It is surprising that El Superstar is director Amy French’s first feature film. This mockumentary is cast in the fashion of predecessor films (in spirit) like This Is Spinal Tap or A Mighty Wind. Juan Frances (John French, Amy’s brother) was abandoned by eir real parents in Beverly Hills, but was given a second shot at life through the caring arms of eir nanny (Lupe Ontiveros, As Good As It…
Paul Duncan is currently recording and performing under the moniker Warm Ghost. It finds him taking a step beyond traditional instrumentation and one toward that of electronics, synthesizers, drum machines and processed field recordings. Warm Ghost has now evolved into a band in collaboration with Oliver Chapoy, where the sound is an intricately arranged shimmering sonic world of twisting words and melodies inside dense environments where there are elements of…
It surprises me that some of the films by storied director Federico Fellini have not been given their time in the sun. The Criterion Collection has presented viewers with a stunningly sharp transfer of Amarcord, eir 1973 film about life in fascist Italy, presenting it on the Blu-Ray format. Amarcord is an interesting movie for those in current (and even then-current) United States, as it provides so many similarities and…
Lance Bangs has previously directed two classic Thermals videos, “No Culture Icons” (their first), and “Now We Can See” (their most popular/controversial, if you’re grading by youtube comments). Lance Bangs and Aubree Bernier-Clarke now bring you the video for The Thermals’ latest single, “Never Listen To Me”. The video is warm, sentimental, and very Portland. It was shot at Cathedral Park in Portland on Super 8mm and 16mm and on…
Snotty, loud pseudo-crust punk from California. How could one go wrong? With the first track “Battery Acid” barely cracking one minute, immediately people have to think of M.O.D. and all those thrash-punk bands from the late eighties. Every single lyric is screamed out, the music itself faster than shit, and the mastering surprisingly solid for a band of this type. Each track is fast, unrelenting, simplistic and yet catchy as…
In celebration of the church’s return to the US for their “Future Past Perfect” electric tour this week, kicking off this Wednesday, February 2nd in LA at the El Rey Theatre, the band has released a song from each of the three albums they will be performing in their entirety, each and every night: Untitled #23, Priest=Aura, and Starfish. Following their successful “An Intimate Space” acoustic tour this past spring,…
Muted and quiet compared to their performance, The Retainers still retain that punk nature, even down to the loud, hating-of-authority lead singer. Running over the guitar lines like the earliest days of Darby Crash’s music, The Retailers play a short, succinct style of punk rock. Overly distorted guitars lead the tracks, being as present as the vocals – the drums hide themselves throughout the tracks. “For The Rich U Die”…
Feb. 16 – Rail Club – Ft. Worth, TX Feb. 18 – Club DV8 – Tucson, AZ Feb. 19 – Clubhouse – Tempe, AZ Feb. 20 – Chain Reaction – Anaheim, CA Feb. 21 – Cheyenne Saloon – Las Vegas, NV Feb. 22 – The Key Club – Hollywood, CA Feb. 23 – Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA Feb. 24 – The Boardwalk – Orangevale, CA Feb. 26…
DOM hit up the Daytrotter studios and recorded a couple of jams for the masses, check em out here: http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/dom-concert/20054465-111893.html Their EP, ‘Sun Bronzed Greek Gods’ is out 2/15 on Astralwerks/Burning Mill and they’re gearing up to tour at SXSW and across the US this Spring. 4/10 – Toronto – Opera House 4/13 – DC – 9:30 Club 4/14 – Philly – T.L.A. 4/15 – Boston – Paradise Check out…
Starting out “To Force A Fate” with a more powerful version of The Anniversary and Rilo Kiley, the vocals laid down by Elizabeth and Sean mesh together, even in some places (Bottle Rocket Battles) achieving one cohesive sound. The jangly, loud guitars belie some deep-seeded like of punk, and Steve’s playing on the disc does much to further this thought. Breaking out of the rigidity of the punk influence, tracks…
The debut EP from Nashville-based outfit Afterlife Parade is available today. Produced by Jeremy McCoy of The Fray, Death is the first in a two-part concept album. Formed in the summer of 2010, Afterlife Parade marks a creative departure for frontman Quinn Erwin, who was inspired musically by artists like Ryan Adam, U2 and Peter Gabriel. “The songs on Death are very personal,” Erwin explains. “A lot of them are…
The melody of “Fail Forever,” which matches the alienated feeling of the lyrics, is one of the first things to draw listeners in to the track. dOP strip away many of the embellishments for their remix, placing the vocal atop a propulsive rhythm constructed from the very human sounds of handclaps and incidental percussion. The technique highlights the vocal line, while adding an imperative to make listeners move. The Fail…
Starting out “The Great Leap” with a very pop-alternative sounding instrumental opening, recalling The Minutemen and Husker Du, shades of Dick Dale are infused with this shambling behemoth as the first strains of vocals come out. Moving more in the Patti Smith / Nico vein of things during the second-half of the first track. Moving away from the earthy and dark sounds for a more emotive and electronic mood, the…
2.16 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Zoo 2.17 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5 2.18 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium 2.19 – Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero 2.20 – New Have, CT @ Toad’s place 2.22 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club 2.23 – Charlotte, NC @ Amo’s Southend 2.24 – Knoxville, TN @ Valarium 2.25 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade 2.26 – Lake Buena Vista, FL @…
In what is the most insane rap album of 2003, Relm busts through with a city-themed album that I could actually understand. With the major amount of his tracks about Ohio or Columbus (Veteran’s Memorial, Buckeye City, O.H.I.O.), this album definitely approaches the high level of David Banner’s Mississippi or Outkast’s ATLiens. While the tracks are tricked out with bells and whistles enough to go up with the big dogs…
Old-school Swedish death dealers MIASMAL have revealed the artwork for their self-titled full-length debut. The album will be released on CD by Dark Descent Records and given the vinyl treatment by Detest Records and Me Saco Un Ojo. The CD version will contain eight brand new tracks as well as six bonus tunes taken from the band’s sold-out demo recording and 7″ EP. MIASMAL is currently wrapping things up in…
Atmosphere just put out this posse cut featuring everyone joining them on the upcoming “Welcome To Minnesota” tour. They’re playing 5 shows in as many days, all within their home state (dates below). Atmosphere- “Minnesota Nice” feat. Prof, Mr. Gene Poole & Felipe Cuauhtli of Los Nativos. Atmosphere on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Atmosphere Atmosphere on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/atmosphere 2.22 – Mankato, MN @ MNSU Ballroom SOLD OUT 2.23 – Bemidji, MN @ Sanford…
Reindeer/Tiger Team play a brand of indie rock that has been popular in one style or another for the last decade or so. The first track on the disc, “Boy + Chief” is more along the line of the “emo” music put out by Deep Elm pre-2002, and the minor modifications to what would be a traditional time signature really allows the track to shine. It is primarily the nuanced…
STRAIGHT LINE STITCH have been added to the robust lineup that is the 2011 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL featuring MEGADETH, DISTURBED and GODSMACK. The band will be appearing on the “Extreme Stage” on all dates along with SUICIDE SILENCE & ALL SHALL PERISH. “Getting added to Mayhem is definitely a highlight of our careers thus far. There are so many amazing bands we thought we’d never get the opportunity…
The amount of polish that is on the average track on “Not Happy” is absurd. This is Josie and the Pussycats-level manipulation, and you know what? It sounds damn fine, probably because the sextet that is known as Reel Big Fish have been around for almost 15 years and have been privy to a myriad of different influences. “Drinkin’” looks back to the earliest days of the Barenaked Ladies and…