Friday, March 5, 2010

Video(s) of the Week: 3/5-3/11

Hello all!

It is that day again!

So last week's Video of the Week was The Happy Hollows "Death to Vivek Kemp", and in case you missed that, the post is below this one because this was a lazy busy week. There will also be a VotW Archive page!

This week, I have for you TWO Video(s) of the Week. Now, both videos are for the same song, but are completely different videos and versions of the song. So, this week, we have:

OK Go "This Too Shall Pass"

Now, I am going to assume they really love this song because there are two videos for this song that took a while to make. We'll start with the first one. Embedding is disabled by request on the video so I'll just link it here.

The first version of the video was directed by Brian L. Perkins, who works on kids cartoons for Nick Jr. and has directed a couple other videos for OK Go, and OK Go. It features the Notre Dame Marching Band and is actually an alternate version of the song arranged for the marching band. The presentation of the video is spectacular. The development and growing marching band throughout the three minutes and fifty-three seconds of the video is amazing. It starts with the four members of OK Go in ND Marching Band attire playing the beginning of the song and it sounds very modest. They begin marching and, like any good Navy Seal, previously unseen brass and woodwinds come out of cover, adding more to and building the sound, and more members just keep adding and the sound grows. The big refrain "Let it go, this too shall pass" is then spelled out in black and white by a large number of the band, who then put the signs away and proceed to join the band into a very loud, very amazing final outro to the song. Just, watch it.


OK Go - This Too Shall Pass (Marching Band Version)

The second video is absolutely amazing. OK Go, being who they are, never cease to amaze. If you are not aware of what a Rube Goldberg Machine is (I'm sure you know what it is but may not know that is what it is called) then head over to Wikipedia and read up (I conveniently linked it for you above where it says Rube Goldberg Machine, also just then)... Now that your "aaaahhh, yeeeeessss" moment is done with, the collaborative powers of OK Go, director James Frost, who has directed many great videos like Silversun Pickups "Panic Switch" and Radiohead's "House of Cards" just to name a couple, and Synn Labs, people who have what must some of the coolest jobs ever, regardless of this being their job or not, bring you the Rube Goldberg Machine version of this video. Now, it's not just music playing while you're watching a RGM, and an amazingly spectacular one at that, but the machine had to go throughout the entire three and a half minutes of the song, not mess up or stop for any reasons, parts of the machine had to match rhythms in the song and there's a portion where part of the machine actually PLAYS part of the song. It took several months to make and a little under four minutes for the machine to go through its cycle. Enjoy this amazing video.



Check back next week for another Video of the Week!

Thanks!


Friday, February 26, 2010

Video of the Week: 2/26-3/4

Starting today, I am bringing back Video of the Week. It used to be Live Video of the Week, but I figure I'd just make it more broad and give a little background on each of Video of the Week.

This week's video of the week is the music video for The Happy Hollows "Death to Vivek Kemp" off of their debut full-length, Spells. I have written a few articles on here about The Happy Hollows
and I love these people, their band and their music. This music video was created and directed by Ben Hoste and is an amazing video. First, watch:



Now, the amazing thing about this video is that it was not made using Adobe Flash or Illustrator or anything of that sort, but is literally 2,200 (that's TWO THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED
) sheets of paper that have the video drawn on them, as you can see here.



That's animation the old-fashioned way. Amazing job, Mr. Hoste.

Check back next week for a new Video of the Week!!!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record


As many may, or may not, know, the amazing Broken Social Scene are releasing a new record on May 4th entitled Forgiveness Rock Record.

Yep, that's it. It will be released on May 4th, 2010, but Broken Social Scene have released "World Sick" off of the album as a FREE DOWNLOAD on their website!!!

It's a great song!

Download it NOW!
(It will ask for your e-mail, then send you a link to the download.)



02/20/10

Thanks to all who tuned in to the show this past Saturday, in which my good friend Marcus put together a little over the first hour of music, YAY a la Kermit the Frog.
PLAYLIST!

  1. Sonic Youth - No Way
  2. Mogwai - Batcat
  3. The Murder City Devils - Idle Hands
  4. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - Asco Que Conmueve Los Puntos Erogenos
  5. Pixies - Isla De Encanta
  6. Public Image Ltd. - Fishing
  7. Nick Drake - Parasite
  8. The Stooges - Shake Appeal
  9. Rollins Band - Going out Strange
  10. Muse - Micro Cuts
  11. Sunny Day Real Estate - In Circles
  12. Gorillaz - O Green World
  13. Zechs Marquise - Chase Scene
  14. Prodigy - Serial Thrilla
  15. PJ Harvey - Down By the Water
  16. mewithoutYou - We Know Who Our Enemies Are
  17. Spiritualized - The Waves Crash In
  18. Islands - Volcanoes
  19. The Velvet Underground - Who Loves the Sun
  20. Flight of the Conchords - Carol Brown
  21. M. Ward - Epistemology
  22. Modest Mouse - Beach Side Property
  23. Tiny Tim - Living in the Sunlight, Loving in the Moonlight
  24. Vampire Weekend - California English
  25. Bran Van 3000 - Feline Fantasy
  26. Serge Gainsbourg - Avant de Mourir
  27. The Flaming Lips - Sunship Balloons

02/13/10

DAYTROTTER SHOW PART DEUX!

  1. Little Joy - No One's Better Sake
  2. Vampire Weekend - M79
  3. Anya Marina - Move You (SSSPII)
  4. Ra Ra Riot - Dying is Fine
  5. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Cold Spring
  6. Grizzly Bear - Little Brother
  7. Death Cab for Cutie - Styrofoam Plates
  8. Cursive - Donkeys
  9. Japandroids - Rockers East Vancouver
  10. Earlimart - For the Birds
  11. Architecture in Helsinki - Debbie
  12. Tokyo Police Club - La Ferrassie
  13. The Local Natives - World News
  14. Voxhaul Broadcast - Mouth Full of Dry Sand
  15. Velvet Teen - 333
  16. Grand Ole Party - Next Day Nightmare
  17. Daniel Johnston - Fake Records of Rock and Roll
  18. Department of Eagles - Phantom Other
  19. Okkervil River - You Can't Hold the Hand of a Rock and Roll Man
  20. Avi Buffalo - What's In It For?
  21. Dear and the Headlights - I'm Not Crying You're Not Crying...
  22. The Swell Season - Fantasy Man
  23. Minus the Bear - Knights
  24. Margot & The Nuclear So and So's - Broadripple is Burning
  25. Zee Avi - Honey Bee
  26. Thee Oh Sees - Ruby Go Home
  27. My Bloody Valentine - You Made Me Realize (not daytrotter)

02/06/10

This is the playlist for the February 6th, 2010 episode of Aural Life. This episode was made up of entirely http://daytrotter.com sessions!
(The show was cut off early due to some technical issues)
  1. Har Mar Superstar - Sunshine
  2. Deerhunter - Dr. Glass
  3. Beach House - Zebra
  4. Telekinesis - All of a Sudden
  5. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Optimist Vs. The Silent Alarm (When the Saints Go Marching In)
  6. Tokyo Police Club - Be Good
  7. Sondre Lerche - Say It All
  8. Zee Avi - Bitter Heart
  9. Of Montreal - Requiem for OMM 2
  10. Fucked Up - Crooked Head
  11. Avi Buffalo - Remember Last Time
  12. Two Gallants - The Hand That Held Me Down
  13. Daniel Johnston - Speeding Motorcycle
  14. Tim Fite - Line By Line
  15. Rain Machine - Hold You Holy
  16. We Barbarians - No One's Better Sake

01/23/10

This is the playlist for the January 23rd, 2010 episode of Aural Life.

PLAYLIST!

  1. Cursive - Opening the Hymnal/Babies
  2. Vampire Weekend - White Sky
  3. Sebastien Grainger and the Mountains - Love is Not a Contest
  4. Azure Ray - Dragonfly
  5. The Crimea - Lottery Winners on Acid
  6. Albert Hammond, Jr. - In My Room
  7. Portugal. the Man - Elephants
  8. She & Him - This is Not a Test
  9. Beach House - Holy Dances
  10. Death Cab for Cutie - I Was a Kaleidoscope
  11. Dusty Rhodes and the River Band - Magic Words
  12. Good Old War - Just Another Day
  13. Sondre Lerche - Dead Passengers
  14. Massive Attack - Dissolved Girl
  15. Idiot Pilot - The Day in the Life of a Poolshark
  16. The Strokes - Hawaii
  17. Beep Beep - Seppuku
  18. Torches in Trees - Carnivora (Live on isgoodradio.com)
  19. Flight of the Conchords - The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room)
  20. Francis and the Lights - Strawberries
  21. The Chemical Brothers - Burst Generator
  22. Hot Chip - No Fit State
  23. Phoenix - Too Young
  24. The Swell Season - High Horses
  25. The Kinison - American Collectibles
  26. Russian Circles - Enter
  27. The Flaming Lips - Are You a Hypnotist?

Monday, January 18, 2010

Coachella 2010


We waited forever and it is finally here! The line-up for Coachella 2010.

Enjoy it, folks.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

01/16/10

January 16th, 2010 PLAYLIST!

  1. Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
  2. The Beach Boys - I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
  3. Arctic Monkeys - From the Ritz to the Rubble
  4. Bright Eyes - Touch
  5. Japandroids - Crazy/Forever
  6. The Buzzcocks - Why Can't I Touch It?
  7. Campfire Songs - Doggy
  8. Cat Power - The Moon
  9. Cold War Kids - Every Valley is Not a Lake
  10. The Happy Hollows - High Wire
  11. Earlimart - Gonna Break Into Your Heart
  12. Eulogies - Little Davie
  13. Lightspeed Champion - Waiting Game
  14. Noisettes - Wild Young Hearts
  15. Davenport Cabinet - Thieves
  16. Torches in Trees - An Empty Face
  17. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Wild Phoenix (Proper Name)
  18. Magen Melancholy - Happy Hop
  19. Kinky - Maria Jose
  20. Gang Gang Dance - Dust
  21. Portishead - Humming
  22. Sonic Youth - The Diamond Sea

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Featured Release Friday

Hello all.

I am returning something I did maybe once last year. Featured Release Friday!!! Every Friday, I will be doing a Featured Release article about an album that was released the Tuesday preceding that Friday. Sometimes I may even do two albums, but of course, it depends on the releases and what I can get my hands on that Tuesday.

Now, just to clarify, I am not going to be scoring these albums with any kind of rubric, bracket, scoring scheme or otherwise and these are not necessarily going to be album reviews. Now, I will give my own personal opinion of the album, but that does not in anyway represent a general review of the album, nor does it in anyway represent a review of the album by Aural Life. It will be my [Erick] personal opinion of the album and nothing more.

I believe that musical tastes and opinions on the quality of music is subjective. There are bands/artists that people like and others don't, so I'm not big on actual "Album Reviews." Also, I've listened to albums that got bad reviews and I loved them, so there we go.

Anyway, that being said, I am going to start this up again this Friday with Vampire Weekend's sophomore release Contra, which was released yesterday.

If you'd like to know more, check back on Friday and check out the return of Featured Release Fridays !

Also, I may occasionally to a Retro Feature or Retro Featured Release for an album that was released on a day that week or just something that I personally feel deserves some recognition.
Now, I use the term "retro" loosely. It could refer to something released a year ago, three years ago, or thirty years ago. So be on the lookout for updates and thanks to all who check out Aural Life.

Also, don't forget to tune in to Aural Life [Radio] on http://radio23.org every Saturday evening from 4pm-6pm PST.

Thanks everyone.
Peace&Love
Erick

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

NBC's Late Night Controversy: I'm With Coco

As many of you may know, the past couple of weeks have been filled with talks and rumors of the fate of NBC's late night line-up. Seems like the only solution would be to put Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien "in a pit with sharpened sticks and the one who crawls out alive gets to leave NBC" as Conan joked the other night. So far, NBC already has already said they will cancel Jay's one-hour "The Jay Leno Show" at 10:00 in favor of a half-hour version of the show to air at 11:30 and push "The Tonight Show" back to 12:05. Conan has released public statement that does not disguise how upset he is about the situation, as you can tell by the statement itself.

People of Earth:

In the last few days, I've been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I've been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I've been absurdly lucky. That said, I've been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.

Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.

But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.

Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn't the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.

So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn't matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.

There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.

Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it's always been that way.

Yours,

Conan



Now many people would think "he's not gonna lose the show, it'll just be later", but our favorite red-headed, pomp-sporting late night personality feels that 'The Tonight Show' at 12:05 just isn't 'The Tonight Show'. If NBC goes through with the change, which they plan on doing at the start of the Winter Olympics on February 12th, then Mr. O'Brien said he would be leaving NBC. Now, while Jay's supporters may feel like Conan should just suck it up and do the show a half-hour later (this is only how I imagine people who dislike Conan feel; not to mention they also hate kittens and America), Conan is nowhere near out of the line with how he feels and what he said. We cannot forget that not only Conan, but his "Late Night" crew up and moved to California to do the 'Tonight Show'. Have you ever moved? It's not easy moving to a different city let alone another state on the opposite side of the country. Conan has done absolutely wonderful with 'The Tonight Show' and it would be insane of NBC to let Conan go like that. I can honestly say that if they do let Conan go, I will never watch NBC again (Scrubs is on ABC now, so I wouldn't be missing much) and I wouldn't be surprised if many people took the same route. Okay, perhaps that is a bit drastic (I like the Winter Olympics; bobsledding and those dudes who sweep the ice, curling...I know), but I won't watch Leno. His time on the 'The Tonight Show' is up, has been for a few months now. If Fallon stands his ground, I'll stick with him.

This pic has been floating around lately and puts it simply. In layman's terms, whatever goes down, "I'm With Coco"



Saturday, January 2, 2010

01/02/10

Happy 2010 (that's twenty-ten) to everyone! Thanks to all who listened to my first broadcast of the year and decade! Keep on listening to Aural Life and all the fine programming on http://radio23.org. Here is the playlist for today's show.

  1. Death Cab for Cutie - The New Year (Live) (Daytrotter Session - 4/28/2008)
  2. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
  3. TV on the Radio - The Wrong Way
  4. Sia - Little Black Sandals
  5. Silversun Pickups - Comeback Kid
  6. Radiohead - Dollars & Cents
  7. The Church - Reptile
  8. Rodrigo Y Gabriela - Diablo Rojo
  9. PJ Harvey - Long Snake Moan
  10. Bjork - Pagan Poetry
  11. The Beatles - Helter Skelter
  12. The Murder City Devils - Get Off the Floor
  13. The Mae Shi - Lamb and Lion
  14. RX Bandits - ...And the Battle Begun
  15. The Dismemberment Plan - Spider in the Snow
  16. Nirvana - Do Re Mi
  17. Nina Simone - Sinnerman
  18. Earth Wind & Fire - September
  19. Islands - Kids Don't Know Shit
  20. Good Old War - Weak Man
  21. Vampire Weekend - Horchata
  22. Minus the Bear - Hey! Is That a Ninja Up There?
Thanks again everyone. I will not be broadcasting next Saturday for I will be seeing Sonic Youth at The Wiltern, but see you guys on the 16th. Thanks!

peace&love
Erick

Saturday, December 26, 2009

12/26/09

Hello all!

Here is the playlist for today's show. Thanks to all who tuned. Podcast will be up later on tonight or tomorrow!

  1. The Flaming Lips - Worm Mountain
  2. Drive Like Jehu - Here Come the Rome Plows
  3. Fugazi - Last Chance For A Slow Dance
  4. mewithoutYou - O, Porcupine
  5. Sonic Youth - Drunken Butterfly
  6. Frank Zappa - Wowie Zowie
  7. Love You Moon - Screams In a Vacuum
  8. Muse - Yes Please
  9. Hella - Biblical Violence
  10. Gogol Bordello - I Would Never Wanna Be Young Again
  11. Pixies - The Sad Punk
  12. Tom Waits - Such A Scream
  13. Smashing Pumpkins - Hello Kitty Kat
  14. Portishead - Mourning Air
  15. Brainiac - Fresh New Eyes
  16. The Stooges - Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell
  17. Modest Mouse - Bankrupt on Selling
  18. Thrice - In Exile
  19. Islands - Swans (Life After Death)
  20. The Beatles - Maxwell's Silver Hammer
  21. Sea Wolf - Leaves in the River
  22. Circa Survive - On Letting Go
  23. BLK JKS - Kwa Nqingetje
  24. Silversun Pickups - Substitution
Thanks to everyone who tuned in today! Hope you all have a Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. First show of 2010 is next Saturday! Remember, keep checking out and listening to http://radio23.org!

peace&love
Erick

12/19/09

Thanks to all who tuned in to the "Christmas" show.

Playlist.

  1. Death From Above 1979 - Cold War
  2. Animal Collective - Winter Wonder Land
  3. Asobi Seksu - Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)
  4. Of Montreal - Christmas Isn't Safe for Animals
  5. Les Savy Fav - Patty Lee (Live)
  6. Sufjan Stevens - Holy Holy, etc.
  7. The Flaming Lips - A Change At Christmas (Say It Isn't So)
  8. Regina Spektor - 20 Years of Snow
  9. Bob Dylan - Do You Hear What I Hear?
  10. The Buzzcocks - What Do I Get?
  11. Silversun Pickups - Common Reactor
  12. Sufjan Stevens - Angels We Have Heard on High
  13. Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
  14. Mew - She Came Home for Christmas
  15. Colour Revolt - A Siren
  16. No Age - Loosen This Job
  17. Sea Wolf - Winter Windowx
  18. Queen - Thank God It's Christmas
  19. Pavement - Western Homes
  20. Ra Ra Riot - Winter '05
  21. Liars - Drum and the Uncomfortable Can
  22. Sufjan Stevens - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!
  23. The Sound of Animals Fighting - On the Occasion of Wet Snow
  24. Alvin and the Chipmunks - The Chipmunk Song
  25. Jackson 5 - Up On the House Top
  26. The Dismemberment Plan - Gyroscope
  27. Sufjan Stevens - O Come, O Come Emmanuel
  28. At the Drive-In - Winter Month Novelty
  29. The Mae Shi - I Get (Almost) Everything I Want
  30. Thom Yorke - Hearing Damage
  31. John Lennon - Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
Thanks for listening.

peace&love
Erick

Friday, December 25, 2009

South Pasadena's Finest: Torches in Trees


Photo by Keith Skelton

From the town of South Pasadena, CA located in Los Angeles County and out of the 9,862,049(and growing) individuals that reside in the county comes a collective of 5 of these individuals. Azad Cheikosman, Taylor Sickler, Eric Fabbro, Bridgette Moody and Julian Nicholson are the individuals of the aforementioned collective that is better known as Torches in Trees.

Drawing inspiration from the likes of The Beatles to Radiohead and much more, springing like a phoenix[see: mythical creature(not band)] from the ashes of their former selves (i.e. Siamese Guns), Torches in Trees is a band whose sound is as versatile as elastic is, well...elastic. Not only is this true of their sound, but each member as well. While the band's setup may consist of the basic elements of a rock band (vocals, two guitars, bass, drums and a keyboard), in no way does any one member serve one primary function in the band(well, other than Eric, but then again, not everyone in the band can be a superb drummer/percussionist, either of those titles being somewhat redundant with the other present). Each member plays different instruments pretty much every other song. Azad sings lead vocals and plays guitar, but will go guitar-less to lend his hand to play some percussion. Taylor will switch from guitar to bass to percussion. Bridgette (wo)mans the keys, but will jump on guitar, bass, percussion, backing vocals and even takes the lead in some songs. Julian plays bass, but at times will jump to guitar and even plays some glock[enspiel]. The quintet of talented multi-instrumentalists manages to produce sounds that blend together to create what can be described as the musical equivalent of a drug injected directly to your brain as sound waves through those aural receptors we call ears.

So far, this musical "drug" comes in the form of a six-track EP entitled New Blood, New Sight, which once you have begun (and keeping with the drug metaphor) you are sent on a trip you cannot stop until you have been released at the end of the disc. It grabs you and pulls you in from the very beginning with a very crisp drum intro, joined shortly thereafter by guitar that travels in ambiguous directions, that leads into the first track, "Satchel". A fast-paced track, "Satchel" begins you on your trip and does not let go of you until the EP's closer "Bloody Hands". As your make your way through this journey, you will encounter various visions in the forms of songs. From "Satchel", you are taken to the melodic, dream-like "Pillars Fall", which then turns somewhat nightmarish (i.e. fast, lots of effects, reversed delay, reverb, absolutely wonderful, etc.) with "Good Samaritan". The mellow "Thunderstorms Have Stayed" follows and is another superb track, and the point in your trip where you are actually sitting in on a rock in the rain amidst a bunch of trees. "New Life" (the track which houses the EPs namesake in its lyrics) is another melodic episode that has (in my interpretation) our subject searching for himself, beginning to see things differently, in a new light, finally finding himself and commencing his "New Life". (See what I did there?) The disc ends with "Bloody Hands", a song that punches you in the face from the get-go, watches you bleed on the ground as it wipes the blood off of its hands [am I good at this, or what?(see: sarcasm)], picks you up, has you dance with it and then apologies you and fuses its life force with you.

Having realized I just concept-ed their EP, I tell you, whatever you do, do not take my word for any interpretations. In fact, just check Torches in Trees out, buy the EP and listen for yourself. Also, if you happen to live in the Los Angeles area, check them out at one of their shows (and also buy the EP at that show). If the EP doesn't speak for itself(which it does), their live show does(as well, even better in fact). The band has played at many LA venues such as The Troubadour, The Smell, The Cocaine, L'Keg, are adding Silverlake Lounge to the list this coming Wednesday and even more! Their live show has intensity, energy, passion, musicianship, quality; everything about their live show is great. Live videos of their set at The Smell on June 6th, 2009 can be found on YouTube(linked below).

To sum it all up, Torches in Trees is a quintet of extremely talented young adults (all of whom are under 21) who create a melodic soundscape of layered guitars with effects-a-plenty, keyboard lines that fit into the songs like the perfect puzzle piece, a bass that not only holds the foundation but paints it wonderful colors, drums that seem to sing with the music, amongst other instrumental treats here and there, all topped off with the sincere vocals of Azad Cheikosman and the beautiful harmonies and backings provided by Bridgette Moody. Torches in Trees is definitely a band to watch as they expand their horizons and surely, even if slowly, march up the musical ladder.

In response to the first five words that are heard on the EP, "What will become of this...?" The way I see it, whatever Torches in Trees want it to.

- Erick Barrientos

Here is a video for "Satchel" that is a montage comprised of live footage and was filmed and directed by my friend Marcus Clayton(who also edited it) and myself.


I have conveniently set up their set at The Smell on June 6th, 2009 in a playlist for your viewing pleasure: 06/06/09 Torches in Trees, Live @ The Smell

Here's the info for their next few shows:

Dec 30 2009 10:45P
Silverlake Lounge! (21+) Los Angeles, California
Jan 11 2010 8:00P
Tribal Cafe Echo Park, California
Jan 23 2010 8:45P
isgoodmusic.com presents @ Mr. T’s Bowl Highland Park, California
Feb 5 2010 8:00P
L’Keg w/ Bastidas, Collisions and more (all ages!) Echo Park, California
Feb 12 2010 8:00P
Juanita’s w/ Seasons (21+)! Highland Park, California

For tunes, show dates and more info, check them out and follow them on these various social networks:
MySpace
Facebook
Twitter

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and (soon) a Happy New Year from all of me here at Aural Life!
Hope all is wonderful and continues to be as we say goodbye to a decade and welcome in a new one that is sure to be filled with tons of great music, movies, literature and everything wonderful in the world!

peace&love
Erick

Playlist and Podcast Archive

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2010
FEBRUARY
-
February 20th, 2010
-
February 13th, 2010
-February 6th, 2010
January

-January 23rd, 2010
[Podcast]
-January 16th, 2010
-
January 2nd, 2010
2009
December
- December 26th, 2009
- December 19th, 2009
- December 5th, 2009 [Podcast]
November
- November 7th, 2009
October
- October 10th, 2009
September

- September 26th, 2009
- September 19th, 2009
August
- August 8th, 2009
July
- July 18th, 2009
- July 11th, 2009
- July 4th, 2009
June
- June 27th, 2009
[Podcast]
- June 15th, 2009
[Podcast]
May
- May 30th, 2009
[Podcast]
- May 23rd, 2009
[Podcast]
- May 16th, 2009
[Podcast]
- May 9th, 2009
- May 2nd, 2009
[Podcast]
April
- April 25th, 2009
- April 11th, 2009
- April 4th, 2009
March
- March 28th, 2009
- March 14th, 2009
- March 7th, 2009
February
- February 28th, 2009
- February 21st, 2009
- February 15th, 2009

(Also, be patient when downloading, the files are anywhere from 150MB-180MB, so it may take a while depending on your connection, however, Enjoy =] )

Thursday, December 24, 2009

New Homes for Playlist and Podcast Archives

Since the ever-growing playlist and podcast archives are going to eat up the sidebar of the blog, making everything else on the sidebar impossible to get to without scrolling down the equivalent of 14 nautical miles (that doesn't make any sense...good), I have decided to have only the 5 most recent playlists and the the 3 most recent podcasts (or something like that) on the sidebar. Now, that being said, the entire archive is going to get moved to a singular blog post, which will be linked on the sidebar and it will become the sort of pseudo-site for the archives (which are the posts above this one).

Hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

peace&love
Erick

Facebook Page and Twitter/2010

So, I guess it was about time I made one of these. The twitter account has existed for a while, but I should probably update it a bit more, as well as this blog.

Facebook

Twitter


Anyway, as the year and decade are ending, I'm thinking of ways to completely make this blog a billion times better in 2010. Will I accomplish it? Hopefully, yes. But that will only be seen come 2010...which is only like a week and a half away. Anyway, remember to listen to http://radio23.org and Aural Life, which broadcasts live every Saturday at 4pm PST/7pm EST on Radio23.

peace&love
erick

Sunday, December 6, 2009

12/05/09

Thanks to everyone who listened to yesterday's show. Here is the playlist, and the podcast can be listened to/downloaded here: PODCAST.

  1. Sebastien Grainger & the Mountains - (I Am Like A) River
  2. Death Cab for Cutie - Lightness
  3. Colour Revolt - Swamp
  4. Gogol Bordello - Supertheory of Supereverything
  5. Beirut - Elephant Gun
  6. The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize?? (T.P.S. Mix)
  7. Cat Stevens - Matthew & Son
  8. Dusty Rhodes and the River Band - All One
  9. Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost
  10. Grizzly Bear - Slow Life
  11. Modest Mouse - Out of Gas
  12. Pixies - Bone Machine
  13. Cold War Kids - Dreams Old Men Dream
  14. Elliott Smith - King's Crossing
  15. At the Drive-In - Ursa Minor
  16. Eulogies - Running in the Rain
  17. Radiohead - 15 Step
  18. BLK JKS - Lakeside
  19. Amazing Baby - Deerripper
  20. Noisettes - Atticus
  21. Passion Pit - Seaweed Song
  22. James Figurine - You Again
  23. Interpol - Leif Erikson
  24. Liars - Broken Witch
  25. Of Montreal - The Frozen Isnald
  26. TV on the Radio - Family Tree
  27. Q And Not U - We Heart Our Hive
Thanks again for listening everyone. The next Aural Life will be on Saturday, December 19th at 4pm PST on http://radio23.org.

peace&love
.erick.