New In Stores and on the Radio

 Rawk Radio    Rawk Releases   

In Stores 11/18:
Black Keys Live at the Crystal Ballroom (DVD)
If you’ve been to the Crystal Ballroom, you have an idea of how awesome this show must have been. Buy it here on the cheap.

Femi Kuti Day by Day
First studio album in seven years. Check out more info on myspace.

Stereophonics Decade In The Sun
This is a “best of” compilation. Check out all the videos for the tracks on imeem.

Third Eye Blind Red Star (EP)
This three song EP will only be available digitally. There are three songs on the EP - a preview for their full length due early next year. You can listen to the EP now on their myspace.

Impacting on radio:
(alt rock)
Franz Ferdinand - Ulysses
Living Things - Let It Rain
Presidents Of The United States Of America - Ladybug
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - You Better Pray
(triple a)
Conor Oberst - Cape Canaveral
Counting Crows - When I Dream Of Michelangelo
Donavon Frankenreiter - Your Heart
Iron & Wine - Flightless Bird, American Mouth
Of Montreal - An Eluardian Instance
Travis - Song To Self

In other radio news:
Last week, the legendary Nic Harcourt of KCRW announced that he is stepping down as music director and as host of “Morning Become Eclectic” effective 11/30. He’ll continue to do a show on KCRW on Sundays from 6-9 p.m.

Also, a bit of a lineup change at KBZT. The shifts were changed and Garett has a new show. Full details if you rawk on.

Annuals at SOMA

 Rawk Shows   

So I braved SOMA to see the Annuals. True devotion because I really hate going there. The crowd was rolling about 300 deep (they closed off the back half of the main room with a curtain) and the crowd was definitely there for Minus the Bear because the Annuals got their fair share of heckling, which is unfortunate. So set list…

Annuals
SOMA San Diego
11/14/08

Brother
Confessor
Complete or Completing
Always Do
Springtime
Sore
Down the Mountain
Hair Don’t Grow
Hot NIght Hounds

So yeah, SOMA is not the best venue for this band. They didn’t sound bad, but I think their style of performance is best experienced in a smaller venue.  I enjoyed their performance, but I really would rather see them at Casbah or Belly Up, ya know? The new material sounded great - love “Confessor” live. Adam seemed a little calm in comparison to how I have seen him in the past - he had a lot of stage to work with so his energy almost seemed contained. Oh and I have to say that I dug on Anna’s dress - she ditched her regular long, flowy dresses and wore a hipster-approved plaid mini-dress. Super cute. Despite the heckling early on, I think they might have won some fans over the course of their set. By the time they played “Sore”, I saw quite a few people getting into their performance. And they really nailed “Hot Night Hounds”. I was standing by the sound booth and some guy asked me if I knew what the last song was - so I told him and he went on his merry way. I stuck around for a little of Minus the Bear’s set, but I was pretty much over it, so I bailed early, but it was worth my time to come out for sure.

Defend Equality

 But Seriously   

Rally at the County Admin building at 1pm. 

Jimmy Eat World Clarity show announced

 Rawk Shows   

I had heard that Jimmy Eat World was coming back to HOB San Diego on 3/6/09, but I just now read the details. They are going to play the album Clarity in its entirety in celebration of the 10th anniversary of its release. How awesome is that? Okay, actually it gets more awesome for long time San Diegans. No Knife is opening. Tix are on sale on Saturday 11/15. I’m thinking HOB members may get a pre-sale tomorrow. I’ll let you know if I get the email.

Update: pre-sale on ticketbastard now. passwd is “clarity”

Show Preview: Minus the Bear and Annuals at SOMA

 Rawk Shows   

I am really looking forward to the Minus the Bear/Annuals show this Friday (11/14). I know, it’s at SOMA, but I gotta suffer and hang with the kids because I do love both of these bands. They both have new albums for your listening pleasure - let’s take a look, shall we?

Artist: Minus the Bear
Album: Acoustics
Recommended if you like: acoustic takes of some of your fave songs by MTB
From the press kit:
“A band known for their unique brand of rock n roll full of finger-taping guitar riffs mixed with memorable melodies and progressive arrangements, ACOUSTICS is an excellent inside look into the band’s history of winning and entertaining a rabid and rapidly growing fan base.”
Standout Tracks: “Pachuca Sunrise”, “Burying Luck”
Worth a second listen?:
This EP is available digitally now but physical copies can only be had by hitting up and show and getting one there. It features newly recorded acoustic versions of fan favorites and one new track entitled “Guns & Ammo.” If you’re a fan, this is a must-have. If you’re not already one, this could definitely sway you.
More info: myspace
Listen: “Guns and Ammo”




Artist: Annuals
Album: Such Fun
Recommended if you like: ambitious indie rock
From the press kit:
“Such Fun lives up to its name, embracing a vast landscape of musical richness, combining Adam’s accomplished songcraft with an instrumental palate that is even more blindingly colorful than their previous work. Straddling the line between epic post-rock, pop-rock guitar crunch, woozy country swings and lovely orchestral ballads, Such Fun is revelatory in its depth.”
Standout Tracks: “Confessor","Hardwood Floor”
Worth a second listen?:
Since seeing Annuals live the first time (opening for Blonde Redhead at the Belly Up), I’ve always thought Annuals were way better as a live band than on record. This album really captures their live vibe - a good thing.
More info: myspace
Previous posts on chickrawker here
Listen: “Confessor”

EIAC - Dead Confederate, Western States Motel, Dar Williams, Black Gold

 Rawk Releases   

I am way behind on listening to promos and doing reviews - trying to catch up now....

Artist: Dead Confederate
Album: Wrecking Ball
Recommended if you like: southern rock with a harder edge
From the press kit:
“Hardy Morris, the lead singer of the Athens, GA band Dead Confederate, has a good voice for rock n roll, and he uses it with all appropriate conviction...grippingly intense.” - NY Times
Standout Tracks: “Goner","The Rat”
Worth a second listen?:
I’m pretty stoked that KBZT put this on their recommended this month. I’ll admit I had trouble listening to it all the way through, the first couple of times. I usually give up at that point, but I’m glad I stuck with it because there’s no denying that this band has some potential. They are playing at Casbah on Wednesday, so go check them out if you have the chance.
More info: official/myspace
Listen: “The Rat”



Artist: Western States Motel
Album: Painted Birds Flying in the Orange Mirror Sun
Recommended if you like: indie pop
From the press kit:
“the musical equivalent of that mint on your pillow at the end of the night: low-key, unexpected, and sweet. Mixing shimmery summer sounds with unlikely introspection, Jordan’s songs call to mind the smooth sounds of bands like the Shins and Grandaddy.”
-SPIN
Standout Tracks: “Oh World”, “A Moment in the Sun”
Worth a second listen?:
Comparisons to the Shins and Grandaddy are not taken lightly. This EP is a very pleasant listen.
More info: official/myspace
Listen: “Oh World”



Artist: Dar Williams
Album: Promised Land
Recommended if you like: folky chicks
From the press kit:
“A new generation of pop-folk enthusiasts lauds her as one of the genre’s central figures.”
- Paste
Standout Tracks: “The Easy Way”,"Buzzer"
Worth a second listen?:
These songs are made for triple a radio. Lots of stories in the lyrics and good melodies.
More info: official/myspace
Listen: “It’s Alright”



Artist: Black Gold
Album: Tragedy and Legacy
Recommended if you like: dancy indie pop - kinda reminded me of MGMT
From the press kit:
“The band play crafty pop songs with big hooks, but flesh them out with Luu’s creative percussion and the ace key chops of Ronick, who sounds like Bruce Hornsby’s song discovering Hot Chip.”
-Samuel Duke, RCRD LBL
Standout Tracks: “Detroit”, “Breakdown”
Worth a second listen?:
I like reviewing EPs...much easier. This EP is being released as a teaser for the full length - it really should have been the “Detroit” single as opposed to an EP, but whatevs. I thought this was going to be more dancy with the comparison to Hot Chip, but I guess there was a Bruce Hornsby reference, too. In any case, it’s upbeat without being too dancy and does make me think I will want to listen to the full-length when it is out.
More info: myspace
Listen: “Detroit” (yt)

Music Mondays - Weekly Music Roundup

 Rawk Tunes   

I have decided to bring back Music Mondays in a different format. Every week, I am barraged by emails with new music. If I am doing a feature on that artist, you guys get those links in the posts I write. But what about the rest of them? They go into my email black hole. Well, not anymore. Each Monday, I’ll post last week’s promo mp3s for your listening pleasure. Here goes round one:

Audrye Sessions – “Waltz #2” (Elliott Smith cover) (ysi link)
A little about the artist: up and coming band from NY. debut album due in February 2009
More info: myspace

Cory Chisel - A Change is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke cover) click to stream, right click and save as to dl
A little about the artist: neo-soul - see previous post on chickrawker
More info: official

Honey Ryder - Fly Away (ysi link)
A little about the artist: From London, think pop, album out next week
More info: myspace

Brazillian Girls - Good Time (Diplo remix) (ysi link)
A little about the artist: dancetastic band from NY
More info: myspace

Eulogies - Two Can Play (click to stream)
Okay, I am really late on this one, I know it’s been circling the blogosphere because this band is on Dangerbird and Nikki from Silversun Pickups is featured on this song. Their new EP Tempted to do Nothing is available digitally now.
More info: official