Neutral Milk Hotel-Sponsored Paragon Carousel Wins Popular Vote, Given $100k Grant
It's hard being a hipster these days. With your favorite scene being crushed and co-opted by capitalism, it's hard not to feel vain and vapid. It's even harder to deny that you've become increasingly shallow towards others in an attempt to maintain individuality by postmodernizing your existence to oblivion. But does that necessarily make you a bad person? No! You can still do good, especially when your favorite band of old asks for help.
Case in point: The Paragon Carousel, based in Hull in northern Massachusetts. A beautiful early 20th-century carousel, the Paragon Carousel is likely reminiscent of the old carousels you rode when you were a kid, with its screechy tunes and wooden horses. But it's gotten old, and it needed help. In the running for a $100,000 grant from Partners In Preservation that would help in restoring and preserving the antiquated amusement machine, we reported in April that Julian Koster, speaking on behalf of Jeff Mangum and Neutral Milk Hotel, had sent a public letter, beseeching fans to vote daily for the Paragon. A few days before the May 16 deadline, the Carousel was leading with 14% of the vote, 2% above the old Salem City Hall.
Now, two weeks ago -- which means it's still current news in the indie music blogosphere -- it was announced by Partners in Preservation (and reported by local newspapers) that the Paragon won the popular vote, guaranteeing a $100,000 grant from the initiative. The Carousel thanked everyone for their involvement and is celebrating with several events this summer.
Who's to say hipsters aren't kind?
Beach House Head to Europe with Vetiver, Continue to Have Best Promo Shots Ever
Once again, Beach House are heading overseas for a brief European tour, and once again they are keeping any new information which might give this story depth or, say, interest, under wraps. If you’re a fan of the Baltimore-based dream-pop band, you already know the basics: the duo consists of guitarist/keyboardist Alex Scally and vocalist/organist Victoria LeGrand, who is the niece of French film composer Michel LeGrand and Christiane LeGrand, a vocalist in the Jacques Demy films The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Young Girls of Rochefort. But back to the band. They have two full-length albums on Carpark Records, the self-titled Beach House and Devotion (TMT Review), under their belts, as well as a Queen cover on the Red Hot Organization’s benefit album, Dark Was the Night (TMT Review). (They also have some of the best promo stills I’ve ever seen, which is good because, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, blah blah etc., and as I have previously complained, the duo is keeping it enigmatic about any further biographical info than what we already know.)
They’ve been touring pretty regularly, and are fresh off an appearance at Washington’s Sasquatch festival. This summer you can catch them bringing their lo-fi ethereal sounds to select European cities, accompanied by freak-folk stalwarts Vetiver.
08.14.09 - Oslo, Norway - Oya Festival
08.15.09 - Malmo, Sweden - Malmo Festival
08.16.09 - Berlin, Germany - Dot Club *
08.17.09 - Hamburg, Germany - Knust *
08.18.09 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso *
08.19.09 - Paris, France - Nouveau Casino *
08.21.09 - London, UK - Union Chapel *
08.22.09 - Brecon Beacons, UK - Green Man Festival
* Vetiver
Wavves Cancel European Tour So Fast Your Head Is Probably Spinning
Wavves' infamous breakdown last week at Spain's Primavera Sound Festival has now ostensibly led to the cancellation of the group's entire European tour. Apparently the blog hype has gotten to him, according to an apology posted (and then de-posted) over the weekend on Nathan Williams' Ghost Ramp blog. Oh, that and the drinking and the drugs.
Read the apology in full (via P4k):
I think in the back of my head I knew I wasn't exactly mentally healthy enough to continue to tour the way I have been since February. Honest truth is this has all happened so fast and I feel like the weight of it has been building for months now with what seems like a never ending touring and press schedule which includes absolutely zero time to myself. I'm sorry to everyone who has put effort into this and to everyone who supported me. Mixing ecstasy valium and xanax before having to play in front of thousands of people was one of the more poor decisions I've made(duh) and I realize my drinking has been a problem now for a good period of time. Nothing else I can do but apologize to everyone that has been affected by my poor decision making. I made a mistake. Not the first mistake I've made and it for sure wont be the last. I'm human. Don't know why I chose the biggest platform I could imagine to loose my shit, but that's life. You live and you learn.
Expect Wavves' next album to be a double-disc concept album about a rehabilitated Williams facing and ultimately defeating the demons in his head. Track titles may or may not include: "The Fight (It Goes On)," "Living Is Easy With Your Fly Down," "Seriously, Times Are So Tough Pt. 1 and 2," and "When The Shit Goes Down..."
Sigur Rós to Release "Out There" LP in 2010, Should Consider Titling It Out There LP in 2010
Icelanders have at least one ray of hope in the midst of the crippling economic depression that descended upon the icy island paradise last year -- the non-Björk pride of its indie music scene, premier dream-rockers Sigur Rós, has announced that its follow-up to 2008's Með suð à eyrum við spilum endalaust (TMT Review) is nearing completion. That album was a bit of a departure for the band, and drummer Orri Páll Dyrason says, via the Eighteen Seconds Before Sunrise site, "the music (will be) melodic but much less noisy and more ‘out there’ than previous albums." Stack that comment up next to the rest of the band's discography and, well, we still pretty much have no idea what it will sound like.
The album is set for release sometime next year, but if you're jonesin' for some Jónsi (Birgisson, Sigur Rós lead singer) before then, remember that his solo album is in the works, and his Riceboy Sleeps album is dropping July 20 (TMT News).
Elvis Pill Bottles for Sale; Oh Private Auction Houses, You Truly Do Maintain Our Love of Rock
I’ve been a fan of music, generally of the Rock and/or Roll variety, for pretty much the entirety of my 25 years. I love the stuff, always have and always will. Like most rock fanatics, I have my list of “Top Ten All-Time Favorite Rock Stars of All Time,” and, like most fanatics, I am happy to consume everything and anything related to my Rock Idols. I scour the web for interviews, spend hours examining photo sessions, read biography after biography after auto-biography, and, of course, passionately collect, listen to, and memorize all of my favorite recordings. I’m also one of those guys who stands patiently by the edge of the stage or the back-stage door, waiting for my chance to talk to my Rock Idols. I am a disciple of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Rock Stars are my prophets of a better place.
However, one thing has always perplexed me: what the fuck is up with people who will pay thousands of dollars for the meaningless detritus of a Rock Star's life? I mean, does anyone really need to own Elvis’s pill bottles? Are there people out there who can’t live without John Lennon’s actual, verified, comb? Is there anything more shocking then watching an innocent fan turn into maniac as they rub their face with the sweat-stained towel of Def Leppard’s drummer?
What I mean to say is this: the type of shit they auction off as memorabilia these days is just plain weird. If you’re one of the many people who follow my TMT career faithfully, then you know that I have a little bit of an interest in the world of what people are willing to buy in the name of Fandom and how, for some people, owning an inconsequential ticket stub seems to be of more value than JUST LISTENING TO THE FUCKING RECORDS. Whether it be Big Bopper’s casket (yep, the one he was buried in) or all punk rock becoming priceless commodity, I have a strange fascination with the way Rock History has shifted into something so easily bought and sold, and the spirit of change, development, betterment, and creative expression inherent in rock just ain't the same anymore. Seriously, what’s next? The actual shotgun Cobain used to shoot himself? Is this really what the faithful followers of the Church of Rock have come to? Is this really how we appreciate the music that has been brought into our lives? By buying, um, nasal douches?
Elvis's pill bottles are up for auction June 26 and 27 at Julien's in Las Vegas. See you there.
Kurt Vile of Philly Signs with Matador of New York, Declares Self "The White Jay-Z" on Controversial Fall Album
Aw naw! I thought this week couldn't get any better: first it was a big-screen viewing of The Elephant Man, then came the unofficial arrival (and imminent release) of J Dilla's pahty masterpiece, then I bought that two-hour Jim O'Rourke re-issue on Streamline, finalized by a packet of Swiss Miss taken straight. Satiated, I settled back into my plush TMT office chair and took in the remaining minutes of a slow Friday.
AND THEN KURT VILE SIGNED TO MATADOR, PAVING THE WAY TO MEGASTARDOM and also a multi-album deal! Legally this means Matador officials are given clearance to prod the young singer/songwriter within the limits of the law until he puts out >100 songs.
Presumably he knew people would be excited about the news, so the man of many hits has decided to get contractual obligation #1 out the door fast. Recorded in one sitting (a la Van Morrison's classic Contractual Obligation Session), Vile called on industry heavyweights Scott Storch and Polow Tha Don to iron over any errors in the recording process. As a test run, Storch edited Vile's discography thus far (Consant Hitmaker last year, The Hunchback EP and God Is Saying This to You... more recently) to a more manageable 13-minute "best of," and some of the records' more experimental leanings were layered over an "indie-edit" of "Contagious," one of the hottest Storch beats off Ludacris' Theater of the Mind.
NO! Kurt Vile will be releasing Childish Prodigy on CD/LP this Fall on the esteemed Matador Records, and it'll probably be incredible. Vile will also be heard blowing his dumped trumpet all over Blues Control's Siltbreeze debut. Until then, hold hands with a loved one, and reflect on your enduring psychic connections.
Thanks to [Phrequency for the tip!]
Mario Speedwagon’s Under the Radar News Round Up: Vivian Girls to Release Sophomore LP This Fall, Tortoise to Tour This Summer, YACHT to Release Album in July, Athfest, Karl Blau Heads Out on European Summer Tour
Sorry there was no round up last week, kids. It was a holiday weekend and I took a half-day and was getting my happy hour on.
- File this under shit I don’t care about, but I bet you do: Vivian Girls are releasing their follow-up to the 2008 self-titled debut this Fall. Everything Goes Wrong will be out in September 2009 via In The Red. I really hope they do themselves a favor and don’t do any interviews.
- Tortoise are heading out on a small tour this summer in support of Beacons of Ancestorship, out June 23 on Thrill Jockey. Their tour kicks off at the end of May in Buffalo, NY at the Tralf Music Hall and continues on various dates throughout the summer in the U.S., Asia, and Europe, until August at Pukkelpop in Hasselt, Belgium. Tortoise can play Buffalo, NY, but they can’t play in the south? Come on, guys. (You can check out all the dates at that first Tortoise link, baby.)
- YACHT will release their newest LP, See Mystery Lights, July 28 via DFA. The record was recorded in Marfa, TX (random), and the album title comes from orbs of light that appear on the horizon of the desert. One time I went to Chili’s on acid and freaked out because I thought I couldn’t see my reflection in a cutout in the wall. It was a cutout. There was no mirror there. Anyway, check it out.
- AthFest, the annual music festival held in Athens, Georgia, will be happening the weekend of June 25-28 in downtown Athens and at various music venues around town. Bands scheduled to play include Dead Confederate, Black Lips, Patterson Hood, Ginger Envelope, Nappy Roots (aw’naw), Cinemechanica, Pegasuses-XL, Ruby Isle, Casper & The Cookies, The Buddy System, We Versus The Shark, Madeline, and tons of other bands. Wristbands for the entire event are only $16! That’s cheap as shit, y’all. (You can find information on wristbands, lodging, and more on bands playing, at that first AthFest link, baby.)
- K Records patriot Karl Blau will be going on tour in Europe this summer. Karl is currently at Primavera Sound in Barcelona and will continue hitting up festivals and select dates with Ariel Pink throughout June and parts of August. Other European dates are will be added soon.
L8R.
Tone Loc Rushed to a Hospital After Passing-out Funky-Cold at Hot Outdoor Concert in (Where Else?) Florida
In what must be the biggest bummer since Sheena turning out to be a man back in ’89, Rapper Tone Loc (a.k.a. the best part of 1994’s critically acclaimed Blank Check) reportedly collapsed and passed-out after performing at an outdoor concert in Florida today. Capt’n Fun Beach Club, a delightful-sounding open-air club on the Portofino Boardwalk of Pensacola Beach, FL, is, apparently, subject to some funky-hot weather conditions, which included temperatures in the low 80s and humidity of about 87% (not unusual for this time of year), according to weather reports. Based on a visual estimate, the club was filled to about two-thirds of its capacity at the time of the performance. Nothing like getting drunk in the morning, is there, Florida?
But instead of cold-coolin’ by the bar like he’s used to, a spokesman for the Escambia County Sheriff's Department said it appeared that Tone Loc collapsed and possibly had a seizure. Or, as TMZ eloquently put it, “moments after complaining about the heat and humidity, the ‘Wild Thing’ singer suddenly went down so hard -- he busted open his elbow and bled all over his shirt.” That’s poetry, ladies and gentlemen.
Anyway, fans and medical personnel sprung into action, and my man Tone was then rushed to the Hospital. There is no official word yet about his condition. But in solidarity, I think we should all watch some of his finest and most-criminally neglected work together. Let the internet resound the funky sound of... that iguana from Ferngully.
Stay up, Tone!
Two-Thirds of One-Fifth of The Strokes Tour! Er, I mean, Little Joy to Hit the Road This Summer Sans Fab!
Hey, so-so news, everyone! Little Joy, a.k.a. “that Strokes off-shoot band that’s not quite as solid as Albert Hammond, Jr.’s thing but not as much of a whole-assed trainwreck as Nickeleye,” is hitting the middle-of-the-road this June for a medium-sized tour of decent-enough U.S. venues!
You may halfway remember that, back in early 2008, Strokes drum machine Fabrizio Morretti joined up with collaborators Rodrigo Amarante and Binki Shapiro in Los Angeles to record what would become Little Joy's mostly okay self-titled debut album (TMT Review), which was released last November by Rough Trade to more-positive-than-not response.
Now, two-thirds of the tepid trio, Rodrigo (vocals and guitar) and Binki (vocals, keys), will set out to spread the little joy of Little Joy without Fab (though concert-goers shouldn't be surprised if ol' boy pops in to make an occasional handsome appearance on stage), as he will for the most part be occupied with, you know, being the click track for the rest of The Strokes.
Luckily, all of these bands sound pretty much the same at the end of the day (oh, come on, they do, its okay), so Rodrigo and Binki will fill out the lineup with Todd Dahlhoff and Matt Borg from The Dead Trees (on bass and guitar, respectively), Matt Romano from Albert Hammond, Jr.'s band (drums) and Jack Dishel from Only Son (guitar, backing vocals). And you know what? They’ll probably do a capable job. More dates to come.
Little Joy C+ Tour:
06.02.09 - Santa Barbara, CA - Club Soho
06.03.09 - San Francisco, CA - Independent
06.04.09 - Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar
06.05.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
06.08.09 - Austin, TX - The Independent
06.09.09 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada
06.10.09 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Studio
06.12.09 - Atlanta, GA - Smith's Olde Bar
06.13.09 - Birmingham, AL - The Nick
06.14.09 - Newport, KY - Southgate House
06.15.09 - Chicago, IL - Double Door
06.17.09 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre *
06.19.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Khyber Pass
06.20.09 - Boston, MA - Cafe 939
06.21.09 - Fairfield, CT - Stage One
06.23.09 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
* Regina Spektor
Different Hoax for Different Folks: Carla Bozulich Brings Evangelista and Bloody Claws to Europe, Finishes New Evangelista Album, Prince Of Truth
There are two things I know for sure:
1. “Palin Bags a Bigfoot!”
2. Carla Bozulich will tour Europe under two guises -- her renowned Evangelista combo (for one date) and an improv-based noise/sound duo with cellist Francesco Guerri called Bloody Claws (for the rest).
The first is too fantastical to be false, and the second would hurt too much if not true. Whatever the fate of the mighty Sasquatch, it is with certainty that Ms. Bozulich will embark on yet another innovative musical spree covering towns in Scotland and England, then Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, and France with Guerri in tow (including the Evangelista show lineup).
More European dates will be announced in due time, but we can tell you that a couple of other gigs have been booked in August; one in Meaford, Ontario at the Electric Eclectics Festival and a special date as part of the “A Century of Sound” series at the RuhrTriennale Festival near Dusseldorf, Germany. This show will see Bozulich take the stage with, among others, Marianne Faithfull and Marc Ribot.
And most excitingly, the new Evangelista album, Prince Of Truth, has been recorded and is awaiting release by Constellation in September. Details coming soon. I think I just jizzed my pantaloons.
Bloody dates!
05.29.09 - Stirling, Scotland - Le Weekend Festival #
05.31.09 - London, England - The Old Blue Last $
06.03.09 - Brussels, Belgium - Botanique *
06.04.09 - Cologne, Germany - Kulturbunker $
06.05.09 - Krefeld, Germany - Kulturrampe $
06.06.09 - Vienna, Austria - Arena $
06.07.09 - Graz, Austria - Absolutely Free Project $
06.09.09 - Berlin, Germany - The West Germany Club $
06.11.09 - Genoa, Italy - TBA $
06.12.09 - Rome, Italy - Teatro Ruskaja dell’Academia Nazionale di Danza %
06.13.09 - Torino, Italy - Sapzio 211 $
06.14.09 - Soliera, Italy - Arti Vive Festival $
06.21.09 - Napoli, Italy - Toro Farnese, National Archeological Museum $
06.26.09 - Paris, France - Instants Chavirés $
# as Evangelista (Tara Barnes, Dominic Cramp, Steve Nobel, Bozulich, and Guerri)
$ as Bloody Claws (Bozulich and Guerri)
* as Bloody Claws, with Marissa Nadler
% as Bloody Claws, with Electric Leak (Giovanni Falvo, Christian Ferlaino, Alberto Fiori, and Guerri)
The Paper Chase Announce Tour, New Disaster-Themed LP, Topic Provides Too Much Fodder for a Focused Headline
I don't know, man. The new Paper Chase album Someday This Could All Be Yours (Part 1), released this week on Kill Rock Stars, is probably good, but what about that tracklisting? "The Extinction," "The Blizzard," "The Mass Hysteria"? I mean, John Congleton's production on the new St. Vincent album is decent. Super, even. But I really can't read about disasters without thinking of the Armageddons and Twisters and Outbreaks or a photo shoot for America's Next Top Model. My brain just overloads with jokes, like it does when I hear the words "Laserdisc" and "GeoCities."
Also, there will be a (Part Two) next year, equally disaster-themed. This is where I cop out.
Someday This Could All Be Yours (Part 1) tracklist:
1. If Nobody Moves Nobody Will Get Hurt (The Extinction)
2. I'm Going to Heaven With or Without You (The Forest Fire)
3. The Common Cold (The Epidemic)
4. The Laying of Hands The Speaking in Tongues (The Mass Hysteria)
5. Your Money or Your Life (The Comet)
6. What Should We Do With Your Body? (The Lightning)
7. This Is a Rape (The Flood)
8. The Small of Your Back The Nape of Your Neck (The Blizzard)
9. This Is Only a Test (The Tornado)
10. We Have Ways to Make You Talk (The Human Condition)
The tourdates:
06.18.09 - Houston, TX - Walter's on Washington
06.19.09 - Hattiesburg, MI - Thirsty Hippo
06.20.09 - Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn
06.21.09 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
06.22.09 - Washington DC - DC9
06.23.09 - Pittsburgh, PA - Brillobox
06.24.09 - Philadelphia, PA - M Room
06.25.09 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
06.26.09 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
06.27.09 - Providence, RI - AS220
06.28.09 - Montreal, QC - II Motore
06.29.09 - Toronto, ON - The Drake
07.01.09 - Lansing, MI - Mac's Bar
07.02.09 - Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club
07.03.09 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
07.04.09 - Dubuque, IA - The Busted Lift
07.05.09 - St. Louis, MI - Firebird
