This Saturday- La Paz Late Night Presents: Tacky Holidisco
December 2, 2010
Remember last fall/winter when you could go to La Paz (now in Ombi Bar’s old digs on Elliston) and dance the night away with DJ Potamus and friends every Friday? Yeah, it was called La Paz Late Night, and though the former owner put the brakes on it after a few months, the new owner is all about some dance parties, so Potamus and I have brought LPLN back from the grave! We’re gonna be doing it on the monthly instead of the weekly, and the first party of the new era is THIS SATURDAY: Tacky Holidisco. We’ve enlisted the help of DJ collective/blog/party promoters Vitalic Noise as well, and between the three of us it should be a party to remember, every month. We’ll be spinning a smooth mix of classic disco, nu disco, french house, and electro. We also have some irresistible drink deals- $2.50 PBRs, $4 Margaritas, and a round of $2 jello shots at midnight. We will also have a special prize for the tackiest holiday get-up. As always, dark corner makeout sessions are encouraged. What more could you ask for on a Saturday night? Here’s the skinny, in case you didn’t feel like actually reading all that:
La Paz Late Night Presents: Tacky Holidisco
THIS SATURDAY DEC 4th at La Paz Mexican Restaurant: 2214 Elliston Pl.
FREE 10-11pm, $3 after 11, ages 21+ only
$2.50 PBRs/$4 margaritas/$2 jello shots at midnight
Disco/house/electro by DJs Potamus, Burgers, and Vitalic Noise
For a sample of what you’ll hear, check out my latest mixtape BURGERS Fall 2010 MIXXXX below, or tune into 91.1 WRVU tonight from 6-8pm, as I’ll be performing a mini-mix on Sam & Kelly Patton’s awesome show Penguin Parade.
And The Relatives: Green Machinery
December 1, 2010
And The Relatives just released their first full-length album Green Machinery via Theory 8 and YK Records. I’m no professional music critic by any means, so I’ll keep it short. Get this album. The band put a lot of time and effort into this record and it shows. I must disclose that these guys are friends of mine, but again, I don’t claim to be a professional music critic. ATR’s style has always been heavily influenced by early/mid 90s indie rock, and they wear that on their sleeve. This album is anything but derivative, however. They somehow manage to inject a sense of freshness in the songs that keeps them from feeling stale. You’ll hear a little Guided By Voices, a little Built to Spill, and plenty of clever guitar riffage. Top it all with Andrew Brassel’s mellow yet rough-edged voice and just the right dose of production and you have yourself a quality album. Production-wise it’s pretty much spot-on. It was recorded at bassist Eli Beaird’s home studio, and the sounds achieved perfectly match the songs. The artwork is worth noting as well- Micheal Eades, Kyle Scudder, and BOSS Construct did a great job on the packaging, and it’s well worth it to buy the limited edition vinyl to get the full effect. If you’re short on cash, have no fear though- you can pay as little or as much as you want for the digital version at their bandcamp. The standout track on the album is easily “Hammer Down,” and you can check out the video for it below.
My birthday 8 off 8th- grunge style tonight
November 22, 2010
So I had PRK (laser eye surgery) last thurs., thus I’ve been waaay out of my normal routine for the past 4 days. So this post is rather pointless this late in the day, but regardless, if you’re a Nashvillian who happens to read this in the next few hours (it’s 6:15pm as I type), I do encourage you to come down to Mercy Lounge tonight to help me celebrate/kick off my last year of being a 20-something. I’ve recruited some fine Nashville bands to cover songs from that epic sub-genre of the late 80’s/early 90’s known as GRUNGE. Bad Press had to drop off the bill due to illness and a host of other mishaps have shown me that the Gods 0f Rock are frowning upon this evening of nostalgia. However, my will shall not be broken, and a good time will be had by all. Best of all, THERE WILL BE FREE CAKE.
Powerbrrrd show tonight/William Tyler album/MAVS remix contest
November 16, 2010
Wow, there’s a lot of good stuff to report today.
First of all, let me say that this morning sucked. Quite frankly this started out as a bad day. But I found out that local guitar wizard William Tyler (who’s played with Silver Jews, Lambchop, and most recently KORT) has a new solo album out, and it’s streaming on NPR. I had no idea what to expect, but I started playing some tracks and my day immediately improved. The album is mostly instrumental acoustic guitar compositions with roomy, spacey samples and horn parts washed in here and there. A few tracks feature ambient sound effects with distant druid-like chants. It was one of those times where just the right thing happens to come along to set you back in sync. Good job Willy T!
Now for a brief moment of self-promotion. My band Powerbrrrd is playing a free show at the Exit/In tonight, along with Nite Nite, The Grayces, Little Viking, and Frank the Fuck Out. A good time is guranteed. We had a 4th Brrrd in line to make his debut tonight, but unfortunately he inured his wing and won’t be able to rock with for a few more weeks.
One more brief moment of self-promotion. Saturday I turn 29. To kick off my last year of being a coveted twenty-something, I’m hosting an 8 off 8th at Mercy Lounge next Monday, and it’s a grunge cover night. Yes, break out your flannel, ripped jeans, and chucks- it’s time to get filthy. The lineup is Eliza the Arrow (former members of Forget Cassettes), Foxcore (members of Take the Power Back), Anchor Thieves, Powerbrrrd, Sweet Tempers, Kelly Kerr, and Bad Press (Nashville Cream staff). There will also be FREE CAKE.
If you’re a music maker of the electronic type, or just a DJ who dabbles in production, you should head over to Makeup & Vanity Set’s website where can download stems for an official remix contest he’s hosting. The track being remixed is “Charles Park” off of Charles Park II. I really look forward to hearing some of these remixes, and tackling the remix myself. Whether I can come up with anything noteworthy remains to be seen, as my time is stretched thin…
Finally, I must warn that my posting may be limited to non-existent past today. Something blog-worthy may pop up tomorrow, but Thursday I’ll be having PRK eye surgery, and unfortunately there is a bit of recovery time involved, during which I may have be doped up on pain meds while my corneas heal. Most of you haven’t a clue how severely near-sighted I am, but suffice it to say that even though this surgery will only reduce my corrective prescription, that alone will be well worth it.
Slow weekend/Caitlin Rose’s album gets U.S. release date
November 12, 2010
Before we get to the sparse show listings for this weekend, here’s some long-awaited local music news:
Caitlin Rose’s debut album Own Side Now will finally see a US release on March 15 of next year. People state-side have been wondering and waiting for news as to the US release, since it’s been out in the UK and Europe for several months now. The release will be followed-up by what should be a pretty extensive US tour in the spring/summer months. Good news indeed, for a truly great album.
Wow. It’s a slow weekend in Nashville, rock show-wise. I honestly have nothing for you tonight. Nada.
TONIGHT:
I almost forgot about Black Mountain/Black Angels tonight at Mercy Lounge. But personally they are too jammy for my taste. So… meh.
Wooops. That show was actually last (Thursday) night.
SATURDAY:
Mashville ft. DJs Wick-It, Bitch Please, Mike Vulcan, and Bateman @ The End. 9pm $5
SUNDAY:
Codaphonic, Listen Like Thieves, Kat Jones, and StereoPhidelics @ the 5 Spot, 9pm $5
I must also mention that my band POWERBRRRD will be playing a Rock the Block at the Exit/In on Tuesday, along with Nite Nite, The Grayces, Frank the Fuck Out, and Little Viking. POWERBRRRD will be debuting our new 4-piece lineup, so make of that what you will.
Yeah! Have a good weekend!
If Harry Underwood’s art came to life…
November 8, 2010
This is probably what it would look like:
(Via Yewknee’d)
If you don’t know who Harry Underwood is, you need to learn. Thank me later.
In other news, the latest We Own This Town podcast is out and it contains some tasty new treats from Nashville artists both new and old such as Jasmin Kaset, Fly Golden Eagle, Tristen, and Relax With Fiction.
Tex vs. Basil Marceaux dot com/weekend shows
November 5, 2010
First off, here’s what I think is good this weekend:
FRIDAY:
The Features, Tristen, Bows & Arrows @ 12th & Porter. 9pm. I swear I read somewhere that this is some kind of benefit show, but I can’t find any evidence of that now. Regardless this is an AMAZING lineup. I need not say a word about the Features- we all know they rule the universe. Tristen has gotten better and better every time I’ve seen her the past 3 years, and just when I think she couldn’t possibly be better, she is. Speaking of getting better- Bows & Arrows are now totally awesome as well. (Not that they weren’t before, but now they’re really awesome.) I saw them last Sat. night at Grand Palace in M’boro and they totally blew me away. They’ve got a batch of new songs and have been slowly chipping away at a debut full-length with Alex at GP’s recording studio.
OK Go, Those Darlins, Samuel @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm, $15. I’ve not a clue about Samuel, but I can promise you’ll hear almost all new material from Those Darlins (which I deemed fantastic while I was on tour w/ them for a week), and a fun, crowd-participatory experience from OK Go. I saw most of their set at Bonnaroo this past summer and while the last album or two hasn’t impressed me, they did put on a helluva live show.
SATURDAY:
Milktooth, XPIA, the Zut Alors, and Flashbulb Fires @ the 5 Spot. 9pm, $5.
Turbo Fruits, Big Surr, Deadbeat Beat, D. Watusi, Reid Magette @ Glen Danzig’s House, 7pm, $5.
SUNDAY:
Fang Island, Delicate Steve, Sleeper Agent, and Bad Cop @ The End. $10, 9pm.
And now here’s some footage of the one and only Tex Rambunctious interviewing the one and only Basil Marceaux dot com:
(Via Nashville Cream)
Halloween weekend rundown
October 29, 2010
Image via tenthousandknives
By now you’ve probably already pinned down your Halloween plans, but I’ll list off a few things going down this weekend just in case there’s a day that you haven’t quite figure out yet.
FRIDAY:
Freaky Friday Halloween Party at Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom. Featuring a total nostalgia-gasm of Guilty Pleasures + My So-Called Band in the Cannery and Yacht Rock Revue + Glam Hammer in Mercy Lounge. If I were going, I’d stay upstairs not because of the bands, but because we all know Guilty Pleasures + Halloween = lots of cougars dressing up as a “sexy _____” and exposing things that no cougar should ever expose. It’s 21+ and $15 gets you a wristband with access to both venues.
Clem Snide & Mountain Man are at the Basement. 21+ $8 9pm
SATURDAY:
Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom host their annual “Nightmare In Music City” party. Cannery Ballroom will be transformed into a giant dance party, Mercy will be an exclusive VIP area, and there will be a huge heated tent outside in the parking lot with more DJs and dancing. $15 GA, $50 VIP.
Mai and 12th & Porter present the 2nd annual “Haunted Valley” block party featuring DJ sets and performances by Ying Yang Twins, Chancellor Warhol, Majestico, Coach, Potamus, Brandon Wahl, Space Capone, Luna Halo, Rod Youree, Cal Ecker, Hands off Sam, and Slow Motion Centerfold. Not sure who’s playing in which venue, but GA tix are $25.
Ra Ra Riot, Villagers, and Givers are at Exit/In. 9pm $15.
There also may or may not be a secret show happening at a secret location that’s about a 40 minute drive down I-24. This secret location may or may not have a very strict capacity limit due to past events. The headlining band may or may not have been recording their debut album in this same secret location over the past few months.
SUNDAY:
Girl Talk at Mai. Outdoor party, rain or shine. Starts at 7pm!
That’s all I got. Have a good Halloween and keep it classy.
Makeup and Vanity Set releases Charles Park II today
October 26, 2010
“Forged with the blood of druid magic.” That’s how Makeup & Vanity Set describes the creation of his latest album, Charles Park II. This album is unabashedly intended for Halloween, just as Charles Park was 2 or 3 years ago (my memory fails me). Because I’m not a professional writer, and I lack the ability to string these thoughts into a coherent paragraph, I’m simply going to list some things that come to mind while listening to Charles Park II.
- A synthesizer turns into a robot monster, transformer-style, the keys becoming its fangs. It then crashes out of its owner’s room in Tokyo, Japan, killing everyone and turning it into a vast wasteland.
- Tom Selleck
- MacGyver
Basically, this record sounds a lot like the music during the chase/attack scenes of any 80’s futuristic b-movie horror flick. This what the soundtrack to Tron might’ve sounded like if it were re-imagined as a horror film. Buy it, then throw it in a boombox and carry it around on your shoulder blasting as you trick or treat this weekend. You will automatically be 10x cooler and you will get laid.
Makeup & Vanity Set-One Last Stand
Buy it at the MAVS bandcamp for just $5. He’s also included a special bonus- buy the original Charles Park for only $2.
Hipster Runoff makes fun of Caitlin Rose’s NME mention
October 21, 2010
Ok, first of all, let’s be really proud of Nashville’s own Caitlin Rose, who got a spot on NME’s “The Cool List 2010.” Granted, she’s way down at #73, but that’s 2 spots above Rivers Cuomo, who came in dead last! So, way to go, Caitlin! It’s safe to say you’re officially a star in the UK. But sadly the way I found out about this was through my Hipster Runoff RSS feed. In this post from yesterday afternoon he makes fun of the NME cool list and describes Caitlin as “sounds like a girl who sad behind u in Algebra class who got preggers by senior year.” At first glance it’s a little insulting, but seriously, this is Hipster Runoff we’re talking about here. It’s kind of an honor to be made fun of by Carles. And if you take anything on that blog seriously you’re missing the point altogether. ❤ U Caitlin. U rule forevs.
steve cross loves music and science 