Historically, blog buzz doesn’t seem to translate into sales, and Black Kids certainly have no shortage of blog buzz (and the almost immediate backlash that comes with it). However, Columbia Records hopes to prove the power of the internet by releasing the debut album from Black Kids, Partie Traumatic on July 22.
Mincemeat Or Tenspeed’s latest effort, All Critters was released earlier this year on Deathbomb Arc, so it’s not a surprise that when Foot Village came to New York City, Philadelphia’s one-man pedal wielder was ready to open up for the band.
By all accounts, Mincemeat Or Tenspeed could be classified as a noise band, generating sounds from feedback and pedals with no traditional instruments. Each thrash on a pedal seemed to be struck in perfect timing to create a new texture or add a new rhythm. The strange thing about the performance was that the “noise” ended up being both quite rhythmic and melodic…not really all-too noisy. All upcoming Mincemeat Or Tenspeed shows are listed below.
By the time Cut Copy took the stage at Studio B last night, the collective sweat from the audience had already made the air smelly, muggy, and almost unbreathable. Few seemed to mind the stifling conditions inside the Brooklyn club as much of the dance floor was packed with fans.
Though she claims to be terminally shy, Kristin Hersh is performing a mixed-media presentation of her memoir, Paradoxical Undressing, on June 6 at the Detroit Institute Of Arts. In this extended interview, Hersh discusses her writing process and how such a shy person got talked into doing this.
What made you decide to present the readings in this mixed media/music style? And is there any chance you’ll take this show on tour?
My husband/manager convinced me to perform excerpts from the book as readings. Again, talking out loud, of all things! He’s very smart but also very mean. I had to be allowed to play guitar throughout, as it’s a physical imperative for me. I also play pieces of solo and Throwing Muses songs. This means that I’m not entirely out of my comfort zone. If the right kinds of spaces are available to me, I may in fact tour Paradoxical Undressing because I think the effect of this performance is more convincing than either music or readings alone. The accompaniment colors the text and the interspersed songs refer to the material in the readings. The artist Molly Cliff Hilts, whose paintings I use as backdrops, paints to my music. It all intertwines nicely, and none of it is as hard to understand as an evening of fairly complex music might be if you don’t speak the language ‘music.’
When performing a song, even a very personal one, its easy to say that the song is based on someone else or you’re assuming the role of a character. With a memoir, its all you and you’re very exposed. Does that get intimidating?
It probably should..but so far, none of it feels like ‘me,’ as it’s all taken from teenage diaries I kept in the early days of Throwing Muses. This was almost 25 years ago.
Any chance we’ll see the original line up of Throwing Muses some time soon?
Throwing Muses still plays out, but we’re a little precious when it comes to our shows. We’ve gotten ’boutiquey’ (is that a word?). My new band, 50 FootWave, opens and we only play in our favorite cities, for our favorite people.
Rich Stumpf
Cherry Lane Music Publishing
www.cherrylane.com
What is Cherry Lane?
We’re one of the very few, last remaining, true independent music publishers. It started in 1960, and was originally built-up around the copyrights of John Denver, [which were obtained] by Milt Okun. We currently represent Elvis Presley, Quincy Jones, the Black Eyed Peas, Wolfmother, John Legend and a lot more in-between. We do the very traditional things, pitching our artist’s music to film, television, advertising and video games, but we also do more unique things, which is to try and combine our writers with the brands we represent. Read the rest of this entry »
“Hi, we’re No Age,” Brian Miller of Foot Village joked from the floor of Death By Audio in Brooklyn last night. While it’s true, the band’s peers such as No Age and Health have brought attention to the Los Angeles scene, groups like Foot Village maintain it.
Download The Song Here: “Rested Eyes Tell No Lies”
From the album Sleep Without Dreams
Courtesy of 2*Sweet
Download The Song Here: “New York, Not Her”
From the album The Literary Greats
Courtesy of The Literary Greats
Richmond, Virginia’s finest, Narwhalz, hit up Death By Audio on Saturday night (along with Ear Pwr). Narwhalz sets up a Gameboy and Gameboy Advance through a pedal or two and proceeds to (quite literally) make a lot of noise while thrashing about. On occasion, the Gameboy he’s using will get unplugged and he’ll make a comment to the audience. This goes on for maybe about ten or fifteen minutes. He also attempted to stick a stuffed toy in his mouth after he shoved it down his pants. It all may sound a little off-putting, strange, or just out there. However, Narwhalz ends up being purely entertaining and fun, despite the unconventional performance.
www.dotcomandshit.org | www.ufrecords.com/
The aughts have been confusing for “indie rock,” as most of the sloppier guitar groups became slotted garage at the decade’s start and the label’s come to mostly exemplify a more well-arranged sort of pop that often billows into full orchestral leanings. Where the ’90s only had a couple of Belle And Sebastians among the onslaught of Pavements and Modest Mice, the ’00s have coughed up few Guided By Voices among the Shins and Decemberists.
It’s such a shame Cause Co-Motion seem to be just playing shows around New York City. As a punky and fun band, the band would shine on the road. On Thursday night, the band opened for Clinic and are slated to play with Blood On The Wall at the Mercury Lounge later this month. (All dates for Blood On The Wall are below.)
Making their NYC debut on Saturday night Ear Pwr took to the stage at the DIY venue, Death By Audio. The North Carolina duo were treated to a warm reception from a crowd that was ready to dance to their fun, bouncy songs. In addition, the pair was joined by a video artist, who set up behind them dressed in a white body suit and encouraged the crowd into a dance-frenzy with interspersed jumping jacks and push-ups.
The Teenagers headlined the Bowery Ballroom on Monday night, with Team Robespierre opening, and the two bands only have a few more US tour dates together before The Teenagers head back overseas for a string of dates hitting up several continents. All dates below.
When I first saw Clinic five years ago, they were dressed in full on doctor’s scrubs. Last night at the Music Hall Of Williamsburg, the four Liverpool boys kept their masks on, but donned their latest matching Hawaiian shirts for a “tropical” theme. With a group like Clinic, it’s easy to wonder if there was an intentional motivation behind the ensembles or if it was just part of the band’s general weirdness factor.
As you may have heard, No Age released an album on Tuesday, the same night they played at the Bowery Ballroom with Fiasco and High Places.
Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m the only person living in Brooklyn that doesn’t quite understand the appeal of High Places. The duo, who were recently signed to Thrill Jockey, make music that sounds engaging and interesting, but for some reason this never seems to translate to their live show. For some reason, they look a little bored to be performing on stage. Their low energy level seemed especially apparent last night at the Bowery Ballroom sandwiched between two high energy bands, Fiasco and No Age.
Last night at the Bowery Ballroom Fiasco opened up for No Age. The show saw the Brooklyn trio setting up on stage instead of on the floor and played to a crowd that was 16 and over (the band are generally dedicated to all ages shows). Despite these differences, Fiasco’s performance was really nothing out of the ordinary from what I’ve come to expect from this talented young band.
However, the audience’s reaction helped to make the show particularly memorable. The initial crowd was a little sparse but gathered close to the stage. As Fiasco played a few songs, the audience slowly began to fill out more. By the third song the kids at the Bowery started to get wild. Though not exclusively youngsters, the wildest amongst them definitely barely squeaked above that 16-year-old age requirement. It’s rare to see a New York City venue erupt in such chaos, but it’s refreshing as well.
Only a few bands have the ability to make larger venues seem like basement shows. Dan Deacon manages to, and Team Robespierre’s performance at the Bowery Ballroom last night proved that they can pull it off as well. It’s the simple act of jumping onto the floor, actually getting up close and personal with the crowd, that makes this intimacy possible. It doesn’t seem like such a big leap, but few bands even try.
Parisian duo Zombie Zombie play dance music that sounds like a disco for the end of the world. Armed with an extensive drum kit, a whole bunch of synths, and a theremin, they sound like soundtrack for an early science fiction movie, only with more tape loops and a heavy beat. Friday’s show was also played at an ear-splitting volume that made several people grab at their heads and step back from the stage; it did a lot for the atmosphere, but perhaps not so much for ear drums.
But it wasn’t too far into the set before people became less concerned with the noise and just danced. About half way through the set, a good handful decided they wanted to dance on stage, and so climbed up to dance around the band. Nothing chaotic, but everyone had a good time.
Zombie Zombie’s debut, A Land For Renegades, was released in the UK this week. If nothing else, be sure to check out their cover of Iggy Pop’s “Nightclubbing.”
Download The Song Here: