I will be doing a series of events next week to promote my new book “I Got the Fish in the Head.” Sunday morning, I will be appearing on the SundayEdition with DennisWoltering at 10:30 AM. This television show appears on WWL– Channel 3, the local CBS affiliate.
Monday I will be at the Maple Leaf Bar from 6-8 PM doing a signing.
Wednesday is the big day. I have a signing at the Louisiana Music Factory at 3 PM and then I am hosting a party/signing at the Maple Street Book Shop from 6- 8 PM. This event will feature live music from Chris Mule of the Honey Island Swamp Band, PhilDeGruy and others. There will also be beer and food.
We’ve got an opportunity for you to win free tickets and the brand new “Love Notes/Letter Bombs” autographed on vinyl in every TVD city where the tour stops!
“As I write, lines from our work-in-progress third album drift into the house through the open windows. John is messing around with some new software in the studio/garage, and something I sang the other day about lying and surprising each other is playing over and over.
We’ve been working on the album in bits and pieces through the Fall and now the Winter. I’m filling notebooks with lyrics, but haven’t yet fit most of them to particular songs. John’s been creating instrumental tracks, beats, anything he finds interesting and new for us, and we’ve sung melodies in “la’s” over them. It sounds really exciting. (I suppose saying it sounds ‘exciting,’ is sort of like a menu which describes a sauce as ‘delicious,’ with no other distinguishing characteristics…but, you know what I mean.)”
And it is exciting now that the record’s been realized, released, and sitting on your local store shelves. “Love Notes/Letter Bombs” is as disarmingly wonderful as The Subs themselves and we’re delighted to be hitting the highway with Blake and John and crew to hit that point home.
The Submarines | Fire
TVD will be trailing The Submarines all across the US and Canada over the coming months and where’s there a TVD city among their tour stops, you’ll have an opportunity to win a pair of tickets for that city’s show as well as an autographed copy of the new release.
Entering is easy: simply plead your case in the comments to the post that’s relative to your city as to why you should win the The Sub’s tickets and vinyl, and the most convincing and arm-twisty of the bunch will be awarded the prizes. Courtesy of The Submarines. And us.
TVD ATX – it’s your turn! The Submarines play The Parish on Monday, May 2nd. Get at us in the comments and we’ll choose a winner at 9AM on Monday for that night’s show! Now… go!
The L Magazine’s Northside Festivalwill be ushering in the summer across more then 25 Brooklyn music venues June 16-19. Guided by Voices, Beirut, Wavves, Deer Tick, Twin Sister, Iceage, Allo Darlin’, Ava Luna, Cult of Youth, and Javelin are among the first bands that have already been announced and you can grab festival badges and tickets here.
There’s also a film component to the festival, which includes an in-competition DIY Film Festival, as well as a non-competitive screening series. Festival judges include Rosie Perez, Ted Hope and Todd P. The non-competition screening series is curated by IFC, Rooftop Films, Film at Lincoln Center, Animation Block Party, and many more to be announced.
We’re heading up to New Jersey this weekend for the very first Power Pop-A-Licious Music Festival and we’re chatting up a few of the bands whose songs’ll be stuck in our heads for the next month or so!
The Dirty Shames are from New York City and formed in late 2008. We started the band with a vision that tied together the raw sounds of late 70’s punk rock n’ roll and primal 60’s garage rock. Since then we have had the honor to play with some legendary bands that were very influential to our sound such as The Zeros, The Waldos (featuring Walter Lure) The Victims, Pure Hell, and Paul Collins Beat.
At the end of 2009 we signed up with RankOutsider Records(which is Pat Todd from Lazy Cowgirls and The RankOutsiders record label out of California) to release our debut CD. Being a Lazy Cowgirls fan growing up, it is exciting to have a CD on RankOutsider Records, which is a great label with a lot of fantastic bands from across the country.
The Dirty Shames consist of Lisa Lush on vocals, Matt Marando on bass, Seanzi on drums, and me, Nathan LaChance on guitar. We are currently working on the release of our second album titled 10 On 10 which is going to be released on vinyl this time and was recorded by Richard Reilly of 70’s punk legends The Victims. We are planning to release the recording on 10 inch and it consists of 10 songs (which explains the title.) If you are in the New York area we are going to be live on the air this Wednesday the 27th at 9:30PM on B-Sides Radio Show 91.5FM. If you are not in the area you can still tune in right here where you can download it on podcast or just listen anytime after the show airs.
The Dirty Shames | Your Turn to Cry
Listen in and you can get a sneak peak at some of the songs off the upcoming album and we will also be talking about the Power Pop-A-Licious fest coming up this weekend. Also using that link above you can download or listen to a live set and interview we did on same show about year and a half ago. We also going to be at Don Pedros with Born Loose featuring Larry May of The Candy Snatchers May 6th, Bowery Electric (NYC) May 27th with The Booze and The Biters out of Atlanta, and in Cambridge Ma. June 17th at the Middle East Cafe with Muck And The Mires And Paul Collins Beat.
TVD Austin contributor Mike Harrell wanted to share a few words about the passing of Poly Styrene on Monday:
X-Ray Spex lead singer Marian Joan Elliott-Said AKA Poly Styrene passed away from complications due to breast cancer Monday April 25th.
The band formed in England in 1976 and is one of the more influential punk bands of the era. Although they only released one album, Germ Free Adolescents, they left a mark on the punk rock world that few could deny.
Arguably their finest moment was the single “Oh Bondage Up Yours!” which was not included on the original album (it was placed on the CD re-release in 2005). Musicians of all types, such as Billy Bragg, Kathleen Hanna, The Beastie Boys, and Boy George have all been influenced by her and all have paid tribute.
If you are not familiar with her fine work as a vocalist then go out and pick up a copy of this album. It may be more difficult to find on LP but it’s worth the hunt. Rest in peace Poly and thank you for changing the face of music forever.
In each city Mike plays where there’s an affiliated TVD, we’ve got an opportunity for one of you to win the aforementioned “hyphenated-man” on vinyl in exchange for your comment to the contest posting. Let us know why you deserve to win Watt’s latest vinyl opera and the most convincing of the bunch will find the LP in his or her mailbox.
For the very last in our ten opportunities to win the new LP, Mike Watt + The Missingmen play at The Triple Door tonight, 4/27! You have one week from today to be sufficiently convincing in the comments to be awarded the record. Comments from a previous hyphenated-man giveaway will still be considered for future ones. Winners must have a mailing address in the continental US or Canada.
Mark Fagan of TVD Austin spoke with Mike in advance of the tour:
Mike Watt’s rock & roll résumé is as impressive as they come. His legendary career began with the Minutemen in 1980 alongside guitarist D Boon and drummer George Hurley which ran until the tragic car accident in December 1985 that took D Boon’s life. He then started fIREHOSE with Hurley and Ed Crawford which existed from 1986 to 1994, and has played bass for the legendary Stooges fronted by Iggy Pop for the last eight years. And those are just a few highlights from his storied career.
He’s back in support of his newest solo album and third opera, hyphenated-man, which features Watt on lead vocals and, of course, holding down the low end on electric bass with his signature flowing style that has inspired and influenced fellow bassists for decades. Interestingly, he actually composed hyphenated-man on D Boon’s Telecaster instead of the bass as per his usual practice.
Due to the growing backlog of projects, Watt decided to start his own label—clenchedwrench—and hyphenated-man has the honor of being the first release from this new imprint. The Vinyl District had a chance to chat with Mike before he hit the road.
A BUNCH OF LITTLE THINGS MAKE ONE
TVD: I read that hyphenated-man is inspired by the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch. Can you go into further detail on this? Watt: … [The documentary film on the Minutemen] We Jam Econo, have you heard of this?
TVD: Oh, certainly. Watt: Ok, [hyphenated-man] was being made about the same time these cats Keith [Scheiron] and Tim [Irwin] asked me to help them. So I hadn’t listened to Minutemen in a long time because of sadness – with D Boon – but I had to hear it, ya know, for this thing. They wanted me to do a spiel and drive ’em around town. But hearing it was it was like, “Wow, I kinda like this little thing.” [Watt laughs] Ya know, no filler. I wanna work again with this kind of thing. I mean we got the idea from the English band called Wire, Pink Flag. But I still like the way ya know George [Hurley], Boon, and myself went and did this. I wanted to do it again. It struck a chord in me, a resonance in me. Mr. Bosch used all these little things to make one big thing.
Minutemen kinda did that with a record or a gig ya know, a bunch of little things make one. That’s where I kinda found a little parallel. So, in a way I went back to my old days, but then in the opera form. … I was also thinking of this other angle, as far as the middle-aged thing goes. Dorothy and The Wizard of Oz. I don’t know the intention of the writer, it was a man, L. Frank Baum. I don’t know his intentions. But my take is like, you notice that that tin man and scarecrow and lion, they’re the farm hands.
This Friday, April 29thAcorn Project, Dub Lounge International and The Fabulous Party Boys will be playing at Nectar Lounge. You know what that means…it’s time to get funky.
Coming from Bellingham,Acorn Project will be bringing some funk/jam tunes to Fremont, the perfect music to unwind to on a Friday night. This show will be kicking off Acorn Project’s West Coast tour and they have some killer acts joining them. Dub Lounge International recently released their new album, Dub Lounge One, and are returning from a West Coast tour of their own. The Fabulous Party Boys will top the night off with some jazz-funk fusion. Don’t miss it!
Get tickets in advance for $7 or $10 at the door, music starts at 9pm.
Local heroes—no joke, I see them around all the time—U.S. Royalty embark on a trek across the States this week with a stop Sunday at the SweetLife Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion along with The Strokes, Cold War Kids, Girl Talk, Lupe Fiasco, Crystal Castles, and Ra Ra Riot.
This morning however, we’re going crate digging with the boys.
“…vinyl began with Jeff Beck’s “Blow by Blow.” I loved the cover. It looked like the first record I needed to buy and own. While a little free form, the track “Cause We Ended As Lovers” really hit me hard. Such a somber track but so captivating. As a whole, the album struck a resounding chord with me.
U.S. Royalty | Equestrian
At the same time I was listening to that, a friend lent me the Buckingham/Nicks album. To this day it is still only available on vinyl. They have never reissued it. It’s such a beautiful album. It’s Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks’ first album, and it’s right before they were asked to join Fleetwood Mac. My favorite song on there is ‘Crying in the Night.'” —John Thornley
“I remember digging through my mom’s vinyl collection at an early age and pulling out LP’s by The Beach Boys, Beatles, and a lot of Berry Gordy’s Motown catalog. The two I remember most vividly were The Beach Boys’ All Summer Long and Rubber Soul by The Beatles.
I remember the light-hearted feel of the Beach Boys songs and dancing around the living room to songs like “I Get Around,” “All Summer Long,” and “Don’t Back Down.” I think because of all the layered harmonies on the album you could just about sing along to any of them.
U.S. Royalty | Montecarlo
I remember jumping on couches, bouncing off walls, and feeling wild and free while listening to Rubber Soul. The album had a completely different sound than the rest of the albums in her collection. Not really understanding the lyrical content at that age, it was more about feeling good than the actual music itself. —Jacob Michael
When the CM&WA album, Is a Beast, came to me for review, I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first glance. The artwork is compelling and thoughtful, all while keeping a minimalist approach to its delivery. What I would come to realize, after listening to the art on the inside, is that this message of a visual nature was a blatant reflection of the audio sound-scape embedded on the disc.
“Houdini” starts off the album with a very ambient and suspenseful build that drew me in and had me hooked from the first pounding of the toms. This gradual, purposeful crescendo helps give the vocal more weight and makes the explosion of sound (that comes later on) have even more impact. A stellar opening track, I had to listen to this one twice before moving on to the rest of the album.
As “Houdini” fades away, “I Don’t Believe In Magic (But All My Friends Just Disappeared)” comes in with a fantastic vocal and a strolling acoustic rhythm. The background vocals are rich and fun, and when the band comes in, the vibe reminds me of sunshine in a park somewhere. The horn solo (and subsequent breakdown) is a tasteful twist on the previous upbeat vibe.
“Dead Rose” follows up with a dirty bass line that is surrounded by guitar textures that dance with counter point. I constantly find my ear pulled towards various sounds and directions throughout the whole first section of the song. A well assembled thought, “Dead Rose” shows a depth of songwriting that is missing from most modern records.
TVD Austin contributor Mike Harrell wanted to share a few words about the passing of Poly Styrene on Monday:
X-Ray Spex lead singer Marian Joan Elliott-Said AKA Poly Styrene, passed away from complications due to breast cancer Monday, April 25th.
The band formed in England in 1976 and is one of the more influential punk bands of the era. Although they only released one album, Germ Free Adolescents, they left a mark on the punk rock world that few could deny.
Arguably their finest moment was the single “Oh Bondage Up Yours!” which was not included on the original album (it was placed on the CD re-release in 2005). Musicians of all types, such as Billy Bragg, Kathleen Hanna, The Beastie Boys, and Boy George have all been influenced by her and all have paid tribute.
If you are not familiar with her fine work as a vocalist then go out and pick up a copy of this album. It may be more difficult to find on LP but it’s worth the hunt. Rest in peace Poly and thank you for changing the face of music forever.
Here’s a list of what’s new at End of an Ear this week. This is not an all-inclusive look at this week’s new releases but simply a rundown of some cool stuff in stock at a local indie record store here in the ATX. Of special note is the Urgh! a Music War DVD. A seminal punk/post-punk doc I highly recommend.
We’ve got an opportunity for you to win free tickets and the brand new “Love Notes/Letter Bombs” autographed on vinyl in every TVD city where the tour stops!
“As I write, lines from our work-in-progress third album drift into the house through the open windows. John is messing around with some new software in the studio/garage, and something I sang the other day about lying and surprising each other is playing over and over.
We’ve been working on the album in bits and pieces through the Fall and now the Winter. I’m filling notebooks with lyrics, but haven’t yet fit most of them to particular songs. John’s been creating instrumental tracks, beats, anything he finds interesting and new for us, and we’ve sung melodies in “la’s” over them. It sounds really exciting. (I suppose saying it sounds ‘exciting,’ is sort of like a menu which describes a sauce as ‘delicious,’ with no other distinguishing characteristics…but, you know what I mean.)”
And it is exciting now that the record’s been realized, released, and sitting on your local store shelves. “Love Notes/Letter Bombs” is as disarmingly wonderful as The Subs themselves and we’re delighted to be hitting the highway with Blake and John and crew to hit that point home.
The Submarines | Fire
TVD will be trailing The Submarines all across the US and Canada over the coming months and where’s there a TVD city among their tour stops, you’ll have an opportunity to win a pair of tickets for that city’s show as well as an autographed copy of the new release.
Entering is easy: simply plead your case in the comments to the post that’s relative to your city as to why you should win the The Sub’s tickets and vinyl, and the most convincing and arm-twisty of the bunch will be awarded the prizes. Courtesy of The Submarines. And us.
TVD Chapel Hill – it’s your turn! The Submarines play Local 506 on Friday, April 29th. Get at us in the comments and we’ll choose a winner on at 9AM on Friday for that night’s show! Now… go!
In case you missed it over night, the full line-up of this years fest was revealed at midnight. Over 130 performers will be taking the stage over the course of the festival’s three days, and over the next few months, we’ll be walking you through them. Today we give you Part 1: Chicago Bands.
Black Cards
This is the new electro-pop project from Pete Wentz of the suburban Chicago formed pop band Fall Out Boy.
Disappears
Heavy on the the fuzz and reverb, their latest album Guider is psych tinged garage at its finest. This is one of the acts were looking forward to most at Lolla.
Gold Motel
Featuring singer-songwriter Greta Morgan, of The Hush Sound, they’ve been building quite a following, playing to packed houses in town and on the road.
Kids These Days
A “Chicago-based band that draws on hip-hop, jazz and classic soul to create groove-oriented songs featuring bluesy vocals, instrumental improvisation and rap vocals.”
Maps & Atlases
Catchy folk inspired indie-pop, their debut full-length, Perch Patchwork was released last year to rave reviews.
Young Man
Colin Caulfield was discovered on YouTube by Deerhunter front-man Brandon Cox, leading to widespread attention to his folkish originals and incredible covers.
There’s never a beginning, middle, or end to a Femi Kuti show. When he marches on stage with his dancers and his band The Positive Force, be prepared because the show could go on for what seems hours. Case in point, this past Saturday at 9:30 Club: Kuti brought on full force but sometimes laid it on too thick.
Femi’s show was packed, wall to wall, with people from all backgrounds. Since the tradition of Afrobeat music is a hodgepodge of merengue, highlife, funk, and call and response, there’s—thankfully—no true way to pinpoint his devotees.
The show began really strong. A battalion of West African men in traditional garb paraded out on stage brandishing their brass instruments. Enter the dancers, three early Nigerian women showing off their Mapouka-derived gyrations. Then keyboardist and bass guitarist followed, adding an extra layer of musical arrangement; this harmony was just as infectious as Fela’s once-reputed “underground spiritual game.” By the time Femi came out, it was like church; fans in all tiers of the 9:30 shook their groove-thangs.
