Video: Yellowbirds – Live at BreakThru Radio
Watch Yellowbirds perform a few tracks at off their forthcoming album, Songs from the Vanished Frontier, out May 28 on Royal Potato Family. Thanks to the good folks at BreakThru Radio for the viddy.
Glenn Jones – “Bergen County Farewell”
Boston musician Glenn Jones is a longtime student of the so-called American Primitive school of acoustic steel guitarists, one that includes artists such as John Fahey, Robbie Basho and so on. Playing guitar since the age of 14, Jones formed his first psych-rock band, Cul de Sac, in 1989 and went on to perform with the group for 20 years with artists including Can’s Damo Suzuki and Fahey himself. In 2004, he released his first album of acoustic guitar instrumentals, titled This Is the Wind That Blows It Out, and established himself as a solo artist on tour alongside the late Jack Rose. Following two more solo releases of mostly acoustic material, Jones will release his third album in that vein, My Garden State, on Thrill Jockey next month. Written in the New Jersey home where Jones’ family moved in 1966, while he was caring for his mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s, the gentle finger-picked songs carry the emotional weight of this time through a collection of reflective instrumental stories.
Pre-order My Garden State via Thrill Jockey.
NEW MUSIC: The Auras
The Auras hail from the suburban areas of Toronto where they exist as part of the expansive family of bands who wave the Optical Sounds flag. Steeped in the shoegazy side of the psych world, The Auras recall a brighter MBV meets BJM meets Spacemen 3 kind of a sound. Call it what you will. These guys are one of Toronto’s most exciting acts right now and they’ve just recently released an EP which you can pick up via Bandcamp. Listen to album track “Desert Dream (Nothing Is Real)” below.
Video: The Holydrug Couple “Follow Your Way”
Here’s a new video by Chilean psych band The Holdydrug Couple, off their new album Noctuary out now on Sacred Bones. They play our show tonight at Mercury Lounge alongside fellow countrymen Follakzoid and Brooklyn’s La Big Vic. Watch the video for the Tame Impala-esque jammer “Follow Your Way” below.
Video: Olden Yolk – “Tortoise Ode”
Here we have a video of Quilt‘s Shane Butler performing a new song from his Olden Yolk Project. The video was filmed at Lorem Ipsum Book Store in Cambridge, MA and shows senõr Butler demonstrating his adept looping skills. We spoke with Shane about the project a while back, in this here post.
Catch Quilt at our event taking place this Sunday at Glasslands with Alex Bleeker and the Freaks and Weyes Blood. RSVP.
Wolf People – “All Returns”
Here’s a new track from England’s Wolf People, appearing on their new album, Fain, out April 30 via Jagjaguwar. The album was recorded over a particularly rainy period at a house in the Yorkshire Dales, while the band slept in sleep in tents and caravans parked outside. Listen to the first single, “All Returns,” below.
Frummox – “There You Go” (1969)
While on my journey through Sweden, I was introduced to this album by a talented picker living in the northern part of the country. Here to There is the 1969 album by Texas country-rock duo Frummox, which consisted of singer-guitarists Steven Fromholz and Dan McCrimmon. While much of the album is more typical country—Frumholz is said to be a founding figure of Austin’s Outlaw country music scene—one song in particular, titled “There You Go,” is a killer psych nugget with standout vocal harmonies, twangy country guitars and fiddles and sighing string arrangements. For this one I must thank my new friend Daniel and urge you all to listen at once.
NEW MUSIC: Poltergeist – “Cathedral”
Poltergeist, the new band featuring Echo And The Bunnymen members Will Sergeant and Les Pattinson, have announced the release of their debut album, Your Mind Is A Box (Let Us Fill It With Wonder. “Cathedral,” the first track off the album, is now streaming below. About the album, Sergeant says:
“We create a form of rock music with its toes paddling in the progressive ocean foam of the ’60s and ’70s and its head in the bone dry air of the present day. We want to try and get away from the traditional band format of the line across the stage. There are 12 notes in a scale and we intend to use most of them.”
In other news, we have already witnessed the worst album art of the year.
Dog Gone Presents: Blue Modules Live at Rockwood Music Hall
We are very psyched to present a last-minute FREE late show taking place this weekend in New York City. On Friday evening (technically the wee hours of Saturday), Blue Modules—a Toronto-based experimental musical project exploring post-modern jazz—will make their debut New York appearance with a show at Rockwood Music Hall’s intimate Stage 1. For fans of avant-garde improvisational music, this is your calling.
RSVP on FB while listening to a track from the band below.
NEW MUSIC: The Non Travellin’ Band
A couple months back, we told you about Dead Luke and his impressive new LP, God Takes LSD, released on Oakland-based label Moon Glyph. As it happens, Mr. Luke also performs in The Non Travellin’ Band, which seems to have formerly been an extension of Dead Luke but is now venturing off on its own. Or something. The group has yet to put out an official release, but you can check out a bunch of tunes up on Soundcloud, which have a similar, yet jammier, acid-drenched rock sound as Dead Luke. Dig the 8 minute jammer “A Midnight Ride” and the folkier “Mother Mary Jane” below.
DGB Announces Late Night NYE Shows in NYC
We at Dog Gone Blog are very excited to bring you the lineup for our upcoming run of late night shows leading up to NEW YEAR’S EVE!
Following last year’s soiree with Superhuman Happiness and special guest Colin Stetson (Bon Iver, Arcade Fire), due to popular demand, the Brooklyn ensemble will once again grace us with their presence on December 30. This year we’re also psyched to be hosting a second show one night prior with Real Estate bassist Alex Bleeker and his band of Freaks along with rising Brooklyn psych-rock outfit Prince Ruperts Drops.
Both shows are taking place at Mercury Lounge on New York’s Lower East Side and will have liquid light shows provided by Planetary Projections. Posters designed by the amazing Justin Gabbard will also be available for purchase. Stay tuned to Dog Gone Blog to hear about special guests and other announcements in the coming weeks.
Come join us and celebrate the great year that was 2012 while catching some of New York’s best local acts in one of our favorite venues!
Tickets go one sale Friday November 16 at Noon via the Mercury Lounge website!
12/30: SUPERHUMAN HAPPINESS
Doors 11PM // $10
Video: Austin Psych Fest 2012
BJM @ APF 2012. Photo Credit: Bob Mustachio.
Since our return from the Austin Psych Fest in April of this year, talk of the 2013 APF has been a frequent discussion topic around these parts. This year’s APF featured over 50 bands from all walks of the psych genre, including Brian Jonestown Massacre, Woods, The Black Angels, Wooden Shjips, The Entrance Band, Quilt, Golden Dawn, Peaking Lights, Dead Meadow and many more. Set across two adjacent venues—with a courtyard/hippy bazaar between—attendees could easily navigate between the shows to check out at least part each band. The experience was truly magical and we will most certainly be in attendance for the sixth annual Austin Psych Fest, set to take place April 26-28, 2013.
For those who unable to attend the 2012 Austin Psych Fest, here’s a short video recap of the festival created by Calvin Miller to give you an idea of the overall vibe. For those of you who lucky enough to make it, relive the memories and we’ll see you next year in Austin.
Celebrating Jerry Garcia’s 70th
It seems as though some people are placed on this earth to fulfill a specific purpose. Often, once that purpose has been fulfilled, the individual is taken from us, serving a nearly prophetic role on this planet. Jerry Garcia is one of those people, and on this day, he would have turned a ripe 70 years old. In celebration, we’ve created a playlist containing some of our all-time favorite Grateful Dead moments. Happy Birthday Jerry!
As Bob Weir said after scattering Jerry’s ashes into the Ganges River in India, “May you have peace, Jerry, and travel to the stars.”
1. Mountains of the Moon (2-22-69)
2. Nobody’s Jam (6-22-73)
3. Eyes of the World (9-7-73)
4. The Other One > (12-31-72)
5. Morning Dew (12-31-72)
6. Playin’ in the Band (3-24-73)
7. Estimated Prophet (12-27-77)
8. Dark Star (6-24-70)
9. Attics of My Life (6-24-70)
10. Dark Star (6-24-70)
11. The Wheel > Jam (10-3-76)
12. Jam > Ship of Fools (6-23-74)
13. Help On the Way > (6-14-76)
14. Slipknot! (6-14-76)
15. Franklin’s Tower (6-14-76)
16. Comes a Time (5-9-77)
A Letter From The Editor
Superhuman Happiness (w/ special guest Colin Stetson) at the DGB Event @ The Cakeshop 12.30.11 (photo by Trista Alley)
Dear friends,
After a short posting hiatus, I want to tell you all briefly about the direction of this site going forward along with a bit about its past. In July 2009, this site was born with a single post about Chet Atkins (and a nonsensical statement that would largely set the course for the future). The idea, at that point, was simply to share the music that I loved with other like-minded listeners. But when I decided to write an article about Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio and a group of his child-hood friends, the site took off (with many thanks to Scott Bernstein of Hidden Track and YEMBlog) in it’s first focused direction.
DGB 1.0, if you will, lasted for quite some time until I felt an urge to branch out and share some of the other music I was enjoying. Before long, a full transition was made, leading me to focus on new bands–largely inspired by my relocation to New York City. For over a year now, this site has been dedicated to up-and-coming acts such as Superhuman Happiness, Quilt, Minerva Lions, Real Estate (along with side projects Alex Bleeker and the Freaks and Ducktails), Pure X, Beyondo, Jeffertitti’s Nile and so many more. Many of these acts have broken onto a grander scale and are now known by many. My aim is to introduce you to those bands before that happens, to not only help these musicians get there, but to turn you on to some music that I love, and that you may too.
Going forward, this site will continue the focus to uncover exciting new bands, many which exist within the improvisational, psychedelic realm. However, due to increased duties with real-life tasks, the posts will be less frequent. That said, I will return to longer-form writing, which is something that was largely abandoned in the DGB 2.0 phase. Be sure, you can still count on this site to discover great new music.
In addition, the ‘Dog Gone Presents’ wing of this ever-expanding enterprise will continue to host events in 2012. Our first gathering will be this coming Friday (February 17) with the stellar lineup featuring Yellowbirds and Woodsman at Mercury Lounge on New York’s Lower East Side. See here for details. As with the performers on the bill this Friday, these events will host bands and musicians that have been featured on the pages of this site.
I could continue to ramble, but instead I’ll let you all return to your day.
Your humble editor,
Sam Davis
The Bang Bang Boogaloo/Beyond Beyond is Beyond Compilation and Release Party
On January 24, New York psych purveyor Beyond Beyond is Beyond will team up with Bang Bang Boogaloo to release a free, 20 track, nearly two-hour long, digital compilation featuring some of the best astral voyagers on the scene today. Included on the comp are songs from DGB favs Hopewell, Woodsman, Minerva Lions, Mondo Drag, Paperhead, Conspiracy of Owls, Citay, Jeffertiti’s Nile, Bizi Gara, Brooklyn Raga Association and many more! You can listen to and download the entire comp ahead of the release by heading over to the Bang Bang Boogaloo site.
In addition, there will be a release party for the comp held this Thursday, January 19 at Brooklyn’s Shea Stadium. Hopewell, Woodsman and the Zabalas are all on the bill, with visuals via provided by the amazing BAMiAM.tv. DJ sets also from DJ Invisible Familiars (Jared of Minerva Lions) and DJ Unicorn Pudding (Mike Newman).
Videos: Woods @ The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto 12.8.11
Check out videos of a deeply fried version of “Bend Beyond” along with a new song from Woods’ show at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto on Thursday night. Replacing tape guru G. Lucas Crane is Matt “MV” Valetine (of MV & EE) on tapes, second guitar and harp. Tonight, Woods play at Cosmic Charlie’s in Lexington, KY with the stellar lineup of Jovontaes and Wooden Wand.
“Bend Beyond”
“New Song”
All Together Now: A Musical Community In New York City
Just over a year ago, I made the all-too-famous decision to move to New York City. But, unlike many people who come here to pursue a particular dream (theatre, film, music, tarot card reading), simply moving to this city was my dream. When people asked me what I was going to do when I finished school (a finance degree nonetheless), I told them my plan was to move to Brooklyn, immerse myself in the local music scene and go from there.
Well, with the help of a great friend, I was able to stumble upon an extended family of extremely talented diverse, yet interconnected musicians hailing from Brooklyn. I first came to known them by their music. And after witnessing members of this family perform in small venues across the city, and with Phish on Halloween in Indio and again in Atlantic City, I realized I had found exactly what I was looking for.
Similar to the the highly-sought after Nashville studio players from the 60s and 70s, Brooklyn session musicians are now making their mark as the modern-day equivalent. These are the horns you hear on TV on the Radio’s albums, with Phish on Halloween, with Iron and Wine, with Steely Dan or even the keys you hear with Nicole Atkins’ live band. The list goes on endlessly (Paul Simon, David Byrne, The Roots etc). On almost any given night in this fine city, you can see these individuals earning a true musician’s living by performing their music for us (often for free). Even as I write this, I am preparing to go see one of these bands perform.
So, while I almost never ask for any type of donations or charity (the only exception being the Silent Barn robbery), these musicians have kindly asked for our help. On December 13 and 14, all eight bands connected to this extended family of musicians will participate in the filming of a concert documentary at Southpaw in Park Slope, Brooklyn. These eight bands are Superhuman Happiness, Minerva Lions, Thought, Beyondo, Hi/Lo Fi, Knights on Earth, Michael Leonhart and the Avarmina 7 and Smoota—many of whom you have seen me champion in the past year (hear a song from each of the bands below).
The bands, along with video team Lost Pilot have collectively launched a Kickstarter donation page where you can help support the film. With only 23 days left, these musicians not only need your help to make this documentary happen, but to help capture this important time in music history. Please take a moment to donate any amount you can. For those who live in the NYC area, come out and be a part of this rare musical experience.
If you’ve listened to the past two Halloween sets, or if you were present for either, you know how special these musicians are.
Please help support this project.
From Lost Pilot:
“We are making a film called “All Together Now” and its intention is to reveal a cross-section of a strong musical community. The film will capture each band’s live set and take you backstage to sit with musicians who tour all over the world and who’s passion lives in the bands they’ve developed back at home in New York City. Their stories are as diverse as their music. Read more here.
Superhuman Happiness – “GMYL”
Minerva Lion – “Megrims”
Thought – “Nothing New Under The sun”
Beyondo – “Playdate”
Knights on Earth – “If I Stay Too Long”
Hi/Lo Fi – “X”
Michael Leonhart and the Avarmina 7
Smoota – “Aphrodisiac”
September Psych Rock Playlist
[GIF Art by Max Capacity]
This month’s hour-long psych-rock playlist curated by your humble narrator…
1. Tokyo Kid Brothers – Peace ~ Dadada
2. The Soft Machine – Joy of a Toy
3. Woodsman – Insect
4. The War on Drugs – Your Love Is Calling My Name > The Animator
5. Ducktails – Hamilton Road
6. Felt – My Darkest Light Will Shine
7. Justin O’Brien and Jake – Time Will Tell
8. Sun Araw – Lute and Lyre
9. Woods – Find Them Empty
10. Allah-Las – Long Journey
11. Jeffertitti’s Nile – Mountain Jam
12. Silver Pines – Timefather
13. Cloudland Canyon – Mothlight (pt II)
14. Moon Duo – Ripples
DGB Party Announcement Video
See the video below…
New Music: Pure X – “Dry Ice”
LP
Pure X (formerly Pure Ecstasy) is a lo-fi psych-rock outfit hailing from Austin, TX. Led by singer/guitarist Nate Grace, the band dishes out mellow, reverb-drenched psychedelia that recalls New Jersey’s Real Estate at times. Over the last two years, they have put out a score of EPs, cassettes and 7″s but have now announced the release of a full record. Below, you can hear a new song off the group’s debut LP Pleasure to be released via Acephale next month. Also, check out the previously released track “Twisted Mirror.”
“Dry Ice“
“Twisted Mirror“
The Listening Station: Minerva Lions
In this week’s edition of The Listening Station, we head back to Brooklyn to check out another superbly talented up and coming band. Chances are, you probably haven’t heard the name Minerva Lions. Well, that is about to change. Having been recently written up in Paste, L Magazine and the LA Examiner, it seems the band is poised to take the next step. And with Wilco’s Michael Jorgensen remixing one of their songs, along with psych-darling Nicole Atkins championing them as her “favorite band right now,” it’s only a matter of time.
Minverva Lions (Photo by Nathan West)
Formed in the summer of 2010, Minerva Lions is filled out by Jared Samuel (keys, acoustic guitar, lead vocals), Grey McMurray (electric guitar, backing vocals), Joseph McCaffrey (bass, backing vocals) and Tim Kuhl (drums). Jared also moonlights in another DGB favorite, Superhuman Happiness, as well as playing with Nicole Atkins’ band and others.
Minerva’s sound is difficult to label—and its been called every name under the moon already—but melodious psych-folk of the third kind would do it justice in my mind. In short, it’s tough music to label because, like the best bands, they don’t sound like anyone else. They sound like Minerva Lions. As Mr. Samuel told me recently:
“Our band is named after a letterman jacket. Our EP is titled for an approximate English translation of an Italian description of a beautiful tango dancer/fine-art model. If none of that makes any sense to people it’s okay; we’d like to think that the music will.”
Since its inception, the band has been making waves on the Brooklyn music scene. The quartet are set to release their debut EP, Great Strides, Priestess & Queen, on June 21 with Dubshot Records and will also perform a recorded in office performance at Relix Magazine. Stream or download the psych-rock gem “Megrims” below, along with the group’s original take on Talk, Talk’s “Ascension Day.”
“Megrims“
Download Link
“Ascension Day“
Links: Band website, Bandcamp
Spread the word about this great band and please let people know you read about them on DGB.
Moments in a Box
This is a new feature on DGB, purely for laughs. Each week a photo will be posted along with a caption. I welcome you to leave a caption of your own in the comments section, if you so desire. Here’s one of a seasoned-looking Mr. McConnell from Harford ’09 taken by Andy Hill, courtesy of our friends at GlowStickWars.com.
"No piano, no sandwich make Page go something...something..."
Superhuman Happiness Release New Video for “The Hounds”
I am very happy to share with you the latest video from Brooklyn’s Superhuman Happiness. The video is for a song called “The Hounds” and was filmed in a small DIY venue in Brooklyn known as The Church. I was actually present. Dig it, spread it, share it with your friends. This is a band everyone needs to know about.
“The Hounds“
