Yo La Tengo is everywhere
It sure seems like Yo La Tengo is getting a lot of attention lately. In fact, the band’s upcoming 14th album, “Popular Songs,” is getting the most serious promotion of any Yo La release that I can recall.
“Here To Fall” is a new song and video release from the longtime indie gods. It’s the second single out already for the September album. The new song “Periodically Double Or Triple” was released earlier. And Matador is doing one of its Buy Early Get Now promotions for “Popular Songs.”
Following the band’s solid set at Pitchfork, Yo La returns to Chicago for an October show at the Vic.
Download: Here To Fall – Yo La Tengo
Lou Barlow, Times New Viking kick out singles for upcoming fall albums
I recommend a couple of new tracks by an old master and a more recent purveyor of the lo-fi sound.
First, Lou Barlow, the godfather of lo-fi, is coming out with a new album this fall. He’s released “Gravitate” as the first single off “Goodnight Unknown” to be released in October. Those lo-fi young punks Times New Viking also put out a new song, “No Time, No Hope,” to promote “Born Again Revisited,” a September release.
Lou opens for and plays with Dinosaur Jr. at the Vic in October.
No Time, No Hope – Times New Viking
There’s no video for either song. So I’m including a real DIY video for an old Times New Viking song. Longtime readers of All the Young Punks know I like to feature fan-produced videos, so here you go.
Portugal. The Man to headline Lollapalooza
OK. Portugal. The Man isn’t going to headline the big tilt in Grant Park. But I figure the suits that run Lollapalooza won’t promote these guys too much — so, I’ll give them a little plug. I like their cool, throwback sound. This video is brought to you by Snickers. Lolla is brought to you by Bud Light and Citibank.
Dead Weather to strike Chicago this week
Chicago music fans can find out this week if Jack White’s newest band, The Dead Weather, is the real deal. The band, which also features The Kills’ Alison Mosshart, plays The Vic Tuesday and Wednesday.
Saturday night dance party
I’m not taking the night off. I’m leaving you in the capable hands of a professional dance instructor.
New videos: Arctic Monkeys, Dead Weather
It’s Friday night! Here are a couple of new videos to rock out to. The Dead Weather plays The Vic Tuesday and Wednesday. Arctic Monkeys play Lolla and a sold-out after show at Metro next month.
Junior Boys, Grand Duchy hit Wicker Park
The Wicker Park Fest this weekend has a decent lineup, featuring Frank Black’s Grand Duchy on Saturday and Junior Boys on Sunday.
Also of interest: Chicago’s Smoking Pope’s play before Junior Boys on Sunday. The Night Marchers, the latest band from Rocket From the Crypt’s John Reis, plays Saturday. The fest also features some interesting electronica, like Toronto’s The New Deal. And it will cost you a recession-buster price of five bucks a day.
Modest Mouse singles collection out next month
Modest Mouse’s short singles collection, “No One’s First and You’re Next,” will be out next month. Some of the songs have already been released on 7-inch vinyl. Included in the collection is “King Rat,” an outtake from “We Were Dead Before the Ship Ever Sank.” Interesting bit of trivia: Heath Ledger directed a video for the song, which was never released.
The band plays Aragon Aug. 25.
Wilco plays sucky UIC arena in October
OK, I’m a little slow on the draw. Wilco is playing a Chicago show Oct. 18 at UIC Pavilion. There’s a presale Thursday at 10 a.m. Check the band’s Web site for details.
This is a little disappointing. After seeing Wilco play cool venues like Auditorium Theatre and Pritzker Pavilion, the big barn at UIC is a letdown. UIC sounds like one of those shitty, outdated arenas built 50 years ago. (It actually was built in the early ’80s, but it still sounds bad.) I guess Wilco graduated to arena rock.
Beasties cancel shows due to MCA’s cancer
The Beastie Boys canceled shows in Chicago and elsewhere due to Adam Yauch’s planned surgery for cancer. Fortunately, the cancer is believed to be treatable, Yauch says in a YouTube video posted on the Beasties’ Web site. The surgery will push back the release of an upcoming album and cancel a Lollapalooza appearance as well as an after show at the Congress Theater.
Pitchfork fest’s strong lineup delivered
The National lived up to its headliner status Saturday night, drawing heavily from the band’s last album, “Boxer.” Why aren’t these guys more popular?
About Today (live) – The National
Doom
What was really cool about this year’s fest was the strength of the schedule during the day, from Saturday’s opener Cymbals Eat Guitars to early Sunday eve’s M83. Both days featured strong performances by Fucked Up, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Beirut, Doom, The Walkmen, Japandroids and others.
It wasn’t a flawless fest. Once again, there were sound issues and overcrowding (i.e. not enough bathrooms). But, overall, it was a good show.
Cymbals Eat Guitars
Fucked Up dominated Pitchfork on Saturday
Damian Abraham bit open beach balls, took off his shirt and planted himself in the audience to deliver a searing hardcore performance at Pitchfork Saturday. His band, Fucked Up, will never get any mainstream radio play but the 300-pound Abraham is one of the best showmen in indie rock today.
Jesus Lizard steals show at Pitchfork
It didn’t take Jesus Lizard frontman David Yow long to establish himself Friday night. He took a running leap off stage into the crowd on the first song. Not bad for a guy in his late 40s. He even did a little comedy (see the video below).
The Jesus Lizard was the third and, by far, most entertaing act at the first night of Pitchfork. Yo La Tengo played a solid set just before Jesus Lizard, while opener Tortoise was just boring. The headliner Built to Spill was competent but not strong enough to follow Yow and company.
Pitchfork: The rest of the (very) best
If you really don’t like the Flaming Lips, you should check out Pitchfork fest’s other Sunday night headliner, The Very Best. This is a fascinating collaboration between Esau Mwamwaya, a singer born in the East African country of Malawi, and London DJ duo Radioclit. They play an exciting mix of songs that sample, cover and collaborate with popular Western artists (like M.I.A).
Pitchfork preview: The National on Saturday
Any festival that opens with Cymbals Eat Guitars and ends with The National is pretty awesome. But Pitchfork’s Saturday lineup gets even better. My additional top picks for the day: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Fucked Up, Bowerbirds, Beirut and Wavves. But there are a number of other really good bands to see. So take a chance on a band you don’t know.
The National has been working on a follow-up album to “Boxer” and playing new songs live. Cymbals Eat Guitars will headline its own show Saturday night at the Bottom Lounge. Watch the band on this cool installment of Pitchfork’s Don’t Look Down.
Pitchfork preview: Yo La Tengo on Friday
Built to Spill is Pitchfork fest’s headliner Friday, but Yo La Tengo is the band to see. Indie stalwarts for more than two decades, Yo La Tengo is releasing its umpteenth album, “Popular Songs,” in September.
Friday’s performers are participating in Write the Night, which means they’ll play songs requested by fans as determined by Web voting. (Sorry, polls are closed.) Hopefully, Yo La fans dug deep into the band’s catalog, and we’ll get to hear some new songs, too.
Also, playing Friday are local heroes Jesus Lizard and Tortoise. Jesus Lizard is in the midst of a reunion tour. We’ll see if these guys can still crank.
Jack White’s Dead Weather is out Tuesday
Jack White’s latest vehicle, The Dead Weather, releases its debut album, “Horehound,” Tuesday. Also featuring The Kills singer Alison Mosshart, the band has a cool sound.
Beirut, M83 bolster Pitchfork festival
Here are two more reasons Pitchfork fest is more fun than Lollapalooza: Beirut and M83. One sounds like music from the old country, while the other could fill the soundtrack to a John Hughes movie.
Both gigs are highly recommended.
Magnolia Electric Co. plays Chicago
Sad, sad songs. That’s what Magnolia Electric Co.’s Jason Molina sings. But, I tell you, he plays a great show and this is one of the best bets for live music in Chicago this weekend. Molina’s music reminds me a little of vintage Neil Young with a horn thrown in now and then. Magnolia Electric Co. headlines Schubas Saturday night and the Hideout on Sunday.
Thermals sticking to the same formula
I was hooked on the Thermals from the first time I heard the 2006 song “Here’s Your Future”: God reached his hand down from the sky/ God asked Noah if he wanted to die/ He said, “No Sir, oh, no Sir!”/ God said, “Here’s your future: It’s gonna rain…”
So we packing our things/We’re building a boat/ We’re gonna create the new master race/ ‘Cause we’re so pure, oh Lord we’re so pure
Maybe the Thermals, who play Pitchfork next weekend, haven’t changed much in the past few years: punky pop, bratty, smart social commentary. But the formula is still pretty fun. Here’s a video for the band’s latest, “Now We Can See.”
Yeasayer headed to Chicago
Yeasayer’s Chris Keating is getting a lot of attention for singing on Simian Mobile Disco’s great new song “Audacity of Hope.” But Keating will be back with Yeasayer when he plays Chicago next weekend as part of the Pitchfork lineup.
Here’s an interesting fan-produced video for Yeasayer’s standout song “2080.”
Check out Bloc Party’s ‘One More Chance’ video
Bloc Party’s new song, “One More Chance” got its video release recently. It’s pretty funny.
The song will be released officially Aug. 10, and, of course, it’s been remixed already.
NY congressman professes hate for Jackson
Peter King, a Republican congressman from New York, caused a stir over the weekend after he declared the media spent too much time covering a “low-life” like Michael Jackson. He also called the King of Pop a “pervert” and “pedophile.”
Walkmen work on new album, play Pitchfork
The Walkmen are working on a follow-up album to the excellent 2008 release “You and Me.” No word yet on whether the new one is going continue the meloncholy approach of “You and Me.” The Walkmen, of course, can ratchet up the tempo. “The Rat” is probably still the band’s best-known song.
The Walkmen, which plays Pitchfork fest, performed five songs off “You and Me” for Internet radio station WOXY in May. You can download the set here:
