Beach House Head to Europe with Vetiver, Continue to Have Best Promo Shots Ever
By Liz Louche on Jun 1 2009
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
By Mango Starr on Jun 1 2009
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..."
By Couscous on Jun 1 2009
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 í 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
By Kid Midnight on Jun 1 2009
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
By Squeo on May 29 2009
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!]
