TVD #9 Dream

On this 30th anniversary of the death of John Lennon, Rolling Stone purports to have the very last interview with John, recorded just three days before his untimely passing. Fact is, that couldn't be further from the truth.

So, we'll give ya some truth—the real, last interview—brimming with optimism and positivity and good humor (despite the dry and stilted narrative between the interview segments.)

You're missed, Mr. Lennon.

TVD First Date | Rachel Goodrich

"I don't think it was till the day my allowance was in full force, I actually caught onto vinyl. See, I could either spend all of it on maybe a couple of used CD's, cassettes, or I could go hit up Larry's Records in Ft. Lauderdale and stock up on used 50 cent records.

My parents always had vinyl lying around but I never really connected with them. Mostly because they weren't frequently spun. I didn't have access to a record player till my mid high school days and that's when I decided to take my parents records and discover them on my own. I soon became acquainted and obsessed with the warm sounds of vinyl. I mean, I would build vinyl forts just to feel as close as I possibly could to them. I was more in tune with these artists than I had ever been before.

Part of the magic of listening and collecting records is sharing them with others. My friends and I would go on these vinyl hunts, inspiring us all to find the oldest, rarest, original pressings we possibly could. We'd visit record stores, garage sales, thrift shops, old homes, and anywhere we heard you could find records. While everyone was out trying to sneak into some bar or club, we were huddled around a record player listening to our finds.



There have been numerous amount of times where I've come across a recording and had to pass because it wasn't on vinyl. It's not the same. I need the history. I want the story or the mystery. Like Django Reinhardt for instance. Yea, I can probably order his records anywhere, but there's something eerie and almighty about finding his washed up vinyl in some forgotten bin, shoved in a corner. It's this feeling I get. Like I've struck gold and no one knows. It's thrilling!
So, I keep going.

Vinyl doesn't get old...it gets rich...and it's coming back to haunt us all."

Love,
Rachel



Here are only some of my favorite albums on vinyl: Woody Guthrie - Dust Bowl Ballads, Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelly with Quintet of the Hot Club of France, Billie Holiday - Lady Day, Sweet Emma and Her Preservation Hall Jazz Band - (Red) & (Blue), Tiny Tim - G*d Bless Tiny Tim, Joni Mitchell - Song To a Seagull, Beach Boys - Friends, Van Morrison - Astral Weeks, Otis Redding - Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul, Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan, anything on Folkways.

Looking for: Duke Ellington, Max Roach, Charles Mingus - Money Jungle, and anything by Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Find Rachel on her Official Site | Myspace | Blog

TVD Package Deal | Sarah Jaffe: Chicken Coups, Hecklers, and Bourbon

...in which we follow up last month's live review with a sit down.


I had big ideas—digging deep, asking Sarah Jaffe about herself, getting the goods. Including but not limited to: what’s your writing style, how do you ‘work through a song,’ do these ideas come in dreams, are you single…

Instead, we talked about ‘the shittiest show she ever played,” why she won’t play "Luv" live anymore, and how she cannot wait for the release of her next EP (5 tracks, unpredictable.)

TVD: How’s the tour going? Some artists grow tired of their album before they perform their first song on tour, how are you feeling about 'Suburban Nature?'
SJ: Playing songs from the album now is like dusting off a favorite outfit, you wore it out and now someone else has invested interest in it [the outfit] and it’s good again.”

TVD: Which is staying your favorite, for now?
SJ: Tough, "Wreaking Havoc," I really like Robert’s (the guitarist) ambient additions

TVD: Sorry I was late, I got lost, cabs, etc (nervous excuses & babbling...)
SJ: No worries, I’m not from here either, but I’m thinking about making the move

TVD: Oh yeah? Leaving Denton for New York, what’s the hold up?
SJ: I love Denton, and my home…

TVD: Front and back porch?
SJ: Yeah, front and back. (smile)


TVD: So you're thinking about making moves, are you working on anything new (I am sure you are.)
SJ: (mockingly) Yes, I hope to put out an EP in Spring/Summer of 2011.

TVD: Have I heard these new tracks, and how many will there be?
SJ: Probably about five, and it's hard not to play them live, I'll play a few tonight.

TVD: So, I had the pleasure of hearing you for the first time at the Living Room, you sounded great, but your set was too short, glad to see you back in NYC.
SJ: Last night?

TVD: No…
SJ: Oh, right during the CMJ festival, yeah, jeez, that was a different environment. There were some jerks in the front, yelling about Texan stuff and being obnoxiously drunk.

TVD: Yeah I was next to them; he had cowboy boots on and was physically leaning on his group.
SJ: What a douche. Well, I enjoyed the festival but it’d be nice to not be playing in it, and just listen and hang out with everyone. Maybe at SXSW this year, I’ll get to do more of that. (I’ll still be playing).

TVD: Well, speaking of hecklers, and different venues, what was THE shittiest place you’ve played?
SJ: (Laughs) A chicken coup.

TVD: What!?
SJ: Ennis, Texas; a chicken coup, with Tomahawk Molly, a band I was in (Cheesy, Rockabilly, fun.) There was a green room, with a dingy bed in it, creepy, disgusting. Definitely threw up that night.

TVD: Due to alcohol or chicken coup smell?
SJ: Alcohol. I don’t necessary sound southern but when I’m back with everyone it’s Bulleit, Jack and you know.

TVD: I completely understand.
SJ: But, it’s strange, I wrote "Clementine" during that time. We played a gig, ran out of songs, and I sang "Clementine." I had no attachment to the song but years later…

TVD: ...a throw away song turned debut video hit?
SJ: Guess so



TVD: Alright so what’s with the spelling song ("Luv") on Suburban Nature?
SJ: It was a mistake right, you hate it?

TVD: Well, it just stood out.
SJ: Yeah, I played it live a few times. I don’t really like it. I thought the album needed some... quirk. It got some positive crowd feedback, probably a mistake, that’s why I won’t play it live anymore

TVD: Not at all?
SJ: Nope! Want to hear about another slip-up? I definitely got on stage one of the first nights of the tour and said "Hello, Philly!" I was, unfortunately, not IN Philadelphia...

TVD: (Laughs for an unacceptable amount of time...)

The Vinyl District Holiday Takeover | The Superions

The Superions have the brand new holiday themed 'Destination ...Christmas!' on store shelves this Christmas season, but as we preambled on Monday, they're joining us all week with five additional favorites from their own record collections destined to become holiday favorites of yours.

'Destination...The Vinyl District' continues!


I remember as a kid 3 lighting setups. One was all different colored strings of lights around the house or shrubs. Ditto for all blue lights which made the house look depressing.



Then there was this family that put a big lit-up 'Sacred Heart of Jesus' with thorns and swords thru it on their door. Ghastly. Now everything is so paganly over the top, just add music!
—Fred