Category Archives: Music

General Music Category

Upcoming Show: Mountains at The Picador in Iowa City 4/24/09

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The duo of Brendon Anderegg and Koen Holtkamp known as Mountains are one of the new generation of Thrill Jockey bands. The band’s new album on Thrill Jockey is their third album since 2005– the first two released on the their own label, Apestaartje.

Mountains synth-plus-guitars sound is typically compared to Brian Eno or Fennesz and their 2009 release Choral is a collection of ambient tracks that seem to build by layer and utilizing spare melody structure. The delay and echo of the pieces also remind me of Michael Brook.

According to their PR, Mountains love to sculpt their sound in front of a live audience and we will be able to experience that here in Eastern Iowa when they perform at The Picador in Iowa City on Friday, April 24th.

At this point, the show is not listed on the Picador calendar, so I don’t have any more details.  I’ll try to update this page as I get more information.

Click Here to visit the Choral page at Thrill Jockey and listen to high-quality streaming tracks from the album.

New David Sylvian Release Manafon Announced

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From David Sylvian’s label Samadhi Sound we hear about an upcoming release from David Sylvian titled Manafon. According to the release, this album is a “powerfully bold, uncompromising work.” The sessions for this album were apparently recorded in December, 2007 and included Evan Parker, John Tilbury, Keith Rowe, Christian Fennesz, Otomo Yoshihide, and others.

Based on that list of contributors, it seems that this release might be a Free Jazz influenced record if David relied on the strengths of Parker, Tilbury and Rowe. Fennesz  worked with David on “A Fire in the Forest” from Blemish as well as frequent Sylvian collaborator Ryuichi Sakamoto and has worked with Keith Rowe, too. Otomo also worked with Keith Rowe previously. So, this lineup seems to have a lot of synergies. Considering the heavy improvisational slant to these players it would be a shame to not tour this lineup– so maybe they’ll tour?

The name “Manafon” likely comes from the Welsh village of the same name. Poet R.S. Thomas studied the Welsh language and published his first three volumes of poetry while working as the rector there.

That animal on the art on the Manafon website is likely a White Stag, which in Celtic mythology is the guide between worlds. Additionally the White Stag is the symbol for the Welsh god Luga.

It’s hard to guess what all of these poorly-researched clues mean for the new release from Mr. Sylvian. I’ll keep everyone updated as I get more facts.

Update: Manafon comes out on 9/14: CLICK HERE to read my article on it.

New Tortoise on Record Store Day Special Release

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Cover by Crosshair

Cover by Posttypography

Cover by Posttypography

In celebration of National Record Store Day, Thrill Jockey is getting in on the action by releasing a very limited edition (900 copies) LP (really more of an EP) called Records Toreism which will be blessed with catalog number Thrill 12.30. [Note: Thrill 12.29 was the Thrill Jockey 15th Anniversary Trey Told ‘Em MegaMix]

Thrill Jockey is using the occasion to showcase some of their newest acts as well as include a new track from Tortoise’s upcoming release (now pushed to June) and a Trans Am track. Here are the tracks as Thrill Jockey calls them:

A
1. Mountains “Windows”
This is a new song that does not appear any place else. It was recorded with love for the record store.

2. Tortoise “High Class Slim Came Floatin’ In”
This is a new song. It will also appear on their new album in June. Released early with love for the record store.

AA
1. Double Dagger “Stagger Lee”
This is a new song that does not appear any place else. It was recorded with love for the record store.

2. White Hills “Eye to Eye”
“Eye To Eye” was previously released on Abstractions & Mutations, a limited edition CD-R release put together for a tour in September of 2007. Released for the first time on LP with love for the record store.

3. Trans Am Featuring Tim Soete “Wounded Monkey”
This is an unreleased song recorded and mixed March 28, 2005 at MAINZ in Auckland, New Zealand. Tim Soete (from The Fucking Champs) on lead guitar and lead vocals. Released with love for the record store.

The covers (shown above) are meant to portray the alternate possible futures of record stores– one is if we don’t continue to shop the local indie store, and the other is the optimistic future afforded us from spending money not at Best Buy, but at our favorite Indie store. The covers will be handmade, and hand printed by Crosshair.

Of course, yours truly is drooling over this release. The trick is going to be to figure out which stores will carry this. Neither indie store in Iowa City is participating in Record Store Day on April 18th. However, two stores in Dubuque are, so maybe a trip to my old stomping grounds and the store that I spent many a Tuesday over lunch Moondog Records (known as Co-Op Records back then…)

Click Here for Record Store Day Information

Click Here for the post on the Thrill Jockey boards about Records Toreism

This is Why My Next Camera is the Canon 5D MkII

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If you’ve been following my blog for any amount of time you’ve seen the live shooting I’ve been doing for three years now. In 2006 I was shooting a Canon Rebel 300D, I upgraded to the XTi soon after, and last year I moved to the Canon 450D aka XSi. Each of these moves gave me more features and resolution (of course) while allowing me to maintain my lenses. The XSi also gave me live view, which has been very handy in crowd situations as my 6’1″ body plus my arm gives me about 7 foot of reach, and I was very happy with the pictures I have taken so far. Of course, late last year Canon announced the upgrade to the already-amazing and amazingly-priced Canon 5D. With a full-frame sensor like its big brother 1D and new mind-boggling resolution of 21.1 Megapixel and much-improved low-light abilities provided by the DiGiC 4 CCD and processor it is the next move I’d like to make for all of my shooting needs. The full-frame sensor will help me take full advantage of the lenses I have and really open up some possibilities, I think.

But it is the High Definition video capability that really knocks it out of the park. I don’t have a video camera today– much to the chagrin of anyone who knows me and my gadgets– and I shouldn’t justify buying a $2700 camera by saying I’m going to use it for video, but one look at the video below is enough to make it compelling!

My friend Chad forwarded me this today, and I felt I needed to post on it. This is footage shot on 2/25 in Melbourne, Australia of Nine Inch Nails. NIN might not be everyone’s cup o’ tea, but damn, look at how absolutely GORGEOUS this footage is!


NIN: Burn Live from on stage, Melbourne 2.25.09 [HD] from Nine Inch Nails on Vimeo.

And, in case you’re feeling *very* giving:

Free Download: Phish Live at Hampton 2009

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In celebration of Phish’s reunion shows– Phish is generously offering 256Kbps mixed, soundboard recordings of their upcoming three-night run at the legendary Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, VA for free download. From their press release:

In celebration of Phish’s first shows in over four years, we’re thrilled to be able to offer fans free, high-quality downloads of the band’s sold-out March 6th, 7th and 8th concerts at Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia at LivePhish.com.

Each show will be professionally multi-tracked and mixed onsite and within 24 hours, 256kbps MP3s will be made available for free for a limited time at LivePhish.com. Fans who wish to download higher quality versions may purchase FLAC downloads. The shows will also be available on CD. Both are available for pre-order now. Register at LivePhish.com to receive an email when the free MP3s are available.
“We really wanted to show our gratitude to all the Phish fans for their support and the overwhelming response they’ve had to these shows. It’s going to be an amazing celebration and we only wish everybody could be there,” said Trey Anastasio.

Hampton Coliseum is notable in Phish’s history as being the location for the shows on November 20 & 21, 1998 that was the basis for the six-disc box set Hampton Comes Alive. Hampton Coliseum has been a favorite stop for Phish and these upcoming shows on March 6th, 7th, and 8th mark the 13th, 14th, and 15th time Phish will have played there.

These upcoming shows are also where Phish is looking to legally block the sale of bootleg products like unauthorized “lot shirts” and other paraphernalia with Phish tie-ins. An interesting move considering how ingrained in the jamband scene the lot scene sales have become. Certainly Phish is entitled to defend their very valuable trademark and image– especially since the future of the band seems unclear, and licensing of products in addition to the sale of recordings would be the only way the band could continue to profit if they don’t continue to tour.

Update: Apparently Phish is in it for the long haul and have plans to record a new album with a focus on their proggy side!

Click Here to pre-order the three shows in mp3 format.

Free Download: Pontiak at Daytrotter

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Last week was a good week for show postings at Daytrotter.com– our Internet-music fan-buddy to the Southeast of here. We got the 2008 recording of Nelly McKay, and we got the Pontiak session! Pontiak and Wye Oak were touring together last year on a shared bill and were scheduled to stop at the Mill in Iowa City on June 15th. However, the Floods of 2008 prevented them from performing their show. However, they managed to stop in at Daytrotter on the 16th and record four songs.

Pontiak’s sludgy psychedelia translated well to Daytrotter’s retro facility and in four songs provided a good snapshot of the ride that is Pontiak.

They recorded a song apiece from their previous efforts, “How Tall Are You?” from their debut Valley of Cats, and the waltzing title track from Sun on Sun. They also recorded the title track to their upcoming Thrill Jockey release Maker, due to drop on April 7th. They also dropped a campfire rendition of a recently-learned Warren Zevon cover “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner.”

Have a helping of Pontiak at Daytrotter.

Treat yourself to some Wye Oak from the same sessions.

The Horse’s Ha– With Members of Freakwater and The Zincs– Release Debut Album June 9th

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The oddly-named The Horse’s Ha is a cross-section of legendary Thrill Jockey and Chicago bands. Formed in 2002 as a side project for Freakwater and Eleventh Dream Day member Janet Beveridge Bean and James Elkington of The Zincs. Initially, they were going to focus on covers but over the next couple of years Elkington started writing songs specificically for them to perform as The Horse’s Ha. The band is made up of Bean, Elkington, Nick Macri (also of the Zincs and a bunch of other bands) on bass, Charles Rumback on drums and Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello, who– along with Bean– helped out on the first Zincs record Dimmer in 2005. Mark Greenberg from the Coctails worked on Dimmer as well as The Horse’s Ha’s new record titled The Cathmawr Yards. The band’s name as well as the title of the album come from a Dylan Thomas short story “The Horse’s Ha” where zombies apparently inhabit the fictional Welsh graveyard of The Cathmawr Yards. Listening to the six songs streaming from their MySpace page, the band has a pleasant folksy acoustic sound with Bean and Elkington providing very complimentary vocal harmonies. The Horse’s Ha is pretty much the intersection of Freakwater and the Zincs, which is a good thing. The Cathmawr Yards will be released on June 9th as CD and download by Parasol Records label Hidden Agenda. This will be followed by a vinyl release. Hidden Agenda, according to the Parasol website was a label designed in 1997 specifically to release one-off CD’s and singles for higher-profile artists. Although, when you look at the catalog it is clear that some of these artists have released more than one title on the label, so maybe we’ll see future releases from The Horse’s Ha. No confirmation of a tour, but I’d like to see this lineup.

Tracklisting

1. Plumb
2. Asleep In A Waterfall
3. Wild’s Empty Bedroom
4. Left Hand
5. Liberation
6. The Piss Choir
7. Heiress
8. Tea Creek In The Dunes
9. Rising Moon
10. Map of Stars

Upcoming Show: Marco Benevento in Iowa 4/10 & 4/12/09

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I had the opportunity to hear a unique album this week. Marco Benevento’s second solo album Me Not Me (The Royal Potato Family, 2009). Me Not Me is an inspired collection of original compositions and covers all interpreted largely with the acoustic piano carrying the melodies and layers of drums, bass, and effects coming from Farfisa, Optigan, Mellotron, and circuit bent toys filling out the tonal landscape of each song.

What struck me immediately was the beautiful piano parts rising out of each of the songs. I’m a sucker for piano parts and passages of this album remind me of some of my favorite piano jazz.

Of course, some of this is because of the strong melodies in the songs he chose. Me Not Me is an interesting, if obscurish collection of covers. Other than the cover of “Golden” by My Morning Jacket and the cover of “Friends” off of Led Zeppelin III, I wasn’t familiar with even the songs from the more famous artists like Beck (“Sing It Again”), George Harrison (“Run of the Mill”) and Leonard Cohen (“Seems So Long Ago Nancy”) but each seem to be strong choices. The choice of modern buzzworthy bands like Deerhoof (“Twin Killer”) and The Knife (“Heartbeat”) seems to provide and intersting juxtiposition of old and new. The three original Benevento compositions on the CD fit right in with the other songs giving a consistent sound and feel. I’ve only had the CD a couple of days and I’m already finding myself returning to it repeatedly!

So, I was pretty excited to hear that Marco Benevento and his trio (with Matt Chamberlain and Reed Mathis from the album) would be stopping in Iowa for two dates in April– Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines on Friday, April 10th (6:30PM: $10 in advance, $12 at the door), and at CSPS in Cedar Rapids on Sunday, April 12th after a show in Minneapolis at the Dakota (8PM: $20 cover).

Upcoming Shows:

02.24.09
Yoshi’s Oakland
Oakland, CA
with Joe Russo, Peter Alpfelbaum and Josh Roseman – “Quartet the Killer” – featuring the music of Neil Young

03.05.09
River St. Jazz Cafe
Wilkes-Barre, PA
with Marc Friedman (bass) and Andrew Barr (drums)

03.06.09
Deer Head Inn
Del Wtr Gap, PA
with Marc Friedman (bass) and Andrew Barr (drums)

03.07.09
The Bell House
Brooklyn, NY
with Marc Friedman and Andrew Barr
click here for tickets

3.20.09
SXSW
The Elephant Room
Austin, TX
CD Release Show

04.07.09
Hideaway
Louisville, KY

04.08.09
Jazz Kitchen
Indianapolis, IN

04.09.09
The Space @ Northwestern University
Evanston, IL

04.10.09 Fri
Vaudeville Mews
Des Moines, IA

04.11.09
Dakota
Minneapolis, MN

04.12.09
CSPS
Cedar Rapids, IA

05.06.09
Le Divan Orange
Montreal, Canada
with Reed Mathis and Andrew Barr

05.07.09
The Wescott Theatre
Syracuse, NY
with Reed Mathis and Andrew Barr

05.08.09
The Iron Horse
Northampton, MA
with Reed Mathis and Andrew Barr

05.14.09
Merkin Concert Hall
New York, NY
with Reed Mathis and Andrew Barr

Click Here to visit Marco’s Website (totally check out their version of “She’s Not There” by the Zombies!)

Click Here to visit Marco’s MySpace page which has tracks streaming from Me Not Me.

Free Download: Nellie McKay at Daytrotter

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I had seen this show tipped since I follow the flickr feed from Daytrotter and there was a picture of her in the studio, which is generally how Johnnie does her characterizations of the acts that flow through the studio in Rock Island. So, it is with certain glee that I’m reporting that Daytrotter has posted her session. According to the date on that picture, she did her session on April 4th, 2008. I saw Nellie in Minneapolis at the Dakota Bar with my wife and super-fan daughter RaeEllen on April 6th– so she recorded this in Rock Island and hightailed it to Minnesota, apparently.

Nellie recorded a generous NINE tracks for this session as opposed to the four or five we usually get. The cool thing about this session is it is pretty much exactly like the show I saw and a very good representation of her live show. You get some piano tunes, some ukelele songs, some political humor and show tunes. What more would you want, really?

Click Here to visit the Daytrotter page for Nellie

Upcoming Shows: Bo Ramsey & The Mystery Lights

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Bo and Jon

I happened to be looking at upcoming shows on The Mill Restaurant and saw that they were going to be having a Bo Ramsey headlining show! In fact, looking at his tour page it seems that he’ll be playing three dates this spring and summer.

The shows are listed as Bo Ramsey & The Mystery Lights and they will be playing The Washington in Burlington, IA on 4/25, The Mill in Iowa City on 5/2, and– as he has in the past– he will be playing the Mississippi Valley Blues Fest in Davenport on July 2nd.

According to Bo, The Mystery Lights will be long time “Sliders” Al Schares on guitar and Steve Hayes on drums. Joining them will be Jon Penner on bass (see picture above)  who worked on Fragile with Bo and Steve Hayes. Jon also frequently plays with Pieta. I saw Jon at the Springville show a couple of years ago which I reported on. Al Schares is also notably the Program Director for KUNI.

I missed the short run of shows from last spring, so I’m really looking forward to hearing the Fragile songs worked in a live setting.

When asked if there will be more shows this summer, Bo said, “we’ll see.” If shows get added, I’ll update this article.

Sat, Apr. 25, 2009 The Washington Burlington, IA
Sat, May 2, 2009 The Mill $20 Iowa City, IA
Thu, Jul. 2, 2009 8:30 PM Mississippi Valley Blues Fest Davenport, IA

Click Here for Bo Ramsey’s website
Click Here for Bo Ramsey’s MySpace Page
Click Here for the Facebook Event I created