Bonnaroo 2009; Also, Girl Talk “Experimenting” with Actual Song Structures for Next Record; Will The New Album be as “Experimental” as the Latest Fountains of Wayne, Then? Hey, Stay Tuned!
Gregg Gillis -- a.k.a. mash-up party-monger Girl Talk -- is honing in on what he considers a “new direction” for the follow-up to 2008's party-mongering Feed the Animals (TMT Review).
"I'm experimenting with different structures and different ideas," Gillis told Billboard.com, seemingly oblivious to his complete “novelty act” status. "I'm interested in working on individual songs -- kind of in the style I've been doing, but with actual repetition as opposed to linear structure and stuff like that, some elements with a verse-and-chorus sort of structure as opposed to going through 50 minutes of change-ups the entire time. I want to evolve and keep refining." Watch out, Richard D. James.
"I'm constantly working on material," Gillis added, noting that there’s no set time table for LP #3 as of now. "Every day I cut up music. I try not to be concerned with what will be on an album. I just try to come up with small ideas I introduce into the (live) set, and I'll eventually get to the point where I say, ‘OK, here's this slightly new sound. I feel like there's some evolution.’ I'm interested in putting out music, and it's always nice to give people music." Watch out, DJ/rupture.
Gillis said there's a possibility he'd also consider some live releases from his shows, and after appearing at last weekend's Coachella Music & Arts Festival, he's starting to plot out what he wants to do this year’s upcoming Bonnaroo Festival, which may well include music from other artists on the bill. But "I won't go out of my way to sample an artist because I'm playing (at the same festival) with them," Gillis carefully noted. “There's lots of ideas floating around...I want to be as diverse as possible." Watch out... er, Phish?
Anyway, in actual news, tix for this year's Bonnaroo are on sale now, and the complete lineup (yes, featuring tons of highly-experimental artists that will also play some of those extremely forward-looking verse-chorus-type song structure things) is viewable here. Oh, and it takes place June 11-14 in jolly old Manchester, England. I mean... Tennessee.
No, Matt and Kim are not taking up prostitution as a means to make more money; they actually shot their new music video for “Lessons Learned” in the buff in Times Square. Out of all the potential indie bands to shoot a music video in the nude… really, Matt and Kim? Don’t get me wrong, they’re both attractive in their own right, but I would have preferred any of the following:
...Yeah, I have a predictable taste in indie rock men and women -- deal with it. In the meantime, if you’re curious, have a peek at “Lessons Learned,” if you dare:
Loney Dear is Emil Svanängen, the most lovable Swede to come along since the chef on The Muppets. Instead of offering us jibber jabbing epicurean lingo, as the latter did, Loney Dear has cooked up some sweet-sounding, confessional pop. This Swede likes to ruminate! Dear John, his latest album, was released in late January (TMT News) on Polyvinyl. Since the album release, he's been traveling with the likes of the equally talented, whistling, and fiddle-playing Andrew Bird. Having recently finished playing at SXSW, Loney Dear will begin touring again in May. Here's something to hold you over until then: the video for "Airport Surroundings." Amuse bouche, anyone?
Loney Dear tourdates: 05.04.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie 05.05.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg 05.06.09 - Boston, MA - Great Scott 05.07.09 - Montreal, QC - Il Motore 05.08.09 - Toronto, ON - Rivoli 05.09.09 - Chicago, IL - Schuba's 05.10.09 - Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center 05.13.09 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile 05.14.09 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir 05.15.09 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of The Hill 05.16.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland 05.17.09 - San Diego, CA - UC San Diego
Re: Just catchin’ up + the staggering amount of good bands that play in your city.
Hey, Austin. How’re things? Good? Shit, that’s great, dude. I’m so glad to hear things are kicking so much ass for you… So hey, how’ve you been since SXSW? Oh, shit’s been fantastic? Damn man, that’s great, I’m happy that you’re so happy, and– wait, shit is really going that well? Things have been so kickass in fact that Spoon is coming back to their native Austin in July to play three shows at Stubbs in the inaugural SPOONX3 festival?! That’s insane, son! I mean, the highlight of my live-show life this year was when I broke my glasses at a Lee Ving show last month but… shit, this… this… um, it’s real cool, man! Spoon is a great band. Good for you! You’re so special, dude! I’m sure things will keep ruling Charlemagne style, and I’ll just catch you later and — wait, what? Atlas Sound is playing, too? AND Low? AANNDD Trail of Dead? On separate nights? In the same city? Well dog-shitting Christ in an Elvis diaper, Austin, that action is too goddamn much to keep this player from being polite about it. I have to fucking speak out on the behalf of the rest of Middle America. Excuse me. 07.09.09 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s (Trail of Dead) 07.10.09 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s (Low) 07.11.09 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s (Atlas Sound)
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April 24, 2009
From: Mike McHugh
To: Middle America (Mainly Eastern Missouri)
CC: Good Bands
Re: BOOK GOOD BANDS, YOU FUCKS
Dear Middle America/Good Bands,
Hello. We are the Midwest, besides Detroit, of course. And Chicago. And Kansas City. Okay, basically we are just St. Louis, MO, and we want you to play here. And by “we,” I mean only me, but still, I am certain reasonable humans within the St. Louis City/Country metro area and myself would love it if you (the few, the proud, the good bands of America) would come to our fair city. Or even Columbia, MO, or O’Fallon, or Wright City, or anywhere within a two-hour radius so I could actually see you! I love Austin, but I don’t want to waste 200 clams on a steel bird or 20 hours + silly-ass gasoline every time I want to see a good show, goddammit! I got things to do, bills to pay, and people to smile at and want things from! So just point your rusty-ass doody van towards the Arch and go go go until you reach my stinky town. We desperately need quality entertainment. Do you know how many Jimmy Buffett cover bands I’ve seen in the last five years? At least half a dozen, and we ain’t even 50 miles away from any decent beaches. And Sammy Hagar-itude has become so prevalent in Gateway culture that he even has his own restaurant in one of the city’s classier casinos! So save us, dammit! Please, good bands like Spoon, come back to our city, too. We really need your patronage. PLEASE.
One of the many unnoticed, unread, unloved 2009 SXSW reports that I posted a month ago (TMT Review) had a small write-up on a show by one John Joseph McCauley III, solo showboat and leader of the Deer Tick group. Sitting side-stage on a stool in front of a chain-link fence, McCauley delivered an impressive, impassioned (but too short) set honest as the day is long (and that day was loooooong). Deer Tick will be playing in its quartet guise starting June 8 in Philadelphia, with McCauley joined by Christopher Dale Ryan, Dennis Michael Ryan, and Andrew Grant Tobiassen.
The shows are important for a couple of reasons: most of them are supporting lovely songbird Jenny Lewis and, more importantly, the dates will undoubtedly highlight many of the tracks found on the forthcoming Deer Tick album Born on Flag Day, which is as good a day to be born as any. The second full-length Deer Tick record will be released officially June 23 through Partisan Records and will certainly be one of the most talked about records of 2009.
Prior to the June tour, Deer Tick will play in Boston April 23 and in Providence April 24 with the hot Elvis Perkins. McCauley will also perform solo-ly in Baltimore on May 8 but without the chain fence and this drunken ogling TMT writer nearby.
Born on Flag Day tracklisting:
1. Easy 2. Little White Lies 3. Smith Hill 4. Song About a Man 5. Houston, TX 6. Straight Into a Storm 7. Friday XIII 8. The Ghost 9. Hell on Earth 10. Stung
Catch them live in the headlights: 04.23.09 - Boston, MA - Harpers Ferry 04.24.09 - Providence, RI - Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel # 05.08.09 - Baltimore, MD - Golden West * 06.08.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero $ 06.09.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg $ 06.10.09 - Boston, MA - House of Blues $ 06.11.09 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club $ 06.12.09 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle $ 06.14.09 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant $ 06.15.09 - Lawrence, KS - Granada $ 06.17.09 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown $
The word's been around since last fall, but now it's official in a press release kind of way: Ex-Unicorn Alden Penner, ex-Arcade Fire guy Brendan Reed, and some Montreal pals have formed a band and will release a self-titled debut album as Clues, due May 19 on Canadian label Constellation Records. Reed also recently started VillaVillaNola, a digital music store that has some scant info on the collaboration.
Here are some audio files to “tide you over” until then.
Clues tracklisting:
1. Haarp 2. Remember Severed Head 3. Approach the Throne 4. In the Dream 5. You Have My Eyes Now 6. Perfect Fit 7. Elope 8. Cave Mouth 9. Crows 10. Ledmonton 11. Let's Get Strong
The tour: 05.16.09 - Montreal, QC - Ukranian Federation Hall * 05.21.09 - Toronto, ON - Sneaky Dee's 05.22.09 - Chicago, IL - Schubas 05.23.09 - Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club 05.25.09 - Winnipeg, MB - Pyramid Cabaret 05.26.09 - Saskatoon, SK - Amigos 05.27.09 - Calgary, AB - Marquee 05.28.09 - Edmonton AB - Brixx 05.30.09 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret 05.31.09 - Victoria, BC - Lucky Bar 06.01.09 - Seattle, WA - Neumos 06.02.09 - Portland, OR - Backspace 06.04.09 - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Shop 06.05.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Echo 06.06.09 - Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit 06.09.09 - Dallas, TX - The Loft 06.10.09 - Austin, TX - The Independent 06.11.09 - New Orleans, LA - One-Eyed Jacks 06.12.09 - Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn 06.15.09 - Washington, DC - Rock N Roll Hotel 06.16.09 - Philadelphia, PA - The Barbary 06.17.09 - New York, NY - Santos Playhouse 06.18.09 - Montreal, QC - La Sala Rossa #
