Archive - Aug 2009

Amazingly, I managed somehow not to devote my entire summer to traveling for music. I was lucky enough to take a two week trip with my BOTheads to a couple festivals and a mini Phish tour in early June, but have since been on kind of a musical drought. Luckily, the scene has since picked up quite a bit in my area, keeping me plenty busy and entertained also.

Read more after the jump!

Tomorrow morning, I ship off to the airport to catch the earliest flight to San Francisco to attend the second annual Outside Lands Festival. It's always nice to experience a new festival, but my main attraction is the city that will encompass OSL all weekend. Between Haight-Ashbury, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street, and every other attraction I've yet to see, I'm afraid I might miss some of the festival just trying to get it all in. Speaking of the festival, I'm looking forward to catching headliners Pearl Jam and Tenacious D for the first time, as well another showing from one of my all-time fav's, Dave Matthews Band. On top of Pearl Jam on Friday, the day will find me witnessing sets from Akron/Family, Built To Spill, The Dodos, The National, Q-Tip and Tom Jones among others. DMB's support on Saturday includes The Dirtbombs, Extra Golden, Street Sweeper Social Club, Portugal. The Man, Mastodon, Os Mutantes, Bat For Lashes, TV on the Radio, Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band and Deerhunter. Jack Black and Kyle Gass' Sunday night festival closing set will be preceded by performances from Other Lives, Atmosphere, The Avett Brothers, The Dead Weather, Modest Mouse, Ween, M.I.A. and Band of Horses and several others on the festival's seven stages.

I will be tweeting all day everyday from the festival and its many aftershows, so feel free to follow me. Also, YouTube will be live streaming several sets all weekend for those who can't make the trek to the Bay Area. To those that will be in attendance, I hope to see you there!

Congrats to the winner, Adam Harden! Thanks to everyone who entered, and we'll see you all on Saturday!

We are giving away a pair of tickets to see The Gourds, Mama Sweet and The O's on Saturday, 8/29 at Dallas' Granada Theater. All you have to do to win is create an account on BOT (see top left) and leave a comment with your full name and e-mail address or telephone number. We will announce the winner on the website and through e-mail/text on Friday, so keep your eyes open. The Gourds always bring it live, and the Granada Theater is the best venue in Dallas. Don't miss your chance for a great free night of countrified fun! While you're busy entering the contest, check out this video of The Gourds covering Bobby Dylan's "Oh Sister" that Eggs took earlier this summer at Dosey Doe's.

Thanks mucho to The Granada for their generosity and for always being such a kick-ass venue! Can't wait for Saturday!

The official line-up for this year's annual Fun Fun Fun Fest was revealed today, filling in the many holes left open by the previous line-up leaks. Taking place at Austin's Waterloo Park, this year's event is set to feature four different stages scattered across the field. The Orange Stage will feature a who's who of indie rock, with sets from RATATAT, of Montreal, Les Savy Fav, Yeasayer, Fuck Buttons and more, while The Black Stage will feature a bit harder fare with performances by Danzig, Jesus Lizard, Fucked Up, Torche and Melt Banana. The Blue Stage is full of hipster hip-hop, featuring The Cool Kids, The Pharcyde, Gza/Genius (performing Liquid Swords with special guests), Kid Sister and more, while The Yellow Stage will feature comedy from The Whitest Kids You Know, Brian Posehn, Todd Barry, Nick Thune as well as musical offerings from the likes of Dead Confederate, Harlem, Cedric Burnside & Lightning Malcom and more.

Check out the full line-up after the jump

Earlier in the year, we had an action packed weekend of music that included shows from both Steve Earle and The Gourds, as well as a two night run from New Monsoon at Houston's famed jam and bluegrass-friendly venue, Last Concert Cafe. I made it there for the second of the two shows, and was extremely happy with the performance from my most-seen band of all time. While their sound has changed quite a bit over the years due to several changes in personnel, their classics have still remained fresh. Their run-through of "Southern Dew" from the first night was documented on HD video (as was the rest of the weekend), and posted to YouTube recently on their official page. The Allman Brothers-esque song is a ripping instrumental that finds each member highlighting their skills throughout. Give it a watch:

I have a feeling we'll be seeing New Monsoon back in Houston before the end of the year. They're due for their usual bi-annual trip to the Bayou City.

Eggs and I went to Mos Def at the House of Blues this past Wednesday, joined by our buddy Demian and a completely packed house. By the end of the night, Mos Def had undoubtedly proved that he merited the weeknight sell-out. And thanks to a welcome change in policy by HOB, we didn’t even leave the place disappointed by the show’s length - as we did at April’s Parliament Funkadelic show.

Read about the show after the jump

I stumbled across something fantastic on the ol' YouTube today. There are a handful of high quality videos of the Drive-By Truckers and The Hold Steady teaming up to rock faces during last November's "Rock and Roll Means Well" mini-tour. Check out two of the best ones below: "Let there be Rock" and a cover of The Band's "Look Out Cleveland."

It's damn good Sunday afternoon music. The Truckers are rolling through Texas on their way to Voodoo this year; here's hoping we see The Hold Steady head our way soon.

Friday night in Houston was a busy one musically, offering several choices in a host of different genres. Many local bands were doing their thing, while The Jonas Brothers were busy busy putting the art in Wal-Mart at the Toyota Center. I decided to exercise my inner hipster at Walter's On Washington for a night of North Carolina folk featuring both Bowerbirds and Megafaun.

Read about the show after the jump

I almost saw the Walmen once. Actually I went to see them, stood in line to purchase tickets, and found that it sold out right before I got to the counter. I was fairly pissed as 2008's You & Me was one of my favorite albums of 2008, but I moved on in hopes of catching their live performance sometime down the road. Well, I still haven't seen them live, but am still as big of a fan of that album as I was 8 months ago. Today, Pitchfork premiered their new darkly animated video for the song "On The Water." It tells the story of two rabbits in a farmers field, and what happens to the rabbits when they get too close to his crops. This is one of my favorite tracks from the album, so it's nice to see it get video treatment. Enjoy!

Wascally Wabbit.

Mos Def and Jay Electronica at House of Blues.
Doors at 8pm, show at 9pm.
Tickets are $25.