November 5th, 2009
Cold Cave Out, Cave In…In.
In case you hadn’t heard (or if you’re holding tickets) Philly synth-postpunks Cold Cave — who recently followed in the footsteps of Kurt Vile and signed to Matador Records — have canceled their gig scheduled for next Wednesday, November 11, at Kung Fu Necktie. We haven’t been able to ascertain a reason; perhaps with all the buzz they’ve already outgrown the venue, but who knows? You can get a refund for your tix at the point of purchase.
Meanwhile, in other “Cave bands” news, Boston prog-hardcore vets Cave In — who went on “indefinite hiatus” back in 2006 — have reunited and they’re coming to First Unitarian Church on November 18th behind their recently released Hydra Head EP Planets of Old.
If we hear any news about Nick Cave, Caves, or the Cavedogs, we’ll be sure to pass that along…
November 5th, 2009
Dammit.
Now that our hopes and dreams have been dashed, we can just settle in and enjoy, oh I dunno, the ongoing SEPTA strike, the imminent cold and shitty weather, the swine flu pandemic, and tonight’s Train/Uncle Kracker show at the TLA:
Train
9pm, $37-40. TLA.
As the artist Larry Poons recently put it, “We live in an age of music for people who don’t like music.” Perhaps you’ve encountered some of these people—the ones who fork over good money for the blandest music available because they’re supposed to like something. Inevitably, such people latch onto Train. The metaphorically (OK, possibly literally) lobotomized San Francisco band has managed to make a killing by removing all that is soulful, interesting, clever or engaging about music, offering generic “modern-rock” melodies and lyrics like, “I’ll open up and be your parachute/ And I’ll never let you down” that ultimately require zero emotional investment. Tonight, the room will be filled with people who don’t really like music listening to a band that doesn’t really like music, either. What a sad, weird place to be. (Michael Alan Goldberg)
Run me over now.
November 5th, 2009
Tonight In Shows
Dar Williams
8pm, $33-$35. Sellersville Theater.
The folkie scene sometimes seems like a gated community where artists find stultifying acceptance dulling their creative edge until they’re unsuitable for anyone else. Clever stories and turns of phrase won’t rescue bland accompaniment—this isn’t a poetry slam. Dar Williams has avoided this pitfall during her 17-year career, plying a sweet cooing croon and smart writing in arrangements mixing rock and pop with strong folk undercurrents. The last three albums have been particularly engaging, showcasing the breadth of Williams talent from chamber warmth to jangly rave-ups. Brad Wood keenly produced the excellent stripped-down rock/pop of last year’s Promised Land, highlighted by the shrewd take on Milgram’s obedience experiment, “Buzzer.” (Chris Parker)
Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down
8pm, $12. First Unitarian Church.
“Sad people dance, too,” says Thao Nguyen, on the closing track of her latest Know Better Learn Faster. That’s “Easy,” the bass-driven break-out from Know Better, which may just be the year’s most raucous break-up albums. It’s brutally honest, laceratingly self-revealing, earthily sexual and, surprisingly, kind of a good time. Nguyen, on a roll since her 2006 We Brave Bee Stings and All, has honed a vibrant, eccentric sound through constant touring—equal parts pop, country blues and confessional songwriting. Portland Cello Project, whose own repertoire ranges from classical to Justin Timberlake, usually joins her on stage for a couple of songs, too. (Jennifer Kelly)
Also, the Get Up Kids play the Troc along with Kevin Devine and the Life & Times [7:30pm/$20.50-$23]; the Hidden Cameras headline Johnny Brenda’s [9pm/$10]; and Pete Yorn comes to Electric Factory [8:30pm/$20-$23].
November 4th, 2009
Kurt Vile Gets The New York Times Treatment
I missed this when it was published — I guess I was busy interviewing John Oates or something that day — but the New York Times ran a really nice, lengthy piece on Kurt Vile about a week and a half ago. Nothing super revelatory to those around these parts who’ve been following Kurt these past couple of years, but a solid, well-written bit of good exposure nonetheless. An excerpt:
In high school Mr. Vile was a skateboarder who wrote poems (“Kind of twisted and weird, not about girls breaking my heart or anything,” he said) and listened to pop-punk. Soon he drifted toward wrier, artier bands like Pavement and Sonic Youth and eventually toward singer-songwriter titans like Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. Appropriately, he often listened to Mr. Springsteen’s blue-collar rock during a stint manning a forklift at an air-freight company in Boston, where he was living with his future wife while she earned a graduate degree in English. Until July he drove a forklift for the Philadelphia Brewing Company.
Mr. Vile’s ambitions for his music are modest and eternal: he wants to make enough money so that he never has to take another day job, operating heavy machinery or otherwise. “I’m not a slacker,” he said. “I’ve worked hard my whole life. But I’m not going to be a total sucker and put all my energy into someone else’s job.”
November 4th, 2009
From The “We Couldn’t Make This Shit Up If We Tried” Files
In an interview with the Chicago Tribune this week, wrestler Hulk Hogan — who’s apparently an accomplished bassist (who knew?) — claims that he wanted more than anything to join the Rolling Stones or Metallica:
“I was in England presenting an award with Jerry Hall, Mick Jagger’s ex, and she told me the [Rolling] Stones were looking for a bass player,” Hogan said. “I sent her a ton of merchandise that she asked for and said ‘Tell Mick I’m a great bass player.’ I never heard a word back.
“When Metallica was looking for a bass player, I called and never heard a word back from them either. I would have quit wrestling in a heartbeat to be a bass player for Metallica.”
We’re shocked he didn’t get a call back from either band. But then again, given the joke both the Stones and Metallica are at this point in their careers, having Hulk Hogan holding down the low-end probably couldn’t hurt their credibility too much.
November 4th, 2009
Feel Better, Shawn Stockman
Our best wishes for a speedy recovery go out to Boyz II Men’s Shawn Stockman, who’s come down with the swine flu. The group was scheduled to perform at last night’s taping of the annual Soul Train Awards; Nathan Morris and Wanya Morris still performed as a duo. Said Nathan to CNN:
“We tour eight months out of the year, and we are always traveling around. It’s hectic for us always being in airplanes and airports. He got sick, and it hit him pretty hard.”
“We go all over the world really, so I am surprised it hasn’t happened earlier, to be honest. I talked to [Stockman] today, and he is doing much better.”
