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Thom Yorke added to Eddie Vedder solo tour

1st Apr 11 (Fri) 6 comments

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke was a last minute adjustment to Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder’s upcoming solo tour.  The Swell Season’s Glen Hansard will be the opener, and Thom and Eddie will share co-headlining duties.

Per Thom Yorke’s publicist (press release link below)…

[Thom] will play a mix of tunes from The Eraser, some The King of Limbs songs, a few solo piano tunes and share some songs with Eddie.  [Thom] and Eddie have been mutual admirers of one another’s work, and the timing was right as Radiohead didn’t have any summer touring plans for 2011.

The Hansard/Yorke/Vedder tour kicks off in Providence, RI on June 15th and wraps up a month later in Seattle.  For a promo video about the upcoming tour, check here:

Or, read the Press Release HERE.

~Dan – np: Tres MtsThree Mountains

Mike Patton’s Mondo Cane – North American Tour

31st Mar 11 (Thu) 2 comments

Update July 2011: it looks as though funding fell short for a North American Mondo Cane tour for 2011.

Mike Patton’s Mondo Cane was one of the absolute best albums of 2010… and by far the best packaged piece of musical art.  He took it on the road for a few European dates and a San Francisco date in 2010, but sadly nothing else.  Well, just announced on Cyro Baptista’s Facebook page and confirmed on Patton’s PR firm The Agency Group’s bio page (quote below), Mondo Cane will be at New York City’s Lincoln Center (in August – no specific date yet) with a North American tour as well:

Upcoming appearances include a concert at Lincoln Center with John Zorn, presented by New York City Opera, and a North American tour of Mondo Cane.

I’m hoping there is a good West Coast date or two… Portland?  Seattle?  Vancouver?  Hell, I’ll even hit San Francisco if I can.  No word on dates yet, but once they’re announced, be sure I’ll post them!  Note: There is already a confirmed date in Buenos Aires, Argentina on September 17, 2011.

If you don’t know about Mondo Cane – it’s not like Mike Patton’s other work (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, Tomahawk, et cetera).  It’s his 50s Italian pop big band group… listen to some samples over on the Amazons:

~Dan – np: BlackfieldWelcome to My DNA

John Zorn’s Masada Marathon 2011 (via Aural Addict)

31st Mar 11 (Thu) Leave a comment

Great review from Jeff from AuralAddict of the recent John Zorn Masada Marathon in New York City… CLICK BELOW…

John Zorn's Masada Marathon 2011 March 30, 2011 8:00PM City Opera at Lincoln Center, NYC When I saw this event listed I figured there was no way I was going to be able to go.  I happened across a ticket giveaway contest from Relix magazine and entered, then kinda forgot about it.  Tuesday morning I received an email saying I had won tickets…and there was much rejoicing.  The … Read More

via Aural Addict

David Bazan – Strange Negotiations (2011) & Tour

30th Mar 11 (Wed) Leave a comment

David Bazan (Pedro the Lion) has a new solo album coming out… it now has album art, a release date, and a summer tour planned…

Strange Negotiations
May 24, 2011

http://davidbazan.com/

Bazan & Band 2011 Summer Tour

  • 06/01 Wed – Salt Lake City UT @ Kilby Court
  • 06/02 Thu – Denver CO @ Hi Dive
  • 06/03 Fri – Kansas City MO @ Record Bar
  • 06/04 Sat – Council Bluffs IA @ Westfair Amphitheater w/ Bright Eyes
  • 06/06 Mon – St Paul MN @ Turf Club
  • 06/08 Wed – Chicago IL @ Lincoln Hall
  • 06/10 Fri – St Louis MO @ Old Rock House
  • 06/11 Sat – Columbus OH @ The Basement
  • 06/12 Sun – Akron OH @ Musica
  • 06/13 Mon – Pontiac MI @ Pike Room
  • 06/14 Tue – Toronto ON @ Lee’s Palace
  • 06/15 Wed – Ottawa ON @ Maverick’s
  • 06/17 Fri – Ithaca NY @ The Haunt
  • 06/18 Sat – Hamden CT @ The Space
  • 06/19 Sun – Cambridge MA @ TT the Bears
  • 06/22 Wed – New York NY @ Bowery Ballroom
  • 06/23 Thu – Philadelphia PA @ TBD
  • 06/24 Fri – Washington DC @ Black Cat
  • 06/25 Sat – Chapel Hill NC @ Local 506
  • 06/27 Mon – Orlando FL @ The Social
  • 06/28 Tue – Atlanta GA @ The Earl
  • 06/29 Wed – Birmingham AL @ The Bottletree
  • 06/30 Thu – New Orleans LA @ One Eyed Jacks
  • 07/01 Fri – Baton Rouge LA @ Spanish Moon
  • 07/02 Sat – Houston TX @ Fitzgerald’s
  • 07/03 Sun – Dallas TX @ TBD
  • 07/05 Tue – Austin TX @ ACL Satellite Sets
  • 07/07 Thu – Phoenix AZ @ Sail Inn
  • 07/08 Fri – San Diego CA @ Casbah
  • 07/09 Sat – Long Beach CA @ TBD
  • 07/10 Sun – Los Angeles CA @ Troubadour
  • 07/12 Tue – Visalia @ Cellar Door
  • 07/13 Wed – San Francisco CA @ The Independent
  • 07/15 Fri – Portland OR @ Mississippi Studios

~Dan – np: B Lan 3Music for Hunting and Mapping

Sneak peak at OSI #4? New My Brightest Diamond album?

30th Mar 11 (Wed) 1 comment

Yesterday, Kevin Moore (Chroma Key, OSI, ex-Dream Theater) posted on his twitter a video that based on the sound seems like it may be a sneak peak at the fourth OSI album:

(twitvid opens in new window)

Also, an unrelated twitter news blast as well…

Shara Worden (aka My Brightest Diamond) noted that she’s going into the studio on Friday to record her next album, and then shortly thereafter hinted to the name of said albumEverything is in Line.

Score two for new media…

~Dan – np: Derek WebbFuck You (by Cee-Lo Green)

Derek Webb – Democracy Vol 2 #1

29th Mar 11 (Tue) 3 comments

One a month, from March to December 2011…

Derek Webb’s Democracy Vol 2… This month, it is “F**k You” by Cee-Lo Green (from Gnarls Barkley).  I’m at work; so I haven’t had a chance to listen yet… but I’m looking forward to it! Part of me thinks Derek is solely doing this for the “Christian singer-songwriter singing ‘Fuck You’” aspect of it, but whatever… that aspect has no bearing on my views.  I like Cee-Lo’s unconventional pop song, and I like Derek Webb.  The combo should prove interesting – even if he recently tweeted that he muted the F-word, since he couldn’t sing an asterisk.

If Derek covers the song live on his current tour with Jars of Clay… well, that would be excellent…  but unlikely.

Update: listening to it now… personal preference would be for it to not be self-censored.  Vocals also sound kinda muddy, weirdly buried in the mix.  Keyboards don’t seem synched up with the guitars & drums. I applaud his moxy, just perhaps not the execution.  Still enjoyable, though – all things considered.

For those not in the know, Democracy Vol 2 is a continuation of the covers project Derek started last year.  The fans get to nominate songs and then vote once the nominations are tallied.  Here’s what he did back in 2010 (you can still go back and buy this volume):

  • January 2010: 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 *a personal fave*
  • June: U2 – Where the Streets Have No Name
  • July: Huey Lewis & the News – Power of Love
  • August: The Beatles – Eleanor Rigby *a personal fave*
  • September: Simon & Garfunkel – The Sound of Silence
  • October: Radiohead – Karma Police *a personal fave*
  • November: Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah
  • December: Robert Robinson – Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Fans of Derek may also want to check out his contribution (amongst other great covers) of Sufjan Stevens’ Seven Swans.  The tribute album put out by On Joyful Wings is called Seven Swans Reimagined.  Derek does In Devil’s Territory.  Other musicians include some Asthmatic Kitty favorites, and some newbies to the fold – including the Gregory Brothers (autotune the news) and Inlets.

~Dan – np: On Joyful Wings (various artists) – Sufjan Stevens’ Seven Swans Reimagined

Democracy Vol. 2 is 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 10. Derek will record them (demo quality) and deliver them digitally (320kbps MP3s), one song per month for 10 months (March to December). Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique collaborative project with Derek Webb!

Medeski Martin & Wood – 20 Download (reblog)

29th Mar 11 (Tue) Leave a comment

Today is the day… the first two songs are available for download. Go to the original post (below) for info on how to get Medeski Martin & Wood’sMe2” and “Shackman“…

Medeski Martin & Wood - 20 Download Medeski Martin & Wood have been around for 20 years.  And to celebrate, they’re digitally releasing two new, never-released tracks each month (starting March 29th), for a total of 20 tracks by the end of the year. You can pre-order the entire package now for only $9.90… right HERE.  If you wait until after March 29th, the price per download is $0.99.  So, act now, and get the new tracks for essentially half price. With the pre-order, you wi … Read More

via mainly music meanderings

Radiohead – The Universal Sigh (PDF)

28th Mar 11 (Mon) 8 comments

Today in the UK, Radiohead released their newspaper art-piece that is in conjunction with The King of Limbs CD & LP.  Tomorrow it hits the US (check here for where to get the FREE newspaper).

At Ease reported that Thom Yorke and Stanley Donwood were handing out the newspaper outside London’s Rough Trade East record store (photo below).

If you aren’t in a place where the newspaper is available… fret not, it’s HERE as a FREE download (PDF format):

Radiohead – The Universal Sigh newspaper (PDF) (16M)

Also, more news today, Radiohead will be releasing a two track 12″ vinyl on the worldwide Record Store Day (April 16th, 2011). The two tracks are “Supercollider” and “The Butcher”

April 16th…

~Dan – np: Pink FloydA Saucerful of Secrets

File Sharing Policy: There are no free mp3 download or FLAC torrents for any albums on this blog (nor will there ever be). On occasion, there are links for songs for free download (legally provided by the artist). If you like music, support the artists. Buy it!!

Kevin Moore collaborates on songs with In Progress

25th Mar 11 (Fri) Leave a comment

More news from Kevin Moore (Chroma Key, OSI, ex-Dream Theater) brought to us from The Mooreatorium

Experimental rockers In Progress announced that Moore has collaborated with the band on three songs slated to appear on its forthcoming EP, North Athlantic Echoes. The collaboration materialized last year when In Progress’s keyboardist Jake Rosenberg – who is among the fans credited in Moore’s Shine album – reached out to Moore through his Kickstarter webpage and proposed the idea. Moore’s contributions to the three songs include drum programming, backup vocals and additional production.

“We are still doing final tracking on the EP, but are looking to have it completely wrapped, mixed, and mastered by mid-July,” band member John Dillon told The Mooreatorium. “We intend to do a small physical run of copies once we have material/art finalized.”

The band’s debut album, titled Signal Failure, was released in December and features Mark Zonder on drums. Zonder is the former drummer for Fates Warning and also worked with Moore on Chroma Key’s 1998 debut album, Dead Air for Radios.

To hear an unmastered version of In Progress’s upcoming single, “Chasing Ghosts,” featuring Moore, click below.

In Progress’s “Chasing Ghosts”:
http://soundcloud.com/inprogressmusic/chasing-ghosts

Stay tuned at: http://www.facebook.com/inprogressofficial

~Dan – np: Piano MagicSeasonally Affective: 1996-2000

New Incubus album (is done)

23rd Mar 11 (Wed) 1 comment

I like Incubus.

Sure, they started as a Mr Bungle wannabe band (Fungus Amongus), and morphed into a Faith No More wannabe band (SCIENCE / Make Yourself), and then morphed into a quite popular mainstream rock band (Morning View/etc), and then their last studio work was mainly instrumental (the CD companion to the Look Alive DVD).  Brandon Boyd is a great vocalist (a la MB/FNM’s Mike Patton) plus he’s dreamy (yeah, he’s on my switch team), Mike Einziger is an interesting guitarist/composer (straddling rock and avant-garde), DJ Kilmore brings some flavorful turntablism to the mix, and the rest of the guys hold it down mighty fine… mighty fine, indeed.

This just got posted to their webpage…

The long awaited 6th studio album from Incubus is completed! True to the Incubus legacy, this record is nothing like its predecessor, but still maintains the quintessential Incubus vibe. Stay tuned for more updates from Enjoyincubus.com.

Woot.  There are also plans for Pacific Rim touring in 2011, and U.S. tour this summer… per Brandon Boyd’s recent interview on Noisecreep, he believes that the new Incubus album will be out in August or September. No official release date has been announced.

Update 4/1 (not expected as an April Fool’s Day joke):

Incubus sent out an email on 4/1 with a link to a website (http://adolescents.enjoyincubus.com/).  The website is merely a splash page with “Adolescents / If Not Now, When? 4/4 6pm PST” on it.  Is Adolescents the name of the album?  Something else?  Check that page on 4/4/11 @ 6pm (PST) to find out…

~Dan – np: Glen PhillipsLive at Largo

Blackfield – Waving (music video – 2011)

23rd Mar 11 (Wed) Leave a comment

The first single from Blackfield’s 3rd album Welcome To My DNA… “Waving”…

Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree / No-Man / etc) & Aviv Geffen are taking Blackfield on the road in North America this spring.  The album is on-sale at Amazon

~Dan – np: PfRThem

A Perfect Circle’s Tour 2011

22nd Mar 11 (Tue) Leave a comment

Yesterday, A Perfect Circle announced their tour dates for summer 2011:

  • May 22 – Columbus, OH (Rock On The Range)
  • June 29 – Portland, OR  Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
  • June 30 – Kent, WA Showare Center
  • July 2 – Gibbons, AL  Boonstock Festival
  • July 4 – Winnipeg, MB  Centennial Concert Hall
  • July 6 – St. Paul, MN Roy Wilkins Auditorium
  • July 8 – Detroit, MI  Fox Theatre
  • July 9 – Toronto, ON Edgefest
  • July 12 – Boston, MA Bank Of America Pavilion
  • July 13 – New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
  • July 15 – New York, NY  Beacon Theatre
  • July 16 – Philadelphia, PA Penn’s Landing (Festival Pier)
  • July 17 – Washington, DC Constitution Hall
  • July 19 – Charlotte, NC  Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre
  • July 20 – Atlanta, GA  The Tabernacle
  • July 22 – San Antonio, TX Freeman Coliseum
  • July 23 – Grand Prairie, TX  Verizon Theatre
  • July 25 – Phoenix, AZ  Comerica Theatre
  • July 28 – Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheater
  • July 29 – Sacramento, CA Memorial Auditorium
  • July 30 – Berkeley, CA  The Greek Theatre
  • August 2 – Denver, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
  • August 9 – Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE

On-sale information coming soon.  http://www.aperfectcircle.com/

I plan on catching Maynard, Billy & Co at the Portland gig.  They’ve got a new website designed, with a blue, underwater/octopus theme.  Here’s hoping some new music is around the corner, too.  Also, in the email announcement, they hinted at some Puscifer news coming soon, too.

Puscifer Update 3/23: Per Carina Round’s email: “After that I will be heading into the studio with Maynard James Keenan’s ‘Puscifer’ to work on songs for the next release and rehearse up some goodies for a tour in the Fall.”

~Dan – np: Eyal Maoz & Asaf SirkisElementary Dialogues

Kevin Moore (Chroma Key/OSI) finally on the social…

22nd Mar 11 (Tue) Leave a comment

Kevin Moore (Chroma Key, OSI, ex-Dream Theater) is finally on the social networks…

Kevin Moore’s Twitter
Kevin Moore’s Facebook Page
OSI band page

Some news on the 4th OSI album…

Gavin Harrison of Porcupine Tree has just laid down drum tracks on a handful of new OSI songs. Jim [Matheos] and Kevin continue to write and record material for the fourth OSI album, their first with Metal Blade Records. Mixing is slated for June 2011.

~Dan – np: Eyal Maoz & Asaf SirkisElementary Dialogues

Radiohead – King of Limbs (retail version artwork)

21st Mar 11 (Mon) Leave a comment

As reported over on At EaseRadiohead’s The King of Limbs CD is housed in a 4-page wallet, with the actual cd in a slit on the right side. On the left page you can see 8 illustrations accompanied by the following titles: Roots Of Roots, Ragnorok, Urpflanze, The King Of Limbs, Codex, Axis Mundi, Yggdrasil and Arbor Philosophica. The back has the word RADIOHEAD mirrored and the track list.

For the vinyl, expect the same front and back as the cd. The actual record is housed in an inner sleeve with a drawing (like the right page on the cd edition) on one side, and the drawings and credits on the other side. Inside the sleeve you’ll find a card with a download code to obtain the digital edition of The King Of Limbs.  No word on if additional songs/limbs will surface with this or with the “Newspaper edition” in May.  READ MORE about the artwork and credits, etc at At Ease.

The King of Limbs comes out March 29th in the U.S.  you can pre-order it now over on the Amazon: in both CD / VINYL versions.

~Dan – np: A Perfect CircleThirteenth Step

File Sharing Policy: There are no free mp3 download or FLAC torrents for any albums on this blog (nor will there ever be). On occasion, there are links for songs for free download (legally provided by the artist). If you like music, support the artists. Buy it!!

REVIEW: The Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile @ McDonald Theatre (Eugene, OR – 3/16/11)

19th Mar 11 (Sat) Leave a comment

I hadn’t heard the Punch Brothers prior to the show, outside of a few clips on their webpage… but what I did hear, I knew I’d love it.  I have also been a fan of frontman Chris Thile’s mandolin work with Nickel Creek; so I knew what to expect from at least his performance.

The show started with a delightful set from local fiddler prodigy Tatiana Hargreaves (backed by Scott Law on guitar).  I had seen Tatiana play (with her brother Alex) during Works Progress Administration’s show at the WOW Hall in 2009 – which is a side project from Glen Phillips and Sean & Sara Watkins (from Nickel Creek as well)… so her opening for the Punch Brothers made perfect sense.  Her set was a great warm up for what was to come (sorry, no photos came out of Tatiana & Scott, my camera was acting up).

The Punch Brothers went on shortly after Tatiana’s set.  No flashy stage set-up or lights, just five guys and their instruments.  The Punch Brothers are Chris Thile on mandolin & vocals, Gabe Witcher on fiddle/violin, Noam Pikelny on banjo, Chris Eldridge on guitar, and Paul Kowert on bass.  They played a hour and a half or more with a great split between rollicking bluegrass vocal numbers and more stretched out instrumental pieces.

The overall musicianship in the entire group was evident early on.  They were a quite tight five piece string band, and the lack of drums was barely noticeable – their use of rhythm duties amongst the strings was more than enough to keep the jammy, progressive instrumental movements rolling along.  Since I don’t know their material all that well, I can’t really help out on the setlist front.  I know they played “Rye Whiskey,” the Beatles “Paperback Writer,” a stunning mandolin-centric version of Radiohead “Paranoid Android,” and Chris Thile did a riveting Bach piece on solo mandolin. Also, per Serena from the Register Guard, they covered the Strokes and Josh Ritter as well.

Fantastic show, and I shall get to know their music before they swing through again.  Their latest CD is 2010’s Antifogmatic (pictured to the right).

more photos below

The Appropriate Linkage:

Next show for me… probably Lawn Gnomes & Upstate Trio @ Cornucopia (3/25) or Pojama People (an Oregon Frank Zappa cover band) @ Sam Bond’s Garage (3/26).

~Dan – np: David BazanFewer Moving Pieces

THE PUNCH BROTHERS PHOTOS
all pictures (cc) 2011 Daniel Temmesfeld,
you may use freely under a creative commons attribution

(click for larger)

Shara Worden & yMusic @ Ecstatic Music Festival 2011 (concert webcast)

18th Mar 11 (Fri) Leave a comment

WQXR/WNYC just posted 2+ hours of live streaming music from Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) and yMusic’s performance at the Ecstatic Music Festival at New York’s Merkin Concert Hall.

This show features Shara Worden wearing both her composer and performer hats. yMusic premieres a work written for them by Shara and the classical/indie vocalist joins the instrumentalists on stage in selections from Sarah Kirkland Snider’s recent 2010 release, Penelope, one of my favorite albums of 2010 – which features Shara’s stunning vocals.

The webcast link

This performance by Shara Worden and yMusic is the third of four New Sounds Live broadcasts on Q2 from Merkin’s Hall’s Ecstatic Music Festival. Check out the other two webcasts – the 2011 People’s Commissioning Fund concert and Newspeak and Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society. The final broadcast on March 28 features So Percussion and Bobby Previte.

~Dan – np: Pedro the LionThe Only Reason I Feel Secure Is That I Am Validated By My Peers

Tres Mts in Seattle (3/16)

17th Mar 11 (Thu) Leave a comment

So, I got stranded in Eugene, and wasn’t able to go up and shoot the debut Tres Mts show at the Showbox at the Market in Seattle… :(

Well, “Iron Mike” Savoia took some great photos… check them out at his Facebook page… dUg Pinnick (King’s X), Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam), Richard Stuverud (The Fastbacks), and Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)… Savoia Digital Photography does amazing work!

Also, check out Jason Tang Photography, too…

While I missed this great show, I was able to hit the excellent Punch Brothers (with Chris Thile) at McDonald Theatre that night.  My review with photos will be posted this weekend.

~Dan – np: Pedro the LionIt’s Hard To Find A Friend

R.I.P. Nate Dogg (1969-2011)

16th Mar 11 (Wed) Leave a comment

Huffington Post reports:

Nate Dogg is dead, according to a report in his hometown Long Beach Press Telegram, which cited a family announcement.

Friend and collaborator Snoop Dogg appeared to confirm the news by tweeting, “RIP NATE DOGG” and later “We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb. One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met.”

TMZ says they have confirmed the report but did not indicate how.

Read the full report and check back for updates.

I dig Nate Dogg.  He was the most (unintentionally) funny background star in gangsta rap.  His juicy, and completely  horribly offensive-yet-gently sung backing lyrics to Dr Dre & Snoop Dogg songs almost always have me in stitches.  He will be missed.

~Dan – Liz JanesTime & Space (with My Brightest Diamond & Fol Chen)

Maybe the worst song/music video of all-time…

15th Mar 11 (Tue) Leave a comment

Do our children have the dumb?

Yes, they have the dumb.  Rebecca Black’sFriday” came out yesterday.  Lyrically, it’s not much worse than an AC/DC song (or any other “let’s rock” or “working for the weekend” type song).  Sure, it is worse, but not by much.  Visually, it’s like Disney broke into a Skittles factory and broke things.  My brain hurts so much… I mean, this is far worse than the usual pap music that tweens listen to, right?

Sure, it’s not geared for me.  I’m sorry for exposing you to this, but until we face the facts, we can never know, “is our children learning?

Sidenote… someone needs to edit Thom Yorke dancing to this tune. STAT!

Update 3/18 (Friday)… Matt Mulholland’s version rocks…

The original is dreadful, but this version is kind of fantastically great… still waiting for a Thom Yorke dancing version of the video… come on, folks!

~Dan – np: Jonny GreenwoodNorwegian Wood

REVIEW: Kaki King @ WOW Hall (Eugene, OR – 3/9/11)

12th Mar 11 (Sat) 1 comment

FYI… PHOTOS of the SHOW at the BOTTOM

Kaki King burst into the music scene in 2003 with her exquisite fretwork and primarily instrumental pieces. “Playing With Pink Noise” (from 2004’s Legs to Make Us Longer) thrust her more in the indie rock spotlight, showcasing a guitar that she played as if it were trying to run away from her. The video for “Pink Noise” was simply a white backdrop with Kaki effortlessly plucking and slapping away among randomly timed pink rose petals and balloons. It helped land her hands on the silver screen — as the up-close guitar “stunt double” for Freddie Highmore, who played a guitar prodigy in 2007’s August Rush. Later that year, she was nominated for a Golden Globe for her score for Sean Penn’s Into the Wild (alongside Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder).

With her fifth album, Junior, a more mature songwriter has emerged. She still brings the famous fretwork to her songs, but Junior brings vocals more to the fore. Kaki woos us with the subtle and intricate pop of “Spit It Back In My Mouth,” the drive of “Falling Day,” the indie pop feel of “Communist Friends” and the hard rock of “Death Head.” The vulnerable and heartfelt “Sunnyside” brings the album to a close and shows off her more personal side. Kaki King is for fans of the indie rock of Sleater-Kinney and Tegan & Sara, or for those who like a bit more virtuoso musicianship mixed in with their lush pop melodies.

Kaki came through Eugene last May, and blew us away with her rockin’ band.  For this go-round, it was just going to be her and her guitar.  Or, shall I say… guitars… this is dubbed her “Guitar Traveling Freak Show” tour…

kaki king’s “band” on this tour

Before Kaki hit the stage, Washington went on.  (Megan) Washington is an Australian singer-songwriter, who I hear is quite popular down under.  She actually started her set with a joke about an odd fellow from Arcata, CA, who brandished a sword in front of her the day prior.  She told us that she normally plays guitar, but due to obvious reasons wouldn’t be tonight.  Her sound reminded me of a slightly grittier Regina Spektor (specifically from a vocal side of things).  She definitely had some songwriting chops.  She played about an hour… sometimes dreamy piano pop, sometimes more sullen indie rock.  She didn’t have anything to sell us (no shirt, CDs, etc)… probably too difficult to manage hauling it to this hemisphere.  I’d recommend checking out her records, especially How to Tame Lions and I Believe You Liar.

Kaki hit the stage at 8:30pm for this early show.  She played almost entirely an instrumental set… with vocals only on “Life Being” and “Communist” (if I remember correctly).  She switched between her trusty six string, a smaller than usual 12-string (Irish?), a banjo-guitar hybrid, an interestingly “koto”-style modified bridge guitar, a harp guitar, and probably a few I’m missing.

Setlist: about 90 minutes

  • Bone Chaos in the Castle
  • I Need A Girl Who Knows A Map
  • Doing the Wrong Thing
  • unidentified… possibly “Ingots”
  • Life Being What It Is
  • Playing With Pink Noise
  • unidentified… possibly “Carmine St”
  • My Girl the Horse [Fences]
  • Andecy [Andrew York]
  • Because It’s There [Michael Hedges]
  • Nails
  • unidentified… possibly “Magazine”
  • unidentified… new song for Megan Washington
  • unidentified… possibly “Bowen Island”
  • Encore: unidentified… with Dan Brantigan on trumpet
  • unidentified… “world premiere” drunk guitar song
  • Communist Friends

Kaki is the kind of guitar player that makes non-guitar players want to learn how to play.  She’s also the kind of guitar player who makes current guitar players want to throw away their axe.  And despite her focused brilliance with her instrument, she has quite a humorous and awkwardly delightful stage presence.  She’s charming, she’ll jokingly cuss the audience out, and then she’ll be self-deprecating.  She’ll act playful and humble, and then she’ll smoke the 6 to 12 strings in front of her without much trouble.  There’s no doubt that she belongs on stage and that you belong watching her.

more photos below

The Appropriate Linkage:

Check out more tour dates below.

Next show for me… Chris Thile‘s Punch Brothers at McDonald Theatre on 3/16.

~Dan – np: Nik Bärtsch’s RoninLlyrìa

KAKI KING PHOTOS
all pictures (cc) 2011 Daniel Temmesfeld,
you may use freely under a creative commons attribution

(click for larger)

KAKI KING – 2011 TOUR DATES
Feb 23 Museum of Modern Art: Celeste Bartos Theatre New York, New York
Feb 26 Salon Vive Cuervo Mexico City, Mexico
Feb 28 The Loft – UC San Diego San Diego, California
Mar 2 Largo at the Coronet West Hollywood, California
Mar 3 College of the Sequoias Theatre Visalia, California
Mar 4 Yoshi’s San Francisco, CA
Mar 5 Ashkenaz Berkeley, California
Mar 6 Harlows Sacramento, California
Mar 8 Jambalaya Arcata, California
Mar 9 WOW Hall Eugene, Oregon
Mar 10 Mississippi Studios Portland, Oregon
Mar 11 The Triple Door Seattle, Washington
Mar 12 Biltmore Cabaret Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Mar 24 Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mar 25 Space Evanston, Illinois
Mar 26 The Old Rock House St. Louis, Missouri
Mar 28 Southgate House Newport, Kentucky
Mar 29 The Birchmere Alexandria , Virginia
Mar 30 World Cafe Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Apr 1 Center for the Arts Natick, Massachusetts
Apr 2 Iron Horse Northampton, Massachusetts
Apr 3 Infinity Hall Norfolk, Connecticut
Apr 7 City Winery New York, New York
Apr 8 City Winery New York, New York
Apr 9 Binghamton University Binghamton, New York