Before there were the Avett Brothers, there was their daddy, Jim. A musician in his own right, Avett is coming to the Local 506 this Wednesday in support of his new record, TRIBES, out on Ramseur. It’s a beautiful country/Americana styled album and a good road map showing how his sons got to where they are today. If you’re a fan of his sons’ music, chances are good you’ll like his brand of Americana, too.
Read an interview with Jim Avett that ran in last week’s Daily Tar Heel.
From TVD Austin’s Mike Harrell:
First on my plate for SXSW picks, is Austin power-pop punkers Literature. These guys know how to write a damn good catchy tune and also create a brilliant video. Don’t believe me? Watch the “It’s Cruel” video below and see for yourself.
They kickoff a dandy little showcase at Easy Tiger Patio on Friday the 18th at 8pm. This showcase also features Gentleman Jesse and His Men, The High Dials, Guards, Revolver, and Young Adults. They’ll be playing plenty of day shows as well so you’ll have quite a few opportunities to catch them at SXSW ’11.
In the meantime, check out Literature along with Simple Circuit, The Zoltars, Bottle Service, Sally Crewe & the Sudden Moves, and The French Inhales at Beerland this Thursday for the first of three nights celebrating the release of Casual Victim Pile II. We will have more coverage of CVP II later this week.
The “Cincinnati” 7” is available at various local record stores around town. Pick it up. You will not be disappointed.
Last night I attended show number two of the three Macklemore and Ryan Lewis will play at the Showbox in just a week’s time. This was the first time I’d seen Macklemore perform live and I was very impressed to say the least!
The crowd’s enthusiasm was very intense (especially for a Sunday) and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ genuine energy was impossible to ignore. From start to finish the performance was very entertaining and featured multiple guest artists including Champagne Champagne and Geo from Blue Scholars. The show even included new music, crowd surfing, dancers and an alter ego (involving a costume and wig) that came out during “And We Danced,” which was by far the peak of the high-energy, party vibe of the show.
Macklemore also announced that they might be performing “My Oh My” in Safeco Field at the Seattle Mariners Opening Day and sounded very proud and excited to have the opportunity to represent Seattle hip-hop in front of such a massive audience. Without a doubt all Mariners fans will appreciate the performance which will remember someone who is a part of Seattle’s history that is especially close to our hearts, David Niehaus.
Macklemore really went above and beyond and I think I’m officially hooked. He did a great job of representing the power of all the great musical things going on in our city. My favorite shows are the ones where the artist’s passion is contagious and I was definitely feeling it. Thanks Macklemore and Ryan Lewis for such a great end to the week and making my Monday a sleepy one!
1 THE LOW ANTHEM – SMART FLESH
‘Ghost Woman Blues’ is the opening track from the latest album by The Low Anthem, the just-released ‘Smart Flesh’. It’s a beautiful record, and here’s a clip of the aforementioned track, recorded at WNRN in Charlottesville, Virginia, in November 2009:
2 MODDI – FLORIOGRAPHY
This beguiling talent, who hails from the Norwegian island of Senja, has been compared to both Bjork and Nico, but both observations do a disservice to this original and startling songwriter and performer. ‘Magpie Eggs’, exquisitely performed here in an utterly compelling liver version last year, is the opening track from the album:
3 YOUNG PRISMS – FRIENDS FOR NOW
Released a month ago, ‘Friends For Now’ is the debut album by the rather excellent Young Prisms. Check out this early live performance of a song from the new album – ‘If You Want To’, captured at their gig at the Rickshaw Stop, in San Francisco last March:
4 SEAN ROWE – MAGIC
Sean Rowe, signed to the great Anti Records, has a voice that is both a hundred years old and fresh as dew, somewhat reminiscent of Richie Havens. Here’s a stunning acoustic rendition of ‘Jonathan’, from his recently released ‘Magic’ album:
5 NEW YORK DOLLS – DANCING BACKWARD IN HIGH HEELS
The Dolls appear to still be able to cut the mustard, which is gratifying and remarkable, considering the obstacles they have had to overcome – death of key members primary amongst these. Here’s an audio track of the excellent ‘Talk To Me Baby’ from the new album:
6 LUCINDA WILLIAMS – BLESSED
It’s hard to believe that Lucinda Williams isn’t a household name, but she has carved out a great career by writing and performing bittersweet songs from the heartland. This performance of ‘Buttercup’, the studio version of which can be found on her latest album, was shot live in Fayetteville, Arkansas last September:
7 HOWE GELB & A BAND OF GYPSIES – ALEGRIAS
Gelb is a genuine maverick, and he’s got more a quarter of a century’s worth of recordings to prove it. His latest features the marvellous ‘Uneven Light Of Day’, the video for which is here:
8 PARTS & LABOR – CONSTANT FUTURE
Their fifth album is beginning to pick up positive attention in the UK, which is richly deserved, as they manage to sound original and experimental, whilst creating melody laden pop gems. Here’s an audio track of ‘Rest’ from the Rest album:
9 MEN – TALK ABOUT BODY
Geeky, freaky and strangely addictive, this version of ‘Life’s Half Price’, by Men, was filmed on June 12th 2009 at Get Weird at the New Museum NYC, for Younger Than Jesus – the first edition of The Generational, the Museum’s new signature triennial exhibit of young artists:
10 JESSICA LEA MAYFIELD – TELL ME
This track, ‘Somewhere In Your Heart’ is a stand out cut from Jessica’s second release, which is produced by Black Keys’ singer/guitar player Dan Auerbach. This live version was filmed in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina last August:
Hello and welcome to the newest member of The Vinyl District family: TVD Portland! My name is Robert Ham and I’m going to be leading the charge here for the foreseeable future. You may know me from my work writing for local publications like The Oregonian, Willamette Week, PDX Magazine, and others. Or you may know me from my days sitting behind a drum kit for local bands such as Rally Boy, Parks & Recreation, and Super XX Man. You may not know me at all. But rest assured, I’m a music lover of the highest order and an inveterate vinyl collector. In other words: I’m just like you.
My plan for TVD Portland is to not only clue you in to news from our many local record purveyors – events, in-store performances, etc. – but to also let you meet the people working behind the counters at these shops. I’ll be interviewing clerks and owners of stores throughout the city. And I’ll do my best to clue you in to those out of the way places that you might not have heard of before.
I’m also going to be following the lead of the esteemed TVD Memphis and bring you tales from record collectors, musicians, booking agents, etc. about their first record (like your first kiss, you never forget), and give them space to brag about their greatest crate digging scores. You can bet that I’ll also be calling your attention to local bands and musicians that I feel are worth your while, and to what you can look forward to when Record Store Day rolls around on April 16, 2011.
I’m sure there will be plenty more that I will be able to fill this space with, but I also want to know what you’d like to see here. If you have ideas or stories or news that I need to hear about: by all means, e-mail me (robert [at] thevinyldistrict.com) and I’ll do my best to include it.
I hope you come back regularly and check us out. This here post is only the beginning, my friends and fellow music junkies.
It’s our weekly Twitter #MusicMonday recap of the tracks from last week that the folks in the press offices and PR agencies want you to be hearing. We post you decide.
The Mean – Keep Time (Mp3)
Baron Bane – My Slow World (Mp3)
Candy Claws – Snowdrift Wish (Mp3)
The Dodos – Dont Stop (Mp3)
The Found – You’re No Vincent Gallo (Mp3)
Moddi – Magpie Eggs (Mp3)
1, 2, 3 – Riding Coach (Mp3)
ASKA – I’m a Hunter (Mp3)
Rocky Business – Rocky’s Theme (Mp3)
Afrobeta – Play House (Brass Knuckles Remix) (Mp3)
Hosannas – Walrus (Mp3)
Pendulum – The Island (Iacabone Remix) (Mp3)
John Blaze – We Should Talk About Toast (Mp3)
Loch Lomond – Blue Lead Fences (Mp3)
Man Miracle – Don’t Waste It (Mp3)
Robotanists – On/Off The Ledge (Mp3)
Shit Robot – Take ‘Em Up (John Talabot Remix Edit) (Mp3)
Israel Cannan – Set Me Free (Mp3)
WOLFRAM – Fireworks (feat. Hercules Love Affair) (J.AGEBJORN Remix) (Mp3)
OUR PICK OF THE WEEK: …three?
The Honey Pies | Get it Right
Wake Up Lucid | Paint Your Lips
CocknBullKid | Hold On To Your Misery
(Black Cherry Remix)
Head over to Origami Vinyl in Echo Park for The Hectors and Seasons new 7″ split. While both bands are finishing up their upcoming records, they’ve decided to release each of their singles on vinyl. The in-store celebration takes place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. with performances by the LA bands.
Check it out and watch the video below for the Seasons’ single track “These United States.”
Origami Vinyl is located on 1816 W. Sunset Blvd.
If you go to Back Wine’s Facebook page, they sum themselves up better than I ever could: “We were/are in other bands, now we’re in this one.”
One listen and you’ll know why this powerful trio sells out shows without even really trying. Miranda (Drums/ Vox), Jeff ( Vox/ Guitar) and Jay ( Bass/ Vox) are local favorites with more street cred than their affable personalities and easy dispositions belie. Hip without being hipsters, the group pulls of being a trio with ease. Any musician worth their salt knows that having 3 people on stage leaves little room to miss a chord, skew a note or skitter on a beat, and the musicianship found in Black Wine is second to none. Representing the orphaned children of Dinosaur Jr. (who visit Sebadoh on weekends and holidays), the sound the band creates shows why listening to good music in your formative years is so very important for songwriting.
And while they wear their influences proudly on their sleeves, they are anything but derivative. Black Wine taste like good run-around-the-yard-in-bare-feet-in-the-summer-sun-fun with notes of starry-eyed whimsical alternative 90’s nostalgia and pleasantly sweet distortion layered throughout. Check out their latest release, a 7” entitled “Dark Energy,” issued on Don Giovanni Records. It’s sticky sweet and will stain your lips before going right to your head.
You can come with me to SEE THEM TONIGHT at my favorite venue dedicated to original Alternative/ Rockabilly/ and Punk bands, The Asbury Lanes. And don’t pretend like you’re all fancy and pull a wine glass out of the cupboard. You’re gonna want one of those oversized mugs you usually use for tea when you pour yourself some of this fine Black Wine. Drink up!
XOXO
Ang
Head down to Antone’s Records tomorrow (2/26) at 3pm for Amplified Heat’s in-store album release party for their new record, On the Hunt, available for purchase on vinyl!
Refreshments provided by Lovejoy’s featuring FREE Jake’s Brown Ass Ale while it lasts!
It’s been five glorious years for Bull City Records, off 9th Street in Durham, and to celebrate the store is throwing a shindig for itself at Fullsteam Brewery on Riggsbee Street complete with a killer lineup, raffles and food trucks planned. Hey, it doesn’t get much grander than Megafaun playing your fifth birthday. Mostly, you’re lucky if you get a clown–and they’re freaky.
The show is $10 and the store says the line up times below are suggestions, so plan to get there a bit early. Try and pick up a growler of Fullsteam’s sweet potato beer while you’re at it and support the area’s growing craft brewery scene.
12:30 – Megafaun (Brad & Phil)
11:30 – Midtown Dickens
10:30 – Des Ark (solo)
9:30 – Maple Stave
8:30 – Cantwell Gomez & Jordan
7:30 – Last Year’s Men
Everyone loves to scour over the list of bands that are scheduled to play during SXSW. And every year there are quite a few band names that stand out and might make you chuckle. Here, I’ve compiled an amusing and categorized list of bands playing this year’s festival.
…in which we introduce a new voice to TVD, Jenn Bress, and her DJ night Lipstick, which—not surprisingly—we recommend! —Ed.
Lipstick a monthly dance party every last Friday at The Velvet Lounge with DJ Jennder (Funbags) and William Alburque (Razzmatazz) is a dance party so fierce, you’ll lose your shit and it’s this Friday. (Ed. note: TODAY.)
Lipstick is where Tone Loc and Tones on Tail hold hands in the dark, while the Talking Heads go Head On with Jesus and Mary Chain and Lada Gaga goes Radio Gaga over the usual Party and Bullshit.
You’ll hear new gems like Hypercrush, currently blowing up on the West Coast and you’ll leave repeating “Kick us Out” over and over in your head because that jam is infectious.
And maybe you’ve heard of a little Canadian band called Crystal Castles, who’s video game beats give you a hypercrush on life? If you haven’t heard “Not in Love” yet, which made Pitchfork’s list of top 100 dance tracks of 2010 ( #15), you should take a listen, here.
Lipstick is free, drinks are cheap and if you like free shit, there wil be Hypercrush and Crystal Castles stuff there for you to snag.
February 25 | Velvet Lounge | 21+ | Free
Got an E-mail from Vice Magazine about a free little shindig going down at The Cave in Chapel Hill this Saturday. The Love Language, Vice says, has curated a free show including Americans in France, Gross Ghost and Last Year’s Men.
Random, yes, but it’s a great bill and, supposedly the 21-and-up party offers some free booze. What kind of booze we’re not sure but we’ve asked for more details and will keep you posted. The magazine is asking for RSVP’s and you can do that right here.
Check out Gross Ghost on Sessions With MyNC.com here.
Rock-A-Round Records is a web-based reseller here in Austin that is always interested in buying and selling vinyl LPs and 45’s. They specialize in used punk, power pop, new wave, hardcore, glam, metal, indie, alternative, classic rock, garage, psychedelic, and more.
Mike releases an email blast (rockaroundrecords@gmail.com) once a week with his latest finds that are available for purchase. Shoot him an email to be included.
Read on to see what he currently has available.
Hey kids, just a heads up, I’m setting sail today on the BRUISE CRUISE!!! S,o my New Release post next week might be a little late.
In the meantime go listen to your Jacuzzi Boys, The Vivian Girls, Turbo Fruits, The Oh Sees, Ty Segall, Surfer Blood and Black Lip records, make yourself a fruity drink and pretend you are in the Bahamas because that’s the closest you will come to the spectacular weekend myself and the 399 other Bruise Cruisers are going to have.
Have a great weekend Vinyl Lovers! See you on the flip side.
