Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 2034
August 23, 2016
SURVIVE, The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Budos Band, The Japanese House, The Besnard Lakes, Margaret Glaspy, The Expendables, Skylar Grey, The Suffers, Cosmonauts, Dune Rats
JUST ANNOUNCEDTHU 8/25Fascinator, TeamMate, Middle Kids @ The EchoTHU 9/15Cosmonauts Album Release Party with Cellars @ EchoplexSAT 9/17KLOS Heidi & Frank Birthday Bash @ The Regent TheaterWED 9/28Target Video - Stand-Up & Scream - Screening & Q&A! @ The Regent TheaterSAT 10/1Bassrush presents G JONES & Friends with Tsuruda b2b Huxley Anne (PAINT), Eastghost, SAYER @ The Regent TheaterTHU 10/6S U R V I V E with Majeure @ EchoplexSUN 10/9The Budos Band @ EchoplexTHU 10/13Ryley Walker with Circuit des Yeux, Big Search @ The EchoSUN 10/30The Dillinger Escape Plan with O'Brother, Cult Leader, Entheos @ The Regent TheaterTUE 11/8DZ Deathrays, Dune Rats @ The EchoFRI 11/11No Parents, White Fang with plus very special guest The Birth Defects @ The EchoSAT 11/19The Suffers, JAKUBI @ The EchoTUE 11/22Candlebox with Jeff Angell's Staticland @ The Regent TheaterSAT 12/3The Expendables with Law @ The Regent TheaterWED 12/7The Japanese House @ The EchoJOHN DOE & EXENE CERVENKA
John Doe & Exene Cervenka have been making beautiful music together for the last 39 years. In that long time together, they have covered everything from punk to americana, as well as rockabilly & country. Join us on Thursday, September 15th at The Regent for what is sure to be another unforgettable and intimate performance from the heart and soul of one of Los Angeles' greatest bands, X.GET TICKETS NOW
Death Valley Girls Add More Shows To Tour Beginning September 2nd / 'Glow In The Dark' Album Available On Burger Records
Death Valley Girls Add More Shows To North American Tour Beginning September 2ndWatch 'Disco' Video Directed By Kansas BowlingGlow In The Dark Album Available On Burger Records
Think of Death Valley Girls as an acid-tripping science experiment that’s been buried alive and resurrected as a sexually liberated dystopian chain-gang - a cosmic scar, if you will, on the hills of Echo Park. The experiment began in 2013 by proto-punk Bonnie Bloomgarden and guitarist Larry Schemel - they got lost in the desert, returned to their haunted garage in Echo Park, and pieced together their vision with shopworn images of sexploitation babes, a blood-soaked Iggy Pop, and Bloomgarden’s series of phantasms, the result of spending a year in a mental institution, where she planned her neon-glowing odyssey by listening to Black Sabbath and UFO, reading about alien conspiracy theories, and deriving her band’s moral compass from a line she saw in a movie:
“Everybody’s gotta be in a gang,” from campy sexploitation romp Switchblade Sisters (1975). LA Weekly referred to them as the city’s unofficial proto-metal boogie band. That was in 2014/15, when their debut album, Street Venom, resurrected the bygone spirit of sleazy rock and roll based on urban ills, tabloid nudes, dangerous sex, and the next generation of girl gangs.
Backstory: Bonnie Bloomgarden once belonged to New York City rock band The Witnesses, who emerged from the early 2000's scene made famous by the likes of The Strokes. They had a record produced by Tommy Ramone. They lived on a farm for most of that time. Their drummer is a doe-eyed blonde with a mean streak, a derby girl and cult femme fatale, known simply as “The Kid,” bassist Nikki Pickle, unearthed in the Arizona desert, recently joined the gang after they recorded their second full-length, Glow in the Dark. The album is influenced by Bloomgarden’s conspiracy theories and mummy sightings in Echo Park, but mostly it’s their master plan to rev-up their collective, The Cosmic Underground, and how they hope to bring together likeminded maniacs under one umbrella of dopey happiness plus the glammed-up punkness of Rodney’s English Disco (Rodney Bingenheimermakes an appearance in the band's video for 'Disco'). The record also includes special guest performances by Jessie Jones (ex-Feeding People) Bobby May (ex-Gap Dream) Alana Amram andLaena Geronimo of Feels),
Recorded in Echo Park’s Station House recording studio, Glow in the Dark is a Burger Recordsproduction that includes 10 tracks of bluesy, electric rock that’s both danceable punk and oozing with psychedelic slime; like a doped-up Elvis, had he been an alien and a member of L.A. garage rock pioneers The Seeds.The band recently released a video for 'Disco' - directed by Kansas Bowling, (who directed Troma Movie, BC Butcher - Troma is a 42-year-old independent movie company led by Lloyd Kaufman, creator of The Toxic Avenger.)They also appeared live on PressureDrop TV in San Francisco - you can check that out here.
Photo: Ammo BankoffNORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:9/2 - San Francisco, CA - Milk Bar9/7 - Reno, NV – Holland Project
9/8 - Eugene, OR – Luckey’s Club
9/9 - Seattle, WA – Black Lodge
9/10 - Vancouver, BC – The Cobalt
9/11 - Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
9/12 - Tacoma, WA – The Valley Pub
9/13 - Spokane, WA – The Observatory
9/15 - Boise, ID – The Olympic Venue
9/16 - Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
9/18 - Denver, CO – Hi-Dive
9/19 - Lawrence, KS – Replay Lounge
9/20 - Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews
9/22 - Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
9/23 - Cleveland, OH - Happy Dog
9/24 - Detroit, MI – Third Man Records
9/25 - Toronto, ON – Bovine Sex Club
9/26 - Montreal, QU – L’Escogriffe
9/27 - Boston, MA – O’Briens Pub
9/28 - Jersey City, NJ – Monty Hall
9/29 - Brooklyn, NY – Shea Stadium
9/30 - Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
10/1 - Washington, DC – Comet Ping Pong
10/3 - Nashville, TN – Third Man Records (after party at DRKMTTR)
10/4 - Atlanta, GA – 529
10/5 - Athens, GA - Caledonia Lounge
10/6 - Gainesville, FL - The Backyard @ Boca Fiesta
10/7 - New Orleans, LA – Poor Boys
10/8 - Austin, TX – Hotel Vegas
10/11 - El Paso, TX – Monarch10/12 - Tucson, AZ - TBC
10/13 - Las Vegas, NV – The Griffin
10/14 - Joshua Tree, CA - Desert Daze Festival
Think of Death Valley Girls as an acid-tripping science experiment that’s been buried alive and resurrected as a sexually liberated dystopian chain-gang - a cosmic scar, if you will, on the hills of Echo Park. The experiment began in 2013 by proto-punk Bonnie Bloomgarden and guitarist Larry Schemel - they got lost in the desert, returned to their haunted garage in Echo Park, and pieced together their vision with shopworn images of sexploitation babes, a blood-soaked Iggy Pop, and Bloomgarden’s series of phantasms, the result of spending a year in a mental institution, where she planned her neon-glowing odyssey by listening to Black Sabbath and UFO, reading about alien conspiracy theories, and deriving her band’s moral compass from a line she saw in a movie:
“Everybody’s gotta be in a gang,” from campy sexploitation romp Switchblade Sisters (1975). LA Weekly referred to them as the city’s unofficial proto-metal boogie band. That was in 2014/15, when their debut album, Street Venom, resurrected the bygone spirit of sleazy rock and roll based on urban ills, tabloid nudes, dangerous sex, and the next generation of girl gangs.
Backstory: Bonnie Bloomgarden once belonged to New York City rock band The Witnesses, who emerged from the early 2000's scene made famous by the likes of The Strokes. They had a record produced by Tommy Ramone. They lived on a farm for most of that time. Their drummer is a doe-eyed blonde with a mean streak, a derby girl and cult femme fatale, known simply as “The Kid,” bassist Nikki Pickle, unearthed in the Arizona desert, recently joined the gang after they recorded their second full-length, Glow in the Dark. The album is influenced by Bloomgarden’s conspiracy theories and mummy sightings in Echo Park, but mostly it’s their master plan to rev-up their collective, The Cosmic Underground, and how they hope to bring together likeminded maniacs under one umbrella of dopey happiness plus the glammed-up punkness of Rodney’s English Disco (Rodney Bingenheimermakes an appearance in the band's video for 'Disco'). The record also includes special guest performances by Jessie Jones (ex-Feeding People) Bobby May (ex-Gap Dream) Alana Amram andLaena Geronimo of Feels),
Recorded in Echo Park’s Station House recording studio, Glow in the Dark is a Burger Recordsproduction that includes 10 tracks of bluesy, electric rock that’s both danceable punk and oozing with psychedelic slime; like a doped-up Elvis, had he been an alien and a member of L.A. garage rock pioneers The Seeds.The band recently released a video for 'Disco' - directed by Kansas Bowling, (who directed Troma Movie, BC Butcher - Troma is a 42-year-old independent movie company led by Lloyd Kaufman, creator of The Toxic Avenger.)They also appeared live on PressureDrop TV in San Francisco - you can check that out here.
Photo: Ammo BankoffNORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:9/2 - San Francisco, CA - Milk Bar9/7 - Reno, NV – Holland Project
9/8 - Eugene, OR – Luckey’s Club
9/9 - Seattle, WA – Black Lodge
9/10 - Vancouver, BC – The Cobalt
9/11 - Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
9/12 - Tacoma, WA – The Valley Pub
9/13 - Spokane, WA – The Observatory
9/15 - Boise, ID – The Olympic Venue
9/16 - Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
9/18 - Denver, CO – Hi-Dive
9/19 - Lawrence, KS – Replay Lounge
9/20 - Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews
9/22 - Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
9/23 - Cleveland, OH - Happy Dog
9/24 - Detroit, MI – Third Man Records
9/25 - Toronto, ON – Bovine Sex Club
9/26 - Montreal, QU – L’Escogriffe
9/27 - Boston, MA – O’Briens Pub
9/28 - Jersey City, NJ – Monty Hall
9/29 - Brooklyn, NY – Shea Stadium
9/30 - Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
10/1 - Washington, DC – Comet Ping Pong
10/3 - Nashville, TN – Third Man Records (after party at DRKMTTR)
10/4 - Atlanta, GA – 529
10/5 - Athens, GA - Caledonia Lounge
10/6 - Gainesville, FL - The Backyard @ Boca Fiesta
10/7 - New Orleans, LA – Poor Boys
10/8 - Austin, TX – Hotel Vegas
10/11 - El Paso, TX – Monarch10/12 - Tucson, AZ - TBC
10/13 - Las Vegas, NV – The Griffin
10/14 - Joshua Tree, CA - Desert Daze Festival
Tess And Dave (Vandervelde) Stream 'Self-titled' EP Via Brooklyn Vegan | Official Release 8/26
TESS AND DAVE (VANDERVELDE) STREAM 'SELF-TITLED' EP VIA BROOKLYNVEGAN
OFFICIAL RELEASE AUGUST 26 VIA FRIENDSHIP FEVER
Photo Cred: Jim Newberry LISTEN & SHARE: Tess and Dave - 'Self-Titled'"This is deep shag ’70s decor, full of soaring, smooth harmonies, twin leads, and swooning strings, with an occasional detour into proggy synths. It’s somewhere between Father John Misty and Montreal’s Besnard Lakes, and there isn’t a bum track on this EP. "
- Brooklyn Vegan
Who in the world are Tess & Dave?
You may better know Dave as David Vandervelde, the producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for his solo career and collaborations with the late Jay Bennett (Wilco). At age 20, Dave moved into Bennett’s Pieholden Suite Sound studio. While there, he blossomed under Bennett’s tutelage, writing and recording tracks for his debut solo album and co-producing Bennett’s The Magnificent Defeat. In recent years, Dave has toured the world playing guitar in Father John Misty’s live band. He has also toured in support of Centro-matic, Spoon, Richard Swift, Magnolia Electric Company, Blitzen Trapper, and Dr. Dog, to name a few. Those years and experiences were home to creative discovery via collaborations and the rise and fall of relationships, which rendered Dave ready for something more.
But that was the Dave before there was a Tess. And there was a Tess before there was a Dave. Tess Shapiro has been making music since the age of 16, first focusing on guitar and vocals, then adding synth and percussion through the years. Inspired by Joni Mitchell, she is self-taught and primarily plays by ear, which lends to her music a creative, unexpected sound. That sound is what led Tess to collaborate with many bands through the years, including Los Angeles-based Two Sheds.
Tess & Dave as mutually exclusive units ceased to exist the first time Dave saw Tess on stage with Two Sheds. The moment he saw her perform, he knew he had to start a band with her. Through their collaboration, Dave has experienced a creative rebirth, one that has allowed him to explore new styles and depths that might never be possible as a solo artist, and certainly not as imaginable without Tess.
Together, Tess & Dave create songs that are simultaneously familiar and curious. “Social Chess” initially plays along as a sad breakup song at the surface, but it blossoms as a happy song of self-awareness and personal freedom in the vein of Harry Nilsson. The lush, psychedelic “Take a Dip in My Dreams” harkens back to the heyday of Jeff Lynne; its lyrics carry the listener through a journey that straddles both the mundane and the whimsical, resulting in a phantasmagorical love song.
Early this Spring, Tess & Dave toured the entire USA, as main support Father John Misty, playing to sold out rooms, and making a few thousand friends along the way. Tess & Dave’s eponymous debut EP will be released on Friendship Fever on August 26, and their debut LP is expected in early 2017.TOUR DATES
August 26th @ The El Rey Theater in Los Angeles, CA w/Father John Misty
September 29th @ The Make Out Room in San Francisco, CA w/Imaginary Tricks
OFFICIAL RELEASE AUGUST 26 VIA FRIENDSHIP FEVER
Photo Cred: Jim Newberry LISTEN & SHARE: Tess and Dave - 'Self-Titled'"This is deep shag ’70s decor, full of soaring, smooth harmonies, twin leads, and swooning strings, with an occasional detour into proggy synths. It’s somewhere between Father John Misty and Montreal’s Besnard Lakes, and there isn’t a bum track on this EP. "- Brooklyn Vegan
Who in the world are Tess & Dave?
You may better know Dave as David Vandervelde, the producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for his solo career and collaborations with the late Jay Bennett (Wilco). At age 20, Dave moved into Bennett’s Pieholden Suite Sound studio. While there, he blossomed under Bennett’s tutelage, writing and recording tracks for his debut solo album and co-producing Bennett’s The Magnificent Defeat. In recent years, Dave has toured the world playing guitar in Father John Misty’s live band. He has also toured in support of Centro-matic, Spoon, Richard Swift, Magnolia Electric Company, Blitzen Trapper, and Dr. Dog, to name a few. Those years and experiences were home to creative discovery via collaborations and the rise and fall of relationships, which rendered Dave ready for something more.
But that was the Dave before there was a Tess. And there was a Tess before there was a Dave. Tess Shapiro has been making music since the age of 16, first focusing on guitar and vocals, then adding synth and percussion through the years. Inspired by Joni Mitchell, she is self-taught and primarily plays by ear, which lends to her music a creative, unexpected sound. That sound is what led Tess to collaborate with many bands through the years, including Los Angeles-based Two Sheds.
Tess & Dave as mutually exclusive units ceased to exist the first time Dave saw Tess on stage with Two Sheds. The moment he saw her perform, he knew he had to start a band with her. Through their collaboration, Dave has experienced a creative rebirth, one that has allowed him to explore new styles and depths that might never be possible as a solo artist, and certainly not as imaginable without Tess.
Together, Tess & Dave create songs that are simultaneously familiar and curious. “Social Chess” initially plays along as a sad breakup song at the surface, but it blossoms as a happy song of self-awareness and personal freedom in the vein of Harry Nilsson. The lush, psychedelic “Take a Dip in My Dreams” harkens back to the heyday of Jeff Lynne; its lyrics carry the listener through a journey that straddles both the mundane and the whimsical, resulting in a phantasmagorical love song.
Early this Spring, Tess & Dave toured the entire USA, as main support Father John Misty, playing to sold out rooms, and making a few thousand friends along the way. Tess & Dave’s eponymous debut EP will be released on Friendship Fever on August 26, and their debut LP is expected in early 2017.TOUR DATES
August 26th @ The El Rey Theater in Los Angeles, CA w/Father John Misty
September 29th @ The Make Out Room in San Francisco, CA w/Imaginary Tricks
The Garden - New Video & Live Dates (Epitaph)
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THE GARDEN TWINS SHARE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL NEW VIDEO AHEAD OF THEIR UK & EUROPEAN LIVE DATES‘CALL THIS # NOW’ IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF 5 NEW TRACKS FROM THE ORNAGE COUNTY DUO
‘Call This # Now’ video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTNcrUBCqXk
‘Visionary and forward thinking’ i-D ‘Thrilling and ferociously paced avant-punk’ NME ‘Auditory invaders of the new world' The Guardian ‘The right side of weird’ Noisey ‘They punch you in the face with everything they do‘ Dazed & Confused ’The appear to have license to do just about anything’ DIY
West Coast provocateurs The Garden released their debut album proper via Epitaph/Burger last October, representing a youthful punk scene in California with their dirty, raw and immediate two-piece bass and drum attack. With a visceral live element that has seen them take the UK by storm, they strip off everything unnecessary about modern punk and get straight to the heart of it, consistently defying categorisation and breaking new ground with their own ‘Vada Vada’ philosophy.
The Garden’s ferocious brand of deranged pop takes no prisoners, veering from hyperactive to damn right deranged in the thump of a bass drum. They’ve created 5 new tracks to serve as a bridge to the next chapter of their conceptual journey, which will be the follow up to 2015’s ‘Haha.’ Latest track 'Call This # Now!' represents a sleaziness that's floating around in the personal world they live in and the world as a whole;
"Call This # Now!” represents all of the sleaze and slime that can surround you within business. It represents how life can be masked, untrustworthy, and how there are several different ways you can get drawn in.
The fact of the matter is that there will be big shots everywhere and this is an example of how you can get sucked right in. The vibe surrounding the video is grim, deceiving and uncertain, yet colorful, blissful and hopeful just how life can be. Wyatt & Fletcher Shears
EUROPEAN LIVE DATES
Mon Aug 22nd - AMSTERDAM, The Sugar FactoryWed Aug 24th - EDINBURGH, Electric CircusThur Aug 25th - GALWAY, Roisin DubhFri Aug 26th - DUBLIN, Whelans UpstairsSat Aug 27th - MANCHESTER, Fallow CafeSun Aug 28th - BIRMINGHAM, Hare and Hounds w/ The Parrots [co-headline]Mon Aug 29th - LEEDS, Headrow House Wed Aug 31st - OXFORD, The BullingdonThur Sep 1st - LONDON, Moth ClubFri Sep 2 - BRIGHTON, Sticky MikesSat Sep 3rd - SALISBURY, End of The Road 2016Sun Sep 4th - GENT, Big Next WeekendMon Sep 5th - PARIS, Espace BTues Sep 6th - RENNES, Bar’HicThur Sep 8th - LYON, Le Sonic
Terra Lightfoot Shares "Lily's Fair" Track via The Big Takeover | 'Every Time My Mind Runs Wild' Out 8/26
TERRA LIGHTFOOT SHARES "LILY'S FAIR" TRACK VIA THE BIG TAKEOVER
'EVERY TIME MY MIND RUNS WILD' LP OUT 8/26
LISTEN & SHARE: Terra Lightfoot - "Lily's Fair"
"fluid, fiery guitar playing, powerful vocals and melodies that resonate for days." - The Big Takeover
LISTEN & SHARE: Terra Lightfoot - "No Hurry"
"emotional, raw, and super-relatable... Lightfoot is a force to be reckoned with" - BaebleLISTEN & SHARE: Terra Lightfoot - "Never Will"
“She could be your new rock ‘n’ roll hero. Drawing from rock, soul and blues, Lightfoot is a monster talent that will be gracing the world’s largest festival stages in no time.” – PopMatters
“Canadian songstress Terra Lightfoot… has a song for every moment or occasion, and Lightfoot unveils that versatility masterfully.” – Under the Radar
Terra Lightfoot has shared her new track "Lily's Fair" via The Big Takeover. It's off her upcoming album, Every Time My Mind Runs Wild , which will be released this Friday, August 26th in the US on Sonic Unyon Records.
Terra Lightfoot is a ferocious talent. Her songs tap into the raw emotion of hearts supercharged by love, lust, loneliness and temptation. Her playing melds expert finger-picking and distorted, hook-heavy melodies. And her elemental voice commands attention and awe. Produced and mixed by Gus van Go and Werner F (Monster Truck, Said the Whale, The Trews) and mixed by Noah Mintz (Death from Above 1979, The Sheepdogs, Danko Jones), Every Time My Mind Runs Wild distills all that audiences have come to love about the performer — fluid, fiery guitar-work, powerful vocals and melodies that resonate for days. From the sad-eyed swagger of opener “All Alone” to the punch of first single “Never Will” to the haunted ballad “Splinter” that closes the set, Every Time My Mind Runs Wild establishes Lightfoot as a singular talent and songwriting force.EVERY TIME MY MIN RUNS WILD LP - TRACKLISTING
01. All Alone
02. No Hurry
03. Never Will
04. Lily's Fair
05. See You In The Morning
06. Home To You
07. Emerald Eyes
08. Moonlight
09. NFB
10. The Truth
11. SplinterLINKS
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Website
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Whether you’re talking about her as a songwriter, guitarist or vocalist, one thing is indisputable: roots rocker Terra Lightfoot is a ferocious talent. Her songs tap into the raw emotion of hearts supercharged by love, lust, loneliness and temptation. Her playing melds expert finger-picking and distorted, hook-heavy melodies. And her elemental voice commands attention and awe, whether on slow-burning soul ballads or hard-charging rock numbers.
On stages in France, the UK and across Canada, Lightfoot has performed alongside the likes of Emmylou Harris, Gordon Lightfoot, Ron Sexsmith, Built to Spill, The Both, Albert Lee, James Burton, Grace Potter, Blue Rodeo, The Sadies, and Daniel Lanois.
In writing and performing Every Time My Mind Runs Wild (Sonic Unyon), Lightfoot set out to push her limits as a performer and challenge herself creatively. Where her debut was given to slower, softer songs and a subdued vibe, Lightfoot’s new album crackles with immediacy and demands attention. From the moment you put it on, the album announces Lightfoot’s arrival as a confident and natural lead performer.
Recording her sophomore album, Lightfoot says, made her a far more disciplined songwriter. That transformation took place early in the songwriting process. Holing up with headphones and a stack of vintage pop and rock albums, Lightfoot pulled apart songwriting mechanics, mastering tonic chords and middle eights and learning to craft memorably sticky choruses. She spent the weeks leading up to the recording sessions honing the album’s songs — working and reworking them until they were taut and lean. And then she hit the studio.
Lightfoot praises the supportive production team of Gus van Go and Werner F, who she says approached her material with a light and respectful touch. Tracks like “NFB,” “Emerald Eyes” and “Splinter” were recorded live off the floor over the course of a single day, a sprint made more urgent by the fact that the studio’s air conditioning was on the blink. Elsewhere, the pair took a more meditative approach, filling out tracks like “Moonlight,” “No Hurry”, “Never Will” and “All Alone” with choice details. They also enlisted the talents of keyboardist Liam O’Neil (The Stills) to round out the core trio of Lightfoot (guitar, vocals), Matthew Fleming (bass) and Joel Haynes (drums).
From start to finish, the results are radiant and remarkable. Lightfoot’s touchstone influences —roots groundbreakers Maybelle Carter and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, blues legends Leadbelly and Lightnin’ Hopkins, soul greats Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, jazz titans Nina Simone and Billie Holiday — are fused with songs that evoke the burly soul and bounding rock of Them or Creedence Clearwater Revival.
For all those comparisons, however, one listen to Every Time My Mind Runs Wild will convince you that Lightfoot is an inspiration all her own.
'EVERY TIME MY MIND RUNS WILD' LP OUT 8/26
LISTEN & SHARE: Terra Lightfoot - "Lily's Fair""fluid, fiery guitar playing, powerful vocals and melodies that resonate for days." - The Big Takeover
LISTEN & SHARE: Terra Lightfoot - "No Hurry"
"emotional, raw, and super-relatable... Lightfoot is a force to be reckoned with" - BaebleLISTEN & SHARE: Terra Lightfoot - "Never Will"
“She could be your new rock ‘n’ roll hero. Drawing from rock, soul and blues, Lightfoot is a monster talent that will be gracing the world’s largest festival stages in no time.” – PopMatters
“Canadian songstress Terra Lightfoot… has a song for every moment or occasion, and Lightfoot unveils that versatility masterfully.” – Under the Radar
Terra Lightfoot has shared her new track "Lily's Fair" via The Big Takeover. It's off her upcoming album, Every Time My Mind Runs Wild , which will be released this Friday, August 26th in the US on Sonic Unyon Records.
Terra Lightfoot is a ferocious talent. Her songs tap into the raw emotion of hearts supercharged by love, lust, loneliness and temptation. Her playing melds expert finger-picking and distorted, hook-heavy melodies. And her elemental voice commands attention and awe. Produced and mixed by Gus van Go and Werner F (Monster Truck, Said the Whale, The Trews) and mixed by Noah Mintz (Death from Above 1979, The Sheepdogs, Danko Jones), Every Time My Mind Runs Wild distills all that audiences have come to love about the performer — fluid, fiery guitar-work, powerful vocals and melodies that resonate for days. From the sad-eyed swagger of opener “All Alone” to the punch of first single “Never Will” to the haunted ballad “Splinter” that closes the set, Every Time My Mind Runs Wild establishes Lightfoot as a singular talent and songwriting force.EVERY TIME MY MIN RUNS WILD LP - TRACKLISTING
01. All Alone
02. No Hurry
03. Never Will
04. Lily's Fair
05. See You In The Morning
06. Home To You
07. Emerald Eyes
08. Moonlight
09. NFB
10. The Truth
11. SplinterLINKS
Website
Whether you’re talking about her as a songwriter, guitarist or vocalist, one thing is indisputable: roots rocker Terra Lightfoot is a ferocious talent. Her songs tap into the raw emotion of hearts supercharged by love, lust, loneliness and temptation. Her playing melds expert finger-picking and distorted, hook-heavy melodies. And her elemental voice commands attention and awe, whether on slow-burning soul ballads or hard-charging rock numbers.On stages in France, the UK and across Canada, Lightfoot has performed alongside the likes of Emmylou Harris, Gordon Lightfoot, Ron Sexsmith, Built to Spill, The Both, Albert Lee, James Burton, Grace Potter, Blue Rodeo, The Sadies, and Daniel Lanois.
In writing and performing Every Time My Mind Runs Wild (Sonic Unyon), Lightfoot set out to push her limits as a performer and challenge herself creatively. Where her debut was given to slower, softer songs and a subdued vibe, Lightfoot’s new album crackles with immediacy and demands attention. From the moment you put it on, the album announces Lightfoot’s arrival as a confident and natural lead performer.
Recording her sophomore album, Lightfoot says, made her a far more disciplined songwriter. That transformation took place early in the songwriting process. Holing up with headphones and a stack of vintage pop and rock albums, Lightfoot pulled apart songwriting mechanics, mastering tonic chords and middle eights and learning to craft memorably sticky choruses. She spent the weeks leading up to the recording sessions honing the album’s songs — working and reworking them until they were taut and lean. And then she hit the studio.
Lightfoot praises the supportive production team of Gus van Go and Werner F, who she says approached her material with a light and respectful touch. Tracks like “NFB,” “Emerald Eyes” and “Splinter” were recorded live off the floor over the course of a single day, a sprint made more urgent by the fact that the studio’s air conditioning was on the blink. Elsewhere, the pair took a more meditative approach, filling out tracks like “Moonlight,” “No Hurry”, “Never Will” and “All Alone” with choice details. They also enlisted the talents of keyboardist Liam O’Neil (The Stills) to round out the core trio of Lightfoot (guitar, vocals), Matthew Fleming (bass) and Joel Haynes (drums).
From start to finish, the results are radiant and remarkable. Lightfoot’s touchstone influences —roots groundbreakers Maybelle Carter and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, blues legends Leadbelly and Lightnin’ Hopkins, soul greats Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, jazz titans Nina Simone and Billie Holiday — are fused with songs that evoke the burly soul and bounding rock of Them or Creedence Clearwater Revival.
For all those comparisons, however, one listen to Every Time My Mind Runs Wild will convince you that Lightfoot is an inspiration all her own.
Warhaus Premieres "Memory" Via All Things Go | Debut LP Out 9.2
WARHAUS PREMIERES "MEMORY" VIA ALL THINGS GO
NEW ALBUM 'WE F***ED A FLAME INTO BEING' OUT SEPTEMBER 2ND VIA PLAY IT AGAIN SAM / [PIAS]
LISTEN & SHARE: Warhaus - "Memory"
"The track is almost Dylan-esque in its musing nature and Devoldere’s gravelly voice, which is softened by the addition of echoing female vocals courtesy of Sylvie Kreusch."
– All Things GoWarhaus -- the solo recording project of Maarten Devoldere -- debuts a new track "Memory" today on All Things Go. "Memory" is taken from Warhaus’ forthcoming debut album We F***ed A Flame Into Being , which will be released through Play It Again Sam / [PIAS] on September 2nd.
We F***ed A Flame Into Being -- a direct quote from the DH Lawrence novel Lady Chatterley's Lover that Devoldere felt was "too good to pass on!” -- is the perfect title for this collection of songs exploring the shadowy inscrutability of human encounters, and reveling in all the decadent intensity that life offers.
Maarten (who also shares front man duties in acclaimed rock band Balthazar) has until recently kept his Warhaus persona under wraps; but with We F***ed A Flame Into Being he brings to the fore a dark lyrical universe, fueled by desire and passion, and savagely probes its depths. The album is “an ode to love, to its excesses and elusiveness,“ declares Devoldere. Playing Jane Birkin-esque muse and foil to Devoldere’s post-modern Gainsbourg with seductive backing vocals is Sylvie Kreusch (pictured with Maarten on the album cover).
Warhaus will embark on an extensive European tour this autumn – below.
WARHAUS - EUROPEAN TOUR DATESAugust 25 - Holland, Groningen, NoorderzonSeptember 2 - Holland, Vlieland, into the great wide openSeptember 23 - Germany, Hamburg, Reeperbahn FestivalOctober 1 - Austria, Vienna, Waves Vienna - The Foyer October 3 - Switzerland, Zurich, MascotteOctober 4 - Switzerland, Yverdon, AmalgameOctober 9 - UK, Brighton, The Hope & RuinOctober 10 - UK, Leeds, Brudenell Social ClubOctober 12 - UK, London, Lexington October 18 - Germany, Cologne, Gebäude 9October 19 - Germany, Berlin, PostbahnhofOctober 20 - Germany, Frankfurt, BrotfabrikOctober 21 - Germany, Munich, StromOctober 24 - France, Bordeaux, KrakatoaOctober 25 - France, Lyon, Marche Gare.October 26 - France, Paris, La Maroquinerie October 27 - France, Lille, Aeronef Club October 29 - Netherlands, Zwolle, Let’s Get Lost Festival November 1 - Netherlands, Utrecht, Tivoli November 2 - Netherlands, Amsterdam, BitterzoetNovember 3 - Netherlands, Maastricht, MuziekgieterijNovember 5 - Netherlands, The Hague, Crossing Border FestivalNovember 6 - Netherlands, Haarlem, Het PatronaatNovember 8 - Netherlands, Nijmegen, MerleynNovember 9 - Netherlands, Rotterdam, Rotown
NEW ALBUM 'WE F***ED A FLAME INTO BEING' OUT SEPTEMBER 2ND VIA PLAY IT AGAIN SAM / [PIAS]
LISTEN & SHARE: Warhaus - "Memory""The track is almost Dylan-esque in its musing nature and Devoldere’s gravelly voice, which is softened by the addition of echoing female vocals courtesy of Sylvie Kreusch."
– All Things GoWarhaus -- the solo recording project of Maarten Devoldere -- debuts a new track "Memory" today on All Things Go. "Memory" is taken from Warhaus’ forthcoming debut album We F***ed A Flame Into Being , which will be released through Play It Again Sam / [PIAS] on September 2nd.
We F***ed A Flame Into Being -- a direct quote from the DH Lawrence novel Lady Chatterley's Lover that Devoldere felt was "too good to pass on!” -- is the perfect title for this collection of songs exploring the shadowy inscrutability of human encounters, and reveling in all the decadent intensity that life offers.
Maarten (who also shares front man duties in acclaimed rock band Balthazar) has until recently kept his Warhaus persona under wraps; but with We F***ed A Flame Into Being he brings to the fore a dark lyrical universe, fueled by desire and passion, and savagely probes its depths. The album is “an ode to love, to its excesses and elusiveness,“ declares Devoldere. Playing Jane Birkin-esque muse and foil to Devoldere’s post-modern Gainsbourg with seductive backing vocals is Sylvie Kreusch (pictured with Maarten on the album cover).
Warhaus will embark on an extensive European tour this autumn – below.
WARHAUS - EUROPEAN TOUR DATESAugust 25 - Holland, Groningen, NoorderzonSeptember 2 - Holland, Vlieland, into the great wide openSeptember 23 - Germany, Hamburg, Reeperbahn FestivalOctober 1 - Austria, Vienna, Waves Vienna - The Foyer October 3 - Switzerland, Zurich, MascotteOctober 4 - Switzerland, Yverdon, AmalgameOctober 9 - UK, Brighton, The Hope & RuinOctober 10 - UK, Leeds, Brudenell Social ClubOctober 12 - UK, London, Lexington October 18 - Germany, Cologne, Gebäude 9October 19 - Germany, Berlin, PostbahnhofOctober 20 - Germany, Frankfurt, BrotfabrikOctober 21 - Germany, Munich, StromOctober 24 - France, Bordeaux, KrakatoaOctober 25 - France, Lyon, Marche Gare.October 26 - France, Paris, La Maroquinerie October 27 - France, Lille, Aeronef Club October 29 - Netherlands, Zwolle, Let’s Get Lost Festival November 1 - Netherlands, Utrecht, Tivoli November 2 - Netherlands, Amsterdam, BitterzoetNovember 3 - Netherlands, Maastricht, MuziekgieterijNovember 5 - Netherlands, The Hague, Crossing Border FestivalNovember 6 - Netherlands, Haarlem, Het PatronaatNovember 8 - Netherlands, Nijmegen, MerleynNovember 9 - Netherlands, Rotterdam, Rotown
Letters to Cleo Announce New Album + Tour
LETTERS TO CLEO ANNOUNCE THEIR FIRST NEWALBUM IN SEVENTEEN YEARS + SELECT TOUR DATES
August 23, 2016 - Boston alt-rock band Letters to Cleo will be reuniting this fall with original members Kay Hanley (vocals), Michael Eisenstein (guitar), Stacy Jones (drums), and Greg McKenna (guitar). The band will be releasing new music for the first time in seventeen years. The five song EP is available for pre-order in multiple formats through Pledge Music . The EP will be released worldwide on all major digital services on September 30th. For the band, staying true to the chemistry that defined their sound throughout the 90’s was key to the creation of this new record. “It’s a blast,” says McKenna. “I mean, we spent our formative years learning how to do this stuff together. When it was done, we went out and lived our lives and now everyone’s bringing their experiences back to this at a new level of musicianship, but writing with these guys still feels effortless.” The songs are instantly recognizable Letters to Cleo concoctions that fans will devour. “It feels completely unforced. It sounds like classic Cleo. But at the same time, there’s nothing nostalgic about it,” says Jones. From Eisenstein’s fierce, angular guitars locking horns with Jones’ roaring locomotive rhythm on “Hitch A Ride” to McKenna and Hanley’s signature melodic ESP on “Good Right Here,” the Cleo bandmates are in prizefighter form. EP TRACK LISTINGHitch a RideBack to Nebraska Can't Say4 Leaf CloverGood Right Here Following the release of the record the band will be heading out on the road playing songs from the new EP, along with Letters to Cleo classics and fan favorites, in select markets in the U.S. TOUR DATESOctober 20 - The Rickshaw Stop - San Francisco, CA October 22 - The Troubadour - Los Angeles, CANovember 4 - The Double Door - Chicago, ILNovember 17 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NYNovember 19 - The Paradise - Boston, MA MORE ON THE BANDLetters to Cleo formed in 1990 in Boston, lead by guitarist Greg Mckenna and singer Kay Hanley. The band came onto the National spotlight with the release of their first big hit single "Here & Now,” released by Giant Records (a subsidiary of Warner Brothers Records). The song reached No. 10 on the Billboard Modern Rock Singles chart. The bands music could be heard on many of the top TV shows and films through out the 1990’s, including the cult classic 10 Things I Hate About You, where the band contributed 4 songs to the soundtrack and were feature in the film. The band played their last show in 2000 and each members went on to have successful careers working in different areas of music from production, writing, performance, musical directing etc. http://www.letterstocleo.nethttps://www.facebook.com/letterstocleomusic/
August 23, 2016 - Boston alt-rock band Letters to Cleo will be reuniting this fall with original members Kay Hanley (vocals), Michael Eisenstein (guitar), Stacy Jones (drums), and Greg McKenna (guitar). The band will be releasing new music for the first time in seventeen years. The five song EP is available for pre-order in multiple formats through Pledge Music . The EP will be released worldwide on all major digital services on September 30th. For the band, staying true to the chemistry that defined their sound throughout the 90’s was key to the creation of this new record. “It’s a blast,” says McKenna. “I mean, we spent our formative years learning how to do this stuff together. When it was done, we went out and lived our lives and now everyone’s bringing their experiences back to this at a new level of musicianship, but writing with these guys still feels effortless.” The songs are instantly recognizable Letters to Cleo concoctions that fans will devour. “It feels completely unforced. It sounds like classic Cleo. But at the same time, there’s nothing nostalgic about it,” says Jones. From Eisenstein’s fierce, angular guitars locking horns with Jones’ roaring locomotive rhythm on “Hitch A Ride” to McKenna and Hanley’s signature melodic ESP on “Good Right Here,” the Cleo bandmates are in prizefighter form. EP TRACK LISTINGHitch a RideBack to Nebraska Can't Say4 Leaf CloverGood Right Here Following the release of the record the band will be heading out on the road playing songs from the new EP, along with Letters to Cleo classics and fan favorites, in select markets in the U.S. TOUR DATESOctober 20 - The Rickshaw Stop - San Francisco, CA October 22 - The Troubadour - Los Angeles, CANovember 4 - The Double Door - Chicago, ILNovember 17 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NYNovember 19 - The Paradise - Boston, MA MORE ON THE BANDLetters to Cleo formed in 1990 in Boston, lead by guitarist Greg Mckenna and singer Kay Hanley. The band came onto the National spotlight with the release of their first big hit single "Here & Now,” released by Giant Records (a subsidiary of Warner Brothers Records). The song reached No. 10 on the Billboard Modern Rock Singles chart. The bands music could be heard on many of the top TV shows and films through out the 1990’s, including the cult classic 10 Things I Hate About You, where the band contributed 4 songs to the soundtrack and were feature in the film. The band played their last show in 2000 and each members went on to have successful careers working in different areas of music from production, writing, performance, musical directing etc. http://www.letterstocleo.nethttps://www.facebook.com/letterstocleomusic/
Yeasayer Say "Amen & Goodbye" With Sprawling North American Tour
YEASAYER
SAY AMEN & GOODBYE WITH
SPRAWLING NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
LISTEN TO A SPECIAL
WORLD CAFÉ LIVE SESSION
Photo credit: Eliot Lee HazelYeasayer announces new North American tour dates this autumn, following a string of successful festival dates this summer including Lollapalooza and Sasquatch. The Brooklyn band recently did an NPR World Café session, which you can listen to HERE.
Yeasayer’s fourth studio album, Amen & Goodbye, came out to critical acclaim via Mute earlier this year. Chicago Tribune calls the release “Yeasayer’s best,” NYLON claims it’s “sheer, exhilarating joy,” while Popmatters succinctly describes it as “a beautiful, trippy, mind-blowing album with smart, catchy songwriting.” Listen to Amen & Goodbye HERE .
Yeasayer is: Chris Keating, Ira Wolf Tuton and Anand Wilder.
Amen & Goodbye is available on CD, Vinyl, Digital and Limited Edition Fool’s Gold Vinyl.
YEASAYER “AMEN & GOODBYE” TOUR DATES:
Oct 1 – Flushing, NY – Meadows Music and Arts Festival
Oct 25 – Seattle, WA – WaMu Theatre at Qwest Field Events Center w/ M83
Oct 26 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
Oct 27 – San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium w/ M83
Oct 28 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre w/ M83
Oct 29 – Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
Oct 30 – Phoenix, AZ – The Crescent Ballroom
Oct 31 – El Paso, TX – EPIC Railyard Event Center
Nov 2 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
Nov 3 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
Nov 4 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note
Nov 5 – St. Louis, MO – The Ready Room
Nov 6 – Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe @ Old National Center (MOKB Presents)
Nov 7 – Louisville, KY – Headliner’s Music Hall
Nov 8 – Cincinnati, OH – 20th Century Theater
Nov 9 – Memphis, TN – 1884 Lounge
Nov 11 – Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
Nov 12 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
Nov 13 – New Orleans, LA – Republic New Orleans
Nov 14 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
Nov 15 – Austin, TX - Emo’s
Nov 17 – Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
Nov 18 – Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf
Nov 20 – Mexico City, Mexico – Corona Capital FestivalPurchase links
iTunes | Amazon | Yeasayer StoreYEASAYER: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
SPRAWLING NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
LISTEN TO A SPECIAL
WORLD CAFÉ LIVE SESSION
Photo credit: Eliot Lee HazelYeasayer announces new North American tour dates this autumn, following a string of successful festival dates this summer including Lollapalooza and Sasquatch. The Brooklyn band recently did an NPR World Café session, which you can listen to HERE.Yeasayer’s fourth studio album, Amen & Goodbye, came out to critical acclaim via Mute earlier this year. Chicago Tribune calls the release “Yeasayer’s best,” NYLON claims it’s “sheer, exhilarating joy,” while Popmatters succinctly describes it as “a beautiful, trippy, mind-blowing album with smart, catchy songwriting.” Listen to Amen & Goodbye HERE .
Yeasayer is: Chris Keating, Ira Wolf Tuton and Anand Wilder.
Amen & Goodbye is available on CD, Vinyl, Digital and Limited Edition Fool’s Gold Vinyl.
YEASAYER “AMEN & GOODBYE” TOUR DATES:
Oct 1 – Flushing, NY – Meadows Music and Arts Festival
Oct 25 – Seattle, WA – WaMu Theatre at Qwest Field Events Center w/ M83
Oct 26 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
Oct 27 – San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium w/ M83
Oct 28 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre w/ M83
Oct 29 – Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
Oct 30 – Phoenix, AZ – The Crescent Ballroom
Oct 31 – El Paso, TX – EPIC Railyard Event Center
Nov 2 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
Nov 3 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
Nov 4 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note
Nov 5 – St. Louis, MO – The Ready Room
Nov 6 – Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe @ Old National Center (MOKB Presents)
Nov 7 – Louisville, KY – Headliner’s Music Hall
Nov 8 – Cincinnati, OH – 20th Century Theater
Nov 9 – Memphis, TN – 1884 Lounge
Nov 11 – Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
Nov 12 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
Nov 13 – New Orleans, LA – Republic New Orleans
Nov 14 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
Nov 15 – Austin, TX - Emo’s
Nov 17 – Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
Nov 18 – Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf
Nov 20 – Mexico City, Mexico – Corona Capital FestivalPurchase links
iTunes | Amazon | Yeasayer StoreYEASAYER: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
August 22, 2016
Sugar Plant Interview
SUGAR PLANT
INTERVIEW BY ALEXANDER LAURENCE
Sugar Plant are a Japanese band. Their albums include After After Hours and Happy/Trance Mellow. I interviewed them at Brownies a few years ago (late 1997) when they last toured. This interview has never been seen or published. I talked with the main members Shin'ichi Ogawa and Chinatsu Shoyama.
******Chinatsu: Can you speak slowly?AL: I will speak slowly... and... I will speak... very... good... English. You're the singer?Chinatsu: He plays the guitar and I play bass. I sing. Sometimes I play guitar.AL: How many years have you been together?Chinatsu: More than three years.AL: You two are the main members. Then you have some others who play with you?Chinatsu: For our live show we have three other members. We don't play keyboards or drums.AL: Do you want to play more drums and keyboards in the future?Shin'ichi: (laughter) No. I like guitar.AL: Do you like to play live shows?Chinatsu: We love it. Yeah.AL: It seems like this guy Merzbow comes out with twenty records a year. Can you keep up with him?Shin'ichi: (says something in Japanese)Chinatsu: I don't understand your question.AL: Is this your first time in the United States?Chinatsu: No. We played here before. Not at Brownies, but in New York. We played at Under Acme (Acme Underground). This is the start of our American tour. We came here last year and the year before. We like the American audience more than Japanese. It's good.AL: What's wrong with the Japanese? You live in Tokyo?Shin'ichi: Near Tokyo. They are so quiet.Chinatsu: Yeah, Japanese audiences are quiet.AL: They are too polite?Chinatsu: Yeah, in a way.AL: Should audiences be more aggressive over there?Chinatsu: It's easy to know what American audiences think.AL: Your music can put someone in a trance. People might get crazy and want to cause some violence.Shin'ichi: Violence. Hmmm.Chinatsu: I don't care.AL: I listen to After After Hours all the time. Especially late at night. I didn't know what the lyrics were till I read them a few days ago. There's seems to be a lot about Astronomy.Shin'ichi: (says something in Japanese)Chinatsu: I'm singing about my experience and myself. The sun, sky, and stars are easy to explain and represent....AL: You seem to be more comfortable speaking Japanese. Why do you sing in English?Chinatsu: Our favorite music is American and British. It's natural to sing in English.AL: Which bands are your favorites? People always compare Sugar Plant to Mazzy Star and Velvet Underground.Shin'ichi: Stereolab. Galaxy 500.AL: What is the live show like?Chinatsu: We play some old songs, but most are new. We play one song off a new EP.AL: What do you think of some of the noise bands?Shin'ichi: I like some of the noisy music. Keghi Hanio. I saw them ten times.AL: Who do you like to play with? Or do you refuse to share the stage?Chinatsu: Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her.AL: Are you familiar of the Silver Apples?Shin'ichi: I never heard them.AL: Are you interested in art or literature?Shin'ichi: I like photography. Robert Frank.AL: What about Araki.Shin'ichi: He's famous but too erotic.AL: You don't share the same erotic vision we see in Araki or Merzbow?Shin'ichi: I don't understand. (laughter)AL: You have these very poetic lyrics. Does that come out of any literary tradition?Chinatsu: I write Japanese poetry. I majored in university. I like Bukowski. He's rough but I read him in English and Japanese.AL: Do you have any spiritual interests?Chinatsu: I don't know how to say in English. I read some books about the spiritual world. I don't the titles in English.AL: So you're on tour with La Bradford. What do you think of their music?Chinatsu: The show was great. They have three CDs out. And I like them all. Their show is great. La Bradford is very famous. This is the biggest tour we've done. We are playing thirty shows in six weeks. After that we are going to work on a new record.AL: What should we expect?Chinatsu: More pop. Spacey.AL: Are there going to be some robot toys on this record?Shin'ichi: Maybe. (laughter)AL: Okay. I'll get someone to translate the Japanese parts.Chinatsu: Can we talk into here in Japanese?AL: Yes. You can talk about After After Hours in Japanese.Chinatsu: (says something in Japanese)Shin'ichi: (says something in Japanese)AL: Do you guys like to stay up late?Chinatsu: This is music for after "after hours." Do you go to clubs? After you go to a club and come back to home, you're going to be relaxed. This is music for after that. You put it on a CD player.AL: Do you like Martin Denny?Shin'ichi: No. I like rock and techno.Chinatsu: Sometimes rock is too much. Techno is good but sometimes boring. So we like to combine them together. The next record will be different.******
INTERVIEW BY ALEXANDER LAURENCE
Sugar Plant are a Japanese band. Their albums include After After Hours and Happy/Trance Mellow. I interviewed them at Brownies a few years ago (late 1997) when they last toured. This interview has never been seen or published. I talked with the main members Shin'ichi Ogawa and Chinatsu Shoyama.******Chinatsu: Can you speak slowly?AL: I will speak slowly... and... I will speak... very... good... English. You're the singer?Chinatsu: He plays the guitar and I play bass. I sing. Sometimes I play guitar.AL: How many years have you been together?Chinatsu: More than three years.AL: You two are the main members. Then you have some others who play with you?Chinatsu: For our live show we have three other members. We don't play keyboards or drums.AL: Do you want to play more drums and keyboards in the future?Shin'ichi: (laughter) No. I like guitar.AL: Do you like to play live shows?Chinatsu: We love it. Yeah.AL: It seems like this guy Merzbow comes out with twenty records a year. Can you keep up with him?Shin'ichi: (says something in Japanese)Chinatsu: I don't understand your question.AL: Is this your first time in the United States?Chinatsu: No. We played here before. Not at Brownies, but in New York. We played at Under Acme (Acme Underground). This is the start of our American tour. We came here last year and the year before. We like the American audience more than Japanese. It's good.AL: What's wrong with the Japanese? You live in Tokyo?Shin'ichi: Near Tokyo. They are so quiet.Chinatsu: Yeah, Japanese audiences are quiet.AL: They are too polite?Chinatsu: Yeah, in a way.AL: Should audiences be more aggressive over there?Chinatsu: It's easy to know what American audiences think.AL: Your music can put someone in a trance. People might get crazy and want to cause some violence.Shin'ichi: Violence. Hmmm.Chinatsu: I don't care.AL: I listen to After After Hours all the time. Especially late at night. I didn't know what the lyrics were till I read them a few days ago. There's seems to be a lot about Astronomy.Shin'ichi: (says something in Japanese)Chinatsu: I'm singing about my experience and myself. The sun, sky, and stars are easy to explain and represent....AL: You seem to be more comfortable speaking Japanese. Why do you sing in English?Chinatsu: Our favorite music is American and British. It's natural to sing in English.AL: Which bands are your favorites? People always compare Sugar Plant to Mazzy Star and Velvet Underground.Shin'ichi: Stereolab. Galaxy 500.AL: What is the live show like?Chinatsu: We play some old songs, but most are new. We play one song off a new EP.AL: What do you think of some of the noise bands?Shin'ichi: I like some of the noisy music. Keghi Hanio. I saw them ten times.AL: Who do you like to play with? Or do you refuse to share the stage?Chinatsu: Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her.AL: Are you familiar of the Silver Apples?Shin'ichi: I never heard them.AL: Are you interested in art or literature?Shin'ichi: I like photography. Robert Frank.AL: What about Araki.Shin'ichi: He's famous but too erotic.AL: You don't share the same erotic vision we see in Araki or Merzbow?Shin'ichi: I don't understand. (laughter)AL: You have these very poetic lyrics. Does that come out of any literary tradition?Chinatsu: I write Japanese poetry. I majored in university. I like Bukowski. He's rough but I read him in English and Japanese.AL: Do you have any spiritual interests?Chinatsu: I don't know how to say in English. I read some books about the spiritual world. I don't the titles in English.AL: So you're on tour with La Bradford. What do you think of their music?Chinatsu: The show was great. They have three CDs out. And I like them all. Their show is great. La Bradford is very famous. This is the biggest tour we've done. We are playing thirty shows in six weeks. After that we are going to work on a new record.AL: What should we expect?Chinatsu: More pop. Spacey.AL: Are there going to be some robot toys on this record?Shin'ichi: Maybe. (laughter)AL: Okay. I'll get someone to translate the Japanese parts.Chinatsu: Can we talk into here in Japanese?AL: Yes. You can talk about After After Hours in Japanese.Chinatsu: (says something in Japanese)Shin'ichi: (says something in Japanese)AL: Do you guys like to stay up late?Chinatsu: This is music for after "after hours." Do you go to clubs? After you go to a club and come back to home, you're going to be relaxed. This is music for after that. You put it on a CD player.AL: Do you like Martin Denny?Shin'ichi: No. I like rock and techno.Chinatsu: Sometimes rock is too much. Techno is good but sometimes boring. So we like to combine them together. The next record will be different.******
17th Annual Dia de los Muertos at HOLLYWOOD FOREVER
The 17th AnnualDia de los Muertos
at HOLLYWOOD FOREVER
THE TREE OF LIFE
EL ÁRBOL DE LA VIDA
Saturday October 29th 2016
NOON - MIDNIGHT
ANNOUNCING ON THE MAIN STAGE
Julieta Venegas
Buyepongo
Alejandro y Maria Laura
Mitre
Mariachi Flor de Toloache
Tickets are $20 and are
ON SALE NOW at hollywoodforever.ticketfly.com
More info at
ladayofthedead.com
