All posts by G. Gordon Gritty

business, Music, News

Ticketmaster + Live Nation = Monopoly?

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The Atlantic
Ticket distributor Ticketmaster and concert promoter Live Nation have been hoping to merge. Britain’s antitrust regulator objected today in a preliminary ruling. It believes the merger would severely limit competition and hurt consumers. I think it’s right, and its decision is something of a no-brainer.

Let’s break it down. Imagine you want to go see a concert. Since Live Nation has, by far, the strongest influence in the concert space, you will probably be going to one they promoted or produced. So to buy those tickets? Well, you probably have to go through Ticketmaster, since it has vast control over concert ticket distribution.

How cornered would they have the market? According to this CNN Money article from back in February about the proposed merger, their combined market share would be close to 80%. If that isn’t a threshold for antitrust regulation, then I’m not sure what is.

It makes sense business-wise for them, but as a frequent concert attender I am concerned about prices sky-rocketing.

CD Review, Entertainment, Music

CD Review: Paranoid Cocoon

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Band: Cotton Jones (Formerly of Page France)
Release: 2009
Label: Suicide Squeeze

1. “Up A Tree (Went This Heart I Have)” – 9.6
2. “Gotta Cheer Up” – 9.7
3. “Some Strange Rain” – 9.5
4. “Gone The Bells” – 9.6
5. “Photo Summerlude” – 9.3
6. “By Morning Light” – 9.2
7. “Cotton & Velvet” – 8.9
8. “Little Ashtray in the Sun” – 8.7
9. “Blood Red Sentimental Blues” – 8.7
10. “I Am The Changer” – 9.3

Comments: What we all loved as Page France died as Page France in 2008. Michael Nau and Whitney McGraw, the two main pieces of the PF puzzle, decided to do a thang by themselves called Cotton Jones.  Cotton Jones is a bit jazzier/bluesier and less deep lyrically than Page France. I get this sort of Doors vibe with tracks on here being predominately vocal-centric and mellow.  As a really big Page France devotee back in my day, I don’t sense a lot of lasting appeal to these songs like I did with Hello, Dear Wind (2005), for example. So why I have given them such high ratings? They have a good amount of now appeal. Beautifully written, beautifully sung. Versatile, too. Jazz, blues, folk, country, rock…Michael and Whitney can do ’em all no problem. Admittedly, things get a bit boring (“done before”) toward the end.

Grade:9.3

Music

Upcoming Album Releases!

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Upcoming Releases!
Lupe Fiasco – Lasers – December 15, 2009

In The Queue For Review!
Devendra Banhart – What Will We Be – October 27, 2009
Stellastarr – Civilized – July 7, 2009
The Raveonettes – In and Out of Control – October 6, 2009
Muse – The Resistance – September 14, 2009
Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum – June 6, 2009
Franz Ferdinand – Tonight: Franz Ferdinand – January 26, 2009

CD Review, Entertainment, Music

CD Review: Help

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Band: Thee Oh Sees
Release: April 28, 2009
Label: In The Red Records

1. “Enemy Destruct” – 9.4
2. “Ruby Go Home” – 8.9
3. “Meat Step Lively” – 9.2
4. “A Flag In The Court” – 8.3
5. “The Turn Around” – 7.5
6. “Can You See?” – 8.6
7. “Rainbow” – 9.4
8. “Go Meet The Seed” – 9.3
9. “I Can’t Get No” – 8.9
10. “Soda St. #1” – 8.6
11. “Destroyed Fortress Reappers” – 9.2
12. “Peanut Butter Oven” – 9.0

Comments: Pursuing a recommendation from No Bunny drummer Billy, I decided to give this esteemed album a listen. Reminds me to some degree of the kind of rock that good old Chuck Berry was spitting out in his day, though this is dirtier and more prone to experiment. So I can see why this band has been influential to the emerging “coaster” garage scene that includes No Bunny and company. But at a few points throughout, I feel like there are too many layers of different instruments that distort the main rhythm and vocals, making the listening experience a sort of pain in the ass. At a few points, I hear a simplicity reminiscent of Jay Reatard lyrically and musically. It’s the kind of garage-y music that I can’t call awesome, but that I can give a pretty decent amount of respect to. A band I probably won’t make an exaggerated effort to go see, but might if they are playing alongside another good band.

Grade: 8.9

Music, reviews

EP Reviews: Teabag Party 7″ and Animal Party 7″

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Band: King Khan & BBQ Show
Title: Teabag Party 7″
Label: Crypt
Release: 2008

1. “Teabag Party” – 9.6 – A straight up ancient garage-comedy sucker with lyrics like “Well I’m gonna put my balls/
on top of your head/then you gonna wish oh/wish you were dead. ” Imagine a Fish Fight, but with Teabags.

2. “Larry Is A Gay Blade” – 9.8 – Hahahahahahahaha! A hiliarious 12 seconder in the tune of “Learn My Language.”

3. “Teenage Foetus” – 9.7 – From my perspective this song rings true about the ills of the abortion industry. “Teenage foetus, you can’t beat us,” shows how the fetus is left powerless in an abortion situation. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure KK and BBQ didn’t think of it this way when they made it, but it’s up for interpretation I’m sure.

4. “What’s Yours Is Mine” – 9.5 – Pretty fuckin’ sweet doo-wop, but not really high high class.

5. “Gangbang Gordon” – 9.9 – Hahhahahahahahahaha shit! Guess what song(s) this sounds like? Here’s the lyrics: “1..2..3 Gonna Gangbang Gordon, We’re Gonna Eat His Organs! We’re Gonna Fuckin’ Gangbang  Gordon, We’re Gonna Eat His Organs! Dip-pa-dap-da-pa-dip…” Hahaha!
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Band: King Khan & BBQ Show
Title: Animal Party 7″
Label: Fat Possum
Release: 2008

1. “Animal Party” – 9.2 – Funny, but not too awesome. A really solid rhythm and very inviting. “Open the door/come on in/let the Animal Party begin!”

2. “God Of Raisins” – 9.3 – Gospel gone wrong, but not musically wrong.

Band Spotlight

Band Spotlight: Beirut

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History: Formed in 2006 by a then 19 year old college student named Zach Condon. A few others, a short while later, joined the band and collectively began work on a debut LP titled Gulag Orkestar.

Years Active: 2006 to Present

Label: Ba Da Bing!

Members:
Zach Condon, Perrin Cloutier, Hari Ziznewski, Jason Poranski, Nick Petree, Kristin Ferebee, Paul Collins, Jon Natchez, Kelly Pratt, and Ben Lanz

Genre: Balkan Folk

Musical Style: “Gulag Orkestar,” the first track off their 2006 album of the same name, is very dramatic and folksy, featuring a delightful contrast of imposing horns and drums and light and playful tambourines. But Beirut also has songs like “Postcards From Italy” that don’t sound all that differently than your typical non-American independent folk, like Jens Lekman.

Moods:

Entertainment, Music, News

Mark Sultan/KK+BBQ News!

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http://www.marksultan.com
The King Khan & BBQ Show tour dates!! Check: http://www.myspace.com/thekingkhanbbqshow there are a few that are left to be determined. as well as a couple of kids show that we will add on there. that should be cool! this will all be to play some of our new album ‘INVISIBLE GIRL’ which drops in a couple of weeks. we may have a couple limited edition LPs for sale in portland! supporting us for most of the tour and at various points are Dum Dum Girls and Those Darlins! here is the best part: The King Khan & BBQ Show have been working on a new live show (aside from playing a bunch of new songs) which harkens back to the original intent of our band. it should be really fun! this also means the inclusion of our old pal Leo Chips into the fold. you’ll see!! it’s gonna be extravagant! check in to the myspace now and again for news! also, look for The Almighty Defenders in both Portland and also on the 25th at Maxwell’s in Hoboken! And maybe another show for CMJ? who knows? My new Mark Sultan is also DONE and will be out in February. I decided to hold off on its release cuz too much shit is coming out. But a single on In The Red of non-LP cuts will rear its ugly head in a couple of weeks! see you on tour!

Indeed, see you on tour, Mark.