FEVER

Hear it here first: The Chapman Family

2012-04-19T08:50:00.001-05:00

You've seen it before. The articles exclaim, "Hotly Tipped Band Ready to Take UK by Storm!", only to be followed months to a year later by, "Hotly Tipped UK Band Call it a Day." That's the case with every buzz band. They burst onto the scene like a house on fire, and then said fire is quickly extinguished. But every so often, a band comes along that makes you stand up and take notice. There's something different about them. Enter Stockton, UK's The Chapman Family.

Despite some lineup changes since their inception, the underlying basis behind their music remains the same. They describe themselves as "The Death of Truth," and list their influences as "Politicians, Royalty, War, Cruelty, Injustice, Poverty, Homelessness, Famine, Humanity." The end result is music that is very raw, very emotional, and most importantly, very REAL, When singer Kingsley Chapman (they've all adopted the Chapman surname) sings, "I feel like fucking you over...", you feel as if he will actually do it. While it made very few "Best Of" lists, The Chapman Family's full-length debut, "Burn Your Town", may be the most important album that was released in 2011, as it signals, to this writer at least, a return to form. In so much of today's music, you can literally hear the script, as if "scream here" was written on the lyric sheet. You don't get the feeling that anything on their full-length debut, "Burn Your Town", was forced. It's loud and it's angry, but dammit, it's real.

Many bands today are the product of the pop machine of the last fifteen years. They write catchy hooks and dress a certain way because the music they grew up with told them that's how it was done. Bands like The Chapman Family look at that formula, say, "Fuck that," and create something special. The world needs more bands like The Chapman Family right now.

In their own words:

Pulp - Radio City Music Hall - April 11, 2012

2012-04-15T15:17:00.000-05:00

Photo by Brian Hedenberg

I will begin by stating that I am not writing this review from the view of a journalist or critic, but as a total fanboy for the band.

Pulp are one of those bands that I discovered late during their first go. As such, I never had the chance to experience them live. I thought a trip to New York in 2007 to see vocalist Jarvis Cocker perform his solo material would be as close as I would ever get. Even as they announced their festival schedule in 2011, I was sure that they would not make it across the pond.

As I sat in my seat in the third mezzanine of Radio City Music Hall on Wednesday, April 11th, 2012, I was STILL in a state of disbelief. There was no way on Earth that this was happening. The lights dimmed, and a scrolling laser welcomed us to the show. We were told to make noise and were asked questions like, "Would you like to see a dolphin?", which was then followed by a graphic of said dolphin. Suddenly, the familiar strains of "Do You Remember the First Time?' filled the air. The curtain raised, the lights came on, and there were the band in their full glory.

This was real. It was happening. I was seeing Pulp live in concert.

They sounded like they had never gone away, as if someone had turned the clock back to 1995. Pulp treated us to a two hour set, most of which centered around their 1995 masterpiece "Different Class". Songs like "Monday Morning" and "Razzamatazz" sounded just as fresh in 2012 as they did back then. Jarvis wandered about the stage, dancing and posing as only he can. His famous between song banter found him quoting the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Kurt Vonnegut whilst throwing chocolates to the crowd. The band appeared to be just as in to everything as the audience was. This was not so much a live performance for an audience as it was an experience for everyone involved.

And then, it was over. The final notes of "Misshapes" were still ringing in our ears as the house lights slowly came back on. Everyone in attendance knew that they had just witnessed something spectacular. Reunions are a hit and a miss. Sometimes, you get bands that sound like they never skipped a beat. Other times, you get bands that were right to stop when they did. As I mentioned earlier, I missed Pulp the first time around. The second time proved to be just as nice.

Setlist:
Do You Remember the First Time?
Monday Morning
Razzamatazzz
Pencil Skirt
Something Changed
Disco 2000
Sorted For E's and Wizz
F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E.
I Spy
Babies
Underwear
This is Hardcore
Sunrise
Bar Italia
Common People

Like a Friend
Bad Cover Version
Misshapes

New Mixes: "The 133 Mix" and "Beautiful Noise"

2012-01-13T21:41:00.000-06:00

I thought I would start 2012 off with a couple of mixes.

The first is titled "The 133 Mix" because the entire half hour mix is at 133bpm.
Download "The 133 Mix" here (new window)

The second mix is titled "Beautiful Noise" because.. well, that's what it is to me. Gorgeous yet aggressive at the same time.
Download "Beautiful Noise" here (new window)

Hope you enjoy both.

El Macho's 2011 Mix

2011-12-27T22:58:00.003-06:00

I've put together another long mix featuring nothing but songs released in 2011. This isn't any sort of "best of" thing. It's just a collection of good songs. If you like what you hear, then you should definitely check out the albums.

1. Los Campesinos! - By Your Hand (from "Hello Sadness")
2. Ringo Deathstarr - Do It Every Time (from "Colour Trip")
3. Chapel Club - Surfacing (from "Palace")
4. Mirrors - Look at Me (from "Lights and Offerings")
5. Radiohead - Codex (from "The King of Limbs")
6. Sondre Lerche - Go Right Ahead (from "Sondre Lerche")
7. Sloan - Unkind (from "The Double Cross")
8. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Body (from "Belong")
9. Sulk - Back in Bloom (one-off single)
10. The Chapman Family - Anxiety (from "Burn Your Town")
11. Wire - Smash (from "Red Barked Tree")
12. The Dears - Stick w/Me Kid (from "Degeneration Street")
13. Radio Over Moscow - Except (from "Deus Ex Robotica")
14. Kenna - Karma (from "Land 2 Air Chronicles I: Chaos and the Darkness")
15. IAMX - Music People (from "Volatile Times")
16. M83 - Claudia Lewis (from "Hurry Up We're Dreaming")
17. Gruff Rhys - Shark Ridden Waters (from "Hotel Shampoo")
18. 12 Dirty Bullets - Champagne and Cocaine (one-off single)

DOWNLOAD THE MIX HERE

El Macho's Christmas Mix 2011

2011-12-22T23:22:00.000-06:00

Here's my attempt at a Christmas mix. There's really nothing fancy about this one. It's just a bunch of stuff that I like to listen to this time of year collected into one 72+ minute mix.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season. Enjoy the mix.
- Macho

DOWNLOAD THE MIX HERE

Hear it here first: SULK

2011-12-12T22:24:00.000-06:00

Not too long after The Stone Roses vanished and Verve went commercial, Indie music took a dramatic turn. Before too long, you either had to be a synth-heavy dance band or dress like it's 1928 and sing folk songs to be considered Indie (looking at you, Mumford). Don't get me wrong. There's still some great stuff out there now, but I keep finding myself asking the same question: "Where are the guitars?"

Enter SULK, one of a few shoegaze revivalists making their mark in the UK right now. It only takes a few seconds of listening to their latest single, "Back in Bloom", to hear that they are doing their best to bring that swirling, massive guitar sound back to the forefront of Indie music. THANK. GOD.

"Back in Bloom":

There's not a lot out there about this band. There is no official band bio. They're letting the music speak for itself, and what it says to me is, "Holy sh*t, this is magic."

"Wishes":

They will be in Austin in March 2012 as part of SXSW. I smell a road trip. (EDIT 12/14/11: I have it on good authority that SXSW will in fact NOT be happening. Oh well.)

More info:
SULKtheband.com

FEVER Friday Mix - 9-23-11 (Soundtrack Night preview)

2011-09-22T22:23:00.001-05:00

Here's a little taste of what you'll hear at our Soundtrack Night, which is this Friday (9-23) at Tradewinds Social Club in Oak Cliff. Enjoy: DOWNLOAD THE MIX HERE

FEVER Friday mix - 9/9/11

2011-09-08T19:20:00.002-05:00

This week's FEVER mix is a preview of what you will hear at STRANGE WAYS at Strangeways. We're both amazed at the response for this night, and hope that the turnout is just as massive. See you September 9th.

DOWNLOAD THE MIX HERE

FEVER Friday mix 9-2-11

2011-09-01T21:26:00.003-05:00

Just in time, here is your FEVER Friday mix. Laying low this weekend, but we've got STRANGE WAYS AT STRANGEWAYS next Friday and NEW ART RIOT at Tradewinds on Saturday. See you then!

DOWNLOAD THE MIX

Reverts, Riots, Strange Ways, and Soundtracks

2011-08-29T21:13:00.003-05:00

Lots of things are happening in the FEVER camp. Let's get you up to speed:

1) Joel has decided to start going by DJ El Macho again. Why? Why not?

2) MUDI and Macho are playing an, at the moment, one-off event entitled STRANGE WAYS AT STRANGEWAYS on Friday, September 9th. If you haven't been to Strangeways yet, this would be the night to do it. It's a fun place with an incredible beer selection, and the clientele is right up our alley. We're looking forward to this one.

3) Joel is still soldiering on with his solo night, NEW ART RIOT. It's the second Saturday of every month at Tradewinds in Oak Cliff. If you like Britpop, Indie, Post Punk, Shoegaze, etc, then this is the night for you. Next one is Saturday, September 10th.

4) Finally, we come to this: FEVER, as you know it, is over. We have decided that the "there is no format" format has grown a bit stale and maybe a little too haphazard. So, since people seem to like themes, we're going to streamline things a bit and bring you a series of "FEVER Presents:" events. The first one is one of our most requested special events: SOUNDTRACK NIGHT! The name should be pretty self-explanatory. We'll have DJ Gabriel from the Lollipop Shoppe, Away From the Numbers, and all the other things he does around Dallas helping us out that night. This will be Friday, September 23rd at Tradewinds in Oak Cliff.

There are other things happening in the background that we can't talk about just yet, but trust us, good things are coming. Hope you're all enjoying the mixes. We'll see you at an event soon.

FEVER Friday mix 8-26-11

2011-08-26T08:14:00.001-05:00

I meant to have this up last week, but got sidetracked, so don't be alarmed when the file says "8-19". Oh well, at least you're getting it now. Download and enjoy:

DOWNLOAD THE MIX HERE

FALLING ANDES - Frantic

2011-08-09T21:38:00.002-05:00

A couple of months ago, I told you about Falling Andes. If you were a fan of their free download single "San Francisco", you will be happy to know that there's a bit more where that came from. This week, the band have released their debut EP Frantic, and at only five songs in length, you will find yourself wanting more.

Originally the brainchild of lead singer Dan Peluso, Falling Andes has become a complete four piece band, and as Frantic would suggest at first listen, this is a band capable of producing some catchy power pop. Opener "I Don't Love You" has harmonies that recall Wheat, and "Break Me" contains a driving beat that will remind you of every great Cheap Trick song of the 1970s and early 80s. Songs like "Start Again" and the title track show a softer side of the band, but still maintain the same qualities that let you know that something special is going on here.

Frantic is a very solid debut release. The future looks very bright for Falling Andes. They have nowhere to go from here but up... and up... and up.

FALLING ANDES Website

"San Francisco" video:

Falling Andes - San Francisco (Official Music Video) from Falling Andes on Vimeo.

New Beginnings and a Bonus Mix

2011-08-07T13:37:00.002-05:00

MUDI and I got the ball rolling on something last night. When we get all of the details in place, we'll let you know. We're teases like that.

As for me, I'm putting together the framework for Saturday's Blur vs. Oasis playlist. While hard at work, I had a moment of inspiration, and created this new Blur mix for you to shake a tailfeather to. It's 25 minutes long, and 130bpm. Songs are:

Bugman
Trade Stylee (Alex's Bugman remix)
Music Is My Radar
Me White Noise
Girls & Boys (Pet Shop Boys remix)

DOWNLOAD THE MIX HERE (via Mediafire)

FEVER Friday mix - Blur vs. Oasis

2011-08-04T21:22:00.002-05:00

I'm hosting a special edition of NEW ART RIOT next Saturday, August 13th to coincide with the anniversary of the Blur vs. Oasis battle. It will be held at our usual haunt, Tradewinds Social Club in Oak Cliff. I hope to see some of you there.

To get you in the mood for the night, I've got two mixes for you this week. One is a Blur-related mix (Blur and side projects), and the other is all Oasis. They're made so that the Blur mix will flow right into the Oasis mix, but you can enjoy them in whichever order you choose. Download and enjoy!

DOWNLOAD THE BLUR MIX

DOWNLOAD THE OASIS MIX

FEVER Friday mix 7-29-11

2011-07-29T07:21:00.002-05:00

Here is this week's FEVER Friday mix. Download and enjoy.

DOWNLOAD HERE (via mediafire)

FEVER Friday mix 7-22-11

2011-07-22T10:11:00.002-05:00

Music has the power to heal, or at least make things a bit better.

For those of you who haven't been following Facebook and Twitter for the last 48 hours, my grandfather passed away around 6:20 yesterday morning. He lived a good, long life on this Earth. I'm blessed to have known him.

One thing he would ask of me if he were here right now would be not to put my life on pause because he's gone. So, as it is every Friday, here is your weekly FEVER mix. I've kept it very upbeat. As I said earlier, music heals.

It's our normal FEVER night, so go pop in and see MUDI at Tradewinds in Oak Cliff tonight at 10pm. I know a lot of you are heading to The Smoke! anniversary bash, which you should. Eight years, especially in Dallas, is a long time. Congratulations to Jason and Marcos on sticking around and making people dance. MUDI and I's sixth anniversary is Friday, August 19th at Tradewinds. We'd love to see you all out that night.

DOWNLOAD HERE (via Mediafire)

FEVER Friday mix 7-15-11

2011-07-14T21:04:00.003-05:00

Bit of a change regarding how to listen to this week's mix. Instead of using Soundcloud, I've provided a download link. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD HERE (via Mediafire)

Fever Friday Mix 7-1-11

2011-06-30T21:34:00.001-05:00

Fever Friday Mix 7-1-11 by El Macho

"Time" - An Album for Geeks

2011-06-29T21:10:00.002-05:00

Since I was a young child, I have been a huge fan of the Electric Light Orchestra, more commonly known as ELO. I have also been a huge geek since a very young age. Star Wars, Monty Python and other British comedies, Nintendo, astronomy, Doctor Who, you name it. It was only recently, however, that I came to realize that one of my favorite ELO albums spoke directly to my inner geek. That album is 1981's Time.

I listen to this album on a regular basis. On this particular occasion, I was sitting in the back of the bus on my way home from work, headphones in my ears to escape the noise around me. The bus was going about 20 miles over the speed limit through a very narrow passage that I've always likened to the trench run in "A New Hope". So, a typical afternoon then.

The album begins with a brief description of another time "where darkness and light are one". Soon after, we're whisked away from 1981 to the year 2095. In a message sent back to his love, the "hero" of the story introduces us to a sexy subservient android ("I met someone who looks a lot like you/She does the things you do/But she is an IBM"). Throughout the album, our "hero" finds himself in a back and forth struggle between wanting to stay in this new world he has found, and wanting to go back to the world he knew ("Remember the good old 1980s/When things were so uncomplicated"). Soon though, our "hero" finds out through the news that this new world isn't as amazing as it seems, and decides that it is time to go back. He finds his way back to 1981 with a new found appreciation of everything he left behind ("You stepped out of a dream believing everything was gone/Return with what you've learned, now kiss the ground you walk upon").

Musically, Time is a departure from the ELO that produced albums like A New World Record and Out of the Blue, but the change isn't radical. This album is still very much ELO, even if some of the guitars were replaced with keyboards. Personally, I feel it is the last great ELO album, as Jeff Lynne would fall victim to shoddy 80s production tricks on both Secret Messages and Balance of Power. My realization that this album is perfect for sci-fi geeks has led me to see it in a whole new light.

For those of you wanting to hear it for yourself, I highly recommend the remastered version released just a few years back. It sounds incredible, and has three great bonus tracks that didn't find their way on to the album, including the great "Julie Don't Live Here".

Purchase Time at Amazon

FEVER Friday Podcast 6-24-11

2011-06-23T20:53:00.001-05:00

This week's FEVER Friday mix. Enjoy:

Fever Friday 6-24-11 by El Macho

FEVER Friday Podcast 6-17-11

2011-06-17T07:24:00.001-05:00

Here's a little teaser for what you might hear at FEVER tonight. No theme here. I just put a bunch of songs together. Hopefully you like what you hear and decide to venture out to Tradewinds Social Club in Oak Cliff tonight (2843 West Davis in Dallas). We'll see you soon.

FEVER Friday Podcast 6-17-11 by El Macho

Hear it here first: FALLING ANDES

2011-05-30T18:03:00.002-05:00

Falling Andes is an indie pop duo from Pittsburgh, PA. Principle songwriter and vocalist Dan Peluso has been performing in and around Pittsburgh and New York in various solo and band incarnations for years, and seems to have finally found an equal with his partner in Falling Andes, Jordan Wood. If first single "San Francisco" is any indication of what's to come from these two, they'll be releasing catchy pop hits for years to come. Try not to get that synth melody stuck in your head. Just try it.

Falling Andes's debut single "San Francisco" is available for download on their Facebook page.

The Interview's Over...

2011-05-30T16:50:00.002-05:00

Silverchair announced their "indefinite hibernation" last week via their website. The general public's reaction was, "Silverchair were still together?", which is understandable. After finding early success with their debut album Frogstomp, the band virtually vanished here in America. That's a real shame, because their greatest musical output was still to come.

I remember buying Silverchair's Neon Ballroom and The Smashing Pumpkins' Adore on release day during spring break in 1997. I was blown away by how musical the band had become. This wasn't just angst with distortion anymore. This was actual music. It was a much mature sound. That maturity would only improve with the release of Diorama. Diorama was an important album in my life. As a fan of Silverchair, it was a link to the child that I was when I first heard their music, and the man that I was becoming. Things that were old could be new again. The band once again reinvented themselves with 2007's Young Modern, which many consider to be the best album of their career. "Straight Lines" is absolutely gorgeous.

Now, nearly 18 years after "Tomorrow" first hit the airwaves, the band is done. I'm not sure why I've allowed it to affect me the way it has. Maybe it has to do with what I mentioned earlier, that link to my past. I'm now in my thirties, and I'm becoming more aware with each day of the disappearance of my youth. That's the thing about music, though. Bands come and go, but they always leave something behind. As long as we keep listening, the band is never truly gone.

"Tomorrow":

"Abuse Me":

"Emotion Sickness":

"Across the Night":

"Straight Lines":

Joel listens to The Beatles

2011-03-27T17:20:00.004-05:00

The Beatles. We all know of them. They are considered by many to be one of the great musical groups of all time. I have been hearing their songs since I was a small child. However, Revolver is the only Beatles album I have ever listened to from start to finish.

I decided over the last week to finally take a listen to The Beatles albums. No hits compilations, no "lost tapes" compilations. Just their studio albums. I came away from the experience realizing that I had just listened to three entirely different bands.

The first band released a flurry of albums, from Meet the Beatles through Rubber Soul. This version of the Beatles was basically a 1960s equivalent of New Kids on the Block. They were told what to wear, how their hair would be cut, and in some cases, what songs they would sing. They were a pop band who relied on catchy hooks.

The second band starts with Revolver. Individually, the Beatles were discovering new music and new religions, but mostly, they were discovering drugs. Now, I'm not promoting drug use, but the period from Revolver through Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is my personal favorite, because it was the period that produced the most creative, experimental music. Many of today's bands that list the Beatles as an influence draw their inspiration from this period.

Finally, we come to the third band, the one who just didn't give a damn anymore. They had lives outside of the band, and had better things to do than release more Beatles albums. It shows. The white album is a double album that really should have been a single album. I'm sorry, but the world is better off without excess filler material like "Rocky Raccoon". As uninterested as I was, there are still many gems during this period from the white album through Let it Be. Just ask Oasis. They wouldn't have a career without these albums.

So there you have it, my take on the Beatles after listening to all of their albums. It was an interesting experiment. I wound up discovering some songs outside of the singles that I really enjoyed. I also picked out elements in some songs that other bands I listen to were clearly trying to imitate. I've come away with a better understanding of why people hold them in such high regard.

NEW ART RIOT Teaser mix

2011-03-06T15:50:00.002-06:00

In addition to FEVER, I host a Britpop/Indie night called NEW ART RIOT. Here's a mix I put together as a teaser for what you can expect to hear. The next one is Saturday, April 9th at Tradewinds Social Club in Oak Cliff. Enjoy.

NEW ART RIOT mix