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

This Week in New Tunes

 Rawk Radio    Rawk Releases   

In Stores 11/11:
The Bronx (The Bronx III)
Apparently the Bronx don’t like to come up with album titles because this is their third self-titled album. If you’re hip to the Bronx, you already love this. If you’re not hip, why not? You can listen to the entire album now on their myspace.

Butch Walker Sycamore Meadows
It’s been a couple of years since we had a new Butch Walker album. You can listen to it in its entirety now on his imeem.

Jihae Elvis is Still Alive
I just reviewed her EP here, but apparently she already has a new album out. I guess I lag. Anywho, you can grab the single, “Best Thing” here.

Impacting on radio:
(alt rock)
Carolina Liar - Show Me What I’m Looking For
Scott Weiland - Missing Cleveland
Vampire Weekend - The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance
(triple a)
Delta Spirit - People C’mon
Jenny Lewis - Carpetbaggers
Vampire Weekend - The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance

She and Him at HOB Anaheim

 Rawk Shows   

I don’t know about you, but I love the Zooey Deschanel/M Ward collaboration better known as She and Him. So when I saw they were going to be at HOB Anaheim (no SD date, of course), I couldn’t miss the opportunity to check them out live. Lavender Diamond opened - I’ve casually listened to them - mostly I remember them as the band where the chick (Becky Stark) likes to sing scales in songs. So fast forward to the curtain opening - I was wondering if we’d get the full band treatment or just she and him (haha) but we got the full band. I recognized Tennessee from The Like on drums and Becky Stark back on stage for backup vocals, but didn’t know who the bass player and the extra guitarist was until Zooey introduced them later in the show. But I’ll get to that. Set list first....

She and Him
HOB Anaheim
11/5/08

Encore:
I Put A Spell On You
Bring It On Home To Me (Sam Cooke cover)
Magic Trick (M. Ward)

So Zooey....she’s so super cute. She was wearing a white a-line dress with black sequin accents and dark tights. (Oh, it had pockets too, which she pointed out somewhere along in the set.) She sang the first few songs and used her tambourine on the more upbeat ones. The first new song had lyrics with I saw you standing still in the chorus (that’s mostly reference for me for when the new stuff comes out and I will be able to tell which song it was...) For “Sentimental Heart”, Zooey sat at the piano and played. She’s got a very cute way of playing (I will say cute a lot during this post, it really best describes her, she’s freaking cute...) After “Sentimental Heart”, everyone in the band leaves except M. Ward and they did their awesome cover of “You Really Got A Hold on Me”. For “Take It Back”, M Ward left the stage, and it was just Zooey on the piano. M. Ward came back out for the next one - she introduced it as a Joni Mitchell song (of which I have no knowledge except for “Big Yellow Taxi") so I listened to the lyrics intently - something about a radio station and calling her at the station. Hmm....we know about that. It was easy enough to figure out what song it was - “You Turn Me On, I’m A Radio” - which they have been playing live throughout this tour. The rest of the band came out for the next set of songs - they threw in another new one with lyrics I won’t stop my crying over you. The last three songs of the main set got everyone going - all the harmonies and hand clapping just make it easy to do the indie rock sway, ya know?

When they came back out for the encore, it was just Zooey and M. Ward again. They did a cover of “I Put A Spell On You” that was amazing. (I guess I should look up who did that originally, but to me, the definitive version is Diamanda Galas so that’s who I think of when I hear that song.) The band came back out for the Sam Cooke cover “Bring It On Home to Me” and then they ended their set with an M. Ward song - “Magic Trick”. As they were walking off stage, some chick from the audience ran up on stage - Zooey looked utterly freaked (but in a cute way, of course). Kind of a short show, but I’m glad I went - it was a good one.

Here We Go

 Rawk Tunes   

I haven’t missed an election since I was 18 and I sure as heck am not gonna miss this one. I’m leaving now to vote before work. But before I do that, I had to post the Obama station link on Slacker. I am listening to Earth, Wind and Fire’s “Shining Star” as I type. Good stuff. Listen here.

Steve West no longer on 91X

 Rawk Radio   

Rumors swirled all day that Steve West was the latest victim of budget cuts at 91X - Radio and Records finally confirms:

Finest City Broadcasting experienced another wave of budget-related slices: Following PD Phil Manning’s departure from alternative XTRA (91X)/San Diego last week, 91X longtime fixture/midday jock Steve West and promo coordinator Morgan McGuire also exit.

For all of us who grew up listening to Steve West, it’s really hard to believe he won’t be on 91X any longer. He was the last tie to the “glory years” of 91X and will be missed.

Tix for the Faint at 4th and B

 Rawk Schwag    Rawk Shows   

If you haven’t seen the Faint live, you are truly missing out on a dance-tastic good time. The Faint are rolling through SD again - this time at 4th and B on Thursday. I’ve got a pair of tix to give away, so hit me up in comments or via email by Wednesday 9am if ya want ‘em.

(Grab the DIOYY remix of “The Geeks Were Right” in the listen section if you haven’t already.)