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The Church of Dan is in session and it’s time to receive your weekly communion. Let’s all turn to page 129 in our hymnals and sing along. “Searching for light, gasping for air/Heartbroken, in disrepair.” Amen, brother.
Listen to “Cheerleader” :
Grizzly Bear‘s forthcoming release, Veckatimest, is due out May 26 and is easily one of the most anticipated albums so far this year. On par with the buzz of Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavillion. After seeing them perform their new work at The Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX at SXSW, I fully understand why. It was one of the most beautiful performances I’ve seen and left me with goosebumps. I too cannot wait for this album to come out. Add me to the list of eager fans counting down the days.
The band is touring extensively in support of the new album. Be sure to check their MySpace page for the latest tour info. For San Francisco-based readers, they will be performing at The Fillmore on June 21, 2009 with Here We Go Magic. A fantastic line up!
Pre-order the album direct from the band.
Benjy Ferree, “Pisstopher Crisstopher”
Benjy Ferree was one of my most anticipated shows of SXSW and my most disappointing. Imagine stumbling upon this track in the myriad of bands you’ve researched for SXSW, then arrive at an acoustic show. I was a disappointed, but not deterred.
After Austin, I dug into Ferree’s sophmore release Come Back to The Five & Dime, Bobby Dee Bobby Dee. The track, “Pisstopher Crisstopher”, that led me to him has been on repeat since Austin and will definitely make my ‘Best Songs of 2009’ list. (Can you hear Jack White in there?) Expecting to hear more of this hard-driving rock, I was a bit thrown by the hodge podge of genres on the album – a little rockabilly one minute then some Americana, du wop and rock the next. Not that it was bad, it was just a little confusing.
Then I learned the story behind the album, Come Back to The Five & Dime, Bobby Dee Bobby Dee, and it started to make a bit more sense. It’s a concept album inspired by the childhood actor, Bobby Driscoll, who from the age of 6 to 16 was the most acclaimed childhood actor of his time (’50s). Then he grew up, stopped being cute, and ultimately died alone at the age of 31 in his Manhattan apartment. His body went unidentified and was buried in an unmarked grave – so the story goes.
Ferree, himself a failed actor, used this story as inspiration for the album. Going so far as trying to recreate the appearance of Driscoll on the cover of his album. An interesting story, to say the least. Knowing this definitely gave more clarity to what I was listening to, especially the 50s du wop and rockabilly influence. I’m just not convinced he nailed the execution. There are, however, some real gems on the album that make we wonder what he can do when he’s not caught up in playing to a concept. I will be watching him, and waiting to find out.
Artist: Dan Auerbach
Album: Keep It Hid
File Under: Vintage Blues Rock
Recommended if You Like: The Black Keys, Heartless Bastards, The Raconteurs
Featured Tracks: “The Prowl”
If Clapton is God, then Dan Auerbach is Jesus Christ. That’s what all the comments on my YouTube video say anyway, about a posting I made of a recent live performance of him covering The Animals “Inside Looking Out”. “Dan Auerbach is the Jesus Christ of all musicians….the man is THE KING……JESUS CHRIST, WHAT A VOICE!”
And the comments just keep coming. I’ve been a longtime fan of The Black Keys so word of Dan’s new solo effort had me hot and bothered for months. But you never know how these solo gigs are going to go. I had to see it, touch it, feel it to believe it. Fortunately I had the chance to do so, right after his debut album (Keep It Hid) released, at Bimbos in San Francisco. Without a doubt it was one of the best live shows of the year. One that has fueled my first, full-fledged musical obsession for 2009. So much so that I have officially baptized myself to the Church of Dan.
Is Jesus Christ going too far? I don’t know, but it is Easter Sunday and he’s certainly a legend in the making. And quite frankly with the impressive body of work he’s generated recently, it’s hard to argue. In early 2008 he gave us the acclaimed album Attack & Release with The Black Keys, later that year they released a DVD Live at The Crystal Ballroom, then just months later his solo album Keep It Hid was unveiled – followed by an extensive tour that rolls right into another Black Keys tour. Whew! Call him whatever you want, but Dan is most definitely the man right now.
The Black Keys perform at the new Fox Theater in Oakland, Saturday April 18.
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I’ve gone stark raving mad for Starfucker. I saw them again this weekend at The Hemlock Tavern in San Francisco, to an overly packed crowd I might add. They are so much fun live. And the lead singer Ryan has some hot dance moves that can rival Beck. They’re on tour right now promoting their forthcoming album, Jupiter, due out May 5. Catch them at a venue near you.
Here’s a the new video for “German Love” and a new track from their upcoming album that premiered on MOKB, “Medicine“:
A quick break from our regularly scheduled program for a public service announcement plugging a cool project from local photographer and blogger, Julie of Tangobaby. She’s launched a new blog called I Live Here: SF that features portraits and stories of the people that call San Francisco home. It was amazing to meet her, hear her story, share our goals and ambitions and be a part of her dream. Such an interesting interlude to a random Friday.
Since we connected through the blogosphere, music was a big part of our conversation. As was fashion and my current obsession with my new peacock feather necklace. (Isn’t it pretty?) I was asked recently what we were listening to when this shot was taken. I can’t recall exactly, but if I had to choose one song to reflect my mood it would be Iran’s “Buddy“. I’m in love with this song. (More on this band later.)
Listen to “Buddy“:
I thoroughly enjoyed what felt like a TSOOL (The Soundtrack of Our Lives) private concert last night at The Independent. These guys know how to rock and have the attitude to match the music. Clad in satin red ‘The Who’ jackets and hippie tunics, they put on quite a performance with their guitar jams and theatrics.
TSOOL is one of my favorite rock bands from the 90s that have endured the test of time. The seasoned rockers are touring in support of their new double album, Communion, and wrapping up the limited US leg tonight in LA before heading back to Europe – where they are well know and adored.
Listen to: ‘Babel On’
The full set from Deerhunter’s show at San Francisco’s Noise Pop Festival this year. Awesome!
Thank you Justin Gage! Aquarium Drunkard’s label Autumn Tone Records released RAM On L.A. today – a tribute album to Paul McCartney’s classic 1971 solo album RAM (one of my favorite albums of all time, I might add) featuring a dozen L.A. based bands hand picked by Justin himself.
The not-for-profit compilation is available free via aquariumdrunkard.com. But listeners are encouraged to make donations to No More Landmines, the fantastic cause that “helps and empowers communities around the world by removing the threat of landmines and unexploded weapons.” A cause championed by Sir Paul McCartney himself. Donate here.
Listen to Radar Bros. take on “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey”:
“We’re so sorry Uncle Albert, but we haven’t done a bloody thing all day…”
Welcome to my first obsession of 2009.
the OCMD 