are you still hungover

photo by Xian Pitt

It took me a few days to get back to normal after the Norman Music Festival. By all accounts the festival was a success. Despite what may have been a total of 11-13,000 people coming through the James Garner Corridor Saturday between noon and midnite, there were no arrests and no reports of violence - except for one really drunk dude with a poster tube who was looking for a fight near the end of the festival.
Rumor has it that planners have already begun thinking about next year and it promises to be even better and the headliners - well, the headliners will be beyond anything a free festival in this state has ever seen or dreamed. Personally, I need to take it a little easier on the bevy next year and maybe try to catch more of the music.

these got me through...
mp3 shoebox
The Dandy Warhols~Cool Scene
My Morning Jacket~Evil Urges
James Brown~Mother Popcorn
Cut Copy~Far Away

and there's this somewhat heavy-handed, but well intentioned festival reaction as well:

Did you have a good time?​​ I know that you did. This festi​val was one of the best thing​s to ever happe​n in Norma​n.​​ I want to make sure that every​one reali​zes that MOST of the bands​ who played that day are LOCAL​ BANDS​ who play shows​ aroun​d here all the time.

​
And, sure,​​ the band that you saw and loved​ at the festi​val might​ not be playi​ng again​ next weekend.​​ But, take a look at their​ frien​d list.​​ They'​​ve proba​bly got some other​ great​ local​ bands​ that you'​​ve never​ heard​ in their​ frien​d list.

​
PLEAS​E,​​ PLEAS​E,​​ PLEAS​E use this good exper​ience​ at the festi​val as a catal​yst for becom​ing invol​ved in your local​ music​ scene​.​​ There​ are so many great​ bands​ aroun​d here.​​ The only thing​ that can slow down a growi​ng scene​ like this is if peopl​e don'​​t go out and suppo​rt them.

​
If you spent​ half as much time on the inter​net searc​hing for good local​ bands​ as you do shopp​ing or searc​hing for porn,​​ you'​​d proba​bly find some bands​ that make you even more happy​ than those​ two thing​s do.


The bigge​st probl​em with the local​ music​ scene​ right​ now, is that so many peopl​e don'​​t know how great​ it is.


TELL THEM!​​!​​!​​
Get invol​ved.​​ Make your own scene​.

no use getting fatalistic

Well, it had to happen sometime.

The premier episode of the Shoes Are For Work podcast is all about the Norman Music Festival. We'll see you on Main Street in Norman 26 April 2008!

Debris-Female Tracks
Chainsaw Kittens-Mother (of the Ancient Birth)
The Polyphonic Spree-The Fragile Army
British Sea Power-Waving Flags
Octopus Project-Truck
Anvil Salute-Abduction
Klipspringer-Put It Out
Evangelicals-Stoned Again
Cheyenne-The Whale
Starkweather Boys-Straight Razor Baby

also there are these from the other day...
mp3 shoebox
Polyphonic Spree~Soldier Girl
Chainsaw Kittens~Silver Millionaire
British Sea Power~Waving Flags
Octopus Project~I Saw The Bright Shinies
Evangelicals~Skeleton Man
Colourmusic~Circles
Cheyenne~The Whale
Anvil Salute~Plushies Unite

trust me i know how lazy this is

those legs must be 4 ft long

I just really wanted to make sure I shared this release with you:

The Last Shadow Puppets are Miles Kane (from The Rascals) and Alex Turner (you may know him from Arctic Monkeys). Firm friends ever since Arctic Monkeys toured with Kane’s previous group, The Little Flames, the pair were so inspired by listening to the likes of Scott Walker, early Bowie and David Axelrod, that they hatched a plan.
The result, The Age Of The Understatement, is an album of 12 full-blooded songs, bold and brassy, full of drama, wit and melody, that source the past but avoid falling into pastiche. Both Miles and Alex are 22 and this is a youthful record, full of life and the sheer pleasure of music making.

The album was recorded at Black Box Studios near Nantes, France in two weeks during the summer of 2007, James Ford (Simian Mobile Disco) manning both the producer's chair AND the drummer's stool. The band then approached Owen Pallett of Final Fantasy to arrange and conduct the orchestration of the tracks, which were recorded by the 22-piece London Metropolitan Orchestra at British Grove studios in London over Christmas.

The Age Of The Understatement is out in North America on May 6th on Domino.

mp3 shoebox
Last Shadow Puppets~Age Of Understatement
Last Shadow Puppets~My Mistakes Were Made For You

i've done this once already - get with it

It's countdown time - at least for the coordinators of the 1st Annual Norman Music Festival (which I am now officially referring to as Maverik). This Saturday 26 April! Upwards of 30 bands playing on/at something like 4 or 5 venues. Pedestrian traffic only on the Garner Corridor Arts District. Free beer. No, not really. Food and drink vendors - including 6 dollar vegetarian Frito Chili Pie, drink and a rice crispy treat at the Opolis. Band merch at Guestroom. All in all, I'm not real sure how you can live anywhere near Norman town and not spend your day at the festival. It's free for cryin' out loud.
See you at Maverik!

mp3 shoebox
Polyphonic Spree~Soldier Girl
Chainsaw Kittens~Silver Millionaire
British Sea Power~Waving Flags
Octopus Project~I Saw The Bright Shinies
Evangelicals~Skeleton Man
Colourmusic~Circles
Cheyenne~The Whale
Anvil Salute~Plushies Unite

Here's the lineup
* indicates highly recommended viewing
**indicates miss this and die viewing

West Main Stage Schedule

(located on Main and Jones)
10pm The Polyphonic Spree
8pm Chainsaw Kittens (reunion)
6:30pm British Sea Power
*5:15pm The Octopus Project
*4pm Evangelicals
*3pm Colourmusic
2pm The Neighborhood
12:45pm Umbrellas
*Noon Dorian Small

East Stage Schedule
(located at Main and Porter)
9pm (change pending)
6:30pm The John Arnold Band
**5pm The Starkweather Boys
4pm Taddy Porter
*3pm Cheyenne
*2pm Ryan Lindsey
1pm Tall Cotton String Band
*Noon Ghost of Monkshood

The Sooner Theatre Stage
(located on the corner of Main and Jones)
7pm Born A Number
6pm Citizen 5
*5pm Klipspringer
4pm Gravity Propulsion System
3pm Debris (reunion)
2pm Terry “Buffalo” Ware and The Shambles
1pm Refuje
Noon The Wickers (reunion)
11am Students from McMichael School of Music
Stage hosted by Hoff the Monkey and Galvin & Wilson

MAINSITE Contemporary Art Gallery
6pm White Walls series by John Mooneyham
*5pm Anvil Salute

Dreamer Concepts Studio & Foundation
will host up to six bands throughout the day including:
Gregg Standridge
Supreme U-gene
*Ivan Peña
Resident Funk
Mama Sweet (acoustic)
Camille Harp

Blue Fish Companion XXI
*Official after-party @ The Opolis
Begins as soon as the NMF Main Stage shuts down.
Mama Sweet
DJ Bronzai

not nineteen forever

It's true. Loves fade, passions die, new loves appear, new obsessions arise. Where does it all go? Gravity is a cruel force. I'm so old. You're only young once. Live for today. Carpe Diem. Blah blah blah. Dial a cliche.

mp3 shoebox
Courteeners~Not Nineteen Forever
Tegan and Sara~Nineteen
++bonus++ some songs from when I was nineteen
Depeche Mode~Enjoy The Silence
The Sunday~Here's Where the Story Ends
They Might Be Giants~Sapphire Bullets Of Love

guestroom luvs yr gutz

How I forgot to post this earlier, I don't know....

Record Store Day info! Saturday April 19th!!!

Hey everyone. We at Guestroom Records are excited to talk about the first ever Record Store Day national holiday! This Saturday, April 19th, we'll be giving away free stuff in the store until it runs out and we're also having sales at both stores! This isn't the typical four or five copies of something cool, we were sent hundreds and hundreds of things to give away to anyone who likes supporting independent record stores! Here's a quick but in no way complete rundown of what we've got:

Matador, Sub Pop, Universal, Interscope and Scion sampler CDs and some LPs too (the vinyl on those might end up being worth something, they're Record Store Day specific!)
Destroyer/Wye Oak split 7"s from Merge
3-D Glasses to view the new Bjork video
Stickers, Postcards, Posters, Bags, Buttons from lots of people.

That's what I can remember right now, but it's a ton. Everything will be available at both stores until it all runs out.

In addition, several labels have released some pretty cool records to help celibrate RSD. These are records that will only be available at participating indie record stores. Here's what I know we have coming in:

Vampire Weekend - A Punk 7"
Stephen Malkmus - Cold Son 10"
Breeders 7"
Joseph Russell 12"
Black Keys 7"
Death Cab for Cutie 7"
R.E.M. 7"
Built to Spill 7"

there might be more, depends on when the trucks show up...

Also, Josh Jones of the Evangelicals will be stopping by Guestroom Norman to play some songs. We're all pretty huge fans of the band and especially the new album (easily one of the 3 best albums that will/has come out in 2008!!!) Don't know exactly what time that's happening, middle of the afternoon would be my guess right now.

That's a ton of info so far, right? We're not done. In addition to everything mentioned here already, we're also having storewide sales at both locations! Everything is 10% off, Guestroom Records American Apparel t-shirts will be a ridiculously low $5 and if you buy $100 worth of stuff you get one free.

That's a bunch of info! Spread the info around to your friends, we want to make this initial Record Store Day a big success!

xoxoxo
Guestroom Records
T, J, T, W, M, E, K, J

125 E. Main St.
Norman 405-701-5974

3701 N. Western Ave
OKC 405-601-3859

mp3 shoebox
The National~Guest Room
Evangelicals~Midnight Vingnette

wet zoo

Photo Credit: Autumn de Wilde

The Annuals have a split (sort of) EP that was released earlier this month with Sunfold in the share. The tricky part of the EP is that Sunfold is basically the same band only with Kenny Florence handling a larger portion of the songwriting and most of the rest of the Annuals acting as backing musicians. On first listen I took this as a short Annuals album. Fortunately, we get a proper album from the Annuals later this year. Until that day, we get Wet Zoo, an earthy, beautiful amuse busche. Hardly the meal we need, but enough to get us ready for the full deal.

mp3 shoebox
Annuals~Sore

WET ZOO EP Tracklisting:
-Annuals-
1. Sore
2. Around Your Neck
3. Just Stay In
-Sunfold-
4. Between The Worlds
5. Watering Pail

foals antidotes

this just in from our new partner, TheObserver...
Though they may hail from a flat in Oxford, the sound of Foals’ debut album, Antidotes, is anything but. With driving soundscapes consisting of everything from pulsing bass lines to rich textures of delayed guitar and echoed vocals, Antidotes spans the spectrum of modern rock genres to achieve a comprehensive, all be it confusing, blend of flavors. The lyrical format is, for the most part, incredibly punctuated, offering quick bursts of space-filling afterthoughts that while adding prevalent layers, don’t seem to say much. This is, however, completely redeemed by the substantial quality of constant progression within each song structure. “Heavy Water” flows virtually seamlessly between a simple vehicle for four repeated lines to an interplay of pounding drums, atmospheric synth swells, and nervous guitar accents. The song then becomes lost within its own rhythm and beauty before ultimately concluding in a brass-driven, upbeat breakdown, proving that Foals can do more than produce long winded post-punk revivalism.

While the argument can be made that certain tracks from Antidotes, such as “Cassius” and “Tron”, wouldn’t find themselves in culture shock following a move to Silent Alarm, Foals still manages to introduce some new concepts into their own unification of post-punk experimentalism and new-wave pop fundamentalism. “Two Steps Twice” finds a well-calculated groove exemplifying the band’s ability to draw focus to the comfort of a regular vocal pattern and steady beat in the midst of an almost dissonant array of delayed guitar conversations. “Electric Balloons” steps out of the scarcity box by consistently presenting itself in a straightforward fashion with little digression from its main theme, while still exhibiting just enough individualism to validate continuing curiosity.

As this debut album shows such an attitude of modernism, Antidotes easily carries with it the potential of being the beginning of something great. With just a little less focus on the cumbersome one-liners, and the expansion on delicate song structures, Foals has the ability to mature into a staple of the aforementioned revival genre.

mp3 shoebox
Foals~Balloons

semi-retarded males

Sometimes I put off talking/writing about bands because I don't like them and don't want to be cruel to someone who spent a good deal of time and effort (and most likely money) to share something they created. Other times I just lose track of what I've listened to and written about and what I haven't. Still other times, I just lose track altogether. In the case of a faulty chromosome it's the later. I'd worry about telling you what they sound like except they've done that for me

"for neophobes and/or the musically nescient, a faulty chromosome (sort of) sounds like: the feelies + new order + half japanese + pavement + my bloody valentine + shaggs + yo la tengo + pere ubu + sebadoh + belle & sebastian + suicide. sort of.
they are the quiet kid who hides in the library at lunch time drawing pictures in textbook margins...structured, but sloppy. sincere, yet so confused, a faulty chromosome are no more than semi-retarded males in their mid-20's so severely disappointed with the world they are stuck in that making joyful music about their frustration is the only way they know how to cope. at worst, enjoyable noise. at best, a charming mess (i guess?)."

And really, that leaves me with very little else to say, except that this is one I wish I'd shared sooner. You owe it to yourself to experience these Texans in your own way.

mp3 shoebox
a faulty chromosome~Them Pleasures of The Flesh
a faulty chromosome~Jackie O.

imaginary biographies

I'm not sure of the reason, but the last few days have been filled with female, singer-songwriter types here at Shoes Are For Work Headquarters. Fitting that bill this morning is Leerone.

She was featured in a recent Billboard NOW HEAR THIS section on up-and-coming artists to watch. Her new record, IMAGINARY BIOGRAPHIES, produced by Christopher Fudurich (Jimmy Eat World, Nada Surf, Matthew Sweet,Fishbone) was released just last month. KCRW's played "To Fill A Void," to early rave reviews - citing her inward-looking original songs, expressive performances and powerful appropriations of influences ranging from Bessie Smith and Carole King, to Nina Simone, Tom Waits and PJ Harvey. -modified press release

mp3 shoebox
Leerone~To Fill A Void

fractured life

Epic in the same vein that Coldplay or Muse seem to be and ready made for some arena somewhere, here's Air Traffic. Their album Fractured Life was released to the masses via Astralwerks 5 February.

It takes a particular sort of outsider mentality to create music of such rare accuracy and honesty. And, sure enough, Fractured Life is emphatically not the sound of a scene. Air Traffic are from nowhere, man. As far as they relate to any other bands you might have listened to recently, they are a shining example of the West by South West maverick tendency. Just as the small UK towns of Abingdon begat Radiohead and Teignmouth reared Muse, so Air Traffic are an unlikely product of Bournemouth, a Wessex border town on the British Costa Geriatrica with no rock heritage whatsoever. As the group's singer and main songwriter Chris Wall puts it; "There are no music venues, and absolutely no pressure to sound like anyone else. So you have the potential to develop your own style."

Wall's style was fed initially by his Celtic roots. Both his parents are Irish born and bred, and his uncle, Jimmy McCarthy, who still lives in Cork, is a well known folk singer. "When I was 6, I so wanted to be him," Wall recalls. He was a precociously musical child - learning the piano and guitar by ear and playing flute and saxophone in the Southern Youth Orchestra - but he had no musical ambition. "I preferred to hang out on the beach and surf. I never went to gigs, or bought much music."

Wall got inveigled into a band after his first public performance in 2003 at a school concert. His solo rendition of "Go To Sleep" by Radiohead attracted the attention of drummer David Jordan and guitarist Tom Pritchard. Air Traffic duly began as a sideline to A levels and only got serious during Wall's gap year travels in 2005 when, out of nostalgic curiosity, he downloaded some of his band's early songs while holed up in a surf town on the coast of Queensland, Australia. It was a defining moment. "I was listening to "Charlotte" as if I'd never heard it before and Dave and I hadn't written it. And I realized it was a special song."

Once the decision to re-engage had been made - and a new bassist Jim Maddock recruited - Air Traffic travelled very far, very fast. It all happened during the academic year when they were up in London, ostensibly studying, in reality, investing their student loans in rehearsal and recording time. Within months an Air Traffic demo provoked a major label bidding war. Many of the songs on Fractured Life, like "Never Even Told Me Her Name," describe the feelings of breathless anticipation the band registered once the four 21 year olds sensed their career taking off. Another of the songs charting the band's ascent was "Shooting Star," a sublime melody poised on the edge of a maelstrom of rock and roll theatrics. As the industry attention became more intense, Wall and Jordan penned "I Can't Understand."

After the band were signed to Astralwerks/EMI, Air Traffic set up in Rockfield Studios to begin working on their their new album. Soon after, news arrived of a fatal car crash in Canada which killed a close of friend of Wall's girlfriend. "I never really knew her, but I could feel my girlfriend's grief, and the sense of helplessness was overwhelming". This swiftly inspired the album's most poignant and beautiful moment, the aching piano ballad, "Empty Space." The 2 month Rockfield experience was, overall, cathartic. "It made us focus on what we do, and also appreciate how different we are from other bands." That emergent self-realization is unforgettably expressed in "No More Running Away," a heaven-bound anthemic chant earthed throughout by tribal drum. That sense of empowering otherness found voice in the album's title track, the last song to be written and, like "Empty Space," a haunting testimony to Wall's growing confidence as a chronicler of complicated emotions.

The challenge now is to communicate them to a world which knows of Air Traffic only as the authors of the riotous indie anthem, "Charlotte," and the rollicking "Just Abuse Me." "People who come to watch us play really participate now. They're all shouting and singing along. It's up to us to take our audience somewhere else."

mp3 shoebox
Air Traffic~Come On

riot on your hands

at the Bowery - photo by Josh Miller

Among the three bands playing Opolis tonight are Syracuse sextet, Ra Ra Riot.

The band had an incredibly successful 2007 releasing their self-titled, debut ep in July throughout North America and Europe, touring with such artists as Tokyo Police Club, The Editors, Art Brut, albeit with the tragic loss of their dear friend and drummer John Pike in June. The band and Pike’s family put on a benefit concert last month in Boston to celebrate John’s life and music at the famed Middle East club; “Friends of John” included performances by Ra Ra Riot, Tokyo Police Club and Vampire Weekend. All proceeds from the sold out event went to the John Ryan Pike Memorial Foundation, started to provide locations in which underpriveledged children can go to learn and play musical instruments, hoping to eventually provide recording studios for the same purpose (www.myspace.com/johnryanpike)

Ra Ra Riot, who formed in January 2006, quickly caught the ear of the industry and the tastemakers like NME after their many stellar performances at the 2006 CMJ Music Marathon and SXSW 2007. The NME honored them as one of the Top 5 and Top 10 bands that played those festivals respectively. The band was featured in such U.S. publications as Rolling Stone and Nylon.

The band spent November and December in the studio with producer Ryan Hadlock (The Gossip, Blonde Redhead, Stephen Malkmus) recording their debut full-length (release TBD).

mp3 shoebox
Ra Ra Riot~Dying Is Fine

flying solo

It's been a while since there was a release week like this one. Among the new releases this week are two solo projects from a couple of gentlemen who are also part of very good bands in their own right. Colin Meloy has been out and about during breaks from the Decemberists touring and recording schedule playing smallish rooms and covering other bands and singing the songs he wrote for the Decemerists as solo folk infused pieces. During his last tour he recorded a few of these shows and this week releases Colin Meloy Sings Live for those of us who couldn't make it to a show. There isn't much new on this 17 song album, nit that that is a bad thing. However, I found myself tiring of the same jokes I heard him say during Decemberist shows; and the alternating whininess of his voice and those anecdotes was, well, boring after the first ten songs. Still this is nice if for nothing more than the chance to hear new takes on old favorites.
In the also ran category we have a new entry from Peter Morén (the Peter in Peter, Bjorn and John). Here too, I was just tired of The Last Tycoon about halfway through. Rather than take us in a less obvious place, Morén further strips down the already bare-ish sound of PB&J so that we get a watery folk album with few surprises. Having seen a set from him at SXSW I expected to enjoy this album more than I did. In retrospect the songs I liked most from that show though were just him singing one-man versions of Peter, Bjorn and John songs. Eh.

mp3 shoebox
Colin Meloy~We Both Go Down Together
Peter Morén~Social Competence

one more for today

One of the last bands we saw during our trip to SXSW was Jay Reatard. He's got a series of 7" being released in anticipation of a new album. Each 7" will be released in successively smaller quantities and some, but not all, of the tracks will end up on the album later this year. I am a fairly new fan of Jay Reatard, but now I really can't get enough. He and his Memphisian compatriots have masterfully recreated the pop thrill of the Buzzcocks and breathed new Wipers-like life into their fuzzy 3 minute format. I'm looking forward to more...

mp3 shoebox
Jay Reatard~See Saw

zero frontier boundaries

Mainsite on Main Street in Norman has built a reputation on exhibiting contemporary artists who are recognized both regionally and nationally. Tonight/today marks the opening of a show from three artists completing their MFA theses. You should make a point to stop in and see what they have to offer. Here's what they have to say for themselves:

Brad Stevens
Artist Statement, Zero Consciousness
Zero Consciousness is my response to the hyper-sensationalized images of pop culture, which are juxtaposed with social and political issues in contemporary American media. These media sources create a disarray of images from pop culture, social and political issues inadvertently creating a fractured collage of images and stories for their viewers to digest. Images that I am using in this work are those that have recently been portrayed on American media sources within the last few years; world issues that directly and indirectly affect the United States, the world of Hollywood stars, body image, and the most recent commodity that everyone must not live without.
Carrie Fudickar
Artist Statement, Fiberglass Frontier
Fiberglass Frontier explores the phenomena of simulated history within American theme parks. Simulation has become a popular entertainment venue as well as an accepted exhibition tool for museums and historical sites. The existence of themed restaurants, shopping centers, and housing developments is now so commonplace it has become easy to overlook. The theme park is the most exaggerated of these spaces. It deliberately obscures itself from the outside world, discouraging comparison to reality. Further, it promotes its own legitimacy by fusing real histories into its artificial environment. The myth town of the American theme park is set perpetually in the late 19th century, intrinsically linked to the Gilded Age’s exuberant optimism, expansion, and industrial growth. This project documents seven major theme parks, cataloguing how history, myth, and entertainment coexist within the gates of the fiberglass frontier.
Shane Brown
Artist Statement, Boundary
Boundary is a continuation of an ever-expanding photographic record of the people and the natural and cultural landscape of Oklahoma. This particular body of work, rather than being expository as with other photographic groups within the larger framework that I have created, is at first unexplained—seemingly simple pairings of anonymous landscapes. The requirement that the viewer engage in exploration of the location of the scene to gain explanation ensures that the observer will discover that they are indeed viewing both sides of one of the many boundaries that exist within Oklahoma. These borders may exist between historical territories, such as “No Man’s Land” (present day Beaver County and the easternmost county in the Oklahoma Panhandle), and the Cherokee Outlet (a swath of land stretching across northern Oklahoma, comprised of many counties and Indian Territories and is also a territory that once belonged to the Cherokee Nation and is often confused with the Cherokee Strip...

mp3 shoebox
Ruth~Roman Photo
Mission Of Burma~This Is Not A Photograph

never really heard you laugh

If you're looking for a live show tonight, your pickings are pretty slim. Probably your best bet is to go see a sibling set by Eisley at the Conservatory. There are something like 15,000 opening bands (so maybe it's really just three) that are kind of worth your time too. Good luck!

mp3 shoebox
Eisley~Invasion

ladytron-velocifero

A few weeks ago a new-ish compilation of French synth wave bands from the late 70s to the early 80s, BIPP, came in the store. No one else liked it, but everyone who listened to it decided to tell me that I needed to listen to it. They knew I would love it. They were right. It's not even so much that the songs are groundbreaking wonders. For me it was more that there are so many bands who owe so much to these early experimenters. One example is Ladytron, who are coming ou with a new album 3June on their new label, Nettwerk. Those fine folks have been good enough to share a track from the forthcoming Velocifero. They'll also be coming to the Palladium Ballroom in Dallas on 5June!

Their 4th album involves collaboration and co-production with Vicarious Bliss, signed to Ed Banger Records and Alessandro Cortini of Modwheelmood and of course part of the old “rock band configuration” of Nine Inch Nails. This was before Trent Reznor disbanded it to explore alternative methods of performance.
The album, according to the news section of their website and other sources:
“Was recorded in Studio de la grande armee, Paris”, “and Liverpool”.
“The album was then mixed and glued together in Los Angeles by the talented Mr Michael Patterson (Beck, P. Diddy)”. -Last.fm

Now that I think about it - I'll get to work on a full review of that comp for you.

mp3 shoebox
Ladytron~Black Cat
Velocifero tracklist:
01 Black Cat
02 Ghosts
03 I'm Not Scared
04 Runaway
05 Season of Illusions
06 Burning Up
07 Kletva
08 They Gave You a Heart They Gave You a Name
09 Predict the Day
10 The Lovers
11 Deep Blue
12 Tomorrow
13 Versus

shoes

Alright, it's Wednesday and you know what that means - no - you don't? Well, honestly, I don't either, but what I do know is we're here and it's now. So go to the Conservatory and don't be late. Tonight the line-up starts with Magnificent Bird advances to Thao With The Get Down Stay Down and falls into Xiu Xiu. Doors are at 8pm, but if you want to head out a little early, you should definatley drop by Guestroom OKC and say "hi". I'll be there 'til closing tonight and we have just gotten in a shit-ton load of new music, paintings and buttons. Anyway, maybe if we're lucky Xiu Xiu will sing Under Pressure for us.

mp3 shoebox
Xiu Xiu~I Do What I want When I Want
Xiu Xiu~Boy Soprano
Thao WTGDSD~Beat (Health, Life and Fire)
Thao WTGDSD~Swimming Pools

you might sleep but you will never dream

This guy lives in a front yard near Trophy's in ATX

I'm back!
it seems SXSW took longer to recover from than I had thought. I have a lot of things planned for the next few months so please keep coming back. We've got the Norman Music Festival, loads of CDs that I will review from the last month and coming up, and (shhhh-this one is secret) and new podcast will rise from the ashes of FCR.
I've been making connections with a lot of people I really loved to be around during HS, some 19 years or so ago, and have been feeling a little Big Chill-ish. It really is purely from MySpace and Facebook (the better of the two) that these reconnections have been possible. I know this is really sappy, but I love living right now. We are so lucky to be around at a time when hope and personal connections are beginning to change the world.
Find me.

mp3 shoebox
Vashti Bunyan~Find My Heart Again
The Smiths~ I Don't Owe You Anything
Soft Cell~Entertain Me

they's twins

I just got the following in my inbox...
The Watson Twins' "Fire Songs" to be released on Vanguard Records this summer

"Our influences as singers and songwriters are the historic sounds of Vanguard Records... a label steeped in Folk, Country, Jazz and Blues. It just seemed like the perfect fit and we are so honored to be working with them on our debut full length 'Fire Songs'." -The Watson Twins

Vanguard Records, a label that in it's 50+ year history has been home to Doc Watson, Levon Helm, Mindy Smith, John Fahey and Joan Baez amongst others, has announced the signing of The Watson Twins. Identical twins Chandra and Leigh Watson, veterans of the contemporary folk rock scene in Los Angles will release "Fire Songs", their label debut full length. The twins are akin to various scenes such as indie rock, new folk, alt-country/Americana and cannot be neatly categorized into one. The Kentucky-born duo count folk, gospel, blues and country as early influences. The album was produced by Russell Pollard and J. Soda (members from various incarnations of Sebadoh, Earlimart, Everest, and Folk Implosion) and is the follow up to the Watson Twins 2006 self-released and critically acclaimed "Southern Manners" EP.


The graceful country soul and haunting vocals that the twins brought to Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twin's "Rabbit Fur Coat" was highlighted by a world tour that touched everywhere from Holland to Japan and saw them gracing the stages of various late night television shows hosted by those such as Conan O'Brien, David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Craig Kilbourn. Last year saw the Watson Twins sell out the venerable Getty Center in Los Angeles and perform at SXSW, Bumbershoot, Camper Campout and Pop Montreal festivals. Their song "Time of My Life" was featured on the ABC program Grey's Anatomy while they also created the original music for director Foria Sigismondi's film "Postmortem Bliss". "Southern Manners" showcased the Watson Twins pristine vocal harmonies against stunning reverb dirges and melodic country on a much-coveted Morning Becomes Eclectic session on KCRW as well as receiving critical acclaim from Billboard, NME, Pitchfork, Entertainment Weekly among others.

mp3 shoebox
these aren't new btw
The Watson Twins~Friend and Foe
The Watson Twins~Darlin' Song

SXSW Appearances:
Friday, March 14 9pm-Buffalo Billiards 201 East 6th Street (across from the Driskill hotel)
Saturday, March 15 4:30 pm- open party at Home Slice Pizza 1415 South Congress Open/free

Track listing for the Fire Songs LP:
1. How Am I To Be
2. Lady Love Me
3. Fall
4. Just Like Heaven
5. Map To Where You Are
6. Dig A Little Deeper
7. Sky Open Up
8. Bar Woman Blues
9. Only You
10. Old Ways
11. Waves

you say stop

Tonight is going to be another in a series of great shows at the Opolis. Firstly, it's sadly time for Yacht Club! to call it quits. Word is it's nothing personal, they're just looking for something else right now. Maybe you can still be friends, yeah?
Secondly, I'm especially looking forward to hearing/seeing Crocodile. The talented trio just finished their EP, The Great Depression. This thing is fantastic, really. It's like Book of Love, The Pippettes and The Mates of State all jumped in a blender and after the synthetic blood was wiped away we were left with the purified beauty of six dancey, hooky 80s-ish pop songs. Pick this one up at the show, or if you can't make it, I have it on good authority it will be available at either Guestroom Records location after Saturday.
Thirdsies, somewhere in this mix we get to see Subatomic Pieces as well. It'll be nice to hear where the band has gone after releasing Hold Out For Science. Actually, there is a ?new? song on their myspace page you should check out.
See you tonight - oh - big news here - the Opolis is now accepting credit cards!!!!!!!

mp3 shoebox
Crocodile~We Speak For Everyone
Yacht Club!~Strangers
Yacht Club!~How To Get Away PtII

never been

I don't know if it's because Maggie is from Austin, or that spring break has only recently begun to coincide with it, or that I really don't like hoards of people (probably a combo of all these and more to be truthful), but I've never been to SXSW. I remember it from tales of yore; so much so, that I feel as if I have been there every year for the last 22 or whatever. Anyway, this year - I go.
The problem is that of any music lover, how in the hell do you decide what to go to and who to see? We're talking about 1500 or so bands here. Granted, most of them suck, but still....
Thankfully, yesterday, I found out about a cool feature over at Last FM. Check out the SXSW Group page here: http://www.last.fm/group/SXSW+Music/

If you’re an avid user of Last FM, or just have a username from back when, you’ll see that you can type in your username and get your very own Band Aid — a list of all the bands you should see [plus some recommendations] based on your music taste. I tried it and its not a bad list especially when I'm looking at four packed days and nights and there are definitely people I don't want to miss.

here's a handful of what I'm talking about
mp3 shoebox
Bowerbirds~In Our Talons
The Reaction~Right Now
Be Your Own Pet~Bicycle, Bicycle, You Are My Bicycle
Centro-Matic~Triggers And Trash Heaps
Cassettes Won't Listen~Paper Float
Basia Bulat~In The Night
The Virgins~Rich Girls
Team Robespierre~88th Precinct

what do you have to say for yourself?

Not much?
Well, me either, but I do have some exciting news...
In a late add (thanks to these guys) to the Opolis's ever expanding spring schedule, The Deadly Syndrome is playing tonight. This quartet hails more recently from the bright hills of LA's Silverlake neighborhood. Their album, The Ortolan (Dim Mak), was released last fall to warm reviews and subsequent exposure all over the place. They're kinda goofy, in a good sense. To get a feel for what I mean, here's what they have to say for themselves:

Part One, "The Truth"
Four young gentlemen were born to 8 parents. One from New York, One from Louisiana, and the rest from California. Through a series of fortunate events (broken bones, concussions, divorces, successful marriages, siblings, fishing trips, and dreams) the boys all found their way to Los Angeles. The California boys had already known each other from University, and moved there together. The New Yorker moved because it was time to move, and the New Orleanite moved because of the weather. Through jobs and girlfriends the fellows came to realize that they wanted to do something more with their hands, so they built bridges, verses, and pre-choruses. The four guys are now The Deadly Syndrome, where all have a hand in writing the music.

Part Two, "The Lie"
One of them is a liar.
THE END.

So - yeah - I'll see you tonight at the Opolis. Almost forgot, The Separation and Gravity Propulsion System are openers.

mp3 shoebox
The Deadly Syndrome~Winter In You

road runnin'

As soon as I get done at work this evening I will be breaking speed limit laws to get to the Opolis. It's another night of fantastic music - this time with Jonathon Richman. I got to hear a preview of his new album, Because Her Beauty Is Raw And Wild, a couple of days ago and I was immediately drawn in by the rawness of the whole thing. Richman uses the sparseness of the record to bring his singing to the front of the mix and has an intensely live feeling. I guess, in retrospect, it's really not too far off of what he was doing with the Modern Lovers back in the seventies. At any rate, I'm really looking forward to tonights show - see you there.

mp3 shoebox
Modern Lovers~Roadrunner
Phranc~Gertrude Stein
David Bowie~Pablo Picasso


Richamn's album discography
The Modern Lovers
* The Modern Lovers (1976)
* The Original Modern Lovers (1981)

Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers
* Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers (1976)
* Rock 'n' Roll with the Modern Lovers (1977)
* Modern Lovers 'Live' (1978)
* Back in Your Life (late 1978, or 1979)
* Jonathan Sings! (1983)
* Rockin' & Romance (1985)
* It's Time For (1986)
* Modern Lovers 88 (1988)

Jonathan Richman
* Beserkely Chartbusters (Compilation, 4 songs) (1975)
* Jonathan Richman (1989)
* Jonathan Goes Country (1990)
* Having a Party with Jonathan Richman (1991)
* I, Jonathan (1992)
* ¡Jonathan, Te Vas a Emocionar! (1994)
* You Must Ask the Heart (1995)
* Surrender to Jonathan (1996)
* I'm So Confused (1998)
* Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow (2001)
* Not So Much to Be Loved as to Love (2004)