Let’s Wrestle,“I Won’t Lie To You”:
It’s Brit Rock day at the OCMD! I’m feeling a little feisty today and this London-based three piece I saw recently at SXSW is just what I need. With influences ranging from Pavement to Black Flag, Buddy Holly and ELO, they like to keep it raw and spunky. So come on already – let’s fucking wrestle!
Starting in May, I’m going to be out of the country for most of the month doing some traveling with my family. Yay for me! In my absence, I’ve called upon my trusted music crew to help keep things humming here at the OCMD. Happily, they’ve obliged. Over the course of the next week, I’ll be introducing you to them – my boys, my inner circle, my trusted music sources. Each of them OCMD in their own, unique way. I trust their music taste implicitly and look forward to hearing their insights and opinions on the OCMD. I hope you will too! So without further ado, meet Mike….
Mike and his daughter, Kira, at Jazz Fest.
Name: Mike
Hometown: Berkeley, CA
OCMD Since: Age 11
Category: Concert Picks, Obscure Bands, What’s Next
Obsessions: Obscure bands (I just can’t love ’em as well once they are discovered), live music, vinyl hunting, cheap t-shirts, music festivals, college radio stations and their ticket giveaways, free parking, vacation, the great outdoors, matinees, social justice, children and iiiiiiron chef.
The OCMD Says: Meet Mike, my longest running music friend and even more OCMD than me. I’ve known Mike since he and my friend Karen started dating in med school and have been talking music ever since. Now that they’re married with kids, like me, our conversations have evolved from “What are you listening to these days?” to “How much Tylenol can I give a 2 year old?” and “Can you believe I’m getting flack for wanting to see three shows this week?!” All addicts need a support group.
Mike is the master of ‘What’s next’, finding that obscure, undiscovered band that makes even the most ardent music listener feel like a novice. He discovers new bands at house parties, I find them at Bottom of the Hill. His musical genres range from garage punk to alt country with a little world music in between. While I may not always understand what he’s on to, I always heed the advice. He was into Psychedelic Horseshit waaaay before Brooklyn Vegan.
“The science is clear. Virtually all climate experts agree that we must reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050. If we fail, the worst consequences of climate change threaten to increase the severity of health epidemics, disrupt harvest patterns, deplete water resources, and intensify poverty rates in the poorest regions of the world.
On this Earth Day we cannot let the current global economic recession slow us in the race against climate change.” Bill Clinton on Earth Day 2009.
The new track from Black Moth Super Rainbow, “Born on a Day the Sun Didn’t Rise”, seemed apocalyptically appropriate for this post today. It’s off their forthcoming album Eating Us due May 26. They’ll be playing Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco on May 28.
EELS will release their first new album in four years – HOMBRE LOBO, set for June 2nd, 2009 on Vagrant Records. Take a listen to “Fresh Blood”, then check out the trailer for the track “Tremendous Dynamite”.
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.
An empty Chicago O'Hare airport around midnight, waiting for luggage.
Listen to Loney, Dear, “Airport Surroundings”:
The Swedish indie pop group is on tour supporting their new album, Dear John, and will be performing at San Francisco’s Bottom of the Hill on May 15.
white lies
1). n : an unimportant lie (especially one told to be tactful or polite)
2). proper noun. London-based buzz band whose early 80s inspired rock has drawn comparisons to Echo and the Bunnymen, Joy Division, Editors and Interpol
White Lies. I tell them everyday. It’s a necessity when you’re a parent. I used to feel guilty about it but then I read a book recently called “Outwitting Toddlers“ that cited ‘white lies’ as a bona fide parenting tactic and have been absolved from all feelings of guilt and remorse ever since. Case in point, my little man resisted brushing his teeth relentlessly until I told him they would turn green and fall out like a pirate if he didn’t. Now I don’t even have to remind him to brush anymore.
While I’m not sure if the name for this London-based buzz band was born out of such literal inspiration, it all seems so fittingly British and…well-mannered. All stereotypes aside, these guys are making some noise with their early 80s-inspired moody debut, To Lose My Life. They are the first British band to chart a number one album in the U.K. in 2009 and have now diligently set their sites on America. The band hit the ground running at SXSW, playing to packed crowds at every turn and delivering live performances that had tongues wagging – ‘big time’.
See for yourself what all the fuss is about April 11 at Slims in San Francisco.
Listen to “Death“:
Foreign Born started in San Francisco in 2003 after singer Matt Popieluch and guitarist Lewis Pesacov graduated San Francisco State University. After playing a few shows, the pair went down to LA to clean up their rough demos. The results were promising enough for Lewis and Matt to quit their menial jobs and move down to LA where the current line-up of Foreign Born was, yes, born.
Their first LP, On The Wing Now, was released in 2007 and their latest effort, Person to Person, is due out in June. I’m in love with the first single from the album, “Vacationing People.” Judging by the number of recognizable faces in the audience at this show, I’m not the only one. Chris from The Morning Benders was as equally excited as I was to be there. And Grizzly Bear guitarist Ed Droste called Foreign Born his “favorite new band” recently.
Listen to “Vacationing People”
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I adore the vintage sounds of Richard Swift’s EP Ground Trouble Jaw and look forward to his upcoming full length album The Atlantic Ocean next week (April 7th)! His tour kicks off on the same date in Santa Cruz, California and will be playing San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall on April 8. I seem destined to miss him both at SXSW and here! Soon.
Richard Swift, “Lady Luck”
The day started out in a haze trying to find who I thought was Gentleman Reg, only to find out halfway through the set that I ended up at Gentleman Jesse and His Men, which was okay by me. It was a nice outdoor venue with shade and seating, which I really needed at that moment.
Listen to Gentleman Jesse and His Men, “I Don’t Wanna Know“:
Luckily, the same venue was hosting another band I was dead set on seeing, Dead Confederate. No pun intended. Thankfully my Gentleman Reg blunder got me to the venue in enough time so that we weren’t shut out from seeing them. The venue was small and there was a loooong line at the door. Waiting for the band to start, I was interrogated by a man named Walker as to whether or not a fair maiden like myself was in the right place and if I indeed liked the Dead Confederate. After assuring him that I was and did, he replied “cool” then walked up to the stage and started playing guitar.
Listen to Dead Confederate, “The Rat”:
The Phenomenal Hand Clap Band
After a quick pit stop at Starf**ker (I couldn’t resist), we headed South of Congress to chill out at Home Slice Pizza and catch up with The Phenomenal Handclap Band – again.
Listen to Starf**ker, “Florida”
Listen to The Phenomenal Handclap Band, “You’ll Disappear”:
Iran Frontman Aaron Aites
After refueling, it was off to Club Deville to catch Iran – Kyp Malone (TV On The Radio’s) side project with friend and filmmaker Aaron Aites. I’m really liking their new album, Dissolver, right now.
Listen to Iran, “Buddy“:
Harlem
Then it was off to The Beauty Bar to catch a little Jana Hunter, Harlem and – finally – Gentleman Reg. Harlem was a hoot and I was completely to surprised to learn they were local. They were all one big hot mess and looked like they’ve been living out of a van for months.
Listen to Jana Hunter, “Babies“:
Listen to Harlem, “South of France”:
Listen to Gentleman Reg, “How We Exit”:
Black Joe Lewis
Wrapping up the evening was Halifax Nova Scotia favorites, Wintersleep, followed by Austin’s answer to Little Richard, Black Joe Lewis.
Listen to Wintersleep, “Drunk on Aluminum”
Listen to Black Joe Lewis, “Bitch, I Love You”
the OCMD 