December 31, 2011

Phish: new archival release "12/31/91, Worcester Memorial Auditorium (The New Aud), Worcester, MA"

Twenty years ago Phish performed at Worcester Memorial Auditorium (The New Aud), Worcester, MA. The show is now available as a 3-set digital download and on-demand CD through livephish.com:

Phish had a busy year in 1991, signing a record deal with Elektra Records and touring coast-to-coast for a total of more than 130 shows including a fourteen-show tour with a three-piece horn section and the first unofficial Phish festival at Amy’s Farm. That summer Phish also recorded their third studio album, "A Picture Of Nectar". White Crow Studios in Burlington, Vermont provided the backdrop for Nectar’s namesake with engineering duties covered by Kevin Halpin and Jon Altschiller. While Jon was still getting his start as an engineer, he was also a fan and was among the dozen-or-so tapers at The New Aud for the band's New Year's Eve concert. Thanks to his work on Nectar, Jon was allowed to set up his microphones inside the front-of-house position. He also managed to snag a then-rare soundboard patch from FOH engineer Paul Languedoc.

Fast forward to 2010 when Jon returned to work with Phish on the road as LivePhish.com remote engineer and the seeds were sown for the release of this classic show. Twenty years later, Jon combined his audience and soundboard DAT recordings to create the matrix for The New Aud release. Mastered by Fred Kevorkian, this unique source is a proper document of the show, combining the qualities of both sources and harnessing the electricity that characterized this special performance.

Set I
  1. Possum (8:25)
  2. Foam (8:11)
  3. Sparkle (4:33)
  4. Stash (9:00)
  5. The Lizards (10:03)
  6. Guelah Papyrus (5:46)
  7. Divided Sky (12:42)
  8. Esther > (9:49)
  9. Llama (4:47)
  10. Golgi Apparatus (4:56)
Set II
  1. Brother (6:12)
  2. Bouncing Around The Room (3:43)
  3. Buried Alive > (2:28)
  4. Auld Lang Syne > (0:52)
  5. Runaway Jim (7:37)
  6. The Landlady > (3:27)
  7. Reba (11:30)
  8. Cavern (4:53)
  9. My Sweet One > (2:28)
  10. Run Like An Antelope (10:35)
Set III
  1. Wilson > (6:50)
  2. The Squirming Coil > (7:33)
  3. Tweezer > (13:13)
  4. McGrupp And The Watchful Hosemasters > (8:10)
  5. Mike’s Song > (7:42)
  6. I Am Hydrogen > (3:04)
  7. Weekapaug Groove (7:09)
  8. E: Minkin Appreciation (1:26)
  9. Lawn Boy > (2:30)
  10. Rocky Top > (2:36)
  11. Tweezer Reprise (3:16)

» livephish.com

Phish 2011 NYE Run SBD + torrents: 2011/12/30 New York

Phish: official 12/28-12/31 Poster (green edition)
Official 12/28-12/31 Poster (green edition). Design by DKNG © Phish 2011.

Phish
2011/12/30
Madison Square Garden
New York, NY

Set 1:
  1. Punch You In the Eye >
  2. Prince Caspian[1] >
  3. Backwards Down the Number Line
  4. Nellie Kane
  5. Divided Sky
  6. Sand
  7. Vultures
  8. Rift
  9. Joy
  10. Quinn the Eskimo
Set 2:
  1. Wilson >
  2. Axilla >
  3. Piper >
  4. Twist >
  5. Julius >
  6. Golgi Apparatus >
  7. Also Sprach Zarathustra
  8. The Horse >
  9. Silent in the Morning
  10. David Bowie[2]
  11. The Squirming Coil
Encore:
  1. Boogie On Reggae Woman
  2. Good Times Bad Times

[1] Unfinished.
[2] Silent In the Morning teases.

» Buy the official LivePhish 2011/12/30 release
» (FLAC | FLAC-HD | ALAC | MP3 | CD)

Audience sources:

» Grab your torrent (AKG C414XLS)

December 30, 2011

HCTF's Full Show Friday: Peter Gabriel live @ Grugahalle, Essen, Germany 1978/09/16

Peter Gabriel filmed for the long running Rockpalast series on German TV. Recorded live at the Grugahalle, Essen, Germany - 1978/09/16. He plays tracks from his first two studio albums, with the Genesis favourite >The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway as the encore.

Setlist:
  1. Intro
  2. On The Air
  3. Moribund The Burgermeister
  4. Perspective
  5. Here Comes The Flood
  6. White Shadow
  7. Waiting For The Big One
  8. Humdrum
  9. I Don't Remember
  10. Solsbury Hill
  11. Modern Love
  12. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

Peter Gabriel: vocals, keyboards, drums
Tony Levin: bass, backing vocals, piano
Jerry Marotta: drums, backing vocals, Bass
Larry Fast: synthesisers
Timmy Capello: piano, sax
Sid McGinnis: guitar, backing vocals

» petergabriel.com

Phish 2011 NYE Run SBD + torrents: 2011/12/29 New York

Phish: official 12/28-12/31 Poster (blue edition)
Official 12/28-12/31 Poster (blue edition). Design by DKNG © Phish 2011.

Phish
2011/12/29
Madison Square Garden
New York, NY

Set 1:
  1. The Sloth
  2. You Enjoy Myself
  3. Back On The Train
  4. The Moma Dance
  5. Funky Bitch
  6. Maze
  7. Roses Are Free
  8. Halley's Comet
  9. Run Like An Antelope
Set 2:
  1. Crosseyed and Painless
  2. Simple
  3. Lifeboy
  4. Guyute
  5. Mike's Song
  6. Chalk Dust Torture >
  7. I Am Hydrogen >
  8. Weekapaug Groove
  9. Show Of Life
  10. Character Zero
Encore:
  1. Loving Cup

» Buy the official LivePhish 2011/12/29 release
» (FLAC | FLAC-HD | ALAC | MP3 | CD)

Audience sources:

» Grab your torrent (DPA 4011)

December 29, 2011

Jordan Galland: "The Party Years" video

Watch the Jordan Galland video for The Party Years, a track from his To The Top EP. Sam Koppelman on drums. Sean Lennon on bass. Sissy Clemens on backing vocals. The video was filmed during the recording sessions at Headgear studios in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY.

» jordangalland.com

HCTF review of To The Top.

Phish 2011 NYE Run SBD + torrents: 2011/12/28 New York

Phish: official 12/28-12/31 Poster (green edition)
Official 12/28-12/31 Poster (green edition). Design by DKNG © Phish 2011.

Phish
2011/12/28
Madison Square Garden
New York, NY

Set 1:
  1. Free
  2. Glide >
  3. Possum
  4. Cities
  5. Ballad of Curtis Loew
  6. Stash
  7. Contact
  8. Sample In A Jar
  9. Kill Devil Falls
  10. Bathtub Gin
Set 2:
  1. Birds Of A Feather
  2. Carini >
  3. Tweezer* >
  4. My Friend, My Friend >
  5. Rock 'n' Roll >
  6. NICU
  7. Bouncin' Around the Room
  8. Harry Hood >
  9. Bug
Encore:
  1. Tube >
  2. Rocky Top >
  3. Tweezer Reprise

Note;
*Streets of Cairo Tease

» Buy the official LivePhish 2011/12/28 release
» (FLAC | FLAC-HD | ALAC | MP3 | CD)

Audience sources:

» Grab your torrent (Schoeps CCM4V'S)

December 28, 2011

Jessie Kilguss & Radio Gold: tour dates, new album

NYC singer-songwriter Jessie Killguss, with her band Radio Gold, are releasing their new album The Sky Road in February. They have a couple of shows lined up, roadtesting the new songs.

Live dates:
  • 01/05 Pete's Candy Store, Brooklyn, NY
  • 01/13 Lickity Split, Philadelphia, PA
  • 02/21 11th Street Bar, New York, NY (opening for Julia Haltigan)

» jessiekilguss.com

December 27, 2011

The Right Now: tour dates

Chicago funky soul band The Right Now have a couple of gigs lined up in their home state Illinois.

Live dates:
  • 01/13 Bloomingdale, IL @ Ballydoyle
  • 02/24 Chicago, IL @ Double Door
  • 02/25 Marquette, MI @ Upfront & Co.

Video: The Right Now - 7 to 10
(live @ Magnolia Avenue KDHX studio in St. Louis, MO - 2010/07/09)

» therightnow.com

HCTF review of Carry Me Home.

December 26, 2011

Grace Woodroofe: Always Want

Grace Woodroofe
photo: Jody Pachniuk

If there such a thing as jazzy shoegaze blues, Australlan singer Grace Woodroofe is on the forefront of that genre. Her debut album Always Want made quite an expression in her home country and now is she is trying to conquer the USA, with the David Bowie cover Quicksand as a bonus track.

With her soft-spoken, husky voice Woodroofe gets close, telling her stories about her life, pet peeves and fears. When she lets rip, and she should do that more often, she enters the vocal school were PJ Harvey and Patti Smith teach their pupils about rock and attitude.

Grace Woodroofe: Always Want

Always Want is released on Modular Recordings. USA release date: January 24hh.

Tracks:
  1. I've Handled Myself Wrong
  2. Battles
  3. Transformer
  4. H.
  5. Oh My God
  6. Nocturnal
  7. Bear
  8. Always Want
  9. You'll Never Find Me
  10. Quicksand

» gracewoodroofe.com.au

December 25, 2011

Jimi vs. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named

A man can dream ...

Triggerfinger: UK tour with Thin Lizzy

Belgian power trio Triggerfinger will be on tour in the UK with Thin Lizzy. They play a one-off show in the Netherlands at the Eurosonic Festival in Groningen.

Live dates:
  • 01/12 Groningen, The Netherlands @ Eurosonic Noorderslag
  • 01/19 Glasgow, UK @ Barrowlands
  • 01/20 Inverness, UK @ Ironworks
  • 01/21 Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK @ City Hall
  • 01/23 Leicester, UK @ City Hall
  • 01/24 York, UK @ Barbican
  • 01/25 Cambridge, UK @ Corn Exchange
  • 01/27 Wolverhampton, UK @ Civic Hall
  • 01/28 Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo
  • 01/29 Sheffield, UK @ City Hall
  • 01/31 Plymouth, UK @ Pavilions
  • 02/01 Cardiff, UK @ St Davids Hall
  • 02/03 Brighton, UK @ Dome
  • 02/04 London, UK @ HMV Hammersmith Apollo
  • 03/16 Merksem, Belgium @ Red Bull Soundclash Lotto Arena

Video: Triggerfinger - Let it Ride

» triggerfinger.net

December 24, 2011

John Cale and Dustin Boyer: working on the new album

Photos of John Cale and Dustin Boyer working on the new album.

(Thru john-cale.com)

Words about music (253): Brian Setzer

I can't tell you how many people have asked me to show them Stray Cat Strut and that little diminished run on the C. I guess my brain is wired backwards. I don't know what possessed me to do that, but I did.

Brian Setzer

December 23, 2011

Lykke Li: The Lost Sessions Vol. I

Swedish singer-songwriter Lykke Li has put together a free EP. The Lost Sessions Vol. I has an intriguing demo of this year's single I Follow Rivers and an alternate version that outshines the original: Jerome from her second album Wounded Rhymes. The final track, Youth Knows No Pain is a disappointment - far too much echo on the vocals and awkward percussion.

Lykke Li: The Lost Sessions Vol. I

The Lost Sessions Vol. I is a self-released EP. Download it for free from her website.

Tracks:
  1. I Follow Rivers
  2. Jerome
  3. Youth Knows No Pain

» lykkeli.com

Tom Hall: remixing John Cale

Tom Hall John Cale Remix screenshot
still: Tom Hall

LA based audio/visual artist Tom Hall has made a remix of one of the tracks of the new John Cale EP Extra Playful:

I never, ever thought I’d be working this closely with a member of THE VELVET UNDERGROUND, I’ve almost finished a commissioning from Domino Records to remix a track from John Cales latest ‘Extra Playful’. I’ll be uploading and sending it off to them on the weekend, the track was completed using a full synesthesia approach, melding sound and vision and allowing components of each to intern manipulate the other.

This is as much as I can show for now until Domino releases it sometime in the future.

» tomhall.com.au

HCTF's Full Show Friday: Spottiswoode & His Enemies live @ Joe's Pub, NYC 2007/05/17

First installment of a new regular feature: HCTF's Full Show Friday. It's Spottiswoode & His Enemies live @ Joe's Pub, NYC (2007/05/17). It was the CD release party for their That's What I Like album:

Here is the full performance of one of Spottiswoode & His Enemies' wackiest and most ambitious shows: the 2007 CD release at Joe's Pub for "That's What I Like."

Featuring all the songs from the CD, the concert takes the band on a surreal Mediterranean odyssey.

Spottiswoode as heartbroken rake, Riley McMahon as MC, Kevin Cordt and Candace DeBartolo in multiple roles, Tony Lauria as a Neapolitan gigolo and John Young and Tim Vaill as rhythm police.

Film directed by Brian Dilg, edited by Andrew Blackwell.

Video: Spottiswoode & His Enemies - Live @ Joe's Pub, NYC - 2007/05/17

» spottiswoode.com

HCTF review of That's What I Like.

December 22, 2011

Phish: Summer tour in 2012

Phish
photo: Autumn DeWilde

Hidden Track reports about the plans for the 2012 Summer tour by jam band Phish:

Buried deep within the Press of Atlantic City’s article on the City Council delaying a vote on the possibility of bringing music festivals to Bader Field in 2012 comes confirmation that Phish is planning to tour next summer. Promoter Starr Hill Presents representative Ken MacDonald told the paper that Phish “will tour next summer” when he was asked about the possibility that the group will headline one of four festivals his company is planning for Atlantic City in 2012. MacDonald would neither confirm nor deny that Phish will indeed headline one of the events, but did confirm that Phish is planning to tour. Phish manager Coran Capshaw founded Starr Hill, a sister company of Red Light Management.

» phish.com

Spanky Davis: "Worm Food" video

Watch the video for Worm Food from the Two Thousand Twenty album by Spanky Davis, a Dustin Boyer project dedicated to left-field funk dance weirdness. Not to be confused with jazz trumpeter Ronald J. "Spanky" Davis. Video created by Carmen Bla.

The album was recorded on every Saturday of May 2011 with a Roland VS-880 Digital 8 track. Mixed by Dustin Boyer. Buy it from CD Baby.

» facebook.com/DustinCurtisBoyer

Cover Me: Where Is My Mind

Watch Sunday Girl cover the Pixies classic Where Is My Mind. She got lucky, getting tons of exposure when the song was picked for a TV ad for a UK travel agency.

» wearesundaygirl.com

Eilen Jewell: tour dates

Alt.country singer Eilen Jewell will be touring extensively in 2012, promoting her latest album Queen of the Minor Key. No European dates, but that's bound to happen during Autumn.

Live dates:
  • 01/12 Wilmington, DE @ World Cafe Live at The Queen
  • 01/13 Fall River, MA @ Narrows Center for the Arts
  • 01/14 Fall River, MA @ Narrows Center for the Arts
  • 01/15 Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse Music Hall (Honky Tonk Girl: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn)
  • 01/16 Arlington, VA @ IOTA Club and Cafe
  • 01/17 Raleigh, NC @ The Berkeley Cafe
  • 01/18 Wilmington, NC @ The Soap Box
  • 01/19 Charlotte, NC @ The Visulite
  • 01/20 Athens, TN @ The Arts Center
  • 01/21 Stauton, VA @ Mockingbird
  • 02/17 Piermont, NY @ Turning Point
  • 02/18 North Bennington, VT @ Basement Music Series
  • 02/23 Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop
  • 02/24 Springfield, IL @ Hoogland Center for the Arts
  • 02/25 Berwyn, IL @ Fitzgerald’s
  • 02/28 Grand Rapids, Mi @ Tip Top
  • 03/01 Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe
  • 03/02 Jim Thorpe, PA @ Mauch Chunk Opera House
  • 03/03 Cooperstown, NY @ The Otesaga Hotel
  • 03/08 Brooklyn, NY @ The Bell House
  • 03/09 Geneva, NY @ Club 86
  • 03/10 Peterborough, NH @ Peterborough Players Theatre
  • 04/05 Byron Bay, Australia @ Byron Bay Bluesfest
  • 04/06 Byron Bay, Australia @ Byron Bay Bluesfest
  • 04/13 Shirley, MA @ Bull Run
  • 04/14 Collinsville, CT @ Bridge Street
  • 04/18 Jackson, MS @ Hal & Mal’s
  • 04/19 Dallas, TX @ AllGood Cafe
  • 04/20 Houston, TX @ Mucky Duck
  • 04/21 San Antonio, TX @ Fiesta Arts Fair
  • 04/22 Driftwood, TX @ Old Settler’s Music Festival
  • 05/05 Windsor, CT @ Northwest Park Nature Center
  • 06/02 Turners Falls, MA @ Shea Theater w/ Los Straitjackets
  • 06/06 Annapolis, MD @ Rams Head Tavern w/ Los Straitjackets
  • 06/07 Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live w/ Los Straitjackets
  • 06/08 NYC, NY @ City Winery w/ Los Straitjackets
  • 09/07 Bowling Green, OH @ The Black Swamp Arts Festival
  • 09/08 Bowling Green, OH @ The Black Swamp Arts Festival

Video: Eilen Jewell - Queen of the Minor Key

» eilenjewell.com

HCTF review of Queen of the Minor Key.

December 21, 2011

Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra: "No Place to Go" in NYC

Jazzy lounge band Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra will do an encore presentation of the band's new music theater piece, No Place to Go, in their hometown New York.

(..) an evening of story and song about the demise of an American workplace. This piece was commissioned through the NEA as part of their New York Voices series, which will also featured works by Allen Toussaint, Lady Rizo, Toshi Reagon and Angelique Kidjo.

» ethanlipton.com

John Cale: on tour in Belgium, Italy and Spain

John Cale has announced the first batch of dates of an European Spring tour. He will be playing in Belgium, Italy and Spain.

Live dates:
  • 03/12 C-minecultuurcentrum, Genk, Belgium
  • 03/15 Spazio Mil, Sesto San Giovanni, Italy
  • 03/16 Orion Club, Ciampino, Italy
  • 03/17 Hiroshima Mon Amour Club, Turin, Italy
  • 03/20 Sala Apolo, Barcelona, Spain
  • 03/21 Sala BBK, Bilbao, Spain
  • 03/24 La Coruña Palacio de Congresos, Coruña, Spain
  • 03/25 Sala Joy Eslava, Madrid, Spain

» John Cale tour dates

December 20, 2011

Trucker Diablo: The Devil Rhythm

Big noise boys from Northern Ireland. Trucker Diablo self-released their The Devil Rhythm album, which is now gets another outing Californian rock speciality label Ripple Music with an extra track - the CD gives access to two bootleg quality live tracks recorded at the Download Festival).

Trucker Diablo is right in your face, with two loud guitars, pummeling bass and a punisher hitting the skins of drum kit. With all the mayhem clamoring for attention, the recording engineer rose to the occasion balancing things out - with al needles hovering in the red changes are that you end up with a muddy, murky sound that lacks oomph. The deviant vocals are halfway between C.F. Turner (BTO) and Carl Sentance. The testosterone filled lyrics deal with basic things: (beer, big trucks and getting into (girl) trouble). These guys have the potential to reach the upper reaches of big halls, and an appearance before a crowd of 6000 at Donington Park's renowned Download Festival got them rave reviews.

With The Devil Rhythm the quartet gives classic rock another lease on life. If you a parent, bring you kids to a show and make their ears bleed. And if you're a kid, bring your parents.

Trucker Diablo:
Tom Harte: guitar, vocals
Simon Haddock: guitar, vocals
Glenn Harrison: bass
Terry Crawford: drums

Trucker Diablo: The Devil Rhythm

The Devil Rhythm is released on Ripple Music. Release date: January 3rd (USA), February 6th (UK).

Tracks:
  1. Drink Beer, Destroy
  2. Juggernaut (feat. Ricky Warwick)
  3. Big Truck
  4. Stand Up and Fight
  5. Voodoo
  6. Never Too Late To Sin (featuring Matt Fitzsimons)
  7. Dirty Love
  8. Black and Blue
  9. When Angels Die
  10. Rattlehead
  11. Bonus track: Running Scared (previously unreleased)

Video: Trucker Diablo - Drink Beer, Destroy

» truckerdiablo.com

December 19, 2011

Cover Me: I Wanna Be Your Dog

Watch Aussie blues singer Grace Woodroofe tackle The Stooges' classic I Wanna Be Your Dog, recorded live in the Relix boiler room. Her debut album Always Want comes out January 24th on Modular.

» gracewoodroofe.com.au

Lovebugs: free MP3 "The Letting Go"

Swiss pop band Lovebugs are sharing a track from their forthcoming new album. The Letting Go features Belgian singer Sarah Bettens. Build upon an acoustic guitar motive, the vocals ride on top of meandering synths and a straightforward rhythm section.

The Love Bugs:
Adrian Sieber: vocals
Thomas Rechberger: guitars
Stefan Wagner: keyboards
Florian Senn: bass
Simon Ramseier: drums

» lovebugs.com

Lotus: Winter tour dates

Lotus

Electro-dance jam band Lotus have announced their Winter tour. The quartet plays a NYE show in their hometown Philadelphia before taking a short break. The Winter tour starts in Denver on February 4. They fly to Europe next performing at The Melkweg in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, at the Jam in the Dam festival.

Live dates:
  • 12/31 Festival Pier @ Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, PA
  • 02/04 The Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO
  • 02/14 Madison Theater, Covington, KY
  • 02/15 The Intersection, Grand Rapids, MI
  • 02/16 Goshen Theater, Goshen, IN
  • 02/17 Congress Theater, Chicago, IL
  • 02/18 The Pageant, St. Louis, MO
  • 02/22 Minglewood Hall, Memphis, TN
  • 02/23 Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa, OK
  • 02/24 Trees, Dallas, TX
  • 02/25 La Zona Rosa, Austin, TX
  • 02/26 Warehouse Live Ballroom, Houston, TX
  • 02/28 WorkPlay, Birmingham, AL
  • 02/29 The Music Farm, Charleston, SC
  • 03/01 Orange Peel, Asheville, NC
  • 03/02 Marathon Music Works, Nashville, TN
  • 03/03 Georgia Theatre, Athens, GA
  • 03/04 Beacham Theatre, Orlando, FL
  • 03/06 Freebird Live, Jacksonville Beach, FL
  • 03/08 Brooklyn Arts Center, Wilmington, NC
  • 03/09 The NorVa, Norfolk, VA
  • 03/10 The National, Richmond, VA
  • 03/14 Jam in the Dam @ Melkweg, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 03/15 Jam in the Dam @ Melkweg, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 03/16 Jam in the Dam @ Melkweg, Amsterdam, The Netherlands


(Evergreenary by Lotus)

» lotusvibes.com

December 18, 2011

The Dresden Dolls: on tour in Australia and New Zealand

DIY punk cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls go down under in early January Amanda Palmer (piano, vocals) and Brian Viglione (drums, guitar, bass) will be kicking off with a show in Brisbane, Australia.

Live dates:
  • 01/05 The Tivoli, Brisbane, Australia #
  • 01/07 The Enmore Theatre, Sydney, Australia #
  • 01/08 Forum Theatre, Melbourne, Australia #
  • 01/11 The Gov, Adelaide, Australia #
  • 01/12 Astor Theatre, Perth, Australia #
  • 01/19 MONA FOMA, Hobart, Tasmania (w/ PJ Harvey, Ryoji Ikeda, Amiina, Pierre Henry, Phillip Adams BalletLab, IHOS, The David Chesworth Ensemble, and MANY more)
  • 01/25 Aurora Centre for the Performing Arts, Christchurch, New Zealand *
  • 01/27 Powerstatio, Auckland, New Zealand @
  • 01/28 The Opera House, Wellington, New Zealand @

# w/ The Bedroom Philosopher and The Jane Austen Argument
* w/ Hera featuring House of Mountain
@ w/ Princess Chelsea

» dresdendolls.com

Hogie: Folk From The Smoke

Hogie, aka Tim Higgins, is a Jack of all trades when it comes to the arts, trying his hand at painting, photography, film and graphic design. Currently on a foray to make a living with music, he has just released the Folk From The Smoke EP.

The four lo-fi tracks were recorded within two days in Liverpool, produced by Mike Badger, founder member of The La’s . Higgins' hoarse vocals are tailor-made for the honky tonk music, laid down by a band members of The Shady Trio and The Loose Moose String Band. Folk From the Smoke contains the kind of heartfelt tunes you hope to run into when you enter a pub with a tiny stage for live music.

Hogie: Folk From The Smoke

Folk From The Smoke is a self-released EP. Buy it from his website. Full stream available on Soundcloud.

Tracks:
  1. Holding Out On Hope
  2. Too Many People
  3. Folk From The Smoke
  4. Winterland (Blues)


(Folk From The Smoke by Hogie)

» hogiewagon.com

December 17, 2011

Jim White: new album " Where It Hits You" 02/21

Jim White

Singer-songwriter Jim White releases his fifth full-length album entitled Where It Hits You on February 21, 2012. It is his first for Yep Roc Records. The first single of the album, Infinite Mind, can be downloaded for free from his Facebook page.

» jimwhite.net

Words about music (252): Nick Lowe

These days, rock 'n' roll is much more about rock than about roll. I don't do rock. But I'm interested in that roll part, because that's the funny little bit that makes it hip.

Nick Lowe

December 16, 2011

The Beach Boys: 50th Anniversary Reunion, New Album and Tour

The Beach Boys will hit the road celebrating their 50th anniversary. Their back catalog get another outing and there will be a new album, too.

Start saving - tickets prize will skyrocket.

Hollywood, California – December 16, 2011 – The founding members of The Beach Boys, one of the world's most legendary bands in popular music history, will reunite for a global 50th Anniversary CELEBRATION in 2012. Beach Boys Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks will come together for a new studio album and commemorative catalog releases with Capitol/EMI and a 50-date international tour to begin in April with a headlining performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival ("Jazz Fest") as well as other exciting events to be announced.

Brian Wilson says, "This anniversary is special to me because I miss the boys and it will be a thrill for me to make a new record and be on stage with them again."

Mike Love says, "We got together at Capitol Records and re-recorded 'Do It Again.' Brian and I wrote that song which went to number 1 in Great Britain, Australia and elsewhere some 44 years ago. Brian paid me a compliment saying, 'How can a guy sound that great so many years later?' Later on, while working out some harmonies on a new song Brian had written, I got a chance to return the compliment. It was a thrill to be around a piano again with Brian, Alan and Bruce and experience firsthand the brilliance of Cousin Brian's gift for vocal arrangements. I am very much looking forward to David Marks joining us and thrilling with his surf guitar licks. Music has been the unifying and harmonizing fact of life in our family since childhood. It has been a huge blessing that we have been able to share with the world. Wouldn't It Be Nice to Do It Again? Absolutely!"

Al Jardine says, "The Beach Boys were recently inducted into the California Hall of Fame. From our humble beginnings as brothers, cousins and friends, we have been honored to sing the praises of California, and I'm really excited for our fans to be able to see us again in concert on the world stage, and to celebrate our 50th anniversary together with a new studio album."

Bruce Johnston says, "I will be looking forward to singing Brian Wilson's melodies and Mike Love's lyrics once again in concert with many of the original band members, but imagine what we all could come up with vocally in a recording studio atmosphere under Brian's musical direction."

David Marks says, "I'm really looking forward to celebrating this important milestone in The Beach Boys' history with the other guys, and with Capitol Records - where it all began 50 years ago. It means a lot to me that we can all reunite and pay tribute to the fans who have kept the music alive."

The Beach Boys have already recorded several songs for their new album, to be released in 2012 by Capitol/EMI, with more tracks to be recorded before its completion. The as-yet-untitled album, the first to feature all of the band's surviving original members in decades, is being produced by Brian Wilson and executive produced by Mike Love.

The Beach Boys and Capitol/EMI have also teamed up for a 50th Anniversary campaign spotlighting the band's entire catalog, with several new commemorative releases planned for 2012, including a new hits collection and a career-spanning box set.

Roger Faxon, CEO of EMI Group commented: "It's no exaggeration to say that The Beach Boys are one of the greatest and most loved bands that the world has ever produced, and true American icons. We are incredibly proud to take this next step with them as our partnership enters its fiftieth year, and I can't wait to see the band back together doing what they do better than anyone else."

Colin Finkelstein, COO of EMI Music North America said: "We're honored to continue Capitol/EMI's historic partnership with The Beach Boys as they celebrate their fiftieth anniversary. The Beach Boys bring the best of California's sun and surf culture to people all over the world with their music, and we're really looking forward to working with the band on the new album and commemorative catalog releases - a real CELEBRATION of fifty years!"

Quint Davis, producer/director, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival says, "It's an honor to present the original Beach Boys reunion at Jazz Fest 2012. Hosting the greatest artists of our era has always been the primary mission of Jazz Fest, and certainly The Beach Boys are unsurpassed as an iconic American musical and cultural institution. Every spring Jazz Fest is the number-one destination for good vibrations and fun, fun, fun; on April 27th, when The Beach Boys reunite on our biggest stage, it's going to feel like a thrilling homecoming for everyone lucky enough to be there. We're all looking forward to experiencing the magic and the joy."

Video: The Beach Boys: 50th Anniversary Reunion, New Album and Tour

» thebeachboys.com

HCTF's XMAS songs extravaganza

It is the season to be jolly, bur for serious music lovers, Christmas is Hell on Earth, with muzak dripping out of cheap speakers everywhere you go. Don't panic, there is some good stuff (old and new) too.

How about some funk? Christmas Past is a track from Holidelic, an album written by NYC citizen Everett Bradley. Christmas Past was co-written by Don Rosler and features a nifty harp solo by William Galison:

» holidelic.com

Singer-songwriter Anna Vogelzang folkifies Phil Spector's Wall of Sound, with her rendition of Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).

» theanna.bandcamp.com

As per usual there is some controversy. A Michigan teacher can't handle the word "gay" in the Welsh traditional Deck The Halls and goes on tho suggest to replace it with "bright". There are thousands of versions this song. Listen to NOLA blues singer Olga:


(Olga - Deck The Halls by Here Comes The Flood)

» laolga.com

If you are a bigot, skip the next track. Spottiswoode & His Enemies sing about Chelsea Boys roaming the streets of NYC Video & illustrations by Maria Eugenia.

» spottiswoode.com

Need something a bit louder and darker? Nightmare On Christmas by Los Angeles heavy metal outfit KRASHKARMA is about death and destruction:

» krashkarma.com

Last but not least: Dutch alt.rockers De Staat fuck up sugar-coated classic Let It Snow in a good way:

» destaat.net

December 15, 2011

Dave Keener: The Easy Way

NYC singer-songwriter Dave Keener is a serious guy nowadays,. After releasing a couple of of anti-folk comedy albums as Them Keener Boys with his brother brother, his new solo effort The Easy Way he turns his attention to the ultimate source of songwriting: relationships. Heartbreak is great material for a good song and this album has plenty of them.

Elvis Costello is one of his heroes, sharing a love for straightforward lyrics that run deep. Guitar in Your Hand, the first song he wrote for the album, is a three minute elevator pitch for what would grow into a subdued album, with loss, anger and frustration bubbling under the surface. Make no mistake. Keener can get mad, attacking his acoustic guitar during Now You Tell Me, but it works even better when he wraps his punches in a cheerful poppy arrangement a la They Might Be Giants, with I Dunno But and In A Dream She as the prime examples.

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: on tour in North America and Europe

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
photo: Mary Ellen Matthews

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers will be on tour in Europe for the first time in twenty years in June 2012. They are headlining the Isle of Wight Festival. Dates have been confirmed in Ireland, Italy. Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, UK, Switzerland, and France. Their Spring tour takes them across the USA, with a single show in Canada.

North American tour:
  • 04/19 1stBank Center, Broomfield, CO
  • 04/21 Verizon Arena (formerly Alltel Arena), Little Rock, AR
  • 04/24 Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, NM
  • 04/26 INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS
  • 04/28 Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans, LA
  • 04/29 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, Alpharetta, GA
  • 05/01 Germain Arena. Estero, FL
  • 05/03 Amway Center (Formerly Amway Arena). Orlando, FL
  • 05/05 Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX
  • 06/03 Mile One Centre, St. Johns, NL
European tour:
  • 06/07 02 Arena, Dublin, Ireland
  • 06/08 Live At The Marquee, Cork, Ireland
  • 06/10 O2 World (Formerly Color Line Arena), Hamburg, Germany
  • 06/12 Open Air, Horsens, Denmark
  • 06/14 Stockholm Globe Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
  • 06/15 Norwegian Wood Fest, Oslo, Norway
  • 06/22 Isle of Wight Festival @ Seaclose Park, Newport, UK
  • 06/24 Hallenstadion Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • 06/25/12 Mon Lanxess Arena, Cologne, Germany
  • 06/27/12 Wed Grand Re,d Paris, France
  • 06/29 Piazza Napoleone, Lucca, Italy
  • 06/30 SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany

Video: Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers - Something Good Coming

» tompetty.com

HCTF review of Mojo.

December 14, 2011

Phish: Live Webcast of 4-Night Sold Out MSG Run

All four Phish shows of the 4-night NYE run (12/28-31) at Madison Garden in New York will be offered as pay-per-view webcasts:

In order to celebrate New Year's with everyone, the band will offer live webcasts at LivePhish.com of each of their four sold-out shows (including Phish's New Year's Eve three-set performance) at New York City's Madison Square Garden. LivePhish.com will broadcast a 10-camera, high definition shoot with high quality audio mixed live. Fans can tune in on their large screen TVs via HDMI-equipped PCs or Macs, as well as on Android devices, Boxee, Xbox, Wii, and Playstation game consoles.

If you've got alternate New Year's Eve plans, you can still purchase the LivePhish Webcasts. Within 72 hours of each concert, we'll post an archived video stream available only to fans
who purchased the live webcast. When the archived stream is available, we will email you a code to watch the video (you will have 48 hours to redeem your code and watch the archived concert).

» phish.com

December 13, 2011

Montpelier goes on hiatus: final show, new EP

Aussie pop band Montpelier calls it quits for now. Their last show doubles a the release party for their second EP Feed The City:

We recently decided that after more than 2 years together Montpelier will go on an indefinite hiatus. To celebrate our time together as a band and to thank you all for your amazing support we will be playing one final show on January 14th, 2012. We will also be releasing our second EP, titled “Feed The City”.
We’d love more than anything for you to share one more night of music with us and to celebrate what you’ve helped us achieve in our time as a band. We’re so so excited and grateful that our dear friends Charlie Mayfair will once again be taking the stage with us.
  • 01/14 The Zoo, Brisbane, Australia (w/ Charlie Mayfair and Special Guests)

Tickets are on sale through oztix.com.au.

» montpeliermusic.com

Bear Cavalry: Maple Trails EP

UK band Bear Cavalry, a quartet from Gosport, have found a way to mix African beats with synth pop, a dash of prog and joyous trumpets. They have just released the Maple Trails EP. With falsetto vocals and pretty good harmonizing they stand out in the flood of indie hopefuls.

The prog bit is most prominent in their lyrics, with a tangent for weirdness, geek stuff and fairy tales. Maple Trails is just-in-time for the hipsters crowd for their best of 2011 lists.

Bear Cavalry: Maple Trails EP

The Maple Trails EP is released on Hot Wax Records. Buy it from the band's website. Stream of the full EP on Soundcloud.

Tracks:
  • Roman Summer
  • Custom Hands
  • Will Smith Solves The Rubik's Cube
  • Dragon's Mike Pt. II
UK live dates:
  • 12/22 The LP, Bury St Edmonds (w/ Black Sands and Alloy Ark)
  • 12/28 Southampton Joiners, Southampton (w/ Sweetheart and Art)
  • 01/06 Barfly Camden, London (w/ Adults, The Elderly and Children)

» facebook.com/bearcavalryband

December 12, 2011

HCTF on Cull TV

Some major movers and shakers (Sony Computer Entertainment, Linden Lab, Intel, and more) have unleashed another means of communication. Cull TV enables viewers to create their own channels of favorite music videos. An "Auto DJ", basically a crawler with a recommender algorithm, suggest other stuff you might like. Pretty bizarre results a times at first, but hey, it's a stupid robot.

On the upside: once you add more videos to a channel and dig a little deeper, the robot tends to get smarter, serving up stuff you never heard of, but might actually like. And of course you can turn off the Audio DJ all together.

» HCTF on Cull TV
» cull.tv

Tyler Ramsey: The Valley Wind

Multi-instrumentalist Tyler Ramsey knows how to hold to back. His sophomore album A Long Dream About Swimming Across The Sea landed him a job as the lead guitarist for Band of Horses, required him to turn things up a little. As a solo artist he persists in creating mainly acoustic songs. His third solo release The Valley Wind is bit more country than its predecessors. Recording took only six days Alex The Great studio in Nashvile, TN, with Band Of Horses band mate Bill Reynolds (bass and producing) an Seth Kauffman (Floating Action) on drums, guitar, background vocals.

Ramsey has a voice filled with melancholy and using echo in songs like 1000 Black Birds and Time Is A Changing Line makes him sounds a bit like the missing link between Ryan Adams and Neil Young. As an accomplished guitar picker channeling his heroes John Fahey and Leo Kottke, Ramsey has the ability to conjure up notes that are not there, The Valley Wind is an intimate, intricate album. With the lonesome The Nightbird Ramsey has written a welcome addition for the playlists of late night Americana radio shows.

The Caretakers: free song "Flowers for Peace"

Hamilton folk band The Caretakers are offering their protest song Flowers for Peace as a free download, encouraging listeners to donate to War Child Canada. The track is the first single of their second album Love, War and Propaganda, which will be released next year.

» thecaretakers.ca

HCTF review of Unfinished Thoughts.

The Rolling Stones: "Beast of Burden" video

Watch The Rolling Stones perform Beast of Burden. Taken from their Some Girls: The Rolling Stones - Live in Texas DVD/Blu-ray. The show was filmed at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, on 18 July 1978.

» rollingstones.com

Mike Gordon 2011 Fall tour: 2011/12/11 Albany

Mike Gordon
photo: Julia Mordaunt

Mike Gordon
2011/12/11
The Egg
Albany, NY

Set 1:
  1. Horizon Line
  2. Only A Dream
  3. I'm Deranged
  4. The Way It Goes
  5. Just a Rose
  6. Voices
  7. River Niger
  8. Don't Do It >
  9. Horizon Line
Set 2:
  1. Sugar Shack
  2. Hand in My Pocket
  3. Dig Further Down
  4. Crumblin' Bones
  5. Skin It Back
  6. Hap-Nappy
  7. Won't Get Fooled Again
Encore:
  1. Suzy Greenberg[1]

Notes from phish.net:
[1] Mike Gordon debut, with Steve Pollak on vocals.
This setlist is unconfirmed. "Suzy Greenberg" was a Mike Gordon debut and featured Steve Pollak (The Dude of Life) on vocals.

» mike-gordon.com

December 11, 2011

Mike Gordon 2011 Fall tour: 2011/12/10 Northampton

Mike Gordon
photo: Autumn DeWilde

Mike Gordon
2011/12/10
Calvin Theatre
Northampton, MA

Set 1:
  1. Dig Further Down
  2. Sideways
  3. Willow Tree
  4. Meat
  5. Andelmans' Yard
  6. Barika[1]
  7. Don't Do It[1]
  8. The Beltless Buckler[2] >
  9. Sailin' Shoes
  10. Soulfood Man[3]
Set 2:
  1. Couch Lady
  2. Jones >
  3. own to the Nightclub >
  4. Can't Stand Still
  5. Be Good and You'll Be Lonely
  6. Sound
  7. What Things Seem
  8. Black Tambourine[3]
  9. Another Door
Encore:
  1. Things That Make You Go Hmmm...

Notes from phish.net:
[1] Mike Gordon debut.
[2] "Godfather" theme tease from Mike.
[3] "Chameleon" tease.
This setlist is unconfirmed. This show featured the Mike Gordon debuts of the instrumental "Barika" (by the band also named Barika, written by Craig Myers) and "Don't Do It" (Marvin Gaye, popularized by The Band). "The Beltless Buckler" featured a "Speak Softly Love (Love Theme from The Godfather)" tease from Mike. "Soulfood Man" and "Black Tamborine" contained "Chameleon" teases.

» mike-gordon.com

December 10, 2011

John Cale on Facebook

John Cale has just started an official Facebook page.

» facebook.com/OfficialJohnCale

Mike Gordon 2011 Fall tour: 2011/12/09 Pawtucket

Mike Gordon
photo: Autumn DeWilde

Mike Gordon
2011/12/09
The Met
Pawtucket, RI

Set 1:
  1. Traveled Too Far >
  2. Sugar Shack >
  3. Traveled Too Far >
  4. Sugar Shack >
  5. The Field >
  6. Ain't Love Funny >
  7. Kryermaten >
  8. Traveled Too Far >
  9. Sugar Shack, I Miss My Mind >
  10. The Void >
  11. La La La >
  12. Traveled Too Far
Set 2:
  1. Cities
  2. Susskind Hotel >
  3. Cruel World
  4. The Void >
  5. She Said She Said[1] >
  6. Sugar Shack >
  7. She Said She Said >
  8. Sugar Shack >
  9. The Walls of Time
  10. No One Receiving >
  11. Susskind Hotel
  12. Hap-Nappy[2]
Encore:
  1. Clone

[1] "Swingtown" quotes.
[2] "Heartbreaker" tease.

Audience sources:

» Grab your torrent (flac16)
» Grab your torrent (flac24)

» mike-gordon.com

Words about music (251): Freddie Mercury

We were disliked by the press in the early days because they couldn't put their finger on us, and that was the case with Zeppelin as well.

Freddie Mercury

December 09, 2011

John Cale: redesign of john-cale.com

The official John Cale website has a new look-and-feel.

» john-cale.com

Princess Chelsea: Lil' Golden Book

Princess Chelsea is the solo recording project of Chelsea Nikkel from Auckland, New Zealand. With the piano and assorted keyboards as her main instruments, he sings quirky pop songs, with a schoolgirl voice that softens the darker meanings of her lyrics. Her debut album Lil' Golden Book is a collection of fairy tales an true stories without Hollywood endings. Apparently she doesn't care much for alcohol (Too Fast To Live) and tobacco (The Cigarette Duet with Jonathan Bree of The Brunettes).

A grandiose song like Overseas was made for the big screen, while the treated vocals and old school keyboard of Frack have Eighties revival written all over them. Lil' Golden Book is an album with lots of ideas. Not all of them are good - Goodnight Little Robot Child is an overlong experiment that goes nowhere, trying a bit too hard to sound different.

Princess Chelsea: Lil' Golden Book

Lil' Golden Book is released on Lil' chief Records.

Tracks:
  1. Machines Of Loving Grace
  2. Yulia
  3. Ice Reign
  4. Monkey Eats Bananas
  5. Caution Repetitive
  6. The Cigarette Duet
  7. Too Fast To Live
  8. Overseas
  9. Frack
  10. Goodnight Little Robot Child
  11. Ice Reign Reprise

Video: Princess Chelsea - The Cigarette Duet

» facebook.com/wonderfulprincesschelsea

December 08, 2011

Zappatika: "Are We All Confuzed?" video

Watch Zappatika on their epic journey to the Zappanale in Bad Doberan, Germany - 2010/08/14, with their song Are We All Confuzed? as the soundtrack. Celtic soul meets avant-garde. Yes, that's Ike Willis who would later join them on stage.

» zappatika.com

Amy Winehouse: Lioness: Hidden Treasures

Posthumous releases are tricky. You can fill a couple of shelves with total crap outtakes, alternate takes, demos and what-not. Lioness: Hidden Treasures, the third Amy Winehouse album has its fair share of clunkers - somebody please shoot the guy who thought that it would be a good idea to let rapper Nas piss all over Like Smoke. Body And Soul, a duet with Tony Bennett is another example of a duet of two famous singers who never gel.

Miss Winehouse had a great voice and there is plenty of good stuff to be heard on this album. Between The Cheats and Best Friends are gut wrenching songs about her rocky relationship and the cover of the bossa nova classic The Girl From Ipanema finds her in a jazz mood, a genre that got overshadowed later on in her career. On the other hand there are three alternate versions of song that ended up on Back to Black ... As a work-in-progress it's nice to have them, but it would have made more sense to add those to another expanded version of that album.

This album is no match for Frank and Back to Black, records who lifted her to superstar status, widely regarded as the greatest singer of the 21st century until now. Don't expect this to be this last addition to her discography. It would be safe to assume that there will another grab bag release just in time for your 2012 Christmas shopping list.

Amy Winehouse: Lioness: Hidden Treasures

Lioness: Hidden Treasures is released on Universal Republic.

Tracks:
  1. Our Day Will Come (produced by Salaam Remi. 2002)
  2. Between The Cheats (produced by Salaam Remi. May 2008)
  3. Tears Dry (produced by Salaam Remi. November 2005)
  4. Wake Up Alone (produced by Paul O’Duffy. March 2006)
  5. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (Shirelles original. produced by Mark Ronson, featuring Dap Kings. September 2004)
  6. Valerie (produced by Mark Ronson. December 2006)
  7. Like Smoke with Nas (produced by Salaam Remi. May 2008)
  8. The Girl From Ipanema (produced by Salaam Remi. May 2002)
  9. Halftime (produced by Salaam Remi. August 2002)
  10. Best Friends (produced by Salaam Remi. February 2003)
  11. Body & Soul with Tony Bennett (produced by Phil Ramone. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios. March 2011. Amy’s final recording)
  12. A Song For You (Leon Russell original. produced by Salaam Remi. Spring 2009)

» amywinehouse.co.uk

Big Head Todd and The Monsters: Winter tour dates

Boulder blues band Big Head Todd and The Monsters have announced their Winter club tour. They will perform the Midnight Radio album in its entirety at a few select shows.

Live dates:
  • 12/31 House of Blues Chicago, IL (w/ Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven)
  • 01/13 Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA #
  • 01/14 Cannery Ballroom, Nashville, TN
  • 01/15 Headliner's Music Hall, Louisville, KY
  • 01/18 Infinity Hall, Norfolk, CT
  • 01/19 Theatre of the Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
  • 01/20 Calvin Theater, Northampton, MA
  • 01/21 Irving Plaza New, York, NY #
  • 01/27 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C.
  • 01/28 House of Blues, Boston, MA #
  • 02/01 Super Bowl Village 2012, Indianapolis, IN
  • 02/02 Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI
  • 02/03 Varsity Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
  • 02/04 The Pageant, St. Louis, MO
  • 02/10 Crystal Bay Club Crown Room, Crystal Bay, NV
  • 02/11 The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA #
  • 02/12 Saint Rocke, Hermosa Beach, CA
  • 02/14 Coach House, San Juan, CApistrano, CA
  • 02/15 The Canyon Club, Agoura Hills, CA
  • 02/17 Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR #
  • 02/18 The Neptune Seattle, WA #
  • 02/19 Knitting Factory, Concert House Spokane, WA
  • 03/01 House of Blues, Dallas, TX
  • 03/02 House of Blues, Houston, TX
  • 03/03 Stubb's BBQ, Austin, TX #
  • 03/08 State Theatre, St. Petersburg, FL
  • 03/09 House of Blues, Lake Buena Vista, FL
  • 03/11 Culture Room, Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • 03/11 Florida Theatre, Jacksonville, FL
  • 03/14 Handle Bar, Greenville, SC
  • 03/15 Music Farm, Charleston, SC
  • 03/16 The Fillmore, Charlotte, NC
  • 03/17 House of Blues, Myrtle Beach, SC
  • 03/18 Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh, NC

# performing Midnight Radio in its entirety with second full set

Video: Big Head Todd and The Monsters - Please Don't Tell Her
(live @ Red Rocks - 2011/06/11)

» bigheadtodd.com

December 07, 2011

Life in a Blender: Homewrecker Spoon

Life in a Blender
photo: Stephanie Keith

Brooklyn band Life in a Blender have been around for twenty-five years, creating their unique blend of vaudeville, rock and Americana. Their seventh full-length is entitled Homewrecker Spoon. Songwriter Don Ralph has a sardonic outlook on life, creating vignettes and stories about hustlers (Go To Man), troublesome drug-stained cutlery (Homewrecker Spoon), and a great Scotsman (Sean Connery).

The music sounds like The Kinks in their Preservation Act phase, with a bit of Tom Waits, the B52s and David Bowie thrown in. Life in a Blender is not above throwing a spanner in the works, inserting a snippet of If I Can't Have You into the album's most remarkable song, The Rain Makes Me Thirsty, which also gives a nod to acoustic jazz maestro Django Reinhardt.

Gold Streets: "Serious Business" interview

Brooklyn indie rockers Gold Streets were interviewed by BreakThru Radio for their Serious Business segment.

» goldstreetsnyc.com

HCTF review of Go.

Guitars: that's exactly how they work

December 06, 2011

Savoir Adore: "Dreamers" single, on tour with Oh Land

Brooklyn indie pop duo Savoir Adore are releasing a new single as the forerunner for a new full-length. Dreamers is avalable as a limited edition 7" on Neon Gold Records. The B-side is a Xaphoon Jones Space Horn Remix of the song.

MP3: Savoir Adore - Dreamers
MP3: Savoir Adore - Dreamers ( Xaphoon Jones Space Horn Remix)

They are on the road for a short tour with Oh Land.

Live dates:
  • 12/07 Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA
  • 12/08 Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA
  • 12/09 The Black Cat, Washington, DC
  • 12/11 Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
  • 12/12 Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY

Video: Savoir Adore - Dreamers
(CMJ showcase @ Santos Party House - 2011/10/21)

» savoiradore.com

Punch Brothers: tour dates

Folk band Punch Brothers have wrapped the recordings for their new album. They will be on tour in Europe and North America. Singer Aoife O'Donovan is the special guest for most of the dates in the USA and Canada.

European dates:
  • 01/16 Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands #
  • 01/17 Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands< #/li>
  • 01/18 Bush Hall, London, UK
  • 01/19 La Cigale, Paris, France #
  • 01/20 Celtic Connections, Glasgow, UK @
  • 01/21 Shepherd's Bush Empire, London, UK #

@ with Carolina Chocolate Drops
# supporting Amos Lee

USA and Canada:
  • 01/27 Manship Theatre, Baton Rouge, LA %
  • 01/28 Sirote Theatre @ Alys Stephens Center, Birmingham, AL %
  • 02/17 Appalachian State University. Boone, NC
  • 02/18 Brooklyn Arts Center, Wilmington, NC
  • 02/19 Shaftman Performance Hall, Roanoke, VA
  • 02/23 Somerville Theatre, Somerville, MA *
  • 02/24 Somerville Theatre, Somerville, MA *
  • 02/25 Higher Ground (Ballroom), Burlington, VT *
  • 02/27 Petit Campus, Montreal, QC *
  • 02/28 Lee's Palace, Toronto, ON *
  • 03/01 Park West Chicago, IL*
  • 03/01 Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS
  • 03/02 Varsity Theatre, Minneapolis, MN *
  • 03/06 Neptune Theatre, Seattle, WA *
  • 03/07 Wonder Ballroom, Portland, OR *
  • 03/08 The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA *
  • 03/09 El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA *
  • 03/11 Bluebird Theater, Denver, CO *

* w/ Aoife O'Donovan
% w/ Loudon Wainwright

» punchbrothers.com

December 05, 2011

DJ Kypski & The Matangi String Quartet: live videos, "Electromantique" mixtape

DJ Kypski & The Matangi String Quartet performed at the Westerunie in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, showcasing tracks from the upcoming mixtape Electromantique, which will be released in January.

Interesting mash-up of modern day electro and romantic strings. The mixtape, which will offered for free, contains music by Haydn, Mozart, Daft Punk, Siriusmo, Sebastian and C-Mon & Kypski.

Video: Dj Kypski & The Matangi String Quartet - Caixa de Dolcos
Video: Dj Kypski & The Matangi String Quartet - Tetra (KypskiMatangi Version)

Live date:
  • 01/14 Eurosonic/Noorderslag, Oosterpoort, Groningen, The Netherlands

» kypskimatangi.com

December 04, 2011

Benevento, Gordon, Chamberlain: "Escape Horse" MP3

Mike Gordon
photo: Autumn DeWilde

From Mike Gordon's Facebook page:

Marco Benevento released a new limited 7-inch single featuring a song called "Escape Horse" with none other than Mike on bass and Matt Chamberlain on drums. The LA Times is streaming the tune and you can hear it via the link below. The 7" is available at Marco's West Coast shows.

MP3: Marco Benevento - Escape Horse

» marcobenevento.com
» mike-gordon.com