Kids interview A Silent Film; band unveils new Sycamore Tapes videos

For the most part, I’ve given up on terrestrial radio, opting instead for the variety XM provides. UK-based A Silent Film have been getting loads of exposure on satellite’s Alt-Nation station which has their song “Danny, Dakota & The Wishing Well” in heavy rotation.

The band had a late-afternoon slot at the Bunbury Music Festival on July 14 where they played to a thousand or so fans who – much to my surprise – seemed to be intimately familiar with the band’s Coldplay-meets-The-Killers-sounding songs. Later that afternoon, while waiting for Grouplove to perform, I spied A Silent Film’s lead singer Robert Stevenson sitting by his lonesome so I approached him and asked if he – or anybody from the band – would be willing to answer a few questions from our now-expert 11-year-old reporters, Olivia and Connie. He gave me drummer Spencer Walker’s cell phone number and said, “Give Spencer a call or text and he’ll work out all the details.”

The following afternoon we hooked up with Spencer who informed us he was the only member of the band at the park at the time but, “The drummer’s always the best person to interview because we have so many interesting things to say!”


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A$ap Rocky/Danny Brown/Schoolboy Q Tour Coming To Columbus, Ohio

Oh boy, A$ap Rocky,A$ap Mob, Danny Brown, and Schoolboy Q are hitting the road for the LongLiveA$ap Tour. The tour set is scheduled to play the Newport Music Hall on October 6th here in Columbus, Ohio. Tickets are $25 dollars and go on sale July 27 at all Ticketmaster locations.
Rest of the dates here

Video: Kreayshawn – “Go Hard”

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Pro Tip: If you want to question what the hell you are doing with yourself watch the above Kreayshawn video a few times instead of doing your work at your job, reading a book, or making yourself food. You should watch this from the perspective of a 14 year old girl then immeadeately switch back to your reality.

Unless you are a High School girl; Then you should do what the song says Go Hard, I guess.

I am by no means angry at this song off of Kreayshawn’s upcoming album “Something About Kreay”. And something about that bothers me.

 

Old Hundred: Opening for Mumford, new album in Sept

Columbus’s Old Hundred was recently added to the Aug. 14 show at the LC with Mumford & Sons and Dawes, and the band also just announced a new album, Time in the Wild, due Sept. 1 on double vinyl, CD and digital. Check the video for a preview of the sound you can expect from Blake Skidmore and his band on this sophomore LP. If you dig it, and you want to help the band (or just order vinyl in advance), head to the band’s Kickstarter. From the release:

Work began on this album two years ago. In that time, we brought together a collection of songs with different singers, songwriters, themes, and musical tones and shaped them into an album that feels personal yet far-reaching in scope. There are moments on the record that leave you feeling blistered, while others feel spacious and serene; bright tones and dark tones are found side-by-side. But despite the contrasts, the songs on this project grew from the same roots and, when listened to as a whole, feel interconnected.

We recorded over long-weekends at 3 Elliot Studios in Athens, Ohio. The recording was engineered and produced by the amazing Josh Antonuccio, who has worked with Vetiver, Southeast Engine, and more. Josh became our good friend during the process, and his influence helped make the experience – and the record – great. The album will be released on double-vinyl, CD, and digitally on September 1, 2012 with the help of Wide-Eyed Records.

Album art:
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Video: P. Blackk & Raz Fresco – “Buck 50”

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(bakersclub)

I applaud the type of individual that brings his dude and fellow Baker’s Club member Raz Fresco to our city to rock over a Heather B & M.O.P. instrumental and ends the freestyle joint with an outro that samples an excerpt from Nas’ infamous Power 105 interview. P.Blackk would be that individual in this situation.

Janay Photography shot the video here in Columbus, as well. “Buck 50 ” features a cameo from Little Rock’s Baker’s Club rep Lo Thraxx, too.

This video isn’t promoting anything but being dope.

Be on the lookout for Contemporary Nostalgia, The Popcorn Tape, and The BOLD from P Blackk, Raz Fresco x ChillxWill, and Lo Thraxx respectively.

Photos: Summerland Tour (7/10/12)

I grossly underestimated the number of 30-somethings who work hard but party harder and who really, really like their mid-90s alt-radio-rock. This underestimation caused me to miss Marcy Playground’s entire set as I stood in line with my 30-something cousin who was attending only his second ever concert.

We still made it in time to see LIT (surprisingly modern sounding), Gin Blossoms (looking old but with probably the most recognizable set of songs of the night), Sugar Ray (way more entertaining than expected) and Everclear (Art’s voice was not up to par on this particular night and while musically my favorite, on the other hand they were also the most disappointing).

There are so many of these types of bands still around from the mid-90s that I can easily see this tour – with a new set of bands – becoming a yearly thing.

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We had a party at my place last night …

… and I filmed it.

Video: Guided by Voices – “Keep it in Motion” starring Jon Glaser

From the GBV LP Class Clown Spots a UFO.

So The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne Randomly Showed Up at Bodega Last Night

SO the Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne randomly showed up to Bodega here in Columbus, Ohio last night. I was supposed to go up there for a friend’s going away party but a case of poison ivy cause my face to swell and I stayed in. Anyway, from all accounts Wayne was consistantly surrounded by pretty much every female in the bar. Above is Mr.Coyne holding up a Higher Level Art sticker that Andrew Kern gave him. Below is Mr. Coyne posing with Alisha Bicknall.

Kids interview Ume; band on tour with The Toadies and Helmet

Can’t believe a week ago at this time we were hopping into the car and headed to Cincinnati for the Bunbury Festival. Over the course of 3 days we saw a lot of really great acts; it seemed like whichever band we saw most recently was the one we tagged with “best set at Bunbury” tag. When I think back about the act that truly stood out for me, without a doubt it was Austin, Texas trio Ume.

While I had heard the band’s 2011 release Phantoms on Spotify, I was unprepared for the HEAVINESS that was unleashed on a steamy Sunday afternoon. Describing Ume’s sound to fellow festivalgoers, before seeing the band, I said, “It’s like The Joy Formidable if they were influenced by Black Sabbath instead of ’80s and ’90s British rock.” That description was right on the mark. Singer/guitarist Lauren Larson was the fiercest guitar player I witnessed over the course of the festival, playing heavy riffs and bouncing around the stage as if possessed by a demon. This type of performance will serve the band well on the tour they are kicking off with The Toadies and Helmet (dates after the jump). Before seeing them, I wondered if they would be able to hold their own with those two bands. After seeing them, I have little doubt.

Connie and Olivia, our two 11-year-old budding rock journalists, were able to snag a few minutes with the trio following their blistering performance.


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