Weekend in Show Preview

 Rawk Shows   

I am finally heading home after almost two weeks. Not sure if ORF has free wi-fi so I am writing a quick post now.

Lots going on since it is Con weekend. As always, you check out the deets on SD Dialed In. Just wanted to note some highlights....

Saturday:
Gnarls Barkley at DMTC
This show is at the track....wondering what costumes they are playing in.

Sunday:
Japanese Sunday, Syndicate, Fever Sleeves and the Moviegoers @ Casbah
This is KBZT’s monthly free show at the Casbah. I can’t speak for the Syndicate, but the rest of these bands are solid.

Alkaline Trio @ SOMA
I had planned on going to this show, but guess who spaced on getting a ticket before it sold out? Yeah, that’s me. Totally okay though. I’ve seen them a few times and while I dig on the new album, it’s not gonna kill me to not go to this show.

Coheed & Cambria @ Viejas Concerts In The Park
Yeah, I’m all over this one. I’ve been a fan since they stormed alt rock radio with “A Favor House Atlantic”. Of course they are in town this weekend - if you didn’t know, they are big in the comic scene as they have comics that are themed to their albums. Very interesting, actually. But yeah, I’ll be getting my prog rock on. Very cool.

Alright...see you guys on Cali time.

EIAC: Love as Laughter, Low. vs. Diamond, Mother Mother, and Sam Sparro

 Rawk Releases   

EIAC= Everyone is a critic. Here is the latest smattering of new release reviews.

Artist: Love as Laughter
Album: Holy
Recommended if you like: retro indie pop or Isaac Brock’s taste in music - this album was released on his new label Glacial Place.
From their press kit:
One of Love as Laughter’s recurrent thematic calling cards has always been Jayne’s tongue-in-cheek wit, manifesting itself in the form of sly musical allusions and lyrical innuendo. (via SubPop - their former label)
Standout Tracks: “Crosseyed Beautiful Youngunz”, “All Parts of Me”
Worth a second listen?: For sure. The melodies are catchy and the songs are very diverse.
More info: official/myspace/blog
Listen: via a widget on Glacial Place.



Artist: Low vs. Diamond
Album: self titled
Recommended if you like: glossy L.A. bands or the first Killers album
From their press kit:
Low Vs. Diamond has created an album full of romantic songs that build to stadium worthy choruses and soar with nostalgic sounding chords that grab you instantly. With its undeniable melodies and chugging backbeats, The Los Angeles Times applauded the band for “standing precipitously between overwrought melancholy and chimey hopefulness, avoiding both excesses… the band’s music plays to an optimism that stops short of outright glee.”
Standout Tracks: “Killer B”, “Wasted”
Worth a second listen?: Yeah. I’m a sucker for this type of music coming out of L.A. It’s kinda glam but really it’s music that can only be made by people who live in So-Cal - perfect for driving around on a sunny day with the top down.
More info: myspace
Listen: “Heart Attack” on their official site



Artist: Mother Mother
Album: O My Heart
Recommended if you like: Canadian Indie Pop
From their press kit:
Mother Mother’s use of rich vocal harmony, deeply poetic lyricism, and dynamic instrumentation are masterfully employed in this new collection of songs that mark the evolution and maturity of a band that stands out in today’s music scene.
Standout Tracks: “Body of Years” “Miles”
Worth a second listen?: Might be one of those albums that grow on you. I found it to be a little distracting that this band has three different vocalists. I think I would like it better if it was more cohesive. P.S. This album isn’t out until 9/16 but I didn’t realize that until after I already started researching to write this.
More info/Listen: official site/myspace



Artist: Sam Sparro
Album: self-titled
Recommended if you like: Prince (during the 1999/Purple Rain days)
From their press kit:
“The new prince of electro-soul” – Attitude
“Like Marvin Gaye hangin’ with LCD Soundsystem “ - The Observer
Standout Tracks: “Waiting for Time” “Cut Me Loose”
Worth a second listen?: Yes. I grew up on r&b and always lament the state of this genre. Sam Sparro is totally old school with a new twist. It really reminds of Prince/The Time/Vanity during the Purple Rain heyday.
More info: official/myspace
Listen: “Black & Gold” windows media/quicktime/dl

Filter Pssst is back!

 Rawk Tunes   

Once upon a time, every issue of Filter magazine contained a sampler cd of new music. Those cds were awesome - they introduced me to bands such as Silversun Pickups, Youth Group, Team Sleep, La Rocca, The Sword.....I could go on and on. They stopped producing those cds awhile back ago. So I was totally stoked when I was reading the latest issue of Filter (with Conor Oberst on the cover) and got to the last page where they used to stick the pssst cds and there was a link...for a downloadable cd. Hells yeah!

Track listing if you rawk on. And no, I’m not giving you the code, you should buy a magazine - totally worth your $6.

This Week In New Tunes

 Rawk Radio    Rawk Releases   

In Stores 7/22:
Black Kids Partie Traumatic
Indie blogger nation is all over this one. You can listen to the entire album now here.

Candlebox Into The Sun
Yes, a new album from the band we all remember for “Far Behind”. You can listen to the single from the new album on their myspace.

Classic Crime The Silver Cord
Listen to the album in its entirety on their myspace.

CSS Donkey
Another indie blogger nation fave. Listen to the album on their myspace.

Low Vs. Diamond self-titled
This has been out on i-tunes since April - finally coming out in physical form. I’ve been digging on this since I got it way back when. Check them out on myspace.

Nine Inch Nails Slip

(photo posted from nin.com)
Another halo for us ninnies. Yes, you can still download it for free here. I still have it here as well in case you didn’t want to give up your email addy.

Paul Weller 22 Dreams
Should I be surprised that the new single sounds awesome? Check it on his myspace.

Pepper Pink Crustaceans & Good Vibrations
Um, you guys know how I feel about this band by now. If you must, you can listen to the single here.

Slightly Stoopid Slightly Not Stoned Enough To Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid
Quite fitting that Pepper and Slightly Stoopid are touring together, no? Again, if you must listen, do it here.

Sunfold Toy Tugboats
You Annuals fans know that Sunfold is the other project they all work on with Kenny doing the vocals. Grab “Sara the American Winter” here.

Impacting on radio:
(alt rock)
Everlast - Folsom Prison Blues
Flobots - Rise
Innerpartysystem - Don’t Stop
Linkin Park - Leave Out All The Rest
Pepper - Freeze
State Of Shock - Money Honey
(triple a)
Black Kids - I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You
We Are Scientists - After Hours

Radio buzz:
(specifically for my girl Faith) - Lazlo stepped down as PD of KNDD is Seattle and is headed back to KC. Word on the street is that the Church of Lazlo will be back on KRBZ as the morning show (since Dick Dale is dunzo.)
Also, a lot of people come here looking for Midori, formerly on KBZT as the host of Big Sonic Chill. She recently posted a blog on myspace about where you can get your Midori radio fix. Check her post here. Listen here.
Oh and speaking of KBZT, on Friday, insiders received an email about Hal taking an extended vacay. Boo. The good news is that Garett will be back on air during the 2-6 timeslot. Hooray!

Free Dandy Warhols EP

 Rawk Releases    Rawk Schwag   

Straight from a press release, but good shiz, so I am sharing. Guess I’ll be at Good Records on Saturday picking my copy up…

In conjunction with Music Monitor Network, the Alliance of Independent Music Stores, and the Coalition of Independent Music stores, World’s Fair Label Group, on behalf of the Dandy Warhols, will be giving away an exclusive EP, Earth to the Remix EP Vol. 1. With remixes by each of the Dandy Warhols themselves, the EP not only introduces material from the their upcoming album, …Earth To The Dandy Warhols… (out August 19th on the band’s very own Beat The World Records), it also shows off their musical versatility. The remixes move from spacey dub to edgy electronica but are never forced or insincere: the spirit and energy of the original song is always maintained, it’s only the immediate presentation that’s changed.

Starting on July 19th and running through street date, fans can go to one of 400 stores nationwide—including Amoeba, Virgin Megastore and Newbury Comics—and pick up the EP themselves at absolutely no cost. For a complete list of participating stores, please go here.

Earth To The Remix
Vol. 1
Track Listing
1. Come the Fuck On – A Peter Holmstrom/ Jeremy Sherrer Remix
2. THE MONSTER MISH – A Taylor-Taylor / Jacob Portrait Remix
3. Welcome to the Skin-up Remix – Fathead / Jeremy Sherrer
4. Dub In The Lotus – A Zia McCabe / Jeremy Sherrer Remix Paul Brainard – Pedal Steel
38:00 mins

For more information:
Dandy Warhols on World’s Fair
myspace
official

Listen:
The Legend of the Last of the Outlaw Truckers aka The Ballad of Sheriff Shorty

Show Spotlight: Duke Spirit at Belly Up

As part of KBZT’s “About The Music” shows, Duke Spirit is coming to the Belly Up on Tuesday 7/15. (I’d be there but I’m headed to TX.) I wrote about their album Neptune when it was released in April (read that post here).

In case you want to check out more, you can peep the new video for “Lassoo” here. (If the show is anywhere close to how they come across in this video, it’s gonna rawk.) Or listen to the UNKLE Remix of the “The Step and the Walk” exclusively at ilike.

Cool. See ya on central time - I’ll be checking out a show when I am in TX and will maybe even brave the Less Than Jake in-store at Good Records (just to see if there’s beer.)

New In Stores and on the Radio

 Rawk Radio    Rawk Releases   

In Stores 7/15:
Super slow week for new releases, only one worth mentioning and it’s been out via i-tunes already:
The Hold Steady Stay Positive
Have some “drunk rock” for the rest of your summer.

Impacting on radio:
(alt rock)
Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight
Hinder - Use Me
P.O.D. - Shine With Me
Raconteurs - Many Shades Of Black
Tickle Me Pink - Typical
We Are Scientists - After Hours
(triple a)
Matt Costa - Cigarette Eyes
Raconteurs - Many Shades Of Black

In other radio news, Marco Collins has a new gig - he’ll be doing middays up in L.A at KYSR. (full details via Radio and Records if you rawk on.)