Monthly Archives: October 2011

TVD Vinyl Giveaway: The Beach Boys’ SMiLE

By Morgan Swank | Published: October 31, 2011

No, you haven’t drifted off into a deep sleep with a “tropical drink melting in your hand,” this is the real deal. The Vinyl District is giving away the much anticipated SMiLE 2LP album from none other than the kings of ’60s beach pop, The Beach Boys.

“Wouldn’t It Be Nice” to win this fantastic prize? Ok, I’m done with the lyric puns…

Described by Rolling Stone as “The most famous unfinished album in rock & roll history,” SMiLE is a compiled collection of The Beach Boys’ legendary 1966-1967 sessions for the never-completed album. With complete participation from the original Beach Boys’ members Al Jardine, Mike Love, and Brian Wilson, Capitol/EMI has decided to release the unfinished product to the public for the first time, and the album is out tomorrow. Exciting, right?

Posted in The TVD Storefront | 33 Comments

TVD Live: Medeski, Martin and Wood with Antibalas at the 9:30 Club, 10/27

By Kelly Kettering | Published: October 31, 2011

Going to a concert can often seem like an event to dress up for, or be seen at, but sometimes the right show can just be that simple excuse you need to nod your head, shake your hips, and hear musicians play instruments live, loud and fast.

Jam bands are the perfect answer to this kind of equation, as there are often many instruments and beats to get you groovin’. Antibalas is one such band, boasting twelve members and all of the horns, drums, bass, guitar and funkiness you can handle. After they properly fired up the crowd, Medeski, Martin and Wood took the stage at the 9:30 Club.

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

Happy Halloween
from TVD NYC and
The Electric Mess!

By Mike Newman | Published: October 31, 2011

Dig this killer video for NYC’s own vintage rockers, The Electric Mess‘ new Halloween classic “You’ve Become a Witch”…of course done in the most camp horror movie fashion.

And now that you’ve fallen in love with that super-addictive ditty, grab “You’ve Become a Witch” on vinyl right here!

Happy Halloween, Scary Music Heads!

Posted in TVD New York City | Leave a comment

TVD Live: M83 at the Black Cat, 10/28

By Elias Leight | Published: October 31, 2011

M83 played the Black Cat Friday in a blaze of flashing lights.

The band was alternately silhouetted and shadowed, highlighted and obscured. Sometimes powerful riffs appeared punctuated by a bright green laser-like beam that shot out over the crowd. It was one of the more involved stage set-ups I’ve seen at the Black Cat. While M83’s image was obscured their sound was not; from their hazy platform, they rained down shimmering guitars, ascending synth lines, and funky bass riffs.

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

Happy Halloween: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

By Laurence | Published: October 31, 2011

We couldn’t let All Hallow’s Eve pass by without a mention, so we have been trying to think of the best Halloween music of all time. This particular genre encompasses schlock horror songs, comedy, scary sound effects and film scores to horror movies and psychological thrillers. Even Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” appears on many lists of Halloween favourites.

We are going to nominate a track originally recorded in 1956, although the version here is from a ’60s UK TV appearance. The late, great Screamin’ Jay Hawkins seemed to capture all the elements required for this often silly strain of music, and most importantly, the song and performance are artistically relevant on any day of the year. Enjoy!

Posted in TVD UK | Leave a comment

TVD Recommends:
The Front Bottoms at
the Beat Kitchen, 11/9

By Pat David | Published: October 31, 2011

If you have any love for the early punk style, garage band, mix tape, one mic recordings like I do, then you better take two minutes to discover The Front Bottoms. This New Jersey duo has the roots and sound of ’90s pop-punk with no need for the driving electric guitar of that era. They instead, swap it out for just simple drums and an acoustic guitar.

Gaining a national fan base, and attempting to spread out from their New Jersey following, The Front Bottoms’ music is beginning to find its way into everything. They are currently being heard in more than 30 radio ads everywhere from Philadelphia to Chicago. As the music spreads, so does, as this TVD writer will call it, the Front Bottoms feeling.

Posted in TVD Chicago | Leave a comment

TVD Live: Kvelertak, Skeletonwitch, All Dinosaurs, Zoroaster, Mobile Deathcamp at Peabody’s, 10/25

By Amber Patrick | Published: October 31, 2011

I’m not the kind of girl you’d see at a metal show. I’m just not. That isn’t the kind of music I’ve delved into, the unpredictability of the bands and their performances freak me out, and mosh pits aren’t for me (I just bought this camera, for goodness sake!). Alongside fellow TVD-Cleveland writers, Drew Sabo and Jane Larson, on Tuesday, October 25th, I encountered my first metal show at Peabody’s in Cleveland.

Kvelertak‘s primary musical influences are rock n’ roll, black metal, and punk rock. Their sound is—for obvious reasons—quite distinct. I have to think a lot of Mastadon fans could get into this groove-oriented, Norwegian punk metal. All of their lyrics are in- you guessed it—Norwegian. Really not that important, but I guess it might be to some. Erlend Hjelvik’s vocals aren’t really compelling enough to make you wish you knew what he was saying most of the time.

Don’t get me wrong, they played well, and with the exception of several technical issues sounded much like their record. This stuff just all kinda started sounding the same to me after a while. Maybe it was the third guitar mucking it up? (Dude just wailed on an electric with his bare hand?) I don’t really think so though. Overall their sound is good, their set was rockin’, and if you’d like some crusty metal to party to this would probably be a good choice. Thanks for making the trip overseas, fellas.

Posted in TVD Cleveland | Leave a comment

TVD Live: The Bright Light Social Hour at 12th & Porter, 10/26

By Marc Chirico | Published: October 31, 2011

Bringing simmering Texas rock n’ roll to Nashville’s 12th & Porter last Wednesday, The Bright Light Social Hour emphatically performed a set that was as surprising as it was fun. Surprising because of the seamless melding of eclectic sounds by four Central-Texas white dudes, and fun because these guys completely own the stage while they do it.

Unsurprisingly, they’re progressively gaining more and more attention in their hometown of Austin, but the enthusiasm in their music is strong enough to draw crowds from across the nation. Currently on a tour spanning across the states, TBLSH are branding every listener with their infectiously heated sound.

Honestly, I hadn’t heard of the band prior to the show, but after seeing them perform I can’t take their album off repeat. Each song is seasoned with blues and soul influences that represent a similar authenticity as Stevie Ray Vaughn’s blues catalogue. But that’s just the foundation; whether subtle or in-your-face, the band combines tons of ideas from dance and hard rock. Their performance of “Detroit,” a lusty jam about a one-night stand, was stadium worthy. The energy of their music is transcendent live, with the amplitude of every note accentuated by the enthralling musicianship of its performers. By the time the song reached its final epic stretch, every head in the audience was banging.

Posted in TVD Nashville | Leave a comment

TVD’s Press Play

By Jon Meyers | Published: October 31, 2011

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.

Yukon Blonde – Fire
Vanaprasta – Nine Equals Nine
Standing Shadows – Just A Part Of Me
Felicity Groom – Finders Keepers
Nihiti – Pinko Morning
APTEKA – Striking Violet
Lyonnais – Dusted at Mount Sinai
The Spits – My Life Sucks
Nada Surf – The Meaning Of It All
Arundel – Living With Dinosaurs

TVD SINGLE OF THE WEEK:
Thee Cormans – Open The Gates

Baby Baby – London Bridges
Benny Bennassi – Fear of Dawn (Dubstep Injection)
Br’er – You Go, We’ll Stay Here
Baron von Luxxury – The Last Seduction
CAMERAS – I Know
They Might Be Giants – Can’t Keep Johnny Down (Midnight Sun Remix)
Crystal Stilts – Dark Eyes
Dempsey – Late Night
fiN – It Changes Everything
DOSVEC – Beast Break (B.O.B. vs Zeds Dead)

27 more FREE TRACKS after the jump!

Posted in The TVD Storefront | Leave a comment

TVD’s The Idelic Hour with Jon Sidel

By Jon Sidel | Published: October 28, 2011

Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

Halloween is my favorite holiday, bar none. (So boo!) Let’s have fun—and fun means rock n roll and this year’s annual Idelic Hour Halloween playlist!

I’ve always loved artists who’ve embraced the Halloween spirt 24/7. Whether it’s Screamin Jay, Lord Sutch, King Diamond, Manson, Alice, Siouxsie, or Danzig, they’ve all given us great comfort in an odd but real way. I was at a gig last weekend and happened to see that Danzig and Doyle will performing Misfits songs. Holy shit—what a dark, hard, evil, and amazing plan for Halloween!

My best wishes go out to all those brave enough to take the stage Monday and rock out in costume. I’m happy and proud to say it is something that I’ve done, painting myself silver almost head to toe for a wild bash in Williamsburg 20 years ago. (It seemed cool at the time? Certainly pre-Chili Peppers video, I may add.) My girlfriend at the time went as a nurse. Wow, what a wild time!

Enough reminiscing—it’s about this year’s plan. I hear it will jumping in Nashville at Mercy Lounge’s Werewolf Bar Mitzvah, LA rocks techo-style for Hardfest, and ol’ Williamsburg will be psychedelic, Halloween style, by The Black Angels. I for one have my costume ready. Who else but Danzig’s greatest influence, Wolverine!

Send us photos of your Halloween party!

The Idelic Hit of the Week: Death Grips – Lord of the Game (ft. Mexican Girl)

Posted in The TVD Storefront | Leave a comment

The Warm Up with
Kids These Days

By Rachel Hurley | Published: October 28, 2011

We were really excited to welcome young up-and-comers Kids These Days to Ardent Studios this afternoon. The 7 piece band met while still in high school and have been making music together now for close to two years.

KTP, as they call themselves, blend soul, funk and hip hop to make smooth melodies that make you want to sway along to the rhythms – but they’re keeping their options open when it comes to defining the genre of music they play. Influenced by everything from jazz to indie rock like The Pixies, they are definitely ardently trying to defy definition and make their own way through the mass musical landscape.

Take a listen to our podcast to hear some laid back versions of their songs – and then go see them at Minglewood Hall tonight to hear the uptempo versions!

Posted in TVD Memphis | Leave a comment

9 Tunes That Will Scare You Shitless

By Dulani Wallace | Published: October 28, 2011

You’re alone in the dark, and the only voices of reason you have are your thoughts. Don’t be fooled; darkness is not a place of solitude. Sounds that are ordinarily mundane, like a dripping faucet or a creaky wood floor, become amplified, grabbing your undivided attention. If you’re devoid of light for too long, these sounds might completely betray you.

Welcome to the sadistic and moribund world of Halloween. Below we’ve compiled a list of song with lyrics and situations that will make you look behind your back and perhaps leave you scared shitless.

Megadeth – Go to Hell

Don’t fear the reaper? That’s nonsense when your soul is wagered on a game of eternal blackjack. The Charon, the ghastly oarsman that shepherds souls, bears little comparison to the fateful entity that has dominion over the realm of fire and brimstone. Uncorrupted minds everywhere: if you hear Dave Mustaine’s verses, rebuke them immediately. Or damnation will be upon you.

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | Leave a comment

Denver Halloween Weekend Breakdown

By Emily Bress | Published: October 28, 2011

Here are a few of the shows worth going to in Ballerado this weekend in order to show off that witty costume you’ve been working on since last year. Happy Halloween!

Posted in TVD Denver | Leave a comment

TVD Live: Nilbog at Cinefamily, 10/26

By Ryan Orvis | Published: October 28, 2011

Cinefamily has been celebrating both Halloween and their four-year anniversary with a month-long festival of horror movies and events at their home base, the Silent Movie Theater on Fairfax. Last Wednesday featured a rare musical performance by horror movie soundtrack cover band Nilbog.

In a city clogged with hopeful young bands vying for the spotlight, Nilbog has found a unique niche to pursue. Their mutual love for horror films of the 70s and 80s is apparent in the meticulous attention to detail these musicians display when performing the works of Goblin, Ennio Morricone, John Carpenter, and Giorgio Moroder.

Posted in TVD Los Angeles | Leave a comment

TVD TV: GWAR at the
9:30 Club, 10/20

By Kelly Kettering | Published: October 28, 2011

Ah, GWAR. You would think after twenty-seven years, the over-the-top alien costumes, the blood spurting and the faux-celebrity intestine pulling would get old: but it doesn’t. It just gets more awesome and extreme with each passing tour.

Before their show at the 9:30 Club last week, I caught up with lead singer Oderus Urungus. While he relaxed on the commode, we discussed the origins of GWAR, the season finale of Breaking Bad, his fourteen appearances on FOX News, and how badly the Redskins are messing up their football season this year.