Monthly Archives: September 2010

09.24.10
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Album Review: Les Savy Fav – Root for Ruin

After nearly 15 years of bona fide rock and various on-stage debauchery, Les Savy Fav are still together and making loud and jaunty music for sweaty crowds to jam out to. For their fifth studio album, Root for Ruin (Frenchkiss Records), the Brooklyn band has returned three years after the release of their last album with as much energy and animation that you might expect from their first. For a band that has been together longer than some of their fans have been breathing, that is something to be proud of. And from their repetitive chanting of ‘we’ve still got our appetite’ in the album’s opener, “Appetite,” I think it’s safe to say that they are.

For their last album, Let’s Stay Friends, Les Savy Fav expanded their musical sound by including other artists and even vocals from fans.  But for Root for Ruin, it seems they played it safe and kept it within the Fav group.  And while one would think this contrast might result in a less exciting and heard-before sound, one would be wrong. The band’s evident-as-ever raw energy and excitement will explode from your speakers/headphones. Most tracks on the album are what you would expect from Les Savy Fav–in-your-face, edgy rockers. Tracks like opener “Appetites” or the guitar-frenzied “Dirty Knails” burst with the energy of their live show. The only thing missing is Tim Harrington–in front of you and dressed like a yeti, making out with a stranger.

But there are a few subdued tracks, like the graceful, grooveful “Sleepless in Silverlake,” that provide a fitting contrast to the usual sweat-fueled jams. One thing, however, remains the same throughout the entire album: it is upfront and direct the whole way through. “Let’s Get Out of Here” isn’t structurally or lyrically complex, but it gets the point across, and it’s catchy. The simple “I want you yo want me now” is overly cliché, but, among the rest of the lyrics, fitting and refreshingly straight forward. In “Excess Energies” Harrington is a 17-year-old loser reflecting on his possibly worthless life and in “Lips ‘n Stuff” Harrington wants a friend with benefits (and who doesn’t?).

It’s no secret. Les Savy Fav has never been fancy or stylistic. They don’t dress up their music (only Tim Harrington’s body) and they don’t confuse you with lyrics. They are real with you. And Root for Ruin is the real deal.

09.24.10
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Buy Deer Tick’s Tour Bus!


Bored of your four door sedan or fixie bike? Feel like you need an upgrade? You can now place bids for Deer Tick’s tour bus and roll in style like the eccentric indie folk rockers themselves. The bus nicknamed “The Flagship” for being what took the band across the country in their 2009 tour promoting Born on Flag Day will be auctioned off in order to raise funds for the Pakistan flood victims.

In July, heavy monsoons in Pakistan caused mass flooding making over 21 million people injured or homeless. Frontman John McCauley states, “The situation over there is so critical, but it seems very few people are aware of it. Maybe it’s a stigma with that part of the world, I’m not sure. Either way, we feel very strongly that people should be more aware of the situation and hopefully we can help with that.”  The tour bus will be up for auction on ebay for  three weeks and Deer Tick will also be taking donations at the merch table for each date of their upcoming tour.

The ebay auction page for The Flagship tour bus can be viewed HERE and to learn more about the Pakistan floods or to make a donation please visit http://oxfamamerica.org/

DEER TICK US FALL TOUR DATES

10/06 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
10/07 Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club *#
10/08 Greenville, SC – Fall For Greenville *
10/09 Auburn, AL – Bourbon Street *
10/10 Birmingham, AL – Zydeco +
10/11 New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks +
10/12 Houston, TX – The Bronze Peacock Room @ House of Blues +
10/13 Austin, TX – Emo’s +
10/14 Laredo, TX – Old No. 2 +
10/16 Tempe, AZ – Sail Inn +
10/17 San Diego, CA – The Loft / UCSD +
10/19 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey +
10/20 San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom +
10/21 Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom +
10/22 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret %+
10/23 Bellingham, WA – Wild Buffalo +
10/24 Seattle, WA – Neumos +
10/26 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
10/27 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
10/28 Omaha, NE – Bourbon Theatre
10/29 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club
10/30 Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
10/31 St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway !
11/02 Washington, DC – Black Cat
11/03 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
11/05 Providence, RI – AS220
11/06 Providence, RI – AS220 (matinee show)
11/06 Providence, RI – AS220 (late show)
11/10 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
11/11 Boston, MA – Royale
11/12 Newport, RI – Newport Blues Café
11/13 Newport, RI – Newport Blues Café

* = w/ Jason Isbell
+ = w/ J. Roddy Walston and the Business
# = w/ Blitzen Trapper & Malcomb Holcolmbe
% = w/ Phosphorescent
! = w/ Band of Heathens

09.24.10
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Black Mountain’s Video For The Hair Song

Black Mountain love rough and dirty rock and roll, and it’s never more apparent than on their newest single, “The Hair Song.”

A down-home slice of Rock, the song now has an accompanying video.

Featuring the members of Black Mountain (and their own spectacular hair) and a round of misplaced love, the video was shot in beautiful Ontario and features lush forest scenes contrasted with the concrete buildings of the city.

Watch it here.