Hippies Are Dead

Do Make Say Think: New Record, East Coast Dates

2009-11-06T07:39:00.000-08:00

Do Make Say Think have long been a staple on the playlist. We first heard about them through their tight Broken Social Scene connection, and have been digging on their unique sound ever since. The band manages to create a sonic landscape that toes the line between fuzzy rock, ambient goodness, and melodic genius. Their classic records You, You're A History In Rust and & Yet & Yet are both go-to albums for long drives, meditative moments, or when we are simply in a mood to be enveloped by the environment of a recording.

That being said, we were psyched to discover that the band has a new record entitled The Other Truths. Comprised of four tracks entitled "Do", "Make", "Say" and "Think", the record is nonetheless most assuredly not an EP. Each track clocks in at over ten minutes (with the exception of "Think"), and the record has a playtime longer than many of its peers, despite the low track count. In terms of sound, some of the band's more familiar elements are there, but they've also managed a bit of a departure.

Where older DMST records had a clear sonic link to Broken Social Scene, this time around they seem to have completely broken away and claimed complete ownership of their own vibe. All of the familiar elements are there: sprawling epic arrangements, intricate guitar lines, percussive genius, and unquestionable melody. It's simply that something of the feel of the record has gained distance from Broken Social Scene. In short, it simply sounds like the two groups are less entangled, and DMST has found themselves more comfortable in their own skin.

Of course, the question on our minds is how this will translate to the live show, and luckily we have a chance to find out. The band will be returning to North America at the end of November, after an extensive European tour. When they do, they'll be making stops at a number of East Coast venues, including two stops in New York at the Music Hall of Williamsburg and Bowery Ballroom (see below). While we heartily recommend DMST's records, we'll take it a step further and say that you'd be even better off catching their live show. This is the kind of music that begs for live interpretation, and this is the band to to do it. See you out there!

mp3: Do Make Say Think - Do

Do Make Say Think Fall 2009 North American Dates
25 Nov Montreal CA Sala Rossa
26 Nov Montreal CA Sala Rossa
27 Nov Cambridge US Middle East Downstairs
28 Nov Brooklyn US Music Hall Of Williamsburg
29 Nov New York US Bowery Ballroom
30 Nov Philadelphia US First Unitarian Church
1 Dec Washington DC US Rock and Roll Hotel
2 Dec Pittsburgh US Brillobox
3 Dec Pontiac US Crofoot Ballroom
4 Dec Chicago US Lincoln Hall
5 Dec Chicago US Schubas Tavern
12/13 Dec Toronto CA Enwave Theatre

The Antlers Played The Independent - Pictures, Review

2009-11-05T06:38:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, we stopped in at The Independent to check out a set from The Antlers. The band has been taking up a gradually expanding spot on our playlists in both San Francisco and New York, and we were curious to see what would come of their live show. Their record, Hospice, is a meticulously crafted masterwork that extensively uses some extremely subtle sonics. As such, we were really interested as to what the band might be able to pull of live. In short: quite a bit.

The show at The Independent is part of the "Sleepy Sun" tour (more dates below), and amidst the band's considerable hype from various sources, the crowd was clearly anxious and excited to hear what the band had to offer. As the set commenced, it became clear that the band's strengths live are the same as those on the record. The set's traversal of Hospice was an epic journey in beautiful melancholy that managed to rise its head above the gloom.

Lead singer Peter Silberman simply has a fantastically beautiful voice. When combined with the outstanding compositions from Hospice, the band somehow manages to make a record that for all intents and purposes should be miserable, completely lovely. And really, that's what it comes down to: The Antlers are making fantastic, brilliant, beautiful music. Yes, it's coated in a veneer of misery, but the reality is that if you haven't heard Hospice or caught the band live, it should go in your calendar. As in, now.

Photos by Ujjwal Sarin

mp3: The Antlers - Kettering

The Antlers, Fall 2009 Dates
Nov 6 THE DOOR w/ Minus The Bear Fort Worth, Texas
Nov 7 JAGZ w/ Minus The Bear Pharr, Texas
Nov 8 WHITE RABBIT w/ Minus The Bear San Antonio, Texas
Nov 10 WORKPLAY THEATER w/ Minus The Bear Birmingham, Alabama
Nov 11 FIRESTONE (Anti-Pop Fest) w/ Minus The Bear Orlando, Florida
Nov 12 40 WATT CLUB w/ Minus The Bear Athens, Georgia
Nov 16 BODEGA Nottingham
Nov 17 13TH NOTE Glasgow, Scotland
Nov 18 DEAF INSTITUTE Manchester
Nov 19 COCKPIT ROOM 3 Leeds
Nov 21 CROSSING BORDER FESTIVAL The Hague
Nov 22 CROSSING BORDER FESTIVAL Antwerp
Nov 24 NOUVEAU CASINO (Les Inrocks) Paris
Nov 25 BUSH HALL London
Nov 27 HOPE Brighton
Nov 28 LENNONS Southampton
Nov 29 LOUISIANA Bristol
Dec 1 CLWB IFOR BACH Cardiff, Wales
Dec 2 SALA APOLO Barcelona
Dec 3 SALA CARACOL Madrid
Dec 4 ACADEMY 2 Dublin
Dec 15 BOWERY BALLROOM w/ Uninhabitable Mansions & Sharon Van Etten! New York, New York

More Details Emerge On New Spoon Record, Band Delivers Free Live Track

2009-11-05T06:18:00.000-08:00

Spoon at Portland's Crystal Ballroom, from the HAD Archive

We can taste it: we're on the cusp of the excitement and press deluge that comes when a record we really care about is on the verge of release. In this case, it's Transference, the Spoon full length that is on target to drop on January 26th of the new year. From what we've heard at the band's live shows, the record promises to be chock full of some fantastic songs.

Keeping that in mind, we were psyched to stumble upon this short interview with Spoon frontman Britt Daniel. In it, Daniel discusses the new record's sound, referring to it as "uglier" and consisting of "demos, or tracks that started out as demos". What's more, it reveals that "Written In Reverse" is set to be the first single from the record, and that the included version of "Got Nuffin" is in fact unique from the version on this year's EP.

All this has us (and we assume, you) extremely excited for Spoon's new LP. So much so, in fact, that you may need something to hold you over. Luckily, Spoon is the band that keeps on giving, and they just posted a live version of "Everything Hits At Once" as their November "bonus" on the web. We've provided a link below, and we recommend you grab it: this version is a distinctly grittier take on the cool studio production of the original, and really emphasizes the breadth of Spoon's awesomeness in the live environ. Enjoy!

mp3: Spoon - Everything Hits At Once (Live)

The Beatles: "Hey Bulldog"

2009-11-04T04:40:00.001-08:00

Okay, we'll start with the truly embarrassing part: we'd never really given "Hey Bulldog" a listen. The reasoning is rather strange, and bit meandering. First, there's the fact that it's not on any of the "real" Beatles record: the song was only issued as part of the Yellow Submarine soundtrack. As such, it didn't get any play in our standard spins of Beatles wax. What's more (and this is the truly silly part), for some reason we thought it was a cover. It's hard to say why exactly; maybe it's all the covers the band was doing in the Let It Be era, or maybe it's just the silly title. Regardless, the fact remains that "Hey Bulldog" was waiting in the wings, and now that we've given it some attention, well, oh my.

Our attention returned to the track with the reissue of The Beatles' catalog back in September. Picking up the discs led to a summary listen (straight through) of the band's entire catalog, and that meant exposure to a lot of the band's music that we had perhaps considered "tier two". And frankly, we're glad that it did: listening to some of the band's older records that were perhaps less "innovative", you realize they were kicking ass from day one. Not that it's exactly a shock, but sometimes it's nice to have a little validation of the mainstream assumptions.

Fast forward to the end of our listening marathon, and the record Mono Masters 2. The second disc of the band's singles collections, the album is a virtual greatest hits record. But there's a catch: The Beatles put very few of their singles on actual records, so while Mono Masters is loaded with hits, none of them are on the actual records! When you realize how many Beatles tunes there are that aren't even on actual records, well, it's rather astounding.

But, back to our focus: "Hey Bulldog". The tune sits at the end of Mono Masters 2, and despite having blindly skipped it so many times, we were on a listening marathon, so we sat with open ears. And we were astounded. This was no cover, this was no cheesy 1950's ripoff, it was a sweet, sick, Beatles jam of the best kind. The informed among you (no doubt) will be shaking your heads, but we'll be frank: we could give a shit. Discovering this track was like discovering a long lost friend we never knew we had. It's The Beatles at their creative peak, and moreover at their silly, unencumbered best. In short, it's fantastic.

The track is driven by a classic piano riff and a duet of Lennon/McCartney vocals. Combined with a fantastic bluesy melody and guitar line, the tune simply exudes the best in carefree rock and roll. Even better is that as the track continues, it gradually becomes looser and looser, while still managing not to lose any of its rock solid structure. As the track draws to a close, McCartney and Lennon devolve into comedic barking, and then the band returns in full. In short, it's a sonic tour de force.

The track (apparently) was put in the can after recording, and only resurfaced a few years as the need for new material arose. As such, the record company put together an after-the-fact video of the band recording the song in studio (see above), and the rest, as they say, is history.

In general, we'd advise staying on top of your shit: pay attention, listen carefully, and don't make presumptions. But, sometimes, the reverse can be true. Sure, we could be bummed that we only just now came upon "Hey Bulldog", but the fact of the matter is that it's sort of a gift. The Beatles haven't been making music for almost forty years, and despite the fact that they keep leaking progressively more studio material, they're never going to record anything truly new. So, that being said, we'll take whatever chance we can get to stumble into a Lennon/McCartney composition with reckless abandon, even if it means having been in the dark for far too long.

mp3: The Beatles - Hey Bulldog

Mount Eerie Played Market Hotel - Review, Pictures

2009-11-02T21:16:00.001-08:00

On Halloween we stopped by Bushwick's Market Hotel and took in what's probably the most holiday-appropriate show we've ever seen: Mount Eerie headlined a night of music that served to emphasize the band's progressively darker direction. Not only that, but they also brought along a couple of bands that were far darker, Liturgy and Malkuth, and presented them to a crowd that was unquestionably enthusiastic. We don't know whether it was the Halloween vibe or simply a crowd shift of Mount Eerie's fan base, but one thing was for sure: Phil Elverum has embraced his dark side.

The night started off with a set from No Kids, and the band delivered a set of synthy dance-pop that was enjoyable, if not a tad on the typical side. Interestingly, the band's drummer is in Berlin, so Phil Elverum has been filling in as drummer for the tour. We're not sure if it affected the band's sound much, but we're guessing no: Elverum did a solid job holding down the parts. Probably the most intriguing thing about the band was that, for a relatively simple stage setup, they managed to get an incredibly full, fleshed out sound.

No Kids were followed soon after by Malkuth, and at that point, things got loud. We're going to admit: our vocabulary and knowledge of the metal scene is limited, so if we step on any toes here, we apologize. That being said, Malkuth delivered a set that was unquestionably drenched in feedback, noise, and most noticeably a distinctive drone. The band's sound was built around two guitars playing off of each other, and driving forward repetitive riffs which, to be frank, at times reminded us of live Velvet Underground records.

Liturgy was up next, and things that had gotten loud, stayed loud. The band were all done up in their Halloween-best: Kiss face makeup abounded. Their set started out with a cacophony of layered vocals that reminded us more than a little bit of some Liars records. However, from there the band stabbed straight into a set that was built around a foundation of heavily distorted vocals and guitars. The crowd was receptive, and the band clearly had more than a few fans in attendance.

After two hours of actual metal, the return to Mount Eerie was surprisingly mellow. No matter how much noise or edge there is to their new record, it still felt like home after so much aural aggressiveness. Elverum's voice was in top form, and the band managed to create a depth to the sound that allowed for astonishingly solid recreations of the record's arrangements.

Not only did Mount Eerie's touring band consist of all the members of No Kids, but it also included two drummers, who came together to allow for a sound that was a mass of layered percussion and analog drone. Thankfully, the mix was extremely well delivered, and despite the massive sound of the instrumentation, the vocals (which, let's be frank, are a huge part of the draw of Mount Eerie's sound) were clear throughout.

While the entire set was rock solid, we have to say that our favorite moment was an almost-dancey version of "Between Two Mysteries". It rounded out an evening that was an homage to Mount Eerie's continuing evolving sound, and Phil Elverum's embrace of more and more genres as his musical vocabulary expands. Was it for everyone? Probably not, but was it interesting? You bet.

Mount Eerie is on tour now.

Many more pictures at the HAD Archive

Spoon Drop Tranference Promo Video

2009-11-02T11:18:00.000-08:00

At this point we're willing to gobble up whatever's available when it comes to Spoon's new record Transference. Case in point: the above video. It's not exactly monumental, but we still love it to the max. The band added it their web site after last week's announcement of the new record's imminent arrival.

Excited? Yes. Very.

Spoon's Next Full Length, Transference Drops In January

2009-10-30T14:07:00.000-07:00

Spoon at The Fillmore, from the HAD Archive

Well, we waited patiently for almost two years, got tided over by an EP, and now here's the real deal: Spoon's next full length, Transference, is set to drop on January 26th of the new year. Given HAD's penchant for being shamelessly addicted to Spoon, you won't be surprised to learn that we're shit-out-of-our-minds-psyched to hear this news. Anything from Spoon is a treat in our book, but if this record builds on the awesomeness of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, well, then it's set to be nothing short of a masterpiece. Interestingly, the record closes out with "Got Nuffin" - we're curious to see if it'll be the same recording as on the EP. Regardless: Can. Not. Wait.

Spoon - Transference, Track Listing
01 - Before Destruction
02 - Is Love Forever?
03 - The Mystery Zone
04 - Who Makes Your Money
05 - Written In Reverse
06 - I Saw The Light
07 - Trouble Comes Running
08 - Goodnight Laura
09 - Out Go The Lights
10 - Got Nuffin
11 - Nobody Gets Me But You

mp3: Spoon - Written In Reverse (Live At The Fillmore)

Phoenix's Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix: Deluxe Edition Unboxing

2009-10-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

We'll start with this: if you're not prepared for some nerd out fan-boy time, then go now, because that's what this is all about. Specifically, Phoenix's deluxe box set for their record Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Consider yourself warned.

We received the box set (from Europe, par avion) a while back, and we've been meaning to get these pics out to you, dear readers, for a while. In short, the box set fulfills our Phoenix fetish to the max, by offering up a box set that feels distinctively handmade, and gives real insight to the making of this fantastic record.

The set comes in a "pizza box" that was apparently silkscreened by hand by Laurent Brancowitz, which makes sense given that the guitarist designed the record's art in full. It's immediately obvious not only that the materials were hand silkscreened, but also that the sets were assembled by hand.

The set contains the CD of the record, along with an exclusive documentary entitled "Musicvision". We have yet to view the DVD, but keep your eyes peeled for a review. Interestingly, we also decided to rip the CD when we received it, and discovered a vastly different mix from the one we had been listening to. We have no idea where the set of mp3's we have came from, but there are a number of slight differences. More noticeably, "Girlfriend" is a completely different rendition (see below), and "Lasso" is quite a bit faster. Hmmm.

Next up are a number of art pieces that Brancowitz put together for the package. The first is a staple-bound 'zine that is made up of photos taken during the Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix sessions. The 'zine is a neat little assembly, and manages to give a nice abstract vibe, while not feeling too contrived.

The 'zine is backed up by three really nice prints of Brancowitz's photos. The prints are high quality 8x10's, and again: the handmade vibe is immediately apparent. The prints were made in small batches, and the back is even imprinted on the back with the name of Brancowitz's file names. Suffice it to say, these weren't printed at a record plant.

Finally, there's the vinyl: the set comes with two slabs of vinyl: one of the record itself, and another of demos for the album entitled "The Wolfgang Diaries". The record is in a hand silkscreened sleeve, and comes with a nice high-gauge plastic dust jacket. Given our penchant for vinyl goodness, we were extremely pleased.

However, we're even more excited about The Wolfgang Diaries. The vinyl is printed to look much like old school bootleg pressings, and contains a vast number of tracks. We haven't given it a spin yet (turntable's in the shop), but you can bet that hearing these tracks has us more than a little excited.

So, that's about it: is it worth it? To us, absolutely. The handmade feel, loads of exclusive material, and overall "perfect" container for Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is exactly what we've been looking for. The fact of the matter is that this is a record that has ruled our life for the better part of this calendar year, and having it be worshipped in this manner is by no means overkill.

mp3: Phoenix - Girlfriend (Early Mix)

Julian Casablancas Played The Tonight Show, And It Was Good - Video

2009-10-28T13:05:00.001-07:00

As a lead in to his month-long residency in Los Angeles, Julian Casablancas delivered "11th Dimension" on Conan last night, and in a word: awesome. To any of the doubters out there, this performance should do a great deal to solidify that The Strokes' frontman's solo efforts will not be a disappointment.

The performance starts off a little dry feeling, but once it kicks into high gear and Jules gets comfortable, it's nothing but fucking awesome. Combine that with the fact that the singer looks outstanding and is backed by a band called "The Sick Six", and well, you've got our vote.

mp3: Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension

The Postmarks Played The Canal Room - Pictures, Review, Setlist

2009-10-27T21:08:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday we made our way to the Canal Room to check out The Postmarks' CMJ showcase, and we'll tell you this: if you weren't there, you missed out. Put simply, the band delivered a set that transcended their (already fabulous) records, and completely solidified them as a relevant and exciting live act.

If you're already a fan of the band (as we are here at HAD), then you may be sitting there telling yourself "well, yes, of course, they're a great band". But then, in a way, you'd be wrong. Because if you've only heard The Postmarks records, then there's simply a huge part of the band's talent and sound that you have yet to be exposed to.

Before checking out the show, we have to admit that we were flummoxed as to how they would take their carefully crafted 60's throwback sound and deliver it in a simple rock club. The fact of the matter is that the band's sound on record depends heavily on orchestration, intricate arrangements, and delicate sonics. Not exactly the ideal situation for trying to deliver night to night on the road.

So how does one solve such a conundrum? Apparently by taking the sound on the record and completley turning it on it's head. In short, the band took their trademark sound and completely overhauled it. Drenched in feedback-y goodness, the band employed the live rock setting assuredly to their advantage, as they took the bombast of wall of sound production and put it through an unrepentant shoegaze filter.

The result was exceptional: the character and identity of the songs was maintained, but infused with an unquestionable vitality unique to live environment. What's more, the band unquestionably demonstrated their aptitude, as they blasted through a set that was comprised of bulletproof instrumental technique. In short (if you haven't figured it already), we loved the set. It was emblazoned with energy, and left us not only loving the show, but with an even greater appreciation of the band's recorded output as well. Moreover, it brought us to the conclusion that we can say to you without reserve, this: go see The Postmarks live, as soon as you can.

Setlist
More photos at the HAD Archive

Frightened Rabbit Drops New Seven Inch, Video

2009-10-27T07:45:00.000-07:00

Considering that Frightened Rabbit's Midnight Organ Fight was our favorite record of last year, it's common sense that we're more than a little amped up to hear some new output from the band. Well, our waiting has paid off: the band is on track to release a seven inch on November 16th that will contain two new songs: "Swim Until You Can't See Land" and "Fun Stuff". The material is apparently not from the band's much-anticipated third full length, but is instead a preview of what the band has been up to.

"Swim Until You Can't See Land" is a mellow tune in the vein of "Good Arms vs. Bad Arms", but with a more fleshed out string section. The tune is definitely solid, but also firmly on the more tender, straightforward side of Frightened Rabbit.You can download below, as well as check out the video above.

The B-Side, "Fun Stuff", is an even more stripped down number, consisting of an incredibly roomy sound, an acoustic guitar and a small string section. You can stream it over at FatCat's website.

Suffice it to say, that between these two tracks, it's turning out to be a pretty mellow fall for Frightened Rabbit. While we're definitely not disappointed (the songs are solid, and certainly hold their own), we're definitely hoping that the new record won't be ballads across the board. One of the things that makes Frightened Rabbit so interesting is their incredible ability to fluctuate across sonic dynamics, and to lose that would be a shame.

mp3: Frightened Rabbit - Swim Until You Can't See Land

Land Of Talk Delivers New Videos On Eve Of Fall Tour

2009-10-27T07:28:00.000-07:00

We'd already mentioned that Land Of Talk had managed to line up a bi-coastal tour and a new EP for the fall. Well now it looks as though they're getting even more gears going by dropping videos for a pair of tracks off of last year's Some Are Lakes. In the past two weeks videos have popped up on YouTube for both "Troubled" and "It's Okay", and both are pretty damn slick.

"Troubled" (above) is a nice film-y walk through the woods, following lead singer Liz Powell as she walks through the woods lighting sparklers. It matches the tune quite well with its quiet simplicity.

"It's Okay" (also above) is quite the opposite, as it delivers an uber-fantasty animation of wolves and horses and skull faced riders. Frankly, we're at a loss as to its connection to the tune, but as an art piece it's positively stellar.

Given the rainy weather, we're thinking that should tide you over here in New York. Meanwhile, the band is kicking off their tour tonight in San Diego, where it is most certainly not raining. Next week the band will be heading north, and hitting San Francisco on Monday night at Cafe Du Nord. They'll be making it to New York on November 21st, when they'll be playing Mercury Lounge. We can't wait.

mp3: Land Of Talk - Troubled

Land Of Talk Fall 2009 Dates
Oct 27 Casbah San Diego, California
Oct 29 Spaceland Los Angeles, California
Oct 30 The Cellar Door Visalia, California
Nov 2 Cafe Du Nord San Francisco, California
Nov 4 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, Oregon
Nov 5 High Dive Seattle, Washington
Nov 6 Nightlight Lounge Bellingham, Washington
Nov 7 Biltmore Cabaret Vancouver, British Columbia
Nov 12 Segal Centre - CBC Radio 2 Routes Montreal Montreal, Quebec
Nov 21 Mercury Lounge New York, New York

Julian Casablancas Continues New Album Lead Up: Release Details, New Song

2009-10-22T15:17:00.000-07:00

The lead up to Julian Casablancas' first solo record, Phrazes For The Young, continues its onslaught this week, with some announcements regarding the release, and more of the new material gradually leaking it's way onto the internets.

First, the release has been pushed forward to November 3rd, which means you'll have to wait a bit longer. However, if you can manage to stifle your anxiety, then you'll also be able to purchase the ever-popular "luxury" edition of the record (pic above), which is going to include:

* A 48-page classically bound storybook containing original and exclusive artwork, full album lyrics, B-Side lyrics, "Phrazes," and photographs – Each book will be personally signed by Julian Casablancas.
* A DVD containing filmed solo acoustic performances by Julian, an interview, the album trailer and the “11th Dimension” music video.
* 2 CDs: CD 1 will contain the full-length album and CD 2 will contain five song demos from the album and three B-Sides (demos only available in the Luxury Edition).
* A 180 gram vinyl LP of the album.
* A double-sided (24” x 36”) poster.
* A Cult Records pin.
* The Luxury Edition is housed in a beautiful custom designed antique-style box.

For $90, we gotta say that's not exactly a bad deal. The vinyl and CD alone would probably run you $30-40, so the addition of the DVD and other goodies is a nice bonus. What can we say? It's probably a tad overpriced, but we're big enough fan boys that we're probably gonna snag one.

Now, onto the good stuff: A bunch of snippets from the record leaked last week, and have since been taken down. However, still available is the track "River Of Brakelights", which Casablancas has begun streaming on his web site. You can snag a download below, and suffice it to say: we likey. What's more, Jules is scheduled to be on the tonight show next Tuesday, and then the record drops the following week. Frankly, the more we hear of it, the more we like it. Can you tell we're getting very excited? Well, we are: this shit is gonna rule our (and your) world.

mp3: Julian Casablancas - River of Brakelights

Treasure Island Festival, Day 2 - Photos, Review

2009-10-22T14:46:00.000-07:00

After the awesomeness of day one, we were more than a little excited to get back out to Treasure Island and enjoy the festival's "rock" flavored day. The fact that the TI is somewhat broken up by genre does mean that the crowds differ bit. Not enough that you could point to one factor, but definitely enough that there was a notable change in the air between the two. Sunday's crowd was definitely ready for some solid rock, and the festival definitely did not disappoint.

We started out our day checking in with local faves Vetiver. Given that we love their latest record, and highly enjoyed their show at GAMH earlier this year, we weren't exactly surprised to see the band put on a fantastic performance. That being said, it was pretty clear that the band had transcended some folks' expectations: the crowd was totally rapt, and so were we. If this band didn't already have a solid "keep an eye on them" label, they certainly do now.

From there we stopped in on probably the most hyped band this side of the globe, and caught a set from Grizzly Bear. All hype aside, these guys definitely do deliver live, so it's hard to be snarky about it. The set's dynamic was interesting, as it seemed to start incredibly high energy, and gradually mellow out. An unusual direction for a rock show to go in, but for Grizzly Bear, it seemed to work.

The Walkmen were up next, and what can we say? These guys are clearly in their prime right now. We were wowed by their shows in New York this summer, and the energy is still there. The band delivered a blazing set that was definitely riding the wave of last year's much lauded You & Me. It's really nice to see the band back on the ball after what seemed like a year or two of semi-aimlessness between records. We can't wait for the next one.

As darkness fell on Treasure Island, we made our way to Yo La Tengo's set. Suffice it to say: the band was definitely in mellow mode. For a trio who have the potential to be the loudest thing you've ever heard, it's always interesting when they pull it way back and dedicate the set to songcraft and technique. This set was exactly that, with the band clearly invested in what they were doing, and offering a fantastic night of tunage.

Then it was time for the big show. The Flaming Lips took to the stage, and proceeded to deliver their (now well known) brand of showmanship. The plastic ball was there. The lights were there. The confetti was there. And, so was the girl having the seizure in the front row. Yes, it's sad, but strobe effects were not made for everyone. Even so, the band powered through and delivered an awesome set that spanned many old favorites, and touched heavily on their latest, Embryonic. Our assessment of the Lips continues to be what is has, and always will, be: go see the show. Just go. There's really no other way to get it.

And with that, we wrapped our 2009 weekend at the Treasure Island Festival. It was as awesome as we had hoped, and continues to build on its own momentum. It's also nice to see that both Treasure Island and Outside Lands have carved out their own niche and are happily coexisting. Let San Francisco's festival-laden goodness continue!

Photos by Brian Fong
Many more photos at the HAD Archive

Treasure Island Festival, Day 1 - Photos, Review

2009-10-22T06:59:00.000-07:00

Last weekend HAD stopped in at what is fast becoming one of our favorite San Francisco music traditions: the Treasure Island Music Festival. The festival is a compact outpost of musical goodness in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, and somehow it manages to have the feel of a huge festival and a small club at the same time. Needless to say, this is quite the accomplishment, and we were more than a little excited to get on with the 2009 lineup.

As is typical to the festival, the lineups had been split into a more "dance" day on Saturday, and a more "rock" day on Sunday. As such, we went first to catch a killer set from Passion Pit. After the energy and awesomeness of their set in September, we weren't exactly surprised to see them deliver in top form once again. That being said, it was nice to see the band solidify their live sound in our minds, and moreover get the crowd dancing with enthusiasm.

We quickly followed up with a visit to Dan Deacon's set. Deacon has fast built up a reputation for a high energy, crowd participatory set, and Saturday was no exception. Between a few well timed "dance contests", Deacon had the entire crowd dancing in short order.

From Deacon's set we moved on to catch The Streets. We've been huge fans of the band since their first record, and it always shocks us that they manage to be even better live. It's not that we don't think they have talent, it's just that the records are already great, so surpassing them is actually quite an achievement. On Saturday, they definitely had the crowd on their side, with the only notable exception being unable to convince the ladies to remove their tops. Nice try, boys.

From there we hit up the set that was probably the most crowd-anticipated of the day: Girl Talk. The band's infectious, mash-up jams are simply too much to pass up, and the crowd more than demonstrated their enthusiasm. In line with the band's sound, the stage setup consisted mainly of a DJ desk. Still, the simplicity was enough to inspire an on (and off) stage dance party that was completely over the top.

We closed out the night by hitting up MGMT's set - complete with fireworks, the band hammered through a set that covered the breadth of their debut record. While the set was definitely far more energetic and inspired than when we saw them opening for Macca, we have to say that the band still played it pretty close to vest. It's not that anything was missing from the set, more that it was just a very direct interpretation of the band's sound. That being said, we totally love that record to the max, so we were grinning like fools.

Closing out the night, Treasure Island continued to win our respect and admiration. Put simply, it's a totally killer festival that does everything right.

Stay tuned for day 2!

All photos by Brian Fong
Many more pictures at the HAD Archive

David Bowie (and Tin Machine) - "Debaser"

2009-10-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that that Doolittle is considered by many to be The Pixies masterpiece, and with good reason: the record is a killer front-to-back listen. However, perhaps less well known is that in the early 90's (with his band Tin Machine, pictured above) David Bowie covered Doolittle's opening track "Debaser" with some regularity.

While it doesn't quite have the perfection of The Pixies version, we have to admit we dig Bowie's take quite a bit. The band (who already had a pretty solid bluesy vibe going) take on the song as a sped up heavy rock version of its former self. It's not the original, but if you're a bit of a Bowie fetishist (as we most certainly are), then it's worth your time.

The version here is a fantastic sounding board feed from the band's 12-17-1991 show at San Francisco's own Warfield. Enjoy!

mp3: David Bowie (And Tin Machine) - Debaser (Pixies cover, live @ The Warfield San Francisco)

Port O'Brien Played Union Hall - Pictures, Review

2009-10-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that we've been digging on Port O'Brien's latest, Threadbare, so we were pretty amped up for their show this weekend at Union Hall. Suffice it to say, we were not disappointed. The band, sporting a brand new SF-heavyweights lineup, delivered a show that was packed with energy, delved skillfully into the new material, and most importantly left the audience begging for more. In short: totally killer.

The show, as is often the case with the band, started out on the mellow side. The band (as we mentioned) has a new lineup, but you wouldn't have known it: they were totally tight and on the mark, even in spite of a smallish amount of space on stage. The band's new lineup is nothing if not experienced: Tyson Vogel of Two Gallants has taken over percussive duties, and Gram Lebron of Rogue Wave has taken over a multi-instrumentalist role. Combine that with the band's existing lineup, and you have yourself a damn solid live act.

The really nice thing about the show was that the new material integrated extremely well with the old material: there was no vibe of "old song-new song" in the set. Rather, the set had a natural momentum of its own that built over the course of the hour or so that the band played. It also wasn't hurting things that they were playing to a crowd that was clearly packed with fans of the breadth of the band's material.

One of our favorite moments was "Calm Me Down", from the new record. The tune had a gradual buildup that was simply stunning. Apparently the band hasn't played it that much live. Well, HAD pro tip: they should! It's a brilliant tune on record, and even better live.

The band wrapped the show with their classic "I Woke Up Today" group participatory act, and we have to say it really worked. The last time we saw them it had been feeling a little tired, but on Friday it had a vitality and newness that felt completely exciting and fresh. To our ears, that vibe was indicative of a larger renaissance for Port O'Brien. With their new record and new lineup, this is a band that went through the wringer and came out on the other side the better for it. If you haven't seen them live (or even if it's just been a while), now is clearly the time to do so. Take our word for it.

More photos at the HAD Archive. Port O'Brien is on tour now.

mp3: Port O'Brien - Calm Me Down

The Dead Weather: I Cut Like A Buffalo - Video

2009-10-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

We're not totally sure why Jack White can't just up and admit that he should be a solo artist, but that doesn't change the fact that the new video for "I Cut Like A Buffalo" from the The Dead Weather (above) is a total mindfuck of awesomeness. And the tune, with it's campy droning organ riff, isn't half bad either. Checkit.

mp3: The Dead Weather - I Cut Like A Buffalo

Shane MacGownan: "Haunted", "A Rainy Night In Soho" - Videos

2009-10-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

Shane MacGowan is unquestionably a hugely respected figure in modern music: as The Pogues frontman he brought together Irish music and punk, and more importantly lent his own particular voice and lyricism to music. That's all well and good, but two of our favorite Shane moments here at HAD are perhaps two of the lesser known - we figured we'd share.

The first is "Haunted", a 1995 duet with Sinead O'Connor off of MacGowan's 1995 record The Snake (which deserves a full listen if you haven't already). The tune is not only fabulously written, and features a fantastic juxtaposition of the two singer's voices, but it also features one of our favorite Shane lyrics: "You were so cool, you could have put out Vietnam". Indeed. Check out the video above.

The second is "A Rainy Night In Soho", which is actually a Pogues B-Side. The track has never failed to pull at our heart strings, and is probably one of the best love songs ever written. Being that it's Shane, it's not without its share of blunt confessional moments, but they're easily balanced frankness that closes the tune: "You're the measure of my dreams, the measure of my dreams." Vid above.

mp3: The Pogues - A Rainy Night In Soho

Guided By Voices: "I Am A Scientist" - Video

2009-10-14T18:31:00.000-07:00

Just in case your night needed to be a little more awesome. xoxo.

White Rabbits Deliver Free Live EP

2009-10-14T17:29:00.000-07:00

We continue to be surprised by the free live music awesomeness that is Myspace Transmissions. Whoever the genius was that decided it would be prudent to deliver free live EP's from awesome bands is, well, a genius. Case in point: today Transmissions delivered an EP from HAD faves White Rabbits that is completely killer. The set completely encapsulates the performance quality that is making this band one of the best live acts out there today. Check out some video from the sessions above, or head directly to the Transmissions web site to download the complete five track EP!

mp3: White Rabbits - The Salesman (Tramp Life) Live On MySpace Transmissions

The Flaming Lips Played Conan, Insanity Ensued - Video

2009-10-14T17:05:00.000-07:00

The Flaming Lips' Embryonic dropped yesterday, and by all accounts the double-record behemoth is a striking success. We have yet to give it the full once over here at HAD, but we did manage to catch the band on Conan last night, and if the performance is any indication, these guys are more than ready to deliver on their new material.

The performance was a psyched out rave up of the tune "Watching The Planets", and was a pretty damn good example of the band's return to their rawer roots that has been being mentioned in so many reviews. While Karen O wasn't on hand for the tune (as she is on the recorded version), the band was playing as a somewhat epic six piece, complete with flashing gong. Check out the video above.

The Flaming Lips will be at the Treasure Island Festival this weekend.

mp3: Flaming Lips - Watching The Planets

EELS On Track To Release Another Record: End Times

2009-10-14T16:54:00.000-07:00

We have to admit, we thought it was a bit strange that when EELS released Hombre Lobo there was no hint of a tour. Well, now it appears we have our explanation: Apparently Mr. E was at home in Los Angeles recording a second record entitled End Times.

The record consists "largely" of home recordings by Mr. E in his basement studio, and is set to drop on January 19th of the new year. That's about all the info we have for you at the moment, so other than that you'll have to just hold your horses and be satisfied with the knowledge that there's more new EELS in your future!

mp3: EELS - Prizefighter

Port O'Brien: Threadbare

2009-10-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

We have to admit, we were a little worried. What with the media hype behind "I Woke Up Today" and the band's increasingly raucous live shows, Port O'Brien seemed headed straight for a record that would be their most conventional yet. While there's no question that the band can rock, we have to admit that it's not their strongest suit. Granted, its fun, but this is a band who made their name through subtlety. Songwriting, arrangements, and atmosphere are all elements that contributed to Port O'Brien's distinctive sound. That being so, the idea of a "rock" record left us a little bit cold. Luckily, our presumptions could not have been more wrong.

Threadbare takes everything that we dig about Port O'Brien and takes it to the next level. It's all there: the songwriting, the arrangements, the subtle production tweaks. It's even more impressive to take such subtlety and manage to wrap it in a way that still draws the listener in. Often, dreamy or subtle arrangements sacrifice accessibility or relistenability in favor of craft and art. Such is not the case with Threadbare: the band's ability to keep gentle arrangements moving forward and flowing makes the entire record an easy going, accessible listen.

Thankfully, many of the sonic elements that characterize Port O'Brien have been maintained: Cambria Goodwin and Van Pierszalowski continue to share vocal responsibilities, choral vocal sounds abound, and the instrumentation continues to be largely acoustic and percussive. It's particularly interesting to hear the band in this context after their live show has gradually become more and more electrified. Clearly they haven't lost track of their original aesthetic, but have managed to grow within it, and that's a very good thing.

The songwriting on Threadbare certainly deserves mention: the band manages to traverse the gamut from the catchy "My Will Is Good", to the lilting march of "In The Meantime". For the most part, the tunes follow the formula that Port O'Brien has become so skilled at: solid melodies backed by energetic percussion and ramshackle acoustic jams.

The record's most electric moment is the pairing of the killer "Calm Me Down" with the driving "Leap Year". We have to say: if this is the way the band is gradually going to bring their more electric elements into the recording process, then we heartily approve. The use of the electric guitars couldn't be better suited, and meshes in with the band's sound perfectly. In fact, the only weak point on the record is the tune "Sour Milk / Salt Water". While it's catchy, we just can't escape how much it shares its feel with Outkast's "Hey Ya". Sorry kids - it's just too close for comfort.

There were a lot of ways Port O'Brien could have gone with Threadbare: they have the media attention and growing fan base that in some ways begged them to release an easy rock record. Luckily, they ignored the easy road, and instead delivered a record that is a logical growth of the sound that they've been developing over the past few years. We couldn't be more excited with what we hear, and now there's just one more piece of the puzzle: we want to hear it live!

Threadbare drops today, Port O'Brien is on tour now.

mp3: Port O'Brien - Calm Me Down

Port O'Brien Fall 2009 Dates
Oct 13 Paradise Rock Club Boston, Massachusetts
Oct 14 Mercury Lounge New York, New York
Oct 15 Soundfix Records Instore Brooklyn, New York
Oct 16 Union Hall Brooklyn, New York
Oct 17 North Star Bar Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Oct 18 The Talking Head Club Baltimore, Maryland
Oct 19 DC9 Obama, Washington DC
Oct 21 Nightlight Bar and Club Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Oct 22 Pilot Light Knoxville, Tennessee
Oct 23 Criminal Records Instore Atlanta, Georgia
Oct 23 The Earl Atlanta, Georgia
Oct 24 Exit In Nashville, Tennessee
Oct 26 Rudyards Houston, Texas
Oct 27 The Cavern Dallas, Texas
Oct 28 Emo’s Jr Austin, Texas
Oct 30 Modified Arts Phoenix, Arizona
Nov 2 The Loft @ UCSD La Jolla, California
Nov 3 The Echo Los Angeles, California
Nov 4 Muddy Waters Santa Barbara, California
Nov 5 Bottom Of The Hill San Francisco, Ca, California
Nov 7 Folk Yeah Presents @ Brookdale Lodge Santa Cruz Mountains, California

Evangelicals: Fall Tour, Album Update

2009-10-13T10:07:00.000-07:00

Here at HAD we've been loving Evangelicals ever since we got wind of The Evening Descends, and caught their crazy live show. So we have to admit, we've been waiting with some serious bated breath to see what they would offer up next. Well, now that wait is over. Sort of.

The band's frontman, Josh Jones has delivered something of a cryptic "album update" in the form of the picture you see at the top of this post, along with a video that we've embedded above. Suffice it to say, it's not exactly an explicit description of what's upcoming.

Given that, we were psyched to see something that has the potential to be a little more revealing: the band has planned an extensive fall tour where (we're hoping) they'll preview some material from the upcoming full length. Regardless, we can promise you the band delivers an awesome live set; new material would just be icing on the cake. What's more, given the breadth of the tour, we're guessing they may show up somewhere near your hometown. Checkit.

Evangelicals Fall 2009 Tour Dates
10/31/09 Norman, OK - Opolis
11/02/09 Phoenix, AZ - Modified Arts w/ Holiday Shores
11/03/09 Los Angeles, CA - Echo w/ Port O'Brien
11/04/09 San Francisco, CA - Hemlock Tavern w/ Holiday Shores
11/05/09 Portland, OR - Holocene w/ Holiday Shores
11/06/09 Seattle, WA - The Vera Project w/ Holiday Shores
11/07/09 Missoula, MT - The Palace w/ Holiday Shores
11/08/09 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court w/ Holiday Shores
11/09/09 Denver, CO - Hi Dive w/ Holiday Shores
11/11/09 Kansas City, MO - The Record Bar w/ Holiday Shores, Eli August
11/12/09 St. Louis, MO - Firebird w/ Holiday Shores
11/16/09 Washington, DC - The Red and the Black w/ Holiday Shores
11/17/09 Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie w/ Holiday Shores
11/18/09 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall w/ Holiday Shores
11/19/09 Allston, MA - Great Scott w/ Holiday Shores
11/20/09 Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place w/ Holiday Shores
11/21/09 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Tavern w/ Holiday Shores
11/22/09 Chicago, IL - Schubas w/ Holiday Shores
11/23/09 Bloomington, IN - The Bishop w/ Holiday Shores

mp3: Evangelicals - Skeleton Man