Haim at the Troubadour
By
MFV - Monday May 04th 2009
Thomas Wolfe said (maybe I’m paraphrasing) that you can’t bring candy and gum into the Troubadour again. That’s because they sell it inside. My emphasis is on sweet, sweet Haim. They’re as good as Mean Mister Mustard, and I can’t fawn enough. These girls have a precocious talent for rock. Guitars hang off their shoulders as if to say, “We’re not anyone’s opening act.” Maybe they won’t be for long.
Following the bold and unapologetic opener “Figure It Out”, Haim plays selections from their myspace page and a few from the Haim conservatory. “The Wire” is the pièce de résistance, a tough pop song fed by precision dynamics and driven entirely by Danielle’s upstrokes and guitar accents. I may as well talk about gourmet food. We’ll wait for them to finish up their record with former Blondie/The Knack producer Mike Chapman later this year.
Mama Haim actually won “The Gong Show” back in the day, so maybe this is where they get their stage banter. EXAMPLE OF BANTER: Alana says to Este, “You got it.” Este points a finger gun at Alana and says, “You got it, Toyota”. Alana doesn’t get Twitter. “MySpacian” is a modifier.
Danielle sports a striped French sailor shirt and little denim shorts over full-length black stockings. Bass-playing Este wears the white cotton dress, thin black nylon tights and combat boots in the family. However, youngest sibling Alana, Alex Fischel and drummer Stephen dress too conservatively. I don’t give a damn. To Melrose with you!
DONNA HAIM (”MAMA HAIM”, Mama and founding member of ROCKING HAIM, their family band.)
So when did you realize the girls wanted to go on their own?
»continue reading Haim at the Troubadour
See More In Music | Permalink | 3 Comments
New Orleans Jazzfest Picks – Ryan’s 14th Year
By
Ryan - Thursday April 30th 2009
In 1996 I visited New Orleans for the first time, in order to experience the Jazz and Heritage Festival. I saw Dr. John and the Neville Brothers perform. I saw George Porter, Jr, and the Funky Meters. Saw some hip-hop, saw some gospel, saw some rock. Ate a ton of food, washed it down with chicory coffee, Abita and copious hurricanes. Must’ve had a good time because somehow I’ve been returning every year since. The picks for my 14th year are admittedly a l’il slim: I’m volunteering for Habitat much of Saturday (5/3) per recent tradition, and frankly, I’m getting older. Still, hoping to catch the following acts the next few days, all logistics permitting:
»continue reading New Orleans Jazzfest Picks – Ryan’s 14th Year
See More In New Orleans Jazzfest | Permalink | 3 Comments
Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize” To Become Official Rock Song of Oklahoma In Less Than Two Minutes
By
Ryan - Tuesday April 28th 2009
As an Oklahoma transplant here in Los Angeles last fall I took it upon myself to instigate what may, with hindsight, ultimately be considered a brutal email harrassment campaign of my friends and family from Oklahoma — those who grew up there, and those that live there still — urging them to vote for their favorite State Rock Song in an online poll. (“Vote Alice in Chains! Vote ‘Cocaine’ by Clapton, that one really screams Oklahoma! – ohshitnowaitjesus vote Jackson Browne! … ” etc ad infinitum) Following said inbox pummelling, the Flaming Lips eventually and somewhat predictably appeared victorious in the poll, their nominated 2002 hit “Do You Realize” now slated to become the first and possibly only official state rock song of Oklahoma. All ten finalists sans Jackson Browne can be found here. Where was I going with this? Oh, right:
Fuck Yeah Motherfuckers Oklahoma Has A State Rock Song. One Rodgers-and-Hammerstein-penned state song in this day and age simply doesn’t cut it. Call me selfish, but as a former resident I’d also like to see a State Country Song, State Punk Song, State Movie, State ABC Television Series, State Fast Food Chain (obvs Sonic [nasdaq: SONC]), State Domesticated Housepet, State OU-Fan-Driving-A-White-Dualie, and State Gravy. Hell, why not.
»continue reading Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize” To Become Official Rock Song of Oklahoma In Less Than Two Minutes
See More In Music, News, Press Release Cut & Paste | Permalink | 2 Comments
Michael Jackson Auction Items On Flickr
By
Ryan - Tuesday April 28th 2009
Paul Scheer has skillfully documented and is now disseminating via Flickr the more choice items previously on the block (and up for viewing as exhibit) at the recently-to-have-actually-transpired-had-it-not-been-predictably-cancelled Beverly Hills
Michael Jackson auction. Oh,
Just go check it out already won’t you. You may have already seen some of this junk but it gets new life with Paul Scheer as tour guide.
» Michael Jackson Auction: My Favorite Items (Paul Scheer; Flickr)
» Paulscheer.com
» We tried to buy Neverland last year
See More In Michael Jackson Auctions | Permalink | 2 Comments
Official Blip Status: BLIPPING
By
Ryan - Monday April 27th 2009
Lately I’ve been passively experimenting with the Blip.fm website which is, from what I can tell, sort of an amalgam of twitter and seeqpod. You set up a Blip playlist, which people can subscribe to if they so choose. You are then urged to ‘blip’ (aka tweet) some sage words at the time you ‘blip’ (aka play) your song as a part of your playlist. Got all that? Interesting idea; user library could of course use some work but there are creative files and filenames to be found out there just the same (eg., “Besourus” = “Beatles”).
As of press time since 13 April 2009 the Losanjealous Blip has accumulated and/or doled out:
- 6 props
- 4 listeners
-
22 credits
-
34 Blips
That’s fine, just fine. So who’s a power blipper out there? Anyone? What the hell do I do with all these stats and credits, and how might I maximize my enjoyment of their website (and/or my own vis a vis their tool)? Please feel free to remit all tips, encouragement, C&Ds and hate mail to the official Losanjealous Blip account and/or ryan@losanjealous.com. Right now I’m the sole LJ broadcaster boasting a whopping 2.4 songs’ average output per day, but who’s to say you don’t end up with an hour from Victor, Sung or one of the gang, one of these days Yes La Verne I Am Staring Directly At You.
Give it a go and see what I’m doing right…or wrong. I’m off to research getting my own Sirius and Li’l Radio Shows, pronto.
» Blip.fm/losanjealous
See More In Blip, Technology, Twitter | Permalink | Post a comment
Coachella 2009 Festival Photo Gallery: 3-day Mix (N-V)
By
Sung - Monday April 27th 2009
Noah and the Whale, Paul Weller, Peter Bjorn & John, Sebastien Tellier, The Airborne Toxic Event, The Black Keys, The Bug featuring Warrior Queen, The Courteeners, The Hold Steady, The Kills, The Presets, The Ting Tings, Thenewno2, Thievery Corporation, Turbonegro and Vivian Girls.
See More In Coachella | Permalink | 4 Comments
Coachella 2009 Festival Photo Gallery: 3-day Mix (A-N)
By
Sung - Monday April 27th 2009
Amanda Palmer, Atmosphere, Bajofondo, Band of Horses, Beirut, Blitzen Trapper, Calexico, Conor Oberst, Dr. Dog, Drive By Truckers, Friendly Fires, Fucked Up, Gang Gang Dance, Ida Maria, K’naan, Liars, Los Campesinos!, Lupe Fiasco, M. Ward, Mastodon & No Age
See More In Coachella | Permalink | Post a comment
The Vaselines
Lebowski Fest
Aziz Ansari
Shiny Toy Guns
