Peach Kelli Pop has been doin’ oh so sweet things for years, but she’s really really doing some things this year! Let me give you a breakdown:
New Releases:
TOUR
Oh yes and after that?? 4/26-5/4 JAPAN tour and 5/9-6/1 EURO tour.
Keep yourself updated thru Peach’s blogspot and her FB. It wouldn’t be KLYAM to not say Boston misses you and wants ya back soon :)
Release: 3/2014
Black Lips, my friends, the godfathers of this website, the band that started it all for us. And for thousands of others that have partaken in the pleasure of the Black Lips experience over the course of the last fifteen years. That’s no easy feat for any band; though there have been many a stimulating garage/punk band in rock ‘n roll’s history, Black Lips have gone from DIY Atlanta naughty boys to Vice’s most prized musical possession. And this wasn’t over night. They toured the world relentlessly for years, maybe a couple times over, before getting any ‘legitimate’ attention from the press. Once that came, some of their old time fanatics abandoned their former favorite sons on the basis of their new found hip major label, but in came so many more others, who like us, never heard or seen anyone like ’em. Call that musical naivety, if you will, but hey, ya gotta start somewhere. That brings us to Underneath The Rainbow or not really.
I’ll call this their eighth album – for those unfamiliar with these guys, I’ll recap real quick: ’03, ’04, ’05, one album per year, each one funner than the previous. Then came the ultimate live/studio LP (they fooled us for years, maybe never fooled Jay Reatard, though) Los Valientes Del Mundo Nuevo. That was ’07. Later that year came their Vice debut, Good Bad Not Evil, an introduction for the masses. Their gunky, excitable style still very much in tact, they popped out 200 Million Thousand in 2009. Two years later they got Mark Ronson to work with them in the studio and eat some raw meat. That was 2011’s Arabia Mountain. We really enjoy that one like the rest before it. Stained and pristine. Black Lips just doing their thing as they’ve always done.
Sure, it’s a little early to be writing about a Black Lips album before it’s released. This ain’t nothin new for nuts like us that make the trip to NY to see these guys every time Boston’s not on the itinerary. For the best live band in the world – there I said it and I’m not alone in my view – a blase record is not gonna stop us from appreciating these dudes. Underneath The Rainbow is quite Black Lips. No one’s going to be confusing the voices of Cole, Jared, Joe, and Ian for anyone else. The instrumentation is trademark BL as well: distorted, fuzzy, dying guitars, big bass sound some of the time, Joe’s drumming. You know. As I listen over and over again to this new batch of songs, I find myself searching for something that the Lips have previously always stuffed deep into my ear drums. Maybe I have always taken for granted the immediacy of Black Lips songwriting. For the first time I feel almost as if a decent number of ’em were crafted while the band was on a creative vacation.
“Waiting” is just like Arabia‘s “The Lie,” with its skeleton guitar lead, “I Don’t Wanna Go Home” is a genericy synthesis of the bells and whistles of Side B of that same album. Then there’s “Do the Vibrate” and “Dog Years,” that revisit some of the band’s rougher/punk inclinations, yet just don’t have that ole rawness that might freak out some arena attendin’ Black Keys fans. The bluesier, southern rock that the Lips have spoken of as inspiration for this record shows through most notably on the fine first taster “Boys in the Wood” and album opener “Drive By Buddy”. Both tunes have really catchy choruses, not sounding rushed or put together in any noticeable way. My jam for this record is “Funny,” the Mr. Driver of 20-14. Cole’s always had a crazy way about him, the way he sings, plays guitar, acts, etc. I’ve met him a few times now, he’s the man…a catalyst that gets the juices flowing in the dullest of spirits. So ya, “Funny” is exactly that – eccentric, a “banger for the club” as Ian might say, with some real real lines, maybe the most accessible song on the album in its irreverence i.e. COME SUCK SOME MILK FROM MY TITTIES.
Where do I go from here? I love Black Lips and you know it, I’m not counting this album out just yet. I’m still longing for a propa “Italian Sexual Frustation” in a post “Hippys” society. But hey it’s only March 3rd and all them Spin / Pitchfork ‘writers’ are gonna miss the mark in some way shape or form. Go see Lips and buy all their records, ya nerds! I don’t know what I’m talking about either, ask me more soon. Or I’ll just tell ya right here on Kids Like You and Me. Bad Kids.
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BL Website: http://black-lips.com/
Stream of Underneath The Rainbow: http://noisey.vice.com/blog/stream-the-first-black-lips-lp-in-three-years-two-weeks-before-release
Band: Atlantic Thrills
Release: 2/2014
Label: Almost Ready Records
Atlantic Thrills have long been in the hearts and mind of KLYAM: from my first time seeing them open for Black Lips in Providence in 2011 up ’til their most recent outrageous release show (our 17th AT gig). Here we are, with a tangible release of the catchiest, slimiest bag o tricks that the Thrillz have been cooking up for a few years now. I liken Atlantic Thrills to the Lips 2007 widely exposed Good Bad Not Evil – not many people knew of the Lips degenerate legend prior to GBNE and damn did they ever miss out. Same thing with the Thrills here; now’s the time to be privy to their shenanigans.
Our first real taste of this LP came in the summer with their single “Day At The Beach,” rollin bones, hit of acid, you name it, singer/guitarist Dan Tanner sings about it on this oldies resurrection that would make the bands of the ’60s raise an eyebrow or two but dance along just the same. Speaking of which, this is a good times kinda album. A sinister show of respect to the proto-punk, garage, and psych big boys of years past and present. VU, Dutronc, Los Saicos (perhaps the mightiest of spirits haunting ‘Problems’, ‘Boozin All Night’, ‘Holy Mountain’ and ‘Give It Back’) The King Khan and BBQ Show and Lips whose never-stop mosh and bop in-citations are present from the opening notes of ‘Lie To Me’ and the tribal politikal geetar frenzy ‘Blind Lead The Blind’.
I could listen to this album all day and never get tired – though I have found myself doing this crazy sorta head bobbing that is almost dizzying. The three guitarists – Dan, Eric Aguiar (bass), and Kelly Riley (guitar) – go back in forth with their shouts and screams, a prominent feature of the Thrills. Drummer Josh Towers whacking and kicking hard while smiling his face off. In my opinion, ‘Light Shines’ has these quintessential Thrills features down to a Thrillscience [new word], OHHH OHHH! ‘Light’ has been a staple in their live set for I’d say almost two years at this point so yeah man, of course I’m giddy about this. Oh right, longevity! By now y’all have repeatedly watched ‘Acid Rain’ at the Wooly Fair (classic YouTube) in its fuzzy stompy glory; this recorded version got that wild middle section intact leading Eric on to Punk Rock Suzy. Imma go out on a limb and say ‘Acid’ is the oldest and sweatiest of the bunch. So while the record is thru and thru no frills rock ‘n roll – debauched levels up near 11 – there are a couple tunes ‘Drugs In It’ and ‘Foreign Lands’ penned by Kelly that are Golden Malt Shop jukebox numbers, except the only Malt in Riley’s Shoppe is a Colt 45 and some funny tasting Rice Krispy Treats to boot. The record comes to a close with “On My Mind” and “Give It Back,” I love singing along to these OGs and bumping into people, becoming that girls freshman year mistake or mid life crisis. Selfish but hey these guys have been there before, I think.
Hope by now you get the idea that ATLANTIC THRILLS is the rock ‘n roll album of 2014. Well I’m sure there’s gonna be some other amazing releases, but this is kinda like when we heard Lips for the first time and named some site after their song. Ya I went there! Hear this album, go see this band, and you’ll get the idea why I’ve been so intrigued over the past few years and can’t stop letting people other know what’s up!
A1 Problems
A2 Day At The Beac
A3 Boozin’ All Night
A4 Acid Rain
A5 Light Shines
A6 Foreign Lands
B1 Holy Mountain
B2 Lie To Me
B3 Drugs In It
B4 Blind Lead The Blind
B5 On My Mind
B6 Give It Back
Couple nights ago at Uncle Lou’s, perpetual Band of the Week / teenage rock ‘n roll scholar Back Pages slaughterhoused with his spicy ‘rage-punk. Check out this video of his performance. Keep ya eyes peeled for an upcoming BP tape release on our very own KLYAM RECORDS.
Mannequin Pussy, “Clue Juice” from Impose on Vimeo.
Brooklyn’s Mannequin Pussy put out a well fueled rock ‘n roll long play in 2013 called Gypsy Pervert; “Clue Juice” from that album got a video premiere at Impose a little while ago. It features some neat live footage.
For a similar scene, head over to Ill Spot here in BOSTON on Saturday, February 15, where MP will be playing! This 2nd Chance Valentine Show is sure to in the words of Ben Katzman ROK
I only caught a mere few minutes of Mannequin Pussy when they came around town with Lust-Cats of the Gutters in October so this time I KNOW to make proper arrangements to catch it ALL.
Worcester spook pop stars Secret Lover are currently in the midst of a long, long tour that goes all over the United States of America. A lot of these exciting shows are taking place at DIY spaces – all the more awesome. Check ’em out, they’re probably stopping by your area! HERE is the FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/448603891916930/
1/5- Stamford, CT at Seaside Tavern w/Final Frontiers and Jacques Le Coque
1/6- Pittsburgh, PA at ANDREW’S BASEMENT w/ The Final Frontiers + General Fantasy
1/7- TBA. DETROIT OR COLUMBUS CONTACTS GET AT US!
1/8- Bloomington, IN at Rachel’s Cafe w/ The Final Frontiers, Two Bands from Canada + Bad Psychic
1/9- Chicago, IL at The Plains Project w/ The Final Frontiers, Bill Tucker + TBA
1/10- Milwaukee, WI at Center Street Free Space w/Nevada Greene + TBA
1/11-Minneapolis, MI at Pine Cone Castle w/ Bill Tucker + Grow Fangs
1/12 DRIVING DAY ALL DAY
1/13- Missoula, MT at VFW Hall w/ TBA
1/14- Olympia, WA w/ (maybe!) Dog Jaw + TBA
1/15- Seattle, WA at Victory Lounge w/ Neighbors and The Webs
1/16- Portland, OR at Firkin Tavern
1/17- Eugene, OR at The Wandering Goat w/ The Dobis
1/18- Oakland, CA at A HOUSE w/ NO BABIES + Baus +Straight Crimes
1/19- LA at Complex w/ Snow Wite + Their Only Dreams + Skin Town
1/20- HANG IN LA
1/21- Phoenix, AZ at Pages Per Content launch party!
1/22- HANGING WITH DAVE’S UNCLE
1/23- Denver, CO at Rhinoceropolis w/ TBA
1/24- Dallas, TX at King Camel w/TBA
1/25- Little Rock, AR TBA
1/26- New Orleans, LA at down some alley with a generator w/ Gay Bar Mitzvah! + TBA. THIS IS JOHN’S BIRTHDAY.
1/27- Gainesville, FL TBA
1/28- Savannah, GA at Hang Fire
1/29- Athens, GA at Go Bar w/TBA. THIS IS DAVE’S BIRTHDAY.
1/30- DAY OFF
1/31- Charleston, SC at King Dusko w/ Southern Femispheres
2/1- Washington, DC TBA
2/2- Baltimore, MD TBA
And of course listen to The Lasso – six song EP they dropped last month!
It’s a beautiful thing – officially termed The BUFU 20 Minutes Or Less lil BB Tour featuring triple slicers Free Pizza and real talk duo Dylan Ewen (that’s one axeman Dylan, and the other dude drummer Chris G). They’ll be going up down and all around the New England/New York area, kicking off at a special place in JP, up to Brattleboro, down to Providence at Machines With Magnets, northwest to Feeding Tube in NoHamp, then straight to Death By Audio.
All these dates and venues can be accessed via that FB events page link above.
Also, check below a new music vid from Dylan Ewen – live in the studio with a lil green screen trickery
Memphis punk 2007
LABEL: Ride The Snake Records
Our town’s own SARALEE released their self titled debut full-length earlier this year by way of Ride The Snake and yup, I am a happy man. SARALEE’s that rare band that I fondly remember seeing then obsessively continuously listen to ’til the present. That was two and a half years ago roughly. Sounds a little intense I know – but you go ahead; open up seven song Demo. Positively I can say, this record Saralee is more of the same as that: intimate, nostalgic, rock and roll. Leave the labels on your desk, the duo go hard, go soft, go at a pace that works so very well for them. They haunt the rest of us. As I hear this record through my speakers, the drum set in my room is vibrating. There’s no obvious drumming on “Bugs In My Coffee,” but I picture Lee’s set making similar noise. Sara and Lee complement each other so well that their minimalist aesthetic is a continuous stream of ‘gettin it right’, just really how they like. It reminds me of my very first basement show which wasn’t that long ago. A perceptive experience that you want to perpetually familiarize yourself with. That’s Saralee and with them I can’t quite find any points of musical reference. Pop music for the non-masses, it’s too real stuff for most people to handle. I feel this way about The Beets as well. Count every song as a favorite of mine though special props to “Jackalantern House” as one that’s sorta planted on the back end of Side B, but has that trademark saralee ending that ya, I can never properly write about. Check out the organ part that concludes “Lead The Fire” for enchantment. Also this is the most neatly packaged record that I bought this year with silk screen cover and insert. Very nice.
SIDE A
1 Lead the fire
2 The Motion
3 White pipes
4 Sidewalks
5 Silence
Side B
6 Children of the night
7 Hesitation
8 Cold Feet
9 Jackalantern House
10 Bugs in my coffee
11 On a train
Think that The Gabba Ghouls are purely a Halloween band??? Maybe we did too, but we’re happy to hear some punk slime gastronomical Christmas cheer from the guys
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 