The Rawking Refuses To Stop

This Weekend In LA: Andrew Bird Goes Greek

David Greenwald — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:01:42 +0000

Andrew Bird / photo by David Greenwald

I’ll be out of town for this, unfortunately, but here are my recs for yr weekend show-going:

7/10 Friday - Andrew Bird @ Greek Theatre
7/12 Sunday - Ray LaMontagne w/ Jenny Lewis & Blitzen Trapper @ Hollywood Bowl
7/12 Sunday - Oneida @ The Echo

In related news, tour hermit Sufjan Stevens just announced he’s playing ATP New York in September — his first big-time show in the U.S. in two years. Coupled with his Pop Montreal date, does this mean dude’s finally got some new material to test-drive? Or does he just need lunch money? Let’s cook up some Fleetwood Macaroni and Cheese and let the rumours begin.

See more shows at the ongoing LA Tour Dates calendar page.

Video: John Vanderslice - “Too Much Time”

David Greenwald — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:00:43 +0000

Don’t say John Vanderslice never did anything for you. For the video for Romanian Names gem “Too Much Time,” he enlisted the Magik Magik Orchestra to put a chamber-pop spin on the already great song — a more natural look for a track from a synth-heavy album. It sounded great live, too.

John Vanderslice - “Too Much Time”: mp3
John Vanderslice - “Fetal Horses”: mp3

Previously: First Look: John Vanderslice - Romanian Names | Live at the Troubadour, 6.29.09

First Look: Tin Man - “Cool Wave” EP

David Greenwald — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:00:38 +0000

The Cool Wave EP is extremely chilled out — so downtempo that at times, it barely registers a pulse. But Tin Man’s minimalist electro gains evocative scope through Johannes Auvinen’s sandy vocals. “Without the sun, we can go on,” he mumble-sings from inside a refridgerator on “California,” the kind of autumnal doom and gloom more often found over muted guitars — as with last year’s Crushed Stars album, or the One AM Radio’s gauzier material. Elsewhere, he ponders the distance between L.A. and heaven. But Auvinen narrates his existential crises over barely there beats, leaving Cool Wave both light and dark enough for ponderous summer nights.

Tin Man - “Constant Confusion”: mp3

(Buy Cool Wave from Tin Man)

More: New Music

Camera Obscurist: A French Bulldog’s 4th Of July

David Greenwald — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:00:55 +0000

All photos by David Greenwald

This was your Independence Day, Wally. (And Humphrey.) More: Camera Obscurist

Nicolai Dunger - “Independence”: mp3

Bootleg: Elliott Smith - “I’m So Tired” (Beatles cover)

David Greenwald — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:00:14 +0000

In my tireless efforts to bring you the very best in Elliott Smith bootlegs, I have a special treat today, folks: a crisp, full-band recording of Smith performing the Beatles’ “I’m So Tired” that trumps the previously available version. Anyone know who’s nailing the harmonies while our boy cracks up? Plus, a long overdue MP3 of his rare partial performance of Elvis Costello’s “Last Boat Leaving.”

Elliott Smith - “I’m So Tired” (live Beatles cover, 5.18.98): mp3
Elliott Smith - “Last Boat Leaving” (live Elvis Costello cover, 1996): mp3

Both of these and some 50+ more, of course, in the Elliott Smith: The Complete Live Covers Compilation post. Have stuff I’m missing or better tapes? Please send ‘em over and please, pass the compilation along — it’s an ongoing labor of love.

More: Elliott Smith - Complete Unreleased Material: Live | Elliott Smith Live: The Definitive Guide | All Elliott Smith

Bowerbirds Live-Streaming On NPR Right Now

David Greenwald — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:22:12 +0000

Go watch. Better than the MJ funeral, I promise.

Previously: New Music: Bowerbirds - “Northern Lights”

Old Music: Trashcan Sinatras - “Freetime”

David Greenwald — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:23:47 +0000

I wrote recently about the Trashcan Sinatra’s new album, In The Music, calling it “effortless” pop. But the Sinatras have never sounded more liberated than “Freetime,” the best track from 2004’s Weightlifting — my introduction to the band, and an unexpected mid-career peak. It’s hard not to hear the shimmering “Freetime” as Scotland’s answer to Radiohead’s “Let Down”: soaring but jangly, anthemic but open-armed. If you missed it a few years back as I did, it’s not too late to carry that Weight.

Trashcan Sinatras - “Freetime”: mp3

(Buy Weightlifting)

Video: “Couples Retreat” Trailer

David Greenwald — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:21:39 +0000

Working title: Forgetting How Much Older I Am Than You, Sarah Marshall.
The premise: a bunch of aging, doughy funnymen embark on an island bromance with their younger, hotter wives and presumably learn life lessons — it could be a bad sitcom writ large, or, given that it’s a Jon Favreau script and dude’s the best, totally funny. Either way, part of me is extremely depressed that I’m starting to relate almost as much to this business as I do to Swingers.