Austin,TX group, The Octopus Project, are heading out on the road again starting this weekend with a spot at this years Lollapalooza. They'll continue west and northwest (Canada anyone?) to and fro. Finishing off the tour in their home town at the 2008 Austin City Limits Festival.
Aside from making great music...Last years release, Hello, Avalanches, was one of my most listened to and enjoyed records of 2007. The Octopus Project have a unique talent for putting on energetic live shows with out losing the original focus of the music from the record.
Back when I was younger I had this thing call 'Summer Reading'. I never followed it properly and only read about half the books I was supposed to based on titles and cover art. As a young adult I started reading more on my own especially during the summer when it was one of the only legal ways to tourist at a beach community. Now here I am unemployed, and I find myself reading more magazines and websites, than good old fashion books. **That's why I have to alert everyone I know or who will cares to listen when I finish a new book. That's why when I finished Mike Edison's new novel, I Have Fun Everywhere I Go
Mike Edison is probably one of the most well known, unknowns of the New York City scene. You may not realize it at first, but when names like GG Allin, Regan Youth, High Times and John Spencer's Blues Explosion come up in the text you almost immediately start drawing the lines of recognition in your mind.
The book itself isn't life changing, even though the philosophy Mr. Edison has adopted would probably do some of you squares some good to follow...Its just an autobiography. Sure there's much more to it than that, and if you want to know what 'it' is go out an buy the book.
I was actually more interested in how the book was being marketed. The physical book appears to be a lumbering 300+ page behemoth, but its a light read finished in a week or so on train rides to and fro. Mike Edison is a good writer, history won't remember most of his work but he never makes himself out to be a world famous stereotype. He just did it his way and that worked for him. And like I said I was interest in other things other than just the text. For one the gorilla that appeared at the bar at the onset of my Mike Edison Journey (pictured below).
The next thing and the real important one, or the one that intrigued me the most was the idea to put some excerpts of the book, read by Edison, onto a CD. Yes a book on tape. Well lets see...I guess you could technically call it an audio book, but it was only excerpts...a few paragraphs from the book hear and there. If you listened to just the cd, you probably have no idea what's going on and you probably even more confused by the electro-space blues backing music that is Mike Edison's Rocket Train and friends. I posted a lo-fi video of the final performance of the book tour at Pete's Candy Store.
Its a great idea, and beats the hell out of the usual sit down Q&A goes along with your standard book reading. Mike even had time to answer a few inquiries before he took the stage for the performance.
After Jaguar Love, I took a much needed rest in the shade. I know I should of supported Ra Ra Riot, but I had seen them the most out of any band playing, and I just couldn't stand up anymore. The heat was getting to me and my water had turned warm.
Another highly anticipated band was Beach House. Add them to the list of first-time performers for me. I was worried that their sound's ambiance would lower the so far up beat tempo of the days performers...that I wouldn't want to stand around in the sweltering sun listening and watching a band create atmosphere outside for thousands of people. I was wrong...although the heat had finally taken its toll on me I was very content and relaxed albeit sweaty and sun-burned during their set. I left in the middle of their last songs to check out Islands.
When I got to the main stage again I noticed that the crowd seemed to be grown exponentially from the mid point of the day to the end. I got stuck between speakers that seemed to delay the drums and bass on The Islands songs. I was content still in the fact that they were playing lots of stuff from their first record, Return to the Sea, and even the new songs were being received warmly by the crowd.
I decided to try my luck and push forward as the crowd dispersed to go see Helio Sequence and possibly Broken Social Scene. I found a spot dead center about 60 feet from the stage so I could catch the start of Steve Malkmus and the Jicks. This was going to be my first time seeing them since moving to Brooklyn and the first time seeing them play with Quasi drummer Janet Weiss. The sound was full and everyone was on his or her game. Weiss' drumming style felt akward at times as it tried to keep up with the slow jam-esque songs The Jicks are know for...but then she would become the driving force behind the next series of bars, riffs and jams. Satisfied is the only way to describe how I felt leaving the stage.
I knew heading to catch the last band, Broken Social Scene, already through half of their set that I wouldn't be able to get close enough to enjoy the performance visiaully but I could still hear them and hopefully some of these new songs from an album that I just found out about a few days before. What I didn't count on was an ambulance riding down the middle of the crowd for no reason in particular. It didn't stop and help anyone. It just stopped. I feel bad if someone needed medical assitance and couldn't get it, but if some ass in an EMT uniform just wanted to get closer to the stage then fuck him or her. After the ambulance blocked my view I got annoyed by the people around me very fast. The 8 hours of music and sun had turned me into a very iritable person and the only thing that had kept me from snaping was seeing the next band. Now that I wasn't "seeing" the next band I noticed every little problem...I was hot, tired, I smelled of sweat and Coney Island (or maybe it just smelled where I was)...people were becoming real again and I had to leave as soon as possible. I couldn't even finish out the set, which I was told only lasted for 15 more minutes. I hopped the Q and was home in 20 minutes before the crowds.
My secret to a successful Siren Festival was drinking lots of cold water and walking on the boardwalk between sets since there was a nice cool breeze there. I also didn't eat anything there aside from a orange and a PB&J sandwich that I brought with me. (I made the mistake last year of eating greasy food and sugary drinks from the venders and it made things worse for wear as the day went on.) This was a great day all in all with record numbers showing up for all the bands and lets hope that we'll be able to have the 9th Siren Fest next year.
Next up on my list was Times New Viking. I hadn't seen them before but have been listening to their latest release, Rip It Off, since its release earlier this year. The energy between singer Jared and drummer Adam is inspiring. While the light raspy voice of keyboardist Beth Murphy sets a nice little juxtapose between the band. Probably the best set from a new band that day. But I had high expectations for the next band playing too.
Jaguar Love is the product of Pretty Girls Make Graves Guitarist, and The Blood Brothers Guitarist and Vocalist. Jaguar Love sounds nothing like either of the former bands. More rock n roll then anything and Whitney's screaming delivery of bands past was replaced by a high pitched rockers cry. I desperately wanted to get into their set but I was putting to much pressure on the band in my head. I need to give the songs themselves a more devoted listen before I cast my final judgement on this indie rock super group.
I also want to apologize because my camera died around the end of Times New Viking's set. Its gonna be all imagination from here own out I guess.
The first act I wanted to catch on the days bill was San Francisco's The Dodos. I saw them about a year ago and they really blew me away. And I wasn't the only one who wanted to see them. The crowd was as large as it had been all day with the exception of those who hadn't left the second stage to see Film School yet. I love The Dodos and their unique blend of high energy percusive indie folk pop, but it wasn't as crisp sounding as the time I saw them before. They still managed to pull off the set through shear energy alone if not loads of talent. And still were one of the better acts of the day for me.
As the set came to an end I decide to check out a little bit of Annuals before settling back over at the main stage for Times New Vikings.
As far as I could tell from the crowd and reaction they were rocking. I only caught 2 songs but it was enough to satisfy my curiousity.
I'm finally feeling up to the challenge of posting about Siren Fest 2008.
I didn't really plan out my day, and decided to try and catch at least a little bit of all the bands, or as many as I could up until the time when the bands I wanted to see came on and I just planted myself somewhere in the crowd for 45 minutes at a time.
I arrived and walked up to the main stage where Dragons of Zynth were finishing up their set. I've seen this band on a few occasions, but for some reason their live show doesn't hit me like the recorded songs...I would of liked to given them another shot but I was late arriving this warm afternoon and had to try and catch as many band (2) in the next 1 1/2 hours as I could.
First up was Brooklyn via Chicago band These Are Powers. Yes they rock with enough energy to make the crowd forget it was pushing 93 degrees already and dance. My first experience of this band was very favorable but short as I made my way a few blocks away to see....
I had been hoping to catch them since I heard they added another member to the lineup. This was another one of those 1/4 of the set for me things. I didn't notice any difference to the sound with the addition of a guitarist who shreds. Okay so I was a tiny bit impressed by them, but I can't give a huge rambling speech about technique or songwriting vs performance because it was early in the day and I was still trying to meet up with everyone who I'd promised to catch up with, and some who I didn't promise as well.
I'm off for the time being but I'll be back soon to get the rest of them posts up asap. For now check out some of the pictures I took here. Sadly my camera's battery died around 5pm and my backup didn't charge the night before due to a little mis-hap with some curious kittens and a surge protector.
Its come to my attention that there are a lot more shows that I want to attend at Brooklyn's Prospect Park Bandshell this summer then previous summers. I already had the honor of seeing Issac Hayes earlier, and now another favorite, Deerhoof took the stage Friday July 18 with the Metropolis Ensemble.
The orchestra did well performing the Rite:Remix. The sound was superb and it was just wavy enough to prepare the audience for crazy experimental sounds of Deerhoof.
Deerhoof is a hard band to describe to someone who's about to see them live for the first time. Sure their avant-garde noise pop is both at once obtrusive and enlightening, but you can never really show someone Deerhoof until they've seen them live.
The quartet from California doesn't really make any attempt to cater to the fans. They just play their music, and as founder/drummer Greg Saunier said, "...I'm sorry if I forgot to mention this earlier I was just to focused on playing...". And this is Deerhoof (to me atleast). A band that doesn't care to impress or influence anyone but its own members. They've been putting out music for over a decade and its just now that they've accidentally stepped into the lime-light with last years, Friendly Oppurtunity.
The band is also jumping onto the whole free music bandwagon, but with a twist that only Deerhoof (and The Wrens (sort of)) could think of...Instead of worrying about their songs leaking to the masses, Deerhoof has actually challenge its fans and anyone else who thinks they can handle it to record their own version of the single "Fresh Born". Providing the sheet music and a place to upload the submissions for anyone brave enough to attempt taking on the band that makes music seem as complex as it is fun.
Deerhoof's latest effort, Offend Maggie, is set for release October 7th 2008. Check out their Kill Rock Stars site for more information
I'm not sure if anyone is aware of this, but The Thermals are one of the best bands of the decade. I constantly go back to Fucking A, when ever I need to find hope or just want to hear some good music. Their other albums hold just as much weight in my heart, but effing A is that album for me.
The duo of Kathy and Hutch that is The Thermals recently put up some demos on their myspace, and boy am I happy to hear them. They're only 8 track demos, but still show great potential for their upcoming record. "I Let It Go" is classic Thermals in my mind, while "You Dissolve" is a song with the potential to evolve into a new form of that no-fi pop that they do so well. And not only is there new music to be heard, but MTV overdrive has some videos on the Portland music scene featuring songs be the band of this post.
He was quite distraction but at the same time entertaining.
I went to see the legendary Brian Wilson in Coney Island this past Thursday (July 17th). Amidst all the controversy and complaints about his last performance in New York City, I had high hopes that the set would be full of classic Beach Boys and Wilson standards, as well as some newer stuff from his up coming record, That Lucky Old Sun, which sounds like it will be a new take on that old California sound that Mr. Wilson helped to shape in from the late 50's through today.
The show was as good as I could of dreamed. Aside from being 120 yards away from the stage and Mr. Old Dude, it sounded great. Brian and his band definitely made everyones night sing hits from Surfer Girl to Help Me Rhonda and many many more.
You can find out tons of stuff about the new Brian Wilson record, out September 2nd on Capital/EMI Records, via his website.
That's right. Montreal indie rock act, Land of Talk, has signed a deal Omaha label Saddle Creekin the US. This also comes on top of the news of Land of Talk's full length album which is scheduled for release (on Saddle Creek of course) October 7th.
Some Are Lakes track listing:
1. Yuppy Flu
2. Death By Fire
3. The Man Who Breaks Things (Dark Shuffle)
4. Some Are Lakes * first single
5. Give Me Back My Heart Attack
6. It’s Okay
7. Young Bridge
8. Corner Phone
9. Got A Call
10. Troubled
After the falling in love with 2006 EP, Applause Cheer Boo Hiss, I am very interested how almost 2 years of touring North America and Europe has shaped their sound. Some are Lakes was recorded with Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) in Montreal...and I'm sure there will be a tour to go along with the release.
First up on the bill were Manchester's The Whip. I just walked through the gates on the hot but lovely day and caught the last few songs of what seemed like a well received set. I have to say...even though I don't find myself listening to a lot of that disco house sound that seems to be creeping up from Europe, it was the perfect thing to get the crowd pumped for the next 3 hours of music dancing and heat.
Next up was my personal favorite, one of Brooklyn's finest live shows over the past few years...Matt and Kim! If The Whip didn't already have the crowd going, then Matt and Kim sure did. There was crowd surfing, a big mass of kids dancing and screaming to the songs...and when you'd think nothing else could make the set any better...Matt invited Rude Mechanical Orchestra onstage to finish out their set.
It was a fine piece of showmanship, and the highlight of my afternoon....Kim even got in on some choreographed dance steps.
The Breeders, were the days headliner. There's so much I could say about the new album, or Kim and Kelley Deal, but the day was not theirs. It was sounding a little rough for the sisters from Ohio.
Japanese Artist Takashi Murakami was the featured exhibit at Brooklyn Museum for the past few months (it ends today so I suggest you try to go see it). I myself made it there twice and I was glad that I did. I don't know why for some reason the art on the walls and the floors and the ceilings swallowed me up this last time, instead of me mentally eating up the art. The show was and will probably be one of the best pop art displays I've ever come to see. Mr. Murakami, know for his Poku style which mixes pop art with the Japanese Otaku style/obessesion.
Walking through the gallery I felt myself traveling through the art as it developed. It something you should do when you go see an exhibit of an artist that you appreciate, but I usually don't. My first time through may have been rushed since I showed up right as the last tickets were being sold, but redardles of all that I definitely learned a great deal about Murakami, his styles everything is right there to see on large canvas sheets. There is no hiding in these portraits it's as is.
One of the things I did miss out on was the videos that Murakami created/directed that were being shown in a small theatre in the museum. Most notably was his video for Kanye West's Good Morning. For this reason or that it was shelved, but it was cool to see it anyway. The video below is a bootleg so I apologize for the poor quality.
I don't think I can stress enough everyone's need to see the exhibit @ The Brooklyn Museum. Unfortunately its over today at 6pm.
Before I get to far a head of myself let me once again keep apologizing for my lack of summer time updates. There's been a lot going on and the job search is all but futile..I have a house full of kittens I'm fostering and that by itself is a job and a half...But this is me trying my best to keep this blog up-to-date.
And on that note...It gives me great pleasure to announce that California super group, The Sound of Animals Fighting, latest album The Ocean and the Sun, is scheduled for September 9, 2008 release via our friends @ Epitaph. All signs point to another stellar collaboration on the experimental post hardcore story-telling that brought them to my attention, what feels like a decade ago. (its only been 3 years). The 9 song track listing can be found on their myspace blog.
I don't know much else about the new record, but there is this little teaser off their myspace.....
