Hippies Are Dead

Jarvis Cocker: "Further Complications" (Video)

2010-08-27T01:18:00.000-07:00

As we sat here on a Friday morning, waiting for our flight to depart out of Laguardia, we stumbled into some free wifi, and subsequently started browsing YouTube. The result was the above video, which we somehow missed last fall, but which is utterly and unquestionably worth watching. If you're obsessed with Jarvis (as we are) then you'll no doubt find the video for "Further Complications" the best thing you've seen in quite some time. xoxo.

The 22-20s Played The Rickshaw Stop: Pictures, Review

2010-08-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday night we stopped in at Rickshaw Stop for another visit with The 22-20s, and we weren't disappointed. Much like the last time we caught up with them, the British band delivered an exquisite set of no bullshit rock and roll, and left the crowd thoroughly satisfied.

The set consisted of a mix of older and newer material, and the band seemed more comfortable with their newer stuff, perhaps due to the album having seen wide release since the last show. The band's on stage persona was completely enjoyable, and their onstage interplay, both instrumental and vocal, was a real treat.

The 22-20s manage the rare feat of sounding like 100 bands at once, but at the same time holding on soundly to their own sound. Their garage-y, melodic, guitar driven sound manages to land somewhere squarely between 60's and 90's Britain, somehow yielding the former's authenticity and the latter's modern appeal.

After a long absence, the band is unquestionably on the road back to success. Their new record is fantastic, their live show is magnetic, and they offer up an emotional take on rock music that's a true rarity these days. Currently in the midst of a US tour, we're going to advise you now: don't miss these guys.

The 22-20's play The Bowery Ballroom on September 7th

Photos By Rick Audet

Many more photos at the HAD Archive

Das Pop: "Underground"

2010-08-25T13:33:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, slightly damp from the Jelly Pool Party and unsuccessful in our bid to obtain a bootleg Lobster Roll, we stumbled into a friend's car and made our way to our local Bodega to snag some beers and snacks. As we drove through the streets of Brooklyn, we listened to a no-track-breaks mix one of us had made, and up popped this little pop gem from Das Pop.

Culled from the heart of Belgium, "Underground" was originally released as a single. The tune is awash with disco influenced strings, a killer beat (that you can certainly dance to), crunchy guitars, and a fiercely memorable vocal. More importantly, the record does exactly what a single must: implicitly demands that you listen to it over and over again.

Later, the song made its way onto the band's 2009 eponymous album, and we have to say: it fits perfectly. The rest of the record is equally poppy and delightful, loaded with hooks, melodies, and arrangements that all delve into the very best that pop music has to offer. In an age where the internet is always fixated on the latest and greatest, we're glad that we managed to avoid having Das Pop pass us by.

mp3: Das Pop - Underground

New EELS Record Drops Today, Streaming On MySpace

2010-08-24T10:10:00.000-07:00

We've been getting pumped about the latest EELS disc, Tomorrow Morning, for quite some time. Well now the day has finally come - the album hits record stores today, just in time for the band to start a fall tour. But that's not all: the band isn't taking for granted that you'll buy into their latest musical endeavor, and so the disc is streaming at the band's myspace page.

Considering the number of records the band has dropped in the past year or two, we can see how you might roll your eyes at the prospect of another disc being available already. That being said, we have to say: give this one a listen. Not only is it the most "EELS-y" record from the band in a while.

At points the record latches onto the orchestral side of Daisies Of The Galaxy, while at others it yields the most sonic experimentation we've heard from the band since their first record. In all cases, it sounds like the most invested Mr. E has been in a record in a while, and we like it.

stream: EELS - Tomorrow Morning (full album)

Spoon To Play Music Hall Of Williamsburg On September 13th

2010-08-24T09:31:00.001-07:00

Britt Daniel of Spoon at Boston's House Of Blues, from the HAD Archive

While we have yet to see official confirmation, rumors appear to be cropping up that Spoon is playing the Music Hall Of Williamsburg birthday party on September 13th. There's no word of an on sale date yet, but given that the band will be in New Jersey the day prior, it seems entirely feasible.

While there's some griping about ticket price ($33, apparently), we have to say that it's well worth it. Not only are Spoon at their very best in a close packed room, but it'll be much more up close and personal than the band's recent dates at Madison Square Garden. We. Are. Psyched.

Outside Lands 2010: The Festival

2010-08-24T08:46:00.000-07:00

For the past few days we've been bringing you the highlights of all the fantastic music at Outside Lands, but that was just one piece of the pie. This year the festival continued its awesome community-centric take on art and food, and managed to thumb its nose in the face of some gloomy weather by providing tons of entertaining between-show options.

This year's festival offered up some organizational changes, all of which went off without a hitch. To start with, the festival was shortened to a more manageable two days. The main entrance was also moved to the center of the festival, which was nice for navigation and entry. Also, the repositioning of the Sutro stage, and careful planning of set times, meant we were never hearing two bands at the same time.

On top of that, the show's logistics were perfect: shows were painstakingly on time, food was outstanding, and the festival site was kept immaculately clean. In short, it was exactly what you would want out of a festival, and made for one of the most fun weekends of the summer.

Check out the shots below for some perspectives on Outside Lands 2010!

Photos By Rick Audet

Many more photos at the HAD Archive

Outside Lands 2010: Day 2 Part 2

2010-08-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

The closing of the second day of Outside Lands 2010 brought us a whole lot of awesomeness. Not only did we get to see three killer bands, but the sun also made an appearance for the first time all weekend. Enjoying the weather, and the shows, here's a glimpse of our last day out in the park!
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Phoenix

It's no secret that we here at HAD are totally in love with the boys in Phoenix, so it wasn't exactly a shocker that they were one of the most fun, original bands we saw all weekend. We've seen the band live enough times to know we'd have fun, but frankly, we didn't realize just how giddy we'd be for another dose of French rock and roll.

Like a good omen, the sun came out just as they started to play, and stayed out for the rest of the day. The festival was packed, and Sunday was definitely more crowded than Saturday. While we can't say for sure, we have a feeling Phoenix had a lot to do with that. This was their last US show for a while and Thomas Mars was ready to bring it.

Keeping that in mind, he jumped into the crowd right off the bat. He said the band was there to have a good time: mission accomplished. The move got the crowd rolling, and it was a pretty sweet way to start the show.

As has been the case as of late, the set featured Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix heavily, and that's certainly never something to complain about. The band opened up with a killer version of "Lisztomania" and then closed out the set with the record's other big hit, "1901". The show was fantastic, and we'll just say this: our opinion has not changed.

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Social Distortion

As expected, the audience for Social Distortion was definitely a little older and there were a lot of guys all in black with dark glasses and lots of tattoos. We thought it seemed like a weird place for the band to play but they had a decent sized crowd that was super stoked on seeing them.

The stage was littered with lots of miscellaneous objects: a traffic light, toy truck, various signs saying things like "inmates stand here," "no drinking", Everlast boxing gloves, a crucifix, and an old license plate. We're not exactly sure what the aesthetic goal was, but there you have it.

In short, they sounded good. The crowd seemed happy they played "Bad Luck" and "Born to Lose". The lead singer said "It's great to be on the west god damn coast. Doesn't it seem like people on the east coast just don't get it?" We're not sure what to think of that, exactly, but it seems more likely it's the people in question, not where they're located.
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Kings of Leon

Make no mistake about it: Kings Of Leon are completely huge. They've come a long, long, way since we saw them at Axis in Boston on their first tour, and it seemed like everyone at the entire festival was there to see them.

Many screaming ladies, high school kids, and dudes chanting 'K.O.L.!' filled the field for them. In short, they have become a band that it so ubiquitous that their crowd becomes like some sort of amalgam of mainstream society. In return, the band busted out some stage antics, including plumes of magenta smoke.

As always, they definitely delivered with a solid set (complete with screaming into the guitar pickups, above) and a great show. Kings Of Leon are one of those bands who, whatever your opinions might be about them musically, it's impossible to deny that they've put in the time to become a completely killer live act. It was fitting, then, that they were chosen to close out an unparalleled weekend of rock and roll.
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Words By Christina Loff

Pictures By Rick Audet

Many, MANY, more photos at the HAD Archive

Sam Prekop: Old Punch Card, Sea and Cake Tour Dates

2010-08-20T07:06:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that we're huge fans of The Sea and Cake here at HAD: not only does the band deliver a killer live show, but they've been making fantastic records for going on 20 years. As such, it's not exactly a surprise that we've dug on the solo work of the band's frontman Sam Prekop.

Prekop's first two solo records unquestionably draw upon The Sea and Cake's sound, notably in the arrangements and his distinctive voice. While the arrangements are at times more jazzy or mellow, for fans of the band, the two releases are definitely easy to digest. When we got wind that Prekop had a new record (Old Punch Card, cover above) on tap for this fall, we were expecting more of the same.

We couldn't have been more off base: Old Punch Card is a quirky, experimental, electronic adventure. Utilizing a diversified musical palette, Prekop takes highly abstract sounds, and unifies them in a way that somehow manages to have his distinctive fingerprints all over the place. No, you won't find yourself singing along to a catchy melody or hook, but at the same time you won't be put to sleep by unnecessary noise. The record is carefully calculated, artfully delivered, and unquestionably composed.

While Prekop won't be touring directly in support of the record, The Sea and Cake will be on tour this fall - and we're psyched! The band is joining Broken Social Scene for their North American dates, including a stop at Rumsey Playfield in New York, and the Treasure Island festival in San Francisco. We don't really feel like a Sea and Cake/Broken Social Scene double bill is a hard sell, but just in case you were in doubt: it's got our unquestionable seal of approval.

The Sea And Cake Fall Tour (All Dates With Broken Social Scene)

Sep 13 Washington, DC Warner Theatre
Sep 14 Philadelphia, PA Theater of Living Arts
Sep 17 Boston, MA House of Blues
Sep 18 New York, NY Rumsey Playfield
Sep 20 New Haven, CT Toads Place
Sep 21 Northampton, MA Calvin Theatre
Sep 22 South Burlington, VT Higher Ground
Sep 24 Ithaca, NY Historic Ithaca State Theatre
Sep 25 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom
Oct 2 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre
Oct 3 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theatre
Oct 4 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
Oct 6 Winnipeg, MB Burton Cummings Theatre
Oct 7 Saskatoon, SK The Odeon Events Centre
Oct 8 Calgary, AB Macewan Hall
Oct 9 Edmonton, AB Winspear Centre
Oct 10 Kelowna, BC Kelowna Community Theatre
Oct 12 Victoria, BC Element Nightclub
Oct 13 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
Oct 14 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
Oct 15 Seattle, WA Paramount Ballroom
Oct 16 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom
Oct 17 San Francisco, CA Treasure Islands Music Festival
Oct 19 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern Theatre

mp3: Sam Prekop - The Silhouettes

Outside Lands 2010: Day 2 Part 1

2010-08-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

With Day 1 of Outside Lands 2010 behind us, we arose on Sunday psyched to catch some more rock and roll. Granted, the weather was still being a bit disagreeable, but that didn't change the fact that there was a killer bunch of bands awaiting us in the park. With that in mind, we snagged the camera, and headed out for the day!

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The Soft Pack

The Soft Pack looked sleepy and cold as they took to the stage. It has to be hard playing one of the main stages at 1pm on a Sunday, also the last day of Outside Lands.

The crowd was a bit thinner, and everyone seemed a tad groggy from the night before. Moreover, the band was on a larger stage that seemed to artificially reduce the crowd size. Nevertheless, the band delivered a totally solid set.

The crowd that was there was dancing and having a blast. Moreover, the excitement really ramped up when the band dove into "C'Mon", and the set was a thoroughly enjoyable way to start our day.

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The Temper Trap

We overheard whisperings in the press tent of those who had never heard of The Temper Trap, but we thought this Aussie band put on a great show. They were full of energy and it was nice to see the singer switch it up and play keyboard as well as guitar.

And even though their big hit "Sweet Disposition" reminds us a little too much of U2, their other songs are totally original, and we dig the heavy drums and harmonies that make for a good electropop sound.

We noticed the bass player's favorite move was the same one as that of bass player Juan Croucier from Ratt -- a move sometimes referred to as "The Dive Bomber" -- and he did it a lot. Can you really argue with a band that is one, Australian, and two, can simultaneously ape from both Ratt and U2? We thought not.
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Al Green

Let's not mince words: Al Green is one of the greats, and we were psyched to hear him. It didn't exactly hurt that his new material is pretty killer as well. Before Green took to the stage, a small group of people in the audience was chanting "We want Al!" The crowd was stoked to see him, and he definitely brought together the random mix of hipsters and hippies at Outside Lands: everyone was familiar with his music.

During the set, we overheard this tidbit: "He really works the crowd, It's like he's hitting on every woman out there all at once. Look at them!" We're inclined to agree: The ladies definitely seemed charmed by him, especially when he came out on stage and started throwing long stem roses to the women in the crowd.

The set consisted of a lot of covers, and his jacket finally came off when he sang "Pretty Woman". Green introduced the three backup singers as his daughters and told the audience they had all just come from Lisbon, Portugal and that he was happy to be in California. He was totally charming and fun to watch.

The Reverend delivered a sweet version of "Amazing Grace", but then followed it up with a weird medley of Motown songs -- we wished he had at least sung all of "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay", but he only gave us about a minute or so of each song. The crowd went crazy for "Let's Stay Together," and more roses came out for that one.

Green's killer set was interspersed with some lovely one liners from the man, notably:

"You keep messing with me I'll make you jump that fence and come up here"

"I'm a bad mother fucker"
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Make sure and swing by tomorrow, when we wrap up our Outside Lands 2010 coverage with Day 2, Part 2!

Words By Christina Loff

Pictures By Rick Audet

Many, MANY, more photos at the HAD Archive

Outside Lands 2010: Day 1 Part 2

2010-08-18T07:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we eased you into Day 1 of Outside Lands 2010, and now here we are, back with more! The second half of Saturday offered some killer performances, and the weather held up well enough to let the fans seriously enjoy some rock and roll awesomeness. Also, we're not going to lie: THE STROKES!!!! Just sayin'. Check out all the coverage below, and come back tomorrow for Day 2!
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My Morning Jacket

It had been quite a while since we'd seen My Morning Jacket live, and we certainly weren't disappointed with their Outside Lands set. Ramping up for some dates opening for Tom Petty, the band delivered a set that was definitely a winner. A massive crowd gathered at the Lands End stage to see them play, and the scene was pretty crazy.

There was something about lead singer Jim James that seemed sort of majestic -- maybe it was his big hair, flowy scarf, and long coat -- whatever it was, he was fun to watch. Considering how much the band has played recently it was refreshing to see how stoked they all seemed to be on stage.

These guys are great performers and the crowd loved them. We've always been pretty surprised at how much energy and noise MMJ make on stage. For such a mellow band on record, they really rocked. Of course we were happy to hear some of our old favorites including 'I'm Amazed' and 'Golden'.
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Wolfmother

Outside Lands definitely does a good job at bringing a dose of musical diversity, and Wolfmother delivered one of the heaviest sets of the festival. Yielding a classic blues rock sound that landed the band somewhere between Zeppelin and Sabbath, the band really got into their show.

In fact, they got so into it that this stage was one of the few where we caught a glimpse of some real, true to life, crowd surfing. Ah, the nineties are no longer, but maybe the spirit's still there?!?!?

Regardless, they delivered a set that was unquestionably solid rock and roll. Their performance and stage presence, combined with a wild crowd, made for one of the most aggressive and balls-to-the-wall sets of the entire festival.
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Cat Power

Poor Chan Marshall: no one seemed too excited to see Cat Power play Outside Lands, and while we're old fans of hers, we were sort of surprised to see her on the line-up. There wasn't much of a crowd, which surprised us, and her mellow, quiet music just didn't really inspire the drunken crowd.

To add to the difficulties, it was cold when she got up there, and it was obvious people were killing time waiting to see The Strokes. We overheard someone later say "Could Cat Power have played any longer? That set went on way too long." Sadly, we kind of agreed.

She opened the set with 'Good Woman' which we were excited about, but her quiet covers after the first song bored us. Now that Cat Power can get through an entire set without freaking out, we think she's best seen at a smaller, more intimate venue, not a big outdoor festival like Outside Lands.
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Wild Beasts

Outside Lands was the last night of Wild Beasts' US tour. While we were lucky enough to catch them in New York last week, some SF fans who didn't make it to Golden Gate Park this past weekend were (understandably) a little disappointed the band didn't play another venue in the city before heading back to England.

The band played to a much drunker and colder crowd who were clearly ready to dance. Maybe we were getting tired at this point in the night, or maybe it was the festival vibe, but (unlike New York) their performance at Outside Lands didn't really hold a candle to their studio records.

We were clearly in the minority. Similar to the New York show, the crowd was filled with adoring, painfully enthusiastic fans. Maybe we're just getting old, but when the sound of the band is overwhelmed by the idiots next to you, we always get a little frustrated. Nonetheless, it was monster show for the band to close out their tour with, and we're happy to see them riding the wave of success.
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The Strokes

It seemed like everyone at Outside Lands was there to see The Strokes on Saturday night, and frankly, we were with them. For a band that hasn't had an album in 6 years, and just started touring again, we weren't sure what to expect. We should have known better: The Strokes were just as awesome as ever.

Featuring a notably close-trimmed-yet-bearded Albert Hammond Jr., the band were rock solid and bulletproof in their live incarnation as always. We were impressed with how complex their music sounded, and the intricacy of the later material really shown through. They've definitely come a long way from the Petty-aping chug of "Is This It".

They opened up with "New York City Cops" and gave the crowd a pretty solid set complete with a monstrous 6 encores. Julian Casablancas said he appreciated all of the love and then commented that "maybe it wasn't love, so much as drunken excitement, but he would take that too".

After the gray day it was really fun to see a show as epic as The Strokes, with a crowd that was ready to eat it up. It seemed like it was probably the biggest production of the day, although we didn't bother to see what was undoubtedly a pretty trippy light show happening for Further on the other side of the park.

The crowd seemed pleased with what The Strokes had brought to the show, and with good reason. The band is a charismatic on-stage unit, who only truly shine when they're all together. Sure, we love a lot of their solo work, but at the end of the day, this show at Outside Lands demonstrated perfectly why The Strokes are (and should continue to be) here to stay.

Words By Christina Loff

Pictures By Rick Audet

Many, MANY, more photos at the HAD Archive

Outside Lands 2010: Day 1 Part 1

2010-08-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

If you were anywhere near San Francisco this weekend, then you probably were aware of the epic rock madness that was going down at Outside Lands 2010. Despite a summer that's been unreasonably cold and cloudy, the festival went off without a hitch in its third year. With a slightly condensed two day schedule, the spectacle was a little bit more manageable, and Hippies Are Dead was there the whole time. Each day this week we'll be taking you along for the ride, so buckle in and enjoy!

The Whigs

The Whigs were one of the first bands onstage at the festival. For noon on a Saturday we were pretty impressed with both their energy level and the size of the crowd that gathered to see them. Most people in the crowd seemed to know their music, and there's no doubt they have fans in San Francisco.

The band's music manages to sound polished and catchy while still having somewhat of an edge. The singer (Parker Gispert) is entertaining to watch on stage, dancing around and kicking it almost looked like he was doing voodoo on the crowd with his hand movements and shakes. Gispert would dance in a trance for a bit, and then reach out to find the mic to brace himself.

The drummer was kick ass and we got to hear a little more from him at a press conference later in the day. There he talked about how playing festivals has always been great for exposing the band to new fans. He said he was impressed with the turn out for a city festival, where usually people just come out to see headliners.

It's no surprise these guys are touring with Kings of Leon as their sound is well paired with the band and we wouldn't be surprised if they became just as well known.

Electric Six

Next we caught Electric Six, with a bigger stage and much bigger crowd. The band really revved the crowd up with their catchy dance numbers. They sounded a little disco and a little 70's funk.

They didn't seem to be too happy about playing so early in the day, and the singer made a joke about how they were asked to headline but they declined because they didn't want to be wasted when they played for their fans. The band's website has a funny note about this too:"Just a friendly notification to all our friends. When we play at the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco on Aug. 14, we will go on at 12:40 p.m. That's lunchtime. That's weird. Just letting you know so you can plan. You might associate Electric Six with THE NIGHT. You are going to be forced to adjust your perception."

The singer also made fun of People Under the Stairs who had played just before them. He pretended to rap and then made a joke about trying to start fights with all the other bands playing at Outside Lands. Indeed.

In addition to the banter, they played all their hits ("Gay Bar", "Fire in the Disco") and unquestionably got the crowd moving. The lead singer told the crowd his drummer was the son of Carlos Santana (although we can't find that info online to verify) and seemed pretty proud of the fact that he grew up in Marin county. But then again, aren't they all?

Dawes

Next up was the LA-based outfit Dawes. This was our first time hearing the band, and we were pretty impressed. The band came out all wearing button down plaid shirts and we definitely thought we were about to hear some typical college music: we were happy this wasn't the case.

The band has a strong stage presence and Taylor Goldsmith has an incredible voice reminiscent of Ryan Adams and Bruce Springsteen. Dawes is great, but band or no, Goldsmith is definitely going places. Forgetting the music for a moment, we'll say this: The ladies definitely love Goldsmith, and there were many swooning girls in the crowd.

As a whole, the band consistently reminded us a little of Old Crow Medicine Show, with a tad more rock influence. They deliver a sounds that (dare we say it?) is highly reminiscent of the mid-70's LA scene, with country sounds highly integrating blues and rock.

Sonically, the band were slight victims of being up early in the day. The first song had a few hiccups as there were mic problems but once the technical issues were worked out this was a great show we were happy to have caught.

Gogol Bordello

Gogol Bordello played the main stage, and had a huge crowd that was super into their unique carny rock sound. These guys were upbeat and fun, and were a great afternoon band. They kept people going and got everyone's mind off of the rain and cloudy weather.

We'd never seen them before, but they're hugely entertaining. Throughout the show, they consistently delivered a vigorous and enthusiastic set. Of particular note were the frontman with the guitar, and the electric violin.

We'd heard rumors they put on a good show, and they totally delivered. Their unique blend of eccentric musical sensibility and extreme showmanship allowed for them to be one of the most memorable and exciting acts of the festival.

Words By Christina Loff

Pictures By Rick Audet

Many, MANY, more photos at the HAD Archive

Land Of Talk Drops Tracks, Tour Dates, Commentary For New Record

2010-08-17T08:53:00.000-07:00

We've been digging on Land Of Talk for quite some time, so when news came around that they had a new record on tap, we waited with bated breath to get a listen to Cloak And Cipher. Luckily for us, the wait wasn't very long, and the band dropped the cover art (above) and started posting a few tastes of the record for free download online.

The first free track, "Swift Coin", does a masterful job of combining the blazing guitars of the band's first EP with the killer melodies of their full length Some Lakes. The last minute of the song is one of the fiercest moments of guitaring that we've heard in quite a while. The second, "Quarry Hymns", is slightly more subtle, relying more heavily on Lizzie Powell's vocals. It does so to great success, and the simple rolling lilt of the instrumentals serves as the ideal backdrop to her cracklingly lovely pipes.

But wait - theres's more! In the wake of the record leaking, Powell sat down with the folks at The Ampersand, let them stream the entire record, and gave her thoughts on each track. We'll be completely frank with you: the two tracks mentioned above are only the tip of the iceberg. This is the best record we've heard from the band yet, and reading Powell's insights on the tracks only makes it better.

We wouldn't think our Land Of Talk love could get much bigger, but then we realized we're going to get to see all these songs live! The band is mounting a North American tour for the fall, and they'll be stopping just about anywhere that your heart might desire. We'll say this: we've told you we love the band live before, but with this new batch of songs, we're thinking it may be a whole new ballgame. You'll be kicking yourself if you miss out.

Land Of Talk Fall 2010 Dates

Sep 16 Lee's Palace Toronto, ON, ., CANADA

Sep 19 Beachland Tavern CLEVELAND, OH
Sep 21 Lincoln Hall Chicago, IL
Sep 22 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
Sep 23 Slowdown Front Room Omaha, NE
Sep 25 LARIMER LOUNGE Denver, CO
Sep 26 Kilby Court Salt Lake City, UT
Sep 29 Starlite Room Edmonton, AB, ., CANADA
Sep 30 Dicken's Pub Calgary, AB, ., CANADA
Oct 2 Lucky Bar Victoria, BC, ., CANADA
Oct 3 Biltmore Cabaret Vancouver, BC, ., CANADA
Oct 4 Crocodile Seattle, WA
Oct 5 Mississippi Studios Portland, OR
Oct 7 Independent San Francisco, CA
Oct 8 Culture Collide Festival - Echo Plex Los Angeles, CA
Oct 9 Detroit Bar Costa Mesa, CA
Oct 10 Casbah San Diego, CA
Oct 12 The Rhythm Room Phoenix, AZ
Oct 15 The Parish Austin, TX
Oct 16 The Nightmare Dallas, TX
Nov 2 Space Gallery Portland, ME
Nov 3 TT The Bear's Boston, MA
Nov 5 Johnny Brendas Philadelphia, PA
Nov 6 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY
Nov 7 The Rock and Roll Hotel Washington, DC
Nov 9 Local 506 Chapel Hill, NC
Nov 10 The Earl Atlanta, GA
Nov 11 The End Nashville, TN
Nov 18 Cabaret du Mile End Montreal, Quebec, CANADA

mp3: Land Of Talk - Swift Coin

mp3: Land Of Talk - Quarry Hymns

stream: Land Of Talk - Cloak And Cipher

Spoon: Fallon Vid, New Bonus Track

2010-08-16T17:32:00.001-07:00

Sure, this vid was taken about two weeks ago when Spoon was in town to play Madison Square Garden with The Arcade Fire, but the delay doesn't make it any less awesome. Two bassists, two drummers, and a whole lot of awesomeness finds the band performing a killer version of "Nobody Gets Me But You". All that, and the apparent revelation that Britt Daniel has (at least for the time being) renounced his fitted shirt fetish in favor of an all-white, tee shirt topped ensemble.

On top of the awesome vid, we also discovered that the band had dropped a bonus track on their website that managed to slip by us in July. The fantastic "early rehearsal" of "Something To Look Forward To" has slightly tweaked lyrics and is wonderfully organ-heavy. The mp3 is ominously labeled with an "08" at the beginning - what we wouldn't give for the rest of that tape! In the meantime, we'll just have to enjoy this one track (below) to the fullest extent of the law.

mp3: Spoon - Something To Look Forward To (Early Rehearsal)

It's A Good Weekend For Festivals

2010-08-13T14:34:00.000-07:00

It's the end of the summer, and we know you've already been to a lot of shows, but don't give up! There's still so many great bands to see, and this weekend marks notable options on both sides of the continent!

Here on the east coast, Wilco will be holding their first ever Solid Sound Festival in North Adams, MA. The fest promises to be a Wilco-centric celebration of music, with sets from the band as well as their numerous side projects. On top of that, they've created interactive elements to allow you to futz with the band members gear to your heart's content. Fun!

Outside Lands 2009, from the HAD Archive. Photo by Rick Audet

Meanwhile, on the west coast Outside Lands gets under way in Golden Gate park. We don't need to tell you that this bad boy is the bay area's biggest music festival. However, we will remind you that it means you get to the The Strokes reunite, and that, dear children, should be more than enough incentive. (Yes, there are a million other amazing bands there as well. Stop being silly).

Regardless, this should be more than enough to keep you entertained, so get your butt out the door!

Wild Beasts Played The Highline Ballroom - Pictures, Review, Video, Setlist

2010-08-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday night we stopped in to the Highline Ballroom to catch up with Wild Beasts as they visited New York yet again on the strength of their killer record Two Dancers. The band were joined by fellow Europeans Lone Wolf and The Kissaway Trail, and the night was full of intricate, moody music that was heavily suited to the painfully over-emo crowd.

Lone Wolf frontman Paul Marshall started out the night performing solo (apparently he has a five piece band when in Europe), and delivered a set of highly literal pieces of songwriting, backed by primarily delicate folk guitar.

Marshall was visibly nervous and excited about the set, and unabashedly waxed philosophical on his love of New York. The crowd loved him back, and gave him more than a little bit of positive feedback on both his voice and performance.

Lone Wolf was followed by Danish favorites The Kissaway Trail. The band, who apparently have been oft compared to Arcade Fire, demonstrated with their set that the comparison is more than a little apt. The band's set was littered with nods of the hat to the Canadian rock band, from the persistent rhythmic drumming to the angst ridden vocals.

Despite a set that felt notably derivative to our ears, the band had more than a few fans in the audience. The room was packed, and there seemed to be solid acknowledgement of the set's material. Still, between the incredibly low volume on the vocals and the seemingly aped songwriting, it didn't do a lot to win us over.

Wild Beasts took to the stage shortly thereafter, and bathed largely in darkness, they delivered an incredibly solid representation of their quirkily unique sound. Between shared vocal duties, rotating instrumental responsibilities, and a modest 4-piece setup, the band managed to effortlessly pull off some of the most intricate arrangements from Two Dancers.

Sadly, the band's onstage vibe was slightly marred for us by a fanbase that seems to consist almost entirely of 20-something women who sing along for the entirety of the show. Yes, ladies, we get your enthusiasm. But next time, here's a tip: if you're not on the stage, you're definitely not in the band.

However, fans aside, Wild Beasts managed to deliver a show that was an expert execution of their unique and peculiar sound. If you love Two Dancers as much as we do, taking in this band in their current state is certainly worth your while.

Videos:

Wild Beasts Setlist

Many more pictures at the HAD Archive

Deerhunter: Free Show Tonight, Returning In October

2010-08-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

Deerhunter at Outside Lands 2009, from the HAD Archive

Photo By Rick Audet

We already told you how stoked we were that Deerhunter had a new disc on the way. As you can imagine, the news that the band would making more than one New York appearance this summer and fall really put us over the edge.

The first appearance(s) start tonight with a free show over on Pier 54 as part of the River Rocks series. Gates are at 6, Real Estate opens at 7, followed by Deerhunter. The band will then make their way over to Brooklyn, and play a DJ set at Glasslands to close out the night. The band will then return to play an October 15th date at Webster Hall (also with Real Estate) in support of the new record, Halcyon Digest. Tickets for that show are on sale now. No matter which way you cut it, that's a lot of Deerhunter goodness, and if you're in the big apple, you should certainly count yourself among the lucky.

Meanwhile, Bradford Cox continues to post even more new material to the band's blog, including the recently posted instrumental "Heatwave". Title seems appropriate, no? Check it out below.

Exrays Played The Verdi Club: Pictures, Video, Interview

2010-08-03T11:46:00.000-07:00

Exray's, a San Francisco duo, opened The Bay Bridged Benefit Concert on July 23rd also featuring Man/Miracle, John Vanderslice, and Thao Nguyen. Exray's music is an intriguing combination of inventive songwriting and beat-heavy sound collage. We caught up with members Jon Bernson and Michael Falsetto-Mapp after their set to talk about their process, in and out of the studio. Check out their song "Everything Goes," featured on In A Cloud: New Sounds from San Francisco, a comp with other noteworthy SF bands.

HAD: You guys come from different scenes, Michael as a DJ/ producer, predominantly involved with Hip-Hop. Jon, you've been a songwriter for quite awhile. How does that influence your collaboration as Exray's and bring different influences to your music?

M: Right now some of my influences are J Dilla, Flying Lotus, Mike Slott, and Broadcast. But growing up my Mom and Dad were really into Soul and Jazz: Al Green, James Brown, Herbie Hancock, but also stuff like Talking Heads, Kraftwerk and The Art of Noise. I didn't grow up listening to a specific genre. My mom used to teach dance classes and she would play Prince, Michael Jackson and all types of dance music. As a DJ, I look for songs I like, it doesn't really matter what genre. When I met Jon, he slipped me one of his CDs and I really got into the songwriting, the way he wove together songs and stories. He found a way to tell the story of a fictional place, make it feel real, and at the same time, write about different times in history.

J: For me, lyrical ideas can come from anywhere, past present, future, but I feel like an insect when it comes to musical inspiration. What affects me most comes from my immediate environment; Michael and the other people I create with. Approaching a blank canvas with another person and figuring out how to go forward is what opens me to new ideas. I don't want to come off like I'm immune to the work of famous artists, because that's not the case at all, but my antenna react most strongly to what's right next to me.

HAD: You've said that a lot of your music has been influenced by life on 24th street in San Francisco's Mission District. It's clear that in recent years, the Mission has been gentrified. Are you providing commentary on this? What themes are you exploring in your music?

J: We have hours of recordings taken right outside my door. I've lived in the same place at 24th and Bryant for quite sometime. When we first moved in, Michael DJed our first party and some fights broke out after a gang showed up.

M: They were pissing in his plants.

J: The neighborhood was a lot more wild. I feared it and loved it. And up until the last five years, it had this real night and day kind of vibe. During the day, all Latino families with strollers and laundry baskets, and at night, gangs, homeless people and hospital outpatients. Whatever I write about in the future, I'll always connect to the Mission material because it represents an unforgettable time and place.

HAD: For a duo, you guys have a strong dynamic range. Can you tell us about your sound layering process both live and when making records?

M: Our recorded songs are pretty layered, and for our live show we've broken it down to the key elements. When we started out, I was using a program for DJs called Serato, so it was all our music, but it wasn't 100% live. I would do melodic scratching, trick-mixing, essentially using the turntable as an instrument. As Exray's, we wanted to step with a different show. All live, using no drum loops or pre-recorded material.

HAD: So what do you play? Because a lot of people at the show were asking. What equipment are you using?

M: It's an Akai MPC 2000XL. The acronym stands for: 'MIDI Production Center'. It's basically a tool that allows you to sample sounds, then chop them up and assign them to pads. Then you play the pads with your fingers, like an instrument. Most musicians who have them use it in the studio to multi-track. Most hip-hop is made on some kind of drum machine, or a computer program that has functions similar to a drum machine. But it’s the same concept. You have a machine that enables you to trigger sounds and record the patterns your playing.

J: Yeah, most people use it as a studio tool, not for shows, but we got to a point where we realized it would be perfect for our live set.

M: This dope producer Exile, from LA, is doing it. He’s definitely been a influence for me to do everything live, as well as Jel from Subtle and Themselves.

J: We have a much more organic chemistry now. The tempo can speed up and slow down according to what the song or the moment demands, whereas before with Michael on turntables, we were pretty much locked into a particular tempo. We put a lot of attention into the sounds we make, so another thing we like about the MPC is that Michael can play like 10 custom drum kits in the same show. He gets on one and when the song is over, he moves over and gets on a different drum set.

HAD: Are you bringing 10 guitars with you too?

J: For now I'm trying to bring variety to the set by writing different types of songs, in different styles, lyrics, and ways of using my voice. I want Exray's to begin with the most direct arrangements we can come up with, and focus on bringing the songs to life as immediately as we can. The records focus more on our sound aesthetic and a type of expression that can only happen in the studio. The more I see and play live shows, the more I identify with the physical experience that gets transferred from the people onstage to the audience.

M: We want the to songs provide a strong foundation for the live show, but aren't interested in replicating our records.

J: You know, like holding ourselves hostage in our own house.

M: That's not our goal when we play live. Bringing energy and intensity to the music is most important to us.

J: On our records, we try to make the most of the studio environment. It's something we've devoted ourselves to for awhile now. We haven't played a live show in two years, but we haven't been idle. We've spent hours and hours recording, learning how to use the studio as an instrument, and trying to make that instrument our own.

HAD: On these anticipated records you have coming out, we heard that you collaborated with some pretty diverse artists: Nate Query (Decemberists), Tim Cohen (the Fresh & Onlys),Warren Huegel (Jonas Reinhardt), Dominic Cramp (Evangelista) and Jason Kick (Maus Haus). As a duo do you feel like it's a lot easier to expand your palette and work with other artists?

J: Honestly, the Verdi club was our first real show as Exray's, so we see the live act as an unwritten book. So far, it feels great to play as a duo. At this show, we were able to collaborate with Jason from Maus Haus. We rehearsed with Jason as much as it felt natural and that ended up being two songs. He was great, but we might never play a show with him again, or maybe he'll play a whole set with us sometime? It feels good to have that flexibility. Another thing is that we were packing up our stuff to come to the gig and when we were done, we looked down and all our gear could have fit on a motorcycle. We were ready for the road. Simplicity gives room to roam.

HAD: You guys do a lot of sampling. What are some of your favorite found sounds? Sounds you like in everyday life. Things in your environment that inspire you?

J: Audio illusions, sounds that confuse or challenge your mind to study them in order to figure out what they are. Acousmatic sounds, sounds from concealed sources.

M: We're both into that concept. John Cage and Musique Concrete are influences of ours, especially in the studio.

J: Pierre Shaeffer and Chance Music.

M: Beautiful accidents. We take a lot of inspiration from them when we're recording. A lot of times we're sampling ourselves and rehashing it somehow. Looking for moments that could never be repeated.

HAD: When can our readers get wind of you in NYC? Do you have any tours in the works?

J: We plan to be there in October, when our EP comes out on Howells Transmitter.

HAD: We're looking forward to it!

Interview and Video by Amie Gutierrez

Photos By Sarah Klinger

JBM and Sondre Lerche Played Mercury Lounge: Pictures, Review

2010-07-28T13:47:00.000-07:00

Last night we stopped in at Mercury Lounge to catch fantastic sets from two fiercely divergent songwriters, and to celebrate a record release to boot. The first, Sondre Lerche, delivered his customary playful, endearing, and rocking set. In contrast, Jesse Marchant (as JBM) delivered a set that leveraged his own unique musicality over a variety of genres and sounds.

Sondre Lerche took to the stage just after 9:30, and broke into the set with a new song on a tuned down acoustic guitar. After wrestling with the tuning for a bit, Lerche delivered "Red Flags", which took a slightly darker take on his earlier material, while at the same time holding on firmly to his innate sense of melody.

Over the next hour, Lerche's set traversed most of his career, although it tended to focus more on his newer material. Of particular note were a jumpy, staccato, electric version of "Dead Passengers" that ended up with Lerche jamming himself into a frenzy of guitar explosiveness. Another new song made it's way out at the end of the set. Entitled "Domino", it also used the down-tuned acoustic, and was similarly dark in delivery.

His set was accented by the arrival of two musical guests, the violinist "K", and a duet with Dawn on the always-lovely "Modern Nature". While not strictly necessary, the guests (along with a variety of guitars and a high energy level) served to bring some variety to Lerche's set, and keep him from falling too far down the black hole of "guy with a guitar" blandness. To the contrary, he delivered a set that was dynamic, jovial, and almost impossibly lovable.

Soon after, Jesse Marchant (JBM) took to the stage for a set that would also last about an hour. In contrast to Lerche's set, which was unified in its sound and delivery, Marchant delivered a set that ran the gamut between quiet and loud, stoic and rocking, solo and with band. The stark contrast between songs served Marchant, as it called attention not only to his versatility, but his ability to completely embrace each of the genres completely.

The material (as might be expected) was sourced largely (entirely?) from his debut record Not Even In July, for which last night was the record release party. However, much like the record, the tracks varied in their arrangement and instrumentation. For part of the set, Marchant was joined on stage by openers Diamond Doves as his backing band, and for others he took a solo seat to his songs. Moreover, even his solo act varied, sometimes finding him behind a makeshift drumkit, sometimes with a harmonica and guitar, and sometimes behind the keyboard.

If all of this variations seems like a bit much to believe, you feel about the same way we did witnessing it. Even more remarkable was that Marchant pulled off his many roles with ease, and topped it off with a voice that was one of the best we've heard live in a very long time. With an innate ease of delivery, Marchant's vocals rode on top of the instrumentation like an effortless wave of melody. To hear it is to believe it, we say.

Last night was JBM's record release, and he should be more than a little excited: not only has Jesse Marchant created a killer record, but he also has proven that he can deliver a live performance that surpasses the quality of his recorded material by a long shot.

More photos at the HAD Archive

Sea of Bees and Matt Bauer Played Rock Shop - Pictures, Review

2010-07-27T12:42:00.000-07:00

Last week we stopped in at the recently-opened Rock Shop, and caught a show from two artists both firmly rooted in the singer-songwriter tradition. Sea Of Bees, the brainchild of Julie Ann Bee, was operating in solo mode, while Brooklyn local Matt Bauer made an appearance with his full band and more. The show was a poignant glimpse into the artists' worlds, and both delivered sets that underscored their recorded work to a T.

Sea of Bees started off the night, and as mentioned, was firmly in solo mode. Julie Ann Bee played a set that definitely emphasized her distinctive vocals and, with solo arrangements, took on a simpler quality that exposed both the lyrics and the melody as the two pronged heart of her unique songwriting.

Interestingly, Bee's stoic songwriting was underscored by her playful demeanor and banter onstage. Unafraid to discuss neither the songs nor their content, Bee offered up a stage presence that was at once playful, honest, and completely endearing.

Bee was followed by Matt Bauer, who took to the stage with a formidable lineup of guitar, upright bass, clarinet, and Bauer's own banjo. The combination was undeniably unusual, and curiously made for a very natural and well hewn sound that perfectly supported Bauer's bassy vocal timbre.

Part of what held our attention with the band was their undeniable chemistry. We later learned that the guitarist and bassist are brothers, which perhaps explains part of it. But even more than simple sibling bonds, the entire band managed to have a synchronized approach to their playing that held the set together brilliantly.

Towards the end of the set Jolie Holland joined Bauer on stage, and the two sang a newly composed duet. After hearing Bauer and his band for the beginning of the set, Holland offered up a nice variation. Moreover, it was clear that she and Bauer have worked together extensively, and their vocal interplay was clearly well practiced.

At the end of the night, we were happy to have caught two amazing sets from two amazing songwriters. Yes, there are a million folks out there trying to get their tunes out in the world, and sometimes it can be tough to wade through. But in our opinion, these are two that are more than worth your time.

Big Star Vintage Video

2010-07-27T07:15:00.001-07:00

We were trolling around the youtubes the other day, and stumbled upon this gem of a vid that we thought you might like. We've been on a bit of a Big Star kick lately, so that's probably why we ended up on this little tidbit - who knows? Anyway, it's some great footage shot by Chris Bell and Andy Hummel during the recording of the band's first album, #1 Record.

Why the poster in question chose to pair such vintage video with audio from the band's third record, we have no idea. Go figure. Either way, it's an awesome look back into the reality of the moment when these guys were just getting started, and we've provided a slightly more era-appropriate soundtrack below. Enjoy!

mp3: Big Star - Feel

Deerhunter Previews Halcyon Digest With Leaks To Street Team And Homemade Video

2010-07-27T06:55:00.000-07:00

First, we'll start with this: Deerhunter has a new record on tap for the fall, and it's entitled Halcyon Digest. Yes, agreed. This is very, very, good news. But it gets better. You see, the band has decided on something of a fan-driven marketing campaign for the record, and as such has enlisted their street team to start pushing the album in exchange for a taste of the goods in advance.

Lucky for you, dear reader, the internet knows know bounds, and so the result of this endeavor has been the leak of two (so far) tracks via this fan-centric marketing system. Both tracks were obtained via the Halcyon Digest website (password: "tapereel"), and were originally intended as a bonus to said street team.

The first, entitled "Revival", is what could be (at least post-Microcastle) as straight ahead Deerhunter: Spector-esque drums, loads of reverb, and Bradford Cox's double tracked vocals all contribute to make this little ditty quite sweet on the ears. The second, entitled "Radio Play", is much more of an ambient noise piece, and blows by in an instant.

Finally, the band has also posted a video in support of the record (above). While it's clear the band in the video is not Deerhunter, we're having trouble discerning if the audio track is a rough mix of the song, or just a band that's pretty damn good at aping their vibe. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Either way, with the record still 2 months away, things are just getting started, and from the looks of it, this is going to be fun!

Halcyon Digest is out September 28th via 4AD

mp3: Deerhunter - Revival

mp3: Deerhunter - Radio Play

photos: Deerhunter in the HAD Archive

JBM: New Music, CD Release Party Tomorrow Night At Mercury Lounge

2010-07-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

Last night as we were puttering our way around the internet (as we are wont to do), we stumbled upon the musical awesomeness of JBM. The enterprise is the musical pursuit of Jesse Marchant, and sees its first real release to the world tomorrow, with the full length not even in July. The record (which is streaming in full on JBM's site) is an unnerving mix of genres that is all at once atmospheric, melodic, and steeped in the annals of rock and roll.

Much of the record sounds like it was recorded at two in the morning after a day that seemed like it would never end. It's as though the musicians are at long last allowed to play what they actually want to play, and that finally the outside world has been rendered irrelevant. Put differently, the music is honest, stoic, and real.

Marchant's vocals are restrained and delicate in a way that suggests he's resigned to get his music out there, regardless of what pain or chaos might be in store. For their part, his band does a magnificent job at underpinning his vocal delivery with music that is both understated and poignant. They do a fantastic job creating a sound that recalls 50 other talented and melancholy singer songwriters, but at the same time completely comes into its own. If that isn't enough to convince you, Marchant also has a killer Daytrotter Session that more than shows off just why we dug him so much right out of the gate.

Luckily for us, Marchant is a New York resident, and as such has decided to launch the record in his home town, at the venerable Mercury Lounge. Not only will it be an exquisite opportunity to hear Marchant's awesome musicality in a live environ, but the show also features the fantastic Sondre Lerche in an opening slot. Yes: it's going to be as awesome as it sounds. See you there.

mp3: JBM - Winter Ghosts (Daytrotter Session)

Ryan Adams Unleashes Recording Plans Via Facebook

2010-07-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

Yes, we heard all about it too: Ryan Adams "quit" rock and roll. But did you really think that'd last? Come on! This is a man who bleeds melody - he can't take the dog for a walk without dreaming up a new idea for a record.

After his "retirement", Adams started up the comeback engines with his sci-fi metal concept album Orion. While the record is a seriously fun listen, it wasn't exactly classic Adams in any sense. Well now Adams is truly back in the saddle, and he's giving updates to the fans (of course) via facebook.

Over the past couple of weeks, Adams has posted information to his facebook page about two separate recording sessions. One of the sessions Adams has described as "based around my acoustic with some stark drums/bass/piano in there. I'm keeping these recordings simple". The other session is apparently more of a filled out sound: "What started as a weekend studio hang with Johnny and Tom Schick turned into some kind of Smiths/Simple Minds/Love Is Hell throw-back and just way too much fun to not finish".

In short, let us say this: we are very, very, excited. Adams hasn't recorded anything in quite a while, much less a Cardinals-free endeavor. Save, that is, for a few Pax Am digital singles over the past year (see below). The fact that the creative juices are flowing with one of our fave songwriters (and for two records no less!) is some of the best news we've heard in a while. Now we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed that all that studio time sees the light of day...

mp3: Ryan Adams - Tomorrowland (From Pax Am Digital Single 003)

EELS Drop Video For "Spectacular Girl"

2010-07-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

While we've gotten pretty used to absorbing Mr. E's tweaked out world view, this new video for EELS' "Spectacular Girl" takes things to a new level. Apparently the song's protagonist is just so spectacular because she's actually a BEAUTIFUL UNDERCOVER SNIPER. Yes, we know, it's fucking weird. But then again, what isn't these days. Plus, if someone can really be an undercover sniper and still be bothered to show up at the office, well, that's pretty spectacular indeed.

Tomorrow Morning is out August 24th, EELS Play Terminal 5 on September 25th

Caribou Coming To Webster Hall

2010-07-22T17:07:00.000-07:00

Caribou at Bowery Ballroom, from the HAD Archive

If last week's free show on Governor's Island didn't fill your Caribou quota (and really, how could it?), then you're in luck. The band will be returning to New York for the third time this year when they visit Webster Hall on September 22nd. While we'd typically be a little skeptical of so many stops in the big apple in a 6 month span, we're gonna hold our tongues this time. Caribou deliver such a monster live show, we'd probably go see them every week for a year if we had the chance.

Tickets go on sale Friday at noon.

mp3: Caribou - Odessa