Calico Grounds is a small press from Houston, TX that has released stuff from Jaimie Stewart (of Xiu Xiu) along with a number of Houston writers and artists. They asked me last autumn if I’d like to release something, and that promise has finally come to fruition. It’s eighteen new poems/prose pieces from this past fall and I’m pretty psyched on it.
It’s available here and only $5 plus S&H. I’ll only have a few copies to sell, so grab them from their site if you’re interested.
Peace.
Saturday, March 6th @ the Warehouse
18+ / $5 / 9pm
Tanlines
Washed Out
Small Black
http://hartfordpartystartersunion.blogspot.com/
I don’t think I’ve ever sat down to listen to Camera Obscura, although I’ve known about them for years, until my friend Alan texted me saying “one of the better pop songs ever penned” and I wholeheartedly agreed with him. On that note, check out the new album from Charlotte Gainsbourg, called “IRM.” Beck did most of the music on it. One of the songs reminds me of his song composure on “Sea Change” which is one of my favorite albums of all time and the soundtrack to the day I drive into a tree or walk into the ocean. Haha. Charlotte is also the daughter of one of the most beautiful women in the world, Jane Birkin, and French pop mastermind Serge Gainsbourg. Charlotte is not as gorgeous as her mother, but I would still marry her. I’m going to return to listening to this single, well, this one song. I was going to buy the 7” at Newberry Comics when I was in Boston for a few hours yesterday but they wanted $8 and I’m a cheapskate. That shit don’t cost more than like… $2 at cost for how many they’re making. Fuckouttahere. Enjoy this track. Oh and if you buy records, go pick up the new Medication LP on HoZac. I’ve only listened to the A side, but it’s fantastic. That’s all.
I was going to compile a list of music and things I liked about this past year, but this even is better than whatever I have to say. See you there or not.
Cold Cave - Theme From Tomorrowland
Literally, one of the only songs I care about right now.
tonight
i just got back from one of the best shows i’ve been too in a long time. it was a friend of mine’s recording studio up in greenfield mass and the bands were the warblers, mv & ee, and witch. the warblers i know nothing about other than that they’re from amherst and i missed most of their set. pretty sure there’s nothing about them on the internet either. mv & ee is matt valentine and erika elder from vermont and they play very psyched out … i don’t know what you want to call it. it’s just psych to me. and it’s awesome. they are definitely worth checking out. witch is from mass and vermont and j mascis who is the singer/guitarist for dinosaur jr, plays drums for them. they play fast stoner rock and j has the largest bass drum i’ve ever seen. they were really good. here’s videos of them.
thats all i got for right now. i should be asleep.
i don’t know, i don’t care
all i know is you take me there
Red House Painters - Make Like Paper (Live 11/29/96 at Black Cat DC)
Part 1 - Part 2
Over the summer I found out about this thing called Interview Project that’s brought to you by film maker and artist, David Lynch. Interview Project is a series of interviews with people that a crew of film makers met while on a road trip across America. Some are heartwarming and some are nothing but the opposite, but they are all enjoyable explorations of a wide range of people across this densely populated country.
Do you watch movies on your computer? The Auteurs is a great site I discovered this summer that has an extremely wide catalog of films ready to be viewed after annoying buffering. Unfortunately for the cheap bastards like myself out there, only some are free. They’re “ABOUT” section is much more informative about their goals, so if you’re interested, take a look at that. I’m not much for re-iterating what someone has already said.
Here’s a quick listing of other shows with more information than you probably wanted to know that are coming to Connecticut in the coming weeks.
Wednesday, October 14
Murder By Death (Vagrant) - Indiana’s Murder by Death layers the vocal sounds of an old saloon with the haunting strings of a Hungarian folk dance and the hard driving rhythms of pure rock ‘n’ roll, producing what Stuff magazine has called “lush, orchestrated songs,” somehow simultaneously reminiscent of Johnny Cash and Radiohead. Added to that thick and intriguing sound are a series of dark and ironic lyrics, combining the mood and tone of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds with the narrative force of The Decemberists or a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Langhorne Slim (Kemado) - Langhorne Slim is a folk singer originally hailing from Langhorne, Pennsylvania. He began to gain public notice through several years of touring with the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players and an appearance at the Bonnaroo Music Festival. His song Electric Love Letter was chosen as the number 5 on the Rolling Stone editor’s top ten picks and was also in the movie Waitress. He has been seen on tours with Cake, The Avett Brothers, Murder By Death, Jeffrey Lewis, The Violent Femmes, Lucero, Rocky Votolato, the Woes, Josh Ritter, and The Low Anthem. Performing as a full band.
Kiss Kiss (Eyeball) - Kiss Kiss is an indie rock band that emerged from SUNY Purchase college. The group was formed by Joshua Benash (Guitar, Synth, and vocals) and Jared Karns (drums) after the members had participated in various college bands. The name Kiss Kiss is derived from a series of short stories by Roald Dahl. Although their music is primarily indie in style, it also includes an electric violin that adds an orchestral sound to many songs.
$14 ($12 advance), 8:00pm doors - All Ages
@ Daniel Street - 21 Daniel Street (Milford, CT)
Wednesday, October 21
Old Canes - Old Canes is the side project of The Appleseed Cast’s front man Chris Crisci. Their new album, “Feral Harmonic” will be released Oct 20, 2009 on Saddle Creek Records. Other members include Kelly Hangauer (4th Of July), Lucas Oswald (Minus Story), Taylor Holenbeck, Joey Henry (Calamity Cubes), Jordan Geiger (Minus Story), John Anderson (Boy’s Life / White Whale)
Baby Grand (Hot Air Press) - CT Folk. Members of Jettison, Hostage Calm, & Make Do and Mend)
1 More TBA
$8, 7:00pm doors - All Ages
@ The Space -295 Treadwell Street (Hamden, CT)
Monday, October 26
Mount Eerie, 2 (K Records) - Mount Eerie represents the latest evolution of Phil Elverum’s musical vision. Formerly known as The Microphones, Phil changed his project’s name to Mount Eerie while maintaining his subtle, lo-fi, and lyrically dense fuzz-folk aesthetic.
Tara Jane O’Neil (K Records) - Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tara Jane ONeil creates melodic and experimental music under her own name and in collaboration with other artists, bands, and filmmakers. Her work innately crosses genres and boundaries—drawings that morph from natural forms to linear abstractions, melodic songcraft melded with experimental noise; live performances that range from solo construction to large ensemble improvisation; and dance, film and theater scores-each telling the story in a dialect all their own. Though they spring from the same source, each piece takes a distinct form—several genies emerging from a single lamp.
No Kids (Tomlab) - From Vancouver, Canada, No Kids is a trio comprised of 3/4s of the critically revered pop band P:ano, No Kids are multi-instrumentalists Julia Chirka, Justin Kellam, and singer/songwriter Nick Krgovich. Julia and Nick also have a side project To Bad Catholics who have previously toured with labelmates Casiotone for the Painfully Alone.
$10 - 7:00PM - All Ages
@ The Space - 295 Treadwell Street (Hamden, CT)
Tuesday, October 27
Wooden Shjips (Sub Pop) - Wooden Shjips is a quartet from San Francisco that plays loud rock ‘n’ roll in a style heavily influenced by the experimentalism of psychedelia, classical minimalism, and garage rock excess. Started as an experiment in rhythmic primitivism and group improvisation, the current lineup brings a more structured rock approach to its performances, utilizing a traditional lineup of drums (Omar Ahsanuddin), bass (Dusty Jermier), organ (Nash Whalen), guitar (Erik “Ripley” Johnson), and vocals.
The Stoned Ambassadors - Brooklyn psychedelic rock for fans of Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, etc.
$6, 9pm doors - 21+
@ Cafe Nine
250 State Street (New Haven, CT)
Friday, October 30
Vivian Girls (In The Red)
My Heart To Joy
Math The Band
@ UCONN Somewhere. When I find out more, I’ll pass the information along.
Thursday, November 5
Deer Tick (Partisan Records) - Deer Tick is a rock band from Providence, RI led by guitarist and singer-songwriter John McCauley. The band began as McCauley’s solo project in December 2004. Within a few years he had acquired a strong following through constant touring in parts of the Atlantic Northeast and self-released CD-Rs. Christopher Dale Ryan (bassist) and Dennis Ryan (drummer) became official members of Deer Tick in mid-2007 while Andrew Tobiassen (lead guitarist) joined the band in August 2008. Deer Tick’s music has often been described as a combination of folk, blues, and country with a strong grunge influence. McCauley is known for his distinct gruff-sounding voice.
The Backwater Racket - The Backwater Racket is folk/bluegrass band from Fairfield, CT.
1 More tba
$10, 7pm doors
@ The Space
295 Treadwell Street (Hamden, CT)
“Most of the time its just going to happen. You can’t do anything about it. Just be a good sport. Take the bad the same way you take the good. With a smile on your face. If a girl puts on Psychocandy and turns out the lights, it’s a wrap, you’re doing good Boss. When’s the last time you broke the law? Still got it? I have to get high before I talk to my parents. Hang out with your Grandparents before they die. Cmon be cool. Cool and Nice are two totally different things. Be tough, not angry. Heartbreakers will have women crying at their funeral. Nobody gives a shit about a snitch. Not even cops. What you like better drugs or girls? Thought so.”
sleep hard,
luc
“god is away on business.”
hi.
here’s what’s been on my mind recently.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4XqTl0ACoY
cat power - metal heart live in ‘98
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ou-6A3MKow
howlin’ wolf - how many more years live ‘66
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo4Y0TxW41g
tom waits - i don’t wanna grow up music video directed by jim jarmusch
cold cave signs to matador - http://www.matadorrecords.com/matablog/2009/08/17/welcome-cold-cave/
i spent three weeks in france in the summer of ‘07 with my father and sister. it was our first few days in paris and i was depressed and checking my email. a good friend of mine sent me an early version of the song “i’ve been answering sex ads” which was later released on domnic fernow’s label, hospital productions. a fan of wesley’s previous musical ventures, it was nice to see that he was busy again aside from the project involving himself, my friend eric who had sent me the song, and fsean martin of hatebreed, called xo skeletons (that stuff is floating around on the internet and is pretty fun, so if you like cold cave, check it out, even though they’re not similar in sound). cold cave has come a long way since that record in sound and members and aesthetic, and is worth listening to if you’re into “experimental noise, sound collage and synth pop” and new order. aside from cold cave, wes operates the heartworm press - www.theheartworm.com - that publishes various things from books to records to posters and zines from well known and unknown artists. check out the stuff they have for sale and check out cold cave and dance by yourself in your room to “life magazine.”
vivian girls released their lp/cd “everything goes wrong”
i like it.
brand new released “daisy” that had leaked a few weeks ago.
it has a couple songs that are really good. “at the bottom” is my favorite.
captured tracks is a record label run by mike sniper who is blank dogs. he’s put out some really fun records that are worth buying and listening to.
the pains of being pure at heart recently released a new ep called “higher than the stars” and i love it.
sunny day real estate played in boston and it was a really good time. plus the red sox game caught a rain delay so traffic home was non-existant.
pissed jeans, one of my favorite active bands on sub pop, put out a follow up LP to their 2007 release “hope for men,” entitled “king of jeans” and i recommend getting it.
owen released his new lp “new leaves” and i haven’t listened to it yet, but i’m sure it’s good and worth getting.
i’m too lazy to continue. i’ll post about other new music that i think is worth checking out at some other point.
i know i download music and i know you probably download music, but do the world a favor and check out independent record stores and independent record labels (shameless self promotion - www.hotairpress.org - big news in the near future for an affiliated project and very good friend of mine) because a lot of those people do this for a living or use their means of living to do something they love, that is, share music with you. check out redscroll records in wallingford, ct. it’s a great store that’s been open for over two years now and appreciates any and all business. and i can’t stress this enough - go to shows and buy stuff directly from bands. the road isn’t cheap.
oh, and listen to my friend abraham king who is currently in tel aviv. i put out a cassette of his and then ran out of time and didn’t make any more but maybe i will soon or not.
and if you’ve never heard it before… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RccUocozvnc
