Why Is This Guy Smiling?

Because he's a winner! Congratulations to my cousin, Michael Roma and a nameless co-conspirator from SVA's MFA program on winning An Elephant and An Apple Tree's first ever Design My New Banner Contest. Roma was selected out of thousands of submissions from the tri-state area, and even one from Guam. To see more of his fantastic designs click here.

Michael wins a copy of Demetri Martin's hysterical album "These are Jokes" and lunch at Freemans.

Here's a track from "These are Jokes:"

Demetri Martin - Some Jokes [buy the cd here]

Song of the Week

Here's a new feature I'm going to try to stick with, song of the week. I recently came across this Rilo Kiley b-side from the Execution of All Things UK single. I like their new record, a lot in fact, but the songs lack the bite and edge that once made them so appealing. Gone are the moments of raw intensity, the screaming, the cursing; replaced by disco beats, synthesizers, and "Dejalo." Seriously, wtf is that song? Here's hoping their next album brings back the big drums and pulsing guitar, like this gem.

Rilo Kiley - Emotional (Until the Crickets Guide You Back) [buy the import]

Nov. 25, 1976 Rock & Roll's Last Supper

Thanksgiving dinner for 5,400 people: 220 turkeys weighing over 6,000lbs, 500 additional turkey legs weighing 600lbs. Stuffing made from 500lbs of onions and celery, sauteed in 100lbs of butter mixed with 350lbs of croutons, 5qt of garlic, 10qt of sage and 1qt of thyme. 90 gallons of gravy. 40 crates of lettuce and 20 gallons of dressing for salad. 2,000lbs of peeled yams. 300lbs of Nova Scotia salmon, a gift from Bob Dylan. And for dessert, 400lbs of pumpkin pie. All while being serenaded by the Berkeley Promenade Orchestra.

Following the meal, professional waltzers slid through the crowd inviting people to dance.

Something about these details makes that night seem more real, than a rock fantasy. Much of what I've read about the Last Waltz focuses on the drugs or Dylan's backstage drama, that the music and it's effect on a generation of listeners has been lost.

In late fall 2001, to mark the 25th anniversary of this event and coinciding with the DVD release, the film was re-released for a short run in New York and L.A. I went twice, absolutely blown away by what I'd seen. I was vaguely familiar with the Band before this - I knew their big hits and about their history backing Dylan - but not much else. I was mesmerized by their story and the way the narrative unfolded on screen, seemlessly woven between performances from the show. The idea that some of the greatest songs to chronicle the American South were written by Canadians had never occurred to me. There was so much about them I needed to learn.

Looking back, it's easy to see the effect the Last Waltz had on me. It's not hyperbole to say that it changed the way I listen to music, because it did. I remember wondering how so many great songs could have existed for so long without me knowing about them. Was I that close-minded about what I sought and listened to? I think I was. But that changed the first time I heard Rick Danko's lonely, soulful tenor sing the opening lines to "It Makes No Difference."



The performances that night have an intensity and passion which could only come from a group who are playing together for the last time. They made each note count. There was an unpretentiousness and humility present as well. No moment more sincere than when Neil Young walks on stage and after thanking Robbie for inviting him says, "It's one of the pleasures of my life to be able to be on this stage with these people tonight."



At 2 a.m., more than 5 hours after they first took the stage, the Band came out for one last song. Dressed down, and without guests, they tore through Marvin Gaye's "Don't Do It." Perhaps the only way to go out, storming through a song of lovesick desperation. And in so doing, echoing the feelings of everyone in attendance.



From the Last Waltz Box Set:

The Band - Caravan [featuring Van Morrison]
The Band - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
The Band - It Makes No Difference
The Band - Ophelia
The Band - Weight [featuring the Staples]

Songs to help you crush this week:

Asobi Seksu - Thursday [From Citrus ]
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Walking to Do [From Shake the Sheets ]
Apostle of Hustle - Chances Are [From National Anthem of Nowhere ]
Lali Puna - Micronomic [From Faking the Books ]
Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros - Johnny Appleseed [From Global a Go-Go ]
Headlights - Centuries [From The Enemies EP ]

The State of Samuel

The State of Samuel is Stockholm, Sweden's Samuel Petersson. On his second full length, "Here Comes the Flood" Petersson dives deeper into fuzzed out, Elephant 6 influenced power pop. Clocking in at under 28 minutes, it's a delightfully short, sweet affair that usually leaves me craving another spin. It's full of cheerful hand claps and ba-ba choruses that shine through the lo-fi production. His sound reminds me of Beulah's "When You Heart Strings Break", especially on album center piece, "Square Roots." If anything, the album suffers from a lack of diversity, with most songs sounding relatively similar. What does set them apart though, are little flourishes - the strings on "Who's Underground" and the trumpets on "Under the Gun" - which give each song their own identity. Have a listen.

The State of Samuel - The Residents of Gloom
The State of Samuel - Here Comes the Flood
The State of Samuel - Who's Underground?
The State of Samuel - Slow Day for the UFO's

If you like what you hear, buy the album.

The 2 Man Advantage

Of the 6 or 7 people who read this blog, I think most are familiar with the 2 Man Advantage. For the uninitiated, 2MA are close friends who've made it their mission to bring some personality to a game desperately trying to find it's identity. I think with each episode, that goal gets a little closer. If you love hockey, do yourself a favor and spend some time on their site, it's highly entertaining. Don't bother trying to decipher Zimm's posts though, I think Sanskrit might be his first language. Here are a few songs dedicated to the gentlemen of the 2 Man Advantage. Enjoy.

Petra Haden - Don't Stop Believin' (Journey cover) [buy the mp3]
This song was featured in the 2MA's trip to Islanders training camp in Moncton. Check the Wilson Phillips nod towards the end.

Self - What a Fool Believes (Doobie Bros cover) [buy the import here]

Lackthereof - What a Fool Believes (Doobie Bros cover)
From the sometimes excellent "Bridging the Distance - A Portland, OR Covers Compilation" [buy the mp3]

Mando Diao - Welcome Home Luc Robitaille
From "Ode to Ochrasy" [buy the mp3]

And finally, check out the 2MA's hilarious interview of Neil Smith, the architect behind the New York Ranger's 1994 Stanley Cup winning team.

I Spit a Tooth in the Palm of My Hand

I'd been meaning to post about Concord, North Carolina's the Avett Brothers for some time. I've always been a big fan of alternative country/bluegrass, so it was somewhat of a surprise to learn that their latest, "Emotionalism" was actually their fifth proper studio album. I picked it up in early June, a couple of weeks after it was released, and was instantly hooked. The band, consisting of Scott & Seth Avett and Bob Crawford are remarkably fresh and original; apart from sounding, at times, like a southern-fried version of Weezer. That extends to their unique stage set up, with Scott playing banjo and a kick drum, Seth playing guitar and a high hat cymbal, and Bob on upright bass. It's rare to find a band whose music is rooted in acoustic instrumentation and who packs as much raw energy and intensity as these guys do. Which isn't to say that they are immune to playing whiskey induced, lovelorn ballads. They manage to pull those songs off without sounding crass or trite, like Emotionalism's "The Weight of Lies." But the band is at it's best on barn-storming rockers like "Talk on Indolence" from 2006's "Four Thieves Gone," full of manic energy, tempo changes and furious strumming.

They're playing Webster Hall this Saturday, Nov. 17th - go check them out.

From "Emotionalism:" [buy the album here]

The Avett Brothers - Die Die Die
The Avett Brothers - Paranoia in Bb Major
The Avett Brothers - Will You Return?
The Avett Brothers - Go to Sleep

From "Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions:" [buy the album here]

The Avett Brothers - Talk on Indolence


Finally, check out their performance of "Paranoia" on Conan:

The Thrills - Mercury Lounge Nov. 9, 2007

"Thank you very much. We're the T-rills," proclaimed singer Conor Deasy as The Thrills tore through "The Midnight Choir" the opener from their excellent third album, "Teenager." Their sound has become so closely associated with southern California, it was almost shocking to hear his brogue, which isn't at all evident when he sings. Any questions of their origins were put to rest when they played "The Irish Keep Gate-Crashing" an ode to soccer hooligans and catholic guilt. It's not often you get to see a band take a step back in popularity, especially in New York where every show seems to sell out, leading to bigger venues with each subsequent trip. The last time they were here, I think back in September '04, they played Irving Plaza, a fact Conor was quick to joke about when he couldn't get a spotlight to shine on keyboardist Kevin Horan during his solo. Mercury Lounge was a far more intimate and engaging setting for their upbeat, sun-soaked pop. Just ask tennis great Jim Courier who was on hand to take in the action.

The Thrills set the bar almost impossibly high with their insanely catchy debut, "So Much for the City." And it's easy to argue that their output since then has failed to come close to the potential they exhibited early on. But to say that is to over analyze - they aren't reinventing the wheel. With "Teenager" they've continued to deliver breezy, bittersweet, guitar-driven anthems about youth, friendship and growing up. And with some of the most gorgeous harmonies this side of the Magic Numbers.

From "Teenager" [buy the album here]

The Thrills - The Midnight Choir [buy mp3]
The Thrills - Restaurant [buy mp3]
The Thrills - No More Empty Words [buy mp3]

From "Let's Bottle Bohemia" [buy the album here]

The Thrills - Found My Rosebud [buy mp3]

Bonus: From "Don't Steal Our Sun EP" [buy the album here]

The Thrills - Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far) Acoustic Version

Adverbs of Place

I am here:

Mando Diao - If I Don't Live Today, Then I Might Be Here Tomorrow [buy]
The Byrds - You Ain't Goin' Nowhere [buy it]
The Clientele - Here Comes the Phantom [buy the album]
Neil Young - Everybody Knows this is Nowhere [buy the album]
The Legends - There and Back Again [buy the album]
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Don't Come Around Here No More [buy the album]
The Faces - Love Lives Here [buy the album]
Smashing Pumpkins - Here is No Why [buy the album]
The Pixies - Here Comes Your Man [buy the album]
Biirdie - I Wish I Could Have Been There [more info]
My Bloody Valentine - To Here Knows When [buy the album]
Yo La Tengo - Nowhere Near [buy the album]
Bruce Springsteen - Radio Nowhere [buy the album]
Bright Eyes - I Must Belong Somewhere [buy the album]

Talkdemonic

Talkdemonic is an electronic/folk instrumental band from Portland, OR comprised of Kevin O'Connor on drums and Lisa Molinaro on viola. With a sound so big and expansive, it's hard to believe they are just a duo. That scenic, landscape like sound is achieved by layering electronic blips over Kevin's cymbal-heavy drumming, while the viola gently floats above. It's all rounded out by gorgeous melodies plucked on a banjo or struck on a piano. The tension between electronic and vibrational sounds is present in just about all of their songs. Often that tension feverishly builds before dissolving into something more restrained and lilting. And those are the moments that make this band worth listening to. Check out a few tracks from their sophomore release "Beat Romantic" below.

Talkdemonic - Veraison [buy it]
Talkdemonic - Bering [buy it]
Talkdemonic - White Gymnasium [buy it]
Talkdemonic - Axe and Red Sweater [buy it]
Talkdemonic - Verite [buy it]

And finally, here is a demo from their upcoming album due out some time in 2008.

Talkdemonic - Ending the Orange Glow

On a Ferris Wheel Looking Out on Coney Island

The Magnetic Fields have finally announced their follow-up to 2004's "I." The new disc is called "Distortion" and it arrives January 15th. The band, who influenced Springsteen's latest, will hit the road shortly after, and are scheduled to play NYC's Town Hall on February 22nd & 23rd. Tickets are on sale this Friday at noon. Check out a few songs from Holiday and 69 Loves Songs below.

The Magnetic Fields - Strange Powers [buy it]
The Magnetic Fields - Swinging London [buy it]
The Magnetic Fields - I Think I Need A New Heart [buy it]
The Magnetic Fields - Yeah, Oh Yeah [buy it]
Bonus:
The Lucksmiths - Deep Sea Diving Suit [buy it]

Now, Dig

In December 1966, Otis Redding played three nights at the Fillmore in San Francisco. Legend has it that every band in the city asked to open for him. Janis Joplin arrived at the the theater at 3 in the afternoon the day of the first show to make sure she'd be in front. Bill Graham, owner of the Fillmore and perhaps rock's most successful concert promoter, a man who put on thousands of shows said that Otis "was by far the single most extraordinary talent I had ever seen. There was no comparison."

In the summer of 1967, Otis played a blistering set some time after midnight at the Monterey Pop Festival. 50,000 hippies dancing to southern soul. It was easily the most extraordinary set of the weekend. Check out the version of "Try a Little Tenderness" from that show and a few other classics below.

Otis Redding - Try A Little Tenderness
Otis Redding - Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)
Otis Redding - Everybody Makes A Mistake
Otis Redding - That's How Strong My Love Is
Bonus:
Candi Staton - That's How Strong My Love Is