NEXT BIG NASHVILLE: My itinerary

What with the business of life right now, I'm being an awful blogger and accepting that. I've got a Fulbright app due on Monday and about six essays, but here's my schedule for Next Big Nashville this weekend:

Thursday, September 11
8:00pm - 8:30pm Dawson Wells (12th & Porter, 114 12th Avenue N)
8:45pm - 9:15pm Kindergarten Circus (The End, 2219 Elliston Pl)
9:30pm - 10:00pm Amanda Shires (3rd & Lindsley, 818 3rd Ave S)
10:15pm - 10:45pm Cory Branan (12th & Porter, 114 12th Avenue N)
11:15pm - 11:45pm Dead Confederate (Exit-In, 2208 Elliston Pl)
12:00am - 12:45am The Protomen (Exit-In, 2208 Elliston Pl)
12:30am - 3:00am The Pink Spiders & Luna Halo present Mercy Lounge's Next Big Nashville Afterparty (Mercy Lounge, 1 Cannery Row)

Friday, September 12
5:00pm - 8:00pmNBN VIP Reception (ICON in the Gulch)
8:15pm - 8:45pm Kindercastle (Cannery Ballroom, 1 Cannery Row)
8:45pm - 9:15pm Happy Birthday Amy (The Rutledge, 410 Fourth Ave S)
9:30pm - 10:00pm The Champion and His Burning Flame (The Basement, 1604 8th Ave S)
10:30pm - 11:00pm Cake Bake Betty (Exit-In, 2208 Elliston Pl)
11:15pm - 11:45pm MeeMaw (Exit-In, 2208 Elliston Pl)
12:00am - 12:45am Jeff the Brotherhood (Exit-In, 2208 Elliston Pl)
1:30am - 3:00am Mercy Lounge's Next Big Nashville Afterparty (Mercy Lounge, 1 Cannery Row)

Saturday, September 13
10:00am - 8:00pm Grimey's & The Basement's NEXT BIG OUTDOOR IN-STORE! (Grimey's, 1604 8th Ave S)
11:00am - 1:00pm BMI VIP Brunch (Cabana)
12:45pm - 1:15pm The Mean Tambourines (Grimey's, 1604 8th Ave S)
1:30pm - 2:00pm Tiger! Tiger! (Grimey's, 1604 8th Ave S)
3:30pm - 4:00pm Caitlin Rose (Grimey's, 1604 8th Ave S)
8:00pm - 8:30pm Alva Liegh (12th & Porter, 114 12th Avenue N)
8:45pm - 9:15pm Danger Bear (The Basement, 1604 8th Ave S)
9:30pm - 10:00pm Caitlin Rose (The Basement, 1604 8th Ave S)
9:45pm - 10:15pm The Privates (Exit-In, 2208 Elliston Pl)
10:30pm - 11:00pm The Howlies (Exit-In, 2208 Elliston Pl)
11:15pm - 11:45pm Ghostfinger (Exit-In, 2208 Elliston Pl)
12:00am - 12:45am How I Became The Bomb (Exit-In, 2208 Elliston Pl)
12:30am - 3:00am FAT TIRE & Holly House present Mercy Lounge's Next Big Nashville Afterparty (Mercy Lounge, 1 Cannery Row)
1:00am - 1:45am Features (Cannery Ballroom, 1 Cannery Row)
2:00am - 3:00am Jensen Sportag (Cannery Ballroom, 1 Cannery Row)

The Playlist

Thanks for bearing with me and my stuffy sickness. Hope you enjoyed the near-solid hour of dance music.

The Playlist:
No Age, "I Wanna Sleep" from Weirdo Rippers (Fat Cat Records)
Pixies, "La La Love You" from Doolittle (Elektra)
Ida Maria, "Oh My God" from Fortress Round My Heart (Nesna)
These United States, "First Sight" from A Picture of The Three of Us At the Gate At the Garden of Eden (Self-released)
Faces on Film, "Famous Last Words" from Seven Sisters
The Delicious, "It's Not Time to Die" from The Delicious (Self-released)
Brooke Waggoner, "Hush if You Must Fresh Pair of Eyes" from Swoon Moon Music

Next Big Nashville Featured Artists:
Caitlin Rose, "Answer in One of These Bottles" from Dead Flowers (Theory 8)
Cassino, "Dust Went Flying" from Sounds of Salvation (Paragraph Records)
LYLAS, "Virgin Annie" from Lessons for Lovers (Self-released)
Glossary, "Almsgiver" from The Better Angels of Our Nature (Self-released)
Umbrella Tree, "Schizophrenia" from The Church & the Hospital (Cephalopod)
How I Became the Bomb, "Kneel Before Zod" from Let's Go! (self-released)
Dawson Wells, "Sorry Kelly" from Boulevardier (Self-released)

Generation X, "Kiss Me Deadly" from Anthology (Chrysalis)
Mstrkrft, "Work on You" from The Looks (Universal)
Jensen Sportag, "Japanese Zombie Schoolgirls" from Jensen Sportag (Self-released)
Ratatat, "Mirando" from lp3 (Xl)
CSS, "Believe Achieve" from Donkey (Sub Pop)
Daedelus, "Fair Weather Friends" from Love to make Music to (Ninja Tune)
HEALTH, "PERFECT SKIN" from HEALTH
The Black Ghosts, "Face" from The Black Ghosts (I Am Sound)
Stardust "Music Sounds Better With You" (Roule)
Solid Gold, "Who You Gonna Run To?" from Who You Gonna Run To? (SolidGoldCorp)
The Faint, "Mirror Error" from Fasciinatiion (blank.wav)
The Divine Comedy, "To Die a Virgin" from Victory for the Comic Muse (Parlophone)
Cut Copy, "Lights & Music" from Lights & Music (Modular Recordings)
Brazilian Girls, "Losing Myself" from New York City (Verve Forecast)

A note mid-show...

Why do people always hang up after they say something they perceive to be mean?

I just had the funniest call--a girl called in and said "Hey, did you just play ------?" I said yes. She said "Are you friends with those guys?" I said "No, I know them, but we're not really friends." She said "Well next time you see them, tell them to stop playing sucky closers and to start writing their own music."

I laughed, but she hung up too soon to hear it.

Kudos to you, girl. I agree. I hope you read this.

The Playlist

All I have to say is this:
You all are the best radio listeners ever.

Also, how great was Chris Freeman?

The Walkmen, "Canadian Girl" from You & Me (out Aug 18 on Gigantic)
Silver Jews, "We Could Be Looking For the Same Thing" from Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea (Drag City)
The Rumble Strips, "Girls and Boys in Love" from Girls and Weather (Fallout Records)
Wrapping Paper, "Ask Her in a Whisper" from Hold Up the Neon Sign (Self-released)
Of Montreal, "Id Engager" from Skeletal Lamping (out Oct. 7 on Polyvinyl)
Jonesworld, "Stuck With Me" from A Thing of Booty (Self-released)
Kyle Andrews, "Sushi" from Real Blasty
The Protomen, "The Sons of Fate" from The Protomen (Self-released)
All We Seabees, "Black Girls"
The Nobility, "The Mezzanine" from The Mezzanine
Nite Nite, "Amongst the Tenants" from Nite Nite EP (Self-released)
Jeff, "I Don't Need Your Tas-T" from Castle Storm (Infinity Cat)
Hotpipes, "Future Bolt" from Future Bolt (Liquid Panda)
Cake Bake Betty, "Livers" from The Dark Tower (Infinity Cat)
The Tragically Hip, "Blow at High Dough" from Up to Here (Universal)
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, "The Ballad of the Sin Eater" from Hearts of Oak (Lookout!) Dungen, "Satt Att Se" from 4 (out September 30th on Astralwerks)
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, "I'll Be Glad" from Lie Down in the Light (Palace Records)
Oblio, "A Story of Nashville" from Southern Trends (Casino Records)
Faster Pussycat, "Nonstop to Nowhere" from Whipped (Elektra)
LCD Soundsystem, "Someone Great" from Sound of Silver (DFA)
Ryan Adams, "To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is To Be High)" from Heartbreaker (Bloodshot)
Girl Talk, "In Step" from Feed the Animals (Illegal Art)

Next Big Nashville 2008!

Next Big Nashville 2008 has announced the first 157 bands who will be playing the festival this September 10-14 all around town. The venues were announced few weeks ago and have been posted on the sidebar, but here they are again for you:

Cannery Ballroom
Mercy Lounge
Exit/In
The Rutledge
12th & Porter
The End
The Basement
3rd & Lindsley
Belcourt Theatre
City Hall
Rcktwn
Edgehill Studios
5 Spot
Grimey's Records
Bluebird Café

Some more should be added in the upcoming weeks. As well, fifty or so more acts will be announced early next week, including two coveted spots for bands selected by the good old democratic process. Head over to Nashville Cream to vote for the local act you'd like to see. All of those already announced are below, with my picks in bold. If you missed the festival last year (and I did, I was working on a show all weekend), it was the it place to be all week both for excellent local music and to strut your stuff around the Nashville scene. The local faux-celebrities were out in full force, the music was killer, and while there were more local favorites than up-and-comers, nearly every show got rave reviews. You can buy wristbands here for only 35 bucks. Look at it this way: if you make it to more than four shows, you've easily made your money back.

13 Ghosts
500 Miles to Memphis
Aaron Robinson
All We Seabees
Altered Statesman
Alva Leigh
And the Relatives
Andy Davis
Angel Snow
Annaliese
Aron Wright
Audrey Spillman
AutoVaughn
Biscuits N Gravy
Brian Ritchey
Bryan Cates
Butterfly Boucher
Caitlin Rose
Cake Bake Betty
Cali
Canon Blue
Carey Ott
Cary Ann Hearst
Cassino
Codaphonic
Coral Castles
Cortney Tidwell
Cory Branan
Cougar Fight
Courtney Jaye
Dabney Morris
Danger Bear--playing Saturday at the Basement
Dawson Wells
Disappointed by Candy
Dead Confederate
Dignan
Duquette Johnston
Eastern Block
Egon (Stones Throw records)
Elle Macho feat. David Mead, Butterfly Boucher & Lindsay Jamieson
Emily DeLoach
Eric Wilson
Erin McCarley
Eureka Gold
Ferraby Lionheart
Forget Cassettes
Foxhole
Ghostfinger
Glossary
Greg Summerlin
Hands Down Eugene
Happy Birthday Amy--Friday at the Rutledge
Harrison Hudson
Heypenny
Hollow Ox
How I Became The Bomb
Homer Hiccolm & the Rocket Boys
Hotpipes
Jabe & The All Night Circus
JEFF The Brotherhood
Jennifer Niceley
Jensen Sportag
Jeremy Lister
Joey & Rory
Judd & Maggie
Katie Herzig
Keegan DeWitt
Kindegarten Circus
Kindercastle
Korean is Asian--Saturday at the Basement
Kyle Andrews
lanky
Levi Weaver
Lorien
Luna Halo
Lylas
Madi Diaz
Magic Wands
Mando Saenz
Matthew Perryman Jones
Matthew Ryan vs the Silver State
McClain
MeeMaw
Megan McCormick
Meghan Kabir
Modoc
MONA
Mother Father
My Tyger
Natalie Warner
Neva Geoffrey
nite nite
Oblio
Ocelots
Ole Mossy Face
Paper Rival
Paper Route
Parachute Musical
Peter Bradley Adams
Pico vs Island Trees
Pink Spiders
Plex Plex
Red White Blue
Repent or Forever Be
Rick Brantley
Ricky Young & The Slow Films
Roman Candle
Royal Bangs
Sam & Ruby
Sara Melson
Sarah Siskind
Six Gun Lullaby
Sons of Roswell
Space Capone
Stephaniesid
Superdrag
Tallest Trees
Ten out of Tenn
The Ascent of Everest--Thursday at the Anchor
The Bridges
The Carter Administration
The Champion and His Burning Flame
The Clutters
The Comfies
The Deep Vibration
The Dexateens
The Dirty Guv'nahs
The Features
The Glib
The Good Wolves
The Hanna Barbarians
The Last Almanac
The Lonely Hearts
The Mattoid
The Nobility
The Non-Commisioned Officers
The Privates
The Protomen
The Running
The Titts
The Worsties
Through the Sparks
Tiger Tiger
Tigers Con Queso
Timbre
Tommy & The Whale
Totally Snake
Tristen
Tyler James
Umbrella Tree
Velcro Stars
Vulture Whale
Waves on Waves
We Were the States
Wess Floyd
Whispertown 2000
Willie Heath Neal

Mark your calendars.

There's a lot of great news around town this fall, and I'm actually a little excited to be easing off on my theatre commitments so I can enjoy all that's going on in this great city. Check out some of the highlights below, as well as the usual stuff on the sidebar. I'll try to keep you updated on my picks for the week. For this weekend, my entire crew will be at Chris Freeman's show at The 5 Spot, featuring local favorites The Velcro Stars and LYLAS. It's his very last one before he takes off to Portland, and I'm expecting a crowd. Come early to catch the wonderful Seth Moore and to play a little pool, as well as knock a few back before the bar gets crowded. Wear your divebar attire, or come overdressed, like me, and tip well--the bartenders there pour generously and work their asses off on crowded nights.

Upcoming in Nashville:
TOMORROW--August 8th. Connor Oberst plays at Grimeys, 6pm.

August 19th. The Walkmen's latest, You & Me, is officially released--for only five bucks. You can purchase a download now at Amie Street, where all proceeds go to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in honor of seven-month old Luca Vasallo, a friend to the band and a current patient. Check out one of the tracks below. Grimey's celebrates with an in store performance of Walkmen covers done by Grimeys staffers--not to be missed.
"Canadian Girl"

September 7th. Ben Folds opens the Nashville Symphony's 2008-2009 season with a complete orchestral performance, including previews to his upcoming album, Way To Normal, recorded in Nashville and featuring Regina Spektor on a track.

September 30th. Swedish psych rockers Dungen release their 5th album, aptly entitled 4. Check out one of the tracks: "Satt Att Se"

October 7th. Of Montreal's 9th album, Skeletal Lamping, hits stores.
"Id Engager"

October 13th. The Walkmen play The Basement.

November 6th. Girltalk plays The Cannery. "Give Me A Beat" from Feed the Animals.

Let me know if any of you web strangers are friends are going to be out at Chris Freeman tomorrow, and don't forget to tune in from 4-6pm tomorrow for the show! I'd love to meet some listeners!

Sidebar Updates!

Just wanted to let you know to peek over at the sidebar... it's finally been updated, so take a look and mark your calendars to be at The End on the 29th for a WRVU/Left Can Dance extravaganza.  Plus, I'll be DJing a set.  A good time will be had by all.

Pitchfork Rundown: Sunday

Finally......

Sunday, July 20
1:25 p.m. High Places --
Ehhh. I've heard some of their recorded stuff and been alright with it (while not crazy about it), and this set was no different. It was hot as hell, they weren't very engaging, and the music wasn't entirely my taste.
"Canary"

2:20 p.m. HEALTH -
Oh, the HEALTH controversy. I haven't heard anything but their remix album (which, admittedly, is a lot of fun to dance to) and hype and hype and hype, and I was pretty disappointed. Their schtick seems to be hurling themselves around like mad and pausing to look really fucking exhausted at every opportunity. I would believe the latter, except that they all walked onstage looking, well, really fucking exhausted. Clinging to drums and sinking to the ground and inhaling great lungfuls of air and panting them out at us. I didn't buy it.
"Crimewave" (Crystal Castles v. HEALTH)

3:15 p.m. King Khan & the Shrines ++
Such a phenomenal, engaging, entertaining band really doesn't need to rely so much on fodder for the crowd. Their live show is so great off of their personalities alone, that the rest just seems to get in the way. I was neutral on Khan's gold cape and navy boxer briefs (in this crowd, I was just thankful they weren't American Apparel briefs), but really bothered and put off by the bands 'cheerleader', some chick in a blue flapper dress and gold-spangled underwear that I saw way too much of. Where the musicians' glee was infectious, hers seemed affected. Khan doesn't need the act--why include it? It would have been better without.
"I Wanna Be a Girl"

5:00 p.m. The Dodos +++
My surprise hit of the festival. I particularly enjoyed the standard aluminum trash can serving as a kick drum.
"Nerds"

7:00 p.m. Spiritualized +++++
SO LOUD. SO DAMN GOOD. We were in the second row, near-deaf, dancing around gleefully. The soul singers added a perfect element, and the Spaceman was stoic and weird as ever. After two shows I got used to the routine: never a word between songs, never an acknowledgement of the crowd's yells, then a sudden act of violence--battering into a microphone or hurling a guitar across stage--before exiting, coming back on to clap at the audience, and exiting for good.I was so struck by this show and seeing them again in Nashville Tuesday night that I got goosebumps when I realized how close I was to them. We worked our asses off for an encore, but it didn't happen. Does anyone know if these guys have ever played an encore?
"Soul on Fire"

8:00 p.m. Dinosaur Jr. ++++
This probably pulled the most diverse crowd of the festival, and
"Back to Your Heart"

Friday's Playlist

What a weekend.

I had every intention of having a moment to update you all, but what with the party preparations, the Protomen show, and being exorbitantly hungover on Sunday (I slept until seven pm. I nearly missed daylight.) it never happened. But god, what a show it was, and god! what a party it was. I am of the firm belief that one should always sacrifice their blogging for the hedonistic hours of the weekend. So, no apologies! Thanks for tuning in Friday, and here's your playlist:

The Faint, "Posed to Death" from Danse Macabre (Saddle Creek)
C.C. Adcock, "Stealin' All Day" from Noise Makers (Yep Roc)
British Sea Power, "Please Stand Up" from Open Season (Rough Trade)
Apples in Stereo, "Golden Flower" from Electronic Projects for Musicians (Yep Roc)
Jarvis Cocker, "Big Stuff" (Rough Trade)
Kentucky Nightmare, "Caroline" from Take Her Favour (Self-released)
Rogue Wave, "Cheaper Than Therapy" from Asleep At Heaven's Gate (Brushfire)
Josh Ritter, "Rumors" from The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (Sony BMG)
The Billionaires, "Highschool High" from Really Real For Forever (Too Soon)
Rilo Kiley, "Does He Love You?" from More Adventurous (Brute/Beaute Records)
Ferraby Lionheart, "A Crack in Time" from Catch the Brass Ring (Nettwerk)
Eleni Mandell, "Wings in His Eyes" from Miracle of Five (Zedtone)
The Acorn, "Do You Not Yearn, At All?" from The Pink Ghosts (Paper Bag Records)
The Apples in Stereo, "Shine a Light" from Tone Soul Evolution (Sire Records)
Tilly and the Wall, "Cacophony" from O (Team Love)
The Protomen, "Unrest in the House of Light" from The Protomen (Self-Released)
Wax Fang, "The Doctor Will See You Now" from La La Land (Self-released)
How I Became the Bomb, "Kneel Before Zod" from Let's Go! (Self Released)
Cheap Trick, "Surrender" from Heaven Tonight (Epic)
Meemaw, "Blue in the Blacklight" from Glass Elevator (Infinity Cat)
Robbers on High Street, "Married Young" from Grand Animals (Yew Line Records)
Hot Chip, "Ready for the Floor" from Made in the Dark (DFA/Astralwerks)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Gold Lion (Diplo Remix)" from Show Your Bones (Interscope)
Creature, "Brigitte Bardot"
Chromeo, "Fancy Footwork" from Fancy Footwork (Turbo)
HEALTH, "Crimewave" from Disco (Lovepump United)

Pitchfork Rundown: Saturday

I'm back from my wonderful weekend away from work and house repairs and GRE prep, and back at the grind over the lab bench. Pitchfork 2008 was great for a lot of reasons, despite the rain on Saturday which kicked in just enough to birthe a giant mud pit and ruin my shoes, and despite my friends who were incensed that I wouldn't leave and miss Dinosaur Jr. on Sunday. Come on!

Thanks again to Kate for subbing on Friday, and you can check out all she played here!

Below is my rundown of the bands I saw on the first day of Pitchfork. The second day is forthcoming. We took it a little easier this year, and instead of either camping out at a stage or refusing to take a break from the music all weekend, we did a little shopping (I scored Cheap Trick's Heaven Tonight on vinyl for 5 bucks!) and actually tried the food (the ginger chicken was supreme). This means I saw slightly fewer bands, and was not in the front for all of them--although I came pretty close for a few. I had great company--my friend Mike and his crew on the first day, and my two indie cousins on the second day--and actually didn't get sunburned this year! I also shared my sunscreen with about half a dozen red-necked hipsters, made friends with (most of) the crowd around us, and had a delightful weekend.

Check it out.

Saturday, July 19
1:30 p.m. Jay Reatard ++
Loud, sweaty, and full of energy, barely stopping long enough between songs to yell out the next one before plunging forward. Near noise-rock.
"An Ugly Death"

2:00 p.m. Caribou +
I was too far away.
"After Hours"

4:00 p.m. Dizzee Rascal ++
The token hip-hop group of the year. The field filled up with pot smoke and Dizzee succeeded in making us "Bounce! Bounce! Bounce!"
"Is This Real"

5:00 p.m. Vampire Weekend +
Too pop-arrific for my taste. Still, fun and energetic and not at all a waste of time.
"Oxford Comma"












6:00 p.m. !!! +++
Front row! Lots of pelvic dancing, lots of banter, lots of touching. Nic Offer spent half his time atop the speakers and half his time being stroked by the crowd. There was a kind of sad exchange when a girl insisted upon giving him her giant purple sunglasses, then insisted he keep them--"I don't like sunglasses... they make me feel like I'm trying to be cool"--then, as a weak recovery--"Quick, take your picture. I'm going to take these off in a minute, but I'll wear them whenever I'm trying to be cool. Thanks." Ouch.
"All My Heroes Are Weirdos"






7:00 p.m. The Hold Steady +++
God, I love them. I don't think a single other band of the festival had so much fun onstage, enjoyed the crowd so much, or made it so damn impossible to sing along.
"Party Pit"
























8:00 p.m. Jarvis Cocker ++
I was barely close enough to appreciate the show and didn't really have intentions of staying the whole time (or paying too close attention) but I was completely drawn in by Jarvis Cocker. Aside from the fact that "Common People" is a staple in my danceparty mixes (and really, that doesn't mean anything), I'm ashamed to say I don't know much of Jarvis Cocker's work, and am looking forward to checking out the forthcoming album this fall.
"Big Stuff"

I'll post my rundown of Sunday sometime Thursday or Saturday. Don't forget to tune in Friday to win tickets to see Apples in Stereo, as well as a copy of Electronic Projects for Musicians!

Playlist, 7/11

It was so great to be back in the station this week. The giveaways were chaos, so thanks to all of you who were willing to be a part of that chaos. Remember, I'll be doing more next Friday (the 25th) when I get back in town!

To top it off, Friday I met a fan of the show. See, we never see our listeners--half of our job is based on faith alone. We hope people are listening. We're noncommercial, so we have no way to quantify you, to figure out your demographics, to even know if anyone at all is tuned in. It's absolutely my favorite thing to meet a listener who really likes the show and makes a point to listen in. It blows me away.

And then on top of that, I discovered that the listener who called in and proposed to me some time ago is actually a real, sane, interesting person. So apparently, I should have said yes.

Enjoy the music below. I'll try to post a few more times before I leave town on Friday!


British Sea Power, "No Lucifer" from Do You Like Rock Music?
Liam Finn, "Lead Balloon" from I'll Be Lightning
Mates of State, "Get Better" from Re-Arrange Us
Islands, "Life in Jail" from Arm's Way
Happy Birthday Amy, "This Song Is About Monsters" from Sue
Glossary, "Almsgiver" from The Better Angels of Our Nature
Portishead, "The Rip" from Third
Caitlin Rose, "T-Shirt" from Dead Flowers
Santogold, "Unstoppable" from Santogold
Black Mountain, "Wucan" from In the Future
Spiritualized, "All My Thoughts" from Ladies and Gentlemen we are floating in space
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, "Gardenia" from Real Emotional Trash
Gospel Gossip, "Wind" from Sing Into My Mouth
The Helio Sequence, "Shed Your Love" from Keep Your Eyes Ahead
Bonnie Prince Billy, "For Every Field There's a Mole" from Lie Down in the Light
DeVotchKa, "The Clockwise Witness" from A Mad and Faithful Telling
Margot And The Nuclear So And So's, "Skeleton Key"
Lucero, "She's Just That Kind of Girl" from Rebels, Rogues, & Sworn Brothers
New Buffalo, "Cheer Me Up Thank You" from Somewhere, Anywhere
Akudama, "Out Again" from Johnny Appleseed EP
Electric President, "Insomnia" from Electric President
Sigur Ros, "Inni Mer Syngur Vitleysingur" from Meo suo i eyrum vio spilum endalaust

Unconfirmed Disappointment: Mucklewain 2008

So after a slew of phone calls, emails, and drunken shouts that Mucklewain 2008 was going to happen, I'm fairly certain it is not.  If you haven't already figured that out from the lack of news, it's been fairly confirmed by some of the folks who helped get it together last year.  I'm very, very sad to hear that news, but not surprised. Disappointed as well?  Here's what you should do.

Go to http://www.myspace.com/mucklewain and leave a comment or send a message to Joie Todd.  If you went last year or the year before, tell him what the festival meant to you.  Tell him how far you drove to get there, tell him what acts you liked, tell him about the people you met, tell him what your Mucklewain was like.  Most importantly, just tell him thanks.  He needs to know how much we appreciate all he's done for the festival, and how glad we are that it happened last year.  If you haven't been but want to go, tell him what you've heard about it, tell him why you want it to happen again.  Tell him that we'll keep holding out for a Mucklewain 2009, or 2010, or 2020.  Tell him you'd be happy to help spread the word, or recommend bands, or get your business/radiostation/friends involved.  Let him know!

At any rate, I'm so glad I heard about Muckelwain in time to make it to last year's festival.  I won't forget about it--don't you either.

EDIT: Giveaways, Giveaways!

EDIT: Due to a last minute change in plans, I won't be leaving town this weekend, but I will be gone next weekend.  That means: show tomorrow, no show on 7/17.  Lots of giveaway edits.  Read below.

The good news: Kate from Say Yes! To Music is going to sub for me (next week I hope)!  She just started her first summer DJing and is doing a kickass job of it, so I'm glad to be able to give her some drivetime.  Tune in and let her know if you like what you hear!

The better news:

This week as well as the week I get back, July 11th and 25th,  will be a blowout of giveaways.  

This week I'll be giving away a slew of tickets to Forecastle Festival (see forecastlefest.com for details), including 2 3-day passes, 2 Sunday VIP passes, and a few other 1-day passes that have not yet been claimed.   Also, I'll be giving away two passes to see Spiritualized at the Mercy on 7/22!  

Only July 25, I'll be giving away a pair of tickets to the Apples in Stereo show on 7/29 with Poison Control Center and Big Fresh at the Mercy Lounge.  The show's 18+ and kicks off around 9pm.  And along with your tickets, you'll get a copy of the Apples' latest album, Electronic Projects for Musicians.

So mark your calendar for this Friday and next and make sure to tune in from 4pm-6pm CST on your drive home.  Or listen in at WRVU.org if you don't have a radio nearby.  Giveaways will start shortly after 4pm and continue throughout the show.

Feel free to ask if you've got any questions, and get yourself geared up for all the great music in and around town!

Minimix: The reason I haven't posted in a week and a half...

I'm back from the family beach trip, which was a delightful mess of competitive tubing and aggressive drinking, long days out on a boat and long evenings playing beach games, family sing-alongs and incredible food.  It would be unfair to say I'm the oddball of the family, because it's so obvious we've got the same blood--we're loud, boisterous, active, always talking and socializing and enjoying each other.  My indie-hipster leanings are somewhat the exception.  The cousins gather together with a deck of cards and a cooler of Summer Beer and listen to Rihanna and other top 40 until five AM hits and we've got enough energy left to walk nextdoor and sleep until noon.  The whole family gets out the banjo, or the guitar if there's not one around, and sings "Margaritaville" and "Bitin' My Fingernails" and even all seven-and-a-half minutes of "American Pie".

With only about thirty of us at the beach this year, we weren't as big of a group as usual, but with aunts, uncles, grandparents, boyfriends, in-laws, cousins, second cousins, great-grandchildren... we're a crowd.

So after that wonderful exhaustion, I came home and immediately packed up the minivan and began the move to my new house!!!!! which I couldn't be more excited about.  It's old as hell and covered in ivy and KA fraternity brothers lived in it last year and left us a keg and a bunch of beer and a hole in the ceiling and I love it.  My closet is larger than the kitchen of the last place I lived.  I'm just completely ecstatic about being there.

But, the move has kept me busy (since I've also been working 830-5) and the point of that whole spiel was that I have not posted because I have been out of town and moving.

Also, I won't be able to do my show this week because I'll be in Wisconsin for a wedding, and the week after that I'll be in Chicago for Pitchfork!  So, my deepest apologies.  This week I've got a kickass sub, Brandon Spencer from Nashville Mixtapes, so check him out and see what you think.  I'm not sure about the week after that, but I'll let you know.

In the meantime, to make up for it, here's a minimix of songs loosely related to what I've been doing this week.  Enjoy!

The Dalloways, "A Place to Call Our Home"

Art Brut, "Moving to L.A."

The Spinto Band, "Brown Boxes"

Arcade Fire, "Neighborhood #2"

Beach House, "Home Again"

Playlist, 6/20

Thanks to everyone who called in this week with requests or to win tickets. Sorry I didn't have more to give away! Check back here in the upcoming weeks for more info about tickets, in-stations, local shows, etc. but in the meantime, don't expect an update until the 1st or so. I'll be heading over to sunny North Carolina this Sunday with my family--which means aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, in-laws, cousins' kids, boyfriends, and on and on--for a week of competitive tubing, competitive drinking, and competitive sunbathing. Then I'll be moving into a new house the day I get back in town, which is sure to take all the fire out of me for a few days. If anyone wants to sell me a dresser, desk, or bed, let me know....

Req	New Rel	V/A	Artist	Song	Album	Label	Genre
			Sol Seppy	1 2	The Bells of 1 2	Gronland Records	Other
			M. Ward	Right in the Head	Internet Release	Merge	Other
			The Bicycles	Two Girls From Montreal	The Good, The Bad, and the Fluffly	Label Unavailable	Other
	X		Kink Ador	Little Sister	Get Lucky	Self-Released	Other
			Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins	Happy	Rabbit Fur Coat	Team Love	Other
			The Jealous Girlfriends	I Quit	The Jealous Girlfriends	Self-release	Other
			Donovan	Wear Your Love Like Heaven	Donovan	Legacy	Other
	X		Spiritualized	Soul on Fire	Songs in A&E	Fontana	Other
	X		Bombadil	Julian of Norwich	A Buzz, A Buzz	Ramseur	Other
	X		Portishead	Machine Gun	Third	Mercury	Other
			Explosions in the Sky	Look Into the Air	How Strange, Innocence	Sad Loud America	Other
	X		Mates of State	Great Dane	Re-arrange Us	Barsuk Records	Other
			Zookeeper	Snow in Berlin	Becoming All Things	Self-release	Other
	X		The Futureheads	Walking Backwards	This Is Not The World	nul records	Other
	X		The Wedding Present	Santa Ana Winds	El Rey	Manifesto	Other
			Cory Branan	Sour Mash	Live on Antennas to Heaven	None	Other
			Dr. Dog	The Old Days	Fate	Park the Van	Other
			Silver Jews	Punks in the Beerlight	Tanglewood Numbers	Drag City	Other
	X		She and Him	I Was Made For You	Volume 1	Merge	Other
			Rufus Wainwright	April Fools	Rufus Wainwright	Dreamworks	Other
			Dragonette	Get Lucky	Galore	Mercury	Other
			Bloc Party	Hunting for Witches	A Weekend in the City	Vice Records	Other
			Chromeo	Call Me Up	Fancy Footwork	Vice	Other
			How I Became the Bomb	Secret Identity	Let's Go!	Self-Release	Other

Quick Update

Tune in tomorrow to win tickets to....

The Voodoo Experience

October 24-26

New Orleans

Featuring The Stone Temple Pilots, R.E.M, Nine Inch Nails (full lineup to be announced Monday!)

www.thetenthritual.com

Forecastle

July 25-27

Louisville

Featuring Dr. Dog, Method Man, Groovatron, and plenty more

www.forecastlefest.com

Kink Ador's CD release party for Get Lucky

Wednesday, June 25

12th and Porter

Featuring Spoken Word Jen, Jon Nicholson, Dan Cohen, Chip Green and others

$5

That's four separate pairs of tickets being given away (2 for the last show mentioned) and a TON of chances to win.  So tune in.  The giveaways will start promptly at 4pm.

Thanks for listening!

Playlist, 6/13

Here's the playlist from this week. The Early Evening were excellent company in the station, and don't forget to catch them tomorrow night at The 5 Spot around 9pm. I'm planning on being there, so if you make it out, come by and say hello! And don't forget to tune in next week for a chance to win tickets to Forecastle.

Rock Plaza Central, "When We Go, How We Go" from Are We Not Horses?
Emma Wallace, "Exceed My Expectations" from A Reason to Stay Up All Night
Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, "The Charging Sky" from Rabbit Fur Coat
Ra Ra Riot, "Each Year" from Ra Ra Riot
Luna, "Dear Diary" from The Days of Our Nights
Cory Branan, "Crush" from The Hell You Say
Neutral Milk Hotel, "Gardenhead/Leave Me Alone" from On Avery Island
Happy Birthday Amy, "The Holidays" from Sue
Mogwai, "Killing All the Flies" from Happy Songs for Happy People
The Wedding Present, "Don't Take Me Home Until I'm Drunk" from El Rey
Mates of State, "The Re-Arranger" from Re-Arrange Us
The Shout Out Louds, "Impossible" from (Impossible)
Architecture in Helsinki, "Heart it Races" from Places Like This
Les Malicieux, "We Are Okay" from Demos
Blackstrap, "The Bitter, The Sweet" from Steal My Horses and Run
The Early Evening, "Heavy Lids" from Everyone's a Legend
The Early Evening, "People" from Everyone's a Legend
The Early Evening, "Sleeping in Your Arms" from Everyone's a Legend
Amy LaVere, "Killing Him" from Anchors & Anvils
The Mountain Goats, "Autoclave" from Heretic Pride
Matt Pond PA, "The Crush" from People Have a Way

Playlist, 6/6

Thanks to everyone who tuned in on Friday to listen to the show. As I mentioned, I've got a lot of good stuff coming up in the upcoming weeks, so check the sidebar to keep updated on in-stations and ticket giveaways! Also, thanks to those of you that called in and didn't hang up on me (read below). You put me in a much better mood.

Req	New Rel	V/A	Artist	Song	Album	Label	Genre
			Spiritualized	Shine A Light (Unreleased Mix)	Friendly Fire	Dedicated Records	IndieRock
			Professor Murder	Free Stress Test	Professor Murder Rides the Subway	Kanine	IndieRock
			Elf Power	Venus and Mercury	Internet Exclusive	Rykodisc	IndieRock
			Electric Touch	Don't Be Afraid	Electric Touch	Label Unavailable	IndieRock
			Mary Epworth and the Jubilee Band	The Saddle Song	Internet Release	Self-Released	IndieRock
			Stephen Malkmus	The Hook	Stephen Malkmus	Matador	IndieRock
			Numero 6	Da piccolissimi pezzi	Quando arriva la gente si sente meglio	Label Unavailable	IndieRock
			Good Shoes	We Are Not the Same	Think Before You Speak	Brille Records	IndieRock
			Caitlin Rose	Answer in One of These Bottles	Dead Flowers	Theory 8	IndieRock
			Nouvelle Vague	Dance With Me	Bande a Part	Peacefrog	IndieRock
	X		El Perro Del Mar	Inner Island	From the Valley to the Stars	The Control Group	IndieRock
			Spoon	Johnathan Fisk	Kill the Moonlight	Merge	IndieRock
	X		M83	Kim & Jesse	Saturdays = Youth	Mute	IndieRock
			Mogwai	Tracy	Young Team	Jetset	IndieRock
X			Ryan Adams and the Cardinals	Let It Ride	Cold Roses	Lost Highway	IndieRock
	X		Islands	Creeper	Arm's Way	Anti-	IndieRock
			Sun Kil Moon	Unlit Hallway	April	Caldo Verde	IndieRock
	X		Portishead	The Rip	Third	Mercury Records	IndieRock
			Cinerama	Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang	This is Cinerama	Scopitones	IndieRock
			Centro-Matic	I, the Kite	Dual Hawks	Quality Park	IndieRock
	X		Hotpipes	The Future Is Where We Belong	Future Bolt	Liquid Panda	IndieRock
X			Tokyo Police Club	Your English Is Good	Elephant Shell	Saddle Creek	IndieRock
	X		Be Your Own Pet	Twisted Nerve	Get Awkward	Ecstatic Peace/Universal	IndieRock
			Sea Wolf	You're a Wolf	Leaves in the River	Dangerbird	IndieRock
			The Hold Steady	Massive Nights	Boys and Girls in America	Vagrant	IndieRock
			M. Ward	Four Hours in Washington	Transistor Radio	Merge	IndieRock

A view from this side of the board...

I wouldn't call myself a calm person by any stretch, but I love confrontation and can tolerate a great deal of criticism.  What I can't tolerate is rudeness.  A listener who was less than inspired by the Mogwai song I played this week called in, said "Thank God that's over." and hung up on me.  The first half didn't piss me off, the second half did.  If you don't like what I'm playing, feel free to check out 107.5 or NPR or Jack.FM or put in a CD or a tape or sing to yourself or SOMETHING, but don't be rude to me.  Feel free as well to call me and let me know that you didn't like the song.  I don't mind.  Just give me a chance to explain to you that you not liking the song is never going to stop me from playing it.

We here at WRVU don't play the music we play so that anyone and everyone can appreciate it.  We don't care about the least common denominator.  We play it because we like it; we hope some of you do.  We play it because we believe that not everyone likes the same music.  We play it because we want what we love to have an audience--and if two hundred people turn off their radios and two people buy the album, we've been successful.  If we believed that our entire audience had to enjoy a song for it to be worth playing, we'd be another commercial Top 40 station.  

I know you think your music taste is THE BEST.  But do you remember how much you loved those ridiculous pop-punk bands when you were thirteen?  Or maybe you, like me, went through a ridiculous country music phase at age twelve.  Get over yourself.  I love it when we like the same music; I love it when you call in and want to know the name of a band, or where to buy an album, or when to catch someone live.  But the moment you start thinking that our DJs should be catering to your interests, you're missing the point.  We're not here for YOU.  We're here for the music.

So when you want to call in and tell me (or any of us) that you didn't like a song we played, keep this in mind: it's not your show.  When you call in and say you don't like a song and treat us rudely, you don't even make it to the status of music elitist--you come across like an asshole.  So for god's sake, at least give me the courtesy of a response.

Forecastle Festival Ticket Giveaways

Thanks to the generous folks up at Forecastle, forty-two of you guys will be joining me (and some other WRVU'ers) up in Louisville this July for a weekend of excellent music of all sorts, from hip-hop to twee, along with fifteen grassroots artists and about fifty activist organizations represented. Along with the big-ish names you probably all recognize, I'm thrilled to see several Nashvillians represented--The Protomen are playing the pre-party, and All We Seabees are playing Saturday morning. The tickets are fairly cheap for a three-day pass, but if you'd like to grab some for free, a bunch of WRVU shows will be giving away all kinds of passes in the upcoming weeks--single day, two-day, three-day, and a few exclusive VIP passes. For the record, I have no idea what it means to be a VIP at Forecastle, but it can't be bad, right?

To get a pair of tickets, tune into any of these shows:

Mon 6/9 5-7pm Assorted Fruits and Cheeses 2 Friday passes

Tuesy 6/10 8pm-12am Any Colour You Like 2 Saturday
Thurs 6/12 10pm-12am Nashville Mixtapes 2 Saturday
Sat 6/14 2-3pm The Funky Four Elements 2 Sunday

Sun 6/15 10pm-11pm Seagulls Over Nashville 2 Friday
Fri 6/20 4-6pm Antennas to Heaven 2 Sunday

Sun 6/22 10am-12pm The Mixdown 2 Friday
Mon 6/23 7-8pm All Your Summer Songs 2 Saturday
Thurs 6/26 10pm-12am Nashville Mixtapes 2 Sunday
Sat 6/28 2-3pm The Funky Four Elements 2 Friday

Sun 6/29 6-8pm Positive Spin 2 Saturday
Mon 6/30 5-7pm Assorted Fruits and Cheeses 2 Sunday
Tues 7/1 10pm-12am Any Colour You Like 2 Friday

Sun 7/6 10am-12pm The Mixdown 2 Saturday
Sun 7/6 6-8pm Positive Spin 2 Sunday
Mon 7/7 7-8pm All Your Summer Songs 2 Fri-Sat
Fri 7/11 4-6pm Antennas to Heaven 2 3-day

Sun 7/13 10-11pm Seagulls Over Nashville 2 Sat-Sun
Mon 7/14 5-7pm Assorted Fruits and Cheeses 2 Fri VIP
Tues 7/15 10pm-12am Any Colour You Like 2 Sat VIP
Fri 7/18 4-6pm Antennas to Heaven 2 Sun VIP

Good luck!

I am a failure as a music blogger.

So my mac is fixed and I am back in dear old Nashville, and I feel like the last two weeks has lasted for about two months. I have no idea who's playing in town next month. I have no idea who released an album while I was gone. My bloglines account is overwhelming. I haven't had a personal computer in two weeks, and I've been useless.

I'd be lying if I swore this nearly month-long siesta will never happen again. I don't aspire to be I Guess I'm Floating, or You Ain't No Picasso, or, you know... overly consistent. I keep busy. But I'm back for the summer, and at the very least, I'll be supporting the radioshow still. So keep listening! And keep reading. Please?

But we have passed the illustrious 1/3 of the way done point for the year, and I'm taking a peak at all the albums that have the potential to stick it out and make that album-of-the-year list come January. Some of these may not have the staying power, and some others that have already been released may come back and surprise me, but in the meantime:

Beach House, Devotion

"D.A.R.L.I.N.G."

Black Mountain, In the Future
"Black Cat" (from the bonus disc)

British Sea Power, Do You Like Rock Music?
"Waving Flags"

Caitlin Rose, Dead Flowers
Okay yeah, it's an EP, and for that reason alone I guess it HAS to get knocked off the list, but it's just so damn good.

Destroyer, Trouble in Dreams
"Foam Hands"

DeVotchKa, A Mad and Faithful Telling
"Transliterator"

Elf Power, In a Cave
"The Demon Daughter"

Foals, Antidotes
"Balloons"

Happy Birthday Amy, Sue!
"Bait"

The Mountain Goats, Heretic Pride
"Sax Rohmer #1"

Portishead, Third
Okay, I confess: I have not even heard this album yet. I'm going to pick it up tomorrow afternoon. But I love Portishead too much, and I can't wait to hear this one.

Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin, Pershing
"Oceanographer"
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Real Emotional Trash
"Baltimore"
Tapes N' Tapes, Walk it Off
"Demon Apple"

Tokyo Police Club, Elephant Shell
"Graves"

Umbrella Tree, The Church and the Hospital
"A New Job With The Police--A German Song"


And a second post will be forthcoming with the playlist from the radioshow (today at four!) and updated local concert calendar. I'm shaping back up! Just for you guys!

Bad news: my darling mac is having problems. Specifically, when I reboot it, the clock resets to 1961 and no applications (including the one that controls the clock) will open. And now, it seems to be temporarily rendering any charger that touches it unusable. So I can't shut it down... and now I can't charge it. I made it last through exams so that I would last through exams, but now that I'm done (HURRAH) my poor baby is going to have to get some work done. It's that time in its life, but I'm just praying it's not done for. Good news: Done with school, more time for posting, but now I've got no online access to my music, and little computer access. I'm also about to be cruising around the country for two weeks--Myrtle Beach, Charlottesville, and Champaign if you want to say hello--but I've got hardly any computer access in the meantime.

I'm just about to fold.

So I'm going to go work on wrangling up some cash to pay for a new computer, and sorry for being an utter failure as a blogger lately.

Alive!

But barely.  On Friday I was bitten by a spider, swelled up, spent the morning at the doctor's and got put on a bunch of meds.  Unfortunately, the pain meds made me sick and didn't get rid of the pain, so I quit taking those and am going at it alone.  

But pain meds and all, I made it to the show Friday (half an hour late after being at the doctor's all day) and I'm damn glad I did.

Instead of trying to type up all the things that I've missed what with exams and spiders, go HERE to check out the playlist from two weeks ago, and HERE to look at the songs from this week.  Below are some featured songs that I particularly enjoyed.  

So sorry for the break from the blog, and I promise I'll be around more often now.  

Cibelle, "London, London" from The Shine of Dried Electric Leaves

Beautiful summer music featuring Devendra Banhart alongside Cibelle, relaxed and floating.

Emma Wallace, "Exceed My Expectations" from A Reason to Stay Up All Night

Another sweet piano ballad from a singer/songwriter out of Florida, who deserves more attention than she's getting.

Umbrella Tree, "Schizophrenia" from The Church and the Hospital

FINALLY, the latest from Nashville locals, dischordant and strange and delightful.

The Gutter Twins, "Idle Hands" from Saturnalia

By request from a listener, grunged-up rock with dark breathy screams and sexy vocals.  What the Donnas wish they could do.

Sorta, "Eight-Five Feet"

Folk-indie storytelling, simple lyrics, true story.

Nouvelle Vague, "Teenage Kicks" from Nouvelle Vague

Sweet, smooth, delicately sung version of The Undertones' classic.

Tokyo Police Club, "Tessellate" from Elephant Shell

Yay, TPC finally released a full-length!  Playful, handclap-ful, crashing along.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, "Oceanographer" from Pershing

Can we all just take a moment to revel in how GOOD this album is?  

Foals, "Olympic Airways" from Antidotes

Frantic indie electro-pop, repetitive and bouncy and light.

The Protomen, "The Will of One" from The Protomen

You all caught the show Saturday, right?  Cowboy-robot rock has never looked so good.

SOS

FINAL DAYS OF CLASSES..... SO MUCH WORK.... GOING INTO HIBERNATION UNTIL APRIL 24TH.  KEEP LISTENING TO THE RADIOSHOW.  CAITLIN ROSE ON THIS WEEK.  I PROMISE I'LL BE BACK.............

Playlist, 4/4/08

I know, I know--I really need to start putting this up sooner.  Mediafire keeps giving me errors when I try to upload songs, so I don't know if it's a problem with my internet or a problem with Mediafire--I'm inclined to believe the former.  ROAR.  I'm going to keep trying, but here's the playlist nonetheless.

As an explanation of my lateness, though, I'll plug the show I've spent all weekend and all yesterday and will spent all of the rest of my time until Saturday working on--

Original Cast!

If you enjoy musical theatre, you should come out to the Johnson Theater at TPAC this Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, to watch a musical revue including songs from Godspell, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Cabaret, and Into the Woods.

I will be behind the scenes running the show (stage managing) so you won't actually see me on stage, but the show's fun nonetheless.

Tickets are ten dollars and can be bought at the door or at ticketmaster.

See you there?

Lula Córtes and Zé Ramalho, "Nas Paredes de Pedra Encantada, Os Segredos Talhadas por Sumé" from Paebirú

We Will Build, "Drive Through Three" from untitled collection

Yeaysayer, "Germs" from All Hour Cymbals

Half Handed Cloud, "You've Been Faithful to Us Clouds" from Halo's & Lassos

Turbo Fruits, "The Run Around" from Turbo Fruits

Mstrkrft, "She's Good for Business" from The Looks

Quiet Life, "Were You Singing" from Act Natural

Built to Spill, "Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss" from Ancient Melodies of the Future

Elf Power, "The New Mythology" from In a Cave

Lucas Haas, "Kemp" 

DeVotchKa, "Transliterator", from A Mad & Faithful Telling

M, "La Bonne Etoile" from Qui de Nous Deux

Sigur Ros, "Agaetis Byrjun" from Agaetis Byrjun

Umbrella Tree, "A Horse That Will Come When I Whistle" from What Kind of Books Do You Read?

Lucero, "I Can Get Us Out of Here Tonight" from Rebels, Rogues, & Sworn Brothers

The Magnetic Fields, "Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side" from 69 Love Songs

Panther, "Violence, Diamonds" from 14 kt. God

Editors, "Heads in Bags" from Rarities

Dinosaur Jr., "Nothing Going On" from Ear-Bleeding Country

BOAT, "Clogged Castle" from Songs That You Might Not Like

Bobby Bare Jr., "Flat-chested Girl from Maynardville" from Young Criminal's Starvation League

Stephen Malkmus, "Baltimore" from Real Emotional Trash

The Hold Steady, "Yr Little Hoodrat Friend" from Separation Sunday

Ladytron, "Seventeen" from Witching Hour

Enon, "Believo" from Believo!

Live on Antennas to Heaven

Yesterday was highly productive, and I finally got the CD burner in the production room at the radiostation working again!  So to celebrate all that, below are a slew of live songs and interviews from bands I've had on in the last couple of years.  Some I've posted before, some are brand brand new, but they're all delightful, at least to me.  You can also pretty much tell how long I had been DJing by the difference in my voice from when I first started doing the show until now.

So, to kick things off....

Meemaw--Last week's show in its near entirety.  Starts when we played "D.A.N.C.E." for Wes, and goes all the way to its sweet conclusion.

Beat It / Original Sin--Live with Meemaw.  Turns out, no one actually knows the words to "Beat It".

Amy LaVere--Check the sidebar--she's coming back in town in a month or so!

"Washing Machine" 

"Overcome"

"That Beat"

LYLAS--One of the very firsts I had into the station.

"Do You Believe in Blood?"

"My Sleepwalking Summer"

Cory Branan and Ben Nichols--One of my favorites.  Fifty three minutes of live music, recorded music, and Ben and Cory being charming.

"Last Night in Town"

"Sour Mash"

"She Wakes When She Dreams"

"Jumper Cables"

Excuses, Excuses... and the Playlist

Thanks for the nudge, stranger.  I'm making excuses, but I woke up on Sunday feeling totally awful and have been trying to recover from that seasonal bug since then.  This morning I coughed up a golfball sized wad of phlegm.  Yum!

But seriously, last week's show was a blast, and thanks to Meemaw for not only toughing it out for all two hours, but also being one of the best groups I've had in.

The playlist is rather short due to all the live stuff that was going on, which I'm going to try to get up online soon.  For some reason mediafire wasn't working last week, which is why no songs got posted--I'm going to try it again right now and see what happens.

But seriously, sorry I'm being such a slacker.  It's that season for theatre and for schoolwork and for me being sick, which makes an awful combination.  Plus, I had a shitty weekend.   I think it's time to get some friends my own age.

But here's the thing that made the weekend for me: after the radioshow, we grabbed dinner with Meemaw and some friends from Infinity Cat, who told us that the whole gang from Critical Mass was huddled around a radio in Dragon Park listening to the show and singing along in the rain.  That's like eight of my radio listener fantasies all rolled into one.  Thanks, Critical Mass!  Then we ate fried pickles and grilled cheeseburgers (and Daniel ate chicken gizzards......) and made plans for their upcoming tour, including sending Jessica running into the venues with her hands tied and duct tape over her mouth, and posing as inhabitants of a post-second coming Earth.  Then we had to explain to Jessica what Costco was.

The Mae Shi, "Kingdom Come" from Hllyh

Meemaw, "Blue in the Blacklight"--prerelease

MGMT, "Weekend Wars" from Oracular Spectacular

Justice, "D.A.N.C.E." from [cross]

Espositio, "Ditch" from Esposito

Meemaw, "Fever Dreaming" --prerelease

Stephen Malkmus, "We Can't Help You" from Real Emotional Trash

The Apples in Stereo, "The Golden Flower" from Electronic Projects for Musicians

Born Ruffians, "Hummingbird" from Red Yellow & Blue

DeVotchka, "Along the Way" from Mad & Faithful Telling

Meemaw, "Gingerbreadman"--prerelease

The Billionaires, "Highschool High" from Really Real for Forever

The Apparitions, "Electricity & Drums" from As This is Futuristic

Chromeo, "Call Me Up" from Fancy Footwork

The Aislers, "Red Door" from How I Learned to Write Backwards

The next post is going to be a slew of live things from past guests I've had in if I can get the darn program at the radiostation to burn things for me again.  She's finicky. 

Then, since we're officially 1/4 of the way through the year, I'm going to post the ten albums most likely to make my top-20 list at the end of the year, mostly for my enjoyment.

Also, I saw Once and didn't like it AT ALL.  Go ahead indie music world, slaughter me.

Playlist, Friday 3/21

I had a blast at Friday's show.  Thanks to all of you who called in with requests!  I have to say, as much as I love having guests in, there's nothing quite like just spending two hours with just the music.  Tune in next week to catch Meemaw and win tickets to the Weakerthans!

Peter, Bjorn and John, "Chills" from Writer's Block

Sibylle Baier, "Tonight" from Colour Green: Classic German folk recorded in the 1970s that hasn't garnered any recognition until her son passed her recordings along to Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis, who passed it along to Orange Twin and got this album released in 2006.  Beautiful.

Alec Ounsworth, "We Met at the Cemetery" (Demo):  Clap Your Hands Say Yeah demo, not currently on any releases of theirs but played frequently at live shows.  Expect to see it on an album in the future.

Cory Branan, "Jumper Cables" live on Antennas to Heaven:  From last time Cory Branan and Ben Nichols were in the studio, unreleased.  I can't get over this song.

Brooke Waggoner, "So So" from Fresh Pair of Eyes

Ween, "Blue Balloon" from La Cucharacha

Beach House, "All the Years" from Devotion

Jimmy Eat World, "Lucky Denver Mint" from Clarity: A throwback to my youth.  I loved this album; I still do.

Mates of State, "Middle is Gold" from Team Boo

Neutral Milk Hotel, "Holland, 1945" from In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

School of Language, "Rockist, Part I" from Sea From Shore

The Mattoid, "I'm Gonna" from The Glory Holy

The Mae Shi, "Pwnd" from Hllyh

Elf Power, "Paralyzed" from In a Cave: To be released this Tuesday!  I'm way excited about this one.

Kelley Stoltz, "To Speak to the Girl" from Circular Sounds

These United States, "The Business" from A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden

Lucero, "Last Night in Town" from Nobody's Darlings

Pavement, "Silence Kid" from Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

Wrens, "This Boy Is Exhausted" from The Meadowlands

Band of  Horses, "Our Swords" from Everything All the Time

Dinosaur Jr., "Just Like Heaven" (Cure cover) from Ear-Bleeding Country

Pixies, "Hey" from Doolittle

The Mountain Goats, "Autoclave" from Heretic Pride

The Ladybug Transister, "The Reclusive Hero" from Argyle Heir

Circulatory System, "The Lovely Universe" from Circulatory System

Meemaw, "Fever Dreaming" (Prerelease)

Sian Alice Group, "Murder" from 59.59

XTC, "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her" from The Big Express

Sian Alice Group tomorrow at 6pm on WRVU!

Updated:  Just spoke with Rupert, and apparently Sian's lost her voice since SXSW and the band is going to have to cancel their show tonight as well as the WRVU appearance.  As far as I know the other bands will be playing still, and Sian Alice Group have promised to come back this summer to play Nashville and come on the radioshow then.  They're really sad to be missing it (as am I) and I'm looking forward to seeing them next time.

Tomorrow the kids from Penguin Parade are graciously donating forty-five minutes of their show for me to come in and chat with a band who I've had a whirlwind love affair with since I stumbled upon a writeup in a local Chicago paper, Sian Alice Group.  I looked them up online, listened to a few tracks, sent them a myspace message, and  a few hours later was talking with one of the founders on the phone about coming into the station.  

It's a wonder I've gone this long without catching word of them.  Their debut album, 59.59. is rich with dark, melodic chants and bassnotes and something sounding like birdcalls, evoking references to Black Mountain and Spiritualized.  I can only imagine how it's going to translate into a stripped-down set tomorrow.  They opened a few shows for the Spiritualized in fact, and their debut even features John Coxon as a special guest.  Also, you may recognize Douglas Hart (crazy hair and leather jacket above) from Jesus and Mary Chain, another past love of mine.

They're playing at The End with The Fear & Trembal, Kissing Robots, and Billie, kicking off at 8pm according to The End (so really, 9 or 10).  Tune in tomorrow at six for a preview!

From 59.59:

"Murder"

"Way Down to Heaven"

Since we last talked

It's been an exhausting couple of days getting used to being back in town and having work to do once again.  Did anyone make it out to Black Mountain on Monday night?  More on that later maybe, but despite Black Mountain being one of those bands that just kind of comes out onstage and plays rather than performs, I thought the music was even better live and I didn't even mind the guys playing air guitar in front of me.  I may have even swung my hair around a little bit.  Fist-pumping definitely occurred.

 

I will be back at the radiostation for the show this Friday, but I'm sad to say it will be an abbreviated version.  I'll have to head out after the first hour to go get the theatre ready for the ballet show that evening.  (If any of you make it over to the Troutt theatre at Belmont, I'll be calling the first dance!)  The first hour, though, will be better than ever. 

Happy Birthday Amy (who you may remember from the WRVU benefit about a month ago) will be coming in the station to play some music and chat before all their upcoming performances next week!   Tune in at four for a sneak preview of their very first full-length, Sue.  Amy will be performing a free solo show at Grimeys on Tuesday (3.18), and the full band will be celebrating their CD release next Friday (3.21) at The End, which promises to be fun as well, with Eureka Gold and Hot New Singles opening the night.  I'll definitely be there if I'm in town.  HBA always puts on a great show!

From EP:

"Bait"

"Mystery Scars"