Archive for April, 2008

Chillville April 6, 2008

Sunday, April 6th, 2008

Nothing But 90’s Weekend!!!

  • Ben Folds Five – She Don’t Use Jelly
  • Garbage – Milk (The Wicked Mix)
  • (9:30) Underworld – Winjer
  • Faithless – Postcards
  • Eels – Novocaine for the Soul
  • Happy Mondays – Bob’s Your Uncle (Perfecto 12″ Mix)
  • Enigma – Carly’s Song
  • Massive Attack – Risingson
  • Depeche Mode – Home
  • (10:00) MC 900 Ft. Jesus – While the City Sleeps
  • The Sundays – Wild Horses
  • Esthero – Country Livin’ (The World I Know)
  • Brazos – Mary Jo
  • (10:30) Radiohead – Lucky
  • Saint Etienne – Only Love Can Break Your Heart
  • Stereo MC’s – Flash
  • Elliot Smith – Between the Bars
  • Sneaker Pimps – How Do
  • (11:00) The Cure – A Letter to Elise
  • Air – Sexy Boy
  • Moby – Find My Baby
  • Primitive Radio Gods – Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth
  • Bjork – Joga
  • (11:30) Lamb – Wonder
  • The Crystal Method - Bad Stone
  • The Pixies – Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf Mix)
  • Electronic – Getting Away With It

RJD2 at Emo’s

Sunday, April 6th, 2008

Ramble John “RJ” Krohn, aso known as RJD2, was once a hip-hop producer; after releasing 2 mostly instrumental LPs, he went in an entirely different direction with 2007’s The Third Hand, leaving behind the samples that had made his fame. And when getting together a band for the new tour, he went old school, asking friends from childhood in Ohio. Emo’s was only their 3rd stop; they are still trying to make cohesive sense of RJ’s old and new sound, a crazy mix-up of turntables and live instruments and vocals.

Smoke and Mirrors, arguably their most immediately recognizable tune, was given hard-hitting new life with fresh samples and live drumming mixed in, adding an immediacy that is readily accessible to a larger audience. Some of the live drum and guitar collaborations, and definitely the keyboard, have some really strong and groovy jazz influences in a way that the album didn’t; new members providing a fresh spin on material that R.J. originally crafted and recorded by himself. These guys are playing the chillest music that you still want to dance to, the catchiest tunes you’ve never heard.

Make Plans for Xiu Xiu This Saturday

Saturday, April 5th, 2008

Xiu Xiu does not create music you can easily ignore: love or hate, you will have an opinion. They are avant-garde, experimental, with every track like a sometimes-great, sometimes-insane recording session that the band was just enjoying too much to end.Singer Jamie Stewart’s voice is shaky, unstable, on the verge of complete breakdown. With spoken, sung, screamed, and whispered lyrics – sometimes all within the same song – screeching sound effects, and crashing, discordant piano, Xiu Xiu is never what you expect, and does not often go where you think. Yet they have an appeal, if only to see where they’ll lead you next. But a word of warning: don’t listen before going to sleep; they may give you nightmares. Try them out with I Luv the Valley OH!, and if you can manage it, catch them at the Mohawk this Saturday.

Introducing YellowFever

Saturday, April 5th, 2008

YellowFever was at Emo’s Friday night, and received an impressively enthusiastic reception from an audience largely there for another homegrown band, Voxtrot. Even with guitarist/backup vocalist Isobel Martin missing for a good portion of the set, remaining band members Jennifer Moore and Adam Jones had an experimental, chill sound that was too cool for school. This group switches instruments at the drop of a hat, and while that can sometimes feel contrived, it works well for their sound: minimalist, twee, lo-fi 60’s-tinged pop. Moore has a melancholy, sweetly appealing voice, and when Martin chimes in, they seamlessly blend into harmony.They’ll be playing locally this month with some pretty impressive acts, including Health, Belaire, and The Black and White Years. Catch them live before they take off on a summer tour of the west coast, and for a sample of their quirky charm, listen to Alice.