11.28.2006
Peter and the Wolf
So this spooky looking guy is Red Hunter (awesome name, by the way), the frontman of Peter and the Wolf. Red and Dana Falconberry (another awesome name) started Peter in Austin (!) back in 2004. Since they've played shows in graveyards, on islands, and other more conventional venues.
Red makes really neat shirts, too. Check out the Myspace for pictures. The shirts are all individually handmade, too!
Oh, and the music is also very good. Pretty eery with crazy junkyard instrumentals at times, I would be scared shitless to hear them in that graveyard. But even though I would be pissing my pants, I would thoroughly enjoy the music. It seems like I always talk about this, but the harmonies incorporated in each song are very pleasant. Listen to the "aahs" throughout "Safe Travels" to get a feel for what I'm saying. Acoustic guitar is prevalent in Peter and the Wolf, and is kept very light and resonant. It could actually pass for a ukelele. Or maybe Red actually plays the ukelele at times... Hmm...
Peter and the Wolf's lyrics are very story-like. Maybe it's the Texan country influence, but each song seems to have a storyline going along with it. Embrace it, enjoy it, and check them out.
Tour Info (they have a shitload of shows in Cali):
Dec. 6 TBA Tulsa, OK
Dec. 7 The Ground Floor Belleville, MO
Dec. 8 Flowers' House Party Columbia, MO
Dec. 9 TBA Lincoln, NB
Dec. 10 Warehouse 44 Denver, CO
Dec. 11 Radtown USA Salt Lake City, UT
Dec. 13 Hemlock San Francisco, CA
Dec. 14 The Echo LA, CA
Jan. 11 TBA LA, CA
Jan. 12 TBA Santa Cruz, CA
Jan. 13 TBA San Francisco, CA
mp3 Safe Travels
mp3 The Bonsai Tree
mp3 The Highway
Peter and the Wolf's Official site
Peter and the Wolf's Myspace
Labels: SXSW '07
11.24.2006
Christopher Willits
No, your audio isn't freaking out -- it's just Christopher Willits! Upon listening to his album, Surf Boundaries, I found myself adjusting my speakers and tinkering with my controls, thinking the CD was skipping a million times a minute. Little did I know, that's just Willits's style.
His music is complex to say the least. This Bay Area multimedia artist is pledged for his homemade signal processing software that he uses with the guitar. Together, Willits can generate improvised melodies with interweaving guitar riffs and harmonies, all playing at once. Yea, San Franciscans know how to represent.
Extremely instrumental-based, the majority of his songs lack any form of vocals whatsoever. Instead both electronic and acoustic sounds fill the void. In his music you'll find the default drum kit, guitar, and keyboard, all played with a considerable amount of skill (listen to the drums in Yellow Spring). Trumpets are also present, casually complementing the electronic bleeps and bloops that are ever present in Willits's music.
I said vocals are pretty subjugated, but when they are present, they're great. Smooth and airy and chorus-like (yay), vocals are on the same level as the instruments. Simply there as another sound, voices bring further life to the songs, songs that are pleasant, light, and above all, ethereal.
Tour Information
Nov. 28 World Café, upstairs Philadelphia, PA
Nov. 29 Joe's Pub New York, NY
Nov. 30 Floristree Baltimore, MD
Dec. 1 U. Mich @ Michigan League Underground Ann Arbor, MI
Dec. 2 CAID Detroit, MI
Dec. 3 The Lager House Detroit, MI
Dec. 4 Smart Bar Chicago, IL
Dec. 5 Spaceland Hollywood, CA
Dec. 6 Cafe du Nord San Francisco, CA
Dec. 11 Holocene Portland, OR
Dec. 12 The Baltic Room Seattle, WA
Dec. 14 The Mark Olympia, WA
mp3 Colors Shifting
mp3 Yellow Spring
Christopher Willits's Official site
Christopher Willits's Myspace
11.23.2006
[Musicopia]
Many years ago, 1621 to be exact, the Pilgrims of Plymouth shared a table with the Wampanoag Indians - or so the story goes. Thanksgiving is a one-day celebration of the things one has at the close of the harvest season. ONe that celebratory evening, the Pilgrims were probably thankful for Squanto, the Native American that prevented the Pilgrims from dying of starvation by teaching them how to catch food and grow crops in the new land. Good on ya Squanto! So, in the spirit of celebrating thanks, I'd like to share a few of the things I am thankful for with this, my Musicopia...(All songs are right click - save as & artist name leads to site)
I am thankful for...
- ...the time I have off for this holiday. I finally have time to do nothing for good reason.
- ...waking up in time for to see the Macy's Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade - something I haven't woken up in time for in three years.
- ...the turkey! There's nothin' like a dead bird on the table - decorative and delicious!
- ...the rest of the food - stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potato pie, pecan pie, corn on the cob, mashed potatos, rolls. Ya know, the extra things that make us feel bad.
Unless it sucks...
- ...the concept of excercise. After the average Thanksgiving meal, everyone always feels a bit wieghed down.
- ...blogwise, Alina. Without her on board, I'd have to do a hell of a lot more writing.
- ...you! We're always grateful for your readership, so here's wishin' you thanks and a good holiday, or at least a great weekend!
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Otherwheres - In the course of the next few days, Alina and I will be cutting out files in our archives to help conserve bandwidth and overall space, so grab stuff while you still can...
Otherwheres - If you haven't noticed, it's been a while since I last posted. I finally got my wireless back up today, so I can post again...
11.22.2006
The Hold Steady
The Hold Steady is a Brooklyn-based band from Minneapolis, just like Both Sides is an Austin-based blog from the Bay and the Valley. They're so rock & roll, it's not even funny. The riffs, the vocals, the beats, everything but the look, is solid rock & roll. Based solely on their sound, I would assume that The Hold Steady would be full of platform-flaunting, costume-wearing, middle-aged men stomping around on stage with fog hazing the audience's view. But alas! I couldn't be more wrong. In The Hold Steady we have baldies, double chins, and beer bellies galore. Just goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover. ...Or a band's look by its sound. ... Or a band's sound by its look.
Alright, I feel like I'm making The Hold Steady seem like a really shitty band -- please don't think they're anything like KISS. But they're definitely rockers, with a lot of gain, a lot of crash, and a lot of whammy. Guitar slides are frequent and the vocals are undeniably rock & roll -- mature and husky and leaned back. You know, indie would be nowhere without rock, so I dig bands like The Hold Steady, bands that ultimately stay true to its musical roots, bringing us all some more of the sorely missed guitar solos and the steady 4/4 snare/highhat beats that we have been lacking. They're currently undergoing a winter tour, so check 'em out once they head to your town.
Tour Info:
Nov. 25 Black Cat Washington, DC
Nov. 26 Cat's Cradle Carrboro, NC
Nov. 27 New Brookland Tavern Columbia, SC
Nov. 29 The Social Orlando, FL
Nov. 30 Orpheum Tampa, FL
Dec. 1 Beta Bar Tallahassee, FL
Dec. 2 The Parish at House of Blues New Orleans, LA
Dec. 4 Sticky Fingerz Chicken Shack Little Rock, AR
Dec. 5 Mojo's Columbia, MO
Dec. 6 The Bottleneck Lawrence, KS
Dec. 7 The Picador (formerly Gabe's Oasis) Iowa City, IA
Dec. 8 Southgate House Newport, KY
Dec. 9 Headliner's Louisville, KY
Dec. 11 The Grog Shop Cleveland Heights, OH
Dec. 13 Showplace Buffalo, NY
Dec. 14 Valentines Albany, NY
Dec. 15 Pearl Street Northampton, MA
mp3 Hot Soft Light
mp3 Chips Ahoy!
mp3 Southtown Girls
The Hold Steady's Official site
The Hold Steady's Myspace
11.20.2006
The Good Life
The Good Life is another one of those big band frontman's side projects gone kind of big. Tim Kasher of the almighty Cursive started The Good Life after wanting to differ his songwriting approach. It soon grew arms, legs, and bandmates, and began walking around on its own!
Being that Kasher does the vocals, Cursive is most definitely prevalent in The Good Life's music. However, The Good Life is much softer, moodier, and more emotional. Damn good breakup music this is. The lyrics are all centered around heartbreak and the heartbroken. The music can be consequently delicate or heartwrenching, all depending on what stage of the breakup one is in. Just called it quits and want to tear your former significant other from your memory? That's Notes in His Pockets. Reminscing and crying over what once was? That's Early Out the Gate. Every heartbreak has a song with The Good Life.
And you can hear them all live (in Nebraska)!
Tour Dates:
Dec. 21 Saddle Creek Bar Omaha, NE
Dec. 22 Knickerbockers Lincoln, NE
Dec. 23 Sokol Underground Omaha, NE
mp3 Notes in His Pockets
mp3 I Am an Island
mp3 Always a Bridesmaid
11.17.2006
Malajube
First off, let me comment on how sexy this band's name is. Malajube. Mmm...
Anyway, this band comes from Montréal, Québec. All their songs are in French, which makes them really hard to sing along with for me. This is their only drawback. Since 2004, they've been staples on Québec radio and for good reason. Malajube is ridiculously catchy and melodic. Instrumentals are solid and vocals are solid-er. The dynamics of their sound are great, and they often incorporate the chorus style that Brad and I are so fond of (listen to the balababbabba parts of Montréal). All them boysies singing at once in French with different tones and harmonies is just so appealing to the ears!
All in all, Malajube is happy, upbeat, pleasant indie rock. Their Myspace says they're "grindcore," but whatever, they're basically a really fun band that are pretty much accessible to all ears.
Malajube is also award-winning. They've picked up three Félix Awards (Canadian): one for "Best Alternative Album," one for "Best Cover Art," and one for "Revelation of the year 2006," all concerning their sophomore album, Trompe L'oeil. Three of their songs are posted below, and you should listen 'cause, come on, they're this year's revelation.
Chyea, they're on tour (in Canada):
Nov. 18 Theatre Granada Sherbrooke, QC
Nov. 22 Trasheteria Peterborough, ON
Nov. 23 Cabash Hamilton, ON
Nov. 24 The Grad Club Kingston, ON
Nov. 25 Lee's Palace Toronto, ON
Dec. 2 House of Blues Vancouver, BC
Dec. 13 Zaphod Beeblebrox Ottawa, ON
mp3 Pate Filo
mp3 Montréal- 40c
mp3 La Monogamie
Malajube's Official site
Malajube's Myspace
P.S. Thanks, Shadid.
Labels: SXSW '07
11.15.2006
TV On the Radio
Brad was getting on me for not posting on these guys earlier, and for good reason -- TV on the Radio is blowing up! They've been all over MTV and MTV2 for the last couple weeks (they even made it on The Ten Spot, har har).
Based in New York City, TV on the Radio has been around since 2001, blessing the indie scene with their falsetto vocals and avant-garde sound. Seriously, the vocals are trippy. All of the members join in on the songs, singing higher than Michael Jackson, creating this mad chorus of crazy voices. It's perty awesome. Listen to Province -- they all go "ooOOoOoh" with these different tones and inflections... IT'S SO TRIPPY.
As for their instrumentals, tons of different influences are evident. They can seem pretty jazzy in one song, electro in another, doo-wop in one, and just straight indie rock in others. There are loops and synths and guitars and drums and saxes and flutes and more!
But TV on the Radio's standout element will always be their vocals. Many a time five-strong, the interweaving harmonies and verses they sing simultaneously just make me want to la la. ... Yea.
So check-check-check them out, and if you're in Europe, see them live. (I heard they're really really really really good).
Tour Dates (European):
Nov. 15 (today) 8:00 PM Le 4 Sans Bordeaux
Nov. 17 8:00 PM Crossing Border Festival The Hague
Nov. 18 8:00 PM Knust Hamburg
Nov. 19 8:00 PM Manufactur Schorndorf
Nov. 20 8:00 PM Feierwerk Munich
mp3 Province
mp3 Wolf Like Me
mp3 Staring at the Sun
TV on the Radio's Official site
TV on the Radio's Myspace
11.14.2006
[Scandimania! & A Whole Lot of Otherwheres]
Hrm, My Viking Is Lookin' Rather StoutThe Scandimania! Mix (all songs are right click - save as & artist name leads to site)
Did I forget someone? Of course I did! So then, who do you like from the area?
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Otherwheres - What you say? You've recently seen Stranger Than Fiction? Well, why don't you go try your hand in winning it's soundtrack with our Stranger Than Fiction contest...
Otherwheres - Looking for more Swede music? Be sure to check out Swedesplease as a lot of the stuff I put up today was originally found on that wonderful bit of internet....
Otherhweres - Go rock some history over at IGIF....
Otherwheres - Mmmm, Matt over at Skatterbrain has some Los Campesinos! and crazy Kanye...
Otherhweres - Other Matt over at You Ain't No Picasso has some new Modest Mouse tunage...
11.13.2006
R.I.P. Rainer Maria
Strange how the arms sting
When you're left holding nothing
Oh, my arms are stinging. I am sorry to announce that Rainer Maria, one of my favorite bands of all motherfucking time, has now deceased for "musical and personal reasons." What a welcome back, huh. You cannot imagine the pain that struck my heart when I received the call...
I wasn't prepared for this noOoOOOoO (that's my ringtone, brownie points if you can name the song and band)
Me: Hello?
Brad: So it looks like your first new post is going to be a funeral eulogy...
Me: Who died!
Brad: Rainer Maria...
Me: %&$#%$%**&wildemotioncryingshockandsurprise
Needless to say, I am quite sad. And to rub more salt into the wound, turns out their last two shows are nowhere near Texas. If any of you are Philadelphians or New Yorkers, you have my envy. Tickets for the New York show are already out and the Philadelphia tix just went on sale today. I'll post the tour dates and venues later.
Well, for a full decade now, Rainer Maria has provided the world with beautiful, poetic, poignant music. Who can forget their 11 EPs and albums? From their first self-titled EP with the heartbreaking track Made in Secret, to their latest (and last) release Catastrophe Keeps Us Together (I guess catastropohe was absent from their world), Rainer Maria's music will live on, even though the band's identity may not. Named after my favorite poet, Rainer Maria Rilke, Rainer Maria was deep, artistic, and WONDERFUL.
And now they're dead.
Rest in peace, Rainer Maria.
The Tour Dates for Rainer Maria's Last Two Shows and if You Are Able to Go, but Don't, You Are an Ungrateful Idiot and I Wish You Were Never Born:
Dec. 15 First Unitarian Church Philadelphia, PA
Dec. 16 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY
mp3 Ears Ring
mp3 Artificial Light
mp3 Broken Radio
Rainer Maria's Official site
Rainer Maria's Myspace
11.02.2006
[BSOTM Contest: The Grates in Space! Land!] + Break
Well, well - who might those three be? Clearly the "I'm Australian" demeanor reveal them to be none other than the Grates. Ah yes, the Grates - one of Australia's most popular exports, closely trailing behind boomerangs and koalas. Having said that, chances are, by now, you're quite familiar with the tunage of this particular trio. If not, allow some time to familiarize yourself yeah? All right, now that you know who the Grates are, dont you want to go seem them? Well even though it's technically Alina's turn to start up a contest, I've decided to steal her turn and start my contest early since its rather time dependent. Time dependent you say? Why, that must mean it has to do with a contest. That's right, we're offering up another pair of guestlist spots, two pairs actually! So what's specifically up for grabs? Two lucky winners will get the chance to see the Grates at their November 14 show at Los Angeles' Spaceland, and they can bring a friend too! Sometimes I think I spoil you all. You know the rules, just email us your name with the subject "BSOTM Contest" or drop a line in the comments with your name and email address. This contest ends November 12 guys, so get to it and good luck!CONTEST OVER CHECK POST ABOVE FOR WINNERS
Well hey, they can't just be playing a single show in LA can they? Of course not! Be sure to check them out if you're nearby any of the cities on their current tour...
November 15 San Francisco, CA - Hemlock
November 18 Seattle, WA - Neumos
November 19 Vancouver, BC - Media Club
November 23 Calgary, Alberta - Broken City
November 24 Edmonton, Alberta - Power Plant
November 25 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Louis' Pub
November 26 Winnipeg, Manitoba - The Collective
November 30 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
December 6 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
December 7 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs
December 9 Brooklyn, NY - Northsix
December 10 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
December 12 Washington, DC - Black Cat
December 16 Fortitude Valley, Brisbane - Alfred's Block Party
Various songs from The Grates (all songs are right click - save as):
Check out their site.
Be their friend!
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Otherwheres - Alina and I here at Both Sides will be taking a break and will resume regular posting on the date of this contest's winners announcement. Meanwhile, you can occupy some time by checking out the better blogs on our links list....
11.01.2006
The Walkmen
I have a confession to make. I first heard of The Walkmen on The O.C. Oh yea, that's another confession of mine. I watch The O.C. But to be perfectly fair, if I'd never been an O.C. fan, I would never have heard of The Walkmen and never have been able to share them with those who have been without. Besides, I like the music on The O.C. for the most part -- they've featured Sufjan, too.Well yes, The Walkmen have been all over primetime TV, but they're still the furthest thing from sellouts. Their music is as unique and true as it was when they first hit the scene in New York City in 2000. The Walkmen pride themselves on being vintage -- they use vintage instruments, record on vintage analog equipment, wear vintage clothing (maybe). The resulting sound is clangy, fuzzy, echo-y, and beautiful. Lead vocals are done by Hamilton Leithauser, a trebly, slightly raspy, sometimes whiny, crooning son of a bitch. I'm convinced he could pull off an indie version of Frank Sinatra if he tried.
Now about that show...
So the Walkmen are on tour...
... tomorrow (only)!
Nov 2 10 PM NYU Skirball Center New York, NY
(If you go to NYU, the show's only $8 -- everyone else, you have to pay $12.)
Maybe they'll show up on the fourth (and probably last because Marissa is dead) season of The O.C.
Maybe the show will feature some other band I don't know about that I can post on.
I feel dirty, I don't want to confess anything else anymore.
mp3 Little House of Savages
mp3 What's In It For Me
mp3 Don't Forget Me
The Walkmen's Official site
The Walkmen's Myspace
Labels: SXSW '07
Both Sides of the Mouth is a dual-authored mp3 blog based in Austin, Texas. All audio posted on this site is meant for sampling purposes only. If you really like what you hear, show it and support the artist - buy an album, buy some merch. If you represent or own any media on this site and would like something taken down please email us, and we will take the neccessary action of removing the file(s).
Notable Mixes - Brad