The television news is all a-flutter today.
The Midwest got an earthquake in southern Illinois.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Blackout Fest XIII (Ex Eye Eye Eye)
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Midwestern Links
• 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.
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.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Cincinnati's Buffalo Killers announce tour/new CD
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
Monday, April 14, 2008
Athens, OH. 2008 update
A discussion with Donkey Coffee booking agent Leo DeLuca
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.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Random notes
• 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).
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).
Monday, April 7, 2008
Pitchfork TV launches
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
Friday, April 4, 2008
Midwest Alerts!
• 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.
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.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
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.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Random notes
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.
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.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Sowash-tastic
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
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Toledo film student documents midwestern talent
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
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
Monday, March 24, 2008
Midwest Alerts!
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.
• 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.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Alive at SXSW
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
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Midwest Round Up!
• 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.
• 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?
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
Friday, March 14, 2008
Mtv/Horseshit
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!!
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.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Get to know your Midwest record label:
Dayton's Squids Eye Records
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
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.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Nite Owl changes ownership?
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.
...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!
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.
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.
Monday, March 10, 2008
SXS... yawn
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?
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?
Friday, March 7, 2008
Reatard TV?
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Spotlight: The Black Canary
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Ohio Predictions
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.
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.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Update
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
-Chris
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