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Metal Sucks’ Saturday song to get stoned to is Sonic Youth…
Adult Mosaic will make a mosaic of any picture you upload using porno stills. (via)
Open Tape is a way to put muxtape on your own server. That is probably a bad idea…
A reason for open source’s non-adoption on the business level.
John McCain’s Roommates
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Explode Into Colors @ Dekum Manor
Who is this band? If you aren’t from the Pacific Northwest chances are pretty slim that you haven’t caught word of these talented ladies quite yet unless you read WFMU’s Beware of the Blog. WFMU called it “hypnotic freak funk” and “gritty dance-punk tracks that sound like the late-night love child of Fela Kuti and ESG” but I personally think it’s very unclassifiable. To call it dance punk would lump them in with some bands that wear their sisters jeans and these ladies don’t have to borrow anyones pants…
I first heard them in someone’s basement in north Portland on a Sunday afternoon. I didn’t really feel like going to a house show but they came with the highest recommendation possible in my book, a recommendation from a fellow musician and my old roommate Chris from Don Hellions. When I got to the house I was slightly worries as everyone was sitting on the floor upstairs and silent as early films while someone was playing an acoustic guitar and singing feverishly. While I don’t want to be a hater, it’s not what I went there for and I have little patience for singer songwriter music. I’m glad I stayed as I was able to see EIC for the first time.
I was floored by the pure uniqueness to say the least. While I often look at odd instrumentation in a “rock” setup as a gimmick, a breath of fresh air comes forth from these 3 ladies that goes beyond the typical adding horns or strings as there is no guitar or bass, instead Claudia plays a baritone guitar. A melodica and percussionist as well as a full trap kit completes the setup to make a full but minimal sound that will make even the most uptight nerd who wears their cellphone on their belt shake their ass.
I recently had the chance to ask to chat up Claudia and pick her brain as she “channeled” the other members properly…
Do you have a demo yet?
We don’t have a demo yet. But we will be recording one with our good friend Robert in September. We recently tried recording with the phenomenal Christina Files in her basement but it didn’t turn out well, too humid, it made my baritone very temperamental. We hope to record with her again under better circumstances.
Where can you get one?
When we have it ready, you will be able to get one from our myspace site and from us at our shows.
I’m pretty sure someone in the band does art in some way shape or form, where can I see examples of said art on the internet?
We all do art in some way shape or form. We most currently all worked on curating a multi-media art show called Tag Team! with Senegalese artist Modou Dieng. It’s happening 9/3/08 at Holocene in Portland: http://www. holocene. org/calendar/
For our part of the show we are collaborating with an amazing dancer, Janet Pants (http://www. janetpants. com), and Los Moustachios, a rad video art collective. It should be an interesting set.
Lisa is a really good illustrator, she does most of our fliers. She also made an awesome diy drumming instruction book: http://www. buyolympia. com/q/Item=diyguidetodrums
I make graphics and videos for pay, freelance style, my online portfolio is in the works. I also compose more academic musical pieces. Currently I’m working on a piece for cellist, Derek M. Johnson for Aphonia Recordings.
Heather has some serious drawing skills and is an awesome dancer. She is dancing with Janet Pant Dans Theatre on the sly.
We are also all brainstorming another art show where we show more of our visual art. When we started EIC, we wanted it to be an art project that could be a creative vehicle for all our interests rather than just a band. We definitely love playing music though.
Or is it clothing design?
Heather Treadway is the fashion designer. She is actually out of town doing work for her line. Check it! heathertreadway. com
Is playing a baritone guitar more like playing a guitar or a bass?
Playing a baritone is totally like playing both guitar and bass simultaneously. The strings are thinner than a bass but thicker than a guitar. You still have plenty of low end and a fuller sound but also enough room to play clear melodies in a higher register. It also has six strings just like a regular guitar. I bought my Danelectro baritone when I was 17 and knew i was going to put it to good use one day. I love it when people ask me questions about my baritone, her name is Nico.
What bands do you like playing with?
We love playing with friends’ bands a bunch because then it’s like having a birthday party for yourself. Everyone is super happy and stoked to be there and then after hanging you get to play for each other. And then everyone tells everyone else how awesome their band is…too much fun.
The New Kids on the Block have recently reformed and just released a new single, do you feel threatened musically by them in anyway shape or form?
Only if Joey grew out his hair again and started wearing that crazy hat with no top that makes his luscious curls spill over to the brim. No amount of musical talent can ever really compete with luscious man curls.
In one song you have the chant “bombs over baghdad”, is that an anti-war statement, an homage to outkast or something else entirely?
Both. We love Outkast and hate war.
Do you have any feelings on music sharing/piracy?
We love music, sharing, and only like piracy if it doesn’t involve scurvy or walking the plank, especially when there are sharks involved.
What is in the future for Explode Into Colors?
RECORDING!, more art shows, mores songs, tours, awesome shirts, possibly a play, most probably a sandwich.
Anything else you would like to add?
Oh, and we are also collaborating this winter with the amazing Portland Sprockettes (http://sprockettes. org/) We will be providing some music for their routines. It’s like we won the lottery of rad. I’m really super excited about this one.
Take Care,
Claudia and the rest of EIC
Winning the lottery of rad you say? Lotteries are won by chance and this band does not need chance when they have tunes likes the ones posted below…
Tunes
This song reminds me of a Jamaican dancehall tune with HR from Bad Brains getting a sex change and singing lead vox.
Is that a cowbell I hear?
And I believe Explode Into Colors is going to be one for the Portland music history books.
Shows
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Holocene: Tag Team! | Portland, Oregon | ||
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rotture – music fest north west | Portland, Oregon | ||
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Backspace | Portland, Oregon | ||
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East End w/Panther (<3), Tussle and Lemonade | Portland, Oregon | ||
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Banana Stand w/ Dat’r, Meth Teeth and Reporter | Portland, Oregon |
Further Reading
Tags: Dub, Explode Into Colors, PunkFred Durst directs films.
You can legally watch some really good films for free on Hulu.
Norbert Kox does some pretty cool art.
Here is the metal version of the Stars Wars Kid.
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Don Caballero
Many people would argue that Don Caballero does not deserve to have their name beings as there is only one original member and they had broken up. To add insult to injury the original member is the drummer.
But I personally beg to differ. There a couple of thing to consider before making that argument. Damon Che, the only original member asked the other two members if they want to have a go at it again and they declined. So Damon took it upon himself to get new musicians and put out records on Relapse.
A lot of reviews are drinking up large amounts of haterade and saying that The Don are not breaking any new ground and at times that may be, but Don Cab has always been what they are and that is instantly recognizable. To start “breaking new ground” would be something that wasn’t Don Cab.
I think what has happened is that the music blogs and indie press are too into Battles to really get into the new Don Cab record. Regardless it seems that some reviews didn’t listen to the album in it’s entirety because none of the reviews seem to mention that there is vocals on some of the songs which is a MAJOR DEPARTURE from standard Don Caballero faire.
This record does break new ground though with it’s addition of vocals and even a track with blast beats called “Slaughbaughs’ Ought Not Own Dog Data”. The album has heavy moments as well as noodly moments and everything in between.
If you are into drummers you will be in for a treat as Damon Che is one ofthe best underground drummers alive today. He can play any time signature without batting an eye while not sounding like he’s showing off at all.
Fans of the older albums will feel right at home on this release and this would be a decent starting point for new fans curious about mathrock. I give this album an 8 out of 10.
Tunes
Slaughbaughs’ Ought Not Own Dog Data
other reviews
Tags: Don Caballero, mathrockIn Africa they have DVDr and CDR sniffing dogs.
Italy blocked The Pirate Bay and somehow Italian traffic increased.
The Decemberists have a singles series on the way.
Metal Sucks are having a contest for the most brutal moshpit story with pics. I can’t wait to read about that one.
Metallica’s new track is streaming, I thought they hated the internet… initial thoughts are a mix of the black album and newer records and then into a And Justice for All.. outtake.(via)
Wheaties, the breakfast of champions! Wesley Willis Died 5 years ago today…
Tags: metal, MetallicaLongtime readers will have noticed that my delicious links quit posting right about the time that they introduced their new “upgrades” which amounted to nothing more than a few cosmetic changes. So I’m going to do a manual post today.
Spylacopa is supergroup of metal and art rock musicians, but it is admittedly “not metal” but rather an ambient but listenable thing going on… This droup has members of Dillinger Escape Plan, Made out of Babies, Isis and Candaria(who I never really cared for). Their EP drops 11/4. Election Day.
Twisted Sister may or may not be trying to put together a christmas themed broadway musical.
Quite the laugh eh?
There be an emo mystery unveiling at absolute punk dot net…
There’s a new Jesu album coming out on tuesday called “why are we not perfect?”.
The saxaphone player for the Dave Matthews Band died. It was on absolute punk as well. I swear I don;t AP very much, it just happens to be in the folder marked press releases…
This sounds like total win here… Fun Fun Fest. The lineup includes Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The National, Atmosphere, Minus The Bear, Rival Schools, Tim Fite, Magnetic Morning (Swervedriver/Interpol), Kevin Seconds, Walter Schreifels (Quicksand/Gorilla Biscuits), Tom Gabel (Against Me!), Ben Nichols (Lucero), Tim Barry (Avail), Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music), ALL, Dead Milkmen, Flipper, Integrity, Adolescents, Integrity, Bouncing Souls, Swingin Utters, DOA, Killdozer, The Cro-mags, Scared of Chaka, Young Widows, Leftover Crack, Trash Talk, World Burns to Death, Krumbums, Mammoth Grinder, Cute Lepers, Bitter End, High Tension Wires, Born to Lose and many more.
Ipod nano’s are catching on fire.
Well that’s it for today…
Guitar Hero and I have a love hate relationship, on one hand it’s fun to play everyn once in awhile and it keeps my girlfriend busy while I work on my websites, but on the other I know how to play a real guitar and it kind of disheartens me to think that kids are turning away music to play a game where you pretend to make music. Something about that isn’t right.
While I can’t place the blame solely upon guitar hero something needs to be done about the major disrespect to Charlie Daniels(or is it Daniel’s with the apostrophe showing ownership?) . What disresect is this you ask? Kids are posting videos of themselves playing the game on the “Devil Went Down to Georgia” level and not crediting Mr. Daniels at all. All the titles are something like GH3 Devil went do….
I’m sure you are thinking oh this really isn’t a big deal, so some little kids forgot some old fogies name. Or maybe they just don’t associate the song with anything but the game.
Just take a look at these video for examples. Don’t bother watching the full videos, they get boring real quick.
So, you know it’s not that bad, it’s just some kids that have no idea of the history of the music they are playing, it’s really not that bad. But wait, what about when legitimate musicians are the ones not knowing their roots…
or even worse…
You know what? You’re right, it’s not a big deal, but wait till those old fogies are John Lydon or Joe Strummer, Kerry King or Iam Mckaye. OK, Ian will probably never be on guitar hero, but there might already be a version of Waiting Room for “Frets of Fire“. What is Frets of Fire? Just a free as in beer or speech open source game that is pretty much identical to Guitar Hero. Yes, an identical game that also has a level builder so any song that is around in digital format is a potential level. and the x-box 360 controller works on a PC.
Tags: games, video
Well, the coolest service on the web has ran into a little hitch.
Popular playlist sharing site Muxtape is down and says that it’s because of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It might have been inevitable but the news will run chills down the spines of countless music sharers. It’s a tragedy, really, and one we hope to see reversed quickly.
Cynics will say they got what they deserved, others will ask why they didn’t monetize as quickly as possible and pay internet radio licensing fees. The company says only that “Muxtape will be unavailable for a brief period while we sort out a problem with the RIAA.”
What is a someone to do now that they can’t make a muxtape. I suggest creating a torrent and sharing it the pirate bay.
Yes you moment you have been waiting for your entire life has finally come full circle, Jonathon, jordan, Joe, Danny and Donnie are reuniting for an entire album and tour. Just get a load of this promo photo!*
I really wanted to hotlink this strait from their website just to waste bandwidth but they were smart enough to update their htaccess file and disable hotlinking. Pity. Doesn’t 2nd from the left look like Ben Stiller? Just a little bit. Oh and nice hat guy on the right, did you just throw a Frisbee?
MP3s can be found easily enough. I’m not sharing.
I hosted this photo at supload because I don’t want this on my server.
Tags: reunionI just thought I’d post this up, in case you wanted to join…
It called Hoffspace. Yep, Hoffsapce. And over 12,000 people have joined.
2 Things that are better than David Hasselhoff…
The Montage under the Morrison Bridge in SE Portland
Viso Energy Drink
This track from Comeback Kids demo.
Tags: Comeback Kid, hardcorePodcast: Play in new window | Download
I sometimes feel burdened to try and explain a bands sound by way of naming genres. It’s getting more and more difficult. Just look at this wikipedia article to gain a full understanding of how difficult this is.
So as I thought about what I wanted to write for this review I started drawing blanks. A song would start and I’d think of other songs using the same elements and then the track would go and switch styles. Then I began thinking about bands that play metal and how the dominant style maybe be one thing, but there are a lot of change ups into other subgenres. Then I thought about punk bands and hardcore bands and the only difference between some of the bands is political views and style of clothing. All of a sudden I can’t just pin anything down to one single thing. I’m sure I could if I pick the right bands. But today I start to think of the Ramones as a 50′s retro band with edgy lyrics.
So about Massacra. Fans of Slayer will eat this up. This is pretty much the best underground stuff of it’s time as it was released in 1991. French band I guess. They do the scary death growl so who knows what language they sing in but all the song titles are english. If you see a good deal for this album, snatch it up cause it’s super expensive on amazon.
vids
tunes
buy
Tags: Concert Video, Death Metal, late pass, Massacra, metal, mp3, thrash metal
Blasphemy! Amy Winehouse on the pages of Under the Dog? Something is not right… Or so it would seem as I’m pretty sure while being to lazy to look it up that she is RIAA material(but I’m 99% sure she is) not to mention all those embarrassing videos of her doing trashy stuff. So why would I write about her?
Well, I am a pretty big fan of the ska/rocksteady/reggae/toasting styles of the yesteryear but I am consistently disappointed with most modern release starting with the mid to late 1990′s save bands like the Slackers and Heptcat. Around that time the ska market was completely flooded to the point that there were christian ska bands. I’ve got nothing against christians or them making music, but before the internet, christian music seemed to stay a decade behind the rest of the world with of course some exceptions.
I personally prefer the rocksteady sounds and the R&B influenced stuff way more than the fast and goofy third wave stuff but I also have a few bands from those days that still get played like Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake not to mention more serious stuff like Operation Ivy and The Subhumans.
With that said when I saw the ep making the rounds in the top 10 lists I had to check it knowing that it would more than likely suck. Boy was I wrong. This gal can belt it out. It’s hard to believe that this voice can come out of her. Every track is spot on and sounds just like it could have come out 20-30 years ago. The tracks are all covers but 3 of them were played by the Specials even though they have different songwriting credits. Ska was a kind of folk music with traditional songs and all of that.
But don’t take my word for it. I have a video of a live performance of the Specials Little Rich Girl and a blog post from the Phil Spector blog containing the EP in it’s entirety. Apparently this 7in record is going for REALLY high amounts. It’s also a bootleg and none of the songwriters are getting paid. Or at least that is the word on the streets.
Little Rich GIrl
Tunes can be found at…
Tags: Amy Winehouse, Concert Video, Reggae, Rocksteady, Ska, SpecialsPodcast: Play in new window | Download
I have a hard time believing that this woman is serious. Or at I just want to keep believing that there couldn’t possibly be someone that uneducated.
It’s one thing to believe in something withiout hard evidence, but it’s another thing entirely to not know how a rainbow works.It’s probably a good indication that something is BS when the wikipedia article is titled Chemtrail Conspiracy Theory.
So here are three songs that are not necessarily about conspiracy theory entirely. But they are about evil governments which is pretty much the center of all conspiracy theories.
“If they shot Kenedy imagine what they’ll do to you and me”. It’s basically a song that says that since you didn’t take a stand against your corrupt government you deserve whatever the terroists have cooked up next. I would never wish that on anyone. But at the same time I can’t help but feel that some things are provoked a little bit.
One world governments are a great conspiract theory because there are alot of verifiable facts that when looked at all at the same time seem pretty plausible and can be downright scary. But still no smoking gun.
Blood For Blood – Ain’t Like You
One of the singers in this band is also in Ramallah and this song is more of a societal statement. The whole message of Blood For Blood was just to not be part of the herd, and to never be ashamed of what you are and where you came from. It’s easy to get caught up in status and materialism and to be apathetic about important things. That in my opinion has more impact then most activism.
Every piece of press on this film says it’s going to be just like “Control”. Somehow I don’t agree though I haven’t watched Control yet because I pretty much hate biopics but even more so, I hate biopics about musicians with the exception of “La Bamba” and “Sid & Nancy”.
The “Germs” were a punk band and one of the first bands to play in double time or hardcore style along with Bad Brains.
What is truly amazing about this film is that the Germs are back together with the actor for the film as the lead singer! I just hope he’s a fan. They are currently on the Vans Warped Tour. How strange is that?
Darby Crash is being played by Shane West and Bijou Phillips is cast as Lorna Doom. The film is directed by Rodger Grossman a first time Writer & Director.
Trailer
The new incarnation with fake Darby Crash.
Real Darby Crash
The showings are sparse as it looks like maybe 4 or 5 prints are being made.
August 8
New York, NY – Sunshine Cinema
August 15
Chicago, IL – Music Box Theatre
August 22
Los Angeles, CA – Nuart Theatre
Irvine, CA – Edwards University Town Center 6
Boston, MA – Kendall Square Cinema
August 29
San Francisco, CA – Lumiere Theatre
Berkeley, CA – Shattuck Cinemas
Columbus, OH – Gateway Theater
Philadelphia, PA – Ritz at the Bourse
Washington DC – E Street Cinema
September 5
San Diego, CA – Ken Cinema
September 12
Denver, CO – Starz Film Center
September 26
Minneapolis, MN
October 10
Seattle, WA – Varsity Theatre
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, this is quite funny and makes me feel a little old.
Tags: Agnostic Front, funny video, hardcore, nyhcPodcast: Play in new window | Download
You are probably asking yourself right now: “Who is Robert Hazard”?. Before I read the headline today on metafilter I had no idea either so we are basically learning together.
He wrote the song “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” and had a couple other hits including a song called “Change Reaction” and also “Escalator of Life“. His sound was new waveish but later on turned to country music.
He has a ton of videos on youtube and tons of links on google so it’s certain he will be missed.
Tags: mp3, obituariesJust a quick heads up, the new Zozobra album is streaming and it sounds a little bit heavier previous effort “Harmonic Tremors”.
Listen to the album here.
Myspace here.
Tags: doom metal, metal, sludge, stoner metal, streams, ZozobraPodcast: Play in new window | Download
Devo meets the Dickies singer/band Jay Reatard has gathered himself a small amount of attention this weekend after apparently chewing out an opening band, refusing to play if said opening band played, tried to get a girl with no ID into the bar and then left with her without playing the show.
It almost seems like the promoter of the show has some serious issues with Mr Reatard as he also wrote this:
Apparently (and there is video to prove it), when Jay Lindsey gets ‘reatarded’, he “jokingly” likes to perform oral sex on sleeping bandmates and tour mates
That is just a low blow…
WTG Jay, let’s hope you don’t tarnish your rep. In the meantime, check out brooklyn vegan’s article for some funny comments.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
When people ask me to describe Mission of Burma, I usually say they sound like a serious Dead Milkmen.
MOB’s sound can’t really be described except as independent rock music, free of labels influence. Truly a band where the songs sound different on every track and the only thing that sounds consistent is the guitar tone and the sound of the singers voice.
They broke up in 1983 and reformed almost 20 years later. Next month they are performing full albums and one of the stops is in Portland which is my neck of the woods. All the dates are west coast including 1 Vancouver B.C. date.
09.25 Los Angeles, CA: Echoplex
09.27 San Francisco, CA: Independent
10.01 Seattle, WA: Neumos
09.26 San Francisco, CA: Independent
09.29 Portland, OR: Doug Fir
09.30 Vancouver, British Columbia: Plaza Nightclub
