speed of dark

taken at The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens

Between Thought and Expression brings you the sultry voice that Eliot Spitzer paid $4,300 a night to hear.

Can You See the Sunset reviews The Sugar Oaks, and brings you The Toadies' best song.

For the Records highlights the best of Canadian Music Week.

I Guess I'm Floating has new songs by My Morning Jacket, from their upcoming album Evil Urges (June 10)

LA Underground has links to all of the very long and impressive list of L.A.-area bands performing this week at SXSW, including several videos from artists such as Jesca Hoop, The Mae Shi, and Correatown.

Lonesome Music sings the praises of Leatherbag...check it out for yourself.

Music Under Fire celebrates their 100th post with Sera Cahoone and some Editors remixes.

Muzzle of Bees made the trip to SXSW and was lucky enough to see Bon Iver. Check out his blog for more reports from the festival.

The Yellow Stereo is also at SXSW, but took a detour to catch Vampire Weekend in a small Atlanta venue, and still had time to post his regular feature, The Daily Graboid!

Thanks Captain Obvious has so much great, new music, plus a review of Be Kind Rewind, that I am going to have to go back and spend more time reading his excellent blog.

And finally, if you're in the L.A. area, don't forget to enter our giveaway of tickets to see Switches at the Roxy on Tuesday, March 18.

And now for some artists who are not at SXSW:
damien jurado: texas to ohio [buy]
neil halstead: two stones in my pocket [buy]
brothers johnson: strawberry letter 23 [buy]
muse: house of the rising sun [animals cover] [buy]

Last but not least...Happy 18th Birthday Stephanie!

Aster

Aster sounds like more than its two people--Bryan Ellis on vocals and guitar and T. Husmann on drums and keys--making some very pretty music on their new album Some Things Seldom Heard Of.

Aster: Something Seldom Heard Of
Aster: Attempting To Multiply
Stream the album
MySpace | Website | Label: Independent
Buy at CD Baby



Die! Die! Die!



For a more abrasive sound, there's the dramatically-named New Zealand band, Die! Die! Die! who seem to mercilessly attack their songs. Their schedule shows them in Austin at SXSW from March 12 through March 16.

Die! Die! Die!: Sideways Here We Come from Promises, Promises

MySpace | Website

Angela Correa, from Echo Park, California, records soft, lovely music under the name Correatown. Her EP, Echoes was released January 22, and is like an appetizer of what she will bring on her unreleased full length album. I just heard about her and missed her EP release party last weekend, but she'll play a few shows in the Northwest and Northeast before heading to SXSW. Angela provided the singing voice for Jenna Fischer in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. See her myspace page for the "Let's Duet" video from Walk Hard, tour dates, more music, and a video for "Racing Tides", a track from her EP.

The Broken West are hard at work on their follow-up to last year's critically acclaimed I Can't Go On, I'll Go On, yet another album that I mistakenly bypassed on my favorites list. The band is attempting to blog about the progress they are making on their yet to be named next album, and unfortunately for them, the heat broke in their recording studio. Stay tuned for more.

Silversun Pickups released exclusive iTunes remixes of "Lazy Eye" and "Little Lover's So Polite" in December off of their outstanding 2006 release, Carnavas. The band will play a free show in Mammoth on March 29, more details here. Hopefully they're finding time to write songs for a new album.

After the success of her wonderful Christmas show, Aimee Mann will return to her residency at Largo on February 5. Nellie McKay, who was a guest on her Christmas show (which we posted about here), will appear at Largo on February 1 and presented by KCRW on February 8.

The lovely Shana Levy and her band Let's Go Sailing will play at one of our favorite venues, the Troubadour on March 6 with Nicole Adkins.


correatown: all the world (i tell myself) [buy]
the broken west: so it goes [buy]
silversun pickups: checkered floor [buy]
let's go sailing: all i want from you is love [live KCRW] [buy]

art by Scott Gursky
Check out LA Weekly's article on Tom Petty's Los Angeles, complete with lovely artwork and a map of Petty's L.A. by Scott Gursky.

Go to Live Music Blog for a tentative and still-evolving SXSW 2008 lineup.

Aquarium Drunkard spotlights Mark Kozelek and has Athens band Patterson Hood's take on their hometown.

B(oot)log has live Kevin Drew and Hayden.

Can You See The Sunset reviews Dashboard Confessional, The Hot Toddies, and shares some emo by Bridge and Tunnel.

Count Me Out shares some videos, including a video for the song "Georgia" by The 1900's and Midlake giving a tour of Denton, TX.

Via Lonesome Music, a link to Drowned in Sound's interview with Battle of Land and Sea.

Happy Birthday to Muzzle of Bees, turning 3 this week!

Rawkblog shares a video from Nada Surf's upcoming release, Lucky, due February 5.

Get a Cinematic Mixtape at Thanks Captain Obvious.

Did you know Jeff Daniels sings and writes songs with funny titles? Neither did I. See The Late Greats for proof.

Trendwhore has their (and my) favorite Radiohead video (what does he say?!?!)

The Yellow Stereo has a wealth of good stuff this week, including The Rosebuds covering Salt-n-Pepa, a MGMT album giveaway, and The Magnetic Fields, plus much more.

the rolling stones: fool to cry (early unreleased version) [buy]
neil young: winterlong [live 2007] [buy]
summerbirds in the cellar: behold the wolf [buy]
the shins: strange powers [magnetic fields cover] [buy]
billy bragg & wilco: my flying saucer [buy]

Wednesday night, alt-gramma and I ventured out to see Stars of Track and Field opening for Joseph Arthur at the Roxy. I'm reviewing the SOTAF show; you'll get the lowdown on the Joseph Arthur set tomorrow from alt-gramma. Stars of Track and Field are a three-piece from Portland, Oregon, and take their name from one of my favorite Belle and Sebastian songs. Their third album, Centuries Before Love and War was released in January, featuring the fantastic "Movies of Antarctica" and alt-gramma's favorite "Say Hello". The band lists influences such as early Pink Floyd, Aphex Twin, and My Bloody Valentine, and are often compared favorably to Radiohead, Coldplay, and Echo and the Bunnymen. Lead singer/guitarist/keyboardist Kevin Calaba has a lovely voice, and I really enjoyed watching guitarist Jason Bell writhing around while making his guitar wail, and seeing drummer Daniel Orvik play the hell out of those drums.

At any show in L.A., most people arrive five minutes before the headlining act hits the stage, so I wasn't surprised that the place was nearly empty at 9:00 pm, when SOTAF were supposed to go on. So maybe that's why the band didn't start to play until about 9:45 pm. Most of the audience had come to see Joseph Arthur and didn't appear familiar with SOTAF, so I felt kind of lonely grooving by myself right in the front. When they did play, it was excellent - but too short. I felt like the band was rushed and they left me wanting to hear more. I think that musically, their sound was fantastic.


stars of track and field: movies of antarctica
stars of track and field: centuries
stars of track and field: with you

official website | myspace | buy the albums | find more on hype machine

* - w/ Joseph Arthur
** - w/ Shiny Toy Guns

May 11 House of Blues * - Dallas, TX
May 12 The Parish * - Austin, TX
May 13 Engine Room * - Houston, TX
May 14 One Eyed Jack's * - New Orleans, LA
May 16 Zydeco * - Birmingham, AL
May 17 Smithe's Olde Bar * - Atlanta, GA
May 18 40 Watt Club * - Athens, GA
May 21 9:30 Club * - Washington DC
May 23 Bowery Ballroom * - NY
May 25 The Mod Club Theatre * - Toronto
May 27 Gorge Amphitheatre Quincy, WA
May 29 Culture Room ** - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
May 30 Jack Rabbits ** - Jacksonville, FL
May 31 American Legion Hall ** - Pensacola, FL
Jun 1 Beta Bar ** - Tallahassee, FL
Jun 3 House of Blues ** - Lake Buena Vista, FL
Jun 4 House of Blues ** - Myrtle Beach, SC
Jun 17 Magic Stick ** - Detroit, MI
Jun 21 The Mod Club Theatre ** - Toronto
Jun 22 Sonar Lounge ** - Baltimore, MA
Jun 23 Webster Theatre ** - Hartford, CT
Jun 25 Highline Ballroom ** - NY
Jun 26 Diesel ** - Pittsburgh, PA
Jun 27 The Intersection ** - Grand Rapids, MI

One last thing - Joseph Arthur hands-down rocked. I really enjoyed his show, except for one thing. I could deal with the drunk guy jumping around, bumping into me, and shouting unintelligible things at the band - it was obvious he was having a great time. I could even forgive the band for starting so late - they played an awesome show, jam packed with songs and excellent performances. But the videographer that was so fucking rude I could not forgive. There were four videographers there, and all but one staked his place in front of the stage prior to the show. The one nearest to us waited until after the show started, then pushed me out of the way where I had been standing for over three hours (no kidding) to see the band play. He was rude, stepped on my feet, and pushed me, and when I finally said something, we got into...a verbal altercation. No need to be an asshat, dude...I respect that you're doing something for the band but there's no need to fuck up my experience. I didn't see the other videographers behaving that way, and I moved right out of the way for the very nice photographers. Okay, rant over.

Check this video out for SOTAF performing at SXSW - virtually identical to the show we saw Wednesday, except I think they rocked harder at the Roxy (click on the "playlist" button to choose different tracks):

Hooray for our Arcade Fire Contest winner! Lots of thanks to all who came and left comments. We appreciate all our readers.

Don't miss future posts--Subscribe to Speed of Dark!



Lucky people who were able to travel to Austin TX for South by Southwest already have their schedules planned. I'll just have to fake it by continuing the virtual tour Indie Mom started on Tuesday. The good part about virual touring is that you can be in two places at one time, and as is usual in festivals of this type, you would have to clone yourself in order to see all the acts you'd like to.

Why do I include the SXSW links? Because sometimes the bands provided songs there to stream or download.

Thursday, March 15

We can start with late tonight, which rapidly turns into Friday morning.

Kaki King from New York, NY - 10 PM @ Cedar Street Courtyard
When I married again almost exactly two years ago, I wanted simple, acoustic guitar music for the outdoor reception. I downloaded several CDs' worth of songs from iTunes, and Kaki King was among my favorite discoveries.

Kaki King: Ingots

website | myspace | sxsw


Stars of Track and Field from Portland, OR - 10 PM @ Momo's
This is the song that made me a fan when they were giving away MP3s on their web site before Centuries Before Love and War was released.

Stars of Track and Field: Say Hello

website | myspace | sxsw


Winterpills from Northampton MA - 11:00 PM @ Momo's
I've fallen in love with Winterpills' "Broken Arm," but so has everyone else, and the song is posted everywhere. Luckily, that isn't their only good song. There are lots to choose from, from both their current CD The Light Divides and from their self-titled debut.

Winterpills: A Ransom

website | myspace | sxsw



Friday, March 16

Maritime from Milwaukee, IL - 12 AM @ Soho Lounge
Indie Mom turned me on to Maritime last fall, and I love "Parade of Punk Rock T-Shirts." "Calm" is another good song, one of many.

Maritime: Calm

website | myspace | sxsw


Goldrush from Oxford England - 12 AM @ Maggie Mae's Rooftop
Goldrush sound less like a Brit band and more like they're from the southwest U.S. The fact that they took their name from a Neil Young song is a dead giveaway, nevertheless, they have developed a rich sound of their own, not unlike Great Lake Swimmers.

Goldrush: There's A World

website | myspace | sxsw

The Oohlas from Los Angeles - 5 PM Austin Convention Center
Standing up for my homies! This short appearance is not in the middle of the night, and it does not conflict with other shows, so let's go!
website | myspace | sxsw


Young Galaxy from Montreal, Canada - 10 PM Habana Calle 6 Annex
We saw Young Galaxy at one of their first performances, and they were darn good for a new band--I bet they are even better now. Click here for our review and pictures. The song links are still good.
Official Website | myspace page | sxsw


Badly Drawn Boy from Manchester, UK - 11:30 PM @ Stubbs
Tempermental Damon Gough is known to throw tantrums if a show isn't up to his standards of perfection, so expect anything, including some good music. Click here for some beautiful photos from BDB's concert last fall at the Troubadour in Hollywood, taken by Ed Wang. See more pics here on Ed's photo site.

Badly Drawn Boy: The Time Of Times

website | myspace | sxsw

OMG! If Wednesday's band lineup at the Austin, TX South by Southwest Festival wasn't enough, stay tuned for Thursday! Below I've listed some great bands performing on Thursday, and even if you don't make it to SXSW, many of them are currently on tour and may be round your way soon.


Thursday, March 15:

In case you missed Say Hi to Your Mom's Wednesday show, you can catch them at Buffalo Billiards at 8:00 pm. I mentioned them on wednesday and posted one of my favorite tracks. Check out this song from 2003's Numbers and Mumbles.

say hi to your mom: let's talk about spaceships

official website | myspace | buy their music

Midnight Movies, an awesome group from Los Angeles, will play at the Blender Bar at the Ritz at 10:00 pm. We last saw this band opening up for Silversun Pickups and they played an awesome show. Midnight Movies will release a full-length album, Lion the Girl on April 24, 2007, and you can pre-order it from Amazon, and buy their earlier stuff from iTunes or from their online store.

midnight movies: golden hair [syd barrett cover]

official website | myspace | buy their music

A great band that I "met" on myspace, Armor for Sleep will perform at Exodus at 10:30 pm. I can favorably compare them with other bands I found through myspace and featured earlier on this blog, like self against city and the graduate. Armor for Sleep are currently on tour all over - check em out.

armor for sleep: my town

myspace | buy their music

Another band on the cusp of making it big are Canada, playing at Habana Calle 6 Annez, at 11:00 pm. Canada is also playing Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at SXSW. The band's not actually from Canada, but from Michigan. Isn't that the same thing? (Kidding.) I'm sure they've never heard that lame joke before. Anyway, Canada released This Cursed House in 2006 and it's definitely worth a listen.

canada: beige stationwagon

myspace | buy their music

Everyone's favorite Brit troublemaker, Amy Winehouse, will hopefully make an appearance at Eternal at 12:00 am. She's apparently been cancelling shows lately, which is a shame because I'm sure she'd put on a great performance (if not too drunk). I didn't have a chance to pick up her latest release, Back to Black, which came out today stateside, but I know I'll buy it tomorrow. I love the shoutout to Slick Rick in this song.

amy winehouse: me and mr. jones (fuckery)

official website | myspace | buy her music

Other great bands on Thursday include:

Who Made Milwaukee Famous at La Zona Rosa, 1:00 am
Limbeck at Latitude 30, 12:00 am
Stars of Track and Field at Momo's, 10:00 pm
The Dears at Stubbs, 11:00 pm

Any many, many more...check out more SXSW information on the official website of SXSW, on posts from my fellow bloggers and (even though it's been slightly discourteous to this blog lately), hype machine.

Look out, music world, the SXSW Festival is here and we will not be there, sadly. However, even if I was going, I think I'd go nuts trying to see all the bands that are playing. Jesus H. Christ, there are so many bands playing at the same time, even if I had Homer's cloning hammock, I still wouldn't be able to see them all.

A brief highlight of bands that will play on Wednesday, March 14 at SXSW:

Annuals will play at the Beauty Car Patio at 12:45 am. Annuals released Be He Me in 2006 and "Bleary Eyed" was featured on this blog as a song I missed on my Best of 2006 list.

annuals: complete or completing

myspace | buy the album

The Mountain Goats will play at Emo's Main Room at 11:00 pm and are another band I love. I am sorry I won't get to see them live at SXSW. I featured their song "Woke Up New" from 2006's Get Lonely on my Best of 2006 list, but I like their old stuff too. The song below is from their 2002 release Tallahassee. This angry little song was the first I heard from the band, and made me laugh and cry and want to hear more.

the mountain goats: no children

official website | buy their albums

Birdmonster will perform at Habana Calle 6 Annex at 12:00 am and has lately been featured on this blog. We unfortunately missed the opportunity to see them live a couple of times, but life intervenes, you know? Enjoy this track from 2006's No Midnight.

birdmonster: all the holes in the walls

official website | myspace | buy their music

Say Hi to Your Mom will play at the Austin Convention Center at 1:00 pm and if you haven't heard these guys play live, make sure you're in attendance. This band is a favorite of mine and were another featured band on my Best Songs of 2006 list with their vampire themed release, Impeccable Blahs. Check out this track from 2002's Discosadness (love the keyboard that comes in at about 3:23).

say hi to your mom: blizzard

official website | myspace | buy their albums

Find more artists from SXSW at the official website, at my fellow blogger's sites (see links on this page), and on hype machine.

As Indie Mom mentioned here, March 2007 is a heavy-duty month for new music. It's almost impossible to keep up with it all without a staff of researchers, which we certainly don't have. I'm afraid that a lot of really good groups will get lost in the flood, and one thing you should know about me is, I am ALWAYS on the side of the underdog.

Beirut

Amid all the hoopla over Arcade Fire (see our Contest!) and the leak of the new Wilco album, Beirut has quietly released a two-song EP called Pompeii. Don't expect the electricity of Gulag Orkestar here--these appear to be from a few years previous to last year's big premier, but you can hear the magic beginning to form. Very interesting, as usual for Zach Condon.

Beirut will be appearing next Wednesday, March 14, at SXSW.

Beirut: Napoleon on the Bellerophon from Pompeii (2007)

Available only at emusic
website | myspace | sxsw



Siberian

Also releasead this week was a debut six-song EP by Seattle band Siberian. I've been happily listening to these two cuts for months, and I've found that the other four songs are of equal good quality.

Name-dropping is entirely unnecessary, but it's interesting to note that members of Siberian helped make J. Tillman's 2006 CD, Minor Works, one of my favorites of the year. Finn Parnell played banjo, Zach Tillman (brother of Josh) played bass, and Colin Wolberg played singing saw.

You won't hear banjo or singing saw on Hey Celestial!, however. Siberian's sound is a jangle-rock blend of Keane and the Acorn, with a few more rough edges than the former (but I like that) and more consistency than the latter. Parnell cites 70s prog-rock band Yes as an influence, and I can hear that too.

From Hey Celestial! EP (2007):
Siberian: Soft Rains

Siberian: Paper Birds

website | myspace | Buy at itunes

Upcoming appearances:
Mar 9 2007, 6:00P--Live in-studio on 1077.7 The End!--Seattle, WA
Mar 10 2007, 9:00P--Crocodile Cafe(EP release)--Seattle, WA
Mar 31 2007, 1:00P--KEXP presents Sonic Avalanche at the Summit--Snoqualmie, WA

Too Dark For A Picture

For another great little band that I think has a bright future ahead, go back to my post of March 2 for the full story on Too Dark For a Picture. We were having a problem with our feed a few days ago, and these songs did not get nearly the recognition I think it should have, so I am reposting one of the MP3s today. Please check that post and give the others a try. The band and the management thank you!

Too Dark For a Picture: Only Dreaming

Here's a little support for five local favorites of mine who will be appearing at SXSW or the vicinity from March 14-18. Each of the songs I've posted is only one of a bunch that are in frequent rotation on my players. You may not be able to see them in Austin, but be sure to check their MySpace pages for their current tour schedules because they may be coming your way.

Division Day

I may be slow getting on the bandwagon for Division Day, but now that I'm here I'm enthusiastic. I have not heard a bad song yet from this foursome. As evidence of their goodness, their 2006 album, Bear Trap Island is currently sold out, but their website says it will be available again soon. I'll be buying it. Their previous album, The Mean Way In is available on itunes.

Division Day: Colorguard from Bear Trap Island (2006)

website | myspace | sxsw
Also touring Arizona, Texas, California, and Las Vegas



The Broken West

I'm late catching onto The Broken West as well, as they've been all over the music blogs for a while. This bright jangle-pop is just the antidote for all those dark, minor chords I seem to sink into. Great driving music here.

The Broken West: Brass Ring from I Can't Go On I'll Go On (2007)

website | myspace | sxsw
Tour schedule covers too many states to list. These guys are all over the U.S. this spring.
Buy at itunes, emusic



The Oohlas

Praise has been nearly unanimous regarding the impact of this fun-loving threesome who regularly post photo contests on their MySpace page. Humorous lyrics and catchy melodies by Ollie Stone are matched by the solid talents of brothers Greg (Everclear) and Matt Eklund, making the Oohlas one of the brightest stars to watch.

The Oohlas: Tripped from Best Stop Pop (2006)

website | myspace | sxsw
Extensive tour schedule includes dates in several states as well as California
itunes



GLISS



I featured GLISS in a post in January. I love the echo-y sound and the heart-broken cracked voice.

GLISS: Blue Sky from Love the Virgins (2006)

website | band blog |myspace



Mar 15 2007 1:30P SXSW - Whoopsy Magazine Party @ Trophey's
Mar 16 2007 6:30P SXSW - Congress Day Party

Tour schedule includes Colorado, Washington, and Oregon
Several albums available on itunes, emusic




Le Meu Le Purr


Their cartoon-character-quote name was the initial attraction (remember Pepe Le Peu?), but there's lots more to like in this Ventura band's solid-rock sound and their no-holds-barred attack.

Le Meu Le Purr: Sharing Orchids from Sweet Smell of Asphalt (2004)

website | myspace | sxsw
Also touring this month in Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas
Buy at itunes

"Local" music for me usually refers to the Los Angeles alternative (that's the "alt" in alt-gramma) music scene even though the city is a couple of hours' drive away from where I live. Friday night I took the opportunity to connect with a truly local music event just a few miles from where I live in western Riverside County, California.

Local promoter Full Value Entertainment had put together a show with five bands, held in a local elementary school auditorium. It was literally an all-ages show, with a few children looking as young as eight galloping around the hall. Most everyone else seemed to be from mid-teens to mid-20's. The room environment was sparkling clean--no smoking, drinking, or other mind-altering amusements--and playful and casual. For example, I've never seen anyone playing duck-duck-goose in the back of the Troubadour between sets, but they did here, and I'm not talking about the little kids.

Watching the acts was like musical archeology, starting with bands still trying to find their sound, working up to the older pros who've got all the moves down pat. For a venue not designed for rock shows, with poor lighting and unremarkable acoustics, things went pretty smoothly. Each band had to move their own equipment on the stage, set it up, do a quick sound check, and then play. No warming up. To their credits, they all performed their own songs--no covers. That's brave.

First band up was Humility, a young foursome whose greatest distinctions at this point are winning the battle of the bands in nearby Temecula and having the youngest drummer I have ever seen perform in a rock band. Scott, just 14 years old, is pretty decent on the skins. The band has been together only three years, with several changes in lineup already. The boys played loud power-rock with great enthusiasm and energy, but the melodies and vocals got lost in the noise in this live performance. At one point guitarist/keyboardist Mike Pulliam accompanied a song on Irish pennywhistle, an instrument that if incorporated more often could add a unique quality to their music.
Check their myspace page for a very nice little demo song called "Moonlite remix."

Next was The Trade, a five-piece from just up the interstate in Riverside, with several years over Humility and a lot more whiskers on their chins. Not surprisingly, they list Depeche Mode, the Cure, and New Order among their influences. Dressed in classic goth black, this band demonstrated more cohesiveness and stage presence. Singer Chris Lopez (in photo) left the stage with his cordless mike and prowled the room as his voice continued disorientingly from the speakers on the stage.

The Trade have just released a self-titled five-song EP, and they will be appearing at the Texas Rockfest next month, which runs concurrently with South By Southwest in Austin. For afficionados of traditional rock, this could be a band to watch.
The Trade: White Noise
Check myspace for more songs and their full tour schedule
website





The third band was Mouthful of Snow, which to me had the most complex lyrics and interestingly-crafted songs of the first four bands.

Singer-songwriter Kyle (in photo) has made brave attempts at some progressive arrangements that didn't quite synch in the live performance. The band has been recording and expects to have a CD by the end of next month.
Check their myspace page to listen to the demo of "Keep Running."







Next was Panima (pronounced "panama" like the canal), another five-piece from Riverside. This group sounds a lot like Homegrown used to when they were more punk-rock than ska. Panima have good rapport with their audience and demonstrate excellent timing in playing their arrangements. They have scored three dates in SoCal this June on the Van's Warped Tour and hope to have an album out before then.

Panima: Wake Up
Check their myspace to stream four songs and a video.



The headliners on the bill were Orange County band Limbeck, whom I last saw about a dozen years ago (see this post). Since then, they have become a country-rock band with a completely different sound even though they have changed only one band member in all that time. They have toured almost non-stop, although they recently took almost a year off to record a new album due to be released April 10. Friday's show was just the start of a long schedule that has Limbeck playing almost every night until mid-May. Part of that schedule includes a date at sxsw

The set included older favorites like "Comin' From Tuscson," "Honk and Wave," and "Sin City" as well as songs from the new CD: "Big Drag," "Parking Lot," and "Let's Get Crazy." I saw Anthony, lead singer of Humilty, focused on Limbeck's performance, and he should pay attention to these guys because they have paid the dues to earn their chops.

Limbeck: Comin' From Tucson from Hi, Everything's Great (2003)
Limbeck: Big Drag (2007)

website | myspace
Buy at amazon | emusic | iTunes

Sometimes life gets in the way of blogging (imagine that!), so today I need kind of an easy post without too much analyzation on my part. I decided to create a mini-sampler of a few of the huge number of bands that will be appearing at the music portion of the annual South by Southwest Festival in Austin, TX from March 14 - 18.

These are songs that I like a lot, but I haven't had the time to look up info about the bands, and I have maybe only one or two songs of theirs in my collection. However, I notice that my selection sometimes provides a little different take on the artists than the sample songs on the SXSW website. A few of the bands didn't provide a sample song. Enjoy!



the Nethers: She Hung Herself in a Birdcage - Washington, D.C
from In Fields We Will Lie (2006)
website | mspace | sxsw

the Redwalls: Hung Up On the Way I'm Feeling - Chicago, IL
from DeNova (2005)
website | myspace | sxsw

Luke Temple: Make Right With You - Brooklyn, NY
from Hold A Match For A Gasoline World (2004)
myspace | sxsw

the Rosebuds: Hold Hands and Fight - Raleigh, NC
from Birds Make Good Neighbors (2005)
website | myspace | sxsw

120 Days: Get Away - Kristiansund, Norway
from 120 Days (2006)
website | myspace | sxsw

the 6 Parts 7: This One or That One - Kent, OH
from Everywhere And Right Here (2004)
website | myspace | sxsw

Yesterday Calla released their fifth CD, Strength In Numbers. I have liked this band since the smoldering "It Dawned On Me" from 2005's Collisions caught my attention. From there I back-tracked to their 2003 album "Televised" and found several songs I liked there as well. If there is any flaw, it's that Calla never, ever deviate from their somber mold, but that's OK with me. This is definitely not happy-happy party music, but it is surely powerful and magnetic. It is great for late nights and earphones, and I like this kind of stuff for driving.

From listening to most of the tracks on Strength In Numbers, I would say that this album is at least as good as the previous ones, perhaps better. The smokey atmosphere and low-key drawl are immediately familiar. As usual, the tone is moody without becoming depressing. The guitars are delicious throughout, and that counts for a lot with me. The instrumental "Malo" and the lovely, melancholy "A Sure Shot" contain a hint of Spanish melodies that reflect the Texas roots of the members.

"Sanctify," "Bronson" (the pre-release single), the short but incendiary "Le Gusta el Fuego," and "Simone" (pronouned the Spanish way: Si-mo-NAY) provide the most "crunch" and energy. "Defenses Down" is a beautiful song about loss of innocence and fall from grace. I can also recommend "Stand Paralyzed" and "Malicious Manner." All in all, there are more interesting songs on this album than poor ones, and I can't at this time choose a favorite. The more I listen to it, the better I like it. It definitely gets my seal of approval.

Although the members originally came from Texas, Calla was formed in New York City in 1997 by Aurelio Valle (guitar, vocals), Sean Donovan (bass, keyboards, programming), and Wayne B. Magruder (percussion, programming), with Peter Gannon joining in 2003. Calla will be one of the showcase bands at SXSW next month.

It's very hard to limit myself, and these are just a few of the tracks that show Calla at their best:

Simone from Strength In Numbers (2007)

Swagger from Collisions (2005)

Strangler from Televised (2003)

official website | myspace
Buy at amazon | emusic | itunes (bonus track with album download)