Monthly Archives: March 2010

REPEAT AFTER ME: “The world may end in my life-time, but my energy will go on.”

That was the beginning of the new-age mantra chanted by party-goers at last nights YACHT show at Rock n Roll hotel. YACHT, who consist of a dude (Jona Bechtolt formerly of the Blow) and a badass chick (Claire L. Evans) are much more than just a musical duo, oh no, YACHT are a way of life!

The duo, aside from creating awesomely groovable tunes, seem to ponder the bigger picture, the meaning of life. Many of their lyrics are very liberally themed, challenging conventional beliefs about the afterlife (‘will we go to heaven, or will we go to hell? / it’s my understanding that neither are real’) and death (‘it’s not a place you go / it’s a place that comes to you). Probably not an album you wanna play for your grandma.

The band even sold a $5 booklet called ‘The Secret Teachings of the Mystery Lights’ detailing some of their far-out philosophies (which yes, I bought). (For more about the meaning of ‘Mystery Lights’ see BYT’s recent and very interesting interview and definitely check out YACHT’s mission statement.

Don’t get me wrong though, this was not a sermon! Jona and Claire were also naturally hilarious, interacting with the audience to the perfect extent. A quick Q&A with the audience led to discussions about urban planning, the sleeping habits of cats (aka my new bands name) and the strange noises that come from JTT’s (Jonathon Taylor Thomas… duh.) elf-like face. Some funny cats, those two!

Despite all of that fun dissident ish, it is still the music that was clearly the highlight of the night. Think Talking Heads meets B-52’s with all of the eccentricities included (two of my all time favorite bands…. Claire definitely delivered on the Kate Pierson-esque vocals). YACHT, who are on DFA Records and will soon be touring with LCD Soundsystem, first caught my attention with their tremendously dancey tracks like “I’m in Love with a Ripper” and “Don’t Fight the Darkness”. I can honestly say the only time I stopped gettin my boogie on last night was to down my Amstel.

BOTTOM LINE: YACHT = fucking awesome.

SIDE-NOTE: I also had the pleasure of swinging by the very new and not-yet-open U Street Music Hall last night and was BLOWN AWAY. This spot is gonna be very hot, and the official opening, Wednesday night with Belgium DJ Duo Aeroplane should be out of this world. Get your tix now.

YACHT – I’m In Love With A Ripper (Mp3)
YACHT – Don’t Fight The Darkness (Mp3)

We here at TVD have been chronicling of the ascent of our pal Jess (aka Lightfoot) over the the past number of months, and the narrative takes a giant leap forward this Friday night with the debut of her full band as openers for The Junior League Band at The Rock and Roll Hotel.

We were able to corner her for a sec for a bit of a Q&A leading up to Friday’s show:

We hear you have a big full band debut coming up?
You heard right! I have finally nailed down my official Lightfoot line up. I have a very talented, kind hearted, handsome group of boys playing with me. They have really brought my songs to life, and they keep me smiling.

Ha, was being a handsome a prerequisite for getting into Lightfoot?
No! But it certainly didn’t hurt 😉

So, who are these good looking guys?
The Lightfoot line up is…… (in ABC order so they don’t think I am playing favorites!)

Ian Graham – Bass, hats and well fitting pants (of Deville)
Sean Madden – Auxiliary, beards and sushi
Lex Paulson – Wurlitzer, Vox, scarves and poetry (of Child Ballads)
Erik Sleight – Lead Guitar, dork glasses and an occasional moustache (of Mittenfields)
Drew Thiemann – Drums, funk and wit (of These United States)

You seem to have a lot of blog coverage (from HipsterWifeHunting to ReadySetDC to Brightest Young Things) / Lightfoot websites (vimeo, facebook, tumblr, myspace, twitter, etc.) but I can’t seem to find much music online, are you in the process of recording?
Funny you ask that, recording has been sort of this Everest like task for me. Putting my music to tape is intimidating and although I enjoy the process of recording, it seems so final. My music has been organically developing for a few months now. I have a very particular sound I want for my first EP and now that I have an official band by my side I think the timing is finally right. I didn’t want to rush into recording while my project was still in the birthing stages. I am a completely different musician now then I was, say three months ago. And the same goes for my song writing.

What type of musician were you three months ago versus now?
Ha! I wasn’t one at all! Well, maybe I was. I’ve really only been playing guitar for a few months now. Actually learning how to play has been a total game changer for my song writing process. Look at my hands! They’re super gnarly, I show off my calluses and blisters with pride. It’s also killing my social life though, because ever since I bought my first guitar all I want to do is stay in and practice!

What type of guitar did you buy?
I have a small bodied Larivee. It once belonged to a local musician who I adore (who shall remain nameless for now); I bought it at Atomic. I love it. I take it on dates. I shower with it. I cuddle with it at night.

What else do you play?
Auto-harp, recorder, some piano, ukulele, glockenspiel, tambourine, flute, saxophone, kazoo, lap drum, finger snaps, and hand claps. Oh and harmonica! And bells. And the egg shaker. And spoons!

So you have plans to record then?
Of course! I am putting out an EP this summer, followed by a tour. I am also wrapping up a very simple, basement recording style demo to be released March 19th. Doing it myself just to flush out some songs that have been eating at my heart for a while now. I am only doing 150 pressings and each one is being hand silk screened/crafted by a local artist, so it will double as a limited edition piece of art. I’m pretty excited to see how it turns out!

Where can we buy this demo?
You can buy it in person at my show on March 19th with The Junior League Band at Rock and Roll Hotel. After that they will be sold on-line and at shows until they are all gone!

And just for fun, what’s on your record player right now?
Oh! This amazing classical piece, “Light Over Water” by John Adams. I just started taking ballet lessons (please hold your Lightfoot, Lightfeet jokes) and I would love to do some sort of routine to this album.

If you’re on Facebook, RSVP for Lightfoot’s full band debut right here.

PHOTOS: Joel Didriksen

(…is it me or is this one of the finest giveaways we’ve ever offered? Well, …no – it’s not me.)

In celebration of our 60th Anniversary, and Record Store Day on April 17th, we at Vanguard Records are proud to present an exclusive vinyl re-issue of five seminal Vanguard Titles: Joan Baez ‘Joan Baez’, Mississippi John Hurt ‘Today’, John Fahey ‘The Yellow Princess’, Doc Watson ‘Doc Watson’, and Buddy Guy ‘A Man and the Blues’. Each title will be re-issued with original vinyl artwork.

One reader of The Vinyl District will be awarded a Vanguard Records 60th Anniversary Package of all five of the LPs in our exclusive TVD/Record Store Day Giveaway.

The rules are simple: in the comments section of this post, let us know what Vanguard Records or these individual artists have meant to you over the years. Suitably inspire the kind folks at TVD (who’ll be choosing the winner) and the collection of all five LPs will be yours.

Remember to leave TVD your contact email address and they’ll choose one winner for all five of the LPs on Monday, March 22. The complete set will mail to the winner during the week of Record Store Day.

“At the time of its release, Joan Baez’s debut album was something of a revelation… presenting a brace of traditional songs with an urgency and sincerity that makes the listener feel as though they were being sung for the first time” —All Music

“’Today’ is Mississippi John Hurt’s first and finest studio release since his “rediscovery” on his Avalon farm by folklorist Tom Hoskins in 1963… Hurt himself never could explain his guitar playing, as he used to say, “I just make it sound like I think it out to.” Regardless, that sound along with a mellow and heartfelt voice, wizened here by decades, combine to make ‘Today’ an unforgettable whole. A truly essential album of the folk revival, unrivaled in its beauty and warmth.” —All Music

“If one were looking to own only one album by this unique guitarist, “The Yellow Princess” could be the one. The recording is among the best of his many releases; at the proper volume, the effect is as if one had taken up residency inside the sound hole of a giant acoustic guitar. The program of pieces if marvelously emotional and varied…” —All Music

“Watson’s arrival on the folk scene of the ‘60s was a major event in American music due mostly to his appearance at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival and the release of this self-titled album the following year. Not only did it revolutionize folk guitar picking, but it set the standard for the rest of his career with its mix of old-timey numbers, blues, gospel, and adapted fiddle tunes.”
—All Music

“The guitarist’s first album away from Chess – and to be truthful, it sounds as though it could have been cut at 2120 S. Michigan, with Guy’s deliciously understated guitar work and a tight combo anchored by three saxes and pianist Otis Spann laying down tough grooves on the vicious “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” I Can’t Quit the Blues,” and an exultant cover of Mercy Dee’s “One Room County Shack.” —All Music

Born from bar room conversations among old friends, Chapel Hill, NC-based Aminal is kinetic: buzzing with extra energy resulting from frenzied motion. Gentle verses of love and loss and horsely-growled declarations of frustration and dissolution mashed against an explosive rhythm section.

The three-piece Aminal who play their very first DC show Thursday night, features musicians from popular touring acts like Black Skies, The Comas, the Honored Guests, and Jennyanykind. Aminal released its first two EPs, ‘A Face to Fight’ and ‘A Will To Fight’ (now being reissued as ‘The Fight EPs’) last summer. They’re now putting the finishing touches on their first full length release, ‘Bang All Our Drums.’

In addition to the free tracks for Vinyl District readers, Aminal has other goodies to giveaway. The band is three weeks into a month-long song giveaway to people that join their Reverb Nation or Band Camp fan lists. New songs post every Sunday; sign up on Reverb Nation to download tracks or at Band Camp.

Aminal – A Family Affair (Mp3)
Aminal – A Face to Fight (Mp3)

Despite being beaten to the post by the Washington City Paper with its feature, your humble all-stars proceed undaunted:

Last January when we spent the week with Emily and Susan Hsu from Exit Clov in anticipation of the release of their latest, ‘Memento Mori’ they lamented the fact that it wouldn’t be available on vinyl—but they shook their fists me and said, “Oh yes, we will have vinyl soon, Jon. You’ll see!”

And wouldn’t you know, they’ve done it and as a Record Store Day exclusive. The ‘Cover Boy EP’ 7″ collects the band covering Morrisey, Peter Tosh, The Ramones, and Devo in what can only be called and exercise of excellent taste and execution.

The band plans a string of dates in support of the release in April and specifically a Record Store Day performance in Philly. Pick up the ‘Cover Boy EP’ at Som Records and Crooked Beat Records exclusively on 4/17, Record Store Day.

TRACKLIST:
Side A
1. Sing Your Life [Morrissey] 2. Steppin Razor [Peter Tosh]

Side B
1. The KKK Took My Baby Away [The Ramones] 2. Mongoloid [Devo]

Exit Clov – Sing Your Life [Morrissey Cover] (Mp3)

After a brief hiatus last week, we’re back with our record label spotlight series in anticipation of the day that celebrates the purveyors of their product—Record Store Day—arriving on April 17, 2010 this year.

First up in our series was Seattle’s indie upstarts, Sarathan Records, and we’re delighted to spend this week with the venerable Vanguard Records.

Founded in 1950 in New York City by brothers Maynard and Seymour Soloman, Vanguard Records has long held a reputation for eclectic, distinctive, and groundbreaking recordings, a tradition that holds strong today. The Vanguard Records catalog reads like a chronicle of American popular culture since the 1950s. The blues of Chicago, the folk of Greenwich Village, the earliest electronic experiments, the dance music that inspired a generation of DJs, and the most renowned singer-songwriters of today all trace their roots to Vanguard.

The number of historic and influential Vanguard releases is far too great to be discussed, or even listed, individually, but several landmark projects do demand special mention. In the mid-sixties, “Chicago/the Blues/Today” exposed the fiery urban blues of Chicago’s clubs to a national audience for the first time, introducing prodigious talents such as Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, and influencing a generation of blues players including Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix. Likewise, John Hammond’s landmark “Jazz Showcase Series” spotlighted some of the most gifted practitioners of this quintessentially American genre.

Vanguard artists Joan Baez, Ian & Sylvia, Buffy Saint Marie, and Mimi & Richard Farina spearheaded the folk music revival in the 1960s, with Baez becoming the genre’s first true superstar. Baez, alongside Johnny Cash, Earl Scruggs, Bob Dylan, and many others, gave some of the most famous and lasting performances of the era at the Newport Folk Festival all of which were captured by Vanguard Records (to include Dylan’s infamous “plugging in,” a moment which ushered in a new era of pop music). Finally, dance and proto electronic records from Vanguard artists like,Jean-Jacque Perrey, Twilight 22, Camille Yarborough, and Alisha would later provide the indelible hooks for artists such as the Beastie Boys, Fatboy Slim, and DJ Shadow, helping to usher in the sampling revolution in hip-hop.

In recent years, Vanguard has continued its tradition of developing talented songwriters and performers within the music marketplace. Artists such as Matt Nathanson, Mindy Smith, Greg Laswell, and The Watson Twins, amongst others, have risen to national prominence on the strength of their respective Vanguard debuts. That tradition of artist development, alongside the continued viability of iconic Vanguard artists such as Levon Helm, Merle Haggard, and Robert Cray, form the basis for what Vanguard Records is in 2010.

9:14 EST. Many of you are probably just left yours, but what the hell.

Some newish Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros to commence your week…

Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros – Home [RAC Mix] (Mp3)

Feel that? It’s the shifting sands of the music industry bending and bowing under your feet.

For further evidence that indie is mainstream and transparently so, Pitchfork – Pitchfork! – has not just offered a review of the new Sade LP, ‘Soldier of Love’ but they’ve lauded it with a strong 7.0. Wha?

“…Soldier of Love is unsurprisingly of a piece with the five previous Sade albums. Songwriting-wise, it could have been released at any point in the band’s career. The production only occasionally draws attention to itself—the dub-esque snare crashes on “Babyfather” are a bit of a surprise—and you can forget any gauche stabs at currently hip sonic tricks. The idea of singer Sade Adu robo-warbling through Auto-Tune would be laughable if it weren’t impossible even to conceive. Even the album’s curveball first single, title track “Soldier of Love”, with its strident marching band snare rolls, doesn’t so much deviate from Sade’s core sound as cast it in a new light: What better to emphasize Adu’s sense of control than a rhythm with the stiffly regimented forward momentum of a parade ground drill? And if “Soldier of Love” seems “hard,” it’s only because the surrounding tunes are once again delicate to the point where nuance is all…”

For me, you could even slide Sade right between The Blue Nile and The Bathers seamlessly.

You needn’t take my (or Pitchfork’s) word for it, find out yourself as ‘Soldier of Love’ is our first LP giveaway this week in our Record Store Day 2010 Vinyl Giveaways.

The rules can’t be any simpler for our RSD2010 Vinyl Giveaways. All you need to do to enter to win is to leave a comment in the comments section to that week’s giveaway letting us know why you deserve to win that week’s LP.

Be creative, funny, incisive—whatever it takes to grab our attention to deem you the winner. Most important however is to leave us a contact email address! You can be brilliant as hell, but if we can’t track ya’ down, you’re out of the running.

All winners will all be notified on Monday (3/22) upon the launch of the next RSD2010 Vinyl Giveaway!

Emitt Rhodes – With My Face on the Floor (Mp3)
Major Lazer – Pon de Floor [feat. VYBZ Kartel] (Mp3)
Tegan and Sara – Floorplan (Mp3)
Freelance Whales – Generator ^ Second Floor (Mp3)
Paul Nicholas – Heaven on the 7th Floor (Mp3)

Hm. My jury’s yet to return a verdict…

Echo and The Bunnymen – Proxy (Mp3)

“I’ve had sort of an odd obsession with vinyl since I was a little kid. My dad is a musician and we had some of his singles on 45’s. My sister and I used to play his records all of the time and we thought he was the shit. He had his own record with his name on it and he was our dad. His vinyl collection was insane! And the best part was that he let us listen to everything, and even encouraged it.

We had crates and crates of 45’s…Motown, Doo-wop, Swing, Folk, Rock…everything. When I was alone, I would put blankets all over the floor of our room arrange all of the records, side by side, according to label color. We had so many that I’d back my self into a corner and just stare at all the records, a rainbow vinyl terrazzo before me. One day my mom caught me with all of the records out and she took them away from me. I was heartbroken at the time, but I look back now and I’m glad she did or probably would have ruined all of it and hated myself.

My family has a vacation house in the Poconos, near East Stroudsburg, PA. I go up there to hang out every now and then to relax or write. There’s a great record shop called Main Street Jukebox and they’ve always had an excellent selection. I’ve been going there for years and I’ve found things there that I could never find anywhere else. There was a fire there years back and I was so bummed for them. But they bounced back like nothing happened and, thankfully, they’re still around and doing incredibly well. There’s real cool little music scene there and I think Main Street Jukebox is a big part of that scene, like a little heartbeat keeping it all going.

I wouldn’t say my own collection is respectable in size or quality by most standards. And my turntable isn’t anything magnificent either. But I’ll take any of my records on my garage-sale turntable over the highest quality digital recording any day. There’s just something magical in those 180 grams of crackle and pop.“

April Smith and the Great Picture Show – Movie Loves A Screen (Mp3)
April Smith and the Great Picture Show – Colors (Mp3)

Suitably swooning with an odd obsession with vinyl ala April’s? Spill it in the comments to this post and we’ll award one of you a pair of tickets to see April Smith and the Great Picture Show this Saturday night (3/13) at The Rock and Roll Hotel with Here We Go Magic.

You have til noon on Friday (3/12) to inspire us with your tale. Remember to leave us contact info too! Now, go!

I go on these tears when I hear a new track that I’m totally into – I play it over and over and over and over again as if to brainwash myself so I can walk around singing the thing. Or inhabiting it.

So far I’ve played this Kitten track 16 times. And I first heard it about 3PM yesterday.

Oh – and Kitten’s lead singer, Chloe Chaidez is, uh – 15.

And a star.

Kitten – Don’t Kill The Light (Mp3)

Paul Weller releases his tenth studio solo album “Wake Up The Nation” on April 19th on Island Records and 2 new tracks from the forthcoming album have been remixed. The album’s title track “Wake Up The Nation” has been remixed by Zinc, and single “No Tears To Cry” has had a reworking by Leo Zero.

Lean, mean and as uncompromisingly focused as it’s maker, “Wake Up The Nation” also brings Paul Weller full circle: twenty-eight years on from The Jam’s split, two tracks feature the former bassist Bruce Foxton. The album also sees contributions from My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields, The Move’s Bev Bevan and legendary session drummer Clem Cattini.

Paul Weller – Wake Up The Nation [Zinc Remix] (Mp3)
Paul Weller – No Tears To Cry [Leo Zero Remix] (Mp3)

We’re on the record as saying, “To be clear, we think DC’s Casper Bangs is f’n great” and not one bit of our enthusiasm has waned, thank you. But don’t take our word for it – find out for yourself.

We’ve got a pair of tickets to the see the band this Saturday night (3/13) with Midnight Kids at The Black Cat—and the recent “Whitespace” 7″ for one of you guys to claim in the comments to this post.

From Dischord where you can purchase the 7″: Latest release from former Hard Tomorrows member. This 7″ is a preview of Casper Bangs’ full-length record, I Woke Up. It was written and performed by Rob Pierangeli at his desktop computer in the midst of relational bliss – it’s a document of a good thing that ultimately goes bad. The songs contain strong unaffected vocals balanced with harmony, layers of noisy guitars, and reverb.

This great looking 7″ is on white vinyl, has a single level embossed cover and is a split release between Planaria and North Sea Records.

Limited Edition: 500 copies, hand numbered. Comes with a free 5 song download of the ‘Casper Bangs’ EP.

There you have it – a pair of tickets for Saturday night’s show and the 7″ as a way of arm-twisting you into becoming a Casper Bangs convert. You’re welcome.

Plead your case for both in the comments to this post—with contact info!—and the one that’s suitably convincing will take home the tickets and the vinyl. You have til noon on Friday (3/12) to get as us!

Casper Bangs – Skylark (Mp3)
Casper Bangs – Night Train (Mp3)

I’ve been the happy recipient of a few “Aw, thanks…” emails recently in response to alerting someone that they’ve won a record in our Ten Weeks of Record Store Day Vinyl Giveaways. More to the point, a handful have mentioned that they don’t even own a turntable (yet!) and/or this win will enable them to rekindle the relationship with their own turntables that went unattended for this or that reason.

And to this I say – fantastic.

I often wonder if we’re just preaching to the choir or making new converts along the way and I’m starting to think that when the first taste is free, you’ll be coming around for more.

So, this week while we take a short break from our label showcases (and we have some really cool ones coming up) we’re giving away more vinyl. All week.

First up – Athens, GA’s Twin Tigers’ debut LP, Gray Waves out now on Old Flame Records.

Aquarium Drunkard’s quote alone sold me: “A four piece, the bands live show kills, reminiscent of Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine and Psychocandy era JAMC.”

What’s not to love?

The rules can’t be any simpler for our RSD2010 Vinyl Giveaways. All you need to do to enter to win is to leave a comment in the comments section to that week’s giveaway letting us know why you deserve to win that week’s LP.

Be creative, funny, incisive—whatever it takes to grab our attention to deem you the winner. Most important however is to leave us a contact email address! You can be brilliant as hell, but if we can’t track ya’ down, you’re out of the running.

All winners will all be notified on Monday (3/15) upon the launch of the next RSD2010 Vinyl Giveaway!

Twin Tigers – Passive Idol (Mp3)