Notes From Underground

The Dirtbombs @ Southpaw

Like the White Stripes, The Dirtbombs started out as a Detroit garage rock band, and followed a musical path away from the typical garage rock sound. But while the White Stripes took the smarty-pants route, making artsy videos and dressing like Bob Dylan, The Dirtbombs have kept things a lot more rough around the edges. They're intelligent and even virtuosic, but they rock with a raw power and unfettered soulfulness that makes you want to jump up and dance all night.

That's how the crowd responded at The Dirtbombs' show at Brooklyn's Southpaw a couple weeks ago. This band is just fun to rock out to. Their energy and precision is amazing. They're one of those double-drummer bands, so you know they gotta be tight! You don't mess around with 2 drummers if you're about to get sloppy.

The audience, however - that's a different story. Many beers were drunk and spilled. Drinking and dancing can get messy. New friendships were forged then lost in the crowd. The couple standing behind me concluded the show with a major makeout session. So I think it's fair to say - a good time was had by all.

http://www.thedirtbombs.net/

Yeasayer at The Bowery Ballroom

Last week I saw a band featuring a longtime friend's younger brother, which reminded me how old I am. But I'm cool with it.

Yeasayer are based in Brooklyn, with roots in Baltimore. (Like me!) They're very different from most of the music you hear today, more complex and ambitious, which is a good thing. They have a world music side to them (they've opened for M.I.A., I believe) but I also hear an early 80's INXS thing in some of their songs (also a good thing, no matter what my boyfriend says!), some Fleetwood Mac-ish vocals, and some other prog rock stuff I can't exactly put my finger on.

Also, many of their songs have a good beat and you can dance to them.

After Yeasayer I watched a little of Oakley Hall, which was boring in comparison.

Check Yeasayer out here:

http://www.myspace.com/yeasayer

http://www.nowwearefree.com/headquarters.html

Conrad: Architecture In Helsinki

 
I haven't been out to a show in awhile, so I thought that I might take a moment or two of your time to point your ears to one of the finest singles I've heard in awhile - Heart It Races by Architecture In Helsinki. Despite that Finn-recalling moniker, Architecture In Helsinki actually hail from Melbourne, Australia and, perhaps not surprisingly given their name, have a sound that is at once playful, complex and supremely tuneful. Their six person lineup allows for varied instrumentation. Varied instrumentation = tons of awesome sounds. For example, the lilting, lovely steel drums on Heart It Races.

Heart It Races is the first single from the new Architecture In Helsinki album, Places Like This, due out in August. For now, it's only streaming on their MySpace. Listen and dance.

Above pic of AiH taken by yours truly at the Gothic Theatre in Denver, Colorado on October 6, 2006.

Lisa: Warped Tour Warped Panel

Who's stoked for Warped Tour?!?!  I know I am. Partly because I get to work on it!  I am Lisa, and I help run the Warped Panel.  The Warped Panel is a group of warped tour fans, just like you and me, who fill out a few surveys and stuff to collect information about what fans are interested in these days.  This helps Kevin Lyman pick which sponsors he should include on the tour, based on what you guys are interested in.  So basically filling out the survey would make the tour better for you, because it will lead to more of what you want to see!

Also, there is a space to write in which bands you would like to see on tour, so this is your chance to let the people in charge of tour know who YOU want to play!

For the survey to be valid you have to fill out the whole survey thoroughly and honestly.

To sign up go to www.warpedpanel.com

There will be a couple surveys, but so far only the 1st one is up. You'll all get in e-mail when the next one is ready.

So besides seeing cool sponsor booths at tour, why would you want to fill out these awesome surveys?!  Well, because you can win a VIP PASS TO THE WARPED TOUR DATE OF YOUR CHOICE AND I'LL TAKE YOU ON STAGE TO SEE YOUR FAVORITE BAND! Pretty sweet deal, huh?

There are 450 winners total, 10 for each date. 

Friend me on myspace!  www.myspace.com/warpedpanel  and join the facebook group Warped Tour Warped Panel to join in on discussion boards and share pictures and stories with other psyched Warped Tour fans!

It's going to be awesome.

Well, what are you waiting for?! Sign up now!

www.warpedpanel.com
www.myspace.com/warpedpanel
facebook group: Warped Tour Warped Panel
AIM: Warped Panel

Hope to see you this summer!

Love,
Lisa

 

Marya: Village Records

Ok, so this post is kind of going to be about self promotion.  Is that cool?  Ok. 

So, I'm involved in this thing you might have heard of called Village Records.  It is a record label run by students out of the music department at NYU.  We're trying really hard this semester to get more recognition around New York City and anywhere else that might care.  We've been featured in some cool publications in the past, but we felt that a blog would be the place we want to advertise.  The people that read this are our main audience. 

We'll be putting on shows around the city, and look for a few releases from us in March (especially "The Dean's List").  If you like what you see/hear, then we would love to be your best friend.  And then you can tell your other friends.  And you can be like the cool kids and buy all our stuff.  Right?  Right. 

And for right now, you can check out our myspace.  www.myspace.com/villagerecords

Marya: Angry Patriots Fans + A Rock Show

So, this is my first entry on the Notes From The Underground blog, and I wasn't really sure what I should write about.  I could do the typical show review, or maybe a "best of '06" countdown, but thats already been done.  And honestly, who likes repetition?  No one.

I thought I would be original and give a rundown of a show I played with my band Slow Century in Boston, Massachusetts.  It took place on the 21st of this month, the day of the big Patriots vs. Colts playoff game.  So, the previous week was spent by the band and I trying to con our friends into giving up their fandom to listen to some rock music.  They weren't having it.  At this point we get to Sunday and we're pretty depressed.  It doesn't look like anyone is going to show up. 

We load in a 6:30pm, just in time to catch the kickoff displayed on big screen tvs by the bar.  A few friends came with us early, so they could watch the game and catch the show at the same time.  The first band went on at 9pm, at which point the Patriots were in the lead.  Spirits were high, and every Boston dude in a Pats shirt started his quest of drinking more than the guy next to him at the bar to prove that he's more of a man.  By the time the first band ended their set, though, the game had turned and the Pats were losing.  The happy drunk moment was gone, and was replaced with anger and a need to drink even more.  I've never seen so many fumbled beers in my life.  Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy drunks.   

Then the second band starts their set.  No one paid any attention to them, which was a shame since they were a great band (they're called Hello Darling, look them up).  Shortly into their third song, the game ends.  The Patriots had lost.  They weren't going to the Superbowl.  More spilled beer, crying 40 year old men, and some sweet indie rock.  Great combo, right?

So, we finally hit the stage at 11pm.  Some friends finally show up.  By this time the crying has stopped, and is replaced with the need to get laid to make up for their loss.  I realize at this point the place is packed with guys, and maybe about 6 girls including myself.  And I'm pretty sure all of the other girls were there with boyfriends.  Basically, that left me open for the attack.  And it didn't help that about halfway through our set, my brother (and bassist) decided it would be funny to tell the audience that along with our demos we were giving kisses for five dollars.  Thanks a lot, bro. 

Our set ended.  I ran to the back room to avoid the drunken men.  But then came time to move out our equipment, so I had to brave the crowd.  Here is a list of why I hate drunken, older men:

1.  I get called "girly"

2. "Kisses for five dollars, eh?"

3.  Slurred pickup lines...no, wait...I actually find those entertaining.

I won't really elaborate more, but it's definitely time to leave when someone who is as old as your father almost hurls on your shoes. 

The moral of this story is: If you are female and play in a rock band, do not play a show to drunk, depressed Pats fans and NEVER utter the words "giving" and "kisses" while on stage.  Your night will be a lot better if you follow those rules.   

Matt:Best of 06

Figured a good way to start posting was to reflect on the year that we just exited and compose a list of some of the cds and shows I got into in 06.

Albums: 

Keane - Under The Iron Sea
Placebo - Meds
The Kooks - Inside In, Inside Out
Lilly Allen - Alright Still (this came out in January, but come on, we all had it.
Hard Fi - Stars of CCTV
Editors - The Bakc Room*
Razorlight - Razorlight
IV Thieves-If We Can't Escape My Pretty
Muse - Black Holes And Revelations
Mew - And The Glass Handed Kites*

*Released in 05 but obtained and enjoyed in 2006

Shows -

Keane - Bowery Ballroom
Editors - Webster Hall
Charlatans - Webster Hall
Muse-Hammerstein Ballroom
The Who - Madison Square Garden
Rob Dickinson - Irving Plaza

Retro: they are old, but still stand up

Simple Minds  'New Gold Dream'
Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen
Catherine Wheel - Chrome

Laurie: What I'm Listening To

Even though I listen to a lot of music that nobody cares about, I thought I'd contribute to our new blog anyway. So there! I still listen to music all day long and screw it, I have good taste.

Am I the last one to discover The Shins? I've been listening to their song "Phantom Limb" a lot and the cd is on its way to me so I can check out the rest of it. Their website is fun too, you can click on each band member and make them jump around.

And it took me ages to get Welcome To The Black Parade (by My Chemical Romance of course) but I'm liking it a LOT. It's pretty different from the usual stuff I like, but good music is good music, dammit.

I'm also still really enjoying my Death Cab For Cutie playlist on my iPod, which is just all of their cds added together and the "shuffle" setting. I can't find a crappy song in the bunch. I saw them live earlier in the year and they rocked even though the sound at the Hammerstein wasn't very good, which I guess is what happens when you have two bands sharing a bill. (They were teamed up with Franz Ferdinand.)

And okay, I'm still listening to an awful lot of Elvis Costello. I figure the other bands would approve anyway, right? The man crosses all genres and excels at all of them. He has influenced just about everybody, and can play any kind of music in the world, although I imagine he's going to take at least a short break since he just became the father of twins. (Dexter & Frank, no less.)

Also enjoying The Slip, their cd landed on my desk and I liked the album art so much I decided to check it out. Good stuff! Added that to the iPod as well.

And as I type, I'm listening to some old school Oasis, "Cast No Shadow". I know they're assholes but I love their music anyway.

Happy Holidays! 

MF: "Bicycle!!! Bicycle!!!"

This song has been in my head now all week, but for two totally different reasons. Monday we were busy shooting "Tour De F-List"- your top five favorite music videos with bicycles! So naturally Queen's "Bicycle Race" kept popping in my head.  But since about 11pm last night its been in my head thanks to Between the Buried and Me. I saw them last night at Irving Plaza on the Radio Rebellion Tour, along with Misery Signals, Norma Jean, Fear Before the March of Flames, and I think BlessTheFall was the opener. All I know is that I learned the term "Bangover" during their set. I don't know how I missed out on that word for so long.

Bangover- the disagreeable physical aftermath caused by serious headbanging.

I went to this show to see my friends in Misery Signals, who I toured with back in 2002/2003- first when Kyle (bass) and Ryan (guitar) were in 7 Angles/7Plagues and then on the very first Misery Signals tour. If you haven't heard either band- do yourself a favor and pick up their albums. This was my first time seeing them with their new singer Karl and seeing them perform the songs off their latest CD "Mirrors." First of all I'm so happy they've been doing the band full time for a while now, and that they're having a great time. But more importantly (for you music fans), their playing has improved so much, their sound has a great balance of melody, heavy mosh, and good metal riffage. Karl's voice is awesome and huge and has a Godzilla/Incredible Hulk type of character to it where it can be big and scary and monstrous, but then gentle and vulnerable sweet and humanlike.

The mood changes in the music aren't your contrived mix of "look we're crazy and screaming and then we're doing sweet pretty singing parts that might get us on the radio." NO. It's a nice beautiful and powerful mix of musical emotions. If you're a fan of Metallica, Cave In, Botch, Hum, Pink Floyd, emotional, layered, heavy music, then you'll like Misery Signals.  (Oh yeah- they thank Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy on the album.... go see why.) www.myspace.com/miserysignals

Kyle                             Stu (they don't have water in Canada i guess)

Branden warming up

Sidetrack- Army of Anyone (members of Stone Temple Pilots/Filter) just came on Fuse and although I've only caught about :30 of the song, which wasn't enough to decide whether or not I like the band, I  totally felt like I was living back at my parents house in 1995, hanging out in friends living rooms, wearing gas station attendant jackets, burning incense, listening to Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Hole, The Foo Fighters first album, Live, Filter, Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden, and using the phrase, "Dad, welcome to the 90s!"

Which brings me back to Between the Buried and Me, the inspiration for this post. I first saw this band back in the summer of 2002 at Orlando Magic Fest (which ruled!!) and I instantly fell in love with them. After their first album (self-titled), they went through some line-up changes, I started to lose interest without even really giving them a listen because I always figure if a band can't keep a consistent line up, then how can they keep their sh** together musically? WRONG!! So glad I was wrong! I saw them last December on tour with Dillinger Escape Plan and Horse the Band and they kicked my ass! My adrenaline was pumping along with the crowds fists in the air. I immediately ran and bought their album "Alaska" and rocked out nonstop. Seeing them last night was even better. Their sound is GIGANTIC (and they didn't have two drummers... *ahem* Norma Jean) and clean, and you can't avoid being drawn to it. This was not a band people were standing chatting during, but instead screaming and singing along, throwing their fists in the air, and moshing like mad men and women. (I think a brawl broke out in like the first minute of their set). The show was incredible. It was awesome because I ran into my friends Nick and Melissa who actually danced to a Between the Buried and Me song at their wedding. Not only does the band blow you away with their blast beats and techy riffs, but they've got some of the most melodic fairytale ballads (but not cheesy like monster ballads). Their music makes you want to stomp through unchartered territories and slay dragons and kick over mountains, but then also float weightless into outterspace and do back flips and fall in love.

 

My friend Colin mentioned before the show that he hoped they played "Bicycle Race" and told me about their covers CD The Anatomy Of (which I totally slacked and slept on getting). Well luckily they played "Bicycle Race" and I was grinning from ear to ear because so amazing. I honestly think Freddie Mercury had rose from the grave and was standing behind me chanting along in my ear. Every time I listen to Queen I feel like there are tiny little voices living in my head singing in magical harmonies to me because the voices are too vivid to be coming from a radio or cd. Well Between the Buried and Me definitely did the song justice, and had the whole venue partying the way you should when you listen to Queen. So I picked up The Anatomy Of and till 2am last night and first thing this morning I was rocking out and admiring their covers of Metallica, Pink Floyd, Smashing Pumpkins, Depeche Mode, Blind Melon, Soundgarden, EARTH CRISIS!, and yes the Counting Crows "Colorblind." (FYI- the band's name comes from a Counting Crows lyric). All of the covers are awesome and they don't sound like a hardcore band just playing karaoke style to a song from a band they like. Instead the songs are reworkings of the classics that led the way for this band to become who they are-a talented bunch of musicians who understand melody, and how to make awesome songs that you're not going to skip over or sneak to the bathroom during. While the band twists and shapes the music into complex new versions of these songs and pays respectful and just tributes to the bands who inspired them, it's singer Tommy's versatility that allows this record, their records before, and their live show to be successful.

Most hardcore singers could only pull off 2 or 3 covers before you got sick of the monotony and limited range of their voice. While this band, and their cds before have proved to me they're awesome, the range they tackle and succeed with on this covers cd makes me think (and hope) they're limitless.

Photos courtesy of Greg Straightedge. www.myspace.com/gregstraightedge