Merry Swankster

The Girls of Spring

Mon, 12 May 2008 13:24:58 -0500

Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, Pussy Galore's Julie Cafritz, and the Boredom's Yoshimi P-We return as the world's most terrifyingly intimidating female super-group, Free Kitten. Where Pavement bassist Mark Ibold previously filled the band's token male indie-rock luminary role, we now have J. Mascis bashing the hell out of a drum kit (and kicking the proceedings off with a righteous sneeze). A nasty grumble of a guitar line is the ingredient that'll shake your guts, but Cafritz adds even more bad vibes as the featured screaming banshee. "Survival of the fittest is a cruel cruel hoax" she drolly intones. I doubt these sisters in badassery would have any natural predators under any alternative laws of the jungle that she might propose.

Lissy Trullie - "Self-Taught Learner"

We know switch our attention to downtown cool of an entirely more aloof quality. Fetching tomboy Lissy Trullie is already a bit of a renowned fashion plate, chanteuse, scenester, and (we can only assume) incorrigible heartbreaker in advance of her debut EP. Its title track is a perfectly nonchalant cool breeze of a song, with slightly chugging guitars and low-key studio affects getting out of the way to let her nicotine saturated voice fill most of its empty space. It's deep but slight, and if you weren't graced with the above visual, you might assume it was coming from an adrogyne on the other side of the chromosome divide. If there's a nit to pick, it's that the song doesn't feel weighty enough to sustain itself after the lofty bridge at the two-minute mark. Brevity could have been another quill with which to smite hapless passers-by. But at the risk of being slightly condescending, a look at the above photo should clue you in on how much advice she needs to take from me in order to be successful.

Tickley Feather - "The Python"

This track, from Philadelphia single mom Annie Sachs' home-recorded debut has been floating around the internet for a minute, but it's too hypnotic to allow it to pass by unremarked. The song's various elements are pasted over each other like scissored bits in a stylish collage. The beat isn't guiding the wandering-in-a-fog vocal melodies, though it accidentally keeps time for the idle piano circles that seem piped in by loudspeaker from a far away warehouse. Its spare and pretty rather than forced, though. A would-be happy accident that was probably much more deliberate than it initially seems.

Ponytail - "Celebrate the Body Electric (It Came From an Angel)"

Ponytail might have been a math rock boys club if not for the completely bonkers vocal styling of improbably wee front-gal Molly Sigel. This track is the racing heart of the Blatimore band's forthcoming Ice Cream Spiritual, spending seven minutes alternately sprinting away from hornets or stealing a few winks in the shade. Sigel's lungs are a living, wailing instrument of destruction, adding texture but not concrete meaning. She gives 100% conviction to screeches and purrs both, highlighting the reckless fun in the speeding guitar lines. Instrumental pyrotechnics that could have been a wonk too far are instead thrillingly alive and neon-colored.

P.S. I'm not sure if this kitty has offcially cleared the bag yet, but New Yorkers will be able to see these guys for free at this summer's After the Jump Festival!

Video: Portishead - "The Rip"

Mon, 12 May 2008 11:40:22 -0500

Denver/Boulder: Shows this week | 5.12 - 5.18

Mon, 12 May 2008 09:32:06 -0500

[Flight of the Conchords]

Monday, May 12
DJ Scooter @ Larimer Lounge
Fall From Grace @ Marquis Theater
The Mary Onettes @ Hi-Dive
Nylon Music Tour @ Gothic Theatre

Tuesday, May 13
Dead Meadow @ Larimer Lounge
Rocco Deluca @ Walnut Room
Subtle/Achille Lauro @ Bluebird Theater

Wednesday, May 14
An Evening With Asylum Street Spankers @ Walnut Room
Boulder Acoustic Society @ Fox Theatre
Frontside Five @ Bluebird Theater
Heart Start Hero @ Larimer Lounge

Thursday, May 15
Flight of the Conchords @ Caulkins Opera House
The Bellrays @ Larimer Lounge
Big Time Entertainment Show @ Hi-Dive
Emarosa @ Marquis Theater
Jackson Boone & The Lovers Jive @ Fox Theatre
Was (Not Was) @ Gothic Theatre

Friday, May 16
As Blood Runs Black @ Marquis Theater
Dark Lotus @ Gothic Theatre
Jen Korte And The Loss @ Walnut Room
Latch @ Hi-Dive
Margot And The Nuclear So And Sos @ Larimer Lounge
Shwerver @ Bluebird Theater
Super 400 @ Boulder Theater

Saturday, May 17
Atmosphere @ Ogden Theater
Blue Scholars @ Gothic Theatre
Brian Regan @ Paramount Theatre
Cloud Cult @ Larimer Lounge
Insane Clown Posse @ Red Rocks Ampitheatre
M.I.A. @ Fillmore Auditorium
Rob Drabkin @ Soiled Dove
Stand By Your Band III @ Hi-Dive
Tapes'n Tapes @ Bluebird Theater
Vitamins @ Walnut Room

Sunday, May 18
Boulder Acoustic Society @ Fox Theatre
Cloud Cult @ Larimer Lounge
Collective Soul @ Boulder Theater
CPC Gangbangs @ Hi-Dive
The Insomniacs @ Walnut Room
The Mars Volta @ Fillmore Auditorium

Coachella 2008: Sunday (Day 3)

Fri, 09 May 2008 20:20:22 -0500

[This and all photos by Merry Swankster]

Sunday was the lightest lineup at this year's Coachella. The third and final installment of the fest saw sparse crowds and half filled venues all day long. For a substantial part of the day our group was at a loss on what bands to see. I don't remember that ever happening before, though it allowed time to check out the festival's extensive art installations without the accompanying guilt of skipping acts. The paltry schedule was magnified when our mid day penciled in selection did not show up. I was looking forward to seeing The Field, but immigration issues barred them from entering the country.

While the day still provided plenty of heavyweight entertainment from the likes of My Morning Jacket, Roger Waters and Justice, the consensus opinion of Merry Swankster's extended posse was disappointing. Without doubt the weakest single day crowd in at least five years for the festival so we obviously weren't alone with those thoughts. It gave the impression of a failed festival, something I'm sure the festival organizers will be eager to turn around in the coming years given the established prestige and past successes of Coachella. Expectations baby, they're a bitch. And the high expectations at Coachella are easy to take for granted. I look forward to complaining about making tough choices rather than feeling confused on why there is nobody interesting to see.

Previously:
Coachella Day 1
Coachella Day 2

Final day summary after the jump...

When Pavement ruined Lollapalooza

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:52:30 -0500

Pavement - "Slow Century" DVD - West Virginia, Lollapalooza 1994

Waxing about Malkmus reminded me of being too young and dumb to check out Pavement play Lollapalooza in 1994 and led me to this nugget of hilarity from the band's "Slow Century" DVD (Matador). It then got me thinking about how radically different things are these days at music festivals. Its a complete 180. Pavement was routinely ignored (my 15 y/o self - guilty) during their stint as headliner in '94, to the point where things got a bit ugly in West Virginia. Safe to say leaving the stage to a chorus of boos, flying mud, and reciprocating with flipped birds and dropping trout is not ideal.

So what's changed since? Fourteen years later and the festival circuit in America is as healthy as ever. The model certainly changed, traveling festivals replaced by anchored regional events. But at what point do things unwittingly revert to a facsimile of Lollapalooza's original failed model? Tons of bands do the "festival circuit" and exclusivity of acts is getting harder and harder for festival promoters in such a crowded market. Survival of the fittest? Could be a dangerous way to weed out the losers, considering it's tantamount to cannibalization. Geography will come into play in a big way for some organizers. Pitchfork, Lollapalooza, and Coachella have distinct advantages being in or near Chicago and Los Angeles, respectively. Only time will tell, but the music industry as a whole doesn't exactly have the best record with success these days. Now I'm getting bummed out.

Coachella 2008: Saturday (Day 2)

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:00:55 -0500

[This and all photos by Merry Swankster]

Continued coverage of the Coachella Music & Arts Festival.

Previously: Coachella Day 1

Full rundown after the jump...

Coachella's best individual song performance was by Hot Chip

Fri, 09 May 2008 03:40:58 -0500

Hot Chip - "Over and Over" - Live @ Coachella 4.26.2008

And this was it. (Another angle)

Art Rock: Mike Keirstead's "The Jam Part I: A History"

Thu, 08 May 2008 17:46:04 -0500

Have you ever wondered what would have happened if 19th century French Neo-Impressionist painter Georges-Pierre Seurat listened to Jimi Hendrix on repeat for years on end? Of course you have… who hasn’t? At first I thought the result of this experiment would look exactly like this…

"man, you ever think the world is just made up of small colored dots?"

But it has come to my attention that is has been scientifically suggested that:

As this sound mathematical equation shows, Seurat + Axis: Bold of Love = Canadian artist Michael Keirstead’s magnum opus, The Jam Part I: A History.

While it took Seurat two years to dot his way through his 10ft wide painting Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte , it took Keirstead five years to complete the 113 stippled portraits in his 8ft work. Keirstead used the meticulous technique of stippling in which the artist uses small dots to create the effect of shading instead of using lines or blotches of paint. The delicate and painstaking process proves the gravity in which Keirstead viewed his work.

The musicians that are touching have collaborated while the head size and placement of each musician is a result of Keirstead’s own personal musical cannon of rock n’ roll lineage. It has been rumored that the original work of art was purchased by one of the Beatles. Though I'm not completely sure which Beatle's estate owns this work the fact that John's head is three times the size of McCartney's may narrow it down a bit. The good news for Pete Best and the rest of us is that you don't have to be a Beatle to own this piece of art since a newly established Philadelphia marketing group is now selling the poster.

// to purchase or view close-ups of The Jam Poster

Video: Love Is All - "Give It Back" (New Song)

Thu, 08 May 2008 12:50:28 -0500

Aside from a few clear riffs, there's nothing conclusive about this video, posted to You Tube by Love Is All's powerful pixie singer Josephine Olausson. This grainy, far-off footage depicts an airing of "Give It Back," a tune slated for A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night, the band's increasingly anticipated sophomore record. We can only hope that hometown shows such as this will keep the band sharp and wily as they depart cozy Gothenburg, Sweden next month for a quick east coast jog.

Coachella 2008: Friday (Day 1)

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:30:33 -0500

Day 1 at the 2008 Coachella Music and Arts festival was a classic Coachella cocktail of young tenderfoots sipping success, old(er) stalwarts tickling fans with new material amongst sprinklings of vintage hits, and established indie bigs proving that swagger best complements talents when the latter is in abundance. Referring specifically to the Raconteurs who were so scarily good it was enough to hasten the rush back to practice garages and basements for the impossibly hyped newbies still in development.

Also operating on all cylinders was the completely different funk and soul phenomenon that was Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings. Ms. Jones and company brought the house, or in this case tent, down with such a flawless execution of the word "Show" one can ever hope for. If you ever walked away from a concert feeling like your live music dollar did not provide the best anticipated return in entertainment dividends, Sharon Jones was the exact opposite of that.

Click through to see highlights of Friday at Coachella.

[All photos by Merry Swankster unless noted]

Datarock @ Coachella - "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" (Dirty Dancing)

Thu, 08 May 2008 04:45:16 -0500

Datarock - "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" (Dirty Dancing) - Live @ Coachella 4.25.2008

I think they call this karaoke.

Vampire Weekend @ Coachella - "Blake's Got a New Face"

Thu, 08 May 2008 01:28:38 -0500

Vampire Weekend -"Blake's Got a New Face" - Live @ Coachella 4.25.08

With a new camera in hand forays into live video documentation may be more frequent on ms.com. I learned still photography is doable while recording video, though not without adding an 80s style effect into the finished product. Still, decent enough.

Prior to this performance Ezra Koenig encouraged the crowd to make up the words in the chorus. For example: Blake's out of toothpaste, etc. I can't make out any of the much funnier ad-libs, but trust me, they were there.

Vampire Weekend's entire set sounded crisp and punchy. Perfect for an afternoon in the bright sun. Enjoy.

Retrohump: Finding LiLiPUT (Not so swiftly)

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:10:42 -0500

LiLiPUT - "Die Matrosen"

I'd long patrolled the You Tube wilderness in search of proof that LiLiPUT (or Kleenex if you're not a lawyer-type) was made up of actual flesh and blood girls, and not mythical post-punk sprites. To this day, that search remains a fruitless one. The embedded slice of awesome you see above comes courtesy of Pitchfork.tv. I had assumed that the utility of the new music video mecca would be mainly curatorial, dumping lots of good stuff in one place for convenient idle browsing. But if they are going to start packing their archives with footage that can't be conjured up by the anonymous uploaders of the world-at-large, it may take on greater significance yet.

The clip, for the Swiss misses' 1980 single "Die Matrosen" is a groovy little travelogue of the girls' traipsing around Germany with what appear to be their fellas (though the androgynous haircuts of the era are making gender proclamations sort of difficult). Nothing too momentous occurs--a bit of rest stop tomfoolery, a few bored celebrity imitations in the back seat to pass the time. (Man, whoever Willi Milowitsch is, he's gotta be steamed by that portrayal.) But as a endearingly human portrait of musicians whose work was so intoxicatingly alien, it's got charm to spare.

LiLiPUT - "Die Matrosen"

Interview: Parsing This New Puritan

Tue, 06 May 2008 08:25:05 -0500

When Jack Barnett and his then teenage band mates in These New Puritans first caught our ear back in November of '06, there wasn't much to go on but a few cryptic podcasts and the ring of mangled synths. In the intervening months, the twitchy Brits have spanned all corners of their home isle, provided a stark soundtrack for the high fashion runway, released their debut album Beat Pyramid on the estimable Domino label, and conquered South by Southwest's dog-and-pony show clad in gladiator's steel. As his band now prepares to bring their own stomp-and-grumble review through the US on their first proper tour this June, we stole a few minutes of young Jack's valuable time. Our digitally transmitted discourse below...

--

Jeff Klingman: How long have you and your twin brother George been making music together?

Jack Barnett: Ages. Since we were really young. He played on my songs.

JK: Why do you think British brothers seem to form bands at a greater rate than Americans?

JB: I don't know -- it's weird -- it's the same as how Dutch brothers seem to become footballers - the De Boer Brothers, the Krol Brothers, the Mühren Brothers.

JK: Was SXSW your first trip to the US ever?

JB: Yep.

JK: Are you looking forward to playing proper gigs here after the big public relations orgy of Austin?

JB: Yeah. Austin was fun though. Different.

These New Puritans - "Numerology (aka Numbers)"

JK: I apologize in advance for this, but what's your favorite number, and what does it mean?

JB: Ha! I like 5, 7, 12, 15, 19, 25, 27, 29, 33, 333, 555, 1222, 1987 .... I don't know what they mean.

These New Puritans - "Navigate, Navigate"

JK: Why did "Navigate, Navigate" work for you as a stand-alone piece, but not as a track on the album? Why parcels its bits up among other songs?

JB: Well, "Navigate, Navigate" was just a collection of musical themes that I'd been thinking up for a while and I like to re-use themes - obviously that's something that's been done in music for ever....classical music anyway. and also because I was writing the album at the same time as I was writing "Navigate..." for Hedi*, and they were just musical ideas that were close at hand at the time. So it's more that the ideas were running parallel for two different releases.

JK: Repetition of song fragments across multiple songs seems to be a theme on the album. Does the context of the individual songs change the meaning of the repeated bits? Or did you just intend it to be a refrain?

JB: It's a refrain - I'm planning to have refrains that span multiple albums as well.

JK: Do you consider your music as continuing the tradition of 70's post-punk groups to whom you're compared, or as a specific expression of the here and now?

JB: Erm, i think there was a bit of that when we first started, but Beat Pyramid drains that away from our music quite a lot. I think old punks try to claim every piece of post-1976 music as their own. Like on TV there's always stuff about how "the Velvet Underground invented everything" or "the Sex Pistols invented everything"... it's quite boring. Clearly Aphex Twin invented everything.

These New Puritans - "Swords of Truth"

JK: Are you more interested in rhythm than melody?

JB: Yes, most songs begin with the beats.

JK: I'd read that you've done a bit of production work for the London band Sunni-Geini. Do you see the role of a producer as completely distinct from that of a band?

JB: Yeah, I've been working with them - Mohammed Durayd and Marie Quest. they're more of a collective than a band.

I think TNPS' music is really production-based and is becoming so more and more. I always thought i'd be a producer, not a band-person. There are some brilliant producers in the Ivory Coast at the moment with whom we should collaborate.

JK: What can you tell me about the Experimental Circle Club?

JB: That's a club run by some of our friends including Ciaran O'Shea who's done artwork for Def-Jam and helped out with some of our early podcasts. They play noise and beats at their club which is in a hotel in Southend near the sea-side.

Jack Barnett @ the Experimental Circle Club
(Southend, 11.18.06)

JK: Do you imagine your work with TNPS moving in a more improvisational direction?

JB: No. We're not really improvisers. It's got to be worked out.

JK: What do you like most about chain-mail?

JB: Everything.

photo by Lee Hopper
--

* Designer Hedi Slimane, who commissioned the band's music for the Dior Homme Show 2007.

Denver/Boulder: Shows this week | 5.05 - 5.11

Mon, 05 May 2008 11:30:45 -0500

[actual dead Prez.]

Monday, May 5
The Cops @ Hi-Dive
DJ Scooter @ Larimer Lounge
Kate Nash @ Fox Theatre

Tuesday, May 6
Dead Prez @ Fox Theatre
Efterklang/Slaraffenland @ Larimer Lounge
Emmure @ Marquis Theater
Run Run Run @ Hi-Dive
The Tamburitzans Of Duquesne @ Boulder Theater

Wednesday, May 7
Dusty Rhodes And The River Band @ Larimer Lounge
Eisley @ Fox Theatre
Lyrics Born @ Marquis Theater
Pennywise @ Fillmore Auditorium
VHS Or Beta @ Bluebird Theater

Thursday, May 8
Bandemonium Tour 2008 @ Gothic Theatre
Fiance @ Hi-Dive
Hot Tuna @ Fox Theatre
The Liar Dies @ Larimer Lounge
Phil Lesh & Friends @ Fillmore Auditorium
South @ Marquis Theater

Friday, May 9
A Twisted Conspiracy @ Boulder Theater
American Music Club/Bela Karoli/Hello Kavita @ Larimer Lounge
Animosity @ Marquis Theater
Crusher Bound Cadillac @ Gothic Theatre
Kathleen Edwards @ Fox Theatre
Laura Veirs/Liam Finn @ Walnut Room
The Little Ones @ Hi-Dive
Mary Louise Lee Band @ Soiled Dove
Murder By Death @ Bluebird Theater
Phil Lesh & Friends @ Fillmore Auditorium

Saturday, May 10
Augustana/David Ford @ Gothic Theatre
Conspirator @ Ogden Theater
Electric Hot Tuna @ Paramount Theatre
Film School @ Hi-Dive
Hearts Like Lions @ Larimer Lounge
Lazyface @ Soiled Dove
Marco Benevento @ Boulder Theater
Sugarland @ Red Rocks Ampitheatre
Tiny Television @ Walnut Room
Yo Majesty/Does It Offend You,Yeah? @ Bluebird Theater
Z-Trip @ Fox Theatre

Sunday, May 11
Cruxvae @ Larimer Lounge
Foolish Things @ Gothic Theatre
Subnoize Souljaz @ Marquis Theater
Themes @ Hi-Dive

Schedule appears courtesy of Mystik Spiral.