Currently Listening: Bad Indians

For the year-in-review (of music) - you can go ahead and check Pitchfork.

For now, I'd rather just muse on the music that I missed - in 2010. Namely, Bad Indians. If you don't know by now - then I'll direct you to the I Know Why The Coytoes Cry blog - where you can download the surf-psyche bliss of their cassette, Don't Hang That (On Me) - and an EP - Live From the Burial Mound (<--read a review of it, from Terminal Boredom)- the Coyote-blog is the online info source for the Ypsi-quartet's fledgling label On The Make Music.

Echo fuzz eruptions - surf-punched drum beats - an effervescent cresting over of reverb - rhythms you could shimmy to, crescendos you could tumble to, and swimming just below the surface, sunburst melodies - ripe with tambourine clatters, harmonica wheezings and organ hums. All you psyche-surf/grimy-blues n' garage geeks know the flavors - from Seeds or the 13th Floor Elevators, up to the Strange Boys or the Oh Sees - this is your new high...

Bad Indians - Don't Hang That (On Me)

More info

or on their facebook

Currently Listening: Migrant Kids

Amped up dance-rock acrobatics dazzle, in fact, rattle, the listener, right out of the gate, for this single from ¡Migrant Kids! - stirring and spilling the bombastic, bubbly formula of accelerated(/agitated) disco-friendly beats under tightly flexed, guitar shreds, with fuzzy low ends, under gleaming surf toned riffs. (See comparably: early Franz Ferdinand, early Arctic Monkeys, or even, potentially a contemporary in Detroit's Millions of Brazilians, at least their first EP).

In just 2 ½ minutes, we jump up to this cardio kicking beat that leads into zesty vocals that blend solemnity, solidarity and theatricality - covering the plight of various immigrant workers, Mexican, Native American ("the sweat from the People of the Sun makes the labor cheaper...") and Jewish workers as well (the latter veers the song from its southwest tinged rock raucousness into indulging the clarinet-lead melody of "Hava Nagila").


MK features John Zakoor and Miguel Ojeda of Ann-Arbor-based Manolete -

whereas that band had a similar tendency for up-and-at-em rhythms and crashing crescendos, it was a bit more into atmospherics, Jonny-Greenwood type guitar swirls and eclectic instrumentation. With their more heady, cathartic rock disertations exerted through this band, it's been pared down to tighter, punchier, get in and get it done pop rock (with eletronic flares here and there). The pair switch off: vocals/guitars/bass/drums.



Dig:

Download here

"We kinda grew up in this identity crisis mode of being mexican and living in Michigan," Miguel Ojeda said. "I love it here and the people are amazing in the midwest. There's just sometimes a part of us that we don't get to explore or express and that's what we wanted to do because it's who we are.

We started working with producer Michael McCarthy who is a whiz at mixing and mastering. He's here in Ann Arbor at U of M and we're staying here with him to finish out the 3 song ep we are putting out next month. So for now, we are still here in Ann Arbor, freezing with the rest of Michigan."

Mittenfest V - 12/30 - 1/2 - Woodruff's (in Ypsilanti)

Please visit the Mittenfest site where you can link to all the bands performing - DC highly recommends to take a listen to their tunes - as a primer - as a celebration - as an insight.

~

Mittenfest

The year ends. We look back. We look forward. We muse upon our now-ness.

This time of year, we're inclined to ponder, "where have we been / where are we going." For the local music community, it's restoring and indubitably fitting to celebrate our calendar flipping by attending Mittenfest - the annual music event that culls a staggering arc of Michigan bands together under one roof for four felicitous nights full of clamor, camaraderie, fun and philanthropy.














(pictured above: Scott Sellwood, Drunken Barn Dance - all photos: Doug Coombe (except Zwagerman profile pic )
~

Mitenfest V features 60 bands performing throughout four days (Dec 30 - Jan 2) at Woodruff's Bar in Ypsilanti, with all proceeds going to 826 Michigan, a local tutoring, writing and publishing non-profit working with students (6-18) and teachers throughout Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor.

"It feels more like an epic marathon of a party than a cozy holiday gathering," said Brandon Zwagerman, the festival's originator and organizer. Mittenfest debuted in December 2006 at the Corner Brewery. Zwagerman's had established connections to the Ypsi/Arbor scene through the mid-00's, which lead to his hosting acoustic backyard shows at his house while he attended the University of Michigan. He moved to New York in 2006 (where he currently works as marketing manager for an architecture/design firm, whilst also booking shows from time to time.)

That December, 2006, Zwagerman came back for the holidays eager to see all his old friends. Thus, he threw a cheery, sweater wrapped shin-dig at the Corner Brewery. Mittenfest was born - but it would shift from that year's more meditative ambiance (still heavily acoustic) to expansive line ups and all night celebrations ranging from folk to rock to electro-dance and even into more abstruse experimental acts.

The New Venue

Last year at the Elbow Room in Ypsilanti, Mittenfest featured 40 bands, selling out each night and raising more than $12,000 for 826 Michigan.

Mittenfest V hoped to up the ante - adding 20 bands to the revolving line up - and organizers (including Amy Sumerton of 826 Michigan and Jeremy Peters of Quite Scientific Records) had anticipated the vast capacity and dual-stage capabilities of The Savoy accommodating their growth. However, the building was closed in November due to disputed energy bill payments.

"I'm sure that all the bands involved in Mittenfest and other scheduled events were worried," said Anthony Gentile, singer/guitarist of 2010 performer Jehovah's Witness Protection Program. (pictured right)

Days later, (by the Dec 1st), former Elbow Room operator and subsequent Savoy manager Andy Garris transitioned to a new venue, Woodruff's (36 Cross St) where he joined longtime friend Hasan Mihyar to help manage the recently revamped Depot Town bar, readying it for live music accommodation.

"Andy would move to the North Pole before letting Mittenfest down," Gentile said. "And, thus, Mittenfest has a wonderful new home."

Zwagerman said they would be "shoehorned into" Woodruff's, yet still, the "top-notch fallback" offers a slightly larger capacity then the Elbow Room (which hosted 07-08). "Same number of days, same number of bands," Peters said, "just changing the schedule by starting earlier." Bands will perform 25 minute sets, starting at 3:45 pm each day.

"I'm particularly excited about bands I've never seen live before," said Zwagerman. "Gun Lake, Long Whisker, Our Brother the Native and Pistolbrides all sound awesome. People can't stop telling me how great In Tall Buildings are, also. Bands I've maybe seen a few times but never at Mittenfest: The Sights, Cains and Abels, Wonder Caverns, Bad Indians and the High Strung (pictured below, right); it's always interesting to see how this crowd reacts."

"Rumor has it Matt Jones & the Reconstruction will be playing (Bruce) Springsteen's Born to Run album in its entirety. That is something nobody should miss. On that note, seeing how returning bands have grown or changed over the course of the past year is always fascinating. Frontier Ruckus played an early set on the first year as a young act with local buzz and major promise; this year they come off of several U.S. and European tours, including Bonnaroo. I wish we had a better record of these performances sometimes; bands grow up so fast."

Peters has "always been around the festival," working with Quite Scientific bands. As a close friend to Zwagerman, he got "officially involved" last year, serving as back-up on booking. Now, as co-organizer, he's hosted the website and aided in the expected bedlam of aligning 60 different bands.

"Both QuiSci and Ghostly (International) have always been supporters of what 826 Michigan does; finding ways to get more involved with them, support them and fund the awesome and important work that they do was important to me," said Peters. "Sleep is overrated."


What Mittenfest Means

"I play every once in a while with other bands," Peters said, "and it was pretty awesome last year to be on stage with Chris Bathgate when he played 'Auld Lang Syne' as the year turned over. To be surrounded by some of my closest friends and the musicians I most respect and admire was absolutely amazing."

Singer-songwriter Scott Sellwood made a legendary whiskey toast in 2008 to the vibrancy of Michigan music, thus edifying Mittenfest's existence as epitomizing an ideal "cheers," or misty-eyed raising of the glass to our music and arts.

"This is my fourth Mittenfest," said Sellwood, who heads Drunken Barn Dance. "Last year the back stage room was truly a blast. From random cake fights to jam sessions, the bands all contributed such personality and spirit. Learning songs in Matt Jones' basement twenty minutes before our Uncle Tupelo cover band (Whisky Bottle)'s set was fun too. We just played a bunch of Jim Roll songs anyway... ...(Mittenfest) is a very real effort by some of my favorite people to do something moving and exciting - whether it's organizing, performing, decorating or showing up night after night. We raise our glass to all, and refill and repeat."

"I'd be willing to say," Gentile added, "that this 'fest' represents what the state of Michigan as a whole offers, rather than being a regional event that focuses mostly on Detroit area rock bands, or jam bands, or metal, or whatever. I love the other fests in Detroit and surrounding areas, but Mittenfest has a unique appeal that feels perfect for nurturing our state's ever-expanding musical community."

As Mittenfest's five year anniversary arrives, Zwagerman is "struck by how accidental this all was. I'd never planned on starting an annual event, especially in a state I no longer live in."

It's grown "little by little, annually" he said, giving grateful nods to Garris, Peters, Bathgate (pictured, right) and Sumerton, with new bands and new sponsors (including the Red Wings' Open Skate Detroit among others). "A loosely-defined core group of folks still makes this happen and we hope to embrace an even-larger constituency of performers, attendees, and supporters while raising significant funding for 826 Michigan."

"It sounds like a cliche, but from where I sit, I really do think Mittenfest is special; it is a community event in the true sense; organized by and enjoyed by one generation of Michiganders benefiting the next."

826 Michigan

That 'next' generation implied by Zwagerman are the students benefiting from the tireless tutoring and writing workshops offered by 826 Michigan. For years the Ann Arbor based non-profit operated with only two full-time staff members (Sumerton, Program Director, and Amanda Uhle, Executive Director) - relying on the devoted work of dozens of volunteers to facilitate their education services. On top of hosting field trips, drop-in tutoring and the Liberty Street Robot Repair & Supply Store, the organization has grown, offering free creative writing workshops, a weekly English language learning program and publishing capabilities for student writers.

Sumerton said "We have more than doubled our In-School Residencies, in direct response to: -school closings in Ypsilanti, -class size increases everywhere and -funding which allowed us to hire an all-important third full-time staff person (Catherine Calabro, Program Coordinator). This year we're working in eight schools in Ann Arbor and Ypsi, with almost 20 teachers and hundreds of students. We're sending almost 40 volunteers into these schools each week, tallying over 25 hours in residencies each week."

826 Michigan is also facilitating off-site workshops around the area, including each branch of the Ypsilanti Library, Avalon Housing, and, soon, a weekly poetry group at Ozone House.

For Sumerton, working with 826 Michigan, especially after the off-site workshos and in-school tutoring, has "restored my sense of good in the world; that there are so many adults willing to volunteer their time to work with young people. It's easy enough to talk about how the education system is failing. It's easy enough to cry through the end of 'Waiting for Superman' and lament. But I am surrounded by people who are taking action, in big ways and small ways and it's amazing to see the impact of both."

Sumerton said 826 Michigan's work is "joyful and rejuvenating. It's hard to be jaded when you spend three hours a week in a classroom of third graders and you remember that wonder and excitement specific to a 9-year-old. I know that I can't change the world but I also know that I can make some small adjustments to it through my own actions."

(Some of) The Bands
News

***Drunken Barn Dance: "Lots and lots of new songs," Sellwood exclaimed. "We'll have a slew of them ready for the show and will release a bunch as soon as January." Over the summer, DBD released its 2nd proper full length, Grey Buried, (recorded in one night by band member Jim Roll).

***Jehovah's Witness Protection Program: "(Playing) the Loco Gnosis 5-year Anniversary shows on Jan 14 and Jan 15 in Detroit and Ypsilanti respectively. We're also finishing up work on a few more brand new songs and we will be recording our first full length with Brandon Wiard, starting in January (due on vinyl in late spring, 2011 on Loco Gnosis).

***The High Strung: "All is well in HighStrungLand," said singer/songwriter Josh Malerman. "We're learning our next album ?Possible o' Impossible? -to be recorded with Jim Diamond in January." This follows last year's Dragon Dicks full length, with ?PoP? being their sixth album. "Ypsilanti is one of our favorite towns in the USA and Mittenfest is only getting bigger and richer. We cannot wait."

*** Frontier Ruckus have just returned from a European tour, supporting their recently released Deadmalls and Nightfalls, their 2nd proper full length album.

***Black Jake & the Carnies: The Ypsi based psychedelic bluegrass rock collective (pictured, right) celebrated four years and (more than) 100 shows this year, following a number of summer festivals and a headlining spot at Theatre Bizarre's Halloween shindig. Their 2nd full length (tentatively titled) Sundry Mayhem is being wrapped up this month for a hopeful late spring 2011 release. They'll head to Europe next April.

***Chris Bathgate: Folk/rock singer-songwriter will be dropping a single (and a video) from his forthcoming Salt Year LP (look for an April release on Quite Scientific).

***Prussia: indie-pop re-constructionists have their third full length album, Poor English wrapped up and hope for a Spring 2011 release. In the meantime, you can hear a couple tunes from said-release in form of an EP (Four For Attention).

***Quite Scientific: Peters, QuiSci's co-owner noted that they're working as much as they can for the bands they love, considering he and his comrades, Brian Peters & Justin Spindler, each work full time jobs outside of the label, including, for Jeremy (Director of Creative Licensing and Business Affairs for Ghostly International). "We just released the Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr remixes EP that followed their first EP. We're going to be focusing on growing Drunken Barn Dance, Chris Bathgate and DEJJ. Both Bathgate and DEJJ have albums planned for next year in Spring."

***Woodruff's - 1/8/2011 - The Lisps, w: Chris Bathgate / Small Houses / Annie Palmer

The Line Up:

Mittenfest V Schedule
Mittenfest V @ Woodruff’s (36 E. Cross St, Ypsilanti (Depot Town), MI 48198)

Thu Dec 30th, 2010 – Sun Jan 2, 2011 / Doors @3PM each day / Music from 3:45PM – 2AM / Late Night NYE Dance Party until 4AM

Tickets: $7.00/day or $25.00/4-day wristband (available soon at Liberty Street Robot Supply & Repair, 115 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, MI

Day 1, Thur, Dec 30th

1:05 AM - Matt Jones & the Reconstruction - Ypsilanti, MI
12:25 AM - The Sights - Detroit, MI
11:45 PM - The Satin Peaches - Detroit, MI
11:05 PM - The Juliets - Detroit, MI
10:25 PM - In Tall Buildings - Chicago, IL
9:45 PM - Charles Trees - Ann Arbor, MI
9:05 PM - Fields of Industry - Lansing, MI
8:25 PM - This is Deer Country - Houghton, MI
7:45 PM - Pistolbrides - Grand Rapids, MI
7:05 PM – Loune - East Lansing, MI
6:25 PM - Jehovah’s Witness Protection Program - Ypsilanti, MI
5:45 PM – The Kickstand Band – Detroit, MI
5:05 PM - Pewter Cub - Hamtramck, MI
4:25 PM - Red Iron Orchestra - Detroit, MI
3:45 PM - Patrick Elkins & The Rainbow Vomit Family Band - Ypsilanti, MI

Day 2: Fri, Dec 31st

Late Night – NYE Dance Party w/ DJ Chuck Sipperley – Ann Arbor, MI

1:05 AM - Frontier Ruckus - Orion Township, MI
12:25 AM - Prussia - Detroit, MI
11:45 PM - Chris Bathgate & the Young Bucks - Ann Arbor, MI
11:05 PM - Cains & Abels - Chicago, IL
10:25 PM – Bad Indians - Ypsilanti, MI
9:45 PM - Wonder Caverns - Grand Rapids, MI
9:05 PM - Gregory McIntosh - Ypsilanti, MI
8:25 PM - Long Whisker - Ypsilanti, MI
7:45 PM - Skeleton Birds – Ypsilanti, MI
7:05 PM – Santa Monica Swim and Dive Club - Ann Arbor, MI
6:25 PM – Ola Ray - Ypsilanti, MI
5:45 PM – Joe Hertler - Mount Pleasant, MI
5:05 PM - Stef Chura - Ypsilanti, MI
4:25 PM – Patrick Herek – Chicago, IL
3:45 PM - Nathan K. – Ann Arbor, MI

Day 3: Sat, Jan 1st

1:05 AM - The High Strung - Detroit, MI
12:25 AM - Secret Twins – Ann Arbor, MI
11:45 PM – Champions of Breakfast - Detroit, MI
11:05 PM - Our Brother the Native - Ann Arbor, MI
10:25 PM - Silverghost - Detroit, MI
9:45 PM - Natural Monuments - Ypsilanti, MI
9:05 PM - Black Jake & the Carnies - Ypsilanti, MI
8:25 PM - Chance Jones - Grand Rapids, MI
7:45 PM - Deadbeat Beat - Ferndale, MI
7:05 PM - Ghost Heart - Grand Rapids, MI
6:25 PM - The Ultrasounds - Chicago, IL
5:45 PM - The Press Delete - Holland, MI
5:05 PM - Ghostlady - Ann Arbor, MI
4:25 PM – Galactic Vacationer - Mount Pleasant, MI
3:45 PM - Found Object Orchestra International (formerly MC Trashpedal & Friends - Ann Arbor, MI

Day 4: Sun, Jan 2nd

1:05 AM - Drunken Barn Dance - Ann Arbor, MI
12:25 AM - Lightning Love - Ypsilanti, MI
11:45 PM – Misty Lyn & the Big Beautiful - Ypsilanti, MI
11:05 PM - White Pines - Akron, OH
10:25 PM - Scarlet Oaks - Detroit, MI
9:45 PM – Timothy Monger State Park - Britton, MI
9:05 PM - Photographers - Chicago, IL
8:25 PM – Anna Ash - Oakland, CA
7:45 PM - Gun Lake - Ann Arbor, MI
7:05 PM – Annie Palmer - Ypsilanti, MI
6:25 PM - Lake Folk - Ann Arbor, MI
5:45 PM - That’s Him! That’s the Guy! - Brooklyn, NY
5:05 PM - Small Houses - Pinckney, MI
4:25 PM - Jeff Pianki - Milford, MI
3:45 PM – Sacred Strays - Ann Arbor, MI

.................
And, finally:

Brandon Zwagerman: "What Have I learned, after 5 years of organizing Mittenfest?

-Despite best intentions, planning never really gets going in earnest until October.
-Alternate glasses of water with alcoholic beverages at a 1:1 ratio
-Blue Cab provides fast and reliable service from central Ypsilanti
-Jeremy Peters is an excellent project manager
-826michigan is an amazing organization; I recommend buying one of the books written by their
students
-The Ypsilanti creative and business community deserves more recognition than it gets from those in both Ann Arbor and Detroit
-Beezy's is the best for brunch, but you need to go to the Bomber at least once during the festival
-A backline is your best friend
-Ask for a Stroh's
-Black Jake & the Carnies tend to throw items into the crowd
-If Andy Garris is involved, it will always work out just fine
-Get over your ego and your idealized "vision" for how things ought to be
-Chris Bathgate has more talents than commonly known
-Posters are unlikely to be accurate: someone always cancels a week before the show
-A band's national and/or Detroit profile often means little in terms of draw locally
-Don't leave your birthday cake in the green room
-Nobody can follow Drunken Barn Dance

HandGrenades - Three Cheers for the Wonder Years - 1/28 - Magic Stick

As we turn over to a new year, the HandGrenades are singing "Auld Lang Syne" to their own "Wonder Years" with their new EP.

You can play it through like a fuzzy daydream recollection to scattered snapshots wistfully replaying the lovelorn heart aches, bemused anger, defiant exertiveness and finding-thyself-catharsis so akin to the keen histrionics of youth. Most of these tunes follow the classic recipe for a power-pop punch fest, tightly wrung riffs, syrupy reverb, surfing bass lines and propelling drums -

To distinguish from being too derivative, HandGrenades put their own touches on it - like that blurring sunny lead guitar soaring over its gruffer, more blues-toned counteract ("So Down"), or maybe it's the tastefully sassy touch of an airy, melodious organ ("Over You") - and their strong harmonies always sweeten the pot ("See You Round"). Plus, most of the time you can almost dance to this stuff - or at least swing!

Aside from that, the sound of the record acheives the proper sonic dynamics to match the vigor of the HandGrenades's popped-up rock n roll, mixed by Kevin McMahon (Marcata Recording, NY, see: Walkmen / French Kicks). They laid down the tracks around town, with Josh Wheeler at Fitter Happier Studios and will be releasing it on Sound Artifacts Music.

More info

HandGrenades - 1/28 - Magic Stick -

Par-rumpa-pum-pum

Do you go in for any of the traditional things in the uh...Booey household at Christmas time?

Plus - via Pitchfork (via the Deerhunter blog) - an Atlas Sound christmas mp3

Xmas Eve

Songs From The Moon (featuring members of Blase Splee, Darling Imperial and more)- are playing the Lager House in less than 3 weeks time - They bring you a Michigany-X-mas- themed song - "Christmas Eve"

Learn more / hear more

Light in August - 12/22 - album release - Pike Room (with Gun Lake)

Profile by the Daily Tribune.

I know some of you have Thursday off - or at least are planning on coasting through that day...- why not kick up your heels a bit on Thursday evening at the Crofoot.

Warm up with the golden toned acoustics, sunburst guitars and sweet harmonies of indie-pop collective Light In August - as they herald the release of their latest LP, Sweater Weather. LIA singer/songwriter Alex Wand has been teaching music (akin to School of Rock instruction via a high school Rock Ensemble) out in California. Wand and LIA returns to town to pay homage to his group's original home, SE-Michigan, and nod to the blustery, character-building winter ways of their home state.

Their joined by Gun Lake in the Pike Room.

Watch:

Find out more here.

British Sea Power - Valhalla Dancehall - 1/11/11

British Sea Power helped churn the current of this decade's re-imaginging of post-punk - eventually becoming pegged for their dynamics (their sweeping, anthemic, guitar-heavy ballads on record and their torrential/conceptual live presentations).


But now, the Cambridge quartet celebrate a decade's worth of music with Valhalla Dancehall (Rough Trade), out January 11th - a somewhat more minimalist affair, indulging the synthesizer and clouding things up with a more haunting atmospherics apt for cool-yet-contemplative night-drive jams.





Take a listen:



British Sea Power - "Living Is So Easy"


(Watch a video here)



Dig this feature in ArtRocker

No tour dates as of yet -
But check for more info here
And from Rough Trade

Sam Prekop - "The Silhouettes"

Art-tastic prog-rock pop-deconstructionist Sam Prekop has had the single from his latest spaced-out collection of computer compositions (Old Punch Card) turned into an animated video, compliments of visual artist Jordan Kim - whose work some might recognize from the bulbous effervescence of "Yo Gabba Gabba."

Prekop's Punch Card scored in the top 30 of Tiny Mix Tapes' year-end list. (Read more).

Watch

Listen: Sam Prekop - "The Silhouettes" (out on Thrill Jockey)

Six Degrees of Peaches (sorta): Video premier + Bars of Gold + post-X-mas-show at Berkley Front

1 The Satin Peaches had planned to premiere a Tour Film...but apparently it failed. And, as that news was the original basis of this post - I can still start a loose, rambling 'six-degrees of separation' string to report on other bands and news...starting from The Satin Peaches. And while I have no tour video for you - there is this colorful clip (via SingleBarrelDetroit) below - (view more from SBD here)

Red from SINGLE . BARREL . DETROIT on Vimeo.

2 -->TSP's next show is the annual cozy/crazy coalescence of Michigan bands known as Mittenfest - (playing around midnight on 12/30 - day 1 of a 4-day festival!)

3 -->Mittenfest, meanwhile will be featured at 4 - Woodruff's, the new music venue in Ypsilanti (currently inheriting the torch of the Elbow Room/Savoy) - and before Mittenfest, @ Woodruff's, on Thursday (12/23) - Bars of Gold (pictured) will perform - alongside the Oscillating Fan Club / Mister and JWPP.













(Bars of Gold, pictured above (photo by Lo-fi Bri), during a dual-performance where the world was blessed with a return from the torrential/terrific Wildcatting). (In attendance for this show, ^pictured above, at the Loving Touch, were at least one member of Illy Mack and one member of Dutch Pink...which will help lead into (5))

-->The Satin Peaches, meanwhile, recently released a 7" single (for "Red") on Five Three Dial Tone - part of a dual-release paired with soul/pop duo Illy Mack......5 - Illy Mack--meanwhile, will be playing the day after X-Mas (12/26) at the 6 - Berkley Front. This show, also featuring Forget, is part of blues/rock quartet Dutch Pink's traditional Boxing Day soiree at the Front; always a good way to close out the holiday.

Hard Lessons / Secret Twins / Kickstand Band - 12/26 - St Andrew's Hall

That's right... The Hard Lessons are, per-tradition, hosting another Boxing Day shindig at St Andrew's Hall.

They'll have vinyl on hand, a 7" single titled "Wally Bronner" (video below). (flipside: "O' Holy Night"). "It has been a pretty cool evolution," said singer/guitarist Augie Visocchi, looking back on their post-Christmas concerts', first starting out at the Magic Stick for two years (featuring bands like Child Bite and the Satin Peaches), then transitioning to the roomier, almost churchy (and thus, properly "holy"-feeling) St. Andrew's Hall. This year features the up-and-coming indie-punk-pop acts Secret Twins and Kickstand Band.

Dig all the Michigan landmarks and name-drops in this video: "...in the Mitten, it is Christmas-always..."

Watch more videos here

Beefheart

I was about to link to Tiny Mix Tapes 'Top 50 Albums of 2010' (which is fairly insightful and packed with some surprises/upsets)...but opening said-link was delayed when I read the news (today, oh boy...)

Captain Beefheart, Don Van Vliet, has passed on...

"I'd always thought music was too formal and I thought, 'Well, I'll get in this and fix it.'"
-Don Van Vliet - -Oui Magazine, 1973

I, like many, point to Vliet/Beefheart as the embodiment (physically and musically) of an epiphany - a widening of the gaze - as to what was possible in the realm of music and within the confines of a song.

Mostly, he communicated to me, concretely, that even trying to perceive the 'realm' of music was futile, that music was, (or at least should be treated as) the wind - erratic, soothing, blustering, breezy - intangible yet impelling - give yourself over to this zesty, freaky, gale and appreciate its power to take you somewhere.

A seminal songwriter for the psychedelic movement, Beefheart was one of the first, if not, certainly one of the most dynamic, to blend/mutate/mutilate the twanged-out, cathartic cut of blues with the deconstructionist, shambolic rhythms of punk rock. But, enmeshed in all those guttural growls and haunting, hazy poetics, were indelible hooks and a bewitching jazz sensibility...fractured and freaked-up, to be certain...but still.




Enjoy this review of what might be his piece de resistance, Trout Mask Replica, written by Lester Bangs.

+ an Interview by John Yau, from 1991, detailing his foray into the art world.

+ Rare music & video from beefheart.com

The Dirtbombs' Party Store

The Dirtbombs echo the successful formula of their 2001's Ultraglide in Black - but instead of covering a stalwart collection of 60's and 70's soul ballads, this February will see Detroit's renowned garage-rock aristocrats reinterpreting the realm of robots.

Party Store is a bit of an homage to the seminal Detroit techno artists of the 80's and 90's that main Dirtbomber Mick Collins was ingesting as they were debuting, from crate dives for '45's on weekends between Gories shows.

Lead single, "Sharevari," can be viewed below. Their interpretation of this A Number of Names' track gives a good indication of the record's allure; with live players interpretting the sequenced beats and loops of computers, it elucidates an Oblique Strategies approach: "Humanize something that is without error." This track sounds like it could be a lost gem from that post-disco era, -dark, edgy, guttural and mystically funky-, but given the muscle and growl of those guitars, it could almost fit in along side some Liquid Liquid jam, maybe ESG or some weirder krautrock trip.

Other highlights for experiencing the Dirtbombs' treatments: Kevin Saunderson's "Good Life" (originally as Inner City) ; + a 21-minute odyssey reinterpretting Carl Craig's (as Innerzone Orchestra) Bassbin with Craig himself handling the modular synthesizers for the album + cuts from Cybotron and Derrick May.

Party Store is out on Feb 1st, via In The Red.
More info

Currently Listening: Drunken Barn Dance

and...currently--freezing...

Winter was more than ready to get started - punching us before the solstice could ring the bell.

So here's a favorite cold-weather tune of mine: the single from Drunken Barn Dance's 2010 LP, Grey Buried - from Quite Scientific

Drunken Barn Dance - "A Winter's Tale"

+

An older video from an earlier Elbow Room performance-

Drunken Barn Dance - Winter's Tale from sophie on Vimeo.

Cheers, Scott

Sounds & Spirits - 12/23 - Magic Stick

Transpose the cozy family holiday gathering, sweater-hugged and scarf-wrapped with a dollop of rummy nog on your reddened nose, into the Magic Stick – and replace your obnoxious cousins and inappropriate uncle with 21 local rock bands and substitute your kitchen for dual stages lined with half-empty beer bottles.

Effectively evoking those warm, tingly, and cheesy good times we all rode high upon in our youths of watching Rankin & Bass claymation and soave/sloppy/star-studded Christmas variety shows, the Detroit Sounds & Spirits Olde-Fashioned Holiday Spectacular has been the premier holiday celebration for Detroit's music community for 9-years-running.

All proceeds benefit COTS - Coalition for Temporary Shelter - which provides emergency shelter for single men, women and families in need, working with them to help them become economically self-sufficient.

S&S Alumni include Brendan Benson, Jack White, Blanche, the Waxwings and, of course, American Mars. The set up: 21 bands in a crossfire round robin of 6-7 minute sets, squeezing out one or two holiday-themed tunes upon dual red/green-lit stages up in the Magic Stick. This year promises a handful of brow-raising special collaborations between bands...

Johnny "Modular" Headband? ...Sleigher? ...Santa Wolf Crystal? Keep your ears and eyes peeled.

The full line-up:
The Hard Lessons
Silverghost
Johnny 'Modular' Headband
Millions of Brazilians
Destroy This Place
American Mars
The Meltdowns
The Barrettes
Computer Perfection
Red Iron Orchestra
Sleigher
The Pop Project
The Cold Wave
Isosceles Mountain
Citizen Smile
The Last Supper
Gorevette
Hysteric Narcotics
Old Empire
The Swamp Sisters
Santa Wolf Crystal

Find more info here