August 31st, 2009

Saturday Night Washout

Heading into the weekend, Saturday night held so much promise. There was the Pissed Jeans record release show slated for Pilam, and the Flaming Lips were set to headline Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing. Then we found out on Friday that the Pissed Jeans tour van broke down on the way back to Philly from their West Coast tour (maybe THAT’S why they hardly do any touring), and so the Pilam show got canceled. Major bummer. But who better than the Flaming Lips to cheer us up, right?

In the late afternoon, I got caught on the westbound Schuylkill during that monsoon, but then the skies cleared up and I figured the Lips were good to go. Headed down to the show, got in the photo pit — there was only one other photographer there to shoot the show; perhaps the rain scared everyone off — and caught part of the opening set by Explosions in the Sky.

Then, while waiting for the Lips to come on, I chatted for a bit with their publicist, who told me that during that afternoon rainstorm, one of the band’s chief crew members took a really nasty spill from the wet stage and was taken to the hospital. His status remains unknown, but one of the Festival Pier security guards who saw it happen told me it looked “horrible,” and there might have been either/both broken ribs and internal injuries. Obviously our best wishes go out to the guy. Meanwhile, the Lips publicist told me that in his place, Spin journalist David Peisner — who’s on tour with the Flaming Lips for a piece he’s writing for the magazine — was helping out by runing some of the visuals on the big projection screen at the rear of the stage. What a guy! Should add an interesting element to the story — maybe some gonzo Hunter S.-type shit.

Then, frontman Wayne Coyne came out just before showtime and told the large crowd that they were tracking the storm backstage via radar, and that the band would continue to play even if it began to rain, but if there was lightning, they’d have to suspend the show. The show started and it was — as per all Lips gigs — a fiesta of confetti, giant balloons, costumed dancers, lights, smoke, streamers, Coyne in his giant hamster ball rolling atop the crowd, crazy videos, and more. The crowd was extra enthusiastic, and the band sounded especially tight. Mixed in with some old favorites were some new songs from their forthcoming Embryonic, including a terrific, propulsive version of “Convinced of the Hex” (see video above). But just seven or eight songs in, flashes began to appear in the sky, although Coyne said he wasn’t sure if it was lightning or their stage lights.

And then the rain suddenly hit even harder than that afternoon storm, and people began rushing for both the exits and the large white tent on the Festival Pier grounds. The band quickly left the stage, and Coyne got back in his hamster ball and rolled around atop the brave souls who stayed in front of the stage hoping that the show would resume. But the downpour and lightning forced the singer to abandon his ball and find shelter as well. Alas, the rains continued to pound down and the area began to flood, and the Lips reluctantly called it a night. It was a terrific show until then, and Coyne promised that the band will be back. Unfortunately, seeing as how it was a Live Nation “rain or shine” event, there won’t be any ticket refunds.

August 31st, 2009

Another New Song From Philly Bound Vic Chesnutt

As we mentioned earlier this summer, we’re super stoked to see the Vic Chesnutt show at First Unitarian Church on October 28th, especially since the long-time Georgia singer/songwriter has Fugazi guitarist Guy Picciotto, as well as members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Silver Mt. Zion, in his touring band. They’re all on Chesnutt’s forthcoming LP At The Cut, which is out September 22nd.

Last month we premiered the first single from the album, entitled “Chain.” Here’s another track from At the Cut, titled “Philip Guston,” for your listening pleasure: “Philip Guston”

It’s gorgeous and epic, and if the show is anything like the sound and feel of these first two singles, it’s gonna be a doozy.

August 31st, 2009

Kobe’s Rape Accuser Pens Song: “Kobe, Tell Me Why My Ass Bled”

Five years ago young Katelyn Faber (pictured) roared into the news accusing basketball wizard and Lower Marion native Kobe Bryant of rape. The two settled out of court for an undisclosed sum of money and Kobe ended up buying his wife a ridonkulous apology ring. Now, inspired by Shaq’s “Kobe, Tell Me How My Ass Tastes” following his championship run with the Miami Heat, Katelyn Faber has dedicated her own song to Bryant, “Kobe, Tell Me Why My Ass Bled.” It’s pretty self explanatory. It sounds to us like she may be drunk, and that some male friends (who you can hear in the background) are spurring her on. Sigh. Can’t argue with that flow though.

UPDATE: There’s video…

UPDATE 2: Turns out it’s fake. Bright futures ahead for these geniuses.

August 31st, 2009

DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Twitter Tributes To The Late DJ AM

From one famed, Philadelphia-born DJ to another:

August 31st, 2009

PHOTOS: Flaming Lips At Penn’s Landing

[Click twice on any photo below for full view.]

Sat., August 29. Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing. All photos by Michael Alan Goldberg.

August 31st, 2009

Tonight In Shows

Lightning Bolt
8pm, $10. First Unitarian Church.
Lightning Bolt shows are extreme events, masses of sweaty, bobbing kids packed in tight on the floor around the band, drummer Brian Chippendale masked and sticks flying, riff-master Brian Gibson splintering jagged bass riffs into rainbow fragments. Though often dubbed noise-rock, their output is really neither—too ecstatically pretty to be true noise, too chopped and discontinuous and free-form to be actual rock. Whatever you call the music, though, the shows tend toward aggressive, chaotic triumph, the sort of transforming experience you seek, but seldom find, in the live setting. The band has been quiet since 2005’s Hypermagic Mountain, but a new album, Earthly Delights, is set to strike mid-October on Load. Jennifer Kelly

Solillaquists of Sound
8pm, $10. M Room.
Bring your big brains tonight, because as always, Solillaquists of Sound want you to do some thinking while you’re trying to get your groove on to their lively hippie-hop/prog-folk style. On their latest Anti-/Epitaph conceptual opus No More Heroes, the multi-culti Orlando, Fla., ensemble finds a number of lyrical ways to say this: Ain’t no heroes flying down in funny costumes—or inhabiting the White House—who are gonna make the world better, so you’d better start doing things for yourself. Of course, calls for self-empowerment and social action go down infinitely better when delivered via crisp old-school beats, indie-rap flow, neo-soul songbirds, cinematic synths, and an array of offbeat, playful noises and textures. (Michael Alan Goldberg)

Adrian Belew
7:30pm, $30-$40. World Cafe Live.
Belew experienced one of rock’s greatest ascents going from Nashville cover band to Zappa guitarist and sideman to David Bowie and top-of-their-game Talking Heads, over the span of two years. A year later, he joined Robert Fripp in a reformed King Crimson, exploring nimble, boundary-pushing art-prog and pioneering the use of synthesized guitar in forging cartoonishly colorful, tightrope-walking undulations. Belew manifests his quirky adventurousness in off-beat sounds and wry wit. His latest fascination is the power trio—featuring first Les Claypool and Tool’s Danny Carey on a trio of expressive albums (Side One through Three), then recreated live by skintight sibling rhythm section, Paul Green School of Rock-grads Eric & Julie Slick. (Chris Parker)

August 29th, 2009

It’s the Year, DJs Emynd and Bo Bliz