Back in May I formed a Weezer cover band to play at a benefit show for the Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp. Mikey Owen, Jesse Baker, Laura Taylor and I had so much fun doing it that we decided to keep doing it. Thus, we decided to call it Cio Cio San & The Half-Japanese Girls, and we have our first show since the SGRRC benefit tonight at Melrose Billiards. We’ve expanded our setlist to include 11 Weezer classics from the Blue Album, Pinkerton, and a few B-sides & rarities from that era. Let’s just face it- very little that Weezer has done since 1997 is worth a shit, so we don’t even bother with it. Our friend Clint Wilson (of Frank the Fuck Out) has a new band called Dead Legs, and they’ll be opening for us. Jesse mentioned a third band that will be playing after us, but their name escapes me. (Sorry other band, if you’re reading this.)
So come out tonight and enjoy some nostalgia. Starts at 9:30pm, it’s FREE to get in, and you gotta be 21.
Closet Case Vintage fall/winter 2011 lookbook
October 4, 2011
Take a gander at yet another impressive video/photo lookbook put together by Seth Graves (video) and Bradley Spitzer (photo) for my friend Carmen who runs Closet Case Vintage here in Nashville:
The whole deal with photos and all can be seen on the CCV blog. Among the models involved is the lovely Nikki Lane, who I just photographed performing at the Basement last friday for the Scene. I haven’t had a chance to check out her album yet, but her live show was quite impressive. She has a good “neo-classic” (to steal a phrase from the Spin review) country voice and a cast of Nashville indie/Americana staple players backing her up. Keep an eye and an ear on this one.
A Few Good Shows: 9/30/11, Glossary has a new record
September 30, 2011
If this promo video for Glossary‘s new album Long Live All Of Us featuring bassist Bingham Barnes bustin’ a move on the Murfreesboro square doesn’t make your day at least 100 times better, then you must not have a pulse. I feel that one might need to actually know Bingham to really grasp the hilarity of this, but if you don’t, it should still improve your life to some degree.
That being said, Glossary made a new record and it’s hitting shelves this coming Tuesday, October 4th. If you’re a local, mark your calendar for their release show October 7th at the 5 Spot.
Here’s what’s going down this weekend show-wise-
FRIDAY:
Nikki Lane album release show w/ Denny & The Jets and the Alabama Shakes @ The Basement. 9pm 21+ $7
tUnE-yArDs w/ Pat Jordache @ Exit/In. 9pm $12
Vitalic Noise presents a special edition of CRAVE/VITAL at the Wine Loft, ft. Lightsover LA, Sam & Tre, Donny West, Dark Sister, and a very special guest. 10pm, $5 cover (this is a joint Vital/Crave so the show isn’t free as usual Fridays are).
SATURDAY:
Wanda Jackson is doing an in-store signing and meet & greet at Grimey’s. 5pm
Wilco w/ Nick Lowe @ the Ryman (sold out, night 1 of 2)
Have a great weekend!
Diarrhea Planet’s Loose Jewels out/Soundland starts today
September 21, 2011
I failed miserably yesterday in that I forgot to mention that Nashville’s own laxative enthusiasts Diarrhea Planet finally released their long-overdue debut album Loose Jewels via Infinity Cat. And they did an in-store at Grimey’s, followed by a full-blown album release party last night at the End. As I was talking to the dudes they were mentioning beer spray guns and confetti. I remember Jordan saying something like, “we basically wanna tar & feather the audience, except with beer and confetti.” A very fitting theatrical addition to their show, I must say. Sadly I’m a crotchety old man with an early-ass day job so I only saw the in-store, but it was fun! I also got the record and it’s exactly what a Diarrhea Planet album should be- balls to the wall party punk anthems with massive guitarmonies and shredding all over the place. So get yourself a copy of the album and thank me later. Also, for a much more professional review of the record check out Lance Conzett’s review for the Scene. I will echo his sentiment that if you can’t get past the “ickiness” of their name not only is there no hope for you, but you’re also missing the point and you need to get laid.
Today marks the beginning of Soundland 2011– the new music festival/conference under the Next Big Nashville umbrella. If you haven’t gotten a wristband yet it’s not too late, but you’ll have to pay the $75 walk-up price. (Unless you buy online, where there’s a limited time extension of the $65 price level.) There are also individual show tickets. Check out their ticket info page for details. I’m once again working for the festival as a photographer, so I’ll be completely swamped with that for the next few days. There will be no “A Few Good Shows” this week, because it would all be Soundland stuff anyway. Till next week!
Burgers Fall 2011 Mixxxx is here
September 20, 2011
My Fall 2011 mixtape has arrived. This one’s a little longer than the last few but I had a lot of great new tracks, as well as some older gems that I recently dug up, to throw in there. I couldn’t resist the urge to kick it off with the new Sammy “Saxy” Bananas’ saxtastic remix of Chromeo’s hit “When The Night Falls.” Clearly the artwork reflects that. 😉 And dammit, just when I think I’m gonna be able to squeeze out a mixtape that doesn’t include Bit Funk, he goes and releases a masterpiece like “Rap Music.” I give up. The man can do no wrong. Also included is Viceroy’s brand-spankin’ new disco house banger “No Ending.” Enjoy:
Tracklist:
Chromeo-When The Night Falls (Sammy Saxy Bananas RMX)
Kimbra-Cameo Lover (GLOVES RMX)
Stephanie Mills-Put Your Body In It (Gigamesh RMX)
Chic-Le Freak (Le Principle Brooklyn Fire RMX)
Mustang-Shooting Love (FAT Club Mix)
Midnight Star-No Parking On The Dancefloor
Bastille-Wide Open
Makeup & Vanity Set-Charles Park (Disco Version)
Bag Raiders-Sunlight (GLOVES RMX)
Together Robots-Heaven (Death In Paris 1983 RMX)
Bit Funk-Rap Music
Viceroy-No Ending
Craze-Dance Alone (Ft. Wreckonize)
Flight Facilities-Foreign Language (Extended Mix)
A Few Good Shows: 9/16/11
September 16, 2011
Behold: the world’s largest afro.
Now for what’s going down in Nashville this weekend.
FRIDAY:
Girls, Nobunny, and Papa @ Mercy Lounge. $13 9pm (Girls are also doing an in-store show at Grimey’s at 5pm.)
Vitalic Noise presents CRAVE at the Wine Loft every Friday from 10pm-last call. FREE entry, 21+, ft. DJs Losici, Dali Drama, and a rotating cast of special guests.
SATURDAY:
Local Honey end of summer sale ft. live performances from Tristen, Action!, and Dogs of Oz. Free, Sale 11am-6pm, music at 2PM.
Earth, w/ Mount Eerie @ The End. $12 8pm.
SUNDAY:
Local Honey fall fashion rollout with runway show and music from DJ Patrick Kearney. Rollout is 12-4pm, runway show starts at 8pm.
A Few Good Shows: 9/9/11
September 9, 2011
Soundland is quickly approaching and the $55 wristband price expires TODAY at noon, so if you’ve been putting off buying one, this is your last chance to get them before the price goes up. A wristband gets you into all the shows, including M.Ward at War Memorial Auditorium, Ghostland Observatory at the Cannery, Foster the People at the 12th Ave block party stage, and everything else. Get them before it’s too late.
Now for this weekend’s goodness:
FRIDAY:
Cassino, The Silver Seas, Ryan Case @ The Basement. 9pm 21+ $7
Girls & Boys Nashville presents Classixx, Justin Faust, Crizzly, Coach and Hands Off Sam @ The Cannery. 9pm $10
And as I told you yesterday, I will be DJing alongside Dali Drama and Losici at the Wine Loft for Vitalic Noise’s new weekly party CRAVE. It’s FREE and goes from 10pm till last call.
SATURDAY:
Grimey’s presents the 12th south concert series ft. The Coolin’ System, D. Watusi, and Turkeys at Sevier Park. Starts at 6pm sharp and it’s FREE. Turkeys is the name of the supergroup featuring Jessi Darlin (of Those Darlins), Joey Scala (formerly PUJOL), Sean Thompson (formerly PUJOL), Jamin Orrall (JEFF the Brotherhood), and Luke Schneider (Cortney Tidwell). They played their debut show at Dino’s a few weeks back as a nameless band, so it’s good they finally settled on a name (and a fitting one at that).
Tetsuo w/ the 1-10’s @ Springwater. 21+ 10pm $5
SUNDAY:
Ben Swank presents Hate Life ft. the Black Belles (who backed Stephen Colbert on “Charlene II [I’m Over You]”) @ The Basement. 9pm 21+ $5
Have a great weekend!
Fridays @ the Wine Loft: Vitalic Noise presents CRAVE
September 8, 2011
Last week I blundered in failing to mention the debut of Vitalic Noise’s new weekly dance party CRAVE, happening every Friday night at the Wine Loft in the Gulch. I was there, though, and a spectacular debut it was. This is gonna be THE place to be every Friday, because 1) it’s FREE, 2) there will be a rotating cast of great DJs spinning the best disco/house/electro/funk, 3) it’s centrally located in the Gulch and goes till last call, so you can be there all night OR stop by for a little dancing after the other show you attended earlier in the evening, 4) did I mention it’s FREE?
Now that I’ve properly plugged the event itself, I will plug this Friday specifically because the DJ lineup includes yours truly. Official lineup is: Losici (Josiah Lester), Burgers (me), Dali Drama (Jenn Harbin). So come on out, have a drink, and dance with us for FREE. (There are also drink and appetizer specials.)
As a special treat, enjoy the video for Craze’s new bangin’ track “Dance Alone”:
New somewhat Earth-like exoplanet/Symphony of Science
September 5, 2011
It’s been waaaay too long since I had a good space/science post. So here are a couple of interesting things that have already been floating around the science blogs for a few days, but you may not have heard about unless you’re as big of a nerd as I am. 🙂
- We have another interesting exoplanet discovery worth talking about. It’s another super-Earth that sits within the habitable zone of its parent star- that is- liquid water could exist on its surface. At least, provided there is sufficient cloud cover. This planet, which has the fascinating title of HD 85512 b, is near the warmer edge of the habitable zone, which means there would have to be sufficient cloud cover to reflect some of the incoming radiation from its star, lest it have a runaway greenhouse effect that would make it very Venus-like (scorching hot and covered in dense, toxic clouds). This world is about 3.6 times the mass of Earth, but it was detected using the radial velocity method rather than the transit method, so we only know its mass, not its size. But if it’s a rocky world and its mass is 3.6 times that of Earth, it’s bound be a good bit bigger than Earth. Granted, we don’t know anything for sure about the atmospheric makeup of this exoplanet because we don’t have any instruments capable of detecting that yet. The radial velocity method detects planets orbiting a star by seeing the tiny gravitational wobble the planet exerts on its parent star. If we eventually aim a telescope such as Kepler at this star, and the planet transits the star, we’ll then know its approximate size and may even be able to make a better judgment on its atmospheric makeup. Until then, though, we have to rely on computer models to speculate what the air might be like. For more info see: Universe Today or National Geographic.
- You may recall Symphony of Science from back when Jack White’s Third Man Records released a 7″ vinyl single of the track “A Glorious Dawn ft. Stephen Hawking.” Phil Plait of Bad Astronomy mentioned in a post yesterday that John Boswell, creator of Symphony of Science, has put 11 tracks in a compilation on bandcamp for free (or name your own price). So go snag it now and throw the guy a few bones while you’re at it. It’s a pretty awesome idea, and I’m obviously a fan of anything that puts music and science in the same sentence.
A Few Good Shows: 9/2/11
September 2, 2011
I know I haven’t posted here in a week. Sorry y’all. Sometimes life gets in the way of a blog.
A few things to mention before the show listings…
- My longtime friend Matt Pusti has two musical identities- Makeup & Vanity Set and DAAS. He just released a new album CLE under the DAAS moniker and you should check it out on his bandcamp if you like glitchy/blippity/chill ambient experiments. It’s FREE.
- B) Remember The Explorers Club? They made a record that sounded like it could’ve been a lost Beach Boys album way back in 2008. Well they’re back and they have a new album coming out next spring called Grand Hotel, and it’s being mixed by none other than Mark Linett. They’re doing a series of EPs leading up to it, and it’s really easier if you just watch the youtube video they posted, in which they explain everything.
Now for the show listings…
FRIDAY:
Otis Redding Tribute ft. Chubby & The Dots and Judd Hall @ The Basement. 9pm $5 21+
SATURDAY:
Bad Cop, Ranch Ghost, Kingston Springs, Turtle Bangs @ Mt. Swag (2111 Gladstone Ave.) This will be my first Mt. Swag experience but I’ve it’s a pretty awesome house for shows. Starts at 8pm sharp, and costs $3.
Of Montreal, Yip Deceiver, Kishi Bashi @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $18
MONDAY: (since it’s labor day weekend y’all!)
The Basement’s Labor Day Party/Buttondown Bird announcement ft. Cortney Tidwell, William Tyler, Coupler, Derek Schartung. Cookout starts at 6pm, music at 7.
Have a great Labor Day Weekend!
steve cross loves music and science 