Review: Chain and the Gang with Strange Boys; February 25, 2010; Casbah, San Diego
Have no doubt about it: Ian Svenonius is one hell of a showman. (more…)
Blind Boys of Alabama to Play Belly Up Tavern on Sunday
Photo credit: Getty Images
“I can see as well as you,” says Blind Boys of Alabama leader Clarence Fountain. “There’s somebody up there watching over me.”
When the Blind Boys play the Belly Up Tavern this Sunday, March 7, you should be watching too. (more…)
Preservation Hall Jazz Band Plays Birch North Park Tonight
Photo credit: Getty Images
As part of its mission to celebrate the “art form of New Orleans Jazz,” the Preservation Hall Jazz Band will perform at The Birch North Park Theatre tonight.
In my mind, there are really only two ways to see them — either at the real Preservation Hall in New Orleans, where jazz was born — or at a place like Birch, a restored theater originally built in 1928, when “America’s only art form” was young. (more…)
Poetic Memory: Langhorne Slim (List)
A few weeks ago, Langhorne Slim and his ridiculously good band played the Casbah. We loved it, and as with many who’ve seen him on this tour, an obsession was born.
We recently asked Langhorne and his band — Jeff Ratner, David Moore, and Malachi DeLorenzo — to reveal their Poetic Memories, and they came back with a wide-ranging and reliable list that sheds light on what they’re reading, watching, and playing. Check it out below. (more…)
The Besnard Lakes to ‘Roar’ Through San Diego (MP3)
Photo credit: Chris Gergley
The peasants rejoiced! O&B’s favorite “sonic bludgeoners” The Besnard Lakes are planning to pillage San Diego as part of their tour to support Are the Roaring Night, their new record. (more…)
Poetic Memory: The Clientele (List)
Photo credit: Andy Willsher
London’s The Clientele are coming back to the U.S. and Canada to support their new album, Bonfires on the Heath, and The Casbah is on their itinerary.
Their songs have been described as “dreamlike suburban landscapes” with a “trippy sense of menace,” and the album has been featured on year-end lists at The AV Club, Pitchfork, and elsewhere. It’s good stuff, and we’re pretty excited to see them play.
The Clientele’s Alasdair MacLean recently provided us with a fitting list of “5 Recommended Hallucinatory Children’s Books” — which is, without a doubt, the most creative Poetic Memory we’ve ever received. Full list of tour dates and Mr. MacLean’s Poetic Memory are below.
You can pick up Bonfires at the Merge store; it’s available in CD, LP, and MP3 formats. For samples of their music, check out “Harvest Time” and “I Wonder Who We Are” (MP3s).
Lilith Fair Coming to San Diego
Sarah McLachlan’s hugely successful Lilith Fair only ran from 1997 to 1999. This means that the festival has been gone for five times as long as it ever existed. Gone, but certainly not forgotten. (more…)
Poetic Memory: April Smith and the Great Picture Show (List)
April Smith at the Casbah - February 8, 2010
If I was only allowed to say one thing about April Smith, it’s that she can sing. Fortunately, there’s plenty of space here to gush about the Brooklyn-based belter: she also has an electric presence, she writes damn good songs, and she’s pretty much destined for greatness.
When I recently saw her perform with Langhorne Slim, I wanted to find her after the show and say, “What are you doing here? You should be on Broadway.” I never got a chance to have the conversation. However, she was nice enough to provide us with a wide-ranging list of influences.
If you’re even remotely interested in April Smith, definitely check out her song Colors (MP3), download her recent Daytrotter session, and catch her on tour. It’ll be worth your while. Her first album, Songs For A Sinking Ship, is out February 23rd. Tour dates and her Poetic Memory are below.
Akron/Family Offer Admission for a Song (MP3)
Photo credit: Sebastian Mlynarski
At their recent shows, Akron/Family have been playing a song called “Woody Guthrie’s America” (MP3).
The song often becomes a sing-along that continues after the band has left the stage, and as a result of its anthemic nature, Akron/Family have collected over 20 versions sung and stomped by friends like Megafaun, Charlyne Yi, and Phonograph.
They’re now looking to hear your version — and as a way to encourage contributions, they’re offering free admission to anyone who submits their own interpretation. You can get started by visiting the Woody Project site, where you can download, stream, and sample the entire 25-song first volume.
If you’d like to contribute, send your own version to akronfamilywoodyproject@gmail.com, along with a photo and bio, and they’ll “post it as soon as we can.” More information about the project and Akron/Family tour dates are after the jump.
Photos: St. Vincent; February 10, 2010; Belly Up Tavern, San Diego
Photos of St. Vincent at the Belly Up Tavern on February 10, 2010. (more…)
Photos: Langhorne Slim with April Smith and the Great Picture Show; February 8, 2010; Casbah
Photos of Langhorne Slim with April Smith and the Great Picture Show at the Casbah. (more…)
Langhorne Slim to Play Casbah, M-Theory Instore Tonight (MP3s)
Kemado Records singer/songwriter Langhorne Slim has a bit of talent. (more…)
The Langley Sisters Make Sweet Honey
The Langley Sisters are three lovely ladies from London who specialize in Prohibition-era pop.
Gita, Rosie, and Edie — with a little help from Mr. Ed Harcourt — just released Queen Bee, a sweet seven-inch single that features the singing sisters and a variety of instruments, including guitar, cello, violin, and even the mystical banjolele.
They cite the Shangri-Las and Shirelles as influences, and after a listen, it’s easy to see the connection. However, Queen Bee is also a unique work that warrants repeated listens. As the precursor to their first full-length, it’s also a nice taste of what’s to come. Queen Bee is a limited edition white vinyl 7″ (only 400 copies pressed, each record is number stamped). Each one also contains a download code.
You can pick it up over at Velvet Blue Music’s website or stream it here. Highly recommended.
Exit Stencil Records Announces ‘Free February’ (MP3s)
Exit Stencil Recordings, Owl and Bear’s favorite Cleveland-based indie label, has a special Valentine’s Day gift for you.
No, it’s not chocolate or flowers, or even chocolate flowers. It’s better: the label has made twenty of their past releases available for free download for the entire month of February, and they’re apparently doing it solely out of the kindness of their hearts. They say:
Exit Stencil is happy to announce our Free February month, where nearly our entire catalog will be available for free digital download! This includes almost all full-length, 7″, EP, and split releases, totaling around 20 records! No gimmicks, no asking for donations, no limit to the number of releases available to each person — just a free chance to check out a bunch of bands that we’ve been happy to have had the chance to work with over the past couple of years.
Exit Stencil bands that we’ve liked in the past include Blake Miller (MP3s), The Dreadful Yawns (MP3s), Hot Cha Cha (MP3s), and, well, all the other ones. This is a great chance to check out some new music, so download away!
Thrill Jockey Plans Jack Rose Memorial, Posthumous ‘Luck in the Valley’ (MP3)
Thrill Jockey Records calls Jack Rose “the most profound exponent of acoustic guitar playing of his generation.” (more…)
Tortoise ‘Prepare’ Winter Tour (MP3)
Our favorite Chicago post rockers are back with a new video and news of a winter tour. (more…)
Pale White Moon Lures Wolf (MP3)
If you’ve watched Showtime’s Emmy award-winning documentary series This American Life, you’ve probably heard the music of Pale White Moon. (more…)
Vic Chesnutt 1964 – 2009
Vic Chesnutt died today.
Holes in his sweater, fluid in his lungs; the experts say
there are things he should have done better, but instead he is just dying young.
Photos: Harper Simon & The Chapin Sisters; December 7, 2009; Casbah, San Diego
Harper Simon, with a backing band that included the Chapin Sisters and members of Cat Power, The Elected, and the Beastie Boys, played San Diego’s Casbah on a cold, wet December night to an extraordinarily small crowd. (more…)
Poetic Memory: Tristeza (List)
San Diego post-rockers Tristeza are coming home to the Casbah this Saturday, December 12, and we can’t wait. In anticipation, we asked longtime drummer—and all around friendly guy—James Lehner to detail his Poetic Memory. Lehner writes:
In the past year, these albums have influenced me deeply, but more than that, have been quite symbolic and ironically synced-up with my life.
Tristeza’s new album, Fate Unfolds, was just released on 12/1. For a flavor of the new disc, check out the excellent tracks “Manitas” and “Tension Futura” (MP3s). You can buy it here. You can also check out their mesmerizing video of “Tension Futura” above. Below, you will find James Lehner’s Poetic Memory.
Vic Chesnutt Talks Life, Death, and ‘At The Cut’ on NPR (MP3)
At age eighteen, Vic Chesnutt went from a reckless young man to a wheelchair-bound quadriplegic. All of his close family died off by the time he hit 25. He’s struggled with substance abuse. He owes $50,000 in medical bills. And yesterday, the 45-year old songwriter confessed to NPR’s Terry Gross (stream) that he’s tried—unsuccessfully—to kill himself at least four times. (more…)
Harper Simon Kicks Off Left Coast Tour 12/6 (MP3)
Harper Simon, son of Paul, will be touring the West this winter to prove that genius doesn’t skip a generation. The younger Simon’s West Coast/Left Coast tour starts with a solo show (opening for none other than Brian Wilson, who has somehow not yet transformed into pure energy), after which he’ll kick off a slew of full-band gigs with a show at San Diego’s beloved Casbah on December 7. (more…)
Califone – ‘Funeral Singers’ (Video)
O&B favorites Califone just released a video for their excellent song “Funeral Singers” (MP3), the first single off their new album of a similar title. The video features the white-clad ghost band from Califone’s new film of a similar title, and even features actress Angela Bettis, who stars in the film.
The ‘Fone will tour the west coast in early December. Be sure to check them out. All of the dates listed below include All My Friends Are Funeral Singers film performances.
Tour Dates
12-03 Seattle, WA – Husky Union
12-04 Vancouver, British Columbia – Rickshaw Theater
12-05 Portland, OR – The Mission Theater
12-07 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
12-09 Los Angeles, CA – Hammer Museum
