And Remembering Merkaba Bandits This Day As Well

how i miss Bandits shows! omg.....


..from their t.t. reynolds gigs, their main spot.
not all Bandits songs are gone. Alex is reworking some of them, i hope these are two.

Remembering Tom Vek On Memorial Day

Tom Vek |MTV Music

there are very few interviews i've come across w/him, but here's the first i found oh around i think feb. this year. then i just found these 2:

Tom Vek |MTV Music

Tom Vek |MTV Music

and this was the first time i heard him..it came on subterranean late one nite back in 04 or 05..how i miss him so.

Tom Vek |MTV Music

sidenote:latest is he's still working on the next, but there's been no word other than that and i think and i wonder about him just about everyday.

Btw-St.Vincent

so i saw the St.Vincent show last nite (@ Black Cat). it was, meh..i think w/this and Anni Rossi right before, i am ready to rock now. i was actually really looking forward to this show, she sounded beautiful and all she used two mics and everything sounded great. she plays a mean guitar, but overall it was just kind of sleepy. it's definitely movie music it translates kinda different live..i'm really glad i got to see her though:)

Merkaba Bandits

aww so i just came across this..it's my friend Alex's old band, an interview. how i miss Bandits shows!

sidenote: these were some of the best shows i've been to. i'm not just saying that b/c he's my friend. this interview is when they moved to san diego, but how i'm glad they came back! and i know he'll be off again soon..speaking of, he's recording some more of his solo stuff today and i cant wait to hear it!

'Tree Blog'

so how meta is this...i was just thinking earlier today, how if i could design my own blog format, i'd do it 'tree branch' style..like subsets. b/c many of my posts i'm noticing, are subsets/extensions of earlier posts, so..i'd somehow like to convey that. tree-style seemed most apt..maybe there is that and i just don't know??

And On Another Note

Dear Tori,

Just retire already.
love, tara
p.s.
and to think, i was optimistic on this one!...:(

Tap Act (random)

so, i almost forgot..watching the Anni Rossi show last nite..she wears these low-heeled boots that serve as percussion (stomping). anyway, i got to thinking, if i had..like in my dream band where i'm drummer/sometimes singer, i'd wear tap shoes and choreograph a tap act like as part of the percussion section. i dont know ive never seen that before..they have a great timbre oh and my other geek in me would record keystrokes as some kind of rhythm. they have a great timbre too. i've always loved the sound of keystrokes. taps and keystrokes?? add that too my 'drum choir' haha!

p.s.
i was a former ballet dancer, did some tap..so, i guess my inner performer coming out here..i do love tap though. i'd love to see that form explored/explore music in this way.

Eminence Front!

finally! i've found it. the Who song ive been searching for, oh months now...'Eminence Front'. i kept hearing it on the radio and couldnt find the title until today. i think it's pretty much the only Who song i like but i love it. like it's a wonder how you can love one song so much from a band..and not much else. i mean, maybe there are others but i have yet to come across them. but what i realized about that song is..just pretty ahead of its time. like i hear influences directly from 'Eminence' in one of my favorite artists, Tom Vek. who...well i'll go off on another tangent here but let's just say he's sort of M.I.A., and i'm sick just thinking about it. he's a genius..just one of those whose next album i'm most anticipating. 'We Have Sound' (his only album) is one of my favorites ever. i cant say enough about him so i'll stop there.

Anni Rossi!

yay! so i just got back from her show a little while ago..funny how much it reminded me of Theresa Andersson (just her and her violin, no band..), except she doesn't loop. they play in a similar style, and i loved her Ace of Base 'Living In Danger' cover!!! haha awesome, totally unexpected. it was actually a really solid cover, she completely transformed the song. i wish she had done 'ecology' though. i talked to her after, she said she's doing it next time, something about a viola..she did do 'wheelpusher' though :) anyway i look forward to her next show w/camera obscura when she'll have the full band. good show nonetheless. i looooove her voice so much, it's somethin else.

(@ Iota)

Silly me...Janelle Monae Of Course!

yeah how could i have almost forgotten about her! shame on me!..but just came across her page and remembered..she's so great. i discovered her back in like oct./nov. last year. she'd def. go on that 'doo-walt' list-somewhere at the um, TOP..i see so many great things for her i think she's incredible. i know that may be a premature statement considering how new she is but..i cant help it! i'm just really really excited for her. she's sort of the embodiment of this 'doo-walt'/soul thing i was talkin about. thats sort of when it first hit me, like 'woah whats happening here'....she's gonna be at bonnaroo!!! i'll have to see her some other time i doubt i'll make that. esp. loooovee 'Many Moons'.

MyBand

so if you haven't noticed already, a lot of this blog is 'in a dream world' kinda thing. so but i feel the need to put it down, get it out of my head..i dont know why..soo, 'in a dream world' my band would consist of: a Wurlitzer electric piano, xylophone, drum kit and...cello? maybe hand chimes..

this keeps changing is the thing. well, evolving i guess. a few years ago it was 'cello, handchimes, harp, acoustic guitar/drums' and now it's this. but i was listening to some stereolab song ('chemical chords') just now, and it reminded me of some of these other instuments i would like to hear together. plus, well my nephew comes up to me a couple weeks ago, and thats a whole nother entry. but he wants to play the xylophone which touched me deeply..i'm looking for lessons...anyway i'm just interested to see how my 'ideal band' keeps changing, which is never by much, but lately i've been obsessed w/the wurlitzer electric piano. i've always loved King Harvest's 'dancing in the moonlight' and just recently realized part of the reason why (this wurlitzer).

this piano keeps popping up. i also heard it in a remix of my friend alex's song not too long ago, and then in a death cab song and it keeps catching my ear..i realized thats what it was. so i just wonder what all those together would sound like.i really need to take keyboard lessons so i can at least get an idea.

oh i'd also love to hear a choir of drums. not like just in the conga way, but like all kinds of drums together. which reminds me, i'm really excited for Sonarsound this week!!!!

Cortney Tidwell

reaction (new Cortney Tidwell):
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
????????!!???
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...?!

CORTNEY TIDWELL - WATUSII from Daniel Franke on Vimeo.

OMG i'm (just now) listening and..apart from the thrill of new music by her..hmmmm..not really sure...very different direction she's taking..dunno how long they've been up, and well i'm kind of digging 'Watusii'-really cool video too. very Gondry-esque but not directed by him. hmmmmm..not sure yet...either way NEW CORTNEY TIDWELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i cant describe this sense of relief. big anticipation album this one..09 keeps heatin up.

side note: i think i first heard her about 2-3 yrs. ago, i think on aol radio or something. ive been smitten ever since (she's on my 'dream label' btw). i think she's amazing and see huge things. no matter how many times i ask, she still hasnt come to d.c., but always is kind enough to reply and say thanks or whatever. if she has come i didnt know about it, but that isnt likely. i give it a few more months then i'll go travel to see her.

Dream Covers-extension

so in my first 'D.C.' post, i listed my friend Alex..I'd love to hear him cover Serge Gainsbourg (still do, not really sure why). well, i was listening to ra ra riot on my walk, and got to thinking that that'd go on there too ('Can You Tell'). i'd really love to hear his take on those. i'm sure there's a host of others, but those are the 2 coming to mind immediately. Oh! and Santogold..

Currently (still) listening to: new St.Vincent of course! more later!

Heatin Up-Summer 09

omg so i'm just finding out Devotchka's touring w/David Byrne this summer! holy s***!!!..me and my sister have been stoked for Devotchka alone, but now the David Byrne news??....damn i am feeling very spoiled this summer. plus i can vouch for Devotchka..one of the best shows ive been to (saw them last year). so between them, no doubt, the sounds (whose song '4songs & a fight' i am really digging btw), sebastien grainger (w/metric)! woah this is gonna be one hot summer...

on another note, i am loving Lex Land's voice...just discovered her the other day..lots of potential!

and on another note, even though ive seen no doubt (3times) and the sounds (once), i'm excited to see them again, esp. the sounds. they were both great very memorable shows.

Les Georges Leningrad

so i wanted to write this yesterday when i was listening to Ponytail, but blogger was down so..i'm writing it now.

quickly tho, before i sleep, i was listening to this band Ponytail, Thursday; heard on some NPR podcast month or so ago, and i'm kind of digging them. anyway, they remind me sort of of this old fav. band of mine, Les Georges Leningrad (R.I.P.). i miss them so much i cant even explain. it's so sad, like i still cant believe they broke up i go in denial sometimes. anyway, it's a genre i've read labeled 'petrochemical rock'..whatever, but i just dont hear it anywhere anymore, until now, in Ponytail..kind of. they're reminiscent, and i got really excited when i heard them; particularly the song 'Celebrate the Body Electric'. oh and they're kind of local! (Baltimore) i see potential they're def. goin on my radar. they also kinda remind me of the Breeders (their song 'Glazed' anyway).

this is also a reminder for myself to expand my percussion writings. particularly the exploitation topic i've had in my head for awhile.

also, earlier today on my dog walk, i was listening to this Ra Ra Riot song (Dying Is Fine-Tom Campesinos mix) a song whose percussion really stood out. it ties in w/this topic i will explicate later..goin to bed.

..this is ALSO a reminder to find music by Yellow Magic Orchestra! (i cant on iTunes! :( ..just discovered them last week..ok goin to bed for real now.

ok i'm adding on here..(it's actually 5/12/09 956am) but i need to add one other band i just found-Mika Miko ('petrochem'/LGL example). I'm not saying i dig the music..a little messy for my taste, but i like the dissonant atonal thing. i like where it's going i see potential basically. i really dig the vocals; similar to the way i dig Ponytail's..chanty.

Random

And off topic, where was THIS when i was in college??!!! i kinda want one for my birthday (this and a drum kit/machine)...

http://www.livescribe.com/blog/
(heard about it on NPR yesterday)

That's It! Get Lo

i know what it is..i'm listening to this band Real Estate (not to be confused w/Sunny Day..R.I.P) i just discovered, and i figured out what it is...LO-FI. i'm drawn to lo-fi music as of lately; really gritty raw sound quality. i just dig it so much like more than usual, not exactly sure why. across the board almost everything i'm listening to this is the common thread. same w/fotos, movies etc.
i've always loved lo-fi but now more than ever. it's just coming up a lot. i really need to get the needle fixed on my turntable!!

...and speaking of, another 'lo-fi' fav. is Michel Gondry but of course!

A "New Genre"..'Doo-walt'

so, like i said, i feel like something big is happening. like a genre is evolving/emerging (referring of course to the motown/doo-wop revival). It's like the alt-country boom, there's this alt-Motown boom, and i feel like some groundbreaking genre-bending stuff is happening and i am eyewitness in the middle of it.

I think what i love so much about it is the rhythms. the percussion, you just don't hear drums like that anymore (as much). it's what i describe as 'dry drums'. i don't know why...i always think of percussion in this way though as 'wet' or 'dry'. same thing i give to acoustic-electric guitars (dry). more and more i'm finding myself drawn to this 'dry' sound...dont know why...i'm rambling here..but thats just something ive noticed lately. dont get me wrong i love a good 'dripping' pop song as much as the next, but the percussions of this time..damn. i'm just beginning to appreciate it more and more...like, it's hitting me. those rhythms are like no other. i'm really obsessed w/percussion in general right now, all kinds (including of course drum kits), so much so i'm strongly considering lessons...thought about it the whole time on my dog walk today. ive always said from the time i was in h.s. maybe earlier, that i'd be the drummer.

i think i'll call this 'new genre' Doo-walt...a play on words. (alt+doo-wop)

In general though, like a lot of what i've been listening and drawn to lately is this early retro sound. i think i first noticed it in the fall of last year (around the time I discovered The Ettes and The Postmarks). then, Theresa Andersson came long..one after the other, all my favs. piling up were sort of throwback sounds and is when i first began noticing this pattern, so...in other words i am just now getting around to this entry but meant to sooner. but this lead me back earlier to the roots and now i am heavily getting into 1960s girl groups etc. Smokey Johnson, surfer rock...

Hazel Sive-the Soundtrack of Science

and THIS is just fascinating!!!



heard it on Studio 360 this past Saturday. full interview here:
http://www.studio360.org/episodes/2009/05/01

http://aridanielshapiro.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/dancing-embryos/

note: I am a big geek...highly intrigued by musical/scientific relationships. at first this may look kinda 'cool' or whatever, but i see so much truth in it. the interview is great..very insightful. it's a whole new way of exploring sound, through science; specifically at this microscopic (internal) level. then there's the external; nature's more tangible rhythms-insects, ocean waves, the wind...just breathtaking..the harmony of it all

Awakening-oldies extension

so yeah i definitely see this oldies obsession as a 'musical awakening' (if-you-will). like ive heard 'my world is empty..' how many times, but why is it just now catching my ear?? i'm not sure. maybe it's a sign i'm evolving..aka 'getting older' haha or maybe...i'm really not sure, but it came on the radio the other day and...just spoke to me! not the lyrics so much. more the RHYTHMS. i think the percussion and use of brass and everything is just perfect. really defined, maybe even invented that genre. mile marker music.

i dont know enough about Motown to speak at length about this, all i know is i love that song a lot. and its effect on me is different now than it was a few years or even a couple months ago. which is unusual. usually, for me, i know i like a song right off the bat, as soon as i hear it. not in this case. this one u know, you've known all your life practically but why am i just now coming around to it? it's interesting to me. this is kind of a first..!

i think i know where all this is coming from too which is a whole nother (very long) entry, but has to do with this 'alt-doo-wop/motown/soul' revival thing i see happening. all this throwback music, but modernizing it and i am loving it. like never before have i wanted to be a singer like i do at this time. i don't know what's going on but i'm really excited for it. i see all this potential. Obvious examples are:Amy Winehouse, Duffy (i do like her voice), Adele (her's too), but my lovelies are: Theresa Andersson (of course), i think The Gossip kinda falls into this, soul-wise, The ETTES!!!!, The Postmarks, Martina Topley Bird...who else...like there's all this retro/alt thing happening and i'm not sure what's going on, but i'm loving it. and a lot of it's coming out of the U.K. is another thing i noticed..find kinda interesting. i feel like musically, we're on the brink of something--not sure what. but mapping is taking place, and it excites me like no other.

7/20/09 update:add Magnetic Fields to this list..

Also-oldies

I am feeling the oldies like no other. i have never been so obsessed w/oldies music as i am right now. more later!

Fences

can i just say, wow. i am really digging this band Fences that i just stumbled on..i'm kind of loving them. i cant believe ive never heard of them before.

i guess this next entry technically should be a Kills show 'review' but i guess i'm still speechless...sort of.

current jibberish in my head: hubber dubber dinker