tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23815651629515245432024-03-08T08:14:43.706-06:00Terror Cat Musicapril5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-11600949375988470122009-01-15T11:36:00.005-06:002009-01-15T14:09:39.208-06:00Southern Angels - The Airon Paul Dugas BenefitBy now we all know the story of December the 14th. The day that our beloved ice cream troubadour was sunk into a world of pain that only two tons of steel and fiberglass can deliver.<br /><br />Here's the story of December the 27th, the night that Houston proved that Airon wasn't the only Southern Angel in town. Folks turned out en masse to check out the stellar line up, win big in the awesome raffles and to give, give, give and give some more.<br /><center><br /><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/2008-12-27%20Airon%20Paul%20Dugas%20Benefit/Butch/Kitties034.jpg" height="400" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Butch<br /><br /></b></span><div style="text-align: left;">Ain't no one that don't know Butch. As front man for Houston instituion, nay,<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>tradition</i>, 30footFALL, Butch has been making a mark on young show goers for 2 decades. Recently, Butch has been making the rounds as a singer-songwriter of the country-folk variety. Mixing covers and originals, his performances are compelling and heartfelt. He opened the show up with a perfect tribute to the Man of the Hour.</span><br /></div></center><br /><center><br /><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/2008-12-27%20Airon%20Paul%20Dugas%20Benefit/Guitars/December2008002.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Guitars</b> - <i>picture by Megan Fraser of Boston, MA</i></span></center><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">I would be a special kind of asshole to comment on the performance of my own band, so I'll leave it at this: It was an honor and a privilege to be a part of this benefit.</span><br /><br /><center><br /><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/2008-12-27%20Airon%20Paul%20Dugas%20Benefit/Wild%20Moccasins/sugarcoated.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Wild Moccasins</b></span></center><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Houston's own sugarcoated sons (and daughter) of indie rock, Wild Moccasins proved once again that they embody the big changes this city is facing in 2009. Real musicians playing real music injected with so much love that it's contagious. KEEP. IT. UP.</span><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/2008-12-27%20Airon%20Paul%20Dugas%20Benefit/Teenage%20Kicks/Kitties108.jpg" height="400" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>John Baldwin of Teenage Kicks</b></span></center><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">It seems like Teenage Kicks play every show that I ended up reviewing. How lucky am I? These guys are a treat for the eyes and ears and are also surfing that big ol' wave of new blood that's crashing on the shores of our city's stages. By all means, be good to yourself, be into this band.</span><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/2008-12-27%20Airon%20Paul%20Dugas%20Benefit/Friendship/Kitties145.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Ted Conway of Friendship (big "F") awash in a sea of friendship (little "f")</b></span></center><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The main attraction of the night was far and away the reunion set of Friendship (unfortunately, sans Garrett Arnold). Bodies thrashing, clothes flying, sweat spraying, we were all friends for this moment in time.</span><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/2008-12-27%20Airon%20Paul%20Dugas%20Benefit/Paris%20Falls/Kitties309.jpg" height="400" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Surprise! You're amazing! Ray Brown of Paris Falls</b></span></center><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Perhaps closest to Airon's heart are his would-be backing band and force in their own right, Paris Falls. The trio were a soothing interlude between the frenzied riot of Friendship and the impending aural bloodbath of Dannzig.</span><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/2008-12-27%20Airon%20Paul%20Dugas%20Benefit/Raffle/Kitties332.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Our scene's perennial emcee, JD Tucker</b></span></center><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Benefit organizer JD Tucker took the time before Dannzig's set to announce the winners of the raffle prizes. Long story short: I really wanted the $200 gift certificate for tattoo work by Gregg Higgins, I spent a respectable sum on raffle tickets and suffice it to say, I did in fact win said prize. I also won a $200 gift certificate the Apollo, which I gave back to be re-raffled seeing as I don't own a scooter, I also won a Sound Exchange gift certificate, which I kept, and two Amy's Ice Cream gift certificates which I also forfeited to those more needy. Other prizes included a $200 gift certificate to iheartu, an accoustic guitar, gift certificates to Mission Burrito, and I believe Rockin' Robin and Musicwise (I apologize for not remembering exactly). On top of all of this was a badass silent auction featuring among other entertainment artifacts, signed photos of Eddie Murphy, Hulk Hogan, Bob Dylan, and Mick Jagger.</span><br /><br /><center><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/2008-12-27%20Airon%20Paul%20Dugas%20Benefit/Dannzig/Kitties409.jpg" width="400" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Some Kinda Hate - Dann Miller of Dannzig</b></span></center><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Ending the night was the second appearance of good time cover band Dannzig. Dann Miller's Glenn Danzig is insanely spot-on, and have quiet possibly earned the crown as the best Misfits/Samhain/Danzig/any combination thereof cover band this town has seen, and we have seen alot.<br /><br /><br />This benefit was a massive success, bringing in quite a chunk of change for our indisposed friend. And was a giant I love you to a guy to whom we wish the speediest of recoveries.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>The rest of the photos can be found <a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/2008-12-27%20Airon%20Paul%20Dugas%20Benefit/">HERE</a>.</i></span>april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-28862339350133243702008-11-17T12:57:00.013-06:002008-11-17T13:54:15.194-06:00Noise & Smoke 2 - Less Smoke, More NoiseFestival promoter Liz Molina returns to Houston with a scaled back version of last year’s successful Noise & Smoke festival, this time around joining forces with local magic makers Rosa Guerrero and Anna Garza. Paring down to one evening at two adjoining spaces the efficiency of pure face-rockage has been brought to levels unseen in the slowly-awakening giant that is Houston’s music scene.
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<br /><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Noise%20and%20Smoke%202/DJs%20and%20People/?action=view¤t=Kitties048.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Noise%20and%20Smoke%202/DJs%20and%20People/Kitties048.jpg" border="0" height="450"></a><br><i>not pictured Liz Molina, pictured Chris Ryan</i>
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<br />So, to start things off, let’s meet our DJ’s. On deck at Dean’s we’ve got local standby CeePlus and self-proclaimed catlover PRKL8R spinning dance jams. Over at Notsuoh Coach Springer is showing good hustle with his solid line-up of rock & roll crushers.
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<br />Kicking off the night? Appropriately, it’s Teenage Kicks on stage at Dean’s. These sharp dressed young men have been delivering their tight power-pop/punk tunes to Houston audiences over the past year. With an obvious nod to power-pop godfathers The Undertones, these boys lead the charge locally (along side fellow popsters Something Fierce) in the return to the pop-punk heyday of the Houston scene, albeit in a more sophisticated and stylish manner than their predecessors of a decade prior. Drummer, John Baldwin expressed his gratitude to the early crowd whose number was merely an indication of the frenzied mass that would be swarming these two venues by night’s end.
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<br />Heading next door to the Notsuoh stage we find the battle of the century, the rumble in the former department store! It’s U.S. Grime pioneer B L A C K I E taking on Chemical City pot-stirrers Cop Warmth in a full-on aural assault. These fellas have been having a knock-down, drag-out all over town recently and deliver a KO by decision to any audience that happens upon their path of destruction, and tonight was no different. Cop Warmth vocalist Bryan Jackson swapped the mic with B L A C K I E over the course of their physically provoking set, though it wouldn’t be his only work out of the night…
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<br /><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Noise%20and%20Smoke%202/B%20L%20A%20C%20K%20I%20E%20vs%20Cop%20Warmth/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Noise%20and%20Smoke%202/B%20L%20A%20C%20K%20I%20E%20vs%20Cop%20Warmth/IMG_2482.jpg" border="0" height="450"></a>
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<br />It’s been a little over a year since The Takes took to Houston clubs, injecting their hardcore-tinged pop-punk into the simmering garage rock scene, opening for much-hyped touring acts like Jay Reatard and The Points. Many a local band has been stoked to share the stage with these up-and-comers, just as many an audience has been equally as stoked to see them. Delivering an explosive set of their quick-hitting jams, The Takes melted faces all over Dean’s in one of the most rocking sets of the night, even being joined by the drummer from Cop Warmth who dealt out some shouts of his own.
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<br />San Antonio’s proudly lo-fi, low-life experimental trash punks Patsy take the stage next at Notsuoh, and their parents are out of town and they have cigarettes. Going into this set all I knew was that they had gotten kicked off the stage in Austin of all places for keeping it a little too weird. I also gleaned from their myspace that they are fiercely DIY, which may be a result of no one else wanting to lend these ear-splitters a hand. But hey, no one liked Sonic Youth in the beginning, either, right? I might claim this set to be the most thoroughly enjoyable surprise of the night. You never know what you’re going to get when it comes to experimental noise rock, and Jake and Matt went above and beyond my expectations. They even threw in a cover of “Where Eagles Dare”, which caused me to wonder for the rest of the night if it was an homage to Liz’s stints in Lizifuge and Lizfits.
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<br />Removing your ears soundly from the vice-like grip of the preceding noise, Vincent Trails lulls the crowd into a false sense of security with his profane brand of country-folk. His songs go down like a sugar-coated razorblade, sweet to the taste yet filled with barbs sure to upset your tummy…if your brain is the digestive system of the ear, that is. Keeping with Patsy’s thing, Trails also gave a musical shout out to a certain Mr. Danzig. I also learned that is very hard to take pictures of a band when you are standing directly behind them.
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<br />After a short break due to a timeslot swap, Gulfcoast Hardcore stalwarts El Desmadre brought their down-home thrash to Dean’s, pledging to “rip [the] face off” of the tough guys with their jock bullshit and “throw it in the middle of the circle pit”. And rip off faces, they did. Their set was cut short when a cop got HOT and as a result the final Dean’s set of the night, Homopolice, was moved over to Notsuoh. EL DESMADRE! H-TOWN POR VIDA!
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<br />Marking a legendary moment in recent Houston music history, the reunited Mydolls take the stage at Notsuoh. Formed in 1978, Mydolls are the quintessential Houston indie band. Nevermind The Judy’s whose hype overshadows their collective catalog, and nevermind The Hates, whose longevity has carved their niche as a local institution. Mydolls blazed the trail that many a Houston band has tread. Prolific in their recording and ambitious in their touring, even appearing in the Wim Wenders film Paris, Texas, Mydolls could not avoid the all too familiar fate of sinking into the Houston swamps of musical obscurity, disappearing from the radar of even the most knowing of indie music enthusiasts. The recent release of the career retrospective A World Of Her Own has found Mydolls back in the local spotlight for a new generation of initiates to dive head first into their still-relevant political post-punk. And if anything, their set reinforced that relevance. The band absolutely beaming, gave it their all as they were showered with enthusiastic love from the adoring crowd. At one point the band was joined by the wife of the bassist, Dianna, who has been recently rehearsing with the reformed band, and singer, Trish, gave a quick call to action on the reversal of everyone’s least favorite ballot item Prop 8. All four members brought it hard and kept bringing it as the audience pleaded for multiple encores. I can only hope that this marks just the beginning of the Mydolls return to the live music limelight.
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<br /><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Noise%20and%20Smoke%202/Mydolls/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Noise%20and%20Smoke%202/Mydolls/Kitties071.jpg" border="0" height="450"></a>
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<br />As we leave the midnight hour behind us, the slinking and sensuous Balaclavas mount the stage at Notsuoh, filling the air with anticipation and dread. Inflicting the crowd with their vicious death-dirge of post-punk nihilism, the band is perfect for this witching hour set. Unfortunately, my camera was not doing me much good from my outside vantage point as the audience overflowed onto the sidewalk, but rest assured it was nauseatingly beautiful.
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<br /><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Nomi%20and%20Cornelius/?action=view¤t=Kitties001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Nomi%20and%20Cornelius/Kitties001.jpg" border="0" width="450"></a><br><i>Not Balaclavas.</i>
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<br />Winding down (up?) the evening are the new Beau Beasley/Josh Wolf/Chris Ryan/Tom of Montrose sensory-rape-team, Homopolice steaming hot out of a backalley Lola’s hatefuck. I’m almost thankful that this set was moved to Notsuoh, as I don’t know that Dean’s would have survived the assault. I first noticed that Beau had traded his bass for a trash can and a stick and then just as the set was about to being, traded spit with frontman Josh Wolf. Sex and violence hung (heh heh) heavy in the air. In a second physically involved set of the fest, Homopolice literally assaulted the audience with dives and kicks and punches and the oft-hurled metal trash can. From my vantage in the DJ booth the boys looked and sounded FANTASTIC. I am always thrilled by the officers performances and I can’t get enough. However, my husband told me that the scene was very different for those actually in the audience, most people were terrified for their lives and simply wanted to survive. Um…sounds like a good show to me.
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<br /><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Noise%20and%20Smoke%202/Homopolice/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Noise%20and%20Smoke%202/Homopolice/Kitties128.jpg" border="0" height="450"></a>
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<br />Closing out the second annual Noise & Smoke Fest are the best looking band to come off the streets of Montorse, Born Liars. The Liars are the sure thing. If you are ever in doubt about the funness-factor of any given bill, the presence of this down and dirty foursome is the satisfaction guarantee. The addition of the busiest man in Houston this side of Beau Beasley, Josh Vaughn (aka The Wolf) on drums only cranks the good times meter to astronomical heights. With a threat (or a promise) to do all of your coke, and to rock straight to the top of the Houston music scene, the Liars ignited the crowd into a rock & roll orgy that’s seen more often <i>upstairs</i> at Notsuoh than on the actual stage. It was at this point in the night that things became a blur. Now I was safely in the DJ booth trading flasks with a faceless stranger (how did I not see his face?), I looked out upon the ocean of bodies as the waves of sweat crushed the shores of the stage. I saw a camera being held aloft as a certain little lady struggled not to be sacrificed to this Noise & Smoke Carousel (bonus Logan’s Run reference). Tonight wasn’t a good night. It was a legendary night, one that few in attendance will ever forget, certainly not me. As the Liars wound down their set, I saw Coach who was now at the bar he gave me a nod and I knew what I had to do. I followed the cables from the back of the decks, not finding the right knobs to crank “White Light/White Heat”, I relented, hoping for the best and pushed play on the CD player and said goodnight.
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<br /><i>A thank you to Ramon for asking me to cover this (and for the beer), Meg for letting me borrow your camera when mine was being a jerk, Pope Jon for bringing me my camera charger, and an extra special thanks to Liz, Anna, and Rosa who made this all happen.</i>april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-13494437668837061262008-09-13T22:14:00.013-05:002008-09-17T09:24:21.541-05:00Blog You Like a Hurricane<center>
<br /><b>WE are GUITARS</b>
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<br />We stocked up on water, food, alcohol, toilet paper and batteries for our cigarette amps. When the power went out we recorded songs with a laptop for The Hurricane Sessions. Once the songs are mixed we'll let you know. For now, we have the pictures...
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<br />While others were "hunkering down" we were eating Mexican food at Kuko's.
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<br />There were last minute security measures.
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<br />We were all set.
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<br />Macks was all set, too.
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<br />We were holding out for the power to stay on so we set the amps up.
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<br />We hope you had plenty of water to flush the toilet.
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<br />Here is our very wet friend who stayed behind.
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<br />There's a river on our street.
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<br />Guitars getting ready to rock.
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<br />Maybe we use the keytar?
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<br />The Snake don't need no power.
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<br />Pope Jon has a seat.
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<br />The Avenue of the Oaks.
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<br />This treehouse didn't make it.
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<br />Folks couldn't wait to clean up.
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<br />This house-house didn't make it.
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<br />Things are ruff all over.
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<br />My circuit board! Oh no!
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<br />You'll probably need to turn around.
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<br />All the little guys were totally fine.
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<br />Totally essential needs.
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<br />Totally essential sandwich.
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<br />Shepherd Park Plaza got hit fairly bad.
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<br />My mom lost her back fence.
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<br />And her side fence.
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<br />But at least this didn't happen.
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<br />My grandmother's house seemed alright.
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<br />The side of the house was a different story.
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<br />You said it!
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<br />Please do!
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<br />And back to the guitars.
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<br />Red sky at night, etc.
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<br /><b>ADDENDUM</b>
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<br />Monday, September 15th was Pope Jon PPPP's birthday.
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<br /><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/hurriane%20sessions%209-12%20-%209-13%202008/September%2015th/Kitties005.jpg" height=400>
<br />He got his birthday wish that we recorded with electricity.
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<br /><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/hurriane%20sessions%209-12%20-%209-13%202008/September%2015th/Kitties007.jpg" height=400>
<br />Electricity and dogs...
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<br /><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/hurriane%20sessions%209-12%20-%209-13%202008/September%2016th/Kitties001.jpg" width=400>
<br />On September 16th we met up with a friend who had a ginormous tree in his street.
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<br /><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/hurriane%20sessions%209-12%20-%209-13%202008/September%2016th/Kitties003.jpg" height=400>
<br />The sidewalk was totalled.
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<br /><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/hurriane%20sessions%209-12%20-%209-13%202008/September%2016th/Kitties006.jpg" height=400>
<br />Erik Mabbun skated that shit.
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<br /><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/hurriane%20sessions%209-12%20-%209-13%202008/September%2016th/HurricaneSkate.gif" height=400>
<br />I giffed it.
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<br /><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/hurriane%20sessions%209-12%20-%209-13%202008/September%2016th/Kitties007.jpg" width=400>
<br />Steven and Pope Jon talked about a fight at the Austin Power Pop Fest.
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<br /><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/hurriane%20sessions%209-12%20-%209-13%202008/September%2016th/Kitties008.jpg" width=400>
<br />Snake, Chris and Mabbun chillaxed.
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<br />The rest of the pictures are <a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/hurriane%20sessions%209-12%20-%209-13%202008">here</a>, <a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/hurriane%20sessions%209-12%20-%209-13%202008/September%2015th/">here</a>, and <a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/hurriane%20sessions%209-12%20-%209-13%202008/September%2016th/">here</a>.
<br />april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-14255591607672776172008-08-04T13:25:00.005-05:002008-09-17T09:43:35.705-05:00Secret Saturday Festival PostThis was probably one of the most fun weekends EVER. JD is mayor of good times. (I think Airon might be chief of police of good times.) I tried to get pictures of everyone but missed out on one each day due to my camera being in a location other than in my hand. But everyone was above and beyond good and at $5 for a two day pass probably provided the biggest bang for your buck of all time. So here it goes (click on the pictures to go see the rest of the sets)<br /><br /><center>DAY ONE</center><br /><br />CO-PILOT - I forgot to grab my camera out of Pope Jon's truck before he left so unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of these guys but their set can be summed up in two words: FUCKING EPIC.<br /><br />THE GOLD SOUNDS - I had heard these guys at JD's the night before and was ready to be blown away. I was not disappointed. Guitarist, Chris, not only played with his teeth and behind his head, but smashed his guitar.<br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/The%20Gold%20Sounds/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/The%20Gold%20Sounds/Kitties011.jpg" width=400></a><br /></center><br /><br />LENNY BRISCOE – Though I see JD and Stacey more than I see my parents, I have yet to see a full Lenny Briscoe set and I was very happy when the played Saturday. Here’s a video of them playing the Jessica Six song “Vendors of Greater Things”<br /><center><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i50.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Lenny%20Briscoe/Kitties171.flv" height="361" width="448"></embed><br /><br /><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Lenny%20Briscoe/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Lenny%20Briscoe/Kitties015.jpg" height=400></a></center><br /><br />THE TONTONS – Though I’ve technically played a show with The Tontons I had yet to actually see them in action. After Saturday’s set I can see how it was smooth sailing for them to win best new act. Nicely done.<br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/The%20Tontons/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/The%20Tontons/Kitties040.jpg" width=400></a></center><br /><br />LAZY HORSE – Oh Lazy Horse, how do you always guarantee a good time? Even down by one member this weekend you guys are still the best.<br /><br /><center><br /><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Lazy%20Horse/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Lazy%20Horse/Kitties055.jpg" height=400></a></center><br /><br />HEARTS OF ANIMALS – It was also my first time seeing Hearts of Animals and I was not disappointed. Very sweet sounds for a very sweet afternoon.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Hearts%20of%20Animals/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Hearts%20of%20Animals/Kitties071.jpg" height=400></a></center><br /><br />LIKE YEAH – Tess is a SSS staple and continued the vibe of sweetness into the late afternoon.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Like%20Yeah/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Like%20Yeah/Kitties079.jpg" width=400></a></center><br /><br />SOMETHING FIERCE – Duh, this is always good, do I have to tell you that? The addition of a surprise dancer kicked this afternoon back onto the high intensity party wagon.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Something%20Fierce/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Something%20Fierce/Kitties103.jpg" height=400></a></center><br /><br />PERSEPH 1 – I had been meaning to catch her set for a while now. I’ll admit I’m not the hugest hip-hop fan, but I heard her tracks on myspace and I was down. This was the perfect set for the early evening.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Perseph%201/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Perseph%201/Kitties004.jpg" height=400></a></center><br /><br />BAREFOOT AND THE BEAR – I saw him just as he was ending his set that apparently was a private performance for Neil from Lazy Horse. I’m sorry I missed you.<br /><br />UME – This is another no-brainer, do I need to tell you that Ume was good?<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Ume/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Ume/Kitties102.jpg" width=400></a></center><br /><br />GUITARS – From the stage I missed out on some of the action behind the scenes. Apparently, the former drummer for ¡ALARMA!, up to drunken jackassery, was stealing tambourines, etc, which was quickly ended by our hero Neil from Lazy Horse. Nice bouncing, my friend.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Guitars/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Guitars/Kitties108-1.jpg" width=400></a></center><br /><br /><br />YOU (GENIOUS) – Very entertaining hip-hop, I’m sad that I didn’t get to see his full set but I loved what I saw but then I believe I had to make a detour to India.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/You%20Genious/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/You%20Genious/Kitties121.jpg" height=400></a></center><br /><br />LISTEN LISTEN – As the sun came down, Listen Listen brought us all to a mellower state of mind for a post-cop-calling rock festival.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Listen%20Listen/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Listen%20Listen/Kitties127.jpg" width=400></a></center><br /><br />ELAINE GREER – I am always so conflicted whenever I see or hear Elaine play. There are two voices inside my head one that is just pure jealousy and envy, I always opt to listen to the other voice which tells me that this is the most wonderful thing I could possibly be hearing at that moment.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Elaine%20Greer/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Elaine%20Greer/Kitties139.jpg" height=400></a></center><br /><br />SEW WHAT – Another familiar face for SSS regulars, Rachel is always bringing more and more to her performances and this evening it was with the addition of Cory Durden, the best one man band I know!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Sew%20What/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Sew%20What/Kitties147.jpg" height=400></a></center><br /><br />AIRON PAUL DUGAS – Taking a break from his doorman duties, Airon closes down Saturday night with a set that literally brought me to tears. This man has a voice like southern angels. If you didn’t stick around for his set, you blew it.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Airon%20Paul%20Dugas/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/Airon%20Paul%20Dugas/Kitties154.jpg" height=400></a></center><br /><br />Here are some shots of some of the various people hanging around, this one pretty much sums up the whole weekend:<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/People/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-2-08/People/Kitties126.jpg" height=400></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center>DAY TWO</center><br /><br />DUNNOCK’S ILL ADVISORY – I got to the Shady just as he was starting and had a torta to tend to during his set, I wish I had seen more but I would like to know if he played a song that I think is called “Hate”.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Dunnock%20s%20Ill%20Advisory/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Dunnock%20s%20Ill%20Advisory/Kitties003.jpg" height=400></a></center><br /><br />PARIS FALLS – Here is a challenge for Paris Falls: be more wonderful. Seriously elegant and beautiful. Stellar.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Paris%20Falls/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Paris%20Falls/Kitties005.jpg" width=400></a></center><br /><br />EVAK 1 – I only caught the very beginning of their set, I had another trip to India to make, but fortunately I did get these shots.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Evak%201/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Evak%201/Kitties019.jpg" height=400></a></center><br /><br />GIANT PRINCESS – Yet another one of those no-brainers, these guys are never going to disappoint you.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Giant%20Princess/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Giant%20Princess/Kitties030.jpg" width=400></a></center><br /><br />NEWS ON THE MARCH – Much hyped and much worthy. Their entire set was a big fuck-you to Lomax’s Press article about Houston sucking.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/News%20on%20the%20March/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/News%20on%20the%20March/Kitties047.jpg" width=400></a></center><br /><br />NOSAPRISE – Another very entertaining Hip-Hop set. He opened with my favorite song of his and delivered hit after hit.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Nosaprise/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Nosaprise/Kitties058.jpg" height=400></a></center><br /><br />THE MCKENZIES – I’ll keep it short, this was hands down my favorite performance of the weekend. Amazing. Wonderful. Fantastic.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/The%20McKenzies/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/The%20McKenzies/Kitties089.jpg" width=400></a></center><br /><br />AWAKE – I believe I’m fated to never see Awake in their natural state. I played a show with them once and they brought the noise, this time they brought the acoustic. And it was great. Droney and intense and oddly wonderful in the open-air setting.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Awake/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Awake/Kitties103.jpg" width=400></a></center><br /><br />THE MONOCLES – Hey I heard 15 people asked for a copy of their unmastered album. One of them was Gar Wood.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/The%20Monocles/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/The%20Monocles/Kitties142.jpg" width=400></a></center><br /><br />THE MATHLETES – Another set that got cut short by a trip to India, but I was glad to hear their Wire and Talking Head covers!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/The%20Mathletes/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/The%20Mathletes/Kitties155.jpg" width=400></a></center><br /><br />TEENAGE KICKS – I was super bummed that I missed the beginning of their set, but I edged my way up to the front behind the monitor and got the shit rocked out of me.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Teenage%20Kicks/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Teenage%20Kicks/Kitties170.jpg" height=400></a></center><br /><br />ROBERT ELLIS – Let’s just go ahead and call him the most pleasant surprise of the entire weekend. I suggested that Pope Jon and Airon start a band like The Band with this guy. SHIT!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Robert%20Ellis/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Robert%20Ellis/Kitties182.jpg" width=400></a></center><br /><br />CORY DURDEN – Cory beautifully ended the weekend with his man-of-many-talents act. Multiple guitar effects, a trumpet and beer bottle slide. It was a magic moment when at the end of his set he stepped into the audience only singing, loops of sounds piling into layers as the first raindrops fall as the festival comes to an end.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Cory%20Durden/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/Cory%20Durden/Kitties195.jpg" height=400></a></center><br /><br />Upon the end of the festival JD thanked everyone, including the neighbors who called the cops.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/People/Kitties205.jpg" height=400></center><br /><br /><br />Here are some folks from day two:<br /><br /><center><a href="http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/People/"><img src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/lionelandsaffron/Secret%20Saturday%20Fest%208-3-08/People/Kitties016.jpg" width=400></a></center><br /><br /><br />All in all this was one of the most fun music festivals you could ever hope to be a part of or attend. I can’t wait to see what happens next.april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-76877219094624186402008-05-31T08:56:00.005-05:002008-05-31T09:47:45.873-05:00that dog. - Retreat From the Sun<center><img height="200" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/april5k/album%20covers/thatdog.jpg" />
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<br />Wow, I've been busy. Sorry. I've also been kinda sick, as have a lot of other people I know, some more critically than others. And I can't lie, I've been trying to think of a good solid album to post about and haven't had the time to do so. Anyhow, it came to me last night. Take that as you will.
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<br />I'm the type of person who likes to relate my life to songs and no other album tells my life story like that dog.'s <span style="font-style:italic;">Retreat From the Sun</span>. In fact it's like some kind of strange meta-universe existing each inside the other one. How do I explain that? It's like listening to a song about my life while living that life and having my life told to me in the process? Does that make sense? And am I a person that says "like" too much? I've heard that some people love that.
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<br />that dog. were from LA and were chock full of Haydens and led by the daughter of a music industry big timer. I suppose you could say that they would've never gotten this music released on a major label if not for their connections, but you could absolutely not say that they wouldn't have gotten it released at all. Which, had they the "indie cred" they might be more revered now. Also, I've had people tell me I look like Anna Waronker, which is just another in a long line of blond-haired, round-faced comparisons. Thanks.
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<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Retreat From the Sun</span> was released in 1997 and you'll never believe who it was recorded by...Brad Wood. I told you...<span style="font-style:italic;">half your record collection</span>.
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<br />Interestingly enough, this was to be Waronker's first solo album but she allegedly talked her band mates into recording this with her. And that's probably why it stands out against the rest of that dog.'s catalog. This is some highly refined alternapop and I meant that in the nicest way possible. After all, this was from a time when the term "alternative" was just beginning to lose it's attractiveness. This gets in right under the wire. And I'd also like to say that this perhaps triumphs in creating the alluring and intriguing yet easily digestible pop nuggets that Liz Phair has been failing to fry up ever since <span style="font-style:italic;">Whitechocolatespaceegg</span>.
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<br />Or maybe I should just say that this is someone putting my secret diary to music. (How dare you!)
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<br />Let's check out some entries:
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<br />May 1999 - "I'm Gonna See You" - Hey, I totally like you and our life is totally going to be like this song. For sure! I'm gonna totally like see you in the morning and junk. And "none of the above the waist activity"? I totally know that means boning.
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<br />August 2007 - "Never Say Never" - I'm like so totally dumb, for sure. I mean, I totally know you're the one and all. Man, maybe I should like go tell you and stuff.
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<br />February 1997 - "Minneapolis" - Oh wow, that dude is like so totally hot. I totally am going to go out with him. Swearsies. He should like be my new best friend and stuff.
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<br />September 1998 - "Long Island" - It's so true that "it seems as though our paths were never meant to meet", but wow, you are like so awesome. Let's share cigarettes and wish on stars. That sounds like totally awesome.
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<br />May 1998 - "Hawthorne" - This party is so bunk. Maybe I could talk to you. Maybe we could like start a band or some shit. You like that dog.? Me too. I'm totally dying to get a piece of this.
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<br />October 1999 - "Did You Ever?" - Hey I'm putting all my shit out on the line here. What have you done for me? Yeah, wouldn't it be great if we could split ourselves in two? Yeah that would like totally be my dream. Geez.
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<br />June 2001 - "Cowboy Hat" - My roommate just told me "April! There's a cowboy at the door!" Sure enough, there was. That cowboy talked me out of totally puking. For sure.
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<br />May 2008 - "Until the Day I Die" - I'm like gonna quote some shit. "I've never given back to you all the love in the world, to give to a little girl. No matter how hard I try, this will be until the day I die." That's like really heavy.
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<br />I would also like to add that that dog. is probably why I usually like to type in all lowercase letters. Just sayin'.
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<br />This is on Geffen, it's everywhere. But there's not really a web presence for the band, so here's Anna Waronker's myspace...
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<br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/annawaronker">http://www.myspace.com/annawaronker</a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><br><br><div align="center">Hear it <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?490p0mtweul">HERE</a>.</div></div>
<br />april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-54280552053950714822008-05-14T15:02:00.004-05:002008-05-20T12:20:18.905-05:00Discount - Half Fiction<center><img height="200" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/april5k/album%20covers/discount.jpg" />
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<br />Music from Florida is kind of like Wooderson from <span style="font-style:italic;">Dazed and Confused</span>, the bands get older but the fans stay the same age. Fortunately, as there always is, there is an exception to this rule. For the purposes of this post that exception is pop-punk outfit Discount. Members of this band have grown up and formed new bands...bands for grown ups.
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<br />But in 1999, Discount's unique style of pop-punk was perfect for me. Now, this album came out in 1997 but at that time I was in the middle of a early-adulthood ska crisis, so it took awhile to pick up on this. Eventhough I was late in the game, I got a chance to see them a couple times before they broke up. Those shows fell at a time in my life where I finally had a car and could go to shows all by myself like a big girl, so there are all sorts of warm fuzzy feelings that I get thinking back on seeing Discount live. And this album always wakens those feeling when I listen to it.
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<br />Like I said, Discount were from Florida. They formed in 1995 and broke up in 2000. The singer, Alison Mosshart, went on to become VV, one half of The Kills. There was a period of time in the late 90's-early 2000's that Florida was a big deal and they were one of the bands that was worthy of the hype. Sauconys were big then, too. Remember that? And Alison was wearing a pair one time when I saw them.
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<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Half Fiction</span> was released in 1997 and re-released in 1999. It was recorded by Steve Heritage who most notably recorded a whole mess of Hot Water Music albums, along with Coalesce and Reggie and the Full Effect. And if those names mean anything to you, then this album will definitely be in your ballpark.
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<br />This is the sound of being a big girl.
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<br />I'm not really sure which songs to single out here. Each one is as urgent as the last. Mosshart's rapidfire delivery is so atypical for a pop-punk band. Honestly, it's often too goofy for me, but her inflection is definitely in a class of it's own. It's as though the vocals are dancing in and out of the lead guitar lines. And on top of all this, each song is an anthem! This is start-to-finish great.
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<br />You can definitely find this over the internet but there are a couple links to mail order on their historical artifact of a website.
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<br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://discounttheband.com/">http://discounttheband.com/</a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><br><br><div align="center">Hear it <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?ngyymmwgvx6">HERE</a>.</div></div>
<br />april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-41625041761696284652008-05-13T10:28:00.004-05:002008-05-13T14:25:55.137-05:00The Lemonheads - It's a Shame About Ray<center><img height="200" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/april5k/album%20covers/Lemonheads_Its_a_Shame_About_Ray.jpg" />
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<br />It's time for a Sassy Cute Band Alert! If you were a girl in 1992 you might have chosen to love Marky Mark and his Calvin Klein underwear, but if you were anything like me, Evan Dando was a real life forerunner to Jordan Cantalano. I was only 13, but damn if I didn't want to be part of Generation-X. The scruffy slackers with their unwashed hair and smoky flannel shirts made me want to drink coffee and sing about how I was just too jaded to love them. And what about Juliana Hatfield? How much did I want to be her?
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<br />The Lemonheads formed in Boston in 1986. I trust you've heard of them.
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<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">It's a Shame About Ray</span> was originally released in 1992 without the ubiquitous cover of "Mrs. Robinson" which was unfairly synonymous with the band's name. It seems justified that when the band reformed to perform this album in its entirety at the 2005 All Tomorrow's Party festival, the song was left out of the setlist.
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<br />Prior to this release, The Lemonheads played a more aggressive and raw form of punk rock. Their choice to incorporate more jangle and pop really paid off in this engaging set of songs. It seems that they found that they could cushion their lyrical angst and irony with sweet melodies and sugary vocals.
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<br />This album was me turning off the radio in favor of listening to albums as a whole.
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<br />While the songs themselves are nothing new or particularly groundbreaking, there is an instant familiarity that just makes you feel good. And the lyrics are instantly relatable as well. "Confetti" is my first favorite on here. It's the story of the early 90's, a world where apathy saturated every aspect of young American life. At first listen it's a great little sing-a-long until you realize it's about a guy who couldn't love a girl that kind of deserved it, then it all becomes bittersweet.
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<br />"It's a Shame About Ray" feels like a eulogy. The acceptance that things must change and that includes losing people close to us. It also advocates the hardening of your heart in an increasingly crueler world. This same loss of feeling (and feeling of loss?) carries over into "Rudderless", another one of my favorites. You can try to find meaning in this life, but perhaps things should only be taken at face value. You go down to the lake and you find out that the lake was wet. And eventually you'll get tired of getting high. Perhaps you're just not meant to go anywhere if you're rudderless.
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<br />"Bit Part" continues that search for some sort of significance. That perhaps if you can't be meaningful in your own life, you can have a bit part in someone else's. The first moment of clarity and happiness is "Alison's Starting to Happen". It's the story of a girl finding herself and finding her way into Dando's heart. Suddenly, there is something worth really living for. This enthusiasm is also found in "Kitchen" which finds Dando "thrilled to be in the same post code as you".
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<br />I haven't talked much about the more drug-centered songs on this album, and while good, I just don't have as strong a connection with them.
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<br />The original edition of the album ends with "Frank Mills" a cover from the musical <span style="font-style:italic;">Hair</span>. It's a much better ender than the overplayed cover of "Mrs. Robinson" that later re-issues included.
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<br />There's a brand new re-issue with demos and b-sides and a DVD so if you're interested there's that for you.
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<br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/thelemonheads">http://www.myspace.com/thelemonheads</a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><br><br><div align="center">Hear it <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?jbuwexjxgfz">HERE</a>.</div></div>april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-474557220988693412008-05-12T12:49:00.003-05:002008-05-13T15:03:27.948-05:00The Get Up Kids - Four Minute Mile<center><img height="200" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/april5k/album%20covers/Gukfmm.jpg" />
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<br />I had a busy week last week and didn't get a chance to post anything, so I'm glad I have a chance to get back to this!
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<br />Today's choice is The Get Up Kids' <i>Four Minute Mile</i>, another one of those landmarks in my early adulthood (which I suppose I am still in). This album came into my life shortly after a break-up and right as I was figuring out how much fun it was (is?) to be a single girl (seriously, the world belongs to single girls). It's the sound of one-time make outs and going to shows alone. I was in love with the world through the eyes of this album. Unfortunately, TGUK moved away from the purer form of "emo-pop" they embodied toward the soggy "indie/pop" that mutated into the horror that is contemporary emo. So, it suffices to say that the love affair faded away as they released more albums.
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<br />The Get Up Kids came together in 1994 and broke up after much success in 2005. They were one of those bands that felt good when they were "yours" and kind of made you sick after they became popular. A lot like Patrick Dempsey's character in <span style="font-style:italic;">Can't Buy Me Love</span>, they were lovable as outsiders and a bit too much when they were opening for Green Day (he did that in the movie, right?).
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<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Four Minute Mile</span> was recorded with Shellac's Bob Weston and was released in the fall of 1997, just in time to save me from becoming an over-grown ska geek.
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<br />The Get Up Kids added an "indie rock" flavor to the preexisting "post-hardcore" genre emo, which proved to be a volatile combination. How long could they have made music that was influenced by post-hardcore, yet was sweet and melodic? It was a thin wire they walked, which ironically they had fallen off of by the time they released their 3rd album <span style="font-style:italic;">On a Wire</span>. They appealed to the lower common denominator, the pop-punk-mislabeled-as-emo hungry masses.
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<br />But for me, this album will always be about change and discovery. Or more accurately, discovering that what you know about yourself will change.
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<br />The tracks that really stand out to me are: "Coming Clean", with it's Jawbreaker-esque riffage, "Don't Hate Me", is as poppy as it gets here, "Stay Gold Ponyboy" with it's quick-change breakdown provides the fleeting catchiness of the lyric "anything at all you want to be, run around the world with me" (it's my favorite song on here), and "No Love", with it's hopeful daydreaming; but everything here is solid and gives you all the heartfelt longing for a perfect life you could possibly ask for.
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<br />You can get this anywhere and everywhere, so get to it.
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<br /><div align="center">Hear it <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?tydxgnxs1ab">HERE</a>.</div></div>april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-34975477098559822252008-05-02T10:23:00.006-05:002008-05-02T12:22:37.052-05:00Isaac Green & The Skalars - Skoolin' With The Skalars<center><img height="200" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/april5k/album%20covers/41SFJXBAMZL_SL500_AA240_.jpg" />
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<br />For me, the summer of '97 was ska summer. It was everywhere. It was on the radio, it was in the clubs. You couldn't escape. Now, I had been going down that path for a bit, but it was the road alone that I strode. That is until the phenomenon of ska shows at least once a week. I met other rude dudes who became my closest friends. And if we had to pick a favorite band, it was Isaac Green & The Skalars. In fact, one of our greatest triumphs happened the night they finally came to town. I had shortly before this gone through a particularly nasty break up. Not only did he totally dis me, but he dissed us all. We saw him for the pseudo-intellectual snob he was. Anyhow, he had been the one to turn us on to this band. That night I rolled friends-deep, while he came alone. Before the show we met one of the Skalars and he was super nice and we met a couple of the others. And during their set they dedicated a song to us. The look on my ex-boyfriend's face was priceless. Immediately after the set, a couple of the band members came down and talked to us. Evan, the trombone player/co-vocalist needed a ride to the airport either late that night or early that morning depending how you looked at it. Within earshot of my ex-boyfriend I excitedly offered to help him out. Hanging out with him until we dropped him off was a blast and it was the first time I had stayed out all night.
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<br />The Skalars were from St. Louis and released two albums through Moon Ska and a couple of 7"s on their own. They were among the handful of ska bands that actually had talent as both musicians and songwriters. Importantly, they were NOT ska-punk.
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<br />Skoolin' With the Skalars was their debut album. Evan Shaw was the main male vocalist, while there were three female vocalists of whom only saxophonist Jessica Butler (by far the superior voice) remained by their intensely soulful second album.
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<br />As I mentioned, these guys were not ska-punk, they draw from the originators, mixing big band and R&B into a sweet sweet 3rd wave sound.
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<br />For me, this the sound of leaving high school behind. (Finally!)
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<br />Each of these songs have such specific memories attached to them. "Spoiled Brat" reminded us of a rich girl who was in our social circle that just didn't get how easy she had it. Their cover of The Marvelettes "Beechwood 4-589" was the definitive dance party jam.
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<br />Both "Don't Count" and "High School" were later made available in newer versions focusing on Jessica Butler's lone vocals. And these songs are the heavy hitters of this album. I so deeply related to these realizations that the world is a tough place. You don't always win and you can never go back. That is the post-high school graduate condition.
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<br />"Sitting" reminded us of a hapless friend constantly pining for the most unavailable of ladies...it didn't hurt that he shared his name with the song's protagonist. And though I never shared it with my friends, "Junbok" was emblematic of my broadening horizons. After 13 years of school with the same handful of people, I was going out into the world where I would be meeting people that I might never see again and making connections that might never be revisited. Shit's deep, yo.
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<br />The hidden track "Ike's Ride" (which was the song they dedicated to us) was our anthem. We had mistaken the lyrics for "I Try!" which developed into more than a mere catchphrase, it was a codeword.
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<br />With the demise of Moon Ska in America, it seems that there's not a direct way to get new copies of this album, but there's plenty available on Amazon. I checked.
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<br /><div align="center">Hear it <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?khgdge1suva">HERE</a>.</div></div>april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-62005291951811656392008-04-30T10:35:00.003-05:002008-04-30T13:15:43.104-05:00Crooked Fingers - Red Devil Dawn<div align="center"><img height="200" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/april5k/album%20covers/41GKWME3NZL_SL500_AA240_.jpg" /><br /><div align="left"><br /><br /><br />There are certain songs that catch you off guard, spilling over with your secrets. How can the world hear these songs if they reveal the truths you hold inside? But then you realize, a stranger wrote these songs and you're merely feeling an intense connection to the words. After that moment of panic, you become comfortable to merely pretend. You can pretend that these songs are sending your secret messages into the universe letting those who matter know how you truly feel, and though they might be worlds away, they are hearing you. It also works in the reverse, sometimes you can receive the secrets of others just by listening. <i>Red Devil Dawn</i> is one of these magic albums.<br /><br />Crooked Fingers is the solo project of ex-Archers of Loaf frontman Eric Bachmann, it follows his stint as an instrumental artist under the name Barry Black.<br /><br /><i>Red Devil Dawn</i> is the 3rd album Bachmann has released under the Crooked Fingers name and the first to feature complex arrangements including strings and horns.<br /><br />Bachmann is often compared to Tom Waits, as both of their voices share that standout rasp. Musically, Crooked Fingers is less of a carnival ride than Waits offers. There is a strong Americana sound verging nearly into Alt-Country. <br /><br />But really, this sounds like a series of urgent transmissions.<br /><br />And now, I'm going to get down to decoding some of these messages:<br /><br />"Don't Say a Word" - Someone is telling you that even if you've learned from what you've been through, it doesn't mean that you're going to find the one you lost when you made your mistakes.<br /><br />"You Can Never Leave" - This is someone saying "Oops, 'the love we made was no lie' but I'm retarded and totally let you go. 'I can't get you back' and now that I'm getting older I realize that was a big mistake. By the way 'when you dance it is torture', by which I mean to say that seeing you live your life is killing me, so maybe we can meet again someday but if we don't stay together then, I guess that makes us liars."<br /><br />"You Threw a Spark" - Someone is mad at you because you claimed that you loved them so much but you didn't do anything about it. And then you had the nerve to blame them for not coming to rescue you from your little world when all along you were the one who failed to act.<br /><br />"Boy With (100) Hands" - Now they're telling you that they tried to rescue you. They saw that you are "better than the world you live in" but even if they had 100 hands, they couldn't help you, but they'll hold you in their heart and try to move on.<br /><br />"Sweet Marie" - The message here is that if maybe you didn't have to choose, maybe if the choice could be made for you, maybe then things would work out.<br /><br />If decoding the rest of these messages sounds like something you'd be into, you should pick this album up. It's there, it's waiting, do it.<br /><br /> <br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/crookedfingers">http://www.myspace.com/crookedfingers</a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><br><br><div align="center">Hear it <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?m3yxakt6uzi">HERE</a>.</div></div>april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-33412750190870900152008-04-25T11:28:00.008-05:002008-05-13T15:09:38.645-05:00Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary<div align="center"><img height="200" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/april5k/album%20covers/wolf.jpg" /><br /><div align="left"><br /><br /><br />Sometimes a song can create and an entire lifetime that speeds by in only a moment. This is the song you listen to on repeat so you might relive that life over and over. Wolf Parade's <i>Apologies to the Queen Mary</i> is an album full of those songs.<br /><br />Wolf Parade are from Montreal and were part of 2005's much hyped "Canadian Invasion". Hype is so often a turn off for me when it comes to checking out new bands but upon hearing "I'll Believing in Anything" I bought into the hype 100% and have never looked back. <br /><br /><i>Apologies to the Queen Mary</i>, Wolf Parade's debut album was produced by Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock. Here and there his touch is evident.<br /><br />The sound of Wolf Parade is a sort of conglomeration of everything good that had happened up to that point in indie rock history. Guided by Voices, David Bowie, The Pixies, Talking Heads and so many more influential acts blazed the trails that led to this band. And in a not-so-distant future Wolf Parade might be lauded just as highly as their influences. They are no mere copycats, they are innovators, improving upon what is already familiar and creating something new.<br /><br />Imagine that you have lost your soul mate and on the night before Earth is destroyed you find them. This is the soundtrack to your remaining hours. And as the sun rises, by some miracle, the Earth has been saved.<br /><br /><i>Apologies</i> begins with "You are a Runner and I am My Father's Son". It reminds me of Pleasure Forever with it's stomping processional feel. Spencer Krug fronts this warning to a potential lover that fate may not have their happiness in store, he may just be predestined to lose. Next is the Dan Boeckner fronted "Modern World", this is more subdued, reminisent of Arcade Fire. Though quite lovely.<br /><br />"Ground for Divorce" brings to mind a jagged, up-tempo "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)", but lyrically it's more about a broken home than going home. Following this is Boeckner's smooth delivery of "We Built Another World" which sounds like a Modest Mouse jam you could dance to.<br /><br />Just after the halfway point is Boeckner's "Shine a Light", which also makes you feel okay about living a life that feels like it means nothing, after all "our blood is alive". But when what we're waiting for finally arrives it will be that much sweeeter.<br /><br />For me the highest point of the album is Krug's "I'll Believe in Anything". This is what we've been waiting for to arrive, "the scary day we both pull the tricks out of our sleeves". This is the ultimate proclamation of love: "Give me your eyes, I need sunshine. Your blood, your bones your voice, and your ghost". Seriously, that sums it up. When you love someone that much, you need the things that make them whole. You only put a song this heavy on a mix tape you really mean.<br /><br />Another song that "means it" is the final track, the Boeckner led "This Heart's On Fire". This is the song you play when you finally find the one and you have them there in your arms. It's true.<br /><br />This album is available pretty much everywhere. I'd dare say it would be harder to find a music store that doesn't carry it than does. <br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/wolfparade">http://myspace.com/wolfparade</a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><br><br><div align="center">Hear it <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?gj3pmz1mx4j">HERE</a>.</div></div>april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-72605165724448738492008-04-24T12:21:00.012-05:002008-05-13T15:25:31.214-05:00Sarge - The Glass Intact<div align="center"><img height="200" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/april5k/album%20covers/e919126ef61.jpg" /><br /><div align="left"><br /><br /><br />In March of '97 I attended the event that would change my life. I saw Sarge perform at the nearly rained out KTRU Outdoor Show. Before this I had definitely been interested in music and messed about with bands that were more ideas than anything else. But while watching Elizabeth Elmore front Sarge, it hit me..."I can do this." From that point I took my musical aspirations much more seriously. Though it took awhile to find my first solid band, I've been finding my greatest happiness in playing and writing music ever since. (And just a side note, my band nailed down perhaps the BEST song I have ever been a part of in my whole "career" as a musician. I. Am. Stoked.) As all things tend to move in circles, it was March 19, 2000 that Elizabeth Elmore on a solo tour between the break up of Sarge and formation of The Reputation played her Houston show in my parents garage apartment (we called it Club Last Chance, if you couldn't find a place for a show it was your last chance). My band London Girl opened for her. I played my ass off that night. And when Elmore took the "stage" she thanked us and said "Did you see April? Man! She's got chops!" Be still my rock & roll heart.<br /><br />Sarge were from Champaign, Ill. and were fronted by the absolutely enchanting Elizabeth Elmore. And as much as I hate to make a distinction between male and female musicians, i must point out that Elmore is an undeniable inspiration as a front person, songwriter and musician. At her worst she keeps pace with all the "boys in bands with all these egos out of hand", and at her best leaves them miles behind in the dust.<br /><br /><i>The Glass Intact</i> was Sarge's second album and a bit of a breakthrough being named in <i>Spin's</i> top 20 of 1998. It is definitely in my top 20 of all time, maybe higher. <br /><br />Sarge are too tough to really bear comparisons to bands like Cub and Wolfie (who's Joe Ziemba wrote "Put in the Reel") and far too sweet to be lumped in with Sleater-Kinney or Bratmobile...and with the exception of "Fast Girls", far too boy crazy to likened to Team Dresch.<br /><br />When girls kiss all the boys they're called sluts, when guys do it they get high fives. This album is the sound of shattering that double standard.<br /><br />If you were to believe the subject matter of most of these songs, it would seem that despite all of her wonderful qualities, Elmore tends to attract the most heartless and insensitive of men...who she relentlessly identifies, and perhaps more appropriately, as "boys". She struggles to maintain her identity in the shadow of these boys who are almost always in bands. But for all the heartbreaks, Elmore always remains golden. After all, for every boy that "doesn't see the light", there are 10 more watching adoringly from the audience.<br /><br />"Stall" finds Elmore searching for resolution in a nice relationship in which she doesn't have much passion. She resigns herself to "pray that things will die okay" after trying to give up, which the boy in question just would not have. <br /><br />Elmore doesn't only write of her own personal conflicts, in "A Torch" she sings of a rape victim finding empowerment through arson. She celebrates these actions with reverence.<br /><br />In "Beguiling" Elmore is bored with her boyfriend's insincerity. She finds herself torn between physical attraction and emotional repulsion. By the song's end she has still not made her choice. The down-tempo "Charms and Feigns" takes the previous song's weighing of pros and cons in a more solemn direction, only this time it's for the benefit of another. She has "been there before with him" she reveals as she addresses a friend who was "just another girl for that night". She may have been around the block, but she'll be there for you when you need her.<br /><br />While "Beguiling" is a surefire rocker, for me it comes in second to the beautiful and powerful "Half as Far". In this song, Elmore is facing the reality that the one she loves really doesn't have what she needs. She mournfully examines the things that bring her comfort, listening to his breath as she watches him sleep. And she sees she's "not being fair" and that she doesn't "want to waste your time", adding "it's not that you're a waste of mine". As full as this song is, it fills the listener with the emptiness of falling out of love.<br /><br />The album picks back up with "I Took You Driving". Elmore guards her heart against the charms of a boy from her past who's "only looking for one thing". Once again she must make the distinction between her physical attraction and her desire for emotional connection. She's "not so sure this boy is it" so she turns the tables on him. She admits her distaste for him, yet urges him to call next time he's in town.<br /><br />Elmore is more reverent of her female subjects and this none more apparent than on "Fast Girls". She meets a girl at a "Madison punk rock show" who possesses all of the qualities that her male suitors lack. In fact, she has "their weaknesses down pat". But on her way back to Champaign she is left regretting that she couldn't find the words to express her feelings...when she should have been thinking of her boyfriend.<br /><br />Album closer "To Keep You Trained" sums up the broarder theme of the album that no matter how much the music itself attests to Elmore's strength, boys will always be "every mistake [she] ever made'.<br /><br />This is one of my all time favorite albums, a "desert island" album if you will. Try it out and if it's like that for you, you can buy it through The Reputation's (her current band) website,(link below).<br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.reputationmusic.com/">http://www.reputationmusic.com/</a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><br><br><div align="center">Hear it <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?wnn7zvcw5gw">HERE</a>.</div></div>april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-30524704099820710402008-04-23T09:58:00.006-05:002008-05-13T15:30:15.997-05:00Black Cat Music - This is the New Romance<div align="center"><img height="200" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/april5k/album%20covers/ArtWorkServlet.jpg" /><br /><div align="left"><br /><br />Today I'm bringing you an EP that meant a lot to me right around my 21st birthday. At the time I still had the factory tape deck in my car so I dubbed a copy which was rarely ejected. I put songs on countless mixtapes, I listened to the CD at home making up guitar riffs based on the songs (totally ripping them off for my band...), and I forced them down anyone who'd listen's throat. I even picked up the 12" version which had two <i>less</i> songs. I was pretty obsessed. It didn't hurt that one of the guys in the band looked a lot like someone I was totally in love with.<br /><br />At the time of this passionate listening affair Black Cat Music had yet to be signed to Lookout! so there's was little awareness of these guys. They were <i>my</i> band. They were dark and whiskey-soaked, much like I felt at the time...or was...there was a lot of whiskey around this time in my life...okay, I admit, whiskey is a definite theme in my life so let's just say it started here.<br /><br />What little I knew I learned from their website; they were from San Francisco, they were comprised of former members of the Criminals and the Receivers. They were awesome. What I know now is that they released one more EP for Cheetah and then 3 albums for Lookout! before disbanding in 2004. I'm gonna say that signing to Lookout! was the death knell in their chances for anyone to take them seriously. I advise you to look past the label and check out all their releases, they're terribly overlooked.<br /><br /><i>This is the New Romance</i> was their debut EP and was released on the apparently defunct Cheetah's Records in 1998. It made it's way over to me in 1999.<br /><br />Black Cat Music sounds a little like a younger, sexier Murder City Devils. They're dark in all the right places. They know when to show their smarts and when to play it dumb. And oh, the basslines, your ears will be all sexed up by those baselines.<br /><br />This EP sounds exactly like being drunk on whiskey with a broken heart, but you've got a fresh pack of cigarettes and your best friend, so you'll make it through the night.<br /><br />The opening licks of "Lloyd, I Would Have Done the Same" just take off at lightspeed and finally breakdown just enough for you to catch up before they take off once again. The guitar work is beyond what you would expect of most "punk" oriented bands. "Journal Square Train" carries the vibe into a swagger of forbidden love. "This is the new romance", singer Brady Baltezore repeats almost as to convince himself that he will win out in the end. "Cut You Up Good" borders on filler but is kept to a short 2:08 as not to take the flow of the EP off track. There is a great breakdown at the end and is defintely not to be skipped.<br /><br />"Red Velvet and Roses" has it all, the rocking riffs, the intense breakdowns, the dark imagery. It's the story of two lovers up to no good" "sneak[ing] around like two black cats at night". "Wine in a Box" is without a doubt my favorite track on this disc. It starts off with a sample taken from the Dylan documentary <i>Don't Look Back</i>: <br /><br />"So the bearded boys and the lank-haired girls, all eye shadow and undertaker makeup, applaud the songs and miss perhaps the sermons. They are there; they are ‘with it'."<br /><br />This was a reporter who was phoning in his review of Dylan's concert immediately after it ended. There is no connection between Bob Dylan and Black Cat Music, so this was obviously playing on the idea of the "undertaker makeup" line.<br /><br />The song kicks in and almost immediately levels off. And at once we're hit with a request to "get high on your sister's pills". This is a song about young love and the cheapest of thrills, which was highly appealing to me at the time. In 2000, this is what I believed San Francisco to be like all pale faces, tattoos, black hair and being wasted. (I went, it wasn't...it was bookstores and peepshows.) But to this day this song gives me a rush.<br /><br />"Haunted Hotel Colorado" is a good send off though I must admit that I get a bit of a lump in my throat listening to it...as though I'm dreading having to hit rewind on my tape deck. Fortunately, I can set my iPod to repeat album.<br /><br />Make some of the Black Cat Music for me, indeed.<br /><br />Black Cat Music are no longer around but you can visit their myspace, you can try to track down a copy of this EP, or buy any of their more recent releases from Lookout!<br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href"=http://www.myspace.com/blackcatmusicband">http://www.myspace.com/blackcatmusicband</a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><br><br><div align="center">Hear it <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?l3jwtl0wwyd">HERE</a>.</div></div>april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-494435513758064912008-04-22T10:45:00.007-05:002008-05-31T10:14:58.810-05:00Michael Nesmith - And the Hits Just Keep on Comin'<div align="center"><img height="200" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/april5k/album%20covers/Nesmith_Hits_Keep_On.jpg" /><br /><div align="left"><br /><br />When I was a kid watching The Monkees on 20Vision, I had decided that Mickey was my favorite...he was the funny one. As I got older, I gained an appreciation for Mike. He was funny too, but it was understated. His sense of humor more low key, less obvious. Watch him and you would hear the snarky remarks and the subtle satire that Dolenz was just not capable of. <br /><br />But there is so much more to Michael Nesmith than being my favorite Monkee. His mother invented white-out, he invented MTV, Gretsch made him a custom 12-string guitar, he wrote "Mary Mary", and he wrote "Different Drum". He was the real talent in a fake band and I do not question his choice not to return when The Monkees (lamely) reunited.<br /><br /><i>And the Hits Just Keep on Comin'</i> was released in 1972 after four lackluster attempts made for RCA. When the label demanded a hit album Nesmith came up with the name. Having parted ways with his band he was left with only pedal steel guitarist Red Rhodes. Working with what he had, this album features nothing more than acoustic guitar, pedal steel, and Nesmith's unmistakable twang. This results in 10 heart-melting tails of love and hope.<br /><br />So what he have here is a country-folk album with touches of psychedelic lyricism.<br /><br />And what I have is my idea of starting off on the right foot.<br /><br />There's no deliberate sequence to these songs, no story to be told. This is a collection of very nice songs that aren't going to rock you but leave you feeling like you're holding hands with someone pretty while you dip your feet in the water of Marble Falls. <br /><br />Here and there you'll hear similarities to Dylan's phrasing, which I believe purely unintentional, but welcome none-the-less. "Lady Love" illustrates how deceptively big of a sound you can get with only two musicians. "The Candidate" finds Nesmith channeling Phil Ochs until the eerie psychedelic fade-out. This is followed up by his recording of "Different Drum", though originally <i>recorded</i> by Linda Ronstadt, it was written by Nesmith. "Harmony Constant" maybe very well be one of the sweetest songs I've ever heard. <br /><br />"Keep On" is as rollicking as the album gets but is sweet and reaffirming. In this song Nesmith lays out what is probably most important in the hearts of any true artist "number good is better than number one". And though he advises the listener to "consider the source and ignore it". There's no way you can considering that Michael Nesmith was in the prefab Monkees, designed solely to make "number ones" and at the time of this recording he was a struggling solo artist making perhaps the best music of his career. Dude knows what he's talking about.<br /><br />Just go ahead and try it out. You can download it from iTunes, but you're gonna have a heck of a time finding a physical copy anywhere other than Nesmith's Videoranch website.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://videoranch.com/">Michael Nesmith's Videoranch</a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><br><br><div align="center">Hear it <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?9nwlybz1mn4">HERE</a>.</div></div>april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-8722110697555987642008-04-21T12:46:00.004-05:002008-04-21T12:52:42.816-05:00Ben Lee - Awake is the New Sleep<div align="center"><img height="200" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/april5k/album%20covers/Ben_Lee_-_Awake_Is_The_New_Sleep.jpg"><br /><div align="left"><br /><br />This morning I was thinking about what album I would post. I decided to let my iPod figure it out so I put it on album shuffle. I was hoping it wouldn't land on something with which I was only vaguely familiar and as luck would have it, I ended up with this. <br /><br />Ben Lee doesn't need much of an introduction. He's from Australia, he started Noise Addict with some friends when he was only 13 and got signed to Grand Royal. Since then he's dated Claire Danes and recorded "Cigarettes Will Kill You" among many other fine, fine (and simply okay) songs.<br /><br /><i>Awake is the New Sleep</i> is Lee's fifth, and quite possibly best, album. It was produced by Brad Wood, who produced pretty much half of the albums in your music collection, you just don't know it. (Steve Albini did the other half.) It might also be worth mentioning that he got a little help from Jason Schwartzman, Jenny Lewis, and Har Mar Superstar along the way.<br /><br />I won't waste much space comparing Ben Lee to other artists. He's an indie-style singer-songwriter. We all know what that's like.<br /><br />I will say that this sounds exactly like finding out that your secret crush feels the same way about you, and now all you have to do is figure out what to do about it.<br /><br />This album is pretty much all about that breath you take just before you step into that brand new life with your brand new love...the one that's meant to last. The first track "Whatever It Is" is a call to arms to anyone that is afraid to act on their hearts desires to "just do it, whatever it is". And going into the next track is seems that "it" should be "Gamble Everything for Love". I wouldn't be the first to accuse Lee of thinking he was the new Bob Dylan, but the light reggae flourishes of the second track do indicate a push to be taken as a serious song-writer who will also gamble everything to prove he draws from a wide range of influences. The song that follows, "Begin" indicates that at this point the object of Lee's affections has revealed that she shares the feelings but needs that extra push into a new life they can share. I won't mention his unfortunate "Good Charlotte" name-drop in "Catch My Disease"...but I just did...I'd hate to think that something like being down with Good Charlotte on the radio would cause the girl of Lee's dreams to run to the arms of another but that's where "Apple Candy" finds her. <br /><br />I can't speak for anyone but my self, but at this point I find myself knee deep in an audio journey through my own life. It's one of those few albums that says exactly what your heart is clamoring to scream to the world. That's why I love this album so much, I've been through all of this. It's nice to relate. And of all the songs, I perhaps relate most to "Ache for You". When he sings "there's no rhyme and there's no reason, you're the secret in the back of my skull", I know what he means. When you love someone so much that it totally consumes you, there is no good reason for it. It's not something you can control, it's just something that you'll eventually have to give into. And I really hate to use the word "cathartic", but I suppose that best describes this song specifically and really this whole album in general. From here on Lee attempts over and over to "find his way to your heart". He admits to falling pretty far on "Get Gotten" a desperate plea to just return the love he wants so badly to give. But "We're All in This Together" finds him accepting the fact that the world isn't about him and his feelings and that he should keep an open heart. Finally, just as he was willing to live and let live she steps fully into his life filling it with "Light" (corny segue)...taking off into an extended 9 minute rock out, I'm going to assume represents his new life beginning. When Lee leaves us on the last track "I'm Willing" we're seeing a man that might be feeling doubts now that he is facing "a dream [he's] had forever", but decides that he is willing to give in this time.<br /><br />I have to admit that usually I go for music that is a lot more creative or less accessible. This is pop music. Coupled with lyrics that seem to be reading my mind, this becomes something else. It's no wonder that he so often gets overlooked, being too interesting for pop music and too poppy for people who like things with a little more depth. You might like it, or you might not, it might just be too soft for you. Either way try it out.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/benlee">http://www.myspace.com/benlee</a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><br><br><div align="center">Hear it <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?joggtbvd1wt">HERE</a>.</div></div>april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-73245391351276683512008-04-18T12:05:00.004-05:002008-04-18T20:43:27.773-05:00El Gato - Surrender!<div align="center"><img height="200" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/april5k/album%20covers/elgato3.jpg" /><br /><div align="left"><br /><br /><br />I started this in October and then forgot all about it. I thought it was a good time to pick back up.<br /><br />For my return, I've decided to go with another little Texas band. Well, the singer moved to San Diego and the rest of the band still lives in Denton (living room 2,000lbs), so <i>mostly</i> Texas band.<br /><br /><i>Surrender!</i> is El Gato's second full length album. It was recorded by David McConnell, who has worked with Wilco and Elliott Smith.<br /><br />It should come as no surprise then that they have a passing similarity to mid-career Wilco. And if you are familiar with The Thrills, you might draw comparisons there as well. I'll also add that there are dashes of Modest Mouse here and there...or more appropriately Ugly Casanova (there is a moment when vocalist/songwriter John Vineyard sings the word "piano" and it almost sounds like a sample from UG's "Things I Can't Remember").<br /><br />This sounds exactly like what you would have liked to have had on hand that time in college you confessed your undying love in an email to your crush and were awaiting a reply.<br /><br />The album is at times desperate; clinging to a love that is walking out that door, and other times hopeful that open-hearted exposition will save the day. But in the end it's the freedom gained by letting go that wins out.<br /><br />And though each of these songs are strong enough to stand on their own, taken as a song cycle they tell the story of a man learning to say goodbye. "Scorpions in Your Shoes" lets us in as the cracks emerge, "Bangin on Doors" bares the good intentions of one who means to hold on to love, and though "Killing Glaciers" portrays our hero as the one declaring that "it's not enough", closing track "Untitled (I Blame You)" reveals him to be the one left behind with no other choice but to "lift [his] cup and toast to your happiness". And this is a story with which we're all perhaps uncomfortably familiar.<br /><br />Try it out and if you like it, which you should or you're a total dick, you can buy it through CD Baby, download it from eMusic, do what I did and pick it up at Waterloo in Austin, or buy it through their myspace (link below).<br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/elgatomusic">http://myspace.com/elgatomusic</a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><br><br><div align="center">Hear it <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?2jytiyyyu9z">HERE</a>.</div></div>april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381565162951524543.post-19171917955989495602007-10-05T13:28:00.002-05:002008-04-18T10:54:56.391-05:00Clay Nightingale - The River and Then the Restless Wind<div align="center"><img height="200" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/april5k/album%20covers/claynightingale.jpg" /><br /><div align="left"><br />Clay Nightingale are a band from San Marcos.<br /><br />Their self-released album, <em>The River and Then the Restless Wind</em> came out in 2007.<br /><br />You could say they sound a little like older Wilco, Silver Jews, alt-country, alt-country...<br /><br />You could say they sound exactly like the inside of a good ol' Texas hipster's head after a night at the bar.<br /><br />The lyrics are as smart as you are with your broken heart and sleepy eyes and all of your best best friends. Wrap that up in a rich country twang and you'll make it through the night.<br /><br />If "A Song For You, For Me" isn't your new anthem by album's end, you can have your money back.<br /><br />But if you like it, I highly advise you to head to their myspace and buy a copy. Be sweet and do that.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://myspace.com/claynightingale">http://myspace.com/claynightingale</a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><br><br><div align="center">Hear it <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?fdye4jfehxj">HERE</a>.</div></div>april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com0