Music Wasteland

I’m Back!!!!

sconzj — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:13:18 +0000

It’s been a crazy Spring and Summer people. There have been a lot of changes in my life but things are getting settled again. My oldest son is off to Dean College (in fact his dorm is the building on the main page), other kids started school today, new band and hopefully soon a new career.

What hasn’t changed is my love for good music. So starting today my several times per week blog on exposing people here in the Hartford area (and anywhere else for that matter) begins anew. There are tons of great new releases and concerts coming up this fall – I’m going to some but not enough!

Tomorrow we’ll talk about all things alt-country. For now I’ll leave you with a fine example of the genre by one of rock’s oldest icons (yes, in their actual age as well as time together) The Rolling Stones’ Dead Flowers:

The New Pornographers, Woodstock, NY

sconzj — Sat, 08 May 2010 13:30:05 +0000

Last night was one of those rock and roll nights to remember. About a week ago I noticed on The New Pornographers website that they were playing a pre-tour concert at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY, a small venue located about 3 miles from frontman Carl Newman’s house. I knew I had to go. I plunked down my $27 (Don’t you love indie music? I heard recently that tickets for Simon and Garfunkel at Mohegan Sun are going for $150-500, WTF?) . So last night my friend Dave and I headed up to Woodstock. First stop at my bro’s house in Stanfordville where we would be staying overnight. A few beers and we hit the road for the trip across the Hudson. It was a bit of trip down memory lane as we went right through the town of West Hurley where my Dad used to summer as kid at his grandmother’s farm (and would take us me and my brothers as kids ourself to visit). We found the theater complex (theater and two restaurants), parked and grabbed a quick meal at The Little Bear Restaurant. By the time we finished it was 8:30 so we walked briskly over to the theater. Upon entering we were told that “the bar is right there, restrooms are downstairs and the theater is through that door”. It was a building smaller than most houses here in CT. We walked in to the theater and were only about 20 feet from the stage. There were only about 200 people in there. Standing right next to me was The New Pornographers’ bass player, John Collins, to whom I immediately introduced myself too. Nice guy. We chatted between songs (don’t know who the guy playing was but suffice it to say he was not that good). Support guy ended, John went downstairs and we claimed our spot in the front row, right at the stage (which is useful because you can put you beer there and not have to hold it the whole time). I went down to the restroom and on my way up saw the keyboard player Kathryn Calder (AC Newman’s niece btw). I asked her when they were playing and she told me “Now, better get back up there”, which I did.

The band came on and it was the whole band – AC Newman, Neko Case(vocals), Dan Bejar(vocals, guitar and drinking), John Collins (bass and Kaossilator), Todd Fancy(guitar), Kurt Dahle(Drums and Percussion), Kathryn Calder (keys and vocals) , Miranda Brown(vocals and by her own admission, “standing in for Neko on the European leg of the tour) and Ben Kalb on cello. We were told by Newman that they had been practicing there all week and that it was nice to have people in the theater.

The show began with Up in the Dark from their new album “Together” released just three days earlier on Matador Records (one of the top five indie rock labels in North America and home to Pavement, Ted Leo, Belle and Sebastian and others). Everyone (band and audience) were in a great mood. Some songs were tight (mainly their older ones) and some obviously needed more practice or performance. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that one of my favorite bands was playing three feet in front of me with their entire original line-up. Here is the rest of the playlist:

Myriad Harbour

Use It

Crash Years

All the Old Showstoppers

Challengers

Your Hands (Together)

Testament to Youth In Verse

My Shepherd

Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk

These Are The Fables

Jackie Dressed in Cobras

Moves

Laws Have Changed

Adventures in Solitude

Spirit of Giving

Mass Romantic

Silver Jenny Dollar

Spanish Techno

encore

Twin Cinema

Jackie and The Bleeding Heart Show

Whew! That was a full run through all their albums and some of their best stuff. I did not write down all those songs. I asked Kathryn Calder (who was playing right in front of us) for her copy of the set list and she was nice enough to hand it to me. Here it is:

Lights on and everyone quietly. Dave and I grabbed a beer and notice John Collins was back upstairs. We chatted some more. I asked him to sign the set list Kathryn gave me, which he happily did. I noticed he even remembered my name. One-by-one all of the band members came upstairs to chat with the remaining fans. I got all of their autographs (except for Neko and Newman). When we left most of the band were still hanging out in the bar. Todd Fancy and John Collins were outside having a smoke. We said goodnight to them and drove back – sad to go but happy for the night.

The New Pornographers go on tour in Europe later this month and then return to North America in late June. I plan on seeing them in Philadelphia and Washington DC. I doubt I’ll be able to duplicate this experience however.

Malcolm McLaren

sconzj — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:54:09 +0000

Malcolm McLaren, one of the early supporters of British punk rock died yesterday. For the full and very interesting obituary go here. As a small tribute to Malcolm and punk rock here are the Sex Pistols performing “Anarchy in The UK”:

Put Your Hands Together

sconzj — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:58:57 +0000

The New Pornographers 2010

Sorry peeps, I’ve had some major computer technical issues and my postings have been non-existent for nearly a month! In between then and now I’ve been perfecting my band’s sound, gone to a few concerts as well as trying to make a living, raise my kids, ride my bike and just keep afloat. It’s all good so far.

Tonight I am really excited to share with you the new, yet-to-be released single from The New Pornographers – Your Hands (Together). Off their new album, Together, it has all the TNP classic sounds – including Neko Case and Carl Newman singing together. Yum. So here it is kids:

It’s My Problem If I Have No Friends And I Want To Die

sconzj — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:07:22 +0000

That line from “Are You Satisfied?” sets the tone for Marina & The Diamonds new album, The Family Jewels released this week (but oddly enough not available on iTunes in the US – fret not, I’ve included a few choice tracks for you to listen to here. After listening to them head over to Marina’s website and buy the album as a download or cd like I did, it’ll cost you 7 GBP ). While I know the year is only two months old this will be on my top of 2010 list. Marina Diamandis has turned out a brilliant debut pop album. I use the term “pop” with caution because it is at the same time both dark and questioning. This is not a typical top 40 album but make no mistake, it will be on the top of every chart by year’s end. As an aside, ” The Diamonds” are not her band, they are all of us, her fans. Or as she puts it “I’m Marina, you are the Diamonds”

I consider myself lucky to have tickets for one of Marina & The Diamonds US debut concerts in New York March 14-15. I’ll be heading down to Le Poisson Rouge in The Village on the 15th. The show is no yet sold out and costs only 15 bucks. Go get your ticket and meet me there. I’ll buy you a drink and we can talk about how we saw Marina & The Diamonds before she was the huge star she’ll surely be one day.

Here is the video for hew hit UK single “Hollywood”

“I Am Not A Robot”

“Mowgli’s Road”

“Oh No!”

“Girls”

“Are You Satisfied?”

“Shampain”

Lost Gems From A Lost Decade

sconzj — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:39:54 +0000

Beginning today I am going to bring you some of the best albums released from 2000-2009 that most people didn’t even notice let alone listen to. So let’s get right to it shall we? August 2001 saw the release of Odorama by the Avignon, France-based The Strawberry Smell (I’m thinking they are no longer since that was the only album they ever made, but there is not a lot of information out there on these guys) by Rainbow Quartz Records. recorded by four friends (or is it quatre amis?) this record is a glorious romp through late 60′s/early 70′s influenced psych pop. Each song is laden with guitars and keyboards heavy enough to please Greg Allman himself. I picked up my copy at a great little record shop in Williamsburg, VA in 2002 on the recommendation of one of the guys working there. I listen to it often and whenever I want to pick myself up. It’s that peppy!

Here they are performing Zensong #9

World of D

Slave of the Time

Soopasound

Footprint on the Moon

Up next – Supergrass’ Life on Other Planets

“Everyone here’s going to get laid tonight…..by Dave”

sconzj — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:53:21 +0000

Yes, that’s what Josh Homme told all of us at the Roseland Ballroom on Monday night. And by Dave he meant Dave Grohl. It was me, my friend Dave (no, not Grohl) and about 3500 of the coolest people in New York out to see Them Crooked Vultures (I’ve posted on them in the past here and here). It was a nice evening. After about a hundred indie rock shows the past few years it was very interesting to go to a genuine kick ass rock and roll show. The crowd was edgier and rougher than I’ve seen in a while. The music MUCH louder. And the vibe was more than chill. It brought me back to a lot of the shows I saw in high school and college, whether Lynyrd Skynrd or The Clash. People wanted to rock. The band delivered. Although they have only released a 12 song album they found a way to stretch those songs into a two hour concert. Two straight hours. No break. No encore. Just four very talented men playing some of the best rock I’ve heard in a long while.

Dawn Landes

sconzj — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:16:53 +0000

The ever folky, ever talented and slightly eccentric Dawn Landes is back with a new album – Sweet Heart Rodeo. She’s on tour now and if you can get to a show do it. If you missed her in Fairfield, CT or The Mercury Lounge in NYC you can read this concert review by The Quirky New York Chick to make you feel as bad as I do for missing her last week.

Here’s Dawn playing a rendition of Young Folks by Peter, Bjorn and John (yea, that whistling song except Dawn substitutes the whistling with kazoos – nice!):

Them Crooked Vultures Play NYC Feb. 8th

sconzj — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:53:25 +0000

Head’s up people, THE supergroup of the moment, Them Crooked Vultures. Formed by Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) and Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) the two American rockers turned to the elder statesman of hard rock bass playing, John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. After appearing on Saturday Night Live Saturday night Feb. 6th the trio will play one show Monday evening at The Roseland Ballroom on West 52nd Street (yes, I did get two tickets!!). After New York they are off for a few more shows and then a performance at the Coachella Festival out in the California desert (Homme actually lives about 30 miles from the site).

In other TCV news, it was revealed that Paul McCartney wanted to play bass in the group. Apparently McCartney had dinner with Grohl after last year’s Grammy Awards and the project was discussed. You can read the article here.

Them Crooked Vultures – 2010 Tour Dates
February 6 – SNL
February 8 – Roseland Ballroom in New York
February 10 – the Fillmore in Charlotte NC and
February 11 – the Tabernacle in Atlanta.
April – Coachella

Reptiles

New Fang

The New Pornographers’ New Album Details Revealed – Spinner

sconzj — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:21:11 +0000

More information on the New Pornographers new album is coming out, check out the Spinner website for the details:

The New Pornographers’ New Album Details Revealed – Spinner.