photo: byianwitlen

What draws me to a band with no release, and hardly any tour history under it’s belt, is as much a mystery to me, as our existence. Maybe it’s in a name, or maybe a collection of key words that catch my attention? Whatever it may be, Surfer Blood peaked my attention, and in pursuit I’ve found myself making my way through the band’s upcoming debut release Astro Cast. I’m not sure if it was the name of the band or a combination of the name along with being from Florida, which we all know is rich with rock music that leans towards the metal side, but I was expecting something a bit heavier. What I’ve discovered is a sound that comfortably fits in the current scene of indie pop, while managing to establish a foreseeable future in the hearts and minds of bloggers and music fans, with an obvious strength in crafty diverse songs. Admittedly, upon the first couple of listens, I had all but written the band off as another fluff piece cashing in on the low-fi, fuzzed out sounds of the current indie pop scene, but as the minutes ticked by the album’s appeal slowly revealed itself.

Surfer Blood have nothing to do with surfing, despite hailing from Palm Beach, Florida. Yet,the band rides the theme out with song titles “Floating Vibes” and “Swim”, while compounding it with a picture of a Great White’s gaping mouth on the cover of the album.

After making quite the splash (couldn’t help it) at this year’s CMJ, the band hit the road with opportunities to share the stage with Art Brut, Japandriods, and an upcoming opening slot for Jay Reatard in Dallas 12/10. You can catch them performing in-studio @ KEXP.org 12/1.

Astro Coast drops legal on 1/19/2010.

MP3> Surfer Blood ‘Swim’

So the Pixies got back together to celebrate the Doolittle album with the “Doolittle” tour which wraps up this month. I will admit that when Doolittle came out, I was a huge fan, and a fan of all of the Pixies albums that followed. But the reality is that, the Pixies are meant to be heard and not seen. The band’s live show is dull and uneventful. I saw the original Doolittle tour, the Trompe le Monde tour, and the performance at ACL Festival a few years back, and each time the same reaction..bored.

But for old time’s sake, the band playing “Hey”, which is one of my favorites, on Jimmy Fallon.

I’ve found that listening to WOXY Vintage on the weekend is a nice escape from the constant barrage of new music (not that I’m complaining) and a nice venue in which to rediscover some of the music that I tend to forget about sometimes. A track from the Matthew Sweet’s 1991 release Girlfriend sparked a memory that resulted in me putting the album on for a couple of spins reminding me how much of impact this recording had on me at the time.  Read more

For those of you not familiar, Get To Know In 7 is a quick 7 question interview that I come up on the spot when I have the opportunity to chat with a member of a band. Usually a band that I’m really digging at the time, and the questions aren’t the usual interview questions. Sure they might seem a little simple and dumb, but the answers can be interesting. I had the opportunity to present the 7 to both members of Twin Tigers and Dead Confederate, two bands that hail from Athen’s GA, when they were in town for Fun Fun Fun Fest a few weeks back. Read more

I think that most of us would agree (or maybe not), that Neutral Milk Hotel‘s 1998 release In The Aeroplane Over The Sea is one of the classic releases in indie-rock history and the story that followed only ads to the album’s status and curiosity.  As the album’s success thrust the band into the spotlight, singer/songwriter Jeff Magnum uncomfortable with the situation that he found himself in, began to withdraw from the public eye, eventually dissolving the band before the end of 1998. A few acoustic shows, and guest appearances is all that Magnum has managed since, and In The Aeroplane Over The Sea has seen an increase in popularity and status while selling 100,000 copies.

Merge Records just announce the availability of both Neutral Milk Hotel recordings On Avery Island and In The Aeroplane Over The Sea on 180 gm vinyl available now in the Merge store.

The Merge site also has posted these two videos claiming they are Neutral Milk Hotel performances @ The Knitting Factory in NY, but the date doesn’t coincide with the band’s tour history. The date could be wrong, or they could be rare Mangum acoustic sets. Either way, enjoyable.

Videos after the jump. Read more

I’ve always enjoyed Minus The Bear, and the band has a new recording coming out in 2010. I’m not 100% sure that this track is to be on the new album or not, but it is good nonetheless. Planet of Ice really deserved more recognition than it received in my own personal opinion.

Producer Joe Chiccarelli (My Morning Jacket, White Stripes) is at the helm on this upcoming release.

The band is currently on the tour with one of my favorite new bands Twin Tigers providing some opening tunes. I highly suggest that you get to the show early for Twin Tigers if you are planning to see Minus The Bear.

I really dig this song…

MP3> Minus The Bear ‘Broken China’

It’s been just over one week since Fun Fun Fun Fest 09 closed down, and left us with one of the most memorable festival experiences this year. These are the last images we left with on that wet and sloppy Sunday.

I wasn’t that familiar with Mission of Burma before, but the band’s set felt pleasantly familiar, and took me back to a time that I wish still existed.

As much of a fan I have been of Lucero’s for the past few years, I had all but given up hope that the band was capable of delivering a set in which Ben Nichols voice would last to the end, as well as the band remaining sober enough to play the songs to some recognition. I was pleasantly surprised to find them in great form, along with a horn section in tow, breathing new life into the road worn veterans who still deserve their day in the spotlight.

Crystal Castles set seemed interesting enough, but I was unfortunately distracted. Photo access issues that arose late in the day, were the only setback for the festival.

I’ve experienced some great connections with amazing albums during periods of my life when those songs or records made perfect sense in ways that, I would hope that any true music fan can relate, and in ways that when sometimes looked back upon might seem a bit unsettling. A revelation of one’s self and a time when life was different, but a reflection that is necessary for sure.  I would hope that everyone has that experience, but I know that that just isn’t the case, and that saddens me. I have a place for this album Gentlemen.

The Afghan Whigs were a band that were as talented as many of their counterparts during the early 90′s, but never did receive the recognition that they really did deserve. Maybe because the material was too dark in nature? It was a time of revealing the true emotions and the dark side of humanity. Maybe Greg Dulli pulled away the exterior to reveal the inner workings of a man than many didn’t want to admit existed.

Gentlemen was not the first release from the band that hailed from Cincinnati, but in my own personal opinion, was the crux of the band’s personal statement.  Vocalist and front-man Dulli delves deep into his own personal darkness in a manner that is revealing, seductive, disturbing, and somewhat familiar. An extended examination of a man at a point in his life that might have some uncomfortably understanding their own existence, and quietly relating.

The albums cover shot is probably one of the more appropriate album covers considering the content.  A man exposing his own faults and insecurities, while trying to justify his reasoning and sometimes egocentric ideals. All the while making some really sexy dark rock-n-roll.

“Ladies, let me tell you about myself
I got a dick for a brain
And my brain is gonna sell my ass to you
Now I’m OK, but in time I’ll find I’m stuck
‘Cause she wants love, and I still want to fuck
Now that I’m ashamed, it burns
But the weight is off
Now that you’re out of the way
I turn and I can walk
You showed no sympathy, my love
And this was no place for you and me to walk alone”

-”Be Sweet”

MP3> Afghan Whigs ‘Gentlemen’

MP3> Afghan Whigs ‘Debonair’

MP3> Afghan Whigs ‘My Curse’

Via Wiki:

The Mighty Boosh is a British comedy troupe featuring comedians Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding. Developed from three stage shows and a six episode radio series, it has since spawned a total of twenty television episodes for BBC Three and two live tours of the UK, as well as two live shows in the United States.

I first came across an episode of The Mighty Boosh late one night while tirelessly searching for something of any interest on television. I didn’t have any idea what I was watching, it just seemed curiously interesting, pretty funny, but really off the wall. The name seemed to stick in my head, as I found myself adding every episode that I could find on Netflix to my queue. What I discovered was one of the most hilarious and outrageous comedies that I have come across in awhile, and to top it off, it’s revolves around music.

The two main characters are Vince Noir (Julian Barratt) and Howard Moon (Noel Fielding). Noir is the skinny pants wearing (drainpipes) euro hipster obsessed with his hair and all music electronic. A big fan of Gary Numan, and once claims to have been living in the forest with Bryan Ferry. Moon on the other hand is the more traditional music fan, lover of Jazz, particularly scat, and has dreadful fashion sense. Throw in a drug dealing shaman, a gorilla,  and a myriad of colorful characters, many of whom are played by Barratt and Fielding, guest appearances by the likes of Gary Numan, Razorlight, Roger Daltrey, and you have The Mighty Boosh. It’s borderline genius at times and mostly completely insane and ridiculous. And I love it.

Videos Read more

I haven’t really invested much time in the music of Of Montreal, which I should remedy, but the live shows are always an experience, fan or no fan. You can always count on great costumes, plenty of extras, feathers, and plenty of color.

Due to unfortunate circumstances, Valerie was forced to shoot from the crowd, but managed pretty well.

The debut recording from the California band Girls titled Album is curious enough in itself with a very lo-fi feel, sometimes a bit psychedelic and sometimes a bit Beach Boys’ish, but the story of band member Christopher Owens is even more interesting. Click on the link found on the band’s myspace page to take you to the “official” website and you land on a pill identification website?

Check out the curiosity for yourself at the Parish here in Austin on January 29th. It’s a ways away, but mark your calendars now, as it might be one of those quiet successes.

Tickets on sale Sat 11/14 @ Frontgate Tickets

MP3> Girls ‘Laura’

Phoenix turned out one of the most favored sets at this year’s ACL Festival and has quickly been taking the indie-rock world by storm. The band has an Austin date scheduled @ La Zona Rosa on Dec 17th along with Hockey, and local breakouts White Denim. This will sell-out fast!!

Tickets on sale Sat @ 10 a.m.

There was a conversation that I had with a friend of mine who was more than excited about the resurrection of the Detroit band Death, but had concerns about how good their show could be so long after their time in the 70′s.  Death quickly swept away any concerns when they took the Orange stage on Saturday night.

Arriving a bit late to the park, the band’s late start for their set didn’t upset any of the huge crowd of curious fans, many of whom weren’t even born before 1980. The band played tight and furious, to a the constant chants of “Death!” coming from the audience, an audience the size of which the band rarely if ever had played before. “Keep On Knocking” set the pace and “Politicians In My Eyes” closed out a set that had each member of the band grinning from ear to ear while receiving congratulations and high fives as they excited the stage. Well done Death, and well done Fun Fun Fun Fest.

Considering the fact that Athen’s Dead Confederate have only an EP and the 2008 release Wrecking Ball to their credit, seeing them at least a dozen times live, far exceeds any other band that has been around for that short of a time. Not that I wear this fact as some badge of honor, but for anyone that knows how judgmental I can be about live performances, it’s a testament to the band’s ability to deliver.

Taking the Yellow Stage, a scheduling decision much to my disapproval, the band drew a sizable crowd teeming with individuals obviously curious about the band’s performance. And as Dead Confederate are known to pay homage to other bands in means of covering their material, they launched into a lesser known track by a band that many may not be familiar with, including myself. “Smoke A Minor” by the band Officer May. The band then followed up with an unreleased newer song stirring curiosity as to if this was to be a preview of the next album from the band. Familiar ground took hold soon enough and the band performed all the Dead Confederate classics including the most accessible track for many, “The Rat” along with slower personal recording “Wrecking Ball”, and the ever present Sonic Youth cover.

While I could get descriptive of the performance from the band for those who haven’t seen them live, I’m more inclined to scold you for not having done so yet. The band’s constant touring schedule, and touring companions, including Dinosaur Jr, A Place To Bury Strangers, The Whigs, The Meat Puppets, and many more, should have given you the opportunity. What are you waiting for?

There’s word for a live album to be released soon, and the band is hitting the studio to record the follow-up to Wrecking Ball sometime around February. Expect the epic 6 minute plus songs found on the debut, to be replaced by tracks coming in around 4 minutes. This might be the change needed for the band to establish itself as one of the heavy mainstays needed in the world of rock-n-roll.

The announcement of the Jesus Lizard reuniting for a tour this year was some  of the most exciting music news for me this year and the very early announcement of them playing at Fun Fun Fun Fest ’09 was both welcomed and torturous.

Bearing witness to the bands blunt,destructive but precision like force in the 90′s on several occasions, David Yow’s announcement “this is going to be really fucking good” previous to unleashing the first notes , sent chills. As if snapped back in time, Jesus Lizard launched into “Puss” as David Yow took to the air and the crowd. Like some twisted madman, Yow writhed atop the crowd recounting the tales of someone understanding their own brush if not their existence in a world of insanity.

It’s not all about David Yow’s intense performance either. Drummer Mac McNeilly and David Sims lay down the thunderous beat while the sometimes overlooked guitar talents of Duane Denison drove the songs like the teeth on a chainsaw. “Gladiator”, “Mouthbreather”, and “Nub” rounded out a set that couldn’t have been more well executed by the veteran rockers who showed us and reminded some, of how it’s really supposed to be done. Let’s hope that some young kid left inspired enough that he’ll convince us of that, in the near future.