We all know that a Flaming Lips show is a guaranteed good time. Anytime an artist encourages their audience to dress in odd costumes, make animal sounds and smoke weed in a public venue, we’re pretty sure it’s going to be really fun…or get us arrested. Maybe both. Such was the case with Wayne Coyne and his merry men last night as they played a raucous four song set at the Nike Montalban theatre. The short set was part of...
While some bands seem to be clinging to days past, trying recapture what they once were, Pet Shop Boys take a decidedly different approach…consistency. For nearly 30 years, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have stayed true to their ways and continue to be the ambassadors for Euro-disco and dance music. Playing the first of two nights of their 2009 Pandemonium tour in San Francisco, PSB’s adoring fans were treated to a creative and theatrical stage show, a half-dozen wardrobe changes...
Historically, the nature of the remix album has always been bound by a surprisingly rigid set of guidelines in spite of boasting a relatively free-form design. Usually, the tracks that comprise a remix set break down very simply: see band's original song, see producer and his big bag of tricks, see producer apply contents of said bag to the song in question while carefully striking a balance that enhances or alters the base track and makes it sound obviously different,...
Historically, the nature of the remix album has always been bound by a surprisingly rigid set of guidelines in spite of boasting a relatively free-form design. Usually, the tracks that comprise a remix set break down very simply: see band's original song, see producer and his big bag of tricks, see producer apply contents of said bag to the song in question while carefully striking a balance that enhances or alters the base track and makes it sound obviously different,...
Oh, Philadelphia. Why must you charm me so? I live in the desolate farmland of central Pennsylvania where very little happens but, for some reason, I can always count on Philadelphia to inject some much needed excitement into my hourly/daily/weekly routine. Sure, Philadelphia missteps on occasion (sadly, they DID host a World Naked Bike Ride earlier this month), but I’m willing to forgive. After all, if I want to experience the wonders of genetic abnormalities, purchase copious amounts of records...
Everyone loves a homecoming. After signing on with Fat Wreck Chords for the release of Dead FM in 2006 and seeing just how poppy and conventional they could make their caustic blend of street punk and hardcore, Iron Front marks a glorious return for Strike Anywhere to a sound, method of operation and songwriting (in order: harder edged on a smaller label with politics and social concerns at the forefront) that might not qualify as a comfort zone for most,...
As unpredictable as so many rock and pop musicians like to view themselves, truly gifted are the ones that can honestly and truly knock listeners for a loop by utterly altering the course of their musical path and do it in such a way that listeners don't think twice when they're asked to follow along. Bob Dylan caused riots when he went electric; he had won a dedicated following in folk audiences as well as attracting new listeners to the...
Sometimes just the announcement of a release can generate excitement because those that know the connotations of the announcement understand that whatever's coming will be something to behold. Such was the case when Gogol Bordello announced that it would be putting out a new live DVD (the follow-up to 2008's Gogol Bordello Non-Stop) with a companion CD of curiosities this year. Since forming on the Lower East Side of New York in 1999, Gogol Bordello has amassed an enormous and...
While there are some side project efforts that leave even devout fans wondering how well the results are going to turn out, some are going to be great and that fact is no secret to anyone – it's just a no-brainer, and the debut from Mexican Chili Taco Fiesta is one that falls into that latter category. For his step out from his main squeeze, Los Straitjackets, Dan “Daddy-O Grande” Amis assembled a crack team of like-minded musical maniacs including...
Isn't it incredible when an underground band suddenly draws both positive attention and praise? The effect of such an event is always different – some bands don't care and simply continue to plow the path they've set for themselves, and some feel compelled to answer their success by altering their practices to “better reflect” the new level they've achieved – but it's impossible to ignore the new landscape that success opens up. Islands' third album (second for ANTI–) instantly dives...