Sea Wolf "Wicked Blood"
by alantanner
10/31/09
Lilith Fair
In case you didn't notice, the new Lilith Fair website is up and the initial cities have been announced (Chicago is the closest). I wish I could be more excited about this, as I was for the first iteration, but it's not looking good. The logo alone is unappealing.
I hope I'm wrong on this.
10/29/09
Google's New Music Search Feature
Pretty interesting...
Google Supersizes Music Search
Google brings together My Space, lala, imeem, Rhapsody, Gracenote for robust music search. More partners t.b.a.
(NEWS & VIDEO) Last night Google announced partnerships that will simplify and improve how people find music. As only the tech giant could do, MySpace, lala, imeem, Rhapsody, Pandora, Gracenote and all four major label groups have come together to provide Google content for a new music search engine.
Users who type on an artist's name, album title or a snippet of a lyric will see results that include a single song play button from either lala or MySpace's iLike. A buy option and links to more content are also included, as are links to artist content on imeem, Rhapsody and Pandora. Gracenote is powering the lyric search function.
[From Google Supersizes Music Search - hypebot]
10/28/09
Langhorne Slim (10/21/09)
Langhorne Slim had been on my radar for some time, mostly because of my friend Robin's emphatic recommendation of him. I wasn't able to make it last time he was in town, but checked out his music and liked it. Since then he's released his new Be Set Free album, of which there are some gems on it.
Earlier that evening I skipped my Yoga class and met up with some friends for Happy Hour (a good choice sometimes). After some a couple delicious Bourbon Barrel-Aged Blackout Stouts, I headed to the Grog Shop around 9:30, but in true Grog form, the first act hadn't even started yet. Mike St. Jude & the Valentines opened. A local band who really played with some passion. Not bad. Dawes was up next. A band out of California, they were a little more polished. Again, good stuff, but nothing too moving.
Langhorne Slim took the stage around 11:30ish. By this time, the crowd had grown and shrunk a little. (I mean, this *was* a Wednesday night.) But I stuck it out based on my friend's strong recommendation. Langhorne took the stage with his band a mountain of energy. It was needed. The band was great, Langhorne was definitely energetic and I can see why people love him so. I wasn't as familiar with his songs as I would have liked, but from what I heard before, then hearing them at the show and since, Langhorne Slim has definitely settled in as a strong favorite and someone I would definitely see again. Next time on a weekend. ;-)
You may also note that I played his song Land of Dreams on Shindignation! It's worthy of a reappearance:
Marina & the Diamonds Videos
You may have heard Marina & the Diamonds' "I am not a Robot" on my appearance on Shindignation! (just below)... Well, I got an update on the new video, and then a friend reminded me of how cool the previous video was. Thought I'd share both...
10/26/09
Friday's Shindignation Show!
If you weren't able to check out my guest appearance on Shindignation! this past Friday, you can listen below.
Thanks again to Rebecca for letting me be on her show, and for basically letting me play all the music! What a great time...
Enjoy.
Brownout (10/19/09)
Since starting this blog, I've started to get a LOT more promotional emails. It's great, getting all kinds of updates that I wouldn't have received otherwise. Some of the more savvy promoters are including download links to the entire album. It's these promotions that stand out and make me take notice. In this case, the band was Brownout - which is a band that's a little outside my typical genre(s), but they sounded great! The other part of the promotion was their upcoming show at Nighttown. I checked about scoring some free tix and they obliged.
First off, I really have to give props to Nighttown. What a COOL place. I've been there before, but kinda forget how swanky that place is... To be able to sit down for a great meal and listen to someone like Brownout is just awesome. Show started at 7:00 and was done by 8:30. Perfect for the responsible, music-loving adult. True, the meal may be a little pricier than you're hoping for, but I was able to score a $5 burger at the bar (which was delicious).
Brownout definitely filled the stage, with drummer, djembe, multiple guitars, bass, and a horn section. They're from Austin, TX and have a Latino flavor to them, but they definitely bring in a larger world music vision into their show. Even cooler than that, is the rock and funk elements thrown it. It basically boils down to one hell of a groove. You really should check these guys out if you get a chance.
Check out their video for Slinky:
10/25/09
Tom Evanchuck Videos / Beachland Tavern
Not sure how I missed seeing Tom Evanchuck at the Tavern, but glad there are some videos...
Two more...
10/23/09
You NEED to watch these... Plants & Animals on La Blogotheque
I've been singing the praises of La Blogotheque for some time now, but they've just upped the ante with these couple of videos from Plants & Animals. I saw these guys at Pitchfork last year and have been enjoying their album. These videos take my respect to another level, both for the site and the artist.
I'm embedding the videos here for the lazy people, but if you really want a good experience, follow the link over the the native Vimeo site and watch in HD and Fullscreen. Then just sit back and turn it up.
Plants and Animals - A Take Away Show - Bye Bye Bye from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
(note the kitchen window and the baby backup vocals)
Plants and Animals - A Take Away Show - Feedback in the Field from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
New Stanton Record Player
I'm such a dork... just had to share my new purchase.
Of course then I also had to organize my small record collection...
10/22/09
Martha Wainwright Covers Edith Piaf
I haven't spent much time with Martha Wainwright since her first album, but that's nothing on her. I think she's a phenomenal artist, and if I would trust anyone to pull off Edith Piaf, it would be her. (No US release date?)
Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, A Paris
Martha Wainwright's Piaf Record
Australia -- NOVEMBER 13th
Canada -- SPRING 2010
Martha Wainwright stamps her je ne sais quoi on a beautiful selection of rare and acclaimed Edith Piaf songs, passionately sung and romantically interpreted by Martha on her stunning album 'Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, A Paris. Martha Wainwright's Piaf Record' out November 9th.
The album was recorded over three intimate performances in New York's Dixon Place Theatre in June. Produced by Hal Willner, Martha Wainwright assembled a unique band of musicians including long-time collaborator Brad Albetta, who produced Martha's first two albums, pianist Thomas Bartlett and electric guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Doug Wieselman to capture the French chanteuse's venerable catalogue, beautifully coupled with Martha's incredible, evocative and characterful voice.
Cautious of avoiding the cliche of looking sad, pretending to be drunk with a glass of absinthe on the table, Martha creates tension and urgency on this charming 12-track record - delivered with paralleled emotion conveying Edith Piaf's mystical vulnerability. Highlights include 'Adieu Mon Coeur', 'Vieux Piano', 'Une Enfant' and a transfixing version of 'Le Foule'.
Growing up in Montreal and speaking French at school, Martha was totally influenced and captivated by Piaf as a child, having listened to her music since the age of eight. "There are certain things about her that I have always been influenced by," says Martha. "The emotive sensibility of her voice. She's an incredibly emotional singer and I've always been an incredibly emotional singer and pained singer."
WTF??
I usually like to keep things positive on this blog (as in life), but I need to get critical here...
What the hell is up with this cover?? Nothing about this makes me interested in their music. It feels purely manufactured.
First... the hair. Guy on the left. Why would you allow them to do that to you. I know it wasn't your choice...
Second... the tattoo. Lead singer guy, would I be wrong if I guessed that was airbrushed on your chest. If not, did the label pay for it?
Overall, nothing about this makes me feel like these are true, genuine musicians. Even if they are, I lose respect for whatever they're attempting to portray here.
Alright, enough of the hatin'.
10/21/09
Messengers Mixtape / K'Naan, J.Period, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Fela Kuti
And since I'm on the topic of rap I'll share another great artist with you. K'naan is a native born Somalian who is also extremely talented. His last two albums have had some stellar tracks on them and are both worthy in their own right. Well, he's also offering up a free copy of The Messengers, which is a compilation of 3 EP's dedicated to 3 remarkable artists.
The way he weaves his sound in with these artists - especially Bob Dylan - is amazing. You should get this. Did I mention it was FREE?
Kid Cudi (10/10/09)
It feels like this post has been a long time coming. I first heard of Kid Cudi last year and was instantly intrigued... here's this rapper from Cleveland who's incredibly creative, honest, and loves where he came from. His sound is different from some more of the traditional rap, as he's chosen some creative tracks to sample (Paul Simon / Band of Horses) and some non-traditional artists to collaborate with (MGMT / Ratatat).
I am sold. He's shown nothing but respect for his burgeoning career, he appreciates where he's been and where he's going, and he's got the chops to keep the momentum going. I'm anxious to see how far he takes this.
So after all this being said, I first found out I missed seeing him in the Grog Shop last November. Talk about true disappointment. I knew he was getting big and knew I wouldn't get that chance again. Then he showed up at the House of Blues with Asher Roth (another respectable rapper). I missed that show for Pitchfork. I thought my chances were all but done, until I heard the announcement that he was coming to Case!! Wow.
He performed at Adelbert Gymnasium, which if you've ever seen a show at a college gymnasium, they always suck. But still... you couldn't beat the proximity of the show, the $10 ticket and the $1 beers.
For his show, I think I knew just about every song. The crowd was a mix of some true fans, some underage drunk kids looking for something to do, and some international students who didn't seem to know what was up. All these elements combined made for a mediocre experience compared to my imagination of what happened during the shows I missed, but that's not to take anything away from Kid Cudi. It was just him, a DJ and BIG bouncer on stage. He's got a pretty small stature, but the really filled the stage with energy, bounding and rapping about.
I wish I could have heard more of what he was saying, but the songs were great and the beat was even better.
10/20/09
Ben Sollee (10/7/09)
I love sharing great music and musicians with people, and I equally like getting emphatic recommendations back. My friend John turned me on to Ben Sollee many months ago and i'm so glad he did. His album has really grown on me and has become a favorite for lazy Sunday afternoons. He's got this clean and modern folk sensibility about him. He's also got some spunk...
Seeing shows at the Spot aren't always great. They have to be high energy to drown out all the students there just hanging out and talking. Two people walking on stage and playing folk music doesn't always make a great show there. At one point, some drunk student was yelling out and interrupting Ben. After being interrupted 3 times, he just started the song, then paused and finished what he was saying and flipped that guy off. Ha! Good stuff.
Ben started to loosen up after playing "It's Not Impossible" and really began to jam. He also played a great cover of Tom Waits' "Chocolate Jesus." Hopefully next time, he'll play at the Beachland Tavern for a little more respectful and appreciative audience. If (when) he comes back, I'll be there.
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