This is the last of the Trilogy of Lara's W♥M Radio appearance. Listen to Part One and Two.
Since most of the topics about music were pretty much used in parts one and two, this last show is a bit of a potpourri, with loads of random things that didn't fit anywhere. These little segments would work great in a 'best of' or bloopers show, but as it is... a bit of a jazz-theme.
Here's what went down:
The reason why Lara doesn't buy expensive electronic.
The 'genius' of Beady Eye. The podcast was recorded in early December, I've since saw them at First Avenue.
7th Street Entry and its revolting men's bathroom.
Fort Wilson Riot
Jamie N Commons' "The Preacher"
Second part of the show is just random nonsense: Black Friday, Jazz, Minnesota bands: Howler, Total Babe, and The Abdomen/Lynhurst.
Since I randomly saw Howler and noted they were "the buzz of the town". That was in early November. Now they're currently touring the UK, coming back to the states in March:
01/29 – Sheffield, The Bowery FREE SHOW
01/30 – Manchester, Deaf Institute (14+)
01/31 – Nottingham, Bodega (14+)
02/1 – Newcastle, The Cluny (16+)
02/3 – Leeds, Cockpit (14+)
02/4 – Glasgow, King Tuts (18+)
02/5 – Birmingham, HMV Institute (14+)
02/6 – London, The Lexington (14+) SOLD OUT
02/8 – Paris, Fleche d’Or (16+)
02/9 – Brussels, AB Club (All Ages)
02/10 – Amsterdam,Paradiso (All Ages)
02/11 – Berlin,Comet (16+)
02/14 – Tokyo,Harajuku Astro Hall
03/7 – Lawrence University – Appleton, WI
03/8 – Schubas Tavern – Chicago, IL
03/9 – The Old Rock House – St Louis, MO
03/10 – The Riot Room – Kansas City, MO
03/12 – House of Blues – Dallas, TX
03/13 – Mango’s – Houston, TX
03/22 – Soda Bar – San Diego, CA
03/23 – Echo – Los Angeles, CA
03/24 – Hemlock Tavern – San Francisco, CA
03/26 – Mississipi Studios – Portland, OR
03/27 – The Media Club – Vancouver, BC
03/28 – Sunset Tavern – Seattle, WA
03/30 – Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, UT
03/31 – Hi Dive – Denver, CO
04/2 – Waiting Room – Omaha, NE
04/4 – Happy Dog – Cleveland, OH
04/5 – Underground at The Drake – Toronto, ON
04/6 – Le Divan Orange – Montreal, QC
04/7 – Great Scott – Boston, MA
04/10 – Knitting Factory – Brooklyn, NY
04/11 – Mercury Lounge – New York, NY
04/12 – Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA
04/13 – Red Palace – Washington, DC
04/14 – Smiling Moose – Pittsburgh, PA
05/03 – Liverpool, The Kazimier (16+)
05/08 – London, The Garage (14+)
Four Letter Word
Beatles And Stones
Millionaire
Two Of A Kind
For Anyone
Three Ring Circus
The Roller
In The Bubble With A Bullet
Bring The Light
Standing On The Edge Of The Noise
Kill For A Dream
The Beat Goes On
Man Of Misery
The Morning Son
Wigwam
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World Outside My Room
Sons Of The Stage
"Its fookin' cold here innit?", observation quote from Liam Gallagher. Welcome back to Minneapolis.
Long time readers to W♥M should know that I love Oasis*, so I was rather excited to finally check out Beady Eye (it's basically Oasis minus Noel Gallagher) last night at First Avenue. I believe that this will be the only time that I will experience this band up close.
I won't spend too much time on them, needless to say, if you've seen Oasis live before, as I have seen them multiple times, you've basically seen Beady Eye. Of course, these are all new songs from their Different Gear, Still Speeding album, no Oasis songs were played (and none were expected).
The stood-out songs from their set was my favorite "Beatles and Stones", "Standing on the Edge of the Noise", and "Bring the Light" (this had scene of dancing girls from their video played in the background). Liam had a sweat towel, which he used constantly. He was clearly burning up on stage, sweating through his jacket but refused to take it off. You have to give him some props for maintaining his looks.
As for the opening band, Black Box Revelation, I ran into a mutual friend who was rather impressed with BBR. I'm not surprise, seeing as this duo is described by people as sounding like "Beatles-meets-Kinks British invasion pop" (all in good company, but I would also throw in The Rolling Stones in there too).
With just a drummer and guitarist, they were able to turn out a full, loud rock 'n roll style of songs. All their songs were sung in English, but with this weird Belgium accent.
I know I keep saying they sound "rock", but the seven, or so, songs that were played live, they had a good mixture of different type of songs - starting off with an energetic "High On A Wire" to get you moving, to sweet lyrics like "Did you ever stop to look while it makes you blind, I should feel the love from the skin to my bones" from "I Think I Like You". Between that song and "Shiver Of Joy", those were the only songs I recognized from their latest EP, Shiver of Joy, which I did get a chance to listen to before I saw them live.
I think my favorite song from their brief set was "My Perception". It was the first time I heard the song and I thought singer Jan Paternoster was saying "all I got is my position". Then I found out later that the word is actually "perception". But I don't feel that embarrass because apparently their song is a play off of a mis-heard lyrics of "My Obsession" by The Rolling Stones (Paternoster thought Mick Jagger was singing "my perception"). Too funny, right?
There are only a few dates left from BBR and BDI (Beady Eye) with Mil-rock-ee tonight:
Dec 6 - The Rave - Milwaukee, WI
Dec 8 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC
Dec 9 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY
Dec 10 - House of Blues - Boston, MA
Black Box Revelation at First Avenue, Minneapolis (12/05/11)
* Interviewed Liam Gallagher nearly 20 years ago in Sacramento for KFSR 90.7 FM, played their records on my radio show, bought nearly everything they've released up to their final album, Dig Out Your Soul .
PS, No photos of Beady Eye because at least four different people told me that Beady Eye are not to be photographed and I had to check my camera at the door. It seems that they are okay with bad/blurry/crappy photos of the band from cellphone cameras.
PPS, Liam must've picked out their intro song, because it was for another Manchester band, The Stone Roses' "I Am The Resurrection" played in its entirety.
I haven't heard of Belgium's Black Box Revelation before, but seeing that they've played with Girl in a Coma and currently on tour with Beady Eye (yes, that "Oasis minus Noel Gallagher" band), I can tell you that I am very keen on hearing what this band sounds like.
Luckily, I have checked out their new EP, Shiver of Joy and it is good, kind of like 'rocknrolla'-type (the title track features a cowbell and it's catchy!). The rest of the EP plays out like they were from the swagger of The Rolling Stones to fuzzy rock Raveonettes. Whatever it is, I liked what I heard.
But don't take my word for it, CMJ praised them as "foot-stomping, 60s garage rock sounding eerily reminiscent of BRMC...these dudes are extremely talented."
Also, apparently Minnesota Public Radio seems to love them, check out their live performance on MPR. Songs performed: "High on a Wire," "Shiver of Joy," and "Sealed with Thorns."
Here are their remaining tour dates:
Dec 5 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN *
Dec 6 - The Rave - Milwaukee, WI *
Dec 8 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC *
Dec 9 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY *
Dec 10 - House of Blues - Boston, MA *
w/ Beady Eye *
Hopefully, if things work out, I will be there to check them out tomorrow night and report back on their live performance.
I saw Margaret Cho last year, she's funny, but it's not a show for kids.
Anyway, I wanted to let you know that starting today, her Grammy-nominated album, Cho Dependent, can be had for as low as $1. This promotion is great if you haven't already got the album. And if you already own the CD, no problem, the digital download also includes two extra unreleased tracks.
Portion (20%) of this download goes to Immediate Justice, a charity for young women and queer folks of color. So be generous, if you've got the cash. If you're the #1 top donor, you get to appear in Cho's upcoming music video for "Asian Adjacent", filming in Los Angeles on July 24th. Second prize is a set of steak knives. Just kidding, you get a Cho Dependent package (tote bag, CHO HO tank top, posters, and an autographed LP). If 500 people donate, we all get "Sexting", an unreleased song from Drag Queen Sherry Vine featuring Margaret Cho. Make it happen.
Cho is doing some dates below:
07/16/11 San Diego, CA San Diego Pride Festival
08/03/11 - 08/05/11 Edinburgh Assembly Rooms
08/06/11 - 08/29/11 Edinburgh Assembly Rooms
09/02/11 Sydney Sydney Opera House AU
09/05/11 Brisbane The Tivoli Theatre AU
09/06/11 Melbourne Forum Theatre AU
10/13/11 London Leicester Square Theatre UK
10/14/11 London Leicester Square Theatre UK
10/15/11 London Leicester Square Theatre UK
10/16/11 Brighton Dome Concert Hall – Brighton
10/17/11 London Leicester Square Theatre UK
10/18/11 London Leicester Square Theatre UK
10/23/11 Glasgow The Stand Comedy Club UK
10/24/11 Glasgow The Stand Comedy Club
It's inevitable, Beady Eye will conquer America this Fall 2011.
Lots of buzz, this post-Oasis band, lead by Liam Gallagher will play some key dates in America, hot off their debut album, Different Gear, Still Speeding. As I have previously warned/mentioned, you have to see this band this early in the stage of their career, otherwise you'll always kick yourself for not seeing them when they were starting out.
I know they're not even coming here until November and December, but you may want to buy tickets now before they sell out. Tickets goes on sale July 15th (Friday), with the exception of San Francisco - that goes on sale July 17th.
November 29 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
November 30 Seattle, WA @ Showbox Market
December 2 San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
December 3 Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theatre
December 5 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
December 6 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave Ballroom
December 8 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
December 9 New York, NY @ Terminal 5
French electro-shoegaze band, M83, aka Anthony Gonzalez, will be touring the US this year. It's been over two years since his last live performance, so people are eagerly awaiting to see him.
General ticket sales are available to purchase today (July 12th), however, if you were a fan, you had early access as early as July 6th. Hopefully, when he comes around Minneapolis, we'll cover him.
Oct. 15 – Mexico City – Corona Capital Festival
Oct. 28 – Washington DC – Black Cat
Oct. 29 – Raleigh, NC – Kings Barcade
Oct. 30 – Asheville, NC – Moog Fest
Oct. 31 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
Nov. 2 – Orlando, FL – The Social
Nov. 4 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
Nov. 5 – Austin, TX – Fun Fun Fun Fest
Nov. 7 – Phoenix, AZ – The Crescent Ballroom
Nov. 9 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre
Nov. 10 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
Nov. 11 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
Nov. 12 – Vancouver, BC – Venue
Nov. 13 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
Nov. 16 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
Nov. 17 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
Nov. 18 – Toronto, ON – Lees Palace
Nov. 19 – Montreal, QC – La TuLipe
Nov. 20 – Boston, MA – Paradise
Nov. 22 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
I wanted to see Marnie Stern's famed "tapping" guitar style (which some people is calling her "Greatest Female Guitarists Of All Time"), but unfortunately, I was out of town when she was here in Minneapolis. She's still on tour, so here are the dates:
09/21 - Hamden, CT @ The Space
09/23 - Toronto, ON @ Wrong Bar*
09/24 - Chicago, IL @ Subterranean*
09/25 - Cleveland, OH @ Happy Dog*
09/27 - Washington, DC @ The Red Palace*
09/28 - Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church*
09/29 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg*
09/30 - Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs*
10/02 - Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theater
10/06 - Sydney, Australia @ Tone
10/07 - Melbourne, Australia @ Northcote Social Club
10/08 - Perth, Australia @ The Bakery
12/07 - London, UK @ XOYO
12/09 - Minehead, UK @ ATP Nightmare Before Christmas+
* w/ No Joy
+ w/ Les Savy Fav, Archers of Loaf, No Age, The Dodos
Speaking of Kill Rock Stars, I missed Thao & Mirah the last time they were here too. This was not my fault, BOBBY's van broke down and Led to Sea had failed me.
It's fine, I've seen them a few times, I still love them. The Get Down Stay Down is returning with Thao this September, minus Mirah:
09/20 - New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
09/21 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
09/22 - Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theater
09/23 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
09/24 - Charlottesville, VA Jefferson Theater
09/25 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Ukie Club
09/26 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
09/27 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
10/03 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Calvin College Fine Arts Center
10/06 - Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall
10/07 - Madison, WI @ Majestic Theater
10/09 - Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
10/10 - Denver, CO @ Gothic Theater
10/18 - Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall
10/19 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
10/20 - Vancouver, BC @ The Commodore Ballroom
I saw these guys open up for Arctic Monkeys, I have to say "A Lack Of Understanding" sounded great live. I also mentioned that their most energetic song was called "Nørgaard", which the video just debut July 7th via
vevo.com. The video features a sexy active Danish girl Amanda Nørgaard playing tennis, skating, bicycling, and bowling.
9/8 Seattle, WA Crocodile Café
9/9 Vancouver, BC Venue
9/10 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
9/13 Los Angeles, CA Music Box
9/14 San Diego, CA The Casbah
9/18 Austin, TX ACL
9/21 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
9/22 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
9/24 Philadelphia, PA Popped Festival
9/25 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
9/27 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
9/28 Montreal, QC Corona
9/30 New York, NY Webster Hall
10/1 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
With Liam Gallagher's Beady Eye playing at iTunes Festival tomorrow, big brother, Noel will probably steal the thunder by announcing his new solo project in Notting Hill on July 6th.
The press conference is not open the public, but I'll keep you updated on any news I hear. We love Oasis and am glad to hear that Noel is returning back to music.
If you were wondering, Sour Mash Records is Noel's record label, which was started in 2001.
Cristina and Vu talks news, despite just recovering from illness (illnesses?). There's just something about the start of a new season that does this to us. Next week we're doing the cover lover show - but this will take some multiple editing with multiple people - so send me your cover songs and if you want, I will call and have you included in the show.
Topics as follows:
BEADY EYE
Since Noel Gallagher left Oasis in late 2009, the rest of the band sort of just continued on as brother Liam eloquently puts it, “business as fookin’ usual”, writing new material under the guise of Beady Eye. A name I absolutely hate. I read somewhere that they sounded like “Oasis back to its roots” and I can tell you after listening to the album Different Gear, Still Speeding: it’s not to its original roots, but rather just a continuation of where Oasis left off. What I liked about it is that there are songs that tries to do something different (for instance, Oasis would’ve never had girl back up singers or fast-paced piano playing), but they still sound pretty much like “new” Oasis. Still, it should be interesting to see them live, how they match up to their former band - I suspect it’ll be pretty much exactly live minus Noel Gallagher.
MIKE STARR Mike Starr, ex-Alice in Chains, passed away March 8th. He was the bassist up until Dirt (1993), and was displaced by another Mike (Inez) bassist. It would seem that he was a meth addict, having been arrested earlier last month for possessing controlled substances. I am coming under the conclusion that he died of a drug-related incident, but I haven’t seen any confirmation. On a related topic, singer Layne Staley died of a drug overdose in 2002.
SXSW 2011
SXSW just ended. The massive music+interactive+movies festival drew over 2,000 plus bands in the area. This year is supposed to be the “biggest yet’, and Dan was reporting LIVE from his iPhone by sending in pictures with brief commentaries to each band. He was really impressed by Carl Broemel from My Morning Jacket. He said he actually saw him by accident because he and his wife was getting brownies at St. David’s Bethell Hall and heard the music.
Song of the week is Carl Broemel's "Heaven Knows", which is available as a free download on his website.
BONUS:
Dexter explained and a bit about Wayne and the Flaming Lips.
The truth is, I am (or was) a huge Oasis fan. Back in the day when the single Supersonic hit our ...
Since Noel Gallagher left Oasis, the rest of band continued on without him, under a new name: Beady Eye. I'm not terribly excited about that name, but for better or worst, the band's sound is very much Oasis circa 2006 and on.
In my review of Oasis' last album, Dig Out Your Soul, I said that Noel "have soften his grip on Oasis and have let his brother Liam and others write and contribute songs ". I suppose it was only a natural evolution of the band, but I got the sense that Noel Gallagher was someone who ruled things in a dictatorship, so even if he had stayed, I don't think he would've been very happy that Oasis had become a republic.
With that introduction, I can tell you that having listened to Beady Eye's debut album, Different Gear, Still Speeding, that it starts where Dig Out Your Soul left off. Don't believe the critics that said that Beady Eye is basically Oasis back to its roots. If you ever listened to Definitely Maybe as much as I have, there is a certain rhythm and writing style that is very different from what Beady Eye is doing.
For instance, Noel would never have backup girl singers and fast-paced pianos on Beady Eye's first single, "Bring the Light".
If you close your eyes and just pretend that Oasis never existed, Different Gear, Still Speeding actually is a pretty decent debut album. Parts of songs like "The Roller" and "Standing On The Edge Of The Noise" sounds like the Beatles. It's not until you hear "Beatles and Stones" that you think to yourself, "I get it, Beady Eye idolizes those bands". And in the song, Liam wants to "stand the test of time", just like Beatles and Rolling Stones. This is their strongest track, in my opinion, because it reminds me of what Liam Gallagher has always thought of himself: as a rocknroller.
Different Gear, Still Speeding is out now, via Dangerbird Records (for the US). Check out "Bring the Light" video below.
So, the good news is that Beady Eye is already a big success, even before Different Gear, Still Speeding the band were already selling-out gigs. The great news is that they're extending their tour to three North American dates, be the first to see them in either New York, Chicago, or Toronto, this June. Tickets went on sale TODAY, March 11th, so get tickets now if you want to see the band in their early stage now or you'll regret it later*.
Confirmed dates below, I'm almost certain more dates will be announce throughout these months. Don't know about you, but if and when they announce Minneapolis, I'll definitely, not maybe, be there to check them out.
UPDATE 03/21/11: New date announced: June 25 Philadelphia, PA @ Theater of Living Arts
On Sale March 25th at www.ticketmaster.com, TLA Box Office & Charge By Phone 215.922.1101
03/13/11 Paris, Casino de Paris
03/14/11 Cologne, E-Werk
03/16/11 Milan, Alcatraz
03/18/11 Madrid, La Riviera
03/19/11 Toulouse, LE BIKINI
03/21/11 Amsterdam, Paradiso
03/22/11 Brussels, Ancienne Belgique
03/25/11 London, Royal Albert Hall
04/11/11 Nottingham, Rock City
04/12/11 Liverpool, Guild of Students
04/14/11 Dublin, Olympia
04/15/11 Dublin, Olympia
04/17/11 Belfast, Ulster Hall
04/18/11 Edinburgh, Corn Exchange
04/20/11 Newcastle, O2 Academy
04/21/11 Leeds, O2 Academy
04/23/11 Newport, Centre
04/24/11 Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
04/26/11 Southampton, Guildhall
04/27/11 Brighton, Centre
05/06/11 Osaka, Zepp Osaka
05/07/11 Nagoya, Zepp Nagoya
05/09/11 Tokyo, Zepp Tokyo
05/10/11 Tokyo, Zepp Tokyo
05/12/11 Tokyo, Zepp Tokyo
05/15/11 Seoul, AX Hall
05/29/11 Jelling, Jelling Musikfestival
05/30/11 Hamburg, Große Freiheit 36
06/12/11 Newport, Isle Of Wight Festival
06/18/11 Chicago, IL @ Metro 06/20/11 Toronto, ON @ The Sound Academy 06/23/11 New York, NY @ Webster Hall 06/25/11 Philadelphia, PA @ Theater of Living Arts 06/30/11 Werchter, Rock Werchter
07/01/11 Arras, Main Square Festival
07/05/11 London, The Roundhouse
07/07/11 BIlbao, BBK
07/10/11 Kinross, T In The Park
07/14/11 Hultsfred, Hultsfred Festival
08/18/11 St. Pölten,Frequency Festival
* I was fortunate enough to have interviewed and met Oasis for KFSR 90.7 FM before they became massive.
Matt Pinfield recently let on that his friend and ex-Hüsker Dü frontsman Bob Mould will be playing Sugar's Copper Blue album in its entirety live. It's only fitting since this year (2012) is the album's 20th anniversary!
You can grab the first three songs ("The Act We Act", "A Good Idea", and "Changes") at official.fm. The live recording was done at the Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco at Noise Pop Festival (2/24/12).
Copper Blue tour:
06/01 London @ Shepherd's Bush Emp
06/03 Brussels, BE @ AB
07/03 Milwaukee @ Summerfest
08/04 Ireland @ Liss Ard Fest
08/06 Helsinki, FI @ Tavastia
08/08 Norway @ Oya Festival
08/09 Sweden @ Way Out West
08/11 Amsterdam @ Paradiso Grote
08/13 Italy @ Villa Mainin
08/15 Prague @ 02 Arena
08/16 Austria @ Frequency Fest
08/18 Belgium @ Pukkelpop Fest
09/21 Pensacola Beach @ DeLuna Fest
Update May 8th: ASIA 69 DVD and Bluray, features a special tribute to Việt Khang's two instant classic songs: "Việt Nam Tôi Đâu" and "Anh Là Ai" as performed by Đan Nguyên, Lê Quốc Tuấn, Hợp Ca Asia... and featuring five-year old drummer Ngo Minh Ky!