owl and bear

The Swell Season Share the Joy

chris maroulakos — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:57:56 +0000

Who doesn’t love The Swell Season? Ever since charming moviegoers with the romantic sleeper hit Once, Irish/Czech odd couple Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova have been trotting around the globe, bringing their heart-wrenching ballads to sold-out, adoring crowds. Their live performances have become renowned not just for the terrific music, but for Hansard’s endlessly engaging stream of anecdotes. And who could forget their much-deserved Oscar win for Best Original Song, which dutifully trampled the three obnoxious nominees from Disney’s Enchanted, and introduced the world to Hansard’s aw-shucks modesty and Irglova’s soft-spoken adorability?

Those who have played out their copies of the Once soundtrack now have cause to rejoice. The Swell Season—led by Hansard and Irglova and featuring members of Hansard’s other band The Frames—will be releasing Strict Joy on ANTI- Records on September 29th. Borrowing its name from a poem by James Stephens, the album features twelve new songs influenced by the band’s sudden and tumultuous success, as well as the birth and death of Hansard and Irglova’s offscreen romance.

The Swell Season will be touring in support of the new album, the dates for which will be announced soon. Also coming soon is a documentary that captures the band’s whirlwind post-Once tour, and which, if we’re lucky, will contain a performance of the hilarious children’s song “Banana Man”. We’ve got the track list for Strict Joy after the jump, as well as a video of Hansard and Irglova performing the inexorably awesome “Falling Slowly”.

Strict Joy Track Listing:
1. Low Rising
2. Feeling the Pull
3. In These Arms
4. The Rain
5. Fantasy Man
6. Paper Cup
7. High Horses
8. The Verb
9. I Have Loved You Wrong
10. Love That Conquers
11. Two Tongues
12. Back Broke

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The Duke & the King: New Project by Felice Brother Simone (MP3s)

harry s truman — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:56:23 +0000

The Duke & the King, the new Huckleberry Finn-inspired project led by Simone Felice of the Felice Brothers, is best described as loping, sun-faded melodic pop with touches of country, gospel, and folk. Their forthcoming album, Nothing Gold Can Stay, was recorded over a cold winter in the Catskill Mountains.

MP3: “The Morning I Get to Hell” by The Duke & the King. Nothing Gold Can Stay is out Aug 4 on Ramseur Records.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Felice Brothers, their song “Frankie’s Gun” (MP3), is a must-have; you can also download a few of their tracks over at Daytrotter. The Duke & the King, while sonically different from the Felice Brothers, should be an interesting listen. A tour is in the works, but no dates have been announced.

Random Posts

Poetic Memory: The Rest

harry s truman — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:41:12 +0000

The last time Ontario, Canada’s The Rest played at the Casbah, we missed it. But we won’t make that mistake again. After all, according to their MySpace page, The Rest like all the things that we like: doing push-ups, shooting each other with water guns, howling at the moon, and delicious Thai food. (More details below.) We have other reasons, too. For one, their new album, Everything All At Once, is amazing. For another, they graciously agreed to write the latest installment of Poetic Memory. Also, they use the word “rascal” in their lyrics.

We’ve featured The Rest on our podcast a few times, but in case you missed it, here are a couple of MP3s. The wondrously haunting “Drinking Again” is definitely one of our favorite songs of 2009. Also, be sure to check out “Everything All At Once“, the epic titular track from their new album.

Poetic Memory is a regular Owl and Bear feature in which musicians disclose their influences—whether it’s albums, songs, artists, or something random. If you’re interested in being featured here, send us an email.

Jordan Mitchell (acoustic & electric piano, electric guitar, synths, trumpet, Kaoss pad, percussion, voice)

1. The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds: Probably my go-to record of all go-to records. It’s just perfect. And on play 2,391,823,021 I’m sure it will still sound perfect to me.

2. Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot: This record is the one I discover something new from every time I listen to it. Some glimmer of a sound, or some combination of sounds that my ear finally decodes. Everything about it, the amazing song writing, the recording process, Jay Bennett’s death, America post-911, Jim O’Rourke. The interest for me always keeps growing with Yankee.

3. Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea: When I was in elementary school I didn’t read The Diary of Anne Frank. But something happened in my twenties that compelled me to read it. It wasn’t because I was curious about the Holocaust or even because I became a big literature buff; it was because I wanted to get more insight into why I love this album, which Jeff Mangum composed after being inspired by Anne Frank’s story. I felt like if Mangum could make a record of such enormous beauty all because of this book, I had to read it. And I’m really glad I did. Now I find the songs so powerful that there are times listening to it where I genuinely have to fight back tears.

4. Talk Talk – Laughing Stock: Laughing Stock has some of the most amazing payoff moments on any recording I’ve ever heard. The arrangements give you everything you need at exactly the time you need them, but at the same time never giving you more than what you need. This album is life-affirming—I feel better after listening to it. (Spirit of Eden does that too, but Laughing Stock doesn’t have that one song with the cowbell that is way too loud, so it wins.)

5. My Bloody Valentine – Loveless: I love the sound of this album; it’s sweet yet so menacing. It is the picture on the front cover. The song structures are so simple, yet everything that is contained within them is so unconventional that it creates this amazing dynamic of an album that is accessible in a totally inaccessible way.

6. Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation: I fucking love Daydream Nation. I bought this album in high school and played the shit out of it. Now my CD can barely play anything off of it without skipping. I hate CDs.

7. Fennesz – Endless Summer: After nine years, Endless Summer still sounds more advanced than any other album in its genre. I think the reason I like Fennesz more than his contemporaries is his sense of focus. Many experimentalists lack this sense, probably because it’s contrary to the whole idea of experimentation. But when it comes to making music I feel like you really need both, which this album has. There is no other album to date, that I know of, that accomplishes what this one does.

8. Bob Dylan – Blood On The Tracks: This album always felt to me like Dylan without the sense of agenda. It’s cooler-headed, and at times quite sweet. Dylan has a lot of go-to records, but for me this is the one I find I enjoy the most top to bottom.

9. Marvin Gaye – What’s Goin’ On: This record is like Pet Sounds to me; it’s just perfect. Every hit, every chord, every soulful wail just sounds right. It’s politically poignant. It’s musically sophisticated. It makes you want to love God the way Marvin does.

10. Radiohead – Kid A: I had a tough time choosing between this album and OK Computer. But I went through this phase a few months back where I listened to OK Computer too much, so maybe that’s why this is here. I love them both though. Kid A just kind of appeals to me more on a sonic level, I think.

Matty Buzanko (electric bass)

There’s no order to this list, it’s just the ten that came to my mind as I was writing this. Ask me tomorrow and it could be different—depends on how many pints I’ve had.

1. Tom Waits – Rain Dogs: It’s confusing, inspiring, beautiful, and makes me wanna get drunk and play the oboe. It’s everything I want out of a record, and life for that matter.

2. Counting Crows – Recovering the Satellites: Every song is a gem, and I had the opportunity to pick it up at that inspirational age in life when you first discover girls will kiss you for a quarter.

3. Marvin Gaye – What’s Goin’ On? The hooks on this record blow my mind. The thought that loving God and saving the children could inspired this album makes me wanna get up early every morning to teach Sunday school to inner city youth.

4. The Beatles – Abbey Road: It’s probably the safest answer to favorite album, and there’s a reason for it.

5. The Besnard Lakes – Are the Dark Horse: The song structure and bass hooks make this one of the best albums I’ve heard in the last couple of years.

6. The Odds – Good Weird Feeling: Catchy tunes and great tongue-in-cheek lyrics, everything a grand power-pop album should be.

7. Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot: Every second of this album is mind-shattering. Then I watched the documentary I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, and I fell head-over-heels all over again, like finding out your awesome next door neighbor has a daughter that is a gymnast.

8. The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds: There is a reason why most of our generation was conceived while this album was playing. Your dad knew what he was doing.

9. Modest Mouse – Good News for People Who Love Bad News: Try to listen to this album and stay in a bad mood. Its next to impossible; every hook is infectious. Kinda morbid, too, but I like ‘em that way.

10. Van Morrison – Moondance: Try to say something bad about this album. Van has people to break your legs.

Anna Jarvis (cello, banjo, clarinet, voice)

I try to avoid playing the favorites game, but here’s a list of ten albums I’m awfully fond of. Listed alphabetically by group or last name of composer, they are:

J. S. Bach – Suites for Unaccompanied Violoncello; performed by Pierre Fournier: Over the years I have acquired half a dozen versions of the Bach suites. All of the interpretations are quite different, and I have no hard-and-fast favorite recording. Today I think I’ll go with Fournier, but who knows, tomorrow I might find myself craving Bylsma or Cassals.

Ludwig van Beethoven – Complete String Quartets, performed by the Guarneri Quartet: The Guarneri quartet was founded in 1964 and maintained its original line-up for nearly 40 years. The tens (or perhaps hundreds) of thousands of hours these world-class musicians spent on what the Guarneri’s first violinist Arnold Steinhardt once described as “the technical problems of intonation, ensemble, and the critical shadings of four like-sounding instruments… the unchartered process in which four people let their individual personalities shine while finding a unified quartet voice… endless musings, discussions, criticisms, that… end up as an interpretation” made possible these exquisite recordings of some the most well-known pieces in the quartet repertoire. If you’ve ever thought to yourself “Gosh, I’d really like to immerse myself in some really excellent and occasionally sublime string quartet music,” then this is the album I most heartily recommend. It also works pretty well as background music for Sunday morning pancake cook-ups.

Cake – Fashion Nugget: For me, Cake is second only to Hendrix when it comes to driving music (see below).

The Cat Empire – Self Titled: The Cat Empire is a very fun and tight ensemble. They also do a great live show.

The Rostropovich Edition – Dvorak, Brahms, Haydn, et al.; performed by Mstislav Rostropovich and various orchestras: This three-disc compilation of fabulously virtuosic cello music would be worth it for the Dvorak alone, but the other pieces in the collection are also pretty great. If you want to hear heroic cello-playing at its finest, this is the album I would most strongly recommend.

Edward Elgar – Cello Concerto / Sea Pictures / Overture ‘Cockaigne’; performed by Jacqueline du Pré, Janet Baker, John Barbirolli and the London Symphony Orchestra: Every single du Pré recording I’ve heard makes me go pleasantly weak at the knees – her performances were consistently uplifting and passionate – so picking a favourite du Pré album just wasn’t possible. Although I really wanted to choose the Barenboim and du Pré recordings of the Brahms cello sonatas because the opening of the E minor sonata sounds like the darkest of chocolate, in the end I chose the Elgar concerto because it’s an iconic recording that I (and probably most other cellists) grew up with. It is THE recording of the Elgar. All other interpretations of the Elgar are considered in relation to this one.

Jimi Hendrix – Electric Ladyland: A little while back, for the better part of a year I listened to nothing but Hendrix while driving. In retrospect, this may have annoyed my more frequent passengers, but they (very politely) never complained.

Unplugged: Mozart and Rypdal – performed by Terje Rypdal, Hans Petter Bonden, Stig Nilsson, Pauls Ezergailis, Rainer Moog, Aage Kvalbein, Christian Eggen, and the Oslo Sinfonietta: This is an album which showcases two very different sides of the clarinet. I love the juxtaposition of these two very different yet complementary works. Where the Mozart is clear and joyous, the Rypdal is murky and tortured. Rumor has it that Bonden (the clarinetist) actually foamed at the mouth like a thing possessed during the live concert recording of the Rypdal.

The Tiger Lillies – The Gorey End: Edward Gorey + The Tiger Lillies + Kronos Quartet = wonderfully bleak comic madness.

Peteris Vasks – String Quartet No. 4, performed by Kronos Quartet: This album/piece of music sounds like Shostakovich for the new millennium. I find this piece especially gripping when listened to an hour before dawn, on a rainy day, or shortly after nightfall.

Adam Bentley (voice, acoustic & electric guitar, electric piano)

I was going to write a detailed analysis for each record, but I found that whatever I wrote didn’t seem to do these albums justice, or at least didn’t do my feelings towards them justice. Much like Jordan already said, each of these records are bound to change order, or be replaced by future obsessions. However, I know for one reason or another they’ve all left an undeniable imprint on me, and that’s something that can’t change. So I’ve instead written one or two lines about each.

1. Talk Talk – Laughing Stock: A religion will start around this music one day. Just wait.

2. Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea: Never before has someone’s subconscious world been illustrated so clearly through music.

3. Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot: On first listen I thought it was “pretty good.” On fifth listen it became “great.” After thousands of listens it stands as a moment of genius.

4. The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds: I place of a real comment I will say “jnasjofNASn” harmonized.

5. The Replacements- Let It Be: Lost this record after only one month of owning it. In that one month I played “Let It Be” every morning, and every evening. This is the superior “Let It Be.”

6. Bob Dylan – Blonde on Blonde: Funny that I’ll have Blonde on Blonde on here and Jordan will have Blood On the Tracks since we debated the opposite just recently. I guess we convinced each other.

7. My Bloody Valentine – Loveless: Beauty in Violence.

8. Radiohead – Kid A: There should be less written about Radiohead and more listening to Radiohead.

9. Jim O’Rourke – Insignificance: I’ve scared children professing how incredible this album is while driving in my car with the windows down.

10. Neil Young – Harvest: I wanted Neil on here, I needed Neil on here, but this was an almost impossible decision for me, but I’ll go with the album that first introduced me to him.

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The Dead Weather Get It On with Your Mother on Cinemax

chris maroulakos — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:16:32 +0000

That’s right: The Dead Weather are set to get it on with your mother on everybody’s favorite childhood soft-focus porn channel. But before you pour lye in your eyes, let me clarify: the band will be debuting their new short film Treat Me Like Your Mother on Cinemax on July 11th. Wordplay!

Directed by Jonathan Glazer, whose credits include Sexy Beast, Birth, and the amazing videos for Radiohead’s “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” and UNKLE’s “Rabbit in Your Headlights”, the film stars band mates Jack White and Alison Mosshart in what promises to be a dirty, dirty experience.

Says White, “It was overwhelmingly electric working with Jonathan Glazer on this project, which feels more short film than video. I’ve never felt an intensity like I did on the set of this shoot. Absolutely violent, explosive, and poetic.”

The video premieres promptly at 9:55pm, just days before the release of The Dead Weather’s highly anticipated debut album Horehound. You can watch a trailer for the short film here, and we’ve got the afore-mentioned Glazer-directed music videos after the jump.

Rabbit in Your Headlights music video

Radiohead – Street Spirit (Fade Out)
by camiloandrex

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Scott Avett Plays Townes Van Zandt – Greensboro Woman (Video)

harry s truman — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:41:32 +0000

h/t Muzzle of Bees

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Poetic Memory: Alan Wilkis

harry s truman — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:37:30 +0000

Brooklyn’s Alan Wilkis calls himself “a sponge type of listener” who is “influenced by many different artists, genres, and time periods” and it’s easy to tell from his music. His new EP is called Pink and Purple, and it’s a blast. To describe his taste, Wilkis says, “One day I might be listening to some death metal, next day it’s 80s hip-hop, then Bach fugues, and then it’s Elvis Costello all weekend.” His style will take you by surprise, but it’s a good thing—and it’s plain that he writes for sheer enjoyment.

We described his last album, Babies Dream Big, as “reminiscent of anything from funk to deep soul to something like the soundtrack to Ghostbusters,” and Pink and Purple operates in a similar dimension. Given last week’s passing of Michael Jackson, it seems only appropriate to publish Wilkis’ list of influences, which he readily admits is “a little 80s funk-heavy.” Below are Alan Wilkis’ top 10 influences.

1. Michael Jackson: Unless you’ve been living in a barn with no contact to the outside world for decades, chances are you are acquainted with a large quantity of MJ’s music. I certainly am, and chances are you felt the effects of his loss.

As is the case for so many musicians before me, Michael’s music has been a major influence. Listening to Thriller with my parents at age 5 is my first musical memory. I loved it then, I love it now, and I most certainly will continue to do so for years to come. I could go on and on, but I’ll try to pinpoint a few things that hit me hardest. One major lesson I took from MJ was his knack for working with exceptionally talented people in the studio (Quincy Jones as a producer, for example). I am a one-man band in most regards, but I have a lot of old friends that are, simply put, monster musicians, and I tried to bring them along for the ride whenever possible. It’s so much fun to work with them, have one over for a guitar or horn solo here, or a little drum break there. On my song, “Snuggle Up to Nail Down,” for example, I had my friend Ryan play a total shred-guitar solo, a blatant homage to Van Halen in “Beat It”, and I credited him in the liner notes with “Van-Halening by Ryan Ferreira.”

The other big thing from MJ—something that I kind of joke about but is also completely accurate—is that my entire “thing” is derived from the song “PYT.” It’s a total powerhouse pop song, so catchy, so danceable, but musically intelligent at the same time. I strive for that aesthetic (and obviously don’t even come close, but you gotta aim high, right?). Also, specifically on the choruses of that song, those little synth jabs that come in between lyrics, like, “I got to love you/P-Y-T/Pretty Young Thing [in comes synth jab].” That call-and-response to vocal melody is a huge part of what I do, and I owe that to Michael Jackson.

2. Prince: Who doesn’t love Prince? Do I even have to say anything? Seriously? My new EP is called Pink and Purple, and clearly Prince had something to do with that. I’m not sure what I love most about him; he’s a timeless and unbelievable songwriter, an uncompromising artist, performer, guitar player, producer, and (like me) also one-man band.

One thing I perhaps love most is his use of playful synth sounds, played so skillfully, but frankly if anyone else were on the keys without Prince at the helm, a lot of those sounds would come through as cheesy—like on the intro to “I Feel For You” for example. Try making a song with those sounds and it will not be cool. I can almost guarantee that, but give it to Prince and it’s just magical.

If I had to pick a Prince album, it would definitely be Dirty Mind. It’s so short; maybe 30 minutes total. So dynamite, so concise and to the point. There’s no filler whatsoever. And it’s really that perfect combo of funk and rock that only Prince can pull off. Also, if I’m not mistaken, the album is his original demo recordings from his basement, and he played all the parts. You wanna talk about ridiculous do-it-yourself-ing, look no further. Badass.

3. Rick James: Rick James is another artist I could expound upon for quite some time. I think that a lot of people don’t take him as seriously as he deserves, most likely because of his bravado and ridiculousness, but Rick James was the man. Unreal songwriter, unbelievable producer (of his own music as well as of others), amazing singer/performer/persona/virtuosic bassist, etc. Check out a song he produced called “Candy Man” by the Mary Jane Girls – if you’re not smiling and feeling happy within the first 30 seconds, I will send you a free download of Pink and Purple. (Seriously, email Owl and Bear and we’ll make it happen.)

4. Dazz Band: The Dazz Band were incredible, specifically Let It Whip. I believe they at times had as many as 11 people on stage at once—synthesizer heaven, top-notch musicianship, full horn section, great guitar-playing. They’re another example of very intelligent but very fun pop music, with so much soul. Let It Whip is an especially big one for me. It’s intense, and just forces you to dance. It’s impossible to resist. And I love the whip crack that happens with every other snare drum.

5. Frank Zappa: I’ve been a pretty devoted Zappa fan since high school. Such an absurdly prolific dude with a twisted sense of humor and complex songwriting and arrangements. He was a true master of style. It’s for me to pick a favorite song or album, but definitely one of them is the live recording of Village of the Sun from the Roxy and Elsewhere record in the mid ’70s.

One of the many things that I admire and respect about him is his utter megalomania—not to say that I’m as harsh or strict as he ever was, but I do about 99% of the playing, writing, recording, producing, and mixing of my music, and Zappa was probably the one who taught me that it’s okay to be that way (sometimes).

6. Tortoise: Tortoise is one of my favorite bands in current existence. Their ability to combine so many decades and styles of music into seamless recordings is astounding. I often describe listening to their music as “the soundtrack to my imagination.” They touch on so many different musical memories for me—for example, at any given moment, I’m entranced by a certain repetitive beat of theirs, and then they throw in one little guitar line that takes me straight to a Spaghetti Western soundtrack a la Ennio Morricone. And then, a Reggaeton drum beat drops in and I feel like I’m back in Brooklyn. Every listen is truly an adventure to me, and their newest album, Beacons of Ancestorship does not disappoint. I’ve been waiting for it for five years!

7. Wilco: Wilco is another favorite in current existence for me. As songwriters, they are just top-notch, and Jeff Tweedy’s voice is so fragile and powerful, it really shakes me to the core. The thing I love most about Wilco is that their albums always grow on me. I don’t mean that in a bad way at all, only that on first listen, I’m never overwhelmed or shocked by anything. It feels comfortable and familiar already, and I keep coming back to figure out what makes their music is so special. By the 3rd or 4th listen, I’m just in love with it. I feel like I’ve known the songs for years, as if they’re classics already. Layer upon layer of subtleties and nuance, and just damn-near perfect old-fashioned songwriting. That is a rare thing to achieve.

8. Raphael Saadiq: I adore Raphael Saadiq as a producer (D’Angelo), band member (Lucy Pearl, and yes, even some Toni Tony Toné), but as a solo artist the most (especially Instant Vintage and the newest record, The Way I See It). The man is a master musician, songwriter, and has a voice from another universe. So much soul! And as a producer, he just kills it. He’s equally comfortable making hip-hop, R&B, hardcore funk, and 100% faithful, sophisticated, updated Motown (the new record puts Motown throwback records to shame, Amy Winehouse included). Another awesome thing about him is that he puts out his own records, owns his own stuff. He probably has some distribution set-ups etc. with major labels, but the man is on top of his business and in control, and immensely successful. Very inspirational as a musician and businessman

9. Jimi Hendrix: Hendrix is akin to MJ and Prince in that obvious influence sense, but Jimi was single-handedly my entrance into more serious guitar playing. Until I discovered him as a teenager, I was noodling around with Green Day, Nirvana, more basic popular rock stuff like that. Jimi opened my eyes to the true power of electric guitar, feedback, noise, giant solos, whammy bars, and all the good stuff. I spent countless hours learning the solos to “Red House”, “Purple Haze”, “Little Wing”, and the intro to “Castles Made of Sand”. ‘Nuff said.

10. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Okay, this is a weird call, and I can’t say that I love their music, because I don’t. However, they were the first artists that are roughly my age who more or less “made it” doing everything on their own. They self-released their first album, had barely played any shows anywhere—no more than 10—before a couple write-ups in the right places (such as Pitchfork), and suddenly they were selling thousands of albums. They were the first band I experienced in my adult life to really break through and become very popular without the help of a label, and that was inspiring to me. I am self-released, self-published, and I’d like to believe that it’s at least possible to reach more people than my immediate friends and family without label help. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is part of the reason behind that belief.

That’s pretty much it. Hope you’ve enjoyed my ramblings, and I hope you get familiar with some of these artists!

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Elvis Perkins – Chains, Chains, Chains (Video)

chris maroulakos — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:32:20 +0000

Elvis Perkins in Dearland have released the new video for “Chains, Chains, Chains”, off their moving self-titled album.

According to Spinner: “The video…seems to be swimming (literally) in symbolism and insinuation. There are rising tides, silhouettes, aquatic birds and then, of course, embryonic sea people entangled in a womb-like waterworld. Or something of the sort. It all adds up to an eye-catching video that is mystical and imaginative and perfectly suited for Perkins’ poetic hymn.”

If you haven’t seen the group live yet, we highly recommend it. Dates for their current tour after the jump.

Tour Dates:

July 08 Joe’s Pub New York, NY – Elvis Solo – Happy Ending Music & Reading Series w/ Binnie Kirshenbaum, Nick Laird & Kevin Canty
July 25 Subterranean Chicago, IL
July 26 Wicker Park Festival Chicago, IL
August 02 Newport Folk Festival – Fort Adams State Park Newport, RI
August 15 Mass MoCA North Adams, MA
September 03 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR
September 05 Bumbershoot Festival Seattle, WA
September 12 B-Side Festival Murcia, SPAIN
September 14 Cahagranada Culture Center Granada, SPAIN
September 15 Black Note Valencia, SPAIN
September 16 Sala Apolo Barcelona, SPAIN
September 17 Matadero Culture Center Elche (Alicante), SPAIN
September 18 Sala Heineken Madrid, SPAIN
September 20 Leffingeleure Festival Leffinge, BELGIUM
September 22 Scala London, UK
September 24 La Marquise Lyon, FRANCE
September 25 Osophere Festival, Le Club Strasbourg, FRANCE
September 26 Le Grand Mix Tourcoing (Lille), FRANCE
September 28 L’Alhambra Paris, FRANCE
October 04 Strictly Hardly Bluegrass Festival – Speedway Meadow Golden Gate Park San Francisco, CA

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Issue-Having Michaels and the State of Things (TV)

andy fargnoli — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:57:29 +0000

Michael & Michael Have Issues, a headbirth of Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter (note that, so as to not get political, from now on I’ll refer to them as M&M because I can’t be sure which Michael comes first in the title, and I only mentioned Mr. Showalter after Mr. Black above for alphabetical reasons), is, simply put, an upcoming television show. Premiering on Comedy Central July 15 at 10:30 EST, the show is a sketch show about M&M making their own sketch show, according to a press release from Comedy Central. We’re in store for some meta-sketching, it seems. But not to worry—we may be in good hands.

The folks over at Punchline Magazine, a website that takes comedy seriously, had the good fortune of seeing the pilot. The show, according to Punchline, is “fucking hilarious” and suitable for those who got down on the idiosyncratic humor of Stella and also for newcomers unfamiliar with M&M but looking for something edgier than SNL.

Comedy Central has had mixed results with its original seasonal programming. Many shows, like Freak Show and Dog Bites Man (and Stella, for that matter), go unappreciated and don’t live to see a second season. Others, like Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist and Strangers with Candy, have a decent go at it. And still others, like South Park and Reno 911!, endure.

What does this mean for M&M? If precedent is any indicator, things could be good for them. Like Chappelle’s Show and Important Things with Demetri Martin, M&MHI features sketches from the minds of very funny people. Chappelle’s show did very well until Dave decided he didn’t want it to anymore, and Martin’s show is getting a second season. Plus, M&M have already proven in their careers that they know how to make some funny sketches, in particular, and funny stuff, in general. There’s also this clip from the M&MHI pilot to consider:

Michael & Michael Have Issues Premieres Wed, July 15, 10:30pm / 9:30c

If this isn’t convincing, take M&M apart and restore them to their original state as Michaels—just Michael and Michael (or maybe Michael versus Michael). By many measures they are individual successes, with, between them, dozens of shows and movies, a few comedy albums, some kids, a bunch of cats, a wife, at least one commercial parody, a collection of mind-blowing essays (in paperback July 14), a web talk show, and a children’s book. (Because I’m being the paragon of pre-Pearl Harbor U.S. noninterventionism and somewhat of a sleeping giant here, I’ll not mention who did or has what, but I will note this: children’s-book-author Michael has a last name that is the color of clothing worn by people in a grim mood, a mood in which one might often find the other Michael, perhaps because he has no children’s book of which to speak. In all fairness it should be noted that grim Michael has dabbled in the erotic-travelogue genre.) That said, it’s M&M’s work together that seems to lend them their greatest notoriety, which collaborations include Stella, a stand-up tour, and, of course, The State.

In the same week that M&MHI hits airwaves, M&M receive their first royalty checks from the DVD sales of The State: The Complete Series, which releases July 14. If you can’t wait until then, check out some clips via MTV’s website.

The DVD set’s release has been much discussed at O&B. First, there’s excitement of the set’s existence and, second, there’s the worry that things’ve changed. Not that the show won’t be funny to us anymore, but that the sketches will have been literally altered. “I hope the music’s the same as when the show originally aired,” O&B’s Chris began to bloviate. “I can’t imagine, for instance, the ‘Pants’ skit w/o [the Breeders’] ‘Cannonball’ . . .” (It’s so obnoxious when Chris speaks with abbreviations and slashes and brackets, though the ellipsis is a nice touch.)

While we don’t know the fate of any of the music or what went on with rights, comments sections everywhere are ablaze with worries similar to Chris’s. See what Venkman1984 (thanks for the tip, Rick Klau), Lifelong Ambition – Movie Usher, or LutherMac has to say about this.

Sci Fi Wire, currently powered by the Sci Fi Network (soon to be SyFy, on July 7 actually, a full week before The State’s DVD set hits markets; also, Sci Fi Wire will remain just that and not transmogrify into SyFy Wyre, according to a SyFy press release), quotes Thomas Lennon, who you know from The State and Reno 911! (but you may not know him as the cowriter of Taxi [the Jimmy Fallon vehicle not the sitcom], The Pacifier, Herbie Fully Loaded, and both Nights at the Museum even though he is; this isn’t a judgment, mind you; just a little surprising; I’d've written all of those and more for a quarter of what Mr. Lennon got paid had I the chance), as saying, “[I]f [the music] wasn’t cleared, we had to redo it.”

The State DVD

Lennon further notes that there are lots of extras, some admittedly crappy (like cut sketches too subpar for televisual release) and others pretty great (like commentary on every episode, if that’s your sort of thing like it is mine). Though the set is complete in a sense, it won’t be packaged with The State’s uninformed, poorly researched, and out-of-print guide to the United States. That’s a battle for another decade.

To wrap things up, July is M&M Appreciation Month, so, if you enjoy them, why not support them? If you don’t like them, how’d you get down here?

What this accidentally long-winded post should’ve been: Michael & Michael Have Issues premieres July 15. I’m looking forward to it and so should you. Speaking of things we should be looking forward to, The State comes out on DVD the day before the show premieres.

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St. Vincent – Live on Letterman (Video)

harry s truman — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:14:35 +0000

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Review: Local Natives; June 20, 2009 at House of Blues; San Diego

harry s truman — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:03:11 +0000

L.A.’s Local Natives played their first show in San Diego on Saturday, and they sounded great—even though lead guys Taylor Rice and Kelcey Ayer seemed astounded that they’d pulled it off. It wasn’t because of band discord or unfamiliar material, though; in fact, Local Natives are nothing if not tight-knit and talented. Rather, the troubles that plagued the band were more ethereal—and possibly supernatural.

Fortunately, the faux voodoo vibe at House of Blues was strong enough to diffuse what the band chillingly called the curse.

Ayer was especially glad to have finally made it to San Diego, after past attempts to play here had been thwarted by various acts of God.

That’s not to say the curse had finally worn off: just hours before the doors opened, House of Blues downgraded the show (headlined by Ben Kweller) from their normal large theater to a banquet room with bad sound, no bathrooms, and no booze.

During sound check, the venue’s less-than-durable soundboard blew out, which forced HOB’s engineers to buy a new one from the Apple Store—or at least that’s what it looked like. I also believe that the curse briefly affected me: earlier, when I went to the nearby cupcakery, Heavenly Cupcakes, I was forced to leave empty-handed after discovering that a single cupcake cost $3.00, which was well outside my price range.

Despite this, good spirits were maintained. When I talked to bassist Andy Hamm after the show, he said “Hey, I got a meal out of it; I can’t complain.” Lucky bastard.

The unfazed Local Natives happily played to an exuberant crowd. Normally a five-piece band, this time they brought a talented violinist, who faithfully accompanied the excellent “Stranger Things“, among other songs. When she wasn’t on violin, she helped out with the percussion, as on “Airplanes“.

Throughout the show, every band member contributed to the vocals, whether the songs were led by Ayer or Rice. Members also rotated instruments; occasionally Ayer took Rice’s spot with the guitar, and vice versa, and guitarist Ryan Hahn also doubled as a keyboard player. More interestingly, Ayer often switched from his usual keys to a nearby snare, supplementing Matt Frazier’s regular drumming. Even more interestingly, their violinist also took a hand at Ayer’s snare, so at times three people were contributing to the percussion. It was pretty cool.

The band members didn’t show any sign of weariness from a long tour with Kweller—or their 30-hour drive from Minnesota—but after the show, they did seem ready to be off the road. But who would blame them for wanting to relax and play a few shows back home—before they hit the jetstream for July’s string of London gigs.

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The Avett Brothers and Love and You (MP3)

chris maroulakos — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:32:58 +0000

We at Owl&Bear make no secret about our love for The Avett Brothers. Whether it takes the form of gushing over their impeccable live performances or praising our fair city for having the good taste to share in our Brother-ly love, the fraternal folkers sure do get a lot of press around here. And, what with the impending release of their new album, that’s probably not gonna change anytime soon.

Case in point: The Avett Brothers, in conjunction with Spinner, have just made their new single “I and Love and You” available as a free download. The song is the title track from their new Rick Rubin-produced album, and finds the duo maintaining the same creative heights they’ve been soaring at for their past few releases.

Judging by this song and the lovely “And It Spread”—which they played at their amazing Belly Up show last month—the new album will be nothing to shake a stick at, unless shaking a stick at things is just the weird way you show your love.

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‘Heh heh heh, I’m the Decider’ (Video)

harry s truman — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:34:34 +0000

Part three of a four-part series in which Daily Show correspondent Jason Jones carefully compares Iranian culture with our own, and unequivocally declares America’s superiority. Holy crap, it’s amazing.

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Wilco Archive Updated [Download]

harry s truman — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:48:17 +0000

It’s been a long time since our last update to the Wilco Archive, so this is a pretty hefty one. Below, you’ll find shows from Jay Bennett and Edward Burch, to 1994-era Wilco, to Alpha Romeo Tango, the fan-made collection of radio chatter. Hope you enjoy!

Complete list of new shows after the jump.

Jay Bennett and Edward Burch

January 31, 2002
February 2, 2002
May 16, 2002
August 27, 2002

Seven Worlds Collide

January 7, 2009

Jeff Tweedy

January 30, 2009
January 30, 2009 Tom C source
January 31, 2009 MKHstudios source
January 31, 2009 rhinowing source
March 26, 2009 Daly source
March 27, 2009

Wilco

November 17, 1994
November 23, 1994
February 15, 1997 DVD
May 18, 1997
October 3, 1998 Ventura source
August 12, 2000
September 3, 2002 Ian Clark source
October 27, 2002 ctfshjohn source
July 13, 2006 MKHstudios source
October 13, 2006 Davis source
November 11, 2007 All Vox Man source
April 30, 2008
May 12, 2008 Lee Hart source
December 6, 2008 Lowden source
December 7, 2008 igaines source
December 7, 2008 ninkassi source
December 13, 2008 musicjaime source
December 15, 2008 NLI source
December 16, 2008 scb source
April 16, 2009 OBrien source
April 16, 2009 Ryan Earl source
April 18, 2009 bhadella1 source
April 18, 2009 Pollock source
April 18, 2009 Wang source
April 21, 2009 bhadella1 source
April 21, 2009 Pollock source
April 22, 2009 Chris Hall source
April 22, 2009 DTyler source
April 22, 2009 JHatcher source
April 23, 2009 jcallery source
May 29, 2009 FM
June 3, 2009 tomirockin source
June 12, 2009 bporter source
June 13, 2009 bhadella1 source
June 13, 2009 stober source
June 18, 2009 jbanyai97 source
June 18, 2009 u22utoo source
June 19, 2009 CDiPietro source

Etc.

Alpha Romeo Tango

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The Owl and Bear Podcast vol. 120

harry s truman — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:00:58 +0000

Don’t you believe the words of handsome men; they’ll fall like birds only to rise again.

Subscribe to the podcast by adding this link to your RSS reader
or in iTunes (Advanced menu > Subscribe to Podcast):
http://feeds2.feedburner.com/owlbearpodcast

One of Us Cannot Be Wrong – Gregory Alan Isakov
When It Rains – The Builders & The Butchers
Walking on the Devil’s Backbone – Ha Ha Tonka
Josephine – Magnolia Electric Co.
My Unusual Friend – Fruit Bats
Don’t Believe The Words Of Handsome Men – Rock Plaza Central
You Want That Picture – Bonnie “Prince” Billy
Love & Mercy (Live) – Golden Smog w/ Jeff Tweedy
You’ll Be In The Air – Microphones
The Bride – Dirty Projectors
The Privateers – Andrew Bird
Obligatory Highway Analogy – Adam Balbo
I Heard Your Voice In Dresden – Elvis Perkins
Poncho And Lefty – Steve Earle
The End Is Near – The Fiery Furnaces
Low – Mark Lanegan
Though The Night – Of Great & Mortal Men
The Lie/The Truth – Double Dagger
Pistol Packin’ Mama – Al Dexter & His Troopers

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More Tortoise Tour Dates Added to Support ‘Ancestorship’

harry s truman — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:37:53 +0000

Tortoise’s first album in over five years, Beacons of Ancestorship, is out June 23rd on Thrill Jockey. The band had previously announced some shows around the time of Pitchfork Music Fest, and now they’ve added a some Midwest dates to their fall schedule. They’ll also be playing a few shows in Europe and one in Japan. If you have the chance to see them, don’t waste it. According to our biased-but-correct friends at Thrill Jockey

Witnessing the element of group play between the five band members in a live setting and their adept skills at playing interchanging instruments to create this sound is truly an inspiring experience and one that should not be missed!

Complete list of tour dates after the jump.

July 11 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
July 13 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
July 15 – Austin, TX – The Mohawk
July 17 – Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Music Festival
July 19 – Washington, DC – Black Cat
July 20 – Philadelphia, PA – Sanctuary at First Unitarian Church
July 21 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge
July 24 – Tokyo, Japan – Fuji Rock Festival
August 14 – St. Malo, France – La Route Du Rock
August 22 – Hasselt, Belgium – Pukkelpop
September 29 – St. Louis, MO – Firebird
September 30 – Kansas City, MO – Beaumont Club
October 1 – Omaha, NE – Waiting Room
October 2 – Minneapolis, MN – Cedar Cultural Center
October 3 – Dubuque, IA – Voices Warehouse Gallery

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Double Dagger Support ‘More’ With Tour

harry s truman — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:00:34 +0000

Baltimorians and Beach House friends Double Dagger are getting ready to tour in support of their brand new album More, which came out May 5 on Thrill Jockey Records. Their sound is of the classic Baltimore variety, with a dash of old-school Dischord Records, coupled with modern day “political and social commentary.”

They’re playing in San Diego on June 28, and since they only use only drums, bass, and vocals, the show should be pretty interesting. Check out “The Lie/The Truth” (MP3) and the above video so you’re not surprised when you go to the Soda Bar on June 28. Tourdates after the jump.

Jun 17 – Washington, DC – Crooked Beat (In-Store @ 7:00 PM)
Jun 18 – Durham, NC – Pinhook
Jun 19 – Asheville, NC – The New French Bar
Jun 20 – Atlanta, GA – Club 529 w/Liverhearts
Jun 21 – Mobile, AL – Alabama Music Box
Jun 22 – New Orleans, LA – Saturn Bar
Jun 23 – Houston, TX – Superhappyfunland
Jun 24 – Austin, TX – Red 7
Jun 25 – El Paso, TX – Garage Tequila Bar
Jun 27 – Palm Springs, CA – J Dee’s Landing
Jun 28 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
Jun 29 – Los Angeles, CA – Pehrspace
Jun 30 – Oakland, CA – 21 Grand
Jul 1 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Crepe Place
Jul 2 – San Francisco, CA – The Knockout w/Mi Ami
Jul 3 – Portland, OR – Backspace
Jul 5 – Seattle, WA – Comet Tavern
Jul 6 – Missoula, MT – Badlander
Jul 8 – Minneapolis, MN – Turf Club
Jul 9 – Chicago, IL – The Hideout w/The Fiery Furnaces
Jul 10 – Chicago, IL – Permanent Records
Jul 10 – Chicago, IL – Automatic
Jul 11 – Cleveland, OH – Now That’s Class
Jul 12 – Baltimore, MD – Whartscape

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Review: Metric; June 7, 2009 at FM 94/9 Independence Jam; Oceanside

chris maroulakos — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:21:37 +0000

Despite boasting a roster that overlaps with that of Broken Social Scene, Canadian quartet Metric have spent the last decade amassing a dedicated but modestly-sized fan base. Their previous albums have garnered plenty of critical acclaim but little airplay, and their new release Fantasies made it to #76 on the Billboard Top 200 but stopped short of making the band an indie-household name. And so it was that Metric, buried beneath headlining acts The Black Keys and Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the FM 94/9 Independence Jam, proceeded to blow both of those bands away.

Dressed in an all-white ensemble—including a microscopic pair of cutoffs that generously showed off the best legs in indie rock—and sporting a mane of bleached blond hair, Emily Haines exuded the stylish cool of a young Debbie Harry. The outdoor stage, positioned on the beach with the Pacific glimmering behind it and flocks of seagulls flying overhead, may have seemed ill-suited for the band’s moody, futuristic tones, but Metric’s brilliantly executed performance proved a fitting soundtrack to the gorgeous SoCal afternoon.

Easing into the set with an extended version of “Twilight Galaxy”, the band piled layer after layer around Joules Scott-Key’s brisk, palpitating drumbeat. It was an assured beginning to what would be a relaxed but captivating set: the band in no apparent hurry, clearing each song’s hurdles with confidence and ease. “Satellite Mind” upped the pace to a jog, with guitarist James Shaw’s tight riffs sharpened by Haines’ gleaming synth lines. Every note was tastefully marinated in an array of effects, resulting in a thrillingly unique and perfectly mixed sonic onslaught.

Though “Sick Muse” is one of Fantasies’ highlights, its live performance proved a rare stumbling block for the band. Haines’ reticent demeanor worked against her during the song’s chorus, with her sheepish delivery—she appeared to have forgotten the lyrics—depleting the hooky refrain of its joyous energy. But all was forgiven as they began to play “Gimme Sympathy”; with its half-cooed, half-spoken chorus, the song recalled 2003’s Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?, and allowed Haines’ confidence to return in full force.

The band formally dipped into Old World Underground with their performance of “Dead Disco”, that album’s ballad of musical dissatisfaction. The song’s complaint that “All we get is dead disco, dead funk, dead rock and roll” was clearly not a sentiment shared by fans in the crowd, who sang along enthusiastically. Metric also checked back into “Monster Hospital”, their furious single from 2005’s Live It Out, before hammering out their current hit, “Help I’m Alive”. The band capped their set with the anthem “Stadium Love”, which was bolstered by a fist-pumping chorus and the tight interplay between Haines’ synth and Shaw’s guitar.

Describing their new album in between songs, Haines stated that the band had sought to make a perfect summer album: something you could blast from your car with your sunglasses on and the windows rolled down. It was an odd mission statement from a band best known for crafting dark, moody synth-pop with a political bent. But by the time they wrapped up their performance, the idea made complete sense. The compositions may have dark undertones, but Metric rocked the stage with enough propellant attitude to send their songs soaring higher than the seagulls that circled above.

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Interview: Adam Balbo

harry s truman — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:13:19 +0000

NorCal musican/humorist Adam Balbo just released Fix, his excellent and umpteenth album. Featuring instant classics like “The Girl at My Pity Party” and the tongue-in-cheek “Obligatory Highway Analogy” (MP3), the album sounds like a cross between Bob Dylan and Mason Jennings, but is set apart by Balbo’s drier-than-bone wit. As a service to our readers, we commissioned Fancy Dan of The Fancy Dan Band to interview the self-aware, self-deprecating musician. Balbo’s insights about Legos, mosquito-shooting lasers, and how to invite someone to be in your porno can be found below.

Fancy Dan: How have the places you’ve lived inspired your songwriting?

Adam Balbo: This can probably only be answered years after the fact. Elegant Pond, an album I wrote in 2002—my last year in Bloomington, Indiana, when I was finishing college—is contemplative and has lots of big ideas. But after living in Beijing for over two years, my perspective changed and I cussed a lot more with More Stuff Other People Said, in 2005. Now I’m in California and not sure what is happening to me. This probably has as much to do with growing up as environment.

Fancy Dan: What kinds of music have influenced you in the past and are influencing you now?

Adam Balbo: Man, good question, but I’ll evade it with a metaphor. Let’s say the entire body of music in existence is Earth—the spherical rock we know it to be. I might be the like ancient Greeks charting my flat world. But, like them, I try to explore and plunder what I like.

Fancy Dan: How do you feel about folk music as a tradition and in what ways do you think folk music is relevant today?

Adam Balbo: Folk music will always be relevant at least to the folks doing it, right? As for tradition, I study the canon but am not beholden to scripture.

Fancy Dan: Where do you see your music going in the future?

Adam Balbo: Moving forward. Down the line. Into the sunset.

Fancy Dan: Do you find it difficult to write with a sense of humor in your songs without coming across as being jokey or like a novelty act?

Adam Balbo: Sometimes. But ultimately I don’t let it bother me. With “6 Outta 9 w/Beats,” I confined myself to use an old Casio keyboard to see what I could do with the programmed beats. It was an experiment—and kind of silly. But I think music can be both humorous and serious simultaneously.

Fancy Dan: In many of your songs you seem to reference cliches and things that have already been sung about for a long time, but you do it in an original way. Is it important for you to put a fresh spin on traditional topics or styles of songs?

Adam Balbo: Do you know there are lasers that shoot malaria-carrying mosquitoes? Some images seem timeless, others fleeting or narrowly topical. As long as there are people, there will be rocks or the sun. Love. The ocean. Timeless. So people will keep singing about those things. Referencing 1980s cartoon bad guys can be fun and meaningful, though, if the audience gets it. I try not to get bogged down thinking about it too much.

Fancy Dan: You sing with a sense of self-deprecation in a number of your songs, which seems sort of like a reaction against the self-righteous nature of many folksingers. Is this an intentional thing or do your songs just come out this way?

Adam Balbo: It is not meant to be a reaction against anybody. I guess making fun of myself sometimes is just my sense of humor.

Fancy Dan: Are writing lyrics and storytelling the most important aspects of the songwriting process to you or are melody and arrangement equally important?

Adam Balbo: Both are important – like wheels on a bicycle frame.

Fancy Dan: Do most of your songs get written quickly or do you take time to refine them before they are finished?

Adam Balbo: Some just come out. My song “Let’s Make a Porno” I wrote in about 20 minutes. “Obligatory Highway Analogy” I wrote in a day. Others take awhile—maybe weeks. Some I don’t finish.

Fancy Dan: What was your favorite childhood toy and why?

Adam Balbo: Hard to pick a favorite. It’s maybe a three-way tie: Yogi Bear stuffed animal, GI Joes, and Legos.

Fancy Dan: Are there particular aspects of what you do – from songwriting to performing to recording – that you find are the most satisfying?

Adam Balbo: I like aspects of all three. Most important, for me, is that I don’t feel stale when I’m writing, singing, or making an album. If I’m bored or I find myself trying to recreate something that I’ve already done, I inevitably won’t want to do it. I try to put myself in situations where I’m not entirely sure what I’m doing.

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The Cribs Won’t Be Ignored

chris maroulakos — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:33:45 +0000

Hey scenesters! Post-punk sibling act The Cribs have formally announced the impending release of their fourth album, titled Ignore The Ignorant. The album marks their first release since adding a guitarist by the name of Johnny Marr to their ranks, and was produced and mixed by Nick Launay of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, and Nick Cave fame.

Set for release through Wichita Recordings on September 7th, the album will be available in limited edition CD/DVD, CD, download, and sweet sweet vinyl format. For the impatient, the band will also be releasing a single for the new song “Cheat On Me” on August 30th.

We’ve got a track list for you after the jump, as well as the hilariously NSFW video for “Men’s Needs” off their endlessly listenable 2007 album Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever, which proves the group is capable of ignoring way more than just the ignorant.

Ignore The Ignorant track list:
1. ‘We Were Aborted’
2. ‘Cheat On Me’
3. ‘We Share The Same Skies’
4. ‘City Of Bugs’
5. ‘Hari Kari’
6. ‘Last Year’s Snow’
7. ‘Emasculate Me’
8. ‘Ignore The Ignorant’
9. ‘Save Your Secrets’
10. ‘Nothing’
11. ‘Victim Of Mass Production’
12. ‘Stick To Yr Guns’

“Men’s Needs” from Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever (NSFW):

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‘Thank Youuuuuu’

harry s truman — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:32:17 +0000

This interview is amazing. It’s making the Internet rounds because O’Reilly later remixed it to exclude “all evidence of [his] fist-shaking, red-faced tantrum,” but more importantly, I really like how his head appears to be on the verge of explosion in the beginning. Then, at the end, he does a victory fist-pump after nailing Walsh in true Colbert style (”Thank youuuuuu!”). Finally, as the segment closes, he just continues to chime in with stuff like “You bet”, and the insincere “I’m sorry about that”; you can tell he’s just sitting there trying to think of more ways to be obnoxious instead of actually trying to discuss anything with his guest, whom he obviously hates.

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Larry David on Conan

harry s truman — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:12:56 +0000

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Duncan D. Hunter: If Only ‘We Could Override The Endangered Species Act’ (CA & San Diego Links)

harry s truman — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:00:34 +0000

CA’s State Parks Generate $4.3 Billion Annually Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to close 80% of California’s state parks to address the state’s $24 billion budget deficit—even though park visitors pump $4.32 billion into the economy each year. In Grave Danger, Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard Gets a Reprieve The rare reptile may have one last chance, thanks to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. CA to Cut Water Usage to Save Fish Californians’ thirst for water has pushed salmon and other fish to the brink of extinction, a federal agency has ruled. CA Rep. Duncan D. Hunter Weighs in on the Water Ruling In a recent interview, Hunter dropped this gem: “If there’s some way that we could override the Endangered Species Act for things like the smelt fish and allow water to flow again down to Southern California that would be huge.” CA’s Climate Change Plan Will Boost Economy The floundering state’s plan is a watershed moment in history—but there’s still room to improve. Hatchery Fish May Hurt Efforts To Sustain Wild Salmon Runs Steelhead trout that are originally bred in hatcheries are too genetically impaired to expand populations in the wild. 40 Environmental Groups Back Frye for Coastal Panel More than 40 environmental groups in California lobbied Thursday for San Diego City Councilwoman Donna Frye to take over a position representing the region on the state Coastal Commission. Chaparral Institute Sues San Diego County Over Tree Removal Plan The wildlands advocacy group announced a lawsuit yesterday, alleging that the county failed to adequately analyze the environmental damage of removing trees and shrubs in the backcountry to reduce wildfire risks. EPA to Begin Unprecedented Coastal DDT Cleanup in 2011 The proposal includes placing a cap of silt and sand over one of the most hazardous places in the country—and mark the first time a Superfund site has used this method. California’s Thorny History of Cactus Theft In the early 1900s, gardeners took a shine to the prickly plants, and ‘cactus rustling’ was born.

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Darwin Killed Off The Werewolf (Links)

harry s truman — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:53:16 +0000

The Amazon: The Future of the Forest Brazil’s government hopes that land reform in the Amazon will slow deforestation. Sierra Club’s Carl Pope Debates Chevron CEO Dave O’Reilly When O’Reilly said, “If you can get the government to move faster, then good luck,” Pope replied, “It would help if you’d get out of the way.” Coal Ash Coming to a Town Near You? Tennessee’s toxic coal sludge is headed out of state. 24 Charged in Crackdown on Native American Artifact Looting Many charged with theft of ancient artifacts in the Four Corners region. Anna’s Hummingbird Declared Fastest Animal on Earth When the bird swoops, it experiences forces 10 times the pull of gravity—more than experienced jet pilots can endure without passing out. What Limits The Size Of Birds? Maximum body size in birds is constrained by the amount of time it takes to replace flight feathers during molt. Charles Darwin Killed Off The Werewolf After the publication of Darwin’s Origin of Species, werewolves were relegated to a fictional footnote. Gay Marriage Bans Linked to Rise In HIV Rate Bans on same-sex marriage can be tied to a rise in the rate of HIV infection. Homosexual Behavior Widespread in Animal Kingdom The phenomenon may be part of a necessary biological adaptation for the survival of species. Stress Makes Your Hair Go Gray Those pesky graying hairs that tend to crop up with age really are signs of stress. Teenager Hit by 30,000 MPH Meteorite The only other known example of a human being surviving a meteor strike happened in Alabama, in November 1954 when a grapefruit-sized fragment crashed through the roof of a house, bounced off furniture and landed on a sleeping woman. Marijuana Damages DNA And May Cause Cancer Scientists report “convincing evidence” that marijuana smoke damages the DNA in ways that could increase the risk of cancer. Alcohol Really Does Go Right To Your Head It only takes six minutes.

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I Was a Marine Sniper (Links)

harry s truman — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:34:28 +0000

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Local Natives Close Kweller Tour in San Diego, Move on To London

harry s truman — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:19:00 +0000

Our Silver Lake-based friends Local Natives are very busy. They’re finishing up their U.S. tour with Ben Kewller—the final show will be here in San Diego—and then in mid-July, they’ll be hopping a plane for a string of shows in London. Meanwhile, their new album, Gorilla Manor, will be out soon.

Check ‘em out if you can; even if you’re already going because you like Ben Kweller, you should get there early for Local Natives.

You can listen to some of their songs at MySpace (above) or download some MP3s over at Daytrotter.

Jun 19 2009 – El Rey w/ Ben Kweller – Los Angeles
Jun 20 2009 – House Of Blues w/ Ben Kweller – San Diego
Jun 22 2009 – Spaceland (Castledoor residency) – Los Angeles
Jul 13 2009 – The Lexington – London
Jul 14 2009 – Shephard’s Bush Empire w/ Of Montreal – London
Jul 16 2009 – Borderline – London, London
Jul 17 2009 – Latitude Festival – Southwold
Aug 23 2009 – Sunset Junction – Los Angeles, California