Review by Tim Bauer/Photos by Emily Ann Garcia

Last night, The Blakes from Seattle came to Chicago’s best venue, Schubas, to support their fifth album, Souvenir. This trio is led by brothers, Snow and Garnet Keim, along with drummer Bob Husak.  They have been self releasing albums and EPs since 2001 except for in 2007 when a local label rereleased their second self titled album. The crowd for the night seemed to be openly split between fans excited for The Blakes return to Chicago as well as those that were there to support local Chicago group, Team Band.

Team Band

As soon as Team Band started off the show, it was apparent from their appearance and sound that they were fond of 90’s rock. This was confirmed before their second song when they began talking about how great the 90’s were and asked the audience if anyone had seen the Pixies last week. While more so an 80’s band, the Pixies helped create the 90’s rock sound that very much influenced Team Band. Their set made me feel nostalgic for the local hall and basement shows I went to in high school where the bands weren’t necessarily good, but they were fun, and didn’t take themselves seriously.  However, Team Band was good. Each song sounded pretty similar with vocals that were more so talking than singing and shout along choruses, but this didn’t detract from the show. In between songs the singer and guitarist humored the audience with banter such as “Our drummer was so drunk on Wednesday, he passed out in the shower” and complaining that the tamale guy doesn’t give out enough napkins which wouldn’t have happened in the 90’s. As the set progressed the band got a little drunker and sloppier. This was largely due to them telling the audience that they are not opposed to free shots, the crowd came through and they were treated to three rounds of shots.

The Blakes

The Blakes’ set got off to a sluggish start. The first three songs felt lethargic and were met with mild enthusiasm from the audience.  However on the fourth song, Basket, The Blakes picked things up and a majority of the audience started dancing along. The Blakes, just like Team Band, do not seem to be pushing rock music in a new direction. Many of their songs instantly remind you of another band or era of music, from The Rolling Stones to Motown to more recent bands like Little Brazil and Kings of Leon. However this did not detract from their music, which was usually upbeat and catchy. Their bassist, Snow Keim, broke his A string during their sixth song, Tommy, and he impressively played the rest of the set with just three strings. Despite this, the bass sounded great and often was enjoyably above the guitar in the mix. After a twelve song set, The Blakes returned for an encore that was cut short after the third song due to issues with the bass guitar. This caused an anticlimactic end to the evening but The Blakes definitely satisfied their fans looking for a fun night of dancing to rock and roll tunes.

KEXP
Local rockers, the Blakes, and folkies, the Moondoggies, will represent Seattle this year at the College Music Journal’s 2009 music festival in New York. The bands will be joined by festival sponsor KEXP who will broadcast the event live from October 19th to the 23rd.

THE BLAKES
Basket

Hard to believe it’s been two years since The Blakes have been on The List, so when I heard they had a new album set to drop in a few weeks I figured I would put Google to work and find something to toss out to you guys. And they’re hitting the road this fall, too…they’re gonna be in New York playing three gigs during CMJ, so if you like this kinda stripped-down, swaggering, vintage rock ‘n’ roll sound (Iggy does), mark your calendars now. Souvenir is out October 13th, but until then, give ‘em a look on their MySpace page

Friday July 24th

Doors @ 3pm  Click on any band name for a link to live videos.

Mainstage:
4:00 – The Dutchess and The Duke
5:15 – Spinerette
6:30 – Black Lips
7:45 – Deerhunter
9:15 – Built To Spill
10:45 – Jesus Lizard

Neumos Stage:
4:00 – Sgt Major III (local)
5:00 – Band of Skulls
6:15 – The Blakes (local)
7:30 – Sleepy Eyes of Death (local)
8:45 – Earth (local)
10:00 – They Live! (local)
11:30 – SING SING Reunion w/ Pretty Titty and Fourcolorzack

Vera Stage:
4:00 – Audacity
5:00 – Flexions (local)
6:00 – Bow+Arrow
7:00 – Micachu
8:15 – Past Lives (local)
9:30 – Starfucker (Portland)
10:45 – Mika Miko

The 2009 Capitol Hill Block Party starts of strong on Friday with Seattle’s own The Dutchess and The Duke starting things off on the Mainstage. Any band that calls itself “Campfire Punk” and has a song titled “Scorpio” is A-1 in my book. They sound great live as well and should be the best way to start the evening.

Flexions on the Vera Stage and Band of Skulls on the Neumo’s stage will battle for my 5 o’clock attention. Band of Skulls bring their riffage and hard rock attitude while Flexions play myriad styles, idiosyncratic, often instrumental, somewhat spacey.

Atlanta’s (critically acclaimed!!) Black Lips play the Mainstage at 6:30. Flexible from punk to blues to country, the band has a reputation for insane live shows in which they’ll try to pull off almost any stunt. Not for the faint of heart, Black Lips should be a hard live show to match on Friday.

Micachu plays the Vera Stage at 7. This impressive young group deserves all the attention it can get. Playing a unique, lighthearted style, their set should be a nice innocent shower after after the dirty Black Lips. I’m certainly looking forward to this performance.

Seattle’s Sleepy Eyes of Death start their Neumos Stage set at 7:30, and they whould be more of a fantastic draw with an intense and interesting mix of shoegaze, electro-core, instrumental sound … if it weren’t for Deerhunter starting shortly after on the Mainstage.

But there is NO WAY I’m going to miss Deerhunter. One of the best bands of the last two years starring one of pop-music’s best artists, Bradford Cox, Deerhunter continues to be absolutely amazing and puts on a terrific live show. Cox seems to have gained vocal confidence and maturity, while the impressive music speaks for itself. The group’s live power and audio wizardry are not to be missed.

If Deerhunter is done by 8:45, then Seattle “drone-doom” group Earth is the next stop on the Neumos Stage. Creating mesmerizing, eerie tunes since 1990, a crowd at Neumos will likely be swaying throughout this group’s set.

Indie rock institution Built to Spill begins what’s sure to be another phenomenal and packed live set on the Mainstage at 9:30. Just about everyone at the Block Party will be crowding in for this one, with good reason. Built to Spill started something in ‘95, coming out of Boise and helping to define the current Northwest sound. They’re a bridge between REM, Modest Mouse, and Death Cab for Cutie, and on par with all three.

If Built to Spill slows it down too much and starts to kill a party mood, then it’ll be a tough yet easy decision to go check out  Portland’s Starfucker on the Vera Stage. It’s impossible not to party to Starfucker’s dance tunes and great live sound.

The Jesus Lizard on the Mainstage and Mika Miko on the Vera Stage will serve to close the night out at about 10:45. Mika Miko, the lo-fi punk group from LA, matches No Age, Abe Vigoda, and Talbot Tagora in sound, which means that as a group of women, they’d out-punk The Donnas and out-attitude the Vivian Girls any old day of the week.

Formed in ‘87, The Jesus Lizard are noise rock and grunge pioneers, early Lollapalooza artists, and Steve Albini products. The band broke up in 1999, and 2009 sees their first shows together in ten years. They’ve already played the Pitchfork Music Festival and the All Tomorrow’s Parties Music Festival(s) in London and New York. Which means a big hat’s off to the Capitol Hill Block Party for the nab and a wonderful day one at this year’s party.

Missed Sonic Youth last night. I’m bummed. Apparently they put on a good show.

Grimey’s is holding a midnight event for the Dead Weather album tomorrow night. Rumor has it, they’re gonna have some surprise guest from Third Man Records (Jack White’s record label). Nothing better to do on a monday night anyways.

Was going through my CD’s in my room the other day, and found my old the Blakes CD. Still sounds pretty good. Remember seeing these dudes kill it at Grimey’s back in 2007. They sound even better live. Check em out.

Blur is back. Never was a huge fan, but from the looks of it, Damon Albarn is killing it on stage.

Kind of wish they were headlining Lollapalooza. Be a much better headliner than the fucking Killers or Jane’s Addiction.

While we’re on that note, can we please put an end to Jane’s Addiction? I love their music, but this current stint feels like such a nostalgia tour. Perry Farrell is cross-dressing like no other, and it just doesn’t feel the same anymore. Even with all the original members, it just doesn’t feel right.

I’ll admit this though, the new version of “Whores”, produced by NIN mastermind Trent Reznor, sound fucking fantastic.

Forgot to mention in the last post, but I saw Death Cab for Cutie back in May at the Ryman. Many people have told me that they are an emo band, because their songs “all sound so sad and filled with emotion.” First off, Death Cab is not an emo band, because they do not SUCK like other emo bands like My Chemical Romance and the Used and all of that shit. Secondly, I’ll take the emotion in Ben Gibbard’s voice compared to that goat voice of Chad Kroegar. Seriously, go out and buy Transatlanticism and shut the fuck up. Here’s one off their newer album:

For those who haven’t heard Kasabian yet, their new single off their new album is awesome. Don’t be a dipshit, check it out:

Just in case anyone was wondering why Lil Wayne should NOT do a rock album:

Seattle, the Emerald City, birth place to Sir Mix-a-Lot, great coffee and my second home.  Seattle is known for its music scene throughout the years, contributing countless artists and the creation of musical movements.  Brothers Garnet and Snow Keim, joined by drummer Bob Husak are The Blakes, and join the ranks of great Seattle based musicians.  Best known for their gritty, Iggy Pop, garage style sound they’ve released multiple EP’s as well as a self titled LP The Blakes in 2007. There is a 5 song limited edition EP available on their MySpace and they’re working to release another album later this summer.  Snow and Garnet have a side project with a more mellow slow sound called Beads that released an album titled No One Knows.  There aren’t any upcoming tour dates, except for maybe a random show in Seattle somewhere.

The Blakes – Two Times

The Blakes – Commit

Thanks for the heads up, Monica!

Refresher #1:

Blakes brothers Snow and Garrett

Refresher #2: The Blakes – \”Don\’t Bother Me\”

Needless to say, we’re very, very excited!

Are you looking for something to do Friday night to chase away those impending winter blues?  Want to get out, drink great beer, and shake what your mama gave you?  Boundary Bay Brewery will be rocking at our Friday Night Late Show thanks to Feral Children and Counselor who will take the stage at about 10:30.  Doors open at 10 and the cover is $4.  Here’s what lies in store for you…

Feral Children

“Originally from Maple Valley in south King County, this Seattle band [Feral Children] shares some musical and lyrical similarities with another Northwest band from the outlying town of Issaquah, but while Modest Mouse through the years have toned down the small-town alienation that seethed through their earlier records, you’ll find it in abundance on Feral Children’s excellent debut album. Dark, unsettling indie-rock that occasionally explodes in a murderous rage, Second to the Last Frontier is one of the more memorable Northwest albums of 2007.”
-Don Yates (Music Director at KEXP)

“[Feral Children is]…a healthy dose of shimmering, experimental indie rock that sometimes exudes a maniacal, pounding zest.”
-Matt Kiser, CMJ.com

Counselor

COUNSELOR FORMED IN JAN. 07 IN BELLIGHAM, WA. THEY ARE BEST DESCIBED AND DARK DANCEY INDIE POP. THEY HAVE PLAYED SHOWS WITH SUCH BANDS AS THE TRUCKS, DAS LLAMAS, THE BLAKES AND BACHELORETTE.

I was in my hometown of Seattle last week and thought I’d throw out a quick little slideshow of pics that I brought back. Nothing super fancy here, just a random collection of snaps. While there, I got to see some friends, watch a killer set by The Blakes, visit my family, hang out on the Puget Sound and celebrate my nephew’s 4th birthday by riding the Monorail. Oh, and we also experienced some of that special Seattle rain that they amply provided.

(High quality version is hosted on YouTube)

Best grappig eigenlijk. Al die verschillende recensies van een bepaalde cd. Want, ijdel als we zijn, nemen we wel eens een kijkje bij de concurrentie om te zien wat zij van een album vonden. Voor het titelloze debuut van The Blakes worden allerlei referenties aangehaald, gaande van The Strokes (erg vaak), over The Kinks tot Jesus & Mary Chain en Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

Voor wij onze ongezouten mening op u loslaten, stellen we de band graag aan u voor. In 2001 lopen de broertjes Keim (Garnet – zang, gitaar en Snow  – zang, bas) drummer Bob Husak tegen het lijf in een koffiehuis in Seattle. En zie: The Blakes zijn geboren. Na het nodige touren en de obligate ep’s, al dan niet in eigen beheer, is het nu tijd voor het echte debuut.Hoewel Seattle zelfs bij de meest a-muzikale nerd herinneringen aan groepen als Nirvana en Soundgarden zal oproepen, is het niet in dat genre dat dit trio de mosterd is gaan zoeken. Zij zien duidelijk meer heil in rechttoe rechtaan rockmuziek zoals dat bij – en jawel, daar zijn de onvermijdelijke referenties – The Strokes te horen was voor de bron daar uitdroogde. Dit geldt vooral voor de eerste nummers van deze plaat. Bij Modern Man ontkom je echt niet aan de vergelijking van de met losse hand gespeelde gitaar. En hetzelfde geldt in meer of mindere mate voor Two Times (die schreeuwstem) en de andere nummers aan het begin van deze schijf.

Maar de toonaard verandert vanaf Commit. Dat heeft ongetwijfeld te te maken met Snow, die het vocale roer overneemt van zijn broer. De nummers worden beter verteerbaar. En het wordt helemaal anders bij Lintwalk dat door het gebruik van de akoestische gitaar en het functionele orgel in combinatie met de meer ingehouden vocalen doet denken aan het betere werk van Marah (een referentie die we nog niet waren tegengekomen).

Het lijkt wel of het tweede gedeelte van de cd (vanaf Lintwalk dus) wel door een andere groep is gemaakt. Vampire is dreigend, tintelend en doet de hoger vernoemde verwijzingen (met uitzondering van het inventieve van The Kinks misschien) vervagen. Het is het soort song dat je een ongemakkelijk gevoel geeft en is dat nu niet net de bedoeling van goede muziek: emoties opwekken?

Lie Next To Me verwijst opnieuw naar Ray Davies, al is het maar door de bitterzoete tekst : “If you’re not with another man then I’d like to be with you tonight.” Combineer dat met de eenvoudige maar efficiënte riffs en je krijgt een track die zich tussen de hersenkronkels in een hardnekkig nestje gaat bouwen.

Laat ons maar lullen. Onderzoek heeft uitgewezen dat de meeste recensies of besprekingen van wat dan ook vaak worden gelezen nadat het product al werd aangekocht. In dat geval hebt u het, wat ons betreft, bij het rechte eind. Op dit plaatje staan meer dan genoeg goede liedjes om die aankoop te rechtvaardigen.

Copyright : daMusic

Aah. Three days of Bumbershoot. I’m exhausted tonight…

Yesterday was definitely the highlight of the weekend for me. Heather was in town from Boston (for a wedding) and came along for the day. Christine also came with us, and we met up with a group of my coworkers midday as well.

Here’s what we saw on Day 2:

• Shim: Rocked it like it was 1990. Their opening song was fantastic… we didn’t stay for the whole set, but left feeling inspired.
• The Blakes: We saw these guys in the Exhibition Hall, which has horrible sound. Too bad. Judging from their MySpace page their decent.
• Australia’s Strange Fruit: An aerial performance on the lawn. Loved it.
  
• Forro in the Dark: Another one whose produced stuff on MySpace sounds better than their performance. Maybe it was the noise of el jardin de cerveza.
• Jakob Dylan: Packed the house! The Bumbershoot folks inevitably book someone at the Mural Ampitheatre who is too big for that space. At this point in the day Jakob’s music was too chill for me.
• Pacifika: Pretty music en Espanol.
• Stone Temple Pilots: Rocked it like it was 1994! They were LATE. About 20 minutes after their showtime, their tour bus pulled up to the stage. Sounded great though.
• Thee Emergency: Annoyingly weird.

Australia's Strange Fruit on Day 2

Today’s crowd was markedly different from the last two days. First off, it was SO PACKED. I felt like a sausage the whole time. And impossible to sit and enjoy the music… standing was required. We didn’t stay especially long because of it. We got to see Carina though, which was great.

Here’s what we saw today (Day 3):

• Bedouin Soundclash: Arrived at the end of this set. Too distracted by finding our way through crowd to listen.
• Cheb I Sabbah & 1002 Nights: I really enjoyed these guys, great world music beats.
• Old 97’s: Chilled in back with an elephant ear.
• Battles: Improv-style noise making.

The Blakes, ein Trio aus Seattle, wird derzeit allerorten als die Band gefeiert, die dem dahinsiechenden amerikanischen Alternative-Rock wieder neues Leben einhauchen könnte. Nicht zu Unrecht kürte der Zündfunk das jüngst erschienene, selbstbetitelte Debüt der Blakes zum Album der Woche. Mich persönlich haut der etwas simple, aber enorm eingängige Sound der Blakes zwar nicht unbedingt vom Hocker, aber trotzdem gehört das Trio für mich zu den besseren Newcomern des Jahres 2008.

Die hörenswerte Daytrotter-Session der Blakes (wie immer zum kostenlosen Download), die sich übrigens nach dem britischen Maler und Dichter William Blake benannten, kann ich jedem nur ans Herz legen. Ebenso das gelungene Video zu “Don´t Bother Me”.

I just came home from seeing my favorite Light in the Attic band play at Neumo’s in Capitol Hill. I definitely love the sound and their drummer Bob is freakin’ amazing. He plays like there’s no tomorrow and gets so into it you just want to rock out with him…you WISH you knew how to keep a beat. Anyway, they are great and here is one of my favorite songs from them called Two Times.

Stay tuned for my follow up on the Seattle Supersonics Super Sticky Situation. Here’s a teaser:

Sonics Trial Loser…

So Lollapaloolza is quickly approaching and even though its still 2 months away this highly anticipated concert fest sells quick and hotels go quicker.

Starting August 1-3 in Grant Park Chicago this musical, cultural community experience is a one of a kind sensory blowing must see adventure. Grant Park takes the center stage to host this massive event and provides the perfect atmosphere for this music extravaganza.

Due to the massiveness of this event tickets go fast and rooms go faster so its best to book early. I took the privilige of checking out a few places to recommend because lets face it, you were probably going to procrastinate, not get a room and end up sleeping in the Clarence Buckingham Fountain in the middle of grant Park. So without further hubba-baloo heres some good stays.

Hotel Allegro and a special deal (I love deals, especially during popular events)!
Price: $182 per night discounted from $260 for July 31st-August 3rd (sweet)
The Allegro is located a convenient 0.8 miles from Grant Park which is perfect for concert going and not having to deal with a the parking mess. A cheap cab ride or a brisk walk (or stumble) will get you where you need to be happily and safely.

Hotel Specs:
The lobby displays theatrical influences with bursts of ruby-red, burnt-orange and forest-green hues offset by granite grays and ocean blues underfoot. A baby grand piano is positioned next to a double-sided fireplace that anchors the lobby’s three-story staircase. The hotel’s 312 Chicago restaurant captures Old World charm with a menu dominated by family recipes that enrich contemporary Italian flavors. Encore is a lunch venue by day, but transforms into a liquid lounge with two bars by night. Cameo serves coffee, pastries and fresh fruit. The hotel hosts complimentary wine receptions every evening. Art Deco fixtures and oversized windows add interest to the hotel’s 14,000 square feet of function space. Wireless Internet access is complimentary throughout the hotel.

Guest rooms:
The 19-story Hotel Allegro Chicago offers 483 contemporary guestrooms decorated in royal blue, mocha-brown and silver-gray tones. Lights cast star-patterned shadows against sky-blue ceilings. Rooms include complimentary wireless Internet access, flat-screen televisions and MP3 adaptors. Bed design includes pillowtop mattresses draped with 300-thread count linens and white duvets. Suites boast jetted bathtubs and zebra-print bathrobes. Honor bars are fully stocked. The hotel offers yoga baskets upon request, and the Kimpton yoga channel broadcasts guided yoga sessions.

As an added little bonus, here is the 2008 line-up for you to take a gander at. And yes, its a big one!

Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Kanye West, Wilco, The Raconteurs, Louis XIV, Love and Rockets, Gnarls Barkley, Bloc Party, The Black Keys, Broken Social Scene, Lupe Fiasco, Flogging Molly, Mark Ronson, Cat Power, The National, G. Love & Special Sauce, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Explosions in the Sky, Brand New, Gogol Bordello, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Dierks Bentley, Okkervil River, Amadou & Mariam, Blues Traveler, John Butler Trio, Girl Talk, Your Vegas, CSS, Eli “Paperboy” Reed & the True Loves, Battles, Steel Train, Jamie Lidell, Bang Camaro, Butch Walker, The Blakes, Mates of State, Tally Hall, Spank Rock, White Lies, Brazilian Girls, Magic Wands, Chromeo, Electric Touch, Duffy, Innerpartysystem, The Kills, The Postelles, Rogue Wave, The Parlor Mob, The Go! Team, Bald Eagle, Mason Jennings, Krista, The Gutter Twins, Ha Ha Tonka, Yeasayer, Witchcraft, Grizzly Bear, We Go To 11, MGMT, Sofia Talvik ,The Weakerthans, Booka Shade, Santogold, Black Kids, Black Lips, Dr. Dog, Nicole Atkins & the Sea, The Ting Tings, Kid Sister, Office, The Cool Kids, What Made Milwaukee Famous, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, The Whigs, Manchester Orchestra, Foals, Uffie, The Octopus Project, Cadence Weapon, Ferras, De Novo Dahl, Noah and the Whale, Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s, K’NAAN, Serena Ryder, Newton Faulkner

Mercredi 19, c’était l’occasion de voir La Musicale en Tournée à Nantes. Soirée riche en découverte pour moi.

La première découverte, c’était La Carrière. Je n’y étais jamais allé mais j’ai été agréablement surpris par une salle facile d’accès, avec un parking et des vigiles pour aider à se garer et une salle de grande capacité (peut-être 800 personnes au moins) compte tenu de la taille de Nantes. Niveau son, dès le premier concert la différence avec le son de l’Olympic est falgrant, c’est clair, fort mais pas brouillon. Sinon, je m’étais déjà fait la remarque récemment mais j’y ai repensé mercredi soir, il y a a de plus en plus de jeunes aux concerts de rock, des centaines de mécheux qui faisaient passé les gens dans leur vingtaine pour des vieux.

La soirée débute avec Pete And The Pirates, un groupe plutôt influencé par Bloc Party. Ils n’étaient pas mauvais mais personnellement, les chansons de 2 minutes qui se ressemblent toutes avec une utilisation constante du chant à 2 m’a lassé assez rapidement. Un groupe qui n’a pas encore trouvé sa patte et qui n’a pas vraiment convaincu le public bien que celui-ci applaudissaient chaudement et poliment à chaque fin de chanson mais n’allant pas plus loin.

L’entrée de The Blakes est tout de suite plus énergique. Le trio à l’attitude me rappelant un peu Oasis débuta son set de manière energique, bougeant beaucoup sur scène, jouant avec le public et entretenait les clichés du rock avec la bière, la voix cassé et des solos de 2 notes sur-joués. Mais ca fait son effet et le groupe finira en pouvant se targuer d’avoir réveillé réellement un public qui semble fatigué en ce mercredi soir.

Il est vrai que la soirée avance peu à peu et le retard s’accumulant entre chaque set, il est bientôt 22h30 quand rentre sur scène The Kills, groupe complétement inconnu pour moi mais qui semble être très attendu. Tout le monde semble s’être réveillé à l’arrivée du duo composé de la chanteuse américaine junky Alison “VV” Mosshart et du guitariste anglais au balai dans le cul Jamie “Hotel” Hince (enfin je pense que c’est l’idée qu’ils essayent de dégager). Le style est avant-gardiste, conceptuel même, un mélange de riffs de guitare saccadés, de chants hasardeux et de bandes son éléctro. La salle a apprécié, moi je me suis clairement emmerdé (excusez-moi) et cela pendant les 1 heure et quelques de set. Une vraie déception pour moi.

Mais enfin arrivait Gossip, le groupe que j’attendais avec impatience de découvrir après autant de bonne critique entendue. Et je n’ai pas été déçu. La voix de la chanteuse à la Cindy Lauper, les riffs de guitares quasiment funky par moment et la batterie énergique ont remué la salle. La fin a même été plutôt chaotique avec la montée sur scène d’une quarantaine de personnes une première fois puis après un break, une remontée de tout le monde, cette fois-ci encouragée par la chanteuse elle-même. Je pensais au contraire qu’elle n’avait pas appréciée la première intrusion, commençant à chantonner quelque chose à propos des frimeur et autres personnes qui se nourissent du regard des autres (qui visait clairement ceux qui slammaient et s’éternisaient un peu trop au passage sur scène) mais elle finira le set dans le public, faisant chanter qui le voulait. Un concert réussi donc et qui m’a fait oublier les 3h précédentes ou j’ai piétiné debout un soir de semaine.

Pour conclure, je dirais que la soirée a réservé son lot de bonne surprise mais aussi de déception. Le break avant le set de The Kills a aussi été gaché par 2 cons trentenaire qui, non content, de puer la bière tiède et de se placer devant les gens en les poussant dans les premiers rangs, se sont permis de balancer leurs bières à moitié pleine dans le public dès que les lumières se sont éteintes après avoir passé les 15 minutes précédentes à crier zaza comme des porcs alors que le concert n’avait clairement pas débuté et que tout le monde se reposait avant la reprise. A noter que ces 2 même personnes ont passé leur temps à fumer, en tant que fumeur respectueux des salles de concerts et des non-fumeurs, cela m’a énervé au plus haut point.

Prochain concert : Alela Diane et Yaël Naïm à l’Olympic (sold out) le 1er Avril.

Along with it’s partner, REHAB, GAP has produced a series of videos that ask musicians to write a song based on a color (currently yellow, green, red, blue, and black & white). After the song is written film directors are then asked to create a video based equally on the color as the original song. Here is the result for yellow:

Going to the Sound of Color website provides loads of additional content, including artist interviews, bios, making of videos, along with interesting facts about each color (did you know the human eye can discern more shades of green than any other color?). The videos will run as advertising on music websites during the campaign which lasts 30 days starting on Feb. 15, so get to the website quick to see the videos. Currently you can download the 5 songs for free and after the 30-day time period the artists will retain all the rights to their original work.

Here is a rundown of the artists and colors that are a part of the campaign.

Red
Artist: DNTEL
Director: Mary Fagot and James Frost, Blip Boutique

Yellow
Artist: Marié Digby
Director: Ryan Ebner, HSI/The Valencia Company

Green
Artist: Swizz Beatz
Director: Tom Gatsoulis, Boxer

Blue
Artist: The Blakes
Director: Russ Lamoureux, Biscuit

Black & White
Artist: The Ravonettes
Director: Chris Do, Blind

Here is what the artists themselves had to say about the campaign:

“It’s a little weird to have a company like that asking, ‘Hey can you write a song about a color?’
The corporations are asking you to be creative, but this could be what we are looking at for the future of music, ya know?”

Garnet & Snow Keim, The Blakes

“As a band today you have to find different outlets for your music, so for us it’s a way to get our music out.”

Sharin Foo, The Ravonettes

“GAP to me is a great brand. In a way they are commissioning artists to just do their own thing.”

Chris Do, Blind

“I loved it, as a partner I felt they were furthering the creative process.”

Tom Gatsoulis, Boxer Films

“Thats when you really start to get the great stuff out of everybody when you give them the creative freedom to push forward the ideas. I wish more companies would take that risk, kudos to GAP for doing it.”

James Frost, Blip Boutique

I will be throwing in my two cents about this and two other online, artist supported campaigns, one for Adidas and another for Lakai. In the mean time here is some more info about the GAP Sound of Color campaign.

Further Reading:
PSFK

GAP Press Release

The Gap has tapped five musicians to pen a song based on an assigned hue, and to then team up with a director for their new online campaign. The collaboration between the Gap and producer Rehab will last until March 15th on the campaign’s official website, SoundofColor.com– and after? The artists will retain all rights of their songs to be used as they please.

I’ve still yet to see how this actually ties in with the retailer’s collection or clothes– as there really isn’t a direct correlation between the two. Still– it’s a clever way of trying to attempt an heretofore almost impossible to answer question.

Dntel’s “Turning Red”

Marie Digby’s “Paint Me in Your Sunshine”

Swizz Beatz’ “Candy Green”

The Blakes’ “Magic”

The Raveonettes’ “Black/White”

Yep… the lineup for the 2008 Sasquatch Music Festival has officially been announced and I nearly shit my pants, I kid you not. My only disappointment: There will be no Explosions in the Sky.

Now I just need to figure out which festival I’m going to attend, Sasquatch or All Points West?

My cost projection for 2008 seems to be the main predictor of what sorts of summer adventures I can feasibly conceive… so that may be the main PRO that sends me to Sasquatch town. Tickets are cheap.. $150.50 if I buy them very soon, and that is damn reasonable for a lineup like this one:

R.E.M., Modest Mouse, The Cure, Death Cab for Cutie, The Flaming Lips, Michael Franti and Spearhead, MIA, Built to Spill, The Presidents of the United States of America, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Tegan and Sara, Flight of the Conchords, Ozomatli, Blue Scholars, The Blakes, The Hives, The Kooks, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, The Cops, Cold War Kids, The New Pornographers, The National, Beirut, Rogue Wave, Dengue Fever, Fleet Foxes, The Breeders, Okkervil River, The Little Ones, Grand Archives, David Bazan, Joshua Morrison, Sera Cahoone, Throw the Statue, Crudo (featuring Mike Patton & Dan The Automator), Kinski, The Cave Singers, Battles, Destroyer, Jamie Liddell, Ghostland Observatory, Matt Costa, Pela, Awesome, White Rabbits, J. Tillman, The Heavenly States, 65 Days of Static, Mates of State, Say Hi, Vince Mira with the Roy Kay Trio, Dyme Def, Siberian, The Shaky Hands, Thao Nguyen with the Get Down Stay Dow

Now all I really have to do is figure out how Thao Nguyen really plans to “Get Down and Stay Down”… what a feat!!

Tickets go on sale March 8th.

And, here’s the initial artist line-up for Sasquatch! 2008:

R.E.M. / The Cure / The Flaming Lips U.F.O. Show / Death Cab For Cutie / Modest Mouse / M.I.A. / Flight Of The Conchords / Rodrigo Y Gabriela / Michael Franti & Spearhead / The Breeders / Built To Spill / The Hives / Tegan & Sara / The Presidents / Ghostland Observatory / Ozomatli / The New Pornographers / Blue Scholars / The National / The Kooks / Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks / Cold War Kids / Beirut / Rogue Wave / Okkervil River / Fleet Foxes / Kinski / Mates of State / Crudo (featuring Mike Patton & Dan The Automator) / Sera Cahoone / Battles / Destroyer / Dyme Def / The Blakes / Pela / Jamie Lidell / The Cops / Dengue Fever / Siberian / Say Hi / White Rabbits / David Bazan / The Little Ones / “Awesome” / Dead Confederate / The Heavenly States / 65daysofstatic / Grand Archives / Vince Mira with the Roy Kay Trio / Joshua Morrison / Throw Me The Statue / J. Tillman / Thao Nguyen with the Get Down Stay Down / The Cave Singers / Matt Costa / The Shaky Hands

Sasquatch! Website:

http://sasquatchfestival.com/2008/main.php?page=home