Epic Ditch/Natural Child
April 21, 2011
How did it get to be Thursday so fast? Sorry for the lack of posts this week.
Call it a supergroup if you want, but don’t attach the stigma of other failed supergroups to Epic Ditch, the new band from Superdrag’s John Davis. He’s recruited Knoxville-turned-L.A.-turned-Nashville producer Nick Rasculinecz, former Slack and Har Mar Superstar drummer Nick Slack, and Knoxville musician Stewart Pack to round out the lineup. They’ve yet to play a live show, but they have an EP up on Bandcamp for a measly $5, and I recommend checking it out. If you were a Superdrag fan, or a fan of any 90’s power pop or skater punk, it would be hard not to like this stuff. Very straightforward, intense, punch-in-the-face rock that will have you waxing nostalgic on most anything you listened to in your high school years. If you’re my age, and a dude, because this is pretty dude-tastic rock and roll.
After a run of several 7″ singles, Natural Child is finally releasing their debut LP 1971 through Infinity Cat Records. Their brand of greasy, dirty, and sometimes raucous stoner-rock hits the spot. Exile on Main St. hangs blatantly from their sleeves, yet they never get too derivative. But don’t take my non-professional music blogger opinion- check out what Patrick Rodgers, the Scene’s new music editor, had to say about it on the Cream. You can also snag the track “Hard Workin’ Man” there. Speaking of tracks, another one from the record, “Yer Birthday,” can be found on both Nashville’s Dead and RCRD LBL. That’s right- our local boys got some major non-local love. Good job, fellas.
If you haven’t heard yet, R.I.P. Gerard Smith, former bassist of TV on the Radio.
Nashville is going to be one gigantic orgy of awesomeness this weekend. Between Record Store Day happenings, Vanderbilt’s Rites of Spring festival, and other good “normal” shows, you can’t possibly be disappointed with your choices of entertainment.
RECORD STORE DAY:
First of all, I won’t even attempt to give a rundown of all the Record Store Day shenanigans when the hard-blogging dudes and gals at the Cream have done such a fine job themselves. But I will say that probably the pinnacle of the whole thing is the once-inside-now-moved-outside Jerry Lee Lewis show at Third Man Records. I think roughly 650-ish tickets were sold, counting the additional 300 that were released when the show was moved outside, but they are long-since sold out. Since the show is outside, I’m sure you could stand anywhere within a block of TMR and hear it.
RITES OF SPRING:
Both days have some worthwhile acts, and tickets are still available. Some acts of interest:
RITES FRIDAY:
Futurebirds- 4:45pm, Public Enemy- 9:10pm, and The National- 10:40pm
RITES SATURDAY:
Madi Diaz- 6:25pm, The Features- 7:15pm, Matt & Kim- 8:15pm, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros- 9:45pm, Kid Cudi- 11:15pm
“NORMAL” SHOWS OF INTEREST:
FRIDAY:
The Mattoid w/ Lone Official and Denny & The Jets @ Springwater. 10pm, 21+, $5. One of many of The Mattoid’s farewell shows this week.
SATURDAY:
The Greenhornes w/ PUJOL and Hacienda @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm, 18+, $12 adv/$14 dos
Hunx & His Punx w/ Shannon & The Clams, JEFF the Brotherhood, and Heavy Cream @ The End. 9pm, $6
SUNDAY:
Personal & the Pizzas, Useless Eaters, Barreracudas, and Cy Barkley & The Way Outsiders @ Glen Danzig’s House. 7pm $5
Finally, I have to post this amazingly satisfying video of Republican former Governor of Florida Charlie Crist apologizing to David Byrne for illegally using a Talking Heads song in a campaign ad during his run for a seat in the US Senate in 2010. Byrne sued, won, and part of the settlement was that Crist had to publicly apologize to Byrne on camera. (Via Steregum)
Have a blast this weekend and buy lots of records!
Weekend shows/other music tidbits
April 8, 2011
Sorry posting has been scarce this week. I’m effin’ BUSY.
A quick show rundown for what’s cool this weekend show-wise:
FRIDAY:
“Night of the living cover bands” TNTRC benefit ft. Protomen as Queen, A Secret Policeman’s Ball as Hall & Oates, Hanzelle as Outkast, and TNTRC Team Awesome as Blondie. Minimum $6 donation. 9pm, 21+. Seriously, this is gonna rule. I mean, Hall & Oates? Protomen doing Queen? This is gonna rule your life tonight. I’ll be there. And it’s pretty much the best local cause you could possibly support.
This might seem like an odd thing for me to plug, but I highly recommend Tortured Soul w/ Mindub at 12th & Porter. Waaaay back when I was part of MTSU’s Student Programming Committee, we brought Tortured Soul to play in the KUC Theater. Granted, that tiny stage and small theater style setting was an odd place for a band to play, and the show wasn’t that well attended mainly for that reason, but I did see them play and was impressed. They basically do house music, but as a live band. It’s very smooth, funky, and highly danceable without being overly jammy. And you should know about Mindub.
SATURDAY:
Destroyer w/ War On Drugs @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $12 adv/$15 DOS.
Tour de Fun in Murfreesboro: an all-day bike rally/house show extravanganza. There are literally 40+ bands playing at various houses and other DIY venues. Some highlights: Hanzelle, We Were the States, Famn Damn. A pretty cool idea, in it’s second year of existence. Check the link above to the Scene Critic’s Pick for more details.
Some other tidbits that need mentioning:
- We Own This Town has brought back their video performance series. The first one is D. Watusi, the new-ish project from former Kindergarten Circus frontman Dillon Watson. WOTT helmsman Doug Lehman, along with the help of Andy Snyder and Jeremy Ferguson, brought back the series, and I look forward to seeing who they bring through in the future. Since the self-proclaimed hiatus of the Lake Fever Sessions, there’s been a need for someone to step in and fill the void. Watch D. Watusi perform “High School Baby” and “Summer Nights.” BONUS- D. Watusi-Summer Nights MP3
- As the A.V. Club reports, Ben Folds, Amanda Palmer, Damian Kulash, and Neil Gaiman are participating in an ambitious project as part of the Rethink Music Conference. They’re going to write 8 songs in 8 hours, record them in a marathon session, release them through Bandcamp, and perform them at a show the next day. Oh, and the songs will be based on topics sent to them through twitter. I think this is fascinating idea, and it’ll be interesting to hear the results.
Have a great weekend!
Weekend shows/thoughts on LCD Soundsystem
April 1, 2011
First up- the rundown of some good shows/activities for the weekend in Nashville:
FRIDAY:
Sebadoh w/ Richard Buckner @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $15. I’ll be there taking pics.
D. Watusi 7″ release show w/ Diarrhea Planet & Fox Fun @ Glen Danzig’s House. 7pm $5
White Denim/Hans Condor @ Third Man Records. Tix no longer available. According the TMR website, this will be a 21+ show (due to alcohol being served) and doors are at 8pm, unlike most other TMR shows.
SATURDAY:
Spoken Nerd, the Billy Goats, Quiet Entertainer, Get Got, Manchild @ the 5 Spot. 9pm $5. This has to be the first time I’ve seen hip hop happening at the 5 Spot…
Pancakes & Booze Art show @ Open Lot. This is actually night 2 of the event (it’s also Friday night), but as far as I can tell only this night features live music? Said live music will come from Hanzelle and Auto Defiance. Both nights are 8pm-2am, 21+, have a $5 cover, cash bar, and freeze pancake bar. Open Lot is at 29 Hermitage Ave in East Nashville.(Via Dixie Downturn)
SUNDAY:
Loud Love: A Save WRVU benefit featuring R. Stevie Moore, Diarrhea Planet, Evan P. Donohue, Black Patch, Gnarwhal, and Flesh Vehicle. At the Muse, 7pm, all ages. $5 minimum donation. Yeah, it’s at the Muse, but it’s a killer lineup and a good cause.
At this point I must direct you toward the hilarious time-machine April Fool’s joke that the Scene music writers came up with on the Cream. Makes me feel all nostalgic inside…
An open letter from A. V. Club music critic Steven Hyden to LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy got me thinking this morning. I would argue that LCD Soundsystem, if things go as currently planned, is world’s best executed band/musical project. At least in realm of pop music. They’re by no means the greatest band, but I’d say the most perfectly executed band. The main reason for this is that Murphy is smart enough to know when to stop. Nothing lives forever. Everything has its peak, its high point. LCD Soundsystem has reached that, so why not go out on the highest possible note? End it with a bang. That’s exactly what Murphy is doing, and he is a fucking genius because of it. I whole-heartedly agree with Mr. Hyden’s sentiments about the career of LCD Soundsystem, so just go read the letter. I just wanted to add my thoughts about why ending it now is the best possible thing they could do. Thank heaven I got to see them at Bonnaroo last year, because I didn’t catch their only Nashville appearance (to my knowledge) at the Exit/In in ’05. (or was ’06?) Well done, Mr. Murphy. I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of you.
Have a great weekend.
Remember Grand Palace records in Murfreesboro? While Chuck and Bingham have kept the screen printing business going full steam-ahead, and Alex Norfleet kept the recording studio up and running, the record store, venue and label have all gone somewhat dormant. As a matter of fact, (most locals know by now) the whole operation is moving out of the charming old building on the square that’s been its home for the past 6 or so years. Word is they’re moving to Nashville, but that’s as much as I know.
The point of all this is that Rod from the awesome Boro-based band Bows and Arrows is working with some friends to revive the label portion and has some new releases planned for this year under the GP moniker. Leading up to it, his own band is releasing a series of free digital 7″‘s. Here’s the news straight from the horse’s mouth:
Us and Grand Palace Records have a bunch of really exciting physical releases planned for most of the year, and to lead up to them Bows and Arrows will be releasing a Digital 7″ every week and they will all be downloadable for free on our bandcamp page at the bottom of the email. This first Digital 7″ consists of two covers, “Leave Me Be” by The Zombies and “All I Wanna Do” by The Beach Boys. They were each recorded in a couple hours in the house our debut album is named after, 1010 Eaton Street. Side B features our roomates on vocals, electric guitar and bells. Future Digital 7″ releases will include more covers, demo versions of songs, brand new songs and collaborations with other artists among other things.
So do yourself a favor and go grab the new digital 7″ from their bandcamp, and keep an eye on all things Grand Palace. They’re back.
Post-SXSW laziness/photos
March 23, 2011
As predicted, I haven’t felt like blogging about much of anything these past few days post-SXSW. That festival/conference is literally one of the most draining things I’ve ever experienced. It takes me a good week to feel like going out or seeing shows again. That being said, I did have a blast and took a lot of photos for both the Nashville Scene and LEO Weekly. Check those out here and here, respectively. We also stayed at the same awesome little house that we’ve had the past 2 years, in the Travis Heights area just south of downtown. The laws regarding odd pets are pretty lax in Austin, and the dude who owns the house takes advantage of it. The first year he had a few chickens in the back, which was interesting enough. Last year he had nothing. But this year, he had chickens and GOATS. I believe he said they are Norwegian pygmy goats. Behold:
Also of interest- photographer Ryan Muir took some interest on-the-spot portraits of various bands at SXSW this year, all of which can be seen on Stereogum.
No posts for a few days: I’m gonna be at SXSW
March 15, 2011
It’s that time of year again. It’s time for my 3rd annual trip to SXSW in Austin, TX, so posting will mostly likely not resume until next tuesday or wednesday, depending on how exhausted I am afterward. Please do keep an eye on the Nashville Cream as my photos and my fellow-Creamers’ stories from our adventures will be posted daily.
Good shows this weekend in Nashville
March 11, 2011
Wow, this weekend has a lot to offer in the way of good music to see. That’s partially because a lot of bands are gearing up to head to Austin next week for SXSW, but hey, we’ll take it. Here’s a quick rundown:
FRIDAY:
The Non-Commissioned Officers album release show w/ Cortney Tidwell and Kyle Andrews @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm $12 to get CD, $7 w/out CD. Stream their entire new album on their facebook page.
JEFF the Brotherhood w/ King Tuff and Diarrhea Planet @ The Other Basement. $5 all ages, 8pm. For a free King Tuff mp3, check out Nashville’s Dead.
The Clutters, Slick, Dirtbot, the Black Faces @ the 5 Spot, 9pm $5.
SATURDAY:
Duh. Come to La Paz for La Paz Late Night presents: ROBO BOOGIE. As I said yesterday, it’s $2 w/ robot outfit, $3 w/out, and Potamus, Vitalic Noise & I will be spinning 80s and other robo-tastic jams all night.
Those Darlins, Denny & The Jets, D. Watusi @ the Basement. *YOU MUST PRE-ORDER THOSE DARLINS’ NEW ALBUM SCREWS GET LOOSE THROUGH GRIMEY’S TO GET INTO THIS SHOW!*
Space Capone w/ Floorwalkers @ Mercy Lounge. 9pm, $10
A few other news tidbits in the music world:
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart now have their Flood-produced, Smashing Pumpkins-esque new album Belong streaming at their website. I haven’t listened to it yet as I’m glued to the news at the moment, but I’m cautiously optimistic.
Tristen’s video for the song “Baby Drugs” debuted on Rolling Stone yesterday. Seriously, go watch it. (Via Nashville Cream)
La Paz Late Night presents: ROBO BOOGIE
March 10, 2011
This Saturday Vitalic Noise, Potamus and I have cooked up another amazing party for you at La Paz. ROBO BOOGIE is going to be extremely 80s and extremely robo-tastic. It’ll cost you only $2 at the door if you come in some sort of robot attire, and $3 without. Seriously, just wear some silver lame or spandex, or an aluminum foil hat and we’ll let you in for $2.
On top of that, we’ll have our usual cheap drink deals- $2.50 PBR tallboys, $4 margaritas, and $2 jello shots. We’ll also have some robot/80s themed mixed drinks.
I’m also compiling a playlist of 80s visuals that’ll be shown on the wall.
RSVP on our facebook event here, “like” the LPLN facebook page here, and follow us on twitter @lapazlatenight. Also don’t forget that my new, 80s-tinged mix for spring 2011 is now up and available to download:
Seriously, this will be every bit as fun as our 90’s night was last month, so whether you’re with us all night or you make us your official afterparty, a good time will be had!
Burgers: Spring 2011 Mixxxx
March 7, 2011
I decided to release my spring mix a little early, mainly to coincide with this weekend’s 80’s/robot themed La Paz Late Night– ROBO BOOGIE. Plus, we can all agree that spring could use a little encouragement to get the fuck HERE. This mix has a deliberate 80s tinge, for obvious reasons. Enjoy/download:
Tracklist:
Gabriell-Giovanotty
Golden Bug/Rodion ft. Lavina Claws-Washing Machine (Bottin’s Spin Cycle)
Breakbot-Shades of Black
Talking Heads-Girlfriend is Better (Bit Funk Edit)
Jensen Sportag-Everything Good
The Human League-Never Let Me Go (Aeroplane RMX)
Chilly Gonzales-You Can Dance (Robotaki RMX)
Cassian-Getting High
Tyson-Die on the Dancefloor (Mickey RMX)
Yelle-Safari Disco Club (HLM RMX)
steve cross loves music and science 