Author Archives: the OCMD
J. Tillman – Vacilando Territory Blues
Artist: J. Tillman
Album: Vacilando Territory Blues
File Under: New Folk, Singer/Songwriter
Recommended if You Like: Fleet Foxes, Iron & Wine, Bon Iver, Nick Drake, Ryan Adams, Great Lake Swimmers
Featured Track: “First Born”
While he may be known best as a member of the Fleet Foxes, J.Tillman is an accomplished solo artist with quite an impressive body of work under his belt. He continues to release material under his own name and has often been compared to Nick Drake, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, and Elliott Smith.
Vacilando Territory Blues is his fifth album and features other Fleet Foxes members Casey Wescott and Christian Wargo. And you can hear their influence in the music – or vice versa. The album is beautiful and does sound a lot like Fleet Foxes, without the multi-layered harmonies. Firstborn is probably the most reminiscent of his side project work with the now famous Seattle band. He does pull out some full band, blues-tinged tracks like “New Imperial Grand Blues” to keep you on your toes, but most of the album is quiet and sparse which bodes well for late night listens.
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Another Expensive Habit
Marcona almonds are my equivalent to a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. They are shockingly addictive and I have no will power when it comes to them, whatsoever. I just eat the whole container and don’t even try and stop myself anymore. But damn are they expensive. Between this and my gourmet coffee habit I could probably build a small village in a third world country.
Listen to new music from Bishop Allen‘s forthcoming album Grrr out 3/10. This track is called “The Ancient Commonsense of Things”
Bitch, I Love You
Screw the Hallmark Valentine’s Day card, let Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears debut EP, Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is, tell your woman how you feel this year. Citing James Brown and Lightnin’ Hopkins as influences, the Austin-based combo has the kind of gritty attitude and bluesy grooves that would pass muster in the toughest juke joint.
The full length album is due out March 2009. But you can start shaking your booty now with this tasty selection of tracks from their EP.
Track List:
Gunpowder
Bitch, I Love You
Cousin Randy
Master Sold My Baby
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DeVotchka @ The Fillmore
Going from Fruit Bats to Devotchka the next night was a complete 180 for me musically. And it honestly took me a little while to make that transition from dive bar mode to circus carnival, complete with a string section, horn section and Cirque du Soleil-level acrobats and contortionists. I haven’t seen a show like that since…well, never. Do they actually travel with this ensemble? I confirmed with their publicist that yes indeed they do. They put on a very impressive show, I must say. Not only are they talented musicians but amazing performers as well.
Listen to “How it Ends“:
Fruit Bats @ Bottom of the Hill
Ah, what a great night of music with the Fruit Bats and Sera Cahoone last week at Bottom of the Hill. It was a pedal guitar extravaganza, which is quite alright by me as it’s one of my favorite instruments. It’s been more than 3 years since the Fruit Bats have played but you would never had known. Eric D. Johnson is touring with a new band to try out some fresh material and it sounded lovely. He’s a talented singer/songwriter with such sweet songs of love and nature it’s hard not to be smitten. They were good about mixing in the old with the new to keep the crowd happy too. After countless requests for ‘The Little Acorn’, Eric finally obliged but had to do so solo because the band hadn’t learned that tune, which did surprise me. How could you not include that song in your repertoire? One of my favorites.
Listen to ‘The Little Acorn‘:
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Ticketmaster Did This To Me
I’ve always taken pride in my ability to stay away from this smut. I don’t read it online, watch it on TV, or buy the magazines. So imagine my horror when I found an US subscription in my mail box IN MY NAME? How humiliating. What are the neighbors going to think of me? Honestly, I didn’t do this. I just ordered tickets to a show at the Fillmore through Ticketmaster and as a door prize I get a free subscription to this trash. And it comes every week! The saddest part of all? I’m totally going to read it.
Listen to “Testimony” by The Phenomenal Handclap Band
In Anticipation: Heartless Bastards – The Mountain
More bluesy, soulful rock coming your way! Heartless Bastards will release their third album, The Mountain, on Fat Possum Records February 3.
Listen to ‘The Mountain‘:
In Anticipation: Dan Auerbach – Keep it Hid
Dan Auerbach, better known as one half of The Black Keys, is releasing his solo debut, Keep it Hid, on February 10 through Nonesuch Records and I can’t wait. I love his soulful, bluesy groove. Sexy, sexy. Hot damn. Fellow Ohioan Jessica Lea Mayfield also makes an appearance on the album. He’ll be playing at San Francisco’s Bimbo’s 365 Club on March 13 with Hacienda. Doesn’t get any better than that. Who’s with me?
Listen to ‘I Want Some More’:
Listen to ‘Prowl‘:
Trendspotting: Girl Drummers – Eagle and Talon
I love the drums and have become obsessed with girl drummers. Not so long ago they were all but a rarity, or just a novelty act associated with an all girl band. It seemed that being a drummer was strictly part of the macho boys club. While female singers and guitarists have earned respect, female drummers still struggle to be taken seriously (think Meg White). And if they do get credit, it’s in that ‘not bad for a girl’ kind of way.
But more and more I see girl drummers turning up in new, up and coming indie bands. They’re not just a novelty act anymore. And I love it! So much so that I’ve been compiling a list of these hot young ladies to be featured in this trendspotting series: Girl Drummers.
Note: my intent with this series is to uncover the new, fresh talent. Not to shortchange the pantheon of fabulous and established female drummers out there – like Sheila E., Samantha Maloney (Hole), Cindy Blackman (drummer for Lenny Kravitz), Tobi Vail (Bikini Kill) or even Karen Carpenter (yes, she was a drummer!) – but I’m going to stay away from the history lesson and fast forward to now.
Meet Alice Talon (on the left) of LA-based Eagle and Talon, a post-punk girl band whose stripped-down minimalist rock “makes you wonder whether you’re being pet by a kitten or mauled by a lynx.” They’re primarily a guitar and drums-based affair and from some of the video footage I’ve seen, this girl can play drums. Alice is a classically trained pianist who started drumming when she went to Taiwan to discover her roots and subsequently spent many an afternoon drumming in the basements of Taipei.
The duo has toured with Sia and shared stages with the likes of The Airborne Toxic Event and Bodies of Water. They are currently on tour supporting their debut LP, Tracian. You can catch them live in San Francisco tonight at The Hemlock.
Listen to ‘Hot Caught‘:
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the OCMD 