Archive for August, 2009
Secondhand Sunday: The Strokes ‘Last Nite’
I’ve been talking to a lot of people about The Strokes this week. We all wish they’d record their new album already and set out on tour together. While that is on hold apparently with Julian Casablancas is releasing his first solo record in a few weeks, and playing to a sold out Tokyo crowd, we can’t help to remember where it all started.
I recall seeing The Strokes in a copy of Rolling Stone magazine (hey it was free and came to my house) the summer I graduated from high school. They were like nothing I had ever seen at the time. They looked normal. They dressed how my friends and I dressed. They looked like they made good music. They didn’t look like Fred Durst (ick). A week after, I caught the band on MTV2 one morning and was completely blown away. From then on it was love. They completely restored my faith in rock and roll.
Enjoy The Strokes ‘Last Nite’
Monsters of Folk (Featuring Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, M Ward & Jim James)
Indie rock just added another super group to the repertoire, Monsters of Folk. Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes), M. Ward and Jim James (My Morning Jacket) are on the verge of releasing their first record together, their self titled album out September 22nd (Shangri-La Music). This is surely one of the most interesting and anticipated releases of the year.
It’s amazing that Oberst who is busy all on his own with the Mystic Valley Band has time for another band, but we’re glad he does. The record is produced by Mogis who has also been working with other musicians such as Pete Yorn lately. As the band exchange vocals throughout, the way they fit together will amaze you. These songs become more perfect with every listen. This is one album you must pick up!
Monsters of Folk are hitting the road starting in October, so be sure not to miss out!
Listen to Monsters of Folk on MYSPACE
Monsters of Folk Tracklisting
1. Dear God (sincerely M.O.F.)
2. Say Please
3. Whole Lotta Losin’
4. Temazcal
5. The Right Place
6. Baby Boomer
7. Man Named Truth
8. Goodway
9. Ahead of the Curve
10. Slow Down Jo
11. Losin Yo Head
12. Magic Marker
13. Map Of The World
14. The Sandman, the Brakeman and Me
15. His Master’s Voice
Insound 10th Anniversary Party at Brooklyn Bowl TONIGHT!
Tonight at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, Insound, who is known for being the BEST indie retailer online, is celebrating it’s 10th Anniversary! The doors open early at 6, and there is free beer until 8pm. Amongst the bands playing are The Drums, Real Estate, These are Powers and Cymbals Eat Guitars. There is also a special ‘TBA’ band on the bill that still hasn’t leaked. Who can it be? I’m not sure but if the announced lineup is that good, the TBA band is going to blow your mind. Tickets are 10 dollars at the door to get in. Arrive early and stay late. Who doesn’t like to party?
Fishing for Answers with Vulture Whale
Vulture Whale may not be a household name yet, but they are surely on the rise to becoming one. One of our newest writers, Joe, had the opportunity of sitting down and having a chat with lead singer Wes McDonald, before their show at Piano’s in New York City last weekend. This band is on fire, literally. Lester Nuby predicted that Piano’s would probably “burn down” before they got there. The night before the Piano’s show the venue the band was playing at had a fire!
Vulture Whale started four years ago in Birmingham, Alabama. Wes and Lester were first in a band together in junior high school and then reestablished the band idea while working on Wes’s solo work. They played mostly cover songs and oddly enough, Lester tended to the drums at this time. Given they have a long history together both in work as well as friendship. The name ‘Vulture Whale’ also has a story of it’s own, though Wes claims that it isn’t all that interesting. For a while the band toured without a name and then came up with Vulture Whale while they were recording in L.A. It was a suggestion from both Wes and Jake. Wes thinks that Lester has a very nice Mike Mills (REM) type back up voice. Lester on the other hand played the show that night with the same guitar he had in junior high; the same guitar from their first band.
Through all of the changes and musical history of the band, Wes remains true to his roots and is not at all discouraged by them. Even though they play indie rock, it’s hard to hide where you come from. “Why fight it?” Wes says. Still living in Birmingham, he and his wife have a 14 month old baby, as he grew up there and still calls it home. Being in a good number of bands and doing solo work on his own, when Wes was in The Ohms he still continued polish his solo material which he was able to fall back on when he left the band. One funny coincidence about the band is that one of the musician’s name was Jeff Buckley. He spent a lot of time clearing up in articles that it was not “That Jeff Buckley!” Lester also had musical success under his belt when he played with the band Verbena from 12 years who mutually decided to part ways and they were dropped by Capitol Records.
When creating songs within the band, the music writing process for Vulture Whale is very organic. Either Lester or Wes come in with a song idea, and the rest of the band then collaborates on it. This brings to life the songs we know and love today. It’s very much a group effort in the studio. For Wes the songwriting process is subliminal. “You just gotta write what you feel sometimes” he says, When asked if he enjoys being in the studio or on tour better, Wes would rather toss the coin on that one, as most musicians seem to do. Though when the topic of what song is his favorite to play live, he quickly answers with “Sum Yung Scientist” because it’s one of the only songs he gets to play lead guitar on. Creating their studio sound onstage is a breeze for the band as they think of performing a fun event rather than one filled with pressure. Constantly playing the songs you wrote onstage only makes it easier Wes claims.
Vulture Whale is currently on Skybucket Records who is owned by their good friend, Travis Morgan. It’s an Alabama based record label where all of the bands play and admire the other local bands on the label. Almost like how Saddle Creek started. There is no better way to cultivate the music scene then to water the seeds and let it grow. Wes’ influences can be seen a little bit in his songs as he is a fan of The Feelies and Massachusetts’ own NRQB. As for new bands, he likes MGMT because “the guy wears a headband”. What’s not to like? All jokes aside, Vulture Whale are very aware of the business of music and how they’ve become popular throughout the world of blogs. The band notices a definite difference in the building of a band’s reputation and agrees that sites like Myspace have opened up a whole new fan base for them which probably wouldn’t have existed otherwise. Wes also has a love for Brit Rock and the band actually has an EP coming out titled ‘Bamboo You,’ which is named as homage to The Rolling Stones record, “Tattoo You.” Even though they have no idea what the future holds, Wes can’t imagine not playing music. If he wasn’t writing songs, he’d be writing a book he says. One thing that is for certain is their new EP comes out in the fall and they will just keep touring and playing.
Check out Vulture Whale on MYSPACE
Interview by Joe Paolucci
CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST!
Almost a year ago we started this little blog and quite frankily never knew how much it would take off. To celebrate our 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY this coming September 4th, we are giving back something to our fans. Polyvinyl and a few other labels have sent us a ton of cds to give away, everything from Of Montreal to The Headlights, as well as posters, stickers and other goodies.
The contest starts TODAY so please send your entries to us at
MODERNMYSTERYBLOG@YAHOO.COM
and include your Name, Email and Address.
Subject Line: CONTEST
The contest ends September 3rd at Midnight and the Winner will be announced on September 4th, our Anniversary.
Secondhand Sunday, Interpol ‘PDA’
It seems like only yesterday when we first heard of a little band from New York called Interpol. The band exploded onto the scene in the wake of the ‘NY Garage Revival’ that started in 2001 along with other bands like The Strokes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Always compared to Joy Division, Paul Banks and the boys make a sound of their own free of imitations. Interpol, still going strong, haven’t changed much in sound throughout the years, but we can’t help but go back and see where it all began. “PDA” was the band’s first single on Matador Records and gained the band instant success making them known as indie rock staples and artsy fellows.
Enjoy Interpol’s “PDA”
The Drums ‘Let’s Go Surfing’
How have I gone the whole summer without hearing The Drums ‘Let’s Go Surfing’? The infectious band from Brooklyn who started to earn a buzz after CMJ 2008 are breaking out even more outside of the New York area. The band will be playing Insound’s 10th Year Anniversary party with Cymbals Eats Guitar on Thursday night in Brooklyn, and the band is also slated to played CMJ on October 21st at Santo’s House Party. ‘Let’s Go Surfing’ is by far the catchiest song I’ve heard in a while and it will surely have you hooked. Jonathan Pierce and Adam Kessler also played in the short lived band, Elkland, who released one album on Columbia before splitting up. The Drums seem to be going further than Elkland ever has….and we like it.
The Drums release their first EP on September 15th.
Check out The Drums on MYSPACE
Watch The Drums ‘Let’s Go Surfing’
James Husband Releases Solo Debut
James Husband is not only the multi-talented musician from Of Montreal, he has a plan of his own. Husband who has been giving previews of songs on his Myspace since, well forever it seems, will release his solo debut Parallax l via Polyvinyl who is also home to Of Montreal. It took five yers to create between touring and the band’s heightened sucess, but you would never know it. The songs blend together perfectly. Husband’s voice is dreamy on the tracks . Is it to early for it to be my favorite album of the Fall? With retro sounding guitars and the catchiest beats we’ve heard in a long time , it has the sneak peak of the album making us beg for more. The record is out October 27th and Husband will also be appearing at CMJ on October 23rd. That is one show we are surely checking out.
Also be sure to check out Polyvinyl that is reissuing Of Montreal’s Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies, Aldhils Arboretum, The Bedside Drama: A Petite Tragedy, The Bird Who Continues to Eat the Rabbit’s Flower, and The Early Four Track Recordings. You can buy them all in one package with James Husband’s Parallax l on pink vinyl with a bonus disc featuring six cover songs. The two will also release a split 7″ this yearas part of the Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records singles club. This will feature Of Montreal’s “Wet Butcher’s Fist” and Husband’s “A Grave in the Gravel”.
Talk about a good year!
Check out James Husband on MYSPACE
Wyldlife: They’ll Leave You Screaming for More
Unless you have been living under a rock lately, you may have heard about a little band called The Pains of Being Pure of Heart. Yes, they are one of the most attention grabbing bands that have come out of New York City in a while, but the buzz on the street is starting to point to another upcoming indie act called Wyldlife. Wyldlife singer Dave Feldman has music flowing through his veins, as his brother Kurt Feldman plays drums in both The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and The Depreciation Guild. Even though Wyldlife has barely broken into their twenties, the band has been together more than half their life and it shows. Fresh off their summer tour, the band who is already working on songs for album two, have just released their new EP titled Now We Are Gentlemen. Once you grab ahold of this record you will not want to let it go. Every song seems catchier than the one before and it somehow gets better with every listen. With killer guitar licks from Sam Allen and Jon Rick alongside the brilliant rhythm section of G Scott Corey and Spencer Alexander, the band manages to create a sound that hasn’t had me this excited since I first heard The Strokes who they share a degree of likeness to. Feldman’s voice is smooth with a slight rock edge and a lot of soul which is hard to pull off. This combination makes Wyldlife nearly flawless and extremely memorable. Watch out New York, there’s a new buzz band in town.
Download Wyldlife’s “I Can’t Stand Standing Around”
The Beauty of the Sound of Dignan
I’m an eighteen-year- old music journalist who pretty much sucks at everything I do. I do nothing with my life but go to shows. Lord, how I live for shows. I travel hours and hours to reach certain destinations and cities to go to shows and experience the feeling of live music.
This past year, I journeyed on to my first year of college. Going to a private university that I did not even want to attend, I made the best of it by making myself friendly with the music venues. I love San Antonio, but the music scene up here is horrible. And I hate even mentioning the word “music” and “scene” within the same sentence, but I’m being completely honest with the music style (I dig that word better) that San Antonio has to offer. Don’t g get me wrong, there are a few local bands from here that have some talent. But for the most part, I do not fancy it all that much.
I matured as a human being while listening to Dignan. Dignan is this beautiful five-piece band from McAllen, Texas. They play the most harmonic and melodic tunes that anybody will ever hear. (My father even loves their sound. Come on now!) Being in San Antonio separated Dignan and I a good four hours. However, that didn’t stop me to seeing and hearing them. I’d travel during the school week to see them and drive four hours in the wee hours of the night to make it to class the next morning. Dignan is the one band that I’d do anything for. They have molded me so much that I can’t even begin to explain.
It’s 2:02 in the morning as I sit in front of this computer and ramble on run-on sentences. I’m sorry for my lack of correct grammar. My weekly migraine decided to barge in on me today and keep my mind company. There I go again- I’m getting off topic.
About an hour ago, I was at Sam’s Burger Joint listening to Dignan. Right in front of lead singer, Andy Pena, mic as always, I stood there swaying side to side- more than likely looking like an idiot with uncontrollable spasms- and everything in my life felt right. How many times does every SINGLE thing in a person’s life feel right? Maybe it’s just me, but I hardly EVER feel that way. And last night/ this morning, everything felt perfect.
It was Trey Perez, the drummer, last night to perform with Dignan. He is pursuing his education and attend college in Austin. Maybe that’s what did it. The whole this-is-the-last-time-I’ll-hear-Trey-live momentum. I swear for a second, I wanted to cry when they played their last song. I thought to myself, “This can’t be his last performance. Trey IS Dignan. He belongs with Dignan. Dignan can’t be Dignan without him”. And then I realized, I felt the exact same way with Dignan’s former drummer too. Except, I didn’t see Dignan live when the other drummer was there. I started seeing them when Trey was there. And I felt as if Trey grew with me; as my mind and soul grew with him being there. That was taken away from me tonight.
I’m not too sure where I’m getting with this. I mainly wanted to state that tonight’s show was beyond amazing. It was beautiful. As always, their energy and passion took over the crowd. My Lord, I love Dignan so much. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to explain to a person how much I love them and how much they have changed me.
I’m a college student who has a lot on my mind. From my future to lack of future to ex lovers and everything in between, it consumes my life. I drown in my thoughts. But, seeing and hearing Dignan live…that takes it all away. I swear, it does. During their set, not a single unhappy thought races through my mind. My future has vanished. My misery of being single and lonely has vanished. It all vanishes. Dignan is the unconditional love that is sent from some sort of high heaven to guide me. I know I cannot possibly be the only person who feels this way about them. And if I am, then hell, I sure am sounding like some crazy fangirl. Really, though, if you haven’t already-PLEASE give Dignan a listen. There music is something so beautiful that every person must hear before they die.
I want every person who reads this to give them a listen. If you aren’t willing to cough up some bucks, I will personally e-mail you some of their tracks so you can experience the true joy that Dignan has to offer. It’s an offer you can’t refuse.
They are currently about to start their tour with O’brother (in which is another band you will be reading an article from sometime soon). Definitely check out the dates and locations. If you are by the area, go out and support them. Both bands put on mind blowing performances.
Dignan & O’brother tour dates:
Aug 27 – New Bern, NC @ Broad Street Music
Aug 28 – Raleigh, NC @ The Brewery
Aug 29 – Charlotte, NC @ Tremont Hall
Aug 30 – Greenville, SC @ The Channel
Aug 31 – Greenwood, SC @ Homemade Genius
Sept 01 – Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern
Sept 02 – Atlanta, GA @ The Wonderroot
Sept 03 – Milledgeville, GA @ Buffington’s
Sept 04 – Macon, GA @ Cafe 567
Sept 05 – Columbus, GA @ Gallery 13
Sept 06 – Orlando, FL @ Will’s Pub
Sept 07 – Tallahassee, FL @ TBA
Sept 08 – Fort Walton, FL @ TBA
Sept 09 – Mobile, AL @ Alabama Music Box
Sept 10 – Pensacola, FL @ Sluggos
Sept 11 – Hanceville, AL @ Space Camp Festival
Sept 12 – Hattiesburg, MS @ 1126 House
Sept 13 – Louisiana @ TBA
Sept 14 – Louisiana @ TBA
Sept 15 – Shreveport, LA @ TBA
Sept 16 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s
Sept 17 – Waco, TX @ Common Grounds
Sept 18 – Dallas, TX @ Mokah
Sept 19 – San Antonio, TX @ The Ten Eleven
Check out Dignan on MYSPACE
and TWITTER
By Krista
Secondhand Sunday: Stephen Malkmus ‘Discretion Grove’
Today’s Secondhand Sunday comes from a musician who is very near and dear to my heart, Stephen Malkmus. Since the mention of ‘Jicks’ weren’t really used on his first solo album I feel wierd including it in here. The video is for my favorite SM song, Discretion Grove and its also my favorite video by him since he left Pavement. Maybe because he’s in it acting like a fool. I wish he would go back to that. He was such a good music video actor.
CMJ Marathon Leaks the News on (Some) Bands
CMJ 2009 is just around the corner. It’s so close we can smell it in the air. Even though the artists aren’t supposed to be revealed until late next week the earliest, CMJ managed to spill the beans on a few. And by few we mean 70 out of about 1,200 bands. No huge names have been released yet but CMJ always holds out on us. The festival will take place from October 20th to the 24th this year in New York City as always. Is there any other place to hold such an event? Going strong for 28 years it’s always one of the most anticipated music festivals of the year. Some of the bands that have been confirmed so far are The Antlers, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Action Painters, These United States, Otter Petter, and Woodpigeon.
Discounted passes are available at CMJ.com until Tuesday August 18th. Act fast to avoid paying the regular price.
Melissa Nastasi
Eric Phipps
Jen Verzosa
tatyahna
theloudfeelings
danielleque
liv hauck
jdtorres
Joe Madonna
Sedera Ranaivoarinosy
cwaleko
navalmin
John Grimley
micheleyamamoto
wesleyambrecht
fearofdrowning
viktorsha
aitorzabalegui
tonyachin
laurenschwartzberg
merbster
N.Sanchez
leduffy
kenami
ivynoellew
iamrickylewis
travestyofthecondition
mcirigliano2
Gustave
kellykettering
firstrays1
justgentile
pbozic
nmcollins
summer826
Jordannahe
tunmer
sifreelanceguy
cristobalsaez
libbyh9190
benjammin
Zach Yanowitz
ijorissen
gabe563
cst2
bls3390
cjdubs
