Built to Spill to hit Wisconsin in September

Thanks to Ryan at Muzzle of Bees for letting us all know that Built to Spill will be dropping by Wisconsin for some dates this September that I'll have to check out. And kudos to him as well for his recent engagement!

Stop by Muzzle of Bees to check out the upcoming Built to Spill Sconny dates and wish your favorite Wisconsin music blogger (and mine) congratulations on his big news! Now we just have to get The Dan Band to play his wedding.

The Dutchess and The Duke

Meh. I've had yet another crappy day in a week of crappy days following an equally crappy previous week. To top the day off, I couldn't get my charcoal grill to light (I knew I shouldn't have switched charcoal brands), so instead, I'm here enjoying my microwaved Miller High Life brats and a cold Lo-Cal Sprecher Root Beer, and dammit, I wanna talk music.

I recently learned that the Seattle "campfire punk" outfit The Dutchess and The Duke will be joining Modest Mouse for their August Aragon Ballroom date in Chicago that I will happily be attending.

Dutchess and the Duke: Photo by Andrew Waits

This is the first time I've heard of the band, but they've been around, having had their 2008 release She's The Dutchess, He's the Duke reviewed previously (and favorably, at that) on Pitchfork and most recently having played the Pitchfork Music Festival.

I've only had a few listens to the tracks out there in cyberspace tonight, but it seems to me like they've got a real antiquated sound, similar to something you might have heard back when Dylan and Jagger were just hitting the streets. The band, which is compromised of Kimberly Morrison (Dutchess) and Jesse Lortz (Duke) brings an acoustic campfire party 60's bluesy sound - think Hayden paired with Kimya Dawson with Roy Orbison on guitar - that makes me feel like I should be running through a field in a pair of old denim jeans and converse hi-tops with my wife and a kite and some sunshine. Weird indie imagery? Maybe. But I would personally listen to their type of music over 99% of the stuff on MTV any day.

Head on over to the band's MySpace page to check out some of the tracks and get a feel for the band before you catch them at the show. You can even grab a free mp3 of the track "Reservoir Park" at RCRDLBL.

THE DUTCHESS & THE DUKE

08.19.09 - Montreal, QC - Metropolis *
08.20.09 - Kingston, ON - The Ale House *
08.21.09 - Toronto, ON - Sound Academy *
08.22.09 - Toronto, ON - Sound Academy *
08.24.09 - Columbus, OH - The LC Ampitheater *
08.25.09 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom *

* - w/ Modest Mouse

Japancakes, The Good Graces, Jim Johnson

Feeling artsy? Then you might want to check out the video for the track "Behind The Mountain" by instrumental band Japancakes.

As far as the video goes, I found the makeup and the background music to be more interesting than the Enya-esque vocals from Orenda Fink of Azure Ray (which makes sense, because they're an instrumental band?), but hey, it looks cool, and they've got a cool name, so I'm on board.


Kim Ware and the Good Graces will be coming out with a new EP at the end of summer called Bring on the Tambourines!

In anticipation, the band will be releasing a track every couple weeks leading up to the date the album drops. You can check out the first of the tracks, titled "Working Title," below. We like the track - it has a very steady rocking backbone and the vocals don't overwhelm - just fit along nicely like dominoes on a track. Have a listen, below:

Kim Ware and the Good Graces - "Working Title"

And be sure to keep an eye on the album website in the coming weeks for additional tracks.

Last but not least, a shout out to Jim Johnson, former Eagles defensive coordinator, who passed away today due to complications from cancer. I loved watching his defensive schemes. The game won't be the same without him. Story at Philly.com.

Muse - United States Of Eurasia

New single from Muse...oh so very Queen. Your thoughts?

Things I should do more often

There really wasn't anything else I felt worth mentioning in my inbox, at least musically, so here's a list of some things I should do more often, along with a few good links for your trouble. Not that I really think you care about my cathartic post, but I need someplace to record these ideas, right?

Blog more

I love to write. I love to listen to music. I love to talk about music. I don't like sifting through 35 emails to find something I like, however. Maybe I'm just getting picky in my old age. Or lazy.

Play the guitar more

I learned to play the guitar in middle school. I've owned one ever since. I used to play every day. Then I got to college and got to listen to every guy with a guitar in the dorm play Dave Matthews every day for four years. I haven't played much since then, but I did pick up the axe yesterday to try out the tabs for The National's "Slow Show" and it really made me wish I hadn't stopped.

Exercise more

I'm getting fat. That's about all there is to say there. Get off your ass, fatty.

Write more

Well, I write professionally for a living, and quite often lately with a new catalog coming out soon, but I don't get to write about sports or books as often as I'd like. I guess I could start more blogs. Or just write that stuff here. But I'd have to read more to do that. Which leads me to my next point...

Read more

I used to read a book a week, at least, through college and graduate school. Unfortunately, I didn't always want to read the books I had to read, so when I finally finished school I had basically forgotten what it meant to read for pleasure. That was four years ago, and I'm still having a hard time finding me way back. I did recently finish Chuck Palahniuk's new novel Pygmy, and that was fantastic. But I really should read more.

On that note, I'm off to Largehearted Boy to find my next book to read (and some music as well). If you've got any good music, reads, tabs to check out, or other suggestions, pass them along in the comments.

Edit - 8:08 pm - thanks to LHB I think I might have found my next read.

A Girl and a Cello

I like birds (I've got three parrots) and I like cellos (I played in orchestra for four years), so it was only natural that I'd check out the sophomore album from Janice Price, aka Bird, titled Girl and a Cello.

Described by the Daily Telegraph as "Bjork crossed with Rickie Lee Jones”, Bird, a virtuoso cellist and songstress, has been featured on Just Jack's 2007 album Overtones and recently finished recording for his new album, to be released later this year.

Unfortunately, unlike birds and cellos, A Girl and a Cello isn't really my thing (but neither is Bjork), seeing as how it has a girl and a cello, but not much in the way of noise or guitars, at least not on the tracks I heard.

But don't let my propensity for noisy music dissuade you. In fact, I've only listened to a few songs so it's a pretty small sample size to take from, and I'd be darn interested to hear the cover of the Pixies "Debaser" which is on the album.

For now, you can preview the track "Sweet Heart" from A Girl and a Cello below:

Bird - "Sweet Heart"

Learn more about Bird at her MySpace page

Modest Mouse, August 25, Aragon Ballroom Chicago

Things don't get much better than coming home to Miller High Life brats on the grill, a Leffe Blonde Belgian Ale, and two tickets to the August 25th Modest Mouse concert at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.

Anybody else heading to the show?

Akron/Family about to embark on tour

photo by Sebastian Mlynarski

Pennsylvania's own Akron/Family will be kicking off a huge tour this week at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in support of their latest effort, Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free, which hit shelves back in May. If you haven't had the pleasure of getting your hands on the album yet, you should at least head over to the band's MySpace page to check out two tracks from the album, "Everyone is Guilty" and "River", available to stream for free.

If you like what you hear, find your way to your local record store to pickup the album, and be sure to catch them on tour at a spot near you soon:

7/22/09 Cleveland, OH - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
7/23/09 Detroit Lakes , MN - 10,000 Lakes Festival 2009
7/24/09 Chicago , IL - Bottom Lounge
7/25/09 Calgary , AB - Calgary Folk Festival
7/26/09 Calgary , AB - Calgary Folk Festival
7/29/09 Steamboat Springs, CO - Ghost Ranch Saloon
7/30/09 Vail, CO - The Sandbar
7/31/09 Denver , CO - Bluebird Theater
8/02/09 Jersey City , NJ - All Points West Music & Arts Festival
8/09/09 New York , NY - Other Music - Free In-store - 7 PM
8/11/09 Washington , DC - Rock & Roll Hotel
8/12/09 Carrboro , NC - Cat's Cradle
8/13/09 Atlanta , GA - E.A.R.L.
8/14/09 Birmingham , AL - Bottletree
8/15/09 Asheville , NC - Transfigurations at Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall
8/24/09 Santa Monica , CA - Morning Becomes Eclectic (89.9FM KCRW)
8/28/09 San Francisco , CA - Outside Lands Music Festival w/ John Vanderslice
8/29/09 Los Angeles , CA - El Ray Theatre
9/07/09 Seattle , WA - Bumbershoot Festival
9/08/09 Portland , OR - Bagdad Theatre
9/10/09 Baltimore , MD - Talking Head Club
9/11/09 Philadelphia , PA - Johnny Brenda's
9/12/09 Monticello , NY - ATP NY - Kutshers Country Club w/ Animal Collective, Panda Bear and Atlas Sound
9/14/09 Hudson , NY - Jason's Upstairs w/ Jeffrey Lewis, Slaraffenland
9/15/09 Williamsport , PA - Site: B w/ Jeffrey Lewis, Slaraffenland, Doc Mach and the Field Surgeons
9/16/09 Ithaca , NY - Castaways w/ Jeffrey Lewis, Slaraffenland
9/17/09 Buffalo , NY - Mohawk Place w/ Jeffrey Lewis, Slaraffenland
9/18/09 London , ON, Canada - LOLA Festival
9/19/09 Detroit , MI - Magic Stick w/ Jeffrey Lewis, Slaraffenland
9/20/09 Louisville , KY - 21C Museum Atrium Gallery w/ Jeffrey Lewis, Slaraffenland

Keep up to date on Akron/Family news at Twitter.

Follow us at Twitter for more news on Akron/Family and the rest of your favorite indie and rock bands.

Get The Dead Weather mp3, "Treat Me Like Your Mother"

It seems like Jack White joins or creates or collaborates with a new band more often that I post sometimes. White's latest group, The Dead Weather, are offering up a free mp3 of the track "Treat Me Like Your Mother" if you sign up to receive email updates from the band at their website.

If you don't feel like giving away your email address, you can drop by the band's media page to watch the YouTube version of the song.

Los Campesinos! US August Tour Dates

Sweaty indie rockstars

The last time we saw Los Campesinos! they were rocking the stage at the University of Wisconsin's Memorial Union in Madison.

Well this year it seems Gareth and the crew are again hitting the road for some US dates in August, although none will be in Wisconsin this time. The tour will be their first since finishing up the recording of the new upcoming album.

To celebrate the tour, the return to the US and the band's general adoration of the 'local record shop', they've decided to build the ultimate LC! fan's prize: a hand-picked selection of records... Neatly packed in a durable tour-proof* box.

The band will be filming the box's travels across the tour, documenting everything that goes in - be it a lucky find from a bargain bin, or a friend's band's signed pressing.

To win the box, you'll have to follow its travels, across the US and across the internet.

August Tour:

04 - Webster Hall (18+) - New York, New York
05 - 9:30 Club (All Ages) - DC, Washington DC
06 - Grog Shop (All Ages) - Cleveland, Ohio
07 - Spin Nightclub (21+) - Indianapolis, Indiana
08 - LOLLAPALOOZA, Chicago
12 - Record Bar (18+) - Kansas City, Missouri
14 - Emo’s (All Ages) - Austin, Texas
15 - Granada Theatre (All Ages) - Dallas, Texas
16 - Warehouse Live (Studio) - Houston, Texas
19 - Launchpad (21+) - Albuquerque, New Mexico
20 - Hocofest Green Music Festival - Tucson, Arizona
21 - El Rey Theater (All Ages) - Los Angeles, California
22 - The Glass House (All Ages) - Pomona, California
23 - Detroit Bar (21+) - Costa Mesa, California
25 - Beauty Bar (21+) - Las Vegas, Nevada
26 - Howie and Sons Pizza - Visalia, California
27 - Brookdale Lodge Concert Hall - Santa Cruz, California
28 - Outside Lands Festival - San Francisco, California
29 - Street Scene Festival - San Diego, California

Eat Sugar "Pop Singer" MP3

I've been pretty enamored by the Cincy rockers Eat Sugar since I first heard them grace the digital airwaves at WOXY.com. Their latest effort, It's Not Our Responsibility!, is a striking follow up to their dazzling first effort and self-titled EP.

It’s Not Our Responsibility! was borne of the fruitful collaboration between Eat Sugar and Enon’s John Schmersal after the two bands shared a bill in early 2008. Eat Sugar eagerly approached Schmersal about recording some material, Jim recalls, “We were looking for a producer who understood the sound we were trying to create and who had an instinct for creating songs with a twisted pop sensibility. Also, the music that John created with Enon and Braniac had been a big influence on us.”

It's Not Our Responsibility! is due out September 1st, but in the meantime, check out the track "Pop Singer" from the upcoming album below:

Eat Sugar - "Pop Singer"

Eat Sugar Website

Veritas Lux Mea on Twitter

Veritas Lux Mea is now on twitter, @indiebadger (veritas lux mea was taken). Follow us for updates (if we ever post). That's all. Bye bye.

Confessions From the Laundromat

It's not every day that I craft a post from the laundromat at 8 in the morning but that's exactly what I'm doing right now. Which, in and of itself, give me a very ambivalent feeling.

Living in a town of just 7000 people, it somehow seems odd to me that all three of the laundromats in town offer free wi-fi Internet. As if that somehow has become a bargaining chip for those needing the services of a washer and dryer all of a sudden. Not that I'm one to complain about the availability of free Internet at my every turn; in fact, it's damn convenient. But as an English major, I guess I get sort of sad once in a while when I see someone peering into the Blackberry instead of a Kafka novel. Then again, I've spent way more time since I graduated in 2005 peering at a little glowing rectangle than I have buried deep in a Flannery O' Conner plot. I read Largehearted Boy's book synopsis rather than going to the library to read the books. I am the very thing which I have come to disdain. I am, in every way and shape, plugged in.

I happened to notice that the only other person in the laundromat at this time besides me and the 80-year old lady running a magic sweeper across the carpet was a bookish older gentleman.

When we both pulled our laptops out at the same time, I couldn't help but catch his eye and wonder what he thought of the the fact that technology had seeped its way into laundromat alongside gourmet made-to-order coffee and slot machines. So I said to the guy, "You know, people used to bring books to the laundromat. Now all we bring are little computers."

He sorta chuckled and agreed. "Yeah, seems that's the way things are nowadays. But I bring a book also. In fact, I always have my Bible with me."

At which point I didn't feel the need to mention that I also had a book with me, but it was a Stephen King comic, The Dark Tower, about a priest who likes to get drunk and kill people.

Screaming Females Buried in the Nude

Sorry for the sparse posting lately. Been working on something, hopefully something big. But here's a little rundown of what I've been up to lately:

Saw The Hangover. Probably one of the funniest movie I've seen since Old School. Not as great of a movie as Pineapple Express, but equally as funny.

Cursed the warm weather/Wished for warmer weather. Living in Wisconsin you generally either find yourself wishing it was warmer or cursing the warm weather during the summer, because it's usually either too cool to really enjoy being outside or too muggy and buggy to enjoy being outside. You never really get those great summer days that you get most of the year in places like San Diego. Or anywhere.

Not getting a hair cut or shaving. I really wish I had the patience/gumption to just go Zach Galifianakis on everyone and grow out my beard and hair so that I too could look like a "fat Jesus" (quote from The Hangover). But I'm pretty sure my wife, work, and society would frown upon that.

Not been helping my friends work on their new house. But I did leave a gas grill over there because we couldn't figure out how to turn it on. And I have been drinking their beer. So at least I'm doing something for them.

Heading to the movies today to catch Public Enemies, since part of it was filmed up here with some local talent. Seen it? Like it?

And since you're tired of reading about me, on the the music...

Screaming Females Buried in the Nude

Now, when I heard the phrases "Screaming Females" and "Buried in the nude" I thought to myself, "what's that, the plot for the next Saw movie?" but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that those two phrases actually involve music, and some pretty interesting music at that.



Screaming Females is actually a New Jersey trio who have put out three full length albums but somehow managed to stay out of the VLM spotlight thus far, perhaps because their third record, Power Move, is their first ever label release with Don Giovanni Records. Hailing from the very DIY punk community of New Brunswick, the Screaming Females have played over 300 self-booked shows in the past four years, opening up for the likes of Dinosaur Jr. and Jack White's Dead Weather, who they will open up for on select dates this summer.

Spring over to Rolling Stone to check out a video from the band for the song "Buried in the Nude" and some interesting bio factoids, and peep the upcoming July tour dates with Dead Weather, below:

07.13.09
Washington, DC
9:30 Club

07.14.09
Washington, DC
9:30 Club

07.16.09
New York, NY
Terminal 5

07.17.09
New York, NY
Terminal 5

07.18.09
Boston, MA
House of Blues

07.21.09
Montreal, Canada
Olympia De Montreal

07.22.09
Toronto, Canada
Kool Haus

07.24.09
Detroit, MI
The Fillmore

07.25.09
Columbus, OH
The LC Pavilion

07.27.09
Minneapolis, MN
First Avenue

07.28.09
Chicago, IL
Vic Theatre

07.29.09
Chicago, IL
Vic Theatre

07.30.09
Nashville, TN
War Memorial Auditorium