THEY’RE HERE! The thing a lot of you are looking forward to, of course, are the special pieces coming to your favorite record store on April 16. Here’s a list of them, one you can print out, check off and take to your local record store. We’re doing things a little differently this year, so you’ll see a few different categories here:
RECORD STORE DAY RELEASES: These are titles that are only being released for this day. These are true Record Store Day Exclusives.
“WINDOWED” RELEASES: These are titles that will only be available in record stores on Record Store Day, but will someday be available to other retailers down the line.
REGIONAL/SMALL RUN RELEASES: These are titles that are being released only to a certain region of stores, or have such a small run or distribution that the majority of participating stores will not have access to them. We feel it’s important to include these releases and celebrate the spirit in which they are released.
And remember: LIMITED EDITION, BABY. A lot of these titles have limited runs. You may not get your hands on all the pieces you want. Your STORE may not get their hands on all the pieces they want. That’s the nature of limited releases. But that’s what makes them so exciting!
[TVD Austin readers, let’s welcome contributing writer Joe Johnston Turner to the fold. Joe is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to music, literature, comic books, and much more. We’re proud to have him on board.]
So SXSW is over and you’re done, beat, stick a fork in it ’cause it’s finished, and the last thing you want to do is go see another show. You’re wrong. Hugh Cornwell is playing a free show this Wednesday (tonight!!) at Lovejoy’s Tap Room & Brewery on Sixth and Neches.
I hear some of you in the back asking who Hugh Cornwell is. I can understand that. To the really old and English, you might know him from being in a band with pre-Fairport ConventionRichard Thompson. But I think that number is probably 10 and doesn’t include anyone reading this blog. To the rest of us, he was the primary singer and songwriter for the much reviled and celebrated punk band, The Stranglers.
In each city Mike plays where there’s an affiliated TVD, we’ve got an opportunity for one of you to win the LP. 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.
Right now, there’s still time for you to win the LP in this week’s Mike Watt cities: Austinand New Orleans. Comment on one of those posts by Friday to win!
Here are photos from the Vinyl District/Sneak Attack Media/Luv Luv Luv day party last Friday. All photos courtesy of Jessica Stookey and Marni Wandner.
Once SXSW 2011 drew to a close, I had to ask myself for the first time in twenty years, am I getting too old for this shit? My feet are, at least.
More than any year previously, I’ve never seen so many people embarking on downtown at the same time. Usually, downtown during SXSW is full of badge and wristband wearers, but they were definitely outnumbered by the party goers this time around thanks to the increase in non-SXSW events going on.
I’ve also never heard of so many problems than there were this year. Whether it be the massive crowd breaking down the barrier at the free Strokes show at Auditorium Shores, the camera boom falling and injuring fans before OMD’s set at Stubb’s ,the near riot at Beauty Bar when Death From Above 1979 came on or the thousands of fans being texted that they were no longer on the RSVP list for Kanye West, things certainly seemed to be getting out of hand.
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 second and third in what will be ten opportunities to win the new LP, Mike Watt + The Missingmen play Austin’s The Ginger Man tonight and New Orleans’ One Eyed Jacks on Sunday. 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, it 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.
Already a massive success in her native Holland, Los Angeles based and Hotel Cafe grown singer-songwriter Laura Jansen, aims to repeat that task stateside with the release of her debut full length album, Bells, released nationally on March 22nd (Decca Records). Based on her instore set at Waterloo Records yesterday, I would say she is well on her way to accomplishing that feat.
TVD Austin: Is this your first time coming to SXSW?
Laura Jansen: This is my third time. But the past two times I’ve done one or two shows, and then spent the rest of the time having a reunion with people I know in the music world. But this is the first time I’m really promoting something and it’s a big week for me. It’s a lot of work, it’s great!
TVD: You have a total of six shows this week?
LJ: Six shows and a bunch of running around making sure I meet everyone I’m supposed to. Plus, my band from Holland is here. It’s a jam packed week. I’m really excited.
TVD: Any artists you hope to catch while you are town?
LJ: It’s funny, on the night I’m playing at St. David’s (Historic Sanctuary) on Saturday, there’s actually a ton of artists I’m a fan of. I’m very excited to see Agnes Obel (7:30). I’ve seen her a few times in Europe and I’m excited for her US debut. My best friend’s band, Elizabeth & the Catapult are playing at the Hilton (Creekside at Hilton Garden Inn). It’s just a bunch of friends really that I haven’t seen in a long time.
TVD: You’ve been on the road for quite awhile.
LJ: I’ve pretty much been on the road for the past 11 months.
In honor of our friends at Polyvinyl Records’ showcase on Saturday (March 19) at the Parish, we have five Polyvinyl albums we are giving away for free!
And in order to win, all you have to do is find me during SXSW and say,
“I love The Vinyl District and Polyvinyl Records!”
(Each person that comes up to me and says this will get to pick one of the five records I have on me.)
Ok, I know that sounds pretty difficult and very Waldo-ish, but that’s why you should take a look at my South By recos I posted yesterday to get an idea of where I may be at. Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter:@VinylDistrict. I’ll be live tweeting starting tonight and give you clues where to find me.
Here are the records from Polyvinyl that I will have with me in my gray messenger bag at all times until they are gone. See, I already gave you a hint. Look for the guy with the gray messenger bag! Ha!
And to avoid any confusion, yes they are on vinyl!
Disclaimer: This list is not all-inclusive and I won’t be able to go every one of these shows. That would be physically impossible because of time, and beer. Also, I love getting distracted and finding myself in new venues listening to surprisingly cool bands with strangers….that’s the whole point.
As Mark mentioned in his post, we are only giving our picks for official SXSW showcases. If we also listed all the bands we want to see at day parties, we’d be here all night.
Things kick off tonight lightly. Think of it as an appetizer to the mayhem that is to come, but there will still be plenty of good music to whet your appetite.
You also might want to pay close attention to my picks. They tie into a contest I’ll be posting tomorrow involving a record giveaway courtesy of Polyvinyl Records. Ok, I’ve already said too much. On to the picks!
Since the South by Southwest day party action is almost too much to wrap my head around, my picks are from official showcases only. But the majority of the artists performing are playing elsewhere around town during the week so you’ll have a good chance of seeing who you want without a wristband or badge; but having a badge sure is nice. My list leans heavily on locals (When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, the Strange Boys), bigger names (Wu Tang Clan, TV on the Radio), and maybe a few you might not have heard of (YOB, Obits). Worst band name of the fest goes to Nid and Sancy.
Throughout the week, the staff of TVD Austin will be giving their best bets for this year’s SXSW. Mike Harrell kicks it off with where you will most likely find him throughout the festival. Too bad he can’t be at more than one place at the same time.
Monofonus Press describes itself as “an Austin-based record label + multimedia organization. Specializing in the physical and digital distribution of music, literature, and visual art, we aim to share the work born from the manic obsessions of Austin’s most influential and anomalous producers.” I can describe them in one word: superbadass.
Just bringing you a little more info on the Empresarios’ shows that we previewedearlier this week, on Wed 3/16 at Qua, and Thurs 3/17 at Roial.
Besides all that goodness, Empresarios’ labelmate on Fort Knox Recordings,Nappy Riddem, will be playing the 4th Cutshowcase with fellow DC bands Funk Ark and Frank Mitchell Band, both of ESL Music. All three will be joining Empresarios at the SXStrangeBoot showcase on Thursday.
These are unofficial SXSW showcases, but the SXStrangeBoot showcase at Roial is free with RSVP at do512.com.
We remind you again to check out the best of the nation’s capital while it’s in ATX. No [Reagan] National Airport full body scans required. (Unless of course, you like that kind of thing.)
