Video: Wilco live in London
I’m taking a break from the compelling Grammy awards show to post this video of Wilco performing Jesus, Etc. in London.
The clip is from a November show, which is one of two audio downloads the band is offering on its Web site to raise money for relief efforts in Haiti.
I posted a video yesterday from the other show, a Brooklyn concert last summer. Go here for details on the downloads and where to give.
By the way, Wilco was beat out for at least one award tonight. Levon Helm won best Americana album over Wilco (The Album).
Happy Monday song from Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers released the smoking new track, This Fucking Job, ahead of its album The Big To-Do, which is scheduled for a March 16 release. Enjoy it on the way to work tomorrow.
There’s no video for it. So here’s a clip from a Halloween show at Metro a few years ago.
New Hampshire taps power of Three Wolf Moon
One of the best news stories I came across last week: New Hampshire is using the cult t-shirt Three Wolf Moon to promote economic development. It’s true. The Mountain, the company that makes the shirts (an Amazon top seller last year) is based in New Hampshire. So naturally, the state wants to make it the official t-shirt to show New Hampshire’s awesomeness.
I don’t own a Three Wolf Moon shirt (yet) but you can read the rave reviews.
Black Tambourine compilation planned
Black Tambourine, a short-lived indie side project from the early ’90s, is being resurrected with a new compilation that includes unreleased and newly recorded songs.
The band’s sound holds up pretty well today. Throw Aggi Off the Bridge sounds quite a bit like the Pains of Being Pure at Heart. The life of the band was brief: 1989 to 1991. Formed by members of Velocity Girl and Whorl, Black Tambourine never made a proper album. The comp is being put out by Slumberland, which is (what do you know?) also the Pains of Being Pure at Heart’s label.
Robbie Fulks takes up residence at Hideout
A Robbie Fulks show can feature a lot of country twang, some pop (think Let’s Kill Saturday Night) and a healthy dose of Michael Jackson. I’ve witnessed Robbie put a fake rat down his pants during a rendition of Ben. Needless to say, a Robbie Fulks show is always entertaining.
Starting Monday, he begins a month-long residency at the Hideout, playing every week. On his Web site, he says he’ll give you a hint of what to expect prior to each show. This Monday: “We’ll be focusing on country flat-pick songs. Bring your eighth-note-o-meters,” he says on his site.
Wilco’s Haiti releases are full of highlights
There are a number of highlights on Wilco’s live performance at Coney Island last summer, one of two live shows the band is letting fans download in return for Haiti aid donations.
The other download is a show in London in November. The Brooklyn show includes sets with Yo La Tengo (jamming on Spiders), Feist and Ed Droste from Grizzly Bear.
Go here to get the downloads and details about donations. The band is asking that you donate at least $15 to one of two relief organizations.
My Gold Mask debuts video
Chicago’s My Gold Mask just released this video. Catch them in March at a free show at the Bottle.
Gainsbourg, Los Campesinos! release Tuesday
My picks for the best new releases Tuesday are by Los Campesinos! with the still-cheeky but edgier sound on Romance Is Boring and the very cool Charlotte Gainsbourg/Beck album IRM.
Also worth noting: Beach House’s excellent new release, Teen Dream.
Shearwater’s follow to Rook set for February
Anyone who heard Shearwater’s 2008 album Rook will be looking forward to the release next month of Golden Archipelago. The band’s label, Matador, just released the song Black Eyes, which is the second free track from the forthcoming album. Looks like the band is scheduled to play Lincoln Hall in April.
Toro Y Moi blends a mellow sound on Blessa
Toro Y Moi, aka Chaz Bundick of Columbia, South Carolina, has an interesting sound, blending electronic, indie and a little R&B. He just released this video for his song Blessa.
Remembering Wax Trax!
Dannie Flesher, co-founder of Chicago industrial record label Wax Trax!, died last week of pneumonia at age 58. While the label has been gone for awhile (it filed for bankruptcy in 1992), its influence continues today. Wax Trax! artists include Ministry, Front 242, Revolting Cocks and My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult.
After starting out in Denver, Flesher and partner Jim Nash opened the Wax Trax record store in Lincoln Park in 1978. The label was started in the early ’80s. Nash died in 1995 and Flesher moved to Arkansas 10 years later, which is where he lived until his death.
Update: Here’s the video from My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult that I initially meant to post.
Panda Bear plays news songs
Panda Bear played a pair of new songs in Belgium recently. The follow-up to Person Pitch will be a September release on Paw Tracks (the label Animal Collective founded).
Spoon leads new releases Tuesday
The long-awaited album by Spoon, Transference, is out Tuesday. Other releases include Surfer Blood’s debut Astro Coast and the Eels End Times.
Spoon has been performing some of the news songs live. Here’s one, Written In Reverse, in the video below.
Josiah Wolf of Why? releases song
I like this single from Josiah Wolf of the band Why? The song, The Trailer and the Truck, is out ahead of Wolf’s debut album Jet Lag, scheduled for release next month.
Compared to Why? the song almost sounds straightforward. Wolf’s brother, Yoni, fronts that band while Josiah plays drums and a number of other instruments.
Eleventh Dream Day, Wacos play Hideout
Two legends of the Chicago music scene — Eleventh Dream Day and Waco Brothers — play Hideout tonight to raise money for Haiti. That’s a hell of a show and a good cause.
Pavement’s resurrection
With Pavement’s upcoming reunion tour and a best-of album on the way, Gold Soundz is one of the top five Hot Tracks on Elbo.ws.
That’s cool. Pavement’s sound is so original it still sounds fresh. I’m looking forward to the reunion.
Jay Reatard’s death investigated as homicide
Jay Reatard’s death is being investigated by Memphis police as a possible homicide, according to news reports. Not a lot of other details yet.
It appears one of Jay’s last recorded songs was a Nirvana cover, Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge, recorded for a tribute album. His Web site is offering the song as a free download.
Praising Jay Reatard
The sad news today: Jay Reatard is dead at 29. No cause of death is being reported yet. He died in his sleep.
Jay was one of the most fun artists to hear and watch over the last few years, like experiencing the Ramones or the Stooges. He created short, sharp shocks of punk rock. Blood Visions, his 2007 breakout album, is my favorite. But I loved about everything he put out.
Watching him live was fantastic. He’d play this ridiculous V-shaped metal guitar but played it with conviction.
Neon Indian, Surfer Blood play Chicago fest
Living in Chicago, the choices for live shows in January can be pretty bleak. Which is why it’s exciting that Schubas and its new sibling Lincoln Hall are staging a five-day fest, Tomorrow Never Knows, starting Wednesday.
Among the headliners: Surfer Blood, Neon Indian, Atlas Sound, Voxtrot, Bowerbirds and Clues. There are strong supporting acts, too, including Bear in Heaven (opening for Surfer Blood at Schubas Thursday) and the Dead Trees (opening for the Cribs Wednesday at Lincoln Hall).
At least a couple of the shows are sold out. Look here for the full schedule.
New songs from Midlake, Los Campesinos!
As part of the continuing series featuring new releases by bands other than Vampire Weekend, here are a couple of videos and songs from Los Campesinos! and Midlake.
Los Campesinos! releases Romance is Boring Jan. 26, while Midlake’s The Courage of Others is expected Feb. 2.
Animal Collective kicks out Brothersport video
Here’s the latest from Animal Collective: A trippy video for Brother Sport off Merriweather Post Pavilli0n.
Time for Surfer Blood to live up to buzz
There’s been a lot of buzz around Surfer Blood in recent months. Finally, the West Palm Beach, Florida, band is close to releasing its first album (a week from Tuesday).
In some ways, Astro Coast sounds like a mishmash of indie bands: some Shins, a bit of Animal Collective and even some Vampire Weekend. That may sound awful but it mostly works for me.
Surfer Blood hits Chicago next week, playing Schuba’s Thursday, Jan. 14, as part of Tomorrow Never Knows.
The Soft Pack drops debut album next month
Over the next three months there are going to be some album releases by bands other than Vampire Weekend.
Now that we’ve put 2009 (and the last decade) to bed, I’ll spend some time looking ahead to new releases. Some of them actually rock, like the Soft Pack’s self-titled debut next month.
