLARAFFENKLANG - Danish Dynamite Live at Sono Festival 2008 Tracklisting: 1. Cutting Ice To Snow 2. Polaroids 3. Echo Wave 4. You Win
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Petter Samuelsson Click here
EU tour dates announced 05/03 GERMANY HAMBURG FABRIK 05/05 THE NETHERLANDS AMSTERDAM PARADISO 05/06 BELGIUM BRUSSELS CIRQUE ROYAL 05/08 UK LONDON FORUM 05/09 UK MINEHEAD ALL TOMORROWS PARTY vs Fans. The Fans Strike Back 05/12 FRANCE PARIS BATACLAN
On the band-name wince-o-meter, the Papercuts rank just below the Leapfrogging a Parking Meter and Hitting Your Balls on Its and the Digging Too Deep in Your Nose and Getting a Nosebleeds. But that hasn't stopped the reverbed-out San Francisco sad-pop project. You Can Have What You Want, the third album from Jason Quever's band, will be out on April 14. In the US, Gnomonsong will release the album, and it'll be on Memphis Industries in Europe. The record will feature collaborations with Alex Scally of frequent Papercuts tourmates Beach House.
And here's the tracklist: 01 Once We Walked In The Sunlight 02 A Dictator's Lament 03 The Machine Will Tell Us So 04 A Peculiar Hallelujah 05 Jet Plane 06 Dead Love 07 Future Primitive 08 You Can Have What You Want 09 The Void 10 The Wolf
Upcoming Vivian Girls live dates: 01/11 New York, NY @ KIDROCKERS at The Living Room 01/14 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell’s (w/ Titus Andronicus) 01/20 Brooklyn, NY @ Danbro Warehouse (w/ Fucked Up, Pissed Jeans) 02/06 Diksmuide, BEL @ 4AD Muziekclub (w/Crystal Antlers) 02/07 Rottedam, NL @ RoTown 02/08 Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso 02/09 Antwerp, BEL @ Trix 02/10 Metz, FR @ Triniaires 02/11 Strasbourg, FR @ La Laiterie 02/12 Limoges, FR @ Woodstock Boogie Bar 02/13 Paris, FR @ Point Ephemere 02/14 London, UK @ Proud Galleries 02/15 London, UK @ Carling Academy Islington (w/ Black Lips) 02/19 New York, NY @ The Apollo Theater (w/ M. Ward) 02/20 Philadelphia, PA @ rocadero (w/ M. Ward) 02/21 Washington, DC @ Sixth & I Historic Synagogue (w/ M. Ward)
Press release via Neurot Recordings announced on various sites today:Shrinebuilder is a project that features, in equal measure, Wino (St, Vitus, Hidden Hand), Scott Kelly (Neurosis), Al Cisneros (Om, Sleep), and Dale Crover (Melvins). The band will be in the studio with Toshi from January 9th through January 11th. Shrinebuilder's debut full-length, currently self-titled, is set for a summer 2009 release on Neurot Recordings. Scott Kelly has announced that he will report live from the studio via We Burn Through The Night beginning no later than Saturday, January 10th. Look for guest blogs by other members of Shrinebuilder as well as possible in-studio photos from the band.
As reported by Pitchfork today, the Black Lips are taking their rock show to the distant lands of South Asia this month.
Black Lips to Play India's Indie "American Idol"
You think Atlanta badasses Black Lips ever get, like, tired? Or sick? It sure doesn't seem like it. They seem to know the indie rock halo can be fleeting, so they're taking advantage of the spotlight. More power to 'em. Before they unleash their new album, 200 Million Thousand, on February 24, and head to Europe and the U.S. next month, the foursome are boosting their Where I've Been profile with a round of gigs in India. The trek includes three dates headlining Campus Rock Idols-- which is like "American Idol", except with Indian college bands instead of American pop tarts, and no Simon Cowell (that we know of). The ambitious travellers are making a concerted effort to hit less-than-typical locales nowadays-- drummer Joe Bradly recently told My Old Kentucky Blog, "As soon as Sir Richard Branson, the rebel billionaire, opens up his space shuttle thing, we want to be the first band to play in space." Take that, Bowie! Back to earth:
01-16 Mumbai, India - Festival of New Noise 01-17 Pune, India - Raga Lawns, North Koregoan Park (Campus Rock Idols) 01-23 Chennai, India - Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall (Campus Rock Idols) 01-24 Calcutta, India - The Park01-25 Bangalore, India - BRV Grounds, KSCA (Campus Rock Idols)
Posted by Ryan Dombal on Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 1:15pm
Other upcoming (less exotic) tour destinations: 02/15 London, UK @ Islinton Academy (NME Awards) 02/16 Bristol, UK @ Fleece N Firkin 02/17 Glasgow, UK @ ABC 2 02/18 Manchester, UK @ Institute 02/19 Brighton, UK @ Audio 02/26 Birmingham, UK @ Bottletree 02/27 Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse 03/04 Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle 03/05 Washington, DC @ Black Cat 03/06 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's 03/07 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East 03/09 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom 03/10 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg 03/12 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom 03/13 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick 03/14 Chicago, IL @ Logan Square Auditorium 03/15 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom 03/16 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club 03/17 Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room 03/18 Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck 03/20-21 Austin, TX @ SXSW 03/23 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks 03/25 Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder 03/26 Tampa, FL @ Orpheum 03/27 Miami, FL @ Churchill's 03/28 Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds 03/29 Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits 03/30 Orlando, FL @ The Social
A HAWK AND A HACKSAW 01/10 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge 01/11 Brooklyn, NY@ Union Hall
A STORM OF LIGHT 04/25 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Beyond The Pale @ Roadburn Festival)
AKIMBO 01/29 Bellingham, WA @ Western Wa University 04/25 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Beyond The Pale @ Roadburn Festival)
AKRON/FAMILY 03/06 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern 03/07 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern 030/8 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern 03/10 Los Angeles, CA @ Steve Allen Theater 03/11 Los Angeles, CA @ Steve Allen Theater 03/12 Los Angeles, CA @ Steve Allen Theater 03/17 Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater 03/28 Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool 03/29 Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool
AMEBIX 01/22 Los Angeles, CA @ Safari Sam's (w/ Book of Black Earth) 01/23 Los Angeles, CA @ Safari Sam's 01/24 Austin, TX @ Emo's 01/25 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall 01/27 Seattle, WA @ Neumo's 01/29 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom 01/31 Philadelphia, PA @ Starlite Ballroom
AMON TOBIN 01/30 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent 01/31 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
ANATHALLO 01/09 Holland, MI @ Knickerbocker Theater
ANTIBALAS 01/30 Brooklyn, NY @ Southpaw 01/30 Brooklyn, NY @ Southpaw
BEIRUT 02/06 Brooklyn, NY @ BAM Opera House (Sounds Like Brooklyn Music Festival) 02/07 Brooklyn, NY @ BAM Opera House (Sounds Like Brooklyn Music Festival) 03/09 Minehead, UK @ Butlins Holiday Resort (All Tomorrow's Parties Festival)
BLOODHAG 02/07/09 Vancouver, BC @ Bourbon Street Pub 02/20/09 Tumwater, WA @ Tumwater Library
BLUES CONTROL 01/09 Providence, RI @ Stairwell Gallery 01/11 Edgatown, MA @ Aboveground Records 01/20 New York, NY @ Grand Ballroom at Manhattan Center Studios (w/ Animal Collective)
BOOK OF BLACK EARTH 01/21 Santa Barbara, CA @ Jensen Mainstage 01/22 Los Angeles, CA @ Regent Theater 01/23 Berkeley, CA @ 924 Gilman Street 01/24 San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside 01/25 Hollywood, CA @ Knitting Factory 01/26 Tempe, AZ @ The Sets 01/27 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad 01/28 El Paso, TX @ Uncle Paulie’s Pub 01/29 Austin, TX @ Red 7 01/30 Houston, TX @ Java Jazz 02/01 Metairie, LA @ High Ground 02/02 Pensacola, FL @ American Legion Post 33 02/03 Jacksonville, FL @ Fuel Coffeehouse 02/04/09 Orlando, FL @ Back Booth 02/05/09 Tampa, FL @ Orpheum 02/06/09 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade 02/07/09 Tallahassee, FL @ Engine Room 02/09/09 Little Rock, AR @ The Village 02/10/09 Dallas, TX @ Lounge on Elm Street 02/11/09 Farmington, NM @ Gator’s 02/12/09 Tucson, AZ @ The Rock 02/13/09 San Marcos, CA @ Jumping Turtle
CHORD - upcoming release on Neurot Recordings 01/27 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
DAMON & NAOMI 01/15 London, UK @ Luminaire 01/16 Lisbon, PRT @ ZDB 01/17 Porto, PRT @ Plano B 01/18 Vigo, ESP @ Vademecum 01/20 Gijon, ESP @ Casino 01/21 Huesca, ESP @ Matadero 01/22 Tarragona, ESP @ Loop 01/30 Lyon, FR @ Sonic 01/31 Paris / St-Ouen, FR @ Mo'Fo Festival
DASH RIP ROCK 01/09 Pontchatoula, LA @ Pontchatoula Pub 01/10 St. Francisville, LA @ Magnolia Cafe 01/16 Baton Rouge, LA @ Mike's Grill 01/17 Angie, LA @ Birdie's Roadhouse 01/23 Lafayette, LA @ Artmosphere 01/24 Baton Rouge, LA @ The Roux House 01/31 San Antonio, TX @ San Antonio Rodeo BBQ Cookoff 02/06 Lake Charles, LA @ OB's Bar & Grill 02/13 Panama City, FL @ Buck Wild Saloon 02/14 Panama City, FL @ Buck Wild Saloon 02/20 Nashville, TN @ The End 02/21 St Louis, MO @ The Broadway Oyster Bar
THE DEATH SET 02/27 Cholula, MEX @ Anonimo 02/28 Monterrey, MEX @ Garage 03/13 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/15 Asheville, NC @ Emerald Lounge (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/16 Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/17 Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/21 Dallas, TX @ Lounge on Elm Street (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/23 St. Louis, MO @ Gargoyle Club (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/24 Chicago, IL @ AV-aerie (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/24 Chicago, IL @ Sonotheque (DJ Set) 03/26 Madison, WI @ The Rathskeller (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/27 Columbus, OH @ The Summit (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik) 03/28 Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop (w/ Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik)
DEPARTMENT OF EAGLES 01/15 Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s Tavern 01/16 Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center for the Arts 01/17 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s 01/18 Cambridge, MA @ The Brattle Theatre 01/19 New York, NY @ The Bowery Ballroom
THE DEVIL'S BLOOD 03/06 New York, NY @ Webster Hall (w/ Pentagram) 03/07 Baltimore, MD @ Sonar (w/ Pentagram)
DISASTER STRIKES 01/10 Wallingford, CT @ American Legion 01/11 Doylestown, PA @ Moose Lodge 1284 03/11 Flagstaff, AZ @ Stab Mountain 03/14 Berkeley, CA @ 924 Gilman Street Project
DOA 01/9 Beijing, CHN @ Mao Live House 01/10 Wuhan, CHN @ Vox 01/11 Shanghai, CHN @ Yuyintang 01/12 Nanjing, CHN @ Castle Bar 01/13 Beijing, CHN @ D-22 01/29 Oak Harbor, WA @ Oak Harbor Tavern 01/30 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon 01/31 Portland, OR @ Satyricon
DOSH 01/28 New York, NY @ Carnegie Hall (w/ Andrew Bird)
DROP THE LIME 01/09 Los Angeles, CA @ Avalon Hollywood 01/16 Charlotte, NC @ The Forum 02/06 Mexico City, MEX @ Pasaje America 02/10 Portland, OR @ Holocene 02/11 San Francisco, CA @ Vessel
MICHAEL GIRA 01/09 Mt. Buller, AUS @ All Tomorrow's Parties 01/12 Melbourne, AUS @ The Toff of the Town 01/14 Brisbane, AUS @ Powerhouse 01/15 Sydney, AUS @ The Vanguard 01/18 Sydney (Cockatoo Island), AUS @ All Tomorrow's Parties/Barracks Stage 03/03 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (w/Larkin Grimm) 03/04 Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern (w/Larkin Grimm) 03/06 San, Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Cultural Hall (w/Larkin Grimm) 03/08 Los, Angeles, CA @ Echo (w/Larkin Grimm)
GRAILS 02/19 San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord 02/21 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland 02/22 San Diego, CA @ Casbah
LARKIN GRIMM 01/15 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs 01/16 Providence, RI @ Jake’s Bar & Grill 01/17 Portland, ME @ SPACE Gallery 01/18 Hamden, CT @ The Space 02/04 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie 02/05 Baltimore, MD @ Talking Head Club 02/06 Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks 02/07 Columbus, OH @ Cafe Bourbon Street 02/08 Knoxville, TN @ Big Ears Festival (w/ Michael Gira) 02/11 Bloomington, IN @ Bear’s Place 02/12 Columbia, MO @ Mojo’s 02/13 Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar 02/14 Grinnell, IA @ Gardner Lounge @ Grinnell College 02/15 Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews 02/16 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle 02/17 Madison, WI @ Frequency 02/19 Milwaukee, WI @ Stonefly Brewery 02/20 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club 02/22 Fargo, ND @ Aquarium 02/24 Spearfish, SD @ The Hyve 02/25 Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater 02/27 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge 02/28 Boise, ID @ Neurolux 03/03 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (w/ Michael Gira) 03/04 Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern (w/ Michael Gira) 03/06 San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Cultural Hall (w/ Michael Gira) 03/07 Santa Cruz, CA @ Crepe Place 03/08 Los Angeles, CA @ Echo (w/ Michael Gira) 03/11 San Diego, CA @ Bar Pink 03/12 Phoenix, AZ @ Modified 03/13 Tucson, AZ @ Plush 03/18 Austin, TX @ Emo’s Inside (SXSW Leafy Green Showcase)
DANIEL HIGGS 01/08 Seattle, WA @ Vera Project (w/Brightblack Morninglight) 01/09 Portland, OR @ Holocene (w/Brightblack Morninglight) 01/10 Eugene, WA @ Sams Bond Garage (w/Brightblack Morninglight) 01/11 Talent, OR @ Stillwater (w/Brightblack Morninglight) 01/12 Arcata, CA @ Humboldt Brews (w/Brightblack Morninglight) 01/14 San Francisco, CA @ Independent (w/Brightblack Morninglight)
JUCIFER 01/07 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 01/09 Charlotte, NC @ Milestone 01/15 Augusta, GA @ Sky City 01/16 Atlanta, GA @ Lenny's 01/30 Birmingham, AL @ The Nick 01/31 Chattanooga, TN @ JJ's Bohemia
MUMLERS 01/16 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill 02/06 Mountain View, CA @ Red Rock Café 02/07 Merced, CA @ The Partisan 02/20 Sacramento, CA @ Old Ironsides 02/21 Stockton, CA @ Plea For Peace 02/23 Vancouver, BC @ The Biltmore Cabaret 02/24 Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey 02/25 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge 02/27 San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s 02/28 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour 03/01 Fullerton, CA @ The Continental Room
NEUROSIS 04/25 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Beyond The Pale @ Roadburn Festival)
NURSE WITH WOUND 02/15 Athens, GRC @ Kyttaro 03/14 Mexico City, MEX @ Por Confirmar 03/26 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
ODD NOSDAM 01/15 Berkeley, CA @ Missouri Lounge (DJ set) 01/28 San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop (DJ set) 02/05 San Francisco, CA @ Underground SF (w/ Controller 7)
OM 02/13 Portland, OR @ Berbati's Pan (w/ Six Organs Of Admittance) 04/25 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Beyond The Pale @ Roadburn Festival)
PAIN JERK 01/20 Glasgow, UK @ CCA (w/ Emeralds) 01/21 Edinburgh UK @ Henry's Cellar Bar (w/ Emeralds) 01/23 Gateshead, UK @ Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (w/ Emeralds) 01/24 London, UK @ Luminaire (w/ Emeralds) 01/27 Bristol, UK @ The Croft (w/ Emeralds) 01/28 London, UK @ Grosvenor
THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART 02/07 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge (w/ caUSE Co-MOTION) 02/08 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie 02/09 Washington, DC @ Black Cat Backstage 02/10 Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks 02/11 Chicago, IL @ Schubas 02/12 Toronto, ON @ Neutral 02/13 Montreal, QC @ l Motore 02/14 Winooski, VT @ The Monkey House 02/15 Boston, MA @ Middle East 03/13 Brooklyn, NY @ Bell House 03/14 Baltimore, MD @ Talking Head Club 03/15 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 03/16 Atlanta, GA @ E.A.R.L. 03/18 Austin, TX @ Red 7 (SXSW Terrorbird/Force Field Party) PANSY DIVISION 01/29 San Francisco, CA @ Eagle Tavern 01/30 Berkeley, CA @ 924 Gilman
PORT O' BRIEN 01/31 Brisbane, AUS @ Laneway Festival 02/01 Melbourne, AUS @ Laneway Festival 02/03 Melbourne, AUS @ Corner Hotel 02/04 Sydney, AUS @ Manning Bar 02/06 Perth, AUS @ Laneway Festival 02/07 Adelaide, AUS @ Fowler’s Live (Laneway Festival) 02/08 Sydney, AUS @ The Basement (Laneway Festival)
JAY REATARD 01/23 Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex 01/25 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
RESTIFORM BODIESON TOUR WITH EGADZ 02/19 Portland, OR @ Backspace 02/20 Seattle, WA @ Lo-Fi Lounge 02/21 Boise, ID @ The Bouquet 02/22 Salt Lake City, UT @ Uprock Records (6:00 PM) 02/23 Fort Collins, CO @ Re-Evolution House Party 02/24 Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive 02/25 Santa Fe, NM @ Warehouse 21 02/27 Winterhaven, CA @ Open Aired 02/28 San Diego, CA @ Access Music (In-store 3:00 PM) 02/28 San Diego, CA @ Kava Lounge 03/04 Los Angeles, CA @ Low End Theory @ The Airliner 03/05 San Francisco, CA @ Underground SF
RIO EN MEDIO 01/16 Santa Cruz, CA @ Historic Brookdale Lodge 02/26 San Francisco, CA @ The Hemlock 03/06 Joshua Tree, CA @ Pappy and Harriets
SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE 02/13 Portland, OR @ Berbati's Pan (w/ Om) 04/25 Tilburg, NL @ 013 (Beyond The Pale @ Roadburn Festival)
SLIM CESSNA'S AUTO CLUB 01/31 Fort Collins, CO @ Aggie Theater 02/01 Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep 02/03 Boulder, CO @ Fox Theater 02/04 Breckenridge, CO @ Three 20 South 02/05 Vail, CO @ Sandbar 02/06 Vail, CO @ Sandbar 02/07 Aspen, CO @ Belly Up 02/08 Crested Butte, CO @ The Eldo
SOLEON TOUR WITH MYKA 9 01/16 Los Angeles, CA @ Knitting Factory 01/17 Fresno, CA @ The Exit 01/18 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill 01/20 Eureka, CA @ Red Fox Tavern 01/22 Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall 01/23 Portland, OR @ Berbati's Pan 01/25 Boise, ID @ The Bouquet 01/27 Bozeman, MT @ Zebra Cocktail Lounge 01/28 Missoula, MT @ The Badlander 01/29 Salt Lake City, CO @ Bender's Tavern 01/31 Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf
SONIC YOUTH 04/22 Krems, AUT @ Austria Donau Festival 04/23 Munich, DEU @ Haus der Kunst 04/24 Dusseldorf, DEU @ 3001
VETIVER 02/19 Paris, FR @ La Maronquinerie Le Nuit Alligators Festival 02/21 Tourcoing, FR @ Le Grand Mix 02/22 Brussels, BEL @ Botanique 02/23 Gent, BEL @ Vorruit 02/24 London, UK @ Roundhouse (w/ Fleet Foxes) 02/25 Manchester, UK @ Dulcimer 02/26 Glasgow, UK @ Stereo 02/28 London, UK @ Cecil Sharp House
WHITE/LIGHT 01/8 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's 01/9 Cincinnati, OH @ Art Damage Lodge 01/10 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
WILDBIRDS & PEACEDRUMSON TOUR WITH LYKKE LI 01/30 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church 01/31 Washington, DC @ Sixth and I 02/02 New York, NY @ Webster Hall 02/03 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall 02/04 Montreal, QC @ Club Soda 02/06 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix 02/07 Chicago, IL @ Metro 02/08 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity 02/11 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore 02/12 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne 02/13 Seattle, WA @ Showbox 02/15 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore 02/17 Pomona, CA @ Glass House
DEVON WILLIAMS 01/20 Seattle, WA @ Sonic Boom (In-store 6:00 PM) 01/20 Seattle, WA @ Vera Project 01/21 Bellingham, WA @ WHAAM 01/22 Olympia, WA @ The Big Room (w/ Desolation Wilderness) 02/01 Los Angeles, CA @ The Smell (w/ Calvin Johnson)
WOODEN SHJIPS 01/17 Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater (w/ Autolux) 01/22 San Francisco, CA @ Eagle Tavern (w/ Hank IV)
Black Time’s Double Negative, seemingly made on a broken mixer in a cave, sets a new standard for artfully shitty recording quality. A particularly wonderful moment comes in the song “The Days Are Too Long and the Nights Are Too Short.” As the song progresses, the blown-out drums sound less and less like drums, culminating in what ought to be a final drum-roll that instead sounds like a horrible accident, disrupting the song’s other elements. Actually, those drums might be a drum machine, but the recording is too stunningly bad to be able to know for sure. It must take a carefully honed aesthetic sensibility to come up with such confusion, such delightful cacophony.
Indeed, there are many fine bits on Double Negative, the third full-length from this London-based trio (plus friends). The mingling of Hamburger Mary and Lemmy Caution’s English-accented sing-shouts on “Six Feet Below” works appealingly, in a way oddly reminiscent of Huggy Bear. A few of the dirge-y screech-ups (“Scary People,” “Problems”) attain a surprising level of creepiness. The reverby U.K. D.I.Y.-style girl-and-organ-heavy slower jam “I’m Gonna Haunt You When I’m Gone” is a whistle waiting to happen.
Generally, though, one gets the sense that Black Time has good taste in raw three-chord music, and that their own work carefully sums up, without acceding, their influences. The nicknames, the sassy ‘60s-style album cover, the lyrics about skeletons and hauntings, the spoken-word social critique “A Boring Day for the Boredom Boys,” will all appeal to people who like the same bands as Black Time. Those fans – of the Country Teasers or the Gories or In the Red labelmates Black Lips, whose songwriting ability far surpasses Black Times’ – will probably appreciate this album. Black Time seem glad to alter just enough elements of the garage-punk formula so their songs are enjoyably familiar, rather than simply by-the-numbers.
Hatchback Colors Of The Sun [Lo; 2008] Styles: bubbling hot springs, melting white chocolate, PCH in a drop top Others: Neu! noodling with Casios, Low Motion Disco, Windsurf Original review
You wake up on a Saturday morning without a plan or a care in the world. You don’t shower, don’t shave, don’t even change out of your PJs. You just get up and go. You hop in the car and you drive. A full tank, no destination, no timeframe, no thoughts. These are the best drives. You hit up that long, open, never-ending road, and you cruise. Windows down, top peeled back, shades and a lingering morning glaze. Coasting. The wind swirls, the clouds inch, the birds stuck still in the sky. The sun is your unchallengeable guide. You are listening to Hatchback.
SF-resident Samuel Milton Grawe, the man behind the Hatchback moniker, would have it this way. His album, Colors Of The Sun, shimmers, cascades, and floats like the West Coast backdrop he crafts his tunes to. Cosmically conjured, light-beam infused, and Kraut-driven, the album is itself an aerial journey along the seashore — staring at the sun with your eyes closed, the soft burn on your lids. Taking cues from contemporaries like Prins Thomas, Arp, and Quiet Village, Colors is not earth-shattering in its conception, but honorably flirts with epic proportions.
Opening track “Nesso” inhales a deep breath and rises slowly. Synth lines drift, mingle, and stack upon each other like red and yellow leaves in autumnal descent, forming a patchwork of subtle crunches underfoot. This is music in no hurry; in fact, its patience is what makes the seemingly effortless composition so compelling. Time is not wasted, nor is it a concern. Elsewhere, “Carefree Highway” recalls moments of Klaus Schulzeian oscillation with a light and breezy resolve that churns out pure buttery goodness. Soundtracking an Autobahn swoop route, it glidingly swerves past slow-pokes with just enough grit stuck to its chrome rims to keep them from blinding. Meanwhile, “White Diamond,” the album’s standout track, is music for Grand Canyon gazing. It summons vast sweeping terrains from thin air, simple and majestic like a childhood crush. Losing yourself in its layers of languid laser tones is no chore.
Colors Of The Sun slowly settles and fades, bleeding into the “Horizon.” The gas gauge needle teeters on E. Dust and soot sediments scatter light like a shattered prism. The birds now roost in nest. There are no taillights ahead; no headlights approach. The tide has rolled. The road is cold. Home awaits. The tape in the cassette deck turns and turns, approaches the B-side’s conclusion. This ride was never about arrival. A green flash emits from where the sun’s crown exits. The sky slides into night.
1. Nesso 2. Jetlag 3. Everything Is Neu 4. Closer To Forever 5. Carefree Highway 6. Comets 7. The Lotus and The Robot 8. Open Valley 9. White Diamond 10. Horizonby David Fisher
Volcano's indie-rock-singing-in-the-rain-richard-simmons-pseudo-ertoric video for "Africa Just Wants To Have Fun" is on the mainpage of YouTube today and getting a shit load of hits. Let the good times roll.
New Or Upcoming Releases From The Revolver/Midheaven Family Tree
NOVEMBER 10TH: FRED BIGOT Mono / Stereo CD on Holy Mountain / Tlon Uqbar DORONCO GUMO Old Punks LP on Holy Mountain BILL FOX Shelter from the Smoke CD on Scat ESSIE JAIN The Inbetween CD on Leaf KRALLICE Dimensional Bleedthrough CD on Profound Lore LCD SOUNDSYSTEM 45:33 Remixes by Prins Thomas / Runaway 12" on DFA LCD SOUNDSYSTEM 45:33 Remixes by Padded Cell/Prince Language 12" on DFA JUAN MACLEAN Happy House (Lazaro Casanova Remix) 12" on DFA JUAN MACLEAN Happy House (VHS Or Beta Remix) 12" on DFA PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART (Remix Version) Higher Than the Stars 12" on Slumberland PANTS YELL! Received Pronunciation CD/LP on Slumberland THEMSELVES Crowns Down 2xLP on Anticon
NOVEMBER 24TH: BLACK JASPERS S/t LP on In The Red BILL FOX Shelter from the Smoke 2xLP on Scat IKONIKA Smuck 12" on Planet Mu MEGASUS S/t CD on 20 Buck Spin PAPERCUTS White Are the Waves 7" on Gnomonsong PIXELTAN Yamerarena-I 12" on DFA SHRINEBUILDER S/t 2xLP on Neurot Recordings MARK SULTAN I Am The End / Catastrophe 7" on In The Red
DECEMBER 15TH: ESKMO Let Them Sing 12" on Planet Mu GEIOM & SHORTSTUFF No Hand Signals 12" on Planet Mu GEMMY Johnny 5 2X12" on Planet Mu IMPETUOUS RITUAL Relentless Execution of Ceremonial Excrescence CD on Profound Lore SPARKS Seduction of Ingmar Bergman 2xLP on Lil’ Beethoven STARKEY OK Luv 12" on Planet Mu USELESS EATERS Sucked In 7" on Goner V/A Goner Fest 4 DVD+CD on Goner YACHT Psychic City pic7" on DFA
EVERYBODY LOVES A RUSH RELEASE: BURNKANE You Know LP - Available Now CHRISTMAS ISLAND Blackout Summer LP - Available Now BLACK JASPERS S/t - Available Now SHRINEBUILDER S/t 2xLP- Available Now WORN IN RED In the Offing CD/LP - Rush Release - 12/1/09
OF THE BUMPED OR DELAYED NATURE: WORM OUROBOROS S/t CD Delayed till 1/19/10
IN THE NOT-SO-DISTANT FUTURE 2010 JANUARY 19TH 2010: KEVIN BARKER You and Me CD/LP BILL FAY Still Some Light 2xCD
FEBRUARY 2ND 2010: BRUNETTES Paper Dolls CD SKULLFLOWER Strange Key To Untune Gods CD
FEBRUARY 16TH 2010: BASTARD NOISE/ENDLESS Red List CD FIELD MUSIC Measure CD ROBERT POLLARD We All Got Out Of The Army CD/LP
MARCH 3RD 2010: LUDICRA Tenant CD JOSIAH WOLF Jet Lag CD/LP
