How the "wild west" really looked.
Some of the first ever photos of the western states taken during a
government
survey. Completely mesmerizing.
Wasn't someone asking for a website to be created that collects the art
of antique cigarette rolling papers? Well, I
guess it's your lucky day.
And it's way more interesting than the description makes it
sound.
More band photos as usual on the photo
journal page, plus some other random pics.
Music reviews
this go around: Mean Jeans, White Hills, Beach House, Flaming Lips,
Lambchop, The Men, Steve
Moore/Majeure, King Tuff and more.
I was immensely excited for this show. Jeff the Brotherhood put on the
best show of last year's Hopscotch festival,
a packed, sweaty affair at Slims where the crowd was as receptive as
any I've ever seen for a band in Raleigh. Also,
this weird girl spent much of the show dry humping my leg while I tried
taking photos. It's the little things that makes a
show memorable you know?
No one dry humped me at the
Berkeley Cafe, and the crowd wasn't nearly as excited and animated save
the pack of
girls who were posted up at the front of the stage right next to
me...one of which kinda looked like Spicoli from "Fast
Times at Ridgemont High." But the band still destroyed -
particularly my ears and my brain - in the best way possible.
Lots of songs from their last couple of full-lengths "Heavy Days" and
"We Are The Champions", plus a handful of new
tracks that will presumably be on their upcoming record. They had
also apparently set aside more money this tour for
their smoke machine budget, as that thing was pumping out the stinky
fog full blast for the majority of the performance.
Didn't really help with my taking photos, but it looked awesome to the
naked eye so fuck some photo taking right?
This is easily one of the
best touring bands today. I'll never, ever miss a
performance. Get off your ass and see them
next time they come around.
Amendment One Benefit
with John Darnielle, Mac McCaughan and Greg Cartwright
Motorco
4/19/2012
For reasons that are completely beyond my grasp, this stupid state
decided to write bigotry into the constitution...but
before that vote happened, there were a number of benefits to raise
money to fight the intolerance. This particular gig
featured three of my favorite performers from the state - Greg Cartwright of the Reigning Sound, Mac McCaughan
of Superchunk, and Jon Darnielle of the Mountain
Goats. They played the entire set together, taking
turns per-
forming songs and sometimes collaborating together.
Being a fundraiser, most of
the set list was made up of requests made by folks who donated a little
extra cash to hear
their favorite songs played. These ran the gamut from fan
favorites to obscure b-sides to random covers the musicians
may or may not have had any idea how to play . Case in point - someone
asked for Darnielle(?) to play David Bowie's
"Suffragette City." Neither he nor anyone else knew how to
actually play it, but like Yo La Tengo on a WXMU fundraiser
all three of them (plus a little vocal help from an audience member who
knew all the words) banged out one of the
sloppiest covers you've ever heard...and honestly, that was much more
fun and memorable than if they had actually
known what they were doing.
As for a more skilled cover,
Darnielle also played "The Tower" by Bruce Dickinson, a song he was
clearly well
schooled in (really looking forward to his all metal covers set at this
year's Hopscotch). He also played his own "No
Children," a crowd favorite that had the entire place singing
along. Along with many collaborations, Mac McCaughan's
great moment was him playing their cover of the Magnetic Fields'
"100,000 Fireflies", a song Superchunk is just as
well known for as the parent band, but one they don't play very
often. And as for Greg Cartwright - his very presence
just classed up the joint. He played a few songs in his laid back
fashion, and would just noodle on his guitar in the
backgroud while the others performed. He was completely brilliant
as always.
If you really want to get
"glass half full" on the situation, I guess we can thank bigotry,
intolerance and hatred for bringing
us an unusual & great show that probably wouldn't have otherwise
happened. So thanks for that, assholes. Now stop
being so goddamn stupid, you idiots.
Whatever Brains
with Burglar Fucker
Kings
4/26/2012
I went and saw Whatever Brains play live
again. Shocking, I know. This time it was the release party
for their second
album, which like their first album is also self titled...as per usual,
they like to keep things comically difficult. They were
awesome, but then again they're always awesome. Their new
record? Also awesome. Don't really have much else to
say about, honestly...I've proven time and time again I have no idea
how to properly describe this band. I'm pretty sure
"awesome" covers it.
Not really sure how to
describe Burglar Fucker either, but for
different reasons. Their name might be fantastic but
their music was a hot mess to these ears. They had a couple of
brief moments when they reminded me of Nation of
Ulysses at their wildest, and when I say brief moments I mean about
three minutes total out of the whole show. It was
the skronky saxophone basically. They played on the floor and you
could barely make out any semblance of songs, it
all sounded like a no-wave hardcore pile of fuzz and feedback and
mis-tuned guitars and inaudible vocals and of
course that sax. That may have been the point, but it wasn't for
me.
Terry
Malts
with Spider Bags
The Pinhook
4/17/2011
I was incredibly excited for this show...I'd listened to the most
recent Terry Malts album "Killing Time"
nearly non-stop
during the month before the band was to come to town, so I was well
primed. I tried talking some friends into going,
but like with many of the shows I get most excited about, they were
clueless. Clearly, the world would be a better place
if everyone just listened to me and did exactly as I said. Then
again, that would have resulted in a packed, sweaty
show, which - while good for the band - ain't as much fun.
Anyways, yadda yadda yadda,
the Terry Malts were really fuckin' awesome live. Their record
sounds like the perfect
combination of the Ramones and Jesus & Mary Chain, but live I
didn't hear as much of the chainsaw/shoegaze guitars,
and they sounded more akin to the Stiff Little Fingers. They
played pretty much their entire new album, including my
favorite track "Waiting Room." No, not Fugazi's "Waiting Room,"
they have a song by the same name. But speaking
of covers, they did end their set with a Black Flag classic, "Six
Pack." A lot of the audience sang along...I may or may
not have been one of the people singing at the top of my lungs.
Spider Bags were the closers
this evening. I've decided they sound like a modern 13th Floor
Elevators minus the
electrified jug. It may not be he best comparison but once I got
it in my head I couldn't get it out. They have a punk vibe
and attitude couple with a psyche garage sound and just enough
craziness that you're not currently planning on com-
mitting them to the crazy house, but they ain't far off. They are
easily one of the best live bands in the area - a fact that
is not debatable - and they were as good as ever on this night.
Like Whatever Brains, words fail this band. Only
seeing them play live will really set you straight.
On a side note, this was my
first time seeing the Pinhook's new stage set-up. It might have
even been their first show
in this configuration. It's much, much better...you can lament
the higher stage all you want, but it makes the band easier
to see. I like to see the bands. Not sure if the sound was
updated but it's always sounded fine to me there. They now
have a much more traditional "rock club" set-up, no more weird
side/corner stage where everyone packs in at the
closest side even though there is plenty of room on the other
side. Thumbs up to the Pinhook on the changes.
"Maybe
I'm spending too much of my time starting up clubs and putting on
plays. I should probably be trying harder to
score chicks."
Boston Spaceships - Come
On Baby Grace. One of Robert Pollard's other
bands. Sounds like Robert Pollard
bands always sound, not that I'm complaining.
Bonus: Fly
Away (Terry Sez).
Coconut Coolouts - (Please
Don't Break Me Out of) Party Jail. One of my favorite
part punk bands. Enjoyable
recordings and a hoot live as well.
Bonus: Coconut
Weekend.
Dex Romweber Duo - Brazil.
Local legend does good.
Bonus: GurDJieff
Girl.
Les Savy Fav - Appetites.
I may or may not have already posted some of these songs, but I love
this record so here
they are again.
Bonus: High
and Unhinged.
Bonus: Let's
Get Out Of Here.
Low - Try
To Sleep. A fitting song title, as Low is excellent to
sleep to. And I don't mean that as an insult.
Bonus: Witches.
Radar Bros - Chickens.
These guys basically keep putting out the same record, and I keep
eagerly listening.
Bonus: Dear
Headlights.
Retribution Gospel Choir - Breaker.
Speaking of Low, this is Alan Sparhawk's side project. Which
pretty much
just sounds like a slightly more rockin' version of Low.
Bonus: Kids.
