Archive
Jónsi’s Animal Arithmetic (video)
In lead up to his upcoming Fall tour, Jónsi just put out the official music video for “Animal Arithmetic” (from GO). As is common with Jónsi, this video has great aesthetics, quite beautifully shot…
I’m looking forward to seeing him again, this time in Las Vegas. Here are the Oct/Nov 2010 dates again, for those who missed the initial post…
| 15 october | 4th and b | san diego, california |
| 17 october | the wiltern | los angeles, california |
| 19 october | fox theater | oakland, california |
| 21 october | house of blues | las vegas, nevada |
| 22 october | the complex | salt lake city, utah |
| 23 october | the marquee | tempe, arizona |
| 25 october | verizon theatre | grand prairie, texas |
| 26 october | austin music hall | austin, texas |
| 27 october | verizon music theater | houston, texas |
| 29 october | voodoo festival | new orleans, louisiana |
| 30 october | moogfest | asheville, north carolina |
| 31 october | the tabernacle | atlanta, georgia |
| 2 november | the pageant | st. louis, missouri |
| 3 november | vic theatre | chicago, illinois |
| 5 november | the fillmore | detroit, michigan |
| 6 november | newport music hall | columbus, ohio |
| 8 november | 9:30 club | washington, d.c. |
| 10 november | hammerstein ballroom | new york city, ny |
Holy Fuck nerd out about their gear
Canadian live-electronic groovesters Holy Fuck recently did a great little three-parter for Dickie’s Sounds where they totally geek out about their gear. Music nerds, watch now!!
Matt about his drums…
Brian and his keyboards, film reel, etc…
Graham on his keyboards and V-Tech…
No fourth part with Matt McQ’s bass… alas, maybe another time. For those not in the know about Holy Fuck… they’ve put out one of the best albums this year – LATIN. Go get it… you won’t be disappointed.
~Dan – np: Illy B (Billy Martin of Medeski Martin & Wood) – Drop the Needle 

Tegan and Sara – On Directing
Here is Tegan & Sara‘s new video for “On Directing” from Sainthood…
Check out their album Sainthood (out in 2009):
Check out my review & photos from their April 2010 show in Portland, OR:
Derek Webb – Democracy Vol 1 #7
One a month in 2010…
Derek Webb‘s Democracy Vol 1 is rolling along… This month, it’s “Power of Love” by Huey Lewis & the News. It’s a bit loudly mixed and an odd choice of instrumentation, but much less camp and dated than the original; so Derek gets “kudos” from me on that front. :)
For those not in the know, Democracy Vol 1 was part of the Stockholm Syndrome pre-order package, but you can still join in over at the DW store and get the following (plus future releases):
- January: The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps
- February: Coldplay – Fix You
- March: Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin’
- April: Gnarls Barkley – Who’s Gonna Save My Soul
- May: Sufjan Stevens – Chicago
- June: U2 – Where the Streets Have No Name
- July: Huey Lewis & the News – Power of Love
Democracy Vol. 1 is the first in a series of subscription based albums of cover songs that Derek will be recording annually, starting January 2010. Those who participate will not only receive the exclusive album, but will democratically decide what songs Derek will record.
Ever wished you could hear Derek cover your favorite Beatles song? Or Backstreet Boys song? Or even re-record your favorite old Caedmon’s Call song? Here’s your chance. Songs will be nominated and voted down to 12. Derek will record them (demo quality) and deliver them digitally (320kbps MP3s), one song per month for 12 months. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique collaborative project with Derek Webb!
Celldweller *Wish Upon a Blackstar* Chapter 3
The pre-order for Celldweller‘s Wish Upon a Blackstar: Chapter 3 went live yesterday. The third chapter (of five total) will feature the songs “The Lucky One” and “Tainted.”
Chapter 3 will be available for download in several bundles (including a deluxe edition for $4.99) on July 27th from Celldweller’s FiXT store. The deluxe edition features instrumentals, demos, and commentaries.
After all five chapters are released, I expect there will be a full-length album (and hopefully CD) issue.
Derek Webb – Democracy Vol 1 #6
One a month in 2010…
Derek Webb‘s Democracy Vol 1 is rolling along… This month, it’s “Where the Streets Have No Name” by some Irish band. Derek has a long history of covering U2 in concert… love this acoustic take on a classic. Thanks, Derek!!
For those not in the know, Democracy Vol 1 was part of the Stockholm Syndrome pre-order package, but you can still join in over at the DW store and get the following (plus future releases):
- January: The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps
- February: Coldplay – Fix You
- March: Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin’
- April: Gnarls Barkley – Who’s Gonna Save My Soul
- May: Sufjan Stevens – Chicago
- June: U2 – Where the Streets Have No Name
If you missed the Derek & Jennifer Knapp tour, check out my review and photos from the Portland Oregon show at the Aladdin Theater on April 27th.
~Dan – np: Damien Jurado – Saint Bartlett 

Democracy Vol. 1 is the first in a series of subscription based albums of cover songs that Derek will be recording annually, starting January 2010. Those who participate will not only receive the exclusive album, but will democratically decide what songs Derek will record.
Ever wished you could hear Derek cover your favorite Beatles song? Or Backstreet Boys song? Or even re-record your favorite old Caedmon’s Call song? Here’s your chance. Songs will be nominated and voted down to 12. Derek will record them (demo quality) and deliver them digitally (320kbps MP3s), one song per month for 12 months. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique collaborative project with Derek Webb!
Ty Tabor’s Trip Magnet & Wally Farkas solo
Two new digital releases showed up yesterday (thanks to Facebook status updates from both gents), both related and both excellent…
Wally Farkas, guitarist of the late great Galactic Cowboys, is putting the final touches on his debut solo album. He’s released the single “Better Than Before” from his forthcoming debut, Past Due (due later this year). This self-penned track shows just one side of what will be a diverse debut album. Also included is the song “Loving Kind,” which was originally recorded by the Peter Green-era of the original Fleetwood Mac and written by one of their brilliant and extremely overlooked guitarists, Danny Kirwan. On these tracks… Wally Farkas – Vocals/Guitar, Ty Tabor (King’s X) – Guitar, Alan Doss (Galactic Cowboys) – Bass, and Darwin Keys (Pushmonkey) – Drums. It’s available on 320 kbps mp3 at Molken Music for only $2.50.
And while you’re there at Molken… Ty Tabor, of King’s X and many side projects, just put out a five-song EP from the upcoming Trip Magnet release. This is a different side of Ty Tabor…somewhere between Xenuphobe (his ambient project with Wally Farkas) and his regular rockin’ studio/solo albums. For a melancholy trip into freakatude, check out Ty’s seventh solo release. An unusual outing for Ty Tabor, this release contains over fourteen minutes of instrumental music, as well as some Ty’s rock vocal numbers. Ty Tabor – Vocals, Guitars, Bass and Randy St. John – Drums. It’s available on 320 kbps mp3 at Molken Music for $7.99.
For just slightly over $10… some great new music!
Fol Chen is “In Ruins”
Fol Chen sent director Chris Wilcha (This American Life Showtime series / The Target Shoots First) to Iceland to film amidst the volcanic dust from the erupting Eyjafjallajökull for their new music video, “In Ruins.”
Two Icelandic youth wander through an apocalyptic wasteland wearing masks just to breathe and see amidst the dust. “In Ruins” is from Fol Chen’s Part II: The New December. Director: Chris Wilcha // Producer: Petur Sigurdsson // Director of Photography: Tómas Örn Tómasson //Editor: Catherine Bull // Featuring: Gudfinnur Sveinsson & Elìn Elisabet Einarsdóttir
Fiona Apple “So Sleepy”
As reported by Paste…
Fiona Apple recorded a song for Chickens in Love, a full-length album due out sometime in the near future from Dave Eggers’ nationwide nonprofit, 826LA. The album is a collection of 12 songs whose lyrics were written by 826LA students and then covered by Los Angeles-based artists. According to their Facebook page, the songs are products of songwriting workshops with the kids and musicians, and all proceeds from record sales will go back into the programs.
“So Sleepy,” a cover of 826LA’s The Gummy Bears, is Apple’s and Jon Brion’s contribution to Chickens in Love. You can stream it and other tracks by the likes of She & Him, Cold War Kids, Dum Dum Girls, Crystal Antlers, the Pity Party and more on their Facebook page, and you can pre-order the record here.
My Brightest Diamond with Blind Boys of Alabama
If you head over to the Asthmatic Kitty website, they have a streaming video of My Brightest Diamond (aka Shara Worden) singing “Jesus” with the Blind Boys of Alabama on Australian TV…

http://asthmatickitty.com/news.php?newsID=588
As you can see from the video, she’s about to pop… so, I guess the next project she has been working on is about to come out. I don’t know if the album… um… er… child is a boy or a girl, but here’s hoping it’s a healthy and happy baby diamond.
Other news snippet… Tori Amos is releasing a live DVD from her 2009 Artist’s Den performance in NYC. It’s available for pre-order via Barnes & Noble at this time… not elsewhere (yet).
Celldweller *Soundtrack to the Voice in My Head Vol 2* Chapter 1
Celldweller‘s Soundtrack to the Voice in My Head – Volume 2: Chapter 1 went live yesterday. The first chapter (of an undisclosed total) features the songs “The Wings of Icarus,” “Pulsar,” “The Sentinel,” and the 20-minute “Adrift on Celestial Seas.”
Soundtracks Vol 2, Chapter 1 is available for download in several bundles (including a deluxe edition for $5.99) from Celldweller’s FiXT store. The deluxe edition features skads of Beta Cession snippets… After all chapters are released, I expect there will be a full-length album (and hopefully CD) issue.
Carissa’s Wierd – “Die”
News from SeattleShowGal’s blog…

When the story broke May 3, 2010 that Carissa’s Wierd were going to be doing a reunion show on July 9th and releasing a retrospective with Hardly Art, the blogosphere was a flutter. The original Carissa’s Weird crew that split and went on to be solo act Sara Cahoone and others formed Band of Horses were coming back and in righteous form! Today, Hardly art is being kind enough to share the track “Die” off the up and coming retrospective They’ll Only Miss You When You Leave: Songs 1996-2003, scheduled to be released on July 13, 2010. The strings swoon as the keys dance and vocals charm. Get it! Listen to it. Download it. Be excited for the upcoming show and release.
Carissa’s Wierd – “Die” (hosted by Seattle Show Gal)
It’s available for pre-order now at http://hardlyart.com/carissaswierd.html and the first 50 pre-orders get a special limited edition 7″ vinyl.
Bad Veins – Outliers EP
According to their show at the Taste of Cincinnati this past weekend, Bad Veins are getting ready to release a 4 song EP called Outliers. It features four brand new b-sides and will get a release on June 15th through Dangerbird Records…
- Fake Baby
- Devil Hides
- Blanket
- Good People
Here’s an exclusive listen of “Devil Hides” available (with permission from the band) at Each Note Secure’s Soundcloud page:
Stayed tuned for more info…
Derek Webb – Democracy Vol 1 #5
One a month in 2010…
Derek Webb‘s Democracy Vol 1 is rolling along… This month, it’s “Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens. Not as lush as the original instrumentation, but fantastic nonetheless. Thanks, Derek!!
For those not in the know, Democracy Vol 1 was part of the Stockholm Syndrome pre-order package, but you can still join in over at the DW store. My plea for Derek to cover Tori Amos’ “Crucify” is likely not gonna happen. Oh well… I like the first five months’ output regardless.
- January: The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps
- February: Coldplay – Fix You
- March: Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin’
- April: Gnarls Barkley – Who’s Gonna Save My Soul
- May: Sufjan Stevens – Chicago
If you missed the Derek & Jennifer Knapp tour, check out my review and photos from the Portland Oregon show at the Aladdin Theater on April 27th.
~Dan – np: Isis – Wavering Radiant 

Democracy Vol. 1 is the first in a series of subscription based albums of cover songs that Derek will be recording annually, starting January 2010. Those who participate will not only receive the exclusive album, but will democratically decide what songs Derek will record.
Ever wished you could hear Derek cover your favorite Beatles song? Or Backstreet Boys song? Or even re-record your favorite old Caedmon’s Call song? Here’s your chance. Songs will be nominated and voted down to 12. Derek will record them (demo quality) and deliver them digitally (320kbps MP3s), one song per month for 12 months. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique collaborative project with Derek Webb!
Jónsi and the volcano
Regardless of the travel havoc it caused, the Icelandic volcano is at least a wonderfully, gorgeous and immensely beautiful part of nature. Here is some video footage of Eyjafjallajökull paired with the song “Kolniður” from Jónsi‘s solo album Go:
Video shot by Sean Stiegemeier on a Canon 5d mkII. Jónsi is the lead singer from Sigur Rós and a musical ambassador out of Iceland. It doesn’t strike me as odd that his music mirrors the beauty of his native landscape.
Jude – The Way That You Want Me
Jude Christodal has been on a hiatus as of late… his last album and mini-tour were in 2008. Well, under the cloak of night, the good ole CDBaby listings for him have become active again:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/Jude5
The new song “The Way That You Want Me,” which was featured on the TV show HOUSE (FOX), is the first single from an upcoming acoustic album. The song is available as a download only as of this time. $0.99 on CDBaby, and I imagine it will be on iTunes shortly as well.
Holy Fuck – Live @ SXSW with Baeble Music
Excellent SXSW 2010 coverage of Holy Fuck from the Baeble Music stage (one of their many showcases)…
Get their latest record, Latin… out yesterday (May 11th, 2010) on Young Turks / XL…






















