So, a little bit before I decided to start Aural Life, I went to see Circa Survive a few times in February and did a couple of interviews on 02/06/09 on behalf of my friend Gabby's blog, Avant-Noise. Now, since I have my own blog, I'll post them here, and I'm sure Avant-Noise will have them posted up somewhere as well. These are a bit overdue, but better late than never, I always say.
Here they are, enjoy:
Nick Beard of Circa Survive
Dan Lyman of Halos
peace&love
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
5/23/09
Hello everyone! Thanks to all who tuned in to the show this weekend. Aural Life was celebrating the 10th Anniversary of The Flaming Lips The Soft Bulletin by playing the album in it's entirety. Along with it, we also had some other great music. Here's the playlist, and if you missed it, here's the PODCAST! (just click that link or right-click and "Save Link As..." to download)
Remember:
Aural Life
Live from South Gate, CA
Saturdays 8pm-10pm PST
http://radio23.org (Channel A)
peace&love
.erick.
- The Flaming Lips - Race for the Prize (sacrifice of the new scientists)
- The Flaming Lips - A Spoonful Weighs a Ton
- The Flaming Lips - The Spark That Bled (The Softest Bullet Ever Shot)
- The Flaming Lips - Slow Motion
- The Flaming Lips - What Is The Light? (An untested hypothesis suggesting that the chemical [in our brains] by which we are able to experience the sensation of being in love is the same chemical that caused the "Big Bang" that was the birth of the accelerating universe)
- The Flaming Lips - The Observer
- The Flaming Lips - Waitin' for a Superman (Is it gettin' heavy??)
- The Flaming Lips - Suddenly Everything Has Changed (Death anxiety caused by moments of boredom)
- The Flaming Lips - The Gash (Battle Hymn for the wounded mathematician)
- The Flaming Lips - Feeling Yourself Disintegrate
- The Flaming Lips - Sleeping on the Roof (excerpt from "Should We Keep The Severed Head Awake??")
- The Flaming Lips - The Spiderbite Song
- The Flaming Lips - Buggin' (The buzz of love is busy buggin' you)
- The Postal Service - Suddenly Everything Has Changed
- The Happy Hollows - Lieutenant
- Torches In Trees - Bloody Hands
- Colour Revolt - A New Family
- Theresa Andersson - Japanese Art
- mewithoutYou - Goodbye, I!
- Grizzly Bear - On A Neck, On A Spit
- Of Montreal - My British Tour Diary
- Camera Obscura - The Sweetest Thing
- Vampire Weekend - Walcott
- Metric - Twilight Galaxy
- Phoenix - Fences
- Passion Pit - Little Secrets
- Maps & Atlases - Daily News
Remember:
Aural Life
Live from South Gate, CA
Saturdays 8pm-10pm PST
http://radio23.org (Channel A)
peace&love
.erick.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Theresa Andersson: One-Woman Band
So, recently, I've been hearing about Theresa Andersson, mostly from Jason Bentley, DJ and host of Morning Becomes Eclectic on KCRW, while listening to the program. I first heard about Theresa Andersson when I was listening to KCRW, NPR...one of those listener-supported stations. They were playing some music from a live performance of hers, and it was good jazzy-alternative music. Then they started discussing her performance...and mentioned that she did everything herself using loops recorded live. I was very intrigued, so I checked her out online and I was amazed.
Theresa Andersson is a woman from New Orleans, though she was born and raised in Sweden and lived there until she was 18. The music she plays is great. Not only is she a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, violin, dulcimer, glockenspiel, percussion (you name it, she could probably play it) and using her voice as a percussive instrument and to sing, but she, in her own repsect, is somewhat like a DJ. With arsenal of 40 or so pedals in front of her, Theresa is a one-woman-band. All of her songs are full of life and sound that she produces herself. Drums, guitars, violin, dulcimer, glockenspiel, everything she does herself. Her own vocal harmonies, even down to a duet with, well, herself. Nothing is prerecorded when she performs, everything she does is live, recorded live using a ton of looping pedals. This not only requires an internal sense of the tempo of the song, but full attentiveness and even balance. From cueing loops while playing, twisting knobs with her toes (she performs barefoot), multitasking barely scratches the surface of what she does when she performs and she does it so flawlessly and makes it look so simple. She knows how to do what she does, and she does it well. Not only is what she does visually astonishing, but sonically, it is great. Her music is wonderful and once you find out how she does it all live, that it is not a band backing her but HER backing her, you are even more amazed.
But don't just take my word for it, check her out for yourself:
MySpace
Facebook
Here are the videos from her youtube channel of her performing her songs "Na Na Na" and "Birds Fly Away":
You can purchase it via:
Theresa Andersson is a woman from New Orleans, though she was born and raised in Sweden and lived there until she was 18. The music she plays is great. Not only is she a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, violin, dulcimer, glockenspiel, percussion (you name it, she could probably play it) and using her voice as a percussive instrument and to sing, but she, in her own repsect, is somewhat like a DJ. With arsenal of 40 or so pedals in front of her, Theresa is a one-woman-band. All of her songs are full of life and sound that she produces herself. Drums, guitars, violin, dulcimer, glockenspiel, everything she does herself. Her own vocal harmonies, even down to a duet with, well, herself. Nothing is prerecorded when she performs, everything she does is live, recorded live using a ton of looping pedals. This not only requires an internal sense of the tempo of the song, but full attentiveness and even balance. From cueing loops while playing, twisting knobs with her toes (she performs barefoot), multitasking barely scratches the surface of what she does when she performs and she does it so flawlessly and makes it look so simple. She knows how to do what she does, and she does it well. Not only is what she does visually astonishing, but sonically, it is great. Her music is wonderful and once you find out how she does it all live, that it is not a band backing her but HER backing her, you are even more amazed.
But don't just take my word for it, check her out for yourself:
MySpace
Here are the videos from her youtube channel of her performing her songs "Na Na Na" and "Birds Fly Away":
"Na Na Na"
"Birds Fly Away"
Also, I highly suggest that you watch her Morning Becomes Eclectic In-Studio Session. You can watch it here: Theresa Andersson on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic
You can also stream just audio, but I highly suggest you watch it.
Her album,
You can purchase it via: 
eMusic
Amazon
Basin Street Records
Shockhound
Monday, May 18, 2009
Radiohead: Did you like In Rainbows?
Then you'll love In Rainbows 2: Electric Boogaloo!!!
No, but seriously, the good ole blokes at the BBC say that Radiohead has entered the studio and have started work on the follow up to 2007's In Rainbows (oh my, has it really been that long?). Knowing Radiohead, this will definitely not be In Rainbows part two, but something more amazing than we can even begin to fathom (I hope.)
FIND OUT MORE!
No, but seriously, the good ole blokes at the BBC say that Radiohead has entered the studio and have started work on the follow up to 2007's In Rainbows (oh my, has it really been that long?). Knowing Radiohead, this will definitely not be In Rainbows part two, but something more amazing than we can even begin to fathom (I hope.)
FIND OUT MORE!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
5/16/09
Hello all!
Thanks to everyone who listened this last show, hope you enjoyed the music and in case you missed it...PODCAST! (just click that link or right-click and "Save Link As..." to download)
And of course, here's the playlist for the show.
Aural Life
Live from South Gate, CA
Saturdays 8pm-10pm PST
http://radio23.org (Channel A)
peace&love
.erick.
Thanks to everyone who listened this last show, hope you enjoyed the music and in case you missed it...PODCAST! (just click that link or right-click and "Save Link As..." to download)
And of course, here's the playlist for the show.
- Chromeo - Me and My Man
- Say Hi - Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh
- Animal Collective - Lion in a Coma
- Paper Route - Wish
- El-P - Tasmanian Pain Coaster
- The Kills - Murdermile
- Bat for Lashes - Sarah
- E.L.O. (Electric Light Orchestra) - Mr. Blue Sky
- Cage the Elephant - Free Love
- Land of Talk - Give Me Back My Heart Attack
- Cursive - Shallow Means, Deep Ends
- Gogol Bordello - Supertheory of Supereverything
- Mogwai - The Sun Smells Too Loud
- The Flaming Lips - She Don't Use Jelly
- The Postal Service - There's Never Enough Time
- Torches In Trees - Thunderstorms Have Stayed
- We Barbarians - Walls
- Amazing Baby - Supreme Being
- The Happy Hollows - Labyrinth
- Q And Not U - X-Polynation
- !!! - Heart of Hearts
- Bloc Party - This Modern Love
- Bright Eyes - Arc of Time (Time Code)
- The Sound of Animals Fighting - The Heretic
- Silversun Pickups - Common Reactor
Aural Life
Live from South Gate, CA
Saturdays 8pm-10pm PST
http://radio23.org (Channel A)
peace&love
.erick.
Friday, May 15, 2009
5/14/09 Afternoons/The Happy Hollows/warpaint
Greetings everyone!
This is my first real post (see previous post) in a WHIIIIILE, but I just got back from a show a little while ago and want to give my brief synopsis of it.
Tonight/Last night, after sitting through traffic for about an hour in the afternoon, I finally made it to the Troubadour where I was privileged to see The Happy Hollows (again!! =]!) To be honest, they are the main reason I went to the concert, but the other two bands were very good as well.
The concert got going at about 8:30 to a barely 1/5-full Troubadour, (which, if you don't know, is a rather tiny venue, max cap. being probably in the 300s), if that. At this time, warpaint began their set. Luckily, as they began, the place started filling up a little more.
warpaint is a great 4-piece from...well...somewhere here in California. Their mostly mellow, shoegazey Indie rock was quite pleasant on the ears. Beautiful melodies, very often harmonized beautifully, produced by the two female vocalists above the 2-guitar, bass and drum (or sometimes guitar, keyboard, bass, drum and even for one song keyboard, bass, drum) very harmonious music. The band is very ambient, using a gratuitous amount of reverb on vocals and instrumentation. The drums were quite dynamic; the softs and the accents were delivered so well, that it helped a lot with the outer shape of the songs. Overall, warpaint are a very enjoyable band who put on a great live show. Check them out here: http://myspace.com/worldwartour
Afternoons, although they were the headliners, I am going to put next. Afternoons are a septet (I don't think I've ever used that...or anyone ever uses that), or seven-piece, from here in Los Angeles. The band while performing most often has this as their instrumental line-up, two guitars, bass, keyboards, two drum kits and a vocalist/percussionist. Although, some songs do vary in instrumentation, one of the drummers also plays trumpet during some songs, and actually joins in on guitar in one. Afternoons seem somewhat like they picked up an "Arcade Fire" stencil and drew themselves out. The performance is very reminiscent of Arcade Fire's performances, not in that the sounds are the same, but the fact that there are so many people up on stage at once. Afternoons have a very great, big sound to their music. The use of two drum kits is not redundant at all, while the drummers do play unison parts at times, most of the parts polyrhythmic drum patterns that would otherwise require a couple of extra arms. The music itself is very catchy and well composed, with vocal harmonies, accompanying horn parts as well as some extra percussion such as tambourine and even a Concert Bass drum (such as those used in wind ensembles.) The songs range from somewhat heavy, fast and punchy to slow, melodic and very nice to listen to. Afternoons should be checked out by you! Here you go: http://myspace.com/afternoonsmusic
And of course, The Happy Hollows. I don't think there is much more I can say that I didn't say about them in the post about the Silversun Pickups show except, really, there is soooo much more I can say about The Happy Hollows. Once again, their talent is displayed in their music. They are such great, energetic performers that love being up there. They performed a few more songs than they did at the Glass House, including a new one or two, I can't quite recall, but it was great. Pheonomenal job by a phoenomenal band. Not to mention, they are some of the most awesome people ever. To sum it up, I pretty much just really can't wait until the next time they play a show (that I can go to). I got to hang out with The Happy Hollow peeps a bit before the show and after the show, and they are aboslutely amazing people. Also, Brian and Joe from Silversun Pickups were at the show. They are big fans of The Happy Hollows and I think it is so great to see members of established bands actually take an interest in local bands they become fans of. So, if you haven't already, check out The Happy Hollows on MySpace or Facebook. Also, you can check out my featured article on them here.
Awesome show. Amazing people. Amazing time.
That is all.
This is my first real post (see previous post) in a WHIIIIILE, but I just got back from a show a little while ago and want to give my brief synopsis of it.
Tonight/Last night, after sitting through traffic for about an hour in the afternoon, I finally made it to the Troubadour where I was privileged to see The Happy Hollows (again!! =]!) To be honest, they are the main reason I went to the concert, but the other two bands were very good as well.
The concert got going at about 8:30 to a barely 1/5-full Troubadour, (which, if you don't know, is a rather tiny venue, max cap. being probably in the 300s), if that. At this time, warpaint began their set. Luckily, as they began, the place started filling up a little more.
warpaint is a great 4-piece from...well...somewhere here in California. Their mostly mellow, shoegazey Indie rock was quite pleasant on the ears. Beautiful melodies, very often harmonized beautifully, produced by the two female vocalists above the 2-guitar, bass and drum (or sometimes guitar, keyboard, bass, drum and even for one song keyboard, bass, drum) very harmonious music. The band is very ambient, using a gratuitous amount of reverb on vocals and instrumentation. The drums were quite dynamic; the softs and the accents were delivered so well, that it helped a lot with the outer shape of the songs. Overall, warpaint are a very enjoyable band who put on a great live show. Check them out here: http://myspace.com/worldwartour
Afternoons, although they were the headliners, I am going to put next. Afternoons are a septet (I don't think I've ever used that...or anyone ever uses that), or seven-piece, from here in Los Angeles. The band while performing most often has this as their instrumental line-up, two guitars, bass, keyboards, two drum kits and a vocalist/percussionist. Although, some songs do vary in instrumentation, one of the drummers also plays trumpet during some songs, and actually joins in on guitar in one. Afternoons seem somewhat like they picked up an "Arcade Fire" stencil and drew themselves out. The performance is very reminiscent of Arcade Fire's performances, not in that the sounds are the same, but the fact that there are so many people up on stage at once. Afternoons have a very great, big sound to their music. The use of two drum kits is not redundant at all, while the drummers do play unison parts at times, most of the parts polyrhythmic drum patterns that would otherwise require a couple of extra arms. The music itself is very catchy and well composed, with vocal harmonies, accompanying horn parts as well as some extra percussion such as tambourine and even a Concert Bass drum (such as those used in wind ensembles.) The songs range from somewhat heavy, fast and punchy to slow, melodic and very nice to listen to. Afternoons should be checked out by you! Here you go: http://myspace.com/afternoonsmusic
And of course, The Happy Hollows. I don't think there is much more I can say that I didn't say about them in the post about the Silversun Pickups show except, really, there is soooo much more I can say about The Happy Hollows. Once again, their talent is displayed in their music. They are such great, energetic performers that love being up there. They performed a few more songs than they did at the Glass House, including a new one or two, I can't quite recall, but it was great. Pheonomenal job by a phoenomenal band. Not to mention, they are some of the most awesome people ever. To sum it up, I pretty much just really can't wait until the next time they play a show (that I can go to). I got to hang out with The Happy Hollow peeps a bit before the show and after the show, and they are aboslutely amazing people. Also, Brian and Joe from Silversun Pickups were at the show. They are big fans of The Happy Hollows and I think it is so great to see members of established bands actually take an interest in local bands they become fans of. So, if you haven't already, check out The Happy Hollows on MySpace or Facebook. Also, you can check out my featured article on them here.
Awesome show. Amazing people. Amazing time.
That is all.
BUSY LIFE
So, I've been pretty busy recently, the past few weeks really. End of the school year. I haven't even done this month's album release calendar and we're already past the second Tuesday of the month. I will still do a belated album release calendar, but really, I dislike the lack of posts. THe last three consecutive posts have been playlists, and I only do those once a week, so yeah... Summer is coming soon, which means even though I am taking a summer course at school, I should have a bit more time.
So be on the look out for:
Remember to listen to the show on Saturday nights, from 8pm-10pm PST (California/West Coast United States) or whatever time in your respective area of the world.
http://radio23.org
peace&love
.erick.
So be on the look out for:
- This past Saturday's Podcast up LATE, but up, and all other Podcasts ON TIME.
- Album Release Calendars (on time, hopefully)
- A LOT more "Featured Release" articles (I think I'm gonna try to stick to Fridays, so I know when I'll be doing one, but it may be randomly)
- More Featured Local Band articles
- More posts about concerts (assuming I have ways to go to them often enough)
- More news posts in general.
- Also, keep posted for other things as well...
Remember to listen to the show on Saturday nights, from 8pm-10pm PST (California/West Coast United States) or whatever time in your respective area of the world.
http://radio23.org
peace&love
.erick.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
5/9/09
Hello everyone!
Thanks to all who tuned in to the show tonight, hope you enjoyed the music. Here is the playlist:
Remember:
Aural Life
Saturdays
8pm-10pm PST
Live on http://radio23.org
peace&love
.erick.
Thanks to all who tuned in to the show tonight, hope you enjoyed the music. Here is the playlist:
- Portugal. the Man - How the Leopard Got Its Spots
- Dear and the Headlights - I'm Not Crying. You're Not Crying, Are You?
- Coheed and Cambria - The Willing Well II: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
- Crystal Antlers - Parting Song for the Torn Sky
- Test Icicles - Circle Square Triangle
- Les Savy Fav - Dishonest Don Part II
- Doves - The Outsiders
- Art Brut - Alcoholics Unanimous
- Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Let's Make Out
- Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
- Passion Pit - Live to Tell the Tale
- Sea Wolf - Song for the Dead
- Little Joy - No One's Better Sake
- Zoé - Asteroide
- Asobi Seksu - Strings
- Torches In Trees - Good Samaritan
- The Happy Hollows - Tambourine
- Vivian Girls - Damaged
- Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
- Radiohead - No Surprises
- Sondre Lerche - My Hands Are Shaking
- No Age - Things I Did When I Was Dead
- Adam Green - That Sounds Like a Pony
- Silversun Pickups - Sort Of
- Vampire Weekend - Arrows
- TV on the Radio - The Wrong Way
- Death Cab for Cutie - Talking Like Turnstiles
- Sonos - Everything In It's Right Place (A Capella Cover)
- Circa Survive - Kicking Your Crosses Down
Remember:
Aural Life
Saturdays
8pm-10pm PST
Live on http://radio23.org
peace&love
.erick.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
5/2/09
Thanks to all who tuned in to the show. As always, I had a great time doing it.
Here is the podcast: 05/02/09 Aural Life
And below is the playlist:
Aural Life
Live from South Gate, CA
8pm-10pm PST, or whatever time it is in your part of the World.
http://radio23.org
peace&love
.erick.
Here is the podcast: 05/02/09 Aural Life
And below is the playlist:
- Dntel - Life is Full Of Possibilities
- Of Montreal - Eros' Entropic Tundra
- Animal Collective #1
- The Beatles - Blue Jay Way
- Camera Obscura - The False Contender
- The Postal Service - Natural Anthem
- The Sound of Animals Fighting - My Horse Must Lose
- Wilco - Walken
- Lykke Li - Little Bit
- Cat Power - The Greatest
- Bright Eyes - June on the West Coast
- Anthony Green - Miracle Sun
- Albert Hammond, Jr. - Blue Skies
- Ataxia - Dust
- -Comedic Relief featuring- Stephen Lynch - Superhero
- Amazing Baby - Head Dress
- Torches In Trees - New Life
- Colour Revolt - Mattresses Underwater
- Say Hi to Your Mom - I Think I'll Be A Good Ghost
- Tera Melos - Melody 1
- Crystal Castles - Tell Me What to Swallow
- Kinky - Sambita
- Arcade Fire - Haiti
- Zoé - Paula
- mewithoutYou - In A Sweater Poorly Knit
Aural Life
Live from South Gate, CA
8pm-10pm PST, or whatever time it is in your part of the World.
http://radio23.org
peace&love
.erick.
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