Hey, Ya’ll I’m on vacation!

But that isn’t going to stop me from letting you know that one of my favorite bands is playing two shows in New York City this weekend!

Ireland’s best…SO COW is back in the US, and their final stop is here in NYC!

It just so happens they are playing my favorite out door music series…and it can’t get any better because they are playing with THE OH SEES!

• TONIGHT July 16th: SEAPORT MUSIC FESTIVAL!
  • w/ THE OH SEES and Golden Triangle
• Tomorrow Saturday July 17th @ Death By Audio

If you are unfamiliar with these Irishmen you should take a listen.  They make some of the catchiest guitar pop out there right now, and have been my favorite band for about the past two years.  Today I’ll share with you one of the first tracks that I heard by these popsmiths.  It’s a cover of Television Personalities “This Angry Silence”:

[mp3] So Cow- “This Angry Silence (Television Personalities)”

and one of my favorites of the self titled:

Buy So Cow releases here.

Read all of my reviews, see all the videos, and a whole slew of So Cow mp3s right here.

————————————-

Next week I hope to catch up on lots of video posting.  I’ve had some gems building up on my vimeo and it’s time to unload them on you nice people…I also hope to finally get my wrap up of Northside Fest posted too…we will see this is vacation.

Until the next post….cheers.

————

• more on So Cow here.
• This photo is from the White Lodge. If you would like to use this photo please link back to the flickr page, and credit the White Lodge. More posts featuring photos from the White Lodge can be found here.

“In all fairness, it’s better than another “crystal” or “wolf” band…”

- Ted Leo (via @TedLeo)

Ted Leo tweeted this over the weekend, and I’ve been laughing about it since.

——————–

I’ve been sitting on two amazing covers that Ted performed back in October at the Matador/ True Panther 2009 CMJ party at the Suffolk…it’s not too often you get to see a Melvins cover and a Stiff Little Fingers cover in the same set (not to mention the Misfits’ “Hybrid Moments.”)

——————————–

While I’m on the topic of Mr. Ted Leo I have to say that his new album Brutalist Bricks, released on Matador back in March, has pretty much been one of the only things I want to listen to lately.  It was a little bit of a slow grower, but everytime I hear this album it grows on me more and more.  There is no question that Ted makes great albums, but I really feel that this one is something special.  If you haven’t already checked out the single, “Even Heroes Have to Die,” you should probably  dothat now:

[mp3] Ted Leo- “Even Heroes have to Die”

• Buy Brutalist Bricks here.

—————-

• More on Ted Leo can be found here.
• FOLLOW @TEDLEO ON TWITTER!
• More videos from the Matador showcase including “Even Heroes Have to Die,” “The Mighty Sparrow,” and “Hybrid Moments” after the jump.

(more…)

My favorite Irishmen are returning to New York before their ultimate return to Ireland, and beyond.  So Cow have zigzagged the country playing in pretty much every state, and Canada…but are looping back around to the North East.

If you haven’t picked up your copy of Meaningless Friendly yet…I’m not to sure what you are waiting for (Buy it here).  Already a twenty ten classic in my book…and it only gets better and better with each listen.  So far my favorite track is “Mokpo” (I wish so bad that they were playing this live on this tour).

There was not a more romantic way to spend Valentines Day than seeing So Cow, and rocking out with my lady rocking out.  It was a pretty chill show where Brian, Jonny, and Gareth played a super tight set.  I was able to capture a handful of of those songs to video, and So Cow also got klk‘s and mine White Lodge treatment (see above and below, and more to come once more film gets developed). Gareth has now headed back across the big lake, but So Cow picked up another drummer mid way through tour, and even showed up on Wired.com (my go to for tech news) in a picture from SXSW!

Just the other day a new non-album So Cow track popped up on Ireland’s own Pop Goes the Radio. Much in the vein of “Girl Racer” this new track brings to mind that the recorded work of So Cow is primarily the work of Brian Kelly…”(I Wanna Go To the) Sugar Factory” is a pop jem that I’m sure will see the light of day eventually on vinyl, but in the mean time I’m happy to hear in in mp3 form.  I just love his use of the drum machine…it just feels so at home, but even when these songs are recreated live they are brought into a new light by the live drummer.  Way to go Brian, and thanks to Josh for posting it.  Maybe they will visit Domino while they are in Williamsburg?

[mp3] So Cow- “(I Wanna Go To the) Sugar Factory”

Also if you haven’t already snagged the wonderful EP of cover songs that So Cow put up at the beginning of the year on his website/myspace here is another cover from it.  This time it is Ireland’s Local Living Guy‘s “Laundry Service.”  Makes me think that I should listen to the original.  I’m sure we all know how this line feels…oh so familiar…”When the parties done I’ll do my laundry and listen to records.”

[mp3] So Cow- “Laundry Service (Local Living Guy cover)”

—————————————————————-

Do yourself a favor and catch So Cow on this last US streach…their guitar driven pop is not to be missed, and they put on one of the best live shows that I have seen in a long time. Here are the remaining So Cow US tour dates:

• 04.01.10- Washington, DC. @ Black Cat w/ Smith Westerns
• 04.02.10- Baltimore, Maryland @ Ruintown
• 04.03.10- Princeton, New Jersey @ Princeton w/ Garotas Suecas
• 04.04.10- New York, New York @ Mercury Lounge w/ Smith Westerns, Male Bonding
• 04.07.10- Williamsburg, Brooklyn @ Death By Audio w/ Babies (members of Woods and Vivian Girls)
  • This last NYC show is damn near close to the Sugar Factory…FYI.

————————————————

If my writing hasn’t convinced you check out these videos:

So Cow even dedicated the slightly creepy cover of Del Shannon’s “Runaway” to me.  Gotta love these boys:

——————————————————————

Much more can be found on So Cow here.

The photo of  So Cow were taken on February 14th, 2010 at Cake Shop, and is from the White Lodge. If you would like to use this photo please link back to the flickr page, and credit the White Lodge. More posts featuring photos from the White Lodge can be found here.

—————————————-

• Buy So Cow’s So Cow here.
• Buy So Cow’s new album Meaningless Friendly here.

———————————

More videos after the jump.

(more…)

Bethany Constentino and Bobb Bruno are bringing Best Coast back to New York City for three shows in the very near future.  Best Coast is a band that I’ve had my eye on for sometime now. They have been getting the press they deserve all over the internet, and even recently NPR has taken notice putting a totally amazing live set recorded by KEXP up on their website.

Constentino and Bruno have released five 7″s, a tape, and the full length LP has been recorded and will see the light of day sometime this year.  While Constentino is drawing comparisons to Liz Phair from some music critics, as far as I’m concerned the handful of songs that Best Coast has put out have moved me much more than Liz Phair’s entire catalog.  While many of the Best Coast releases are currently out of print Art Fag and Post Present Medium are repressing two of these 7″ again in limited quantities.

It is an extremely exciting time for this band from playing in Bloomingdales to 16 year olds birthday parties it seems like they are doing it right, having fun, and staying true to themselves.  As far as girl rock goes these days Best Coast is near the top for me, and if they keep up what they have been doing they probably will be for you too.

Best Coast recently did a stunning rendition of Lesley Gore’s classic 1964 chart topping song “That’s the Way Boys Are.”  Constentino and Bruno add their own signature California sunny fuzz to the track making it completely their own.  I love covers of classic songs.

[mp3] Best Coast- “That’s The Way Boys Are”

While Best Coast releases are scarce right now…you can buy what is available here.

————————————————————–

Listen to Best Coasts fabulous KEXP session for NPR:

[stream] Best Coast live at SXSW 2010

———————————————–

If you know what is good for you you should catch Best Coast on their upcoming US/European tour:

• Thu 04/01/10 @ Bowery Ballroom- New York NY w/Japandroids
• Fri 04/02/10 @ Clementine  (MACRoCK)- Harrisonberg, VA (show at 4:30)
• Sat 04/03/10 @ The Barbery- Philadelphia PA w/Reading Rainbow, Creepoid
• Mon 04/05/10 @ Meat Locker-Montclair NJ
• Tue 04/06/10 @ Knitting Factory – Brooklyn NY w/ The Bitters
• Wed 04/07/10 @ Mercury Lounge- New York NY w/The Bitters
• Sat 04/10/10 @ Chum’s Coffeehouse @ Brandeis University- Waltham MA
• Sun 04/11/10 @ The Crane Room-Medford MA
• Mon 04/12/10 @ The Friendship Cove- Montreal QC w/ No Joy
• Tue 04/13/10 @ The Garrison- Toronto ON w/ Memoryhouse
• Wed 04/14/10 @ Magic Stick- Detroit MI
• Thu 04/15/10 @ Dionysus Disco- Oberlin OH
• Fri 04/16/10 @ Schubas Tavern- Chicago IL w/ Light Pollution
• Sat 04/17/10 @ WIUX Culture Shock- Bloomington IN
• MORE TOUR DATES CAN BE FOUND HERE!

————————————-

More on Best Coast can be found here.

Karl Blau is one busy man… whether he is making his own records, putting endless hours into the creation of KELP!, or spending time recording/producing or performing with other bands….and recently there have been a couple new development for this man with oh so many talents.

Ambient Doom Metal band EARTH has just announced that Karl Blau will be playing bass with them on their upcoming West Coast tour where they will be performing new material! EARTH’s line up for this tour will be Dylan Carlson on Guitar, Adrienne Davies on Drums, Karl Blau on Bass, and  Lori Goldston on Cello.

Go see Karl Blau perform with EARTH!

• 04.14.10 – Eugene, OR – The Oak Street Speakeasy
• 04.15.10 – Eureka, CA – Noctrum
• 04.16.10 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
• 04.16.10 – Santa Cruz, CA – Brookdale Lodge
• 04.17.10 – San Diego,CA – Ché Café
• 04.19.10 – Los Angeles, CA – The EchoPlex
• 04.22.10 – Portland, OR – Rotture
• 04.23.10 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
• 04.24.10 – Olympia, WA – Capital Theatre *
  • all dates with Wolves In the Throne Room
  • * Mount Eerie and Ô Paon

Even more exciting than Karl Blau playing with EARTH is the fact that he is co-producing EARTH’s next record for the Southern Lord, the follow up to The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull, with Stewart Hallerman at AVAST studios in Seattle, Washington this Spring.  The album is due out early 2011. (all the bolding is because I’m super excited about this!)

Karl Blau also recently signed on and made a large sampling of his recordings available though the WFMU’s FREE MUSIC ARCHIVE! Karl Blau has such an extensive catalog and this is a great way to get familiar with his work.  I’m excited to present to you a song from the FMA…his cover of The Microphones’ “The Blow.” Karl Blau’s version of this song is a 12 minute experimental adventure in music.  While not indicative of his other works it is a true treat:

[mp3] Karl Blau- “The Blow (The Microphones cover)”

• from the FMA
• buy Karl Blau’s cover album It was Hot We Stayed In The Water here.
• buy the Microphones’ It Was Hot We Stayed In the Water here.
• “The Blow” by Karl Blau features Adrian Orange

Check out Karl’s other submission to the FMA here!

Last but not least is a split collaboration EP between Karl, Madeline Adams, and Your Heart Breaks that is coming out on Orange Twin Records this month.  Madeline Adams is a part of the Elephant Six collective, Your Heart Breaks is an indie band from Seattle, WA, and this collaboration features six tracks recorded at the Department of Safety in Anacordes, Washington.  Phil Elverum (Mt. Eerie) and Gus Franklin (Architecture in Helsinki) both contributed to the recording by playing various instruments.  The recording is a unique collection of songs, and a coming together of creative minds.  Each song features a different arrangement of musicians, and my favorite of the bunch is a cover of Richmond Fontaine‘s “Post To Wire” performed by Madeline and Karl:

Madeline Adams & Karl Blau- “Post to wire (Cover Richmond Fontaine)”

• Buy this collaborative EP (eventually) from Orange Twin here!
• Madeline Adams is on tour right now.  Check out her tour dates here.

————————————-

Creative Commons Credits:

• more on Karl Blau can be found here.
• more on Wolves in the Throne Room can be found here.
• and more on the FMA can be found here.

It’s no news that Ariel Pink is an amazing musician, and master of the psychedelic arts but if you haven’t heard of him before you might just some new guy on the scene trying to be hip.  I’ve been surprised by all the fanfare that Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti’s new single has been getting…really making waves all over the internet.  I feel like I can’t look at my reader or twitter over the past two weeks without hearing about it.  but after all it is a great track, and deserves the attention.  ”Round and Round” keeps in the same R&B tradition as 2008′s “Can’t Hear My Eyes,” but brings in a bit of a of a disco undertone, and as always is filled with Ariel’s mysteriously mind blowing lyrics.  A great teaser to his upcoming single, comp tracks, and new full length album…and on that note…check it out for yourself:

[mp3] Ariel Pink- “Round and Round”

• eventually you will be able to buy the new single and LP here.

But the real question is why didn’t more talk about Ariel Pink’s Flashback 7″ from 2009 released on Cooler Cat Records (if you can find a website for this label let me know)? I didn’t even mention it, or if I did it was in passing…maybe I was frustrated at the time that I paid $10 for the 7″ (which is way too expensive), but in this case totally worth it.  But the short fact of the matter is that the Flashback 7″ contains the song “Flashback” which should have made my best songs/7″s of 2oo9…but some how I missed it.  “Flashback” draws on everything we know about Ariel Pink, but bring in an unexpected element…and that is arena rock.  ”Flashback” fits in with Ariel Pink’s discography, but it would also fit for a band that is opening, or if it is Ariel Pink one that should be headlining for a great classic rock band.  The first time I heard it I think my reaction was laughter, but play after play you realize how fucking great it is.  Ariel could start another band, and base it’s sound completely around this track and be selling out stadiums in no time.

“Flashback…see the days are done…Flashback…my love for you is gone…because of you everybody has withdrawn…my love for you is as addictive as a song”

[mp3] Ariel Pink- “Flashback”

• Thanks My Old Kentucky for the mp3, previously I could only find bad vinyl rips.
• This record is way out of print, but more info on it can be found here.

This track was a departure from “Can’t Hear My Eyes” and is no where close to “Round and Round,” but this makes me even more excited for his new 7″ featuring “Round and Round” is due out on 4AD on April 26th and an LP will follow later this year. It’s about time that Ariel Pink and his Haunted Graffiti found a home at a largish record label…I can’t wait to see what is done

This past Friday New Jersey’s own Real Estate played MHOW before their big journey to SXSW, and NYC Taper was there to capture the action.  Real Estate played homage to great L.A. bedroom psych pop mastermind by covering “My Molly,” which was released on a 2006 EP that carried the same name.  This was a nice surprise to find when writing this article, and totally worth a listen (snag the whole set through the link below).

[mp3] Real Estate- “My Molly (Ariel Pink cover)”

• recorded by NYC Taper
  • get Real Estate’s whole set here.

———————————-

• more on Ariel Pink here.
• buy Ariel Pink’s releases here.
• more on Real Estate here.
• buy Real Estate’s releases here.

——————-

This post is the first in my series called Time-Slip.

When your first introduction to a band is a cover song an initial opinion is typically made pretty quick, and there was no exception with Pure Ecstasy.

Winter time is the time of year, oddly enough, when I gravitate towards reggae…I bust out my Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, Soul Jazz and Pressure Sounds comps, Scientist LPs, and The Abyssinians…but I honestly don’t own anything by Toots & The Maytals…that didn’t mean I wasn’t familiar with “Pressure Drop.”

“Pressure Drop” is one of those songs that if you have the slightest interest in reggae as a genre you have probably heard(or maybe you have heard one of the many covers of it), and to hear a cover coming from a fuzzy indie band I can say at the very least I was skeptical, but I shouldn’t have been.

But Austin, Texas’ Pure Ecstasy hit this one right on.  Pure Ecstasy manages to stay true to both the song itself, and to their own sound.  While it’s not clean cut that it is a cover of a reggae classic, but the tone and vibe manage to remain true to the original.  On top of this Pure Ecstasy manage to incorporate their lightly fuzzed out mellow pop into it, and let both sides shine.  In my opinion they accomplish everything that should be present in a good cover song.

[mp3] Pure Ecstasy- “Pressure Drop”

• originally appeared on Friendship Bracelet Club Vol 2. (get that here)

Bringing Pure Ecstasy back to their own tunes is the track “Easy”  the A Side off of their 7″ on Light Lodge Records.  I was able to pick this 7″ up when I saw them play at Bruar Falls with Twin Sister last month (which is also where these pictures were taken).  “Easy” showcases Pure Ecstasy’s laid back indie pop, and has been playing on my iPod way before I got the 7″.  I’m so used to short songs these days, and everytime I play “Easy” I forget that it is a four minute jam…mellow, and long enough to let you truly get into it and relax.  Just when you think the track is over it goes into a ambient drone with just a vocal melody…and the then the guitar kicks back in to finish out the song… a perfect end to the track.

[mp3] Pure Ecstasy- “Easy”

• Buy the Easy 7″ from Light Lodge Records here.
  • buy their the very limited repress of their Future Nostalgia 7″ here.
  • pre-order their new 7″ Voices here.

After listening to “Easy” you can really see that Pure Ecstasy’s sound really does shine in “Pressure Drop.”  Looking forward to more from these dudes.  I know their trip to NYC wasn’t the best…some asshole had to steal their guitar.  I really hope they will be back.

Pure Ecstasy tour dates can be found here.

———————————————————

The photos of Pure Ecstasy were taken on January 29th, 2010 at Bruar Falls.  These photos are from the White Lodge.

• more posts featuring photos from the White Lodge can be found here.

For those of you who haven’t already decided which So Cow show you are going to on their 2010 North American tour I thought I would remind you of those dates one last time before it starts.  Tomorrow is the first day of their almost three month long American tour! Starting at Asbury Lanes in Asbury park (I’m guessing the Asbury Park and Philly shows are tentative due to the blizzard, but those are just my thoughts) .  So Cow is playing pretty much the entire country so there is no excuse to miss them this time around:

• Feb 11 Asbury Lanes Asbury Park, New Jersey
• Feb 12 Kung Fu Necktie Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Feb 13 Monster Island Basement Brooklyn, New York %
• Feb 14 Cake Shop New York, New York +
• Feb 17 O’Brien’s Boston, Massachusetts
• Feb 19 AS220 Providence, Rhode Island
• Feb 20 Casa Del Popolo Montreal, Quebec
• Feb 21 Rancho Relaxo Toronto, Ontario
• Feb 22 The Casbah Lounge W Hamilton, Ontario
• Feb 23 The Bug Jar Rochester, New York
• Feb 24 Beachland Ballroom Cleveland, Ohio
• Feb 25 Cafe Bourbon Street Columbus, Ohio
• Feb 26 Lager House Detroit, Michigan
• Feb 28 Eagle’s Nest Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Mar 01 7th St. Entry Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Mar 03 Badlander Missoula, Montana
• Mar 04 Empyrean Spokane, Washington
• Mar 05 East End Portland, Oregon
• Mar 06 Comet Tavern Seattle, Washington
• Mar 08 Mama Buzz Cafe Oakland, California
• Mar 09 The Crepe Place Santa Cruz, California
• Mar 10 The Hemlock Tavern San Francisco, California
• Mar 11 The Smell Los Angeles, California
• Mar 12 Bar Pink Elephant San Diego, California
• Mar 13 Trunk Space Phoenix, Arizona *
• Mar 14 El Paso Block Party El Paso, Texas
• Mar 16 The Mohawk Austin, Texas
• Mar 17 – Mar 20 SXSW Austin, Texas
• Mar 22 The Conservatory Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Mar 23 Record Bar Kansas City, Missouri
• Mar 25 Hi-Tone Cafe Memphis, Tennessee
• Mar 26 The Belafonte Hattiesburg, Mississippi
• Mar 27 529 Atlanta, Georgia
• Mar 30 Snug Harbor Charlotte, North Carolina
• Mar 31 2702 Lawndale Durham, North Carolina
• Apr 01 Black Cat Washington DC #
• Apr 02 Ruintown Baltimore, Maryland
• Apr 03 Terrace Club Princeton, New Jersey
  • % = w/ Blank Dogs, Frankie Rose and the Outs, Sisters
  • + = w/ Preacher and the Knife, White Blue Yellow and Clouds, Babies
  • * = w/ Nobunny
  • # = w/ Smith Westerns

I’m looking forward to catching these guys at Cake Shop, one of Manhattan’s finest venues.  If you are in the city is a great way to spend Valentines Day.

So Cow has also announced that their second LP Meaningless Friendly this year on Tic Tac Totally and it is due out sometime in the next couple weeks! I can’t wait to hear it…and if you haven’t heard So Cow’s So Cow yet I highly recommend picking it up…it was my favorite album of 2009.  Here is another one of my favorite tracks from last year’s amazing LP…just one of the many reasons you should be catching this tour:

[mp3] So Cow- “Shackleton”

• buy the self titled album  here.

not to mention So Cow always comes packing a wonderful array of cover songs…this is one they rocked while they were in the states last year:

[mp3] So Cow- “Mess Me Up (Nobunny cover)” via the FMA

• get the whole set here.

So which show will you be at?

Links:

• much more on So Cow can be found here.
• more on Nobunny here.

——————————————————
FMA credits: