The Untitled Interview #39 – SXSW Edition: Starring Francisco Fernandez and Daniel Aguilar (The Ferocious Few)

I’m finding it hard to believe that it’s time once again for the annual industry hootenanny known as SXSW. As of today, Austin will be taken over. Inundated. Overrun. Engulfed. You get the idea. To celebrate the mad mad mad mad week of absolute havoc, Austin-style, we’ve thrown down the interview gauntlet to see what some of our favorite bands are going to be getting up to whilst gettin down in the wilds of Texas.

They are rather ferocious, and they are indeed few. They’re Francisco Fernandez and Daniel Aguilar, otherwise known as, well, The Ferocious Few. It’s hard to believe that two people can make the raucous kinda noise these guys can, but these two gents prove that sometimes two can be the magic number for achieving musical awesomeness. Further endearing themselves into the cockles of my heart, the band’s Myspace counts girls with boyfriends, Marvin Gaye, and ferociousness among their influences. They’re also badass and will play on stages and sidewalks alike. Talk about street cred. Oh, and ladies, they’re pretty dang foxy. The Ferocious Few is soulful and filthy and a little raunchy, and I sure do like it.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Francisco Fernandez: Flying in on Southwest Airlines.
Daniel Aguilar: Plane.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
FF: Anything useful.
DA: Enough pants

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
FF: 1 if anybody from the festival asks, but check our Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter for all shows.
DA: As many as possible

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
FF: Cheap Trick
DA: DJ Quik.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
FF: Play on the street for some money to eat.
DA: Setting up.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
FF: Warped tour 1995 Shoreline, I saw Sublime, No Doubt, Deftones, L7 all these bad ass bands in top form. I was in fifth grade.
DA: Reggae Sunsplash.

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
FF: Being focused amid chaos
DA: The concentration of energy and heat.

mp3: Lord Save My Soul (The Ferocious Few – new album Juices out in April)

[photo by Jonathan Ratcliff]

Happy Birthday, Billy

Today happens to be the happy day wherein we all don one of a million shades of green, go to Irish pubs, and drink copious amounts of green beer, but did you know it’s also a rather important gentleman’s birthday? He’s the sometimes cranky, oft-brilliant leader of one of the most important bands from the 90s.

I can still remember how vital the Smashing Pumpkins were in my formative musical years, and when I close my eyes I can see that video for the song “1979” that so epitomizes my high school years (totally just dated myself). Regardless of how you might feel about them and him these days, I think most of us can agree that Smashing Pumpkins helped define the 90s, musically speaking. We celebrate his multitude of musical achievements (and his super-shiny scalp) today, and raise a glass of green as we wish Billy Corgan a very, very Happy Birthday.

Top’o’the morning to you, Billy.

mp3: Zero (Smashing Pumpkins from Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness)

The Untitled Interview #38 – SXSW Edition: Starring Adam Wills (Bear In Heaven)

I’m finding it hard to believe that it’s time once again for the annual industry hootenanny known as SXSW. As of today, Austin will be taken over. Inundated. Overrun. Engulfed. You get the idea. To celebrate the mad mad mad mad week of absolute havoc, Austin-style, we’ve thrown down the interview gauntlet to see what some of our favorite bands are going to be getting up to whilst gettin down in the wilds of Texas.

I recently discovered that Bear In Heaven is without question one of my new favorite live bands on the face of the planet, so I’d like to begin by strongly, vehemently, and emphatically urging one and all of you to take advantage of whatever chance you get to go and see them live. As Nike so wisely advises, “Just Do It.” The foursome cranks out some of the biggest and best electro/funk/rock hybrid songs you’re likely to ever experience, and they do it with tons of panache (and tons of well-groomed facial hair). I promise you absolutely will not be disappointed. Also, should you happen to be seeing them in Austin, bring some socks with you. Adam might have run out by that point.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Adam Wills: Automobile! We rented a cheap van from a buddy of ours. It's a nice ride, plenty of room for us and our heap of gear. Currently it's going to be arriving about 1hour before we have to leave for tour, so I'm a bit of an anxiety case right now over it.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
AW: Enough socks. Never enough socks. I'm pretty good with my checklists, but, yeah, definitely gonna forget something. Hope I remember my passport!

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
AW: 9!!! Holy Shit. Well, 8 + a radio performance, but that's a lot for us. Especially in the middle of a 5 week tour, we're gonna be crispy after SXSW. Stoked to get there and STOKED to leave.

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
AW: Tough call. Hope we'll be able to see anything, we're playing so much, there's not gonna be enough time and energy to dart around like we're used to. But I can't wait to see Oh No Ono again, an amazing band from Denmark who are good pals of ours, they're fantastic. Oh, and then I'm definitely gonna check out Stone Temple Pilots, I heard they'll be down.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
AW: Well, we're actually playing the moment we arrive, but if there's a moment to shove a taco in my face, I'll be doing that.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
AW: Oh, hmmm, had to be Lollapalooza I reckon. 93? I don't remember!

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
AW: People watching. We played Bonnaroo a couple of years ago, and I've never been to something like that in my entire life. I don't think I had even been to a show that was 500+ since high school. So to enter the grounds and see 100,000 kids, 80% of which were wasted, was AMAZING hahaha. Had a blast, but was very thankful to be out of there after 1 day.

mp3: Lovesick Teenagers (Bear In Heaven from Beast Rest Forth Mouth)

The Untitled Interview #37 – SXSW Edition: Starring Rupert Orton (The Jim Jones Revue)

I’m finding it hard to believe that it’s time once again for the annual industry hootenanny known as SXSW. As of today, Austin will be taken over. Inundated. Overrun. Engulfed. You get the idea. To celebrate the mad mad mad mad week of absolute havoc, Austin-style, we’ve thrown down the interview gauntlet to see what some of our favorite bands are going to be getting up to whilst gettin down in the wilds of Texas.

The more I listen to this next band, the more impressed with them I find myself. The Jim Jones Revue spews forth an irrepressible package of absolutely filthy, no-holds-barred bluesy rock’n’roll, complete with howling, whisky-coated vocals, fierce guitar screeching, and a smattering of Jerry Lee Lewis-esque key-tinkling. It’s one hell of a ride, my friends, and it’s a ride I think you’ll like being on. And of course, I’ve gotta give them all sorts of love for the song “Hey Hey Hey Hey,” since I do love me a song about the state of Alabama. Make damn sure to check ‘em out down there in Austin, or whenever you should be lucky enough to get the chance. But hey, don’t just take my word for it. They’re hitting the big-time, with Spin giving them a nod as one of the 50 bands you should pay attention to at SXSW this year.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Rupert Orton: Submarine.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
RO: Life jackets.

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
RO: Six so far...

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
RO: Kid Congo Powers and The Bellrays who are playing our showcase at Prague on Thursday 18 March.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
RO: We're arriving in the middle of night so it'll be either go out & cane it or go to bed!
LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
RO: Can't remember, probably Glastonbury.

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
RO: Camaraderie of musicians and fans.

mp3: Hey Hey Hey Hey (The Jim Jones Revue from The Jim Jones Revue)

[photo by Stephane Rossi]

How To Get Your Band's New CD Reviewed on Damn Near Any Music Website

OK, musician-types, today's post starts out just for you, before we get into some new tuneage for the unwashed masses. Seriously, people, would a shower kill you?

So you and the three cats with whom you attended P.S. 258 have put the finishing touches on your new EP, a truly heart wrenching concept album about two chipmunks who fall in and out of love in a nuclear wasteland, combining reggae and polka in a never before heard sound that you are confident can change worldviews completely. Of course, your manager is also your brother who never went to college and just barely passed his G.E.D., but your mother is adamant that the two of you spend more time together. His first good idea in Dolemite knows how long was to send out tracks to any and every site that posts mp3s you can think of, and he actually got off his ass to get appropriate email addresses and all that. Now how do you ensure that the so-called "editors" will actually bother to listen to your stuff?

i'll be honest, we get a fair amount of submissions here at LET. Some good, some not, a few bordering on genuis and some that never should have been put to wax in the first place. Plus, like most other music bloggers (read: unpaid music lovers with obvious neediness issues), i actually do have a life of my own, or at least a wife that wishes i could provide her with said interesting life, not to mention an ever growing comic book addiction, TiVo "To Watch" list, etc. Suffice to say, if i were to listen to everything sent to me, combined with everything else going on in my world, well, i wouldn't get a damn thing done. So what's going to get my attention above the normal din?

That's right, kids, it's going to be your cover letter asking/begging us to help you on your way towards Internet stardom. Fortunately for you struggling artists, i recently received perhaps the best damn example of "How to Write a Kick-Ass Introduction Letter" submission i've ever read. i'm going to highlight a few things to show you what i mean. The letter comes from Joey Lastima of Que Lastima, but more on them in a second.

"Dear Folks over at LET:
I have been reading your blog fairly obsessively for the past month. I was initially hooked by the Black Dynamite references, but my interest was held by the high quality of music discovery/sharing. "

Right off the bat, Mr. Lastima references Black Dynamite, proving he's taken the time to read at least one post here. Most folks don't even do that. Following up with the obvious flattery does not hurt. i am not a proud man, i'll admit it.

Joey goes onto to describe his band, points me in the direction of where to find out more, and includes a link to download their latest EP. Oh, and he happens to be a fellow Chicagoan, all but sealing the deal for himself.

Just before closing, though, he lays this on me:

"Also, knowing your love of zombies, we have written a split zombie/space album that we will be recording this summer and that we play live."

Now, the likelihood of them writing a zombie/space album for us is highly exaggerated, i'm sure, but whether it was intentional or not, it's a good slip on his part. Plus, seriously, who doesn't fucking love zombies? Nobody. Not even your grandfather.

In just over a paragraph, he's acknowledged a far more than cursory knowledge of LET, has appealed to our vanity AND mentioned he's a homeboy of mine. The only thing he hasn't asked is if the Internet rumor that i'm hung like a wildebeest is true*, but let's be honest, that would have just been weird. And guess what? i popped the EP into ye olde iPod immediately, and have listened to it a few times already.

From here, you're pretty much going to float on your talent (or you won't). Fortunately for Que Lastima, they've got a strong sound, playing pretty indie pop, often covering the entirety of the 70s sound spectrum in just one song, going from borderline funk to AM grooves with a skilled and practiced ease. The new and repeatedly aforementioned EP, ¡Ossicones!, will soon be available on iTunes, but you can stream it now at facebook.com/quelastima or myspace.com/quelastimaband. Knowing how lazy a lot of you bastards are, however, we've even taken that extra step to post an mp3 here.

You can thank us any time now.

*It is true.

mp3: Let's Get Erased (Que Lastima from ¡Ossicones!)

The Untitled Interview #36 – SXSW Edition: Starring John Paul Caballero (Dios)

I’m finding it hard to believe that it’s almost time once again for the annual industry hootenanny known as SXSW. Starting tomorrow, Austin will be taken over and all hell will break loose (and dammit I wish I was gonna be there). To celebrate the impending week of absolute havoc, Austin-style, we’ve thrown down the interview gauntlet to see what some of our favorite bands are going to be getting up to whilst gettin down in the wilds of Texas.

We love us some bravado here at LET, and our next guests have plenty of it to go around. Initially known as Dios, then Dios (Malos) and now once more Dios, please welcome bassist John Paul Caballero to the interview arena. I strongly recommend you make plans to check out the killer Dios sound: whacky whirls of sonic swirls with a hearty dose of late 60s sensibilities, with some extra sauciness thrown in for good measure (SXSW attendees pay special attention to their 3/20 show with The Black Angels and Darker My Love!). I suspect they could be rather good in the flesh. But fathers, you might wanna lock up your daughters. And of course, I have to mention that if ever you’ve wanted a song written about you, Dios can make it happen. Details can be found on their website. You could have them write a song about us, we sure would be tickled pink.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
John Paul Caballero: We have a diesel van that runs on discarded vegetable oil. We had it converted in 2006 for 2500 dollars and its probably saved us about 10k+ on gas costs. So we're probably gonna fly in through helicopter.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
JPC: Hmmmmmmmmmm....I’m gonna have to say my guitar.

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
JPC: 5.

SXSW SHOWS

Thursday, March 18

3.00pm - Buddyhead/Buzzgrinder party
Venue: Annie’s, 706 W6th Street (bet Rio Grande & West)

4.50pm – 5.20pm – Little Radio Party
Venue: Red Eye Fly, Red River just North o6th St.

Friday March 19

4.00pm - Filter Magazine/Dickies party (with Those Darlins, Jason Collett)
Venue: Lustre Pearl, 97 Rainey St (one block east of Red River and one
block south of East Cesar Chavez)

Saturday March 20

1.00pm Vestal Party (w/ Icarus Line, Darker My Love)
Long Branch Inn, 1133 E11th (at Lydia)

11.00pm - Official SXSW showcase (w/ Black Angels, Darker My Love)
Galaxy Room, 508
E6th St (bet Red River and Neches)

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
JPC: Hmmm, I don’t really know who else is playing. I just wanna go to Roky Erikson’s house.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
JPC: I’m gonna find out what the age of consent is and THEN I’m gonna take
some pictures of the IRS building fo' sho. You dont get to see that often.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
JPC: That would be Coachella 94 I think. the one where Nirvana was supposed to play but didn’t due to circumstances beyond their control. It surprises me now though remembering the line-up, how stacked it was compared to festivals now a days: The Smashing Pumpkins, Beastie Boys, George Clinton & the P-Funk All Stars, The Breeders, A Tribe Called Quest, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, L7, Green Day, The Flaming Lips, The Verve, Guided by Voices, Girls Against Boys, Stereolab, Fu-Schnickens, The Pharcyde, Cypress Hill, The Black Crowes. Crazy

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
JPC: Playing them. Otherwise you’re stuck paying for 5 dollar water, 5 dollar pizza slices, and 10 dollar beer.

mp3: Stare At The Wheel (Dios from We Are Dios)

[photo by Robin Laananen]

Album Review: White Fence – White Fence

I must admit, I was a little predisposed to like White Fence’s new record before I even heard it. After all, the man behind the White Fence is a familiar face around these parts: Tim Presley of LET favorites Darker My Love. Tim’s a busier guy than I had thought, what with his Darker My Love duties, other band obligations, and yet the man can still find the time to crank out a damn fine record of his own. Let’s hear it for multitasking.

On first listen, you might ask yourself which long-lost gem of a 1968 record you might have stumbled upon. But no sir. No ma’am. It’s just the good works of Tim Presley. Tim’s definitely been listening to his Syd Barrett records, and has managed to create a really great sound here, evocative not only of Syd’s solo work but with glimpses of Pavement, The Fall (particularly on “Baxter Corner”), and overtones of obscure 60s bands that very few people are fortunate enough to know about. The album is more than a little lo-fi, crackly and muddy and sounding a lot like a basement or bedroom recording. And I’ve got to say that in this case, that’s a wonderful thing. It’s very atmospheric, very exposed, and very, very good. You production snobs might not agree, so if you’re looking for super slick look elsewhere. In the meantime, the rest of us will enjoy the beauty that a little roughness around the edges can provide.

Knowing the proclivity of Darker My Love to the realms of nouveau psychedelia, the content of this record comes as absolutely no surprise. The only surprise is just how much I like it. It’s a sonic kaleidoscope, a musical merry-go-round. Tim tries anything and everything, seemingly, and his experimentation really pays off. There are bonus points to be had for including a song called “Sick Doctor Blues.” Brilliant. Listening to this record, and it’s not a short one, you feel like the whole thing is done before it’s barely begun. And at that point, you’ll just wanna keep listening. And listening. And listening.

mp3: I’ll Follow You (White Fence from the forthcoming White Fence)

The Untitled Interview #35 – SXSW Edition: Starring Simon Balthazar (Fanfarlo)

I’m finding it hard to believe that it’s almost time once again for the annual industry hootenanny known as SXSW. In a few short days, Austin will be taken over and all hell will break loose (and dammit I wish I was gonna be there). To celebrate the impending week of absolute havoc, Austin-style, we’ve thrown down the interview gauntlet to see what some of our favorite bands are going to be getting up to whilst gettin down in the wilds of Texas.

Our next guest really doesn’t need an introduction. My love for his band is pretty well documented. After all, if you’ve been paying attention lately, you’ll quite possibly have noticed that Fanfarlo’s Reservoir was my runaway number 1 album of last year. It was breathtakingly beautiful, and if you don’t own it yet shame on you. The cornerstone of the Fanfarlo sound is lead singer Simon Balthazar’s haunting voice, warm and lovely and all-too entrancing. His honeyed tones can make anything sound bewitching. Simon was kind enough to break from his festival planning to answer my questions, answers to which are below. If you happen to be in Austin, you just might run into him ‘round the campfire. If not, just make sure you a) go see them live if you can, and b) buy Reservoir.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Simon Balthazar: Boat, hopefully.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
SB: Swim shorts, and end up swimming in my underpants.

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
SB: About 5 or 6 I think... so looking like a relatively chilled out one... although I'm sure we'll end up fitting in as much as we can. We are going to shoot a short film while we're there as well.

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
SB: Haven't actually trawled through the schedule yet, but Local Natives who we've bumped into a couple of times and whose stuff we're into. Also a friend's new band Summer Camp.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
SB: Drink a soy latte and bask in the sunshine.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
SB: Roskilde 2000, which was the year 9 people died at the Pearl Jam show. As a whole it was also rainy and miserable. Put me off festivals for a little while.

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
SB: Apart from the music? Campfires perhaps, or tea-and-cake tents.

mp3: Finish Line (Fanfarlo from Reservoir)

Free Music Friday: The Buggy, Pretendy, Untranslated, Buttery, Watery, Shiny, Nucleary, Lizzie Edition

Good Lord and Butter, my inbox runneth over with freebies this week. i think Amie Street is trying to pick me up or something with all the goodies they've sent my way. Don't tell them, but i'm really a lot easier than that. Just ask The Missus.

Whether it was by fluke or happenstance, we've got a veritable shitload of electronic instrumental stuff this week. Even when i actually went to raves in the early 90s, i never was much good at identifying one sub-genre from the next, but i do know what i like, and i do know what is jamming, so i have a feeling you'll dig this week's stuff, too. We've got a bit of ye olde wonky dubstub, a scooch of afrobeat and a bunch of 80s synthy creamy goodness.

One of my favorite DJ/producers, Flying Lotus, has a new CD about to hit on April 20th. Called Cosmogramma, if first single "Quakes" is any indication, the knob twiddler has done it yet again. Seriously, this is one of the top three CDs i'm looking forward to this year. Sure, i can't remember much more than three upcoming CD release dates at any given time, but that's not the point. This one is going to be dope, kiddies.

mp3: Quakes (Flying Lotus from Cosmogramma)

Maintaining the hip hop vibe, Kidz in the Hall just dropped Land of Make Believe and want you to get all hot and horny for it by sharing "Simple Life" with all of us today. Now, i'm somewhat ambivalent towards the whole backpack scene. Some acts are money, some are yawners. Lyrically speaking, these kids are at the top of the pack. Aforementioned lyrical skills abound on this track.

mp3: Simple Life (Kidz in the Hall ft. Amanda Diva from Land of Make Believe)

Combining my love of furry costumes and all things Scandinavian, Norwegian up and comers Casiokids' new Topp stemning på lokal bar hits shelves on March 16. Eschewing the gloom and grime for a grittier dance floor beat, these cats make my head nod with their latest single, "Fot I Hose." Ass shaking can't be too far behind that. And their cover album art has a grown folk dressed in a bunny outfit. While i can't necessarily condone dry humping in furry costumes, i certainly encourage said outfits as appropriate weekend, around town wear. And no, i can't translate any of that stuff, either. i'm completely guessing it has something to do with steamroller tokes at Dutch coffee shops, but that could be the music talking

mp3: Fot i hose (Casiokids from Topp stemning på lokal bar)

mp3: Finn bikkjen! (Casiokids from Topp stemning på lokal bar)

Conceivably my favorite new band name, Hudson Mohawke brings more of that foreign electro-instrumental funk to our shores today. Not only is "Rising 5" a bit of Aphex Twinsly, burbling confunksion, but homeboy's website is a kickass 80s-style Journey video game knock-off, wherein you're a slab of butter (incidentally the title of his new CD) trying to float your way upwards. If that isn't enough to pique your interest, then you, sir or madam, are a greedy ass. The fact that the music is splendiferous is just gravy.

mp3: Rising 5 (Hudson Mohawke from Butter)

Just to confuse things, Nice Nice bridges the gap on their upcoming Extra Wow (April 6), providing a predominantly instrumental track with "See Waves." Vocals do finally appear, but this is a crock pot of jangly guitars, throbbing drums and wobbly plunking. Not recommended for those who would prefer to wall flower this evening. Tribal roots are likely to get you to remove articles of clothing and dance around an outdoor bonfire with people of questionable moral upbringing. Consider yourself forewarned.

mp3: See Waves (Nice Nice from Extra Wow)

LET favorite Alan Wilkis brings us this week's sole remix, his excellent take on RJD2's "The Shining Path." ADub needs to slow things down a bit. If he keeps hitting us up with all these excellent tracks in 2010, he's going to give Madlib a run for his money for the title of Most Voluminous Beatmaker of the Year. Seriously, guys, get yourself some sleep sometime. You're making the rest of us look bad.

mp3: The Shining Path (RJD2 Remix by Alan Wilkis)

Not wanting to be left out of this fine company, i'm sure, Radioactive Man nee Keith Tenniswood has a free EP to promote his upcoming Pretty Ugly, including a track from his previous Growl and the title track from the newbie. The man's Chernobyl-like touch on the board is unmistakably good, but why take my word for it? i mean, other than me being the Lord Bellwether of All Things Cool and Funkable?

mp3: Growl (Radioactive Man from Growl)

mp3: Pretty Ugly (demo version) (Radioactive Man from Pretty Ugly)

To close out this weekly edition, Fair Ohs want you to hear "Hey Lizzie." And i think you should, too, because Lizzie is a fun name, bound to inspire an equally enjoyable track. Hell, the couple of Lizzies i have known have been hellfire fun good times. Mission accomplished, kids.

mp3: Hey Lizzie (Fair Ohs from Spectrals/Fair Ohs split 7" )

100 Shows of 2010 - #3: Bear In Heaven @ Rock’n’Roll Hotel, 3/6/10

I was oh so very excited about seeing Bear In Heaven live. On record, they are so very good. I was hoping they’d somehow manage to be even better up on the stage at the old Rock’n’Roll Hotel, and sure enough they were. While the band was magnificent, the crowd and sound left something to be desired. Can’t have everything, I guess.

MINI RECAP: Bear In Heaven = unbelievable. Overall score: A.

It was crowded at the Hotel for the show. Very, very, very crowded. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen the place so packed from wall to wall, and I’ve been to several sold out shows there. I suppose it was to be expected, given the bill (not only Bear In Heaven but Freelance Whales and Cymbals Eat Guitars as well). But hot damn. It was so crowded that I didn’t have enough personal space to whip out the ole notebook for notation purposes. Thank the lord for the notepad function on cell phones, eh? From a journalistic standpoint, and personal space standpoint, I sure do wish the show had been at the Black Cat instead.

Complaining ends there. Because, you see, Bear In Heaven was so dang good that they could have played the itty bittiest little choked-up hole in the wall and I would have been in musical bliss. I’d cautiously entertain the notion that this is a band that’s even better live than they are recorded (they probably should get moving on a live album if you ask me). There’s something raw to them live, they’ve got a little more attitude. All four of them came out with their game faces on, and were pretty intense for the duration of their ten-song set. It was a wild, madcap swirl of a set, filling eardrums with funky, big beaty, psychy, electrogasmic insanity. And oh mercy, was it loud. It was like being punched in the face with a big bastard wall of noise. And it was beautiful. Bear In Heaven was completely hypnotic, and if I had had the room to dance around like a woman possessed I would have done it.

Despite a few issues with the sound (at times it was a little too muddled, and the bass was maybe just a little too loud on a few songs), the entire set was sensational. And I’ll remember the eternal line uttered by the band midway through their set: “Moustaches Forever.” A wonderful, hilarious sentiment. I’ve had them in my head pretty much non-stop since the show, “Wholehearted Mess” in particular with that mesmerizing beat and the cheeky drum break. I think it’s safe to declare Bear In Heaven one of my new favorite live bands. Take my advice, friends, if you have the chance, make sure you go and see them live. You’ll thank me.

mp3: Wholehearted Mess (Bear in Heaven from Beast Rest Forth Mouth)

The Untitled Interview #34 – SXSW Edition: Starring G. Lucas Crane (Woods)

I’m finding it hard to believe that it’s almost time once again for the annual industry hootenanny known as SXSW. In a few short days, Austin will be taken over. To celebrate the impending week of absolute havoc, Austin-style, we’ve thrown down the interview gauntlet to see what some of our favorite bands are going to be getting up to whilst gettin down in the wilds of Texas.

I pity the fool that doesn’t like Woods, I really do. After all, to not like Woods means to not like the sound of endless stretches of dirt country roads, vast expanses of sun-bleached desert nothingness or sweeping landscapes full of mist-covered mountains and trees tinted by autumn. The music Woods make, well, it’s really rather fine. “Curious perfection,” you might call it, as they sing in “The Number,” off the fantastic record Songs of Shame. The more I think about it, the more I think you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not being a Woods fan. It’s never too late to start, thankfully. And what better way to show your love than by going to see them live? SXSW attendees can see Woods, as can a whole lot of us folks who aren’t going to Austin, seeing as they’re touring around the festival. See what G. Lucas Crane is stoked about at SXSW below. And if you do happen to see them while in Austin, maybe bring ‘em some bags of ice. Or pants.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
G. Lucas Crane: We’re driving in our Ford Econoline named “Vivian.”

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
GLC: Bags of Ice. Enough Pants.

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
GLC: (no response – but they’re playing no less than 4 times)

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
GLC: Fresh and Onlys and Pocahaunted, both bands full of solid bros.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
GLC: Go swimming and eat smoked meats.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
GLC: The Warped Tour. Columbus, Ohio. 94. I have almost no memory of it though, I remember smoking weed with a trucker and there was a fight during Kool Keith when someone threw a shoe at him.

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
GLC: Time Dilation. When you gather thousands of people together and commit them to party their asses off, time itself ceases to have any relation to what the watch says. Short sets last forever. Long distances are traveled in split seconds. An open bar cooked in the hot sun never ends. The bloody Mary becomes bottomless.

mp3: I Was Gone (Woods from At Echo Lake {due out in May 2010})

[photo by Erina Digby]

Best Non-Gig of 2009: Lebowski Fest DC

A man (the man for his time and place) returns home after a trip to Ralph’s convenience store to make an all-important purchase of milk (for his evening Caucasian, of course), only to find two uninvited and ill-mannered guests waiting for him. Mild unpleasantness ensues, and after a traumatic incident involving a close encounter with his toilet bowl, the man is left alone, perplexed, with a pee stain on his beloved living room rug, a rug that really tied the room together. And then, the opening strains of Bob Dylan’s “The Man in Me” fill the air, and the enthusiastic hootin’ and hollerin’ begins. Welcome friends, nay, Achievers, to Lebowski Fest DC. If you weren’t there, you should have been, because it was one of the best events of the whole damn year.

For me, attending Lebowski Fest DC was never negotiable. I might be a fairly recent convert, but I fell fast and I fell hard for the Coen Brother’s masterpiece (otherwise known as “The Big Lebowski,” to use the parlance of our times) about a middle-aged slacker residing in Los Angeles and his misadventures involving bowling, Bunny, and White Russians. Soon I found myself not only owning the movie, but quoting from it at any given moment as well. And I’m definitely not alone in my Lebowski adoration. As it would happen, we have a couple of serious Lebowski enthusiasts to thank for Lebowski Fest, Will Russell and Scott Shuffit. The pair of Louisville-ians were so enamored with the movie that they had a party for it, way back in 2002, and the whole thing ballooned from there, much to the surprise and delight of the founders. Soon, things had become so big that even Jeff Bridges was getting in on the fun. He even taped a faux-satellite feed intro for the movie that was shown before the film began.

And that’s cool, that’s cool.

These days, Lebowski Fest is a traveling show of insanity and mild obsession, with fun and enjoyment being the main objectives. The cities chosen for Lebowski Fest vary (and you can request a stop on the LF route), though you can always count on the annual party in Lexington. The circus has even been across the pond. Some cities are single-nighters, but in DC we lucked out. The festival was broken into two nights; night one being a movie screening/live performance at the 9:30 Club, night two a bowling extravaganza at the rather swanky Strike! Bethesda.

Sadly, thanks to the glorious clusterfuck known as I-95 traffic I missed the musical talents of the Black Diamond Heavies, though I hear they were verily entertaining. The club was full of Achievers, both costumed and non. The mainstage floor was covered with chairs, turning the 9:30 Club into a pretty great movie theatre. I don’t know about you, but I find the whole movie-going experience to be vastly improved with fully-stocked bars. The crowd was whooping it up the whole time, which, if you’ve ever seen the film shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. After it was all said and done, the friend I had roped into coming with me and I went to Ben’s Chili Bowl to get some grub, and he gave me the party favor he had collected. It was a crumpled up piece of paper, homework, if you will. In a clever play on one of the seminal props in the film, the Founding Achievers had handed out copies of Larry Sellers’ homework, but instead of a schoolkid bullshit paper, it was the lyrics to the Kenny Rogers’ song you’ll hear in the film, adapted to DC, of course. Naturally, it was in a plastic baggie, which should serve as a reminder to us all that you shouldn’t fuck a stranger in the ass. Or at least, that you shouldn’t try to destroy a stranger’s car until you know for sure that it belongs to the stranger to whom you are trying to prove a point to. Am I wrong?

Night two required another splendid drive up good old 95, this time with the added pleasure of the hike up 495 to Bethesda. But the agony of the road was well made up for by the ecstasy of the evening. Strike! Bethesda is quite the posh alley. Fancy scorekeeping devices, graphics either mocking you for gutterballs or emphasizing strikes and spares. I saw more of the former, I confess. The crowd at Strike! was much more modest than at the previous night’s festivities, but this portion of the Fest was definitely geared more towards the hardcore fans. Costumes abounded, as did copious bowling shirts. And White Russians, naturally. I bucked with tradition on that point, but did manage to consume much vodka, keeping in the spirit of the proceedings. I ended up bowling with two fellow Virginians, who were both exceedingly better bowlers than I and very nice dudes to boot. They were some of the bowling-shirt contingent, as it so happens they once had a team named in honor of the movie. All in all, it was a great evening of costume contests, bowling, and cocktails.

The new schedule has been announced for the 2010 series of Lebowski Fest. Start working on your costumes, friends.

mp3: Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) (Kenny Rogers & The First Edition from The Big Lebowski OST)

The Untitled Interview #33 – SXSW Edition: Starring Matthew Byars (The Caribbean)

I’m finding it hard to believe that it’s almost time once again for the annual industry hootenanny known as SXSW. In a few short days, Austin will be taken over and all hell will break loose. To celebrate the impending week of absolute havoc, Austin-style, we’ve thrown down the interview gauntlet to see what some of our favorite bands are going to be getting up to whilst gettin down in the wilds of Texas.

It has definitely warmed the cockles of my heart to see some solid local bands heading down to Austin to represent DC this year at SXSW. The Caribbean has been around for quite a few years now, and it’s nice to know they’re getting some big time festival cred. After all, they’re just so very appealing, mellow and melodic and just sorta pretty songs. In a way, their music reminds me of DC in the spring, right before it gets too bloody hot. They should do rather well down there in Texas, I do believe. If you’re heading that way, you’ve got two chances to see ‘em. Don’t sleep.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Matthew Byars: Plane. Then automobile.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
MB: Yes.

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
MB: Two.

LET: Bands you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
MB: 1) Collections of Colonies of Bees 2) Tobacco. 3) Slaraffenland.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
MB: Finding Adam & Sara from our label.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
MB: We played SXSW in 1997 as part of a previous band; that was my first festival experience.

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
MB: In my experience, festivals largely suck, but SXSW is special. Best city for it to be in, especially in March, and the closed-off streets make everything super accessible. It's also a rare opportunity for the entire Hometapes family to be together, and we're generally pretty close, so that's special.

mp3: Bees, Their Vision and Language (The Caribbean from Populations)

Old Skool Review: Kwame and A New Beginning

HearYa recently wondered what the hot, new style was going to be at this year's SXSW. i'm guessing polka dots.

It's been two decades, more or less, since polka dots were the hottest thing in rap, but some of us still remember. And who do we have to thank for the dubious fashion choice of the day?

Kwamé, aka K-1 Million, had a couple of breakout albums (at least by hip hop standards of the late 80s/early 90s) back in the day, starting with Kwamé the Boy Genius: Featuring a New Beginning before dropping his game changing concept album, A Day in the Life: A Pokadelick Adventure. The latter followed the intrepid hero over the course of a typical high school day, and we used to play this one non-stop on our boom boxes. That's right, i was one of those misguided white, suburban kids who was a breakdancing MASTER (in a league of white, suburban kids, this was not much of a title to have, but i'll take what i can get. Street cred includes winning a dance-off against two other pudgy white kids at a Piggley-Wiggley Convention. Good times, good times.). It spawned a couple of singles, including "Oneovdabigboiz" and the biggest of his career, "Ownlee Eue."

Kwamé had a couple of things going for him. First, he was one of the few MCs of the day that used an actual live band. Secondly, he had storytelling skills on par with the masters of the day, like Dana Dane, a young Fresh Prince, and the like.

Sadly, Kwamé was largely regulated to joke territory after a series of disses on wax around the failure to chart of his fourth album, culminating with Biggie's line from "Unbelievable," "Your life is played out like Kwamé, and them fuckin' polka-dots."

Well, guess what? Biggie was HUGELY overrated (wouldn't even be a footnote in hip hop history if not for his murder), and the Polka Dot Kid has enjoyed a second career as a leading producer, playing roles in hits for such artists as Mary J. Blige, LL Cool J, Method Man and Raven Symone. That's right, Kwame helped the musical career of Olivia Kendall. What have you done lately?

If all that weren't enough, old boy's cousin is Vin Diesel, who incidentally danced in some of Kwame's early videos. Sadly, i could not track down said videos, as they appear to have been removed by YouTube. If you have a copy of "Nastee," consider yourself fortunate. For the rest of us, i guess we'll have to make due with this:

i'd say my breakdancing title remains intact, if this is the competition.

And that, children, is your half the battle for today.

mp3: The Rhythm (Kwame and A New Beginning from Kwamé the Boy Genius: Featuring a New Beginning)

mp3: The Man We All Know and Love (Kwame and A New Beginning from Kwamé the Boy Genius: Featuring a New Beginning)

mp3: Ownlee Eue (Kwame and A New Beginning from A Day in the Life: A Pokadelick Adventure)

mp3: Oneovdabigboiz (Kwame and A New Beginning from A Day in the Life: A Pokadelick Adventure)

It's Almost That Time Again

OK, i realize i'm a tad early to bust out the greatest Springtime mix you will ever hear, but have you been outside today? It's fricking gorgeous, and looks to be that way for at least the next few days. Sure, that bastard Poor Richard seems to think there's one more major snowfall due this March, but who cares what he says anyways?

As the weather turns, just before it gets unacceptably hot and sticky here in the DC swamp, er, area, you know what time it is.

Aw yeah, baby, it's Sundress Time.

Methinks it's about time to take The Missus shopping for the occasion.

Sweet Bippy, i love this time of year.

mp3: Sundress (The Phat Cat Players featuring Coco Brown from Make It Phat, Baby!)

mp3: Sundress (Ben Kweller from Ben Kweller)

The Untitled Interview #32 – SXSW Edition: Starring Nikki Darlin (Those Darlins)

I’m finding it hard to believe that it’s almost time once again for the annual industry hootenanny known as SXSW. To celebrate the impending week of absolute havoc, Austin-style, we’ve thrown down the interview gauntlet to see what some of our favorite bands are going to be getting up to whilst gettin down in the wilds of Texas.

My dear partner Chris is totally and completely enamored with our next guests, the lovely, super spunky ladies of Those Darlins. I’ve gotta say, I’m beginning to find them rather irresistible myself. I love the idea of a band of wild women making fresh and frisky music clearly influenced by some of the greatest ladies (and gents) of country’s illustrious past. They’re cute, they’re more than a little badass, and I get the feeling they’ll have all of Austin cow-towing to their whims as soon as they set foot in Texas. Plus, as a Virginia girl myself, I’ve got a little extra love for Miss Nikki. Here’s hoping she doesn’t forget her comfortable shoes, as they’ve got quite a busy little schedule planned out.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Nikki Darlin: We will be traveling in our illegally tinted Chevy Astro van and hopefuly we will be arriving in it.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
ND: Sunscreen, extra sunglasses, sex toys, comfortable shoes.

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
ND: 5 so far:

Wed the 17th:
3:50pm - Terrorbird Party @ RED 7 (outdoor stage - 611 East 7th Street)
with: Neon Indian, Real Estate, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Choir of Young Believers, Frankie Rose & the Outs, Beach Fossils, Inlets, A Sunny Day In Glasgow, Toro Y Moi, Matias Aguayo, Oh No Ono, The Fresh and Onlys, Stricken City, Ernest Gonzalez, The Splinters
1AM – BMI Showcase to benefit Girls Rock Camp @ Submerged (333 E 2nd St)

THURS the 18th:
3:50 - LITTLE RADIO PARTY @ RED EYED FLY
11PM: Billboard Official Showcase at Billboard.com Bungalo (Habana Backyard - 708 E 6th St)

FRIDAY the 19th:
5pm: DEER TICK PRESENTS PARTY @ Threadgills South 301 West Riverside Drive

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
ND: I haven't figured out all the bands schedules yet so I'm not sure who I will get to see. I am looking forward to meeting up with a lot of bands we have toured with in the last year. I guess I will just figure it out when I get there. I know Jessi is interested in seeing The Strange Boys and The Beets.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
ND: I can't wait to jump out of our van into warm weather (hopefully), go gorge on BBQ and booze, then try to find all my band buddies and have a reunion.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
ND: I used to play a music festival every year after I picked up the guitar in my hometown Rappahannock County, VA. I think I started when I was 11. I think there is video footage of me playing a bunch of Beatles songs to a lot of supportive locals. I'm sure I was awful.

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
ND: It depends on the kind of festival. I guess running around eating, drinking, meeting new people, seeing your favorite bands all playing in walking distance from each other and getting into trouble with them later.

mp3: Wild One (Those Darlins from Those Darlins)

The Untitled Interview #31 – SXSW Edition: Starring H. Walker (Kerretta)

I’m finding it hard to believe that it’s almost time once again for the annual industry hootenanny known as SXSW. Just over a week from now, Austin will once again turn into the flame for thousands of musical moths. To celebrate the impending week of absolute havoc, Austin-style, we’ve thrown down the interview gauntlet to see what some of our favorite bands are going to be getting up to whilst gettin down and dirty in the wilds of Texas.

Yet again, our guest stars hail from the Other Land Down Under, New Zealand. Kerretta, however, are fairly unique among their countrymen. Come to think of it, they’re pretty special in general. They create a seriously far-out instrumental sound, full of sonic confusion, crunchy guitars and an all-encompassing feeling of (rather pleasant) darkness. There’s some definite fierceness in their music, and their slightly menacing, aggressive sound is darned appealing. I get the feeling that seeing Kerretta live might make my brain explode, since this sounds like the kind of music that can get to bone-rattling decibels. Among bands they’ve played with are Explosions In The Sky and Mono, two wonderfully noisy bands. If you’re lucky enough to be in the path of their first US tour, I’d suggest you go check ‘em out. And let me know how long it takes to regain your sense of sound. And if you happen to see the band in Austin, please make sure they’re looking the right way when they cross the street.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
H. Walker: By aeroplane.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
HW: Step-power transformer. It converts 220 Volts to 110 Volts. Without it we are resigned to either a lot of battery power or our first adventure into handclaps and acoustic weaponry.

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
HW: At this stage we have no idea. All the best parties are largely unplanned though right?

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
HW: Maybe GZA or Liars.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
HW: Ensuring we look the correct way when crossing the street (we drive on the other side of the road in New Zealand, you see).

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
HW: Big Day Out, as a ticket buyer. It was kind of like the Lollapalooza of the South Pacific. Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins and The Breeders played. The rest were local artists as the international ones had rinsed the promoters’ budget I think.

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
HW: Enjoying a band you never would have likely purchased tickets for. Eg. The Flaming Lips; live it was a weird and engaging mix of heavy swung drums and a kids TV programme. Truly amazing.

100 Shows of 2010 - #2: Seas/Blood Feathers/Tough Shits @ Black Cat, 3/4/10

This show had been on my radar for quite some time, and I had pretty high expectations for the bands. I was initially concerned that my expectation of a fantastic show might lead to disappointment, but happily, this wasn’t the case. The Philly contingent and the local lads definitely made good, and had me contentedly beaming all evening.

MINI RECAP: Tough Shits = a very pleasant surprise! Blood Feathers = oh my heavens! Seas = extremely expectation-exceeding! Overall score: A!

The first of my DC shows of this series definitely had to be at the Black Cat. As I always say, it’s my bar away from home. I’ve seen countless bands play here, and I enjoy seeing bands in the smaller backstage area, because it feels like you’re seeing bands on the verge. And I think I saw a few of those Thursday night.

I saw the members of Tough Shits wandering around the bar before the show, and I wasn’t totally sure about them. But once the Philly guys got going, my mind was put to rest. They were pretty darn good, and charming…in their own special way (I have the image of a red bandanna burned into my brain). Despite declaring exhaustion after just one song, the Tough Shits unleashed their jaunty rock’n’pop on the ever-larger crowd backstage. They’d quite possibly hate my saying so, but the entire band is so adorable that I just wanted to pinch their cheeks. I have no idea why I hadn’t already heard of them, but I totally dug their streetwise, sarcastic, and dare I say almost sweet (at times, these guys aren't into soft rock) tunes. And bless their little hearts, they looked stunned when the crowd wanted an encore. Really good stuff.

After the Tough Shits, the crowd really started pouring into the small room that is the backstage. It was time for Philadelphians #2, Blood Feathers, or the “local hipster supergroup” according to my spies in Philly. Fitting six people on the stage is asking a lot, but the band seemed to have no troubles and got right into their performance. I sure don’t think of Philly when I hear them, but hot damn I was instantly impressed. They’ve got great stage presence (yay banter!), and the songs are pretty good, too. How can you not love a band that introduces a song by saying, “We love dance music. We do our best to provide dance music. Sometimes it requires maracas.” If I didn’t love them already, I did from that moment forward. Blood Feathers sound like a honky tonk, Philly style. The sound is rich, very danceable, and as is a hallmark of good bands, even better live than on record. I’m officially hoppin on the Blood Feathers bandwagon.

After the rambunctious rollicking of Blood Feathers, there was still more good music to be had. Seas, signed to a Richmond friend’s label (Decoration Day), is the brainchild of DC-ite Ben Green. I’m way into the album Now My Home is a Beech Tree, and had the highest of high expectations for the live show. Armed with an acoustic guitar and with a little help from some friends, Ben held court masterfully. Seas’ set was superb. This is beautiful, effortless music. It’s so warm, so rich, and so very lovely. The couple sitting at the table in front of me rested their heads together at one point, an action I think sums up the feel of the set rather well. There’s a fantastic quiet confidence in Seas songs, delicate and powerful at the same time. For his part, Ben is affable and totally likeable, unassuming and pleasant, a genuine troubadour. Seas is definitely a DC act to keep your eyes on, and I know I sure will be.

mp3: The Buried Ranges (Seas from Now My Home is a Beech Tree)

mp3: King Cotton & The Little Star (For Bo Diddley) (Blood Feathers from Goodness Gracious)

Another Late Free Music Friday: The Swedey, Flowery, Fraternally, Poorly Lit, Grandfatherly, Mostly Honkified, Somewhat Soulful Edition

Ah yes, the joys of blogging. i had almost forgotten how nice you feel on my bare feet, all squishy like between the toes.

Just because i've been busier than a one-winged pigeon at an all-you-can-eat popcorn buffet doesn't mean my metaphorical skills have improved one bit. Fortunately, that hasn't stopped anyone from sending me all sorts of freebie music to share with the unwashed masses.

If you've read here for any amount of time, you know i'm just silly for damn near anything from our Scandinavian brothers and sisters. The People's Record, the latest from Club 8 due on May 18, 2010, is no exception. Lead single "Western Hospitality," in addition to clearly speaking to my day job in the hotel industry, is full of the "woah-oh-oh-ohs" that makes any song a rump shaker. Throw in those soaring keys, funky drums and come hither vocals, and the neighbors might damn well feel like calling the law because there's little doubt you're going to want to blast this one at maximum volume at your next get together, key party, swingers affair, neighborhood block gathering, etc. On a tangentially related note, is it just me or is lead singer Karolina Komstedt a ringer for a young Jenna Elfman?

mp3: Western Hospitality (Club 8 from The People's Record)

As long as we're talking about joyously spastic music perfect for white person booty wiggling (not that brown, black, yellow, polka dotted and any other colored asses aren't welcome, too), Fang Island has a new eponymous one out, and lead single "Daisy" sounds a bit like Vampire Weekend, but with a bit more testicular fortitude. i just realized whilst penning the prior sentence that Vampires have fangs, but i'm not sure if there's any kind of weekend island plans the undead have of which any vacationers should be aware. i'll leave that to each of you to determine for yourselves individually, but LET accepts no responsibility for any Nosferatusian hickeys.

mp3: Daisy (Fang Island from Fang Island)

Changing the tenor of things completely, but not ratcheting down the good times one iota, Born Ruffians are here with their latest single, "Sole Brother," from Say It (due out June 1, 2010). This is a slower number than the aforementioned, but it's got a similar kooky groove those indie kids are just so darned mad for these days.

mp3: Sole Brother (Born Ruffians from Say It)

To bring down the honkey factor of today, here are a couple of new gems from my fave hip-hop label, Stones Throw. Using his recent Ethiopium as fodder, Oh No has remixed the Whitefield Brother's "The Gift." What's more, it appears Now-Again has signed artist Dimlite, hinting that future releases are in the works.

mp3: The Gift (Whitefield Brothers ft. Edan Y Mr. Lif from Earthology)

mp3: Diana Won't (from Dimlite)

To end on a paler note, every one's favorite pa's pa, Jason Lytle, dropped a new video and hints that he's forming a new band with members of Earlimart and Grandaddy, apparently called Admiral Radley. Hopefully, much more on this to follow.

Jason Lytle "Wonder Why In LA" from jason lytle on Vimeo.

The Untitled Interview #30 – SXSW Edition: Starring Logan Collins (Surf City)

I’m finding it hard to believe that it’s almost time once again for the annual industry hootenanny known as SXSW. To celebrate the impending week of absolute havoc, Austin-style, we’ve thrown down the interview gauntlet to see what some of our favorite bands are going to be getting up to whilst down there whoopin' and hollerin' it up in the wilds of Texas.

My old roommate down there in Richmond was an amazing resource for music. She was into totally obscure shit that nobody I know had ever heard of, and she was also big into bands from New Zealand (which, with a few exceptions was also a region that was pretty obscure to me). One CD she let me borrow had some songs on it by a band called Surf City. Given Chelsea's proclivity towards older bands, I figured they were some long disbanded band from the early 80s. But lo and behold, I was wrong. The fantastic, surf pop meets vintage Kiwi rock that made me so happy was in fact made by a band that's actually together at this very moment in time. And these bitchin boys will be winning over the folks down in Austin in no time flat, I predict. Thankfully, they're also spreading their love all around the US this Spring, and believe me when I say you most definitely absolutely positively without question should go and see them. Drummer Logan Collins gives us the details on his plans for SXSW.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Logan Collins: Well we are coming from LA so we will be flying.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
LC: Towels, flannel, soap, extra socks and undies.

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
LC: We are playing 6 shows I think anyway.

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
LC: Acid Mothers Temple should be good.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
LC: Finding somewhere to stay and eating some BBQ ribs.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
LC: Christian camp was cool but then I went to Big Day Out and that was rad.

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
LC: Well the music is cool.

mp3: Autumn (new Surf City...buy other Surf City)