It’s been a busy week in Nashville with a ton of announcements about what’s in store for us this spring.
First off, Happy Dre Day! It’s Dr. Dre’s birthday today and even if you aren’t a fan you must respect how the influence of this man has changed the face of popular culture forever. Head over to The Groove in East Nashville tonight from 6-9 to celebrate Dre Day with friends, forties and fun (i.e. giveaways!).
Vanderbilt’s Rites of Spring announced their lineup yesterday. This year they’ve nabbed The National, Matt & Kim, Sara Bareilles, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and, in the spirit of always outdoing themselves on the hip hop/rap tip, Vandy has Kid Cudi & Public Enemy on bill. If that’s not badass I don’t know what is. Tickets will go on sale Thursday, February 24th, 2011 at 10 am CST at all Ticketmaster locations. Prices start at $45 for a single day pass (and don’t forget to save up a little extra to give to the demons at ticketmaster)
Tomorrow, February 19th, Grimey’s is hosting an in-store with Over The Rhine (a day before their performance at 3rd & Lindsley) to celebrate their new album, The Long Surrender. The in-store starts at 5pm but you might want to get their early because the Girl Scouts will be at the shop from 3-6pm selling cookies!!!
The first round of Mercy Lounge & BMI’s Road to Bonnaroo has been announced. Road to Bonnaroo is a battle of the bands type competition that will send one Nashville band to Bonnaroo to perform for the masses. It’s going to be on Monday, February 28th and will feature (in no particular order) Evan P. Donohue, Courtney Jaye, Chancellor Warhol, Majestico, Heartbeater, Kink Ador, The Kicks & Tyler Byant. Click the link above for audio and video for each of the bands in round one and make sure you get to Mercy Lounge early on 28th to ensure your eligibility to vote for who you think should be headed to Manchester in June.
Lastly, in Record Store Day 2011 news, the amazing Numero Group has announce their contribution to the festivities. They will be releasing a collection called Local Customs: Pressed at Boddie. Last year Numero acquired Boddie Record Company and they have been combing the archives of Cleveland gospel, soul, funk, boogie, rock, garage, folk, and all manner of abandoned master tapes to bring you the best of their bounty. They will be pressing 1000 copies of the album on vinyl & CD and 300 on cassette to be released on Record Store Day, April 16th, 2011. In addition to this Numero Group will also be setting up a “flash” record shop on Milwaukee Ave in Chicago with some extremely limited goodies for you. Check out the details at Numero Group’s website.
Happy Friday Vinyl Lovers! I’ll see you next week as I gear up to set sail on the Bruise Cruise!
Did you know that February 18th is Dr Dre’s birthday? Well, it is and tomorrow night from 6-9 at our friends at The Groove will be celebrating Dre Day 2011 with lots of fun stuff and giveaways. It sounds like a ton of fun to me… Here’s what The Groove had to say:
It’s time to strap on your Compton hats and locs and celebrate the music and legacy of one of the greatest Hip-Hop artists of all time, the icon responsible for introducing the world to acts as diverse as N.W.A., Snoop Dogg, The D.O.C., Eminem, J.J. Fad, 50 Cent, Arabian Prince, and so many more. Bring your friends and celebrate the important birth date and memorable works of Dr. Dre!
We will have a cooler of 40’s (for those 21+), A Chronic “photo booth”, a chance to win various Dre related goodies & also you”ll be able to enter to win “The Chronic” & “EFIL4ZAGGIN” on vinyl!
We will be blasting classic Dre jams through the speakers and offering Dre merch for sale.. such as Dr. Dre 40oz coozies!, sticker packs, car air fresheners & magnetic refrigerator poetry sets! Whaaaat?!
****We’d like to thank our friends at Burlesque in Minneapolis for starting Dre Day way back in 2003! Since it’s inception it’s spread to New York, Chicago, Vancouver BC, Philadelphia, Tampa, Portland and now Nashville! Keep their heads ringin’!
Head over to the facebook event page to see more details and RSVP.
This week I’ve included not only Grimey’s top 25 best vinyl sellers, but also some upcoming in-stores you should check out as well as what the fine folks at the record shop have been listening to over the hi-fi. Check it out.
Vinyl Top 25:
1. Jeff The Brotherhood / Best Coast – split 7″
2. The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow
3. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
4. PUJOL – How High 7″
5. Drew Holcomb – Chasing Someday
6. Yann Tiersen – Dust Lane
7. The Decemberists – The King Is Dead
8. Akron/Family – A/F II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT
9. Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean
10. Destroyer – Kaputt
The speculation can now cease, the official Bonnaroo lineup has been announced and it’s a good one. I’m not much of a festival goer so I can now commence with the new speculation: who will stop by Grimey’s or The Groove for an in-store on their way to Manchester.
Review the list and tell us who you are excited to see at Bonnaroo and who you would like to see play a more intimate set surrounded by stacks of vinyl. Post it in the comments!
Happy Valentine’s Day Vinyl lovers! Before I turn my computer off to spend time with my honey I wanted to give you all a little love via one of my favorite Nashville bands, Action! Last Valentine’s Day this husband and wife duo were at Battle Tapes Recording finishing up their first record, Friend Weakend. The songs they put down then have been in my head ever since… and since releasing the album on vinyl it’s one of the few records that I was involved in recording that regularly graces my turntable. Not that I don’t love everything we record here at the studio… but usually once an album has been recorded, mixed & mastered I’ve heard it enough to never have to hear it again. Action! is a wonderful exception and Friend Weakend is a perfect record for this Valentine’s Day. It’s about life and love and it’s beautiful. You can hear it for yourself at Action’s Bandcamp page. While you’re there order the limited edition vinyl before it’s too late!
Action! “Sandpiper” (Official Video) from Action! on Vimeo.
The new release list for February 15th is extensive. Now you can spend your weekend compiling the shopping list you will take to your local purveyors of all that is wax… As always, if I missed anything please add it to the comments.
POP/ROCK
The 1900s – Return of the Century – Parasol
Arbouretum – The Gathering – Thrill Jocky
Asobi Seksu – Flourescence – Polyvinyl
Bright Eyes – The People’s Key – Saddle Creek
Canned Heat – Human Condition – Fuel
Chicago – Chicago VI (180 Audiofile) – Friday Music
Dennis Coffey – Absolutely The Best Of – Fuel
Cowboy Junkies – Demons – Cowboy Junkies Inc.
The Dears – Degeneration Street – Dangerbird Records
Drive-By-Truckers – Southern Rock Opera (2xLP) – Lost Highway
Drive-By-Truckers – Go-Go Boots – ATO
Eddie Spaghetti – Sundowner – Bloodshot
Kyle Fischer – Open Ground – Polyvinyl
Githead – Landing + Headgit (special edition 2xLP) – Swim
Grand Funk Railroad – We’re An American Band (180 gram Audiophile) – Friday Music
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake – Vagrant
Kasey Anderson & The Honkies – Heart of a Dog – Red River Records
Jefferson Starship – Air Play – Fuel
La Sera (Vivian Girls side project) – S/T – Hardly Art
Mogwai – Hardcore Will Never Die… – Sub Pop
Occult Detective Club – Crimes – Alive Records
REO Speedwagon – Hi Infidelity (180 gram Audiophile) – Friday Music
Sonic Youth – Bad Moon Rising (180 gram) – ORW
The Skull Defects – Peer Amid (2xLP) – Thrill Jockey
Stockholm Syndrome – Apollo – Response Records
Telekinesis – 12 Desperate Straight Lines – Merge
The Thermals – Not Like Any Other Feeling 7″ – Kill Rock Stars
Shugo Tokumaru – Port Entrophy – Polyvinyl
Tristen – Charlatans at the Garden Gate
The Twilight Singers – Dynamite Steps – Sub Pop
The Wildebeests – Gnuggets (2xLP) – Dirty Water Records
Yellow Ostrich – The Mistress – Afternoon Records
The Groove’s Vinyl Best Sellers 01.31-02.06.2011
1. Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean2. Madlib – Medicine Show 11: Low Budget Hi-Fi Music3. The Decemberists – The King Is Dead4. Those Darlins – Be Your Bro 7”5. Spiritualized – Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating In Space6. Robert Plant – Band Of Joy7. Destroyer – Kaputt8. Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde9. Isis – Oceanic10. Tennis – Cape Dory
Grimey’s Vinyl Best Sellers January 31st-February 6th, 2011
1. The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow
2. Those Darlins – Be Your Bro 7″
3. Wanda Jackson – The Party Ain’t Over
4. The Decemberists – The King Is Dead
5. The Black Keys – Brothers
6. The Dirtbombs – Party Store
7. Death – Spiritual Mental Physical
8. Charles Bradley w/ Menahan Street Band – No Time For Dreaming
9. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
10. Robert Pollard – Space City Kicks Read More
Vinyl New Releases for the week of February 8th, 2011. What are you most looking forward to?
Nicole Atkins – Mondo Amore – Razor & Tie
Akron/Family – S/T II: The Cosmic Birth… – Dead Oceans
Bauhaus – Crackle: Best of Bauhaus – Beggars Banquet
Pieta Brown – One And All – Red House
Crowbar – Sever the Wicked Hand – Entertainment One Music
Cut Copy – Zonoscope – Modular Records
Miles Davis – Bitches Brew Live – Columbia Legacy
Diarrhea Planet – Aloha ep – Evil Weevil
Esben and the Witch – Violet Cries – Matador
Follakzoid – S/T – Sacred Bones Records
Frank Sinatra – Best Of Vegas – Concord Records
Herb Alpert & Lani Hall – I Feel You – Concord Jazz
Drew Holcombe & The Neighbors – Chasing Someday – Dualtone
Jeff the Brotherhood / Best Coast – split 7″ – Volcom
Kurt Elling – The Gate – Concord Jazz
The Paperhead (Formerly The Looking Glass) first appeared on my radar when Nashville’s Dead released their 45 (Yellowbook b/w Dear Mr. Vacant) late last year. When I heard the sweet psychedelia dripping from the wax I couldn’t believe that it was made by a bunch of kids in Nashville in 2010. On March 22nd Chicago record label Trouble In Mind will release the first full length from The Paperhead.
From TIM’s website:
Upon your first listen to this record you may think that you’ve stumbled onto some lost nugget from 1968. The Paperhead take their name from a lyric in July’s golden-age psychedelic single “My Clown” and while the record may have a vintage sound, it’s mind boggling to learn that it was written and recorded in the summer of 2010 by three 18 year old kids from Nashville, Tennessee. Neo-psych fans may hear a more ambitious ‘White Fence’ or a poppier ‘Spacemen 3’ while more classic minded listeners may recall ‘The Pretty Things’, their namesake ‘July’ or post-LSD ‘Beatles’.
Before they all went their separate ways to start college Ryan Jennings and his closest childhood friends Walker Mimms and Peter Stringer-Hye holed up to record an album that combines all the orchestrated pop layers, eastern influence and groovy instrumentals of a classic British Psych record. With Cheap Time’s Jeffrey Novak as producer & “spritual advisor” these guy’s technical and songwriting abilities far outreach their young age, while still maintaining a sense of wonder about the world and a dash of charming naivete.
RIYL: White Fence, Black Angels, Pink Floyd, J.K. & Co, Kaleidoscope (U.K.)
I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you all about two great shows at The Mercy Lounge this weekend. Tonight (Friday, Feb. 4th) is indie favorites Deerhoof, touring in support of their new album Deerhoof vs. Evil. Opening the show are Ben Butler and Mousepad and the cult favorite R. Stevie Moore. $14, 9pm
Tomorrow night (Saturday Feb. 5th), downstairs at The Cannery, Dr. Dog returns for what I’m sure will be another impeccable performance. You can’t really go wrong with a Dr. Dog show! Opening are Head and The Heart & Buried Beds. $20, 9pm
Today Spin.com released the video for Those Darlins’ Be Your Bro from the 45 of the same name released earlier this week. Be Your Bro is classic Darlins’, fun and witty but above all it’s an anthem for rock chicks everywhere who just wanna do their thing without “girl” being the first (and sometimes only) thing people see about them. It’s a sentiment I’ve felt many times in my life. It’s quite nice to have a theme song for this particular situation. Thanks ladies (and gent)!
Spin has the video exclusive here.
Welcome to a new regular column by Brett Rosenberg, Yankee transplant and guitar virtuoso, wherein he prowls the cheap vinyl bins around Nashville and reports back to us with the best of his discoveries. (editor’s note: I currently don’t have the means to rip audio from vinyl. In future we hope to post samples of Brett’s finds.) Read More
Third Man Records just released a statement from Jack & Meg White announcing the “end” of the White Stripes.
From their website:
“The White Stripes would like to announce that today, February 2nd, 2011, their band has officially ended and will make no further new recordings or perform live.
The reason is not due to artistic differences or lack of wanting to continue, nor any health issues as both Meg and Jack are feeling fine and in good health.
It is for a myriad of reasons , but mostly to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band and have it stay that way.
Meg and Jack want to thank every one of their fans and admirers for the incredible support they have given throughout the 13 plus years of The White Stripes’ intense and incredible career.
Third Man Records will continue to put out unreleased live and studio recordings from The White Stripes in their Vault subscription record club, as well as through regular channels.
Both Meg and Jack hope this decidion isn’t met with sorrow by their fans but that it is seen as a positive move done out of respect for the art and music that the band has created. It is also done with utmost respect to those fans who’ve shared in those creations, with their feelings considered greatly.
With that in mind the band have this to say:
“The White Stripes do not belong to Meg and Jack anymore. The White Stripes belong to you now and you can do with it whatever you want. The beauty of art and music is that it can last forever if people want it to. Than you for sharing this expeirence. Your involvement will never be lost on us and we are truly grateful.”
Sincerly,
Meg and Jack White”
Rest In Peace White Stripes, your legacy will live on forever. Thank you.
