- Aqualaygualry in arcade fire - black wave/bad vibrations Today i watching overlay from here. this is wondeful film. Who are watching this?
- cattartiste in arcade fire - black wave/bad vibrations SplitVideo is a freeware virtual video clone and split video nick driver in behalf of connecting disparate applications to a single video...
- Peggus-interruptus in The Temper Trap Lovin’ The Temper Trap!
(I still can’t call them The) Verve is touring the US this spring. I saw them after A Storm In Heaven was released in Boulder for $9. I don’t think anyone will be that lucky this time around.
The Verve Live
04.25.08 - Indio, CA (Coachella)
04.26.08 - Las Vegas, NV (Pearl Concert Theater)
04.28.08 - New York, NY (WaMu Theater at MSG)
04.29.08 - New York, NY (WaMu Theater at MSG)
God, it’s been a week already? But my head was clear, and the post-gig notes are mostly legible::::::::::
A five-night hometown residency to play every song in the book… bold. I want to know who managed to pull duty at all five nights, and find out what are their motivations (and connections). But the fourth was good enough for me and my companions, so…
A good parent (neither good nor parent, I… just projecting here) knows not to give a screaming child everything it wants. But sycophantic audiences of 20 to 40-somethings - occasionally more obnoxious than some infants - don’t react well to being denied anything, so Wilco and Jeff Tweedy, rock ‘n roll daddy extraordinaire gave in to our demands on Tuesday night at the Riviera, including free coffee.
The free coffee was for the kids who waited for hours in negative-sixty-degree cold for the doors to open (that’s called ‘negative reinforcement’, right?). And despite issuing a decree against encores, that’s exactly what Tweedy gave the implacable nursery of hipsters when we refused to budge at the end of the 2nd set. But not quite overindulging us… good bartenders, they cut us off at just the right time.
Between pandering to one’s whims and fetishes and the patient satisfaction that the Kama Sutra advocates, Wilco danced with both partners on Tuesday night. The show was aired on WXRT, which usually calls for a safer setlist, but even when it veered towards the predictable it came sideways.
Hard to say exactly what constitutes a ‘deep cut’ for Wilco since every song is someone’s favorite. Opening with ‘Outtasite (Outa Mind)’ isn’t exactly a b-side (and it was granted that they would bookend the night with ‘Outta Mind (Outa Site)’) but we WANTED it! The live debut of Sky Blue Sky’s ‘Leave Me (Like You Found Me)’ was a tiny gem, and seemed more consistent with the band’s mission to play every song they ever recorded. Following-up with ‘Company in my Back’ delivered, unwittingly, the illegal words, “Holy shit,” to the sensitive residents Radioland. Fuckin’ rock’n roll, man.
But the setlist was incidental to the execution of it, even if they didn’t offer anything from Mermaid Ave. Wilco’s songs are deceptively simple, but representing every sound from the discs in a live setting (sans laptop, mostly) is a feat - these tunes are dense. Faithfulness to the arrangements everyone knows was a bigger hit than had they cheated and fallen back on improvised flights to camouflage any on-stage ineptitude. Even ‘California Stars’, which doesn’t have many depths to plumb, was ebullient and chicken-tight, particularly on the vocal harmonies and interplay between Tweedy, bassist John Stirratt and utility infielder Pat Sansone… Tweedy was smiling like he just scored touchdowns (but, wait - he doesn’t believe in touchdowns… never mind) and that from the most basic song in the band’s cannon. Fierce highs, pin-drop lows… Wilco doubles as the loudest and most dynamic band around (I acquiesce, of course, that the conquerors of the straight-up LOUD department are Matt’s picks, but that’s an entirely different kind of flying, all together).
We all gave each other a little ‘aw-shucks’ look when Tweedy beamed that Chicago-love has spoiled the rest of the tour. Nevertheless, the tour is still young and may be coming near you. Go, even if they don’t promise to give you every song they ever wrote.
2-26, 27: Washington DC
2-29: Charleston, SC
3-02: Nashville, TN
3-03: Mobile, AL
3-04, 05: New Orleans, LA
3-07: Houston, TX
3-08: Tulsa, OK
3-09: Des Moines, IA
Dave Grohl is a rock god. Believe it (he looks like Jesus right now anyway). The fact that is took him thirteen years with the Foo Fighters to get to Madison Square Gardens is kind of unbelievable.
What is also pretty unbelievable is what I am about to say: That show sucked.
For me to read that even now hurts my heart and I think I died a little inside. I can’t berate the whole thing because it’s amazing to have the entire Garden sing the first chorus of “Breakout” amongst a few other momentary gems, but after watching the Fuse broadcast of the Foo rock the Big Apple, I am not happy with what I saw.
The main problem I want to blame on Fuse and their sound guys. The bass throughout the whole show was way too loud and this is coming from someone who has played bass in bands since he was 16 years old. Besides that, the rest of the band sounded weak. I don’t know what it was, but there’s no other word to describe it other than weak. I really hope that this is all the fault of Fuse because I really can’t convince myself that the Foo Fighters don’t crank their shit to 11 and blow the roof off the place.
Also, last time I checked, there were four members of the Foo Fighters, not eight. Pat Smear left the band in ‘97 and it should stay that way. I don’t know why they keep bringing that platinum bleached blonde asshole back but they seem to love the gap-toothed bastard on third guitar. Throw him in with another percussionist, female vocals/strings and a pianist who looks like every fucking added in piano player ever (semi-long haircut, rock tee with a blazer over it, jeans = d-bag add in piano player) and you have the Foo Orchestra!
We already got our fill of acoustic performances on Skin & Bones and I have heard “My Hero” and “Everlong” done in that fashion (the best on the Howard Stern Show) a couple times. I really want the Foo Fighters to get on stage and rip through a set as loud and as hard as possible. They did a good job by doing “Everlong” half acoustic and busting into it, but I rather have the high-energy chorus every time around.
I am unfortunate enough to have never of caught the Foo Fighters live in concert in the past and I will continue my streak of bad luck this time around again since I have to miss them when they roll through Chicago but maybe it’s for the best right now. When the Foo decides to do some small club tour where they can’t throw in all the extra bullshit I don’t want to see, I will be there.
Let’s just pretend that the main selling point of the ZT Amplifiers Lunchbox (and it’s big brother, the Future Amp) isn’t it’s massive output for it’s size. (”The Lunchbox puts out 121dB from a box only 8″x9″x4″ with a 6.5″ driver. It looks like a cute little practice amp, but it is a serious, professional amp that can keep up with a live drum kit. The Future Amp, at 22 lbs, can fill the shoes of a 2×12, 80 lb. amp, save space in your car and save your back at the same time.”).
Forget that the secondary selling point that the Lunchbox is listed on the ZT Amplifiers site for $249. (or $449 for the Future Amp, which is twice the size w/ a 130 db output)
Pretend those geeky stats and ridiculously low prices didn’t exist. Here’s what I, representing the larger consumer base of the United States, am drawn to about the Lunchbox: It’s made out of a Goddamn metal lunchbox. Seriously. Look at the picture. It’s got the plastic handle and metal lock at the top.
With a look straight out of Muji or Ikea, these amps will look just as cool on the carpeted floor of your practice space as they will sitting on your KLUBBO coffee table. (Ok, I just wanted an opportunity to write the words “KLUBBO coffee table.”)
Ready to plug your guitar into a container that used to hold a thermos? You’ll have to wait. The FAQ on the ZT Amps site says: “As much as we would love to sell you a ZT amp right now, we cannot. Our amplifiers will not be available until late Spring 2008.” You may have to wait longer to walk into a brick and mortar store to purchase one as the main target market is in China. Given the looks, the price and the output, I wouldn’t expect China to be their only market. This thing has the potential to become the new standard in practice amps.
“The World’s Greatest Music Collection” is up for auction on Ebay. While the name may be very subjective and the premise alone could spark pages of debate on blogs like… oh, I dunno… say, Superstarcastic.com, it is a pretty impressive collection of LPs and CDs (what, no cassettes or 8-tracks or Reel-to-Reels?).
On the collection’s website, current owner, Paul Mawhinney, claims that there are 3 million records (45s, 78s, EPs and LPs) and 300,000 CDs spanning all genres.
By Apple’s advertised estimations, it would take 150 160 GB iPods to store the touted 6 million songs available in this auction. That would cost you $52,350 before tax and shipping. Which is nothing really if you can afford $3 million in recorded materials. If you can hack that, you’ll be happy to know that you’ll currently be the only bidder.
What can I say about this album?
This CD is nothing but sugar-coated sugar, to the point where it makes Pixy Sticks look like a health food. It has hi-NRG covers of Phil Oakey (”Electric Dreams”), Heart (”Alone”), and The Cult (brace yourself for it…”Sanctuary”) on it. The entire thing is sung by a girl who goes by Katy ‘D’ — with quotes, just like that — who sounds like she’s in ninth grade. She’s not, however, as you can tell by the fact that they’ve got her posed on the back in an auto racing suit with the number “69″ on it. This CD has not one, not two, but three songs on it that I guess are “updates” of some sort, given that the titles are followed with “07,” something you don’t usually see outside of budget best-ofs of ’70s album rock artists who can’t get the rights to one of their big hits.
This CD is awesome.
Seriously, the whole thing is ridiculous, but I can’t stop listening to it. I don’t know if that says more about Kandystand or about me, but as far as cheese-dance goes, this album is truly great. Take this review for whatever it’s worth, but this is the sort of thing that completely compromises my objectivity. I’m dimly aware that I haven’t got any business listening to it, but I can’t concentrate any further than that, because the speakers are turned up so loud. I’m trying to resist, but I find myself utterly unable to.
Must…show me how you find…the….SANCTUARY…
Release date: Nov. 12, 2007
Label: Self-released (Team Hayward)
Rating: Dude…I don’t know. 7/10? 2/10? 10/10?
God dammit, the problem with rock and roll these days is that everyone just buys their instruments from a fracking music store. Whatever happened to pride in craftsmanship? Whatever happened to DIY? Remember when people actually had to build their own instruments, back in…uh…1287?
Thank god for the installation art nerds in Boston’s Neptune, who have no time for such frivolity and foolishness as “shopping” or “visiting music stores,” well, because they build their own instruments out of scrap metal. SCRAP METAL, you shits. You want “industrial?” They got it right here:
Jesus H, you could put an eye out with that thing.
Neptune are hitting the road on Feb. 28th in support of their abrasive new face-scraper Gong Lake. Neptune’s songs are as cold, unyielding, and disarming as their instruments–and obviously, the show is something to witness live. That sass is in the main: Read more »
When I first heard The Postal Service’s album, Give Up it rocked my world, in a snyth-poppy, not-that-rockin’ kind of way. It was totally awesome and amazing…FIVE YEARS AGO.
That’s right - today marks the five year anniversary of Sub Pop’s official release of Give Up.
Since then samples of the pretty little bleeps and blips have been (over)used in commercials selling cars, hospitals, candy, mp3 players, crappy MTV reality shows, and most recently UPS. Do the ad-men think that this is still the ticket to the hearts and wallets of the indie-yuppie demographic? Are there really people out there who aren’t as completely over it as I am? Apparently so. A quick search of my Facebook network shows that 12 of my “friends” and over 500 other people list The Postal Service as one of their favorite bands….
I am of the opinion that this is not even a real band; it’s a project. And it’s played out. I’m sure most of those people have checked out other Death Cab for Cutie music - it’s practically mom-rock these days. But how many of them listen to Dntel? James Figurine?
Five years later and this shit will not stop. It’s a phenomenon. Good for Sub Pop, and good for Ben and Jimmy. Not good for me because I have actually become sick of a record I really, really liked. It’s okay though, even if it hadn’t been embraced by the masses, I’d probably no longer be listening to this anymore. File it away as a classic and give it up.
Now mind you, folks, this is PURELY rumor at this point, but the buzz afoot is that the unquestioned champions of Midwest sludge, thee unholy KILLDOZER, are pondering a one-off reunion gig in their hometown of Madison, WI, sometime later this year. Friends of the band have reported the band members saying “maybe” to this proposed get-together, so for all we know it’s just talk right now. But just the fact that Michael Gerald and the brothers Hobson haven’t outright said “no, fuck that shit” is cause for celebration.
Killdozer stole the show at day 2 of the Touch and Go 25th anniversary weekend at the Hideout in Chicago in September 2006. Hours after they had left the stage, drunken Wisconsinites annoyed the piss out of anyone trying to pay attention to Man…or Astroman? by chanting “KILL-DO-ZER! FUCK-THE OTH-ER BANDS!” nonstop between their songs. If this show happens i’ll be in the front row. Stay tuned…
In the meantime, click here for a reminder of what could be in store in Madison come autumn–footage of Killdozer’s last song at T&G 25.
Note: the graphic accompanying this post is the cover of Killdozer’s live album, The Last Waltz, which was re-released on vinyl a couple years ago by Madison’s own Crustacean Records. You could do a whole lot worse than picking up that unfuckwithable slab o’ wax. And while you’re at it, you can also pickup Crustacean’s We Will Bury You: A Tribute to Killdozer, which features two exclusive ‘Dozer tracks as well as covers of Killdozer classics from the likes of Hunchback, Rocket Fuel is the Key, Season to Risk, and–what are the odds?–IfIHadAHiFi. Just sayin’.
Believe it or not, some of us writers here at SSC not only write about music, we write music as well. No joke! Guess what makes that really hard? No, it’s not lack of talent (I’m looking at you Ashlee Simpson) it’s lack of instruments.
[begin sob story] On an unfortunate night in Detroit, Michigan before the New Year, my band The Pullman Strike had our trailer completely lifted off the back of our van and driven away. They literally took everything. Trailer, merchandise, instruments - gone. It’s been a long and arduous road, but we are slowly trying to get back on our feet by buying everything we need again since none of it has been recovered by the amazing investigation I’m sure is being conducted by the outstanding Detroit Police Department (is the computer screen dripping with sarcasm yet?) .
Now back in Chicago we have had awesome help and are making the big push with help from our favorite watering hole. Galway Bay is throwing us an all-you-can-drink fundraiser this Saturday where all proceeds go back to the band and getting our equipment back. $10 will get you a cup for the back bar where members of The Pullman Strike will be your bartenders as long as the beer lasts as well as an acoustic performance sometime later in the evening.
So, to sum it up:
What: Pullman Strike Benefit & Drink-a-palooza
When: Saturday, February 16th @ 9:00pm
Where: Galway Bay Pub @ 500 Diversey
If you’re in the Chicago area and would like to help support, or just get drunk for cheap, please come on out and have a good ‘ol time with your favorite (maybe new favorite) Chicago Strikers.
