All posts by G. Gordon Gritty

Music

Pixies, Upcoming Concert Calendar

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From Rolling Stone:
Last month, the Pixies confirmed an 12-date U.K. and European tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Doolittle, at which they’ll perform the 1989 LP in its entirety. Now Frank Black, Kim Deal, Joey Santiago and David Lovering have confirmed they’ll be bringing the same show Stateside in November. This morning the band announced a nine-city, 14-date Doolittle birthday run that kicks off November 4th at Los Angeles’ Palladium, includes two nights in Oakland, two in Seattle, two in Chicago and three New York dates (full list after the jump). Tickets go on sale starting August 1st. As in Europe, the shows will feature all of Doolittle’s 15 tracks and related B sides, a list that includes “Weird at My School,” “Dancing the Manta Ray” and “Bailey’s Walk.” The album itself includes Pixies classics “Debaser,” “Gouge Away,” “Monkey Gone to Heaven,” “Wave of Mutilation” and “Here Comes Your Man.” A press release indicates the band is dreaming up “Doolittle-related surprises” for the shows.

Awesome! This ends an amazing three month stretch of great shows. Let me give you a brief overview of some of my personal choices for shows coming up:

On August 3, the Arctic Monkeys are coming to the Paradise. The show is sold out, but I’m still really really hoping that I will be able to buy slightly reasonable tickets. The neo-psychedelia of the Warlocks will be coming to the Great Scott on August 12. They will be backed by the impressionable slow-core  Morning After Girls. On September 5, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, whose self-titled album was awarded a 9.6 by KLYAM, will hit the Middle East Downstairs. The Walkmen, always one of my favorite bands, will also be at the Middle East not just for one night, but for two on September 18 and 19. Normally, I wouldn’t go to two straight shows, but this is one hell of an exception. Wavves, the surf-rock group that canceled their European tour because of singer Nathan Williams’ drug bug-out, has actually produced from amazing material in the past couple of years. As long as Williams is fine, I’m sure the show should go just fine. It’s on September 27 at Great Scott. Alternative hip-hop band Why? will be at the Middle East Downstairs a week later on October 2. The next night at the same venue is another two-nights-in-a-row…this one coming from ear-damaging Dinosaur Jr. (Note: even I, a fan of noisy concerts and a lover of standing front row, will probably be at the back.)

Culture Jamming, Music

Radio Stations vs. DIY

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How do you find out about music? Me, I primarily use the internet via various websites (YouTube, Wikipedia, last.fm, etc)  to listen to and discover new bands. Doing this myself is quite convenient. I can stop the music or X out of band web-pages that I don’t particularly enjoy. With the radio, on the other hand, you have very little choice. The stations may allow you to request a song or two, but for the most part songs are pre-selected. That way, you are almost forced to like whatever they play. I find that the people who are predisposed to KISS 108 and JAMN 945 often become immediately attached to the songs that are played. These “club anthems” stick with them, but do any of these listeners actually go online, do research, buy albums, and most importantly listen to more songs other than the hits? Even with independent radio stations like WERS, I suspect the average listener doesn’t log onto wers.org and look up playlists. Personally I get the vibe that the DIY approach that I often take makes me like a song for a longer period of time. Good songs don’t just disappear after they’ve had their “time” on the radio; they become apart of my regular, personalized playlist.

Politics

Quotes of the Day

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“I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.” – Fannie Lou Hamer

“God bless you all. I am an innocent man.” – Edward Earl Johnson

“What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July?” – Frederick Douglass

“I view the Framers as teachers, not wardens.” – Randy Barnett

“Speaking as a person who is supposed to be dead, I believe the death penalty should be abolished, period. Because you can’t be sure.” – Kirk Bloodsworth

“Life is full of close calls, but the question of O.J Simpson’s guilt was not one of them.” – George Will

Music

Types of ‘Indie’ Rock Concert Attendees

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The Guy Who Just Stares – This guy resists any temptation to move. He just stares at the band in utter amazement or simply boredom.

The Drunken Chick – She’s usually all over the place with her alcoholic drink (typically Pabst Blue Ribbon beer) in hand. Her dance is out of rhythm, but generally it works.

The Rockin’ Out Hipster – He may or may not be trying to attract attention. For whatever the occasion, he is going nuts in his own little world.

The I Don’t Give A Shit Dude – They don’t give a shit about the band. Even if a really awesome band is playing, they are more interested in socializing or watching the ball game at the bar.

The Photo/Video Addict – He/She takes 1000 pictures and records smaller sized videos throughout the entire show. They usually get bumped by the normal people around them in the first row who are getting pushed from behind.

The I’m Going To Start Moshing Even If It’s N/A – This guy is a major douche. His definition of an awesome concert is when bodies start ramming into each other. Even if fuckin’ folk is playing this guy will make every effort to start a mosh pit.

If I think of more, I’ll post more!

Glen

Music

CD Review: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

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Band: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Release: 2009

1. “Contender” – Grade: 9.4 – Twee!
2. “Come Saturday” – Grade: 9.5 – Noise pop!
3. “Young Adult Friction” – Grade: 9.8  – Post-punk revival!
4. “This Love Is Fucking Right” – Grade: 9.6
5. “The Tenure Itch” – Grade: 9.6
6. “Stay Alive” – Grade: 9.7
7. “Everything With You” – Grade: 9.6
8. “A Teenager In Love” – Grade: 9.4
9. “Hey Paul” – Grade: 9.7
10. “Gentle Sons” – Grade: 9.8

Comments: Twee as fuck! A cross between the Vaselines and Galaxie 500. This band is so ’90s, yet it totally is ’09.

Final Grade: 9.6 – One of the best albums of 2009.