| (500) Days of Summer Soundtrack Posted: 10 Aug 2009 02:30 PM PDT With (500) Days of Summer finally getting the wide release it deserves, I figured there was no better time to file my review for it's wonderfully indie soundtrack. I always struggle and overanalyze any attempts I make at a mixed CD, trying to balance the indie-pop gems while tucking in a few guilty pleasures so needless to say, this soundtrack does wonders for me.  Kudos must go out to the director of this fine film, Marc Webb, who makes his big screen directorial debut, showcasing his background and history in the music business as a music video director with his choices and usage of music within the film. He uses music as a driving force within the storyline, not as a means to fill space.
The soundtrack features the love of my life, though she may not know it yet, Regina Spektor, who contributes two tracks, Hall and Oates, a wonderful track by The Temper Trap, and Feist just to name a few before closing the album out with a dazzling Smith's cover by She & Him. I'm usually weary of covers of The Smiths: I recall a conversation with a friend when he mentions no one really dares to duplicate The Smiths sound, so taking on a cover is a daunting task, but luckily for our sake we're in good hands as Zooey [Deschanel] and M. Ward do a wonderfully haunting 60s soul-pop take on "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get I Want". This soundtrack succeeds on two very important levels, it is able to live on it's own as a great mix and it makes you want to see the movie all over again. I challenge you to find a better movie currently in theaters that's as smart, funny and charming. You will fall in love with Zooey Deschanel and this soundtrack, this much I can promise you. The soundtrack is now available and the movie expanded to wide release this past weekend. (500) Days of Summer: website Related Posts - January 16, 2009 — New M.Ward Download from ‘Hold Time’ (0)
- December 30, 2008 — Top ‘Ten’ Albums of 2008 (0)
- August 18, 2008 — Virgin Mobile Festival, Day 2 (12)
- July 27, 2008 — She & Him @ the Trocadero, Philadelphia (0)
- July 18, 2009 — Monsters of Folk Release First Song “Say Please” (1)
- April 24, 2009 — M. Ward @ The Slowdown, Omaha (0)
- December 11, 2008 — Anya Marina – Slow & Steady Seduction, Phase II (4)
- December 9, 2008 — M. Ward Winter 2009 Tour (0)
- December 5, 2008 — Ben Kweller – Changing Horses (4)
- October 1, 2008 — Austin City Limits, Day 1 (5)
 |
| The Used 2009 Fall Tour Posted: 10 Aug 2009 01:50 PM PDT  The Used have announced a nationwide headlining Fall tour in support of their new record Artwork, out August 31st. It kicks off October 9th in Las Vegas and culminates in Portland, Oregon just over a month later. The Almost and TK will be supporting.
Venue and ticket presale information will be available soon. Tour Dates:
Oct 09 – Las Vegas
Oct 10 – Salt Lake City
Oct 11 – Denver
Oct 13 – Minneapolis
Oct 14 – Kansas City
Oct 16 – Chicago
Oct 17 – Detroit
Oct 18 – St. Louis
Oct 20 – Toronto
Oct 21 – Montreal
Oct 23 – Boston
Oct 24 – Baltimore
Oct 25 – Washington DC
Oct 27 – New York City
Oct 28 – Philadelphia
Oct 30 – Myrtle Beach
Oct 31 – Orlando
Nov 01 – Atlanta
Nov 03 – New Orleans
Nov 05 – Dallas
Nov 06 – Houston
Nov 07 – Austin
Nov 09 – Phoenix
Nov 10 – Los Angeles
Nov 11 – San Francisco
Nov 13 – Seattle
Nov 14 – Portland, Or. The Used: website | myspace Artwork Price: USD 13.99 1 used & new available from USD 13.99 Related Posts - August 10, 2009 — Built to Spill Fall 2009 Tourdates (0)
- August 10, 2009 — Gaslight Anthem add NYC, Boston to Fall North American Tour (0)
- August 7, 2009 — AM to play Philadelphia’s World Cafe Live, new album August 11th (0)
- August 6, 2009 — 8th Annual Lebowski Fest – "Mark it 8." (1)
- August 4, 2009 — The Raveonettes ‘In and Out of Control’ artwork, mp3 “Suicide” (0)
- August 3, 2009 — Japandroids @ Holoscene, Portland (1)
- August 3, 2009 — Tinted Windows @ the TLA, Philadelphia (4)
- July 31, 2009 — Echo and the Bunnymen Announce New Album Details, North American Tour Dates (0)
- July 29, 2009 — Manic Street Preachers to Tour North America for First Time in 10 Years (0)
- July 28, 2009 — Interview with: Nightmare of You (0)
 |
| Built to Spill Fall 2009 Tourdates Posted: 10 Aug 2009 01:30 PM PDT Built to Spill are touring all Fall long. Tour Dates:
Aug 20 - Edge Field / Troutdale, Or.
Aug 22 – Velvet Jones / Santa Barbara
Aug 23 – Sunset Junction- The Bates Stage / Los Angeles
Aug 24 – The Casbah / San Diego
Aug 25 – Galaxy Concert Theatre / Santa Ana
Aug 26 – Belly UP Tavern / Solana Beach, Ca.
Aug 28 – Polo Field at Golden Gate Park / San Francisco
Aug 29 – SBS Parking Lot- Humbolt State / Arcata, Ca.
Sep 18 – Hyde Park Street Fair / Boise
Sep 19 – Murray Theater / Murray, Ut.
Sep 20 – Bluebird Theater / Denver
Sep 21 – Fox Theatre / Boulder
Sep 23 – Slowdown / Omaha
Sep 24 – First Avenue / Minneapolis
Sep 25 – Barrymore Theatre / Madison
Sep 26 – Vic Theatre / Chicago
Sep 27 – Turner Hall Ballroom / Milwaukee
Sep 28 – Bluebird Nightclub / Bloomington, In.
Sep 29 - The Pageant / St. Louis
Oct 01 – Newport Music Hall / Columbus
Oct 02 – Southgate House / Newport, Ky.
Oct 03 – Royal Oak Music Theatre / Royal Oak, Mi.
Oct 04 – Grog Shop / Cleveland Heights, Oh.
Oct 06 – Lee's Palace / Toronto
Oct 07 – Lee's Palace / Toronto
Oct 08 - State Theater / Ithaca
Oct 09 – Middle East / Cambridge, Ma.
Oct 10 – Middle East / Cambridge, Ma.
Oct 11 – Middle East / Cambridge, Ma.
Oct 12 – Webster Hall / New York City
Oct 13 – Webster Hall / New York City
Oct 14 - Music Hall of Williamsburg / Brooklyn
Oct 15 – Music Hall of Williamsburg / Brooklyn
Oct 16 – The Trocadero / Philadelphia
Oct 17 – 9:30 Club / Washington DC
Oct 18 – Cat's Cradle / Carrboro, NC
Oct 20 – 40 Watt Club / Athens
Oct 21 – Minglewood Hall / Memphis
Oct 22 – Granada Theater / Dallas
Oct 23 – Warehouse Live / Houston
Oct 24 – Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater / Austin
Oct 25 – Diamond Ballroom / Oklahoma City
Oct 27 – Sunshine Theater / Albuquerque
Oct 28 – Dry River / Tucson
Nov 15 – WOW Hall / Eugene, Or.
Nov 17 – The Nightlight / Bellingham, Wa.
Nov 18 – Commodore Ballroom / Vancouver
Nov 19 – Showbox at the Market / Seattle
Nov 20 – Showbox at the Market / Seattle
Nov 21 - Knitting Factory Concert House / Spokane, Wa. Built to Spill: website | myspace | @ siren 2009 Related Posts - August 10, 2009 — The Used 2009 Fall Tour (0)
- August 10, 2009 — Gaslight Anthem add NYC, Boston to Fall North American Tour (0)
- August 7, 2009 — AM to play Philadelphia’s World Cafe Live, new album August 11th (0)
- August 6, 2009 — 8th Annual Lebowski Fest – "Mark it 8." (1)
- August 4, 2009 — The Raveonettes ‘In and Out of Control’ artwork, mp3 “Suicide” (0)
- August 3, 2009 — Japandroids @ Holoscene, Portland (1)
- August 3, 2009 — Tinted Windows @ the TLA, Philadelphia (4)
- July 31, 2009 — Echo and the Bunnymen Announce New Album Details, North American Tour Dates (0)
- July 29, 2009 — Manic Street Preachers to Tour North America for First Time in 10 Years (0)
- July 27, 2009 — Leonard Cohen to Tour U.S. for Second Time in 2009 (0)
 |
| Greg Laswell “Covers” EP out Oct. 6th, “Your Ghost” mp3 Posted: 10 Aug 2009 12:57 PM PDT A Hotel Café and Popwreckoning favorite Greg Laswell, well known for his signature live cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” is taking his love of cover songs one step further and is set to release the Covers EP on October 6th through his label, Vanguard Records. The record features unique interpretations of cuts by Echo & The Bunnymen, Morphine, Mazzy Star, Kate Bush and Kristin Hersh. We’ve got the Kristin Hersh song, “Your Ghost”, available for download! It was recently featured on KCRW’s “Today’s Top Tune”. Greg Laswell – “Your Ghost” (Kristin Hersh) In addition to playing most of the instruments on the album, Laswell produced the record himself in a cabin in Mountainaire, Arizona. After several emotionally driven full-length original albums, he is able to seamlessly portray the intended sorrowful images through his thoughtful interpretations. This EP let me stop singing about my own loss and heartache. I got to channel some other emotions and was able to be objective about the material." – Greg Laswell
Tour Dates:
Sep 22 - Joe's Pub / New York City
Oct 14 – Granada Theater / Dallas *
Oct 22 – Magic Bag Theater / Detroit * *w/ Fran Healy & Andy Dunlop of Travis Greg Laswell: website | myspace | @ beaumont club | Three Flights from Alto Nido review | @ world cafe live | @ sxsw 2009 | @ martyrs Photo: Jessica McGinley
Related Posts - September 18, 2008 — Juliana Hatfield @ World Café Live downstairs, Philadelphia (1)
- July 21, 2009 — MP3 Minute: The Horse’s Ha (0)
- June 2, 2009 — Jeff Buckley – Grace Around the World (0)
- April 29, 2009 — Under Cover : The Get Up Kids collection, Part I (1)
- April 8, 2009 — Under Cover: Tommy James & The Shondells “I Think We’re Alone Now” (Part II) (0)
- November 19, 2008 — Under Cover Wednesday – The Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane” (6)
- October 8, 2008 — Under Cover: Modest Mouse “Float On” (2)
- July 10, 2008 — Greg Laswell – Three Flights From Alto Nido (1)
- June 20, 2008 — Greg Laswell sophomore album (0)
- August 10, 2009 — Interview with: Anya Marina (0)
 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Gaslight Anthem add NYC, Boston to Fall North American Tour Posted: 10 Aug 2009 12:13 PM PDT  New Jersey rockers the Gaslight Anthem have announced on their MySpace blog two additional dates to their previously announced headlining North American tour this fall. Terminal 5 in New York City and Boston’s House of Blues have been added to the tour dates for October 15 and October 17, respectively. Support acts for this tour will be Murder by Death, Loved Ones, Ninja Gun, Frank Turner, Jesse Malins, Broadway Calls, and the Measure. Check the Gaslight Anthem’s MySpace on which support acts will be at which shows.
Earlier this year at the Glastonbury Music Festival, the band were joined onstage by fellow New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen, who played “The ‘59 Sound” with them. The band will begin their fall North American tour shortly after playing England’s Reading/Leeds Festival on August 29 and 30. Tour dates
Sep 08 – Mr. Small’s / Pittsburgh
Sep 09 – Bogart’s / Cincinnati
Sep 10 – Pop’s / St. Louis
Sep 11 – Sokol Auditorium / Omaha
Sep 13 – Ogden Theater / Denver
Sep 16 – House of Blues / San Diego
Sep 17 – Henry Fonda Theater / Los Angeles
Sep 19 – 104.9’s Radio Fest / San Jose
Sep 20 – Fillmore / San Francisco
Sep 22 – Berbati’s Pan / Portland
Sep 23 – Showbox / Seattle
Sep 24 – Commodore / Vancouver
Sep 26 – Edmonton Arts Centre / Edmonton
Sep 27 – MacEwan Ballroom / Calgary
Sep 29 – Riddell Centre / Regina
Oct 01 – Garrick Centre / Winnipeg
Oct 03 – Epic / Minneapolis
Oct 04 – Turner Hall / Milwaukee
Oct 06 – St. Andrew’s Hall / Detroit
Oct 12 – Town Ballroom / Buffalo
Oct 13 – Kool Haus / Toronto
Oct 15 – Terminal 5 / New York City
Oct 17 – House of Blues / Boston
Oct 18 – Trocadero / Philadelphia
Oct 21 – National / Richmond
Oct 22 – 9:30 Club / Washington DC
Oct 26 – Newport Music Hall / Columbus The Gaslight Anthem: website | myspace | interview with | @ Night the Buzz Stole Christmas | The ‘59 Sound review The ‘59 Sound Price: USD 10.99 55 used & new available from USD 9.00 Photo: Sabine Ahrens
Related Posts - July 5, 2009 — Horehound CD Listening Parties and the Dead Weather Tour Dates (2)
- December 11, 2008 — The Night The Buzz Stole Christmas: The Gaslight Anthem (0)
- August 19, 2008 — The Gaslight Anthem – The ‘59 Sound (2)
- August 10, 2009 — The Used 2009 Fall Tour (0)
- August 10, 2009 — Built to Spill Fall 2009 Tourdates (0)
- August 9, 2009 — Lollapalooza: Friday, Day 1 @ Grant Park, Chicago (0)
- August 7, 2009 — AM to play Philadelphia’s World Cafe Live, new album August 11th (0)
- August 6, 2009 — 8th Annual Lebowski Fest – "Mark it 8." (1)
- August 4, 2009 — The Raveonettes ‘In and Out of Control’ artwork, mp3 “Suicide” (0)
- August 3, 2009 — Japandroids @ Holoscene, Portland (1)
 |
| Choo Choo La Rouge at Johnny Brenda’s, record release August 18th Posted: 10 Aug 2009 12:09 PM PDT Choo Choo La Rouge, partly based in Philadelphia, is releasing their new record, Black Clouds, on August 18th and will be playing at Johnny Brenda’s the same night as a record release party along with Amy Ray of Indigo Girls fame. On Black Clouds, Choo Choo La Rouge has a good laugh at some of the unfortunate things happening in the world (economic woes, love being a commodity, sex as advertising, etc) and set it to ten catchy numbers. We’ve got “It’s Gonna Happen Fast” for you, a fun and poppy little tune that is conducive to playing on repeat — as I have been all day. The song is a lighthearted look at life: “There’s no great message. / People say all kind of things. / You might even hear the wrong words. / It’s gonna happen fast / and I can’t teach you how to weed it out. / I’m just a song and dance man.” It’s just a fun little song to perk you up on a Monday. Choo Choo La Rouge – “It’s Gonna Happen Fast” Don’t miss Choo Choo La Rouge’s release party at Johnny Brenda’s on August 18th! Choo Choo La Rouge: website | myspace
Related Posts - July 18, 2009 — Black Moth Super Rainbow to play Johnny Brenda’s on July 25th (0)
- June 10, 2009 — White Rabbits @ Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia (1)
- June 7, 2009 — Interview with: White Rabbits (0)
- June 6, 2009 — White Rabbits perform “Percussion Gun” (0)
- May 27, 2009 — MP3 Minute: Hoots & Hellmouth CD Release show (0)
- May 27, 2009 — Jenny Owen Youngs with Jukebox the Ghost @ Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia (0)
- May 6, 2009 — Jenny Owen Youngs with Jukebox the Ghost stop by Johnny Brenda’s on national tour (0)
- April 27, 2009 — Eulogies at Johnny Brenda’s, ticket giveaway prize pack! (2)
- April 21, 2009 — Great Lake Swimmers @ Johnny Brendas, Philadelphia (1)
- February 12, 2009 — Under Cover: Sophie B. Hawkins’ “Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover” (4)
 This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Interview with: Anya Marina Posted: 10 Aug 2009 08:25 AM PDT Back in March at South By Southwest, our Joshua got to sit down in a downtown Austin coffeeshop and chat up the lovely and uber-talented Anya Marina, whose become a Popwreckoning favorite since the very first listen of A Slow and Steady Seduction: Phase II (still one of our most listened to albums!). Joshua, PopWreckoning: I know you wanted a fun interview, but I have to ask you at least two musical questions.
Anya Marina: No problem. OK.
PW: So I think we should go with the fact that you're a Hotel Café kid. How do you feel that the Hotel Café has enhanced music and how it has advanced the careers with the tight knit family that is the Hotel Café kids.
AM: They've given us a venue to play in that is not only a wonderful listening room, but a place that feels like home, where you can go almost anytime and think of ideas. There's a real collaborative feeling and that is really unique. You don't find that in other places.
There was a place in San Diego like that, too, at one point called Java Joe's and people like Jewel came up there, and Jason Mraz and Faith Hill and myself. I just found that in Los Angeles at the Hotel Café. So it is nice when you meet people that are cut from the same cloth and you have like a living room of sorts to hang out in and work out ideas. PW: We are really big on pushing the Hotel Café people and we've heard from Cary Brothers, Joshua Radin and Rachael Yamagata. There's Meiko, and all we have heard from them is the way you guys take care of each other and the way you interact with each other. It's become more than just a music venue it has become a family in a way like that the rat pack was where you guys all have each others’ backs and you help each other out on each others’ tours.
AM: Yeah. I feel more like a satellite in regard to that actual group. They're all fantastic and talented, but I don't know them all that well. I lived in San Diego for ten years. I was like a commuter student at the university of Hotel Café, you know what I mean? So I'm really tight with [Greg] Laswell and Molly Jenkins and Jim Bianco.
PW: I love Jim.
AM: Yeah, he's great. When I say really tight, I've seen the guy once in the last six months. We just saw each other in the alley behind The Parrish the other day. High five I got to go. I would be sort of a poser if I said yeah we all have each others’ backs. I don't know those guys all that well. I think they certainly do.
I never really felt a part of any group. Whether in high school or at Java Joe's. I always made a point not to play too many shows with the same people. Not because I'm not a fan, but because I never wanted to become sort of associated with ‘oh, she's the Java Joe's girl’ or ’she's the Hotel Café girl.’ I'm trying to find a …reluctantly even, keep a toe dipped in there.
I love all those guys, but I think it is important to play a lot of different venues and play with different folks. For me personally, I like a bill that's varied. I don't like all the bands to sound the same.
PW: I can absolutely respect that. I think that's great you aren't pigeonholed. PW: So I really only had one more about music.
AM: OK.
PW: Because you told me you wanted a fun interview and I wanted to respect that.
AM: This is actually fun.
PW: Is it? OK. I'm excited. I've had a good time hanging out with you this weekend.
AM: Me too. I saw you in Lawrence.
PW: Yes. And I didn't get to talk to you as much there as I wanted to. It was kind of rushed, but here it has been kind of mellow and calm. You said that you never tried to wedge yourself into a box. How has, and this isn't just you, I ask this of a lot of people, how has your individuality been supported by the label that you find yourself on?
AM: Absolutely. There have only been a few instances where they really challenged me on something and I've had some out there ideas both artistically and musically. They really have said go with it. I got to pick my favorite video director who was essentially a filmmaker, not a music video director, Scott Coffee. I was such a fan of his, who did a movie. They said go for it. I got to pick my number one choice for a photographer, Autumn de Wilde, who is phenomenal.
PW: We love her.
AM: She's great. They could have easily said go with somebody more commercial to do your video and your packaging and your photos, but they didn't. They've constantly helped me to get where I want to get and get who I want. Like work with the people that I'm dreaming of working with.
They told me at the beginning: make a dream list. Give it to us. It is our job to make all those things happen. I swear to god I keep checking things off. Simone Ruby did my packaging for my CD and she's so great. She did The Reminder for Feist. She's just like really amazing, incredible artist, totally not commercial. They went with that, too. So it has been fun working with them.
 PW: It's been definitely noticeable. One of my favorite things about your music and all of what you just said and just even hanging out with you this weekend, you can absolutely tell that you're a complete individual. You're not just pegged…kegged…cogged? Pegged.
AM: Cogged.
PW: Cogged in the marketing field. I get surrounded by… being a journalist… there's a lot of artists that I'm around where you know that they're just there to sell records and you can tell that you're having a good time and doing what you love. It makes it a lot easier to be around you. You're a lot of fun.
AM: Aw! You're going to make me cry. And I'm sleep-deprived. I'm very sleep-deprived at the drop of a hat.
PW: Me too. Which is where the cogged/pegged thing came from.
AM: We were drinking from a keg last night. That's why.
PW: What did you think of Tinted Windows?
AM: I've never seen Hanson perform so that was a treat. I'm a huge fan of Fountains of Wayne and James Iha is of course a legend. I believe that he has peroxide blonde hair, so…
PW: Yeah, right? And it looked gray in the light.
AM: Those guys are rock stars. The drummer from Cheap Trick! I'm spacing on his name right now. [Ed. Note: Bun E. Carlos] But it was a lot of fun. Great sort of radio songs on there. I'm speaking from a DJ history stand point. I thought it was cool. It didn't blow me away.
PW: I wasn't completely sold, but I thought they were a lot better than I expected them to be. I expected it to be a train wreck.
AM: Really?
PW: Yeah.
AM: Musically they sounded great. I kept saying to my friend, I want them to look at each other more.
PW: Yes, there was no interaction. I noticed that.
AM: It felt a little antiseptic.
PW: It was very impersonal. I noticed that.
AM: Perhaps they were nervous. They said they were nervous I think at one point. So, let's see them a couple months from now.
PW: I'm excited they're an actual project instead of a one time thing. Like they're making an album and they're going to go on tour. I'm excited about that. It was also fun to hear Taylor [Hanson] say “fuck,”which really surprised me.
AM: Yeah, he did. Did he say it or sing it?
PW: No he said it.
AM: I feel like he sang shit.
PW: Did he? That's crazy.
AM: I don't know. It could have been something else.
PW: Hanson gone wild. PW: I'm going to ask you something like, if you could be one flavor of icecream, what flavor would you be?
AM: Nooo. OK, shit. I've dug my own grave.
PW: You did dig your own grave.
AM: I think I would be Joshua mint chip.
PW: That's a good one. That's the greatest answer I've ever received in an interview ever. Let's end with that because I can't top that off.
AM: That's really great. I like it. Anya Marina: website | myspace | A Slow and Steady Seduction: Phase II review | @ tin angel | @ Chop Shop showcase, SXSW 2009 Photos: Jessica McGinley
Related Posts - July 31, 2009 — Interview with: Adam Schlesinger of Tinted Windows (0)
- February 18, 2009 — New Supergroup Tinted Windows Announce Album, SXSW Debut (2)
- August 3, 2009 — Tinted Windows @ the TLA, Philadelphia (4)
- March 21, 2009 — Tinted Windows @ Pangaea, SXSW, Austin TX (3)
- December 15, 2008 — Interview With: Jessie Baylin (0)
- April 13, 2009 — Tinted Windows hit late night circuit, North American tour to celebrate debut album (2)
- April 2, 2009 — Hotel Cafe Tour @ SXSW, Austin TX (0)
- February 6, 2009 — Interview with: Joshua Radin (0)
- May 29, 2009 — SXSW Interview With: Super Satellite (0)
- February 6, 2009 — Anya Marina @ Tin Angel, Philadelphia (3)
 |
