Let’s face it. When most people think of Nashville, a scenic picture of stetson wearing cowboys blasting the twangy tunes of Garth Brooks comes to mind, right? Sorry to burst your bubble, but Nashville’s music scene is actually much more than the ultra-country stereotype it’s had since the 1950s. This past weekend SoundLand 2011 Presented by Next Big Nashville showed everyone exactly that.
Luckily for those of you who couldn’t be there to experience it (or even for those of you who did and can’t remember it) I was there to represent The Vinyl District and bring you all the coverage of the massive musical party known as SoundLand 2011 in a three part post for your viewing pleasure.
The Levitt Shell has a rich history here in Memphis. From the legendary performance of Elvis in 1954 to the modern day appearances by the likes of Bela Fleck and Eric Gales, it’s safe to say a few legends have left the stage leaving behind traces of their character. Last night was no different when famed indie act Jenny Owen Youngs graced the stage like a pixie, self-aware that she was in the world of the normal and everyone was setting their eyes on her, waiting for her to do magic. She obliged willingly.
Youngs’ style is a mix of referenced 90’s indie rock and a new sound all her own. With a voice that tends to bloom like a strong flower and guitar work and tones that are as perfectly shaped as they are infectious, her presence is undeniable.
Seems to me there are more so called post punk revivalists running around these days than you can shake a stick at. Few of them, however, seem to contain that magical ingredient that makes them believable, or anything other than sometimes enjoyable pretenders. Birmingham, AL natives, La Resistance, do not fall into this category thankfully.
Their influences are obviously well beyond the usual 1978-1980 focused time frame that most students of the new wave seem to focus on, and their music carries a momentum that will hopefully push them beyond & above the crowd.
Chico, California native Robin Bacior has been taking the NYC Folk Scene by storm since moving to the East Coast. Rest Our Wings, her new album (Consonants & Vowels Recordings) arrives on November 1, 2011. On it, Bacior weaves sensory details into 3/4 time with a softness and heart that brings to mind early Joni Mitchell.
1.Woman Of Heart And Mind: A Life Story
I can’t emphasize enough how awesome Joni Mitchell is, this documentary about her is ridiculously awesome, makes me sob and makes me want to run ten miles, it just pumps extreme emotion right through me. Anytime I’m feeling low, this is a definite go-to.
Midwest Action is a clothing line that was established to inspire and mobilize the region’s musicians and artists, while supporting a lifestyle of expression, creativity, and the energy of the Midwest.
Midwest Action aims to bring together artists and musicians through events paid for by the sale of hand-screened t-shirts. From the sales, tours and shows will be organized to give local musicians an opportunity to perform for new audiences. Based in the Chicago suburbs, they hope to physically reach each and every Midwestern state with events, tours, and shows
So far, the only thing holding Midwest Action back is funding – and that’s where you come in.
I walked into the Ottobar in Baltimore knowing exactly what to expect from a Frank Turner show, for I had seen him about a year before as support for the Lucero and Social Distortion tour. That didn’t stave off my excitement any, though. If nothing else, it kind of intimidated me, because I was walking in off only eight hours sleep in three days, and I wasn’t at all sure I had the energy for it. (Turns out a couple of Jameson on the rocks cured that very nicely.)
Frank’s shows are notoriously high-energy, sweaty, and interactive, and this past Friday night’s show was no exception. With all the clapping, stomping, and dancing, I can’t help but be reminded of my church-going days as a child. To me, Frank’s shows have a revival-esque quality to them, right down to all the screaming, gyrating folks up front. I half expected to see some fainting or speaking in tongues.
Downright humorous, I think, considering neither Frank nor I believe in god (“Glory Hallelujah”).
With something for virtually every musical taste, the Gretna Heritage Festival is really coming into its own. Here’s the breakdown of stages and times for the three-day event on October 7, 8 and 9.
I’ve always tried to use the term “pop music” loosely, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. really takes it all over the map.
Best known for wearing Nascar racing outfits onstage, the band took things to a different place on this tour. First, they came out in matching “Corporations Are People Too” t-shirts in promotion of their new album It’s A Corporate World. This is clearly an ironic twist, as I think everyone who has seen or heard this band would agree that a few young dudes from Detroit with scraggly long hair that play in an eccentric pop band would be the last individuals to be a part of a corporation.
But whatever the band’s actual attitude on corporations is, it is definitely clear they still strongly hold onto their hometown love for Detroit.
It’s our weekly Twitter #MusicMonday recap of the tracks from last week that the folks in the press offices and PR agencies want you to be hearing. We post you decide.
As the ’70s collapsed and the ’80s stuttered into life, the old New York scene had gone international and a new breed of no-wave punks were getting funky and angular: Glenn Branca; DNA; Teenage Jesus & The Jerks; James White & The Blacks / The Contortions; Suicide, et al, and all the acts they would spawn and / or influence.
Unheard by most save for the hip cognoscenti, these artists lived free and dirty, desperately scrambling to get ahead of one another and rise above the malaise in a stinking, rotting Big Apple of the day.
Within the periphery of this periphery, Social Climbers made sounds that were of their environs yet remarkably unique, leaving an indelible stamp on the scene while somehow managing to slither undetected out of all the history books. A downtown New York art band as much as any other, Social Climbers also claimed midwestern roots and actual musicianship that many of their contemporaries lacked, and in trade dismissed and essentially protested the snotty pretensions that drove many others within the scene. Social Climbers are an absolute post-punk blueprint: fat bass (often two), guitar, drum machine (dubbed “the monkey”), feverish vocals, and organ.
If you even remotely follow The Idelic Hour, you would know I do my fair share of “seasonal” playlists. This week’s Idelic “Summer’s Gone” playlist marks the 4th time since June I’ve saluted the weather. How could I resist? After spending a few days on the east coast I found myself day dreaming of late Summer days gone by.
There is something about the sunsets, even the smell of the flowers and plants, that makes me feel… well, “emotional” for lack of a better word.
Without question the one band the comes to mind for an end of Summer playlist is The Doors. Let’s face it—these dudes from the beach came out after sunbathers were long gone. Morrison’s classic “Summer’s Almost Gone” was not only the muse for this playlist but my muse for all September listening since I bought a cassette of “Live at the Matrix” from a bootlegger in the Tower Records parking lot in the summer of 1979.
What ever happened those parking lot transactions? I believe it was now famous pop songwriter John Shanks, who turned me onto this bootlegger. We were just kids both starting our rock n roll journeys.
So, I guess the Summer of 2011 and 70’s bootleggers have had their day. This playlist is dedicated to them and it’s a taste of a few of some of my favorite new albums of Summer 2011 and some gems from days of old. Here’s to new friends, days of Summer, and old bootleggers
The Idelic Hit of the Week: Cashier No. 9 – Lost At Sea
I’ve read Touching From a Distance, I’ve watched Control, I’ve dated people who idolize Ian Curtis, and I have an appreciation for his musical contributions. I hope that if you are someone that loves Curtis unconditionally, you’ll excuse me, because I don’t. That aside, I think flailing around in his memory for a buck is sad, desperate, pathetic even. Joy Division fans aren’t shallow; they are devout, they love the music above all else.
The fact that Peter Hook co-founded Joy Division before Ian Curtis was ever thought of is irrelevant, Curtis made Joy Division what it was. His stage presence shaped their reputation, and his distant vocals defined their sound. He is the legacy and the reason they didn’t continue as Joy Division, but created something new in New Order. This is something Peter Hook should have considered before going on tour with his Joy Division cover band, The Light.
This Sunday (9/25), we in DC have the pleasure of being able to see The Rapture at U Street Music Hall, but for those of you who might not be dancing through the night with us, you can still live vicariously by winning this autographed poster!
The poster is signed by bandmates Luke Jenner, Vito Roccoforte, and Gabriel Andruzzi, whose current hit “How Deep Is Your Love?” is the first single from their new double LP In the Grace of Your Love via DFA Records, just released earlier this month.
I was lucky enough to catch an early screening of an excellent new documentary called The Other F Word last night as part of the Woodstock Film Festival. Based mostly around Pennywise singer, Jim Lindberg, it also includes appearances by Tony Adolescent, Art Alexakis, Joe Escalante, Josh Freese, Fat Mike, Flea, Lars Frederiksen, Jack Grisham, Brett Gurewitz, Tony Hawk, Tim McIlrath, Mark Mothersbaugh, Duane Peters, Ron Reyes, and a few others.
It attempts (and succeeds wildly) in describing the challenges in starting out an anti-authoritarian punk rock musician, and turning into a middle aged parent, and still playing punk rock. In turns it’s touching, thought provoking, inspirational, and very funny. I wholeheartedly suggest looking for a screening near you, and keeping an eye out for it when it’s released on DVD. This will be up there with Dogtown & Z-Boys when it comes to great films originating from the California counter-cultural scene.
