Since I’ve been really inactive and am probably about to be even more negligent starting in two weeks, here is a nice little “half” mix for the end of the summer and the start of the school year. Enjoy.
© Mahsa Borhani, 2009
B2S MIX 2009
- The Billionaires – The End of Summer Song
- The Hives – Fall Is Just Something Grown-Ups Invented
- Witch Hats – I Can’t Stay At Home
- Cheap Time – Back To School
- Blank Dogs – Books
- Mission of Burma – Academy Fight Song
Speaking of Witch Hats, here’s something to look forward to (dated June 15th):
We’ve got a new recording due out in a couple of months (our old label folded and we’ve had to organise a release through another one causing big crappy delays). Its a 6 song 10″ vinyl EP.
Filed under: bands
I’d like to interrupt this staggering hiatus by informing you all that, apparently, Mas Y Mas are recording a new album. Maybe they will also do a large tour sometime in the future, but we can’t have everything now, can we? Nevertheless, you can get VERY close. In fact, their full length album, “Proud Sponsors of Pepsi”, is now available for download via ROCKSOTOUGH.COM:
click here to download Proud Sponsors of Pepsi
in other news, I updated the gig archive and added an actual “upcoming shows” page so you don’t have to wait for me to update to see what shows are occurring, seeing as I scour venue websites on a regular basis, even if I neglect this blogging bullshit. cheers.
I can’t be bothered to do anything but I have a mix that I will post soon. this sunday is my big bad birthday. brunch @ the blue bird downtown! #1 cafe in kansas city. so good.
Saturday, May 16th in Lawrence
$8 both venues / $5 one venue
- Jackpot Saloon (6 pm) – Greg Enemy, The Spook Lights, Weird Wounds, Waterfowl Habitat, Norrit, Def Ear, Hammerlord, David Hasselhoff on Acid
- Replay Lounge (patio, 6 pm) – The Tambourine Club, Another Holiday, The Marmots
- Replay Lounge (indoors, 10 pm) – Pontiak, Centipede Eest, The Old Black, Mansion
The show is all ages until 10 PM, from thereon it is 18+. Speaking of the show:
Weird Wounds
Weird Wounds is composed of four dudes who play straight up garage rock with a little punk rock mentality mixed in. Kyle, who plays guitar, and Nic, the drummer, are also involved in Coat Party–which is on hiatus right now. Since I saw them open for Modey Lemon last June at the Jackpot (during which they played an incredibly tight but short set), they have added a bassist and are preparing to release their first EP on vinyl. Not only does this band have their own logo–their vocalist, Grant, also sings through a telephone receiver (constructed by Kyle), which tends to add a little reverb to the vocals. The sometimes incomprehensible lyrics are spewed with a gruff tone and also tinged with inflections of someone who’s about to hurl on you might convey. I know that sounds like an insult, but it’s not, I swear. The twangy, angular notes in addition to fast drumming and candid lyrics are what make “Fucked From the Start” such a great track.
Weird Wounds – Fucked From the Start
Centipede Eest
Centipede Eest @ Gooski’s w/ CAVE, Dec. 15th 2008, © Mahsa Borhani
Although notorious for playing long songs that box in and out between structured, danceable jams and then duck into amorphous noise rock, Centipede Eest isn’t really a “jam” band. Nick Patton, a native of Alabama, adds a southern-rock feel to the music with his guitar work and blunt vocals, while Jim Lingo counters with heavily distorted guitar and grimacing yells. Add the complex and swift drums of Sam Pace to the slick and heavy bass of Caulen Kress and you get much more than the loose and improvised work of a jam band. With Joshua Tanzer on a third guitar and also a synthesizer, the band has room to work with more percussion instruments that lend to their often cathartic live shows. Centipede Eest released a split 7″ with local Pittsburgh punk maestros Kim Phuc on Record Store Day, which is where this track is from. They are on a short tour circuit right now and definitely worth checking out if you’re in Lawrence, since I don’t think they’ve played here in three years.
In an effort to suppress my anxiety about leaving pittsburgh I have started looking at KC/Lawrence show listings again, heheh.
- 5-3 // Chomp Womp productions (lol) // The Tap Room // $3
- 5-4 // Vivian Girls (NY), Ponytail (MD), Expo 70, +more // Jackpot Saloon // $8
- 5-4 // Richard Lloyd (ex-Television) // Record Bar // $8
- 5-7 // Thao Nguyen w/ the Get Down Stay Down // Jackpot Saloon // $10
- 5-7 // Hjertestop (Denmark) // The Church //
- 5-8 // Hjertestop (Denmark), Weird Wounds // Replay Lounge // $2
- 5-11 // The High Strung (MI) // Replay Lounge // $2
- 5-16 // Centipede Eest +many more // Replay Lounge // all ages & 18+ later
- 5-17 // Modern Creatures, Twin Crystals // Replay Lounge// $2
- 5-17 // CAVE w/ Expo 70 // The Emerald //
- 5-22 // They Might Be Giants // The Beaumont Club // $26.00 (lol)
- 5-24 // Magnolia Electric Co. (IL) + Drakkar Sauna // Jackpot Saloon // $7
- 5-25 // Wrong Crowd, Peirced Arrows // Record Bar // $7
- 5-27 // The Decemberists // Uptown Theater // $28
- 5-29 // Gogol Bordello w/ Man Man // The Beaumont Club
- 5-30 // The Life and Times // Record Bar // $7
- 6-3 // Yeah Yeah Yeahs // The Beaumont Club
6-4 // Japandroids // Replay Lounge // $2CANCELLED- 6-4 // The Starlight Mints // Record Bar // $10
- 6-7 // Coalesce // The Beaumont Club
- 6-12 // Metric // The Granada // $15
- 6-24 // Realicide, Evolve // Replay Lounge // $2
- 6-25 // Mika Miko, The Strange Boys, Boo & Boo Too // Jackpot Saloon
- 6-28 // Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band // The Beaumont Club
- 7-1 // Japandroids // Record Bar // $7
- 7-9 // So Many Dynamos // Record Bar // $7
- 7-10 // Dark Lingo // Replay Lounge
- 7-18 // Sonic Youth // Uptown Theater // $26.00
- 7-22 // Gil Mantera’s Party Dream // Record Bar // $8
- 7-29 // El Ten Eleven // Record Bar // $7
- 8-15 // The Avett Brothers // Crossroads KC // $21.50 (GA)
- 8-18 // Blondie // Crossroads KC // $28.00 (GA)
not too shabby.
Remember when I used to update with new shows and then I had a little section at the bottom that said what I was jamming to? This is that except with a small review of each artist/song. I am moving back to Kansas City next week. I will NOT be updating Pittsburgh shows anymore or keeping up with them. Instead I will start doing KC again. If you want to know about shows I have been to, go to my flickr, the photos are all there. Except not any photos from the Kim Phuc – Erase Errata – ADULT show last night at CMU. I have my regrets but I was also high and eating gummi bears so what the fuck. HERE WE GO:
© Mahsa Borhani, 2009
DRUNKDRIVER – January 2nd // I snagged this one off of Jonathan from www.builtonaweakspot.com and I sincerely wish I had bought this 7″ when DD played pittsburgh, because they were pretty much the best act that night. Imagine speakers being completely blown from how loud a guitar is while the drummer ravages his kit and an incredibly histrionic dude tears up his lungs in order to tell you what is killing him inside. Lyrics like “It doesn’t fucking matter that there’s no one left to forgive me” cannot be described more perfectly than by DD’s sound. The hatred, despondency and insanity that is contained in this music is not for everyone, but if you’re into a crossbreed of noise and hardcore this is the cream of the crop.
FM Knives – 20/20 // straight out of Sacramento, this pop punk band has some of the most driving songs I have heard in a while. No whiny annoying voice, no tired riffs, and overflowing with beautiful lyrics and bass lines that don’t take their lead from the melody or drum rhythm but create a whole world of their own. this song actually has a BASS SOLO in it…wtf. This band was formed in 2001 but they have the sincerity and energy of punk from the beginning of the movement. Bummer that they broke up.
Hot Snakes – Plenty for All // Hot Snakes are in my top 5 favorite bands. Rick Froberg is an incredible vocalist–he conveys urgency, rage, and a jarring frankness all at once; besides Rick’s vocals, his guitar playing combined with John Reis’s guitar licks created such a powerful wall of sound. This particular song is probably as close to radio friendly they had ever gotten since it is less intense than the rest of their work and tinged with pop.
Obits – Back and Forth // Obits are Rick Froberg’s new band after the break up of Hot Snakes. Although it’s still prominently punk, a lot of it reminds me of early 60s rock or Stooges-era hard rock–it kinda has this cock rock swagger that just jams out. With super catchy bass lines and taunting guitar melodies that are less jagged than work that Hot Snakes did, Obits will probably get much more recognition than Hot Snakes did (at least while HS was still formed). “Back and Forth” pulls you in between a drum beat reminiscent of Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” and a chorus that’s steeped in a Beach Boys sound.
Foreign Born – Into Your Dream // Foreign Born changed their mix of new wave and folk rock to a more direct rock and roll approach in this song. I’m not particularly a huge fan of Foreign Born–although they were quite good when they opened for St. Vincent at the Warhol last year–but I really like this song. So fun and addictive. Who doesn’t love sleigh bells?
Mas y Mas – The White Visitation // Hilarious lyrics and furious acoustic strumming. Sounds quite different from other Mas Y Mas when you take out the drum machine, the cheeky guitar and the cheesy synths but still very mesmerizing. I am infatuated with the masterminds behind this band and am only living in this world so I can one day see them live. They almost make me regret moving back to the midwest since I will be that many more miles away from their aura.
Ra Ra Riot – Too Too Too Fast // For a band that only started in 2006, Ra Ra Riot have quite deftly navigated the indie rock waters. Their songs burst at the seams with furious bass lines, frenetic violin, calming cello, and sensitive vocals that are a mix between romance and agitation. Seeing them live last February totally sold me–they are so incredibly TIGHT for six young musicians and have true charisma and energy on stage. I can’t usually deal with choppy and repetitive lyrics, but this song is one of my favorites off their debut album.
These Are Powers @ the Lava Lounge, 2-26-09
© Mahsa Borhani, 2009
upcoming shows:
- 3-7 Hijack @ the New Amsterdam
- 3-12 This Bike is a Pipe Bomb @ Braddock Elks Lodge
- 3-12 Love is Wet @ the New Amsterdam
- 3-13 Pairdown w/ Assembly @ the Thunderbird Cafe
- 3-14 Mumpsy @ Garfield Artworks
- 3-14 Drugdealer EP release @ Gooski’s
- 3-16 Kim Phuc @ Mr. Roboto Project
- 3-24 Romance of Young Tigers @ Brillobox
- 3-26 Love is Wet @ the New Amsterdam
- 3-27 CMU benefit show with Lohio, Donora, & more @ tba location
- 3-28 The Antlers @ Brillobox
- 3-31 Say Hi @ Garfield Artworks
- 3-31 Handsome Furs @ Brillobox
- 4-2 Rad Racket w/ Thinking Machines @ Gooski’s
- 4-11 Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin @ Brillobox
- 4-12 NOBUNNY @ Jimmy & Krystyna’s punk house
- 4-12 Cloud Cult w/ Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s @ Mr. Small’s
- 4-17 CMU CARNIVAL
- 4-17 The Takeover UK cd release @ Brillobox
- 4-22 Birthday Suits w/ Baby Bird @ Howler’s Coyote Cafe
- 4-25 Knife the Symphony @ Gooski’s
- 4-29 Dr. Dog @ Mr. Small’s
- 5-11 TV on the Radio @ Mr. Small’s
I wish I had some more new music to share but I really haven’t been listening to anything except a lot of Romance of Young Tigers, Mas y Mas’s new single “Adolescent Exorcism”, and Thinking Machines. Midterms are over for me tomorrow. oh also for you Kansas kids, Get Up kids show and Appleseed Cast show coming up soon! I’ll be there. I will also have time to update with a musicdraw cause I have a LOT of new art to share with you guys. how exciting!
hey guys, it’s been a pretty hectic month and a half since I posted. I failed finals, went to chicago, went to a bunch of shows, got a shit ton of new music, pissed off a ton of people, and took a crap load of pictures! haha. I recently started shooting film at shows to very good results, so look forward to that in the future. Here is just one of many film shots I’ve taken so far:
Also, I’ve recently started booking shows–exciting, isn’t it? I have two shows in the works for 2009, so check back to hear about that. I figured that using my freelance money for music-related events would only be win-win, since I handle the promotions aspect of booking as well. If you’re an out of town band looking for shows, get in touch with me and I might be able to hook you up.
What else is going on? I have two new Lymbyc Systym reviews in the works, and one Mason Proper show review/album review as well. Those should be up by the end of this month. The Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s show on the 12th went really well. They were wonderful live, and played plenty of songs off their first album as well. You can check out photos from that on my flickr, or on the description for the last.fm event.
JAMS
- Harlem Shakes – Old Flames
- Hot Lava – Ghosties
- Lung Rip – Nametaker
- Mas y Mas – Hi
- No Age – Cappo
- Ra Ra Riot – Run My Mouth
- Tunng – Soup
- The Wrens – Hopeless
- Witch Hats – Climbing Up Your Cable
upcoming shows
12/27 – Jack Sabbath & the Gold Bullet 5 – Brillobox
1/2 – The Takeover UK – Brillobox
1/3 – The Harlan Twins, Assembly, Stephen Tribou, On Deaf Ears – Club Cafe
1/4 – Born Bad w/ Rational Animals & Brown Sugar – Krystyna’s punk haus
1/6 – One For the Team – Brillobox
1/6 – Zona Mexicana, Persona Grata, Red Team Blue Team, People of Color – Howler’s Coyote Cafe
1/7 – The Union Line, Ball of Flame Shoot Fire, Local Natives, Voxhaul Broadcast – Garfield Artworks
1/7 – Sinks w/ the Burndowns – Rock Room
1/10 – Elliot Sharp w/ the Sirius String Quartet – Andy Warhol Museum
1/11 – Tatsuya Nakatani – 3634 Penn ave. *
1/12 – Box Elders, Harangue, Tusk Lord – Howler’s Coyote Cafe *
1/13 – Seasick, Killin’ It!, Drought, Confidence Men – Mr. Roboto Project
1/16 – Pomegranates, Bear Hands, Life in Bed – Brillobox *
1/22 – CP remixed event w/ Wiz Khalifa, Italian Ice & Michael Johnsen – WYEP community broadcast center *
1/23 – The Sword – Mr. Small’s
1/23 – Donora – Brillobox
1/27 – Vic Chestnutt, Elf Power, Harangue – Garfield Artworks
1/30 – Satin Gum, Olympus Mons, Casino Bulldogs – Club Cafe *
2/7 – GIGAWAVE show, TBA *
2/8 – Ludo, Sing it Loud, This Providence – Diesel
2/16 – Ben Folds – Club Zoo
2/17 – Delta Spirit – Brillobox *
2/19 – Eagles of Death Metal – Mr. Small’s
2/22 – Tapes n Tapes – Brillobox *
2/22 – Benjy Ferree, Tim Fite – Thunderbird Cafe
2/28 – Ben Kweller, The Watson Twins – Diesel
2/28 – Tokyo Police Club w/ Harlem Shakes – Mr. Small’s *
3/17 – Morrissey – Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland
3/28 – A.C. Newman – The Andy Warhol Museum
* denotes shows I will definitely be attending.
more shows added:
- oxford collapse – nov. 14th – brillobox
- casiotone for the painfully alone – nov. 21st – modern formations
- el ten eleven – nov. 29th – brillobox
- steve goldberg & the archenemies – nov. 30th – garfield artworks
- margot and the nuclear so and so’s – dec. 12th – brillobox
I will be compiling a new concert list on the shows page tomorrow, so you can just click that instead of going through the posts. I know…it’s a huge hassle and I am a little disorganized. I haven’t really been keeping up with KC shows since I am never there during the year.
There are LOTS of new photos up on my flickr, if you have not checked recently. I always have new shit up there every week so you should definitely check it out since I don’t have time to write reviews up on all of them. Saturday night I got to see Lohio and The Harlan Twins, which was a really wonderful show. I’d never seen either of them before, so I was pretty impressed and it wasn’t as folky as I thought it was going to be. Here are a handful of my favorite (vertical, lol) shots:
lohio
the harlan twins
I’m going to fail school, but here’s some good stuff to fall to:
Blood Red Shoes – I Wish I Was Someone Better
A Frames – Surveillance
Deerhoof – Fresh Born
Plus/Minus – The Hours You Keep
The Spinto Band – The Carnival
The Constantines – Our Age
new shows:
- The Chinese Stars – Oct 30th – Gooski’s
- The Shys – Oct 30th – Club Cafe
- Drunkdriver – Nov 2nd – The Rock Room
- USAISAMONSTER – Nov 6th – Garfield Artworks
- Triggers – Nov 6th – Lava Lounge
- Fredrik – Nov 9th – Brillobox
- The Hold Steady – Nov 12th – Carnegie Music Hall
- Cloud Cult – Nov 15th – Mr. Small’s
- Rasputina – Nov. 19th – Diesel
- Shwayze – Nov 23rd – Club Zoo
- Sebastien Grainger – Nov. 29th – Garfield Artworks
- The Constantines w/ Obits – Dec 11th – Thunderbird Cafe
- Jeremy Enigk – Dec 12th – Club Cafe
also, the Ted Leo show has been cancelled and is supposed to be rescheduled for a later date
