Archive for May, 2008



Interview with Bigstereo (San Francisco blogger)

by michelle

San Francisco blogger: Bigstereo
He throws what I’ve heard are the best parties in SF!

big stereo screenshot

Name? Rchrd Oh?!

Age? 26 going on 21

Occupation? DJ/blogger/promoter

How long have you lived in SF? I’ve been living in San Francisco since 2004, but feel like I was born here.

Favorite SF venue and why? I have way too many. It depends on the mood I guess. For people-watching 222 Hyde. For rock/indie shows, The Fillmore. For electro and dance stuff Mezzanine. For gaying out, Aunt Charlie’s. And finally, for a good-ass margarita, the Beauty Bar.

How long have you been blogging? For three years, if you count it as professionally.

How did you choose the name of your blog? It was Travis’ idea. It’s a song by Tracy and the Plastics

First concert? Smashing Pumpkins. I went alone cause the boyfriend I had then ditched me to sell the ticket for the drug money. Yeah that relationship didn’t last very long.

Most recent concert? Green Velvet. But is it really a concert if it’s a DJ? Probably not. [This is a question we debate all the time here at Songkick! What do you guys think?]

Most memorable concert? Why? Add N to (X). I saw them twice, and both times have been my favorite. They are the best band ever, and if they ever get back together for one show…fuck it they will get back together for one show and I will be DJing it. They’re amazing and all that noise makes every hair and cell in your body dance.

Most disappointing? Why? I’m so not gonna burn my bridges–you know I’m a promoter right? Geez. I can tell you that it involved a really good band that didn’t think being sober meant anything, and they left half way.

Dream line-up? Pulp, Add N To X, the old Rolling Stones, and Velvet Underground in the day.

What song would you cover if you were on stage? I have so many songs that seem like a good idea to cover, and then I realize I can’t compete with the original, so I would have to choose a not-so-well-known B-side or something. I really like the song “M” by The Cure, but how could I make that into a dance song?


Jens Lekman and Bon Iver at the Scala

by ian

Last week Anthony and I caught Jens Lekman at The Scala. It was the 2nd time I’ve seen Jens – I blogged about my first Jens gig in Uppsala here, and seeing the same guy in the space of 6 months got me thinking about some things I love about live music that keep me coming back for more and more.

1. being starstruck. I rarely get that feeling, but at gigs I get it a lot. I’ve been blown away by Jens both times I’ve seen him, he’s just so charming.

2. something unique. I love the fact that his Scala show was totally different to his Uppsala show – when a musician is on the road for months on end, it still amazes me how much character and individuality each gig can have. (There are of course exceptions – I remember seeing De La Soul twice in 6 months back in the day and getting a practically identical show both times, even down to the jokes they told between songs.)

3. liking everyone a bit more. I don’t know if you have this feeling – but sometimes you can walk into a gig and the people in the queue look so different to each other and to you. It’s nice to feel that everyone from the indie kids to the people in suits straight from the bank, to the old guys with pints of ale are all there because they love Jens.

4. falling in love with a song for the first time. This time for me it was “Your arms around me”. I’d heard it before – but this time I just stood there blown away by it, wondering why I’d been so late to the party. It’s below for your listening pleasure.

5. the backstory. I LOVE it when artists tell the story behind a song when introducing it. Jens spent 5 minutes telling us the entire story to A Postcard to Nina before finally launching into it. He made me want to get on a bus to Berlin.

6. intimacy. The Scala felt just the right size for Jens right now – packed out, but still intimate. On a random note I love the way they didn’t stop people from standing on the steps, it felt like there were people on every square foot of space, but still enough room to dance.

7. An awesome support act. More about Bon Iver in another post – enough to say that I’ll be listening to a lot more by him over the next month, and catching his next London gig.

After the gig I mentioned to Anthony a few of the things off this list and he added another great one:

8. When you really appreciate the effort they’ve made to be there. Whether it’s traveling miles or getting over a fear of performance, sometimes you really feel incredibly grateful they’ve decided to play for you. He said he’d felt that really strongly recently at a Cat Power gig.

Those are some of the reasons I love live music, why do you?

Jens Lekman – Your Arms Around Me


Signal IS noise: New York’s No Fun Fest

by songkick soldier

Songkick New York was lucky enough to get hooked up with some passes to the No Fun Fest this past weekend, fresh off a move from its old home in Brooklyn to the Knitting Factory. For those who don’t know (no judgments!) it is the seminal noise festival that happens over three days every year in New York City. It’s generally recognized around the world as the preeminent go-to event by most of the noise community — although, given the nature of said community, the very existence of those words in print will probably send them all scattering, searching for the next unknown thing.

For the uninitiated, it is an elusive scene, as difficult to enjoy as it is to define. But if approached with an open mind and guarded ears (thank god I remembered ear plugs!) you will not be disappointed. The festival aims for a survey of the genre with everything ranging from white noise, to long scratchy sequences of found audio samples, to more “traditional” (dare we use the term) arrangements of drums and bass with other instruments layered on top (“other instruments” in this case often being shaken chains, broken violins, or sustained screams). The vibe ranged from quiet meditation, to violent fist-pumping in a storming mosh pit brocean.

Partaking in three full days of this sonic bombardment may seem like a daunting task — even for the die-hards — but we attended Friday night and enjoyed a pretty choice sampling: Thurston Moore‘s distorted droning with Nancy Garcia interweaving modern dance between brief engagements with every other instrument lying about; event founder and organizer Carlos Giffoni knob-twiddling screeching feedback loops with Burning Star Core violinist C. Spencer Yeh; and the legendary Tony Conrad with MV Carbon.

Overall it was a pretty amazing introduction to a vast and diverse culture … and a great night out!

Check out the flickr pics — some of our favorites here, here, here, here, here and here. A full line-up and contact info is available on their website.


Interview with Live Music Blog (Chicago blogger)

by michelle

Chicago blogger: Live Music Blog

A man after our own heart! A blog entirely devoted to live music. While founder Justin Ward responded to these questions, he stressed that the blog is a group effort, with writers across the country writing great show/festival reviews and reporting on upcoming concerts.

live music blog screenshot

  1. Name? Justin Ward
  2. Age? 26
  3. Occupation? Sales Tech Support at Google.
  4. How long have you lived in Chicago? Most of my life, until very recently.
  5. Favorite Chicago venue and why? Metro. Super-diverse lineups, great neighborhood, and great balcony.
  6. How long have you been blogging? Almost four years.
  7. How did you choose the name of your blog? When I started, nobody had a dedicated blog about live music. It seemed fitting.
  8. First concert? UB40 with Gin Blossoms.
  9. Most recent concert? Tapes ‘n Tapes with White Denim, Fillmore SF
  10. Most memorable concert? Why? My Morning Jacket at SXSW 2008. I was second row and surrounded by friends and pure excitement.
  11. Most disappointing? Why? The Shins at Lollapalooza, then subsequently in Chicago. For the first, the sound was horrible enough that the crowd was chanting to “turn it up” to no avail. Then, in Chicago, they played an all-ages show where a lot of the crowd was younger, inexperienced, and overall just not into it. Bummer on both times.
  12. Dream line-up? Phish, Tortoise, and The Mars Volta sharing one stage in one night, then coming together for a superjam at the end. I can picture the five or six drummers onstage right now…

Nick Cave in London

by ian

Half of the Songkick team recently hit the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds show at Hammersmith Apollo.

Nick Cave live @ Hammersmith Apollo
credit Snap Punk!

It was my first Nick Cave gig after years of loving his records, which was unusual – most of the bands I see live for the first time are those I’ve only just got into.

First up the show was brilliant. He played a ton of my old favourites (Into My Arms, Stagger Lee, Red Right Hand, The Ship Song) as well as tracks from the new record Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! One of my favourite tracks from it is More News from Nowhere for you to enjoy below.

One of the oddest things for me about seeing Nick live was that I’d built him up in my head to be some sort of weird combination of a gunslanging cowboy pimp (Stagger Lee) and the kind of guy you’d find at the back of an old country church on Sunday (Into My Arms). After watching him play I think I’m not so far off…on stage he flips incredibly naturally between those styles. One of a kind.

Nick Cave – More News from Nowhere (mp3)

Nick Cave – Stagger Lee (mp3)

Nick Cave – Into My Arms (mp3)


Songkick fans go crazy on the streets of London.

by michelle

More spotted vandalism just off Liverpool Street station in London, courtesy of Anthony from the Hype Machine. I didn’t confirm whether this was his doing or his seeing only, but either way he sent it in. (OK, yes this is close to our office, but no it was not one of us. We haven’t reached that level of pathetic desperation. Yet.)

Come on guys, London and San Francisco? Is that the best you can do? Where’s Tokyo? Where’s Tuvalu? I’d even settle for Atlanta at this point.

Email me (michelle AT songkick DOT com) for stickers and I will mail you a special package, as long as you agree to plaster and document the act. These are limited edition I tell you!


sticker


Interview with PopScene (London blogger)

by michelle

London blogger: PopScene
This Dutch transplant goes out more than any Londoner I know! Perpetually on the hunt for the perfect party, follow her blog to watch her exploits and find great gigs in London.

popscene screenshot

Name: Nicole Blommers

Age: 29. A message for my dad: I will be 30 next year!!

Day job: Secretarial music writer and blogger, who sometimes takes photos at random gigs.

How long have you lived in London? Since 25th October 2005.

Favorite London venue? After giving my brain some exercise to think about what my fave venue is, I can only say that I don’t have one. I like going to as many different venues as possible to see bands. I do prefer the venues in East, North, and Central London.

How long have you been blogging?? August 2002.

How did you choose the name of your blog? PopScene is a blur song and a London indie club night that was hip and hot in 1999, around the time that I started my website.

First concert? Must have been Take That. Before you ask, Robbie was my favourite.

Most recent concert? Last night I went to see Untitled Musical Project at Buffalo Bar. It’s perfect music for anger management.

Most memorable concert? Too many to mention. As in this year, I enjoyed seeing Vampire Weekend @ Hoxton Bar, Holy Fuck @ 100 Club, Mystery Jets @ Durrr, and Gonzales @ ICA.

Most disappointing concert? I’d rather forget about the most disappointing concert.

Dream line-up? Lots of bands with men and beat machines (Holy Fuck, Zombie-Zombie, Slagsmalsklubben etc.) + The Faint + Yeah Yeah Yeahs + Sigur Ros, with Erol Alkan + Justice + Tiga doing the after-party. Preferably I want the DJs to do a le grande DJ battle. Exciting!


Interview with The Culture of Me (New York blogger)

by michelle

New York Blogger: The Culture of Me
His party photos make me miss New York desperately!

Name? Jeff Meltz

Age? 26 (ugh)

Job? Cultural hero/hack

How long have you lived in New York? All my life.

Favorite New York venue? Silent Barn, because the guys who do the shows are super-nice and the kids who show up always show up to have the best time ever.

How long have you been blogging? A little over 2 years.

How did you choose the name of your blog? “The culture of me” was actually the third title of the blog, but we like it the best. It’s a play on the ’80s theme of “me first” and how that pertains to everything these days. Plus, it lends itself nicely to a discourse of people’s preferences about anything.

First concert? We don’t remember exactly, but it was in a mall. That’s for sure.

Most recent concert? The Cool Kids

Most memorable concert? Bjork at Madison Square Garden for the Volta tour. We had been trying to see her for 10 years without succeeding. It was totally worth it.

Most disappointing? The Stooges at United Palace Theater. Thirty years after their prime, the danger is gone. Plus, seats? Wtf? Even after everyone got on stage with them at the end of the show, it still was less than impressive.

Dream line-up? Death from Above 1979 opens, followed by Pretty Girls Make Graves, followed by At the Drive-In(!), all headlined by Lou Reed, Sterling Morrisson, Mo Tucker and John Cale playing pretty much anything together.


Interview with Hate Something Beautiful (LA blogger)

by michelle

LA blogger: Hate Something Beautiful

This blog makes me want to go to LA… and I don’t even like LA. They have great show reviews and stunning concert photos. I just discovered Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson on Hate Something Beautiful… heartbreaking. He’s on tour with White Rabbits! (His MySpace page says he’s from “Brooklyn, Oregon.” Somehow that is so right.)

HSB screenshot

Name? Paul Tao
Age? 22
Occupation? Co-run an indie record label (IAMSOUND Records) and also do A&R for a producer management company.
How long have you lived in LA? 5 years
Favorite LA venue and why? The Echo. It’s a tiny little venue, but still manages to get some of the coolest acts to stop by on tours. They always have fun secret shows.
How long have you been blogging? 3 1/2 years
How did you choose the name of your blog? I actually didn’t start the blog myself. A friend of mine started it up, and I helped him out with it for a few months. He got tired of it, so he passed it onto me and, by then, the blog was starting to get popular so I stuck with the name.
First concert? Warped Tour, way back when.
Most recent concert? Erol Alkan and Dan Deacon last night
Most memorable concert? Why? Even though by now it’s a bit passe to say so, Daft Punk last year at LA Sports Arena. Mindblowing performance. It wasn’t just the music; it was also the experience of seeing so many people moving to the same beat at the same time. It was kind of like an intergalactic space rave.
Most disappointing? Why? Wolf Parade, I think the show was a year ago. It was my first time seeing them. I loved their first album, but they seemed so nervous and rushed. The entire first half of the performance was a huge disappointment. Every song seemed to be hurried and a little off, although they finally hit their groove by the end the set.
Dream line-up? Some kind of Elephant 6 music festival would be amazing: Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control, Of Montreal, Essex Green, etc. Basically everyone involved in that collective.


Interview with Bradley’s Almanac (Boston blogger)

by michelle

The return of our very popular interview with bloggers! Check out Brad’s Boston concert recommendations on Songkick.

Boston blogger: Bradley’s Almanac
Brad’s one of the original music bloggers, and we’re really honored to have him pick shows for us for May and June. He puts on his own concerts in Boston, featuring indie faves like Film School. Plus he does ticket giveaways and posts awesome live recordings. What more could you ask for from your local blogger?

Bradley's Almanac screenshot

  1. Name, age, and occupation: Brad Searles, age twenty-eighteen, dad, blogger, drummer, computer software tester.
  1. How long have you lived in Boston? Next month will make it a decade since I moved here from my hometown of Burlington, Vermont.
  1. Favorite Boston venue and why? I like several different ones for different reasons (and for different bands), but I’ll pick two for faves: TT the Bears in Cambridge and Great Scott in Allston. I frequent them most often. Both have friendly staff, generally good sound, and are small enough to really connect with the bands. Great Scott has the location (just a few blocks from my house), but TTs has the pool tables. Too close to call.
  1. How long have you been blogging? In general, about 8 years. About music specifically, maybe 5 years.
  1. How did you choose the name of your blog? In the mid-90s, some friends in a band called the Madelines wrote a song called “Bradley’s Almanac” that supposedly used some things I said for lyrics. Lucky for me, it turned out to be a personal fave, and a ready-made theme song for the ‘Nac years in advance.
  2. First concert? That my parents took me to: The Charlie Daniels Band at the Champlain Valley Fair in, um, 1981? (Hey, I grew up in Vermont).
    That I asked my parents take me to: Foreigner and Loverboy, Saratoga, NY in 1984.
  1. Most recent concert? Film School, the Douglas Fir, and the Broken River Prophet at TT the Bears on April 28th (a show I was very proud to present).
  1. Most memorable concert? Why? Off the top of my head, Ride and Slowdive at Rockcandy in Seattle, 1992. Perfect pairing: both bands at their peak, a great venue and sound, and in the company of good friends. Bonus points: kicking around a soccer ball with the Ride boys in the parking lot. Runner Up: Arcwelder, Six Finger Satellite, and Jesus Lizard in Burlington, VT, also in 1992. Three amazing bands who pummeled me in their own special ways. So much pure power on stage. Mind = blown.
  1. Most disappointing? Why? Probably Explosions in the Sky at the Middle East Downstairs last year. An obnoxious, crammed-in crowd, bad sound, and high expectations from previous EitS shows caused me to bail after just a few songs. Unthinkably, I was much happier being at home.
  1. Dream line-up? An 8-band bill, the Saturday schedule for my impossible dream festival: Elliott Smith, Bedhead, Silkworm, the Housemartins, Unwound, Pond, Ride, and Joy Division.