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Posts Tagged ‘Skye’

Gwyneth Paltrow Raps With Jimmy Fallon; Prepares For â€œSNLâ€ Collabo With Cee-Lo?

January 4th, 2011 | No Comments

Gwyneth Paltrow showed off her musical talents again during a visit to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon this week. The duo debuted their hilarious spoof hip-hop videos – with Gwyneth decked out in a big poofy wig and Jimmy sporting dreadlocks – from their 90′s group called Shazzazz. When the Oscar winner last visited Late [...]

10 of the Sexiest World Records

May 5th, 2010 | No Comments

World records don’t always have to be about who can lift the most tractor tires or how many clothespins a guy can somehow attach to his face, sometimes they can be downright sexy.

The New Buzzword Document Scanning Posted By : Skye Ruf1

February 5th, 2010 | No Comments

Documents galore, paper everywhere, files in every corner of the office and an inability to locate exactly what we need this used to be the scenario in most offices many years ago. Storage facilities seemed to take up so much more space than the employees themselves.
A little later we saw the advent of computers

Scanning and Archiving your Documents Do it Now Posted By : Skye Ruf1

February 5th, 2010 | No Comments

Are you still filing all your papers and putting them inside large storage or filing cabinets? If you need to find some data that was entered into a file and then pushed into storage, what do you do then? You probably go into a large storage room, go through dusty boxes and spend some valuable time doing a non-productive search.

Cook’s Corner: 2009 Year In Review

January 2nd, 2010 | No Comments

By: Dennis Cook

I listened to a lot of music this year, approximately two new albums per day, give or take. Some might call this
‘heroic,’ others ‘ludicrous,’ and others still ‘grotesque.’ But, all this listening isn’t some sort of record geek
machismo; it’s an honest-to-god drive to find the best, coolest, most enriching music that can be found… and then
share what truffles I’ve sniffed out with y’all. Of the 120 full album reviews I penned this year for JamBase, only a
tiny few were negative and that’s not because I’m easy. Instead, my primary goal is to sing enthusiastically about the
great things I come across, and in many respects, this is the site’s overarching editorial philosophy in a nutshell. We
choose not to swing at everything, often passing on much that the mainstream and dominant indie rock outlets
cover in favor of artists we think rate just as highly (or higher) than many bands getting oodles of press.

There are some notable absences from my 2009 picks, releases that have been popping up on almost every year-end-roundup – the latest from The Avett Brothers, Wilco, Animal Collective, The Low Anthem, Monsters of Folk. This is not because I did not hear these albums – I worked hard to “get” each but found them all wanting in some
crucial way. I feel the albums highlighted here excel beyond these widely celebrated releases in some way, be it
artistically, technically, just plain entertainment value or for other less easily phrased reasons. One unifying factor in
all the Cook’s Corner choices is how each release succeeds as an album, not just a conglomeration of random tracks.
As music continues to shatter into easily digestible bits that we carry around in our pocket, I think there’s real value
in celebrating thoughtfully composed song cycles whose constituent parts add up to works with real power to inform
and elevate our lives. Music can be a skeleton key for unlocking the universe, starting with our own lil’ cosmos.
Here then is a big, jangling ring of possible tumbler turners for your consideration.

Cook’s Corner Top 25 Albums of 2009

Akron/Family: Set ‘Em Wild,
Set ‘Em Free

A clarion call for truth, beauty and an expanded sense of the universe. This is music that touches earth and sky,
interior and exterior worlds, and does so with an exuberance and musical fortitude that’s simply breathtaking.
Akron/Family truly believes in music’s power to shape a better, more engaged world, and Set ‘Em WildÂ…
finds them channeling ancestors as diverse as Woody Guthrie and Jerry Garcia, all of whom they do proud. (album review)

The Black Crowes: Before The
FrostÂ…Until The Freeze

The long-lived rockers’ first double album – captured live in front of hardcore fans at Levon Helm’s Barn in
Woodstock – found them more creatively switched-on and varied than anything previous in their catalogue. This is
the full plumage of one of the great bands of our time on proud display. (album
review)

Neal Casal: Roots And
Wings

A sterling addition to the California rock canon that can proudly take its place next to Jackson Browne’s Late For
The Sky and Gene Clark’s No Other. As lead guitarist and harmony foil in Ryan Adams & The Cardinals,
Casal is fantastic; on his own, in service to his own tender, painfully honest muse he is simply stunning. Put directly,
Neal Casal is one of the finest singer-songwriters to emerge in the past 20 years or more. Sleep on his work to your
own detriment. (album review)

Clutch: Strange Cousins From
The West

Tough, uncompromising hard rock with a fathoms deep connection to real blues. Clutch has steadily refined their
mayhem and grind into a diamond-tipped drill into the meat of things, snarling with righteous conviction and
smiling, fists clenched and a wicked glint in their eye, ready for all comers. (album
review)

Mike Dillon’s Go-Go Jungle:
Rock Star Bench Press

Possibly THE sleeper of ’09. Mike D, Go-Go Ray and JJ Jungle redeem the lazy shorthand “punk-jazz” by channeling
the best parts of both genres and then refashioning them into ontological handgrenades that splinter
preconceptions and social malaise. Bonus props for covering Jane’s Addiction and The Minutemen. (album review)

Gov’t Mule: By A
Thread

Very quietly, as far as the mainstream is concerned, Gov’t Mule has evolved into a devastating rock ‘n’ roll
juggernaut, and this is their finest studio hour yet. Powered by the tightest, most interesting songs Warren Haynes
has ever penned, this melds the original spirit of the Mule with the expansive surge of recent years into an
addictively listenable whole. (feature article)

Grizzly Bear:
Veckatimest

Likely 2009′s most misspelled word, Veckatimest defies simple explication. Though surely rock, there’s
something celestial and cavernously vast about this set. Where so much today is easily parsed, Grizzly Bear has
crafted music that retains its mystery no matter how many times one plumbs its depths. (album review)

Lucero: 1372 Overton
Park

A long promising band has made their first masterpiece, an album worthy of all the Springsteen and Replacements
comparisons they’ve accrued in the past 11 years. Ben Nichols has fully grown into his cheese-gratered, tough guy
voice, and his tales have the sort of flesh and reality one associates with the Drive-By Truckers or even Steely Dan in
Lucero’s love of n’er-do-wells wracked by longing and the weight of misdeeds. This is a cold shower and cup of
hot, mean coffee for blue collar souls, and lord knows we could use it right about now in America.

Manchester Orchestra: Mean
Everything To Nothing

Manchester Orchestra’s mixture of hooky chops and angried-up bite stirs memories of Nirvana, though there’s a
swoon to this that soothes the belly wound bleeding. Strident enough in places to appeal to the emo kids, this has
enough classic rock heft to lure in old long hairs like me. It takes a few spins to really feel the full measure of this
one but when it finally hits you it’s a Mike Tyson style haymaker. (show review)

The Mars Volta:
Octahedron

After multiple releases where blinding speed and obfuscated lyrical outpour dominated, The Mars Volta showed that
they’re equally brilliant when they slow down. Taken together with El Grupo Nuevo De Omar Rodriguez
Lopez and Xeonphanes and 2009 has blown the doors out for what’s possible from the dizzyingly
creative Mr. Lopez. Octahedron is oceanic, vast, dark waters that never reveal all that’s lurking below the
surface, yet one feels compelled to keep diving in again and again anyway.

Mastodon: Crack The
Skye

The finest hard rock concept album in the past five, possibly ten years, a work that begs comparisons to Metallica or
even Pink Floyd’s best efforts. The level of catharsis contained in these tracks is gigantic, pushed along by the finest
harmonies in metal today and real finesse with shifting moods and tempos. Mastodon comes at you with an
intensity and seriousness that’s compelling rather than off-putting, and thus is able to reach listeners outside
metal’s inner sphere. Anyone who has lost someone they love dearly will find terrific emotional resonance with
Crack The Skye, and perhaps, like the band – who spent the better part of 2009 playing the album in its
entirety live – one may find their scars have healed a bit after spending time with this one.

Ian McLagan & The Bump Band:
Never Say Never

With the heartbreaking inspiration of his wife’s passing, the Small Faces/Faces keyboardist has made the solo album
of his career. Grief and loss are dealt with honestly but not super-seriously, and the light bounce to some tunes
seems hard won and all the more satisfying because of it. Ghosts linger close here, but it’s the sort of haunting that
raises the goose bumps of first kisses and long, happy nights nestled against the one we love. (album
review)

Megafaun: Gather, Form &
Fly

A warm sigh that exhales particulate beauty. Megafaun produces a wild array of sounds for a trio, yet each is
anchored to a deep curiosity about what makes people and music tick. Quality black cloud pop, acoustic exploration
and full-on experimental clatter mingle in this release and none seems a strange bedfellow with Megafaun doing the
matchmaking. (album review), (show review)

The Mother Hips: Pacific
Dust

I’ll just come right out and say it: The Mother Hips are the perfect classic rock band. Two amazing songwriters and
four top-flight musicians, and everything just sounds fuckin’ great on this latest salvo. If one loves The Beatles and
anything else of that well-crafted, crazy talented ilk then you really should nestle between these Hips, especially
today when the quartet has every last element dialed in. (feature
article)

The Mumlers: Don’t Throw
Me Away

Only two albums in and San Jose, CA’s The Mumlers are well on their way to being a Great American Music band,
where multiple strains in the U.S.’s vast sonic tapestry get woven into terribly winning, smartly etched tunes. Will
Sprott writes and sings ‘em with the sharp eye and prematurely weathered pipes of vintage Tom Waits and Randy
Newman, though he seems decidedly less premeditatedly cool than either. The kid is just a natural and he’s got
boffo collaborators that make the whole shebang swing. Don’t blink and miss this band, please. (album
review)

Porcupine Tree: The Incident

With each release in recent years Porcupine Tree has grown into the rare modern equivalent to the great U.K. rock
boom of the late ’60s through the mid ’70s, where Deep Purple, Yes, Pink Floyd and other much-emulated Brits
experienced their heyday. The Incident continues the Tree’s evolution, melding the melodic grace and
widescreen vision of their forebears with contemporary metal’s density and electronica’s penchant for subtle shading
and fragmented congruencies. When combined with the band’s beautifully constructed, sensory pricking live show,
this song cycle shines even brighter, a testament to the material and the gifted craftsmen behind it. (feature
article)

Richmond Fontaine: We Used
To Think The Freeway Sounded Like A River

With zero fanfare, Richmond Fontaine may have produced the most fully realized album of their lengthy, woefully
under-appreciated career. Combining the heaviness and crunch of their early work with the bruised hope of
Post To Wire, their latest is further proof that this Portland, Oregon group is one of the finest American rock
units of the past two decades, every bit the equal of The Hold Steady, Wilco and other more press-pimped bands.
Bandleader Willy Vlautin breathes life into characters with dirt under their nails and skeletons in their closets. They
drink and worry too much and quietly long for some long shot that’s gonna pull them out of the muck. And held up
in the right light, they look a lot like you and me. The portraits drawn on We Used To Think The FreewayÂ…
are like glorious black & white films subtitled with the pithy insight of a great short story writer, and the whole band
plays with an eloquence and confidence that only comes from years & years of carving out one’s own identity with
steadfast conviction. This is armor and solace for the hard times ahead of most of us, and a poignant reminder that
tough going can sometimes produce work of resonant truth and compassionate humanity.

Todd Snider: The Excitement
Plan

“I’m broke as the Ten Commandments, and sometimes I’m harder to follow.” If there’s a funnier, more insightful
singer-songwriter than Todd Snider kicking around I’ve not encountered him or her. There’s an off-handed
dexterity and never-see-it-coming emotional wallop to The Excitement Plan, which strips things down to
the bright basics and lets Snider pick and croon with ol’ pros Greg Leisz, Don Was and Jim Keltner. Todd is right at
home in their company, spinning tales of LSD fueled no-hitters and the pitfalls of psychotherapy. This was my
comfort zone and never fail fallback album of ’09, waiting for me when the world started getting on my last nerve. It
made me dance when I thought I was out of jigs, and it made me acutely aware of my own bullshit on more than a
few occasions. Not many records make us better people but this one does. (album review)

The Staxx Brothers: We Are
The Blaxstonz

All things can be funky when the strings are manipulated by master funkateers like The Staxx Brothers. The
sophomore slab from these Seattle freakazoids is the perfect mixture of grime and polish, where they slap you high
five while simultaneously exposing the seamy side of our collective underbelly. Street and book smart, this crew
romps with purpose, creating impossible to get out of your head nuggets like “1992,” “Westsound Union” and “Game
Recognize Game.” With wafts of country and hard rock, they groove gloriously on their path towards a fab new soul
mythology. (show review)

Southeast Engine: From the
Forest to the Sea

Spirituality and the discontent of modern man are tough nuts to crack, but Southeast Engine leaves both wonderfully
shattered here. This is as urgent, heartfelt and musically electric as anything being dished up by My Morning Jacket
and Grizzly Bear, and like those kindred spirits, Southeast Engine moves with sincerity and utter conviction. You can
feel how much this music means to them and that translates into a great emotional journey for the listener.
One feels their toes slowly sink into hallowed ground as they move through the scorched earth scattered throughout
From the Forest to the Sea – truly a work inspired by and perfect for the times we live in. (album review)

Them Crooked Vultures:
Them Crooked Vultures

This pummels you like a sparking furnace, flames licking at your skin, perspiration running over your lips, the beast
in your gut awakened and anxious to eat, rut and otherwise live. Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), John Paul Jones
(Led Zeppelin) and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) didn’t have to try this hard. They could have farted out a
party record or done variations on blues scales and it would have likely met with moist praise. However, they’ve
fashioned a rugged, hard to penetrate, decidedly heavy rock album that finds them at the top of their respective
games. For all the “New Zeppelin” buzz flying around them, this is really its own thing, largely defined by Homme’s
razor sharp, unpredictable lyrics (mayhap the best in the mainstream since Beck’s Midnite Vultures) and
lascivious, unpredictable guitar and vocals. Jones is a total monster super-player here, too, and Grohl surprises with
the range of his stick work and ability to keep up with the Zep vet’s free-ranging, worldly chops. Every time I put
this on I feel like pounding mescal and getting into trouble somewhere off the grid.

Themselves:
Crownsdown

I want to rub this in the noses of every critic out there singing Kanye’s praises as a hip hop innovator. Jel and
Doseone are so far beyond anything that loudmouth egotist is ever likely to produce, and the slamming, brain-
bonking proof of that rests here. Adept at slogans that linger and impenetrable, rapid-fire word storms, Themselves
offers hope that hip hop, as an art form, still has a future despite the bleak, money grubbing, socially bankrupt
mainstream. (album review)

These United States:
Everything Touches Everything

Simply put, These United States give me hope and make me caper like there’s a decent tomorrow around the corner.
They’re like the roots rock cousin to Akron/Family’s genre-wilding, and the greater focus and leaner character of
Everything Touches Everything only moves their many virtues to the fore. Instead of choosing to be distant
and cool, they’ve chosen to enfold us in a bear hug and whisper small truths into our ear as we relax into the
welcome heat of them. The last bit of the liner notes I penned for this album read: “We are no longer prisoners of
the past, and the future is ours to make or break. Roll up your sleeves, grab a tambourine and a shovel and join the
revival.” Genuinely inspirational stuff from a band that only seems to get better and better.

Tortoise: Beacons of
Ancestorship

Many have tried but no one else really sounds like Tortoise, and they’ve put a few more miles between them and the
competition with this imaginative release. These Chicago boys have done a lot for instrumental music, expanding
the vocabulary for those who wish to tell stories with no words. Beacons confirms their leadership spot in
this rarified field with reenergized flair. (album review)

U2: No Line On The Horizon

Easily the most cohesive, thoughtful album this seemingly-never-ending powerhouse has released since
Achtung Baby (1991). Nothing like a couple of wars, worldwide environmental and hunger concerns, and a
rapidly changing social milieu to fire up this bunch. Absolutely no one tackles stadium size ideas better than U2,
and this is as fine a bunch of cross-cultural, people unifying songs as they’ve ever produced. They also sound like
they’re having a bit of fun, and The Edge keeps coming up with sumptuous new guitar tones. No Line On The
Horizon has a flow and feel right up there with U2′s mid-80s heyday, yet somehow manages to be resolutely
modern. There’s a reason they’re the biggest band on the planet. (album review)

And The RestÂ…

Top 10 Debut Albums of 2009

To my ears, this is the graduating class for this past year – artists one would be wise to keep tabs on because
they’re likely to be making amazing music in the years ahead based on the evidence of their respective opening
salvos.

1. Dan Auerbach: Keep It Hid
(album
review)

2. Dawes: North Hills (album review)

3. Fol Chen: Part I: John Shade,
Your Fortune’s Made (album review)

4. Here We Go Magic: Here We Go
Magic

5. Hiss Golden Messenger:
Country Hai East Cotton (album review)

6. James Husband: A Parallax
I

7. Lansdale Station: Lansdale
Station (album review)

8. Lions In The Street: Lions In The
Street (album review)

9. Rain Machine: Rain
Machine

10. Elijah and Jo Wilkinson: On Sacred
Ground (Mother and Son)

Best Mainstream Album of 2009

Lily Allen: It’s Not Me, It’s
You
The same part of me that morbidly follows the Eurovision competition is inexorably drawn to Ms. Allen. Shaking my
tush and singing along to the banjo dappled disco of “Not Fair” or belting out the black opening lines of “The Fear,” I
find I couldn’t give a flying fuck if it’s cool to dig her. I just do, warts and all, and she’s made a hell of a populist
gem. And she’s given us the fine flipping-the-bird farewell to George W. Bush and his ilk with “Fuck You,” so you
should like her, too. (album review)

International Release of 2009

Tinariwen: Imidiwan:
Companions (album review)

Best Tribute/Covers Albums of 2009

Phosphorescent: To Willie
(album
review)

Poor Man’s Whiskey: Dark Side of
the Moonshine

Archival Releases of 2009

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds: Mute
reissues (album review #1), (album
review #2)

Death: Â…For The Whole World To See (album review)

Chris Darrow: Chris
Darrow/Under My Own Disguise (album review)

Best “New” Classic Rock Albums of 2009 (or “The Zeppy Award”)

Leroy Justice: The Loho
Sessions (album review)
Powder Mill: Do Not Go
Gently (album review)

Concept Album of 2009

Mike Keneally: Scambot 1 (album review)

Soul Album of 2009

The Black Seeds: Solid
Ground (album review)

Best Live Album of 2009

Thin Lizzy: Still Dangerous
(album
review)

Best Dance Album of 2009

Gossip: Music For Men (album review)

Best EPs of 2009

Hottub: On Blast! (EP review)

The New Up: Better Off

Best “Best Of” Anthology of 2009

Blur: Midlife: A Beginner’s Guide
To Blur

Surprising Return To Form of 2009

KISS: Sonic Boom

Best Bong Hit ‘n’ Headphones Album of 2009 (or What Several Species of Small Furry Animals Are Grooving
To In A Cave These Days)

The Flaming Lips:
Embryonic

25 Songs from 2009 That Will Greatly Enrich Your Life

1. “Gimakiny Akia” by Extra Golden
2. “One String Harp” by Bell X1
3. “Messing With My Head” by Tinted Windows
4. “The Fade” by Megafaun
5. “That Western Skyline” by Dawes
6. “Laughing With” by Regina Spektor
7. “16 & Valencia Roxy Music” by Devendra Banhart
8. “Blue Moon” by Drug Rug
9. “Cocaine & Ashes” by Son Volt
10. “Northern Lights” by Bowerbirds
11. “Calling All Crows” by State Radio
12. “Blanket of Weeds” by Meat Puppets
13. “Crying Lightning” by Arctic Monkeys
14. “‘Til My Voice Is Gone” by The Old Ceremony
15. “Goodbye” by The Maldives
16. “The Way You Can Get” by The Gourds
17. “So Slowly” by Early Day Miners
18. “East Jesus Nowhere” by Green Day
19. “Another World” by Antony and the Johnsons
20. “Needle Down” by Super 400
21. “Alice Mae” by Hill Country Revue
22. “Divide & Conquer” by Vandaveer
23. “Hurry For The Sky” by Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3
24. “Leave The Window Open” by Chuck Prophet
25. “Stillness Is The Move” by Dirty Projectors

A Look To The FutureÂ…

Covers There Should Be A Moratorium On In 2010

Okay, Michael Jackson is gone. Six months of “Billie Jean” and “Thriller” covers is enough. Really. And be honest,
most of the attempts at Michael’s catalog were pretty limp by comparison to the Pop King’s studio grandeur. The
Corner suggests that acts seeking to increase their soul quotient explore the rich catalogs of Donny Hathaway,
Funkadelic, The Temptations and Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson for some primo, less-traveled fare.

5 Artists To Watch in 2010

There’s something special brewing in this shortlist of really, really talented folks. My gut instinct is these bands are
on the verge of major musical breakthroughs, both in the studio and onstage.

1. Flowmotion

2. Everest

3. J. Tillman

4. Hot Buttered Rum

5. Backyard Tire Fire

JamBase | Headphones On
Go See Live Music!

Best of 2009 JamBase Staff List

December 25th, 2009 | No Comments

Kayceman’s Cuts of 2009

Kayceman

Aaron Kayce (Kayceman) – Editor-in-Chief

Albums

1. Alberta Cross – Broken Side of Time

2. Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse – Dark Night of the Soul

3. Built to Spill – There Is No Enemy

4. Mastodon – Crack The Skye

5. Elliott Brood – Mountain Meadows

Shows

1. Them Crooked Vultures | 11/19/09 | Fox Theater Oakland, CA

2. Widespread Panic | 11/13/09 | Fox Theater Oakland, CA (review)

3. The Mars Volta | 08/29/09 | Outside Lands Festival, San Francisco, CA (review)

Dennis Cook

Dennis Cook – Associate Editor

Albums (no particular order)
1. Mastodon – Crack The Skye
2. Akron/Family – Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free
3. Todd Snider – The Excitement Plan
4. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
5. The Black Crowes – Before The Frost…After The Freeze

Close runners-up: Bruce Springsteen at HP Pavilion (04.01), Mastodon at San Jose Events Center (11.21), Flowmotion at Summer Meltdown (08.15), Tom Jones at Outside Lands (08.28), and Bon Iver/Megafaun at Fillmore (09.22).

Andy Gadiel

Andy Gadiel – JamBase Founder & President

Albums (no particular order)
1. Fun – Aim & Ignite
2. The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
3. Jerry Garcia Band – Let It Rock – Keystone ’75
4. Nathan Moore – Folk Singer
5. Corinne West – The Promise

David Rosenheim

David Rosenheim – CEO

Albums
1. Polvo – In Prism
2. The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
3. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
4. The Mother Hips – Pacific Dust
5. Bat for Lashes – Two Suns

Tanner Wyer

Tanner Wyer – Sales Associate

Albums
1. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
2. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
3. Miike Snow – self-titled
4. Mother Hips – Pacific Dust
5. Portugal. The Man – Satanic Satanist

Mason Blake

Mason Blake – Lead Engineer

Albums
1. The Mother Hips – Pacific Dust
2. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
3. Alberta Cross – Broken Side of Time
4. Passion Pit – Manners
5. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion

Patty Kaufman

Patty Kaufman – Information Coordinator

Albums
1. Alberta Cross – Broken Side of Time
2. The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
3. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
4. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
5. Iron and Wine – Around the Well

SuperDee

Deanne Herman – Web Producer & Designer

Albums
1. The Avett Brothers – I And Love And You
2. Phish – Joy
3. Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
4. The Lonely Island – Incredibad
5. Nathan Moore - Folk Singer

Runners-up: Umphrey’s McGee’s Mantis and Lily Allen’s It’s Not Me, It’s You

Geoff Harrison

Geoff Harrison – Sales Director and Biz Dev

Albums
1. Erin McKeown – Hundreds of Lions
2. Marco Benevento – Me Not Me
3. Cracker – Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey
4. Band of Skulls – Baby Darling Doll Face Honey
5. Brendan Benson – My Old, Familiar Friend

Leah Elton

Leah Elton – Accounting Manager

Albums
1. IAMX – Kingdom of Welcome Addiction
2. Manic Street Preachers – Journal for Plague Lovers
3. John Vanderslice – Romanian Names
4. The Horrors – Primary Colours
5. Bat for Lashes – Two Suns

Matt Tice

Matt Tice – Sales

Albums
1. Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
2. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
3. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
4. Elbow & The BBC Concert Orchestra – The Seldom Seen Kid
5. Fever Ray – self-titled

Jennifer Zeghibe

Jennifer Zeghibe – Sales

Albums
1. Levon Helm – Electric Dirt
2. Dan Auerbach – Keep It Hid
3. J.J. Cale – Roll On

Honorable Mention:
Greensky Bluegrass | 11.05.09 | Mission Rock | San Francisco, CA

Jamie Piazza – JamBase Web Producer & Designer

Albums
1. Passion Pit – Manners
2. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
3. The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
4. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion
5. Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca

Crystal Carlson – JamBase Information Coordinator

Albums (no particular order)
1. Monsters of Folk – self-titled
2. The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
3. The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love
4. Umphrey’s McGee – Mantis
5. The XX – self-titled

Shows

1. Phish | 03.06.09 | Hampton Coliseum
2. Bon Iver | 09.22.09 | The Fillmore
3. Ween | 08.30.09 | Outside Lands

Continue reading for Best of 2009 lists from JamBase Writers, Friends and Associates…

Brian Bavosa – JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Brock Butler – Lately Here Though
2. Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3
3. Phish – Joy
4. Monsters of Folk – self-titled
5. The Flaming Lips – Embryonic

Shows

Basically, Phish is back!!!

Sarah Hagerman – JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Danny Barnes – Pizza Box
2. Elliott BROOD – Mountain Meadows
3. Sometymes Why – Your Heart is a Glorious Machine
4. Akron/Family – Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free
5. The Felice Brothers – Yonder is the Clock

Jake Krolick – JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Dan Auerbach – Keep It Hid
2. The Heavy – The House That Dirt Built
3. The Mother Hips – Pacific Dust
4. Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros – Up From Below
5. Floating Action – Floating Action

Susan J. Weiand – Photographer, JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Phish – Joy
2. Umphrey’s McGee – Mantis
3. The Derek Trucks Band – Already Free
4. Chick Corea & John McLaughlin Five Peace Band – Five Peace Band, Live
5. Jimmy Herring Band – Lifeboat

Josh Miller – Photographer, JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. The Mother Hips – Pacific Dust
2. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
3. The Black Crowes – Before The FrostÂ…
4. The Dead Weather – Horehound
5. The Flaming Lips – Embryonic

Ron Hart – JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Part II
2. Elvis Costello – Secret, Profane and Sugarcane
3. Iggy Pop – Preliminaires
4. Flaming Lips – Embryonic
5. Dam-Funk – Toeachizown

Steven Walter – Photographer, JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
2. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus
3. The Felice Brothers – Yonder is the Clock
4. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
5. J. Tillman – Year in the Kingdom

Andrew Bruss – JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion

2. Mastodon – Crack The Skye

3. Raekwon – Only Built For Cuban Linx Pt. II

Shows
1. My Morning Jacket At Madison Square Garden on NYE 2008.

Technically the second set was this year and it was the best musical performance I saw this year.

2. Phish at Fenway Park

3. Animal Collective at the House Of Blues in Boston, MA 5/14

Wesley Hodges – JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Passion Pit – Manners
2. Alberta Cross – Broken Side of Time
3. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
4. Atlas Sound – Logos
5. Dinosaur Jr. – Farm

B Getz – JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Jerry Garcia Band – Let It Rock – Keystone ’75
2. Mos Def – The Ecstatic
3. Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3
4. (tie) Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt. II/Wu-Tang Clan – Chamber Music
5. (tie) Lil Wayne No Ceilings (official mixtape)/Clipse – Til the Casket Drops

Cal Roach – JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
2. Minsk – With Echoes In The Movement Of Stone
3. BLK JKS – After Robots
4. Themselves – CrownsDown
5. Krallice – Dimensional Bleedthrough

Casey Flanigan – Photographer, JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Phish – Joy
2. Bassnectar – Cozza Frenzy
3. Jay-Z – Blueprint 3
4. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
5. Green Day – 21st Century Breakdown

Court Scott – JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Pearl Jam – Backspacer
2. The Black Crowes – Before the FrostÂ…Until the Freeze
3. N.A.S.A. – Spirit of Apollo
4. Them Crooked Vultures – self-titled

Eric Podolsky – JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Monsters of Folk – self-titled
2. Return to Forever – Returns
3. Steve Martin – The Crow: New Songs For The 5-String Banjo
4. The Black Crowes – Before the Frost… After the Freeze
5. Vetiver – Tight Knit

JC Mcilwaine – JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Pretty Lights – Passing By Behind Your Eyes
2. Blitzen Trapper – Black River Killer
3. White Rabbits – It’s Frightening
4. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
5. Soulsavers – Broken

Kevin Schwartzbach – JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
2. Super Furry Animals -Dark Days/Light Years
3. Jim O’Rourke – The Visitor
4. Wilco – Wilco (the Album)
5. Rodrigo y Gabriela – 11:11

Zack Sampsel – Photographer, JamBase Contributor

Albums
Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3
DÃ¢m-Funk – Toeachizown
Pantyraid – The Sauce
Drake – So Far Gone
Neon Indian – Psychic Chasms

Ryan Dembinsky – JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Fanfarlo – Reservoir
2. The Avett Bros – I and Love and You
3. Devendra Banhart – What We Will Be
4. Alec Ounsworth – Mo Beauty
5. Bela Fleck – Throwdown Your Heart

Norman Sands – Photographer, JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Anthology
2. AC/DC – Backtracks
3. Mark Karan – Walk through fire
4. Tea Leaf Green – Coffee Bean Brown Comes Alive
5. Cornmeal – Live

Andy Tennille – BLURT & JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Dan Auerbach – Keep It Hid
2. Dave Rawlings Machine – Friend Of A Friend
3. Heartless Bastards – The Mountain
4. Monsters of Folk – self-titled
5. Alberta Cross – The Broken Side of Time

Fred Mills – BLURT Managing Editor & JamBase Contributor

Albums
1. Flaming Lips – Embryonic
2. Reigning Sound – Love & Curses
3. Doveman – The Conformist
4. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – self-titled
5. The Avett Brothers – I And Love And You

Justin Gillett – JamBase contributor

Albums
1. Pretty Lights – Passing Before Your Eyes
2. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
3. Big Gigantic – Fire it Up
4. Eliot Lipp – Peace Love Weed 3D
5. Neon Indian – Psychic Chasms

Lindsay Colip – JamBase contributor

1. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
2. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
3. Vetiver – Tight Knit
4. White Lies – To Lose My Life
5. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion

Alex Borsody – JamBase contributor

Albums
1. Gov’t Mule – By a Thread
2. Garage a Trois – Power Patriot
3. Math Head – Stab City
4. Mastodon – Crack The Skye
5. Greensky Bluegrass – Five Interstates

Mike Bookey – JamBase contributor

Albums
1. Monsters of Folk – self-titled
2. Pearl Jam – Backspacer
3. The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
4. Dusty Rhodes and the River Band – Palace and Stage
5. The Decemberists – Hazards of Love

Jeff Terich – JamBase Contributor, Editor at www.treblezine.com

Albums
1. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
2. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
3. The Antlers – Hospice
4. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
5. Baroness – Blue Record

Tim Dwenger – JamBase contributor

Albums
1. Smoove, Turrell – Antique Soul
2. M Ward – Hold Time
3. Everest – Ghost Notes
4. The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love
5. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion

J Gibson – reapandsow

Albums
1. Flaming Lips – Embryonic
2. Alberta Cross – Broken Side of Time
3. Mastodon – Crack the Skye
4. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
5. Big Rock Candy Mountain – self titled

Top Tracks
1. “Here to Fall” by Yo La Tengo
2. “These are my twisted words” by Radiohead
3. “Broken Side of Time” by Alberta Cross

Best Music Industry Article
“Smashing the CD… to Bits” by Paul Resnikoff (Digital Music News)

Jonathan Zwickel – Music Writer At Large

Albums
1. The Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
2. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!
3. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
4. The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
5. The Heliocentrics with Mulatu Astatke – Information Inspiration Vol. II

Melissa Adair – Elevation Group

Albums
1. The Mother Hips – Pacific Dust
2. Monsters of Folk – self-titled
3. The Dead Weather – Horehound
4. The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
5. Nicki Bluhm – Toby’s Song

Jonathan Fordin – Camp Bisco Promoter, MCP Management

Albums (in no order)

1. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular

2. Jay-Z – Blueprint 3

3. Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon

4. Muse – The Resistance

5. Kings of Leon – Only by Night (Technically 2008 but tour was 2009)

Shows

1. U2

2. Muse (Opening for U2)

3. Camp Bisco – Nas and Damian Marley

Mike Greenhaus – Relix

Albums
1. Levon Helm – Electric Dirt
2. Passion Pit – Manners
3. Phish – Joy/Party Time
4. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – self-titled
5. The Black Crowes – Before the FrostÂ…
6. The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You

Ted Kartzman – IODA, reapandsow

Albums
1. Dawes – North Hills
2. The Mother Hips – Pacific Dust
3. Built To Spill – There Is No Enemy
4. Alberta Cross – Broken Side of Time
5. The XX – self-titled

Please use the Comments Section to tell the world what your top albums and shows are from 2009.

Continue reading for 2009 Stats!

Top Searched Bands of the Year

Phish

Pretty Lights

STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9)

The Disco Biscuits

Widespread Panic

The Dead

Umphrey’s McGee

Yonder Mountain String Band

moe.

Keller Williams

Radiohead

Dark Star Orchestra

EOTO

Lotus

The Allman Brothers Band

Railroad Earth

Bassnectar

Gov’t Mule

The New Deal

Furthur

Bands with the Most Shows

The World Famous Platters 436

Circle B Cowboy Supper Music 352

The Platters 307

Bill Medley 292

Roy Rogers Jr. 287

The Jim Stafford Show 260

Redhead Express 255

SIX 249

Fab Four Live 237

Baldknobbers Jamboree 235

The Marvelettes 234

Stacy Mitchhart 228

Zach Deputy 216

Joanna Connor 211

Passafire 204

Shinedown 203

Celtic Woman 198

Lightnin’ Malcolm & Cedric Burnside 198

A Skylit Drive 198

The Rankin Brothers 196

Venues with the Most Shows

Kingston Mines Chicago IL 627

Circle B Theater Branson MO 422

The Starlite Theatre Branson MO 414

B.B. King Blues Club New York NY 387

Jazz Alley Seattle WA 360

Le Poisson Rouge New York NY 345

Birchmere Alexandria VA 343

Mercury Lounge New York NY 329

9:30 Club Washington DC 323

The Jazz Standard New York NY 317

Highline Ballroom New York NY 313

The Masquerade Atlanta GA 310

Bowery Ballroom New York NY 309

Beachland Ballroom/Tavern Cleveland OH 309

Jim Stafford Theatre Branson MO 304

Iridium Jazz Club New York NY 300

The Independent San Francisco CA 300

Emo’s Alternative Lounge Austin TX 288

World Cafe Live Philadelphia PA 288

The Roy Rogers Theater Branson MO 287

JamBase | San Francisco

Go See Live Music!

Mastodon/Dethklok | 10.27 | Boston

November 4th, 2009 | No Comments

Words by: Andrew Bruss | Images by: Steve Klise

Mastodon/Dethklok :: 10.27.09 :: House of Blues :: Boston, MA

Brann Dailor – Mastodon :: 10.27 :: Boston

Mastodon came through Boston’s House of Blues, performing the entirety of 2009′s Crack The Skye, effectively fucking the eardrums of their fans for the first of a two-night, sold out run.

Touring alongside Dethklok, the fictional cartoon metal band staring on Cartoon Network’s Metalocalypse, Mastodon had their work cut out for them. Although the Atlanta-based quartet had the longest set of the two acts, the bearded, tattooed members of Mastodon found themselves performing to a crowd of greasy haired high school kids who came to support their favorite cartoon. For as many Mastodon fans as there were in the house, those in attendance for Dethklok seemed to have minimal background on the ever-intense nature of one of the most progressive metal bands in the world.

To Mastodon’s credit, they sold out the venue the last time they came through Beantown, without the assistance of Dethklok. Following their performance, while stagehands set up the massive screen that Dethklok performed under, Mastodon’s Brann Dailor (drums) told JamBase, “It was pretty much just as packed as the last time [we played here], but I think Dethklok is awesome. We’re all huge fans of the show.” He added, “The crowd seemed awesome, and I think they’re going to go fucking ballistic for Dethklok.”

Attendees proved responsive to Dethklok, but from the opening licks of “Oblivion,” the entire crowd was eating out of Mastodon’s palm. With devil horns in the air, the group’s crowd moshed and head banged along to every intricate rhythm that boomed out of the house PA.

Troy Sanders – Mastodon :: 10.27

As video projections of Rasputin filled the back of the stage, Troy Sanders (bass) and Brent Hinds (guitar) traded vocal duties, the former covering the low end and the latter forcing a higher-pitch, Ozzy Osbourne-esque tone through his embattled larynx.

When the group went into the instrumental segments of their carefully crafted compositions, Sanders, holding down center stage, had a tendency to rock out towards the back by the drum kit, while Hinds and Bill Kelliher (guitar) flanked both sides of the stage as they powered through the intricate, multi-layered six-string components they’ve trademarked.

Mastodon has developed a reputation as one of the fiercest, tightest acts known to man. But if there was one member who stood out as the leader, it was Dailor. You don’t see a lot of drummers who can take care of vocal responsibilities from behind their kit, and amongst those who can, Dailor put the Don Henleys of the world to shame. When describing Dailor’s method, the words ‘power’ and ‘speed’ cannot be used lightly. For the entirety of their set, it seemed as though Dailor was plowing through nonstop drum rolls with the explosive energy of a frag grenade.

Although “The Czar” runs at the core of the album’s Rasputin/Space Travel theme, the title track seemed to elicit the strongest response from the crowd. “Crack The Skye,” written in memory of Dailor’s late sister, opens on a mellower note, but in no time had the crowd stampeding in circles harder than they had for any other tune.

After the albums closer, “The Last Baron,” Mastodon left the stage before an encore consisting of tunes from their other albums, 2006′s Blood Mountain, and 2004′s Leviathan.

Dethklok :: 10.27 :: Boston

Dethklok came out cloaked in black, under dim lighting that allowed Metalocalypse‘s behind-the-scenes masterminds to keep a low profile. Cartoon projections took the place of any effective showmanship, and as the group tore into the show’s theme song, cheers erupted, although a reasonable chunk of the crowd left following Mastodon’s performance.

For men whose primary job is the creation of a cartoon, Metalocalypse creators Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha deserve massive props for writing technically proficient metal tunes that can share the stage with an act like Mastodon. But unlike Mastodon, Dethklok’s biggest problem lies in their authenticity. Rather than converting Mastodon fans with guitar-shredding credentials, they played to a crowd of existing fans who saw a performance that, more than anything, came across as a caricature of acts like Mastodon.

Given the lopsided nature of the bill’s authenticity, in hindsight it would have been more appropriate to have Mastodon follow Dethklok, but given the finances that EA Games’ Brutal Legend put into promotions, the reasoning behind the order was obvious. Regardless, even with a less-than-perfect schedule, anyone who bought a ticket to see Mastodon got to witness something they probably wouldn’t have seen otherwise. And the folks in attendance who came for Dethklok likely walked away with a new appreciation of what metal can truly be.

Mastodon and Dethklok are on tour now; dates available here.

And for more on Mastodon, check our exclusive feature/interview here.

Continue reading for more images of Mastodon and Dethklok in Boston…

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JamBase | Throwing The Horns
Go See Live Music!

Street Scene | 08.28 – 08.29 | San Diego

September 9th, 2009 | No Comments

Words by: Jeffrey Terich | Images by: Candice Eley

Street Scene :: 08.28.09 – 08.29.09 :: Downtown San Diego – East Village :: San Diego, CA

Street Scene 2009

Street Scene is far from the largest music festival in Southern California – that honor easily goes to Coachella – but it’s most certainly one of the biggest music festivals of its kind, not just on the West Coast, but in the entire country. Marking its 25th year, Street Scene celebrated its anniversary in 2009 much the same way it began, by lining up a diverse array of bands on five stages plunked down into the middle of Downtown San Diego’s East Village neighborhood. Though San Diego may not have quite the awe-inspiring skyline of Chicago or New York City, the lights of the city and the glow of the nearby clock tower make an atmospheric halo for the festival. And unlike Chicago or New York City, San Diego promises about a zero percent chance of rainstorms in August.

In spite of the unique and visually dazzling atmosphere of Street Scene, it bears asking why the festival should take place in the hottest month in a town where winter weather is actually pretty damn comfortable. Perhaps there’s just something more appealing to the hedonist in all of us about a music festival that happens during the summertime. Clothes come off, dancing comes natural and the beer tastes that much sweeter. And despite each day starting off with a long, slow punishment by a merciless sun, Street Scene provided one big, colorful, rocking way for many of San Diego’s residents and visitors to close out the summer.

Having once attended Street Scene in 2003 to see Wilco, the one image that burned deepest into my memory was that of a longhaired man rocking out with a turkey leg in his hand. This year’s fest seemed a bit more youth oriented, however, as the lineup of talent ranged from local noise punks Wavves to pop superstars the Black Eyed Peas. Tasting flights of micro-brewed beers and falafel sandwiches, girls in naughty schoolgirl outfits and absurd headgear from “The Radd Hatter” all provided their own entertainment to those who dared indulge themselves, and the musical lineup made 2009 one of the best years in the festival’s history. And with so many stages to hit up over two nights trying to hear it all may not have been possible, but the exhausting task of trying to come close sure was fun.

Friday, 08.28

Extra Golden :: 5:00-5:40 p.m. :: Casbah Stage

Gustav Ejstes – Dungen :: Street Scene 2009

Extra Golden, an indie rock band gone global, comprises three American boys and two Kenyan natives, and their cross-pollinated world beat rock seemed the ideal way to kick off the hot evening. The fact that the group’s guitarist even announced, “We’re Extra Golden from the United States and Kenya,” spoke volumes about the blend of sounds the group cooked up on the Casbah Stage. With their upbeat, yet intricate Afro-rock jams, Extra Golden was absolutely vibrant and appeared as if they were having the time of their lives, an enthusiasm that was absolutely infectious. Their singer frequently busted out his own air guitar moves while the other musicians were in mid-jam, and truth be told, it was hard not to follow his lead.

Dungen :: 5:30-6:15 p.m. :: Green Stage

Dungen, a group that often sounds colossal on record, came off a bit understated onstage, hidden behind golden locks of hair and sunglasses. Still, once frontman Gustav Ejstes announced, “We are Dungen… Swedish music,” they launched into an energetic set peppered with wild, noisy instrumentals and psychedelic pop tunes from their past three albums. In particular, “Festival” from Ta Det Lugnt sounded magnificent, Ejstes’ acoustic guitar strums providing a clean, crisp counterpart to the effects-laden madness of much of their set. Still, the band seemed to express some mild frustration, as Ejstes lamented, “It’s hard to play quiet when there’s so much music out there,” while the band’s folky rock did battle with booming bass from nearby stages.

Devendra Banhart :: 5:50-6:35 p.m. :: Fulana Stage

Brent Hinds – Mastodon :: Street Scene 09

When bearded freak-folkie Devendra Banhart took the stage, he immediately took a seat to plink out a thumb piano rendition of “Little Yellow Spider,” and that folding chair was exactly where he would spend the entire set, due to a cracked rib. He apologized, though he was still able to pull off a set of great songs, both new and old, ranging from his silly Bar Mitzvah doo-wop love song “Shabop Shalom” to his Santana-esque banger “Carmencita.” Between songs he showed off his homemade Modest Mouse t-shirt and demanded, “We need some Astroturf up in this motherfucker,” as a cushion against the hard blacktop ground. While the Bay Area singer-songwriter certainly sounded great and maintained a humorous and charismatic stage presence, it would have been ideal to have seen him… you know… move. But that’s not necessarily his fault – happy healing Devendra!

Mastodon :: 7:00-8:00 p.m. :: Zarabanda Stage

The sole metal band performing at this year’s festival, Mastodon brought some much needed fire and muscle to Street Scene. Guitarist Brent Hinds looked considerably more out of it than his three bandmates, possibly due to a green leafy substance (just speculating…), but still managed not to flub a single note during their epic, monstrous hour-long set. Continuing the precedent set on earlier tour dates, Mastodon ripped through the entirety of their new album Crack the Skye. I’ll admit, it would have been cool to hear an older favorite such as “Blood and Thunder” or “March of the Fire Ants,” but that’s no slight against the group’s performance, which was sufficiently badass. In particular, the Southern rock leaning single “Divinations,” which saw the formation of the first mosh pit of the evening. In the interest of self-preservation, I chose not to partake of the chaotic human blender before me, but I can certainly appreciate the enthusiasm, if not the bruises. Just next to the band, on the right side of the stage, sat two young children, no older than five-years-old, watching with giant headphones on, next to what I assume was their mother. Something tells me those kids are going to turn out all right.

Deerhunter :: 8:15-9:00 p.m. :: Casbah Stage

Atlanta, GA’s Deerhunter proved to be one of the most welcome surprises at the fest this year, not because they aren’t an incredible band, but rather that their noisy indie rock seems far better suited to a small, dark club than to a festival stage. And yet, their Street Scene set was much more impressive than the last time I had caught the band. Singer and guitarist Bradford Cox seemed much more at ease onstage, and the group’s musicianship was simultaneously tight and fluid. Poor sound and some unplanned squalls of feedback did keep the set from being perfect, but that didn’t stop Deerhunter from burning through some amazing versions of tracks like rhythmic rocker “Cryptograms” or the bluesy, psychedelic “Saved by Old Times.” During the set, people in the crowd were treated to a visit by what appeared to be some kind of swamp monster. The band didn’t seem to notice, which may be all for the best.

Modest Mouse :: 9:40-10:40 p.m. :: Fulana Stage

Calexico :: Street Scene 2009

The overwhelming size of Modest Mouse’s crowd was a testament to just how far the Washington band has come in their nearly 15-year career. And unlike Cake‘s nearby performance of hit after hit (ranging from “Rock ‘n’ Roll Lifestyle” to “The Distance”), Modest Mouse stuck primarily to deeper album cuts, save for the two singles “Paper Thin Walls” and “Dashboard.” What was most notable about their set was how tight and professional it sounded. These are two words that few would have associated with the band in the ’90s, but as they transitioned seamlessly from rockers to ballads, switching from guitars to accordion, violins to banjo and bowed bass, they showed off a versatility and craftsmanship more than a decade in the making. Frontman Isaac Brock still howled like a madman, of course, but for all of their fractured glory, Modest Mouse revealed the sound of a group that had their shit together.

Calexico :: 10:30-11:45 p.m. :: Casbah Stage

Faced with the choice of the spectacle of the Black Eyed Peas or the Southwestern sonic bliss of Calexico, I opted, without hesitation, for the latter. Getting retarded and lovely lady lumps are all fine and good, but Calexico’s brand of dusty, spaghetti western Americana is something special and altogether unique. Their performance, much like their consistently broad and consistently good albums, ran a wide gamut, from energetic and cinematic single “Crystal Frontier” to Morricone-meets-mariachi instrumental “Minas de Cobre” to the vibrant, brassy “Across the Wire.” The true standouts, however, were the pair of songs they performed with fellow Tucsonian, flamenco singer Salvador Duran, whose Spanish vocals were so operatic and powerful they brought the group’s music to a dramatic new level. Though it may not have been the most bombastic or flashy performance of the day, it was clearly one of the best, and a great close to a long and sweltering first day.

Continue reading for Saturday’s coverage of Street Scene…

Saturday, 08.29

Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears:: 4:30-5:05 p.m. :: Fulana Stage

Black Joe Lewis :: Street Scene 2009

One of the most unfortunate aspects of being one of the earliest festival performers is that sometimes the overbearing heat can drive crowds away from your set, thus making shade your greatest competition. That said, hot as it was Saturday afternoon, Austin, Texas’ Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears were much hotter. Like a more comfortable looking James Brown, Lewis commanded the stage with fire and finesse, leading a band of well-coordinated musicians clad in white shirts and black pants. One garage soul stomper transitioned into another before Lewis prefaced “Get Yo Shit” by saying, “A lot of people ask me what song I hate playing the most. It’s actually the song that people ask to hear the most.” He didn’t look like he minded all that much.

Ra Ra Riot:: 5:10-5:45 p.m. :: Fulano Stage

Syracuse, NY chamber pop outfit Ra Ra Riot ran the risk of being swallowed whole by the overwhelming size of the Fulano Stage, but pulled off a hell of a performance regardless, churning out their catchy, elegant pop tunes with passion and a smile. Kicking off the show by declaring, “We’re here to pahhhh-tayyy,” the sextet played a half-hour set comprising songs from 2008′s The Rhumb Line, maintaining their exuberance throughout. Their cellist, of all people, appeared to be grooving the whole time, which is probably just as hard as it sounds.

Los Campesinos! :: 5:40-6:30 p.m. :: Casbah Stage

Of Montreal :: Street Scene 2009

Before spunky Welsh indie rockers shouted out the opening count-off of first song “Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats,” frontman Gareth Campesinos leapt off of the photo pit barrier and into the crowd, where he yelped amongst the giddy members of the audience. This was merely the beginning of what would turn out to be one of the most dramatic and emotional showcases of the weekend, as it was the group’s final performance with keyboardist Aleksandra Campesinos!, who is leaving the band to pursue her studies, as was announced in a MySpace post. In tribute to her, the other six members of the band wore t-shirts with her face on them as they plowed through amazing renditions of “Miserabilia,” “Death to Los Campesinos!,” “My Year in Lists” and “You! Me! Dancing!” Before the end of the set, Gareth raised his beer in a toast to “best… fucking… friends” before closing out a set that found Aleksandra choking up and hugging her bandmates as it came to a close. In spite of whatever cynicism one may have had coming into the fest, it was hard not to find that moment genuinely touching.

Of Montreal:: 7:00-8:00 p.m. :: Fulano Stage

Thanks to Public Enemy, whose set ran long (not that Flavor Flav’s crowd encouragement chants weren’t entertaining), Of Montreal’s set started a good 20 minutes late, and not without some major technical difficulties. At first the band’s sound was way too quiet, then they became plagued by a horrendous buzzing noise, but sure enough, by their third song, “Bunny Ain’t No Kind of Rider,” the flamboyant Athens, GA glam-psych-pop outfit finally overcame their digital grievances and followed through with 45 minutes of stunning rock theatrics. Musically, the group was jubilant and heavy on danceable beats, with electro-pop tracks like “Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse,” “The Party’s Crashing Us” and “A Sentence of Sorts In Kongsvinger” making up the bulk of the set. Yet the group’s sensory stimulation wasn’t merely limited to screeching synthesizers and costume changes; much of their set included strange performance art that included, among other things, a gas mask gift exchange, dressing Death in papal garb and a man in a tiger mask beckoning for applause. One gentleman walking away after the end of the performance said it best: “Well, that was a mindfuck.”

Ted Leo & the Pharmacists:: 8:00-8:45 p.m. :: Green Stage

Dean Spunt – No Age :: Street Scene 2009

“All the other bands sucked today. You better kick ass!” shouted one grumpy, fifty-something man in a hat, before Ted Leo & The Pharmacists managed to play a single note. Leo, always a charismatic and funny stage presence when not hammering out blistering punk-pop melodies, responded in kind, “What is this, a health care town hall…DAD?!” And in an instant, the band managed to erase any cynicism that may have existed beforehand as they launched into an intense take of “Little Dawn.” Proving to be one of the most economical bands at this year’s fest, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists crammed an album’s worth of songs into their relatively brief set, offering a smattering of songs from their three most recent albums, including fan favorite “Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?” TLRX also played a good half dozen new songs, all of which were much more punk sounding than anything else they played, which kept the energy at an all-time high, leading up to their Thin Lizzy-esque closer “Walking to Do.”

No Age :: 9:15-10:00 p.m. :: Casbah Stage

With one of the quickest set-up times at Street Scene, Los Angeles noise-punk duo No Age effectively made up for any lateness on the part of the artists that preceded them. During their brief soundcheck, guitarist Randy Randall asked, “Is everyone drunk yet? You’ve got four minutes to get there before we start.” Once they did roar into Nouns standout “Sleeper Hold,” liquid inebriation certainly would have been replaced by the euphoria felt after hearing their woozy, yet intense set. Like many of their peers, No Age played a few new songs, but singles like “Eraser” and “Every Artist Needs a Tragedy” were the highlights that really brought the house down.

M.I.A. :: 11:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. :: Fulano Stage

M.I.A. :: Street Scene 2009

Having taken the headlining spot briefly occupied by The Beastie Boys before Adam Yauch’s bout with cancer forced them to cancel, M.I.A. more than lived up to the expectations that inevitably come with being the last big artist to close out the festival. The London-based singer/rapper even paid tribute to the legendary NYC hip-hop group by doing live mash-ups, spitting the lyrics of “$10″ over the music from “Intergalactic,” and doing likewise with her lyrics to “Bird Flu” over “Sabotage.” Of the many big, elaborate stage productions of the weekend, M.I.A.’s was definitely the most visually spectacular, with Third World film clips spliced into flashy 8-bit backdrops, spastic dancers in blue suits and white Chuck Taylors, and even some pyrotechnics during the last series of gunshot samples in “Paper Planes.” She, too, debuted a new song, a furious ripper titled “Born Free” built on a sample from Suicide’s “Ghost Rider.” Her backup dancers, for reasons unbeknownst to this writer, strapped on some guitars they didn’t play during this track, which seemed silly at best, pointless at worst. Questionable choreography aside, M.I.A. closed out the festival, quite literally, with a bang.

Continue reading for more images of Street Scene 2009…



Dungen
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
Mastodon
Mastodon fans
Modest Mouse
Calexico
Extra Golden
Ra Ra Riot
Devendra Banhart
Deerhunter
Of Montreal
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
No Age
M.I.A.

JamBase | Down In The Streets
Go See Live Music!

Outside Lands Music Festival
Day 2 Photos & Top 3

August 30th, 2009 | No Comments

Words by: Kayceman & Dennis Cook | Images by: Dave Vann

Outside Lands Music Festival :: Day 2 :: 08.29.09 :: Golden Gate Park :: San Francisco, CA

Saturday at the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival featured another gorgeous day. Without a cloud in the clear blue sky it was still warm but the cool ocean breeze kept the temp down a few degrees and offered fans a bit of relief on their cross-venue hikes. With Dave Matthews Band, Black Eyed Peas and Jason Mraz on one side of the grounds and The Mars Volta, TV on the Radio and Mastodon on the other, the scheduling was perfect and allowed the very different fan bases to stay out of each other’s way and get to the music they wanted with ease.

Kayceman’s Top 3 From Saturday

1. The Mars Volta – A blistering display of heavy psychedelic rock, this set destroyed the Twin Peaks Stage, literally. Singer Cedric Bixler Zavala took the giant band sign (used for all bands, but at this point reading: “The Mars Volta”) and dragged it onstage where he kicked through the back in an act of punk defiance. Guess they won’t be using that sign on Sunday. When not breaking shit, Cedric was crawling around the stage, hanging off the mic stand, doing mule-kicks and pushing his falsetto into truly demented areas. And that was just Cedric. The other five guys were a tsunami of never-ending energy, mind-boggling time changes and guitarist/bandleader Omar Rodriguez Lopez‘ sonic six-string assault. Playing songs from their entire career, from new tracks like “Teflon” to classics like “Roulette Dares,” “Drunkship of Lanterns” and “Viscera Eyes” to lesser known gems like “Eunuch Provocateur,” this set was hot and bothered from note one and it never stopped coming at ya!

2. Mastodon – Even before we could see the four-piece metal heroes it was like an earthquake shaking Golden Gate Park. This is music you feel as much as you hear. It slams into your chest rattling your ribs before you can literally feel it running through your legs and up your spine, where it does strange things to your mind. Leaning heavily on the more-rock-than-metal material of latest album Crack The Skye, this set was devastating in execution. These are four virtuosic musicians, but it was drummer Brann Dailor that ran the show. Easily one of the most talented drummers on the circuit, Dailor pulled off impossible fills with thundering power. To the casual listener Mastodon probably comes off as another testosterone-fueled metal band, but they are so much more. Under the wall of noise are subtle tempo shifts and rhythmic nuances that at times dip into bluesy riffs and classic rock power chords. Mastodon has been called metal’s savior, and this set was proof.

3. TV on the Radio – Aided by a three-piece horn section that included Antibalas‘ Stuart Bogie, this set soared from a rough Motown swing to Morphine-esque sheets of sax to Talking Heads guitar rhythms to a gruff, almost punk delivery from singer Tunde Adebimpe. The two-step hand-clap fun of “Golden Age” met the psychedelic burn of “Wolf Like Me,” “DLZ” and “Staring At The Sun” for what appeared to be a glimpse of rock’s future.

Dennis Cook’s Top 3 From Saturday

1. The Dirtbombs – These enduring underground Detroit hellraisers kicked the livestock awake and took rock back to its moist, dangerous roots. Theirs is an enveloping, churning sound that’s a more gutbucket, uncivilized version of what My Bloody Valentine throws down except you can twist wildly to this blessed noise. Bang-up kickoff to Twin Peaks Stage, which hosted perhaps the rowdiest, most adventurous lineup (The Dirtbombs, Street Sweeper Social Club, Mastodon, TV on the Radio, The Mars Volta) on Saturday.

2. Os Mutantes – After going missing for decades, one approached this set from this beloved Brazilian group with some trepidation. Only co-founder, singer, guitarist Sergio Dias remains from the original band but he’s surrounded by young, highly engaged go-getters that sunk their pointy teeth into Mutantes’ classic ’60s/’70s material as well as new tunes from their forthcoming return to the studio after 35 years, Haih Or Amortecedor (out September 8 on Anti-), which show real signs of life and renewed creativity. Opening with a ferocious attack on “Jardim Electrico,” they slipped between past and present efforts, tying them together with a roughshod charm and raw talent that compares well with the band’s storied history. Arriving with some complications, Dias introduced “Querida Querida,” saying, “We are lacking some stuff because it broke, but that is life. So, we’ll rock and roll it, which is better.” Amen, sir.

3. Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band – As one suspected listening to Mr. Bright Eyes’ second outing with the Mystic Valley Band, Outer South (JamBase review here), live is where everything is gelling with this still-evolving group. A gutsy, nicely extended “I Got The Reason” kicked the studio version’s butt, as did the shimmy-tastic “Air Mattress,” where guitarist Taylor Hollingsworth took over lead vocals. Oberst’s loopy stage banter contrasted nicely with his infinitely quotable lyrics, and between the really together group dynamics on display and a sweet, rockin’ surprise guest turn from Jenny Lewis (who Oberst announced they’d kidnapped from L.A.) on a dazzling duet cover of Rilo Kiley’s “Portions For Foxes,” this set made for the perfect sunset offering of memorable, rootsy, heartfelt music.




Street Sweeper Social Club
Portugal. The Man
Eric McFadden
Os Mutantes
The Barbary Stage
Black Eyed Peas
Black Eyed Peas
Black Eyed Peas
Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band
Mastodon
Mastodon


The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band

Check back for lots more from Outside Lands…

JamBase | Golden Gate Park

Go See Live Music!

Can you get faster broadband on Skye than in London?

July 31st, 2009 | No Comments

Computer keyboard and mouse

A test broadband network on Skye has produced a faster internet connection than is available in most cities, researchers have claimed.

The University of Edinburgh and the University of the Highlands and Islands project has brought high speed web access in rural areas closer.

The system would require community-driven networks and government funding.

The scientists said the system could be replicated across Scotland, bringing fast web access to isolated regions.

The university researchers built a low-cost ring of wireless phone relays connected to an existing internet connection at the Sabhal Mor Ostaig college in Skye.

The network covered about 40km of the coast of Sleat and Loch Hourn and the villages of Arnisdale and Corran.

Technical problems

Prof Peter Buneman, of Edinburgh University’s school of informatics, said: "Access to the internet is fast becoming a basic utility in cities, but in rural areas it is often unavailable.

"People living remotely need web access to run businesses, use mail order, to access educational support, or to contact friends and family.

"Broadband speed is doubly important in remote areas where radio, TV and telephones may not work well. Our study shows how high-speed access can be made available to remote areas."

The scientists said much of rural Scotland still had no high quality web access, despite government investment to upgrade the existing copper wire infrastructure and subsidise satellite connections.

Many rural communities are several miles from a telephone exchange – too far for high-speed broadband to work – while satellite connection for high-speed access is very expensive and carries the risk of added technical problems.

The scientists believe that, since thinly populated areas hold little incentive for commercial internet service providers, public sector investment is needed to establish a backbone of internet connections across rural Scotland.

Communities could then develop bespoke wireless networks, tapping into these main connections.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Forget the ferry

July 25th, 2009 | No Comments

There’s something special about escaping to an island – even if you don’t need a boat to get there. Annabelle Thorpe picks a dozen British gems that you can reach by car or on foot – perfect for a day trip or a summer weekend away

1 Burgh Island, Devon

Despite its isolation, this island is all about glamour – 1930s glamour, to be precise, evoked by the art-deco hotel of the same name. Cars can’t reach the island at all but you can walk there at low tide or hitch a lift by sea tractor at other times. The island lies 250m off the south coast of Devon, close to the seaside town of Bigbury. There is an extensive network of footpaths across the island and a pub, the Pilchard Inn, as well as the hotel, which is most famous for its links to Agatha Christie, who used the setting for two of her books, Evil Under the Sun and And Then There Were None. It’s dressy and fun but very pricey, with doubles from £280.

â€¢ 01548 810514; burghisland.com

2 Isle of Sheppey, Kent

Twitchers and those in search of old-fashioned bucket-and-spade pleasures should head to the Isle of Sheppey, which combines long stretches of shingle beach with tranquil marshland. Avocets, owls and flocks of curlews and plovers are all easily spotted at the RSPB-managed Elmley Marshes, while families will enjoy Leysdown, which boasts safe shallow beaches. It’s ideal day-trip territory, but to make a weekend of it, the best bet is the Abbey Hotel (01795 872873; abbey-hotel.net), just outside Sheerness.

â€¢ tourism.swale.gov.uk

3 Hilbre Island, Cheshire

Take a picnic and a flask of coffee and settle in for a day of serious birdwatching on Hilbre Island, a Site of Special Scientific Interest in the middle of the Dee estuary. It’s worth the mile-long trek at low tide to see the grey seals, curlews and oystercatchers that call the island home. Hilbre is renowned as one of the best places in the country to see storm petrels, and in late summer the rocky landscape teems with terns, who come to the island to breed. There are no facilities on the island, although the Hilbre Telegraph Lookout Station has been renovated, and is open on selected dates.

deeestuary.co.uk/hilbre

4 Walney Island, Cumbria

Most islands have something of an old-fashioned atmosphere, and Walney feels as if it hasn’t changed in decades. Linked to Cumbria by a road bridge, it lies just half a mile from the town of Barrow-in-Furness and is home to two nature reserves, with more than 250 types of bird and 400 species of moth and butterfly. There are good coastal walking routes, and some of the best spots in the UK for kite-surfing. The best place to stay on the island is the Browhead Hotel (01229 473600; browheadhotel.co.uk), which offers comfortable, family-run accommodation.

walney-island.com

5 Anglesey

It’s worth the drive to get to Anglesey; latticed with cycling paths and walking routes, edged with gorgeous sandy beaches and home to several renowned gastropubs and boutique hotels, it’s ideal for a romantic weekend away. The picturesque town of Beaumaris makes a great base, and is home to a dramatic medieval castle and Victorian pier, as well as one of the island’s most famous pubs, Ye Old Bulls Head Inn (01248 810329; bullsheadinn.co.uk). Alternatively, hole up at the rurally located Neuadd Lwyd (01248 715005; neuaddlwyd.co.uk), a luxurious country house B&B that also offers fantastic suppers, and has breathtaking views across to the mountains of Snowdonia.

visitanglesey.co.uk

6 Nags Head Island, Abingdon, Oxforshire

Ideal for a waterside pint, this island in the Thames consists of a pub (named after the island and dating back to the 19th century), plus a few ship’s chandlers and boat hire firms. It is linked to the mainland by two bridges and accessible by car – there is a large car park at the pub and plenty of picnic space on the island. Daily boat trips run to and from Oxford.

â€¢ Nags Head pub: 01235 536645

7 Isle of Skye

Towering peaks, lush valleys, long white beaches; Skye is all about natural drama – although the hearty outdoorsy vibe is mixed with a clutch of reassuringly indulgent restaurants and luxury hotels. There are challenging walking and cycling routes that traverse the peaks, while the bustling town of Portree makes a relaxing base, with galleries and boutiques to explore. Stop for a legendary haggis toastie at The Stein Inn at Waternish (01470 592 362; stein-inn.co.uk), and book into the Ullinish Country Lodge (01470 572214; theisleofskye.co.uk) in Struan, which serves spectacular seafood and has opulent bedrooms to match.

skye.co.uk

8 Canvey Island, Essex

Lying in the Thames Estuary and reached by road bridge from Benflett, Canvey Island has faded a little since its glory days in the early 20th century, when it became the fastest-growing seaside resort in the UK, but it still has a kitschly fun feel. Head to the Labworth Cafe (01268 683209) on the seafront, a 1930s design classic by Ove Arup revamped as a bistro, or head to West Canvey for birdwatching and a stroll across what is set to become a new RSPB nature reserve, after the charity purchased the land in 2006.

canveyisland.org

9 Holy Island, Northumberland

Steeped in myth and legend, Lindisfarne attracts an odd mix of new-agers and twitchers drawn, respectively, by the eighth-century monastery and ruined priory, and the tranquil nature reserve that is home to spectacular colonies of wintering birds. The island is famous for the Lindisfarne gospels – an illuminated manuscript dating back to the eighth century, now in the British Library – but the beaches are an equally big draw; long stretches of wild, unspoilt shoreline backed by dunes that are often surprisingly quiet. You can drive to the island, but only at low tide. Try the Crown and Anchor (01289 389215; holyislandcrown.co.uk), a welcoming pub with rooms.

lindisfarne.org.uk

10 Foulness Island, Essex

You’ve got to really want to get to Foulness, located along the Essex coast a few miles east of Southend-on-Sea. Home to just 200 residents, it is owned by the Ministry of Defence, and there are only two ways for the public to gain access to the island. The Heritage Centre opens from noon-4pm every Sunday between April and October, when the public have free access. At other times it’s necessary to call and make a reservation to eat at the George & Dragon pub on the island (01702 219460), which will take down your details, to be checked later by an MoD official at the checkpoint. It’s a desolate kind of place, with long stretches of empty beach and marshland, though rich in wildlife.

visitessex.com

Mersea Island, Essex

There’s an increasing “scene” on Mersea, reached by road bridge; the clean, sandy beaches have long been a draw for windsurfers and kite-boarders, but the growing number of good restaurants on the island, plus a clutch of diverse accommodation options mean it’s become a great place for an eccentric weekend away. There are ancient Roman sites to explore, a beautiful country park and as much seafood as you can eat: try the Mersea Oyster Bar (01206 381600) or the Company Shed (01206 382700), both of which offer fresh fish and oysters brought in by the local fleet each day. Follow it with a tasting at the Mersea Island Vineyard (01206 385900; merseawine.com), which offers beers from its microbrewery as well as wines to sample, and also has simple but comfortable B&B rooms.

mersea-island.com

12 Hayling Island, Hampshire

There are those on Hayling who claim that windsurfing was invented on the island, and it’s a great choice for a weekend break with teenagers; sailing, windsurfing and kite surfing are all on offer at the well-equipped watersports centre, and there’s an impressive skate park right on the seafront. Younger children are well catered for too, with an all-year funfair and a narrow gauge railway, and adults will appreciate the well-marked network of footpaths and cycleways as well as the long stretches of shingle beach. You can drive onto the island via a bridge, which can become congested in summer; stay at the Cockle Warren Cottage Hotel (02392 464961; cocklewarren.co.uk) for cosy rooms and lots of local knowledge.

hayling.co.uk

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