Blogs

R.E.M.'s new album Accelerate comes out Tuesday, April 1. The band is on NBC's Today Show performing live on the plaza. (I may even wake up early. Pigs might even fly.)

However, as you'll see by this screen cap from their R.E.M. quiz, Today didn't quite get everything right on its R.E.M. quiz. Click for a pop-up.

That's "Radio Free Europe," guys. Is that an early April Fool's Day joke?

-- Annie Zaleski

#93 on the list on the oh-so-painfully-true Web site Stuff White People Like, is Music Piracy.

Advanced white people will also talk about how their constant downloading of music makes them an expert who can properly recommend bands to friends and co-workers, thus increasing revenues and exposure. So in fact, their “illegal” activities are the new lifeblood of the industry.

When they have finished talking, you must choose your next words wisely. It is considered rude to point out the simple fact that they are still getting music for free. Instead you should say: “Wow, I never thought of it like that. You know a lot about the music industry. What bands are you listening to right now? Who is good?”

This sentence serves two functions: it helps to reassure the white person that they are your local “music expert,” something they prize. Also, it lets them feel as though they have convinced you that their activities are part of a greater social cause and not simple piracy.

If you bring up this issue with white person who says “nah bro, I don’t give a shit, Dave Matthews has enough money as it is.” You are likely dealing with wrong kind of white person.

In the even more rare situation where someone says “it’s all paid for, and it’s all transferred from vinyl.” You have found an expert level white person and must treat the situation carefully.

Writing truisms such as that nets you a reported $300,000 book deal. Now don't you wish you had thought of that site first?

From my operatives scattered around town this weekend, I hear that nearly every club was packed both Friday and Saturday nights. Along with British Sea Power -- for a slideshow of photos from this show, click here! -- and Explosions in the Sky, I also hit the Bluebird to see Jon Hardy & the Public on Friday -- it was packed, the band was amazing, etc. -- and the Billiken Club to see School of Language (hi, XTC meets the Police meets Pink Floyd, excellent).

But I also heard that the Monads sold out Off Broadway Friday night, and that the Gram Parsons tribute was a rousing success the following day, and that Rough Shop's CD release show at Schlafly was also well-attended.

Comment away -- what did you see? What was great? Set the scene.

-- Annie Zaleski

Last week every music nerd's head exploded with joy over the launch of Muxtape, a Web site whose premise is so simple, so ingenious, it's amazing nobody had ever done it before.

In a nutshell: It's a place for people to upload twelve-song MP3 mixes and share them with other people. That's it. Signing up is free, uploading is free and the chances to be exposed to new music are limitless. (Plus, nerd humor abounds: This one spoofing the hipster-herd mentality/blog-hype cycle was linked everywhere, but still funny.)

I of course made a Muxtape, comprised of new songs I'm digging so far this year. Click that link there to hear it.

What's yours?

-- Annie Zaleski

For a slideshow of photos from this show, click here!

When Eamon Hamilton departed from British Sea Power in late 2006 to focus on his spiky post-punk band Brakes (called BrakesBrakesBrakes in the U.S.; recommended listening includes all of The Beatific Visions, especially “Porcupine or Pineapple”), quite a bit of BSP’s shtick went with him. You see, Hamilton was notorious for jumping into the crowd during a show and marching around while banging a drum – an act that drew attention to the UK band’s concerts.

The key words in that paragraph, however, are “quite a bit.” At Saturday night’s Billiken Club show, Noble – defined as performing the duties of “guitar and climbing” on British Sea Power’s MySpace -- scrambled atop a speaker and hung his head through the slatted ceiling like a marionette. While still playing. After that bit of monkey business, he also perched atop one of the Billiken Club’s big-screen TVs – and managed to hop down the high perch safely. (Who has photos? I saw enough cameras shoot up during this part…)

This restless movement, thankfully, didn’t take away from the band’s fantastic, hour-long-plus set. In fact, it came within the strongest part of the night. After a jagged rendition of new, Echo & the Bunnymen-influenced song “A Trip Out,” the group launched into a raucous version of “The Spirit of St. Louis.” Vocalist Yan placed special vocal emphasis on the name of the city, drawing great cheers from the audience. (Read the lyrics here.) Old favorite “Carrion” followed, as the band became more and more animated; for instance, trumpeter Phil Sumner got into the spirit and danced around the stage like a marching band loon.

British Sea Power’s brilliant new album Do You Like Rock Music? was well-represented in the setlist. Despite being compared to Joy Division during its early days (a comparison I never really thought was fair), the band revealed a heavier debt to the Smiths – at least in the dreamy guitar textures and erudite lyrics – and (as mentioned) Echo & the Bunnymen’s plaintive vocals/crashing riffs juxtaposition. (Corollary: Also hinted at is the Arcade Fire.) Highlights of the night included the oceanic crescendos of shuddering instrumental “The Great Skua”; a strident, hardscrabble “No Lucifer”; a sprawling “Lights Out for Darker Skies” and, naturally, the lovely lavender echoes of the soft-build “Waving Flags” (which bears more than a passing resemblance to later-era Church, another unheralded influence on British Sea Power).

(fantastic clip of "Waving Flags"; user has more BSP videos here)

The only complaint about the show was that it was loud. L-O-U-D, one of the loudest shows I’ve been to at the Billiken Club, which rendered the mix quite muddy. It wasn’t until almost halfway through the set that the viola flourishes from Abi Fry even became audible – a shame, as BSP’s acoustic KDHX session on Saturday was beautifully wrought.

Chicago’s the 1900s opened the night with a tight, sassy set of throwback rock – as in, retro in a Partridge Family/Swedish-pop/flower-power-bubblegum-pop type of way. Opening with “Acutiplantar Dude,” the band proceeded to win over many who weren’t a fan (and bizarrely enough, it felt like more people were there for the 1900s than British Sea Power), with co-ed harmonies and sunny guitar jangle.

-- Annie Zaleski

(Video by Will Jones; words and photos by Annie Zaleski)

As commenter Jeff weighed in below, it's tough to describe the experience of seeing Explosions in the Sky beyond "wow." The Austin instrumental quartet is no-frills: Its stage setup utilizes no videos or flashy props (beyond a Texas flag and moody midnight lighting) and the band kept stage banter to a bare minimum (read: a sincere, genial greeting before the show began).

(guitarist Mark Smith, bassist Mike James)

This lack of visual distractions means that the band’s hard-to-categorize music becomes the primary focus of its concerts -- which it was during Explosions’ very first St. Louis show, Saturday night at a packed Pageant. As it is on their albums, the band’s post-rock is the very definition of cinematic in person. (Think Sigur Ros, only with a lot less roar and a lot more time spent listening to Mogwai and American indie rock). The multiple-guitar attack created abstract musical moods best summed up by adjectives: watery, mournful, ferocious, blissful, distressed, lonely, calm.

The cumulative effect was awe-inspiring and chill- (and tear-) inducing, sometimes achingly so. Explosions is the perfect concert during which to bliss out, to let emotion take over, to let life’s worries bubble to the surface in order to then float away. In short, the band creates an environment of emotional catharsis with its music. It’s challenging to the heart as much as it is to the brain.

The band members seem to find the same release as the audience, as their onstage demeanor was a visceral, physical experience. Multiple times during the set, bassist Michael James nearly ended up crouched down on the floor (see picture), as did guitarist Munaf Rayani. (The latter also grabbed drumsticks and shared percussive duties with Chris Hrasky on one song.) The three front-line players swung and crouched like jungle animals, creating a bizarre sort of interpretive dance recital.

By the end, the trio was almost punching its instruments like prizefighting boxers (see the clip above). It’s a testament to the intensity and emotion Explosions in the Sky pours into its music – and to the rushes of adrenaline and energy surging through both venue and band during this amazing show.

If you have a setlist, please post below in the comments.

The first single from Ladytron's upcoming album, Velocifero, has emerged. Called "Black Cat," it's quite a dark, seductive departure from previous singles. Excellent. The band's at the Pageant on June 16 with Datarock. Velocifero is out June 3. Thanks to Nettwerk for letting us post the MP3.

What was that again? Oh, right:

MP3: Ladytron, "Black Cat"

-- Annie Zaleski

Oh hells yes. Journey, Cheap Trick and Heart are playing Riverport UMB Bank Pavilion the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Saturday, September 13.

Heart! YES! Heart rules! Especially cheesy '80s Heart, as in "Never":

Constantly touring electro-experimentalists Xiu Xiu did a "Guest List" for Pitchfork yesterday -- and leader Jamie Stewart named the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center as his favorite venue.

Good thing, then, that the band is playing there on Monday night, March 31, with Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, Berlin Whale and Matt Dill. (Thanks to Christian Schaeffer for the tip; read his show preview here.)

Thao will be doing an in-store at Vintage Vinyl at 5 p.m. on Sunday (and appearing on my radio show in the 1 p.m. hour on Monday).

In addition, Xiu Xiu -- along with Liars, Pattern is Movement, Evangelicals, Final Fantasy and more -- is going to have a Bjork cover on Stereogum's latest all-covers album, Enjoyed: A Tribute to Bjork's Post. Xiu Xiu's version of "Isobel" is out on the Web site Monday, March 31. Such synergy!

-- Annie Zaleski

"Return of the Mack" was by far Mark Morrison's biggest U.S. hit: It peaked at #2 on the charts in 1997. (For more information on his string of hit U.K. singles and multiple run-ins with the law, see this page.)

But Morrison's not down or out: He's releasing King of British R&B: The Best Of...Mark Morrison this summer; a European tour will coincide with its release. He's also appeared on "Innocent (Misunderstood)" a 2008 single by rapper Cassidy.

-- Annie Zaleski

In this week's issue, I talked to the Monads, who are releasing their new CD, Ornery, tonight at Off Broadway. Tickets are a mere $7, and the Vultures, Pokey Lafarge and Clownvis Presley will also be appearing.

Live is where the Monads shine: Unlike many groups, the quartet strikes a united front – all four players stand in a straight line during performances. (In person the quartet also strikes a unified pose: For the St. Patrick’s Day interview, all happen to be wearing various shades of green.)

(photo by Tammy Leahy)

Please enjoy a few interview outtakes and some MP3s from Ornery below.

MP3: The Monads, "Spit Fire"

MP3: The Monads, "Evil Donkey"

How Jenna Schroeder came to play upright bass...
Jason Matthews: It was cool, ‘cause Jenna never picked up an upright bass in her entire life. She had just got let go of one band – and I could tell she was just pissed about it. So I was like "Here, take this upright bass." Two weeks later, we had our first show with her in the band.”
What’s the difference between playing upright bass and regular bass?
Jenna Schroeder: Well, there’s no frets…
Matthews: How about three feet?
[all laugh]
Schroeder: It’s about a foot taller than me, there’s no frets on it. And you really gotta work up some calluses that you don’t need on a bass guitar. It is a different style, you pluck it completely different. And you look a lot cooler!

What got you guys into music?
Matthews: I was a big new-waver and then a punk rocker.

Schroeder: My mom’s side, there’s a bunch of musicians. My uncle’s an awesome banjo player. My mom plays mountain dulcimer, so [during family reunions] it’d be like a hoe-down. [laughs]

Matt Shivelbine: I’ve kind of got a musical family, we own a music store in Cape Girardeau. So I was always around it. One of my first memories is learning how to play violin when I was like, four years old. I played classical music all the way through college, did a lot of string quartet stuff to get scholarships and make money playing weddings and stuff to get through college. Then once I got out, I had wanted to play, but I was sick of being in orchestras and stuff. I played classical music, but I always listened to rock and punk and all kinds of different music. When I met these guys and saw what they were doing, I was like, "I can do this, this is what I really wanted to do." I started learning some of their songs when they didn’t even know about it.

Patrick Eagan: I picked up guitar [in the] summer between eighth grade and freshman year of high school – you know, to meet chicks. I’m still waiting for it to work. [laughs] I just kind of bummed around for awhile, played in some bands in college, cover bands. Got out of college and was playing in a punk-rock band. That band and the monads had the same bas player, and that’s how I came into this band. This fits way better than anything else that I’ve ever done.

-- Annie Zaleski

In this week's issue, Jaime Lees talks with Edward Anderson of the 1900s, who will be opening for British Sea Power on Saturday, March 29, at the Billiken Club. The Chicago band's latest album, Cold and Kind, is a pop treat, mixing Swedish-lite hooks with Echo & the Bunnymen-influenced darkness. The show, as always, is free. Here are some interview outtakes.

Jaime Lees: How are you getting around? Are there seven of you still?
Edward Anderson: Yeah, there's seven.

I mean, do you have a van? Do you have a bus? Is it tight?
It was stress. We bought a van this summer, a 2004 Econoline, and it's been sitting on my street since we got back from New York. I went to start it and, apparently, the battery died. And then we got a ticket for no city sticker and all of this horrible shit is going wrong. And the heat doesn't work so it's kinda fun. You know, it's a good time. We even have personalized license plates.

Shut the door. What is it?
[laughs] Uh, HUNDOS1.

That is precious.
Yeah, isn't that cute? That wasn't really my doing, but, uh, I supported it.

[sarcastic] Oh sure, the van's outside your house but you didn't make the plates?
Naw! Actually, I'm kind of the default person that needs to care for the van because as soon as we bought it, my car got totaled so I pretty much was driving this fifteen-seater van around for months. Like, going to get groceries and stuff. It was totally ridiculous.

We're you like "I'm going to buy a table because I can"?
[laughs] "I'm gonna help you move!"

MP3: British Sea Power, "A Trip Out"

MP3: British Sea Power, "Waving Flags"

MP3: The 1900s, "Acutiplantar Dude"

MP3: The 1900s, "Two Ways"

-- Annie Zaleski

Friday, March 28
*School of Language/The Bureau/Riddle of Steel, Billiken Club
*Jon Hardy & the Public/Victoria/Black For a Second/Simply Esoteric, Bluebird
*’70s Soul Jam, featuring The Stylistics, The Emotions, Heat Wave, Enchantment and The Manhattans, Scottrade Center
*One Ring Zero, St. Louis Art Museum
*Celtic Woman, Fox Theatre
*Rough Shop (CD release), Schlafly Bottleworks
*Spark Thugs/Texas Justice/Goldtooth/12 Summers Old, Pageant
*The Monads (CD release)/Vultures, Off Broadway
*Tape Deck Sonata/Erin Hagan/Vivian Girls, Lemmons
*LaPush/Incurables/Go Van Gogh, Duck Room

Saturday, March 29
*Explosions in the Sky, Pageant
*British Sea Power/The 1900s/Target Market, Billiken Club
*Anti-Flag/Street Dogs/Briggs/Fake Problems, Pop’s
*The Livers/Wooden Kites, Schlafly Tap Room
*The Scissors/Guff/Ded Bugs, 2 Cents Plain
*Gram Parsons tribute (Auset/Caleb Travers, the Linemen/Tenement Ruth/Theodore, more), Off Broadway
*Bad Folk, Mangia
*Celtic Woman, Fox Theatre
*Femme Fatality/Comasoft/The Beautiful Bodies, Bluebird
*Kevin Batchelor (of the Skatalites)/Murder City Players, Duck Room

Sunday, March 30
*Van Halen, Scottrade Center NOW APRIL 26!
*Citay/Cryptacize/Jumbling Towers, Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center
*Chris Rock, Fabulous Fox

-- Annie Zaleski

Nine Inch Nails to play St. Louis at the Scottrade Center on August 20, according to this post on nin.com. I'll try to get confirmation from local sources tomorrow.

Muppets Tonight spoof:

-- Annie Zaleski

Because I've had a terrible week, and nothing cheers one up faster than cute-as-a-button sleepy cats. Mixed with Bjork's "It's Oh So Quiet." Link courtesy of Jezebel, which taped the Icelandic queen's Late Night with Conan O'Brien performance from last night.

BONUS Bjork vs. P. Diddy Phone Convo animated GIF:

-- Annie Zaleski