THE CLASH-Straight to Hell

Posting this because it's The Clash and it's awesome. Only negative thing I can say about this video is that Topper isn't on the drums. Thanks to Irene F. Reixach for posting on youtube.

LINE & CIRCLE

I came across a song called Roman Ruins by the band Line & Circle recently and was instantly hooked by their early REM/80's alternative rock sound. Digging a little deeper, there really isn't that much about this band out there, but here is a little bit of what I found out. They are a group of brothers and friends from the midwest that are now based in LA. They have been on numerous buzz band lists and write up's (KEXP, KCRW, Rolling Stone, NPR Music, AOL/Spinner, Stereogum and on and on and on). Not bad for a band that only has 2 songs on itunes! With all of this buzz I can only assume/hope that a full length release and tour are in the not so distant future?!?! Until then, see below for their Roman Ruins video and a short concert they performed for KEXP at CMJ this past fall. ENJOY!

SOUND CITY

Sound City is a documentary about the legendary recording studio in Los Angeles, California. It's a story about sound and the process of making music the right way. Produced and directed by Dave Grohl, Sound City centers around the unique Neve recording console and the sounds it was able to produce. Opened in 1969, some of rock and rolls greatest albums were recorded inside Sound City from such bands as Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Cheap Trick, Johnny Cash, Grateful Dead, Santana, Rick Springfield (yes, and you know you love it), Rage Against the Machine and on and on. Dave Grohl has an intimate connection to Sound City as Nirvana's legendary album Nevermind was recorded there.

The movie has a two part feel with the first half taking viewers thru the history of the studio, what made it so special and what led to its eventual closing in 2011. The second half of the movie centers around Grohl's purchase of the Neve from Sound City, installing it in his own recording studio and gathering together a cast of musicians connected to Sound City to record an album of new songs thru the legendary console.

Sound City is full of interviews from legendary musicians providing viewers insight into the recording process.  Watching this movie will make you want to listen to more music. Watching this movie will make you appreciate the process it takes to make the music you listen to. Watching this movie will make you listen a little deeper next time you put on those headphones.  Watching this movie will make you thankful for places like Sound City Studios and people like Dave Grohl.

SOUND CITY official trailer

TREETOP FLYERS-Glasslands, Brooklyn NY

Treetop Flyers
Glasslands, Brooklyn NY
6/27

The Treetop Flyers are a five piece British band (4 Brits and 1 American) that create a heavy dose of 70's southern California americana soul. Named after a Stephen Stills song, they blend beautiful harmonies that touch on CSNY, Eagles, America, Gram Parsons and even a little Fleetwood Mac.

They arrived at Glasslands warehouse/artspace touring behind their beautiful debut 'The Mountain Moves'. From first listen, you will become obsessed with 'Things Will Change', which could easily be mistaken for a song from America. They stretch out a bit as 'Houses are Burning' and 'Picture Show'  sound like a country fried 'Don't Fear the Reaper', while 'Waiting on You', 'Roses in the Yard' and 'Making Time'  blend mellow country soul. 'Postcards' adds a little doo-wap and album closer 'Is it all Worth it' draws some inspiration from Mumford and Sons. Of all their songs, 'Haunted House' was the one that stood out most during their hour long set tonight. Clocking in at 6:52 on cd, they stretched it out to well over 8 minutes live driving us to peaks and valleys before closing it out in a long frenzied finish. The Treetop Flyers are blessed with an enormous amount of talent. Their music may seem oddly familiar yet it is new and fresh. 'The Mountain Moves' is a classic FULL album that should be the soundtrack for your next road trip. It sounds equally as cool sitting on your porch on a beautiful sunny day as it does watching a storm roll in. They've got talent to spare. Considering the fact that the next concert they would be playing after tonight would be Glastonbury, I'm sure this is just the beginning of great things to come for the Treetop Flyers.

Things Will Change-Official Video Haunted House-Live from WFUV, Fordham University Radio Houses Are Burning-Live

PALMA VIOLETS-Music Hall of Williamsburg

PALMA VIOLETS, THE GUARDS
Music Hall of Williamsburg-Brooklyn, NY
May 9

my iphone photo

British buzz band Palma Violets came to play MHW tonight and a birthday party broke out. Led by duel lead singers Chilli Jesson and Sam Fryer, the band blazed thru their much hyped debut album 180 which blends garage, soul, psychedelic and rock into epic sing along anthems. The Palma Violets built a reputation as a great live band thru weekly shows at small art studio in south London called Studio 180. Only those 'in the know' found the door leading to these parties but word quickly spread and next thing you know Zane Lowe is spinning their single 'Step up for the Cool Cats' on his BBC1 Radio Show, NME chooses 'Best of Friends' as track of the year for 2012 and they get signed to Rough Trade records all before putting out their first full length.

They certainly lived up to their reputation of a great live band tonight. Chilli is one of the more enjoyable lead singers I have seen in a long time. With a youthful exuberance and a badass attitude, he owns the stage and leads the band swinging around his bass guitar. The band, which also includes fantastic drummer Will Doyle and keyboard player Peter Mayhew, constantly engaged the crowd, bringing everyone closer together almost shrinking the size of the venue so we felt as if we were in one of their weekly Studio 180 parties. Songs like 'Best of Friends', 'Step up for the Cool Cats', 'We Found Love', 'Last of the Summer Wine' and 'Chicken Dippers' all got kicked up a few notches. One guy, feeling the power of the Palma Violets live, thrusts his crutches into the air as if say, 'I CAN WALK'! For the encore, the band invited opening bands and friends on stage while they presented Chilli with a cake for his birthday. As to be expected, cake frosting started flying around the stage followed by beer and anything else they could get their hands on before breaking into a cover of The Hot Nasties 'Invasion of the Tribbles' leading everyone singing along with them 'oh yeah! oh yeah! oh yeah!' A messy birthday party broke out on stage and we all became part of it. So goes a Palma Violets show. Happy Birthday Chilli. You and your band have a great year ahead of you. Thanks for a great show. 

Best of Friends-from SXSW (Thanks rincewind1013 for posting on youtube)

KEXP-full performance (Thanks KEXP for posting on youtube)

FU MANCHU-Bowery Ballroom NYC

FU MANCHU, BLOODNSTUFF, VAGINA PANTHER
BOWERY BALLROOM-NYC
APRIL 19

my iphone photo

Fu Manchu spent the month of April blazing a trail across the United States re-visiting their classic 1997 album 'The Action Is Go' and tonight they brought the rock to the Bowery Ballroom. I am constantly amazed that this band isn't bigger than they are. They have been putting out music since 1990 and their catalog consists of 10 solid studio albums. When explaining their sound, the words 'stoner rock' are always included. Listening to their lyrics and looking over any of their albums and merchandise artwork you will find the bands love for muscle cars, custom vans, skateboarding and science fiction. This is rock that kicks ass. It makes you want to grow your hair out, put on a bandana and get lost in yourself. Its Dazed and Confused all over again. More people need Fu Manchu in their lives.  Tonight they went full throttle to kick everyones asses blazing thru all 14 tracks in order from 'The Action Is Go' before treating the crowd to an encore of classics leaving our heads and ear drums screaming with pleasure. It was classic Fu show. As Jack Blacks character Dewey Finn would say in 'The School of Rock', they melted our faces.

We arrived at the show a little late missed Vagina Panther, the first of two opening bands. I know nothing about Vagina Panther other than the fact that their name is pretty awesome.

Second openers Bloodnstuff were the revelation of the evening. My friends and I were all arriving, milling around and getting our beers when it hit us that the two dudes on stage were ripping it up. This two man band from Minneapolis left us wanting more and pissed off that we arrived late missinf more than half of their set. Their Facebook page lists their type of music as 'post-rock'. Not really sure what that means. I just know that they kicked ass and were a great warm up for Fu


opening song-Evil Eye (thanks beatfreak72 for posting on youtube)
encore song-Weird Beard (thanks beatfreak72 for posting on youtube) Bloodnstuff (thanks beatfreak72 for posting on youtube) Bloodnstuff (live from 89.3 The Current)

GOOGA MOOGA

The 2nd annual Googa Mooga took place in Brooklyn's Prospect Park on May 17,18,19. This food, beer, wine and music festival continues to go thru growing pains as they work out some kinks. I have to say, I have been lucky in my experiences over these first two years. Last years inaugural saw complaints on things ranging from obtaining festival tickets (which are free), the long lines getting in, getting 'over 21' wristbands as well as food and drink. After I was given tickets a few days before, I was able to go to day 2 last year when things to have been smoothed out and we enjoyed a great day of food, drink and a fantastic set of headliners Hall & Oats who dazzled us with an hour and a half of non stop hits.

For the 2013 edition, organizers promised that all the kinks have been worked out and this years festival would be outstanding. One new twist to this festival was the addition of a third day, which would be an opening night paid concert with The Darkness, Flaming Lips and Yeah Yeah Yeahs gracing the stage. If you purchased a ticket to this opening night you were also given a ticket to your choice of Saturday or Sundays festivities. I didn't make it to Fridays show but from what I heard, The Darkness hit the stage around 4:45 pm, Flaming Lips a little after 6 and Yeah Yeah Yeahs were finished around 8. That's tough for a New York crowd to make it out to Brooklyn by 5 or even 6 on a Friday before our 'summers hours' have kicked in. Not sure why the show had to be done by 8 each night but I assume being a city park has something to do with it.

As with last years festival, I was given a ticket a few days before hand and went on Saturday. Also, as with last year, I had a great time.  Light rain much of the afternoon kept a good chunk of ticket holders away making it a breeze entering the venue, getting food and drink as well as getting good views of the bands. There seemed to be some confusion as to the beer/wine tents in which you had to purchase a cup for $2 to gain a bigger selection of drinks while you could also purchase a smaller selection at other booths around the grounds while not needing the $2 cup. Food selections were broad and included options from restaurants from around the NYC area. I went with the 'Phat Thai' from Pok Pok, a small Thai restaurant located on the Lower East Side. This shit was spicy but delicious so thankfully I had easy access numerous cold IPA's from an upstate brewery to wash it down.

As for music, the selection also varied. As we walked in Father John Misty was on the stage. While I love his cd, this guy is super annoying in concert as you can read in a previous post. Pearl and the Beard were a 3 piece which included 2 girls (oddly neither of them named Pearl) and a guy with a beard. They had a singer/songwriter type vibe and the lead singer sang and played a snare drum standing up which for some reason seemed kind of cool. The star of the day came up next on the main stage and that is a man called Lorenzo Cherubini, otherwise known as Jovanotti. Where have I been? This guy was awesome. This italian has been around since the late 80's, churning out 12 albums that blend hip hop, funk, ska, reggae, word music and even rap. He has been called Italy's first rapper but he is so much more. He is an amazing performer that sings in italian, english and spanish. He gave shout outs to the early NYC rappers that influenced him along with professing his love for the Beastie Boys during a cover of 'no sleep til brooklyn'. It's performers like Jovanotti that make me love music so much. I knew nothing about this guy, he comes out and blows me away to the point that I want to know everything about him and hear all of his music. Truly inspiring. Headliners Matt & Kim were a big disappointment for me. I expected a lot more as I have heard great things about them live. While they do their best to make their performance exciting, it just seemed very boring and more of a schtick. Less then halfway thru their set I headed to the second stage to encounter a small dance party going on as Red Baraat were on stage. These nine brooklynites play something called Bhangra Funk Dhol 'n' Bass which blends jazz, funk, hip hop in a crazy party vibe. Wow! So much fun and definitely a must see next time they play NYC.

Unfortunately for Googa Mooga, the rains came down hard during the night into Sunday and they were forced to cancel day 3 of the festival. Changes made from year one to year two were positive. Hopefully they are able to continue and we see an even better year three in 2014 and beyond as you can't beat a day in the park complete with great food, great drink, great music and great friends.

Check out Jovanotti from SXSW this past year


Check out Red Baraat performing a few years ago