April 20th: Interview with John Dwyer of Thee Oh Sees

1. First of all, how've you guys been? You guys just got off tour and it seems your going back on tour in about a month. It seems like you guys are doing pretty well.

        

   The band is well, we have been very busy but fruitful I think. We have a lot more coming up so just trying to stay healthy and hearty.   

2. You also seem to be putting out a lot of records. Seems like three after Warm Slime. Which leads me to my next question, what is your inspiration for songs.

   Life as is with any song writer I would imagine. No great mysteries here I think we can all have common ground with our day to day existence  

3. The lyrics are pretty interesting, and alot of times short like "I Was Denied," and "Adult Acid," which is unusual for most bands who seem like they're always trying to fit more lyrics in.

   I am in no rush to fill ears with words. Some songs though tend to be a bit longer. I dont know I guess I just didnt have notion either way.

4. Another thing that is unique about you guys is your instrumentation. What are your main instruments and rigs like?

  12 string 68' burns

   6 string kay

   roland space echo

   wurlitzer mlm II

   fender jaguar 

   drum kit 

5. How did you guys come together?

       The band just kept growing from the original 2 piece. Petey I knew through other bands he played in. Brigid   from the local coffee joint and Mike from his previous live show with old bands. 

6. What has it been like with the band? You guys have received some success at least from what I've seen at Fuck Yeah Fest and the show in Eagle Rock.

  We are doin comfortable. Slow and steady wins the race, I am in no rush for success and am not a staunch supporter of the contemporary hype-machine.

7. Are you guys releasing anything new soon? Have you just released something?

   "single collection 1+2" on my label castleface all the singles so far

   "castlemania" on in the red a collection of more home brewed recordins

   "carrion crawler/the dream" a full band heavy blaster recorded and ready to be mixed due out in the fall on in the red

   and a split single with scottish artist david shrigley due out soon with hand drawn covers by D. Shrigley!!!!

8. Alright thanks very much for doing the interview, any last words?

       Be well and good luck. 

ALBUM REVIEW: Dum Dum Girls: He Gets Me High EP

The newest release by this all girl quartet He Gets Me High, is a pretty good EP. I have been a fan of them since I heard "Jail La La," but I don't know, this release wasn't really what I was looking for. I think my favorite track on it is the title track, and it is probably the best. With fuzzy and distorted instruments this makes a good little tune. The rest though for me was a little slow. This doesn't mean that I don't like slow tracks (believe me I do) but it just wasn't as strong as their older songs. This EP has an interesting cover of The Smiths' "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out." I have to say they do a good version of the Misfits' "Last Caress," if you're open to hearing a popped out version of it. (Its on the b-side of "Bhang Bhang, I'm a Burnout") I would still recommend getting this EP if you like DDG, but if you don't know them, I would definitely listen to is before you buy it!

Buy Here at: www.subpop.com/releases/dum_dum_girls/eps/he_gets_me_high

April 8th Narwhal Party/Halloween Swim Team

 

Last Friday, I went to yet another gig at the Smell (I swear it is my home away from home, and counting that I live close by doesn't help) This time to see Narwhal Party and whatever band I could catch before. I got there missing two bands. The band onstage almost starts immediately after I get there. At the start it is two guys on synths, a bass player who eventually goes to a third synth, and from what I've heard, a recently-added drummer. The dudes have great pop hooks with a very unique music that sets a mood and almost a wall of sound. They also got me with their onstage presence, they had something that most synth bands don't, some movement during songs. I really like this band and hope to see them again soon. Then after a little delay for Narwhal Party and a nightmare-come-true the bass players strap comes off and the bass hits the floor, NP goes on. They self described themselves as sounding like cats in a meat grinder and I guess its true if the cat has some sort of good pitch. These guys use A LOT of pedals which accent the band perfectly. They really have a good sound and there is a definite link between Matt Shultz of Cage the Elephant and Kyle Souza of Narwhal Party. They must have similar influences in singing or they just sound like one another, either way it is a singing style that I really love. They played a great set, even if they kept insisting they messed up a lot, I sincerely didn't notice nor would I care. This is a great band and you should get whatever merchandise you can, especially recordings, what I have heard off of their myspace page is great and hopefully I can get some more!

P.S. Sorry I could not get a picture of HST but watch their video for "Pitch Black" one of my favorites: http://vimeo.com/14298911
P.P.S. I cannot go another blog without saying a very big THANKS! to Bob Cantu for putting me in his zine Baby Jeepers I really appreciate it and hopefully I will keep writing for him!!

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