The Wheel's Still In Spin

Bay Area Concerts 11/28/08-12/4/08

Here are this week's recommended concerts.

Fri 11/28:

M83 | School Of Seven Bells – The Fillmore

Nas – The Warfield

Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs | Sassy!!! | Delaney Davidson – Bottom Of The Hill

Monophonics | DJ K-OS – Boom Boom Room

New Riders Of The Purple Sage | Moonalice – Great American Music Hall

Eric Benet – Yoshi’s Oakland – SOLD OUT

Sat 11/29:

Eric McFadden & Faraway Bros. | Baby Gramps – Boom Boom Room

Eric Benet – Yoshi’s Oakland – SOLD OUT

Sun 11/30:

Eric Benet – Yoshi’s Oakland

Tue 12/2:

Blitzen Trapper | Parson Red Heads | The Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band – The Indepenent

The Sea And Cake | The Uglysuit – Great American Music Hall

Susanna | Maria Orieta – Hotel Utah Saloon

AC/DC | The Answer – Oracle Arena

Wed 12/3:

Wu Tang Clan – The Grand Ballroom At The Regency Center

Oasis | Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – Oracle Arena

The Boticellis | The Old-Fashioned Way | My First Earthquake – Bottom Of The Hill

Thu 12/4:

AC/DC | The Answer – Oracle Arena

Over The Rhine | Jim Bianco – Slim’s

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New Releases - 25 November 2008

Here are The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s suggested new releases.

Los Campesinos! – We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed | CD/DVD or MP3
Download “Miserabilia” (mp3)
Last July, Los Campesinos! released their debut EP in the States. In April of this year, we got their first full length album. Now, before the year is out, they’ve released their second LP. The band is still playing the same rambunctious indie pop, but this album has slightly more consistent production throughout the 10 songs. This release comes packaged in a cardboard box with a tour documentary DVD, a poster, and a 30 page zine. Also, the band has announced there will be no singles or additional printings of this album. If you want it, grab it now.

The (International) Noise Conspiracy – The Cross Of My Calling | CD or MP3
Download “I Am The Dynamite” (mp3)
Produced by Rick Rubin, this album is anthemic garage punk. The band’s sound has the guitar-fronted sound associated with garage rock. The band’s socialist and protest views add the punk qualities. These songs are catchy and aggressive with a ‘60s psychedelic garage rock sound.

Surf City – Surf City [EP] | CD or Vinyl
Download “Headin’ Inside” (mp3)
Download “Dickshakers Union” (mp3)
Surf City is a band from New Zealand. On this EP, they display a lo-fi retro sound. It’s 6 songs in less than 20 minutes and full of psychedelic pop with a hint of punk belligerence.

After the jump, there is a list of more new releases from this week.

Best Albums of October 2008

Here is The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s list of favorite releases for the month of October:

1. Bob Dylan – Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8 | CD Deluxe Edition CD Vinyl MP3 | Insound CD Deluxe Edition CD Vinyl
   Download “Dreamin’ Of You” (mp3)
   From the initial 3 volumes of unreleased material to the notorious live performances, The Bootleg Series has shown multiple parts of Dylan’s career. This volume showcases Dylan’s most successful 7-year period, from Oh Mercy to Modern Times, since the 1960s and ‘70s. There are alternate and demo versions of some of the best songs from this time period, but also unreleased gems that amazingly didn’t make the cut originally. For an artist who has continually reinvented himself, this collection is more potent that a “greatest hits” compilation. It offers a fresh view to the creative process of a seminal artist.


2. Her Space Holiday – XOXO, Panda And The New Kid Revival | CD MP3 | Insound CD
   Download “Sleep Tigers” (mp3)
   Leaving the electronic sampling and programming of his previous Her Space Holiday releases, Mark Bianchi has produced an indie folk album. These songs have catchy pop melodies with a diverse amount of acoustic instruments, relying on guitars, banjos, mandolins, and glockenspiels. Over top of the musical layers, Bianchi vocals take on a Robert Schneider quality.


3. Jay Reatard – Matador Singles ‘08 | Amazon CD Vinyl MP3 | Insound CD Vinyl MP3
   This album is a collection of the six, limited edition 7” singles released by Reatard during 2008 on Matador Records, with one new song added. These garage punk songs range from quick, short punk rockers with distorted guitars to slightly longer pop songs with acoustic guitar and keyboards. The audio quality drifts to lo-fi, but the attention is on the catchiness of these songs.


4. Frank Turner – Love Ire & Song | CD | Insound CD
   Frank Taylor, who used to be the singer for a hardcore punk band, has turned into a singer-songwriter. He still retains the attack of the punk rocker, but within the margins of an acoustic based folk artist. He has matured, but is still a passionate musician. As Taylor declares on the song “Photosynthesis,” “I won’t sit down and I won’t shut up/ And most of all I will not grow up.”


5. Deerhunter – Microcastle | CD Vinyl MP3 | Insound CD Vinyl MP3
   Download “Little Kids” (mp3)
   Juggling between jangly pop and ambient indie rock, this album melds and flows very well. While still retaining some of the experimental qualities of the band’s previous releases, Bradford Cox and company have made an accessible and consistent album.

Bay Area Concerts 11/21/08-11/27/08

Here are this week's recommended concerts.

Fri 11/21:

O’Death | Hillstomp | The Theater Fire – Bottom Of The Hill

Of Montreal | Health – The Grand Ballroom At The Regency Center

El Guincho | Tussle | Disco Shawn and Oro11 – The Independent

Or, The Whale | The Silent Comedy | Harbours | Joe Pug – Café Du Nord

Rodney Crowell | Joe Henry | Jenny Scheinman – Bimbo’s 365 Club

Gov’t Mule | Back Door Slam – The Fillmore

Donna The Buffalo | David Gans – Great American Music Hall

ohGr | American Memory Project – Slim’s

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones – Yoshi’s San Francisco

McCoy Tyner Trio with Marc Ribot – Yoshi’s Oakland

Sat 11/22:

Dizzy Balloon – Amoeba Records Berkeley – FREE

Maze feauturing Frankie Beverly | Chrisette Michelle – Paramount Theatre

Yeasayer | Icy Demons – Bimbo’s 365 Club

Kraak & Smaak | Supertaser | The Beatards | Motion Potion – The Independent

AIDS Wolf | Arrington do Dionyso (Old Time Relijun) | AH Kraken – Hemlock Tavern

My Brightest Diamond | Clare & The Reasons – Swedish Music Hall

Gov’t Mule | Back Door Slam – The Fillmore

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones – Yoshi’s San Francisco

McCoy Tyner Trio with Marc Ribot – Yoshi’s Oakland

Sun 11/23:

Rodriquez – Amoeba Records San Francisco – FREE

The Hold Steady | Drive By Truckers – The Fillmore

The Entrance Band | Rodriquez – Great American Music Hall

Little Dragon | Anomie Belle | Manuok – Café Du Nord

Tom Brosseau | Hauschka | Magik*Magik Orchestra – Hotel Utah Saloon

Matisyahu | Flobots | Chester French – The Warfield

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones – Yoshi’s San Francisco

McCoy Tyner Trio with Marc Ribot – Yoshi’s Oakland

Mon 11/24:

Deerhunter | Times New Viking | Common Eider King Eider – Great American Music Hall

The Hold Steady | Drive By Truckers – The Fillmore

Portugal. The Man | Earl Greyhound | Wintersleep – Slim’s

Ben Sollee – Café Du Nord

The Rosebuds | Magic Bullet | Jonah Ray – The Independent

Tue 11/25:

Rhett Miller – Yoshi’s San Francisco

The Decemberists | Loch Lomond – The Warfield

Empty Rooms | Ghosts And Strings | Hazelwood – Hotel Utah Saloon

Wed 11/26:

Lyrics Born featuring Joyo Velarde | Raashan Ahmad | Mavrik – The Independent

Thu 11/27: HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Beggars Banquet: Swindlefish | Terese Taylor | The Seedy Naturalists | Alana Sveta | Phil Cruma | Fleeting Trance | The Invisible Cities – Swedish Music Hall

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New Releases - 18 November 2008

Here are The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s suggested new releases.

Anathallo – Canopy Glow | CD or MP3
Download “The River” (mp3)
This 7-piece band has made lush, indie pop album. Horns, strings, pianos, synths, and guitars are layered atop of the tender yet stirring drumming. Amongst all these musical layers, the vocal harmonies are captivating. Magically, somehow, this album seems to evolve as it moves through the varying tracks.

Belle And Sebastian – The BBC Sessions | CD, Limited Edition 2CDs, Vinyl, or MP3
This collection represents the first phase in Belle & Sebastian’s career. While the band’s albums may not always be cohesive sets, they continually pepper their albums with great songs. These tracks span the years 1996-2001, from the band’s beginnings through the band’s initial lineup changes. The final four tracks on this album, which never made it onto an official Belle & Sebastian release, are the final recordings with Isobel Campbell. Leading up to those closing tracks, there are some of those alluring singles (including “The State I’m In”), alternate arrangements of songs (“Lazy Line Painter Jane”), and early renditions of songs (“The Wrong Girl” as “Wrong Love”). The two-disc version includes a live recording of a Christmas 2001 show.

Graham Lindsey – We Are All Alone In This Together and The Mine EP | CD
Download “If I Ever Make It Home” (mp3)
Download “Mud” (mp3)
This album and accompanying EP are full of old time folk/country songs. These songs are based on acoustic guitar, banjo, and Graham Lindsey’s vocals. These arrangements are mostly unadorned with the added subtleties of fiddle, organ, and pedal steel. It’s Lindsey’s voice on this releases that gives these albums its most endearing aspect. It sounds more weathered and mature than his years, solidifying a realistic old time folk quality to the songs.

After the jump, there is a list of more new releases from this week.

Thao With The Get Down Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings And All

Original release date: 29 January 2008 (Kill Rock Stars)

Download “Beat (Health, Life And Fire)” (mp3)
Download “Bag Of Hammers” (mp3)

      Pick up your phone, fucking pick up your fucking phone. It isn’t panic. It isn’t shock. I can’t say I didn’t see this coming. I can’t say I somehow willed it upon myself. It doesn’t matter how much advance notice you get; when you’re forced to swallow shit, it won’t go down easy. Just answer your fucking phone.
      “Hello.”
      “I’m getting fired today.”
      She could hear the direct urgency in my voice. Still, she had to ask, “What? How are you so sure?”
      “Trust me. I don’t have much time to talk right now. I have a meeting with Drew and Rick scheduled just before the end of the day.”
      “And you’re sure that’s what it’s about?”
      “I called Susan and asked her if she knew why I suddenly had a meeting my editor and the CEO. Drew’s always harping on me, but why am I having a meeting with Rick too? She paused and then said she wasn’t supposed to talk to me. She said it wasn’t because of my writing. She couldn’t believe it was happening to me.”
      “OK. What do you need right now?”
      “I don’t know. I’m going to Louie’s for lunch. I’m taking a long lunch today. Can you leave work early? I can’t fucking believe this!”

      At Louie’s, I first heard Thao Nguyen’s We Brave Bee Stings And All. Honestly, at the time, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to it, but only because the day I was having. He had it playing when I got there. At least that’s what he said. Where my mind was, I don’t remember any music playing. Luckily, he gave me a copy of it before I left. When I think through the events of that day, the actions interplay with the songs.

Bay Area Concerts 11/14/08-11/20/08

Here are this week's recommended concerts.

Fri 11/14:

Danielson | Cryptacize | Bart Davenport – Bottom Of The Hill (all ages)

Castanets | Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson | Silver Darling– Hotel Utah Saloon

The Breeders | The Muslims – Slim’s

John Doe & Kathleen Edwards | Four Year Bender Duo – Great American Music Hall

Gang Gang Dance | Marnie Stern – Bimbo’s 365 Club

The Legendary Pink Dots | Big City Orchestra – Café Du Nord

Grace Porter & The Nocturnals | Ezra Furman & The Harpoons – The Independent

Galactic | Crown City Rockers – The Fillmore

Sat 11/15:

The Breeders | The Muslims – Slim’s

Impossibly Shapes | Devon Williams | Campo Bravo – Hemlock Tavern

The Legendary Pink Dots | Big City Orchestra – Café Du Nord

Grace Porter & The Nocturnals | Blues And Lasers – The Independent

American Steel | Olehole | Druglords Of The Avenue – Bottom Of The Hill (all ages)

Galactic | Crown City Rockers – The Fillmore

k.d. lang – The Paramount Theatre

Sun 11/16:

Dead Confederate | Apollo Sunshine | Big Light – The Independent

Lucinda Williams | Buick 6 – The Fillmore

Jason Isbell – Café Du Nord

The (International) Noise Conspiracy | Night Horse | Maldroid – Bottom Of The Hill (all ages)

Hecuba | Pit er Pat | Lucky Dragons – Hemlock Tavern

The Shys | Army Navy | The Takeover UK – Rickshaw Stop

Blue Rabbit (CD Release Show) | Osphiera | Chelsea Wolfe | Not An Airplane– Hotel Utah Saloon

Mon 11/17:

Hotel Café Tour – Rachael Yamagata | Meiko | Thao Nguyen | Kate Havnevik | Lenka | Emily Wells – Great American Music Hall – SOLD OUT

Lucinda Williams | Buick 6 – The Fillmore

The Misfits | Lonely Kings | Tall Black Girls – Slim’s

Alanis Morissette | Alexi Murdoch – The Paramount Theatre

Tue 11/18:

Blues Traveler – The Fillmore

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones – Yoshi’s San Francisco

McCoy Tyner with Marc Ribot – Yoshi’s Oakland

Jan Brannan | Chiara Angelicola (CD Release) – Bottom Of The Hill (all ages)

Wed 11/19:

Head Like A Kite | Brothers & Sisters – Hemlock Tavern – FREE

Minus The Bear | The Annuals | Helms Alee – Bimbo’s 365 Club

The Nels Cline Singers – Café Du Nord

Melissa Ferrick | Terese Taylor – The Independent

Los Lonely Boys – The Fillmore

Joan Baez – Herbst Theatre

McCoy Tyner with Marc Ribot – Yoshi’s San Francisco

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones – Yoshi’s Oakland

John McLaughlin | Jon West – Great American Music Hall

Warren Teagarden | Chairman Wow (CD Release) | Foxtails Brigade – Thee Parkside

Thu 11/20:

Love Is All | Vivian Girls | Nodzzz – Bottom Of The Hill (all ages)

Matthew Sweet | Death On Two Wheels – Great American Music Hall

Medeski Martin & Wood – The Fillmore

McCoy Tyner with Marc Ribot – Yoshi’s San Francisco

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones – Yoshi’s Oakland

Joan Baez – Herbst Theatre

Civil War | Reduced Ruin (CD Release) | Cola Cola | They Drive By Night – Thee Parkside

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New Releases - 11 November 2008

Here are The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s suggested new releases.

The Bronx – The Bronx III | CD or MP3
Download “Knifeman” (mp3)
This is the third eponymously titled album by the L.A. punk band The Bronx. This band takes it roots from the original hardcore punk bands like Black Flag and Minor Threat, but The Bronx sound more mainstream rock. This isn’t a post-punk or hardcore emo band. The sound mixes punk with straight ahead rock ‘n’ roll. On a side note, The Bronx will also release a mariachi album in early 2009 under the title El Bronx.

Longwave – Secrets Are Sinister | CD or MP3
Download “No Direction” (mp3)
Longwave is an indie band with post-punk influences. On their first album in three years, the lead guitar drives the tracks. But it’s the ethereal tone of the lead guitar, not an abrasive distortion, which pushes this album. This is an energetic album full of rich tones and cascading musical layers.

After the jump, there is a list of more new releases from this week.

The Heartless Bastards and The Broken West - The Independent, San Francisco, CA - November 8th, 2008

Saturday, November 8th, The Heartless Bastards played to a packed room at the Independent in San Francisco, CA. The past year has seen a handful of changes for the band. First, Erika Wennerstrom replaced the supporting members of her band. Then they relocated from Cincinnati, OH, to Austin, TX. In their new town, they began working on a new album with producer Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Trail of the Dead).

The new band consists of members of two of Cincinnati’s most consistent and popular local bands. Drummer Dave Colvin comes from Shesus, a now defunct band for which Wennerstrom once played bass. Jesse Ebaugh, who was a member of Pearlene, is now the bass player for The Heartless Bastards. These new members are familiar to Wennerstrom; both Colvin and Ebaugh played on the 5-song demo that got the band signed to Fat Possum Records.

The latest incarnation of The Heartless Bastards is a cohesive and powerful trio. The sound is a mixture of blues rock and riot grrrl. They take their influences from Sleater-Kinney, Janis Joplin, and The Black Keys.

Bay Area Concerts 11/7/08-11/13/08

Here are this week's recommended concerts.

Fri 10/31:

Method Man – The Grand Ballroom

Steel Train | Dear And The Headlights | Forgive Durden | The Federalists – Bottom Of The Hill

Ingrid Michaelson | Newton Faulkner | Daivd Ford – Great American Music Hall

Old Crow Medicine Show – The Fillmore

Sat 11/8:

The Heartless Bastards | The Broken West – The Independent

Loquat | The Frail | Mist And Mast – Bottom Of The Hill (all ages)

The Faint | Dr. Dooom | Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head | DJs Aaron and Omar – The Warfield

Cowboy Mouth | Five A.M. – Slim’s

Old Crow Medicine Show – The Fillmore

Sun 11/9:

TV On The Radio – The Warfield

The King Kahn & BBQ Show | The Dutchess & The Duke | Buzzer – Great American Music Hall

Glen Phillips | Jonatha Brooke – Slim’s

Keller Williams | Moseley | Droll & Sipe – The Fillmore

Mon 11/10:

Copeland | Lovedrug | Lydia | Lights – Slim’s

Dungen | Women | Social Studies – Bottom Of The Hill (all ages)

Preservation Hall Jazz Band – Yoshi’s San Francisco

Tue 11/11:

Vic Chestnutt | Elf Power – Bottom Of The Hill

Crooked Fingers | Port O’Brien | Sarah Jaffe – Great American Music Hall

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers | The Mother Truckers – Slim’s

Wed 11/12:

Bishop Allen | An Horse | Electric Owls – The Independent

Robyn Hitchcock – The Fillmore

John Hiatt | Ben Taylor – Herbst Theatre

Spencey Dude & The Doodles | Greg Ashley | Grampall Jookabox – Hemlock Tavern

Thu 11/13:

The Little Ones | What Made Milwaukee Famous – Popscene

Polysics | Jaguar Love | Black Gold – Bottom Of The Hill (all ages)

Ben Folds – The Warfield

Mason Jennings – The Fillmore

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