Backseat Sandbar

The Antlers came to town & destroyed Louisville.  Unfortunately, you weren’t there to see it.  Don’t feel bad…nobody was.  The crowd of 15 for the Guggenheim Grotto performance had dissipated down to 6 by the time The Antlers came on. Three of those were us, the other three were high school kids with a mother in tow.

Starting the night’s performance was the Guggenheim Grotto from Ireland.  Having recently played the Vernon Lanes, GG apparently quickly built a loyal base of fans of WFPK-listenrs who seemed to be able to sing along with every word.  On this night, only Kevin May and Mick Lynch were performing.  Kevin May had a shockingly good voice, but in truth, Mick Lynch was the talent of the band and I’d have rather seen him go at it solo for about three songs before the band left the stage altogether.  It’s not that it wasn’t good…it was, but it was boring.  Comparisons to Simon & Garfunkle abound, and while those two are some of my favorite musicians of all time, GG just feel a little redundant and make for a better bar band than legit concert.  Well, if the bar was in the middle-of-the-road part of Ireland.  That said, personal taste.  GG is huge with the WFPK crowd, and as a result they’ll be playing an upcoming Waterfront Wednesday.

As the Brooklyn-based, buzz band The Antlers took the stage, we moved up front so as not to make them feel as though they were playing into an empty room.  Upon first listen, The Antler’s Hospice was a little too dark, too Brooklyn and maybe even a little too Animal Collective.  By the time I heard the album for the second time, I fell in love.  The darkness of Peter Silberman’s vocals on Hospice give way to a significantly more beautiful pop sound when performed live and at all times entrancing.

Perhaps it’s the dissemination of mp3s or the radio-play of singles, but a lot of bands (particularly new-ish bands) have forgotten how to craft an album from beginning to end.  And I’m not talking about the grandiose myth-laden folk operas of The Decemberists, I’m talking about making something that works like a really good book–when you start it, you gotta finish.

What was perhaps the most intriquing about the Antlers was how, given the down-tempo orchestration of the album, it would translate live.  Shucking away the urge to make the sound bombastic at the expense of losing nuance, The Antlers dealt with a stripped down orchestration and showed off their musical acumen instead.  Whereas the album is about layers, the live show was about being a tight, tour-toughened band who has found their songs identity along the road.  It wasn’t perfect, but the bowling balls rolling overhead at Vernon Club who recently have redone their space, leaving them with some sound kinks to work out.  Midway through the set, The Antlers trotted out the staple of bands touring on their first album — a Neil Young cover (“Harvest Moon”).  But what was beautiful was that rather than sounding derivative, The Antlers made it their own, awash in their own particular way of playing, their own particular way of expression, their own particular sound in the midst of a classic song.  At this point it hit the handful of us left — The Antlers are the real deal.

The Antlers – Harvest Moon (Neil Young Cover)

The Antlers- Shiva

***MORE PHOTOS and VIDEO*** (more…)

Forecastle‘s headliners have been announced for the July 10-12th performance and topping the bill is Jam band legends Widespread Panic (Hippies across the region rejoice).  In keeping with the way jam bands like to do it, Widespread will be playing two of the three Forecastle nights.  Interestingly, Forecastle is one of only three festival appearances this summer for Widespread.  Panic is a band that hardly needs an introduction, with a following equally as fanatical as the Dead or Phish, with noticeably less arrests and confiscation of drugs.

Panic fans are fans in the truest sense of the word, thus now that tickets are on pre-sale at Ticketmaster, you’d better act quick to get your tickets because I envision these things to practically fly off the shelf for single day passes at $40 & three day passes at $100.

Recently prematurely attacked by Maxim for the release of their new album Warpaint after either a) illegally downloading the album from the Internet or b) reviewing an album without hearing it, and of Hard to Handle and She Talks to Angels fame, The Black Crowes are co-headlining Forecastle.  Rolling Stone’s review of 2008′s Warpaint read “the first third of the album reveals some of the best range and craft of the band’s career” and that even the rough patches are forgivable because “the band sounds damn good”.  I caught The Black Crowes back in 2001 in Nashville and they hadn’t lost a step from their Shake Your Moneymaker days.  If they’ve ever been to Louisville, I must have missed it…but let’s be honest, it’s been a long time since The Black Crowes have been worth listening to, and while you might leave them written off, you shouldn’t because it’s time to give them a second chance because with this album, they’re back and ready to start looking forward rather than back to the 90s.

One of the last true great rock bands, Ohio-based The Black Keys, are co-headlining Forecastle Festival this year. In the vein of The White Stripes in the way that these two carry off the Guitar+Drums only format, The Black Keys are meant to be a festival band.  I call them one of the true great rock bands because they have a sound so absurdly big that it cannot be contained and they just seem so natural on stage.  Black Keys recently opened for local hometown gods My Morning Jacket, and made for a perfect fit as they’re nearly just as face melting.

On their most recent performance in Louisville, the show sold out CityBlock (if I recall correctly), and they’re sure to sell just as many tickets for Forecastle.  Could be best to buy tickets early, because at $40 for a single day passes & three day passes at $100 (available at Ticketmaster), they’re likely to go fast.

Rounding out the Forecastle Headliners is The Avett Brothers. The Avett Brothers make for a perfect Forecastle band, carrying influences of folk, rock and maybe even a little punk, these guys transcend any single identifiable genre to blend the lot of them to act as a complete cross-section of the entire festival. The Avett Brothers have played Louisville a couple times, including last year’s Coyotes show and 2007′s Waterfront Wednesday. These guys are exactly the type f band that Louisville and the WFPK crowd goes nuts over, and this show should feed everyone’s craving.

For those of you who enjoy vinyl, I’ve put together this local buying guide.  One of the best parts for me about of being a vinyl collector is the joy of the hunt.  In the last week, I bought all of the records above used and most of them for only a few bucks.  I’ve been looking for Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” for a while now (not wanting to drop the $25 bucks+ it is selling for new) and found it today at the Book & Music Exchange for $1.98 in great condition.  In return for this info, I ask that you let me know if you find any Tom Waits, Nick Drake, Nina Simone or Leonard Cohen albums.  Lets get to it…

Where to Buy New

Some albums just are not old enough to find themselves on the used shelves, so you have to bite the bullet and drop the dime to buy it.  For all intensive purposes, there are only two places in town to buy new records.

ear x-tacy

1534 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40205
(502) 452-1799

ear x-tacy recently moved their vinyl collection downstairs and beefed up the selection.  On most occasions, you will be able to find what you are looking for and if you can’t, they will order it for you (at no extra charge).  Their prices are reasonable to what you would find on-line, and sometimes even better after you take shipping into account.  Their organization is good, but sometimes it is tough to distinguish what would fall under “Indie” and what would be “Rock/Pop.”  I generally browse both sections anyway, so it isn’t a big deal.  If you are into hip-hop, they have a pretty extensive collection, including a bunch of Tribe albums.  They also have an average collection of used vinyl.  For the used records, they are asking for an average of $6 or $7 bucks and you can find the same for much cheaper at other stores (see below).  Bottom line, ear x-tacy is a great option for new vinyl.  You will most likley be able to find what you are looking for and be able to buy it at an affordable price.  A

Underground Sounds

2003 Highland Ave
Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 485-0174

Underground Sounds is right around the corner from my house, so I make a visit there 3 or 4 times a week.  Though much smaller than ear x-tacy, they also have a very good selection (in fact, I bought Animal Collective’s MPP there when ear x-tacy was out).  Their prices are a bit higher, but never more than a dollar or two, and still often less than certain online options.  It takes a bit of time to get your bearings, but once you do, there are plenty of gems to be found.  On one side, you can find releases from the 50s, 60s, and 70s.  On another, you will find rows and rows of popular music, plenty of indie releases and a very good Jazz/Blues section.  Tucked under standing CD shelves, are a ton of hip-hop, R&B/Soul, and Reggae records.  Displayed on the walls are a few vinyl selections, often new releases or interesting vintage options for sale.  On the floor along two walls are used vinyls; buy 1 get 1 free.  They range in price, but average around $5 bucks.  I’ve bought a few used vinyls here, but never have been too successful.  The best part of Underground Sounds is its people.  Almost in a High Fidelity nature (minus the snottyness), each employee has an ultra-understanding of their catalog and a passion for music.  From a nostolgic recount of a concert from the 70s in Louisville, to current copyright laws, to a simple recommendation based on the records I was holding, Underground Sounds embodies the reason I like buying records (as opposed to downloading online).  A+

Where to Buy Used

Book and Music Exchange (and Half Price Books) has a number of locations in Louisville.  I would say that over half of the vinyls I own came from one of their stores.  See below for details on each:

1616 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY‎ – (502) 454-3328‎

The Bardstown Road store is my third favorite of the four I know with vinyl.  While it normally has the most vinyl of the any of the stores, I’m guessing it gets picked over the most.  Their “premium” used vinyls go for an average of $3 to $7 bucks, with a few popular items ranging from $10-20.  I actually saw Nirvana’s In Utero there a few days ago for $30 (on yellow vinyl).  They also have an extensive “bargain bin” with oldies but goodies for 50 cents to $1.  It is definitely worth stopping by every other week to check on new arrivals.  B+

5400 Preston Hwy # C, Louisville, KY‎ – (502) 969-4403‎

This location has only a small collection of vinyl.  They average $10 bucks or more and most of them you can find cheaper at other locations.  What they do have is displayed high on their walls and surrounds the store.  I’ve bought one Bowie album here, but never went back because of the poor selection and inflated prices.  Skip this one.  D

2025 S Hurstbourne Pkwy, Louisville, KY

I make a weekly stop to this location.  They have a very good selection, organized well and decently priced.  You can find classic records for $5 to $8 bucks and a whole bunch are even cheaper.  Every once in a while you can find a “rare” vinyl for $10 to $20 (I found The Beatles’ Revolver two weeks ago).  They also have the same “bargain bin” deals as above.  I rate this location a bit higher for the fact that the quality of their collection is consistently better.  Also, be sure to stop in for their Vinyl Nights every Friday night.  All records are 20% off.  A

The Great Escape

2433 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40205
(502) 456-2216

The Great Escape has become a new stop on my vinyl hunt.  Amidst all the tons of comics offered there are a bunch of great used vinyls.  The main section has used vinyl for $2-10 bucks, but the selection is very good and you are bound to find a few gems.  My only problem with the main section is that it is not alphabetized, so I have to go through it all each time.  They also have one of the largest “bargain” sections in Louisville.  Shelves and shelves of vinyl, categorized alphabetically (ironically, all of the other “bargain” sections are not in alphabetical order), range from $1-$4 bucks.  Plan for a few hours to get through all of their vinyl on your first visit. A-

Highland Records

1617 Bardstown Rd # 2, Louisville, KY‎ – (502) 451-8805‎

An older gentleman runs this record store.  The store only sells vinyl and keeps very short hours.  It is a small shop and kept in relatively alphabetical order.  There is also a line of boxes on the floor in no certain order.  Prices are decent, but average around $10 bucks.  It is fun to browse around, but it is hard to find what you are looking for.  That said, if you stop by the Bardstown Road Book and Music Exchange, I’d recommend stopping into Highland Records, just for the experience.  Every other visit, you may just find something to take home.  B

Electric Ladyland

2325 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40205
(502) 458-4259‎

Electric Ladyland has a very good collection of vinyl but it is all overpriced.  It is not just a little overpriced, but a lot overpriced.  After browsing all of the other used vinyl shops, you will see the same vinyl there for twice the price.  If you like Jazz albums, they have a pretty good selection, so it may be worth your while to stop in.  I go every other month or so, just to check in.  C+

Antique Malls

Flea Markets

Where to Buy Online

Insound

Insound is THE place to buy vinyl online.  The key is knowing when to buy.  First, if you absolutely can’t wait to get the album and your local shop doesn’t have it in (or their supplier is back-ordered), then shell out the cash and use Insound.  If the album is in-stock, it is at your door in a few days.  Second, you may find a better price.  Sign up for their Vinyl Newsletter and they will give a) immediately give you 10% off your next purchase and keep you in the loop on future deals.  Sometimes, particularly during the holiday season, they will also throw in free shipping on orders over a certain amount of money ($50 bucks or so).  Combine the 10% off with free shipping and you are golden.  They don’t get a perfect score because their return policy is pretty lame.  First you have to email one of their employees and spell out all this information…then wait for them to email you back a code… then ship it back to them…then wait for them to ship a new one to you.  For your trouble, they may give you 15% off your next purchase (if you ask).   A

Best Buy

Best Buy may have a few vinyls in-store, but they are normally the “exclusive” releases and are hardly worth browsing.  I’ve ordered a few records from them on-line and have had a so-so experience.  They have over 8,000 records in their catalog, but you have to be sure to check the availability before you order.  If you see one that says 1-2 weeks or back-ordered, I’d pass.  I’ve tried to buy a few of those, thinking that the price is good enough that I can wait, and was later refunded my money because they couldn’t get it in-stock.  Otherwise, even with shipping, the prices are competitive, so it is worth checking out.  That said, I’d use it as a last option in your hunt.  B-

You guys know how to use eBay, so I’m not going to say much on this one.  I’ve had many very positive experiences buying vinyl on eBay.  A few things to consider.  1) Always look at the sellers rating and consider carefully how the seller has judged the condition of the album; 2) Sometimes the album you are looking at can be found cheaper new (be sure to double check); 3) With more and more reissues every day, if you are not buying as a “collector,” you may be able to save some cash by just waiting for the new pressing (and it will probably be on 180 gram). 4)  Always test the vinyl before leaving positive feedback (you may not be able to return it, but you sure as hell can help keep people from buying from a seller rating trash, “near mint.” A-

Craigslist

I’ve seen vinyl listed on craigslist, but it is always random and overpriced.  I’ve never used craigslist to buy vinyl (only missed connections) and it isn’t for lack of hunting.  D

Amazon.com has a pretty good selection of vinyl and their prices are all competitive, especially if you get the “SuperSaver Shipping.”  They also have a decent selection of used vinyl (often overpriced).  That said, I have had my best success with amazon.com when buying UK releases that haven’t come out in the US yet.  I bought my brother Late of the Pier’s debut, Fantasy Black Channel, months before its US release and, with shipping, it was less than $30 bucks.  Give it an occasssional browse.  B+

Where to Get Info On Vinyl

Here are a few sites that will help you in your hunt…

• VinylTimes.com
• MusicStack.com (Music Marketplace)
• Vinyl Rating System
• 33 1/3 Series
• Vinyl Collective
• How to Keep a Record Collection Safe
• Karate Body Records

If you have any tips or suggestions, please comment and share, I would love to hear them.

For more Info…

Crucial Fun Fest IV

In what could be the lamest performance of the year, but simultaneously genius in that these guys clearly know their demographic, Hark the Herald are performing at Hot Topic in Green Tree Mall tonight. Now, I rarely write abusive posts, but this just seems ridiculous.  I guess I can understand it, as I alluded to earlier, that generally it’s attention-seeking teenage girls who wat to impress their skateboard boyfriends who get really into hardcore and/or overly emo bands and by the time they reach college they’re listening to average radio play.  Attention-seeking high school girls often shop at places like Hot Topic.  Makes sense…it’s just a little lame.  That said, their music isn’t that bad from what I’ve heard.

Nevertheless, tonight’s set will be acoustic, so if people actually go to Green Tree Mall, you might stop in to see them…

Royal Bangs played Skull Alley back in November and they are set to return for another show on April 19, 2009.  I’m telling you now, you will love this show!  They will be joined by Man without Wax and Damiera.  The show starts at 6:30 and will cost $8 bucks.

Here is a snippet from our review of their last show in Louisville:

I hadn’t ever heard of Royal Bangs prior to Thursday’s show, but boy was I glad to find out about them. Too often, shows like this manage to grasp at a few local straws to pave the way for a main act, but Royal Bangs were anything but that. Providing a high energy show heavy on the bass and drums while keeping a really poppy sound, Royal Bangs prove to be a force to be reckoned with in the future. They’re an outfit that really shines in a live setting, because the sort of gnarled pop rock that they explore is allowed time to let the noise catch on and distort from static into well formed tunes.

Royal Bangs – Broke Calculator [audio=http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/2/24/1779222/RoyalBangs-BrokeCalculator.mp3]

Ardent Presents: Royal Bangs – “Handcuff Killa”

8th Annual Forecastle Festival
July 10th-12th, Louisville, KY, Riverfront Belvedere

In February, we posted about a rumor we heard that Louisville’s two premiere fests would be held on the SAME WEEKEND (July 10-12, 2009).    Turns out the rumor is true. I can’t help but to feel disappointed by this conflict as I love both fests and know that it will now be impossible to truly enjoy both the way they are meant to be experienced.  Oh well, I guess we will just have to start preparing for a very long weekend.  Forecastle announces thier headliners this week.  Lebowski’s special guests and music line-up is also TBA.

The Instruction has been pretty busy recently.  They just finished recording their debut album, Failure by Design, and are putting the final touches on it as you read this; so look for it in the near future.  A music video for the forthcoming release, “Into the Tomorrow,” is now circulating (watch it here).  Now that some of their time has opened up, they have scheduled four shows in the next month.  Be sure to check out at least one of them…

March 27, 2009 at 6pm  -  Love Your Local Beer Fest w/ The Instruction, Thomas A. Minor and Adventure -  Clifton Center   – Free

April 4, 2009-  The Instruction w/ Yardsale and The Genius File – Pour Haus

April 10, 2009- The Instruction Pre-Game at Slugger Field -  Slugger Field

April 24, 2009 – The Instruction w/ Chemic and Chico Fellini – Pour Haus

The Instruction- Hello Darlin’

We saw St. Vincent back in 2007 when she opened for The National in Cincy and knew big things were in store for her.  She is back on tour and has a new album, Actor, coming out on May 5th.  No stop in Louisville, but she will grace our Lexington folks with a show at The Dame on June 10, 2009.  If you are in the area, you should definitely check this show out.  You just may fall in love (with her music).

St. Vincent- Paris is Burning [audio=http://www.ilovestvincent.com/audio/parisisburning.mp3]

About St. Vincent:

Two years ago, Annie Clark’s recorded debut as St. Vincent, ‘Marry Me’, gave immediate notice that a dizzying new talent had emerged from the flatlands of Texas. Critics from all points of the cultural compass—from Pitchfork to Spin to the New York Times Magazine—were entranced by the album’s precocious arrangements and elegant lyrics, and the steadily growing crowds at St. Vincent’s live shows were astonished by Clark’s gargantuan musical chops and her magnetic stage presence. No small number of St. Vincent fans took the title of ‘Marry Me’ literally, had their hearts duly broken, and wouldn’t have had it any other way. The record was heralded as a remarkably successful entrance and Clark capped a year of international touring by winning the Plug Awards’ Female Artist of the Year.

’Actor’, St. Vincent’s beguiling, sophisticated new record, takes that debut’s ambition as its starting point and never looks back. The arrangements are more masterful, the songwriting grander, the performances ever more confident and inspired. Clark developed an idiosyncratic writing process for ‘Actor’, immersing herself in some of her favorite films—Badlands, Pierrot le Fou, The Wizard of Oz, Stardust Memories, Sleeping Beauty—and beginning each song as a secret film score, then slowly giving it independence as its structure and lyrics came fully into focus. The resulting eleven tracks are as cinematic as pop songs can be, but the movie is a private one, revealing its storyline in hushed, cunning couplets and cascades of scathing guitar.

Here is a record to listen to with your eyes closed. Melodies are transposed and inverted. The fantasy of Disney is juxtaposed with the sweep of Morricone, David Mamet’s unsettling dramatic form and the alienation of Philip Roth. Igor Stravinsky scores Roger Corman’s horror flicks.

‘The Strangers’ starts off as a deceptively dulcet elegy for a lost love, then suddenly capsizes under a flood of distortion. ‘Actor Out Of Work’ is a devastating sonic kiss-off, complete with slyly poisonous lyrics and steamrolling guitars. The strings and woodwinds at the opening of ‘Marrow’ might be escorting Dorothy to the Emerald City, or straight into the flying monkeys’ clutches. The crackerjack band, including supporting turns by McKenzie Smith and Paul Alexander of Midlake, has the crunch of a tank and the grace of a chamber ensemble.
If ‘Marry Me’ served as the world’s introduction to Annie Clark, ‘Actor’ may prove to be her coronation. As the terrifyingly beautiful movie inside Clark’s head flickers across the screen, we can all feel privileged to be in the seats.

DETAILS:

Germany holds a festival bridging Winter and Spring during which folks huddle together in the bitter cold — teeth chattering — and keep warm by drinking strong beers. Because it’s what they call it, we’ll also call it StarkBierZeit. And we will be holding our inaugural version at the Nachbar on March 21.

We plan to have traditional German food, which will be necessary because none of the beers we plan to serve will be lower than 8% ABV. The beers are coming together, and we will let you know as soon as things are ironed out, but expect something exceptionally hoppy and delicious from Michigan and something viscous, black and sticky from Delaware.

Norm the Potter has been commissioned to create commemorative mugs for the event. The half-liter mugs will be heavy stoneware, each one uniquely salt-glazed. They will be as good for the beer we’ll pour into them as the coffee you’ll likely drink to nurse the hangover you’ll likely get from the beers you drink out of them. This is a vicious cycle, for which you should consider getting treatment.

Pre-order your mug NOW through Feb. 28 for $15 at the Nachbar. OR take your chances buying one on the 21st for $20. Unless the response is overwhelming, know that we plan to have Norm make only 50 of these mugs.

Although we refuse to keep these mugs at the bar, we will welcome you to bring yours back any time you visit. Whatever we pour into pint glasses, we will gladly pour into this mug at no additional cost to you.