Another Matt and Kim

The sound isn't great on these two, "It's A Fact (Printed Stained) and "Yea Yeah." It was LOUD! But they're too loony f**kin' awesome to not post. These kids rock.

Josh T. Pearson, Matt and Kim

We're back in the States. Needless to say it's been a pretty strange transition. Here are a couple of vids that Tillery finally uploaded onto youtube.com. The American Songwriter youtube page should be up and running pretty soon.

More of the gothic country of Josh T. Pearson:


Matt and Kim, live at Madame Jojo's, part of "White Heat" night.


You get an idea of how much fun this set was. For their first performance in England, they played a lot of tunes from their self-titled debut. And with a combination of those crack-catchy, punk-pop songs, their jubilant energy, and Matt's comedic stage antics, the night was big smiles, headbanging, and high fives all around. See for yourself.

Better Late Than Never: Josh T. Pearson, Explosions In The Sky--Paradiso, Amsterdam, 2/24/07

Before the Explosions in the Sky show was set to begin at Paradiso back in February, Tillery came up to me and asked, “These guys are from Texas, right?”

“Yeah.” I said.

“I think I met one of them at the cigarette machine. He sounded like he was from Texas. There he is.” He pointed across the venue.

“Over there.”

“Damn, he doesn’t just sound like he’s from Texas.”

Tall and gangly with a long, gold miner’s beard—nearly thicker than his waistline—and donning a ratty cowboy hat and dilapidated garb seemingly stolen from a Deadwood set, the guy looked like he traveled to Amsterdam on a tumbleweed. I immediately recognized he wasn’t in EITS, and when he nonchalantly hopped onto the stage from the crowd, I knew we were in for something interesting.

We soon found out that he was Josh T. Pearson, the night’s opening artist and the former front man of Lift to Experience, an acclaimed indie rock outfit from Denton, Texas—also home to Midlake, Centro-matic, and--ahem--Norah Jones.

On the Bella Union website, Pearson remarks that after his father, a Pentecostal preacher, left him, his mother, and his brother out to dry, he began to his faith in God. Eventually, at the age of 19, “what [he] had known to be the presence of God physically left his body and [that] the music that [he] play[s] on his guitar is still the only thing that brings [him] to [God].”

This is absolutely the truth. From the moment Pearson unleashed his Gothic western sound, characterized by his hauntingly troubled wolf yodel, hornets’ nest guitar distortion, and thunderstorm on the horizon, boot-stomping rhythm, it was clear that the grizzly song smith was channeling energy from an outside source. Songs such as “Angels vs. Devils” and “Sins of a Fall” defined spine chilling—especially when Pearson howled one note for nearly 45 seconds during the former. Listening to his set, one could draw comparisons to the dark country of Cash, the driving song structure of Drums Not Dead, and the eerily mythical leanings of Jim Morrison, but Pearson’s music is really unlike any other. And though his performance was painfully gloomy at times, his strong-willed delivery shone light through the darkness. An uplifting performance in the face of despair.

And to tell you the truth, it’s too bad for Austin-based Explosions in the Sky, an avant-garde, instrumental rock quartet whose sound often encompasses the vastness of West Texas, that they chose Pearson as their opener. Even as majestic as their set was at times—most notably during Those Who Tell the Truth’s “With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept,” How Strange, Innonence’s “Greet Death,” and All of the Sudden I Miss Everyone’s “Welcome, Ghosts,” with the band playing like mystical puppeteers, one moment molding the crowd into an ambient tide of bobbing heads and thrusting it into a cathartic fury at another--I found it impossible to forget the captivating mystique of the apostolic first act. I guess that’s why Explosions in the Sky lists Pearson and Lift to Experience as an influence. Here’s hoping that Pearson's solo album drops soon.

"Who Cares What the Question Is?"

While eating a delicious dinner the other night in a Camden pub, I was intrigued by a music video--think if Wes Anderson had taken a bunch of acid and made The Life Aquatic in claymation...wait a second--playing on the flat screen behind the bar. Initially, the neo-Muscle Shoals piano and crusty slide guitar, basically all I could hear, led me to believe that it was the blues-loving, Detroit roots rockers The Deadstring Brothers. However, when the credits flashed, I saw that it was actually Isle of Wight's The Bees aka A Band of Bees. I missed their highly regarded show at the Astoria when I was here a few months ago and have wanted to see what all the fuss was about ever since. So, yesterday I went and picked up their newest release, Octopus. It's an album seeping with 60's psych-rock influences such as the Beatles, Country Joe & the Fish, and the Byrds("Hot One!," "Love in the Harbor","The Ocularist"). And though the band attempts to illustrate a range wider than stoner rock--they nicely incorporate Meters-eque funk on "Got to Let Go"--The Bees get a little bogged down in Toots and the Maytals with "Listening Man" and practically steal the piano riff from Stevie Wonder's "Livin' for the City" on "(This Is for The)Better Days." Admittedly it's easy to listen to--hell, the band obviously has great influences--but it's an album that keeps you wondering where you've heard a tune before. Here's the video for "Who Cares What the Question Is?" It's actually the best song on Octopus. Tell me what you think.




Check out the Bee's myspace here.

Whiggin' Out in London

Well, I ain't really losing it. However, I'm back in London for the last leg of what has been an epic journey and I've been diggin' on the Whigs' live radio session that Dodge posted on My Old Kentucky Blog last week. Never heard 'em do anything acoustic like this before--don't think anyone has--and I hope this isn't the last time. I have been particularly keen on "Like A Vibration," as it has been one of my favorite songs by the Athens, GA band for a while now. Though this cut doesn't really pack the punch that the electric version does, frontman Parker Gispert's vocals still ring with strong emotion. Check 'em out for yourself and check 'em out in a town near you.

Apr 20 2007 7:30P Vanderbilt - Rites of Spring w/ Drive- By Truckers, Wolfmother.... Nashville, Tennessee
Apr 22 2007 4:00P Cornell University...open to students and general public Ithaca, New York
Apr 23 2007 8:00P Rock & Roll Hotel Washington, Washington DC
Apr 25 2007 8:00P Jewish Mother Norfolk, Virginia
Apr 27 2007 4:00P Salve Regina University Newport, Rhode Island
Jun 16 2007 8:00P Bonnaroo Manchester, Tennessee

Update

It's been a nearly three weeks since my last post. It's been a pain to get things up lately because of some technological difficulties. However, there should be some good stuff up soon. This Wednesday we are checking out Panda Bear in Lisbon and I also have a review and some nice vids from an enthralling Andrew Bird show that we caught last weekend in Benicassim. Should be of things up starting next week, when we will have a solid working hub in London. Until then, check out this vid of my brother mountain biking in Arizona. He set it to ¨Massive Nights,¨ by the Hold Steady--a righteous choice.



I'll try to post some other vids and tidbits until we get the big stuff up. Stay tuned.

Papa Smurf on Eight Mile

Here's a video I came across on fark.com of the Smurfs singing Eminem in German. Total coincidence that I found it. I think these guys are up there with "The Hoff" in terms of German star power. This is so bizarre. Figured y'all might need a little humor.



Also, check out chuckandkyser.blogspot.com for the funniest video I have seen in quite some time.

Other stuff is in the oven.

Bodi Bill from Berlin

Well, dang. I done it again. I've left you with nothing for over a week. Musical searches in Münich were in vain. Like Tillery said, it's like something really awesome is hiding. Even here in Berlin, the arts hotbed that I kept hearing about wasn't showing its face. However, I'm starting to see it more and more, and good news for y'all, it includes some good tunes, too. I've also found a good working hub here. So worry not. We'll have some goodness this week and hopefully I can finally get those pesky reviews up. I've also been thinking about a report on busking and the multiple types of the art we've encountered during this adventure. So marinate on that. And oh yeah, we saw Air last night. And we have mad footage. As my high school advisor used to say, "There's a lot on the skillet."

But right now I want to tell you about Bodi Bill, an electro-folk duo consisting of Alex Amoon and Fabian Fenk. According to 030, a weekly guide to the Berlin scene, these fellas get down on a Mac book and some stringed instruments. After checking out their myspace page, I'll say that it's working. "Nothing" is like the Knife and Hot Chip having remix battles with a neo-soul track. On the other hand, "Willem", an anxious love ditty, is more traditional, flipping between choppy, maraca-backed piano and spooky(at times), soaring keyboards. Neat. Listen for yourself and tell me what you think. Also, if you like it, check out their debut, No More Wars, on Amazon.

Also, take a gander at this video of their somber number, "Very Small". Another indication of this band's diverse sound.

Olli Kahn, "The Hoff"= German Superstars

Well hey there everybody. For the past week, you've probably wondered, "Where in the hayell is Jay right now?" Or better, "When is he gonna post those reviews?" Or maybe you haven't cared one bit, and like my brother, Shelton, you spent the weekend driving one of these badboys.



Regardless, I've got some answers for you. And videos. And a review. And I know these things are coming in slower than a granny on her rascal, but I'm in Europe. There is a lot of stuff to see and do here. Plus, these internet cafes aren't the greatest places in the world. (Even though this beautiful German woman sitting next to me is making things more interesting.)

Yeah, so we're in Münich right now. We went to see Bayern München take on Werder Bremen last night at Allianz Arena, which looked liked this:



It was a 1-1 draw. But it was total madness.

So you might be saying, "This is music blog, not a soccer blog." Yeah, you are right. Well, during warmups last night I was overwhelmed by quite an interesting tune by the German pop group, Die Prinzen. The song is called "Olli Kahn," and is obviously a tribute to the famous German goalkeeper. Get this; Kahn and his back-up are the only two players on the field, and this song is blaring over the loudspeakers, while nearly 85,000 crazed Germans sing along. Talk about an ego trip. Think if every single person in the United Center sang " Like Mike" while Jordan warmed up. That's still only 21,000 people. Quite a bizzare experience to see one individual so idolized. Hit me up if you know of any other athlete tributes.

Oh, and no post on Germany can exist without mentioning another German superstar. David "The Hoff" Hasselhoff Here is a video of his song, "Jump in My Car."



I'm sorry. I just couldn't resist.

And last week's playlist is encompassed by this video of Daft Punk's "Around the World." Some of you have already seen it, but who cares. It's about the best damn thing out there.



We're hoping we can find some tunes that cool while were in Münich. Here's to that.

Junior Boys: Where Was My Mind?

Here's some advice I wish I had remembered before the Junior Boys show last Sunday.

BEFORE MAKING PLANS ON THE DAY OF THE SHOW, CALL THE VENUE TO CHECK THE SET TIMES.

You see, the ticket listed Russian Futurists as the opener for Junior Boys, an electronica-loving pop duo from Ontario. So, considering we had so much to do that afternoon before we left for London the next day, we planned on getting to the show 90 minutes after doors--just in time for the JB set. As we walked in, I could hear the synth-pop sounds of So This Is Goodbye's "In the Morning" seeping from the 2nd floor stage. Either they were starting off with a bang, I thought, or we had totally egged. Consider it eggs benedict.

Once we got up the stairs, I began questioning the Junior Boys merch salesman.

"How long have they been playing?"
"For an hour."
"What 'bout Russian Futurists?" I whined, bewildered and somewhat agitated.
"Russian Futurists aren't playing tonight."

My heart sank. We had missed basically the entire show. Luckily, Jeremy Greenspan and Matthew Didemus came back out for one helluva encore performance of STIG's "The Equalizer," and Last Exit's "Under the Sun," providing us with a taste of what JB has to offer live.

Yeah, so next time I will make better plans. This video says a lot about how I felt following my enormous blunder.