By Liz Louche on Feb 19 2009
It's that time of year again. When we in the New World begin reading press releases about totally amazing festivals in the Old one and start really, really wishing that these glittering, unattainable festival lineups could somehow be replicated over here, in our land. Alas! Of course, they cannot be. For how could we here, in say, St. Louis, or, um, Winnipeg, ever hope to replicate the delicate salt breezes of the Mediterranean coast and the vibrant architecture of the Catalan capital of Barcelona? Or, apart from that, to cobble together such a totally bitchin' lineup? Because this year's Estrella Damm Primavera Sound looks to be even better than last year, when I proclaimed it to be even better than the year before (but probably couldn't really remember what exactly that previous year's lineup was. Our secret.)
From May 28-30, Barcelona's Parc del Fòrum will be alive with the sounds of My Bloody Valentine (performing twice), Aphex Twin, Yo La Tengo, Sonic Youth, Bloc Party, Jarvis Cocker, The Jayhawks, and (WHOA!) A Certain Ratio. Plus The Jesus Lizard! And Shellac! And Joe Henry and The Black Lips! And pretty much like every band ever! There's a lot more, so check out the complete (so far) listing for the festival below.
CONFIRMED ARTISTS:
A-Trak, A Certain Ratio, Alela Diane, Andrew Bird, Angelo Spencer, Aphex Twin, Ariel Pink, Art Brut, The Bad Plus, Bat For Lashes, Black Lips, Bloc Party, Bowerbirds, The Bug, Carsick Cars, Crystal Antlers, Crystal Stilts, Cuzo, Chad VanGaalen, Damien Jurado, Dan Deacon Ensemble, Deerhunter, Dj Mehdi, The Drones, Ebony Bones, El-P, Extra Life, The Extraordinaires, Extraperlo, Fucked Up, Gang Gang Dance, Ghostface Killah, Girl Talk, Girls, Jarvis Cocker, Jason Lytle from Grandaddy, Jay Reatard, The Jayhawks, The Jesus Lizard, Joe Crepüsculo y Los Destructores, Joe Henry, John Maus, Karl Blau, Kimya Dawson, Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Lemonade, Lightning Bolt, The Lions Constellation, The Mae Shi, Magik Markers, Magnolia Electric Co., Mahjongg, Marnie Stern, Michael Mayer, Michael Nyman, My Bloody Valentine, The New Year, Oneida, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Phoenix, Plants & Animals, Ponytail, Rosvita, The Secret Society, Shearwater, Shellac, Simian Mobile Disco, SkatebÃ…rd, Sleepy Sun, The Soft Pack, Sonic Youth, Spectrum, Spiritualized, Squarepusher, Sunn O))) performing "The Grimmerobe Demos", The Tallest Man On Earth, Throwing Muses, Uffie, The Vaselines, Veracruz, Vivian Girls, Wavves, Women, Wooden Shjips, Yo La Tengo and Zombie Zombie.
Terry Riley’s “In C” Turns 45 With Reissue, Performance, Stark Aplomb
By Nobodaddy on Feb 19 2009
The score for "In C” is comprised of 53 short musical phrases that can be repeated ad infinitum, leading to performances as long as four hours.
Terry Riley's landmark minimalist composition "In C" will be reissued March 24 on Sony Classical.
The musicians arbitrarily choose which phrase to play and for how long before moving on to the next, making each performance unique.
New liner notes feature interviews with Riley and the supporting musicians.
“In C” was a huge influence on the future work of composers such as Philip Glass and Steve Reich.
This edition, which is remastered from the original session tapes, is part of a new branded series through Sony Classical, called “Carnegie Hall Presents.”
In addition, the piece will be performed April 24 at New York's Carnegie Hall.
This reissue commemorates the 45th anniversary of its premiere.
Performers are Carnegie Hall will include Riley himself, as well several of the participants from the original 1964 recording.
Some editions of the score indicate that it is customary for one musician ("traditionally played by a beautiful girl," Riley notes) to play the note C in repeated, octave eighth notes on a piano. This functions as a metronome and is referred to as "The Pulse."
The piece was named for its constant pulse of C notes on the piano.
Steve Reich even participated in its first performance, possibly keeping the C “metronome” pulse on the piano?
Players are also encouraged to play the phrases starting at different times, even if they are playing the same phrase.
The phrases are supposed to be played in order, but I’m pretty sure that you could mix them up however you’d like, if you were so inclined.
Steve Reich is not a beautiful girl.
Hear Times New Viking’s Velvet Underground Tribute Show!
By Couscous on Feb 19 2009
As we reported pre-show on Friday (TMT News), Times New Viking played a Velvet Underground tribute set at the Mershon Auditorium in Columbus' Wexner Center for the closing party of the "Andy Warhol: Other Voices, Other Rooms" exhibition. Thanks to reader Pat Leonard, those of you who didn't happen to be in Ohio Saturday night (and let's hope that was most of you — just kidding, we love you Ohio!) can hear the show in MP3 form on Leonard's website. C. Spencer Yeh and Mike Hummel join TNV on violin and guitar/vocals, respectively. The MP3 also includes openers Psychedelic Horseshit's set, which featured two VU classics, "Sister Ray" and "Stephanie Says."
Here's the full setlist:
Psychedelic Horseshit:
Sister Ray
Stephanie Says
Times New Viking:
Run Run Run
I'll Be You're Mirror
I'm Waiting for My Man
All Tomorrow's Parties
Sunday Morning
Venus in Furs
I Can't Stand It Anymore
Heroin
Pale Blue Eyes
Here She Comes Now
After Hours
YACHT Has Great Merch, Tours
By Kat Gardiner on Feb 19 2009
YACHT, DFA's newest addition, have amazing merchandise. I mean, wow. They come into town with anchors emblazoned, full bleed and metallic, and the next day everyone you know and their uncle is showing off their new ironic threads. I mean, check this shit out:
Does Andrew Lloyd Webber know about that that shirt? And that album of Nirvana covers with Bob Marley on the cover -- Courtney is gonna crap her panties. Get there early and come with $50 to blow on new clothing and accessories, and leave as soon as you're bored with the jams (it's alway been around song two or three for me). But seriously. Their merchandise is AWESOME.
Oh, and longtime collaborator Adam Forkner, of Portland's psychotropic White Rainbow, will be joining YACHT on tour this time, too. Check it:
02.22.09 - Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy
02.27.09 - Melbourne, Australia - Prince Bandroom (w/CSS)
02.28.09 - Sydney, Australia - Future Music Festival at Randwick Racecourse
03.01.09 - Perth, Australia - Future Music Festival at Wellington Park
03.05.09 - Sydney, Australia - The Metro (w/CSS)
03.07.09 - Brisbane, Australia - Future Music Festival at Doomben Racecourse
03.08.09 - Melbourne, Australia - Future Music Festival at Flemington Racecourse
03.09.09 - Adelaide, Australia - Future Music Festival at Rundle Park
03.12.09 - Las Vegas, NV - NEON REVERB Music Festival at Beauty Bar
03.13.09 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop *
03.14.09 - Chicago, IL - Schuba's
03.16.09 - St. Louis, MO - Gargoyle Club*
03.17.09 - Lawrence, KS - The Jackpot Saloon*
03.18.09 - Norman, OK - Opolis*
03.19.09 - Austin, TX - SXSW
03.22.09 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues Pontiac Garage*
03.23.09 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live*
03.24.09 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon*
03.25.09 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues Parish*
03.26.09 - Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder*
03.27.09 - Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club*
04.10.09 - New York, NY - The New Museum
05.01.09 - Copenhagen, Denmark - VEGA
05.02.09 - Krems, Austria - Donaufestival @
05.07.09 - Marseille, France - L'Espace Sextius
05.08.09 - Luxembourg - Exit07
* Playing with Chairlift
@ Antony and the Johnsons, Cocorosie, Stereolab, Aphex Twin DJ Set
Comprised of James Iha, Cheap Trick Members, and Taylor Hanson, Tinted Windows Already Gives Supergroups a Bad Name
By Brom on Feb 19 2009
Much like Communism, credit cards, and Calvin Coolidge, supergroups have always sounded great in theory but in practice leave much to be desired. Bringing musicians from big bands together may appear to be a stroke of genius, but it too often descends into money-grabbing conventionalism.
Nevertheless, despite their existence as mammoth cash-cows, supergroups have always oozed "coolness," whether it’s Velvet Revolver’s licks and lovers or A Perfect Circle’s passion and power. The latest group to acquire the ‘super’ prefix is Tinted Windows, which features James Iha and former members of Cheap Trick (Bun E. Carlos), Fountains of Wayne (Adam Schlesinger), and err Hanson (Taylor Hanson). Apparently, the band seems to have decided to forget the music, drop the “cool” pretense, and focus their efforts entirely on making as much money as possible.
At least previous supergroups were made up of musicians who were in vaguely respectable bands. But Hanson? Guys, come on -- when making a supergroup, you need to at least have consumers thinking “Damn that’s cool” (like Slash and Scott Weiland in a band together, for example). People are just going to see ‘Tinted Windows’ and think “Hmmm, where are my Smashing Pumpkins CDs?”
Anyway, the "supergroup" has already recorded an album and will be playing at SXSW -- although, if they value their dignity it would probably be best to avoid Austin completely. I doubt they’ll have too many people rocking out to “MMMBop” with chugging guitar lines.
