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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

I'll Give You a Break, Pt. 43: Joe Henderson's "Earth"

Posted by on Tue, May 15, 2012 at 9:55 AM

[I’ll Give You a Break is a sporadic series of posts highlighting obscure (and not so obscure) breakbeats in unlikely places, so that they may be sampled by producers or just enjoyed for their own geeky purposes. NB: Don’t forget to clear all samples through the proper channels (cough).]

Jazz saxophonist Joe Henderson’s “Earth” features the awesome Alice Coltrane on harp and tambura, Charlie Haden on bass, Leon “Ndugu” Chancler on drums, Baba Duru Oshun on tabla, Kenneth Nash on percussion and narration, and Michael White on violin. On this 13-minute opus from Henderson’s 1973 album, The Elements, they created one of the deepest, most cosmic grooves ever manifested. The huge segment from 0:55-4:40 couldn’t be a more generous gift to high-minded producers looking for a laid-back funk rhythm, which is then sacralized by Coltrane’s sweetly stinging tambura drones and the leader’s coolly melismatic sax, and buttressed by Haden’s staunch “bo-bo, bobobo bo” bass motif.

“Earth” is one of the greatest tracks ever and an untapped gold mine of sampling fodder.

Continue reading »

Friday, May 11, 2012

A Little Less Conversation...

Posted by on Fri, May 11, 2012 at 2:51 PM

Not to come over all schoolmarmish about things, but talking in the crowd during musical performances has been a chronic problem… probably since long before all of us were born. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make an effort right now to STFU more often while attending shows. (I feel like this concept needs to be repeated on a weekly basis to everyone everywhere. Note: I am not blameless, either.)

Now dig this big crux: If you have to shout to be heard and you’re not conveying information that could wait till there’s a break in the music, then you should hold your tongue—especially if you’ve been drinking cheap beer, eating cold cuts, smoking cigarettes, and are leaning into my face to chatter. Anyway, anything you have to say will be better understood when the music drops out— and there’s the bonus of showing the musicians a little respect while they’re pouring their hearts out onstage for you.

Let’s all make a concerted effort to be more quiet and attentive at concerts, eh?

Continue reading »

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Monday, May 7, 2012

Leonard Cohen Playing KeyArena November 9

Posted by on Mon, May 7, 2012 at 10:29 AM

It's true! Leonard Cohen will be here in November! Tickets go on sale next Friday, May 18 at 10 am via Ticketmaster.

I'll Give You a Break, Pt. 42: John Entwistle's "No. 29 (Eternal Youth)"

Posted by on Mon, May 7, 2012 at 10:02 AM

[I’ll Give You a Break is a sporadic series of posts highlighting obscure (and not so obscure) breakbeats in unlikely places, so that they may be sampled by producers or just enjoyed for their own geeky purposes. NB: Don’t forget to clear all samples through the proper channels (cough).]

The solo output of John Entwistle, the late bassist for the Who, traditionally has not been a fecund source of samples. (My entry for the “understatement of the year” award.) But in the best track from Entwistle’s 1971 LP Smash Your Head Against the Wall, “No. 29 (Eternal Youth),” there’s a break from 2:45 to about 3:22 of very useful percussion business (featuring Mr. Keith Moon, ladies and gentlemen): a filthy conflagration of bongos, cowbell, guiro, and trap kit. Virgin territory, y'all.

There’s a vinyl copy of Smash Your Head Against the Wall glowering in a used bin near you, probably for well under $10… or you could probably find the track floating on the internet in inferior digital form. But you have too much pride for that, right?

Monday, April 30, 2012

Hang Out with Mastodon Tonight!

Posted by on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 9:43 AM

Asstodon Mastodon will be visiting Easy Street Records on Queen Anne tonight at 5:30 pm. The band will be signing autographs before their show at Showbox Sodo and Easy Street will also be giving away tour posters with any Mastodon purchase.

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Monday, April 23, 2012

If You Miss Man Plus, Check Out Danny the Street

Posted by on Mon, Apr 23, 2012 at 12:26 PM

I really liked Man Plus for the seemingly short time they were around. One time I listened to that song "911" over and over again for about a week. So it's good news that former Man Plus members have a new project called Danny the Street, and they have a new album out called Prom Is King. You can stream the whole thing via their BandCamp page:

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

The Best Thing I Ever Did Was Follow Future of the Left on Twitter*

Posted by on Wed, Apr 18, 2012 at 11:53 AM

This morning the Future of the Left Twitter feed (which, I believe, is manned by their singer Andy Falkous) has live-tweeted receiving and listening to the digital promo of their own record and it's pretty hilarious. Sarcastic, pithy, and hilarious. Just like their songs! A few samples:

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Well, you get the point. The Plot Against Common Sense will be out May 28th.

Follow @shit_rock for good laughs.

*An exaggeration.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Stream the New Torche Record, Harmonicraft

Posted by on Tue, Apr 17, 2012 at 12:39 PM

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Spin is hosting a full stream of the new Torche record, Harmonicraft, which has the best cover art of 2012.

Hear it here!

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Friday, April 13, 2012

Sad That You're Missing Coachella This Weekend?

Posted by on Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 1:38 PM

Don't be! Because you can watch it all weekend from the comfort of your own home thanks to the Coachella YouTube channel.

FYI: Refused's set starts tonight at 11:20 PST.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

I'll Give You a Break, Pt. 41: Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band's "Low Yo Yo Stuff"

Posted by on Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 12:18 PM

[I’ll Give You a Break is a sporadic series of posts highlighting obscure (and not so obscure) breakbeats in unlikely places, so that they may be sampled by producers or just enjoyed for their own geeky purposes. NB: Don’t forget to clear all samples through the proper channels (cough).]

Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band’s “Low Yo Yo Stuff”—the lead-off track from 1972’s Clear Spot—is a charming slice of vibes-enhanced, skewed blues rock. For your breakbeat-utilizing purposes, zero in on seconds 3-10, during which the group slink into a simmeringly seductive, cowbell-intensive groove with gully guitar riffs. The production here is slicker than was typical for Beefheart and company; this song could’ve appeared on a Dr. John record (serious compliment). Overall, Captain Beefheart records traditionally have been underused sources for samples, for no good reason that I can tell. Start diggin' 'em, champ.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

HOLY SHIT: Ayron Jones Is Really Good at the Guitar

Posted by on Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 12:14 PM

Want to see someone play the guitar? And I mean REALLY play the guitar? Then put Ayron Jones and the Way on your radar. Dude can fucking SHRED. And, according to the band's website, he's only 25-years-old and self-taught.

I caught Ayron Jones and the Way's set at the Hard Rock Cafe on Friday—they were performing in the Hard Rock Rising finals and I was an unsuspecting judge—and their set was one of the most entertaining performances I've seen so far this year.

They play hard, soulful blues. Think Hendrix or a heavier Stevie Ray Vaughn. Jones plays on a wireless amp, and at one point he leapt off he stage, went to the back of the room, down the stairs to Hard Rock's main dining area, playing all the while. Minutes later he came up the staircase on the other side of the room, laughing to himself from the stage while everyone in the audience was still facing the other way wondering where the fuck he went.

Sometimes he played one-handed. Sometimes he reached up, mid-guitar solo, and fixed the bill of his cap. Sometimes he played while holding the guitar behind his head. He's a total showboat, but, like... c'mon. When you're that good at guitar you can do whatever the fuck you want.

Seattle is loving blues and soul again—take Allen Stone's popularity, for example—but Seattle's blues/soul revival don't mean shit without a little love for Ayron Jones and the Way, too. Ayron Jones and the Way play the High Dive Sunday, April 1st. The show is free.

And here's the band in action:

Continue reading »

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

I'll Give You a Break, Pt. 40: Miroslav Vitous' "Aim Your Eye"

Posted by on Tue, Mar 27, 2012 at 10:02 AM

[I’ll Give You a Break is a sporadic series of posts highlighting obscure (and not so obscure) breakbeats in unlikely places, so that they may be sampled by producers or just enjoyed for their own geeky purposes. NB: Don’t forget to clear all samples through the proper channels (cough).]

Miroslav Vitous played bass for Weather Report (he preceded Alphonso Johnson and the legendary Jaco Pastorius in that band) and enjoyed a productive solo career while collaborating with some of the top jazz/fusion players of the ’70s (John McLaughlin, Jack DeJohnette, Terje Rypdal, Larry Coryell, Freddie Hubbard, Chick Corea, etc.). On his 1976 LP, Magical Shepherd, Vitous cut a fabulous disco song, “New York City,” to which you’ve danced if you frequented any of that metropolis’ hipper clubs in the late ’70s. Right?

But the album’s killer break actually comes on “Aim Your Eye,” which features drummer James Gadson and keyboardist Herbie Hancock. The first 25 seconds give you more than enough stark, downtempo funk out of which to build something sexy. It’s kind of a miracle that nobody—at least nobody I’ve detected—has used this one yet. Don’t hesitate.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Four Lessons Learned Playing SXSW

Posted by on Mon, Mar 19, 2012 at 10:57 AM

Champagne is really Cheap! The first night there, I found out that places in Texas sell champagne for like $3 a bottle! That's great news until you remember that there are also tons of free liquor situations everywhere, and when I mixed I was left with a cheap-sugary-booze-and-champagne hangover and the painful memory of the night before. when I had scream-talked at my friends that the country band the Trishas at the Gibson showcase were my new favorite band.

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Iphone service is whack! Besides texts and calls not going through, it put my Draw Something games to a halt and fucked up my mapping feature... When I was trying to sooth my champagne hangover, I tried mapping myself to a coffee shop four blocks away. I walked over and found there was no coffee shop, just a camel being led around an empty astro turf lot while sweaty people took pictures of it and "Love Fool" by the Cardigans was blasting painfully loud from the speakers.

Take the $250 over the Official SXSW Bracelets When you play an official showcase, you can choose to get $250 instead of bracelets. My band just took the $250 because anyone you'd wanna see is going to be playing a free showcase anyway and anything else is pretty easy to sneak into because it's such a shit show. The only show I got sulky about missing was when my girlfriend got to see Fiona Apple in a church, but that one was only for badgeholders anyway.

Hitchhiking might be safer during SXSW. Ok, it's always a bad idea, but when I got stuck in the outskirts of town with three other people, we noticed a parade of band vans and we gave the thumb a shot and got picked up by some super nice dudes who turned out to be in a Subpop band called Debo.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

The Hysterics' Open Letter to Green Day

Posted by on Thu, Mar 15, 2012 at 3:18 PM

The Hysterics are a hardcore band from Olympia that I've been meaning to see for awhile now, but the only thing I've heard about them is the magical Shannen Hansen from Diver Down plays drums for them now and that the banner they hang up at shows has bloody tampons arranged like the Black Flag bars. I'm 100 percent sure I'm gonna catch the next show because they won my heart over forever when I saw their open letter to Green Day that they posted on their blog concerning the absorbency of Green Day's dynamite tampon shirt.

Dear Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool,

We are writing in response to a graphic used on tee shirts by your rock group "Green Day" in which four blood-soaked tampons are placed upside-down, perhaps as a feminist appropriation of the "Black Flag bars" as a response to the patriarchal machismo of the "hardcore scene" in which we both grew up. My initial response was one of shock and disappointment due to the fact that the portrayal of "tampon bars" has been a longstanding symbol of our Washington-based feminist rock group "Hysterics" (see Exhibit A). However, the more I ponder the content of our little "coincidence," the more my concern grows regarding the absorbency of the tampons depicted on some of your tee shirts. Our tampons are well-used, sure, but the "Green Day tampons" are fully soaked in blood, which indicates to me that you may need to upgrade to higher-absorbency tampons in order to accommodate your heavy flow. There are many brands of "super" and "super plus" tampons that are widely available on the market. If we are correct in our assumption that you have released this tee shirt as a cry for help, we hope our suggestion will point you in the right direction and we wish you the best in finding the size/absorbency level to suit your needs.

Sincerely, Hysterics

Monday, March 12, 2012

Bloomsbury Is Accepting Proposals for Its 33 1/3 Series

Posted by on Mon, Mar 12, 2012 at 9:30 AM

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Music writers! Want to pitch an idea for one of those 33 1/3 books about canonical and should-be-canonical albums? You have a brief window of opportunity to do just that from March 19 to April 30. Read about all of the guidelines set down by Bloomsbury (who bought out previous publisher Continuum in 2011) here and peruse the list of titles already in the series here.

I have two scorching-hot ideas for 33 1/3, but only one concept per potential author will be accepted. So if I seem a little edgy, blame it on this dilemma. (What are they? You think I’m going to tell you and have you sabotage me? GTFO.) Good luck, everyone!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Want to See For Yourself If Lana Del Rey Can Really Sing? (And Pay Zero Dollars in Case She Can't?)

Posted by on Wed, Mar 7, 2012 at 4:18 PM

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You're in luck! It was just announced that she's playing an in-store at Easy Street Records on Queen Anne this Saturday, March 10, at 2 pm.

It's free, all ages, and she will be signing copies of Born to Die after the performance.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Members of Champagne Champagne & Brite Futures at Crocodile Back Bar: FREE

Posted by on Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 1:31 PM

Tonight at 8:00 in the Crocodile back bar, members of Champagne Champagne and Brite Futures are collaborating for the filming of a show called One Night Only.

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  • Life With Blythe

Pearl Dragon (fresh out of the hospital with burns on his leg from a house fire), Mark "Gajamagic" Gajadhar, David Price, and Claire England will mess around sonically, seeing what happens. Then they will sit down with host Tyler Coffee of Toy Box Studio. Then they will perform.

Come see it all. It’s FREE.

In the meantime, read Larry Mizell Jr.'s take on Champagne Champagne's latest, Private Party here, and see the gruesome burn after the cut:

Continue reading »

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

I'll Give You a Break, Pt. 39: George Duke's "Funny Funk"

Posted by on Tue, Feb 28, 2012 at 11:59 AM

[I’ll Give You a Break is a sporadic series of posts highlighting obscure (and not so obscure) breakbeats in unlikely places, so that they may be sampled by producers or just enjoyed for their own geeky purposes. NB: Don’t forget to clear all samples through the proper channels (cough).]

Hard to believe nobody’s sampled George Duke’s “Funny Funk” (from his 1974 LP Feel), but research has not turned up any examples. Producers have sampled the hell out of Duke’s catalog, but this gem somehow eluded even Madlib’s grasp (although it’s probably earmarked for his seventh LP of 2012). I played “Funny Funk” at the Hangover Flea Market Sunday and boggled Stranger freelancer/columnist Trent Moorman’s hard-to-boggle mind. The whole damn song could provide sample fodder for at least three or four productions, but I’m partial to the first 40 seconds or so of suave, swinging keyboard riffing, rotund bass-synth eructations, and über-funky drums. "Funny Funk" is no joke.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Free Vivian Girls Show at the Downtown Nordstroms!

Posted by on Wed, Feb 22, 2012 at 11:28 AM

I think a lot of Vivian Girls fans may have overlooked that this is happening... It looks like the band are on a Kate Spade-sponsored tour and will be playing a free show at 6:30pm Downtown Nordstroms. The Kate Spade blog made this announcement about the show:

Inspired by the spirit of our favorite musical icons (think blondie and the supremes) we've put a rock and roll twist on our spring 2012 campaign. to celebrate, we're setting off on a cross-country road trip this season in our very own tour bus-a pop-up shop!-outfitted in our favorite new print of the season, florence broadurst's japanese floral. we'll be making stops in the following cities, kicking things off in new york city. swing by for tour gear, prizes and other limited-edition exclusives, and to catch live concerts by the vivian girls at each stop. see when we'll be in your city, and check back regularly for time and location updates.

The show will include cocktails, snacks and prizes in a pop-up lounge. You can R.S.V.P at 206.628.2111 ext1230.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

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Saturday, February 18, 2012

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Wednesday, February 15, 2012

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Friday, January 13, 2012

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Is Coachella Worth It?

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Monday, January 9, 2012

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