It has been just over six years since Blake Schwarzenbach released an album (Jets To Brazil’s 2002 effort, Perfecting Loneliness) and more than five since Jets To Brazil called it quits. Last weekend, at a house show in Brooklyn, the former Jawbreaker frontman made his formal return to music with his latest project, The Thorns Of Life. Joined by drummer Aaron Cometbus and bassist Daniela Sea, the trio played once again on Friday night. Cometbus, who has played drums in bands such as Crimpshrine, is also known for creating Cometbus, the iconic underground zine. Sea, much like Cometbus and Schwarzenbach, also has Bay Area roots. She was a member of The Gr’ups, an early 90’s Berekely outfit that once featured Rancid’s Matt Freeman. Sea is more widely known for her acting chops. She has appeared on the last three seasons of Showtime’s The L Word.
Larry Livermore, the founder of Lookout! Records, reports that Schwarzenbach’s new band has been in the planning stage for quite some time. He explained on his blog, “This band has been in the works for a few months now, something I knew but was sworn to secrecy about, which became rather annoying when everybody else started telling me the latest gossip, and even more annoying when I missed their first show last weekend.” As three (1, 2, 3) YouTube videos (filmed by attendees of the group’s most recent show) indicate, The Thorns Of Life appear to have more in common with the musical scene that the three members originated from as opposed to Jets To Brazil. Photographic evidence of The Thorns’ first show can be found at Brooklyn DIY. It’s early, so there is no word yet on planned releases, but I am very excited.
Rock Band, the video game sensation that first gained cool points by adding Dinosaur Jr.’s “Feel The Pain” and The Replacements’ “Alex Chilton” to its catalog of downloadable content, is at it again. Next week, those who play Rock Band on either the XBOX 360 or Playstation 3, will be able to download three songs by Mission Of Burma, the legendary Boston post-punk outfit. The songs include “Mica” (from Vs.), “That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate (from Vs.), and “That’s When I Reached For My Revolver” (from Signals, Calls, And Marches). No “Academy Fight Song?” Denied. Matador re-issued Burma’s early work in March of this year. Their most recent release was 2006’s The Obliterati. For the record, I love video games, but I’m just not coordinated enough to be a successful Rock Band player.
FYI, the release calendar has been given a major update and once again includes upcoming film releases. Let’s see if I can keep up with them this time around.
Loney Dear will release a new album on Polyvinyl in January.
I get a quite a few emails from PR agents of labels and bands. A lot of them tend to fall through the cracks for one reason or another. In the last 48 hours, I have received an unusual onslaught of messages from labels announcing new additions to their rosters. I don’t usually do this, but have decided to post a handful of those announcements.
Sell It: Baltimore trio Double Dagger utilize only a drum kit, bass guitar, and vocal chords to create a colossal wall of sound, that has been described alternately as “very loud pop”, post-punk, art punk, and “obnoxious.” A series of memorable performances, releases, and tours over the past several years has cemented their reputation as of one of the most exciting bands in the emerging Baltimore music scene. ~David Halstead (Thrill Jockey)
Release: Part 1: John Shade, Your Fortune’s Made (2/3/09)
Sell It: You know that mysterious black object that the creepy family is staring at on the cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Presence” album? Fol Chen sound like that. But we don’t sound like Led Zeppelin. (We actually do a little.) Instead, we sound like Prince with Amon Duul II and a children’s religious revival, not to mention Hot Chip, Pink Floyd, Gwen Stefani, Pere Ubu, Danielson Famile, Scritti Politti, Boards of Canada, The Blow, and Pulp. (Mostly.) We are using secret powers and the guidance of legendary DJ Donna Donna to combat our nemesis, John Shade. We are cryptic and joyful and we would like you to dance. ~Fol Chen
Sell It: Hailing from the small city of Jonkoping, Sweden, Loney Dear’s primary member Emil Svanängen first began making homemade recordings of delicate, folkish indie pop in the early 2000s. As Loney, Dear (the band has since deleted the comma from its name), Svanängen self-released three homemade CD-Rs through his website: River Fontana Redux, Citadel Band, and Sologne. As buzz developed through MP3 blogs and other new media manifestations, Sub Pop offered Svanängen a contract in 2006. The first proper Loney Dear album, Loney, Noir, was released in early 2007. ~Daniel Gill (Force Field PR)
Sell It: Mountains is often compared to artists such as Brian Eno and Fennesz citing their extended melodies and their unique broad guitar work. Mountains seamlessly blend pastoral electronic sounds with both field recordings and a plethora of acoustic instruments. The resulting soundscapes are broad in scope and rich in detail. The effect is incredibly sublime and hypnotic as the sounds slowly wrap themselves around each other and alter themselves in the mind of the listener. ~David Halstead (Thrill Jockey)
Sell It: San Francisco-based avant-rock trio featuring songwriter/guitarist Payam Bavafa, bassist Eric Ruud, and drummer Jonathon Bafus. With a delicate balance of intricate rhythms, impressive musicianship, and intimate, impressionistic lyrics, Sholi creates a unique blend of reposeful melody and turbulent measure unlike any other. ~Josh Zanger (Touch & Go/Quarterstick)
Did any of those descriptions intrigue you? The last Loney Dear album was promising and Mountains sound like something I’d enjoy.
On September 13th, 2008, Melissa Rich Mulcahy died at her home in Springfield, MA. Melissa was the wife of songwriter Mark Mulcahy (Miracle Legion, Polaris), a man whose work I greatly admire. Melissa also leaves behind two children, Clementine and Florine. Mulcahy’s obituary cites her as being fond of Tom Waits and the Boston Red Sox. Her memorial service was held last month in Windsor, CT. This coming Friday, November 14th, area musicians will gather at the Northampton Center for the Arts in Northampton, MA to pay tribute to Melissa, who, along with her husband Mark, have lent great support to their local music scene. Notable artists performing at the concert include Mr. Ray of Miracle Legion and Dinosaur Jr.’s J. Mascis. A charity auction will also be held at the event with proceeds being donated to Melissa’s family. Tickets are available online through Rub Wrongways Records. That site is also accepting donations to the Mulcahy family. It goes without saying that my thoughts are with Mark and his family during this difficult time. Melissa Rich Mulcahy was 41 years old.
I read criticism on a message board this morning of individuals stating that they are “finally proud to be an American.” These people should not be criticized, but let me revise their statement slightly. I am finally proud to be an American again. On the same wavelength, I have never been more proud to be a lifelong resident of Virginia, a state that went blue last night for the first time in 44 years. In the photo above, I was standing outside of Little River Elementary, a precinct in South Riding, Virginia that Barack Obama won by 12 votes. Handfuls of people of all ages and races drove by and gave me an enthusiastic car honk or thumbs up. I never thought I would see this sort of reaction in my own county, a place that, until recent memory, was ruled by Evangelical Republicans. If you hear someone say this week that they are finally proud again, it is because there hasn’t been much not to be ashamed of in this country over the last eight years. Barack Obama isn’t going to instantly fix America the moment he steps into the White House in January, but his landslide victory indicates that America is tired of being looked down upon as a nation. More importantly, this country is tired of being divided. Even if you didn’t vote for Obama, every competent American should be thrilled by the sheer fact that a country that appeared so hopelessly divided at the start of Bush’s second term has turned the entire world on a dime by electing an African American President a mere four years later.
Its the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day. Its been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America. ~Barack Obama
