ALBUM REVIEW: Cage the Elephant: Thank You, Happy Birthday

Cage the Elephant's new record Thank You Happy Birthday is nothing short of a gritty masterpiece. I have been listening to this record almost every week trying to write a review when I just relaxed and really listened to this record. This record is nothing like their first record Cage the Elephant in any way. I feel it is less bluesy than the first one but it made up with rawness that definately shows in "Sell Yourself," and "Sabertooth Tiger." Also the album has a more pop-punk feel, but in the good way. When people say it has more of a Pixies-White Stripes I totally get what they're saying. What really made me happy was "Indy Kidz," a song you know was really influenced by the Butthole Surfers (who are one of my favorites bands anyway) so I was glad to hear it and it became one of my favorite songs on the album along with "2024," and "Around My Head," which have the more pop-punk feel. They also have their softer songs on the album, but they are strongly written. The album ends with one, the eight-minute song "Flow," which has an acoustic version of "Right Before My Eyes." I saw this album on the charts for about two weeks and then it was gone. Don't let it being different cloud your vision, this is a great and mature album for the band and I seriously recommend it.

Jan 27th: Interview with Dan from Stab City!

On Sunday Feb. 20th, I got to see Stab City do a really good show with Heller Keller, Vietnambla, and Bird Mad Girl. I got to interview Dan Catalinotto, the singer and bass player for Stab City the day after.

 

1. That was a pretty raucous show last night with the technical difficulties and the double-encore.

Yeah! It was a fun one! The more raucous, the better. We're definitely used to technical difficulties. Sometimes you can play through them,and sometimes you just have to stop the show until they're sorted out. Last night we had major PA feedback, but you never know what to expect when you're playing in a grimy warehouse space. That's why DIY shows are so fun, they're unpredictable.

2. How has 2011 been for you guys so far?

This year has been pretty good. Slowly working on new songs, and playing a wide range of shows. There's a lot of momentum going in all directions, it feels like. The key will be to figure out which direction to go so that we progress musically and hopefully get to play to many more people in many more places by the end of the year.

3. What's the next big step for Stab City?Tour?New Releases?

We recorded two songs with Joe Cardamone in his studio, which was a lot of fun. Our friend Walt is finishing up the album artwork and soon we will press a single - "Colisum/Vomitorium". We'll send it around and make a video for Colisdeum and see if it gets us anywhere. We'd love to tour all over the states and beyond. Right now, our only outside of LA plans are to be playing in Las Vegas at the end of May during Punk Rock Bowling weekend, but a couple trips to the Bay Area or San Diego could happen before then, too.

4. So what is the history of Stab City?
5. Do you think your sound have changed much since you first started?

Bobby and I have been the constant members of Stab City, I think since 2007. We played in a couple other bands together before then, and decided to try something with just the two of us, jamming in Bobby's dad's garage. Eventually we added guitar players and started playing a ridiculous number of shows, and have slowly evolved over the years. We started with more of a blues-rooted sound that we have now, and have gone through a couple of guitar players. I think we're getting more and more collaborative and weirder and weirder as time goes on, especially since Kyle joined on guitar about a year ago. Weird is good. I like to be challenged by my own music, and when the songs are the product of three odd brains, you never know what the end product will sound like. The last time we were in the studio to write a song (the now tentatively titled "Xtina"), we said we were going to try and write a warped pop song...this eventually turned into us doing something in 5 time with an extended Lawrence of Arabia-like intro...yeah, sometimes we can't reign ourselves in, but that's the fun of it - trying new things and seeing where they go.

6. Who are some of your favorite bands that are playing aroung the Los Angeles area?

I love Fantastica Bastidas - Henry and Sonia have a rare chemistry. I like Turrks, who used to be called Bipolar Bear. My honest favorite local LA band is Narwhal Party, which sounds like I'm cheating because Kyle is the singer/guitar player for that band. But it's totally true; there's a reason Bobby and I asked Kyle to join Stab City when we were looking for a guitar player last year.

7. You guys seem to pull influences from everywhere, but what are some of your biggest?

Initially, my playing in Stab City was influenced by old blues murder ballads and darker rock bands like Queens of the Stone Age and The Bronx. Lately, I've been into stuff like Pissed Jeans, HEALTH and Liars. I love old African rock music, and I wish it influenced my playing more, but I just don't have those chops.

8. Dan, I heard you went to Haiti. What was it like?

I was in Haiti for work, doing disaster relief stuff following the earthquake. It was an incredible experience and made me grateful for how good we have it here, while teaching me that there's more to life than my own selfish worries. I was also reminded that you can never understand a place until you visit it yourself. I just barely started to understand Haiti in the two months I was there; I would love to return. We've actually been invited to play in Port-au-Prince. This is something we have to make happen, whatever the financial and mental cost.

9. What are your rigs like?

Mine's currently broken, so whatever I can borrow.

10. Anything you want to add?

No. Thanks, Wolf!

ALBUM REVIEW: Sean Wheeler and Zander Schloss: Walk Thee Invisible

Sean Wheeler and Zander Schloss new record is unbelievably good. These two punk rockers know how to make a mighty fine folk-rock record. Sean's nice voice entangled with Zander's harmonies and complicated 12-string guitar playing melt together so well. They also have something they usually don't... a full band on some songs. I think some of my favorite songs are "Retablo," "So Low She Rose," and "Songs About Songs." They all have beautiful playing and singing and this record is really nice to listen to when you are just relaxing and want to hear good music. The last song (Spiritual) I have to note is very beautiful, but also really sand and a little depressing. This is a very sophisticated release by these two and I sure hope to hear more!

Feb 12th: Lords of Altamont at Cretins Motorcycle Clubhouse

On Saturday the 12th I got to see two great things, Lords of Altamont and an awesome strip-tease! I go to the Cretins Motorcycle Clubhouse at around 10 coming from band practice and a house-warming party. I have been a fan of the Lords of Altamont ever since I saw a version of them playing at a party last year. I got there a little early and a couple of the dancers went on (Mona Satana the normal dancer of the Lords, and Cinnamon Britches singer of the Wooly Bandits) Both great dancers and a hell of a show! Then the Lords set up and I was taken for a ride. Jake was singing and standing on his organ while the band members were rockin' out behind him. Most of the songs were new (or at least new to me) because that night was the record release party. The record is called Midnight to 666. It sounds like a really good record and I am interested in hearing it. I was right next to the speaker so my ear is kind of blown out, haha. Next time I won't keep a safe distance but maybe earplugs. They ended their set with "4.95" which is a big favorite of mine. I had a great time and would recommend seeing them very soon, I know I will. I would also apologize for not putting my blog sooner, I have been busy trying to put some of my stuff in a few magazines. I will put more up very soon for such the time loss!

To Pre-Order the CD: http://www.fargostore.com/mod/p_disque.php?article_id=6541
To Pre-Order the LP: http://www.fargostore.com/mod/p_disque.php?article_id=6542

Jan. 17th: Screaming Females at the Echoplex

On Monday night was one of my favorite shows I have seen so far... The Screaming Females were so good it was unbelievable. I got to the Echoplex around 8:30 in the P.M. curious to see the other bands before SF. The first band to come up were The Lovely Bad Things, a cool band whose players kept switching instruments, which was pretty cool. They went from having some poppy indie-rock hooks to some really good punk rock. Next up was Audacity, as band full of young guys playing punk rock music, they were pretty good, funny for sure. They told some great jokes in between songs. The band up next was La Sera, Kickball Katy from the Vivian Girls' new band. They do music that is kind of like 50's pop to put it. Then after selling their merch in person for a few hours the Screaming Females finally came on. I had seen them once before at FYF and they were great then, but this time they were just crazy good. I knew most of the material and they played some of their more popular songs like "Bell" and "I Don't Mind It," but also some things that I didn't know which was pretty cool because I like getting into songs that I don't know. They played most of the songs off of their latest LP Castle Talk. Their last song they played was a probably 8 or 9 minute version of "Boss" and then came out again for an encore which was "Fall Asleep." After a few seconds of them standing around I decided to scream out the last song I wanted them to play which was "Boyfriend." They then commenced to playing the song and I was so fulfilled with their set. I cannot wait until they come back!

Jan. 15th: 9 Bands At the Blvd.

Last night was an amazing show, 9 bands, 2 stages, awesome music, it was a great night. The night started off with Sex Wolf, a four-piece grungecore band from Boyle Heights. They were loud and halfway through the set the drummer broke his bass drum. That must have sucked because I know that drums aren't cheap. I accidentally missed the Rizlas after talking to some friends. The band that was supposed to be next Richard Ramirez Beatdown cancelled but in their place was the Kill Pills. I'm not sure how to describe their music except for they sound very garagey and friggin' great. Their singer was this short chick with a killer voice.  Next was Sassafras, whom I just reviewed in my last post. A great performance for sure. Sassafras has gone from a four-piece to a two-piece, but still have a great full sound. They played some of my favorite songs including "Been Blown to Shreds" and "Sassafras Song." They preceded to end the show with "Shipwrecked" and when the song was finished the drumset sort of collapsed when Sailor threw his guitar into it. Thanks by the way Sailor for the T-shirt and CD, I appreciate it! Up next was my dad's band Lightnin' Woodcock and the Bad Motherfuckers! He does very dirty songs varying from cunnilingus to consensual rape. Super funny I always find myself laughing really hard when I go to his shows. Another great part of the performance was that the bass player Will Lefevre was singing "In the Butt" to me as a joke when he realized after the fact that the whole show was being recorded for a documentary and their probably was footage of him singing "In the Butt" to a thirteen year old dude. The next band was the Dharma Bums fronted by Joe who put this whole show and documentary together. The Dharma are a five-piece band (Three guitar players, a bass player and a drummer) who play to me seems like bluesy-punk rock with other elements mixed in. They played a pretty long set because of audience members yelling "One More!" and stuff like that. It was a really good set considering that they have a new drummer. Sadly they have to change their name to something because there is another band with the name Dharma Bums. Then came on the Mormons, who, if you didn't guess, dress like Mormons with suits, ties and bicycle helmets. I haven't seen them in a club ever, but I have seen the Mormons Mobile Unit outside of the Fuck Yeah Fest where they have mini-amps on their belts and the drummer has this awesome portable drum set that he hooks on to his body. They play really awesome punk rock music and the singer is always laying on the floor or dancing with someone. Towards the end of the set some of the audience members, including me, picked him up towards the camera that was filming all of this. They played a great set and I really want to get their new EP. I missed Manhattan Murder Mystery, but I saw Kamikaze a great three-piece. They were so loud and cool. The guitar player and bass player were both singers trading the vocals off between songs. Also the drummer was an awesome chick who made the coolest faces while drumming. I stayed after for a bit and then went home after band practice and then a six-hour show and passed out!

ALBUM REVIEW: Sassafras-Dos

The sophomore release by Sassafras is one to definitely be noted. Dos, released on December 31st, 2010, is a great new 10-track album by Sassafras led by the singer and guitarist Sailor Alexander. Recorded around the same time as the first album "Sassafras LP" and like the first album every instrument is played by Sailor. Some of my favorite songs on the album would be the first track "Old Man," "Death Blues," and "Eli" The album, as is the song, is death blues. It has has some very hard riffs that kind of go into what you would think of as bluesy, that back up Sailor's hard, scratchy vocals. I would have to note "Eli" as really one of the great songs on this album. I really like the little interlude with what seems like a twelve-string guitar part. I think this album is really great and would recommend it to someone who is looking for something really hard, but is not so much looking in the metal section of the record store. Come see Sassafras along with nine other bands on Saturday the 15th at The Blvd, where I will be watching, reviewing, and hopefully interviewing some of the bands there!

Buy the album and any other Sassafras relaease at: http://sassafras.bandcamp.com/

The Blvd: 2631 Whittier Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90023-1446 Saturday January 15th, 6 P.M.