January Mixtape

MP3 :: Oh Suzanne / French Kissing (original post)
MP3 :: Black Eyes / Shearwater (original post)
MP3 :: Liv Tyler / The Roadside Graves (original post)
MP3 :: King of Spain / The Tallest Man On Earth (original post)
MP3 :: How Come That Blood / Sam Amidon (original post)
MP3 :: Homewrecker / Grant Gilman (original post)
MP3 :: This Fucking Job / Drive-By Truckers (original post)
MP3 :: Sad-Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands / Phoenix (Bob Dylan cover)
MP3 :: Let Go / jj (original post)
MP3 :: Odessa / Caribou
MP3 :: Yellow Wings / Keepaway
MP3 :: On Giving Up / High Places
MP3 :: Laura / Girls
MP3 :: Albatross / The Besnard Lakes (original post)
MP3 :: Jail La La / Dum Dum Girls
MP3 :: Kungen / Love Is All (original post)
MP3 :: Numbers Don’t Lie / The Mynabirds (original post)
MP3 :: Well Alright / Peasant
MP3 :: Coloring of Pigeons / The Knife
MP3 :: Gold Soundz / Pavement (original post)
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[videos] The Replacements live in Minneapolis, 1981

“Kids Don’t Follow”

The other day I promised a rash of Replacements bootlegs/rarities over the coming weeks, and I intend on following through with that. The show I posted the other day (from L.A.’s Roxy Theatre, 1985) had a song missing from the ZIP, so if you happened to download it you might want to go back and pick up the missing song. Looking forward, I thought I’d point you towards a series of live videos recorded in 1981 for a Twin Tone Records showcase in Minneapolis. The show was recorded right around the time of their first album, Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash, and, perhaps surprisingly, finds the notoriously sloppy Mats in top notch form. I mean, it’s practically professional, which if you‘re familiar with their reputation, is really saying something.

Of note, besides the cracking performances, is the age of bassist Tommy Stinson at the time. If it’s true (and by all accounts it is) that he was 12 when the band started, then he’d be about 14 or 15 here. Imagine that. The guy literally grew up in the most dysfunctional band of that generation, had an older brother who was eventually kicked out of The Replacements for his own substance abuse issues (later to pass away from said demons), and lived to tell the tale. And join Guns n’ Roses. Crazy.

There are a bunch of other videos on Youtube from these shows that Twin Tone has graciously left alone for your viewing pleasure. They are also on the Twin Tone site, but I can’t get them to play there. Anyway, this is my favorite band, in their infancy (I almost mean that literally), tearing through their early garage/punk/thrash classics. Enjoy.

One last thing - if anyone out there has a copy of the infamous 2/4/86 show at Maxwells, can you please send me a link? I have the show, but am missing track 1 for some reason. I’d love to share that one, it’s one of my favorites. Also, if you have the The Shit Hits the Fan bootleg, I’ve never heard that one. Ah, screw it, if you have any Mats bootlegs I’d love to hear them. Check back next week for a show nicknamed “Puttin’ On The Ritz” from 1987’s Pleased To Meet Me Tour, the “Shit, Shower, & Shave” compilation from the 1989 tour supporting Tom Petty, as well as other goodies. Thanks. Peace.

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[stream] Wakey!Wakey! - "Twenty-Two"

Pop Headwound and Wakey!Wakey! go way back, so it’s extremely satisfying to see this talented local artist, songwriter/pianist Mike Grubbs, getting more and more national recognition. Over the past few years his band has released a pair of live albums through Family Records, an EP, a digital only single, and a free album of covers that featured, among others, reimagined versions of songs by Neutral Milk Hotel, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Alicia Keys. You may even recognize Grubbs from his recurring role as bartender “Grubbs” from One Tree Hill, a show that tapped his song “War Sweater” for their season finale last year.

Well, Wakey!Wakey! And Family Records are now gearing up for the release of the first full length studio album from the band. Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said The Last Time I Saw You is available now on the Family Records site, where you can also stream the first single, “Twenty-Two”, as well as the propulsive near title track, “Almost Everything”. For long time fans, “Twenty-Two” is kind of a stunner. When Grubbs described the album for Spinner earlier this week he said, “With the new album, people can expect a whole new sound from W!W!. We'll still have dark haunting tracks ... but we're also giving you some more danceable and open sounding songs”. “Twenty-Two” is an immediately catchy pop song that downplays Grubbs’ usual hard hitting piano for whistling, backing vocals, and guitars that resemble a less esoteric Dirty Projectors. 2010 is going to be a big year for Wakey!Wakey! - here’s the proof:

(from Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said The Last Time I Saw You. Buy here)
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[Live/Bootleg] The Replacements at The Roxy Theatre, L.A. 12.17.85

Photo via The Skyway

The reputation of The Replacements, as a live act during the ’80s, was that they were notoriously unpredictable - on any given night they could sound like the best rock & roll band in the world or a bunch of drunken, unprofessional misfits sloshing their way through aborted covers and other various screw ups. Fortunately (or not, if that‘s the way you prefer your Mats), I have no proof of the latter - all the bootlegs I own sound incredible. And lately I’ve been sorting through and organizing a few of them and feel like sharing. If you’re a Mats fan you’ll want to check back a few times over the coming weeks - I’ve got 5 or 6 excellent sounding shows to share as well as a handful of other rarities that have never before been officially released.

To get it started, here’s a thrashing show from L.A.’s Roxy Theatre from December, 1985. The sound quality is better than good, and the set features a healthy mix of early-to-mid period classics interspersed with some choice covers. Enjoy:

ZIP :: The Replacements / Live @ The Roxy - 12.85 FIXED (117 MB)
(cover art below)

*** UPDATE : IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT "LITTLE MASCARA" WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE ZIP FOR SOME REASON. PROBLEM SOLVED - THAT"S A NEW ZIP WITH THE MISSING TRACK. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO REDOWNLOAD THE WHOLE THING JUST FOR ONE SONG, THE MP3 FOR "LITTLE MASCARA" IS BELOW. ALSO, I NOTICED A FEW OF THE SONGS TOWARDS THE END OF THE SHOW WERE OUT OF THE CORRECT ORDER - THAT'S FIXED AS WELL ON THE NEW ZIP, OR JUST CHECK THE LIST BELOW FOR THE ORDER AND RE-TAG THEM YOURSELF.

MP3 :: Little Mascara (live)

Setlist:
1. Love You ‘Til Friday
2. Bastards of Young
3. Color Me Impressed
4. Hayday
5. Little Mascara
6. Left of the Dial
7. Nowhere Man
8. Can’t Hardly Wait
9. Swinging Party
10. I’m In Trouble
11. We’re Coming Out
12. I Will Dare
13. Favorite Thing
14. Kiss Me On The Bus
15. Baby Strange
16. Rock Around The Clock
17. Be My Lover
18. Don’t Ask Why
19. Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out
20. All By Myself
21. Johnny’s Gonna Die (end is cut)
22. Go
23. Answering Machine
24. Waitress In The Sky
25. Kids Don’t Follow
26. Takin’ Care Of Business
27. Black Diamond
28. Unsatisfied
29. Hitchin’ A Ride
30. Take Me Down To The Hospital
31. Run It
32. Borstol Breakout
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[video] A.A. Bondy performs on Hear Ya

A.A. Bondy - "Slow Parade" - HearYa Live Session 11/21/09 from HearYa.com on Vimeo.

It wasn’t long ago that I shared a pair of intimate solo acoustic video performances from long time PHW fave A.A. Bondy that were recorded by Hard To Find A Friend and The Tripwire. On the strength of videos such as these, as well as his excellent sophomore album, When The Devil’s Loose, and endless touring, Bondy has been making quite the name for himself since the album’s release last summer. Well, Hear Ya (who recently did the same for The Roadside Graves) has tapped the songwriter yet again, but this time Bondy has been recorded with his backing band. Though a one of a kind performer when armed with just a harmonica and acoustic guitar, the band arrangements offer a welcome perspective to Bondy’s haunting, meditative folk songs (as evidenced by the surprising electric guitar eruption that acts as a coda to “Slow Parade”). Listen up, and head over to Hear Ya to download mp3s of the session.

MP3 :: Slow Parade (live via Hear Ya)
(originally from When The Devil’s Loose. Buy here)

Additional Hear Ya Videos :: The Mightiest of Guns / When The Devil’s Loose / I Can See The Pines Are Dancing

MP3 :: When The Devil’s Loose
MP3 :: I Can See The Pines Are Dancing
(from When The Devil’s Loose. Buy here)

MP3 :: There’s A Reason
(from American Hearts. Buy here)
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[mp3] The Tallest Man On Earth - "King of Spain"

PHW favorite The Tallest Man On Earth (aka Sweden's Kristian Matsson) has signed to Dead Oceans (home of Phosphorescent, Califone, Bowerbirds, etc.) and is prepping the release of his follow up to 2008’s excellent Shallow Grave. The Wild Hunt will drop on April 13, and, as “King Of Spain” suggests, picks up pretty much where Shallow Grave left off. I’ve said it before, but I can’t think of anyone working today who can be as exciting with just vocals and an acoustic guitar as this dude. Keep an eye out for this one.

MP3 :: King of Spain
(from The Wild Hunt. Info here)
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[mp3] Drive-By Truckers - "This Fucking Job"

Stereogum premiered the first new song to surface from the upcoming Drive-By Truckers album, The Big To-Do (ATO, 3/16) late last week. Primary Trucker Patterson Hood described The Big To-Do as “very much a rock album. Very melodic and more rocking than anything since disc 2 of Southern Rock Opera.” I didn’t know the DBTs made anything but rock albums, but I guess we can expect the amps turned up even higher than usual on this one. With it’s obvious blue collar discontent and raspy venom, “This Fucking Job” might just be a sequel to Decoration Day’s “Hell No, I Ain’t Happy”. Turn it up and learn the words.

MP3 :: This Fucking Job
(from The Big To-Do. Info here)
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And for the hell of it:

MP3 :: Zip City
(from Southern Rock Opera. Buy here)
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Spoon plays KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic

Spoon did an interview and played some songs at KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic program recently, bringing out a batch of new tunes from Transference, including “Got Nuffin’” & “Written In Reverse”, as well as classics like “Chicago At Night” and “My Mathematical Mind”.
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[mp3] The Mynabirds - "Numbers Don't Lie"

Laura Burnhenn, formerly of Saddle Creek indie-pop outfit Georgie James, now has a new recording project called The Mynabirds and a new album in the works. The band’s debut, What We Lose In The Fire We Gain In The Flood, was produced by Richard Swift and will see release in late April, but for now you can hear the first free and legally released mp3 - the promising, gospel/soul-tinged “Numbers Don’t Lie”.

MP3 :: Numbers Don’t Lie
(from What We Lose In The Fire We Gain In The Flood. Info here)
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[video] Phosphorescent - "A Picture Of Our Torn Up Praise" (live @ American Songwriter)

Phosphorescent "A Picture Of Our Torn Up Praise" from American Songwriter on Vimeo.

Not only does Willie Nelson count himself as a fan, but apparently Matthew Houck of Phosphorescent is greatly admired by David Gray as well. In a press release today from Dead Oceans it said, “Last fall, Phosphorescent bassist Jeff Bailey is watching a primetime news show when British songwriter David Gray appears for an interview. The interviewer inquires as to what Gray is listening to on his iPod and he responds, “Frank Sinatra, and an album called Pride by Phosphorescent.” Not sure how those two would play off each other on shuffle, but interesting, no? Houck was invited to join the British singer/songwriter on tour (see dates below).

In other Phosphorescent news, the band is putting the finishing touches on a new studio album, the first of all new material since Pride wowed me back in late 2007. Look for more info about that one in the upcoming months.

MP3 :: Reasons To Quit
(from To Willie. Buy here)

MP3 :: A Picture Of Our Torn Up Praise
MP3 :: Wolves
Video :: At Death, A Proclamation
(from Pride. Buy here)

MP3 :: I Am A Full Grown Man (I Will Lay In The Grass All Day)
MP3 :: Joe Tex, These Taming Blues
(from Aw Come Aw Wry. Buy here)
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TOUR DATES:

01/30/10 Oslo, NO- Sentrum Scene
01/31/10 Stockholm, SE- Cirkus
02/01/10 Copenhagen, DK- Falconer Theatre
02/03/10 Utrecht, NL- Vredenburg
02/04/10 Brussels, BE- Ancienne Belgique
02/05/10 Luxembourg- Den Atelier
02/07/10 Zurich, CH- X-tra Limmathaus
02/08/10 Cologne, GER- Theatre am Tanzbrunnen
02/09/10 Hamburg, GER- Grosse Freiheit
02/10/10 Berlin, GER- Huxley's Neue Welt
03/11/10 Houston, TX- Verizon Wireless Theatre
03/12/10 New Orleans, LA- Mahalia Jackson Theatre for the Performing Arts
03/13/10 Austin, TX- Hogg Memorial Auditorium
03/14/10 Austin, TX- Hogg Memorial Auditorium
03/16/10 Grand Prairie, TX- Nokia Theatre Grand Prairie
03/17/10 Kansas City, MO- Uptown Theatre
03/19/10 St. Louis, MO- Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center
03/20/10 Milwaukee, WI- Riverside Theatre
03/21/10 Cleveland, OH- Playhouse Square at State Theatre
03/23/10 Cincinnati, OH- Taft Theatre
03/24/10 Indianapolis, IN- Murat Theatre
03/26/10 Louisville, KY- Louisville Palace Theatre
03/27/10 Columbus, OH- Ohio Theatre
03/29/10 Buffalo, NY- UB Center for the Arts
03/30/10 Pittsburgh, PA- Benedum Center
03/31/10 Baltimore, MD- Lyric Opera House
04/01/10 Montclair, NJ- Wellmont Theatre
04/03/10 Providence, RI- Providence Performing Arts Center
04/05/10 Albany, NY- The Egg at Hart Theatre
04/06/10 Wallingford, CT- Oakdale Theatre
04/07/10 Portland, ME- Merrill Auditorium at City Hall
04/09/10 Durham, NC- Durham Performing Arts Center
04/10/10 Atlanta, GA- Atlanta Civic Center Theatre
04/11/10 Nashville, TN- Ryman Auditorium
04/13/10 Clearwater, FL- Ruth Eckerd Hall
04/14/10 Miami Beach, FL- Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theatre
04/15/10 Orlando, FL- Hard Rock Live
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[mp3] The Roadside Graves - "Liv Tyler"

It was just last week that I pointed you towards a Daytrotter session featuring New Jersey roots rockers The Roadside Graves performing a handful of the highlights from last year’s remarkable My Son’s Home. Also included was a brand new track called “Liv Tyler” that they said would be appearing on an upcoming EP of new material. Well, yesterday Stereogum premiered the studio version of “Liv Tyler” along with news that it will appear on said EP, called You Won’t Be Happy With Me. The studio cut is far better than the live take - it moves through several different sections, building to a Springsteen-worthy climax and featuring one of the boys’ most anthemic choruses yet - If we didn’t have to worry about money we’d be alright. In all those regards it reminds me of “Radio”, a true highlight from their overlooked 2007 album No One Will Know Where You’ve Been, moreso than anything on the grittier My Son's Home.

In addition to the 3/16 EP release date, Autumn Tone will be digitally re-releasing the Graves’ debut, If Shacking Up Is All You Want To Do on 2/8 with six bonus songs. Check out the Stereogum post for lead singer John Gleason’s explanation of the single’s vintage cover art. Check out PHW’s 2009 Year In Review guest post from Gleason right here.

MP3 :: Liv Tyler (via Stereogum)
(from You Won’t Be Happy With Me. Info here)
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[mp3] Shearwater - "Black Eyes"

Matador has released another song from The Golden Archipelago, the upcoming Shearwater album. Unlike the slow-building, gorgeous “Castaways”, “Black Eyes” wastes no time getting to the drama - electric guitar feedback and terse piano quickly give way to Jonathon Meiburg’s huge choir-boy vocals and the thunderous drums from Thor (yup, Thor). The Golden Archipelago is one of my most anticipated releases of the year’s first few months, and you only need listen to these two tracks to hear why. Check out the Matablog for more info on Shearwater’s future tour dates, background about the song and album, and a special edition of The Golden Archipelago that will be available in addition to the standard CD/vinyl/mp3 versions.

MP3 :: Black Eyes
MP3 :: Castaways
(from The Golden Archipelago. Pre-order here)
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