Even though Wilco's latest album, The Whole Love, isn't out until September, its first single has landed on the audioblog Stereogum. The famed Chicago band just played the Solid Sound Fest in Massachusetts, and their new song hit the web after the weekend show. The track, produced by frontman Jeff Tweedy, is a little more lo-fi but bound to be a classic.
James Franco might be the new Kevin Bacon: the 33-year old is everywhere from the side of Peter Parker to a sharp bottle of Gucci fragrance. In his overachieving (he was enrolled in three different universities at one point), there have been many brilliant moments (being a one-man cast in 127 Days) but also some missteps.
This latest video, shot with dragged up performance artists Kalup Linzy, is one of those stalls. The video is loaded with "ironic" sound and video effects, and overall, it seems like one too many trips on the Pineapple Express. See for yourself:
The two plan on releasing an EP later in July on iTunes.
Just so you know that Franco is capable of something a little more substantial, he built a live stunt that also explained his multitasking, but maybe Chris Crocker (the blanket wearing Britney Spears fan) is the new face of James Franco.
The U.S. National Whitewater Center, usually a place for rafting classes or adventurous business trips, actually has one of the better (if not more unique) music venues in the Charlotte area. All summer long, the Whitewater River Jam series has brought some family-friendly and blog-worthy bands to the side of the Catawba River.
This Fourth of July weekend, the Center is pulling a page out of its playbook and hosting three different nights of bands. Like the Memorial Day show, each night of the weekend finishes with fireworks and is absolutely free. In the tradition of the holiday, each band is a slice of American music. Expect blues, soul, and of course, Americana.
Pat Godwin
The Comedy Zone
June 29, 2010
I wouldn't ordinarily review a comedian, let alone post any thoughts about one on the music blog, but comedian Pat Godwin has enough music-based material that I thought I'd share some. Godwin performed a 45-minute set tonight for "Friends and Family Night" as part of the grand opening weekend for the new Charlotte Comedy Zone at the N.C. Music Factory.
Godwin, who has been featured on a variety of morning radio programs such as Howard Stern and Bob and Tom, hit the stage with his guitar, a handful of original songs and plenty of humor aimed at familiar musicians.
His comedy touched on Hootie and the Blowfish, Dave Matthews Band, Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam and U2. I don't want to spoil any of the show, but as a huge music fan and music editor, I was laughing my ass off.
He made jokes about a few people in the audience, tied some people into songs, sang a song he wrote about Charlotte, offered his slowed-down hip-hop tribute in "Gangsta Folk" and referred to the club's odd basement-like location often.
The club dealt with a few issues such as sound and hot lighting on stage, but overall the experience was a great one. The now-bare walls will soon be covered by murals and the minor kinks will easily be worked out.
In the meantime, I'd highly recommend checking out Godwin this weekend (he's here through July 2). You can also find a calendar of events for the Comedy Zone here. I have to admit, I'm kind of curious to what Flavor Flav's gonna do on that stage...
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appears in a new video as a promo for the upcoming Smashing Pumpkins album, Oceania. The NBA star simply slam dunks a pumpkin.
Coldplay has released a video for the song "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall." It's from the band's new EP of the same name.
The stop-action video is a bit reminiscent of Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer," only with paint instead of claymation.
Hot House Heftones, Pain After Death, Pig Mountain, Towering Pyre, MC Cataclysm, Clavius, Hectagons
Hot House
June 25, 2011
The Deal: Over the years, I have been to several parties at the Hot House and I can't say that any occasion has ever been a bad time. The music is always good and the atmosphere of the party is pretty much agreeable with the relatively unavoidable intoxicated party drama. I've been going to shows there for at least three years and every time has been some notable experience that I cannot forget. I watched Villains United turn into Quantum Foundry and then MC Cataclysm there. I watched Zeus become who they are today, as well as my first Hectagons experience. Although I've always been impressed by their line-ups, when I heard that Hectagons, Clavius, MC Cataclysm, Towering Pyre, Pig Mountain, Pain After Death and The Hot House Heftones were playing in the same night, I had no choice but to submit to the crazy awesome and unpredictable night ahead of me.
Find photos from the show here.
Take a bit Johnny Cash's Southern style, mix it with the softness of Jessica Lea Mayfield and perhaps some Billie Holiday attitude and you've got a glimpse at the vocal style of Elle King.
You can find her MySpace here. I can't say I know much more than that, but I do like the first song I've heard (see below.) It's got a great down-to-earth style and the tone of her voice is hypnotic.
I'd recommend checking out her song, "Good To Be a Man."