Music Snobbery

Real Estate / Black Dice / The Babies / Dogleather @ K&K Super Buffet

2012-01-30T03:39:05-05:00

If I knew before hand that I was going to be spending an hour waiting in line in the cold at a chinese buffet parking lot in Queens, I probably would have stayed on my side of the river. The Front Bottoms at Maxwell's would have been a better option. I have only myself to blame.

A quick scan of twitter on Saturday confirmed what I thought best described the effort of the Todd P corporation in staging a show at the K & K Super Buffet in Ridgewood, Queens (or K Supe Fett). The word was "Clusterfuck" -- emphasis on fuck. First off, there's nothing super about a buffet. They are disgusting by nature and frequented by people with weight problems. Let's not even think about the sanitary conditions.

The show was advertised as 8pm. Whether it was doors or first band goes on, that wasn't made clear. I wanted to be there in time to see The Babies. I figured 9pm would be safe. I get there, I see the doors aren't even open and the line is about 200 strong already. By 9:30, still no doors and the line had made a complete circle around the parking lot. It was at least a tolerable cold, with no wind. By 10pm, the line was moving, but obviously, not at a rapid pace since there were no tickets issued.

I get inside and there's still food in the buffets. More than anything, it's already crowded and people looked confused. I knew it was only going to get worse. I see people grabbing plates and filling them up. I'm sure they paid for it.

Quickly realizing that there's no good place to stand, I stake a spot out by the kitchen door. My thinking was when a fire breaks out, I can make a quick exit. Or, when the cops come to see what capacity violations are being broken, I can sneak out.

There was just no place to see anything, and I can tell it was going to sound like crap. Call me a music snob, but when I go to a concert, I kind of want to hear music and see the band. The novelty of seeing a band in a chinese restaurant wore off quickly. I know that this is what DIY concert promoting is all about, but come on now. If you want to be wacky, have it at a Chuck-E-Cheese, like the one on Flatbush Ave. At least they have a proper stage and better balloons.

Eventually, all the food was taken away, but those buffet tables were there to stay. The actual stage area at the back of the restuarant wasn't much bigger than a normal sized living room, with booths on both sides. Thus, people crammed into the restaurant. You had a long-ass line to get cans of beer. Another for the bathroom. You just couldn't walk anywhere without having to say "Excuse me" 17 times in a row.

At the top of my list of complaints, the first act, Dogleather, didn't start until around 10:30pm. By 12:30, Black Dice were about two sings in and I was falling asleep. Thus, I never made it to see Real Estate. I had to split. Somebody said between acts, "There's going to be an after-party at such-such until 4am." I said, "I don't think Real Estate will be done by 4am. They might not even go on by then."

I wish I had some things to say about the music, but, like I said, the conditions and settings were not optimal for my music pleasure. What I can say is Dogleather were unbearable. It was some Dan Deacon-type person doing whiteboy raps over distorted sample loops. Once in a while, you come across an act that is awful, but they think they can play as long as they want because they think they are awesome. Dogleather was like that, and the crowd surfing made them look desperate.

On the other, The Babies are my type of music. This is the local band featuring Cassie Ramone of Vivian Girls and Kevin Morby of Woods. They play straight-up 60s garage rock in the Black Lips vein.

Black Dice I can appreciate for about 20 minutes, then I just want them to move on. They've been doing the same experimental noise sound for over a decade now, and I get it. It's random, different and they have a small following. They've put out so much material, that it's hard to follow. Plus, I have only a passing knowledge of them.

It sucks that I didn't last to see Real Estate, because they put out an amazing album last year. Give them time and they'll be THE indie band that everyone and your friends will listen to years to come. They'll be around again I'm sure.

Here's what photos I did take, and you can see it was dopey idea.

Jagwar Ma Readies First 7" -- Come Save Me / What Love?

2012-01-27T00:07:50-05:00

New music alert for you, so put your pencils down and pay attention. Jagwar Ma is the new project of Jono Ma, former guitarist for the Australian band Lost Valentinos. Joining him on vocals is Gabriel Winterfield of the Aussie band Ghostwood. Their effort is a little slice of goodness called Come Save Me. It's a sunny 60s California pop that morphs into an lo-fi electro dance beats. It's start like the Beach Boys, then eases into Panda Bear and ends like Hot Chip.

The single will be available to the masses in digital and vinyl form on Feb. 27th via The Blue Rider label.

So please check out for the video for Come Save Me, and I think you will approve.

This Week in Random Reunions -- Ben Folds Five

2012-01-26T23:49:33-05:00

This time, they are back full-time, bitches. Last year, Ben Folds announced that they recorded a song for a Greatest Hits complilation. Today, Foldsy announced that Darren Jessee and Robert Sledge have joined him in the studio to record their fourth full-length album. This is their first album since 1999's The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner. Benny tweeted the above photo of Day One of their recording session.

One would assume that a tour would be in order after the album is released. This begs the question, will Darren and Robert be forced to play on Ben's solo songs? That might be a bit awkward.

That's all we know so far, but they got the band back together, man!

Previously:

Ben Folds / Jukebox the Ghost @ Wellmont Theatre
Ben Folds / Kate Miller-Heidke @ Wellmont Theatre

The Darcys Joining Bombay Bicycle Club and Lucy Rose on U.S. Tour

2012-01-26T00:36:42-05:00

So here, they projected a band image over themselves. It's like they are their own ghosts, man.

In any event, Toronto's The Darcys are having a busy 2012. First off -- in an act of sheer brillance -- they recorded Steeley Dan's 1977 masterpiece Aja in it's entirity in their own style. Better yet, it's yours for free at their website. Black Cow, Deacon Blues and Josie, that's smooth.

As far as original material, they released their self-titled third album last year via Arts & Crafys, which was produced by Dears' lead singer Murray Lightburn. Here's a sample of their sound -- arty, emotional, chaotic is what I call them. It's a tune called "Don't Bleed Me".

I would hope they play that song, as well as a Steeley Dan cover, when they tour with BBC and Miss Lucy Rose. Here are those dates again, which includes visit to NYC, NJ and Philly.

February 14: The Casbah -- San Diego
February 15: El Rey Theater -- Los Angeles
February 16: The Rickshaw Stop -- San Francisco
February 17: Doug Fir Lounge -- Portland
February 18: Crocodile Café -- Seattle
February 20: The Commodore -- Vancouver
February 21: Blue Grotto -- Kamloops, BC -
February 22: Republik -- Calgary
February 23: Starlite Room -- Edmonton
February 25: 7th Street Entry -- Minneapolis
February 27: Subterranean -- Chicago
February 29: The Basement -- Columbus, OH
March 1: Mod Club -- Toronto
March 2: Cabaret Mile End -- Montreal
March 3: Music Hall Of Williamsburg -- Brooklyn
March 5: Bowery Ballroom -- New York
March 7: 9:30 Club -- Washington, DC
March 8: Maxwell's -- Hoboken, NJ
March 9: The Middle East Downstairs -- Cambridge, MA
March 10: Union Transfer -- Philadelphia

DZ Deathrays Returing to New York; EPs Getting U.S. Release

2012-01-26T00:18:07-05:00

That looks painful ... two people wearing the same t-shirt.

Australian duo and ultra-magnetic personalities DZ Deathrays are like a swift kick in the groin when you hear them. They play hardcore, post-punk DIY rock that's intense and sizzling. Comparable to Bass Drum of Death, if you are so inclined. One of their songs is called "Messed Up" and, indeed, as in they will mess you up when they grind and pound away until they are bleeding from their fingers.

Simon Parsons and Simon Ridley have been releasing singles and EPs in Australia and Europe since 2009. They logged some miles with Foo Fighters, Fucked Up, Band of Skulls, S.C.U.M. and Unknown Mortal Orchestra. They played SXSW last year, as they will again this year. Thus, they will stop back in NYC with a date at Glasslands on March 9th. I highly recommend you attend, and try not to spontaneously combust when you see them.

As far as music, they will give their two EPs, Brutal Tapes and Ruined My Life, a proper U.S. release in February via Odd Future's 3/4 Records label. You can listen to those bad boys on their SoundCloud page. For 2012, they've been putting the finishing touches on their debut album, with PVT's Ricard Pike producing.

Maybe this barn burner will be on there. It's a track called Rad Solar. Prepare to be blown away.

Two Songs Nominated for Best Song Oscar Tells Us: Movie Soundtracks Suck

2012-01-25T00:41:37-05:00

A big day for the nation of New Zealand, as Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords is nominated for a Best Song Oscar for the tune he wrote for The Muppets. Jemaine is said to be crying somewhere.

He's up against legendary Brazalian artists Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown for a song from Rio.

The other nominated songs are .... are .... umm ... let me think ....

That's it.

When you have two nominees for an Oscar category, it's time to ditch it, or it was a suck year for movies and music. Elton John and Madonna were up for Golden Globes a few weeks ago, I guess nobody in the voting group thinks those whipper snappers are worthy of a vote.

In tha past, the Swell Season, Eminem, Prince, Three 6 Mafia, The Boss, Dylan, Lionel Richie, the bald dude from Genesis, Burt Bacharach and Isaac Hayes have won.

These leads me to ask you folks a question, when was the last time you bought a soundtrack album? Or even listened to the one? I think we all said the Jonsi soundtrack for We Bought A Zoo. If you said The Twilight Saga, please get off this page now.

It's a lost art form. I think of the great soundtracks of all time: Saturday Night Fever, American Graffiti, High Fidelity, Trainspotting, Boogie Nights, Pulp Fiction. We've hadn't anything to add to the canon. Instead, we get a bunch of random artists thrown together to add to the marketing machine of dolls, t-shirts and posters. If anything, the song that is in the trailer gets the most recognition. M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" in Pineapple Express and Florence + the Machine's "Dog Days Are Over" in Eat, Prey, Love made them both household names.

So I challenge the film makers of today to come up with a soundtrack, mixing old, new and original material that will add to the great pantheon of movie music. Do as Tarantino does and Lucas did for Graffiti, write the songs into the script.

Final thoughts, this was an ass year for movies. We all agree on that. Yes, The Artist is great (big fan of Michel Hazanavicius' OSS 117 films), but really, I'm not inspired.

The Twilight Sad Tells Secrets on New Album, No One Can Ever Know

2012-01-25T00:00:06-05:00

Scottish doom dockers The Twilight Sad are back with more heavy sounds. They are ready to release their third album of deep dance beats against gloomy guitars, No One Can Ever Know. The trio name-checks bands like Cabaret Voltaire, Can, Liars, Magazine, Autechre and Public Image LTD as inspiration for the new album. Tracklisting below, album art to right.

1. Alphabet
2. Dead City
3. Sick
4. Don t Move
5. Nil
6. Don t Look At Me
7. Not Sleeping
8. Another Bed
9. Kill It In The Morning

Fat Cat records will release the opus on February 7th here in the U.S. As a side note, I went to Rutgers where a Fat Cat is a torpedo roll stuffed with two cheeseburgers, lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup and french fries mashed in there. God help you if you have one.

In anticipation for the new album, they will come back to the U.S. for a few weeks of live shows, including stops in Brooklyn and Philly.

February 23: Rock N Roll Hotel -- Washington, D.C.
February 24: Johnny Brenda's -- Philadelphia
February 25: Music Hall Of Williamsburg -- New York
February 26: Brighton Music Hall -- Allston, MA
February 28: il Motore -- Montreal
February 29: Lee's Palace -- Toronto
March 1: Pyramid Scheme -- Grand Rapids, MI
March 2: The Empty Bottle -- Chicago
March 3: 7th Street Entry -- Minneapolis
March 5: The Casbah -- San Diego
March 6: The Echo -- Los Angeles
March 7: The Blank Club -- San Jose, CA
March 8: The Independent -- San Francisco
March 10: Tractor Tavern -- Seattle
March 11: The Doug Fir -- Portland

Here's a video from the album. It's for the track, "Another Bed"

Previously:

Idlewild/The Twilight Sad @ KOKO
The Twilight Sad @ Siren Festival

Miracles of Modern Science Does a Bon Iver on You Give Love a Bad Name

2012-01-23T23:33:34-05:00

Here's something fun to do. Show this clip to your doofus co-worker/friend/mom from Jersey. Watch the confusion on their face.

Here's local heroes Miracles of Modern Science covering Bon Jovi's You Give Love a Bad Name. Awwww, this song just hurt Pitchfork's feelings.

Joy Formidable and A Place To Bury Strangers Team Up for Loudest Tour of the Year

2012-01-23T19:32:37-05:00

Two bands, six members, 100% power.

If you need to wake up from your winter hibernation, might I suggest you see the insane pairing of Joy Formidable and A Place To Bury Strangers.

Ritsy and her boys are still riding high on their big debut last year's major label debut, The Big Roar. It seems that the band has been going strong ever since I saw them in the summer of 2009 in the UK. They've gone from Pianos to Mercury to Bowery to Webster to now Terminal 5. Throw in a few arena shows with the Foo Fighters and festival appearances and you have one of the most dynamic new rock bands to appear in the past few years.

Opening on the whole tour are local trio A Place To Bury Strangers. Thus, we can call this A Place to Bury Formidable Strangers, The Joy Place or A Formidable Place to Bury Joy tour. While they have been working on their third full-length album, they have an EP for us in the meantime. Onwards to the Wall will be released February 7, just in time for your Valentine's Day. Here's a video from that EP. It's hipstamic-goodness called So Far Away.

Here are the tour dates. Might I suggest ear protection for these shows. Etymotic Research ER-20 Earplugs. $12 a pair. I bought them in bulk.

March 12-13: The Independent -- San Francisco
March 14: The Music Box -- Los Angeles
March 17: The Bluebird Theatre -- Denver
March 19: Fine Line Music Café -- Minneapolis
March 20: Majestic Theatre -- Madison, WI
March 22: The Bluebird -- Bloomington, IN
March 23: 20th Century Theatre -- Cincinnati
March 24: Masqureade -- Atlanta
March 25: Orange Peel -- Asheville, NC
March 26: 9:30 Club -- Washington, D.C.
March 28: Terminal 5 -- New York
March 29: Union Transfer -- Philadelphia
March 31: Cabaret Mile-End -- Montreal
April 2: Lee's Palace -- Toronto

Exitmusic will join the fun in Minneapolis and beyond.

Previously:

The Joy Formidable: The MusicSnobbery.com Interview
The Joy Formidable / She Keeps Bees @ Mercury Lounge
The Joy Formidable @ Pianos
The Big Pink / A Place to Bury Strangers @ Maxwell's

Pulp -- Radio City Music Hall -- April 11

2012-01-23T09:04:43-05:00

That is all.

Also playing San Francisco's Warfield, April 17.

Ticket info:

Presale begins:Wed, 01/25/12 10:00 AM for Radio City Music Hall

On Sale for San Francisco, Friday, January 27 for The Warfield.

Fanfarlo Fan Out Across North America For Tour, Rooms Filled With Light Due February 28

2012-01-23T00:00:00-05:00

That's more like it. Fanfarlo is back, boys and ladies. Details are in, dates are set and smiles are ready for action.

First off -- details on their second album, Rooms Filled With Light. Tracklisting is as follows, album art to the right.

1. Replicate
2. Deconstruction
3. Lenslife
4. Shiny Things
5. Tunguska
6. Everything Turns
7. Tightrope
8. Feathers
9. Bones
10. Dig
11. A Flood
12. Everything Resolves

While their debut was made in Connecticut, this one was made in North Wales with Ben Allen producing (Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion). Last year, they teased with their video for Deconstruction. For their second video, they bring in the big guns -- ballet dancers. It's for their song "Shiny Things".

Opening on this tour from Boston to Ann Arbor is Frenchkiss artist Young Man.

March 5: Paradise Rock Club -- Boston
March 6: Webster Hall -- New York,
March 7: U Street Music Hall -- Washington, D.C.
March 8: Union Transfer -- Philadelphia
March 9: Cat’s Cradle -- Chapel Hill, NC
March 10: Vinyl -- Atlanta
March 13: Fitzgerald’s -- Houston
March 14: The Loft -- Dallas,
March 15-18: SXSW -- Austin
March 19: Blueberry Hill -- St. Louis
March 20: Mercy Lounge -- Nashville
March 22: Zanzabar -- Louisville, KY
March 23: The Blind Pig -- Ann Arbor, MI
March 24: Mod Club -- Toronto
March 25: Mr. Smalls -- Pittsburgh
March 27: Skully’s -- Columbus, OH
March 28: Lincoln Hall -- Chicago
March 29: High Noon Saloon -- Madison, WI
March 31: Varsity Theatre -- Minneapolis
April 1: Record Bar -- Kansas City
April 3: Bluebird -- Denver
April 5: Urban Lounge -- Salt Lake City
April 6: Neurolux -- Boise, ID
April 7: Doug Fir Lounge -- Portland
April 9: The Biltmore -- Vancouver
April 10: Crocodile Café -- Seattle
April 17: Slim’s -- San Francisco

Previously:

Fanfarlo: The MusicSnobbery.com Interview
Fanfarlo / The Antlers / Laura Marling @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Fanfarlo @ Fat Baby