Music Snobbery

Langhorne Slim & The War Eagles/Deer Tick @ Maxwell's

Saturday night was hoe down night at Maxwell's, as it should be every night. My boy Langhorne Slim, fresh from an appearance on Late Show with David Letterman, took to the stage for an epic performance. The usual one hour show was stretched to 90 minutes tour de force of howling choruses, guitar thrashing and boot kicking, good time songs. The spirit was definitely moving him.

Having introduced to me via Atkins and the Avett Brothers, Langhorne is finally getting his moment to make it happen. Since I've known him, he's always given everything he's got into his performance -- sweating through a vintage suit with his hat cocked over his eyes. Even when he was getting yelled at by a bunch of drunken punks a Pogues show last year, he just hits every song like it's the most important song ever played.

I think if I had musical talent and was heavy into freak folk, country and hillbilly music, I would want to be like Langhorne. He dances around the stage in his little shuffle style he has and then jumps around like he's the Paul Weller of American music. He's a peculiar guy to say the least, during his show, he would chug cartons of cheap Tree Ripe orange juice, the kind you get at a dollar store and that IS from concentrate. I asked him if wanted a beer, he replied, "I don't touch that stuff." I guess the temperament league got to him (it's all part of the act).

In any event, he'll be criss-crossing the country at end of April after his self-titled album is released on April 28th -- the album that was suppose to be released last year until V2 folded. I highly suggest you see him on his trek.

As a side note, he gave a shout out to Jimmy Rollins and the Phillies, who are ready to make a run this year. Ah yes. Always setting up for disappointment. Langy is from Langhorne, PA which is just outside Philly and is best known for Sesame Place amusement park, one of the most lame amusement parks in existence.

Opening on Saturday was the normally threesome, down to a twosome called Deer Tick from Rhode Island. Lacking a bass player who was filming a movie, the two did a quick set of folky tunes about cocaine and other no good deeds. The lead singer, John McCauley, looks just like Wooderson from Dazed & Confused. Alright, Alright, Alright. He was a quiet, funny guy. He said, "I've had strep throat this week ... apparently beer doesn't help that." Then he would go into a Leadbelly cover.

The Puppini Sisters Added To True Colors Tour

Time to check in with my sisters of Puppini. Good news for all you planning on seeing the Cyndi Lauper True Colors tour -- you'll get a nice dose of British style courtesy of Marcella, Kate and Steph. They are locked in for a few West Coast dates with more to be added.

• June 25: The Dodge Theater -- Phoenix
• June 27: Viejas Casino - Concerts in the Park -- Alpine, California
• June 28: The Greek -- Los Angeles
• June 29: The Greek -- Berkley, California

They'll get to share the stage with Cyndi Lauper, B-52s, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Andy Bell of Erasure, Wanda Sykes and Carson Kressley.

I actually want them do a few songs for my 3rd anniversary show, but via satellite. I could set up a projector at Maxwell's. Then at the end, one of them would have to say, "This is for Ray Ray. It's been 10 years. And this is for London because Camden Town is burning down!"

In the meantime, they've released another video from their second album, The Rise & Fall of Ruby Woo. It's called "Millionaire."

By the Way, Does Anyone Know Someone That Can Play on April 10th

Hey there. I was just wondering ... do you faithful reader know a semi-known or well-known band or musician  that can close my show on April 10th at Maxwell's? Even better, are you in a band capable of closing my show on April 10th? Well, drop me a line at chris @ musicsnobbery.com and let's talk. Yeah, it's kind of short notice.

For a week, I've been screwed, now I'm just completely fucked. On the brightside, this is an opportunity to snag someone completely unexpected. Fingers are crossed.

The Grates Return to The U.S. To Record Album #2

Awwwwww, look who's back on this space after a year-long absence, my cute and cuddly, hard rocking friends from Australia, The Grates. I truly miss these guys, but no worries, they've taken a much needed break after living on the road for a better part of two years.

Well, down time is over and it's time to get cracking on the follow-up to The Gravity Will Get You High. That album was made in a barn near their home turf of Brisbane. This one is currently being recorded in a large house in Bridgeport, Conn., with Peter Katis producing. He mixed Gravity and co-produced Interpol's first two album and worked on Tokyo Police Club's and Mates of States' as-yet-to-be released albums.

If I had a list of Top 5 Acts I'm Itching to Hear New Material From, The Grates would be on that list. The others, off the top of my head, would be Love Is All, The Pipettes, Victorian Englishmen Gentlemen's Club and Lily Allen. Other than being one of nicest people I've come across in my blogging travels, every show has been memorable.

-- I first saw them on an amazing line-up at Mercury Lounge with The Guillemots and Corinne Bailey Rae.

-- Then, I caught up with them in London at a Kings College gig with V.E.G.C.

-- Last time I saw them was at their Philly debut at the First Uni, when they opened for We Are Scientists.

They just have a ball on stage no matter where they are. No wonder they've traveled the world two or three times over with bands like W.A.S., The Go! Team, Arctic Monkeys, The Dears, The Zutons and The Young Knives.

What I got a kick out of was seeing parts of a live DVD they released in Australia. It's called Til Death Do Us Party and it shows them in a professional setting with film cameras, fancy editing and a stage set-up. They've also got a huge following! Not bad. *golf clap*

I'm also proud of the fact that if you Google Patience Hodgson, the results have my 2006 interview with her listed as second.

In any event, you can follow their progress through video messages and posts on their recording blog. 

The Raveonettes @ Bowery Ballroom: We Want the Candy and That Great Love Sound

I was just saying over the weekend about Sons & Daughters and how they always seem to be around these parts. The same goes for The Raveonettes, who are making their fourth go-around in 12 months. Last Rocktober, they road tested material that is now found on their third LP, Lust Lust Lust, or Lust Cubed.

This is my fourth time seeing them and there's really no surprises with their shows. They play the songs you want to hear -- loud and aggressively. With that said, no reason for me not to see them. I want to hear "Love in a Trashcan" and "Twilight" live so I can get my body moving and head rocking from side-to-side for once. Chris doesn't stand still for Raveonettes, brothers and sisters.

As you can tell by the title, Lust is less road rage, and more romantic. It's music to make out to, Sune & Sharin style. Songs such as Aly, Walk With me, Hallucinations, Lust, Dead Sound and You Want the Candy were all played tonight, and you can feel the sexual energy coming from their guitars. They eventually would have to make an album like this. When Whip It On came out six years ago, it was a such strong statement about their sound. You knew exactly what they had in mind -- motorcycles, leather jackets, jukeboxes and a lot of blacktop. With Lust, they didn't abandon that imagery, just slowed down to enjoy the scenery.

Albeit, tonight was not all for the lovers out there. Even with just a backing drummer, they can still tear shit up. Ending the night with Twilight was exactly what the show needed, their big, rave-up dance number that woke the crowd up and set the disco ball whirling. Other favorites played included Trashcan, Attack Of The Ghost Riders, That Great Love Sound, My Tornado, Let's Rave On and Red Tan.

It has to be said, and I've sure I've said this in previous Raveonettes posts, that those two Danes are the best looking duo in modern music. Something for the ladies and something for gentlemen. They are almost too good looking for rock. Well, they use that power for good, rather than evil. They are always welcome to play multiple times a year in NYC. Heck, come play my kitchen.

Langhorne Slim Makes TV Debut, Set To Release Album in April

Don't you love it when you tape a show, and the DVR cuts off the last minute of the show. I'm watching my old friend Langhorne Slim make his network TV debut on a certain late night talk show, then BAM! "Would you like to erase this program? Would you like to save this program?" Man, tough times with technology.

Anyway, Langhorne and the War Eagles are starting to gain some notice. Hopefully, you'll discover what I've already have known, my boy can kill with his revivalist Americana/folk. His self-titled follow up to When the Sun's Gone Down comes out April 29.

L.S. will also head out on big ol' nation wide tour, with a stop in Bermuda!?!?!

• Mar 27: The Lava Lounge - Pittsburgh
• Mar 28: Johnny Brenda's -  Philadelphia
• Mar 29: Maxwell's -  Hoboken
• April 2: The Robin Hood Pub - FREE Solo Show Hamilton, Bermuda
• April 5: Bermuda International Film Festival Wrap-up Party - Hamilton, Bermuda
• April 10: Middle East (upstairs) -- Cambridge, Massachusetts
• April 11: The Stone Church Music Club -- Newmarket, New Hampshire
• April 12: Café Nine -- New Haven, Connecticut
• April 24: Stone Pony w/ Josh Ritter -- Asbury Park, New Jersey
• April 25: Paramount Center for the Arts w/ Josh Ritter -- Peekskill, New York
• April 29: Recher Theater w/ Josh Ritter -- Towson, Maryland
• April 30: Mercury Lounge -  New York
• May 1: IOTA Club & Cafe -- Arlington, Virginia
• May 2: Local 506 -- Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• May 3: Village Tavern--  Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
• May 4: The Social -- Orlando
• May 6: The Earl -- Atlanta
• May 7: Mercy Lounge -- Nashville
• May 8: Bottletree Cafe -- Birmingham, Alabama
• May 9: One-Eyed Jacks -- New Orleans
• May 10: The Mohawk -- Austin
• May 12: Plush -- Tucson
• May 13: The Casbah -- San Diego
• May 14: Troubadour -- Los Angeles
• May 15: The Independant -- San Francisco
• May 17: Doug Fi Lounge -- Portland
• May 19: Tractor Tavern -- Seattle
• May 22: Urban Lounge -- Salt Lake City
• May 23: Hi-Dive -- Denver
• May 24: Replay Lounge - Outdoor Stage -- Lawrence, Kansas
• May 25: 400 Bar -- Minneapolis
• May 26: High Noon Saloon -- Madison, Wisconsin
• May 27: Mad Planet -- Milwaukee
• May 28: Schubas Tavern -- Chicago
• May 29: The Hideout -- Chicago
• May 30: Club Cafe -- Pittsburgh

Camden Crawl 2008 Bands to Watch

Sooner or later I'm going to plan ahead and actually attend the Camden Crawl. If you don't already know, it's London's quasi version of SXSW. It's two days of all the up-and-coming British bands playing in any pub, venue or space that can fit a stage. It's 48 hours of waiting in line! Sign me up.

As a side note, I love what Todd Barry had to say about SXSW, "What? You don't want to see 30 bands in one day?"

The past few years, Arctic Monkeys, Wolfmother, Guillemots, Hard-Fi, Hot Chip, Maximo Park, Magic Numbers, Art Brut, Pipettes, Forward Russia, Klaxons, Humanzi and The Automatic all made their name first at the Crawl. Last year saw Kate Nash, Calvin Harris, New Young Pony Club, Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip, Foals, Adele, Jack Penate and Emmy the Great all start their buzz machine.

This year's line-up has names you are already familiar with: Los Campesinos!, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Lykke Li, Operator Please, Johnny Foreigner, Fanfarlo and M83. Here are some you should keep on eye on.

Ladyhawke: If I were to look into my crystal ball and venture a guess, I would think disco queen Ladyhawke (Pip Browne) would be the act that all the U.K. kids will be fawning over. You can have your Robyns and the like, I'll hang with this New Zealand native. She's M.I.A., Peaches, Stevie Nicks and Debbie Harry all rolled into one. I'll listen to anyone who lists video games and Jem & The Holograms as influences. I can see her collaborating with Justice easily. Now, I wonder how many times she's seen Ladyhawke.

Make Model: Having already done the SXSW thing, they are well into the processe of planting their foot onto the U.K. music scene. The six-piece band out of Glasgow are making big arena rock without all the ego. Their latest single is called The LSB, a glammy, fun number with a bratty chorus and foot-stomping rhythm. They do veer from all-out dance numbers to more straight-forward rock out tracks. Their debut album will be out this year. 

Royworld: Royworld! For all your Roy needs. One of the many U.K. bands that will eventually be compared to Keane because of their heavy use of piano. The four piece from London know how to fill a song with musical prowess -- plenty of piano pounding, big vocals and aggressive guitars. For some reason, their song, Man in the Machine, reminds me "Lonely Boy" by Andrew Gold. It's a cheesy, yacht rock song from the man who wrote "Thank You for Being a Friend."

Bobby Cook and the Sleepers: Nice Something and The Something band name. B.C. already has indie cred having been the opening act for Vampire Weekend on their U.K. tour. HA HA HA! That's just a loaded statement right there. If that was on BrooklynVegan that would have gotten 100 comments. I digress, the guy has a voice made for British pop music -- part Ben Folds, the other part James Walsh of Starsailor. His music has a fine sense of grandeur and space.

Team Waterpolo: Here's an example of band that have been anointed the next big thing even though they've only been a band since last July. Since then, they've toured with Joe Lean & The Jing Jong Jong and appeared on Lily Allen & Friends. Now, they'll have tour stints with The Teenagers, The Automatic, Air Traffic and the next NME New Music Tour. So what's the big deal? My lord are they out there in the pop music. I don't think you can get any more extreme then they do. It's just one dance party song after another. It's The Go! Team meets Black Kids meets Franz Ferdinand.

I just want to point out one great band name, Rolo Tomassi. I heard about this agri-punk/electronica band a few years ago, and lovedthat they named themselves after an obscure movie reference. You know it? Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. It's an obscure character in L.A. Confidential and it was Kevin Spacey's characters dying words. Other great names: Shut Your Eyes And You’ll Burst Into Flames, Cutting Pink with Knives, and The Creepy Morons

Tilly & The Wall/Capgun Coup/Jason Anderson @ Knitting Factory

Going back to last Friday, I honored the death of Jesus by seeing my darling brothers and sisters of Tilly & The Wall. Let me tell you, it never gets old seeing these Omaha people. This was a great time to see them on this small venue tour where I got to discover the new material from their up-coming album. Now that album will be untitled, so I was pretty close in my interview with Nick, where I encouraged him to name the new album Tilly & the Wall.

Seeing them again on Friday, they look and act like they are believing in themselves, sort of like when Neo discovers that he is The One in The Matrix. They've fully embraced the flamboyant side of their personality with day-glo colors, artistic backdrops and literally putting tap-dancing Jamie on a pedestal. If you were looking for fluorescent pink material, I think Kianna bought all of the hot pink fabric supply in North America.

One of the new tracks that blew me away starts off with this intense percussion/foot stomping march that is similar to the beginning of Devo's "Freedom of Choice." Nick did mention in our interview that they recorded step routines in a gymnasium to add some different percussion sounds. Then Derek just goes crazy on his acoustic guitar, strumming away with blind fury. The result is completely wicked. Mission accomplished.

Their new single, "Beat Control" is a throwback 80s teeny bopper song that won't actually be on the new album. It's a few steps away from their core-sound, but it's a feel-good, dance track. They played it early on and that really got the kids going in the crowd. Hearing the new material got me excited for the new album. Who knows? This might be their big breakout album that puts them on par with another Team Love act, Rilo Kiley.

Of course, they trotted out some old favorites like Bad Education, Lost Girls, Sing Songs Along, The Freest Man, Fell Down the Stairs, Night of the Living Dead and Reckless.

This was actually an early, all-ages show at Knitting Factory, so I got there 15-minutes after the doors opened and the place was already jammed with kids (average age of the crowd had to be 16). I guess I shouldn't have gotten that cappuccino. Instead of jocking for position on the floor for some decent shots and also looking like "the old guy at the club", I retreated to the balcony. I'm fully expecting to see myself on flickr because the band would hang out there and the kids would take pictures with their camera phones. It was so cute.

Anyway, the shots came out decent.

Fellow Team Lovers and Omaha residents Capgun Coup have been tagging along on this Tilly tour, bringing some post-punk songs mixed with rambunctious, head-shaking melodies. They kind of belong to the genre I call mid-West punk folk and I was thinking of Violent Femmes or Cursive when I was seeing their set. Well, speak of the devil, they'll be touring with Cursive this Spring. Man, I can sure spot that out. You should check out some tracks on their myspace page that I was getting into during their set like Adorable Doorsteps and Blood, Sex and Sweat.

I would say one out of every 10 bands that I see as opening acts that I know nothing about, I totally fall in love with. Like I say to myself, "I don't know who you are, what the name of your band is or where you come from, but I want to be your best friend." Let me introduce you to Jason Anderson from New Hampshire. He was goddamn fun and unbelievable. He out Springsteens The Hold Steady. He comes out with this big smile on his face that says, "Fuck it, it's Friday night people." To say that he follows the Path to Bruce is an understatement. He's got that early-70s, traveling blues-rock band thing down, even sporting a tenor sax a la Clarence Clemens and a female singer a la Patti Scialfa. Each song has a story to tell and it's going to rock your socks off. I loved every minute of it. Every song feels like an epic in the style of "Rosalita". He threw in a cover of Jackie Wilson's "Higher and Higher" for good measure. He'll be sticking around this week when he plays Union Hall on Thursday with my boys Oppenheimer.

Rolling Stone Magazine: 2008 or 1998?

Holy flash back, Batman. No wonder it's tough for music artists to get decent exposure beyond blogs, RS is stuck in the past. Look who's on the cover..

-- Chris Rock promoting new tour or Lethal Weapon 4?

-- Home from War: Iraq or Kosovo?

-- Hillary Flimsy Case: Her presidential bid or fronting universal health care initiative?

-- R.E.M. Rock Again: Accelerate or Up?

-- Nine Inch Nails: New Digital Release or in the studio for Fragile recordings?

-- Counting Crows: Crappy new album or crappy old album?

-- Van Morrison: Recycled interview using previous quotes or recycled interview using previous quotes.

Can't wait for RS to review the new Pulp album, This is Hardcore, Madonna's Ray of Light and Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.

Sons & Daughters/Bodies of Water/The Brunettes @ Bowery Ballroom

Warning: This post contains rock star encounters and my fan boy reaction.

I'm realizing now that Sons & Daughters are one of those bands that always seem to play New York two or three times a year for the past three years. That's pretty intense being that they need to travel from Scotland and although they are known and enjoyed by you and me, they are not on the CD players and iPods of Joe Schmo Americano. 

Saturday night, I revisited the S&D battalion to hear the new tunes off their sophomore full-length, This Gift. They road-tested these tracks last year during their CMJ show in Rocktober, so now that they and we are familiar with it, it was time to put on my best foot-stomping shoes on and knock some sense into the Bowery Ballroom floor.

The Setlist:

• Gilt Complex
• Flags
• Hunt
• The Nest
• Red Receiver
• Rebel With the Ghost
• Iodine
• Taste
• The Last Girl
• Darling
• Rama Lama
• Dance Me In
• Goodbye Service
• Chains
• Encore: Johnny Cash
• House In My Head

The reason to return to Sons & Daughters in 2008 is that This Gift is the album I was hoping they'd make after their EP, Love the Cup. I was kind of let down with The Repulsion Box. It has some good rock tunes, but there are too many dark, meandering songs that weight down the album. Their were aiming for something moodier. This Gift is a full-blown in-your-face and down your throat album full of aggression. This time around, they scored Suede/Tears front man Bernard Butler to produce the album.

"Gilt Complex" is the big, fist pumping, body shaking lead-off that you can rock out to the same way you do with "Johnny Cash" or "Dance Me In." I'm pleased that the album plays to Scott Patterson's strength, his intense guitar playing and deep-gravely voice, especially on "Chains." That big rockabilly/dance number really killed live.

Live, you can always count on them to put on a high-energy show that leaves them sweating and us with messed up hair, and sometimes, smelling like beer. Folks, if you're going to throw your empty cups at the stage like they do in U.K./Scotland, try actually making the stage. Anyway, Adele has always been the dynamo on stage. This time, her stage costume looked was part Girl with the Golden Boots crossed with a glammy cheerleader. 

That's always a good place to put your band pass.

I was pretty stroked that S&D chose L.A.'s Bodies of Water to open on this U.S. tour. I had to go to London to find out about them as the Rough Trade shops. Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink quickly made it onto heavy rotation in my listening habits, thanks to the Ennio Morricone style chorus mixed with 60s California psych-pop and big, boisterous rock progressions. It was such an interesting sound that I had to put the album in the Top 20 of 2007. Since then, Secret Canadian picked it up for distribution and the group is already finishing up album No. 2.

Their show is the main-four members of the band, so it becomes, by necessity a stripped-down performance. You still get the big chorus, but you miss some of the extra instruments and production you find on the album. I'll take what I can get. When they asked if anyone had anything particular that they wanted to hear, asked for them to play "Our Friends Appear Like the Dawn."  I was turned down. "Not that one." Oh please.

Anyway, please do see them with the Sons when they play your area. You'll be a daisy if you do.

I completely forgot that The Brunettes were in town this week. They played with The Tings Tings at Union Hall on Wednesday and they were added onto this bill. I was at home making a cheesecake for Easter when I looked online at 6pm to see who the first act was to see if I should be there. The Brunettes! Shit ... bake faster cheesecake!

Fourth-time around with these New Zealanders, and a different venue and band line-up every time. They are still a bit under-the-radar even after their last album, Structure & Cosmetics got the Sub Pop treatment. For three year I've been keeping tabs on them, they've toured with The Shins, Rilo Kliey, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and headlined their own small club tour. Take that Flight of the Conchords. Even though they play to a small spattering of people, I still get a kick out of their bubble gum pop and can-do spirit.

Even on a holiday weekend, they were a few music types in the crowd. Dean Wareham & Britta Phillips of Dean & Britta fame were there early to see The Brunettes. I got sent a copy of his new book, Black Postcards: A Rock & Roll Romance, which is pretty sweet, but it takes me a while to read books. I'll bring it on my next flight, whenever that is. 

Also in attendance were fellow Scots, Glasvegas, who are recording their debut album in NYC, but opted out of The Raveonettes tour to focus on that.

So the big deal  was when I saw Alex Kapranos walking around the Bowery floor, which makes perfect sense since Franz Ferdinand and Sons & Daughters were attached at the hip for a while on their first tours. I saw him at Mercury Lounge last year, but didn't want to bother him. This time, I had to introduce myself. After the gig, I went up to him and said a bunch of nonsense along the line of, "Big time fan ... saw you at Maxwell's ... flew to Paris to see you with Editors ... I have a blog ... would you like come to my show on April 10th (he'll be back home, so no dice)." No doubt, he was super-sweet and pleased to meet me, we even exchanged guitar picks. I guess were married now.