The Wheel's Still In Spin

Bay Area Concerts – 2/27/09-3/5/09

Here are this week's recommended concerts.

Fri 2/27:

The Tones – Amoeba Records San Francisco – FREE

NOISE POP Happy Hour – Maus Haus | Sugar & Gold | Tempo No Tempo – Bender’s – FREE

NOISE POP – Ra Ra Riot | Cut Off Your Hands | Telekinesis | The Hooks – The Independent – SOLD OUT

NOISE POP – Dear and the Headlights | Kinch | Big Light | A B & The Sea – The Bottom of the Hill

NOISE POP – Port O’Brien | Odawas | Afternoons | Dame Satan – Café Du Nord – SOLD OUT

NOISE POP – The Morning Benders | The Submarines | The Mumlers | Rademacher – Slim’s

NOISE POP – St. Vincent | Cryptacize | Rafter | That Ghost – Great American Music Hall

Thank You | Mi Ami | JAWS – Hemlock Tavern

Sat 2/28:

NOISE POP Matinee Show – The Matches | Dizzy Balloon | Ex-Boyfriends – The Bottom of the Hill

NOISE POP Afternoon Show – Themselves | Rainbow Arabia | Yoni Wolf | Boy Static – The Apple Store Downtown – FREE

NOISE POP Happy Hour – Music for Animals | Aim Low Kid | Audio Out Send – Bender’s – FREE

NOISE POP – Bob Mould | Mark Eitzel | Donovan Quinn | Jason Finazzo – Swedish American Music Hall

NOISE POP – A.C. Newman | Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele | Devon Williams | City Light – The Independent

NOISE POP – Portugal. The Man | Girls | Love is Chemical | Agent Ribbons – Café Du Nord

NOISE POP – Flosstradamus | N.A.S.A. | Wallpaper | DJ Morale – Mezzanine

NOISE POP – Clues | Loch Lommond | Harbours | Red Verse – Rickshaw Stop

NOISE POP – Sholi | The Dead Trees | Everest | Jake Mann – The Bottom of the Hill

Matt Wertz | The Alternate Routes – Slim’s

Sun 3/1:

NOISE POP – No Age | White Circle Crime Club | Infinite Body | Veil Veil Vanish – The Bottom of the Hill

NOISE POP – Les Savy Fav | The Mae Shi | The Drums – Mezzanine

Papercuts – Kimo’s

Mon 3/2:

Chris Isaak – Amoeba Records San Francisco – FREE

Thu 3/5:

M. Ward – Palace of the Fine Arts – SOLD OUT

Restiform Bodies | DJ EGADZ | (N1nth) Cloud – Holy Thursday at Underground SF

Fujiya & Miyagi | Pop Levi | Project Jenny, Project Jan – The Independent

Estelle | Solange | DJ Funklor – Mezzanine

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Hayes Carll – Trouble in Mind

Original release date: 8 April 2008 (Lost Highway)

You can call Trouble in Mind an alt country album, or Americana, or folk rock. But whatever genre the album gets classified in, it was 2008’s best country release by a long shot. The strength of this set of songs is three-fold.

Carll’s songwriting is unmatched – the Americana Music Association named “She Left Me for Jesus” as Song of the Year for a reason.

The production is spotless. There are instances when the music slides away and an acoustic guitar or slide or rimshot fills the moment with perfectly precision.

Finally, the diversity of this album is not a common quality of modern country albums. “Bad Liver and a Broken Heart” has the alt country rock sound of a Jason & The Scorchers tune. “I Got a Gig” has a swampy, Creedence feel to it. “A Lover Like You” opens with a ragtime piano riff and could be mistaken for a mid-‘60s Dylan track. And Carll covers Tom Waits on “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up.”

The album moves through its themes like a night of hard drinking. It starts out on the high of a good buzz with strength and confidence. As the liquor keeps going down, some thoughts of depression and nostalgia may kick in, but you still feel confident and able. In the end, you’re still longing for love and still have your sense of humor.

Download “She Left Me for Jesus” (mp3)

A Colorful Night of Drinking

He gently closed the bedroom door and diligently worked his way into the kitchen with the slow tempo precision that the hangover allowed. Not knowing why he was awake so early, he still knew what he had to do. After drinking a glass of water, he preheated the oven to 400°. He then pressed play on the kitchen boombox as the oven warmed.

Scott needed music right now – something to take his throbbing mind of its trouncing. He set the volume a little lower than normal; partly because he couldn’t handle it being too loud, but also so as to not wake up Lisa. What came through those speakers, Hayes Carll’s Trouble in Mind, could perfectly explain the evening he had and why he was making breakfast.

New Releases – 23 February 2009

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

Black Lips – 200 Million Thousand | CD MP3
Download “Short Fuse” (mp3)
For their fifth studio album, the Black Lips’ sound is a continuation of the loose, garage rock they have become known for. This raucous, retro-sound band lays out their influences. It’s obvious to hear The Troggs, Velvet Underground, and The Stooges, but this bedraggled album is another fine example of what the band calls “flower punk.”

Caw! Caw! – Wait Outside [EP] | CD MP3
Download “Organisms” (mp3)
Caw! Caw! has been together for six years. In that time, the band’s sound has apparently changed genres – punk, luscious, ambient, and experimental. Once they were able to record their debut EP, Wait Outside, all the genres they have explored meshed into an eclectic and wonderful indie rock sound.

Clem Snide – Hungry Bird | CD MP3
Download “Me No” (mp3)
This album was originally recorded in 2006. As the story goes, the band broke up after writing and recording it. But Eef Barzelay, after releasing two solo albums, has re-formed the band and finally allowed this hidden gem to be unleashed. Barzelay’s voice has a tonal quality reminiscent of John Darnielle and the music is full of lush and beautiful arrangements. The songs are fairly candid, but with a hint of convolution.

First Aid Kit – Drunken Trees [EP] | CD
Download “You’re Not Coming Home Tonight” (mp3)
First Aid Kit is a duo of sisters from outside of Stockholm. As teenagers, they self-recorded this EP of acoustic artistry. The seven tracks have accomplished folk accompaniments, but it is the harmonies of the Söderberg sisters that solidify these songs.

Keith Kool – Tashan Dorrsett | CD Vinyl MP3
Download “Indian” (mp3)
Keith Kool – who has created the aliases Dr. Octagon, Dr. Dooom, Black Elvis, and more – has a new album and a new personification. Tashan Dorrsett raps about the realities of living in the ghetto. I’m not going to pretend I can relate, but I like this album. This album starts off a little slow, but picks up in both beats and themes to embody a strong new character in Kool’s catalog.

Andy Wagner – Those Who Forgive [EP] | FREE download of entire album from Rock Proper
Download “Sending My Love” (mp3)
For his third, Andy Wagner is given the Rock Proper treatment. The album is available as a free download from new music distribution website. Those Who Forgive is an alt country album recorded at Jay Bennett’s Pieholden Suite Sound studio. So, yes, it has a sound similar to Wilco.

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

Noise Pop 2009

Beginning today, the Noise Pop Festival will begin its week of concerts, movies, and art showings. In addition to the art shows, here is the festival's schedule of events.

Tue 2/24:

City Arts & Lectures “Talking Music” – John Darnielle in conversation and song w/ Tobias Wolff – Herbst Theater

Antony & The Johnsons | William Basinski – Nob Hill Masonic Center

Deerhunter | Lilofee | DJ Jimmy Tamborello | DJ Aaron Axel | DJ Omar – Mezzanine – FREE w/ RSVP

Wed 2/25:

Happy Hour: The Aimless Never Miss | The Sleepover Disaster | Evacuee – Bender’s – FREE

The Mountain Goats (solo) | Papercuts – Swedish American Music Hall – SOLD OUT

Stephen Malkmus (solo) | Kelley Stoltz | Peggy Honeywell | Goh Nakamura – Great American Music Hall

Sleepy Sun | Lumerians | True Widow | Kings & Queens | KUSF DJs – The Bottom of the Hill

French Kicks | The Broken West | Here Here | The Dont’s – The Independent

Matt Costa | An Horse | Robert Francis – Slim’s

Film: Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison – The Roxie

Film: Ashes of American Flags (Wilco concert film) – The Roxie

Thu 2/26:

Happy Hour: Scissors for Lefty | Picture Atlantic | Man/Miracle – Bender’s – FREE

Thao Nguyen | David Dondero | Sean Smith | Colossal Yes – Swedish American Music Hall – SOLD OUT

Kool Keith | Mike Relm | Crown City Rockers | Hopsin | DJ Kutmasta Kurt – Mezzanine

Martha Wainwright | AA Bondy | Ryan Auffenberg | Karina Denke – Slim’s

Thee Oh Sees | Tyvek | Unnatural Helpers | The Fresh and Onlys – Café Du Nord

From Monument to Masses | Crime In Choir | Built for the Sea – The Bottom of the Hill

Josh Ritter (with string quartet) | Laura Gibson | Dave Smallen | Tiny Television – Great American Music Hall – SOLD OUT

Goblin Cock | Warship | Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band | Kowloon Walled City – Rickshaw Stop

Film: Of All the Things – Artists' Television Access

Film: Largo – Artists' Television Access

Fri 2/27:

Industry Noise Conference – Swedish American Music Hall

Happy Hour: Maus Haus | Sugar & Gold | Tempo No Tempo – Bender’s – FREE

Ra Ra Riot | Cut Off Your Hands | Telekinesis | The Hooks – The Independent – SOLD OUT

Dear and the Headlights | Kinch | Big Light | A B & The Sea – The Bottom of the Hill

Port O’Brien | Odawas | Afternoons | Dame Satan – Café Du Nord – SOLD OUT

The Morning Benders | The Submarines | The Mumlers | Rademacher – Slim’s

St. Vincent | Cryptacize | Rafter | That Ghost – Great American Music Hall

Film: Agile Mobile Hostile: A Year with Andre Williams – Artists' Television Access

Film: Gogol Bordello Non-Stop: A Gypsy-Punk Documentary – Artists' Television Access

Sat 2/28:

Pop ‘n Shop – The Verdi Club – FREE

Matinee Show – The Matches | Dizzy Balloon | Ex-Boyfriends – The Bottom of the Hill

Afternoon Show – Themselves | Rainbow Arabia | Yoni Wolf | Boy Static – The Apple Store Downtown – FREE

Afternoon Film: Seven Signs: Music, Mythology and Faith of the American South – Artists' Television Access

Afternoon Film: I Need That Record: The Death (or Possible Survival) of the Independent Record Store – Artists' Television Access

Happy Hour: Music for Animals | Aim Low Kid | Audio Out Send – Bender’s – FREE

Bob Mould | Mark Eitzel | Donovan Quinn | Jason Finazzo – Swedish American Music Hall

A.C. Newman | Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele | Devon Williams | City Light – The Independent

Portugal. The Man | Girls | Love is Chemical | Agent Ribbons – Café Du Nord

Flosstradamus | N.A.S.A. | Wallpaper | DJ Morale – Mezzanine

Clues | Loch Lommond | Harbours | Red Verse – Rickshaw Stop

Sholi | The Dead Trees | Everest | Jake Mann – The Bottom of the Hill

Sun 3/1:

Afternoon Film: Loki: Arnaldo Baptista – Artists' Television Access

Afternoon Film: Nightflight: Born Again – Artists' Television Access

No Age | White Circle Crime Club | Infinite Body | Veil Veil Vanish – The Bottom of the Hill

Les Savy Fav | The Mae Shi | The Drums – Mezzanine

Back to The Wheel's Still In Spin Mainpage.

Noise Pop 2009 Art Shows

San Francisco's Noise Pop Festival is one of the few music festivals to explore the amalgamation of music and art. Here is a list of the art shows the festival is presenting this year.

Now through March 4, “The Art of Noise Pop – A Retrospective of Festival Posters, Photography and Design” will be displayed at the Mini Bar (837 Divisidero St). On display will be artwork from past festivals and other pieces from the artists who create the festival’s designs.

Also through March 4, “Sights of Sounds” will be on display at Park Life (220 Clement St). This exhibit will showcase the artwork of musicians including: Alissa Anderson, Joseph Arthur, Bianca Casady (CocoRosie), Harrison Haynes (Les Savy Fav), Jesse Michaels (Operation Ivy), Nate Manny (Murder City Devils), Mark Motherbaugh (Devo), Sara Singer (The New Trust), Hank Shocklee (Public Enemy), Paul Miller (DJ Spooky), and John Vanderslice.

Finally, through March 7, Lauren Dunkoff’s “Family” show will be at the Eleanor Harwood Gallery (1295 Alabama St). Dukoff has been photographing Devendra Banhart and musical family for years. On display will be performance and candid shots with Banhart, Bat for Lashes, Vashti Bunyan, Ramblin Jack Elliott, Espers, Feathers, Bert Jansch, Little Joy, Joanna Newsom, Vetiver, and more. Also, some artwork by these musicians will also be on display.

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Internet Radio News

With the rise of Internet radio, The Wheel’s Still In Spin lists the recent online news articles about the future of Internet radio.

Agreement reached on Internet music royalty rates
The Associated Press reports on an agreement between the NAB and SoundExchange. “The new deal lowers those rates by about 16 percent in 2009 and 2010. The stations will now pay $1.50 for every song heard by a thousand listeners in 2009, rising to $2.50 per 1,000 listeners in 2015.
“The agreement between the National Association of Broadcasters and the royalty-collection group SoundExchange covers the Internet streaming operations at several thousand NAB-member stations, including those owned by Clear Channel Communications Inc. and CBS Corp. Stations that are not members of the broadcasters' group have the option of joining the agreement, according to the NAB.”

Internet Radio SoundExchange Talks Fail
All About Jazz explains that a hopefully negotiation of Internet radio royalties has passed its deadline. “The Digital Media Association confirmed that negotiations with SoundExchange over net radio royalties did not yield an agreement before the February 15 deadline. The DiMA, on behalf of its members which include RealNetworks, Pandora and MTV has been negotiating with SoundExchange since March of 2007 when the Copyright Royalty Board increased some webcasters royalties by 300%.”

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Annuals, Jessica Lea Mayfield, and What Laura Says – Slim's, San Francisco, CA – February 21st, 2009

On tour for their second album, Such Fun, Annuals have been touring the country with a concert lineup that includes two strong supporting acts. Saturday, February 21st, Annuals, Jessica Lea Mayfield, and What Laura Says stopped in San Francisco to perform at Slim’s.

Bay Area Concerts – 2/20/09-2/26/09

This coming week the Noise Pop Festival will begin its week of glorious concerts, movies, and art showings. Here are this week's recommended concerts.

Fri 2/20:

Audrye Sessions – Amoeba Music Berkeley – FREE

Andrew Bird | Loney, Dear – The Fillmore

Scissors for Lefty | The Vox Jaguars | Room for a Ghost | DJ Ted E Bearski – The Bottom of the Hill

Ben Taylor | Eoin Harrington | Schuyler Fisk – The Independent

Sat 2/21:

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO Annuals | Jessica Lea Mayfield | What Laura Says – Slim’s – WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS HERE

Murder By Death | The Builders and The Butchers | Fake Problems – The Bottom of the Hill

Cake | The Lovemakers – Fox Theater – SOLD OUT

Kinky – The Grand Ballroom at the Regency Center

Donavon Frankenreiter | Gary Jules – The Independent – SOLD OUT

Kelly Joe Phelps – Freight & Salvage

Duncan Sheik | Lauren Pritchard, Holly Brook & Louis Schwadron – Palace of the Fine Arts

Futuristic Prince | Tenderloins | Media – Mezzanine

Sun 2/22:

Modest Mouse | Japanese Motors | Mimicking Birds – Fox Theater – SOLD OUT

Dan Bern – Freight & Salvage

Dirty Hands | Mischka | Sage – Red Devil Lounge

Tue 2/24:

NOISE POP – City Arts & Lectures “Talking Music” – John Darnielle in conversation and song w/ Tobias Wolff – Herbst Theater

NOISE POP – Antony & The Johnsons | William Basinski – Nob Hill Masonic Center

NOISE POP – Deerhunter | Lilofee | DJ Jimmy Tamborello | DJ Aaron Axel | DJ Omar – Mezzanine – FREE w/ RSVP

Wed 2/25:

NOISE POP Happy Hour – The Aimless Never Miss | The Sleepover Disaster | Evacuee – Bender’s – FREE

NOISE POP – The Mountain Goats (solo) | Papercuts – Swedish American Music Hall – SOLD OUT

NOISE POP – Stephen Malkmus (solo) | Kelley Stoltz | Peggy Honeywell | Goh Nakamura – Great American Music Hall

NOISE POP – Sleepy Sun | Lumerians | True Widow | Kings & Queens | KUSF DJs – The Bottom of the Hill

NOISE POP – French Kicks | The Broken West | Here Here | The Dont’s – The Independent

NOISE POP – Matt Costa | An Horse | Robert Francis – Slim’s

Thu 2/26:

NOISE POP Happy Hour – Scissors for Lefty | Picture Atlantic | Man/Miracle – Bender’s – FREE

NOISE POP – Thao Nguyen | David Dondero | Sean Smith | Colossal Yes – Swedish American Music Hall

NOISE POP – Kool Keith | Mike Relm | Crown City Rockers | Hopsin | DJ Kutmasta Kurt – Mezzanine

NOISE POP – Martha Wainwright | AA Bondy | Ryan Auffenberg | Karina Denke – Slim’s

NOISE POP – Thee Oh Sees | Tyvek | Unnatural Helpers | The Fresh and Onlys – Café Du Nord

NOISE POP – From Monument to Masses | Crime In Choir | Built for the Sea – The Bottom of the Hill

NOISE POP – Josh Ritter (with string quartet) | Laura Gibson | Dave Smallen | Tiny Television – Great American Music Hall

NOISE POP – Goblin Cock | Warship | Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band | Kowloon Walled City – Rickshaw Stop

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New Releases – 17 February 2009

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

The Deep Dark Woods – Winter Hours | CD
Download “All the Money I Had Is Gone” (mp3)
This quartet of Canadian folk musicians has crafted an amiable album. The songs take influences from bluegrass and country while borrowing from the folk rock bands of the ‘70s. Winter Hours has a sound that is both timeless and up-to-date.

Fake Problems – It’s Great to Be Alive | CD Vinyl MP3
This four-piece band has released an eclectic album. These songs are quick punk-influenced indie rock. But the band’s sound is across the board with horns, distorted guitars, and gravelly vocals. If you can imagine a mixture of Two Gallants, Gogol Bordello, and Modest Mouse then you’re beginning to get close to the sound this band creates.
Below is the video for their anthem-style single, “The Dream Team.”

Psapp – The Camel’s Back | CD MP3
Download “The Monster Song” (mp3)
Psapp is the musical project of Carim Clasmann and Galia Durant. The duo constructs songs that have been described as indie pop and experimental electronica. On The Camel’s Back the music is beautifully placid and the melodies are intrinsically appealing.

Vetiver – Tight Knit | CD Vinyl MP3
Download “Everyday” (mp3)
Vetiver gained praise for their 2008 cover album Thing of the Past (including an honorable mention in TWSIS’s best of 2008). Tight Knit, the band’s fourth full-length album and first one for Sub Pop, shows the band evolve their alt country sound with layers and nooks of aural goodness.

M. Ward – Hold Time | CD Vinyl MP3
Download “Never Had Nobody Like You” (mp3)
After five solo albums and his She & Him project with Zooey Deschanel, M. Ward has issued Hold Time. Ward has the extraordinary ability to build and improve his sound with each release while keeping the retro quality and recognizability of his folk-rock intact. Hold Time is another successful step in the progression of M. Ward’s career.

Fake Problems’ “The Dream Team” video from It’s Great to Be Alive:

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

Internet Radio News

With the rise of Internet radio, The Wheel’s Still In Spin lists the recent online news articles about the future of Internet radio.

Report: Internet Radio Streams, Ads Up in 2008
Billboard reports, “According to a new report from AccuStream Research, Internet radio streams increased 37.6% in 2008, while audio ads sold against this usage rose 46.1% to $74 million.” The report goes on to name the companies with the largest total streams and ad-support streams. AOL’s Shoutcast and Clear Channel top the list.

Google Exits Radio but Will Explore Online Streaming Audio
Google’s blog announced the company will be getting out of the broadcast radio advertisement business. “Instead we will use our technology to develop Internet-based solutions that will deliver relevant ads for online streaming audio.”

WOXY iPhone app
My favorite Internet-only radio station, WOXY.com, posted two iPhone apps that let you stream many Internet stations, including theirs.

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