Monthly Archives: July 2012

The English Beat:
The Week at TVD

By Jennifer Carney | Published: July 10, 2012

It’s Day 2 of our week with Dave Wakeling of The English Beat! In the wake of today’s big release of the definitive box set, The Complete Beat, we got the low-down on Dave’s influences and why he thinks “best of” albums are the best way to get to know The English Beat.

Day 1 of our interview can be found here.

What records were in your collection at the outset of creating The Beat 33 years ago?

Number one by a long way is Heart of the Congos by The Congos, produced by Lee “Scratch” Perry, which I believe is still the finest reggae album ever produced. And that’s the record where if I feel like I want to play a piece of music, that’s most often what I would go for.

I get a hankering to put a record on, Heart of the Congos is what I normally go for. It just enlivens me. I love the sounds of it, the voices; the musicians in the background are some of the classiest reggae players ever. The production is Lee Perry just about before he spins out of control. It’s absolutely beautiful.

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Graded on a Curve: Sonny and the Sunsets, Longtime Companion

By Joseph Neff | Published: July 10, 2012

Sonny Smith’s reputation to this point has been a pop dude doing double time in the art world. But with Sonny and the Sunsets’ Longtime Companion, he makes a serious play for both country-rock and the decidedly dicey proposition of the Breakup Record. While the least of the Sunsets’ releases thus far, it still proves worth the effort, particularly for fans of strong contemporary songwriting.

Pop troubadours don’t usually come with pedigrees that include playwriting and performance art, and that’s just one aspect of Sonny Smith’s persona that’s helped to make him so interesting. To be sure this kind of artistic double dipping can lead to underwhelming and occasionally even irritating results, mainly due to simple creative arrogance.

But in reality musicians have been double and triple dipping into diverse artistic mediums for a very long time; John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, and Richard Hell all published books for instance. And outside the realm of rock music Tony Bennett is a prolific painter and Louis Armstrong was a truly inspired collage artist.

At this late date artistic multi-dipping is far from any great surprise, but in rock terms the story of Sonny Smith still feels a bit unusual, maybe even fanciful. Out on the road at nineteen years old, playing blues piano in bars? Sounds like the makings of a really good screenplay. Original songs, short stories and even some plays get penned along the way? How Beat. And then that commission from the literary magazine arrives, compelling him to put together a CD of those plays set to music? Really, this is getting almost too good to be true.

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The BBiB Record Club
in L.A. on Friday!

By Mike Newman | Published: July 9, 2012

For the past 2 and a half years, I’ve hosted a monthly event in New York called the BBiB Record Club. The “BBiB” stands for Beyond Beyond is Beyond. The “Record Club” part stands for music-loving friends gathering to share in that too often forgotten ritual of actually “listening” to an album.

Here’s a little recent press via BlackBook about one of our group vinyl meditations.

Well, Franny and I are taking a lil vacation to LA, so I thought “Why don’t we have a record club out there?!” So off ya go! Here’s the info:

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TVD Live:
The Gaslight Anthem at the Independent, 7/5

By Michelle Clancy | Published: July 9, 2012

What do you get when New Jersey natives, The Gaslight Anthem, set out on a tour of smaller clubs and venues to support their upcoming fourth album because they want “to trim it back and remind [them]selves what it’s like to play in a smaller place and have a blast?” Well, for starters you get a sold out tour.

There’s something about The Gaslight Anthem that makes me think of another time. Maybe it’s the lyrics that transport me back to when men worked on cars with packs of cigarettes tucked into the sleeve of their white t-shirts and girls snuck Elvis records into their bedrooms away from the watchful eyes of their parents.

I can’t quite pinpoint what it is, exactly, that makes me feel this way, particularly when I’m standing in the middle of a sold out Independent in San Francisco rocking and rolling to a set drenched heavily in punk rock with a side of Jersey Shore.

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TVD Recommends:
The Shams Band July residency at Schuba’s

By Eric Slager | Published: July 9, 2012

Chicago’s The Shams Band will be celebrating the release of their sophomore LP, Cold City, all month long, with a residency at Schuba’s Tavern. With a show each Monday this month, the group has put together four impressive line-ups that compliment their blues, county, and rock sensibilities.

Officially released today, Cold City is a perfect companion to the debut full-length, Champagne, and does a great job capturing the party-driven energy of The Shams Band’s live show.

The DIY group has had no trouble making a name for themselves in Chicago and across the county, and has even been able to open for a handful of national acts including Drive-By Truckers, Dawes, and Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes.

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R.I.P. “Uncle”
Lionel Batiste

By Jay Mazza | Published: July 9, 2012

The bass drummer for the Tremé Brass Band and the iconic leader of the brass band community of New Orleans passed away yesterday at the age of 80. One of his favorite lines was, “When I’m gone, I’m gonna miss me.” Words cannot express how many people will miss him all across the world.

An obituary appeared on the front page of the Times-Picayune this morning. While Keith Spera and Katy Reckdahl fleshed out the story of the man in some detail, the undeniable truth is that it is impossible to tell the full tale in a newspaper article. If every person who has a story about “Unk” were to write a thousand words those stories would fill volumes.

Here are three of my own. In the late 1990s, when Kermit Ruffins’ regular Thursday night gig at Vaughan’s Lounge in the Bywater was hitting on all cylinders, my parents were in town. They were already casually acquainted with “Uncle” from previous visits, but on this particular night, they got to know him a lot better.

Posted in TVD New Orleans | 2 Comments

TVD Ticket Giveaway: Pitchfork Music Festival, 7/13-7/15

By Eric Slager | Published: July 9, 2012

Pitchfork Music Festival is just around the corner and eMusic has given us a pair of tickets to give to one of our readers.

Since 2005, Pitchfork Media has been bringing some of the nation’s best indie, alternative rock, hip-hop, and rap to Chicago for a killer summer festival. An amazing line-up across three stages (red, green, and blue) on top of this year’s headliners, Feist, Grimes, and Vampire Weekend, helped the 3-day passes sell out in less than a month.

Make sure to check back in with us throughout the week for all of our Friday, Saturday, and Sunday recommendations. Until then, grab the full 3 day line-up along with details on how you can win a pair of tickets to this incredible festival, below.

Posted in TVD Chicago | 16 Comments

TVD Ticket Giveaway: Flagship at DC9, 7/11

By Jon Meyers | Published: July 9, 2012

I almost feel bad for the authentically talented newer bands who need to establish themselves and their voice among the din of the also-rans filling up email in-boxes with well, …crap. Thankfully, North Carolina’s Flagship are imbued with talent and musicianship galore—and they tend to be on the same page indeed in regard to our fetish item of choice:

“Because listening to music is becoming increasingly more convenient, for me, playing a record has become more of an event. An event that I enjoy, as it forces me to ‘stop and smell the roses’ so to speak, and appreciate what the artist is trying to convey,” guitarist Matt Padgett told us in an email last week.

Keyboardist Grant Harding added, “Vinyl forces you to listen to a record the way the artist intended. Song order is important to the vibe of a record. There are no playlists, just albums. Little Criminals is my favorite to listen to on vinyl.”

Apparently we’re on the same page with the band, and those of you with like minds have an opportunity to catch them on us, this Wednesday night, 7/11 at DC9.

Posted in TVD Washington, DC | 5 Comments

The English Beat:
The Week at TVD

By Jennifer Carney | Published: July 9, 2012

Long before The English Beat came to be, Birmingham, England, was a “seething cauldron of musical activity,” and Dave Wakeling absorbed it all. In 1979, by the age of just 23, he broke new musical ground with The Beat. Later dubbed The English Beat for US markets, Wakeling and his cohorts drew from diverse musical influences to concoct a unique take on 2-tone and ska that blended smart, politically-aware lyrics with ridiculously catchy hooks.

The original incarnation of the English Beat released just three albums, but their influence is still undeniable. In celebration of their 33rd year, they are touring the world this summer and releasing a definitive box set, The Complete Beat tomorrow, July 10.

True to his working-class roots, Dave just might be the busiest touring musician today. We got to chat with him during a rare lull in the touring schedule. He discussed his biggest influences, famous fans, and how an orange Fanta and a car radio inspired him to become a musician.

You’ve got two releases from Shout! Factory: a “Best of” out now, Keep The Beat: The Very Best of The English Beat, and a box set, The Complete Beat, due July 10th. Talk a bit about the box set – what does it contain?

It’s got everything! It’s got three albums, plus it’s got a load of radio sessions from John Peel and other BBC sessions that have versions of some songs before they were recorded for the albums, and some live concert stuff, too. Following quickly on its heels is a DVD of both Us Festival shows that we played. However, I haven’t managed to get any vinyl out of them, yet! They actually don’t seem that excited or interested, but I did try.

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TVD’s Press Play

By Jon Meyers | Published: July 9, 2012

It’s our weekly Twitter #MusicMonday recap of the brand new tracks from last week that the folks in the press offices want you to be hearing. We post, you download.

Stuart McCallum – dR Doctor (Debian Blak Remix)
múm – 0,000Orð
The xx – Do You Mind (Derek Walin Remix)
SINAH – Nobody Knows
Solvents – Unslaved And Unrenowned (Mexico Demo)
Careful – It’s Funny
Permanent Collection – One Thousand Sins
Robotic Pirate Monkey – Front Range Feeling
Strip Steve ft. Puro Instinct – Astral Projection (KiNK Instrumental)
Matthew Dear – Crimewaves

TVD SINGLE OF THE WEEK:
Joe Jackson with Iggy Pop – It Don’t Mean A Thing (If You Ain’t Got That Swing)

Shark? – Down Low
Noah and the MegaFauna – We’ll Sail Above This
Peelander-Z – Get Glasses
Bondax feat. Bobbie Gordon – Just Smile For Me (Last Japan’s Sunset Remix)
Dub Pistols – Countermeasure
Clockwork Radio – Feel It Up (Youan Remix)
Diablo – Xakosa (Remix)
Future Twin – Situation
Me And My Drummer – Heavy Weight (Edit)
Kelli Scarr – Dangling Teeth

10 more FREE TRACKS after the jump!

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Happy Fourth of July!

By Jon Meyers | Published: July 4, 2012

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TVD Live: Keane at
The Fox Theater, 6/30

By Jason Miller | Published: July 3, 2012

Keane has quietly sold over 10 million albums worldwide since the release of their debut Hopes and Fears back in 2004. The band’s signature sound is focused on distorted piano tones along with heavy synth and compelling vocals. Their lack of a guitar player is what truly sets the band apart, while their knack for writing brilliant songs keeps them atop of the best British bands of the past decade.

Both Hopes and Fears (number 13) and Under the Iron Sea (number 8) have been voted by readers of Q magazine as among the best British albums ever, with Keane, The Beatles, Oasis, and Radiohead the only artists having two albums in the Top 20. After hearing the band’s latest record Strangeland and seeing them perform almost the entire album live last Saturday at The Fox Theatre, this one will surpass their previous work. Strangeland is by far the best album I have heard this year from any British band, or pretty much any band outside of the US.

From the opening track on the album and live set opener “You Are Young” to the hauntingly gorgeous “Sea Fog” and everything in between, Keane give you a reason to hate singles and once again embrace the album format. Each song flows seamlessly into the next, and it makes you want to sit down and listen to it as a whole. Not convinced? Try these songs out and tell me they are not brilliant. “Silenced By the Night,” “Disconnected,” “On the Road,” and my absolute favorite, “The Starting Line.”

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TVD Recommends: Tropical Boom featuring Empresarios and more at UHall, tonight, 7/3

By Dulani Wallace | Published: July 3, 2012

Tonight, July 3rd, at the U Street Music Hall, will mark the day when Latin, dub, reggae and funk get shaken up to the tune of Tropical Bass. The lineup, led by the Empresarios, also features Poirier, Boogat, Alma Tropicália, and more!

Coincidentally, Empresarios will see the release of Volume EP today, the same day as the show. The EP features “Rompan Fila,” a folksy Latin tune with articulate brass harmonies and a dub riddim.

Playing alongside them this evening is Alma Tropicália, a psychedelic ’60s-era folk pop group who draws inspiration from Os Mutantes. Having performed at the Hall before, Alma Tropicalia will keep the crowd footloose and energetic.

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TVD Vinyl Giveaway: The Beach Boys,
That’s Why God Made the Radio

By Marissa Cetin | Published: July 3, 2012

Fifty years later and those California boys still have it in them. And we have one for you.

On the wave of their 50th anniversary tour, The Beach Boys have released their 29th studio album That’s Why God Made the Radio, which the LA Times noted last month, “…resides in a world where guys and gals on spring break still spend hours ‘cruisin’ the town, diggin’ the scene,’ a nostalgic place where, as the quintet sings in beautiful harmony on ‘Isn’t It Time,’ they ‘can’t forget the feeling of the magic of that summer in love.’”

They added, “They sing these songs within music that fits more in with the Boys’ obvious debt to Dion and the Belmonts than to Phil Spector’s ‘wall of sound’ production technique that drove their classic albums Pet Sounds and the recently completed The Smile Sessions into the stratosphere. Which is to say, much of Radio relies on smaller arrangements and the group’s trademark vocal group harmonies…”

Posted in The TVD Storefront | 9 Comments

Book Signing and Weekend Shows

By Jay Mazza | Published: July 3, 2012

TVD is off for the July 4th holiday, but I wanted to let readers know about what’s happening this weekend including a very special event featuring free beer!

I will be signing copies of my latest book, Up Front and Center: New Orleans Music at the End of the 20th Century at NOLA Brewery Friday afternoon between 2-3:30 PM. The signing is in conjunction with a weekly tour and tasting that the brewery hosts. So come on out, get your copy of the book and drink a beer with me. Click the link if you are out of New Orleans and want a copy.

Gambit is the latest publication to feature Up Front and Center: New Orleans Music at the End of the 20th Century in their pages. Penned by Entertainment Editor Will Coviello, the article is the most in-depth look at my book to appear in print so far. I did a phone interview with Coviello and he reveals some interesting facts about the gestation of the tome. You can read it here.