Jamie Lidell - The Ring

Last week my local hangouts reached an almost ghost town-like status when a lot of friends, musicians, bartenders, regulars headed down to Austin for a few days of amazing music, food, and parties. There was nothing much to report while they were away. Issue #10 of FOUND hit the stands with only a few minor hitches (with nearly the entire staff gone), I caught the Leslie and the Lys show at The Waiting Room with Clark (which must not have made that big of an impact on me since I didn't care enough to write about it here) and not much else happened.

Now, with SXSW behind us, it seems like things have begun to pick up again. I got the chance to see It's True on Tuesday with Steel Train. I could tell the boys were a bit off - having just gotten back from their trip to Austin - but they still delivered a stellar performance. Steel Train was much better than I anticipated, and they did a pretty great cover of Dancin' in the Dark, but I didn't really absorb most of the music that night (blame a three week-long sickness and lack of sleep for that one). Anyway, it seems like things are getting back to normal again. Here's a few highlights for the week: It's True! made the cover of this week's Reader. Both the Reader and The City Weekly feature some pretty solid SXSW reviews/recaps, so be sure to check those out. The newest issue of FOUND hit the stands last night, and there's a new mixtape from Brad Hoshaw featuring his picks from SXSW.

The most important bit of news is that the FOUND in Benson FOUNDraiser/Flea Market/Potluck/Show is this Saturday at the Foundry in Benson. The Flea Market starts at noon. It's ten dollars if you want to rent a table to sell, or you can stop by if you just want to browse. The word on the street is that Brad Hoshaw should have some vinyl for sale (which means I will probably end up spending way too much money, as per usual). The potluck starts at about 5. You can bring something to share if you'd like or just stop by and chow down on whatever people bring. Then, at around 8 (I think) the music starts. There will be a $5 cover if you plan on staying for the music. The FOUND staff is accepting donations for the magazine but the cover goes to the bands playing that night. Make sure you stop by to support a great local publication, enjoy some food, music, and have a good time.

In other news, this is my new thing to be excited about:



I love this video. I love this song. It's so funky. So danceable. So fun. The video perfectly captures Jamie Lidell's totally out there style. I literally cannot WAIT for this album to come out. Hits stores May 18th. You can definitely tell Beck had his hand in the production on this one. And that's a good thing.

Covers

Here's the thing. I am one of those people who almost never enjoys the cover version of the song better than the original. Some songs just shouldn't be covered. So many songs have been ruined for me because of God awful covers that have been done of them. There are, however, a few exceptions to this rule. One exception I want to bring to your attention today is the song Tik Tok.



I don't know if any of the Parlor readers are familiar with the musical stylings of Ke$ha - I certainly wasn't - or her video for this song. Sure, I vaguely remember hearing this song a time or two playing in the background in the bar, or in the car for a few seconds before I changed the station, but I'd never heard the entire thing until a few days ago when Brad Hoshaw decided to cover it (at the suggestion of a friend), when I had to check out the original to compare.



Here are the lyrics:

Wake up in the morning feeling like P Diddy
Grab my glasses, I'm out the door, I'm gonna hit this city
Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack
'Cause when I leave for the night, I ain't coming back

I'm talking pedicure on our toes, toes
Trying on all our clothes, clothes
Boys blowing up our phones, phones
Drop-topping, playing our favorite CDs
Pulling up to the parties
Trying to get a little bit tipsy

Don't stop, make it pop
DJ, blow my speakers up
Tonight, I'mma fight
'Til we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock
But the party don't stop, no

Don't stop, make it pop
DJ, blow my speakers up
Tonight, I'mma fight
'Til we see the sunlight
Tick tock, on the clock
But the party don't stop, no

Ain't got a care in world, but got plenty of beer
Ain't got no money in my pocket, but I'm already here
And now, the dudes are lining up cause they hear we got swagger
But we kick em to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger

I'm talking about everybody getting crunk, crunk
Boys tryin' to touch my junk, junk
Gonna smack him if he getting too drunk, drunk

Now, now, we go until they kick us out, out
Or the police shut us down, down
Police shut us down, down
Po-po shut us

Don't stop, make it pop
DJ, blow my speakers up
Tonight, I'mma fight
'Til we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock
But the party don't stop, no

Don't stop, make it pop
DJ, blow my speakers up
Tonight, I'mma fight
'Til we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock
But the party don't stop, no

DJ, you build me up
You break me down
My heart, it pounds
Yeah, you got me

With my hands up
You got me now
You got that sound
Yeah, you got me

DJ, you build me up
You break me down
My heart, it pounds
Yeah, you got me

With my hands up
Put your hands up
Put your hands up

Now, the party don't start 'til I walk in

Don't stop, make it pop
DJ, blow my speakers up
Tonight, I'mma fight
'Til we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock
But the party don't stop, no

Don't stop, make it pop
DJ, blow my speakers up
Tonight, I'mma fight
'Til we see the sunlight
Tick tock on the clock
But the party don't stop, no

I have to say, I actually think it's kind of good now. I mean, the change is totally drastic. He took the song and made it totally his own. Anyway, I guess I'll let you decide which is the better version in this case. If nothing else, I guess you can appreciate the comedic value of a man with a beard and a guitar singing about getting a pedicure and boys trying to touch his junk. :)

Late Friday Afternoon Means...

A little Tribe Called Quest to get you into the weekend spirit!!

The Tallest Man on Earth

I recently had a friend turn me onto The Tallest Man on Earth. Which I must say, is one of the few singer/song writers I've really enjoyed. I think it mainly has to do with the fact his voice has a striking resemblance to a Mr. Bob Dylan. So much so, he did a Dylan Cover for his Daytrotter Session. Enjoy.

Bar Stool Drunken Fool

Brad Hoshaw did this song last night at the Haiti Benefit. This is the only video I can find, but I really like the song.

Contra

I've been listening to the new Vampire Weekend quite a bit recently. This is a fantastic album full of energy and most definitely fun. I had not listened to anything by Vampire Weekend prior to putting this album on, and I must say I feel like I've been missing something. For those of you who don't have it, Vampire Weekend is kind enough to stream their new album off their webpage.

The Envy Corps

I guess I've been posting a lot about upcoming shows lately, but I can't say it's a bad thing. The Envy Corps are coming to the Waiting Room at the end of the month. They'll be playing on the 29th and tickets are $8. This band is really fun to see in action, and they've got some really great stuff. And they're from Iowa! Go support local music.

The Chevy Volt and They Might be Giants

So at the LA Auto Show GM decided to show off its newest marketing idea for their touted Chevy Volt. This may be the greatest example of a giant company not understanding who they are marketing too or just pop culture in general.




I also read, one of the executives (Bob Lutz) wanted to use this They Might Be Giants song; if only they would of listened to him.

God Help the Girl

God Help the Girl is a solo project from Belle and Sebastian front man Stuart Murdoch. I found this album to be fantastic, drawing on 60's Girl Groups as inspiration, Murdoch out did himself.

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is the fourth album those Parisians Phoenix. An infectous pop rock that gets you tapping your toes to the beat every time. This was easily the best live show of 2009 for me.

Together Through Life

Were does one begin when critiquing an artist like Bob Dylan? Having a long influential career, inspiring some of the greatest musicians of the last 40 years. Dylan's latest album Together Through Life does one thing, and it does that well. It is just a simple blues rock album with plenty of songs about heart break and the pains women put us through.

Eats Darkness

Eats Darkness is the third studio child from Andrew Whiteman's Apostle of Hustle. Like most of his work, it is guitar centric and a little on the far outside. I thoroughly enjoy he's near psychedelic feel and abstract musical style. As for Andrew Whiteman's take on the album "a serial poem about some struggles people go through. Battles, from the macro to the micro. Songs about tactics and attitudes needed in 'life during wartime'. Each track is like tapas at the banquet of conflict. A small contribution to the articulation of a fucked and beautiful world."

Merriweather Post Pavilion

Merriweather Post Pavilion is my first experience with Animal Collective. From the first time listening to it I found the sweeping electronic vistas to paint quite the audible picture. I really find that this album works best when listened to on a whole, bringing you up and down on an adventure that most other albums do not. It really begins with the album art, a bizzare optical illusion that really does an excellent job or personifying the music contained within. Definitely worth a listen, and something I will have in my rotation for years to come.

The Symphony of Science

I think these are the greatest thing done with Autotuning outside of Autotune the News.




You can see the collection of the Symphony of Science here.

Jimmy Fallon does Neil Young does the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Ok. So, I am of the opinion that Jimmy Fallon generally sucks big time. That being said, this impression is pretty spot-on and also kind of hilarious. Or maybe I am just in a weird mood today. I mean, if that's really him singing...way to go Fallon. You finally made me laugh at something.



I can't be the only one who thinks this is funny...right?

mr. blue sky

This is really just for Zach, because he missed the show. This is such a weird cover but it was amazing live. I am so glad Mayer Hawthorne is getting such amazing press right now. Also, I think he's got something in the works with Snoop Dogg...I guess we'll see what he's got up his sleeve soon enough.

Why?

So, I really wanted to get the new Why? album, Eskimo Snow, but every record store in town didn't have it, didn't know what I was talking about, or wasn't going to get any in. Epic failure.
Anyway, since I couldn't get the album I thought I'd post this great one-take video for A Sky for Shoeing Horses Under.



Enjoy.

Phoenix

Last night I caught Phoenix at the Slowdown. Hailing all the way from Paris, France, this was their first time here in the great city of Omaha. They had a great band out of Nashville open for them called The Features.

The Features were an excellent rock ensemble that came out with a loud fury of music that got the crowd out of their seats. The Features just released their latest LP Some Kind of Salvation on 429 Records, an imprint from Bug Records started by Kings of Leon. The highlight of their set was the newest single Lions.



Phoenix took the stage shortly after The Features had finished up. They had maybe a dozen LED light displays behind them, coupled with the house lights made for quite the epic set up. They started their show off strong with Lizstomania and proceeded to continue on for a solid hour and a half. Another highlight was Love Like a Sunset, in which there is a good four minute 'jam' at the beginning that goes into a complete song. They were extremely tight and well rehearsed, but that didn't mean it sounded just like their studio work. They took liberties and changed songs slightly for a live performance, something I always appreciate. They ended their double encore with an elongated version of 1901, the other single off their latest album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.

Science is Real

I've always been a huge fan of They Might Be Giants, and I will admit that in recent years I have not stayed the course and followed any of their new music. I recently came across this video for the song Science is Real off of Here Comes Science. Leave it to TMBG to combine music and science in such a catchy way.

Giant Steps

I've been obsessed lately with John Coltrane's Giant Steps. Giant Steps is the first song off the album of the same name. Known for it's blistering speed and impressive level of improvisation its no surprise that it's considered a landmark recording within Jazz music. Not only was Coltrane known to come into a studio with unrehearsed songs, he was also a pioneer with Music Theory. Giant Steps uses the theory that Coltrane had developed for Bop Jazz. It pushed boundaries in Bop Jazz, and continues to influence Jazz Theory to this day. I just think it is a beautiful song.