Dirty Projectors at Emo's

I'm sure there are lots of people who hate the new Emo's. After living in Austin for 6 years I've learned that everything that used to be is better than everything that is, people from L.A. are ruining Austin and Dallas is the most wretched place on earth...other than L.A.. Well, one of the (many) benefits of Emo's new location is how spacious it is. When Dirty Projectors played at the old Emo's location the show sold-out in a couple of days. Well, here we are only a day before they perform in the new space and there are still tickets available. This is a huge bonus, also after you buy tickets you'll be able to just drive and park AT THE VENUE! Imagine that? Just driving TO the place where you want to see the show and parking there?!?! It's like some sort of wet-dream fantasy!

In case you haven't been paying attention, Dirty Projectors released one of the best albums of the year a couple of weeks ago and tomorrow night's show is Austin's first chance to hear these songs performed live. Swing Lo Magellan picks up right where Bitte Orca left off, with African-rhythms, disconcerting boy-girl harmonies, soulful vocal performances and lyrics that make you go hmmmm. It is not as arresting as Bitte Orca was, simply because it further explores the same themes rather than blowing the doors open on a brand-new sound.


Dirty Projectors - Gun Has No Trigger video via YouTube

This is a bit of a side-bar but what do you think it says about me and/or the internet age that I just spent several minutes searching for a video newer than the Gun Has No Trigger video, which was only uploaded to YouTube a month ago? That's right, something a month old doesn't seem relevant enough to include in a blog post, even though the record that video promotes is only a couple of weeks old and that band is playing tomorrow. Le sigh.

No offense to Wye Oak who will be playing a support set at the Dirty Projectors show tomorrow night but I'm pretty disappointed that Purity Ring are not the support act. They have been on tour with Dirty Projectors on earlier dates this summer and I love them immensely. Wye Oak will certainly put on a solid set but it won't be the mind-blowing amazingness that is a live set from Purity Ring.

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Japandroids, Neon Indian + Randomness!

How do y'all feel about Japandroids? I feel like they're one of those bands that I really want to like simply because their name is so clever but I'm not completely sold on them yet. Sure, it's jangly and it's a little Strokes-ish but I haven't found a hook that gets stuck in my head yet. Perhaps it will take a live viewing to fully appreciate Japandroids. I find it's often best to wait until you can see a band perform their material before making a final judgement call. For those of you who aren't digging on the Dirty Projectors catch 'em live and THEN listen to the record again. Sorry, that came out of nowhere. If you want to see Japandroids they'll be playing at Emo's Thursday night and the tickets'll set you back a cool $8.


Japandroids - I Quit Girls video via YouTube

Free Mp3 courtesy of Polyvinyl Records, thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> Japandroids - Young Hearts Spark Fire

Oh, and since I referenced the Dirty Projectors above just wanted to remind you that they are coming back to Austin AGAIN later this month. So, if you missed them at SXSW, or at Red 7, or at ACL fest then you can still catch them at Antone's on the 26th. As of the writing of this post tickets are still available.

In a completely unrelated note, local artist Alan Palomo's, Neon Indian LP, Psychic Chasms is finally out today. He'll be performing with/as his Neon Indian project as well as his Vega project at FunFunFunFest! I don't know about you but I'm definitely going to get my dance on at F3Fest this year.

Free Mp3's courtesy of Lefse Records, thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer

Free Mp3 ---> Neon Indian - Terminally Chill

It feels like this Neon Indian jam has been out for awhile now but maybe you haven't heard it yet? I don't know.


Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer video via YouTube

I don't know about you, but I've been itching to hear the Psychic Chasms LP. See you at End of an Ear?

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Dirty Projectors Concert Review

I don't have any fancy pictures from the Dirty Projectors show last night at Red 7 but I do have my memories damn it! You may remember I was a bit concerned that the sound would suck ass at Red 7 and I'm very happy to report that it was actually mixed beautifully. The dude in the sounds cage of doom was even wearing noise-canceling headphones, which seems like...DUH, but I feel like I have never seen that before. Greg Ginn was in attendance, for those who don't know, he's a founding member of Black Flag and now he lives somewhere in the Taylor, TX region. Dave Longstreth jammed with Ginn during the opening slot and I must say it was pretty excruciating. But imagine you're a blues-rock style musician and you're trying to jam with Dave Longstreth, dude plays some really fucked up phrases and rhythms. It sounded messy, unfocused and almost completely unsyncopated/out of sync.

The Dirty Projectors themselves, while still noodly and weird were amazing, as expected. I saw them at a Pitchfork day party during SXSW, they only played for 35 minutes and I was immediatly in love. Seeing a full set with songs from three + records was very nice. Ginn was invited back on stage to perform a few Black Flag songs and that went much better than the opening "jam". It's hard to pick out specific highlights because so much of the set was a highlight for me. It was really nice to hear Rise Above as well as Knotty Pine, which was a great closing number. I'd say Cannibal Resource or Temecula were the songs that most captured the crowd's energy. So many familiar Austin characters in the crowd last night, including Austin's own Octopus Project.


Dirty Projectors - Cannibal Resource video via YouTube

Finally summary after the jump...

My final summation of the show, I would say out of 5 stars I would give the venue it self 3.75 stars, the sound/sound mixing 4 stars and the performance 4.25 stars. I'm discounting stars on the performance for subjecting us to that God-awful opening jam. I didn't mention before that after the opening jam someone very clearly yelled, "Play Dirty Projectors!"


Dirty Projectors - Stillness is the Move video via YouTube

Dave chuckled and turned to the mic saying, "We'll be back in a few minutes to play Dirty Projectors". The venue loses points simply because it's a dive and I'm not going to give a walled in parking lot 5 stars. I think it would be bad ass if they built a deck above the bar outside and made it a VIP area. More venues need some form of tiered viewing area. I'm 6'2" so I can pretty much always see but I always feel bad for the all of the tiny hipsters who spend most of the show trying to catch a glimpse of the artist on stage. The Mohawk has many tiers but at a sold-out show I'd say less than half the people in attendance can clearly see the stage. Seeing wouldn't be a big deal if people could STFU long enough for everyone to hear the performance. Last night wasn't too bad as far as the chatty-Cathy's go but every time I see a show at Stubb's I want to smash people's heads. Why pay $30+ to talk over the performance, especially when you're just talking about the dumbest shit on Earth anyway. If it's THAT important text each other!

Don't forget people the next really buzzy, don't miss show, that WILL sell-out is Bat For Lashes at the Parish next month look at the previous posts for a ticket link. I want to see you all there...weeping like little babies.

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Dirty Projectors at Red 7?

I've got to give props to the folks over at Transmission Entertainment they've certainly managed to hold their own in this city full of C3 Presents venues and events. I must say though, I am somewhat disappointed that Transmission booked the Dirty Projectors. Why is that, you may ask? Mostly it's just because I'd much rather see Dirty Projectors at the Parish room than at Red 7. When I saw that DP was coming back to Austin I was ridiculously excited, then I saw they were playing at Red 7 and I wept openly. Not really, but come on a punk/metal venue? The sound system there has GOT to be fried as bad or worse than the sound system at Emo's.

Basically, instead of hearing intricate harmonies matched up with African bass lines we'll hear a muddy soup of low-end sounds with some faint whispering. Maybe I'm just being fatalistic but I hope this message reached transmission and they consider either making sure the sound at Red 7 is tweeked to suite a band that isn't pure noise or maybe have them play a different venue. Like, gee, I don't know how about the damn Radio Room? I really love Transmission I'm just more of a bitch on Sundays you know?


Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move video via YouTube

Free Mp3 courtesy of SXSW.com, thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> Dirty Projectors - Rise Above

Did y'all even know Dirty Projectors were playing here next month? I just found out last night, it's not even on the band's MySpace yet. I almost didn't want to tell y'all yet, but I just bought my ticket before I started writing this, so it's safe to divulge to the public.


Dirty Projectors - Remade Horizon video via YouTube

I'm thinking the whole Red 7 thing is mainly because Transmission had already booked, the legendary, Tortoise at the Mohawk so when they booked Dirty Projectors they just stuck 'em in their next best venue. Actually they're calling the DP show a "Tortoise after-show", which is somewhat insulting.

I don't know why I'm freaking out about this. The first time I saw DP was at Emo's inside and I think anyone can attest to the shittiness of that sound system. Do you see how Austin City Limits TV has turned me into such a sound snob?!? But seriously I can't be the only one in this city who is sick of bad sound mixing. I want to hear the bass lines as seperate notes, is that too much to ask? I want to understand the lyrics/be able to hear the vocals in the mix. Who has to get an HJ for these things to happen?


Dirty Projectors - Rise Above video via YouTube

Alright, alright Sunday rant is officially over. Did y'all have a good weekend? Did you see St. Vincent, Sunset Rubdown, Harlem, the Meat Puppets? All of the above? Or did you chill out with Netflix/your DVR and smoke herb instead of leaving the house?

Oh, and for the record, it's REALLY hard to find videos for Dirty Projectors they don't seem to have any "official" music videos. I smell a fan video project in the works...hopefully.

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Free Dirty Projectors Music

Yesterday, I told you all about how seeing Dirty Projectors in concert was one of my favorite moments at SXSW '09. Today I'm going to give you all kinds of FREE Dirty Projectors music.

Firstly I want to point you to the NPR page, where you can hear the same setlist I heard from the Dirty Projectors. It's all songs from their upcoming Domino Records release, Bitte Orca.

Before Domino Records, you could get your DP fix from Western Vinyl, which is where I got these Mp3's. Thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> Dirty Projectors - No More
Free Mp3 ---> Dirty Projectors - Naked We Made It
Free Mp3 ---> Dirty Projectors - Throw On the Hazard Lights
Free Mp3 ---> Dirty Projectors - Jolly, Jolly, Jolly Ego
Free Mp3 ---> Dirty Projectors - Hyperballad


Dirty Projectors - The Getty Address (Trailer) video via YouTube

Back in '05 Dirty Projectors released this "concept album" about Don Henley and ancient Mexico? Or Something? It's called, The Getty Address and you can read all about it on its Wikipedia entry, but it has all of these trippy videos that go with it:


Dirty Projectors - I Sit On the Ridge At Dusk video via YouTube


Dirty Projectors - I Will Truck video via YouTube


Dirty Projectors - D. Henley's Dream video via YouTube


Dirty Projectors - Gift Gold Scabs video via YouTube


Dirty Projectors - Ponds & Puddles video via YouTube


Dirty Projectors - Time Birthed Spilled Blood video via YouTube

Here's something a bit more contemporary. Dirty Projectors collaborated with David Byrne on the Red Hot Compilation Dark was the Night.


Dirty Projectors - Knotty Pine video via YouTube

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SXSW '09 Redux

Well dear reader, I'm sure you were expecting more posts regarding SXSW as it was happening. But seriously there is like NO time for all that during the festival. I don't know how the heck Perez Hilton can be bicycling around Austin and still keeping up with Celebublogging. I needed a day or two to decompress after the festival. But here is my highlights/awards post, yeah!!

First let me give out some marketing awards. SXSW is all about marketing your product to the hipster masses. I think Astralwerks records wins most clever marketing with their MicroSD card sampler. I like the idea of a sampler I could swallow if I had to. Most unexpected marketing is a tie between Pop Tarts and Cup O'Noodle soups, both of which were available at the Mohawk. Who's eating Cup O'Noodle at a SXSW day party?

More awards and video after the jump...


The award for my favorite performance by a band or artist I had previous knowledge of goes to, the Dirty Projectors. Their performance at the Pitchfork party at Emo's was totally entrancing. I absolutely loved everything about it, the only problem was the set was SO short I think they only played 4 or 5 songs.


Dirty Projectors - A Take-Away Show video via YouTube

The award for favorite performance by a band I had never heard of goes to Francis & the Lights. They were so fun, I felt like I was at an 80's prom. Honorable mention goes to a completely different sort of musical performance by, the Wheel. They were so honest and raw, intimate and such it was like the complete opposite performance style but was equally entertaining.


Francis & the Lights - The Top video via YouTube


The Wheel - Hanging Surrender video via YouTube

The award for worst kept secret performance is a three-way tie this year! Jane's Addiction, Kanye West, and Metallica all showed up to do some not-so-secret performances. I will give Kanye a special nod for keeping Common's appearance a secret though.


Jane's Addiction - Rock the Rabbit '09 Ultra8201.com video via YouTube


Kanye, Common, Badu - The Light video via YouTube

The award for artists I'm kind of pissed that I missed goes to: Passion Pit, Beach House, White Lies and Grizzly Bear. The award for band I'm pissed that I DID see because they were such arrogant assholes goes to...Glasvegas.


Beach House - Gila video via YouTube


Passion Pit - Sleepyhead video via YouTube

Glasvegas literally said, "We don't care about the people, we have enough fans." That was about the point I left. They suck, don't buy the record, steal it from BitTorrent and burn copies for everyone you know. After all they have enough fans.


Glasvegas - It's My Own Cheating Heart video via YouTube

The award for most talked about party...hmmm, this one is tough to call. I'd say the Fader Fort, Rock the Rabbit, One Night with Perez, and the Red Bull moon towers were all equally hyped. Personally I only attended the Rock the Rabbit and Fader parties and I liked the Fader one more...sorry Playboy. Rock the Rabbit was just too effing loud, you try networking when Calvin Harris is spinning some HEAVY Drum 'n Bass with the amps on 11. I'm talking ears bleeding loud. Fer realz.

Well I think I've given out all the awards I had intended to, so here's a list of the artists I had the opportunity to see for free at SXSW '09...not necessarily in order but pretty much chronologically:

Little Boots,
New Villager,
the Wheel,
the Donkeys,
School of 7 Bells,
Glasvegas,
Francis & The Lights,
Late of the Pier,
Max Tundra,
the Pains of Being Pure at Heart,
Woods,
Wavves,
the Dirty Projectors,
King Khan & the Shrines,
Department of Eagles,
Harlem,
Jason Lytle,
Vivian Girls,
the Grates,
Cursive,
Bun B,
Jadakiss,
Kanye West,
Consequence,
GLC,
Farnsworth Bentley,
Kid Cudi,
Common,
Erykah Badu,
Mr. Hudson,
Tony Williams,
Big Shine (sp?),
Jane's Addiction,
Calvin Harris,
A-Trak,
Bassnectar

I really feel like I might be missing a name or two but I tried to keep a running list throughout the week and that was it.

If you would like a more play by play approach to my SXSW '09 experience. I suggest you peep my Twitter 'cause I was all over the Tweets last week.

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SXSW '09 Thu Day Parties

Little Boots - Stuck on Repeat video from hours ago via YouTube

Alright, so I pretty much missed most of yesterday since I had to go to San Antonio to get some friends. I did manage to get pack in Austin just in time to zip over to the new Fader Fort just in time for Little Boots. I saw Grizzly Bear there as well as the dudes from No Age. A good time was had by all. So let's focus on today. Obviously tonight is my big break at the Rock the Rabbit party. But there are about 15 parties I want to highlight for y'all and you'll find them after the jump...

Ian McLagan (6pm), Howe Gelb (of Giant Sand, 5pm), Jason Isbell (4pm), Raul Malo
(3pm), Department of Eagles (2pm), Justin Townes Earl at Waterloo Records [free]


Department of Eagles - No One Does it Like You video via YouTube

Birds Barbershop presents Space Camp
Nasa (5pm), Cut Off Your Hands (4pm), King Khan and the Shrines (3pm),
Busdriver (2pm) at Bird’s Barbershop East (1107 E. 6th St.) [outside]
Say Hi (6pm), Magnificent 7 (4pm), Amplive (3pm), Jason Hammel (Mates of State,
2pm), special guest (1pm), Prince Klassen at Bird’s Barbershop East (1107 E. 6th
St.) [DJ sets, inside]


King Khan & the Shrines - Welfare Bread video via YouTube

KVRX presents
Mika Miko, Blank Dogs, Nite Jewel, Manhattan Love Suicides, The Mae Shi,
Garotas Suecas, The Splinters at Okay Mountain Gallery (1312 E. Cesar Chavez,
Ste. B (at Navasota))


Mika Miko - Capricornications video via YouTube

Bull Moose & Covert Curiosity present
HEALTH (Los Angeles), Hacienda (San Antonio), The Strange Boys (Austin), Ume
(Austin), Golden Triangle, Shapes Have Fangs (Austin), Garotas Suecas (Brazil) at
the Aces Lounge (6th and San Jacinto) [21+ free with RSVP, under 21 $10]


HEALTH - Crimewave video via YouTube

Gorilla Vs. Bear presents Gorilla vs Booze III
Vivian Girls, White Denim, Wavves, The Golden Filter, Girls, Here We Go Magic,
Harlem, DJ Sober at the Peacock [free, free beer, 21+]


Here We Go Magic - Fangella video via YouTube

Little Radio presents
Port O’Brien (5:20pm), Loch Lomond (4:50pm), Viva Voce (4:20pm), Runspringa
(3:50pm), Alberta Cross (3:20pm), Adam Freeland (2:50pm), Afternoons (2:20pm),
Imaad Wasif (1:50pm), J Tillman (1:20pm), All Star Austin Super Bloody Mary
Jam hosted by Jack G from Tenlons Fort (12:30pm) at the Red Eyed Fly [free, free
bloody marys and beer]


Viva Voce - We Do Not F*ck Around video via YouTube

Paste Magazine/Brooklyn Vegan party
Passion Pit (5:15pm), The Avett Brothers (4pm), The Wrens (3pm), Daniel Johnston
backed by Hymns (2:15pm), Bishop Allen (1:30pm), The Pains of Being Pure at
Heart (12:45pm), The Donkeys (noon) at Radio Room (508 E. 6th St.) [stage 1]


Daniel Johnston - True Love Will Find You In The End video via YouTube

Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down (4:30pm), Cursive (3:30pm), These
Arms are Snakes (2:45pm), Au Revoir Simone (2pm), New Villager (1:15pm), TBA
(12:30pm) at Radio Room (508 E. 6th St.) [stage 2, RSVP]


Au Revoir Simone - Fallen Snow video via YouTube

Music by the Slice 2009
Dead Confederate (6:45pm), The Morning Benders (6pm), Kenan Bell (5:15pm),
The Spinto Band (4:30pm), Animal Farm ft. Serge Severe and Mic Crenshaw
(3:45pm), Marching Band (3pm), Jeremy Messersmith (2:15pm), Illinois (1:30pm),
The Low Anthem (12:45pm), Mason Proper (noon) at Home Slice Pizza (1415 S.
Congress Ave.) [outside stage, free]


Dead Confederate - The Rat video via YouTube

Hollywood Gossip (12:30, 1:15, 2:00), Snake and Jet’s Amazing Bullit Band (2:45,
3:30, 4:15), Little Stolen Moments (5:00, 5:45, 6:30) at Home Slice Pizza (1415 S.
Congress Ave.) [house stage, free]

NPR Music presents
Blitzen Trapper, Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down, K’NAAN, Dirty
Projectors, BLK JKS, Blind Pilot at the Parish [starts at 12:30pm, free]


Dirty Projectors - Rise Above video via YouTube

Filter Magazine’s Showdown at Cedar Street
Idle Warship (5pm), Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears (4pm), Annuals (3:15pm),
Great Northern (2:30pm), Other Lives (1:45pm), Hockey (1pm), Zee Avi (12:15pm)
at Cedar Street (208 W. 4th) [free, free BBQ noon-1pm


Black Joe Lewis & the Honey Bears - Sugarfoot video via YouTube

The Levi’s/Fader Fort
The Warlocks (8:30pm), Tricky (7:30pm), Lissy Trullie (6:45pm), Late of the Pier
(6pm), Francis & the Lights, (5:15pm), The Hot Melts (4:30pm), Amazing Baby
(3:45pm), Janelle Monae (3pm), Handsome Furs (2:15pm), Natalie Portman’s
Shaved Head (1:30pm), DJs Disco Shawn and Oro 11 (Bersa Discos), Jokers of the
Scene, DJ Diabetic, Egg Foo Young aka Michna at The Levi’s/Fader Fort (1101 E.
5th St.)


Tricky - Council Estate video via YouTube

Rhapsody Rocks
And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Glasvegas, School of Seven bells,
Vivian Girls, Wavves, DJ Small Change at the Mohawk [free, 21+]


...and You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - Another Morning Stoner video via YouTube

My Old Kentucky Blog and Aquarium Drunkard present Vaya Con Tacos
The Rosebuds (7:30pm), Eli Paperboy Reed and The True Loves (7pm), J. Tillman
(6:30pm), Le Switch (6pm), The Grates (5:30pm), Henry Clay People (5pm),Megafaun (4:30pm), Dark Meat (4pm), Those Darlins (3:30pm), Port O’Brien
(3pm), Reverend Payton’s Big Damn Band (2:30pm), Roadside Graves (2pm),
NewVillager (1:30pm), The Bones Royal (1pm) at Peckerheads (402 E. 6th St.)


The Grates - Aw Yeah video via YouTube

NavdøøGo Entertainment/Obscure Magpie Music present a Fourteen Hour Party
Dead Confederate (midnight), The Warlocks (11pm), Transfer (9:45pm), Model UN
(8:15pm), The Shys (7:15pm), Spindrift (6pm), Yearbook Pictures (5pm), Geron
Hoy (4pm), Halloween Town (3pm), Crash Encore (2pm), The Calm Blue Sea (1pm),
Holy Rolling Empire (noon) at The Compound (1300 E. 4th St.) [Stage 1]

Shivers (10:30pm), Apes of Wrath (9pm), Danny Malone (7:45pm), Murdocks
(6:45pm), Golden Bear (4:30pm), The Authors (3:30pm), Tom Schraeder (2:30pm),
The Always Already (1:30pm), Not in the Face (12:30pm) at The Compound (1300
E. 4th St.) [Stage 2]

Found Magazine and Quackmedia Present
The Hold Steady, Lucero, No Age, The Hard Lessons, The Tallest Man on Earth,
Great Lakes Myth Society, Javelins, Human Highway, Adam Stephens (from Two
Gallants) at Red 7


the Hold Steady - Stay Positive video via YouTube

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