I kinda like these guys in Elbow. Well, the music that they put together, guess I should say. Looking forward to a new album, and maybe we’ll see them around these parts for SXSW?

I talked about it, and I missed it, doing the things that I have to do in the dark of night, but thanks to the modern invent of the internet, we have been given a second chance. Thanks to our friends over at Live Music Blog.com, the Current TV broadcast of “All Eyes On My Morning Jacket” surfaces. It’s a nice reminder of that day and that performance, which we were a part of, and experienced, done in a way that includes all who capture the moment in their own way.

I have been a fan of the Red House Painters/Mark Kozelek/Sun Kil Moon for quite awhile now, and the news of Sun Kil Moon playing SXSW is nothing more than absolutely glorious. For those who know Mark Kozelek and his work, understand the weight that this show holds, as a live performance by the man and any band that he might be playing with is a rare event. I have seen him perform a solo acoustic show, and as much as I enjoyed, the band experience has been my desire for the past few years. No doubt that this will be a difficult show to get into, and hopefully the powers that be @ SXSW understand that this event deserves a proper venue.

If you haven’t discovered Red House Painters or Sun Kil Moon yet, and I know that you are out there, you are missing out on some of the greatest modern rock music ever made. Get on it.

In related news, Sun Kil Moon has a new album coming out in April. Can’t wait.

Oh yeah.Thanks to DoneWaiting.com for this bit of news.

Update: I have been informed that this will not be a Sun Kil Moon show after all, but a Mark Kozelek solo performance instead. A bit disappointed I am, but will be there regardless. Mark Kozelek in any form is goodness.

MP3> Red House Painters ‘Make Like Paper’

MP3> Red House Painters ‘Revelation Big Sur’

MP3> Sun Kil Moon ‘Carry Me Ohio’

By now, we all aware that R.E.M. are playing SXSW 2008, and now the complete details of the event have been revealed. Wednesday March 12th, R.E.M. will take the stage @ Stubbs with a interesting group of supporting acts. Dead Confederate, Papercranes, Johnathan Rice, and Summerbirds in the Cellar have been listed as the supporting groups via the R.E.M. website. Dead Confederate? Hey, those guys are playing our SXSW party as well. Sweet!

MP3> R.E.M. ‘Fall on Me’

MP3> Dead Confederate ‘The Rat’

Dead Confederate @ The Mohawk

photo : valerie@fremin.net

Just a quick couple of reminders:

The highly anticipated, and frequently jammed by me, self titled release from Chambersburg, PA’s, The Shackeltons, hits legal today! Seems like we’ve been waiting for an eternity for this one, and I say we because whether you know it or not, you have been waiting.

SEATTLE, WA – The highly anticipated selt-titled release, The Shackeltons, hit record stores nationwide today. The post-punk/indie quintet from Chambersburg, PA has received more than a little attention about this album. After being called “the best debut you’re likely to hear this year” by Aversion.com and “freakish and thrilling” by Rolling Stone, other sources began to take notice.

In the February issue of Spin Magazine, author Josh Modell writes: “A half-dozen times on their debut, the Shackeltons sound completely convincing, and that’s about six more times than most bands ever manage,” giving them a 4/5 star rating.

After a few weeks at radio, The Shackeltons reached #25 (and still climbing) on the CMJ Top 200 charts. With many stations nationwide adding this album, songs from The Shackeltons can be heard nationwide.

Label partner John Richards, who also hosts the morning show on KEXP, said “The Shackeltons debut reminds me of the first time I heard The Pixies. Its raw energy and pure independence from anything else going on music wise today. It makes you have to pay attention. Live, there is no one more exciting than this band. Period. This is why you start a record label!”

The Shackeltons was co-produced by Sam Jones, who is responsible for the Wilco documentary I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, and Tom Biller, who has worked with artists such as The Silversun Pickups, Kanye West, and Fiona Apple.

Even better though, the band will be here for SXSW 2008, which is quickly approaching, and you might catch them at a little party that myself and a few other folks are putting together. I promise I’ll have details soon.

MP3> Tremble

Something else of interest to some today is the Current TV premiere of “All Eyes On My Morning Jacket”.  Once again, let me enlighten you as to what this premiere is about.

Tune in to Current TV to catch a glimpse of “My Morning Jacket’s” special performance with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra at last year’s Lollapalooza through the eyes of their fans during a one-of-a-kind “All Eyes On.”  Current’sdcollaborative program enlisted the help of the band and their fans to shoot footage of “My Morning Jacket’s” festival performance usng video cameras, digital cameras and cell phones.
Tonight, January 29, 2008 premiering on “All Eyes On” at 10 p.m. PST / EST

That’s 9 p.m. here in Austin on Time Warner Cable channel 341.

Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla has a video hitting the internerd today for a single off of his solo release Field Manual which coincidentally was released today as well. No coincidence really. Oddly enough, not conscious of the release today, I revisited the Death Cab For Cutie documentary Drive Well, Sleep Carefully last night because my cable wasn’t functioning correctly. As much as I resist being a fan of the band, it reminded me of how much I really do enjoy their craft. Maybe it’s become uncool to be a Death Cab fan, ever since they made the teen scene thanks to the O.C., but I guess that I’m just not cool anymore. I would argue that the O.C. was probably one of the worst things to happen to indie-rock. I could site several reasons why, with personally experienced events to back up my reasoning, but I’ll save it for another day or a personal conversation next time we meet.

My point to this rambling is that guitarist/producer Chris Walla has a new album out today, and Death Cab for Cutie has new material coming out this May. That, and I’m not a closet Death Cab fan anymore. I have guilty pleasures and they happen to be one.

Death Cab have a teaser video of them in the studio recording their upcoming release, and you can check it out…Here

Some older Death Cab favs

MP3> Champagne From A Paper Cup (Something About Airplanes)

MP3> President of What (Something About Airplanes)

Chris Walla Video

The annual Austin Chronicle Music Poll, 27 years old mind you, is quickly coming to a close. This is your chance to vote on everything music in Austin, TX. Best bands, best musicians, best new clubs, etc. Voting ends January 31st, so it’s about time for you to get to it and voice your opinion.

Clickity, click, click…Here

I’ve been feeling a bit nostalgic the past few days, and with that nostalgia an urge to revisit some recordings that I felt like I’ve almost forgotten about. I started this blog almost one year ago, and to be quite honest, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It’s like stepping onto a treadmill that doesn’t ever stop. I’ve been discovering music at a rate that boggles the mind at times, and as I’m introduced to great artists constantly, I feel like I’m starting to forget about some of the stuff that I was listening to previous to this venture. Maybe I’m just getting old, and am pining for the feelings associated with younger years. Whatever the case may be, I’ve decided to revisit some of these recordings and share them with you.

I start with Big Star.

I was introduced to Big Star years ago by a friend who faithfully believes that The Replacements are one of the best rock bands ever. I’m not one to argue that fact, as he just might be correct in that belief. Anyone who is a fan of The Replacements cannot ignore the existence of Big Star, as Paul Westerberg expresses his admiration of the band on several occasions, even writing an entire song about one of Big Star’s principal songwriters, Alex Chilton.

Named after a supermarket, the band started in 1971 with Chris Bell, Andy Hummel, and Jody Stephens. Alex Chilton would join the band soon after, sharing songwriting and singing duties in a collaborative style similar to Lennon and McCartney. By 1972 the band had released it’s first recording aptly named #1 Record, but label issues led to poor distribution and lackluster sales.

Soon after the release, Bell’s depression and disappointment in the lack of success led to his departure from the band, and the band itself disbanded for a short while. Big Star reunited without Bell, and released Radio City in 1974, once again failing to capture the commercial success they desired, although the recording received critical acclaim.

Big Star broke up once again in late 1974, saw the release of another recording Third, and have managed a few reunion shows here and there, but the success of the band lies in the memory of those who have come across the earlier recordings and the influence that they have had on some of today’s artists. Artists citing Big Star as a big influence include R.E.M., The Replacements, Primal Scream, The Posies, and Matthew Sweet, just to name a few. Their biggest commercial success would come compliments of the television sitcom That 70’s Show, which uses the re-recorded version of “In The Street” as it’s theme song, as well as featuring various other Big Star recordings in the show on occasion.

The crafty songs of youthful innocence, the simple pleasures, and the trials and tribulations of love remain timeless and effective 30 years later. The songs can be bluesy, they can be power pop, even somewhat psychedelic at times, but always distinctly Big Star.

MP3> Feel (#1 Record)

MP3> In The Street (#1 Record)

MP3> Thirteen (#1 Record)

MP3> You Get What You Deserve (Radio City)

MP3> I’m In Love With A Girl (Radio City)

It’s funny to see the comments around the blog scene about R.E.M, and how many people feel the need to express that they think R.E.M sucks. I know that they haven’t put out a record in years that can rival their early work, but that’s what happens when great bands get older. The important thing to remember is how much of an impact they made on the music scene in their day, and how groundbreaking they were then. They still rock the shit live, and I for one, will still honor their contributions to the modern music scene that we all enjoy today.

Enough of that. R.E.M have selected some pretty sweet touring partners for this short little tour that they have scheduled. The awesome show that The National put on here @ the ACL Festival is still fresh in my memory. I’m hoping to catch a glimpse of the R.E.M. live show here in Austin during SXSW, but it’s going to be tough.  Word on the street is that the new record steps back to earlier rockin R.E.M days.

R.E.M, The National, Modest Mouse Tour

May 23 – Vancouver, BC – Deer Lake Park
May 29 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
May 31 – San Francisco, CA – Greek Theatre
June 03 – Denver, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
June 06 – Chicago, IL – United Center
June 08 – Toronto, ON – Molson Amphitheatre
June 10 – Raleigh, NC – Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
June 11 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
June 13 – Boston, MA – Tweeter Center
June 14 – Long Island, NY – Jones Beach
June 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Mann Center
June 21 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre

     Thom Yorke stopped by the Jonathan Ross show on BBC 2 Radio yesterday for an interview and an acoustic 2 song performance. During the interview Thom revealed that an average of 4 pounds was paid for the “pay want you want” release of In Rainbows. You can listen to the entire interview here.

“Reckoner” and “Everything in it’s Right Place” were performed by Thom.

(via)

MP3> Thom Yorke Reckoner (live on Jonathan Ross)

MP3> Thom Yorke Everything In Its Right Place (live on Jonathan Ross)

photo : valerie@fremin.net

What was being billed as one of the small shows to catch this year if you are looking to catch a super hot young act on the quick rise to indie stardom, packed the inside stage on Tuesday night @ Emo’s. MGMT has managed to work up quite the buzz over the past few months, and with their major label debut dropping Tuesday and the tour with Yeasayer still feeling quite fresh, one is to only expect the buzz to work it’s way into a frenzy over the next few months. I’m not going to lie, I don’t really get it. I tried @ Fun Fun Fun Fest, and once again this evening, but I’m not biting. Whatever it is that everyone is attracted to, seems to slipping past me. I’m glad I chose to attend this show though, as the Yeasayer set shined above the din of the buzz, and was the highlight of the evening for me. Their interesting modern approach of blending world music sounds with modern technology and techniques, translated well in the live setting. The complex compositions came to life, rich, dynamic and executed with precision. Between composing the loops of electronic sounds, Chris Keating’s singing style which involves failing himself about spastically at times, seems almost exaggerated to the point of ridiculous, but fittingly adds an energy to the songs that you miss on the recorded material. A firm recommendation from this guy to check out the Yeasayer live if given the opportunity. Who knows, maybe you’ll discover why MGMT is the talk of the music community as well.

Yeasayer Live @ Emo’s Recorded by Josh Finklea

MP3> 2080 Yeasayer Live @ Emo’s

MP3> Wait For The Summer Yeasayer Live @ Emo’s

photo : valerie@fremin.net

photo : valerie@fremin.net

photo : michael maly

The long awaited and anticipated studio recorded follow-up to Z, not only has a release date, but a working title. Evil Urges hits the streets legal June 10th on ATO Records, and I for one, have been waiting for this for a long, long, long time. Will the MMJ thrill ride continue? Catch the band on a smattering of dates that includes a stop here for SXSW 2008, where they will be sharing the Austin Music Hall stage with Yo La Tengo and The Whigs.

Current TV will also be bringing you some live MMJ footage that was shot @ last year’s Lollapalooza, where the band played with the Chicago Youth Symphony for their set. The Current TV performance will be part of the “All Eyes On” series.

“All Eyes On” is Current TV’s creative collaboration with artists, bands and fans that utilizes raw footage from cell phones and digital cameras to capture a shared, musical moment in time. The series premiered last year with “All Eyes On The Shins,” which used every video submitted by hundreds of fans to generate the first-ever audience-created concert film of its kind.

When:    Tuesday, January 29, 2008 premiering on “All Eyes On” at
10 p.m. PST / EST

MP3> I Will Sing You Songs (Live)

MMJ on the road

03-10 Houston, TX – Verizon Wireless Theatre *
03-13 Austin, TX – Austin Music Hall (SXSW) *
03-15 Austin, TX – St. David’s Church (Jim James solo) (SXSW)
04-27 Indio, CA – Coachella
06-20 New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall (“An Evening With My Morning Jacket”)

* with Yo La Tengo

Perfect song for the political climate, what it being an election year and what not, and still rockin good fun. Those Against Me! guys deliver the messages with good dose of rock-n-roll infused good times better than most out there.

Looks as if the festival circuit got a little too busy for the producers of The Vineland Festival originally scheduled for Aug 8-10th 2008 in Vineland, NJ. The producers, which includes C3 Presents and Festival Republic, have decided to move the festival to early summer 2009, avoiding what would have been a weekend heavy with festival action. The Coachella associated All Points West Festival had been scheduled for the same weekend in New Jersey as well, along with another northeast festival taking place around the same time.

Read Full Story @ Billboard.com: Vineland Festival Postponed Until 2009 

Another fun interactive video from the kids in Arcade Fire for the song “Black Mirror”. It’s kinda fun actually, as you control the audio mix while watching the video. I’m guessing if I worked some office job, I’d probably piss off my boss to no end messing around with this kind of stuff.