W♥M (Archive)

Josh Ritter Live : El Rey Theatre & Artists Den Performance

01 To the Dogs or Whoever

Josh Ritter

Josh Ritter and the Valley Girl

  I was hyped to see Josh Ritter perform at the El Rey Theatre this past Thursday in Los Angeles.  Surprisingly, after seeing the show, I actually walked away a bigger Josh Ritter fan.  He has a genuine love for his audience and his music that I have never seen in a live performance.

  Throughout most of the show he sang with eyes closed and a coy smile on his face.  Near the end of the show he asked the entire audience to scream along with the band, which we did happily, and he used all this energy to segway into the next song.  He had this sincerity that became more apparent with each song he sang.  I couldn't stop singing along the entire night and when he sang "Thin Blue Flame" I'll admit that I did cry a little.  Just a little.

Josh Ritter live in The Apartment

  I also got an email inviting me to attend the Artists Den performance the following night at the Natural History Museum along with 149 other  Ritter fans.  Two nights of Josh!!!!  The best thing about that night, to be sure, was the free booze provided by Grey Goose and everyone there was drinking (even Josh).  The show was taped by a professional (looking) film crew and we were told that the performance would be featured on the Ovation Channel in January 2008.  Although Josh didn't sing his heart out as he had the night before, he definitely put on a good show and stayed late to meet with fans (something he's famous for and fans appreciate).  If you're interested in catching him live, the tour dates are as follows:

Oct 27 2007 8:00P	Plush	Tucson, Arizona
Oct 29 2007 8:00P	The Parish Room	Austin, Texas
Oct 31 2007 8:00P	Workplay Theatre	Birmingham, Alabama
Nov 1 2007 8:00P	Variety Playhouse	Atlanta, Georgia
Nov 2 2007 6:00P	Grimey’s - Instore	Nashville, Tennessee
Nov 2 2007 8:00P	Exit/In	Nashville, Tennessee
Nov 3 2007 8:00P	Headliners	Louisville, Kentucky
Nov 4 2007 8:00P	Southgate House	Newport, Kentucky
Nov 5 2007 8:00P	Cats Cradle	Carrboro, North Carolina
Nov 7 2007 8:00P	World Cafe Live	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nov 9 2007 8:00P	Webster Hall	New York, New York
Nov 14 2007 8:00P	Boule Noire	Paris
Nov 16 2007 8:00P	Rescue Rooms	Nottigham
Nov 17 2007 8:00P	The Sage	Gateshead
Nov 18 2007 8:00P	Academy 2	Manchester
Nov 19 2007 8:00P	The Classic Grand	Glasgow
Nov 21 2007 8:00P	The Glee Club	Birmingham
Nov 22 2007 8:00P	Shepherds Bush Empire	London
Nov 23 2007 8:00P	Concorde 2	Brighton
Nov 24 2007 8:00P	Trinity	Bristol
Nov 26 2007 8:00P		Cork
Nov 27 2007 8:00P		Cork
Nov 29 2007 8:00P	Dolans Warehouse	Limerick
Nov 30 2007 8:00P	Rugby Club	Tullamore
Dec 1 2007 8:00P	Black Box	Galway
Dec 2 2007 8:00P	Glor	Ennis
Dec 5 2007 8:00P	The Empire	Belfast
Dec 6 2007 8:00P	Olympia Theatre	Dublin
Dec 7 2007 8:00P	Watergate Theatre	Kilkenny
Dec 8 2007 8:00P	Forum	Waterford

-Valley Girl

 

Halloween Part I

Halloween

I'm just surprised that Danzig spent so much time unemployed and living in his parents' basement, instead of working for the New Jersey Tourism Board. There's more to NJ than shopping, folks -- Infection and possible death. Remember, biohazard is just a beach away. Just kidding. They picked up those syringes ages ago.

 

 

Now, ready yourselves for some really unscary tunes.

 

 

Halloween

Well, not this one. This is a really frightening song -- if you're four years old. I don't know when or where I first heard it, but I've loved spelling the chorus forever.

Wade Denning was a composer and jingle writer. (He passed away this last September.) Kay Lande is an actress and singer who's worked on children's projects since the early 60s.

I snagged the album from Scar Stuff.

 

 

 

Halloween

 

This endearing, little song won me over at first listen. I even like her sort of out-of-tune singing.

There's really not too much information about Lady Krishna's Peppermint Lounge, except for the little that appears on their MySpace page.  Their fan club is riddled with pop-ups and white space.

 

 

 

Halloween

 

As a fan of SynthPop and some Dark Wave, I always thought that I would like Japan. I tried a couple of times, but, for some reason, their moody electronics would not take.. till now. I'm all gooey for "Halloween", "Quiet Life", and "Fall in Love with Me".

 

 

 

Halloween

 

 Typical Aqua. Squeaky, silly, and great, braindead entertainment for the whole family. (That bald fool always makes me laugh.)

As of yesterday, they've reunited for a tour.

 

 

 

Halloween

 

There's no Halloween without Helloween's screamy goodness. I must apologize for depriving you guys of the 13-minute version with its extra shrillness and more menacing atmosphere. I don't know about those lyrics, though.

In November, Helloween will be touring with Gamma Ray (former Helloween guitarist Kai Hansen's band).

 

 

 

 

Oozing with moodiness, Cristina

Sun in the eyes isn't easy, making your way home.

78saab

There are a large number of Australian bands that just really haven't received the recognition they deserve.

78 Saab are a band based in Sydney who have been plugging at it for as long as I can remember (well... there was a lot of alcohol consumed back then). With their third album, The Bells Line, having just been released, these guys have never been in danger of being accused of putting out music that has obviously been written and recorded in 5 minutes.

78 Saab used to be, and very possibly still are my favourite Aussie band [insert link to my cheesy-bad old fanzine interview with them here], their songs aren't about making you dance or drinking copious amounts of booze and acting like a knobhead, they are soothing and sweet and to me, bring back vast memories, particularly of being at a certain Sydney pub often until the sun came up the next morning. Sit back and listen to the lyrics.

I actually saw these guys last week (for the first time in more than a year) and it's refreshing to still hear bands that haven't conformed to what is apparently "cool" these days, that is for example, dressing up like you just stepped out of the 80's. 78 saab still have it, and i would be very disspointed if these guys fade away into oblivion anytime soon.

I guess you could call me biased [but if you do i'll biff you one], but I do strongly recommend that you track down anything you can by these boys.

78 SAAB: No Illusions

I realise it may not be particularly useful tour guide-wise, but if you're intersted you can have a listen to some of their songs on both their Official Website or their MySpace page.

But just in case you're around, you can see them at:
September 13 2007 - East Brunswick Club, Melbourne
September 15 2007 - The Hopetoun Hotel, Sydney

78 Saab will also be touring nationally with Josh Pyke:
24 October 2007 - City Hall, Newcastle
26 October 2007 - Forum Theatre, Melbourne
27 October 2007 - Enmore Theatre, Sydney
1 November 2007 - Concert Hall QPAC, Brisbane
2 November 2007 - Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide

Enjoy!
Sal

Gee whiz but this is a lonesome town

Tour 10/26/07 Le Jardin de Verre Cholet, Pays de la Loire 10/27/07 La Nef w/ AaRON Angoulême, Poitou-Charentes 10/28/07 Salle du Vigean w/ AaRON Eysines, Aquitaine 10/29/07 Live on Radio Nova - L’éléphant effervescent Paris, Ile-de-France 10/30/07 Les Nuits de Champagne Troyes, Champagne-Ardenne 11/03/07 Festival les Primeurs de Massy Massy,France 11/05/07 Lion D’or w/ Emily Proulx Montréal 11/06/07 Supermarket Toronto, Ontario 11/07/07 Drake Hotel Toronto, Ontario 11/16/07 Salle de spectacles St Jean de la ruelle, Centre 11/20/07 L’équinoxe with Emily Loizeau Chateauroux, Centre 11/22/07 Le Palace La Louvière 12/04/07 La Filature - SOLD OUT Mulhouse 12/08/07 Les Cuizines Chelles, Ile-de-France 12/14/07 EMB Sannois  Decoster Sannois 12/15/07 La Batterie (en 1ère partie de Thierry Stremler et Oshen) Guyancourt, Ile-de-France 01/18/08 La Genette Verte Florac, Languedoc-Roussillon 03/21/08 La Cigale Paris, Ile-de-France 04/01/08 Esplanade de la Défense - Festival Le Chorus des Hauts de Seine La Défense, Ile-de-France 04/04/08 Espace Robert Hossein Merville, Nord-Pas-de-Calais 04/05/08 Village en Seine Thouarcé, Pays de la Loire 05/06/08 L’Atelier à spectacles Vernouillet, Centre 05/16/08 Hall du Forum Berre l’étang, PACA 05/17/08 Le Rocher La Garde, PACA 05/23/08 Théâtre de Verre Chateaubriant, Pays de la Loire Band Members ♥ Rosemary Moriarty ♥ Arthur Moriarty ♥ Tom Moriarty ♥ Charles Moriarty ♥ Zim Moriarty ♥ Vincent Talpaert ♥ Eric Tafani

Moriarty - Cottonflower Moriarty - Jimmy

The die is cast... With such a name, the very first album of Moriarty can't leave us indifferent. It sounds like an unavoidable invitation through the countrysides... whatever the name of the country is.

The lyrics take us from fields to towns, lonesome ones. The music itself is timeless.

The Kid with the Harmonica (Thomas M.) sounds like a worshipper of the Diva' s voice (Rosemary M.). The Cowboy Guitar Player (Arthur M.) and The Lord of Guitar (Charles M.) walk along the river of this haunting voice. The Professor on Double-bass (Stephen M.) and The Suitcases Player (Vincent M.) are both hypnotized by the atmosphere... fingers on the strings. The rhythm is given.

Moriarty is a unique family story from all around the world. Indeed some members of the band are from the States, France, Switzerland or even Vietnam. But they made the choice to use the same family name to make it easier, crazier, "Morartier ".

On stage, they make us forget our reality. The cabaret-like atmosphere they create take us on the road through real american folk. Jack Kerouac is never very far away. Simply elegant. Their very first influence comes from the american blues of the 30' s to which they managed to add new ones such as jazz, traditional music from Mali or Ireland and electronic sounds.

Since this album was released (October the 9th ), I have been travelling quite a lot and I wish you to do the same listening to it...

They will be touring around France until May 2008.

Please Enjoy !

 10/25/2007 19:24:45  my♥posts inuit66.vox.com www.moriartyland.com

Slow Runner

Tour 10/25/07 Blue Cats Knoxville, TN 10/26/07 Orange Peel Asheville, NC 10/27/07 Headliners Columbia, SC 11/02/07 Music Farm Charleston, SC 11/17/07 Evening Muse Charlotte, NC 12/08/07 Cucumberlands Charleston, SC Discography [2006] No Disassemble (Limited Edition) [2006] No Disassemble Rapper [2007] SHIV! Band Members ♥ Michael Flynn ♥ Josh Kaler ♥ Jonny Gray ♥ Scott Baumil

Slow Runner - Happy Ending

Slow Runner, an indie rock band from Charleston, South Carolina, have recently released their second album, SHIV! on Sept 9th.

Originally, this band was basically Michael Flynn (note: Collector's Edition of No Disassemble has his name instead of Slow Runner) and Josh Kaler.

I only have SHIV! for review, and I'm not sure how different their sound is compared to their debut album. The songs I liked off this album is "Lower Your Standards" (the opening song to the album), "Long Division", "Happy Ending" and "The Usual Chords".

There is a strange 50 second gap in the middle of the album, that's barely considered a song of Flynn singing "Sounds Crazy But It Just Might Work" over and over. It sounded like they were having a good drunken time at a hotel or something.

The song I've picked out to use is "Happy Ending" which has a very good intro of keyboard. The bass line is solid and I think there's even trumpets in the song. This is actually the longest song on the album.

Slow Runner is currently touring NC and SC, so if you're in those area, check them out. For even more songs see their myspace.com/slowrunner, where you can download "Deep End" for free.

PS, will be back to doing Halloween songs soon!

 10/25/2007 07:51:48  vu my♥posts [email protected] www.slowrunnermusic.com

DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince - A Nightmare on My Street

Discography [Mar 1987] Rock the House [Mar 1988] He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper [Oct 1989] And in this Corner... [Jul 1991] Homebase [Oct 1993] Code Red

DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince - A Nightmare on My Street Charles Bernstein & Christopher Young - Sleep Clinic

I have one of the greatest Halloween song for you today. It's DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince's "A Nightmare on My Street" from their most popular album, He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper (the one with "Parents Just Don't Understand" song).

The song is obviously about Freddy Krueger of A Nightmare on Elm Street. It tells about how Will Smith saw this "def" movie and before he knew it, he was having a nightmare about Fred.

The piano part in Smith's song uses elements of Charles Bernstein's soundtrack for the original movie.  The sample they used is from "Main Theme", but I'm including "Sleep Clinic" here.

By the way, isn't it weird how Will Smith is all grown up now?

So, anyroad, the first time I saw a Nightmare film, it was Part 3, The Dream Warriors. I thought it was one of the best horror movie I've ever seen (back in '87). I especially liked the D&D kid that was killed right away :/

And if you're planning on renting the Nightmare series, avoid part two. Freddy's Revenge was easily the worst film of the series.

 10/24/2007 20:59:04  vu my♥posts [email protected] www.willsmith.net

Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me

Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me

Rockwell

I'm in the spirit (haha) for Halloween-type songs. So I am kind of collecting Halloween music for my Halloween post on W♥M if anyone has any suggestions. Of course we're going to use "Thriller" and "Monster Mash". Send me your recommendations!

I've had this song, "Somebody's Watching Me" in my head all day today. The song is a debut single from Rockwell and the chorus is sung by none other than Michael Jackson (Jermaine Jackson is also featured in the song).

This song is pretty awesome. It always takes me back to breakdancing and growing up in the ghetto. And American Top 40.

I can pretty much sing along to all the lyrics and my favorite part is "I wondering who's watching me now? (Who?) The IRS?"

Last year, the song got popularized again by some DJ mixers called Beatfreakz. The single(s) did so well for this band that it reached the UK charts at #3 (which placed higher than the original Rockwell song).

Beatfreakz - Somebody's Watching Me (BeatFreakz Club Mix)

Tru - I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watching Me

As a special bonus, here's TRU doing their version of "Somebody's Watching Me". The chorus is sung by Master P. It's explicit, so listen with caution.

�10/23/2007 20:11:57� vu my♥posts [email protected] jacksonstreet.nl

The Matthew Bennett Band

Tour 11/02/07 Singers Night @ The Library Theatre Birmingham 11/08/07 Bar Amp Sale, Cheshire 11/17/07 The Green Room Manchester 11/26/07 The Venue Stockport 11/28/07 The Troubadour London 12/07/07 Jug of Ale (Official EP Launch) Birmingham 01/20/08 BBC RAW TALENT Leeds/Hull Band Members ♥ Matthew Bennett ♥ Lesley Turner ♥ Matt Foundling ♥ Tom Farnell Jr Trivia The cover of their EP is a modified photograph by Pat Pope, who's taken many famous band portraits such as Oasis and Nick Cave.

The Matthew Bennett Band - Looking Just Like You Are

The Matthew Bennett Band

The Matthew Bennett Band is a brand new band from West Midlands, in the UK. They have a debut EP coming out November 5th, called March EP (shouldn't that be released in March?)

With my previously Daze of the Week post, I am wondering can a Month post be far behind ? If so, the March EP would fit very well in there.

They're also about to set on a mini UK tour to promote the EP, so I've also included their tour dates here. It's probably likely to change, due to additions of shows, so I recommend adding them as a friend on myspace if you want to keep an eye out for them.

The band met each other through their common fondness for the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, etc and wanted to capture those sound in their music.

According to their blog, their songs have been played on BBC Subculture, BBC Introducting, Raw Talent and BBC Sounds - just to name a few.

 10/23/2007 00:02:32  vu my♥posts [email protected] www.myspace.com/thematthewbennettband

Fanatic Showcase @ The Annex, NYC (CMJ Music Marathon)

Bring Back the Guns - In Piles/On File   Clockcleaner - Vomiting Mirrors   Slim Cessna's Auto Club - This is How We Do Things in the Country   Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears - The Ceiling on the Wall Wooden Shjips - We Ask You to Ride Hopewell - All Angels Road

Saturday, October 20, 2007

 

After approximately 45 minutes of the New York obstacle course (sweaty subway blues, fragrant outdoor fish markets, disorientation, and the awkward exchange of “I don’t know what you’re saying to me.  I’m sorry I’m ignorant” hand gestures) I finally arrived at the popular Lower East Side club, The Annex, just in time to catch the last night of the CMJ (College Music Journal) Music Marathon and a mild vodka buzz.

 

With the coincidental competition of next door’s flashy Fader Magazine private party, The Annex’s modestly roped entryway, almost-friendly bouncer, and the curious hand-painted sign indicating that “Scaryville” was just inside, seemed honest and endearing (if not slightly lonely).  Industry hipsters may have been raising the roof at Fader, but The Annex’s crowd knew how to keep it real (I’m 90% certain that I saw a man sporting a

dreadlocked beard). 

The Fanatic Promotion Showcase began earlier that evening, with performances from Bring Back the Guns and the naughty Clockcleaner.  I breezed in for Slim Cessna’s Auto Club’s set:  a rollickin’, slightly unintelligible patchwork of good ole boy country and good ole rock n’ roll.  Having stepped outside for a short break, some freshly polluted NYC air, perusal of the neighboring Thai take-out menu, and some geeky music chit chat, a few of us rebellious sheep found ourselves separated from the rest of the pack, resulting in the unintentional overlook of frenetic psych-rockers Hopewell.  Visit these bands’ websites for more information about upcoming shows.

 

At the risk of playing “favorites,” I was pleasantly enthused by Brooklyn-based Bryan Scary and The Shredding Tears’s performance.  Hamming it up with face paint, unique

historical costumes, grandiose theatrics, and a highly stylized Glam Pop-meets-Rocky Horror musical sideshow, Bryan Scary and band transformed the dark narrow club into a jolly lair of demented fun!

 

San Francisco natives Wooden Shjips closed the showcase with their brand of blurry gothic psychedelia (I’m attempting to refrain from using the description “stoner music,” but hey, if it looks like a tweaked out duck…).  As the headlining act, the band attracted the biggest crowd, a diverse audience of subdued bedheads, oddly formal neo-beatniks, some Asians*, and the obligatory DWFs (Dudes Wearing Flannel).  Although there appeared to be no lack of interest in the music, the sudden onset of a droopy-eyed ambience was my cue to bid ‘adieu’ and step back outside into real time.

 

Bring Back the Guns:  www.bringbacktheguns.com

Clockcleaner:  www.clockcleaner.net

Slim Cessna’s Auto Club:  www.slimcessnasautoclub.com

Hopewell:  www.hopewell.tv

Bryan Scary and The Shredding Tears:  www.bryanscary.com

Wooden Shjips:  www.woodenshjips.com

 

*For the record, I am Asian and therefore allowed to single out my people.

 

-Lara

 

 

 

Raveonettes at the 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis (10-21-2007)

Tour 10/23/07 West End Cultural Centre - Winnipeg, MB 10/25/07 NEW CITY LIKWID LOUNGE EDM, Alberta 10/26/07 BROKEN CITY CALGARY, Alberta 10/27/07 BROKEN CITY CALGARY, Alberta 10/29/07 RICHARDS CABARET VANCOUVER, BC 10/31/07 BLUEBIRD THEATRE DENVER, Colorado 11/13/07 Kings College London 11/14/07 Norwich Arts Centre Norwich 11/15/07 Barfly Brighton 11/16/07 Barfly Cambridge 11/17/07 Barfly Birmingham 11/19/07 King Tuts Glasgow 11/20/07 Academy 2 Newcastle 11/21/07 Cockpit Leeds 11/22/07 Academy 3 Manchester 11/23/07 Zodiac @ Academy Oxford 11/25/07 TUNNEL VISION FESTIVAL SOMERSET 11/27/07 Rockhall Luxembourg 11/28/07 Gebaude 9 Cologne 11/29/07 Tivoli Utrecht 12/01/07 Lido Berlin 12/02/07 Star Club Dresden 12/03/07 Atomic Café Munich 12/05/07 Vega Copenhagen 12/06/07 Vox Hall Aarhus 12/07/07 Studenthuset Odense 12/08/07 Stars Vordingborg Discography [Aug 2002] Whip It On [Aug 2003] Chain Gang Of Love [May 2005] Pretty in Black

The Raveonettes - Attack of the Ghost Riders The Raveonettes ♥ Setlist

The Raveonettes are a rock band from Denmark. They played last night to an intimate setting at the 7th Street Entry to only a few hundred people.

Since we haven't touched on the Raves on W♥M, I'll just quickly talk about their background and sound.

The first thing you'll notice about this band is that they're missing a bass player. Their whole style of music are driven by two guitars. Their first CD, which is more like a really long EP (8 songs), are kind of a tribute a crazy 50s surf soundtrack. It's very loud and most of the vocals were sung by Sune, but harmonized with backing vocals from Sharin. Their later albums, especially Pretty in Black is more 60s pop (just to give you an example, they did a cover of The Angels' "My Boyfriend's Back").

Judging from some of their new songs on their show, their new album will be amazing. I can't wait to hear the studio version of "Dead Sound".

The old songs, especially from Whip it Up were all well received, including "Attack of the Ghost Rider" (see audio link).

They did a fantastic cover of Stereolab's "French Disko", which barely sounds like the original with the two overlapping guitars. I will be putting up some "French Disko" version on Cover Lover tomorrow for those interested in hearing the original song.

They closed their set with two encores: "Ode to LA" and "Beat City".

So, I'm not really sure why they're currently on tour in the US, their album is not going to be released in the US until 2008. Lust, Lust, Lust is being released in the UK on November 12th.

♥ Setlist [2006] Bleeding Diamonds [Oct 2007] Neptune City [Photo] Nicole Atkins

 

 

Nicole Atkins - Party's Over

Nicole Atkins

Nicole Atkins & The Sea, from New Jersey, played their last show with The Raveonettes in Minneapolis. They're heading to play on Late Night with David Letterman on October 30th (the same date as her Neptune City CD release), so you can what kind of understand her commercial appeal she has.

People who also like Feist and A Fine Frenzy^[W♥M] will probably really like Atkins.

The song that she'll play on Letterman is "The Way It Is", but I wasn't that impressed with it hearing it live, so I'm putting up "Party's Over" which I liked a little better.

They had to cut their set short by two songs, so "Love Surreal" and "Crystal Ship" was not played. I was disappointed because I wanted to hear the Doors cover song.

More information about her at the official website, www.nicoleatkins.com. More photos of Nicole Atkins at britishrockisalwaystop

♥ Gliss

 

Gliss - Kissing The Blvd

Gliss

I did think that GLISS, from Los Angeles, is a much better matched band for The Raveonettes, seeing as they are going to accompanied them for the rest of their tour through Canada.

I like their music, but I think I have issues with the lead singer's voice. It sounds too emo for me. Check out the song I've posted and you let me know if I'm wrong or not.

What I liked about them is that they switch their instruments every other song. I'm assuming it's because they're well versed in certain instruments during certain songs.

You can check out their official website at www.gliss.tv.  Both Gliss and Nicole Atkins did not have a discography section on their website (BOO!), or at least I couldn't find it for the life of me.  For your information, I did want to include a little discography section on Gliss.

 10/22/2007 22:01:16  vu my♥posts [email protected] www.raveonettes.com