Thursday, April 28, 2005 I visited the studio in the midst of perfecting a track on the forthcoming Danielson album Ships. I think the world is going to be pleasantly surprised by this album, it's very orchestrated with many intricate parts and part was recorded with support from Deerhoof. Emil gave me a cd-r of his latest Serena Maneesh recordings that he's been working on in NYC for the past few weeks. Think My Bloody Valentine meet Sonic Youth meet Swans with a proper dosage of Velvet Underground. It's really cool. I did some horsetrading with my old friend Wes who now works for Barsuk Records in Seattle. He sent me a big batch of their latest stuff and I finally got to listen to Jesse Sykes after reading many reviews making me think I'd like her stuff and I did. Anyhow, thanks Wes, it's been good talking to you again. :::scott::: Posted by Scott @ 11:13 PM CST Wednesday, April 27, 2005 Cakeater was in town last night and a bunch of us met up since we haven't seen him in months. He's leaving us soon to move to NYC and try out his luck for a bit. I wish him all the best. My friend Emil is in the US from Norway and has been working on a new record in NYC for a few weeks. He's down in Philadelphia to help out on the new Danielson album. We should be meeting up shortly, it's been way too long. I have this memory of Emil taking me to the bus stop with a big suitcase at 6am in Oslo so I would make the right train to Copenhagen. :::scott::: Posted by Scott @ 11:00 AM CST Monday, April 25, 2005 I just got back from seeing Half-Handed Cloud, Vollmar, and some psych space jams from Otto (of Espers) and Andy at the Kensington South Forum. It's a newish venue that's sponsored by the Kensington CDC, a non-profit group attempting to provide low-income and affordable housing in neighborhoods where housing prices are skyrocketing. Anyhow, props to Daniel for setting up the show. I was there with Denison. We stopped in the area to snag some amazing chorizo/oaxaca cheese tacos (I love the word Oaxaca) and catch up on life. Great seeing so many friends--Daniel, Elin, Lenny, Adam and Kate, Ken, and especially John who rocked the house, even though we didn't get those silver dollar pancakes this time. :::scott::: Posted by Scott @ 12:07 AM CST Sunday, April 24, 2005 Andy Bruntel, tell us about Argentina and Wookies, about Japan and France and Roman. Inquiring minds have asked (didn't you get my message) and deserve to be told...Lindsey told us some at the Superwolf show last night, but not nearly enough. Do I have to visit to get the details? (pssst...Andy co-directed the amazing "It's a Hit" video for Rilo Kiley. Video much better than song. shhhhh...) Prince Billy was in a good form and enjoyable, though a few older songs would have been nice. Anomoanon was more southern acid rock than was to be expected, but also enjoyable. Props to Will and Lauren and everyone else we hung with, both new and old. Nathan and I barbecued like fiends and played catch with his border collie today. It's nice to take a break. :::scott::: Posted by Scott @ 12:51 AM CST Friday, April 22, 2005 It was good to see Damien play last night, though in true Khyber form he took to the stage at midnight. It was the most people I'd ever seen play with him, most of the songs were as a 5 piece and very rocking. It was a lot different from the somber set last fall. I was impressed by the energy of Two Gallants who opened. It's hard to describe, but maybe somewhere between David Eugene Edwards, a juiced up Johnny Cash, and some gritty punk rock sensibilities. I think I may join Willis and Lauren tonight to see Superwolf (Will Oldham and Matt Sweeney). Happy Earth Day, frolicking in the dandelions later… :::scott::: Posted by Scott @ 10:33 AM CST Thursday, April 21, 2005 Damien Jurado tonight at the Khyber in Philadelphia. See you at the show. Bosque Brown are playing their first official live show in Denton, TX. If you're in the area, head out and support our newest band. Saxon Shore are wrapping up their tour with one last date on Saturday. The dates for recording with Dave Fridmann have been shifted due to Sigur Ros' schedule and Saxon will be recording The Exquisite Death of Saxon Shore in mid-May with final mixing completed by the end of June. Unwed Sailor has changed the name of their forthcoming album to The White Ox. They'll be back in the studio in May as well and are planning for a June tour. I'm finally listening to the massive 2 disc mp3 jam my friend Adam gave me. Thanks man! :::scott::: Posted by Scott @ 12:44 PM CST Monday, April 18, 2005 M83 was in full effect on Saturday night with their loud guitars and keyboards, sounding great in front of a fairly small crowd. Props to Sean for the hook-up. Gockley was in town for the weekend, showed up at the end of the show, and Mike and I helped showed off our fair city that has changed so much since she left 5 years ago for a windier one. I caught another film at the Philadelphia Film Festival, a Korean film called Woman is the Future of Man. My houseguests have been way ahead of my pace seeing 4 or 5 movies a day, but they have super important all access passes. Last night, we followed up with some DVD watching. Viva the American Astronaut! Jurado is Thursday at the Khyber and the new album has been on my heavy rotation, along with Joanna Newsom and Bosque Brown (who says I can't listen to records I put out?). Hey, I've had this link for a while, but I know some others out there will appreciate this. Go download some Dylan/Cash collaborations, they are amazing! "Girl from the North Country" is just incredible, eh Stone? Starflyer 59 test pressings sound great and production will be underway momentarily. Redd hott vinyl, literally. They are touring the US in May and will have vinyl with them if it kills me and the post office. :::scott::: Posted by Scott @ 01:39 PM CST Saturday, April 16, 2005 The test pressings for Starflyer's Talking Voice Vs. Singing Voice have arrived and are good. Should be about 2 weeks for the actual vinyl to get pressed. :::scott::: Posted by Scott @ 01:26 PM CST Friday, April 15, 2005 Old friends Todd Brown and Dave Canfield are here for the Philadelphia Film Festival. We met up to see Karaoke Terror (aka The Complete Japanese Showa Songbook) last night, a very dark Japanese comedy which culminates in rival Karaoke groups killing one another and avenging their friends' deaths. I'm not sure I have enough background to understand all of the satirical elements that were supposedly there. At times, it was extremely violent, but at times, laugh at loud funny. I'm not sure what's in store for tonight. Gockley is also in town visiting, another blast from the past. Saturday night, I'll definitely be off to see M83 and Ulrich Schnauss at the Troc. See you there... Damien Jurado will be at the Khyber in Philadelphiathis Thursday, 21 April. :::scott::: Posted by Scott @ 08:43 AM CST Wednesday, April 13, 2005 The Kind of Like Spitting vs. Phil Ochs one-sided LP is no longer going to be a btv release. It will most likely come out on cd on another label. Unwed Sailor have finished 8 songs for White Ox and will be returning to Dan Burton's studio in May to finish the rest of the album. Saxon Shore is still touring away, go see them. :::scott::: Posted by Scott @ 03:57 PM CST Monday, April 11, 2005 After working all day on Scott's boat, Willis and I went to see Mono, The Turing Machine, and Eluvium. The Turning Machine was amazingly tight and energetic, we were really blown away. Mono was very loud in a Mogwai sort of way, very effective in the smallness of the Khyber. At the show, I realized that an old friend Al was there. The last time I saw him was when he, Rich, and I went to see Godspeed You Black Emperor and Labradford in NYC in 1999. Fans of instrumental music unite! Go see Saxon Shore on tour. :::scott::: Posted by Scott @ 09:36 AM CST Friday, April 8, 2005 I sent out an e-mail update summarizing the latest and greatest happening from btv. If you haven't subscribed to the e-mail list, you didn't receive the update, but if you've been visiting the website, there's nothing new or secret. Willis and I and maybe others are going to see Mono and Eluvium at the Khyber tomorrow night after a day of helping Scott with his sailboat repairs. I think I've decided to bag the Psychedlic Furs. I'm sure I'll regret it later, hopefully it won't affect my psche too detrimentally. The Philadelphia Film Festival is starting this week. Todd Brown is coming to visit from Toronto. Way back in the day, he used to run a label called Absolom for about 5 minutes. He's involved or maybe runs a website here. "Come on let's take the long cut I think that's what we need...We'll get there eventually" :::scott::: Posted by Scott @ 10:58 PM CST Thursday, April 7, 2005 I added Starflyer 59 : Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice LPs to the online store. The covers arrived and the vinyl will be ready shortly. All orders will ship out as soon as the vinyl arrives. I also added the new Damien Jurado, Magnolia Electric Co., and Crytal Skulls albums to the store. Order away. Saxon Shore have left for tour and their first show is tonight. Catch them when they're in a city near you. Johnathon and Dan are finishing up the Magic Hedge remixes this week in Bloomington. I haven't heard anything yet, but am expecting some great collaborations. Update: Apparently Johnathon claims this has now turned into the new full-length. He tells me it's going to be called White Ox. Now we have to figure out some artwork ideas. We'll see what comes together. :::scott::: Posted by Scott @ 01:30 PM CST Monday, April 4, 2005 I'm listening to Damien Jurado's new album On My Way to Absence on Secretly Canadian. I'm a huge fan of his songs, as you may have guessed from the occassional vinyl only releases. The songs are more expansive compared to the very stripped down Where Shall You Take Me? There are strings, piano, horns, background voclas, all done so tastefully and beautifully. It's more akin to Rehearsals for Departure, but not a remaking of that masterpiece. The lyrics still retain their dark murder ballad qualities, but in that darkness of hell on earth, there is just the smallest glimpse of heaven. I'll have this added to the on-line store in a little while. We partied down for Mike's 25th birthday. The Phils were rained out, so we high-tailed it to Dave and Buster's for some indoor arcade magic, as long as we could stand it. Then off to Jersey for some bowling, it was an almost surreal experience. Dave and I went to see Sin City yesterday and I was grossly disappointed. More than once, the violence was so overwhelming and disturbing that I had to look away. It was successful from a stylistic perspective, but that was about it. I got a warning later in the day because my inspection wasn't current...it was due last November. I had an appointment set and got it taken care of today, but I've been such a procrastinator in so many ways. Saxon Shore are practicing for the next few days before going out on some April dates to the south and midwest. Check the tour page to find out when they're near you. When they get back, they'll be off to Fredonia, NY's Tarbox Studios to start tracking for The Exquisite Death of Saxon Shore with Dave Fridmann. Should I go see the Psychedelic Furs on Saturday? Is it going to be that amazing sort of reunion that finds the band just how they always were, some sort of terrible trainwreck, or somewhere in between? Oh, and I have to stick to my guns and pull for Illinois tonight. I hope it's a barn burner. :::scott::: Posted by Scott @ 03:57 PM CST Friday, April 1, 2005 Ben Volta and I met up last night. Ben did the artwork for Saxon Shore's Luck Will Not Save Us from a Jackpot of Nothing and will also be doing the artwork for The Exquisite Death of Saxon Shore. Tonight, off to MACRoCk with Saxon Shore in Harrisonburg, VA. See you there for the rock. I'm hoping to see Crystal Skulls at some point, that's Christian Wargo(ex-Scientific) along with Yuki and Casey (ex-Seldom). Tomorrow, we will shiver in the cold confines of Citizen's Bank Park to see the Phillies first home game, an exhibition game, in honor of Mike's birthday. Happy birthday. :::scott::: Posted by Scott @ 10:22 AM CST [ Archives ]