If someone had told me last summer when I was chasing Phish around the country that in six months I’d be interviewing Mike Gordon himself, I never would have believed them. Yet, there I was this past Monday morning singing a guitar part of “Yarmouth Road” to Cactus himself, and in return he sang me some Los Lonely Boys “Heaven”. Read my interview here, it was the fastest twenty minutes of my life:
His new album Overstep came out today, check it out, it’s a ton of fun and has really great production values. Listen to the new “Yarmouth Road” below:
Last night local Bob Marley tribute band Wake Up and Live celebrated Marley’s birthday with a packed house at Cervantes’ Other Side. Thank goodness they took that elevated platform out by the bar, for once no one tripped there! With the new layout and coffee being served, the Other Side is fast becoming a favorite of mine. Portland’s The Quick and Easy Boys from my Jam Bands to Watch list opened, and completely blew me away. I highly suggest checking them out live. Rastasaurus were also on the bill, acting ever more like the polished touring band they are shaping up to be. Read my review at the Westword here:
As New York’s psych folk rock act Woods‘ sound constantly evolves, it bears to note that it always evolves for the better. The new single “Leaves Like Glass” from their upcoming album With Light and with Love has a perfect, sunshine-y, jangly spring sound that will be perfectly timed with its April 15th release date. Dylan-esque vocal inflections mix with beautiful organ chords and tambourine to create a perfect pop gem that is at once joyful as well as melancholy and bittersweet; the music builds gracefully before reaching a blissful crescendo.
Since I am a detailed person and a bit of a nut, I enjoy listening to every single band that is being showcased at SXSW before I attend (if you’d like a link to the detailed spreadsheet, follow the blog and I will put up a post when it’s ready close to three weeks prior with calendar). I’ve picked out the best for those that just don’t have the time for this daunting task, and will continue to through the festival, got my flights and vrbo booked, just need new ankle boots. These are my favorite groups out of Group 2 (with Group 1 to come because I accidentally did it backwards).
The Apache Relay- Nashville- Americana folk rock with mano and harp and Edward Sharpeish melodies and singalongs
Black Pistol Fire- Austin- TX rock/garage/blues goodness
Bobby Jealousy- Austin- big, bright happy pop
Brass Bed- Lafayette- reverbed out indie rock
Bully- Nashville- Juliana Hatfield-esque indie rock
Crying Nut- S. Korea- loud, crashing melodic pop punk done right
The Growl- Perth, Australia- sexy garage rock
Hurray for the RiffRaff- New Orleans- gorgeous female vocals, zydeco folk
La Femme- France- plain hot stuff
The Parrots- Spain- garage rock
Quiet Company- Austin- upbeat indie pop
Rey Pila- Mexico City- Scissor Sisters-like disco pop
September Girls- Dublin- grungy but pretty garage pop
So So Glos- Brooklyn- power pop twangy guitar goods
Spires- Brooklyn- jangly psych pop
Streets of Laredo- Brooklyn- fast paced folk rock
Troker- Mexico- funk with some killer organ and horns
Melbourne’s Courtney Barnett is a refreshing, dry witted DIY performer who releases her earnest, psychfolk tunes on her own label, Milk! Records. Her single “Avant Gardener” made Pitchfork’s Top 100 singles list this year, and for good reason. She’s got a tint of Bob Dylan in her rambling, beat driven narratives that poke fun at herself and the rest of the world, with a deadpan singsong voice with inflections reminiscent of Liz Phair.
Flaming Lips released the video for “Turning Violent” today and there’s no naked Erykah Badu being covered in goo, just standard shots of a white room, the band, and Wayne in all his curly haired gloriousness with some of Gwen Stefani’s face jewels from 1997 on. You get glimpses of their new stage setup with frenetic spasms of rainbow lasers and lights shocking you into a world of technicolor as tinfoil receptors hang overhead. Oh, and glitter of course. It’s as minimal as a video with lasers and tinfoil can be.
On top of that, Wayne has a comic book called “The Sun is Sick” coming out this Wednesday at Comiccon in San Diego, and onsale on his website the week after. Want.
EELS are one of my all time favorite bands, there is no band that sounds like them, courtesy of lead man Mark Oliver Everett’s brilliant, poignant lyrics and scratchy, soulful voice. Their latest album Wonderful, Glorious is out now, and they just released the video for “Kinda Fuzzy”, which depicts E as an alcoholic clown hosting a children’s show (little Krusty the Clown, anyone?). They just finished a successful US tour, and are about to embark on their World tour. This is EELS at their wittiest and best. Watch the video here: “Kinda Fuzzy”
If you are a fan of Foxygen or The Monkees then you will love this band. They have that throwback 60’s sound nailed, and it sounds like sunshine, perfect for summer. The Southern California mastermind behind it all, Matt Adams, is a garage 8-track junkie influenced by The Kinks, and oh does it show, and his songs are fantastic. California is really coming out with a lot of timeless California beach music lately, I’m loving it. They will be playing Hi Dive this Sunday, I see big things for them. I mean, look how cool they look:
Since almost every band that’s good these days is from Canada, I wondered what my favorite Canadian songbird, Nelly Furtado was up to. Selling not enough copies of her latest album, that’s what. Not sure why, this new single is catchy, poppy and I love the video. I also like mimicking her singing (what IS that??). Music industry, you are so fickle. Nelly’s got looks, talent, beats, and satin baseball jackets, is this not enough for you?? My best guess is M.I.A. came out stronger, and now Nelly sounds like a copycat even though she’s been doing this sound for forever. Regardless, she sold one more album today!
New Jersey two-piece DADS just signed with 6131 Records, causing them to release a new EP and tour this summer! These guys have a wonderful sound, reminding me a little of Pinback vocally with great upbeat guitar licks and crashing percussion. They remind me of working in skate shops as a teen, something very free and earnest about them. Listen to their debut album here, American Radass
And check them out live! They’ll be in Denver July 8th at Circle Music Collective.
06/13 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
06/14 Greenville, NC @ Tipsy Teapot
06/15 Murrells Inlet, SC @ Suck Bang Blow (early)
06/15 Charleston, SC @ The Oasis (late)
06/16 Atlanta, GA @ Wonder Root
06/17 Savannah, GA @ Taco Abajo
06/18 Jacksonville, FL @ Burro Bar
06/19 Orlando, FL @ Wills’ Pub
06/20 Pembroke Pines, FL @ The Talent Farm
06/21 Tampa, FL @ Epic Problem
06/22 New Orleans, LA @ Big Top June
06/23 San Antonio, TX @ The Ten Eleven
06/24 Austin, TX @ Mohawk
06/25 Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
06/27 Albuquerque, NM @ The Gasworks
06/28 Meza, AZ @ Nile Underground
06/29 San Diego, CA @ Che Cafe w/ Adventures
06/30 Highland Park, CA @ Growing Up Is Dumb Fest w/ Defiance Ohio
07/01 Santa Cruz, CA @ The Ratchet House
07/02 Oakland, CA @ 1234 Go Records
07/03 Eureka, CA @ Placebo
07/04 Portland, OR @ Garfield House
07/05 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon Lounge
07/06 Boise, ID @ The Shredder
07/07 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Shred Sled
07/08 Denver, CO @ Circle Music Collective
07/09 Kansas City, MO @ Art Closet Studio
07/10 ST. Louis, MO @ Fubar
07/11 Peoria, IL @ Broken Tree Coffee
07/12 Chicago, IL @ Swerp Mansion
07/13 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Turtle Den
07/14 Ann Arbor, MI @ 907 Lincoln
07/15 Indianapolis, IN @ Hooiser Dome
07/16 Pittsburgh, PA @ The Mr. Roboto Project w/ Adventures
07/17 Williamsport, PA @ West 4th
07/18 Philadelphia, PA @ The Fire w/ Daylight
07/19 Alexandria, VA @ The Lab w/ Daylight
07/20 Brooklyn, NY @ Suburbia w/ Daylight
07/21 New Haven, CT @ Bethesda Lutheran Church
leslieloudspeaker 