Rilo Kiley & Thao Tour

Last night, I saw Rilo Kiley, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, and Benji Hughes.

Now, I would describe Benji Hughes as a guy who looks like he should be in ZZTop, sings like Englebert Humperdinck, backed by a rock band. It was cool because it was different and unexpected.

Thao (Nguyen) & the Get Down Stay Down sounded a lot different than I thought they would. I guess maybe it's because I haven't listened to the new record as much as I should've. The old one (Like the Linen) is just SO fabulous. On stage, Thao dances and thrashes her head like no one's watching.

I was never a big Rilo Kiley fan. I have seen them before and thought they were good, but I never really fell in love until Jenny Lewis came out with her solo album. So, admittedly, it's more about Jenny, but I really enjoy when Blake sings and look forward to his songs on the new album. Jenny's smooth, sweet voice is intoxicating and almost, almost outdone by her onstage presence. You can tell she enjoys performing. I am eagerly awaiting her new solo album due out later this year and produced by Elvis Costello.

As for now, I will be downloading all that I can find and it looks like my first stop is for bootlegs at the Rilo Kiley Network.

"Little Boxes" (Weeds theme) Jenny Lewis & Jonathan Rice

"Roll On" Dntel (featuring Jenny Lewis)


"Nothing Better " Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab) with Jenny Lewis

I Saw Jim, YAAAAAAY!

Last night, I went and saw Jim Florentine at the Improv. He started making a name for himself by toying with telemarketers that would call his house. He told a story about how he took a girlfriend dressed as an expectant mother to an abortion clinic that had a bunch of protesters outside. She had a pillow in her dress and she was saying, "No, I want to keep it, " but he was bullying her into the place. Then she ran down the street, and he ran after her with a wire coat hanger. Yeah, I know I have sick humor, but I think the guy is ingenious.

Oh, you may also know him as Special Ed or Bobby Fletcher on Crank Yankers.

Hear some of his stand-up comedy on his myspace page and definitely check out his prank phone calls.

This is my favorite, the classic Special Ed "I Got Mail" call.

Sort It Out

This is kind of what my brain feels like right now. I am trying to go thru the 500+ pics that i took during the week. I also may have an mp3 or two to share, if they turned out.

For now, here is a little quick round up.

Best band I had never even heard the name of: Bellafea

Best lived-up-to-the-hype: Crystal Castles (except that it was a super short set)

Best Reunion: The Slits

Best Haven't-Seen-in-Awhile: Janeane Garofalo

Band that got all glitsy and famous: Sons and Daughters

Band set to blow up: Okkervil River

Jerk of the Week: Taylor Hanson

Coolest guy-that-has-every-reason-to-act-big-but-doesn't: Thurston Moore

Mea Culpa

Hello again,

If there is anyone still out there, who checks in from time to time, I must apologize. I have been out of touch with music in general for a while. Since Mike left, I have found no joy in music. I love music so much that if I can't discuss it with someone, I am lost. Mike and I would constantly have a back and forth of "Do you like this?" or "Have you heard this?" Without that sharing of music, I'd rather not listen.

On my ride home from sxsw, I was crying to Nirvana's "Lithium" that was playing on the radio. Good music can really move me, and I just miss having that person with whom I can share all of the good things that are out there.

Again, please forgive my lack of updates. I need to get back into it and have all of the good stuff picked out before Mike gets home. I plan on planting him in his room with all of the music and movies he's missed over the past couple of years.

Right now, I'm loading all of my pics from my memory cards, so I will have a sxsw update sooon.

Most Sincerely,
Carol

New This Week

This week ADA has some great releases, one of them being Cat Power's new one. So I finally uploaded a couple of the videos i took of Chan at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin.

Out this week:
Black Mountain - In the Future (Ltd Ed 2 disc/on JagJaguwar)
Blood on the Wall - Liferz (Toured with Sonic Youth/YYYs/The Kills/Fiery Furnaces)
Bodies of Water - Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink (on Secretly Canadian)
Cat Power - Jukebox (Deluxe silver foil gatefold w/bonus cd)
Depeche Mode - 5 Reissues on 180 gram Vinyl (Music for the Masses, Violator, Songs of Faith and Devotion, Ultra, & Exciter)
Evangelicals - The Evening Descends
Hey Willpower - P.D.A. (=part Imperial Teen, part Tussle/On Tomlab)
Holy Fuck - LP
Lions - Jungle Struttin' 7" (Ltd 1000 copies)
Love Is All - Mixed Up (on Parlophone)
Mahjongg - Konpab (on K Records)
Mono - Sky Remains the Same As Ever DVD
Jack Penate - Matinee
Rafter - Sex Death Cassette (releasing a song a week on Asthmatic Kitty)
Santogold - Creator 12"
Super Furry Animals - Hey Venus!
Times New Viking - Rip It Off (on Matador)

Sarah Silverman under my Christmas Tree

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is to meet Sarah Silverman. You can win it for me here.

Love,
me

Sarah Silverman on Howard Stern 10/01/07
fast forward 3 hrs if you only want to hear Sarah, but this show is one of my favs from the whole year

Learn Guitar from Laura Veirs

If you live in the Portland area, Laura Veirs could be your guitar teacher.

Laura is accepting music students in the Portland, Oregon area. If you are interested studying guitar, banjo or songwriting with Laura, please email Clyde at yourheartbreaks@hotmail.com and I will pass along her contact information.

She's teaching lessons in a rad backyard studio with a wood-burning stove and French doors to her garden. It's lovely place to learn music and Laura's a great teacher.

Here's lesson info from Laura:
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Guitar, Banjo and Songwriting Lessons
$50/hour
Alberta Arts District location
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What I Teach:
-- Guitar: country-blues, folk finger-style, rock, pop songs, music/chord theory, singing and playing at the same time
-- Banjo: clawhammer/old time songs with an emphasis on singing and playing
-- Songwriting

Teaching Philosophy:
Over ten years of teaching private lessons I've found that this method works: Listen, play and record.
Listen -- We listen to a recording of the song you want to learn.
Play -- With chords and/or tablature as a visual aid, you play through the song slowly.
Record -- I record the song slowly for you to play along with at home.

Each week I give specific homework for students. Songwriting students are encouraged to use "The Artist's Way" as a supplemental text.

Every few months we have "Star Parties" where all my students gather together to present the music they've been working on. These parties tend to freak out some students but ultimately give them a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie.

I try to make lessons fun, engaging and challenging.

Caveat:
Since I'm a touring musician I am sometimes gone for weeks at a time. Adult students tend to adapt better to my schedule (kids need more consistency to keep up with their lessons).

Laura Veirs - Songs My Friends Taught Me

Interview of Laura and Colin Meloy from 2006 talking about how they started playing.