NEW KILLERS EP The Killers newest LP Day & Age is crammed full of the same working-man-with-mascara pop we’ve come to know and love from the group, one of the standout tracks being the wild outer limits ride that is “Spaceman”. Well it turns out the foursome is releasing a Spaceman EP, featuring the titular track as well as two other songs, an unreleased b-side called “Tidal Wave” and a wonderful cover of “Four Winds” by Bright Eyes. The diatribe on modern America, while a definitive Oberst standout, sounds nonetheless heartfelt and crushing with the patented Brandon Flowers warble behind it. Flowers has definitely fallen into form as a rock and roll Jesus of sorts and the religious undertones and sacrificial lyrics complement his image perfectly. This is definitely worth checking out below.
The Killers – “Four Winds” The Killers – “Tidal Waves” ******************************************************************** NEW ONE DAY AS A LION VIDEO A little bit late (and maybe a little bit repetitive), but here’s the video for “Wild International” from One Day As A Lion, and it’s worth every second if only to watch De La Rocha spit a killer flow over Theodore’s wicked drum beat. Check it:
One Day As A Lion – “Last Letter” ******************************************************************** NEW ROLO TOMASSI MERCH Head on over to the Rolo Tomassistore immediately and check out some of their killer new tshirt/hoodie designs. Finally we can rep RT here in the States!
BEN GIBBARD COVERS RILO KILEY/STARS At a recent solo gig for Rhapsody, Ben Gibbard gave the acoustic treatment to some Narrow Stairs already classics such as “Cath…” and “Grapevine Fires”. However, the real excitement came when the Death Cab for Cutie frontman covered tracks from Rilo Kiley (”Silver Lining”) and Stars (”Your Ex-Lover is Dead”), and our friends over at Stereogum have the videos. Go check them out immediately to see how lonely songs like these can be somehow made even lonelier by the inimitable voice of Gibbard. Breathtaking stuff.
Death Cab for Cutie – “Cath…” ******************************************************************** JIM JAMES/CONOR OBERST/M. WARD MAKING RECORD? It would seem that according to this Pitchfork story, our favorite Kentucky troubadour, My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James, is collaborating with none other than Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes fame and M. Ward (the Monsters of Folk anyone?) to release a record of original work. Sweetness! Also noteworthy is James’ mention of releasing a solo record under the pseudonym Sec Walkin’, a nod to the title of one of the tracks off MMJ’s new record Evil Urges. Could this news be any cooler really? Read the whole story here and stay tuned for further developments on what promises to be a truly groundbreaking country record.
My Morning Jacket – “White Rabbit” ******************************************************************** NEW BAND CHEER – THE CARROTS When all-female Austin punk group Finally Punk went on indefinite hiatus (though they promised they hadn’t broken up…) this central Texas town truly lost one of its greatest rock and roll acts. However, from the ashes of the riot grrrl wreckage comes the Carrots, a doo-wop group recalling 50’s all-girl acts such as the Ronettes and the Shangri-La’s, featuring several members from Finally Punk. Austin’s answer to the undeniably catchy sounds of bands like the Pipettes, the Carrots spin a wonderful pop sound but retain the subversiveness of the former punk act with a kitschy wink to their audience on tracks like “Beverly” and “Secret Since ‘99″. Definitely worthy of attention, even outside of the Austin area, so go check them out immediately. No mp3s floating around of these gals but here’s a rad video of them playing “Beverly”.
Tonight’s Converge show at Red 7 here in Austin definitely renewed my faith in the hardcore scene. You can get bogged down in lame, crust-punk bands with no sense of integrity or unity to the punk ethos, but then you see great bands like these tonight (Converge, Red Chord, etc.) that really show the intellectual depth of bands such as these. When anger is this awe-inspiring people begin to take notice of what kids are so angry about. From opener “Plagues” to closer “Jane Doe” the Converge crew proved they’re the thinking man’s hardcore group once again. Here are some pictures from the gig. Converge The Red Chord Genghis Tron Coliseum The Network ******************************************************************** CONOR OBERST RELEASING SOLO ALBUM
As we previously reported Conor Oberst and his Mystic Valley Band may be releasing an upcoming album. Turns out they ARE releasing an album, a solo Conor Oberst one, so says this press release. Conor Oberst, as the album will be called, is set to be released 8/5 and here’s a tracklist. We’ll definitely be picking this one up before we see the Bright Eyes frontman at ACL this year.
01 “Cape Cañaveral” 02 “Sausalito” 03 “Get-Well-Cards” 04 “Lenders In The Temple” 05 “Danny Callahan” 06 “I Don’t Want To Die (In The Hospital)” 07 “Eagle On A Pole” 08 “Moab” 09 “NYC – Gone, Gone” 10 “Valle Místico (Ruben’s Song)” 11 “Souled Out!!!” 12 “Milk Thistle”
Also here’s one more, super upbeat solo track recorded live this past December for your enjoyment!
******************************************************************** CAT POWER SHOWS RESCHEDULED
Check out the Cat Power Myspace for more details, but the Austin Stubb’s show is rescheduled now officially for October 11th. The date’s already circled on my calendar!
However, I know everyone gets tired of Cat Power updates lacking content so here’s a bside that’s been floating around the Internet for a while!
******************************************************************** CRYSTAL CASTLES ON NME COVER?
Check it out! How cool is that? Apparently they’re now a ‘hype band’ that we should be watching out for! Read more about it here. Of course, astute readers of CC already know the deal with these guys. ******************************************************************** ARCADE FIRE ROCK (AGAIN!) FOR OBAMA
The Arcade Fire will be playing in support of presidential nominee (hopefully future president) Barack Obama in North Carolina on May 1st and 2nd in anticipation of the upcoming NC primary (story here). Basically, if you like rock and roll at all you’ll vote for this guy. C’mon people, I think it’s required now if you’re reading this blog. ******************************************************************** SCARLETT JOHANSSON SITE FOR WAITS’ ALBUM
Apparently there’s a site up now to cover the release of the new Scarlett album of Tom Waits’ covers. Luckily if you swing by you’ll be able to hear six tracks from the album and, as I’ve said before, it’s pretty darn good stuff. Definitely worth checking out.
Sorry this took so long to update readers! Internet troubles plague music blogs worldwide I’m sure, it’s just lame when I feel like it’s a really good post. If you like what you’re seeing comment peoples!
One of our favorite local Austin bands Ringo Deathstarr has posted a new video on their Myspace. This is obviously just an inkling of what’s experienced at a Deathstarr show but stay tuned for more videos from this awesome band (hopefully from yours truly!).
******************************************************************** NEW M.I.A. LIVE VIDEO
Today we’ve got our favorite UK rapper M.I.A. live from Philadelphia with her signature crazy on-stage antics. M.I.A. will be in town May 1st at La Zona Rosa so be sure and check her out if you haven’t yet.
******************************************************************** WHO IS CONOR OBERST AND THE MYSTIC VALLEY BAND?
Of course we all know who Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes fame is, but after it was announced that it was his new band is playing this year’s ACL festival, we wondered who’s this Mystic Valley Band and what do they sound like? First, check out this post by Hypeful and you’ll get a lot more information as to what Oberst’s new project is all about. They are rumored to have recorded a new album and from the sound of the tracks on Hypeful, it has a more upbeat, singalong vibe than last year’s dark (but excellent) Bright Eyes release Cassadaga. Here’s a few tracks to wrap your brain around.
******************************************************************** NOTE FROM CHAN OF CAT POWER
Chan Marshall, the artist more commonly known as Cat Power, had a brief message posted on her Myspace that I thought was so damn touching that I would repost it. Here it is:
“yeah, phoenix ear nose and throat doctor said i should take a week off of singing, if i want to continue touring for the rest of this year, also, if i don’t want to risk ruining my vocal chords permanently, as i have a callous on the right side of my vocal chords, and a hint of a new one on the left.
to say yesterday was a very depressing and upsetting day for me and my band is to say the very least.
i sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that this has imposed on anybody.
all i can do is apologize.
i would not wish the way that i felt yesterday on anybody.
if you need gas money for all that long distance driving to last night’s phoenix show, maybe i can send you a western union wire for all your gas, or you could just pawn my c.d. or throw it out the window for that matter, how about that, sound fair? x
with love, frustration, feeling misunderstood and unplugging myspace page, yours, chan human”
Let it be known that the band’s Myspace has said that the cancelled US dates will probably be rescheduled for October, and while that’s a ways away they also said they’ll honor all the previously bought tickets (like mine up there). So you can bet I’m hanging on to that sucker and I’ll be seeing Chan and the gang then. ******************************************************************** CANNIBAL CHEERLEADER ON MYSPACE
Today’s update is super long (which is a good thing I think!) and that’s mainly because I have no Cat Power show to attend! That said, I have been doing a lot of other stuff with the Cannibal Cheerleader brand as of late. I made the logo you see up there (probably temporary but I think it’s cool nonetheless), I registered on Last.fm (last.fm/cannibalcheer), and I finally got up the Myspace page! The URL is myspace.com/cannibalcheerleader and if you like what’s going on here you should friend me!
With all this updating going on, I really should reemphasize to any readers out there, that one of my main passions of this blog is to open up some windows for shooting live rock and roll. I love it, it’s my passion, and I think I’m pretty good at it too! If your band or any band you know of needs some filming done, tell them to get in touch, I’d love to help them out! I’m an independent videographer right now and would love to make a living out of this so just get in touch with me (cannibalcheerleader@gmail.com). Of course, if you just have news tips or something similar for the blog, let me know! Hope to hear from people soon!
On a lighter note, here’s Cannibal Cheerleader’s new mascot (besides the chainsaw of course) – Claire from Heroes, haha! Save the cheerleader, save the *music* world!
The Killers newest LP Day & Age is crammed full of the same working-man-with-mascara pop we’ve come to know and love from the group, one of the standout tracks being the wild outer limits ride that is “Spaceman”. Well it turns out the foursome is releasing a Spaceman EP, featuring the titular track as well as two other songs, an unreleased b-side called “Tidal Wave” and a wonderful cover of “Four Winds” by Bright Eyes. The diatribe on modern America, while a definitive Oberst standout, sounds nonetheless heartfelt and crushing with the patented Brandon Flowers warble behind it. Flowers has definitely fallen into form as a rock and roll Jesus of sorts and the religious undertones and sacrificial lyrics complement his image perfectly. This is definitely worth checking out below.
A little bit late (and maybe a little bit repetitive), but here’s the video for “Wild International” from One Day As A Lion, and it’s worth every second if only to watch De La Rocha spit a killer flow over Theodore’s wicked drum beat. Check it:
Head on over to the Rolo Tomassi store immediately and check out some of their killer new tshirt/hoodie designs. Finally we can rep RT here in the States!
