Camp Revival

Took a walk outside with this album and saw practically 11 or 12 animal shaped clouds. Enough said.

Preview Mythomania at MuxTape

David Bazan (Pedro the Lion, Headphones) is at the end of his house tour. Tickets were available on his website, listed by city in which the show would take place. Upon purchasing tickets, attendees would then receive directions to the house, making for a private audience. I had the chance to see Bazan at Everyday Joe’s Coffee House in Fort Collins last night. This show was one of several non-house shows, as well as the Ladies Literary Club (Calvin College) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As a highlight of his tour, he noted seeing Cornel West speak at Calvin College’s FFM 09.

After his first few songs, David checked in on the audience to see if there were questions for him. When asked about future releases, he said there will be no more Pedro the Lion albums. Someone then asked: “What about Headphones? Any plans?” Bazan said, “Since Headphones is basically just me, I suppose there is potential for another album.” His quick-witted responses were never ending, but never too pompous. Bazan also revealed that only about 5% of his songs came naturally from inspiration. The remaining songs, he says, are hard work, taking up to a month or so to complete.

Bazan’s debut album, “Curse Your Branches,” will be released in August on Barsuk Records. His EP, “Fewer Moving Parts” was released on the Barsuk label in the summer of 2007. He is due for a headlining venue tour this Fall in support of his new album. I loved his performance last night, and I will certainly be going to see him again this year!

Cold Beer and Cigarettes

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Back in 2001, after two amazing 7″s and an instrumental 10″, Havergal released Lungs For The Race on Secretly Canadian. Using little more than a guitar, sampler and a drum machine, Havergal principal Ryan Murphy crafted simple layers of music with which to state, more so than sing, his morose lyrics over. Written over the course of three years, the album is lo-fi but far from sloppy, with each song utilizing it’s simplicity to great effect. Creating a world of beautiful melancholia, Lungs For The Race is the type of record you listen to when you are alone.

Wipe the dust off.

Letters 98

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I Hate

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Fires in the Attic

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Happy Record Store Day everyone!

Go out and support your local record store. Many stores in your area will be offering live music, DJs, and freebies. Do it!

As promised I captured some video of last night’s performance. I really enjoyed it. Jamie was concise, emotional and engaging. He also ended the night with a cover of Ceremony, which was a lot of fun. Check out the videos. If you’ve got any questions, feel free to comment.

Tomorrow night (4/14) I’m going to see Jamie Stewart perform solo at the Vera Project in Seattle (plan on checking in on Wednesday for video). This tour has been really exciting to follow. Jamie Stewart along with David Horvitz have come up with a smattering of viral marketing tactics to promote the tour as well as some noble causes. Each idea is a little more outrageous than the last, but all of them entirely effective.

Example #1
Jamie Stewart will be photographing every person at every show. Every person? Yes every person; even the Custodian. All photos will be posted on Xiu Xiu’s blog and the top 300 (chosen by Jamie) will be published in a book. Worried about your hair? Don’t! Attendees will be provided with combs to freshen up; fun.

Example #2

Jamie is donating all money made from this tour to the non profit organization: FREE THE SLAVES. His label, Kill Rock Stars, is going to match his donation. To pull in some extra scratch for the npo David Horvitz is asking people to donate $2 on this site. $1 will be used to purchase a lotto ticket. If that lotto ticket wins, the prize money will be donated in full to FREE THE SLAVES. The remaining $1 will be used to mail back the losing lotto ticket or a note that documents how much you won for the cause. But hey, postage is only $0.42; what you got on my $0.58 David!?! Eh, I assume that will be donated as well.

Curious about the tour? The Xiu Xiu blog is constantly being amended with video / written updates. Seattleites, it looks like the three piece (Caralee, David and Jamie) are going to be at Thai Tom tomorrow. You are all invited to dinner. For time of arrival, turn your eyes to Twitter.

It just wouldn’t feel like the beginning of the weekend without it.

Today’s feature is a little group that hails from Sweden. Rocking the praises of their dark lord since 1993, Arckanum is unique because their lyrics/screams are written in ancient Swedish. Take that, Peter, Bjorn, and John.

This video breaks all stereotypes that I previously harbored against black metal. This video features just one gothic sojourner (we’ll call him Jim), instead of the usual merry troupe. Also absent is the signature face paint, which Jim seemed to have swapped for a gilded hockey mask. Classy.

The thing that really stands out in the video is what seems to be the endless supply of weapons Jim has tucked away. The best moment of the video is when the sword and the axe are out and the choreography begins. Do Satanists do human videos too? I hope so.