McPhun, Phun, Phun in the Sun! Ruby Suns Venture to North America for a Dodo of a Tour
By David Nadelle on Sep 25 2009
The great Irish band A House had it right with the title track from their classic I Am the Greatest album. In it, the band rants about the "small music dictatorship" and loss of the individual, how most people "wouldn't recognize a new idea if it spat in their face and screamed out," how the music industry reers "big-mouthed rock stars with opinions on everything and answers to nothing" and society reveres "bandwagons full of bands with sycophantic fans with no lives of their own". A House was expounding the truth back in 1991 but the track is a sign of all times, including ours right now and our childrens' in the future.
Indeed, the more things change, the more they stay the same, so thank gawd for alternatives and exceptions, even in the most orderly and predictable music realm of pop. For instance, you won't find New Zealand adventure seekers Ruby Suns in your "Indie Rock for Dummies" and you will certainly not see them "pouncing on any third rate trend, milking it to death, once again putting money where the music is not." Revolutionary pop music is a true rarity, and although the Ryan McPhun-led trio didn't exactly change the world with their last record, Sea Lion (TMT Review) was like a fresh shovel to the head on a cold winter's day for forward-thinking pop fans.
While some new material would be better than a really good biscuit, North American folk will have to make do with the feel-good live pairing of The Ruby Suns with San Francisco's thoughtful folk-pop darlings The Dodos for a bunch of dates starting this weekend in California.
They are the greatest:
09.26.09 - Big Sur, CA - Henry Miller Library #
09.27.09 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theater #
09.28.09 - San Diego, CA - Casbah #
09.29.09 - Tucson, AZ - Club Congress #
09.30.09 - Phoenix, AZ - Modified Arts #
10.02.09 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues, Pontiac Garage #
10.03.09 - Houston, TX - The Orange Show #
10.06.09 - Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder #
10.07.09 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl #
10.08.09 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle Tavern #
10.09.09 - Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel #
10.10.09 - Baltimore, MD - Talking Head #
10.12.09 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church #
10.13.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg #
10.14.09 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom #
10.15.09 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East (downstairs) #
10.16.09 - Montréal, QC - La Sala Rossa #
10.17.09 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace #
10.19.09 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge #
10.20.09 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club #
10.22.09 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater #
10.24.09 - Boise, ID - Neurolux #
10.25.09 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theatre #
10.26.09 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret #
10.27.09 - Seattle, WA - Neumo's #
10.29.09 - San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's #
# The Dodos
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Ready Triple-Disc DVD/CD Set, Evoking Fond Memories of The Effects of 333
By Matt Lundy on Sep 25 2009
On September 21, a young gentleman with the username “Harry” left a message on Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s MySpace page, which read: “If The Beatles still made music it would sound like this. Keep it up.” You mean the current Beatles lineup of Paul and Ringo would make mid-'80s Jesus and Mary Chain-style music if they got back together? Or maybe latter-BRMC Americana? Does Ringo look good in a black leather jacket? This “Harry” character really took my head for a spin, and I think he has no idea what he’s talking about.
Regardless, there are some developments in the BRMC camp. Years removed from the hangover of hyperbolic praise from the NME, and barely removed from their universally-panned instrumental album The Effects of 333, BRMC has teamed up with Vagrant to release a 3-disc DVD/CD set. The DVD features live performances from shows in Dublin, Glasgow, and Berlin while supporting their fourth studio album, Baby 81 (TMT Review). The bonus DVD captures “intimate, behind-the-scenes footage” (whatever that means), while the CD has live recordings from the aforementioned concerts. The whole package will be available on November 10.
BRMC are currently putting the final touches on their fifth studio album at The Station House studio in Hollywood. In the meantime, you can download a remix of “Not What You Wanted” off their website, or wait until October 20, when a new song entitled “Done All Wrong” will be featured on the upcoming New Moon soundtrack.
By David Nadelle on Sep 24 2009
5 dynamic duos:
- Batman and Robin
- Ace and Gary, The Ambiguously Gay Duo
- Steak 'n' eggs
- (Tie) Thelma and Louise, Riggs and Murtaugh
- Hall and Oates
5 not-so-dynamic duos:
- Batman and Robin (c'mon, watching George Clooney or Chris O' Donnell on their own is enough to induce fever and vomiting... but together? You'd be happier blowing a hole in your skull)
- Ace Frehley and Gary Coleman, The Ambiguously Odd Couple (on second thought, that might be the best duo ever)
- Ass 'n' eggs (sounds good but it is not)
- (Tie) Wayne and Garth, whatever characters Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker play in Rush Hour and its seven sequels
- Jobs and Wozniak (as bad as it sounds)
Conspicuously absent from either list are Thao and The Shaky Hands. Granted, they are rarely paired together for convenience, nor does one think of one when the other is mentioned, but both acts can entertain the hell out of the most miserly of curmudgeons, both record on the label that kills the most rock stars (Kill Rock Stars), both have new albums coming out soon, and both have announced large-scale tours! When you add the idea that they both may have eaten octopus in their lives and the fact that they are both parts of the human race, then, for the purpose of this fascinating news story, The Shaky Hands and Thao are the most dynamic duo you will ever hear!
The first record up is Let It Die from supercharged Portland quartet Shaky Hands. Sure, The Shaky Hands are always a rocktastic affair but Let It Die sees the band in a mature, rather inspired form. Hear for yourself on September 29 but, whatever you do, don't let this tracklist die:
1. Let It Die
2. Never Fine
3. Slip Away
4. Love Curse
5. All You Recall
6. Caught in the Storm
7. Don't Fail Me Now
8. Already Gone
9. Gonna Hold You Tonight
10. Allison and the Ancient Eyes
11. Leave It All
Thao Nguyen has been a busy and brave bee, playing with the Get Down Stay Down plus recording The Thao & Justin Power Sessions album with Portland Cello Project (also on KRS). On October 13, it is with the Get Down Stay Down that Thao will release her new album, Know Better Learn Faster. Know these tracks better; learn them faster:
1. The Clap
2. Cool Yourself
3. When We Swam
4. Know Better Learn Faster
5. Body
6. The Give
7. Good Bye Good Luck
8. Trouble Was For
9. Oh. No
10. Fixed It!
11. Burn You Up
12. But What of the Strangers
13. Easy
Getting down and staying down is something you will not be doing if you go see one of the following upcoming Thao and The Get Down Stay Down shows..
10.15.19 - Santa Barbara, CA - SoHo #
10.16.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex #
10.17.09 - Santa Cruz, CA - The Crepe Place #
10.18.09 - San Francisco, CA - Treasure Island Music Festival
10.21.09 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
10.22.09 - Seattle, WA - Shop Suey #
10.23.09 - Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore Cabaret #
10.24.09 - Spokane, WA - Empyrean Coffee House #
10.27.09 - Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center #
10.28.09 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall #
10.29.09 - Urbana, IL - The Canopy Club #
10.30.09 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle #
10.31.09 - Detroit, MI - The Café at The Majestic Theater #
11.01.09 - Toronto, ON - El Mocambo #
11.02.09 - Montréal, QC - Il Motore #
11.03.09 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs #
11.04.09 - New York, NY - The Bowery Ballroom #
11.05.09 - Philadelphia, PA - The First Unitarian Church #
11.06.09 - Washington, DC - Black Cat #
11.07.09 - Richmond, VA - The Canal Club Downstairs Lounge #
11.09.09 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl #
11.11.09 - Houston, TX - The Studio @ Warehouse Live #
11.12.09 - Austin, TX - Mohawk #
11.13.09 - Ft. Worth, TX - Lola's #
11.14.09 - Lubbock, TX - Jake's #
11.17.09 - Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room #
11.18.09 - Tucson, AZ - Plush #
11.19.09 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah #
11.20.09 - Pomona, CA - The Glass House #
# Portland Cello Project, David Shultz
...and hands will shake and clap and strangle necks (of both the human and the beer bottle variety) at these Shaky Hands live dates:
09.18.09 - Portland, OR - Someday Lounge
10.02.09 - Portland, OR - Berbati's Pan
10.08.09 - Boise, ID - Neurolux
10.09.09 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
10.10.09 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
10.12.09 - Lawrence, KS - Replay Lounge
10.13.09 - Iowa City, IA - Picador
10.14.09 - St. Louis, MO - Firebird
10.15.09 - Columbia, MO - Mojo
10.16.09 - Urbana, IL - Canopy Club #
10.17.09 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle $
10.18.09 - Pontiac, MI - The Pike Room $
10.20.09 - New London, CT - Oasis $
10.21.09 - Allston, MA - Great Scott $
10.22.09 - New York, NY - Cake Shop
10.24.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie $
10.25.09 - Washington, DC - DC9 $
10.26.09 - Chapel Hill, North Carolina - Local 506 $
10.27.09 - Charlottesville, VA - Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar
10.31.09 - Paris, France - Mains d'Ouevres %
11.01.09 - Brighton, England - Prince Albert
11.02.09 - Cardiff, Wales - Clwb Ifor Bach
11.03.09 - Manchester, England - The Ruby Lounge
11.04.09 - Glasgow, Scotland - Captain's Rest
11.05.09 - London, England - The Lexington
11.06.09 - London, England - Cargo
11.08.09 - Munich, Germany - Atomic Cafe
11.09.09 - Vienna, Austria - Rhiz
11.12.09 - Basel, Switzerland - 1.Stock
11.13.09 - Lucerne, Switzerland - Treibhaus
11.14.09 - Freiburg, Germany - Swamp
11.15.09 - Berlin, Germany - NBI
11.16.09 - Hamburg, Germany - Molotow
11.17.09 - Aalborg, Denmark - 1000 Fryd
11.19.09 - Bergen, Norway - Garage
11.20.09 - Oslo, Norway - Blå
11.21.09 - Stockholm, Sweden - Fritz's Corner @ Debaser
11.23.09 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Loppen ^
11.25.09 - Prague, Czech Republic - Klub 007 *
11.26.09 - Cologne, Germany - Tsunami
11.27.09 - Utrecht, Netherlands - Le Guess Who Festival
11.28.09 - Haarlem, Netherlands - Patronaat
# Blitzen Trapper
$ Headlights, Pomegranates
% Part Chimp, Get Back Guinozzi!
^ Damien Jurado
* AIDS Wolf
