This is one crazy video Julie Doiron has concocted for the track “Consolation Prize“ off her album I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day.
Concert Pick O’ The Week: Ty Segall Tonight at The Hemlock
San Francisco’s one-man band, garage punk rock extraordinaire, Ty Segall, is having a CD release party tonight at The Hemlock. I fell in love with him the first time I heard him play, which was opening for Girls at the very same venue a year ago. Watching him sing, play guitar, drums and tambourine by himself was truly a sight to behold.
His new album, Lemons, is out July 14. Get into it!
2009 Polaris Prize Short List Announced; Handsome Furs Snubbed Again
The acclaimed Canadian Polaris Music Prize committee has announced their short list for the 2009 awards. And shockingly, The Handsome Furs get snubbed again. Balls! What’s wrong with you Canuks? Well, needless to say, I’m disappointed. I thought this year would be their time to shine. And with all do respect to the nominees that did make the cut, sorry for the rant and congratulations. I’m going to cast my vote for Chad VanGaalen, but my guess is Metric or K’NAAN or Great Lake Swimmers will win.
Artist: Elliott BROOD
Album: Mountain Meadows
From: Toronto
Listen: “The Valley Town”
Artist: Fucked Up
Album: The Chemistry Of Common Life
From: Toronto
Listen: “No Epiphany”
Artist: Great Lake Swimmers
Album: Lost Channels
From: Toronto
Listen: “Everything is Moving So Fast”
Artist: Hey Rosetta!
Album: Into Your Lungs (and around your heart and on through your blood)
From: St. John’s
Listen: “I’ve Been Asleep for A Long, Long Time”
Artist: K’NAAN
Album: Troubadour
From: Toronto
Listen: “If Rap Gets Jealous”
Artist: Malajube
Album: Labyrinthes
From: Montréal
Listen: “Porte Disparu”
Artist: Metric
Album: Fantasies
From: Toronto
Listen: “Help, I’m Alive”
Artist: Joel Plaskett
Album: Three
From: Halifax
Listen: “It’s Catchin’ On”
Artist: Chad VanGaalen
Album: Soft Airplane
From: Calgary
Listen: “Willow Tree”
Artist: Patrick Watson
Album: Wooden Arms
From: Montréal
Listen: “Tracy’s Waters”
Important Letter from Pandora Founder, Tim Westergren
I received this letter in my inbox today from Pandora founder, Tim Westergren and felt it was important to share. I’m not sure how many of you are aware of Pandora’s woes. The Internet radio giant has been struggling financially under unfair legislation issued by the Copyright Royalty Board that essentially doubled the royalties web radio stations must pay. Clearly an overt attempt to thwart the propagation of Internet music. One that threatened to put Pandora out of business.
Thankfully, Pandora reached a resolution that will keep them in business. But there’s a new bill in Congress, called the Performance Rights Act (H.R. 848), that’s being presented to address this issue for the long term. If passed it will create a more equitable and fair system for compensating artists across all forms of radio.
Please take just a minute to call Representative Nancy Pelosi’s office to ask her to sponsor and support the Performance Rights Act (H.R. 848):
Representative Nancy Pelosi
202-225-4965
The Black Keys’ Patrick Carney Has Band: Drummer
Not to be outdone by Dan Auerbach, the other half of The Black Keys – drummer Patrick Carney – now has his own side project aptly named Drummer. Their debut album, Feel Good Together, is set for release September 29 on Carney’s label, Audio Eagle.
Carney, who plays bass for the group, joins up with four long time friends—all Ohio-based drummers—to bring the project to life. Drummer is rounded out by: Jamie Stillman of Teeth of the Hydra, formerly of Party of Helicopters (guitar),Jon Finley of Beaten Awake, also formerly of Party of Helicopters (vocals, guitar), Stephen Clements of Houseguest and Six Parts Seven (keys, vocals) and Greg Boyd of Ghostman and Sandman (drums). The band will embark on a fall tour in support of the new album.
Hey SF: Check Out The Rural Alberta Advantage @ Bottom of the Hill 7/9
Rural Alberta Advantage “Sleep All Day”
Adrian over at IPickMyNose is hosting a nice line up of music tomorrow night at the Bottom of the Hill featuring the lovely Rural Alberta Advantage (a veritable tongue twister of a name, I tell ya.), and the Bay Area’s Okay and Half-Handed Cloud.
I had the opportunity to see Rural Alberta Advantage for the first time at SXSW this year opening for Grizzly Bear. It was an unexpected and surprising performance that definitely got people talking. Go see for yourself!
Silversun Pickups Unplugged: Panic Switch
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I can’t say I’m much of a Silversun Pickups fan. The Smashing Pumpkin similarities are just too much for me. But I do love this song – one of the best riffs of ’09. And they do a friggin’ fantastic job with this MTV unplugged version of if. For the entire MTV unplugged performance, click here.
Radiohead Fans – Meet Shadows On A River
Shadows On A River: “In Business”
It’s been a while since a band has wowed me and the Chicago-based group calling themselves Shadows on a River has done just that. I haven’t stopped listening to their debut since it arrived in my mailbox (thanks Undertow!). This is the best unsigned band I’ve heard so far this year.
Dark, brooding and experimental, their sound easily draws comparisons to the electronic rock genius of early Radiohead. Especially on tracks like “In Business” and “Ships Sailing Home”. Singer/songwriter David Hensen’s ethereal and haunting melodies and intricate arrangements complete the effect.
But let me be clear, because making a Radiohead comparison may be sacrilege for some. I’m not saying they imitate them, but inspire a similar feeling you get from listening to them. It’s “honest and transporting.” The kind of album you want to put on to get lost in. One that opens up and evolves with each and every listen.
So I say, bravo boys! If this is what you can create from an apartment in Chicago, I can’t wait to hear what you can do in a studio.
Be sure to download Shadows On A River from iTunes. Only $7.99 and you wont regret it.
My Summer Jam Album: The Phenomenal Handclap Band
The Phenomenal Handclap Band “You’ll Disappear”
I stumbled upon The Phenomenal Handclap Band at SXSW, fell head over heels in love and haven’t looked back since. Combining elements of soul, disco and psychedelic rock, their funky, booty shaking grooves are so infectious you can’t help but smile and bust a move. Thankfully, the band’s self-titled debut has just been released on Friendly Fire with enough new material to keep me jammin’ all summer long. Whoo hoo!
The Phenomenal Handclap Band is the vision of founding members Daniel Collás and Sean Marquand, two underground New York DJ’s who combined their encyclopedic knowledge of esoteric music with their vast network of friends in the indie rock and underground soul scene to create a supergroup of eclectic and original sound.
The Bay Area’s own Bart Davenport appears on a couple tracks, as does Jaleel Bunton (TV on the Radio), Aurelio Valle’s (Calla), Carol C (Sí Se) along with many other carefully chosen artists. When touring the band is distilled to an eight-member powerhouse that is a sight to behold! They’re so fun, and the perfect band for summer. So get your dancing shoes on and tear it up!
Stop The War On Fun!
The opposition to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control‘s attempt to shut down some of San Francisco’s finest all ages music venues takes a public face with the launch of the official website and rebranded PR campaign dubbed, Stop the War on Fun!
For those new to the issue, San Francisco has come under attack by the ABC on legally questionable new regulations they are trying to impose on some of the City’s legendary all ages music venues. If enforced some of our best music clubs – Bottom of the Hill, Great American Music Hall, Slim’s and Cafe du Nord – may be forced to close.
The fight has become the central issue in a recent crackdown on all things fun in the City caused by the State’s increased harassment of live music and entertainment venues for, what many call, inane technicalities. For example, Bottom of the Hill has been cited by the ABC for not serving enough Mexican food.
Stop the War on Fun is the official battleground for this fight and includes important resources and information on how to get involved. They’ve made it easy to get started with an automated email form you can send to Mayor Newsom, Senator Leno, Assemblyman Ammiano, the SF Board of Supervisors, and SF Police Chief Gascon.
the OCMD 