People with animal heads

Hiatus

2009-03-25T09:00:00.001-07:00

It's been many months since I have written on this site. Someday I may take up the slack again. Just too busy to make it work the way I'd like to right now.
Feel free to e-mail me at peoplewithanimalheads@yahoo.com if you would like to help. I think there is still a need for a strict Midwestern focus on underground bands. As it is, you got a ton of sites waxing poetic on the same rotating cast of national bands. I had this site closed for quite some time. But I wanted to open it back up for past coverage to be available.

-Chris

Had to come out of hibernation just to post this one from Entertainment Weekly...

2009-01-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

People's Choice Awards: You showed up? Here's a trophy!
by Whitney Pastorek

This is not the blog post my editors asked for. In this space, you are supposed to be reading a Best and Worst of last night's People's Choice Awards, one of those snarky little fiestas where I run down all the highlights of the ceremony, crack some jokes, get worked up when Sugarland doesn't win, whatever. But PopWatchers, I can't do it this time.
I know what you're thinking: "Yeah, it's hard to make a list of 'bests' when there weren't any." But even if I faked it by saluting Christina Applegate's classy speech or the emotional fortitude it must take for Ellen DeGeneres to keep getting up there and smiling at the nice people who cheer for her when she dances her funny dance but refuse to give her the civil rights necessary to marry her "roommate," I would be doing you, the intelligent and savvy readers of EW.com, a disservice. Because the People's Choice Awards, by any reasonable standard, are the worst kind of pandering, artificial hooey. And we, the alleged people, deserve better.
I intend no disrespect to the winners of the "awards," nor to enthusiastic hostess Queen Latifah (pictured), nor to the hardworking men and women who labored behind the scenes to produce these two hours of televised pap and circumstance. But with the exception of The Dark Knight -- victorious in so many categories they had to shove them all into a montage at the end -- do I think for a second that these "winners" are, indeed, the "people's" choice? No. Let's be honest: As the very clear post-show disclaimer explained, a complex system of "E-Polls" and market research and extravagant math went into choosing the nominees you saw upon your screen. And that system led to a telecast in which praise was lavished on a crassly commercial cross-section of demographically advantageous properties starring celebrities who were willing to show up.
Even as mindless distraction, this awards show was a failure. There was no suspense; every category could be easily predicted by remembering who you'd already spotted in the audience. Would the "Favorite Rock Song" be "All Summer Long" by Kid Rock, or those other two thingies performed by people who were not currently located inside the Shrine Auditorium? To quote "winner" Rock: What a surprise. Chris Brown accepted his "Favorite Combined Forces" award (for "No Air" with Jordin Sparks) "live via satellite" from Dublin, Ireland -- where by my calculations it would have been approximately 3:30 in the morning. Rascal Flatts were handed a statue immediately after completing their unconvincing Rascal Flatts impersonation, and like 200 people rose as one from the good seats to collect the "Favorite TV Drama" award for House. Yes, tipping the winners off ahead of time has become pretty much de rigeur at this sort of thing, but when those "winners" stretch the limits of plausibility or common sense, I start sawing at my wrists with Twizzlers.
Examples: We were told early in the broadcast that voting was still open in the "Favorite New TV Comedy/Drama" categories. And yet when the time came, the casts of Gary Unmarried and The Mentalist -- which, oh wow, just happen to air on the network we're watching! -- were in the house and ready to go. The cast members of the losing shows? Conspicuously absent. (Okay, there were 90210 people milling about, but I'm willing to believe they, like Paris Hilton, have nothing better to do.) But wait, there's more: Britney Spears losing to Robin Williams for "Favorite Scene Stealing Guest Star" -- in an Internet-based voting competition? Kate Hudson (movie to promote) and Latifah (host) going head-to-head for "Favorite Leading Lady"? The Secret Life of Bees winning "Favorite Movie Drama"?? People. Bees made $37 million at the box office. That is just slightly more money than Marley and Me made opening weekend.
So what now? How to contend against the kinds of dark forces that would put Jewel outside the Shrine for the express purpose of pretending to randomly give out a CVS Pharmacy-sponsored makeover to some woman, then cut to a pre-taped segment featuring said woman's makeover? Or somehow cajole my beloved Chandra Wilson into shilling for Downy fabric softener? PopWatchers, aside from saying "don't watch the damn thing," I am at a loss. For I know I am powerless, that the People's Choice Awards are bigger than me, or you, or even Christian Bale, whose aggressive gravitas had absolutely no effect on the woooooo!-ing hordes in the balcony, desperate just to hear themselves scream.
The only thing I can hope for is this: When people like Kid Rock and Adam Sandler take to the microphone and crow ever so humbly about how their work is not "for the critics," but "for the people," all of us will take a second to remember that there is nothing wrong with a people who are also critical. Whether we use our mouses, our remotes, our blogs, or our hard-earned cash, it is up to us to decide what kind of culture we want to live in. And while it may be easy and indeed quite fun to stand in a metaphorical mosh pit and high-five every shiny famous person who comes down the pike, I happen to believe we as a people are capable of ever so much more. (Need proof? The Dark Knight.) To echo last night's oft-repeated phrase, Yes we can demand excellence. Yes we can think analytically, write articulately, and speak passionately about art and artists in our society. I go so far as to say it is our responsibility. We cannot let crap like this win.
Did you watch last night? Agree/disagree? And even if you skipped the show, who or what would be your personal choice for the very best pop culture has to offer?

some more stuff...

2008-07-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

• Here's some updates on this weekend's Forecastle Festival in Louisville.

Midwest alerts

2008-07-23T05:46:00.000-07:00

• Looks like if you're a small touring band the best time to play Chicago is around Lollapalooza. Apparently bands aren't allowed to do shows at other venues in Chicago 60 days before or 30 days after their performance.
That's nuts, but I say take advantage of it. It's also good to know for next year, isn't it all you other bands fighting against nepotism?
Read the whole article published at Time Out Chicago, HERE.

• Is Detroit on the verge of an economic downfall - again? Newsroom magazine is asking this very same question and citing a lot of scary facts about how the American auto industry based in Detroit is going the way of the New Dodo: The SUV.
Read the article, HERE.
The most telling point was that when people want to have fun they now have to go across the river to Windsor, Canada.
Quote:
Today, Detroit is a shadow of its former self. The big Three that made this city an international icon of prosperity and industry have fallen on bad times. And now the unthinkable — the possible demise or bankruptcy of the once mighty industrial giants now withering from decades of short term thinking, cash cowing, and going for the quick buck.
The disease eating at Detroit is not of its own making. We all played a part in prostituting American businesses for their short term gain.

Midwest alerts

2008-07-10T07:37:00.000-07:00

• Former Cincinnati, now Brooklyn band The National seems to be popping up a lot lately.
First I read about their new pro Obama t-shirts with the democratic nominee's image and the words "Mr. November" on the bottom. All proceeds of thr t-shirt sales go to Obama's campaign.
Then I saw this interview with Matt over on Aquarium Drunkard, HERE.
• A Upper Kentucky folk musician just signed with Sub Pop, according to Mike Breen's "Spill it" column, HERE.
• Mil Milk Lemonade has a refreshingly open-minded take on the recent Columbus, Ohio Parking Lot Blowout concert, featuring Times New Viking and Dead Sea as headliners. Check that out, HERE.
• Uh Oh, did Pennsylvania's Girl Talk get screwed doing the whole "pick your price Radiohead" thing? Some people think so. Check this story, HERE.

Chicago's The Interiors

2008-07-09T05:50:00.000-07:00

(Proving great minds think alike, I wrote this a few days ago after learning about the band but hadn't posted it yet. Then I saw Buddha Den wrote about them too. So, here's my take as well!)

Perhaps it is the influence of Brooklyn sounds on the Midwest, but I'm not so sure.
Lately, I read about Chicago band The Interiors and its new self-titled release.
Here is a nice interview the Chicago Daily Herald did, HERE.
What strikes me so much about The Interiors is that they take those African rhythms made "hip" by such transparent luminaries such as Vampire Weekend, but they do it in a much more subtle way. Not only that, but they incorporate the feel into their own sound.
What I specifically hate about Vampire Weekend is the band's blatant disregard for being unique. They are simply stealing what Paul Simon did in the 1960s and stealing what Peter Gabriel did in the 1980s and then adding a Strokes feel to it. It's ham-fisted and boring to me.
But check out The Interiors at its Myspace page and give them a listen.
For those in the Columbus and Indiana scenes, you might hear a kindred spirit of their song writing approach in the soon-to-be-defunct Miranda Sound. Both bands have a similar vocal style and angular aspect, with a broader melodic pop cap on top. But Miranda Sound adds a bit more of a two-vocal interplay element.
What is even more amazing about The Interiors, as you will know from reading that link I posted, their guitarist almost chopped his finger off a while back and had to undergo extensive rehab to keep playing. But he succeeded in recovery and apparently is getting more fluid as the days go by.
On a side note: Something that scares me about the African rhythms creeping into the Midwest indie rock scene is that it gives too much credit to what is going on in Brooklyn and not enough to what is going on around these parts.
Either that, or it shows that musicians might care too much about looking to New York for guidance instead of coming up with their own unique voice.
Fortunately, for now, The Interiors have succeeded in accomplishing its use of the stylistic rhythms in a new way. Even better, they did it much more affectively than Vampire Weekend.
But I'm telling you, if I start seeing Midwest bands using more than one drum kit I'm going to start laying into people. I'm already seeing bands with singers hitting snare drums and shit.
Don't give in to the hipness, musicians, just try harder to do your own thing.

Outsiders who value the insiders

2008-07-03T11:29:00.000-07:00

I just found this South Carolina-based music site called Sound as Language and lo and behold there are several reviews of Midwestern bands.

This Athens, Ohio band Russenorsk was the first review I read:
If I had to guess without looking, I would surely place Russenorsk from the NYC area. They have a hipness to their sound which is curiously reminiscent of many NYC bands. But, the band actually hails from Athens, Ohio. Perhaps that is why Russenorsk are able to distinguish themselves from the cesspool of NYC indie pop. Tim Race and Jack Martin met during their freshman year at Ohio University and In A Great Wave Of Horns is the result of that friendship. The band certainly has a familiar sound that could be traced to bands like Arcade Fire or say, an incredibly less annoying Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. In fact, Russenorsk often reminds me of the laid back sounds of the underrated Takka Takka as well. Regardless, Russenorsk are able to do more than an adequate job of lacing their songs with a noticeable personality all their own. The arrangements and the band’s use of Martin’s cello creates a diverse backdrop to the promising, distinct vocals of Race. Look for Russenorsk’s next record (which they are about to record) to truly separate the band from the crowded indie pop/folk pack.

Then I noticed they had Columbus, Ohio band Tin Armor on there as well:
As we impatiently wait for that new Smoking Popes album ( will it ever see the light of day?), it is comforting to know that Tin Armor have our back. I recently covered Tin Armor in the Band You Should Know category. Their 2007 album, A Better Place Than I Have Been was a brilliant starting point and this seven-inch keeps the band’s momentum going in the right direction. I am a sucker for bands in this mold and Tin Armor have the ingredients down to a tee. Clever, morose lyrics are twirled around melodic instrumentation and vocal harmonies so warm and cuddly you could lay with them for days. And frankly, that’s exactly what I did. With four songs clocking in at an all too brief ten minutes, this record begs to be flipped over and over again and again. The band brings to mind a wide range of artists/bands. From the jangle of Ted Leo (and his old band, Chisel) or the Dan Adriano-penned Alkaline Trio songs (or Adriano’s old emo/pop band, Tuesday), Tin Armor are riding a charming pop wave to perfection. Songs of doomed relationships never sounded so sweet.

I also saw they had a review of the (in my opinion, totally excellent CD) by Cincinnati's The Pomegranates new CD "Everything is Alive":
Pomegranates debut, the Two Eyes EP, was one of my favorites of 2007. The band’s first full-length, Everything Is Alive, is a bit of a different beast though. On Two Eyes, Pomegranates attacked their songs with a youthful exuberance. However, on Everything Is Alive the band has grown up in a relatively short time. Here, Pomegranates lay back and let the material come to them instead. The songs are, dare I say, more mature and well-rounded. They offer more structure than the band’s original frenzied approach towards indie pop. The band’s enthusiasm might be missed at first but Everything Is Alive proves Pomegranates have way more to offer than just a good time.
Everything Is Alive was recorded and mixed in the span of six days. The majority of the album was tracked live and those elements add a great deal of character as well as a bit of spontaneity to the recording. Everything Is Alive is an album completely comfortable in its own skin. In essence, the album title is brilliant. Whatever flaws and callouses the band possesses, it is what makes them unique and it breathes life into Everything Is Alive.
With two vocalists who offer distinctly different paths, Pomegranates walk the line masterfully on Everything Is Alive. It is what the band surrounds those vocals with that is so exhilarating though. Pomegranates’ arrangements are cunning to say the least. There is inherent melody in the band’s song but there is also a subtle ambiance that intrigues throughout. Lyrically, the band shows off an impressive depth and maturity. The songs range from gentle caresses to anthemic sparks of energy but always possess a brilliant intimacy.
Over the last few years, indie pop has become stale and overrun with countless bands and inconsequential hype. Essentially, the genre has lost its soul. Pomegranates are able to reinvigorate a lifeless body with the earnest, hopeful spirit that emanates from Everything Is Alive. The record is a true, joyful expression of life and all the sadness and beauty therein. Who knew indie rock had such a wild, beating heart left on the inside?

Here's another Cincinnati-based band they reviewed, in 500 Miles to Memphis:
500 Miles To Memphis hail from Cincinnati, OH. The band cleverly took it’s name from the distance between their hometown to Graceland in Memphis, TN. 500 Miles To Memphis has an interesting sound as they combine country with rock n’ roll. With ample fiddle and steel guitar the band adds an authentic element to their brand of punk n’ roll. Ryan Malott’s endearing tales of life, love, booze and everything in between is almost comforting. With a thoroughly rocking sound and Malott’s wry lyrical take, 500 Miles To Memphis are able to strike a nerve here. The only complaint is that the album clocks in at nearly 50 minutes. So, Sunshine In A Shot Glass does run a bit too long at times. Regardless, fans of rock n’ roll with more than a little twang should find much to sink their teeth into here.

Flock of rock

2008-07-03T05:39:00.000-07:00

I get a kick hearing about little kids forming rock bands. You never know what you're going to get when they put their energy behind it. It could end up genius like The Shaggs, or simply honest like Chet Baker. That's why I was drawn to this article in the Chicago Tribune about "School of Rock" programs having high enrollments. It's also interesting how the writer notes that kids are a lot more into classic rock. I'm not sure how much things have changed since I was young. People were obsessed with Led Zepplin when I was in my teens. But I can tell you that I go swimming every chance I get. You can get a good feeling of what kids listen to these days by what the lifegaurds on summer break blast from the loud speakers all day. Last year it was horrible country music. Now they are another year older and rocking out to country rock from the 1970s. Go figure. But here is the article at this link.

Canoe trip regression

2008-07-01T11:50:00.000-07:00

I guess his name is Christopher Bell, and here's his Myspace site: HERE
Fortunately he's actually touring into Cleveland, OH. so it falls within my dumb Midwest focus.
His tour also makes me think back to something I read lately. It was about how society will have to regress into a more primitive state in order to move forward. The big trucks will fall away back into bicycles. The frozen TV dinners of the 1970s, fall back into today's grilling chicken outside. If we really want to get off our society's addiction to gasoline, we have to find other means of transportation. Something we can rely on.
In fact, the more I read about Bell the more I think of another book I read (I will post the name/title when I remember it) about a historian/writer who did a similar boat trip. He started in New York and boated his way across the United States. People didn't even think it was possible anymore. I guess it has a lot to do with planning spring river heights and knowing when people will be working certain gateways where rivers are controlled by man-operated dams. It was an interesting read.
With gas prices rising so much, I honestly think touring is pointless. Without label help on your side, or unless you're some rich kid digging into daddy's pockets, you're just wasting time. So aside from giving up, bands just have to be more imaginative.

Canoe Tour:
Jul 3 2008 8:00P
The Labyrinth Jamestown, New York
Jul 8 2008 8:00P
Labyrinth Jamestown, New York
Jul 10 2008 12:00P
taping on WRFA Jamestown, New York
Jul 10 2008 10:00P
Live from Cleveland Cleveland, Ohio
Jul 11 2008 10:00P
Mojos Jamestown, New York
Jul 12 2008 8:00P
Stedman Corners Mayville, New York
Jul 19 2008 8:00P
Canoe Tour Kick Off - Attic Show! Buffalo, New York
Jul 24 2008 8:00P
Canoe Tour - Boulder Coffee Co Rochester, New York
Jul 26 2008 8:00P
Canoe Tour - House Show! Rochester, New York
Aug 2 2008 10:00P
Canoe Tour - ABC Cafe Ithaca, New York
Aug 15 2008 9:00P
Canoe Tour - Tramontane Cafe Utica, New York
Aug 21 2008 8:00P
Canoe Tour - Moon & River Cafe Schenectady, New York
Aug 22 2008 10:00A
Canoe Tour - SACC TV Schenectady Today Schenectady, New York
Aug 23 2008 8:00P
Canoe Tour - Muddy Cup Albany w/tba Albany, New York
Aug 29 2008 8:00P
Canoe Tour - Cubbyhole Coffeehouse Poughkeepsie, New York
Sep 6 2008 8:00P
Local Music Showcase Jamestown, New York

Midwest alerts

2008-07-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

I wrote the last post a while back and wasn't gonna post it. But I changed my mind, said what the fuck, and decided to post it for posterity sake. Sometimes things just need to be put out there to remind us all to try harder.
I guess I'll keep plugging away:

• I've been hearing about this dude who plans to do his next tour by canoe, in order to save money on gasoline. I'll try to find out some more and post about where he goes.
• New release from Captain of Industry out now via All Hail Records. Check out Buddha Den for some info on that.
• Chicago's David Vandervelde is back at it again. He was roomies with Jay Bennett and they owed a studio together. Yeah, so that's how we all know about him today. His music is still good though.
• Just to give you an example how bullshit can turn into reality, I learned today that the myth about lemmings running off cliffs to their suicide was created by a 1958 movie called "White Wilderness." It is filmed in the Canadian Arctic and the director imported the lemmings in order to create a staged migration scene. It resulted in the mistaken belief that lemmings kill themselves.
So the next time some hipster rants about lemmings, you'll know the irony of that.

People with Animal Heads Project Update

2008-07-01T06:15:00.000-07:00

I have to admit my heart hasn't been into writing about music lately. Underground rock is akin to the Greek mythology of Sisyphus, condemned to ceaselessly roll a rock up and down a mountain over and over again.
But writing about it is a fate even worse than that.
My original goal for PWAH was to do a ton of research on every city in the Midwest, because I was sure that there were dozens of great bands that I was not hearing about. This part was true. These bands exist. I have seen them. I have talked to them. They are just as disappointed as I am.
I'm not even 1/4 way through the project. But after so many months of doing this, I have noticed that our Midwest music scenes are really hanging on by a thread.
The more I learn about music scenes across the Midwest, the more I realize that every city has people in control. There is a glass ceiling. Local writers, people who run the bars, and the organizations that put on shows - all run by little groups in every city. When a festival is organized, it's normally pretty obvious what bands will play. If a great national band comes to town, it's pretty much a given what locals will open for them.
It isn't some covert operation, it's just reality. We live in small towns. It's a lot like politics, you put enough bible thumpers in the government, you will end up with George Bush. It's natural selection.
But it started to make me feel used when I would write glowing reviews about a band, only to realize later on that they are part of the problem.
The more I learn about bands rising to the top in other cities, the more I realize that I'm only hearing about them because someone gave them opportunities. They were those bands whose friends in charge let them open for every national band that came through. They were those bands that knew people who organized the festivals. They knew the people on the radio. They grew up with the dudes who started the label. They were buddies with the music critics at the newspaper and web sites.
The bands that didn't know these people personally? Broke up. All of them. They were good bands too.
And the pissed off hack musicians are way too busy trying to kiss ass to keep the circle going.
It used to make me angry, but now I'm just ambivalent. I'm just amazed at how lifeless our society has become. No one stands for anything.
The worst offenders, aside from music fans, are music critics. I'm sure they had a lot of goals when they started, much like I did. But they soon were ignoring the fact that they were supposed to be documenting their scenes, instead of documenting their friends. Even worse, they started documenting Vampire Weekend.
But that isn't the only problem I see. The fault lies in the laps of music fans, as well. Everyone is infinitely more interested in talking about MGMT and why they are better than Vampire Weekend, or vice versa. Dude, the Brooklyn music scene rulez!
Most people are happy with being told who to listen to by magazines, TV and radio stations. And the sad reality is that they are only getting the top of an iceberg. That chunk of ice is being dictated to them by nepotism. No one cares about putting their face underwater anymore. No one wants to venture outside of their bubbles.
It doesn't matter what city I go to, the hundreds of bands I have seen. People go to shows, but they don't necessarily go to LISTEN to music. People are out there for purely social reasons. Nothing wrong with that. But this is akin to the same reason why people go to see fucking horse shit bands like The Menus. That makes me sick to my stomach.
"Support local music!"
That is what I hear from city to city in our Midwest. In reality, the majority of scenes consist of musicians going to see other musicians. They stand in the back of the bars and talk about themselves. The true audience of underground music is non existent. The bars are empty.
People that do go out, go to the same place every weekend. It doesn't really matter who is playing, as long as the same people they have known for years are there. It's all about repetition.
Maybe the musicians are performing that night, maybe they are just in the audience. Rarely do I see people specifically trying to see new bands they have never heard before. When was the last time you did this? The reality is that when a new band is about to perform, the room clears. People go outside to smoke and come back when someone they know is back onstage. Maybe they talk about "scene unity" while they are out there?
So how do bands break through this wall? I have decided it's hopeless. Because if no one is trying to find better music, then they are being told who to listen to.
Which leads me to another problem. The music sites out there all focus on the same new indie bands. It's a pretty ridiculous cycle. I often take a look at the "recent adds" on the CMJ charts. The bands on those lists (actually only the ones on the best labels) soon show up on the radio and then show up on the music sites. Have I mentioned that they, or their labels, pay thousands and use their influence to be on those lists in the first place? Out of the CMJ list, three bands that have paid the most for publicity end up getting talked about ad nauseam. The cycle then repeats itself.
When I started PWAH I used to poke fun at how every site had pictures of MIA and Kanye West on the front page. Now it's just too depressing to do that anymore.
So how does a band get any attention aside from nepotism? They either have to have a total schtick, go on tour relentlessly until they are broke and tired (which frankly doesn't work either), or it goes back to the old "having friends in high places" thing.
So is all underground music just a smaller version of the constant national circle of glad-handing and nepotism? Yes.
In fact, I'm not above any of this. I'm just as bad.
Maybe if I could somehow quit my job and set out to document each city first hand. But I'm not going to do that.
I used to have hope that local music critics were doing that - because they are being paid to. But they don't.
In fact, as talented as many of them are, not a single one does this. It's too daunting a task.
Instead, they are like the rest of the musicians that make up underground scenes. They hang out with their buddies at night. They go to the shows their buddies go to. They see the bands their buddies are in. They write about what they see.
And they are all stifling their music scenes one by one.
These days I guess I would rather just go outside and enjoy the weather and not think about any of this anymore.
Maybe I can dig out all my Velvet Underground records and go sit in the sun.
But wait - VU only got famous because they rode Andy Worhol's goddam coat tails.
Yeah, it's pretty hopeless.

Comfest... again

2008-06-25T08:35:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. Columbus, Ohio's Comfest.
Blah, Blah, Blah...

Ohio University receives record $92 million bequest

2008-06-25T08:31:00.000-07:00

Looks like the Ohio University students will finally get some money to do such frivolous things as conduct a class on "How to polish your expensive diamonds" or one dissecting "What is the best luxury vehicle to have washed by your butler."
A record gift to OU, based in Athens, OH. has grown by more than $10 million, now that the value of the donors' estate has become clearer.
University President Roderick McDavis announced in Dayton Wednesday that Fritz and Delores Russ left about $92 million in cash, securities and property to the school, to be used for engineering education and research.
When he first disclosed the gift in January, McDavis said the university would receive an estimated $80 million.
Fritz Russ studied electrical engineering at OU and got his degree in 1942. He and his wife lived in Dayton and launched Systems Research Laboratories, specializing in control systems for airplanes.
Delores Russ died in January at age 86; her husband died in 2004.

Kanye may actually go to Indiana voluntarily!? Oh... never mind

2008-06-17T09:24:00.001-07:00

I just read on Switchbladecomb that Kanye West was added as a panelist for the Midwest Music Summit.
For those who read PWAH regularly you'd know that the MMS was cancelled in 2007, so the organizers could come back this year with a much better festival. I guess this addition is part of that.
HOLD the PHONE!
This has nothing to do with the Midwest Music Summit. I guess it's the Industry Meltdown Midwest Music Summit in Madison, Wisconsin. Never heard of it.
Anyway, here are two links about it:
HERE
HERE

Columbus is for Haters

2008-06-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

Oh man, I just saw this article on Shitgaze. Wow, they make it seem like it's some exotic music made by baby-eaters from Berlin.

Danko in Ann Arbor

2008-06-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

The Band were pretty damn great - until, of course, they began to suck.
But as a boy I can recall listening intently to "The Weight" for that part when bass player Rick Danko began to sing. I was fascinated by his voice. All at once, it was friendly, weird, interesting, confused and wise.
I was similarly fascinated with the dude's voice from Canned Heat for similar reasons, but that's neither here nor there.
Alas, Danko fell asleep in Dec. 1999 and his heart stopped working. That night the world lost a unique voice.
Thanks to music writer Jan Berrett for writing this review of Rick Danko's CD "Times like these."
Berrett points out that the last show Danko ever performed was at The Ark in Ann Arbor, Michigan. That was pretty interesting to hear. It was the very last stop on a Midwestern tour, before he went back home outside of Woodstock, NY and died.
She also explains that the CD includes live performances from that Ark show. I hope to find some examples on-line soon.

Noteworthy causes to support this weekend

2008-06-06T08:03:00.000-07:00

I would like to point out two important benefits going on for truly tragic events that have occurred this year.

• Check Each Note Secure for information on how to support musician Katie Reider. A truly talented and popular folk and pop musician, Reider has been hit with a debilitating cancer that has left her unable to sing or perform anymore. What is so scary is that I saw her perform last year during Taste of Cincinnati. She was her usual vivacious and energetic self. What I didn't know is that in the past year, doctors discovered a tumor in her jaw and neck, which had spread destruction to her throat and sinuses. She has been struggling ever since with rehabilitation to overcome this.
What we can do as a music community is go to KATIE REIDER/ 500Kin365.org for information on how to help and show your support for Reider.
As Joe Long wrote on Each Note Secure, "At the site, you can start listening to her songs by download (9 original songs written and performed by Katie over the last 10 years) for $1.00 donation to her cause. So, I would highly encourage you to head over to the site and make a 1$ donation to the cause of a great Cincinnati musician and person as she fights for her life."

• In another tragic series of events, volunteers have been focused on raising money to help a young Columbus, Ohio woman and her boss after the two were seriously injured in a hit and run.

Haiku Hit and Run Benefit
Saturday, June 7, from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Corner of North High St. & Hubbard St. (next to Haiku). Volunteers will be on hand to register donations.
Performing at the show Saturday:
5:30 p.m. - DJ True Skills
6:00 p.m. - Bob Ray Starker
7:00 p.m. - Megan Palmer
8:00 p.m. - Karate Coyote
9:00 p.m. - Paper Airplane
10:00 p.m. - Two Cow Garage

"On the evening of May 15, Julie Liu (co-owner of Haiku Restaurant) and Rachel Widomski (a bartender) were seriously injured by a hit-and-run driver outside of Haiku restaurant in the Short North.
That evening a man left Haiku without paying his bill. Julie, co-owner of the restaurant and Rachel, OSU student, artist and bartender, followed the man outside to his vehicle.
According to police reports, the man started his car and purposefully struck the two women as he backed out of his parking spot. A restaurant guest who tried to help was also injured. Both women were transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
Rachel Widomski suffered sever spinal cord injuries from the crime. While she has displayed remarkable strength throughout the ordeal, Rachel will be permanently paralyzed due to the severity of the spinal cord injuries. Her rehabilitation will be extensive.
Julie Liu suffered fractures to her sternum, multiple fractures to her ribs, a broken collar bone and a dislocated wrist. She is also suffering from a serious concussion and a bruised brain. Doctors at the Ohio State University Medical Center are keeping Julie at the hospital to monitor her brain condition and her rehabilitation.
Despite her serious injuries, the Liu family is asking donations be focused on the recovery of Rachel"
Fundraising options have been going on all week and do not end with the benefit show, so visit www.haikuhelp.com for more information...

Some Web site news...

2008-06-06T07:37:00.001-07:00

There has been a flurry of activity lately on many Ohio music related Web sites. Here are a few tidbits:
• The most exciting thing to me is that Dayton's Buddha Den site reported Bob Pollard will be headlining this year's Dayton Music Festival. Check out my links section and go there for more information.
• Fortunately, this thing didn't turn into another Nite Owl situation. But Columbus, Ohio (in)famous Andyman's Treehouse bar and venue will change ownership later this month. Read all about at Andyman's Treehouse. Essentially, co-owners Andy Davis (head honcho at CD 101) and Quinn Fallon (of X-Rated Cowboys and who books the bar) are selling their hold on the bar. The good news is that a long time patron of the bar is buying in. Fallon is expected to take up a spot as bartender again and remain as booker.
• Each Note Secure has information on the new Dr. Dog album and an MP3
• I Rock Cleveland has an extensive review on folky/noisy musicians The Dreadful Yawns new CD. Check it out.

Spotlight: Unholy Two of Columbus, OH.

2008-06-03T07:58:00.000-07:00

I did this interview with The Unholy Two right before the band's recent 7-inch release. Unfortunately, I never quite got around to writing it in time for the release show.
I've always appreciated the band, because when it comes to "noise rock" the band definitely focuses a lot more on the rock aspect. It's a pure guttural release of sounds.
I've seen the band perform several times in the past few years and I'm always amazed how one night 80 percent of the room will leave, running with hands over their ears. But another night the same amount of people might rush the stage and dance to the same music like it's some 1980s dance night. Like most noise rock, it's an acquired taste. There is a middle ground in there somewhere that should be respected.
So I sent a few questions to Unholy's Chris Lutzko for further inquiry. I didn't quite expect him to take the questions seriously. Alas, he did not. But there are still a few nuggets of insight in his answers in there somewhere.

PEOPLE WITH ANIMAL HEADS: I've seen you live a few times over the years and I think what strikes me about your music so much is that it sounds like an some kind of riot. The vocals come off like a monk screaming down from a mountain, or like cops shouting on the street with a bullhorn. Does this come anywhere close to your intentions?

CHRIS LUTZKO: There was never an intent to sound chinese or like a cop. Maybe a leather cop.

PWAH: I haven't heard your new release yet. I plan to, but how do you think the recordings compare to your live shows?

CL: When you play a show your audience is mostly gun grabbers and baby killers so it can throw you off. The only other people at our recording were the engineers, Tom and Will, and we're more comfortable being around Koolies.

PWAH: I really like to focus on the aspect of Midwestern music on my site. How do you think being from the Midwest has influenced your music?

CL: I grew up during THE DRIVE, so most of my cleveland sports memories are kinda white guilt. Cheater Slicks rule Oblivians drool.

PWAH: What do you make of the increased attention Columbus has been getting over the past year in its avant garde scene? Is it hurting what has been going on, or is it providing more opportunities for like-minded musicians in town?

CL: I'm not really clued in to what the queers are doing, but I know that Columbus, Ohio is the rock and roll capital of North America.

PWAH: What are some midwestern bands you like right now that you think other people should know about?

CL: The Waterboards and The Beautiful Two

PWAH: Tell me a bit about your latest release, any lyrical themes you delve into and what your plans are right now to get the word out on it. (tours/release shows/any songs people can hear online).

CL: The A-side is about how girls can't rock. The B-side lets you know where you can find 'em.

Music site roundup

2008-05-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

Lots of great music coverage going on lately.
Here are a few things you should definitely check out:

• I saw this link to an interview with Times New Viking in London. I didn't plan to read it at first, because the interviews are becoming pretty redundant lately. But this new one is pretty damn insightful on the current state of Ohio/Columbus music. I especially like the quote about how ever since The Velvet Underground came to Ohio in 1966, Columbus bands have been competing for the loudest band title ever since. The more you think about that, the more it rings true.
You can find the entire article, HERE.

• The Wheel's Still in Spin, a Cincinnati-based site, has done a nice write-up on the excellent Shake It Records for this week's feature edition of "Better than the Chili." Read all about it HERE.

• I really enjoy the Dayton-based site "Buddha Den" because Kyle over there does a great job of creating new content and keeping it coming non-stop.
He has reported that the Dayton underground music site Fictionband has begun offering free downloads of Dayton bands from the more distant past, in addition to the current crop of home recordists. He said the material is extremely difficult to find elsewhere.
With The Nite Owl's recent demise, The Buddha Den reported that there are other options. Kyle said The Dayton Dirt Collective is a new venue in town that is based of the models of other collective type venues such as Mr. Roboto in Pittsburgh.
"In light of the recent closing of Nite Owl as a key venue in Dayton, bands in the region may want to look into this venue as an optional stop in Dayton. Additionally, you should contact the staff at the DDC, as their ability to step up and create an all-ages, non-alcohol-based venue is pretty cool," he wrote.
In other Buddhe Den news, the site will be releasing its own third seasonal sampler on July 1. It offers free downloads of the best in Dayton independent music.
• Cincinnati music critic Mike Breen has a write-up on a new series of outdoor music events happening this summer, called "Indie Summer." It basically consists of nightly offerings of live music at the Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati. This Friday features The Lions Rampant, The Sundresses and Turnbull ACs. Next Friday after that will be Cari Clara, Paper Airplane and The Harlequins. Check out the full article, HERE.
• Pitchfork Media has some great news about Chicago's The Ms next CD. Read all about it, HERE.
• Hopefully I can add to this round up throughout the day...

Touring into a vacuumThe Midwestern indie rock touring dilemma

2008-05-28T08:19:00.000-07:00

One of the toughest questions any band faces is whether or not to take the show on the road.
The majority never really leave their own backyards, preferring to do shows at that bar down the road where they know the owner, know who books it and know every single person who will show up.
Sadly enough, this is what defines most music scenes. The bands that gave up, now staying home, desperately trying to control something in their favor so they feel useful and can create some semblance of power.
Then you have the rare bands that throw caution to the wind, pack up their shit and leave for months. How the hell can they do that? Is it just because they are young, in college and have no responsibilities? Do they live in their rich parent's basement? Are they intent being waiters their whole lives? Or is it just because they possess stronger convictions other musicians lack?
A year ago I started to write an article on the tours of unknown Midwest indie bands, because I noticed there were a scant few doing it. But these days it is even more interesting to me because there are more - even in the face of gas prices which have risen to just about $4 per gallon. Then I saw this article on band having problems touring in this economy.
Often times I hear about a band going out on tour across the United States and I have to wonder. Maybe the band is pretty new. Maybe they have some fans in their hometown. But how can they expect to make any money playing weeknights in towns when the local newspapers won't even review their CD?
It has to be rough spending more than $100 on gas in a few days, playing to five people and making barely enough to pay for food. I seriously wonder how bands do it. More importantly, I wonder WHY they do it. What drives this irrationality? It's takes a strong resilience. It's actually pretty masochistic.
It's also a Catch 22: You're never going to get more fans at out of town shows, if you never play out of town shows. So you show up with bells on, hoping you're not just playing to the other band and the bass player's girlfriend.
Columbus, Ohio's Psychedelic Horseshit is one band intent on getting out there no matter what the cost.
Thankfully, the group has endured more attention the past year than the normal band, after the rise of the shitpop media focus. But hype only goes so far. This band loves to perform and it shows on stage.
"I'm not sure how the recent 60 cent (gas) hike will fuck us," bandleader Matt Whitehurst said. "I don't know. I guess we tour to keep it going. If we stopped we'd be just another random bedroom/basement recording document #183; and don't get me wrong there's nothing wrong with that, but we like to play shows and we like to travel."
The group has been all over the country and is currently heading out for another tour of the west.
"Playing for the same assholes everytime in your hometown really takes the fun out of it. We usually just scrape by on tour and live relativley comfortably (food, beer, weed)," Whitehurst said. "But of course there is rough spots throughout the country. None of us have ever died or anything. You gotta be able to live like a homeless person and sleep on floors and plan for the fact that you might not make enough dough to buy weed or eat or drink tomorrow."
In other words, the group shares a sensibility of acceptance. It's a tone that I found other touring bands share as I did interviews for this article.
"It's exciting. And sure some bands definetely should not do it. But if your band is good then you will get your records put out or put them out yourself and people will read about them and buy them and you will have people at your shows," he said. "If you suck then you shouldn't be playing music anyway. I guess the nature of the game kinda weeds out the shit acts. Unless they happen to be silver spoon kids. But they'll never stop making shitty music."
So Darwinism and the romance of the road is what keeps Psychedelic Horseshit going. But what about a band that hasn't had the luxury of being amongst the "new wave" of punk?
Up in northern Ohio, Cleveland's Bears singer/guitarist Charlie McArthur said he has been thinking a lot about the very same topic lately. He is in the process of booking an East Coast tour for the band in August.
"In the past, we've toured because it's seemed like there is some demand - small though it is at this point - for us in certain cities. That was especially true on the West Coast," he said. "The best shows for us are always with bands who are our friends in other cities, or in cities where a college radio DJ has helped promote the music. Other than that, it is definitely a lot of playing to small audiences on off nights... and that can bring you down a little bit, but that's usually offset by having the opportunity to see the country and have fun with your friends on the road."
It is this shared love of travel and idealistic notion of joy in music that Bears - although drastically different in sound from Psychedelic Horseshit - share with other touring bands. But neither has really addressed the fact that it often costs more to drive to a gig than it does to get paid for performing.
"The last time we were out on the road was a year ago and gas was closer to $3.20 a gallon. I think it cost us about $80 to fill up the van each time, so it gets really expensive," McArthur said. "If the price of gas keeps going up like this, I don't think it will even be possible for us to travel very far again unless we start to get more popular. It's really a shame because playing in new towns for new kids all the time is great, but it won't be so good if we just end up losing money rather than breaking even like we have in the past."
I told him that I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I'm starting to worry that maybe the reason so many bands become so stuck in their hometowns, is because it may not be worth it to tour anymore until they get signed to some label that will promote them.
"Well, Debbie, I think you may be right about that," McArthur said. "I don't think it's only the price of gas that is making it difficult to tour these days. Lately, there are just so many bands out there that have reached a certain level of popularity and have label support, that it doesn't seem to leave much room for bands like us - without a label - to play at most clubs. It's not impossible to tour, by any means, but it does sometimes feel like it might not always be worth it … I'm glad to see that other people are noticing these same things."
I'm also wondering if more bands ay try to go the route of getting radio airplay. It often gives bands the options of finding out where their fans are BEFORE having to tour all over the world. I hope to talk about that more in another article sometime.

Meanwhile, other bands look at touring like they are laying out a business plan, complete with numbers and figures.
Fellow Cleveland band the Dreadful Yawns is about the kick off an east coast tour. The group thankfully has the luxury of having some help from its label Exit Stencil to help cover road costs.
"We figure this three week tour will cost us nearly $1,700 in gas alone. That means we have to make about $80 a night in merchandise and door just to cover gas," bandleader Eric Schulte said. "That's not good. This time around we'll be paying for everything out of pocket. (We) come home broke to no paycheck because we haven't worked in three weeks. It's gonna be rough, but you don't get anywhere in life if you don't put it on the line every once in while. Plus we've been lucky in that our record label, Exit Stencil Recordings, gave us some money for tour support. Any little bit helps. Not to sound all motivational speakery, but you can do anything you put your mind to. We have a bunch of cool merchandise products that we are trying out. We have a new album. Plus, we've been touring and releasing albums for a few years so we have at least a little fan base."
He said Cleveland is a great town for rock and roll, but it can make a band motivated to move around.
"You can only play to the same people so many times before you start to yearn for something more. Not many bands in Cleveland book their own tours, buy their own vans, and get out to spread the gospel of Cleveland rock. If, for no other reason, we do it to get people interested in what is happening in Cleveland," Schulte said.
He said not only is their goal to promote Cleveland's music scene, but to help spread the word about Exit Stencil.
"We're extremely lucky to be dealing with Exit Stencil as our label. There is a very symbiotic relationship going on. We tour to get our name out there obviously, but we also want to get the name of the label out there. As the label gets more and more attention we get more, and as we start to turn heads the label gets some recognition. There are too many bands sitting on their thumbs waiting to get that mythical record deal. We'd rather learn to book our own tours, figure out ways to pay for it, and sweat it out. Nothing is free in this game, and the DIY ethic is a part of our very being. Besides, when we are sitting around with the grandkids who doesn't want to be able to tell little suzie that grandpa got lost in Manhattan while tripping on acid while he was on tour with a rock band 40 years ago?" Schulte said.
Good point.
He added that any band, from the smallest indie, to the local heroes or nationals, will tell the same story about touring woes.
"Tuesday nights in any midwestern town isn't gonna be pretty," he said. "All that you can hope for is that for every night you play to the bartender in Des Moines, you will play for a hundred people in Chicago. It's 20 percent planning, 5 percent promotion, and 75 percent luck. Plus, if you've been lucky enough to meet some really great bands in other cities then you are ahead of the curve."
Cincinnati's Buffalo Killers helped me out with an interview back in April 2007, in which they touched upon their ability to tour as an underground Midwestern indie band. Since then the group has skyrocketed to joining such luminaries as The Black Crows and The Black Keys on tour.
Perhaps this growth can set the example to lesser known bands that it is possible to move forward. Touring is not the dead-end road it may appear at times.
Member Zach Gabbard explained that it is all about focus.
"The band is our job. When I'm home from tour, I'm working. When I'm on the road, I'm working. It is the job you can't escape... it is with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week," he said. "It is as exhausting as running any business would be. I think the biggest mistake most bands make is they run their band like a hobby and if that's what it is, then you don't need to spend as much time with it, but if you want to make it all work, it has to be your job - that, and have plenty of merchandise to sell on the road."

Midwest focus

2008-05-21T10:19:00.001-07:00

Lots of stuff going on recently:

• Read this article from Tennessee on Cincinnati band Over the Rhine, in which the group discusses the death of a father and moving forward.

• The Taste of Cincinnati Festival takes place this weekend. It's a great time. Head on over to Each Note Secure for a full article on the events.

• Esquire hits on best bars
Esquire Magazine recently did a round up on the best bars in America. Check out the full listing HERE.
Ohio got attention for Andyman's Treehouse an Surly Girl Saloon.
The California Clipper got the nod in Illinois.
The Red Key is tops in Indiana.
Iowa was noted for its Royal Mile and the Red Monk bars.
The Old Seelbach Bar stood out in Kentucky
Miller's Bar and The Bar at Seldom Blues won out in Michigan.
The Bulldog NE won in Minnesota.
Pennsylvania's Friendly Lounge was a focus.
The Silver Dollar Tavern was touched upon in Wisconsin.

• Indiana's Midwest Music Summit back on?
Just saw this article promoting the 2008 Midwest Music Summit, HERE

• Detroit's Electronic Music Festival kicks off
Read all about that HERE

• Mike Breen does a nice review of Cincinnati music/violin sensation Peter Adams and his new CD "I woke with planets in my face." Read the whole review: HERE

• Oh yeah, you got this Shitgaze article in the recent Spin too, which I took from the Donewaiting.com boards. If you click on the photo it gets big enough to read:

Wait for it...

2008-05-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned. I have a nice article I've been working on for the past week coming. Plus a new interview.

• Check out links to Donewaiting for info on Times New Viking getting robbed and their performance at daytrotter.com. Both are in the links to the right.

Chicago's dilemma

2008-05-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

That ordinance to force promoters to essentially pay to play, has been put on hold. I attribute this to the amount of hairs raised over it amongst the music-loving masses. But this ordinance should be easily stopped. All it really takes these days to stop ordinances is to gather a few folk and hit city council with a little fire and brimstone. But you'd better damn well be right. That's also key.
I'd say this was done and then some.
Here's a full story and interview, via Greg Kot at the Chicago Tribune, HERE.
By the way, why do Chicagoans continue to elect any member of the Daley family? That has been a mystery to me for years.

Spin's look back at Ohio's punk history

2008-05-14T08:10:00.001-07:00

Love 'em or hate 'em, I saw this SPIN magazine feature on the history of punk. It's actually a pretty good read, so check it out at this link HERE

Most importantly (since this is a Midwestern-focused music site) is this section:

New York City's sister scene was, oddly, in Ohio. There were the ferocious Cleveland aesthetes Pere Ubu and drooling delinquents the Dead Boys (who eventually moved to Manhattan); Velvet Underground obsessives the Mirrors (later the Styrenes); the audience-abusing, post-glam sociopaths electric eels; and screed-heads the Pagans. In Akron, the Bizarros and Rubber City Rebels revved up a hooky buzz, and Devo's multimedia synth-punk spoofed and condemned society as a mutant production line; Kent's male-female trio Human Switchboard conjured organ-drenched drama. Also in the Midwest, MX-80 Sound's arty metallic roar and the slap-happy scuzz of the Gizmos (known for the ditty "Human Garbage Disposal") emerged from Bloomington, Indiana. Minneapolis' Suicide Commandos released their snappy '77 debut, Make a Record, and the trashy Sillies just dismayed Detroit.

I guess history repeats itself from 1977 to 2007, when Ohio's punk roots reared up its head again nationally.

Wha?

2008-05-13T21:33:00.000-07:00

Holy shit, I just noticed this on Pitchfork Media.
Multi-instrumentalist, producer, and Bloomington, Indiana scene staple LonPaul Ellrich passed away Wednesday, May 7. A beloved member of the fertile musical community that populates the college town, Ellrich lent his touch to a plethora of Secretly Canadian projects from throughout the years, including Marmoset.
As a statement on the label website reads, "Though most knew him as an amazingly subtle and musical drummer, [Ellrich] was very much a swiss army knife. He could sing, play guitar, break out a fucked up keyboard part, it didn't matter...his primary instrument was his sheer taste in music and unending-- sometimes to a fault-- need to realize what he was hearing in his brain. LonPaul, you're brutally honest, totally endearing, and always inspiring, we'll miss you."
Friends and fans wishing to share their own take on Ellrich's legacy can do so via a website set up in his honor.
Pitchfork link:HERE.
I first came to hear about Marmoset through Chris Fry of Margot and theNuclear So and Sos.
No, I don't know how he died.
Legacy Web-site: HERE

Bar None

2008-05-13T21:20:00.001-07:00

First I heard it, then I read it officially on Buddha Den. The Nite Owl has officially closed.
But here's some more info from BD:

...after more than 25 years as a jazz, blues, reggae, and underground rock hotspot, the Nite Owl has officially closed today. We understand that the building will be closed for renovations over the next couple of months and will reopen as Blind Bob's. For now, all shows have been cancelled. If you had a booking, we would recommend contacting the person who set up the show to see if it may be moved to another venue.
So long, Nite Owl....

I guess the only problem is that if your band has been booked for this month, my guess is you're screwed. Maybe the shows booked with some time to spare may have a chance to find another venue.
But if there is one thing I hate it's when bars give the ol' Fuck you to shows booked. Didn't this same thing happen when Elbows closed, or am I confusing cities?
If I'm wrong and some other bars would like to step up, please send me a message, I'd be glad to act as some kind of liaison.
I'm starting to notice a definite trend across the Midwest. Unless your bar is rock SOLID, you're screwed. Unfortunately for Nite Owl, it was a cool bar, which just suffered a lot by alcohol complaints.
I guess I have to say viva Oregon Express!
But for some Dayton folk, only one good bar in the historic district is kinda scary.
It's like a small town losing all it's antique stores.

Times on Tour

2008-05-13T12:15:00.000-07:00

CMJ writer and Columbus, Ohio ex-patriot Eric Davidson posted this info about Times New Viking's summer tour:

This is what you call the high times for Columbus, Ohio's Times New Viking. Aside from releasing their debut for Matador (and third proper album ), Rip It Off, last January to copious praise, the mega-fuzzy pop trio has since toured with Super Furry Animals and are currently running around Europe hitting the bigwig fests like All Tomorrow's Parties in the UK and Primavera in Spain. Then they'll be back in the States to show off some more youthful chutzpah, wowing crowds at the Siren Music Festival at Coney Island and the Pitchfork fest in Chicago. We're guessing that their show in Visalia, California, at Howie And Sons Pizza will probably be the best gig, though, because while they're moving up to the big stages or playing high falutin' joints like the Whitney Museum, it's best to see these visceral vagabonds in tight quarters that hawk cheap beer.

Tour Dates For Times New Viking:
06/04 - Bloomington, IN - Waldron Art Center
06/05 - Omaha, NE - Waiting Room
06/06 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
06/07 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
06/09 - Missoula, MT - Badlander
06/10 - Seattle, WA - Neumo's
06/11 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
06/13 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom Of The Hill
06/14 - Visalia, CA - Howie And Sons Pizza
06/15 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
06/16 - Los Angeles, CA - The Smell
06/17 - San Diego, CA - Casbah
06/18 - Tempe, AZ - Modified
06/19 - El Paso, TX - Hush Gallery
06/20 - Austin, TX - Emo's
06/21 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada
06/22 - Memphis, TN - Hi Tone
06/23 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
06/25 - Washington, DC - Rock N Roll Hotel
06/26 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
06/27 - New York, NY - Whitney Museum
06/28 - Providence, RI - The Living Room
06/29 - Boston, MA - Great Scott
06/30 - Montreal, Quebec - Divan Orange
07/01 - Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe Tavern
07/02 - Buffalo, NY - Big Orbit's Soundlab
07/18 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
07/19 - Coney Island NY - Siren Music Festival
07/20 - Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Festival

Spotlight: WAX FANG of Louisville, Kentucky

2008-05-13T08:52:00.001-07:00

I've been holding off on posting much lately, in the effort to focus more on cities outside of Ohio. You have no idea how difficult this has been.
Fortunately, my newest "Spotlight" edition focuses on what is sure to become one of your new favorite bands.
Louisville-based WAX FANG caught my ear a few months ago. I'm not even sure how - maybe it was Myspace.
I was immediately struck by the band's unique take on rock. In fact, I read someone who called the music "catchy and surprising." I agree with that.
The music is extremely alive, powerful and invigorating. They have equal parts psychedelic and glam counterparts, but take new twists in dimension with added sounds controlled through loops. The process of recreating the layered and instrumentally diverse tracks was aided by band-mate Kevin Ratterman’s engineering know-how and provided the effects and MIDI triggers needed to reproduce a bigger sound with three players. The theremin is also used to a pleasurable affect. The group is rounded out by bass player Jake Heustis
You hear this shit and you cannot believe it's created by a three-piece. Case in point, give a listen to the tune "The Doctor will see you now," on their Myspace, which is the tune that instantly made me a fan.
I'm very interested in bands that are taking traditional genres (in this case psychedelic rock) and taking it in new directions. It's not as easy as you might think. Bands have been exploring the depths of psychedelic rock since the 1960s.
Wax Fang recently released it's second CD called La La Land to great reviews. Buy it HERE.
A lot of interviews also focus heavily on the fact that singer/songwriter Scott Carney went to high school with fellow Louisville musician Jim James, of My Morning Jacket.
More importantly, I have been wanting to focus on Kentucky and Wax Fang was the first step in that direction.
Carney recently helped me out with an interview to start off the entire process of looking into the music scenes of our "southern" Midwest brethren. It's a whole new link into the Midwest mind-frame.
PEOPLE WITH ANIMAL HEADS: What are some bands from Kentucky that you think more people should know about?
SCOTT CARNEY: Off the top of my head, check out the Slow Break, the Photographic, Pokey LaFarge, the Fervor, Lucky Pineapple, the Phantom Family Halo, Venus Trap, and Whistle Peak.
PWAH: What are some cities in Kentucky, besides Louisville that are doing interesting things...
SC: Other than Lexington, which has a great little music loving community and is home to one of our favorite places to play, the Dame (which, sadly, is closing its doors in June), the only place I can think of is Whitesburg, KY, home of the Appalshop media arts co-op. Check it: www.appalshop.org.
PWAH: Where did you guys grow up and how do you think that has defined your personalities or the type of music you make?
SC: I grew up in a part of Louisville called Hikes Point or, la Point, as I like to call it. "Viva la Point!" I tend to exclaim. There, I was introduced at an early age to the glory and splendor of 1980's hair rock and heavy metal, which made for an easy transition, via hardcore and punk rock, into the post, progressive, and psychedelic rock music that accounts for most of what I listen to nowadays.
PWAH: Historically, what do you think defines the "Louisville sound" or even if you want to look at it from a wider aspect of Kentucky's sound. Ohio is sort of known for deconstructing rock. Indiana seems focused on a more psychedelic folk sound.
SC: I don't necessarily believe that Louisville has a particular sound anymore. In the nineties, the music scene was dominated by a lot of hardcore and post-rock type bands, but there really hasn't been that kind of solidarity since then. Lately, Louisville seems to be suffering from a sort of multiple personality syndrome, in that it lacks a certain singular musical identity. There really aren't two bands that I've heard that really sound the same, which I find exciting because there is lots of very good, very different bands doing their own things, creating their own unique identities. So, that is to say, your guess is as good as mine.
PWAH: When you guys write your songs, is there anything you're trying to convey in terms of theme, or even atmosphere? I guess that is a more complicated way of asking what you guys are hoping to accomplish or say...
SC: I would like to think that our main focus as a band is to explore new frontiers in the realm of rock music. However, so much exploring has already been done in the past, that I feel what we do would more akin to maintaining those far reaching boundaries than expanding them. In that sense, I might consider us more like guardians than pioneers. Rock music has so much potential, creatively speaking, in that as long as there is something that grounds the listener to earth, usually through the rhythm or the vocal melody of the song, you can take it in so many different directions. You have to be careful, though, in choosing your direction, that you don't lose your listener along the way. In the words of Brian Eno, "it has to be seductive." It has to appeal to the emotions as well as the intellect. This is why math rock doesn't do much for me. It has no soul.
PWAH: I always like to ask a band about their experience as a Midwesterner. Is it something you feel a kinship with? How has being from the Midwest defined your music?
SC: I feel like less of a Midwesterner than a Southerner, yet I don't feel much of a kinship with either. Both Southerners and Midwesterners, in a very general sense, tend to be more sheltered, uncultured even, than our neighbors to the North and West (and certainly more so than our European counterparts) resulting in a sort of closed mindedness that I don't relate to. Having said that, it is that very narrow minded world view that I've sought to expand in in my music and is what drew me to the psychedelic movement in the first place: the idea of expanded awareness. For me, it is less about mind altering drugs than it is about opening your mind to new ideas and concepts, for seeing the potential in all things.
-------------------------------------------------------------
In some other tidbits, in case you were wondering what Scott's least favorite songs to take LSD to are, here's a little interview he did with You Ain't No Picasso, HERE.
Here's a nice quote I found from Ratterman too. It's true of most of the Midwest:
“People in Louisville play music because they love it. You know you’re not going to make any money anyway,” says Ratterman.

C. Spencer Yeh in NY Times

2008-05-12T13:06:00.000-07:00

Just saw that Cincinnati avant garde musician C. Spencer Yeh was featured a bit in the May 11 New York Times:

Burning Star Core

The young violinist and electronic musician C. Spencer Yeh has worked in noise-improvisation contexts, with people like Thurston Moore and members of Wolf Eyes and Hair Police. His own continuing project — in which he plays pretty much everything — is Burning Star Core, and “Challenger” (Hospital), the new Burning Star Core album, is noisy but often very pretty, anchored by drones. (An exception is “No Memories, No Plans,” which has no drone: it sounds like a brush fire in an empty gymnasium.)
It’s hard to get a bead on what’s making these roaring, overdriven, scraping sounds: not necessarily the violin, not necessary keyboards. The only clues are the credits given to other people (guitar on one song, harmonica on another) and the title of one dense and spooky but mellifluous track: “Mysteries of the Organ.”
Full Link: HERE

Midwest focus

2008-05-09T07:57:00.001-07:00

As much as I love to give Pitchfork Media shit about not covering the Midwest, I have to admit it's done a better job lately.
First it was a ton of coverage for Columbus, Ohio's Times New Viking, then it was a nice article on PWAH favorites and Athens, Ohio band Southeast Engine, then it was a surprising article on Dayton's The Gluons (PWAH and The Buddha Den seemed to be the only ones giving them love before that) and then when I was looking for the Gluons write-up I noticed that Pitchfork also gave some attention to Cleveland, Ohio with a write up on Mr. Gnome and the duo's tune "Rabbit."
I got my eye on you Pitchfork.

Midwest Alerts!

2008-05-08T08:16:00.000-07:00

• Kelley Deal has a nice interview with this St. Louis music reporter, which focuses a lot on Midwest stuff, read that HERE.
• Here's an interview with Hot Chip in which he discusses a bit why he's avoiding the Midwest this time around.
"It's tougher to get the audiences in the Midwest" - Hot Chip
• Two white dudes who do hip-hop as ABiCA at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. are set to open for Kanye West when he hits their town. Read that interview HERE.
• This was a pretty interesting read in this Novia Scotia paper. The keyboardist for Queens of the Stone Age is a Detroit native who was in The Waxwings and also tours with The Raconteurs. I liked the Waxwings.
• Chicago's The Prairie Spies, on Comptroller Records, has an album coming out on Friday, May 16th, with a release party at the Empty Bottle in Chicago. The album is called "Surplus Enjoyment." "It's loud and boisterous and fuzzily home-recorded. We're quite proud of it." On initial listen I hear some 90s guitar tone influence, circa Dinosaur Jr. with a touch of new noise pop elements. They actually remind me a little of Columbus, Ohio's The Kyle Sowashes, with a lot more guitar solos. Some of the other tunes are bit more off kilter tunes in a similar mode, but with interesting tweaks to their overall plan.
• A few folks from Cincinnati, Ohio started this new magazine called Tracer, you can check it out oline HERE. I'm excited because they seem to have the intent to focus on Midwest music coverage. But then I see a ton of reviews and commentary on national bands like Band of Horses. I call for more Midwest and less of the rest!

Spotlight: Dayton/Columbus band MOON HIGH

2008-04-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

I've seriously been trying to NOT do as many features on Ohio bands, since this is a Midwestern music site, but I can't help it they are always the first ones done with their interview questions!

Anyway, some bands end up getting hype heaped on them because they know people who know people.
I hate those bands.
Other bands end up getting hype because they are creating interesting music, doing as many shows as they can, and show off a unique voice that people just can't help but talk about.
Such is the case with Dayton/Columbus band Moon High. Combining visual elements in their stage shows and tapping into a unique blend of psychedelic folk and indie pop, the band is superb. Relaxed vocal deliveries, banjo, cello, acoustic guitars and a delicate use of drums coming in and out.
Moon High consists of Ryan Wells of Dayton and Columbus musicians David Fowler (also of Heavy Mole) and drummer William Jankowski (also of Church of the Red Museum).
Wells recently took time to answer some questions I had...

PEOPLE WIITH ANIMAL HEADS: One aspect I've enjoyed about your band, other than the music, has been the visual elements of light circles you guys use. What brought that on?

RYAN WELLS: Well, David and I had discussed at great length what all we wanted to incorporate in our live performances well before we started playing out, and lighting was one of the first things that came to mind. We just felt it would enhance the overall experience for the audience to have some visual stimulation that coincided with the audible stimulation. Really turn it into a “performance” rather than a “show”. I think we both agreed that lanterns would fit the mood of our music because they give such a diffused, almost eerie, glow when put through a dimmer; and the banjo light being a stark cold blue was a nice contrast. The fact that they are all circular glowing objects tied it together nicely, especially with the name Moon High. It can be a slight inconvenience setting them up at every show, but the response has been encouraging enough to keep them as a staple element in our live performances.

PWAH: In Ohio it's getting more and more difficult for quieter bands to get an audience, because every city is so stuck into this full-on rock mind frame. I really appreciate scene diversity. That's why it has been nice to see the Moon High name getting passed around more frequently. But have you encountered this dichotomy of having to compete with sheer volume?

RW: Much to our dismay it has been very difficult to battle the sheer level of noise created by people just hanging out in a bar. It’s different from club to club, depending on how elaborate of a sound system they have, but it didn’t take long for us to realize that quieter environments (i.e. house shows or gallery shows) are much more conducive to what we play. You can’t always pack as large of an audience in a basement as you can in a bar, but at least you know that everyone is there to listen to the music. It would be nice to find more places like Skylab, in Columbus, that do produce really good turnouts for quieter bands; but we’ll just have to wait and see if the Ohio music scene starts to shift its ways from the rock and roll mind frame a bit.

PWAH: Describe the Dayton/Columbus connections. I think your other guitarist is from the band Heavy Mole, if I'm not mistaken? How has the helped or hurt you being split between cities?

RW: You are not mistaken. David (guitarist for Moon High and drummer for Heavy Mole) does live in Columbus along with our drummer Bil (who also plays in Church of the Red Museum); while I reside in Dayton. David and I became friends while I was living in Columbus a few years back, but the idea for Moon High didn’t come about until around a year and a half ago when I approached him about possibly working on music together through email. As we grew more and more interested in what we were making musically, the idea of becoming an actual band evolved, despite the long distance. Sadly I’d say there is little to no benefit that comes from us living almost 100 miles apart. I drive to Columbus pretty much every weekend and David drives to Dayton pretty much every Tuesday, so with the insane cost of gas and the almost overwhelming waste of time spent driving, it can put a strain on us. However, we stay surprisingly productive for all the hurdles we have to leap and have such a genuinely enjoyable time being in this band that it’s really a small price to pay in our eyes.

PWAH: I really like to focus on the aspect of Midwestern music on my site. How do you think being from the Midwest has influenced your music?

RW: It’s hard to say really. I think the most direct Midwestern influence would be the strange balance of desolation and urbanization that we live in. There are some bigger cities in the Midwest, but they are always surrounded by so many small towns and communities that are, for lack of a better description, very Midwestern. It’s sort of like being in the South and seeing these places that could ONLY be in the South. There’s definitely a unique feeling when you’re planted in Midwestern rural areas, and I think that whether it’s intentional or not, it comes through in our music.

PWAH: What are some midwestern bands you like right now that you think other people should know about?

RW: I would certainly recommend to anybody who hasn’t already heard of Buffalo Killers to check them out. They have a new album coming out in June that is going to be really amazing. I’ve also been into Time and Temperature (no on-line presence, despite many efforts to get her to) and Jordan Hull lately; as well as Southeast Engine and Gretchen King.

PWAH: Tell me a bit about your CD, any lyrical themes you delve into and what your plans are right now to get the word out on it.

RW:The album is self-titled and was hand made in a small run of a little over 100 copies. We wrote, recorded, and produced the album over most of 2007 and are currently selling it at shows and on our website (www.moonhighmusic.com)
I feel that David and I have both brought somewhat different lyrical themes to this record, while managing to find a common musical ground.
My songs tend to touch upon somewhat fantastical situations that attempt to give a message of creating balance and understanding; while David’s are more centered upon personal reflections of real people, but written in a poetic sense that can be universally understood.
At the moment we’re trying to play as many shows as possible to support the album and have just recently started looking into contacting some labels about the possibility of putting out an official version (hint to any label that might be reading this).

All Hail Captain of Industry

2008-04-25T10:04:00.000-07:00

In another nice move for Columbus label All Hail Records, they can now claim Dayton, Ohio super group Captain of Industry among its roster of experimental indie pop bands.
At first it wasn't clear to me what direction All Hail was going with its choices, but it has lately become a hotspot for off kilter indie pop. Like I said before, there are virtually no labels that will give indie pop bands a chance these days. But if you play punk, labels will track you down like drunk blondes.
From label co-founder Tony Clark:
All Hail Records has just signed Dayton, Ohio's Indie pop-rockers, Captain of Industry. The band spent the end of 2007 recording their new record in New York, and will be releasing it this June to coincide with their summer tour. The record is a natural extension of Captain of Industry's sound, mixing indie rock, pop songwriting, and just the right amount of experimentation to keep everything sounding brand-new. They've also recorded enough new material beyond the album for an EP that will hopefully see the light of day later in 2008 either from an official release or a free download. With all the new material and summer and fall touring plans, 2008 is looking to be a busy year for Captain of Industry.
"We're very excited about this deal," he said. "Their will be a full tour, including many Ohio dates and a radio promotion campaign."
In addition, he said to celebrate the release All Hail Records is going to press "a compilation that will feature 4 songs from Captain of Industry (two of those songs are previously unreleased material). The new comp will also have new songs from Take no Damage, Proper Nouns and if we are all lucky Paper Airplane."
• In other All Hail Records news, Friday, May 2nd is the official release date of The Proper Nouns' new album, "A Million Hurtful Things."
The record continues down the path started on the band's last record, "Birds and Butterflies", which was released by the quintessential Columbus indie label, Columbus Discount Records.
"A Million Hurtful Things" is full of The Proper Nouns' trademark brand of fuzzy pop, exploring elements of 60's British rock, pop, and psychedelia, which is channeled through a bouncy rhythm section, a mix of gauzy organ and guitar, and eloquently constructed vocal lines. All of this comes together to create a true pop masterpiece.
The band will be celebrating " A Million Hurtful Things" with a release show on Friday, May 2nd at Café Bourbon Street (2216 Summit Street, Columbus, OH). Filling out the bill will be RTFO Bandwagon and Heavy Mole. You can listen to songs from the new record on Myspace at www.myspace.com/thepropernouns and on our website at www.allhailrecords.com.
Look for the record on sale at local record stores and online at www.allhailrecords.com on Friday, May 2nd.
From what I've heard from the new Proper Nouns CD, this release has some of the band's best tunes yet. Really well-done stuff.

Poor, poor McCain

2008-04-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

Way to take a stand, McCain!
Four fucking years too late, douchebag.
Why, next thing you know he'll be taking such wildly political stances as speaking against child prostitution or denouncing things like rape.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain was sharply critical yesterday of what he called the Bush administration's disgraceful handling of Hurricane Katrina and vowed, "Never again."
McCain, putting some distance between himself and President Bush, said if he had been president during the 2005 catastrophe he would have immediately visited New Orleans after the killer storm.
While he said he was not being critical of Bush for not visiting New Orleans, "I'm just saying I would've landed my airplane at the nearest Air Force base and come over personally."
Two days after the hurricane made landfall in August 2005, when immediate recovery efforts were chaotic, Bush surveyed the damage during a fly-over in Air Force One while returning from a trip to the West Coast.

Come to think of it - two days? I remember it was more like five days before Bush got off his fat ass and took a look down south at his wet pants.

Full link:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/04/25/mccain_criticizes_bush_for_slow_response_after_katrina/

Tony Fitzpatrick - Chicago

2008-04-23T20:54:00.001-07:00

A few people have been asking me lately about the artwork I use on the People With Animal Heads myspace page.
Example:

It's by a Chicago artist named Tony Fitzpatrick, who I discovered one day a few years ago while randomly doing image searches for animal drawings that have people with, um, animal heads.
Oddly enough, I discovered one of my favorite artists ever. He's got a ton of great ideas and you can learn more at his web-site www.tonyfitzpatrick.com.
Of course, I'm 99 percent sure he has no idea this site exists or that I flamboyantly display his art on Myspace...

Back at it!

2008-04-23T17:19:00.000-07:00

Good news out of Cincinnati these days.

First off, PWAH favorite The Heartless Bastards are headed back to the studio in their follow up to the stunning "All this time."
Here's the Myspace note from Erika:
Going into the studio to record the follow up to All This Time with producer and native Cincinnatian Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Trail of Dead). Can't wait for you to hear it, and to see you all this fall on the road.

As if that wasn't good enough, another PWAH favorite The Sheds announced they have been writing new material and will be off its self-induced hiatus by the fall.
That's not soon enough for me...

REVIEW: Fake Fictions: Krakatoa

2008-04-22T18:57:00.000-07:00

There's nothing I hate more than when a music site promises to write about a band's new release and then doesn't. I have made this fatal error.
So tonight I hope to reclaim my honor by mentioning the latest effort from Chicago's The Fake Fictions.
In essence, this band is exactly why I started this site. I wanted to find music that represents no boundaries. I have said many times that being a fan of independent music should not be about liking one genre. It should be about appreciating all genres enough to have the balls and the ability to do something unique with it.
That's why I have been enjoying Fake Fictions new release Krakatoa. I swear I have heard this band before, and now I'm starting to think I saw them live at some point. I think that's why I remember them, because they sound like they'd be fucking great live.
They find a way of combining the best of Television-style guitar focus, with retro-girl group drum beats and excitable vocals that seem to be a cross from the 80s and today. But when you jumble it all together into individual songs it's incredibly fun too. For an example of this in detail just check out when the band attempts to sing the vocals through what seems to be entirely through the room mics on "Which Witch is Which."
What I'm really digging on are the twin guitar solos that weave throughout everything they do. It really makes their work stand out. I just love the mechanics involved in "(I cannot get any) Satisfaction." But when those twin guitars are adding to the singers its bliss.
Now, there are 14 songs on this thing, so I obviously don't have the time to talk about ever damn one. Instead, give it a listen for yourself at http://www.autraumaton.org/comp/krakatoasampler.swf. The whole CD is streaming for you there.
If I had anything negative to say, it would be about my longtime hate/hate relationship with surf music. I can tell that this band has more of a love/love relationship with surf music. That's cool. Thankfully, they spend 90 percent of their time trashing the image of surf rock into something fresh and new, and then spend 10 percent of the time celebrating it.

Midwest Alerts!

2008-04-22T07:11:00.000-07:00

• If you're into the heavy stuff. Here's a link to Pitchfork interview with Dead Child's David Pajo (Slint, Tortoise, Zwan), who apparently lives in Columbus, Ohio despite the band being primarily from Louisville. Read that, HERE.
• The Daily Iowan reports about the American Indian's historical presence in the Midwest and how perhaps it's not as talked about or displayed as much as it should be, HERE.
• Here's a Business Week article with Pitchfork founders on the Pitchfork.TV thing, HERE.
• Columbus, Ohio's El Jesus De Magico? There's an interview with the band on the Ohio State University's Lantern, HERE.

EARTHQUAKE!!!!!

2008-04-18T08:17:00.000-07:00

The television news is all a-flutter today.
The Midwest got an earthquake in southern Illinois.

Blackout Fest XIII (Ex Eye Eye Eye)

2008-04-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

From the Athens Post:

As much as I'm hoping Athens sees a kind of rebirth of great bands, I want to shine a light on an upcoming festival. A year ago I did an interview with Blackout Fest organizer Scott Winland about his show. I think the link is to the right in the "Best of PWAH."
But it's back again. Read on, little reader:

While some consider 13 an unlucky number, to Scott Winland, organizer of Blackoutfest XIII, it’s a testament to the prosperity of a lasting underground music festival.
“(Blackoutfest) is always a success. It started as a one night, local show and then it evolved into a two-day event and then a three-day event,” said Winland, who runs Blackout Booking.
Blackoutfest kicks off at 6 tonight at The Union, 18 W. Union St., and features more than 30 bands, from local bands like The Makebelieves to the premiere of RIBS, a “supergroup” of underground musicians, during its three-day run.
The fest has become so synonymous with its venue that Mishka Shubaly, who will open the fest tonight with a solo set and later play in the New York-based band RIBS, said he contemplated getting a tattoo of The Union’s address last year.
“The only reason I didn’t get it was because I partied so hard that I didn’t make it out of bed until five — maybe this year though. People don’t always appreciate what a cool scene The Union is,” said the four-year festival veteran.
The Union is currently undergoing renovations to its downstairs bar, but did not close completely and is keeping its place in the local music scene, Winland said.
It’s incredible that a venue in a small town like Athens will continue to be known nationally as a place for underground touring acts to play, he said.
“I’ve toured in 40 states, and The Union’s my favorite club to play. In New York, people stand at club shows with their arms folded, texting or chatting at the bar,” Shubaly said. “But here, if it’s good music, people get into it and dance.”Blackoutfest has gained a reputation not just for its Athens atmosphere, but also the quality of acts that are broughtin to play.
“It’s the premier music festival in terms of underground music, and The Union is one of the best conclaves for underground bands in the Midwest,” said Chris Corbin, an Athens native and a member of the Dropdead Sons.
Some of the bigger names at this fest are Greg Cartwright, Kurt Vile and the Terrible Twos, Winland said. The Terrible Twos will close Blackoutfest late Saturday.
“(Blackoutfest) is about getting sweaty and touching people — that’s rock’n’roll,” Shubaly said.
Tickets are $10 for each night, or $25 for a three-day pass.

Midwestern Links

2008-04-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

• I share a very similar taste in music with the people behind Aquarium Dunkard, which is why I probably like the site so much.
All the more reason, they published a nice article, with MP3s and video, on Guided by Voices.
Check that out, HERE.
• Mike Breen, Cincinnati music critic, reported that the Cincy Punk fest raised $6,000 over two nights for Alex Brauer, the former drummer for Lions Rampant, who has been battling testicular cancer. That's pretty amazing and hopefully will provide Brauer and his family was some monetary relief.
When I hear of people battling cancer, I honestly become pissed off these days because our government is set up to make their lives even more difficult. Prescription pills costing them hundreds of dollars a bottle, doctor visit co-pays, overnight hospital stay costs, etc. Will this country ever move forward and let these people do what they need to be doing: Focusing on recovering and beating their illness?
To the folks who organized the festival, it was touching to see it focused toward an individual the performers knew. I imagine that must have made for some inspiring performances and energetic crowds.
• Chicago's The Smoking Popes will be releasing its follow-up to 1997's Destination Failure on June 7th. It's called Stay Down and will be celebrated with a release party at The Metro. New songs are also available on their link.
• "A Skin, A Night" is a new movie by director Vincent Moon about former Cincinnati's truly exceptional The National. The film was made during the recording of the band's latest album "The Boxer" and is about the modern experience of making music. The film comes packaged with an EP called "The Virginia."
• I heard he still lives in Minnesota on a ranch, so I think I can consider Bob Dylan a fellow midwesterner. Word is the recent Pulitzer Prize winner will follow up his critically acclaimed autobiography Chronicles with a children’s book called "Forever Young." The forty page picture book is due to hit shelves October 6th.

Cincinnati's Buffalo Killers announce tour/new CD

2008-04-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

Check it:
We are very proud to announce that Let It Ride, our new album produced and recorded by Dan Auerbach at Akron Analog, will be released July 8th, 2008 on Alive Records. The first 500 copies of the vinyl will also include a 6-song live bootleg from our show with The Black Crowes at The Orpheum Theater back in October. For a preview, check out the free download of Homegrown on our myspace page.
We'll be hitting the road in May with The Black Keys (dates below).

MAY
May 12 w/The Black Keys @ 9:30 Club :: Washington DC : All Ages
May 13 w/The Black Keys @ 9:30 Club :: Washington DC : All Ages
May 15 w/The Black Keys @ Terminal 5 :: New York, NY : 16 and up
May 16 w/The Black Keys @ The Electric Factory :: Philadelphia, PA : All Ages
May 17 w/The Black Keys @ Orpheum Theatre :: Boston, MA : All Ages

Athens, OH. 2008 update A discussion with Donkey Coffee booking agent Leo DeLuca

2008-04-14T22:31:00.000-07:00

So today I would like to talk about the Ohio city of Athens.
This also reminds me that I have been meaning to go through those City Features (to your right in the links) and update them all. It's been more than a year now and a lot has changed overall across the Midwest. We've had a ton of attention, but mostly because the bands moved to New York.
Back to Athens: I'm worried.
Lately I have been feeling as though the city is losing it's charm of irony that used to permeate everything it stood for. At one time - even last year - you could go out for a night of music in Athens and catch numerous folk bands, a few of what I like to call "I Don't Give a Fuck Punk Bands," some singer-songwriters, some loud roots rock, and you'd be hard pressed to not have a good time.
It just seems like the amount of bands coming from Athens is slowing down. Too many are disappearing. So what is happening is the "I Don't Give a Fuck Punk Bands" are filling every slot.
For those who read PWAH on even a mildly regular basis, you'd know that I love punk music and I love pop music (roots pop, not Brittany). I even like avant garde experimentalism. But for some reason I hate "I Don't Give a Fuck Punk Bands."
Maybe it's because they symbolize the utter lack of creativity that punk music slowly became. Maybe it reminds me of Columbus' Bernies at its worst in the late 1990s. It's just that I would AT THE VERY LEAST like to see a band think about what they're doing. Maybe even once. They could be stoned at the time. I will allow that. Maybe they will forget it an hour later. But as long as they HAVE thought once, I'm fine with it.
Maybe the one thought that glanced their brain was incomprehensible? Sure, that counts too.
So I recently had a discussion with Leo DeLuca, drummer of Southeast Engine and also current booker of Donkey Coffee in Athens. It was recently named "Ohio's Best Coffeehouse" by Ohio Magazine. The bar is looking to embrace the culture of Athens that seems to be falling by the wayside. It's trying to cultivate a venue where people go to actually hear music. Nothing more and nothing less. We're not talking about creating a scene. We're not talking about wearing huge glasses like Cheryl Tiegs and shopping at American Apparell, then standing next to a wall. We're just talking about music.
DeLuca explains that Donkey Coffee has become a haven for stripped-down folk and rock music. Rock bands are encouraged to play acoustic, with brushes, etc. The venue has hosted shows by Jorma Kaukonen (of Jefferson Airplane), Jonathan Richman (of The Modern Lovers), Sam Rosen (Vampire Weekend's touring buddy), Nat Baldwin (ex-Dirty Projectors), White Hinterland, Deer Tick, his own Southeast Engine, The Black Swans, and more.
"Shows at at Donkey are the antithesis of your typical rock concert. Listeners are very present and attentive, rather than distracted and loose-lipped," DeLuca said. "As a whole, people are there to focus on the music, rather than focus on what the person next to them is wearing, who's doing what after the show, etc. It's really nice to offer that to musicians. Obviously, performers long for their audience to listen. Amps are often cranked at rock shows to drown out all the yappers. Donkey provides an environment where musicians can play quietly and people will still listen. It's really nice."
DeLuca also commented on my worries about Athens' ironic culture being lost. It used to be the place that defined the granola hippie, co-mingling with the Charles Manson hippie of anger and the hipsters, alongside the college-aged baseball cap douchebag. Just imagine other colleges, but more fighting, cooler people and less posing.
"I think the eclectic nature of the Athens scene still flourishes, but 'I Don't Give a Fuck Punk Music' does seem to be growing luxuriantly. Actually, it seems to be dominating a lot of Ohio right now. To be honest, I really kind of like it. When Southeast Engine was at SXSW, the Austin paper did a whole article on the Columbus "shit-gaze" scene. I was pretty proud of old Ohio," DeLuca said. "The part I don't like is when the fever spreads at the expense of other molds of music. I agree with you, punk / shit-gaze / lo-fi is great, but we definitely need variety. The problem with that type of music is that it's often very elitist and closed-off to other genres. And when it's put in a dominant position, it tends to quell the voices of artists from different strains. You don't have to play dirty or lo-fi to not give a fuck. Listen to Bob Dylan, listen to Johnny Cash. Sure, the fidelity on some of their stuff was on the lower end, however, the vast majority of their work was very put together and very accessible."
So now it's time to reasses the current Athens music scene. Are there any new bands I don't know about? How does a good touring group from Cleveland get into Athens these days?
"Athens is hungry for a new band with an amazing sound and a lot of gumption," DeLuca admitted. "My favorite in the local scene right now is this band called Silo Circuit."
But he said the band is a pretty strictly Athens, not venturing into other cities yet.
However, this is exactly what I think the town needs. Touring bands need to know that there are groups they can count on in other cities to bring the people out for them. Out of town bands are trying to build their draw and if the local band doesn't have one, it leaves them back to square one.
"They generally draw a crowd," he said about Silo Circuit, "and I'd like to see them play outside of Athens. So I'd definitely encourage trying to trade shows with them."
DeLuca said Aquabear Legion - a community network for creative people - is based in Athens as well. It can be a good source for show trading.

Random notes

2008-04-09T06:42:00.000-07:00

• I meant to point out that our fellow comrades in arms Buddha Den (which continues to do an excellent job documenting Dayton's music scene) has released its "Buddha Den 2008 Spring Sampler," featuring numerous great local bands from The Motel Beds, to Jesse Remnant, and The Sailing.
The site also spoke a bit about the new Breeders CD "Mountain Battles" out now.
The site also has an interview with Dayton band ... excuse me while I cut and paste the band name because I know I'll spell it wrong ... Ruetschle. It's pronounced like "Richly."
• The other day I was reading Spin magazine and noticed by chance that Cincinnati-based music critic Kari Wethington was the one who wrote the nice interview with Kim Deal. Midwest represents. I couldn't find an online version of the actual article, but here's this.
• I just now noticed a total of nine pages of discussion at Cincy Music.com about the closing of The Poison Room. Another one bites the dust. But honestly, I've been to the Poison Room on many occasion and I can tell you it was always dead. It was a cool venue, with a great stage. Just happened to be in an area of town you totally had to go out of your way to get to. There was nothing around it. I compare it to Columbus venue The Basement. Both are totally out of the beaten path that music fans travel. But The Basement is helped along by getting most of the national indie acts that come through. That role has been taken up by The Gypsy Hut in Cincinnati.
• I got word from Columbus band Paper Airplane that its members are currently recording with the engineer who did the last Heartless Bastards CD. I was listening the other week when WOXY's Local Lixx program played a short acoustic demo of theirs recorded at Columbus Discount Records called "Better with Medicine." But I'm not sure the link is up yet to hear the broadcast. The band will be performing new tunes this weekend with a show in Columbus at Thirsty Ear and a show in Dayton at Oregon Express with Twin Arrows (it's debut show, made up of former Late Nite Drivers members) and current buzz band Moon High.
• The Chicago based Riot Fest announced its dates (no lineups) for 2008. October 10th, 11th, and 12th. A venue has not been announced, but in past years it's been at the Congress Theater.
• Some info on Lexington's FreeKY festival, courtesy of You Ain't No Picasso, HERE.
• By the way, if you check pretty much any link on the right, you will find a load of articles and photos on Cincinnati's Music Now festival, organized by Bryce from The National.
• Can You See The Sunset From the Southside, Chicago site announced it is going on a bit of a hiatus. Of course, then they proceeded to have two new updates. Such as some Lollapollooza line up news: 2008 lineup for Lollapalooza: Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Kanye West, Wilco, The Raconteurs, Louis XIV, Love and Rockets, Gnarls Barkley, Bloc Party, The Black Keys, Broken Social Scene, Lupe Fiasco, Flogging Molly, Mark Ronson, Cat Power, The National, G. Love & Special Sauce, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Explosions in the Sky, Brand New, Gogol Bordello, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Dierks Bentley, Okkervil River, Amadou & Mariam, Blues Traveler, John Butler Trio, Girl Talk, Your Vegas, CSS, Eli “Paperboy” Reed & the True Loves, Battles, Steel Train, Jamie Lidell, Bang Camaro, Butch Walker, The Blakes, Mates of State, Tally Hall, Spank Rock, White Lies, Brazilian Girls, Magic Wands, Chromeo, Electric Touch, Duffy, Innerpartysystem, The Kills, The Postelles, Rogue Wave, The Parlor Mob, The Go! Team, Bald Eagle, Mason Jennings, Krista, The Gutter Twins, Ha Ha Tonka, Yeasayer, Witchcraft, Grizzly Bear, We Go To 11, MGMT, Sofia Talvik, The Weakerthans, Booka Shade, Santogold, Black Kids, Black Lips, Dr. Dog, Nicole Atkins & the Sea, The Ting Tings, Kid Sister, Office, The Cool Kids, What Made Milwaukee Famous, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, The Whigs, Manchester Orchestra, Foals, Uffie, The Octopus Project, Cadence Weapon, Ferras, De Novo Dahl, Noah and the Whale, Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s, K’NAAN, Serena Ryder, Newton Faulkner, (& more TBA, I’m sure).

Pitchfork TV launches

2008-04-07T11:53:00.000-07:00

I love to hate on them, but I also like to read them.
Yes, Pitchfork Media has launched it's PitchforkTV online.
It's looking pretty good so far. Interviews and live performances - not just Jay Reatard (who, despite myself, I have been enjoying the more songs I hear by him).
Go check it out: HERE
While you're at the site, also check out some coverage of Cincinnat's MusicNOW festival which happened last week, HERE

Midwest Alerts!

2008-04-04T08:59:00.000-07:00

• The I Remember Dayton site has a nice bit on the possible sale and liquidation of Antioch College. That would suck. Misguided hippies or not, the college is an institution of a liberal top notch education. Dave Chapelle may end up living in the middle of nowhere, if that college dies. Read the article in the Dayton Daily News HERE and read IRD site's article HERE.
He also has a bit on a Dayton Musicians Co-op. Not to be a debbie-downer, but I just have never really liked the co-ops in any city. They always talk a big game (insurance for musicians/recording money for charity projects/etc) and all that happens are gigs twice a year in which bands give their hard earned time and energy so the co-ops can make promotional stickers, update their web site or something lame. After years and years of shows, only piddly things ever come of them. But I have hope. Maybe they just need to organize more events aside from live shows?
• Greg Kot has a nice review of Ray Davies recent Chicago gig, HERE
• I'm not really a big fan of Cursive, nor most bands out of that whole Wisconsin hype that sprouted up years ago. That said, here's a nice article on Cursive from the Daily Iowan, HERE.
• Here's a short little interview with Leon Redbone, who is performing in Michigan, HERE.
• With music venues dying all across the Midwest, it's funny that Cincinnati's Riverbend has plans to debut a new venue. Read that article, HERE.

2008-04-03T05:39:00.000-07:00

Philly's Dr. Dog has announced it's all set for a new CD and tour:

Hey Folks
Well the cat's out of the bag. All this time in the studio seems to have paid off and it looks as though there is a record finished.
We're gonna call it FATE and you can take from that whatever you want. We can't tell you much, but we can tell you that when we sit back and listen, we're real happy with the way things turned out.
We spend a lot of time together, maybe more than any person should spend with another, but that's not a complaint. It's to say that when you spend this much time with a bunch of dudes, you learn from one another and you learn something about yourself. Not sure what that's got to do with anything, but at the moment we listen to this record and think that all the time we spend together has as much to do with the album as anything else.
As it happens we've got a calendar full of tour dates and a heap of new songs that we're getting excited to play and in some cases.. learn to play. For now we can let you know that it's all about to creep up on you. Consider yourself warned, FATE is upon you July 22 and we can't wait to see you.

Random notes

2008-04-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

Lots of stuff going on lately. I've been a bit too busy to bother with any of it. So here's a diatribe on all of it.
There are a ton of new midwestern CDs coming out. Hopefully I can get around to doing some new interviews with these groups soon.
In Cincinnati, there is the Music Now festival (going on all this week). Check out Each Note Secure for more info.
I've still got my eye on the Forecastle Festival and what bands will be chosen to perform. Will it be the same four Cincinnati bands that always play everything (Bad Veins, Turnbull ACs, Lions Rampant, The Read, etc.)?
Nothing against these bands - I like them too - but for god sake festival organizers there are a ton of talented bands out there.
I got a few emails from bands promoting their new CDs. Namely, The Voodoo Loons, Lonely the Seabird's very last CD, Philly's The Hermit Thrushes are going to be in Iowa City July 24 in support of new releases.
PWAH favorite's Dayton-based Squids Eye Records is releasing the new Neotropic "Whiter Rabbits" CD, and on April 29 will release the work of Jesse Remnant "The Human Cannonball" and The Gluons "Meet the Gluons."
Both of these bands are pretty outstanding. Remnant's voice is killer and his music very melodic. Something must be in the water he and his brother Rem drink back at home.
I mentioned before how I enjoy The Gluons. They seem to be Dayton's answer to the Columbus shitpop wave. But unlike a lot of the Columbus bands, you get the feeling these young dudes came up with their sound all on their own and without influence by their surrounding contemporaries. Just give them a listen and judge for yourself.
I also got an email from Chicago band The Fake Fictions, a fuzz-pop band with a new album called "Krakatoa" coming out on Comptroller Records on April 18th. It is a concept album about the world's deadliest volcano explosion and its impact on modern society. They sent me a link to hear the CD early. I still haven't checked it out yet, but I want to try and get to it today at some point.
The thing is, I have heard of this band before. So my guess is that I liked them before, if I filed their name away in my dust-rattled head. Once I give them a listen I'll post a bit about their songs too.
Other than that, I noticed some Columbus folks are having a spirited debate on Donewaiting.com about production values.
Are too many Columbus CDs "over-produced?" Is it possible for a indie band to be over-produced? What constitutes being over-produced? Does Pro-tools suck?
I can confirm that Pro-tools does suck hard. Avoid it at all cost.
I guess some people think lo-fi CDs just sound better. I can agree with this stance to a certain extent.
Take Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks." What I always liked about it is that you can hear the room the band is playing in. You can hear the music bouncing off the walls. It just makes it sound more intimate and provides a picture into the performance. There is a warmth there that was created by recording more lo-fi.
Neil Young's "Tonight's the night" record is recorded about as lo-fi as it got back in the 1970s. Yet it's clean and pure. Is that over-produced by today's standards?
Then you got other CDs that sound as if the person is singing into a digital microphone. It just sounds dead and lifeless because they are trying too hard to make things sound clean and clear.
My feeling is that it doesn't matter how something is recorded. You can't polish a turd and you can't fuzz out a turd into white noise and call it shitpop.
Let's face it, The Beatles "Abbey Road" is totally produced to sheer pointless cleanliness, but it fucking rocks.
Times New Viking write great songs, so does Psychedelic Horseshit and The Gluons - yet they are recorded in a haze of dirt like the Dust Bowl just exploded. But they fucking rock.
I think there is an important middle ground to look at here. A strange dichotomy exists within the current shit pop trends. Being "over-produced" is looked down upon, but isn't "production" what it is entirely based upon?
They are making CDs sound extremely lo-fi. Isn't that being "over-produced" too?
Just something that came to mind.

Oh yeah. The Ranconteurs are coming through the midwest.
Um, $30-$40 a ticket?
Great band, but fuck them.

Sowash-tastic

2008-03-28T08:07:00.000-07:00

I had planned to get a hold of Kyle Sowash for an interview, in celebration of his new release "Yeah, Buddy!"
But I never got the time this week.
So instead, I urge the folks in Columbus to support this fine musician for his CD release show, being held tonight (Friday 3/28) at Andyman's Treehouse with Miranda Sound and Heavy Mole.
The songs I have heard so far on this new release are excellent. I think Sowash has refined his voice and songwriting into a unique blend of pure honesty and heart. Both of which are found on "Yeah, Buddy!" in spades.
http://www.myspace.com/kylesowash
http://www.wewantaction.com
http://www.kylesowash.com

Toledo film student documents midwestern talent

2008-03-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

Toledo, Ohio student filmaker Nathan Elias has been busy documenting musicians across the state.
Check out an interview with him in this article from Toledo University's Independent Collegian newspaper.
Learn more about Elias at:
Cinema Musica
Wishing Day Pictures

Get to know your Midwest record label: Cleveland's Exit Stencil Recording

2008-03-27T09:56:00.000-07:00

While the Ohio indie music scene is pretty thriving right now. There really are a scant few regional record labels documenting things. But the ones that are, do a goddam good job of it.
My enjoyment for Columbus label All Hail Records has been mentioned in the past.
I'd like to talk about another label, with a richer history, that continues making strides forward every year.
Cleveland's Exit Stencil Recording label consistently makes great choices while continually expanding its stable of bands. What I appreciate about the label is it's knack for finding musicians who make unique twists into established genres. Whether it's Blake Miller's abstract harmonies, The Dreadful Yawns beautiful take on psychedelic folk, or recent signees Hot Cha Cha's take on a punkish french rock thing.
Exit Stencil's Ryan Weitzel helped out by answering a few question into the story behind the label:

PEOPLE WITH ANIMAL HEADS: What are some things you look for in bands? I guess this question sort of pertains to the "sound" you hope your label represents...
RYAN WEITZEL: I'm not sure there is one particular thing that goes into it. Usually there is someone that really gets behind it and sort of serves as a cheerleader for everyone else. But in general when we are deciding whether or not to work with a group or person we all make the call based on first and foremost liking the music. Beyond that we're interested in working with folks that are on the same page with us, as in we get along. We're a small label, so it's important to us that the artist understands what we can offer to them and that they in turn are ready to work at getting on the road and promoting with us! It's definitely a team effort with everyone involved on the label end and the group. I myself play in Mystery of Two with Nick and the current incarnation of Home and Garden.
PWAH: What are some things people can look forward to in 2008 that Exit Stencil has planned?
RW: We have a pretty healthy slate of things going on. We recently moved into an old corner store in the Waterloo Neighborhood of Cleveland. I've been pretty busy setting up a recording studio that ESR artists have access too. It will also be open to the public at $35 an hour. It's pretty exciting! On the release front, the new Spanish Prisoners is coming out April 8th. A group from Cleveland called Hot Cha Cha, who are an all girl group that are fantastic live! They have a CD EP and seven inch coming out soon after called "rifle, I knew you when you were only a pistol."
The lead singer was born in Bosnia, and picked up that line from an old Balkan folk song.
The Dreadful Yawns also have their next full length "Take Shape" on the way. They really put together a fantastic album. It's coming out on CD and LP, everything will be digital too... we have some special surprises with the digital end of things too.
PWAH: How did the label come about and why? Where do you hope to take it?
RW: Brandon started it several years ago, maybe like six … I joined up about four years ago. Then Paul Murphy joined up about three years ago. We also have some help from Nick Riley and Liz Finley. I think we're all excited to keep creating and promoting music we dig and think others might too. We're hoping to be able to be part of the puzzle for our artists to keep creating and be able to live a musicians life style … which with touring and everything else can be quite a challenge especially with trying to keep jobs, etc.
PWAH: I've often said that, out of Ohio indie record labels, the only one Pitchfork actually seems to acknowledge is Exit Stencil. Why do you think that is? Not that Pitchfork is the end all be all, but for indie rock these days if you get highlighted on Pitchfork it sure makes life a bit easier...
RW: I'm not sure, that's all their call. I didn't really think we got too much mention, but yeah we're down if they are . . . and definitely appreciate any mention.
PWAH: Where did you guys grow up and how do you think it has influenced your outlook on life - musically or otherwise?
RW: I grew up in Westlake, it's a burb outside of Cleveland. My dad grew up there too. Pretty midwestern hey … I started hanging out in the Cleveland punk scene and playing shows in a punk band when I was like a junior in high school. So that was a big part of my formative music, all the classic Cleveland punk was a big part of it too. It took me a long time to realize that all the obscure records folks in the cleveland scene dug on weren't really known by many folks outside of it. In a way and for better or worse the Cleveland scene, and perhaps the midwest in general, has traditionally been in a different place than most. By no means does that make it any better or worse, just something in the water or steaming from the many many contradictions and frustrations involved with living here! I actually met Brandon during that time, he was in bands too. After high-school I dipped out of the Cleveland scene for about 4 years and went to school in Athens, Ohio.
PWAH: How do you perceive the current indie rock scene of the Midwest? What are some bands/people/things you would tell people about?
RW: I would say there's a lot of great music happening. The Cleveland scene has been jumping. There's a big shake up right now with "Lotto League." Basically, 180 Cleveland musicians all got drafted pretty randomly into new bands, the new bands are writing songs and performing April 12th at the Beachland. It's like 35 bands or something. It should be a blast. It is just one of many things that are helping to bring people closer to each other and maybe tear down some of the artificial walls that have been built. It's a small city so everyone knows each other on some level in the scene. The Cleveland 1 degree of separation … I suppose it can be summed up by this dude that works the door at a cleveland club that recently move here from overseas and has lived in various other parts of the country. "This is the only place where the opening band often blows the touring band off the stage and no one cares …"
It's a musical place for the sake of music.

More information:
Exit Stencil Recordings
16101 Waterloo Rd.
Cleveland, Oh 44110
216.481.8321
www.exitstencil.org

Coming soon:
Spanish Prisoners - CD/LP/ Digital
Hot Cha Cha - EP / 7" / Digital
Dreadful Yawns - CD / LP / Digital

Midwest Alerts!

2008-03-24T05:59:00.000-07:00

Pitchfork has a couple stories on Midwestern acts to start the week:
• Pennsylvania's GIRL TALK preps next release, courtesy of Pitchfork article.
• Indiana's Secretly Canadian signs WAR ON DRUGS, read that here.
• Here's a way to "end a nice evening" in Detroit: HERE
• And a nice positive column from an Ottumwa, IA. news reporter about the Harbinger of Spring.
• Some information on the 10,000 Lakes Festival in Minnesota, HERE.
• Should Madison Wisconsin start it's very own SXSW-style festival?
• The Midwest was the center of the Hawaiian music boom of the 1940s?! read that HERE.

Alive at SXSW

2008-03-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

Columbus Alive writer Chris DeVille wrote a nice review of Columbus shit-pop bands impact at SXSW, followed by a little history of the Cap City artform. Read that HERE.

More on The Union

2008-03-21T08:08:00.001-07:00

Here's some more info on the Union closing ramblings, from Mr. Junebug himself:

By Eric Leighton
Athens NEWS Writer
March 20, 2008

You ever play the game Telephone? You know, the one where you tell someone a sentence and then they turn and tell it to the person next to them who in turn does the same until it gets back to the beginning in some completely indecipherable form. That’s what Bar Talk is. Bar Talk is a sub-species of Gossip, but not necessarily malicious. It doesn’t quite qualify as Drunk Talk, though it occasionally dips its tongue in there, too.
I have been all too aware of this mode of pseudo-communication in the last year or so. Here’s an example: A few weeks ago, when I first got my still-lingering ear-infection, I texted a few people for help at the Open Stage I was hosting because it sounded too weird in my head (and hurt) for me to sing very much. There was a brilliant turnout of my fellow musicians (thank you very much) but almost 40 people came up to me and asked me how I was feeling. Of the people I sent messages to, four of them were there, all of whom I sent the message a scant three hours before. Not only that, the sign in front of the bar claimed: “Open Stage – Guest Host, Parker” or something like that. No guest host ever presented himself to me. Sorry if I stole your gig, Parker.
Needless to say, I was floored by the efficiency of the Bar Talk system to move around the information, but I was also disturbed at how convoluted it became in the process. I could cite endless examples, as no doubt could most of you.
I bring this up this week due to the Bar Talk assault on the closing of the Union, information about which I believe will be dealt with in an article elsewhere in this paper. I urge all of you to settle down and let things sort themselves out. Yes, it would be terribly sad if the Union was to be gone forever, but I have hope in the resiliency of that establishment to weather this storm. I’m asking for people to give it some space and not add to the mess, especially if you want to help save the Union.
I know a lot of you have no idea that I spent many a formative day at the Union. It was the place I played for years, indeed I even have a picture on the wall upstairs. Lou was one of the first people to take me in and be very kind to me when I moved to town, and I am forever grateful for that friendship. I am loyal to the bar and have probably spent more years there than anyone looking for a scramble.
Let’s just try to let go of the Bar Talk Telephone game and ease the pressure back a bit so things can come clear. Banana gypsy Pac Man gopherlicious beanpop razmataz hockey sticks.
It is Scott Winland’s intention to make sure that all scheduled shows at the Union go off as planned. This weekend is no exception.

Midwest Round Up!

2008-03-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

• Get the scoop on the Raconteurs forthcoming release from Cincinnati critic Mike Breen: HERE
• Each Note Secure has some news on The Black Keys and their relationship with their beloved Akron: HERE
• Speaking of Akron, I just heard about this lovely folk avant garde troupe from there called Trouble Books who have arrived for you. I'm calling them a nice combo of Belle and Sebastian feel, with Pavement undertones. I'm probably way off, so check them out yourself.
• Fans of Columbus, Ohio noise pop should check out Dayton's The Gluons.

No Union?

2008-03-18T07:11:00.000-07:00

So the big news out of Athens, OH. right now is the rumored closing of longtime music venue stalwart The Union.
First off: Finally, I got to use the word "Stalwart."
Secondly: This does not look good, people.
Aside from a few Ohio University venues, The Union was pretty much it for a music fan to see new indie rock bands down in Athens.

Of course, right now it just seems like a rumor. Sometimes bars close their doors for a bit when they are dealing with liquor permit discussions, or perhaps some renovations. But who knows. If it's 100 percent true, then it looks like you may not be seeing these upcoming shows:

Mar 14 2008 10:00P
DEAD WILL RISE CD Release Party
Mar 15 2008 10:00P
EVA DESTRUCTION & THE OHIO COUNTRY OUTLAW BAND, WHEELS ON FIRE, CASUAL FUTURE
Mar 26 2008 10:00P
PEELANDER-Z
Mar 29 2008 10:00P
KINKS TRIBUTE SHOW
Apr 3 2008 10:00P
NIHILITIA + SPACE6OY
Apr 4 2008 10:00P
SKELETON WITCH, MOBILE DEATHCAMP, BLOODWOLF, GOODBYE GOATS
Apr 5 2008 10:00P
TIMES NEW VIKING, THE KYLE SOWASHES, MACHINE GO BOOM
Apr 17 2008 8:00P
BLACKOUTFEST
Apr 18 2008 8:00P
BLACKOUTFEST
Apr 19 2008 8:00P
BLACKOUTFEST

I just noticed that the dude behind Athens-based Insomniac Booking wrote this:
Last night was the last night to purchase a beer from my home away from home. i drank as much as i could.
story goes that the place wasn't making enough money - i plan to organize with interested parties to buy the property - i feel there are enough people in this town and not in this town who care as much as i do. if you are please message me. as soon as all the dust settles and stories are straight, i plan to purchase the property with anyone who can help.
I was actually wondering about what would happen to the booking agencies down in Athens before I read this. With no swapping options to put national bands into The Union they would pretty much be screwed. Hopefully he can buy the place with some other folks.

EVEN BETTER UPDATE, WITH ACTUAL INFO, from Union booker and former PWAH interviewee Scott Winland:
Just wanted to drop a line to everyone - I recently went to SXSW in Austin, (last Tuesday) and returned to all of this yesterday afternoon - an interesting homecoming to say the least... At any rate, I have some good news (though not a complete press release on all this just yet). Although The Union has been forced to close temporarily this week for some restructuring/re-staffing, all shows scheduled for the weekend are still happening, and it is my intention to honor all shows in the books. Though the ultimate future of the bar is a bit uncertain at this point, we can breathe a sigh of relief that we're headed in the right direction. That wasn't the fat lady singing on Sunday night, and she's not booked this weekend either. Your support of the Union and the continuation of its shows are greatly appreciated.-Scott

Mtv/Horseshit

2008-03-14T11:15:00.000-07:00

It was pretty interesting to see the bowels of MTV shine some light on Midwestern shitpop purveyors Tyvek and Psychedelic Horseshit in their 2008 SXSW coverage. Your favorite Veejay and mine, John Norris, writes:

"My producer, Christopher "CJ" Smith, recently got me into Tyvek, a band of lo-fi Midwesterners that he was truly excited to see down here at SXSW, and once again his faith was well placed. After an alleyway interview, in which they explained their dedication to the basic, no-nonsense approach of what some call lo-fi, we watched them tear through a set at Beerland, one squall of ragged, raw rock after another in songs like "Give It Up" and "Stand and Fight."
Keeping it Midwest, why, here are Psychedelic Horsesh--. Every now and then, you just want to talk to a band that calls it as they see it, and PH deliver. Standing in the middle of Sixth Street, shoulder-to-shoulder with drunken fools at 11 p.m., PH opined on how this year's SXSW compares to last year's (answer: They haven't taken any illegal substances with Thurston Moore this year, something they say is necessary to appreciate "the vast majority" of bands at the festival) and spoke about the message behind their song "New Wave Hippies" and the line ("It's about Yeasayer. Bands like that."). Whoa."

See the whole article: HERE.
Just scroll down past all the My Morning Jacket stuff...
UPDATE: CHECK OUT THE WORLD OF WUMME BLOG FOR THE EYE WITNESS ACOUNT OF THE SURREAL MOMENT AND A PIC...

Giant robots!!

2008-03-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

Right now NASA astronauts are on the moon and they are about to assemble a giant robot.
Has nothing to do with Midwest music...
But it sure is pretty awesome.

Get to know your Midwest record label: Dayton's Squids Eye Records

2008-03-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

When it comes to the great current Dayton, Ohio bands, it's a pretty easy guess they are associated with independent label Squids Eye Records.
We're talking Toads and Mice, Yazuka Heart Attack, The Sailing, and Jesse Remnant (also of Southeast Engine). All of which are creating some very interesting, experimental, indie pop. Columbus-folk should also check out The Gluons, for a nice Dayton representative of the Shitpop revolution.
I thought it might be a good idea to let more people know about the label and the bands it highlights. This Friday, March 14 the label will hold showcase concerts at the Nite Owl and then again on March 22nd at the Oregon Express.
Tony Gilbert, of Squids Eye Records recently helped shed some light on the label's intentions:
PEOPLE WITH ANIMAL HEADS: How did Squids Eye come about and what do you look for in bands that you represent? What drew you to the bands on the show?
TONY GILBERT: Squids Eye Records was started due to the massive amount of music my friends were making that didn't have an outlet, Brian Baker, Keith Rankin and The Sailing were the original reason I started Squids Eye Records, they were making music that needed to be heard.
As for what I look for in adding bands to the roster, first they have to be people I can get along with on a personal level, working with artists in which your only relationship is a business relationship is not rewarding no matter how good the music is. I don't look for any certain genre, Squids Eye releases all types of music. A lot of the artists on Squids Eye were introduced directly from other Squids Eye artists, basically everyone on Squids Eye acts as A&R for Squids Eye.
The bands that are performing at the show are all part of the Squids Eye Collective, Toads and Mice and Grizzzzy Bear recently released albums while the Sailing and Romance of Young Tigers are releasing full lengths soon on Squids Eye. The other half of the Squids Eye roster is playing a week after at Oregon Express for part 2 of the 1 year anniversary week which is doubling as the cd release parties for Jesse Remnant and the Gluons, Scott Deadelus who has a new full length coming soon and Squids Eye's newest artist Cry Baby Genius are also playing. All 8 Dayton based Squids Eye bands will be represented over the week, it's going to be an exciting week for us all, and Dayton will be treated to some amazing music as a thank you for supporting Squids Eye in its first of hopefully many birthdays.
PWAH: Could you describe for me how you see the current Dayton music scene? I always like to keep people posted on what's going on in other cities?
TG: I see the current Dayton scene as finally moving forward. There were some speed bumps for a couple years, but the fans are coming back out and more people are starting to pay attention. There are a ton of great bands who are working hard to make sure that people have a reason to pay attention. Aside from the Squids Eye bands, I think its important to mention Human Reunion, Captain of Industry, 8 Bit Revival, Joe Anderl and Lungs as some awesome Dayton bands. Too many artists up and leave the city or get some exposure and forget they are from Dayton. But we, along with the above mentioned artists and ton more, are hoping to change that, we aren't going anywhere. We also have a great network of supporters Don Thrasher, Kyle Meltone, Gem City Records, Nite Owl, Oregon Express, Adam at The Pearl and Mary Kathyrn, all do a ton for local artists and it is extremely appreciated by us all.
PWAH: How do you think people perceive the Midwest music scene? How do you perceive it? How do you see Dayton and even your label as fitting into that grander Midwest scope?
TG: I think the Midwest scene is the best. To me, Chicago is the mecca of Indie Rock. Some of the best labels are based there. As for how Squids Eye fits in to the Midwest scene, I think every city's scene is so different, just between Cincinnati and Dayton our scene seems 3000 miles apart. So it would be hard to compare what we do with the whole Midwest scene. That's a bullshit answer I know, sorry.
PWAH: Feel free to add anything else you would like to promote.
TG: Also be on the lookout for the Grizzzzy Bear "Passing" EP coming in April and Ceschi Ramos reissues on CD and Vinyl coming soon.

The Freshman/Heartbeat controversy That I'm just now starting, a year after the fact

2008-03-13T08:21:00.000-07:00

Check out this pretty interesting article I found on the Rapid Growth Media web-site. The writer interviews former Verve Pipe front man Brian Vander Ark, who currently lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He talks about the current state of the music industry, and more importantly, voices his opinions on what is hurting and helping the midwestern scene.
Read that article HERE.
Incidentally, I have been wanting to mention for the past year how eerily similar the vocals to Verpe Pipe's hit "The Freshman" are to Jose Gonzales/The Knife's "Heartbeat."
I know Verve Pipe's tune came out first. So it just seems to me somewhere along the line everyone has forgotten how Heartbeat could have been inadvertently (purposefully) ripped off? Don't know what I'm talking about?
Listen to The Knife's version: HERE
Listen to Jose Gonzalez's version HERE.
Listen to Verve Pipe's "The Freshman" HERE.

I mean, they are not note for note. It's just that the very first time I heard "Heartbeat" I immediately thought, "Oh yeah, that sounds like "The Freshman'."
Then I soon became utterly surprised, as the entire world suddenly embraced Jose Gonzalez like he was the second coming of Nick Drake.

Nite Owl changes ownership?

2008-03-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

Just read on Buddha Den that The Nite Owl will apparently change ownership:
...the Dayton Daily News reported today that the Nite Owl is being bought and will likely undergo dramatic changes when it re-opens as Blind Bill's in June. You can get the full story over here, but rest assured, many changes are afoot and will have sever effects on the local music scene. Despite its myriad problems, the Nite Owl has been one of the few clubs to allow 18 & up shows and has played host to numerous touring acts over the last few years. The new ownership intends to end the 18 & up shows and to gear the venue towards an "Americana" theme. On the upside, they plan to move the stage. I guess you take the good with the bad...
Not sure what it means for bands already booked there. Let me check on that... UPDATE: Apparently, it's going to happen in the summertime, so shows currently booked are not affected.

Midwest Round Up!

2008-03-11T05:52:00.000-07:00

Despite my disdain for so much SXSW coverage, i did notice some good things going on:
Writer Kevin Elliott wrote stuff on Donewaiting on Columbus Discount Record's showcase. Then on his own World of Wumme site he wrote about the Siltbreeeze SXSW showcase
• Aquarium Drunkard has a nice nostalgic article on former Cleveland powerhouse Pere Ubu.
• Buddha Den has an interview up with Squids Eye Records. I'm working on one too, so I'm not reading it yet... but you should.
• Cringe has a video up of dayton band Moon High. I like that band.
• The Pitchfork Music Festival schedule is up and tickets go on sale soon.
• Soft City Lights has new videos up! Lions Rampant and Ra Ra Riot.
• I haven't been too good at updating you on Pat Radio lately, But he's still hard at work and has new episodes. Here's some I didn't tell you about:
Program #107 David and Melissa from The Black Canary
Program #106 Umbrella Men, Moon High...
Program #105: New Rosehips, New Kyle Sowashes, New Tract Records
Program #104: Jason Quicksall
He co-hosted a WOXY Local Lixx episode (http://woxy.lala.com/music/locallixx/)
Program #103 Matt of the Proper Nouns
Program #102 Kyle of Lost Weekend Records - the two-day anniversary show!
• Chicago's Smoking Popes will sign with Flameshovel Records for their follow-up to 1997's Destination Failure called "Stay Down."
• Tha Bombshelter is going to be reporting on the Lebowskifest in Chicago.

SXS... yawn

2008-03-10T13:30:00.000-07:00

I hate to be a Debbie Downer. But right now every Midwestern indie rock web sites/newspapers and their brothers are writing about SXSW hard-core.
Just a thought: Wouldn't it be great if the same sites wrote about Midwestern festivals with this much gusto?
They will fly several thousand miles to see the same bands they didn't go see when they came through town earlier in the year. But most won't go down and cover something a couple hours away.
There are festivals every year in Dayton, Chicago, Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus, Athens, all over Indiana and Michigan and Detroit. Not a peep. In fact, check out this link just to see a list of festivals going on in Michigan this year.
Lo and behold, we might end up learning more about the bands in our own back yards - instead of 90 different sites talking about the 12 shows Bon Iver is doing in Austin...

Here're some off the top of my head:
Midwest Music Summit
Pitchfork Fest
Midpoint Music Fest
Mission Creek Fest
Pygmalion Music Fest
Toledo Indie Pop Fest
Comfest
Lollapalooza
Ann Arbor Folk Festival
Download Festival
The Pine Mountain Music Fest
Kaweenawesome fest (sic?)
Electronic Music Festival

Can you think of any more?

Reatard TV?

2008-03-07T07:22:00.000-08:00

I was reading the latest Jim DeRogatis interview with sort of Chicago-based Pitchfork Media mogul Ryan Schreiber.
Here's an excerpt:
Q. Back to Pitchfork.tv: I’ve heard that you’ve had teams of people out shooting concerts across the country for the last six months.
A. We’ve had a New York crew, and we go out and shoot various things around the city. Our executive producer is R.J. Bentler, who has actually worked with us on shooting the music festival and who has done a lot of editing work professionally for like NBC and stuff like that, and then there’s Juan, who used to work at Plum TV and did a show over there called “Juan’s Basement” -- he’s doing a lot of shooting as well. Then, in Chicago, we have a crew out there, too, and they’re shooting basically live concerts for us as well.

The funny thing to me, is that the minute Schreiber mentioned the "New York" video team was at work all I could think was:
"Great. New York. We'll have nothing but videos on Jay Reatard."
Then, lo and behold, I read this in the very next answer...

Q. So are you going to offer entire concerts online or just songs from a performance?
A. We’re actually going to offer entire concerts. The first thing that we’re launching, or one of the first things we’re launching, is Jay Reatard at Cake Shop, N.Y.C., that we shot in October.

I guess that's all I have to say on Pitchfork.tv for now... but I have to add, although it was cool DeRogotis laid into Schreiber pretty hard, I kinda have Schreiber's back on this. I mean there really is no come back for the cynicism that says Pitchfork.tv is purely a money grab. The same could be said for Pitchfork in general, or even music critics in general. It's either going to work or not work.

Spotlight: The Black Canary

2008-03-05T09:06:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: THE BLACK CANARY SINGLE RELEASE SHOW HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO APRIL 18 AT RAVARI ROOM, DUE TO SNOW STORM

If there ever were a band that did not quite fit into the Columbus music scene today, or even 10 years ago, it would be The Black Canary. Fortunately, that can often mean only good things.
I think what I appreciate about the band specifically are the chord changes. You mix a bit of hypnotic trance rock from the 1960's, with the echoed soul of today, and you've got The Black Canary.
This Friday, March 7, The Black Canary will hold it's 7" single CD Vampire/Sing release show in Columbus at Ravari Room with Flotation Walls and PWAH-favorites Afternoon Naps from Cleveland.
On a side note, if you've ever seen them live, their drummer is pretty kick ass.

I think what I have appreciated so much about The Black Canary is its individualistic fortitude. The band sticks to its guns and creates a sound that is unique to their spirit. It is music difficult to create live, but they succeed on sheer determination.
Here's singer/songwriter David Whitehead offering some insight into their music and personality:
PEOPLE WITH ANIMAL HEADS: You guys have a very specific sound. Sort of a trance 60 french pop thing... What drew you toward the music you create? It almost seems like the kind of stuff a musician just has to ignore everything but his own muse for, if you know what I mean?
DAVID WHITEHEAD: I absolutely adore french pop but I may be the only one in the group with a photo of France Gall as my screen saver! I think the whole thing started when I was really young and was laid up in a hospital bed in California from some hip surgeries. Everyday on KTLA Los Angeles they would show repeats of The Monkees and I really grew to love their songs. When I got out of the hospital I bought all the records I could find and their album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. was the record I think I absorbed the most. It’s actually the first pop record to use moog synthesizers and it seemed like many of the tracks like “Words” or “Love is only Sleeping” had this haunting thing to it which later I realized was just lots of reverb and echo. As my obsession with this sound persisted I was of course drawn to the early Phil Spector records as well as the later Beach Boys stuff like Pet Sounds and the Smile demos. I still think music is art and should remain art and I blame that for my attachments to the sounds and productions of that era. The stuff is gold. Anytime I walk into a studio to set up mics I still think of Brian Wilson.
PWAH: What are the overall plans. This single release first and then the full-length later on?
DW: We really felt we needed to get something out for people to chew on. I mean this literally. Our fans are hungry people! This will be year two and all we’ve had to offer them was a free single of some demos we had laying around for a while. Hence the Vampire 7” single. We decided to put a cover of ours on the other side because I’ve always loved the band Blur and Sing is probably my favorite track of theirs. Our actual album, Betrayal of Hearts has been in the works since we got back from CMJ last October and is close to an end as close can get. It’s being mixed bit by bit and may actually be done this month. If I didn’t just jinx it..
PWAH: Where have you been recording?
DW: I think the best kept secret in Dayton would be Refraze Studios. It’s about the size of a school gymnasium and is probably about the closest you’re going to get to an actual Abbey Road experience. They have a to die for Trident board which is one of the main reasons we’ve tracked the album there with the exception of vocals and some minor overdubs like acoustic guitars and bass that were done in our own space here in Columbus. The live stuff like drums, strings and pianos were all taken from studio b at Refraze. As for the mixing we’re heading up north to Ante Up Studios in Cleveland. They have a great refurbished Neve console I can’t wait to get my hands on.
PWAH: When it comes to your music, what are some themes that the songs explore lyrically?
DW: I really like imagery and maybe more so the imagery in fairy tales and how the clouds in the sky of the day could have double meanings. Lyrically when I started writing songs I was heavily influenced by Syd Barrett and became quite attached to the way he layered his images and over worded the rhyming schemes. I tend to attack things from an outsiders frame of reference for which I feel I have the reference for. Kings losing thrones, kids taking back their voice, trying to love two people at once, stepping out of shadows, drowning in someone, the ebb of relationships, the trumpets of self realization and the great speech that no one hears which I think could be more about a band and its audience.
PWAH: Where did you guys grow up and how do you think that has affected the music you play? What do you think of the current midwestern music scene? Are there some specific bands you think people should get to know?
DW: I think all the members in the group have spent the majority of our lives as Midwesterners and I think it’s effected us all in different ways. Me and Eric lived in Dayton for many years and both of us at the time being young musicians in high school, had the opportunity to catch bands like Guided by Voices and Brainiac at their apex which was a huge inspiration to us. Kind of like what Eno says about how any musician who ever bought a Velvet Underground album started a band. GBV was definitely the midwest VU.
As for the Midwestern scene as a whole I believe it’s a healthy young baby. We don’t have the commercial overhead of the coasts so we tend to be a little more creative here and all with a complete lack of urgency. Once again competition is lighter so it leaves some breathing room for goals. That is if they ever want to get around to making any. Personally I’m just tired of Ohio being the punch line in every movie.
PWAH: What are some Midwestern bands you think people should know about?
DW: Some bands that should be checked out are acts like Afternoon Naps, Bears and Hot Cha Cha from Cleveland. Flotation Walls, Heavy Mole and The Receiver from Columbus. The Griefs from Cincinnati. Zoos of Berlin and Kiddo from Detroit.

Pitchfork TV

2008-03-05T08:31:00.000-08:00

So, everyone's talking about the announcement of Pitchfork TV.

Ohio Predictions

2008-03-04T12:14:00.001-08:00

It's 3:14 p.m. right now on Tuesday.
I plan to go vote soon, but I offer my Ohio election results: I am calling Clinton to win big locally.
However, I'm thinking Obama may beat her out in the larger Ohio cities like Cleveland and Cincinnati.
It should be interesting to see how the Republican results turn out. Obviously, most are voting for McCain. But many are planning to vote for Huckabee, aside from the fact that they freely admit they are throwing their votes away.
Based on the fact that Texas will be split right down the middle between Clinton and Obama, Ohio will be the decider … again.

Update

2008-03-03T09:28:00.000-08:00

Been a little busy lately, but keep checking back. I have a few interviews and articles I plan on finishing up within the next day. Thanks for reading.
-Chris

Midpoint BreaksAfter six years everything changes...

2008-02-29T12:11:00.000-08:00

The news in Cincinnati right now is that the 2008 Midpoint Music Festival could see some big changes. Here's the article from Mike Breen's Spill It site:
MidPoint Music Festival 2008: Under New Management
If you went to the Web site for the MidPoint Music Festival over the past few weeks, all you saw was this cryptic message: "After six years, everything changes."
So what's the big change? CityBeat is now the proud operator of MPMF, which will return Sept. 25-27. A huge overhaul of the event is underway. Over the course of five years, MidPoint founders Sean Rhiney and Bill Donabedian developed their labor of love into one of the preeminent showcases for unsigned bands in the country. Their dedication to the up-and-coming artist should forever be commended as it has helped Cincinnati's profile as a "music city" in the midst of our current musical renaissance period.
CityBeat will keep true to that initial spirit and also work to broaden the appeal of the fest overall. Unsigned bands will still be a large focus of the event. Any and all artists interested in performing can submit starting later today (or early tomorrow at the latest) at the MPMF Web site.
No more industry panels (at least this year), just music. Over the next few weeks we'll be making further announcements about the fest (keep an eye on this blog), culminating with an event at Below Zero in Over-the-Rhine (the former Alchemize and Cavern locale) on April 9. The Omaha-based band Cursive, members of Connor Oberst's Saddle Creek Records family, will perform at the April 9 launch event.
We would love your input. As a fan/attendee, what would you like to see at MidPoint this year? As a performer/participant, do you have suggestions? Please leave your comments below and help us take MidPoint to the next level.
— Mike Breen

During the whole hooplah earlier this year about musicians complaining that the festival needed a change, I guess I was always in the boat of folks who thought it was pretty damn fun the way it was.
Midpoint remains the only Midwestern music festival where unknown bands can perform in front of hundreds of interested people. You go to the other ones and you're faced with disinterested rooms with three people drinking Pabst that didn't even realize there was a festival going on. This is what Indiana's Midwest Music Festival has often turned into - mostly because they put unsigned bands up against national bands. Why go see The Loyal Divide when Brian Jonestown Massacre is playing three blocks away?
But my worry about all festivals is that they risk becoming scenester back-patting events.
Festivals organized by dudes who have been a part of the local music scene a long time.
They have friends in bands who have been involved in the local music scene a long time.
They put on a festival and invite all their friends bands who have been in the music scene a long time.
Most of these are bands that do one show a year, at most, yet get the best gigs in town.
Cincinnati's definitely been guilty of this stuff in the past.
Meanwhile all the great new bands either have to kiss ass or mope about not getting in.
So please, CityBeat, just promise me it will not turn into this and I will try to remain open-minded...

Arrah and the Ferns call it quits/to relocate

2008-02-28T08:37:00.000-08:00

I just found out about the news that Muncie, Indiana's Arrah and the Ferns is disbanding and the core writers are moving off to the east.
I tell you, if you never got the chance to see this band live - or you haven't heard their music yet - you are missing out.
Truly, they are one of the top Midwestern bands I have ever encountered. Their music is full of absolute joy and creativity. So I wish them the best in their future out east.

As posted on the Arrah the Ferns Myspace site:
Hello Everyone,
Unfortunately, I am the bearer of bad news. But though it is bad and more so shocking news, we hope for only understanding and support from all of you who have endlessly provided such in the past.
About 6 weeks ago, our drummer Dave announced to Carl, Joey, and I his intentions of leaving the band after our SXSW tour. Thus, he would be leaving just before our planned album release that we set for May 6th. With no drummer, we had to quickly decide if we should proceed with the intended album release or not. We decided that we would postpone the release indefinitely and make our priority to first relocate to Philadelphia. This is something that particularly Carl and I have wanted to do for a long time. I have lived in Muncie my entire 22 years of existence. And though Muncie is a great and wonderful place, I think it's fair to say that it is not a place where musical opportunities are in abundance.
So with Dave's imminent departure, and the desire that the remaining three of us have to move on, we have decided to officially disband. We, Arrah and the Ferns, are breaking up. We had initially planned to play all of our shows that are currently on our myspace, including SXSW and the touring dates that precede the festival. However, more misfortune was bestowed upon me, and consequently, upon the entire band. On Valentine's Day, I was in a bad wreck on my way to work. Everyone was okay, thankfully, aside from some whiplash on my end. However, the damages to my van are immeasurable. My insurance company has decided to declare it totaled. This means that not only am I out of a vehicle, but the band vehicle is done for. We will now be detained here and will not make our SXSW showcases. We also have to cancel some of the dates that we booked in route to TX.
However, we will still be playing on Friday, March 7th in Bloomington and Saturday, March 8th in Brandenburg, KY. The other shows following will all be cancelled including our March 29th show at the Launching Pad. We are cancelling this show to have a final show in Muncie a few weeks later at Village Green Records. This show will be on Saturday April 12th and it will be an outside event. We'll be cooking out and so far joining us will be our friends Everything, NOW! and Everthus the Deadbeats. There will perhaps be one or 2 more bands playing this show. We're also looking into playing a show on Friday April 11th at Doc's in Muncie. We'll keep you posted on this upcoming weekend of farewells.
As for the future of us four individuals, Dave will be continuing his schooling in Bloomington as well as playing in his solo drum project, Whoa Bro Awesome. He's also a part of the bands Prayer Breakfast and Everybody. As for the remaining three of us, I'll announce that Carl, Joey, and I are now going to focus on my side-project, Woodlands, and make it more of a "real band." Gavin Wilkinson, Justin Spring, and Joey Morrow (all from the recently disbanded This Story) are also joining in full time to this new endeavor. The six of us are all at this time planning to move to Philadelphia to pursue whatever we may come upon as Woodlands together, or other musical opportunities that we are unable to foresee at this point in time.
I know that this is a lot of news—a lot of bad news—to hear at one time. We are all very sad and almost unprepared to end Arrah and the Ferns at this moment. We were so excited to release the new album to the world and to see whatever was next in store for us. We didn't exactly think 6 weeks ago that this would be the fate of our band. But we feel that this is what's best to do when taking in account that without Dave, we are not Arrah and the Ferns anymore.
We know that disappointment must be settling in. We have been talking for so long about this new album and probably getting everyone's hopes up (including our own). But this is life. And though we're disappointed too, we feel and want to feel excited about our new plans to move and to begin a new band with some of our dearest friends. We look forward to the adventures that are to come and are grateful for the adventures we've had because of Arrah and the Ferns.
So here's where I must awkwardly end a sad letter. I want to leave it with so much gratitude and hope, but I don't know how to do that. And I don't want to say "bye" like it's the end, because we still have a few shows left to play. And we want those shows to be so memorable and fun. So, we'll see you soon. We love you. We're so happy you have let Arrah and the Ferns be a part of your life. You all are such a big part of ours.

With all the love that I have,
Arrah Fisher
and I write on behalf of my best friends,
Carl Stovner
Dave Segedy
Joey Patrick

Jack White/Dylan

2008-02-26T08:55:00.000-08:00

From Rolling Stone dailies:
Jack White To Feature On New Bob Dylan Album Of Hank Williams songs...
by Jason Gregory on 25/02/2008

Jack White is to write the music for a song on Bob Dylan’s new album, the White Stripes and Raconteurs singer has revealed.
White is among a number of artists, including Willie Nelson, who have been asked by Dylan to put the music to unfinished Hank Williams songs.
"Bob's putting together an album. He came upon, somehow, 20-25 unfinished songs by Hank Williams: just the lyrics, no music, and he started to ask people if they would finish these songs,” White told MTV
Story continues below...
“He did one, asked Willie Nelson to do one, asked me to do one, and I think Lucinda Williams and Alan Jackson are on it too.”
White said that Dylan hopes to release the record later this year and also revealed that he has a new project, besides the White Stripes and Raconteurs, that, for now, will remain secret.

Swift on Drunkard

2008-02-26T08:21:00.000-08:00

I can always count on Aquarium Drunkard to keep me abreast of some of my favorite indie pop artists.
They didn't let me down, with a new piece on PWAH-favorite Richard Swift, on Indiana's Secretly Canadian label, who is discussing some of his favorite places.
From Aquarium Drunkard:
Off The Record is a recurring feature, here on the Drunkard, that marries two of my greatest interests; music and travel. Having a locals perspective when visiting a new locale is the difference between experiencing it through the lens of a tourist and of that of a native.
Off The Record gathers some of my favorite artists, asks them to reflect on their city of residence, and choose a handful of places they could not live without, be them bookstores, bars, restaurants or vistas.
This week’s edition of Off The Record finds us in Eugene, OR, home to one of our favorite contemporary songwriters: Richard Swift. Swift, who penned one of our favorite albums of last year, Dressed Up For The Letdown, is prepping for the April release of his next project, the double disc EP, Richard Swift As Onasis. Described as Swift’s paean to 1950s blues infused rock & roll (referencing Howlin Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley, and Link Wray) we have, courtesy of Secretly Canadian, two unreleased tracks from the set, below, for download: “Knee High Boogie,” and “Phone Coffins.”
Richard Swift:
1. HOUSE OF RECORDS / My favorite record shop in the great Northwest. I thumb through records here about once or twice a week, and surprise, surprise, it’s in a house (not just a clever name). It’s good to see local record shops staying in business, in fact, someone that works there was telling me that vinyl sales have been going up. There is hope.
2. AXE & FIDDLE / SAM BOND’S GARAGE / Two great pubs owned by some very fine people. I spin records every monday night at the AXE & FIDDLE. It’s great to have a local pub that A) I won’t get my ass kicked in, and B) serves a good hard cider. Some of the nicest bartenders you’ll find too.
3. EVERGREEN INDIAN CUISINE / This just opened a year ago. Mmmmm. Probably my favorite place to eat in Eugene. Some of my friends bust my balls about wanting to eat indian food every day… but hey, Indians do it, right?
4. KALAPUYA BOOKS / Great local bookstore. I picked up a very very very rare Kerouac book there for really cheap and I’ve been going back ever since. If you buy $15 worth of books, you get one free. It’s run by some great people who were involved with the Merry Pranksters & Ken Kesey.
5. NATIONAL FREEDOM / This is where i spend most of my time. It’s my studio, so I write and record here every day. But it’s a fun place to hang out and listen to music with friends. Its seems like it’s become the local-late-night-hang. Once the pubs close down, we stumble back to NATIONAL FREEDOM for more tomfoolery (wink wink).

Midwest alerts!

2008-02-25T08:15:00.000-08:00

• Check out this article on midwestern independent film, which was written in response to Francis Ford Coppola saying once that One day some little fat girl in Ohio is going to be the new Mozart, and you know, and make a beautiful film with her father’s little camera-corder and for once this whole professionalism about movies will be destroyed forever and it will become an art form. That’s my opinion.". The article then delves into Ohio's film history. Interesting read.
• Check out this new software site that suggest music for you to hear, based on your previous taste. It''s based from Illinois. Read that HERE.

Midwest alerts!

2008-02-21T14:07:00.001-08:00

Here's a couple things I saw:
• The International Pop Overthrow Festival is coming around again.
• Here's an article on the top Beer Brewing Companies in the Midwest. Read that HERE.
• Want to know more about the Minneapolis music scene? Head on over and read this.
• There is something called the Midwest Music Festival- unfortunately, I think it's being held in Nebraska...

Across the great divideCatching up with Spanish Prisoners

2008-02-21T09:45:00.000-08:00

It's been several months since former Columbus musician Leo Maymind of Spanish Prisoners ended a 10-year stint living in Ohio, in favor of a move to Brooklyn, NY.
So I have been following his progress out east, and really, the move never slowed him down at all. He continues to tour and do shows as much as he can.
Then I noticed he got a great bill opening up for a sold out show at the Highline Ballroom, featuring folk legend Daniel Johnston. So if you are reading this in New York show up early tonight (Feb. 21).
He also has a short stint opening up for John Vanderslice in April. I felt it was time to check up with Leo on the progress he has been making out east and comment on the east coast/midwestern divide:
PEOPLE WITH ANIMAL HEADS: I've been watching your progress since you moved out to Brooklyn. You never really missed a beat in terms of doing shows, despite a new town. Are you still booking your own, or did you finally end up getting some help?
LEO MAYMIND: Still doing my own booking, DIY-style. It wasn't that hard of a transition despite the move because I had already played in New York a few times on tours and knew most of the venues around town that I respected. The wonderful dudes at my label, exit stencil recordings, are helping set up a few dates on a tour we're doing in April after "songs to forget' comes out nationally April 8th.
PWAH: Why did you decide to move to Brooklyn? What have you learned about the east coast scene, in relation to the Ohio/Columbus scene?
LM: I decided to move to Brooklyn for lots of reasons, some musical, some personal. I wanted to be closer to my brother, girlfriend, and other friends that already live here. I'd lived in Columbus for over 10 years and just felt I needed a change. I also just wanted a bigger pool of musicians to play with and collaborate with. I also just love New York City, it's my favorite city in the world.
PWAH: How did the Daniel Johnston show come about?
LM: I asked the venue if we could open the show, they checked with Daniel's people, and said yes. Same way as all the other shows we've done.
PWAH: Now that you've been immersed in the "hostile" ground that is New York, how do you feel people out there view the Midwest rock scene? I'm curious what someone like yourself (as a newly moved artist) has noticed.
LM: I haven't found New York to be that hostile. I've already met so many great musicians and people that we've shared bills with, including but not limited to:
the antlers
salt and samovar
the lisps
sharon van etten
I don't think New York musicians are more hostile to each other than Midwest musicians. Since moving, I've tried to get in touch with countless cincy bands and most just ignored me completely, and that rarely happens here. maybe they saw brooklyn on our page and got turned off. Anyway, I don't think people here really think about the midwest scene enough to view it any particular light. There is so much going on in brooklyn and new york that you dont need to really look elsewhere for new music (though of course you should).
PWAH: Musically, how have things been going for you? New band? Recording again?
LM: I've been playing live with a full band, which is definitely helping bring these songs to life on the stage. I also just got a practice space in Williamsburg (does this make me an official Brooklyn musician?) and have been writing a little bit of the next album, slowly. Not sure yet how or where I'm going to record it. Might take the reins again myself but would be really nice to let someone else take care of recording and I just worried about playing.

Separated at birth?

2008-02-21T08:40:00.000-08:00

Speaking of Joe Anderl, is it just me or do these two dudes look like freakin' twins?
Anderl's on the left. Bobby Silver of Columbus band Brainbow is on the right.
You decide.

Southgate House hosts: GBV TRIBUTE!Features numerous Midwestern bands

2008-02-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

If you've been reading this site for any length of time, you already know: I like Guided By Voices.
Pollard and his crew single-handedly put Ohio on the cultural map of Rock N' Roll History - you know, despite the whole story of why the R&R Hall of fame is situated in Cleveland and stuff.
Pollard didn't so much write great songs, as he did redefine and revolutionize the concept of independent music.
When you heard Guided By Voices, as a musician, you felt anything was possible. No more worrying about recording costs, because you realized not everything has to sound like fucking Def Leppard. Don't like bridges? Don't do them! Is your song only :45 seconds long? No problem.
There hasn't been a similar revolution since Bob Dylan and The Band recorded off the cuff at the Big Pink, or since Alan Lomax conducted his field recordings that lead to the surge in folk music of the 1960s.
Thankfully, I'm certainly not the only one who appreciates GBV.
This Saturday Pollard's legendary favorite venue The Southgate House will host "A Tribute to Guided by Voices" starring some of the Midwest's favorite bands, who freely admit their affinity for short, anthemic rock songs.
The night was organized by Cincinnati musician Christopher Wales, of the band Lonely The Seabird and he did a fine job.
We're talking:
Lonely The Seabird, The Kyle Sowashes, Paper Airplane,The Sailing, The Woosley Band, The Black Canary,The Heedonists, Midnight Wild Streets,Loose Threads, St. Jude's Vigilance Committee, Textbook Committee, and The Harlequins
It can take a lot of effort to organize one of these things, so it's thanks to people like Wales for taking the hit for the fans.
He also took some time out to talk to PWA for his thoughts on why he decided to do the show and the significance of Dayton's native son:
PEOPLE WITH ANIMAL HEADS: Why did you decide to hold the show? How/why did you choose the bands? I noticed you got a good cross section from across the Midwest.
CHRISTOPHER WALES: I participated in a Wilco tribute show about 2 1/2 years ago and a Beatles tribute show last year. Both were incredibly fun and it was so great to hear certain bands twists on such great songs. The choice of the bands - some I sought out from being a fan of them - others I was not entirely familiar with but they wanted to be a part of and I am excited about everyone's set!
PWAH: It's great that it's being held at the Southgate House, probably Pollard's favorite venue. Was that a conscious decision?
CW: Most definitely a conscious decision. Aside from being my favorite place to see a show, it's definitely Pollard's homecourt - and so it's fitting that a tribute to his music be held there. The people that run the place have been great to work with, and as someone who's attended a fair amount of shows there and played a couple - I've never had a bad experience. That place is a Midwestern, if not national, treasure.
PWAH: Will there be any surprises, like say (cough) Pollard joining anyone onstage?
CW: No plans of that - but it's certain to be a great night of music!
PWAH: Why do you appreciate the music of GBV so much?
CW: For me - the man is an endless well of great music. It's almost overwhelming. I've been a fan for 13 years now, and still have trouble keeping up! He's made mention before of his music being Ragu Rock -"it's all in there" and the 4 P's: Prog, Pop, Psychedelic, and Punk. And I think that's so true! There's a song and then some to fit whatever mood I'm in. At the same time - not every song does it for me - but I'll be talking to a friend and they'll love that song. Something for everyone. Additionally, he keeps putting out my new "favorite song". The two proper releases of last year: Coast to Coast Carpet of Love and Standard Gargoyle Decisions sit up there with some of the GbV classics, in my opinion. And the new one: Robert Pollard is Off To Business is set for a June 3rd release. It's the most rewarding thing in the world to be a fan of his.
PWAH: What do you think GBV's legacy means to the Midwest?
CW: I think the myth of GBV will do nothing but grow - and grow favorably - over the years to come. It really does come down to some average ordinary Midwestern dudes that had some extraordinary talents - that chose, in a lot of cases, to not give up on them. My personal favorite memory as a fan was talking to Bob Pollard about the band Yes. One of my favorite bands - and also a favorite of his. At one point we're both singing Heart of the Sunrise together. This was quite a few years ago, but remains etched in my brain. The point I'm trying to make with that is that I think being from the Midwest, Dayton in particular, has allowed perspective. These guys were fans of rock and roll just like us. And still are.

Pollard launches new label and new start

2008-02-19T09:17:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of Pitchfork Media:
Only two months into 2008, Robert Pollard is already off to business, and his next order of business is releasing a solo album called Robert Pollard Is Off to Business.
Consisting of a mere 10 songs in 35 minutes, the record finds Pollard amicably peacing out of his partnership with Merge Records for a June 3 release on his own newly formed label, Guided by Voices, Inc. The label is run by Pollard along with manager David Newgarden, tour manager Rich Turiel, and business manager Eric Weiss.
Off to Business was produced by frequent Pollard associate Todd Tobias. Check out the track "Gratification to Concrete", available for downloading below.
The album is scheduled to coincide with Fantagraphics' publishing of the previously mentioned coffee-table book Town of Mirrors: The Reassembled Imagery of Robert Pollard.
Prior to the release of Off to Business, GBV Inc. will inaugurate itself with the single for album track "Weatherman and Skin Goddess". Out April 8 but only available through Pollard's website, it's a three-song EP featuring two exclusive non-album tracks, "Kiss the Quiet Man" and Coat Factory Zero". It will be available on CD and 12".
And because this is a Robert Pollard news story, we can't only mention just one new album from the guy. As previously reported, the Psycho and the Birds (aka Pollard and Tobias) album We've Moved is out February 26 on Happy Jack Rock Records.
Also, for all you super fans out there, an acetate of the GBV album Half Smiles of the Decomposed is up for auction on eBay right now. It features an original Pollard collage on the cover created specifically for the auction, and is autographed by the man himself.
Robert Pollard Is Off to Business:
01 The Original Heart
02 The Blondes
03 1 Years Old
04 Gratification to Concrete
05 No One but I
06 Weatherman and Skin Goddess
07 Confessions of a Teenage Jerk-Off
08 To the Path!
09 Western Centipede
10 Wealth and Hell-Being

MP3: Robert Pollard: Gratification to Concrete [from the forthcoming Robert Pollard Is Off to Business LP]

Wilco's stand

2008-02-18T09:54:00.001-08:00

For those of you who like Chicago's Wilco and wished you could have gone to those shows they played, in which they performed every song of their recording career - well, writer Greg Kot did a play by play for you. Read it here

Spotlight: Joe Anderl

2008-02-15T09:42:00.001-08:00

The Ms may have stopped responding, so moving on, I decided to turn my focus on Dayton.
Many bands and music fans in the Ohio/Indiana/Michigan area may know my next musician of interest. His name is Joe Anderl, and it is more than likely this gentleman has graced a stage in your town many, many times.
For years, Anderl has assembled his band of friends, in various formations and hit the road. I would consider him as the most prominent purveyor and promoter of the Dayton music scene around today - aside from our hero Bob Pollard.
I also recall that he was a music critic at one point. So I figured what better person to comment on Midwest music than a well-versed writer and traveling musician?
Anderl was kind enough to answer some questions on the matter. Lets get the story from the proverbial horses mouth:

PEOPLE WTIH ANIMAL HEADS: What are some Midwestern bands unsigned/signed that you think people outside this region should know about?
JOE ANDERL: My favorites in no particular order are:
From Chicago: The Gunshy, Chin Up Chin Up
From Columbus: The Receiver, Melty Melty, Winter Makes Sailors, Brainbow, Six Gallery, The Kyle Sowashes, Eric Metronome and The Dolby Fuckers
From Dayton: Mascot, Nightbeast, Mouth of the Architect, Shrug, The American Static, The Story Changes
From Athens: Southeast Engine, Nostra Nova, Kaslo
From Bloomington: Defiance, OH., Ghost Mice
From Cleveland: The Celebrity Pilots, Coffinberry, The Dreadful Yawns
From Cincy: The Hiders
I am sure I forgot some but I absolutely love all of these bands.

PWAH: Where did you grow up and how do you think that has influenced your music?
JA: I grew up all over the place, since my dad was in the Air Force. I spent the majority of my childhood in Southern California. In the fifth grade we moved to Ohio. I felt very fortunate to grow up in the time I did in Dayton, OH. My high school days were spent going to see bands like Brainiac, GBV, The Afghan Whigs, Honeyburn, The Oxymorons, Cage, Sebadoh, The Wrens, and Rodan. Dayton was booming with venues and musical talent. After seeing all of these bands, you realized that you were perfectly capable of doing the same thing. There is something to be said for the Midwest work ethic. All of these bands had day jobs, if it was working in your local record store, sand paper factory, teaching, or even working in a cubicle. Music wasn’t about getting huge or signed. It was about rocking with your friends and sharing your art with others. It was that idea that led me to start playing music in the first place. I just wanted to be part of this great Dayton music community. I wanted to play in bands, go to shows, set up shows, put out records. I have been able to accomplish all of that.
I think I am heavily influenced by my friends as well. I see them accomplishing some amazing things, be it spending weeks on the road, making great recordings, writing amazing songs. It influences me constantly. I just got off the road with Winter Makes Sailors (Sean Gardner from Melty Melty). It was inspiring to see him play every night. He uses such interesting textures. It's situations like those that make me want to be a better musician.
I think also that bands from Ohio and the Midwest tend to be very close to each other. It's kind of like the Kevin Bacon game. I meet so many people who know my friends or I know theirs. It really is small in the Midwest, especially when you spend so much of your spare time on the road. You end up having just as many friends on the road as you do at home. In fact they become your friends at home every time they roll through your city.
PWAH: How do you think people from outside our area perceive the Midwest music scene and its music/identity? How about you?
JA: People from outside the Midwest are always amped about bands in the Midwest. Everytime I tell someone from Dayton, they always ask about GBV, The Breeders, Swearing at Motorists, or Brainiac. I was talking to one of the dudes from The New Amsterdamns over the summer. They specifically stopped in Dayton on their way to the show in Athens just because that is where Brainiac is from. The dude had a Brainiac tattoo and had never even been to Dayton before that.
I think there is a certain stigma to bands from the Midwest though. We may not have the hipster impact of bands from the left or right coast, but I think the music speaks for itself. Dare I say the Midwest is almost anti-fashion. Our job is to show up, play, and try to make an impact on those around us.
The Midwest is vibrant and welcoming. There is always a couch for you to sleep on, a beer to be shared, a meal for you the next day. Bands and fans alike, shows in the midwest are like playing to your best friends from home. It's just welcoming and quite often very humbling.
I will always be proud to be from the Midwest.

Midwest Round Up!

2008-02-14T13:11:00.000-08:00

• There're a ton of bands currently recording now. The Raconteurs are hard at work in the studio. The aforementioned The Ms. Akron's Houseguest. Paper Airplane are working with the Heartless Bastards engineer. The 1900s recorded at Daytrotter. Dr. Dog has a new CD coming. Dayton's Moon High are selling a CD right now. The Black Keys have a new one coming out. Cincinnati's The Spectacular Fantastic just released "Consume / Reward."
• I don't know about you, but this festival seemed pretty lame to me at first. Dave Matthews?
Then I saw all the other bands on it.
• This festival seemed a little better at the time, and it's run by college kids. But the first one is good.
• Athen's Southeast Engine is hitting the road soon for that tour with Michigan band Frontier Ruckus, which I told you was coming about a month or so ago.
• PWAH favorites Aleks and the Drummer need some help getting more shows in Austin for their SXSW gig.
hi there misses and misters. we're playing sxsw at the schubas party so a heads up on that.
we were invited to play the schubas party, which was a huge hit i heard last ;year. but we're driving all the way down there, and we'd love to play another party to make it more worthwhile. any ins from anyone, and advice on how this stuff works (i've never been to sxsw--clueless) will be so very much appreciated. do you just show up and these parties come up? is it all really planned ahead of time? do you know anyone that is affiliated with any of the parties that may like us? (why wouldn't they? :)
also, any offers of places to stay, even a night at a time, would be rewarded with a secret listening party of our new recordings by Dave Sitek that no one will have heard yet, plus a good breakfast, and i volunteer deric to handwash your dirty socks. i may draw your portrait with crayons.
thank you thank you thank you. you help us get a show there, you can stay with us when you pass through chicago for tour or visit.
sincerely
aleks

Unsung artists

2008-02-14T05:54:00.000-08:00

I've always thought of poster artists as the unsung heroes of the indie rock world. Of course, it doesn't help that getting them to agree to interviews is next to impossible. Believe me, I've tried.
Thankfully, publications with more pull than I have succeeded.
Check out this recent interview with a great artist named Jay Ryan, based out of Chicago. You may know him from this CD---->
Read the interview HERE.
See more of his artwork HERE.

The Lovers Show, yodeling to the future

2008-02-13T05:43:00.000-08:00

Here's a really interesting article on Minnesota's answer to the modern Sonny and Cher, called the Lovers Show. A young married couple who support their family through a side career of yodeling and a stage show of nostalgic pop.

The Ms?

2008-02-12T14:08:00.000-08:00

Well, I was hoping to do an interview with The Ms on the process of recording the new CD.
But this is all I got so far:
Recording is going great!
we've been whittling away at songs for the past few months on and off.....
Would love to answer specific questions about recording if you have them.... This record has been a whole new process for us, and we're all about process......
Start a dialogue and we'll be happy to email about whatever you want to know.....
new song we just finished tonight is called Naked..... lots of percussion...
later
steve

But they stopped responding... maybe I shouldn't have asked them if they ever see Oprah on the street.

Midwest alerts!

2008-02-11T12:15:00.000-08:00

• Here's a stunning editorial from the Northern Star (Northern Illinois University paper), ranting about famous bands using their stadium for PRACTICE, instead of actually PERFORMING for it's musically depraved students. We are, after all, just fly-over states. Oh yeah, and eff Bon Jovi.
Read that HERE. I highly recommend.
• HERE'S an article about Ames, Iowa band Poison Control Center and the Iowa Caucus.
• I don't know how you feel about singer Kate Voegele. Well, she's from Cleveland, so I thought I'd direct you to THIS article about her in the Toledo Free Press and maybe to THIS article about her tour coming through from the Oxford Press.
• Here's an article on a bunch of stuff to do in the Midwest this winter, from the Post Bulletin.
• The site "Life in the Great Midwest" discusses how to make chicken wings, among other things. I didn't know the site existed until today.
• This Kansas City newspaper manages to use the word "jizz" AND "spunk" in the same headline, in order to explain a new punk pop band's upcoming show.

SPOTLIGHT: RTFO Bandwagon

2008-02-08T08:12:00.001-08:00

With so much focus on the lo-fi revolution coming out of Columbus, OH. another bourgeoning scene has flown a bit under the radar. It's the steady, but gradual, progression of something more akin to Weird Pop. We're talking Terribly Empty Pockets, All Hail Records bands: Take No Damage, Paper Airplane, The Proper Nouns, Electric Grandmother, the always-on-hiatus Flotation Walls, The Lindsay, the brand new Super Desserts, The Black Canary, Church of the Red Museum, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some others.
So don't be such a lo-fi prude America, and look into these things. Several of these bands are working on new CDs, have new ones coming out, or are generally doing shows all over the Midwest.

One in particular I want to talk about right now: RTFO BANDWAGON.
Some have said it stands for "Rock the Fuck Out." But I like to think of it as standing for "Red T-shirts Feel Outstanding." But that kind of lacks the rock n' roll edge, so it's a slight possibility that I'm wrong.
Describing the music of the Bandwagon guides me toward their unique arrangements, lyrics, and instruments - which they use in combination toward creating a mystic pop feel. In fact, I think I enjoy the lyrics the most out of all of it, which is rare for me.
It's members are definitely not trying to recreate any genre and actually seem to have invented their own. Flutes come in and out, something that sounds like a squeeze box or harmonica rises and disappears, and then there are the girl/boy harmonies a-plenty.
Tunes like "Fingers," feel like a home spun back porch ditty, but things end up much grander than that.
The vocals often flow like Neutral Milk doing a Russian folk song.
When I compare them to the overall Midwestern indie rock scene, The Bandwagon would fit in really well with most Indiana bands. That state has more of the Midwest's answer to Freak Folk going on. (See Everything, Now!)(I also just noticed that the site Range Life just did an article today on a freak folk mix tape. Check it out.)
The song "Children are Expensive" comes across as a modern 60s San Fran psychedelia, with a spoken word feel and echoed harmonies that can make you think you've dropped down into some wormhole with Country Joe and the Fish.
RTFO Bandwagon singer/songwriter/guitarist Andrew Graham recently made some time for PWAH and here are the results:

PEOPLE WITH ANIMAL HEADS: How do you think people from outside our area perceive the Midwest music scene, and its music/identity? How do you perceive the Midwest music scene and it's identity?
ANDREW GRAHAM: From the outside in, I imagine it's a similar phenomenon to outsider art. There are a lot of musicians and bands who put incredible focus on their work, but don't tour or promote themselves as much as bands from the coasts. In other words, there's more of a focus on making the music for a small group of people instead of making something with universal appeal. As a result, even some of our best bands are veritable unknowns on the national stage. But, like outsider art, the few people who do find it think they've found some grotesque treasure. I heard about some guy who was visiting from Nebraska to see some bands because he thought that Columbus was THE place. And I hope that our city's relative obscurity lasts just a little while longer, so that people continue to pursue different visions with a certain degree of naiveté. We don't want everyone going out and trying to figure out how to write one kind of song, because the purveyors our most popular music a) don't sound all that much alike and b) do their things so damn well that we don't need spinoffs. But I say "just a little while longer" because Columbus is a first-rate scene and I think it deserves national attention as much as Memphis or Brooklyn or wherever. And also, as our music gains influence nationally, people will pick it up and in a couple of years maybe no one will remember that it came from here, so it will be up to each individual band to decide how aggressively they want to claim it as their own.
I've lived in Ohio my whole life, so I can't really tell you what I think of the midwestern scene as opposed to any other scene since I haven't experienced them. One thing I'm pretty sure about Columbus is that it's a great city for a songwriter to find out what "not" to do. Outside of the campus area and bars that have competitions and all of that stuff, you don't see "rock and roll moves" in Columbus. It stands out when an out-of-town band comes through and they're doing rock and roll moves and there's only 4 people in the bar. It's awkward for them and it's awkward for us. But there are songs you can play where there's 4 or 5 people on stage and only 1 person in the audience and it's not awkward. I am interested in writing and performing those songs, and I think there's a direct connection to stripping away affectation.
PWAH: There is definitely nothing worse I can think of than the eyeliner pop punk dude, trying to throw his mic stand around in front of four people at Carabar.
So, where did you grow up and how do you think that has influenced your music?
AG: Tom (our bass player) and I grew up in Jefferson, OH, population ~3,500. We listened to a lot of classic rock on the radio because there wasn't much variety. I used to take my guitar over to this house where my friends Marc and Kevin Fink lived and just play songs for the two of them. Because there were no live music venues within 20 miles, I couldn't even entertain the thought of playing for audiences, so I just played for them and tried to write songs that the three of us could get excited about. I think our sound sits in a space where city music and country music work together. When I moved to the city, I built a band with my close friends and it just sort of turned into a "real band." It's always come from hanging out. People have a lot of time to hang out in the Midwest. Jen says she doesn't think we could have happened in any other city. We truly appreciate being able to do whatever we feel like here, even if it doesn't always fit the sound.
There are many cultural narratives out there, each with a different degree of prevalance. In a way, our sound ends up telling the story of us hanging out. A five-piece rock band with stacks and a big drum kit tells an industrial story. It's easy to just accept the allure of rock and roll without looking at the economics of it. More people can make more money if musicians think they need to play the best gear and rock hard. Each musician might put a thousand dollars into their setup, so instrument retailers make money. And then the band is equipped to play at a volume that can cover a couple of hundred people in a bar, because when people drink alcohol they get loud. And then the bar owner makes money off of the alcohol. I love loud music so it's hard to reconcile. But when we started out, we practiced in a living room and we didn't need any amps and we felt really proud about that. And right now we're playing louder than we ever have before, but since we're using cheap amps and a broken drum set that's in the story, too. I'm not trying to make value judgments here, or to say "look how poor we are." I'm just trying to move away from the mentality where acoustic guitars are for the weak and metal is manly. Acoustic guitars can be heavy, too - if you choose the right notes. And I also want to point out then when we have gear that malfunctions we should think "maybe we should play without amps" just as much as "if only we had better gear." I've been thinking about creating the illusion of distortion without electricity - you just have to overtly play the overtones that the amplifier accentuates. But that's just on paper...
PWAH: What are some Midwestern bands unsigned/signed that you think people outside this region should know about?
AG:Marie Corbo, Nostra Nova, The Lindsay, Psychedelic Horseshit and so on and so forth. TNV puts on a great live show and they're good people, too.
PWAH: Do you have any upcoming shows or events you'd like to promote?
AG: We're playing on Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) at Cafe Bourbon St., 2216 Summit St., Columbus OH.
It's with Shooting Spires from Parts and Labor's Cardboard records; our neighbors Black Phantom Thousands, who play for hours a day every day and should be in some pretty far-out territory here sooner or later; and Rich's friend Frankie P, who's doing a solo set. Also, our CD is going to be reprinted in a couple of weeks, so please check it out.
(Before posting of this article, Andrew also said that the band just found out that they'll be releasing a 7" on Dull Knife Records out of Houston Texas. This will probably happen in March.)

Spotlight: The Rosehips

2008-02-07T08:21:00.000-08:00

For the past few years, Columbus, Ohio band The Rosehips have hit the local bar scene.
What they offer is something truly special in today's Midwest indie rock scene: A damn good all girl band that doesn't focus on trying to market their sexuality.
Because, honestly, if I see one more all-girl band dressed up in 1950s clothes and wearing wigs I may go insane.
The Rosehips offer no gimmicks, just straight up well crafted indie rock. If I were to explain their music to anyone, I'd say: Equal parts Veruca Salt and Dinosaur Jr.
The group recently graced the Columbus Alive as one of the 2008 "Bands to Watch" features.
The member also have their self-titled debut CD coming out on their own label Pillow Fight Records, with a CD release show at Carabar on March 1 with Dayton band Moon High and locals The Lindsay.
That's a pretty damn good show.
So I decided to get in touch with the members now, before the flood.
Lead guitarist Cassie Lewis was nice enough to help out:
PEOPLE WITH ANIMAL HEADS: I noticed you have a CD coming out in March. Could you tell me about that, in terms of who you recorded with, some themes the songs touch on, and any cover art?
CASSIE LEWIS: We began recording with Jon Fintel at Relay Recording at the end of May last year. We just finished mixing and mastering with Mark Himmel at Embed Records Studio and Brian Travis, respectively.
Rosehips was sort of born out of: "Ok, I just graduated college, now what?"
So, these songs carry an underlying theme of growing up. In a broader sense, the songs really just touch on experiences: life, love, and things in between. Lyrically, I have used some fairly personal aspects and experiences of my own life, so my lyrics tend to come out in a vague manner because of this. In this way, I hope for the listeners to be able to relate in a manner that allows them to get something out of the song that is dear to themselves.
PWAH: My site focuses on underground music of the Midwest, so I always ask bands where they grew up and how that may have affected their taste in music or the way they see the world?
CL: I grew up in small town, OH USA. Seriously, like less than 1500 people small. This was pre-internet, so I had the radio and my dad's kick-ass record collection. Fortunately, I was able to acquire at least some basic good tastes in music, specifically rock. This may sound cliche, but I am thankful to this day that Nirvana's "Nevermind" made it into the mainstream, as it was then that I picked up a guitar. When I moved away to college, underground and independent music became much more accessible to me and i delved into anything i could find.
I think a creative type that grows up in the middle of nowhere with a sort of homogenous group of people develops a hunger for the world: to see and experience it all. That's what it did for me anyway, and I tend to relate these things musically.
PWAH: How do you think the rest of the country perceives the Midwest music scene?
CL: Hopefully people at least know that there is one by now, and one that is good and diverse. Midwestern acts are emerging on larger independent labels. Columbus Discount has another showcase at SXSW this year, I think that is definitely saying something as well. Also it seems like every time you turn around lately, there is a new blurb about a midwestern band somewhere, like the recent "Spin" that had the Black Swans, Times New Viking, and Psychedelic Horseshit all in one issue.
PWAH: What are some bands signed/unsigned that you think people should know about that are from the Midwest?
CL: Church of the Red Museum, The Lindsay, Brainbow, The Slide Machine, Mors Ontologica, Moon High, Muscle Puzzle, Bird and Flower. Almost anything on Columbus Discount. Hotchacha from Cleveland. The Makebelieves from Athens. The Jellyhearts from Cinci/Columbus.
PWAH: How do you see your band fitting into the current Columbus music scene?
CL: As far as I know we are the only working all-girl band at this point in time. Putting the whole "girls playing in bands is hot" aside, I think it is important for there to be good female musicians in any music scene. Sadly, it seems there still exists a stigma about females and musical ability. In Columbus, I think we do a good job of laying that stigma to rest.
PWAH: I was first struck that you had a line up change. How did that come about and did it set you back in terms of making your upcoming CD?
CL: Well, our original drummer began traveling back and forth to Texas. We got a resident boy as a fill-in as we knew she would be gone the whole summer of '07. We laid basic rhythm tracks for the record before she left. When it became apparent that she wasn't sure when she would be coming back to Columbus, we all decided it was best for the band to get a new permanent drummer. We've also brought the new drummer in on the mixing, mastering, and decision-making to complete the record. It was a bit of a hard time for the band and everyone involved, but I would like to think we've emerged with no hard feelings, a strong line-up, and a strong record.

Midwest Round Up!

2008-02-07T08:01:00.000-08:00

• QUICK! Head over to Chicago band The Ms Myspace page. They have several new demos up for listening and they talk a little bit about each song. Do it quick, because they may not stay up for more than a couple days.
• Head on over to Cincinnati band The Harlequins site to check out information on the band's songwriter's solo CD Release they are holding soon.

Upcoming interviews

2008-02-07T05:45:00.001-08:00

You may have noticed there haven't been a flurry of posts around these parts for the past day or two.
No fear, reader, it's only because I have several interview articles forthcoming.
I decided to try and talk to some up and coming new bands. I'm starting with two Columbus bands I've been liking. Then I might move on to Chicago.

-Chris

Turks on Times

2008-02-05T12:25:00.000-08:00

Ah, nice to see a former Columbus writer is paying to attention to the home front.
Just saw Eric Davidson (former New Bomb Turks) just did a write-up on Times New Viking for CMJ:
TIMES NEW VIKING: A Font Of Frazzled Pop
By Eric Davidson

Just as the indie world has been starting to embrace the joys of somewhat cleaner, bigger sounds in their pop, the notion that the ease of at-home tune toys like ProTools has begun to dilute the old ideas of "good production" as an impressive, hard-earned talent is also floating around out there. In short, dumping out a 300-track masterpiece ain't what it used to be. And so, just like that, coming up with a perceptible lo-fi production personality seems interesting again.

Of course if you're an indie rock band in Columbus, Ohio—like trebly trio Times New Viking is—love of crud-fi recordings comes with the floaties in your corner bar's $1 Schaeffer can. Aside from the long history of home recording purveyors from Ohio's capital city (check for some schoolin'), Guided By Voices made Columbus their second home/bar in the '90s. And from all of that has, since century's turn, sprung a mess of messy combos who, underneath layers of scratched Maxell UR cassette hiss, harbor a deep knowledge of Ohio smart-scuzz sounds. But even if you've never had your ears pierced by Mike Rep And The Quotas, you might be hooked by the increasing hookieness Times New Viking displays on their recently released third album and Matador debut, Rip It Off. Now, if only I hadn't forgotten to ask them if they enjoyed the documentary Helvetica.

CMJ: Give us the requisite history of the band.
TNV: Well, Adam (Elliott, drums, vocals) and my (Jared Phillips, guitar) old band lost its other two members (Robittussin o.d. is what they said), and when we went to the flower store to get the black lillies, Beth (Murphy, keyboard, vocals) was working there. Turns out, we went to university together! Wild! So then we started playing music together. That's about it.

CMJ: Even those in the know figured Siltbreeze was kaput, and then, blammo, you guys have a swell CD out on Siltbreeze [Present The Paisley Reich, 2007].
TNV: Well, I think the staff over there is really enjoying getting back into the swarm. There's been a lot of good stuff out lately that wasn't really made to fit on a label like In The Red or Goner, as well as stuff that isn't weird enough for more strictly experimental labels. So they find a home at Siltbreeze. Those guys still have a good ear for the shit no one else wants to put out, or just don't know about I suppose.

CMJ: And how did Matador find you?
TNV: Gerard [Cosley, Matador head honcho] and their other braintrusts still keep on top of things pretty well. A lot of people on the staff got our first album early on and seemed to like it. Matador used to have a manufacturing deal with Siltbreeze, so they were hip to the label a long time ago. They took the entire Siltbreeze staff—all 37 of 'em!—to a Phillies baseball game. Instead of buying us out of our [Siltbreeze] contract, they wagered on the game. The Phillies beat the Mets. Done deal.

CMJ: In the recent TNV write-up in Time Out NY, Mike Wolf was claiming that Columbus spews out some good new noise every few years or so, and here's the latest good shit, etc. Yet you guys and the bands he may be referring to (Necropolis, Feelers, Psychedelic Horseshit, etc.) have all been at it for awhile. In other words, the Internet only does so much for bands, eh?
TNV: I suppose that's a good point. Putting out records is much more effective. You can't totally gather a band's ideas and concept just from a MySpace page. Well, you can get close, but real music fans like product. Plus I think not many bands from Columbus toured for quite a while after starting out (except the Feelers), which can make a difference.

CMJ: What plays over the TNV tour van speakers? Or does everyone just sit there on iPods avoiding the world?
TNV: Country radio. Contemporary country radio. Unless the CD player is actually working, then we listen to Chain Gang, just to get both extremes.

CMJ: You've been using a lot of peace signs in your artwork of late. Then again, your sound has gotten tougher and tighter in ways. So who are you ripping off— hippies or metal dudes?
TNV: I believe peace signs are public domain.

CMJ: Okay, if Meg White was Jack White's "sister," who's Beth?
"I have no relation to Jack White," says the diminutive Murphy.

CMJ: Two frat guys walk into Café Bourbon St. [Columbus' punk central] right after Ohio State loses the NCAA football national championship again. What local Columbus band would you want onstage playing, and why?
TNV: New Bomb Turks with horns. Have you ever seen them live?*

CMJ: Best Ohio city, besides Columbus of course.
TNV: Any city besides Huber Heights.

[*Ed. note: of course we have. Eric Davidson, the author of this piece, is their frontman.]

Midwestern orchestra charms listeners

2008-02-04T11:12:00.000-08:00

A Michigan-based University is making news on NPR for it's rendition of "Music for 18 musicians."
Read the interesting article at this link: HERE.
Excerpt:
Now more than three decades old, Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians has become an icon of 20th-century American music.
At almost an hour in length, the piece unfolds like a slowly shifting dream, with sections of repeated material ebbing and flowing around a cycle of 11 chords. It's scored for strings, percussion, woodwinds and voices, and takes tremendous concentration on the part of the 18 players. To this day, the work is mainly performed by the composer and his loyal group of musicians … Under the direction of Bill Ryan, the New Music Ensemble at Grand Valley State University — amid the cornfields of western Michigan — practiced the music for nearly a year.

Remembering: The Day the Music Died

2008-02-04T08:30:00.000-08:00

49 years ago today in Iowa countryside, the music died
By THOMAS ZACHEK
Find the actual article at this link
Feb. 2 marks 49 years since Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper took off in the early morning from Clear Lake, Iowa, and went down to their deaths in a plane crash.
It was rock 'n' roll's first great tragedy.
Like the music they sang, they were so young. Valens, just 17, had two hits to his credit, "Donna" and the upbeat "La Bamba," adapted from a Mexican folk song and now a staple of oldies bands.
The Bopper was a deejay who got interested in novelty tunes, trying to make it with "Purple People Eater Meets The Witch Doctor." His intended hit went nowhere, but there was plenty of interest in its flip side, an ad-libbed ditty called "Chantilly Lace." The oldest of the three at 28, Richardson left a pregnant wife who, five months later, gave birth to J.P. Richardson Jr., who now tours singing his dad's songs.
Then there was Holly, generally considered one of rock music's early geniuses. At only 22, Holly had a string of classic rockers like "That'll Be the Day" and "Maybe Baby" and had begun to move in the direction of sophisticated ballads like "True Love Ways."
Holly wanted to stay in New York with his pregnant wife and record, but management insisted that a winter tour was necessary, though it was poorly planned. It followed a circuitous route from Milwaukee's Million Dollar Ballroom on Jan. 23, criss-crossing Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, playing Green Bay on Feb. 1 and then Clear Lake, a last-minute addition, on Feb. 2.
They traveled in a series of decrepit buses ill-equipped to handle our brutal Midwest winter. The buses kept breaking down, even forcing them to cancel a matinee in Appleton and continue to Green Bay to play the Riverside that night.
Holly was so tired and cold that he wanted to charter a plane from Clear Lake so that he could get to Fargo, N.D., early and be more rested.
It was never determined why the plane went down five minutes after takeoff, but the crash silenced at least one, if not three, of rock 'n' roll's first great voices.
Holly influenced legions of rock performers. His driving, upbeat, feel-good tunes are the essence of rock 'n' roll. In an era when singers didn't write their own material and sometimes didn't even play on their own records, Holly was the whole package - songwriting, arranging and performing.
With his tight pants and black eyeglasses, he looked like the quintessential nerd - until he hit the first chord and you realized that coolness is not what you look like but what you do. His wearing glasses on stage gave impressionable and nearsighted young John Lennon permission to do the same. And in their Duluth audience was a gangly teenager from Hibbing named Bobby Zimmerman.
The first track from the first Rolling Stones' album is a Holly song. Waylon Jennings started out playing with Holly (and gave up his seat on the plane to Richardson). The Beatles covered Holly and credited him as a major influence, right up there with Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley. Paul McCartney says that when the Beatles first started out, they gravitated toward Holly's songs because all they needed were three chords.
Indeed, Holly and the Crickets were one of the first garage bands, and every young band trying their hand at chords and licks follows in their footsteps.
It is sadly ironic that Milwaukee radio stations don't play Holly's music today, since the airwaves are filled with his musical descendants and you can hear his influence every day.
Rave on.
Thomas Zachek of Hubertus is a retired teacher. His e-mail address is tomscolumn@hotmail.com

Midwest alerts!

2008-02-04T08:08:00.000-08:00

Ton of Google alerts from over the weekend:
• Remember when I told you about actor Jeff Daniel's play he's been taking around the country. The Michigan-native got a so-so review in the NY Times. They also discuss the plot and topics of the play, focusing on Midwestern characters.
Read that article HERE.
• Here is a nice two-page article on 8 great things to do in Bloomington, Indiana. Longtime readers know that I have an affinity for some Bloomington music. I also hear Arrah and the Ferns are recording right now. Anyway, HERE is the article.
• Speaking of Indiana, here is an article about Nashville, Indiana. Considered one of the "best small town getaways." Read that article HERE.
• Check out this Lesbian site for a nice discussion about the "Midwestern Mullett."
• Want a winter getaway? Here's an article about six places in the Midwest.
• Lastly, the Friends of the Milwaukee Public Museum Food and Froth Fest is coming soon.

Never forget...

2008-02-01T08:51:00.001-08:00

Just to put things in perspective. Remember when McCain went from being that kind of easy going liberal republican to morphing into some weird ultra-conservative nut within a couple years?
Well, here's a nice reminder to make sure he doesn't win: Read it here.

Friendly Foes/Kiddo

2008-01-31T14:10:00.001-08:00

I've really enjoyed the music of Cleveland/Detroit based power pop band Kiddo. And I have heard about the Friendly Foes. But I only recently put the two together.
I remember seeing this article in Pitchfork earlier this month, But I'll be damned if I didn't recognize Kiddo bassist Lizzie Whitmann standing there to the lower left.
So get to know Detroit's newest band
Friendly Foes

Midwest alerts!

2008-01-30T17:04:00.000-08:00

• The Hollywood Reporter reviews an upcoming movie focusing on Midwestern teens. It's based in Warsaw, Indiana and followed your typical high school student cliche archetypes on film for 10 months. Read the article at this link.
• New York comic book artist and "anti-folk" folk artist Jeffrey Lewis get some coverage in the Loyola University paper, The Phoenix. I like the artical because it's titled Folk Rock is Dead.
• The Wisconsin State Journal wonders if the school's Union is ready for punk rock? I guess they'll find out after the show.

Chichester spring tour

2008-01-30T17:01:00.000-08:00

• PWAH favorite, Columbus Ohio's Happy Chichester is going on tour:
Upcoming Shows
Feb 22 2008 10:00P
Dick’s Den Columbus, Ohio
Mar 6 2008 9:00P
Canal Street Tavern Dayton, Ohio
Mar 7 2008 9:30P
Rumba Cafe Columbus, Ohio
Mar 29 2008 8:00P
Private Function Cincinnati, Ohio
Apr 1 2008 8:00P
Orange Peel Asheville, North Carolina
Apr 2 2008 8:00P
Variety Playhouse Atlanta, Georgia
Apr 4 2008 8:00P
Emos for SXSW Austin, Texas
Apr 5 2008 8:00P
Palladium Loft Dallas, Texas
Apr 7 2008 8:00P
The Clubhouse Tempe, Arizona
Apr 8 2008 8:00P
Casbah San Diego, California
Apr 9 2008 8:00P
Henry Fonda Theater Los Angeles, California
Apr 10 2008 8:00P
The Independent San Francisco, California
Apr 11 2008 8:00P
Hawthorne Theater Portland, Oregon
Apr 12 2008 8:00P
Chop Suey Seattle, Washington
Apr 14 2008 8:00P
Urban Lounge Salt Lake City, Utah
Apr 15 2008 8:00P
Cervantes Masterpiece Denver, Colorado
Apr 16 2008 8:00P
Record Bar Kansas City, Missouri
Apr 17 2008 8:00P
First Avenue__ VERIFY Minneapolis, Minnesota
Apr 18 2008 8:00P
Abbey Pub Chicago, Illinois
May 1 2008 9:00P
9:30 Club District of Columbia, Washington DC
May 2 2008 9:00P
Bowery Ballroom New York, New York
May 3 2008 9:00P
Paradise Boston, Massachusetts

This "shit" is jumping around, ain't it?

2008-01-30T09:33:00.000-08:00

I love how this article links "shitgaze" as an end result of growing up in "shitholes" like the Midwest.
That said, a piece by NME marks your first international lumped recognition of what we affectionately call shitpop/shit-fi/Midwest Noise/etc...
Highlighted are several Midwest bands, making a "sound" that I have been trying to document on this site, in the overall Midwestern grand scheme of things, for the past year.
It's written by Ben Swank of Vice and it mentions of Times New Viking, Pink Reason, TV Ghost and Psychedelic Horseshit...
HERE

Midwest alerts!

2008-01-30T07:48:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of the Google alert system:
• Here's an interview with Patrick Wolf/J Geils Band front man about his heyday and second home of Detroit. Some tid bits about his memories of The Stooges, etc. He will be performing there in early February.
Read that article HERE.

• I totally just found this site called Iowa Underground that reports on the state's indie scene. I honestly know nothing about Iowa yet, so this is a bit of a breakthrough. Hopefully they update that thing a lot. Check out that site HERE.

• Writer Chris Deville, of the Columbus Alive, reported today that Audio Eagle recently signed a a new band .