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Rock Art Rock
The Decemberists
September 19, 2009
Terminal 5, New York, NY
By Amanda Hatfield "The Decemberists played a special one night 'lottery show,' where the songs played were picked at random by a master of ceremonies, played by John Wesley Harding..."
Ra Ra Riot
April 4, 2009
Webster Hall, New York City, NY
By Amanda Hatfield "This show was, at the time, the biggest one Ra Ra Riot had sold out as headliners, and it was clear to me after watching it that the band is destined for even bigger and better things..."
Florence and the Machine
October 28, 2009
Bowery Ballroom, New York City, NY
By Amanda Hatfield "Florence Welsh and her backing band delighted and mesmerized a sold-out crowd at Bowery in her first official NY headlining show..."
Dirty Projectors
July 19, 2009
Williamsburg Waterfront (Brooklyn, NY)
By Amanda Hatfield "I was skeptical about how well Dirty Projectors' gorgeous, complex vocal harmonies would carry over outdoors, standing under hot sunshine..."
See more in the Rock Art Rock gallery.
Most Read Articles
- The Smoke-Filled Room: Music and a Woman’s Right to Choose
- What Goes On: Liam Gallagher Reveals Post-Oasis Plans, and Other News
- My Life Is the Road: Clarence White and Jim Morrison Stretch on a 747
- It Shows, What Goes On: Live Show Review: Devo at the Regency Ballroom, San Francisco
- What Goes On: This Just In: Steven Tyler Is the Rainbow
- Reviews: Weezer: Raditude
- Introducing: His Name Is John Michael Rouchell
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Featured Stories
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The Day Van Dyke Parks Went Calypso
“When I saw the Esso Trinidad Steel band, I saw myself in a Trojan Horse,” he says. “We were going to expose the oil industry. That’s what my agenda was. I felt it was absolutely essential.” read more
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Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: Raising Sand
In the wider circles of rock ‘n’ roll, the fall of 2007 was preoccupied with an event of global proportions, an event that had the media and marketing machines of the music industry talking about it way more and way longer than necessary: The Led Zeppelin reunion. Remember? Maybe right now, you read that in disbelief, thinking that it barely raised a blip on your own music radar, but really think back... read more
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Jens Lekman: “If You Ever Need a Stranger…”
Jens Lekman believes in more than the power of love. He believes in the power of love songs. On his plaintive ballad, “If You Ever Need a Stranger (To Sing at Your Wedding)”, he eagerly professes to knowing “every song, you name it, by Bacharach and David… every stupid love song that’s ever touched your heart” and trusts in the shimmering promise that permeates pop music eternity... read more
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Talkin’ Townes-from-Texas Blues
Well, at the memorial service for old Mr. Van, The vagrants, they sat, and the gods made to stand. And the preacher did whisper in the lone usher’s ear, “Gypsies up front, please. All press in the rear.” And his mother, the mountain, she knelt down in prayer. While his father, the sky, he cursed at the air. read more
Recent Reviews
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Them Crooked Vultures, Them Crooked Vultures
The debut album from hard rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures is a fairly mediocre exercise until you take into consideration bassist John Paul Jones. It was probably no easy feat for the other two Vultures, Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme and Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, to record an album with a Revolutionary War hero who died precisely 217 years ago... nothing short of a miracle. read more
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ARMS, Kids Aflame
When he’s not crafting riffs for the Brooklyn-based pop-rockers the Harlem Shakes, guitarist Todd Goldstein becomes ARMS, a project he’s been chipping away at between Shakes tours since 2004. ARMS is a nice break from the Harlem Shakes for fans, and a refreshingly sweet (though still edgy) listen for any fan of neurotic folk-influenced indie-pop. read more
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Norah Jones, The Fall
Critics can be cruel. And for the past seven years or so, the success of Norah Jones has been whipping some of my nastier colleagues into a frenzy. I’ve seen more than one review that referred to her as “S’Norah Jones,” which may be a clever quip, but doesn’t really say anything about her music or vocal style. She’s knocked for being “jazz lite” and laidback, but her warm, intimate vocal style is preferable to over-singing and over-emoting... read more
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The Mary Onettes, Islands
With synth-pop still pulsing in clubs and Jesus and Mary Chain clones continuing to draw, um, buzz to their linty bubblegum, it’s only a matter of time before the ’80s revival has officially gone on longer than the ’80s themselves. Even the Mary Onettes—a Swedish four-piece drawing on radio-ready, mega-produced pop songs—are still relatively early in their life cycle. read more
What Goes On
Beck Comes Out on Top of Ridiculous, Somewhat Imaginary Band Feud
I’ve kinda been watching this one from a distance over the last week or so, trying not to care. But it’s gotten too ridiculous to ignore, and I suppose now is the right time to give you all the recap. Especially since, you know, today’s theme is all about our hungover brains being easily entertained with music people’s shit talkin’. That’s what today’s all about, in case you didn’t know.SO. Way back in August, before we even had this blog, Radiohead released a one-off charity track called “Harry Patch (In Memory Of).” Patch was the last surviving UK veteran of WWI and died just recently at the age of 111. Proceeds from the single benefit the British Legion. Seems like a nice, sensible thing for a band to do, right?
Well, on November 3rd, the webzine Spinner ran an interview with the Fiery Furnaces in which the brother half of the duo, Matthew Friedberger, upon being told that Radiohead sent out a mass email describing the tribute, went fucking apeshit about it. He said, “F— you! You brand yourself by brazenly and arbitrarily associating yourself with things that you know people consider cool. That is bogus. That’s a put-on. That’s a branding technique and Radiohead have their brand that they’re popular and intelligent. So they have a song about Harry Patch.”
Confused? You should be. While I’m sure Harry Patch was a real cool guy, it’s a rather suspect thing for a band to align themselves with so to appear as thought they are all cool and obscure with their references. As it turns out, Friedberger confused war veteran Harry Patch with American composer Harry PaRtch. D’oh! Good one, dude.
THEN. Then, because he obviously had to answer to what was at least perceived as his giant fuck up, Friedberger issued a statement saying that he knew all along that it was Harry Patch, duh, and he just thought it would be funny to make a joke. Is that even believable though? I dunno…
The story gets better and continues on after the jump. read more
KISS at Arco Arena, Sacramento
KISS
November 19th at Arco Arena, SacramentoThe 1970s solidified hard, crushing rock ‘n’ roll, ushering in a new era of musical passion. Bands like Aerosmith, AC/DC, and Black Sabbath exploded onto the world stage with a loud and proud message of musical decadence. If your ears didn’t ring and your heart didn’t skip a beat, it wasn’t loud enough.
But wait! Don’t forget those kick ass guys from NYC—the ones with the painted faces, duel personas, and a musical approach that is irrefutable rock-solid. Celebrating the 35th anniversary of KISS’ classic album, Alive!, KISS hit the stage at Arco Arena following that well known battle cry, “You Wanted The Best! You Got The Best! The Hottest Band In The World! KISS!” Not since the June 20, 2004 Rock the Nation tour has Northern California been treated with such a rush of ear-splitting adrenaline. The boys from New York City are back and they’ve brought an Army of die-hard soldiers to conquer the masses.
Jim DeRogatis Slams the Pixies, Calls Them a “Hipper Journey”
[via Daily Swarm]Man, hands up, who’s hungover today? Yeah, srsly. But you know what makes us feel a little better after having killed all those tiny little brain cells in our heads? News of people talking shit on other people. Yay! This time, it’s rock critic Jim DeRogatis taking the Pixies to task for cashing in on more reunion tours than any credible “hard-hearted punks” should. The band’s latest tour is centered around the 20th anniversary of their classic 1989 album, Doolittle, in which they play the album track-by-track.
I mean, I get what he’s saying. Five years since their “reunion” and no sign of new music, just kinda rakin’ it in at the expense of folk’s nostalgia. (Irony alert: The album is titled “doolittle” har har.) But the awesome part is when DeRogatis goes for the jugular by comparing the band to Creedence or Journey. read more
Straight to Video
Rock Art Rock
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Neutral Milk Hotel Live Footage Unearthed, and Other News
by: Angela Zimmerman
Interpol has a new record coming out in ’10 and say it’s more similar to their debut. Good news for fans of the exceptionally well-received Turn On the Bright Lights. (Guardian)
Steven Mason of Beta Band fame has announced that he’s releasing a solo album. (Strange Glue)
Big Pink moodily covers Beyoncé’s “Sweet Dreams.” (Stereogum)
If you’ve been debating getting yourself to ATP next year, this may provoke you to make the jump. The Stooges are doing Raw Power in its entirety. Awesome. (Pitchfork)
Sony is opening an online store to sell digital content. (Hypebot)
Check out this brief but interesting article on the past and future state of online music. (NPR)
Evan Dando from the Lemonheads is hitting Europe and the States for a solo tour this winter. (CMJ)
Read more news after the jump.
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by: Angela Zimmerman
published: November 20, 2009 in column: What Goes On
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