I had always heard of STS9 and never really gave them a listen until recently. A listener’s mind is sure to get lost in a fusion of jam, jazz with a multitude of schizophrenic tempo changes and unbridled improvisations. The unique thing about this group is that they combine this very “jam band” sound with electronic beats. Having played numerous sold-out shows and even rocking the main stage at Lollapalooza this past year, the instrumental rockers recently put out an album entitled Peaceblaster: The New Orleans Make it Right Remixes. The album is basically what it sounds like, a remix of thirty original STS9 tracks by the likes of The Glitch Mob, Pretty Lights and Count Bass D. All proceeds go to the Make It Right Foundation which is Brad Pitt’s Lower 9th Ward rebuilding project. These do-gooders will be here Friday, October 2nd at Stubb's and then Saturday at ACL. With an amazing light show and energetic live show, STS9 is a “won’t miss,” they’ll be at the X-Box Stage, 7 p.m.
Here’s a video which encompasses their jazz progressions and unsullied rhythm.
If you’re not planning on fighting the crowds at ACL you can snag ticket to their Friday show at Stubb’s HERE.
We heard the first single from the new Fuck Buttons album in August, and I have been listening to the rest of the album in bits and pieces since last week. I feel like my endorphins get out of whack if I listen to this thing from start to finish. What's for sure is that Tarot Sport is a different animal than Street Horrrsing was, but will likely be just as polarizing. The sounds may be somewhat less abrasive than before, but these guys are still unafraid to create head-shattering noise.
After the opening single comes "Rough Steez," a trippy mid-tempo thing that mixes tribal and industrial beats. The next tracks to really impress are "Olympians" and "Flight Of The Feathered Serpent," two absolutely epic songs that both surpass the nine-minute mark. The latter dips into some crazy jungle percussion before coming to a metallic climax. Before those two is "The Lisbon Maru" which sounds like a re-imagined cut from the first album, in a good way.
The duo of Greenspan and Matthew Didemus, otherwise known as Junior Boys, will be embarking on a North American tour next month. The tour will include a show at the Mohawk on Monday, October 19, followed by a show at Walter's on Washington in Houston. They released their third album, the Norman McLaren inspired Begone Dull Care, earlier this year on Domino Records. Here's a cut from the album remixed by Prins Thomas.
It's no secret, the 8th annual Austin City Limits Music Festival will take over Zilker Park this weekend with more than 130 acts spread across eight stages. I haven't been by the park since they began working on the $2.5 million in renovations, so I'm looking forward to seeing what difference it has made.
Tickets ran out faster than ever this year, but I imagine that anyone without a ticket can still pick one up an outside the gate for a decent price. As always, there are plenty of pre-and-after parties going on that will have people looking like hungover zombies by the time the sun rises on Sunday. Find more info on those events below.
XX is the debut album for The xx, a South West London quartet who aren’t even old enough to drink in United States. The four 20-year olds met at Elliott School in London, whose notable alumni include Hot Chip, Four Tet and dubstep producer Burial. The band consists Romy Madley Croft on vocals and guitarist, Oliver Sim on vocals and bass, Baria Quershi on guitar and Jamie Smith on sampler.
The album's opening number is a 2 minute instrumental prelude into this dreamy pop album. The song is reminiscent of something you’d hear on a Pure Moods CD commercial with its new age guitar riff, tribal drum beat and chanting. “VCR” begins with a toy xylophone melody which is quickly joined by a down tempo guitar rift. The album’s second single “Crystallized,” is undeniably the album’s stand out track; commencing with a gradually increasingly high pitch “oooh” sound which becomes almost uncomfortable until interrupted by an arpeggio of guitar chords. “Islands,” is the most upbeat track of the entire track which offers some sort of hope for love.
“Fantasy” is a sensual, yet disconnected reverb heavy track that seems to serve no real purpose other than an introductory to the sultry “Shelter.” The only thing perpetual about “Infinity” is Sim’s persistence in pleading Oliver to “give it up.”Oliver repeatedly refutes with a soft, almost desensitized “I can’t give it up.” The last track entitled “Stars” begins with a heavy bass line which seems like it’s going to go in the Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer.” After a few strums, the beat is abrubtly consumed by a sequence of three piano notes which play over and over throughout the song.
This overtly sensual and slow-strummed album encompasses a theme relating to relationships, feelings, and love, and has become a personal favorite. I look forward seeing The xx when they open up for Friendly Fires at the Mohawk on Thursday, November 19. You can buy your tickets at the door.
Joan Wasser began playing violin at age eight, and played with the Boston University Symphony Orchestra while she was in college. Her resume also includes live performances and studio work with Lou Reed, Elton John and Sparklehorse.
Along with working as a violinist for hire with artists as diverse as Sheryl Crow, Rufus Wainwright, and Antony and the Johnsons, Wasser formed Joan as Police Woman in 2002. While on their current tour they are selling a brilliant compilation of cover versions, taking on artists like Public Enemy, T-Pain, David Bowie, Hendrix, Sonic Youth and more. Here is some info I found at The Independent:
"It's a weird mix of old pop and psychedelia, hip-hop and garage indie, capped by a tremendous reading of the Nina Simone cornerstone "Keeper of the Flame", where her quiet dignity and spare guitar-and-strings arrangement gives the song the stature of a requiem for the High Priestess of Soul."
This Nina Simone cover is on fire, and her take on Hendrix is really cool too. Since COVER is a limited edition release that will only available at shows this Fall, click the image above to try it out. If you want a physical copy you might be able to pick one up when Joan opens for Rufus Wainwright at the Paramount Theatre in Austin on November 16 & 17.
I love In The Red for putting out records like this. Kid Congo Powers is the stage name of Brian Tristan, best known as a member of The Gun Club, The Cramps and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. He also gets bonus points for being the president of The Ramones fan club in 1976. With a few friends known as the Pink Monkey Birds, Kid Congo recorded the Dracula Boots album, which reminds me of a soundtrack to some old campy B movie. It sounds like rock 'n roll inspired by Rocky Horror.
"The legendary Kid Congo Powers returns to the psychedelic jungle with a stripped-down, no-frills set of volcanic songs. The premier voodoo guitarist for seminal sexy, swampy bands like Gun Club, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, and The Cramps, Powers is a restless aesthete whose earlier solo efforts explored and mixed genres. With Dracula Boots, he comes back to his roots as a crackerjack guitarist playing the primitive music that inspired him-- the raw sounds of garage and early Chicano rock. You will dance your way from the cradle to the grave, and beyond."
Before all of the ACL madness starts next week, here are a few events on the schedule that have my attention:
The first is Rob Dickinson at Mixx. A lot of folks (like Do512, Nites, Adi, Eavesdropper etc) appear to be excited that the old Catherine Wheel frontman is back in town on Friday.
Another band we've talked about a lot lately, Monotonix are also in town on Friday at Mohawk. Woven Bones and Crocodiles are at Emo's on Saturday. More on them here and here.
Check out this new St. Vincent video for "Marrow," which comes from her latest album Actor. Delusions of Adequacy says the album "has redefined the definition of pop music."
The 2009 version of the CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival will hit New York City from October 20-24. For 5 days and nights, over 1,200 artists and 120,000 fans will take over more than 75 of the city's greatest nightclubs and theaters.
Thanks to Sonicbids, which allowed these bands an easy way to apply to CMJ '09, we can offer up a free compilation of Austin bands who were happy to provide a piece of music for your listening pleasure. Which bands are included? And which songs? Click here to find out.
The sun radiated through the early morning clouds and light drizzle for the majority of day two at Monolith, which hosted a crowd sporting more neon than an American Apparel display window. Rahzel, virtuoso beatboxer and former member of The Roots began his routine at the Esurance (Main) Stage at 2 p.m.
A line of almost 40 people long formed outside the Woxy Stage set up in an interior room of the venue’s lower deck, in hopes of catching indie-electro duo Neon Indian---which filled to capacity 30 minutes before show time. The band originally hailing from Brooklyn recently re-located to Austin. They are scheduled to play an ACL after show at Emo’s and Fun Fun Fun Fest.
During that time, garage/prog-rock group Monotonix of Tel Aviv, Isreal rocked in nothing but 70’s short shorts and chest hair at the Southern Comfort Stage. The setup was one which took place within the audience. Even before finishing the first song, singer Ami Shalev stage-dove into the crowd and gauchely crawled and climbed on enthused hipsters. Banned in several venues around the world including Flamingo Cantina located here in Austin, the trio are notorious for their over the top antics which include setting things on fire, beer spitting, climbing on bars and over-zealous interactions with fans.
Following the energetic performance we sat down for a chat with guitarist Yonatan Gat, singer Ami Shalev and drummer Haggai Fershtman of Monotonix.
CC: What’s the origin of name Monotonix?
HF: Too long to describe it, it’s a very complicated story.
YG: When Haggai went to art school, when he was a teenager, everybody thought he was retarded... It’s just his lip went to the side a little bit. And he would say the same thing over and over again and everyone would say “you are very monotonic” and then we added the “x,” because he couldn’t say ‘x’.
HF: This is the real story.
YG: It’s the first time we tell anybody.
CC: How did you snap out of it?
YG : He got a chicken bone stuck in his throat once and Avi gave him the Heimlich and ever since he stopped being a “retard.”
HF: Monotonix! Monotonix… I could say the ‘x’.
CC: Where have you performed and what are your favorite and least favorite venues?
HF: Austin is one of the best!
YG: Austin is fun. We played good shows at a place called the Mohawk, we played SXSW. One of the venues we don’t like is Flamingo Cantina because we’re banned from there.
CC: How much lighter fluid do you go through in a tour? Usually you light your drums on fire.
AS: Depends. Sometimes if it’s too crowded, we can’t use the lighter fluid. We have to talk to the venues, fire is sensitive issue.
CC: What kind of access do fans have to your music?
HF: Combination of many things. Record company… iTunes, Myspace.. We have a Twitter that someone we don’t know is doing.
CC: Someone you don’t know is tweeting for you?
YG: We have a fan twitter.
HF: Yeah, he’s twittering! Haha…
CC: Israel is pretty far away. Do you have a US home base?
AS: We have friends that we love, they love us and we see them while we’re touring. But home is where the heart is, like Frank Zappa’s song.
Quite the opposite of their crazy, raucous stage personas, the trio was reserved yet charismatic after the show. They are scheduled to play Emo’s on Friday, September 25. You can buy tickets here. Check out this amateur video we got of them at Monolith:
The Glitch Mob dropped dope beats on the Esurance stage while one of this year’s most anticipated acts Passion Pit rocked the Southern Comfort stage. The pavement slab in front of the stage vibrated and shook throughout the set, especially during the dance-y number “Sleepyhead.”
MSTRKRFT canceled their appearance at Monolith due to an untimely illness. Replacing them on the main stage were French alternative rock band Phoenix. They opened up with "Lisztomania,” the first single of their upcoming album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. In spite of the slow start, the band had the entire venue dancing with their jaw-dropping performance.
Concluding the evening were experimental-progressive rockers The Mars Volta. They commenced their powerful set with “Inertiatic ESP,” off their 2004 release De-Loused in the Comatorium. Their stage set featured an array of psychedelic colors and patterns on the rock wall behind them. They ended with “Wax Simulacra,” the first single off their fourth studio album The Bedlam in Goliath.
All photos courtesy of Mary Rehak. Go here to see more shots from the festival.
The album cover alone was more than enough to entice me into trying on this self-titled release from Australian honky-disco duo Brain Children. Apparently these two dudes, Mikey Young and Max Kohane, are seasoned Melbourne punk veterans who have spent years touring and releasing records in the DIY Punk / Garage / Hardcore circuit.
When the two realised they shared a passion for classic disco and vintage hip-hop, it was only a matter of time before they were making music together. One of the results is this 6-song effort released on Stained Circles. If they rounded up a cape and a ponytail these guys could be on their way to becoming an Aussie version of Ghostland.
Neon Indian comes from the mind of Alan Palomo, who was the creative force behind Ghosthustler and spends some of his time on the synth-pop sounds of VEGA. With visual artist Alicia Scardetta he forms the Austin/Brooklyn-based Neon Indian, which made its live debut at the Monolith Festival over the weekend. The debut album Psychic Chasms will drop early next month on Lefse Records. It is the best lo-fi, warbled electro-video game pop I've ever heard. Pitchfork calls it "kind of like MGMT on a ramen budget-- and with less face paint." That makes absolutely no sense to me, but it is pretty funny.
Psychic Chasms is now available for pre-order from Insound. As a bonus if you pre-order the vinyl format, you’ll get the full album in mp3 format on September 28th. Catch them live at the Austin City Limits afterparty at Emo's on October 2, and at Fun Fun Fun Fest on November 7.
Not knowing what to expect from KiD CuDi, I approached his new album Man on the Moon - The End of Day without hoping for much. After listening to it, one thing is for sure; Man on the Moon is a perfect title. This album definitely sounds like it is being transmitted from outer space, ranging from melancholy tunes that give off a zero-gravity vibe to eerily dark tracks as well as some lighthearted fare. CuDi establishes himself as anything but your stereotypical ringtone rapper or club clone with an intensely personal debut that accomplishes the increasingly rare feat of being an actual album instead of a collection of single tracks.
Man on the Moon takes you on a strange journey through CuDi's consciousness, with spaced out beats and lyrics that are either chock-full of pain and angst or simply the musings of an introspective stoner. CuDi goes autobiographical early on the emotional 'Soundtrack 2 My Life,' gets lovey dovey with the help of psychedelic mushrooms on 'Enter Galactic,' and gives what feels like an obligatory salute to oral sex on 'Make Her Say,' a remix of Lady Gaga's 'Poker Face' that couldn't sound less like the original.
Another unexpected and unprecedented move by CuDi was soliciting two tracks for the album from Ratatat, who are no strangers to remixing rap tunes but have never provided original beats for other artists. One of the Ratatat tracks even features MGMT singing background vocals, a collaboration that will undoubtedly wet many hipster panties. And he caps it all with an oddly upbeat and almost bubbly finish in 'Up Up & Away' that leaves an optimistic, weed-flavored taste in your mouth.
The end result is an extremely listenable album that establishes KiD CuDi as a complex dude with plenty of talent and style that defies classification and transcends genres in a way that leaves you wanting more.
The third annual Monolith Festival was this past weekend at Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado. The two day fest was undoubtedly a hipster’s wet dream with acts such as Girl Talk, Passion Pit, Phoneix, M. Ward, Of Montreal, and Neon Indian to name a few. Despite a downpour of intermittent showers and temperatures in the upper 40’s on Saturday, indie-fans congregated for what has to be the biggest catalog of indie acts at one venue.
Pains of Being Pure at Heart played at the Southern Comfort stage amidst steady rainfall. In spite of the low temperatures and cold rain, they remained ardent and even joked that they were the ‘Rains of Being Pure of Heart.’
Ok Go played on the larger stage sponsored by Esurance. Mid set, Damian Kulash stepped over the railing into the rain with his guitar and told the crowd that this would probably be the only time they’d see him literally playing in the rain.
Meanwhile, Hamilton Leithauser of The Walkmen crooned tracks off the You & Me album on the upper level Southern Comfort stage. Almost like lightning the mellowed-out crowd broke into a dance at the start of “The Rat,” the hit single from the band’s debut album Bows + Arrows. Following The Walkmen on that stage was iron-masked DOOM, whose set up took longer than 30 minutes due to technical difficulties.
After a raging set, the masses made their way towards the main stage where Girl Talk, aka Greg Gillis remixed and mashed up samples ranging from Missy Elliot to Flashdance to the Jackson 5. Rain poured heavily throughout the set while presumably over 100 fans crowded Gillis on stage.
There are some strong moments on the soon-to-be-released album by Atlas Sound, aka Bradford Cox from Deerhunter. We already posted the sample-tastic collaboration he did with Noah Lennox from Animal Collective, but that might not even be the best track on Logos, the second proper Atlas Sound full-length. "Quick Canal" has a constant downtempo groove that clocks in at nearly 9-minutes, and features the lovely vocals of Stereolab's Laetitia Sadier. This album leaked in demo form months ago, but will finally see proper release on October 20th via Kranky. Atlas Sound will perform at Fun Fun Fun Fest on November 8.
While we're on the subject, here are two Deerhunter tracks from the Sub Pop Singles Club. These two are re-workings of songs that appeared on Microcastle, and you can get the actual 7″ through Ebay. Find out more about the Sub Pop Singles Club here.
Here's an acoustic version of Beck's Modern Guilt, taken from his recent Record Club recordings. They haven't yet released an acoustic version of the album closing "Volcano", at least not that I've seen, but nine of the ten songs are available. I have a feeling that some people are going to dig this acoustic version more than the original. It's just Beck with a guitar and a minimal amount of accompaniment. Get the tracks as a zip file here.
When HEALTH played the Covert Curiosity day party at SXSW last year, it looked exactly like the crazy blood orgy depicted in this video. I guess the only real difference was that everyone was drinking Lone Star Beer. HEALTH will rock Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin this year. Be there.
Here's a little remix for A Place To Bury Strangers' "In Your Heart", the first single taken from their new album Exploding Head. This one is included in a package that comes with a remix by Mute label-mate Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure) and an exclusive non-LP track called "Strictly Looks." You can get it at Amazon.
Jack Of Heart is a new psychedelic garage rock band from France. Their debut album was released on Born Bad Records, and you can download it via eMusic too. Their jangly phych sounded familiar from the second I turned it on, and I soon found out why. Piero Ilov is in the band, who is also is Demon's Claws, who have released a few killer garage albums. Jack of Heart has a similar sound, but mixed with a bit more of 1965. Recommended if you like Black Lips, King Khan, Demon's Claws etc.
Monolith Festival is only 8 days away! While we won't be making it to the Kick-Off Party we're absolutely stoked! In addition, Esurance has just released of block of 400 $99 2-Day Monolith Passes (no service fees) which will be available for 24 more hours. Get on it! Let's go!
Saturday Set Times:
ESURANCE MUSIC STAGE 9:30 PM - Yeah Yeah Yeahs 7:45 PM - Girl Talk 6:15 PM - M. Ward 4:45 PM - OK Go 3:30 PM - Frightened Rabbit 2:30 PM - Thao w/ The Get Down Stay Down 1:30 PM - Gregory Alan Isakov 12:30 PM - The Depreciation Guild
SOUTHERN COMFORT STAGE 8:45 PM - Of Montreal 7:00 PM - Doom 5:30 PM - The Walkmen 4:00 PM - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart 3:00 PM - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros 2:00 PM - Speakeasy Tiger 1:00 PM - Autovaughn
ROCK ROOM STAGE (Indoor Stage) 7:40 PM - Hollywood Holt + Million $ Mano 6:20 PM - Thunderheist 5:00 PM - Starfucker 3:40 PM - Woodhands 2:20 PM - Lydia 1:00 PM - Stars of Track and Field
WOXY.COM STAGE (Indoor Stage) 7:00 PM - Cotton Jones 5:40 PM - Cymbals Eat Guitars 4:20 PM - The Answering Machine 3:00 PM - These United States 1:40 PM - The Antlers 12:20 PM - Generationals
MADELOUD.COM STAGE 7:15 PM - Boulder Acoustic Society 5:45 PM - Caitlin Rose 4:15 PM - Wendy Darling 3:00 PM - Danielle Ate The Sandwich 2:00 PM - Avi Buffalo 1:00 PM - Roadside Graves
UNDERGROUND(WOXY.COM + ROCK ROOM STAGES) 9:10 PM - Self Inflicted With Sammie T 8:30 PM - Digital Disko
Sunday Set Times:
ESURANCE MUSIC STAGE 9:30 PM - The Mars Volta 7:45 PM - MSTRKRFT 6:15 PM - Method Man & Redman 4:45 PM - The Glitch Mob 3:30 PM - The Dandy Warhols 2:30 PM - Rahzel 1:30 PM - The Features 12:30 PM - Spindrift
ROCK ROOM STAGE (Indoor Stage) 7:40 PM - Savoy 6:20 PM - Tigercity 5:00 PM - Health 3:40 PM - The Love Language 2:20 PM - The Pirate Signal 1:00 PM - Royal Bangs
WOXY.COM STAGE (Indoor Stage) 7:00 PM - Deer Tick 5:40 PM - The Twilight Sad 4:20 PM - Bad Veins 3 :00 PM - Neon Indian 1:40 PM - We Were Promised Jetpacks 12:20 PM - A Shoreline Dream
MADELOUD.COM STAGE 7:15 PM - Rachel Goodrich 5:45 PM - French Horn Rebellion 4:15 PM- Red Wire Black Wire 3:00 PM - Beats Antique 2:00 PM - Anni Rossi 1:00 PM - Jim Mcturnan & The Kids That Killed The Man
