thus spake drake: 07/01/2011

Thursday, July 28, 2011

CHBP 2011 - Day Two

Highlights and photos from day 2 of the 2011 edition of Capitol Hill Block Party are now up over at Bumpershine.

If I could boil it down to four words, it would be: TIM. HARRINGTON. GOES. OFF. Now, go and be amazed.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

CHBP 2011 - Day One

Recap and photos from the first day from the 2011 edition of Capitol Hill Block Party is now up and running over at Bumpershine, featuring Thurston Moore (pictured), Cults, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, The Fresh & Onlys, Kurt Vile and Fucked Up.

Thanks to most the action being in the dimly lit (or, at times, not lit at all) Nuemos, this day did not inspire so much on the photograph front. Days 2 & 3 have a few fun surprises, though, so look for that in the coming days.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Music on TV - Week of 07.25.11: They Might Be Giants

They Might Be Giants perform on Fallon, Wednesday.

Last I checked, it was still Summer, but the talkies are back in full force with a full stable of music artists on tap this week.

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon has two legends in The Kinks' Ray Davies (Monday) and Ben E. King (Thursday), and two Brooklyn based indie rock duos with Matt & Kim (Tuesdasy) and blog (and kids of blog) fave They Might Be Giants (Wednesday). TMBG just returned with another "adult" album (Join Us) which differs from the kids only slightly in subject and theme. Since those concepts mean little to my littles, it's all the same to them.

Elsewhere, look to Fallon's forebearer Letterman for some quality acts this week as well, as he has Eels (Tuesday), Anna Calvi (Wednesday), and Fountains of Wayne (Thursday) who have a new album dropping next week entitled Sky Full Of Holes.

In the 'look back in wonder' department, morning talkies on Friday have the duo of Debbie Gibson and Tiffany (Good Morning America) along with the Steve Perry-less Journey (Today Show).

Picks for the week
Monday, July 25
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Big Talk
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Tim Robbins & the Rogues Gallery Band
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Gomez
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Ray Davies
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Hugo, The Greenhornes
TBS: Conan: K.T. Tunstall
Tuesday, July 26
ABC: The View: Tim Robbins & the Rogues Gallery Band
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Features
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Eels
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Train
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Matt & Kim
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Ray Davies
TBS: Conan: Steve Byrne
Wednesday, July 27
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Anna Calvi
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: They Might Be Giants
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Grace Potter, School of Seven Bells
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: OneRepublic
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Shaggy
TBS: Conan: Funeral Party
Thursday, July 28
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Lady Gaga
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Fountains of Wayne
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Stevie Nicks
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Ben E. King
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Black Angels (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: 3 Doors Down
Friday, July 29
ABC: Good Morning America: Debbie Gibson and Tiffany
NBC: The Today Show: Journey
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Big Sean
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Soundtrack of Our Lives (REPEAT)
Saturday, July 30
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Cee Lo Green
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Kings of Leon (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: Elvis Costello, Band of Heathens (REPEAT)

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Now Downloading: New Releases 07.19.11

It's another slightly meager Summer week of new releases, and since kids are in school, They Might Be Giants are able to sneak a non-kids album out -- not that it's fooled my kids at all. Elsewhere there's the latest from Portugal. The Man, Crystal Antlers, Big Talk, Shonen Knife, Theophilius London, Jenny O., Willie Evans Jr. and the return of 311.

Playlist: New Releases 07.19.11

They Might Be Giants - Join Us
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

The two Johns, Flansburgh and Linnell, never seem to age, as they've tapped into that childish wonder (and random goofiness) that many of us lose into our 40s. Whether it's the discovery that they're songwriting lends itself to smart kids music or there is some painting in an attic somewhere of their aging faces, the duo continue to be able to put out timeless quirky pop for the kids and the kids that never quite grew up. This was supposed to be an adult album, and they almost had me believing it, opening album with the line "All of the dicks in this dick town" (from "Can't Keep Johnny Down"). But really, my kids refuse to be fooled. This is still their music, as far as they're concerned, but it's nice to have lyrics that aren't concerned with early education (although, we do get a little education with the Cephalophore in "You Probably Get That a Lot" and metalworks with "Cloisonné").

Free AOL Album Stream

Portugal. The Man - In the Mountain In the Cloud
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Portugal. The Man have been releasing an album a year since their lukewarm debut back in 2006, and it's been interesting to see their progression from a band trying to figure themselves out to the confidant neo-psych outfit they've become. In the Mountain in the Cloud marks their major label debut, and while it seems like the perfect opportunity to expand their audience, PtM see no need to change anything, other than perhaps a bit more glam rock in their already classic/psych rock style. It's not the step forward that most had hoped for, but it's also not the blatant brass ring grab that others might have feared. Instead, it's another in a recent string of fine Portugal. The Man releases.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Music on TV - Week of 07.18.11: Joseph Arthur

Joseph Arthur performs on Fallon, Wednesday night.

It's still Summer, last I checked -- even if the Seattle weather Gods want us to think otherwise -- so the selections this week are limited. But there is some gems if one looks hard enough, and usually that just involves tuning into Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, as it's back from repeat city. Of not this week Fallon has the Baltimore duo Wye Oak on Monday night, and then Joseph Arthur, who returns from his Fistful of Mercy detour with a recent solo album, plays Wednesday night.

If you're lucky to have the FUEL channel (or, better put, have enough disposable income to afford it), their Daily Habit program has San Francisco's great Ty Segall on Friday. A month later and I still can't get Segall's latest Goodbye Bread off my heavy rotation.

Picks for the week
Monday, July 18
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Viva Brother
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Icarus Line
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Imelda May
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Wye Oak
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Goldheart Assembly (REPEAT)
TBS: Conan: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Tuesday, July 19
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Theophilus London
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Del McCourey Band, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Alkaline Trio
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: 3 Doors Down
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Emmylou Harris
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Nicole Atkins and the Black Sea (REPEAT)
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Los Lonely Boys
TBS: Conan: Tedeschi Trucks Band
Wednesday, July 20
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Owl City
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Cee-Lo Green
FUEL: The Daily Habit: 3 Doors Down
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Joseph Arthur
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Janelle Monae (REPEAT)
Thursday, July 21
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Bush
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Porcelain Black
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Amos Lee
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Funeral Party
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Grace Potter, Sharon Jones
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Ziggy Marley
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Death (REPEAT)
OWN: The Gayle King Show: John Legend
PBS: Tavis Smiley: Nikki Jean
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Lady Gaga (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Aretha Franklin
TBS: Lopez Tonight: 3 Doors Down
Friday, July 22
ABC: Good Morning America: Goo Goo Dolls
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Ty Segall
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Dolly Parton
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Knux, Lost in the Trees (REPEAT)
NBC: The Today Show: Cee Lo Green
Saturday, July 23
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Adele
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Lady Gaga (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: Steve Earle, Kris Kristofferson (REPEAT)

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Now Downloading: New Releases 07.12.11

Playlist: New Releases 07.12.11

Washed Out - Within and Without
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

When Washed Out, AKA Ernest Greene, released his EP Life of Leisure, it was quickly apparent there was a new figurehead for the so-called Chillwave scene, joining Neon Indian and Toro y Moi. The formula seems clear: take the synth-based pop of the 80s and polish it up with modern recording techniques. The result on their full length debut (another win for Sub Pop) is a wholly infectious offering that goes down pretty easy. And that would be the only complaint about Within and Without, that it's so smooth it's easy to forget you even heard it. One exception is the smoothed out Howard Jones-esque "Amor Fati," with it's ear worm melody. The other highlights are the sublime opener, "Eyes Be Closed," and the lovely duet "You and I,", sung with Charlift's Caroline Polachek (a track which debuted last year on Adult Swim's free to download summer singles collection -- 8 Singles in 8 Weeks).

Free AOL Album Stream
Download: "Amor Fati" [mp3]
Download: "Eyes Be Closed" [mp3]

Eleanor Friedberger - Last Summer
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

For the past near decade, the Friedberger siblings Matthew and Eleanor have carved an interesting niche-based career for themselves as The Fiery Furnaces -- quirky pop that's overstuffed with musical turns and lyrical calisthenics. The balance that brother and sister has becomes more apparent on their solo releases. While virtuoso Matthew has practically exploded with sounds and songs over five solo releases (three so far this year), sister Eleanor's side is far more measured in approach. That's not to say that Last Summer doesn't have it's quirks -- its in no short supply -- but compared to bro-bro, she's practically Phil Collins. Last Summer is a loosely thematic release, acting as kind of a travelogue for a summer in New York, mostly Brooklyn. "My Mistakes" starts the album off aligning the album immediately with Fiery Furnaces poppier moments, while "Roosevelt Island" -- the other album highlight -- gets downright funky, with some Commodores-ish clavinet backing Friedberger's poetic delivery.

Download: "My Mistakes" [mp3]

More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs - Alone In This Together / "Alone in This Together" [mp3]
Zomby - Dedication / "Things Fall Apart" [mp3]
The Middle East - I Want That You Are Always Happy
Sons & Daughters - Mirror Mirror
Nikki Jean - Pennies in a Jar
Army Navy - The Last Place / Free AOL Album Stream
Thomas Dybdahl - Songs / Free AOL Album Stream / "Options" [mp3]
William Elliott Whitmore - Horses & High Heels
The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players - Lost and Found / Free AOL Album Stream / "Open Everything" [mp3]
The Real Tuesday Weld - The Last Werewolf
Winnie the Pooh Original Soundtrack (featuring Zooey Daschanel & M. Ward)

REISSUES
R.E.M. - Life's Rich Pageant (Deluxe Edition)
Megadeth - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying (25th Anniversary)

tags: music, album review, washed out, eleanor friedberger, indie rock, new releases

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

No Tension, All Slack

For anyone who's ever chatted about car racing over a cold Ranier, all while classic American rock-influenced indie rock is playing somewhere in the background, you've probably already attended this festival in your mind.

The lineup of Jack Wilson, Golden Blondes, Whale Bones, Joseph Giant, My Goodness, American Girls (Tom Petty Cover band), The Maldives and Moondoggies all meshed together perfectly with the sun, pints of Ranier along with the checkered flag, stoplights and flatbed setting of Slime Dog racetrack.

At some point during the American Girls set, the locals and the rest of us became sort of one, swaying to each song. Whether it's that Petty is the perfect name to marry rock to niche car racing, or everybody had just consumed enough of (your vice of choice here), there was something truly magical happening.

I spent a good portion of the festival day making sure the smallish day-only parking area could handle the steady stream of cars. It was like biblical fish and loaves of bread the way it all worked perfectly in the end, but I couldn't stop playing parking Tetris long enough to get much in the way of band shots until later, when the parking sitch was as good as it was going to get and the mix of beer and certain baked goods started to take over. But I did get some shots of some of Slime Dog's racing vehicles.

Doe Bay Festival had become THE ticket to get until Artist Home got a hold of this beauty, and I bet next year, there's going to

Until next time, Slackers!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Music on TV - Week of 07.11.11: Panda Bear

Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) performs on Fallon, Monday night.

Picks for the week
Monday, July 11
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Jill Scott (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Incubus
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Incubus
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Joss Stone
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Panda Bear
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Diplo, Alberta Cross (REPEAT)
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Barry Manilow (REPEAT)
TBS: Conan: Jessie and the Toy Boys (REPEAT)
Tuesday, July 12
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Joss Stone
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Incubus
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Barry Manilow
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Nikka Costa
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Lissie, Clare Burson (REPEAT)
TBS: Lopez Tonight: The Game with Skeetox (REPEAT)
Wednesday, July 13
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Gomez
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Incubus
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Airborne Toxic Event (REPEAT)
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Paul Stanley (REPEAT)
TBS: Conan: The Strokes (REPEAT)
Thursday, July 14
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Nikki Jean
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Incubus
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Colbie Caillat
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: James Blake
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Cee-Lo Green (REPEAT)
TBS: Lopez Tonight: MC Lyte (REPEAT)
Friday, July 15
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Parachute (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Incubus
NBC: The Today Show: Chris Brown
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Shaggy
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (REPEAT)
Saturday, July 16
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Nicole Sherzinger
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Lady Gaga (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: Drive By Truckers, Ryan Bingham (REPEAT)

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Slack Fest Bound

Who doesn't enjoy watching bands playing on the back of a flatbed truck in the middle of a racetrack?

I'll be somewhere on that Ranier-like mountain of... um... Ranier. Hopefully, I'll stay sober enough to snap some photos.

Monday, July 04, 2011

Music on TV - Week of 07.04.11: Beyonce

Beyonce performs for Macy's 4th of July Spectacular on NBC

Happy Birthday, America! Since it's summer and a holiday, why bother turning on the TV? That's the thinking, anyway, with this week's programming.

One of the only non-repeat performances of note this week has Beyonce performing for the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular on NBC. It was pre-recorded, though, and our preview for it has the singer covering the same Lee Greenwood number that's trotted out whenever patriotism needs to be faxed in. Here's a sneak peek at Beyonce wasting her talents on "Proud to be an American."

Picks for the week
Monday, July 4
ABC: The View: Weird Al Yankovic
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Hanson (REPEAT)
CBS: Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular: Boston Pops
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Jay-Z, Eminem (REPEAT)
NBC: Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular 2011: Beyonce
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Biffy Clyro (REPEAT)
PBS: A Capitol Fourth: Steve Martin, Little Richard, Josh Groban, Matthew Morrison
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Sheila E. & The Family (REPEAT)
TBS: Conan: She & Him (REPEAT)
Tuesday, July 5
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Gruff Rhys (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: White Lies (REPEAT)
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Colbert Report: The Black Belles (REPEAT)
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Natasha Bedingfield
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Givers (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Yelawolf (REPEAT)
TBS: Conan: Jenny & Johnny (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Stevie Nicks (REPEAT)
Wednesday, July 6
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Panic! At The Disco (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Lauryn Hill (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Screaming Females (REPEAT)
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Musiq Soulchild (REPEAT)
TBS: Conan: The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (REPEAT)
Thursday, July 7
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Pitbull (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Todd Rundgren (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Weird Al Yankovic, Mint Condition (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Off! (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Rick Springfield
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Sum 41 (REPEAT)
Friday, July 8
ABC: Good Morning America: Miranda Lambert
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Matt Nathanson (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Hugo (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Ziggy Marley
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Bon Iver (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Jimmy Eat World (REPEAT)
Saturday, July 9
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Example
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Ellie Goulding (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: Rosanne Cash, Brandi Carlile (REPEAT)