W♥M (Archive)

September to remember tour

MADI DIAZ
madidiaz.com

Playing with Madi Diaz is Gabby Young at 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis on September 1st, which should be a good time.

I was sent Diaz's Far From Things That We Know EP to listen to, which is coming out September 20th on tinyOGRE Entertainment. I really liked "Johnny", I'm looking forward to hearing that song done live. I thought Diaz's voice is lovely/sweet on all three tracks, just like the video for "Let's Go" by Matt Amato. Which.... admittedly I did not like the boring video.

Diaz kicked off a national tour last week with fellow Nashville songwriter Keegan DeWitt (you can grab two free songs at madidiaz.com/tour).

Look for Diaz's full-length to be out in early 2012, but I suspect you'll hear those unreleased songs on her tour:

8/22 - San Francisco, CA @ Cafe du Nord*
8/23 - Santa Barbara, CA @ SoHo
8/25 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hotel Café*
8/28 - Los Angeles, CA @ Sunset Junction
8/30 - Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge*
9/1 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry*
9/2 - Evanston, IL @ SPACE*
9/3 - Maquoketa, IA Daytrotter Barnstormin/Codfish Hollow Barn

*co-headlining with Keegan DeWitt

ATARI TEENAGE RIOT
atari-teenage-riot.com

The last time I mentioned ATR, I was rather excited that they've reformed last year.

With some tease to new material via mastermind Alec Empire's soundcloud account, it's about time that the noise artist is coming back with a vengeance! It's been a long ten years!

Full details of music videos, free MP3s, and detail about the Black Flags album at news.weheartmusic.com.

Tour dates:

08/26 -France - Charleville-Mezieres @ Cabaret Vert 09/04 - Seattle, WA @Bumbershoot Festival 09/05 – Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre * 09/07 – San Luis Obispo, CA @ SLO Brew * 09/08 – San Diego, CA @ Porters Pub (w Retox) * 09/09 – West Hollywood, CA @ The Keyclub * 09/10 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Royal Resort * 09/13 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room * 09/14 – Orlando, FL @ Firestone * 09/15 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade * 09/16 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle * 09/17 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club * 09/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Polaris * 09/20 – Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon * 09/21 – Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights * 09/23 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre * 09/24 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theater * 09/26 – Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's Downunder *		09/27 – Detroit, MI @ The Majestic Theater * 09/28 – Chicago, IL @ Reggie's Rock Club * 10/05 – Austria – Vienna @ Szene 10/06 – Austria – Linz @ Posthof 10/07 – Slovenia – Ljubljana @ Kino Siska 10/10 – Hungary – Budapest ! A38 10/12 – Germany – Berlin @ Astra 10/13 – Germany – Leipzig @ Werk II 10/14 – Germany – Cottbus @ Gladhouse 10/15 – Poland – Warsaw @ Progresja 10/16 – Poland – Wroclaw @ Firlej 10/21 – Austria – Dornbirn @ Dornbirm 10/22 – Germany – Stuttgart @ Universum 11/23 – Russia – Moscow @ Tochka 11/24 – Russia – St Petersburg @ Glavclub 11/25 – Finland – Helsinki @ Nosturi 11/26 – Swedend – Stockholm @ Debaser * = w/ Otto von Schirach

THAO WITH THE GET DOWN STAY DOWN
thaomusic.com

I know I've previously mentioned her September dates here, but I personally like her, I'm adding more dates (see below).

Among the new dates will be that they will be playing with Sub Pop's The Head and the Heart. New dates includes Minneapolis!

This is her fourth time in Minneapolis, her fourth time playing at the Cedar Cultural Center. She really LOVES the venue. It's easy to see why, as I've previously mentioned, it's one of my favorite and best places to see live music.

09/20/11 - New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks* 09/21/11 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse* 09/22/11 - Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theater* 09/23/11 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club* 09/24/11 - Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater* 09/25/11 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Ukie Club* 09/26/11 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg* 09/27/11 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom* 09/28/11 - New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge 09/30/11 - Boston, MA @ Royale* 10/01/11 - Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom* 10/02/11 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom*		10/03/11 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Calvin College* 10/06/11 - Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall* 10/07/11 - Madison, WI @ Majestic Theater* 10/08/11 - Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural* 10/09/11 - Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room* 10/10/11 - Denver, CO @ Gothic Theater* 10/14/11 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues* 10/18/11 - Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall* 10/19/11 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom* 10/20/11 - Vancouver, BC, Canada @ Commodore* 10/22/11 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile * w/ The Head and the Heart

LOCH LOMAND
lochlomond.com

Loch Lomond from Portland, Oregon, is going on tour this September to promote their second album, Little Me Will Start a Storm, released earlier this year. The album comes out on all formats (CD, Vinyl, and digital).

If you see them on tour, look for the glockenspiel.

More details on news.weheartmusic.com, below is their tour dates:

09.10.11 - Portland, OR @ MusicFest NW at Rontom's
09.14.11 - Bellingham, WA @ the Green Frog
09.15.11 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
09.16.11 - Cottage Grove, OR @ the Axe & Fiddle
09.17.11 - Davis, CA @ Sophia's Thai Kitchen w/ Point Juncture, WA
09.18.11 - Santa Cruz, CA @ the Crepe Place
09.22.11 - Goleta, CA @ Mercury Lounge
09.23.11 - Visalia, CA @ the Cellar Door
09.24.11 - Big Sure, CA @ Fernwood w/ Brooke Parrott
09.25.11 - San Francisco, CA @ Hotel Utah

UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA
unknownmortalorchestra.com

Don't really know much about this band, but here's yet another Portland band. They seem quite new, having first started in late 2010 with a single called Ffunny Ffrends via bandcamp - however, if you head over to unknown-mortal-orchestra.bandcamp.com, there's nothing there.

According to their press release, singer Ruban Nielson is from New Zealand, but currently living in Portland with his band Mint Chicks.

They are doing a ton of tour dates, with a FREE show in LA at Bardot on 8/29, RSVP here.

08/29 Los Angeles, CA Bardot* 09/08 Portland, OR Hawthorne% 09/09 Athens, GA 40 Watt# 09/10 Raleigh, NC Hopscotch$ 09/11 Washington, DC Black Cat # 09/12 Philadelphia, PA 1st Unitarian Church # 09/14 New York, NY Webster Hall # 09/15 Brooklyn, NY Glasslands Gallery + 09/16 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club # 09/17 Montreal, QC Le National # 09/18 Toronto, ON Opera House # 09/19 Detroit, MI Majestic Theatre # 09/20 Bloomington, IN The Bishop # 09/21 Grinnell, IA Grinnel College Gardner 09/22 Urbana, IL Pygmalion # 09/23 Cincinnati, OH Midpoint Music Festival #		09/24 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall # 09/25 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock # 09/26 Fargo, ND Aquarium 09/28 Seattle, WA The Crocodile # 09/29 Vancouver, BC Venue # 09/30 Portland, OR Branx # 10/01 SF, CA Great American# 10/02 SF, CA Great American# 10/03 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre # 10/04 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom 10/05 Tucson, AZ Club Congress 10/06 El Paso, TX Lowbrow# 10/07 Dallas, TX Club Dada # 10/08 Austin, TX The Mohawk # 10/09 Houston, TX Fitzgerald's # 10/10 New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jack's # 10/11 Tallahassee, FL Club Downunder #		10/12 Mobile, AL Alabama Music Box 10/13 Birmingham, AL Bottletree # 10/14 Atlanta, GA Masquerade # 10/15 Columbia, SC New Brookland# 10/16 Asheville, NC Grey Eagle 10/17 Winston-Salem, NC Werehouse 10/18 Richmond, VA Strange Matter 10/19 - 10/22 New York, NY CMJ 10/25 Buffalo, NY Mohawk Place 10/30 Kansas City, MO Riot Room 11/07 Oakland, CA The New Parish * = w/ The Submarines # = w/ Toro Y Moi % = w/ Little Dragon $ = w/ Times New Viking + = w/ Woven Bones, Blouse, Man/Miracle

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Splendour in the Grass - The Words Part 1: Friday

  Thanks to the delightful Gemma and Amber of the Festival Ladies we have a series of reviews to accompany the riveting podcast that i'm sure you've already listened to.

Anyway.... here goes... Part 1.

Splendour in the Grass is Australia’s largest winter music festival and in 2011 and for the second year in a row was held at Woodford, QLD over 3 days from 29-31 July. The ladies made the trip to the festival this year. See what they thought about the happenings of the Friday.

Jebediah

Gem: I’m a long term Jebediah fan. They were one of the first bands I ever saw. It was an U18s gig and it was at Sutherland Entertainment Centre. It’s amazing how much this band has not dated. Kev, Vanessa, Chris and Brett look exactly the same as I remember them and they sound better now than ever. As an old school fan, of course, I was really looking forward to hearing the older songs again and I wasn’t alone. There was a massive sing-along to the 1997 hit ‘Leaving Home’ and the “Screw up your life again” lyrics of ‘Please Leave’. They also played ‘Animal’ and my personal highlight, ‘Harpoon’. The songs from their new album, Kosciuszko, have brought new energy to the band and, after a bit of air play on Triple J lately, have a certain level of familiarity that results in the whole crowd dancing along to them. Great set, my only disappointment is that they didn’t play ‘Teflon’ (I later learned that they very rarely play the song live).

Glasvegas

Amb: Glasvegas were a bit disappointing, not enough chat for my liking (what’s the point in having a great Scottish accent if you’re not going to share?), however they earned points back for having a bass player with several missing teeth. I’m not sure why, but it kept me enthralled.

Does It Offend You Yeah?

Gem: Does It Offend You Yeah? mash many different genres of music into their songs – dance, electronic rock, punk, indie, and pop. Throughout their set they quickly jumped from big beat dance tunes to slow acoustic songs in such unpredictable fashion that I found myself questioning their identity. This is precisely the band’s intention. They don’t want to be predictable, they don’t want to fit into some preconceived genre, and they don’t want to follow the formula. They want to be interesting. I was mesmerised throughout the performance, wondering what they would play next. Song highlights included ‘Pull Out My Insides’ and ‘Epic Last Song’, as well as a cover of Nirvana’s “Aneurysm”. Their last song ‘Funky Monkey’ got the whole of the mix up tent dancing.

The Hives

Amb: Raise your hands in appreciation of The Hives!!! Howlin’ Pelle RULES. He spent the entire set prancing and strutting across the stage, blowing kisses, scolding the crowd and generally hamming it up and pouncing about the way he does best. Plus The Hives have the best stage backdrop I have ever seen. And matching outfits. I LOVE matching outfits on a band.

Gem: It was my first time seeing The Hives. Not sure how, considering my friend's obsession with the band and in particular the lead singer. It didn’t take me long to understand the obsession. The lead singer was fabulous. His continuous and highly infectious stage presence and interaction with the crowd is mesmerising and it’s not long until he has us all eating out of the palm of his hand. For the final song ‘Tick Tick Boom’ he got the whole crowd to sit on the floor before a massive dance off. Other highlights were ‘Walk Idiot Walk’ and ‘Hate to Say I Told You So’.

Kanye West

Amb: I was hoping for a ridiculously grandiose entrance from Kanye and he didn't disappoint. He emerged from a thick cloud of smoke, being lifted above the crowd on a platform set up in the middle of the moshpit. What a dick. But a thoroughly entertaining dick, so he’s forgiven. Lots of fun.

Gem: Kanye was so much fun, let’s face it his songs are catchy. On the stage there was always so much going on – dancers, giant white sheets. I didn’t understand it all but it kept me entertained. I was a bit disappointed that the rumour that Jay-Z would make an appearance didn’t eventuate. 

 

Check out the offical Splendour website for replays of webcasts and the official photo gallery.

W♥M115: God Help the Girl

W♥M115 (11 mins) Listening options: Archive.org: W♥M115

I won't be home this weekend, heading up north - where there probably won't be any internets.....

Before I go, I thought I'd drop this off: I've previously heard the single "Come Monday Night" by God Help the Girl, but never really got around to picking up the actual album - that is until a few months ago - when I was in Canada. I saw they were selling the album for $1.99. No sale, no clearance, that was the regular price. I couldn't believe it, I picked up all the copies they had in the store.

God Help the Girl

Like most album, there are some duds, but the majority of the songs are actually good - if you're into that sweet-girl-vocals thing. The few male exceptions, Stuart Murdoch and Neil Hannon, they are there to help sing and move the song along, not take the spotlight.

This is also a concept album, which few albums these days do, it's about a girl and her relationship (or lackof). You get a sense when you're listening to the little stories that this could be a great afterschool special.

Anyway, well worth the $1.99.

1. Act of the Apostle (Catherine Ireton)
2. God Help The Girl (Catherine Ireton)
3. Pretty Eve in the Tub (Stuart Murdoch and Catherine Ireton)
4. A Unified Theory (instrumental)
5. Hiding Neath My Umbrella (Catherine Ireton and Stuart Murdoch)
6. Funny Little Frog (Brittany Stallings)
7. If You Could Speak (Catherine Ireton, Anna Miles and Stuart Murdoch)
8. Musician Please Take Heed (Catherine Ireton)
9. Perfection as a Hipster (Neil Hannon and Catherine Ireton)
10. Come Monday Night (Catherine Ireton)
11. Music Room Window (instrumental)
12. I Just Want Your Jeans (Asya)
13. I'll Have to Dance with Cassie (Catherine Ireton)
14. A Down and Dusky Blonde (Dina Bankole, Catherine Ireton, Celia Garcia, Brittany Stallings, Asya)

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Archive of this show at archive.org. More information on mypodcast.com and podomatic.com

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Another Earth

Another Earth

If you could meet yourself, what would you say?

Another Earth is a story about redemption. Sort of. Writer/director Mike Cahill steers his audience through an ethically muddled wormhole filled with more questions than answers. He posits the idea of a literal alternate universe populated by the same inhabitants of Earth; whether or not these “other Earthlings” are leading comparable lives is the Big Question.

Brit Marling, who co-wrote the script with Cahill, plays Rhoda Williams, a smart, pretty girl on the brink of great success. Having just been accepted to an astrophysics program at MIT, she indulges in one night of reckless teenage abandon, which results in a rather horrific consequence. The rest of the film follows Rhoda as she attempts to make amends for what she did, at the same time wondering how her life would be different had she made better choices. Of course, she’s fascinated by the concept of Earth II, and therein lies the film’s tour de force: Cahill uses a topical scientific theory as the basis for his heroine’s internal dilemma. It’s an interesting idea and on one level, Cahill succeeds. The characters have just the right amount of complexities and emotional damage without the burden of pity and self-aggrandizing resolve. Basically, they’re relatable, even if their specific predicaments are not.

The problem with Another Earth, however, is that it relies too heavily on artistic imagery and doesn’t spend enough time exploring the science behind the concept. Taking a page from the “Donnie Darko School of Meaningless Metaphors,” Cahill uses brilliant cinematography to substitute for less-than-brilliant writing. For example, the plot is riddled with scenes of Rhoda staring into the distance or walking in slow-motion while real-life astrophysicist Richard Berendzen provides voiceover commentary, in effect summarizing an entire realm of scholarly thought. A tad lazy, no? What happened to the first rule of storytelling: show don’t tell? More importantly, what exactly is the science behind the film? Cahill wants us to consider Earth II a plausible phenomenon, but even my high school physics education makes me question the substance of this theory. Good science fiction is rarely this ambitious without a concrete set of footnotes to back up its claims.

So Cahill’s characters drift, at times aimlessly, through his imagined-real landscape, one that feels as cold and empty as his plot devices*. It’s fitting, then, that the film’s scoreshares similar qualities. Composed and produced by Philip Mossman (LCD Soundsystem) and Will Bates under the moniker Fall On Your Sword, the soundtrack is a mix of electronic beats and haunting strings. While icy at times, the music accomplishes the film’s intended vision by infusing classic instrumentation with progressive studio engineering—innovation vs. organic artistry. “Rhoda’s Theme” is either the opening waltz at a rave in space or the instrumental track for an Olympic figure skating competition. “The Cosmonaut” uses only piano and violin but transitions seamlessly into “The Specialist,” a pulsating collage of sounds with something resembling a digital distress signal weaved throughout. Mossman and Bates seem highly calculated in their approach, intentionally speeding up and slowing down the musical tone. This matches the film’s emotional core—restless, waiting, uncertain. Even if the film leaves crater-sized holes in basic logic, Cahill can rest easy that his soundtrack, at least, manages to bridge the gap between two worlds.

Another Earth is now playing in limited release. For more information or to watch the trailer, visit its official Fox Searchlight website at foxsearchlight.com/anotherearth. The film has earned mixed reviews from top critics, but won the Alfred P. Sloan prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival where it premiered.

* Cahill’s token minority character is an elderly Indian man who mutilates himself in an attempt to shut out the world; predictably, he also fills the “grandpa” role: one who offers pointlessly cryptic words of wisdom indicative of a character’s personal growth.

lara () ♥ foxsearchlight.com/anotherearth ♥ fallonyoursword.com

Adult Swim Singles

Adult Swim is basically the "grown up" version of regular the Cartoon Network's children cartoon programming. The shows on its programming is often geared for an 18+ audience, and from its lineup, often quite quirky (and popular) shows: The Venture Bros., Robot Chicken, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

Last year, Adult Swim started their free singles giveaway, it was so successful, that they're doing it again with their second annual "2011 Adult Swim Singles Program".

This week, the final song (which is the "bonus song") is unveiled to be "On the Run" by Cerebral Ballzy. This punk band from New York seems quite new, having just released their self-titled debut record, out July 26th, 2011, via Williams Street Records. Lead singer Honor Titus has those afropunk attitudes, you know: DIY, tats, skateboarding, punk, and pizza... but then again, who doesn't love those things?

Grab the whole collection, including massive cover artwork, at Adult Swim Singles:

Week 1 (June 6) – Ford & Lopatin: "Too Much MIDI"
Week 2 (June 14) – Best Coast: "Gone Again"
Week 3 (June 21) – How to Dress Well: "Us in the Sense of Forever
Week 4 (June 28) – Mastodon: "Deathbound"
Week 5 (July 5) – Active Child: "Hanging On"
Week 6 (July 12) – The Tallest Man on Earth: "Weather of a Killing Kind"
Week 7 (July 19) – The Rapture: "How Deep is Your Love? (Emperor Machine Remix Edit)"
Week 8 (July 26) – Clams Casino: "Wizard"
Week 9 (August 2) – JJ feat. NE-YO "We Can't Stop"
Week 10 (August 9) – El-P "Drones over BKLYN censored mix)"
Week 11 (August 16) - Cerebral Ballzy "On the Run"

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Girls Girls Girls 5

MIRAH
mirahmusic.com

Mirah's digital-only single, "Low Self Control" (featuring Tender Forever) is released today, August 16^th.

I have gone on record saying how much I love both Mirah and Tender Forever, so it's really natural that I would love "Low Self Control". You can download the track over at MTV Hive. While I did like the track, can't say I am a fan of the autotune. French rap, I'm okay with though!

Mini-tour starts tomorrow:

August 17 - Boston MA @ Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
August 18 - Northampton MA @ Iron Horse Music Hall
August 19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Dead Herring
August 25 - Berkeley, CA @ UC Botanical Redwood Grove

GIRL IN A COMA
girlinacoma.com

Can't believe how far these girls have gone. As you know, I've followed their career from their beginnings in 2004. Well, they are currently on tour with THE Go-Go's! This should be an excellent bill, considering how much we all like Belinda and the Go-Go's around here.

Girl in a Coma will release their fourth album, Exits & All the Rest on November 1st, 2011 via Joan Jett's Blackheart Records.

Here are their tour dates:

8/16: San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
8/17: Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
8/23: Aspen, CO @ Belly Up Aspen
8/24: Denver, CO @ Ogden Theater
8/26: Dallas, TX @ House of Blues Dallas
8/27: Houston, TX @ House of Blues
8/28: Austin, TX @ The Paramount Theatre

ALEX WINSTON
alexwinstonofficial.com

Alex Winston, the girl with the boy-sounding name, is releasing Velvet Elvis EP, coming out September 19th, 2011, via Island Records UK/HeavyRoc US. Incidentally, today (August 16th) is the anniversary of Elvis Presley's death.

I haven't heard the song, but it's described by her press release, that it's about how people fall in love with objects. You can watch the music video at Pitchfork.

She's doing some tour dates:

19/08/11 Pukkelpop Festival Hasselt
20/08/11 V Festival Weston Park / Chelmsford Park
21/08/11 V Festival Weston Park / Chelmsford Park
30/08/11 Shepherds Bush Empire London
02/09/11 Lock Tavern London
09/09/11 Berlin Festival Berlin
11/09/11 Bestival Isle Of Wight
14/09/11 Proud London
09/11/11 University Anson Rooms Bristol
10/11/11 Roundhouse London
12/11/11 Leadmill Sheffield
13/11/11 Olympia Dublin
15/11/11 O2 ABC1 Glasgow
16/11/11 Empire Middlesbrough
17/11/11 Academy 2 Manchester
19/11/11 HMV Institute Birmingham
20/11/11 The Junction Cambridge
21/11/11 The Waterfront Norwich
23/11/11 Pyramids Centre Portsmouth

BROUS
brous.com.au

Speaking of girl with boy names, Brous is pronounced like "Bruce".

Sophia Brous is working under her surname (like how Megan Washington is doing the same thing, despite how common of a name that is in the USA - where 'Washington' is often associated with our first president and the state).

According to Brous' press release, her single, "Streamers", "has been on everyone’s lips…the lush production, undulating melody and hypnotic performance signaling the emergence of an exciting new artist in Australia". This probably has something to do with Triple J picking up the song for their rotation.

If you don't live in Australia, like me, the song is a free download via bandcamp.

09/03/11 Buffalo Club, Melbourne
09/06/11 The Vanguard, Sydney
09/07/11 Woodland Bar, Brisbane

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Summerfree

Here are a couple of free downloads for you.

MR GNOME
mrgnome.com

We have mentioned Mr Gnome before, Derek described them as "ethereal" music, to sum it up.

Their new album, Roaring Madness In Miniature, is coming out October 25th, 2011, via El Marko Records. They are offering a free single, "Bit of Tongue" available on Soundcloud (as well as elsewhere).

The free song is described as "layered and ultimately anthemic" and should give you a taste of this Cleveland duo's "gritty, space-psychedelia".

The duo will be touring through the fall, stay tuned for winter dates to be announced.

Mr. Gnome Fall Tour Dates:

10/05 Philadelphia PA @ TBA 10/06 Brooklyn NY @ Union Pool 10/07 New Haven CT @ Elm Bar 10/08 Pittsburgh PA @ Brillobox 10/14 Rochester NY/Buffalo NY 10/15 Rochester NY/Buffalo NY 10/19 Lansing MI @ TBA 10/20 Grand Rapids MI @ The Pyramid Scheme 10/21 Madison WI @ Frequency 10/22 St Louis MO @ Cicero's 10/24 Kansas City MO @ The Riot Room 10/25 Denver CO @ 3 Kings 10/26 Salt Lake City UT @ Burt's Tiki Lounge 10/27 Boise ID @ Neurolux		10/28 Portland OR @ Doug Fir Lounge 10/29 Seattle WA @ The Comet Tavern 10/31 San Francisco CA @ TBA 11/01 Fresno CA @ TBA 11/02 Los Angeles CA @ TBA 11/03 Tucson AZ @ Plush 11/04 Albuquerque NM @ The Launchpad 11/05 Oklahoma City OK @ TBA 11/07 Springfield MO @ TBA 11/08 Columbia MO @ TBA 11/10 Chicago IL @ Empty Bottle 11/11 Ft Wayne IN @ TBA 11/12 Toledo OH @ Ottawa Tavern 11/18 Columbus OH @ Skully's

BETH HART & JOE BONAMASSA
hartandbonamassa.com

To get their cover of Delaney & Bonnie's "Well, Well" as a free download, you have to sign up for a JBXP account at jbxp.net. This is apparently a myspace-like social network, but for Joe Bonamassa fans. Kind of a weird (and not to mention limited) social network - but when you sign up, you get to become friends with Joe and a free copy of his compilation album, Blues In The Schools.

As for the Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa's album, Don't Explain, which looks to be a soul cover album (covering such artists like Gil Scott-Heron, Tom Waits, Etta James and Aretha Franklin), is coming out in the UK on Monday, September 26th, 2011, via Provogue Records.

Full details, tracklisting, and other information at news.weheartmusic.com

ART VS SCIENCE
hartandbonamassa.com

This Sydney-based dance trio is currently in the USA, doing some dates for their debut full-length album, The Experiment.

Free download of their song at Girlie Action:

Art vs Science: Higher (AC Slater remix)

Their ongoing tour dates:

08/18 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress
08/19 Phoenix, AZ - Brick
08/20 Mexico City, Mexico - Voila Acoustique
08/21 Vancouver, BC - Fortune Sound Club
08/23 Portland, OR - Doug Fir
08/24 San Francisco, CA - Bottom Of The Hill
08/25 Sonoma, CA - Ampitheatre
08/26 San Diego, CA - Casbah
08/27 Los Angeles, CA - Sunset Junction
08/28 Tacoma, WA - Grit City Fest

VIEUX FARKA TOURE
vieuxfarkatoure.com

Vieux Farka Touré will be returning to the US, tour starts in about nine days from now.

The tour is for his third studio album, The Secret (which came out May 24th via Six Degrees Records). Free download of "Aigna" (feat. Derek Trucks) at bandcamp.

The Los Angeles Times said this about his live performances: "…this is a musician who, in live performance, has clear ideas about where he’s going, and why".

Tour dates below:

8/24 @ Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
8/25 @ Iron Horse – Northampton, MA
8/26 @ South Island Field – NYC, NY
8/27 @ The Rotunda – Philadelphia, PA
8/28 @ Thunderbird Café – Pittsburgh, PA
8/29 @ Ninth Ward @ Babeville – Buffalo, NY
8/30 @ 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
8/31 @ Jefferson Theater – Charlottesville, VA
9/01 @ Local 506 – Chapell Hill, NC
9/02 @ Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
9/03 @ Riverfront Nights – Chattanooga, TN
9/04 @ Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA
9/05 @ Calvin College – Grand Rapids, MI
9/07 @ Evanston SPACE – Evanston, IL
9/08 @ Elinora Jazz Festival at Krannert Center – Urbana, IL
9/11 @ Cedar Cultural Center - Minneapolis, MN

FORT WILSON RIOT
fortwilsonriot.com

I've seen this band, both as Ice Palace and as Fort Wilson Riot, they are pretty well-known in the Twin Cities.

The latest news I have on the band is that they are excited to be playing at Ohio's 10th annual Midpoint Music Festival (MPMF) in mid-September.

You can grab a free song, "For All The Little Things" at mpmf.com. The song was previously seen on Daytrotter, and I'm assuming the song will be available on their forthcoming album.

09/01/11 Nomad - Minneapolis, Minnesota
09/03/11 Nomad - Minneapolis, Minnesota
09/06/11 The 331 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
09/16/11 Music Week Columbus - Columbus, Ohio
09/17/11 Cataracts Fest
09/24/11 MPMF - Know Theater
09/25/11 Lemmons - St. Louis, MO

MERLE HAGGARD
merlehaggard.com

"Outlaw" country music legend, Merle Haggard, will be releasing his latest album, Working in Tennessee on October 4th, 2011, via Vanguard Records.

The album is mostly original Haggard songs, with some covers, including T. J. "Red" Arnall's "Cocaine Blues" and The Kingston Trio's "Jackson", which both songs were made famous by Johnny Cash. I suspect Haggard's versions will be closer to Cash's version.

Haggard, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2008, continues to sing and perform at retirement age. But he seems to enjoy it: Haggard is quoted about his live shows: "I'm swinging back in full throttle right now. Music keeps me alive. It makes me breathe better. It's funny, but I feel better when I come off a tour than when I start out."

Get the free title track, "Working in Tennessee" at vanguardrecords.com.

RACHAEL YAMAGATA
rachaelyamagata.com

I must confess, I have the "the mega-watt hots for Ms. Yamagata".

Rachael Yamagata's new album, Chesapeake, was made possible by her fans via PledgeMusic (which is like Kickstarter, but for music). The overwhelming support from her fans total over 150% of her goal. Most of the unique stuff like handwritten lyrics and music sheet were snatched up quickly and autographed setlist going away fast (10 left). I think PledgeMusic and Kickstarter is doing it right with these rare/unique items in addition to the "regular old'" CD.

Chesapeake comes out October 11^th, 2011, her first studio album in three years. Free track "Starlight" is available here.

Plus, she'll probably be doing her new songs on our upcoming tour:

10/24/11 Portland, ME Port City Music Hall 10/25/11 Burlington, VT Higher Ground Lodge 10/27/11 Isthaca, NY Deliah’s 10/28/11 Northampton, MA Iron Horse 10/30/11 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall 10/31/11 Philadelphia, PA World Café Live 11/01/11 Washington, DC Birchmere 11/02/11 Baltimore, MD Soundthage 11/04/11 Brooklyn, NY Knitting Factory 11/05/11 Pittsburgh, PA Club Café 11/07/11 Detroit, MI St Andrews Hall 11/08/11 Chicago, IL Logan Square 11/10/11 Milwaukee, WI Turner Ballroom 11/11/11 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line 11/12/11 Davenport, IA Redstone Room 11/14/11 Kansas City, KS Record Bar 11/16/11 Denver, CO Larimer Lounge 11/18/11 Salt Lake City, UT State Room 11/20/11 Spokane, WA A Club 11/21/11 Vancouver, BC Media Club 11/22/11 Seattle, WA Crocodile 11/23/11 Portland, OR Doug Fir		11/25/11 San Francisco, CA Slim’s 11/26/11 Santa Barbara, CA Soho Restaurant 11/28/11 San Diego, CA Casbah 11/29/11 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour 11/30/11 Tuscon, AZ Crescent Ballroom 12/02/11 Austin, TX Parish 12/03/11 Houston, TX Fitzgerald’s Upstairs 12/04/11 Dallas, TX Thee Loft 12/05/11 Tulsa, OK Cain’s Ballroom – 2nd Stage 12/07/11 St. Louis, MO Blueberry Hill 12/08/11 Nashville, TN 12th and Porter 12/09/11 Birmingham, AL Work Play 12/10/11 Atlanta, GA Vinyl 12/12/11 Knoxville, TN Relix Theatre 12/13/11 Charlotte, NC Visulite Theatre 12/15/11 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506 12/16/11 Charlottesville, VA The Southern 12/17/11 Louisville, KY Headliners 12/18/11 Columbus, OH The Basement 12/20/11 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell’s 12/21/11 New York, NY City Winery 12/22/11 New York, NY City Winery

GOODMAN BROWN
goodmanbrown.bandcamp.com

Goodman Brown is a New Jersey indie pop. Don't really know much about the band, they seem like a fairly new band, with their debut album, Moon Digby, released last year.

They have a two-track free EP at bandcamp.com.

As you can see from the crap cover (censored) artwork, the actual name is F***! It's Free!!, but they're calling it simply, Free-P. Tour dates below.

Aug 19 Bushwick, NY Party Xpo
Aug 25 Philadelphia, PA Grape Room
Aug 26 Philipsburg, PA Club Squared
Aug 31 Newark, DE Mojo Main
Sept 7 New Haven, CT BAR Night Club
Sept 8 Cambridge, MA All Asia

THE STROKES
thestrokes.com

Finally, if you haven't already downloaded the tribute album, STROKED, it is available as a free download at stereogum.com.

Personally, I love The Strokes' debut album, Is This It, released ten years ago on July 30th, 2001. It came at a time when bands weren't doing this sort of rock music, like it was from the 70s and Julian Casablancas' laid back vocal stylings.

There was a moment when I was stuck in Chicago, and I got into a van full of young people and they put on Is This It, and we were all singing the song from start to finish! It wasn't a very long album, but what gets me is how we all knew each song's lyrics and happily sung along to it. There are very few albums that we can love every song.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

4onthefloor

It's Friday and I'm taking it easy, I thought I'd tell you about 4onthefloor.

I accidentally met these guys in 2009, at their start of the band, before they even had a myspace page (they refused to get one for a long time). They even had various spelling of "Four on the Floor", and now, it seems they've established themselves.

They're really blowing up around the Twin Cities, appearing on The City Pages, Star Tribune, and recently opened up for Willie Nelson!

If you've ever seen them live, they're called "four on the floor" for the obvious reason of the four kick drums. Their songs have a great rhythm and they're catchy.

They're playing tomorrow at the Pizza Luce Block Party - I might bike in if it's not raining.

08/13/11 Pizza Lucé Uptown Block Party
08/19/11 Rock the Boat @ Padelord Riverboats
08/20/11 West Bank Music Festival @ Nomad World Pub

I saw Gabe Douglas (singer) on August 2nd, he did a brief acoustic set. Didn't take notes, but there were quite a few covers done, including Train's "Hey Soul Sister".

Gabe Douglas @ House Party (08/02/11)

vu () ♥ 4otf.com

Jóvenes y Viejo

Los Lonely Boys and Los Lobos

Minnesota Zoo

August 09, 2011

After a sweltering month with dew points in the tropical 60’s, it was nice to have a summer night with a faint cool breeze.  On stage were two bands that know a little about heat: Los Lonely Boys from San Angelo, Texas and Los Lobos from Los Angeles, California.  They came to play the outdoor Weesner Amphitheater at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley.  They were here a year before on the Brotherhood Tour.  They had so much fun they decided to do it again. 

I had seen Los Lobos many times over the years, but this was my first introduction to Los Lonely Boys.  Young and old, to say there is a generational gap between the two bands would not be an exaggeration.  The Garza brothers that make up Los Lonely Boys weren’t even born when Los Lobos first started playing Mexican restaurant happy hours.  No matter, for both parties came to play as years of experience and exuberant youth were on full display Tuesday night. Whereas Los Lobos eased into their set with the patience of an aging prize fighter, Los Lonely Boys bounded onto the stage with the energy of a southern preacher. 

“We tune ‘cause we care,” David Hidalgo of Los Lobos told the crowd while his band continued to tinker with their instruments through their first five songs.   It seemed every song required a new set of instruments for the three guitarists (Hidalgo, Cesar Rosas and Louie Perez), the bassist, Conrad Lozano and utility musical man, Steve Berlin.  There was a raft of guitars that a stage hand shuttled back and forth.  Hidalgo even switched instruments in the middle of a song, setting aside his soulful electric guitar while a stage hand eased a concertina on his immense soldiers. 

Whereas Los Lobos took their time to demonstrate a musical proficiency honed over thirty years, Los Lonely Boys got right down to business on their first song, “I’m a Man.”  With only three players (Henry on electric guitar, Jo Jo on bass and Ringo on drums), they showed a nimble raw-powered tightness that only a band that has been playing together for many years can demonstrate.  There was no place for a weaker musician to hide.  No one could hang in the background as lead vocals bounced from Henry and Jo Jo and back to Ringo, solos came from any instrument while all three voices melded into three part harmony. 

I noticed the members of Los Lobos liked to pick a spot on stage and stay there.  Henry and Jo Jo bounced all over the stage and into each other while Ringo became a percussive tornado, his long hair blowing all over the stage as an industrial fan from behind futilely tried to cool him down. 

My favorite part of the evening is when both bands invited each other onto the stage to close out their respective sets.  Rosas called for Henry and Ringo to join the band as Los Lobos brought the crowd to its feet with “I Got Loaded” “Don’t Worry Baby” and “La Bomba.”  Then Los Lonely Boys transitioned to a more subdued sound with a soulful ballad “Road to Nowhere" from their latest, Rockpango.  Without fanfare and in the middle of Jo Jo’s singing, Hidalgo and Rosas drifted onto stage like buses from parts unknown pulling into some sleepy town in the middle of the night. 

Dave

Panic on the streets of London

Bill Bragg - Which Side Are You On We set out to join the picket line For together we cannot fail We got stopped by police at the county line They said, "Go home boys or you're going to jail" Which side are you on, boys? Which side are you on? Which side are you on, boys? Which side are you on? It's hard to explain to a crying child Why her Daddy can't go back So the family suffer But it hurts me more To hear a scab say 'Sod you, Jack'

Christopher is braving out London, so here's to his safety and an end to the pointless London riots.

While his song of choice is Sleeper's "Pyrotechnician", I have a similar one: The Smiths' "Panic" which includes the lyrics "Panic on the streets of London, panic on the streets of Birmingham. I wonder to myself 'Could life ever be sane again?'".

Since The Smiths (and Morrissey) is on my penalty list, I thought I'd let you know about Mojo Magazine's April 2011 magazine with the Smiths on the cover. The magazine came with a free 15-track compilation called PANIC, obviously inspired by The Smiths name of the same. There are actually no Smiths or Morrissey on the compilation (probably due to legal reasons), but the compilation is pretty good.

They're all songs from the 80's:

1. Madness - Blue Skinned Beast
2. Robert Wyatt - Shipbuilding (Remastered Version)
3. Billy Bragg - Which Side Are You On?
4. The Three Johns - The World of the Workers is Wild
5. Girls At Our Best! - Getting Nowhere Fast
6. Half Man Half Biscuit - National Shite Day
7. Wah!/Pete Wylie - The Day That Margaret Thatcher Dies (A Party Song)
8. Orange Juice - Lean Period
9. The Nightingales - First My Job
10. Televsion Personalities - Paradise Estate
11. Felt - Grey Streets
12. Mokons - Abernant 1984/5
13. Redskins - Lev Brownstein
14. McCarthy - Red Sleeping Beauty
15. The Band of Holy Joy - Who Snatched The Baby?

I really liked Billy Bragg's re-working of a 1931 song, "Which Side Are You On?", to reflect the working man and the union. You can really switch it around and make it a protest song against the police.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic