Before now I had taken Marilyn Manson’s shock factor for granted. I had heard so many stories about him getting arrested for lewd acts on stage, there were pictures of him burning bibles and false rumors that he broke kittens’ necks during concerts. Because I had grown used to hearing these shock stories, it all seemed so commonplace that I didn’t think people cared anymore. In my mind, those who supported him either loved his shock factor or were unfazed...
John Vanderslice is a small man (stature-wise). He’s not particularly short, it’s more like he’s compact, with no wasted space. Like the buffalo/Indian relationship, every part of John Vanderslice is usable by John Vanderslice. It’s extremely apparent in his music. There’s a deliberateness that reaches far beyond even the most focused recording impresario, the kind of deliberateness that only a man who owns his own (well-respected) studio can afford. *** “On Cellar Door, we wanted to make a distorted...
Saturday night, Satan’s minions descended on the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater to hear what can only be described as the house band for hell, Slayer. For more than twenty years, seeing this band live has eluded me despite owning most of their catalogue and measuring every metal band’s worth against the piece of perfection they released in 1986, Reign in Blood. As we drove into the venue last night, speculation was running high on what the crowd would be like knowing...
It seems as if Indie Rockers the Decemberists never stop working. Since there formation a mere five years ago in 2002, they have put out nearly as many full lengths (as many if you count the phenomenal “Tain EP”), they have performed orchestral renditions of their songs alongside the likes of the LA Philharmonic, and have embarked on more tours in this short period of time than any band that comes to mind. Of course, once again, the Decemberists will...
A few years ago when I was DJing clubs that weren’t clubs really, but people standing around listening to dance music, I probably had The Faint in every one of my sets—at least one song. In 2004 that was pretty much all you needed to get the party started. I ended up hearing about Broken Spindles and would drop some of those jams as well. Then there was Bright Eyes, Now It’s Overhead, Ladyfinger (NE), Cursive, etc. I thought it...
As L.A.'s own Cary Brothers made his way back home to play his final show of a 35-date U.S. tour, he was greeted with familiar and unfamiliar faces who all adored him equally. Ground Control caught last night's shows and got some photos of Cary's band and openers Stars of Track and Field, who toured side by side for the past six weeks. Who Are You is out now on Procrastination Music More about Cary Brothers: www.carybrothers.com More about Stars...
Three years after 2004’s Uh Huh Her, PJ Harvey is coming back with the release of a brand new album, White Chalk. Produced by two legendaries, Flood and John Perish, the album is being described by the NME as "Sparse sounds, spine-tingling pianos and vocals that bring a tear to the eye-in a good way," White Chalk is a departure from previous PJ Harvey studio albums in that it was written on piano and does not feature her trademark electric...
A full year after their Oklahoma hometown show, the Flaming Lips are finally releasing their first ever live DVD, U.F.O.’s at the Zoo: The Legendary Concert in Oklahoma City. This is big news. For those of you who have never had the euphoric pleasure of seeing this band play, it is by far the most phenomenal show you will ever witness. I’m talking ever single theatric you could possibly think of…and all that coupled with the band’s incredible sonic ability…it...
The term “thinking man’s rock”—or some variation of it—has been thrown around a lot in the press over the last few decades in reference to a host of different musicians to the point that the term has now either become a sales tool or lost its meaning altogether. At different points in their careers, groups and artists as far-flung as The Deftones, Bruce Cockburn, System of a Down, Husker Du, Richard Hell, Captain Beefheart, Bob Dylan and (of course) Thinking...
Beck is back at it. On Tuesday 8/21 he will release a self-produced new track called "Timebomb", which for one week will be available only at iTunes. The following week the track will be available at all other digital music retail. "Timebomb" is the first new music from Beck since The Information, which was released in October 2006. The lyric of "Timebomb" echoes some of the dark themes from that album but is packaged in digital gris gris thunder as...