The Rhinestone Cowboy and hip-hop goodies

I couldn’t pass up this gem in the Chicago Tribune on Arizona’s most-famous drunk driver, Glen Campbell:

By Monica Eng
Chicago Tribune

I call Glen Campbell earlier this month at his Malibu home and find out it’s a day of celebration. It’s the day he gets to remove the Intoxalock
from his car.

“Whoever invented that thing should be hit upside the head with a crowbar — or at least a cane or a pool cue,” the country icon growls over the phone, referring to the Breathalyzer-type device linked to a car’s ignition system that he had to blow into to start his car. “You know it’s not even technically legal, but they do a lot of things differently there in Arizona.” …

Yes, we do — like post on the weekends. But, Glen, some would say a blood-alcohol level of more than .15 and leaving the scene of an accident is “not even technically legal.” (The story goes on to explain that Glen has since moved to Malibu, Calif.)

Really, this post has nothing to do with Glen Campbell, but I couldn’t resist. Too funny.

Anyway, any regular readers (insert laugh track here) of this space know I’m a fan of hip-hop. And I’m challenging my man Chris (the fourth member of Digable Planets) at Gorilla vs. Bear to post some more hip-hop and I promise to do the same. After all, we can’t be all indie all the time, right?

That said, I’ve uncovered www.undergroundhiphop.com, which has a veritable trove of songs you can stream. Using Audio Hijack Pro, I’m trying to clean up the tracks, which have a bit of a tinny sound to them. (Lemme know how the audio sounds on these.)

So, for you weekend readers, here’s a little treat. Pay special attention to the Cocoa Brovaz Super Brooklyn, which uses Super Mario Bros. music as the sampled loop. It’s, um, dope.

Cocoa Brovaz: Super Brooklyn
D-Nice: Call Me D-Nice
Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz: Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)

“We’re gonna rock this sh*t, Phoenix-style”

And with those opening words, I was pretty sure I was going to enjoy Brendan Benson’s set on Thursday night at the Clubhouse in Tempe.

Sadly, it was scarcely attended: I’d guess 100 people, at most. The ones who were there were very into it. Benson was really personable, talking with the crowd, cracking the usual “I don’t know how you guys live in this heat” jokes. One funny exchange with a fan: Benson asked if there were clubs in town similar in size to the Clubhouse. He said he remembered playing somewhere in Phoenix with Keane. One fan hollered out, “Celebrity Theatre.” Benson: “Oh, cool. Were you there?” Fan: “No.” Benson (smiling): “Excellent. Moving on to the next song then … ”

Being that my introduction to his music is his latest album, The Alternative to Love, I didn’t recognize much of the set, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and then was convinced enough to purchase “Lapalco” afterward. His band is solid and I just enjoyed the crisp rock they play. Nothing really pretentious about it but nothing bland about it either.

I will say this: Brendan needs to eat a few milkshakes. Dude is skinny. Check the pics for yourself. And no photos of openers Robbers on High Street, but they were good: poppy and happy.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

A few more:

1 2 3

Flashback Friday

South of Mainstream has offered up a beauty of an idea — and being grammar geeks here, we love the alliteration: Flashback Fridays. I was all agog this week with SofM dusting Hum off the shelf. I’m not sure I can keep up every week, but I’ll give it my best.

So, my first Flashback offering is (drumroll please) … Gwen Mars. This three-piece outfit formed in LA in 1995 and released “Magnosheen.” There was a bit of an underlying glam-rock aura about Gwen Mars but the music owed an undeniable debt to the grunge era and, in my opinion, the crunchy guitar riffs of the Smashing Pumpkins.

Honestly, I’m not sure why I liked this band or why I ever purchased “Magnosheen.” It was/is a guilty pleasure. Oddly enough, I saw them open for Catherine Wheel, the most unlikely of openers for CW. I also once saw them at Boston’s, a scrappy little club in Tempe that is no longer (R.I.P.). It was almost like Gwen Mars couldn’t decide if they wanted to go grunge or try the hair-rock route and got caught somewhere in between. But damn it if I don’t love those opening riffs on “Cosmic Dick.”

Lucky for me, I stumbled across a white-vinyl 45 of “Cosmic Dick” in Tucson. The B-side, “Shrink,” is also off “Magnosheen.” Apparently, the group resurfaced in 2001 with the full-length “Driving a Million.” I’m guessing it might be another six years before we hear from them again, if at all. Here’s to hair spray and lipstick on lead singers.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Gwen Mars: Cosmic Dick
Gwen Mars: Shrink

Recap of Richard Buckner/Tucson

Well, another Richard Buckner show (my fourth, I think) and another fine performance. The venue, Plush, was intimate, sorta perfect for Buckner’s songs. We sat and drank on the patio beforehand and Buckner, seemingly wanting to enjoy a moment alone, was approached by a fanboy, who asked, “Mind if I sit here?” when there were about seven other empty tables. Buckner kindly obliged. I felt like saying something to Buckner, like, “Hey, I really appreciate your music” or something like that, but it always comes off sounding so … so … I don’t know. That whole dynamic of approaching the musicians seems strange: Do they want to know you’re a fan or do they want to be left alone? Ah, anyway …

Anders Parker opened, and I was really impressed. He played heavily off his newest album, “Tell it to the Dust.” He switched between acoustic and electric guitars and took a few turns on a Wurlitzer piano. His voice hardly holds a room like Buckner’s, but his guitar playing seems a little more technical. And I love his disheveled-I-just-woke-up-and-look-how-messy-my-hair- is look. Plus, he was drinking bourbon. What self-respecting alt-country artist doesn’t?

As for Buckner, well, my only complaint is that interaction with the audience was minimal. Not that I expect inane chatting, because that gets old, but there was literally nothing until he was finished. He used recorders to loop guitar lines and then played over those, thus filling the would-be silence in between songs. Nevertheless, you get the impression he’d rather just play.

My pictures of Anders Parker didn’t come out as well as I would have liked (so, see below for music treat). I’m still learning the ways of my Canon PowerShot; it was the first time I messed with no-flash, delayed-exposure picture-taking. There are a couple of Buckner in which I, uh, accidentally used the flash; I’m sure he was appreciative of that. Hey, I was having a few drinks.

Here are some pics:

Image hosted by Photobucket.com Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Ever wanted to see what Speedway Blvd. near the Univ. of Arizona campus looks like from the Jack in the Box drive-thru under the influence of alcohol at about 1 in the morning? I knew you did:

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

This one is just to tease Chris; that’s right, Sufjan is even coming to Tucson:

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Don’t think you’re getting outta here without music. As promised, we hit up PDQ Records, a massive warehouse of vinyl in Tucson. I plucked some fantastic 45s, which all will get their time here. One of the finds was a clear vinyl promo “limited edition” of Varnaline, which is essentially Anders Parker before he decided to go by Anders Parker; I really like “Hammer.” Enjoy the warmth of analog because I’m too tired to clean it up right now. Besides, we have Brendan Benson to go see tonight.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Varnaline: Hear
Varnaline: Hammer

Off to Tucson …

Before I hit the lovely Interstate 10, with two hours of desert and sun and 110 degree weather between here and Tucson, I leave you with some recommendations (hopefully, Buckner pictures to follow tomorrow, unless I’m running off to Tempe to see Brendan Benson):

Gorilla vs. Bear hooks you up with dirty-girl music and pictures, to boot! (And check out his Lollapalooza wrap; I think Chris is going to be an honorary member of Digable Planets soon.)

Welcome to the Midwest offers up a new Death Cab for Cutie track from the forthcoming LP Plans.

South of Mainstream made my day (no, week) on Monday with a little vigil to Champaign, Illinois’ finest, Hum. You remember “Stars,” and you liked it.

Soul Sides has a new Nas track, on which he takes 50 Cent to task. Nice.

Go visit Dodge … just because. He’s got a monster recap of Lollapalooza, and I’ve even forgiven him for skipping out on Z-Trip.

No music at Post Secret, but check it out: Homemade anonymous postcards with peoples’ little secrets. It’s very intriguing. (I’m sending one in to confess that I looked at those Gorilla vs. Bear photos today — twice.)

For cool photoshop-ish art, check out Tik. He hooked me up with a jpeg that I’m gonna blow up into art for the pad AND we share the same name.

Chris is motivating me to dig up more vinyl, so I promise more remixes (mostly hip-hop) next week. …

Richard Buckner / Anders Parker


Even though I just saw Richard Buckner this past November in Phoenix, I’m really excited to see him again tonight in Tucson with Anders Parker, whom I saw open for Jay Farrar not too long ago in Los Angeles.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

This will be at least the fourth time seeing Buckner, and I really wouldn’t pass up a chance to see him at any time. I remember the first time, probably about eight years ago, at Balboa Cafe in Tempe with my brother; Buckner opened for Alejandro Escovedo. I was floored by Buckner. I’ve never seen one man and a guitar command that sort of presence at a show. “Husky” seems to be the most-used adjective to describe his voice, and rightfully so. (I thought “husky” was only used to describe big-boy jeans.) It’s not exactly flattering, but it’s fitting.

His songs are the stuff of drunken loneliness, open country and empty yearning. I distinctly remember in October 2000, having accepted my first sportswriting gig in Lubbock, Texas, listening to his debut “Bloomed” as I drove into Texas wondering what the hell I was exactly doing. The album was recorded in Lubbock, and I thought I’d develop some closeness to the music because of it. Like when he sings, “He didn’t know much misery / But there was plenty of time to learn.” That borders on cheesy, I know, but the album pulled me through some serious homesickness (if you lived in Lubbock you’d understand)

That said, I’d recommend anything he’s put out, especially “Bloomed” and his latest, “Dents and Shells” (on Merge … you know, home of the Arcade Fire).

I have too many songs I’d want to include here, so I’ve recorded his KCRW appearance from last year (split into two MP3s, before and after the Nic Harcourt interview).

As for Anders Parker, I’m still new to his music. But I’m liking his newest, “Tell it to the Dust,” quite a bit.

Richard Buckner: Live on KCRW (Part I)
Richard Buckner: Live on KCRW (Part II)
Richard Buckner: Ariel Ramirez (from Devotion+Doubt; yes the song on that VW Touareg commercial)
Richard Buckner: Up North (from Bloomed)
Anders Parker: Tell it to the Dust (from Tell it to the Dust)

Digable Planets remixes


Chris at gorillavsbear.net has me all geeked out about Digable after reading his review of Lollapallooza in Chicago this weekend. I was gonna save these gems for a future date, but I couldn’t hold out any longer. These are from the vinyl stash: A 9th Wonder (Slicker this Year) Mad Slicker Remixes promo 12″ and a Dial 7 12″.

Digable Planets: 9th Wonder (Amina remix)
Digable Planets: 9th Wonder (Dania remix)
Digable Planets: 9th Wonder (Accapella)
Digable Planets: Dedication

Super Bowl Shuffle


It’s almost August, which means NFL teams are reporting to training camp, which means it’s never too early to start thinking about the Super Bowl. It’s like spring training, when every team thinks they have a shot. Only I’m a Bears fan and I KNOW they don’t stand a chance.

Ah, but memories. We can always milk the 1985 domination. Payton, McMahon, the Fridge. What about those linebackers? Singletary, Wilson, Marshall. Then there’s Super Bowl MVP Richard Dent. That team should have turned into a dynasty. Alas …

Yes, I’ve digitized my 12-inch vinyl of the Super Bowl Shuffle, which was in vogue long before the Ickey Shuffle. I could never decide whose verse I liked the most, but what I really could never figure out is how backup QB Steve Fuller ever got on the song.

Anyway, be sure to check out the pure cheesiness of the “Extended Vocal Mix.”

Well, without further ado, we present the Chicago Bears Shufflin’ Crew:

Vocal Mix
Extended Vocal Mix
Instrumental

This and that

It’s possible (no, likely) I’m way behind on this, but I was stunned out of my nap-induced stupor today by an M&M’s commercial that featured Iron and Wine’s cover of Postal Service’s Such Great Heights. First, Shins on a McDonald’s ad, then Modest Mouse on a Nissan ad and now this? I’m not crying sellout or anything; it’s just … weird. …

More on the INXS “Rock Star” front. Billboard story reports that ratings are — shock! — low; I think only Dodge watches it (for his loyalty, he may be nominated the band’s next singer). But: “The week of the show’s premiere, sales of “The Best of INXS” nearly tripled to more than 5,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan.” Yes, of course. Then guitarist Tim Farriss, defending the band’s decision to find a singer via reality TV says: “In all seriousness, what were we supposed to do? Put an ad in the paper?” Is that a rhetorical question? Clay Aiken is available.

Tomorrow (nay, late tonight) I have an NFL/Chicago Bears-inspired post. You won’t be sorry. Check back.

Also, I’ll be getting all alt-country on you in preparation for the Richard Buckner/Anders Parker show in Tucson, which will include a required trip to PDQ Records, literally a warehouse full of vinyl in no particular order. It’s maddening and marvelous.

Seven Storey Mountain

Seven Storey Mountain is, by far, one of my favorite bands from Arizona. The best compliment I can pay is that they don’t sound like a local band, if that makes sense.

The band has undergone plenty of turnover, but the one constant is singer/songwriter/guitarist Lance Lammers, the brains of the operation. Seven Storey Mountain (which, for a short time, truncated its name to Seven Storey) has made several appearances on Deep Elm’s Emo Diaries collections. But I’m hesitant to label it “emo.” If emo is about baring your soul and getting in touch with feelings, Lammers is more about relieving the burdens of emotions in sonic thrusts. It’s relationships and reality gone awry, then examining the wreckage. Catharsis defined.

The band’s first LP, Leper Ethics, released on Art Monk Construction, is engaging and introspective. Deep Elm released the follow-ups, “Based on a True Story” (an EP) and “Dividing By Zero.” (All available through Stinkweeds.)

Image hosted by Photobucket.com Image hosted by Photobucket.com Image hosted by Photobucket.com

A new LP is due for release this year, and Lammers has posted four demos at the band’s spot on My Space. There are MP3s at the band’s Web site, and I have a few of my favorites to add (all recommended, including the scathing “Politician.”)

Seven Storey Mountain: Last Time (from Leper Ethics)
Seven Storey Mountain: Politician (from Based on a True Story)
Seven Storey Mountain: Halfway (from Dividing By Zero)