Monthly Archives: September 2007

Upcoming Show: Lyrics Born at Foundation in Minneapolis 10/25/07

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Lyrics BornAlready the buzz is building in anticipation of Lyrics Born’s debut album on his new home Anti-/Epitaph. Titled Everywhere At Once, it is expected to be released February 2008. He has been posting “LBTV” snippets of the work he’s been doing in the studio from his website and MySpace page. His contribution to Galactic’s Anti- debut From the Corner to the Block should help, too. He appeared with them on Jimmy Kimmel earlier in the month and is scheduled to join them on stage at the New Orleans Voodoo Music Fest on October 26th.

Lyrics Born and his live band are currently in the middle of a run of Australian dates which wrap up on October 1st. On October 12th they will kick off the American leg of the tour which will run until November 17th. The Minneapolis date is nearly a year after my wife and I saw them at the Foundation. We are planning to see them again– it is the day after my birthday and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than to see the hardest working MC from the Bay.

22 September 2007
12:00PM
Melbourne, AU
Birrarung Marr
Federation Square
Ages: all ages
Parkland Music Festival featuring Lyrics Born and many other artists.

23 September 2007
12:00PM
Ages: all ages
Venue TBA – Parklife Music Festival featuring Lyrics Born and many other artists.

29 September 2007
12:00PM
Ages: all ages
Venue TBA – Parklife Music Festival featuring Lyrics Born and many other artists.

30 September 2007
12:00PM
New South Wales, AU
Kippax Lake
Oxford St
Ages: all ages
Parklife Music Festival featuring Lyrics Born and many other artists.

1 October 2007
12:00PM
Perth, AU
Ambar Nightclub
104 Murray St.
Ages: all ages
Parklife Music Festival featuring Lyrics Born and many other artists.

12 October 2007
12:00PM
Fairburn, GA
Echo Project
$155.00
$175.00
http://www.echo-project.com
9445 Brown’s Lake Road
Ages: all ages
Festival show. Lyrics Born will be on a bill featuring acts such as The Roots, Cypress Hill, Les Claypool, Michael Franti and Spearhead, The Killers and many more. A 3-day event.

17 October 2007
7:00PM
Davis, CA
UC Davis
$12.00
$15.00
http://freebornhall.ucdavis.edu
925.998.2090
One Shields Ave
Ages: all ages
appearing with Saul Williams

18 October 2007
9:00PM
Eureka, CA
Indigo Nightclub
$20.00
$25.00
http://www.indigonightclub.net
707.268.8888
535 5th St
Ages: 21 and over

19 October 2007
9:00PM
Portland, OR
Wonder Ballroom
$18.00
$20.00
http://www.wonderballroom.com
503.223.5833
128 Northeast Russell
Ages: all ages

20 October 2007
9:00PM
Seattle, WA
The Showbox
$18.00
$20.00
http://www.showboxonline.com/
boxoffice@showboxonline.com
206.628.3151
1426 1st Avenue
Located at 1st and Pike in Seattle.
Ages: 18 and over

21 October 2007
9:00PM
Bellingham, WA
The Nightlight Lounge
$15.00
$17.00
http://www.nightlightlounge.com
360-920-6515
211 East Chestnut
Ages: 21 and over

22 October 2007
9:00PM
Boise, ID
Neurolux
$16.00
$18.00
http://www.neurolux.com
208.343.0886
111 North 11th
Ages: 21 and over

23 October 2007
8:00PM
Denver, CO
Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
$17.00
$20.00
http://www.cervantesmasterpiece.com/
303-297-1772
2637 Welton St.
Ages: 18 and over

25 October 2007
9:00PM
Minneapolis, MN
Foundation Nightclub
$10.00
$12.00
http://www.foundationmpls.com
mariesa@foundationmpls.com
612.532.0795
10 South 5th Street
Ages: all ages

26 October 2007
New Orleans, LA
City Park
$100.00
$100.00
http://www.voodoomusicfest.com
Ages: all ages
Music Festival featuring Lyrics Born (appearing with Galactic), Rage Against The Machine, Smashing Pumpkins and more!

27 October 2007
9:00PM
Chicago, IL
Metro
$16.00
$18.00
http://www.metrochicago.com
773.549.4140
3730 N Clark
Ages: 18 and over

28 October 2007
9:00PM
St Louis, MO
Lucas Schoolhouse
$25.00
$30.00
http://www.lucasevents.com
1220 Allen Ave
Ages: 21 and over

31 October 2007
8:00PM
Boston, MA
Paradise
$15.00
$15.00
http://www.thedise.com
617-562-8800
967 Commonwealth Avenue
Ages: 18 and over
Celebrate Halloween with LB!

1 November 2007
7:00PM
Burlington, VT
University of Vermont
$13.00
$13.00
http://www.uvm.edu
802.236.6527
Billings Student Center
Ages: all ages
Student price: 10.00
public price: 13.00

2 November 2007
9:00PM
New York, NY
Bowery Ballroom
$20.00
$20.00
http://www.boweryballroom.com
212.533.2111
6 Delancey St.
Ages: 18 and over

3 November 2007
7:00PM
Philadelphia, PA
World Cafe
$15.00
$17.00
http://www.worldcafelive.com
215.222.1400
3025 Walnut St
Ages: all ages

4 November 2007
8:00PM
Baltimore, MD
Ottobar
$12.00
$14.00
http://www.theottobar.com
410.662.0069
2549 N Howard St
Ages: all ages

6 November 2007
7:00PM
Birmingham, AL
Workplay
$12.00
$14.00
http://www.workplay.com
205.879.4773 ext 4002
500 23rd St South
Ages: 18 and over

7 November 2007
8:00PM
Lafayette, LA
Grant Street Dance Hall
$10.00
$13.00
http://www.grantstreetdancehall.com
337.237.8513
113 West Grant Street
Ages: 18 and over

7 November 2007
8:00PM
New Orleans, LA
House of Blues Parish
$16.00
$18.00
http://www.hob.com
504-596-2471
225 Decatur
Ages: 18+
Ages: 18 and over

9 November 2007
9:00PM
Austin, TX
Emo’s Main Room
$13.00
$15.00
http://2007.sxsw.com/music/showcases/band/49573.html
603 red river st.
Ages: all ages

10 November 2007
9:00PM
Dallas, TX
Palladium Loft
$14.00
$14.00
http://www.palladiumballroom.com
214.826.2888
1135 South Lamar
Ages: all ages

13 November 2007
8:00PM
Flagstaff, AZ
Orpheum Flagstaff
$13.00
$15.00
http://www.orpheumpresents.com
928.556.1580
15 West Aspen
Ages: 21 and over

15 November 2007
9:00PM
Solana Beach, CA
Belly Up Tavern
$16.00
$18.00
http://www.bellyup.com
858-481-8771
143 S. Cedros Avenue
Ages: 21 and over

16 November 2007
9:00PM
Los Angeles, CA
El Rey Theatre
$18.00
$18.00
http://www.theelrey.com
323-936-6400
5515 Wilshire Blvd.
Ages: all ages

17 November 2007
8:00PM
San Francisco, CA
The Independent
$22.00
$22.00
http://www.theindependentsf.com
415-771-1420
628 Divisadero St.
Ages: 21+
Ages: 21 and over

Click Here to See LB and Galactic on Jimmy Kimmel

Galactic – From the Corner to the Block (review)

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From the Corner to the BlockGalactic is an instrumental jazz and funk band in the vein of another New Orleans-resident band The Meters. The band started in 1994 and until 2004 had a vocalist named Theryl DeClouet. Although they also pulled in other notable vocalists and musicians especially in their live sets.

From the Corner to the Block is the first record without DeClouet and the first on the increasingly-interesting Epitaph subsidiary label Anti-. Anti- is also the home of Americana artists like Joe Henry, Bettye LaVette, Neko Case, old-school country acts like Porter Waggoner and Merle Haggard, uncharacterizable guys like Nick Cave and his projects and Tom Waits, alt-whatever acts like Spoon (in the UK anyway, its on Merge in the US). It’s the increasing stable of HipHop atists that is really surprising, however– Anti- has had Blackalicious since their last album, as well as the controversial Coup, and now Lyrics Born will be releasing his anticipated follow-up to the groundbreaking Later That Day titled Everywhere at Once on Anti- in February 2008.

So, it might not be very surprising that the collection of MC’s Galactic is backing on their new release draws heavily on ‘Yay Area artists and friends of the former Quannum acts Blackalicious and Lyrics Born. The Gift of Gab who provides the growling “The Corner” is the MC from Blackalicious is also one of the MC’s of The Mighty Underdogs. The upcoming release Dropping Science Fiction by the Mighty Underdogs will include Quannum labelmate Lateef the Truth Speaker, who contributes a thumping “No Way” to the Galactic album. Vursatyl from Quannum act the Lifesavas is on here, too, with a track with harmonies that remind me of classic War. Chali 2na who is the former MC from Jurassic 5 lays his signature baritone on “Think Back” a song of “Mental Landmarks.” LB provides a characteristically anthemic shouter in the same vein as his contribution “Let Me In, Let Me Out” on Tommy Guerro’s 2006 release From the Soil to the Soul.

There has always been this flirtation of hiphop and rock/funk. We’ve seen lots of examples of this over the years– notably Philly band The Roots and I suppose the late-90’s Beastie Boys albums Ill Communication and Check Your Head where they dabbled in live instruments and B3. According to Ben Ellman who provides sax and harmonica to the Galactic mix the band hadn’t set out to make a strictly hiphop album. They consider the album to be a funk album that happens to feature hip-hop vocals. I guess it is all symantics in the end, as this album does a fantastic job of melding the two genres. Some of the credit is due to engineer Count who worked on DJ Shadow’s last album The Outsider which also included some live instruments.

I’ve been listening to this album for a couple of weeks and have noticed how well it stands up for repeated listenings. My observation is that the vocalists on this album work well as their style works well with live instrumentation. These are MC’s with real musical aptitude. Lyrics Born has been touring with a live band for over two years and he signed German Uber-funkers The Poets of Rhythm to Quannum and used them on “I Changed My Mind” which has been a live staple. Chali 2na used to be part of Ozomatli and worked with Dave Matthews Band on Jurassic 5’s last album. Boots Riley from the Coup whose “Hustle Up” track is either a call to party or a call to fight worked with members of P-funk, Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine, and Jesse Johnson on their Anti- release Pick A Bigger Weapon.

In between this very impressive stable of MC’s we get a couple of way-too-abbreviated Galactic instrumental interludes, but we also get the very funky collaboration with turntable genius Z-Trip. Z takes a lot of flack for including rawk in his sets, but clearly demonstrates he knows his way around the “one.”

As I was watching the MTV 2007 VMA’s last night it’s clear to me that most of the hiphop that is on popular radio has lost its soul. This soul which comes from understanding the legacy of funk and R&B of Motown, Stax, and the funk of the JB’s. From the Corner to the Block was intended to modernize the New Orleans sound. Welcome to the new Mardi Gras sound.

Listen to “Think Back” with Chali 2na

Listen to “What You Need” with Lyrics Born

Purchase From the Corner to the Block from Amazon.com

Galactic - From the Corner to the Block Purchase From the Corner to the Block from iTunes

Galactic’s MySpace Page with a couple of tracks and tour dates

Pieta Brown’s New Album Available Early on iTunes with Bonus Calexico Collaboration

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Although Pieta Brown’s new album– and first on her new label One Little Indian Records— Remember the Sun will be released on September 25th (October 8 according to Amazon.com), you can buy it early on iTunes and it will include a bonus track of a collaboration with Calexico, Bo Ramsey, Benson Ramsey and Iris DeMent.

The mention of a collaboration with Calexico was on Pieta’s website last year. I was hoping for more than a live take of “This Land is Your Land” but who knows what lies in the future?

Pieta Brown will be playing a CD release show at The Mill in Iowa City with Bo Ramsey in support on Saturday, October 6th. Doors are at 9PM with a $10 cover.
Pieta Brown - Remember the Sun Purchase Remember the Sun with Calexico bonus track from iTunes

Purchase Remember the Sun from Amazon.com

Listen to tracks from Remember the Sun on Pieta’s MySpace Page.

I really like “Are You Free” and “Sonic Boom”