
Jay Who?-High School
you can download the mixtape here
James Lavelle is a music producer from across the pond that is responsible for giving us DJ Shadow’s album “Entroducing” with his little label Mo Wax Records. The label also produced such records as Dr. Octagon's 1996 record Dr. Octagonecoloyst. The project that absolutely blew my mind was Unkle’s Psyence Fiction. One of my favorite tracks being the one he did with Richard Aschcroft from The Verve, the ending to this day gives me goose bumps.
UNKLE - Lonely Soul
He has collaborated with many well known artists including Thom Yorke, Autolux, Mike D, Massive Attack, Josh Homme and the list goes on and on. James’s wife Lorna Lavelle and someone named Blonde have a documentary called “The Man from UNKLE” in pre production and some footage has been released. It covers James Lavelle and his interesting life that he has led and the amazing musical projects he has been behind. The trailer is just a taste and leaves me wanting more
They are traveling with a horns section, one of whom Hamilton introduced to the crowd as his wife Anna. This addition of sound made certain songs richer. On stage Leithauser is calm and confident, and you can tell these boys have spent some time on the circuit before, because their live performance is tight. Paul Maroon's chops on guitar were spell binding, and the tunes set a mood as opposed to really rocking out. The Walkmen are a class act, be sure to check them out.
The Walkmen-In the New Year
Darken My Door from Lucero on Vimeo.
Austin natives Balmorhea have released a complex, classically inspired, and very moving new album. The band has added a few more members and now have six members playing guitar, banjo, piano, violin, cello, drums and upright bass. The album's name, “All Is wild, All Is Silent” was inspired by the writings of early Texas settler William B. Dewess; and there is something about the music that conjures up images of an old American West and the vast landscapes depicted on the cover art. The drastic twists and turns of “Harm and Boon” , leading from the melancholy to the intense, mimic some of the classical greats such as Ludwig Van Beethoven himself. The song brings you on a musical journey and with strictly instruments evokes tremendous emotion. “November 1, 1832” is an eerie and lonely song.
A.A. Bondy has created two albums of folk songs that are achingly good, his songs reflect an older matured artist. His tunes are heartbreaking but within each one a small ray of light shines through. He is currently touring for “When the Devil’s Loose,” his second album which has been receiving critical acclaim.
He hit the stage accompanied by a bassist and a drummer who also played the steel pedal guitar at the Rock and Roll Hotel on Thursday night. The song “Slow Parade” has a soft warm start with lyrics about the sea “talking sweet to me” and it builds with an distorted guitar becoming angrier and darker as he speaks of waves crashing around him.
He switched back and forth between a wide body electric guitar and an acoustic which made for a nice dichotomy of sounds. The biblical imagery he incorporates into his lyrics makes his songs sound like they were from an earlier era. His raspy and imperfect vocals add an authenticity, creating a sound which is truly his own.
Between songs Bondy told stories, which gave his performance an added value. At one point, He spoke of an experience he had in Alabama walking his mother’s dog:
“I was out walking my mom’s dog and some other dog that had escaped from its electrically protected home tore my mom’s dog eye right out of its socket. She is ok though, I saw her and the eye was all sewed up. It was like out of a Fellini movie.”
He also told weird stories from the road:
“I was leaving Chicago and was under on over pass that was under another overpass and I saw a homeless man with a shopping cart full of his stuff. He was talking to a female cop. Then I noticed the female cop…well… she had an axe. AMERICA!.”
Bondy is a giant in the alt country music scene right now. It's easy to see why, with his poignant lyrics and a showmanship. He gives hope that folk music in all its glory still has artists out there who are keeping it alive and well.
After the show, Bondy came over and sold his own cds and tee shirts at his merchandise table. He talked with his fans, gave autographs and thanked everyone who came to the show directly. I spoke briefly with him about living in Brooklyn, but he proudly stated he spends most of his time in Alabama, where he is originally from. He said he liked working with Fat Possum Records and is hopeful about the future. I also asked about his name, wondering what A.A. stood for. He told me that it stands for August Arthur, the name given to him at birth.
Spinning vinyl ipod app from Theo Watson on Vimeo.
Take a look around his website. He is also a collaborator for the Graffiti Research Project which lets people use a laser pen to write on buildings. Watch the video below.Black Joe Lewis picked up a Guitar at the pawn shop he worked at in Austin TX and shortly after gained notoriety at local open mic nights for his stage antics. He would often throw himself to his knees “Hendrix style.” He formed a seven piece band complete with a horns section and recorded with Jimmy Eno from Spoon. Eno said because of their raw live talent