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Straight to Video
Rock Art Rock
PJ Harvey
SXSW, Austin TX
March 21, 2009
By Brian Birzer "The PJ Harvey photos I took on Saturday night, March 21st, in a lot of ways were the payoff for the week of chaos that was SXSW 2009..."
Chhom Nimol from Dengue Fever
(and her dress collection)
Austin, TX
April 27, 2009
By Brian Birzer "Chhom Nimol is the singer of Los Angeles based Dengue Fever..."
Raymond Pettibon
Santa Monica, CA
March 1, 2009
By Brian Birzer "I met Raymond Pettibon at the Rock Paper Scissors show in Santa Monica on May 1st of last year..."
Scott Weiland
Austin, TX
January 16, 2009
By Brian Birzer "I took an assignment from Rolling Stone to cover the opening night of Scott Weiland's solo tour a the beginning of 2009..."
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What Goes On
Michael Jackson’s Doctor Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter
[via NY Times] Michael Jackson’s personal physician, Conrad Murray, was charged with involuntary manslaughter today, eight months after Jackson’s sudden death. The powerful anesthetic propofol that was being administered to him as a sleep aid, when it’s normally used for people in surgery, was ruled a major factor of his death. The coroner determined that Jackson died of “acute propofol intoxication,” combined with other sedatives.Murray pleaded not guilty, maintaining that he didn’t give Jackson anything that should have caused for him to die. While this news really just tops off an investigation that proved Jackson relied heavily on narcotics, it seems to me that any one in their right mind could see that he was being given too many drugs.
If Murray is found guilty, he could serve up to four years in prison.
Would Bob Dylan and Joan Baez Reunite This Week?
[via Mojo] Bob Dylan and Joan Baez are set to perform this Wednesday in Washington at In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement. Oddly enough, it was almost 50 years ago that they sang together in Washington for the first time, during the Jobs and Freedom march in 1963, led by Martin Luther King, Jr.Sure, they’ve performed together plenty of times over the years, and sure there’s absolutely no confirmation as this point that they’ll be performing any songs together… and yet, it’s still hard to not feel excited by the prospect of that. It’s good to give the people what they want sometimes, and the people want a Dylan/Baez duet at the Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement. Am I right?
There will be a live stream of the performances at whitehouse.gov. Smokey Robinson and John Mellencamp are also scheduled to perform.
Live Show Review: Mos Def at the Independent, San Francisco
Mos Def with Jay Electronica
February 3rd at the Independent, San FranciscoBecause of my job, people often ask me if I ever get tired of going to concerts. As much as I don’t, I would be lying if I said there are days after work when bed sounds a hell of a lot better than standing up in a crowded club for three hours to see some band I’ve never heard of. That said, those nights are totally counterbalanced by nights like last Wednesday. I got to work Tuesday morning with absolutely no inkling that in 36 short hours I would be seeing one of my Top Three living MCs (alongside Scarface and Brother Ali for those keeping score at home) playing in a small club for about 500 people. So, watching Mos Def take the Independent stage on Wednesday night was undoubtedly a surreal experience.
After some inspired local spoken-word artists and a breathtaking 20-minute performance from freestyle legend Supernatural (Google him), the audience’s energy was boiling over. Armed with his signature bowtie and fedora, Mos Def sauntered on to the stage about 11:30pm, inducing widespread hoots of euphoria. Bed-Stuy’s finest kept the energy up for the totality of his nearly two-hour set, rolling through cuts spanning his entire solo career, from 1999’s watershed Black on Both Sides to his 2009 return to form, The Ecstatic. As all proceeds of the show went to benefit Haiti relief, Mos also gave us some serious food for thought, speaking openly and passionately about the importance of Haiti’s struggle against colonial oppression—it was the first nation in Latin America to gain independence—and the gravity of the island nation’s dire current situation.
This Week’s Record Releases
Yeasayer get upbeat with "Odd Blood", due out Feb. 9
Happy Monday, you guys. We’re two weeks away from one of the biggest release dates of this young year, but even now, there’s no shortage of things that are very much worth your time. “Oh, like the Who’s new Greatest Hits thing?” Jesus Christ, no, not like the Who’s new Greatest Hits thing at all. Like these:
Yeasayer — Odd Blood
This Brooklyn band first entered the consciousness of the indie-rock world back in 2008 with their promising but flawed debut, All Hour Cymbals. The blogs fell head over heels for their particular and peculiar take on hazy, global psych-folk. At its best, the rhythms were off-kilter and engaging, while lushly harmonized vocals carried the weight of the melodies. Some of those were better than others, and some of them were practically nonexistent. This time out, they’ve cleaned things up a bit in terms of production, and they’ve shifted their focus toward upbeat, dancier tracks. It’s bordering on an Event Record, so make sure you check it out, for at least long enough that you don’t sound stupid when everyone starts talking about it at the bar tonight.
Listen: Various Tracks [at myspace.com] read moreGet Schooled by Steven Drozd
Not since Timothy Leary’s intro to psychedelics class has there been such an opportunity for education to expand minds. Flaming Lips multi-talented multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd has scheduled a teach-in at the University of Central Oklahoma. The lecture follows visits last fall by the Who’s Roger Daltrey and rockabilly icon Wanda Jackson.
On February 10th, the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma will present a master class with Drozd. Open only to enrolled students, the class will consist of an interview and audience Q&A with Drozd, who will discuss musicianship as well as aspects of life as a professional musician.
As yet there is no word as to whether the cost of enrollment includes a ride in the human hamster ball.
Album Review: Gil Scott-Heron, I’m New Here
Gil Scott-Heron
I’m New Here
(XL Recordings, 2010)It’s been 40 years since Gil Scott-Heron told us that the revolution would not be televised, and Heron feels a need to reintroduce himself with I’m New Here. The title track is actually a cover of a song by folkster Smog—finger-picked guitar and mostly spoken words that intimate, “I did not become someone different, that I did not want to be, but I’m new here.” He goes on to explain, “Turn around turn around turn around / You may come full circle / I’m new here again.”
This is a little different from what you might expect from this soul master and proto hip-hop musician. Musically, the whole record’s full of surprises. XL Recordings founder Richard Russell—who cut his teeth in the early-‘90s UK rave scene—handles production duties, finding deep electronic grooves that still contain hints of soul and gospel music.
Finally, Vampire Weekend Covers Rancid
I was just thinking to myself the other day, “Gee, when the heck is Vampire Weekend going to cover a hot 1995 MTV street punk jam?” If you’ve ever wondered what “Ruby Soho” would sound like after being wrapped in a sweater vest and taken out to the Hamptons, here you go. Slick your mohawk back, throw on some khakis, and jam to this sucker as you putter your yacht around the bay. Smashing, Buffy!
Free Morrissey, Os Mutantes Songs to Promote Latino Census Participation
[Via Future of Music Coalition]
By the year 2050, it is projected that the Latino population in the US will triple, and represent nearly 30% of the entire US population. Already Latinos are the largest minority in the US, playing a major role in virtually every aspect of American life, and yet despite the Bill Richardsons, Oscar de la Rentas, J-Los and Hector Tobars of this world, they are continually underestimated, misunderstood and marginalized.
Part of this problem stems from a deep-seated mutual distrust between Latino immigrant families and the US government. Whether as an individual undocumented immigrant or an American-born member of a family in which other members — one’s parent’s, perhaps — are undocumented, there’s a real fear that participation with any agency or organization, public or private, that asks for background information, could result in deportation. Recent surveys indicate that a majority of Latinos share this fear, which only makes it harder for both the immigrant and US-born Latino communities to receive the vital services they require. And with information gathered by workplaces, medical facilities, even high schools actually resulting in deportations, who can they trust?
Voto Latino, that’s who! Voto Latino is a non-profit, non-partisan organization founded by actress Rosario Dawson (above, in case you happened not to have glanced that way already) dedicated to overcoming these fears, and to increasing voter turnout and political involvement particularly among American Latino youth, which is the fastest growing minority youth group in the US. (According to the Pew Hispanic Center, one in five schoolchildren, and one in four newborns, is Hispanic.) Voto Latino has launched the “Be Counted, Represent!” Census Initiative, offering 25 free songs to anyone (but hopefully Latino youth) who pledges to participate in the 2010 census…
Afternoon Mood Elevator: The Go-Betweens, “Bye Bye Pride”
A most perfect pop song we hope you haven’t mostly forgotten.
White Stripes Ballet to Premiere in North America
by: Angela Zimmerman
The ballet was shown at Convent Garden in London to young audiences and enthusiastic reviews. McGregor, who was just appointed “youth dance champion” in 2008 by the British government, owns his own company, called Random Dance, and practices contemporary dance, rather than traditional classic ballet. Canada’s National Ballet artistic director Karen Kain says that despite never having any classical training, “he did this incredible piece for these classical dancers.” Sounds like the ballet powers that be are happy with the reinvigorated take on a classical art.
McGregor has not yet cast dancers for the Toronto performances, but Jack White has been invited to the premiere.
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by: Angela Zimmerman
published: February 8, 2010
in column: What Goes On
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