Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Band Members, A: Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys

Song: "Stack Shot Billy"
From the album Rubber Factory

The Black Keys:   Web site   MySpace

Dan Auerbach:   MySpace

DJ comments: Dan Auerbach is the amped-up, reverberating member of that duo not dressed in red and White. Auerbach released his first solo album last month and will set off on his international tour in April. Unless you made it to SXSW or have a passport prepared, don't plan on catching his solo show this spring.

Do check out his solo work, it's a wonderful extension of his work with Black Keys partner, Patrick Carney. — BJ

Auerbach performing his solo work, "Trouble Weighs A Ton"


"Stack Shot Billy"

Band Members, B: Dan Bejar of Swan Lake

From the album

Swan Lake:   Web site   MySpace   Bejar's Wiki

DJ comments: Dan Bejar is a superstar. You may have heard his distinctive voice in such bands as The New Pornographers, Destroyer, Hello Blue Roses and, more recently, Swan Lake. Destroyer is my personal favorite of his projects -- Destroyer's Rubies will always be amongst my top albums.

Bejar, along with Carey Mercer (Frog Eyes) and Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown), released their first album, Beast Moans, as Swan Lake in 2006. Enemy Mine, the band's second album, came out yesterday (March 24, 2009).

In all honesty, my first listen to Enemy Minehttp://www.myspace.com/swanlaketheband didn't provide much excitement. Granted, I've only listened to each clip or song a couple times. Regardless, I prefer previous albums and member's previous bands. — BJ

Dan Bejar with Destroyer:

Band Members, C: George Clinton of Parliament

Song: "Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)"
From the album Mothership Connection

Parliament:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: If James Brown is the father of funk, George Clinton is the doctor of funk. He's kept the genre alive and well since the 1970s.

George Clinton and fifteen members of Parliament Funkadelic were inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 1997. Other than that, not much has changed for the rainbow-dreaded musician. I guess that's a lie. In 2003, at the age of 62, Clinton was charged with possession of cocaine. Who says grown ups can't party?

Clinton released George Clinton and His Gangsters of Love last September. The album features Sly Stone, the RZA and Carlos Santana, among others. He is currently on tour with his Gangsters of Love, celebrating Obama's takeover of the "White" House. — BJ

Band Members, D: Bob Dylan of The Traveling Wilburys

Song: "Last Night"
From the album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1

The Traveling Wilburys:   Web site   Wikipedia

DJ comments: So Last Night I chose a Hives song. Today Chris sent me 26 emails telling me he did the same, so I chose Bob Dylan, a.k.a. Lucky Wilbury, a.k.a. Boo Wilbury, a.k.a.: Elston Gunn, Blind Boy Grunt, Elmer Johnson, Sergei Petrov, Jack Frost, Jack Fate, Willow Scarlet, Robert Milkwood Thomas, etc.

Men of many talents (or no talent) have so many names. — BJ

Band Members, E: Richard Edson of Sonic Youth

Song: "The World Looks Red"
From the album Confusion Is Sex/Kill Yr Idols

Sonic Youth:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Richard Edson didn't play drums on this song; in fact, he only played on SY's first (and often overlooked) debut before leaving for an acting career. But it is that very acting career that made me want to give props to Mr. Edson. You might know him as the greasy parking garage attendant in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. He also starred in Platoon, Do the Right Thing as the younger son of Sal the pizzeria owner, and Eight Men Out as a degenerate gambler/former boxer. — cwc

Band Members, F: The Brothers Followill of Kings of Leon

Song: "California Waiting"
From the album Youth and Young Manhood

Kings of Leon:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Their first album is so good. — cwc

Band Members, G: Simon Gallup of The Cure

Song: "Kyoto Song"
From the album The Head on the Door

The Cure:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I was kinda dismayed to hear a song by The Associates that predates this song with a kinda similar keyboard part. Not the first time Robert has sounded a bit like another British outfit: They put out "The Walk" shortly after New Order released "Blue Monday," and they sound REALLY similar. But in that case, they came out about a week apart, so I'm sure it was coincidental. Anyway, "Kyoto Song" is still great. — cwc

Band Members, H: Georg Holm of Sigur Rós

Song: "Vid Spilum Endalaust"
From the album Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust

Sigur Rós:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: My 3-year-old son loves these guys. I was taking him to preschool one morning and had this album playing on the stereo. He asked me who the band was, I told him, he thought about it for a second, then said, "This song is CRAZY." He rules. — cwc

Band Members, J: Wyclef Jean, The Fugees

Song: Fu-Gee-La
From the album The Score

Fugees:   Web site   MySpace   Wiki

Wyclef Jean:   Web site   Myspace

DJ comments: Originally born in Haiti, Wyclef Jean and his family moved to New York when he was nine. The Jean family later moved to New Jersey where little Wyclef met Lauryn Hill and fellow Haitian Pras Michel. They formed The Fugees, a reference to Haitian refugees coming to America.

In 1996, The Fugees released their second album, The Score... and then they won a Grammy. No Biggie (although, Pras did rap about about him on track 10, "The Mask").

These days Wyclef sits on his millions -- the ones made from his work as a musician and producer. He also created the Yéle Haiti foundation to raise awareness about and improve conditions in Haiti. This is just one of his many social endeavors. Again, no biggie. — BJ

Band Members, K: Kristian Matsson of The Tallest Man On Earth

Song: "This Wind"
From the album Shallow Grave

The Tallest Man On Earth:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Tallest Man On Earth is comprised of one person -- Swedish folk musician Kristian Matsson. Matsson released Shallow Grave, his first full-length album, last March. The album is magnificent.

The Tallest Man On Earth is probably my number one show for Mission Creek this year. That or the next band, Fruit Bats. Anyway, Tallest Man is playing PS1 on April 4. I'm going to assume this man traveled the farthest to play Mission Creek. — BJ

"It will Follow the Rain" video

Band Members, L: Ron Lewis of Fruit Bats

Song: "When U Love Somebody"
From the album Mouthfuls

Fruit Bats:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Fruit Bats is essentially the work of Eric Johnson with whomever he can find when he wants to put together an album. At least that's my understanding of the band that's been around since the mid-Nineties. Ron Lewis currently happens to be one of those people.

Go see Fruit Bats during Mission Creek. They're playing The Picador on April 2. — BJ

"Earthquake of '73" video

Band Members, M: Matt Berninger of The National

Song: "So Far Around the Bend"
From the album Dark Was the Night

The National:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: This is The National's first appearance on Alphabet Soup. I guess I did play them to death pre-Soup, back when Boxer was all the rage. These guys coordinated the new compilation album Dark Was the Night, which includes this song. — cwc

Band Members, N: Nicholaus Arson of The Hives

Song: "Die, All Right!"
From the album Veni Vidi Vicious

The Hives:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I stole the Hives away from Brittany this week (assuming she relents and give me Nicholaus Arson in place of her D, Dr. Matt Destruction), which goes to show just how awesome these guys are, if we're both picking them. And it goes to show how little Brittany and I talk outside the studio, I guess! — cwc

Can't embed the video, but click here to check out a classic Hives offering.

Band Members, O: Olof Dreijer of The Knife

Song: "Heartbeats"
From the album Deep Cuts

The Knife:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Great song, but the Jose Gonzalez version is an improvement. Slight improvement. Just admit it. — cwc

Band Members, P: William Pavone of Asobi Seksu

Song: "Me & Mary"
From the album Hush

Asobi Seksu:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: New album getting somewhat tepid reaction from some corners. The first two albums were solid, so we'll see if this one grows on folks. The band's name still scores points with me. — cwc

Band Members, Q: Nate Query of The Decemberists

Song: "The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle the Thistles Undone)"
From the album Hazards of Love

The Decemberists:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Hazards of Love was released yesterday (March 24). From what I've heard, there are a few tracks that seem to skew from traditional Decemberists songs, the title track not necessarily being one of them. However, the second song has a stronger Rock N Roll sound than their typical indie-folk sound. Not what I expected.

To get back to the theme, Nate Query is the boy next door-looking electric bass, upright bass and cello player. — BJ

Band Members, R: Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear

Song: "Knife"
From the album Yellow House

Grizzly Bear:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I really need to get a new Grizzly Bear album...

Daniel Rossen is the singer, songwriter and guitarist for the Brooklyn-based bears. He joined the band in 2005, just in time to make Yellow House, my favorite of GB songs.

If you like Grizzly, check out Department of Eagles, Rossen's other music project. — BJ

Band Members, S: Caroline Smith of Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps

Song: "Clench My Teeth"
From the album Backyard Tent Set

Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps:   CS Interview   MySpace

DJ comments: Go buy this album if you don't own it. I'm nervous for the band to put out another album, because it is destined not to be as good as Backyard Tent Set. I know boys who love metal, but can't stop listening to this album. I don't want to over-hype it, but it is so. fucking. good.

Caroline Smith is the lead vocalist, as well as a guitar and banjo player for her band. She also writes all the band's lyrics. — BJ

Band Members, U: U-God of Wu-Tang Clan

Song: "Bizarre"
From the album Golden Arms Redemption

U-God:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Went with a solo U-God song instead of a Wu-Tang song, partly because it symbolizes the tension between U-God and the Wu-Tang empire, and the fact that we'll be playing this song in the afternoon, so most Wu-Tang that I like is out the window due to words like shit, fuck, motherfucker, et al. — cwc

This video is, um, lame:

Band Members, V: Tobi Vail of Bikini Kill

Song: "Reject All American"
From the album Reject All American

Bikini Kill:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Paying tribute here to Kurt Cobain's inspiration for "Smells Like Teen Spirit." — cwc

Band Members, W: Meg White of The White Stripes

Song: "Girl You Have No Faith in Medicine"
From the album Elephant

White Stripes:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Two reasons for going with Meg over Jack here: White is her actual surname (Jack took it when they were married), and I kinda have a thing for Meg. (shrug) — cwc

Band Members, X: Terminator X of Public Enemy

Song: "Air Hoodlum"
From the album Greatest Misses

Public Enemy:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Seems appropriate to throw on this song, given March Madness and the fact that PE-affiliated "media assassin" Harry Allen will be lecturing on campus next week. — cwc

Band Members, Z: Zebedee Zaitz of Port O’Brien

Song: "Fisherman's Song"
From the album All We Could Do Was Sing

Port O'Brien:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Not as raucous as "I Woke Up Today," but nice all the same. I'm actually glad every song doesn't sound like "I Woke Up Today," which although a great song, might pigeonhole them as Arcade Fire wannabes if everything sounded like that. — cwc

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Band Members, A: Damon Albarn of Blur

Song: "Bank Holiday"
From the album Parklife

Blur:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Albarn is probably much better known to you crazy kids as the guy behind Gorillaz and perhaps The Good, the Bad, and the Queen. Blur was great. They will play Glastonbury this year, first show in 11 years. — cwc

Band Members, B: Bjork of the Sugarcubes

Song: "Deus" (remix)
From the album Life's Too Good

Sugarcubes:   MySpace

DJ comments: I sometimes wonder how Bjork will be remembered, and if her stint with the Sugarcubes will factor at all. It most definitely should. — cwc

Band Members, C: Chi Cheng of Deftones

Song: "Please Please Please (Let Me Get What I Want)"
From the album B-Sides & Rarities

Deftones:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Nobody does covers like Deftones. Not even Cat Power. — cwc

Band Members, D: Kim Deal of Pixies

Song: "Bone Machine"
From the album Surfer Rosa

Pixies:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Surfer Rosa came out around the same time as Jane's Addiction's Nothing's Shocking. Lot of boobies on album covers back then. — cwc

Band members, E: David Enos of Papercuts

Song: "Dear Employee"
From the album Can't Go Back

Papercuts:   MySpace   Pitchfork Album Review (8.3)

David Enos:   MySpace

DJ comments: Though Jason Quever is the band's main man, David Enos is noted as a "helper." It looks like Enos is also musically involved with a woman named Joanna, whom he met at a karaoke bar on Valentine's Day. (how sweet.)

Anywho, the Papercuts are releasing a new album later this month. I think most listeners will enjoy the first track, "Future Primitive," which is posted on the band's Myspace page. It seems like a great song for a film -- perhaps a slowed-down driving sequence in a coming-of-age story. — BJ

Band Members, F: Chris Frantz of The Talking Heads

Song: Burning Down The House
From the album Stop Making Sense (1984 Film)

Talking Heads:   Web site   Wiki

Chris Frantz:    Web site bio   Wiki

DJ comments: Chris Frantz started his professional music career after befriending Rhode Island School of Design classmate, David Byrne. They originally named their band The Artistics. He later convinced his girlfriend, Tina Weymouth, to play bass for the band, which they renamed The Talking Heads. The couple married in 1977 and created the band Tom Tom Club as a side project in 1980.

I read that Byrne, Enos and Weymouth lived together when they first moved to New York City. I can only begin to imagine the nights had in that apartment. [Insert suggestive antique car horn sound.] — BJ

Since I didn't play "Heaven," I figured I'd post the video. I. love. this. song.

Band Members, G: Laura Gibson

Song: "Spirited"
From the album Beasts of Seasons

Laura Gibson:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Miss Gibson's most recent album, Beasts of Seasons, was released a few weeks ago -- Tuesday, February 24, to name dates. Let me be among many to say that this album is fantastic. As an example, Aquarium Drunkard had major praise for the album.

This album almost has too many collaborations to wrap your head around: Rachel Blumberg (M. Ward, Bright Eyes), Nate Query (The Decemberists), Adam Selzer (Norfolk and Western, M. Ward), avant-garde violist and composer Eyvind Kang, solo artists Laura Veirs and Shelly Short, Danny Seim (Menomena), and many of the people who have formed Gibson's touring band over the past two years (Cory Gray, Sean Ogilvie, Dave Depper, Jason Leonard, and Micah Rabwin). That list was generated by Amazon.com.

For the fans: Gibson will be opening for Damien Jurado at The Picador on April 8. — BJ

Band Members, H: Peter Hughes of The Mountain Goats

Song: "Color In Your Cheeks"
From the album All Hail West Texas

The Mountain Goats:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Peter Hughes is best-known as the bass player for the Mountain Goats, but has also worked with Diskothi Q and Nothing Painted Blue.

On Friday, April 3, Peter Hughes, John Darnielle and Jon Wurster will join together at the Mill to form The Mountain Goats. Joining them on the Gone Primitive tour is solo artist and Mountain Goats contributor John Vanderslice. — BJ

Band Members, I: Ice Cube of N.W.A.

Song: "Express Yourself"
From the album Straight Outta Compton

N.W.A.:   Web site

DJ comments: Not my favorite N.W.A. song by any means (that's either "Gangsta Gangsta" or "I Ain't Tha 1"), but now I can say I played a track off Straight Outta Compton on the radio in the middle of the day. — cwc

Band Members, J: Michael James of Explosions in the Sky

Song: "A Song for Our Fathers"
From the album How Strange, Innocence

Explosions in the Sky:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I'd go to a festival that featured these guys, Mogwai, Sigur Ros, and a reformed Godspeed You! Black Emperor. That would be quite the crescendo show. — cwc

Band Members, K: Tim Kasher of Cursive

Song: "A Gentleman Caller"
From the album The Ugly Organ

Cursive:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Kasher is like the best bad singer in the business. — cwc

Band Members, L: Sean Lennon of Cibo Matto

Song: "Sugar Water"
From the album Viva! La Woman

Cibo Matto:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I was talking about how I like Sean Lennon and Brittany kinda laughed. She had Sean confused with Julian, who made some awful videos during the '80s. — cwc

Band Members, M: Johnny Marr of The Smiths

Song: "This Charming Man"
From the album The Smiths

The Smiths:   The Smiths Wiki   Johnny Marr Wiki   Johnny Marr Web site

DJ comments: Morrissey seemed like the obvious choice with the Smiths, but Johnny Marr should get equal credit for this song. In 1983, the boys wrote this charming tune as the band's second single. Marr was only 20.

Marr contributed to The Smiths as a guitarist, keyboardist, harmonica player and singer. Since the end of The Smiths, Marr has contributed to Modest Mouse and The Cribs. — BJ

Band Members, N: Nikolai Fraiture of The Strokes

Song: "Reptilia"
From the album Room on Fire

The Strokes:   Web site   MySpace

Nickel Eye:   MySpace

DJ comments: The Strokes have so many side projects currently underway, I suppose because they've been on a "hiatus" for years... One of the side projects is Nikolai Fraiture's band Nickel Eye (get it?). The bass player released Brandy Of The Damned in January. Among others, the album features Regina Spektor on the piano and Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) on guitar. — BJ

Band Members, O: John Orth of Ugly Casanova

Song: "Hotcha Girls"
From the album Sharpen Your Teeth

Ugly Casanova:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: John Orth played with Ugly Casanova on their only album, Sharpen Your Teeth. Up until now, the only songs I've heard from the band were those released on this 2004 masterpiece (yes, I'll back up that statement). If you go to the band's Myspace page, you'll find several songs not featured on Sharpen. Needless to say, I immediately send several text messages to avid Ugly Casanova fans awaiting more material from the super group.

Orth is currently providing vocals to the indie/folk band Holopaw. — BJ

Band Members, P: Mark Paulson of Bowerbirds

Song: "In Our Talons"
From the album Hymns For A Dark Horse

Bowerbirds:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Mark Paulson provides violin, foot synth, percussion and vocals for the Bowerbirds of North Carolina.

Bowerbirds is yet another fantastic band to be featured at this year's Mission Creek Festival in Iowa City. Considering that Pieta Brown is opening, you can plan on an acoustic explosion at the Mill on April 1.

If you are unfamiliar with Bowerbirds, consider that their album Hymns For A Dark Horse ranked #4 on Daytrotter's Best 15 Albums of 2007. — BJ


Band Members, Q: Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest

Song: "Can I Kick It?"
From the album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

A Tribe Called Quest:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Not sure if Public Enemy or Tribe is the best rap group ever. Or maybe De La Soul. You guys missed some sweet stuff from back in the day... — cwc

Band Members, R: Joey Ramone of the Ramones

Song: "Teenage Lobotomy"
From the album Rocket to Russia

Ramones:   Web site

DJ comments: This has long been my favorite Ramones song. How can you not love a song that includes the lyric "Now I guess I'll have to tell 'em/That I've got no cerebellum"? — cwc

Band Members, S: Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine

Song: "Lose My Breath"
From the album Isn't Anything

My Bloody Valentine:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Sexy. I so wish I was going to Coachella in a few weeks to catch these guys and the Cure close down the fest. — cwc

Band Members, T: 3-D of Massive Attack

Song: "Risingson"
From the album Mezzanine

Massive Attack:   Web site

DJ comments: This album was probably the peak for Massive Attack. Of course, they are now forever enshrined in people's minds as the guys who did the theme song for House. — cwc

Band Members, U: Ulf Ekberg (Buddha) of Ace of Base

Song: "The Sign"
From the album Greatest Hits

Ace of Base:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Chris wanted me to play a song by the Wu-Tang Clan (U-God being the band member), but I had to go with a request from my friend Matthew. I mean, Ace of Base screams KRUI gold. — BJ

Band Members, V: Victoria Legrand of Beach House

Song: "Gila"
From the album Devotion

Beach House:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Victoria Legrand, Beach House's leading lady, graduated from Vassar, has a cat named Wolfie, is "addicted" to touring and calls herself a "control freak."

Beach House is headlining a great Thursday evening at The Picador during Mission Creek. For only $10, you can see Beach House, Fruit Bats and Headlights. — BJ

"Master of None" video:

Band Members, W: Matt Ward

Song: "For Beginners"
From the album Hold Time

M. Ward:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: If you haven't heard M. Ward on his own, I'm sure you've heard She & Him -- Ward's collaborative effort with Zooey Deschanel. Deschanel is featured in two songs off M. Ward's Hold Time, which was released February 17.

Want to see M. Ward on his Hold Time tour? Plan on driving a few hours to Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago or Omaha in late April. — BJ

Band Members, X: Xander McMahon of Ambulance LTD

Song: "Ophelia"
From the LP Ambulance LTD

Ambulance LTD:   Wiki   MySpace

DJ comments: Xander McMahon replaced Andrew Haskell as the keyboardist for Ambulance LTD. With that, no original members remain. Does a band really carry on under the same name when everyone in the band is a replacement? — BJ

Band Members, Y: Thom Yorke of Radiohead

Song: "Knives Out"
From the album Amnesiac

Radiohead:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I never think to listen to Amnesiac, which means I don't hear this song very often. It's nice to revisit gems every so often. — cwc

Band Members, Z: Zach Condon of Beirut

Song: "Nantes"
From the album The Flying Club Cup

Beirut:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Zach Condon started Beirut as a solo project... and he's younger than I (he was born in 1986). Talk about a sexy man boy.

According to the oh-so-reliable Wikipedia, Condon recorded his first album at 15. Good luck finding a copy of The Joys of Losing Weight.

If you haven't heard it already, Beirut just released a double EP entitled March of the Zapotec. The album was recorded in Mexico with the help of the The Jimenez Band. Now you too can see how Eastern and Southern sounds mix. — BJ