Thursday, January 31, 2008

The Death Set

I told you about The Death Set last summer. I told you that they were the antithesis of boring, and I wasn't kidding. In the wrong hands, the music these dudes create could easily cause physical injury. The drum-box driven electro-punksters are currently in the midst of a huge tour that will touch down all over Europe, and when SXSW rolls around they will be right here in Austin to supply us all with a big sweaty dance party. Be prepared.

Up until now the Sydney-to-Baltimore transplants have strictly released EPs and 7-inches, but the big news is that they will soon release their first full-length album. Titled Worldwide, the album will be released in the U.S. on April 22 via Counter Records, the new imprint from Ninja Tune. Preceding the full-length release will be a digital release of the "MFDS" single on February 26th, and the "Around The World" 7-inch in March.

Take a few minutes to get your heart rate up and familiarize yourself with The Death Set. There's the fist-pumping anthem "Negative Thinking", a full-on headbanging remix of "Intermission", an album cut from Rad Warehouses Bad Neighborhoods, and the super fun "Negative Thinking" video. Check it out.
Good literature:
"To, the tangible souvenir of the Death Set’s globetrotting birth, is a breathless 13-minute punk romp, equal parts eardrum-grinding abrasion, lo-fi drum-machine beats, and wheedling guitar lines that bounce along like happy puppies. Standout track “Negative Thinking” is a fist-pumping anthem about the dangers of getting down on yourself, with the unforgettable chorus, “In hindsight, I don’t want to be like the people I’ve liked.” The Death Set sound is undeniably punk. But there’s a tongue-in-cheek cheerfulness to the pair’s sneering dual lead vocals and an underlying message of defiant self-reliance." -City Paper

"The songs aren’t written with us all jamming out together; it’ll be one person writing the song and then we all go about doing the production behind it, or it’ll be me sitting on my computer fucking around with a bunch of synths and samplers, and thinking ‘that’s cool; maybe I should write a song around that’. And then it’s built up from there using the standard things: pro tools, soft synthesisers, samplers, pots and pans – whatever the fuck we’ve got lying around, or that we can borrow…" -Fact Magazine Interview
Tour Dates For The Death Set:
  • 02-01 La Spezia, Italy - Skalettar Rock Club
  • 02-02 Capri, Italy - Kattatoio
  • 02-04 Nürnberg, Germany - K4
  • 02-05 Munich, Germany - Café Kult
  • 02-06 Freiberg, Germany - KTS
  • 02-07 Saint-Étienne, France - L'assommoir
  • 02-08 Paris, France - La Miroiterie
  • 02-09 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg
  • 02-11 Brighton, England - Water Margin
  • 02-12 Manchester, England - Bad Uncle
  • 02-13 Leeds, England - Brudenell Social Club
  • 02-14 Northampton, England - TBA
  • 02-15 London, England - Bardens Boudoir
  • 02-15 London, England - Ninja Tune Club Night @ Electrowerkz
  • 02-16 Nottingham, England - Liars Club
  • 02-18 Bremen, Germany - Schlachthof
  • 02-19 Hamburg, Germany - Hafenklang
  • 02-20 Cologne, Germany - Sonic Ballroom
  • 02-21 Göttingen, Germany - Theaterkeller
  • 02-22 Potsdam, Germany - Blackfleg
  • 03-06 Raleigh, NC - Downtown Events Center
  • 03-07 Athens, GA - Secret Squirrel
  • 03-08 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
  • 03-09 Pensacola, FL - Sluggos
  • 03-10 New Orleans, LA - Dragon's Den
  • 03-11 Houston, TX - Boondocks
  • 03-12-15 Austin, TX - SXSW
  • 03-16 Little Rock, AR - Happy Fucker's House
  • 03-17 Nashville, TN - Exit/In
  • 03-18 Lexington, KY - Skateshop
  • 03-19 Greenville, NC - Spazzatorium
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 3:59 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

White Denim & Rolling Stone

I took a look through the latest Rolling Stone magazine that arrived in my mailbox the other day, and what do you know, there's a full-page article about Austin's own White Denim. Oddly, it mentions that a certain member of the band is also the son of a professional baseball player who I remember from my childhood. I grew up a short drive from Dallas and used to go watch the Texas Rangers play ball all the time, so I recognized the name is soon as I read it. Here is a pretty flattering quote pulled from the article:
"White Denim combines Jimi Hendrix's psychedelic soul, the Stooges' protopunk and the White Stripes' minimal garage rock. Their debut EP, Let's Talk About It, a thrilling demo-style set that's self-released and available on iTunes, features squalling guitar licks, fuzzed-out organs and Block's jazz-influenced drum skills. "
You can read the article for yourself by clicking on the image at the top of this post. Check out a couple of new their tracks over at RCRD LBL, where they will also be releasing some new stuff very soon. For more, just head over to myspace.
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 4:39 PM 1 comments

Holy Fuck, Free Tickets!

As if you needed any other excuse to go check out the Holy Fuck/Super Furry Animals show on Saturday at Emo's, here is another one: You can get in the door for zero dollars. I think that zero dollars sounds like a pretty good deal, don't you? Do512 is giving away a few pairs of tickets (read: multiple), and all you have to do is head over to the link and click "I Like It."

Once you do that, your name will be in the running and the winners will be contacted via e-mail at some point on Friday. If you do plan on making it to the show, be ready to move your feet. Have a few drinks before hand if that helps. If you're not a drinker then head over to Blockbuster and rent a copy of Breakin', or perhaps Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo, and just follow their lead. As for me, I'll be hitting the sauce. See you there.

Here is another MP3 from that limited and out of print Holy Fuck EP that I picked up at SXSW last year. Get more at holyfuckmusic.com. Check out video, audio, and reviews with that handy little box down there below...
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 2:22 PM 1 comments

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Blog Fresh

Hey you, go check out the new episode of Blog Fresh Radio. I get all nerdy about Ghostland Observatory, and my neighbor down the street Cubik Musik talks about this crazy-good tune from the South Rakkas Crew. Check out the show at BlogFreshRadio.com, and read his post about SRC here.
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 2:56 PM 0 comments

Jay Reatard

Jay Reatard is having a pretty good year, and it's only January. He's doing a deal with Matador Records to release six singles in 2008, which will also lead to a CD/LP release that compiles each of the limited edition singles. On top of that, after making the rounds at SXSW, he will head out on a 15-date tour with the Black Keys. I have been listening through his single releases from the past couple of years and I didn't know that a simple formula like this could still be so damn good. The guy is like a hit machine.

His garage/punk sound "expertly mixes aggression and melody, in which jagged time slips from comfort to nightmare, all in pop song format", according to SXSW. It only took one listen to his solo debut for me to realize that this guy, who has been making records since he was 15, has definitely got this whole music thing figured out. The main draw for me is that it has a sense of immediacy and honesty that you don't seem to hear much of these days. Whatever it is, he just needs to keep on doing it.

As far as I can tell, each of the 7'' singles that the following mp3s came from are sold out and hard to find. You can purchase Blood Visions of course, and I'll post an update when the first Matador single is available. Listen up, and do exactly what the picture says.

Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 12:59 AM 0 comments

Monday, January 28, 2008

ALIENS

I'm feeling a bit lost today. It's almost like the two sides of my brain are fighting against each other. Most of the time my Mondays are slow and casual, but this one has been weird and oddly hectic. I feel disoriented. Maybe if I push some noise between both ears at high volume I can force the two sides of my brain to work in unison. I am compelled to put on the debut album from Aliens, a local guitar/drum duo. I have had it for weeks but haven't gotten all the way through it yet. Perhaps they can show me how to relieve this overwhelming sense of disequilibrium. They are Aliens, after all.

I put their record on, and it is loud. Loud is good on a day like this. Louder. It sounds angry, yet rational. It sounds desperate, yet focused. It is direct, with no frills. It is raw and gritty. It borders on being fierce, like the soundtrack to a fistfight between friends. It is exactly what I needed today, a kick in the ass. As soon as it stops, I begin dazing off again. Better start it over from the beginning.

The album, titled Head First and released in November 2007, represents the culmination of more than a year of recording and mixing that started at the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis. Previous single releases were recorded live at CBGB not long before its unfortunate demise. Aliens is Blake Sandberg on guitar/vocals, a New York City transplant who performs with alternating drummers and began using the name Aliens after his experience with the destruction and aftermath of 9/11.

With ferocious guitar playing and thunderous drumming, Aliens create a powerful, full-on sound. The music reflects a social consciousness, influenced by the current state of war, global warming, mass media and pop culture. Soundcheck Magazine said "they might just be single-handedly bringing something gritty back to our local music scene that we’ve been sorely missing. Any time a two-person band manages such a noisy sound, the band needs to be watched and possibly reckoned with."
Listen: (how to)
get it at aliensmusic.com or itunes
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 5:02 PM 1 comments

She, Sir and the Austin Chronicle Music Poll

[photo by Aubrey Edwards]

This blade of grass I'm holding between my index finger and my thumb has taken on a world of its own. It's very smooth, yet after a few strokes, a bit of resistance begins to be evident. It's almost sticky even though the smoothness is what I first notice. So many grooves for a smooth blade as well. I pick up another one and the markings are very different. Sometimes we get so caught up in our ordinary lives, that we forget to calm our minds and just be an observer. We could learn a lot from monks in that respect.

I failed to mention that I have the last She, Sir EP gently breezing through my ears. I blame them for this heightened awareness. Once the first track was initiated, all of those familiar aspects of shoegaze warmth are remembered quickly. The emphasis of the major 7th throughout the song. The steady and lazy vocal melodies. The unobtrusive drums. Yes, it's all here, and it's all done well. A perfect soundtrack for those afternoons on hillsides where we lose our egos and strip the layers of life into more manageable pieces.

Realizing that I am a bit behind on getting around to this EP, I'd just like to point out that it's never too late to experience good music. She, Sir will be playing this week on Thursday, January 31st at The Parish with The Mercers and the effortless talent of Bill Baird's Sunset.

The guys have told me their full length LP is being recorded by Cacophony Recorders' Eric Wofford. If you've heard of bands like The Octopus Project, Explosions in the Sky, The Black Angels, and Zykos, then you're already familiar with the sounds he is capable of getting out of talented musicians. Using flute, clarinet, banjo, organs, bells, timpani, and other instrumentation, the band will be striving to keep the last EP's tone resonating, but with different colors of sound and more "pop sensibility" as they put it.

shesir.com
You can buy the whole EP, "Who Can't Say Yes", at CDBaby.

Don't forget (unless you never knew) that the Austin Chronicle Music Poll is almost due, and this is our chance to be heard. Last year, The Octopus Project did rather well taking home four awards for Best Experimental Band, Best Indie Band, Best Instrumental Band, and Best Miscellaneous Instrument Player. I want to see more great bands like them win this year and there's only one way that can happen. No, you don't have to live in Austin to participate, either. Do it here.
Posted by Tasteless at 9:40 AM 0 comments

Friday, January 25, 2008

The Black Angels

While doing a little looking around the internet today for some Black Angels info, I came across the most minimal, stripped-down set that I have ever heard from them. They sat down and recorded this brief set for Spinner.com last year while they were doing a tour with the Black Keys. Instead of the usual droning, reverb-heavy guitar that you would expect from their live performance, this one is acoustic and and totally chilled-out. They play Empire, Better Off Alone, and the hidden track from Passover, which are followed by a tune called My Boat Is Sinking and a short interview. It's a pretty cool listen.
Here's a b-side from "The First Vietnam War" single release


In more recent Black Angels news, they have completed their new album titled Directions to See a Ghost, which will be released in April via Light In The Attic Records. I got a chance to listen to it the other day, and I think that all of you Black Angels fans out there are going to be happy as a gopher in soft dirt when you hear it. There are 11 expansive tracks in which they perfect their signature drone, and I swear that I can hear some electric jug in there somewhere. Don't quote me on that one though, I have probably just been listening to too much 13th Floor Elevators.
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 6:51 PM 2 comments

The Sound of Light

I initially became familiar with The Field some time last year when a friend of mine adamantly recommended that I listen to his album From Here We Go Sublime. His brand of electronic music isn't normally something that I seek out, call it minimal techno or whatever you like, as it tends to fall just outside of my musical interest. But I was willing to give it a shot because I enjoy all sorts of electronic music, and I enjoy music that presents a challenge. As a friend is so eloquently put it recently, "I would rather listen to something appropriately irritating then something brainlessly boring."

As it turned out, I enjoyed the album thoroughly. In fact I liked it so much that I included it in my "Best of 2007" list. The album is so hypnotic and fluid that I find myself going back to it over and over again when I'm looking for something out of the ordinary. From Here We Go Sublime is also up for a Plug Award for electronic/dance album of the year, and you can check out all of the nominees and make your picks at PlugAwards.com.

The Field (Axel Willner) was recently commissioned by Stockholm's Nordic Light Hotel to interpret his stay there, which resulted in a new four track EP. The hotel has created a music project called ”Sound of Light”, and the goal is to portray the hotel through music by inviting musicians to interpret the hotel experience, and express that experience by making a record. "As a producer of minimal, icy tracks bathed in shoegaze levels of reverberation, Willner is a natural choice to project the cool comfort of such a style-conscious and sparse establishment." -MilkFactory

He is the first artist to participate in the series, and his production is comprised of four parts: Morning, Day, Evening and Night. Each part has a distinct feel and composition designed to mimic the feelings of the different times of day, and the music goes through subtle changes to reflect those differences.
Pitchfork said:
"Fans of last year's transcendent From Here We Go Sublime will happily find more of the same here, and if Sound of Light is somewhat less satisfying, it's a matter of structure, not technique. Willner's greatest asset is his ability to realize one perfect idea per song, and to let it go precisely in the narrow range between making its point and wearing out its welcome."
and as Crackers United put it:
"Sound of Light is like a “classical” album, but comprised of all electronic elements; violins, cellos, and pianos are replaced by electronic beats and samples. Hypnotic and simply gorgeous."
Listen:
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 2:20 PM 0 comments

Live Ratatat Redux

Last spring I uploaded this live set from Ratatat on KEXP, and today I was in the mood to bring it back to the top. Not only because I was in the mood (and the previous link was dead), but I've also got a bit of Ratatat news for you. I got in touch with them not long ago about playing the SXSW party that I am organizing with a few friends (Sonic Itch Music, Cubik Musik), and there is good news and bad news.

The bad news is that they probably won't be in Austin for SXSW, but good news is that they are looking at a Spring release for their new record, which means that there should be some touring in May or so. These guys always put on a fantastic show, and they seem to be pretty big fans of Austin, so I'll keep you updated on that one.
By the way, you can still download their latest mixtape absolutely free from their official website. That's a pretty good deal.
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 12:21 PM 0 comments

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Shadow, Chemist, Hard Sell

So, I just got my first listen in to the new project from DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist titled "The Hard Sell." These cats were just in Austin not long ago to kickoff the Hard Sell tour, and even at a high ticket price they sold out one of the biggest venues in town. Way to represent, Austin. This live-mixing effort is the third touring enterprise that the duo have produced since 1999, and both previous efforts resulted in live discs. (1999's Brainfreeze and last year's Product Placement). As part of the live show they utilize multiple turntables, mixers and effects pedals.

When I got my hands on the Hard Sell album, for some reason I was expecting a high-energy mixtape of party music. After letting it spin for a few minutes I quickly realized that my assumption was completely off target. Instead of being one long continuous dance party, DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist have crafted one long continuous listening party. It sounds almost like the two of them got together at some old abandoned radio station, found a long-lost cache of vintage 45's, and simply traded turns spinning their favorites.

Many of their selections are recognizable and will have you singing along, as they alternate between classic funk, R&B, pop, hip-hop...even a little world music. It sounds as if they were really trying to push the boundaries of their craft, which is often attempted but seldom realized. When you've been in the game as long as they have it becomes increasingly difficult to cover new ground and challenge your audience, but with the The Hard Sell I think they have done exactly that. The beats, breaks, and scratching you'd expect are all still there, but they're so seamless and timely that they coexist with the music in perfect harmony.
from DJShadow.com:
"As with Freeze and Product Placement, the emphasis is on the eclectic; funk and hip-hop are present as is some rock. But Hard Sell is leaps and bounds beyond the expected, on a musical basis, as well as technical. Now utilizing 8 turntables and 2 loop pedals, new possibilities in live mixing are explored, as doo-wop mixes with punk, new wave with grime, and everything in between, all with taste and humor. Several classic hip-hop tracks are even “sampled” (via loop pedal) and reconstructed in real time, from their original elements.

Forget mash-ups, forget computers, and never mind the MP3s.
This is real turntablism at its genre-bending, skills-dominated best."
Let it Marinate:
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 9:23 PM 0 comments

Plush

Since Plush opened its Monday doors to bands a few years ago, it has taken its role in Austin as the breeding ground for up and coming musicians that gravitate off the beaten path. Being on Monday night tends to draw listeners who are more thirsty for fresh music, and willing to endure the morning after hangover at work for a few hours of raw and uninhibited goodness. Not to mention this is free, which brings and entirely different mindset with that type of show.

Most of the bands become regulars such as Transmography, Mrs. Glass, Bridge Farmers, Like Dogs, and Rubber Robot to name a few. In the past year or so, Plush has recruited Giant Steps Productions to book one of those Mondays each month, which has brought even more of a diverse selection of bands to the mix that were commonly playing at Red 7. In one night, you may settle into some Delta blues, rip into psychedelic rock, followed by a quirkly electronic duo, and cap it off with some frenetic what-the-fuck-just-happened this-takes-time-to-process noise.

I honestly believe that bands like Dan Deacon and Think About Life would call this place home if they lived in Austin. This is the kind of venue where bands can experiment freely without bounds, and may crash and burn. But, it's worth it, since those moments where it does work are where the audience gets to immediately see the band taking the next step with their sound. The ultimate music-lover experience in my opinion.

Here's a few of those bands I mentioned above:

A common thread amongst bands at Plush is the raw stage presence, and Bridge Farmers are a fine example of violent body thrashers with command of their audience. Oozing psychedelia and garage rock, these guys don't sound as young as the band's existence actually is. Expect much more from them in the years to come...

I was first introduced to Jordan Webster by means of another band he was/is? in called The Best Love in Town. In that, he was coupled with Blue, who is probably one of the most intriguing musicians that you never heard of in Austin. Now, running solo, his soul is even more tangible when stripped down like this.
Bryan Smith via Austin Sound:
"Armed with an acoustic dobro and a voice that transcends his twenty-two years of age by may a decade, Jordan Webster resurrects songs from the Mississippi Delta on his self-titled debut, and although borrowed, this young man from NOLA by way of Iowa does the sound right. The result blows like a fresh autumn breeze into the bluesy soul of the Capital City."

Here's what Mr. Curiosity himself had to say about Transmography back in October...

---

The next time you're walking around aimless in your apartment on a Monday night, just do yourself a favor and head to Plush. It's guaranteed entertainment.

If you don't live in Austin, but are coming in for SXSW, be sure and catch a daytime version of this on Wednesday during their "anti-sxsw" party.

Also, if you're into underground house/drum 'n bass/hiphop/funk/electro, check out the rest of the week, including DJ Bizz on Friday (where the hell has this guy been for the past five years?!? anyone?)
Posted by Tasteless at 1:18 PM 3 comments

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

New Ghostland Observatory

Hot off the presses, here's one from the new Ghostland Observatory album Robotique Majestique. The album will be released on March 4th via their very own Trashy Moped Records, and the CD Release Party will be going down at the Austin Music Hall on Friday, February 29th. This performance will be the kickoff for a tour that will hit up Florida, Louisiana, New York and D.C., not to mention whatever they get themselves into during SXSW.

As everyone knows, the Ghostland Observatory live show is where all of the magic happens. You could own five copies of all of their albums, but if you never experience one of their concerts then you'll still be in the dark. If you make it to the release party next month you will get a copy of the new album upon entry, so even if you don't bring your party hat and some sweet dance moves you can still go home a winner. Tickets are pricey, but you can still get 'em here and possibly win a pair right here.

Robotique Majestique reportedly holds ten tracks including "Heavy Heart", which has been a pillar of their live show for as long as I can recall. After self-recording the album in their ever-present D.I.Y. state of mind, the duo finished mastering it with Nilesh Patel (Daft Punk, Justice), who is one of the most in-demand engineers of dance music.

Thomas Turner via Austin Sound:
"We took a lot of time with the production. It was mastered by Nilesh Patel at the Exchange in London, the same guy that did Daft Punk and Depeche Mode and tons of other electronic albums, so the sound quality is really good, a really thick, deep, and moody record. It's a little bit different from the first two records, more like one of those records you put on and listen to start to finish with your headphones on. It all flows together as opposed to just being 10 tracks. It’s got a vibe, the whole record’s a got vibe. It’s got some beat on there, but the record as a whole really sticks to a certain vibe and a certain feeling. I think it’s definitely a progression to what we’ve done this far. It feels like a good third record."
from Robotique Majestique
from delete.delete.i.eat.meat...
from the Austin City Limits DVD:


Check tour dates at myspace, and purchase goods at the official.
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 1:05 AM 1 comments

Monday, January 21, 2008

Full Moon Tomorrow Night

I've always heard that human beings have an uncompromising urge to go out and get a little crazy whenever there is a full moon. I tend to go out and get a little crazy under just about any circumstances, including the arctic temperatures we've been having in Austin. We stood around in the drizzle and frigid air for hours the other night watching Michael Ian Black & Co. at the Mohawk, donned our best mustaches and huddled around the heaters at Beauty Bar, and made it out just yesterday on a cold & wet Sunday evening for intimate sets by Dead Confederate and Christian Bland.

Tomorrow night will be another great round of music, much of it contained on the three stages at Emo's. In the lounge will be the Winter Full Moon Party with psychedelia provided by The Viet Mihn, a lo-fi outfit featuring three of the Black Angels. They will be supported by The Strange Boys, a talented young group of garage/blues rockers who transplanted from Dallas to Austin not long ago. Strong move fellows, strong move.
On the inside stage will be Yeasayer, who I'm really interested to see, along with MGMT, who were here for Fun Fest and just performed on Letterman the other night. To top it off, Lupe Fiasco will be getting down on the outside stage. So, in other words, get your keister down to Emo's tomorrow night, pick a stage, buy some drinks, and party with us under the full moon. Do512 is doing ticket giveaways for the Full Moon Party and for Lupe Fiasco, just click "I Like It" and you'll be in the running.
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 5:51 PM 0 comments

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Live Dead Confederate

Have you heard of Dead Confederate yet? Their name keeps popping up at various sites I frequent out there in internet-land, and Sonic Itch has been fastidiously recommending that I check them out. Rumor has it they're in town recording an album with producer Mike McCarthy (Spoon), and rumor also has it that they'll be opening up for one of those bigtime acts who will be performing at Stubb's during SXSW. But first, they will be playing at Mohawk tomorrow night with Christian Bland of the Black Angels. This should be a good show, and you can get more info on it right here.
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 5:32 PM 2 comments

Sweden's The LK

from The Kora Records:
"The LK is the collaboration between Lindefelt, an abstract sound artist, and Fredrik, a pop visionary and songwriter par excellence. Fusing musique concrète-style collages of sound with iconic pop arrangements, the typical LK song is both gradually mind-invading and comfortingly direct. Recorded with a minimum of equipment, Vs. the Snow was built largely by gluing pieces of Lindefelt's abstract sounds, lyrics and voice to Fredrik's simple, beautiful melodies and chords. The resulting tracks make for a crisp, fuzzy, stylish, melancholy noise-pop cocktail with a human warmth and dark sense of humor."
I have a feeling that a whole bunch of people are going to be saying good things about The LK in the months to come. The 11 track U.S. reissue of their debut album Vs. the Snow will be released by The Kora Records on March 4th, the band will launch a three week tour on March 8th including stops at the Embassy of Sweden, The Kennedy Center, and they'll be right here in Austin for SXSW.

Below are a couple of tunes from The LK to check out. Don a pair of headphones and turn the volume up a little. Gently sway back and forth, bop your head slightly, and then you've got it. Electro-pop perfection.
from Vs. the Snow
and an older one...
Get another mp3 and find out more about The LK at TKR & myspace.
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 2:17 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Oh No! Daytrotter!

Whenever there is an Austin artist featured on Daytrotter, I'm going to make sure that you know about it. And I do this for two reasons:
  1. Local Music is Rad.
  2. Daytrotter is Rad.
Today they've put up three new tracks from the indie pop craft-masters Oh No! Oh My!, as well as a live studio cut from their venerable Between The Devil And The Sea EP that came out on Dim Mak last year. Below, listen to one track from their Daytrotter session, one from the EP, and hear/see/get more at Daytrotter.com and at theirspace.
Previous Austinites on Daytrotter, in order of appearance:
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 4:14 PM 0 comments

Más Remixes

I'm sort of a nerd when it comes to Hot Chip. Every time I see a track they've remixed I grab it and put it into a folder with the other dozens of Hot Chip remixes from over the years. Not all of them are great but I guess it's sort of like collecting stamps, every one is different and therefor of value. Not that I would know anything about stamp collecting, of course. I collect weird stuff like novelty lighters and drum sticks. That way I'll always be able to start a fire and/or whip out a killer percussion solo, which is way cooler than any stamp. What were we talking about? Oh yeah, Hot Chip, as usual. Their new album is being released soon, which you can pre-order on CD/DVD via Amazon, and order autographed from Recordstore. You can check of their tour dates & get yer tickets at the official site.

Of all the remixes in that little folder I mentioned, I think that these are six of the best. I dare you to pick six Hot Chip remixes that are better than this. And then send them to me. Ha!
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 2:43 AM 1 comments

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

1/2Alive

I came across the Vancouver outfit 1/2Alive not long ago while searching around for some quality remixes to include in the re-mixtape, and I've gotta say I enjoy the sounds that these guys put together. 1/2Alive is composed of DJs Tyler Fedchuk, My!Gay!Husband! & Tony X, who regularly host "a hands up singalong dance party" on Friday nights in Vancouver (check out some of the party pics). Each of these guys put their own touches on tracks from all sorts of artists, be it classic tunes like Locomotion or the Beatles' Michelle, or new stuff from artists like Feist, Tegan and Sara, and Kanye West.
Check out some of their work:
Read/Hear/See more at the following links, and look for 1/2Alive at SXSW.

http://www.halfalive.ca/
http://www.myspace.com/itshalfalive
http://www.radiozero.ca/
http://iheartcomix.com/1/2alive
http://missingtoof.com/1/2alive
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 1:53 PM 0 comments

Monday, January 14, 2008

Covert Curiosity 2.0

Hello all you lovely people out there, I hope you're having a fine day. For the past couple of weeks I've been tinkering around with a few different additions to this site, and today I finally got all of the changes in order.

The first one is a new playtagger that has increased functionality over the old one, allowing you to adjust the volume and scroll through all of the tracks on the front page. The second is the Austin Music Shuffle in the sidebar, a streaming flash player filled exclusively with tracks from some of my favorite Austin artists. The entire playlist shuffles automatically, so all you have to do is press the play button to hear hours of Austin music. It includes songs from just about every local act I've written about here since I started this blog. I'll be editing the list as things progress to keep it fresh.

The third is a donation button. I'm trying to come out even on the financial side of running this blog, and I'd rather not have a bunch of ads all over the place. I'm not knocking blogs that choose to do that, it's just not my thing. A couple of other little changes I made was to gussy up the look of my calendar a bit, and add some new links to a bunch of other blogs that you should be checking out. I hope you like the changes.

Oh, and one last thing. I'm looking for contributors. I have been running Covert Curiosity for well over a year now, and it has been built up to the point that I simply cannot keep up with all of the good music that is sent to me. I only have two ears, and I've got other priorities that take up a bunch of time, so I would really love to bring on some people to contribute to this blog. The only true requirements that I am looking for are:
  1. You have to really love music.
  2. You must have some basic knowledge of the internet.
Obviously I'd like to find people who are local to Austin, but that won't necessarily be a determining factor. If you follow this blog, you know that it focuses on rock (indie/psychedelic/garage) electronic (everything but techno/trance), plus some hip hop, funk, and of course all of the best local Austin music.

All you would really have to do is listen to free music, find some that you like, and write a few pretty words about it. You'll be able to check out some free shows, get some free music, and make some good contacts within the music biz. That's pretty much the whole deal. Feel free to get in touch with me if this sounds like something you'd be interested in.

Cheers, y'all.
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 3:16 PM 0 comments

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Dan Deacon's Ultimate Reality


Dan Deacon's show at Emo's last night was one of the best musical performances I've ever seen in my entire life. The only other concert that comes close on my personal best-of list was when I saw the White Stripes in '04 from the front row of Stubb's, and the more I think about it, the more I think that I now have a new #1. Deacon's trip to Austin last night, one of the first stops of his new Ultimate Reality tour, was a revolutionary, eye-opening, soul-enriching spectacle that even I didn't see coming, and I'm no rookie to the magic of Dan Deacon.

The gig was originally booked on the Emo's inside stage, but the demand was so high and there were so many tickets sold that it had to be moved to the much larger outside stage. They kicked it off by showing the Ultimate Reality DVD with live instrumentation and dual-drumming behind the projector screen, and the trippy visualizations along with the outer-space music was a proper warmup to the freakout that was to come. Deacon set up on the floor right at the hips of the overflow crowd, and before he touched a single note he asked the entire crowd to put one finger in the air, and get down on one knee. The entire crowd, I'm talking 300-400 people, complied unanimously to crouch down with a single finger in the air and knee on the concrete floor. He then asked everyone to rise, and they did so with a jubilant applause.


From that moment on he proceeded to give a performance like none this little town had ever seen before. People were dancing in circles, do-si-do-ing, poppin' & lockin', spinning around, high-fiving, hugging each other, jumping up and down, and crowding atop the stage behind him for a better view of the happening. A couple of people simply stood wide-eyed and repeatedly exclaimed "Wow!". Everyone in the venue was absolutely at Dan Deacon's mercy. At one point he asked everyone to shift to one side of the room, form a human tunnel with their hands clasped over and above them, and run through the the tunnel the length of the entire venue. We did so without question, full of some weird, youthful exuberance. I had never, ever seen any performer have this type of control over his entire audience.

At another point, he had everyone form a big, 70's disco fever dance circle and display their best moves to the music, organically rotating people in and out to do their thing. Deacon crouched down on the fringes of the circle with a spotlight and a microphone, experiencing this moment along with in his crowd. As his allotted time was running out and people could sense that the final song was near, I leaned over to my buddy, a Deacon first-timer, and I said "if he plays Wham City this place is going to explode." Seconds later, the first notes of the song began to ring out, and everyone started screaming. It was amazing. The entire show was just, amazing.

I've been to hundreds of shows, and I've never seen anything remotely close to what happened at Emo's last night. That includes both of the previous times that I've seen Deacon perform. This thing was on a whole other level. The only thing I can equate it to is like watching footage of an old Beatles or Elvis concert or something, and seeing all of those people just completely beside themselves. It was unforgettable. All hail Dan Deacon, the 21st century Pied Piper.


I'll keep an eye out for reviews/photos from other Austin sources all I'll try to add their links in this post. Thankfully, Switchburn were there with a whole video crew documenting the action, and once they've got the video on their site I'll link over to that as well.
Like I said the other day this tour is making quite a few stops, so don't miss the bus.
Ultimate Reality tour:
  • 01-07 Atlanta, GA - Eyedrum
  • 01-08 Pensacola, FL - Sluggos
  • 01-09 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
  • 01-11 Austin, TX - Emo's Jr.
  • 01-12 Denton, TX - Hailey's
  • 01-14 Phoenix, AZ - Modified
  • 01-15 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre *!
  • 01-17 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall *
  • 01-18 Portland, OR - Backspace
  • 01-19 Portland, OR - Holocene
  • 01-20 Seattle, WA - Neumos
  • 01-21 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards $
  • 01-24 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
  • 01-25 Chicago, IL - Lakeshore Theater
  • 01-27 Detroit, MI - Scrummage University
  • 01-28 Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop
  • 01-29 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
  • 01-30 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa
  • 01-31 Boston, MA - Pozen Center
  • 02-03 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 8:32 PM 4 comments

Thursday, January 10, 2008

From The Inbox...

Here's a post I do from time to time to try and keep up with all the good stuff that gets sent to my inbox. It's impossible to keep up with all of it, but here's a taste of some of the stuff I'm glad I opened recently. More to come...

"Del the Funky Homosapien has leaked a new track from his upcoming album Eleventh Hour to be released on March 11th via Definitive Jux records. The track, entitled “Bubble Pop” is the first glimpse into Del’s long awaited solo follow-up to a string of popular albums released in the 1990s (I Wish My Brother George Was Here, No Need for Alarm, Future Development, and Both Sides of the Brain). Since then, the Bay Area MC has concentrated on several collaborations; including 2000’s Deltron 3030 with Dan “The Automator” Nakamura and Kid Koala and 2001’s Gorillaz with Blur’s Damon Albarn. But fans have been hungry for another solo album from one of the most creative rappers on the scene.

Eleventh Hour is that album, and it was eight years in the making. During that time, Del holed up in the studio to study music theory and produce the majority of the tracks on what would be his fifth solo album. “Bubble Pop” is the first track from Eleventh Hour to go public, and it shows Del’s new approach to his craft."
from Future Development

"The Raveonettes are recognized and praised for their signature blend of two part harmonies, lo-fi garage sound and 60s noir aesthetic. Comparisons have been drawn to everyone from the Jesus and Mary Chain, the Velvet Underground and Suicide to Buddy Holly, the Shangri-Las and Ronnie Spektor. In 2003, the Raveonettes' won a Danish Music Award when Whip It On was named "Best Album of the Year".

The Raveonettes will embark on a North American tour in support of their Feb 19th Vice Records debut, Lust Lust Lust, in late February. The jaunt will be preceded by a lone stop alongside Blonde Redhead at New York’s Terminal 5 later this month. Set to kick off ten days after the record’s release, on February 29th at The Cashbah in San Diego, the tour will wend its way across the States and the Great White North, making an extended stop in Austin, Texas for this year’s SXSW music festival."
"The Whigs are proud to announce the release of their ATO Records debut album, MISSION CONTROL. Set for a January 22, 2008 release, this confident collection of songs follows up the band's self-released / self-financed album, GIVE 'EM ALL A BIG FAT LIP, which caught the attention of many, including Rolling Stone Magazine who declared the Athens GA three-piece "the best unsigned band in America." The Whigs spent most of 2006 and 2007 on the road winning over fans and critics with their full throttle alternative pop / rock which NPR hailed as a perfect combination of "the gravelly rock of The Replacements with the off-kilter pop of Guided By Voices."

Eager to record their ATO debut, The Whigs entered the legendary Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles, CA with producer Rob Schnapf (Beck, Elliott Smith). Sonically superior to anything the band has recorded to date, MISSION CONTROL is an album jam-packed with infectious melodies and dynamic rhythms."


"Like a gaggle of pre-teens at a Hannah Montana concert, people are freaking out about the Battle Royale's new record. The Battle Royale write fast and furious pop songs that make you move. But they also don't. That's right, Wake Up, Thunderbabe is not only a killer dance album, but it is also a simple and sweet acoustic pop album. In classic Side A/Side B style, Thunderbabe is one part dance, one part folk. Side A is reminiscent of modern dance-pop bands like The Faint, Hot Chip and CSS, and Side B is purely folk that references the likes of Tilly and the Wall, Arcade Fire and Page France.

After garnering an impressive grass-roots following nationwide with the release of their first full-length album, Sparkledust Fantasy (Afternoon Records), the sing-along dance-pop anthems and catchy say-what riffs of the Battle Royale continue to only get better with Wake Up, Thunderbabe. This sophomore effort evolved out of a year of touring, growing up, and going to college, not to mention sharing the stage with such great bands as the Blood Brothers, Celebration and Tilly and the Wall. Wake Up, Thunderbabe is infectious, fun and energetic, so bring your best Charlie Brown dance to the party and enjoy."
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 7:50 PM 0 comments

The Blakes

Following some mighty strong recommendations from my holmes over at Sonic Itch Music, I've been rocking out the debut album from these Seattle rock & rollers called The Blakes. After finding a home on Seattle's Light In The Attic Records last year, they released their self-titled debut in October, quickly gaining a strong following . A guitar/bass/drum trio who can kick out one hell of a racket, they've been getting the nod from sources like Spin and NPR, who likened their sound to "the swagger of early '60s Brit-rock and the sneer of early punk rock."

Their music is catchy but not too slick, with a raw energy and emotion that can only come from real-life experience. With impressive instrumentation all around and fitting production from the mixing/mastering deck, I don't think they could have done it any better than this. Any fan of prevalent rock bands along the lines of Kings of Leon or Jet will surely find a permanent home for The Blakes in their record collection.
Listen:
Watch:


Get more at their space, their label, or perhaps itunes and emusic.
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 12:29 PM 4 comments

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

See Holy Fuck at Emo's

Aww yeah son, Holy Fuck are coming back to town. These dudes kicked ass at SXSW last year and I've been eagerly awaiting their return ever since. They're going to be performing on the outside stage at Emo's, opening up for Super Furry Animals, another really good band. I used to listen to their album Love Craft all the time. But that's really just fluff for me, as I've probably mentioned Holy Fuck on this site more than any other band I can think of.

If this is all news to you, read a couple of those previous mentions here and here.

And, because they're always in a giving mood, Do512 is offering up some free tickets for the show right here. It's going down next month, February 2nd, and I'm telling you, this one is not to be missed. They don't get asked to perform at places like Glastonbury and Vegoose for nothin'.

You can have a peek at the rest of the Holy Fuck tour schedule at myspace, and check out the video for their song "Milk Shake" below:

Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 5:08 PM 2 comments
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 2:59 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Dan Deacon Returns

Dan Deacon will be back in Austin doing his thing on the inside stage at Emo's this Saturday, at the same spot where last year he provided one of the wackiest good times I've ever seen in this town, and that's saying a lot. This time around his set will follow a screening of his collaborative DVD called Ultimate Reality, which will be accompanied by live music from Deacon and fellow Wham City-er Jimmy Joe Roche, as well as drummers Kevin O'Meare of Videohippos and Jeremy Hyman of Ponytail. Following another 16-or so concert dates in North America this tour will move on to Australia, with some possible stops in Japan and Europe. Not too bad for an abstract music maker from Baltimore with a Looney Tunes obsession and a pair of broken glasses.

You can score some free tickets for Dan's gig at Emo's from Party Ends by shooting an email over to PartyEnds@Gmail.com with your favorite thing about Dan Deacon, and from Switchburn by signing up for their newsletter for weekly giveaways. Check out some of their video footage while you're there, they've got all kinds of good stuff.
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 3:53 PM 0 comments

Black Keys/Danger Mouse

I read somewhere a few months ago, perhaps in Rolling Stone, that The Black Keys had teamed up with Danger Mouse to create their next album. Then, not long after that news bit came across the wire, I read that the plans for that album had been scrapped and the two Keys were just going to do it the old-fashioned way. I was never too sure how I felt about the idea, I mean trying to mix hip hop and rock & roll fails far more often than it succeeds. But, I was always intrigued by the idea of this collaboration and was a bit deflated when I read that it had become a no-go.

I cautiously rejoiced today when I clicked over to Pitchfork, which I really should start doing more often, and read that the Black Keys/Danger Mouse connection is still on like Donkey Kong. The album is titled Attack & Release, produced by Danger Mouse, and it will be hitting the shelves on the 1st of April. The Keys will of course be touring in support of the release, starting right here in Austin at SXSW (woot).

Check tour dates & more info on Attack & Release at Pfork.
from Thickfreakness
from Rubber Factory
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 1:36 PM 0 comments

Ghislain Poirier

My good pal over at Cubik Musik just introduced me to this fellow named Ghislain Poirier, a DJ/producer from Montreal who is set to release his Ninja Tune debut on the 29th of January. He released his debut album in 2001 and never looked back, having put out a number of productions over the years, routinely working with Canadian hip hop artists, creating remixes for popular artists like Bonde Do Role, Clipse and Editors, and throwing his own big parties up in Montreal.

He performed at the Pitchfork Music Festival in 2006, and will be hitting up Austin this March for SXSW. To promote the upcoming album he has "assembled a 40-minute megamix that sets his album's grime, ragga, dancehall, Baltimore club, and crunk-infused beats alongside his remixes of tracks by Dizzee Rascal, Lil Wayne, and others." It's got ton of bass, some great beats, and standout tracks in the "Blazin" and "Dopeman" remixes. It's pretty darn funky.
Get the tracklist & more at Pitchfork, and check his official site.

Janis Joplin, right into Ghislain Poirier. Yep, that's how I roll.
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 12:31 PM 1 comments

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Janis Joplin Rarities

The weather in Austin today was fantastic, sunny, warm, and blue skies at 77 degrees. It was the perfect time to cruise around town with the windows down and feed some good tunes into the stereo. I burned a disc a few weeks ago with a whole bunch of stuff that I intended to listen to at some point, and one part of it was this Janis Joplin bootleg that someone put together and labeled "The Rarest Pearls. " What I enjoy most about it is the fact that everything is stripped down and basic, void of any studio trickery that would only serve to make it less genuine.

If you listen to the version of "Call On Me" that is included in this collection, and then match it up with the version that was featured on the debut Big Brother & the Holding Company album, you'll want to slap someone for ever having changed it. This version of "Me & Bobby McGee" is also quite different, with nothing but Janis and a guitar. With the inclusion of tracks recorded between the years of 1966-1970, it's also a quick glance at the progression of her recording career and the changes in her voice and style.
Listen: (fully)

Here's one for the completist out there. In 1964 Janis Joplin played a few blues numbers with future Jefferson Airplane guitarist Jorma Kaukonen at his house in San Fransisco, and it was captured with a cassette recorder. The sound quality isn't the greatest and someone is using a typewriter in the background, but it's interesting still if only for its intimacy and time in history. You've got two highly influential music figures from that era sitting around the house, having a little jam, not long before they would both have a big impact in the world of music.
Listen: (fully)
Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 4:53 PM 1 comments

Friday, January 04, 2008

Free Week at Emo's

Free Week at Emo's kicked off on Wednesday of this week, and the free fun continues all the way up until Thursday of next week with dozens of quality shows on all three stages. Tonight Lions and Brothers & Sisters heat up the outside stage, Black Joe Lewis and Transmography do their thing inside, and there's a whole lotta punk rock in the lounge.

Tomorrow night Party Ends hosts a fun-filled evening in the lounge with Car Stereo (Wars) and more, while Brazos, Zykos, and LaLaLand hold it down outside... and the list of good stuff just goes on and on for days.

You can scroll through this handy widget to see what's happening each night, and by clicking on any individual show you can go check out video clips of the bands, reviews, and all of the necessary links. Give it a go:

Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 3:29 PM 1 comments

A Dirt Road to Psychedelia



"The story of how Austin became groovy. With a folk singing Janis Joplin, the 13th Floor Elevators, peyote, LSD and the first psychedelic music venue in Texas, Austin was a fertile ground for the emerging counter culture of the 1960s. Seen as nonconformists, Beatnik inspired students were drawn together by folk, country and blues music while dabbling with drugs to create an explosive scene. Traditional values became challenged as they sought a lifestyle outside of the system." -Austin Film Festival

"Janis Joplin the folk singer? Conn gives you photos and vocals to prove it as he traces the musical arc of the 1960s in Austin. Forget the oft-repeated Armadillo World Headquarters legend; this is what came before. The decade begins with the country/folk movement and builds to the psychedelic sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators, Conqueroo, and Shiva's Headband. The drug-infused scene's new headquarters was the Vulcan Gas Company, a freak fest just blocks from the Capitol on Congress, where old-school blues musicians like Muddy Waters mixed with a younger generation in full revolt. The film takes an interesting twist by including interviews with an Austin policeman from the era bent on eradicating drugs from the scene. Conn's film is a love letter to a time period that seems quaint and innocent in retrospect. Longtime Austinites and curious newcomers alike will find this story, with its wonderfully grainy Super-8 footage, a righteous treat." -Austin Chronicle

You can check out a screening of A Dirt Road to Psychedelia at Beerland tonight, as part of "Ready Steady Go!", which goes down on the 1st Friday of every month at Beerland. Described as a "retro-themed dance party", each event features guest bands and DJ’s spinning 45's of all your favorite songs from the golden age, along with retro lighting, vintage films, and an overall feel that will stimulate all your senses. Here's the lowdown from the Ready Steady Go! myspace page:
"January 4ths Ready Steady Go is back at Beerland and this time out we're having a whole night dedicated to the 13th Floor Elevators and other vital garage and psych bands that came out of Texas. Make sure to arrive by 10pm for the seated screening of Scott Conn’s "Dirt Road To Psychedelia." This fantastic film is essential viewing for anyone who appreciates the history of Austin music. Conn comprehensively documents the mid-late 60's scene from its humble folk music beginnings to the exciting blues and psychedelic shows at the Vulcan Gas Company. The 70 minute film portrays the era through outstanding archival footage and informative interviews from the people who were integral to the Austin music scene.

Once the film is over, host DJs Mike Hooker and Shorty Stump will spin classic tunes before and after Acid Tomb’s electrifying tribute set to Roky and the Elevators. The band features members of the Alice Rose and Jungle Rockers and they are note perfect to the original songs, even including the trademark electric jug. Retro-mod attire is strongly encouraged."
Do512 is giving away some free tix to this one, but you better sign up quick.

Posted by Mr. Curiosity at 1:07 PM 0 comments
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