Monday, March 26, 2007

Post-Spring Break Randomness

The last week was a blur of drinking and more drinking. In between the war campaign I waged against my liver, I caught 2 shows. I saw RJD2 and Busdriver at the Variety Playhouse last Tuesday night. In the context of all the awesome shows i've been catching lately it was a little dissapointing. Busdriver is very talented, but the show was not anywhere near amazing. His lyrics were hard to understand most of the time because he was mumbling too much and him and his DJ (who was more using drum machines than turntables) basically whined about the audience reaction (or lack thereof) the entire performance. I know hip-hop artists like to yell at the crowd and try and get them to go crazy, but dissing your crowd between every song is not going to entice the reaction you want. If you're not recieving the ideal reaction from your audience, perhaps you should be more entertaining. RoadKillOvercoat is a good hip-hop album, but this guy is not the Notorious BIG. Go earn a crowd reaction, don't act like it's due to you.





RJD2 came out with a band and was playing guitar and bass and singing and didn't even touch a turntable until the 5 th song. This first portion was interesting as this 4-piece version of RJD2 did their best impression of Ratatat. Then RJD2 himself got behind his turntables and drum machines and turned in a mediocre mixing set. The coolest thing about it was the use of projector. In addition to having random trippy stuff going on, he had a video camera that would show what his hands were doing on certain parts, like playing the drum machine. As his bandmates retuned to stage and they continued to do rock-ish music, the show got seriously boring. I don't mind the concept of a DJ pretending he is a rockstar but the delivery here was lacking to say the least.





The other show I caught last week was Of Montreal at the Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC. A great show in a venue that I didn't really like that much. The band did mostly stuff off of Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? and was maybe a little shorter show than most of the set lists I've seen. My friend taped the show and I'll have that torrent highlighted as soon as it is up.



Largehearted Boy has a collection of torrents, files, and streams from SXSW. You should check it out.

Spoon have released details on their new album coming out in July called Gimme Fiction.

The White Stripes have released a tracklisting of their new album Icky Thump.

As part of the Pitchfork Fest/ATP/Awesomeness, Slint will be performing their album Spiderland the same night Sonic Youth performs Daydream Nation. It just gets better and better.

Blonde Redhead talk about their new album, 23.

Lamb Of God, Hatebreed, and Lordi are headlining this year's Ozzfest.

The Chemical Brothers have a new album out in June. Here's a vid:



Tori Amos has a new album coming out in May. Here's a video:



Paul McCartney has a new album comnig out this year on a Starbucks label.

Jurassic 5 is breaking up.

Roger Waters has a new song for a soundtrack of The Last Mimzy.

Here's an article on the 404 Noise Fest Biggie C checked out.

Sleater-Kinney's Corin Tucker is getting busy. Here's a SK video:



Scott Weiland allegedly trahsed a hotel with his wife.

Shellac have an new album due out in June.

The Darkness realized they suck and broke up.

A bundle of interviews for you:
A Serena-Maneesh video:



Dr. Dog at Criminal Records doing an in-store performance last month:

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Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Post-Binge Randomness

Boozing is fun, hangovers not so much. Tonight I'm checking out the RJD2 & Busdriver show at the Variety Playhouse and you should too. Here's a Busdriver video:



The biggest news to me from the weekend is that Sonic Youth will be performing Daydream Nation in its entirety at Pitchfork Music Festival this year. I have my tickets, do you have yours?



Speaking of great Chicago festivals, Peter Bjorn and John are supposedly confirmed to do Lollapalooza.

Actress Minnie Driver has a second album coming out featuring cameos from artisits such as Ryan Adams and Liz Phair. I had no idea she had a first album.

Lily Allen is bored of singing her songs.

The Polyphonic Spree have a new album coming out in June.

The Clientele have a new album due May 8th and will be going on tour with Beach House.

The Walkmen's singer got arrested at SXSW.

The new Modest Mouse record came out today. Modest Mouse will be playing at the Masquerade Music Park on May 5th. Here's a sample: People As Places As People

High Sierra Music Festival has announced the line-up.

Leftover Salmon have ended their hiatus and will make wookies dance again.

Bjork is touring but nowhere near Atlanta.

Listen to an Explosions In The Sky show on NPR from the weekend here.

Silverchair has a new album out March 31st called Young Modern.

Steely Dan will be at Chastain Park on Mat 11th.

Interviews wrap-up:
The Smashing Pumpkins have announced their first North American date in Canada. While we wait on American dates, here's some videos:





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Monday, January 29, 2007

Releases of the Week