Written by hKWAP on Tuesday, 30 of June , 2009 at 9:09 pm
For any other band, it’d be unreasonable to say you want to be the first band to play on the moon, but for us, it only seems natural.
-Battlehooch
Just wanted to fill any of our readers who didn’t make it to the show in about the events which transpired that fateful Friday evening. That was unnecessarily foreboding. In reality, it was pretty swell. The bands were great for the most part. To me, the clear standout was the SF Zappa injected Man Man esq Battlehooch. They ignited the venue with their reckless energy, fantastic showmanship, fur coated Spongebob van, theremin playing, and a particularly incredible mustache (those who were there know exactly what I’m talking about). They seemed genuinely ecstatic to be playing and were extremely appreciative. After their set, members could we seen doing interpretive dance, and scaling the wooden pillars in the warehouse, still clad in their eccentric concert attire. The other acts were great including a Kavinsky/Beverly Hills cop reminiscent set by D.A.D, a gritty, garage rock set by the Beijing Blondes, a lively set by Fol Chen, and even a frustratedly distorted set by Nite Jewel. Anyhow, thanks to the bands and all the the people who made the trek downtown to take part in this incredible community arts event and expect more Tape Shows at the PDG in the very near future. Pictures and video should be up shortly and as the Cobrasnake was, for better, for worse, in attendance you might be able to find some Tape Show “party pics” over at his venerable webpage.
Now, to satisfy the other part of my posting agenda-a venue review. The PDG Performance warehouse is tucked away in the dingy warehouse ridden area of downtown L.A. Yet, despite it’s less that gentrified location, the space is one of the most versatile and promising DIY performance spaces I have seen. I feel the word warehouse implies a cavernous, unadorned, and asthetically displeasing space. The PGD space is anything but that. The venue is spacious enough but at the same time intimate. The artists perform at the level of the audience creating a more personal and less segregated feel, and available bench seating allows for a vast array of seating/standing arrangements. Side rooms host art galleries and office space making the space seem like a sheek, industrial loft, rather than a soulless concrete cave. The warehouse is aimed at being a haven for community arts: supporting local musicians and exposing the underrated, undiscovered, and yet undefined. Any band or promoter who is looking to put on a show in an utterly unique and exciting new space should contact the PDG and join the ever growing scene of artists and musicians working to create an artistic community in Downtown.
Written by hKWAP on Tuesday, 30 of June , 2009 at 8:05 pm
We recently received the debut single from Civil Civic, a little known but immensely talented British electro-pop outfit. Their style seems to be in the vein of fellows UK dwellers, Late Of The Pier, yet with a more reckless and noisy approach. The single Less Unless also harkens to the heavily manipulated guitar driven style of Ratatat, again with less shine and more distorted wash(ala Wavves). For more info, here’s the cleverly formatted press release that we were sent…
WHAT THE?
Less Unless – the début single from CIVIL CIVIC
WHO THE?
CIVIL CIVIC is a band comprising two seasoned musician/producers, Ben Green (mostly Bass/Noises) and Aaron Cupples (mostly Guitar/Noises), and a brattish drum machine (Drums/sometimes Noises).
As producers, Ben and Aaron have worked separately with a diversity of acts, from Kool Keith to The Drones.
As musicians, Ben and Aaron have both performed separately in various bands in the beer soaked Melbourne band scene.
Most recently, Aaron played guitar for Dan Kelly & the Alpha Males and Ben played guitar for Legends of Motorsport. They have both also engaged in other electronic, more experimental endeavours.
Despite sharing such a similar background, Ben and Aaron had not even met, let alone worked together, before CIVIL CIVIC. Probably because…
WHERE THE?
Ben now drinks his beer under sunglasses in old city Barcelona, while Aaron dons his hoodie in the ‘Grime’ heartland of East London.
It is hard to say where a band that has never performed in Australia consisting of two Australians who live in two different European countries is from. I can’t help out with that one, sorry.
WHY THE?
Upon finding himself immersed in producing albums for other artists, and doing very little of the ‘driving around in vans trying to find venues, setting up a bewildering array of effects pedals, and then bemusing people from stage’, Aaron reached out to Ben and proposed CIVIL CIVIC. As good a reason as any to get out of the studio and back on the road to narcissistic public performance and certain poverty.
Ben concurred with a resounding “Fuck yeah!”
HOW THE?
To further childishly rebel against their studio habits, it was a condition of CIVIL CIVIC that it be in no way a forum to advertise their production capabilities and awesome sonic dexterity (!).
Not completely trusting themselves with this task, CIVIL CIVIC took the precaution to record and release their debut EP on old stock cassette tapes. Taking full comfort in the oxymoron that is the ‘HI-FI Cassette’.
WHEN THE?
Immediately! For release this very second! Less Unless, the debut single. For now only available via MP3 download via savvy purveyors that wish to spread the news.
An EP with Less Unless and 4 other songs will be released later this year on a strictly limited run of 100 screen printed, vintage reel-to-reel style cassettes, in 5 different colours! (to cater for all personalities!)
OK.
Ta. For any more info, don’t hesitate to drop the boys some text via: mail@civilcivic.com
Written by willshoob on Monday, 29 of June , 2009 at 5:55 pm
The Brooklyn group is hitting the road this summer to support their latest album, Saint Dymphna. Check out tour dates and an mp3 from the album below.
Tour dates:
August 2nd at Pearl Street Nightclub in Northampton, MA
August 3rd at Bug Jar in Rochester, NY (with Hex Message)
August 4th at Kung Fu Necktie in Philadelphia, PA (with Hex Message)
August 5th at Ottobar in Baltimore, MD
August 6th at Circus in Columbus, OH (with Hex Message)
August 7th at Magic Stick in Detroit, MI (with Hex Message)
August 9th at Lollapalooza in Chicago, IL
August 28th at Troubadour in Los Angeles, CA
August 30th at Rickshaw Shop in San Francisco, CA
September 2nd at Depot in Arcata, CA (with Extra Golden)
September 3rd at The Works at Washington High School in Portland, OR
September 4th at Biltmore Cabaret in Vancouver, BC
September 5th at Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle, WA
Written by willshoob on Monday, 29 of June , 2009 at 10:08 am
Here’s a video for one of my favorite songs off of one of my favorite albums of 2009. The video was directed by Pete Ohs, who has previously worked with The Arcade Fire, The Unicorns, Fiery Furnaces, and Au Revoir Simone. Enjoy!
Written by hKWAP on Friday, 26 of June , 2009 at 11:07 am
Just another reminder. Yours truly are putting on a show at the PGD warehouse this evening showcasing some of Los Angeles’ best local acts (see above for lineup). The venue in an incredible up and coming DIY space located at 2485 Hunter Street, right off the 10 Freeway. Tickets are $10 at the door so bring all of your buddies and help support some incredible local music, a great new venue, and of course everyone’s favorite blog- The Tape! Also, I’ve been informed there is ample (and free) parking opportunities right next to the venue.
HERE’S a map and don’t forget to enter our ticket giveaway for a chance to receive a pair of free tickets to the show…
Written by willshoob on Friday, 26 of June , 2009 at 10:33 am
A new video by Phil and the Osophers for “We Have All Summer”. We do have all summer, but start it off with a bang by coming to our show tonight, it’s going to be a lot of fun. Anyways, the band has a new LP coming out August 4th, entitled Parallelo. Tracklist, video, and mp3 below. Enjoy!
Tracklisting
1. Uses of A Man
2. Extra Weight
3. We Have All Summer
4. Mayan Calendar
5. Cheap Livin
6. Staring Down The Sun
7. Creators
8. Milestones
9. Pineapple
10. Propeller Jet
11. Well Being
Written by pistachionut on Thursday, 25 of June , 2009 at 3:10 pm
So this Friday, come down to the PDG Performance warehouse in Downtown (2485 Hunter Street, right off the 10 Freeway) and see Fol Chen, Nite Jewel, Battlehooch, D.A.D and the Beijing Blondes for $10. Because we love all of our readers so much, we’re gonna run a giveaway for a pair of tickets. If you want to enter, just sent an email with the subject PDG CONTEST and a winner will be picked at random on the day of the show. We’ll add you to the guestlist. It’s gonna be a fabulous show at a fabulous venue, and we’re looking forward to seeing you all there.
Written by willshoob on Thursday, 25 of June , 2009 at 2:09 pm
Everyone’s favorite indie rap duo have announced some summer tour dates. They’re combining the last two albums; the reissued God Loves Ugly, and their most recent album: When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, to create the When God Gives You Ugly tour. The tour will be stopping in most major cities. Check out the tour dates and the Tunde Adebimpe produced “Your Glass House” below.
** Thu 23-Jul Detroit Lakes, MN @ 10,000 Lakes Festival
Sun 26-Jul Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls
* Mon 27-Jul New York, NY @ Webster Hall
Tue 28-Jul Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
Thu 30-Jul Orlando, FL @ Firestone
Fri 31-Jul Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
Sat 1-Aug St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theater
Sun 2-Aug New Orleans, LA @ House Of Blues
Tue 4-Aug Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
Wed 5-Aug Austin, TX @ Stubbs
Thu 6-Aug Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues
Fri 7-Aug Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont
** Sat 8-Aug Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
Mon 10-Aug Sioux Falls, SD @ Nutty’s Outside Theater
Tue 11-Aug Des Moines, IA @ Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater
Wed 12-Aug Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion
Fri 14-Aug Denver, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Sat 15-Aug Santa Fe, NM @ Paolo Soleri
Sun 16-Aug El Paso, TX @ Club 101
Tue 18-Aug Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues
* Wed 19-Aug Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium
Fri 21-Aug San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues
** Sun 30-Aug San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Festival * w/out Eyedea & Abilities
* with out Eyedea & Abilities
** with out Attracted to Gods & Eyedea & Abilities
Written by willshoob on Wednesday, 24 of June , 2009 at 6:12 pm
A picture from their sold out Roxy show.
Our big homies, Super Mash Bros. just finished up their second album, All About The Scrillions. They had their CD release party last night at The Roxy, which they calmly sold out. The future of mash-ups are in their hands. They fuck shit up, and in a good way. These guys shouldn’t even be compared to girl talk anymore. They don’t need overly-done technical mash ups to crank out bangers and get the booties shakin’. That and they don’t wear sweat pants, which immediately gives them more cred. When I talked to Fenmore (1/2 Super Mash) about the album, he simply said: “2009 champs, ’nuff said”. He then gave me one of those winks. <3 u, Fenmore. Here's the tracklist, the download link, and a few of the tracks. Enjoy, kids.
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