Month: January 2008

The Heavy: Funk from the Land of Noid

Here’s a nice one that came through the inbox recently. The Heavy hails from a small town outside Bath, England called Noid. Their U.S. debut, Great Vengeance and Furious Fire, will be released on April 8th. In the meantime, you can preview one of their funk-rock hybrids here. It sounds like they went with the Spinal Tap technique and turned their amps up to 11 in the studio. Funky horns, bangin’ drums, and what could pass as a jet engine backing them up.

The Heavy – That Kind of Man (mp3)

The Heavy’s Official Site | MySpace

Upcoming Shows – Los Lobos

Seeing Los Lobos live should be on the Lifetime To-Do List of every music lover out there. Well into their fourth decade of making music together, with the same core lineup of friends / musicians since their start in East L.A. – David Hidalgo, Cesar Rojas, Louie Perez, Steve Berlin, and Conrad Lozano – these guys are as talented, tight, and dynamic as ever. They dip into several genres: blues, roots, latin, folk, traditional Mexican, and others. And if you haven’t heard their take on the Dead’s “Bertha”, you’re cheating only yourself, my friend.

Los Lobos – Bertha (mp3)

Los Lobos is kicking off a tour on Friday night at Royce Hall at UCLA. Saturday night, they’ll be at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, CA. I’ll be catching them in a couple of weeks at the Mesa Arts Center in my neck of the woods (I’ll have a review up soon after).

Check out the tour dates, and go check out these legends when they come to your area. That’s an order. You’ll thank me.

Another Los Lobos classic…

Los Lobos – I Got Loaded (mp3)

Links: Los Lobos Official Site | Los Lobos on LastFM | Hear their version of Bob Dylan’s “Billy 1” from the I’m Not There soundtrack (LastFM)

Buy: Amazon MP3 Store | Los Lobos

Tour Dates
02.01.08 – Friday – Royce Hall, UCLA – Los Angeles, CA
02.02.08 – Saturday – Belly Up Tavern – Solana Beach, CA
02.15.08 – Friday – Abraham Chavez Theater – El Paso, TX
02.16.08 – Saturday – Ikeda Theater – Mesa, AZ
03.05.08 – Wednesday – Ithaca State Theatre – Ithaca, NY
03.06.08 – Thursday – McCarter Theater – Princeton, NJ
03.07.08 – Friday – William Patterson University – Wayne, NJ
03.08.08 – Saturday – Shubert Theater – New Haven, CT (Michael, represent!)
03.09.08 – Sunday – Strom Auditorium – Rockport, ME
03.11.08 – Tuesday – The Ridgefield Playhouse – Ridgefield, CT
03.12.08 – Wednesday – Birchmere – Alexandria, VA
03.13.08 – Thursday – The Grand Opera House – Wilmington, DE
03.14.08 – Friday – Lehigh University / Zoellner Arts Ctr Bethlehem, PA
03.15.08 – Saturday – Bardavon 1869 Opera House – Poughkeepsie, NY
03.16.08 – Sunday – Calvin Theatre – Northampton, MA
03.21.08 – Friday – Columbus Palace Theatre – Columbus, OH
03.25.08 – Tuesday – Burton Cummings Theatre – Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA
03.27.08 – Thursday – Jack Singer Concert Hall – Calgary, Alberta CANADA
03.28.08 – Friday – Northern Alberta Jubilee Aud. – Edmonton, Alberta CANADA
03.29.08 – Saturday – Bowness Hall – Calgary, Alberta CANADA
03.30.08 – Sunday – Eric Harvie Theatre – Banff, Alberta CANADA
04.01.08 – Tuesday – Vancouver Centre For The Arts – Vancouver, B.C. CANADA
04.02.08 – Wednesday – Royal Theatre – Victoria, B.C. CANADA

Check out their tour page for more dates extending into the summer.

More Music News from the Onion

The Onion

Jakob Dylan Still Not Convinced Father A Better Songwriter

LOS ANGELES—Although his father, Bob Dylan, is widely considered to be the voice of a generation, Jakob Dylan, lead singer of folk-rock band…

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What the Kids are Listening to: Juno

Juno

I had originally entitled this one What the Kids Everyone is Listening to: Juno

Up up down down left right left right B A start
Just because we use cheats doesn’t mean we’re not smart
I don’t see what anyone can see, in anyone else but you
Anyone Else but You – The Moldy Peaches

That right there pretty much sums up the wit present in each and every one of the 19 tracks comprising the #1 record in the country (it’s #1 in Digital Sales as well). It is straightforward songwriting that is simple and to the point. I’ve given this soundtrack a couple of spins and while it’s pleasant and cute it is by in large pedestrian. That said it does serve as a great compliment to the film and my favorite track is the honest and adorable version of “Anyone Else but You” performed by the stars Michael Cera and Ellen Page. It does get kudos for resurrecting Sonic Youth’s brilliant cover of The Carpenters “Superstar” and introducing the kids to the brilliance of Bowie via Mott the Hoople’s classic “All the Young Dudes”.

The Moldy Peaches – Anyone Else but You (Quicktime)

Buy Juno (Music From The Motion Picture): Rhino Direct | iTunes

Up On Cripple Creek

The closest I ever came to going through a country music phase was during the summer of 1992. I had just graduated from college, and my plan was to jump into a career in law enforcement. Since a high school internship with my local police department, I had my sights set on being a police officer. Well, it didn’t exacty turn out that way in the end. A change of heart ensued after a few interviews…. Continue reading “Up On Cripple Creek”

Nine Lives…

There are few people in this world that are more rock n’ roll than Lemmy Kilmister. Seriously, I’m fairly certain that should some catastrophic event rob the world of all its life it would be Cher, Keef, Lemmy and the cockroaches left standing. So it’s not really surprising that he’s fronting a retro-rockabilly band. But what’s more amazing is that it works better than you’d think it would. Backed by Stray Cat Slim Jim Phantom and Danny B. Harvey of Rockats the trio burns through a set of classic tunes. For a jolt of straight forward balls to the wall rock check out The Head Cats!

The Head Cat – Crossroads (Live) (MP3)

Buy Fool’s Paradise: Amazon

Links: MySpace

Thinking of You

Canadian Cam is back with a look at Toronto singer-songwriter Kim Jarrett… – Pete

Kim Jarrett writes excellent songs that showcase her outstanding voice. There’s nothing fancy or pretentious about the songs, or the voice, or Kim herself.

Kim received critical acclaim for her self-titled debut album. She still receives accolades for many of the tracks, in particular the opening number, “How Long”, as it comes pre-loaded on an mp3 player sold worldwide. This is an indication of Kim’s great universal appeal.

Kim is almost always busy performing live and hosting various open mic nights for singer-songwriters, road-testing her next batch of originals and revising old favourites with bassist, backup vocalist, partner and, now, producer Mike Costantino.

Thinking of You (2007) primarily features Kim on guitar/vocals and Mike on bass and backing vocals. The sound has been stripped down in comparison to the debut album, and I think it works extremely well with the songs that have been chosen. Guest appearances have been limited to a couple of ace guitarists: Tim Bovaconti (Ron Sexmith) contributes stellar electric guitar and pedal steel on many tracks, and Eric St-Laurent’s electric sounds great on two others.

Kim (and Mike) can reliably be found hosting an open mic night every Tuesday at the Liberty Bistro in Toronto. You never know who will show up to perform and listen to the varied performers!

Kim Jarrett – Everybody Pays (mp3)

Buy Thinking of You and check in at Kim’s web site (http://www.kimjarrett.com/). If you want to hear more, a few more new tunes (including Hypnotizing, possibly the catchiest on the album) are on her MySpace page.

The Bird and the Bee

Ickmusic contributor the Great Gonzo returns! – Pete

Hello, Ickies. I know I’ve been pretty quiet, sorry about that. Last semester was a doozy, and things have been hectic over the holidays. But I’ve returned!

Today, I give you The Bird and the Bee out of L.A. I first came across this group in late 2006 when I heard their EP again and again and again and again. The EP contained 4 tracks, three of which were slated for their upcoming full length, the fourth a Peaches remix of “Fucking Boyfriend.” I was drawn into the band’s unique sound. Laid back, yet poppy. Indie-ish, yet polished. And a hint of jazz (they are, after all, on Blue Note).

The male component of the duo is Greg Kurstin, formerly of Geggy Tah. Yes, *that* Geggy Tah. But don’t let that turn you off. I promise, The Bird and the Bee are much more sophisticated than their 1996 hit, “Whoever You Are.” The female lead is Inara George, an aspiring actress turned musician.

The group’s 2007 self-titled full length is simply splendid. I’m generally horrible at description, so let’s let the band speak for themselves, eh?

The Bird and the Bee – “Again and Again” from their self-titled full length

Later in 2007, the band released an EP, Please Clap Your Hands. The EP carries 5 brand-spankin’ new tracks, all of which are in much the same vein as the self titled album. A particular highlight for me however, is their take on the Bee Gees’ “How Deep is Your Love.” I’ve always liked the song, but this version made me melt.

The Bird and the Bee – “How Deep Is Your Love” from Please Clap Your Hands EP

And it looks like they’re planning another release for 2008. Do these folks sleep?

Buy The Bird and the Bee music at the Amazon mp3 store

The Bird and the Bee (MySpace)
The Bird and the Bee (Official Site)