Table of Contents Editor’s Note............................................................1 Downloads................................................................2 Concerts..................................................................14 Featured Artists Dan Smalls.................................................................3 Black Angels...........................................................7-8 Dawes....................................................................9-10 Reviews Praxis.........................................................................4 True Grit (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)...................5 Ryan Adams & the Cardinals..................................5 Bardo Pond................................................................6 Black Swan (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)...............6 The Sea-ders............................................................12
Editor’s Note: At the end of the Fall semester, Cake had to say goodbye from its foundera Ryan Bryant. Fortunately, every end paves the way to a new beginning: Our new editor, Keith Hadad, and his assistant, Meghan Dailey, are proud to present an evolved music zine. We are cutting down on interviews and reviews, to incorporate a more diverse range of music entertainment. You’ll be informed, reading about multiple feature artists and local concerts. The liberal attitude with which we are approaching the “new cake”
presents will intrigue you, as our writers are given the opportunity to write about any topic pertaining to music. The new cake gives you music for what it is, rather then selling you ideas of what it isn’t. While most music zines focus on top 40 artists, our writers dig deep for topics that will intrigue you and heighten your taste in music. To enrich all of your senses, look forward to our multimedia site. Incorporated on the page will be video interviews, feature artists, and downloadable songs. Readers don’t usually have a voice, but you
guys shape the music scene, so we are stoked for the message board that will finally allow you to be heard. -Meghan Dailey Advisor: Louise Mygatt e-mail: cakezine@gmail.com Check us out online at: cakezine.blogspot.com
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Cake is always looking for new voices and talent. For more information about meetings and getting involved, email us!
Remix and Mash-Ups: The new genre? By Kari Beal Whether it is on the radio, YouTube, television, or at some event, mash-ups are dominating the music scene for the young generation. Artists across the genre spectrum are joining forces to make popular songs. Rappers like Jay-Z are mashing it up with alternative rockers like Linkin
Park and Coldplay; Hip-hop artists like the Black Eyed Peas are combining with house artists like David Guetta; even opera has been mixed in the with Biggie’s song “Can I Get Witcha.” And the popularity of these songs is skyrocketing. Justin Bieber’s fourth most watched music video on YouTube was a remix of
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“Somebody to Love.” Remix.vg, a website which streams mashups, covers, and remixes created by individuals, took only two years to become $13,000 franchise. It takes most websites years and years to reach the $10,000 mark. With such popularity should we consider making remix or mashups their own genre?
10 Songs You Must Download
1. “The Robin’s Jar” - My Brightest Diamond One beautiful voice married with some sweet strings on top of a luscious pop beat. 2. “When My Time Comes (Single Version)” - Dawes A rockier new version released as a single that surpasses the already roots-stomping original. 3. “Back to December” - Taylor Swift Miss Swift released another pretty little number that’s stuffed so full of soul that it barely can be contained in its four and a half minutes. 4. “Just Once” - Bardo Pond Cacophonic brash vibrations build and quiver and comes off as both beautiful & damaged. 5. “Come Together (Omega Remix)” - Omegadubstep & The Beatles One hell of a great way to add a new spin to an old classic. 6. “Just Another Rider” - Gregg Allman Still grooving with a bluesy swagger after all these years, ‘Just Another Rider’ proves that Greg Allman can still entertain as he belts it better than ever. 7. “In My Time” - Kurt Vile Jangly warm Californian singer-songwriter style with tinges of 90s underground psych with hints of Mark Lanegan that shine through like the sun reflecting in a mud puddle. 8. “Me Me Me” - Middle Brother A fun Leon Russell-like piano rocker with high energy and harmonies mixed tastefully with a driving tempo. 9. “Blow It Up” - The Vaccines 80s Euro pop with a catchy hook in the chorus. What’s not to like? 10. “Light of The Light” - Six Organs of Admittance Just one of the expertly played acoustic-esoteric folk songs off of Ben Chasny’s latest Offering. The sound is so hazy with summer heat; you can almost see dust devils swirling in front of you.
In Your Neighborhood:Dan Smalls By Keith Hadad Dan Smalls has been the Bill Graham oh Western New York for the last few years. Producing varied and top quality shows is his trademark, and nearly everyone in this region of New York State involved with music has been in some sort of contact with the man and his highly successful company. Some artists that was produced through Dan Smalls Presents include Arlo Guthrie, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Ben Kweller, Joan Baez, Dinosaur Jr. and many more. With such a varied list of artists behind him, Keith Hadad pries deeper into just who Dan Smalls is and what he listens to. Cake: When push comes to shove, if you were stranded on a desert island, what five albums would you absolutely have with you?
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becomes friends it adds to the feeling. But I remember some big losers too that’s what makes me a better buyer today.
experience help convince you to become a promoter? If so, what C: Are there any artists that you was it? haven’t tried booking yet but have always wanted to? DS: I guess the first big one I presented as a sophomore at DS: Plenty and they change all Cornell in 1991 with Blues the time. Fleet Foxes, Cake, Traveler and Spin Doctors in Wilco. Actually I have tried and Bailey Hall. It was a segue show the routing hasn’t worked. I could where the music never stopped, go on and on here... they just jammed out and changed musicians without much notice C: You’ve got a day-long road trip until all of a sudden it was the ahead of you in the morning, the other band playing. The moment car you, have to use only has a the show started and the crowd tape deck and you only have one roared was when I knew that sixty minute blank tape. What feeling would motivate me. Profit songs would you squeeze into or loss on a show, there’s nothing those sixty minutes? like that five seconds.
Dan Smalls: The Beatles-Rubber Soul, Radiohead-OK Computer (toss up with The Bends), Lucinda DS: This is tough and would Williams-Car Wheels on a Gravel C: Do you have a favorite concert depend on the mood that Road, Pavement-Slanted and that you’ve presented? morning... but some faves off Enchanted the top of my head: Paranoid C: What was the first and last DS: Tough to pick one. The Android – Radiohead, Heal Positive Jam festival was pretty -Catherine Wheel, Couldn’t Stand album that you bought? fun with The Hold Steady, Deer the Weather- Stevie ray Vaughan DS: I have no idea…sorry. Tick, Felice Bros etc. The Phish Outtasighte/I’m always in LoveProbably something bad. Recently festivals were amazing in their Wilco 16 days -Whiskeytown I’m on too many lists so I don’t own ways. Not my favorite music Car Wheels on a Gravel Roadbuy that many. I try to support but the spectacle of it all was huge Lucinda because of me - Robert acts I care about by buying their - 100000 people is a ton - we built Cray too Many Dirty Dishes... record even if I can get on gratis. cities for them each year. Emmy and Joan always make me feel C: Did a singular concert special, as does Lyle. When talent
Album Review
Praxis - Profanation
By: Dave Cushing Profanation (Preparation for a Coming Darkness), with its myriad contributors including Iggy Pop, Serj Tankian, Mike Patton, Killah Priest and Rammellzee, is an album that only a “supergroup” such as Praxis could create. Praxis’ core members are bassist/producer Bill Laswell, avant-garde guitar virtuoso Buckethead, Parliament/ Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell and ex-Primus drummer Brian “Brain” Montia. With such an extremely versatile foursome at the helm, one might think the extra collaborations on Profanation might weight the group down, for making jokes out genres and like having too many cooks in the never pigeonholing themselves creatively. kitchen. Not so. For Buckethead fans, especially, What makes this album so Profanation is a must-hear, entertaining and addicting to listen to is the way the foundation showcasing the guitarist’s many of Praxis emerges and recedes talents without the indulgence behind the personalities of the that occasionally bogs down his guest contributors. Every track solo releases. While Profanation has a different feel, from the has its share of shredding highaggressive, turntable-infused pitched guitar solos (which metal of tracks like “Ancient is not a drawback), it’s nice World” and “Garbage God’s” to hear Buckethead making more thoughtful, articulate to the outer-spacethemed hip-hop/funk “Profanation is abrasive, fusion of “Galaxies” and “Revelations comical, confusing, saddening, Part 2” to the swirling and more.” dub of “Babylon Blackout.” Profanation is abrasive, contributions, too, like the catchy comical, confusing, saddening, staccato melody he plays during and more, yet it all coalesces the chorus of “Galaxies,” or into that uniquely Praxis sound the delicate chords and textural because the musicians involved overdubs of the closing ballad all seem to share the same passion “Endtime.” While Profanation will most
4 definitely be ignored by music media, it’s the kind of rare album that sounds like it could yield hit singles - if only there were a greater passion for weirdness a m o n g consumers of contemporary “alternative” music. “Worship” is undeniably catchy, as is “Galaxies,” yet the album’s best track has to be “Revelations Part 2,” which finds Rammelzee making hilarious prophecies about the coming “True Order” atop the rhythm section of Praxis supplying some hearty funk grooves and Buckehead’s searing wah-wah solo. This song, and indeed most of Profanation, is Praxis at their best: heavy, playful, and highly original. “Oh, and by the way… Don’t crash land on my planet!”
Album Review
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - III/IV
By JD Blank Recorded back in 2006 during the same sessions that produced the solid, accessible Easy Tiger, III/IV further demonstrates Adams’ songwriting proficiency and prolificacy. Taking sonic cues from both Easy Tiger and 2003’s Rock n Roll, Adams balances pop and rock songs agreeably, without the album becoming terribly saccharine or chaotic. There are no real country songs on this album—quite a departure from previous alt-country-exclusive releases with the Cardinals Cold Roses (2005) and Jacksonville City somewhat reflective of Adams’ Nights (also 2005). personality as a manic recovering “Adams balances pop addict. On that note, III/IV most likely and rock songs agreewouldn’t exist without a sober ably, without...becomAdams, focusing his energy on ing terribly saccharine songwriting instead of whiskey. A number of songs feel like they or chaotic.” could be found on Weezer’s Green The songs (for the most part) Album, REM’s Reckoning or seem to appear in no particular [sic] Lifes Rich Pageant, or even order, making the two-disc affair Adams’ own Love is Hell. From
Carter Burwell - True Grit
By Nick Ljubicich “The Wicked Flee,” the opening track to Carter Burwell’s score to the Coen brothers’ remake of the classic Western T r u e Grit, is the entire film and
entire score in two and a half minutes. A cautiously cheerful piano melody opens the piece and evokes the film’s emotional journey. It swells into an orchestra giving the feel of adventure. All the while being light-hearted but still retaining a sting of sadness. The songs on the album very fittingly sound like a jaded piano man in a saloon was playing them while telling a story over
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the bubblegum “Stop Playing With My Heart” to the rocking closer “Kill the Lights,” some songs work better than others, but there isn’t a bad song on the album. Tracks like “Lovely and Blue,” “Death and Rats,” and the synthtinged “Happy Birthday” are some of Adams’ better songs, period. Ultimately, Adams’ twelfth studio album in ten years is a solid effort, leaving the listener wanting more, and with his madman work ethic, we’ll probably get more in eight to twelve months. III/IV is by no means his best album, but good with moments of greatness.
a century ago. In a time where movie scores are dominated by John Williams, Hans Zimmer, and their cheap clones, to have a score to a Western that doesn’t even borrow from Morricone is a welcome treat.
Album Review
Bardo Pond - Bardo Pond By Kate Wenger Bardo Pond’s self-titled album underscores the band’s ability to compose music dripping with acidwashed, melancholic beauty. Though more rootsy than their previous releases, Bardo Pond features the exact same sound but tastefully toned down. For a group that completely embodies the term “acid rock,” Bardo Pond do an expert job of making their music engaging in a human way and not just a druggedout space cadet way, like other inhabitants of the genre. Bardo Pond manages to maintain a sense of groundedness in its more conventional use of instruments like guitar, flute and harmonica. It does this without compromising any of the ethereal elements that make you feel like you’re pushing dimensional boundaries. The opening track, entitled “Just Once,” features classic hallucinogen-inspired lines like “Oh, I’m about to turn deep blue” and “Oh, what time is it anyway,”
with the rest of the album. Bardo Pond’s one drawback is the second song “Don’t Know About You,” which is where the album seems to fumble in maintaining its natural sound. A problem many bands that have been around for decades faces is sounding too forced, which Bardo Pond managed to avoid perfectly everywhere but here. The song just sounds like Sollenberger needed to reach her Christian-reference quota for the album, yelling, “Jesus is yet the album can be enjoyed as coming / Well I’m willing to wait.” so much more than a psychedelic Bardo Pond novelty. “...the album can be proves with The lead singer, enjoyed as so much this album Isobel Sollenberger, usually croons in more than a psychedelic that even after toning down and a voice as airy and novelty” stripping away thin as tissue paper the superfluous stereotypes from but flexes her muscles a little more in Bardo Pond, sounding their sound, they can still produce gorgeous and strong. The album the same warm and sweetly even contains what is probably spacey music they always have. the closest thing to a love song the Psychedelia flows through their band has ever made: the fabulously veins. beautiful “The Stars Behind,” whose execution flows so naturally
Clint Mansell - Black Swan
By Nick Ljubicich
In many w a y s , C l i n t Mansell’s musical score for B l a c k S w a n
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shares many similarities with Nina, the film’s protagonist. Tracks like “Mother Me” and “A Room of Her Own” have slower tempos, less intricate melodies, and abstract, striking percussive bursts peppered in. But as Nina’s mind becomes more fearwrought in the film, the score
begins to phase in the ultra-bold Tchaikovksy-inspired melodies. The later pieces like “Stumbled Beginnings” and “A Swan is Born” are terrifying, chilling, and evocative. Black Swan’s score is both beautiful and foreboding.
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The Black Angels By Keith Hadad Rumbling out of the live music scene of Austin, Texas, The Black Angels are seven years deep and they’re still offering fresh yet classically retro sounds. Being equally mind expansive and aurally explosive, The Black Angels have been hammering out intensive live performances constantly between their three highly acclaimed albums. Recently they’ve been featured on a trailer for Fable III, and the band has gained notoriety for founding the critically praised Austin Psychedelic Music Festival and for backing the legendary founder of psychedelic rock himself, Roky Erickson of The 13th Floor Elevators. Now with a new album just released and with a new concert DVD on the way, Christian Bland, one of the groups’ guitarists, sheds some light into the group’s inner workings. Cake: There seems to be a discernable influence on your sound, albeit, translated and modified into something unique to the band.
Who or what originally sparked the interest to play rock music? Christian Bland: Growing up in Houston, my dad used to always have the radio on Oldies 94.5. I remember hearing ‘Peggy Sue’ for the first time and being transfixed. Buddy’s voice and guitar drew me in. When I was 10 I discovered my Dads record collection and found Bob Dylans ‘the times are a changin’ and the Beatles ‘Sgt. Peppers. I’d listen to them over and over and over. For me, Buddy Holly and John Lennon are where it’s at. C: There are several songs that are written with a seemingly political tone especially concerning war. Would you consider yourselves a political group? CB: We are The Black Angel Party. We encourage you to rethink your preconceived notions, question authority, and create other methods for survival. This world has a problem, and we try to provide solutions.
C: is to
love to do the most.
How important experimentation C: As I understand your music? it, you are a force behind Austin¹s Psych CB: Experimentation is Fest, which had its consecutive at the core of what we third do. We’re always trying event last April. How new effects pedals and did you become mixing them with old involved with that and equipment from the 50’s what are the plans for and 60’s, which in my Austin Psych Fest 4? opinion is when the best gear was made. Each of CB: One of the reasons us individually can sit I moved to Austin for hours trying to create was because it’s the new sounds. It’s what we birthplace of psychedelic
Featured Artist
8 our heroes was pretty unreal. We recorded our performance with him on Halloween 2008 at the El Rey, which will be out later this month on DVD. We also recorded 10 Roky rarities in 2008, which at this point are collecting dust at Cacophony studios in Austin. We’re hoping to revisit those someday.
rock n roll. After touring since 2005, we’ve meet hundreds of like-minded bands. So we decided to start Austin Psych Fest so that we could invite all of our friends’ bands to Austin to celebrate our cities psychedelic heritage. We’re in the process of booking APF 4 right now. It’ll be April 29, 30, & May 1.
all lived in together. Bad Vibrations is our song for The Beach Boys. Entrance Song is about our countries Interstate Highway system and time travel.
C: What sort of images or scenes get conjured up for you in your minds or that you¹d want to be conjured up by the listeners in their C: Your latest work, heads when the Phosophene Dream, new record is being hit stores a few months played? ago and before even listening to the songs, CB: Pickett’s charge on the titles alone are the last day at The Battle intriguing and thought of Gettysburg, the plane provoking, such as wreckage in Clear Lake, “Haunting at 1300 Iowa on Feb. 3, 1959, McKinley” and “River kaleidoscopic visions, of Blood”. Are there the intro to ‘The Twilight any specific muses Zone’, Dick Fosbury
legends, but also the “Experimentaation is at the core of godfather to psychedelic what we do. W’re always tring new efand acid rock as we know it. What was it fects pedals and mixing them with old like being his backing equipment from the 50s’s and 60’s” band in 2008? Are the rumors of a future or inspirations for winning the gold medal recorded collaboration these new songs? in Mexico 1968, Hovertrue? boards & Power-jackets. CB: Our life in Austin CB: It was a surreal and touring from 2007- C: Earlier I mentioned experience to play 2009 is documented on Roky Erickson, who of with Roky. The 13th ‘Phosphene Dream’. course was the main man Floor Elevators are Haunting at 1300 behind The 13th Floor C: Speaking of Austin, a huge inspiration to McKinley is a song Elevators, and like any Roky Erickson is not only The Black Angels; so CONT. 12 about the first house we one of Austin¹s living to play with one of
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Dawes By Nick Ljubicich Dawes’ “North Hills”, L.A. on a disc, was released in August 2009. They’re folk, they’re soul, and they’re rock and roll. And they’re gaining momentum fast. Hot off the heels of the band’s first tour, Cake got a chance to have a chat with singer/songwriter Taylor Goldsmith about the year passed and the years to come.
cases. Sometimes the fans that’ll sign on board the fastest will also head out the fastest. The fact that things aren’t going that way for us is, in a certain way, comforting. Yeah, so this year…we couldn’t be happier about it.
C: How do you guys fit in with the American folk music scene?
T: I know that people will throw us into that genre and we’ll probably accept that. But there are a lot of things that we’re into that I know a lot of these C: What was your favorite American folk groups don’t really moment from the tour? Any crazy do. It’s not like that makes us cool stories? or anything. It actually makes me nervous. I hope people like those Cake: First of all, congratulations. T: I don’t know if there are any qualities of our band because we You guys have had a great year wild stories or anything but like to open it up and take some so far. Rolling Stone magazine playing at some of these venues solos and we like to do that whole had “That Western Skyline” on and in some of these cities and thing. We’re big fans of Little Feat the Top 25 songs of 2009. You seeing how things have changed. and the Grateful Dead and bands toured around “If it were to all end tomorrow, we would be able to say, ‘Wow, that like to with many get into that different bands that was really fun,’ and it was all the way we wanted it to be.” sort of thing like Deer Tick, and I don’t Vetiver, Delta Spirit, Jenny Lewis. To play at 1st Avenue in front of know if that’s as much of a current Looking back on it, how do you 1,400 people and playing El Rey quality of American folk but I feel about where you are now? in our own hometown, bigger hope people will accept that. So venues that I used to go see bands I think that, like any band would Taylor Goldsmith: We couldn’t play in as a kid. Like that. That want to think about themselves, be happier. It’d be very easy to was pretty special. there’s some stuff about us that’s say, “Well, you know, it’s good, not necessarily of the trend right but we want to just be the biggest C: How about the Newport Folk now but I’m hoping that that’ll band”. In reality, I feel like the Festival in specific? How did that be something that people enjoy way that things are unfolding feel? rather than push away. here, our music is for people we enjoy playing to and it’s moving T: That was maybe the most fun C: In March, Middle Brother, a at the right pace for us. If it were festival. Not only the history that collaboration between Dawes, to all end tomorrow, we would be goes along with that place but also Deer Tick, and Delta Spirit, is able to say, “Wow, that was really that particular bunch of people set to debut their self-titled debut fun”, and it was all the way we were really open and willing to album. How did that all come wanted it to be. So that means a have a good time. So by the end together? lot to us. But then, on top of that, of it, we got to do an encore and there are a lot of bands out there it was cool because my dad was T: When I was on tour with Deer that are great and they do kind of there and he jumped up to sing. It Tick. John [McCauley] and I really hit it off and he said we blow up overnight. That ends up was fun. should make a record together. backfiring in some cases, not all
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Featured Artist
just recorded and wrote songs. And it was a really fun process. It was kind of a quick one too. We were only there for a month. We got the record ready for the first two weeks and recorded for the second two weeks. There’s definitely a recklessness to the album that I’m really excited about. C: Speaking of brothers, describe the dynamic of being in Dawes with your brother Griffin. T: It’s great. We even live together in a house in L.A. for the time that we’re home. We get along really well and we don’t fight at all. I know a lot of those stories where brothers are in bands are ugly ones but I don’t treat him like a younger brother. We’re just good friends. C: How about the general band dynamic? Has it changed since going on tour?
Photo By Keith Hadad I didn’t think that was actually going to happen because most of the times people say that and it doesn’t happen. I wanted it to happen but was cool with the fact that it probably wasn’t going to. I said, “Yeah, totally, man”, and one day he called me and he said, “I have this one thought, you have this one thought. Let’s do this. Let’s go to Nashville and record it”. I said, “Ok, I’m ready. Let’s do
the thing”. I went down there and Matt [Vasquez], who’s my buddy from Delta Spirit and has been an old friend for a while now, called me and he said, “Dude, I’m not doing anything this month. I hear about what you’re doing. If you want another dude to come down there I’m totally willing”. I asked John if he’d want to involve Matt and he said, “Yeah, get him down here”. So he came down and we
T: I don’t think it’s changed. It’s cool because living in a city there’s going to be a lot of local bands that are good or bad and we notice that a lot of our friends’ bands in L.A., they’ll get home and then go their separate ways. They’re ready to have their time apart. For us, we were all hanging out last night. It was just us at the bar. We set out to hang out even though we just got home from a month together. We just have a real good understanding of one CONT. 12
Album Review
The Sea-ders - The Sea-ders By Keith Hadad Reissues of nearforgotten rarities from the sixties and seventies come and go constantly these days without anyone outside of the serious music collector being the wiser. This is mostly because the rereleases are specifically aimed at the collector and therefore inaccessible to anyone else. This is usually due to the fact that the music or genre can only be liked by the cult followings only. However, the recent (incredibly tardy) reissue of The Sea-ders complete collection of songs has awoken to great acclaim by collectors and the loose music fan alike. The Sea-ders (aka The Cedars) started off as a band in Beirut, Lebanon as The Top 5 in the mid 1960s. Then they moved to London and released a few singles and an E.P. between 1966 and 1968. After some very mild success, The Sea-ders faded from the English limelight. In the time between their prime and today, The Sea-ders have only appeared on various “lost-gem” compilations and uber-rare semibootleg re-releases. When the opening track begins, their Middle Eastern background clearly shines through. Their native instrumentation starts off the track in an acoustic array of completely non-Western sounds that one might hear on one of those Putumayo world music
(reissue)
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The Kinks. The Sea-ders feature a sixties English rock sound with Middle Eastern acoustic string instruments (such as the Oud) all swimming and chopping through easily accessible pop melodies. If The Kinks made singles to belly dance to, “If the Kinks made singles to belly they would surely be these songs. dance to, they would surely be The only these songs.” complaint I can albums. Quickly, the song dig into this becomes catchy and pleasing record is that the playtime is as an electric bass and a sweet roughly just twenty minutes. This drum kit bounces it into a likable is forgivable however, since this pop-rock track (that I dare say is self-titled compilation album even danceable!) All of the songs is a round up of literally, every have a sunny psychedelic tinge recording that the band made to them without a single hint of during their stay in England. sadness (this is most evident on They honestly just did not have For Your Information, Hide if anything more to add. You Want to Hide and Thanks The Sea-ders, 40 a Lot). The combination of years later, still offer a shot of Beatles-esque pop and traditional luminously pleasing pop rock Middle Eastern instrumentation with a unique twist that could and rhythms somehow work simultaneously fit into the worlds and comes off as sounding both of rare music collectors, ethnic timelessly vintage and deliciously music fans, and just about anyone fresh. Easy comparisons of their who appreciates a crisp danceable sound could be made to Revolver rhythm. and Rubber Soul-era Beatles, the early Who records, and (certainly)
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Featured Artists
Black Angels 60¹s garage psychedelic rock fan, I couldn¹t help but notice the few moments that sounded like references to Roky¹s band, such as the ever recognizable ‘dubadubadubaduba’ of the ‘electric jug’ in some of the songs on your new record, which is also heard all over The
13th Floor Elevators’ material. Was this a nice tip of the hat to Roky or just something fun to try out in a Black Angels song? . CB: It was just experimentation with the electric jug. The idea on ‘Sunday Afternoon’ was to 13th Floor Elevate a British invasion
inspired song. C: What format would you prefer to have your new album, Phosophene Dream, to be heard on? CB: LP
l
Dawes
another and I definitely feel very to on the road lately. fortunate. Yea, we get along great. T: Different stuff. I got that C: I want to discuss a little about Darkness on the Edge of Town your onstage mannerisms and box set, which is really cool. I’ve energy. You have a lot of it and been listening to Allman Brothers it elevates the show to another at Fillmore East, which is great. level. Where does that come from Michael Hurley, who is a great and how important is it to your songwriter. I’ve been listening to performance? Benji Hughes a lot. One of the best newer songwriters, I think. I’ve T: It’s funny. I don’t mean to been going back to “All Things make dumb faces. I kind of wish Must Pass”. I know everyone’s I didn’t but it just happens. But familiar with it, but going back to if I’m having a good time and it, it’s as close to perfect I’ve ever I’m just running around, to me heard. that just means that I’m enjoying myself. I don’t say to myself, “Oh, C: What is your favorite spot to this will be cool if I start jumping grab a bite to eat in Los Angeles? around”. I’m just clearly enjoying myself. It’s funny because I feel T: One thing you have to make sure like a lot of bands might be having you do is go to the right taco truck. the best night but they maintain I know that sounds kind of gnarly, their composure. When people but it’s some of the best Mexican start singing along or when we’re food you can get even though it’s doing a good job, I start smiling from a tiny truck. Otherwise, because I can’t help it. you can go to Bay Cities in Santa Monica. It’s the best Italian deli C: What have you been listening you can go to.
C: So where are you guys with the new album? T: It’s all mixed. We just have to master it and wait ‘til “Middle Brother”. Once that’s all over with, we’ll put out the new Dawes [album]. C: What can we expect from it coming from North Hills? T: It’s a little livelier. The songwriter is clearly the same, but after being on tour for almost two years, you can definitely hear a lot more live energy. A lot of guitars, quicker tempo, stuff like that. Dawes’ first album “North Hills” is available and comes very highly recommended. Before their follow-up album drops (expected in May), pick up Taylor’s side project “Middle Brother” in stores on March 1st.
Must See in February SKRILLEX: Sunday 2/27 @8 pm; The Westcott Theater in Syracuse, NY (1hr. 10min. drive) $20 SKRILLEX, aka Sonny Moore, is the former frontman of metal band From First to Last. Fortunate for us, he shot his voice screaming, leading to his solo dubstep career as SKRILLEX. To get a flavor for this artist try his single “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites,” the “Lady GaGa Alejandro Remix” or the “La Roux in for the Kill Remix.” Jimkata: Saturday 2/19 @9pm; The Haunt in Ithaca, NY; $10 tickets This four man electro-pop band hails from our very own Ithaca, NY. If you haven’t heard of them, listen to “One to Ten.” Two Fresh with Mux Mool and Body Language: Sunday 2/20 @7pm; The Haunt in Ithaca, NY; $13 This hip-hop electric duo has an innovative sound. Check out www.myspace.com/twofreshbeats to be impressed. Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad: Saturday 2/5 @9pm; Castaways in Ithaca, NY; tix at door Having Played with Artists like Umphrey’s McGee, this afro-beat/indie/Reggae band is killer live. If you don’t want to take my word for it check out their recording of “Burkina Faso.” Trey Anastasio Band: Saturday 2/19 @7:30; at the Palace Theatre in Albany, NY (3hr. drive); $50 Phish’s main man, Trey, knows how to get a crowd moving --simply look at the crowd in live performances on Youtube! Galactic w. High and Mighty Brass Band, Corey Henry, and Cyril Neville Wednesday 2/22 @7; The Westcott Theater in Syracuse, NY; $20 Galactic is clearly immersed in the New Orleans culture from which they hail, fusing together eclectic sounds ranging from Rock to Funk to Gospel. Check out their new album Ya-Ka-May GWAR w. Mobile Deathcamp: Monday 2/21@6:30pm; The Westcott Theater in Syracuse, NY; $25 The metal band GWAR never lets a crowd down due to entertaining raunchy lyrics and sci-fi/horror - inspired costumes in which they perform. Iration: Tuesday 2/4 @; Mohawk Place in Buffalo, NY; $10 Since the release of their first album only three years ago, Iration has pleased Rock, Pop, Reggae, and Synthetic Music fans. Check out Falling, the song that turned me onto them. Tea Leaf Green w. The Bridge: Wednesday 2/9 @7:30; The Westcott Theater in Syracuse, NY; $15 If you’re a grateful dead fan you’ll love Tea Leaf Green’s recent Album Rise up the Tent. Get on your tye dye and head down to Syracuse for a great time. Joe Driscoll: Wednesday 2/16 @9; Castawys, Ithaca, NY A lone act, Driscoll can rap and play folk music to produce the sound of a full range band. Hear the locally raised artist at www.mypsace.com/joedriscoll. Flogging Molly w. Money Brother and The Drowning Man: Thursday 2/24 @6:30; The Main Street Armory in Rochester; $34 On a stage, the seven members of Flogging Molly emulate their Irish roots and funk spirit. Put on the song “Drunken Lullabies”, and a partying atmosphere will inevitable.