Hello children,
Obsessed pattern-spotters will have notice that I write Song of the Day for Thursdays, further they’ll have noticed that I haven’t done it for the last two weeks. To explain: the first week was deliberate so I didn’t interrupt the flow of SxSW updates with a post about some band from the 90s and I spent all of last week fully occupied with the “typing that I do for money”.
So, The Supersuckers. About fifteen years ago, there would run on late night television a rock TV show, I didn’t have MTV, this was my access to an hour a week of \m/RAWK\m/. Many of the videos on this show were no good: Poison, some dull grunge band that sounded like The Stone Temple Pilots, a German version of Poison etc. but there was the occasional gem, this was how I first heard Born With a Tail by The Supersuckers (and that was the video I was going to post – but having just re-watched it, I’ve decided it’s dodgy). Over the next few years I tracked down their records, during college I used “The Sacrilicious Sound of The Supersuckers” and “The Evil Powers of Rock and Roll” as the soundtrack to kick off a weekend, I remember finally being done with first year quantum mechanics and listening to their country record (Must’ve Been High), in my last year I learned enough of the C programing language to do some damage while listening to “The Smoke Of Hell” on repeat. They were an important band for me. Shortly after graduating and completely unexpectedly I found myself living in Seattle. Seattle! Where the fucking Supersuckers are! I would probably get to see them!
I did. They opened with this:
The Supersuckers – Heavy Heart (You Am I cover)
I still love the line “I miss you like sleep”.
Sadly, their last handful of records have been less inspiring and seeing Eddie Spaghetti’s solo show a few months ago was very disappointing: the OTT RAWK star charm didn’t work so well with just an acoustic guitar and the songs seemed crass and childish.
But when they were on form – they were unbeatable. I’m going to listen to How To Maximize Your Kill Count and pretend time can be stopped.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Song of the Day, 3/30/11
If I had been on top of things, I probably would have posted this video with enough time for you actually to go see this show. Davilla 666 is playing at the Funhouse! Right now!
They were a band a lot of people loved at SxSW this last year, but we didn't exactly make it out to see them. Much like tonight, how I am totally not leaving my apartment and instead am going to drink beer and dye my hair.
But I'm probably going to do it while listening to Davilla 666.
They were a band a lot of people loved at SxSW this last year, but we didn't exactly make it out to see them. Much like tonight, how I am totally not leaving my apartment and instead am going to drink beer and dye my hair.
But I'm probably going to do it while listening to Davilla 666.
SoTD 3/29/11 - James Blake's The Wilhelm Scream
My first post to the blog and I'm late... You won't tell on me, will you?
Today it's the official James Blake video for "The Wilhelm Scream." I hadn't heard of him before we saw him at SXSW and I'm not sure I would have appreciated his artistry as much if I'd only heard recordings. When I listen to the song now I can remember how it felt to be at the show - the entire audience was entranced. I remember thinking to myself "I like this music! I should express it with movement in some way!" but nothing seemed right so I just sat still and watched and listened. I'm listening to it right now and it's still difficult to do anything other than absorb the sounds.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Song of the Day, 3/28/11
Okay, so technically the track I've had on repeat all day is This Island - but I couldn't really resist this clip from the Le Tigre movie that's coming out soon - Who Took the Bomp!
I saw it at SxSW - it's pretty perfect. It made me want to start rad feminist bands, made most of the theater cry! YEAH! LET'S START RAD FEMINIST BANDS!
One of the recurring themes in the film is the fear of erasure - the fear that their art, their music, their message, will be erased or covered up. That thought is what made a majority of the women in the theater start bawling, I think. Here is this band, that inspired tons of girls of my generation to go make good art, to be rad feminists, and - and - taught us that feminism, art, rock, all of the things we love can live on long after we're kids - and their greatest fear is that no one will remember them for their contribution.
It was sort of an interesting reflective moment - all of us took that band into our hearts our souls - in a place where they'll never be forgotten - and because of that, the idea that the music, the message, could just disappear had never actually occurred to us. Scary. Weird. Now I'm afraid of erasure too.
Okay, and as bonus - here's This Island. The song I've had on repeat all day.
STOP SMOKING THOSE CIGARETTES BABY NEXT TIME ITS YOUR TURN TO SAVE ME SPLASH SOME WATER ON YOUR LITTLE FACE YOU'RE A MESS YOU'RE A MESS YOU'RE A MESS
I saw it at SxSW - it's pretty perfect. It made me want to start rad feminist bands, made most of the theater cry! YEAH! LET'S START RAD FEMINIST BANDS!
One of the recurring themes in the film is the fear of erasure - the fear that their art, their music, their message, will be erased or covered up. That thought is what made a majority of the women in the theater start bawling, I think. Here is this band, that inspired tons of girls of my generation to go make good art, to be rad feminists, and - and - taught us that feminism, art, rock, all of the things we love can live on long after we're kids - and their greatest fear is that no one will remember them for their contribution.
It was sort of an interesting reflective moment - all of us took that band into our hearts our souls - in a place where they'll never be forgotten - and because of that, the idea that the music, the message, could just disappear had never actually occurred to us. Scary. Weird. Now I'm afraid of erasure too.
Okay, and as bonus - here's This Island. The song I've had on repeat all day.
STOP SMOKING THOSE CIGARETTES BABY NEXT TIME ITS YOUR TURN TO SAVE ME SPLASH SOME WATER ON YOUR LITTLE FACE YOU'RE A MESS YOU'RE A MESS YOU'RE A MESS
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Song of the Day, 3/27/11
I know I've had millions of opportunities to see these guys in Seattle, and I've passed.... what a mistake. Seeing them at SxSW was a highlight.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
It's good to be home
Currently watching a hipster honkey tonk band. Wish I knew how to line dance. I totally want to start a band like this. Or murder their fiddle player.
Song of the Day, 3/26/2011
Sorry people, I am way behind on songs of the day. and on some SxSW highlight posts I've been planning.
I've been listening to a lot of the Head and the Heart record this week - being at SxSW and not making music has lit a huge fire for making music - and even though I've almost lost my voice from allergies and a cold - singing along to this record has been making me really happy in situations that just sort of aren't.
Harmony isn't just a sound, it's a feeling - in the back of your throat, inside of your head. I always wonder if people who don't sing know that, experience that, or if it could make them as happy as feeling that vibration makes me.
Oh, one SxSW related item: One of my favorite moments of SxSW was discovering, at 3:30am the Rad Bus parked outside of a Wendy's, powering a bunch of amps off of engine power, and some really cool fucking bands just rocking out. But it was 3:30am, we were all kind of drunk, and tired, and I don't think we figured out which bands they actually were. Apparently they were a Stranger favorite too, they have band names and a little more context than my drunk ass was able to figure out that night.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Song of the Day, 3/20/11
I feel sort of bad that I don't know any of his songs names, but I'm mostly excited I got some great videos. This is James Blake.
Shot on 3/17/11 at a church in Austin, TX. For SxSW.
Shot on 3/17/11 at a church in Austin, TX. For SxSW.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Tapes n Tapes
The Lonely Forest ... Again.
Plus, Waterloo Records is exactly hangover stumbling distance from our condo. They're making it easy.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Shabazz Palaces with Thee Satisfaction
Random Rooftop Band
Another Speed Set
SxSW Panels
#SxSW is weird. This would be great advice for a band that's just getting started. I wouldn't be here if I hadn't made choices in my life that means I don't need it
Shitty things about the women in rock panel
We only caught the last 10 minutes, Q&A.
- No diversity. In color or age.
- a lady with a band asked for advice on getting her band covered by female music journalists that have influence. Their advice was "cream rises." I won't pretend I have influence, but hello, I was in the room. The flipside of the way technology has democratize music production is that it has also democratized music journalism. We should all be musician journalists and we should all promote.
- a young lady asked for advice about breaking in to the industry (making connections, etc) and they told her to get an internship and not to cry. Then one of the panelists talked about how her granddaughter has an internship with Jack White. Wow inspiring! I don't begrudge using what you've got to get where you need to go, but it wasn't really an appropriate answer.
- a young lady sound engineer asked about getting harsh attention from a professor, and then sort of revealed he's trying to mentor her. She was really asking about walking the line between the various ways she's being singled out as a woman. In my experience, in small fields, mentoring plays a huge role in maintaining the boys club, and it sounds like this guy might be trying to help change that? Even if he's doing a shit job? The panel's advice was to get him fired.
There is so much nuance involved when you're talking about gender and balance and careers and art. I think we're beyond the point where we can mechanically toss out "equal treatment" rhetoric and expect to have a productive conversation. Especially in an industry which singles out the talent.
Kill Rock Stars
At a panel about women, rock, industry.
"Kill Rock Stars can't sell an all male band. Seriously, we've looked at the numbers, we can not launch a band without at least one woman."
This is heaven
We're sitting in a diner listening to the Dum Dum Girls play outside. This is heaven.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Good Bands
"Have the rest of you been seeing good bands playing? Oh hello, you got what we did there! and you liked it!" - The City and Colour.
PS. One of their fav bands is Low, and they should be one of yours too.
Noah and the Whale
Fences
Instagram is still installing, so again no photo...
I just watched Fences play in a church. We sat in the back and the guitars bouncing off the walls nearly knocked me down. What a perfect space, perfect sound, perfect moment in space and time.
Geographer
The Instagram update on my phone has stalled so no photo :(
The PA in this venue keeps cutting out and they're still killing it.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
More Wild Flag
"Do you want this to be pretty? Is that why you're here at a rock show? No, this isn't going to be pretty, this is going to get fucked up." - Carrie Brownstein
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Hello from Austin!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Song of the Day. 3/10/11
I don’t listen to a lot of contemporary music. I listen to tons of music that is new to me, but the new stuff I like seems to be shoegaze and indie rock from the mid 90s, my ears were full of Slayer and Machine Head at that time so I’m a bit behind. I hope this explains the lack of brand-new, hot-wax music in my posts.
I was going to post A Good Idea by Sugar today but the article about violence against women in the Decemberists’ songs added some conflict to me raving about how much I love a song about a guy drowning a lady. So I need to do more thinking if I’m going to post that.
Instead, because it has rained for what seems like a million straight days in Seattle, I’m posting a song that reminds me of summer - sort of reassurance to myself that there is such a thing as “summer” and the grey will dissipate eventually: “Remember this song? There was sun and tequila and the deadlines weren’t so pressing – that could happen again!”.
Silkworm – Treat the New Guy Right
I was going to post A Good Idea by Sugar today but the article about violence against women in the Decemberists’ songs added some conflict to me raving about how much I love a song about a guy drowning a lady. So I need to do more thinking if I’m going to post that.
Instead, because it has rained for what seems like a million straight days in Seattle, I’m posting a song that reminds me of summer - sort of reassurance to myself that there is such a thing as “summer” and the grey will dissipate eventually: “Remember this song? There was sun and tequila and the deadlines weren’t so pressing – that could happen again!”.
Silkworm – Treat the New Guy Right
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Song of the Day, 3/6/11
I mean, like, damn people. I am hung over. Last night was one of the most awesome, but stranger nights of my life. See I play one of the most unpopular yet somehow desperately necessary instruments in Seattle's musical landscape - the viola - and somehow, last night, that meant that I got to play Vendetta Red's sold out balls crazy emo kids crying reunion show last night.
And let me tell you, nothing makes you want to drink like the surrealism of being thrown into an event like that. Because again, my bag is playing the *viola*.
My plan for today's song of the day was to post Yelle's new video, but as I sat down and listened to it again, I can't say I really like it all that much. It doesn't exactly make the cut.
So what you're going to get is a short analysis of why I don't like it that much. And it starts here:
I know I have some obsessions that put me in to the realm of dirty hipster stereotype, and one of them, is French New Wave Cinema. Another one, is Serge Gainsbourg and late 60s French Pop music.
One of my favorite films is Godard's Masculin Femininin, and one of my favorite songs is this one from the trailer. It ended up being an unholy hard track to find - I ended up pirating a version from some pre-1999 weird archive type website, the metadata indicates it's from a compilation called 'Les Annees 60' - which the last time I looked - I wasn't able to find a copy of anywhere on the internet.
For the record, the song is called 'Tu ma'as trop menti' and recorded by Chantal Goya (the star of the film) - who disappointingly, instead pursued a career as a children's singer.
Anyways, I love films and the music, but they're another one of those genres where I missed the moment. I can buy all the boat neck sweaters in the world, but none of them will transport me to Paris in 1968.
Now we get to Yelle. I think I connected heavily with Yelle because her music is really the twee-electropop sound I've been enjoying deeply for the last few years (CSS, etc) but with a layer of French pop ye-ye girl on top of it.
I don't really hear either in her new single. The electric sounds are deeper, maybe more trance? And her vocals aren't nearly as flirty. Oh well.
Her last couple of albums were still really good, and you'll probably dig 'em.
And let me tell you, nothing makes you want to drink like the surrealism of being thrown into an event like that. Because again, my bag is playing the *viola*.
My plan for today's song of the day was to post Yelle's new video, but as I sat down and listened to it again, I can't say I really like it all that much. It doesn't exactly make the cut.
So what you're going to get is a short analysis of why I don't like it that much. And it starts here:
I know I have some obsessions that put me in to the realm of dirty hipster stereotype, and one of them, is French New Wave Cinema. Another one, is Serge Gainsbourg and late 60s French Pop music.
One of my favorite films is Godard's Masculin Femininin, and one of my favorite songs is this one from the trailer. It ended up being an unholy hard track to find - I ended up pirating a version from some pre-1999 weird archive type website, the metadata indicates it's from a compilation called 'Les Annees 60' - which the last time I looked - I wasn't able to find a copy of anywhere on the internet.
For the record, the song is called 'Tu ma'as trop menti' and recorded by Chantal Goya (the star of the film) - who disappointingly, instead pursued a career as a children's singer.
Anyways, I love films and the music, but they're another one of those genres where I missed the moment. I can buy all the boat neck sweaters in the world, but none of them will transport me to Paris in 1968.
Now we get to Yelle. I think I connected heavily with Yelle because her music is really the twee-electropop sound I've been enjoying deeply for the last few years (CSS, etc) but with a layer of French pop ye-ye girl on top of it.
I don't really hear either in her new single. The electric sounds are deeper, maybe more trance? And her vocals aren't nearly as flirty. Oh well.
Her last couple of albums were still really good, and you'll probably dig 'em.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Song of the Day, 3/5/11
BOAT "Children of the Revolution" (T-Rex) Hiss Like Your Idols from Magic Marker on Vimeo.
Today in dudes I had a crush on in high school....
It makes me feel good sometimes that these guys are still like, cool, you know? That I was a decent judge of awesome when I was 16. (Even if I wasn't a good judge of 'available' back at 16. The guy I had a bad crush on was a few years older, and somewhat legendarily ended up getting married during that period of time. Alas!)
Anyways, BOAT wasn't a band back then, the band I used to go see whenever possible was called Lands Farther East. Youtube isn't old enough to remember them, the best evidence I have of their existence is their long abandoned myspace page, a 7", some 1" buttons so old they're rusted over, and a Three Imaginary Girls review that mostly focuses on how cute they all were.
Most of you that I know probably know that back in that era, I collected show fliers (I wanted to have one for every show I went to - to REM-MEM-BAH THEM FOR-EV-AH!!!!) but I also collected tons of other stuff too - including LOTS of 1" buttons (my favorites!), some stickers, photos, hand bills, one bracelet, and one pillowcase.
Would an inventory of this stuff be interesting? I always have daydreamed of showing my show poster collection in a gallery or something someday, but I have a feeling that showing (mostly one other person's) art won't make me famous or get me in the door.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Also recommended:
Via a friend via Google Reader from the Awl:
Somehow there's absolutely no raping on the Decemberist's new album....
You know, the way I listen to music, I listen to melody and instrumentation first, and lyrics last. It was weird for me to realize that not everyone listens to music this way. Even some of my favorite songs, I have no idea what the words are or what they mean - so when I do clue in and start listening, I often find myself floored and shocked.
Hence, this article explains why I went from a very enthusiastic Decemberists fan to someone who hasn't listened to them in YEARS.
And, I have to admit, as I grow up and get older, I'm finding I am more and more sensitive to depictions of violence against women. I'm still trying to figure out if it's because of specific experiences I've had with dudes that allow me to relate to it more, if it's because I'm more checked out from pop culture, or if it's just a natural part of growing up - gaining perspective, seeing how *real* this shit is.
Regardless, it's ruining entire bands for me. And the Decemberists? I don't think deserved the pass I used to give them, nor did they deserve the dollars I dropped on their records (remember when we used to do that?!? aww cute.)
Somehow there's absolutely no raping on the Decemberist's new album....
You know, the way I listen to music, I listen to melody and instrumentation first, and lyrics last. It was weird for me to realize that not everyone listens to music this way. Even some of my favorite songs, I have no idea what the words are or what they mean - so when I do clue in and start listening, I often find myself floored and shocked.
Hence, this article explains why I went from a very enthusiastic Decemberists fan to someone who hasn't listened to them in YEARS.
And, I have to admit, as I grow up and get older, I'm finding I am more and more sensitive to depictions of violence against women. I'm still trying to figure out if it's because of specific experiences I've had with dudes that allow me to relate to it more, if it's because I'm more checked out from pop culture, or if it's just a natural part of growing up - gaining perspective, seeing how *real* this shit is.
Regardless, it's ruining entire bands for me. And the Decemberists? I don't think deserved the pass I used to give them, nor did they deserve the dollars I dropped on their records (remember when we used to do that?!? aww cute.)
Song of the Day, 3/4/11
Today's song of the day is an obvious choice. Here's the new video from the Thermals for the song 'Not Like Any Other Feeling'.
Not only are the Thermals a great band (seriously, go see them live. The feeling I feel with them is called 'dancing') but the video was directed by Clyde Peterson (of Yr Heart Breaks and several other brilliant local projects) - whom has long been a hero of mine.
I always get happy and nostalgic whenever I hear about a Yr Heart Breaks show, because I used to go see them *all* the time circa 1999-2000 - and every time I've seen them, they've inspired me. Aww.
Anyways, enjoy.
The Thermals - "Not Like Any Other Feeling" from stereogum on Vimeo.
Not only are the Thermals a great band (seriously, go see them live. The feeling I feel with them is called 'dancing') but the video was directed by Clyde Peterson (of Yr Heart Breaks and several other brilliant local projects) - whom has long been a hero of mine.
I always get happy and nostalgic whenever I hear about a Yr Heart Breaks show, because I used to go see them *all* the time circa 1999-2000 - and every time I've seen them, they've inspired me. Aww.
Anyways, enjoy.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Song of the Day 3/3/2011
Yuck - Coconut Bible
Mmmm feedback. I wanted to post this when I first heard it (grey, miserable morning driving into work listening to KEXP) but it wasn’t up on YouTube yet. Good Christ they sound a lot like the Pixies, listen to the beautifully melodic guitar lines and the lady/man harmonizing, listen to these things:
And that, that’s a fucking B-side.
They’re coming to Seattle next month and I’m already quite excited.
Mmmm feedback. I wanted to post this when I first heard it (grey, miserable morning driving into work listening to KEXP) but it wasn’t up on YouTube yet. Good Christ they sound a lot like the Pixies, listen to the beautifully melodic guitar lines and the lady/man harmonizing, listen to these things:
And that, that’s a fucking B-side.
They’re coming to Seattle next month and I’m already quite excited.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Song of the Day, 3/2/11
I, like a big dork, am getting pretty excited for Vendetta Red on Saturday night. I hope it's sold-the-fuck-out and I break some bones or a bow.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Song of the Day, 3/1/11
This is an old one.
But all of these years later, and it still makes me want to jump up and down and dance and tear my room apart. My world apart.
I honestly thought, for a long time, my life would be more like the lyrics of this song. It's not at all. My life is verrrry far from it.
But all of these years later, and it still makes me want to jump up and down and dance and tear my room apart. My world apart.
I honestly thought, for a long time, my life would be more like the lyrics of this song. It's not at all. My life is verrrry far from it.
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