photo : michael maly

Bill Callahan who recently dropped the Smog moniker for his latest release Woke On A Whaleheart is taking his show on the road with a smattering of dates in Ireland, the UK, and here in the States. I caught Bill’s show a few months ago here in Austin, and it was a delightful treat to see the man supported by a full band rolling through some of my favorites from previous recordings, especially tracks from A River Ain’t Too Much To Love. I recommend spending the night will Bill Callahan if he happens to make it to your neck of the woods.

Mp3►►Rock Bottom Riser

Mp3►►Say Valley Maker

Once was Smog on the road Read more

The Icelandic not-so-pop Princess Bjork continues her woman of many colors tour, which will land her at the much anticipated ACL Festival taking place here in the wonderful city of Austin, Tx. A few other dates dot her schedule with a Madison Square Garden on the agenda along with a 2 Fox Theatre dates, one in Atlanta and the other in Detroit. The Madison Square Garden date promises special surprise guests to be announced at a later date.

I’m not sure how much of a fan I am of her music these days, but I loved the Sugarcubes stuff, and she can be quite the cutie.

Mp3►►The Dull Flame of Desire

Mp3►►Cocoon

The tour Read more

My love to admire The National is no secret, and as much as I try to move on past this relationship in which nothing was wrong, no one did anyone any harm, I just felt it necessary that we not spend that much time together anymore, yet I find myself in bed with the boozy poetic morning after thoughts and sounds of the band again and again. This relationship can’t be healthy for me, and I know that they think nothing of it, although I want to believe that they really do care. They’ll come around, and they’ll probably coming around to you as well, as there is touring these states in store this fall for the band. ACL Festival finds them in my fine city, with hopes of an after show performance at a venue that lends itself more towards a personal experience with the band. I feel a bit slutty, and if you have listened to the last couple of records from these guys you would understand.

Mp3►►Racing Like A Pro

Mp3►►All The Wine

Mp3►►Daughters Of The Soho Riots

The slow show coming your way Read more

Those guys in Built To Spill, whom I’m still trying to forgive for not bringing their basketball playing butts down to Texas on the current tour, just set loose a couple of interesting new tracks for our listening enjoyment(?). Sounds like the band is tooling around with some new sounds, and being a fan of the guys, I’m not sure about new territory they are breaching. ‘They Got Away’ sounds like a page torn from the Clash’s Combat Rock diary with a reggae dub feel to it, and Stereogum nailed the Band of Horses resemblance on ‘Rearrange’ with the harmonizing vocals and a slow meandering melody. I hope that this isn’t a development of another reason to be disappointed with Built to Spill.

Judge for yourself, and any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Mp3►►They Got Away

Mp3►►Rearrange

Austin’s own Black & White Years fresh out of the recording studio laying down the sounds for their debut album with Talking Heads’ Jerry Harrison, will be bringing their own style of reggae world beat dub influenced indie rock to the Beauty Bar tonight. The Beauty Bar is known for showcasing some of Austin’s finest up and coming rock acts as well as some of the best beatmixers around and tonight should be no different. Prepare yourself for one hell of a mustache party compliments of the Black & White Years.

Mp3►►Waking Dream

Speaking of Southern California bands, Pinback are looking to release their newest recorded material on 9.11, and although the record was leaked mid June as a compressed archive of mp3s, Pinback fans are still looking to 9.11 to be a day of pleasantries. Curiously enough, I recently came across a magazine ad for Pinback frontman Rob Crow’s ‘Living Well’ solo effort that reads “Pinback frontman goes solo and makes the best Pinback album that Pinback never made.” I guess we’ll let the fans decide on 9.11

Mp3►►From Nothing to Nowhere

I know, headline is cheesy, but I’m trying to stay creative. To the news: Earlimart have been busy working on the follow-up to Tremble and Tremble, and the results are to be released in the form of Mentor Tormentor becoming legal 8.21. I haven’t seen these guys live yet, and you can bet they won’t get past these crusty ears and eyes on this go around. First few shows of the tour will have their string section The String Dreamteam in tow and will be taking place in smaller “more intimate” settings. The tour will find them playing the Treasure Island Music Festival in San Francisco with Modest Mouse, Spoon, Built to Spill and more.

Mp3►►Nevermind the Phonecalls

The Tour Read more

Most of us music fans have a complete understanding of the importance and the influence that Radiohead’s OK Computer managed when released 10 years ago, and in celebration Stereogum has assembled a cast of musicians, their own personal takes on OK Computer tunes, as well as commentary from each performer. To top it all off, the music is completely free, and is available for download on the Stereogum site. I’m guessing that the limits of his bandwidth is pushing maximum capacity, as the site is loading a little on the slow side occasionally. Click photo for link to site and enjoy the music.

Mp3►►original Exit Music (For A Film)

Mp3►►Vampire Weekend’s Exit Music (For A Film) remix

Pretty cool idea, I think.

One of the most surprising records for me this year is from Blonde Redhead, and the layered tunes bouncing with hopefully melodies and melancholy vocals are spending much time in my iPod headphones, and at this rate 23 just might make it into my top 5 for the year. I am curious to see how the layered sound is going to translate on stage with the three involved, and we’ll all have our opportunity coming this late summer and fall with tour dates bouncing them across these fruited plains making plenty of festival stops along the way. I personally cannot wait, as the live question will haunt me until then.

Mp3►►Spring and By Summer Fall

Mp3►►Heroine

Spring and By Summer Fall Tour

07-23 Melbourne, Australia – Hi Fi Bar
07-24 Sydney, Australia – The Metro
07-27 Niigata, Japan – Naeba Ski Resort
08-03 Chicago, IL – Grant Park (Lollapalooza)
08-04 Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
08-05 Brooklyn, NY – McCarren Park Pool *
08-07 Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts #
08-08 Baltimore, MD – Ram’s Head Tavern #
08-17 San Diego, CA – House of Blues
08-18 Los Angeles, CA – Sunset Junction Outdoor Fest
08-19 Pomona, CA – Glass House ^
09-07 Northampton, MA – Pearl Street
09-08 Montreal, Quebec – Parc Jean-Drapeau (Osheaga Festival)
09-09 Toronto, Ontario – V Festival
09-10 Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theatre
09-12 Columbia, MO – The Blue Note
09-13 Oklahoma City, OK – Bricktown Ballroom
09-14 Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Festival
09-17 Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
09-18 Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre
09-19 Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
09-21 Norfolk, VA – The NorVa
09-22 Philadelphia, PA – Starland Ballroom
09-24 New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place
09-25 Providence, RI – Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
09-26 Boston, MA – The Roxy

The Decemberists are in town for a taping of Austin City Limits with locals Ghostland Observatory on Tuesday 7.10 and the leaking word is that the band is playing a “secret” gig at Mohawk on Wednesday night 7.11. Guess it isn’t that much of a secret anymore, but I’m sure that there are few left that haven’t heard the news of yet. I’m not much of a fan of the Decemberists per se, although I hear that they put on quite the live show and I can’t say that I actually have given them a fair shake in that venue. One day our paths shall cross, and who knows? maybe I’ll be ranting and raving about the Decemberists in future posts, but for now, Austin fans have a randy treat for them in store for Wednesday night, and I hope to read all about it on some kids really cool blog site.

Doors are at 7, so get there early as the venue is of the more intimate setting.

I do like this song though…

Mp3►►Oh Valencia

I’m patiently awaiting the return of one of my few television vices, the all entertaining Weeds, and the web chat in regards to said show is churning my curiosity even more. Look for a variety of artists who have been selected to cover the opening tune “Little Boxes” this upcoming season which kicks off 8.13, while the honors for first episode will be bestowed upon Randy Newman. You can also expect personal takes on the tune by Joan Baez, Billy Bob Thornton, Michael Franti, Donovan, The Shins, Man Man, amongst others.

Until then visit the Weeds site for all Weeds related news and special treats.

A lot of noise on the Internet about the Live Earth Concerts that took place this weekend, organized by Al Gore to bring to our conscious in tune to the severity of the threat of global warming, and as I spent a few minutes scanning the television catching bits and pieces of boring stadium rock with masses of people in attendance, the situation didn’t set right with me. For one, watching stadium rock on television sucks, although I don’t have a high-def t.v. so maybe I missed out on something?? I doubt it, stadium rock sucks live as well. Secondly, how much good was being done by encouraging thousands of people to travel across the globe in their gas machines to witness electrical energy fueled performances taking place simultaneously across the globe? Was it all green energy?? My thoughts confirmed by The Hypebot:

Live Earth: “Private Jets For Climate Change”

Live Earth may have been an important event and a great bunch of music; but wasn’t there a certain hypocrisy in the energy used to create the events? Matt Bellamy of the band Muse dubbed it “private jets for climate change”.

It’s easy sport to take the musicians who participated to task for arriving in energy guzzling private jets, mounting massively polluting mega-tours and living excessively consuming lifestyles.

And one does wonder how many new people where actually convinced by these mega-concerts to now help save the earth from this obvious threat? Certainly no titans of industry or reigning politicians were left shaking in their boots after watching the sweaty hordes pump their fist in the air to Madonna.

Isn’t the real culprit this time actually Al Gore? For all the incredible good he’s done on global warning, it seems that he drank a bit too much of producer Kevin Wall’s kool-aide this time. Or was it a need to feel the glow of the global media spotlight again?

Gore’s cause and the earth would have been better served by a massive worldwide telethon/radiothon centered around education and fund-raising with music as the draw? Taking the cameras to existing concerts and even intimate events could have sent a more powerful message than massively polluting throngs traveling in gas guzzlers to mega-stadiums.

 

P

Well said, and hopefully someone else is paying attention as well.

Mp3►►Built to Spill “Conventional Wisdom”

Mp3►►Mountain Goats “Pale Green Things”

photo: lane coder

Fans of the ever growing in popularity lo-fi rockers Grizzly Bear tuned in last night to MTV 2′s Subterranean to catch the premiere of the newest video from the band for the song “Central and Remote” and were treated to some Heavy Metal rockness compliments of Ozzy Osbourne instead. I didn’t catch the slip, but can only imagine the confused look on the legions of hipsters tuning in for the dreamlike flowerman montage and getting the bat decapitating lord of Metal Ozzy Osbourne. How bizarre. Apologies have been launched on the Subterranean Blog site:

Catch that great Ozzy video premiere? Amazing!

No, but really, we’re livid. Someone’s getting an all-caps email followed up with a basket of black roses & fish heads as a big thank you from us. Our apologies to you and Grizzly Bear for that unpleasant slip-up.

You can see the video @ the SubterraneanBlog site sans the Prince of Darkness, unless you consider the light bulb eye guy a prince of some sort of darkness.

Mp3►►Knife

Mp3►►Central and Remote

photo : valerie@fremin.net

Local 2 man dance inducing machine Ghostland Observatory will be gracing the legendary stage of the Austin City Limits studio for a taping of the show along with The Decemberists this coming Tuesday. The folks over @ ACL have been tweaking the format over the past few years straying away from the original which focused on the more traditional genres, and have been bringing in more acts relevant to what’s happening in the modern rock scene. Good news for us, and a welcomed move by most of us watching what’s happening in the music scene. I’m sure most of you have already heard that the local sonic instrumentalists rock group Explosions in The Sky taped their own episode of the show just recently, so it’s a bit interesting that another local act has been tapped for the show, but still that much exciting. Interested in catching the taping, then you want to get down to the KLRU studio for tickets today when they are released at 5 p.m. The studio is located in communications building B at the corner of Dean Keaton (26th) and Guadalupe, and the line will be forming early I’m sure. The actual taping takes place on Tuesday 7.10 @ 8 p.m. and tickets do not guarantee entrance to the show.

You can catch the Ghostland dance party at Lollapalooza, McCarren Pool Party, Monolith, ACL Festival, Treasure Island Festival, Voodoo Fest, and Wall of Sound Festival this summer and early fall.

Mp3►►Move With Your Lover

Mp3►►Vibrate

Some quick news about a couple of music happenings in the great northwest town of Seattle, home to my favorite on-line station KEXP.

The Bumbershoot Festival has released it’s lineup and the arts and music festival has something for everyone with its eclectic mix of music performers. Chances are, you won’t find me scampering to see the performance of Fergie (don’t know who she is for one), Sean Paul, or Joss Stone, but performances by Kings of Leon, The Shins, Ted Leo, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Andrew Bird, Steve Earl, and many others are quite intriguing. The Festival takes place September 1-3 and you can check out the full line-up Here.

Our friends over @ KEXP who tirelessly work to have some great musical event in the works or happening, are having a BBQ with some cool music to accompany your grilled meat and cold beer. Cloud Cult, Pela, and the Blakes have been confirmed for the Q with a special headlining act to be announced at a later date. Chances are you won’t be disappointed. The BBQ takes place 8.18 on the lawn behind the South Lake Union Discovery Center.

Mp3►►Pela ‘Lost to The Lonesome’

Mp3►►Kings Of Leon ‘Charmer’