Fleeting Blues

2008 marked the release of one of the most beautiful albums I've heard (dare I say ever?) in quite some time. Fleet Foxes' self titled release has been in my rotation since then and I have been patiently waiting for more music from these guys.

Finally my wish has been granted!

The boys are set to release their new album "Helplessness Blues" in early May and I can't be more excited. Also, in conjunction with the new album they are going out on tour and have promised to "go everywhere [we] they are wanted".

Listen/Download the title track/first single and check out their tour dates below!
Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues by subpop

04.29.2011The Vogue Theatre / Vancouver, BC

04.30.2011The Vogue Theatre / Vancouver, BC SOLD OUT!

05.01.2011Crystal Ballroom SOLD OUT!

05.02.2011Moore Theatre / Seattle, WA On Sale Now

05.03.2011Moore Theatre / Seattle, WA SOLD OUT!

05.05.2011Fox Theater / Oakland, CA

05.06.2011Spreckels Theatre / San Diego, CA

05.07.2011Hollywood Palladium / Hollywood, CA

05.08.2011Rialto Theatre / Tucson, AZ

05.10.2011Stubb's Waller Creek / Austin, TX

05.11.2011Palladium Ballroom / Dallas, TX

05.13.2011Ryman Auditorium / Nashville, TN

05.14.2011The Tabernacle / Atlanta, GA

05.15.2011DAR Constitution Hall / Washington, DC

05.17.2011Orpheum Theatre / Boston, MA

05.18.2011The United Palace Theatre / New York, NY SOLD OUT!

05.19.2011The United Palace Theatre / New York, NY

05.21.2011Tower Theatre / Upper Darby, PA

05.25.2011Astra / Berlin, Germany

05.26.2011Dachau Summer of Music / Munich, Germany

05.28.2011Primavera Sound / Barcelona, Spain

05.30.2011Bataclan / Paris, France

05.31.2011Hammersmith Apollo / London, UK SOLD OUT!

06.01.2011Hammersmith Apollo / London, UK

08.11.2011Oya Festival / Oslo, Norway

08.12.2011Way Out West / Gothenburg, Sweden

Ripoff Song of The Day #1

I wanted to do this a while back with a few other songs but I never did and now forget what most of them were.

Anyway, I know artists have influences and similarities and so forth and there are reoccurring musical themes throughout tons of music but I think it's fun to point out when you hear those similarities and influences.

Here's my first installment.

Australian band Cloud Control and Seattle based Fleet Foxes.

I mean outright RCRC LBL had this to say about the Austrialian band:

Like less-hairy, less-afraid-of-distortion version of Fleet Foxes, Sydney's Cloud Control have the innate ability to make you feel like you're in the woods, sitting cross-legged, painting your face with dirt and wondering why you live in a city and not out here, where things are slow and quiet and naturally beautiful.

Have yourselves a listen:

1.




2.


3.


I see it as kind of a combination of the music and harmonies of "English House" and the singing style of "Oliver James"

Anyone?

I Love Spinning Cabinets!

So for a while I was really into indie, folky, country, singer songwriter stuff. Stuff like Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, A.A Bondy, Monsters of Folk type stuff.

Also for a while (like a 7 year while) I have be extremely into Ropeadoope Records. They have always been a great label that I've looked at for putting out great music. (like Charlie Hunter's "Right Now Move", Medeski Martin and Wood's "Uninvisble", the fantastic Philadelphia Experiment, and newer releases like Greg Hester's "Hustlers, Killers, and Thieves," and Drive If You Must's "Circles". All of these albums share the quality jazzy,funky, or experimental type music that I've Ropeadope to put out. Surprisingly though, a few newer releases have strayed out in quite a different direction.

Releases from the band Cabinet and more recently The Spinning Leaves have captured that folky country sound I had gotten so found of. Cabinet's self titled release is an upbeat country joyride containing some great danceable, fun, and beautifully written bluegrass tunes. I can't say I dislike any song on the entire album although Elizabeth, The Tower, and The One are a few of my favorites.

The Spinning Leaves' release "Love" is, as Bruce Warren WXPN's Executive Producer has said:

acoustic music with air and warmth and vibrancy. This ain't your old folk. It's new folk steeped in tradition for the modern world.

This is really some great music from both bands, and you don't have to listen to me ramble on about them to figure it out. Just give them a listen below.

Get to it!





Cabinet Live from the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, PA on November 28, 2009.

J. Tillman at The Church

Last evening I had the pleasure of paying a visit to the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, not for a service (well, not exactly), but to see J. Tillman perform in the Church's intimate side chapel. Let me start by saying I have never been in a Church for a concert, or really anything "non-religiously" affiliated (well, again...not exactly).

Why do I keep saying "not exactly"? Well, because some people can certainly argue that (some) music can be considered a religious experience. I can't argue against it. Okay, moving on!

Now let me REALLY get started by saying this little chapel only holds about 50 people in it, which made the experience all the better. I got to the Church pretty early and after waiting around a bit for the doors to open, I entered the tiny room, sat down in the front pew (yes a pew), and waited anxiously for the show to begin.

Soon after, the opener, "Pearly Gate Music", who happens to be Tillman's younger Brother Zach (who also plays bass for him) came out to perform a few songs of his own. I would consider his music sort of lo-fi-super-reverbed-emo-folk, but if that turns you off, I must say it was pretty good. Zach sang with a true passion that can only come from the heart and although he was a little too much for me at times, he had a solid voice, and a realness to his music.

After Zach's performance I was good and ready (that sounds a little too sexual) for the elder Tillman. A few minuets later, he emerged from the side door of the Chapel with the rest of his 5 piece band (acoustic guitar,electric guitar, drums, bass, and pedal steel). Right from the get go I thought they were great. Tillman's hushed vocals and softly strummed guitar fit perfectly with the setting we were in. While some songs possessed the vocal harmonies fans of his other work with Fleet Foxes, certainly appreciated, others had louder blues/gospel and louder rock sensibilities. Also, for claiming no religious affiliation, (at one point he mentioned he "liked everything and nothing"), many of his songs had a very Christian undertone (maybe even overtone?) to them. Nonetheless, his lyrics, music, and overall performance were extremely passionate and heartfelt.

I had a great time and was extremely pleased at my decision to check out this show. Also I got the chance to shake Josh's hand and thank he and the band for the great performance. I now see he certainly has a hell of a lot more too offer than just being the drummer for Fleet Foxes (he's actually been making music since before joining the band). I highly suggest to any fans of folky,woodsy, acoustic, blues rock, americana type music to check this guy out. You shouldn't be disappointed.

Also, it definitely won't be the last time I catch a show at "The Church". Thanks R5 Productions for giving me the heads up about this show.

Check out a few tunes

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2.


3.

Some Videy-Yahs To Start You Off

In my opinion, two pretty damn good musicians (John Scofield and Jaco Pastorius) playing a pretty damn funky tune.



Also in my opinion, Miles is the man.



Buckethead is a sick. A lot of the time he just shreds and a good amount of his material sounds similar but I feel this song shows his versatility.



I think this is pretty awesome. Check out their music video for this too. Oh yeah and the band's name is Holy Fuck (not very commercially friendly but i think they are cool)



Some Old School Roots



Biggie Freestlye



Les Claypool is a wild man.



If you have the time, watch all of these videos from Bob Dylan's 1965 press conference. They are great.



Ohhhh The Dead.



Who would have thought?



These guys (Fleet Foxes) are finally getting the recognition they deserve. I'm happy for them



Vampire Weekend is another band i can't stop listening to.



Myself. White Castle.



I think this is going to take off in a few years. It's getting there with the iPhone, all the other touch phones, and the new touchscreen computer that just came out. Also I think it was CNN who had that touch screen map they used the night of the Presidential Election.



This thing on the other hand..I don't know what the hell Microsoft is doing. I know this is a parody but the Songsmith program is real.