Album Review: These United States – What Lasts

What do near-death experiences, a stolen laptop, and the Keystone State have in common? The answer, friends, is the latest These United States album, heretofore known as What Lasts. The fourth TUS record (recorded in Pennsylvania, after singer Jesse Elliott’s near-drowning, the poor boy also having had his laptop stolen) is, as I’ve come to expect and look forward to from this band, a triumph. Running through the record for the first time, I awaited the start of each song with baited breath weighted down with heavy anticipation, because as you all know, TUS is most assuredly one of LET’s most pet of pet bands. And once more, they’ve proven their worth as one of the most relevant, most important bands of our time.

Turning another page in the goodness gracious great story that is the tall, tall These United States tale, Jesse Elliott and the fantastic four (aka Robby, Justin, Colin, and Tom) that have become permanent fellows of TUS exhibit nothing short of master class on What Lasts. The record itself feels more intimate, more personal than has any TUS record before it. At times it’s even rather stone cold sobering, the more winsome musical follies of, say, Crimes, a distant memory down a dusty road in the rearview mirror. What lies ahead is the wide open, big sky country sound of maturation, the sound of melancholy, and the sound of serious contemplative introspection.

But lest you think These United States has left the good jangle behind them, fret not. Songs like the splendid “The Great River” and “Water & Wheat” proudly fly that old faithful TUS jingle pop folk banner. It must be said that the bulk of What Lasts is indeed on the more serious side of the coin, though, which while initially disquieting becomes more and more appealing as the record goes on. “Life&Death She&I” is cause for both sadness and joy, regarding the subject matter and 70s-esque feel to the beat with that foxy steel, respectively. Title track “What Lasts” is music to mope to, with the haunting, shimmery steel and Elliott’s voice taking on particularly plaintive emotional tones. They often seem to tread water that greats like The Band might approve of, and that I most certainly do.

Sure, it’s the most serious These United States record to date. It made me furrow my brow just a touch. But What Lasts is a tremendously fantastic record. And hell, I’m still waiting for Jesse to put a foot wrong when it comes to his lyrics. He once more shows the kids how to write a record full of amazing songs. They’ve come such a very long way from the gate to the garden of Eden. And yet, perhaps they’ve just come full circle. When it comes to These United States, only the old devil moon really knows. And that’s the way it ought to be.

mp3: The Great River (These United States from What Lasts)

Happy Birthday, Mick

Y’all know this already, but perhaps it bears repeating that I love The Rolling Stones. Love above just about all else. To me, it doesn’t get much better than Mick & Keith, and that blanket statement applies to many things (voracious appetites for the rock lifestyle, affinity for skinny pants, unbeatable songcraft, etc.). And as such, I certainly couldn’t let the birthday of the leader of my beloved band of legends pass by unheralded.

Yes, little lads and ladettes, today is the birthday of Mister Mick Jagger, otherwise known as The Voice (or The Lips). When it comes to frontmen, there is none better than this man. Nor, possibly, will there be better. Those pouty lips, those undulating hips…his primal persona behind the mic (and probably behind closed doors, too) means that the man is and forever shall be walking sex. And let’s face it. In the realms of rock, that’s exactly how it should be.

A very hearty, lusty, and enthusiastic birthday to Mick.

mp3: Dead Flowers (Townes Van Zandt from the Big Lebowski Soundtrack)

mp3: I'm A King Bee (The Rolling Stones from England's Newest Hitmakers)

Crossing The Pond #1: dante

Yes, my little sweeties, yours truly has been known to be quite an Anglophile. And seeing as I’ve been feeling a wee bit nostalgic regarding my many wonderful months spent in bonnie Scotland, I figured now was the perfect time to launch a feature focusing on, you guessed it, bands from the United Kingdom (and Ireland).

I couldn’t ask for a better band to start things off with, given my love of those bands from north of the Borders. Dante is a band of “Edinburghers and Shetlanders who make alt folk music,” but that’s just the very vaguest of overviews of what this band does. Yes, there is indeed folk in mass quantities in their music, no doubt about it. But these wonderful souls also incorporate hearty doses of traditional Scottish music into their fine, fine songs, mostly exhibited with that fantastic fiddle. It’s a delicate balance of old and new, and it works together seamlessly, beautifully. At times you might hear shades of my beloved Idlewild, be it in the dark contemplation of the lyrics to the building walls of instrumentation present in dante’s songs. And on certain occasions, you might just think you were dancing at a traditional ceilidh somewhere in the countryside as the fiddle does cartwheels all around.

Dante is a band not to be missed, ye lords and ladies. Whet your appetite with the pair of songs below, and prepare to fall in love.

mp3: Monochrome (dante from the Monochrome EP)

mp3: This Island (dante from the Monochrome EP)

Album Review: Washed Out – Life Of Leisure EP

I’m deathly afraid of sharks (mamas, don’t let your kiddies alone with Jaws when they’re young and impressionable), which means of course that I don’t venture out into the surf much if I can help it. However, the weather here in the greater DC metro area has been so disgustingly, abysmally, horrifyingly hot and humid lately that the cover of Ernest Greene's, better known as Washed Out’s Life Of Leisure EP makes me want to be that girl, floating along in a glassy sunset sea, preferably while the sharks are otherwise engaged and Washed Out is playing somewhere on a stereo nearby. This EP is a damn fine way to take the edge off the summertime, my sweets, from the very first breath to the last. It takes those hazy crazy days of summer and mixes and undulates and sleeks them into something effortlessly, breathtakingly beautiful.

“Get Up” is a slow, dreamsicle of a song, hithering and thithering along on a placid rhythm, as cool as the other side of the pillow. If possible, “New Theory” is even cooler, icy beats and presenting itself as a perfect party-by-the-beach-fire song. Or the perfect lounge-by-the-pool-while-double-fisting-frozen-drinks kinda song. You get the idea. It’s all things lovely and summerproof. Things keep drifting along gloriously with “Hold Out”, which at three and a half minutes clocks in as the EP’s longest song. “Feel It All Around” has an air of back in the day to it, a song that certainly lives quite a life of leisure. Yet again, the downtempo meander hits the spot. “Lately”, well, that’s another hotdiggitydog song. And “You’ll See It”, friends, if you haven’t already heard it, is nothing short of hypnotic. The liveliest of the songs, it is just about perfect in every way. It’s so good you just might end up listening to it for hours, over and over and over and over. And yes, I am speaking from personal experience.

Sweltering temps regardless, Washed Out has hereby produced one of the finest damn EPs of recent memory. It’s new and old and fresh and clean and hot to trot and ice cold. I suspect I’ll adore this collection of songs just as much in the dead of winter as I do today, in the midst of the sizzle of late July. I love it so, and you might just love it too.

mp3: New Theory (Washed Out from Life Of Leisure) (song removed by request, sorry kiddos. Don't blame us.)

The Most Inappropriate Wedding Mix You Ever Will Hear

In a few hours (why the hell am i awake this early on a Saturday?), The Missus and i are off to partake in the nuptials of a couple of her friends whom i have not yet met. With my wonky back, i am afraid i shall not be able to pull off the appropriate breakdancing moves at the reception, but with enough free booze in one's system, who knows what's possible? If you don't hear from me by Monday afternoon, it's probably safe to assume that the six-step into a helicopter into a windmill combo i attempted to pull off did not go well.

In honor of the impending marriage, i offer up The Most Inappropriate Wedding Mix You Ever Will Hear.

mp3: I Married Her Because She Looks Just Like You (Lyle Lovett from Lyle Lovett and His Large Band)

mp3: 51st Anniversary (Jimi Hendrix from Are You Experienced?)

mp3: Love Rears Its Ugly Head (Living Colour from Time's Up)

mp3: I Wanna Get Married (Nellie McKay from Get Away From Me)

mp3: Let's Get Married (Juliana Hatfield from Juliana's Pony: Total System Failure)

mp3: I Want to Get Married (B.B. King from Singin' The Blues - The Blues)

mp3: Marriage of Dale and Ming (And Flash Approaching) (Queen from Flash Gordon Soundtrack)

mp3: Weep, Bride, Weep (Geoff Berner from The Wedding Dance of the Widow Bride)

mp3: $1,000 Wedding (Evan Dando with Juliana Hatfield from Return of the Grievous Angel: A Tribute to Gram Parsons)

mp3: She's No Lady (Lyle Lovett from Pontiac)

mp3: Conventional Marriages (Groucho Marx from Animal Crackers)

mp3: But That's Bygamy (Groucho Marx from Animal Crackers)

Free Music Friday: The Fat Assed, Not Hard, Pot Surviving, Explosive, Prestidigitatious, Hearing Impaired Version

Seriously, you unwashed masses better appreciate the fact that this is the umpteenth Friday in a row i've opted to stay indoors at HQ to bring you a bunch of new music freebies as opposed to hanging out at the comic book store or other nerdly pursuits. i really an a hell of a guy. You'd try to marry me if you could. You ain't gots to lie, Craig.

To kick things off, i finally got my hands on a copy of Mt. Kimbie's Crooks and Lovers. Hot damn, this thing is good. For fans of smoothly glitchy, softstep (that's right, i'm coming up with a new genre classification, bitches!!!), you are going to love this one. Plus, it's got one of my two favorite CD covers so far this year.

mp3: Field (Mt. Kimbie from Crooks and Lovers)

Proving that the 80s synth sound has not been fully exhausted, Soft Metals has this bedroom pop track that seemingly would appeal to anyone sporting a Flock of Seagulls, Wigwam slouch socks and/or fluorescent, tiger-striped bandannas. Not that i would know anything about that. Also, thank god for there not being cell phone cameras back in the 80s.

mp3: Love or Music (Soft Metals from The Cold World Melts)

Sure, this whole surf sound revivalism has been fun. Same for the girl group thing. But i can't be the only one who has been waiting for the sound to grunge itself up a tad. Enter Grass Widow. Kind of like the Raveonettes, only different. Regardless, i'm digging this track on a Friday.

mp3: Shadow (Grass Widow from Past Time)

One of my favorite folk-girl bands, The Be Good Tanyas, has their frontwoman step to the fore on her latest solo affair, Firecracker. Frazey Ford (how cool a name is that?) brings the heat banjos and ooh ooh ooh backing vocals, then turns the heat to simmer with some burbling keys, on lead single, "Firecracker."

mp3: Firecracker (Frazey Ford from Firecracker)

Well, it wouldn't be a Free Music Friday without some hip hop thrown in for good measure. Fortunately, we've got a new banger from Orland's own Prolific. i'd actually heard this one making the rounds before they reached out to us, but i like it then and am happy to share it now. Sampling one of Nina Simone's finest, "Spell on You," displays some adroit lyricism and oh so smooth flow. It's the juxtaposition of the faster drum beat and the slower strings that keeps throwing me for a loop, though.

mp3: Spell on You (Prolific from For the Ladies February Series)

And to conclude on a similar note of hip-hop-itude while throwing in a charitable component, there's a new CD out raising money to help protect and empower Congolese women called Raise Hope for Congo. Compiled by former KCRW Music Director, Nic Harcourt, the album includes the likes of Bat For Lashes, Imaad Wasif, Konono No 1, Damien Rice, Amadou & Mariam, Norah Jones and Mos Def. You can stream the whole thing here, though we've got Mos Def's track for your downloading pleasure. Or you can just go straight to the source and donate here.

mp3: Priority (A Capella) (Mos Def from Raise Hope for Congo)

It's Covered: Summertime Blues

Mother Terrible recently mentioned that summer is about over, and that school is just around the corner. While her exaggeration is obvious, it got me to thinking that if i'm going to do an "It's Covered" on the classic "Summertime Blues," i better get off my duff and into action.

Originally penned by Eddie Cochran and his manager, Jerry Capehart, it started life as a B-side before eventually peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 29, 1958 and #18 on the UK Singles Chart. It's been covered by dozens of folks, and i've got more than a couple of versions for you to sample, from the original to a Japanese release only version by the greatest rock band playing today to the speed punk of the gods that were Guitar Wolf. i understand there's an Olivia Newton-John version out there i'm dying to get my hands on for reasons i can't even figure out myself, but there you have it.

Hopefully, it cures what ails ya.

mp3: Summertime Blues (Eddie Cochran from The Very Best of Eddie Cochran)

mp3: Summertime Blues (The Black Keys from Rubber Factory (Japanese Release))

mp3: Summertime Blues (Guitar Wolf from Jet Generation)

mp3: Summertime Blues (Joan Jett & the Blackhearts from I Love Rock 'n Roll)

mp3: Summertime Blues (T. Rex from Electric Warriors Session)

100 Shows of 2010 - #43: The Capstan Shafts/Twins Of A Gazelle @ Black Cat, 7/15/10

To put it mildly, the evening of The Capstan Shafts and Twins Of A Gazelle show was yet another in a seemingly endless stretch of horrid, humid, stolidly stultifying days. My general crankitude was off the charts, but thankfully, as so often seems to be the case, music soothed the savage beast that my temperament had become. I felt like I was alternately seeing the Arcade Fire and reliving the glorious early 90s. And that, friends, was an interesting and fairly pleasing place to be.

MINI RECAP: The Capstan Shafts = Fuzzily Fab! Twins Of A Gazelle = Not-So-Secretly Canadian! Overall score: B.

Twins Of A Gazelle got going just a few minutes after I arrived at the Black Cat. I’m fairly certain I’ve never seen so many people crammed onto that stage before, and somehow, the masses of musicians made it work. Right off the bat, something inside me said, ”I’ve heard this one before.” The brain was racked, and landed upon those cheerfully dour Canadians of the beloved Arcade Fire. Something about the vocals and the lush landscapery of all those instruments together was very much in the vein of the AF. It must be noted that violins seem to be the new black, and quite a few bands I’ve seen lately have been utilizing them to great success. While certainly less gloomy than our Northerly neighbors, locals Twins Of A Gazelle didn’t veer all that much from their sound. “We sound a little bit like this band,” they said, as a cover of “Wake Up” was thrown into the set. Truth be told, I’m not sure how I feel about a cover that sounds kinda sorta like the original version. I really dug their new single, “Constellations,” which sounded the least like the Arcade Fire of any song in their set. It was jaunty and poppy and exuberant, and hopefully that’s the direction in which the bountiful band will move.

And then, it was time for something completely different. Dean Wells, otherwise known as The Capstan Shafts, creates pretty neato lo-fi nuggets that suggest those denizens of fuzz Guided By Voices, among others. Wells, adorable as he is, showed himself to be a true frontman, eschewing instruments to direct all his energy to the task of vocalizing his lyrics. Backed by his interesting assortment of friends, Wells and his voice endeared himself to me at once. Taking his songs out of the bedroom, Wells was charmingly affable and guardedly self-deprecating, saying “We’re open to criticism. Not terribly open to criticism, but open…” The songs benefited from the expanded instrumentation, particularly that drummer, who won serious points for his take-no-prisoners approach to hitting the skins on quite a few songs. Mixing it up sonically, at times the band shredded with rock and fury, while other times the songs took a gentler, quieter tone. The lo-fi approach wasn’t the vibe of the night, for sure. There was a slight air of discomfort onstage, which kept things feeling slightly off-kilter to me during the set. Whether or not Wells would rather be back in the bedroom studio he didn’t say, but somehow the awkwardness worked, for the most part. I was rather happy to have been around for the band’s “first second show somewhere.”

It was an unusual pairing, I think, but I was still rather entertained by the musical endeavors of the two. I’d reckon both bands would be worth seeing again, and you might just want to check ‘em out, dearies.

mp3: Middles Of June (The Capstan Shafts from Fixation Protocols)

More Mixtape Madness

Obviously, the greatest mixtapes you're ever going to hear are put together here at LET, but it would be unfair of us not to give credit where credit is due when we come across winners from others (second place is respectable, too, folks, so good on ya', mate!).

While LET probably is never going to be your definitive source for outside mixtapes, you know we're going to hip you to the good stuff.

Believe it or not, Tri Angle Records has just dropped a Lindsay Lohan inspired mix. In their own words:

"Inspired in part by Lindsay Lohan’s grotesquely fascinating black hole existence and in part by my unwavering belief in the power of pop music as an artform, I saw an opportunity to create something interesting with her music, and decided to ask some friends to reinterpret some of Lindsay’s songs. 'Tri Angle Records Presents: Let Me Shine for You' is the result. Even though we are all fond of Lindsay in our own ways, there is no FREE LINDSAY agenda here. We all love pop music and this is merely an experiment. All of our intentions are very sincere."

While this simply could have been a joke, the tracks are surprisingly good. It certainly doesn't hurt that some top notch talent was assembled to add tracks. Think somewhere between drone and chill, but without wearing its panties in the limo while people stand around taking cellphone pictures.

mp3: I Can Try to Run (Stuck) (Babe Rainbow from Tri Angle Records presents: Let Me Shine For You)

mp3: Something I Never Had (Laurel Halo from Tri Angle Records presents: Let Me Shine For You)

While we've posted tracks sponsored by Red Bull before, clearly i was uninformed on just how into the music scene your favorite vodka mixer actually is. Seems that since 1998, they've been sponsoring a traveling music academy. Essentially, they set up an HQ for two fortnight-long terms in a different musical metropolis each year, pulling "together pioneers of days-gone-by and musical legends of tomorrow from all aspects of rhythm and sound." This years' 60 participants set up shop in London, resulting in a pretty damn kick ass 41-track mixtape, bringing together some of the biggest names in instrumental electronic music. Seriously, TokiMONSTA and Oddisee on the same track? Do not pass go without picking up this bad boy. Be forewarned, however, at least i had a bitch of a time extracting the files from the zip. With that in mind, here are a couple of tracks to prove it's worth the effort of figuring it out yourself.

mp3: River Song (J-Wow & Sui Zhen from Various Assets - Not For Sale - London 2010)

mp3: Jackin4beats pt. 4 (TokiMONSTA feat. Andreya Triana & Oddisee from Various Assets - Not For Sale - London 2010)

i've inadvertently been sitting on a mixtape from Alex Ludovico for so long now that's he's since put out another one. You might recognize AL from various mixes we've put together ourselves, but his own stuff tends to be pretty damn good by itself. Homeboy spits fiyah and tends to kick it over dope beats. Expect to hear more about and from this up and comer.

mp3: d.o.a. (Alex Ludovico from Winning/Losing)

And finally, we recently received an interesting, homemade mixtape coming in at a handful of tracks at under ten minutes. As fans of the DIY ethic, here's a nod of the cap to Alex Gladwell. Sure, the production is a bit rough, but we all have to start somewhere. Plus, i'm pretty much a sucker for any beat that heavily samples Disney. Snow White in the house, y'all!

mp3: Childhood (Alex Gladwell from For the Mixtape)

The Biggest Cry Baby Mix You Ever Will Hear

So i started physical therapy for ye olde broken down back today, and suffice to say, it was not a painless affair. As such, i'm circumventing witty and going straight for tears.

You, you lucky bastard, get the Biggest Cry Baby Mix You Ever Will Hear, assuming my barely suppressed sobs don't get in the way. Seriously, call me a baby all you like (certain folks pay big bucks for that kind of treatment), but having a catheter inserted wasn't as painful as today's workout back spasms.

mp3: I Cry Alone (The Black Keys from thickfreakness)

mp3: I'm Not Crying (Flight of the Conchords from The Distant Future)

mp3: Cry for Help (Flying Lotus from July Heat)

mp3: Cry Out Your Name/As the Crow Flies (Frank Bang from Frank Bang's Secret Stash)

mp3: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (Hank Williams from The Ultimate Collection)

mp3: City Don't Cry (Jimmy Page & Robert Plant from No Quarter--Jimmy Page & Robert Plant)

mp3: Cry Me a River (Joe Cocker from Mad Dogs & Englishmen)

mp3: The Sky is Crying (Stevie Ray Vaughn from The Sky is Crying)

mp3: I Saw Gener Cryin' in His Sleep (Ween from Pure Guava)

mp3: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (Willie Nelson from Red Headed Stranger)

mp3: Cry Baby (Janis Joplin from Pearl)

mp3: Tears in the Typing Pool (Broadcast from Tender Buttons)

The Untitled Interview #48: Starring La Strada

Dear loves, you know by now, I would hope, how very much I do so adore a little band called La Strada. This coterie of Brooklynites has totally, utterly, and completely won my devotion with their irresistible hodgepodge of all things musically good and wonderful. If you haven’t yet heard their latest record, New Home, yet, well, I have no choice but to frown in your general direction.

Introductions aside, the band recently took some time from their task of winning the world over one city at a time to answer the burning questions I presented them with. And sweet as pie, the band answered as a collective. So may I present to you, friends, the collective answers of James Craft, Devon Press, Brady Miller, Ted Lattis, Daniel Baier, and Isaiah Gage. Pull up a hammock, pour a glass of your favorite wine, and spend a few quality minutes getting to know one of my new favorite bands.

Les Enfants Terribles: How the hell are you?
La Strada: Pretty good, most of the time.

LET: What was the last song you listened to?
LS: “New Speedway Boogie” by Grateful Dead.

LET: Playing music is:
LS: Generally a fun thing to do.

LET: What album most made you realize you wanted to make music?
LS: Graceland (Paul Simon).

LET: Beatles or Stones?
LS: Beatles.

LET: Top 5 albums (of now, of this month, or of ever):
LS: MTV Smooth Jams Vol. 1-5.

LET: Favorite music-related movie?
LS: Romantico.

LET: Half-full or half-empty?
LS: Half-full.

LET: Which of your peers do you think is making the best music these days?
LS: Hospitality and Frances.

LET: What’s the first thing you think when you wake up in the morning?
LS: I'm going back to bed.

LET: Little-known La Strada fact?
LS: Our van was once owned by Rick Astley's evil twin, Harold Astley, III.

LET: The greatest record store in the world is:
LS: Rough Trade (London).

LET: Everyone probably asks this, but is La Strada in fact the band’s favorite Fellini flick?
LS: No, but 8 1/2 isn't a great band name.

LET: Shaken or stirred?
LS: Beer.

LET: Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
LS: Check the menu at Subway restaurants. Sometimes, the BLT is the same price as the veggie sub, so you might as well get the bacon.

LET: If you weren’t in a band you’d be:
LS: Grad students?

LET: If you were so inclined, whom would you form a tribute band in honor of?
LS: MC Hammer.

LET: Best song ever written?
LS: "Africa".

mp3: Go Forward (La Strada from New Home)

{Photo by Zandy Mangold}

Concert Review: Star Wars in Concert, 7-17-10, Verizon Center

As geekfests go, one could do a hell of a lot worse than catching Star Wars in Concert. The name pretty much sums it up, but allow me to elucidate. Imagine a laser light show with a full symphonic orchestra playing against a backdrop of scenes from all three, grumble, "six" Star Wars flicks narrated as it went by none other than Anthony Daniels himself.

But wait, there's more! If you're willing to dole out a few additional ducats, you could get the extra special VIP jobbers that entitled the purchaser to a SPECIAL FREE TEE SHIRT AND BLANKET!!! i could pretend like that wasn't a big deal, but let's be honest with ourselves, of course, it was. i paid to get on the floor, but couldn't go that extra mile for the freebies myself. i'm pretty sure i could have beaten up most of the pre-teens who attended, so i probably could have walked with some free schwag of my own, but that would not have been very Jedi, now would it have been?

On top of the music, they also had a pretty decent traveling museum, filled with costumes and set pieces. Oh, and of course, more geeks in costume than you could shake a lightsaber at. You couldn't swing a dead tauntaun by the tail without hitting someone dressed up like a Sith. i could keep going with the aphorisms, but i think you get my drift.

My sole complaint was what i considered an over reliance on the first three movies. Seriously, they couldn't have focused on some of the more iconic moments? Well, that, and i'm almost positive that during one of the many montages, they showed Greedo shooting first. We get it, Lucas. You're not going to back down from the apocrypha, but does that mean you've got to keep shoving it down the zealots' throats?

Or is this just me exposing my inner nerd? i think the accompanying picture pretty much proves that's outer, kids.

May the Force be with you. Always.

mp3: Cantina Band 2 (John Williams from Star Wars - Figrin D'an And The Modal Nodes)

mp3: Mos Eisley Spaceport (James Hill from Ukulele Force: Star Wars Best Covers)

mp3: Fett's Vette (MC Chris from Life's a Bitch and I'm Her Pimp)

mp3: Luke's Advice (DJ Yoda and Mark Hamill from The Amazing Adventures Of DJ Yoda)

Happy Birthday, Screamin’ Jay

Creepy. Kooky. Mysterious. And yes, perhaps even a little spooky. No, I’m not talking about the family Addams. I’m talking about the one, the only, the cat with a slight case of the crazies: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. The music world has never had a shortage of characters, and Screamin’ Jay still stands as one of the biggest, baddest characters the industry has ever seen. And we sure do love that here at Les Enfants Terribles!

To start with, the man had enough kids to start his own child army. He wrote a song about constipation. And standing as perhaps the crown of his eccentricities, the man had a skull that he named Henry. For all his, er, quirks, Screamin’ Jay should probably be better known for that voice of his. The impetuous, lively, gorgeous, theatrical voice that you hear in all of his songs, but perhaps most notably in the song you’ll find below.

So put on your satin cape, grab a hold of that skull you hold dear, and throw on some Screamin’ Jay today in celebration of this legend. Happy Birthday, Mr. Hawkins.

mp3: I Put A Spell On You (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins from I Put A Spell On You)

mp3: I Put A Spell On You (Nina Simone from I Put A Spell On You)

mp3: I Put A Spell On You (Creedence Clearwater Revival from Chronicle)

Zut Alors!: Brian O'Connor Benefit

Los Angelinos, I hope you've gone ahead and bought your tickets for the August 12th Brian O'Connor benefit show. Bitchin' band brethren Queens Of The Stone Age and Eagles Of Death Metal are joining forces and sharing a stage to assist EODM bassist Brian O'Connor with his treatment costs, O'Connor having been recently diagnosed with cancer.

Personally, I find it horrifying that our society at large can have a new cell phone every other week and we as a nation can spend billions of dollars on ridiculous wars, yet we can't seem to cure a disease that afflicts so many people year after year. It just doesn't seem like our priorities are in order, sometimes.

Getting back to the point, as I'm sure we all know, hospital bills ain't cheap. So even if you don't live in LA, you can donate a little green to help Brian deal with things during this very difficult time. Bands give us as music fans so much, and it's definitely fair that we help when we can.

mp3: Cherry Cola (Eagles Of Death Metal from Death By Sexy)

Meet The Get Down

Fletcher’s is dead. Long live The Get Down!

For those of you locals that remember, Fletcher’s in Baltimore was once a wonderful, grimy and gritty little dive where one could see any number of really, really loud bands play in one of those super small places that years later one could brag about when said band garnered themselves some fanfare. After many a golden year, regime change brought about unfortunate circumstances, and Fletcher’s was forced to close those hallowed doors for good. Until now.

A magic wand has been waved, and in place of that scuzzball of a beloved dive now sits a club you’d never imagine could exist in Baltimore. The Get Down is a den of gleaming, super shiny sleekness, utterly gorgeous and glamorous and the total opposite of what existed within those walls for years. The crowd at the club’s preview party seemed dazed by the gorgeous interiors, the abundance of super fancy lighting (seriously, find me another club within 100 miles that looks like this), and the overall VIP treatment by an awesome staff. The Get Down is the place to go to get your indulgence on. Hang out in the VIP balcony, lounging on one of those uber modern (and uber comfy) couches, sipping a cocktail while watching the DJ spin and the wall of lights undulate endlessly. Or grab a fancy booth on the ground floor, and watch the floor fill up with sassy dancers. The invited company was a great mix of clubgoers dressed to the 9s, neighborhood folks, and card carrying Baltimore hipsters, a conglomeration that promises widespread success for the club. For me, the reasons to drive up to Baltimore are few and far between, but with the birth of The Get Down, I might just be making a few more drives up 95.

Any and all traces of Fletcher’s have been surgically and thoroughly removed. Baltimore might have lost a concert space, but they gained one hell of a place to have a party. Fletcher’s is dead and buried, friends. Hold on to those memories. But get yourself good and ready to make some new memories at The Get Down. Get a head start on the good times with the added bonus of some Hot Chip. Yay!

mp3: Over & Over (Hot Chip from The Warning)

[Photo by Megan Petty]

Album Review: Loose Lips – Lower Your Expectations And Be Happy EP

Loose lips sink ships, so they say. But what do they know, anyway? This DC variety of Loose Lips has nothing whatsoever to do with sinking your battleship or any other type of maritime vessel, but they sure can rock your little socks off, and get you fighting the serious urge to shake your behind, too.

My darling little iTunes library calls them “indie rock,” but there’s much more to Loose Lips than meets such a vague classification. Sure, they’re indie. And yes, they do, in fact, rock. But somewhere in that broadness, the band manages to capture the essence of DC, in the form of an infectious little 5-song EP. It’s got the grit and grime of the city we know and love, as well as the rock and punk elements of DC’s past, mixed with some shiny sleekness and careful execution. Oh, and there’s some kicky little grooves to get you dancin’ to boot. I knew the band had gotten under my skin when I found the song “Be Happy” popping into my head at random times. At the library? Yep. Sitting on the couch at home? Check. The catchiness cannot be escaped, my friends.

Having listened to Lower Your Expectations And Be Happy, and considering the recent live performance I witnessed, I might just have to go ahead and hereby proclaim Loose Lips to be one of my top 5 local bands. This pretty fine EP makes me really excited to see what else the band has up its collective sleeve.

mp3: Be Happy (Loose Lips from the Lower Your Expectations And Be Happy EP)

The Untitled Interview #47 – Pitchfork Edition: Starring Sharon Van Etten

It’s Pitchfork’s annual concert throwdown this weekend, up there in the Windy City. Sadly, I’m missing yet another festival this year, and I’m just a little crankypants about it. Those of you lucky souls that are there, I’m sure you’ll have a splendid time, what with all the good music that’s going to transpire. Hours and hours and hours of it. (No, I'm not bitter).

To celebrate the weekend of Pitchforkery, the lovely and enchanting songstress Sharon Van Etten answered a mini slew of Pitchfork-related questions. You might remember my gushery over the Megafaun show here a little while back, and Sharon’s performance was a big part of all that high praise. With her beautiful, antique crystal fragile voice and delicate, glorious songs, Miss Van Etten won me over from the word go. Her songs seem to hover somewhere along classic folk songs with a contemporary twist, and her live show is not to be missed. Do you hear me, Chicago? Not. To. Be. Missed. She’s playing this very day, so get your skates on. And buy one of her nifty new tees while you’re at it.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to Pitchfork: plane, train, or automobile?
Sharon Van Etten: Plane and autmobile.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
SVE: A toothbrush, socks.

LET: Who will you be sharing a stage with on the day?
SVE: El-P, Robyn, Modest Mouse.

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
SVE: Cass McCombs, St. Vincent, Here We Go Magic, Beach House, Panda bear, Kurt Vile, Tallest Man on Earth.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Chicago?
SVE: Picking up my new t-shirts! We made a fun logo - (the Van Halen logo... haha).

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
SVE: It was at Count Basie Theatre - Evan Dando (old Jr. high crush), The Murmurs, Frente, Pete Droge, The Whirling Dirvishes, and Soup Dragons. HA. That was great...

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
SVE: How crazy people are. I love watching people. The energy...the applause of a big crowd and being part of that is pretty thrilling.

mp3: Love More (Sharon Van Etten from the forthcoming Epic)

[Photo by Victoria Jacob]

Concert Review: Dead Weather, 7-13-10, 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C.

JUST IN CASE THERE WAS ANY LINGERING DOUBT, THE DEAD WEATHER ARE A LOUD BAND. VERY FUCKING MUCH SO, AS A MATTER OF FACT. TWO DAYS AFTER THEY PLAYED THE 9:30 CLUB, AND HONEST TO BLACK DYNAMITE, MY EARS STILL ARE RINGING. FORTUNATELY, THEY'RE A PRETTY GOOD BAND, SO THE HOPEFULLY TEMPORARY CASE OF TINNITUS PROBABLY WAS WORTH IT.

i say "pretty good" because, quite frankly, that's where they are. Sure, folks really are just coming to see Jack White, but he's actually the weakest link in the group. While his drumming has improved exponentially since their last jaunt through DC, it's obviously still not his most comfortable instrument. Whereas most percussionists keep the beat and arguably set the song's structure, White seems more likely to play catch-up with the songs, leaving the pacing to bandmates Dean Fertita and Jack Lawrence, which is fine. Alison Mosshart remains a force on-stage, though it took about half the concert before she really seemed to get into things, by that time pacing the stage like a feral cat looking to either fuck or fight her way back into the wild.

Of course, the above point about White gets thrown completely out the window when he gets out from behind his kit and picks up his axe, as he did with show closer "Will There Be Enough Water." At this point, sadly too near the end of the show, the band exhibited a focus and energy that just seemed missing for earlier parts of the set. While the lack of a lead guitarist clearly is the direction White appears to have wanted, perfering to eschew the limelight in favor of Mosshart, it gives the band a somewhat directionless feel. With everyone nicely defering to one another, there's no one to take the lead and put folks through their paces. i'm sounding a bit more negative than i want, as it was a good, solid performance. Again, it just wasn't a great one.

The set list was pretty strong, jumping back and forth between Horehound and Sea of Cowards material. Oh yeah, and they did that Twilight track, too, for those of you keeping score. The crowd seemed to get more into the earlier stuff, with the largest reactions coming from "Hang You from the Heavens," "I Cut Like a Buffalo," and "Treat Me Like Your Mother." Again, though, it wasn't until the last song or two and the encore that the band seemed truly charged.

i would like to point out that the band had one of the best light shows i've seen at the 9:30 in quite some time. Sure, the stage was just festooned with goat heads and a large eyeball tapestry in the background, but the interplay with the lighting just worked. Well, in fact.

The Dead Weather are a gut bucket rock outfit. They dress the dress and swagger the swagger. With just a bit more seasoning, these cats just might start making the next big sound based on their talent, not just their brand name recognition.

mp3: Hang You From the Heavens (Live) (The Dead Weather on the Zane Lowe Show)

mp3: Treat Me Like Your Mother (Live) (The Dead Weather on the Zane Lowe Show)

mp3: Treat Me Like Your Mother (Dead Weather Remix) (DJ Z-Trip Ft. Slug from Z-Trip's website)

Happy Bastille Day!

Sacre bleu, it's Bastille Day, and your favorite Enfants Terribles almost accidentally let the day pass with nary a nod to our French namesakes. We couldn't let that happen, now could we? Now, my last visit to France consisted of me getting in a screaming match with the customs guy at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, but what can you do? Nice remains perhaps my favorite European city, and who doesn't love a good croissant now and again? Don't even get me started on fries.

In celebration of le quatorze juillet, we've put together a little mix of Frenchified tunes for your listening enjoyment. As His Royal Badness once said, "That's French. See?"

Just don't ask me what any of the songs mean. While Madame Farina will be aghast, my four years of high school French did not stick so well. i'm pretty sure i remember how to say "Your mom sleeps with my dog," though.

mp3: Les Debris, Ils Sont Blancs (Phil Lee from The Mighty King of Love)

mp3: Les Yeux Ouverts (Dream A Little Dream Of Me) (Emilie-Claire Barlow from The Very Thought of You)

mp3: Belleville Rendez-Vous (French Version) (The Triplets Of Belleville from The Triplets Of Belleville Soundtrack)

mp3: En Melody (Serge Gainsbourg from Histoire De Melody Nelson)

mp3: Sympathique (Pink Martini from Sympathique)

mp3: C'est Moi (Robert Goulet from Camelot Original Broadway Recording)

mp3: Comme des Enfants (Coeur De Pirate from Coeur De Pirate)

mp3: La Mer (Kevin Kline from French Kiss Soundtrack)

mp3: Comic Strip (Brigitte Bardot from Best of Bardot)

mp3: L'Un Part L'Autre Reste (Charlotte Gainsbourg from L'Un Part L'Autre Reste)

mp3: Can't Change Me (French Version) (Chris Cornell from Euphoria Morning French Release)

mp3: Transmitting Live from Mars (De La Soul from 3 Feet High and Rising)

mp3: French Taunting (French Guard from Monty Python and the Holy Grail)