Superchunk - 9:30 Club - 9.17.10

There was a time in my life, say late 1992 to 1998, that Superchunk was my second favorite band in the world (Fugazi holding top billing). In the pre-internet days of Summer 1991, I was obsessed with the music playing in the background of a British Knights shoe commercial. It was punk but catchy as hell. Unable to google "British Knights commercial music", I was left unsatisfied until I read a small piece in SPIN magazine about this band from North Carolina who was behind the BK commercial music. 1991's No Pocky For Kitty was purchased within hours and remains one of my favorite albums of all time. On my Tuesday night college radio show (WRTC 89.3 Radio Trinity College), songs like "Skip Steps 1 and 3", "Cast Iron" and "Fishing" were in heavy rotation. Even the FCC didn't scare me from playing "Slack Motherfucker" on air.

The next few years were witness to a constant release of fantastic music - 1993's On The Mouth (good), 1994's Foolish (unbelievably underrated as an album - go back to it, see what you think), and 1995's Here's Where The Strings Come In (a statement of their maturity as a band and on par with No Pocky For Kitty). 1997's Indoor Living, while a decent album in its own right didn't live up to band's potential as established by its predecessor.

By the time they released 1999's Come Pick Me Up and 2001's Here's To Shutting Up, we had grown apart. The last decade has seen Mac and Laura blossom as record execs of arguably the most important indie label in the US. They teased me last year with a great little EP Leaves In The Gutter, the best track of which, "Learning To Surf" appears on the just released Majesty Shredding. Which brings me to the new album --- fanfuckingtastic. I've heard the hyperbole that this may be their best record and I have to say, it very well might be. I've had about five listens and it is catchy as hell.

The show was phenomenal drawing heavily from the new album as well as my favorites No Pocky For Kitty and Here's Where The Strings Come In. Mac and Laura rocked just like it was 1993. Jim's deadpan humor was sharper than ever and Jon Wurster remains as one of my top five favorite drummers in the world. Listen to the concert here

Set List
Throwing Things
My Gap Feels Weird
Crossed Wires
Animated Airplanes Over Germany
Skip Steps 1&3
Fractures in Plaster
Iron On
New Low
Rosemarie
Hello Hawk
Tower
Learned To Surf
Digging For Something
Driveway to Driveway
The First Part
Everything At Once

Encore:
Brand New Love
Cast Iron
Slack Motherfucker
Hyper Enough

Streams
Digging For Something
Misfits & Mistakes
Nu Bruises

9:30 Club 30th Anniversary Concert - A First Person Perspective

Dateline: Washington, DC 5/31/10

Vaunted performance space and nightclub, the 9:30 Club, celebrated its 30th birthday on Memorial Day with a friends and fans-only concert at the club. Having won a ticket through a lottery for members of its email list-serve, I headed down the BW Parkway to check it out. What follows is one man's account of the 13-artist, five and a hour extravaganza that followed. Call it my running diary of the show.

A little background: My first trip to the original 9:30 Club at 930 F Street, NW was in the fall of 1989 to see Love Tractor and Frontier Theory. My only real memories of that show other than Love Tractor closing with a cover of Bowie's "Rebel Rebel", was how scary the bathrooms were. On July 19, 1990, I lost my hearing for two days after seeing Bob Mould (closed with a cover of Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl"). On January 5th, 1996, the club opened its doors at a new location near Howard University (815 V St., NW) with the Smashing Pumpkins Yes, I was there and yes, it was quite good. Billy Corgan was only a level-one douche bag at that point in time. Times change.


The night has been billed as a party for the friends and family of the club. Many of the usual suspects who have played the club over the years are slated to play yet no line-up order has been announced and DC-expat, Henry Rollins, is set to host. Oh yeah, and they promise surprises (more to follow...).

Arrival: 5:50pm
The doors opened at 5:00pm so my best guess is that the first band will be on at 6pm and decide if I am going to do this, I'm all in. Maybe 200-300 spectators are already gathered. Total freedom to get up close.

Act 1: Tiny Desk Unit (6:00 pm sharp!)
Where's Henry? 9:30 Club night manager and all around scary dude, Josh Burdette, approaches center stage to announce that Rollins' plane is late but "he'll definitely be here". Burdette notes that show opener, Tiny Desk Unit, was the first band ever to play the club on May 31st, 1980 (along with the Lounge Lizards) and were the last band to play the old 9:30 on December 31, 1995. Their other main claim to fame is that NPR's All Songs Considered host, Bob Boilen, is the keyboard player. Three songs, twelve minutes and they are kicked off stage by the 9:30 crew. I am liking where this is going. I'll be back to Baltimore by dawn.









The Fleshtones



Act 2: The Fleshtones (6:20 pm)
Within seven minutes, the next band is ready to go (THIS IS HOW EVERY SHOW SHOULD RUN!!!). I'm excited to see The Fleshtones for the first time.

Quick history lesson - The Fleshtones were formed in 1976 in Queens, NY and were the first band booked (by current owner Seth Hurwitz) at the 9:30 Club. In the early to mid 80's, they signed to IRS Records, home of The Go-Go's, Fine Young Cannibals and a band called R.E.M. IRS Records created a TV show that aired on Mtv from 1983 to 1987 called The Cutting Edge, hosted by Fleshtones lead singer, Peter Zarimba, which had a profound impact on my own musical growth. The show eventually morphed into 120 Minutes which died a wonderfully awful dead following Nirvana in the early 1990's. Zarimba was sort of a indie-rock Issac Mizrahi - creative, campy and witty as hell. Back to real time.

Still no Rollins. Kim Kaine of The Slickee Boys arrives on stage and announces that, other than his own Slickee Boys, no band has played the club more than The Fleshtones. These guys are in their mid-50's and were the best dressed, most enthusiastic and most entertaining band of the evening (sorry Trouble Funk). I cannot believe they still do this shit at their age for a living. I pray to God they've put some money away for retirement. They start with "Hitsburg USA" (hello, great song title) and finish up three songs later with "Dance With The Ghoulman" during which they invite club owner and original club booker, Seth Hurwitz, up to play drums (this will become a recurring theme of the evening).

The Fleshtones - Hitsburg USA (mp3)
The Fleshtones - Dance With The Ghoulman (mp3)
The Fleshtones - Do You Swing? (mp3)

Act 3: The Slickee Boys (~6:45 pm)
Alright, the first band I've actually seen at the 9:30 Club, a legend in DC music circles and yes, another group of guys in their 50's (quick side note - for the first time at a rock show in forever, being 38 puts me firmly in the middle of the age distribution). Still no Rollins!!! WTF!!! Hurwitz hits to stage to introduce that this is the 80th appearance of The Slickee Boys at the club - a record and they broke up in 1991 so they must have played there all the time in the 80's. Solid set. High energy. Young bucks, you best watch out.

Act 4: Marti Jones & Don Dixon (a little after 7pm)
Here comes Hurwitz again. Is Rollins going to show? Seriously, people.

Don Dixon is probably best known as a producer (R.E.M.'s Murmur, The Smithereens) but has had hammered out a solid singer-songwriter career both as a solo artist as well as with his wife, Marti Jones. So what I'm telling you is that we've left the aging hipster part of the evening and entered the aging singer-songwriter part of the evening (Dixon will turn 60 later this year). They're fantastic. Wonderful harmonies and both have incredible voices. A real palate cleanser - time to get a beer. (First musician sighting - Ted Leo is hanging out by the soundboard. I decide to text my friend Mike who couldn't make it as my plus one. He's pissed). We're still keeping to the 3-4 songs/15-20 minute sets. This is awesome!!! Hurwitz is back up to play drums but this time with Tommy Keene on guitar.

Don Dixon - Roommate (mp3)

Act 5: Tommy Keene (I don't know 7:30pm?)
Five acts in and no Rollins. Tommy just hits the stage and gets going without intro. Bravo Tommy, no need for pomp and circumstance. Oh yeah, another guy in his 50's although you would never know it. Tommy to many, represents what happens to the Paul Westerberg's and Robert Pollard's of the world if they never make it big (big being a relative term). The Bethesda native tore through a couple of songs before bringing on stage his pubescent nephew to play drums. Now I ran into this kid later in the evening (wearing a Minor Threat tee and hanging with his mom) to give him some props and he was seriously about five feet tall and weighed no more than 85 pounds but holy shit, could he rock. Remember the name Hunter Keene. You will hear it. I promise. There were some serious drummers in attendance including Brendan Canty and an as-yet-unnamed surprise guest (read on) but this kid was the best drummer that actually played drums this night. Fantastic. Bravo Keene family.

Tommy Keene - Circumstance (mp3)
Tommy Keene - Hanging Over My Head (mp3)






Amy Farina (l), Ian MacKaye (r) - The Evens



Act 6: The Evens (just before 8pm)
Set up in the balcony overlooking the crowd, Ian Mackaye started with anecdote about how when his first band, The Teen Idles, played the original 9:30 Club nearly 30 years ago things got so out of hand that original club owner, Dody DiSanto, banned them and all the young harDCore bands. Rollins will later recount this story as well (Where the hell is Rollins???). Eventually she changed her mind; the rest is history.

Act 7: Justin Jones (~8:30pm)
Never heard of this guy. He's sort of an ordinary looking guy, maybe mid-20's (our youngest performer yet, other than Tommy Keene's nephew). Seth Hurwitz arrives on stage to announce that he's seen a lot of artists in his time and he knows how to spot the next big thing and this Justin Jones kid is the next big thing. So Jones and his band, The Driving Rain, hit the stage in their John Mayer meets Kenny Chesney mainstream musical grandeur. Justin attempts to engage the crowd by announcing "this next song is for the farmers" WTF??? Does he realize we're in DC? Nashville is 650 miles to the southwest down route 81. I should lay off because he seems like a nice kid, but the irony that the most traditionally mainstream act received the crowd's poorest response of the evening was not lost on me and not for a lack of musical talent (just creativity). It was about this time that I looked up to see Washington Capitals and Wizards owner, Ted Leonis, in the VIP area with Seth. It's all coming together.








Bob Mould


Act 8: Bob Mould (just before 9pm)
Within seconds of Justin Jones leaving stage, there is Bob getting ready to go. I love the old school spirit...no bullshit, just get up and play. Then out of nowhere, a manic Henry Rollins hits the stage (more old school spirit) and spends the next several minutes attempting to convince the audience he never truly left DC, at least in spirit. He's entertaining and I can't help but be incredibly excited that both Rollins and Bob are sharing the same stage. Rollins proceeds to compliment the hell out of Bob before handing over the stage to him.

Bob, solo electric. I've seen it many times. Honestly, it is my least favorite way to see him. I like Bob with band and Bob with acoustic guitar but Bob with just electric guitar is sometimes too much for me. Not tonight. "Hoover Dam", "See A Little Light", "I Apologize" and "Makes No Sense At All" - that's the set list. The crowd, many of which probably saw Husker Du at the old club, are out of control for him and I feed off this energy. I am officially really fucking happy right now.










Ted Leo


Act 9: Ted Leo (~ 9:20 pm)
Rollins is back on stage to talk about the 9:30 Club - recounts the same boycott story that Ian mentioned an hour earlier. Makes his first declaration that Ian MacKaye is, in fact, his best friend since 1973.

Theodore Francis Leo, solo electric. That's what he does and I've been known to like it. The native New Jerseyian, one-time Mount Pleasant resident, and current Rhode Islander always give DC a lot of love. The four song set - "Nothing Much To Say", an unknown cover, "Bleeding Powers", and for allegedly the first time in 12 years, a rendition of Chisel's "The Dog In Me"!!!







the surprise act


Act 10: Dave Grohl and SCREAM (~9:40pm)
The rumor running around town for the last several days is that Dave Grohl will be the surprise act. My aforementioned friend Mike placed the idea that maybe Fugazi would reunite for the evening (I see Brendan and Guy in the audience and clearly Ian is here. Where is Joe? Has anyone seen Joe Lally?). My ultimate fantasy is that Jawbox will reunite tonight but that is the most far-fetched idea of them all.

I'm psyched to see Grohl play but the way Rollins is selling it (and the crowd is buying it) you would think Prince or Hendrix or The Clash were coming out on stage. He came on alone to play a cover of "Everlong" and then invited on Pete Stahl, Kent Stax and Skeeter Thompson of Scream to play with him. At this point, Grohl has moved over to the guitarist role, with Pete Stahl on vocals for the only attempt at harDCore the evening will see. One Scream song, two Bad Brains covers ("At The Atlantis" and "Stay Close To Me") and two dip-shits standing next to trying to create a most pit. Seriously???

Act 11: The Pietasters (~10pm)
I'm losing a little bit of steam. Maybe some ska will help me out. Quick side story: In the spring of 1995, I was in a band with a couple of guys in Fairfax. The drummer, by far the most talented of the bunch, played drums in a gospel band at a Seventh Day Adventist church. He convinced his pastor to let us practice in the church during off hours. Anywho, we were playing a house party near GMU one weekend and after finishing a bunch of the guys from The Pietasters asked to use our gear and play. We weren't very good to start, but I wasn't going to let them make it any more obvious by allowing them to play. Seems like it didn't really affect their career.


Act 12: Clutch (~10:20pm)
What do I know about this band? Nothing, other than Baltimore's own Duff "Ace of Cakes" Goldman considers them the best band on Earth. I'm usually not one to take my music cues from a dope smoking pastry chef but his favorite band filled the role of rock/metal band well. Rollins uses this introduction to reward the bands out there that have stuck it out over the years. Inspired, I mosey over to the cafe to get some eats. I'm starving!

Act 13: Trouble Funk (10:50pm)
Rollins introduces Trouble Funk by relating another story of how he and Ian MacKaye are best friends. We get it, Henry. Rollins makes the same case that the Smithsonian did ten years ago by declaring that Go Go music is the music of the 202 area code (Chuck Brown, EU, Trouble Funk). That drumming pattern takes me back to watching kids playing paint buckets outside the Metro. It's infectious.

Fifteen minutes go by and the T Funk look like they have no intention of stopping. Seth Hurwitz is back again behind the drum kit but this time it's to play Go Go. This ain't your daddy's 4-4 rock and roll. It's Go Go. I find myself watching Guy Picciotto and Brendan Canty having a quiet laugh at Seth's expense. He pulls it off. Leonis and his posse (including his two sons) are still watching the show. Did anyone invite Ovechkin?

Now we're 30 minutes in and I'm starting to wonder if the staff has lost control or if The Psychedelic Furs aren't playing and T Funk has become the headliner. I've gotten myself to the back where I strike up a very brief conversation with Ted Leo about Trouble Funk and out of nowhere appears Rollins standing next to me to talk to Ted and the recently arrived Guy (clearly I am the odd man out). To me Rollins has always appeared larger than life but what I'm realizing is that he is not a big man at all (IMDB lists him at 5'91/2). But tonight, it doesn't matter. There is this intense DC pride in the house and I got to be part of it. As quick as Rollins arrived to the back of the club, he's gone. Forty-five Go Go-riffic minutes have gone by (5 1/2 hours of music total) and it is time for Trouble Funk to exit and for Rollins to wish us good night.
Good times. mike

Washington Post article with pictures here

Despite The Mix, Vol. 12

fig 1. The Wrens


I got a chance to catch The Wrens on their "extensive" East Coast tour (Philly & Baltimore) on Saturday night with Scottie at Sonar. You would think seven years would be enough time between albums but no firm word yet on the new release. After seeing them perform a less than inspired set last December at The Black Cat in DC, I was reinvigorated by their Baltimore set - high energy, small room, fired up audience. Yes, they played The Meadowlands in its entirety but also played a few new songs that I'm excited to hear on record. When? Who knows? So to hold you over I've linked a few old Wrens tunes with some new stuff I'm listen to this week. Enjoy.


Retribution Gospel Choir - Hide It Away (mp3)
The Big Pink - Dominos (mp3)
David Cross - I Can't Get Beer In Me (mp3)
Pontiak - Young (mp3)
Manatee - Indecision (mp3)
Cap'n Jazz - Little League (mp3)
The Wrens - I Guess We're Done (mp3)
The Wrens - This Machine (mp3)
The Wrens - Napiers (mp3)

Despite The Mix, Vol. 11

fig. 1 Mark Oliver Everett (Eels)




1. Eels - A Line In The Dirt (m4a)
2. Pearly Gate Music - Big Escape (mp3)
3. Peter Wolf Crier - Crutch & Cane (mp3)
4. Horse Feathers - Thistled Spring (mp3)
5. Quasi - Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez (mp3)
6. Panther - Love Is Sold (mp3)
7. Beach House - Zebra (UK edit) (mp3)
8. Jaill - Everyone's Hip (mp3)
9. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat The Devil's Tattoo (mp3)
10. The Get Up Kids - Holiday (m4a)

Despite The Mix, Vol. 10

Monroe, Greg

It's a big week coming up with the NCAA tournament, SXSW and my last night shifts of fellowship. So to celebrate my current bout of insomnia, check out these ten tracks - they are all over the place.










fig. 1 - Surfer Blood

1. Surfer Blood - "Swim (To Reach The End)"
2. Kings Go Forth - "Don't Take My Shadow"
3. The Marvelous Darlings - "I'll Stand By Her"
4. The Mynabirds - "Numbers Don't Lie"
5. Sic Mansion - "L Mansion"
6. Radiohead - "These Are My Twisted Words"
7. The Tallest Man On Earth - "The King Of Spain"









fig. 2 - Sharon Jones


8. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - "I Learned The Hard Way"
9. Teen Sheikhs - "Germs"
10. Japandroids - "Art Czars"

Friday Morning Mix

Rocky Votolato

Phantogram "When I'm Small"
Happy Birthday "Girls FM"
Ted Leo/Pharmacists "The Mighty Sparrow"
Rocky Votolato "Red River"

The New Pornographers "Your Hands (Together)"
The Besnard Lakes "Albatross"
Golden Triangle "Jinx"
Bonnie "Prince" Billy & The Cairo Gang "Play, Guitar, Play"
Dum Dum Girls "Jail La La"
The Ruby Suns "Cranberry"

Also check out this piece on Aural States about the J. Robbins & Gordon Withers show at Story/Stereo in Bethesda, MD on 2/19/10 (includes several mp3's).

Versus on ABC News?

With all the hoopla surrounding the various reunions over the last several months - Sunny Day Real Estate, The Murder City Devils, Jawbox (if for just one show) - Versus completely slipped past my radar. I had heard that they were playing the occasional show but now comes word that not only are they playing shows, but recording a new album.

OK, so here's where the hilarity ensues. Check out this clip of ABC news correspondent and Versus super fan, Dan Harris, spending some time in the studio with the band. A little awkward? Maybe, but good stuff nonetheless.

Check out live videos here
Deseret (mp3)

Top Albums of the Decade

Pretty Girls Make Graves

Happy New Year. One last list for the last decade. Enjoy.

1. Pretty Girls Make Graves - Good Health - April 9, 2002
"Speakers Push The Air" (mp3)

2. The Wrens - The Meadowlands - September 9, 2003
"Everyone Chose Sides" (mp3)

3. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema - August 23, 2005


4. Arcade Fire - Funeral - September 14, 2004
"Rebellion (Lies)" (mp3)

5. PJ Harvey - Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea - October 23, 2000


6. Ted Leo/Pharmacists - The Tyranny of Distance - June 19, 2001
"Squeaky Fingers" (mp3)
"Under The Hedge" (mp3)

7. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago - February 19, 2008
"Skinny Love" (mp3)

8. Cursive - Cursive’s Domestica – June 20, 2000
"The Martyr" (mp3)
"The Radiator Hums" (mp3)

9. The Hold Steady -Boys And Girls In America - October 3, 2006
"Chips Ahoy" (mp3)

10. Spoon - Gimme Fiction - May 10, 2005
"I Turn My Camera On" (mp3)

Vic Chesnutt 1964-2009

Fifteen years after the completion of college I often get nostalgic for the times my high school friends and I would get together during the winter holidays. Often my friend Dave, a student at the University of Georgia, would mention some new band he'd seen or met in Athens. Now Dave knew of what he spoke - he roomed with Elf Power's Anderw Reiger his freshman year and ended up as a close friend and collaborator with many of the Elephant 6 crew. Dave also introduced me to the music of fellow Athens resident, Vic Chesnutt.

In October of 1993, I got my first chance to see Vic as he opened for Bob Mould in Amherst, MA. What I remember most about that night was Vic's dark sense of humor, the earnestness of his singing and the gratitude he expressed to a fan who ran on stage to give him a grape soda. I followed Vic's career on and off over the years, always impressed with the number of artists I greatly respect with which he has worked (Kristin Hersh, Michael Stipe, the aforementioned Elf Power) . I've enjoyed the last two records immensely that feature his collaborations with Guy Picciotto from Fugazi and Thee Silver Mt. Zion. I got the chance to see him perform one last time on 10/29/09 in Baltimore.

A few weeks ago I was visiting my parents and my mother was listening to an interview with Vic on Fresh Air on NPR as she sewed. One focus of the interview was Vic's previous suicide attempts, which really struck a chord with my mother. Sadly, yet another attempt by Vic to take his life was successful and he died on Christmas Day.

Warm (mp3)
Rustic City Feathers (mp3)
You Are Never Alone (mp3)
Flirted With You All My Life (mp3)
Philip Guston (mp3)
Chain (mp3)

Top Tracks of the Decade

Spoon

100. Cursive “The Radiator Hums” (2000)
99. Gallows “In The Belly Of A Shark” (2006)
98. The (International) Noise Conspiracy “The Reproduction of Death” (2000)
97. Interpol “Obstacle 1” (2002)
96. Antony and the Johnsons “Hope There’s Someone” (2005)
95. Death Cab for Cutie “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” (2005)
94. Channels “Chivaree” (2006)
93. Rise Against “Give It All” (2004)
92. The Mendoza Line “Catch A Collapsing Star” (2005)
91. Outkast “B.O.B.” (2000)
90. The Hold Steady “Stay Positive” (2008)
89. Belle & Sebastian “Funny Little Frog” (2006)
88. The Von Bondies “C’mon C’mon” (2004)
87. Koufax “Why Bother At All” (2005)
86. Band of Horses “The Funeral” (2006)
85. The Thermals “A Pillar Of Salt” (2006)
84. Erin McKeown “Rhode Island Is Famous For You” (2007)
83. Gnarls Barkley “Just A Thought” (2006)
82. Bad Religion “Heroes & Martyrs” (2007)
81. Johnny Foreigner “Our Bi-Polar Friends” (2007)
80. The Clientele “My Own Face Inside The Trees” (2005)
79. Radiohead “Jigsaw Falling Into Place” (2007)
78. M.I.A. “Paper Planes” (2007)
77. Okkervil River “The Latest Toughs” (2005)
76. Palomar “Our Haunt” (2007)
75. Feist “1 2 3 4” (2007)
74. Ted Leo/Pharmacists “The Toro And The Toreador” (2007)
73. Jennifer O’Connor “The Color And The Light” (2005)
72. Cat Power “Lived In Bars” (2006)
71. Interpol “The Heinrich Maneuver” (2007)
70. The Hold Steady “The Swish” (2004)
69. The Murder City Devils “Idle Hands” (2000)
68. Peter Bjorn and John “Young Folks” (2007)
67. Okkervil River “Our Life Is A Movie Or Maybe” (2007)
66. The Mountain Goats “Sax Rohmer #1” (2008)
65. The White Stripes “Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground” (2001)
64. Sufjan Stevens “Casimir Pulaski Day” (2005)
63. Stars “Bitches In Tokyo” (2007)
62. Kelly Clarkson “Since U Been Gone” (2004)
61. The New Pornographers “My Rights Versus Yours” (2007)
60. Tortoise & Bonnie “Prince” Billy “It’s Expected I’m Gone” (2006)
59. The Shins “Kissing The Lipless” (2003)
58. Gnarls Barkley “Run” (2008)
57. The Murder City Devils “Bear Away” (2001)
56. Crooked Fingers “Your Control” (2008)
55. Thao with The Get Down Stay “Swimming Pools” (2008)
54. Neko Case “This Tornado Loves You” (2009)
53. Parts & Labor “Nowheres Nigh” (2008)
52. The National “Mr. November” (2005)
51. Feist “I Feel It All” (2007)
50. Plus/Minus “Leap Year” (2006)
49. Ted Leo/Pharmacists “Timorous Me” (2001)
48. The Thermals “A Stare Like Yours” (2004)
47. The Mountain Goats “No Children” (2002)
46. Bon Iver “Blood Bank” (2009)
45. Ted Leo/Pharmacists “Parallel Or Together” (2001)
44. Andrew Bird “Plasticities” (2007)
43. Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros “Coma Girl” (2003)
42. Trail of Dead “Another Morning Stoner” (2002)
41. The Twilight Singers “Teenage Wristband” (2003)
40. Rainer Maria “Ears Ring” (2003)
39. Bloc Party “Helicopter” (2005)
38. Pretty Girls Make Graves “Speakers Push The Air” (2002)
37. The National “Mistaken For Strangers” (2007)
36. Eric Bachmann “Lonesome Warrior” (2006)
35. TV on the Radio “Staring At The Sun” (2004)
34. Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Maps” (2003)
33. Polvo “Beggar’s Bowl” (2009)
32. Sleater-Kinney “Entertain” (2005)
31. Pretty Girls Make Graves “All Medicated Geniuses” (2003)
30. William Elliott Whitmore “Dry” (2006)
29. Neko Case “That Teenage Feeling” (2006)
28. The White Stripes “Seven Nations Army” (2003)
27. The Walkmen “The Rat” (2004)
26. Spoon “The Underdog” (2007)
25. Anders Parker “Innocents” (2004)
24. Cat Power “He War” (2002)
23. Iron & Wine “Such Great Heights” (2004)
22. The Hold Steady “Constructive Summer” (2008)
21. Les Savy Fav “The Equestrian” (2007)
20. Eric Bachmann “Little Bird” (2006)
19. Ted Leo/Pharmacists “Me And Mia” (2004)
18. PJ Harvey “One Line” (2000)
17. The National “All The Wine” (2005)
16. Sufjan Stevens “Chicago” (2005)
15. The Gang “Sea So” (2008)
14. The Hold Steady “Stuck Between Stations” (2006)
13. Canyon “Blankets And Shields” (2002)
12. Rachel’s “Last Things Last” (2003)
11. Crooked Fingers “Under Pressure” (2002)
10. Ted Leo/Pharmacists “Biomusicology” (2001)
9. Bon Iver “Skinny Love” (2008)
8. The New Pornographers “The Bleeding Heart Show” (2005)
7. Arcade Fire “Intervention” (2007)
6. At The Drive In “One Armed Scissor” (2000)
5. The Wrens “Hopeless” (2003)
4. Pretty Girls Make Graves “By The Throat” (2002)
3. The Wrens “Everyone Choose Sides” (2003)
2. Arcade Fire “Rebellion (Lies)” (2004)
1. Spoon “The Way We Get By” (2002)

Top Tracks of 2009

Polvo

Alright, here's my annual attempt at ranking my favorite tracks of the year. I'm sure the list will be completely different in a month after I've had a chance to read all the different lists the interweb provides. Enjoy.

Honorable Mention: Screaming Females – “Bell”; Flight Of The Conchords – “Sugalumps”; Morrissey – “It’s Not Your Birthday Anymore”; Phoenix – “1901”; Sonic Youth – “Sacred Trickster”; Black Moth Super Rainbow – “Born On A Day The Sun Didn’t Shine”

20. Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions – “Blanchard” – The Mazzy Star front woman returns from the dead 15 years later. Fade into you, indeed.

19. Tortoise – “Prepare Your Coffin” – The COOLEST band in the world.

18. Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band – “Anchors Dropped” – I was sad that The Oxford Collapse broke up, luckily these guys sound very similar.

17. The Submarines – “Waiting For A War” – My buddy Mike used to live in the residence above the male half of The Submarines, John Dragonetti (aka Jack Drag) in Somerville, MA so I owe him a big thanks for introducing me to this band.

16. Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – “When We Swam” – I saw Thao last month at the Black Cat. She can’t be but five feet tall but holy crap, once she gets going she’s a one woman wrecking crew.

15. Dirty Projectors – “Stillness Is The Move” – OK NPR, I’ll give you credit for convincing me to listen to this one.

14. Andrew Bird – “Fitz and Dizzy Spells” – The highlight of a really great album, Noble Beast.

13. Spoon – “Got Nuffin” – Like I’ve stated before, Britt Daniel is this decade’s Paul Westerberg.

12. Polvo – “Lucia” – This is my Stairway to Heaven of 2009.

11. Superchunk – “Learned To Surf” – The best thing they’ve done since 1995’s Here Where The Strings Come In.

10. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes – “Home” – The crew on NPR’s All Songs Considered wouldn’t stop talking about this band after SXSW, but surprisingly (or not, depending on your NPR proclivities) this song is great.

9. The Mountain Goats – “Ezekiel 7 and the Permanent Grace” – This Darnielle cat can write some seriously good songs even when he’s copping from the Bible.

8. Telekinesis – “Coast of Carolina” – For what it’s worth, this was Carrie Brownstein’s song of the year.

7. The Very Most – “Today It Is Even Better” – The second best pop song of the year next to #5.

6. The Thermals – “Now We Can See” – The best sing-along chorus of the year.

5. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – “Young Adult Friction” – see #7.

4. Animal Collective – “My Girls” - It has taken years for me to give these guys a chance. This song was the breakthrough.

3. Neko Case – “This Tornado Loves You” – Best live show of the year (4/8/09 at the 9:30 Club, WDC). Amazing song about a tornado falling in love with a child.

2. Bon Iver – “Blood Bank" – Recorded during the For Emma, Forever Ago session it would have battled for best song on that album. How’d it get left off?

1. Polvo – “Beggar’s Bowl” – I was eagerly awaiting the return of Polvo after their 12-year layoff and those of us who were patient were rewarded with an amazing collection of songs on In Prism highlighted by “Beggar’s Bow”. If “Lucia” was my “Stairway to Heaven” for 2009 then “Beggar’s Bowl” is my “Won’t Get Fooled Again”. Driving bass, odd time signatures, four musicians who can play the shit out of their instruments ~ Viva la rock mathematique!

Tuesday Afternoon Mix

Flight of The Conchords

I'm keeping up my glacial pace of one post per month, so here's some songs to keep you sated. I'm going to see The Wrens and The Pixies over the next couple of weeks so hope to get some good posts up. thanks, mike

Denali - Gunner (mp3)
Beach House - Norway (mp3)
Volcano Choir - Island, IS (mp3)
The Promise Ring - Red Paint (mp3)
Flight of the Conchords - Sugarlumps (mp3)
Edsel - No. 5 Recitative (mp3)
Dinosaur jr. - I Want You To Know (mp3)
Jets to Brazil - Resistance is Futile (mp3)
Nirvana - About a Girl (mp3)
Girls Against Boys - Basstation (mp3)
Milemarker - Frigid Form Sells You Warmth (mp3)
Cloak/Dagger - Don't Need A (mp3)

Sunny Day Real Estate 9/30/09 - 9:30 Club

I recently jotted down a list of the 15 bands that I regretted never getting the chance to see live and SDRE was unquestionably on that list. Their first album, Diary, remains one of my top 10 albums of the 1990's and holds up well. Last month Subpop reissued the first two SDRE albums on vinyl and the boys and I have been listening to them down in the basement.

My wish came true this past Wednesday as the original Sunny Day line up came through DC to play the 9:30 Club. They were, to quote the great Fishbone bass player John Norwood Fisher, tighter than a mosquito's ass. Hear the show as broadcast by All Songs Considered here.

Setlist

1. Friday
2. Seven (mp3)
3. Shadows
4. Song About An Angel
5. Grendel
6. Guitar and Video Games
7. Iscarabaid
8. Theo B
9. 10
10. 47
11. J’Nuh
12. Sometimes
13. In Circles (encore)
14. Spade and Parade (encore)
15. 48 (encore)

New Yo La Tengo

I am heading off to Connecticut tomorrow for my 15th college reunion. Music played a huge role in life during those four years. One of the great highlights of my time in college was working at the radio station both as a deejay and later as the promotions director. Through both roles, I got to meet a ton of bands and artists and see some pretty amazing shows. Some artists were incredibly friendly - Mike Watt, Laura Ballance of Superchunk. Some were incredibly arrogant - Eric Gaffney and Lou Barlow of Sebadoh. Some were totally fun and hilarious - Archers of Loaf and Velocity Girl. Some were a little scary (but totally cool) - Mule. And some were so unassuming and down to Earth, it was hard to believe they were a rock and roll band - Yo La Tengo.

It turns out that the Hoboken three piece has a new album coming out on Matador on September 8th entitled Popular Songs. So in celebration of my 15th college reunion, I offer you a sneakpeek at the first single. Have a great weekend.

Periodically Double Or Triple (mp3) from Popular Songs
Pass The Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind (mp3) from I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass

Happy Birthday To Me - 37 Years Of Music

The Pixies

Since I have been described as a list-obsessive, I thought I'd put one together on the occasion of my 37th birthday. So for each of my 37 years, I selected my favorite song and album. Some were my favorite then. Some are my favorite now. And some have always been loved. Enjoy.

Song

2008 – The Gang “Sea So”
2007 – Arcade Fire “Intervention”
2006 – William Elliot Whitmore “Dry”
2005 – Sufjan Stevens “Chicago”
2004 – Ted Leo/Pharmacists “Me and Mia”
2003 – The Wrens “Everyone Choose Sides”
2002 – Spoon “The Way We Get By”
2001 – Ted Leo/Pharmacists “Biomusicology”
2000 – At The Drive In “One Armed Scissor”
1999 – The Get Up Kids “Holiday”
1998 – Refused “New Noise”
1997 – Rainer Maria “Tinfoil”
1996 – Jawbox “Mirrorful”
1995 – Superchunk “Detroit Has A Skyline”
1994 – Weezer “Say It Ain’t So”
1993 – Fugazi “Walken’s Syndrome”
1992 – Buffalo Tom “Taillights Fade”
1991 – Nirvana“Smells Like Teen Spirit”
1990 – Deee-Lite “Groove Is In The Heart”
1989 – Bob Mould “Wishing Well”
1988 – The Pixies “Gigantic”
1987 – The Replacements “Never Mind”
1986 – R.E.M. “These Days”
1985 – Husker Du “Celebrated Summer”
1984 – The Replacements “Unsatisfied”
1983 – Michael Jackson “Wanna Be Starting Something”
1982 – R.E.M. “Carnival Of Sort (Box Cars)”
1981 – Queen & David Bowie “Under Pressure”
1980 – AC/DC “Back In Black”
1979 – The Police “Message In A Bottle”
1978 – The Who “Who Are You”
1977 – The Sex Pistols “God Save The Queen”
1976 – Boston “More Than A Feeling”
1975 – Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody”
1974 – Big Star “September Gurls”
1973 – The Stooges “Search & Destroy”
1972 – David Bowie “Ziggy Stardust”


Album

2008 – Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago "Skinny Love"
2007 – The National The Boxer "Fake Empire"
2006 – The Hold Steady Boys and Girls in America
2005 – Spoon Gimme Fiction
2004 – Arcade Fire Funeral
2003 – The Wrens The Meadowlands
2002 – Pretty Girls Make Graves Good Health "Speakers Push The Air"
2001 – Ted Leo/Pharmacists The Tyranny of Distance "Squeaky Fingers"
2000 – PJ Harvey Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
1999 – Rainer Maria Look Now, Look Again - "Breakfast of Champions"
1998 – Elliot Smith XO
1997 – Pavement Brighten The Corners
1996 – Versus Two Cents Plus Tax
1995 – Superchunk Here’s Where The Strings Come In
1994 – Archers Of Loaf Icky Mettle
1993 – The Afghan Whigs Gentlemen
1992 – Sugar Copper Blue
1991 – Superchunk No Pocky For Kitty
1990 – Fugazi Repeater
1989 – The Pixies Doolittle
1988 – The Smithereens Green Thoughts
1987 – The Replacements Pleased To Meet Me
1986 – R.E.M. Life’s Rich Pageant
1985 – New Order Low Life
1984 – Prince & The Revolution Purple Rain
1983 – U2 War
1982 – Violent Femmes Violent Femmes
1981 – Men At Work Business As Usual
1980 – The Cure Boys Don’t Cry
1979 – The Clash London Calling
1978 – The Police Outlandos d’Amour
1977 – Elvis Costello My Aim Is True
1976 – Ramones Ramones
1975 – Aerosmith Toys In The Attic
1974 – Big Star Radio City
1973 – Stevie Wonder Innervisions
1972 – Rolling Stones Exile On Main Street

Bob Mould/Juliana Hatfield Birchmere 4/7/09

Juliana Hatfield

To celebrate the release of his new album The Life and Times (Anti Records) Bob took to the stage at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA. Opening for this date only was Juliana Hatfield fresh off an 8 hour Boston to DC Amtrak ride. Juliana, joined only by her Gibson SG, was battling a bit of a cold but plowed through a set of mostly new songs from both 2008's How To Walk Away and an as not-yet-titled effort that she describes as acoustic in character (despite being played on an electric). Not to shy away from deeply personal lyrics, her new songs appear increasingly so on the heels of the release of her memoir When I Grow Up. Her voice suffered from her cold until she made the decision half way through the set to offer a blistering cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Cover Me". From that point on, everything clicked.

Bob hit the stage with a little pep in his step, presumably related to the release of his new record. Jason Narducy (bass) and Amy Domingues (cello) joined Bob on stage for what started as a 20th anniversary celebration of Bob's 1989 solo debut Workbook. This album was of great importance to me as it transformed me from casual Husker Du fan into Bob Mould obsessive. Six songs from that landmark release started the evening and I was on my way to night of bliss.

Had the night ended with the Workbook retrospective I would have more than received my money's worth. Bob brought out longtime collaborator, Rich Morel (keyboards), and ran through four songs from the new disc all of which translated well to the semi-acoustic renderings offered. With seven songs left in the program, Bob switched over to his trusty blue and white Stratocaster with its signature sound (a sound I have spent the last several years trying to recreate on my own).

It has been Bob's habit ever since I first saw play an acoustic show in April of 1991 to play a number of songs with his electric guitar. I have often felt these songs suffered at times in comparison to the beauty of the acoustic offerings. Even with the addition of keys and bass for these songs, something was lost. I like my Bob Mould both ways - acoustic and electric - but I think if it is going to be electric bring Brendan Canty along for the ride.

Setlist: Wishing Well/See A Little Light/Sinners And Their Repentances/Poison Years/Lonely Afternoon/Brasilia Crossed With Trenton/Life And Times/The Breach/Bad Blood Better/I'm Sorry, Baby, But You Can't Stand In My Light Anymore/Walls In Time/Circles/Hoover Dam/The Silence Between Us/Your Favorite Thing/I Apologize/Celebrated Summer//encore//If I Can't Change Your Mind/Makes No Sense At All

The Silence Between Us (mp3)

Bob Mould Daytrotter Session

In advance of next Tuesday's release of Life and Times, Bob stopped by the Daytrotter Studios to play acoustic versions of a few songs from said long player. I'll be seeing Bob perform on the evening of the album's release at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA. Should be exciting as the ever-intriguing Juliana Hatfield is opening. Enjoy.

The Breach (mp3)
I'm Sorry, Baby, But You Can't Stand In My Light Anymore (mp3)
Life And Times (mp3)
Bad Blood Better (mp3)

Monday Morning Mix

Scotland Yard Gospel Choir

Like Barry bringing in his Monday Morning Mix into Championship Vinyl in High Fidelity, I offer you all the following. While it might not offer the same level of debate as to who has the better version of "Little Latin Lupe Lu" (the correct answer is Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels), it should help get the week started.

We start with a hefty dose of indie pop to allow the muscles to warm up. Stop and stretch during the quick instrumental interlude courtesy of Dexter Romweber of the Flat Duo Jets - he has a new band with his sister Sara (Snatches of Pink, Let's Active) on drums and a new album due out on Bloodshot Records this spring. Once your muscles are limber and your stretching complete, check out the final four tunes courtesy of the good people at Jade Tree Records. Usually by this point on a Monday morning I'm ready for a little post-hardcore. Enjoy these free and legal mp3's.


The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Everything With You - mp3
Ra Ra Riot - Dying Is Fine - mp3
Say Hi - November Was White, December Was Grey - mp3
Scotland Yard Gospel Choir - Lamp Post (demo) - mp3
Crystal Stilts - Shattered Shine - mp3
Sexy Kids - Sisters Are Forever - mp3

Pedro The Lion - Discretion - mp3
Dex Romweber Duo - Black Christmas - mp3
Cloak/Dagger - Runways - mp3
These Arms Are Snakes - Horse Girl - mp3
Fucked Up - Baiting The Public - mp3
New Mexican Disaster Squad - Tightrope - mp3

Big Shoulders Ball w/ Andrew Bird, Ted Leo et al

Andrew Bird & Tortoise

After taking a day or two to reflect on the Inauguration (as well as thaw out) I thought I'd drop a quick review of Monday's pre-Inaugural Big Shoulders Ball at the Black Cat in DC. Sponsored by Hideout Chicago, the "Ball" featured a number of Chicago artists as well as Ted Leo who records for Chicago-based Touch & Go Records.

My buddy Mike and I arrived around 9:30 to hear the music of Sun Ra interpreted by Jeff Parker and John Herndon of Tortoise and jazz saxophonist Ken Vandermark. Looking around we found an odd array of the usual Black Cat crowd combined with those in actual Ball garb (both ironic and formal). Tortoise, for whom I was most excited to see having never seen them live before, were next. They ripped through five or six songs in their alloted 25 minutes including Along the Banks of Rivers and Seneca although I was a little sad that Herndon didn't bring his vibraphone, cause really who doesn't love a vibraphone?

Andrew Bird, who for all intents and purposes, was considered the headliner hit the stage at 10:30 with Tortoise backing him for the first few songs - as well as Sally Timms of the Mekons and Janet Bean of Freakwater and Eleventh Dream Day on vocals. I don't Andrew was given enough time (~25 min) to hit his stride although his rendition of Syncthian Empires was really quite amazing.

After a bizarre set of covers by the Waco Brother - a sort of TexaCali rockabilly outfit fronted by a set of aging Brits - Ted Leo hit the stage. Ted, to no one's surprise, was the rare performer who expressed a degree of cynical reservation about the new administration before launching into some of his more cautionary tales like Bleeding Powers and The High Party.

After another drunk ranting by Ball emcee Tim Tuten, Eleventh Dream Day hit the stage. By this point in the evening it was past midnight and Mike and I knew we had to rise early to hit the Mall for the Inauguration so we left mid-set although what we heard sounded awesome.

I don't have any comments about the Inauguration to share here that haven't been shared by
others in far better terms. Let's just say I'm cautiously optimistic. Enjoy the music.


Andrew Bird performing live on the UK show From The Basement (video)
Ted Leo performing The High Party at Rolling Stone Studios (video)
Tortoise Eros (mp3)
Eleventh Dream Day Writes A Letter Home (mp3)

Best Songs of 2008

Bon Iver

Some have described 2008 as an "off" year for new music. In many ways I agree with this sentiment. If you asked me twelve months ago which albums I was most excited for in 2008, I would have answered the remastered and expanded Replacements records - well at least Let It Be, Tim and Pleased To Meet Me. And yes, they are awesome as are the remastered and expanded New Order catalog as well as R.E.M.'s Murmur. But what about new music, what was good? Albums by Bon Iver, Crooked Fingers, The Hold Steady, The Sea and Cake and Thao with the Get Down Stay Down topped my list. Save the Bon Iver album, none were mind blowing, just solid, well written rock and roll albums. So as we head toward 2009 (new Andrew Bird, Rival Schools, Neko Case, Morrissey) we'll leave you with our top 20 songs of 2008. Enjoy.

20. Paint It Black - Past Tense, Future Perfect
File this under "Mid 30's male who still enjoys a bit of the punk rock".

19. British Sea Power - Down On The Ground (stream)
I get the impression that the guitarist listened to Judas Priest in high school. At least, I hope he did.

18. Caithlin De Marrais - The Fire (stream)
Yet more evidence that Caithlin was the most important piece in the Rainer Maria puzzle.

17. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Baltimore
I will never know what Steve is talking about and I kind of don't care.

16. Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes
This one caught me by surprise.

15. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
Being a 36 year old who has two children and still loves to go to rock shows I now realize that Craig Finn is talking to me directly through my record player.

14. French Kicks - Abandon
My buddy Josh's brother used to play guitar for the French Kicks. It would be cool if he still did.

13. The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead
Same building as Death Cab for Cutie, though I can listen to this guy's voice for a lot longer without getting sick.

12. Crooked Fingers - Your Control
Eric Bachmann is quickly becoming my new Paul Westerberg. Having the great Neko Case to duet with doesn't hurt either.

11. Ladyhawk - S.T.H.D.
This came across my radar very late (like two weeks ago). I love any song that clocks in under two minutes with that kind of chorus.

10. Cansei De Ser Sexy - Rat Is Dead
The song that settles the argument - this band is no joke.

9. Gnarls Barkley - Run
Anyone else see them on Saturday Night Live? Genius!!!

8. Oxford Collapse - The Birthday Wars
The second best song of the year that sounds as if recorded in a vaccuum (see #1).

7. Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - Swimming Pools
The best singer-songwriter to come out of Northern Virginia since Neko Case. Gets my vote for second best album of the year.

6. Mother Mother - O My Heart
Someone has been listening to Surfer Rosa on repeat... and that's a good thing, by the by. A shout out to 3Hive for introducing me to this song.

5. The Hold Steady - Constructive Summer
The best track one side one of the year - no debate. Craig Finn sets the tone for his murder mystery/long playing record with this little number and continues his name checking along the way - Joe Strummer, Dillinger Four (doublewhiskeycokenoice).

4. The Mountain Goats - Sax Rohmer #1
John Darnielle is probably the best story teller in music.

3. Parts & Labor - Nowheres Nigh
Rule #491 of rock and roll: When you want your last chorus to kick ass take it up a half step (or even a whole) and the result will be magic. See Cheap Trick's Surrender for the best example.

2. Bon Iver - Skinny Love
Haunting. From the best album of the year.

1. The Gang - Sea So
I first heard this song about a year ago as it was floating around the internet (yes, I think it was 3Hive that turned me on to it) although it wasn't released on record until this past summer on the album Zero Hits (Absoultely Kosher). How this song didn't break through is one of the greatest puzzles of the universe.